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Science News for November 8, 2017


New care model closes significant gap in addiction treatment

A new program at Boston Medical Center's Grayken Center for Addiction has shown promising results in engaging patients with substance use disorders in medication treatment during hospital stays. The study found that 70% of patients initiated methadone treatment and 49% linked to an outpatient clinic were still engaged in treatment afte...

SourceBoston Medical Center·JournalJournal of Substance Abuse Treatment·DateNov 8, 2017

The key to a nut

Researchers found that cockatoos excel at fitting shapes into specific frames without requiring training or visual alignment like humans. They require fewer attempts to insert simple shapes compared to non-human primates, highlighting an allocentric frame of reference similar to toddlers.

SourceUniversity of Vienna·JournalPLOS ONE·DateNov 8, 2017

Study reveals decadal variation of relationship between EA summer monsoon and ENSO

A study reveals multidecadal variations in the relationship between East Asian summer monsoon (EASM) and El Niño-Southern Oscillation (ENSO). The research used a coupled climate model to investigate the decadal changes, finding that ENSO-related circulation anomalies drive precipitation patterns over East Asia.

How science has shaped the international response to climate change

The article examines how science influenced policy debates on climate change, highlighting the role of institutions in connecting scientists to decision makers. Climate change is one of humanity's greatest threats, with the scientific community playing a central role in understanding its nature and assessing options for addressing it.

SourceWiley·JournalWeather·DateNov 8, 2017

Paradoxes in microbial economies

Researchers identify three paradoxical dynamics: the curse of increased efficiency, where less efficient microbes thrive; and the curse of decreased inefficiency, leading to slower population growth. The study highlights complexities in engineered microbial communities and microbiomes, challenging assumptions about optimal strategies.

SourceSanta Fe Institute·JournalNature Communications·DateNov 8, 2017

Autoimmunity may underlie newly discovered painful nerve-damage disorder

Researchers at Massachusetts General Hospital have found that immunoglobulin infusions can improve pain and function in patients with autoimmune small-fiber polyneuropathy (SFPN), a condition previously thought to be idiopathic. The treatment has shown significant symptom relief for 75% of patients, allowing some to discontinue treatment.

SourceMassachusetts General Hospital·JournalTherapeutic Advances in Neurological Disorders·DateNov 8, 2017

Academic performance predicts risk of suicide attempt

A recent study found that poor academic performance at age 16 significantly increases the risk of suicide attempt, with those in the lowest GPA quartile facing a near five-fold higher risk. Researchers followed 26,315 Swedish individuals from age 16 to 46 and controlled for potential confounding factors.

SourceWiley·JournalActa Psychiatrica Scandinavica·DateNov 8, 2017

Lupus linked with increased risk of dementia

A new study of 4886 SLE patients and 24,430 controls found a higher proportion of dementia among SLE patients (1.56% vs. 0.51%) and a 51% higher likelihood of developing dementia after adjustments.

SourceWiley·JournalInternational Journal of Geriatric Psychiatry·DateNov 8, 2017

Video of blood clot contraction reveals how platelets naturally form unobtrusive clots

A Penn study reveals the physical mechanism of how platelets contract and shrink blood clots, which can inform new ways to diagnose and treat conditions like ischemic stroke and deep vein thrombosis. The research found that contracting platelets cause clots to shrink by bending and shortening individual fibrin fibers.

SourceUniversity of Pennsylvania School of Medicine·JournalNature Communications·DateNov 8, 2017

The revolt of the Rust Belt may explain Trump's election

The article attributes Trump's victory to a rejection of the Democratic Party by working-class voters in the Rust Belt, citing institutions like labor unions as key factors. The author argues that regional characteristics and institutions connected these voters to national politics, explaining unusual voting behavior in 2016.

SourceWiley·JournalBritish Journal of Sociology·DateNov 8, 2017

Microbial murder mystery solved

Killer cells use a methodical approach to destroy bacterial invaders, inflicting oxidative damage and targeting critical proteins with the deadly enzyme granzyme B. The discovery offers new insights into how immune systems combat bacteria, potentially leading to the development of new antimicrobial drugs.

SourceBoston Children's Hospital·JournalCell·DateNov 8, 2017

Astronomers discover a star that would not die

An international team of astronomers discovered a star that exploded multiple times over 50 years, challenging existing theories on cosmic catastrophes. The star, iPTF14hls, was found to be at least 50 times more massive than the sun and may be the first example of a rare 'Pulsational Pair Instability Supernova'.

SourceW. M. Keck Observatory·JournalNature·DateNov 8, 2017

Walk this way: A better way to identify gait differences

Researchers at Osaka University designed a novel gait recognition method that can overcome intra-subject variations by view differences. The proposed architectures outperformed state-of-the-art benchmarks in accordance with their suitable situations of verification/identification tasks and view differences.

SourceOsaka University·JournalIEEE Transactions on Circuits and Systems for Video Technology·DateNov 8, 2017

Nanoshells could deliver more chemo with fewer side effects

Researchers at Rice University and Northwestern University have developed a method to use nanoshells to deliver high doses of cancer-killing drugs inside tumors. The approach uses laser-activated gold nanoparticles to release approved drugs in laboratory cultures, demonstrating clinical applicability.

SourceRice University·JournalProceedings of the National Academy of Sciences·DateNov 8, 2017

Exercise may benefit patients with leg ulcers

Researchers found that supervised exercise accelerated ulcer healing time by 22 weeks compared to compression therapy alone. The study suggests benefits for patients with venous leg ulcers, including cost savings.

SourceWiley·JournalBritish Journal of Dermatology·DateNov 8, 2017

Cool textiles to beat the heat

Researchers have developed a new material for clothing that can cool people down without external energy needed, using a nanocomposite thread made from boron nitride and polyvinyl alcohol. The fabric is more efficient at moving heat away from the body than pure polyvinyl alcohol or cotton fabrics.

SourceAmerican Chemical Society·JournalACS Nano·DateNov 8, 2017

Visual intelligence is not the same as IQ

A new study reveals that visual intelligence is a separate entity from general intelligence (IQ), with considerable individual differences among people. Researchers developed a novel test to measure visual object recognition and found that performance on this task was not predictive of IQ.

SourceVanderbilt University·JournalCurrent Directions in Psychological Science·DateNov 8, 2017

Transforming fibrils into crystals

An international team of experts has made a fundamental discovery by transforming amyloid fibrils into crystals, a process previously thought to be impossible. The transformation involves untwisting the fibril to form an elongated, matchstick-like crystal with unprecedented stability.

SourceETH Zurich·JournalNature Communications·DateNov 8, 2017

A new way to mix oil and water

Researchers at MIT have developed a new way to mix oil and water, creating stable nanoscale emulsions without the need for shaking or sonicating. By cooling an oil bath with surfactant and allowing water vapor to condense onto its surface, they produce uniform droplets that remain stable over several months.

SourceMassachusetts Institute of Technology·JournalNature Communications·DateNov 8, 2017

Gender roles in ancient times

Researchers at Osaka University have found a key gene responsible for the development of male and female traits in an ancient crustacean. The study reveals how this gene, doublesex1, is expressed differently in males and females, leading to distinct sex-specific characteristics.

SourceOsaka University·JournalScientific Reports·DateNov 8, 2017

Identify the best drought index to study global drylands

A new study compares the spatiotemporal characteristics of global drylands using three different drought indices: SWI, PET_Th, and PET_PM. The researchers found that the Surface Wetness Index (SWI) yields broadly similar results to the Thornthwaite method when considering interdecadal variability of global and continental drylands.

SourceInstitute of Atmospheric Physics, Chinese Academy of Sciences·JournalAdvances in Atmospheric Sciences·DateNov 8, 2017

How ice in clouds is born

Scientists have found that water droplets in clouds can turn to ice more rapidly than previously predicted, with a disordered ice structure forming under certain cloud conditions. This discovery reconciles theoretical models of clouds with observations of freezing rates, helping cloud modelers understand better their observational data.

SourceUniversity of Utah·JournalNature·DateNov 8, 2017

How the skin becomes inflamed

The study identifies a protein called IL-36 as a key player in inducing skin inflammation in response to bacteria on the skin surface. This finding has significant implications for developing alternative treatments for atopic dermatitis, a condition affecting 20% of children and 5% of adults.

SourceJohns Hopkins Medicine·JournalCell Host & Microbe·DateNov 8, 2017

Sifting gold from the data deluge

Researchers develop new data mining technique to extract genetic information from large sequence data sets. The method, tested on a plant family with unique floral structures, retrieves useful sequences from genes influencing flower shape and symmetry.

SourceBotanical Society of America·JournalApplications in Plant Sciences·DateNov 8, 2017

Deep-sea fish reveals twilight trick

Scientists have discovered a new type of cell in the eye of deep-sea fish that enables them to see in twilight conditions. This finding opens up new avenues of research into how animals adapt to extreme environments and challenges existing theories about photoreceptor cells.

SourceUniversity of Queensland·JournalScience Advances·DateNov 8, 2017

A gel that does not break or dry out

Researchers at Kobe University created a double network within ionic liquid, combining inorganic silica particles with organic polymers, resulting in a gel that can withstand over 25 MPa of compressive strength. The gel's stability makes it suitable for applications in CO2 separation membranes and rechargeable batteries.

SourceKobe University·JournalAdvanced Materials·DateNov 8, 2017

Easing the soil's temperature

Research by Samuel Haruna found that cover crops and perennial biofuel crops can relieve soil compaction, reducing the impact of fluctuating temperatures. These crops slow down temperature changes and retain moisture, allowing soils to better regulate temperature fluctuations.

SourceAmerican Society of Agronomy·JournalSoil Science Society of America Journal·DateNov 8, 2017

Parental sexual orientation and children's psychological well-being

A study of 21,103 children found no significant differences in emotional and mental health difficulties between those with lesbian or gay parents and those with heterosexual parents. However, children of bisexual parents experienced greater difficulties, which disappeared after accounting for minority stress among bisexual parents.

SourceWiley·JournalChild Development·DateNov 8, 2017

Star-shaped brain cells orchestrate neural connections

New research from Duke University reveals that astrocytes play a crucial role in regulating the development and function of synapses in the brain. The study found that three proteins control the web-like structure of each astrocyte, which directly impacts the balance between excitatory and inhibitory neural connections.

SourceDuke University·JournalNature·DateNov 8, 2017

Research reveals the true impact of diabetic foot ulcers

A recent study published by the University of Leeds reveals that diabetic foot ulcers have severe consequences, including limited mobility and increased risk of heart disease. The research found that more than half of patients with infected ulcers did not heal over a year, highlighting the need for close monitoring and timely treatment.

SourceUniversity of Leeds·JournalDiabetic Medicine·DateNov 8, 2017