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Science News Archive November 2014 - Page 19


Page 19 of 31

HIV virulence depends on where virus inserts itself in host DNA

Researchers at KU Leuven discovered that HIV's integration site determines disease progression. The team found that manipulating the integration site can lead to faster disease progression in some cases, but also opens up possibilities for developing new therapies by targeting safer regions of host DNA.

SourceKU Leuven·JournalCell Host & Microbe·DateNov 12, 2014

A twisted world -- chemists build a molecular banister

Researchers at the University of Basel have created a helical molecule with unique properties, where one strand winds around a central axis like a staircase banister. This 'twisted world' enables dynamic changes in chirality, opening up new possibilities for basic research and industrial applications.

SourceUniversity of Basel·JournalAngewandte Chemie International Edition·DateNov 12, 2014

The backwards brain? Study shows how brain maps develop to help us perceive the world

Scientists at Scripps Research Institute found that moving forward trains the brain to perceive the world normally and calibrates time perception. The study's findings have implications for treating sensory processing disorders like autism and could lead to retraining the brain after stroke or other conditions.

SourceScripps Research Institute·JournalProceedings of the National Academy of Sciences·DateNov 12, 2014

Picture emerges of how kids get head injuries

A study of over 43,000 children with head trauma found that falls were the most common cause of head injuries in children under 12, while assaults, sports, and car crashes were more prevalent in teenagers. The findings suggest that CT scans may be overused during diagnosis, and could help policy makers develop injury-prevention measures.

SourceWashU Medicine·JournalNew England Journal of Medicine·DateNov 12, 2014

Did men evolve navigation skills to find mates?

A University of Utah study found that men with better spatial skills traveled farther and had more children with multiple women. The researchers tested members of two African tribes and discovered a link between spatial ability, navigation, and reproductive success.

SourceUniversity of Utah·JournalEvolution and Human Behavior·DateNov 12, 2014

Valuable movies and valued movies may be two different things

A study of 582 films over 30 years reveals that entertainment can be more important than a simple diversion, providing audiences with ways to grapple with life's questions. Serious movies may not sell as well as action flicks at the box office, but they are still deeply appreciated and memorable.

SourcePenn State·JournalMass Communication & Society·DateNov 12, 2014

In preschoolers, office test overestimates eye's ability to change focus, reports Optometry and Vision Science

A study published in Optometry and Vision Science found that preschoolers' ability to change focus is lower than subjective tests suggest. The test results showed a significant difference between the objective and subjective measures of accommodation amplitude in young children, with the former being about half of the latter.

SourceWolters Kluwer Health·JournalOptometry and Vision Science·DateNov 12, 2014

Shaking the topological cocktail of success

Researchers at ETH Zurich create an artificial graphene system that breaks time-reversal symmetry using laser beams and ultracold atoms. This setup enables the testing of the topological Haldane model, a concept first proposed in 1988, and paves the way for new electronic applications.

SourceETH Zurich·JournalNature·DateNov 12, 2014

Electronic 'tongue' to ensure food quality

A low-cost electronic tongue has been developed to detect various substances in samples, including food, water, and blood, enabling accurate quality checks and monitoring for pollutants. The device's precision and affordability make it suitable for applications in medical diagnostics, pharmaceutical testing, and environmental monitoring.

SourceAmerican Chemical Society·JournalACS Applied Materials & Interfaces·DateNov 12, 2014

Not all elderly Americans will surf to health

A study finds that elderly Americans with low health literacy are less likely to use the internet for health information. Interventions targeting health literacy among older adults may help bridge the digital divide.

SourceSpringer·JournalJournal of General Internal Medicine·DateNov 12, 2014

Mongoose sentinels respond flexibly to threats

Dwarf mongooses show real-time behavioral plasticity in response to threat indicators, altering their behavior based on environmental conditions and social signals. This flexible decision-making allows them to optimize foraging time versus vigilance, ensuring survival in a vulnerable predator-rich environment.

SourceUniversity of Bristol·JournalAnimal Behaviour·DateNov 12, 2014

Fighting crime through crowdsourcing

University of Miami researchers create a new model combining human and machine efforts to solve complex tasks, improving accuracy in face recognition. The crowdsourced approach leverages the power of social networks and smartphones to facilitate efficient analysis.

Gene sequencing projects link two mutations to Ewing sarcoma subtype with poor prognosis

A collaboration between St. Jude Children's Research Hospital-Washington University Pediatric Cancer Genome Project and Institut Curie-Inserm identified frequent mutations in genes STAG2 and TP53 that define a subtype of Ewing sarcoma associated with reduced survival. The study provides critical insights into the genetic changes that d...

SourceSt. Jude Children's Research Hospital·JournalCancer Discovery·DateNov 12, 2014

A piece of the quantum puzzle

Researchers at UCSB's Martinis Lab successfully demonstrated a quantum version of Gauss's law using superconducting qubits. The team achieved full control over a two-qubit system, enabling precise measurement of local curvature through movement, showcasing the power of arbitrary control in quantum simulation.