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Science News Archive March 2015 - Page 22


Page 22 of 38

Light pollution shown to affect plant growth and food webs

A study by University of Exeter researchers found that artificial light at night inhibits flowering in certain plants and suppresses aphid populations. The low-intensity amber light was more detrimental to the pea aphid population than white light, highlighting complex interactions between predators and resources.

SourceUniversity of Exeter·JournalPhilosophical Transactions of the Royal Society of London (B )·DateMar 15, 2015

Enhanced flu protection: Four beats three

A new flu vaccine that includes four strains of inactivated influenza has been found to be more protective than a similar vaccine containing only three strains. The addition of the fourth strain increases the chance the vaccine will match the circulating flu B strains without compromising protection against other strains.

SourceSaint Louis University·JournalVaccine·DateMar 13, 2015

Bond and bond alike

Researchers at the University of Copenhagen have made a groundbreaking discovery by bonding positively charged phosphorus atoms with positively charged hydrogen ones. This finding may revolutionize our understanding of how biologically important molecules like DNA and proteins form properly.

SourceUniversity of Copenhagen - Faculty of Science·JournalThe Journal of Physical Chemistry Letters·DateMar 13, 2015

Environmental tobacco smoke is associated with periodontitis in US non-smokers

A cross-sectional analysis of 3,255 US non-smokers found a significant association between environmental tobacco smoke exposure and an increased risk of moderate/severe periodontitis. Serum cotinine levels were used to classify participants as exposed to ETS, with results showing a higher odds ratio among exposed individuals.

Expanding blood pressure screenings beyond primary care can improve hypertension detection

A Kaiser Permanente study found that expanding blood pressure screenings to non-primary care settings can help identify more patients with high blood pressure and improve management. The study reported that patients identified with hypertension in non-primary care settings were more likely to be older, male, and non-Hispanic white.

SourceKaiser Permanente·JournalJournal of Clinical Hypertension·DateMar 13, 2015

Novel monitoring tools tackle chemical surface waters pollution

The European technical report presents aquatic effect-based monitoring tools to address chemical pollution in surface waters, including bioassays and biomarkers for detecting toxic effects. These tools support the Water Framework Directive's goal of achieving a 'good status' for all Europe's surface waters by 2015.

SourceSpringer·JournalEnvironmental Sciences Europe·DateMar 13, 2015

Bariatric surgery appears to cut risks for serious asthma-related events

A study led by Massachusetts General Hospital investigators suggests that bariatric surgery can significantly reduce the risk of asthma attacks in obese patients. Significant weight reduction after surgery resulted in a half reduction in serious asthma-associated events, including emergency department visits and hospitalizations.

SourceMassachusetts General Hospital·JournalJournal of Allergy and Clinical Immunology·DateMar 13, 2015