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Science News Archive January 2019 - Page 2


Page 2 of 37

'More work needed' for new IVF technique

A randomised controlled trial involving over 2,700 couples found that the new IVF technique PICSI did not significantly improve success rates for male infertility, with a success rate of around one in four couples. However, it did reduce miscarriages by 39% compared to standard ICSI treatment.

SourceUniversity of Leeds·JournalThe Lancet·DateJan 31, 2019

Persistent low body weight in young kids increases risk for anorexia nervosa later

A new study found that persistent low body mass index (BMI) in children starting as young as age 2 for boys and 4 for girls may increase the risk of developing anorexia nervosa later. Persistent high BMI in childhood also increases the risk of other eating disorders such as bulimia nervosa, binge-eating disorder, and purging disorder.

SourceUniversity of North Carolina Health Care·JournalJournal of the American Academy of Child & Adolescent Psychiatry·DateJan 31, 2019

For older people, medications are common; AGS Beers Criteria aims to make them appropriate, too

The AGS Beers Criteria update includes 30 individual medications or medication classes to avoid for most older people and 40 medications or medication classes to use with caution. The new list aims to guide health professionals and caregivers away from potentially harmful treatments while helping assess quality of care

SourceAmerican Geriatrics Society·JournalJournal of the American Geriatrics Society·DateJan 31, 2019

Mindfulness promising option for easing chronic pain

A pooled analysis of clinical trials suggests mindfulness can lessen chronic pain severity and associated distress, improving physical functioning. The results indicate that both CBT and mindfulness-based stress reduction techniques show promise in treating chronic pain.

SourceBMJ Group·JournalEvidence-Based Mental Health·DateJan 31, 2019

Waters west of Europe drive ocean overturning circulation, key for regulating climate

A new international study reveals that cooling waters west of Europe primarily drive the Atlantic meridional overturning circulation, a deep-ocean process crucial for regulating Earth's climate. This finding challenges previous assumptions and highlights the importance of monitoring this circulation to predict future climate changes.

How whipworms wreak havoc on the gut

A recent study published in PLOS Pathogens reveals that whipworms disrupt the balance between gut immune cells and microbiota, leading to uncontrolled inflammation and tissue damage. The researchers discovered that a specific receptor, IL-10R?, plays a critical role in regulating these interactions.

SourcePLOS·JournalPLOS Pathogens·DateJan 31, 2019

Bitter rapeseed

Researchers at TUM identified kaempferol 3-O-(2'''-O-sinapoyl-β-sophoroside) as the bitter compound causing rapeseed protein's unpleasant taste. This discovery paves the way for developing tasty, protein-rich foods from rapeseed.

SourceTechnical University of Munich (TUM)·JournalJournal of Agricultural and Food Chemistry·DateJan 31, 2019

Iguana-sized dinosaur cousin discovered in Antarctica

Scientists have discovered an iguana-sized reptile, named Antarctanax shackletoni, with unique adaptations to the extreme Antarctic environment. The ancient creature, a carnivore that hunted early mammals and amphibians, provides insights into prehistoric Antarctica's rapid evolution and diversification after mass extinction events.

SourceField Museum·JournalJournal of Vertebrate Paleontology·DateJan 31, 2019

Cultural practices improve health care for Indigenous women living with violence

A unique program called Reclaiming our Spirits, which integrated elder-led circles and cultural elements, showed significant improvement in symptoms of trauma and depression among Indigenous women. Participants reported better quality of life, greater self-empowerment, and felt more supported by their family and community.

SourceUniversity of British Columbia·JournalJournal of Interpersonal Violence·DateJan 31, 2019

Rigs to reefs

Researchers at UC Santa Barbara have published a comprehensive study on the history, ecology, and pragmatics of rigs-to-reefs efforts. The study finds that these human-made reefs provide a productive habitat for marine life, with some platforms being more productive than coral reefs or Chesapeake Bay.

SourceUniversity of California - Santa Barbara·JournalOcean & Coastal Management·DateJan 31, 2019

Learning new vocabulary during deep sleep

A study published in Current Biology found that participants could reactivate associations formed between foreign words and their translations during a midday nap. The brain's active states supported the retrieval of these sleep-formed associations, suggesting that learning can occur independently of consciousness.

SourceUniversity of Bern·JournalCurrent Biology·DateJan 31, 2019

How new species emerge

Researchers reconstructed the phylogenetic tree of six African baboon species, revealing that genes were exchanged between species, leading to new species emergence. This study sheds light on fundamental biological processes producing new species and provides an analogous model for understanding human evolutionary history.

China launched world's first rocket-deployed weather instruments from unmanned semi-submersible vehicle

Chinese scientists have launched a rocketsonde from an unmanned semi-submersible vehicle, enabling accurate meteorological and oceanographic data collection over vast marine environments. The launch aims to improve numerical weather forecasts, typhoon tracking, and coastal zone monitoring.

SourceInstitute of Atmospheric Physics, Chinese Academy of Sciences·JournalAdvances in Atmospheric Sciences·DateJan 31, 2019

A new 'twist' on 3D printing renders 'The Thinker,' and other objects

Researchers have developed a new 3D printing method that allows for the rapid rendering of complex objects by rotating photosensitive material in an evolving light field. This approach enables printing times of under two minutes and has potential applications in fields such as patient-specific medical devices, optics, and aerospace.

Scientists develop new recycling technology

Russian scientists propose a new recycling method that produces liquid products from organic waste, eliminating the need for specialized plants and reducing oil consumption. The process also generates no environmental emissions, making it compatible with circular economy principles.

SourceUral Federal University·JournalSustainability·DateJan 31, 2019