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Science News for April 11, 2019


Case of tick-borne relapsing fever in Mexico

A case of tick-borne relapsing fever was reported in Sonora, Mexico, where the disease gets little attention. The patient's symptoms improved with doxycycline treatment, and spirochetes were detected in her blood, supporting the identification of an endemic focus for the disease.

SourcePLOS·JournalPLOS Neglected Tropical Diseases·DateApr 11, 2019

Inner electrons behave differently in aromatic hydrocarbons

A new study investigates the Auger effect in aromatic hydrocarbons, revealing that molecules with pi electrons have a lower double ionization threshold. This finding favors Auger decay over saturated hydrocarbons, with potential applications in cancer treatment and atomic identification.

SourceSpringer·JournalThe European Physical Journal D·DateApr 11, 2019

Getting back to work after a heart attack

Patients with acute coronary syndromes can return to work in two to three months, but one in four quit after a year. Psychological factors like lack of confidence, depression, and anxiety are significant predictors of failure. Attending cardiac rehabilitation and gradual reintegration into the workplace can help patients succeed.

SourceEuropean Society of Cardiology·JournalEuropean Journal of Preventive Cardiology·DateApr 11, 2019

New study advances treatment options for PTSD

A new study published in Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences found that stress increases fear-promoting brain regions while reducing fear-reducing ones. This shift can be mimicked by increasing norepinephrine release, potentially leading to more effective treatments for PTSD.

SourceTexas A&M University·JournalProceedings of the National Academy of Sciences·DateApr 11, 2019

Privacy curtains used in healthcare worldwide are a potential source of drug-resistant bacteria transmission to patients

A recent study found that contamination of privacy curtains with multidrug-resistant organisms (MDROs) is a common problem in healthcare facilities globally. The researchers discovered that patient colonisation with MRSA and VRE was associated with curtain contamination, highlighting the potential for MDRO transmission to patients.

Mice reveal 38 new genes involved in hearing loss

A large-scale screen of mouse mutants revealed 38 new genes involved in hearing loss, including those related to metabolic pathways and regulatory processes. These findings provide a rich source of therapeutic targets for the restoration of hearing.

SourcePLOS·JournalPLOS Biology·DateApr 11, 2019

Researchers call for rethink of external NHS inspections amid questions of effectiveness

A study by researchers at the University of York found that costly external NHS hospital inspections do not lead to improvements in quality of care. Rates of falls and pressure ulcers improved before inspections, but slowed afterwards. The authors suggest a less resource-intensive approach to reduce costs and burden on staff.

SourceUniversity of York·JournalJournal of Health Services Research & Policy·DateApr 11, 2019

Study reveals new genetic factors linked to kidney stones

A large-scale genome-wide association study has identified 14 new variants associated with the development of kidney stones, including four linked to obesity and high blood uric acid levels. The findings may be useful for predicting individuals' risk of developing kidney stones and identifying new targets for prevention and treatment.

SourceAmerican Society of Nephrology·JournalJournal of the American Society of Nephrology·DateApr 11, 2019

'Nanobodies' from alpacas could help bring CAR T-cell therapy to solid tumors

Researchers at Boston Children's Hospital and MIT have developed nanobodies that can target the tumor micro-environment, allowing for more effective treatment of solid tumors. The nanobodies were tested in mouse models of melanoma and colon cancer, showing promising results in slowing tumor growth and improving survival rates.

SourceBoston Children's Hospital·JournalProceedings of the National Academy of Sciences·DateApr 11, 2019

Aldo-keto reductase family 1 member B10 predicts advanced nonalcoholic steatohepatitis

Researchers found that serum AKR1B10 levels were significantly associated with advanced liver fibrosis stages, particularly stage 4. The protein's origin was confirmed via immunohistochemical staining, and its combination with WFA(+)-M2BP showed high sensitivity and specificity for predicting NASH fibrosis and life-threatening events.

SourceKanazawa University·JournalJournal of Gastroenterology·DateApr 11, 2019

Keeping the taste, reducing the salt

Researchers created salt blends using calcium and potassium chloride to reduce sodium chloride content without compromising flavor. The optimal blend achieved a balance of 96.4% sodium chloride and 3.6% replacement salts, increasing the possibility of gradual reductions in salt consumption.

SourceWashington State University·JournalJournal of Food Science·DateApr 11, 2019

How plants defend themselves

Researchers at Technical University of Munich discovered that plant cells recognize bacteria through small fatty acid molecules, rather than complex molecular compounds. This finding could lead to breeding or genetically engineering plants with improved immune responses and increased resistance to pathogens.

Study: How will tropical mammals react to rising temperatures?

A study of 400,000 camera-trap records from 36 mammal species on three continents found that tropical mammals respond to changing local temperatures and other species nearby. Temperatures did not increase drastically overall during the study period, but micro habitat use changed over time due to temperature fluctuations.

SourceRice University·JournalGlobal Ecology and Biogeography·DateApr 11, 2019

Getting to the root of plant simulations

A new root algorithm developed by Beth Drewniak improves the Energy Exascale Earth System Model's ability to simulate vegetation growth and respond to changes in resources. The dynamic root model addresses both water uptake and nitrogen allocation, enabling plants to thrive in varying environmental conditions.

SourceDOE/Argonne National Laboratory·JournalJournal of Advances in Modeling Earth Systems·DateApr 11, 2019

The right polymers for the job

The University of Delaware team created poly(aryl piperidinium) polymers for hydroxide exchange membranes, achieving record power density and stability. This breakthrough enables the development of more efficient and cost-effective fuel cells for eco-friendly vehicles.

SourceUniversity of Delaware·JournalNature Energy·DateApr 11, 2019

Antibiotics legitimately available in over-counter throat medications could contribute to increased antibiotic resistance

Research reveals that over-the-counter throat medications containing topical antibiotics can contribute to antibiotic resistance in certain bacteria species. The study found that some products were not sufficiently concentrated to prevent bacterial growth, enabling resistance development.

Reproduction: How male flies enforce their interests

Researchers found that male fruit flies produce fewer proteins in their seminal fluid when females are without competition, leading to health disadvantages for the females. In contrast, polygamous males with no competition can manipulate females through protein receipt, increasing their own reproductive success.

SourceUniversity of Münster·JournalProceedings of the National Academy of Sciences·DateApr 11, 2019

Unique look at combined influence of pollinators and herbivores reveals rapid evolution of floral traits in plants

A new study finds that abundant herbivores diminish plants' attractiveness to pollinators but increase energy spent on producing offspring through autonomous self-pollination. Plants rapidly evolve defensive traits, like toxic compounds, to ward off herbivores while maintaining floral displays attractive to pollinators.

Lower pension, shorter life

A study by Max Planck Institute found that pension gap between rich and poor in Germany has grown significantly over the past 20 years. Life expectancy of poor men is diverging more from rich men, with those receiving high retirement benefits living 19 years longer on average compared to low-income men.

SourceMax-Planck-Gesellschaft·JournalJournal of Epidemiology and Community Health·DateApr 11, 2019

UK study shows most patients with suspected urinary tract infection and treated with antibiotics actually lack evidence of this infection

A UK study found that only one-third of patients with suspected urinary tract infections (UTIs) actually have evidence of the infection. In reality, nearly all patients receive antibiotics, which contributes to antimicrobial resistance. The study suggests implementing antimicrobial stewardship initiatives could reduce unnecessary antib...

Driving a wedge into historic gaps of climate science

Researchers found evidence of historic marine life in Alaskan permafrost, revealing that the Beaufort Sea was not completely frozen over during the late Ice Age. This discovery improves scientists' ability to reconstruct past Arctic sea-ice conditions and inform future climate strategies.

SourceHokkaido University·JournalEarth and Planetary Science Letters·DateApr 11, 2019

Measuring iceberg production with earthquakes

An international team uses seismic data from glacial earthquakes to study calving and its impact on ice sheet mass loss. This breakthrough in environmental seismology reveals that calving resulted in the shedding of 370 gigatonnes of ice into the Arctic Ocean between 1993 and 2013.

SourceCNRS·JournalAnnals of Glaciology·DateApr 11, 2019

Ancient DNA reveals new branches of the Denisovan family tree

A new study of ancient DNA fragments in modern Papuans and Islanders suggests two distinct Denisovan lineages separated for hundreds of thousands of years, one potentially a new archaic hominin species. The findings highlight the importance of considering underrepresented regions in genome data to improve scientific interpretations.

SourceCell Press·JournalCell·DateApr 11, 2019

New super-accurate optical atomic clocks pass critical test

Researchers have achieved record-breaking accuracy with an optical clock, setting a new standard for cesium-referenced measurements. The high accuracy of optical clocks could support advances in timing systems used in navigation and communication systems, enabling more precise measurements of physical phenomena not yet fully understood.

SourceOptica·JournalOptica·DateApr 11, 2019