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Science News Archive 2018 - Page 177


Page 177 of 473

As body mass index increases, blood pressure may as well

A large-scale study found a positive association between body mass index and blood pressure, with a mean increase of 0.8-1.7 mm Hg per unit increase in BMI. The study's findings have implications for China's high blood pressure crisis and suggest the need for earlier and more frequent use of antihypertensive drugs.

SourceYale University·JournalJAMA Network Open·DateAug 17, 2018

Automated detection of focal epileptic seizures in a sentinel area of the human brain

A team of researchers at University of Alabama at Birmingham has identified a sentinel area of the brain that may give an early warning before clinical seizure manifestations appear. An algorithm was also developed to automatically detect this early warning, allowing for neurostimulation of the sentinel area to potentially block seizures.

SourceUniversity of Alabama at Birmingham·JournalEpilepsy Research·DateAug 17, 2018

Study confirms truth behind 'Darwin's moth'

Researchers found that pale peppered moths are more camouflaged against lichen-covered tree bark than dark moths, making them less likely to be eaten by birds in unpolluted woodland. This supports Darwin's theory of evolution by natural selection and provides key evidence for the evolutionary advantage of camouflage.

SourceUniversity of Exeter·JournalCommunications Biology·DateAug 17, 2018

HIV and a tale of a few cities

Researchers studied the impact of public health-oriented drug law reforms on HIV incidence among people who inject drugs in Tijuana, Mexico. Implementing reforms could prevent 21% of new HIV infections if incarceration is reduced and individuals are diverted to evidence-based treatment.

SourceUniversity of California - San Diego·JournalThe Lancet Public Health·DateAug 17, 2018

Experiences at first sexual encounter impact risk of HIV and violence for women in Kenya

Research suggests that conditions of a first sexual encounter, such as age and consent, can indicate future risk of HIV infection and gender-based violence. Adolescent girls and young women who experience forced or coerced sex encounters are four to five times more likely to face ongoing gender-based violence.

SourceSt. Michael's Hospital·JournalJAIDS Journal of Acquired Immune Deficiency Syndromes·DateAug 17, 2018

Perinatal hypoxia associated with long-term cerebellar learning deficits and Purkinje cell misfiring

A study by Children's National Health System researchers found that chronic sublethal hypoxia causes locomotor miscoordination and long-term cerebellar learning deficits. Restoring GABA levels with an off-the-shelf medicine improves Purkinje cell firing and locomotor performance in a model of neonatal brain injury.

SourceChildren's National Hospital·JournalNature Communications·DateAug 17, 2018

For children with complex medical situations, a new roadmap for improving health

A new roadmap for improving health has been developed by UCLA researchers using software that aggregates data on how to treat conditions of children with complex medical situations. The team identified 10 key health outcome domains, including social integration and family support, to help provide a comprehensive model of care.

Progress toward personalized medicine

Scientists have introduced a microfluidic chip for manipulation and nucleic-acid analysis of individual cells. The technique uses dielectrophoresis to trap and analyze cells efficiently, overcoming conventional methods' limitations. This innovation paves the way for personalized medicine and improved diagnostics.

SourceWiley·JournalAngewandte Chemie International Edition·DateAug 17, 2018

Volcano eruptions at different latitudes impact sea surface temperature differently

Researchers have found that volcanic eruptions cause different impacts on sea surface temperature (SST) gradients over the equatorial Pacific, depending on their latitude. Northern and tropical eruptions lead to El Nino-like warm SST anomalies in the eastern Pacific, while southern eruptions result in weaker warming anomalies with an e...

When sulfur disappears without trace

Researchers have developed a new synthetic route to 1,4-dicarbonyls, a class of molecules found in natural products, drug targets, and pharmaceuticals. By using sulfoxides, a type of oxidized sulfur compound, they can create multiple isomers selectively.

SourceUniversity of Vienna·JournalScience·DateAug 16, 2018