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Science News for March 6, 2017


Statistics method shows networks differ in epileptic brains

A novel statistical approach has been developed to analyze brain activity data from patients with epilepsy, revealing distinct patterns of connectivity in the brains of those with temporal lobe epilepsy. The findings suggest that abnormal bidirectional interactions may play a role in the development of seizures.

SourceRice University·JournalHuman Brain Mapping·DateMar 6, 2017

NUS study: Safer to ride in yellow taxis

A recent study by National University of Singapore researchers found that yellow taxis have significantly fewer accidents than blue taxis due to their higher visibility. This could lead to substantial cost savings for taxi operators, with an estimated annual savings of S$2 million.

SourceNational University of Singapore·JournalProceedings of the National Academy of Sciences·DateMar 6, 2017

New study shines light on photosynthesis

A recent study published in PNAS has shed light on the long-standing problem of photosynthetic process in plants. Researchers identified the specific regions of Photosystem II protein complex where reactive oxygen species damage occurs, revealing a new paradigm for understanding this vital chemical process.

SourceLouisiana State University·JournalProceedings of the National Academy of Sciences·DateMar 6, 2017

What's the real extent of industry payments to doctors?

A recent survey found that 65 percent of respondents had visited a physician who accepted industry payments, while only 5 percent knew if their own doctor received such favors. The study highlights the need for greater transparency in medical practices.

SourceSpringer·JournalJournal of General Internal Medicine·DateMar 6, 2017

Study finds knee surgery holds even in heavier patients

A new study from Ohio State University Wexner Medical Center reveals that body mass index (BMI) has no effect on meniscus repair surgery failure rates. The research found similar success rates for patients with average and higher BMI, challenging common assumptions about weight and joint pressure.

SourceMediaSource·JournalThe Journal of Knee Surgery·DateMar 6, 2017

The cold exterminated all of them

Researchers found that a 80,000-year ice age caused by volcanic eruptions led to the loss of 95% of marine species during the Permian-Triassic boundary. The study challenges previous theories attributing mass extinctions to warming temperatures.

SourceUniversité de Genève·JournalScientific Reports·DateMar 6, 2017

Available drug may protect ovaries and fertility from damage by chemotherapies

A study found that the drug everolimus protects ovaries from cyclophosphamide, a common chemotherapy used against breast cancer, which depletes egg cells needed to achieve pregnancy. Female mice treated with everolimus and chemotherapy had more than twice as many offspring as those treated with chemotherapy alone.

SourceNYU Langone Health / NYU Grossman School of Medicine·JournalProceedings of the National Academy of Sciences·DateMar 6, 2017

Evidence disproving tropical 'thermostat' theory

Research by Matthew Huber at Purdue University suggests that the tropics warmed significantly during the Paleocene-Eocene Thermal Maximum, which would have made it difficult for some organisms to survive. The findings provide new insights into the Earth's climate history and challenge long-held assumptions about tropical temperatures.

SourcePurdue University·JournalScience Advances·DateMar 6, 2017

Biophysicists propose new approach for membrane protein crystallization

Researchers from MIPT and their international collaborators have developed a novel method to crystallize membrane proteins using synthetic patches called nanodiscs. This approach enables the transfer of membrane proteins into lipidic cubic phase for crystal growth, preserving their functional state and enabling high-resolution X-ray di...

SourceMoscow Institute of Physics and Technology·JournalCrystal Growth & Design·DateMar 6, 2017

Study shows US grasslands affected more by atmospheric dryness than precipitation

A new study published in Nature Geoscience shows that US grasslands are more than three times more sensitive to vapor pressure deficit, or atmospheric dryness, than they are to precipitation. This means that plants in US grasslands are more likely to be damaged by drought due to the high sensitivity of their stomata to dry air.

Breakthrough in live coral imaging

Scientists used OCT to observe tissue organization and behavior of living corals, identifying changes in tissue layers and fluorescent pigments under light exposure. The study reveals that corals expand their surface area at night and produce more mucus upon stress, challenging current assumptions about coral metabolic rates.

SourceUniversity of Copenhagen - Faculty of Science·JournalJournal of The Royal Society Interface·DateMar 6, 2017

1 in 5 residents overuses electricity at neighbors' expense

A new study by Uppsala University reveals that household electricity use can be reduced substantially when residents are forced to pay for their own consumption. The study found that 20% of tenants accounted for up to two-thirds of the reduction in electricity consumption, highlighting the need for fairer distribution of costs.

SourceUppsala University·JournalProceedings of the National Academy of Sciences·DateMar 6, 2017

One-two punch may floor worst infections

McMaster researchers have discovered a new combination therapy that effectively treats the world's worst infectious diseases, including superbugs resistant to all known antibiotics. The treatment targets Gram-negative bacteria with an intrinsically impenetrable outer shell, making infections deadly in hospital settings.

SourceMcMaster University·JournalNature Microbiology·DateMar 6, 2017

Vaginal progesterone reduces the rate of preterm birth

Treatment with vaginal progesterone significantly reduced preterm birth, neonatal complications, and death in pregnant women with twins and a short cervix. The study, which included data from six studies involving 303 women, found that vaginal progesterone use was associated with a 31% lower risk of preterm delivery before 33 weeks.

SourceWayne State University - Office of the Vice President for Research·JournalUltrasound in Obstetrics and Gynecology·DateMar 6, 2017

More social connection online tied to increasing feelings of isolation

A national analysis found that frequent social media use is associated with increased social isolation, even when controlling for demographic factors. The researchers suggest that social media may displace authentic social experiences and elicit feelings of envy, contributing to feelings of isolation.

SourceUniversity of Pittsburgh Schools of the Health Sciences·JournalAmerican Journal of Preventive Medicine·DateMar 6, 2017

New study sheds light on the darker side of business travel

A new study analyzing online public responses to media reporting found that frequent business travelers tend to either 'flourish' or 'flounder' in their careers. The research highlights the need for organizations to develop policies to protect employees from the negative impacts of business travel.

SourceUniversity of Surrey·JournalTransportation Research Part D Transport and Environment·DateMar 6, 2017

Helping women progress in traditionally male dominated fields

Researchers found that women's math and science self-efficacy beliefs and interactions with others about transferring are crucial factors in their intention to transfer to four-year STEM courses. Additionally, diverse backgrounds and personal circumstances, such as marital status and childcare obligations, also play a significant role.

SourceFrontiers·JournalFrontiers in Psychology·DateMar 6, 2017

Unique protein partly to blame for worm's digestive distress

Researchers have discovered a unique protein in the Orsay virus, a nematode worm virus, that plays a crucial role in binding to cells and infecting them. The protein's molecular structure has potential antiviral applications, and its study could guide bioengineers in developing synthetic variations of the virus to target parasitic worms.

SourceRice University·JournalPLOS Pathogens·DateMar 6, 2017

Mouse arrest

A new study published in the Journal of the American Medical Association found that a professional pest management intervention was no better at decreasing asthma symptoms in children allergic to mice than teaching families how to reduce mouse allergens on their own. Both groups showed substantial reductions in mouse allergen levels an...

SourceJohns Hopkins Medicine·JournalJournal of the American Medical Association·DateMar 6, 2017

Early deaths from childhood cancer up to 4 times more common than previously reported

A study published in the Journal of Clinical Oncology finds that childhood cancer deaths within a month of diagnosis are significantly higher than previously reported, affecting young children and minority groups disproportionately. The study used a large national database to find that early deaths from some pediatric cancer subtypes w...

SourceUniversity of Colorado Anschutz Medical Campus·JournalJournal of Clinical Oncology·DateMar 6, 2017

New method rescues donor organs to save lives

Researchers at Columbia University School of Engineering and Applied Science have developed a novel cross-circulation platform that maintains the viability and function of donor lungs for several days. The technology, inspired by an abandoned surgical procedure from the 1960s, enables long-term support of living organs outside the body.

SourceColumbia University School of Engineering and Applied Science·JournalNature Biomedical Engineering·DateMar 6, 2017

Revealing the origin and nature of the outskirts of stellar megalopolises

A team of astronomers has discovered extended stellar envelopes in individual massive elliptical galaxies at half the age of the Universe. The study, published in Monthly Notices of the Royal Astronomical Society, used the Hubble Ultra Deep Field to characterize galactic haloes and reveal the process behind dramatic galaxy growth.

SourceInstituto de Astrofísica de Canarias (IAC)·JournalMonthly Notices of the Royal Astronomical Society·DateMar 6, 2017

Boosting your own defenses against heart disease

A new study by San Diego State University researchers found that a protein called ATF6 promotes the natural ability of heart cells to ward off stress-induced damage during heart attacks. This discovery suggests a novel treatment and prevention strategy for people at risk of heart disease, particularly as they age.

SourceSan Diego State University·JournalCirculation Research·DateMar 6, 2017