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Science News Archive April 2019 - Page 40


Page 40 of 44

Nature versus nurture: Environment exerts greater influence on corn health than genetics

A recent study published in Phytobiomes Journal found that corn's bacterial communities play a significant role in its health and performance. The research, led by Dr. Jason Wallace, monitored the active bacteria on the leaves of 300 diverse lines of corn and discovered little relationship between the bacteria and corn genes.

SourceAmerican Phytopathological Society·JournalPhytobiomes Journal·DateApr 2, 2019

Understanding stock market returns: Which models fits best?

Researchers applied two competing stock market return models, Heston and multiplicative, to US historical data. The Heston model excels in predicting long-time accumulations of stock returns, while the multiplicative model is better suited for short-term predictions.

SourceSpringer·JournalThe European Physical Journal B·DateApr 2, 2019

UBC research recommends graduated return to work after prostatectomy

A recent UBC study found that a 'reduced workload' program is the best option for men recovering from a radical prostatectomy, reducing the risk of burnout and promoting full recovery. The researchers recommend that patients have an open conversation with their employer before surgery to come up with a plan for a gradual return to work.

SourceUniversity of British Columbia Okanagan campus·JournalQualitative Health Research·DateApr 2, 2019

Study debunks 'depression genes' hypotheses

A new University of Colorado Boulder study found that the 18 most highly-studied candidate genes for depression are no more associated with it than randomly chosen genes. The research suggests that depression is influenced by many variants, each having a miniscule effect, and challenges previous 'candidate gene hypotheses',

SourceUniversity of Colorado at Boulder·JournalAmerican Journal of Psychiatry·DateApr 2, 2019

UMN researchers study effect of chronic opioid therapy on pain and survival in sickle cell disease

Researchers found that chronic morphine treatment decreased survival in control mice, but not in sickle mice with sickle cell disease. Chronic opioid therapy also caused hyperalgesia, a condition of increased pain sensitivity, in sickle mice. The study suggests that opioids may still be effective for managing pain in SCD patients despi...

SourceUniversity of Minnesota Medical School·JournalBlood Advances·DateApr 2, 2019

Optimizing proton beam therapy with mathematical models

Researchers developed a new model predicting proton beam effects on tumour and normal tissue more precisely, allowing for effective treatment plans. The study replaced traditional radiobiological models with complex ones, showing improved results for low-energy beams.

SourceSpringer·JournalThe European Physical Journal D·DateApr 2, 2019

New role for a driver of metastatic cancers

Salk scientists discovered a new mechanism of action for the CDK12 protein, revealing its role in regulating gene expression and cell division. This finding suggests that targeting CDK12 could be an effective way to kill cancer cells and improve treatment outcomes.

SourceSalk Institute·JournalGenes & Development·DateApr 2, 2019

New machine learning model describes dynamics of cell development

Researchers developed a new machine learning model to describe the dynamics of cell development, estimating selection pressure and formation of new cells. The tool simplifies the interpretation of single-cell time series observations, shedding light on vital questions in biology.

HKUST scientists discover how RNA PoII maintains accurate transcription with super computer

A research team led by Prof. HUANG Xuhui discovered the mechanism of RNA polymerase II correcting errors in RNA synthesis, which relies on the RNA itself rather than amino acid residues. This finding offers insights into how transcription may go wrong in ageing and diseased cells, potentially leading to various human diseases.

Gut microbiome directs the immune system to fight cancer

Researchers have discovered a causal link between the gut microbiome and anti-tumor immunity, identifying key bacterial strains that activate the immune system to slow melanoma growth. The study also reveals the role of unfolded protein response (UPR) in this process, providing potential markers for patient stratification.

SourceSanford Burnham Prebys·JournalNature Communications·DateApr 2, 2019