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Science News for May 14, 2020


K-State infectious disease scientist offers road map for future COVID-19 research

A K-State University infectious disease scientist has co-authored a critical needs assessment for coronavirus-related research in companion animals and livestock. The study highlights the importance of studying COVID-19's potential spread between humans and animals, with key areas of focus including animal susceptibility and therapeuti...

SourceKansas State University·JournalVector-Borne and Zoonotic Diseases·DateMay 14, 2020

Social good creates economic boost

A world-first study found social venture start-ups create more jobs than previously thought, with an average job creation effect per firm larger than for commercial counterparts. Social ventures address underserved markets and offer a growth advantage due to lower costs and tax breaks.

SourceQueensland University of Technology·JournalSmall Business Economics·DateMay 14, 2020

Online exercise advice rarely aligns with national physical activity guidelines

A recent study from Oregon State University found that online exercise advice rarely matches the national Physical Activity Guidelines, which advise adults to engage in moderate aerobic activity for at least 150 minutes per week. The study analyzed fitness recommendations from various websites and found that professional associations w...

SourceOregon State University·JournalTranslational Journal of the American College of Sports Medicine·DateMay 14, 2020

Oyster farming and shorebirds likely can coexist

A Rutgers-led study found that oyster aquaculture along the Delaware Bay does not significantly impact four shorebird species, including the federally threatened red knot. The research team discovered a small reduction in shorebird presence, but no detectable impact on foraging behavior.

SourceRutgers University·JournalEcosphere·DateMay 14, 2020

Unlocking the gate to the millisecond CT

A research team at Tohoku University has developed a new method for high-speed, high-resolution X-ray computed tomography (CT) using intense synchrotron radiation. This allows for imaging of samples within milliseconds without the need for extreme rotation, making it possible to control temperature and atmosphere conditions.

SourceTohoku University·JournalOptica·DateMay 14, 2020

Latin America's livestock sector needs emissions reduction to meet 2030 targets

The study analyzed seven Latin American countries and found that widespread adoption of emission-reduction techniques is necessary to meet target. Researchers highlight barriers to adoption, including lack of access to inputs and information, and propose solutions such as formal systems of replication, subsidies, and technical assistance.

Moffitt Cancer Center study suggests more could benefit from CAR T-cell therapy

A Moffitt Cancer Center study found that CAR T-cell therapy, Yescarta, is effective in patients with relapsed/refractory large B cell lymphoma who would not have qualified for clinical trials. The study showed an overall response rate of 82% and durable response rate of 47%, suggesting that these patients can benefit from the therapy.

SourceH. Lee Moffitt Cancer Center & Research Institute·JournalJournal of Clinical Oncology·DateMay 14, 2020

Saving livestock by thinking like a predator

A study led by University of California, Berkeley researchers suggests that effectively reducing encounters between domestic prey and wild predators requires knowing the principles governing ecological interactions among these players and their surrounding landscape. By considering the ecology of how predators hunt, how their prey beha...

SourceUniversity of California - Berkeley·JournalConservation Biology·DateMay 14, 2020

Precision medicine guides choice of better drug therapy in severe heart disease

A study by University of Alabama at Birmingham researcher Nita Limdi and colleagues found that patients with loss-of-function variants who were treated with clopidogrel had elevated risks of heart attacks and death. In contrast, prasugrel or ticagrelor proved to be more effective and cost-effective alternatives for genotype-guided anti...

SourceUniversity of Alabama at Birmingham·JournalThe Pharmacogenomics Journal·DateMay 14, 2020

Genetic origins of hybrid dysfunction

Scientists have identified two genes responsible for a melanoma that develops near the tails of male highland-sheepshead hybrids. These findings provide insight into the genetic causes of hybrid dysfunction and its effects on disease, highlighting the importance of understanding gene interactions in different species.

SourceStanford University·JournalScience·DateMay 14, 2020

A lost world and extinct ecosystem

Researchers at Arizona State University have discovered the earliest evidence for symbolic behavior, complex pyrotechnology, and projectile weapons in South African archaeological sites. The study reveals that a vast plain, now submerged undersea, was a key foraging habitat for early modern humans during glacial phases.

SourceArizona State University·JournalQuaternary Science Reviews·DateMay 14, 2020

New Chicago Booth research suggests patients prefer expert guidance for medical decisions

Patients favor expert guidance in healthcare decisions, rather than full autonomy, according to new research from University of Chicago Booth School of Business Professors Emma Levine and Celia Gaertig. In experiments, participants preferred paternalistic advice over autonomy, even when the outcome was unfavorable.

SourceUniversity of Chicago Booth School of Business·JournalProceedings of the National Academy of Sciences·DateMay 14, 2020

Vitamin B3 revitalizes energy metabolism in muscle disease

Researchers report that vitamin B3 niacin boosts energy metabolism and slows disease progression in mitochondrial myopathy patients by increasing NAD+ levels in blood and muscle tissue. The study reveals niacin's therapeutic effect in delaying disease progression, offering a promising treatment option for this progressive muscle disease.

SourceUniversity of Helsinki·JournalCell Metabolism·DateMay 14, 2020

Scientists develop tool to sequence circular DNA

Scientists have developed a new method called CIDER-Seq to sequence circular DNA, providing insight into its function in bacterial and viral genomes. The tool also sheds light on extrachromosomal circular DNA in human and plant cells, which has been difficult to study due to the lack of effective methods.

SourceUniversity of Alberta·JournalNature Protocols·DateMay 14, 2020

Duality Technologies researchers accelerate privacy-enhanced collaboration on genomic data

Researchers detail accurate privacy-enhanced genome-wide association studies of over 25,000 individuals using homomorphic encryption to yield results 30 times faster than prior secure computation methods. The technology enables collaboration on large-scale genomic and clinical studies while protecting individual participant privacy.

SourceDuality Technologies·JournalProceedings of the National Academy of Sciences·DateMay 14, 2020

Cell therapy treatment for cardiac patients with microvascular dysfunction provides enhanced quality

Researchers conducted a two-center trial of autologous CD34+ cell therapy in 20 NOCAD patients with persistent angina, showing significant improvement in coronary flow reserve, angina frequency, and quality of life. The results demonstrate the potential of CD34+ cell therapy as a promising therapy for CMD patients with angina and NOCAD.

MU Health Care neurologist publishes guidance related to COVID-19 and stroke care

A University of Missouri Health Care neurologist has published new recommendations for evaluating and treating stroke patients with suspected or confirmed COVID-19 infection. The guidelines take into account increased clotting in COVID-19 patients, which raises their risk for stroke, and suggest modifications to manage these patients.

SourceUniversity of Missouri-Columbia·JournalInternational Journal of Stroke·DateMay 14, 2020

2D sandwich sees molecules with clarity

Researchers at Rice University have created a 2D Janus compound that enhances the detection of biomolecules via surface-enhanced Raman spectroscopy. The nonmetallic material boosts signal strength, reducing background noise and improving detection limits.

SourceRice University·JournalNanoscale·DateMay 14, 2020

Coping after breast cancer

A recent NIH-funded project explores how the fear of cancer recurrence affects the well-being and relationships of breast cancer patients and their spouses. The research team, led by Jean-Philippe Laurenceau, will focus on three main health behaviors that can be influenced by recurrence fears.

SCAI releases official position statement on optimal percutaneous interventional therapy for complex coronary artery disease

The Society for Cardiovascular Angiography and Interventions (SCAI) has released a position statement on optimal percutaneous interventional therapy for complex coronary artery disease. The guidelines address the challenges of treating patients with advanced age, frailty, comorbidities, and compromised hemodynamic status.

SourceSociety for Cardiovascular Angiography and Interventions·JournalCatheterization and Cardiovascular Interventions·DateMay 14, 2020

SCAI issues position statement on the performance of percutaneous coronary intervention in ambulatory surgical centers

The Society for Cardiovascular Angiography and Interventions (SCAI) has issued a position statement on the performance of percutaneous coronary intervention (PCI) in ambulatory surgical centers (ASCs). The guidelines recommend diagnostic procedures, procedural standards, and operator standards for ASCs, emphasizing patient suitability ...

SourceSociety for Cardiovascular Angiography and Interventions·JournalCatheterization and Cardiovascular Interventions·DateMay 14, 2020

Pollinator-friendly flowers planted along with crops aid bumblebees

A new study by UMass Amherst and NC State biologists found that flower strips benefit common Eastern bumblebees despite some plants increasing pathogen infection rates. The researchers created three conditions with canola plants and different types of flower strips, showing that bees reproduce more with flower strips than without.

SourceUniversity of Massachusetts Amherst·JournalProceedings of the National Academy of Sciences·DateMay 14, 2020

Answers to these questions can help #Decision2020 build momentum for Americans as we age

The American Geriatrics Society (AGS) has released a high-priority question guide for the 2020 elections, addressing eight policy issues important to older adults. The guide focuses on increasing access to geriatric health professionals, expanding Title VII training programs, and prioritizing aging research to address chronic diseases.

SourceAmerican Geriatrics Society·JournalJournal of the American Geriatrics Society·DateMay 14, 2020

Assessment of deaths from COVID-19, seasonal influenza

A recent study analyzed publicly available data on COVID-19 and seasonal influenza deaths, comparing mortality rates between the two. The research found that while both viruses cause significant morbidity, seasonal influenza was associated with a higher number of deaths compared to COVID-19.

SourceJAMA Network·JournalJAMA Internal Medicine·DateMay 14, 2020