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Science News for May 11, 2020


Soft robotic exosuit makes stroke survivors walk faster and farther

A study by Harvard's Wyss Institute shows that a soft robotic exosuit can significantly increase stroke survivors' walking speed and distance. The device, which weighs less than five kilograms, assists patients with impaired gait functions, enabling them to walk faster and farther.

SourceWyss Institute for Biologically Inspired Engineering at Harvard·JournalIEEE Open Journal of Engineering in Medicine and Biology·DateMay 11, 2020

One-size-fits-all approach doesn't work for treating hypertension in pregnancy

A new study published in the Canadian Journal of Cardiology suggests that women's treatment decisions during pregnancy should be tailored to their individual values and preferences. The research found that half of the women preferred tight control of blood pressure, while half preferred less-tight control, with Caucasian ethnicity, uni...

SourceUniversity of British Columbia·JournalCanadian Journal of Cardiology·DateMay 11, 2020

Using self-nudging to make better choices

Researchers describe four categories of self-nudging tools: reminders and prompts, framing decisions in a certain way, reducing accessibility of harmful options, and using social pressure. This behavioral science technique can help individuals negotiate internal conflicts and reach long-term goals.

SourceMax-Planck-Gesellschaft·JournalBehavioural Public Policy·DateMay 11, 2020

When the BumR gives you diarrhea

UT Southwestern researchers discovered a novel mechanism by which Campylobacter jejuni bacteria sense and respond to butyrate, a beneficial fatty acid produced in the large intestine. This finding provides potential therapeutic targets for preventing C. jejuni-induced diarrhea.

SourceUT Southwestern Medical Center·JournalProceedings of the National Academy of Sciences·DateMay 11, 2020

Stresses and flows in ultra-cold superfluids

Researchers developed a new model to study stresses and flows in ultra-cold superfluids. The findings show that the fluid becomes deformed when flowing around impurities, providing valuable insights into quantum mechanical properties at a macroscopic scale.

SourceSpringer·JournalThe European Physical Journal D·DateMay 11, 2020

COVID-19 places added prenatal stress on mother and child that could have lasting impact

Research suggests that COVID-19 has added stress on mothers during pregnancy, affecting their mental health, and potentially impacting their child's future well-being. Four factors of prenatal maternal stress were identified: anxiety/depression, somatic, general affective symptoms, and pregnancy-specific worries.

SourceMcGill University·JournalJournal of the American Academy of Child & Adolescent Psychiatry·DateMay 11, 2020

COPD and smoking associated with higher COVID-19 mortality

A new study has found that people with chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD) and smokers are at a higher risk of severe complications and mortality from COVID-19. Researchers analyzed data from over 2,500 patients with COVID-19 and found that COPD was associated with a 63% risk of severe disease and a 60% risk of mortality.

SourcePLOS·JournalPLOS ONE·DateMay 11, 2020

Artificial synapses on design

Scientists from JARA and Heraeus discovered that tiny material variations can significantly impact memristive device behavior. By controlling these differences, they created a method to design artificial synapses with varying excitability, which could lead to more efficient and reliable storage devices.

SourceForschungszentrum Juelich·JournalScience Advances·DateMay 11, 2020

HKBU-led research team develops novel antiviral targeted drug for nasopharyngeal cancer

A HKBU-led research team developed a novel antiviral drug that selectively disrupts EBV protein, leading to tumour shrinkage and improved survival rates in animal models. The drug has shown promising results in targeting latent EBV infection, providing new treatment options for nasopharyngeal carcinoma.

SourceHong Kong Baptist University·JournalProceedings of the National Academy of Sciences·DateMay 11, 2020

Leap forward in the discovery and development of new antibiotics

Researchers at Monash University have made a significant breakthrough in the development of new glycopeptide antibiotics, which could provide a vital advantage in the fight against resistant bacteria. By combining natural enzymes with synthetic chemistry, scientists can now explore new antibiotics that have never been made before.

SourceMonash University·JournalAngewandte Chemie International Edition·DateMay 11, 2020

Sex, genes and vulnerability

A recent study has identified the complement component 4 (C4) gene as a key factor in understanding sex biases in autoimmune disorders and schizophrenia. Individuals with more C4 genes were found to be less likely to develop autoimmune conditions but more likely to develop schizophrenia.

SourceHarvard Medical School·JournalNature·DateMay 11, 2020

Simple molecular reagents to treat Alzheimer's disease

Researchers developed simple molecular reagents that can simultaneously target and modulate various pathogenic factors in Alzheimer's disease. The reagents displayed redox-dependent reactivities against free radicals, metal-free and metal-bound amyloid-beta, and led to chemical modifications that altered its aggregation.

SourceThe Korea Advanced Institute of Science and Technology (KAIST)·JournalJournal of the American Chemical Society·DateMay 11, 2020

Experimental two-in-one shot may give diabetics a better way to control their blood sugar

Researchers at Stanford University have developed a way to combine insulin with amylin, a second hormone that plays a synergistic role in controlling blood sugar levels. The new technique involves a protective coating that allows the two hormones to coexist in a single shot, enabling patients to take a double-acting injection.

SourceStanford University School of Engineering·JournalNature Biomedical Engineering·DateMay 11, 2020

Street smarts required in heat mitigation

Researchers measured pedestrian heat exposure over regular asphalt roads, reflective coated roads and sidewalks next to the roads. The study found that the surface temperature of coated asphalt road was up to 6 degrees Celsius cooler than the regular road in the afternoon, but the radiant heat over coated asphalt was higher.

SourceArizona State University·JournalEnvironmental Research Letters·DateMay 11, 2020

Breaking down wood decomposition by fungi

Researchers develop a trait-based understanding of fungal decomposition abilities, improving predictive power for early and mid-stage wood decay. The study identifies different fungal traits that explain wood decomposition variation, with great potential to improve carbon cycle predictions in forests.

SourceGeorge Washington University·JournalProceedings of the National Academy of Sciences·DateMay 11, 2020

New test identifies lobster hybrids

Researchers have developed a test to identify lobster hybrids resulting from crossbreeding between European and American lobsters, posing a potential threat to conservation efforts. The study highlights the importance of genetics in distinguishing hybrid lobsters that may spread unwanted genes across native populations.

SourceUniversity of Exeter·JournalScientific Reports·DateMay 11, 2020

Insulin resistance contributes to racial disparities in breast cancer prognosis in US women, Mount Sinai researchers reveal

A new study by Mount Sinai researchers found that insulin resistance is a key factor mediating racial disparities in breast cancer prognosis. Black women with invasive breast cancer had higher rates of insulin resistance and more aggressive tumors than white women.

Eurovision voting points to more than just musical tastes

New research from the University of Stirling and University of Glasgow reveals that Eurovision voting patterns can indicate the likelihood and nature of business exchanges across borders. The study found correlations between voting bias and levels of foreign direct investment, migration movements, and cross-border mergers.

SourceUniversity of Stirling·JournalJournal of International Business Studies·DateMay 11, 2020

Photosynthesis in a droplet

A Max Planck research team led by Tobias Erb developed an artificial chloroplast platform capable of capturing and converting greenhouse gas carbon dioxide with light. The system, created using synthetic biology and microfluidics, outperforms previous synthetic-biological approaches in binding rates for carbon dioxide.

SourceMax-Planck-Gesellschaft·JournalScience·DateMay 11, 2020

Solve invasive seaweed problem by turning it into biofuels and fertilisers

Researchers have developed a cheap and simple way to create biofuel and fertiliser from seaweed, removing plastic from the oceans and cleaning up tourist beaches in the Caribbean and Central America. The process uses acidic and basic catalysts to release sugars that can be used to feed a yeast that produces a palm oil substitute.

SourceUniversity of Bath·JournalJournal of Chemical Technology and Biotechnology·DateMay 11, 2020

Grocery depot brings increased traffic to South Bronx

A new study led by Columbia University's Mailman School of Public Health found that the opening of a FreshDirect warehouse in Mott Haven, Bronx, increased truck and vehicle flow, leading to small increases in air and noise pollution. The researchers estimated increases of 0.06 dBA (noise) and 0.003 µg/m3 (black carbon air pollution).

SourceColumbia University's Mailman School of Public Health·JournalInternational Journal of Environmental Research and Public Health·DateMay 11, 2020

Healthy eating behaviors in childhood may reduce the risk of adult obesity and heart disease

A new scientific statement from the American Heart Association suggests that healthy eating habits in childhood can reduce the risk of adult obesity and heart disease. Allowing children to choose their food options within a healthy environment encourages positive eating behaviors and weight management. Parents and caregivers should foc...

SourceAmerican Heart Association·JournalJournal of the American Heart Association·DateMay 11, 2020

Vocalizations and body movement

Researchers found that participants synchronized their arm movements with those of the vocalizer, even with subtle and hard-to-detect movements. The study suggests that musculoskeletal tensioning affects speech, allowing for communication cues like excitement to be perceived through gesture-induced acoustics.

SourceProceedings of the National Academy of Sciences·JournalProceedings of the National Academy of Sciences·DateMay 11, 2020

Single-cell RNA seq developed to accurately quantify cell-specific drug effects in pancreatic islets

Researchers developed a novel approach to decontaminate single-cell RNA seq data, allowing for accurate quantification of cell-specific drug effects in pancreatic islets. The method revealed species-specific and cell-type-specific responses to drugs, including the induction of insulin production in alpha cells.

Scientists reveal solar system's oldest molecular fluids could hold the key to early life

Researchers used atom-probe tomography to study minerals from an asteroid over 4.5 billion years ago, discovering water precipitates that suggest the presence of sodium-rich fluids. These conditions are ideal for amino acid synthesis, potentially supporting microbial life formation as early as 4.5 billion years ago.

SourceRoyal Ontario Museum·JournalProceedings of the National Academy of Sciences·DateMay 11, 2020

Are our brains hard-wired for longing?

A recent brain imaging study suggests that the absence of a partner can strengthen the motivation to reunite, potentially driving the instinct to form lasting bonds. The research found unique clusters of cells in the brain associated with reunion and social distancing, shedding light on why social distancing is tough.

SourceUniversity of Colorado at Boulder·JournalProceedings of the National Academy of Sciences·DateMay 11, 2020

Loss of green space in India shown to be associated with higher cardiometabolic risk

A new study published in Environmental Health Perspectives found a strong association between the loss of green space and an increase in cardiometabolic risk factors, including hypertension, obesity, and hyperglycaemia. The study analyzed data from over 6,000 adults living in an area south of Hyderabad undergoing urbanization.

SourceBarcelona Institute for Global Health (ISGlobal)·JournalEnvironmental Health Perspectives·DateMay 11, 2020