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Science News Archive July 2018 - Page 9


Page 9 of 38

Space-age tech offers timely crop data relief

The EcoProMIS project aims to provide commercially viable solutions for sustainable agriculture in Colombia by combining space data with smart sensors and real-time information. Farmers will benefit from increased productivity and reduced environmental footprints, thanks to a public-private partnership supported by the UK Space Agency.

Leggy lizards don't survive the storm

Researchers found that survivors had larger toe pads on forelimbs and hindlimbs compared to pre-storm populations. Survivors also had proportionately longer fore legs and shorter back legs with smaller bodies. These findings suggest natural selection favors certain characteristics in response to extreme weather events.

Chance of being prescribed opioids for minor injury differs dramatically by where you live

A new study found significant geographic variability in opioid prescribing patterns for minor injuries, with patients in high-prescribing states receiving up to three times more prescriptions than those in low-prescribing states. Reducing unnecessary prescribing could lead to 18,000 fewer opioid tablets being prescribed.

SourceUniversity of Pennsylvania School of Medicine·JournalAnnals of Emergency Medicine·DateJul 24, 2018

Researchers find new way to target flu virus

A team of researchers from Rice University and Baylor College of Medicine has discovered a weak link in the flu virus protein hemagglutinin that could be targeted by therapeutic drugs. By analyzing the protein's mechanism of attachment to host cells, they propose a new approach for developing universal vaccines.

SourceRice University·JournalProceedings of the National Academy of Sciences·DateJul 24, 2018

Border wall threatens biodiversity

A study published in BioScience warns that the Mexico-US border wall could lead to the extinction of over 1,500 native animal and plant species in the US. The construction of physical barriers disrupts annual or seasonal migration and dispersal routes, causing habitat fragmentation, soil erosion, and changes in fire regimes.

SourceStanford University·JournalBioScience·DateJul 24, 2018

UCLA biologist works to create a new field, merging the sciences and architecture

Noa Pinter-Wollman's research aims to create a new field of study combining biology, psychology, and architecture to improve human health, teamwork, and collective behavior. The new field has implications for designing healthy environments, such as buildings and communities, that promote well-being.

SourceUniversity of California - Los Angeles·JournalPhilosophical Transactions of the Royal Society of London (B )·DateJul 24, 2018

Intestinal virus study shows major changes associated with inflammatory bowel disease

Researchers discovered altered intestinal phage communities in mice with colitis, which overlapped with healthy human phages, suggesting a potential role in IBD. The study also found specific phages linked to disease-causing bacteria, highlighting the need for further investigation into viral contributions to inflammatory diseases.

SourceNorth Carolina State University·JournalNature Microbiology·DateJul 24, 2018

Made-to-measure silicon building blocks

Researchers at Goethe University Frankfurt have created a new process to produce highly functionalized organochlorosilanes, ideal crosslinkers for various applications. The process enables the production of inorganic-organic hybrid materials with unique properties.

SourceGoethe University Frankfurt·JournalJournal of the American Chemical Society·DateJul 24, 2018

Antibiotic resistance in a leech's gut

Research by UConn microbiologists found that tiny amounts of antibiotics in chicken blood can encourage bacterial resistance. The study used leeches as a perfect test case and discovered that low levels of ciprofloxacin in poultry blood were selecting for antibiotic-resistant Aeromonas bacteria.

SourceUniversity of Connecticut·JournalmBio·DateJul 24, 2018

Plenty of habitat for bears in Europe

A new study reveals that there are still many areas in Europe where brown bears could live, but with suitable habitat for hosting the species. The German Centre for Integrative Biodiversity Research (iDiv) and Martin Luther University Halle-Wittenberg have identified over 380,000 square kilometres of potential bear habitat, offering a ...

High glucose spikes are common in 'healthy' people

Continuous glucose monitoring in healthy participants showed that large fluctuations in blood glucose occur more commonly than expected. Researchers identified three distinct glucose behaviors: low, moderate, and severe, with certain foods causing significant spikes. The study aims to provide actionable advice to shift individuals towa...

SourcePLOS·JournalPLOS Biology·DateJul 24, 2018

Surrey develops new crime fighting algorithm that could predict reoccurring illegal activity

Researchers developed an Ensemble Poisson Kalman Filter (EnPKF) algorithm that combines urban crime data and ETAS model for real-time forecasts on crime rates and predicted hotspots. The algorithm has been tested on over 1000 violent gang crimes in Los Angeles, showing promise as a tool to support law enforcement

SourceUniversity of Surrey·JournalComputational Statistics & Data Analysis·DateJul 24, 2018