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Science News for August 4, 2020


Small trees offer hope for rainforests

A new study suggests small trees can adapt better to droughts and grow into a new generation to help the rainforest survive. Researchers found that small trees increase their capacity for photosynthesis and growth despite lack of water, potentially leading to greater overall resilience in the forest.

Photodynamic therapy can combat secondary infections in COVID-19 patients

Researchers advocate photodynamic therapy as an additional treatment for COVID-19 patients to combat secondary infections. The technique uses light and a photosensitizing chemical substance to kill microorganisms in the respiratory tract, potentially improving prognosis and reducing transmission.

SourceFundação de Amparo à Pesquisa do Estado de São Paulo·JournalPhotodiagnosis and Photodynamic Therapy·DateAug 4, 2020

New study shows how infrared lasers destroy harmful protein aggregates in Alzheimer's

Researchers at Tokyo University of Science used infrared laser irradiation to destroy amyloid fibrils, which are typical of neurodegenerative diseases like Alzheimer's. The study combines experimental and simulation results, showing that the process begins at the core of the fibril, where resonance breaks intermolecular hydrogen bonds.

SourceTokyo University of Science·JournalThe Journal of Physical Chemistry B·DateAug 4, 2020

Experts issue back-to-school guidelines for pediatric solid organ transplant recipients

Pediatric infectious disease experts provide recommendations on return to school for SOT children, considering factors like clinical risk, community transmission, and infection prevention measures. The majority of SOT recipients are expected to outweigh the risks and benefit from attending school.

SourceChildren's Hospital of Philadelphia·JournalJournal of the Pediatric Infectious Diseases Society·DateAug 4, 2020

Story tips: Pandemic impact, root studies, neutrons confirm, lab on a crystal & modeling fusion

Researchers developed a machine learning model to predict pandemic impact on fuel demand, analyzing mobility patterns and historical weekly motor travel trends. In another study, scientists found extraordinary fine-root growth with increasing temperatures in northern peatlands, indicating a previously hidden belowground mechanism that ...

SourceDOE/Oak Ridge National Laboratory·JournalNature Energy·DateAug 4, 2020

Grooming behavior between dairy cows reveals complex social network

A study on dairy cows' social grooming behavior found that cows form strong bonds through mutual cooperation and prefer individuals of similar age. Older cows groom more individuals, suggesting a 'peacemaker' role in the herd. These findings could inform innovative farm management strategies prioritizing cattle emotional and social needs.

SourceFrontiers·JournalFrontiers in Veterinary Science·DateAug 4, 2020

Assembly within the tumor center

Scientists discovered that identifying tumor-associated macrophage patterns in lung tumor tissue enables the prediction of disease progression. The study found that a higher number of tumor-promoting macrophages near the invasive margin is associated with lower patient survival rates.

SourceMax-Planck-Gesellschaft·JournalCancer Research·DateAug 4, 2020

Cell diversity in the embryo

Researchers at Max Planck Institute for Molecular Genetics discovered that epigenetic regulators control the development of different tissues and organs in early mouse embryos. By analyzing thousands of individual cells, they found that specific regulators have unique functions in every cell, making them difficult to study.

SourceMax-Planck-Gesellschaft·JournalNature·DateAug 4, 2020

Changes in land evaporation shape the climate

A new calibration-free version of a physical-based method can better detect long-term trends in continental-scale land evaporation rates than recent remote sensing-based approaches. This improvement is crucial for upgrading general circulation models' existing evaporation estimation algorithms to produce better climatic predictions.

SourceInstitute of Atmospheric Physics, Chinese Academy of Sciences·JournalAdvances in Atmospheric Sciences·DateAug 4, 2020

Study reveals impact of powerful CEOs and money laundering on bank performance

A study by University of East Anglia researchers found that banks with powerful CEOs and smaller boards are more susceptible to money laundering and take greater risks. The impact of money laundering is heightened by the presence of powerful CEOs, but large and independent executive boards can partially mitigate this effect.

SourceUniversity of East Anglia·JournalInternational Journal of Finance & Economics·DateAug 4, 2020

Mount Sinai researchers discover treatment option for rare genetic disorder

Researchers at Mount Sinai Hospital have discovered a novel genetic sequencing technology that identified the cause and treatment of a previously unknown severe auto-inflammatory syndrome. The technology, tailored to the patient's own genetic code, pinpointed an unknown mutation in the JAK1 gene causing permanent immune system activation.

Developing new smart soft materials

Researchers at Ehime University have successfully synthesized a new type of polymer with a carboxy-functionalized dendron structure. The polymer demonstrates pH-responsive behavior due to the dense accumulation of side chains, paving the way for the development of new functional poly(substituted methylene)s.

SourceEhime University·JournalMacromolecules·DateAug 4, 2020

AI may offer a better way to ID drug-resistant superbugs

A machine learning algorithm using high-temporal-resolution growth curves distinguishes bacterial pathogen strains with 92-98% accuracy, predicting antibiotic resistance as well as genetic-based methods. The method has the potential to be faster, simpler, and less expensive than current techniques.

SourceDuke University·JournalProceedings of the National Academy of Sciences·DateAug 4, 2020

Health care worker burnout during COVID-19 pandemic

A recent study evaluated burnout among healthcare workers in Japan during the COVID-19 pandemic, revealing a significant prevalence of emotional exhaustion. The researchers identified several factors associated with burnout, including prolonged exposure to high-stress work environments and lack of social support.

SourceJAMA Network·JournalJAMA Network Open·DateAug 4, 2020

A targeted treatment for emphysema?

Researchers developed a small engineered peptide called PR1P, which protects VEGF from degradation and reduces apoptosis in both cell cultures and live mice. The study found significant increases in VEGF levels and reductions in lung damage in mouse models of emphysema.

SourceBoston Children's Hospital·JournalAmerican Journal of Respiratory Cell and Molecular Biology·DateAug 4, 2020

Penis microbiota predicts if a man's female partner will develop bacterial vaginosis

A study published in Frontiers found that men's penile microbiota can predict with high accuracy whether their female partner will develop bacterial vaginosis. The researchers analyzed the microbiota of 168 Kenyan couples and found a direct correlation between the composition of a man's microbiome and the occurrence of BV in his female...

SourceFrontiers·JournalFrontiers in Cellular and Infection Microbiology·DateAug 4, 2020

Reducing the adverse impact of water loss in cells

A University of Houston researcher has discovered a mechanism for a protein called Nuclear Factor of Activated T cells 5 (NFAT 5) that regulates tonicity and protects cells against cell death. NFAT 5 produces protective osmolytes, which help maintain cellular integrity.

SourceUniversity of Houston·JournalProceedings of the National Academy of Sciences·DateAug 4, 2020

New molecule reverses Alzheimer's-like memory decline

A new study published in Redox Biology shows that the drug CMS121 successfully reversed memory loss in a mouse model of inherited Alzheimer's disease. The drug works by normalizing lipid peroxidation and lowering levels of fatty acid synthetase, suggesting FASN as a potential target for treating Alzheimer's disease.

SourceSalk Institute·JournalRedox Biology·DateAug 4, 2020

Brace yourself for these results

Researchers at McMaster University isolated genes that cause some people to gain muscle while others don't through a novel experiment. A set of 141 genes regulates skeletal muscle growth, and isolating these genes may help target lifestyle and drug therapies to prevent muscle loss in older individuals.

SourceMcMaster University·JournalCell Reports·DateAug 4, 2020

How thoughts could one day control electronic prostheses, wirelessly

A team of researchers at Stanford University has made a breakthrough in developing a wireless brain-computer interface that can accurately control electronic prostheses using thoughts. The new technology uses a tenth of the power required by current wire-enabled systems, making it safer and more natural for patients with paralysis or n...

SourceStanford University School of Engineering·JournalNature Biomedical Engineering·DateAug 4, 2020