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Science News Archive 2020 - Page 75


Page 75 of 512

NYCHA secondhand smoke policy needs more time and effort to show how well it works

A new study by NYU Langone researchers found that tenant exposure to secondhand smoke in NYCHA buildings has not declined despite a smoking ban implemented one year ago. The policy requires more intensive efforts to support and enforce the rule, including better training for building managers and resident education.

Researchers use genomics to reconstitute yellow fever outbreak in São Paulo

A study based on genomic analysis of 51 viral isolates extracted from mosquitoes and monkeys reveals three waves of the disease swept the state between 2016 and 2018. The use of MinION genetic sequencing technology allowed researchers to pinpoint the virus entry, spread speed, and geographical distribution of different lineages.

Shining a light on the issue of wine fraud

A novel method of authenticating wine using fluorescence spectroscopy has been developed by University of Adelaide researchers, offering a potential solution to the estimated billions of dollars' worth of wine fraud globally. The technique provides a unique 'fingerprint' of wine samples and has been proven effective in detecting region...

SourceUniversity of Adelaide·JournalFood Chemistry·DateNov 5, 2020

New study shows that football fixture pile-ups are forcing layers and coaches to change

A new study reveals that footballers are conserving energy for intense bursts in games with congested fixture lists. Coaches are also rotating players more frequently to manage fatigue and injury risks, particularly among central defenders. The findings highlight the impact of fixture congestion on player performance and team management.

SourceUniversity of Huddersfield·JournalSports Medicine·DateNov 5, 2020

Tokyo's voluntary standstill may have stopped COVID-19 in its tracks

A comparative analysis of Tokyo residents' mobility data revealed a significant slowdown, leading to reduced social contacts and lower disease transmission. The study found that people with higher income were more capable of limiting their movement and contact, validating the effectiveness of non-pharmaceutical interventions.

COVID-19 linked to worse stroke outcomes

A recent study published in the Journal of Neurology, Neurosurgery & Psychiatry found that COVID-19 is associated with worse stroke outcomes, particularly among people of Asian descent. The study revealed a significantly higher mortality rate and more severe strokes among patients with COVID-19 at stroke onset compared to those without.

Shifts in water temperatures affect eating habits of larval tuna at critical life stage

A study from Oregon State University found that small changes in water temperature can significantly impact the eating habits and growth rate of larval blackfin tuna, leading to slower growth and reduced survival rates. The research highlights the importance of prey availability in supporting fish growth during critical life stages.

SourceOregon State University·JournalICES Journal of Marine Science·DateNov 5, 2020

Super-resolution microscopy of neurons

Researchers have successfully raised funding for a project to develop a new super-resolution microscopy technique that can visualize individual synapse proteins with nanometer-scale resolution. The project combines expansion microscopy and single-molecule-sensitive super-resolution microscopy to achieve improved microscopic resolution.

How does the brain process fear?

Researchers at Cold Spring Harbor Laboratory are studying the brain circuits that underlie fear, using sophisticated neuroscience tools to map their connections. They found that the amygdala is not only involved in fear processing but also plays a crucial role in reward-based learning and regulating fearful memory.

A species identified in 2016 as an ancient form of chameleon was misidentified at that time, say researchers

Researchers re-examined ancient fossils found in Myanmar's amber deposits, revealing that a species initially thought to be an ancient form of chameleon was actually part of the albanerpetontid lineage. The new findings indicate that these ancient amphibians were climbers with specialized tongues for catching food.

Boosting treatments for metastatic melanoma

Researchers have identified a new class of sedatives that could enhance the effectiveness of radiation and immunotherapy treatments for metastatic melanoma, reducing toxic side effects. In animal models, these treatments resulted in improved infiltration of immune cells into tumors, shrinking or eliminating cancerous growths.

SourceUniversity of Cincinnati·JournalInternational Journal of Radiation Oncology*Biology*Physics·DateNov 5, 2020

Large-scale cancer proteomics study profiles protein changes in response to drug treatments

The study generated a valuable resource to aid in predicting drug sensitivity, understanding therapeutic resistance mechanisms, and identifying optimal combination treatment strategies. The dataset includes expression changes in over 200 clinically relevant proteins across more than 300 cell lines after treatment with 168 different com...

Nature-inspired solutions to sustainably increase crop yield

GAIN4CROPS project uses nature-inspired approaches to enhance photosynthetic efficiency in sunflowers, promoting climate-resilient crops and sustainable agriculture. The research could lead to decreased land, nitrogen, and water usage, aligning with efforts to conserve biodiversity and reduce environmental impact.