Add BrightSurf on Google Email

Science News for July 10, 2018


A chaperonin protein, GroEL, has a more complex mechanism than was thought before

A Kanazawa University-led team used high-speed atomic force microscopy to study GroEL's mechanism, finding two alternative pathways for the protein-GroES interaction. The research suggests a more active role for the football-shaped structure in protein folding, challenging conventional models of molecular chaperone function.

SourceKanazawa University·JournalPhilosophical Transactions of the Royal Society of London (B )·DateJul 10, 2018

Carbon is the new black

Carbon nanotubes enable the creation of 'smart' materials for powering electronics, with potential applications in military technology and medical research. The unique properties of carbon nanotubes make them suitable for replacing traditional materials such as copper wire and polyester fibers.

SourceUniversity of Cincinnati·JournalMaterials Research Express·DateJul 10, 2018

Regulation reality gap for small businesses bodes ill for Brexit

A study by the University of Bath found a significant knowledge gap between small business owners' perceived and actual understanding of key regulatory areas. This gap can lead to non-compliance and negative consequences, including fines and reputational damage. The researchers suggest that Trade Associations play a crucial role in add...

SourceUniversity of Bath·JournalBritish Journal of Management·DateJul 10, 2018

Want an expensive engagement ring? Looks count

Research suggests that men will purchase more expensive engagement rings when imagining themselves with an attractive woman, while women prioritize larger rings with their less attractive partner. Women who rate themselves as physically attractive also opt for pricier rings.

SourceSpringer·JournalEvolutionary Psychological Science·DateJul 10, 2018

Unplugged holidays tipped to increase

Research from James Cook University suggests digital-free tourism is gaining traction, with luxury resorts and isolated island destinations capitalizing on the trend. The study found growing media coverage of digital-detox holidays, which are expected to expand into more services and programs.

SourceJames Cook University·JournalTourism Management·DateJul 10, 2018

Stop antibiotics before resistance 'tipping point'

New evidence suggests that reducing antibiotic course length can reduce the risk of resistance. Microbial communities can reach a tipping point when exposed to antibiotics, leading to an irreversible shift towards drug resistance. Stopping treatment too soon may not prevent resistance from occurring.

SourceUniversity of Exeter·JournalNature Ecology & Evolution·DateJul 10, 2018

Game changing game changes

A new framework, described in a paper published in Nature, models the evolution of cooperation based on repeated stochastic games. The system shows that even if cooperation does not evolve in individual games, it can emerge when combined with multiple games.

SourceHarvard University·JournalNature·DateJul 10, 2018

Ecology and AI

Researchers from Harvard University and others demonstrated that deep learning can identify animal images with 99.3% accuracy, automating a laborious process. The technology has the potential to revolutionize fields like wildlife ecology and conservation.

SourceHarvard University·JournalProceedings of the National Academy of Sciences·DateJul 10, 2018

Developmental screening and surveillance rates remain low, new study suggests

A new study suggests that developmental screening and surveillance rates remain low in the US, with only about one-third of young children receiving recommended screenings. The study found significant variations in rates across states, with Oregon performing as the top state and Mississippi struggling to meet the 17% benchmark.

Two new USPSTF recommendation statements

The USPSTF concludes that current evidence is insufficient to make recommendations on screening for PAD and CVD risk with ABI in asymptomatic adults. Additionally, the task force finds that adding ABI, hsCRP level, and CAC score to traditional risk assessments does not prevent CVD events in asymptomatic adults.

SourceJAMA Network·JournalJAMA·DateJul 10, 2018

Challenging the conventional wisdom on calculus

A Harvard University study of over 6,000 college freshmen found that students who mastered algebra, geometry, and trigonometry had twice the impact on college calculus success as those who took calculus in high school. Weaker math students who took calculus in high school actually benefited the most from the class.

SourceHarvard University·JournalJournal for Research in Mathematics Education·DateJul 10, 2018

Face value

Researchers developed a video game, VERITAS, that improves players' ability to discern truth from lies. After one hour of training, players can accurately detect truth 68% of the time, compared to 56% initially.

SourceUniversity of California - Santa Barbara·JournalComputers in Human Behavior·DateJul 10, 2018

Living in areas with less sun may increase your risk of OCD

A study from Binghamton University found that individuals living in areas with lower sunlight exposure may have a higher risk of developing obsessive-compulsive disorder (OCD). The researchers suggest that reduced morning light exposure could disrupt the internal biology and external light-dark cycle, leading to increased OCD symptoms.

SourceBinghamton University·JournalJournal of Obsessive-Compulsive and Related Disorders·DateJul 10, 2018

Unique brain 'fingerprint' can predict drug effectiveness

Researchers developed a personalized Therapeutic Intervention Fingerprint (pTIF) to predict the effectiveness of targeting specific biological factors for controlling neurological disease progression. This technique can categorize patients with their unique physiological needs, leading to more effective and tailored treatments.

SourceMcGill University·JournalNeuroImage·DateJul 10, 2018

As brain extracts meaning from vision, study tracks progression of processing

A new study tracked how the brain processes visual information from simple sensory inputs to meaningful categories, finding a continuum of activity across multiple cortical regions. The research challenges classic beliefs about separate regions playing distinct roles, suggesting a more integrated network of functional similarities.

SourcePicower Institute at MIT·JournalProceedings of the National Academy of Sciences·DateJul 10, 2018

Individual characteristics that predict multiple chronic conditions are identified

A 10-year study found that age, low socioeconomic status, obesity, and low physical activity are positively associated with the risk of developing multimorbidity. Promoting healthy lifestyles and targeting an internal locus of control may help empower patients to achieve behavior change and reduce multimorbidity incidence.

SourceAmerican Academy of Family Physicians·JournalThe Annals of Family Medicine·DateJul 10, 2018

What is the role of the physician when a patient discloses intimate partner violence perpetration?

Researchers recommend that physicians assess lethality and readiness to change, as well as comorbid medical conditions. They should refer perpetrators to trained therapists and offer education on IPV's negative impact on victims and abusers. Regular follow-up is also necessary to support behavior change.

SourceBoston University School of Medicine·JournalThe Journal of the American Board of Family Medicine·DateJul 10, 2018

Aspirin desensitization improves alcohol-induced allergies in patients with underlying respiratory disease

A new study led by the University of Pennsylvania School of Medicine finds that aspirin desensitization can also alleviate alcohol-induced allergies in patients with Aspirin Exacerbated Respiratory Disease (AERD). Following treatment, 86.5% of patients reported they could drink alcohol without experiencing symptoms.

SourceUniversity of Pennsylvania School of Medicine·JournalInternational Forum of Allergy & Rhinology·DateJul 10, 2018

Vitamin D no defense against dementia

Researchers from the University of Adelaide conducted a systematic review of over 70 studies on vitamin D's role in neurodegenerative diseases, including multiple sclerosis, Parkinson's disease, and Alzheimer's disease. The findings suggest that vitamin D is unlikely to protect against these brain-related disorders.

SourceUniversity of Adelaide·JournalNutritional Neuroscience·DateJul 10, 2018

An ATM that dispenses antioxidants

A recent study published in Science Signaling reveals that the ATM protein plays a dual role in sensing cellular threats and repairing damage. It forms dimers when exposed to ROS, triggering an increase in cellular antioxidant capacity through the pentose phosphate pathway.

SourceSalk Institute·JournalScience Signaling·DateJul 10, 2018

Towards winning the war on feral wild rabbits

Two biological control agents, myxoma and rabbit haemorrhagic disease viruses, have been found to work together to control feral rabbit populations in Australia. The study used data from the largest wild rabbit study in the world to show that both viruses are effective when acting together.

SourceUniversity of Adelaide·JournalJournal of Animal Ecology·DateJul 10, 2018

IBM-EPFL-NJIT team demonstrates novel synaptic architecture for brain inspired computing

The researchers developed a novel synaptic architecture that could lead to a new class of information processing systems inspired by the brain. Prototype chips containing over one million nanoscale memristive devices were used to implement a neural network for detecting hidden patterns and correlations in time-varying signals.

SourceNew Jersey Institute of Technology·JournalNature Communications·DateJul 10, 2018

Teen crash risk highest during first three months after getting driver's license

A study by the NIH found that teenage drivers are eight times more likely to be involved in a collision or near miss during their first three months of independent driving. During this period, teens also exhibit four times more risky behaviors, such as rapid acceleration and hard turns.

Strategy for 'no-mining zones' in the deep sea

Researchers develop comprehensive set of criteria to identify areas of environmental importance where no mining should occur. The guidelines, which include 18 quantitative metrics, aim to protect a wide range of habitats and species that might be harmed by mining activities.

SourceDuke University·JournalScience Advances·DateJul 10, 2018

Brain metastases common and difficult to treat in ROS1 lung cancer

A University of Colorado Cancer Center study found that brain metastases are a common occurrence in stage IV ROS1-positive non-small cell lung cancer. The study also showed that patients with ROS1 mutations had similar progression-free survival rates as ALK patients when treated with crizotinib, but with a higher risk of brain metastas...

SourceUniversity of Colorado Anschutz Medical Campus·JournalJournal of Thoracic Oncology·DateJul 10, 2018

That sound makes me dizzy

University of Utah engineers uncover the reasons behind vertigo caused by specific sounds, linking it to a thinning of the bone enclosing the inner ear. The study reveals pathological fluid mechanical waves in the semicircular canals as the culprit, causing incorrect signals sent to the brain.

SourceUniversity of Utah·JournalScientific Reports·DateJul 10, 2018