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Science News Archive February 2015 - Page 12


Page 12 of 31

Can you judge a man by his fingers?

Researchers at McGill University found that men with short index fingers and long ring fingers are more agreeable and less quarrelsome with women. This unexpected phenomenon may be linked to fetal exposure to hormones during pregnancy.

SourceMcGill University·JournalPersonality and Individual Differences·DateFeb 18, 2015

In the city, rabbits build more densely

Researchers found that European wild rabbits construct smaller, more densely packed burrows in urban areas than in rural settings. This suggests that cities provide a more suitable habitat for these animals, leading to concerns about their potential impact on rural populations and the preservation of the species.

SourceGoethe University Frankfurt·JournalJournal of Zoology·DateFeb 18, 2015

Dresden researchers manage transplantation of adrenal cells encapsulated in a bioreactor

Researchers at the Technische Universität Dresden have successfully transplanted adrenal cells encapsulated in a bioreactor, paving the way for future human transplantation. This breakthrough could benefit patients with adrenal insufficiency and congenital diseases such as 21-hydroxylase deficiency.

SourceTechnische Universität Dresden·JournalProceedings of the National Academy of Sciences·DateFeb 18, 2015

Neighboring birds sing 'out of tune'

Researchers found that neighboring birds sang at significantly different rates than non-neighboring birds, according to a study published in PLOS ONE. Great tits use their songs to signal territory boundaries, and the study suggests that neighborhood structure may shape variation in territorial birdsong.

SourcePLOS·JournalPLOS ONE·DateFeb 18, 2015

Protein that repels immune cells protects transplanted pancreatic islets from rejection

A Massachusetts General Hospital team has developed a method to protect insulin-producing islets from the immune system, enabling long-term blood sugar control without immunosuppression. The approach involves coating or encapsulating islets with CXCL12, a protein that repels immune cells and attracts regulatory T cells.

SourceMassachusetts General Hospital·JournalAmerican Journal of Transplantation·DateFeb 18, 2015

Tool can help assess cognitive impairment in multicultural populations

A new study published in CMAJ reports that the Rowland Universal Dementia Assessment Scale (RUDAS) is effective in assessing cognitive impairment in multicultural populations where English may not be the primary language. The tool has been shown to identify cognitive impairment and rule it out with strong psychometric properties, makin...

SourceCanadian Medical Association Journal·JournalCanadian Medical Association Journal·DateFeb 17, 2015

Think again about gender gap in science

A new Northwestern University analysis reveals that the bachelor's-to-Ph.D. pipeline in science and engineering fields no longer leaks more women than men, with women outnumbering men as Ph.D. earners but not in doctoral persistence. Women have overcome potential gender biases to pursue graduate school, closing gaps in representation.

SourceNorthwestern University·JournalFrontiers in Psychology·DateFeb 17, 2015

Voltage tester for beating cardiac cells

Electrical engineers at ETH Zurich and biologists from the University of Bern have developed a new method to record the activity of moving cells, including beating cardiac muscle cells. The new method combines the patch-clamp technique with an atomic force microscope, allowing for longer measurements and automation.

SourceETH Zurich·JournalNano Letters·DateFeb 17, 2015

A new weapon in the fight against cancer

A study published in International Journal of Molecular Sciences shows that lithocholic acid, a bile acid produced in the liver, is effective in killing cancer cells and delaying aging. The findings have implications for slowing down breast and prostate cancer development.

SourceConcordia University·JournalInternational Journal of Molecular Sciences·DateFeb 17, 2015