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Science News Archive March 2017 - Page 27


Page 27 of 41

Vaccines do work for pandemic flu, says study

A study led by University of Nottingham researchers found that pandemic flu vaccines are effective in reducing the number of patients hospitalized due to the illness. However, vaccine effectiveness varies depending on age, with children being more protected than adults, especially those over 50 years old.

SourceUniversity of Nottingham·JournalVaccine·DateMar 13, 2017

Diving with the sharks

A new study by University of California - Santa Barbara researchers found that sharks can interact with humans without long-term behavioral impacts. The research used video surveys to monitor shark abundance and behavior at sites with and without a history of scuba diving, revealing no significant differences.

SourceUniversity of California - Santa Barbara·JournalMarine Ecology Progress Series·DateMar 13, 2017

Some genetic variations difficult to evaluate using current stem cell modeling techniques

A recent study conducted at The Mount Sinai Hospital found that certain genetic mutations are challenging to recreate in laboratory-produced stem cells. This limitation may hinder neuropsychiatric research, highlighting the need for researchers to carefully check for retained genetic elements in newly created stem cells.

Phage therapy shown to kill drug-resistant superbug

Scientists at the University of Liverpool have shown that phage therapy can kill drug-resistant strains of Pseudomonas aeruginosa, a common cause of chronic lung infections in Cystic Fibrosis patients. The study suggests that phage therapy could be a valuable addition to treatment options for these hard-to-treat infections.

SourceUniversity of Liverpool·JournalThorax·DateMar 13, 2017

Taking B vitamins may reduce epigenetic effects of air pollution

A new study by Columbia University's Mailman School of Public Health found that B vitamins can increase plasma concentrations of folic acid, vitamin B6, and vitamin B12, reducing the impact of air pollution on the epigenome. The results have significant public health implications for regions with frequent PM2.5 peaks.

SourceColumbia University's Mailman School of Public Health·JournalProceedings of the National Academy of Sciences·DateMar 13, 2017

Flowering times shift with loss of species from a grassland ecosystem

Researchers found that reducing the number of species in a grassland ecosystem can cause remaining species to flower earlier, similar to the effects of climate change. The study suggests that future changes in biological timing could be much bigger than expected, with potential cascading effects on ecosystem dynamics.

SourceUniversity of California - Santa Cruz·JournalProceedings of the National Academy of Sciences·DateMar 13, 2017

UTHealth awarded $1.5 million to increase HPV vaccinations in medically underserved areas

Researchers at UTHealth aim to increase HPV vaccination rates among minority youth in medically underserved areas by launching a three-year project. The initiative includes a parent-focused social marketing campaign and comprehensive school-based vaccination clinics to educate parents and adolescents about the vaccine's importance.

'Good' bacteria is potential solution to unchecked inflammation seen in bowel diseases

Researchers found that adding back beneficial bacteria can help end a cycle of unchecked inflammation, suggesting a new treatment for inflammatory bowel disease. The study suggests targeting the inflammation downstream of NLRP12 with anti-inflammatory drugs or feeding specific beneficial bacteria to potentially lead to treatments.

SourceUNC Lineberger Comprehensive Cancer Center·JournalNature Immunology·DateMar 13, 2017

Longer deadlines make people donate more money

A study by Aarhus University found that longer deadlines increase charitable donations. The researchers sent emails and text messages with varying deadlines to approximately 53,000 Danes who had previously donated money. As a result, the donations increased when the deadline was longer.

SourceAarhus University·JournalJournal of Behavioral and Experimental Economics·DateMar 12, 2017

The hazards of English spelling

A new study by Kristian Berg and Mark Aronoff found that English suffix patterns can categorize words into grammatical categories, such as adjectives. The researchers analyzed a large sample of written English documents over 1,000 years, discovering consistent spellings for common suffixes like -ous and -ic.

SourceLinguistic Society of America·JournalLanguage·DateMar 10, 2017

Benefits of university seed cap programs

University-based startups can benefit from university-funded seed capital programs, which provide expanded funding opportunities, entrepreneur development, and economic growth. These programs also help faculty members and students develop their entrepreneurial skills and support the commercialization of innovative technologies.

SourceUniversity of South Florida·JournalJournal of Technology and Innovation·DateMar 10, 2017

A closer look at brain organoid development

Researchers have characterized cerebral organoids, showing they recapitulate human brain developmental processes and involve forebrain organizing centers. These findings advance our understanding of normal organoid development and are essential for modeling human developmental diseases.

SourceEMBO·JournalThe EMBO Journal·DateMar 10, 2017