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Science News for April 26, 2017


Nanodiamond-enhanced MRI offers greater range of diagnostic and therapeutic applications

Researchers have developed a means of non-invasively tracking nanodiamonds with magnetic resonance imaging (MRI), opening up new applications in disease diagnosis and therapy. The technique uses the Overhauser effect to boost the weak magnetic resonance signal of diamond, allowing for high-contrast imaging over indefinite periods.

SourceMassachusetts General Hospital·JournalNature Communications·DateApr 26, 2017

Could Parkinson's disease start in the gut?

A recent study found that people who had a truncal vagotomy at least five years earlier were 40% less likely to develop Parkinson's disease than those who did not have the surgery. The study suggests that the gut may play a role in the development of Parkinson's disease, which often involves gastrointestinal problems.

SourceAmerican Academy of Neurology·JournalNeurology·DateApr 26, 2017

ER health promotion advocates help teens struggling with substance use get treatment

Health promotion advocates in pediatric emergency rooms identify young people experimenting with substances and connect them with necessary resources and treatment. Over four years, advocates screened 2,149 patients for risky behaviors and referred 81% to substance use disorder treatment services.

SourceBoston University School of Medicine·JournalTurkish Journal of Pediatric Emergency and Intensive Care Medicine·DateApr 26, 2017

Bare bones: Making bones transparent

A new method called Bone CLARITY enables the observation of stem cells within intact bones, facilitating research into osteoporosis and bone interactions with other organs. Researchers used this technique to test a new drug developed for treating osteoporosis, revealing increased stem cell proliferation in response to the treatment.

SourceCalifornia Institute of Technology·JournalScience Translational Medicine·DateApr 26, 2017

Corn with a cover of grass

A team of researchers, led by Cynthia Bartel, conducted a field study to explore the compatibility of perennial groundcover grasses with maize. The study aimed to reduce the environmental harm caused by removing maize stover while increasing the benefits of renewable biofuels.

SourceAmerican Society of Agronomy·JournalAgronomy Journal·DateApr 26, 2017

The automation of art: A legal conundrum

The article discusses the challenges of copyright protection in the era of automated art, particularly with the rise of Deep Neural Networks. While DNN creations can generate original works, the issue of attribution and originality remains complex due to varying national laws and human inputs.

SourceFrontiers·JournalFrontiers in Digital Humanities·DateApr 26, 2017

Rice's Lydia Kavraki wins ACM Athena Lecturer Award

Lydia Kavraki, a renowned computer scientist at Rice University, has received the Association for Computing Machinery's (ACM) Athena Lecturer Award. She is recognized for inventing randomized motion-planning algorithms in robotics and developing robotics-inspired methods for bioinformatics and biomedicine.

Researchers identify genes that help trout find their way home

Scientists have identified key genes involved in the homing behavior of rainbow trout, which use Earth's magnetic field to navigate back to their birthplace. The study found that changes in gene expression are triggered by disruption of the fish's internal compass, pointing to a possible role for iron-based magnetite particles.

SourceDuke University·JournalBiology Letters·DateApr 26, 2017

New test assesses sperm function

A new test evaluates sperm's capacitation ability, allowing for more accurate diagnoses of male infertility. The Cap-Score Sperm Function Test shows promise in increasing conception rates among men with unexplained infertility.

SourceWiley·JournalMolecular Reproduction and Development·DateApr 26, 2017

Stabilizing molecule could pave way for lithium-air fuel cell

Researchers at Cornell University have developed a new stabilizing molecule that could improve the efficiency of lithium-air fuel cells, addressing issues such as poor rechargeability and high overpotentials. The molecule protects electrodes from degradation and promotes ion transport, paving the way for more sustainable energy solutions.

SourceCornell University·JournalScience Advances·DateApr 26, 2017

Sun's eruptions might all have same trigger

Researchers found that coronal jets and CMEs are triggered by magnetic reconnection, a process where stressed filaments break through their magnetic restraints. The study provides a theoretical universal model for solar eruptions, covering all scales from small jets to large CMEs.

SourceDurham University·JournalNature·DateApr 26, 2017

New model could help predict major earthquakes

Researchers at Nagoya University and their colleagues studied historical seismic events to shed light on the mechanisms behind earthquakes at a plate boundary. They found that stronger earthquakes involved ruptures at different sites, providing new insights into risk prediction tools for assessing earthquake likelihood and intensity.

SourceNagoya University·JournalGeophysical Research Letters·DateApr 26, 2017

Researchers explore personalized pharmacotherapy to treat panic attacks

Researchers investigated whether easily identifiable patient characteristics can improve treatment outcomes for panic disorders. They found correlations between longer illness duration and lower response rates to venlafaxine XR, higher age and increased side effects with paroxetine, and longer treatment durations and improved response ...

SourceElsevier Health Sciences·JournalPersonalized Medicine in Psychiatry·DateApr 26, 2017

New study deems dairy 'excellent' source of protein for children

Researchers at University of Illinois conducted a study to calculate protein scores for eight sources of protein derived from both plants and animals. The digestible indispensable amino acid score (DIAAS) method was used, which showed all dairy proteins met Food and Agriculture Organization standards as 'excellent/high' quality sources.

The clever cell

The University of Konstanz's biological chemistry working group has decoded a molecular mechanism that inhibits bacterial populations' swarming motility. This mechanism enables bacteria to produce various natural substances using minimal resources, which may aid in combating infectious diseases and antibiotic resistance.

SourceUniversity of Konstanz·JournalCell Chemical Biology·DateApr 26, 2017

New consensus published on preventing and treating sport-related concussions

Researchers at the University of Calgary have published a new international consensus statement on concussion in sport, which includes new guidelines for detecting, assessing, treating, and preventing sport-related concussions. The statement emphasizes the importance of recognizing and removing athletes from the sporting environment if...

SourceUniversity of Calgary·JournalBritish Journal of Sports Medicine·DateApr 26, 2017

Early blood signatures of vaccine immunogenicity

Researchers have identified early plasma cytokine signatures that correlate with and predict the immunogenicity and reactogenicity of vaccines based on living viruses. This breakthrough can inform and accelerate rational development of new vaccines, especially during outbreaks and epidemics.

SourceUniversity of Gothenburg·JournalScience Translational Medicine·DateApr 26, 2017