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Science News for April 25, 2018


Cell membrane inspires new ultrathin electronic film

Japanese researchers have developed a new method to build large areas of semiconductive material just two molecules thick. The films function as thin film transistors with potential applications in flexible electronics or chemical detectors. Researchers used geometric frustration, a molecular shape that makes it difficult for molecules...

SourceUniversity of Tokyo·JournalAdvanced Materials·DateApr 25, 2018

Ancient galaxy megamergers

Astronomers have observed gargantuan cosmic pileups, the impending collisions of young starburst galaxies, when the Universe was only half its current age. These ancient systems are thought to be building the most massive structures in the known Universe: galaxy clusters.

SourceESO·JournalNature·DateApr 25, 2018

Lab-on-a-chip delivers critical immunity data for vulnerable populations

A team of researchers from the University of Toronto has developed a portable, reconfigurable lab-on-a-chip diagnostic platform that can gauge immunity to vaccine-preventable diseases among vulnerable populations. The platform was validated at a refugee camp in Kenya and showed promising results in detecting measles and rubella.

SourceUniversity of Toronto Faculty of Applied Science & Engineering·JournalScience Translational Medicine·DateApr 25, 2018

Einstein's 'spooky action' goes massive

Researchers at Aalto University have successfully generated and detected entanglement in massive mechanical oscillators, opening doors for new quantum technologies. The achievement uses a theoretical innovation developed by Dr. Matt Woolley and Prof. Aashish Clerk to stabilize exotic quantum states.

SourceAalto University·JournalNature·DateApr 25, 2018

In China, traits related to traditional rice or wheat farming affect modern behavior

Researchers found interdependent behaviors in customers from rice-growing regions and individualistic behaviors in those from wheat-growing regions. Historical farming legacies play a significant role in shaping everyday behavior, contradicting the idea that wealthier cultures become more individualistic.

An ionic black box

Researchers at UCSB are developing a chip that uses ionic memristor technology to create a physically unclonable device, rendering it vulnerable to cyber attacks. The technology aims to prevent cloning and hijacking of devices in networks, making them ideal for securing IoT devices.

SourceUniversity of California - Santa Barbara·JournalNature Electronics·DateApr 25, 2018

SCAI releases consensus guidelines for PVD device selection

The Society for Cardiovascular Angiography and Interventions (SCAI) has released new guidelines for selecting specific categories of devices in endovascular therapy. The guidelines provide device-focused recommendations based on a review of comparative effectiveness data, including safety and efficacy of femoral-popliteal devices.

SourceSociety for Cardiovascular Angiography and Interventions·JournalCatheterization and Cardiovascular Interventions·DateApr 25, 2018

Weather associated with sentiments expressed on social media

Researchers found temperature, precipitation, humidity, and cloud cover associated with positive or negative expressed sentiments. Positive expressions increased up to 20 degrees Celsius before declining over 30 degrees Celsius, while high humidity and cloud cover were linked to negative expressions.

SourcePLOS·JournalPLOS ONE·DateApr 25, 2018

What happens to stolen guns?

According to Philip Cook's analysis, gun thefts represent only about one percent of all gun transactions in the US. In Chicago, only a tiny proportion of crime guns were ever reported stolen to the Police Department.

SourceSpringer·JournalJournal of Urban Health·DateApr 25, 2018

Drinking baking soda could be an inexpensive, safe way to combat autoimmune disease

Medical College of Georgia scientists found that drinking baking soda encourages the spleen to promote an anti-inflammatory environment, reducing destructive inflammation in autoimmune diseases. This shift was observed in rats and healthy people, with a reduction in pro-inflammatory cells and an increase in anti-inflammatory macrophages.

SourceMedical College of Georgia at Augusta University·JournalThe Journal of Immunology·DateApr 25, 2018

Human impact on sea urchin abundance

Researchers found that changing water temperature and algal blooms affected sea urchin populations, leading to abnormal development of their larvae. The study provides valuable insights into the importance of long-term monitoring for detecting ecological changes and understanding their causes.

SourceKyoto University·JournalEcological Indicators·DateApr 25, 2018

CU Anschutz Medical Campus wins $46.5 million NIH grant to accelerate research discoveries

The University of Colorado Anschutz Medical Campus has received a $46.5 million NIH grant to enhance its translational science workforce and research environment. The grant will support the development of novel methodologies and resources to tackle rare diseases, improve health screenings in underserved communities, and reduce mortalit...

Study examines denigration when people call a place a 's---hole'

Researchers traced Twitter tweets using the word 'shithole' to identify who engages in stigmatizing discourse and how places are stereotyped. The study found that men and women experience living in a place differently, with 38% of tweets maligning their own hometown.

SourceWiley·JournalTransactions of the Institute of British Geographers·DateApr 25, 2018

Belief in fake causes of cancer is rife

A survey found that over 40% of people in England believe stress, food additives, and electromagnetic frequencies cause cancer despite a lack of scientific evidence. Those with better knowledge of proven cancer causes were more likely to make healthier lifestyle choices.

SourceCancer Research UK·JournalEuropean Journal of Cancer·DateApr 25, 2018

SCAI updates consensus on length of stay for percutaneous coronary intervention

The Society for Cardiovascular Angiography and Interventions has updated its consensus guidelines to allow for flexibility in length of stay after percutaneous coronary intervention (PCI), prioritizing patient-centered care. The new guidelines assess readiness for discharge along three lines: procedural, patient, and programmatic factors.

SourceSociety for Cardiovascular Angiography and Interventions·JournalCatheterization and Cardiovascular Interventions·DateApr 25, 2018

Sunlight works against oil clean-up efforts

Researchers found that sunlight has a significant impact on oil clean-up efforts, decreasing dispersant effectiveness by four-fold. The study's findings suggest that photochemical oxidation, triggered by sunlight, is a dominant weathering process that should be considered in future field manuals and oil spill response guides.

SourceAmerican Chemical Society·JournalEnvironmental Science & Technology Letters·DateApr 25, 2018

Turning graphene into light nanosensors

Researchers embedded graphene in a photonic crystal to enhance its light-absorbing capabilities. By varying the external temperature, they can tune the material's optical characteristics, leading to potential applications in light sensors and ultra-fast lasers.

SourceSpringer·JournalThe European Physical Journal B·DateApr 25, 2018

Study suggests older surgeons produce lower mortality rates in emergency procedures

Research from UCLA and Harvard T.H. Chan School of Public Health found that surgeries performed by older surgeons (age 50 and up) have lower patient mortality rates than those performed by younger surgeons. The study also showed that female surgeons in their 50s had the lowest patient mortality rate, regardless of age group or gender.

Antibody 'cocktail' can prevent Zika infection but is not effective for treatment of fetuses

A collaborative study led by the University of Miami Miller School of Medicine found that a monoclonal antibody cocktail therapy was effective in clearing the virus from pregnant women's blood but failed to prevent fetal transmission and treat infected fetuses. Researchers are now working on engineering antibodies to target the fetus.

SourceUniversity of Miami Miller School of Medicine·JournalNature Communications·DateApr 25, 2018

Watching nanomaterials form in 4-D

Scientists have developed a novel TEM technique that captures dynamic reactions at the nanoscale, allowing researchers to study material transformations in real-time. This breakthrough enables better control over nanoscale properties and has significant implications for designing materials with desired properties.

SourceNorthwestern University·JournalACS Central Science·DateApr 25, 2018

Protect forest elephants to conserve ecosystems, not DNA

Forest elephant populations across Central Africa exhibit genetic similarity, highlighting the importance of conserving this critically endangered species. Conservation efforts can save many species by protecting one, as forest elephants play a vital role in maintaining plant diversity and ecosystem balance.

Engineers get a grip on slippery surfactants

Researchers at Rice University have extended a 100-year-old modeling formula to account for complex surfactants in enhanced oil recovery. The new model, developed by Walter Chapman and Xiaoqun Mu, incorporates temperature, pressure, composition, and other conditions to provide a more accurate prediction of oil behavior in wells.

SourceRice University·JournalIndustrial & Engineering Chemistry Research·DateApr 25, 2018

E. coli -- are we measuring the wrong thing?

A recent awareness and management programme for sepsis has led to increased E. coli blood stream infection cases, raising questions about the effectiveness of existing targets. The programme's success in sepsis detection suggests considering alternative measures, such as positive-to-negative sample ratios or urine analysis.

SourceSwansea University·JournalJournal of Hospital Infection·DateApr 25, 2018

Should doctors recommend e-cigarettes to help smokers quit?

E-cigarettes may be as effective as nicotine replacement therapy in quitting smoking, but concerns over addiction and youth smoking initiation remain. However, experts argue that the risks are largely irrelevant for most vapers, and e-cigarettes can help smokers quit as part of a comprehensive anti-smoking strategy.

SourceBMJ Group·JournalThe BMJ·DateApr 25, 2018

The equine herald of a new age

A 3,000-year-old horse burial in Sudan has provided significant insights into the Kushite state formation and the role of horses in ancient Nubian culture. The discovery, dated to around 950 BC, reveals that horses were central to the state's identity and foreshadowed later developments in Nubian kingship.

Why we need erasable MRI scans

Researchers have developed next-generation contrast agents that can be turned off using ultrasound, allowing for clearer MRI scans. The new technology relies on nanoscale structures called gas vesicles, which bounce back sound waves and react differently to magnetic fields.

SourceCalifornia Institute of Technology·JournalNature Materials·DateApr 25, 2018

Study shows a new approach to treating patients with stage IV Wilms tumor

A new study published in Journal of Clinical Oncology shows a four-year overall survival rate of 96 percent for patients with stage IV Wilms tumors with lung metastases, compared to 84 percent on the predecessor study. The approach resulted in sparing initial upfront lung radiation and reducing long-term risks for nearly half of patients.

SourceChildren's National Hospital·JournalJournal of Clinical Oncology·DateApr 25, 2018

JFK was not shot from the grassy knoll, suggests new research

A new analysis of video footage supports official findings that John F. Kennedy was shot by Lee Harvey Oswald from the Texas School Book Depository building. The study uses fundamental classical mechanics to analyze the forward head snap in the Zapruder film, which shows President Kennedy's reactions after being shot in the head.

SourceElsevier·JournalHeliyon·DateApr 25, 2018

How does urban-induced warming in Beijing interact with air temperature in summer?

Researchers found that urban-induced warming in Beijing increased with urban land expansion, but the rate of increase slowed down after 2000. The study also revealed an interrelationship between urban-induced warming and heat waves, suggesting that urban expansion may heighten heat waves in urban areas.

SourceInstitute of Atmospheric Physics, Chinese Academy of Sciences·JournalAdvances in Atmospheric Sciences·DateApr 25, 2018

Analyzing insect performance

A meta-analysis of 44 studies on neonicotinoid insecticides' effects on arthropod performance found similar negative impacts on abundance, behavior, condition, reproductive success, and survival. The research suggests that these insecticides affect not only pollinators but also detritivores and predators.

SourceUniversity of Missouri-Columbia·JournalEcological Applications·DateApr 25, 2018