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Science News for August 8, 2016


Seasonal allergies could change your brain

Research published in Frontiers in Cellular Neuroscience found that seasonal allergies can lead to increased neuron production in the hippocampus, a region responsible for forming new memories. This discovery raises questions about the long-term consequences of allergies on brain development and function.

SourceFrontiers·JournalFrontiers in Cellular Neuroscience·DateAug 8, 2016

Study suggests tiger sharks opt for scavenging on dead and dying sea turtles as a feeding strategy

Researchers found that tiger sharks prefer to scavenge on dead and dying green turtles, avoiding hundreds of healthy individuals. This behavior is similar to terrestrial carnivores, such as hyenas and polar bears, which selectively scavenge when the opportunity arises.

Targeting brain cells to alleviate neuropathic pain

Researchers discovered that microglia brain immune cells play a major role in the initiation and maintenance of neuropathic pain. Targeting these cells within a few days after nerve injury can greatly reduce chronic pain in animals. This breakthrough could lead to more effective painkillers with fewer side effects.

SourceRutgers University·JournalNature Communications·DateAug 8, 2016

Nature, not nurture, defines cricket social networks

Researchers found that cricket populations have innate social rules, resulting in stable networks that form year after year. The study, published in BMC Evolutionary Biology, suggests that these networks are conserved over evolutionary time, influenced more by population size than environmental changes.

SourceUniversity of Exeter·JournalBMC Evolutionary Biology·DateAug 8, 2016

Pesticides used to help bees may actually harm them

A study published in Frontiers in Microbiology found that pesticides applied to hives to control Varroa mites can damage the gut microbiome of honeybees, impacting their ability to metabolize sugars and peptides. The research suggests that these chemicals can specifically harm the microbes crucial for honey bee nutrition and health.

SourceVirginia Tech·JournalFrontiers in Microbiology·DateAug 8, 2016

Latin-American, Caribbean health systems need more investment as populations age

The study found that despite progress toward universal coverage, citizens still reported gaps in primary care organization, financing, and delivery in six Latin American and Caribbean countries. People with better experiences at the primary care level were less likely to say their health system needed major reforms.

CNIO researchers have discovered a mechanism that allows cancer to survive without glucose

CNIO researchers identified a biochemical mechanism that enables cancer cells to survive without glucose, triggering a switch in proteins that control nutrient stress. This finding may help understand the resistance of cancer cells to anti-angiogenic agents and their ability to thrive in low-oxygen environments.

Tiger sharks can be marine 'hyenas' too

Tiger sharks exploit easy food sources during nesting season, turning into scavengers when abundant dead sea turtles are available. The research found that tiger sharks spend more time patrolling surface waters near shore, indicating they are searching for carcasses or weakened turtles.

SourceSpringer·JournalBehavioral Ecology and Sociobiology·DateAug 8, 2016

Thyroid tumor: It takes 2 to tango

Researchers found a significant number of thyroid tumors carry a mutation in the EZH1 gene, leading to increased cell proliferation. The 'two-hit model' suggests that the first mutation increases tumor disposition and the second triggers disease progression.

SourceUniversity of Würzburg·JournalJournal of Clinical Investigation·DateAug 8, 2016

New drugs hope to fight neglected tropical diseases

Scientists have made a breakthrough in understanding the parasites that cause Chagas disease, leishmaniasis, and human African trypanosomiasis, three neglected diseases affecting 20 million people worldwide. A new chemical has been developed to kill these parasites, offering hope for effective treatments.

SourceUniversity of York·JournalNature·DateAug 8, 2016

ICU use associated with more invasive procedures, higher costs

A study of four common medical conditions found that hospitals using intensive care units (ICUs) more frequently were associated with more invasive procedures, higher hospital costs, but showed no improvement in mortality rates. Smaller hospitals and teaching hospitals had higher ICU utilization rates.

SourceJAMA Network·JournalJAMA Internal Medicine·DateAug 8, 2016

August Health Affairs

A recent study in Health Affairs highlights critical primary care shortcomings in Latin American countries, including high rates of skipping needed care and emergency department usage. The findings emphasize the urgent need for attention to address these gaps as populations continue to age.

SourceHealth Affairs·JournalHealth Affairs·DateAug 8, 2016

UNH researchers uncover new insights on Great Lakes monuments

Researchers from the University of New Hampshire have developed a geospatial approach to better understand the roles of pre-European archaeological monument sites in Michigan. By utilizing a modeling technique called Maximum Entropy, they were able to identify the distinct niches occupied by burial mounds and circular earthwork enclosu...

SourceUniversity of New Hampshire·JournalProceedings of the National Academy of Sciences·DateAug 8, 2016

Researchers find brain's 'physics engine'

A Johns Hopkins University cognitive scientist has discovered the brain's 'physics engine,' a set of regions involved in predicting physical outcomes, which is essential for survival. The findings suggest that the brain constantly runs physics simulations to prepare for action.

SourceJohns Hopkins University·JournalProceedings of the National Academy of Sciences·DateAug 8, 2016

Watch a tiny space rocket work

Researchers at Michigan Technological University and University of Maryland operated a tiny electrospray thruster under a microscope to study its behavior. The thruster, which creates a force less than the weight of a human hair, was found to form needle-like spikes that disrupt its function.

SourceMichigan Technological University·JournalNanotechnology·DateAug 8, 2016

Researchers turn to policy to tackle health disparities in an age of personalized medicine

Increased support for minority-focused research and community-based participatory research can improve understanding of chronic diseases across races and ethnicities. Policy recommendations include increasing non-white participant enrollment, educating healthcare providers, and funding research on gene-environment interactions.

SourceTufts University, Health Sciences Campus·JournalHealth Affairs·DateAug 8, 2016

Illuminating sulfides' roles in the body

A novel probe created by Washington State University researchers illuminates hydrogen sulfide and hydrogen polysulfides in different colors, enabling the identification of their roles in biological processes. This breakthrough could lead to the design of new drugs and treatments for diseases such as Alzheimer's, cancer, and diabetes.

SourceWashington State University·JournalAngewandte Chemie·DateAug 8, 2016

Undergraduates uncover mechanism tied to plant height

A Purdue University undergraduate class uncovered a mutation in the Sunspot sunflower that leads to its small stature, revealing a crucial role for DELLA proteins. The discovery sheds light on the genetic basis of plant height and has potential applications for modifying ornamental horticultural plants.

SourcePurdue University·JournalJournal of the American Society for Horticultural Science·DateAug 8, 2016

Higher ICU usage led to increased invasive procedures and costs

A new study by LA BioMed and UCLA found that hospitals using ICUs more frequently perform more costly and invasive procedures but do not see better mortality rates among patients with four common conditions. The study analyzed records from 156,842 hospitalizations and reported higher costs ranging from $647 to $3,412.

SourceLA BioMed·JournalJAMA Internal Medicine·DateAug 8, 2016

How to engineer a stronger immune system

Researchers at the Gladstone Institutes have developed a new method to consistently activate mesenchymal stromal cells to produce anti-inflammatory proteins, enhancing their immune-suppressing effects. This breakthrough could lead to improved treatments for inflammatory bowel disease and organ transplant rejection.

SourceGladstone Institutes·JournalStem Cells Translational Medicine·DateAug 8, 2016

Medicaid expansion under ACA linked with better health care for low-income adults

A new study found that Medicaid expansion under the Affordable Care Act led to increased primary and preventive care, reduced emergency department visits, and improved quality of care for low-income adults in Kentucky and Arkansas. The findings suggest that how states expand coverage may not be as important as expanding coverage itself.

SourceHarvard T.H. Chan School of Public Health·JournalJAMA Internal Medicine·DateAug 8, 2016

Drought conditions slow the growth of Douglas fir trees across the West

A study by University of California - Davis researchers found that drought conditions significantly impact Douglas fir tree growth, with warmer and drier conditions causing the most stress. The analysis of tree core samples over a 91-year period indicates projected decline in growth rates under future climate change scenarios.

SourceUniversity of California - Davis·JournalProceedings of the National Academy of Sciences·DateAug 8, 2016

New research supports the removal of drug use as a restriction to hepatitis C treatment

A world-first clinical trial found that people who inject drugs can receive safe and effective hepatitis C treatment while on opioid substitution therapy. The results show excellent treatment adherence rates of over 95% and low reinfection rates, contradicting long-held assumptions about drug users' ability to adhere to medication.

SourceUniversity of New South Wales·JournalAnnals of Internal Medicine·DateAug 8, 2016

Lake Tanganyika fisheries declining from global warming

A new report by an international team led by a University of Arizona geoscientist shows that Lake Tanganyika's fishery productivity has been declining since the 19th century due to global warming. The lake's algae, which serves as a food source for fish, has also decreased in abundance.

SourceUniversity of Arizona·JournalProceedings of the National Academy of Sciences·DateAug 8, 2016

Promising new treatment for lupus on the horizon

A new study published in Nature Medicine shows that a natural immune system protein called IL-2 can help restore balance to the overactive immune system of lupus patients. The drug, originally used to boost the immune system for cancer treatment, has been found safe and effective in clinical trials.

SourceMonash University·JournalNature Medicine·DateAug 8, 2016

New chili pathogens discovered in Australia

Four new Colletotrichum species have been identified in Australian chillies, causing anthracnose disease that lowers yield and produces sunken black spots. The discovery highlights the need for a more effective diagnostic quarantine system to protect Australia's billion-dollar agriculture export industry.

SourceUniversity of Melbourne·JournalPlant Pathology·DateAug 8, 2016

Hi-tech test to find elusive sawfish

Using cutting-edge eDNA technology, researchers from James Cook University successfully identified largetooth sawfish habitats in the Daly River, Northern Territory. The technique was mostly accurate in waterholes but disappointing in flowing rivers, with limitations yet to be overcome.

SourceJames Cook University·JournalEndangered Species Research·DateAug 8, 2016