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Science News for May 9, 2018


Atmospheric seasons could signal alien life

Researchers at UCR's Alternative Earths Astrobiology Center are developing a framework for dynamic biosignatures based on seasonal changes. They found that ozone could be a more easily measurable marker for seasonal variability in oxygen, which is produced by life. Observing atmospheric seasonality in exoplanets may help detect life.

SourceUniversity of California - Riverside·JournalThe Astrophysical Journal Letters·DateMay 9, 2018

Getting health data sharing off the ground

The Swiss Personalized Health Network aims to develop guidelines for responsible health data sharing, addressing key topics like data quality and patient sovereignty. Innovative solutions, including blockchain and reciprocity-based incentives, are being explored to overcome hurdles in data sharing.

SourceETH Zurich·JournalHealth Affairs·DateMay 9, 2018

Exiled asteroid discovered in outer reaches of solar system

An international team of astronomers has discovered a carbon-rich asteroid in the Kuiper Belt, providing strong support for theoretical models of the Solar System's formation. The asteroid, 2004 EW95, is believed to have formed in the inner Solar System and was flung outwards by a migratory planet.

SourceESO·JournalThe Astrophysical Journal Letters·DateMay 9, 2018

New tool predicts deadly form of rare cancer

A new tool uses high-throughput DNA sequencing to accurately predict which early-stage Cutaneous T Cell Lymphoma (CTCL) patients are at risk of developing an aggressive form of the disease. The tool, which analyzes specific genes, has shown promise in improving treatment outcomes for these patients.

SourceBrigham and Women's Hospital·JournalScience Translational Medicine·DateMay 9, 2018

New gene therapy sparks healthy heart beats

A new gene therapy approach has shown dramatic reduction of post-infarction arrhythmias in mice by electrically coupling non-excitable cells to undamaged heart cells. The treatment involves introducing a single gene, Connexin43, which bridges the conduction block in damaged hearts.

SourceCornell University·JournalScientific Reports·DateMay 9, 2018

Nutmeg's hidden power: Helping the liver

Researchers have discovered how nutmeg helps protect the liver, using a mouse animal model of liver toxicity. The spice was shown to restore healthy levels of lipids and acylcarnitines, and a specific compound, myrislignan, had a strong protective effect against liver damage.

SourceAmerican Chemical Society·JournalJournal of Proteome Research·DateMay 9, 2018

Growing life-like heart valves, thanks to help from computational modeling

Researchers have created a bioengineered heart valve that emulates native heart valves and functions well after transplantation into sheep. The tissue-engineered heart valve demonstrated improved valve mechanics and tissue structure, and remodeled itself in a similar fashion to native heart valves over time.

SourceAmerican Association for the Advancement of Science (AAAS)·JournalScience Translational Medicine·DateMay 9, 2018

Progress in posttraumatic stress disorder --Increased understanding points to new approaches for PTSD prevention and treatment

Recent advances in PTSD research focus on brain structure and function, informing efforts to interrupt the processes leading to symptom development. Effective treatments like exposure therapy are based on mechanisms of fear extinction, while new approaches target stress hormones and brain regions involved in emotion dysregulation.

SourceWolters Kluwer Health·JournalHarvard Review of Psychiatry·DateMay 9, 2018

Stress helps unlearn fear

Researchers found that stress can render extinction learning context-independent, allowing patients to transfer knowledge from one situation to another. This could improve the efficacy of exposure therapies for anxiety disorders.

SourceRuhr-University Bochum·JournalBehavior Therapy·DateMay 9, 2018

Drexel study: 'Non-smoking' doesn't mean smoke-free

A Drexel study finds that third-hand smoke chemicals can be reemitted inside and attach themselves to aerosol particles, making people likely exposed to more harmful chemicals than thought. The research reveals a new pathway of exposure to third-hand smoke through aerosol particles in indoor environments.

SourceDrexel University·JournalScience Advances·DateMay 9, 2018

Heart failure: The Alzheimer's disease of the heart?

Researchers have identified protein clumping in the hearts of mice and people with heart failure, suggesting a potential link between the two conditions. The team used non-invasive PET scans to visualize the clumps, which could lead to advances in monitoring disease progression and testing new therapies.

SourceJohns Hopkins Medicine·JournalCirculation Research·DateMay 9, 2018

The big bell test

The BIG Bell Test challenged Einstein's local realism by using human volunteers' unpredictable choices to close a stubborn loophole. Participants contributed over 90 million bits, demonstrating strong disagreement with local realism and introducing new methods in entanglement study.

Hostility towards minorities can be contagious

A recent study found that hostility towards members of other ethnic groups is more often imitated than hostility towards co-ethnics. The study examined adolescents from schools in eastern Slovakia and their behavior towards the Roma minority, finding a significant influence on their choices.

SourceMax-Planck-Gesellschaft·JournalProceedings of the National Academy of Sciences·DateMay 9, 2018

Study about 'shock therapy' for depression suggests more patients should try it sooner

A new study published in JAMA Psychiatry suggests that electroconvulsive therapy (ECT) could be a cost-effective option for patients who fail to get relief from two other types of treatment, such as antidepressant medications and talk therapy. ECT emerged as a cost-effective choice for patients with treatment-resistant depression.

SourceMichigan Medicine - University of Michigan·JournalJAMA Psychiatry·DateMay 9, 2018

A detective story of wildfires and wine

Scientists are making progress in understanding 'smoke taint' in wine after wildfires, discovering links between volatile phenols and glycoconjugates. The study found that fermentation can increase smoky compounds, complicating efforts to remove taint from tainted wines.

SourceAmerican Chemical Society·JournalChemical & Engineering News·DateMay 9, 2018

Spinal fluid could be used to predict the progression of multiple sclerosis, study finds

A six-year study by the University of Birmingham has found that analyzing spinal fluid from patients with MS at diagnosis can predict future disease progression. The research identified a distinct immune response, characterized by an unusual antibody ratio, which may indicate early trigger and risk of disability.

SourceUniversity of Birmingham·JournalJournal of Neurology Neurosurgery & Psychiatry·DateMay 9, 2018

Diverse Parkinson's-related disorders may stem from different strains of same protein

A study by the University of Pennsylvania School of Medicine found that misfolded α-syn proteins embedded in brain cells cause different Parkinson's-related disorders, depending on the type of cell. The researchers discovered a distinct strain of α-syn protein, which is 1,000-fold more potent in causing disease in animal models.

Computer-designed customized regenerative heart valves

A team of researchers has successfully designed and produced individualized, computer-modeled regenerative heart valves grown from human cells. These bioengineered replacements can grow and regenerate themselves without causing immune reactions in patients' bodies, addressing a major limitation of current artificial implants.

SourceUniversity of Zurich·JournalScience Translational Medicine·DateMay 9, 2018

Study reveals challenges of menstrual hygiene management in emergencies

Researchers developed a toolkit to address menstruation-related needs of girls and women fleeing disaster or conflict, but found a lack of effective approaches for managing menstruation with dignity in challenging settings. The study highlights the need to expand practical guidance for vulnerable groups, including girls with disabiliti...

SourceColumbia University's Mailman School of Public Health·JournalJournal of International Humanitarian Action·DateMay 9, 2018

UTSA researcher identifies barriers impacting PrEP use among Latino gay and bisexual men

A new study led by UTSA researcher Phillip Schnarrs found that family approval is a major barrier to PrEP uptake among Latino gay and bisexual men. The research suggests that racial disparities, limited knowledge, financial barriers, language barriers, and lack of insurance coverage contribute to the low PrEP adoption rates among minor...

SourceUniversity of Texas at San Antonio·JournalAIDS and Behavior·DateMay 9, 2018

Brood parasitism in fish

The cuckoo catfish has evolved a clever method to smuggle its eggs into cichlids' nests, exploiting their brood care behavior. Cichlids from Lake Tanganyika have learned to defend themselves against the parasite's trick, but those without 'evolutionary experience' are vulnerable to its strategy.

SourceUniversity of Konstanz·JournalScience Advances·DateMay 9, 2018

Reprogrammed stem cell-derived neurons survive long-term in pigs with spinal cord injuries

Researchers successfully grafted induced pluripotent stem cell-derived neural precursor cells into the spinal cords of genetically identical adult pigs, eliminating the need for immunosuppression measures. The grafted cells survived long-term and displayed differentiated functionality without causing tumors.

SourceUniversity of California - San Diego·JournalScience Translational Medicine·DateMay 9, 2018

The slipperiness of ice explained

A team of researchers has discovered that the friction on ice is driven by the high mobility of water molecules at the surface, not by a thin layer of liquid water. The study found that as temperature increases, the mobility of these molecules also rises, resulting in lower friction.

SourceMax Planck Institute for Polymer Research·JournalThe Journal of Physical Chemistry Letters·DateMay 9, 2018

The Lancet: Sexuality education, fertility services, and counselling for gender-based violence must be at the heart of global health agenda

A new Lancet Commission proposes a comprehensive package of interventions addressing neglected areas like infertility services, prevention, and counselling for gender-based violence. Meeting all needs for sexual and reproductive health services would require a minimum global investment of $54 billion annually.

SourceThe Lancet·JournalThe Lancet·DateMay 9, 2018

Visualization of molecular soccer balls

A research team led by the University of Tsukuba has successfully imaged single Li+@C60 molecules using scanning tunneling microscopy. The study provides valuable insights into the electronic properties of lithium-doped fullerenes, which can be used to optimize their performance in optoelectronic and switching devices.

SourceUniversity of Tsukuba·JournalCarbon·DateMay 9, 2018

Integrative group examines the ethical fit of mindfulness in corporate America

A recent commentary examines the ethical fit of mindfulness practices in corporate America, highlighting potential conflicts between prioritizing shareholder return and mindfulness' philosophical commitment to non-harm and wholesome living. The authors argue that infiltrating corporate culture with mindfulness can raise the ethical bar...

SourceMary Ann Liebert, Inc./Genetic Engineering News·JournalThe Journal of Alternative and Complementary Medicine·DateMay 9, 2018