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Science News for December 12, 2017


Immune diseases inflict identical twins differently

Researchers at Osaka University found that differences in methylation patterns of specific genes and chromosomes are linked to the development of autoimmune thyroid diseases. This discovery highlights the importance of considering both genetic and epigenetic factors in diagnosing metabolic disorders.

SourceOsaka University·JournalThyroid·DateDec 12, 2017

Spinal cord injury affects the heart

Research published in Experimental Physiology found that spinal cord injury affects the heart, with changes dependent on injury severity. The study suggests preserving more nerve fibers can improve heart function in individuals with spinal cord injury, who are at higher risk of heart disease.

SourceThe Physiological Society·JournalExperimental Physiology·DateDec 12, 2017

Strong relationship between self-efficacy and exercise among women veterans discovered

A strong relationship was discovered between self-efficacy and exercise among women veterans with fibromyalgia, revealing positive effects on exercise adoption and maintenance. The study highlights the importance of tailored exercise programs to individual needs, aiming to improve overall quality of life and functioning.

SourceBoston University School of Medicine·JournalAmerican Journal of Lifestyle Medicine·DateDec 12, 2017

The Lancet Public Health: Living near physical activity facilities linked to smaller waistline, lower BMI and lower body fat percentage

A study published in The Lancet Public Health found that people living within a kilometre of physical activity facilities have smaller waist circumferences, lower BMI, and lower body fat percentages. Increasing access to physical activity facilities and reducing fast food outlets may help reduce obesity.

SourceThe Lancet·JournalThe Lancet Public Health·DateDec 12, 2017

Sandia researchers make solid ground toward better lithium-ion battery interfaces

Researchers at Sandia National Laboratories identified major obstacles to advancing solid-state lithium-ion battery performance, focusing on the flow of lithium ions across battery interfaces. By improving the interfaces between materials, they aim to make solid-state batteries more efficient and reduce traffic jams in small electronics.

SourceDOE/Sandia National Laboratories·JournalNano Letters·DateDec 12, 2017

Will people eat relish made from 'waste' ingredients? Drexel study finds they may even prefer it

A Drexel University study found that consumers may prefer food products made from surplus ingredients, which could help alleviate global food insecurity. The researchers examined consumer preferences for value-added surplus products and found that they were perceived as a unique category with benefits to the environment.

SourceDrexel University·JournalNOLEGEIN-Journal of Consumer Behavior & Market Research·DateDec 12, 2017

Cystic fibrosis: Discovery of a key molecule for improving treatments

A team of researchers at the University of Montreal Hospital Research Centre has discovered a promising solution to improving treatments for cystic fibrosis. By adding quorum-sensing inhibitors to current drugs, they were able to restore treatment efficacy in cells of cystic fibrosis patients.

SourceUniversity of Montreal Hospital Research Centre (CRCHUM)·JournalFrontiers in Cellular and Infection Microbiology·DateDec 12, 2017

Centralized population health coordinators improve care for patients with chronic disease

A centralized chronic disease management program produced significant improvements in patient outcomes for those with diabetes, hypertension, or cardiovascular disease. Practices with central population health coordinators showed greater improvements in testing and clinical targets compared to those without coordinators.

SourceMassachusetts General Hospital·JournalThe American Journal of Managed Care·DateDec 12, 2017

Estrogen discovery could shed new light on fertility problems

Researchers at University of Wisconsin-Madison discover estrogen produced in brain is necessary for ovulation in monkeys, potentially revealing cause of infertility problems and pointing to new methods of birth control. The discovery challenges traditional understanding of hormonal cascade leading to egg release from ovaries.

SourceUniversity of Wisconsin-Madison·JournalProceedings of the National Academy of Sciences·DateDec 12, 2017

Columbia engineers create artificial graphene in a nanofabricated semiconductor structure

Researchers have successfully engineered artificial graphene in a nanofabricated semiconductor structure, offering more versatile properties than natural graphene. This breakthrough could lead to the development of new electronic switches, transistors, and storage methods based on exotic quantum mechanical states.

Don't mix business with pleasure

A study of 1,916 employees found that those who integrated work into their personal life were more exhausted and had a lower sense of balance and well-being. Employees who did not separate work from free time reported fewer recovery activities and experienced greater exhaustion.

SourceSpringer·JournalJournal of Business and Psychology·DateDec 12, 2017

Mathematicians crack 44-year-old problem

Zilin Jiang and Alexandr Polyanskii have proved László Fejes Tóth's zone conjecture, solving a 44-year-old problem in discrete geometry. The proof shows that a unit sphere can be covered with zones of combined width π, enabling new problems to be formulated and having practical applications in coding, data transmission, and logistics.

SourceMoscow Institute of Physics and Technology·JournalGeometric and Functional Analysis·DateDec 12, 2017

Researchers develop new model to predict which universities student athletes will attend

Researchers developed a new model to predict university commitment from high school athletes' Twitter interactions, providing insights into recruitment efforts. The study found that interacting with a university on Twitter increases the odds of attending by 85%, while following coaches or fellow recruits boosts likelihood by 47-62%.

Study: Suburban ponds are a septic buffet

A new study by Yale University researchers found that human waste is a significant source of nutrients in suburban ponds. The study analyzed the nitrogen stable isotope composition of different pond organisms and discovered that many received up to 70% of their nitrogen from septic wastewater.

SourceYale University·JournalCanadian Journal of Fisheries and Aquatic Sciences·DateDec 12, 2017