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Science News Archive July 2018 - Page 2


Page 2 of 38

Survey of Sexual Medicine Society members reveals only half ask for patients' sexual orientation

A survey of Sexual Medicine Society members found that only half routinely ask patients about their sexual orientation, with 40% of those who don't believe it's relevant to good patient care. The study highlights the need for more professional and patient education to address the LGBT community's unique health needs.

SourceJohns Hopkins Medicine·JournalThe Journal of Sexual Medicine·DateJul 31, 2018

Juvenile justice practices in Europe can inform practices in the United States

Research from Germany, Netherlands, and Croatia highlights the importance of adopting special laws and procedures for youth aged 18-25 in the US. These countries apply juvenile sanctions and facilities, divert more juveniles, and rely on educational approaches to address delinquent behavior. By considering these European strategies, US...

SourceCrime and Justice Research Alliance·JournalJustice Evaluation Journal·DateJul 31, 2018

River complexity maintains regional population stability

A study by Hokkaido University researchers found that branching complexity of rivers, rather than ecosystem size, contributes to regional population stability in nature. This challenges current theories and highlights the importance of environmental diversity in maintaining stable populations.

SourceHokkaido University·JournalProceedings of the National Academy of Sciences·DateJul 31, 2018

Distracted pedestrians walk slower and are less steady on their feet: UBC study

A UBC study analyzed pedestrian behavior at a busy intersection in Kamloops, B.C., finding that over a third of pedestrians were distracted by their cellphones. Distracted pedestrians had slower walking speeds, more unstable gait patterns, and took longer to cross the road, increasing the risk of conflicts with vehicles.

SourceUniversity of British Columbia·JournalTransportation Research Record Journal of the Transportation Research Board·DateJul 31, 2018

Largest king penguin colony has shrunk nearly 90 percent

The largest king penguin colony on Île aux Cochons has plummeted in size by nearly 90%, with researchers attributing the decline to climate change and vegetation encroachment. Satellite images reveal that the colony's population began declining in the late 1990s, coinciding with a major climatic event related to El Niño.

SourceCNRS·JournalAntarctic Science·DateJul 30, 2018

What keeps the brain awake

A subset of dopaminergic neurons are inhibited during the day by light-responsive neuropeptide Pigment Dispersing Factor (PDF) and its receptor (PDFR), promoting wakefulness. High daytime levels of PDF increase daytime sleep, while reducing PDFR expression decreases daytime sleep.

SourceSociety for Neuroscience·JournaleNeuro·DateJul 30, 2018

Peste des petits ruminants: a model for use in eradicating the disease

Researchers developed a dynamic model to simulate virus spread and conducted a national serological study to assess transmission levels and vaccine coverage required. The results suggest that certain pastoral production systems act as virus reservoirs, emphasizing the need for adapted vaccination strategies in high-risk populations.

SourceCirad·JournalProceedings of the National Academy of Sciences·DateJul 30, 2018

New approach to terpene syntheses

Chemists at the University of Basel have developed a novel synthesis method for terpenes that uses molecular capsules to mimic nature. The method significantly reduces the number of steps and improves yield in the synthesis process.

SourceUniversity of Basel·JournalNature Catalysis·DateJul 30, 2018

Brain game doesn't offer brain gain

Researchers debunk claims that brain training games improve working memory and cognitive skills, finding no transfer between trained and untrained tasks. The study's findings support previous research showing that getting good at one game does not enhance IQ or working memory.

SourceUniversity of Western Ontario·JournalNeuropsychologia·DateJul 30, 2018

Injectable trace minerals improve oxidative stress after aflatoxin challenge in dairy cows

A new study found that injectable trace minerals alleviate inflammation and oxidative stress in lactating Holstein cows exposed to aflatoxin. The researchers discovered that the minerals increased liver concentrations of selenium and iron and boosted serum glutathione peroxidase activity.

Plate tectonics not needed to sustain life

A computer model of a planet's lifecycle reveals stagnant lid planets can sustain liquid water and potentially life for billions of years. The presence and amount of heat-producing elements are key indicators of habitability, according to Penn State researchers.

SourcePenn State·JournalAstrobiology·DateJul 30, 2018

Better way found to determine the integrity of metals

A new AI model developed by researchers at the University of Waterloo can accurately detect atomic structures in metals, leading to greater confidence in determining their integrity. The system uses deep learning and generates images of defects to produce a highly effective algorithm for identifying various types of crystal structures.

SourceUniversity of Waterloo·JournalNature Communications·DateJul 30, 2018

Lasers write better anodes

Researchers at KAUST have developed a laser-based process to create three-dimensional hard carbon anodes with improved conductivity and capacity for sodium-ion batteries. This breakthrough enables the mass production of high-performance anodes, paving the way for widespread adoption of sodium-ion batteries in energy storage applications.

SourceKing Abdullah University of Science & Technology (KAUST)·JournalAdvanced Energy Materials·DateJul 30, 2018