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Science News Archive January 2016 - Page 9


Page 9 of 31

Climate change: Ocean warming underestimated

Researchers at the University of Bonn used satellite data to find that ocean warming expansion contributed an average of 1.4 millimeters per year to sea level rise, more than double the previous estimate of 0.7-1.0 millimeters per year. This could lead to significantly increased risks of storm surges and coastal flooding.

SourceUniversity of Bonn·JournalProceedings of the National Academy of Sciences·DateJan 25, 2016

Over-hunting threatens Amazonian forest carbon stocks

A new study found that over-hunting large mammals in Amazonian forests could lead to significant loss of above-ground carbon stock, potentially disrupting seed dispersal and long-term forest dynamics. The research suggests that protecting large vertebrate populations is crucial for maintaining ecosystem services.

SourceUniversity of East Anglia·JournalProceedings of the National Academy of Sciences·DateJan 25, 2016

New research uncovers hidden bias in college admissions tests

A new study found that standardized tests like SAT and GRE can predict student success with varying degrees of accuracy across different colleges and universities. The researchers argue that admissions policies, grading approaches, and academic support resources differ greatly between institutions, leading to biases in test results.

SourceIndiana University·JournalJournal of Educational Psychology·DateJan 25, 2016

Clarifying the role of magnetism in high-temperature superconductors

Researchers investigated magnetism's influence on atomic vibrations in iron-pnictide superconductors, finding magnetic fluctuations play a crucial role. The study provides insight into the interaction between magnetism and atomic vibrations, potentially leading to materials that superconduct close to room temperature.

SourceRIKEN·JournalPhysical Review B·DateJan 25, 2016

A new model emerges for monsoons in a changing global climate

A new study suggests that continent-scale monsoons will adapt gradually to climate change, with changes in land use and greenhouse gas concentrations prompting adjustments in massive air circulations. Despite predictions of a sudden shift, the researchers argue that monsoon rainfall will change smoothly over time.

SourceYale University·JournalProceedings of the National Academy of Sciences·DateJan 25, 2016

ACP issues advice for evaluating blood in the urine as a sign of cancer

The American College of Physicians issues guidelines for evaluating blood in the urine as a sign of cancer. Doctors should confirm heme-positive results with microscopic urinalysis before initiating further evaluation in asymptomatic adults. Urology referral is recommended for cystoscopy and imaging in adults with microscopically confi...

SourceAmerican College of Physicians·JournalAnnals of Internal Medicine·DateJan 25, 2016

Increasing oil's performance with crumpled graphene balls

Researchers at Northwestern University discovered crumpled graphene balls as a promising lubricant additive that outperforms some commercial lubricants in reducing friction and wear on steel surfaces. The additive is self-dispersing without surfactants and has high performance sensitivity to concentration, making it more stable.

SourceNorthwestern University·JournalProceedings of the National Academy of Sciences·DateJan 25, 2016

Newfound strength in regenerative medicine

Researchers at the Wyss Institute have discovered that cyclic mechanical stimulation can improve muscle regeneration and reduce scarring, opening doors for new non-biologic therapies. The study used murine models of muscle injury and found a two-and-a-half-fold improvement in muscle regeneration with both magnetized gel and robotic cuf...

SourceWyss Institute for Biologically Inspired Engineering at Harvard·JournalProceedings of the National Academy of Sciences·DateJan 25, 2016

Acid-sensitive molecular changes contribute to the emergence of pandemic influenza

St. Jude Children's Research Hospital scientists identified a molecular property of the hemagglutinin protein that contributed to the emergence of the 2009 H1N1 pandemic influenza virus. The study found that the adaptation increased the protein's stability in acidic conditions, allowing airborne transmission.

SourceSt. Jude Children's Research Hospital·JournalProceedings of the National Academy of Sciences·DateJan 25, 2016

Bullying hinders positive youth development for sexual-minority youth

A recent study published in the American Journal of Public Health found that bullying significantly impacts the positive youth development of sexual-minority youth. The research used data from a survey of over 1,800 adolescents and revealed that these youths scored lower on key indicators such as competence, confidence, and connection ...

SourceUniversity of Pittsburgh Schools of the Health Sciences·JournalAmerican Journal of Public Health·DateJan 25, 2016

Flexible and transparent pressure sensor

A new transparent, bending insensitive pressure sensor was developed by Japanese and American teams to measure pressure distribution on rounded surfaces. The sensor can maintain its sensing accuracy even when bent over a radius of 80 micrometers, equivalent to just twice the width of a human hair.

SourceUniversity of Tokyo·JournalNature Nanotechnology·DateJan 25, 2016

Most commonly used TB test fails to accurately diagnose pregnant HIV positive women

A new study published in the American Journal of Respiratory and Critical Care Medicine found that the most commonly used TB test failed to accurately diagnose tuberculosis in up to 50% of pregnant women who are HIV+. The researchers developed a new method to identify which women carrying latent TB infection are most likely to develop ...

SourceAmerican Thoracic Society·JournalAmerican Journal of Respiratory and Critical Care Medicine·DateJan 25, 2016

Towards the prevention of cardiac failure in the chronic phase

Researchers at Osaka University have developed a therapeutic method using periostin1-specific neutralizing antibodies to inhibit the onset of cardiac failure in the chronic phase, improving patients' quality of life and reducing medical costs. The study's findings suggest that periostin1 is the primary cause of cardiac failure after AMI.

SourceOsaka University·JournalHYPERTENSION·DateJan 24, 2016

Microwaved nanotubes come up clean

Researchers at Rice University and Swansea University have developed a two-step process using microwaves and chlorine to remove iron catalyst residues from carbon nanotubes. This method makes the nanotubes more pristine and suitable for applications such as drug delivery and solar panels.

SourceRice University·JournalRSC Advances·DateJan 22, 2016

A defense protein that causes cancer

A team of Swiss and Russian scientists has deciphered how APOBEC takes advantage of a weakness in DNA replication to induce mutations, primarily affecting early-replicating genes. The study reveals that APOBEC targets single-stranded DNA regions during replication, which are more prone to mutations.

SourceUniversité de Genève·JournalGenome Research·DateJan 22, 2016

Self-stacking nanogrids

MIT researchers have developed a technique for stacking layers of block-copolymer wires, creating mesh structures with potential applications in memory and optical chips. The ability to easily produce these self-assembled structures could revolutionize the manufacturing process.

SourceMassachusetts Institute of Technology·JournalNature Communications·DateJan 22, 2016