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Science News for August 19, 2019


Global change is triggering an identity switch in grasslands

A new study found that global change is triggering a significant shift in grassland plant species, with many plots experiencing drastic changes despite minimal changes in total species count. This shift could impact the critical services provided by grasslands, including carbon storage and food production.

SourceSmithsonian·JournalProceedings of the National Academy of Sciences·DateAug 19, 2019

Lipophilic statins associated with significantly reduced liver cancer incidence and mortality

A nationwide cohort study found that lipophilic statin use was associated with significantly lower risk of hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) incident, all-cause death, and liver-related death. The benefits were dose and duration-dependent, with the greatest reduction in HCC risk occurring after at least 600 cumulative defined daily doses.

SourceAmerican College of Physicians·JournalAnnals of Internal Medicine·DateAug 19, 2019

Peer influence, social networks might be leveraged to aid gun violence reduction efforts

A Northwestern University study found that the Violence Reduction Strategy (VRS) program reduced gunshot victimization among participants by 3.2 percentage points, with spillover effects reducing victimization among their peers by 1.5 percentage points. These findings suggest that social networks can be leveraged to enhance gun violenc...

SourceNorthwestern University·JournalNature Human Behaviour·DateAug 19, 2019

Physical activity in adolescence and later life reduces the risk of colorectal adenoma

A study analyzing data from almost 30,000 nurses found that physical activity in adolescence and later life cumulatively reduce the risk of advanced adenomatous polyps, a precursor to colorectal cancer. The study showed that adequate physical activity in both adolescence and adulthood reduces the risk by 39%.

SourceFundação de Amparo à Pesquisa do Estado de São Paulo·JournalBritish Journal of Cancer·DateAug 19, 2019

Binge drinking may be more damaging to women

A recent study published in the Journal of Pharmacology and Experimental Therapeutics found that female rats who binge drink experience more severe liver injury than male rats. The research discovered nearly four times as much fatty build-up in the livers of female rats, triggering additional inflammation and damage.

SourceUniversity of Missouri-Columbia·JournalJournal of Pharmacology and Experimental Therapeutics·DateAug 19, 2019

A second planet in the Beta Pictoris system

A team of astronomers has discovered a second giant planet, β Pictoris c, in the Beta Pictoris system. The exoplanet has a mass nine times that of Jupiter and completes its orbit in approximately 1,200 days. This detection marks the first time a planet has been found around a star like β Pictoris using the radial velocity method.

SourceCNRS·JournalNature Astronomy·DateAug 19, 2019

Are attitudes contagious?

A Northwestern University study found that people acquire attitudes toward individuals based on nonverbal signals, including implicit biases. The researchers discovered that participants attributed their negative attitudes to the target's behavior rather than the observer's actions, highlighting the importance of considering the role o...

SourceNorthwestern University·JournalPersonality and Social Psychology Bulletin·DateAug 19, 2019

Blocking inflammatory pathway key to preventing brain metastasis from melanoma

Researchers at Tel Aviv University discovered that tumor cells 'hijack' an inflammatory pathway in the brain to spread melanoma, and blocking this pathway could prevent brain metastases. The study found that inhibiting the expression of a specific receptor on melanoma cells significantly inhibited the development of brain metastases.

ACP releases paper on methods for managing conflicts of interests in clinical guidelines

The American College of Physicians (ACP) has developed a rigorous process for disclosing interests and managing conflicts of interest to ensure transparency, proportionality, and consistency in clinical guideline development. The process applies to all individuals involved in ACP's clinical guidelines and guidance statements.

SourceAmerican College of Physicians·JournalAnnals of Internal Medicine·DateAug 19, 2019

Circulation of water in deep Earth's interior

Scientists have made a groundbreaking discovery about the deep Earth's interior, determining the phase boundary for the transportation of water. The new phase H MgSiO4H2 has been identified and its decomposition process explained, shedding light on the complex geodynamics at play.

SourceEhime University·JournalGeophysical Research Letters·DateAug 19, 2019

Black hole holograms

Japanese researchers propose a novel holographic framework to simulate black holes with a laboratory experiment. This setup can provide insight into the fundamental laws governing the cosmos at both tiny and vast scales.

SourceOsaka University·JournalPhysical Review Letters·DateAug 19, 2019

Bone particles in blood

Researchers have discovered bone-like particles in the peripheral circulation of individuals with advancing age, which may lead to vascular calcification and restricted blood flow. These particles are potentially more dangerous due to their sharp edges and could contribute to diseases such as heart attack and stroke.

SourceUniversity of Texas at Arlington·JournalMicrocirculation·DateAug 19, 2019

AJR publishes gender affirmation surgery primer for radiologists

The article provides a comprehensive overview of gender affirmation surgical therapies encountered in diagnostic imaging. It defines normal postsurgical anatomy and describes select complications using a multidisciplinary, multimodality approach. Key findings include the importance of regular prostate cancer screening for trans-female ...

SourceAmerican Roentgen Ray Society·JournalAmerican Journal of Roentgenology·DateAug 19, 2019

Wired for sound: A third wave emerges in integrated circuits

Researchers have developed a new generation of integrated circuits that utilize the interaction between light and sound to revolutionize 5G networks, sensor systems, satellite communication, radar systems, and radio astronomy. This third-wave technology offers immense technological applications and opportunities for pure scientific inv...

SourceUniversity of Sydney·JournalNature Photonics·DateAug 19, 2019

Kickstarting solutions

The Stanford Woods Institute has awarded grants totaling $16 million to support research projects addressing major environmental challenges. These interdisciplinary initiatives aim to combat air pollution, mine wastewater for valuable resources, reduce food waste, and investigate the causes of chronic kidney disease.

These migratory birds will risk their lives for a good nap

Researchers found that migratory songbirds sleep differently depending on their condition, trading off safety for lower energy expenditure. Birds in poor condition sleep with their head tucked in, while those in good condition keep their head facing forward, exposing them to a higher predation risk.

SourceCell Press·JournalCurrent Biology·DateAug 19, 2019

When a diseased liver disrupts the brain

Researchers have discovered that chronic liver diseases can cause cerebral molecular disturbances as early as two weeks after liver malfunction, even without physical symptoms. The study found two new molecules involved in the disease process: creatine and vitamin C.

SourceUniversité de Genève·JournalJournal of Hepatology·DateAug 19, 2019

Spinning lightwaves on a one-way street

Researchers at Purdue University have successfully created a quantum spin wave for light that only flows in one direction. This breakthrough has significant implications for future nanotechnologies, enabling information to be transmitted securely and efficiently.

SourceDe Gruyter·JournalNanophotonics·DateAug 19, 2019

Police less proactive after negative public scrutiny, study says

A new study found that police officers become less proactive when they perceive negative public scrutiny, even if they are motivated to help people. The researchers surveyed 183 police officers and 238 firefighters across the southern US, finding a significant link between perceived public understanding and officer proactivity.

SourceUniversity of Texas at Austin·JournalOrganizational Behavior and Human Decision Processes·DateAug 19, 2019

University of Michigan study indicates negative outcomes for Native American children who are spanked

A new University of Michigan study found that spanking is harmful for all three racial groups, despite cultural differences. Spanking at age 1 predicts child behavior issues at age 3, leading to more spanking at age 5. The study's findings highlight the need for discipline alternatives to spanking in Native American communities.

SourceUniversity of Michigan·JournalJournal of Interpersonal Violence·DateAug 19, 2019

Brain representation of written words

A study with 24 participants aged 18-30 used fMRI scans to map brain areas involved in reading written words in two artificial alphabets. The results showed a hierarchy of brain regions, with posterior regions encoding letter position within words and left mid-to-anterior regions processing phonological and semantic information.

SourceProceedings of the National Academy of Sciences·JournalProceedings of the National Academy of Sciences·DateAug 19, 2019

Football scores a health hat-trick for 55- to 70-year-old women with prediabetes

A new study from the University of Southern Denmark shows that football is a surprisingly efficient type of physical training for female prediabetes patients, resulting in broad-spectrum improvements in cardiovascular, metabolic and musculoskeletal fitness. The exercise intensity and effects were similar in women and men, with impressi...

SourceUniversity of Southern Denmark Faculty of Health Sciences·JournalEuropean Journal of Applied Physiology·DateAug 19, 2019

Single event or epidemic?

Long-term data analysis reveals non-infected regions have a higher risk of infection due to seasonal changes in movement patterns. The study emphasizes the importance of focusing on specific individuals, seasons and areas to prevent future outbreaks.

SourceForschungsverbund Berlin·JournalJournal of Animal Ecology·DateAug 19, 2019

Genetic risk is associated with differences in gut microbiome

A recent study published in Nature Communications found that children with high genetic risk of developing type 1 diabetes have distinct gut microbiomes compared to those with low risk. The research suggests a link between genetic predisposition and environmental factors, highlighting the importance of the gut flora in autoimmune disea...

SourceLinköping University·JournalNature Communications·DateAug 19, 2019

NIH study in mice identifies type of brain cell involved in stuttering

A recent NIH study using a mouse model of stuttering identified the loss of astrocytes as a critical brain cell type involved in the disorder. The research found that this loss was most prominent in the corpus callosum, a part of the brain that bridges the two hemispheres. This discovery could lead to novel interventions for stuttering...

SourceNIH/National Institute on Deafness and Other Communication Disorders·JournalProceedings of the National Academy of Sciences·DateAug 19, 2019

Potential treatments for citrus greening

Researchers at Stanford University have discovered a potential treatment for citrus greening, a devastating disease affecting the US citrus industry. By studying a symbiotic bacterium, they found 130 compounds that can inhibit the spread of the disease without harming beneficial bacteria.

SourceStanford University·JournalProceedings of the National Academy of Sciences·DateAug 19, 2019

Plant size and island habitats

Researchers tested the 'island rule' on plant species colonizing islands in the Southwest Pacific and found that their stature and leaf area followed the rule. However, plant seed size did not conform to the rule, suggesting a more nuanced relationship between island habitats and organismal traits.

SourceProceedings of the National Academy of Sciences·JournalProceedings of the National Academy of Sciences·DateAug 19, 2019

Antacid helps tuberculosis bacteria to survive

Researchers discovered Mycobacterium tuberculosis produces a unique type of antacid that prevents phagosomes from fusing with lysosomes, allowing the bacteria to survive. The mechanism involves the production of 1-tuberculosinyladenosine, an acid that reduces acidity and hinders immune cell digestion.

SourceUniversity of Groningen·JournalNature Chemical Biology·DateAug 19, 2019