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Science News for September 16, 2019


Gene-targeted cancer drugs, slow release overcome resistance

Biomedical engineers at Duke University developed a method to overcome limitations of gene-targeted cancer drugs by combining CRISPR/Cas9 targeting with sustained release drug delivery. This strategy effectively addressed potency, elimination, and resistance issues, demonstrating improved efficacy in mice with colorectal cancers.

SourceDuke University·JournalScience Advances·DateSep 16, 2019

Are existing laws enough to cope with accelerating environmental change?

A team of scholars finds that existing environmental and natural resources management statutes have sufficient flexibility to cope with changing conditions, allowing for adaptation and transformation within a legislative framework. By leveraging agency discretion and flexibility in the laws themselves, governments can respond to comple...

SourceUniversity of Utah·JournalProceedings of the National Academy of Sciences·DateSep 16, 2019

Cause of rare, fatal disorder in young children pinpointed

Researchers prove the psychosine hypothesis correct by showing that mice with genetic mutations causing both Krabbe and Farber diseases do not develop Krabbe disease. They then test a drug known to inhibit acid ceramidase, carmofur, which modestly extends the lives of mice with a model of Krabbe disease.

SourceWashU Medicine·JournalProceedings of the National Academy of Sciences·DateSep 16, 2019

Can sex trafficking be prevented?

A new study evaluated the impact of a child CSE prevention program, My Life My Choice, on young teenagers. The results show that participants reported half as many episodes of sexually explicit behavior and were 24% less likely to experience dating abuse after completing the curriculum.

SourceBoston University School of Medicine·JournalJournal of Interpersonal Violence·DateSep 16, 2019

New observations help explain the dimming of Tabby's Star

Researchers propose that Tabby's Star is experiencing long-term dimming due to a disk of debris from an exomoon accumulating around it, blocking its light. The exomoon's outer layers are being torn apart by stellar radiation, creating dust clouds that periodically pass between the star and Earth.

SourceColumbia University·JournalMonthly Notices of the Royal Astronomical Society·DateSep 16, 2019

New method reveals how damage occurs in human biological cells due to mechanical fatigue

Researchers developed a novel method to measure mechanical fatigue's effect on human red blood cells, revealing that cyclic deformation causes faster deformability loss. The technique assesses static and cyclic mechanical deformation, providing insights into accumulated membrane damage and its relation to diseases.

SourceFlorida Atlantic University·JournalProceedings of the National Academy of Sciences·DateSep 16, 2019

Taking evolution to heart

A study analyzing humans, chimpanzees, and gorillas reveals the human heart adapts to endurance activities by becoming larger, longer, and more elastic. However, there is a trade-off between these adaptations, making it harder for individuals with one type of adaptation to cope with the other.

SourceUniversity of British Columbia Okanagan campus·JournalProceedings of the National Academy of Sciences·DateSep 16, 2019

Catch-22 in graphene based molecular devices resolved

A research team has found a way to overcome the limitations of graphene-based molecular devices, creating structures that are both electrically and mechanically stable at room temperature. The breakthrough, published in Nature Nanotechnology, uses a combination of covalent binding and large ۆ-conjugated head groups to achieve stability.

SourceUniversity of Warwick·JournalNature Nanotechnology·DateSep 16, 2019

Tomorrow's coolants of choice

Researchers at HZDR and TU Darmstadt developed a systematic magnetocaloric material library to assess promising materials for magnetic cooling. The study highlights the need for sustainable access to suitable materials, with iron-rhodium alloys showing potential as alternatives to rare-earth metals like gadolinium.

SourceHelmholtz-Zentrum Dresden-Rossendorf·JournalAdvanced Energy Materials·DateSep 16, 2019

Victorian hog deer genetics revealed

A study by La Trobe University researchers has found that hog deer introduced to Victoria in the 1860s are comprised entirely of hog deer and chital hybrids. The discovery could affect conservation efforts, as the hybrid species is fertile and plays a crucial role in conserving the native range.

SourceLa Trobe University·JournalEcology and Evolution·DateSep 16, 2019

Hiding in plain sight

Early rice growers unwittingly selected for barnyard grass, which later evolved to mimic rice plants, allowing it to escape detection and spread globally. The study sequenced the genomes of rice-mimic and non-mimic forms of the weed to understand this process.

SourceWashington University in St. Louis·JournalNature Ecology & Evolution·DateSep 16, 2019

Measuring ethanol's deadly twin

Researchers at ETH Zurich have developed a handheld device that can detect methanol in alcoholic beverages and diagnose poisoning by analyzing exhaled breath. The device uses a small metal oxide sensor to distinguish between methanol and ethanol, with detection limits down to the legal limit.

SourceETH Zurich·JournalNature Communications·DateSep 16, 2019

Play equipment that gets kids moving

Research by University of Queensland found children with access to fixed play equipment like swings and slides are more likely to meet national physical activity guidelines. The type of play equipment at home is directly related to the amount of physical activity a child does.

SourceUniversity of Queensland·JournalJournal of Physical Activity and Health·DateSep 16, 2019

Physicians report high refusal rates for the HPV vaccine and need for improvement

A study from the University of Colorado School of Medicine found that physicians' delivery and communication practices must improve to boost HPV vaccine completion rates. Pediatricians who strongly recommend the vaccine have higher acceptance rates, and optimizing HPV delivery through standing orders and alert systems can also help.

Combination of wood fibers and spider silk could rival plastic

A new bio-based material has been created by combining wood cellulose fibres and spider silk protein found in spider web threads, exhibiting high strength and stiffness along with increased toughness. The researchers achieved this by aligning cellulose nanofibrils into a stiff scaffold and infiltrating it with a soft and energy-dissipa...

SourceAalto University·JournalScience Advances·DateSep 16, 2019

ACC issues principles for overcoming compensation, opportunity inequity

The American College of Cardiology has published its first health policy statement on cardiologist compensation and opportunity equity, aiming to advance fairness and improve patient care. The document outlines 17 principles for achieving equity in compensation and opportunity, including minimizing disparities and promoting equal acces...

SourceAmerican College of Cardiology·JournalJournal of the American College of Cardiology·DateSep 16, 2019

Renegade genes caught red handed

Researchers dispute the long-held belief that heterochromatin is a reliable guardian of the human genome. A study by University of Arizona researcher Keith Maggert reveals that heterochromatin can flicker on and off, allowing transposons to cause mutations and damage. This instability has significant implications for our understanding ...

SourceUniversity of Arizona·JournalProceedings of the National Academy of Sciences·DateSep 16, 2019

Economists find mixed values of 'thoughts and prayers'

A study by University of Wyoming economists found that Christian hurricane victims value prayers from religious strangers, while atheists and agnostics believe they are worse off. The research suggests that thoughts and prayers should be employed selectively to maximize their impact on recipient welfare.

SourceUniversity of Wyoming·JournalProceedings of the National Academy of Sciences·DateSep 16, 2019

To address hunger, many countries may have to increase carbon footprint

Researchers found that plant-forward diets can significantly reduce greenhouse gas emissions and water use, with even a two-thirds vegan diet having lower impacts than traditional lacto-ovo vegetarian diets. The study's findings emphasize the need for country-specific dietary shifts to address climate and nutrition crises.

SourceJohns Hopkins Bloomberg School of Public Health·JournalGlobal Environmental Change·DateSep 16, 2019

Renewable cement production

A new electrochemical process can decarbonate calcium carbonate to form alite and release hydrogen, oxygen, and carbon dioxide streams. This technology has the potential to significantly reduce or eliminate cement industry greenhouse gas emissions by capturing CO2 for sequestration or power generation.

SourceProceedings of the National Academy of Sciences·JournalProceedings of the National Academy of Sciences·DateSep 16, 2019

Immune response depends on mathematics of narrow escapes

A new study reveals the narrow escape problem, a classic math puzzle, plays a key role in determining immune responses. The unique shape of T cells creates a close-contact zone for triggering molecules, and the size of this zone depends on the surface protrusions, keeping the process sensitive to invaders.

SourceMacquarie University·JournalProceedings of the National Academy of Sciences·DateSep 16, 2019

Just add water

Researchers at UC Santa Barbara and their international team have uncovered the mechanism behind doping organic semiconductors using Lewis acids. The discovery reveals that water plays a crucial role in this process, enabling scientists to design even better dopants for greater control over these materials.

SourceUniversity of California - Santa Barbara·JournalNature Materials·DateSep 16, 2019

NIH-funded study suggests teen girl 'night owls' may be more likely to gain weight

A new study funded by the National Institutes of Health found that teenage girls who go to bed later are more likely to gain weight compared to those who sleep earlier. The research also showed a significant association between late bedtime and increased waist size and body fat in young females.

Public attitudes toward police

Researchers conducted a randomized controlled trial in New Haven, Connecticut, where police officers made community policing visits to residents' homes. The study found that positive interactions improved public trust and cooperation with police, especially among black individuals and those with strong negative views towards the police.

SourceProceedings of the National Academy of Sciences·JournalProceedings of the National Academy of Sciences·DateSep 16, 2019

Eating cheese may offset blood vessel damage from salt

A recent study published in the Journal of Nutrition found that consuming four servings of cheese per day alongside a high sodium diet may protect blood vessels from damage. The researchers discovered that antioxidants in cheese may play a role in preserving vascular health, providing an alternative strategy to reduce cardiovascular risk.

SourcePenn State·JournalJournal of Nutrition·DateSep 16, 2019

Acute chikungunya infection studied at the molecular level in Brazilian patients

Brazilian researchers used computational tools to analyze blood cells from patients infected with chikungunya virus, identifying genes associated with the disease and potential biomarkers of predisposition to chronic joint pain. The study suggests that certain gene signatures can be explored as therapeutic targets.

Biological mechanism explained: How lymphoma cells metastasize to the brain

Researchers discovered that chronic inflammatory processes in aging brains lead to lymphoma cells being retained in the brain tissue instead of being released back into the blood. The NF-kappaB signaling pathway and CCL19 play a crucial role in this process, allowing lymphoma cells to multiply and develop tumors.

One step closer future to quantum computers

Physicists have identified how to distinguish between true and 'fake' Majorana states in topological superconductors, a crucial step for advancing the field of quantum computers. By investigating supercurrents, they found that sign reversals can indicate trivial states.

SourceUppsala University·JournalPhysical Review Letters·DateSep 16, 2019

Reduce, reuse, recycle: The future of phosphorus

Researchers emphasize the need to boost phosphorus use efficiency in farming systems due to its limited supply and environmental concerns. Strategies include breeding crops that utilize phosphorus more efficiently, designing crop rotations, and utilizing soil organic matter and arbuscular mycorrhizal fungi.

SourceAmerican Society of Agronomy·JournalJournal of Environmental Quality·DateSep 16, 2019

Welcome indoors, solar cells

Researchers at Linköping University have developed organic solar cells that can harness indoor light to produce electricity. The cells achieve high energy efficiency, with some variants converting up to 26.1% of ambient light into electricity.

SourceLinköping University·JournalNature Energy·DateSep 16, 2019

Light and sound in silicon chips: The slower the better

Researchers at Bar-Ilan University have developed a new concept that combines light and sound waves in standard silicon chips, achieving delays of tens of nano-seconds without introducing additional materials. This breakthrough enables the selective processing of sound waves, which is difficult for electronics and optics alone.

SourceBar-Ilan University·JournalNature Communications·DateSep 16, 2019

Large transnational corporations play critical role in global natural resource management

Researchers identified six corporate actions that can promote environmental stewardship: aligning vision, mainstreaming sustainability, license to operate, financing transformations, radical transparency, and evidence-based knowledge for action. These changes can be implemented by large corporations to ensure long-term sustainability.

SourceOregon State University·JournalNature Ecology & Evolution·DateSep 16, 2019

Daily aspirin may benefit many patients without existing cardiovascular disease

Researchers found that 2.5% of women and 12.1% of men without established CVD could derive net benefit from aspirin treatment for 5 years. The study used data from a well-characterized web-based decision support program in New Zealand, identifying persons likely to benefit from aspirin treatment based on personalized benefit-harm analy...

SourceAmerican College of Physicians·JournalAnnals of Internal Medicine·DateSep 16, 2019

Finding your niche

New research suggests that societal complexity is linked to personality traits, with more complex societies exhibiting greater diversity of personality types. This is explained by the presence of multiple socioecological niches, which shape individual behavior and contribute to success or reinforcement within a given environment.

SourceUniversity of California - Santa Barbara·JournalNature Human Behaviour·DateSep 16, 2019