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Science News for April 9, 2019


Novel study creates new metric to illustrate disadvantaged areas nationwide

A novel study creates a new metric to illustrate disadvantaged areas nationwide, highlighting the regions with the highest disparity between opioid-related deaths and access to treatment providers. The study found that nearly 32% of US counties lack any treatment programs, while over 19% have a low number of treatment programs per death.

SourceUniversity of Texas Health Science Center at Houston·JournalJournal of Addiction Medicine·DateApr 9, 2019

Too hungry to learn -- new research provides food for thought

A new study found that food insecurity at home, particularly during early childhood and adolescence, hampers learning abilities in Indian adolescents. The research team analyzed test scores and found that 47% of children experienced household food insecurity, leading to lower scores in reading, vocabulary, maths, and English.

SourceLancaster University·JournalEconomics of Education Review·DateApr 9, 2019

SWOG cancer research network study opens window into immune microenviroment

A comprehensive SWOG Cancer Research Network study has identified a host of targets for new or existing cancer drugs. The research, published in the Journal for ImmunoTherapy of Cancer, found higher counts of cancer-fighting TILs in pre-treatment tissue samples of breast cancer patients who achieved complete response to chemotherapy.

SourceSWOG·JournalJournal for ImmunoTherapy of Cancer·DateApr 9, 2019

Tracking the sources of plastic pollution

A new global initiative led by the University of Birmingham aims to better understand how plastics are transported and transformed in rivers, accumulating in river sediments. The project's first results show a complex picture with a huge diversity in types and sources of plastic in selected river estuaries.

New method for evaluating cancer risk of chemicals is quick, precise, inexpensive

Researchers from Boston University Schools of Medicine have developed a fast and accurate approach to assessing the carcinogenicity of chemicals. The new method uses machine learning algorithms to distinguish between carcinogens and non-carcinogens, providing a cost-effective solution for prioritizing chemicals for further testing.

SourceBoston University School of Medicine·JournalEnvironmental Health Perspectives·DateApr 9, 2019

Bionics: Electric view in murky waters

A team of scientists from the University of Bonn has created a camera that uses electrical pulses to capture images in murky or dark water, mimicking the sensing abilities of the African elephantnose fish. The 'electric camera' can identify objects, determine distances and shapes, and even distinguish between living and dead prey.

SourceUniversity of Bonn·JournalBioinspiration & Biomimetics·DateApr 9, 2019

Underwater forests a treasure trove of new drugs

Researchers have identified a common species of seaweed, Laminaria ochroleuca, as a rich source of bacteria with antimicrobial and anticancer activities. The study reveals that extracts from these Actinobacteria inhibited growth of various pathogens and showed selective anticancer activity.

SourceFrontiers·JournalFrontiers in Microbiology·DateApr 9, 2019

A new way of finding compounds that prevent aging

Researchers at Karolinska Institutet developed a new method to identify compounds that prevent aging by analyzing the transcriptome of human cells. This approach identified several candidate substances, including Hsp90 inhibitors, which have been shown to extend lifespan and improve health in C. elegans.

SourceKarolinska Institutet·JournalCell Reports·DateApr 9, 2019

Can flipping coins replace animal experiments?

Researchers Sophie Piper and colleagues used a coin toss to confirm whether a drug protects the brain against stroke, questioning the need for repeated experiments in mice. The study reveals high rates of false positive results and highlights the 'replication crisis' in scientific research.

SourcePLOS·JournalPLOS Biology·DateApr 9, 2019

The anxiety of exposure

Researchers confirmed the theory that impostor syndrome mediates the link between perfectionism and psychological distress. Impostor syndrome arises from maladaptive perfectionism, causing increased anxiety, depressive moods, and other disorders. The study recommends focusing on competence, understanding self-defense mechanisms, mainta...

SourceNational Research University Higher School of Economics·JournalPersonality and Individual Differences·DateApr 9, 2019

Life could be evolving right now on nearest exoplanets

New study models UV environments of nearby exoplanets, finding they could support life despite high radiation levels. The researchers argue that life has survived similar conditions on Earth and suggests the possibility of life existing today on planets like Proxima-b.

SourceCornell University·JournalMonthly Notices of the Royal Astronomical Society·DateApr 9, 2019

High-intensity interval training increases injuries, Rutgers study finds

A Rutgers study found that high-intensity interval training increases injury risk, especially in the knees and shoulders. Most injuries involved knees, ankles, and shoulders, with white males aged 20 to 39 being most injured. The researchers recommend conditioning, proper form, and recovery phases to minimize preventable injuries.

SourceRutgers University·JournalThe Journal of Sports Medicine and Physical Fitness·DateApr 9, 2019

Study reports on bacterial STIs among men using PrEP

The study analyzed data from nearly 3,000 gay and bisexual men in Australia who received daily HIV PrEP, revealing an association between bacterial STIs and specific risk behaviors. The findings suggest that PrEP users are at higher risk of chlamydia, gonorrhea, or syphilis diagnoses.

SourceJAMA Network·JournalJAMA·DateApr 9, 2019

New research about biodiversity reveals the importance of climate on today's abundance of life

A new study maps historical biodiversity in unprecedented detail, showing that a cooler climate is crucial for conserving biodiversity. The researchers also debunk the notion of a brief ice age causing a major extinction event, pointing instead to volcanic activity as the primary cause.

SourceUniversity of Copenhagen - Faculty of Science·JournalProceedings of the National Academy of Sciences·DateApr 9, 2019

New to college? Spend some time alone

A new study finds that first-year students who value and enjoy their alone time tend to display greater psychological health. The researchers argue that a healthy motivation for solitude is essential, particularly for those who don't feel they belong in college.

SourceUniversity of Rochester·JournalMotivation and Emotion·DateApr 9, 2019

Bacteria flip an electric switch to worsen food poisoning

A new study reveals how Salmonella bacteria flip an electric switch within immune cells, causing them to migrate out of the gut and into the bloodstream. This mechanism contributes to the severity of food-borne illnesses, with over 400,000 deaths worldwide each year.

SourcePLOS·JournalPLOS Biology·DateApr 9, 2019

Disposable parts of plants mutate more quickly

A new study published in PLOS Biology found that plant parts with longer lifespans, such as stems and roots, have lower mutation rates compared to those with shorter lifespans, like leaves and petals. The researchers also discovered that plants with more future prospects for mutations tend to have lower relative mutation rates.

SourcePLOS·JournalPLOS Biology·DateApr 9, 2019

Shrinking the carbon footprint of a chemical in everyday objects

MIT researchers develop an alternative approach to synthesizing epoxides, a type of chemical used in plastics, pharmaceuticals, and textiles, that uses electricity instead of fossil fuels, eliminating carbon dioxide emissions. The process can be done at room temperature and atmospheric pressure, reducing industrial energy consumption.

SourceMassachusetts Institute of Technology·JournalJournal of the American Chemical Society·DateApr 9, 2019

Digital technology shows promise in supporting nonspecialists to deliver mental health care in low- and middle-income countries

A narrative review identifies seven digital programs supporting nonspecialist health workers in increasing access to mental health care in low- and middle-income countries. The projects illustrate possibilities of using digital platforms to support task-sharing interventions, but many challenges remain.

SourceWolters Kluwer Health·JournalHarvard Review of Psychiatry·DateApr 9, 2019

The research of Samara scientists will help to explain how building material for planets appears in the universe

A team of international scientists, including Samara University researchers, discovered the formation mechanisms of triphenylene molecules, a primary building block for meteorites and planets. The study revealed that these molecules can form graphene nanoparticles, soot, and carbon dust through a series of transformations.

SourceSamara University·JournalChemPhysChem·DateApr 9, 2019

Graphic cigarette warning labels can deter some sales

A new study by RAND Corporation found that graphic health warning labels on cigarette packages can deter some adults from purchasing tobacco products, particularly those with lower nicotine dependence. However, the strategy is unlikely to influence those smokers who are most addicted to nicotine.

SourceRAND Corporation·JournalHealth Education Research·DateApr 9, 2019

Everyday enzymes, now grown in plants

Researchers at the University of Pennsylvania have developed a new method to produce enzymes in plants, which can be as effective as traditional microbial-derived enzymes. The plant-grown enzymes are cheaper to produce and shelf-stable, making them a game-changer for industries such as textile manufacturing and juice production.

SourceUniversity of Pennsylvania·JournalPlant Biotechnology Journal·DateApr 9, 2019

Mechanism to form influenza A virus discovered

Researchers at Instituto Gulbenkian de Ciencia have identified a new mechanism for assembling influenza A virus genomes within infected cells. The study reveals that viral-induced compartments called 'viral inclusions' use liquid-liquid phase separation to segregate and assemble the eight distinct parts of the genetic material.

SourceInstituto Gulbenkian de Ciencia·JournalNature Communications·DateApr 9, 2019

Ovarian cancer patients undertested for mutations that could guide clinical care

A recent study found that fewer than a quarter of breast cancer patients and a third of ovarian cancer patients underwent genetic testing for cancer-associated mutations. The research, which analyzed data from over 83,000 women diagnosed with breast or ovarian cancer in California and Georgia between 2013 and 2014, revealed substantial...

SourceStanford Medicine·JournalJournal of Clinical Oncology·DateApr 9, 2019