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Science News Archive February 2019 - Page 9


Page 9 of 40

Study finds ultrasound can assess bone health, increase early screening for osteoporosis

Researchers found ultrasound of the calcaneus to be equal to DXA data in assessing bone health, paving the way for widespread use of low-cost screenings for populations at risk. The findings support preventive lifestyle changes as the best approach to improving bone health and reducing osteoporosis risk.

SourceAmerican Osteopathic Association·JournalThe Journal of the American Osteopathic Association·DateFeb 25, 2019

Over half of home health care clinicians say they lack adequate information from hospitals

A survey of Colorado home health care clinicians found that 60% lacked adequate information from hospitals to guide patient treatment. The study highlights major gaps in communication between hospital and home health staff, which can result in medication errors and other serious consequences.

SourceUniversity of Colorado Anschutz Medical Campus·JournalJournal of the American Medical Directors Association·DateFeb 25, 2019

New research casts doubt on cause of Angkor's collapse

Researchers have long debated the causes of Angkor's demise, but new evidence suggests that land use declined gradually over 100 years before the supposed collapse. The study shows that forest disturbance and soil erosion decreased, and the moat was eventually covered in floating vegetation, indicating a lack of maintenance.

SourceUniversity of Sydney·JournalProceedings of the National Academy of Sciences·DateFeb 25, 2019

Long working hours linked to heightened depression risk in women

Research found that long working hours, particularly 55+ hours a week and/or weekends, are associated with increased depressive symptoms in women. Women in male-dominated occupations often work longer hours, while those in low-paid service sector jobs tend to work weekends, both linked to depression.

SourceBMJ Group·JournalJournal of Epidemiology and Community Health·DateFeb 25, 2019

New NASA mission could find more than 1,000 planets

The study predicts that WFIRST will find about 100 of those not-yet-discovered planets could have the same or lower mass as Earth. The telescope will map the Milky Way and other galaxies 100 times faster than Hubble Space Telescope, scanning a small piece of the universe with high resolution.

SourceOhio State University·JournalThe Astrophysical Journal Supplement Series·DateFeb 25, 2019

Unprecedented biological changes in the global ocean

A new computer model reveals accelerating biological changes in the global ocean, which can redistribute ocean communities and species worldwide. The model predicts these changes one year in advance, enabling identification of regions overlooked by current field observation programs.

SourceCNRS·JournalNature Climate Change·DateFeb 25, 2019

Graphite offers up new quantum surprise

The researchers observed an unusual quantum Hall effect in bulk graphite, which is typically only possible in two-dimensional systems. The material behaves differently depending on whether it contains odd or even number of graphene layers, with surprising results persisting for hundreds of layers thick.

SourceUniversity of Manchester·JournalNature Physics·DateFeb 25, 2019

Uncovering the origins of cultivated strawberries

A recent study published in Nature Genetics reveals the intricate evolutionary history of cultivated strawberries, which originated from the hybridization of four diploid species native to Europe, Asia, and North America. The octoploid strawberry genome analysis has identified genes controlling fruit quality traits and disease resistan...

SourceMichigan State University·JournalNature Genetics·DateFeb 25, 2019

New skeletal disease found and explained

Researchers at Karolinska Institutet have discovered a new skeletal disease linked to an abnormal expression of small RNA molecules. The study reveals that the disease causes skeletal dysplasia, joint pain, and delayed cartilage cell maturation in patients, providing potential diagnostic and therapeutic options.

SourceKarolinska Institutet·JournalNature Medicine·DateFeb 25, 2019

Stop recruiting children, UK Armed Forces urged

Experts argue that the UK's policy of recruiting children to the Armed Forces is harmful to teen health and causes specific health harms. The UK is one of only two countries in the world to recruit teenagers, with 15-year-olds allowed to begin the enlistment process at age 16.

SourceBMJ Group·JournalBMJ Paediatrics Open·DateFeb 25, 2019

Nanoparticle computing takes a giant step forward

Researchers developed a nanoparticle-lipid bilayer hybrid-based computing platform that enables parallel computation using nanoparticles. The system consists of mobile Nano-Floaters and immobile Nano-Receptors, which can perform AND, OR, and INHIBIT logic operations, and are modularly wired to form complex logic circuits.

SourceSeoul National University·JournalScience Advances·DateFeb 23, 2019

Studying species interactions using remote camera traps

Researchers developed a framework to detect species interactions using camera trap data, highlighting the need for standardized data collection and collaboration. The study found that many records are needed to produce trustworthy results, but standardization can achieve this by combining datasets from multiple studies.

SourceForschungsverbund Berlin·JournalRemote Sensing in Ecology and Conservation·DateFeb 22, 2019

Geographic distribution of opioid-related deaths

The study analyzed data on over 351,000 opioid-related deaths from 1999 to 2016, revealing a significant increase in mortality rates in the eastern United States. Synthetic opioids were found to be driving these increases, prompting policymakers to reconsider their strategies for reducing opioid-related deaths.

SourceJAMA Network·JournalJAMA Network Open·DateFeb 22, 2019

Food allergies: A research update

A new paradigm shift in food allergy treatment is on the horizon, allowing children to gradually reintroduce forbidden foods and reducing long-term anxieties. Researchers and clinicians will provide support as families navigate these new treatments and manage psychosocial concerns related to daily life.

Researchers engineer a tougher fiber

North Carolina State University researchers created fibers that combine rubber's elasticity with metal's strength, resulting in a tougher material. The fibers can stretch up to seven times their original length before failure while absorbing energy, making them suitable for applications like soft robotics and textiles.

SourceNorth Carolina State University·JournalScience Advances·DateFeb 22, 2019

A quantum magnet with a topological twist

Researchers at Princeton University observed exotic electronic properties in kagome magnets, including negative magnetism and flat-band electrons. The study used state-of-the-art scanning tunneling microscopy and spectroscopy to explore the behavior of electrons in a kagome-patterned crystal.

SourcePrinceton University·JournalNature Physics·DateFeb 22, 2019

US patient advocacy groups received majority of pharma donations in multi-country study

A new study found that US-based patient advocacy organizations received 74% of total contributions from the world's 10 largest pharmaceutical companies in 2016. The study highlights inconsistent reporting and disclosure across countries, impeding transparency of pharma contributions to patient advocacy groups.

SourceJohns Hopkins Bloomberg School of Public Health·JournalAmerican Journal of Public Health·DateFeb 22, 2019