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OU-MRU: A berry vine found in Asia proves useful in combating lung cancer

A research team from Okayama University has reported the potential of a berry-producing vine, Vitis coignetiae Pulliat (Yamabudo), against lung cancer in mice. The study found that extracts from Yamabudo and its chemical compounds display tumor-suppressing properties by repairing DNA damage and suppressing growth signaling pathways.

SourceOkayama University·JournalFood and Chemical Toxicology·TypeExperimental study·DateAug 17, 2021

The 'phytoplankton factory' -- from nutrients to algae growth

A new model has been developed to study phytoplankton growth in the ocean, providing insights into the basis of the marine ecosystem. The model suggests that cumulative cellular costs determine how environmental conditions affect phytoplankton growth rates, with potential implications for predicting fish stocks and global climate change.

SourceHelmholtz Centre for Ocean Research Kiel (GEOMAR)·JournalScience Advances·TypeComputational simulation/modeling·DateAug 6, 2021

New study: Half of Americans living with diabetes may be consuming less than the recommended amount of protein, which is associated with greater physical limitations

A new study published in Nutrients highlights the importance of adequate protein intake for adults living with diabetes. The research found that nearly half of US adults with diabetes did not meet the daily recommended protein intake, leading to greater physical limitations and potentially increasing the risk of muscle loss.

SourceGCI Health NY·JournalNutrients·DateJul 29, 2021

Ocean microbes team up brilliantly to gather food when it's scarce

In low-nutrient environments, marine microbes form consortia with ciliates to capture nutrients. This cooperative solution increases nutrient flux to the diatom's cell surface up to 10 times greater than alone. Researchers used PIV technology to measure fluid flows and found a more favorable solution for low-mixing conditions.

SourceMarine Biological Laboratory·JournalProceedings of the National Academy of Sciences·DateJul 19, 2021

Atmospheric acidity impacts oceanic ecology

New research reveals that increased atmospheric acidity is disrupting the ecological balance of oceans by altering nutrient transport and productivity. The study found that atmospheric acidity affects the quantity and distribution of nutrients delivered to the ocean, leading to a direct fertilizing effect on marine phytoplankton.

SourceUniversity of East Anglia·JournalScience Advances·DateJul 7, 2021

Keeping bacteria under lock and key

Scientists at the University of Delaware have made progress on a biological containment strategy using synthetic auxotrophy, keeping a strain of E. coli stable for 100 days. The research also shows promise for treating diseases and cleaning up the environment safely.

SourceUniversity of Delaware·JournalScience Advances·DateJul 6, 2021

CNIO researchers find molecular switch that allows organisms to adapt to fasting conditions

Researchers at CNIO have identified RagA as a molecular switch that allows cells to adapt to low nutrient levels, enabling an 'energy-saving mode' similar to what occurs in yeasts. This discovery has significant implications for understanding metabolic regulation and potential strategies to fight obesity and related diseases.

What spurs people to save the planet? Stories or facts?

A Johns Hopkins University study reveals that stories about pollution, such as a man's death from contaminated shellfish, increase willingness to buy eco-friendly products among Democrats by 17%, whereas it decreases their spending by 14%. In contrast, Republican participants showed no change or even decreased spending after hearing th...

SourceJohns Hopkins University·JournalOne Earth·DateApr 26, 2021

Modelling speed-ups in nutrient-seeking bacteria

Researchers developed a more accurate model of how bacteria search for nutrients by considering both chemotaxis and chemokinesis. The new model reveals that combining these two motions enhances population responses to nutrient distributions.

SourceSpringer·JournalThe European Physical Journal E·DateMar 17, 2021

Illinois residents value strategies to improve water quality

A study from University of Illinois agricultural economists found that Illinois residents value efforts to reduce watershed pollution and are willing to pay for environmental improvements. Respondents were surveyed on their willingness to pay for various water quality improvements, with a 50% reduction in algal blooms estimated to be w...

Fires, flooding before settlement may have formed the Amazon's rare patches of fertility

New research suggests that phosphorous and calcium levels in Amazonian dark earth are orders of magnitude higher than in surrounding soil, correlating with 16 trace elements that indicate pre-settlement river flooding delivered nutrients. This finding challenges the long-held theory that controlled burning created these fertile sites.

SourceUniversity of Oregon·JournalNature Communications·DateJan 4, 2021