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Science News Archive April 2018 - Page 20


Page 20 of 42

High-quality nursing homes lower risks for long-term care placement for older adults

A study published in the Journal of the American Geriatrics Society found that older adults in skilled nursing facilities (SNFs) with higher quality ratings had significantly lower risks for placement in long-term care facilities. The researchers used data from over 500,000 people aged 65 and older to examine the role of SNF quality in...

SourceAmerican Geriatrics Society·JournalJournal of the American Geriatrics Society·DateApr 17, 2018

OncoDNA announces publication of peer-reviewed study in Oncotarget assessing the utility of its unique biomarker analysis and interpretation platform in clinical decision making

A peer-reviewed study published in Oncotarget found that OncoDNA's comprehensive testing and analysis services, combining multiple biomarkers, increased oncologists' ability to make informed treatment decisions. The study showed a significant improvement in overall survival for late-stage patients, from six months to over 12 months.

SourceImpact Journals LLC·JournalOncotarget·DateApr 17, 2018

Bugged out by climate change

Research tracked changes in Arctic arthropod populations in response to warming temperatures, finding more plant-eating and parasitic insects, and fewer detritivores. The study suggests that water availability will play a key role in determining which bug species can thrive in a warming Arctic.

SourceWashington University in St. Louis·JournalRoyal Society Open Science·DateApr 17, 2018

New type of opal formed by common seaweed discovered

Researchers at the University of Bristol have discovered a novel type of opal formed by brown algae, exhibiting iridescence due to self-assembled oil droplet nanostructures. The seaweed's chloroplasts-containing cells can switch on and off this dynamic self-assembly, creating changing opals that react to sunlight.

SourceUniversity of Bristol·JournalScience Advances·DateApr 17, 2018

Biophysics: Making patterns robust

Researchers have developed a model that explains how biological patterns can form and maintain stability even when protein concentrations are altered. The Min system, used to study cell division, has been found to use a conformational switch in the MinE protein to achieve robustness.

SourceLudwig-Maximilians-Universität München·JournalProceedings of the National Academy of Sciences·DateApr 17, 2018

New findings to help in the fight against wombat mange

Scientists have discovered that sarcoptic mange causes significant loss of body heat and increased metabolic rate in Tasmanian wombats, leading to reduced foraging and increased mortality. The research suggests that dietary supplementation may help address these issues, offering new hope for the management of wombat mange.

SourceUniversity of Tasmania·JournalRoyal Society Open Science·DateApr 17, 2018

Calculus III for cells

Researchers investigated how cells respond to cylindrical surfaces and a sphere-with-skirt geometry, finding that cells change their shapes and internal structures. Cells on stiff surfaces form stress fibers, which are influenced by surface curvature, enabling new tools in biology.

SourceUniversity of Pennsylvania·JournalBiophysical Journal·DateApr 17, 2018

Researchers find resilience counteracts effects of childhood abuse and neglect on health

A study published in the Journal of Clinical Psychiatry found that individuals with schizophrenia who experienced childhood trauma had improved health outcomes when they possessed high levels of psychological resilience. The research team evaluated data from 114 participants with schizophrenia and 101 non-psychiatric comparison subjects.

SourceUniversity of California - San Diego·JournalJournal of Clinical Psychiatry·DateApr 17, 2018

Alpine grassland productivity not sensitive to climate warming on third pole

Research in Tibetan alpine grasslands found that climate warming does not decrease productivity, but rather changes the composition of plant species to stabilize production. The study's findings suggest that shifting species composition enables communities to access more water and buffer against drought-induced declines.

SourceChinese Academy of Sciences Headquarters·JournalProceedings of the National Academy of Sciences·DateApr 17, 2018

Abramson Cancer Canter studies show promise of immunotherapy combinations, including CAR T

Researchers at the Abramson Cancer Center have discovered promising immunotherapy combinations for treating glioblastoma, head and neck cancer, and pancreatic cancer. CAR T cell therapy combined with checkpoint inhibitors has shown enhanced effectiveness in glioblastoma, while targeting a novel immune checkpoint in head and neck cancer...

Back to the beginning

Researchers at Washington University in St. Louis have developed a new process to generate NP-like cells from human induced pluripotent stem cells (hiPSCs). The team mimicked the embryonic development process to produce nucleus pulposus cells, which could potentially be used to treat degenerative disc disease.

SourceWashington University in St. Louis·JournalStem Cell Research & Therapy·DateApr 17, 2018

Researchers uncover origin of virus-fighting plasma B cells

A study published in Immunity reveals that T follicular helper cells play a crucial role in determining the fate of B cells, with stronger interactions leading to plasma B cell formation. The researchers identified a subset of B cells expressing IRF4 and CD69 as precursors to plasma B cells.

SourceRIKEN·JournalImmunity·DateApr 17, 2018

Opioid-related hospitalizations rising in Medicare patients without opioid prescriptions

A study by University of Texas Medical Branch researchers found that opioid-related hospitalization rates increased among Medicare patients without prescribed opioids after the 2014 federal change limiting hydrocodone product dispensing. This increase may indicate illegal use of these drugs.

SourceUniversity of Texas Medical Branch at Galveston·JournalJournal of the American Geriatrics Society·DateApr 17, 2018

Understanding Mercury's magnetic tail

Researchers found that plasmoid reconnection in Mercury's magnetotail could accelerate energetic electrons, solving a puzzle left by previous space missions. The study also revealed that turbulence enhances reconnection, leading to improved predictions for future missions like Bepi-Colombo.

SourceAmerican Institute of Physics·JournalPhysics of Plasmas·DateApr 17, 2018