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Science News for April 15, 2015


Immunology: Macrophages as T-cell primers

Researchers at Ludwig-Maximilians-Universität München demonstrate that macrophages can effectively substitute for dendritic cells as primers of T-cell-dependent immune responses. They stimulate a more comprehensive immune reaction than cross-presenting dendritic cells, activating T-cells specific for all antigen-binding sites.

SourceLudwig-Maximilians-Universität München·JournalProceedings of the National Academy of Sciences·DateApr 15, 2015

How Twitter can help predict emergency room visits

Researchers created a model that predicts asthma-related emergency room visits with 75% accuracy by analyzing Twitter data and air quality sensors. The study highlights the potential of big data to address health challenges, particularly for chronic conditions like asthma and diabetes.

SourceUniversity of Arizona·JournalIEEE Journal of Biomedical and Health Informatics·DateApr 15, 2015

New synthetic technology for medicines and fine chemicals

A University of Tokyo research group has successfully synthesized (R)- and (S)-rolipram in high yield with high selectivity using a catalyzed flow fine synthesis. This new technology eliminates excess energy, purification steps, and waste generation, offering a promising solution for the production of medicines and fine chemicals.

SourceUniversity of Tokyo·JournalNature·DateApr 15, 2015

Father (and mother) knows best

A new study finds that healthcare providers' passive and reassuring responses to parental concerns about early development delays ASD diagnoses by up to 2 years. Early identification of ASD is crucial for improved long-term developmental outcomes.

SourceElsevier Health Sciences·JournalThe Journal of Pediatrics·DateApr 15, 2015

Many teens try e-cigs, but few become regular users

A recent study found that e-cigarette use is more common than traditional cigarette use among some teen groups, particularly those aged 11-16, who are also more likely to be smokers. The research suggests that e-cigarettes may have a wider appeal than previously thought, but regular use remains relatively rare.

SourceBMJ Group·JournalBMJ Open·DateApr 15, 2015

Inside health-reform savings

The Pioneer Accountable Care Organization program achieved a 1.2% savings in its first year, with overall spending reductions totaling $118 million. Researchers found that higher-spending ACOs were able to achieve greater savings, suggesting a need for benchmarks that encourage participation from these organizations.

SourceHarvard Medical School·JournalNew England Journal of Medicine·DateApr 15, 2015

Frog uses different strategies to escape ground, air predators

Túngara frogs exhibit different escape responses when attacked by ground versus aerial predators. They flee from snakes on the ground but move towards bats in the air, effectively undercutting their flight path. This study highlights the flexibility of prey strategies to evade predators with diverse attack modes.

SourcePLOS·JournalPLOS ONE·DateApr 15, 2015

A beggars banquet -- life in a shared nest

Researchers found that crow chicks raised alongside a cuckoo chick begged less intensely than those in nests without any unrelated broods present. Despite this, the young crows ultimately grew bigger than the cuckoos. The study suggests that sharing the nest with a cuckoo may be advantageous for crow chicks.

SourceSpringer·JournalBehavioral Ecology and Sociobiology·DateApr 15, 2015

Paternal sperm may hold clues to autism

A small study found distinct patterns of regulatory tags in DNA from fathers' sperm linked to children's early signs of autism. The presence or absence of these tags was statistically related to Autism Observation Scale for Infants scores, suggesting a potential contribution to the condition.

SourceJohns Hopkins Medicine·JournalInternational Journal of Epidemiology·DateApr 15, 2015

Wind bursts strongly affect El Niño severity

A new study finds that wind bursts in the western Pacific can significantly impact El Niño events and their severity. The research identifies three distinct varieties of El Niño and explains how westerly wind bursts determine which flavor will occur. This finding could help improve future predictions of these global-scale climate events.

SourceUniversity of Maryland·JournalNature Geoscience·DateApr 15, 2015

Scientists uncover how molecule protects brain cells in Parkinson's disease model

Researchers found that serum glucocorticoid kinase 1 (SGK1) protects brain cells by blocking pathways involved in neurodegeneration and alleviating mitochondrial dysfunction. Increasing SGK1 levels offers a potential therapeutic approach for Parkinson's disease, as naturally occurring levels are not sufficient to promote cell survival.

SourceScripps Research Institute·JournalMolecular and Cellular Biology·DateApr 15, 2015

Discovery of new plant switch could boost crops, biofuel production

Researchers at Michigan State University discovered a new switch that regulates plant photosynthesis, allowing for improved efficiency and resilience to environmental stresses. This discovery may aid in developing plants with enhanced productivity and stability, addressing the increasing demand for food and fuel as climate changes.

SourceMichigan State University·JournalProceedings of the National Academy of Sciences·DateApr 15, 2015

Knuckle-cracking observed using MRI

Researchers used MRI to observe the effects of knuckle cracking on joint cavities, finding a rapid gas-filled cavity formation. The study's findings may pave the way for new research into the potential therapeutic benefits or harms of joint cracking.

SourcePLOS·JournalPLOS ONE·DateApr 15, 2015

Patents forecast technological change

Engineers at MIT have devised a formula for estimating how fast a technology is advancing, based on information gleaned from relevant patents. The researchers found that certain metrics across patents, such as forward citations and publication date, are more likely to predict a technology's improvement rate than others.

Homeland chemical security

Research highlights the need for collaboration between the chemical industry and DHS to ensure US chemical facilities' safety and security. The team suggests that communities should develop preparedness plans in anticipation of possible chemical disasters.

SourceInderscience Publishers·JournalInternational Journal of Critical Infrastructures·DateApr 15, 2015

Study: Most partisans treat politics like sports rivalries, instead of focusing on issues

A study found that most partisans prioritize winning elections over policy or ideological goals, leading to increased partisan hostility and uncivil attitudes. The researchers analyzed survey data from the 2010 Cooperative Congressional Election Study and found that loyalty to the party is a primary motivator for many partisans.

SourceUniversity of Kansas·JournalPolitical Research Quarterly·DateApr 15, 2015

Dwindling bird populations in Fukushima

Recent studies show that bird populations are declining in Fukushima, with dramatic decreases in species and numbers, despite a decrease in background radiation levels. The research suggests that exposure to radiation is causing toxic effects, leading to impaired DNA repair capabilities in migratory birds.

SourceUniversity of South Carolina·JournalScientific Reports·DateApr 15, 2015

Personal genome diagnostics study shows limitations of tumor-only sequencing for cancer

A recent study published in Science Translational Medicine found that many genetic alterations identified using tumor-only sequencing are not associated with cancer, but rather reflect inherited germline mutations. The study analyzed DNA from 815 patients and found that nearly half of the detected genetic alterations were 'false positi...

SourceBLL Partners, LLC·JournalScience Translational Medicine·DateApr 15, 2015

Light in a spin

Researchers at the University of the Witwatersrand have demonstrated the first observation of angular acceleration in laser light, which can be controlled with a single parameter. This breakthrough could lead to new applications using structured light fields.

SourceUniversity of the Witwatersrand·JournalPhysical Review A·DateApr 15, 2015

NIST develops NMR 'fingerprinting' for monoclonal antibodies

Researchers at NIST have developed a precise method to measure the structural configuration of monoclonal antibodies using two-dimensional nuclear magnetic resonance (2D NMR) spectroscopy. This technique allows for high-resolution spectral analysis, enabling the determination of whether protein folding is occurring as desired, and pote...

Cobalt film a clean-fuel find

Researchers at Rice University have discovered a cobalt-based thin film that can produce both hydrogen and oxygen from water to feed fuel cells. The film is highly porous, inexpensive, and scalable, making it a potential alternative to expensive metals like platinum in water-electrolysis devices.

SourceRice University·JournalAdvanced Materials·DateApr 15, 2015

Diversity in a monoculture

Scientists used tobacco plants with altered defense genes to demonstrate that functional diversity within a species is essential for ecosystem health. The study found that variations in single plant genes can have large effects on whole plant populations, improving their ability to defend themselves against herbivores and other threats.

Actual dating requires calibration down to the last ion

Researchers developed a new calibration technique for thermoluminescence dating, improving accuracy to within 1% using oxygen and lithium ions. The method employs a pulsed ion beam and a combination of detectors to replicate natural radiation exposure.

SourceSpringer·JournalThe European Physical Journal Plus·DateApr 15, 2015

Iceberg armadas not the cause of North Atlantic cooling

A team of researchers from Cardiff University used sediment cores to construct records of changing ocean temperature and iceberg activity over the last 400 thousand years. They found that abrupt cooling events were often paired with an increase in iceberg activity, but icebergs arrived too late to have triggered cooling at this site.

SourceCardiff University·JournalNature·DateApr 15, 2015

New '4-D' lung cancer model could quicken discoveries

Researchers at Houston Methodist have developed a new, ex vivo lung cancer model that mimics the process of tumor progression. The '4-D' model allows for the study of cancer metastasis, including the growth of primary tumors and formation of circulating tumor cells, providing insights into tumor progression and potential new therapies.

What is more rewarding: A soccer goal or prize money?

A study by researchers at the University of Bonn found that brain activity in soccer players is similar when scoring a goal or winning money. Players with more egotistical personalities showed increased activity in learning and reflection regions when goals were scored after passing, not after taking the shot.

SourceUniversity of Bonn·JournalPLOS ONE·DateApr 15, 2015