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Science News Archive September 2017 - Page 6


Page 6 of 39

How forest fires spoil wine

Glycosylation of smoke-derived volatiles in grapevine is catalyzed by a promiscuous resveratrol/guaiacol glucosyltransferase, leading to undesirable aromas in wine. The study provides insight into the molecular mechanism behind this phenomenon and potential counter-measures for vintners.

SourceTechnical University of Munich (TUM)·JournalJournal of Agricultural and Food Chemistry·DateSep 26, 2017

Research led by PPPL provides reassurance that heat flux will be manageable in ITER

New simulations led by PPPL provide positive news for ITER. Researchers estimate a heat flux width of up to 6 millimeters within the divertor plates' capacity to tolerate, far greater than previous projections. This finding indicates ITER can produce 10 times more power than it consumes without damaging the divertor plates prematurely.

SourceDOE/Princeton Plasma Physics Laboratory·JournalNuclear Fusion·DateSep 26, 2017

A majority of medical professionals improperly share log-in credentials to EMRs

A study found that nearly three-quarters of medical professionals improperly share log-in credentials to access electronic medical records (EMRs), compromising patient data. Researchers recommend improving access credentials management and granting maximum privileges for one-time use to reduce password sharing.

SourceAmerican Associates, Ben-Gurion University of the Negev·JournalHealthcare Informatics Research·DateSep 26, 2017

In plain sight

Human brains tend to miss objects that are mis-scaled, even when they're in view. Researchers found this phenomenon in eye-tracking studies, but not in computer vision algorithms like deep neural networks. This study aims to better understand human visual search strategies and improve computer vision.

SourceUniversity of California - Santa Barbara·JournalCurrent Biology·DateSep 26, 2017

Chronic wasting disease

Chronic wasting disease is a fatal neurodegenerative disease affecting deer and farm animals, with limited effectiveness of past management strategies. New research proposes controlled forest fires as a risk control strategy, aiming to reduce the spread of prions shed by animal waste and carcasses.

SourceInderscience Publishers·JournalInternational Journal of Global Environmental Issues·DateSep 26, 2017

Drought -- a cause of riots

A study published in the Journal of Environmental Economics and Management found a systematic link between droughts and riots in sub-Saharan Africa. Droughts increase the possibility of rioting by 10% in a given month, with population density playing a key role in this relationship.

SourceUniversité de Genève·JournalJournal of Environmental Economics and Management·DateSep 26, 2017

The Lancet HIV: Around one in six new cases of HIV diagnosed in Europe are in people over the age of 50 years

A European study found that nearly one in six new HIV diagnoses in Europe are among people aged 50 or older. Older adults were more likely to be diagnosed with advanced HIV disease and acquire the virus through heterosexual contact. The study calls for increased awareness, targeted testing, and prevention programs for this age group.

SourceThe Lancet·JournalThe Lancet HIV·DateSep 26, 2017

Post-heart attack: How can scar tissue be turned back into healthy heart muscle?

Scientists at UNC School of Medicine compare two reprogramming techniques to generate patient-specific cardiomyocytes, finding that one method produces cells with embryonic cell signatures while the other yields cells with adult characteristics. This knowledge is crucial for developing new therapies and understanding cardiac disease.

Opening up a new chapter for early diagnosis of Alzheimer's

A research team led by DGIST Professor Moon Cheil has identified the reason behind olfactory dysfunction in patients with early-stage Alzheimer's disease. The study reveals that a toxic protein called beta-amyloid accumulates in the peripheral nervous system, specifically in the olfactory epithelium, leading to olfactory failure.

Clinical trial reveals genetic fault that reduces the effectiveness of leukemia treatment

A genetic fault in the CDKN2A gene has been linked to reduced effectiveness of leukemia treatment, highlighting the need for personalized treatment approaches. The study, which treated 259 people with AML or MDS, found that those with the mutation survived for 4.5 months on average, compared to 11 months for those without it.

SourceUniversity of Birmingham·JournalClinical Cancer Research·DateSep 26, 2017

Need for enhanced nursing and post-acute transitional care models for rising obesity levels

A study from the University of Pennsylvania School of Nursing highlights the challenges of transitioning severely obese patients to nursing homes after acute care stays. The researchers found that patient size and bariatric equipment availability can act as barriers, leading to poor outcomes and increased costs.

SourceUniversity of Pennsylvania School of Nursing·JournalWestern Journal of Nursing Research·DateSep 26, 2017

Higher risk of heart failure in cold weather, study suggests

A study found that cold temperatures and atmospheric pressure increases are associated with a higher risk of hospitalization and death in elderly patients with heart failure. The researchers suggest that elderly patients should avoid fog and low cloud weather in winter to prevent such events.

SourceElsevier·JournalEnvironment International·DateSep 26, 2017

Graphene forged into three-dimensional shapes

Researchers from Finland and Taiwan have successfully fabricated three-dimensional graphene structures using optical forging, a technique that utilizes laser light to shape the material. The resulting graphene objects exhibit unique electronic and optical properties, opening up new possibilities for graphene-based devices.

SourceAcademy of Finland·JournalNano Letters·DateSep 26, 2017

New approaches in targeted cancer therapy

Researchers at Cologne University Hospital have discovered a novel inhibitor that specifically targets NMC tumours, a rare and lethal form of cancer. The study's findings provide valuable insights into the molecular mechanism responsible for the effectiveness of the inhibitor, paving the way for new and improved therapies.

SourceUniversity of Cologne·JournalCell Reports·DateSep 26, 2017

Illinois researchers develop gene circuit design strategy to advance synthetic biology

Researchers at the University of Illinois have developed a new gene circuit design strategy that can predict gene circuit behaviors using an integrated modeling framework. The framework, developed by Associate Professor Ting Lu and his graduate students, has successfully predicted key host metrics for multiple bacteria, including Esche...

The drying of peatlands is reducing bird diversity

A recent study reveals that peatland bird populations have decreased by a third in Finland and Sweden over the past three decades. The Finnish ruff is among the most threatened species, with its population falling to just 3% of its original size. In contrast, the crane species has tripled its population during this time period.

SourceUniversity of Helsinki·JournalBiological Conservation·DateSep 26, 2017