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Science News Archive November 2016 - Page 25


Page 25 of 38

Plant's POEM: 'No need to fertilize, for increase in seed size'

Plant biologists at ITbM, Nagoya University, have made a key discovery that the contents in pollen tubes alone can increase the size of seeds, without the need for fertilization. This new plant phenomenon, named as POEM (pollen tube-dependent ovule enlargement morphology), shows that even in the absence of fertilization, release of the...

Plants modulate accumulation of metabolites at organ level

Researchers used a new approach to measure metabolic diversity in various plant tissues, revealing distinct profiles for each tissue. The study identified specific genes regulating the biosynthesis of ecologically-important secondary metabolites, shedding light on how plants modulate their metabolite accumulation at the organ level.

SourceMax Planck Institute for Chemical Ecology·JournalProceedings of the National Academy of Sciences·DateNov 11, 2016

New maps created by Stanford scientists reveal safe locations for wastewater injection

Stanford scientists created detailed stress maps to understand earthquake triggers in Texas and Oklahoma, identifying problematic faults and ideal orientations for earthquakes. The maps help predict seismic activity resulting from fluid injection, enabling companies and regulators to avoid these faults and prevent induced earthquakes.

SourceStanford's School of Earth, Energy & Environmental Sciences·JournalGeophysical Research Letters·DateNov 11, 2016

Study examines effectiveness of probation program

A randomized control trial tested the HOPE program against traditional PAU, finding no significant differences in re-arrest rates or time to re-arrest. The study suggests that strict supervision practices can be effective, but more work is needed to determine the model's effectiveness for specific types of probationers.

SourceWiley·JournalCriminology & Public Policy·DateNov 11, 2016

Keeping our balance -- a tale of two systems

Scientists have identified two sensory channels that transmit information to the brain about movement using fundamentally different approaches. The discovery suggests a legacy of the differences between navigating in water and air, with one channel sending smooth signals resembling sound waves and another rapid signals like drumbeats.

SourceMcGill University·JournalNature Communications·DateNov 11, 2016

Crowd workers help robot keep conversation fresh

A Disney Research team created an automated method of crowdsourcing multiple lines of dialogue for robots, using a persistent interactive personality that can translate high-level goals into simple narratives. The method was tested in a trivia contest and resulted in 716 unique lines of dialogue.

Characteristics of cloud-to-ground and intracloud lightning in Beijing metropolitan region

Researchers investigated cloud-to-ground (CG) and intracloud (IC) lightning characteristics over the Beijing Metropolitan Region from 2005-2007. They found IC lightning occurs more frequently than CG lightning, with most activity occurring during summer months and a southeastwardly increasing pattern in flash density.

SourceInstitute of Atmospheric Physics, Chinese Academy of Sciences·JournalJournal of Applied Meteorology and Climatology·DateNov 10, 2016

Study of international cystic fibrosis centers highlights spread of aggressive bacteria

Researchers analyzed over 1,000 M. abscessus isolates from 500 global CF center patients, finding near-identical clones in different geographies and suggesting widespread transmission within the CF community. The study also highlights airborne transmission via contaminated surfaces as a potential mode of infection.

Self-healing materials for semi-dry conditions

Researchers at Osaka University have created rigid self-healing materials that can recover up to 99% of their strength in semi-dry conditions. The materials use a combination of physical and chemical approaches to facilitate self-healing, utilizing polyrotaxane structures and reversible bonds.

SourceCell Press·JournalChem·DateNov 10, 2016

Moffitt researchers predict melanoma responses through mathematical modeling

Researchers at Moffitt Cancer Center have developed a novel approach using mathematical modeling to accurately predict patient responses to cancer drugs in virtual clinical trials. This approach enables the identification of optimal treatment schedules that improve outcomes and reduce toxicities for melanoma patients.

SourceH. Lee Moffitt Cancer Center & Research Institute·JournalEuropean Journal of Cancer·DateNov 10, 2016

With a little help from my friend

A study by Max-Planck-Gesellschaft researchers found that social support from bond partners significantly reduced stress hormone levels in wild chimpanzees during conflicts and everyday affiliations. This discovery has potential medical implications for humans, highlighting the importance of supportive relationships in regulating stress.

SourceMax-Planck-Gesellschaft·JournalNature Communications·DateNov 10, 2016

Rotting away: Getting at the evolutionary roots of wood decay

A new bioinformatics tool has revealed that the evolution of white rot wood decay strategies in fungi involves a general elaboration of the decay apparatus, including numerous enzymes with unknown functions. The study found 409 genes associated with white rot wood decay, shedding light on the complexity of this process.