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Science News Archive 2019 - Page 83


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Bird bacteria is key to communication and mating

Researchers at Michigan State University have found that scents emitted by songbirds are produced by certain bacteria in preen glands, which identify a bird to other birds. Altering these bacteria can disrupt the bird's ability to communicate and find a mate, highlighting the importance of maintaining a balanced microbiome.

SourceMichigan State University·JournalJournal of Experimental Biology·DateOct 29, 2019

New method identifies aggressive breast cancer

A new method has been developed to identify aggressive breast cancer by analyzing tumor tissue signatures, showing a correlation with poor outcome in patients. The study used mouse models and bioinformatics expert to isolate macrophages from mice affected by breast cancer and compared them with those from healthy breast tissue.

SourceUniversity of Bonn·JournalCell Reports·DateOct 29, 2019

New clues as to why mutations in the MYH9 gene cause broad spectrum of disorders in humans

Researchers used in vivo imaging to observe how cells move and generate forces in living tissues, revealing new clues on why MYH9 gene mutations lead to various diseases. The study demonstrates that altered myosin activity results in defects in epithelial morphogenesis due to slower cell movements.

SourceColumbia University School of Engineering and Applied Science·JournalProceedings of the National Academy of Sciences·DateOct 28, 2019

The Lancet Psychiatry: Insufficient evidence that medicinal cannabinoids improve mental health

A meta-analysis of 83 studies found inadequate evidence for the effectiveness of medicinal cannabinoids in relieving depression, anxiety disorders, ADHD, Tourette syndrome, post-traumatic stress disorder, or psychosis. Despite some low-quality evidence suggesting pharmaceutical THC may improve anxiety symptoms, the overall risks and ne...

SourceThe Lancet·JournalThe Lancet Psychiatry·DateOct 28, 2019

Lend me a flipper

Researchers at Kyoto University found that bottlenose dolphins can coordinate their behavior in a rope-pulling task, with initiators waiting for followers to reach the task and followers matching the initiator's swimming speed. This flexible coordination is likely rooted in their patterns of affiliative behavior.

SourceKyoto University·JournalPeerJ·DateOct 28, 2019

New venture team success requires collective ownership -- with boundaries, study says

A study by the University of Texas at Austin found that successful startups require leaders who both seek input and set boundaries with their team members. The researchers call this 'territorial-marking' behavior beneficial for startups. Leaders who establish limits signal their psychological investment, encouraging team members to inv...

SourceUniversity of Texas at Austin·JournalJournal of information and organizational sciences·DateOct 28, 2019

McLean's Brain Bank receives new contract from NIH

The McLean Hospital Brain Bank has received a new contract from the NIH to fund 180 brains per year, allowing for enhanced procedures and deeper understanding of brain pathology in psychiatric disorders. The center is part of the NeuroBioBank national resource for investigators using postmortem brain tissue.

Salt helps proteins move on down the road

Rice University scientists have developed a strategy to make polymer membrane-based separation of proteins more efficient using salt. The researchers identified competing forces at the nylon surface that could be tuned by salt concentration, allowing for improved separation efficiencies.

SourceRice University·JournalProceedings of the National Academy of Sciences·DateOct 28, 2019

Follow the dotted line

Researchers at Princeton University have developed a new method to precisely create droplets using a jet of liquid, offering greater flexibility and precision than standard techniques. This breakthrough enables the quick generation of drops with finely controlled sizes and locations within a 3D space.

SourcePrinceton University, Engineering School·JournalProceedings of the National Academy of Sciences·DateOct 28, 2019

Financial incentives plus information decrease patient preference for diagnostic testing

A study published in Academic Emergency Medicine found that providing financial incentives to forego testing significantly decreases patient preference for testing, even when accounting for test benefit and risk. Financial incentives also decreased patient preference for low-value diagnostic testing, such as CT imaging of the head.

SourceSociety for Academic Emergency Medicine·JournalAcademic Emergency Medicine·DateOct 28, 2019

Attacking metastatic breast cancer with sound

Researchers at Tohoku University developed a sound-based treatment that delivers anticancer drugs to lymph nodes affected by breast cancer metastases. The technique involves injecting vesicles carrying drugs into the nodes, which rupture when exposed to high-power ultrasound, releasing the medication.

SourceTohoku University·JournalScientific Reports·DateOct 28, 2019