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Science News for August 17, 2016


Babies' spatial reasoning predicts later math skills

A longitudinal study found that infants' spatial reasoning abilities measured as young as six months predict their math skills at four years of age. The researchers also discovered that individual differences in spatial aptitude are present earlier than previously thought, highlighting the potential for early intervention to improve ma...

SourceEmory Health Sciences·JournalPsychological Science·DateAug 17, 2016

Flowering meadows benefit humankind

A study published in Nature found that diverse ecosystems populated by many species provide higher levels of ecosystem services, including food production, soil development, pest control, and climate regulation. The research highlights the importance of maintaining species-rich ecosystems for human well-being.

Burning desire comes down to beetles

A Griffith University study found that high-frequency fires can disrupt nutrient cycling and modify beetle populations in some forest ecosystems. The research aims to improve fire frequency management by understanding the effects on soil, plant, animal, and microbial communities.

Modeling mood swings

A study of over 28,000 people reveals that individuals consistently follow a hedonic flexibility principle, engaging in mood-increasing activities when feeling bad and useful activities when feeling good. This finding clarifies how emotions shape behavior and explains the trade-offs humans make for long-term happiness.

SourceBoston Children's Hospital·JournalProceedings of the National Academy of Sciences·DateAug 17, 2016

Study links two genes to breast cancer survival

A new study of nearly 2,000 patients found that women with a specific pattern of gene activity were three times more likely to die from their breast cancers within 10 years. The research identified two genes, F12 and STC2, which may play a key role in releasing cancer cells from the glue that holds them in place.

SourceInstitute of Cancer Research·JournalOncoTargets and Therapy·DateAug 17, 2016

Sex bias in human surgical clinical research

A study published in JAMA Surgery found that few studies included men and women equally, with wide variation in inclusion and matching of the sexes among specialties and journals. This sex bias can lead to different postoperative outcomes, complication rates, and readmission rates for males and females.

SourceJAMA Network·JournalJAMA Surgery·DateAug 17, 2016

Sayonara, kudzu bug?

US soybean crop is under threat from the kudzu bug, but research has found that some wild relatives of soybeans have developed resistance to the pest. These adapted plants have built defense mechanisms against pests, including limiting the ability of nymphs to survive.

SourceAmerican Society of Agronomy·JournalCrop Science·DateAug 17, 2016

A neuron's hardy bunch

Researchers found that even with the docking stations destroyed, neurons still emitted signals when demand was low and transmitted robust signals when triggers were present. The study suggests the presence of mechanisms maintaining partial communication in the nervous system.

SourceHarvard Medical School·JournalNeuron·DateAug 17, 2016

Leukaemia blood testing has 'massive potential'

Researchers at the University of Manchester have discovered a new test that can detect cancerous cells in the blood, offering a promising breakthrough in diagnosing and treating childhood leukemia. The test uses special structures called extracellular vesicles that are released by cancer cells and can be traced in the blood.

SourceUniversity of Manchester·JournalBlood·DateAug 17, 2016

Sulfoxaflor found to be less harmful to insect predators than broad-spectrum insecticides

A new study found that sulfoxaflor is as effective as broad-spectrum insecticides in controlling soybean aphids, while causing less harm to beneficial predators like the convergent lady beetle and insidious flower bug. This could improve integrated pest management strategies and reduce the risk of insecticide resistance.

SourceEntomological Society of America·JournalJournal of Economic Entomology·DateAug 17, 2016

For sensation-seekers, the color red can elicit rebelliousness, study finds

A new study by University of Illinois expert Ravi Mehta found that the color red can elicit noncompliant behavior, also known as a rebellious streak, in individuals who are high on the sensation-seeking scale. This effect is due to the arousal caused by exposure to the color red, which leads to reactance and increases noncompliance.

SourceUniversity of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign, News Bureau·JournalJournal of Consumer Psychology·DateAug 17, 2016

Study finds bias, disgust toward mixed-race couples

Research from University of Washington suggests that despite high levels of reported acceptance, bias against mixed-race couples persists in the US. The study found a strong negative correlation between bias and disgust, as well as activation in the insula brain region when viewing images of interracial couples.

SourceUniversity of Washington·JournalJournal of Experimental Social Psychology·DateAug 17, 2016

Life expectancy in some CKD patients could be improved with nephron-sparing treatment

A study published in the American Journal of Roentgenology suggests that nephron-sparing treatment for small renal masses can improve life expectancy in patients with mild or moderate chronic kidney disease. The study developed a framework for incorporating tumor imaging features and renal function into treatment selection, providing a...

SourceAmerican Roentgen Ray Society·JournalAmerican Journal of Roentgenology·DateAug 17, 2016

Study finds that views of swing voters do not matter much to presidential candidates

A new study finds that Republican and Democratic presidential candidates rarely respond to swing voters' views on key issues. Despite the importance of moderate middle ground in election campaigns, candidates typically take stances closer to those of their core supporters or extreme subsets of 'intense policy demanders'.

SourceSAGE·JournalThe Annals of the American Academy of Political and Social Science·DateAug 17, 2016

Researchers watch catalysts at work

Physicists watched a silver catalyst at work using an atomic force microscope, calculating energy turnover and optimizing catalysis. The Ullmann reaction was observed at atomic resolution, revealing unusual spatial arrangements of intermediate products.

SourceUniversity of Basel·JournalSmall·DateAug 17, 2016

New study: Are voters influenced by campaign visits?

A new study finds that campaign visits have limited impact on voters, but consume significant resources. The study suggests that candidates should focus on other strategies, such as advertising and voter contact, to influence voters.

SourceSAGE·JournalThe Annals of the American Academy of Political and Social Science·DateAug 17, 2016

Unveiled: Earth's viral diversity

Researchers at the DOE JGI have discovered over 125,000 viral genomes infecting microbes, increasing the number of known microbial phyla by a factor of 16. The study provides a unique resource for viral sequence information and has implications for understanding global cycles and energy challenges.

SourceDOE/Joint Genome Institute·JournalNature·DateAug 17, 2016

New mechanism discovered for Alzheimer's risk gene

Researchers at Salk Institute identify a connection between ApoE4 and protein build-up associated with Alzheimer's, providing a possible biochemical explanation for extra ApoE4 causing the disease. They also found that ApoE4 keeps the enzyme HtrA1 from breaking down tau protein, responsible for tau tangles associated with Alzheimer's.

SourceSalk Institute·JournalJournal of the American Chemical Society·DateAug 17, 2016

Thin tropical clouds cool the climate

Researchers at Stockholm University and the University of Miami found that thin mid-level clouds in the tropics cool the climate by about 20 W m-2, significantly more than previously thought. This study aims to bridge gaps in knowledge about these challenging-to-study clouds.

SourceStockholm University·JournalNature Communications·DateAug 17, 2016

Genetic influence in juvenile songbird babblings

A study by Hokkaido University researchers found that juvenile songbirds exhibit familial differences in their earliest vocal babblings, suggesting a possible genetic basis for these variations. The findings reveal that the variations are more pronounced among different families and persist even when deafened.

SourceHokkaido University·JournalScientific Reports·DateAug 17, 2016

Acetaminophen does not aggravate children's asthma

A randomized trial led by Boston Children's Hospital found no difference between acetaminophen and ibuprofen in treating pain and fever in children with mild persistent asthma. The study enrolled 300 children aged 1-5 years old and showed that both medications were effective in controlling asthma symptoms.

SourceBoston Children's Hospital·JournalNew England Journal of Medicine·DateAug 17, 2016

New standard helps ensure accurate clinical measurements of HER2 breast cancer gene

A new measurement standard, developed by NIST, has been used to evaluate the performance of next-generation DNA-sequencing technologies for evaluating gene variations associated with an increased risk of breast cancer. The HER2 Standard Reference Material demonstrates its value in increasing confidence in reporting HER2 amplification f...

SourceNational Institute of Standards and Technology (NIST)·JournalJournal of Molecular Diagnostics·DateAug 17, 2016

How we escaped from the Big Bang

Associate Professor Dr Joan Vaccaro's research resolves an anomaly in conventional physics by introducing 'T violation', forcing the universe and us into the future. This breakthrough reveals how time evolution and conservation laws emerged, allowing for aging and a flow of time.

Association for molecular pathology establishes new standard for clinical utility of molecular Dx

The Association for Molecular Pathology has developed a new framework for defining the clinical utility of molecular diagnostics, emphasizing the importance of context in interpreting test results. This approach aims to improve patient care by providing clinically useful and appropriate testing based on realistic evidence levels.

SourceAssociation for Molecular Pathology·JournalJournal of Molecular Diagnostics·DateAug 17, 2016