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Science News Archive May 2016 - Page 36


Page 36 of 38

New fabrication and thermo-optical tuning of whispering gallery microlasers

Scientists at OIST have developed a new method to fabricate glass microlasers, called whispering gallery microlasers, which are tiny optical devices that create intense light with one color or wavelength. The new technique allows for quick and easy fabrication of smaller devices for biosensing and optical communications.

Mimicking the ingenuity of nature

Scientists at the University of Würzburg have developed a supramolecular ruthenium macrocycle that mimics photosystem II, improving water oxidation efficiency and reducing carbon dioxide emissions. The new catalyst enables the production of high-energy-density fuels like hydrogen, methane, or methanol.

SourceUniversity of Würzburg·JournalNature Chemistry·DateMay 3, 2016

Placebo effects in women are boosted by vasopressin

A new study found that vasopressin increases placebo analgesic effects in women, particularly those with lower acute stress and anxiety. The findings suggest a new mechanism for the neurobiology of placebo effects and open up research directions for understanding the vasopressin system.

SourceElsevier·JournalBiological Psychiatry·DateMay 3, 2016

Bacteria use traffic-cop-like mechanism to infect gut

Researchers at Washington State University and Harvard University have discovered a critical mechanism that enables bacteria to efficiently infect the gut. The 'type III secretion system' directs bacterial traffic, controlling whether bacteria become trapped inside vacuoles or break out into cell fluid.

SourceWashington State University·JournalProceedings of the National Academy of Sciences·DateMay 3, 2016

Can personality traits affect likelihood of using mindfulness-based stress reduction?

A study found that specific personality traits, such as neuroticism and extraversion, were associated with individual differences in the use of MBSR during and post-training. The findings suggest that MBSR programs can be tailored to targeted populations based on their personality traits.

SourceMary Ann Liebert, Inc./Genetic Engineering News·JournalThe Journal of Alternative and Complementary Medicine·DateMay 3, 2016

Mapping the circuit of our internal clock

Researchers have identified a core group of neurons in the suprachiasmatic nucleus that share information during resynchronization, while those outside this central hub behave like acquaintances. Understanding the SCN's neural network structure is crucial for tackling illnesses like diabetes and posttraumatic stress disorder.

SourceHarvard John A. Paulson School of Engineering and Applied Sciences·JournalProceedings of the National Academy of Sciences·DateMay 3, 2016

Survival of the oldest

Researchers identified factors that make some species more resilient to extinction, including color variation, live birth, and low-latitude habitats. These species are more likely to adapt to future climate changes, helping conservationists predict which species are most at risk.

SourceBMC (BioMed Central)·JournalBMC Evolutionary Biology·DateMay 3, 2016

Turn up the heat to increase altitude tolerance

New research suggests that heat-based exercise is a more efficient means of improving altitude tolerance than normobaric altitude training. Heat-based training reduced physical strain and improved time-trial performance in cyclists, with similar effects on blood cells as low-oxygen training.

SourceFrontiers·JournalFrontiers in Physiology·DateMay 3, 2016

Why we steer the way we do

Researchers from the University of Leeds found that human steering in a driving simulator is influenced by visual speed signals, not just road edges. The study's findings suggest that our brains process information from across the whole visual scene to guide steering, similar to how insects choose their flight paths.

SourceUniversity of Leeds·JournalRoyal Society Open Science·DateMay 3, 2016

First recommendations published on imaging assessment of prosthetic heart valves

The European Association of Cardiovascular Imaging has released new guidelines for the imaging assessment of prosthetic heart valves. The guidelines provide recommendations for a multimodality approach to diagnose and manage complications, including echocardiography as the first-line imaging modality. The study aims to improve assessme...

SourceEuropean Society of Cardiology·JournalEuropean Heart Journal - Cardiovascular Imaging·DateMay 3, 2016

New drug against nerve agents in sight

Researchers at Umea University and Swedish Defence Research Agency develop a three-dimensional structure of the HI-6 nerve agent antidote, revealing its binding mechanism to acetylcholinesterase. The breakthrough provides new insights into designing effective antidotes against sarin and other nerve agents.

SourceUmea University·JournalProceedings of the National Academy of Sciences·DateMay 3, 2016

Shared sanitation facilities and risk of diarrhea in children

The study found that sharing sanitation facilities with one or two households was associated with an increased risk of diarrhea in young children. Private household sanitation facilities were not found to be associated with this risk at all sites, suggesting a global health priority for access to these facilities.

SourcePLOS·JournalPLOS Medicine·DateMay 3, 2016