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Science News for November 7, 2013


Pregnant woman with limited English speaking skills find comfort in prenatal support groups

A University of Michigan Health System study found that prenatal group visits for expectant Japanese women who discussed childbirth and baby care topics with peers felt less anxious and better prepared. The groups allowed women to connect on a personal level, share experiences, and take control of their pregnancy.

SourceMichigan Medicine - University of Michigan·JournalThe Journal of the American Board of Family Medicine·DateNov 7, 2013

Climate may play a role in the distribution and prevalence of trachoma

A new study finds that high temperatures and low rainfall influence trachoma transmission in Africa, with eye-seeking flies more active at higher temperatures and abundant in areas with low rainfall. The World Health Organization aims to eliminate blinding trachoma by 2020, but understanding all factors affecting the disease is crucial.

SourcePLOS·JournalPLOS Neglected Tropical Diseases·DateNov 7, 2013

Clotting protein hardens aging hearts

Researchers at Rice University discovered that the accumulation of von Willebrand factor (VWF) in heart valve tissues contributes to their progressive hardening with age. As tissues from pig valves are commonly used to make human heart-valve replacements, VWF helps regulate blood clotting in both pigs and humans.

Getting to grips with seizure prediction

Researchers have developed software that can learn from a patient's normal and seizure electrical activity to predict when another seizure may occur. This allows for an early warning system, potentially enabling people with epilepsy to live safer lives by avoiding hazardous situations before a seizure begins.

SourceInderscience Publishers·JournalInternational Journal of Data Mining and Bioinformatics·DateNov 7, 2013

Anxiety help comes, eventually, via primary care

A new study found that seven in 10 primary care patients with anxiety disorders eventually received adequate medication or psychotherapy, but this took years and was less likely for minorities. The study also showed that people with higher education levels were more likely to receive care.

SourceBrown University·JournalDepression and Anxiety·DateNov 7, 2013

3 'hands on' nutrition classes -- Enough to impact health behaviors in lower income women

A recent study published in the Journal of Nutrition Education and Behavior found that three educational sessions on nutrition had a significant impact on the knowledge and behaviors of 118 low-income women. The classes used a holistic approach and experiential learning, covering topics such as shopping, cooking techniques, and food se...

SourceElsevier Health Sciences·JournalJournal of Nutrition Education and Behavior·DateNov 7, 2013

Horrors of war harden group bonds

Research finds that war exposure during key periods of life strengthens affinity for one's own group, promoting nation-building or conflict cycles. The study involved participants from war-torn Georgia and Sierra Leone, who showed greater willingness to reduce inequality with partners from their village or school.

SourceUniversity of British Columbia·JournalPsychological Science·DateNov 7, 2013

Obesity may limit overall function 2 years after shoulder replacement surgery

Despite obesity, patients experience improved shoulder function and reduced pain after two years post-surgery, but overall physical function remains unchanged. The study suggests that total shoulder replacement is an effective procedure for pain relief and functional improvement in patients with shoulder arthritis.

SourceAmerican Academy of Orthopaedic Surgeons·JournalJournal of Bone and Joint Surgery·DateNov 7, 2013

1 worm, 2 mouths

Researchers at Max Planck Institute for Evolutionary Biology find gene eud-1 that determines wide-mouthed predators and narrow-mouthed bacteria eaters, providing insight into phenotypic plasticity. The discovery sheds light on how organisms adapt to changing environments and challenges current understanding of evolutionary adaptations.

SourceMax-Planck-Gesellschaft·JournalCell·DateNov 7, 2013

Alcohol ads reaching too many young people in TV markets across the United States

Researchers found that in 25 US TV markets, nearly 1/4 of popular youth programs exceeded the industry's voluntary standards for alcohol ad exposure. This could lead to a one-third drop in total youth exposure if ads were eliminated. Exposure to alcohol marketing increases underage drinking and health risks.

SourceJohns Hopkins Bloomberg School of Public Health·JournalMMWR Morbidity and Mortality Weekly Report·DateNov 7, 2013

Women have greater shortness of breath than men when exercising

A new study published in Experimental Physiology found that women exhibit greater shortness of breath when exercising compared to men. The study suggests that this disparity is caused by a stronger electrical activation of the respiratory muscles, specifically the diaphragm, needed to compensate for smaller lungs and airways.

SourceWiley·JournalExperimental Physiology·DateNov 7, 2013

A fish that pushes in the wrong direction solves a mystery of animal locomotion

Researchers discovered that fish use a counterintuitive fin arrangement to increase both stability and maneuverability. By analyzing slow-motion videos and mathematical models, the team found that the opposing forces generated by the fin movements create stabilizing forces while improving velocity change.

SourceNew Jersey Institute of Technology·JournalProceedings of the National Academy of Sciences·DateNov 7, 2013

When is a comet not a comet?

Astronomers using the Hubble Space Telescope have observed a unique asteroid with six comet-like tails, challenging current understanding of asteroids and comets. The asteroid's rotation rate may have caused its surface to fly apart, ejecting dust into space.

SourceESA/Hubble Information Centre·JournalThe Astrophysical Journal Letters·DateNov 7, 2013

A bio patch that can regrow bone

Researchers at the University of Iowa have created a bio patch that can regrow bone by delivering DNA instructions to cells. The patch successfully regenerated bone in test animals and stimulated new growth in human bone marrow stromal cells. This breakthrough technology has potential uses in dentistry, including rebuilding bone for de...

SourceUniversity of Iowa·JournalBiomaterials·DateNov 7, 2013