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Science News for August 3, 2016


New research explores why people 'pass the buck'

A new study from Northeastern University found that people are more likely to delegate decisions when faced with choices affecting others, rather than themselves. Researchers discovered that individuals tend to avoid delegating unappealing choices on their own behalf, but will do so for someone else to minimize blame.

SourceNortheastern University·JournalOrganizational Behavior and Human Decision Processes·DateAug 3, 2016

New finding helps understand feeding ecology of Pleistocene proboscideans

A recent study using cutting-edge 3D dental microwear texture analysis reveals that Sinomastodon and Stegodon were obligate browsers of foliages, while Elephas had a broader diet of grasses and trees. This complex process suggests that biotic factors played a more substantial role in Pleistocene faunal turnovers than previously thought.

SourceChinese Academy of Sciences Headquarters·JournalQuaternary International·DateAug 3, 2016

Better contrast agents based on nanoparticles

Scientists at the University of Basel have created nanoparticles that can serve as efficient contrast agents for magnetic resonance imaging (MRI). These smart nanoparticles produce significantly more contrast than traditional contrast agents and respond to specific environments.

SourceUniversity of Basel·JournalChemical Communications·DateAug 3, 2016

Health-care costs are bad medicine

New research reveals that over 40% of people with depression and anxiety skipped healthcare treatment due to cost. Adults with asthma, emphysema, and COPD faced significantly higher household out-of-pocket healthcare expenditure compared to those without a health condition.

SourceJames Cook University·JournalAustralian Journal of Primary Health·DateAug 3, 2016

Imaging study shows link between inflammatory biomarkers and increased heart disease in men with HIV

A cardiac imaging study showed a correlation between higher inflammatory biomarkers and an increased prevalence of coronary artery disease in men infected with human immunodeficiency virus (HIV). Researchers used computed tomography (CT) angiography to detect signs of subclinical CAD, such as narrowed arteries and the amount, density a...

SourceUniversity of Southern California - Health Sciences·JournalJournal of the American Heart Association·DateAug 3, 2016

Federal grant to Rice targets ovarian cancer

Rice University bioengineer Junghae Suh has been awarded a prestigious R01 grant to research the use of viral gene therapy to fight ovarian cancer. The grant will help Suh and her lab adapt viruses to recognize extracellular enzymes overexpressed by ovarian-cancer tumors and deliver therapeutic genes to diseased cells.

Consumption of natural estrogens in cow's milk does not affect blood levels or reproductive health

Researchers found that naturally occurring estrogens in milk did not impact blood hormone levels or reproductive organs in mice, even at concentrations 100 times higher than typical milk from pregnant cows. The study suggests that the gastrointestinal system can metabolize estrogens before they reach systemic circulation.

SourceElsevier Health Sciences·JournalJournal of Dairy Science·DateAug 3, 2016

Paving the way toward novel strong, conductive materials

Scientists have developed a method to predict which alloys can form bulk metallic glasses, overcoming the complex process of synthesizing these alloys. The new approach identifies hundreds of new candidates for metallic glass made from simple two-element alloys, opening up possibilities for novel strong and conductive materials.

What's really in your swimming pool?

Harmful disinfection by-products (DBPs) form when chlorine and other chemicals react with organic matter in pool water, causing respiratory problems like asthma among swimmers. Practicing good hygiene, such as taking showers before entering the pool, can help reduce DBP levels.

SourceAmerican Chemical Society·JournalChemical & Engineering News·DateAug 3, 2016

Minorities less likely to have knee replacement surgery, more likely to have complications

A new study published in Journal of Bone and Joint Surgery found significant racial disparities in knee replacement surgery, with minorities having lower rates of TKR utilization but higher rates of adverse health outcomes. The study also revealed that black, Native American, and mixed-race individuals faced significantly higher risk f...

SourceAmerican Academy of Orthopaedic Surgeons·JournalJournal of Bone and Joint Surgery·DateAug 3, 2016

Schizophrenia simulator: When chemistry upends sanity's balance

The Georgia Institute of Technology researchers have created an interactive model of the brain's chemical balance to simulate major systemic changes in schizophrenia sufferers. This tool depicts chemical underpinnings in simple graphics, helping clinicians better understand the disease and test hypotheses virtually.

SourceGeorgia Institute of Technology·JournalBiochimica et Biophysica Acta (BBA) - General Subjects·DateAug 3, 2016

First evidence of sleep in flight

Researchers found that birds can engage in slow wave sleep and rapid eye movement sleep while flying, with SWS occurring in one hemisphere or both hemispheres. The study revealed unique sleep patterns in flight, including the ability of birds to watch their surroundings while asleep.

SourceMax-Planck-Gesellschaft·JournalNature Communications·DateAug 3, 2016

For the love of trash films

A comprehensive empirical investigation into trash films and their audience found that fans enjoy them for ironic viewing stances and appreciation of 'cheap' entertainment. The study also discovered that trash film enthusiasts are predominantly male, enthusiastic film buffs with above-average education.

SourceMax-Planck-Gesellschaft·JournalPoetics·DateAug 3, 2016

Live-streaming crime -- how will Facebook Live and Periscope challenge US privacy law?

Researchers find that current laws protecting individual rights are insufficient to protect privacy when it comes to MSVTs, and the First Amendment likely protects livestreaming activities of users. The study advocates for less legal restraint on recording and live-streaming public matters, but also calls for wisdom in controlling harm...

SourceLehigh University·JournalJournalism & Mass Communication Quarterly·DateAug 3, 2016

And the Oscar goes to ... climate change

A new study by SDSU researchers finds that DiCaprio's speech sparked record levels of public engagement with climate change, exceeding Earth Day and a major climate summit. The study analyzed news media trends, Twitter postings, and Google search trends to investigate global engagement with climate change since January 2011.

SourceSan Diego State University·JournalPLOS ONE·DateAug 3, 2016

Blood sugar slumps affect how lean men treat the more rotund

A study found that lean men who experience low blood sugar are less fair in their economic decision-making, especially when it comes to hiring and salary decisions involving obese individuals. This bias can lead to employment disparities and unfair treatment of corpulent people in the workplace.

SourceSpringer·JournalInternational Journal of Obesity·DateAug 3, 2016

Can you teach koalas new tricks?

A team from Griffith University monitored 130 koala crossings using retrofitted eco-passages and pinpointed individual koalas with RFID tags, camera traps, and audio radio transmitters. The study provides comprehensive insights into koala behavior and movements.

SourceGriffith University·JournalWildlife Research·DateAug 3, 2016

Novel genetic mutation may lead to the progressive loss of motor function

Researchers at the National Institutes of Health have identified a novel genetic mutation that may lead to progressive loss of motor function in children. The study, published in Science Signaling, found that a gain-of-function mutation in the KCC3 protein causes extreme swelling of neurons, leading to nerve damage and muscle weakness.

Recycling carbon dioxide: U of T researchers reduce climate-warming CO2 to building blocks for fuels

Researchers at U of T have developed a technique to convert climate-warming carbon dioxide into useful chemicals, such as methanol and ethanol, by consuming the greenhouse gas. The breakthrough uses nanoneedles to catalyze the reaction, producing CO2 reduction faster than any catalyst previously reported.