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Science News for December 6, 2021


Saving patients an unnecessary procedure

A new web-based application can predict which epilepsy patients will not benefit from stereo-electroencephalography (SEEG), a costly and invasive procedure. The '5-SENSE' score reliably identifies patients who will not have a focal seizure onset zone, allowing clinicians to avoid unnecessary procedures.

SourceMcGill University·JournalJAMA Neurology·TypeData/statistical analysis·DateDec 6, 2021

Discovering new drugs with Darwin

Chemists at UNIGE have developed a new method to rapidly generate millions of molecule combinations using DNA-pairing processes, finding the best match for target proteins within two weeks. This technique uses evolutionary forces to amplify the best combinations and generates diversity.

SourceUniversité de Genève·JournalNature Chemistry·TypeExperimental study·DateDec 6, 2021

Turbo boost for materials research: Researchers train AI to predict new compounds

A new machine learning-based algorithm can predict stable material compounds much faster than traditional methods, opening up new avenues for research and discovery. The researchers identified several thousand potential new compounds using the computer, offering a promising breakthrough in materials science.

SourceMartin-Luther-Universität Halle-Wittenberg·JournalScience Advances·TypeComputational simulation/modeling·DateDec 6, 2021

Recent cannabis use linked to extremes of nightly sleep duration

A study of US adults found a link between cannabis use and extremes of nightly sleep duration, with recent users more likely to report short or long sleep. Heavy users were 64% more likely to experience short sleep and 76% more likely to experience long sleep compared to non-users.

SourceBMJ Group·JournalRegional Anesthesia & Pain Medicine·TypeObservational study·DateDec 6, 2021

NUS Medicine cardiovascular research team develops anticoagulant drugs with high anticlotting efficacy and minimal bleeding

The NUS Medicine team developed a series of thrombin inhibitors from tick transcriptome-derived sequences, offering potent anticoagulants with reduced bleeding risks. These next-generation anticoagulants hold promise for treating conditions like heart attacks, strokes, and SARS-CoV-2 infections.

SourceNational University of Singapore, Yong Loo Lin School of Medicine·JournalNature Communications·TypeExperimental study·DateDec 6, 2021

CEHD researchers receive funding for traineeship for special education personnel: A dynamic coaching outreach program in SPED: General Curriculum (DCOP)

Researchers at George Mason University are refining a dynamic coaching outreach program to improve the preparation of special education personnel. The project, funded by the US Department of Education, aims to enhance university supervisors' coaching skills and prepare inservice teacher candidates for active reflection and mentorship.

Diagnosis from the sky: Catching insect infestations within forests before it’s too late

Researchers at the Global Environmental Remote Sensing Laboratory are working on improving remote sensing technology to detect subtle changes in forest ecosystems. They have developed a method called PIDS, which can adapt to specific user-targeted specific change detection, and paired it with Landsat data to monitor forest health and c...

SourceUniversity of Connecticut·JournalRemote Sensing of Environment·TypeData/statistical analysis·DateDec 6, 2021

People unknowingly group themselves together online, fueling political polarization across the US

Researchers found that when people react to news, they unknowingly group themselves into polarized networks, missing out on diverse news sources. This can lead to ideologically homogenous social connections and contribute to the high rates of American political divisiveness.

SourcePrinceton School of Public and International Affairs·JournalProceedings of the National Academy of Sciences·TypeComputational simulation/modeling·DateDec 6, 2021

Targeted nanomedicine reduces vascular lesions, could help prevent stenosis

A new targeted nanomedicine treatment developed at the University of Chicago has shown promise in reducing vascular lesions caused by atherosclerosis. The treatment delivers medicine directly to inflamed cells, targeting the site of inflammation and inhibiting stenosis, the remodeling of vascular tissue that causes it to close off.

SourceUniversity of Chicago·JournalProceedings of the National Academy of Sciences·DateDec 6, 2021

Chemoimmunotherapy dramatically improved survival of high-risk neuroblastoma patients

A phase II clinical trial at St. Jude Children's Research Hospital found significantly higher survival rates for children with high-risk neuroblastoma treated with chemoimmunotherapy and the humanized monoclonal antibody hu14.18K322A, resulting in a three-year disease-free survival rate of 73.7% and an overall survival rate of 86%.

SourceSt. Jude Children's Research Hospital·JournalJournal of Clinical Oncology·DateDec 6, 2021

Migratory birds have lighter-colored feathers

Researchers found that migratory bird species tend to be lighter colored than non-migratory species, reducing the risk of overheating during extreme journeys. The study's findings suggest that lighter plumage coloration helps birds absorb less heat and stay cooler in the hot sun.

SourceCell Press·JournalCurrent Biology·TypeObservational study·DateDec 6, 2021

Self-administered cognition test predicts early signs of dementia sooner

A new study developed by researchers at Ohio State University Wexner Medical Center found that a simple, self-administered test can identify early signs of dementia sooner than the most commonly used office-based standard cognitive test. The Self-Administered Gerocognitive Examination (SAGE test) accurately identified patients with mil...

SourceOhio State University Wexner Medical Center·JournalAlzheimer s Research & Therapy·DateDec 6, 2021

Persistent gender bias found in scientific research and related course materials: A long-term linguistic analysis

Two studies published in Language reveal persistent gender bias in both peer-reviewed journal articles and course materials used in linguistics. Linguistics textbooks exhibit male-gendered protagonists more often, while research articles show stereotypes about men and women, with non-binary identities absent.

SourceLinguistic Society of America·JournalLanguage·TypeMeta-analysis·DateDec 6, 2021

How daily stress during COVID-19 affected parents’ discipline

A study of 323 parents found that daily stress levels, especially in the afternoon and evening, led to increased use of corporal punishment and psychological aggression. The researchers suggest that parents' stress levels in the moment may play a greater role in their discipline practices than overall stress levels.

SourceOhio State University·JournalJournal of Family Violence·TypeObservational study·DateDec 6, 2021

Viewing artists as community problem-solvers increases support for public funding for artists, study shows

A new study found that people who see artists as collaborators in their local communities are more likely to support public funding for artists. The researchers also discovered that individuals with liberal views, blacks, Hispanics, and those with a college education are more supportive of public funding.

New type of earthquake discovered

Researchers have documented a new type of slow earthquake in British Columbia, Canada, triggered by hydraulic fracturing. The events exhibit unique features suggesting they rupture more slowly than conventional earthquakes, challenging the current understanding of induced earthquakes.

SourceRuhr-University Bochum·JournalNature Communications·DateDec 6, 2021

Powerful new tool makes coral reef monitoring faster, easier, cheaper

Researchers have developed a powerful new tool that can determine the diversity of hard corals on a reef by analyzing DNA in seawater samples. This method is faster, easier, and less expensive than traditional visual identification, allowing for more accurate coral reef conservation and restoration.

SourceOkinawa Institute of Science and Technology (OIST) Graduate University·JournalFrontiers in Marine Science·TypeExperimental study·DateDec 6, 2021

Chemotherapy fails for some blood cancer patients because of crucial gene mutations, finds study by NTU Singapore and Singapore General Hospital

A recent study by NTU Singapore and Singapore General Hospital found that mutations in the DDX3X gene are responsible for chemotherapy resistance in some blood cancer patients. The study also discovered that STAT inhibitors can effectively kill lymphoma cells with DDX3X mutations, providing hope for new treatment options.

SourceNanyang Technological University·JournalMolecular Cancer·TypeExperimental study·DateDec 6, 2021

Spaceflight wreaks havoc on liver metabolism

A study found that spaceflight alters liver gene expression and reduces antioxidant capacity in mice, leading to increased oxidative stress. However, exposure to artificial gravity can mitigate some of these effects, suggesting potential for dietary supplementation to offset changes during spaceflight.

SourceUniversity of Tsukuba·JournalScientific Reports·DateDec 6, 2021

Terrain, weather can predict wild pig movements

Wild pigs establish home ranges along preferred habitats of bottomland hardwood swamps and are influenced by air temperature and weather conditions. Researchers at UGA's Savannah River Ecology Lab tracked 49 wild pigs with radio collars to shed light on pig movements, which can inform management decisions.

SourceUniversity of Georgia·JournalPest Management Science·DateDec 6, 2021

1 in 10 cardiology trainee doctors in UK say they have been bullied

A survey of UK cardiology trainees reveals that bullying is a pervasive problem, with 1 in 10 reporting being subjected to abusive behavior. Women and those who qualified outside the UK are disproportionately affected, highlighting a need for targeted measures to address workplace bullying in medicine.

SourceBMJ Group·JournalHeart·TypeObservational study·DateDec 6, 2021

The tipping point for legislative polarization

A new model identifies a symptom of dangerously high levels of polarization: a group's inability to unite in the face of external threats. Researchers found that extreme polarization can lead to a tipping point, where even a shock fails to reverse the self-reinforcing dynamics of division.

SourceRensselaer Polytechnic Institute·JournalProceedings of the National Academy of Sciences·TypeComputational simulation/modeling·DateDec 6, 2021

Smoke screen: Analysis of saliva from long-term cannabis smokers identifies disruptions in the healthy oral microbiome that may lead to brain disorders

A study found that long-term cannabis smokers have increased levels of Actinomyces meyeri in their saliva, which correlates with the length of cannabis use. This bacterium was shown to decrease activity and increase beta-amyloid production in mice, suggesting a link between oral microbiome disruption and brain health.

SourceMedical University of South Carolina·JournalEBioMedicine·TypeExperimental study·DateDec 6, 2021

Study reveals how bacterial pathogen adapts to nutritional stress

Researchers at Illinois provided insight into the signal transduction mechanism utilized by Staphylococcus aureus's TCS ArlRS in response to host-imposed manganese and glucose starvation. The study found that histidine kinase ArlS is necessary for activation of response regulator ArlR under both manganese and glucose-limited conditions.

SourceCarl R. Woese Institute for Genomic Biology, University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign·JournalJournal of Bacteriology·TypeExperimental study·DateDec 6, 2021

Recently developed novel Li-conducting polymeric materials enabling superior lithium (Li) metal anodes

Researchers developed a novel lithium-containing crosslinked polymeric material, LiGL, which exhibits exceptional protection effects on lithium metal anodes. The material achieves superior cycling stability, even after over 20,000 Li-stripping/plating cycles without failures.

SourceBeijing Institute of Technology Press Co., Ltd·JournalEnergy Material Advances·TypeExperimental study·DateDec 6, 2021

Sharrief awarded $3.1 million NIH grant to test whether telehealth improves racial disparities in outcomes for stroke survivors

A $3.1 million NIH grant will fund a trial testing multidisciplinary telehealth intervention to reduce racial disparities in blood pressure control and stroke recurrence among adult stroke survivors. The study aims to identify social determinants of health that impact outcomes and explore ways to address them.

European governments struggled to manage pandemic well, finds 3-country study

An analysis of Germany, Sweden, and the UK's handling of the COVID-19 crisis found that a lack of transparency around policy decisions, mixed messaging, and increased questioning of government legitimacy fueled public distrust. The study suggests that crisis preparedness and resilience framing should encompass governance structures tha...

SourceBMJ Group·JournalBMJ Global Health·TypeObservational study·DateDec 6, 2021

Ecological knowledge of local populations allows better control of Amazonian wildlife

A recent study published in Methods in Ecology and Evolution found that local environmental knowledge is a valuable tool for conservation in the Amazon, comparable to other scientific methods. Local ecological knowledge proved to be more accurate than 10 years of conventional scientific monitoring for animal abundance in the Amazon.

SourceUniversitat Autonoma de Barcelona·JournalMethods in Ecology and Evolution·TypeSurvey·DateDec 6, 2021

Particulate peril

A recent study published in Toxicological Sciences suggests that exposure to wildfire smoke can lead to premature aging, dementia, depression, and psychosis. Researchers found that tiny particles from woodsmoke can travel thousands of miles and reach the brain, causing age-related changes in brain tissue.

SourceUniversity of New Mexico Health Sciences Center·JournalToxicological Sciences·TypeExperimental study·DateDec 6, 2021