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Science News for July 27, 2016


Discovery of new Hepatitis C virus mechanism

Researchers at Osaka University identified a new drug target by inhibiting the SPP enzyme, reducing HCV particle production and improving pathological liver conditions. The discovery also revealed a protein quality control mechanism that could be useful for treating other diseases.

SourceOsaka University·JournalNature Communications·DateJul 27, 2016

Voice control in orangutan gives clues to early human speech

A new study published in Scientific Reports suggests that orangutans have the potential capacity to control their voices, which could have led to the evolution of human speech. The research found that an adolescent orangutan named Rocky was able to copy the pitch and tone of sounds made by researchers, mimicking vowel-like calls.

SourceDurham University·JournalScientific Reports·DateJul 27, 2016

Combining Ipilimumab with local treatments improved survival for patients with melanoma

A retrospective clinical study found that patients with melanoma who received both ipilimumab and local peripheral treatments had significantly prolonged overall survival compared to those who received only ipilimumab. The median overall survival for these patients was 93 weeks, compared to 42 weeks for those receiving only ipilimumab.

SourceAmerican Association for Cancer Research·JournalCancer Immunology Research·DateJul 27, 2016

Towards smarter crop plants to feed the world

A new study has discovered a diverse range of plant enzymes, including Rubisco, that have superior characteristics for improving crop photosynthetic efficiency. The research found that some plant species produce more effective Rubiscos than major crops like wheat and soybean, which could help address global food security.

The preventive destruction

Researchers develop new method to protect Earth from asteroids using nuclear explosions. The technique simulates an asteroid's destructive power, fragmenting it into safe pieces before they reach the planet. This approach is considered a safer and more effective alternative to previous methods.

SourceNational Research Tomsk State University·JournalAstronomy Reports·DateJul 27, 2016

Newborns with borderline thyroid function at higher risk of poor neurodevelopmental outcomes

A University of Sydney study found that infants with moderately high thyroid stimulating hormone concentrations have a higher risk of poor educational and development outcomes. Infants with TSH levels below the screening cut-off but in the top quartile have an increased likelihood of poor neurodevelopmental outcomes at school age.

SourceUniversity of Sydney·JournalThe Lancet Diabetes & Endocrinology·DateJul 27, 2016

White dwarf lashes red dwarf with mystery ray

Astronomers have discovered a unique white dwarf binary system, AR Scorpii, exhibiting powerful radio pulses that are unlike anything seen before from a white dwarf. The system's rapidly spinning white dwarf accelerates electrons, releasing radiation in a lighthouse-like beam that affects its cool red dwarf companion.

SourceESO·JournalNature·DateJul 27, 2016

Jupiter's Great Red Spot heats planet's upper atmosphere

Researchers from Boston University found that Jupiter's Great Red Spot is responsible for heating the planet's upper atmosphere to unusually high temperatures. The team used infrared observations to map temperature anomalies across the planet, revealing that the Great Red Spot's heat distribution matches the observed values.

SourceBoston University·JournalNature·DateJul 27, 2016

New catalyst for hydrogen production

Researchers have found a new, sustainable catalyst for hydrogen production in the form of pentlandite, a mineral composed of iron, nickel, and sulfur. The study shows that artificial pentlandite produces hydrogen more efficiently than naturally occurring variants, with stable performance and a high active surface area.

SourceRuhr-University Bochum·JournalNature Communications·DateJul 27, 2016

Water resilience that flows

Researchers developed an affordable open-source data logger to collect high-frequency stream data, capturing trends in water volume and behavior. The logger enables communities to build resilience to water resource stress, a crucial step in addressing the impact of global climate change.

SourceAmerican Society of Agronomy·JournalAgricultural & Environmental Letters·DateJul 27, 2016

Clinical assessment of muscular fatigue

The study found moderate inter-rater reliability between therapists in determining muscle fatigue through observation of changes in movement patterns. This approach may provide clinicians with a tool to address the challenge of therapeutic exercise dosing in rehabilitation settings.

SourceBentham Science Publishers·JournalThe Open Orthopaedics Journal·DateJul 27, 2016

Mouse antibodies pinpoint Zika's weak spots

Researchers have identified specific antibodies that protect against Zika infection in mice, targeting a region of the virus similar to other flaviviruses like Dengue and West Nile. These findings aim to optimize current vaccine strategies and develop new antibody-based therapeutics.

SourceCell Press·JournalCell·DateJul 27, 2016

Antibodies identified that thwart Zika virus infection

Researchers at WashU Medicine have identified six antibodies capable of protecting against Zika virus infection in mice, providing crucial information on how these antibodies interact with the virus. The discovery could lead to the development of a vaccine, diagnostic tests, and potentially new therapies for Zika-related diseases.

SourceWashU Medicine·JournalCell·DateJul 27, 2016

Monitoring cell fates

Researchers at ETH Zurich study how stem cells differentiate into blood cells, revealing complex mechanisms beyond previously thought protein GATA1 and PU.1 roles. This knowledge is vital for developing effective treatments for life-threatening diseases.

SourceETH Zurich·JournalNature·DateJul 27, 2016

Star's intense radiation beams whip neighboring red dwarf

Researchers at the University of Warwick have discovered a new type of exotic binary star that produces powerful beams of particles and radiation, affecting its nearby companion star. The star, AR Scorpii, has a white dwarf with intense magnetic fields that accelerate electrons in the atmosphere of the red dwarf to close to the speed o...

SourceUniversity of Warwick·JournalNature·DateJul 27, 2016

Treating pain without feeding addiction: Study shows promise of non-drug pain management

A new study shows that a non-drug approach combining behavioral therapy and social support can effectively manage chronic pain in individuals with addiction, improving their ability to function and reducing substance use. The low-cost approach, called ImPAT, has the potential to be widely adopted by addiction treatment centers worldwide.

Reperfusion therapy type for heart attacks seems less important than assuring that all eligible patients receive timely treatment

A recent study found that patients who did not receive reperfusion therapy had a significantly higher 30-day mortality rate, regardless of the type of hospital they were treated in. The researchers emphasized the importance of improving healthcare systems to facilitate timely treatment and reduce delays.

SourceElsevier Health Sciences·JournalCanadian Journal of Cardiology·DateJul 27, 2016

Switch from observation only to active treatment by prostate cancer patients varies by race/ethnicity

A new study published in The Journal of Urology found that non-Hispanic black men were more likely than white men to begin active treatment for low-risk prostate cancer, independent of clinical measures. Ethnicity influenced this decision, suggesting a need for greater attention to race/ethnicity in disease management.

SourceElsevier Health Sciences·JournalThe Journal of Urology·DateJul 27, 2016

The brain's super-sensitivity to curbs

Cognitive scientists at Johns Hopkins University found two distinct brain regions responding to visual boundaries and obstacles. The parahippocampal place area reacts to visual structures like curbs and walls, while the retrosplenial complex responds to taller, more imposing boundaries.

SourceJohns Hopkins University·JournalNeuropsychologia·DateJul 27, 2016

Gene therapy for metabolic liver diseases shows promise in pigs

A new gene therapy approach has shown promising results in treating hereditary tyrosinemia type 1 (HT1), a metabolic disorder characterized by progressive liver disease. The treatment involves transplanting corrected liver cells into the diseased liver, resulting in enzyme production and preventing liver failure.

SourceMayo Clinic·JournalScience Translational Medicine·DateJul 27, 2016

NZ wren DNA analysis reshapes geological theory

A DNA study of New Zealand's acanthisittid wrens has provided evidence that the country was not completely submerged under the ocean around 21 to 25 million years ago. The research found divergences among the species, suggesting they have been resident in New Zealand for over 25 million years.

SourceUniversity of Adelaide·JournalMolecular Phylogenetics and Evolution·DateJul 27, 2016