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Science News for December 12, 2016


Study finds American Indian adults exposed to early life trauma more likely to develop PTSD and poor health

A recent study published in the American Journal of Human Biology found that American Indian adults who experienced early life trauma are at a higher risk of developing post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD) and poor physical health. The research highlights the importance of addressing early interventions to minimize this risk.

SourceDartmouth College·JournalAmerican Journal of Human Biology·DateDec 12, 2016

Rings around young star suggest planet formation in progress

Researchers have mapped gases in three dark rings around a distant star, indicating the presence of planets that are clearing dust and gas from the outer rings. However, one inner ring remains mysterious, with more carbon monoxide than expected, leaving scientists to investigate alternative explanations for its formation.

SourceRice University·JournalPhysical Review Letters·DateDec 12, 2016

Insufficient evidence to support use of homeopathy in livestock

A comprehensive review of homeopathy in livestock found that many clinical trials have methodological limitations, making it difficult to draw conclusions about its effectiveness. The review suggests that more research is needed to fully understand the potential benefits and risks of using homeopathy in food-producing animals.

SourceBMJ Group·JournalVeterinary Record·DateDec 12, 2016

Physician volume affects outpatient care

A population-based cohort study found that primary care physicians with higher ambulatory volumes deliver lower-quality diabetes care, while those with higher diabetes-specific volumes provide better care. The study's results suggest a clear association between physician volume and quality of diabetes management.

SourceAmerican College of Physicians·JournalAnnals of Internal Medicine·DateDec 12, 2016

The sea roils and life returns

After the 2011 tsunami, Japanese researchers found that small fish with short lifespans recovered first, followed by larger fish with longer lifespans, stabilizing populations and increasing body lengths. The study also discovered a brief invasion period, but ultimately, cold-water species began to prey on invading species.

SourceKyoto University·JournalPLOS ONE·DateDec 12, 2016

Anti-tumor synergy

Researchers have developed biocompatible nanocapsules that transport glucose oxidase and L-arginine into tumor cells, starving them of nutrients while releasing toxic nitrogen monoxide. This synergistic treatment concept successfully inhibits cell growth, initiates cell death, and shrinks tumors in mice.

SourceWiley·JournalAngewandte Chemie International Edition·DateDec 12, 2016

New epilepsy gene network identified by scientists

Researchers at Imperial College London have discovered a gene network of 320 genes associated with epilepsy. The M30 network is thought to be involved in how brain cells communicate with each other and its malfunction triggers seizures. Finding medications that restore this network could provide new treatments for the condition.

SourceImperial College London·JournalGenome Biology·DateDec 12, 2016

New robot has a human touch

A team of researchers at Cornell University has created a soft robotic hand that can sense its surroundings through internal curvature, elongation, and force sensors. The hand uses stretchable optical waveguides to detect changes in light transmission, allowing it to grasp and probe objects with human-like sensitivity.

SourceCornell University·JournalScience Robotics·DateDec 12, 2016

Reseracher finds 'identity loan' common in undocumented workers

A new study by University of Colorado Denver researcher Sarah Horton challenges common portrayals of identity theft in workplaces dominated by undocumented immigrants. Many employers furnish workers with invented or borrowed work authorization documents, a practice she has termed 'identity loan'. This study highlights the active role e...

SourceUniversity of Colorado Denver·JournalPoLAR Political and Legal Anthropology Review·DateDec 12, 2016

Remote sensing is becoming increasingly important in biodiversity research

The article discusses the importance of remote sensing in biodiversity research, highlighting its potential to measure biological diversity, identify species, and track ecosystem processes. However, field studies are still necessary to provide crucial information on ecological potency, stress behavior, and adaptability.

SourceHelmholtz Centre for Environmental Research - UFZ·JournalEcological Indicators·DateDec 12, 2016

Famine alters metabolism for successive generations

A study of over 3,000 families affected by mid-20th Century China's widespread starvation found that prenatal famine exposure was associated with significantly higher odds of hyperglycemia and type 2 diabetes in both the mother and her children. The risk persisted even when only one parent had been exposed to famine.

SourceBrown University·JournalAmerican Journal of Clinical Nutrition·DateDec 12, 2016

No good evidence that shock-absorbing insoles stave off injuries or stress fractures

A pooled analysis of available data reveals that shock-absorbing insoles do not prevent injuries or stress fractures. In contrast, foot orthotics have been shown to reduce the risk of overall injury and certain types of leg and foot pain by up to 41%. However, the quality of the evidence varies, and further rigorous research is needed.

SourceBMJ Group·JournalBritish Journal of Sports Medicine·DateDec 12, 2016

Faster track to treatment

A team of researchers has identified a network of genes in the brain that contribute to epilepsy, and predicts that a known anti-epileptic drug can restore its function. The study's 'network-biology' approach may provide a faster and cheaper way to discover new treatments.

SourceDuke-NUS Medical School·JournalGenome Biology·DateDec 12, 2016

New study seeks to use human serum to detect heart attacks

A new study has developed an electrical immunosensor that can detect heart attacks within a minute using human serum. The system works by measuring the level of cardiac troponin I, a protein excreted by the heart muscle after a heart attack. This novel immunosensor holds considerable potential for use in biomedical diagnosis.

SourceUlsan National Institute of Science and Technology(UNIST)·JournalBiosensors and Bioelectronics·DateDec 12, 2016

Researchers develop new approach for better big data prediction

A new approach to analyzing big data has been developed at Columbia University, Princeton and Harvard University. The Influence score, or I-score, is a statistic that can identify highly predictive variables in large datasets. This method has potential applications in predicting diseases, social science phenomena, and financial markets.

SourceColumbia University·JournalProceedings of the National Academy of Sciences·DateDec 12, 2016

Neonatal Abstinence Syndrome Increases Among Rural Infants

The proportion of rural infants with neonatal abstinence syndrome increased significantly between 2004 and 2013. This geographic disparity highlights the urgent need for policymakers to appropriate funding for clinicians and programs that could improve access to opioid prevention and treatment services for rural women and children.

SourceJAMA Network·JournalJAMA Pediatrics·DateDec 12, 2016

Dual loss of TET proteins prompts lethal upsurge in inflammatory T cells in a mouse model

Researchers at La Jolla Institute for Immunology found that the loss of TET proteins hinders T cell maturation and promotes aberrant proliferation, leading to a lethal disease resembling lymphoma. The study's findings suggest that TET proteins serve as tumor suppressors and may help block malignancy in cancers marked by TET mutations.

SourceLa Jolla Institute for Immunology·JournalNature Immunology·DateDec 12, 2016

A $5 fix for a nasty parasite

Researchers create method to detect C. parvum in source waters, improving public health protection. The calcium-mediated attachment of oocysts to environmental biofilms enables faster and cheaper detection.

SourceLehigh University·JournalApplied and Environmental Microbiology·DateDec 12, 2016

How physical exercise aids in stroke recovery

A recent study published in Frontiers in Aging Neuroscience found that physical exercise can help preserve adult visual plasticity in mice and restore it after a stroke. This suggests that exercise may be used as a preventive or therapeutic approach to aid recovery after a cortical stroke.

SourceFrontiers·JournalFrontiers in Aging Neuroscience·DateDec 12, 2016

Costs of treating patients with psychosis change significantly as they age

A new study finds that middle-aged patients with psychosis are incurring significant costs in long-term care facilities and with hospitalization, highlighting the need to address both mental and physical health in younger patients. Chronic psychotic disorders, such as schizophrenia, are associated with high health care costs due to you...

SourceCentre for Addiction and Mental Health·JournalThe Journal of Mental Health Policy and Economics·DateDec 12, 2016

Even with maximized yields, sub-Saharan Africa won't grow enough grain in 2050

A new study found that even with optimized yields, sub-Saharan Africa will not meet its grain demand by 2050. Closing the yield gap requires a large acceleration in farming practices and investments in agricultural development. The region must prioritize strategic investments to upgrade infrastructure and ensure food security.

SourceUniversity of Nebraska-Lincoln·JournalProceedings of the National Academy of Sciences·DateDec 12, 2016