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Science News for August 16, 2016


CDC study identifies patients with mild traumatic brain injury at increased risk of PTSD

A new CDC study found that about 27% of patients with mild traumatic brain injury who returned for follow-up care were positive for post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD). The study identified risk factors, including functional disability, psychiatric symptoms, and performance on measures of visual processing and mental flexibility.

SourceMary Ann Liebert, Inc./Genetic Engineering News·JournalJournal of Neurotrauma·DateAug 16, 2016

Can we economically outgrow climate change damages? Not for hurricanes we can't

Researchers warn that economic growth will not be able to counterbalance hurricane losses under unchecked global warming. Historical losses due to tropical cyclones have been found to increase less than linearly with a nation's affected GDP, but per capita income does not protect against hurricane losses.

SourcePotsdam Institute for Climate Impact Research (PIK)·JournalEnvironmental Research Letters·DateAug 16, 2016

Genetic and environmental risk factors for chronic pain

A new study found that genetic factors account for 38.4% of the variation in chronic pain risk, while shared environment with spouses contributes to 18.7%. The research also discovered a correlation between chronic pain and depression, highlighting the importance of identifying shared causal mechanisms.

SourcePLOS·JournalPLOS Medicine·DateAug 16, 2016

Boys more accurate at spotting offside, but not because they understand it better

Research from London Metropolitan University found that boys are more accurate at identifying players in offside positions than girls, despite having similar theoretical understanding of the rule. The study suggests that everyday experience playing football is a key factor in successful identification.

SourceIOS Press·JournalInternational Journal of Developmental Science Biopsychosocial Mechanisms of Change Human Development and Psychopathology - Perspectives from Psychology Neuroscience and Genetics·DateAug 16, 2016

Birds fly faster in large flocks

Researchers at Lund University found that larger flocks of birds travel significantly faster than smaller ones, with wind direction and turbulence playing a crucial role. This discovery provides new understanding of the complex factors influencing bird flight speeds.

SourceLund University·JournalPhilosophical Transactions of the Royal Society of London (B )·DateAug 16, 2016

Using the outside world to save on brainpower

Researchers explore the role of 'cognitive offloading' in managing information and retention, finding that people use physical actions to reduce mental effort when performing tasks. This strategy can have both benefits, such as increased confidence and ability, and drawbacks, including reduced memory for stored information.

SourceCell Press·JournalTrends in Cognitive Sciences·DateAug 16, 2016

Alaska's 'Sleeping Lady'

Scientists have overturned traditional interpretations of the Susitna basin in Alaska, discovering that it was formed by a southwest-dipping thrust fault. This finding changes our understanding of the region's geologic evolution and the formation of iconic landmarks like Mount Susitna.

SourceGeological Society of America·JournalGeosphere·DateAug 16, 2016

Scientists find a salty way to kill MRSA

Researchers at Imperial College London have found a way to kill MRSA bacteria by disrupting its salt regulation mechanism. By understanding how the bacteria cope with salt stress, scientists hope to develop a treatment that prevents food poisoning and works alongside conventional antibiotics.

SourceImperial College London·JournalScience Signaling·DateAug 16, 2016

Solid batteries improve safety

Researchers at ETH Zurich have developed solid-state batteries that are non-flammable and can be heated to high temperatures. This breakthrough enables faster charging and larger energy capacity, making them suitable for battery storage power plants and portable electronic devices.

SourceETH Zurich·JournalAdvanced Energy Materials·DateAug 16, 2016

Molecule prevents effect of chemotherapy

Researchers at Aarhus University Hospital found a molecule associated with Oxaliplatin treatment resistance, where patients with high levels have a six times higher risk of not responding to the drug. Eliminating this microRNA biomarker from tumors may restore sensitivity to Oxaliplatin-based chemotherapy.

SourceAarhus University Hospital·JournalNature Communications·DateAug 16, 2016

At work, hierarchies draw narcissist job hunters

Research by Emily M. Zitek and Alexander H. Jordan found that narcissistic individuals are more likely to support hierarchies when they can rise through the ranks or when positions are open. In contrast, they were less likely to support a hierarchy without clear career advancement opportunities.

SourceCornell University·JournalSocial Psychological and Personality Science·DateAug 16, 2016

The surprising side effect of kissing up at work

A new study found that when coworkers witness a colleague kissing up to their boss, it can lead to a more positive perception of the supervisor among newcomers. The researchers suggest that this phenomenon occurs because newcomers are eager for positive information about their supervisors.

SourceUniversity of Florida·JournalJournal of Applied Psychology·DateAug 16, 2016

Harms reporting in trials of orlistat

A document analysis found that orlistat trial reports underestimated adverse effects, with only 3-33% of reported events appearing in published papers. This suggests potential for bias in harms reporting and highlights the need for more accurate reporting practices.

SourcePLOS·JournalPLOS Medicine·DateAug 16, 2016

Most adults know more than 42,000 words

A new study published in Frontiers in Psychology found that native English-speaking Americans know an average of 42 thousand dictionary words by the age of twenty. As people get older, they learn one new word every two days, leading to a total of 6000 additional words known by age sixty.

SourceFrontiers·JournalFrontiers in Psychology·DateAug 16, 2016

A dog's dilemma: Do canines prefer praise or food?

A new study published in Social, Cognitive and Affective Neuroscience suggests that many dogs prefer praise from their owners over food. The study, led by Gregory Berns at Emory University, used brain-imaging data and behavioral experiments to investigate canine reward preferences.

SourceEmory University·JournalSocial Cognitive and Affective Neuroscience·DateAug 16, 2016

Unhealthy habits cost Canadians 6 years of life

A study published in PLOS Medicine found that unhealthy habits in Canada result in an estimated six years of lost life expectancy. The study identified the top risk factors for premature death as smoking and lack of physical activity, which accounted for a significant proportion of deaths.

SourceThe Ottawa Hospital·JournalPLOS Medicine·DateAug 16, 2016

Potential therapeutic target for Huntington's disease

Scientists at Gladstone Institutes discovered that phosphorylation of the huntingtin protein prevents loss of critical brain cells and protected against behavioral symptoms in a mouse model of Huntington's disease. The study suggests a potential therapeutic target for treating the devastating neurodegenerative disorder.

SourceGladstone Institutes·JournalJournal of Clinical Investigation·DateAug 16, 2016

Slower snowmelt affects downstream water availability in western mountains

A study published in Geophysical Research Letters reveals that slower snowmelt in the western US is reducing streamflows and impacting downstream water availability. The research found that areas with significant snowfall are most sensitive to changes in snowmelt rates, with some regions experiencing more significant decreases in strea...

SourceUniversity of Nevada, Reno·JournalGeophysical Research Letters·DateAug 16, 2016

Hey, tall guy! What's the politics like up there?

A new study using data from Britain found that taller people are more likely to support conservative political positions and vote for Conservative politicians. The researchers controlled for various factors, including income, cognition, and public health care, but the link between height and voting remained robust.

SourceOhio State University·JournalBritish Journal of Political Science·DateAug 16, 2016

Steroid treatment in very low birth weight infants may contribute to vision problems

A new study published in the Journal of AAPOS found a modest but significantly increased risk of retinopathy in very premature infants who received steroid treatment. The study analyzed data from 1,472 neonates and found that steroid-treated infants had a higher incidence of ROP than untreated infants.

SourceElsevier Health Sciences·JournalJournal of American Association for Pediatric Ophthalmology and Strabismus·DateAug 16, 2016

Fewer low clouds in the tropics

Researchers have reevaluated satellite data and found that low clouds in the tropics were fewer in warmer years, indicating a possible increase in cloud thinning under global warming. This suggests that climate sensitivity is likely higher than previously estimated, potentially leading to earlier threshold breaches.

SourceETH Zurich·JournalJournal of Climate·DateAug 16, 2016

Cellular snowplow keeps genes open

A new study reveals how immune cells access specific genes to fight inflammation and infections, using the cellular snowplow mechanism. The researchers found that nucleosome remodelers clear away blizzards of nucleosomes, allowing genes to be expressed.

SourceMichigan State University·JournalJournal of Biological Chemistry·DateAug 16, 2016