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Science News for April 28, 2021


International COVID registry finds inequities in heart attack outcomes based on ethnicity

The study analyzed over 1,600 patients with STEMI during the COVID-19 pandemic and found that those with COVID-19 positive status had higher in-hospital mortality and were less likely to receive diagnostic angiograms. Additionally, patients of minority ethnicity and with diabetes had poorer outcomes.

SourceSociety for Cardiovascular Angiography and Interventions·JournalJournal of the American College of Cardiology·DateApr 28, 2021

Fish oil supplements linked with heart rhythm disorder

A comprehensive meta-analysis found that omega-3 fatty acid supplementation was associated with a significantly increased risk of atrial fibrillation, a heart rhythm disorder. The study included over 50,000 patients and suggested that fish oil supplements should be used cautiously in individuals at elevated cardiovascular risk.

SourceEuropean Society of Cardiology·JournalEuropean Heart Journal - Cardiovascular Pharmacotherapy·DateApr 28, 2021

How behavioral rhythms are fine-tuned in the brain

A team at Kanazawa University found that vasopressin neurons play a critical role in regulating the timing of output from the molecular clock, which governs circadian behaviors. The study used mice with altered GABA signaling to demonstrate the importance of these neurons in maintaining behavioral rhythms.

SourceKanazawa University·JournalProceedings of the National Academy of Sciences·DateApr 28, 2021

Stress slows the immune response in sick mice

The study found that stress impairs immune cells' ability to move and fight diseases by inhibiting their movements. This effect is caused by the neurotransmitter noradrenaline, which activates the sympathetic nervous system, leading to reduced blood flow, oxygen deprivation, and calcium signaling in leukocytes.

SourceCell Press·JournalImmunity·DateApr 28, 2021

Combined recognition strategy allows CAR T cells to kill solid tumors in mice and avoid side effects

Researchers have developed a new generation of CAR T cells that safely target and kill solid tumors in mice with mesothelioma, ovarian cancer, and glioblastoma. The 'prime-and-kill' molecular circuits enable specific recognition of tumor antigens on healthy tissues, reducing the risk of side effects.

SourceAmerican Association for the Advancement of Science (AAAS)·JournalScience Translational Medicine·DateApr 28, 2021

COVID-19 may result in prolonged infection in immunocompromised children and young adults

Researchers at Children's Hospital Los Angeles report two cases of prolonged SARS-CoV-2 infection in immunocompromised children, highlighting the need for revised infection control policies. The study notes that months-long infections may increase the incidence of viral mutations, which could have significant public health implications.

SourceChildren's Hospital Los Angeles·JournalEBioMedicine·DateApr 28, 2021

The science of picky shoppers

A new study from Penn State defines what it means to be a picky shopper, exploring the psychological dimensions of this trait. Researchers found that picky shoppers have a small window of acceptance and are more likely to reject free gifts or products based on their idiosyncratic preferences

SourcePenn State·JournalJournal of Consumer Psychology·DateApr 28, 2021

Study finds people of color more likely to participate in cancer clinical trials

A new study from the University of Missouri School of Medicine found that people of color, those with a higher income, and younger individuals are more likely to participate in cancer clinical trials. The analysis of 20,053 respondents showed an average overall clinical trial participation rate of 6.51%, with significant differences in...

SourceUniversity of Missouri-Columbia·JournalContemporary Clinical Trials Communications·DateApr 28, 2021

Improving the way vets care for animals and people

A University of Arizona researcher found that veterinarians and breeders often hold biases against each other, which can lead to suboptimal animal care. Her study proposes solutions to bridge the divide between pet owners, breeders, and vets, including using nonverbal cues, empathy, and unconditional positive regard in communication.

SourceUniversity of Arizona·JournalJournal of the American Veterinary Medical Association·DateApr 28, 2021

Algorithm scours electronic health records to reveal hidden kidney disease

A new algorithm developed by researchers at Columbia University can automatically scan electronic medical records for signs of chronic kidney disease, alerting physicians to patients in the earliest stages. The algorithm performs nearly as well as experienced nephrologists, correctly diagnosing kidney disease in 95% of identified cases.

SourceColumbia University Irving Medical Center·JournalDigital Medicine·DateApr 28, 2021

Dynamic changes in early childhood development may lead to changes in autism diagnosis

A recent study found that children on the autism diagnostic border exhibit dynamic presentations of clinical features, leading to increased susceptibility of gaining or losing their diagnosis over time. The researchers used machine learning to empirically characterize the classification boundary between ASD and non-ASD participants.

SourceChildren's Hospital of Philadelphia·JournalJournal of Child Psychology and Psychiatry·DateApr 28, 2021

Seasonal water resource on the Upper Indus

Geographers at Heidelberg University created a full inventory of seasonal aufeis fields in the Upper Indus Basin, discovering over 3,700 fields across 300 square kilometers. These natural reservoirs play an essential role in hydrology and climatology, particularly in irrigation and hydropower generation.

SourceHeidelberg University·JournalThe Science of The Total Environment·DateApr 28, 2021

Researchers develop comprehensive pregnancy care management plan among Chinese pregnant women type 1 diabetes

A comprehensive preconception-to-pregnancy management plan has been developed to reduce the risks of adverse pregnancy outcomes in pregnant women with type 1 diabetes. The study, CARNATION, provides recommendations for healthcare providers covering 20 items of care and significantly lowers severe adverse pregnancy outcomes.

How acidic are atoms?

Researchers at Vienna University of Technology have developed a new microscopy technique that allows for the measurement of atomic acidity on surfaces. This breakthrough enables analysis of catalysts on an atomic scale, which is crucial for improving chemical reactions.

Should masks be worn outdoors?

Experts debate whether wearing masks outdoors can help reduce covid-19 transmission and encourage mask-wearing indoors. Some argue that normalising outdoor mask-wearing can bring benefits, while others believe efforts should focus on reducing indoor transmission.

SourceBMJ Group·JournalThe BMJ·DateApr 28, 2021

Black hole-neutron star collisions may help settle dispute over Universe's expansion

A new simulation study led by UCL researchers suggests that studying black hole-neutron star collisions could provide a new measurement of the Universe's expansion rate, helping to resolve a long-standing dispute. The study found that instruments on Earth could detect ripples in space-time caused by up to 3,000 such collisions by 2030.

SourceUniversity College London·JournalPhysical Review Letters·DateApr 28, 2021

The shape of light changes our vision

Researchers from UNIGE used mice to study the complex processing of light by the retina, revealing that both light intensity and its temporal shape influence the signal sent to the brain. The findings, published in Science Advances, may lead to new diagnostic and therapeutic possibilities for eye weaknesses.

SourceUniversité de Genève·JournalScience Advances·DateApr 28, 2021

El Niño can help predict cacao harvests up to 2 years in advance

Researchers found that El Niño can accurately predict cacao yields with a high degree of confidence, even 25 months before the harvest. This innovative approach uses machine learning and rigorous data collection to provide valuable insights for farmers and policymakers, enabling them to make informed investment decisions.

A path to graphene topological qubits

Researchers have successfully demonstrated the coexistence of magnetism and superconductivity in graphene, opening a pathway towards graphene-based topological qubits. This breakthrough finding enables the creation of Yu-Shiba-Rusinov states, which are crucial for achieving topological superconductivity.

SourceAalto University·JournalAdvanced Materials·DateApr 28, 2021

Skipping the second shot could prolong pandemic, study finds

A Cornell-led research survey found that many Americans believe the Moderna and Pfizer-BioNTech vaccines provide weak protection against COVID-19 after a second dose. The study highlights the need for improved guidance on continued public health precautions, such as wearing masks, to combat vaccine attrition and prolong pandemic recovery.

SourceCornell University·JournalNew England Journal of Medicine·DateApr 28, 2021

CCNY team makes single photon switch advance

The City College of New York team demonstrated the use of Rydberg states to enhance nonlinear optical interactions in solid state systems, creating a chip-scale scalable single photon switch. This breakthrough enables the realization of quantum photonic technologies by amplifying scalability.

SourceCity College of New York·JournalNature Communications·DateApr 28, 2021

New method might improve prostate cancer and high cholesterol treatments

Researchers have developed a new method to control human hormones and metabolism, which could help prevent diseases such as prostate cancer and high cholesterol. The method involves binding to the POR protein, influencing hormone production and degradation, and has shown promise in treating prostate cancer by regulating CYP17 levels.

SourceUniversity of Copenhagen - Faculty of Science·JournalNature Communications·DateApr 28, 2021

People of color hardest hit by air pollution from nearly all sources

A new study models people's exposure to air pollution by race-ethnicity and income level, finding that exposure disparities among people of color and white people are driven by nearly all emission source types. The researchers found that air pollution disparities arise from a more systemic set of causes than previously understood.

SourceUniversity of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign, News Bureau·JournalJournal of Mathematical Sciences Advances and Applications·DateApr 28, 2021

May Day: How electricity brought power to strikes

Historical research from Lund University reveals that electrification strengthened professional groups' negotiating power, leading to more strikes over wage increases. The study analyzed 8,000 strikes between 1859 and 1938 and found that technological change was a rare trigger.

SourceLund University·JournalThe Journal of Economic History·DateApr 28, 2021

How can we stop mankind from stagnating?

The global human population is projected to lead to food and water shortages, pollution, poverty and social tension. A new mathematical model suggests that intrinsic factors, such as Turing instability, may drive heterogeneous population distribution, regardless of geographical heterogeneity.

SourceUniversity of Leicester·JournalJournal of The Royal Society Interface·DateApr 28, 2021

Spring forest flowers likely key to bumble bee survival, Illinois study finds

A new Illinois-based study finds evidence of a steady decline in the availability of springtime flowers in wooded landscapes, which likely endangers queen bees' ability to start their nesting season. The scarcity of early-season flowers, particularly in forests, is attributed to declining forest plant cover since 1997.

SourceUniversity of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign, News Bureau·JournalJournal of Applied Ecology·DateApr 28, 2021

Nearly all fine particulate air pollution sources disproportionately affect people of color in the US

A new study found that nearly all fine particulate air pollution sources affect people of color more than whites, with industry and vehicle emissions being major contributors. The disparities persist across income levels and geographic regions, suggesting systemic issues behind the findings.

Restricting internet searches causes stock market instability: study

A new study published in the Journal of Financial Economics found that restricting internet searches for investors can lead to increased stock market instability. The research, conducted by RMIT University, discovered that firms regularly searched on Google were 19% more unstable after Google's withdrawal from mainland China in 2010.

SourceRMIT University·JournalJournal of Financial Economics·DateApr 28, 2021

UC San Diego engineering professor solves deep earthquake mystery

A University of California San Diego engineering professor has solved the mystery of deep-focus earthquakes, which originate between 400 and 700 kilometers below the Earth's surface. Her new theory explains how high pressures cause olivine rock to transform into denser spinel, leading to volume collapse and seismic waves.

SourceUniversity of California - San Diego·JournalJournal of the Mechanics and Physics of Solids·DateApr 28, 2021

A pioneering study: Plant roots act like a drill

Researchers at Tel Aviv University have discovered that plant roots grow with a spiral motion, controlled by the hormone auxin, which also assists cancer cells in penetrating tissue. This finding significantly advances plant research and has potential applications in understanding cancer cell behavior.

SourceTel-Aviv University·JournalNature Communications·DateApr 28, 2021

Society for Cardiovascular Angiography and Interventions updates consensus guidelines on best practices

The Society for Cardiovascular Angiography and Interventions has released updated consensus guidelines on best practices in cardiac catheterization laboratories. The new recommendations focus on patient-centered approaches, staff qualifications, and quality metrics to optimize outcomes. The document covers topics such as pre-procedure ...

SourceSociety for Cardiovascular Angiography and Interventions·JournalCatheterization and Cardiovascular Interventions·DateApr 28, 2021

Harvesting water from air with hydrogels and MOFs

Researchers have developed hybrid materials that combine hydrogels and metal-organic frameworks (MOFs) to optimize water harvesting technologies for various environments. These materials have the potential to provide a sustainable source of water in arid conditions, as well as improve energy efficiency in air conditioning systems.

SourceAmerican Chemical Society·JournalChemical & Engineering News·DateApr 28, 2021