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Science News for September 23, 2015


Frontline treatments show best results for unexplained infertility

A study published in the New England Journal of Medicine found that letrozole did not improve pregnancy rates and live birth rates for women with unexplained infertility, but clomiphene remained the best option. Clomiphene enabled production of more eggs and hormones, while gonadotropin had the highest rate of pregnancy and live births.

SourceMedical College of Georgia at Augusta University·JournalNew England Journal of Medicine·DateSep 23, 2015

The world's nitrogen fixation, explained

Yale University scientists have designed a new chemical compound that mimics the properties of nitrogenase, an enzyme responsible for natural nitrogen fixation. The findings could lead to the development of synthetic catalysts that turn nitrogen into ammonia, reducing transportation and production costs.

SourceYale University·JournalNature·DateSep 23, 2015

9,000-year-old ritualized decapitation found in Brazil

A 9,000-year-old case of human decapitation has been discovered in Lapa do Santo, Brazil, featuring amputated hands and v-shaped cut marks on the jaw and vertebrae. The remains are believed to demonstrate sophisticated mortuary rituals among hunter-gatherers in the Americas.

SourcePLOS·JournalPLOS ONE·DateSep 23, 2015

Twisting neutrons

Scientists at Joint Quantum Institute successfully control orbital angular momentum of neutron waves, a fundamental property of matter waves. The achievement uses a counterintuitive property of neutrons to twist the phase of their wavefunction, enabling potential applications in neutron imaging and quantum information processing.

SourceJoint Quantum Institute·JournalNature·DateSep 23, 2015

Man walks again after years of paralysis

A participant with complete paralysis regained walking ability using a brain-controlled system that utilizes electroencephalogram signals. The study, published in Journal of NeuroEngineering and Rehabilitation, demonstrates the feasibility of non-invasive leg muscle stimulation using direct brain control.

SourceBMC (BioMed Central)·JournalJournal of NeuroEngineering and Rehabilitation·DateSep 23, 2015

New study questions clinical trial data for kidney cancer drugs

A new study published in the Journal of Oncology Practice found that patients participating in stage III renal cell cancer drug trials are often younger and healthier than those who ultimately receive the drugs. The study highlights concerns about the direct applicability of trial data, particularly for patients with more advanced canc...

SourceUniversity of North Carolina Health Care·JournalJournal of Oncology Practice·DateSep 23, 2015

Like a foreman, brain region keeps us on task

A study published in Neuron found that the rostrolateral prefrontal cortex (RLPFC) plays a crucial role in internally monitoring and guiding our behavior through sequences of tasks. By disrupting this region, researchers observed an increase in errors, highlighting its importance for cognitive control.

SourceBrown University·JournalNeuron·DateSep 23, 2015

Oceans in the brain: How we remember different contexts

Ocean cells differentiate environmental contexts, which are then sent to the hippocampus for memory formation. The entorhinal cortex plays a crucial role in context-dependent learning, and understanding Ocean cells' contribution may help diagnose Alzheimer's disease.

SourceRIKEN·JournalNeuron·DateSep 23, 2015

The final word on STAP

A group of scientists from seven international laboratories failed to replicate the STAP study, which claimed to turn ordinary cells into pluripotent stem cells. Computational analysis revealed significant genomic inconsistencies, including different genders and mixtures of embryonic and placental stem cells in some experiments.

SourceHarvard Medical School·JournalNature·DateSep 23, 2015

Many patients prefer online postoperative care to in-person care

A new study by Vanderbilt University Medical Center found that 76% of patients accepted online postoperative care as the only form of follow-up, while 68% reported equal effectiveness between online and in-person visits. The researchers believe designing tools for online care is key to determining when in-person care is needed.

SourceAmerican College of Surgeons·JournalJournal of the American College of Surgeons·DateSep 23, 2015

Standard treatment better than proposed alternative for unexplained infertility

A new study published by the NIH finds that clomiphene is more effective than letrozole for treating unexplained infertility, resulting in more live births. The study compared over 900 couples undergoing fertility treatment and found that clomiphene resulted in higher pregnancy rates and fewer multiple pregnancies.