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Science News for August 28, 2017


Cutbacks in foreign aid for HIV treatment would produce great harm, generate few savings

A 33% cutback in U.S. foreign aid for HIV treatment and prevention programs in South Africa and Côte d'Ivoire would result in devastating health and economic consequences, including over 500,000 additional cases of HIV and 1.6 million more deaths in the next decade. The study suggests that such cuts would produce proportionally greater...

SourceMassachusetts General Hospital·JournalAnnals of Internal Medicine·DateAug 28, 2017

Largest Ichthyosaurus was pregnant mother

The largest ever recorded Ichthyosaurus was a pregnant adult female, estimated to be 3-3.5m long, and is an important discovery for the field of palaeontology. The specimen, found in a museum collection, has provided valuable insights into the size range of the species and the presence of embryos.

SourceUniversity of Manchester·JournalActa Palaeontologica Polonica·DateAug 28, 2017

How low should LDL cholesterol go?

Researchers found that ultra-low LDL cholesterol levels (below 10 mg/dL) significantly reduced cardiovascular event risk by over 40%. No adverse effects on cognition or safety endpoints were reported. The study suggests achieving low LDL cholesterol levels beyond current treatment targets may further reduce cardiovascular risk.

SourceBrigham and Women's Hospital·JournalThe Lancet·DateAug 28, 2017

Nagoya-led team flips the switch on ferroelectrics

Researchers at Nagoya University have created a way to manipulate the domain structure of lead zirconate titanate films, a crucial step for future electronic and electro-mechanical devices. By controlling the switching of domains, they can potentially accelerate the development of next-generation technologies.

SourceNagoya University·JournalScientific Reports·DateAug 28, 2017

Optical control of magnetic memory -- New insights into fundamental mechanisms

Researchers have made an important step toward understanding optically controlled magnetic storage devices, finding that laser light plays a key role in toggling magnetisation alignments. The study reveals the formation of a ring-shaped region around the tiny laser spot and its impact on the material's temperature distribution.

Chronic lack of sleep increases risk-seeking

A study by researchers at the University of Zurich found that chronic lack of sleep leads to increased risk-taking behavior in young adults. After sleeping only 5 hours a night for a week, participants displayed significantly riskier behavior, including taking greater financial risks.

SourceUniversity of Zurich·JournalAnnals of Neurology·DateAug 28, 2017

Perovskite solar cells go single crystal

Researchers have successfully grown single crystalline films of perovskite CH3NH3PbI3 on electron-collecting substrates, exhibiting excellent photovoltaic properties. The resulting devices achieve high efficiency rates, closing the gap with traditional silicon-based solar cells and offering a promising solution for renewable energy.

SourceScience China Press·JournalScience Bulletin·DateAug 28, 2017

Repetitive elements shape embryonic chromatin landscape

Scientists from Helmholtz Zentrum München have found that retrotransposons, particularly LINE1 elements, regulate global chromatin accessibility in the early mouse embryo. This study identifies a novel role for retrotransposons in shaping the chromatin landscape necessary for correct developmental programming.

Self-identifying as disabled and developing pride in disability aid overall well-being

A study from Oregon State University found that people who experience stigma are more likely to self-identify as disabled and develop pride in their disability. The researchers also discovered that severe impairments lead to greater stigma, which can increase the likelihood of self-identification. Developing disability pride is associa...

SourceOregon State University·JournalRehabilitation Psychology·DateAug 28, 2017

US opioid epidemic reaches new level of crisis in overdoses, hospitalizations and cost

A new study reveals a significant increase in US opioid-related overdose deaths and acute care costs, with nearly 4 million patients requiring critical care services over seven years. The study found a 34% increase in overdose-related ICU admissions, with mortality rates rising at the same rate.

SourceAmerican Associates, Ben-Gurion University of the Negev·JournalAnnals of the American Thoracic Society·DateAug 28, 2017

Solar hydrogen production by artificial leafs: Scientists analysed how a special treatment improves cheap metal oxide photoelectrodes

Researchers found that a heat treatment under hydrogen doubles the life span of charge carriers in metal oxide photoelectrodes, leading to improved photocurrent under sunlight. This breakthrough could potentially reduce costs and increase stability for commercialization.

SourceHelmholtz-Zentrum Berlin für Materialien und Energie·JournalAdvanced Energy Materials·DateAug 28, 2017

Study estimates number of births, population prevalence of Down syndrome in nine states

A new study estimates the numbers of children born annually with Down syndrome and the prevalence of the condition in each of the nine US states. The study found that live birth prevalence ranged from 1 in 729 to 1 in 1,256 across the states, while elective termination reduced the number of births by an average of 39%.

SourceMassachusetts General Hospital·JournalAmerican Journal of Medical Genetics·DateAug 28, 2017

Mount Sinai identifies strategies to optimize statin treatment for muscle symptoms

Researchers at Mount Sinai developed a clinical index to evaluate muscle-related symptoms associated with statin use. The team proposes re-challenging or switching statins, adopting healthy lifestyle changes, and exploring non-statin pharmacotherapies to optimize cholesterol treatment for patients experiencing adverse muscle symptoms.

SourceThe Mount Sinai Hospital / Mount Sinai School of Medicine·JournalJournal of the American College of Cardiology·DateAug 28, 2017

UMass Amherst study of bee health finds no natural medicine in once-promising compound

A recent study by researchers at UMass Amherst found that anabasine, a natural alkaloid, has deleterious effects on infected bees and exacerbates the negative effects of combined stressors on pollinator health. The compound was previously thought to have potential as a self-medicating agent against intestinal parasites in bumble bees.

Urban development in ancient Rome

A study by Hugo Delile and colleagues used high-resolution geochemical and isotopic analyses to reconstruct Rome's urban development. The analysis of a sediment core from Ostia harbor revealed the installation of ancient Rome's lead pipe system was around 2nd century BC, with a peak during the early-high Imperial period.

SourceProceedings of the National Academy of Sciences·JournalProceedings of the National Academy of Sciences·DateAug 28, 2017

The outsized role of soil microbes

Researchers propose a new approach to understanding soil organic matter's response to climate change and atmospheric chemistry. Soil microbes contribute significantly to stable carbon pools through catabolic and anabolic activities, which could lead to improved soil stabilization and renewal strategies.

SourceDOE/Argonne National Laboratory·JournalNature Microbiology·DateAug 28, 2017

Astronomers use Kepler satellite to study variability in the Seven Sisters Cluster

Researchers have developed a new algorithm to enhance observations from the Kepler Space Telescope and perform detailed studies of stellar variability. The technique, called halo photometry, reveals pulsations in B-type stars with day-long periods, offering insights into poorly understood processes in their cores.

SourceGeorgia State University·JournalMonthly Notices of the Royal Astronomical Society·DateAug 28, 2017

Acid zone in Chesapeake Bay identified

A 'pH minimum zone' of acidic water has been discovered at depths of 10-15 meters in the Chesapeake Bay. This increase in acidity is attributed to toxic hydrogen sulfide and ammonia produced when bottom waters mix upward, threatening shellfish like oysters and clams.

SourceUniversity of Delaware·JournalNature Communications·DateAug 28, 2017

Mass. General team reports first response of central nervous system tumor to CAR T-cells

Researchers report a remarkable treatment response in a patient with recurrent diffuse large-B-cell lymphoma (DLBCL), where CAR T-cell therapy induced complete remission of a brain metastasis. The treatment also showed spontaneous re-expansion of CAR T-cells after a subcutaneous tumor recurrence, leading to further research into the me...

SourceMassachusetts General Hospital·JournalNew England Journal of Medicine·DateAug 28, 2017

Neighborhood socioeconomic position an important predictor of cardiovascular risk

A recent study published in Annals of Internal Medicine found that neighborhood socioeconomic position is a crucial predictor of cardiovascular risk. The model used to predict this risk systematically underestimated the negative effects of living in disadvantaged neighborhoods, highlighting the importance of considering ecologic circum...

SourceAmerican College of Physicians·JournalAnnals of Internal Medicine·DateAug 28, 2017