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Science News Archive September 2015 - Page 34


Page 34 of 35

Study shows that nutrient shortfalls are a serious and persistent health disparity

A recent study published in the Journal of Health Care for the Poor and Underserved reveals that Non-Hispanic Black Americans have significantly higher rates of nutrient shortfalls compared to Non-Hispanic Whites. The analysis, conducted using data from the National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey (NHANES), found that Blacks we...

SourcePorter Novelli·JournalJournal of Health Care for the Poor and Underserved·DateSep 2, 2015

Microbial diversity insights are often strongly biased

Researchers found that high-throughput molecular methods used to analyze soil fungi often produce biased results due to limitations in taxonomic resolution and primer-template mismatches. Despite these biases, the study suggests that PCR-free methods have potential for understanding functional capacity of microorganisms.

SourcePensoft Publishers·JournalMycoKeys·DateSep 2, 2015

How does your microbiome grow?

A new computational method suggests that analyzing the relative amounts of starting DNA and ending DNA can be translated into the growth rate for each strain of bacteria. This approach has been found to reveal intriguing links between bacterial growth rates and conditions such as type II diabetes and inflammatory bowel disease.

SourceWeizmann Institute of Science·JournalScience·DateSep 2, 2015

Studying the outliers

Scientists have identified a gene variant that slows Alzheimer's disease progression by preventing eotaxin levels from increasing with age. The study found that individuals carrying this variant experienced a modest delay in disease onset, suggesting a potential protective mechanism against the disease.

SourceUniversity of California - Santa Barbara·JournalMolecular Psychiatry·DateSep 1, 2015

Male seahorse and human pregnancies remarkably alike

Researchers found male seahorses play a crucial role in nourishing and protecting embryos during pregnancy, delivering energy-rich lipids and calcium. Their gene expression during pregnancy was also similar to that of humans, suggesting a common genetic mechanism for managing pregnancy across species.

SourceUniversity of Sydney·JournalMolecular Biology and Evolution·DateSep 1, 2015

Brazilian wasp venom kills cancer cells by opening them up

Researchers found that Brazilian wasp venom's MP1 toxin selectively kills cancer cells by interacting with abnormally distributed lipids on their surface. The peptide creates gaping holes, allowing critical molecules to escape and potentially leading to new anticancer drug development.

SourceCell Press·JournalBiophysical Journal·DateSep 1, 2015

Maths skills count for premature babies

A recent study by the University of Warwick found a significant link between premature birth and decreased intelligence, reading, and mathematical ability in adulthood. The research also highlighted an impact on earnings into adulthood, with preterm-born individuals more likely to be manual workers or have lower family incomes.

SourceUniversity of Warwick·JournalPsychological Science·DateSep 1, 2015

Saving oysters by digging up their past

A new Cornell University study suggests that examining centuries-old oyster reefs can help restore these vital marine ecosystems. By analyzing fossils and sediment records, scientists can gain insights into how oysters have grown, lived, and interacted with their environments over time.

SourceCornell University·JournalJournal of Shellfish Research·DateSep 1, 2015

Water heals a bioplastic

A team of researchers developed a self-healing bioplastic from squid proteins, which can be repaired with warm water. The material exhibits improved durability for applications such as medical implants and fiber-optic cables.

SourcePenn State·JournalScientific Reports·DateSep 1, 2015

Body fat hormone leptin influences runner's high

A new study has found that the satiety hormone leptin plays a crucial role in the 'runner's high' feeling, with mice running longer distances on a wheel due to reduced leptin signaling. The research also suggests that people with lower fat-adjusted leptin levels may be more inclined to exercise.

SourceCell Press·JournalCell Metabolism·DateSep 1, 2015

Design of 'Japonica Array'

A research group has designed the first ever SNP array optimized for the Japanese population, covering the whole-genome region from which SNPs possessed by Japanese people can be obtained with high accuracy. The Japonica Array offers improved genotype imputation accuracy, accelerating personalized healthcare and medicine research.

SourceTohoku University·JournalJournal of Human Genetics·DateSep 1, 2015

Simplified handwashing steps help reduce sickness-related absenteeism for kids: Study

A simplified handwashing routine with five steps instead of seven reduces sickness-related absenteeism for students with mild intellectual disability, according to a study published in the American Journal of Infection Control. The intervention improved hand hygiene and reduced absenteeism by 40% compared to the control group.

SourceElsevier Health Sciences·JournalAmerican Journal of Infection Control·DateSep 1, 2015

Penn and German researchers help identify neural basis of multitasking

A study by Penn and German researchers reveals that cognitive flexibility is predicted by the degree to which brain networks reconfigure themselves. Participants who performed best on alternating tasks showed more rearrangement of connections within their frontal cortices and new connections with other areas of their brains.

SourceUniversity of Pennsylvania·JournalProceedings of the National Academy of Sciences·DateSep 1, 2015

New international standards needed to manage ocean noise

Experts call for new international standards and mitigation strategies to minimize the impact of seismic surveys on vulnerable marine life. The proposed measures aim to reduce risks from sound pollution, protect important habitats, and promote coordinated planning across industries and nations.

SourceDuke University·JournalFrontiers in Ecology and the Environment·DateSep 1, 2015