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Science News for July 8, 2020


Stress testing 'coral in a box'

Researchers have developed a rapid stress test to assess coral thermotolerance, allowing for the identification of resilient corals that can survive ocean warming. The 'Coral Bleaching Automated Stress System' (CBASS) enables on-site testing within 18 hours, compared to months in a laboratory.

SourceUniversity of Konstanz·JournalGlobal Change Biology·DateJul 8, 2020

Rock 'n' control

Researchers at University of Göttingen use femtochemistry to film and control chemical reactions on solid surfaces. They successfully transfer principle from molecules to a solid, controlling its crystal structure with high efficiency.

SourceUniversity of Göttingen·JournalNature·DateJul 8, 2020

Biobased chemicals take center stage

Biobased chemicals are being developed to replace petroleum-based products in various industries, including diapers, electronics, and automotive coatings. These new materials offer improved performance and sustainability, with potential applications in areas such as electronic touchscreen displays and emission-reducing coatings.

SourceAmerican Chemical Society·JournalChemical & Engineering News·DateJul 8, 2020

Does early access to pension funds improve health?

A recent study from Singapore found that early access to pension wealth improves overall health status. The researchers analyzed monthly survey data from 2015 to 2019 and discovered that individuals who accessed their pension funds before age 55 had better self-reported health status afterward.

SourceWiley·JournalEconomic Inquiry·DateJul 8, 2020

The story behind a uniquely dark, wetland soil

A team of scientists investigated an unusual wetland soil in California, discovering its peculiar properties that misled initial classification. By analyzing color, water content, vegetation, and chemical composition, they applied a new method to accurately classify the soil as hydric, crucial for conservation.

SourceAmerican Society of Agronomy·JournalSoil Science Society of America Journal·DateJul 8, 2020

The effects of smartphone use on parenting

A new analysis found little evidence of negative impacts on parenting from smartphone use. At low levels of displacing family time, more smartphone use was associated with better parenting.

SourceWiley·JournalJournal of Child Psychology and Psychiatry·DateJul 8, 2020

The best (and worst) materials for masks

Researchers assessed non-traditional mask materials, finding vacuum cleaner filters reduced infection risk by 83% for a 30-second exposure and 58% for a 20-minute exposure. N99 masks were found to be the most effective option, reducing average risk by 94-99%.

SourceUniversity of Arizona·JournalJournal of Hospital Infection·DateJul 8, 2020

Community and law enforcement partnerships best help kids who witness home violence

A Rutgers-led study found that community and law enforcement partnerships can significantly improve PTSD screening and treatment for children who witness home violence. The Child Trauma Response Team model, which provides immediate outreach and victim safety assessments, showed a three-fold increase in child PTSD screens among families...

SourceRutgers University·JournalJournal of Interpersonal Violence·DateJul 8, 2020

When is someone old?

Researchers propose using an equivalency criterion to determine the old age threshold based on a fixed remaining life expectancy, which is consistent with the equivalency criterion. This approach highlights the need to reevaluate traditional measures of aging and provides a more nuanced understanding of population aging.

HKUST researchers discover a novel mechanism regulating planar cell polarity

Researchers at HKUST have discovered a new mechanism that regulates planar cell polarity, a process crucial for development and organ function. The study reveals a critical protein interaction that enables efficient delivery of PCP proteins to the cell surface, offering a potential therapeutic strategy for cancer treatment.

SourceHong Kong University of Science and Technology·JournalJournal of Biological Chemistry·DateJul 8, 2020

Making a material impact

The University of Delaware's new Center for Hybrid, Active, and Responsive Materials (UD CHARM) aims to transform the way materials are made. Researchers will focus on developing new materials with potential applications in biomedicine, security, sensing, and more.

Regulating the properties of MAPbBr3 single crystal via voltage and application

Researchers developed a technique to modify defect populations in perovskite crystals without chemical additives, enabling the material to act as a memristor device with multiple resistance states. The voltage regulation engineering helps improve optical and electrical properties by passivating deep-level donor-like defects.

Bumblebee habitats and diets change over their lifecycle

A study tracked queen bumblebees' movements as they established nests, revealing changes in habitat selection and diet preferences. The findings suggest that diversified landscapes support bumblebee colonies by meeting their changing needs during different phases of their lifecycle.

SourcePLOS·JournalPLOS ONE·DateJul 8, 2020

CHOP-pioneered spatial mapping method pinpoints potential new therapeutic targets in lupus

A team of researchers from Children's Hospital of Philadelphia used a new method to pinpoint potential disease-causing changes in the genome and identified two new potential therapeutic targets for lupus. The study focused on follicular helper T cells and created three-dimensional maps that match variants with genes they likely regulate.

SourceChildren's Hospital of Philadelphia·JournalNature Communications·DateJul 8, 2020

Does a child's height affect their future risk of obesity?

A recent study published in Obesity found that children who are relatively tall for their age have a significantly higher risk of developing obesity. The study examined the health records of over 2.8 million children and found that taller individuals were more likely to have a higher body mass index than shorter children.

SourceWiley·JournalObesity·DateJul 8, 2020

Record efficiency for printed solar cells

Swansea University researchers have reported a record efficiency of 12.2% for four layers of roll-to-roll printed perovskite solar cells (PSCs), marking a significant step towards commercialization. This achievement utilizes the advantages of slot-die coating, which provides controlled wet film thickness and efficient material usage.

SourceSwansea University·JournalSustainable Energy & Fuels·DateJul 8, 2020

Mirror image tumor treatment

Researchers developed a stable 'mirror-image' peptide that effectively blocks the interaction between TIGIT and its ligand PVR, inhibiting tumor growth and metastasis. This approach offers an alternative point of attack for cancer immunotherapy, potentially outperforming existing anti-PD-1 therapy.

SourceWiley·JournalAngewandte Chemie International Edition·DateJul 8, 2020

Early clinical trial tests treatment strategy for pancreatic cancer

A new clinical trial has tested a cocktail of chemotherapy drugs for patients with metastatic pancreatic cancer, showing a median survival time of 14.5 months and a 1-year survival rate of 60.9%. The treatment strategy involves injections of paclitaxel into the abdomen and gemcitabine and nab-paclitaxel into the blood.

SourceWiley·JournalBJS·DateJul 8, 2020

Nurses and midwives take the lead in providing HIV services in Eastern and Southern Africa

A new study identifies key steps toward establishing nurse- and midwife-led HIV services in eastern and southern Africa, including improved training, supportive supervision, and formal mentorship programs. The region has shown remarkable progress toward eliminating HIV, but challenges remain in providing effective antiretroviral therapy.

SourceWolters Kluwer Health·JournalJournal of the Association of Nurses in AIDS Care·DateJul 8, 2020

Does genomics perpetuate inequality?

A new Hastings Center special report critiques the role of genomics in perpetuating racism and inequality. The report argues that genomic knowledge can thwart medicine's advancement of justice and create new forms of social classification and surveillance.

SourceThe Hastings Center·JournalHastings Center Report·DateJul 8, 2020

NIH launches clinical trials network to test COVID-19 vaccines and other prevention tools

The National Institutes of Health has established a new clinical trials network to enroll thousands of volunteers in large-scale clinical trials testing various COVID-19 vaccines and monoclonal antibodies. The COVPN will leverage existing infrastructure and engage communities to secure participants for late-stage clinical trials.

COVID-19: Yin and yang and herd immunity

A recent article by the Society for Disaster Medicine and Public Health emphasizes the importance of understanding herd immunity in the context of COVID-19. The authors argue that traditional definitions of a 'case' are inadequate and propose using daily COVID hospital admissions as a more valid measure of the pandemic's medical impact.

SourceSociety for Disaster Medicine and Public Health, Inc.·JournalDisaster Medicine and Public Health Preparedness·DateJul 8, 2020

New biomaterial could shield against harmful radiation

Researchers at Northwestern University have synthesized a new form of melanin enriched with selenium, called selenomelanin, which shows promise as a shield for human tissue against harmful radiation. The new biomaterial offers better protection than traditional forms of melanin and has potential applications in space travel

SourceNorthwestern University·JournalJournal of the American Chemical Society·DateJul 8, 2020

Towards climate resilient urban energy systems

The article emphasizes the importance of climate resilience in urban energy systems to address climate change and extreme events. Nik and colleagues provide an overview of current progress in adapting urban energy systems to climate change, highlighting limitations in existing approaches.

SourceScience China Press·JournalNational Science Review·DateJul 8, 2020

Spider silk made by photosynthetic bacteria

Photosynthetic bacteria have been engineered to produce spider silk, which is ultra-lightweight and as tough as steel. The discovery could lead to the mass production of sustainable materials such as tear-resistant clothing and biomedical applications.

SourceRIKEN·JournalCommunications Biology·DateJul 8, 2020

A helping hand for cancer immunotherapy

Scientists at Sanford Burnham Prebys discovered that PRMT5 inhibitors can sensitize unresponsive melanoma to immune checkpoint therapy, enhancing antigen presentation and innate immunity. The study suggests that these inhibitors may also be effective in tumors of other types, providing a potential breakthrough for cancer treatment.

SourceSanford Burnham Prebys·JournalScience Translational Medicine·DateJul 8, 2020