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Science News for June 6, 2016


The biological clock gets a time stamp

Yale researchers have identified key molecular pathways involved in the aging of human eggs, which could lead to new treatments for age-related fertility issues. The study found that oxygen-deprived cells are a major cause of egg damage, leading to chromosomal abnormalities and reduced egg quality in women over 40.

SourceYale University·JournalMolecular Human Reproduction·DateJun 6, 2016

Progression-free survival triples in select metastatic lung cancer patients with surgery or radiation after standard chemotherapy

A new study led by MD Anderson Cancer Center found an eight-month progression-free survival benefit in patients treated with local consolidative therapy, a significant shift in clinical care for thousands of lung cancer patients. The treatment improved outcomes for those with oligometastases, defined as three or fewer sites of metastasis.

Army personnel most at risk for violent suicide

A study found that Army personnel were most at risk for violent suicide among active duty enlisted service members. Firearms accounted for 62% of suicides with a known cause of death. The results suggest that infantry and special operations job classifications may be more likely to use firearms to commit suicide.

SourceAmerican College of Physicians·JournalAnnals of Internal Medicine·DateJun 6, 2016

Videoconferencing between hospital clinicians, nursing home staff offers new dementia treatment

A new study found that video consultation technology brings together nursing home staff and hospital-based clinical experts to manage behavioral challenges associated with dementia. The program, Project ECHO-AGE, resulted in significant reductions in the use of physical restraints and antipsychotic medication among patients.

SourceBeth Israel Deaconess Medical Center·JournalJournal of the American Medical Directors Association·DateJun 6, 2016

Methotrexate exposure impacts cognitive processes cancer survivors need to multitask

Pediatric leukemia patients exposed to higher concentrations of methotrexate are more likely to struggle with mental flexibility, organization, and related skills as long-term survivors. Brain imaging revealed changes in brain regions associated with executive functioning, including increased activity in the frontal lobe region.

SourceSt. Jude Children's Research Hospital·JournalJournal of Clinical Oncology·DateJun 6, 2016

The Lancet Diabetes & Endocrinology: Mediterranean diet high in healthy fat does not lead to weight gain, according to randomized trial

Eating a Mediterranean diet rich in vegetable fats like olive oil and nuts has been shown to have little effect on bodyweight or waist circumference compared to a low-fat diet. The study suggests that current health guidelines recommending low-fat diets may be creating unnecessary fear of healthy fats.

SourceThe Lancet·JournalThe Lancet Diabetes & Endocrinology·DateJun 6, 2016

Ice age bison fossils shed light on early human migrations in North America

Scientists have dated the opening of an ice-free corridor in the Rocky Mountains, which allowed for later human and animal migrations between North America's far north and rest. The research used bison fossils to track the movement of animals into the corridor, showing it was open by around 13,000 years ago.

SourceUniversity of California - Santa Cruz·JournalProceedings of the National Academy of Sciences·DateJun 6, 2016

Cleaning up decades of phosphorus pollution in lakes

A series of studies published in Water Research assesses the ecological and chemical responses to geo-engineering in lakes. While some case studies report dramatic improvements, others show little effect or short-lived responses. The approach is promising when used correctly, but its potential side effects are not well understood.

SourceElsevier·JournalWater Research·DateJun 6, 2016

A new approach to chemical synthesis

Researchers have devised a new method for synthesizing communesins, a group of fungal compounds with anticancer properties, by transforming carbon atoms into radicals and joining them together. This approach enables the production of designed variants with potentially greater potency.

SourceMassachusetts Institute of Technology·JournalJournal of the American Chemical Society·DateJun 6, 2016

Electric eels make leaping attacks

Under certain conditions, electric eels attack by raising up out of the water and delivering a series of powerful electrical shocks, effectively deterring predators. This behavior is believed to provide the eels with an evolutionary advantage in defending their territory.

SourceVanderbilt University·JournalProceedings of the National Academy of Sciences·DateJun 6, 2016

Cancer drug trial success

Researchers developed a new compound to target mutated p53 genes, found in over 50% of cancers, which are responsible for uncontrolled cell growth. The treatment has shown promising results in patients with modest toxicity, and trials will now expand to 400 patients across Europe and the USA.

Intervention reduces rates of overweight tots by half

A new responsive parenting intervention has been shown to reduce the rates of overweight toddlers by half, with benefits seen in both breastfed and formula-fed babies. The study found that mothers who practiced responsive parenting had less likely to have overweight babies at their one-year checkup.

SourcePenn State·JournalJAMA Pediatrics·DateJun 6, 2016

How the brain merges the senses

Scientists propose a computational model explaining multisensory integration in humans, utilizing a Multisensory Correlation Detector. The brain detects similarity across visual and auditory signals to integrate stimuli, opening new clinical perspectives for neurological syndromes like Autism Spectrum Disorder and Dyslexia.

SourceBielefeld University·JournalNature Communications·DateJun 6, 2016

A matter of orientation

A collaborative research centre at the University of Konstanz is studying directional properties of particles and their superstructures. The SFB 1214 aims to create a new generation of materials with tailor-made properties by controlling particle arrangement.

The rise of intimate partner violence during the Great Recession

A recent study found that living through major economic recessions increases a mother's chance of suffering from domestic violence. The researchers discovered that even when the male partner didn't directly experience unemployment or material hardship, rapid economic downturns led to increased controlling behavior and fear of hard times.

Rice study details stress-diabetes link

Researchers at Rice University found a link between emotional stress and Type 2 diabetes, with low inhibition leading to increased pro-inflammatory cytokines like IL-6. The study showed that individuals with poor inhibition were more likely to develop diabetes due to the pathway from high anxiety to inflammation.

SourceRice University·JournalPsychoneuroendocrinology·DateJun 6, 2016

Combination therapy cures tick-borne illness in mice

A novel combination therapy has been found to clear the infection and prevent recurrence of babesiosis up to 122 days after treatment. The study used a mouse model to test the efficacy of atovaquone and ELQ-334, two drugs that work together to attack the parasite's target enzyme.

SourceYale University·JournalJournal of Experimental Medicine·DateJun 6, 2016

New support for human evolution in grasslands

A 24-million-year-old record of vegetation trends suggests that humans developed key traits like flexible diets and large brains while adapting to the spread of open grasslands. The study provides a comprehensive timeline for the development of grasses, which were part of human evolution from the very beginning.

SourceColumbia Climate School·JournalProceedings of the National Academy of Sciences·DateJun 6, 2016

Roads 'a serious threat' to rare bats

A recent study by the University of Exeter found that roads present a real and growing danger to protected bat populations, disrupting their ability to reach feeding and roosting areas. The research identified over 1,000 bat fatalities caused by collisions with cars.

SourceUniversity of Exeter·JournalMammal Review·DateJun 6, 2016

Research proves Aboriginal Australians were first inhabitants

Researchers from Griffith University's Research Centre for Human Evolution refuted a landmark study suggesting Mungo Man was an extinct lineage of modern humans. The team recovered the genomic sequence of an early inhabitant of Lake Mungo, supporting the argument that Aboriginal Australians were the first inhabitants of Australia.

SourceGriffith University·JournalProceedings of the National Academy of Sciences·DateJun 6, 2016

Researchers can now build an inexpensive and flexible micro-raman system

Researchers have developed an inexpensive and flexible micro-Raman system for non-destructive analysis of biological samples, offering a fraction of the cost and capability of commercial tools. This system allows for label-free detection of variations in biomolecular composition and correlates it with corresponding biological changes.

SourceIOS Press·JournalBiomedical Spectroscopy and Imaging·DateJun 6, 2016

More is better: The diversity and number of soil animals determine leaf decomposition

Researchers found that diverse soil animal communities lead to better decomposition of leaves, regardless of region or management practices. A study of 80 forests in Germany and Sumatra revealed that high species richness and biomass explain spatial turnover in ecosystem functioning.

SourceGerman Centre for Integrative Biodiversity Research (iDiv) Halle-Jena-Leipzig·JournalPhilosophical Transactions of the Royal Society of London (B )·DateJun 6, 2016

Dartmouth researchers develop a new method to transparently measure health care value

Researchers developed a new method to measure healthcare value transparently, combining quality and cost measures. They found that hospitals' ability to deliver high-quality, low-cost care varied across procedures, with those providing the highest-value care having more beds and beds than those providing the lowest-value care.

Babies don't just look cute, scientists find

Oxford University researchers found that infants' cuteness appeals to all senses, triggering caregiving behaviors vital for infant survival. This study reveals the complex choreography of slow, deliberate prosocial behaviors eliciting fundamental brain pleasure systems.

SourceUniversity of Oxford·JournalTrends in Cognitive Sciences·DateJun 6, 2016

Study finds wide geographic differences in treatment of diabetes, hypertension, depression

A large-scale observational study found significant variations in treatment pathways for patients with type 2 diabetes, hypertension, and depression worldwide. The study analyzed 250 million patient records from four countries and identified unique treatment patterns for each condition.

SourceColumbia University Irving Medical Center·JournalProceedings of the National Academy of Sciences·DateJun 6, 2016