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Science News Archive 2021 - Page 107


Page 107 of 510

Researchers improve method to map brain cell connectivity

Scientists have developed an improved technique to trace brain connections between neurons in zebrafish using vesicular stomatitis virus (VSV), enabling the visualization of connected neurons up to five days after infection. This breakthrough could provide insights into brain network connectivity repair after injury or disease.

SourceVirginia Tech·JournalFrontiers in Neuroanatomy·TypeExperimental study·DateOct 6, 2021

Beavers benefit fish by building dams in Scottish rivers

A new study found that beaver dams in Scottish streams increase the availability of suitable habitat and abundance of food for brown trout, benefiting their growth and abundance. The research showed that beaver-modified streams had larger trout populations with greater sanctuary from predators.

SourceUniversity of Southampton·JournalCanadian Journal of Fisheries and Aquatic Sciences·TypeObservational study·DateOct 6, 2021

The Lancet: Half of the global population lack access to basic diagnostics for many common diseases, new estimates suggest

New estimates suggest nearly half (47%) of the global population has limited or no access to key tests and services for diagnosing common diseases. The Lancet Commission on Diagnostics calls for urgent investment and training to improve access to testing in primary care, especially point-of-care testing.

SourceThe Lancet·JournalThe Lancet·TypeSystematic review·DateOct 6, 2021

Dwarf planet Vesta a window to the early solar system

Researchers have successfully sampled Vesta's mantle using meteorites derived from the dwarf planet, resolving the 'missing mantle problem' and providing a record of the earliest era in solar system formation. This breakthrough pushes back our knowledge to just two million years after the beginning of solar system formation.

SourceUniversity of California - Davis·JournalNature Communications·TypeExperimental study·DateOct 6, 2021

Skyrmion research: Braids of nanovortices discovered

Researchers from Germany, Sweden, and China have discovered braided structures of nanoscale skyrmions in alloys of iron and germanium, offering new insights into their properties and potential uses. These complex shapes stabilize the magnetic structures, making them interesting for applications in information processing.

SourceForschungszentrum Juelich·JournalNature Communications·DateOct 6, 2021

More and more roads but little knowledge about their impact on wildlife

A recent meta-study found that the existing data on road networks' impact on wildlife is limited to high-income countries and only a few species groups. The study highlights the need for further research to understand the effect of roads on threatened species and population dynamics.

SourceGerman Centre for Integrative Biodiversity Research (iDiv) Halle-Jena-Leipzig·JournalPerspectives in Ecology and Conservation·TypeMeta-analysis·DateOct 6, 2021

Massage doesn’t just make muscles feel better, it makes them heal faster and stronger

A Harvard study found that massage therapy using mechanotherapy rapidly clears immune cells from severely injured muscles, enhancing regeneration. The treatment also removed inflammatory cytokines, leading to greater repair and strength recovery in injured muscles.

SourceWyss Institute for Biologically Inspired Engineering at Harvard·JournalScience Translational Medicine·TypeExperimental study·DateOct 6, 2021

Research reveals mechanisms behind “COVID toes”

A new study reveals that COVID toes symptoms are caused by an immune response involving high levels of autoantibodies and type I interferon. Endothelial cells also play a crucial role in the development of the condition, according to the research published in the British Journal of Dermatology.

SourceWiley·JournalBritish Journal of Dermatology·DateOct 6, 2021

Maternal emergencies without a safety net

The MOMENTUM Study reveals high maternal and neonatal mortality rates in East Africa, particularly on Mfangano Island. The study highlights the need for streamlined hand-off systems, community-based care coordinators, and policy-level interventions to address recurrent health worker strikes and facility closures.

SourceUniversity of Minnesota·JournalGlobal Public Health·TypeData/statistical analysis·DateOct 6, 2021

Researchers at CNIO and 12 de Octubre Hospital prove efficacy of new immunotherapy for multiple myeloma

Researchers at CNIO and 12 de Octubre Hospital have developed a new cancer treatment called CAR-NK-cell immunotherapy, which uses natural killer cells to target cancerous cells. The treatment has shown promising results in mice with multiple myeloma, with 25% of treated mice remaining disease-free.

SourceCentro Nacional de Investigaciones Oncológicas (CNIO)·JournalBlood Cancer Journal·TypeExperimental study·DateOct 6, 2021

Some pancreatic cancer clinical trial eligibility criteria may be more likely to disqualify black patients

A simulated screening process for a pancreatic cancer clinical trial showed that Black patients were significantly more likely than white patients to be excluded from trials. The study found that nutrition and infectious disease criteria disproportionately excluded Black patients, while a history of prior cancer treatment excluded more...

Peeling back the layers of the onion genome

Researchers at Yamaguchi University have successfully assembled the genetic map of the onion genome, revealing over 540,000 possible genes. The findings also suggest that functional gene regions are evenly distributed across the genome, highlighting the need for careful examination to determine gene functionality.

SourceYamaguchi University·JournalG3 Genes Genomes Genetics·TypeExperimental study·DateOct 6, 2021

How ‘ice needles’ weave patterns of stones in frozen landscapes

Researchers discovered that ice needles growing on frozen ground can push up rocks into regular patterns through a combination of experiments and computer modeling. Over time, stones cluster together, leaving bare patches stone-free, as the size of the stones, soil moisture, and ice needle growth interact.

SourceUniversity of Washington·JournalProceedings of the National Academy of Sciences·TypeExperimental study·DateOct 6, 2021

Study examines smoking risk factors and prevention among transgender and gender expansive adults

Researchers identified six major themes associated with smoking risk and protective factors among TGE adults, including experience of stress, gender affirmation, and environmental cues. The study aims to design culturally sensitive messaging for smoking cessation through social media and inform further community-engaged research.

SourceUniversity of Pennsylvania·JournalJournal of Medical Internet Research·DateOct 6, 2021

Do opinions regarding climate change adjust to economic conditions?

A new study published in Economic Inquiry finds that economic conditions affect climate change beliefs only among those in the labor force, while retired individuals and students remain unaffected. The analysis resolves conflicting results on the determinants of popular support for climate change initiatives.

SourceWiley·JournalEconomic Inquiry·DateOct 6, 2021

Study gauges healthcare worker stress during pandemic

A new study found that healthcare workers, especially those under age 50 and women, experienced exceptionally high levels of stress during the first wave of the COVID-19 pandemic. The researchers analyzed data from an international questionnaire and discovered that paramedical staff had even higher stress levels than medical doctors.

SourcePLOS·JournalPLOS ONE·TypeObservational study·DateOct 6, 2021

Intelligence emerging from random polymer networks

A team of researchers from Osaka University has designed a sulfonated polyaniline network for reservoir computing, achieving 70% accuracy in speech recognition tasks. The device uses an electrochemical approach and has potential applications in the development of artificial intelligence devices.

SourceOsaka University·JournalAdvanced Materials·TypeExperimental study·DateOct 6, 2021

Line and hook fishing techniques in Epipaleolithic Israel

A study at Jordan River Dureijat site in northern Israel uncovered a wide variety of hook shapes and sinkers, indicating humans had profound knowledge of fish behavior. The findings coincide with the beginning of agriculture in the region, highlighting the importance of aquatic resources for human subsistence.

SourcePLOS·JournalPLOS ONE·TypeObservational study·DateOct 6, 2021