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Science News Archive March 2015 - Page 13


Page 13 of 38

A stiff new layer in Earth's mantle

A new study by University of Utah researchers reveals the existence of an unknown layer inside Earth's lower mantle, where rock gets three times stiffer. This stiffness increase may explain why slabs of sinking tectonic plates stall and thicken at a depth of 930 miles underground.

SourceUniversity of Utah·JournalNature Geoscience·DateMar 23, 2015

Combining the old and new to kill cancer cells

A team of Singapore-based scientists identified a new signalling pathway regulating cancer internal diet. The therapy combines an old anti-malarial drug with CK1α inhibition, effectively treating colon and bladder cancers. Researchers hope to develop more potent inhibitors for this treatment.

SourceDuke-NUS Medical School·JournalJournal of Clinical Investigation·DateMar 23, 2015

Discovery could yield more efficient portable electronics, solar cells

A team of chemists from the University of Wisconsin-Madison has developed a method to precisely order molecules in organic glasses, leading to more efficient and durable portable electronic devices and potentially new generations of solar cells. This breakthrough could result in displays that produce more light using less energy.

SourceUniversity of Wisconsin-Madison·JournalProceedings of the National Academy of Sciences·DateMar 23, 2015

Genome-wide screen of learning in zebrafish identifies enzyme important in neural circuit

A genome-wide screen of zebrafish identified an enzyme, pregnancy-associated plasma protein-aa (pappaa), that promotes learning and memory by increasing IGF availability to neurons. The study's findings have implications for understanding human neuropsychiatric disorders, such as schizophrenia, autism, and obsessive-compulsive disorder.

New insights into survival outcomes of Asian-Americans diagnosed with cancer

A new study from Brigham and Women's Hospital found that Asian-Americans diagnosed with cancer have significantly lower cancer-specific mortality rates compared to non-Hispanic white patients. The study analyzed data from over 2.5 million patients and broke down the population into eight subgroups, revealing variations in survival rate...

SourceBrigham and Women's Hospital·JournalJNCI Journal of the National Cancer Institute·DateMar 23, 2015

Rush to crush risks medicine effectiveness

A study by Queensland University of Technology found that almost half of respondents modified medication dosage forms without seeking advice from healthcare professionals. The research highlights the potential dangers of crushing tablets or modifying capsules, which can lead to reduced effectiveness and increased risk of adverse effects.

SourceQueensland University of Technology·JournalJournal of Pharmacy Practice and Research·DateMar 22, 2015

Food-delivery process inside seeds revealed

A recent Carnegie Institution study has identified three SWEET family proteins essential for delivering sugars from plant leaves to embryonic plants inside seeds. The research found that eliminating these transporters retards embryonic development and reduces seed quality, with potential applications in crop yield enhancement.

SourceCarnegie Institution for Science·JournalThe Plant Cell·DateMar 20, 2015

Pigs gain the same with corn-ethanol co-product as with corn-soybean meal diet, says study

A recent study found that pigs fed diets containing corn-ethanol co-products, such as distillers dried grains with solubles (DDGS), had no significant differences in growth performance compared to those fed a traditional corn-soybean meal diet. The study showed that conventional, high-protein, or uncooked DDGS can be safely included at...

SourceUniversity of Illinois College of Agricultural, Consumer and Environmental Sciences·JournalJournal of the Science of Food and Agriculture·DateMar 20, 2015

Additives to biodegrade plastics don't work

A new study from Michigan State University finds that several additives claiming to break down plastics do not work in common disposal situations. The team tested five additives and three categories of biodegradation methods but found no difference between plastics with additives and those without.

SourceMichigan State University·JournalEnvironmental Science & Technology·DateMar 20, 2015

Stinging nettle chemical improves cancer drug

Researchers discover that combining Sodium Formate with metal-based cancer treatment JS07 can greatly increase its effectiveness against ovarian cancer cells. The potent form of JS07 disrupts cancer cell's energy generation mechanism, leading to cell shutdown and potential reduction in side effects.

SourceUniversity of Warwick·JournalNature Communications·DateMar 20, 2015

Measuring treatment response proves to be a powerful tool for guiding leukemia treatment

A study by St. Jude Children's Research Hospital found that measuring residual leukemia cells in patient bone marrow during early weeks of chemotherapy helps identify high-risk patients who need intensive therapy. The technique improved survival rates for young leukemia patients, with 93.5% alive five years after diagnosis.

SourceSt. Jude Children's Research Hospital·JournalThe Lancet Oncology·DateMar 20, 2015

Letting go of the (genetic) apron strings

Researchers have discovered that a specific set of molecules, known as transcription factors, trigger DNA errors and slow down cell division in embryos. This finding provides new insight into the mechanism behind the 'midblastula transition', where the embryo takes control of its genetic expression.

SourcePrinceton University·JournalCell·DateMar 20, 2015

Review of global guidelines for sepsis needed

A Monash University study reviewed over a million ICU patients in Australia and New Zealand, finding one in eight did not meet current sepsis criteria. The classic definition of sepsis may be missing critically ill patients, particularly the elderly or those on medications that affect heart rate or immune systems.

SourceMonash University·JournalNew England Journal of Medicine·DateMar 20, 2015