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Science News for August 22, 2018


Study examines how nurses understand and deal with racism in healthcare

A new study explored how nurses understand and deal with racism in practice, finding mixed understandings and misunderstandings about its nature. The findings suggest an urgent need for interactive and sustained anti-racist education to address structural racism and promote culturally safe healthcare practices.

SourceWiley·JournalJournal of Advanced Nursing·DateAug 22, 2018

Study investigates shortcoming of ITQ systems for fisheries

A new paper warns of the shortcomings of Individual Transferable Quota (ITQ) systems for fisheries, which can discourage development of equitable alternatives. ITQs regulate fisheries access by dividing up total catch limits among individual quota owners, leading to negative consequences for small-scale fisheries and marginalized groups.

SourceUniversity of Alaska Fairbanks·JournalProceedings of the National Academy of Sciences·DateAug 22, 2018

Bees need it colorful

Scientists discovered that bees' quality of life is highest in gardens and biodiverse forests, while lowest in plantations. The decline of biodiversity is linked to bee extinction due to the lack of sufficient food and resources.

SourceUniversity of Würzburg·JournalScientific Reports·DateAug 22, 2018

Water monitor

Researchers at Harvard University have developed a new method to monitor water levels in underground aquifers using seismic noise. They were able to measure the water depth of an aquifer in California to within a centimeter, and estimated that half a cubic kilometer of water was pumped out during a drought. This technique has the poten...

SourceHarvard University·JournalGeophysical Research Letters·DateAug 22, 2018

A milestone for forecasting earthquake hazards

Researchers from Columbia University and USGS develop a physics-based model that replicates California's statistical seismic hazard model. This breakthrough marks a turning point in earthquake forecasting, providing accurate hazard estimates for engineers and regulators to make informed decisions on building codes and construction costs.

SourceColumbia University·JournalScience Advances·DateAug 22, 2018

Rapid development in Central Africa increases the risk of infectious disease outbreaks

The Central Africa region is experiencing rapid urbanization and economic growth, making it more vulnerable to explosive infectious disease outbreaks. The authors note that efforts to build up health care infrastructure are critically needed to mitigate or prevent a large outbreak of Ebola or other infectious diseases in the region.

SourceNIH/National Institute of Allergy and Infectious Diseases·JournalNew England Journal of Medicine·DateAug 22, 2018

Mixed trends in teenage 'new smoker' rates in Europe

A study published in PLOS ONE found that European 'new smoker' rates among younger teens have increased in recent years, while older teens' rates declined from the 1970s to the 2000s. The study suggests that tobacco control measures are necessary to address this trend.

SourcePLOS·JournalPLOS ONE·DateAug 22, 2018

Plant virus alters competition between aphid species

A plant virus manipulates aphid species to its advantage by increasing the nutrients in host plants, making it easier for aphids to feed. This allows late-arriving aphids to outcompete early arriving ones, leading to boosted reproductive success and increased spread of the virus.

SourcePenn State·JournalScientific Reports·DateAug 22, 2018

Connecting the (nano) dots: Big-picture thinking can advance nanoparticle manufacturing

Researchers at NIST and WTEC advocate for a collaborative approach to nanoparticle manufacturing, highlighting the importance of sharing knowledge and resources across disciplines. The study identifies common challenges in material, process, and application, suggesting that solving these problems could advance the entire enterprise.

SourceNational Institute of Standards and Technology (NIST)·JournalACS Applied Nano Materials·DateAug 22, 2018

Does it matter where students sit in lecture halls?

A study found that friendship groups who sat together achieved similar grades, while students sitting alone at the edges tended to do worse. The research suggests that lecturers can use this information to provide targeted support for anxious students and encourage interactions between different groups.

SourceWiley·JournalFEBS Open Bio·DateAug 22, 2018

Getting high on worms

A research team led by Nicholas V. DiPatrizio and Meera G. Nair found that parasitic worms produce cannabis-like molecules during infection, reducing pain and inflammation in the host. This discovery could lead to therapeutic treatments for worm infections and improve outcomes.

SourceUniversity of California - Riverside·JournalInfection and Immunity·DateAug 22, 2018

Parrots' economics

Researchers found that parrots make deliberate, profit-maximizing decisions, prioritizing higher-value food over immediate rewards. However, individual motivation plays a role, with some birds valuing the token itself over economic gain.

SourceMax-Planck-Gesellschaft·JournalScientific Reports·DateAug 22, 2018

Healing after harm: Addressing the emotional toll of harmful medical events

A multidisciplinary group of leaders has established a consensus-driven research agenda to create a path forward for health care organizations. The 'do now' recommendations include broadening organizational approach to harm, involving patients and families in solutions, and establishing patient liaison initiatives.

SourceBeth Israel Deaconess Medical Center·JournalThe Joint Commission Journal on Quality and Patient Safety·DateAug 22, 2018

Study reports successful kidney transplants from donors with a history of hepatitis C

Researchers at Loma Linda University Health found that kidney transplantation can be safely performed using organs testing positive for hepatitis C virus antibody but negative for active viral infection. The study expanded the number of kidneys available for those in need, addressing a shortage in organ donations.

SourceLoma Linda University Adventist Health Sciences Center·JournalAmerican Journal of Transplantation·DateAug 22, 2018

Pointy eggs more likely to stay put in birds' cliffside nests, study finds

A new study by University of Illinois researchers found that the conical shape of murre eggs makes them more stable on cliffside ledges. Increasing the egg's conicality reduced its tendency to roll off the surface, providing experimental support for natural selection shaping the unique form of murre eggs.

SourceUniversity of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign, News Bureau·JournalJournal of Experimental Biology·DateAug 22, 2018

Brazilian D'Or Institute and L'Oréal R&I develop functional human sensory neurons

Researchers from D'Or Institute and L'Oréal R&I successfully generated functional human sensory neurons that respond to painful stimuli. The breakthrough discovery has significant implications for the study of chronic pain, analgesic drugs, and the development of reconstructed human skin with enhanced neuro-inflammation predictivity.

SourceD'Or Institute for Research and Education·JournalFrontiers in Molecular Neuroscience·DateAug 22, 2018

Kids connect with robot reading partners

Researchers at the University of Wisconsin-Madison created a robot named Minnie to serve as a reading buddy to middle school kids, resulting in increased excitement about books and attachment to the robot. The study showed that social learning through interaction with the robot improved comprehension and motivation for reading.

SourceUniversity of Wisconsin-Madison·JournalScience Robotics·DateAug 22, 2018

Murky lakes now surpass clear, blue lakes in US

Research reveals a significant shift from clear to murky lakes in the continental United States over the past five years. Murky lakes have increased by 12% while clear lakes declined by 18%, posing concerns for water quality and aquatic life.

SourceWiley·JournalLimnology and Oceanography·DateAug 22, 2018

Macaws may communicate visually with blushing, ruffled feathers

A recent study published in PLOS ONE found that macaws use facial displays such as blushing and ruffling their head feathers to convey positive emotions during social interactions. The researchers observed that these behaviors were more common when the birds were interacting with humans, suggesting a form of visual communication.

SourcePLOS·JournalPLOS ONE·DateAug 22, 2018

Unexplained illness in Tanzania puts pathogen discovery to the test

Scientists compared two genetic sequencing methods to identify viruses behind illnesses in Tanzania. VirCapSeq-VERT proved more efficient than unbiased high-throughput sequencing, detecting Dengue virus and other pathogens with similar accuracy. The study's findings support the use of VirCapSeq-VERT as a cost-effective method for monit...

Shrimp heal injured fish

Researchers at James Cook University found that shrimp clean parasites from injured fish without aggravating their injuries. The interaction between cleaner shrimp and client fish also reduces stress levels, potentially increasing the fish's ability to heal.

SourceJames Cook University·JournalMarine Biology·DateAug 22, 2018

One of the most popular ADHD drugs may cause hallucinations and other psychotic symptoms

A recent study found that around 1.1% to 2.5% of ADHD patients treated with methylphenidate may experience psychotic symptoms, including hallucinations. The medication, commonly prescribed for attention deficit hyperactivity disorder and narcolepsy, can cause these adverse effects in some children and adolescents.

SourceExeley Inc.·JournalScandinavian Journal of Child and Adolescent Psychiatry and Psychology·DateAug 22, 2018

Breaking down band structures

A team of Harvard researchers has created a system to represent and classify band structures in materials, allowing for the prediction of their properties. This breakthrough can aid in designing new materials with specific electronic properties, such as topological insulators, which have potential applications in quantum computing.

SourceHarvard University·JournalScience Advances·DateAug 22, 2018

New galaxy found?

Chris Carr, an Ohio undergraduate, discovered a new galaxy 37 million lightyears away using deep sky images from the Burrell Schmidt telescope. The detection is part of the Leo I galaxy group and is considered the lowest surface brightness object ever detected via integrated light.

SourceCase Western Reserve University·JournalThe Astrophysical Journal Letters·DateAug 22, 2018

Why are young adults wasting so much food? Study looks at perceptions and food behaviors

A study found that young adults, particularly college students, are high food wasters due to a lack of learned food management behaviors. The study's findings suggest that environmental factors, such as access to refrigerators and cooking facilities, also play a role in their behavior.

Maternal depression may alter stress and immune markers in children

New research suggests that depression in women may impact their children's stress and physical well-being, leading to higher cortisol and s-IgA levels. Children of depressed mothers tend to exhibit psychiatric disorders and social withdrawal. Early interventions targeting maternal stress and parenting behavior are advocated.

SourceWiley·JournalDepression and Anxiety·DateAug 22, 2018

Epic genetic: the hidden story of wheat

The study reveals geographical patterns in epigenetic changes between 100 landraces of wheat, suggesting that these changes have arisen due to environmental conditions. This discovery provides breeders with a new tool to improve how plants respond to local conditions, enabling farmers to grow the best possible crop for their environment.

SourceEarlham Institute·JournalGenome Research·DateAug 22, 2018