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Science News for February 24, 2020


Just as tobacco advertising causes teen smoking, exposure to alcohol ads causes teens to drink

A new analysis by NYU School of Global Public Health and NYU Grossman School of Medicine found that exposure to alcohol advertising changes teens' attitudes about alcohol and can cause them to start drinking. The study applies a framework developed for tobacco advertising to show causality between alcohol advertising and youth drinking.

SourceNew York University·JournalJournal of Studies on Alcohol and Drugs·DateFeb 24, 2020

Many older adults face new disabilities after hospital stays for serious illnesses

A study of older adults found that many experience new disabilities after hospitalization for serious illnesses, affecting daily tasks and healthcare access. The study revealed that recovery from disability is often incomplete six months after discharge, highlighting the need for improved support systems for older adults.

SourceAmerican Geriatrics Society·JournalJournal of the American Geriatrics Society·DateFeb 24, 2020

Recent research points the way toward a practical nutraceutical strategy for coping with RNA virus infections including influenza and coronavirus

Researchers propose that certain nutraceuticals can reduce inflammation in the lungs and enhance the body's primary antiviral response. Studies suggest that supplements like NAC and elderberry extracts may shorten the duration of influenza and reduce its severity, with potential benefits for COVID-19 as well.

SourceElsevier·JournalProgress in Cardiovascular Diseases·DateFeb 24, 2020

Going super small to get super strong metals

Scientists have discovered that ultra-strong metals can be created by reducing grain size to below 10 nanometers, contrary to previous assumptions. The study found that high pressure overcomes grain sliding effects, leading to extreme strengthening in finely grained samples.

SourceUniversity of Utah·JournalNature·DateFeb 24, 2020

UBC researchers develop strategy to protect wine grapes from smoke-taint

A team of UBC Okanagan researchers has developed a preventative strategy for protecting grapes from volatile phenols in smoke, which can impact wine flavor. Applying an agricultural spray composed of phospholipids to wine grapes one week before exposure to simulated forest fire smoke significantly reduces smoky flavor compounds.

SourceUniversity of British Columbia Okanagan campus·JournalJournal of Agricultural and Food Chemistry·DateFeb 24, 2020

Looking for local levers

A study by UC Santa Barbara researchers found that high levels of nitrogen pollution lower the temperature at which coral begins to bleach and increases its severity. The team surveyed over 10,000 corals around Moorea and found that both types of branching corals showed identical responses to nutrient pollution.

SourceUniversity of California - Santa Barbara·JournalProceedings of the National Academy of Sciences·DateFeb 24, 2020

A simple retrofit transforms electron microscopes into high-speed atom-scale cameras

Researchers have developed a retrofit to transform transmission electron microscopes into high-speed cameras, capturing processes on the atomic scale. The 'beam chopper' technology enables laboratories to investigate super-fast phenomena without expensive laser systems or specialized expertise.

SourceNational Institute of Standards and Technology (NIST)·JournalReview of Scientific Instruments·DateFeb 24, 2020

Anonymous no more: combining genetics with genealogy to identify the dead in unmarked graves

A team of researchers combined genealogical information with genetic data from modern Quebecers to access the genetic profile of Quebec's historical population. The study successfully identified approximately 1.7 million individuals, but limitations in genetic coverage hindered full identification, leaving around 88% of men married bef...

SourceUniversity of Montreal·JournalAmerican Journal of Physical Anthropology·DateFeb 24, 2020

Let it snow: Researchers put cloud seeding to the test

Researchers have developed a method to accurately measure the volume of snow produced through cloud seeding using radar and other tools. The study found that cloud seeding produced about 282 Olympic-sized swimming pools worth of water in the form of snow, with snow falling from clouds for approximately 67 minutes.

SourceUniversity of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign, News Bureau·JournalProceedings of the National Academy of Sciences·DateFeb 24, 2020

Research finds support for 'Trump effect'

A new study from University of California, Riverside, found that Donald Trump's racially inflammatory speech emboldened particular members of the public to express their prejudices. Exposure to such rhetoric made individuals feel more comfortable expressing their prejudice, while silence from other elites gave the impression that a nor...

SourceUniversity of California - Riverside·JournalBritish Journal of Political Science·DateFeb 24, 2020

Self-reported student mistreatment in US medical schools

An analysis of 27,504 unique student surveys found self-reported medical student mistreatment was common, with public humiliation being the most common type. The study highlights the variation in mistreatment rates among female, Asian, underrepresented minority, and LGBTQ+ students.

SourceJAMA Network·JournalJAMA Internal Medicine·DateFeb 24, 2020

Researchers adapt cognitive assessment for people with intellectual disability

Researchers adapted the NIH Toolbox Cognitive Battery to assess cognitive ability in people with intellectual disabilities aged 5 years and above, providing objective measures. The validated battery produces reliable and valid results, paving the way for further research on its adaptation for lower mental ages and older adults.

ETRI develops optical communications technology to double data transfer speed

Researchers at ETRI have developed a compact 200Gbps optical transceiver that can send and receive twice as much data as conventional methods. This new technology is expected to contribute to solving data traffic congestion in 5G networks and provides a cost-effective alternative to existing coherent modulation technologies.

Campaign contributions by oil and gas companies

Oil and gas companies contributed over $84 million to US congressional candidates in 2018, largely influencing environmental policy votes. The study found a negative association between oil and gas company contributions and subsequent LCV scores, suggesting a reward system for legislators voting against pro-environmental policies.

SourceProceedings of the National Academy of Sciences·JournalProceedings of the National Academy of Sciences·DateFeb 24, 2020

Wildfire cycles and climate change

A study reveals a cyclical link between high-intensity Asian wildfires and dry glacial periods, with fires associated with increased dust loads and decreased CO2 levels. The findings hint at potential climate effects through the iron cycle, suggesting a connection between fires, dust, and global climate system.

SourceProceedings of the National Academy of Sciences·JournalProceedings of the National Academy of Sciences·DateFeb 24, 2020

Social determinant screening not enough to capture patients at risk of utility shut-off

Researchers found that social determinant screening only captures 16% of patients struggling to pay utility bills, emphasizing the need for improved health systems. The study suggests that patients with chronic serious illnesses may be more likely to have difficulty paying utilities due to seasonal and socioeconomic factors.

SourceBoston Medical Center·JournalJournal of Ambulatory Care Management·DateFeb 24, 2020

Short film of a magnetic nano-vortex

Physicists at the Paul Scherrer Institute recorded a short 'film' of the three-dimensional magnetic structure inside a material with nanoscale resolution. This reveals intricate patterns and domain walls that could be used to pack data more tightly than current methods.

SourcePaul Scherrer Institute·JournalNature Nanotechnology·DateFeb 24, 2020

New in the Hastings Center Report: A call to confront mistrust in the US health care system

The US healthcare system is facing significant mistrust issues, with experts calling for action to improve patient trust and care. Experts recommend five actions: exploring patients' mistrust, developing individual and institutional efforts to mend and prevent mistrust, being culturally humble, making empathy part of relationships, and...

SourceThe Hastings Center·JournalHastings Center Report·DateFeb 24, 2020

Obesity embargo alert for March 2020

The Obesity Society's latest research explores the pathophysiology of obesity, therapeutic goals, and differential risk. A new coding system is proposed to address suboptimal efforts in prevention and treatment, offering a personalized approach to care.

SourceThe Obesity Society·JournalObesity·DateFeb 24, 2020

Why monkeys choose to drink alone

Researchers at Yale University found a unique brain signature associated with pro-social and anti-social decisions in monkeys. Monkeys prefer to drink alone when faced with the option of sharing fruit juice with another monkey.

SourceYale University·JournalNature Neuroscience·DateFeb 24, 2020

As oceans warm, fish flee

A new study warns that ocean warming will lead to the loss of commercial fish species, with tropical nations facing significant economic and ecological impacts. The research highlights the lack of policy interventions to address this issue, but suggests that international cooperation could mitigate losses and preserve resources.

SourceUniversity of Delaware·JournalNature Sustainability·DateFeb 24, 2020

Antibodies: the body's own antidepressants

Researchers have found that autoantibodies against the NMDA receptor can reduce symptoms of depression and anxiety when they enter the brain. The level of these autoantibodies increases with age and is higher in people subjected to chronic stress, but may also play a positive role in reducing depressive symptoms.

SourceMax-Planck-Gesellschaft·JournalMolecular Psychiatry·DateFeb 24, 2020

When coronavirus is not alone

A team of complexity scientists have developed a 'meme' model for multiple diseases, revealing that interacting contagious diseases follow the same complex spreading patterns as social trends. The study found that even one more contagion can dramatically shift dynamics and trigger macroscopic jumps in epidemic size.

SourceUniversity of Vermont·JournalNature Physics·DateFeb 24, 2020

Swarming robots avoid collisions, traffic jams

Researchers at Northwestern University developed a decentralized algorithm that enables swarms of robots to form shapes and avoid collisions. The algorithm views the ground as a grid, allowing each robot to sense its closest neighbors and make local decisions without global information.

SourceNorthwestern University·JournalIEEE Transactions on Robotics·DateFeb 24, 2020

Defects add color to quantum systems

Researchers at Stanford University have found a way to identify and control colorful defects in hexagonal boron nitride, a material that can emit bright light as a single photon. This breakthrough has the potential to create predictable sources of quantum light, a crucial component for future quantum technologies.

SourceStanford University·JournalNature Materials·DateFeb 24, 2020

The 'purrfect' music for calming cats

Researchers at LSU found that cats were less stressed when played cat-specific music, with lower cat stress scores and handling scale scores compared to classical music and no music. The study suggests that cat-specific music may benefit both cat welfare and owner experience.

SourceSAGE·JournalJournal of Feline Medicine and Surgery·DateFeb 24, 2020

'Make two out of one' -- division of artificial cells

Researchers at Max Planck Institute have achieved unprecedented control over the shape transformations and division process of artificial cells by anchoring low densities of proteins to the cell membranes. This simplified mechanism does not depend on precise molecular interactions, making it a promising tool for synthetic biology.

SourceMax-Planck-Gesellschaft·JournalNature Communications·DateFeb 24, 2020

The seismicity of Mars

The NASA InSight lander has recorded over 450 marsquakes on Mars, providing insights into the planet's internal structure and tectonic activity. The data reveals a stronger attenuation in the upper mantle compared to the lower mantle, indicating a more fractured crust.

SourceETH Zurich·JournalNature Geoscience·DateFeb 24, 2020

Extra chromosomes in cancers can be good or bad

Research reveals some extra chromosomes in cancer cells can inhibit metastasis and even increase survival rates for patients. A study published in Developmental Cell found beneficial aneuploidies associated with increased survival, contrary to the long-held notion that aneuploidy always skews gene activity towards aggressive cancers.

SourceCold Spring Harbor Laboratory·JournalDevelopmental Cell·DateFeb 24, 2020

The dangers facing fireflies

Fireflies face numerous threats, including habitat loss and artificial light pollution, which can harm their bioluminescent displays and overall survival. Conservation efforts, such as preserving habitats and reducing insecticide use, can help improve firefly populations and mitigate these threats.

Rice scientists simplify access to drug building block

The Rice University team has introduced an inexpensive organic synthesis technique that catalyzes the transfer of nitrogen atoms to olefins, making valuable pharmaceutical precursors. The process combines nitrogen and hydrogen atoms in triangular aziridine products, which are readily available to react with other agents.

SourceRice University·JournalNature Catalysis·DateFeb 24, 2020

Marijuana use among older adults in US

A study analyzing national survey data found that cannabis use increased significantly among women, racial/ethnic minorities, and those with higher incomes or education levels. The proportion of adults who reported past-year marijuana use rose from 2.4% to 4.2% between 2015-2018.

SourceJAMA Network·JournalJAMA Internal Medicine·DateFeb 24, 2020

'CRISPR: A Screener's Guide' headlines the March edition of SLAS Discovery

The discovery of CRISPR-Cas9 systems has revolutionized pharmaceutical research by allowing for industrial-scale gene editing and functional genomic screening. This enables the identification of new biological targets for precision medicines and the exploration of mechanisms of drug resistance and sensitivity ahead of clinical trials.

Neural cells speed up function in 3D bioprinted skeletal muscle constructs

Researchers at Wake Forest Institute for Regenerative Medicine have developed a way to accelerate functional muscle regeneration by integrating neural cells into 3D bioprinted skeletal muscle constructs. The study, published in Nature Communications, demonstrates the potential for these constructs to restore normal muscle weight and fu...

SourceAtrium Health Wake Forest Baptist·JournalNature Communications·DateFeb 24, 2020