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Science News Archive December 2019 - Page 9


Page 9 of 36

Solving the puzzle of IgG4-related disease, the elusive autoimmune disorder

A team of scientists from Tokyo University of Science has made a breakthrough in understanding the inflammation mechanism in IgG4-related disease. They found that cytotoxic T lymphocytes (CTLs) and T follicular helper cells (Tfh cells) are necessary for pancreatic inflammation, and propose Janus kinase (JAK) as a suitable therapeutic t...

SourceTokyo University of Science·JournalInternational Immunology·DateDec 18, 2019

Children with HIV score below HIV-negative peers in cognitive, motor function tests

Researchers found that children with HIV performed poorly on neuropsychological tests, particularly in planning and reasoning abilities, compared to their HIV-negative peers. The disparity worsened over time, highlighting the need for further investigation into the underlying mechanisms of these cognitive challenges.

SourceNIH/National Institute of Allergy and Infectious Diseases·JournalClinical Infectious Diseases·DateDec 18, 2019

State of the climate over the Three Gorges Region of the Yangtze River in 2018

Researchers at the Institute of Atmospheric Physics, Chinese Academy of Sciences, published a report analyzing climate monitoring data for the Three Gorges area of the Yangtze River in 2018. The study provides basic climate monitoring facts and data to inform further research on extreme climatic events.

SourceInstitute of Atmospheric Physics, Chinese Academy of Sciences·JournalAdvances in Atmospheric Sciences·DateDec 18, 2019

Health impact of support between African American couples when dealing with racial discrimination

Racism-specific support from spouses significantly benefits African American husbands' and wives' physical and mental well-being. Despite this, Black women often bear the burden of supporting their male partners, highlighting a need for targeted resources and support networks.

SourceUniversity of Illinois College of Agricultural, Consumer and Environmental Sciences·JournalJournal of Social and Personal Relationships·DateDec 18, 2019

Switching cereals in India for improved nutrition, sustainability

A new study from the University of Delaware suggests that India can sustainably enhance its food supply and reduce environmental impacts by reducing reliance on rice and planting more nutritious crops like sorghum and finger millet. The traditional cereals have higher nutritional quality, use less water and energy, and emit fewer green...

SourceUniversity of Delaware·JournalProceedings of the National Academy of Sciences·DateDec 18, 2019

Forgetfulness might depend on time of day

Researchers identified a gene in mice that influences memory recall at different times of day, causing mice to be more forgetful just before waking up. The study found that the circadian clock regulates memory retrieval via dopamine and PKA-induced GluA1 phosphorylation.

SourceUniversity of Tokyo·JournalNature Communications·DateDec 18, 2019

Researchers support new strategies for HIV control

Elite controllers, a subset of HIV-positive individuals, have distinct transcriptional profiles and enhanced ribosomal function in their lymphoid tissue CD8+ T cells. This allows them to suppress HIV replication through cytokine production, presenting an alternative approach to traditional viral eradication strategies.

SourceKarolinska Institutet·JournalScience Translational Medicine·DateDec 18, 2019

'Like a video game with health points,' energy budgets explain evolutionary body size

A new model of animal energy budgets reveals that resource variation is a key mechanism driving evolutionary body size. By considering factors such as metabolism, reproduction costs, and offspring energy delivery, the model shows that larger bodies provide more room for energy storage, helping animals survive uncertain environments.

SourceSanta Fe Institute·JournalProceedings of the National Academy of Sciences·DateDec 18, 2019

Using robots to inspect sewer pipes

The University of Texas at Arlington is collaborating with the city of Waxahachie on a pilot project to inspect several miles of sewer pipelines using robotic technology. This will allow for more accurate estimates of pipeline service life, reducing the need for costly replacements and enabling 'microsurgery' repairs.

A more intuitive online banking service would reinforce its use among the over-55s

Experts recommend developing more intuitive applications with signposting and instructions to help older adults feel comfortable navigating online banking. Self-sufficiency and technological anxiety influence behavior, making it essential to increase confidence and reduce anxiety through clear communication and usability guarantees.

SourceUniversity of Seville·JournalUniversal Access in the Information Society·DateDec 18, 2019