Add BrightSurf on Google Email

Science News for August 5, 2015


River buries permafrost carbon at sea

A new study found that Arctic rivers, such as the Mackenzie River, are responsible for burying large amounts of organic carbon from thawing permafrost at sea. This process locks away carbon dioxide and helps stabilize the earth's CO2 levels over time, providing a potential natural sink for excess greenhouse gas emissions.

Scientists solve planetary ring riddle

A breakthrough study by the University of Leicester team, led by Professor Nikolai Brilliantov, reveals that planetary rings have a universally similar particle distribution. The researchers solved the 'amazing' mathematical inverse cubes law of particle size distribution, suggesting that Saturn's rings are in a steady state that does ...

SourceUniversity of Leicester·JournalProceedings of the National Academy of Sciences·DateAug 5, 2015

High salt intake could be a risk factor for multiple sclerosis

New research suggests that high salt diets may exacerbate autoimmune neuroinflammation in individuals with specific genetic backgrounds, particularly females. The study found that mice fed a high salt diet exhibited worsened clinical signs of multiple sclerosis, while those with certain genetic variants showed no response to salt.

Bariatric surgery procedure lowers tolerance for alcohol

A study published in JAMA Surgery found that women who underwent Roux-en-Y gastric bypass surgery had a faster increase in blood alcohol concentration and reported greater feelings of drunkenness. This alteration in alcohol metabolism increases the risk of developing alcohol use disorders, highlighting the need for public awareness.

SourceJAMA Network·JournalJAMA Surgery·DateAug 5, 2015

How white blood cells limit muscle regeneration

Researchers identified a protein produced by white blood cells that puts the brakes on muscle repair. Removing CD163 from mice boosted muscle repair and recovery of blood flow after ischemic injury. The findings point to a target for potential treatments aiming to enhance muscle regeneration.

SourceEmory Health Sciences·JournalNature Communications·DateAug 5, 2015

Pandas set their own pace, tracking reveals

Researchers tracked five pandas with GPS collars for three years, finding they exhibit three daily activity peaks - morning, afternoon, and midnight. This unique pattern may be linked to their low nutrition quality from bamboo consumption, allowing them to adapt to their environment.

SourceMichigan State University·JournalJournal of Mammalogy·DateAug 5, 2015

Gastric bypass surgery lowers women's alcohol tolerance

A new study published in JAMA Surgery found that gastric bypass surgery can alter how the body metabolizes alcohol, leading to higher and more rapid blood-alcohol levels. Women who underwent the surgery experienced changes similar to those seen in men, with a significant increase in blood-alcohol content after consuming just two drinks.

SourceWashU Medicine·JournalJAMA Surgery·DateAug 5, 2015

How stock market's 'spare tire' keeps economy churning during banking crises

A new study found that firms in countries with strong shareholder protection laws raised more money through stock sales, performed better in terms of profits and investment efficiency, and terminated fewer employees than similar firms in countries with weaker shareholder protection laws. Stronger shareholder protection laws allow the s...

SourceUniversity of California - Berkeley Haas School of Business·JournalJournal of Financial Economics·DateAug 5, 2015

Want to improve your health? Focus on nutrition and not weight

A new study published in The FASEB Journal suggests that nutritional deficiencies can lead to chronic inflammation, which may be the underlying cause of weight gain. Participants who consumed nutrient bars daily for two months showed significant improvements in various health markers, including weight loss and improved cholesterol levels.

The role of intra-abdominal fat in IBD uncovered

A recent study published in Cellular and Molecular Gastroenterology and Hepatology found that intra-abdominal fat cells may promote inflammation in IBD patients. The research isolated and cultured pre-intra-abdominal fat cells from healthy subjects and those with IBD, revealing significant differences in signaling mediators produced by...

SourceAmerican Gastroenterological Association·JournalCellular and Molecular Gastroenterology and Hepatology·DateAug 5, 2015

Storytelling skills support early literacy for African American children

Early narrative skills are tied to kindergarten literacy among young African American children, suggesting that storytelling is crucial for their early reading development. The study found that preschool oral narrative skills predicted emergent literacy for poor and non-poor African American kindergartners, but not for the overall sample.

SourceFrank Porter Graham Child Development Institute·JournalDevelopmental Psychology·DateAug 5, 2015

Stroke therapy put to the test in preclinical randomized controlled trial

A preclinical randomized controlled trial was conducted to evaluate a potential stroke therapy that had shown promise in one mouse model but not another. The study found that the treatment's success may depend on the type and severity of the stroke, suggesting improved clinical trial design could have mitigated this issue.

SourceAmerican Association for the Advancement of Science (AAAS)·JournalScience Translational Medicine·DateAug 5, 2015

Enthusiasm for personalized medicine is premature, prominent public health scholars argue

Two leading public health scholars, Sandro Galea and Ronald Bayer, warn that the US emphasis on precision medicine may distract from broader investments to reduce health inequities and address social factors. They cite a 2013 report by the National Research Council and the Institute of Medicine, which found that health is determined by...

SourceColumbia University's Mailman School of Public Health·JournalNew England Journal of Medicine·DateAug 5, 2015

Viruses thrive in big families, in sickness and in health

A study by the University of Utah Health found that households with children are more likely to experience viral infections throughout the year. On average, people in childless households were infected for 3-4 weeks, while those with one child were infected for 18 weeks, and those with six children were infected for up to 45 weeks.

SourceUniversity of Utah Health·JournalClinical Infectious Diseases·DateAug 5, 2015

Computer algorithm can forecast patients' deadly sepsis

Researchers at Johns Hopkins University developed a computer-based method to predict hospital patients at risk of septic shock with 85% accuracy. The Targeted Real-time Early Warning Score (TREWScore) combines 27 factors into a predictive score, detecting septic shock before organ dysfunction in over two-thirds of cases.

SourceJohns Hopkins University·JournalScience Translational Medicine·DateAug 5, 2015

Cancer treatment models get real

Researchers at Rice University have developed a way to mimic the conditions under which cancer tumors grow in bones, enabling more accurate testing of cancer-fighting drugs. The study found that bone tumors exposed to normal forces express more of a protein called IGF-1 than detected in static cultures.

SourceRice University·JournalProceedings of the National Academy of Sciences·DateAug 5, 2015

How stress can tweak the brain to sabotage self-control

A study published in Neuron found that stress can alter brain connections to impair self-control, particularly when faced with tempting food choices. Researchers discovered that individuals who experienced moderate stress were more likely to choose unhealthy options, and their brains showed altered patterns of connectivity.

SourceCell Press·JournalNeuron·DateAug 5, 2015

Long-term followup of type of bariatric surgery finds regain of weight, decrease in diabetes remission

A recent study published in JAMA Surgery found that patients who underwent laparoscopic sleeve gastrectomy experienced significant weight regain and a decrease in remission rates for type 2 diabetes and other obesity-related disorders over time. The study collected data from 443 patients who underwent the procedure between 2006 and 201...

SourceJAMA Network·JournalJAMA Surgery·DateAug 5, 2015