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Science News for October 9, 2018


New York City area wetlands may be unwitting generator of greenhouse gasses

Untreated sewage from New York City's CSO input turns local carbon sinks into greenhouse gas producers, with methane production enhanced over 100 times and carbon dioxide by twice the rate of control group samples. The study suggests that NYC's environmental impact extends to nearby undeveloped aquatic ecosystems.

SourceAdvanced Science Research Center, GC/CUNY·JournalSoil Science Society of America Journal·DateOct 9, 2018

Retention in HIV care drops after release from incarceration

A study published in PLOS Medicine found that fewer than half of people with HIV are retained in care three years after release from incarceration. The study suggests that better access to health insurance and transitional case-management services may improve retention in HIV care and viral suppression.

SourcePLOS·JournalPLOS Medicine·DateOct 9, 2018

Becoming promiscuous to ensure reproduction

In a study on Japanese great tits, researchers found that females became more promiscuous after failed breeding attempts, increasing the rate of extra-pair paternity by 40% in subsequent breeding attempts. This flexible behavior is thought to be an adaptive strategy to improve reproductive success.

SourceHokkaido University·JournalBehavioral Ecology·DateOct 9, 2018

Air pollution may be linked to heightened mouth cancer risk

High levels of air pollutants, especially PM2.5, may be associated with an increased risk of developing mouth cancer, according to the first study of its kind. The study found that exposure to high levels of PM2.5 was linked to a 43% heightened risk of a mouth cancer diagnosis.

SourceBMJ Group·JournalJournal of Investigative Medicine·DateOct 9, 2018

Know your enemy

Gram-negative bacteria build their outer membrane using a glycolipid called lipopolysaccharide (LPS), which can be weakened by preventing its transport. Researchers in the Kahne Lab have developed a quantitative method to monitor LPS transport rates, revealing crucial new details about its molecular mechanisms.

SourceHarvard University·JournalJournal of the American Chemical Society·DateOct 9, 2018

Scoliosis linked to essential mineral

A new study links scoliosis to the body's inability to utilize the essential dietary mineral manganese. Children with severe scoliosis are twice as likely to carry a gene variant that makes it hard for their cells to take in and use manganese, which is required for growing bones and cartilage.

SourceWashU Medicine·JournalNature Communications·DateOct 9, 2018

The order of response options on online questionnaires impacts respondents' choice

Researchers found that the order of response options on online questionnaires affects respondents' choices, with people without a degree more likely to choose the first option. The study also showed that questionnaire design can impact responses, with grid designs reducing the primacy effect.

SourceNational Research University Higher School of Economics·JournalInternational Journal of Social Research Methodology·DateOct 9, 2018

Electrons go with the flow

A team of scientists has found evidence of hydrodynamic electron flow in semimetal tungsten diphosphide, a high-purity quantum material. The discovery reveals the strongly interacting nature of electrons in these materials and suggests that the conversion of energy into thermal energy is limited by quantum mechanics.

SourceMax Planck Institute for Chemical Physics of Solids·JournalNature Communications·DateOct 9, 2018

Micropeptide restores heart function in mice

Researchers discovered a micropeptide called DWORF that restores normal heart function in mice by enhancing SERCA activity and preventing calcium dysregulation. The study shows that DWORF can prevent the functional and structural effects of cardiomyopathy, making it a promising new gene therapy target for treating heart failure.

SourceeLife·DateOct 9, 2018

Timing of third-trimester maternal Tdap immunization associated with levels of whooping cough antibodies in newborns

A recent observational study of 626 pregnancies found that maternal Tdap immunization in the third trimester is associated with higher concentrations of pertussis antibodies in infants. Immunizing mothers earlier in the third trimester may maximize these antibody levels, but definitive immunity levels for whooping cough are unknown.

SourceJAMA Network·JournalJAMA·DateOct 9, 2018

Puppy-killing disease rampant in Australia

A University of Sydney study found that canine parvovirus (CPV) is more prevalent than thought, resulting in 41% euthanasia rates. The survey identified high-risk areas and suggested socioeconomic factors contribute to poor vaccination rates, leading to costly treatments.

SourceUniversity of Sydney·JournalTransboundary and Emerging Diseases·DateOct 9, 2018

Hook injury caused by catch-and-release hampers feeding performance in fish

A study by University of California - Riverside researchers found that mouth injuries caused by hook removal after catch-and-release fishing reduce feeding performance in suction-feeding fish, including bass, salmon, and trout. The study suggests that fishing-induced injuries impact a fish's ability to feed while the mouth is healing.

SourceUniversity of California - Riverside·JournalJournal of Experimental Botany·DateOct 9, 2018

Targeting abnormal signals suggests novel method to treat a rare childhood blood disease

Researchers have devised a novel method to block abnormal biological signals driving the rare and fatal disease Fanconi anemia. Inhibiting a regulatory protein called Sh2b3/Lnk restored bone marrow cell function and improved genome integrity in animal studies, providing hope for better treatments for children with the disease.

SourceChildren's Hospital of Philadelphia·JournalNature Communications·DateOct 9, 2018

This bacterium gets paid in gold

Researchers have created a more efficient path to producing solar fuels by enticing the bacterium Moorella thermoacetica into being productive with light-absorbing gold nanoclusters. This results in a higher yield of chemical products and improved quantum efficiency compared to previous models.

SourceUniversity of California - Berkeley·JournalNature Nanotechnology·DateOct 9, 2018

Immigrant, refugee youth most likely to visit the ED with a new mental health problem

A study published in CMAJ found that immigrant and refugee youth are more likely to visit emergency departments for new mental health issues, highlighting gaps in access to outpatient mental health care. The study suggests that barriers to primary care services, including language and cultural differences, contribute to this issue.

SourceCanadian Medical Association Journal·JournalCanadian Medical Association Journal·DateOct 9, 2018

Lehigh professor Panos Diplas elected ASCE fellow

Dr. Panos Diplas, a Lehigh University professor, has been elected as an ASCE Fellow for his distinguished work in civil engineering and research on river phenomena such as scour and meandering. His team's studies aim to improve bridge stability and mitigate the effects of river movement on ecosystems.

Metal leads to the desired configuration

Researchers found a way to change the spatial arrangement of bipyridine molecules on surfaces using metals, which can improve dye-sensitized solar cells. The cis configuration is formed through the addition of iron atoms and increased temperature, altering the chemical conformation.

SourceUniversity of Basel·JournalACS Omega·DateOct 9, 2018

HKBU scholar discovers strong evidence for links between drying climate and human evolution

African lake sedimentary cores revealed a continuous record of climate change extending back one million years, linking aridification to technological and evolutionary changes in early humans. The research suggests that climate variability drove human migration and the development of new tools, providing a selective pressure for survival.

SourceHong Kong Baptist University·JournalProceedings of the National Academy of Sciences·DateOct 9, 2018

Researchers discover new type of stellar collision

An international team of astrophysicists has identified the first-ever merger of white and brown dwarf stars, with the debris left behind exhibiting unusual chemical compositions and organic molecules. The discovery sheds new light on the origin of a mysterious star observed by French monk Père Dom Anthelme in 1670.

SourceUniversity of Minnesota·JournalMonthly Notices of the Royal Astronomical Society·DateOct 9, 2018

Quantum momentum

The University of Delaware is leading the charge in quantum technology research with a $1 million NSF grant. The team aims to develop quantum electronics that can process information faster and with greater accuracy, enabling next-generation technologies for communication, computing, and sensing.

'Sentinels of the sea' at risk from changing climate

A new study finds that oyster mortality in the French Atlantic coast is linked to warm and wet winters, and the positive phase of the North Atlantic Oscillation. Oysters are sensitive to climate change and water quality, making them sentinels of coastal ecosystem health.

SourceIOP Publishing·JournalEnvironmental Research Letters·DateOct 9, 2018

Neuron death in ALS more complex than previously thought

Researchers have discovered that two types of motor neurons die in ALS patients through distinct mechanisms, potentially leading to the development of more targeted treatments. The study used worm models to investigate the degeneration of spinal and brain neurons in ALS, revealing new insights into the complex nature of the disease.

SourceBrown University·JournalPLOS Genetics·DateOct 9, 2018

Abrikosov vortices help scientists explain inconsistencies in 'dirty' superconductors theory

Researchers found that 'very dirty' superconductors exhibit abnormal behavior, violating the conventional theory of superconductivity. They discovered a power-law dependence between critical current density and magnetic field strength, allowing for a new understanding of Abrikosov vortices thermal fluctuations.

Downward mobility link to violent crime and self-harm

A major new study finds that children from families who fall on hard times are more likely to be involved in violent crime and harm themselves as young adults. Children from the poorest fifth of society were 7-13 times more likely to commit violent crime or self-harm compared to those from wealthier backgrounds.

SourceUniversity of Manchester·JournalThe Lancet Public Health·DateOct 9, 2018

Study firms up diet and depression link

A James Cook University study found a strong link between fast food consumption and depression among Torres Strait Islander people. The researchers discovered that those who ate more processed foods had higher levels of depression-linked fatty acids in their blood.

SourceJames Cook University·JournalNutritional Neuroscience·DateOct 9, 2018

Wind holds key to climate change turnaround

Scientists have discovered that westerly winds strengthen ocean acidification in Southern Ocean, which is critical for predicting its impact on marine life. The study sheds light on the mechanisms driving this process and provides insights into improving prediction models.

SourceUniversity of Delaware·JournalNature Communications·DateOct 9, 2018