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Science News for December 3, 2018


Rural youth with mild head injuries face higher medical costs but get less care

A study by Washington State University found that rural children with mild traumatic brain injuries receive less care and have significantly higher healthcare costs compared to urban youth. This disparity is attributed to limited access to specialized services and a shortage of healthcare providers in rural areas, leading to longer tra...

SourceWashington State University·JournalHealth Services Research·DateDec 3, 2018

Children's Colorado researchers link sleep health to insulin resistance in obese teens

Researchers at Children's Hospital Colorado found that shorter sleep duration, later weekday bedtimes, and poor circadian timing were linked to reduced insulin sensitivity in adolescents with overweight or obesity. The study suggests potential benefits of improving sleep health through interventions like delayed school start times.

SourceChildren's Hospital Colorado·JournalThe Journal of Pediatrics·DateDec 3, 2018

Modelling study suggests that statins may be significantly overprescribed

A modelling study suggests that statins may be significantly overprescribed for people with a 10-year cardiovascular disease risk between 7.5% and 10%. The study found that the benefits of statin therapy did not outweigh the harms until the 10-year CVD risk threshold was above 21% for men aged 70-75, highlighting the need to reassess g...

SourceAmerican College of Physicians·JournalAnnals of Internal Medicine·DateDec 3, 2018

Sea level rise and climate variability

A recent study analyzed climate simulations and found that sea-level rise trends are largely driven by external factors such as aerosols and greenhouse gas emissions. The researchers used satellite altimetry data to calculate the forced response in sea level, which showed significant correlation with internal variability.

SourceProceedings of the National Academy of Sciences·JournalProceedings of the National Academy of Sciences·DateDec 3, 2018

Boys with social difficulties most susceptible to early substance use, study finds

A new study found that boys with social skills problems, anxiety, learning and conduct issues are at the greatest risk of developing aggressive behavior and using tobacco, alcohol and marijuana by the end of eighth grade. The study identified four distinct patterns of co-occurring social-emotional learning and behavioral problems among...

SourceUniversity of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign, News Bureau·JournalThe Journal of Early Adolescence·DateDec 3, 2018

People who prefer casual sex still desire intimacy

A study by Binghamton University researchers found that individuals who prefer casual sex still desire intimacy and affection. The study revealed that partners were more likely to engage in intimate activities in romantic relationships than in casual sex, but the rate of these acts in casual sex was higher than expected.

SourceBinghamton University·JournalJournal of Relationships Research·DateDec 3, 2018

Tele-ERs can help strengthen rural hospitals

A University of Iowa study found that rural hospitals using tele-medicine to back up their emergency room health care providers save an average of $117,000 annually in healthcare provider costs. This model also helps recruit new physicians by offering better work-life balance and reducing burnout.

SourceUniversity of Iowa·JournalHealth Affairs·DateDec 3, 2018

Pulses of sinking carbon reaching the deep sea are not captured in global climate models

A recent study found that pulses of organic carbon reaching the deep sea are not accurately represented in global climate models. The research, conducted at Station M off California's coast, showed a significant increase in pulse events between 2011 and 2017, with 40% of total carbon arriving during these episodes.

SourceMonterey Bay Aquarium Research Institute·JournalProceedings of the National Academy of Sciences·DateDec 3, 2018

Study puts the Neotropics on the map of the world's food production centers in antiquity

A new study reveals that sambaqui societies living in coastal Atlantic Forest areas between 8,000 and 1,000 years ago consumed a range of plants and had a more diversified economy than previously believed. Analysis of their middens shows evidence of plant cultivation and high consumption of carbohydrates.

SourceFundação de Amparo à Pesquisa do Estado de São Paulo·JournalRoyal Society Open Science·DateDec 3, 2018

Study finds toxic flame retardants in children's car seats

A new study by Indiana University scientists found toxic flame retardants in newly manufactured children's car seats, posing risks to children's health. The researchers detected high levels of emerging flame retardant chemicals, including cyclic phosphonate esters and polybrominated diphenyl ethers.

SourceIndiana University·JournalEnvironmental Science & Technology Letters·DateDec 3, 2018

A new approach to studying the flu

Researchers have developed a new method to study the flu virus, allowing them to visualize individual proteins and understand how they contribute to the virus's success. The study suggests that variations in protein composition may be beneficial for the virus, enabling it to spread infection more effectively.

Macroscopic phenomena governed by microscopic physics

A research group at Osaka University has observed magnetic reconnection driven by electron dynamics for the first time in a laboratory setting. The study uses high-power lasers to create plasma conditions similar to those found in space, allowing researchers to investigate electron-scale phenomena alongside macroscopic structures.

SourceOsaka University·JournalNature Communications·DateDec 3, 2018

Life has a new ingredient

Researchers at Harvard University suggest that inosine could have served as a surrogate for guanosine in the early emergence of life. Inosine enabled RNA to replicate with high speed and few errors, supporting its potential role as a backbone of the first cells.

SourceHarvard University·JournalProceedings of the National Academy of Sciences·DateDec 3, 2018

For older adults with heart failure: Can taking too many medications reduce abilities?

A study found that older adults with heart failure who take five or more medications are at higher risk for cognitive impairment and difficulty performing daily activities. The researchers suggest that healthcare providers should consider these limitations when prescribing medications, as they may unnecessarily expose patients to incre...

SourceAmerican Geriatrics Society·JournalJournal of the American Geriatrics Society·DateDec 3, 2018

Artificial intelligence for studying the ancient human populations of Patagonia

Archaeologists used machine learning techniques to classify and predict the technological elements of ancient hunter-gatherer groups in Patagonia. The study identified two distinct 'landscapes' of technology, one for pedestrian groups and another for nautical societies, shedding light on their mobility patterns and interactions.

SourceSpanish Foundation for Science and Technology·JournalRoyal Society Open Science·DateDec 3, 2018

The secret contamination of polar bears

Scientists discover hundreds of unrecognized halogenated contaminants in polar bear serum, including polychlorinated biphenyls and perfluoroalkyl sulfonic acids. The study reveals increasing levels of these pollutants over the past two decades, posing potential health risks to the Arctic ecosystem.

SourceWiley·JournalAngewandte Chemie International Edition·DateDec 3, 2018

Plant cells inherit knowledge of where's up and where's down from mother cell

Researchers at IST Austria found that plant cells inherit knowledge of where is up and down from their mother cell. The directional transport of hormone auxin sets up polarization, but this depends on polar distribution of PIN auxin transporters. Endocytosis and phosphorylation of PIN transporters are crucial for re-establishing polarity.

Opioid prescriptions from dentists linked to youth addiction risk, Stanford study finds

A Stanford University School of Medicine study found that teens and young adults who receive their initial opioid prescriptions from dentists are at increased risk for opioid addiction in the following year. The study, which examined nearly 15,000 patients, found that those who received dental opioid prescriptions were more likely to c...

SourceStanford Medicine·JournalJAMA Internal Medicine·DateDec 3, 2018

What makes rats relapse

A recent study published in JNeurosci found that activation of the anterior insular cortex is a key predictor of relapse after abstinence in male rats. This finding has implications for understanding the neurobiology of relapse and may inform preventative strategies for alcohol use disorder in humans.

In team sports, chemistry matters

Researchers analyzed data from professional sports leagues and online games to find that past shared success among team members boosts their chances of winning future games. The study's findings suggest that team chemistry is a crucial factor in determining team success, transcending cultural differences and industries.

SourceNorthwestern University·JournalNature Human Behaviour·DateDec 3, 2018

Research: A third of hospitalized adolescents with life-threatening anorexia are not thin

A study by Australian Dietitian Melissa Whitelaw found that 51 patients with 'atypical anorexia' had significant eating disorder psychopathology but were not underweight. The patients experienced life-threatening complications such as low pulse rates and deranged blood electrolytes despite being within or above the healthy weight range.

SourceUniversity of Melbourne·JournalJournal of Adolescent Health·DateDec 3, 2018

Young, hip farmers: Coming to a city near you

A new generation of farmers is shifting towards the outskirts of cities with high demand and purchasing power, driven by a desire for healthier food systems and authentic rural identities. The movement, identified by Purdue University researcher Andrew Flachs, thrives in hotspots like central Texas, Oklahoma, and the Great Lakes region.

SourcePurdue University·JournalRural Sociology·DateDec 3, 2018

Can predictive analytics help banks, consumers avoid overdraft issues? New study says, yes

A recent study found that data and predictive analytics can help address the issue of bank overdraft fees, which are a significant source of revenue for banks. The researchers developed policy simulations to show that alternative pricing strategies can increase bank revenue while improving consumer welfare.

Alcohol intake may be key to long-term weight loss for people with diabetes

A new study published in the journal Obesity suggests that alcohol consumption may attenuate long-term weight loss in adults with Type 2 diabetes. Participants who abstained from alcohol during a lifestyle intervention program lost more weight than those who drank, highlighting the importance of limiting alcohol intake for effective we...