Add BrightSurf on Google Email

Science News for January 26, 2015


How cancer turns good cells to the dark side

A new study by Rice University researchers shows how cancer cells use 'jagged' proteins to hijack cell-signaling process and promote metastasis. The mechanism plays a crucial role in embryonic development and wound healing.

SourceRice University·JournalProceedings of the National Academy of Sciences·DateJan 26, 2015

Study finds potential new drug target for lung cancer

Researchers at the University of Kentucky's Markey Cancer Center have identified pyruvate carboxylase as a key enzyme in lung cancer cell growth and survival. The study suggests that inhibiting this enzyme could lead to novel drug development for treating lung cancer, offering new hope for improving current treatment options.

SourceUniversity of Kentucky·JournalJournal of Clinical Investigation·DateJan 26, 2015

Good bedtime habits equal better sleep for kids

The study found that well-established rules for getting good sleep, such as limited caffeine and a regular bedtime, led to sufficient sleep quantity and adequate sleep quality. Reducing the encroachment of technology into sleep time is crucial to support well-known sleep hygiene principles.

SourcePenn State·JournalSleep Health·DateJan 26, 2015

Flexible work schedules improve health, sleep

A study found that giving employees more control over their work schedules can improve sleep quantity and quality, reducing the risk of chronic disease and early mortality. Participants experienced an average gain of nearly an hour of sleep per week compared to those without flexible scheduling.

SourcePenn State·JournalSleep Health·DateJan 26, 2015

Brain study sheds light on how children with autism process social play

A recent brain study has confirmed significant differences in play behavior, brain activation patterns, and stress levels between children with autism spectrum disorder (ASD) and typically developing children. The research suggests that some children with autism may experience social engagement as stressful or aversive.

SourceVanderbilt University Medical Center·JournalSocial Cognitive and Affective Neuroscience·DateJan 26, 2015

Phase 1 clinical trial of CUDC-101 'throws kitchen sink' at head and neck cancer

The CUDC-101 clinical trial, conducted at the University of Colorado Cancer Center, demonstrated activity against key drivers of head and neck cancer. In the study, patients with medium- to high-risk head and neck cancer showed significant results after treatment with CUDC-101 combined with radiation and chemotherapy.

SourceUniversity of Colorado Anschutz Medical Campus·JournalClinical Cancer Research·DateJan 26, 2015

Swarm of microprobes to head for Jupiter

A swarm of microprobes with different sensors could be sent to Jupiter, collecting data as they fall and transmitting it before burning up. This mission concept aims to study the planet's atmosphere and shed light on its composition, solar nebula formation, and impact history.

SourceInderscience Publishers·JournalInternational Journal of Space Science and Engineering·DateJan 26, 2015

Unlocking the kidney riddle in newborns

Researchers discovered that babies born with smaller kidneys are more likely to develop chronic kidney disease and high blood pressure as adults. The study found enhanced nerve activity and an inability to respond to nitric oxide promote kidney injury.

SourceMonash University·JournalCirculation·DateJan 26, 2015

Study finds rabies booster defends pets with out-of-date vaccination against the disease

A new study by Kansas State University veterinary diagnosticians found that a rabies booster can protect pets with out-of-date vaccinations from developing the fatal disease. The finding gives pet owners and veterinarians new options when faced with quarantining or euthanizing a pet exposed to the rabies virus.

SourceKansas State University·JournalJournal of the American Veterinary Medical Association·DateJan 26, 2015

Collagen: Powerful workout with water

Researchers at the Max Planck Institute discovered that removing water from collagen fibers dramatically increases their tensile forces, generating up to 300 times more force than human muscles. This finding suggests a more active role for collagen in living organisms and opens new possibilities for developing novel materials.

SourceMax-Planck-Gesellschaft·JournalNature Communications·DateJan 26, 2015

Chromium-centered cycloparaphenylene rings for making functionalized nanocarbons

A team of chemists at Nagoya University has synthesized novel transition metal-complexed cycloparaphenylenes that enable selective monofunctionalization of CPPs. The discovery opens doors to the construction of unprecedented nanocarbons, including carbon nanotubes with new properties.

SourceInstitute of Transformative Bio-Molecules (ITbM), Nagoya University·JournalJournal of the American Chemical Society·DateJan 26, 2015

Introgression in the pig genome leads to their altitude adaptation

Researchers identified a set of gene loci responsible for thermostatic regulation in Chinese pigs, highlighting the importance of introgression in adaptation. The study found that adaptations to cold and hot environments were triggered by interspecies introgression, providing insights into evolutionary history and adaptation mechanisms.

SourceBGI Shenzhen·JournalNature Genetics·DateJan 26, 2015

Towards a scientific process freed from systemic bias

Large-scale analysis of bibliographic data reveals insights into scientific evaluation methods and publication practices. The studies found cumulative advantage in initial publishing success, detectable patterns in author name disambiguation, and limitations of citation-based measures for quantifying scientific impact.

SourceSpringer·JournalEPJ Data Science·DateJan 26, 2015

Would you tell your manager you had a mental health problem?

A CAMH survey found that nearly four in 10 workers are reluctant to disclose mental health problems to their managers, citing concerns about career impact and stigma. However, the study also reveals that supportive policies and positive relationships with managers can encourage disclosure and create a more supportive work environment.

SourceCentre for Addiction and Mental Health·JournalInternational Journal of Occupational and Environmental Medicine·DateJan 26, 2015

Care eliminates racial disparity in colon cancer survival rates, Stanford study finds

A Stanford University School of Medicine study reveals that more equitable delivery of evidence-based care can close the gap in colon cancer survival rates between white and African-American patients. The researchers found that five-year death rates were lower for all colon cancer patients treated in integrated health-care systems, wit...

SourceStanford Medicine·JournalJournal of Clinical Oncology·DateJan 26, 2015

Mother's stress hormone levels may affect fetal growth and long term health of child

A recent study published in The Journal of Physiology found that increased stress hormone levels in pregnant mice can lead to overeating and reduced fetal growth. However, this effect is not seen when the hormone is administered earlier in pregnancy or when the diet is restricted. The researchers believe that maternal glucocorticoid le...

SourceUniversity of Cambridge·JournalThe Journal of Physiology·DateJan 26, 2015

Hospitals helping violence victims could save millions

Researchers at Drexel University found that hospital-based violence intervention programs can prevent violent reinjury and perpetration, reduce aggressive behaviors, and improve employment and education outcomes. These programs are estimated to save tens of thousands to $4 million in costs over five years.

SourceDrexel University·JournalAmerican Journal of Preventive Medicine·DateJan 26, 2015

An engineering approach from Virginia Tech helps breast cancer researchers at Georgetown

A team of scientists from Georgetown University and Virginia Tech developed a mathematical model to understand breast cancer cell decisions, revealing a key molecular component that determines resistance to antiestrogen therapy. The study found that interferon regulatory factor-1 (IRF1) promotes resistance to antiestrogens.

SourceGeorgetown University Medical Center·JournalCancer Research·DateJan 26, 2015

Cell imaging gets colorful

Researchers have developed a new method for detecting and imaging protein-protein interactions in live cells using color changes, enabling immediate visualization of biochemical events. The FPX technique converts biochemical processes into dramatic green to red color changes.

SourceUniversity of Alberta·JournalNature Methods·DateJan 26, 2015

Researchers gain new insights into hypothyroidism

A study published in the Journal of Clinical Investigation found that a genetic polymorphism may be responsible for why standard treatments for hypothyroidism fail some patients. The researchers suggest that personalized medicine could lead to effective treatment for all patients, and identify potential targets for new therapies.

SourceRush University Medical Center·JournalJournal of Clinical Investigation·DateJan 26, 2015

Mayo Clinic: New breast cancer risk prediction model more accurate than current model

A new breast cancer risk prediction model developed by the Mayo Clinic has been shown to be more accurate than the current screening standard in predicting breast cancer risk. The model uses histologic features of biopsied breast tissue and individual patient demographic information, classifying breast cancer risk with a concordance st...

SourceMayo Clinic·JournalJournal of Clinical Oncology·DateJan 26, 2015

Engineering self-assembling amyloid fibers

Scientists at UC Davis and Rice University have developed methods to manipulate natural proteins into amyloid fibrils with predictable heights. These self-assembling fibers show great toughness, withstanding boiling, digestive proteins, and ultraviolet radiation, making them suitable for tissue engineering and other applications.