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Science News Archive April 2015 - Page 23


Page 23 of 36

Six questions about HIV/AIDS that deserve more attention

Researchers have been focusing on long-term solutions, but Levy argues that new approaches are needed to prevent infection and disease. He highlights six questions that deserve more attention, including the role of innate immune response, CD8+ T cells, and strategies for an HIV vaccine and cure.

SourceCell Press·JournalTrends in Molecular Medicine·DateApr 14, 2015

How best to test Ebola treatment

A study published in PLOS Medicine proposes a multi-stage approach to testing Ebola treatments, which may be quicker than traditional randomized trials while still providing robust results. This alternative design could potentially triage treatments faster and recommend them without further RCTs under certain circumstances.

SourcePLOS·JournalPLOS Medicine·DateApr 14, 2015

Making carboxyl(ate) friends

Researchers Luigi D'Ascenzo and Pascal Auffinger classify 17 carboxyl(ate) motifs in crystal structures using stereochemical considerations. They provide a systematic naming system and implications for crystal engineering, pharmaceutical research, and biomolecular sciences.

SourceInternational Union of Crystallography·JournalActa Crystallographica Section B·DateApr 14, 2015

How Salmonella survives the macrophage's acid attack

Researchers discovered that Salmonella lowers its cytoplasmic pH in response to acidic environments, triggering the secretion of virulence proteins. This low-pH signal activates an intracellular cascade that induces the formation of a nanomachine used for injecting virulence proteins into host cells.

SourcePLOS·JournalPLOS Biology·DateApr 14, 2015

Climate connections

A recent paper by University of South Carolina paleoceanographer Kelly Gibson shows that rapid climate change affected marine ecosystems in the Cariaco Basin, a body of water off Venezuela's coast. The study used nitrogen isotope ratios to estimate changes in primary productivity and carbon sequestration in the ocean.

SourceUniversity of South Carolina·JournalPaleoceanography·DateApr 14, 2015

Unearthing new antivirals

San Diego State University researchers have developed a platform to identify drugs that interrupt viral proliferation, using dengue virus as an example. A novel drug, Thiostrepton, was identified which may someday be used to combat the disease.

SourceSan Diego State University·JournalJournal of Visualized Experiments·DateApr 14, 2015

New design makes treadmill more like running outdoors

Researchers at Ohio State University have developed a new automated treadmill that uses sonar to change speeds automatically, mimicking the experience of running outdoors. The device provides an accurate measure of aerobic capacity and has been shown to improve VO2 max scores by 4-7% compared to standard treadmills.

SourceOhio State University·JournalMedicine & Science in Sports & Exercise·DateApr 14, 2015

Antimalarial tea -- from herbal remedy to licensed phytomedicine

A traditional herb-derived remedy has been combined with two plants to create an antimalarial tea, which has been licensed and sold as a treatment for malaria in West Africa. The medication, derived from Cochlospermum planchonii, Phyllanthus amarus, and Cassia alata, was traditionally used to alleviate malarial symptoms.

SourceMary Ann Liebert, Inc./Genetic Engineering News·JournalThe Journal of Alternative and Complementary Medicine·DateApr 14, 2015

Are health apps beneficial for healthy people?

While some health apps have shown promise in improving weight loss and physical activity, others have yielded conflicting results. Iltifat Husain argues that doctors should recommend tested and validated apps to help people stay healthy. Des Spence cautions that many health apps are untested and may even cause anxiety and medical harm.

SourceBMJ Group·JournalThe BMJ·DateApr 14, 2015

First signs of self-interacting dark matter?

Researchers observed four colliding galaxies and found a lag between dark matter and its associated galaxy, suggesting that dark matter interacts with forces other than gravity. This discovery could be the first evidence for rich physics in the dark sector, helping scientists better understand dark matter's nature.

SourceESO·JournalMonthly Notices of the Royal Astronomical Society·DateApr 14, 2015

3-D printing blossoms into powerful new tool for ecologists

Researchers used 3D printing to create artificial flowers, one curved and one flat, to investigate how flower shape affects foraging behavior in hawkmoths. The study found that hawkmoths fed more successfully from the curved flowers, suggesting they use touch rather than sight to find nectar.

SourceWiley·JournalFunctional Ecology·DateApr 14, 2015

Researchers use plant oils for novel bio-based plastics

Washington State University researchers have developed a new method to create polyurethane using plant oils, offering a more environmentally friendly alternative to traditional polyurethane. The new method allows for the creation of materials with varying flexibility and stiffness, making it suitable for a range of applications., Resea...

SourceWashington State University·JournalACS Applied Materials & Interfaces·DateApr 14, 2015