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Science News Archive June 2016 - Page 34


Page 34 of 40

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