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Science News for October 23, 2013


Coral chemicals protect against warming oceans

Researchers have discovered coral animals produce dimethylsulphoniopropionate (DMSP), a molecule that helps protect them against heat stress and influences cloud formation. This finding could be crucial for regulating local climate and mitigating the effects of rising seawater temperatures.

SourceScience in Public·JournalNature·DateOct 23, 2013

Berkeley Lab researchers get a detailed look at a DNA repair protein in action

A team of researchers from Berkeley Lab and the Scripps Research Institute used a new technique to study the role of MutS in DNA's mismatch repair system, providing new insight into genome integrity. The study validated the 'beads-on-a-string' model of DNA repair and revealed details about MutS that could be valuable for drug design an...

SourceDOE/Lawrence Berkeley National Laboratory·JournalProceedings of the National Academy of Sciences·DateOct 23, 2013

A simple test may catch early pancreatic cancer

A simple blood test detecting epigenetic alterations may reveal the earliest signs of pancreatic cancer, a disease with nearly always fatal outcomes. The test's sensitivity and specificity are 97% and 85%, respectively, offering a promising step towards reducing mortality from this cancer.

SourceJohns Hopkins Medicine·JournalClinical Cancer Research·DateOct 23, 2013

Penn docs find successful strategy to expand patient participation in hard-to-enroll clinical trials

Researchers at Penn Medicine found that focusing on factors like hope, randomization, and altruism can increase patient willingness to participate in clinical trials for malignant pleural mesothelioma. The study showed a significant increase in participation rates when physicians spent more time discussing these factors with patients.

Complete care improves patient outcomes

Kaiser Permanente's Complete Care model has shown steady improvement in quality scores, with an average increase of 13% compared to the national average. The program uses Proactive Office Encounters to address patient needs, promoting preventive care and improving chronic condition management.

SourceKaiser Permanente·JournalThe Joint Commission Journal on Quality and Patient Safety·DateOct 23, 2013

New eye treatment effective in laboratory tests

Researchers at Scripps Research Institute have developed a promising technique for treating human eye disease by targeting microRNAs, which can stop abnormal blood vessel growth. The approach shows promise in preventing blindness in diseases like neovascular macular degeneration and diabetic retinopathy.

SourceScripps Research Institute·JournalJournal of Clinical Investigation·DateOct 23, 2013

A step towards early Alzheimer's diagnosis

Researchers at Linköping University have identified six proteins in spinal fluid that can be used as markers for the illness, offering a potential step towards early diagnosis. The study found that these proteins are associated with the breakdown of brain cells and toxic accumulations of beta amyloid protein.

SourceLinköping University·JournalNeuroMolecular Medicine·DateOct 23, 2013

Data reaffirms test's ability to identify benign thyroid nodules

A study led by a CU School of Medicine researcher has confirmed the Gene Expression Classifier (GEC) test can accurately identify benign thyroid nodules, significantly reducing the need for unnecessary surgeries. The test was found to have a very high negative predictive value, with only one nodule out of 71 identified as cancerous.

SourceUniversity of Colorado Anschutz Medical Campus·JournalThe Journal of Clinical Endocrinology & Metabolism·DateOct 23, 2013

Communication with similar people stronger than believed

Researchers at Aalto University found that people tend to communicate more frequently with individuals who are similar in age, gender, and mutual friends. The study used computational social science methods to analyze anonymized mobile phone call data, revealing patterns of communication that contradict earlier assumptions.

SourceAalto University·JournalProceedings of the National Academy of Sciences·DateOct 23, 2013

Deciding when 'not' to maximize profits

A new study reveals that corporate bosses selectively intervene in subsidiary decisions to prevent competitive spillovers and maintain a 'go along to get along' cooperative attitude. This approach restricts growth in certain businesses within the corporation, ultimately benefiting rivals at the expense of consumers.

SourceBoston College·JournalAdministrative Science Quarterly·DateOct 23, 2013

Ignorance is sometimes bliss

Researchers discovered that a lack of information about kinship can lead to increased cooperation and reduced conflict within groups. This phenomenon, known as the veil of ignorance, is observed in both social insects and genes, suggesting its evolutionary advantages.

SourceWashington University in St. Louis·JournalBiology Letters·DateOct 23, 2013

Advanced Open Access publishing model

The Biodiversity Data Journal proposes an integrated, narrative and data publishing model for making content reusable and interoperable. This approach shortens the distance between text and data publishing, allowing for easier discovery and harvesting.

SourcePensoft Publishers·JournalBiodiversity Data Journal·DateOct 23, 2013

Imaging breast cancer with light

Researchers at the University of Twente in the Netherlands have developed a new imaging tool called the photoacoustic mammoscope, which uses a combination of infrared light and ultrasound to create a 3-D map of the breast. The device has shown promise in detecting breast cancer early, when it is most treatable.

SourceOptica·JournalBiomedical Optics Express·DateOct 23, 2013

Tailored doses of cytostatic improve survival rate

Researchers developed a protocol to optimise preparatory treatment with cytostatics prior to stem cell transplantation for children with chronic granulomatous disease, achieving higher survival rates and minimal adverse reactions. The study involved tailoring doses of fludarabine and busulfan based on blood levels, resulting in a 93% s...

SourceKarolinska Institutet·JournalThe Lancet·DateOct 23, 2013

Super song learners

A study by Max Planck Institute researchers found that treating juvenile zebra finches with nerve growth factor 'BDNF' enhances their ability to copy songs from their fathers. The treated birds showed a higher similarity with the song of their fathers compared to normally reared juveniles.

SourceMax-Planck-Gesellschaft·JournalEuropean Journal of Neuroscience·DateOct 23, 2013

The reins of Casimir: Engineered nanostructures could offer way to control quantum effect

Scientists at NIST have observed that patterning one surface with nanoscale structures increases or decreases the Casimir effect, which is necessary for making small mechanical parts and studying gravity at the microscale. The discovery challenges existing theory and opens a new path for tuning these effects.

ChemWiki takes on costly textbooks

ChemWiki, launched in 2008, has received major funding from the National Science Foundation to expand its wiki network and compare its content with standard textbooks. The project aims to provide free online resources for students and faculty, promoting a more accessible and affordable learning experience.

Men tend to walk slower when walking with romantic partners

New research shows that men slow down by 7% when walking with their female romantic partners, deviating from their optimal walking speed. This phenomenon suggests that males in mixed-sex groups may make energetic adjustments to accommodate their partner's pace, potentially influencing mobility and reproductive strategies.

SourcePLOS·JournalPLOS ONE·DateOct 23, 2013

Seeing the song

A new Northwestern University study tracked the auditory system's response to highly complex auditory-visual stimuli like music and moving images. The research shows that the left auditory cortex specializes in processing precise timing for sounds and applies this ability to encode auditory-visual synchrony, but only in certain situati...

SourceNorthwestern University·JournalPLOS ONE·DateOct 23, 2013

Nanopore opens new cellular doorway for drug transport

Engineers have created a biological nanopore that acts as a selective door for DNA molecules to enter cells, potentially revolutionizing gene therapy and targeted drug delivery. The nanopore can be controlled to allow specific genetic information in specific cells, opening new possibilities for precision medicine.

SourceKU Leuven·JournalNature Communications·DateOct 23, 2013

USC researcher reveals how to better master stem cells' fate

Researchers at USC have identified a novel way of culturing human ESCs by focusing on the Wnt/beta-catenin signaling pathway. This discovery reveals the important role of Tfcp2l1 in communicating to ESCs that they should self-renew, offering promise for developing stem cell-based therapies for diseases such as Parkinson's and spinal co...

SourceUniversity of Southern California - Health Sciences·JournalNature Communications·DateOct 23, 2013