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Science News for October 10, 2016


Flexing while clotting

Researchers at Emory and Georgia Tech developed a microfluidic testing ground to measure individual platelets' strength by squeezing protein dots together. This could help diagnose bleeding disorders and develop blood thinning drugs.

SourceEmory Health Sciences·JournalNature Materials·DateOct 10, 2016

How children inherit discrimination's effects

A new study led by University of Arizona researcher Katharine Zeiders found that families experiencing ethnic discrimination and acculturation stress have a negative impact on children's behavior and academics. Children exhibited more behavioral problems and worse academic performance by age 5, according to the research.

SourceUniversity of Arizona·JournalJournal of Developmental & Behavioral Pediatrics·DateOct 10, 2016

UNC researcher develops test scenarios for sustaining ecotourism in the Galapagos

A new paper describes a research team's models forecasting potential outcomes in the Galapagos Islands, developed to help the Ecuador government balance economic development and resource conservation. The models use real data and social-ecological processes to predict sustainable growth by 2033.

SourceUniversity of North Carolina at Chapel Hill·JournalProceedings of the National Academy of Sciences·DateOct 10, 2016

Rise in oropharyngeal cancer incidence not solely driven by HPV in United Kingdom

A study in the UK found that the rise in oropharyngeal squamous cell carcinoma incidence was not solely driven by human papillomavirus (HPV) positivity. The proportion of HPV-positive and -negative cases remained static, suggesting multiple factors contribute to OPSCC, including HPV infection, smoking, and alcohol consumption.

SourceAmerican Association for Cancer Research·JournalCancer Research·DateOct 10, 2016

Doc versus machine

A new study led by Harvard Medical School researchers found that human physicians vastly outperform digital diagnosticians in clinical diagnosis. Physicians made a correct diagnosis more than twice as often as commonly used symptom-checker apps, with an accuracy rate of 72% compared to 34%. The study suggests that computer-based algori...

SourceHarvard Medical School·JournalJAMA Internal Medicine·DateOct 10, 2016

Brain modulyzer provides interactive window into the brain

A new tool developed at Lawrence Berkeley National Laboratory enables researchers to interactively explore brain hierarchical processes and shed light on neurological diseases like Alzheimer's. Brain Modulyzer combines multiple views of functional magnetic resonance imaging (fMRI) data to provide context for brain connectivity data.

SourceDOE/Lawrence Berkeley National Laboratory·JournalIEEE/ACM Transactions on Computational Biology and Bioinformatics·DateOct 10, 2016

Costs of similarly effective breast cancer treatments vary widely

A new study finds that breast cancer chemotherapy regimens with similar efficacy have significantly varying costs, affecting patients' financial burden. The study highlights the need for accessible information to inform treatment decisions and promote well-informed shared decisions regarding treatment options.

SourceWiley·JournalCancer·DateOct 10, 2016

New impetus for treatment neurodegenerative diseases

University of Groningen scientists discovered that tumor necrosis factor receptor 2 (TNFR2) is essential for preventing neuronal death in neurodegenerative diseases like multiple sclerosis and Alzheimer's. A specific TNFR2 agonist may prevent cell death, offering a new treatment direction.

SourceUniversity of Groningen·JournalProceedings of the National Academy of Sciences·DateOct 10, 2016

Even partial steroid treatment can benefit extremely preterm infants, NIH study suggests

A new study by the NIH found that even partial steroid treatment can have significant benefits for extremely premature infants. The research showed that infants exposed to partial treatment in the womb had better outcomes than those not exposed, with lower rates of brain and nervous system impairment.

Understanding vaping behavior

A new study using a modified Smoking Analyser technology examines vaping behaviour in e-cigarette users. The results provide valuable insights into how vapers use e-cigarettes and can help establish standardized testing protocols for e-cigarette emissions.

SourceR&D at British American Tobacco·JournalScientific Reports·DateOct 10, 2016

Mars-bound astronauts face chronic dementia risk from galactic cosmic ray exposure

A new study by UCI researchers found that prolonged spaceflight exposure to galactic cosmic rays can cause significant long-term brain damage in rodents, leading to cognitive impairments and dementia. The study raises concerns about the potential central nervous system complications astronauts may face during extended Mars missions.

SourceUniversity of California - Irvine·JournalScientific Reports·DateOct 10, 2016

Noise-canceling optics

A team led by Caltech's Changhuei Yang and Edward Zhou developed a device that selectively cancels scattered light, revealing dimly reflective objects. The technology, termed 'coherence gated negation,' has potential applications in satellite exploration and biomedical imaging.

LA BioMed study seeks to improve diabetic eye health

A new study from LA BioMed found that lower-income minority patients and healthcare providers have markedly divergent perceptions of the barriers to diabetic retinopathy screening. Patients reported financial burden and depression as major obstacles, while providers deemed other factors more significant.

SourceLA BioMed·JournalPreventing Chronic Disease·DateOct 10, 2016

Hospital choice could determine survival after a heart attack

A new study published in the New England Journal of Medicine found that patients treated at high-performing hospitals after a heart attack live an average of 9 to 14 months longer than those treated at low-performing hospitals. This improvement is largely due to better survival rates during the first 30 days post-heart attack.

SourceYale University·JournalNew England Journal of Medicine·DateOct 10, 2016

UPCI-tested immunotherapy prolongs life, reduces side effects and improves quality of life

A new immunotherapy drug nivolumab has been shown to significantly increase survival rates and reduce adverse side effects in patients with recurrent head and neck cancer. The trial found that patients on nivolumab survived an average of 7.5 months, compared to 5.1 months for those receiving standard therapy.

SourceUniversity of Pittsburgh Schools of the Health Sciences·JournalNew England Journal of Medicine·DateOct 10, 2016

A new strategy for choosing cancer drugs

Researchers at MIT and Dana-Farber Cancer Institute developed a novel way to test tumors for drug susceptibility using a device that measures single-cell masses. They successfully tested this approach with glioblastoma and acute lymphocytic leukemia, finding that susceptible cells reduce growth rates while resistant cells continue unaf...

SourceMassachusetts Institute of Technology·JournalNature Biotechnology·DateOct 10, 2016

This little amoeba committed grand theft

Researchers have solved the mystery of how Paulinella, an amoeba, engulfed a bacterium and harnessed its genes for photosynthesis. The study reveals that microbial genomes can move genes between organisms according to need, and that this process allows for adaptation and evolution.

SourceRutgers University·JournalProceedings of the National Academy of Sciences·DateOct 10, 2016

Gestational age measured via DNA methylation

Researchers developed a method estimating developmental maturity via DNA methylation patterns, which can help assess preterm newborns' care and estimate conception time. The study found gestational age accurately estimated between 24-44 weeks, with correlations to birthweight and developmental maturity.

SourceEmory Health Sciences·JournalGenome Biology·DateOct 10, 2016

Big data analysis is 'next frontier' in identifying harmful drug interactions

Researchers used big data analysis to identify a previously unknown interaction between ceftriaxone and lansoprazole, increasing the risk of acquired long QT syndrome. The study used large datasets of clinical records to confirm the association, paving the way for faster data-driven approaches to identifying potential drug interactions.

SourceAmerican College of Cardiology·JournalJournal of the American College of Cardiology·DateOct 10, 2016

Composite biomaterial scaffolds enable patterning of tissue architecture and cell identity

Researchers have developed new biomaterial scaffolds that incorporate patterned architectures and regional compartments of signaling factors to control tissue development. This technology enables the formation of complex cellular structures and miniature organoid tissues, mimicking natural developmental processes.

SourceInstitute of Neural Regeneration & Tissue Engineering·JournalJournal of Tissue Engineering·DateOct 10, 2016

Heart signaling map sheds light on the molecular culprits behind cardiovascular disease

A new University of Toronto study reveals widespread differences in protein biochemistry between healthy and diseased hearts, shedding light on the molecular causes behind dilated cardiomyopathy. The researchers mapped changes in protein signalling pathways, uncovering hundreds of signalling pathways that go off course in DCM hearts.

SourceUniversity of Toronto·JournalProceedings of the National Academy of Sciences·DateOct 10, 2016

3-D printing customized vascular stents

Researchers at Northwestern University have developed flexible, biodegradable stents that can be customized for a patient's specific anatomy using 3D printing techniques. The stents are designed to minimize complications and improve healing processes in blood vessels.

SourceNorthwestern University·JournalAdvanced Materials Technologies·DateOct 10, 2016

Mice sing like a jet-engine

Researchers discovered that mice create ultrasound by directing a small air jet against the inner wall of their larynx, producing an ultrasonic whistle. This innovative mechanism has implications for understanding social sounds in rodents and potentially even human speech disorders.

SourceUniversity of Southern Denmark·JournalCurrent Biology·DateOct 10, 2016

Next century will bring deep water to New York City

Climate change and sea-level rise will increase the frequency of floods like Sandy's in NYC, with projected increases of up to 17 times more frequently. The study predicts that floods as intense as Sandy's will occur at least three times more frequently by 2100.

SourceRutgers University·JournalProceedings of the National Academy of Sciences·DateOct 10, 2016

Could mental math boost emotional health?

A new brain-scanning study found that engaging a specific part of the brain during mental math exercises is connected with better emotional health. The study suggests that this ability may reflect the brain's capacity to regulate emotions like fear and anger, and could inform new brain training strategies.

SourceDuke University·JournalClinical Psychological Science·DateOct 10, 2016

How cells move

A study by Lund University researcher Pontus Nordenfelt reveals how cells move using integrins, actin, and an adaptor protein. The technique enables measuring mechanical force acting on integrins, which could lead to targeted drugs to strengthen the immune system against infections.

SourceLund University·JournalNature Communications·DateOct 10, 2016

Receptionists could put people off seeing their GP

Forty percent of people in Great Britain express concerns about talking through symptoms with GP receptionists, hindering GP visits. Women and those from lower socio-economic backgrounds are more likely to report these barriers. Cancer Research UK emphasizes the need for better training of front desk staff and addressing the GP shortag...

SourceCancer Research UK·JournalJournal of Public Health·DateOct 10, 2016

Study: Human-caused climate change has doubled western US forest fire area

A new study by researchers at the University of Idaho and Columbia University finds that human-caused climate change has nearly doubled the amount of land burned in western US forest fires over the past three decades. The study estimates that human-caused climate change caused an additional 16,000 square miles of western forest lands t...

SourceUniversity of Idaho·JournalProceedings of the National Academy of Sciences·DateOct 10, 2016

Stable molecular state of photons and artificial atom discovered

Scientists have discovered a qualitatively new state of a superconducting artificial atom dressed with virtual photons, resolving a forty-year-old problem in atomic physics. The discovery provides a platform to investigate light-matter interaction at a fundamental level and may contribute to the development of quantum technologies.

Targeting the social networks of group violence

A new study by Yale University researchers found that the initiation of violent raids among the Nyangatom nomadic tribal group depends on the presence of leaders who have participated in many raids and hold central positions in their social network. Non-leaders, however, had a bigger impact on raid participation due to their friendships.

SourceYale University·JournalProceedings of the National Academy of Sciences·DateOct 10, 2016