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Science News for September 3, 2019


Natural 'breakdown' of chemicals may guard against lung damage in 9/11 first responders

A new study suggests that metabolites produced by the body's breakdown of toxins may protect against obstructive airway disease in 9/11 first responders. Researchers identified specific compounds, including protein-building amino acids and omega-3 fatty acids, which are found in diets rich in fish and olive oil.

Share your goals -- but be careful whom you tell

Researchers at Ohio State University found that sharing career goals with someone perceived as having higher status increases motivation and goal achievement. In contrast, sharing with lower-status individuals has no positive effect. The study suggests that caring about what others think can drive goal commitment and performance.

SourceOhio State University·JournalJournal of Applied Psychology·DateSep 3, 2019

Student body diversity goals & giving parents a say in where their child goes to school

A new study by Thanh Nguyen and Rakesh Vohra proposes a solution that balances parental choice with diversity goals, using school choice programs to assign students to their preferred schools. This approach aims to close the opportunity gap while allowing parents to have a say in where their child attends school.

Novel approach leads to potential sepsis prevention in burn patients

Researchers discovered a potential new treatment for preventing sepsis in burn patients by using the secretions of probiotic bacteria Lactobacillus gasseri to combat antibiotic-resistant Pseudomonas aeruginosa. The study found that applying these secretions to the wound inhibited bacterial growth and prevented biofilm development.

SourceTexas Tech University Health Sciences Center·JournalJournal of Medical Microbiology·DateSep 3, 2019

Fragmenting ions and radiation sensitizers

Researchers investigated how radiation damages DNA in cancer cells treated with 5-fluorouracil, identifying new fragment ions and their formation thresholds. The study could lead to new ways of protecting normal tissues from radiation damage caused by radiotherapy.

SourceSpringer·JournalThe European Physical Journal D·DateSep 3, 2019

Human flourishing in an age of gene editing

The book explores the social and ethical implications of gene editing on human germline cells, including its impact on relationships between parents and children, health, normalcy, and well-being. Leading thinkers weigh in on the potential risks and benefits of this revolutionary technology.

Research finds a new way to reduce food waste

Researchers found that 'humanizing' produce can change consumer attitudes toward fresh fruits and vegetables showing signs of age. Depicting imperfect-looking produce with human characteristics enhances its appeal, leading consumers to evaluate it more favorably.

SourceUniversity of Houston·JournalJournal of the Association for Consumer Research·DateSep 3, 2019

PrEParing family planning clinics in Kenya to prevent new HIV infections

In a feasibility study, PrEP was successfully integrated into family planning clinics in Kenya, with 114 women out of 278 initiating PrEP experiencing no HIV infections. The study indicates that integration of screening for HIV risk and preventive treatment among young women in a family planning clinic setting is feasible.

SourcePLOS·JournalPLOS Medicine·DateSep 3, 2019

Fetching water increases risk of childhood death

A new study reveals that adults fetching water is associated with an increased risk of child death and children collecting water with increased odds of childhood diarrheal disease. Improving access to clean drinking water and sanitation reduces maternal and child health risks, including lower child mortality rates.

SourceUniversity of East Anglia·JournalInternational Journal of Hygiene and Environmental Health·DateSep 3, 2019

Poverty as disease trap

Schistosomiasis, a parasitic disease affecting 200 million people worldwide, can't be cured with current approaches due to poverty's role. Researchers found that mass drug administration programs fail to eradicate the disease, as treated individuals re-expose themselves to contamination.

SourceStanford University·JournalAmerican Journal of Tropical Medicine and Hygiene·DateSep 3, 2019

Affordable multiferroic material

Researchers developed a novel liquid process to fabricate an affordable multiferroic nanocomposite film, exhibiting a strong correlation between its electric and magnetic properties. This breakthrough enables the production of materials for various applications such as large-volume memory, spatial light modulators, and unique sensors.

SourceToyohashi University of Technology (TUT)·JournalJournal of Materials Chemistry C·DateSep 3, 2019

UM physical therapy professor authors new guideline on treating runner's knee

Patellofemoral pain affects one in four of the general population every year, with women reporting PFP twice as often as men. Exercise therapy, particularly hip and knee strengthening treatments prescribed by a physical therapist, is found to be the most effective recovery approach for individuals with patellofemoral pain.

SourceThe University of Montana·JournalJournal of Orthopaedic and Sports Physical Therapy·DateSep 3, 2019

Finding an effective way to reduce pressure ulcers

A recent study by the University of Leeds found that high-tech air mattresses provide only minimal gains in preventing pressure ulcers compared to specialist foam mattresses. The study involved over 2000 patients and showed that the benefits were mostly limited to those who were completely immobile, confused, or had nutritional deficits.

SourceUniversity of Leeds·JournalEClinicalMedicine·DateSep 3, 2019

Why fruit flies eat practically anything

Researchers at Kyoto University discovered that fruit flies can thrive on various diets due to their flexible response to carbohydrates. In contrast, genetic cousins of the fruit fly are 'nutritional specialists' and can only grow on specific plants. The study sheds light on how organisms adapt to different nutritional environments.

SourceKyoto University·JournalCell Reports·DateSep 3, 2019

Social network interventions can lead to potential health benefits

A systematic review and meta-analysis of social network interventions found significant effects on various health behaviors and outcomes, including sexual health, alcohol misuse, wellbeing, and smoking cessation. The study suggests that social network approaches can be a promising tool for improving health behaviors and outcomes.

SourcePLOS·JournalPLOS Medicine·DateSep 3, 2019

Winners of ESMO 2019 awards announced

The European Society for Medical Oncology (ESMO) has announced the winners of its annual awards, recognizing Prof. Eric Van Cutsem's pioneering work in gastrointestinal oncology and Dr. Angelo Di Leo's lifetime achievements in cancer research and education. The ESMO Women for Oncology Award was also presented to Prof. Cristiana Sessa, ...

Making more plastics recyclable

A new digital platform aims to increase recyclable plastics by reducing material components and weighing functionality against resource efficiency. The DIMOP project creates a tool for product developers to make better material choices, increasing plastic recyclability.

Slowed metabolism helps migrating geese soar

Researchers have discovered that bar-headed geese are able to fly high for long periods of time by reducing their metabolism in low-oxygen conditions. The study found that six out of seven birds could fly in moderately low-oxygen levels and three were willing to fly in severely low-oxygen conditions.

SourceeLife·DateSep 3, 2019

Comparing primate vocalizations

A new study by MIT linguist Shigeru Miyagawa and Esther Clarke reveals that Old World monkeys can combine two items in language sequences, but this ability stops at two. Unlike humans, who can recombine terms to create an infinite variety of sequences, the monkeys' language lacks the capacity for greater complexity.

SourceMassachusetts Institute of Technology·JournalFrontiers in Psychology·DateSep 3, 2019

The kombucha culture

Researchers have discovered complex social behaviors in kombucha microbes, which could provide clues for understanding cooperation in human societies. By studying the interactions between different species in kombucha, scientists hope to develop new antimicrobial products and interventions for bettering human health.

SourceArizona State University·JournalPeerJ·DateSep 3, 2019

Use of medical imaging

The study analyzed 135 million imaging examinations among 16-21 million patients in the US and Canada, finding increased medical imaging rates among adults but declining nuclear medicine use. Imaging rates continued to rise among children except for CT, which declined since 2006.

SourceJAMA Network·JournalJAMA·DateSep 3, 2019

Hardship during the Great Recession linked with lasting mental health declines

Research reveals that individuals who experienced financial, housing-related, or job-related hardships during the Great Recession showed increased symptoms of depression, anxiety, and problematic drug use. These findings suggest that government-funded mental health support may be a sound investment to stimulate economic recovery.

SourceAssociation for Psychological Science·JournalClinical Psychological Science·DateSep 3, 2019

The Lancet journals: Papers at ESC Congress 2019

The Lancet published several studies on cardiovascular disease, including a new risk chart for 21 global regions and a trial on percutaneous coronary intervention versus coronary artery bypass grafting. Additionally, the journal presented findings on sirolimus-eluting stents versus durable polymer everolimus-eluting stents in patients ...

SourceThe Lancet·JournalThe Lancet·DateSep 3, 2019

Extracting clean fuel from sunlight

Researchers at Arizona State University have developed new technologies that combine light-gathering semiconductors and catalytic materials to produce clean fuel. The technologies use solar energy to drive chemical reactions capable of producing fuels, which store the sun's energy in chemical bonds.

SourceArizona State University·JournalJournal of the American Chemical Society·DateSep 3, 2019

Using lasers to study explosions

Researchers used a swept-wavelength external cavity quantum cascade laser to study explosive events, detecting molecules and measuring temperature and concentration changes. The instrument provides fast and safe measurements, enabling new understanding of explosions and potential applications.

SourceAmerican Institute of Physics·JournalJournal of Applied Physics·DateSep 3, 2019

Researchers develop technique to de-ice surfaces in seconds

A new technique developed by researchers at the University of Illinois and Kyushu University in Japan uses less than 1% of the energy required for traditional de-icing methods to melt a thin layer of ice at the surface interface, allowing it to slide off under gravity. This approach is more efficient and reduces system downtime.

SourceUniversity of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign, News Bureau·JournalApplied Physics Letters·DateSep 3, 2019

Tropical sea snake uses its head to 'breathe'

Scientists have found that the blue-banded sea snake uses a vascular network in its head to absorb oxygen from the surrounding water, allowing it to stay submerged for longer periods. This unique adaptation enables the snake to thrive in tropical waters with minimal surface exposure.

SourceFlinders University·JournalRoyal Society Open Science·DateSep 3, 2019

An astonishing parabola trick

Researchers from Helmholtz-Zentrum Dresden-Rossendorf and Helmholtz-Zentrum Berlin have discovered a unique chiral effect in magnetic materials. The team created parabolic strips of Permalloy, which exhibited a surprisingly strong delayed response to a reversed magnetic field due to curvature-induced chiral properties.

SourceHelmholtz-Zentrum Dresden-Rossendorf·JournalPhysical Review Letters·DateSep 3, 2019