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Science News for October 5, 2020


Efficient pollen identification

A novel method for automated pollen analysis has been developed by combining imaging flow cytometry with deep learning, allowing for accurate species identification and quantitative findings in just 20 minutes. The new tool was tested on 35 plant species and achieved an accuracy rate of 96%, outperforming traditional microscopy methods.

Twisting magnetization with light

Researchers created tiny magnetization patterns known as skyrmions faster using laser pulses, which can have implications for magnetic data processing and storage. The findings clarified how the topology of the magnetic system changes in this process, contributing to stability but also making creation difficult.

SourceForschungsverbund Berlin·JournalNature Materials·DateOct 5, 2020

'Repliclones' fuel perplexing persistence of HIV in the blood of some patients on therapy

Researchers at the University of Pittsburgh have discovered 'repliclones', large clones of HIV-infected cells that produce infectious virus particles, which can cause persistent viremia despite adherence to therapy. This finding has significant clinical implications and highlights a key barrier to developing a true cure for HIV.

SourceUniversity of Pittsburgh·JournalJournal of Clinical Investigation·DateOct 5, 2020

Letter from leading researchers urges terminology update, shift in COVID-19 guidance

A group of leading researchers emphasizes the importance of clarifying COVID-19 terminology related to aerosols and droplets. They stress that public health officials should highlight the risk of airborne transmission and recommend improving ventilation and moving activities outdoors. By doing so, they aim to reduce transmission and pr...

Reactions to perceived broken promises lead to workplace stress for police officers

A study by the University of Birmingham found that police officers experience stress and anxiety when they perceive a violation of their psychological contract, leading to feelings of anger and frustration. The researchers also discovered that fairness and self-efficacy play a crucial role in mediating this relationship.

SourceUniversity of Birmingham·JournalInternational Journal of Stress Management·DateOct 5, 2020

Spinach: good for popeye and the planet

Researchers at American University have developed a new method to create highly active and stable oxygen reduction reaction catalysts from spinach, which outperforms commercial platinum catalysts. The spin-based catalysts have potential applications in hydrogen fuel cells and metal-air batteries.

SourceAmerican University·JournalACS Omega·DateOct 5, 2020

Influenza vaccination may provide roadmap to prevent COVID-19 in CV disease patients

Influenza vaccination has shown promise in preventing cardiovascular complications from COVID-19, particularly in high-risk patients. Three ongoing trials are evaluating the cardioprotective effects of different influenza vaccine formulations and may inform future efforts to develop targeted interventions.

SourceAmerican College of Cardiology·JournalJournal of the American College of Cardiology·DateOct 5, 2020

Snakes reveal the origin of skin colours

A UNIGE team discovers that a single gene mutation affects every skin color in corn snakes, storing both pigments and crystals in lysosome-related vesicles. This study marks a significant step forward in understanding the origin of colors and patterns in vertebrates.

SourceUniversité de Genève·JournalProceedings of the National Academy of Sciences·DateOct 5, 2020

210Pb dating of marine sedimentary cores

The exercise showed that participating laboratories are skilled in radiometric determinations, but struggled with dating results due to varying experience. The application of the 210Pb sediment dating method requires expert knowledge and multidisciplinary expertise.

SourceUniversity of Seville·JournalMarine Pollution Bulletin·DateOct 5, 2020

Women and men executives have differing perceptions of healthcare workplaces according to a survey report in the Journal of Healthcare Management

A survey report in the Journal of Healthcare Management finds that women executives are less likely to see employers as gender-neutral in hiring and promotion. The results show little improvement in these outcomes since 1990, highlighting a persistent gap between men's and women's perceptions of healthcare workplaces.

SourceWolters Kluwer Health·JournalJournal of Healthcare Management·DateOct 5, 2020

Advancing multiprincipal alloys

Researchers have developed a way to predict the properties of multiprincipal element alloys (MPEAs), which exhibit unique combinations of strength, ductility, and damage tolerance. The team used electron microscopy and atomistic simulations to unveil the mechanistic origins of desirable properties in MPEAs.

Deep learning gives drug design a boost

A new computational tool, Metabolite Translator, uses deep learning to predict metabolites in the human body, providing a broader understanding of how drugs interact with enzymes. The method has been shown to perform as well as existing rule-based methods and identified novel enzymes involved in drug metabolism.

SourceRice University·JournalChemical Science·DateOct 5, 2020

Exposure to vitamin D in the womb might minimize risk of high blood pressure for children born to mothers with preeclampsia

A study found that higher vitamin D levels in pregnancy may protect against childhood high blood pressure, particularly for children born to mothers with preeclampsia. The analysis of data on 754 mother-child pairs revealed a dose-related association between cord-blood vitamin D levels and reduced offspring blood pressure.

Caring for others is a key driver in getting people to use chatbots for mental health

A new study from North Carolina State University found that users' desire to help others with mental health problems is a powerful driver for using chatbots. The researchers surveyed 1,114 U.S. adults who had used chatbots for mental health services and discovered that helping others was twice as motivating as helping oneself.

SourceNorth Carolina State University·JournalJournal of Contingencies and Crisis Management·DateOct 5, 2020

Early referral to physical therapy improves function and other symptoms of back pain with sciatica

A randomized controlled trial found that early referral to physical therapy significantly improved function and reduced symptoms of back pain with sciatica compared to usual care. Patients who received physical therapy immediately after their primary care visit reported less disability than those who took the wait-and-see approach.

SourceAmerican College of Physicians·JournalAnnals of Internal Medicine·DateOct 5, 2020

Study identifies characteristics of infused CAR T cells associated with efficacy and toxicity in in patients with large B-cell lymphoma

A study at MD Anderson Cancer Center found that monitoring early changes in circulating tumor DNA can predict patient outcomes. Infused CAR T cells with certain characteristics are associated with better treatment responses, while those with exhaustion signatures may experience poor outcomes.

Dog and human brains process faces differently

A recent study published in The Journal of Neuroscience has revealed striking similarities and differences in how dog and human brains process visual information about others. Researchers used fMRI to compare brain activity patterns between twenty dogs and thirty humans, finding both analogous and divergent patterns of species- and fac...

Some planets may be better for life than Earth

A study by Washington State University scientists has identified two dozen exoplanets that could potentially support complex life. These superhabitable planets are characterized by being older, slightly warmer, and possibly wetter than Earth, with some orbiting stars that may be more suitable for life than our sun.

SourceWashington State University·JournalAstrobiology·DateOct 5, 2020

A small switch with a big impact

Scientists have discovered that tiny point mutations in a gene can modify T cells to be less aggressive, leading to reduced inflammation and autoimmune responses. This finding has potential implications for stem cell transplantation, where T-cell transfusion is used to prevent severe side effects.

SourceUniversity of Würzburg·JournalJournal of Experimental Medicine·DateOct 5, 2020

Blocking vibrations that remove heat could boost efficiency of next-gen solar cells

Researchers at Oak Ridge National Laboratory and the University of Tennessee discovered a way to slow phonons, waves that transport heat, in photovoltaic materials. This discovery holds promise for improving novel hot-carrier solar cells, which convert sunlight to electricity more efficiently than conventional solar cells by harnessing...

SourceDOE/Oak Ridge National Laboratory·JournalScience Advances·DateOct 5, 2020

Gemini South's high-def version of 'A Star is Born'

Astronomers using Gemini South's adaptive optics system have captured detailed images of the Carina Nebula with a resolution comparable to the Webb Space Telescope. The high-def images reveal intricate structures within the nebula, including parallel ridges and fragments being sheared off by strong winds.

SourceRice University·JournalThe Astrophysical Journal Letters·DateOct 5, 2020

Looking for the key to predict heatwaves over the Yangtze River basin 20 days in advance

Researchers from Nanjing University of Information Science & Technology evaluate subseasonal prediction skill for heatwaves in Yangtze River basin using long-term hindcast data from three operational models. They found that superior model fidelity is crucial to predicting heatwave occurrence, intensity and duration at longer lead times.

SourceInstitute of Atmospheric Physics, Chinese Academy of Sciences·JournalAdvances in Atmospheric Sciences·DateOct 5, 2020

Watching your waste

A recent study led by ASU researcher Chris Wharton found that a values-based intervention can reduce household food waste by an average of 28%. The intervention used clear plastic bins to track food waste and highlighted the impact of cost, health, and environmental concerns. Participants reported that watching their waste build up pro...

SourceArizona State University·JournalResources·DateOct 5, 2020

Invasional meltdown in multi-species plant communities

A new experiment reveals that fungal endophytes, which live inside plants, play a key role in invasion success and invasional meltdown in multi-species communities. The study found that alien species share fewer soil microbes with each other than with native species, making them less negatively affected by each other.

SourceUniversity of Konstanz·JournalNature Ecology & Evolution·DateOct 5, 2020

How malaria parasites withstand a fever's heat

A Duke University-led team has discovered how malaria parasites can survive fevers by producing a special lipid molecule and binding to heat shock proteins. This could lead to new ways to fight resistant strains of the disease. The findings also suggest caution when using fever reducers with artemisinin-based compounds.

Memory of the Venus flytrap

Research team successfully visualized intracellular calcium concentrations in the Venus flytrap, revealing that its short-term memory can be explained by changes in calcium concentration. The study demonstrates how a single contact event triggers a burst of calcium ions, which then trigger a second stimulus to close the trap.

SourceNational Institutes of Natural Sciences·JournalNature Plants·DateOct 5, 2020

Turning diamond into metal

By straining diamond to change its electronic properties, researchers can dial it from insulating to highly conductive, or metallic. This breakthrough could lead to the development of new optical devices, quantum sensors, and high-efficiency solar cells.

SourceMassachusetts Institute of Technology·JournalProceedings of the National Academy of Sciences·DateOct 5, 2020

Millimetre-precision drug delivery to the brain

Researchers at ETH Zurich have developed a non-invasive method for concentrating and releasing drugs in the brain with pinpoint accuracy using focused ultrasound. The new technique aggregates drugs at specific sites, reducing dosage requirements by 1,300 times, and preserves physiological barriers between blood and nervous tissue.

SourceETH Zurich·JournalNature Communications·DateOct 5, 2020

Two's a crowd: Nuclear and renewables don't mix

A new study published in Nature Energy reveals that nuclear power does not deliver sufficient carbon emission reductions and should not be considered a low-carbon energy source. Renewable energy investments are found to have stronger correlations with CO2-emission reductions, particularly in countries with lower GDP per capita.

SourceUniversity of Sussex·JournalNature Energy·DateOct 5, 2020

Preliminary results of two large immune therapy studies show promise in advanced cervical cancer

Preliminary results from two large clinical trials investigating a new PD-1-based immune therapy for metastatic cervical cancer suggest improved response rates and potential new treatment options. The trials involved over 150 patients with recurrent or metastatic cervical cancer and tested the combination of balstilimab and zalifrelimab.

Promising breath-test for cancer

Researchers at Flinders University have developed a non-invasive breath test that accurately differentiates between head and neck cancer patients and those with benign diseases. The test uses volatile organic compounds in exhaled breath to detect the presence of cancer, showing high sensitivity and specificity rates.

SourceFlinders University·JournalBritish Journal of Cancer·DateOct 5, 2020