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Science News Archive December 2016 - Page 22


Page 22 of 32

Copeptin levels associated with renal and cardiac disease in type 1 diabetes patients

A study found that type 1 diabetes patients with elevated albumin in their urine had triple the risk of life-threatening kidney and cardiac disease compared to those with normal levels. Copeptin levels were significantly higher in these patients, suggesting a new potential target for therapies.

SourceUniversity of Colorado Anschutz Medical Campus·JournalJournal of Diabetes and its Complications·DateDec 8, 2016

Researchers question lifelong immunity to toxoplasmosis

A team of researchers suggests that the lifelong immunity to toxoplasmosis, once thought to be absolute, may not be as robust as previously believed. Studies have shown that even expectant mothers infected with Toxoplasma gondii at birth can still test positive for antibodies, challenging the long-held dogma.

SourceCell Press·JournalTrends in Parasitology·DateDec 8, 2016

Transplanted interneurons can help reduce fear in mice

Researchers have discovered that transplanting immature interneurons into the brains of mice can help reduce fear response. The study found that these transplanted cells reactivated a juvenile-like plasticity in the mature amygdala, enhancing synaptic plasticity and modulating fear extinction behavior.

SourceCell Press·JournalNeuron·DateDec 8, 2016

An anti-CRISPR for gene editing

Scientists have isolated three families of proteins that can turn off CRISPR-Cas9 systems specifically used for gene editing. This discovery offers a new strategy to prevent unintended changes in the genome, making gene editing more precise and controlled.

SourceCell Press·JournalCell·DateDec 8, 2016

EEG reveals information essential to users

A study by Aalto University and the Helsinki Institute for Information Technology used EEG to model user interest in Wikipedia articles, predicting search intentions and recommending relevant documents. This technology has potential to assist humans by automatically monitoring and gathering information through wearable EEG sensors.

SourceAalto University·JournalScientific Reports·DateDec 8, 2016

What to do with the data?

Researchers are preparing to tackle an onslaught of petabytes of complex data from sophisticated experiments, including CERN's Large Hadron Collider. To keep up with the challenge, experts propose developing exascale supercomputers and smarter networks, as well as reengineering software to adapt to future hardware developments.

Protein disrupts infectious biofilms

A team of researchers at Caltech and the University of Oxford identified a protein that degrades and inhibits biofilms of Pseudomonas aeruginosa, the primary pathogen in cystic fibrosis infections. This discovery offers a new approach to inhibit biofilm development and has promise for treating antibiotic-resistant biofilm infections.

A nano-roundabout for light

Researchers at Vienna University of Technology have created a nano-roundabout for light signals using an atomic switch, allowing for precise control over the direction of circulation. The system utilizes a bottle resonator and a single rubidium atom to break symmetry and define traffic rules.

SourceVienna University of Technology·JournalScience·DateDec 8, 2016

Child mummy offers revised history of smallpox

Researchers discovered a 17th-century variola virus in a child mummy, providing a more accurate timeline for the evolution of smallpox. The study suggests that smallpox may have appeared in humans more recently than previously thought, and its evolutionary history was influenced by human migration and colonization.

SourceCell Press·JournalCurrent Biology·DateDec 8, 2016

Why cryptophyte algae are really good at harvesting light

Cryptophyte algae have been found to harness light energy at an unprecedented rate, thanks to the ability of molecular vibrations to enhance photon absorption. This discovery has potential applications in developing more efficient light-harvesting technologies, such as sensors and communication systems.

SourceCell Press·JournalChem·DateDec 8, 2016

Report proposes standards for sharing data and code used in computational studies

A new report by University of Illinois professors recommends standardizing sharing of data sets and software code to improve reproducibility in computational research. The recommendations include documenting digital objects, making datasets and workflows accessible, and implementing reproducibility checks before publication.

TET proteins drive early neurogenesis

Researchers have discovered that TET proteins, which modify methyl groups attached to cytosine, influence gene expression and facilitate the removal of these marks. This dynamic modulation is critical for driving developmental gene expression programs in early embryos, particularly in neural tissue formation.

SourceLa Jolla Institute for Immunology·JournalProceedings of the National Academy of Sciences·DateDec 7, 2016