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Science News for April 5, 2016


A better fix for torn ACLs

Researchers at the University of Missouri have developed a model showing a newer surgical technique results in a stronger, more natural ACL repair. The new suspensory fixation method reduces cell and tissue damage to the graft, allowing for full functional healing.

SourceUniversity of Missouri-Columbia·JournalArthroscopy The Journal of Arthroscopic and Related Surgery·DateApr 5, 2016

Can urban gardeners benefit ecosystems while keeping food traditions alive?

A study found that urban gardens in Chicago's African American, Chinese-origin, and Mexican-origin communities provide important ecosystem services. The researchers identified non-native crops and synthetic fertilizers as potential issues, but also noted the cultural significance of gardening for food security and community connection.

Indiana University-led researchers identify objective predictors of suicidality in women

Researchers at Indiana University have identified blood-based biomarkers and developed questionnaire-based apps that can help clinicians identify female patients at greatest risk of suicidal ideation or behavior. The study found that these tools were able to predict future instances of suicidal thoughts with high accuracy, suggesting p...

SourceIndiana University·JournalMolecular Psychiatry·DateApr 5, 2016

Screening for COPD not recommended

The US Preventive Services Task Force recommends against routine screening for COPD in asymptomatic adults due to lack of evidence on benefits and potential harms. Screening may divert resources from other preventive services, such as smoking cessation.

SourceJAMA Network·JournalJAMA·DateApr 5, 2016

Study shows certain gastrointestinal tumors associated with higher mortality

Researchers at University of California, San Diego School of Medicine found that certain groups of gastrointestinal stromal tumors result in a much higher mortality rate than expected. The study analyzed data from 378 patients with malignant GISTs and discovered significant variability in size and malignant behavior.

SourceUniversity of California - San Diego·JournalJournal of Gastrointestinal Surgery·DateApr 5, 2016

Cost-effective production of hydrogen from natural resources

Researchers at Ulsan National Institute of Science and Technology (UNIST) have developed a cost-effective method for producing high-purity silicon nanosheets, which are essential for the mass production of hydrogen. The new technique uses natural clay and salt to synthesize these nanosheets, significantly reducing production costs.

Researchers show corals struggle to grow under multiple stressors

A new study found that corals preconditioned to high CO2 levels before increased temperatures showed 44% lower growth rates compared to unconditioned corals. This suggests that elevated CO2 worsens coral response to thermal stress, potentially exacerbating climate change impacts on coral reefs.

Promising new method inhibits TB-causing bacteria

Scientists have discovered a new way to inhibit the growth of Mycobacterium tuberculosis by using modified cholesterol as an energy source. This breakthrough holds promise for the development of new treatments for tuberculosis, a highly infectious lung disease that kills one person every 21 seconds.

SourceUniversity of Queensland·JournalJournal of Biological Chemistry·DateApr 5, 2016

Risk allele for side effects induced by Clozapine identified

A significant association has been found between HLA-B*59:01 and Clozapine-induced agranulocytosis and granulocytopenia, suggesting the allele may serve as a marker for prioritizing patients at low risk of developing these severe side effects. Further analysis is needed to clarify the mechanism behind this association.

SourceOsaka University·JournalBiological Psychiatry·DateApr 5, 2016

Live fast, die young

Scientists studying ancient mammal relatives known as therapsids found that they had shorter life expectancies and bred at younger ages to survive the drastic climate change. This adaptation allowed them to thrive in the aftermath of the Permo-Triassic Mass Extinction, which pushed billions of tons of carbon into the atmosphere.

SourceUniversity of Utah·JournalScientific Reports·DateApr 5, 2016

Fighting fiddler crabs call each other's bluff

Male fiddler crabs use deception to their favour by blurring the line between original and regrown claws. They adapt their combat strategies based on claw strength, opting for smaller opponents with weakened regrown claws to avoid injury.

SourceSpringer·JournalBehavioral Ecology and Sociobiology·DateApr 5, 2016

Trophoblasts resistant to Zika/Zika in the mouse

Human placental trophoblasts resistant to Zika virus proliferation and release an antiviral molecule called type III interferon to stop viral replication. Mouse models show high virus levels in brain, spinal cord, and testes after inoculation through skin.

SourceCell Press·JournalCell Host & Microbe·DateApr 5, 2016

Impossible superconductors gone live

A team of Russian scientists has measured the temperature dependences of two energetic gaps in iron-based superconductors, a breakthrough that could help solve questions about their appearance. The discovery confirms the existence of two-gap superconductivity, which was previously doubted, and highlights the complexity of this phenomenon.

SourceLomonosov Moscow State University·JournalJournal of Superconductivity and Novel Magnetism·DateApr 5, 2016

Back to basics with thermoelectric power

Researchers found that electron diffusivity plays a crucial role in harnessing thermoelectric power from waste heat. The study sheds light on the fundamental physical process behind this phenomenon.

SourceSpringer·JournalThe European Physical Journal Plus·DateApr 5, 2016

New in the Hastings Center Report

The Hastings Center Report explores bioethics' racial dimensions, including medical racism and conscientious care. The article discusses approaches to mitigate the effects of laws that raise moral conflicts, such as abortion regulations in North Carolina. Two 'Other Voices' essays also examine the role of conscience in healthcare.

SourceThe Hastings Center·JournalHastings Center Report·DateApr 5, 2016

How to survive extinction: Live fast, die young

Researchers found that ancient mammal relatives, therapsids, had shorter life expectancies and bred at younger ages after a mass extinction event. This adaptation allowed them to survive and thrive in the new environment, with simulations showing a 40% increase in survival chances.

SourceField Museum·JournalScientific Reports·DateApr 5, 2016

Promising results reported in study of AAV-based gene delivery to treat methylmalonic acidemia

A new study in patients with methylmalonic acidemia found lower than expected levels of antibodies against adeno-associated viral vectors, suggesting encouraging implications for gene delivery as a treatment. The absence of AAV antibodies in most patients who lack the deficient enzyme has promising results for gene therapy.

SourceMary Ann Liebert, Inc./Genetic Engineering News·JournalHuman Gene Therapy·DateApr 5, 2016

New study reports on suicidal thinking among US veterans

A study of over 2,000 US veterans found nearly 14% reported suicidal thinking at one or both survey phases, challenging past findings that suggest it's a longer-term problem. Social connectedness was linked to remission, while addressing psychiatric and physical health issues may be more critical for those with chronic suicidal thinking.

SourceVeterans Affairs Research Communications·JournalJournal of Affective Disorders·DateApr 5, 2016

Long-term response to selection predictable regardless of genetic architecture

Research resolves debate on gene interactions and adaptation by showing that the long-term response can be predicted in two scenarios: when genetic drift or selection dominate. Epistasis affects long-term response only if it changes sign during adaptation, regardless of initial trait variance components.

SourceInstitute of Science and Technology Austria·JournalProceedings of the National Academy of Sciences·DateApr 5, 2016

Cooling chips with the flip of a switch

Researchers at Penn State University have developed a unique blend of ferroelectric polymers that can hold absorbed heat even after the external field has been switched off. This allows the material to generate cooling when the field is turned on, but no subsequent heating when the field is turned off.

SourceAmerican Institute of Physics·JournalApplied Physics Letters·DateApr 5, 2016

Childhood asthma overdiagnosed, argue leading respiratory doctors

Asthma diagnosis has swung too far in the opposite direction, with inhalers prescribed for unnecessary reasons due to side effects such as growth suppression and increased risk of respiratory infections. Key findings highlight the need for accurate diagnosis using breathing tests and objective documentation.

SourceBMJ Group·JournalArchives of Disease in Childhood·DateApr 5, 2016

Cold mountain streams offer climate refuge: Future holds hope for biodiversity

A new study finds that cold-water species are more resilient to climate change than previously thought, with many populations expected to persist this century. Mountain landscapes play a crucial role in preserving biodiversity, giving conservationists time to complete extensive surveys and develop effective conservation strategies.

SourceU.S. Geological Survey·JournalProceedings of the National Academy of Sciences·DateApr 5, 2016

Significant increase seen in price of insulin

A study found that the prevalence of treated diabetes increased from 5.2% to 7.7% in the US, while estimated spending for insulin per patient rose from $231 to $736 between 2002 and 2013. Insulin prices skyrocketed, with average prices increasing by 197% over the same period.

SourceJAMA Network·JournalJAMA·DateApr 5, 2016

Exercise counteracts sitting time

Regular exercise can counteract health problems associated with sitting all day, according to a new study published in BMC Public Health. The research found that people who are physically active have a more desirable health profile compared to those who are inactive and spend high amounts of time sitting.

SourceUniversity of Leicester·JournalBMC Public Health·DateApr 5, 2016