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Science News for April 24, 2017


Researchers develop eco-friendly, 4-in-1 catalyst

The team created a nanocatalyst that can perform four separate chemical reactions in one container to produce compounds useful in making a wide range of pharmaceutical products. The new catalyst reduces waste and uses more environmentally friendly solvents.

SourceBrown University·JournalJournal of the American Chemical Society·DateApr 24, 2017

Savior of T-cells may be enemy of liver immune cells

A study by Houston Methodist researchers found that the surface protein OX40, which helps keep T-cells alive, can trigger the death of liver immune cells. This leads to a chain reaction causing liver inflammation and disease. The research suggests a potential new avenue for intervention, such as OX40 inhibitors or blockers.

SourceHouston Methodist·JournalJournal of Clinical Investigation·DateApr 24, 2017

Bright future for self-charging batteries

Scientists have made a breakthrough in self-charging battery technology, enabling devices to harness and store energy using light. The technology has the potential to power portable devices such as phones indefinitely, eliminating the need for frequent recharging.

SourceMcGill University·JournalNature Communications·DateApr 24, 2017

How walking benefits the brain

Researchers found that walking significantly increases blood flow to the brain, comparable to running, but less dramatic than cycling. The study uses non-invasive ultrasound to measure internal carotid artery blood velocity waves and arterial diameters.

Patients in team-based practices less likely to visit ED after hospital discharge

A study published in CMAJ found that team-based primary care practices in Quebec had lower rates of emergency department visits and death among older or chronically ill patients after hospital discharge. The researchers attributed this to better coordination of care, which reduces hospital readmission and death.

SourceCanadian Medical Association Journal·JournalCanadian Medical Association Journal·DateApr 24, 2017

Guts and glory for RMIT smart pills

Researchers at RMIT University have successfully completed phase one human trials of ingestible capsules that measure gas levels in the gastrointestinal tract. The technology has demonstrated thousands of times more sensitivity to gut gases than alternative methods, offering a reliable diagnostic tool for colon cancer.

SourceRMIT University·JournalACS Sensors·DateApr 24, 2017

Banded mongooses target family members for eviction

Researchers found that dominant banded mongooses target close female relatives for eviction due to their ability to resist, reducing competition for offspring. This behaviour is in contrast to expected social norms and highlights the importance of latent threats on social behavior.

SourceUniversity of Exeter·JournalProceedings of the National Academy of Sciences·DateApr 24, 2017

Mayo research shows surgery adds years for kidney cancer patients

A recent study published in The Journal of Urology found that surgery to remove secondary tumor growths, called metastases, significantly improves survival rates for patients with late-stage kidney cancer. Patients who underwent surgery had a life expectancy of three to 12 years, compared to eight months and two years without surgery.

SourceMayo Clinic·JournalThe Journal of Urology·DateApr 24, 2017

NASA's Cassini, Voyager missions suggest new picture of sun's interaction with galaxy

New data from NASA's Cassini mission, combined with measurements from Voyager spacecraft and IBEX, suggests that the sun's magnetic field creates a rounded heliosphere, rather than a comet-shaped structure. The study reveals that the heliosphere is nearly symmetrical, which could impact how cosmic rays reach the inner solar system.

SourceNASA/Goddard Space Flight Center·JournalNature Astronomy·DateApr 24, 2017

From abundant hydrocarbons to rare spin liquids

Researchers at Tohoku University and the University of Liverpool have successfully created quantum spin liquids from polyaromatic hydrocarbons using alkali metals. This achievement marks a significant step towards understanding exotic phenomena in materials science, with potential applications in superconductivity and quantum computing.

SourceTohoku University·JournalNature Chemistry·DateApr 24, 2017

How fear of death affects human attitudes toward animal life

A study from the University of Arizona found that reminding people of their mortality increases their willingness to kill animals. The researchers used terror management theory, which suggests that humans use self-esteem as a buffer against fear of death. When participants received a self-esteem boost, the effect of the death prime was...

SourceUniversity of Arizona·JournalPersonality and Social Psychology Bulletin·DateApr 24, 2017

Chip-based nanoscopy: Microscopy in HD quality

Researchers at Bielefeld University and the University of Tromsø have developed a photonic chip that enables superresolution light microscopy with conventional microscopes. This breakthrough method produces images with a resolution of about 20 to 30 nanometres, ten times that of conventional light microscopy.

SourceBielefeld University·JournalNature Photonics·DateApr 24, 2017

New Canadian guideline: No screening for hepatitis C in adults not at increased risk

The Canadian Task Force on Preventive Health Care recommends against routine screening for chronic hepatitis C virus (HCV) in low-risk adults due to lack of direct evidence on benefits and harms. The guideline aims to focus healthcare resources on individuals at elevated risk, where treatment is proven to be beneficial.

SourceCanadian Medical Association Journal·JournalCanadian Medical Association Journal·DateApr 24, 2017

Mystery of the missing mercury at the Great Salt Lake

Researchers found that the closure of Union Pacific railway culverts led to a 88% decrease in methylmercury levels in the lake's deep brine layer and sediments. However, waterfowl carcasses showed no significant change in mercury levels, indicating that the source of methylmercury in wetlands remains unknown.

SourceUniversity of Utah·JournalEnvironmental Science & Technology·DateApr 24, 2017

Chili peppers and marijuana calm the gut

Researchers discovered that capsaicin in chili peppers and anandamide in marijuana interact with the same receptor in the stomach, calming the immune system and reducing inflammation. The study holds promise for new therapies for diabetes and colitis, as well as understanding the relationship between the gut, brain, and immune system.

SourceUniversity of Connecticut·JournalProceedings of the National Academy of Sciences·DateApr 24, 2017

Facing nightmare scenarios before discharge lifts confidence of parents of babies in NICU

A University at Buffalo study found that simulations of daily care and nightmare scenarios increased the confidence of parents of newborns in the NICU by nearly 30%. The Neonatal Home Environment Learning Program (HELP) used infant simulators to recreate real-life situations, allowing parents to rehearse and experience behaviors, conse...

SourceUniversity at Buffalo·JournalMCN The American Journal of Maternal/Child Nursing·DateApr 24, 2017

Motion sickness drug worsens motion perception

A study by Massachusetts Eye and Ear researchers found that oral promethazine temporarily worsened vestibular perception thresholds by 31 percent. This increase in thresholds could lead to poorer balance performance and a higher risk of falling.

SourceMass Eye and Ear·JournalJournal of the Association for Research in Otolaryngology·DateApr 24, 2017

New approach to improve detection of landfill-related pollution

A new laser-induced breakdown spectroscopy (LIBS) approach refines detection of mercury in landfill leachate, offering rapid results without generating hazardous chemicals. The technique's sensitivity is improved through a double-pulse setup, allowing for the detection of lower mercury concentrations.

SourceOptica·JournalApplied Optics·DateApr 24, 2017

Forging new defenses against diabetic kidney disease

Scientists at Joslin Diabetes Center have found that healthy individuals with diabetes develop protective enzymes against damage from high blood sugar levels. The researchers identified an enzyme called PKM2 and showed that activating it can stop abnormalities in mouse podocytes and delay diabetic kidney disease progression.

SourceJoslin Diabetes Center·JournalNature Medicine·DateApr 24, 2017

New insight into brain development disorder

The ASPM protein collaborates with katanin to regulate cell division and specialization into nerve cells, crucial for healthy brain development. A study published in Nature Cell Biology provides new insights into the molecular mechanisms underlying microcephaly.

SourceUtrecht University·JournalNature Cell Biology·DateApr 24, 2017

Interdisciplinary studies reveal relationship between solar activity and climate change

Researchers have found a significant relationship between solar wind speed and North Atlantic Oscillation, suggesting a faster mechanism of solar influence on atmospheric systems. The team also developed a physical model to depict the interdecadal response of air-sea systems to solar activity.

SourceInstitute of Atmospheric Physics, Chinese Academy of Sciences·JournalAtmospheric and Oceanic Science Letters·DateApr 24, 2017

Elsevier announces the launch of Personalized Medicine in Psychiatry

Personalized Medicine in Psychiatry aims to increase treatment efficacy and reduce adverse effects by considering individual patient characteristics. The journal will publish research on endophenotypes, pharmacologic approaches, and education, with the goal of identifying predictors of response and tailoring treatments.

SourceElsevier·JournalPersonalized Medicine in Psychiatry·DateApr 24, 2017

Russian scientists create new system of concrete building structures

Researchers at Peter the Great Saint-Petersburg Polytechnic University developed a new construction technology using nanostructured high-strength lightweight concrete. The system increases load-carrying capacity by over 200% and offers enhanced corrosion resistance, frost resistance, and seismic activity tolerance.

SourcePeter the Great Saint-Petersburg Polytechnic University·JournalMagazine of Civil Engineering·DateApr 24, 2017

Brain's power to adapt offers short-term gains, long-term strains

After a head injury, the brain can form new connections between damaged areas, known as hyperconnections. While this adaptation may provide short-term benefits, it can also lead to chronic inefficiencies and strain the brain's resources. Chronic inefficiencies may cascade into serious brain disorders, including Alzheimer's Disease.

SourcePenn State·JournalTrends in Cognitive Sciences·DateApr 24, 2017

A plastic-eating caterpillar

Researchers have found a way for a caterpillar to break down polyethylene, a common type of plastic. The larvae of the Galleria mellonella moth can digest and chemically transform polyethylene into ethylene glycol, offering a potential solution to managing plastic waste.

SourceCell Press·JournalCurrent Biology·DateApr 24, 2017

New breakthrough in battery charging technology

A new class of monolithically integrated, portable PV-battery systems has been developed using high-efficiency silicon solar cells and printed solid-state lithium-ion batteries. The device can power electric devices under sunlight or in the absence of light, offering exceptional photo-electrochemical performance and design compactness.

SourceUlsan National Institute of Science and Technology(UNIST)·JournalEnergy & Environmental Science·DateApr 24, 2017