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Science News for March 8, 2019


Disparities in access to trauma centers

Black-majority neighborhoods in New York City, Los Angeles, and Chicago face disparities in access to trauma centers, with racial/ethnic disparities only significant in New York after accounting for poverty. The study suggests trauma planning should address racial equity, particularly in densely populated areas like New York.

SourceJAMA Network·JournalJAMA Network Open·DateMar 8, 2019

Improving researchers' abilities to forecast epidemics

A study published in Scientific Reports analyzed forecasts from 14 predictive models submitted to the US Centers for Disease Control and Prevention's influenza season forecasting challenge. The results show that teams with more experience and combined model approaches performed better, highlighting opportunities for future improvement.

SourceHokkaido University·JournalScientific Reports·DateMar 8, 2019

Machine learning to the rescue

The team aims to develop a sorting-machine prototype using pupae images and machine-learning algorithms to process tens of thousands of images daily. They also design a robot to sort the pupae based on the result of the algorithm, with the goal of reducing tsetse populations in sub-Saharan Africa.

Blood holds key to liver regeneration

A Michigan State University study found that fibrinogen accumulates in the remaining liver after surgery and triggers platelet activity to aid in regeneration. Low fibrinogen levels are associated with delayed regeneration and dysfunctional livers, making it a potential predictive marker for doctors.

SourceMichigan State University·JournalBlood·DateMar 8, 2019

Atmospheric scientists reveal the effect of sea-ice loss on Arctic warming

Research reveals that sea ice loss in the Arctic causes rapid warming, which will persist even after melting is complete. The study suggests that this phenomenon is more pronounced during certain periods, particularly during cloud season, due to seasonal sea-ice melting and its impact on atmospheric heat transfer.

Number and timing of pregnancies influence breast cancer risk for women with BRCA1 or BRCA2 mutation

Research confirms that women with BRCA1 and BRCA2 mutations experience a decreased risk of breast cancer after multiple full-term pregnancies. The study found that breastfeeding also reduces breast cancer risk for these women. However, the timing of pregnancy appears to play a crucial role in determining the level of risk reduction.

SourceColumbia University's Mailman School of Public Health·JournalJNCI Journal of the National Cancer Institute·DateMar 8, 2019

The ABS of molecular engines

A team of researchers from Ruhr-University Bochum has identified a crucial role for a sixth transport step in the regulation of peroxisome function. The study reveals that this step is essential for maintaining the balance between import and export of enzymes, preventing diseases such as infant mortality

SourceRuhr-University Bochum·JournalBiochimica et Biophysica Acta (BBA) - Molecular Cell Research·DateMar 8, 2019

Is it ever too late for adults to benefit from physical activity?

A study of 315,000 US adults found that maintaining physical activity from adolescence into later adulthood and increasing leisure-time activity in adulthood were associated with lower risk of dying. Adults who had been less active before age 40 also saw benefits when they increased their physical activity between ages 41-60.

SourceJAMA Network·JournalJAMA Network Open·DateMar 8, 2019

Listening to quantum radio

Researchers at Delft University of Technology have created a quantum circuit that enables the detection of weak radio signals, which could revolutionize fields like radio astronomy and medicine. The breakthrough opens up possibilities for experiments that explore the interplay between quantum mechanics and gravity.

SourceDelft University of Technology·JournalScience·DateMar 8, 2019