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Science News Archive 2019 - Page 233


Page 233 of 486

Elbows key for walkers' efficiency

Researchers found that walkers who use straight arms conserve energy and reduce their cost by 11% compared to bending their elbows. However, the study did not find any significant difference in energy costs between arm postures for runners. The exact reason behind runner's bent arm posture remains a mystery.

SourceThe Company of Biologists·JournalJournal of Experimental Biology·DateJul 9, 2019

How to equip the brake of immunity

Researchers at Toho University found that mice lacking JunB develop severe autoimmune disorders due to reduced Treg cell number. Injecting high doses of IL-2 can mitigate colitis by expanding Treg cells, suggesting a potential novel strategy for treating inflammatory diseases.

SourceToho University·JournalMucosal Immunology·DateJul 9, 2019

Cyborg-like microchip valve driven by earthworm muscle

The team of researchers from RIKEN BDR and Tokyo Denki University have developed a bio-MEMS that is driven by real muscle, which could be useful in surgical implants. The new study successfully demonstrates an on-chip muscle-driven valve that can open and close without any external power source.

SourceRIKEN·JournalScientific Reports·DateJul 9, 2019

Aphrodisiac pheromone discovered in fish semen

Researchers identified a potent pheromone called spermine in the semen of sea lampreys that attracts only ovulatory female sea lampreys. The discovery may reveal a new mechanism for male animals to recruit mates through chemical cues in semen, potentially with implications for conservation and management of sea lamprey populations.

SourcePLOS·JournalPLOS Biology·DateJul 9, 2019

Lovebirds ace maneuvers in the dark

Researchers at Stanford University found that lovebirds can navigate through extreme crosswinds in both bright and dark environments, challenging long-held assumptions about bird navigation. By stabilizing their gaze and twisting their necks, the birds actively control their flight towards a light beacon.

SourceStanford University·JournalProceedings of the National Academy of Sciences·DateJul 9, 2019

New analysis shows drug slows down respiratory decline

Eteplirsen shows supportive results in delaying respiratory decline in DMD patients, with slower rates of decline observed in both ambulatory and non-ambulatory patients. This may have notable positive implications on quality of life and potentially delayed mortality.

SourceIOS Press·JournalJournal of Neuromuscular Diseases·DateJul 9, 2019

Old protein, new tricks: UMD connects a protein to antibody immunity for the first time

Scientists have discovered a newly found function of the US11 protein that impairs antibody immunity, allowing human cytomegalovirus (HCMV) to evade white blood cells and potentially leading to birth defects and immune system dysfunction. This breakthrough has significant therapeutic prospects for treating autoimmune diseases like lupus.

SourceUniversity of Maryland·JournalNature Communications·DateJul 9, 2019

Small-volume, high-throughput organic synthesis

A new method for synthesizing and evaluating large numbers of potential drug leads has been developed by the University of Groningen. This technique uses acoustic dispensing to create thousands of variant molecules in a high-throughput system, making it possible to quickly identify promising candidates.

SourceUniversity of Groningen·JournalScience Advances·DateJul 9, 2019

BU finds police shooting racial disparities reflect segregation

A new study by Boston University School of Public Health found that racial residential segregation explains greater racial disparities in fatal police shootings. The ratio of Black to White victims of police shootings increases by 44% for each percent of a city's Black population that would need to move for an equal distribution.

SourceBoston University School of Medicine·JournalJournal of the National Medical Association·DateJul 8, 2019

Becoming new parents increases produce purchases

A new study found that becoming new parents leads to increased spending on produce in middle- and high-income households, with a significant increase in fruit consumption. However, lower-income families did not exhibit similar changes in their produce purchases.

SourceElsevier·JournalJournal of Nutrition Education and Behavior·DateJul 8, 2019

Researchers can finally modify plant mitochondrial DNA

Researchers have successfully edited plant mitochondrial DNA for the first time, paving the way to address the current lack of mitochondrial genetic diversity in crops. This technique, called mitoTALENs, uses a single protein to locate and delete specific genes, potentially adding much-needed diversity to the food supply.

SourceUniversity of Tokyo·JournalNature Plants·DateJul 8, 2019

Producing graphene from carbon dioxide

Researchers at Karlsruhe Institute of Technology (KIT) have developed a method to directly synthesize graphene from greenhouse gas carbon dioxide. The process involves a catalytically active metal surface, resulting in a simple one-step conversion. This breakthrough could lead to the production of valuable materials and contribute to r...

Playfully discover atom manipulation

The University of Vienna team uses a state-of-the-art electron microscope to demonstrate atom manipulation in graphene, revealing the locations of silicon impurities. A new online simulation game, Atom Tractor Beam, allows users to control the movement of these impurities using an electron beam.

SourceUniversity of Vienna·JournalAdvanced Functional Materials·DateJul 8, 2019

Lead pollution in Arctic ice shows economic impact of wars and plagues for past 1,500 years

A study using Arctic ice cores shows that lead pollution levels correlate with economic growth and decline, indicating the impact of European events on the environment. The research found exponential increases in lead pollution during the past 1,500 years, with a significant decrease since the passage of pollution abatement policies.

SourceDesert Research Institute·JournalProceedings of the National Academy of Sciences·DateJul 8, 2019

AJTMH tip sheet for July 2019

A new study in Hawaii tallies nearly 82 human infections from the rat lungworm parasite over a decade, highlighting snails and slugs as primary carriers. Meanwhile, research on bednet monitoring reveals high variability in household use, which could be contributing to declining efficacy in malaria prevention.

SourceBurness·JournalAmerican Journal of Tropical Medicine and Hygiene·DateJul 8, 2019

UK researchers develop ultrafast semiconductors

Researchers from Cardiff University have developed ultrafast Compound Semiconductor technology, creating highly sensitive avalanche photodiodes with lower electronic noise than silicon rivals. This breakthrough has the potential to yield new class of high-performance receivers for applications in networking and sensing.

SourceCardiff University·JournalNature Photonics·DateJul 8, 2019

B and T cells in celiac disease

Researchers discovered that B cells specifically binding N-terminal epitopes of transglutaminase 2 (TG2) more efficiently take up and present TG2-gluten complexes to gluten-specific T cells. This suggests that B cells with this specificity are the main antigen-presenting cells for pathogenic T cells in celiac disease.

SourceProceedings of the National Academy of Sciences·JournalProceedings of the National Academy of Sciences·DateJul 8, 2019