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Science News for October 14, 2015


New drug candidate is promising therapeutic option for angiogenic retinal diseases

A research team at Beth Israel Deaconess Medical Center has identified a small molecule that prevents the overgrowth of blood vessels in animal models of aged macular degeneration and retinopathy of prematurity. The new findings show that this molecule, named Vasotide, can be delivered in eye drops, offering a promising alternative to ...

SourceBeth Israel Deaconess Medical Center·JournalScience Translational Medicine·DateOct 14, 2015

Sticky situation

Researchers at the University of South Carolina developed a method to identify deteriorated magnetic tapes using infrared spectroscopy. The technique can distinguish between intact and degraded tapes, which have similar appearances but different chemical compositions.

SourceUniversity of South Carolina·JournalAnalytical Chemistry·DateOct 14, 2015

What smacks into Ceres stays on Ceres, research suggests

Researchers found that impacts on Ceres tend to retain large proportions of material, suggesting a homogeneous surface composed of meteoritic material collected over billions of years. This could have implications for asteroid sample return missions and require careful landing site selection.

SourceBrown University·JournalGeophysical Research Letters·DateOct 14, 2015

New guidelines for managing thyroid nodules and differentiated thyroid cancer in adults

The new guidelines focus on initial evaluation, biopsy criteria, molecular marker studies, risk assessment, and cancer screening for patients with thyroid nodules. For differentiated thyroid cancer, the guidelines emphasize screening, staging, and surveillance strategies, as well as long-term management and treatment options.

Rice U. study: Customer feedback helps spur employee creativity

A Rice University study found that customer feedback helps spur employee creativity and improves customer satisfaction by enabling employees to think outside the box and solve problems in novel ways. The research suggests that service organizations can benefit from strategically marketing to customers to encourage them to empower their...

SourceRice University·JournalJournal of Applied Psychology·DateOct 14, 2015

New position paper supports use of telemedicine by sleep specialists

The American Academy of Sleep Medicine has published a position paper supporting the use of telemedicine in sleep medicine practices. The paper outlines recommendations for integrating telemedicine into practice, including clinical care standards and quality assurance processes. Fair reimbursement for telemedicine services is also supp...

SourceAmerican Academy of Sleep Medicine·JournalJournal of Clinical Sleep Medicine·DateOct 14, 2015

Differences in treatment effect on out-of-balance microbiome in Crohn's disease

A study by researchers at the University of Pennsylvania School of Medicine found that different treatments for Crohn's disease in children have distinct effects on their gut microbiome. The use of antibiotics suppressed bacterial growth but facilitated fungal growth, while immunosuppressant medications reduced inflammation and bacteri...

SourceUniversity of Pennsylvania School of Medicine·JournalCell Host & Microbe·DateOct 14, 2015

A molecular switch to stop inflammation

Researchers at Umeå University have discovered a molecular switch called MYSM1 that can suppress an overactive immune response and prevent inflammation. The study found that MYSM1 accumulates outside the nucleus during infection or inflammation, disrupting signaling molecules involved in activating pattern-recognition receptors.

SourceUmea University·JournalImmunity·DateOct 14, 2015

Oxytocin nose-drop brings marmoset partners closer

Researchers found that oxytocin-treated marmosets attracted more physical proximity and grooming from their long-term mates. The study suggests that oxytocin may increase the social attractiveness of treated individuals, which could be beneficial for people with social deficit disorders like autism spectrum disorder and social anxiety.

SourceFrontiers·JournalFrontiers in Behavioral Neuroscience·DateOct 14, 2015

The dilemma of screening for prostate cancer

Primary care providers should screen men aged 45 and older with a digital rectal exam (DRE) and prostate-specific antigen (PSA) test. If the patient is asymptomatic, a 5-year screening interval may be considered.

SourceWiley·JournalInternational Journal of Clinical Practice·DateOct 14, 2015

Endangered orangutans face a new threat

A Rutgers study found that Bornean orangutan populations thrive in Indonesian peat-swamp forests with sufficient high-energy food, but struggle in areas with limited nutrition. Conservation efforts must prioritize suitable habitats for successful reintroduction and population increase.

SourceRutgers University·JournalPLOS ONE·DateOct 14, 2015

Invasive species as junk food for predators

Researchers found that predators benefit from eating invasive prey only when their traditional diet remains intact. Native prey is necessary for predators to stay healthy and prosper. Invasive species may provide a supplemental food source, but they don't replace native prey, which is essential for predator survival.

SourceOhio State University·JournalEcology Letters·DateOct 14, 2015

ALMA telescope unveils rapid formation of new stars in distant galaxies

Researchers using ALMA telescope detected a burst of new stars in seven distant galaxies nine billion years ago. The galaxies' gas content was already depleted despite high rates of star formation, suggesting an increase in efficiency above the main sequence. This study pushes galaxies at z~1.6 well-above the star-forming main sequence.

SourceKavli Institute for the Physics and Mathematics of the Universe·JournalThe Astrophysical Journal Letters·DateOct 14, 2015

Despite promise, vitamin D and calcium do not reduce colorectal cancer risk

Researchers found no significant difference in new polyp formation between patients with vitamin D and/or calcium supplements and those without. The study's results contradict previous findings in models and smaller human trials, highlighting the need for further research on promising cancer prevention strategies.

SourceUniversity of Colorado Anschutz Medical Campus·JournalNew England Journal of Medicine·DateOct 14, 2015

Research that is simply beyond belief

Researchers found that directing magnetic energy into the brain reduced belief in God by 32.8% and increased positive feelings towards immigrants by 28.5%. The study used transcranial magnetic stimulation to temporarily shut down specific brain regions.

SourceUniversity of York·JournalSocial Cognitive and Affective Neuroscience·DateOct 14, 2015

New clinical guideline to help clinicians treat circadian rhythm sleep-wake disorders

A new clinical practice guideline provides updated recommendations for treating intrinsic circadian rhythm sleep-wake disorders, promoting high-quality patient-centered care. The guideline updates previously published parameters and includes positive endorsements of melatonin and light therapy for select patients.

SourceAmerican Academy of Sleep Medicine·JournalJournal of Clinical Sleep Medicine·DateOct 14, 2015

Don't stop at 'Don't do that again!'

A new study by the University of Iowa found that parents' conversations with their children after an injury play a crucial role in shaping their safety values. The study revealed that parents are more likely to urge daughters than sons to be more careful and discuss why certain activities are dangerous, especially for older children. B...

SourceUniversity of Iowa·JournalJournal of Pediatric Psychology·DateOct 14, 2015

Six Degrees of Francis Bacon launches

The site recreates the British early modern social network to trace personal relationships among figures like Bacon, Shakespeare, and Newton. It identifies over 13,000 individuals and 200,000 relationships, providing new ways for scholars to consider communities, factions, influences, and sources.

Developing Saurolophus dino found at 'Dragon's Tomb'

A team of scientists has discovered a group of perinatal Saurolophus angustirostris dinosaurs found at the Dragon's Tomb site in Mongolia. The young dinosaurs, likely from the same nest, exhibit characteristics similar to those of adult Saurolophus angustirostris, including an upwardly directed snout and poorly developed crest.

SourcePLOS·JournalPLOS ONE·DateOct 14, 2015

Computers match doctors in predicting patient discharges

A new study from the University of Maryland and Johns Hopkins University finds that computers can accurately predict patient discharges, improving hospital resource management. The model uses fewer than 30 variables, including patient demographics and medical history, to make predictions, outperforming doctors in some cases.

SourceUniversity of Maryland·JournalJournal of the American Medical Informatics Association·DateOct 14, 2015

How to fall gracefully if you're a robot

Researchers at Georgia Tech developed an algorithm to teach robots how to fall safely by determining the optimal sequence of movements to slow their momentum. The planning algorithm was validated through physics simulation and experimental testing on a humanoid robot, enabling potential applications in healthcare and domestic tasks.

The brain's dress code

A functional magnetic resonance imaging (fMRI) study found that The Dress activates frontal and parietal brain areas, depending on perception. Researchers identified differential brain activity in participants perceiving the dress as white-gold versus black-blue.

SourceRuhr-University Bochum·JournalCortex·DateOct 14, 2015

Different types of child abuse: Similar consequences

A study by McGill University researchers found that emotional abuse has equivalent, broad, and universal effects on children's behavior and mental health, comparable to physical abuse and neglect. The study suggests that effective treatments for maltreatment of any sort are likely to have comprehensive benefits.

SourceMcGill University·JournalJAMA Psychiatry·DateOct 14, 2015

Mother's gestational diabetes diagnosis slows fetal brain response after meals

A recent study published in the Endocrine Society's Journal of Clinical Endocrinology & Metabolism found that mothers with gestational diabetes have slower-firing brains in their unborn children. This may be due to the mother's metabolism influencing her child's development and increasing their risk of obesity and diabetes later in life.

SourceThe Endocrine Society·JournalThe Journal of Clinical Endocrinology & Metabolism·DateOct 14, 2015

Larger brains do not lead to high IQs

A recent meta-analysis published in Neuroscience and Biobehavioral Reviews found a weak association between brain size and IQ, with brain structure and integrity appearing more important as a biological foundation of intelligence. The study also highlights the importance of compensatory mechanisms of cognitive functions.

SourceUniversity of Vienna·JournalNeuroscience & Biobehavioral Reviews·DateOct 14, 2015

Effects of traumatic injury and disease on functional brain networks examined in brain connectivity

Studies examine effects of TBI, stroke, and repetitive stimulation on functional brain networks, revealing hyper-connectivity and reduced coherence in TBI patients. Researchers also describe remodeling of neuronal axons and myelin after stroke, as well as improvements in motor symptoms with repetitive transcranial magnetic stimulation.

NIH-funded researchers identify safe level to treat low blood sugar in newborns

Researchers have found that treating hypoglycemia in newborns according to current recommendations is safe and appears to prevent brain damage. The study suggests that maintaining stable blood glucose levels without significant fluctuations may be crucial for preventing neurosensory impairments.

Extra brain cells make males remember sex

A pair of neurons found in the brains of male nematode worms, called 'mystery cells of the male' or 'MCMs', are responsible for sex-based differences in learning and behavior. These MCMs create behavioral differences between males and females by changing a brain circuit common to both sexes.

SourceUniversity College London·JournalNature·DateOct 14, 2015