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Science News for February 28, 2019


How Capsella followed its lonely heart

Researchers found that the gene INDEHISCENT plays a crucial role in shaping Capsella's distinctive heart-shaped fruits by upregulating auxin biosynthesis. This discovery may lead to improved crop yields and denser oilseed rape canopies through genetic modification.

SourceJohn Innes Centre·JournalCurrent Biology·DateFeb 28, 2019

Researchers move closer to practical photonic quantum computing

A new measurement technique called COSPLI enables researchers to map and measure large-scale photonic quantum correlation with single-photon sensitivity, a critical step towards making photon-based quantum computing practical. The method uses CCD cameras and suppresses noise to detect signals from individual photons.

SourceOptica·JournalOptica·DateFeb 28, 2019

India's child nutrition program sees higher utilization, but fewer gains in high-burden states

The study found improved access for historically marginalized castes and tribes, but women with low education and poorest households were relatively excluded from program benefits. Utilization of ICDS services increased significantly between 2006 and 2016, especially in central and southern states.

SourceInternational Food Policy Research Institute·JournalBulletin of the World Health Organization·DateFeb 28, 2019

An atlas of an aggressive leukemia

A team of researchers has created a detailed 'atlas' of cell states for acute myeloid leukemia (AML), a type of aggressive cancer. The atlas, generated using single-cell genomics and machine learning, identifies distinct cell types and their genetic characteristics, shedding light on the disease's heterogeneity.

Warm seas scatter fish

A recent study found that climate change is disrupting the complex systems underlying global fisheries, with 8% of fish populations experiencing significant negative impacts. The greatest losses in productivity were seen in regions such as the Sea of Japan and North Sea, while the Labrador-Newfoundland region saw significant gains.

Hiding black hole found

Astronomers have discovered an intermediate-mass black hole, 30,000 times the mass of the Sun, hidden within a gas cloud near the Galactic center. The finding provides new insight into black hole growth and evolution, suggesting that small black holes can merge to form larger ones.

SourceNational Institutes of Natural Sciences·JournalThe Astrophysical Journal Letters·DateFeb 28, 2019

Amoebae diversified at least 750 million years ago, far earlier than expected

A recent study reconstructed the evolutionary history of amoebae, showing that life on Earth was more diverse than previously thought, with ancestors of Thecamoebians evolving at least 750 million years ago. This discovery changes our understanding of current climate change and provides new insights into the evolution of life.

Zika: Silent long-term circulation in Thailand

Scientists discover Zika virus has been circulating in Thailand since at least 2002, defying South American pattern of viral strain similarity. The finding highlights the need for effective long-term surveillance systems to monitor the virus's activity.

SourceInstitut Pasteur·JournalThe Lancet Infectious Diseases·DateFeb 28, 2019

Home insurance buyers lack access to public flood data

A recent study found that flood mapping information in Canada is inadequate, incomplete and hard to locate, leaving homeowners exposed to significant financial risk. The study highlights the need for better information availability to help homeowners determine if their homes are at risk from flooding.

SourceUniversity of Waterloo·JournalNatural Hazards and Earth System Sciences·DateFeb 28, 2019

Bungee jumping for science

For the first time, researchers from Charité - Universitätsmedizin Berlin have measured the 'Bereitschaftspotential' (readiness potential) outside a laboratory and under extreme conditions. This finding will help advance brain-computer interface development, enabling quadriplegics to control neuroprosthetics and regain hand function.

SourceCharité - Universitätsmedizin Berlin·JournalScientific Reports·DateFeb 28, 2019

Clues to Martian life found in Chilean desert

A NASA rover mission in the Mars-like Atacama Desert has recovered subsurface soil samples containing unusual microbes that are distributed in patches, related to limited water availability and scarce nutrients. The findings will aid the search for evidence of signs of life during future planned missions to Mars.

SourceFrontiers·JournalFrontiers in Microbiology·DateFeb 28, 2019

'Amazing snapshots' plumb volcanic depths

A University of Queensland-led study reveals how quickly magma moves to the surface, providing a better understanding of volcanic systems. The research also sheds light on the internal 'plumbing' of volcanoes, improving frameworks for monitoring eruptions and unrest.

SourceUniversity of Queensland·JournalGeochimica et Cosmochimica Acta·DateFeb 28, 2019

Heart disease in pregnancy: A special look at peripartum cardiomyopathy

Peripartum cardiomyopathy (PPCM) is a disorder where heart failure develops during or after pregnancy. Recent studies suggest angiogenic imbalance plays a key role, with soluble fms-like tyrosine kinase-1 (sFlt1) and prolactin being important factors. The latest IPAC study recommendations are also referenced.

SourceCardiovascular Innovations and Applications·JournalCardiovascular Innovations and Applications·DateFeb 28, 2019

Happy in marriage? Genetics may play a role

A new study found that couples with the GG genotype in the oxytocin gene receptor reported greater marital satisfaction and feelings of security. This genetic variation affects social bonding and is linked to personality traits such as emotional stability and empathy.

SourceYale University·JournalPLOS ONE·DateFeb 28, 2019

How prostate cancer becomes treatment resistant

Scientists from Sanford Burnham Prebys Medical Discovery Institute identified how prostate cancer becomes treatment-resistant NEPC following targeted treatment. They found that an FDA-approved drug holds potential as a NEPC treatment and uncovered new therapeutic avenues to prevent transformation.

SourceSanford Burnham Prebys·JournalCancer Cell·DateFeb 28, 2019

Natural climate solutions are not enough

A new policy perspective published in Science warns that a ten-year delay in emissions reductions could negate natural climate solutions' benefits. Natural climate solutions like forest enhancement and carbon sequestration are not enough to meet the Paris Agreement's goals without rapid mitigation efforts.

SourceWorld Wildlife Fund·JournalScience·DateFeb 28, 2019

Challenges in cardiovascular risk prediction and stratification in women

The article highlights the challenges in predicting and stratifying cardiovascular risk in women due to sex-specific factors, traditional risk models' flaws, and inadequate representation of women in CVD research. This has led to a persistent gap in awareness, diagnosis, and treatment of ischemic heart disease in women.

SourceCardiovascular Innovations and Applications·JournalCardiovascular Innovations and Applications·DateFeb 28, 2019

Pan-filovirus T-cell vaccine protects mice from Ebola and Marburg

A new pan-filovirus T-cell vaccine has been developed to protect against multiple filovirus species, including Ebola and Marburg. The vaccine induces killer T cells against conserved regions of inner filovirus proteins, offering potential protection against other known and unknown viruses in the filovirus family.

SourcePLOS·JournalPLOS Pathogens·DateFeb 28, 2019

Researchers reveal unexpected genome-wide off-target mutations caused by cytosine base editing

Researchers found that cytosine base editors (BE3 and HF1-BE3) cause unexpected genome-wide off-target mutations in rice, with single-nucleotide variants predominantly occurring in transcribed genic regions. The high frequency of these mutations suggests a need for optimization to increase the specificity of cytosine base editors.

Immigrant Asian American women may be at higher risk for breast cancer

A recent study published in Preventing Chronic Disease found that immigrant Asian American women are at a higher risk for breast cancer compared to their U.S.-born counterparts. The researchers discovered that those who had immigrated and lived in the U.S. for more than 50% of their lives were three times as likely to have breast cancer.

SourceUniversity of California - Riverside·JournalPreventing Chronic Disease·DateFeb 28, 2019

Moving munitions

UD researchers study how unexploded munitions move in muddy estuaries, discovering they don't move horizontally despite intense storms. The team used fabricated munition surrogates with sensors to track movement, finding smaller munitions were buried or stuck in scour pits.

Nanotechnology makes it possible for mice to see in infrared

Scientists have developed a nanotechnology that enables mice to see infrared light, opening the door for potential applications in civilian encryption, security, and military operations. The technology involves injecting nanoparticles into the mouse's eyes, which capture infrared wavelengths and emit shorter visible light wavelengths.

SourceCell Press·JournalCell·DateFeb 28, 2019

ESA tipsheet for March 4,5, 2019

The Ecological Society of America's Frontiers in Ecology and the Environment journal publishes research on parasites hidden in museum specimens that can teach us about past and present diseases. A review reveals non-native species contribute to more plant and animal extinctions than native species.

SourceEcological Society of America·JournalFrontiers in Ecology and the Environment·DateFeb 28, 2019

Tracking food leads to losing pounds

A new Duke University study reveals that overweight individuals who tracked their daily food intake using a free smartphone app lost a significant amount of weight. The results showed that participants who consistently tracked their food and weight lost the most weight, highlighting the importance of compliance in successful weight loss.

In-depth insights into glass corrosion

Scientists use confocal Raman spectroscopy to study silicate glass corrosion in real time, discovering that silica molecules form aggregates near the surface, forming an opal-like layer. This layer does not provide perfect protection against water, allowing the corrosion process to continue.

SourceUniversity of Bonn·JournalNature Materials·DateFeb 28, 2019

New sanitation system halves healthcare associated infections and cuts costs by 75 percent

A study by Bocconi University found that a new sanitation system reduced healthcare-associated infections by 52% and drug consumption by 60.3%, resulting in a 75.4% decrease in related costs. The system, which uses ecologically sustainable probiotic-based detergents, also led to an 83% decrease in detected pathogens on hospital surfaces.

SourceBocconi University·JournalInfection and Drug Resistance·DateFeb 28, 2019

Study shows economic burden of dengue fever

A study of dengue fever's economic burden in Burkina Faso, Kenya, and Cambodia found high costs for patients in African countries. The average cost of inpatient care was $26 in Burkina Faso and $134 in Cambodia.

SourcePLOS·JournalPLOS Neglected Tropical Diseases·DateFeb 28, 2019

Mindfulness could promote positive body image

A new study published in Body Image found that higher interoceptive awareness, as measured through mindfulness practices, is associated with more positive body image. The research suggests that individuals who can better tune into their internal bodily signals are less likely to experience negative self-image.

SourceAnglia Ruskin University·JournalBody Image·DateFeb 28, 2019

Psychiatry: Case notes indicate impending seclusion

Case notes made by healthcare professionals can predict impending seclusion in psychiatric patients, according to a new study. The research found that longer and more emotional notes were associated with increased risk of seclusion, highlighting the importance of integrating subjective perceptions into electronic documentation.

SourceUniversity of Basel·JournalFrontiers in Psychiatry·DateFeb 28, 2019

Is alcohol consumption more helpful than harmful? It depends on your age

A new study suggests that moderate alcohol consumption has health benefits, particularly for older adults. Researchers found that younger people are more likely to die from alcohol-related causes than they are to benefit from drinking, while older individuals tend to experience the health benefits often mentioned in news stories.

SourceJournal of Studies on Alcohol and Drugs·JournalJournal of Studies on Alcohol and Drugs·DateFeb 28, 2019

Higher hospital readmission rates for cardiac patients in Northern vs. Southern Ontario: Importance

A study published in the Canadian Journal of Cardiology found that patients in Northern Ontario had higher hospital readmission rates for heart conditions, despite similar survival rates at 30 days. The researchers suggest providing timely transitional care and improving access to specialist care as key strategies to reduce readmissions.

SourceElsevier·JournalCanadian Journal of Cardiology·DateFeb 28, 2019

Ant societies' arms race: Gene activity in defenders depends on invading slavemaking ants

Gene activity in defenders reflects origin of attacking slavemakers, with successful invaders triggering weaker defenses. Researchers found that host ants react aggressively to rare slave-makers and not to common ones, highlighting the complex co-evolutionary relationship between parasites and their hosts.

SourceJohannes Gutenberg Universitaet Mainz·JournalPhilosophical Transactions of the Royal Society of London (B )·DateFeb 28, 2019

Large-scale initiative linked to reductions in maternal and newborn deaths in Indonesia

A US-funded program aimed at reducing childbirth complications in Indonesia has prompted more efficient care, leading to significant reductions in maternal and newborn mortality. The Expanding Maternal and Neonatal Survival (EMAS) initiative improved quality of emergency obstetric and newborn care and referrals, resulting in a 50% decr...

SourceJohns Hopkins Bloomberg School of Public Health·JournalInternational Journal of Gynecology & Obstetrics·DateFeb 28, 2019

A trap for positrons

Researchers at TUM and Max Planck Institute have developed a magnetic field trap to confine positrons for over a second, a breakthrough in studying electron-positron pair plasmas. This achievement has significant implications for plasma physics and astrophysics, including the study of neutron stars and black holes.

SourceTechnical University of Munich (TUM)·JournalPhysical Review Letters·DateFeb 28, 2019