Scientists pinpoint gene to blame for poorer survival rate in early-onset breast cancer patients
A new study led by scientists at the University of Southampton has found that inherited variation in a particular gene may be to blame for the lower survival rate of patients diagnosed with early-onset breast cancer.
Source: https://www.eurekalert.org/pub_releases/2017-12/uos-spg121417.php
Study finds graspable objects grab attention more than images of objects do
Jacqueline Snow, with the University of Nevada, Reno's College of Liberal Arts, and her graduate students, Michael Gomez and Rafal Skiba, recently published findings of their research, "Graspable objects grab attention more than images do." They studied how humans allocate attention to different objects in a scene and examined whether real objects compete more strongly for attention and manual responses compared to matched computerized 2-D and 3-D images of the same objects.
Source: https://www.eurekalert.org/pub_releases/2017-12/uonr-sfg121417.php
Finding a lethal parasite's vulnerabilities
Researchers from Penn's School of Veterinary Medicine have landed on encouraging findings to take on Strongyloides stercoralis, a parasitic nematode that's infected millions of people around the world.
Source: https://www.eurekalert.org/pub_releases/2017-12/uop-fal121417.php
First-of-its-kind chemical oscillator offers new level of molecular control
UT researchers successfully constructed a first-of-its-kind chemical oscillator that uses DNA components. DNA molecules that follow specific instructions could offer more precise molecular control of synthetic chemical systems, a discovery that opens the door for engineers to create molecular machines with new and complex behaviors.
Source: https://www.eurekalert.org/pub_releases/2017-12/uota-fco121417.php
NSF-funded researchers find that ice sheet is dynamic and has repeatedly grown and shrunk
The East Antarctic Ice Sheet locks away enough water to raise sea level an estimated 53 meters (174 feet), more than any other ice sheet on the planet. It's also thought to be among the most stable, not gaining or losing mass even as ice sheets in West Antarctica and Greenland shrink.
Source: https://www.eurekalert.org/pub_releases/2017-12/nsf-nrf121417.php
Suicidal thoughts rapidly reduced with ketamine, finds study
Ketamine was significantly more effective than a commonly used sedative in reducing suicidal thoughts in depressed patients, according to researchers at Columbia University Medical Center (CUMC). They also found that ketamine's anti-suicidal effects occurred within hours after its administration.
Source: https://www.eurekalert.org/pub_releases/2017-12/cumc-str121417.php
Six-decade-old space mystery solved with shoebox-sized satellite called a CubeSat
A 60-year-old mystery about the source of energetic, potentially damaging particles in Earth's radiation belts has been solved using data from a shoebox-sized satellite built and operated by students. The satellite is called a CubeSat.
Source: https://www.eurekalert.org/pub_releases/2017-12/nsf-ssm121417.php
A better way to weigh millions of solitary stars
Astronomers have come up with a new and improved method for measuring the masses of millions of solitary stars, especially those with planetary systems.
Source: https://www.eurekalert.org/pub_releases/2017-12/vu-abw121417.php
Simulation model finds Cure Violence program and targeted policing curb urban violence
When communities and police work together to deter urban violence, they can achieve better outcomes with fewer resources than when each works in isolation, a simulation model created by researchers at the UC Davis Violence Prevention Research Program, Columbia University's Mailman School of Public Health and the University at Albany has found.
Source: https://www.eurekalert.org/pub_releases/2017-12/uoc--smf121417.php
Computational strategies overcome obstacles in peptide therapeutics development
Recently developed computational strategies could help realize the promise of peptide-based drugs. Researchers were able to sample the diverse landscape of shapes that peptides can form as a guide for designing the next generation of stable, potent, selective drugs. They compiled a library of peptide scaffolds upon which drug candidates might be designed. Their methods also can be used to design additional custom peptides with arbitrary shapes on demand.
Source: https://www.eurekalert.org/pub_releases/2017-12/uowh-cso121417.php
Horrific mating strategy appears to benefit both male and female redback spiders
A mating strategy among redback spiders where males seek out immature females appears to benefit both sexes, a new U of T Scarborough study has found.
Source: https://www.eurekalert.org/pub_releases/2017-12/uot-hms121417.php
Source: http://www.eurekalert.org/
