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Science News for February 13, 2017


American College of Physicians issues guideline for treating nonradicular low back pain

The American College of Physicians issues a guideline for treating nonradicular low back pain, recommending non-drug therapies such as superficial heat, massage, and acupuncture. For chronic low back pain, the ACP suggests exercise, multidisciplinary rehabilitation, and mindfulness-based stress reduction as initial treatment options.

SourceAmerican College of Physicians·JournalAnnals of Internal Medicine·DateFeb 13, 2017

What are the financial barriers to adherence to treatment in neurology?

A new study found that financial barriers significantly impact medication adherence in neurology patients, with the majority of nonadherence cases attributed to costs. The study suggests that tailored strategies are needed to identify and address these issues, particularly among cognitively- and socioeconomically vulnerable populations.

SourceDove Medical Press·JournalClinicoEconomics and Outcomes Research·DateFeb 13, 2017

Accelerated chlorophyll reaction in microdroplets to reveal secret of photosynthesis

Researchers found that chlorophyll demetallation reacts a thousand times faster in microdroplets without enzymes, suggesting a new mechanism for photosynthesis control. This discovery could lead to better understanding of photosynthesis and contribute to more efficient photosynthesis research.

SourceDGIST (Daegu Gyeongbuk Institute of Science and Technology)·JournalQuarterly Reviews of Biophysics·DateFeb 13, 2017

Testosterone therapy provides protection against cardiovascular disease in men with low testosterone

A new study found that long-term testosterone therapy improves vigor and vitality, while reducing the risk of death due to cardiovascular disease in men with hypogonadism. The research suggests that testosterone therapy is an effective approach for secondary prevention in hypogonadal men with a history of cardiovascular events.

SourceBoston University School of Medicine·JournalJournal of Cardiovascular Pharmacology and Therapeutics·DateFeb 13, 2017

Are drones disturbing marine mammals?

Researchers have found that drone noise does not travel far into the water, posing little threat to marine mammals. The study suggests that UAVs can be used safely in marine environments with proper permits and guidelines.

SourceFrontiers·JournalFrontiers in Marine Science·DateFeb 13, 2017

New RNAi treatment targets eye inflammation

A new RNAi treatment has shown significant improvement in mouse models of acute uveitis and chronic diabetic inflammation without apparent side effects. The therapy targets the receptor-associated prorenin system, involved in uveitis pathogenesis.

SourceHokkaido University·JournalMolecular Therapy — Nucleic Acids·DateFeb 13, 2017

Team makes planet hunting a group effort, finds more than 100 candidates

The international team released a large dataset of exoplanet-detecting observations using the radial velocity method, identifying over 100 potential planets, including one orbiting the fourth-closest star to our Solar System. The data will enable astronomers around the globe to search for new planets and follow up on existing signals.

SourceCarnegie Institution for Science·JournalThe Astronomical Journal·DateFeb 13, 2017

The ultimate green technology

A team of scientists at the University of Alberta has successfully applied atomic force microscopy to pattern and image electronic circuits at the atomic level. This breakthrough could lead to the development of ultra-fast and ultra-low-power silicon-based circuits, potentially revolutionizing the technology industry.

SourceUniversity of Alberta·JournalNature Communications·DateFeb 13, 2017

Cellular quality control process could be Huntington's disease drug target

A study by Duke Health researchers has identified a shared root cause of Huntington's disease with Alzheimer's and other neurodegenerative diseases. The team found that a biochemical explanation for the breakdown of quality control processes in Huntington's disease, which can be restored by chemically inhibiting CK2, holds promise for ...

SourceDuke University Medical Center·JournalNature Communications·DateFeb 13, 2017

Understanding enzymes

Researchers have developed a new tool to accurately identify enzymes present in microbiomes and quantify their relative abundances. This breakthrough may uncover novel chemistry in the gut microbiome and provide insights into its impact on human health.

SourceHarvard University·JournalScience·DateFeb 13, 2017

Inducing an identity crisis in liver cells may help diabetics

Researchers have successfully reprogrammed liver cells to behave like precursor cells that give rise to the pancreas, paving the way for potential cell therapies for type I diabetes. By altering a single gene, the team induced an identity crisis in liver cells, which then developed into cells with pancreatic properties.

Dietary supplement could improve heart health

Research suggests that supplementing mice with quercetin improves biomedical outcomes, providing anti-inflammatory and antioxidant effects. The study also found that quercetin-fed mice were more active than control groups, which could be beneficial for Duchenne Muscular Dystrophy patients.

SourceThe Physiological Society·JournalExperimental Physiology·DateFeb 13, 2017

Mutant maize offers key to understanding plant growth

Researchers used live cell time-lapse imaging to investigate maize mutant growth, finding that delays in cell division can lead to growth defects when paired with improper division plane orientation. This study provides crucial details for understanding plant growth and may have long-term implications for developing short-stature maize...

SourceUniversity of California - Riverside·JournalProceedings of the National Academy of Sciences·DateFeb 13, 2017

New research shows that proteins are 'virtually' knotted

New research by University of Bristol physicists shows that protein molecules can be understood using virtual knots, a branch of knot theory previously considered abstract. This approach captures the essential ambiguity of where protein curve ends are, providing a more detailed understanding of their three-dimensional structure.

SourceUniversity of Bristol·JournalScientific Reports·DateFeb 13, 2017

Career military women who served in Vietnam: Happier and in better health than all women

A study by Columbia University's Mailman School of Public Health found that career military women were happier and had better physical and mental health than the general population. They also reported positive experiences, such as satisfaction with their work with wounded troops and civilians in Vietnam.

SourceColumbia University's Mailman School of Public Health·JournalSocial Science & Medicine·DateFeb 13, 2017

Finding our way around DNA

A team at Salk Institute developed REPTILE algorithm to predict regulatory elements in noncoding regions of the genome. The method combines histone modification and methylation data for more accurate predictions, paving the way for targeted searches for disease-causing genetic variants.

SourceSalk Institute·JournalProceedings of the National Academy of Sciences·DateFeb 13, 2017

Insurance status impacts complication rates after shoulder replacement surgery

A study analyzing over 100,000 shoulder replacement surgery cases found that patients with Medicaid or no insurance had significantly higher complication rates compared to privately insured patients. Disparities in postoperative outcomes were attributed to lack of access to preoperative and postoperative care due to socioeconomic factors.

SourceBoston University School of Medicine·JournalJournal of Shoulder and Elbow Surgery·DateFeb 13, 2017

Success by deception

Researchers developed a novel neural network method that can categorize complex datasets without prior knowledge. By using an 'act as if' principle, they trained networks to mimic human intuition, allowing them to identify boundaries in data. This method has potential applications in physics analysis, machine learning, and data mining.

SourceETH Zurich·JournalNature Physics·DateFeb 13, 2017

Low birth weight babies at higher risk for mental health problems later in life

Babies born with extremely low birth weight are at risk for mental health problems such as attention deficit hyperactivity disorder and anxiety. The studies found these risks began in childhood and extended into adulthood, with significantly higher levels of depression and social problems among adults born with extremely low birth weight.

SourceAmerican Psychological Association·JournalPsychological Bulletin·DateFeb 13, 2017

How many calories in that tweet?

A team of scientists invented a new instrument, called the Lexicocalorimeter, to measure the caloric content of social media posts. The device gathers geo-tagged Twitter posts and scores them based on typical calorie content and activity burn rates to provide insights into public health.

SourceUniversity of Vermont·JournalPLOS ONE·DateFeb 13, 2017

Looking at Sardinian DNA for genetic clues to an island's -- and Europe's -- past

A recent study analyzing 3,491 modern Sardinian mitochondrial DNA genomes reveals that the island is home to unique genetic haplogroups, which likely arose after its initial occupation. These findings support archaeological evidence of a Mesolithic occupation and suggest a dual ancestral origin of the first inhabitants.

Neurons support cancer growth throughout the body

Recent studies found that tumors exploit neuronal signals to grow and thrive. Researchers aim to develop targeted therapies by interrupting specific molecular pathways co-opted by tumor cells. This growing understanding sheds light on cancer pathology observations.

SourceCell Press·JournalTrends in Cancer·DateFeb 13, 2017

The damage of discrimination

A Harvard study found that minority workers perform worse under biased managers, with a 53rd percentile performance rate compared to the 79th percentile under unbiased managers. This disparity is due to biased managers interacting less with minorities, leading to reduced productivity and lower pay for minority workers.

SourceHarvard University·JournalThe Quarterly Journal of Economics·DateFeb 13, 2017

Your brain on exercise

Researchers at UC Santa Barbara found that low-intensity exercise increases activation in the visual cortex, enhancing information representation and selectivity. This effect is linked to increased arousal, which may provide a competitive advantage.

SourceUniversity of California - Santa Barbara·JournalJournal of Cognitive Neuroscience·DateFeb 13, 2017

How evolution alters biological invasions

Rutgers scientists studied evolution in invaded ecosystems using glass jar experiments with thousands of microscopic organisms. The study found that microbes' interactions altered performance and led to differences in resident and invading species.

SourceRutgers University·JournalNature Ecology & Evolution·DateFeb 13, 2017

For decision-makers who want the best, focus on the strategy

Research shows that people who focus on finding the best option (maximizers) may experience frustration and regret when re-evaluating their choices. Maximizing can lead to depression, lower life satisfaction, and procrastination. On the other hand, a strategic approach to decision-making can lead to satisfying outcomes.

SourceSociety for Personality and Social Psychology·JournalPersonality and Social Psychology Bulletin·DateFeb 13, 2017

New method to detect ultrasound with light

Northwestern University scientists have developed a tiny, transparent device that can detect ultrasound waves, potentially helping diagnose diseases like macular degeneration and diabetes. The Micro-ring resonator detector uses optical ultrasound detection methods to create high-resolution images of biological materials.

SourceNorthwestern University·JournalIEEE Transactions on Biomedical Engineering·DateFeb 13, 2017

How eating less can slow the aging process

Researchers found that reducing calorie consumption slows down ribosome production, giving cells extra time to repair themselves and maintaining overall bodily function. This study provides insights into the mechanisms of aging and may help inform decisions about diet and nutrition.

SourceBrigham Young University·JournalMolecular & Cellular Proteomics·DateFeb 13, 2017

Using high-resolution satellites to measure African farm yields

Researchers developed a method to estimate crop yields from space using high-resolution satellites, which could improve agricultural productivity and test intervention strategies. By combining satellite imagery with computer models of crop growth, they achieved surprisingly accurate predictions of actual productivity on the field.

SourceStanford's School of Earth, Energy & Environmental Sciences·JournalProceedings of the National Academy of Sciences·DateFeb 13, 2017