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Science News Archive 2018 - Page 273


Page 273 of 473

Does negative political advertising actually work?

A new study by Yanwen Wang, Michael Lewis, and David A. Schweidel found that negative political advertising is effective in influencing voter preferences and turnout, particularly when created by candidates or their campaigns. In contrast, positive advertising is less effective, while PAC-sponsored ads are significantly less impactful.

Protein pair quickly makes memories of new places

Researchers found that neurogranin and FMRP proteins quickly form a complex to enable memory encoding within minutes of encountering a novel context. This process is crucial for understanding how abnormalities in these proteins contribute to human neuropsychiatric disorders.

SourcePicower Institute at MIT·JournalProceedings of the National Academy of Sciences·DateJun 4, 2018

Try togetherness: Study promotes cooperative weed management to curb herbicide resistance

Scientists at the University of Illinois and USDA's Agricultural Research Service promote cooperative weed management as a highly effective solution to curb herbicide resistance. By working together and sharing best practices, farmers can delay the evolution and spread of resistance, buying time for up to two decades.

Capturing light in a waveguide array

A team of physicists has demonstrated a way to confine light in a waveguide array, making it insensitive to defects. This innovation could lead to cheaper and more efficient photonic devices, such as lasers and solar cells, by reducing material imperfections.

SourcePenn State·JournalNature Photonics·DateJun 4, 2018

Speed-accuracy tradeoff turns up gain in the brain

A recent study published in eNeuro resolves a long-standing issue in decision-making by showing how the brain optimizes speed and accuracy. Researchers found that the brain adjusts signal-to-noise ratio to balance speed and accuracy, shedding light on the neural mechanisms underlying this crucial aspect of human behavior.

SourceSociety for Neuroscience·JournaleNeuro·DateJun 4, 2018

HIV vaccine elicits antibodies in animals that neutralize dozens of HIV strains

A new experimental vaccine regimen has been developed using a vulnerable site on HIV to induce antibodies that can neutralize multiple strains of the virus. In tests with mice, guinea pigs, and monkeys, the vaccine elicited antibodies that neutralized up to 31% of viruses from a globally representative panel of 208 HIV strains.

Improved calculations suggest changes to statin, aspirin, and blood pressure medication

Researchers developed an improved method for calculating risk for heart attack or stroke, finding that 11 million Americans may need to discuss different prescriptions with their doctor. The new calculations suggest major changes to statin, aspirin, and blood pressure medication prescribing, particularly for African Americans.

SourceAmerican College of Physicians·JournalAnnals of Internal Medicine·DateJun 4, 2018

Study suggests Earth could have supported continental crust, life earlier than thought

Researchers found evidence that the Earth's continental crust could have formed hundreds of millions of years earlier than previously thought, suggesting a habitable environment for life. The study used unique instruments to count strontium atoms in ancient rocks and found silica presence, altering the classic view of early Earth.

SourceUniversity of Chicago·JournalProceedings of the National Academy of Sciences·DateJun 4, 2018

Experimental drug restores some bladder function after spinal cord injury, study finds

Researchers have discovered an experimental drug that can restore some bladder function after spinal cord injury in mice, potentially reducing the risk of bladder infections and incontinence. The drug works by blocking abnormal neural communication and appears to maintain near-normal bladder pressure and reduce unexpected urine expulsion.

SourceOhio State University·JournalJournal of Clinical Investigation·DateJun 4, 2018

Non-pharmacologic approaches improve outcomes for infants with neonatal abstinence syndrome

A quality improvement initiative at Boston Medical Center used non-pharmacologic approaches to care for infants with neonatal abstinence syndrome, resulting in decreased medication use, length of stay, and health care costs. The new approach included skin-to-skin contact, breastfeeding, and parental presence, leading to significant imp...

SourceBoston Medical Center·JournalJournal of Perinatology·DateJun 4, 2018

ASCO & NEJM: AI plus ovarian suppression yields benefit in high-risk younger breast cancer patients

A new clinical trial analysis found that combining an aromatase inhibitor with ovarian function suppression yields a 10-15% improvement in freedom from distant recurrence for high-risk younger breast cancer patients. Women at low risk saw minimal benefit, while those at intermediate risk gained a 4-5% advantage.

SourceDana-Farber Cancer Institute·JournalNew England Journal of Medicine·DateJun 4, 2018

Preschool home visiting program improves academic performance

A randomized clinical trial found that a preschool home visiting program improved child academic performance, social-emotional adjustment, and reduced home problems in third grade. The intervention promoted gains in these domains, mediating significant reductions in child need for educational and mental health services.

SourceJAMA Network·JournalJAMA Pediatrics·DateJun 4, 2018