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Science News for July 24, 2017


Aggressive UTI bacteria hijack copper, feed off it

E. coli bacteria hijack trace amounts of copper in the body to fuel growth and reproduce, a finding that could lead to new treatments for hard-to-treat UTIs. The 'nutritional passivation' strategy involves binding to metals like nickel, cobalt, and chromium to bring in controlled amounts of essential nutrients.

SourceWashU Medicine·JournalNature Chemical Biology·DateJul 24, 2017

Tai chi may help prevent falls in older and at-risk adults

A study published in the Journal of the American Geriatrics Society found that tai chi significantly reduced the rate of falls by 43% compared to other interventions. Tai chi also showed promise in reducing injurious falls risk, with a 50% reduction over short-term follow-up.

SourceWiley·JournalJournal of the American Geriatrics Society·DateJul 24, 2017

Undetected infection

A study found that 7% of healthy Santa Barbara residents tested positive for raccoon roundworm antibodies, highlighting a previously undetected human infection risk. The parasite can survive over a year in the environment and cause severe health effects, including blindness or brain damage.

SourceUniversity of California - Santa Barbara·JournalEmerging Infectious Diseases·DateJul 24, 2017

FSU researcher paves new path toward preventing obesity

A Florida State University researcher has found a strong connection between an unstable childhood and a higher risk of obesity in adulthood. By applying the Life History Theory perspective, Jon Maner discovered that people with unpredictable childhoods tend to adopt a fast-life-history strategy, prioritizing short-term gratification ov...

SourceFlorida State University·JournalProceedings of the National Academy of Sciences·DateJul 24, 2017

Allowable 'carbon budget' most likely overestimated

Researchers found that using a true non-industrially influenced baseline could reduce the available carbon budget for meeting the 2°C warming limit. The study suggests that assuming a late 19th-century baseline may be underestimating the warming already taken place.

SourcePenn State·JournalNature Climate Change·DateJul 24, 2017

Eye test could help diagnose autism

A new study suggests that an eye test could be a useful tool in diagnosing Autism spectrum disorders (ASD) by assessing the ability of individuals to adapt saccade amplitudes. This test may indicate deficits in the brain's emotional and social development areas, which are often impaired in individuals with ASD.

SourceUniversity of Rochester Medical Center·JournalEuropean Journal of Neuroscience·DateJul 24, 2017

UC research examines lung cell turnover as risk factor & target for treatment of influenza pneumonia

Research at the University of Cincinnati reveals that stimuli inducing lung cell division increase the spread of influenza to the alveoli, making these cells a vulnerable target. Interventions preventing alveolar cell division reduce mortality in animal models, offering potential prophylactic and therapeutic strategies for influenza pn...

SourceUniversity of Cincinnati·JournalProceedings of the National Academy of Sciences·DateJul 24, 2017

Rainforest metropolis casts 1,000 km shadow on wildlife

A new study published in PNAS reveals that urban food demand in the Amazon can impact wildlife as far as 1,000 km away from the city. Researchers found a 50% reduction in fish size and catch rate near Manaus due to overfishing by city-based boats, which also led to larger fish being more common and easier to catch further away.

SourceLancaster University·JournalProceedings of the National Academy of Sciences·DateJul 24, 2017

Additional studies needed to evaluate CVD risks of hormone therapy for transgender patients

New narrative review calls for additional research to better understand cardiovascular disease (CVD) and risk factors in transgender individuals receiving long-term cross-sex hormone therapy. Studies suggest worsening cardiovascular risk factors in transgender men and increased thromboembolic risk in transgender women.

SourceBrigham and Women's Hospital·JournalAnnals of Internal Medicine·DateJul 24, 2017

AAP counsels pediatricians to focus on clusters of cardiometabolic risk factors to help obese kids

The American Academy of Pediatrics recommends focusing on clusters of cardiometabolic risk factors, such as high blood sugar, hypertension, and obesity, to identify overweight or obese children at highest risk for cardiovascular and metabolic complications. Pediatricians should target youth with multiple component risk factors for more...

SourceChildren's National Hospital·JournalPEDIATRICS·DateJul 24, 2017

Anti-cancer chemotherapeutic agent inhibits glioblastoma growth and radiation resistance

Researchers discovered a novel molecular mechanism that maintains glioma stem cells, which are responsible for tumorigenesis, treatment resistance, and tumor recurrence in glioblastoma. A small molecule inhibitor CMP3a selectively inhibits NEK2 kinase activity to promote tumor growth and radiation resistance.

SourceUniversity of Alabama at Birmingham·JournalJournal of Clinical Investigation·DateJul 24, 2017

Does the Affordable Care Act impact patient visits in the emergency department?

Researchers found that Medicaid expansion under the ACA reduced total emergency department visits in Maryland by nearly 36,000, with a 6% increase in Medicaid-covered visits and a 6% decrease in uninsured patient visits. The study suggests that while the ACA did not immediately reduce emergency department utilization, it provides incre...

SourceJohns Hopkins Medicine·JournalAnnals of Emergency Medicine·DateJul 24, 2017

Weight in adolescence may affect colorectal cancer risk

A new study has found a link between adolescent obesity and an increased risk of developing colon and rectal cancer in adulthood. The study analyzed data from over 1.7 million Israeli males and females, finding that being overweight or obese at age 17 was associated with a significantly higher risk of colorectal cancer.

SourceWiley·JournalCancer·DateJul 24, 2017

Chances to treat childhood dementia

Childhood dementia, an inherited disorder affecting brain metabolism, shows promise in treating with immunomodulators. Inflammation of the brain is a key feature, and drugs like fingolimod and teriflunomide have shown therapeutic effects in mouse models.

SourceUniversity of Würzburg·JournalMolecular Therapy·DateJul 24, 2017

Exposure to violence hinders short-term memory, cognitive control

A study published in PNAS found that exposure to violent episodes hinders short-term memory and cognitive control, with significant impacts on school performance, job prospects, and overall life success. Researchers examined civilians in Colombia, finding long-lasting effects of violence on cognition and memory recall.

SourcePrinceton School of Public and International Affairs·JournalProceedings of the National Academy of Sciences·DateJul 24, 2017

Molecular archaeology

A new phylogenetic tree resolves key relationships among vertebrates, including the identification of lungfishes as closest living relatives of land vertebrates. The study uses a novel set of analyses for building large-scale genomic datasets.

SourceUniversity of Konstanz·JournalNature Ecology & Evolution·DateJul 24, 2017

Working around spinal injuries

Researchers found that rats partially recovered hind limb movement using cycling, semi-load bearing treadmill training, and serotonin treatment without healing the spinal cord break. The body re-routes nerve cell outputs to control muscles and stiffens back muscles to support weight and independent steps.

The coast is not so clear

A new study synthesizes research on coastal armoring and its ecological effects, revealing gaps in knowledge and highlighting the need for more studies. The study evaluates a conceptual model that predicts ecological responses to armoring across various soft sediment ecosystems.

SourceUniversity of California - Santa Barbara·JournalEstuaries and Coasts·DateJul 24, 2017

Shining rings: A new material emits white light when exposed to electricity

Scientists at Nagoya University developed a new material that conducts electricity and emits white light when exposed to electricity. The 'responsive porous host' method allows for predictable synthesis of stimuli-responsive materials with potential applications in memory devices, artificial muscles, and drug delivery systems.

SourceInstitute of Transformative Bio-Molecules (ITbM), Nagoya University·JournalAngewandte Chemie International Edition·DateJul 24, 2017

Nutritional value of soybean meal varies among sources from different countries

Research from the University of Illinois found that soybean meal produced in different countries has varying levels of digestible protein and amino acids. The study suggests that US, Indian, and Brazilian soybean meals have higher concentrations of these nutrients compared to Argentine and Chinese alternatives.

The oldest 'bad boy' in the world

Researchers at Friedrich Schiller University Jena reconstructed a 300 million-year-old beetle from Australia, shedding new light on the earliest developments in beetles. The 'Bad Boy' exhibits an unorthodox mix of ancestral and modern characteristics, challenging traditional beetle classification.

SourceFriedrich-Schiller-Universitaet Jena·JournalJournal of Systematic Palaeontology·DateJul 24, 2017

Multitasking monolayers

Researchers at Vanderbilt University have developed a method to produce patterned monolayers that can perform multiple functions, such as catalyzing chemical reactions and sensing molecules. These materials offer a new option for device designers, allowing for the creation of single materials with two functionalities.

SourceVanderbilt University·JournalNature Materials·DateJul 24, 2017

How fear alone can cause animal extinction

A recent study found that the scent of a praying mantis can cause fruit flies to spend less time eating, more time being vigilant, and produce fewer offspring, leading to increased extinction risk. The study sheds light on the Allee effect, a long-standing biological conundrum related to population size and extinction.

Study finds 90 percent of American men overfat

A recent study published in Frontiers in Public Health found that up to 90% of adult males and 50% of children in the US may be overfat. The condition is linked to various health problems, including hypertension, coronary heart disease, and Type 2 diabetes.

SourceFrontiers·JournalFrontiers in Public Health·DateJul 24, 2017

Stroke survivors without early complications at long-term risk of death, stroke

A new study published in CMAJ found that people who survive a stroke or mini-stroke without early complications have an increased risk of death and stroke for at least 5 years following the initial event. Researchers recommend long-term management of modifiable risks, such as high blood pressure and physical activity, to reduce this risk.

SourceCanadian Medical Association Journal·JournalCanadian Medical Association Journal·DateJul 24, 2017

New vaccine production could improve flu shot accuracy

Researchers at Duke University have developed a new way to produce the seasonal flu vaccine that could speed up production and provide better protection against infection. By keeping the human influenza virus from mutating during production, they generate a perfect match to the target vaccine in a shorter time frame.

SourceDuke University·JournalmBio·DateJul 24, 2017