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Science News for June 25, 2018


Control of quantum state of optical phonon in diamond induced by ultrashort light pulses

Researchers at Tokyo Institute of Technology successfully formulated and experimentally verified a unified theory for controlling coherent optical phonons in diamond. The theory explains the generation and detection of coherent optical photons based on a model involving two states of electrons and the quantum harmonic oscillator.

SourceTokyo Institute of Technology·JournalScientific Reports·DateJun 25, 2018

Scientists found means to inhibit capillary leakage in sepsis

Researchers at the University of Helsinki have identified a monoclonal antibody that inhibits capillary leakage in sepsis. The antibody targets β1-integrin, a key molecule in endothelial cells, and improves junctions between endothelial cells, decreasing vascular leakage and protecting against sepsis-induced heart failure.

SourceUniversity of Helsinki·JournalProceedings of the National Academy of Sciences·DateJun 25, 2018

Having more allies may decrease a country's power

Researchers developed a computer game to examine relationships between countries and strategic environments. They found that having more allies can increase a country's responsibility, leading to decreased overall welfare. The study has potential implications for current events, including the China-US-North Korea conflict.

SourceChinese Association of Automation·JournalIEEE/CAA Journal of Automatica Sinica·DateJun 25, 2018

US flight attendants at elevated risk of several forms of cancer

A new study from Harvard T.H. Chan School of Public Health found that US flight attendants have a higher prevalence of several cancers, including breast and cervical cancer, compared to the general public. The study suggests that minimizing radiation exposure and circadian rhythm disruption may help reduce the risk of cancer among cabi...

SourceHarvard T.H. Chan School of Public Health·JournalEnvironmental Health·DateJun 25, 2018

Researchers work toward systematic assessment of climate models

Researchers conducted an international survey to assess the importance of variables in climate models. They found consensus on certain variables like rainfall and evaporation but disagreement on others like surface winds. The study highlights the need for more systematic approaches to model assessment, which will aid in evaluating new ...

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

Are gestational age at birth and symptoms of ADHD associated?

Early premature birth at less than 34 weeks was associated with increased risk of symptoms of attention-deficit/hyperactivity disorder (ADHD) in children. The association was most pronounced among girls, suggesting a potential link between prematurity and ADHD symptoms that may be influenced by genetic and environmental factors.

SourceJAMA Network·JournalJAMA Pediatrics·DateJun 25, 2018

Cholera spread tracked at household level

A large-scale genomic study found that nearly 80% of cholera transmission in Dhaka occurred between people sharing a household. Preventing this spread could significantly reduce outbreaks and save lives. Local interventions such as sanitation and hygiene improvements can help break the chain of transmission.

SourceWellcome Trust Sanger Institute·JournalNature Genetics·DateJun 25, 2018

How social media's powerful 'silent majority' moves Bitcoin prices

Researchers have found that positive social media commentary from infrequent users significantly influences the rising price of Bitcoin. The study, led by Feng Mai, shows that these silent majority users move prices up to ten times more than active users. This suggests that investors should recognize and discount biased comments.

SourceStevens Institute of Technology·JournalJournal of Management Information Systems·DateJun 25, 2018

Justice not blind to gender bias

A study by Arizona State University found that gender bias influences how people perceive an attorney's effectiveness when delivering a closing argument, particularly for women. The research suggests that showing traditionally male characteristics in court can lead to negative perceptions of female attorneys.

SourceArizona State University·JournalLaw and Human Behavior·DateJun 25, 2018

The McMaster recipe for star clusters

Researchers Corey Howard, Ralph Pudritz and William Harris use supercomputer simulations to re-create star cluster formation. The study shows that massive star clusters are the natural outcome of large gas collections, and can be used to reverse-engineer galaxy conditions.

SourceMcMaster University·JournalNature Astronomy·DateJun 25, 2018

New theranostic strategy developed for precise tumor diagnosis and therapy

A novel intelligent theranostic agent was designed to target tumors, with the ability to self-assemble in the tumor microenvironment and activate for therapy guided by photoacoustic imaging. The clusters showed high selectivity to the tumor microenvironment and eliminated tumor growth without subsequent recurrence.

SourceSociety of Nuclear Medicine and Molecular Imaging·JournalJournal of Nuclear Medicine·DateJun 25, 2018

Giving up on your goal? Read this first

A series of setbacks can lead to an 'action crisis,' causing individuals to question the importance of their goal. New research reveals that repeated struggles and setbacks can cause people to devalue their goal, making it harder to stick to it. However, knowing ahead of time when an action crisis may occur allows individuals to prepar...

SourcePenn State·JournalPsychology and Marketing·DateJun 25, 2018

Staying coherent while spinning

Scientists have successfully transferred vibrational coherence between electronic states of a molecule, overcoming a major hurdle in the study of ultrafast chemical reactions. The research builds upon earlier studies and demonstrates the importance of solvents in driving energy flow in polyatomic molecules.

SourceEcole Polytechnique Fédérale de Lausanne·JournalProceedings of the National Academy of Sciences·DateJun 25, 2018

Eye-in-the-sky to save olive trees

A new airborne remote-imaging method can identify olive tree infections caused by the devastating bacterium Xylella fastidiosa before visible symptoms appear. This detection enables rapid containment and culling of infected trees, crucial in controlling the spread of the disease across southern Europe's iconic orchards.

SourceSwansea University·JournalNature Plants·DateJun 25, 2018

Novel nuclear medicine approach shows promise for treating wide array of cancerous tumors

Researchers have developed a novel approach to pretargeted radioimmunotherapy, which has shown complete responses in several solid tumor types using the beta-emitting lutetium-177 and alpha-emitting actinium-225. The new approach offers greater versatility of treatment for various solid tumors and clinical situations.

SourceSociety of Nuclear Medicine and Molecular Imaging·JournalJournal of Nuclear Medicine·DateJun 25, 2018

Why life on Earth first got big

Researchers found that early ocean organisms grew tall to disperse their offspring and colonize their surroundings. The study suggests that reproduction was the main reason life on Earth got big during the Ediacaran period.

SourceUniversity of Cambridge·JournalNature Ecology & Evolution·DateJun 25, 2018

How music lessons can improve language skills

A new study from MIT finds that piano lessons enhance word discrimination in kindergartners, particularly with consonants, without improving overall cognitive ability. The researchers suggest that music education is at least as beneficial for language skills and possibly more beneficial than additional reading instruction.

SourceMassachusetts Institute of Technology·JournalProceedings of the National Academy of Sciences·DateJun 25, 2018

Pain relief at a lower opioid dose

Researchers at Johns Hopkins Medicine discovered that combining chemical compounds to activate specific nerve cell receptors may reduce the risk of opioid tolerance and side effects by minimizing the amount of opioids needed. The study used mice models, suggesting that this approach could lead to a lower-risk pain treatment option.

SourceJohns Hopkins Medicine·JournalScience Signaling·DateJun 25, 2018

Researchers discover a new type of lung cancer

Researchers have discovered a new type of small-cell lung cancer (SCLC) with distinct biological signatures, paving the way for developing personalized treatments. The discovery involves a novel transcription factor called POU2F3, which is expressed in a specific subset of SCLC tumors and may be targeted by specific drugs.

SourceCold Spring Harbor Laboratory·JournalGenes & Development·DateJun 25, 2018

Efficient, eco-friendly production of fine chemicals

Researchers at ETH Zurich have developed a solid catalyst for a major chemical reaction, reducing waste and increasing efficiency by 20 times compared to traditional soluble catalysts. The new palladium-carbon-nitrogen material is more stable and cost-effective, making it suitable for commercial-scale production.

SourceETH Zurich·JournalNature Nanotechnology·DateJun 25, 2018

New study shows Transcendental Meditation reduces psychological distress in the workplace

A new study found that Transcendental Meditation significantly improves psychological distress and brain functioning in school administrators and staff, with enhanced performance and well-being. The study, published in Brain and Cognition, is the largest randomized control trial investigating the impact of TM on brain functioning.

SourceCenter for Wellness and Achievement in Education·JournalBrain and Cognition·DateJun 25, 2018

In melanoma, radiosurgery may combine well with immunotherapy, especially PD-1 inhibitors

A University of Colorado Cancer Center study shows that combining radiosurgery with immunotherapy, especially PD-1 inhibitors, can significantly improve cancer control and overall survival in melanoma patients. The study found that patients treated with anti-PD-1 therapies had a median brain metastasis-free survival of not reached, whe...

SourceUniversity of Colorado Anschutz Medical Campus·JournalJournal of Neuro-Oncology·DateJun 25, 2018

Medicare patients less likely to die in a hospital

A new study found that Medicare patients are more likely to die outside of acute-care hospitals, where they died at home or in assisted-living facilities. Since 2009, there has been a reduction in patient deaths within three days of hospital discharge, and ICU use during the last month of life has stabilized.

SourceJAMA Network·JournalJAMA·DateJun 25, 2018

Molecular basis of aggression

Researchers identified autoantibodies against adrenocorticotropic hormone (ACTH) in aggressive male prison inmates, showing altered cortisol secretion and decreased time to attack in mice. These findings suggest potential molecular mechanisms underlying human aggression and stress response.

SourceProceedings of the National Academy of Sciences·JournalProceedings of the National Academy of Sciences·DateJun 25, 2018

Oral delivery of insulin

A new oral insulin formulation based on ionic liquids has been successfully developed, showing stability at room temperature and under refrigeration. The formulation significantly reduces blood glucose levels in rats, with up to 45% decrease observed after oral delivery.

SourceProceedings of the National Academy of Sciences·JournalProceedings of the National Academy of Sciences·DateJun 25, 2018

Reducing CO2 with common elements and sunlight

A new photocatalyst composed of an organic semiconductor material and an iron complex selectively reduces CO2 to CO under visible light, converting the major factor of global warming into a valuable carbon resource. The efficiency of this process is comparable to that of precious metal or rare metal complexes.

SourceTokyo Institute of Technology·JournalJournal of the American Chemical Society·DateJun 25, 2018

Clean power is not enough

International team of researchers warns that even with stringent climate policies, residual fossil fuel emissions could still cause CO2 emissions to endanger the climate targets agreed on by the international community. The study highlights the need for accelerated energy efficiency improvements and widespread electrification of energy...

SourcePotsdam Institute for Climate Impact Research (PIK)·JournalNature Climate Change·DateJun 25, 2018