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Science News Archive May 2020 - Page 27


Page 27 of 42

Children with autism face higher risk of eating disorders

A new longitudinal study published in the Journal of Child Psychology and Psychiatry found that children with autistic traits are more likely to develop eating disorder symptoms in adolescence. Autistic traits in childhood precede behaviors characteristic of eating disorders, suggesting a risk factor for developing eating disorders.

SourceUniversity College London·JournalJournal of Child Psychology and Psychiatry·DateMay 12, 2020

New paper helps advance myopia management strategies

A new literature analysis published in Ophthalmic & Physiological Optics provides a comprehensive review of evidence-based information for managing myopia. The paper discusses various safety and efficacy considerations for behavioral, optical, and pharmaceutical pathways, as well as potential future avenues for myopia management.

SourceMcDougall Communications·JournalOphthalmic and Physiological Optics·DateMay 12, 2020

Child's play 'lost' in pandemic fear

Flinders University researchers warn that social and community disruptions caused by COVID-19 restrictions may have a lasting effect on child wellbeing. The closure of playgrounds and schools has likely had significant impacts on children's opportunities for play and ability to exercise agency during this time of transition.

SourceFlinders University·JournalChild Indicators Research·DateMay 12, 2020

#Thisisourlane: How physicians can take action to reduce gun violence

Primary care physicians can identify patients at risk of firearm suicide through improved health screening, and adding firearm safety questions to mental health screening can make it a more routine part of primary care. Physicians can also advocate for policy change and harness online momentum to influence the political discourse on fi...

SourceAmerican Academy of Family Physicians·JournalThe Annals of Family Medicine·DateMay 12, 2020

How the brain responds to the sudden sound of silent danger

A novel neural circuit has been discovered in rats that responds to the sound of silence, triggering defense responses. The study found that a specific combination of brain regions, including those involved in sound processing and emotional responses, are necessary for rats to freeze in response to silent danger.

SourcePLOS·JournalPLOS Biology·DateMay 12, 2020

A combo of fasting plus vitamin C is effective for hard-to-treat cancers, study shows

A combination of fasting-mimicking diet and vitamin C has been found to delay tumor progression and even cause disease regression in multiple mouse models of colorectal cancer. The treatment works by regulating iron levels and molecular mechanisms involved in oxidative stress, making it a safer alternative to toxic treatments.

SourceUniversity of Southern California·JournalNature Communications·DateMay 12, 2020

Blood cells could serve as a 'thermometer' to detect breast cancer

Researchers have discovered that patients with breast cancer develop alterations in monocytes, a type of leukocyte, early in the disease course. This finding paves the way for enhanced diagnosis and treatment of breast cancer, potentially allowing for earlier identification of aggressive tumors and personalized immunotherapy strategies.

SourceFundação de Amparo à Pesquisa do Estado de São Paulo·JournalClinical & Translational Immunology·DateMay 12, 2020

Adolescence is ruff for dogs too

Research by Newcastle University and the University of Nottingham found that dogs exhibit typical teenage behavior, such as ignoring commands and training difficulties, at around 8 months old. This behavior is more pronounced in dogs with insecure attachments to their owners.

SourceNewcastle University·JournalBiology Letters·DateMay 12, 2020

DNA metabarcoding reveals metacommunity dynamics in a threatened boreal wetland

A new study using DNA metabarcoding reveals the dynamics of metacommunities in a threatened boreal wetland, detecting a broader range of biodiversity per sample compared to traditional methods. The study found that patterns of community assembly were nearly random, suggesting a strong role of randomness in the metacommunity.

SourceCentre for Biodiversity Genomics, University of Guelph·JournalProceedings of the National Academy of Sciences·DateMay 12, 2020

Why visual perception is a decision process

Researchers found that prediction errors can be accessed during final processing stages of perception, contradicting previous theories. This means the brain simultaneously keeps track of past, current, and future image contents, allowing for stability and flexibility in rapid image sequences.

SourceRuhr-University Bochum·JournalPLOS ONE·DateMay 12, 2020

Lighting the path for cells

Researchers at ETH Zurich have developed a new method to distribute bioactive molecules in three-dimensional space, allowing them to guide the growth of nerve fibers and other biological processes. This innovation has potential benefits for medicine, including improving recovery from neural injuries.

SourceETH Zurich·JournalAdvanced Materials·DateMay 12, 2020