Promising new options for treating aggressive prostate cancer

Investigators have identified two promising new treatment options for men with recurrent prostate cancer -- both of which helped patients live longer without their disease progressing than the current standard treatment. 'If these treatments are approved by the Food and Drug Administration, our results will be practice changing,' said Stephen Freedland, MD, associate director for Training and Education and the Warschaw, Robertson, Law Families Chair in Prostate Cancer at Cedars-Sinai, and lead author of the study. 'In the study, both of these new options improved metastasis-free survival while preserving quality of life.'

https://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2023/10/231018194545.htm

Ancient diamonds shine light on the evolution of Earth

Formed millions to billions of years ago, diamonds can shine light into the darkest and oldest parts of the Earth's mantle. The analysis of ancient, superdeep diamonds dug up from mines in Brazil and Western Africa, has exposed new processes of how continents evolved and moved during the early evolution of complex life on Earth. These diamonds that were formed between 650 and 450 million years ago on the base of the supercontinent Gondwana, were analysed by an international team of experts, and have shown how supercontinents such as Gondwana were formed, stabilised, and how they move around the planet.

https://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2023/10/231018161911.htm

Genetic risk scores not useful in predicting disease

A new study looked at 926 polygenic risk scores for 310 diseases. It found that, on average, only 11% of individuals who develop disease are identified, while at the same time 5% of people who do not develop the disease test positive. Unaffected people usually outnumber those affected which results in far more false than true positive predictions.

https://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2023/10/231017215935.htm

Team finds a stem-cell derived mechanism that could lead to regenerative therapies for heart damage

A team has identified an essential internal control mechanism that can promote the maturation of human stem cell-derived heart muscle cells, possibly leading to new therapies for heart disease and cardiac damage.

https://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2023/10/231017215928.htm

Genetic risk scores not useful in predicting disease

A new study looked at 926 polygenic risk scores for 310 diseases. It found that, on average, only 11% of individuals who develop disease are identified, while at the same time 5% of people who do not develop the disease test positive. Unaffected people usually outnumber those affected which results in far more false than true positive predictions.

https://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2023/10/231017215935.htm

Human Lung Chip leveraged to faithfully model radiation-induced lung injury

Researchers have developed a human in vitro model that closely mimics the complexities of radiation-induced lung injury (RILI) and radiation dose sensitivity of the human lung. Using a previously developed microfluidic human Lung Alveolus Chip lined by human lung alveolar epithelial cells interfaced with lung capillary cells to recreate the alveolar-capillary interface in vitro, the researchers recapitulated many of the hallmarks of RILI, including radiation-induced DNA damage in lung tissue, cell-specific changes in gene expression, inflammation, and injury to both the lung epithelial cells and blood vessel-lining endothelial cells. By also evaluating the potential of two drugs to suppress the effects of acute RILI, the researchers demonstrated their model's capabilities as an advanced, human-relevant, preclinical, drug discovery platform.

https://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2023/10/231017143617.htm

Researchers test seafloor fiber optic cable as an earthquake early warning system

One of the biggest challenges for earthquake early warning systems (EEW) is the lack of seismic stations located offshore of heavily populated coastlines, where some of the world's most seismically active regions are located. In a new study, researchers show how unused telecommunications fiber optic cable can be transformed for offshore EEW.

https://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2023/10/231017143606.htm

New recipe for efficient, environmentally friendly battery recycling

Researchers are now presenting a new and efficient way to recycle metals from spent electric car batteries. The method allows recovery of 100 per cent of the aluminum and 98 per cent of the lithium in electric car batteries. At the same time, the loss of valuable raw materials such as nickel, cobalt and manganese is minimized. No expensive or harmful chemicals are required in the process because the researchers use oxalic acid -- an organic acid that can be found in the plant kingdom.

https://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2023/10/231017123501.htm

Ocean circulation, ice melt and increasing tourism could all be contributing to Arctic microplastics

Scientists measured microplastic concentrations in the highly productive Barents Sea and suggest that ocean circulation, ice melt, tourism, inadequate waste management, shipping and fishing are all likely contributors.

https://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2023/10/231017123428.htm

Cocoa pods -- a source of chocolate, and potentially, flame retardants

As Halloween approaches, so too does the anticipation of a trick-or-treating stash filled with fun-sized chocolate candy bars. But to satisfy our collective craving for this indulgence, millions of cocoa pods are harvested annually. While the beans and pulp go to make chocolate, their husks are thrown away. Now, researchers show that cocoa pod husks could be a useful starting material for flame retardants.

https://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2023/10/231017123406.htm

Brain connectivity is disrupted in schizophrenia

Schizophrenia, a neurodevelopmental disorder that features psychosis among its symptoms, is thought to arise from disorganization in brain connectivity and functional integration. Now, a new study finds differences in functional brain connectivity in people with and without psychosis and schizophrenia that could help researchers understand the neural underpinnings of this disease.

https://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2023/10/231017123403.htm

Study examines role of working memory, cognitive functions in English learners learning to write

A new study has examined the role of several cognitive functions in young students learning to write English, their second language. The study conducted a battery of cognitive tests, gauged the writing skills of the students and then tested the functions again. Working memory, or how we store thoughts we want to convey, was shown to be the most significant predictor of writing ability. Other cognitive functions like phonological awareness and oral language development increased as the students aged, but were not associated with improved writing. The results not only help us understand how English learners, a growing population, learn to write, but can help educators design better interventions to help the students, researchers argue.

https://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2023/10/231017123352.htm

Scientists discover the possible triggers for bacterial pathogens, opening the door for new treatment strategies

The legendary Alexander Fleming, who famously discovered penicillin, once said 'never to neglect an extraordinary appearance or happening.' And the path of science often leads to just that. New research is turning the page in our understanding of harmful bacteria and how they turn on certain genes, causing disease in our bodies.

https://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2023/10/231016222123.htm

Signatures of the Space Age: Spacecraft metals left in the wake of humanity's path to the stars

Using tools hitched to the nose cone of their research planes and sampling more than 11 miles above the planet's surface, researchers have discovered significant amounts of metals in aerosols in the atmosphere, likely from increasingly frequent launches and returns of spacecraft and satellites. That mass of metal is changing atmospheric chemistry in ways that may impact Earth's atmosphere and ozone layer.

https://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2023/10/231016163131.htm

Can't stop binging on fries and BBQ?

People overeat and become overweight for a variety of reasons. The fact that flavorful high-calorie food is often available nearly everywhere at any time doesn't help. Researchers have determined for the first time why certain chemicals in cooked or processed foods, called advanced glycation end products, or AGEs, increase hunger and test our willpower or ability to make healthy choices when it comes to food.

https://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2023/10/231016122851.htm

Research shows wildfire smoke may linger in homes long after initial blaze

Newly published research on indoor air quality shows wildfire smoke may linger in homes long after the initial blaze has been put out or winds have shifted. The findings show that wildfire smoke can attach to home surfaces like carpet, drapes or counters -- extending the exposure for those inside and potentially causing health problems even after an initial cleaning activity by air purifiers.

https://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2023/10/231013150757.htm

Surprise! Weaker bonds can make polymers stronger

Chemists discovered a new way to make polymers stronger: introduce a few weaker bonds into the material. Working with polyacrylate elastomers, they could increase the materials' resistance to tearing up to tenfold by using a weaker type of crosslinker to join some of the polymer building blocks.

https://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2023/06/230622142355.htm

Surprise! Weaker bonds can make polymers stronger

Chemists discovered a new way to make polymers stronger: introduce a few weaker bonds into the material. Working with polyacrylate elastomers, they could increase the materials' resistance to tearing up to tenfold by using a weaker type of crosslinker to join some of the polymer building blocks.

https://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2023/06/230622142355.htm

Surprise! Weaker bonds can make polymers stronger

Chemists discovered a new way to make polymers stronger: introduce a few weaker bonds into the material. Working with polyacrylate elastomers, they could increase the materials' resistance to tearing up to tenfold by using a weaker type of crosslinker to join some of the polymer building blocks.

https://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2023/06/230622142355.htm

Surprise! Weaker bonds can make polymers stronger

Chemists discovered a new way to make polymers stronger: introduce a few weaker bonds into the material. Working with polyacrylate elastomers, they could increase the materials' resistance to tearing up to tenfold by using a weaker type of crosslinker to join some of the polymer building blocks.

https://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2023/06/230622142355.htm