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Science News Archive December 2016 - Page 23


Page 23 of 32

Helping children achieve more in school

A recent study published in Frontiers in Psychology shows that learning strategies are crucial for academic success among underachieving students. The research highlights the importance of reinforcing these strategies and promoting autonomy and responsibility in teachers and parents. By targeting interventions inspired by overachievers...

SourceFrontiers·JournalFrontiers in Psychology·DateDec 7, 2016

Dark matter may be smoother than expected

A team of astronomers from institutions around the world has processed images from the Kilo Degree Survey to make one of the most precise measurements ever made of cosmic shear, a subtle variant of weak gravitational lensing. The results suggest that dark matter in the cosmic web is less clumpy than previously believed.

SourceESO·JournalMonthly Notices of the Royal Astronomical Society·DateDec 7, 2016

MAO is a possible Alzheimer's disease biomarker

A study published in ACS Central Science reveals that MAO activity increases with Aβ plaque formation in patients with Alzheimer's, suggesting it could serve as a biomarker for diagnosis and monitoring. The research also identified three distinct phases of MAO activity that change along with disease progression.

SourceAmerican Chemical Society·JournalACS Central Science·DateDec 7, 2016

Novel label-free microscopy enables dynamic, high-resolution imaging of cell interactions

Researchers have developed a novel live-cell imaging method that allows for dynamic, high-resolution visualization of cell interactions. The Photonic Crystal Enhanced Microscope (PCEM) can quantify and measure cell adhesion, a critical process involved in cell migration, differentiation, division, and death.

SourceUniversity of Illinois Grainger College of Engineering·JournalProgress in Quantum Electronics·DateDec 7, 2016

Half of people believe fake facts

A study by the University of Warwick found that around 50% of participants believed they had experienced fictitious events, such as taking a childhood hot air balloon ride. The findings have significant implications for fields like forensic investigations, therapy treatments, and courtrooms, where memories are used to inform decisions.

SourceUniversity of Warwick·JournalMemory·DateDec 7, 2016

One specific gene explains many diseases

A genetic difference in the FADS1 gene affects levels of LDL- and HDL-cholesterol, as well as the risk for allergies, inflammatory diseases, and certain types of cancer. This imbalance is thought to have evolved over time due to changes in human diet.

SourceUppsala University·JournalNucleic Acids Research·DateDec 7, 2016

Personalized cancer vaccine is associated with promising outcomes for patients with AML

A personalized cancer vaccine significantly improved outcomes for patients with acute myeloid leukemia (AML) in a clinical trial, showing protection from relapse in most patients and minimal side effects. The vaccine stimulated powerful immune responses against AML cells, using the body's own defense systems to fight cancer.

SourceBeth Israel Deaconess Medical Center·JournalScience Translational Medicine·DateDec 7, 2016

The secret slimming effect of sweet potato waste

A new study found that sweet potato peptide, produced from the water wasted during processing, helps reduce body weight and fat levels in mice fed high-fat diets. The peptide activates appetite suppression and controls lipid metabolism, suggesting a potential slimming effect.

SourceElsevier·JournalHeliyon·DateDec 7, 2016

Critical zone, critical research

The Earth's critical zone is a vital layer that supports life and human activities. Research in this area reveals the importance of time, depth, and coupling in understanding the zone's dynamics. This knowledge helps predict and mitigate negative effects, such as soil degradation and water quality issues.

SourceAmerican Society of Agronomy·JournalVadose Zone Journal·DateDec 7, 2016

Targeted preventive measures for hip fracture are needed for persons with Alzheimer's disease

A recent study from the University of Eastern Finland found that hip fracture risk is higher among those with Alzheimer's disease. Regular assessments of medications and targeted interventions such as exercise, home safety assessment and modification, and medication reviews are proposed as feasible approaches to reduce this risk.

SourceUniversity of Eastern Finland·JournalBMC Geriatrics·DateDec 7, 2016

Molecular switches researched in detail

The researchers used spectroscopy to visualize the arginine finger bonded to the GTP molecule at high precision, revealing how its snap affects geometry and charge distribution. This discovery has implications for understanding switch processes in the body and developing treatments for cancer and genetic diseases.

SourceRuhr-University Bochum·JournalProceedings of the National Academy of Sciences·DateDec 7, 2016

Greenland on thin ice?

Two studies published in Nature offer new perspectives on the past behavior of Greenland's ice sheet, with one suggesting continuous presence for seven million years while another proposes it was nearly ice-free for at least 280,000 years. The findings highlight the complexity and dynamic nature of the ice sheet.

SourceUniversity of Vermont·JournalNature·DateDec 7, 2016

Beware: Children can passively 'smoke' marijuana, too

A new study detected traces of THC, a primary psychoactive chemical in marijuana, in the urine of children exposed to secondary marijuana smoke. Higher concentrations were found in non-white children compared to white children. Researchers call for further investigation into secondhand marijuana smoke exposure as a potential health risk.

SourceSpringer·JournalPediatric Research·DateDec 7, 2016