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Science News for November 19, 2018


Diabetes patients with high deductible health plans experience delays in seeking care

Research found that individuals with diabetes who switched to high-deductible health plans experienced delays in seeking care for symptoms of blood vessel diseases, including cardiac chest pain and transient ischemic attacks. The study suggests that increased out-of-pocket costs lead to changes in healthcare behavior.

SourceHarvard Pilgrim Health Care Institute·JournalAnnals of Internal Medicine·DateNov 19, 2018

Hidden giants in forest soils

Researchers have discovered 16 novel giant viruses in a forest soil ecosystem, more than doubling the known giant virus diversity. These viruses were found using a non-standard approach that involved flow-sorting microbes into small pools, revealing a wealth of giant viruses previously overlooked.

SourceDOE/Lawrence Berkeley National Laboratory·JournalNature Communications·DateNov 19, 2018

Hydraulic fracturing and water quality

A study in central Pennsylvania found chemical and isotopic evidence of upward methane migration from the Marcellus shale, suggesting geochemical indicators for distinguishing recent methane contamination. The research also identified geological features facilitating methane migration near hydraulically fractured shale gas wells.

SourceProceedings of the National Academy of Sciences·JournalProceedings of the National Academy of Sciences·DateNov 19, 2018

Using Skype to beat the blues

A study published in the American Journal of Geriatric Psychiatry found that video chat technology, such as Skype, significantly reduces the risk of depression among older adults. Researchers compared four online communication technologies and discovered that video chat had almost half the estimated probability of depressive symptoms.

SourceOregon Health & Science University·JournalAmerican Journal of Geriatric Psychiatry·DateNov 19, 2018

Color vision variation in guppies influences female mate preference

Research reveals that variation in opsin gene expression affects guppy females' preferences for male orange colors, highlighting the interplay between visual properties and mate choice. Genetic polymorphisms and environmental factors contribute to differing light sensitivity, driving the evolution of diverse male sexual colors.

SourceTohoku University·JournalProceedings of the National Academy of Sciences·DateNov 19, 2018

Mutation that causes autism and intellectual disability makes brain less flexible

A study published in Nature Neuroscience found that mice with a SETD5 mutation have brains less flexible, leading to difficulties in forming new memories and adapting to situations. The researchers also discovered that the gene cooperates with other proteins to regulate gene expression during learning and memory formation.

SourceInstitute of Science and Technology Austria·JournalNature Neuroscience·DateNov 19, 2018

Critical collections

Research highlights creative uses of biological collections to understand global change, including study of microbial diversity from museum specimens. Biological collections are threatened by digitization and destruction, but preserving them is essential for unlocking their hidden data and understanding the history of life on Earth.

SourceHarvard University·JournalPhilosophical Transactions of the Royal Society of London (B )·DateNov 19, 2018

Public perspectives on food risks

A survey of 2,537 US adults found that roughly half believe the average person faces a serious health risk from food additives over their lifetime. Similarly, about half think genetically modified foods are worse for one's health. Women and those with low science knowledge tend to express more concern about these issues.

Powerful new map depicts environmental degradation across Earth

A powerful new map by the University of Cincinnati illustrates dramatic changes in land use over the last quarter century, showing widespread deforestation and urbanization. The map highlights the devastating effects of climate change on the environment, including the shrinking Aral Sea and growing desertification in the Sahara Desert.

SourceUniversity of Cincinnati·JournalInternational Journal of Applied Earth Observation and Geoinformation·DateNov 19, 2018

The power of social support

A recent study on wild spotted hyaenas found that females dominate males because they receive more social support. The research revealed that social support is a key factor in determining dominance relationships between the sexes.

SourceForschungsverbund Berlin·JournalNature Ecology & Evolution·DateNov 19, 2018

Major natural carbon sink may soon become carbon source

Climate researchers warn that peatlands in the Peruvian Amazon may lose up to 500 million tons of carbon by the end of the century due to warmer temperatures and increased precipitation. This loss could lead to a significant increase in global carbon emissions, exacerbating climate change.

SourcePurdue University·JournalProceedings of the National Academy of Sciences·DateNov 19, 2018

Cosmic serpent

The ESO's VLT captured the details of an elaborate serpentine system sculpted by colliding stellar winds, with Apep being a likely source of one of the most energetic phenomena in the Universe. The system consists of a nest of massive stars surrounded by a dust pinwheel.

SourceESO·JournalNature Astronomy·DateNov 19, 2018

Local drivers of amplified Arctic warming

A new study reveals that Arctic amplification is primarily driven by local carbon dioxide forcing and polar feedbacks, outweighing other processes. This finding highlights the importance of understanding Arctic processes in controlling sea-ice retreat and ecosystem sensitivity to global warming.

SourceInstitute for Basic Science·JournalNature Climate Change·DateNov 19, 2018

Drug used for PTSD may worsen nightmares, not reduce suicidal thoughts

A small pilot study found that prazosin, commonly used to treat high blood pressure and PTSD-related sleep problems, may actually worsen nightmares and insomnia in PTSD patients, rather than reducing suicidal thoughts. The study, led by Dr. W. Vaughn McCall, involved 20 seriously psychiatrically ill patients with active suicidal thoughts.

SourceMedical College of Georgia at Augusta University·JournalThe Journal of Clinical Pharmacology·DateNov 19, 2018

Location, location, location

A team of scientists has found that translocating frogs from recovering populations to sites where the species was previously driven to extinction can lead to population recovery. The researchers tracked the health and survival of translocated frogs over several years, uncovering key insights into how disease and climate influence popu...

Chemistry freed from space and time

Researchers have successfully used remote servers in Japan to autonomously optimize conditions for synthesizing drugs in a British laboratory. The process was controlled over the internet by researchers in the USA, demonstrating the potential of cloud-based approaches for international collaboration and efficient production processes.

SourceWiley·JournalAngewandte Chemie International Edition·DateNov 19, 2018

Kindergarten difficulties may predict academic achievement across primary grades

A Penn State study suggests that children's executive functions in kindergarten can predict their mathematics, reading, and science achievement, as well as classroom behavior, in second grade. Deficits in working-memory, a key component of executive functions, are strongly linked to repeated academic difficulties across elementary school.

SourcePenn State·JournalEarly Childhood Research Quarterly·DateNov 19, 2018

New drug discovery could halt spread of brain cancer

Researchers at Virginia Tech have discovered a drug that can block the spread of glioblastoma, the deadliest form of brain cancer, by halting the rapid movement of fluid within the body. The breakthrough finding could lead to improved treatment options for patients with glioblastoma.

SourceVirginia Tech·JournalScientific Reports·DateNov 19, 2018

New blood test detects early stage ovarian cancer

A new blood test has been developed to detect early stage ovarian cancer using a bacterial toxin, with the test detecting significant levels of cancer glycan in over 90% of women with stage 1 ovarian cancer. The test also showed 100% accuracy for later stages of the disease and has potential for simple liquid biopsy monitoring.

SourceUniversity of Adelaide·JournalBiochemical and Biophysical Research Communications·DateNov 19, 2018

White matter pathway and individual variability in human stereoacuity

A study found that neural tissue density in a specific white matter pathway, the vertical occipital fasciculus (VOF), correlates with individual differences in stereoacuity. The VOF connects key visual areas involved in stereopsis and is crucial for understanding its neural basis.

SourceNational Institute of Information and Communications Technology (NICT)·JournalProceedings of the National Academy of Sciences·DateNov 19, 2018

Duke forms prototype of robot dog nose

Researchers at Duke University have created a prototype of an artificial 'robot nose' device that uses living mouse cells to detect target odors, including cocaine and explosives. The device aims to mimic the human sense of smell and potentially replace trained dogs in security applications.

SourceDuke University·JournalNature Communications·DateNov 19, 2018

Ground and stream water clues reveal shale drilling impacts

Scientists analyzed pre- and post-drilling water samples to identify methane contamination sources near Marcellus Shale gas wells. The study found that drilling-related methane leaks can change water chemistry, mobilizing metals and releasing unwanted compounds.

SourcePenn State·JournalProceedings of the National Academy of Sciences·DateNov 19, 2018

Scientists discover new 'pinwheel' star system

Researchers have discovered a new massive star system dubbed 'Apep,' featuring a slow-moving dust pinwheel that defies current theories on how large stars die. The system's unusual rotation is thought to cause the star to collapse at its poles before the equator, producing a gamma-ray burst.

SourceNew York University·JournalNature Astronomy·DateNov 19, 2018

On guns, docs tell the NRA #ThisisOurLane

Physicians say firearms are within their lane, disagreeing with NRA's stance on gun violence prevention. The American College of Physicians is collaborating with the American Foundation for Firearm Injury Reduction in Medicine to provide funding for research and develop practice recommendations on firearm injury prevention.

SourceAmerican College of Physicians·JournalAnnals of Internal Medicine·DateNov 19, 2018

Novel target identified for neuron regeneration, functional recovery in spinal cord injury

Scientists at Temple University Health System have identified LKB1 as a critical regulator of axon regeneration in mature neurons, leading to significant gains in functional recovery in mice with spinal cord injuries. Targeted upregulation of LKB1 protein stimulated long-distance neuron regeneration and improved locomotor function.

SourceTemple University Health System·JournalMolecular Therapy·DateNov 19, 2018

Ocean warming

Researchers at the University of Delaware have found a previously unknown pathway for heat to travel from the Pacific to the Indian Ocean, bypassing the Indonesian Throughflow. This discovery has significant implications for climate change research and could inform scientists about global warming.

SourceUniversity of Delaware·JournalClimate Dynamics·DateNov 19, 2018

Odd bodies, rapid spins keep cosmic rings close

Research finds that gravity and unique shapes of small objects in our solar system create and maintain their own rings. Astronomers discovered that rings around Chariklo and Haumea are confined by the object's irregularities, contradicting previous assumptions about moon-dominated ring systems.

SourceCornell University·JournalNature Astronomy·DateNov 19, 2018

Jumping genes shed light on how advanced life may have emerged

Researchers discovered that retrotransposons and nonhomologous end-joining (NHEJ) interacted to create a selection pressure that helped lead to the emergence of advanced life. This interaction enabled eukaryotes to mix and match genes, creating more complicated functions.

SourceCarl R. Woese Institute for Genomic Biology, University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign·JournalProceedings of the National Academy of Sciences·DateNov 19, 2018

'True polar wander' may have caused ice age

Researchers propose that changes in Earth's spin axis, known as true polar wander, triggered the latest ice age about 12 million years ago. By analyzing fossil signatures and magnetic data from ocean sediments, they found evidence of a 3-degree shift in the planet's rotation axis, which may have led to the formation of thick ice sheets.

SourceRice University·JournalGeophysical Research Letters·DateNov 19, 2018

Swifts ride air currents to catch a free lunch

Researchers analyzed the flight patterns of swifts, discovering that they spend most of their time gliding and using rising currents to power their movements. This unique strategy allows them to extract energy from the air almost for free, making their foraging capabilities extremely efficient.

SourceThe Company of Biologists·JournalJournal of Experimental Biology·DateNov 19, 2018

Cessation fatigue predicts which smokers making a quit attempt are likely to relapse

A new study found that cessation fatigue, emotional exhaustion and reduced coping resources, increases in the first six weeks of a quit attempt, leading to worse performance on smoking cessation milestones. High cessation fatigue scores predicted lower chances of going a full week without smoking at two months.

SourceMedical University of South Carolina·JournalJournal of Consulting and Clinical Psychology·DateNov 19, 2018

A molecule for fighting muscular paralysis

Researchers at UNIGE have identified tamoxifen, a breast cancer medication, as a potential treatment for myotubular myopathy, a genetic disease that causes muscle paralysis and death before two years of age. The molecule greatly reduces the progression of the disease and boosts life expectancy in animal models by a factor of seven.

SourceUniversité de Genève·JournalNature Communications·DateNov 19, 2018