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Science News for October 31, 2017


Young bats learn bat 'dialects' from their nestmates

A new study shows that young bats adopt a specific 'dialect' spoken by their colonies, even when it differs from their mother tongue. Researchers used playback recordings to expose pups to different vocalizations and found they developed a dialect resembling the one they were exposed to.

SourcePLOS·JournalPLOS Biology·DateOct 31, 2017

Flour power to boost food security

Researchers at the University of Queensland have identified genes that control a cell protein holding wheat grain layers together, leading to improved milling efficiency and nutritional profiles. This breakthrough could increase flour yield by up to 10% and unlock new high-yielding field wheats.

SourceUniversity of Queensland·JournalScientific Reports·DateOct 31, 2017

How an interest in bipolar disorder drugs led to a better understanding of leukemia

A research project that began with an interest in bipolar disorder drugs has led to a better understanding of leukemia. The study found that the protein GSK-3 affects RNA splicing, which is linked to acute myeloid leukemia. This discovery could also explain why lithium causes increased white blood cell count.

SourceAmerican Society for Biochemistry and Molecular Biology·JournalJournal of Biological Chemistry·DateOct 31, 2017

New toolkit reveals novel cancer genes

Researchers have identified 27 novel tumour suppressor genes that may prevent cancer formation, using a powerful statistical model on over 2000 tumours across 12 human cancer types. This discovery could pave the way for targeted cancer therapies and deepen our understanding of cancer genomics.

SourceThe Francis Crick Institute·JournalNature Communications·DateOct 31, 2017

Prenatal exposure to BPA at low levels can affect gene expression in developing rat brain

Research from NC State University reveals that prenatal BPA exposure at levels below the current FDA safety threshold alters hormone receptor expression, synaptic transmission, and neurodevelopment in the developing rat brain. The study found sex-specific differences in sensitivity to BPA exposure, with females appearing more sensitive.

SourceNorth Carolina State University·JournalNeuroToxicology·DateOct 31, 2017

The Lancet Oncology: Major report sets out how to accelerate cancer research and care, delivering on US Cancer Moonshot initiative

The Lancet Oncology Commission recommends prioritizing key areas for US$2 billion funding to advance cancer research and treatment, focusing on prevention, targeted interventions, and patient-centered data sharing. The report aims to improve cancer care for underserved groups and reduce health disparities.

SourceThe Lancet·JournalThe Lancet Oncology·DateOct 31, 2017

Trends in kids' fitness not as bad as assumed

A study published in Frontiers in Pediatrics found that first-graders in one region of Germany have remained reasonably fit over the past decade. Aerobic fitness has declined only in boys, while speed and balance have improved in both sexes.

SourceFrontiers·JournalFrontiers in Pediatrics·DateOct 31, 2017

Smoking may cause inflammatory bowel disease

A new study reveals that cigarette smoke triggers colitis, an inflammation of the colon, in mice exposed to cigarette smoke. The researchers identified CD4+ T cells and a pro-inflammatory protein as the immune cells responsible for this effect. This finding could lead to the development of new treatments for Crohn's disease.

SourceFrontiers·JournalFrontiers in Immunology·DateOct 31, 2017

Humans don't use as much brainpower as we like to think

A study published in the Journal of Human Evolution found that humans do not have uniquely expensive brains, challenging a major dogma in human evolution studies. Researchers measured the cross-sectional area of cranial arteries and brain glucose uptake to compare brain costs across 22 species.

SourceDuke University·JournalJournal of Human Evolution·DateOct 31, 2017

Stay focused, if you can

A study by University of Miami researchers found that individuals with specific patterns of salience network dynamics were better able to resist tempting distractors and perform tasks. The study, published in Social Cognitive and Affective Neuroscience, sheds new light on the neural mechanisms underlying self-control and temptation res...

SourceUniversity of Miami·JournalSocial Cognitive and Affective Neuroscience·DateOct 31, 2017

Lemurs are weird because Madagascar's fruit is weird

A new study reveals that Madagascar's fruit is too low in protein for lemurs to sustain themselves, prompting them to adopt a leafy diet and develop unusual behaviors like hibernation. The research sheds light on the evolution of lemurs' dietary habits and highlights their unique characteristics.

SourceField Museum·JournalScientific Reports·DateOct 31, 2017

Study shows voting does not reduce crime

A new study published in Political Behavior suggests that voting alone does not directly reduce criminality and may not foster good citizens. The research analyzed a large-scale field experiment involving over 550,000 young adults aged 18-20 in the US, finding no correlation between voting and reduced crime rates.

SourceYale University·JournalPolitical Behavior·DateOct 31, 2017

Research links locus coeruleus activity with hyperarousal in PTSD

A new study in Biological Psychiatry provides direct human evidence for a decades-old theory linking heightened arousal and reactivity in posttraumatic stress disorder (PTSD) to overactivity of the locus coeruleus (LC), a brain region that mediates arousal and reactivity. The study found that participants with PTSD exhibited increased ...

SourceElsevier·JournalBiological Psychiatry·DateOct 31, 2017

Energy efficiency labeling for homes has little effect on purchase price

A Norwegian research team found that energy efficiency labeling for homes has no significant effect on purchase price. The researchers conducted a thorough analysis of home sales data before and after the labeling system was introduced in Norway in 2010. They discovered that any apparent impact of the label was likely due to other fact...

Does cutting weekend allied health services hurt patients?

A study published in PLOS Medicine found that removing weekend allied health services from hospitals had no significant effect on patients' length of stay or adverse events. In fact, having no services was associated with a 2% reduction in length of stay and a 3% decrease in adverse events.

SourcePLOS·JournalPLOS Medicine·DateOct 31, 2017

Tracking mosquitoes with your cellphone

Researchers at Stanford University developed a platform called Abuzz that uses cellphone recordings to track mosquito populations and distributions. The platform aims to create the world's largest network of mosquito surveillance, enabling targeted control efforts and reducing the burden of mosquito-borne diseases.

Chromosome organization emerges from 1-D patterns

Using computer models, researchers analyzed epigenetic marks to predict how chromosomes fold in three dimensions. By training a neural network on these marks, they were able to identify the structural types of chromatin and validate their findings with additional data.

SourceRice University·JournalProceedings of the National Academy of Sciences·DateOct 31, 2017

Aliens may be more like us than we think

A new study published in the International Journal of Astrobiology suggests that aliens could have evolved in a similar way to humans, with natural selection playing a key role. The research uses evolutionary theory to predict the biological make-up and behavior of complex alien life forms.

SourceUniversity of Oxford·JournalInternational Journal of Astrobiology·DateOct 31, 2017

SourceData is making data discoverable

SourceData provides a suite of tools to generate, validate and use figure data, making it efficient to find and reuse published results. The platform links figures to other related figures across papers and journals, creating a searchable knowledge graph.

SourceEMBO·JournalNature Methods·DateOct 31, 2017

Uncomfortable sight from an ancient reflex of the eye

A new study from Penn researchers shows that a reflexive system of the human eye also produces a conscious, visual experience that may be related to excessive light sensitivity. The findings suggest that people have brain activity and a visual experience in response to invisible light pulses that stimulate melanopsin cells.

SourceUniversity of Pennsylvania School of Medicine·JournalProceedings of the National Academy of Sciences·DateOct 31, 2017

The world's shortest laser pulse

Researchers at ETH Zurich generate the world's shortest controlled laser pulse with a duration of 43 attoseconds, allowing for unprecedented time resolution in studying molecular dynamics. This breakthrough enables faster charge transfer and potentially more efficient solar cells.

SourceETH Zurich·JournalOptics Express·DateOct 31, 2017