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Science News Archive December 2017 - Page 21


Page 21 of 33

Sustainable dams -- are they possible?

Researchers at Arizona State University propose a spectral analysis tool to predict fisheries production and inform flow management strategies in the Mekong basin. A new study suggests this tool could provide innovative solutions for preserving river flow and biodiversity conservation in developing countries.

SourceColorado State University·JournalScience·DateDec 11, 2017

Dynamics of vaccination

A study analyzed Twitter and Google search data to identify trends in vaccine sentiment before the 2014-2015 Disneyland measles outbreak. The findings suggest that social media users' attitudes toward vaccines exhibit increased variability, characteristic of systems approaching a tipping point.

SourceProceedings of the National Academy of Sciences·JournalProceedings of the National Academy of Sciences·DateDec 11, 2017

Sources of environmental vanadium

The study found that human activities release significant amounts of vanadium into the environment, primarily through fossil fuel extraction and combustion. The annual global flux of vanadium is dominated by anthropogenic processes, with emissions to the atmosphere estimated to exceed natural emissions by up to 1.7.

SourceProceedings of the National Academy of Sciences·JournalProceedings of the National Academy of Sciences·DateDec 11, 2017

Cold suns, warm exoplanets and methane blankets

Researchers developed a model that shows how planetary chemistry could create a greenhouse effect on an exoplanet, keeping it warm despite a cold sun. The model, based on Earth's possible geological and biological chemistry three billion years ago, suggests that methane may have played a key role in maintaining the planet's temperature.

SourceGeorgia Institute of Technology·JournalNature Geoscience·DateDec 11, 2017

Two holograms in one surface

A team of researchers at Caltech has developed a way to encode multiple holographic images in a single surface using carefully engineered silicon oxide and aluminum surfaces. The technology works by reflecting light differently depending on the angle of incoming light, allowing for high-quality images with no loss of resolution.

SourceCalifornia Institute of Technology·JournalPhysical Review X·DateDec 11, 2017

New study identifies genetic basis for western corn rootworm resistance in maize

Researchers have identified regions of the genome contributing to resistance against western corn rootworm, with ascorbate biosynthesis and nematode-attracting compounds implicated in the process. The study's findings offer hope for developing native resistance mechanisms into elite hybrids without using transgenics.

Tumors heat up

Scientists improve photothermal properties of bismuth sulfide nanorods by adding gold nanodots, increasing heat generation in tumor cells under near-infrared light irradiation. This leads to enhanced inhibition of tumor growth with no toxic side effects.

SourceWiley·JournalAngewandte Chemie International Edition·DateDec 11, 2017

Use of chemotherapy for early stage breast cancer declines, Stanford-led study says

A Stanford-led study of nearly 3,000 women with early stage breast cancer reveals a significant decline in chemotherapy use between 2013 and 2015, from 34.5% to 21.3%. This decrease reflects a growing trend towards personalized treatment approaches, with physicians increasingly considering tumor genomic testing to guide treatment choices.

SourceStanford Medicine·JournalJNCI Journal of the National Cancer Institute·DateDec 11, 2017

Typhoid fever toxin has a sweet tooth

A new study found that Salmonella typhi toxin targets specific cells expressing multiantennal glycan receptors, which could lead to the development of targeted treatments for typhoid fever. The research also highlights the potential for sugar-based therapeutics to combat antibiotic-resistant diseases.

SourceCornell University·JournalNature Microbiology·DateDec 11, 2017

The Lancet Gastroenterology & Hepatology: Drug combined with food desensitization may help to relieve allergies for children with multiple food allergies

A clinical trial found that combining an antibody drug with food desensitization treatment improved allergy relief for children with multiple food allergies. The treatment, omalizumab, showed promising results in reducing allergic reactions when introducing small amounts of trigger foods into their diet.

SourceThe Lancet·JournalThe Lancet Gastroenterology & Hepatology·DateDec 11, 2017

Insecticides for malaria vectors

A study of over 7,500 children in Sudan found that indoor nonpyrethroid insecticide spraying was more effective at reducing malaria incidence than pyrethroid spraying. The increased cost of using nonpyrethroid insecticides is relatively low, suggesting that resistance to pyrethroids may be driving the switch.

SourceProceedings of the National Academy of Sciences·JournalProceedings of the National Academy of Sciences·DateDec 11, 2017

African deforestation not as great as feared

Researchers at Yale University have reestimated African deforestation, finding a 21.7% loss of closed-canopy forests since 1900. The study highlights the importance of focusing conservation efforts in areas with actual deforestation rather than incorrectly labelled savannas.

SourceYale University·JournalNature Ecology & Evolution·DateDec 11, 2017

Managing concerning behaviors when opioids are taken for chronic pain

A new study establishes expert consensus on managing concerning behaviors in patients taking opioids for chronic pain, including assessing risk and safety concerns, identifying pain symptoms, and providing patient education. The study also highlights the importance of referral to other pharmacologic and non-pharmacologic therapies.

SourceUniversity of Pittsburgh Schools of the Health Sciences·JournalJournal of General Internal Medicine·DateDec 11, 2017

The origin of the Andes unraveled

The Andes were formed due to the South American subduction zone, where an oceanic plate sinks into the Earth's mantle, causing crustal shortening and mountain building. The subduction zone's size and depth led to large-scale flow in the deep mantle, resulting in the continent's westward drag and collision with the subduction zone.

SourceVrije Universiteit Amsterdam·JournalNature Communications·DateDec 11, 2017