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Science News Archive November 2018 - Page 20


Page 20 of 42

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