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Science News for April 18, 2019


Late dinner and no breakfast is a killer combination

A study published in the European Journal of Preventive Cardiology found that people who skip breakfast and eat dinner near bedtime have a four to five times higher likelihood of death, another heart attack, or angina within 30 days after hospital discharge for heart attack. Late-night dinner eating was also associated with poorer outc...

SourceEuropean Society of Cardiology·JournalEuropean Journal of Preventive Cardiology·DateApr 18, 2019

Flies smell through a Gore-Tex system

A research group has identified the gene responsible for the formation of nanopores in fruit flies, allowing them to detect chemicals in the air. The gore-tex gene plays a crucial role in envelope curvature and odor receptivity, essential functions for insects.

SourceRIKEN·JournalCurrent Biology·DateApr 18, 2019

In vivo super-resolution photoacoustic computed tomography by localization of single dyed droplets

Researchers at Caltech Optical Imaging Laboratory created a technique to break the acoustic diffraction limit in PACT by localizing single dyed droplets flowing in blood vessels, achieving six-fold finer resolution. The droplets provide excellent tracers for super-resolution imaging and enable tracking of blood flow speed.

Decline in measles vaccination is causing a preventable global resurgence of the disease

A recent commentary warns of a preventable global resurgence of measles due to declining vaccination rates. Measles is an extremely contagious illness that can cause severe complications and death in vulnerable populations. Without renewed focus on measles vaccination efforts, the disease may rebound in full force.

SourceNIH/National Institute of Allergy and Infectious Diseases·JournalNew England Journal of Medicine·DateApr 18, 2019

When the physics say 'don't follow your nose'

Engineers at Duke University create a smart robotic system that uses physics-based models and path planning algorithms to locate gaseous leaks in complex environments. The system can handle multiple sources and measure contamination rates, offering a more robust approach than existing heuristic methods.

SourceDuke University·JournalIEEE Transactions on Robotics·DateApr 18, 2019

IPOs help communities prosper, new research shows

Researchers found that IPOs lead to an increase in home prices and consumer spending in surrounding areas, with each $10 million in proceeds generating 0.7 new businesses and 41 new local jobs. However, IPO activity can also lead to gentrification and price out middle-to-lower-income residents.

SourceRice University·JournalJournal of Financial and Quantitative Analysis·DateApr 18, 2019

Can science writing be automated?

A team of scientists at MIT developed a neural network that can read scientific papers and generate a plain-English summary. The system, called RUM, uses vectors rotating in multidimensional space to represent words and improve memory and recall capabilities.

SourceMassachusetts Institute of Technology·JournalTransactions of the Association for Computational Linguistics·DateApr 18, 2019

Triplet superconductivity demonstrated under high pressure

Researchers at Tohoku University and Université Grenoble Alpes have demonstrated triplet superconductivity in the uranium-based material UBe13 using high pressure and magnetic fields. This phenomenon involves electrons forming parallel spin pairs, unlike conventional superconductors where opposite spins pair together.

SourceTohoku University·JournalPhysical Review Letters·DateApr 18, 2019

Why language technology can't handle Game of Thrones (yet)

Researchers evaluated four state-of-the-art tools for recognizing names in text and found solutions to boost accuracy from 7% to 90%. They also extracted social networks from novels to explore differences in story structure. The study highlights the challenges faced by NLP tools in handling names in popular fiction.

SourcePeerJ·JournalPeerJ Computer Science·DateApr 18, 2019

General anesthesia hijacks sleep circuitry to knock you out

Scientists at Duke University discovered that general anesthesia works by hijacking the neural circuitry responsible for sleep and hormone regulation. The study found that certain anesthetic drugs activate a cluster of cells at the base of the brain, leading to unconsciousness and offering potential new avenues for developing pain-free...

SourceDuke University·JournalNeuron·DateApr 18, 2019

A history of the Crusades, as told by crusaders' DNA

A team of researchers analyzed the DNA of nine 13th-century Crusaders, revealing a genetically diverse group that intermixed with local populations. The findings provide insights into the history of the Crusades and highlight the importance of ancient DNA in understanding historical events.

SourceCell Press·JournalAmerican Journal of Human Genetics·DateApr 18, 2019

Bioengineers program cells as digital signal processors

Researchers have developed a system that allows living cells to perform analog-to-digital signal processing, enabling precise control over cellular responses. This breakthrough expands the toolkit for synthetic biologists, who can now use genetic circuitry to process complex signals and make informed decisions.

SourceRice University·JournalScience·DateApr 18, 2019

A mother lode of protection

A new study found that a maternal vaccine can effectively protect against HSV-1 and HSV-2 infections in mouse offspring, transferring infection-fighting antibodies to their nervous system. The vaccine has shown promise in preclinical animal models and phase 1 human trials, offering new hope for preventing neonatal herpes infections.

SourceHarvard Medical School·JournalScience Translational Medicine·DateApr 18, 2019

Harmonization of resting-state functional MRI data across multiple imaging sites

Researchers developed an effective harmonization method to reduce site-related differences in resting-state fMRI data, reducing bias by 29% and improving signal-to-noise ratios by 40%. This allows for the development of practical brain-circuit-based biomarkers of psychiatric disorders regardless of imaging site.

Disappearing bumblebee species under threat of extinction

A new study led by York University reveals the American Bumblebee is critically endangered due to a 70% reduction in its area of occurrence and an 89% decrease in relative abundance. Immediate conservation action may save the species from extinction, similar to the fate of the Rusty-patched Bumblebee.

SourceYork University·JournalJournal of Insect Conservation·DateApr 18, 2019

Investigators incorporate randomized trial within dialysis care delivery

A recent clinical trial found that longer hemodialysis sessions did not improve patient outcomes, while also highlighting the need for effective strategies to engage clinicians and patients in trials embedded within routine care. The study's findings suggest a pressing need for data-driven guidance in dialysis practice.

SourceAmerican Society of Nephrology·JournalJournal of the American Society of Nephrology·DateApr 18, 2019

New CRISPR tool executes multiple edits simultaneously, leading to unique partnership to deliver more precise cancer treatments

A breakthrough CRISPR gene-editing tool allows for the simultaneous execution of multiple edits in DNA extracted from human cells. This technology, developed by the Gene Editing Institute and licensed to NovellusDx, can rapidly reproduce an individual patient's cancer tumor genetic features and identify driver mutations.

SourceBurness·JournalThe CRISPR Journal·DateApr 18, 2019

Could computer games help farmers adapt to climate change?

Researchers developed a web-based game, Maladaptation Game, to improve understanding of climate change methods and adaptation strategies among Nordic farmers. The game presents players with four agricultural challenges and requires strategic decisions, providing a summary of potential negative outcomes.

SourceDe Gruyter·JournalOpen Agriculture·DateApr 18, 2019

How do we make moral decisions?

A recent study published in Nature Communications challenges prior research on moral decision-making by showing that people's moral behavior can shift depending on the context. The researchers identified four moral strategies: inequity aversion, guilt aversion, greed, and moral opportunism, which involves switching between these strate...

SourceDartmouth College·JournalNature Communications·DateApr 18, 2019

The FASEB Journal: DNA repair gene linked to male infertility

A recent animal study published in The FASEB Journal found that a deficiency of the DNA repair gene XRCC1 leads to impaired spermatogenesis and infertility in male mice. The researchers observed lower sperm concentration and motility, as well as disrupted stemness, DNA damage, oxidative stress, and apoptosis in XRCC1-knockout mice.

Coincidence helps with quantum measurements

A new method for characterizing complex quantum states has been developed, enabling quantum simulations on larger systems. This method is based on the repeated measurement of randomly selected transformations of individual particles and provides information about the degree of entanglement.

SourceUniversity of Innsbruck·JournalScience·DateApr 18, 2019

Making digital tissue imaging better

Researchers from Case Western Reserve University have developed an open-source quality-control tool to assess the quality of digital tissue slides. The tool, called Histo-QC, incorporates measurements and classifiers to flag corrupted images and retain high-quality slides for analysis by computers.

SourceCase Western Reserve University·JournalJCO Clinical Cancer Informatics·DateApr 18, 2019

How to hack your deadline: Admit it's uncertain

Researchers at the University of Michigan have devised a method for working with uncertainty in deadlines. By mapping out the uncertainty and incorporating it into a project management system, managers can improve their success rates. This technique can help managers save time and resources by focusing on less uncertain requirements.

SourceUniversity of Michigan·JournalEuropean Journal of Operational Research·DateApr 18, 2019

Researchers use 3D printer to print glass

Researchers have successfully 3D printed chalcogenide glass using a modified 3D printer, enabling the creation of complex optical components and fibers for low-cost sensors, telecommunications components, and biomedical devices. This breakthrough could pave the way for efficient manufacturing of infrared optical components at a low cost.

SourceOptica·JournalOptical Materials Express·DateApr 18, 2019