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Science News for January 27, 2021


Forests with diverse tree sizes and small clearings hinder wildland fire growth

A new study published in the International Journal of Wildland Fire found that forests with diverse tree sizes and small clearings slow down wildland fire growth. The research used a 3D analysis to examine how forest structure affects fire behavior and revealed that varying tree sizes and shapes can significantly impact fire spread.

SourceDOE/Los Alamos National Laboratory·JournalInternational Journal of Wildland Fire·DateJan 27, 2021

Ions in molten salts can go 'against the flow'

Researchers at Uppsala University used computer simulations to study ions in molten salts and found that they can interact and move in unexpected ways. The study's findings suggest that lighter anions like fluoride and chloride can be attracted to both lithium ions and the positive anode, leading to slower movement towards the cathode.

SourceUppsala University·JournalCommunications Chemistry·DateJan 27, 2021

Even machines need their greens

A team of engineers has created a new material by infusing 3D printer ink with chloroplasts from spinach. This living material can be strengthened up to six times its original strength through photosynthesis and exhibits self-repairing properties.

SourceUniversity of Southern California·JournalProceedings of the National Academy of Sciences·DateJan 27, 2021

Mammogram-based breast cancer risk model could lead to better screening guidelines

A new machine learning algorithm named Mirai estimates breast cancer risk in women more accurately than current models, identifying 41.5% of patients at risk within 5 years. The model was effective across various races and ethnicities, supporting its potential to inform screening guidelines for diverse populations.

SourceAmerican Association for the Advancement of Science (AAAS)·JournalScience Translational Medicine·DateJan 27, 2021

Challenges in COVID-19 vaccination

The German National Academy of Sciences Leopoldina hosts an international virtual panel discussion on COVID-19 vaccination challenges. Experts will address issues like equitable global allocation and vaccine effectiveness. The event aims to promote scientific dialogue among the international community.

Healthy lifespan analysis using nematodes

Researchers at Kumamoto University created a new system to assess healthy lifespans in nematodes, which may help develop drugs and find foods that extend human lifespans. The system, C-LAS, uses images of living and dead nematodes to classify their health and longevity.

SourceKumamoto University·JournalJournal of Pharmaceutical Sciences·DateJan 27, 2021

Germline whole exome sequencing reveals the potential role of hereditary predisposition and therapeutic implications in small cell lung cancer, a tobacco-related cancer

The study identified 42 deleterious variants in 35 genes among patients with small cell lung cancer, including MLH1, BRCA2, and MUTYH germline mutations. These variants were associated with increased risk of first-degree relatives with cancer or lung cancer and longer recurrence-free survival following platinum-based chemotherapy.

SourceInternational Association for the Study of Lung Cancer·JournalScience Translational Medicine·DateJan 27, 2021

A new study reveals an "Achilles heel" of cancer cells

Researchers discovered that cancer cells with an abnormal number of chromosomes (aneuploidy) are more sensitive to inhibition of the mitotic checkpoint, a cellular mechanism that ensures proper chromosome separation during cell division. This finding has important implications for personalized cancer medicine and drug discovery.

SourceTel-Aviv University·JournalNature Medicine·DateJan 27, 2021

In a tight spot

Researchers at Max-Planck-Gesellschaft found a neural circuit in zebrafish that enables them to focus on one stimulus over others, allowing for escape from predators. The circuit involves the tectum and nucleus isthmi brain regions.

SourceMax-Planck-Gesellschaft·JournalNeuron·DateJan 27, 2021

When is dead really dead?

A new international study documents the physiology of dying and confirms that death is an irreversible process. The DePPaRT study found that cardiac activity often stops and restarts several times during the dying process, but no one regained sustained circulation or consciousness. This provides evidence to support the current standard...

SourceChildren's Hospital of Eastern Ontario Research Institute·JournalNew England Journal of Medicine·DateJan 27, 2021

History of the Champagne vineyards revealed

Archaeological grape seeds from excavations in Troyes and Reims provide insights into the history of Champagne wine growing. Wild vines were cultivated throughout the period studied, with domestic varieties emerging as early as the 1st century AD.

SourceCNRS·JournalScientific Reports·DateJan 27, 2021

Detecting trace amounts of multiple classes of antibiotics in foods

Researchers have developed a method to simultaneously measure 77 antibiotics in various foods, including meat, eggs, milk, cereals, vegetables, and fruits. The new approach allows for the detection of multiple classes of antibiotics at trace amounts, which can contribute to increased antibiotic resistance and gut microbiome imbalance.

SourceAmerican Chemical Society·JournalJournal of Agricultural and Food Chemistry·DateJan 27, 2021

Scientists discover a new promising target for diabetes treatment

Researchers have discovered a novel and druggable insulin inhibitory receptor named inceptor. Blocking its function leads to increased sensitisation of the insulin signalling pathway in pancreatic beta cells, allowing for potential protection and regeneration of beta cells for diabetes remission.

Adults with cognitive disabilities more than twice as likely to use e-cigarettes

A recent study published in Disability and Health Journal found that adults with cognitive disabilities were more than twice as likely to use e-cigarettes, highlighting a high-risk group for adverse health outcomes. The study also showed that men, young adults, and adults with COPD or depression were more likely to use e-cigarettes.

SourceGeorge Mason University·JournalDisability and Health Journal·DateJan 27, 2021

Optical scanner design for adaptive driving beam systems can lead to safer night driving

Researchers developed a microelectromechanical systems (MEMS) optical scanner that enables better road safety by adjusting the driver's visibility based on speed and traffic environment. The system provides improved visibility, especially for pedestrians, and reduces glare from oncoming vehicles.

SourceSPIE--International Society for Optics and Photonics·JournalJournal of Optical Microsystems·DateJan 27, 2021

Support for self isolation must be a top priority, say experts

Experts argue that UK government should focus on supporting people in high-risk occupations and living conditions with free accommodation, income protection, and job security. A lack of resources and fear of financial consequences are major barriers to self-isolation, leading to low adherence rates among certain groups.

SourceBMJ Group·JournalThe BMJ·DateJan 27, 2021

Social support may not ease menopause symptoms

A study of over 2,700 women found that social support does not moderate the impact of stressful events on menopause symptoms. Women who experienced stressful events had a significant increase in symptoms, regardless of their level of social support.

SourcePLOS·JournalPLOS ONE·DateJan 27, 2021

Well connected through amides

Researchers have developed a new reaction, called ASHA ligation, for efficiently forming amide bonds under mild aqueous conditions. This method is fast, chemoselective, and broadly applicable, opening pathways to new approaches in medicinal chemistry and chemical biology.

SourceWiley·JournalAngewandte Chemie International Edition·DateJan 27, 2021

Offer COVID-19 vaccines to pregnant or breastfeeding people

Pregnant and breastfeeding individuals should be offered COVID-19 vaccines based on ethical principles, considering individual autonomy and risk of severe illness. Although no adverse effects have been observed in vaccinated participants, those at high risk of severe COVID-19 should prioritize vaccination to protect themselves and others.

SourceCanadian Medical Association Journal·JournalCanadian Medical Association Journal·DateJan 27, 2021

How does the immune system keep tabs on the brain?

The immune system surveils the brain from a distance and only enters when it finds a problem. This finding explains why the brain was thought to be immunoprivileged. Targeting immune cells at surveillance sites may lead to new treatments for conditions driven by brain inflammation, such as multiple sclerosis.

SourceWashU Medicine·JournalCell·DateJan 27, 2021

Antibiotic may improve outcomes for depression in people with low level inflammation

A recent study found that minocycline, an antibiotic with anti-inflammatory properties, significantly improved depressive symptoms in patients with treatment-resistant depression and low-grade peripheral inflammation. The trial showed that patients with higher C-reactive protein levels responded better to minocycline treatment.

SourceNIHR Maudsley Biomedical Research Centre·JournalNeuropsychopharmacology·DateJan 27, 2021

Micro-brewing goes more micro

A PhD student has discovered a way to conduct micro-brewing experiments using only a single barley seed in a 1.5 millilitre tube, reducing the need for large-scale brewing operations. This method could speed up the quality testing of newly-bred barley varieties and potentially lead to new styles of beer.

SourceUniversity of Queensland·JournalScientific Reports·DateJan 27, 2021

Historically redlined neighborhoods are more likely to lack greenspace today

Neighborhoods historically redlined by racist mortgage practices in the 1930s are more likely to have limited green spaces. This is associated with elevated air pollution, higher rates of poverty, and worse health outcomes for residents. The study highlights the persistent effects of redlining policies on urban neighborhoods.

SourceColumbia University's Mailman School of Public Health·JournalEnvironmental Health Perspectives·DateJan 27, 2021

Secrets of traumatic stress hidden in the brain are exposed

A recent study using Cereset's HIRREM technology found significant effects on brain network connectivity in military personnel with traumatic stress. The results support the bihemispheric autonomic management model and suggest that regulated connections between hemispheres are associated with improved health and wellbeing.

SourceCereset·JournalJournal of Neuroimaging·DateJan 27, 2021

How COVID-19 tested and transformed science

The COVID-19 pandemic has accelerated scientific innovation, with scientists working at record speed to develop vaccines, diagnose, and treat the virus. Despite these advances, the pandemic has also raised concerns about public trust in science, exacerbated by mixed messaging and politicization.

SourceAmerican Chemical Society·JournalChemical & Engineering News·DateJan 27, 2021

Hormonal IUDs are a viable and underutilized method for emergency contraception

Researchers at University of Utah Health found hormonal IUDs comparable to copper IUDs for emergency contraception, offering a safe alternative to current options. The study also suggests that hormonal IUDs can provide highly effective contraception for up to seven years, reducing the risk of pregnancy after unprotected intercourse.

SourceUniversity of Utah Health·JournalNew England Journal of Medicine·DateJan 27, 2021

Study shows racial disparities in elementary school disciplinary actions

A new study using a nationwide self-reported dataset found that elementary school-age Black children are 3.5 times more likely to be suspended or placed in detention than their white peers, despite controlling for socioeconomic factors. The researchers believe systemic racism and unconscious bias may contribute to the disparities.

SourceMedical University of South Carolina·JournalJournal of the American Academy of Child & Adolescent Psychiatry·DateJan 27, 2021

People with severe atopic eczema may have increased risk of death from several causes

A new study found that people with severe atopic eczema have a higher risk of dying from health issues like infections, lung problems, and kidney or bladder disorders. The absolute risk of death was modest, but the findings suggest that those with severe or more active forms of the disease face a higher risk.

SourceLondon School of Hygiene & Tropical Medicine·JournalJournal of Allergy and Clinical Immunology·DateJan 27, 2021

Putting bugs on the menu, safely

Researchers have identified 20 proteins found in cricket food products that could cause serious allergic reactions in individuals with shellfish allergies. The study aims to provide a framework for detecting and labelling insect-derived allergens in food products, ensuring safe consumption by those with allergies.

SourceEdith Cowan University·JournalFood Chemistry·DateJan 27, 2021

Why people overuse antibiotics

A Rutgers study reveals widespread antibiotic overuse due to misconceptions and pressure from patients, leading to drug-resistant bacteria and harm to the microbiome. The study also finds that older physicians are more likely to prescribe antibiotics, while misinformation among the public perpetuates unnecessary use of antibiotics.

SourceRutgers University·JournalBioEssays·DateJan 27, 2021

A vacuum-ultraviolet laser with submicrometer spot for spatially resolved photoemission spectroscopy

Researchers have developed a VUV laser system with a focal spot of <1 μm, enabling high-energy resolution (~0.3 meV) and sub-micron spatial resolution for angle-resolved photoemission spectroscopy (ARPES). This improvement allows for better visualization of electronic structures in novel quantum materials.

Culture shapes willingness to share personal data to reduce COVID-19 spread

A new study finds that people's willingness to share personal location information to reduce COVID-19 transmission is influenced by cultural context. Researchers found that South Koreans are more accepting of COVID-19 mitigation efforts involving data sharing due to their collectivist culture and lower privacy concerns.

SourceUniversity of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign, News Bureau·JournalISPRS International Journal of Geo-Information·DateJan 27, 2021

In tune with the moon

A team of scientists led by Charlotte Förster discovered a correlation between moon phases and women's menstrual cycles. The researchers found that the strength of the moon's light-dark cycle contributes to synchronizing menstruation in women, while gravity also plays a role.

SourceUniversity of Würzburg·JournalScience Advances·DateJan 27, 2021