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Science News Archive 2020 - Page 213


Page 213 of 512

Racial disparities in high-cost cancer treatment for children

A new study reveals racial disparities in high-cost proton radiotherapy for childhood cancer treatment, with Black and low-income children facing barriers to access. The research highlights the urgent need for equitable healthcare policies to ensure all children receive quality cancer care regardless of their race or socioeconomic status.

SourceJAMA Network·JournalJAMA Oncology·DateAug 6, 2020

Identifying local solutions in the Barotse floodplain for sustainable agricultural development

Researchers employed a gendered ecosystem services approach with Lozi communities to identify locally relevant strategies for sustainable agricultural development. The study found that agroecological intensification, such as multiple cropping and agroforestry, can restore and maintain ecosystem services in cultivated lands while reduci...

SourceThe Alliance of Bioversity International and the International Center for Tropical Agriculture·JournalInternational Journal of Agricultural Sustainability·DateAug 6, 2020

Surgical delays for very early stage breast cancer not tied to worse survival outcomes

A new study published in the Journal of the American College of Surgeons found that surgical delays for very early stage breast cancer patients did not impact overall survival. In fact, increased time to surgery was associated with a small increase in pathological upstaging, but no significant difference in survival rates.

SourceBrigham and Women's Hospital·JournalJournal of the American College of Surgeons·DateAug 6, 2020

Why the 'wimpy' Y chromosome hasn't evolved out of existence

Researchers propose a new hypothesis that the Y chromosome is protected from extinction by carrying 'executioner genes' that self-regulate and ensure successful sperm production. These genes, which regulate meiotic silencing, are toxic when activated at the wrong time, protecting the Y chromosome from loss.

SourceCell Press·JournalTrends in Genetics·DateAug 6, 2020

REM sleep tunes eating behavior

Researchers discovered that REM sleep tunes eating behavior by reducing the activation of hypothalamic neurons in mice, indicating the importance of sleep quality in maintaining stable feeding habits. The study suggests a long-lasting effect on neuronal activity and feeding behavior.

SourceUniversity of Bern·JournalProceedings of the National Academy of Sciences·DateAug 6, 2020

Delay in breast cancer operations appears non-life-threatening for early-stage disease

A new study from the American College of Surgeons found that longer time to surgical treatment does not lower overall survival for women with early-stage breast cancer who underwent delayed operations before the pandemic. Patients who received neoadjuvant endocrine therapy also showed no decreased survival, according to the research.

SourceAmerican College of Surgeons·JournalJournal of the American College of Surgeons·DateAug 6, 2020

Prioritizing cancer care during pandemic

The COVID-19 pandemic has prompted oncology clinicians to prioritize cancer care, leveraging expertise from low-resource settings for guidance. Prioritization involves weighing the benefits and harms of different treatments, considering factors such as patient outcomes and healthcare resource availability.

SourceJAMA Network·JournalJAMA Oncology·DateAug 6, 2020

Revealing destructive cracks in rock

Researchers at Texas A&M University are using advanced machine-learning analysis to reveal the evolution of cracks in rock and concrete. By combining data from multiple sources, including sound waves, electromagnetics, and pressure measurements, they aim to improve our understanding of crack damage and development.

Bone-anchored leg prostheses also prove to be a valuable procedure after 5-year follow-up

After a 5-year follow-up, bone-anchored leg prostheses show significant improvements in daily functioning, mobility, and quality of life for patients with above-knee amputations. Despite initial stoma problems, these prostheses lead to permanent benefits, including increased prosthesis use and improved health-related quality of life.

SourceRadboud University Medical Center·JournalJournal of Bone and Joint Surgery·DateAug 6, 2020

Researchers discover sex-specific differences in neural mechanisms for glucose regulation

A study by Tufts University researchers found that estrogen can have a disruptive effect on glucose metabolism in females, but not males, when a specific protein is absent. The study identified a key protein in the brain that mediates these effects and provides insight into the differences between men and women in their risk of diabetes.

SourceTufts University, Health Sciences Campus·JournalProceedings of the National Academy of Sciences·DateAug 6, 2020