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Science News Archive August 2019 - Page 18


Page 18 of 38

Brain representation of written words

A study with 24 participants aged 18-30 used fMRI scans to map brain areas involved in reading written words in two artificial alphabets. The results showed a hierarchy of brain regions, with posterior regions encoding letter position within words and left mid-to-anterior regions processing phonological and semantic information.

SourceProceedings of the National Academy of Sciences·JournalProceedings of the National Academy of Sciences·DateAug 19, 2019

Football scores a health hat-trick for 55- to 70-year-old women with prediabetes

A new study from the University of Southern Denmark shows that football is a surprisingly efficient type of physical training for female prediabetes patients, resulting in broad-spectrum improvements in cardiovascular, metabolic and musculoskeletal fitness. The exercise intensity and effects were similar in women and men, with impressi...

SourceUniversity of Southern Denmark Faculty of Health Sciences·JournalEuropean Journal of Applied Physiology·DateAug 19, 2019

Single event or epidemic?

Long-term data analysis reveals non-infected regions have a higher risk of infection due to seasonal changes in movement patterns. The study emphasizes the importance of focusing on specific individuals, seasons and areas to prevent future outbreaks.

SourceForschungsverbund Berlin·JournalJournal of Animal Ecology·DateAug 19, 2019

Genetic risk is associated with differences in gut microbiome

A recent study published in Nature Communications found that children with high genetic risk of developing type 1 diabetes have distinct gut microbiomes compared to those with low risk. The research suggests a link between genetic predisposition and environmental factors, highlighting the importance of the gut flora in autoimmune disea...

SourceLinköping University·JournalNature Communications·DateAug 19, 2019

NIH study in mice identifies type of brain cell involved in stuttering

A recent NIH study using a mouse model of stuttering identified the loss of astrocytes as a critical brain cell type involved in the disorder. The research found that this loss was most prominent in the corpus callosum, a part of the brain that bridges the two hemispheres. This discovery could lead to novel interventions for stuttering...

SourceNIH/National Institute on Deafness and Other Communication Disorders·JournalProceedings of the National Academy of Sciences·DateAug 19, 2019

Potential treatments for citrus greening

Researchers at Stanford University have discovered a potential treatment for citrus greening, a devastating disease affecting the US citrus industry. By studying a symbiotic bacterium, they found 130 compounds that can inhibit the spread of the disease without harming beneficial bacteria.

SourceStanford University·JournalProceedings of the National Academy of Sciences·DateAug 19, 2019

Plant size and island habitats

Researchers tested the 'island rule' on plant species colonizing islands in the Southwest Pacific and found that their stature and leaf area followed the rule. However, plant seed size did not conform to the rule, suggesting a more nuanced relationship between island habitats and organismal traits.

SourceProceedings of the National Academy of Sciences·JournalProceedings of the National Academy of Sciences·DateAug 19, 2019

Antacid helps tuberculosis bacteria to survive

Researchers discovered Mycobacterium tuberculosis produces a unique type of antacid that prevents phagosomes from fusing with lysosomes, allowing the bacteria to survive. The mechanism involves the production of 1-tuberculosinyladenosine, an acid that reduces acidity and hinders immune cell digestion.

SourceUniversity of Groningen·JournalNature Chemical Biology·DateAug 19, 2019