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Science News Archive November 2015 - Page 21


Page 21 of 35

First-in-class investigational therapeutic shows early promise for lymphoma patients

A phase I clinical trial found that pevonedistat, a small-molecule inhibitor of the NEDD8-activating enzyme, was safe and tolerable in heavily pretreated patients with relapsed/refractory lymphoma. The therapeutic showed modest activity in these patients, with three achieving partial responses and 30 experiencing stable disease.

SourceAmerican Association for Cancer Research·JournalClinical Cancer Research·DateNov 11, 2015

New 'short-crested lizard' found in Montana

A new short-crested lizard, Probrachylophosaurus bergei, has been found in Montana, exhibiting an intermediate nasal crest between non-crested ancestors and larger crests of adult Brachylophosaurus. This discovery provides insights into the evolution of dinosaur species and sheds light on the transitional forms between different groups.

SourcePLOS·JournalPLOS ONE·DateNov 11, 2015

Zooplankton: Not-so-passive motion in turbulence

Researchers found that zooplankton copepods display energetic behavior in turbulent flows, amplifying the flow's intermittent properties. Their self-induced motion adds to fluctuations in speed, affecting feeding efficiency and ecological modeling.

SourceSpringer·JournalThe European Physical Journal E·DateNov 11, 2015

Penn study: Adults with OCD can benefit from exposure therapy when common drug treatment options fail

Researchers found that adding exposure and response prevention therapy to treatment regimens significantly improved symptoms in patients with OCD who had not responded to medication. The study also showed significant increases in insight, quality of life, and social function after just eight weeks.

SourceUniversity of Pennsylvania School of Medicine·JournalJournal of Clinical Psychiatry·DateNov 11, 2015

No more brown apples?

Plant tyrosinase enzyme, responsible for browning of apples and other fruits, has been structurally elucidated by researchers at the University of Vienna. The discovery reveals new insights into the enzyme's function and opens up potential avenues for controlling browning reactions.

SourceUniversity of Vienna·JournalAngewandte Chemie·DateNov 11, 2015

Diagnosis before disease breaks out

Researchers at Linköping University have developed a strategy to discover disease progression at its earliest phase by analyzing T-cells. The study found that specific genes can serve as early disease markers, even before symptoms appear.

SourceLinköping University·JournalScience Translational Medicine·DateNov 11, 2015

Mechanical heart valve prosthesis superior to biological

A Swedish registry study found that mechanical heart valve prosthesis has superior long-term survival rates compared to biological valve prosthesis, particularly for relatively young patients. The risk of stroke was similar for both types of prostheses, but patients with biological valves were more likely to require re-operation.

SourceKarolinska Institutet·JournalEuropean Heart Journal·DateNov 11, 2015

Natural selection and inflammation may hold key to age-associated cancer risk

Research suggests that healthy cells are optimized for a healthy ecosystem; changes in this ecosystem allow cancer-causing mutations to outcompete healthy rivals, leading to an increase in cancerous cells. Inflammation is a critical factor in this process, hurting the growth and maintenance of healthy B-cell progenitor cells.

SourceUniversity of Colorado Anschutz Medical Campus·JournalJournal of Clinical Investigation·DateNov 11, 2015

Medicines do not seem to degrade faster in space

A study on medicines stored in space for up to 550 days revealed that they do not degrade faster than on Earth. The research found that some medications were still viable beyond their expiration dates, while others showed minimal degradation.

SourceSpringer·JournalThe AAPS Journal·DateNov 10, 2015

Scientists date the origin of the cacao tree to 10 million years ago

New research suggests the cacao tree is 10 million years old, offering a chance for genetic variation to improve disease resistance and flavor diversity in the industry. This ancient origin provides a solution to the lack of genetic variation in cultivated cacao, making it vulnerable to pests and climate change.

SourceFrontiers·JournalFrontiers in Ecology and Evolution·DateNov 10, 2015

A treasure trove of new cancer biomarkers

Researchers have discovered a large number of genes that are upregulated in various types of cancer, which could be used to develop early detection tests and targeted therapies. The study, published in Cancer Research, utilized two different technologies to identify 128 markers that were consistently perturbed in both datasets.

SourceRIKEN·JournalCancer Research·DateNov 10, 2015

What counts as fair?

A new study found that counting ability was a strong predictor of whether children would distribute resources based on merit, not age or education. Children as young as 3 can understand the concept of rewarding more effort, but struggle to translate it into an accurate distribution.

SourceMassachusetts Institute of Technology·JournalDevelopmental Science·DateNov 10, 2015

Clay makes better high-temp batteries

Researchers at Rice University have developed clay-based electrolytes that can supply stable electrochemical power in temperatures up to 120 degrees Celsius, addressing a challenge for rechargeable lithium-ion batteries. The materials offer thermal stability and wetting properties, enabling good contact with electrodes.

SourceRice University·JournalACS Applied Materials & Interfaces·DateNov 10, 2015

Dust, iron, life

A team of scientists has found evidence of iron-rich dust from 300 million years ago, which suggests that atmospheric dust acted as a fertilizer for life. The discovery provides new insights into the biogeochemical impacts of iron on the oceans and the climate system during the late Paleozoic era.

SourceGeological Society of America·JournalGeology·DateNov 10, 2015