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Science News for December 26, 2016


Dental implants with antibacterial activity

Scientists at the University of the Basque Country have created coatings for dental implants that can prevent bacterial colonization and adhesion. The new coatings were developed using sol-gel synthesis and added antibacterial agents, achieving successful results in preventing osseointegration problems and infections.

SourceUniversity of the Basque Country·JournalJournal of Non-Crystalline Solids·DateDec 26, 2016

Sprinting towards extinction? Cheetah numbers crash globally

The cheetah is sprinting towards extinction with only 7,100 individuals remaining, highlighting the need for landscape-wide conservation efforts. The species' dramatic decline is driven by habitat loss, human-wildlife conflict, and illegal trafficking, requiring a paradigm shift in conservation approaches.

SourcePanthera·JournalProceedings of the National Academy of Sciences·DateDec 26, 2016

Study: Hospital readmission rates decrease after passage of ACA financial penalties

A new analysis found that hospitals with high readmission rates for Medicare patients with certain health conditions saw significant decreases after the passage of the Affordable Care Act's Hospital Readmissions Reduction Program. The poorest performing hospitals achieved the greatest reductions in readmission rates, suggesting that fi...

SourceBeth Israel Deaconess Medical Center·JournalAnnals of Internal Medicine·DateDec 26, 2016

Naturally occurring mechanism of cancer drug-resistance may itself be a treatment target

A new study reveals that cancer cells can develop resistance to proteasome inhibitors by suppressing the expression of proteasome subunits, leading to a broadly altered cell state with unique vulnerabilities. This finding may expose opportunities for targeted therapies that can be effective against diverse cancers.

SourceWhitehead Institute for Biomedical Research·JournalProceedings of the National Academy of Sciences·DateDec 26, 2016

Biology's 'breadboard'

Researchers have developed a novel GAL4-UAS system for C. elegans, allowing for systematic perturbation of the nervous system and creation of a database linking neural activity to behaviors. This 'breadboard' system enables precise control of neural activity, simplifying the study of nervous system function.

SourceNew York Institute of Technology·JournalNature Methods·DateDec 26, 2016

Preventing too much immunity

Researchers at Osaka University discovered a molecular mechanism underlying some autoimmune diseases. Satb1 regulates the development of regulatory T cells (Treg cells), which are essential for controlling hyperactive immune systems.

SourceOsaka University·JournalNature Immunology·DateDec 26, 2016