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Science News for November 14, 2017


Zwicky Transient Facility sees 'first light'

The Zwicky Transient Facility's (ZTF) new survey camera captures hundreds of thousands of stars and galaxies in a single shot, taking its first image of the sky, dubbed 'first light.' ZTF aims to discover objects and events varying in brightness over time, including explosive supernovae, hungry black holes, and asteroids/comets.

How emotions influence our internal clock

A study by Dr. Roland Thomaschke and colleagues found that emotions impact our mental time-processing system, causing faster processing of positive concepts and slower processing of negative ones. This suggests that emotional states can influence human perception, potentially affecting how we respond to advertisements or online content.

SourceUniversity of Freiburg·JournalEmotion·DateNov 14, 2017

Study settles prehistoric puzzle, confirms modern link of carbon dioxide & global warming

A new study resolves a prehistoric climate puzzle by confirming the link between high carbon dioxide levels and global warming for a time interval about 22 million years ago. The research, led by Southern Methodist University, analyzed fossil leaves from Africa and found that carbon dioxide behaved in the same manner millions of years ...

SourceSouthern Methodist University·JournalGeology·DateNov 14, 2017

From southeast Asia to the sewers: Study determines new geographical origins of brown rats

A recent study published in Molecular Biology and Evolution reveals that brown rats originally migrated from southern East Asia about 3,600 years ago, spreading rapidly across the globe. The research team identified several genes involved in the immune response that have adaptively evolved under natural selection in wild rats.

Einstein researchers receive $6 million grant to untangle the genetic protections against Alzheimer's disease

Researchers at Albert Einstein College of Medicine are studying the genetic protections against Alzheimer's disease using two existing longitudinal studies on aging. The study aims to identify networks of genes in healthy centenarians that protect them against dementia, which could help identify new targets for drugs to treat Alzheimer's.

Cognitive behavioral therapy for children and adolescents with OCD works in the long run

A study by Aarhus University finds that cognitive behavioral therapy is highly effective in treating OCD in children and adolescents. The research, involving 269 participants from Denmark, Norway, and Sweden, showed that 92% of those who benefited from the treatment remained symptom-free a year after completion.

SourceAarhus University·JournalJournal of the American Academy of Child & Adolescent Psychiatry·DateNov 14, 2017

Making mosquitoes self-destruct

Researchers at UCR have developed transgenic mosquitoes stably expressing the Cas9 enzyme, enabling efficient genome editing to disrupt genes controlling vision, flight, and feeding. The long-term goal is to use these mosquitoes with gene drives to insert genes that suppress disease-spreading insects.

SourceUniversity of California - Riverside·JournalProceedings of the National Academy of Sciences·DateNov 14, 2017

Researchers take next step toward fusion energy

Scientists at Texas A&M University have discovered a material that can withstand the harsh conditions of a fusion reactor, making it possible to harness the sun's energy on Earth. The breakthrough, published in Science Advances, involves the formation of long channels resembling veins in living tissues.

SourceTexas A&M University·JournalScience Advances·DateNov 14, 2017

Quick! What's that smell? Mammal brains identify type of scent faster than once thought

Researchers at NYU School of Medicine found that mammalian brains can distinguish between one odor and another in under 100 milliseconds, using fewer nerve signals than previously believed. This groundbreaking study has implications for our understanding of human olfaction and the potential for new treatments for smell disorders.

Expanding geographic sharing of donor kidneys would increase transplants, study finds

A study suggests that expanding geographic sharing of donor kidneys could add 58 to 174 additional kidney transplants per year, helping more patients get off dialysis treatments. Organ quality varies from donor to donor and is concentrated in less populous regions, where patients are more willing to accept lower-quality organs.

SourceUniversity of Kansas·JournalProduction and Operations Management·DateNov 14, 2017

Confusion, different priorities may cause EMTALA violations

A study by Penn State researchers found that EMTALA violations are often caused by confusion about the law and conflicting priorities between healthcare professionals. Hospitals may not report suspected violations due to financial pressure, referral burdens, or reluctance to maintain good relationships with other hospitals.

SourcePenn State·JournalJournal of Healthcare Risk Management·DateNov 14, 2017

Aspirin can prevent heart attacks after noncardiac surgery in patients with prior PCI

A Canadian-led study found that perioperative aspirin can prevent heart-related complications after major noncardiac surgery in patients with previous percutaneous coronary intervention (PCI). For every 1,000 patients with PCI, giving them aspirin at the time of noncardiac surgery would prevent 59 heart attacks and cause eight major bl...

SourceUniversity of Alberta Faculty of Medicine & Dentistry·JournalAnnals of Internal Medicine·DateNov 14, 2017

Global birth season study links environment with disease risk

A new analysis of 10.5 million patients found that mothers' exposure to sunlight, air pollution, and carbon monoxide during pregnancy may increase their child's lifetime risk of type 2 diabetes, atrial fibrillation, depression, and anxiety. The study also found that relative age at school enrollment is a stronger predictor of ADHD.

SourceColumbia University Irving Medical Center·JournalJournal of the American Medical Informatics Association·DateNov 14, 2017

Researchers examine social identity threat and religion in the US

A new US study examines how social identity threat affects religion and finds that highly religious individuals, particularly Christians, feel targeted and experience prejudice. The study reveals that religious minorities like Jews and Muslims also face heightened threat, likely due to prejudice and discrimination.

SourcePenn State·JournalSocial Psychological and Personality Science·DateNov 14, 2017

Three decades of responding to infectious disease outbreaks

The article highlights the lessons learned from past infectious disease outbreaks, including HIV/AIDS and SARS, to inform current responses to emerging threats such as Zika. The NIAID Director emphasizes the importance of sustained support for scientific research and effective communication with policymakers and communities.

SourceNIH/National Institute of Allergy and Infectious Diseases·JournalAnnals of Internal Medicine·DateNov 14, 2017

New player in Alzheimer's disease pathogenesis identified

A study published in Nature Communications reveals that membralin plays a crucial role in regulating the cell's machinery for producing beta-amyloid, the protein responsible for neuronal death in Alzheimer's disease. The researchers found that membranes with lower levels of this protein are associated with increased neurodegeneration a...

SourceSanford Burnham Prebys·JournalNature Communications·DateNov 14, 2017

Health care reforms fail to lower hospitalizations in England

A new study published in PLOS Medicine found that recent health care reforms in England did not lead to the expected decrease in hospitalisations and specialist visits. In fact, there was an increase in outpatient specialist visits, resulting in 3.7 million additional specialist visits between 2012 and 2015.

SourcePLOS·JournalPLOS Medicine·DateNov 14, 2017