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Science News Archive July 2018 - Page 36


Page 36 of 38

A first look at interstitial fluid flow in the brain

A team of researchers has developed a new method to measure and reconstruct interstitial fluid flow velocities in the brain. The technique reveals high variability in flow rates and magnitudes, contradicting the classical idea of a uniform flow rate. This discovery could potentially help predict tumor growth and improve cancer treatments.

SourceAmerican Institute of Physics·JournalAPL Bioengineering·DateJul 3, 2018

Pelvic exams do not help diagnose STDs in adolescent girls, study says

A new study published in Annals of Emergency Medicine found that pelvic exams lack reliability and provide little new information for diagnosing sexually transmitted diseases (STDs) in adolescent females. The study's authors argue that rapid urine STD testing provides a more accurate and less invasive way to diagnose these diseases.

SourceAmerican College of Emergency Physicians·JournalAnnals of Emergency Medicine·DateJul 3, 2018

Energizing eggs with a patient's own mitochondria offers no benefit in assisted reproduction

A randomized trial tested the effectiveness of energizing eggs with a patient's own mitochondria in assisted reproduction. The procedure was found to have no impact on pregnancy or live birth rates, contradicting previous claims. The study suggests that the technique is not beneficial for patients with a poor prognosis for success.

Gulf Stream eddies as a source of iron

Researchers from ETH Zurich have found that cold, iron-rich seawater from the North American continental slope is captured by meanders of the Gulf Stream and carried out to the North Atlantic Gyre, enriching it with iron. The study suggests that this source may deliver up to 15% of the iron delivered by Saharan dust.

SourceETH Zurich·JournalNature Geoscience·DateJul 3, 2018

Illinois child care providers need resources to serve children with disabilities

A recent statewide survey of Illinois child care providers and early interventionists reveals that many struggle to accommodate infants and toddlers with disabilities in their settings. The study highlights the need for training and resources to support caregivers in identifying and supporting children with disabilities. The findings e...

SourceUniversity of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign, News Bureau·JournalEarly Childhood Education Journal·DateJul 3, 2018

World's first animals caused global warming

Researchers found that early animals caused a decrease in oxygen levels and increase in carbon dioxide, leading to global warming. This process had a massive impact on the environment, contributing to mass extinctions during animal evolution's first 100 million years.

SourceUniversity of Exeter·JournalNature Communications·DateJul 2, 2018

Study identifies which marine mammals are most at risk from increased Arctic ship traffic

A recent study published in the Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences found that narwhals, beluga, and bowhead whales are most vulnerable to vessel traffic in the Arctic. The researchers identified two 'pinch points' where ships and animals are most likely to intersect, including the Bering Strait and Lancaster Sound.

SourceUniversity of Washington·JournalProceedings of the National Academy of Sciences·DateJul 2, 2018

Utah soil's slippery grip on nutrients

Researchers found that lawns in Salt Lake Valley up to 100 years old show no signs of being saturated with fertilizer nutrient nitrogen, contradicting previous studies. The study suggests that natural processes may account for the unusual pattern, including storage in the soil and losses through groundwater leaching.

SourceUniversity of Utah·JournalOecologia·DateJul 2, 2018

Hope for new catalysts with high activity

Researchers at Osaka University have elucidated the activation mechanism of nanoporous gold catalysts, making poisonous CO gas harmless. The study used atomic-scale resolution environmental transmission electron microscopy and computer simulations to reveal the role of residual impurities in catalyzing chemical reactions.

SourceOsaka University·JournalNature Communications·DateJul 2, 2018

Diesel doesn't float this boat

A zero-emissions marine research vessel, nicknamed the Zero-V, is technically and economically feasible to build using hydrogen fuel cells. The project aims to reduce air and ocean pollution while providing a stable platform for scientists to conduct research in sensitive ecological areas.

'Cataclysmic' collision shaped Uranus' evolution

Researchers at Durham University found that a massive collision with an object twice the size of Earth likely tilted Uranus on its side. The impact may have trapped heat, explaining the planet's extremely cold temperature. Simulations also suggest this event could have formed Uranus' rings and moons.

A refined magnetic sense

Researchers have developed a refined magnetic sense using algorithms and hardware from quantum computation, achieving six times higher sensitivity than classical methods. The transmon qubit-based magnetometer uses adaptive phase-estimation schemes to measure the strength of external magnetic fields.

SourceETH Zurich Department of Physics·Journalnpj Quantum Information·DateJul 2, 2018

Study reveals how polymers relax after stressful processing

A new study reveals that entangled, long-chain polymers in solutions relax at two different rates, marking an advancement in fundamental polymer physics. The findings will provide a better understanding of the physical properties of polymeric materials and individual polymer molecule behavior under high-stress processing conditions.

SourceUniversity of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign, News Bureau·JournalPhysical Review Letters·DateJul 2, 2018

Alzheimer's in mini format: A novel tool to study disease mechanisms and possible remedies

A novel stem cell-based model system mimics human brain tissue and reproduces features of Alzheimer's disease, indicating that modulating the immune system can trigger neuronal repair processes. The study suggests a potential approach to therapy by unlocking the potential of neural stem cells to build new neurons.