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Science News Archive 2021 - Page 185


Page 185 of 510

How innovative DNA from pills could snare drug syndicates

Researchers at Flinders University have developed a method to recover DNA from the surface of capsules containing illicit drugs, such as MDMA. This breakthrough enables law enforcement agencies to potentially link various drug seizures around the world and identify suspects through DNA profiling.

SourceFlinders University·JournalForensic Science International·TypeExperimental study·DateAug 5, 2021

Mixing a cocktail of topology and magnetism for future electronics

Researchers explore joining topological insulators with magnetic materials to achieve quantum anomalous Hall effect, promising building blocks for low-power electronics. The 'cocktail' approach allows tuning of both magnetism and topology in individual materials, enabling operation closer to room temperature.

SourceARC Centre of Excellence in Future Low-Energy Electronics Technologies·JournalAdvanced Materials·TypeLiterature review·DateAug 5, 2021

Zoonotic threats must be integrated into global health security planning, say experts

Global health practitioners urge integrating surveillance of zoonotic diseases into health security intelligence systems to effectively handle future pandemics. Companion, zoo, and shelter animals pose significant risks due to limited monitoring and stress levels, leading to potential transmission of animal infections to humans.

SourceSAGE·JournalJournal of the Royal Society of Medicine·TypeObservational study·DateAug 5, 2021

Imagination exercise helps people get a grip on real pandemic risks

A Duke University study found that combining risk data with an imagination exercise helps participants make more realistic decisions about their own risky behaviors. The intervention, now integrated into a publicly accessible data dashboard, aims to improve public health decisions during the pandemic.

SourceDuke University·JournalProceedings of the National Academy of Sciences·TypeExperimental study·DateAug 5, 2021

A more complete molecular picture of lung squamous cell carcinoma comes into view

A comprehensive molecular map of lung squamous cell carcinoma has identified potential new drug targets, including the gene NSD3, and highlighted immune regulation pathways that could help cancer evade immunotherapies. The study's findings have also revealed metabolic dysregulation and crosstalk between different cellular processes.

SourceBroad Institute of MIT and Harvard·JournalCell·TypeComputational simulation/modeling·DateAug 5, 2021

To advance human rights, consult neuroscience

Researchers at Brown University introduce 'dignity neuroscience,' arguing that universal rights are rooted in human brain science. The concept posits five core elements - agency, autonomy, and self-determination; freedom from want and fear; uniqueness; and unconditionality - which reflect fundamental features of the human brain.

SourceBrown University·JournalAnnals of the New York Academy of Sciences·TypeLiterature review·DateAug 5, 2021

COVID-19 boost for baby sleep

A new study published in Sleep Medicine has found that the COVID-19 pandemic brought about increased infant sleep duration and decreased daytime drowsiness in parents. However, it also introduced more screen time for babies and mild increases in depressive symptoms among parents.

SourceFlinders University·JournalSleep Medicine·TypeObservational study·DateAug 5, 2021

Antibody findings spark ideas for pan-coronavirus vaccine

Scientists identified five human monoclonal antibodies that can neutralize multiple beta-coronaviruses by targeting a conserved structure in the spike protein. These antibodies showed promise in reducing viral load and enhancing immune responses in hamsters, providing potential inspiration for broadly protective vaccines.

SourceUniversity of Washington School of Medicine/UW Medicine·JournalScience·TypeExperimental study·DateAug 5, 2021

Study finds improvement for those receiving medication for opioid use disorder with contingency management used

Contingency management has been shown to be efficacious in addressing key clinical problems among patients receiving medication for opioid use disorder. The study found that CM improved outcomes on psychomotor stimulant use, polysubstance use, illicit-opioid use, cigarette smoking, therapy attendance, and medication adherence.

SourceLarner College of Medicine at the University of Vermont·JournalJAMA Psychiatry·TypeLiterature review·DateAug 4, 2021

Up in smoke

Researchers developed a method combining meteorological models with NASA satellite data to estimate smoke height and predict its downward spread. This can help forecasters issue accurate warnings for nearby residents, protecting those with lung and heart conditions.

SourceUniversity of Utah·JournalJournal of Geophysical Research Atmospheres·DateAug 4, 2021

Study links high lipid levels in early pregnancy with congenital heart disease in children

A study published in Acta Obstetricia et Gynecologica Scandinavica found that pregnant women with elevated blood lipids, particularly triglycerides and Apolipoprotein-B, were more than twice as likely to deliver children with congenital heart disease. The research highlights the importance of maintaining good health during pregnancy an...

SourceWiley·JournalActa Obstetricia Et Gynecologica Scandinavica·DateAug 4, 2021

Enzyme from Amazon fungus could enhance efficiency of second-generation ethanol production

Researchers discovered an enzyme from Amazon fungus Trichoderma harzianum capable of breaking down diverse plant biomass sugars, enhancing the efficiency of second-generation ethanol production. The enzyme's industrial use is now viable at low cost due to genetic engineering techniques.

SourceFundação de Amparo à Pesquisa do Estado de São Paulo·JournalScientific Reports·TypeNews article·DateAug 4, 2021

A new way to treat PTSD?

Researchers discovered a new way to treat PTSD by targeting epigenetic modifications. Combining two natural products, SAMe and vitamin A, reversed PTSD-like behaviors in animals. This approach offers hope for a non-toxic treatment that addresses the underlying genetic cause of the disease.

SourceBar-Ilan University·JournalMolecular Psychiatry·DateAug 4, 2021

Researchers discover new strategy for developing human-integrated electronics

Scientists at the University of Chicago have developed a new approach called click-to-polymer (CLIP) to attach functional units to polymer semiconductors, overcoming limitations in their functionality. The CLIP method enables the creation of multifunctional conjugated polymers for human-integrated electronics, including disease detecto...

SourceUniversity of Chicago·JournalMatter·TypeExperimental study·DateAug 4, 2021

When vibrations increase on cooling: Anti-freezing observed

Researchers have observed a unique phenomenon where vibrations in a nickel oxide material increase with cooling, leading to the formation of faster fluctuations and ordered regions. This behavior is unusual and differs from the expected trend, which is that less thermal energy leads to more fluctuations freezing and order growing.

SourceHelmholtz-Zentrum Berlin für Materialien und Energie·JournalPhysical Review Letters·DateAug 4, 2021

Do cancer survivors experience accelerated aging?

A study published in the Journal of the American Geriatrics Society found that cancer survivors, especially older individuals, are more likely to experience accelerated functional decline. Cancer survivors had lower physical performance scores, steeper declines in grip strength and gait speed compared to non-cancer survivors.

SourceWiley·JournalJournal of the American Geriatrics Society·DateAug 4, 2021

Debt crises: Politics determine how developing countries borrow

A new study by researchers at Princeton University found that developing countries tend to borrow in domestic currencies when issuing sovereign bonds, allowing them to act on their domestic policy preferences. This choice affects the types of pressures creditors put on governments and the ease or difficulty in paying off debts.

SourcePrinceton School of Public and International Affairs·JournalInternational Organization·DateAug 4, 2021

Pandemic job search anxiety is common; how you channel it may make the difference

Researchers found that job seekers who channel their anxiety through problem-solving pondering are more likely to exert effort in productive ways, such as focusing on reevaluating and improving their job search behaviors. In contrast, those who engage in affect-focused rumination, feeling afraid or upset about their job search, are les...

SourceUniversity of Arizona·JournalJournal of Applied Psychology·TypeSurvey·DateAug 4, 2021