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Lunatic Labs is a startup company by a mechanical engineer. While working on our own little projects Loony Labs keeps everyone current with science-related news, or just random science thoughts.
Dr. Jekyll
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- November 24, 2015
- 02:52 PM
- 451 views
Insights into protein structure could change the future of biomedicine
by Dr. Jekyll in Lunatic Laboratories
Researchers at the University of Waterloo have discovered a new way to create designer proteins that have the potential to transform biotechnology and personalized medicines.
In a range of experiments Professor Elizabeth Meiering, in collaboration with colleagues from India and the United States, created a protein that can withstand a range of physiological and environmental conditions – a problem that has challenged chemists looking to create super stable, highly functional proteins.... Read more »
Broom, A., Ma, S., Xia, K., Rafalia, H., Trainor, K., Colon, W., Gosavi, S., & Meiering, E. (2015) Designed protein reveals structural determinants of extreme kinetic stability. Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences. DOI: 10.1073/pnas.1510748112
- November 23, 2015
- 07:00 PM
- 502 views
Dopamine measurements reveal insights into how we learn
by Dr. Jekyll in Lunatic Laboratories
Virginia Tech Carilion Research Institute scientists have reported measurements of dopamine release with unprecedented temporal precision in the brains of people with Parkinson’s disease. The measurements, collected during brain surgery as the conscious patients played an investment game, demonstrate how rapid dopamine release encodes information crucial for human choice.... Read more »
Kenneth T. Kishida, Ignacio Saez, Terry Lohrenz, Mark R. Witcher, Adrian W. Laxton, Stephen B. Tatter, Jason P. White, Thomas L. Ellis, Paul E. M. Phillips, & P. Read Montague. (2015) Subsecond dopamine fluctuations in human striatum encode superposed error signals about actual and counterfactual reward. Proceedings of the natural sciences academy of the United States of America. info:/10.1073/pnas.1513619112
- November 22, 2015
- 03:01 PM
- 555 views
Neuroscience and the search for happiness
by Dr. Jekyll in Lunatic Laboratories
Exercising, meditating, scouring self-help books… we go out of our way to be happy, but do we really know what happiness is? Wataru Sato and his team at Kyoto University have found an answer from a neurological perspective.... Read more »
Sato, W., Kochiyama, T., Uono, S., Kubota, Y., Sawada, R., Yoshimura, S., & Toichi, M. (2015) The structural neural substrate of subjective happiness. Scientific Reports, 16891. DOI: 10.1038/srep16891
- November 21, 2015
- 05:09 PM
- 432 views
The mysterious fungus that has major health consequences
by Dr. Jekyll in Lunatic Laboratories
Researchers at the University of Toronto examined fungi in the mucus of patients with cystic fibrosis and discovered how one particularly cunning fungal species has evolved to defend itself against neighbouring bacteria. A regular resident of our microbiome – and especially ubiquitous in the lungs of cystic fibrosis patients -the Candida albicans fungus is an “opportunistic pathogen.”
... Read more »
Kim, S., Clark, S., Surendra, A., Copeland, J., Wang, P., Ammar, R., Collins, C., Tullis, D., Nislow, C., Hwang, D.... (2015) Global Analysis of the Fungal Microbiome in Cystic Fibrosis Patients Reveals Loss of Function of the Transcriptional Repressor Nrg1 as a Mechanism of Pathogen Adaptation. PLOS Pathogens, 11(11). DOI: 10.1371/journal.ppat.1005308
- November 20, 2015
- 02:43 PM
- 538 views
Inflammation linked to weakened reward circuits in depression
by Dr. Jekyll in Lunatic Laboratories
About one third of people with depression have high levels of inflammation markers in their blood. New research indicates that persistent inflammation affects the brain in ways that are connected with stubborn symptoms of depression, such as anhedonia, the inability to experience pleasure.... Read more »
Felger, J., Li, Z., Haroon, E., Woolwine, B., Jung, M., Hu, X., & Miller, A. (2015) Inflammation is associated with decreased functional connectivity within corticostriatal reward circuitry in depression. Molecular Psychiatry. DOI: 10.1038/mp.2015.168
- November 19, 2015
- 07:55 PM
- 455 views
Yin and yang of serotonin neurons in mood regulation
by Dr. Jekyll in Lunatic Laboratories
Low levels of serotonin in the brain are known to play a role in depression and anxiety, and it is customary to treat these disorders with medications that increase the amount of this neurotransmitter. However, a new study carried out by researchers suggests that this approach may be too simple. It appears that neighboring serotonin-producing brainstem regions exert different and sometimes opposing effects on behavior.... Read more »
Anne Teissier, Alexei Chemiakine, Benjamin Inbar, Susan M. Dymecki, Holly Moore, & Mark S. Ansorge. (2015) Activity of Raphe´ Serotonergic Neurons Controls Emotional Behaviors. Cell Reports. info:/http://dx.doi.org/10.1016/j.celrep.2015.10.061
- November 18, 2015
- 07:37 PM
- 504 views
Master switch for brain development
by Dr. Jekyll in Lunatic Laboratories
Scientists at the Institute of Molecular Biology (IMB) in Mainz have unraveled a complex regulatory mechanism that explains how a single gene can drive the formation of brain cells. The research is an important step towards a better understanding of how the brain develops. It also harbors potential for regenerative medicine.... Read more »
Pataskar, A., Jung, J., Smialowski, P., Noack, F., Calegari, F., Straub, T., & Tiwari, V. (2015) NeuroD1 reprograms chromatin and transcription factor landscapes to induce the neuronal program. The EMBO Journal. DOI: 10.15252/embj.201591206
- November 17, 2015
- 04:48 PM
- 562 views
What’s in a name? More than you think…
by Dr. Jekyll in Lunatic Laboratories
What’s in a name? In the case of the usernames of video gamers, a remarkable amount of information about their real world personalities, according to research. Analysis of anonymised data from one of the world’s most popular computer games by scientists in the Department of Psychology at York also revealed information about their ages.... Read more »
Kokkinakis, A., Lin, J., Pavlas, D., & Wade, A. (2016) What's in a name? Ages and names predict the valence of social interactions in a massive online game. Computers in Human Behavior, 605-613. DOI: 10.1016/j.chb.2015.09.034
- November 16, 2015
- 08:37 PM
- 416 views
Strongest evidence yet of a link between breakfast and educational outcomes
by Dr. Jekyll in Lunatic Laboratories
A direct and positive link between pupils’ breakfast quality and consumption, and their educational attainment, has for the first time been demonstrated in a ground-breaking new study carried out by public health experts at Cardiff University. The study of 5000 9-11 year-olds from more than 100 primary schools sought to examine the link between breakfast consumption and quality and subsequent attainment in Key Stage 2 Teacher Assessments* 6-18 months later.... Read more »
Littlecott, H., Moore, G., Moore, L., Lyons, R., & Murphy, S. (2015) Association between breakfast consumption and educational outcomes in 9–11-year-old children – CORRIGENDUM. Public Health Nutrition, 1. DOI: 10.1017/S1368980015003365
- November 15, 2015
- 03:19 PM
- 554 views
The rise of do-it-yourself biology
by Dr. Jekyll in Lunatic Laboratories
The Wilson Center’s Synthetic Biology Project has released a short documentary on the growth of the do-it-yourself biology (DIYbio) movement as seen through a community DIYbio lab in Baltimore, Maryland. ... Read more »
The Wilson Center. (2015) The rise of do-it-yourself biology: A look at the Baltimore Underground Science Space. Synthetic Biology Project. info:other/Link
- November 14, 2015
- 04:18 PM
- 440 views
3-D printing aids in understanding food enjoyment
by Dr. Jekyll in Lunatic Laboratories
Tasting food relies on food volatiles moving from the back of the mouth to the nasal cavity, but researchers have wondered why airflow doesn’t carry them in the other direction, into the lungs. Now a team of engineers, using a 3D printed model of the human airway from nostril to trachea, has determined that the shape of the airway preferentially transfers volatiles to the nasal cavity and allows humans to enjoy the smell of good food.... Read more »
Ni, R., Michalski, M., Brown, E., Doan, N., Zinter, J., Ouellette, N., & Shepherd, G. (2015) Optimal directional volatile transport in retronasal olfaction. Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences. DOI: 10.1073/pnas.1511495112
- November 13, 2015
- 08:32 PM
- 477 views
Not so happy old age?
by Dr. Jekyll in Lunatic Laboratories
The notion that older people are happier than younger people is being challenged following a recent study led by a University of Bradford lecturer. In fact it suggests that people get more depressed from age 65 onwards. The study, led by psychology lecturer Dr Helena Chui, builds on a 15-year project observing over 2,000 older Australians living in the Adelaide area.... Read more »
Chui, Helena, Gerstorf, Denis, Hoppmann, Christiane A., & ; Luszcz, Mary A. (2015) Supplemental Material for Trajectories of Depressive Symptoms in Old Age: Integrating Age-, Pathology-, and Mortality-Related Changes. Psychology and Aging. DOI: 10.1037/pag0000054.supp
- November 12, 2015
- 02:13 PM
- 426 views
It’s music to my eyes
by Dr. Jekyll in Lunatic Laboratories
When people are listening to music, their emotional reactions to the music are reflected in changes in their pupil size. Researchers from the University of Vienna and the University of Innsbruck, Austria, are the first to show that both the emotional content of the music and the listeners’ personal involvement with music influence pupil dilation. This study demonstrates that pupil size measurement can be effectively used to probe listeners’ reactions to music.... Read more »
Gingras, B., Marin, M., Puig-Waldmüller, E., & Fitch, W. (2015) The Eye is Listening: Music-Induced Arousal and Individual Differences Predict Pupillary Responses. Frontiers in Human Neuroscience. DOI: 10.3389/fnhum.2015.00619
- November 11, 2015
- 04:53 PM
- 401 views
A protein-RNA structure hints at how viruses commandeer human proteins
by Dr. Jekyll in Lunatic Laboratories
Researchers at Case Western Reserve University and the University of Michigan have produced the first image of an important human protein as it binds with ribonucleic acid (RNA), a discovery that could offer clues to how some viruses, including HIV, control expression of their genetic material. That information could lead to new strategies to block viruses from replicating, thereby limiting or halting infection.... Read more »
Morgan, C., Meagher, J., Levengood, J., Delproposto, J., Rollins, C., Stuckey, J., & Tolbert, B. (2015) The First Crystal Structure of the UP1 Domain of hnRNP A1 Bound to RNA Reveals a New Look for an Old RNA Binding Protein. Journal of Molecular Biology, 427(20), 3241-3257. DOI: 10.1016/j.jmb.2015.05.009
- November 10, 2015
- 02:19 PM
- 341 views
New vaccine could prevent high cholesterol
by Dr. Jekyll in Lunatic Laboratories
A new cholesterol-lowering vaccine leads to reductions in ‘bad’ LDL cholesterol in mice and macaques, according to research. The authors of the study, from the University of New Mexico and the National Institutes of health in the United States, say the vaccine has the potential to be a more powerful treatment than statins alone.... Read more »
Crossey, E., Amar, M., Sampson, M., Peabody, J., Schiller, J., Chackerian, B., & Remaley, A. (2015) A cholesterol-lowering VLP vaccine that targets PCSK9. Vaccine, 33(43), 5747-5755. DOI: 10.1016/j.vaccine.2015.09.044
- November 9, 2015
- 06:50 PM
- 465 views
One energy drink may increase heart disease risk in young adults
by Dr. Jekyll in Lunatic Laboratories
New research shows that drinking one 16-ounce energy drink can increase blood pressure and stress hormone responses significantly. This raises the concern that these response changes could increase the risk of cardiovascular events.... Read more »
Svatikova, A., Covassin, N., Somers, K., Somers, K., Soucek, F., Kara, T., & Bukartyk, J. (2015) A Randomized Trial of Cardiovascular Responses to Energy Drink Consumption in Healthy Adults. JAMA, 1. DOI: 10.1001/jama.2015.13744
- November 8, 2015
- 03:34 PM
- 470 views
The connection between masculinity, energy drink use, and sleep problems
by Dr. Jekyll in Lunatic Laboratories
Energy drinks have grown in popularity for many Americans, but there is growing concern about the health risks of consuming them in large quantities. Because men are the main consumers of energy drinks, a research team lead by Dr. Ronald F. Levant, a professor of psychology at The University of Akron, set out to study a possible link between masculinity, expectations about the benefits of consuming energy drinks, how those expectations affect energy drink use, and the impact on sleep.... Read more »
Levant, R., Parent, M., McCurdy, E., & Bradstreet, T. (2015) Moderated mediation of the relationships between masculinity ideology, outcome expectations, and energy drink use. Health Psychology, 34(11), 1100-1106. DOI: 10.1037/hea0000214
- November 7, 2015
- 02:32 PM
- 429 views
The first line of defense? Think Mucus
by Dr. Jekyll in Lunatic Laboratories
By licking a wound it heals faster — this is not simply popular belief, but scientifically proven. Our saliva consists of water and mucus, among other things, and the mucus plays an important role. It stimulates white blood cells to build a good defense against invaders, according to a group of researchers at Lund University in Sweden together with colleagues from Copenhagen and Odense in Denmark.... Read more »
Mohanty, T., Sjogren, J., Kahn, F., Abu-Humaidan, A., Fisker, N., Assing, K., Morgelin, M., Bengtsson, A., Borregaard, N., & Sorensen, O. (2015) A novel mechanism for NETosis provides antimicrobial defense at the oral mucosa. Blood, 126(18), 2128-2137. DOI: 10.1182/blood-2015-04-641142
- November 6, 2015
- 10:54 PM
- 424 views
Cancer survivors less likely to receive callbacks from potential employers
by Dr. Jekyll in Lunatic Laboratories
Job applicants who are cancer survivors are less likely to receive callbacks from potential retail employers than those who did not disclose their health history, according to a recent study by Rice University and Penn State University researchers.... Read more »
Martinez, L., White, C., Shapiro, J., & Hebl, M. (2015) Selection BIAS: Stereotypes and Discrimination Related to Having a History of Cancer. Journal of Applied Psychology. DOI: 10.1037/apl0000036
- November 5, 2015
- 03:55 PM
- 451 views
Adults’ happiness on the decline
by Dr. Jekyll in Lunatic Laboratories
Are you less happy than your parents were at the same age? It may not be all in your head. Researchers led by San Diego State University professor Jean M. Twenge found adults over age 30 are not as happy as they used to be, but teens and young adults are happier than ever. Researchers analyzed data from four nationally representative samples of 1.3 million Americans ages 13 to 96 taken from 1972 to 2014.... Read more »
Jean M. Twenge, Ryne A. Sherman, & Sonja Lyubomirsky. (2015) More Happiness for Young People and Less for Mature Adults: Time Period Differences in Subjective Well-Being in the United States, 1972–2014. Social Psychological and Personality Science. info:/10.1177/1948550615602933
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