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Science News Archive August 2016 - Page 30


Page 30 of 38

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

Diamond-based light sources will lay a foundation for quantum communications of the future

Researchers have created highly efficient electrically-driven single-photon sources in diamond, promising breakthroughs in quantum computers and secure communication lines. The discovery enables operation at room temperature, increasing energy efficiency by over a thousand times and laying the foundations for novel quantum devices.

SourceMoscow Institute of Physics and Technology·JournalNew Journal of Physics·DateAug 5, 2016

Veins on Mars were formed by evaporating ancient lakes

A new study published in Meteoritics & Planetary Science reveals that mineral veins on Mars were formed by the evaporation of ancient lakes. The research, conducted by scientists from The Open University and University of Leicester, found that the fluids present in Martian Yellowknife Bay were habitable by Earth standards.

SourceUniversity of Leicester·JournalMeteoritics and Planetary Science·DateAug 5, 2016

Hot 'new' material found to exist in nature

Researchers at McGill University found that two rare minerals, stepanovite and zhemchuzhnikovite, have the same structure as man-made MOFs. This discovery opens up new possibilities for using these materials in various applications such as hydrogen storage and carbon sequestration.

SourceMcGill University·JournalScience Advances·DateAug 5, 2016

Why you're stiff in the morning: Your body suppresses inflammation when you sleep at night

A study published in The FASEB Journal found that the CRYPTOCHROME protein represses inflammatory pathways during nighttime sleep, leading to increased inflammation symptoms upon waking. This discovery offers new opportunities for developing anti-inflammatory treatments for conditions like arthritis.

Under-reporting of fisheries catches threatens Caribbean marine life

A recent study reveals that marine fisheries catches in the Turks and Caicos Islands are being under-reported by 86%, threatening the marine environment and local livelihoods. The research calls for urgent policy action to establish more accurate catch limits, taking into account both commercial and local consumption of seafood.

SourceFrontiers·JournalFrontiers in Marine Science·DateAug 5, 2016