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Science News for January 29, 2021


Explaining to your child why behavior is wrong may not always work

A new University of Michigan study found that verbal reasoning can have both positive and negative outcomes on children's emotional development. While it promoted prosocial behavior, it also increased aggression and distraction. Positive discipline methods like providing structure and open communication are recommended instead.

SourceUniversity of Michigan·JournalInternational Journal of Behavioral Development·DateJan 29, 2021

Coiling them up: Synthesizing organic molecules with a long helical structure

Researchers at Tokyo Institute of Technology produced and characterized novel organic molecules with a long helical structure, revealing special interactions between coils that can exhibit interesting optical and chemical properties. The longer compounds also displayed face-to-face stabilizing interactions between different helical lay...

SourceTokyo Institute of Technology·JournalChemistry - A European Journal·DateJan 29, 2021

Apps help integration and health of migrants

A new study found that mobile apps with artificial intelligence improve the health status of migrants by 5.3%, while also increasing social integration by 2.7%. The study, conducted at Anglia Ruskin University, surveyed new migrants and refugees in Greece over a 10-month period.

SourceAnglia Ruskin University·JournalComputers in Human Behavior·DateJan 29, 2021

COVID-19 news fromAnnals of Internal Medicine

A recent study published in Annals of Internal Medicine found that community and demographic factors, such as contact with a confirmed or suspected COVID-19-positive case outside the workplace and Black race, were stronger predictors of COVID-19 infection than occupational exposure among healthcare workers. The study also highlights th...

SourceAmerican College of Physicians·JournalAnnals of Internal Medicine·DateJan 29, 2021

How is human behavior impacting wildlife movement?

Researchers propose that human behavior, including psychological and socioeconomic factors like hunting and poaching, plays a significant role in shaping wildlife movement. The study highlights the importance of considering 'anthropogenic resistance' in connectivity-planning to ensure sustainable landscapes for both humans and wildlife.

SourceUniversity of Göttingen·JournalOne Earth·DateJan 29, 2021

Two ADAURA analyses support use of Osimertinib for patients with surgically resected, Stage IB to IIIA non-small cell lung cancer

Two ADAURA analyses presented at the International Association for the Study of Lung Cancer's 2020 World Conference on Lung Cancer (WCLC) Singapore support the use of Osimertinib as a new treatment strategy for patients with surgically resected, Stage IB to IIIA non-small cell lung cancer. The data show significant disease-free surviva...

Past river activity in northern Africa reveals multiple Sahara greenings

A team of researchers analyzed sediment cores from the Mediterranean Sea and combined them with Earth system models to reconstruct major environmental changes in North Africa. The study reveals that rivers were active in the region thousands of years ago, driven by slight changes in Earth's orbit and polar ice sheet variations.

A computational approach to understanding how infants perceive language

A new study published in the Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences presents a computationally-based modeling approach that simulates infant language learning. The researchers found that infants do not learn consonant- and vowel-like phonetic categories, but rather learn to distinguish between speech sounds in a more nuanced way.

SourceUniversity of Maryland·JournalProceedings of the National Academy of Sciences·DateJan 29, 2021

High-speed holographic fluorescence microscopy system with submicron resolution

A new scanless high-speed holographic fluorescence microscopy system has been developed with submicron resolution, enabling 3D sensing of nanoparticles and color-multiplexed holographic fluorescence imaging. The system achieves measurements in less than 1 millisecond using digital holography and a phase modulator.

Iowa and Ohio team finds strategy to protect developing brain from prenatal stress in mice

A study by University of Iowa researchers found that administering a neuroprotective compound during pregnancy can prevent long-term neurodevelopmental problems associated with prenatal stress. The research showed that the compound, P7C3-A20, protected the developing brain from damage caused by chronic prenatal stress.

SourceUniversity of Iowa Health Care·JournalAntioxidants and Redox Signaling·DateJan 29, 2021

Alpine plants at risk of extinction following disappearing glaciers

A recent study in Frontiers in Ecology and Evolution reveals that alpine plant diversity will decrease once glaciers disappear, with up to 22% of species facing local extinction. The research highlights the 'winners' and 'losers' among plant species, with some benefiting from global warming while others will suffer.

SourceFrontiers·JournalFrontiers in Ecology and Evolution·DateJan 29, 2021

How lipids distribute proteins within cells

Researchers at the University of Seville have solved a long-standing enigma in basic biology by discovering how lipids distribute proteins within cells. Using a new microscopy technology, they found that membrane lipids select and direct specific proteins to correct exit doors.

SourceUniversity of Seville·JournalScience Advances·DateJan 29, 2021

Firearm deaths increasing in U.S. children younger than 5, study says

A study by Oregon Health & Science University found that firearm-related deaths among children ages 1-4 increased exponentially between 1999 and 2018, with non-Hispanic Black and White children being disproportionately affected. Nearly 90% of these incidents occurred in or near the victim's home, making them preventable.

SourceOregon Health & Science University·JournalJournal of the National Medical Association·DateJan 29, 2021

Protecting UK insect populations post-Brexit

Researchers will use a combination of data from scientific monitoring, citizen scientists, and high-tech sensors to assess UK insect abundance and diversity. The project aims to provide definitive evidence on whether insects are declining overall and inform environmental policies to protect them.

Reduced-dose RT with Cisplatin improves outcomes for HPV-associated oropharyngeal carcinoma

A combination of reduced-dose radiotherapy using IMRT combined with concurrent cisplatin met the threshold for disease control and quality of life in good-risk patients with HPV-associated oropharyngeal squamous cell carcinoma. This approach yields improved outcomes compared to standard treatment, with lower rates of acute toxicities.

SourceNRG Oncology·JournalJournal of Clinical Oncology·DateJan 29, 2021

Our gut-brain connection

Researchers used an 'organs-on-a-chip' system to model the influence of gut bacteria on brain health and found that short-chain fatty acids can worsen Parkinson's disease. The study suggests a link between lipid metabolism and neurodegenerative diseases, highlighting the complex interactions between the gut and brain.

SourceMassachusetts Institute of Technology·JournalScience Advances·DateJan 29, 2021

Biobased anti-thrombosis agent

Researchers created potent trivalent inhibitors of thrombin from anticoagulation peptides in insect saliva, demonstrating improved efficiency over natural agents. The new agent showed 385-fold inhibition in human plasma and reduced fibrin accumulation, offering potential for efficient anticoagulation drugs.

SourceWiley·JournalAngewandte Chemie International Edition·DateJan 29, 2021

Women who develop high blood pressure after birth at greater risk of chronic hypertension

A recent study has found that women who develop high blood pressure during and after pregnancy are at a higher risk of developing chronic hypertension. The study, which followed 368 women for six to 18 months after delivery, found that nearly half of the women developed high blood pressure in the first six weeks postpartum.

SourceSociety for Maternal-Fetal Medicine·JournalAmerican Journal of Obstetrics and Gynecology·DateJan 29, 2021