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Science News Archive February 2018 - Page 10


Page 10 of 36

Study finds racial differences in cure rates for Hepatitis C

A recent study published in Pharmacology Research & Perspectives reveals racial disparities in Hepatitis C cure rates among patients receiving optimal therapies. The findings show lower cure rates for African American individuals compared to White individuals, highlighting the need for further exploration of underlying causes.

SourceWiley·JournalPharmacology Research & Perspectives·DateFeb 22, 2018

Antidepressant response within hours? Experts weigh evidence on ketamine as fast-acting treatment for depression in Harvard Review of Psychiatry

Recent studies suggest ketamine's potential to rapidly treat severe depression. Ketamine has produced initial reductions in depressive symptoms within two hours, with peak effects at 24 hours. This could represent a paradigm shift in treating major depressive disorder and bipolar depression.

SourceWolters Kluwer Health·JournalHarvard Review of Psychiatry·DateFeb 22, 2018

Animal diversity improves reproducibility of pre-clinical research

Researchers found that using more diverse study samples can significantly improve the reproducibility of experimental results in pre-clinical animal research. By combining data from multiple studies, they showed that multi-laboratory studies produce more consistent results than single-laboratory studies.

SourcePLOS·JournalPLOS Biology·DateFeb 22, 2018

The building of innovation

The Lehigh University team is building a new High Pressure Spatial chemical vapor deposition (HPS-CVD) reactor to create new materials with extreme conditions. The device will enable the growth of III-nitride and oxynitride semiconductors, paving the way for sustainable energy solutions and innovative technologies.

How bats carry viruses without getting sick

Researchers found that bats have a dampened STING-interferon pathway, allowing them to maintain a balance with viruses without triggering an immune reaction. This defense strategy is thought to have evolved as part of bat biology, including their ability to fly and host a large viral reservoir.

SourceCell Press·JournalCell Host & Microbe·DateFeb 22, 2018

Histology in 3-D: New staining method enables Nano-CT imaging of tissue samples

A new staining method allows specialists to investigate three-dimensional tissue samples using the Nano-CT system, delivering resolutions of up to 100 nanometers. The technique is time-efficient and compatible with conventional methods, enabling enhanced insights into tissue distribution and microscopic origins of diseases.

SourceTechnical University of Munich (TUM)·JournalProceedings of the National Academy of Sciences·DateFeb 22, 2018

With computation, researchers identify promising solid oxide fuel cell materials

A team of University of Wisconsin-Madison engineers has discovered new materials that could enable solid oxide fuel cells to operate at lower temperatures, increasing efficiency and reducing costs. The researchers used quantum mechanics-based computational techniques to screen over 2,000 candidate materials, yielding a list of 52 poten...

SourceUniversity of Wisconsin-Madison·JournalAdvanced Energy Materials·DateFeb 22, 2018

Unsaddling old theory on origin of horses

A study of 20 ancient horses found they are direct ancestors of Przewalski's horses, contrary to previous thought. Their return to a wild state led to changes such as the loss of leopard spotting and night blindness.

SourceCNRS·JournalScience·DateFeb 22, 2018

Color of judo uniform has no effect on winning

A recent study published in Frontiers in Psychology found that judo athletes who wear a white uniform have an advantage in winning, regardless of the color of their opponent's uniform. The researchers analyzed extensive data from judo competitions and found no effect of uniform color on winning.

SourceFrontiers·JournalFrontiers in Psychology·DateFeb 22, 2018

Distinguishing males from females among king penguins

A new study reveals that King Penguins can be distinguished from females by analyzing their sex-specific syllable patterns, achieving an accuracy of 100%. The technique also shows promise for accurately identifying individuals using only beak length, with a success rate of 79%.

SourceWiley·JournalIbis·DateFeb 22, 2018

Do pain medications carry different heart risks?

A Taiwanese database study of 55,629 patients with hypertension found no significant difference in cardiovascular risk between cyclooxygenase-2 enzyme selective NSAIDs and nonselective NSAIDs. Most commonly used NSAIDs have similar cardiovascular safety profiles under low-to-moderate daily doses and short-term treatment periods.

SourceWiley·JournalBritish Journal of Clinical Pharmacology·DateFeb 22, 2018

Magnetic field traces gas and dust swirling around supermassive black hole

A team led by Professor Pat Roche created the first high-resolution map of magnetic field lines in gas and dust swirling around a supermassive black hole at the centre of our Galaxy. The map shows intense infrared light and magnetic field lines within filaments of warm dust grains and hot gas, revealing their intricate relationship.

SourceRoyal Astronomical Society·JournalMonthly Notices of the Royal Astronomical Society·DateFeb 21, 2018

An improved anti-addiction medication

Scientists developed a potent new medicine to fight addiction by blocking an enzyme, resulting in higher GABA levels and reduced dopamine release. The new compound, CPP-115, is 10 times more efficient than vigabatrin and has fewer side effects.

SourceAmerican Chemical Society·JournalJournal of the American Chemical Society·DateFeb 21, 2018

Depression linked to reduced arginine levels

A new study from the University of Eastern Finland found that people with major depressive disorder have reduced arginine levels, which can affect nitric oxide production and vascular regulation. The study also suggests that depression may be linked to lower arginine bioavailability, but further research is needed

SourceUniversity of Eastern Finland·JournalJournal of Affective Disorders·DateFeb 21, 2018

New tool tells bioengineers when to build microbial teams

Researchers at Duke University created a framework to determine when using multiple cell populations is beneficial. The system models how variables interact in complex bioengineering tasks, revealing that efficiency and growth rate are key factors. This tool can help industries producing chemicals with bacteria, such as pharmaceuticals...