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Science News for August 18, 2015


Harnessing the butterfly effect

A new method developed by McGill University professor Shaun Lovejoy could significantly improve atmospheric forecasting accuracy, particularly over long periods. By leveraging the atmosphere's long-term memory, Lovejoy's approach shows promise in explaining the 'pause' in global warming since 1998.

SourceMcGill University·JournalGeophysical Research Letters·DateAug 18, 2015

Anxious? Depressed? Blame it on your middle-management position

A study by Columbia University's Mailman School of Public Health found that middle-management employees suffer from higher rates of depression and anxiety compared to those at the top or bottom of the social hierarchy. Symptoms of depression were reported by 18% of supervisors and managers, while workers experienced 12%.

SourceColumbia University's Mailman School of Public Health·JournalSociology of Health & Illness·DateAug 18, 2015

Work on barren soil may bear fruit

Australian and Chinese researchers have made significant progress in determining the causes of soil acidification. By examining a massive transect of land in China, they found different drivers of soil acidification processes in various types of soils.

SourceJames Cook University·JournalBiogeosciences·DateAug 18, 2015

Meteorite impacts can create DNA building blocks

A new study by Tohoku University researchers found that meteorite impacts can create nucleobases and amino acids, essential components of life. The team's hypervelocity impact experiments revealed the formation of two types of nucleobases and nine proteinogenic amino acids.

SourceTohoku University·JournalEarth and Planetary Science Letters·DateAug 18, 2015

Liver problems will likely increase in adults

A new study reveals liver fibrosis affects 5.6% of adults aged ?45, primarily those with diabetes or steatosis. The rising prevalence highlights the growing concern of liver health issues due to an aging population and increasing rates of diabetes and obesity.

SourceWiley·JournalHepatology·DateAug 18, 2015

Gut microbes linked to major autoimmune eye disease

Research finds gut microbes produce a molecule mimicking retinal protein, activating T cells responsible for autoimmune uveitis. The study offers a novel mechanism explaining how tissue-specific autoimmune diseases can arise from responses to gut microbes at a distal site in the body.

SourceCell Press·JournalImmunity·DateAug 18, 2015

Patients with immediate medical needs tend to perceive doctors as emotionless, study finds

A new study published in Social Psychological and Personality Science finds that patients who require immediate medical attention tend to view their doctors as 'empty vessels,' lacking emotions. These patients expect their physicians to empathize with them and contain their emotions, which can lead to better care if acknowledged.

SourceUniversity of Chicago Booth School of Business·JournalSocial Psychological and Personality Science·DateAug 18, 2015

Hydrogen sulfide loses its electrical resistance under high pressure at minus 70° Celsius

Scientists at Max Planck Institute for Chemistry and Johannes Gutenberg University Mainz set a new record for superconductivity by observing conventional superconductivity in hydrogen sulfide at -70 degrees Celsius under high pressure. The discovery highlights a potential way to transport current at room temperature with no loss.

Pitt leads sepsis care guidance in preparation for nationwide hospital requirements

Researchers at the University of Pittsburgh School of Medicine have developed a research-based guidance to improve compliance when treating septic patients. The guidance, which incorporates high-profile clinical trials, aims to aid hospitals in implementing the National Quality Forum's Severe Sepsis and Septic Shock Management Bundle.

UCI, NASA researchers find link between Amazon fire risk, devastating hurricanes

A new study reveals a strong connection between Amazon fires and North Atlantic hurricanes, with warmer ocean temperatures contributing to both phenomena. The research found that reduced atmospheric moisture flow from the North Atlantic leads to drier conditions in the Amazon, creating an environment conducive to wildfires.

SourceUniversity of California - Irvine·JournalGeophysical Research Letters·DateAug 18, 2015

Cell phones help track of flu on campus

Researchers developed a model that predicts personalized daily forecasts for each student, enabling early identification of at-risk individuals and encouraging them to stay home. The study used wearable devices and smartphone apps to collect data on students' interactions and health habits.

The Tree of Life may be a bush

A new study by Uppsala University researchers has found that evolution is more complex than the traditional Tree of Life model suggests. Incomplete lineage sorting, a phenomenon where genetic variation passes from one species to another, has been documented and quantified for the first time in evolutionary research.

SourceUppsala University·JournalPLOS Biology·DateAug 18, 2015

Five reasons why sugar is added to food

A study by University of Minnesota authors reveals five key roles sugar plays in food: improving flavor, enhancing color, adding bulk and texture, aiding fermentation, and preserving foods. The research discusses the challenges of labeling added sugar and replacing it in foods.

SourceInstitute of Food Technologists·JournalComprehensive Reviews in Food Science and Food Safety·DateAug 18, 2015

Drug helps patients with diabetes lose weight

A study found that daily liraglutide injections, combined with diet and exercise, resulted in greater weight loss over 56 weeks compared to placebo. Average weight loss was 6.0% with liraglutide (3.0-mg dose), significantly better than the 2.0% with placebo.

SourceJAMA Network·JournalJAMA·DateAug 18, 2015

The dynamics of mercury toxins in the oceans' food web

A new study reveals higher concentrations of methylmercury in Arctic species compared to lower trophic levels, suggesting increased toxicity and potential protective effects of selenium. The research confirms previous suggestions that biomagnification may be more pronounced in Arctic systems.

SourceWiley·JournalEnvironmental Toxicology and Chemistry·DateAug 18, 2015

Is nature mostly a tinkerer or an inventor?

The University of Miami study reveals that the KLF/SP gene family expanded and diversified during animal evolution through domain shuffling, gene duplication, and de novo domain evolution. This 'tinkering' process led to an increase in repressor domains, which may have contributed to the development of complex cell types and tissues.

SourceUniversity of Miami·JournalGenome Biology and Evolution·DateAug 18, 2015

Use of contact precautions should be customized based on local needs and resources

A review of 90 published studies on contact precautions found no high-quality data to support or reject the practice. Local needs and resources, not mandates, are recommended to drive infection prevention practices. Alternative methods, such as horizontal infection control, may be effective in reducing hospital-acquired infections.

SourceUniversity of Maryland Medical Center·JournalInfection Control and Hospital Epidemiology·DateAug 18, 2015

Examining the fate of Fukushima contaminants

A three-year study reveals that contaminated sediments from Fukushima are resuspended by typhoons and transported to the Pacific Ocean. The research team tracked radiocesium levels in sediment samples along the continental shelf and slope, finding high concentrations of clay material characteristic of near-shore sediments.

SourceWoods Hole Oceanographic Institution·JournalEnvironmental Science & Technology·DateAug 18, 2015

Complete resection of high-grade brain cancer yields better survival in children -- especially girls

A study published in Neurosurgery found that complete resection of high-grade brain cancer significantly improves survival rates in children. The study revealed a greater survival benefit for female patients compared to male patients. Gross total resection (GTR) improved the chances of survival free of recurrent or progressive cancer o...

SourceWolters Kluwer Health·JournalNeurosurgery·DateAug 18, 2015

Setting ground rules for nanotechnology research

New studies establish a framework for nanoinformatics by standardizing the way nanotechnology data are curated. This will enable future studies to combine multiple datasets to explore complex questions. The research also proposes a new, standardized way of studying the properties of nanomaterials using functional assays.

SourceDuke University·JournalThe Science of The Total Environment·DateAug 18, 2015

Increased risk of depression for mothers undergoing fertility treatment

Women undergoing fertility treatment face a higher risk of depression after giving birth compared to those who don't have a child. The Danish research found that women who give birth after fertility treatment are five times more likely to develop depression in the first six weeks after birth.

SourceUniversity of Copenhagen - The Faculty of Health and Medical Sciences·JournalActa Obstetricia Et Gynecologica Scandinavica·DateAug 18, 2015

Two-year-olds with larger oral vocabularies enter kindergarten better prepared

A new study found that children with larger oral vocabularies at age 2 arrive at kindergarten with greater reading and math achievement, better behavioral self-regulation, and fewer acting out or anxiety-related problem behaviors. Early intervention efforts, such as home visitation programs, may help target these high-risk children.

SourceSociety for Research in Child Development·JournalChild Development·DateAug 18, 2015

Massacres, torture and mutilation: Extreme violence in neolithic conflicts

Recent anthropological analysis of a 7000-year-old mass grave reveals victims were murdered and deliberately mutilated during the early Neolithic period. The study suggests that social tensions may have contributed to the termination of this era and that such massacres were frequent features of the early Central European Neolithic period.

SourceUniversity of Basel·JournalProceedings of the National Academy of Sciences·DateAug 18, 2015