Thursday, December 15, 2016

Science news daily

Medical News


Study Highlights Need for Improved, Stable Eye Screening for Premature Babies
National survey shows it's getting hard to find an ophthalmologist to screen premature babies for eye disease.
– University of Michigan Health System
Pediatrics
Embargo expired on 14-Dec-2016 at 00:05 ET


Research Identifies a Molecular Basis for Common Congenital Brain Defect
Scientists at Sanford Burnham Prebys Medical Discovery Institute (SBP) have discovered a molecular cause of hydrocephalus, a common, potentially life-threatening birth defect in which the head is enlarged due to excess fluid surrounding the brain. Be...
– Sanford Burnham Prebys Medical Discovery Institute
Journal of Neuroscience; National Natural Science Foundation of China 91332114; National Institutes of Health R01 R01 NS046673, , R01 NS046673, R01 AG030197, and ; National Institutes of Health R01 AG021173...
Embargo expired on 13-Dec-2016 at 17:00 ET


UAB Performs Deep South’s First HIV-Positive Kidney Transplant From HIV-Positive Deceased Donor
Mississippi man transplanted at UAB is only the eighth HIV-positive to HIV-positive transplant recipient in the United States since implementation of the HOPE Act.

Expert Available
– University of Alabama at Birmingham
Embargo expired on 13-Dec-2016 at 17:00 ET


Weight and Body Image Misperception Associated with Alcohol Use Among Teen Girls
High school girls with body image behavioral misperceptions are more likely to have had at least one alcoholic drink, as well as engaged in episodes of heavy drinking, than their peers without these misperceptions.
– Tufts University


Aspirin Slows Spread of Colon, Pancreatic Cancer in Tumor Cells
Researchers from Oregon Health and Science University have found that aspirin may slow the spread of some types of colon and pancreatic cancer cells. The study looks at the interaction between aspirin and blood platelets in cancer cells.
– American Physiological Society (APS)


McEwen Centre Scientists Produce Functional Heart Pacemaker Cells
Scientists from the McEwen Centre for Regenerative Medicine, University Health Network, have developed the first functional pacemaker cells from human stem cells, paving the way for alternate, biological pacemaker therapy.
– University Health Network (UHN)
Nature Biotechnology, Dec-2016


Celebrity Chefs Have Poor Food Safety Practices
Celebrity chefs are cooking up poor food safety habits, according to a Kansas State University study. Kansas State University food safety experts Edgar Chambers IV and Curtis Maughan, along with Tennessee State University's Sandria Godwin, recently p...
– Kansas State University
Journal of Public Health


Wildschutte Identifies Natural Weapons Against Antibiotic Resistance
Dr. Hans Wildschutte, biology, has his eye on finding answers to the serious global issues of antibiotic resistance and novel drug discovery. The research in Wildschutte’s lab focuses on finding environmental bacteria that can kill one or multiple ...
– Bowling Green State University
23 November 2016 doi:10.1128/AEM.02701-16


New Device Creates 3D Livers in a Droplet
Researchers have created a microfluidic device that could lead to faster, more sophisticated, and lower cost methods for screening drugs for liver toxicity – before the drugs are moved into human trials.
– National Institute of Biomedical Imaging and Bioengineering
Lab Chip. 2016 Apr 21;16(8):1346-9; EB014703


Study Identifies Subtype of Triple Negative Breast Cancer That Responds Better to Chemotherapy
Researchers at Yale Cancer Center have identified a new subtype of triple negative breast cancer that shows significantly improved response to chemotherapy.
– Yale Cancer Center
PLOS Medicine


Study Raises Concern of Significant Under-Reporting of Child Abuse Within U.S. Army
Only 20 percent of medically diagnosed child abuse and neglect cases in U.S. Army dependent children between 2004 and 2007 were found to have a substantiated report with the Army’s Family Advocacy Program -– the agency responsible for the investi...
– Children's Hospital of Philadelphia
Child Abuse & Neglect


Text Messaging Improves Medication Use by HIV-Positive Youth
A randomized clinical trial published in AIDS and Behavior showed that personalized two-way daily text messaging improved adherence to antiretroviral therapy in HIV-positive youth ages 16-29. The HIV/AIDS Prevention Research Synthesis (PRS) project a...
– Ann & Robert H. Lurie Children's Hospital of Chicago
AIDS and Behavior. 2016;20(5):1049-1059


Rural Nursing Homes Are Falling Behind in Health Information Technology
The 16,000 nursing homes in the United States serve populations of all sizes; yet, according to new research from the University of Missouri, rural communities are lagging in health information technology (IT) needed to improve quality, safety and ef...
– University of Missouri Health


Broken Shoulder Leads to Carpal Tunnel Syndrome Surgery Study
Patients who undergo surgery for carpal tunnel syndrome can regain their typing ability within two or three weeks after the operation. That is the conclusion of a serendipitous research project that came about because a psychologist who studies the a...
– Vanderbilt University
Journal of Hand Surgery (Dec2016)


UCI Team to Play Key Role in National Study on How Physical Activity Benefits Health
Irvine, Calif., Dec. 13, 2016 — With the support of a major National Institutes of Health initiative, University of California, Irvine pediatric researchers will lead an effort to study the molecular changes that occur in the body in response to ex...
– University of California, Irvine


Unexpected Activity of Two Enzymes Helps Explain Why Liver Cancer Drugs Fail
Researchers at University of California San Diego School of Medicine have discovered that lack of two types of enzymes can lead to liver disease and cancer in mice. In human liver tumors, they found that deficiencies in these two enzymes, Shp2 and Pt...
– University of California San Diego Health Sciences
Cell Reports


‘Western’ Maternal Diet Appears to Raise Obesity Risk in Offspring
Diet composition around the time of pregnancy may influence whether offspring become obese, according to a new study using animal models at The Scripps Research Institute (TSRI).
– Scripps Research Institute
American Journal of Physiology; R01DK-070118; R01DK-30066; R01DK-076896; F31DA026708-01A2; R21DK-077616; P30DK-056336; P30DK-079626


Studies Probe Value and Impact of Direct-to-Consumer Genetic Testing
A series of scientific reports from the Personal Genomics study reveal insights into patient perceptions and experiences with direct-to-consumer genetic testing
– Brigham and Women’s Hospital
Journal of Clinical Oncology


Availability of Community-Based Fitness Classes Leads to Increased Activity Levels
Physical inactivity is a global health problem that leads to approximately 3.2 million deaths each year, according to the World Health Organization. Researchers from the University of Missouri School of Medicine have found that a government-sponsored...
– University of Missouri Health


Bad Combination: Hepatitis C and HIV Medications Can Interact Adversely When Used Together
University of Rhode Island pharmacy professor has discovered potential complications when Hepatitis C and HIV drugs are used in combination with additional medications to combat co-infections.
– University of Rhode Island


Brain Structure Best Explains Our Dwindling Tolerance of Risk
Our brain’s changing structure, not simply getting older and wiser, most affects our attitudes to risk, according to new research.
– University of Sydney
Nature Communications


Female Hormones Increase Risk of Vision Loss in Rare Genetic Disease
Girls with a rare genetic disorder caused by mutations in the Nf1 gene are much more likely to lose their vision than boys with the same mutations. Researchers at Washington University School of Medicine in St. Louis believe estrogen activates immune...
– Washington University in St. Louis
Journal of Experimental Medicine, Dec-2016; NS007205; CA214146-01; CA195692-01


Agent of Mischief
Rhabdoid tumors are among the most recalcitrant childhood cancers, and scientists have long sought ways to understand what drives their resilience and makes them impervious to treatment. Now researchers from Harvard Medical School, St. Jude Children...
– Harvard Medical School


CRI Scientists Discover New Bone-Forming Growth Factor That Reverses Osteoporosis in Mice
A team of scientists at the Children’s Medical Center Research Institute at UT Southwestern (CRI) discovered a new bone-forming growth factor, Osteolectin (Clec11a), which reverses osteoporosis in mice and has implications for regenerative medicine...
– UT Southwestern Medical Center
eLife, Dec-2016


Nation's First: Intermountain Medical Center Uses Revolutionary Approach to Address Organ Shortage Problem
There's new hope for patients with liver disease who are waiting for a donor liver to become available for transplantation. Doctors at Intermountain Medical Center in Salt Lake City have found a way to safely use a damaged liver to replace a dying li...
– Intermountain Medical Center


NMU Offers New Medicinal Plant Chemistry Degree
Northern Michigan University will offer the only four-year degree of its kind in medicinal plant chemistry that combines experimental horticulture and advanced analytical chemistry with an optional entrepreneurial track. Students will gain knowledge ...
– Northern Michigan University


How to Safely Exfoliate at Home
Exfoliation is the process of removing dead skin cells from the outer layer of your skin. While some people believe that this improves the appearance of their skin, dermatologists from the American Academy of Dermatology say it’s not for everyone a...
– American Academy of Dermatology


RTI International, Validic to Optimize Data From Wearables Like Fitbit for Health Research
RTI International and Validic have partnered to optimize consumer wearable and health sensor data for research. This partnership creates an opportunity to use personal health data in comprehensive and innovative ways to answer questions about health,...
– RTI International


Public Skepticism Would Likely Greet a New Zika Vaccine, UGA Study Says
As scientists race to create a vaccine for the Zika virus, new research from the University of Georgia suggests almost half of Americans wouldn’t be interested in getting the shot even if public health officials recommended it for them.
– University of Georgia


Providence Medical Technology Announces the Publication of a Technique Paper
Providence Medical Technology, Inc., an innovator in tissue-sparing cervical fusion technology, today announced the publication of "Novel instrumentation and technique for tissue sparing posterior cervical fusion" in the Journal of Clinical Neuroscie...
– Providence Medical Technology
Journal of Clinical Neuroscience


2017 Health-Care Symposium Program Covers Handoff Communication, Device and Facility Design, EHRs and Health Apps, and a Lot More
The 2.5-day program features more than 180 presentations by health and safety researchers, policy makers, physicians and other health-care providers, medical device designers, health IT professionals, and biomedical engineers.
– Human Factors and Ergonomics Society


Iowa State Senior Rebounds From Head Injury to Graduate
On her way to becoming a teacher, Amanda Rohlf hit a brick wall. Actually it was a lake. But the way her head struck the water, it might as well have been a wall. With extraordinary inner strength and TLC from her university, Rohlf bulldozed through ...
– Iowa State University


Weston Brain Institute Funds Clinical Trials of New Alzheimer’s Treatment
Electrocranial stimulation offers hope for Alzheimer's patients
– University of Manitoba


HOPA Applauds Signing of 21st Century Cures Act
The Hematology/Oncology Pharmacy Association (HOPA) applauds President Obama for signing the landmark legislation, the 21st Century Cures Act into law today. After nearly 18 months of deliberation and negotiations, this new law will allow for signifi...
– Hematology Oncology Pharmacy Association


The American Society of Nephrology (ASN) Applauds Congress and President Barack H. Obama for Passage and Signing into Law the 21st Century Cures Act
The American Society of Nephrology (ASN) applauds Congress and President Barack H. Obama for passage and signing into law the 21st Century Cures Act today. ASN advocated for specific provisions of the new law to benefit the more than 20 million Ameri...
– American Society of Nephrology (ASN)


AACI Thanks President Obama for Signing the 21st Century Cures Legislation
The Association of American Cancer Institutes (AACI) thanks President Barack Obama for signing the 21st Century Cures Act into law today. The legislation includes a NIH Innovation Account, which provides nearly $4.8 billion in funding for the Nationa...
– Association of American Cancer Institutes (AACI)


Physician Anesthesiologists Applaud VA Decision to Reverse Proposal to Replace Physician Anesthesiologists with Nurses for Anesthesia
The American Society of Anesthesiologists (ASA) is extremely gratified by the U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs (VA) decision to reverse its proposal to replace the department’s physician anesthesiologists with nurses in VA health care facilities...
– American Society of Anesthesiologists (ASA)


AARDA Praises President Barack Obama and Republican and Democratic Lawmakers for New “21ST Century Cures” Law
Calls Legislation “the Best Christmas Present” for Autoimmune and Chronic Disease Patients
– American Autoimmune Related Diseases Association (AARDA)


EMMC Cancer Care joins Dana-Farber Cancer Care Collaborative
EMMC Cancer Care, located at the Lafayette Family Cancer Center (Brewer, Maine), is the newest member of the Dana-Farber Cancer Care Collaborative. Participation in the Collaborative reflects a demonstrated commitment to excellence by meeting a wide ...
– Dana-Farber Cancer Institute


Terence M. Keane, Phd, Elected 2017 American Psychological Foundation President
Terence M. Keane, PhD, professor of psychiatry and assistant dean for Research at Boston University, has been elected 2017 president of the American Psychological Foundation (APF). Keane will take office on Jan. 1, 2017.
– American Psychological Association (APA)


Montefiore Health System and Albert Einstein College of Medicine Announce New Chair of Psychiatry and Behavioral Sciences
Preeminent psychiatric researcher and clinician, Jonathan E. Alpert, M.D., Ph.D, has been named professor and university chair of the Department of Psychiatry and Behavioral Sciences at Montefiore Health System and Albert Einstein College of Medicine...
– Montefiore Health System


UChicago Medicine Opens Major Outpatient Clinic in Orland Park
The University of Chicago Medicine opened its new outpatient facility Tuesday, bringing exceptional academic medicine to patients in Chicago’s south and southwest suburbs.
– University of Chicago Medical Center


Drug Discovery Scientist Mark Suto Named to National Academy of Inventors
Mark J. Suto, Ph.D., vice president of Drug Discovery at Southern Research, has been named a Fellow of the National Academy of Inventors (NAI) in recognition of his wide-ranging contributions to pharmaceutical research and drug discovery efforts.
– Southern Research


Indianapolis Entrepreneur Gives $30 Million for IU School of Medicine Immunotherapy Center
One of the largest gifts ever to the Indiana University School of Medicine will enable researchers to harness the power of the immune system to cure cancer and other devastating diseases -- propelling Indiana’s standing as an engine for biomedical ...
– Indiana University


UofL Study Examines Experiences of Muslim Cancer Survivors
A study being conducted at the University of Louisville School of Nursing will provide insight into cultural and religious influences on the experiences of Muslim cancer survivors living in the United States. The results will be used to develop cult...
– University of Louisville



Science News


Laboratory-on-a-Chip Technique Simplifies Detection of Cancer DNA Biomarkers
Cancer is the second leading cause of death in the U.S., making early, reliable diagnosis and treatment a priority. Miniaturized lab-on-chip approaches are prime candidates for developing viable diagnostic tests and instruments because they are small...
– American Institute of Physics (AIP)
On-chip wavelength multiplexed detection of cancer DNA biomarkers in blood; Biomicrofluidics
Embargo expired on 13-Dec-2016 at 11:00 ET


International Collaboration Receives Grant to Advance Improvements in Cassava Harvests and Nutrition for Smallholder Families in Sub-Saharan Africa
Scientists under VIRCA Plus are developing improved cassava varieties to enhance the livelihoods and health status of African farm families.
– Donald Danforth Plant Science Center
Embargo expired on 14-Dec-2016 at 07:00 ET


Sanford Burnham Prebys Medical Research Institute Professor Garth Powis Named as NAI Fellow
Garth Powis, professor and director of Sanford Burnham Prebys Medical Discovery Institute’s (SBP) NCI-designated Cancer Center, has been named Fellow of the National Academy of Inventors (NAI). Election to NAI Fellow status is a high professional d...
– Sanford Burnham Prebys Medical Discovery Institute
Embargo expired on 13-Dec-2016 at 10:00 ET


University of Minnesota Research Shows That People Can Control a Robotic Arm with Only Their Minds
Researchers at the University of Minnesota have made a major breakthrough that allows people to control a robotic arm using only their minds. The research has the potential to help millions of people who are paralyzed or have neurodegenerative diseas...
– University of Minnesota College of Science and Engineering
Nature ; Scientific Reports


A New Light on Stellar Death, ALMA Finds Compelling Evidence for Pair of Infant Planets Around Young Star, Hubble Catches a Transformation in the Virgo Constellation, and More in the Space News Source
The latest in space and astronomy in the Space News Source
– Newswise


Prof Develops Model to Mesh Farming, Ecosystems
As human uses increasingly threaten the Earth’s natural spaces, a new ecological model developed by University of Guelph researchers suggests that so-called mosaic ecosystems may be near a “tipping point” and that conserving these landscapes re...
– University of Guelph


U-M Researchers Map New Zealand Landslides with Satellites, Drones, Helicopters, Hiking Boots
A University of Michigan-led team of geologists and engineers is mapping surface ruptures and some of the tens of thousands of landslides triggered by last month's magnitude-7.8 earthquake in New Zealand.
– University of Michigan


Eat and Be Eaten: Invasive Scavengers in Hawaii Alter Island Nutrient Cycle
Researchers from the University of Georgia have found that invasive species on Hawaii Island may be especially successful invaders because they are formidable scavengers of carcasses of other animals and after death, a nutrient resource for other inv...
– University of Georgia


Laser R&D Focuses on Next-Gen Particle Collider
A set of new laser systems and proposed upgrades at Berkeley Lab's BELLA Center will propel long-term plans for a more compact and affordable ultrahigh-energy particle collider.
– Lawrence Berkeley National Laboratory


Breakup of Supercontinent Pangea Cooled Mantle and Thinned Crust
The oceanic crust produced by the Earth today is significantly thinner than crust made 170 million years ago during the time of the supercontinent Pangea, according to University of Texas at Austin researchers.
– University of Texas at Austin (UT Austin)
Nature Geosciences


Studies of Vulnerable Populations Get a 'Bootstrapped' Boost From Statisticians
In a paper published online Dec. 7 in the Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences, University of Washington researchers report on a statistical approach called "tree bootstrapping" can help social scientists study hard-to-reach populations li...
– University of Washington
PNAS (Dec. 2016)


Water: Finding the Normal Within the Weird
RICHLAND, Wash. – Water has many unusual properties, such as its solid form, ice, being able to float in liquid water, and they get weirder below its freezing point. Supercooled water — below freezing but still a liquid — is notoriously difficu...
– Pacific Northwest National Laboratory
Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences Early Edition Dec. 12


First Detection of Boron on the Surface of Mars
Boron has been identified for the first time on the surface of Mars, indicating the potential for long-term habitable groundwater in the ancient past.
– Los Alamos National Laboratory


Scientists Examine ‘Perfect Storms’ Fueling Vast Tropical Biodiversity
Biodiversity on earth is greatest in the tropics with the number and variety of species gradually diminishing toward the poles. Understanding exactly what shapes this pattern, known as the latitudinal diversity gradient, is not just key to knowing th...
– University of Chicago


Improving Catalysis Science with Synchrotrons
the global economy and have been the subject of research for decades. Despite their unique advantages, x-ray synchrotron spectroscopy techniques were not widely employed by those delving into the intricacies The Synchrotron Catalysis Consortium was ...
– Department of Energy, Office of Science
ACS Catalysis 2, 2269 (2012). [DOI: 10.1021/cs3004006]


Johns Hopkins APL, Navy Demonstrate High-Speed, Autonomous Surface Patrol Capability
In September, an APL experiment, in collaboration with the Surface Targets Branch of the Naval Air Warfare Center Weapons Division, worked to advance the state of the art of collaborative, autonomous USV behaviors to higher speeds and larger numbers ...
– Johns Hopkins University Applied Physics Laboratory


Capturing Clouds for LASSO Leads to New Radar Techniques
The ARM Climate Research Facility has some of the best instruments in the world for measuring atmospheric properties, but achieving the highest-quality results requires knowing the optimal way to use them. In a recent paper, a research team used ARM ...
– Department of Energy, Office of Science


Turfgrass Research Focuses on Irrigation Efficiency, Drought Tolerance
Subsurface drip irrigation is the newest method in turfgrass efficiency. Two projects will test these research findings: A subsurface drip irrigation system in several tee boxes at a golf course, and a city park, where a subsurface drip irrigation sy...
– New Mexico State University (NMSU)


NMU Seeks to Increase Indigenous Women in STEM
Northern Michigan University has received nearly $300,000 from the National Science Foundation for a project to increase the number of American Indian and Alaska Native women in STEM fields and train K-16 educators to introduce American Indian method...
– Northern Michigan University


George Joins Elite Group as ORNL-UT Governor’s Chair
Easo George, one of the world’s foremost authorities on advanced alloy development and theory, has been named the 15th Governor’s Chair at the Department of Energy’s Oak Ridge National Laboratory and the University of Tennessee.
– Oak Ridge National Laboratory


DHS S&T Transition to Practice Program Transitions Eighth Cybersecurity Technology for Commercialization
DHS S&T has announced the eighth cybersecurity technology transitioning to commercialization as a part of its Cyber Security Division’s Transition to Practice program.
– Homeland Security's Science & Technology Directorate


WCS Campaign To Stop Nigeria’s Superhighway Delivers More Than 100,000 Petition Signatures To Nigerian Ambassador
A global campaign recently launched by WCS (Wildlife Conservation Society) to stop or reroute a proposed superhighway in Nigeria’s Cross River State has succeeded in securing 100,081 petition signatures in support of the effort.
– Wildlife Conservation Society


Rutgers Faculty Member Honored by National Academy of Inventors
Richard Riman, distinguished professor of materials science and engineering at Rutgers, has been elected as a Fellow of the National Academy of Inventors. He holds more than 10 U.S. patents and patents pending for the “low-temperature solidificatio...
– Rutgers' Office of Research and Economic Development



Lifestyle & Social Sciences


Are We More Risk Averse as We Get Older? It’s a Gray (Matter) Area, NYU Research Finds
Age itself is not the determining factor in how an individual views or tolerates risk when making decisions; instead, it is the age-related decline in the volume of gray matter in our brains, research by NYU’s Institute for the Interdisciplinary St...
– New York University
Nature Communications
Embargo expired on 13-Dec-2016 at 11:00 ET


Biomaterials Expert Delbert Day Named National Academy of Inventors Fellow
Dr. Delbert E. Day, a prolific inventor whose work with specialty glasses has led to treatments for cancer, bone tissue regeneration and wound care, has been named a National Academy of Inventors Fellow.
– Missouri University of Science and Technology
Embargo expired on 13-Dec-2016 at 10:00 ET


Do Thoughts of Death Change Our Shopping Habits?
It's that time of year again: when festive ads command consumers to BUY! BUY! BUY! for their friends and family. But despite this holiday cheer, negative news marches on.
– Concordia University
Journal of Consumer Affairs


How Your Parenting Tactics Influence Your Teen’s Problem Behaviors
New study by UC Riverside psychology professor finds discrepancy between parents’ and teens’ views of parenting style contributes to teens’ behavior problems.
– University of California, Riverside
Journal of Youth and Adolescence


Image of ‘Typical’ Welfare Recipient Linked With Racial Stereotypes
When thinking about a welfare recipient, people tend to imagine someone who is African American and who is lazier and less competent than someone who doesn’t receive welfare benefits, according to new findings in Psychological Science, a journal of...
– Association for Psychological Science
Psychological Science


Doctoral Student's Social Media Research Leads to Dream Job at Facebook
• WSU student Jessica Drum has landed her dream job working at Facebook. • She got the job based on her research on how social media affects relationships. • Drum is moving to San Francisco after graduating from WSU on Sunday, Dec. 11.
– Wichita State University


Holiday Sleep Tips for Kids Help Parents Keep the Season Bright
The holidays can pose great challenges for parents who must juggle seasonal excitement and overtired kids. Saint Joseph’s University sleep expert and Professor of Psychology Jodi A. Mindell, Ph.D., offers the following suggestions for parents to h...
Expert Available
– Saint Joseph's University


Texas Tech Engineering Students Give the Gift of Mobility Through Class Project
The toddler mobility device allows children with physical disabilities to explore their world and experience the world around them that previously seemed out of reach.
– Texas Tech University



Business News


Study Explores Companies' Strategies in Expanding Globally
A new study from The University of Texas at Dallas examines why and how multinational enterprises decide to internationalize.
– University of Texas at Dallas
Journal of International Business Studies

No comments:

Post a Comment

ENERGY NEWS

Oil prices rally on geopolitical tensions April 10 (UPI) -- Geopolitical factors spilled over into the broader economic mood early ...