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Science News Archive July 2016 - Page 20


Page 20 of 36

OVC cancer breakthrough leads to human clinical trials

Researchers from OVC at the University of Guelph discovered a new way to boost immune responses against cancer by injecting oncolytic viruses into the spleen, bypassing traditional vaccine limitations. This breakthrough could lead to safer and more targeted cancer treatments for various types of cancer.

SourceUniversity of Guelph·JournalThe Journal of Immunology·DateJul 14, 2016

Ancient Brazilian pit house occupied continuously for centuries

A study published in PLOS ONE found that a proto-Jê pit house in southern Brazil was continually occupied and extended over two centuries. The researchers used radiocarbon dating and Bayesian modeling to analyze the site, which revealed twelve well-preserved floors with different types of ceramics and renovation techniques.

SourcePLOS·JournalPLOS ONE·DateJul 14, 2016

New opioid use in older adults with COPD associated with increased risk of death

Researchers found that new opioid use among older adults with chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD) is associated with a significantly increased risk of respiratory-related complications and death. The study, published in the European Respiratory Journal, suggests that even lower-dose opioids may pose risks for this population.

SourceSt. Michael's Hospital·JournalEuropean Respiratory Journal·DateJul 14, 2016

Climate experts help communities cope with impact of the Indian Monsoon

Researchers at the University of Exeter have developed a system to predict excess monsoon rainfall or drought in central India, which can impact the national and global economy. This prediction tool has the potential to improve decision-making for policymakers and communities, ultimately mitigating the effects of extreme weather events.

SourceUniversity of Exeter·JournalInternational Journal of Climatology·DateJul 14, 2016

Protein pairs make cells remember

Researchers discovered that protein pairs form feedback loops to store information in a cell's memory. The formation of these pairs is crucial for the cell's sensitivity to environmental stimuli and its ability to differentiate into specialized cells.

SourceUniversity of Basel·JournalCell Reports·DateJul 14, 2016

Dads play key role in child development

Research from Michigan State University found that fathers' parenting-related stress has a direct impact on children's cognitive and language development, even after controlling for mothers' influences. Fathers' mental health also affects their children's behavior problems and social skills, particularly in later childhood.

SourceMichigan State University·JournalEarly Childhood Research Quarterly·DateJul 14, 2016

'Rivet graphene' proves its mettle

Researchers at Rice University have developed 'rivet graphene', a two-dimensional carbon material with enhanced strength and conductivity. The new material uses nanotubes to reinforce its structure, making it suitable for flexible and transparent electronics.

SourceRice University·JournalACS Nano·DateJul 14, 2016

New molecules kill multidrug-resistant cancer cells

Researchers have identified a new class of molecules called selenocompounds that can kill multidrug-resistant cancer cells by blocking their defenses against chemotherapy drugs. The most active molecule worked almost four times better than the reference compound and induced cell suicide in cancer cells with similar potency.

SourceElsevier·JournalBioorganic & Medicinal Chemistry Letters·DateJul 14, 2016

Zika epidemic likely to end within 3 years

A new study from Imperial College London predicts that the current Zika epidemic in Latin America will burn itself out within two to three years due to herd immunity. The team's analysis also concludes that large-scale transmission is unlikely to restart for at least another ten years.

SourceImperial College London·JournalScience·DateJul 14, 2016

On 58 percent of Earth's land surface, biodiversity has dropped below suggested 'safe' threshold

A new study reports that species integrity has dropped below the safe limit on 58% of Earth's land surface, threatening ecosystem services like crop pollination and waste decomposition. The Biodiversity Intactness Index reveals a global biodiversity loss of 84.6%, with nine terrestrial biomes surpassing the suggested threshold.

The tortoise and the hare and deep geologic time

Researchers directly measure real-time rock cracking and model sun-driven thermal stresses. They conclude that slow cracking by daily solar forces represents the majority of rock breakdown over deep geologic time. Rare events like freezing contribute to rapid crack growth, but only briefly surpassing the 'tortoise' effect.

SourceGeological Society of America·JournalACM SIGSAM Bulletin·DateJul 14, 2016

Early preschool bedtimes cut risk of obesity later on

A new study from The Ohio State University College of Public Health found that preschoolers who are regularly tucked into bed by 8 p.m. are far less likely to become obese teenagers than young children who go to sleep later in the evening. Bedtimes after 9 p.m. appeared to double the likelihood of obesity later in life.

SourceMediaSource·JournalThe Journal of Pediatrics·DateJul 14, 2016

Self-rated health worth doctors' attention

A new study from Rice University found that patients' self-rated health is a strong predictor of morbidity and mortality, even stronger than blood tests and measurements. The researchers linked low self-rated health to high levels of herpesvirus activity and inflammation, which are associated with poor cellular immunity and disease.

SourceRice University·JournalPsychoneuroendocrinology·DateJul 14, 2016

Gauging stem cells for regenerative medicine

Scientists developed guidelines to evaluate laboratory-generated stem cells, finding that no current methods produce truly naïve embryonic cells. The new criteria may aid researchers in achieving this goal, which could benefit both basic research and medical applications of stem cells.

SourceSalk Institute·JournalCell Stem Cell·DateJul 14, 2016

In corneal transplantation, men and women don't see eye to eye

A recent study published in the American Journal of Transplantation found that gender matching is crucial for successful corneal transplants. Women who receive male donor corneas are more likely to experience rejection and failure, with a higher proportion of mismatched grafts failing or rejecting compared to female-to-female transplan...

SourceWiley·JournalAmerican Journal of Transplantation·DateJul 14, 2016

Bonding to bones strongly

Researchers at Hokkaido University have developed a new kind of hydrogel that bonds spontaneously and strongly to defected bones. The gel overcomes the problem of bonding with other surfaces by adding hydroxyapatite to its surface.

SourceHokkaido University·JournalAdvanced Materials·DateJul 14, 2016

NUS scientists discover that modifications to protein RUNX3 may promote cancer growth

Scientists at NUS Cancer Science Institute discovered that phosphorylation of the tumour suppressor gene RUNX3 promotes cancer progression by allowing cell division. The study's findings suggest a potential way to increase the effectiveness of cancer therapy by targeting Aurora Kinase, an enzyme involved in the modification.

SourceNational University of Singapore·JournalProceedings of the National Academy of Sciences·DateJul 14, 2016

Artificial intelligence reveals undiscovered bat carriers of Ebola and other filoviruses

A team of scientists has developed a model that can predict which bat species are most likely to transmit Ebola and other filoviruses. The study highlights new potential hosts and geographic hotspots worthy of surveillance, with the AI algorithm identifying potential carriers in Southeast Asia and Central and South America.

SourceCary Institute of Ecosystem Studies·JournalPLOS Neglected Tropical Diseases·DateJul 14, 2016

Black bear links real objects to computer images

A study found that American black bears can recognize visual features of objects they know in real life when presented with photographs. This ability has important implications for the use of photographs in computerized studies involving bears and their welfare.

SourceSpringer·JournalAnimal Cognition·DateJul 14, 2016