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Science News for December 15, 2015


UTA examines motivations behind adult learners' engineering degree pursuit

A new study from UTA explores the motivations behind adult learners' decision to pursue an engineering degree. Adult learners aged 25 and older are driven by perceived prestige and high career goals, including graduate school or internships. The study offers recommendations for campus policies and practices to support these students.

SourceUniversity of Texas at Arlington·JournalCommunity College Review·DateDec 15, 2015

Turning point of a lifetime

Scientists have developed a new light sheet microscope that can record the first two to three days of a mouse embryo's life. By tracking each cell's daughters, grand-daughters, great-granddaughters, and so on, they identified a crucial turning point in the embryo's development.

SourceEuropean Molecular Biology Laboratory·JournalNature Methods·DateDec 15, 2015

Seal tagging improves ocean forecasts

A UK-led study found that seal tags can improve ocean forecasts by providing valuable temperature and salinity recordings in regions rarely sampled. This could lead to better weather predictions and improved marine conditions for industries such as shipping and offshore oil and gas operations.

SourceWiley·JournalQuarterly Journal of the Royal Meteorological Society·DateDec 15, 2015

Hot water puts crocs at risk

A University of Queensland study finds that climate warming causes saltwater crocodiles to spend less time submerged, compromising their ability to avoid predators and forage underwater. The research suggests that elevated water temperatures pose a significant threat to the species' survival.

SourceUniversity of Queensland·JournalConservation Physiology·DateDec 15, 2015

Military families benefit from UCLA-developed resilience program

The UCLA-developed FOCUS program significantly improved the ability of military families to cope with deployment-related stresses and combat injuries. The eight-week program reduced anxiety and depression by half and improved family dynamics, particularly in areas such as communication and problem-solving skills.

SourceUniversity of California - Los Angeles·JournalJournal of the American Academy of Child & Adolescent Psychiatry·DateDec 15, 2015

Transparent metal films for smart phone, tablet and TV displays

Researchers at Penn State have discovered a new material that is both highly transparent and electrically conductive, potentially replacing indium tin oxide in display technology. The new material, a correlated metal, has a structure that allows it to behave like a liquid, resulting in high optical transparency and conductivity.

SourcePenn State·JournalNature Materials·DateDec 15, 2015

Preoperative use of blood-thinning drugs is safe for cancer patients

A new study by the American College of Surgeons found that preoperative use of blood-thinning drugs does not increase major bleeding rates in cancer patients undergoing major operations. The study also revealed a lower risk of developing deep vein thrombosis and pulmonary embolism in patients who received preoperative VTE prophylaxis.

SourceAmerican College of Surgeons·JournalJournal of the American College of Surgeons·DateDec 15, 2015

Building blocks for GaN power switches

A team of engineers has created gallium nitride (GaN) power diodes with record-low defect concentrations, enabling efficient control and distribution of electricity. The discovery is significant as GaN materials are notorious for their defects and reliability issues, but the new devices show promise in addressing these challenges.

SourceAmerican Institute of Physics·JournalApplied Physics Letters·DateDec 15, 2015

Not ordinary growing pains

A recent study at Rush University Medical Center found acupuncture to be a safe and effective adjunctive integrative medicine treatment for chronic pain in pediatric patients. The study included 55 children aged 7-20 who experienced chronic pain conditions, with significant reductions in pain levels and related health issues.

SourceRush University Medical Center·JournalAlternative and Complementary Therapies·DateDec 15, 2015

New step toward determining the cause of MS

The study found that stromal cells, specialized fibers, and T helper 17 cells collaborate to form tertiary lymphoid tissues (TLTs) in the brain of MS patients. This discovery may lead to potential treatment options, such as targeted Th17 blockers, by understanding how TLTs are formed.

SourceUniversity of Toronto·JournalImmunity·DateDec 15, 2015

Brown, RIH win grants to teach addiction screening

The Brown University and Rhode Island Hospital have been awarded grants to integrate substance abuse screening and intervention into their curriculum. The training program aims to expand screening and intervention for opioid overdose deaths in Rhode Island, which has seen a rise in opioid-related deaths. The program will provide traini...

Study: Eliminating cost for colorectal cancer screening doesn't improve screening rates

A new study from University Hospitals Case Medical Center found that making colonoscopy available at no cost to eligible Medicare beneficiaries did not increase the number of people who regularly undergo the procedure. In contrast, routine mammography screenings significantly increased following the Affordable Care Act's mandate for lo...

SourceUniversity Hospitals Cleveland Medical Center·JournalJNCI Journal of the National Cancer Institute·DateDec 15, 2015

VERITAS detects gamma rays from galaxy halfway across the visible universe

The VERITAS telescope detected powerful gamma rays from a distant galaxy, PKS 1441+25, revealing details about the black hole engine at its center. The gamma-ray emission was found to be located within the relativistic jet, but surprisingly far from the black hole, and is estimated to be around 5 light-years away.

SourceCenter for Astrophysics | Harvard & Smithsonian·JournalThe Astrophysical Journal Letters·DateDec 15, 2015

Why the flu vaccine is less effective in the elderly

Researchers identified molecular signatures that predict immune protection in response to flu vaccination, with elderly individuals showing high levels of monocytes and low antibody-producing B cells. This study provides insight into potential mechanisms underlying reduced vaccine efficacy in older adults.

SourceCell Press·JournalImmunity·DateDec 15, 2015