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Science News for August 17, 2017


Solutal Marangoni flows of miscible liquid drive transport without surface contamination

A research team led by Professor Hyoungsoo Kim quantified the Marangoni effect in miscible liquids, revealing a new mechanism for driving transport without surface contamination. The findings have potential applications in removing impurities from surfaces and developing alternative materials to surfactants.

A better way to measure mortality trends?

Researchers analyzed years of life lost due to top causes of death in the US from 1995 to 2015, revealing disparities and successes. Life-years lost showed that cancer caused more life-years lost than heart disease, despite heart disease being the leading cause of death.

SourceCleveland Clinic·JournalAmerican Journal of Public Health·DateAug 17, 2017

Slowing dangerous bacteria may be more effective than killing them, researchers report

A new study reveals that manipulating bacterial communication can help the body defeat an infection without causing drug-resistant strains. By targeting the dormancy-signal molecule, researchers hope to develop molecules that can disrupt specific bacteria's language, reducing resistance development.

SourceUniversity of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign, News Bureau·JournalProceedings of the National Academy of Sciences·DateAug 17, 2017

Should I stay or should I leave?

A new study investigates the decision-making process in relationships, revealing common pros and cons of staying versus leaving. Participants weighed reasons such as emotional intimacy, investment, and personality traits, with married individuals citing more constraint-based reasons for staying.

SourceUniversity of Utah·JournalSocial Psychological and Personality Science·DateAug 17, 2017

Mind flex

A Harvard Medical School study found that neurons involved in learning and memory are less stable than previously thought, but more flexible. This flexibility allows the brain to easily integrate new information and adapt to changing circumstances.

SourceHarvard Medical School·JournalCell·DateAug 17, 2017

In search of Edwards' pheasant

Scientists are searching for Edwards' pheasant, a critically endangered bird species endemic to central Vietnam. Researchers have identified two potential locations where the bird may still exist, using data compiled from known sightings and recordings dating back to the late 1800s.

SourceNewcastle University·JournalOryx·DateAug 17, 2017

Tuberculosis drug may work better than others in its class

Computer simulations show moxifloxacin kills bacteria more quickly and performs better when doses are missed, making it a superior option for tuberculosis treatment. The research also found that levofloxacin killed bacteria more quickly than gatifloxacin.

SourcePLOS·JournalPLOS Computational Biology·DateAug 17, 2017

Artificial womb raises hope for premature babies

Researchers have successfully used an artificial womb to incubate healthy baby lambs for a week, paving the way for potential treatment of extremely premature infants. The technology, known as ex-vivo uterine environment (EVE) therapy, aims to improve lung development and reduce ventilation-derived injury.

SourceTohoku University·JournalAmerican Journal of Obstetrics and Gynecology·DateAug 17, 2017

Florida flood risk study identifies priorities for property buyouts

Scientists from UC Santa Cruz and the Nature Conservancy released a report identifying lands in Florida that are potential targets for projects with multiple benefits, such as reduced flood exposure, conservation, and remediation of social vulnerability. The study proposes prioritizing property buyouts based on these factors to support...

SourceUniversity of California - Santa Cruz·JournalJournal of Ocean and Coastal Economics·DateAug 17, 2017

Wistar scientists develop novel immunotherapy technology for prostate cancer

Researchers at The Wistar Institute have developed a gene-based delivery system that instructs the body to generate therapeutic antibodies against cancer cells. This technology has shown promising results in treating prostate cancer by binding to cancer cells and recruiting immune cells, resulting in tumor shrinkage and improved survival.

SourceThe Wistar Institute·JournalCancer Immunology Immunotherapy·DateAug 17, 2017

Latency of seizures determined by diet

A study from Hiroshima University found that the brain's estrogen levels are directly linked to DHA intake, which can prevent seizures. The research suggests that dietary sources of DHA may contribute to brain health and could lead to the development of new epilepsy treatments.

SourceHiroshima University·JournalScientific Reports·DateAug 17, 2017

How we recall the past

Researchers have identified a distinct 'detour' circuit in the hippocampus that is necessary for memory recall, but not for memory formation. This circuit branches off from the original memory circuit and connects to the entorhinal cortex, enabling easier editing or updating of memories.

Ray of hope for more abundant wheat crops

Researchers at Lancaster University discovered that wheat crops experience a delay in photosynthesis when transitioning from shade to sunlight, resulting in a loss of up to 21% productivity. The study suggests that breeding varieties with faster adjustment times could lead to increased yields without requiring more water or nutrients.

SourceLancaster University·JournalPhilosophical Transactions of the Royal Society of London (B )·DateAug 17, 2017

Smells like queen spirit

Researchers at the University of California, Riverside, have identified specialized odorant receptors in social insects that detect cuticular hydrocarbon cues and candidate pheromones. The discovery provides new insight into the chemical communications systems used by eusocial insects, enabling workers to recognize queen and male ants.

SourceUniversity of California - Riverside·JournalNature Communications·DateAug 17, 2017

Researchers unlock cheesemaking secret

A discovery by a UQ-Columbia University-University of Washington research group has explained the regulation of pyruvate carboxylase enzyme in Lactococcus bacterium, crucial for efficient milk acidification and cheese production. The findings have significant implications for Australia's billion-dollar cheese industry.

SourceUniversity of Queensland·JournalProceedings of the National Academy of Sciences·DateAug 17, 2017

Engineering team images tiny quasicrystals as they form

Researchers have successfully formed and imaged tiny quasicrystals using silica nanoparticles, revealing a non-periodic yet ordered structure. The team used transmission electron microscopy to capture the growth process, which was influenced by varying concentrations of chemical compounds and mechanical stirring.

SourceCornell University·JournalNature Communications·DateAug 17, 2017

Bacteria stab amoebae with micro-daggers

Researchers at ETH Zurich have discovered a mechanism used by bacteria Amoebophilus to shoot micro-daggers that pierce the digestive compartment of an amoeba, allowing it to escape digestion and thrive. The study reveals new insights into bacterial evolution and opens up possibilities for other structural biology investigations.

SourceETH Zurich·JournalScience·DateAug 17, 2017

Managing western flower thrips

A study evaluated the effectiveness of chemical insecticides and the entomopathogenic fungus Beauveria bassiana against western flower thrips on broccoli and lettuce. The results suggest that incorporating biopesticides like Beauveria bassiana into Integrated Pest Management (IPM) practices can help manage thrip populations effectively.

SourceBentham Science Publishers·JournalThe Open Plant Science Journal·DateAug 17, 2017

Digging in the dirt

University of Delaware researchers have developed new methods to evaluate the risk of subsurface phosphorus losses in US croplands, particularly in flat and artificially drained areas. The study uses soil data to improve existing phosphorus index models and provides a more accurate assessment of subsurface phosphorus risks.

SourceUniversity of Delaware·JournalJournal of Environmental Quality·DateAug 17, 2017

No direct flights for memory retrieval

Research finds that a neural stopover in the subiculum is necessary for retrieving episodic memories, but not forming them. Activating or inhibiting this pathway affects memory recall and stress hormone levels related to fear responses.

SourceRIKEN·JournalCell·DateAug 17, 2017

Reed warblers have a sense for magnetic declination

Migratory Eurasian reed warblers rely on changes in magnetic declination to guide them along the east-west axis, solving a challenging navigational problem. The birds learn to recognize large-scale spatial patterns of declination gradients during their annual movements.

SourceCell Press·JournalCurrent Biology·DateAug 17, 2017

Gender norms are still important for women's choice of college major

A study suggests that women's conformity to traditional feminine norms affects their choice of college majors. Women conforming more closely to these norms are less likely to pursue STEM fields or arts/humanities, while those who align with caregiving and domesticity norms are more likely to choose STEM or clinical fields.

SourceSpringer·JournalGender Issues·DateAug 17, 2017