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Science News for August 9, 2018


UBC study: Kidney transplant chains more effective in saving lives

A UBC study found that prioritizing kidney transplant chains over exchanges can increase the total number of transplants and save more lives. This is particularly beneficial for hard-to-match patients with end-stage renal disease. The research could lead to longer kidney transplant chains through improved matching algorithms.

Pairs of small colliding galaxies may seed future stars

Researchers found that dwarf-galaxy mergers can replenish a galaxy's supply of star-making fuel, like the Milky Way's. The Large and Small Magellanic Clouds hold enough gas to replenish half of the Milky Way's supply, with their gas footprint continuing to expand even after collision.

SourceColumbia University·JournalMonthly Notices of the Royal Astronomical Society·DateAug 9, 2018

How ions gather water molecules around them

Researchers from Ruhr-Universität Bochum used terahertz spectroscopy to gain new insights into the hydration shell of charged particles. They found that hydration shells with a size between two and 21 water molecules were determined for more than 37 salts, depending on the ion's size and valency.

SourceRuhr-University Bochum·JournalAngewandte Chemie International Edition·DateAug 9, 2018

Does rain follow the plow?

A University of Arizona study resolves controversy over rain's relationship to soil moisture, revealing morning soil moisture can impact afternoon rainfall in the region. Drier soils enhance rain on days with limited wind-borne moisture, while wetter soils increase rain when winds bring more moisture.

SourceUniversity of Arizona·JournalGeophysical Research Letters·DateAug 9, 2018

SERSitive: New substrates make it possible to routinely detect one molecule in a million

Researchers from the Institute of Physical Chemistry of Poland have developed new substrates for Surface Enhanced Raman Spectroscopy (SERS) that guarantee signal enhancement and repeatability. These substrates enable the routine detection of small amounts of chemical compounds, including organic molecules and specific bacteria.

Why the system needs sleep

A systems genetics study in mice identified molecular signaling pathways that predict resilience or susceptibility to sleep loss. The analysis revealed that fatty acid metabolism influences brain activity and phenotypes, challenging the brain-centric view of sleep regulation.

SourcePLOS·JournalPLOS Biology·DateAug 9, 2018

Penalty kick research hits the spot

A new study from the University of Portsmouth suggests that implicit practice methods can help football players improve their penalty kick accuracy. The research found that using these methods, which encourage independent decision-making, results in higher kicking accuracy compared to explicit training methods.

SourceUniversity of Portsmouth·JournalHuman Movement Science·DateAug 9, 2018

'Tic'-tock

Researchers at Hiroshima University have found a genetic marker that indicates when a person with a fast heartbeat is at high risk of developing tachycardia-induced cardiomyopathy (TIC) and eventual heart failure. This discovery could lead to earlier diagnosis and treatment of the condition, reducing the risk of cardiac damage or death.

Biomarkers link fatigue in cancer, Parkinson's

A new study from Rice University links biological markers for cancer-related exhaustion to fatigue in Parkinson's disease, highlighting potential targets for treatment. Researchers found elevated levels of inflammatory biomarkers in patients with Parkinson's who experienced fatigue, similar to those seen in cancer patients.

Researchers call for comprehensive transformation of food systems

A group of international researchers calls for a comprehensive transformation of food systems to meet the Sustainable Development Goals and Paris Agreement on climate. The proposed four-pillar strategy prioritizes nutritious food access, sustainable agriculture, climate change mitigation, and rural renaissance.

SourceSpringer·JournalAgronomy for Sustainable Development·DateAug 9, 2018

Need a job? Get a tattoo

A new study from the University of Miami Business School and the University of Western Australia found that discriminating against workers with tattoos puts hiring managers at a disadvantage. The study surveyed over 2,000 subjects and found that visible tattoos are not linked to individual employment, wages, or earnings discrimination.

SourceUniversity of Miami·JournalHuman Relations·DateAug 9, 2018

Study reveals high rates of dementia in older adults after starting dialysis

A new study reveals that older adults who initiate hemodialysis for kidney failure are at a higher risk of being diagnosed with dementia and Alzheimer's disease. The study found that age, Black race, female sex, and institutionalization were the strongest risk factors for dementia and Alzheimer's disease.

SourceAmerican Society of Nephrology·JournalClinical Journal of the American Society of Nephrology·DateAug 9, 2018

New study views cancer treatment as a game to find strategies that improve patient outcomes

A new study suggests that cancer treatment should be viewed as a game where physicians can exploit their knowledge of the cancer's evolutionary dynamics to develop flexible strategic treatment plans. By continuously adjusting drugs and doses, physicians can delay or prevent cancer progression caused by resistance.

The physician's white coat: Iconic and comforting or likely covered in germs?

A new study from the University of Texas Medical Branch at Galveston found that wearing a physician's white coat does not affect patient satisfaction or communication. Researchers discovered that patients were often unable to remember if their physicians were wearing white coats, with 40% reporting they couldn't recall.

SourceUniversity of Texas Medical Branch at Galveston·JournalAmerican Journal of Perinatology·DateAug 9, 2018

Can psychedelic drugs heal?

Research suggests that psychedelic drugs can help treat disorders such as social anxiety, depression, and PTSD when used in combination with psychotherapy. Studies have shown promising results for MDMA, psilocybin, and ayahuasca in reducing symptoms of anxiety, depression, and disordered eating.

A new, highly effective and selective molecule is developed to fight malaria

A novel laboratory-synthesized molecule based on natural compounds found in marine gliding bacteria is capable of killing even the strain that resists conventional antimalarials. In tests, it displays low toxicity and high selectivity, acting only on the parasite and not on other cells of the host organism.

SourceFundação de Amparo à Pesquisa do Estado de São Paulo·JournalJournal of Medicinal Chemistry·DateAug 9, 2018

Recording every cell's history in real-time with evolving genetic barcodes

Researchers develop a method to continuously record cells' development using genetic barcodes, allowing them to trace the full developmental lineage of every mature cell. This breakthrough resolves longstanding questions about brain patterning and promises to exponentially increase understanding of cellular growth and disease emergence.

Back to the future of climate change

Researchers at Syracuse University use nitrogen isotopic composition of sediments to understand changes in marine conditions during the Paleocene-Eocene Thermal Maximum, a brief period of rapid global warming approximately 56 million years ago. The study provides a benchmark for present and future climate and ocean models.

SourceSyracuse University·JournalNature Communications·DateAug 9, 2018

Potential solutions to drug shortages and the lack of competition in generic medicines

The authors propose increasing incentives and modifying regulations to improve competition, redirecting overinvestment in new drug development to the generic market, and pivoting from short-term survival mode to long-term organized responses. These solutions aim to enhance competition, provide patients with reliable access to vital dru...

SourceBrigham and Women's Hospital·JournalJournal of General Internal Medicine·DateAug 9, 2018

Hybrid catalyst with high enantiomer selectivity

Researchers at Hokkaido University have developed a hybrid catalyst that combines simple rhodium and organic catalysts to selectively produce molecules with high enantiomer selectivity. This technology is expected to assist in rapid and low-cost drug synthesis, particularly for nucleotide medicine.

SourceHokkaido University·JournalNature Catalysis·DateAug 9, 2018

Surprise finding in neurons

Researchers discovered a high infection rate of Purkinje neurons with HHV-6 in patients with bipolar disorder and/or severe depression. The study suggests viruses can cause cognitive disturbances leading to mood disorders, contradicting the belief that dormant viruses never cause disease.

SourceUniversity of Würzburg·JournalFrontiers in Microbiology·DateAug 9, 2018