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Science News for May 3, 2017


UK health spending needs to grow faster than GDP

New research suggests UK health spending must increase at a rate faster than GDP to meet growing demand for healthcare services. The J-value model, developed by Professor Philip Thomas, indicates that developed countries like France and Germany are already prioritizing health care as a fraction of their income.

SourceUniversity of Bristol·JournalNanotechnology Perceptions·DateMay 3, 2017

How calorie restriction may prolong life

A new review suggests calorie restriction prolongs life by increasing ketone bodies, which decrease malignancies and insulin resistance in mice. Calorie restriction also reduces muscular weakness and blood glucose levels, supporting the theory's potential longevity benefits.

SourceWiley·JournalIUBMB Life·DateMay 3, 2017

New tool reflects black men's experiences of police-based discrimination

A new study develops a tool to catalog police and law enforcement interactions with black men, finding that discrimination is associated with depression symptoms. The Police and Law Enforcement Scale can help document bias and provide greater insight into how institutionalized racism shapes the health of people in black communities.

SourceGeorge Washington University·JournalCultural Diversity and Ethnic Minority Psychology·DateMay 3, 2017

Rub each other up the right way

Research by Sayuri Naruse and Dr Mark Moss from Northumbria University found that couples' physical and mental wellbeing improved after a three-week massage course. The study involved 38 participants who reported significant benefits to their wellbeing, stress coping, and relationship satisfaction.

Daily stress can trigger uptick in illegal drug use for those on parole, probation

A recent study found that even small daily stressors increase illegal drug use among those on parole or probation who have a history of substance use. The researchers also discovered that treatment helps limit substance use over time, and that prevention programs may be more effective with consideration of treatment history.

SourceNorth Carolina State University·JournalPsychology of Addictive Behaviors·DateMay 3, 2017

Cost of Zika outbreak in the United States could be high

A computational analysis led by Johns Hopkins Bloomberg School of Public Health researchers estimates that even a mild Zika outbreak in the US could result in $183 million in medical costs and productivity losses. A more severe outbreak could cost over $1 billion, with increased risks of birth defects and Guillain-Barré syndrome.

SourceJohns Hopkins Bloomberg School of Public Health·JournalPLOS Neglected Tropical Diseases·DateMay 3, 2017

What roundworms can teach us about human growth

Researchers found that activating or deactivating a hormone in roundworms stimulates or stunts growth, mirroring human TRH regulation. This discovery offers new possibilities for research into human growth mechanisms.

SourceKU Leuven·JournalProceedings of the National Academy of Sciences·DateMay 3, 2017

Death rate higher in women than men after discharge from emergency departments for heart arrhythmias

A study published in the Canadian Journal of Cardiology found that women with atrial fibrillation/flutter experienced higher death rates than men 30 and 90 days after discharge from emergency departments. The study analyzed data from 21,062 patients and identified differences in outcomes between male and female patients.

SourceElsevier Health Sciences·JournalCanadian Journal of Cardiology·DateMay 3, 2017

Biophysics: Conflict or coexistence

A team of biophysicists used experiment and mathematical theory to study the changing composition of a mixed bacterial population. They found that in some cases, a strain with a toxin can outcompete another strain, but this depends on various factors such as the environment and initial inoculum size. The results suggest a complex inter...

Research shows prejudice, not principle, often underpins 'free-speech defense' of racist language

Researchers at the University of Kansas conducted a study suggesting that explicit racial prejudice is a reliable predictor of the free speech defense of racist expression. The study found that people with high levels of prejudice were sensitive to their own freedom of expression and used the 'free speech' argument to justify their pre...

SourceUniversity of Kansas·JournalJournal of Personality and Social Psychology·DateMay 3, 2017

Large trial of acupuncture for allergic asthma finds benefits in quality of life

A large randomized controlled trial found that acupuncture significantly improved the quality of life and physical and mental health of patients with allergic asthma. The study involved 1445 participants who received on average 15 acupuncture sessions over three months, with benefits maintained for up to six months.

SourceMary Ann Liebert, Inc./Genetic Engineering News·JournalThe Journal of Alternative and Complementary Medicine·DateMay 3, 2017

Half of breast cancer patients pursue reconstruction without understanding risks

A study conducted by Ohio State University researchers found that over half of breast cancer patients undergoing mastectomy lack necessary medical knowledge to make informed decisions about reconstructive surgery. Only 43% of patients demonstrated adequate understanding of reconstruction facts and made choices aligned with their prefer...

Spotted skunk evolution driven by climate change

Scientists analyzed DNA samples from 97 western spotted skunks and found three genetic sub-groups corresponding to different climate refugia created by Ice Age climate change. This discovery suggests that climate change played a more important role in the evolution of spotted skunks than geographical barriers.

SourceField Museum·JournalEcology and Evolution·DateMay 3, 2017

Making the numbers work: Researchers use math to develop personalized chemo treatments

Researchers at Florida State University have developed a statistical model that ranks chemotherapy treatment options for patients based on the gene expression profile of their tumor. The model takes into account both effectiveness and potential side effects, predicting a higher complete response rate for some subtypes of breast cancer.

SourceFlorida State University·JournalScientific Reports·DateMay 3, 2017

How technology use affects at-risk adolescents

A new study from Duke University found that adolescents already at risk for mental health issues face increased attention, behavior, and self-regulation problems when using technology. However, excessive digital device use was also linked to fewer symptoms of depression and anxiety.

SourceDuke University·JournalChild Development·DateMay 3, 2017

Phthalates increase the risk of allergies among children

Researchers found that phthalate exposure during pregnancy and breastfeeding can lead to epigenetic modifications in children, increasing the risk of developing allergic asthma. The study also showed that the effects are not limited to the child, as the offspring of exposed mothers continued to be affected even after birth.

SourceHelmholtz Centre for Environmental Research - UFZ·JournalJournal of Allergy and Clinical Immunology·DateMay 3, 2017

How do fishes perceive their environment?

Scientists at the University of Bonn have created a realistic 3D model of a fish's lateral line system, allowing them to simulate precise current conditions. The results show that anatomical adaptations minimize background noise, enabling fishes to navigate and identify prey with high accuracy.

SourceUniversity of Bonn·JournalJournal of The Royal Society Interface·DateMay 3, 2017

Hand that sees offers new hope to amputees

A new generation of prosthetic limbs with built-in cameras can now automatically pick up objects, eliminating the need for manual control. Researchers at Newcastle University have developed a 'hand that sees' using computer vision and neural networks, which can assess object shape and size in real-time to trigger precise movements.

SourceNewcastle University·JournalJournal of Neural Engineering·DateMay 3, 2017

Modified soybeans yield more in future climate conditions

Researchers have engineered soybeans to withstand increased temperature and carbon dioxide levels, resulting in higher yields in future climate conditions. The modified crops outperformed conventional soybeans in field studies conducted at SoyFACE, a facility emulating future atmospheric conditions.

Robots may bring reef relief

A study has mapped nearly two square kilometers of seafloor around the leeward side of Bonaire, revealing new details about mesophotic reefs. The data can help local conservation efforts by identifying areas worthy of further investigation and providing insights into reef dynamics.

SourceUniversity of Delaware·JournalFrontiers in Marine Science·DateMay 3, 2017

One step closer to finding out how wine may protect your neurons

Researchers found that wine-derived human gut metabolites are protective against neuronal death in human cells under stress conditions. The exact composition of these metabolites depends on the individual's gut microbiota, highlighting the importance of personalized nutrition in preventing neurodegenerative diseases.

SourceFrontiers·JournalFrontiers in Nutrition·DateMay 3, 2017

New hope in the fight against superbugs

Researchers at McGill University have discovered how specific bacterial enzymes, known as kinases, confer resistance to macrolide antibiotics. The study provides a detailed atomic view of the kinases and their interaction with different macrolide antibiotics, paving the way for the design of next-generation antibiotics.

SourceMcGill University·JournalStructure·DateMay 3, 2017

'Last African dinosaur' discovered in Moroccan mine

A study led by the University of Bath discovered a distinct dinosaur fauna in Africa at the end of the Cretaceous period. The newly discovered species, Chenanisaurus barbaricus, was found in phosphate deposits in Morocco and is considered one of the last dinosaurs on Earth before its extinction.

SourceUniversity of Bath·JournalCretaceous Research·DateMay 3, 2017

You're not too old to learn that

A new theory published in the journal Human Development proposes that adults can learn new skills and combat cognitive aging by adopting broad learning strategies similar to those used in infancy. By embracing open-minded learning, individualized scaffolding, growth mindset, forgiving environment, serious commitment to learning, and le...

SourceUniversity of California - Riverside·JournalHuman Development·DateMay 3, 2017

Doctoring the soil

Researchers found that minimizing soil disturbance, ensuring permanent organic cover crops, and diversifying crops through crop rotation improved soil properties. These techniques created a beneficial environment for microorganisms, fungi, and earthworms, ultimately leading to increased crop productivity and reduced erosion.

SourceAmerican Society of Agronomy·JournalSoil Science Society of America Journal·DateMay 3, 2017

Cardiorespiratory fitness can reduce risk of fatty liver

A Finnish study finds that moderate cardiorespiratory fitness protects against fatty liver, a significant public health concern linked to metabolic disturbances and cardiovascular disease. Achieving cardiorespiratory fitness can help mitigate the risk of fatty liver, regardless of weight status.

SourceUniversity of Turku·JournalMedicine & Science in Sports & Exercise·DateMay 3, 2017