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Science News Archive July 2013 - Page 15


Page 15 of 31

Accurate prognosis for epilepsy patients

Scientists at Bonn University Hospital and MPI Cologne developed a method to predict temporal lobe epilepsy surgery success rates, achieving 96% accuracy for female patients and 94% for males. The algorithm assesses brain images to differentiate between seizure-free and non-seizure-free patients.

SourceUniversity of Bonn·JournalNeuroImage·DateJul 17, 2013

Splitting donated livers shown to be safe, allowing doctors to save 2 lives from single organ

Researchers at Boston Children's Hospital found that split liver transplantation carries no increased risk of failure in recipients, allowing surgeons to save young patients and adults. By allocating infants and small children first and splitting available livers, doctors can virtually eliminate waitlist mortality for children.

SourceBoston Children's Hospital·JournalJournal of the American College of Surgeons·DateJul 17, 2013

Bodychecking rules don't reduce concussions in elite hockey

Research published in PLOS ONE found that bodychecking rules didn't decrease concussions in elite hockey. Concussions were caused by body-checking 64% of the time, while illegal incidents accounted for only 28%. The authors suggest stricter enforcement or additional rule changes may be needed to reduce injury risk.

SourcePLOS·JournalPLOS ONE·DateJul 17, 2013

NTU scientists hit the target

Scientists at Nanyang Technological University (NTU) have developed a new technique called Cellular Thermal Shift Assay (CETSA) that can accurately determine if a drug has reached its target protein in the human body. This breakthrough method will help reduce the costly and time-consuming trial-and-error process of drug development.

Cost of treating dizziness in the emergency room soars

A new study finds that half a billion dollars could be saved annually by using bedside physical exams to identify patients who truly need imaging tests instead of routine head CT scans. Emergency room physicians can confidently diagnose benign inner-ear disorders, freeing up resources for those who need stroke diagnosis.

SourceJohns Hopkins Medicine·JournalAcademic Emergency Medicine·DateJul 17, 2013

How rice twice became a crop and twice became a weed -- and what it means for the future

Evolutionary biologist Kenneth Olsen has examined the genetics of hull color in rice, finding that different mutations underlie the emergence of traits in both cultivated and weedy forms. The findings suggest that crops reverted to wild forms by reversing genetic changes, but with a more complex history than initially thought.

SourceWashington University in St. Louis·JournalJournal of Evolutionary Biology·DateJul 17, 2013

The key to ion beams' polarizability

Theorists Volker Koch and Dirk Andrae have devised formulas to calculate the polarizability of atomic ions as a function of their total charge number. This breakthrough enables accurate calculations for series of multi-electron ions, with implications for applications such as semiconductor manufacturing and planetary atmosphere modeling.

SourceSpringer·JournalThe European Physical Journal D·DateJul 17, 2013

Uncovering a healthier remedy for chronic pain

A Duke University study found that a compound called neuroprotectin D1 can relieve neuropathic pain caused by nerve injuries. The derivative of DHA, a main ingredient of fish oil supplements, inhibits the production of cytokines and chemokines, protecting nerve cells from further damage.

SourceDuke University·JournalAnnals of Neurology·DateJul 17, 2013

Sex and BC East Asian teenagers

A new study by University of British Columbia researchers found that East Asian adolescents in BC who are sexually active may engage in high-risk behaviors, including alcohol and drug use before sex. The top reasons for abstinence were not feeling ready and wanting to meet the right person.

SourceUniversity of British Columbia·JournalThe Canadian Journal of Human Sexuality·DateJul 17, 2013

Ripped apart by a black hole

Astronomers observe VLT's real-time data of a gas cloud accelerating towards the Milky Way's supermassive black hole. The cloud is being grossly stretched by the black hole's extreme gravitational field, with its light becoming harder to see.

SourceESO·JournalThe Astrophysical Journal·DateJul 17, 2013

Owner to dog -- 'Just do it!'

Researchers found dogs can reproduce familiar and novel actions after different delays, even when distracted. The ability to imitate human actions suggests the presence of a specific type of long-term memory in dogs.

SourceSpringer·JournalAnimal Cognition·DateJul 16, 2013

Exercising during pregnancy reduces the risk of high birth weight newborns

A study published in the British Journal of Sports Medicine found that moderate-intensity exercise three times a week during pregnancy halves the risk of having a high birth weight newborn, and reduces the need for a caesarean delivery. The intervention group showed a 58% decrease in macrosomia and a 34% decrease in caesarean deliveries.

SourceUniversity of Granada·JournalBritish Journal of Sports Medicine·DateJul 16, 2013

Health-related quality of life in PD patients in northeastern Sicily, Italy

This study examines how Parkinson's disease affects the health-related quality of life in northeastern Sicily, Italy. The researchers applied the ecological model to investigate the individual and social environmental factors impacting patient outcomes, including depression, cognitive impairment, coping strategies, and family size.

SourceNeural Regeneration Research·JournalNeural Regeneration Research·DateJul 16, 2013

Chest radiation cancer patients with risk factors should have CV screening every 5-10 years

Cardiovascular screening is crucial for cancer patients who received chest radiation, especially those at high risk of developing radiation-induced heart disease (RIHD). The European Society of Cardiology recommends regular screenings to detect cardiac abnormalities and reduce the risk of death from coronary artery disease.

SourceEuropean Society of Cardiology·JournalEuropean Heart Journal - Cardiovascular Imaging·DateJul 16, 2013

Human-driven change on Argentine forests

Increased precipitation and changes in forest structure in Argentina's forests are leading to higher rates of parasitic fly infection in young birds. This study found that slight changes in precipitation and vegetation structure, coupled with crowding of nests, result in large increases in the number of parasites per chick.

SourceWildlife Conservation Society·JournalPLOS ONE·DateJul 16, 2013

Capturing the artistic approach

Concordia University's SenseLab receives $2.95 million grant to explore the intersection of art and knowledge through 'research creation'. Led by Erin Manning, the project aims to evaluate new forms of knowledge produced outside mainstream research settings.

Ecological forces structure your body's personal mix of microbes

A recent study found that environmental conditions play a stronger role in shaping the human microbiome than competition between species. The researchers used computer models to predict nutrient and energy metabolism and estimated interactions between microbes, revealing that species tend to co-exist with those they strongly compete for.

SourceUniversity of Washington·JournalProceedings of the National Academy of Sciences·DateJul 16, 2013