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Science News Archive July 2021 - Page 7


Page 7 of 41

Genomic test could help predict aggressive disease in men newly diagnosed with prostate cancer

A new genomic test may help identify patients at high risk of prostate cancer progression. The Decipher Biopsy test showed that men with high scores needed active treatment sooner, and those who underwent surgery had shorter time until PSA levels increased or they were put on anti-androgen therapy.

SourceMichigan Medicine - University of Michigan·JournalProstate Cancer and Prostatic Diseases·DateJul 27, 2021

Machine learning and lidar: New tools for the tackle box

Researchers applied supervised machine learning to lidar data from fishery surveys, automating the identification process in regions with a strong possibility of harboring fish. The technique decreased manual inspection in datasets from Yellowstone Lake and Gulf of Mexico studies by 61.14% and 26.8%, respectively.

SourceSPIE--International Society for Optics and Photonics·JournalJournal of Applied Remote Sensing·TypeContent analysis·DateJul 27, 2021

Eating for hunger or pleasure? Regulating these feeding behaviors involves different brain circuits

Researchers at Baylor College of Medicine discovered two distinct brain circuits that regulate hunger-driven and non-hunger driven feeding behaviors. The study identified serotonin receptors and ion channels as potential molecular targets to suppress overeating and improve treatment options for obesity.

SourceBaylor College of Medicine·JournalMolecular Psychiatry·TypeExperimental study·DateJul 27, 2021

International collaboration helps refine treatment for childhood leukemia

A large phase 3 noninferiority clinical trial showed that omitting pulse therapy in patients with low-risk disease improves quality of life without affecting survival. This finding is significant as it reduces neuropsychological side effects and late effects associated with long-term treatment.

SourceSt. Jude Children's Research Hospital·JournalThe Lancet Oncology·TypeRandomized controlled/clinical trial·DateJul 27, 2021

New type of wireless charger can charge multiple devices simultaneously

Researchers at Aalto University have developed a new type of wireless charger that can transfer energy to multiple devices simultaneously, achieving 90% efficiency within a 20-centimeter charging range. The technology bypasses traditional detection functions, allowing for self-tuning and motion-free device charging.

SourceAalto University·JournalIEEE Transactions on Industrial Electronics·TypeExperimental study·DateJul 27, 2021

Mayo Clinic: Return to play is manageable for athletes with most heart diseases

A 20-year Mayo Clinic study suggests that allowing athletes with genetic heart diseases to return to play can be managed through a shared decision-making process. The study found no deaths related to sports and only minor cardiac events, showing that the risks can be minimized with proper testing, treatment, and safety measures.

SourceMayo Clinic·JournalJournal of the American College of Cardiology·DateJul 27, 2021

Improving soil health starts with farmer-researcher collaboration

A new study from the University of Illinois and The Ohio State University reveals that farmers care more about soil health than scientists and conservation professionals think. Farmers prioritize soil health at a higher level (8.5 out of 10) than academics and NRCS professionals expected (4.9 and 5.7, respectively).

SourceUniversity of Illinois College of Agricultural, Consumer and Environmental Sciences·JournalJournal of Soil and Water Conservation·TypeSurvey·DateJul 27, 2021

Political nostalgia predicts political outcomes

A study by Adam Fetterman found that nostalgia for Obama predicts negative attitudes towards Trump, stronger political engagement intentions, and actual voting behavior. The research also suggests that nostalgic appeals to Obama may have been effective in swing voters during the 2020 campaign.

SourceUniversity of Houston·JournalPersonality and Individual Differences·DateJul 27, 2021

Director retention does not necessarily facilitate post-acquisition firm performance, study shows

A new study from the University of Notre Dame challenges the common practice of retaining a director from the target company after an acquisition. Contrary to expectations, the research found that director retention tends to undermine post-acquisition performance. The study analyzed over 550 acquisitions between 2004 and 2014 and disco...

SourceUniversity of Notre Dame·JournalStrategic Management Journal·DateJul 27, 2021

Researchers: Emphasize personal health benefits of COVID-19 vaccination

A recent study by University of Wyoming economists suggests that public health messages focusing on the personal health benefits of COVID-19 vaccines are most effective in increasing vaccination intentions. The researchers found that such messages increased intended vaccinations by 16 percentage points, significantly more than other ty...

SourceUniversity of Wyoming·JournalProceedings of the National Academy of Sciences·TypeSurvey·DateJul 27, 2021

Model can predict how drug interactions influence antibiotic resistance

A new model using simple changes in microbe growth curves can predict how antibiotic resistance evolves in response to different treatment combinations, doses and sequences. The model helps explain counterintuitive behavior observed in past experiments, such as slowed evolution when combining two antibiotics.

SourceeLife·TypeComputational simulation/modeling·DateJul 27, 2021

Genetic variant linked to hearing loss in children treated with common chemotherapy drug

A genetic variant in the TCERG1L gene has been identified as a risk factor for cisplatin-induced hearing loss in children with cancer, increasing the risk by three times. The finding could lead to predictive tests to inform treatment decisions and advance pediatric cancer care.

SourceUniversity of Alberta Faculty of Medicine & Dentistry·Journalnpj Precision Oncology·TypeExperimental study·DateJul 27, 2021

Views on school assignment, diversity are similar – even in cities with segregated schools

A new study reveals that adults in five Southern cities hold similar views on school assignments and the importance of diversity in K-12 schools, despite varying policies. Participants were concerned about uncertainty and disruption to children's learning and friendships due to school reassignments.

SourceNorth Carolina State University·JournalAmerican Behavioral Scientist·TypeSurvey·DateJul 27, 2021

Body size, digestive systems shape ungulate foraging

Research reveals that smaller-bodied ruminants prioritize high-energy intake by foraging at optimal vegetation maturity, while equids focus on areas near surface water. This study challenges the 'forage maturation hypothesis,' suggesting ungulate species adapt to their body size and digestive systems to optimize resource utilization.

SourceUniversity of Wyoming·JournalEcology Letters·TypeMeta-analysis·DateJul 27, 2021

New study reveals key factors for estimating costs to plug abandoned oil and gas wells

A new study published in Environmental Science & Technology estimates the median cost of plugging abandoned oil and gas wells at $76,000, with costs varying widely based on location, age, and other factors. The analysis of over 19,500 orphaned wells across the US provides valuable insights for regulators to adjust bonding requirements ...

SourceResources for the Future (RFF)·JournalEnvironmental Science & Technology·DateJul 27, 2021

New strategy for drug design: Keeping copper atoms closer to keep bacteria away

Scientists at Tokyo University of Science developed a copper-containing polymer that greatly enhances the antibacterial activity of hydrogen peroxide. The use of these tailored polymers resulted in higher catalytic activity and more effective killing of bacteria, opening up new design avenues for antimicrobial drugs.

SourceTokyo University of Science·JournalMacromolecular Rapid Communications·TypeExperimental study·DateJul 27, 2021

Fruit fly offers lessons in good taste

Researchers discovered that individual taste neurons in fruit flies can detect compounds from multiple taste categories, influencing feeding decisions. The team found that single-taste neurons are capable of responding to more than one tastant category, and that a single tastant category can activate multiple classes of taste neurons.

SourceUniversity of California - Riverside·TypeExperimental study·DateJul 27, 2021

On the hunt for ‘hierarchical’ black holes

Recent theoretical findings and astrophysical modeling suggest that scientists can accurately interpret gravitational wave signals from these events, hinting at the existence of so-called 'hierarchical' black holes. The detection of GW190521 in 2019 is thought to be the most promising candidate for such an event.

SourceUniversity of Birmingham·JournalNature Astronomy·TypeLiterature review·DateJul 27, 2021

Magnetic ‘balding’ of black holes saves general relativity prediction

A team of researchers from the Flatiron Institute and Princeton University has found that the magnetic field around a black hole quickly decays when surrounded by plasma. This process, known as 'magnetic reconnection,' rapidly drains the magnetic field and could explain flares seen near supermassive black holes.

SourceSimons Foundation·JournalPhysical Review Letters·TypeComputational simulation/modeling·DateJul 27, 2021