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Science News for March 8, 2018


Researchers sew atomic lattices seamlessly together

A team of scientists from Cornell University and the University of Chicago has successfully created atomically thin fabrics by stitching different materials together. The resulting single-layer materials exhibit perfectly aligned crystals with minimal defects, opening up possibilities for flexible LEDs and new electronic devices.

SourceCornell University·JournalScience·DateMar 8, 2018

Got the message? Your brainwaves will tell

Neuroscientists at KU Leuven developed an EEG-based method to objectively and automatically assess speech understanding. The technique, which uses 64 electrodes, can measure brainwaves while a person listens to a sentence and determine whether they have understood it.

SourceKU Leuven·JournalJournal of the Association for Research in Otolaryngology·DateMar 8, 2018

Monoclonal antibodies crucial to fighting emerging infectious diseases, say NIAID officials

Researchers from NIAID highlight the potential of monoclonal antibodies in treating and preventing emerging infectious diseases. These therapies have shown promise in clinical trials, such as the Ebola outbreak, and may offer a more targeted approach to infection prevention and treatment.

SourceNIH/National Institute of Allergy and Infectious Diseases·JournalNew England Journal of Medicine·DateMar 8, 2018

Multiple optical measurements reveal the single cell activation without contrast agent

The researchers developed a label-free multimodal microscopy platform that allows non-invasive study of cellular preparations. The platform enables the study of fine cellular processes, such as macrophage cells activation upon exposure to lipopolysaccharide (LPS), at single-cell level through phenotypic and molecular characterization.

SourceOsaka University·JournalProceedings of the National Academy of Sciences·DateMar 8, 2018

NIAID scientists assess transmission risk of familial human prion diseases to mice

Scientists from NIAID exposed research mice to brain samples from three people who died from a familial prion disease. Two mutations, Y226X and G131V, were found to be transmissible to mice. The finding highlights the hardiness of prion infectivity and potential risks associated with prion transmission.

SourceNIH/National Institute of Allergy and Infectious Diseases·JournalActa Neuropathologica Communications·DateMar 8, 2018

Commercial pesticides: Not as safe as they seem

A comprehensive review of gaps in risk assessments for adjuvants in commercial pesticides highlights the need for new regulations to protect people and the environment. The review found that exposure to environmental levels of some adjuvant mixtures can affect non-target organisms and even cause chronic human disease.

SourceFrontiers·JournalFrontiers in Public Health·DateMar 8, 2018

Supply bottleneck impairs nerve function

A recent study published in PNAS found that disrupted mRNA transport into axons leads to impaired nerve function and cell death, exacerbating conditions like ALS and spinal muscular atrophy. The researchers identified a noncoding RNA, 7SK, as playing a crucial role in these transport complexes.

SourceUniversity of Würzburg·JournalProceedings of the National Academy of Sciences·DateMar 8, 2018

Bullying based on stigma has especially damaging effects

A recent study by University of Delaware professors found that while interventions for stigma-based bullying have increased, their implementation and evaluation need improvement. The researchers suggest increasing the capacity of school health professionals to address LGBTQ bullying and developing strategies to reduce stereotypes and p...

SourceUniversity of Delaware·JournalDevelopmental Review·DateMar 8, 2018

Across the metal-molecule interface: Observing fluctuations on the single-molecule scale

Scientists at Tokyo Institute of Technology developed a technique to analyze structural and electronic fluctuations on the single-molecule scale across the metal-molecule interface. This method provides information that cannot be obtained using conventional methods, with important implications for devices like organic solar cells.

SourceTokyo Institute of Technology·JournalJournal of the American Chemical Society·DateMar 8, 2018

No progress seen in reducing antibiotics among outpatients

A new study found that antibiotic prescriptions continue to be prescribed at high rates in outpatient settings, contributing to drug-resistant infections and excess healthcare costs. The researchers analyzed data from Express Scripts Holding Co. and found no decline in overall antibiotic prescription rates over a three-year period.

SourceWashington University in St. Louis·JournalInfection Control and Hospital Epidemiology·DateMar 8, 2018

Best practices lacking for managing traumatic brain injury in geriatric patients

A recent review article emphasizes the urgent need for more clinical research, data, and prognostic models on traumatic brain injury in older adults. The lack of geriatric-specific TBI guidelines presents barriers to optimal care, and the authors discuss issues related to neurocritical care, neurosurgical management, and rehabilitation.

SourceMary Ann Liebert, Inc./Genetic Engineering News·JournalJournal of Neurotrauma·DateMar 8, 2018

Engineered cartilage template to heal broken bones

Researchers at UConn Health developed a novel hybrid hydrogel system to promote endochondral ossification, a process critical for long bone formation. The system uses fibrin and hyaluronan to guide the growth of cartilage templates, which release factors that initiate vascularized bone formation.

SourceUniversity of Connecticut·JournalJournal of Biomedical Materials Research·DateMar 8, 2018

Is your stress changing my brain?

Researchers at the University of Calgary discovered that stress transmitted from others can change the brain in mice, altering CRH neurons that control the brain's response to stress. In females, these effects are reversed after a social interaction, while males do not exhibit this reversal.

SourceUniversity of Calgary·JournalNature Neuroscience·DateMar 8, 2018

How common is food insecurity among older adults?

A study found that food insecurity occurs in 9.2% of older adults, with higher rates among women, people without a spouse, and those with certain health conditions. The researchers highlight the need for combined methods to identify food insecurity and connect older adults with community-based resources.

SourceAmerican Geriatrics Society·JournalJournal of the American Geriatrics Society·DateMar 8, 2018

Improving birth outcomes one amino acid at a time

Researchers found that L-arginine supplementation increased blood vessel development in the placenta and reduced low birth weight/preterm birth and stillbirth. The study suggests that L-arginine may be a critical component in regulating blood vessel development, with implications for other conditions linked to poor birth outcomes.

SourceUniversity Health Network·JournalScience Translational Medicine·DateMar 8, 2018

Enzyme ensures thick insulation

Researchers at ETH Zurich have discovered that Schwann cells produce fatty acids through an enzyme called FASN, which is essential for myelin layer formation and maintenance. This breakthrough has implications for understanding the development of rare childhood diseases and potential treatments.

SourceETH Zurich·JournalJournal of Cell Biology·DateMar 8, 2018

Scientists accurately model the action of aerosols on clouds

Researchers have developed a high-resolution climate model that accurately simulates the interaction between aerosols and clouds. The model shows that increasing aerosol density can lead to a decrease in cloud cover in certain areas, contradicting previous assumptions.

SourceRIKEN·JournalNature Communications·DateMar 8, 2018

The shapes of water

Researchers at Arizona State University have observed a previously unseen property of water, where it changes from one liquid to another under super-cooling and specific conditions. This phenomenon, known as a liquid-liquid phase transition, was only seen in computer simulations until now.

SourceArizona State University·JournalScience·DateMar 8, 2018

Non-invasive brain stimulation improves gait impairment of Parkinson's disease patients

A new study suggests that transcranial direct-current electrical stimulation can significantly improve gait impairment in Parkinson's disease patients by simultaneously targeting both motor and cognitive networks. The treatment shows promising results in reducing freezing of gait and improving executive functions and mobility.

SourceAmerican Friends of Tel Aviv University·JournalMovement Disorders·DateMar 8, 2018

Decoy molecules target E. coli to treat UTI in mice

Researchers at WashU Medicine have discovered a way to treat urinary tract infections (UTIs) without using antibiotics. By targeting specific sugar-protein interactions, they found that decoy molecules can trick E. coli bacteria into releasing their grip on the bladder and kidneys.

SourceWashU Medicine·JournalProceedings of the National Academy of Sciences·DateMar 8, 2018

CRISPR/Cas9 technique suppresses malaria infection in mosquitoes

Using CRISPR/Cas9, scientists have shown that inactivating the FREP1 gene reduces mosquitoes' susceptibility to malaria parasite infection. This technique holds promise for preventing malaria transmission to humans, but may require further refinement to balance resistance with fitness costs.

SourcePLOS·JournalPLOS Pathogens·DateMar 8, 2018

Exposure to air pollution during pregnancy linked to brain alterations

A new study has linked air pollution exposure during fetal life with brain abnormalities, including a thinner cortex, which may contribute to impaired cognitive function in school-age children. Exposure to fine particles was associated with difficulties in inhibitory control, related to mental health problems such as addiction and ADHD.

SourceBarcelona Institute for Global Health (ISGlobal)·JournalBiological Psychiatry·DateMar 8, 2018

Mending materials

A Lehigh University professor has received a prestigious NSF CAREER Award to explore the role of human mesenchymal stem cells in remodeling hydrogel materials for wound healing. Her research aims to develop new biomaterials with optimal properties for tissue regeneration and structural integrity.

A new kind of star

Researchers have developed a novel mathematical model combining general relativity with quantum vacuum polarization, enabling the existence of ultracompact stars and new stellar configurations. The study suggests that these stars could be detectable in future gravitational wave observatories.

SourceScuola Internazionale Superiore di Studi Avanzati·JournalPhysical Review Letters·DateMar 8, 2018

Exposure to childhood violence linked to psychiatric disorders

A study published in the Brazilian Journal of Psychiatry found that nearly one-quarter of 12-year-olds from public schools had a psychiatric disorder, with depression and attention-deficit hyperactivity disorder being the most common diagnoses. Investing in socio-economic inequality prevention and preventing violent events during child...

SourceColumbia University's Mailman School of Public Health·JournalBrazilian Journal of Psychiatry·DateMar 8, 2018

Studies examine trends in pain medication use

Two studies found that acetaminophen use increases during cold/flu season, with a 24% increase in high-dose intake. Acetaminophen is the most commonly used analgesic in France, but its use can lead to liver harm if not taken correctly.

SourceWiley·JournalBritish Journal of Clinical Pharmacology·DateMar 8, 2018