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Science News for April 3, 2017


Trends in college attendance rates in rural America

Researchers investigated 2,000 rural high school students' college attendance patterns, finding over half attended two-year colleges and those who only attended were less likely to have educational aspirations. Parental education, track, and teacher expectations predicted college choices.

SourcePenn State·JournalResearch in Higher Education·DateApr 3, 2017

Weight history over time shows higher risk of death for overweight, obese people

A new study published in Annals of Internal Medicine found that individuals with a maximum BMI in the overweight or obese categories had an elevated risk for all-cause death and deaths from cardiovascular disease, cancer, and respiratory disease. Participants who experienced significant weight loss were at the highest risk for death.

SourceBoston University School of Medicine·JournalAnnals of Internal Medicine·DateApr 3, 2017

New species evolve faster as mountains form

Scientists analyzed plant species in China's Hengduan Mountains and found that new species evolved at a faster rate than in nearby regions. This study provides the strongest evidence yet for the uplift-driven diversification hypothesis, supporting the idea that mountains create micro-habitats allowing species to adapt and diversify.

SourceField Museum·JournalProceedings of the National Academy of Sciences·DateApr 3, 2017

When human illness rises, the environment suffers, too

A study published in Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences found that human illness leads to more destructive fishing methods and environmental harm at Lake Victoria. Healthy individuals tend to prioritize sustainable fishing practices, whereas chronically ill people focus on short-term gains, resulting in unsustainable methods.

SourceUniversity of California - Berkeley·JournalProceedings of the National Academy of Sciences·DateApr 3, 2017

Where the Jordan stops flowing

A new study by Tel Aviv University researchers suggests that Israel's Jordan River, with only 3% of its original flow, can serve as a case study for tackling water scarcity and pollution worldwide. A two-pronged strategy involving regional cooperation to remove pollution sources and increase water flow is proposed.

SourceAmerican Friends of Tel Aviv University·JournalWater Research·DateApr 3, 2017

Story tips from the Department of Energy's Oak Ridge National Laboratory, April 2017

Researchers at Oak Ridge National Laboratory are developing three new approaches to improve deep learning technologies. They are bringing together quantum, high-performance, and neuromorphic computing architectures to optimize complexity in a low-power environment. Additionally, scientists have created an approach to get a better look ...

SourceDOE/Oak Ridge National Laboratory·JournalJournal of The Electrochemical Society·DateApr 3, 2017

Integrating caregivers at discharge significantly cuts patient readmissions

A study published in the Journal of the American Geriatrics Society found that integrating informal caregivers into discharge planning reduces hospital readmissions by 25% for elderly patients. Proper training and support enable caregivers to manage complex care responsibilities, preventing readmissions.

SourceUniversity of Pittsburgh Schools of the Health Sciences·JournalJournal of the American Geriatrics Society·DateApr 3, 2017

Screening the dark genome for disease

Researchers have developed a method to swiftly screen the non-coding DNA of the human genome for links to diseases driven by gene regulation. The technique uses CRISPR/Cas9 to precisely cut and paste DNA sequences, enabling the identification of regulatory elements controlling disease genes.

SourceDuke University·JournalNature Biotechnology·DateApr 3, 2017

Domesticated rice goes rogue

A recent study has discovered the ancestry of Asian rice and its weedy cousins, revealing that rice has a natural tendency towards becoming weeds. The research found that both strains evolved from different crop varieties, with relatively few changes needed to turn the crop plant into a weed.

SourceWashington University in St. Louis·JournalNature Genetics·DateApr 3, 2017

Renewable energy needed to drive uptake of electric vehicles

A new study suggests that renewable energy sources are crucial for consumers to buy electric vehicles, as environmental performance trumps price and range confidence. The research found that participants prioritized the need for electricity to be produced from renewable sources for electric vehicles to be a true green alternative.

SourceQueensland University of Technology·JournalTransportation Research Part D Transport and Environment·DateApr 3, 2017

Pitt researchers identify new brain pathway that controls hand movements

Researchers at the University of Pittsburgh have discovered a new brain pathway that controls hand movements, contradicting the long-held belief that motor functions originate from the frontal lobe. This finding has implications for understanding hand movement and may lead to better treatments for patients with motor function disorders.

SourceUniversity of Pittsburgh Schools of the Health Sciences·JournalProceedings of the National Academy of Sciences·DateApr 3, 2017

Diagnosing cancer

Scientists at Ruhr-University Bochum have established a new process for identifying biomarkers in cancer diagnosis, utilizing infrared spectroscopy. The method enables precise analysis of protein changes in tumor tissue, facilitating personalized therapy.

SourceRuhr-University Bochum·JournalScientific Reports·DateApr 3, 2017

New report links early life antibiotic use to inflammatory gut diseases in adulthood

A new report links early life antibiotic use to inflammatory gut diseases in adulthood, finding that altered gut bacteria may increase the likelihood of conditions like IBD, asthma, and multiple sclerosis. The study adds evidence to suggest that modifying gut flora could be a treatment approach for some inflammatory diseases.

SourceFederation of American Societies for Experimental Biology·JournalJournal of Leukocyte Biology·DateApr 3, 2017

'Virtual' interferometers may overcome scale issues for optical quantum computers

A team of researchers has devised a new way to implement large-scale interferometers that can dramatically miniaturize optical processing circuitry. By leveraging recent breakthroughs in quantum information, the 'measurement-based linear optics' technique harnesses existing compact methods for generating large-scale cluster states.

From fish to forests, conflicts to coffee: Humans affected by species on the move

A new international study highlights how climate-driven changes in species distribution are affecting human health, culture, and economies worldwide. As species move towards the poles, they impact resources like fish and coffee, industries like tourism and fishing, conflict over land use, and even indigenous cultures.

Fish study shows important genome interactions in animal cells

Researchers found that mitochondrial-nuclear interactions affect energy production in animal cells, leading to variations in traits and potentially influencing human health. The study suggests that metabolic fitness relies on these interactions, which have significant implications for physiology and medical interventions.

Do smart songbirds always get the girl?

Researchers found that male songbirds' ability to learn songs is positively associated with specific cognitive abilities like color reversal and spatial learning, but not overall intelligence. This contrasts with humans and other animals where cognitive abilities tend to correlate across tasks.

SourceFlorida Atlantic University·JournalAnimal Cognition·DateApr 3, 2017

Technique for 'three-parent baby' revealed

A pioneering IVF technique has enabled the birth of a healthy baby boy, providing hope for families with inheritable mitochondrial disorders. The mother's mutation load was well below the expected threshold for the condition, paving the way for further research and potential changes in law and regulation.

SourceElsevier·JournalReproductive BioMedicine Online·DateApr 3, 2017

Women experience high rates of health insurance 'churn' before and after childbirth

A new study from Harvard T.H. Chan School of Public Health found that 65% of women covered by Medicaid or CHIP at delivery were uninsured for at least one month during their pregnancies. The study highlights the need to improve continuity of coverage during the prenatal and postpartum periods, especially for lower-income women.

SourceHarvard T.H. Chan School of Public Health·JournalHealth Affairs·DateApr 3, 2017

Boys from low income families move less

A new study from the University of Eastern Finland found that children from low-income families, especially boys, engage in less supervised physical activity and spend more screen time. The study analyzed 248 boys aged 6-8 years and discovered that nearly half had exceeded the recommended daily screen time.

SourceUniversity of Eastern Finland·JournalEuropean Journal of Sport Science·DateApr 3, 2017

Spray-on memory could enable bendable digital storage

Researchers at Duke University have developed a fully-printed digital memory device using an aerosol jet printer and nanoparticle inks. The device stores information in states of resistance, allowing for flexible electronics on bendable materials, and has a write speed rivaling that of flash drives.

SourceDuke University·JournalJournal of Electronic Materials·DateApr 3, 2017

Progesterone and bisexuality: Is there a link?

A study found that men and women whose mothers received additional doses of progesterone while pregnant were significantly less likely to identify as heterosexual. They also showed higher rates of same-sex attraction and behavior, suggesting a potential link between prenatal progesterone exposure and human sexuality.

SourceSpringer·JournalArchives of Sexual Behavior·DateApr 3, 2017

Surprise discovery of Europe's first cave fish

Researchers have discovered Europe's first cave fish, a loach species, in a hard-to-reach underground water system in Southern Germany. The discovery reveals that adaptation to subterranean habitats can occur rapidly, with the loach evolving within just a few thousand years.

SourceCell Press·JournalCurrent Biology·DateApr 3, 2017

Researchers document how melanoma tumors form

A team of researchers at the University of Iowa documented how melanoma cells form tumors in a 3D model, finding similarities with breast tissue cancer cells. They identified two drugs, anti-beta 1 integrin/(CD29) and anti-CD44, that block tumor creation in both types of cancer.

SourceUniversity of Iowa·JournalPLOS ONE·DateApr 3, 2017

Set strawberry alarm clock for post-apple bloom

Researchers found that timing strawberry blooms directly after neighboring apple blossoms results in higher yields due to increased pollinator activity. This strategy allows growers to capitalize on the services of pollinators without relying on external inputs like fertilizers and pesticides.

SourceCornell University·JournalScientific Reports·DateApr 3, 2017

Mutant lifestyles

Scientists uncover a potent genetic element in microorganisms that enable them to self-mutate, expanding the diversity of the tree of life. The discovery reveals how rapid evolution happens in some of Earth's smallest and most common microbes.

SourceUniversity of California - Santa Barbara·JournalNature Microbiology·DateApr 3, 2017

Researchers uncover prehistoric art and ornaments from Indonesian 'Ice Age'

A team of researchers has discovered a unique assemblage of prehistoric artefacts, including disc-shaped beads and pendant objects, dated to between 30,000 to 22,000 years ago. The findings challenge the theory that Pleistocene human culture declined in sophistication as Homo sapiens ventured beyond India into Southeast Asia.

SourceGriffith University·JournalProceedings of the National Academy of Sciences·DateApr 3, 2017

Robot epigenetics: Adding complexity to embodied robot evolution

In this study, researchers created physically embodied robots to examine the interaction between genetic and epigenetic factors in robot evolution. The results show that robot populations with an epigenetic factor evolved differently than those without, highlighting the importance of including epigenetic factors in robot evolution.

SourceFrontiers·JournalFrontiers in Robotics and AI·DateApr 3, 2017

Malaria parasites soften our cells' defenses in order to invade

Researchers at Imperial College London found that malaria parasites change the properties of red blood cells to facilitate entry, making them more susceptible to infection. This discovery suggests that naturally flexible cells may be easier for parasites to invade, prompting further investigation into host-directed therapies.

SourceImperial College London·JournalProceedings of the National Academy of Sciences·DateApr 3, 2017

Restoration based on chemistry

Researchers used chemical maps to visualize original paint layers under overpainted surface of Ghent Altarpiece. The technique revealed the overall good condition of the original scenes, supporting the decision to remove all overpaints.

SourceWiley·JournalAngewandte Chemie International Edition·DateApr 3, 2017