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Science News for March 5, 2021


Controlling adhesions in the abdomen

Adhesions form after inflammation or surgery and can lead to chronic pain, digestive problems, infertility, and life-threatening consequences. Researchers have discovered that macrophages play a key role in their development and have developed a new imaging system to visualize them.

SourceUniversity of Bern·JournalScience·DateMar 5, 2021

Health care use among undocumented patients

Researchers found that increased anti-immigrant rhetoric during the 2016 presidential campaign led to a significant increase in healthcare services usage among undocumented patients. The study suggests that this association may be attributed to decreased trust and increased stress related to immigration policies.

SourceJAMA Network·JournalJAMA Network Open·DateMar 5, 2021

The amazing promise of artificial intelligence in health care

Artificial intelligence has already shown promise in pathology, including image classification and diagnosis of diabetic retinopathy. Future developments aim to further enhance diagnostic accuracy and improve patient outcomes through augmented intelligence. The authors emphasize the need for careful validation, performance monitoring, ...

SourceUniversity of Virginia Health System·JournalArchives of Pathology & Laboratory Medicine·DateMar 5, 2021

Key task in computer vision and graphics gets a boost

A Kanazawa University researcher has developed a method to speed up non-rigid point set registration, a fundamental problem in computing with extensive applications in autonomous driving, medical imaging, and robotic manipulation. The proposed technique reduces computing time for large point sets, outperforming state-of-the-art approac...

SourceKanazawa University·JournalIEEE Transactions on Pattern Analysis and Machine Intelligence·DateMar 5, 2021

Study reveals how egg cells get so big

A new study in fruit flies reveals the process of oocyte growth relies on physical phenomena analogous to gas exchange between balloons. Nurse cells surrounding the larger oocyte dump their contents into it, using a counterintuitive mechanism where air flows from smaller to larger balloons.

SourceMassachusetts Institute of Technology·JournalProceedings of the National Academy of Sciences·DateMar 5, 2021

Chimpanzees without borders

A recent study found that chimpanzees have been reconnected for extended periods during the most recent maximal expansion of African forests, contrary to previous assumptions. The team's comprehensive sampling and use of rapidly-evolving genetic markers revealed genetic connectivity mirrors geographic distance and local factors.

SourceMax Planck Institute for Evolutionary Anthropology·JournalCommunications Biology·DateMar 5, 2021

Rapid 3D printing method moves toward 3D-printed organs

A new rapid 3D printing method developed by University at Buffalo engineers has the potential to create life-sized human tissue and organs in just minutes, rather than hours. The technique uses hydrogels and stereolithography to print cells with embedded blood vessel networks, a key step towards producing functional 3D-printed organs.

SourceUniversity at Buffalo·JournalAdvanced Healthcare Materials·DateMar 5, 2021

Blind trust in social media cements conspiracy beliefs

A recent study from Washington State University reveals that people who blindly trust information on social media are more likely to believe conspiracy theories, even if they can identify misinformation. Researchers found that a strong trust in social media information lowers the ability to reject conspiracy beliefs, highlighting the n...

SourceWashington State University·JournalPublic Understanding of Science·DateMar 5, 2021

Building networks not enough to expand rural broadband

Rural broadband cooperatives face high operation and maintenance costs, low population density, and prohibitively high service fees. Policymakers should consider eliminating property taxes on broadband infrastructure and payments to rent space on poles to make high-speed internet more affordable.

SourceCornell University·JournalTelecommunications Policy·DateMar 5, 2021

Christopher Tunnell wins NSF CAREER Award

Dr. Christopher Tunnell, a computational astroparticle physicist at Rice University, has been awarded a National Science Foundation (NSF) CAREER Award to further his research on dark matter and other phenomena. The award will support a combined physics and computer science effort to detect rare particles and understand the universe.

CVIAhas just published a new issue, Volume 5 Issue 3

This issue of CVIA features important papers on COVID-19's impact on cardiology, including a meta-analysis of pacemaker complications and risk factors for pressure injuries during aortic surgery. Research also explores the relationship between cardiac injury and inflammatory biomarkers in severe COVID-19 patients.

SourceCompuscript Ltd·JournalCardiovascular Innovations and Applications·DateMar 5, 2021

Tracking proteins in the heart of cells

Scientists at UNIGE have developed a fluorescent dye to track the movement of kinesin proteins within cells, revealing their path and direction. This breakthrough enables researchers to study the fundamental question of protein transport and cargo distribution in cells.

SourceUniversité de Genève·JournalNature Communications·DateMar 5, 2021

Physics camp has proven benefits for high school girls

A summer program at Rice University has proven successful in helping high school girls thrive in challenging science courses, with participants scoring 3% better in physics. The study also found that hands-on engineering experiences help teachers engage students and improve their own self-efficacy in engineering instruction.

SourceRice University·JournalPhysical Review Physics Education Research·DateMar 5, 2021

How bone marrow regenerates after chemotherapy

Researchers from Osaka University have identified the molecular mechanism underlying bone marrow regeneration after chemotherapy. They found that group 2 innate lymphoid cells produce granulocyte-macrophage colony-stimulating factor to aid in HSPC recovery, and their transfer accelerates hematopoietic recovery.

SourceOsaka University·JournalJournal of Experimental Medicine·DateMar 5, 2021

Taking 2D materials for a spin

Researchers at the University of Tsukuba successfully detect and map electronic spins in a working transistor made of molybdenum disulfide. This breakthrough could lead to the development of faster spintronic computers that exploit electrons' natural magnetism.

SourceUniversity of Tsukuba·JournalCommunications Materials·DateMar 5, 2021

RCSI researchers discover new way to halt excessive inflammation

Researchers at RCSI University of Medicine and Health Sciences have discovered a new way to halt excessive inflammation by regulating Arginase-2, a protein that limits inflammatory cytokine production. This breakthrough has the potential to protect the body from tissue damage caused by inflammatory diseases.

SourceRCSI·JournalNature Communications·DateMar 5, 2021

Racial/ethnic disparities in autism

A study analyzing survey data from 2014-2019 found significant racial/ethnic disparities in autism spectrum disorder rates. The research estimated changes in these disparities over time, providing insight into the impact of diversity on autism diagnosis and prevalence.

SourceJAMA Network·JournalJAMA Network Open·DateMar 5, 2021

Survey identifies factors in reducing clinical research coordinator turnover

A Vanderbilt University Medical Center survey identified strong collaborative relationships as a key factor in retaining clinical research coordinators. The study also found that compensation, career growth opportunities, and collegial relationships through hands-on involvement in clinical trials were significant predictors of retention.

SourceVanderbilt University Medical Center·JournalMayo Clinic Proceedings·DateMar 5, 2021

Overweight children exposed to lead in utero may have poor future kidney function

A study published in Environment International found that overweight children exposed to lead in utero and during their first weeks of life are at risk for poorer kidney function in adulthood. The research measured blood levels of lead during pregnancy and eGFR levels in children between 8-12 years old.

SourceThe Mount Sinai Hospital / Mount Sinai School of Medicine·JournalEnvironment International·DateMar 5, 2021

Switzerland's energy transition

To achieve its goal, Switzerland must double its photovoltaic capacity every decade, with power from wind, hydrogen fuel cells, and imports also contributing. Electric vehicles and heat pumps will become crucial, while energy savings through building renovation are essential for meeting the target.

What can stream quality tell us about quality of life?

Researchers found a strong correlation between stream conditions and human demographics, particularly along racial lines. Stream quality is linked to mortality rates and cancer rates, highlighting the need for environmental justice. Understanding how people interact with nature is crucial to drawing conclusions about health outcomes.

SourceVirginia Tech·JournalEcological Indicators·DateMar 5, 2021

Antibiotic-resistant strains of staph bacteria may be spreading between pigs raised in factory farms

A study found that multidrug-resistant Staphylococcus aureus strains are spreading between pigs, farmworkers, and community residents in North Carolina, raising concerns about a potential emerging public health threat. The strains were closely related and carried genes conferring resistance to multiple antibiotics.

SourceJohns Hopkins Bloomberg School of Public Health·JournalEmerging Infectious Diseases·DateMar 5, 2021

Humans evolved to be the water-saving ape

A new study reveals that humans use 30% to 50% less water per day than chimpanzees and gorillas. This finding suggests an ancient shift in the human body's ability to conserve water, enabling early humans to venture farther from streams in search of food.

SourceDuke University·JournalCurrent Biology·DateMar 5, 2021