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Science News Archive December 2016 - Page 25


Page 25 of 32

Scientists improve predictions of how temperature affects the survival of fish embryos

Researchers have developed a new model to predict the survival of fish embryos in high temperatures, taking into account the relationship between egg size and water flow. The study found that larger eggs require more oxygen and can survive in slower-flowing waters, but this relationship is not always consistent with laboratory results.

SourceNOAA Fisheries West Coast Region·JournalEcology Letters·DateDec 6, 2016

Transforming plant cells from generalists to specialists

Researchers at Duke University have identified a set of DNA-binding proteins in Arabidopsis roots that work together to trigger stem cell differentiation and create specialized cells with distinct roles. This discovery sheds light on the longstanding question of how plants make so many types of cells from the same genetic instructions.

SourceDuke University·JournalDevelopmental Cell·DateDec 6, 2016

Happy salmon swim bette

A recent study from Umeå University found that young salmon's desire to migrate to the sea is partly limited by their fear of the unknown downstream. Researchers used anxiolytic medication to treat the salmon and found that treated fish migrated nearly twice as fast as untreated ones.

SourceUmea University·JournalNature Communications·DateDec 6, 2016

How our immune system targets TB

Scientists have discovered how the human immune system targets Mycobacterium tuberculosis, the bacteria that causes TB. The study provides key insight into how the immune system can recognize TB-infected cells, which could lead to the development of new diagnostic tools and novel immunotherapies.

SourceMonash University·JournalNature Communications·DateDec 6, 2016

What makes a neuron a neuron?

Researchers have identified the functions of two sibling RNA-binding proteins in neural stem cells and neurons. PTBP1 and PTBP2 serve both redundant and unique roles in brain development, contributing to neuronal differentiation. This discovery has implications for fine-tuning stem cell therapeutic strategies for neurologic disorders.

SourceUniversity of California - Riverside·JournalCell Reports·DateDec 6, 2016

Tibetan Mastiff gained high altitude adaptation after domestication by wolf interbreeding

A Chinese research group found that the Tibetan Mastiff's high-altitude adaptation is due to interbreeding with the Tibet grey wolf, introducing a DNA swap at two genomic hotspots. This process shares similarities with human evolution, highlighting ancient interbreeding as a key factor in adaptations.

Risk for misuse of opioids and stimulants: What does employment status have to do with it?

Researchers found unemployed workers had the highest risk of misusing prescription opioids, while those out of the workforce entirely were most at risk for misusing prescription stimulants. Nonmedical prescription opioid use costs the US $42 billion in lost productivity annually.

SourceColumbia University's Mailman School of Public Health·JournalSocial Psychiatry and Psychiatric Epidemiology·DateDec 6, 2016

Missing 1-2 hours of sleep doubles crash risk

A new study from the AAA Foundation for Traffic Safety reveals that drivers missing 1-2 hours of sleep nearly double their risk for a crash. The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention reports that 35% of U.S. drivers sleep less than seven hours daily.

SourceAAA·DateDec 6, 2016

Cancer's deadly toll grows in less developed countries as new cases increase globally

A new study found that cancer cases are growing at an alarming rate in less developed countries, with a 50% increase between 2005 and 2015. The global burden of disease is heaviest for countries with high development levels, but the most rapid escalation can be seen in low-income nations where health services are often lacking.