Add BrightSurf on Google Email

Science News for June 17, 2019


Immuno-PET precisely diagnoses IBD inflammation without invasive procedures

Researchers developed a new type of nuclear medicine scan that quickly and precisely diagnoses inflammation in IBD using monoclonal antibodies directed against specific innate immune cell markers. The immuno-PET scan has high potential for theranostic diagnosis and precision treatment of IBD and other inflammatory diseases.

SourceSociety of Nuclear Medicine and Molecular Imaging·JournalJournal of Nuclear Medicine·DateJun 17, 2019

Breakthrough paves way for new Lyme disease treatment

Researchers have discovered a cellular component called peptidoglycan that contributes to Lyme arthritis, a debilitating condition. The presence of peptidoglycan in synovial fluid may explain why some people experience symptoms despite no obvious infection, and could lead to new treatments.

SourceVirginia Tech·JournalProceedings of the National Academy of Sciences·DateJun 17, 2019

The evolution of puppy dog eyes

Researchers found that dogs have developed a muscle above the eyes to intensively raise their inner eyebrow, making them appear larger and more infant-like. This movement, known as AU101, triggers a caregiving response in humans, potentially leading to enhanced social interaction.

SourceUniversity of Portsmouth·JournalProceedings of the National Academy of Sciences·DateJun 17, 2019

Researchers from IKBFU study nanoparticles synthesized by method of electric explosion

Researchers from IKBFU have developed high-quality α-Fe magnetic nanoparticles using an alternative method of electric explosion, which exhibit a high value of magnetization saturation. The obtained nanoparticles show increased chemical stability and biocompatibility, making them suitable for applications in sensing and biomedicine.

SourceImmanuel Kant Baltic Federal University·JournalJournal of Magnetism and Magnetic Materials·DateJun 17, 2019

Story tips from the Department of Energy's Oak Ridge National Laboratory, June 17, 2019

Researchers at Oak Ridge National Laboratory have developed an online tool to evaluate the moisture durability of a building's envelope, enabling better-informed decisions for energy efficiency. Additionally, the lab has pioneered a new technique using pressure to manipulate magnetism in thin film materials used in electronic devices.

SourceDOE/Oak Ridge National Laboratory·JournalPhysical Review Letters·DateJun 17, 2019

3D reconstruction of craniums elucidates the evolution of New World monkeys

The study used CT scans and 3D imaging to analyze cranium fossils of two extinct species, identifying adaptations and relationships with extant platyrrhine species. The results showed that C. bambuiorum is closely related to Ateles, Brachyteles, and Lagothrix, contradicting its initial classification.

SourceFundação de Amparo à Pesquisa do Estado de São Paulo·JournalAmerican Journal of Physical Anthropology·DateJun 17, 2019

Do video games drive obesity?

A meta-analysis of 20 studies with over 38,000 participants found a small positive correlation between video game playing and body mass in adults, but no link was established for children and teenagers. The study suggests that people who spend more time gaming may also spend less time exercising, contributing to weight gain.

SourceUniversity of Würzburg·JournalSocial Science & Medicine·DateJun 17, 2019

From function to form

Researchers at Harvard Medical School have developed a new method for determining 3D protein structures from lab-designed DNA sequences. By assessing the effects of genetic mutations on protein functions, they were able to identify functional interactions within DNA sequences and construct 3D structures that closely mimicked those deri...

SourceHarvard Medical School·JournalNature Genetics·DateJun 17, 2019

Science snapshots: New nitrides, artificial photosynthesis, and TMDC semiconductors

Researchers have developed a large interactive stability map of ternary nitrides, predicting 244 new stable compounds. Artificial photosynthesis has also been improved by controlling cobalt oxide catalysts. Additionally, atomically thin semiconductors called TMDCs have shown a quantum yield of 100% when treated with an electrical voltage.

SourceDOE/Lawrence Berkeley National Laboratory·JournalNature Materials·DateJun 17, 2019

Schizophrenia: Adolescence is the game-changer

Researchers at UNIGE discovered that the development of the hippocampus, responsible for memory and emotions, is severely impacted in adolescence following the onset of psychotic symptoms. The study suggests that a 'second hit' later in development may determine further hippocampal atrophy and psychotic symptom emergence.

SourceUniversité de Genève·JournalMolecular Psychiatry·DateJun 17, 2019

What influences critical care doctors in withdrawing life support for patients with brain injury?

A study in CMAJ provides new insights into the decision-making processes of critical care physicians and families in withdrawing life-sustaining treatments from critically ill patients with severe brain injury. Key findings include the influence of patient circumstances, family wishes, severity and location of the injury, past physicia...

SourceCanadian Medical Association Journal·JournalCanadian Medical Association Journal·DateJun 17, 2019

Preventing drugs from being transported

A research team created an artificially produced antibody fragment that successfully blocks the transport of antibiotics and chemotherapy agents out of cancer cells. By binding to a specific protein, the fragment prevented the protein from splitting ATP, thus stopping the transport process.

SourceRuhr-University Bochum·JournalNature Communications·DateJun 17, 2019

Receiving opioids for the first time while hospitalized doubles the risk of continued use

A retrospective cohort study found that patients who received opioids for the first time while hospitalized had double the risk of continuing to receive opioids for months after discharge. Researchers reviewed electronic health records of 191,249 hospital admissions and found that almost 6% of patients receiving opioids during their ho...

SourceAmerican College of Physicians·JournalAnnals of Internal Medicine·DateJun 17, 2019

More heart failure patients may benefit from CRT defibrillator

A new study found that cardiac resynchronization therapy with defibrillator (CRT-D) may improve heart function in certain groups of heart failure patients, particularly those with nonspecific intraventricular conduction delay (NICD) and a QRS duration of more than 150 milliseconds. In these patients, CRT-D was associated with decreased...

SourceAmerican College of Cardiology·JournalJournal of the American College of Cardiology·DateJun 17, 2019

Gold for iron nanocubes

Researchers at the University of Helsinki and OIST have developed a novel method to create hybrid Au/Fe nanoparticles with unprecedented complexity. This breakthrough enables precise control over shape, size, and elemental composition, opening up new avenues for emerging applications.

SourceUniversity of Helsinki·JournalAdvanced Science·DateJun 17, 2019

Vest helps athletes keep their cool

A new cooling vest has been developed to help athletes cope with sweltering summer conditions, such as the 2020 Summer Olympics. The vest, designed by Hiroshima University and a Japanese sportswear company, features ice packs and a cooling collar that can reduce heart rate and body temperature.

SourceHiroshima University·JournalFrontiers in Physiology·DateJun 17, 2019

Dundee lab solves HOIL-1 mystery

Researchers at the University of Dundee have made a significant breakthrough in understanding the function of HOIL-1, a key protein involved in cell survival. The study reveals that HOIL-1 operates in tandem with another component to form ubiquitin chains, and joins proteins using an unusual ester bond mechanism.

SourceUniversity of Dundee·JournalProceedings of the National Academy of Sciences·DateJun 17, 2019

Study reveals new genomic roots of ecological adaptation in polar bear evolution

A recent study by UMass Amherst researchers found that polar bears possess fewer copies of genes related to olfactory receptors and salivary amylase, adaptations that enable them to thrive on a fully carnivorous diet. This discovery sheds light on the genomic foundation of ecological adaptation in polar bear evolution.

SourceUniversity of Massachusetts Amherst·JournalProceedings of the National Academy of Sciences·DateJun 17, 2019

Past climate change: A warning for the future?

A new study of past climate changes and their effects on ancient societies offers lessons for the future. Climate disruptions in prehistoric Amazonia, such as changes in rainfall patterns and agriculture, may be comparable to the current human-caused climate change affecting most parts of the world.

SourceUniversity of Utah·JournalNature Ecology & Evolution·DateJun 17, 2019

Wheat myth debunked

A new study debunks the myth that intensive breeding has made modern wheat cultivars weaker. Modern wheat varieties actually out-perform older ones in both optimal and sub-optimum growing conditions. This finding could have significant implications for raising productivity in organic cropping systems.

SourceUniversity of Queensland·JournalNature Plants·DateJun 17, 2019

The brain consumes half of a child's energy -- and that could matter for weight gain

A new paper suggests that variation in brain energy expenditure during childhood may influence patterns of energy expenditure and weight gain. The study proposes a hypothesis linking the brain's energy demand to obesity risk, highlighting the need for further research into the role of brain development on body weight.

SourceNorthwestern University·JournalProceedings of the National Academy of Sciences·DateJun 17, 2019

Shedding light on 'black box' of inpatient opioid use

A recent study published in Annals of Internal Medicine has shed light on the practices surrounding inpatient opioid prescribing, revealing that patients who receive opioids during hospitalization are more likely to continue using them after discharge. The research, conducted by scientists at the University of Pittsburgh Graduate Schoo...

SourceUniversity of Pittsburgh·JournalAnnals of Internal Medicine·DateJun 17, 2019

Penn engineers demonstrate superstrong, reversible adhesive that works like snail slime

The Penn team created an adhesive that mimics the snail's epiphragm, allowing for strong adhesion and easy reversibility. The breakthrough was achieved using a polymer called PHEMA, which conforms to small grooves on surfaces when wet, making it stick, and hardens into those cavities when dry, securing itself firmly.

SourceUniversity of Pennsylvania·JournalProceedings of the National Academy of Sciences·DateJun 17, 2019

Repurposing existing drugs or combining therapies could help in the treatment of autoimmune diseases

Scientists have discovered that re-purposing existing drugs or combining therapies may help treat patients with difficult-to-treat autoimmune diseases. The research, published in Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences, found that fibroblasts play a critical role in the formation and maintenance of tertiary lymphoid structures.

SourceUniversity of Birmingham·JournalProceedings of the National Academy of Sciences·DateJun 17, 2019

Climate change in West Africa

The WASCAL project aims to address new research questions, further develop the research infrastructure, and train African scientists. The team will also create a data cube for satellite data and assess the effects of climate change on fires in West Africa.

Managing the risk of aggressive dog behavior

A study by the University of Bristol found that dog owners' perceptions of effectiveness and confidence in using behaviour modification techniques are crucial in predicting their adoption of positive reinforcement-based solutions. Positive reinforcement-based techniques are humane and effective, while punishment-based methods can exace...

SourceUniversity of Bristol·JournalRisk Analysis·DateJun 17, 2019