Add BrightSurf on Google Email

Science News Archive August 2017 - Page 12


Page 12 of 41

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