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Science News Archive October 2017 - Page 11


Page 11 of 43

'Choosing Wisely' movement: Off to a good start, but change needed for continued success

The Choosing Wisely movement has successfully started conversations about low-value care, but its impact is limited by the difficulty in changing doctor behavior. Researchers recommend prioritizing recommendations, consolidating guidelines, and evaluating efforts to make a greater difference in quality and value in healthcare.

Managing risky behavior reduces future incarceration among aggressive juvenile offenders

A two-week intervention program focusing on reducing risky behavior was found to be effective in reducing aggression and future incarceration rates among clinically aggressive juvenile offenders. The program, PHAT Life, taught youth to identify triggers for high-risk behavior and develop coping strategies.

SourceUniversity of Illinois Chicago·JournalJournal of the American Academy of Child & Adolescent Psychiatry·DateOct 24, 2017

Jumping nanoparticles

The study confirms Einstein's theoretical analysis of Brownian motion by observing the Kramers turnover in levitated nanoparticles. The researchers found that the transition rate between states depends on friction and grows with decreasing friction before decreasing again at low friction levels.

SourceUniversity of Vienna·JournalNature Nanotechnology·DateOct 24, 2017

Novel histone modifications couple metabolism to gene activity

Scientists have discovered two new classes of histone modifications that couple cellular metabolism to gene activity, providing a potential mechanism for environmental influences on gene expression. The novel marks, propionylation and butyrylation, are linked to fatty acid metabolism and can drive transcription in test tube experiments.

Universities should actively support open scholarship

A new article in PLOS Biology argues that universities should support the sharing of educational resources to benefit society. The author proposes several ways institutions can counter practices that inhibit open information flow, including awarding faculty prizes for community engagement.

SourcePLOS·JournalPLOS Biology·DateOct 24, 2017

Electronic entropy enhances water splitting

Researchers at Northwestern University have discovered that cerium's electronic entropy is the underlying reason for its success in water-splitting technologies. Cerium's large entropy makes it ideal for hydrogen production, opening up possibilities for future work in creating a more efficient and environmentally friendly energy system.

SourceNorthwestern University·JournalNature Communications·DateOct 24, 2017

How to predict high school dropouts

Researchers from Lancaster University found that teenagers who do not access healthcare when needed are at greater risk of dropping out of high school. More than one in five young people globally experience this issue, leading to increased unemployment, poor health, and crime.

SourceLancaster University·JournalJournal of Economic Psychology·DateOct 24, 2017

A quantum spin liquid

Scientists from Boston College and Harvard have successfully created a copper iridate metal oxide that meets the Kitaev model's standards, enabling a chemical entity known as a 'spin liquid' with free-flowing properties. The material's unique honeycomb structure disrupts natural magnetic order, producing geometric frustration.

SourceBoston College·JournalJournal of the American Chemical Society·DateOct 24, 2017

Study explores the seasonality of hair loss

A new study analyzes Google Trends data across eight countries, finding summer and fall seasons correlate with greater hair loss. The findings provide evidence for seasonality in hair loss at a population level, supporting future research into the physiology of the hair cycle.

SourceWiley·JournalBritish Journal of Dermatology·DateOct 24, 2017

Organic material matters

A team of scientists from UC Santa Barbara tested the effect of sulfurized nano-zero-valent iron on a common freshwater alga and found that it picked up cadmium and alleviated toxicity. Organic material produced by the algae mitigated the nanoparticle's toxicity, allowing for greater remediation.

New combination therapy of registered drugs shortens anti-Wolbachia therapy

A new combination therapy using registered drugs albendazole and antibiotics has dramatically shortened treatment time for lymphatic filariasis and onchocerciasis, reducing it from weeks to just seven days. This breakthrough could accelerate elimination of these debilitating diseases, prioritized by the UN's Sustainable Development Goals.

SourceLiverpool School of Tropical Medicine·JournalProceedings of the National Academy of Sciences·DateOct 24, 2017

UBC researchers create definitive method to detect wildfire tainted wine grapes

Researchers at UBC Okanagan campus have created a definitive method to detect wildfire-tainted wine grapes, providing accurate and quick results. The new test detects volatile phenols present in the fruit prior to wine production, helping wine producers and grape growers manage the impact of smoke exposure on wine flavor.

SourceUniversity of British Columbia Okanagan campus·JournalJournal of Agricultural and Food Chemistry·DateOct 24, 2017

Auxin tells the stem cells to stop growing and the gynoecium to start forming in flowers

Researchers at Nara Institute of Science and Technology identified CRABS CLAW as a key molecule that controls the termination of stem cell growth and the formation of gynoecium in flowers, promoting floral reproduction. The study also shows auxin homeostasis is regulated by TORNADO2, providing insight into flower development.

SourceNara Institute of Science and Technology·JournalNature Communications·DateOct 24, 2017

Study provides more clarity on the genetic causes of children's food allergies

A study published in Nature Communications has identified five genetic risk loci associated with food allergies in children, highlighting the importance of skin and mucous membrane barriers. The research, involving over 1,500 participants, also found that four of the five risk loci are linked to other chronic inflammatory diseases.