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Science News for November 13, 2018


First blood-based biomarker in response to the treatment of the most aggressive prostate cancer

A study led by CNIO has defined a blood-based biomarker that can determine the most effective treatment for castration-resistant prostate cancer patients. The biomarker, which analyzes the presence of a specific gene in circulating tumour DNA, shows promise for improved survival rates and personalized therapy.

Violent crime rates rise in warmer winters

A CU Boulder study found a surprisingly strong correlation between warmer winters and higher violent crime rates in the US. The research used powerful climate analysis techniques to investigate year-to-year fluctuations in climate and crime rates, revealing a strong relationship between temperature and crime in winter months.

SourceUniversity of Colorado at Boulder·JournalGeoHealth·DateNov 13, 2018

Moths and magnets could save lives

Researchers at Rice University have developed a new technology that uses a moth-infecting virus and nanomagnets to deliver CRISPR/Cas9 payloads for gene editing. The therapy has the potential to treat genetic diseases such as sickle cell, muscular dystrophy, and cystic fibrosis.

SourceRice University·JournalNature Biomedical Engineering·DateNov 13, 2018

Stretchy solar cells a step closer

Rice University engineers have developed flexible organic photovoltaics with improved mechanical properties, enabling them to withstand strains of up to 20%. The new material retains its efficiency and gains flexibility by incorporating a network of elastic additives.

SourceRice University·JournalChemistry of Materials·DateNov 13, 2018

If your diet fails, try again; your heart will thank you

A new study published in the journal Nutrients found that diet fluctuations can lead to a rollercoaster of risk factors for cardiovascular disease and diabetes. Repeated attempts at adopting a healthy eating pattern can have benefits, with significant improvements in blood pressure and cholesterol levels seen after just a few weeks.

SourcePurdue University·JournalNutrients·DateNov 13, 2018

NIH scientists illuminate causes of hepatitis b virus-associated acute liver failure

Researchers found that hepatitis B virus (HBV)-associated acute liver failure results from an uncommon encounter between a highly mutated HBV variant and an unusual immune response in the patient's liver. By analyzing liver samples, they discovered new mechanisms about the disease, providing insights into its development.

SourceNIH/National Institute of Allergy and Infectious Diseases·JournalProceedings of the National Academy of Sciences·DateNov 13, 2018

Study examines opioid use among Massachusetts adolescents, trends in opioid prescriptions

A recent study in Massachusetts found that adolescent females have a higher rate of non-fatal opioid overdoses compared to males, while receiving insufficient medication for post-overdose treatment. The analysis of public data from 2012 to 2014 revealed that only 8% of adolescents were prescribed medications like methadone or buprenorp...

SourceBrigham and Women's Hospital·JournalDrug and Alcohol Dependence·DateNov 13, 2018

Novel mechanism of immune activation in HIV-exposed, seronegative people who inject drugs

Researchers at The Wistar Institute found that the S100A14 protein is expressed at higher levels in these individuals than control donors, activating natural killer cells to defend against HIV. This discovery may lead to novel approaches for prevention of HIV infection by manipulating host immune defense.

SourceThe Wistar Institute·JournalJAIDS Journal of Acquired Immune Deficiency Syndromes·DateNov 13, 2018

ID specialist input improves outcomes for outpatient parenteral antimicrobial therapy

The Infectious Diseases Society of America (IDSA) has released new guidelines for outpatient parenteral antimicrobial therapy (OPAT), emphasizing the importance of review by an infectious diseases specialist before starting treatment. Regular monitoring and blood tests are also recommended to ensure patient safety.

SourceInfectious Diseases Society of America·JournalClinical Infectious Diseases·DateNov 13, 2018

Doubly-excited electrons reach new energy states

Physicists have characterised higher energy levels reached by electrons in resonance with positronium ions, a complex three-particle system. The new model provides guidance for experimentalists to observe these resonant structures, potentially leading to breakthroughs in atomic and nuclear physics.

SourceSpringer·JournalThe European Physical Journal D·DateNov 13, 2018

Pain can be a self-fulfilling prophecy

A new brain imaging study found that when subjects expect more heat, brain regions involved in threat and fear are more activated, leading to increased pain perception. The study also showed that positive expectations can have the opposite effects, suggesting a potential link between negative expectations and chronic pain.

SourceUniversity of Colorado at Boulder·JournalNature Human Behaviour·DateNov 13, 2018

Penn Study shows regular behavioral counseling leads to clinically significant weight loss

A new Penn Medicine study found that intensive behavioral therapy (IBT) is effective in achieving clinically significant weight loss in adults with obesity, with participants losing an average of 6.1% of their initial body weight at one year. The study also showed improvements in blood pressure and cardiovascular risk factors.

UH Physicist Zhifeng Ren receives Humboldt Prize

Physicist Zhifeng Ren, director of the Texas Center for Superconductivity at the University of Houston, has received a research award from the Alexander von Humboldt Foundation to collaborate with German researchers. He will focus on new fabrication techniques and thermoelectric materials to improve clean energy conversion.

Probiotics increase bone volume in healthy mice

A study published in Immunity found that Lactobacillus rhamnosus GG supplementation increased bone formation in female mice by stimulating the growth of butyrate-producing gut bacteria. This activation led to the expansion of regulatory T cells, which secrete a protein called Wnt10b, critical for bone development.

SourceCell Press·JournalImmunity·DateNov 13, 2018

Emotional intelligence: A new criterion for hiring?

Researchers at UNIGE and UNIBE developed an emotional intelligence test to measure skills in work environments. The test, called the Geneva Emotional Competence Test (GECO), evaluates understanding emotions, recognizing emotions, regulating one's own emotions, and managing other people's emotions.

SourceUniversité de Genève·JournalJournal of Applied Psychology·DateNov 13, 2018

Carbon emissions will start to dictate stock prices

A new study by University of Waterloo researchers finds that high carbon emissions can lead to stock price depreciation and asset devaluation. Companies in emission-intensive sectors may experience fundamental devaluations in their stocks within 10 years, due to stricter environmental regulations and climate change risks.

SourceUniversity of Waterloo·JournalJournal of Sustainable Finance & Investment·DateNov 13, 2018

Carbon goes with the flow

A recent study by Michigan State University found that floods significantly transport large amounts of organic carbon through ecosystems, contrary to the traditional view of the carbon cycle as vertical. The research analyzed over 1,000 watersheds across the US and found that wetlands play a crucial role in storing and releasing carbon.

SourceMichigan State University·JournalGeophysical Research Letters·DateNov 13, 2018

Blocking 'secondary cataracts'

Researchers are exploring ways to prevent secondary cataracts, a condition that occurs when scar tissue forms in the eye after surgery. Melinda Duncan's team has made several discoveries, including molecules critical for forming PCO scar tissue, and is working on a drug to block this potentially blinding condition.

SourceUniversity of Delaware·JournalInvestigative Ophthalmology & Visual Science·DateNov 13, 2018

Pressure helps to make better Li-ion batteries

Scientists have discovered a new strategy to enhance the conductivity of lithium titanium oxide (LTO) anode materials for Li-ion batteries. By applying high pressure, LTO can transform into an amorphous phase that displays better conductivity. The findings provide insight into the relationship between structure and conducting properties.

SourceScience China Press·JournalNational Science Review·DateNov 13, 2018

Climate change damaging male fertility

New research from the University of East Anglia reveals that heatwaves can halve male reproductive fitness, reducing offspring production by three-quarters. The study found that heatwaves also damage inseminated sperm within female reproductive tracts, leading to reduced fertility and population viability.

SourceUniversity of East Anglia·JournalNature Communications·DateNov 13, 2018

USPSTF recommendation statement on screening and behavioral counseling interventions to reduce unhealthy alcohol use in adolescents and adults

The USPSTF recommends screening adults 18 and older for unhealthy alcohol use in primary care settings. Brief behavioral counseling interventions can also help reduce hazardous drinking. In contrast, the evidence is insufficient regarding screening in adolescents 12-17. The goal is to prevent premature death and birth defects related t...

SourceJAMA Network·JournalJAMA·DateNov 13, 2018

Purple bacteria 'batteries' turn sewage into clean energy

Researchers have discovered a way to harness the power of purple phototrophic bacteria to recover valuable biofuels from organic waste in wastewater treatment plants. By using an electric current to optimize metabolic output, they can generate hydrogen gas with near-100% carbon recovery and minimal CO2 emissions.

SourceFrontiers·JournalFrontiers in Energy Research·DateNov 13, 2018