Add BrightSurf on Google Email

Science News for May 23, 2017


Vitamin D supplements could help pain management

Research suggests that vitamin D levels combined with good sleep quality can effectively manage conditions like arthritis, menstrual cramps, and chronic back pain. This review highlights the potential benefits of vitamin D supplementation in pain management, offering a new approach to alleviate suffering.

SourceSociety for Endocrinology·JournalJournal of Endocrinology·DateMay 23, 2017

Improve evolution education by teaching genetics first

A large controlled trial found that teaching genetics first significantly improved students' test scores on evolution, especially for foundation classes. The study suggests that priming students with genetics information before teaching evolution can lead to better understanding of this complex concept.

SourcePLOS·JournalPLOS Biology·DateMay 23, 2017

Biosynthetic secrets: How fungi make bioactive compounds

Biological engineers at Utah State University have successfully decoded and reprogrammed fungal biosynthetic machinery to produce natural compounds with anti-cancer, anti-microbial and anti-cholesterol properties. The team has reproduced several bio-active compounds in engineered microbes, including beauvericin and bassianolide.

SourceUtah State University·JournalNature Communications·DateMay 23, 2017

A CLOUD of possibilities: Finding new therapies by combining drugs

Scientists have created a library of 308 compounds to test drug combinations for new therapies. A study found a synergy between flutamide and phenprocoumon that efficiently killed prostate cancer cells, targeting the androgen receptor. The CLOUD library is ideal for discovering new applications for approved active ingredients.

Better science faster

The Ocean Health Index (OHI) researchers adopted collaborative research tools to enhance reproducibility and streamline workflow, making their methods more transparent and efficient. This new approach enables the team to produce better science in less time, sharing their story to encourage others to adopt similar practices.

SourceUniversity of California - Santa Barbara·JournalNature Ecology & Evolution·DateMay 23, 2017

Depression risk following natural disaster can be predicted via pupil dilation

A study by researchers at Binghamton University found that women who experienced higher levels of flood-related stress and displayed decreased pupil dilation to emotional faces were more likely to experience increases in depressive symptoms following the flood. This suggests that pupil dilation analysis could be used to identify those ...

SourceBinghamton University·JournalClinical Psychological Science·DateMay 23, 2017

Comparison of antibiotic treatments for cellulitis

A recent study published in JAMA compared the effectiveness of antibiotics with and without MRSA activity for treating cellulitis. The results showed that while certain groups may benefit from these regimens, further research is needed to confirm the findings. The study also highlights limitations in the current trial design.

SourceJAMA Network·JournalJAMA·DateMay 23, 2017

Pope's encyclical boosted his credibility on climate change, especially among liberals

A study published in Cognition found that Pope Francis's 2015 encyclical on climate change increased perceptions of his credibility on the issue, particularly among liberals, but did not directly influence people's beliefs about its seriousness or effects on the poor. The study used a panel of 602 U.S. adults who completed surveys befo...

You don't see what I see?

A recent study found that cultural differences in visual processing affect the ability to discern simple differences between geometric figures. North Americans took longer to identify a straight line among tilted ones compared to Japanese volunteers.

SourceKyoto University·JournalCognitive Science·DateMay 23, 2017

Weather patterns' influence on frost timing

Researchers from the University of Utah and USGS analyzed 93 years of weather data to find that atmospheric circulation patterns account for 25-48% of variation in frost timing, while global warming contributes 3-5 days to the lengthening of the frost-free season.

SourceUniversity of Utah·JournalNature Communications·DateMay 23, 2017

Study: Street gangs, crime serve as deviant leisure activities for youths

A new study suggests that gang membership and criminal acts serve as deviant leisure activities for young people, filling their needs for excitement and a sense of belonging. The researchers found that many participants enjoyed the violence and experienced a rush during violent incidents, with some likening it to a drug addiction.

Mortality rates lower at major teaching hospitals

A recent study analyzing over 21 million Medicare discharges found that admission to a major teaching hospital was linked to a lower overall 30-day risk of death compared to nonteaching hospitals. The study, published in JAMA, also revealed differences in mortality rates among smaller and larger teaching hospitals.

SourceJAMA Network·JournalJAMA·DateMay 23, 2017

Understanding stars: How tornado-shaped flow in a dynamo strengthens the magnetic field

A new simulation based on the von-Kármán-Sodium (VKS) dynamo experiment investigates the effects of fluid resistivity and turbulence on the collimation of the magnetic field. Researchers found that using magnetized ferromagnetic materials increases the magnetic field collimation, while conducting materials weaken it. This study contrib...

SourceAmerican Institute of Physics·JournalPhysics of Plasmas·DateMay 23, 2017

Do consent decrees adequately address police misconduct?

A study on consent decrees and police misconduct found modest reductions in civil rights filings, suggesting increased public satisfaction with law enforcement agencies. Researchers argue that consent decrees may be a powerful tool for reforming problematic police departments.

SourceWiley·JournalCriminology & Public Policy·DateMay 23, 2017

Where body fat is carried can predict cancer risk

Research published in the British Journal of Cancer found that carrying excess body fat can increase cancer risk, with waistline and hip measurements being key indicators. The study combined data from over 43,000 participants and found that adding just 11cm to the waistline increased obesity-related cancer risk by 13%.

SourceCancer Research UK·JournalBritish Journal of Cancer·DateMay 23, 2017

Food is not just the sum of its nutrients

Researchers from the University of Copenhagen argue that the health effects of a food product cannot be determined solely on the basis of its nutrient content. The findings suggest that interactions between nutrients and bioactive substances can alter the nutritional and health properties of a particular food. This challenges current n...

SourceUniversity of Copenhagen - Faculty of Science·JournalAmerican Journal of Clinical Nutrition·DateMay 23, 2017

Making biological drugs with spider silk protein

Researchers at Karolinska Institutet have successfully synthesized lung surfactant, a drug used in the care of preterm babies, by mimicking the production of spider silk. The new method uses a part of the spider protein that ensures proteins remain soluble and is cheaper and simpler to produce than current methods.

SourceKarolinska Institutet·JournalNature Communications·DateMay 23, 2017

Pediatricians can play a pivotal role in reducing pediatric firearm-related injuries

A review article highlights the prevalence of pediatric firearm-related injuries in the US, with approximately 20,000 children transported to Emergency Departments each year. Pediatricians can play a pivotal role in reducing these injuries by asking patients about access to firearms, encouraging safe storage, and supporting research in...

SourceChildren's National Hospital·JournalHospital Pediatrics·DateMay 23, 2017

Rare tooth find reveals horned dinosaurs in eastern North America

A rare tooth discovery in Mississippi, USA, has revealed that horned dinosaurs, closely related to Triceratops, roamed freely across eastern North America during the Late Cretaceous period. The fossil, dated to around 68-66 million years ago, challenges previous assumptions about the separation of western and eastern continents.

SourcePeerJ·JournalPeerJ·DateMay 23, 2017

Crazy for ant eggs

Scientists at Kyoto University discovered that yellow crazy ant workers produce two types of egg: reproductive and nutritional. The latter variety is fed to larvae and also used as a supplement for queens and other castes.

SourceKyoto University·JournalFrontiers in Zoology·DateMay 23, 2017

What will happen to European criminal law after Brexit?

The UK's departure from the EU will likely result in a loss of flexibility in implementing European criminal law. The country's previous 'pick-and-choose' approach to EU integration is set to be replaced by a more rigid framework. As a result, fundamental rights may be disproportionately affected.

SourceSpringer·JournalCriminal Law Forum·DateMay 23, 2017