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Science News Archive June 2018 - Page 37


Page 37 of 40

How binging creates alcohol tolerance in flies

Repeated exposure to large quantities of alcohol in fruit flies reduces the activity of a protein regulating communication between neurons. This study provides new insight into the neurobiology of alcohol tolerance, revealing that ethanol interferes with neurotransmitter release and Unc13 protein function.

SourceSociety for Neuroscience·JournaleNeuro·DateJun 4, 2018

Asthma and flu: a double whammy

A new study suggests that vaccinating asthmatic children against the flu could significantly reduce their risk of needing hospitalization for an asthma attack. The study found that kids with influenza or parainfluenza had a 37-per-cent or more chance of not responding to treatment, compared to 13 per cent for children without a virus.

SourceUniversity of Montreal·JournalPEDIATRICS·DateJun 4, 2018

Unlocking the genome

A team led by Prof. Stein Aerts uncovers how access to relevant DNA regions is orchestrated in epithelial cells, shedding light on biological mechanisms of gene regulation and potential new avenues for cellular reprogramming. Grainyhead, a pioneer factor, acts as a key that can be used to access specific DNA regions.

Wayne State professor receives NSF CAREER award for vaccine adjuvant research

Haipeng Liu, assistant professor of chemical engineering at Wayne State University, received a $539,422 NSF CAREER grant to develop molecular adjuvants that can enhance the effectiveness of cancer vaccines and overcome tumor-related immune suppression. His research aims to bridge the gap between synthetic chemistry and immunology.

The health effect of air pollution from traffic

A new study by Lund University suggests that removing exhaust fumes from a smaller European city could prevent 55-93 premature deaths and reduce cases of childhood asthma, bronchitis, and dementia. The study found that even below EU air pollution levels, negative health effects exist.

SourceLund University·JournalEnvironment International·DateJun 4, 2018

The search for the origin of mast cells

Researchers from CNRS and INSERM identify 'primitive mast cells' generated in yolk sac during embryonic development. These cells play a crucial role in shaping the body's immune response, contradicting previous theories on mast cell origin.

SourceCNRS·JournalImmunity·DateJun 4, 2018

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