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Science News Archive February 2019 - Page 39


Page 39 of 40

No overall increased risk of cancer in children born after fertility treatment

A recent study published in Human Reproduction found that children born after fertility treatment do not have an increased risk of developing cancer compared to those conceived naturally. However, some cancers, such as lymphoblastic leukemia and melanoma, were slightly more common in ART-conceived children, although the findings are st...

How plants cope with iron deficiency

Plant biologists at HHU and WWU have discovered a key mechanism that enables plants to regulate their responses to iron deficiency, ultimately controlling iron uptake in roots and seed storage. This finding has significant implications for understanding plant biology and agricultural research.

SourceUniversity of Münster·JournalDevelopmental Cell·DateFeb 1, 2019

Women who wear Muslim garments in court are viewed as more credible witnesses

A study by Lancaster University and Memorial University found that women who wear the hijab or niqab while testifying in court are perceived as more credible than uncovered women. The researchers suggest several possible explanations for this bias, including the idea that religious garments signal honesty and dispel common rape myths.

SourceLancaster University·JournalCanadian Journal of Behavioural Science/Revue canadienne des sciences du comportement·DateFeb 1, 2019

New tools in transportation

The AFLEET Tool and its online version enable fleet managers to compare the costs and benefits of alternative fuels and vehicle technologies, optimizing their purchasing decisions. With over 8,000 users, the tool is based on Argonne's GREET model and provides a comprehensive and easier way to make informed decisions.

Microbes help make the coffee

Studies show that lactic acid bacteria positively impact coffee fermentation, yielding fruity notes and enhancing flavor. Microbial communities also affect the build-up of fermentation-related metabolites on coffee beans, influencing overall quality.

SourceAmerican Society for Microbiology·JournalApplied and Environmental Microbiology·DateFeb 1, 2019

Fiber composition in rice coproducts revealed in Illinois study

A University of Illinois study characterizes the chemical composition of fiber in rice and rice coproducts, which could lead to diet interventions for improved digestibility. The primary carbohydrates found were arabinoxylans, with varying ratios between arabinose and xylose influencing functionality.

Variations in seafloor create freak ocean waves

Researchers at Florida State University have found that abrupt variations in the seafloor can cause massive destruction from rogue or freak waves. The study, published in Physical Review Fluids, reveals that these extreme events follow a gamma distribution, a mathematics function that defies traditional bell curve patterns.

SourceFlorida State University·JournalPhysical Review Fluids·DateFeb 1, 2019

'Quiet' light

Researchers at UC Santa Barbara have successfully created a chip-scale laser that emits light with a fundamental linewidth of less than 1 Hz, quiet enough to move demanding scientific applications to the chip scale. This breakthrough uses stimulated Brillouin scattering to produce extremely quiet light and has significant implications ...

SourceUniversity of California - Santa Barbara·JournalNature Photonics·DateFeb 1, 2019

New UC study may help guide treatment of pediatric anxiety

A comprehensive analysis of medications prescribed for children and adolescents with anxiety disorders found SSRIs to be the most effective and best-tolerated treatment. The study examined over a dozen medications from 22 randomized controlled trials, providing guidance for clinicians in selecting evidence-based medication treatments.

SourceUniversity of Cincinnati·JournalJournal of Clinical Psychiatry·DateFeb 1, 2019

Protecting those on the frontline from Ebola

Researchers at MUSC created an online software package to train health care workers using simulation in safe Ebola disease response, increasing knowledge of effective prevention by up to 19% and reducing critical errors. The program aims to reduce the number of critical errors and risky actions committed when treating an Ebola patient.

SourceMedical University of South Carolina·JournalHealth Security·DateFeb 1, 2019

Everything in moderation

A study by UC Santa Barbara found that moderate fertilizer and irrigation treatments resulted in the best biomass yields and carbon storage for prairie grasses. This approach also minimized competition with food crops and greenhouse gas emissions. The findings suggest a more tailored, ecologically friendly approach to biofuel productio...

SourceUniversity of California - Santa Barbara·JournalNature Sustainability·DateFeb 1, 2019

SFU researchers find new clues to controlling HIV

A team of researchers has identified a connection between infection control and how well antiviral T cells respond to diverse HIV sequences. This study suggests that individual T cells differ widely in their ability to recognize peptide variants, which may be clinically significant in controlling HIV infection.

SourceSimon Fraser University·JournalNature Communications·DateFeb 1, 2019

Virtual lens improves X-ray microscopy

Researchers at PSI develop a new method that uses a small but efficient lens to create high-resolution images of X-ray microscopes, providing absorption and phase contrast information. This technique has the potential to reveal material properties and improve image quality for biological samples.

SourcePaul Scherrer Institute·JournalScience Advances·DateFeb 1, 2019

KIT National Center for Efficacy Evaluation of Respiratory Disease one step further toward healthy respiratory organs

The KIT National Center for Efficacy Evaluation of Respiratory Disease has secured funding for its second phase, which will focus on developing domestic respiratory disease products. The center will utilize a one-step solution combining inhalation testing with toxicology evaluation and clinical studies to evaluate product efficacy.

ATS publishes new clinical guideline on home oxygen for children

The American Thoracic Society has developed a new clinical practice guideline for home oxygen therapy in children with chronic hypoxemia. The guideline makes specific recommendations for treating various respiratory and pulmonary conditions, such as cystic fibrosis, bronchopulmonary dysplasia, and interstitial lung disease.

SourceAmerican Thoracic Society·JournalAmerican Journal of Respiratory and Critical Care Medicine·DateFeb 1, 2019

Palm oil not the only driver of forest loss in Indonesia

A new study by Duke University reveals that Indonesia's deforestation rate is changing, with wildfires, mining, and small-scale farming playing a larger role than previously thought. This shift highlights the need for policymakers to adjust their conservation policies and practices to account for the varied causes of forest loss.

SourceDuke University·JournalEnvironmental Research Letters·DateFeb 1, 2019

No sweat? That's an issue for home-schooled children

A Rice University study of home-schooled children aged 10-17 found that many fall short of daily exercise goals despite participating in organized activities. The researchers recommend increasing unstructured physical activity time to ensure children meet their fitness needs. Parents are encouraged to provide more opportunities for out...

SourceRice University·JournalJournal of Functional Morphology and Kinesiology·DateFeb 1, 2019

Optimized binding cavity

Researchers developed a designer enzyme with an unnatural aniline side chain, increasing its activity by a factor of 90. Directed evolution led to variants with higher conversion rates, showing the potential for this method in producing highly effective enzymes.

SourceWiley·JournalAngewandte Chemie International Edition·DateFeb 1, 2019

Lettuce show you how to restore oil-soaked soil

Researchers at Rice University have fine-tuned a pyrolysis technique to remove petroleum contaminants from soil, restoring its fertility. The method uses gentle heat to preserve the soil's essential clays, eliminating 99.9% of total petroleum hydrocarbons and 94.5% of polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons.

SourceRice University·JournalEnvironmental Science & Technology·DateFeb 1, 2019

Simulating meteorite impacts in the lab

Researchers used X-ray diffraction to track dynamic processes in feldspar minerals during simulated meteorite impacts. The results show that structural changes occur at varying pressures depending on the compression rate, highlighting a need for further investigation to understand impact conditions.

SourceDeutsches Elektronen-Synchrotron DESY·JournalEarth and Planetary Science Letters·DateFeb 1, 2019