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Science News for November 15, 2018


What's next for smart homes: An 'Internet of Ears?'

Researchers at Case Western Reserve University are developing a new system that uses changes in vibrations, sound, and electrical fields to improve energy consumption and monitor occupants' movements. The system has the potential to provide energy savings, track structural integrity, and enhance building safety.

SourceCase Western Reserve University·JournalIEEE Transactions on Instrumentation and Measurement·DateNov 15, 2018

Enzymes in the cross-hairs

A team of chemists has identified key enzymes in the metabolism of staphylococci, which could be targeted to starve bacteria and develop new antibiotics. The researchers used a novel methodology to isolate and analyze these enzymes, discovering previously unknown targets for new antibiotic development.

SourceTechnical University of Munich (TUM)·JournalNature Chemistry·DateNov 15, 2018

Spending our carbon budgets wisely

Researchers at the Norwegian University of Science and Technology suggest that prioritizing fundamental human needs over economic growth could make it easier to reduce carbon emissions. They found that meeting subsistence and protection needs takes half of the global carbon budget, while leisure and identity take most of the other half.

SourceNorwegian University of Science and Technology·JournalEnvironmental Research Letters·DateNov 15, 2018

Feeling the pressure with universal tactile imaging

Osaka University scientists created a new approach to pressure distribution measurement using universal tactile imaging technology. The sensors have no need for pressure-sensitive materials and are simpler to manufacture, making them suitable for various applications including robotics and surgical medicine.

SourceOsaka University·JournalIEEE Transactions on Industrial Electronics·DateNov 15, 2018

Rutgers study helps city ban large trucks

A Rutgers University study found significant improvements in air quality after restricting heavy truck traffic on a residential street in Elizabeth, N.J. The research team tracked 60 trucks per hour and found a spike in black carbon from diesel exhaust pollution, which was linked to asthma and other health issues.

Drop your weapons!

A study by Ummat Somjee and colleagues found that male leaf-footed bugs invest more in their large hind legs than females do, which are used as weapons in male-male duels. The team measured energy use of live bugs with and without hind legs to calculate the hidden energetic cost of maintaining these structures.

How sperm find their way

A new study by University of Tokyo researchers reveals that a protein in sperm cell membranes plays a key role in navigation to eggs. The PMCA protein may also help explain species-specific interactions between sperm and egg cells, making it a promising target for drug research.

SourceUniversity of Tokyo·JournalScientific Reports·DateNov 15, 2018

UMN researchers discover important connection between cells in the liver

Researchers at the University of Minnesota Medical School have made a groundbreaking discovery about how liver cell communication affects disease progression. By studying the dialogue between hepatocytes and macrophages, they found that a specific ketone body metabolite helps protect against tissue fibrosis in non-alcoholic fatty liver...

SourceUniversity of Minnesota Medical School·JournalCell Metabolism·DateNov 15, 2018

The smart factory

Researchers at Swansea University are developing data-driven computational models to predict machine failures and optimize production processes in Crown's smart factories. The goal is to increase efficiency, accuracy, and productivity while addressing the current lagging productivity levels of UK manufacturers and suppliers.

'Edited' plant-based toxin possesses anti-tumor characteristics

Researchers at Shinshu University discovered that editing fusicoccins, a toxic organic compound, can transform them into chemicals with anti-tumor properties. The study suggests that the compound works as a stabilizer for protein-protein interactions, which could lead to the development of new clinically relevant anti-cancer agents.

SourceShinshu University·JournalChemistry - A European Journal·DateNov 15, 2018

Flaws in industry-funded pesticide evaluation

Researchers found that chlorpyrifos had a clear effect on brain development in laboratory animals, even at low doses, which was not reported by the industry-funded study. The study highlights the need for independent academic research to be given a higher status in evaluating chemical safety.

SourceKarolinska Institutet·JournalEnvironmental Health·DateNov 15, 2018

Novel strategy to transform a commercially available iboga alkaloid to post-iboga alkaloids

KAIST chemists have synthesized seven different iboga and post-iboga natural products from catharanthine, mirroring nature's biosynthetic post-modification of the iboga skeleton. The novel strategy involves selective oxidation and rearrangement reactions, offering a stepping stone for developing therapeutic medications against cancer a...

DICE: Immune cell atlas goes live

Scientists at La Jolla Institute for Immunology have created an immune cell atlas, DICE, to decipher how natural genetic variation shapes the immune system's ability to protect health. The database provides detailed profiles of 15 immune cell types and 91 healthy donors, revealing a wide impact of genetic variation on gene activity.

Treating the 'bubble babies'

An international study published in Blood highlights the urgent need for better treatment strategies for patients with severe combined immune deficiency (SCID). The study found that survival rates were higher after cell transplants from matched sibling donors and that young age and absence of active infection were key factors for impro...

SourceUniversity of Montreal·JournalBlood·DateNov 15, 2018

New inflammation inhibitor discovered

A multidisciplinary team of researchers from Karolinska Institutet in Sweden has developed a new anti-inflammatory drug molecule that inhibits inflammation by targeting a protein involved in the repair of oxygen damage to DNA. The discovery could lead to new treatments for inflammatory diseases such as sepsis, COPD, and severe asthma.

SourceKarolinska Institutet·JournalScience·DateNov 15, 2018

Half of the world's annual precipitation falls in just 12 days, new study finds

Researchers analyzed data from over 185 ground stations and found that half of the world's measured precipitation falls within a 12-day period, set to become even more skewed under climate change. This uneven distribution could lead to increased flooding and damage associated with extreme weather events.

Historian tells new story about England's venerated 'Domesday book'

A historian challenges the traditional view of the Domesday Book, a famous document created by William the Conqueror in 11th-century England. New research suggests that the final version of the book was compiled years after its initial publication, and that it was not the top-down, orderly bureaucratic enterprise previously thought to ...

Faecal transplant may protect premature babies from fatal bowel disease

A new study conducted by researchers at the University of Copenhagen has shown that faeces transplantation can significantly reduce the incidence of necrotizing enterocolitis (NEC) in pigs born prematurely. The treatment involves transferring faeces from healthy donor pigs to the rectal opening, resulting in a 75% decrease in NEC cases...

Stroke: Preventing the damage by acting on the neuronal environment?

Scientists from CNRS and partners have found a promising strategy for protecting neurons after a stroke, involving the extracellular matrix. The new approach, using an agent mimicking structural components of this matrix, has shown effectiveness in rats and may complement existing clot-elimination techniques.

SourceCNRS·JournalTheranostics·DateNov 15, 2018

'Smart skin' simplifies spotting strain in structures

The 'smart skin' technology uses fluorescing carbon nanotubes to reveal stress in aircraft, bridges, or pipelines over entire surfaces or microscopic levels. It enables two-dimensional mapping of accumulated strain that can't be achieved by other non-contact methods.

SourceRice University·JournalStructural Control and Health Monitoring·DateNov 15, 2018

Why we shouldn't like coffee, but we do

A study found that people with a higher sensitivity to bitter caffeine taste drink more coffee due to learned positive reinforcement. Genetic variants play a role in this association, suggesting that our perception of bitter tastes contributes to beverage preferences.

SourceNorthwestern University·JournalScientific Reports·DateNov 15, 2018

To monitor 'social jet lag,' scientists look to Twitter

Researchers found that sustained periods of low Twitter activity were correlated with sleep patterns, while the nightly lull shifted to later times on weekends. The magnitude of 'Twitter social jet lag' varied seasonally and geographically, with the West Coast experiencing less lag.

SourceCell Press·JournalCurrent Biology·DateNov 15, 2018

Fullerene compounds made simulation-ready

Researchers developed a method to simulate fullerene complexes, which can help understand their electron acceptor properties and electrostatic potential energy. The new model provides a better understanding of the relationships between electrons and fullerenes.

SourceSpringer·JournalThe European Physical Journal D·DateNov 15, 2018

Cosmic fireworks

Astronomers have discovered a rare gamma-ray binary system, allowing for the study of particle acceleration in a unique environment. The system, consisting of a massive star and a rapidly rotating neutron star, was detected emitting high-energy particles accelerated by its strong magnetic field.

SourceUniversity of Delaware·JournalThe Astrophysical Journal Letters·DateNov 15, 2018

Can you repurpose this unique Navy drone?

The Nomad is a low-cost rotary wing vehicle designed for electronic warfare, featuring counter-rotating coaxial rotors and compact storage in an integrated launch tube. Patent licensing makes it available for repurposing in other applications, including commercial sales.