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Science News for December 5, 2016


Fast evolution affects everyone, everywhere

Research highlights how humans impact the evolution of other species, leading to rapid changes in a few years to decades. Examples include commercial fishing, invasive species, and urbanization, which drive evolutionary adaptations.

SourceMcGill University·JournalPhilosophical Transactions of the Royal Society of London (B )·DateDec 5, 2016

Prehistoric plant remains highlight diverse origins of cereal domestication

Researchers uncover regional diversity in plant species exploited during Pre-Pottery Neolithic A, challenging previous assumptions about the importance of cereals. The study suggests that legumes played a crucial role in eastern Fertile Crescent regions and contributed to chronological dissimilarities in cereal domestication.

SourceUniversity of Copenhagen - Faculty of Humanities·JournalProceedings of the National Academy of Sciences·DateDec 5, 2016

Double whammy for triple negative breast cancer

Researchers at the Weizmann Institute of Science have identified a promising new combination therapy for triple negative breast cancer, which inhibits tumor growth and survival while preventing drug resistance. The therapy targets EGFR and PYK2 molecules, leading to a more potent therapeutic effect than inhibiting either molecule alone.

SourceWeizmann Institute of Science·JournalCancer Research·DateDec 5, 2016

Syrian crisis altered region's land and water resources, Stanford study finds

A Stanford study found that the Syrian civil war caused a significant decrease in agricultural irrigation and reservoir storage in Syria, with irrigation land decreasing by 47% and reservoir storage dropping by 49%. This reduction has led to increased flow in neighboring countries like Jordan, exacerbating water scarcity issues.

SourceStanford's School of Earth, Energy & Environmental Sciences·JournalProceedings of the National Academy of Sciences·DateDec 5, 2016

An eye on young specialists' success

A recent study by Queen's University researcher Dr. Robert Campbell found that young ophthalmologists are struggling to secure practice opportunities after total provincial surgical rates plateaued in Ontario. The study suggests a pressing need for effective career counselling and policy changes to address the issue.

SourceQueen's University·JournalCanadian Medical Association Journal·DateDec 5, 2016

Why the flounder is flat

A team of researchers has identified the genetic mechanisms driving the metamorphosis that transforms flounders from symmetrical larvae to asymmetrical adults. The discovery sheds new light on an evolutionary puzzle, but also has practical implications for the fishing industry, which faces significant losses in flounder aquaculture.

SourceUniversity of Würzburg·JournalNature Genetics·DateDec 5, 2016

Using the force

Scientists at UCSB developed a powerful new technique to measure the mechanical properties of cells in living tissues, shedding light on how cells respond to biochemical and mechanical cues. The method reveals that cells perceive their natural habitat as a fluid-like environment, with varying stiffness and viscosity along the body axis.

SourceUniversity of California - Santa Barbara·JournalNature Methods·DateDec 5, 2016

Expanding patient access to multiple health systems may compromise safety

A national cohort study found that patients using more than one health system had significantly higher rates of potentially unsafe medication prescribing compared to those using the Department of Veterans Affairs (VA) only. The prevalence of such prescribing was particularly high among dual users, suggesting a need for improved coordin...

SourceAmerican College of Physicians·JournalAnnals of Internal Medicine·DateDec 5, 2016

Expectation versus reality in the acceptance of self-driving cars

Research suggests that public acceptance of self-driving cars is lower than expected, with many people preferring a more realistic portrayal of the technology. The study found that participants who read an idealized description of self-driving car ownership were more accepting than those who read a more realistic scenario.

SourceHuman Factors and Ergonomics Society·JournalProceedings of the Human Factors and Ergonomics Society Annual Meeting·DateDec 5, 2016

Wise plant analysis

A new method of plant analysis has identified more than twenty metabolites in tomatoes that had never been reported before, including certain antioxidants in the skin. The Weizmann team's tools, WeizMass and MatchWeiz, can help study plant metabolism and identify useful biological activity

SourceWeizmann Institute of Science·JournalNature Communications·DateDec 5, 2016

$434,000 to environmental humanities

The Seed Box programme at Linköping University is allocating grants to researchers worldwide to investigate environmental issues through interdisciplinary and artistic methods. Projects such as Herbarium 3.0 aim to increase awareness of plant-human interactions and create new pathways forward for sustainable practices.

Test used to diagnose asthma may not be accurate

A new study found that the mannitol challenge test may not be accurate in detecting asthma in non-clinical settings. The test's predictive value was low in the general population, highlighting the need for caution when interpreting results.

SourceWiley·JournalRespirology·DateDec 5, 2016

New discovery at heart of healthy cereals

A new discovery by researchers at the University of Queensland reveals that beta glucans in oats actually reduce circulating bile, leading to lower and slower absorption of fat. This finding could lead to ways of boosting the cholesterol-fighting properties of other cereals like wheat.

SourceUniversity of Queensland·JournalThe FASEB Journal·DateDec 5, 2016

The Goldilocks effect in aging research

Scientists found that a balance of telomere elongation and trimming in stem cells is necessary for optimal telomere length. Over-elongated telomeres accumulate DNA damage and can lead to cancer. The study deepens understanding of stem cell biology and has implications for regenerative medicine and aging research.

SourceSalk Institute·JournalNature Structural & Molecular Biology·DateDec 5, 2016

Delivering a power punch

A KAUST research team created integrated microsupercapacitors with three-dimensional porous electrodes, achieving high energy density of 200 microwatt-hours per square centimeter. The devices outperform state-of-the-art microsupercapacitors and thin film batteries, offering promising applications for self-powered sensors and IoT systems.

SourceKing Abdullah University of Science & Technology (KAUST)·JournalAdvanced Energy Materials·DateDec 5, 2016

Guppies: Study sorts the maths whizzes from the dunces

Researchers found that guppies with superior mathematical abilities were better at distinguishing between bigger and smaller shoals, as well as choosing larger food items. This enhanced cognitive ability led to increased survival rates and foraging success in the wild.

SourceSpringer·JournalBehavioral Ecology and Sociobiology·DateDec 5, 2016

Family member with special connections

The discovery by University of Konstanz researchers reveals two regions within Ssb that mediate direct contact with the ribosome, supporting its function. The findings suggest a unique feature of Ssb that enables it to position itself optimally at the ribosome.

SourceUniversity of Konstanz·JournalNature Communications·DateDec 5, 2016

TSA could save money by waiving PreCheck fees for frequent travelers, study finds

A new study suggests that waiving the $85 fee for frequent fliers to enroll in TSA PreCheck would result in significant cost savings for the Transportation Security Administration. The study found that costs saved by frequent travelers using expedited security exceeded the cost of waiving their enrollment fees.

SourceUniversity of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign, News Bureau·JournalJournal of Transportation Security·DateDec 5, 2016

During last warming period, Antarctica heated up 2 to 3 times more than planet average

A new study by a team of American geophysicists found that Antarctica warmed about 11 degrees Celsius between 20,000 and 10,000 years ago, 2 to 3 times the average temperature increase worldwide. The disparity highlights the amplification of warming at poles consistent with today's climate change models.

SourceUniversity of California - Berkeley·JournalProceedings of the National Academy of Sciences·DateDec 5, 2016

Simple steps lengthen lives of high-risk AML patients

High-risk acute myeloid leukemia (AML) patients can live longer with quicker identification and transplantation. Researchers found that rapidly identifying genetic mutations and matching donors increased two-year survival rates from 22% to 45%. The streamlined approach could establish a new standard of care for these patients.

SourceSWOG·DateDec 5, 2016

Drug/catheter combo for labor induction could save 2.4 million hours of labor annually, Penn study shows

A combination of the prostaglandin-like drug misoprostol and a balloon catheter could reduce delivery room time by several hours, potentially saving thousands of days of labor per year. The study found no significant differences in cesarean deliveries or medical complications between the methods.

SourceUniversity of Pennsylvania School of Medicine·JournalObstetrics and Gynecology·DateDec 5, 2016

Making spines from sea water

Sea urchins and microorganisms have been found to 'drink' seawater, extracting calcium ions through a network of bubbles within their cells. This method may be more energy-efficient than previous theories, but also presents challenges in manipulating ions in the sea water.

SourceWeizmann Institute of Science·JournalProceedings of the National Academy of Sciences·DateDec 5, 2016

Kids' restaurant menu items often include excess calories

A new study found that most kids' menu items at top restaurants exceed the recommended calorie count, with fried potatoes being the most excessive. Experts recommend adjusting portion sizes and menus to meet children's needs, providing an opportunity for restaurants to promote healthier options and reduce childhood obesity.

SourceRAND Corporation·JournalNutrition Today·DateDec 5, 2016

Parenting classes benefit all, especially lower-income families

A new study from Oregon State University suggests that parenting education can improve the skills of every parent and the behavior of all children. The study found that parenting education series serving predominantly lower-income parents resulted in greater improvements in their skills and their children's behaviors compared to series...

SourceOregon State University·JournalChildren and Youth Services Review·DateDec 5, 2016

How plants manage excess solar energy

Scientists have found that the UVR8 receptor in Chlamydomonas reinhardtii activates a safety valve to dissipate excess energy as heat. The study reveals a second protective role of these receptors, producing an anti-UV 'sunscreen'.

SourceUniversité de Genève·JournalProceedings of the National Academy of Sciences·DateDec 5, 2016

No safe level of smoking

A study of over 290,000 adults found that even low-intensity smokers had a significantly higher risk of earlier death than never smokers. The risk was particularly strong for lung cancer mortality, with low-intensity smokers experiencing nearly 9 times the risk of dying from lung cancer.

SourceNIH/National Cancer Institute·JournalJAMA Internal Medicine·DateDec 5, 2016

Researchers study sea spray to improve hurricane intensity forecasting

A University of Miami research team analyzed sea spray droplets generated from breaking waves and found that the amount of large droplets is 1000 times more than previously thought. This information can be applied to hurricane models to improve intensity predictions, aiding in people's safety.

Study examines the impact of climate change on freshwater species

A study examines the impact of climate change on freshwater species in New South Wales, Australia. At least a third of species are likely to lose more than half their range under climate change. The researchers hope that better communicating modeling uncertainty can inform adaptive management and balance risks.

SourceWiley·JournalFreshwater Biology·DateDec 5, 2016

Report reassesses variations in global warming

Experts reassess temperature trends, finding that global warming slowed less from 1998 to 2012, peaking in 2016 at a level around 1.5ºC above its level early in the Industrial Revolution. Global temperatures remain high due to exceptionally low sea-ice extent in both hemispheres.

SourceWiley·JournalQuarterly Journal of the Royal Meteorological Society·DateDec 5, 2016

Researchers uncover protein-based 'cancer signature'

A research team at the University of Basel has discovered a cancer type-specific 'signature' based on ribosomal protein expression. This signature may serve as a prognostic marker for cancer and point towards new therapeutic opportunities, with a strong relationship found between the signature in breast cancer and relapse-free survival.

SourceUniversity of Basel·JournalGenome Biology·DateDec 5, 2016

Re-emergence of syphilis traced to pandemic strain cluster

A recent study reveals that syphilis has re-emerged globally, primarily caused by a pandemic strain cluster named SS14-Ω. This cluster exhibits high levels of antibiotic resistance, particularly to azithromycin, posing a significant public health concern. The researchers hope that their findings will contribute to a better understandin...

SourceUniversity of Zurich·JournalNature Microbiology·DateDec 5, 2016