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Science News for August 23, 2017


Reducing infant mortality in Nigeria

A Michigan State University doctor and professor teamed up to document high rates of Group B Streptococcus colonization in Nigeria. They identified new risk factors, allowing for effective treatment and significantly reducing infant mortality rates.

SourceMichigan State University·JournalClinical Microbiology and Infection·DateAug 23, 2017

Labor market effects of trade liberalization

A new study on Brazil's labor market reveals that workers in industries facing increased competition from imports experience stagnant wages and employment growth for 15 years. The research found that the costs of freer trade are unevenly distributed across regions, with differences growing over time.

SourceCarnegie Mellon University·JournalAmerican Economic Review·DateAug 23, 2017

Researchers link high levels of 'good' cholesterol with excessive mortality

Researchers found that extremely high HDL levels are associated with a higher mortality rate than normal levels. Men with extremely high levels had a 106% higher mortality rate, while women had a 68% higher mortality rate. The study suggests that the focus on HDL as an important health indicator may need to be revised.

Linking mental health and the gut microbiome

A recent review suggests that the gut-microbiome's formation and influence begin early in life, potentially leading to imbalances that contribute to depressive syndromes. The review also finds evidence of disturbances in the microbiome due to stress, diet, and medications, highlighting the importance of nutrition in mental health.

SourceFrontiers·JournalFrontiers in Psychiatry·DateAug 23, 2017

A more complete picture of the nano world

Researchers have developed a new method, peak force infrared (PFIR) microscopy, which allows for simultaneous chemical and mechanical imaging of materials at the nanoscale. This technique enables the analysis of material properties at various places, providing insights into heterogeneous and biological materials.

SourceLehigh University·JournalScience Advances·DateAug 23, 2017

An eye towards islets

Scientists at University of Pittsburgh create vascularized pancreatic islet organoids using human pluripotent stem cells, offering potential treatment for Type I Diabetes. The innovative approach involves implanting blood vessel fragments into the islets before transplantation.

Putting it to the test

Researchers have developed a rapid portable test for liver cancer that can detect the disease in two minutes and can be administered wherever the patient is. The test uses gold nanoparticles to trap biomarkers from biological fluids, making it a potential game-changer in combating this deadly disease.

SourceUniversity of Utah·JournalAnalytical Methods·DateAug 23, 2017

Personality drives purchasing of luxury goods

Research at University College London found that people on low incomes who are extraverted tend to spend more on luxury goods to compensate for their financial status. Introverts with similar incomes, however, do not exhibit this behavior, suggesting a relationship between personality and spending habits.

SourceUniversity College London·JournalPsychological Science·DateAug 23, 2017

Countries in Europe with the richest biodiversity do not always receive more funding

A recent study found that European countries with high levels of biodiversity, such as Portugal and Slovakia, receive less funding for conservation than expected. The study suggests that the main European directives on conservation focus too much on bird species, leading to an underfunding of other taxonomic groups.

SourceSpanish Foundation for Science and Technology·JournalConservation Biology·DateAug 23, 2017

Data mining finds more than expected beneath Andean Plateau

Seismologists have discovered that processes beneath the Andean Plateau produce far more continental rock than previously thought. The findings suggest that mountain-forming regions could create larger volumes of continental crust in less time, leading to significant changes in our understanding of Earth's geological history.

SourceRice University·JournalScientific Reports·DateAug 23, 2017

Scientists discover common obesity and diabetes drug reduces rise in brain pressure

Researchers at the University of Birmingham have discovered that GLP-1 agonist extendin-4 significantly reduces brain pressure in an animal model, with effects lasting at least 24 hours. The treatment shows promise as a novel new way to lower brain pressure, potentially benefiting patients with conditions such as traumatic brain injury...

SourceUniversity of Birmingham·JournalScience Translational Medicine·DateAug 23, 2017

Answers needed on sly grog trade

Researchers at James Cook University found sophisticated tactics being used to smuggle illicit alcohol into remote Indigenous communities. Sly grog traders sell alcohol for inflated prices, often up to 11 times its retail value. The study highlights the need for collaborative responses involving law enforcement and social services.

SourceJames Cook University·JournalBMC Research Notes·DateAug 23, 2017

New guidelines point way toward more effectively addressing hypertension in kids, teens

The new guidelines offer a series of evidence-based recommendations for pediatricians, including routine blood pressure measurements only at annual wellness visits and using ambulatory blood pressure monitors. The report also removes obese patients from normal blood pressure calculations, replacing them with average-weight kids to prev...

SourceCase Western Reserve University·JournalPEDIATRICS·DateAug 23, 2017

Root behavior changes as woody trees age

New research reveals that root extension rates vary depending on plant age and size, with younger plants extending roots more at night and older plants doing so during the day. This study contributes to our understanding of ontogeny, or the study of organisms from initiation to maturity.

SourceUniversity of Guam·JournalPlant Signaling & Behavior·DateAug 23, 2017

Fatal attractions for disease-carrying mosquitoes

Researchers have developed several innovations to stop mosquito-borne diseases like malaria by exploiting their behavior and biology, including attracting and killing them before they suck blood or reproduce. These breakthroughs use pheromones and other attractants to manipulate mosquitoes without harming the environment.

Lego proteins revealed

Researchers have discovered that self-assembling protein complexes can form long, stiff filaments through a single mutation. This phenomenon has implications for both biological research and nanoscience, as it may indicate that Lego-like assemblies are more common than previously thought.

High-resolution modeling assesses impact of cities on river ecosystems

A new study uses high-resolution geospatial modeling to quantify the effects of urban infrastructures on US rivers and streams. The research found that urban land transformation and electricity production together affect seven percent of U.S. streams, influencing habitats for over 60 percent of North American freshwater fish species.

SourceDOE/Oak Ridge National Laboratory·JournalProceedings of the National Academy of Sciences·DateAug 23, 2017

Best ever image of a star's surface and atmosphere

A team of astronomers has created the first two-dimensional velocity map of a star's atmosphere using ESO's Very Large Telescope Interferometer. The study reveals turbulent, low-density gas much further from the star than predicted, challenging current theories on convection.

SourceESO·JournalNature·DateAug 23, 2017

New understanding of how muscles work

A new technique developed at McGill University has made it possible to study the behavior of individual sarcomeres in muscles. The researchers found that neighboring sarcomeres adjust to the activation of one single sarcomere, leading to a cooperative mechanism that is crucial for understanding muscle contraction.

SourceMcGill University·JournalProceedings of the National Academy of Sciences·DateAug 23, 2017

New drug targets for a rare kidney and liver disease

Researchers have identified new potential drug targets for a rare kidney and liver disease by studying the molecular mechanisms underlying the disease. The study found that a protein complex, FPC, plays a key role in the development of cysts, fibrosis, and hypertension associated with ARPKD.

SourceOsaka University·JournalScientific Reports·DateAug 23, 2017

Climate game changer

Research identifies Nitrospira inopinata, a microbe that can outcompete others in oxidizing ammonium, potentially reducing greenhouse gas effects and improving environmental balance. The discovery has significant implications for climate change research and may lead to practical applications such as wastewater treatment and soil purifi...

SourceUniversity of Alberta·JournalNature·DateAug 23, 2017

Large studies find screening reduces mortality for those with detectable type 2 diabetes but not for general population

Three large trials found that screening for type 2 diabetes and cardiovascular risk factors does not reduce mortality in the general population, but individuals diagnosed with diabetes experience reduced mortality rates. The studies suggest that benefits to the general population may be increased by targeting screening to those at grea...

SourceDiabetologia·JournalDiabetologia·DateAug 23, 2017

Parenting style reduces kids' distress in war

Researchers found that mothers' authoritative parenting styles and warmth helped protect children from mental health symptoms after exposure to war. Maternal permissive or authoritarian styles were associated with more severe internalizing and externalizing symptoms.

SourceFrontiers·JournalFrontiers in Psychology·DateAug 23, 2017

A song's structure can be linked to its popularity

A new study published in Frontiers in Human Neuroscience has found that the harmonic structure of pop songs is linked to their placement in the Billboard Top 100 charts. The research analyzed chord-by-chord transcriptions of 545 songs and found that rare chords and surprising harmonies are key factors in a song's popularity.

SourceFrontiers·JournalFrontiers in Human Neuroscience·DateAug 23, 2017

Peas that like it hot

A new study reveals genetic insights into heat tolerance in peas, identifying two key traits: longer flowering duration and higher pod numbers. These traits can help breed more resilient pea varieties for warmer climates.

SourceAmerican Society of Agronomy·JournalCrop Science·DateAug 23, 2017

The breaking point

Researchers developed a new theory to understand how cracks propagate, revealing a nonlinear relationship between forces and material response near the crack's edge. This discovery may lead to better understanding of material failures and development of new strategies for protecting the environment.

SourceWeizmann Institute of Science·JournalNature Physics·DateAug 23, 2017

Bacterial infection stresses hematopoietic stem cells

Recent research reveals that bacterial infections activate hematopoietic stem cells in the bone marrow, inducing proliferation but also causing stress and reduced ability to produce blood. This finding suggests a link between bacterial infections and dysregulated hematopoiesis, highlighting potential prevention methods for blood diseases.

SourceKumamoto University·JournalCell Stem Cell·DateAug 23, 2017