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Science News for July 14, 2021


Teasing out the impact of Airbnb listings on neighborhood crime

A study found that Airbnb listings were associated with increased violence in Boston neighborhoods, but not with public social disorder or private conflict. The researchers suggest that the presence of short-term rentals may erode local social dynamics and lead to increased violence over time.

SourcePLOS·JournalPLOS ONE·DateJul 14, 2021

Quantum physics helps destroy cancer cells

Researchers at Kyoto University have discovered a way to enhance radiation therapy using iodine nanoparticles, which trigger cancer cell death when exposed to X-rays. The study reveals that the optimal energy level for X-ray irradiation is 33.2 keV, causing double-strand breaks in DNA and leading to programmed cell death.

SourceKyoto University·JournalScientific Reports·DateJul 14, 2021

Hard to swallow: Coral cells seen engulfing algae for first time

Scientists have observed individual stony coral cells engulfing single-celled photosynthetic algae, crucial for keeping corals healthy. Around 40% of coral cells incorporated the algae in 30 minutes and remained healthy for a month, providing insights into the partnership between corals and dinoflagellates.

Smartphone photos can be used to detect anemia

A new study published in PLOS ONE suggests that smartphone photos of the inner eyelid can be used to screen for anemia. The algorithm achieved accuracy rates of up to 94.4% in predicting anemia, making it a potential tool for early diagnosis and treatment in low-resource settings.

SourcePLOS·JournalPLOS ONE·DateJul 14, 2021

Understanding our perception of rhythm

Researchers found that rhythm perception relies on two separate decisions: grouping and prominence, which are mutually informative. These decisions lead to our rhythmic intuitions, suggesting that speech processing involves complex inferences.

SourceMcGill University·JournalPsychological Review·DateJul 14, 2021

Dogs may not return their owners' good deeds

In an experiment, dogs were paired with two unfamiliar humans - one helpful and one unhelpful. Despite the humans' behavior, the dogs showed no preference for the helper or did not reciprocate by acting more favorably towards them. The study suggests that dogs may not be able to understand the connection between human help and reward.

SourcePLOS·JournalPLOS ONE·DateJul 14, 2021

Community health workers identify health-related social needs in patients

A qualitative study found that community health workers are integral to identifying patients' social needs, with roles shifting from screener to implementer. However, social needs screening data is often not integrated into electronic health records or used for population health management, and sites face barriers to its implementation.

SourceAmerican Academy of Family Physicians·JournalThe Annals of Family Medicine·DateJul 14, 2021

How does the world use emojis?

A new study by USC researchers found that emojis represent universal human emotions across countries and continents, while also reflecting cultural differences. The most widely used emojis, such as the heart, were predominantly used in the English-speaking world, Spanish-speaking nations, and Arabic speakers.

SourceUniversity of Southern California·JournalOnline Social Networks and Media·DateJul 14, 2021

A new sensitive tool for the efficient quantification of plant disease susceptibility

A new light-producing bacterial reporter is being used to quantify plant resistance levels through imaging, allowing for the simultaneous analysis of over 30 Arabidopsis mutants. This novel method shows a high correlation with conventional culture-based techniques, demonstrating its robustness and potential applications.

SourceAmerican Phytopathological Society·JournalMolecular Plant-Microbe Interactions·DateJul 14, 2021

Primary care provides clinical guidance, answers about COVID-19 testing, vaccine

Primary care physicians provide the largest share of services for vaccinations and majority of clinical visits for vaccination, making them well-positioned to administer COVID-19 vaccines. They can also answer vaccine questions and provide clinical guidance on interpreting results from COVID-19 testing and immunity determinations.

SourceAmerican Academy of Family Physicians·JournalThe Annals of Family Medicine·DateJul 14, 2021

Like priming a pump, cells damaged by chronic lung disease can result in severe COVID

A TGen-led international study reveals that SARS-CoV-2 takes advantage of genetic changes in patients with pre-existing lung diseases, leading to more severe symptoms and poorer outcomes. The research identifies molecular characteristics associated with worse COVID-19 outcomes, highlighting the need for targeted treatments.

SourceThe Translational Genomics Research Institute·JournalNature Communications·DateJul 14, 2021

Chemical plants combat nitrous oxide emissions

The article highlights the significant impact of nitrous oxide on the ozone layer and climate change. Chemical companies are now developing efficient technologies to reduce N2O emissions, including catalyst-based processes that can decrease emissions by up to 90%. The industry is also exploring alternative uses for captured N2O emissions.

SourceAmerican Chemical Society·JournalChemical & Engineering News·DateJul 14, 2021

Heisenberg under the microscope

Researchers from the University of Vienna and TU Wien have successfully controlled a large glass sphere's motion at the quantum level using control engineering methods. The experiment, published in Nature, demonstrates the potential for combining quantum physics and control engineering to enable more precise experiments.

SourceUniversity of Vienna·JournalNature·DateJul 14, 2021

Primary care practice characteristics make little impact on unplanned hospital admissions

Researchers found that primary care physician and practice characteristics were not significantly associated with rates of unplanned hospitalizations in New Zealand. However, in the Netherlands sample, larger practices and those staffed with a practice nurse had higher admission rates. These findings suggest that primary health care st...

SourceAmerican Academy of Family Physicians·JournalThe Annals of Family Medicine·DateJul 14, 2021

Oncotarget: CEA as a blood-based biomarker in anal cancer

Researchers investigated CEA as a blood-based biomarker for anal cancer. Although CEA levels correlated with disease progression, they were not associated with survival outcomes or clinically relevant in managing the disease. Novel approaches with serum biomarkers are necessary for this rare and increasing diagnosed malignancy.

SourceImpact Journals LLC·JournalOncotarget·DateJul 14, 2021

'Greta Thunberg Effect' belies challenges for autistic community in going green

A new study reveals that autistic personality traits are unrelated to environmental attitudes but can be linked to lower engagement in pro-environmental behaviors. The researchers emphasize the need for practical support, such as adapting cognitive behavioral therapy and early environmental education, to help individuals with autism an...

SourceUniversity of Bath·JournalJournal of Environmental Psychology·DateJul 14, 2021

Deep discounts: The nemesis of bargain hunters

Researchers found that frugal consumers categorize purchases as necessities versus luxuries to rationalize impulsive responses to deep discounts. Frugal individuals tend to increase their perception of need for a product after a discount offer, leading to increased purchase intentions.

SourceSt. Edward's University·JournalJournal of Business Research·DateJul 14, 2021

Trust me, I'm a chatbot

Researchers at Göttingen University found that customers tend to react negatively to chatbots initially, but positive reactions occur when mistakes lead to a deeper understanding of issues. Disclosing chatbot presence can actually improve customer loyalty in cases where errors occur.

SourceUniversity of Göttingen·JournalJournal of Service Management·DateJul 14, 2021

A hitchhiker's guide to manta rays

Research in Maldives reveals diverse associations between manta rays and 'hitchhiker' fish. New species of symbionts were discovered, expanding our understanding of these unique relationships.

SourcePLOS·JournalPLOS ONE·DateJul 14, 2021

Study finds "thriving gap" between students who attend high school remotely vs. in person

A recent study published by the American Educational Research Association found a significant 'thriving gap' between students who attended school remotely during the pandemic and those who attended in person. The study revealed that remote students suffered socially, emotionally, and academically, with lower ratings on social well-bein...

SourceAmerican Educational Research Association·JournalEducational Researcher·DateJul 14, 2021

Virtual schooling exposes digital challenges for Black families, MU study finds

A new study from University of Missouri found that virtual schooling exposed the lack of digital resources among Black families, causing stress and burnout. The study highlights the digital divide that already existed for many Black families, which can have long-term negative impacts on learning and health outcomes.

SourceUniversity of Missouri-Columbia·JournalInternational Journal of Environmental Research and Public Health·DateJul 14, 2021

Jets pose many riddles

Researchers aim to understand jets' composition and launch mechanisms by combining theory, observation, and modelling. The goal is to develop a concordance model of jets, overcoming historical divisions between scientific approaches.

Obstacles on the racetrack of life

Researchers discovered that the protein SPT6 is essential for the arrival of RNA polymerase at the end of a gene, producing functional mRNA. Without it, the polymerase destroys obstacles, making it impossible for functional RNA polymerases to find their way.

SourceUniversity of Würzburg·JournalMolecular Cell·DateJul 14, 2021