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Science News for December 6, 2016


Doctors need to develop broader skill of empathy

Developing a broader skill of empathy is crucial for medical students and doctors, enabling them to strike a balance between compassion and clinical detachment. This approach, driven by Dr David Jeffrey's work, enables improvements in patient care, psycho-social research, and medical education.

SourceSAGE·JournalJournal of the Royal Society of Medicine·DateDec 6, 2016

Body composition may affect older women's risk of urinary incontinence

A study found that higher body mass index (BMI) and fat mass are significant markers of risk for stress- and urgency urinary incontinence (SUI and UUI) in older women. Women who lost at least 5% of their BMI or fat mass were less likely to experience new or persistent SUI over a three-year period.

SourceWiley·JournalJournal of the American Geriatrics Society·DateDec 6, 2016

Uterine microbiota play a key role in implantation and pregnancy success in in vitro fertilization

A new study found that women with a Lactobacillus-dominated microbiota in their uterine cavity had significantly lower rates of implantation, pregnancy, and live birth compared to those with non-Lactobacillus-dominated microbiota. This research suggests that the endometrial microbiome may play a crucial role in reproductive success.

SourceElsevier Health Sciences·JournalAmerican Journal of Obstetrics and Gynecology·DateDec 6, 2016

Scientists improve predictions of how temperature affects the survival of fish embryos

Researchers have developed a new model to predict the survival of fish embryos in high temperatures, taking into account the relationship between egg size and water flow. The study found that larger eggs require more oxygen and can survive in slower-flowing waters, but this relationship is not always consistent with laboratory results.

SourceNOAA Fisheries West Coast Region·JournalEcology Letters·DateDec 6, 2016

Transforming plant cells from generalists to specialists

Researchers at Duke University have identified a set of DNA-binding proteins in Arabidopsis roots that work together to trigger stem cell differentiation and create specialized cells with distinct roles. This discovery sheds light on the longstanding question of how plants make so many types of cells from the same genetic instructions.

SourceDuke University·JournalDevelopmental Cell·DateDec 6, 2016

Happy salmon swim bette

A recent study from Umeå University found that young salmon's desire to migrate to the sea is partly limited by their fear of the unknown downstream. Researchers used anxiolytic medication to treat the salmon and found that treated fish migrated nearly twice as fast as untreated ones.

SourceUmea University·JournalNature Communications·DateDec 6, 2016

How our immune system targets TB

Scientists have discovered how the human immune system targets Mycobacterium tuberculosis, the bacteria that causes TB. The study provides key insight into how the immune system can recognize TB-infected cells, which could lead to the development of new diagnostic tools and novel immunotherapies.

SourceMonash University·JournalNature Communications·DateDec 6, 2016

What makes a neuron a neuron?

Researchers have identified the functions of two sibling RNA-binding proteins in neural stem cells and neurons. PTBP1 and PTBP2 serve both redundant and unique roles in brain development, contributing to neuronal differentiation. This discovery has implications for fine-tuning stem cell therapeutic strategies for neurologic disorders.

SourceUniversity of California - Riverside·JournalCell Reports·DateDec 6, 2016

Tibetan Mastiff gained high altitude adaptation after domestication by wolf interbreeding

A Chinese research group found that the Tibetan Mastiff's high-altitude adaptation is due to interbreeding with the Tibet grey wolf, introducing a DNA swap at two genomic hotspots. This process shares similarities with human evolution, highlighting ancient interbreeding as a key factor in adaptations.

Risk for misuse of opioids and stimulants: What does employment status have to do with it?

Researchers found unemployed workers had the highest risk of misusing prescription opioids, while those out of the workforce entirely were most at risk for misusing prescription stimulants. Nonmedical prescription opioid use costs the US $42 billion in lost productivity annually.

SourceColumbia University's Mailman School of Public Health·JournalSocial Psychiatry and Psychiatric Epidemiology·DateDec 6, 2016

Missing 1-2 hours of sleep doubles crash risk

A new study from the AAA Foundation for Traffic Safety reveals that drivers missing 1-2 hours of sleep nearly double their risk for a crash. The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention reports that 35% of U.S. drivers sleep less than seven hours daily.

SourceAAA·DateDec 6, 2016

Cancer's deadly toll grows in less developed countries as new cases increase globally

A new study found that cancer cases are growing at an alarming rate in less developed countries, with a 50% increase between 2005 and 2015. The global burden of disease is heaviest for countries with high development levels, but the most rapid escalation can be seen in low-income nations where health services are often lacking.

Bacterial mechanism converts nitrogen to greenhouse gas

Researchers at Cornell University discovered a biological mechanism that converts nitrogen-based fertilizer into nitrous oxide, increasing atmospheric levels by 120%. The enzyme cytochrome P460 produced in ammonia-oxidizing bacteria leads to nitrous oxide production as a chemical coping strategy.

SourceCornell University·JournalProceedings of the National Academy of Sciences·DateDec 6, 2016

Do cannabis users think package warnings are needed?

A study found that cannabis users in Australia recommended package warnings that focused on driving ability, mental health, and addiction risk, mirroring some expert warnings. However, users also suggested unconventional warnings not typically recommended by experts, highlighting the need for caution in packaging cannabis products.

SourceMary Ann Liebert, Inc./Genetic Engineering News·JournalCannabis and Cannabinoid Research·DateDec 6, 2016

Unlocking a liver receptor puzzle

Researchers at Emory Health Sciences have made a breakthrough in understanding how diabetes drugs interact with LRH-1, a protein that regulates metabolism of fat and sugar. The study found that small changes to compounds can significantly impact their binding pocket interaction.

SourceEmory Health Sciences·JournalJournal of Biological Chemistry·DateDec 6, 2016

Unique strain of lactic acid bacteria in Buryat milk is found

Researchers from Lomonosov Moscow State University have isolated a unique strain of lactic acid bacteria, Lactococcus lactis subsp. lactis 194, from Buryat milk that possesses a wide range of antimicrobial action against Gram-positive and Gram-negative bacteria. The strain also shows antifungal properties, making it a promising candida...

SourceLomonosov Moscow State University·JournalJournal of Microbial & Biochemical Technology·DateDec 6, 2016

An amino acid controls plants' breath

Researchers at the Institute for Basic Science discovered that amino acid L-methionine activates calcium channels in plant guard cells, regulating stomatal opening and closing. This process is crucial for maintaining adequate intracellular calcium levels in plants, essential for growth and breathing.

SourceInstitute for Basic Science·JournalCell Reports·DateDec 6, 2016

Illinois researchers discover hot hydrogen atoms in Earth's upper atmosphere

Researchers at the University of Illinois have discovered hot atomic hydrogen atoms in the thermosphere, a layer of the atmosphere above 250 kilometers. This finding contradicts previous assumptions and has significant implications for understanding atmospheric escape and the behavior of satellites in low Earth orbit.