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Science News Archive 2017 - Page 453


Page 453 of 461

Next-generation optics offer the widest real-time views of vast regions of the sun

A new optical device has provided the most precisely detailed, real-time pictures to date of solar activity occurring across vast stretches of the star's surface. The system corrects images distorted by atmospheric turbulence, allowing researchers to analyze magnetic events and forces that propel the star's magnetic fields.

SourceNew Jersey Institute of Technology·JournalAstronomy and Astrophysics·DateJan 10, 2017

Study reveals best states for lovers

A nationwide study found that states like Mississippi, Utah and Wisconsin scored low on attachment anxiety and avoidance, while having high marriage rates and fewer isolations. The top states for lovers also had lower temperatures and more regional charm.

SourceMichigan State University·JournalJournal of Research in Personality·DateJan 10, 2017

Review shows limited progress in digitizing NHS records

A review of NHS electronic record implementation found limited progress made in the past 25 years, with challenges including confusion over policy funding and complex IT system integration. The study calls for more guidance on IT implementation to help hospitals make informed decisions about digitizing patient records.

SourceUniversity of York·JournalBritish Medical Bulletin·DateJan 10, 2017

Why is asthma worse in black patients?

Research reveals that African Americans are more likely to experience eosinophilic airway inflammation, making them less responsive to standard asthma treatments. This study highlights the need for personalized therapies tailored to individual airway inflammation patterns.

SourceUniversity of Illinois Chicago·JournalJournal of Allergy and Clinical Immunology·DateJan 10, 2017

Endocrinologists want training in transgender care

A new study found that most endocrinologists have never received formal training on caring for transgender individuals, despite growing demand for such services. The Endocrine Society is now developing guidelines to address the need for education and training in this area.

SourceThe Endocrine Society·JournalThe Journal of Clinical Endocrinology & Metabolism·DateJan 10, 2017

New study finds postdocs don't yield positive labor market returns

A new study finds that postdoctoral positions do not provide a positive return on investment for biomedical scientists, with the median annual starting salary being $44,724 compared to $73,662 for those directly entering the workforce. The researchers recommend changes to postdoc science positions, such as hiring staff research scienti...

SourceUniversity of Kansas·JournalNature Biotechnology·DateJan 10, 2017

2-D materials enhance a 3-D world

Researchers have discovered a way to overcome the limitations of 2D materials in photovoltaics by adding a plasmonic metasurface, increasing absorption and efficiency. This innovation has huge implications for the future of optoelectronics, potentially revolutionizing the marketability of devices.

SourceOkinawa Institute of Science and Technology (OIST) Graduate University·JournalACS Nano·DateJan 10, 2017

New active filaments mimic biology to transport nano-cargo

A team of researchers has created a fully biocompatible motility engine using synthetic active filaments, outperforming conventional methods in transporting tiny cargo. The design's efficiency and speed capabilities have significant implications for targeted drug delivery, insemination, and therapeutic interventions.

SourceAmerican Institute of Physics·JournalThe Journal of Chemical Physics·DateJan 10, 2017

An ordered route to improved performance

Researchers used bright X-rays to observe the one-step solution-coating process of perovskite material, identifying a crucial intermediate solid state. This discovery highlights the importance of solvent-solute interactions in halide perovskites, which significantly impacts film formation behavior and solar cell performance.

SourceKing Abdullah University of Science & Technology (KAUST)·JournalAdvanced Materials·DateJan 10, 2017

Innovative imaging and surgery treats lymph condition in adults

Researchers developed new imaging tools to diagnose abnormal pulmonary flow of lymphatic fluid in adults with plastic bronchitis. The procedure involves catheterization and treatment with glue and coils to halt lymphatic fluid flow, resulting in complete or partial resolution of symptoms in six out of seven patients.

SourceChildren's Hospital of Philadelphia·JournalAnnals of the American Thoracic Society·DateJan 10, 2017

The weather's not to blame for your aches and pains

Research reveals weather plays no part in the symptoms associated with back pain and osteoarthritis, contrary to long-held beliefs. Higher temperatures slightly increase lower back pain risk but not clinically important.

SourceGeorge Institute for Global Health·JournalPain Medicine·DateJan 10, 2017

The importance of the glutamine metabolism in colon cancer

A study by Osaka University reveals that colorectal cancer cells can survive under glucose-depletion conditions by maintaining TCA cycle activity and ATP production. Key proteins GLUD1 and SLC25A13 play pivotal roles in nutritional stress and are associated with tumor aggressiveness.

SourceOsaka University·JournalScientific Reports·DateJan 10, 2017

Gravitational biology

Researchers found immediate changes in gene expression of osteoblasts and osteoclasts in medaka fish exposed to microgravity. The study suggests a new area of research in gravitational biology, exploring the molecular mechanisms behind bone structure changes.

SourceTokyo Institute of Technology·JournalScientific Reports·DateJan 10, 2017

Neurons modulate the growth of blood vessels

Researchers at KIT found that nerve cells dynamically regulate the density of blood vessel networks through fine modulation of sFlt1 and VEGF. This process is crucial for vascular development, particularly during early stages of embryonic growth.

SourceKarlsruher Institut für Technologie (KIT)·JournalNature Communications·DateJan 10, 2017

New transplant technique restores vision in mice

A new transplant technique has successfully restored vision in mice with inherited retinal degeneration. The technique uses 3D retinal sheets derived from mouse embryonic stem cells, which develop normal structure and connectivity, allowing the growth of functional photoreceptors that connect to host cells and send visual signals.

SourceRIKEN·JournalStem Cell Reports·DateJan 10, 2017

Criminology study links NFL players' misbehavior on, off field

A new UT Dallas study found a correlation between NFL players' disciplinary infractions and their arrest records. The research discovered that those who received the most penalties were more likely to have multiple arrests, with some players averaging over 1.5 arrests per game.

SourceUniversity of Texas at Dallas·JournalDeviant Behavior·DateJan 10, 2017

Hubble captures 'shadow play' caused by possible planet

Astronomers have discovered a shadow sweeping across the face of a vast pancake-shaped gas-and-dust disk surrounding a young star, possibly caused by an unseen planet gravitationally pulling on material. The twisted inner disk is casting its shadow onto the outer region.

SourceNASA/Goddard Space Flight Center·DateJan 10, 2017

Identification of autophagy-dependent secretion machinery

A team of researchers at Osaka University has discovered a novel autophagy-dependent secretory system that facilitates the secretion of inflammatory cytokines like interleukin-1 beta and leaderless proteins such as ferritin. This finding opens new therapeutic avenues for diseases related to autophagy.

SourceOsaka University·JournalThe EMBO Journal·DateJan 10, 2017

NASA study finds a connection between wildfires and drought

A recent NASA study found a significant correlation between wildfires and drought in northern sub-Saharan Africa. The research, led by Charles Ichoku, used satellite records to analyze the impact of fires on water cycle indicators, revealing that burning suppresses precipitation in the region.

SourceNASA/Goddard Space Flight Center·JournalEnvironmental Research Letters·DateJan 10, 2017

Killing time: Study sheds light on phages and precision cell destruction

A study published in PNAS details a mathematical model of the timing of phage-induced cell death, revealing high precision and counterintuitive insights into regulatory mechanisms. The research has implications for medicine and broader applications in chemical kinetics, ecological modeling, and statistical physics.

SourceUniversity of Delaware·JournalProceedings of the National Academy of Sciences·DateJan 10, 2017

Physicists awarded funding to enhance our understanding of the universe

Researchers at University of Plymouth receive funding to build on existing work exploring phenomena within Standard Model and Beyond, with aim to develop new ideas using supercomputers. The grant will fuel efforts to push boundaries in particle physics research and identify possible candidates for universe's remaining mass-energy content.

SourceUniversity of Plymouth·DateJan 10, 2017

New categorization of food scares will prevent food chain being compromised

Researchers from the University of Surrey propose a new comprehensive categorisation of food scares to address consumers' distrust in the food supply chain. The system differentiates between scares caused by wilful deception and transparency issues, enabling risk management teams to develop effective strategies.

SourceUniversity of Surrey·JournalBritish Food Journal·DateJan 10, 2017

'Housekeepers' of the brain renew themselves more quickly than first thought

A recent study published in Cell Reports reveals that microglia turnover is 10 times faster than previously thought, allowing for multiple renewal cycles throughout a person's life. This groundbreaking finding has significant implications for understanding the role of microglia in neurodegenerative diseases like Alzheimer's.

SourceUniversity of Southampton·JournalCell Reports·DateJan 10, 2017

Testing how species respond to climate change

Researchers tested tropical rainforest fly Drosophila birchii's response to climate change by transplanting flies along mountain gradients. They found similar responses across families, indicating little potential for thermal tolerances to evolve.

SourceUniversity of Bristol·JournalGlobal Change Biology·DateJan 10, 2017

Play an instrument? You probably react faster, too

A new study published in Brain and Cognition found that musicians have faster reaction times to sensory stimuli than non-musicians. The research suggests that long-term musical training can reduce simple non-musical auditory, tactile, and multisensory reaction times.

SourceUniversity of Montreal·JournalBrain and Cognition·DateJan 10, 2017

What kind of selfie taker are you?

Researchers identified three categories of selfie-takers: communicators who engage in conversation, autobiographers who record life events, and self-publicists who document their lives for positive presentation. This categorization contributes to the discussion on selfies and visual communication.

SourceBrigham Young University·JournalVisual Communication Quarterly·DateJan 10, 2017

A glimpse into the workings of the baby brain

Researchers at MIT used a modified MRI scanner to scan the brains of awake babies while watching movies, finding that brain regions responding to faces and scenes in adults are also active in infants. The study suggests that there may be a stronger biological predisposition for specific cortical regions to end up with specific functions.

SourceMassachusetts Institute of Technology·JournalNature Communications·DateJan 10, 2017

Study reveals gender and race disparities in ACS pretest probabilities in the ED

A study published in Academic Emergency Medicine found that physicians consistently underestimate ACS risk for women and minorities, despite objective assessments suggesting higher risk. The study suggests that the ED evaluation of chest pain has become protocolized, immune to unconscious bias.

SourceSociety for Academic Emergency Medicine·JournalAcademic Emergency Medicine·DateJan 10, 2017

Socioeconomic status and prior pregnancy affect women's treatment choices when suffering miscarriage

A study found that women with higher incomes and social support are more likely to choose surgery over medication for miscarriage. Patients who have been pregnant before tend to know how they want the miscarriage managed, while those without prior pregnancy rely on doctors' advice. The research emphasizes the need for evidence-based, p...

SourceUniversity of Pennsylvania School of Medicine·JournalAmerican Journal of Obstetrics and Gynecology·DateJan 10, 2017

Alcohol prevents ability to extinguish fearful memories in mice

Researchers at Johns Hopkins found that alcohol strengthens emotional memories associated with fearful experiences and prevents mice from pushing aside their fears. The study identified the molecular mechanism responsible for alcohol-related fear relapses and used a drug to reverse its effects.

SourceJohns Hopkins Medicine·JournalTranslational Psychiatry·DateJan 10, 2017

'Dementia gene' may guard against decline associated with parasitic disease

Research suggests that the Apolipoprotein E4 allele, associated with high risk for Alzheimer's and cardiovascular diseases, may offer protection against cognitive decline caused by parasitic infections. In a remote population of Amazonian foragers, carriers of this allele maintained cognitive performance despite high parasite burdens.

SourceFederation of American Societies for Experimental Biology·JournalThe FASEB Journal·DateJan 10, 2017

Consumption of low-calorie sweeteners jumps by 200 percent in US children

A study found that 25% of US children and 41% of adults consumed low-calorie sweeteners, a 200% increase for kids and 54% jump for adults. The likelihood of consumption increased with adult body mass index and often occurred at home.

SourceGeorge Washington University Milken Institute School of Public Health·JournalJournal of the Academy of Nutrition and Dietetics·DateJan 10, 2017

Changing rainfall patterns linked to water security in India

A recent study found that changing rainfall patterns are the key driver of changes in groundwater storage in India, rather than pumping. Groundwater withdrawals have increased tenfold since the 1950s, but variability in monsoons is the main factor driving changes in groundwater levels.

SourceInternational Institute for Applied Systems Analysis·JournalNature Geoscience·DateJan 10, 2017

Should gluten-free foods be available on prescription?

Gastroenterology experts argue that removing prescriptions for gluten-free foods would unfairly discriminate against people with coeliac disease. They highlight the high cost of such products (3-4 times standard prices) and limited availability in shops.

SourceBMJ Group·JournalThe BMJ·DateJan 10, 2017

Researchers develop new compound to fight cytomegalovirus

Researchers develop a Retro94-based compound that effectively stops CMV from making copies of itself, providing a potential effective and safe therapy against human CMV. The treatment could protect immunocompromised patients with active CMV infection or prevent reactivation in the body.

SourcePenn State·JournalJournal of Virology·DateJan 10, 2017

Meet Canada's 'poop lady'

Catherine Girard, a Canadian researcher, studied the diet and health of the local Inuit population in Resolute Bay. Her findings, published in mSphere, mark the first time that Inuit microbiome has been described, revealing a surprisingly similar gut microbiome compared to Montreal residents.

SourceUniversity of Montreal·JournalmSphere·DateJan 10, 2017

Noninvasive screening method reveals important properties of pharmaceutical tablets

A new study at the University of Eastern Finland has developed a novel non-invasive screening method for pharmaceutical tablets, allowing for quick and safe identification of tablet properties. The method uses terahertz radiation to determine the composition and arrangement of particulates within a tablet.

SourceUniversity of Eastern Finland·JournalInternational Journal of Pharmaceutics·DateJan 10, 2017