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Science News for May 14, 2015


New form of inherited blindness discovered

Researchers found that DRAM2 gene mutations lead to loss of central vision and peripheral vision loss in older individuals, likely due to reduced autophagy and photoreceptor renewal. The discovery sheds new light on the condition and highlights the importance of collaboration between institutions.

SourceUniversity of Leeds·JournalAmerican Journal of Human Genetics·DateMay 14, 2015

Do fruit flies have emotions?

A new Caltech study reports that fruit flies display emotion primitives analogous to fear, including valence, persistence, scalability, trans-situationality, and context generalization. The researchers used a fear-inducing stimulus to track the flies' responses, finding that they exhibited these primitive states in their behavior.

SourceCalifornia Institute of Technology·JournalCurrent Biology·DateMay 14, 2015

Love your Mother Earth

A new paper published in Biogeosciences confirms that the Earth's capacity to absorb carbon dioxide from the atmosphere has increased with rising carbon emissions. This is a positive development, as it suggests that without this increased absorption, CO2 levels would be twice what they are today.

SourceWoodwell Climate Research Center·JournalBiogeosciences·DateMay 14, 2015

Campaign increases mouth and throat cancer screenings among low-income rural Floridians

A five-month media campaign in Florida's poorest counties increased black men's awareness of mouth and throat cancer, leading to a 13% rise in first-time screenings. The campaign, designed by UF Health researchers, aimed to reverse the health inequity faced by black men, who have lower survival rates due to delayed diagnosis.

SourceUniversity of Florida·JournalAmerican Journal of Public Health·DateMay 14, 2015

Giving HOPE: US has nearly 400 HIV-positive potential organ donors

A study published in the American Journal of Transplantation found that there are nearly 400 HIV-positive potential organ donors in the US who could provide life-saving organs for HIV-positive patients. The study estimates that these donors could reduce the waiting time for transplants, but the quality of their organs is a concern.

SourceUniversity of Pennsylvania School of Medicine·JournalAmerican Journal of Transplantation·DateMay 14, 2015

A 'graduation' from poverty

A study published in Science found that an anti-poverty program providing productive assets, job training, and life-skills coaching increased income by 5%, food consumption by 8%, and savings by 96% among participants over a three-year period. The results demonstrate sustained gains in well-being, with improved mental health and reduce...

The World Bank Group and PLOS Neglected Tropical Diseases launch APOC collection

The APOC collection documents the success of the Onchocerciasis Control Program (OCP) and its transition to African Program for Onchocerciasis Control (APOC). The partnership has reached over 100 million people across Africa, controlling river blindness, a debilitating disease that causes disfiguring skin disease and eventual blindness.

SourcePLOS·JournalPLOS Neglected Tropical Diseases·DateMay 14, 2015

Three perspectives on 'The Dress'

Scientists Bevil Conway and his team found impressive individual differences in color perception, with people falling into three main camps. The survey also revealed that perception differed by age and sex, suggesting the influence of light on visual systems. These findings shed light on how different brains interpret colors.

SourceCell Press·JournalCurrent Biology·DateMay 14, 2015

Researchers hone technique for finding signs of life on the Red Planet

Researchers at the University of Kansas are working to improve the detection of life on Mars by combining Raman spectroscopy with gas chromatography/mass spectroscopy. They aim to analyze rocks from Earth similar to those found on Mars to strengthen evidence collection, as conditions on the Martian surface are inhospitable.

SourceUniversity of Kansas·JournalPhilosophical Transactions of the Royal Society of London·DateMay 14, 2015

New in the Hastings Center Report

The Hastings Center Report delves into the impact of patient-satisfaction surveys on healthcare quality, arguing they may compromise care and raise costs. The issue also examines the role of courage in healthcare, highlighting its limitations in certain contexts.

SourceThe Hastings Center·JournalHastings Center Report·DateMay 14, 2015

'Hydrogels' boost ability of stem cells to restore eyesight and heal brains

Scientists at University of Toronto have made breakthroughs in cell transplantation using hydrogel biomaterials, showing potential for partially restoring vision and aiding brain recovery from stroke. The new gel-like material boosts cell survival and integration in the eye and brain, paving the way for stem-cell-based therapies.

Study finds those who believe in pure evil support more harsh criminal punishments

A Kansas State University study found that individuals with a strong belief in pure evil are more likely to support harsh sentences, including life in prison without parole and the death penalty. This belief overrides stereotypes about the offender's character, suggesting that perceived retribution and demonization play a significant r...

SourceKansas State University·JournalPersonality and Individual Differences·DateMay 14, 2015

Diabetes drug may reduce heart attack risk in HIV patients

A new study suggests a diabetes drug may prevent cardiovascular problems in HIV-positive adults by reducing inflammation linked to heart disease and stroke. The drug, sitagliptin, improved metabolism and reduced inflammation in HIV patients taking antiretroviral therapy.

SourceWashU Medicine·JournalThe Journal of Clinical Endocrinology & Metabolism·DateMay 14, 2015

Growing interest

A new Cornell study found that when school-grown salad greens were incorporated into cafeteria lunches, high school students increased their salad selection by 500% and consumed two-thirds of their salads. However, plate waste also rose, indicating a potential trade-off.

SourceCornell Food & Brand Lab·JournalActa Paediatrica·DateMay 14, 2015

Medicaid patients need support to use primary care rather than emergency rooms

More than half of Medicaid enrollees opt for hospital emergency departments due to convenience and access to technology, rather than primary care clinics. This finding exposes a gap in healthcare services, as patients may avoid costs associated with travel and time away from work but neglect preventive care and chronic disease management.

Hazing remains a concern in college marching bands, new study shows

A recent study found that nearly a third of college marching band members surveyed observed hazing in their programs, including public verbal humiliation and degradation, yet few reported the activities due to fears of retribution or social standing. The researchers suggest that education and reporting efforts by band directors may be ...

SourceOregon State University·JournalJournal of Research in Music Education·DateMay 14, 2015

Who should pay the price?

Researchers devise a replicator dynamics model to analyze the effects of incentives and meta-incentives on resolving social dilemmas. The study finds that allowing a reward-to-reward linkage can resolve the dilemma without any social costs, making it an efficient solution for real-world applications.

SourcePLOS·JournalPLOS Computational Biology·DateMay 14, 2015

Revealing the ocean's hidden fertilizer

A study by Woods Hole Oceanographic Institution and Columbia University reveals a more complex marine phosphorus cycle than previously thought, with microbes playing a key role in using and breaking down forms of the essential element. In the process, about five percent of phosphate is converted to phosphonates in shallow water samples.

Genome-wide DNA study shows lasting impact of malnutrition in early pregnancy

A genome-wide study found that malnutrition in the first 10 weeks of pregnancy is associated with changes in DNA methylation, which can suppress genes involved in growth, development, and metabolism. These findings have significant implications for understanding the long-term effects of prenatal nutrition on health outcomes.

SourceColumbia University's Mailman School of Public Health·JournalInternational Journal of Epidemiology·DateMay 14, 2015

Study investigates the quality of organs from potential donors with HIV

A study explores the quality of organs from HIV-positive donors for potential transplant use in the US, finding that donor kidneys may be of reduced quality. The study suggests nearly 400 potential organ donors might be available annually, but long-term viability and hepatitis C virus infection could impact organ health.

SourceWiley·JournalAmerican Journal of Transplantation·DateMay 14, 2015

Do flies have fear (or something like it)?

Researchers studied flies' response to shadows, finding that they display persistent defensive behavior, generalizable across contexts. The study suggests that flies may help understand the fundamental neurochemistry of fear and emotions.

SourceCell Press·JournalCurrent Biology·DateMay 14, 2015