Add BrightSurf on Google Email

Science News for August 18, 2017


Doctors exploring how to prescribe income security

Researchers found that 77% of patients referred to an income security health promotion service needed assistance with increasing income, including filing taxes and applying for social services. The service acts as a bridge between health and social care, helping patients navigate financial and social support systems.

SourceSt. Michael's Hospital·JournalBMJ Open·DateAug 18, 2017

Make way for hemoglobin

Researchers at Harvard Medical School have identified the mechanism behind red blood cell specialization, controlled by the enzyme UBE2O. The study reveals that UBE2O marks proteins for destruction, allowing precursor red blood cells to become specialized and well-nourished with oxygen.

SourceHarvard Medical School·JournalScience·DateAug 18, 2017

A heart made of spider silk

Scientists develop an artificial silk protein that can be used to engineer cardiac tissue, demonstrating its suitability for repairing damaged heart cells. The protein, eADF4(κ16), was produced in large quantities and shown to support the growth of cardiac cells, with potential implications for treating cardiac insufficiency.

SourceFriedrich-Alexander-Universität Erlangen-Nürnberg·JournalAdvanced Functional Materials·DateAug 18, 2017

Gene variant activity is surprisingly variable between tissues

A comprehensive analysis of gene variants in 23 different tissues and developmental stages of mice reveals tissue-specific differences in gene variant activity. The study found that genetic and epigenetic differences contribute to these patterns, with some genes escaping X-chromosome inactivation and exhibiting high rates of activity.

Allergies: Cross-reactivity between cypress pollen and peaches/citrus fruits explained

Researchers have discovered a new family of proteins involved in cross-reactivity between cypress pollen and certain fruits, leading to improved allergy diagnosis and treatment. This finding, published in Journal of Allergy and Clinical Immunology, sheds light on the underlying mechanisms behind pollen food associated syndrome.

SourceHokkaido University·JournalJournal of Allergy and Clinical Immunology·DateAug 18, 2017

New bioimaging technique is fast and economical

A new approach to optical imaging allows for fast and economical tracking of multiple molecular interactions in large areas of living tissue. The method, developed by Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute researchers, can capture interactions in mere billionths of a second and simultaneously track 16 colors of spatially linked information.

SourceRensselaer Polytechnic Institute·JournalNature Photonics·DateAug 18, 2017

Identifying individual atmospheric equatorial waves from a total flow field

Researchers developed a new approach to identify individual equatorial waves in wind and geopotential height fields using classical equatorial wave theory. This allows for the temporal and spatial evolution characteristics of equatorial waves, including their initiations, propagations, and interactions with tropical convections.

SourceInstitute of Atmospheric Physics, Chinese Academy of Sciences·JournalAdvances in Atmospheric Sciences·DateAug 18, 2017

Hot spot at Hawaii? Not so fast

Researchers developed a method to analyze hot spot tracks and found most groups are fixed and relatively motionless, moving at about 4 millimeters per year. This contradicts previous findings that suggested hot spots moved as much as 33 millimeters a year.

SourceRice University·JournalGeophysical Research Letters·DateAug 18, 2017

Novel approach to track HIV infection

Researchers have developed a novel approach to track HIV infection by identifying individual viral particles associated with infection. The new method reveals that uncoating leading to infection occurs early in the cytoplasm, around 30 minutes after cell fusion.

SourceNorthwestern University·JournalProceedings of the National Academy of Sciences·DateAug 18, 2017

Smart computers

A team of scientists from the University of Freiburg has created a self-learning algorithm that decodes human brain signals measured by an electroencephalogram (EEG) with high accuracy. The algorithm, based on brain-inspired models, can recognize and differentiate between various behavioral patterns from different movements, making it ...

SourceUniversity of Freiburg·JournalHuman Brain Mapping·DateAug 18, 2017

Virus with an eggshell

Researchers found that avian flu viruses isolated from humans have the same gene sequences as those from birds, suggesting transmission through the mineral layer. The mineralized shell changes the electric surface potential of the virus, allowing it to adsorb efficiently onto host cells.

SourceWiley·JournalAngewandte Chemie International Edition·DateAug 18, 2017

Paper: Clinical signs best predictors of mortality in critically ill calves

A new study suggests that clinical signs, such as gastrointestinal problems and septic arthritis, are better indicators of mortality in neonatal calves with diarrhea than blood pH levels. The research found that these clinical signs were significant determinants of mortality, while blood pH levels were only a predictor when they droppe...

A map of the cell's power station

Scientists from the University of Freiburg successfully mapped the mitochondrial protein landscape, revealing over 200 new proteins not previously attributed to this organelle. This study provides a basis for studying the potential new functions of mitochondria and understanding various diseases.

SourceUniversity of Freiburg·JournalNature Communications·DateAug 18, 2017