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Science News for December 7, 2017


Springer to co-publish the Journal of Flow Chemistry

The Journal of Flow Chemistry will be published by Springer and Akadémiai Kiadó, increasing its visibility and accessibility. The journal aims to promote international and Hungarian science, and provide a platform for organic chemistry laboratories.

SourceSpringer·JournalJournal of Flow Chemistry·DateDec 7, 2017

Black holes' magnetism surprisingly wimpy

Scientists have discovered black holes have significantly weaker magnetic fields than previously thought, with measurements about 400 times lower than estimated. This finding deepens our knowledge of how matter behaves under extreme conditions and could impact nuclear fusion power and GPS systems.

SourceUniversity of Florida·JournalScience·DateDec 7, 2017

Bacteria activate their own killer

Researchers have developed a novel photothermal treatment that leverages the self-activation of certain bacteria to target and kill antibiotic-resistant pathogens. The innovative approach uses a supramolecular radical anion complex that absorbs near-infrared light, generating heat and denaturing proteins in targeted bacteria.

SourceWiley·JournalAngewandte Chemie International Edition·DateDec 7, 2017

Mutations in neurons accumulate as we age; may explain normal cognitive decline & neurodegeneration

A study by Boston Children's Hospital and Harvard Medical School found that brain mutations increase with age, especially in people with genetic premature aging disorders. The researchers detected 'clocklike' mutations that accumulated like clockwork in both brain areas, as well as those linked to oxidative damage and faulty DNA repair.

SourceBoston Children's Hospital·JournalScience·DateDec 7, 2017

Could death rates have swung the 2016 election?

A new study by Drexel University researcher Usama Bilal found a significant association between rising white, middle-class death rates and Republican voting in the 2016 US presidential election. The research suggests that counties with higher mortality rates among middle-aged whites were more likely to vote for Republican candidates.

SourceDrexel University·JournalSocial Science & Medicine·DateDec 7, 2017

Breath test could be possible for drugs and disease

Researchers from the University of Gothenburg have identified a new method for detecting drug use and disease through analyzing compounds in exhaled breath. The study found that methadone was present in all samples using both methods, but with varying concentrations, highlighting the importance of device design and sampling technique.

SourceIOP Publishing·JournalJournal of Breath Research·DateDec 7, 2017

Study provides insights on immune cells involved in kidney disease

Researchers have discovered that macrophages form a barrier around kidneys and that dendritic cells communicate with each other to control the magnitude of the immune response. This complex mechanism challenges previous ideas about how the kidney reacts to injury, and may lead to new strategies for protecting individuals' kidney health.

SourceAmerican Society of Nephrology·JournalJournal of the American Society of Nephrology·DateDec 7, 2017

Risk for depression, burnout and low quality of life

A study by Dr. MG Carta et al. found a high prevalence of symptoms of depression among healthcare workers in Italy, with significant risks for physicians, nurses, and surgeons. The study highlights the impact of job stressors on mental health and quality of life among healthcare professionals.

SourceBentham Science Publishers·JournalClinical Practice and Epidemiology in Mental Health·DateDec 7, 2017

Evolution: It's all in the ears

A new study reveals that extinct sauropterygians evolved inner ear proportions similar to those of modern aquatic reptiles and mammals. Researchers found similarities between the inner ears of ancient sea monsters like plesiosaurs and modern animals such as crocodiles, whales, and sea turtles.

SourceUniversity of the Witwatersrand·JournalCurrent Biology·DateDec 7, 2017

First line combination therapy improves progression-free survival in advanced lung cancer

The combination of chemotherapy and immunotherapy significantly improves progression-free survival in patients with advanced non-squamous NSCLC. The study showed that the addition of atezolizumab to bevacizumab and chemotherapy leads to a median PFS of 8.3 months, compared to 6.8 months with bevacizumab and chemotherapy alone.

SourceEuropean Society for Medical Oncology·JournalAnnals of Oncology·DateDec 7, 2017

National Academies' Gulf Research Program awards $10.8 million to address risk in offshore oil and gas operations

The Gulf Research Program aims to develop new technologies to improve understanding and management of systemic risk in offshore oil and gas operations. The program focuses on addressing the risks associated with hydrocarbon releases, which pose threats to human health, safety, environment, and infrastructure.

When your spinal cord takes charge

Researchers at Salk Institute reveal specific neurons called RORbeta interneurons inhibit transmission of disruptive sensory info, promoting a fluid gait during walking. This sophisticated spinal cord processing highlights the nervous system's ability to selectively shut off irrelevant information.

SourceSalk Institute·JournalNeuron·DateDec 7, 2017

Indian's 'revolution' inspired by Bolsheviks, according to new academic article spurred on by Britain plundering the Sub-Continent's wealth

A recent article by Dr Kalim Siddiqui argues that the Bolshevik Revolution inspired Indian independence movements, with Britain's exploitation causing economic decline. The author claims that Marx and Lenin's ideas influenced anti-colonial sentiment, leading to decolonisation and a shift in world history.

SourceUniversity of Huddersfield·JournalInternational Critical Thought·DateDec 7, 2017

Research suggests new pathways for hyperaldosteronism

A study by Sanford Burnham Prebys Medical Discovery Institute founds a previously unknown regulatory axis that controls aldosterone levels, offering new avenues for drug discovery of secondary hypertension. The findings suggest that the adrenal glands' structure and cholesterol biosynthesis play a crucial role in hyperaldosteronism.

SourceSanford Burnham Prebys·JournalJCI Insight·DateDec 7, 2017

The structure of cool

Researchers at Scripps Research Institute and Duke University have made the first determination of TRPM8's atomic structure using cryo-electron microscopy. The findings reveal unexpected binding pocket locations for menthol and other cold-sensing molecules, opening new avenues for drug development.

SourceScripps Research Institute·JournalScience·DateDec 7, 2017

Discrimination harms your health -- and your partner's

A new study by Michigan State University scholars reveals that discrimination harms not only the victim's health but also their partner's. The research found that experiencing unfair treatment has a significant impact on an individual's mental health, including depression, and can strain relationships.

SourceMichigan State University·JournalSocial Psychological and Personality Science·DateDec 7, 2017

Spark Therapeutics and Pfizer announce publication in The New England Journal of Medicine of Interim Data from phase 1/2 clinical trial of investigational gene therapy for Hemophilia B

The Phase 1/2 clinical trial showed that SPK-9001 reduced annualized bleeding rate by 97% and factor IX concentrate use by 99% in participants with hemophilia B. The data suggest a one-time infusion of SPK-9001 may sustain factor IX activity levels, reducing bleeding episodes.

SourceTen Bridge Communications·JournalNew England Journal of Medicine·DateDec 7, 2017

Uncovering varied pathways to agriculture

A team of scientists and archaeologists has discovered a 15,000-year-old Natufian site in Jordan that pushes back the timeline for permanent settlement in the region. The site's early dates suggest that hunter-gatherers were more versatile than previously thought and had multiple pathways to agriculture.

SourceWeizmann Institute of Science·JournalScientific Reports·DateDec 7, 2017

Life under the surface in live broadcast

Scientists at Lund University have developed new systems to study microorganisms in the ground using microchips, revealing complex ecosystems and interactions between microbes and their environment. The technology allows for real-time analysis of microbial processes, enabling researchers to better understand soil structures and functions.

SourceLund University·JournalThe ISME Journal·DateDec 7, 2017

Media research: Time not up for newsprint

A new study reveals that younger readers are spending nearly twice as much time reading print newspapers as they do online. Despite the rise of digital distribution, the young are actually spending less time with newspaper brands overall, with a 40% drop in attention from younger and middle-aged readers since the turn of the millennium.

SourceLudwig-Maximilians-Universität München·JournalJournalism Studies·DateDec 7, 2017