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Science News Archive 2021 - Page 394


Page 394 of 510

More is better, when it comes to case volume for complex gastrointestinal cancer surgery

A new study published in the Journal of the American College of Surgeons found that patients undergoing elective esophagectomy, gastrectomy, or pancreatectomy for malignancies at top-ranked hospitals had significantly lower in-hospital death rates compared to those at unranked hospitals. The average annual case volume for these high-ri...

SourceAmerican College of Surgeons·JournalJournal of the American College of Surgeons·DateMar 19, 2021

Starving tumors by blocking glutamine uptake

Researchers have identified a small molecule drug candidate that targets the uptake of glutamine in cancer cells, slowing the growth of melanoma and other cancers. The study, published in Molecular Cancer Therapeutics, offers an exciting new therapeutic approach for treating tumors addicted to glutamine.

SourceSanford Burnham Prebys·JournalMolecular Cancer Therapeutics·DateMar 19, 2021

Adults in Canada report adverse childhood experiences

Nearly two-thirds of Canadian adults aged 45-85 reported adverse childhood experiences, including physical abuse, intimate partner violence, and emotional abuse. The research found that exposure to these experiences varied by demographic factors, such as age, sex, education, and socioeconomic status.

SourceMcMaster University·JournalCanadian Medical Association Journal·DateMar 19, 2021

Technique based on artificial intelligence permits automation of crop seed analysis

Researchers developed a non-invasive methodology using artificial intelligence to analyze crop seed quality. The technique uses light-based technology and machine learning to identify immature or poor-quality seeds, avoiding the need for destructive germination tests and providing more accurate results in less time.

SourceFundação de Amparo à Pesquisa do Estado de São Paulo·JournalFrontiers in Plant Science·DateMar 19, 2021

Vaccination by inhalation

MIT researchers develop a vaccination strategy that creates an army of T cells ready at the respiratory tract's mucosal surfaces, boosting immune responses. The approach uses albumin proteins to ferry vaccines across mucosal barriers, offering a quicker response to viral invaders and potential treatment for lung cancer.

SourceMassachusetts Institute of Technology·JournalScience Immunology·DateMar 19, 2021

Organic crystals' ice-forming superpowers

Researchers discover that organic molecules, commonly found in aerosols, can facilitate ice crystal formation in clouds. They also investigate a memory effect where second-round ice formation is more effective than the first, revealing crevices in the nucleant surface can hold onto small amounts of ice.

SourceUniversity of Utah·JournalJournal of the American Chemical Society·DateMar 18, 2021

Surveys find strong support for COVID-19 mitigation measures over time, with differences by age, beliefs, and party affiliation

The study found that a large majority of U.S. adults support COVID-19 mitigation measures, including mask wearing, social distancing, and contact tracing. Support varied across ages, political party affiliation, and levels of trust in science, highlighting the challenges of reaching key groups during the pandemic.

SourceJohns Hopkins Bloomberg School of Public Health·JournalAmerican Journal of Public Health·DateMar 18, 2021

Babies pay attention with down payment from immature brain region

Research using fMRI scans reveals that babies under a year old use areas of their frontal cortex to focus attention, previously thought to be immature. This discovery sheds light on the neural origins of attention in infants, potentially informing early childhood education and neurodevelopmental disorder research.

SourceYale University·JournalProceedings of the National Academy of Sciences·DateMar 18, 2021

Image methods tested on a SARS-CoV-2 protein improve the 3D reconstructions of macromolec

Researchers at Universidad Complutense de Madrid developed new image processing methods to enhance the analysis and three-dimensional reconstruction of biological macromolecules. The methods, published in Nature Communications, improved the visualization and quality of cryogenic electron microscopy-derived 3D reconstructions.

SourceUniversidad Complutense de Madrid·JournalNature Communications·DateMar 18, 2021

Cellular Chinese whispers

Research on E. coli bacteria reveals that higher translation error rates lead to increased phenotypic variability at the single-cell level, affecting cell length and division time. However, population-level growth parameters show inconsistent correlations with mistranslation levels, highlighting the need for further investigation.

Demonstrating the world's fastest spintronics p-bit

Researchers at Tohoku University have developed a nanosecond operation technology for the spintronics-based probabilistic bit, enabling faster computation speeds and accuracy. The device, with an in-plane magnetic easy axis, achieves 100 times faster relaxation times than previous records.

SourceTohoku University·JournalPhysical Review Letters·DateMar 18, 2021