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Science News Archive May 2015 - Page 3


Page 3 of 31

Portable finger-probe device can successfully measure liver function in potential organ donors

Researchers at UCLA successfully tested a portable finger-probe device on 53 potential organ donors, predicting which livers would function properly after transplantation. The device could increase the number of organs used for transplant and save patients waiting for transplants from dying.

SourceUniversity of California - Los Angeles Health Sciences·JournalJournal of Surgical Research·DateMay 28, 2015

High rates of MRSA transmission found between nursing home residents, health-care workers

A study by the Society for Healthcare Epidemiology of America found that one in four nursing home residents harbor MRSA, emphasizing the importance of hand hygiene to prevent transmission. The research identified high-risk activities that increase the risk of glove or gown contamination, including dressing and transferring residents.

SourceSociety for Healthcare Epidemiology of America·JournalInfection Control and Hospital Epidemiology·DateMay 28, 2015

Do you have the time? Flies sure do

Researchers found that fruit flies can learn to connect different scents with sugar rewards depending on the hour. The insects' ability to tell time remained as long as events were separated by at least four hours.

SourceCell Press·JournalCurrent Biology·DateMay 28, 2015

Protecting women from multiple sclerosis

Researchers found that innate lymphoid cells in males produce a protein that protects against the disease, while female mice remain inactive and do not produce this protein. This discovery opens up new avenues for investigation into sex-determined disease susceptibility.

SourceNorthwestern University·JournalThe Journal of Immunology·DateMay 28, 2015

HIV's sweet tooth is its downfall

Scientists discovered the switch that turns on the immune cell's abundant sugar and nutrient pipeline, then blocked it with an experimental compound, starving HIV to death. The approach also slows the proliferation of abnormal immune cells, reducing inflammation and potentially reducing organ damage.

SourceNorthwestern University·JournalPLOS Pathogens·DateMay 28, 2015

Aftershock assessment

Researchers assess building collapse risk due to ground-shaking aftershock tremors after main earthquakes, considering factors like site-to-source distance and aftershock magnitude. The study introduces a logical method for predicting collapse probability based on these variables, allowing for quantification of risk.

SourceInderscience Publishers·JournalInternational Journal of Reliability and Safety·DateMay 28, 2015

Career tracking of doctorate holders

A pilot study of post-doctorates and doctorate alumni reveals differences in research outputs, satisfaction levels, and employment continuity between permanent and temporary contract holders. The report also discusses the challenges faced by doctorate holders in finding alternative career paths beyond academia.

Smoking legislation prevents over 11,000 child hospital admissions in England each year

A new study found that smoke-free legislation in England leads to a significant reduction in hospital admissions for respiratory tract infections among children. The introduction of legislation resulted in an immediate decrease of 13.8% in lower respiratory tract infection admissions, while upper respiratory tract infections also saw a...

SourceEuropean Respiratory Society·JournalEuropean Respiratory Journal·DateMay 28, 2015

Study reveals novel use of 3-D imaging for measurement of injectable wrinkle reducers

Researchers developed a novel method to measure injectable wrinkle reducer efficacy using 3D imaging. The technique, called speckle tracking photogrammetry, allows for objective evaluation of wrinkle reduction and optimal dosage. It has the potential to guide physician and consumer choice in individual cases.

SourceUniversity of Pennsylvania School of Medicine·JournalPlastic & Reconstructive Surgery·DateMay 27, 2015

The Albian Gap, salt rock, and a heated debate

A new study critiques the geological and geophysical evidence supporting competing models for the origin of the Albian Gap, a feature along the Brazilian continental margin. The researchers suggest that much of this evidence is not diagnostic of either model, highlighting the need for a revised understanding of the structure's origin.

SourceGeological Society of America·JournalACM SIGSAM Bulletin·DateMay 27, 2015

The least religious generation

A study of 11.2 million US adolescents over 50 years found that millennials have lower religious involvement than previous generations, due to cultural change rather than youth-related factors. This trend is part of a larger cultural context of rising individualism in the US.

SourceSan Diego State University·JournalPLOS ONE·DateMay 27, 2015

Lethal wounds on skull may indicate 430,000-year-old murder

A nearly complete skull from the Sima de los Huesos cave site in northern Spain shows two penetrating lesions that may indicate an act of lethal interpersonal aggression around 430,000 years ago. The injuries are unlikely to be caused by a fall and suggest early evidence of funerary behavior.

SourcePLOS·JournalPLOS ONE·DateMay 27, 2015