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Science News Archive May 2018 - Page 31


Page 31 of 44

Eyes in the back of the head

Researchers at Tohoku University used a visual search experiment to demonstrate that the human visual system can perceive objects outside its limited field. The study found that the brain constructs a 360-degree world, enabling smooth and efficient movement without turning.

SourceTohoku University·JournalScientific Reports·DateMay 10, 2018

Racial-ethnic disparities in the quality of end-of-life care among lung cancer patients

A study analyzed 154,498 NSCLC and 27,834 SCLC patients who died on or before December 31, 2013, revealing racial-ethnic disparities in end-of-life care quality. Minority patients had higher odds of preventable medical encounters, delayed hospice referral, and aggressive chemotherapy during end-of-life.

SourceInternational Association for the Study of Lung Cancer·JournalJournal of Thoracic Oncology·DateMay 10, 2018

Cassava breeding hasn't improved photosynthesis or yield potential

Researchers analyzed four African cassava cultivars and found that unimproved landraces outperform improved varieties in photosynthetic efficiency. The study suggests genetic engineering may be necessary to improve cassava yield potential, which has remained stagnant despite advances in breeding.

Study reveals that many oncologists recommend medical marijuana clinically despite not feeling sufficiently knowledgeable to do so

Researchers found that most oncologists discuss medical marijuana with patients and nearly half recommend it, but only 30% feel knowledgeable enough to make recommendations. The study suggests a discrepancy between attitudes and practices regarding medical marijuana's utility in oncology.

SourceDana-Farber Cancer Institute·JournalJournal of Clinical Oncology·DateMay 10, 2018

Nanodiamonds are forever

The Argonne team discovered that sulfur diffusion breaks down nanodiamonds into onion-like carbon, creating a superlubricant with friction 10 times lower than some nonstick coatings. The new lubricant can be used in various industries, including wind turbines and magnetic disc drives.

SourceDOE/Argonne National Laboratory·JournalNature Communications·DateMay 10, 2018

Atmospheric seasons could signal alien life

Researchers at UCR's Alternative Earths Astrobiology Center are developing a framework for dynamic biosignatures based on seasonal changes. They found that ozone could be a more easily measurable marker for seasonal variability in oxygen, which is produced by life. Observing atmospheric seasonality in exoplanets may help detect life.

SourceUniversity of California - Riverside·JournalThe Astrophysical Journal Letters·DateMay 9, 2018

Getting health data sharing off the ground

The Swiss Personalized Health Network aims to develop guidelines for responsible health data sharing, addressing key topics like data quality and patient sovereignty. Innovative solutions, including blockchain and reciprocity-based incentives, are being explored to overcome hurdles in data sharing.

SourceETH Zurich·JournalHealth Affairs·DateMay 9, 2018

Exiled asteroid discovered in outer reaches of solar system

An international team of astronomers has discovered a carbon-rich asteroid in the Kuiper Belt, providing strong support for theoretical models of the Solar System's formation. The asteroid, 2004 EW95, is believed to have formed in the inner Solar System and was flung outwards by a migratory planet.

SourceESO·JournalThe Astrophysical Journal Letters·DateMay 9, 2018

New tool predicts deadly form of rare cancer

A new tool uses high-throughput DNA sequencing to accurately predict which early-stage Cutaneous T Cell Lymphoma (CTCL) patients are at risk of developing an aggressive form of the disease. The tool, which analyzes specific genes, has shown promise in improving treatment outcomes for these patients.

SourceBrigham and Women's Hospital·JournalScience Translational Medicine·DateMay 9, 2018

New gene therapy sparks healthy heart beats

A new gene therapy approach has shown dramatic reduction of post-infarction arrhythmias in mice by electrically coupling non-excitable cells to undamaged heart cells. The treatment involves introducing a single gene, Connexin43, which bridges the conduction block in damaged hearts.

SourceCornell University·JournalScientific Reports·DateMay 9, 2018

Nutmeg's hidden power: Helping the liver

Researchers have discovered how nutmeg helps protect the liver, using a mouse animal model of liver toxicity. The spice was shown to restore healthy levels of lipids and acylcarnitines, and a specific compound, myrislignan, had a strong protective effect against liver damage.

SourceAmerican Chemical Society·JournalJournal of Proteome Research·DateMay 9, 2018

Growing life-like heart valves, thanks to help from computational modeling

Researchers have created a bioengineered heart valve that emulates native heart valves and functions well after transplantation into sheep. The tissue-engineered heart valve demonstrated improved valve mechanics and tissue structure, and remodeled itself in a similar fashion to native heart valves over time.

SourceAmerican Association for the Advancement of Science (AAAS)·JournalScience Translational Medicine·DateMay 9, 2018

Progress in posttraumatic stress disorder --Increased understanding points to new approaches for PTSD prevention and treatment

Recent advances in PTSD research focus on brain structure and function, informing efforts to interrupt the processes leading to symptom development. Effective treatments like exposure therapy are based on mechanisms of fear extinction, while new approaches target stress hormones and brain regions involved in emotion dysregulation.

SourceWolters Kluwer Health·JournalHarvard Review of Psychiatry·DateMay 9, 2018