Add BrightSurf on Google Email

Science News for March 23, 2021


Pilot study finds evidence of bartonella infection in schizophrenia patients

A pilot study from North Carolina State University and the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill found evidence of Bartonella infection in the blood of people with schizophrenia and schizoaffective disorder. The study suggests a potential link between Bartonella infection and neuropsychiatric disease, particularly schizophrenia.

SourceNorth Carolina State University·JournalVector-Borne and Zoonotic Diseases·DateMar 23, 2021

Association found between consumption of ultra-processed foods and drinks and colorectal cancer risk

A large study found a strong association between ultra-processed food consumption and an increased risk of colorectal cancer, with a 10% increment in consumption leading to an 11% increase in risk. Ultra-processed foods were also linked to less healthy diets among breast cancer cases, while no association was found with prostate cancer.

Changes in Antarctic marine ecosystems

A new study reveals that intense summer blooms of phytoplankton alter the structure of coastal benthic systems in Antarctica. The research team analyzed C and N stable isotopes to identify ecological niches of marine species, finding a significant geographical variation in carbon sources.

SourceUniversity of Barcelona·JournalMarine Environmental Research·DateMar 23, 2021

A divided visual field

Researchers discovered that hummingbird hawkmoths divide their visual field into two areas: one for flight control in the lower half and another for orientation in the upper half. Optic flow in the lower half provides information on movement and flight speed, while patterns in the upper half are used for orientation.

SourceUniversity of Würzburg·JournalCurrent Biology·DateMar 23, 2021

Telehealth consults increased more than 50-fold among privately insured working-age patients during first phase of the pandemic

A study found that telehealth consults accounted for nearly 24% of outpatient consults, with mental health consults leading the way in COVID-19 hot spots. The use of telehealth was associated with lower medical care costs, with a 15% drop in total costs per person per month.

Short-lived plant species are more climate-sensitive

Researchers found that plant characteristics like generation time can predict how sensitive species are to changing climates. Short-lived plant species were shown to be particularly vulnerable to climate extremes. The study highlights the need for new population ecology research on woody plant species and tropical plants.

Researchers hunt for drugs that keep HIV latent

A team of researchers from the University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign has identified five new chemicals that can promote latency in HIV, providing a potential solution to the disease. By screening over 1800 compounds, they discovered compounds that can suppress viral reactivation and reduce the risk of disease progression.

SourceCarl R. Woese Institute for Genomic Biology, University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign·JournalProceedings of the National Academy of Sciences·DateMar 23, 2021

Fewer rural students applying to medical school

The number of rural students applying to medical school has decreased over the past 15 years, raising concerns about access to primary care providers in these areas. The study found that socioeconomic factors, such as limited educational opportunities and financial constraints, contribute to this trend.

SourceUniversity of Georgia·JournalAcademic Medicine·DateMar 23, 2021

Neutrons reveal unpredicted binding between SARS-CoV-2, hepatitis C antiviral drug

Researchers used neutron scattering to investigate interactions between telaprevir and the SARS-CoV-2 main protease, discovering unforeseen changes in electric charges that were not predicted by computer simulations. This finding suggests that assumptions about binding behaviors should be based on individual atom-level observations rat...

SourceDOE/Oak Ridge National Laboratory·JournalJournal of Medicinal Chemistry·DateMar 23, 2021

Giant fossil's 'bird-brain'

Researchers examine brain structures of extinct giant birds, finding similarities with modern chickens and ducks. The analysis reveals that these ancient birds had well-developed stereoscopic vision and a diet of soft leaves and fruit.

SourceFlinders University·JournalDiversity·DateMar 23, 2021

Virtual pollination trade uncovers global dependence on biodiversity for food consumption

A recent study assesses global market flows and shows that biodiversity conservation is essential to sustain consumption patterns. The researchers discovered a strong link between the expansion of cropland in developing countries and loss of pollinator habitats, highlighting the need for collaborative governance strategies to balance i...

SourceUniversidade de Brasília·JournalScience Advances·DateMar 23, 2021

Social context affects gendered views of STEM subjects in England and Japan

A new model explains how social climate surrounding gender roles contributes to the masculine image of physics and mathematics in Japan and England. The study found that negative views of intellectual women are correlated with a masculine image of mathematics only in Japan, while a focus on avoiding sexism affects STEM choice in England.

SourceUniversity of Tokyo·JournalPublic Understanding of Science·DateMar 23, 2021

Partnership with churches increases COVID-19 vaccine delivery among Black population

A partnership between Loma Linda University and local churches has successfully vaccinated over 400 people in the predominantly Black community of San Bernardino County. The initiative, which included mobile vaccine clinics in church parking lots, resulted in an increase of 3.6% in Black attendance at mass vaccination clinics.

SourceLoma Linda University Adventist Health Sciences Center·JournalThe Lancet Global Health·DateMar 23, 2021

Algorithms inspired by social networks reveal lifecycle of substorms, a key element of space weather

Researchers at the University of Warwick used social media-inspired algorithms to analyze space weather observations and reveal the lifecycle of substorms. The study shows that these substorms manifest as global-scale electrical current systems associated with the aurora, covering most of the Earth's night-side at high latitudes.

SourceUniversity of Warwick·JournalNature Communications·DateMar 23, 2021

Corals may need their predators' poop

A recent study reveals that coral-eating fish excrete symbiotic dinoflagellate algae by the millions, potentially keeping reefs healthy. This unexpected twist on coral reef symbiosis confirms that poop from coral-eating fish is an important environmental source of beneficial coral symbionts.

SourceRice University·JournalAnimal Microbiome·DateMar 23, 2021

The economic fallout from a #MeToo scandal

New research from Copenhagen Business School found that sexual harassment incidents can cause significant financial losses for companies, with an average impact of $450 million. The study looked at nearly 200 incidents, including those involving high-profile companies like Disney and Facebook, and found that CEOs involved in the scanda...

SourceCopenhagen Business School·JournalJournal of Corporate Finance·DateMar 23, 2021

How to prevent and treat high blood pressure with exercise

The European Society of Cardiology recommends specific exercises for individuals based on their current blood pressure level. For those with hypertension, aerobic exercise is the most effective method to lower blood pressure. For people with high-normal blood pressure, dynamic resistance training is recommended, while those with normal...

SourceEuropean Society of Cardiology·JournalEuropean Journal of Preventive Cardiology·DateMar 23, 2021

Discovery of non-toxic semiconductors with a direct band gap in the near-infrared

Researchers at NIMS and Tokyo Institute of Technology have discovered a non-toxic semiconductor with a direct band gap in the near-infrared range. The compound, Ca3SiO, exhibits great potential to serve as a direct transition semiconductor, potentially replacing toxic elements like mercury and cadmium in existing infrared semiconductors.

SourceNational Institute for Materials Science, Japan·JournalInorganic Chemistry·DateMar 23, 2021

Bilingual infants prefer baby talk, especially when it's one of their native languages

A recent study found that bilingual infants have a strong preference for infant-directed speech in their native language, while monolinguals also respond more strongly. The research, involving hundreds of babies from around the world, suggests that language familiarity plays a key role in shaping infant language development.

SourceConcordia University·JournalAdvances in Methods and Practices in Psychological Science·DateMar 23, 2021

Babies prefer baby talk, whether they're learning one language or two

A recent study found that bilingual babies have a similar interest in infant-directed speech as monolingual babies, and are developmentally on track. The study showed that exposure to one language does not hinder the learning of another, and that parents can confidently babble to their babies in one or two languages.

SourceUniversity of California - Los Angeles·JournalAdvances in Methods and Practices in Psychological Science·DateMar 23, 2021

The lambs break their silence

Researchers analyzed ancient bones from A??kl? Höyük to determine the ages of unborn and neonatal lambs. The study reveals that early Neolithic sheep-herders faced high levels of mortality among young animals, with infections, malnutrition, and overcrowding being primary causes.

SourceLudwig-Maximilians-Universität München·JournalJournal of Archaeological Science·DateMar 23, 2021

Lymph node collection kit may improve long-term survival after lung cancer surgery

A new lymph node collection kit has been shown to improve long-term survival after curative-intent lung cancer surgery. The kit helps surgeons attain complete resection by improving pathologic nodal evaluation, leading to a significant increase in R0 resections and reduction in non-examination of lymph nodes.

SourceInternational Association for the Study of Lung Cancer·JournalJTO Clinical and Research Reports·DateMar 23, 2021

study: Precautions used to prevent COVID-19 decreased common respiratory illness rates

A study published in Open Forum Infectious Diseases found that the implementation of mask-wearing, physical distancing, and school closures significantly decreased rates of common respiratory viral infections like influenza. The analysis showed an approximate 80% reduction in cases compared to similar time periods before these measures...

SourceBoston Medical Center·JournalOpen Forum Infectious Diseases·DateMar 23, 2021

Henry Ford physician leads consensus for global awareness to an underrecognized condition

An international research team of otolaryngologists and dental specialists has reached consensus on diagnosing and managing odontogenic sinusitis (ODS), a condition that can spread from teeth to sinuses, brain, or rest of the body. The initiative aims to improve collaboration between ENT surgeons and dental providers to diagnose ODS mo...

SourceHenry Ford Health·JournalInternational Forum of Allergy & Rhinology·DateMar 23, 2021

Climate change can destabilize the global soil carbon reservoir, new study finds

A new study by researchers at Woods Hole Oceanographic Institution found that the biospheric carbon turnover within river basins is vulnerable to future temperature and precipitation perturbations from a changing climate. This suggests that soil organic carbon sensitivity to climate change may be more widespread than previously assumed.

SourceWoods Hole Oceanographic Institution·JournalProceedings of the National Academy of Sciences·DateMar 23, 2021

Pfizer vaccine less effective against S. African variant, Ben-Gurion U. study finds

Researchers at Ben-Gurion University found the Pfizer vaccine to be moderately less effective against the South African variant, while still providing protection against the British variant and the original strain. The study was published in Cell Host and Microbe and suggests that future variants may require a modified vaccine.

Cephalopods: Older than was thought?

The discovery of 522-million-year-old cephalopod fossils in Newfoundland, Canada, could rewrite the evolutionary history of invertebrate organisms. If confirmed, these ancient fossils would indicate a 30-million-year earlier origin for modern cephalopods.

SourceHeidelberg University·JournalCommunications Biology·DateMar 23, 2021

Curbing COVID-19 on campuses nationwide

A new study from Clemson University finds that surveillance-based informative testing (SBIT) can detect and contain COVID-19 outbreaks on campus, reducing cases by 154%. The strategy focused on residential hotspots and was twice as effective as simple random testing.

SourceClemson University·JournalThe Lancet Child & Adolescent Health·DateMar 23, 2021