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Science News for September 12, 2017


Farming fish

Parrotfish rotationally harvest their favorite food, creating pockets of space without turf algae that enable tiny coral larvae to settle and grow. This behavior supports coral reef health by reducing the harmful impact of turf algae.

SourceUniversity of California - Santa Barbara·JournalMarine Ecology Progress Series·DateSep 12, 2017

Affordable Care Act expands health coverage to more patients, although differences remain

The Affordable Care Act has expanded Medicaid coverage, leading to significant decreases in medical visits among uninsured patients across all racial and ethnic groups. However, disparities persist, with Hispanic patients experiencing smaller declines in uninsured visit rates compared to non-Hispanic whites and blacks.

SourceAmerican Academy of Family Physicians·JournalThe Annals of Family Medicine·DateSep 12, 2017

Small study suggests twice-daily aspirin dosing could lead to more cardiovascular benefits for people with type 2 diabetes

A new study presents evidence that taking aspirin twice daily could provide more cardiovascular benefits for individuals with type 2 diabetes. The research found that platelet aggregation increased over the standard 24-hour dosing interval when aspirin was only taken once daily, suggesting a need for antiplatelet treatment that covers ...

Magnetic cellular 'Legos' for the regenerative medicine of the future

Scientists successfully aggregate cells using only magnets without an external matrix, forming a deformable tissue that can be stretched or compressed at will. This breakthrough approach could revolutionize regenerative medicine by providing a powerful tool for biophysical studies and tissue engineering.

SourceCNRS·JournalNature Communications·DateSep 12, 2017

Why high-fiber diets do not always lead to weight loss

A new study published in International Journal of Obesity suggests that the effectiveness of high-fiber diets depends on the type of bacteria in a person's intestine. The research found that participants with a specific combination of Prevotella and Bacteroides bacteria lost more weight and body fat when following a high-fiber diet.

SourceSpringer·JournalInternational Journal of Obesity·DateSep 12, 2017

Graphene based terahertz absorbers

Researchers have created a terahertz saturable absorber using graphene produced by liquid phase exfoliation, enabling ultrafast lasers with high modulation. The devices have great potential for applications such as time-resolved spectroscopy of gases and molecules, quantum information, and ultra-high speed communication.

SourceGraphene Flagship·JournalNature Communications·DateSep 12, 2017

Storming the cellular barricades to fight fungi

Researchers have created antibody-recruiting molecules targeting fungi (ARM-Fs) that can attach to fungal cell walls and recruit human antibodies to combat infections. These small molecules offer a new strategy for treating fungal diseases affecting thousands of people each year.

SourceYale University·JournalAngewandte Chemie·DateSep 12, 2017

Cancer drug stimulates tripolar mode of mitosis

Researchers have discovered that the taxane drug Paclitaxel stimulates a unique form of cell division called tripolar mitosis, which makes tumor cells more sensitive to radiation therapy. This discovery could lead to the development of personalized treatment strategies by identifying patients with high levels of specific biomarkers.

Want to rebound from failure? Feel the pain

Researchers found that people who focused on their emotions following a failure put forth more effort when they tried again. Emotionally motivated participants spent nearly 25% more time searching for a low-priced book than those with only cognitive responses.

SourceOhio State University·JournalJournal of Behavioral Decision Making·DateSep 12, 2017

Preventing childhood deafness following chemotherapy treatment

Researchers have developed a novel technique to deliver steroids directly into the cochlea, reducing hearing loss caused by cisplatin treatment in mice by 50%. This breakthrough has potential applications for treating various types of hearing loss and could also be used to deliver other drugs and therapies.

SourceFrontiers·JournalFrontiers in Cellular Neuroscience·DateSep 12, 2017

A one-of-a-kind star found to change over decades

Researchers at the University of Notre Dame have discovered that the unique binary star system AR Scorpii exhibits variability on a timescale of decades, contrary to initial expectations. The study found that the system's brightness more than doubled in minutes and hours, but also showed long-term changes over decades.

SourceUniversity of Notre Dame·JournalThe Astrophysical Journal Letters·DateSep 12, 2017

Test may miss diabetes in some African-Americans

Researchers found 60 genetic variants influencing HbA1c measurements and ability to diagnose diabetes. These variants, including one associated with lower HbA1c levels despite high blood glucose, may lead to underdiagnosis of type 2 diabetes in African Americans.

SourcePLOS·JournalPLOS Medicine·DateSep 12, 2017

Primary care practices use 4 complementary methods to identify high-risk patients

Four primary methods are used by primary care practices to risk stratify patient populations: practice-developed algorithm, AAFP clinical algorithm, payer claims/electronic health record, and clinical intuition. Practices that developed their own algorithm identify more high-risk patients than those using other methods.

SourceAmerican Academy of Family Physicians·JournalThe Annals of Family Medicine·DateSep 12, 2017

Research finds entrenched hiring bias against African-Americans

A recent Northwestern University meta-analysis found striking stability in discrimination against African-Americans, despite a decline in Latino discrimination. Researchers analyzed data from field experiments of hiring between 1990 and 2015, finding that racial gaps in the labor force persist regardless of educational attainment.

SourceNorthwestern University·JournalProceedings of the National Academy of Sciences·DateSep 12, 2017

Scientists use mismatch in telescopic data to get a handle on quasars and their 'tails'

Researchers have gained a better understanding of the structure of hot jets and accretion disks surrounding black holes at the center of galaxies. They compared data from radio interferometry and Gaia space observatory, discovering discrepancies in object positions that revealed bright jets emitting visible light in many quasars.

SourceMoscow Institute of Physics and Technology·JournalMonthly Notices of the Royal Astronomical Society·DateSep 12, 2017

Adults with intellectual disabilities are at high risk of preventable emergency admissions

Adults with intellectual disabilities have a nearly threefold higher rate of emergency hospitalizations and five times more preventable admissions than their matched controls. The most common ACSCs resulting in admission are convulsions/epilepsy, lower respiratory tract infection, and urinary tract infection.

SourceAmerican Academy of Family Physicians·JournalThe Annals of Family Medicine·DateSep 12, 2017

US public backs carbon tax, and spending revenue on renewables

A new study found that the majority of Americans support a carbon tax, with 80% wanting revenue used for clean energy development and infrastructure improvements. The average American household is willing to pay $177 per year in carbon tax, generating around $22 billion for investments in renewable energy and infrastructure.

SourceIOP Publishing·JournalEnvironmental Research Letters·DateSep 12, 2017

Churches, places of reference, integration and socialization for the immigrant population

A study by the UPV/EHU-University of the Basque Country found that Pentecostal churches serve as places of reference for migrants to establish relationships, build trust, and share values. Pastors act as cultural mediators, providing essential information on welfare benefits, language skills, and navigating local provinces.

SourceUniversity of the Basque Country·JournalCritical African Studies·DateSep 12, 2017

Therapy proves effective in subgroup of COPD patients

A new antibody treatment has been shown to reduce the rate of exacerbations by nearly 20% in patients with a subgroup of treatment-resistant chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD). The study found that patients with high eosinophil counts benefited more from the treatment, indicating a potential biomarker for the disease.

SourceUniversity of Pittsburgh Schools of the Health Sciences·JournalNew England Journal of Medicine·DateSep 12, 2017

Lay interventions for depression and drinking

Two brief psychological therapies targeting depression and harmful drinking delivered by lay counsellors were effective and sustained over 12 months. The interventions, Healthy Activity Programme (HAP) and Counselling for Alcohol Problems (CAP), showed significant symptom reduction and remission rates.

SourcePLOS·JournalPLOS Medicine·DateSep 12, 2017

'Superbug' bacteria gang up on us, fueled by antibiotic use, nursing home study suggests

Researchers found that 40% of nursing home patients had multiple multidrug-resistant organisms living on their bodies, increasing the risk of urinary tract infections. The study suggests a complex network of interactions among bacteria and antibiotics, highlighting the need for more targeted treatment approaches.

SourceMichigan Medicine - University of Michigan·JournalProceedings of the National Academy of Sciences·DateSep 12, 2017