Add BrightSurf on Google Email

Science News Archive July 2014 - Page 9


Page 9 of 34

It takes two to court

Stowers researchers identified two classes of pheromone receptors that help male mice detect female presence and ovulation, essential for triggering the mating process. The findings provide new insight into how the mammalian brain processes sensory information like pheromones to elicit courtship behaviors.

Warning: Birthdays can be bad for your health

Researchers found a significant increase in hospital admissions among young Ontarians during their 19th birthday week, with spikes also observed at other ages. Birthday-related drinking was associated with upsurges in hospital admissions, particularly for alcohol-related events.

SourceWiley·JournalAddiction·DateJul 24, 2014

New approach to form non-equilibrium structures

Researchers at Northwestern University have developed a new technique to create non-equilibrium systems by injecting energy through oscillations, enabling the self-assembly of particles under non-equilibrium conditions. This breakthrough brings scientists closer to understanding the fundamentals of non-equilibrium thermodynamics.

SourceNorthwestern University·JournalProceedings of the National Academy of Sciences·DateJul 24, 2014

Antioxidant biomaterial promotes healing

Northwestern University professor Guillermo Ameer's team created a biodegradable, antioxidant biomaterial that reduces scarring and heals diabetic ulcers. The material is made from citric acid and vitamin C, and has potential applications in tissue engineering, medical device coating, and regenerative medicine.

SourceNorthwestern University·JournalBiomaterials·DateJul 24, 2014

New research suggests Saharan dust is key to the formation of Bahamas' Great Bank

Researchers from the University of Miami found that iron-rich Saharan dust provides nutrients for specialized bacteria producing carbonate-based foundation. The study suggests that high concentrations of iron-rich dust blown across the Atlantic Ocean are responsible for the formation of the Great Bahama Bank.

Test helps predict which children with kidney disease will respond to standard therapy

A genetic screening test can predict which children with one of the most common childhood kidney diseases will respond to standard therapies, guiding treatment and improving clinical outcomes. The test was found to be more predictive than a kidney biopsy in identifying non-responders to immunosuppressive treatments.

SourceAmerican Society of Nephrology·JournalJournal of the American Society of Nephrology·DateJul 24, 2014

Background TV can be bad for kids

A University of Iowa study found that background TV can divert children's attention from play and learning, negatively affecting cognitive development. Parents who create a loving and nurturing environment with set rules and expectations can help buffer these impacts.

NRG1 isoforms could be an effective therapeutic candidate to promote peripheral nerve regeneration

Researchers at the University of Western Australia discovered that soluble NRG1 plays a role in early peripheral nerve regeneration phases, promoting axon degeneration and regrowth. Soluble NRG1, already used in human trials for heart failure treatment, may be an effective therapeutic candidate to promote nerve regeneration.

SourceNeural Regeneration Research·JournalNeural Regeneration Research·DateJul 24, 2014

Four-billion-year-old chemistry in cells today

Researchers at the University of East Anglia have found that cells in plants, yeast, and animals continue to perform reactions thought to be responsible for life's origin four billion years ago. These reactions involve iron, sulfur, and electro-chemistry, essential for functions like respiration and photosynthesis.

SourceUniversity of East Anglia·JournalJournal of Biological Chemistry·DateJul 24, 2014

Choice bias: A quirky byproduct of learning from reward

Researchers discovered a link between credit assignment and choice bias, finding that people value rewards they choose more than equivalent rewards not chosen. The study used computational modeling and behavioral experiments to test the hypothesis, and found evidence supporting the proposed biological mechanism.

SourceBrown University·JournalNeuron·DateJul 24, 2014

Hubble finds 3 surprisingly dry exoplanets

Astronomers using NASA's Hubble Space Telescope found three 'hot Jupiters' with significantly lower than expected water vapor levels, challenging current theories on planet formation and migration. The discovery may require instruments to be designed with higher sensitivity for future space telescopes searching for water in potentially...

SourceNASA/Goddard Space Flight Center·JournalThe Astrophysical Journal Letters·DateJul 24, 2014

Shift work linked to heightened risk of type 2 diabetes

Research suggests that shift work is associated with a heightened risk of developing type 2 diabetes, particularly among men and those working rotating shift patterns. The study found a 37% increased risk for men and a 9% increased risk for all participants compared to working normal office hours.

SourceBMJ Group·JournalOccupational and Environmental Medicine·DateJul 24, 2014

Laser therapy on the repair of a large-gap transected sciatic nerve in a reinforced nerve conduit

Researchers developed a biodegradable nerve conduit using genipin-cross-linked gelatin and beta-tricalcium phosphate, combining it with diode laser therapy to repair long-gap sciatic nerves. The study found that this combination accelerated nerve regeneration, improved reinnervation rates, and enhanced muscle recruitment.

SourceNeural Regeneration Research·JournalNeural Regeneration Research·DateJul 23, 2014

Protein evolution follows a modular principle

Scientists at the Max Planck Institute for Developmental Biology discovered that proteins can be constructed of similar amino acid chains even when their three-dimensional shapes differ significantly. This suggests that modern proteins arose from common precursors, built up from smaller fragments according to a modular principle.

SourceMax-Planck-Gesellschaft·JournalNature Chemical Biology·DateJul 23, 2014