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Science News Archive March 2014 - Page 17


Page 17 of 34

NHS sight tests lead to waste

Complex NHS sight tests are leading to unnecessary referrals and resource waste due to clinically insignificant abnormalities. Opticians refer patients to medical practitioners if abnormalities are found, but many of these referrals result in false positives and anxiety for patients.

SourceBMJ Group·JournalThe BMJ·DateMar 18, 2014

Moffitt researchers discover new mechanism allowing tumor cells to escape immune surve

Lung cancer cells use high levels of TGF-β to suppress NK cell activity, leading to reduced DAP12 expression and impaired cytotoxic pathways. The researchers identified a critical role for miR-183 in this process, providing new insight into the exploitation of immune evasion mechanisms by cancer cells.

SourceH. Lee Moffitt Cancer Center & Research Institute·JournalProceedings of the National Academy of Sciences·DateMar 18, 2014

New view of supernova death throes

A new three-dimensional model of supernova collapse reveals the role of turbulent mixing in expanding, contracting and ejecting elements before explosion. This breakthrough insight into the death throes of stars sheds light on the formation of elements necessary for life on Earth.

SourceAmerican Institute of Physics·JournalAIP Advances·DateMar 18, 2014

Antimony nanocrystals for batteries

Scientists from ETH Zurich have synthesized uniform antimony nanocrystals, which can store both lithium and sodium ions, making them prime candidates for anode materials in both lithium-ion and sodium-ion batteries. The researchers found that the optimal size-performance relationship of these nanocrystals is between 20-100 nanometres.

SourceETH Zurich·JournalNano Letters·DateMar 18, 2014

Building heart tissue that beats

Researchers at Harvard Medical School and University of Sydney develop elastic hydrogel-based cardiac tissue that beats in synchrony with natural heart muscle. The breakthrough could lead to repairing damaged hearts without organ transplants, revolutionizing the treatment for millions worldwide.

Stem cells from muscle can repair nerve damage after injury, Pitt researchers show

Researchers at the University of Pittsburgh School of Medicine have made a groundbreaking discovery using human muscle-derived stem cells to repair damaged nerves. The study found that these stem cells could differentiate into neurons and glial support cells, leading to full regeneration of the sciatic nerve in animal models.

SourceUniversity of Pittsburgh Schools of the Health Sciences·JournalJournal of Clinical Investigation·DateMar 18, 2014

Suppressing unwanted memories reduces their unconscious influence on behavior

Researchers at the University of Cambridge and MRC Cognition and Brain Sciences Unit have shown that suppressing unwanted memories reduces their unconscious influence on behavior. The study found that suppressing visual memories made it harder for people to later see the suppressed object compared to other recently seen objects.

SourceUniversity of Cambridge·JournalProceedings of the National Academy of Sciences·DateMar 17, 2014

Young women most at risk least likely to be offered HPV jab

Research reveals young women most at risk of cervical cancer are least likely to be offered and complete the HPV jab. The survey found that these women need targeted efforts to improve vaccination uptake, which was below 80% required for significant impact on cervical cancer rates.

SourceBMJ Group·JournalSexually Transmitted Infections·DateMar 17, 2014