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Science News for July 19, 2018


New malicious email detection method that outperforms 60 antivirus engines -- Ben-Gurion

Researchers at Ben-Gurion University of the Negev developed a new method to detect unknown, malicious emails that outperforms 60 antivirus engines. The Email-Sec-360° approach uses machine learning and leverages 100 unique email features, providing enhanced threat detection in real-time.

SourceAmerican Associates, Ben-Gurion University of the Negev·JournalExpert Systems with Applications·DateJul 19, 2018

Broken bones among older people increase risk of death for up to 10 years

A new study published in the Endocrine Society's Journal of Clinical Endocrinology & Metabolism reveals that broken bones among older people increase their risk of death for up to 10 years. Non-hip fractures, such as femur and pelvic fractures, pose a significant risk of mortality, with a one-year excess mortality rate ranging from 20%...

SourceThe Endocrine Society·JournalThe Journal of Clinical Endocrinology & Metabolism·DateJul 19, 2018

Study finds Medicaid expansion boosts employment

A new study from the University of Kansas found that individuals with disabilities are significantly more likely to be employed in states with expanded Medicaid coverage. In these states, the percentage of individuals with disabilities reporting employment or self-employment increased from 41.3% in 2013 to 47% in 2017, while those not ...

SourceUniversity of Kansas·JournalAmerican Journal of Public Health·DateJul 19, 2018

New insights into plants' conquest of land

Researchers at the University of Bristol have revealed insights into how plants evolved from simple aquatic algae to complex, upright forms. The study found that CLAVATA peptides control cell growth and division at plant tips, enabling 3D shapes and multiple directional growth.

SourceUniversity of Bristol·JournalCurrent Biology·DateJul 19, 2018

Wait, just a second, is your doctor listening?

A study found that patients are given little time to explain their concerns before being interrupted by doctors. Primary care doctors tend to interrupt less than specialists, who may skip the introductory step due to familiarity with the condition. The pressure to rush consultations affects patient-centered care.

SourceSpringer·JournalJournal of General Internal Medicine·DateJul 19, 2018

Researchers are one step closer to developing eye drops to treat common sight loss condition

Researchers have made significant progress in developing eye drops to treat age-related macular degeneration (AMD), a leading cause of blindness. The eye drops use cell-penetrating peptides to deliver therapeutic drugs to the retina, offering a convenient and potentially cost-effective alternative to injections.

SourceUniversity of Birmingham·JournalInvestigative Ophthalmology & Visual Science·DateJul 19, 2018

Yeast species used in food industry causes disease in humans

Research finds Candida krusei and Pichia kudriavzevii are genetically identical, both causing significant morbidity and mortality in immunocompromised patients. The study highlights the need for caution when using drug-resistant yeast strains in biotechnology and food applications.

SourcePLOS·JournalPLOS Pathogens·DateJul 19, 2018

Phages work together to suppress CRISPR bacterial immunity

Researchers discovered that phages cooperate to rapidly infect bacteria, overcoming destruction by CRISPR. The cooperation allows the first phage to sacrifice itself and produce anti-CRISPR compounds to neutralize some CRISPs, helping subsequent phages. This new model proposes a tipping point between numbers and speed of CRISPR and ant...

SourceCell Press·JournalCell·DateJul 19, 2018

Infrared sensor as new method for drug discovery

Researchers at Ruhr-University Bochum developed a new infrared sensor method to analyze the structure of proteins affected by active agents. This method provides rapid measurements, allowing for the detection of structural changes within minutes and the identification of binding periods that determine drug efficacy.

SourceRuhr-University Bochum·JournalAngewandte Chemie International Edition·DateJul 19, 2018

Treating dementia with the healing waves of sound

Researchers at Tohoku University found that whole-brain low-intensity pulsed ultrasound (LIPUS) therapy improved cognitive dysfunction in mice with vascular dementia and Alzheimer's disease. The treatment was shown to enhance blood vessel formation, nerve cell regeneration, and protein expression without serious side effects.

SourceTohoku University·JournalBrain Stimulation·DateJul 19, 2018

New training platform for big data analysis

A new online training platform is being developed to address the lack of bioinformatics and statistics knowledge among researchers in the life sciences. The Galaxy Europe project aims to provide interactive tutorials using real datasets, aiming to improve data science methods use.

SourceUniversity of Freiburg·JournalCell Systems·DateJul 19, 2018

Ohio Professor Hua earns prestigious NSF grant

Professor Hua's five-year $1.09 million grant will focus on F-box-mediated protein degradation in seed development, aiming to develop precision agriculture through manipulating the ubiquitin-26S proteasome system. The project also aims to promote computational thinking skills among underrepresented students.

Learning from 'Little Monsters'

A recent study by UCSB researcher David Herbst explores the connection between benthic invertebrates and stream water flow. The research, published in Hydrobiologia, sheds light on how these organisms sort out and change with stream dynamics. This new understanding has significant implications for water quality monitoring programs.

Building blocks of life

Researchers at Shinshu University have developed proteins that can self-assemble into complex nanostructures, a breakthrough in biomolecular engineering and synthetic biology. The new protein complexes can be designed to produce various chain-like structures on demand, opening up possibilities for innovative applications in biotechnology.

SourceShinshu University·JournalACS Synthetic Biology·DateJul 19, 2018

Fruit fly species can learn each other's dialects

Researchers found that fruit fly species from different backgrounds can communicate more effectively when they cohabitate and learn each other's visual and scent cues. The study suggests that variation in communication ability between species may be analogous to dialects, which can be alleviated through socialization.

SourcePLOS·JournalPLOS Genetics·DateJul 19, 2018

Oil biodegradation inhibited in deep-sea sediments

Degradation rates of oil were slower in the dark and cold waters of the Gulf of Mexico than at surface conditions. Oil biodegradation rates decreased by 4 percent for every 328 feet of increase in water depth, with complete degradation taking 42 days in sediments deeper than 3280 feet.

SourcePenn State·JournalPLOS ONE·DateJul 19, 2018

Relax, just break it

Researchers at Argonne National Laboratory used novel tools to study local order in relaxor ferroelectrics, revealing a correlation between butterfly-shaped diffuse scattering and piezoelectric behavior. This discovery could lead to the development of non-lead-based materials with improved properties.

SourceDOE/Argonne National Laboratory·JournalNature Materials·DateJul 19, 2018

Two faces offer limitless possibilities

Researchers at Argonne National Laboratory have developed a new way to chemically deposit a second face on Janus membranes, resulting in more robust and precisely structured membranes. This breakthrough could help optimize or enable various industrial processes, including wastewater treatment and biofuel production.

SourceDOE/Argonne National Laboratory·JournalAdvanced Materials Interfaces·DateJul 19, 2018

Mayo Clinic researchers uncover methods to quantify the yips and golfer's cramp

Researchers at Mayo Clinic have identified a neurological cause for the yips in golfers, which can be measured using quantitative methods. The study found that five out of 27 golfers had a neurologic cause for their condition, with greater acceleration of wrist and arm movement and more variability in wrist acceleration and rotation.

SourceMayo Clinic·JournalMedicine & Science in Sports & Exercise·DateJul 19, 2018