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Science News Archive January 2016 - Page 23


Page 23 of 31

PNAS: Childhood leukemias forged by different evolutionary forces than in older adults

A new study proposes that genetic drift contributes to the development of leukemia in young children. The researchers used a computational model describing blood stem cell population dynamics and found that drift plays a significant role in early-life leukemia formation. In contrast, selection drives leukemia development in older adults.

SourceUniversity of Colorado Anschutz Medical Campus·JournalProceedings of the National Academy of Sciences·DateJan 11, 2016

Decision making in action

The brain initially represents and decides between competing action options by planning multiple movements simultaneously. Researchers found that participants planned a movement for each potential target and executed these movements simultaneously when the target was uncertain.

SourceQueen's University·JournalNature Neuroscience·DateJan 11, 2016

IUPUI develops technique for detection of illicit enhancement of racing tire performance

Researchers at IUPUI have developed a new technique to detect illicit treatment of racing tires with volatile chemicals, finding approximately 15% of tires tested positive for banned substances. The method uses Headspace Solid Phase Microextraction (SPME) and Gas Chromatography/Mass Spectrometry (GC/MS), and has the potential to be app...

Girls should expect poorer physics grades

A study by ETH Zurich researchers found that teachers with less experience discriminate against female students in physics exams, leading to poorer grades. The findings highlight the importance of teacher training and objective grading criteria to combat biases and stereotypes.

SourceETH Zurich·JournalInternational Journal of Science Education·DateJan 11, 2016

High folic acid intake in aged mice causes a lowered immune response

A study by Tufts University researchers found that high folic acid intake causes a lowered immune response in aged mice, particularly affecting natural killer cells. The study used an aged mouse model and found that excess folic acid impaired NK cell development, leading to reduced immunity against viral infections and cancer.

SourceTufts University, Health Sciences Campus·JournalThe Journal of Nutritional Biochemistry·DateJan 11, 2016

Squeezing cells into stem cells

EPFL scientists have developed a gel that boosts the ability of normal cells to revert into stem cells by simply squeezing them into shape. This method paves the way for large-scale production of stem cells for medical purposes, offering new ways to treat injuries and diseases such as Parkinson's and diabetes.

SourceEcole Polytechnique Fédérale de Lausanne·JournalNature Materials·DateJan 11, 2016

Kids' robotic rehab

A team of researchers is exploring the use of the NAO robot in a new approach to pediatric rehabilitation based on social interaction between robots and humans. The robot can read moods, recognize family members, and learn preferences, providing personalized interventions for children with motor disabilities.

Life-extending hormone bolsters the body's immune function

A Yale University study found that the hormone FGF21 protects against age-related loss of immune function by promoting T cell production. Increasing FGF21 levels may be an additional strategy to bolster immune function in the elderly or cancer patients undergoing bone marrow transplantation.

SourceYale University·JournalProceedings of the National Academy of Sciences·DateJan 11, 2016

You can't fool this activity tracker

Researchers at Northwestern University have developed a way to train smartphone activity trackers to spot fake activity, increasing accuracy from 38% to 84%. The system learns to recognize patterns of cheating, such as shaking the phone while lounging on the couch, and can generalize it across individuals.

SourceNorthwestern University·JournalPLOS ONE·DateJan 11, 2016

The way you sound affects your mood

Researchers created an audio platform that modifies voices to sound happier, sadder or more fearful, and found participants' emotional state changed accordingly. The study suggests people don't always control their own voice to match emotions, but listen to it to gauge feelings.

SourceLund University·JournalProceedings of the National Academy of Sciences·DateJan 11, 2016

Backyard chickens harbor greater diversity of ticks, mites, and lice than farm-raised chickens

A study by University of California, Riverside scientists reveals that backyard chickens have a higher diversity of ectoparasites, including six species of lice, the northern fowl mite, scaly leg mite, and chicken red mite. This finding suggests that the benefits of backyard chicken keeping may come with an itchy price.

SourceEntomological Society of America·JournalJournal of Medical Entomology·DateJan 11, 2016

Illinois and Syngenta sign agreement for access to RIPE intellectual property

The University of Illinois and Syngenta have signed an agreement to implement a commercialization strategy for the 'RIPE' project, which aims to improve photosynthetic efficiency in food crops. The partnership brings together academic groups with industry partner Syngenta to advance technologies developed under the project.

Study reveals potential therapy targets for triple-negative breast cancer

A multi-institutional international study has revealed new information about the interaction between long non-coding RNAs and HIF-1 signaling pathways in triple-negative breast cancer. The study identifies four previously unknown phosphorylation sites, which predict a worse outcome for TNBC patients, suggesting that these sites could s...

SourceUniversity of Texas M. D. Anderson Cancer Center·JournalNature Cell Biology·DateJan 11, 2016

Making a safe procedure even safer

A comprehensive modeling study found that breast cancer screening with digital mammography poses only a small risk of radiation-induced breast cancer for most women. However, the research showed increased risk for women with large breasts or breast implants. The study suggests biennial screening from ages 50 to 74 may be the safest opt...

SourceUniversity of California - Davis Health·JournalAnnals of Internal Medicine·DateJan 11, 2016

Single molecule detection of contaminants, explosives or diseases now possible

Researchers have developed a technique that enables the detection of single molecules of contaminants, explosives, or diseases using a combination of surface-enhanced Raman scattering (SERS) and a slippery surface. This innovation has vast applications in analytical chemistry, molecular diagnostics, environmental monitoring, and nation...

SourcePenn State·JournalProceedings of the National Academy of Sciences·DateJan 11, 2016