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Science News Archive November 2016 - Page 18


Page 18 of 38

Next-generation biomaterial being developed to treat bleeding

Researchers at Mayo Clinic are developing a universal shear-thinning biomaterial that can be injected through an endovascular catheter, creating an impenetrable cast of the vessel and preventing further bleeding. This alternative to metallic coils may improve treatment outcomes for patients undergoing coil embolization.

SourceMayo Clinic·JournalScience Translational Medicine·DateNov 16, 2016

Looking for a city's DNA? Try its ATMs

Researchers at New York University discovered that ATM keypads harbor a range of human skin microbes, as well as microorganisms from food and environmental sources. The study's findings suggest that ATMs can serve as a repository for understanding a city's microbial community.

SourceNew York University·JournalmSphere·DateNov 16, 2016

Social media activism is driving corporate agendas

Research by INSEAD found that social media activists can elicit corporate responses by threatening a firm's public image, particularly those with high social and political standing. Companies with greater image vulnerability are more sensitive to threats and respond faster to donations.

SourceINSEAD·JournalAcademy of Management Journal·DateNov 16, 2016

New records set up with 'Screws of Light'

Researchers at the University of Vienna have made significant breakthroughs in transmitting twisted light over long distances, exceeding 100 kilometers. They also demonstrated record-breaking quantum entanglement with 5-digit quantum numbers using a novel technique developed in Australia.

SourceUniversity of Vienna·JournalProceedings of the National Academy of Sciences·DateNov 16, 2016

Pluto follows its cold, cold heart

Research suggests Pluto's subsurface ocean could be responsible for its current location. The 'heart' region, Sputnik Planitia, may have accumulated ice that made the planet roll over, creating cracks and tensions in the crust. This process, called true polar wander, allows planets to reorient without changing their spin axis.

SourceUniversity of Arizona·JournalNature·DateNov 16, 2016

What can Pokémon Go teach the world of conservation?

Researchers explore how Pokémon Go inspires high levels of behavioral change among users, discovering non-virtual wildlife and learning basic natural history concepts. The game's success highlights opportunities for conservation, but also potential challenges such as replacing real-world nature interactions with virtual ones.

SourceUniversity of Oxford·JournalConservation Letters·DateNov 16, 2016

Visualization of the behavior of sugar transport proteins

A team of researchers at Osaka University developed a method to visualize intracellular protein trafficking, specifically the glucose transporter type 4 (GLUT4), which is associated with type II diabetes. The study reveals that abnormalities in the N-glycan chain lead to transient translocation and rapid internalization of GLUT4.

SourceOsaka University·JournalNature Chemical Biology·DateNov 16, 2016

Moral values influence level of climate change action

A new study by Cornell University researchers reveals that moral values like compassion, fairness, and purity influence individuals' willingness to take climate change action. The findings suggest that both liberals and conservatives value these moral principles, with compassion and fairness being the strongest predictors of action.

SourceCornell University·JournalPLOS ONE·DateNov 16, 2016

Bacteriophages cure bacterial infections

Phage therapy, which uses viruses to kill bacteria, has shown no adverse effects in clinical trials and holds promise for treating antibiotic-resistant infections. Researchers plan to use phages against E. coli in the gut or MRSA on the skin, with a goal of establishing a central repository for phages.

HC-based NGS impacts treatment decisions in lung cancer patients with adenocarcinoma

A study of 101 advanced lung cancer patients found that hybrid capture-based next-generation sequencing (HC-based NGS) identified clinically actionable genomic alterations (GAs) in 50% of patients, leading to changes in treatment strategy. The overall response rate to targeted therapies was 65%, with median survival not yet reached.

SourceInternational Association for the Study of Lung Cancer·JournalJournal of Thoracic Oncology·DateNov 16, 2016

New AI algorithm taught by humans learns beyond its training

Researchers at U of T Engineering developed an AI algorithm that learns directly from human instructions, exceeding conventional training methods by 160% and outperforming its own training by 9%. The algorithm's potential lies in applying heuristic training to fields like medicine and transportation.

SourceUniversity of Toronto Faculty of Applied Science & Engineering·JournalIEEE Transactions on Neural Networks and Learning Systems·DateNov 16, 2016

The fruits of life

A new international collaboration has reconstructed the tree of life for Rosaceae and found strong evidence for whole genome duplications contributing to fruit diversity. The study suggests that enlarged and fleshy fruits likely evolved through two distinct ways, resulting in a wide range of fruit types across the 3,000 known species.