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Science News for May 16, 2018


Training for 21st century doctors: medicine, business, and leadership development

Leaders from Penn's Perelman School of Medicine call for new training approaches for 21st-century doctors, emphasizing business, finance, and leadership development. The authors suggest focusing on talent mining, targeted leadership development, and deliberate onboarding processes to create a new wave of physician leaders.

SourceUniversity of Pennsylvania School of Medicine·JournalNew England Journal of Medicine·DateMay 16, 2018

A 'dirty bomb' battles cancer metastasis

Scientists have discovered a new compound, metarrestin, that significantly reduces metastasis in human prostate, breast and pancreatic cancer in mice. The compound was found to blow up the complex marker PNC, which indicates cancer cells' ability to spread.

SourceNorthwestern University·JournalScience Translational Medicine·DateMay 16, 2018

Climate change impacts fragile river ecosystems

Research in South Africa's Kruger National Park has shown that climate change is destroying sensitive and valuable riverine habitats due to extreme floods. The study found that cyclone-driven floods removed almost 1.25 million tonnes of sediment from the river bed, leading to patches of mature riparian forest being destroyed.

SourceGeological Society of America·JournalGeological Society of America Bulletin·DateMay 16, 2018

How humans repress prejudices

Research by Dr Beate Krickel suggests that people can hold unconscious biases despite professing tolerant views. These biases can be detected using psychological tests, but may be masked by repression of negative emotions.

SourceRuhr-University Bochum·JournalPhilosophical Psychology·DateMay 16, 2018

The mystery of lime-green lizard blood

Researchers have discovered four separate lineages of green-blooded lizards, each with unique evolutionary history. The study suggests that high levels of biliverdin in these lizards may have adaptive value, potentially leading to new approaches to treating human diseases such as malaria.

SourceLouisiana State University·JournalScience Advances·DateMay 16, 2018

Intimacy in later life does not slow memory loss

A recent study published in Springer's Archives of Sexual Behavior suggests that older adults who engage in regular intimate activities and emotional closeness do not experience a slower rate of cognitive decline compared to those who are less active. However, this relationship is only observed on short-term memory tests, not over time.

SourceSpringer·JournalArchives of Sexual Behavior·DateMay 16, 2018

Our brains are obsessed with being social

A Dartmouth-led study found that the brain consolidates new social information during rest, demonstrating increased connectivity between medial prefrontal cortex and tempoparietal junction regions. The findings suggest that engaging these regions during rest may help learn about one's social environment.

SourceDartmouth College·JournalCerebral Cortex·DateMay 16, 2018

An electronic rescue dog

Researchers at ETH Zurich developed a device that combines multiple gas sensors to detect entrapped people. The device, the size of a small computer chip, can identify specific chemical compounds emitted by humans and distinguish them from other sources.

SourceETH Zurich·JournalAnalytical Chemistry·DateMay 16, 2018

Plug-and-play diagnostic devices

The MIT researchers developed modular blocks that can be assembled to produce diagnostic devices for diseases such as cancer, Zika virus, and tuberculosis. These 'plug-and-play' devices are inexpensive, easy to use, and can perform multiple biochemical functions, potentially improving access to medical technology in developing countries.

SourceMassachusetts Institute of Technology·JournalAdvanced Healthcare Materials·DateMay 16, 2018

A laser from a space ant

Astronomers have detected a unique laser emission from the heart of the Ant Nebula, indicating the presence of a double star system. The phenomenon was discovered using European Space Agency's Herschel space observatory and is connected to the death of a star.

SourceUniversity of Manchester·JournalMonthly Notices of the Royal Astronomical Society·DateMay 16, 2018

Re-assessing organ availability

Researchers at Brigham and Women's Hospital are re-assessing organ availability by considering previously deemed 'unfit' organs. The study aims to expand the donor pool and improve transplant outcomes, with the potential to save more lives.

SourceBrigham and Women's Hospital·JournalNew England Journal of Medicine·DateMay 16, 2018

Space cloud discovery

Case Western Reserve University astronomers detected a massive cloud of ionized hydrogen gas spewed from a nearby galaxy and consumed by its central black hole. The discovery provides an unprecedented opportunity to study the behavior of a black hole and associated galaxy as it consumes and 'recycles' hydrogen gas.

SourceCase Western Reserve University·JournalThe Astrophysical Journal Letters·DateMay 16, 2018

Cannabidiol significantly reduces seizures in patients with severe form of epilepsy

A new study found that cannabidiol significantly reduces seizures in patients with Lennox-Gastaut syndrome, a rare and severe form of epilepsy. The trial showed a 41.9% reduction in drop seizures for the 20 mg/kg/d CBD regimen, highlighting the potential effectiveness of Epidiolex as an treatment option.

SourceNYU Langone Health / NYU Grossman School of Medicine·JournalNew England Journal of Medicine·DateMay 16, 2018

Elevated homocysteine identified as metabolic risk factor for neurodegenerative diseases

Researchers found that high homocysteine levels in mice lead to increased tau tangles, nerve cell death, and impaired learning and memory. The study suggests a potential link between hyperhomocysteinemia and neurodegenerative diseases, highlighting the need for further investigation into the role of 5-lipoxygenase in disease progression.

SourceTemple University Health System·JournalMolecular Psychiatry·DateMay 16, 2018

Recent trends of marriage in Iran

Declining formal marriages in Iran may be attributed to economic factors and changing attitudes towards marriage, according to recent studies. Researchers have linked the trend to a lack of well-paid jobs and high housing costs, suggesting complementary explanations for the shift.

SourceBentham Science Publishers·JournalThe Open Family Studies Journal·DateMay 16, 2018

Beef peptides block bitter tastes

Researchers have discovered that beef peptides can block bitter taste receptors on the tongue, potentially leading to improved flavors in food and medicine. The most effective peptides were produced through enzymatic hydrolysis using trypsin and pepsin enzymes.

SourceAmerican Chemical Society·JournalJournal of Agricultural and Food Chemistry·DateMay 16, 2018

Global 2 degrees C rise doubles population exposed to multiple climate risks compared to 1.5 degrees C

A recent study finds that a 2°C global temperature rise could expose nearly half of the world's population to multiple climate change risks, compared to a 1.5°C rise. The areas most at risk are densely populated and located in south Asia alone, with Africa facing greater challenges due to high social inequality.

SourceInternational Institute for Applied Systems Analysis·JournalEnvironmental Research Letters·DateMay 16, 2018

MN childcare programs focused on nutrition and physical activities, study finds

A University of Minnesota Medical School study found that existing childcare programs in MN increased healthy food access and reduced screen time, improving children's well-being. The 'Healthy Start, Healthy State' initiatives, such as Farm to Childcare and Let's Move! Child Care, were instrumental in driving these improvements.

SourceUniversity of Minnesota Medical School·JournalPreventive Medicine Reports·DateMay 16, 2018

Less water, same Texas cotton

Researchers identify best irrigation methods for cotton in water-limited situations, challenging common assumption that producers should irrigate early and often. By reducing watering after plant emergence, yields and fiber quality can be maintained or even improved.

SourceAmerican Society of Agronomy·JournalAgronomy Journal·DateMay 16, 2018

Mechanism underlying malformation associated with severe epilepsy is revealed

Researchers identified dysregulation of the gene NEUROG2 as a key factor in the development of focal cortical dysplasia, a common cause of drug-resistant epilepsy. The study found that overexpression of NEUROG2 was linked to reduced expression of microRNA hsa-miR-34a, leading to nerve cell differentiation failure.

How the gut influences neurologic disease

A study published in Nature sheds light on the connection between the gut and brain, revealing a new pathway that may help guide therapies for multiple sclerosis and other neurologic diseases. Researchers found that compounds produced by gut microbes can limit inflammation in the brain through their influence on microglia.

SourceBrigham and Women's Hospital·JournalNature·DateMay 16, 2018

Diagnosing breast cancer with an imaging pill

Researchers developed a pill that can detect breast cancer in mice using near-infrared light, reducing the need for mammograms and minimizing radiation exposure. The imaging agent was found to bind specifically to cancer cells with high accuracy, paving the way for potential future applications.

SourceAmerican Chemical Society·JournalMolecular Pharmaceutics·DateMay 16, 2018

Glass-forming ability: fundamental understanding leading to smart design

A team of researchers from the Institute of Industrial Science at The University of Tokyo investigated glass-forming behavior by simulating two model systems. Their findings reveal that a single parameter governs the process, allowing for potential applications in various fields, including materials science and engineering.

Mechanical force controls the speed of protein synthesis

Researchers discovered that mechanical forces control protein synthesis speeds by influencing ribosome tunnel geometry and protein segment movement. This finding may lead to a better understanding of disease mechanisms linked to defective protein synthesis.

SourcePenn State·JournalJournal of the American Chemical Society·DateMay 16, 2018

Mayo discovery means individualized ovarian, brain cancer therapies

Researchers developed an algorithm to predict treatment effectiveness in individual patients using a molecular communication pathway. The study found that repurposing ruxolitinib, a drug approved for malignant blood disorders, can overcome resistance to measles virotherapy by increasing its effectiveness by a factor of 1,000.

SourceMayo Clinic·JournalJNCI Journal of the National Cancer Institute·DateMay 16, 2018

Would you share your scientific results before publication?

A study of 7,103 active faculty researchers found that over half had disclosed their results before publication, with social scientists and mathematicians being the most likely to do so. The dominant motive was to receive feedback, while formulaic fields like computer science and mathematics shared results to attract competitors.