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Science News for July 30, 2020


Two for the price of one

Researchers from Kyoto University have developed a new method to synthesize dicarboxylic acids and generate hydrogen as a byproduct. Using renewable diols and an iridium catalyst, the process achieves greater efficiency and yield, offering a safer alternative for industrial organic chemistry.

SourceKyoto University·JournalChemSusChem·DateJul 30, 2020

Hearing loss linked to neurocognitive deficits in childhood cancer survivors

Researchers at St. Jude Children's Research Hospital found that severe hearing loss in childhood cancer survivors is associated with neurocognitive deficits independent of therapy type. The study evaluated 1,520 survivors and discovered that more than one-third had severe hearing loss, leading to increased risk of neurocognitive problems.

SourceSt. Jude Children's Research Hospital·JournalJAMA Oncology·DateJul 30, 2020

Academic achievement is influenced by how pupils 'do' gender at school

A new study by the University of Cambridge suggests that pupils' attainment is linked to their ideas about what it means to be male or female. Those who defy traditional gender stereotypes appear to do better in the classroom. The researchers found strong correlations between specific gender profiles and patterns of engagement, motivat...

SourceUniversity of Cambridge·JournalJournal of Youth and Adolescence·DateJul 30, 2020

Investigational breast cancer vaccine plus immune therapy work well in tandem

A new vaccine targeting HER2-positive breast cancers has been shown to work effectively in combination with immune checkpoint inhibitors, resulting in pronounced tumor reduction and long-term tumor-free survival. The study found that the vaccine primes the immune system, allowing the checkpoint inhibitor to rally T-cells to action.

SourceDuke University Medical Center·JournalClinical Cancer Research·DateJul 30, 2020

Gut feelings can be good for us

A study led by Jennifer Todd at Anglia Ruskin University found that paying attention to internal bodily sensations can increase appreciation of one's body. The researchers measured gastric interoception and found a link between feelings of fullness and positive body image in adults from the UK and Malaysia.

SourceAnglia Ruskin University·JournalBody Image·DateJul 30, 2020

Implementation of social distancing policies correlates with significant reduction in SARS-CoV-2 transmission

The study found that social distancing policies implemented in the US and globally led to significant reductions in SARS-CoV-2 transmission, with an estimated 1.57 million cases prevented over a two-week period. The researchers also observed a strong correlation between decreased mobility and reduced virus transmission.

In defence mode: this is how Zika virus protects key parts of its genome

Scientists have discovered a simple and ingenious strategy used by the Zika virus to protect important parts of its genome from host cell defence mechanisms. The virus uses an automatic umbrella-like mechanism, where one end of the viral RNA strand is protected while the other is not, allowing it to replicate efficiently.

SourceScuola Internazionale Superiore di Studi Avanzati·JournalNature Communications·DateJul 30, 2020

Young kids could spread COVID-19 as much as older children and adults

A recent study from Ann & Robert H. Lurie Children's Hospital of Chicago found that young children with mild to moderate COVID-19 have higher viral loads than older age groups, suggesting they can transmit the virus just as easily. This finding has significant public health implications for discussions on reopening schools and daycare.

Plastics, pathogens and baby formula: What's in your shellfish?

A recent study found alarming levels of human bacterial pathogens and microdebris materials, including plastics and milk supplement powders, in oysters from the eastern Andaman Sea. The research suggests that coastal urbanization increases contamination in seafood, posing significant health risks to humans and threatening global food s...

SourceUniversity of California - Irvine·JournalThe Science of The Total Environment·DateJul 30, 2020