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Science News for May 18, 2016


Altered brain connectivity may explain cognitive impairment in pediatric leukemia survivors

A study published in Brain Connectivity suggests that pediatric leukemia survivors may experience cognitive impairment due to chemotherapy-induced brain damage. The research used diffusion tensor imaging to analyze the white matter connectome of ALL survivors and healthy young people, revealing significantly lower connectivity and grea...

Colors of autism spectrum described by CanChild researchers

Researchers at CanChild Centre developed an autism classification system that defines levels of social communications ability among children with autism spectrum disorder. The new system, called the Autism Classification System of Functioning: Social Communication, provides a standardized and simplified way for clinicians to talk about...

SourceMcMaster University·JournalDevelopmental Medicine & Child Neurology·DateMay 18, 2016

How depression and antidepressant drugs work

Researchers discover that depression results from deficiencies in both GABA and glutamate signaling, which can be restored with a single dose of ketamine. The study uses a mouse model to develop safer alternatives to current antidepressant medications.

SourcePenn State·JournalBiological Psychiatry·DateMay 18, 2016

Carnegie Mellon develops bio-mimicry method for preparing and labeling stem cells

Researchers at Carnegie Mellon University have developed a new method for preparing and labeling mesenchymal stem cells (MSCs) that allows them to be tracked using magnetic resonance imaging (MRI). This breakthrough technology uses a bio-mimicry approach to create an environment similar to the body, enabling MSCs to internalize iron-ox...

SourceCarnegie Mellon University·JournalScientific Reports·DateMay 18, 2016

How to calm an anxious mind

Researchers at Concordia University have discovered a more effective way to treat anxiety disorders by incorporating safety behaviors into therapy. The study found that patients who used new safety behaviors during exposure therapy had better outcomes than those who relied on traditional safety behaviors.

SourceConcordia University·JournalJournal of Anxiety Disorders·DateMay 18, 2016

How repeated spot microdischarges damage microdevices

Researchers found that repeated spot microdischarges in microelectronic devices cause a temperature increase, which reduces the electric field and leads to preferential breakdown at the previous discharge location. This study provides insights into the role of residual heat build-up and its impact on device stability.

SourceSpringer·JournalThe European Physical Journal D·DateMay 18, 2016

Researchers shed light on pathway from virus to brain disease

Researchers found that a mutation in the protein shell of the John Cunningham polyomavirus can affect the immune system's response to the infection, leading to progressive multifocal leukoencephalopathy. This discovery may help prevent the disease in autoimmune patients on immunosuppressant therapies.

SourcePenn State·JournalJournal of Virology·DateMay 18, 2016

Stellar mystery deepens

A Monash University-led research team has discovered that about half of the stars in the M4 globular cluster are dying prematurely, skipping the Red Giant phase and becoming White Dwarfs millions of years ahead of schedule. The cause of this phenomenon remains a mystery, but it is believed to only occur in sodium-rich/oxygen-poor stars.

SourceMonash University·JournalMonthly Notices of the Royal Astronomical Society·DateMay 18, 2016

New horned dinosaur had spikes at back of neck shield

A new species of horned dinosaur, Machairoceratops cronusi, has been discovered in southern Utah with distinctive back spikes. The discovery increases known centrosaurine diversity and may provide insights into the early evolutionary history of horned dinosaurs.

SourcePLOS·JournalPLOS ONE·DateMay 18, 2016

Hard water linked to risk of eczema in infants

Research suggests that high levels of water hardness in homes may be linked to the development of eczema in early infancy. Living in a hard water area was associated with an up to 87% increased risk of eczema at three months of age, independent of domestic water chlorine content.

SourceKing's College London·JournalJournal of Allergy and Clinical Immunology·DateMay 18, 2016

Ocelot density in the Brazilian Amazon may be lower than expected

A recent study published in PLOS ONE found that ocelot densities in the Brazilian Amazon may be stable but lower than predicted. The research used camera-trap surveys to estimate ocelot density in a pristine forest area and found an average of 25 ocelots per 100 km2, which is lower than expected for the region.

SourcePLOS·JournalPLOS ONE·DateMay 18, 2016

New species of horned dinosaur with a spiked 'shield'

A new species of horned dinosaur, Spiclypeus shipporum, has been identified in Montana, featuring sideways-protruding horns and unique bony spikes. The fossil discovery provides insights into the Late Cretaceous period's dinosaur diversity and highlights the importance of dietary specializations.

SourcePLOS·JournalPLOS ONE·DateMay 18, 2016

Researchers develop new way to decode large amounts of biological data

Researchers have developed a new computing technique that can analyze large amounts of genomic information, which could lead to better understanding of diseases and environmental issues. The approach, called GISMO, uses Gibbs sampling to find biological signals in the data, improving upon conventional sequence alignment programs.

SourceUniversity of Maryland School of Medicine·JournalPLOS Computational Biology·DateMay 18, 2016

Your friends have more friends than you do

A recent study by McGill University researchers found that users tend to follow those with more connections than themselves, resulting in a phenomenon known as the Generalized Friendship Paradox. This paradox suggests that even active and influential users experience it, with up to 90% of users experiencing this effect.

SourceMcGill University·JournalPLOS ONE·DateMay 18, 2016

Gentle strength for robots

Researchers have developed a soft actuator that allows robots to move freely without harming humans. The actuator uses hyperelastic membranes and electric fields to control movement, enabling robots to give way in case of doubt, making them suitable for applications where human safety is a concern.

SourceMax-Planck-Gesellschaft·JournalAdvanced Materials·DateMay 18, 2016

Study links student loans with lower net worth, housing values after college

A new study suggests that student loan debt compromises young people's ability to accumulate wealth after college, particularly for black young adults. The researchers found that those with outstanding balances on their student loans when they graduated or dropped out of college had lower net worth, fewer financial and nonfinancial ass...

SourceUniversity of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign, News Bureau·JournalChildren and Youth Services Review·DateMay 18, 2016

Bending hot molecules

A novel study reveals a method for controlling hot molecule reactions using precise temperature modulation and degree of bending. The researchers found that resonant energy positions decrease as molecular bending increases, affecting interaction likelihood with electrons.

SourceSpringer·JournalThe European Physical Journal D·DateMay 18, 2016

New study finds major earthquake threat from the Riasi fault in the Himalayas

A new study suggests that the Riasi fault in Indian Kashmir has been building up pressure for thousands of years, potentially leading to a magnitude 8.0 or greater earthquake. The fault's lack of recent seismic activity increases the likelihood of a major event, posing a significant threat to millions of people in the region.

SourceOregon State University·JournalGeological Society of America Bulletin·DateMay 18, 2016

Panda poop study provides insights into microbiome, reproductive troubles

A study published in Frontiers in Microbiology found that captive giant pandas experience gastrointestinal problems when switching from bamboo stalks to leaves, leading to reproductive issues. The researchers analyzed the bacteria in the pandas' poop and discovered a unique population of microbes associated with digestive dysfunction.

SourceUniversity of Wisconsin-Madison·JournalFrontiers in Microbiology·DateMay 18, 2016

Mechanism for herbicide resistance in Palmer amaranth identified

A new study by the University of Illinois reveals that Palmer amaranth populations are resistant to PPO-inhibiting herbicides due to a genetic mutation involving the deletion of three nucleotides. This mutation is expected to spread rapidly, making it essential for farmers to switch to alternative herbicides.

ADHD in young adulthood examined in JAMA Psychiatry studies

Two new studies from JAMA Psychiatry explore the causes and developmental patterns of ADHD in young adulthood. They found that many individuals with ADHD at age 18 did not have a childhood diagnosis, and those with 'late-onset' ADHD showed fewer externalizing problems but comparable symptoms to those with persistent ADHD. The findings ...

SourceJAMA Network·JournalJAMA Psychiatry·DateMay 18, 2016

First national study of US parks finds low use by adults, seniors and females

A new RAND Corporation study reveals that neighborhood parks in the US are underutilized by adults, seniors, and younger females, with those aged 65+ using walking loops as a primary source of physical activity. The study also highlights a gender gap in park use among children and teens, with females representing only 40% of observed y...

SourceRAND Corporation·JournalAmerican Journal of Preventive Medicine·DateMay 18, 2016

Pursuing the destruction of HIV-infected cells

Researchers at Rutgers University and Dartmouth College find that oral drug deferiprone kills HIV-infected cells in lab cultures and suppresses the virus in patients in a limited clinical trial. The treatment approach has potential as a new strategy for destroying the DNA harbored in HIV-infected cells.

SourceRutgers University·JournalPLOS ONE·DateMay 18, 2016