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Science News for May 7, 2020


Editorial: US healthcare must take a more proactive approach to prepare for future disasters

The COVID-19 pandemic exposed major deficiencies in the US healthcare system, highlighting the need for improved health maintenance and emergency preparedness. The article argues that public health systems are underfunded and understaffed, leading to inadequate responses to slow-moving mass casualty incidents like COVID-19.

Twitter -- not just pointless babble

The new book Twitter - A Biography explores the journey of Twitter from its inception to its current status as a global platform for news, political messages, and crisis communication. Professors Jean Burgess and Nancy Baym argue that Twitter's original social value has been lost amidst noise of antagonistic debate and self-promotion.

Quantum jump tipping the balance

Researchers at the Max Planck Institute for Nuclear Physics have successfully measured infinitesimal changes in mass of individual atoms for the first time, opening a new world for precision physics. The team discovered a previously unobserved quantum state in rhenium, which could be interesting for future atomic clocks.

SourceMax-Planck-Gesellschaft·JournalNature·DateMay 7, 2020

See a 3D mouse brain with single-cell resolution

A new 3D atlas of the mouse brain provides cellular-level detail, identifying previously unseen structures and nerve fibers. The Allen Mouse Brain Common Coordinate Framework (CCFv3) is an average of serial images from 1,675 mice, allowing for comparison and integration of diverse data types.

SourceCell Press·JournalCell·DateMay 7, 2020

The Lancet Rheumatology: Small observational study of patients with severe COVID-19 treated with the arthritis drug anakinra finds clinical improvements

A small observational study of 29 Italian patients with severe COVID-19 and hyperinflammation found that high-dose intravenous anakinra was associated with respiratory improvements and reduced signs of cytokine storm in 72% of patients. The treatment was generally safe, but more research is needed to fully understand its effectiveness.

SourceThe Lancet·JournalThe Lancet Rheumatology·DateMay 7, 2020

Revealing links between education and a good diet

Researchers analyzed data from 27,334 individuals across 12 European countries to examine the relationship between socioeconomic status, education, and diet. The study found that higher educational status was associated with improved nutritional intake, particularly iron and total folate. This highlights the need for targeted policies ...

SourceUniversity of Leeds·JournalPLOS ONE·DateMay 7, 2020

New review of studies shows no link between prenatal antidepressant exposure and autism

A new meta-analysis by Jeffrey Newport found no association between prenatal antidepressant use and autism in children, despite previous studies suggesting a potential link. Limited access to healthcare among ethnic minority and immigrant mothers was identified as the root cause of bias, leading to inaccurate study results.

SourceUniversity of Texas at Austin·JournalAmerican Journal of Psychiatry·DateMay 7, 2020

Stem cells shown to delay their own death to aid healing

Researchers have found that stem cells in planarians can postpone their own death to respond to an injury, allowing them to gather around the site of the wound and mount a response. This unique ability has implications for cancer research and therapies, particularly when examining chemotherapy and surgery options.

SourceCornell University·JournalCurrent Biology·DateMay 7, 2020

A closer look at superconductors

A new measuring method called Higgs spectroscopy helps understand the dynamics of paired electrons in superconductors, revealing typical precursors of superconductivity even above the critical temperature. The technique uses a multi-cyclic terahertz pulse to excite Higgs oscillations and measure them precisely.

SourceHelmholtz-Zentrum Dresden-Rossendorf·JournalNature Communications·DateMay 7, 2020

Hygiene reduces the need for antibiotics by up to 30%

A new study reveals that everyday hygiene practices, such as hand-washing, can reduce the risk of common infections by up to 50% and the need for antibiotics by up to 30%. This could help prevent hundreds of thousands of deaths from antimicrobial resistance (AMR) globally each year.

SourceSpink Health·JournalAmerican Journal of Infection Control·DateMay 7, 2020

Vitamin D linked to low virus death rate -- Study

A new study has found an association between low average levels of vitamin D and high numbers of COVID-19 cases and mortality rates across 20 European countries. Vitamin D modulates the response of white blood cells, preventing excessive inflammatory cytokine release, which is a key factor in COVID-19 severity.

SourceAnglia Ruskin University·JournalAging Clinical and Experimental Research·DateMay 7, 2020

High color purity 3D printing

Researchers at ICFO have developed a new photothermal sensitizer using tungsten oxide nanoparticles, enabling the production of high-color-purity 3D objects and overcoming previous limitations. The new method allows for efficient and cost-effective fabrication of complex geometries with precise color control.

Telescopes and spacecraft join forces to probe deep into Jupiter's atmosphere

The collaboration provides new insights into Jupiter's turbulent weather, including the association of lightning outbreaks with specific cloud structures. The team maps lightning flashes onto optical images, revealing a three-way combination of clouds and clear regions that facilitate convection and energy release.

SourceNASA/Goddard Space Flight Center·JournalThe Astrophysical Journal Supplement Series·DateMay 7, 2020

Emergency drug overdose visits associated with increased risk for later suicide

Patients who visited the emergency department for an opioid overdose are 100 times more likely to die by drug overdose in the year after being discharged. Those who experienced a sedative/hypnotic overdose had overdose death rates 24 times higher and suicide rates 9 times higher than the general population.

SourceNIH/National Institute of Mental Health·JournalAmerican Journal of Preventive Medicine·DateMay 7, 2020

Study examines factors affecting racial disparities before kidney transplantation

A study examining factors affecting racial disparities before kidney transplantation found that socioeconomic status and comorbidities explain up to 58% of the disparity in listing. Black patients with kidney failure are more likely to be waitlisted than white patients, despite similar rates of transplant receipt.

SourceAmerican Society of Nephrology·JournalClinical Journal of the American Society of Nephrology·DateMay 7, 2020

Sleep difficulties linked to altered brain development in infants who later develop autism

New research suggests that sleep problems in babies may be associated with altered growth trajectory in the hippocampus, a key part of the brain involved in learning and memory. Infants who later develop autism were more likely to have difficulty falling asleep, which was linked to changes in the size of the hippocampus.

SourceUniversity of Washington·JournalAmerican Journal of Psychiatry·DateMay 7, 2020

Which COVID-19 models should we use to make policy decisions?

Researchers developed a new process to combine multiple disease models for outbreak management, reducing uncertainty and providing better tools for decision makers. The three-part process allows policymakers to evaluate valuable ideas from across the modeling community and identify critical uncertainties to prioritize research directions.

SourcePenn State·JournalScience·DateMay 7, 2020

Scientists measured electrical conductivity of pure interfacial water

Researchers from Skoltech and German partners measure the electrical conductivity of pure interfacial water, finding it five orders of magnitude higher than bulk water. The discovery sheds light on complex fluids and has implications for electrochemical energy systems, membrane technologies, and nanofluidics.

SourceSkolkovo Institute of Science and Technology (Skoltech)·JournalThe Journal of Physical Chemistry Letters·DateMay 7, 2020

Global trade in soy has major implications for the climate

A recent study by the University of Bonn found that Brazilian soy exports have a significant impact on the climate, with varying levels of CO2 emissions depending on the location where soybeans are grown. The researchers used Life Cycle Assessment methodology to estimate the carbon footprint of Brazil's soy exports and found that some ...

SourceUniversity of Bonn·JournalGlobal Environmental Change·DateMay 7, 2020

Plasma electrons can be used to produce metallic films

Researchers at Linköping University have developed a method to create thin metallic films using free electrons in a plasma, eliminating the need for powerful molecular reducing agents. This innovation enables the production of processors and similar components without the constraints of traditional chemical vapor deposition methods.

SourceLinköping University·JournalJournal of Vacuum Science & Technology A Vacuum Surfaces and Films·DateMay 7, 2020

How to win back customer defectors

Researchers found that winning back lost customers can lead to increased profits, but requires a failure-tolerant organizational culture that encourages open discussion and accountability. Successful reacquisition management also involves establishing guidelines for employees to follow when addressing customer defections.

SourceAmerican Marketing Association·JournalJournal of Marketing·DateMay 7, 2020

Key failings in government's approach to COVID-19 preparations and emergency response

Research finds UK government's reliance on 'lean production' and 'just in time' continuity planning left NHS stockpiles short of vital supplies and capacity for PPE, ventilators, and testing. The paper suggests a new independent body should be set up to take responsibility for future national emergency preparedness.

SourceCity St George’s, University of London·JournalJournal of Risk Research·DateMay 7, 2020

A new high-resolution, 3D map of the whole mouse brain

A new high-resolution 3D map of the mouse brain has been published, providing a reference atlas for the neuroscience community. The map enables whole-brain studies and improves research by allowing researchers to precisely co-register different types of data, enabling bigger-picture views and comparisons.

SourceAllen Institute·JournalCell·DateMay 7, 2020

NIH-funded study links early sleep problems to autism diagnosis among at-risk children

A small NIH-funded study suggests that early sleep problems may further raise the likelihood of an autism diagnosis among at-risk children. The study found that high-risk children who met criteria for ASD scored higher for sleep problems and had more growth in the brain's hippocampus region.

Molecule reduces multiple pathologies associated with Alzheimer's disease

Researchers developed a compound that significantly reduced amyloid plaques, lessened brain inflammation, and diminished molecular markers of Alzheimer's disease. The findings suggest that drugs targeting different regions of amyloid-beta protein fragments and metal ions could improve outcomes for people with Alzheimer's.

SourceUniversity of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign, News Bureau·JournalACS Chemical Neuroscience·DateMay 7, 2020

COVID-19 baby boom? This new study suggests perhaps not

A recent study of over 1,400 couples in Italy found that despite lockdowns, most people did not plan to conceive during the COVID-19 crisis. The main reasons cited were economic difficulties and concerns about pregnancy complications. Meanwhile, some 140 people even expressed a new desire for parenthood during quarantine.

SourceTaylor & Francis Group·JournalJournal of Psychosomatic Obstetrics & Gynecology·DateMay 7, 2020

Ancient Andes, analyzed

An international team analyzed genome-wide data from 89 ancient individuals in the central Andes, revealing early genetic distinctions between groups, population mixing, and surprising genetic continuity. The study provides a comprehensive portrait of pre-Columbian Andean civilizations.

SourceHarvard Medical School·JournalCell·DateMay 7, 2020

Lipid metabolism controls brain development

A recent study by University of Zurich researchers has identified a key mechanism controlling brain development and cognitive function. The study found that a lipid metabolism enzyme, fatty acid synthase (FASN), regulates the lifelong activity of brain stem cells, leading to reduced division and learning deficits.

SourceUniversity of Zurich·JournalCell Stem Cell·DateMay 7, 2020

Portable, reusable test for COVID-19

University of Utah engineer Massood Tabib-Azar has developed a portable, reusable test for COVID-19 that works with cellphones. The sensor uses just a drop of saliva and can produce results in a minute, and is designed to be reused multiple times by destroying the previous sample.

Gemini gets lucky and takes a deep dive into Jupiter's clouds

The Gemini North telescope has collected some of the highest resolution images of Jupiter ever obtained from the ground, complementing Hubble observations to reveal details about Jovian weather. The images show that lightning strikes and giant storm systems are formed in large convective cells over deep clouds of water ice and liquid.

SourceAssociation of Universities for Research in Astronomy (AURA)·JournalThe Astrophysical Journal Supplement Series·DateMay 7, 2020

Ultra-long-working-distance spectroscopy with 3D-printed aspherical microlenses

Researchers have developed a new technique that uses 3D-printed aspherical microlenses to overcome the limitations of traditional microscope objectives. This allows for ultra-long-working-distance spectroscopy, enabling researchers to study single nanometre-sized light emitters without the need for bulky microscopes.

Virgin birth has scientists buzzing

Researchers have discovered a gene responsible for virgin births in Cape honey bees, allowing workers to lay female eggs without sex. This discovery has significant implications for understanding evolutionary transitions and potentially controlling asexual reproduction.

SourceUniversity of Sydney·JournalCurrent Biology·DateMay 7, 2020