Add BrightSurf on Google Email

Science News for April 24, 2019


The mobile game that can detect Alzheimer's risk

A specially designed mobile game, Sea Hero Quest, can detect people at risk of Alzheimer's by analyzing their spatial navigation skills. Researchers found that those with a high genetic risk, like the APOE4 gene, performed worse on the game, highlighting a potential early detection method.

SourceUniversity of East Anglia·JournalProceedings of the National Academy of Sciences·DateApr 24, 2019

High-efficiency thermoelectric materials: New insights into tin selenide

Researchers have identified a new thermoelectric material in tin selenide, which can convert 20% of heat into electrical energy, exceeding the efficiency of bismuth telluride. The material's crystal structure changes at high temperatures or pressures, producing a semi-metallic state that enhances its thermoelectric properties.

SourceHelmholtz-Zentrum Berlin für Materialien und Energie·JournalPhysical Chemistry Chemical Physics·DateApr 24, 2019

Treatment, spending on outpatient care for depression in US

From 1998 to 2015, US spending on outpatient care for depression increased by 43%, primarily due to expanded insurance coverage for mental health conditions. The study analyzed national survey data and found a significant association between increased healthcare spending and improved mental health treatment outcomes.

SourceJAMA Network·JournalJAMA Psychiatry·DateApr 24, 2019

Researchers use machine-learning system to diagnose genetic diseases

A machine-learning system using clinical natural language processing and genome sequencing diagnose rare genetic diseases in record time, providing critical information to intensive care physicians. The automated pipeline achieved significant time-savings and concurred with expert manual interpretation in 97% of cases.

SourceRady Children's Institute for Genomic Medicine·JournalScience Translational Medicine·DateApr 24, 2019

Study finds differences in storefront tobacco advertising by product type

A new study by Columbia University Mailman School of Public Health documents specific characteristics of storefront tobacco advertisements, highlighting variations in ad features across product categories. The research found that cigarette ads dominated window space, while cigar and ENDS ads were more commonly placed near entry points.

Researchers observe slowest atom decay ever measured

Researchers at the University of Zurich's XENON1T detector have observed the slowest atom decay ever measured, with a half-life time over a trillion times longer than the age of the universe. This rare process, called double electron capture, was detected for the first time and has implications for understanding dark matter.

SourceUniversity of Zurich·JournalNature·DateApr 24, 2019

Elemental old-timer makes the universe look like a toddler

Physicists at Rice University have reported the first direct observation of two-neutrino double electron capture for xenon 124, a process that decays into tellurium 124 with an estimated half-life of 160 trillion years. This discovery puts the half-life closer to 18 sextillion years, challenging our understanding of this isotope.

SourceRice University·JournalNature·DateApr 24, 2019

Who really hit the basketball out of bounds?

A team of Arizona State University psychologists tested how people interpret the timing and sequence of physical touches, finding that people tend to prioritize their own action when sequencing events. The study used three experiments to test this effect, with consistent results showing a 50 millisecond delay in perceived time.

SourceArizona State University·JournalScience Advances·DateApr 24, 2019

Polymers to give early warning signs

Researchers developed polymers that change color or fluorescence when subjected to mechanical load, addressing limitations of previous force-transducing molecules. The new concept allows for reversible detection of stress and is versatile, enabling applications in built-in monitors and stress mapping.

SourceHokkaido University·JournalACS Central Science·DateApr 24, 2019

Genetic testing in women diagnosed with breast cancer decreases cost of care nationwide

A new study suggests that genetic testing, such as Oncotype DX, can help women with early-stage hormone-positive breast cancer avoid chemotherapy and save on treatment costs. The test is estimated to cost around $3,400, and its use could lead to a 8% reduction in chemotherapy costs, resulting in savings of about $338 million annually.

SourceGeorgetown University Medical Center·JournalJNCI Journal of the National Cancer Institute·DateApr 24, 2019

Meet Callichimaera perplexa, the platypus of crabs

Callichimaera perplexa is the earliest known swimming arthropod with paddle-like legs since the extinction of sea scorpions. Its unique appearance, including large compound eyes and bent claws, suggests that it may have evolved through heterochrony, a process where larval traits are retained in miniaturized adults.

SourceYale University·JournalScience Advances·DateApr 24, 2019

A video game aids in research on Alzheimer's disease

Researchers developed a video game to study spatial orientation and navigational abilities, finding that virtual navigation performance is comparable to the real world. The game was played by 4 million people and showed changes in navigational habits before clinical Alzheimer's symptoms appear.

SourceCNRS·JournalProceedings of the National Academy of Sciences·DateApr 24, 2019

Schadenfreude: Your pain is my gain

A new study by the University of Zurich finds that schadenfreude is more likely to occur in highly competitive working environments, where one person's misfortune can facilitate another's success. The study suggests that this emotion can be contagious and lead to vicious cycles of mistreatment.

SourceUniversity of Zurich·JournalAcademy of Management Review·DateApr 24, 2019

A good night's sleep may be in sight

Researchers have developed 3D models of the two melatonin receptors, MT1 and MT2, which will help design drugs that interact only with these receptors, reducing side effects. The findings could lead to new treatments for sleep disorders, diabetes, cancers, and other health issues affected by melatonin.

Photoacoustic endoscopy could improve Crohn's disease treatment

Researchers developed a capsule-shaped photoacoustic imaging endoscope to examine intestinal changes in Crohn's disease. The device can differentiate between inflammatory and fibrotic strictures, allowing for more targeted treatment and potentially reducing adverse effects. This technology could also provide real-time diagnostic inform...

SourceOptica·JournalBiomedical Optics Express·DateApr 24, 2019

Reducing care needs of teens with substance-abuse disorders

A new study from Kaiser Permanente suggests that adolescents with access to SBIRT services have sustained reductions in mental health conditions and lower healthcare utilization over a period of three years. The study found that those with access to SBIRT were less likely to have mental health or chronic medical conditions after one year.

SourceKaiser Permanente·JournalPEDIATRICS·DateApr 24, 2019

New nanomedicine slips through the cracks

Researchers have created a new nanomachine that can deliver specific drugs to parts of the body with tight access barriers, such as pancreatic cancer and brain tumors. The Y-shaped block catiomer is less than one-fifth the size of previous nanoparticles, allowing it to pass through smaller gaps.

SourceUniversity of Tokyo·JournalNature Communications·DateApr 24, 2019

Trigger region found for absence epileptic seizures

Scientists at RIKEN Center for Brain Science found that impaired communication between the cortex and striatum can trigger absence epilepsy. Absence seizures, characterized by brief periods of lost consciousness, are associated with spike-wave discharges recorded on electrocorticograms.

SourceRIKEN·JournalNature Communications·DateApr 24, 2019

Growing up in poverty increases diagnoses of psychosis-spectrum mental illnesses

A UC Davis and Concordia University study of nearly 4,000 families found that growing up in impoverished urban neighborhoods increases psychosis-spectrum disorder diagnoses by middle adulthood. The study suggests that early intervention through social policies and neighborhood improvements could prevent future mental health issues.

SourceUniversity of California - Davis·JournalDevelopment and Psychopathology·DateApr 24, 2019

Characterization of the structure of a member of the L-amino acid transporter (LAT) family

Researchers at IRB Barcelona have characterized the structure of BasC, a LAT family member, to understand its function and molecular defects associated with diseases like autism and age-related hearing loss. The study identifies the site where amino acids bind and reveals the mechanism underlying their interaction with cells.

Coal could yield treatment for traumatic injuries

Scientists at Rice University and their collaborators have discovered coal-derived 'dots' that are effective antioxidants for people who suffer traumatic brain injuries, strokes or heart attacks. The biocompatible dots can quench oxidative stress and protect cells from damage, offering a potential treatment option.

SourceRice University·JournalACS Applied Materials & Interfaces·DateApr 24, 2019

Global warming hits sea creatures hardest

A Rutgers-led study found that global warming causes twice as many ocean-dwelling species to disappear from their habitats compared to land-dwelling species. The research highlights the vulnerability of sea creatures to warming temperatures and the need for new conservation efforts.

SourceRutgers University·JournalNature·DateApr 24, 2019

Cleaner, cheaper ammonia

Researchers at UTokyo develop a new process to produce ammonia more efficiently and sustainably than the current Haber-Bosch method. The Samarium-Water Ammonia Production (SWAP) process reduces energy consumption, raw material costs, and environmental impact.

SourceUniversity of Tokyo·JournalNature·DateApr 24, 2019

A close look at lithium batteries

A novel fluorescence probe technique reveals the distribution of active lithium on lithium metal anodes, enabling differentiation between dendrites and dead lithium. This technique aids in understanding battery malfunctions and optimizing new battery structures.

SourceWiley·JournalAngewandte Chemie International Edition·DateApr 24, 2019

Smelling with your tongue

Scientists from the Monell Center have discovered that humans possess functional olfactory receptors in their taste cells, challenging the long-held belief that smell and taste are independent sensory systems. This groundbreaking finding may lead to the development of odor-based taste modifiers to combat diet-related diseases.

SourceMonell Chemical Senses Center·JournalChemical Senses·DateApr 24, 2019

Energy-saving new LED phosphor

Chemists at the University of Innsbruck have created a novel red phosphor called SALON, which emits light in the visible red range and reduces energy loss. This breakthrough could lead to more efficient white LEDs with improved color quality.

SourceUniversity of Innsbruck·JournalNature Communications·DateApr 24, 2019

No assembly required: University of Toronto Engineering researchers automate microrobotic designs

Researchers at University of Toronto have developed an automated method to design and 3D print magnetized microrobots, reducing assembly time from hours to minutes. The new technique allows for the creation of smaller and more complex robots with potential applications in targeted drug delivery, assisted fertilization, and biopsies.

Study of tagraxofusp reports 90% response rate for deadly blood cancer with no prior available therapies

A Phase II trial led by the University of Texas MD Anderson Cancer Center reports a 90% response rate for patients with blastic plasmacytoid dendritic cell neoplasm (BPDCN) treated with tagraxofusp. The treatment was effective regardless of prior therapy, and survival rates were relatively high at 59% and 52% at 18 and 24 months, respe...

SourceUniversity of Texas M. D. Anderson Cancer Center·JournalNew England Journal of Medicine·DateApr 24, 2019

Brain scans on movie watchers reveal how we judge people

Researchers used brain scans to explore unconscious biases in movie watchers, finding that the brain is naturally biased towards people who are like us, but also against those who are different. The study suggests that our brains can be influenced by learned knowledge and external factors, changing how we perceive others.

SourceAalto University·JournalSocial Cognitive and Affective Neuroscience·DateApr 24, 2019

An army of micro-robots can wipe out dental plaque

A team of engineers, dentists, and biologists from the University of Pennsylvania developed microscopic robotic cleaning crews that can precisely and non-invasively remove dental plaque. The robots use catalytic activity to kill bacteria and break down biofilms, offering a potential solution for biofilm-related infections.

SourceUniversity of Pennsylvania·JournalScience Robotics·DateApr 24, 2019

Chemotherapy or not?

Researchers at Case Western Reserve University have made breakthroughs in identifying who will benefit from chemotherapy using artificial intelligence and radiomics. The studies focused on markers outside the tumor that can indicate treatment response, providing hope for personalized medicine and improved patient outcomes.

SourceCase Western Reserve University·JournalJAMA Network Open·DateApr 24, 2019