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Science News for August 13, 2015


Study suggests Ontario nearing UN targets to help end AIDS epidemic

A new study suggests Ontario is close to meeting United Nations targets to end the AIDS epidemic by 2020. The study found that 87.3% of people in Ontario with HIV were receiving care, and 76% had a suppressed viral load. However, there are still gaps in healthcare access for younger adults, especially gay men and those with substance u...

SourceSt. Michael's Hospital·JournalJAIDS Journal of Acquired Immune Deficiency Syndromes·DateAug 13, 2015

Fears of potentially blinding complication from Avastin eye injections overblown, says Penn study

A new Penn study analyzing insurance claims data suggests that repackaged Avastin injections do not carry a higher risk of endophthalmitis than commercially available Lucentis. This finding contradicts the FDA's planned restriction on Avastin's ophthalmic use and may inadvertently increase infection risk for patients.

SourceUniversity of Pennsylvania School of Medicine·JournalJAMA Ophthalmology·DateAug 13, 2015

How beneficial bacteria protect intestinal cells

Researchers have identified a protective mechanism used by beneficial bacteria to safeguard intestinal cells from stress and damage. By stimulating the Nrf2 pathway, these bacteria can help prevent weight loss and death after radiation exposure, as well as protect against toxic herbicides like paraquat.

SourceEmory Health Sciences·JournalCell Reports·DateAug 13, 2015

Surgeons refine procedure for life-threatening congenital heart defect

Researchers analyzed 43 patients with hypoplastic left heart syndrome (HLHS) who underwent either an arterial or venous shunt as part of the hybrid palliation procedure. The study found that the arterial shunt group showed better pulmonary arterial growth, shorter surgical times, and higher oxygen saturations at discharge. However, no ...

SourceAmerican Association for Thoracic Surgery·JournalJournal of Thoracic and Cardiovascular Surgery·DateAug 13, 2015

Study finds little improvement in mortality rate for extremely preterm infants since 2000

Researchers have found that the mortality rate for extremely preterm infants has not improved significantly since 2000, despite advancements in medical technology and treatment. Data from over 47,000 records shows a decline in mortality rates from 1990 to 2000, but no significant improvement from 2000 to 2010.

SourceUniversity of Texas Medical Branch at Galveston·JournalJournal of Perinatology·DateAug 13, 2015

Helping Siri hear through a cocktail party

A new sensor developed at Duke University uses metamaterials and compressive sensing to separate overlapping sounds in loud environments. The device achieved a 96.7% accuracy rate in distinguishing between three identical sounds sent from different directions.

SourceDuke University·JournalProceedings of the National Academy of Sciences·DateAug 13, 2015

Chickenpox continues to decline in US thanks to vaccination

A new study published in the Journal of the Pediatric Infectious Diseases Society finds that US chickenpox cases have declined by 93% since the introduction of the vaccine in 1995, thanks to increased vaccination coverage. This decline is attributed to herd immunity, which protects those who are not immunized themselves.

SourcePediatric Infectious Diseases Society·JournalJournal of the Pediatric Infectious Diseases Society·DateAug 13, 2015

Heavy smokers and smokers who are obese gain more weight after quitting

Heavy smokers and obese individuals may experience significant weight gain after quitting smoking due to factors like daily cigarette consumption and body mass index. Researchers analyzed data from over 12,000 participants to find that those who quit smoking gained an average of 23 pounds among smokers of 25 or more cigarettes per day.

SourcePenn State·JournalInternational Journal of Obesity·DateAug 13, 2015

Fortified against blindness

Researchers developed vitamin A fortified sweet potato varieties to combat blindness in Africa and South-Eastern Asia. Impilo and Purple Sunset are the most promising varieties, offering high beta-carotene content and adaptability to different growing conditions.

SourceAmerican Society of Agronomy·JournalCrop Science·DateAug 13, 2015

Reading comprehension focus of NSF grant

A team of Penn State researchers, led by Ping Li, has been awarded a nearly $1 million grant to investigate how readers comprehend science texts. The project aims to capture cognitive and brain representations during and after reading, with implications for STEM education.

Rogue supernovas likely flung into space by black hole slingshots

A new study suggests that rogue supernovas that explode in deep space were likely kicked out of their galaxies at high speeds and then ejected into space by the gravitational pull of a binary black hole. The study, published in Monthly Notices of the Royal Astronomical Society, used data from NASA's Hubble Space Telescope to trace 13 h...

SourceUniversity of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign, News Bureau·JournalMonthly Notices of the Royal Astronomical Society·DateAug 13, 2015

Exercise-induced hormone irisin is not a 'myth'

Researchers have found that human irisin circulates in the blood at nanogram levels and increases during exercise. The discovery resolves a long-standing controversy over irisin's existence, with alternative start codons explaining its production in skeletal muscle cells.

SourceCell Press·JournalCell Metabolism·DateAug 13, 2015

UK death rate of pre-school kids almost double that of Sweden

Research published in Archives of Disease in Childhood found the UK's child mortality rate is nearly double that of Sweden, with premature birth, congenital abnormalities, and infections being major causes. The study calls for a stronger focus on prevention to improve the UK's position on the European child mortality league table.

SourceBMJ Group·JournalArchives of Disease in Childhood·DateAug 13, 2015

NIH study finds cutting dietary fat reduces body fat more than cutting carbs

A recent NIH study found that restricting dietary fat led to a 68% higher rate of body fat loss compared to cutting the same number of carbohydrate calories. The researchers discovered that fat restriction resulted in a greater imbalance between consumed and burned fat, leading to more significant weight loss.

Can science predict gang killings?

A Michigan State University study found that gang-related homicides spread in a systematic pattern, clustering in vulnerable areas like Newark, New Jersey. The researchers' analysis could help predict future hotspots of violent crime, informing prevention efforts and targeting resources to communities at risk.

SourceMichigan State University·JournalAmerican Journal of Public Health·DateAug 13, 2015

COPD patients with psychological conditions have higher rate of early hospital readmission

A study published in CHEST found that COPD patients with psychological conditions such as depression, anxiety, and psychosis are more likely to be readmitted early due to complications. These patients had a longer hospital stay and lower outpatient follow-up visits, indicating the need for additional guidance to reduce readmission rates.

When a 'UFO' flies by, does it bother bears?

Researchers found that bears' heart rates increase significantly when exposed to unmanned aerial vehicles, a sign of acute stress. Despite the calm behavior observed in encounters with UAVs, the physiological response is notable, with one bear's heart rate increasing by up to 400 percent.

SourceCell Press·JournalCurrent Biology·DateAug 13, 2015

Progress toward the perfect pea

A research team at the John Innes Centre has identified and studied peas with mutations in genes coding for seed protease inhibitors, which can reduce protein availability by up to 10%. The study provides proof of principle for genetic approaches to improve crop traits, including the removal of allergenic proteins.

SourceJohn Innes Centre·JournalPLOS ONE·DateAug 13, 2015