Add BrightSurf on Google Email

Science News for June 29, 2016


To improve global health, experts call for a standard list of essential diagnostic tests

A team of experts has proposed a standard list of essential diagnostic tests to support the use of medicines listed on the Model List of Essential Medicines. The list includes 147 critical laboratory tests across 57 categories, which can guide the use of many different EML drugs and improve healthcare quality in developing nations.

SourceMichigan Medicine - University of Michigan·JournalNew England Journal of Medicine·DateJun 29, 2016

Wearable technology gets good ratings from plastic surgeons

A recent study published in Plastic and Reconstructive Surgery found that plastic surgeons gave high ratings to Google Glass for comfort and overall satisfaction, with average scores of nearly four out of five for photo and video quality. However, some limitations were noted, including difficulties with capturing images during surgery.

SourceWolters Kluwer Health·JournalPlastic & Reconstructive Surgery·DateJun 29, 2016

Closer to reality: What can we really see when we look at a sample?

A new description of electron scattering in surface layers enables faster materials analysis and better understanding of sample properties. The theoretical tools used in spectroscopies can exhibit great 'malice', but a new analytical method simplifies calculations of the Chandrasekhar function, reducing errors.

New research could lead to restoring vision for sufferers of retinal disorders

Researchers have demonstrated that retinal cells carry out key processing tasks, paving the way for improved retinal implants and potentially restoring vision to those with macular degeneration. This breakthrough could significantly improve artificial retinas and enhance the sight of thousands affected by age-related macular degeneration.

Surprising qualities of insulator ring surfaces

Researchers have discovered that ring-shaped topological insulators display characteristics similar to those in spherical materials. The study reveals a zero-energy state on the surface of ring-shaped insulators and a coupling between charge carriers and curvature, leading to gauge fields and unique electron spin behavior.

SourceSpringer·JournalThe European Physical Journal B·DateJun 29, 2016

Protein in, ammonia out

A recent study analyzed data from 25 previous studies to identify factors influencing ammonia emissions in dairy barns. Researchers found that reducing crude protein in a dairy cow's diet can significantly lower nitrogen excretion, resulting in reduced ammonia emissions. The study provides key information for farmers and farm advisers ...

SourceAmerican Society of Agronomy·JournalJournal of Environmental Quality·DateJun 29, 2016

Your blood can reveal your risk for heart disease

Researchers found that measuring specific microRNAs in blood can improve risk prediction for myocardial infarction by 15-20% compared to traditional risk factors alone. The study, published in Journal of Molecular and Cellular Cardiology, identified five key microRNAs that can help identify individuals at high risk for heart disease.

SourceNorwegian University of Science and Technology·JournalJournal of Molecular and Cellular Cardiology·DateJun 29, 2016

Men may face high lifetime risk of sudden cardiac death

A study published by the American Heart Association found that about one in every nine men will experience sudden cardiac death, most before age 70. The study also revealed that sudden cardiac death claims up to 450,000 American lives each year, with no prior symptoms of cardiovascular disease being a common cause.

SourceAmerican Heart Association·JournalJournal of the American Heart Association·DateJun 29, 2016

Ovarian cancer study uncovers new biology

A recent study has identified over 200 proteins involved in cell movement and immune system function that are implicated in ovarian cancer progression. By analyzing the proteomes of 169 ovarian cancer patients, researchers have gained new insights into the biology of the disease and potential targets for treatment.

SourceJohns Hopkins Medicine·JournalCell·DateJun 29, 2016

Fire discovery sheds new light on 'hobbit' demise

Researchers at University of Wollongong have discovered physical evidence of fire use by modern humans at Liang Bua site on Flores Island, narrowing the time gap between hobbit species and modern human arrival. The findings suggest that modern humans likely arrived in Southeast Asia and Australia around 50,000 years ago.

SourceUniversity of Wollongong·JournalJournal of Archaeological Science·DateJun 29, 2016

Simple screening tool helps determine COPD risk

A simple 7-item screening tool has been developed to identify patients at risk for chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD). The tool uses predictive factors such as gender, age, smoking history, and breathlessness to assess COPD risk in primary care settings.

SourceWiley·JournalRespirology·DateJun 29, 2016

Blue-collar training in high school leaves women behind

Research by Cornell University finds that high school training for blue-collar jobs penalizes women in the labor market, reducing their odds of enrolling in college and earning comparable wages. Men in these communities benefit from vocational courses and higher rates of employment, but women face significant disparities.

SourceCornell University·JournalAmerican Sociological Review·DateJun 29, 2016

Total face transplant in patient with severe burns -- team outlines surgical approach

A team of surgeons at NYU Langone Medical Center successfully performed the most extensive clinical face transplant to date on a firefighter with severe burns. The procedure, which took 26 hours and involved 100 physicians and staff, included transplantation of skeletal subunits, eyelids, ears, scalp skin, and skeletal subunit transpla...

SourceWolters Kluwer Health·JournalPlastic & Reconstructive Surgery·DateJun 29, 2016

How a low-calorie diet could extend lifespan

A recent study published in ACS' Journal of Proteome Research found that calorie restriction can help delay age-related disorders. The researchers discovered that mice on low-calorie diets had reduced oxidative stress, improved lipid metabolism, and altered gut-microbial metabolites compared to those on high-calorie diets.

SourceAmerican Chemical Society·JournalJournal of Proteome Research·DateJun 29, 2016

New clues about the aging brain's memory functions

A European study led by Umea University Professor Lars Nyberg found a positive link between the dopamine D2 receptor and long-term episodic memory, which often declines with age. The research suggests that impairment of the dopamine system may play a crucial role in understanding age-related cognitive decline.

SourceUmea University·JournalProceedings of the National Academy of Sciences·DateJun 29, 2016

Watching a forest breathe

Researchers obtained detailed measurements of carbon exchange in a temperate deciduous forest, revealing that trees exhale less CO2 during the day than previously thought. The study confirmed that forest photosynthesis doesn't decline over the course of summer, contrary to conventional wisdom used in climate models.

SourceUniversity of Arizona·JournalNature·DateJun 29, 2016

Nutrition labels on dining hall food: Are they being used? By who?

A study found that university students who practice health-promoting behaviors like tracking food intake and exercising frequently are more likely to use nutrition information on dining hall food. Only 20% of students used the labels, despite high label awareness rates.

SourceUniversity of Illinois College of Agricultural, Consumer and Environmental Sciences·JournalJournal of the Academy of Nutrition and Dietetics·DateJun 29, 2016

The irony of awkward

A recent study published in Developmental Psychology found that individuals who engage in problematic media, such as violent video games, gambling, or pornography, become more withdrawn over time. The research suggests that avoidant individuals are particularly at risk for negative outcomes, including depression and crime, when they co...

SourceBrigham Young University·JournalDevelopmental Psychology·DateJun 29, 2016

Unlocking the secrets of nerve regeneration

Researchers discovered that cutting parallel fibres in normal mice results in three distinct phases of degeneration, hypertrophy, and remodelling. In contrast, mice lacking the GluD2 receptor remain stuck in the degenerative phase. This suggests that GluD2 plays a crucial role in regulating nerve regeneration.

Saved by the sun

A new solar-powered oxygen delivery system, developed by UAlberta, is providing concentrated oxygen to children with severe pneumonia in Ugandan hospitals. The system, which uses solar energy and batteries, has shown to be as effective as conventional oxygen delivery methods.

SourceUniversity of Alberta Faculty of Medicine & Dentistry·JournalThe International Journal of Tuberculosis and Lung Disease·DateJun 29, 2016