Add BrightSurf on Google Email

Science News for March 8, 2021


Six research teams win Carbon Hub funding

Rice University's Carbon Hub has awarded seed grants to six research projects aiming to transform the oil and gas sector into a leading provider of clean hydrogen energy and solid carbon products. The selected teams will investigate various applications, including cement reinforced with carbon fibers, urban smog reduction, and replacin...

Hospital-based violence intervention program engages vulnerable populations

A hospital-based violence intervention program effectively engages vulnerable populations by addressing specific client needs. The study highlights the complexities of program attrition and altering life courses for victims of violence, emphasizing the need for targeted strategies to address upstream factors of community violence.

SourceSociety for Academic Emergency Medicine·JournalAcademic Emergency Medicine·DateMar 8, 2021

Tracing malaria's ecology using blood samples from birds

Researchers analyzed blood samples from over 1,000 bird species to understand malaria ecology. They found that the strains of malaria present in a local area don't always align with the types of birds living there, instead being influenced by weather patterns such as rainfall.

SourceField Museum·JournalProceedings of the National Academy of Sciences·DateMar 8, 2021

BU researchers identify basic mechanisms that regulate HIV expression

Researchers at Boston University School of Medicine identified novel transcription factors that influence HIV expression and provided insight into cellular networks controlling activation and repression. Understanding these mechanisms may help target the latent reservoir of virus, allowing for potential treatment advancements.

SourceBoston University School of Medicine·JournalProceedings of the National Academy of Sciences·DateMar 8, 2021

New discovery explains antihypertensive properties of green and black tea

A new study from the University of California, Irvine shows that compounds in both green and black tea relax blood vessels by activating ion channel proteins in the blood vessel wall. The discovery helps explain the antihypertensive properties of tea and could lead to the design of new blood pressure-lowering medications.

SourceUniversity of California - Irvine·JournalCellular Physiology and Biochemistry·DateMar 8, 2021

Virtual avatar coaching with community context for adult-child dyads

A new study published in Journal of Nutrition Education and Behavior found that virtual reality avatar-based coaching programs can spark dialogue about dietary habits and behavior among children and adults. The program showed promise to increase access and extend the reach of nutrition education for lower-income kids and families.

SourceElsevier·JournalJournal of Nutrition Education and Behavior·DateMar 8, 2021

Sea otters maintain remnants of healthy kelp forest amid sea urchin barrens

A study found that sea otters in Monterey Bay are maintaining patches of healthy kelp forest despite a decline in overall kelp forests along the California coast due to an outbreak of sea urchins. Sea otters increase their consumption of urchins in the remaining kelp patches, but ignore those in barren areas with low nutritional value.

SourceUniversity of California - Santa Cruz·JournalProceedings of the National Academy of Sciences·DateMar 8, 2021

No more sitting in the dark?

A new study found that self-paced physical and cognitive activity after a concussion does not hasten or prolong recovery in children and teens. Increased daily step count was associated with early symptom resolution, but the association was not statistically significant.

SourceNationwide Children's Hospital·JournalJournal of Head Trauma Rehabilitation·DateMar 8, 2021

UCLA-led study reveals 'hidden costs' of being Black in the US

A new UCLA-led study finds that Black men face high levels of discriminatory indignities on a nearly daily basis, regardless of income level. The study's results indicate that structural barriers limit the benefits of economic achievements for Black men, increasing the risk of adverse physical and mental health outcomes.

SourceUniversity of California - Los Angeles·JournalInternational Journal of Environmental Research and Public Health·DateMar 8, 2021

Young Investigator Award

Stephanie Law, associate professor of materials science and engineering, received the Young Investigator Award for advances in growing novel optical materials, including heavily doped semiconductors and topological insulators. The award recognizes her work on improving material quality for infrared and terahertz optics and plasmonics.

Can the digital advertising market achieve privacy without regulation?

New research finds machine learning improves click-through rates by 66.8% over simpler targeting models, with behavioral data offering more accurate targeting in mobile ads. Ad networks may have economic incentives to limit granular behavioral targeting, potentially leading to self-regulation and consumer privacy protection.

Adult life expectancy falling for those without a college degree

A recent study by USC and Princeton researchers reveals that adult life expectancy has declined for Americans without a college degree. The study, which analyzed mortality records from 1990 to 2018, found that the gap in life expectancy between those with and without a college degree widened, but narrowed based on race.

SourceUniversity of Southern California·JournalProceedings of the National Academy of Sciences·DateMar 8, 2021

Immune cells in cerebrospinal fluid predict response to immunotherapy

Researchers have identified a novel method using immune cells in cerebrospinal fluid to predict response to immunotherapy for patients with brain metastases. The analysis reveals similarities between immune cells in cerebrospinal fluid and those in brain metastasis, providing valuable insights into tumor microenvironment characterization.

SourceVall d'Hebron Institute of Oncology·JournalNature Communications·DateMar 8, 2021

Post-Fontan liver fibrosis goes under the radar

Researchers found that conventional diagnostic methods for liver fibrosis do not accurately track the disease in patients who underwent Fontan surgery. The study revealed a unique regional development of fibrosis, which was not observed with hepatitis C and B, highlighting the need for new biomarkers and imaging techniques.

SourceOsaka City University·JournalHepatology Research·DateMar 8, 2021

Why odors trigger powerful memories

Researchers at Northwestern University discovered a neural basis for how odors elicit powerful memories, with the olfactory areas connecting directly to the hippocampus. The study suggests that the sense of smell retains direct access to the hippocampus, unlike other senses like vision and hearing.

SourceNorthwestern University·JournalProgress in Neurobiology·DateMar 8, 2021

Hybrid microbes: Genome transfer between different bacteria strains explored

A recent study by biophysicists at the University of Cologne shows that bacteria can easily integrate genetic material from other bacterial strains, producing hybrid organisms with extensive genomic and functional changes. This horizontal gene transfer enables rapid evolution and can drive evolutionary processes efficiently.

SourceUniversity of Cologne·JournalProceedings of the National Academy of Sciences·DateMar 8, 2021

The broader impacts of COVID-19: Societal perspective in health economic evaluations

Researchers call for more inclusive analysis of public health interventions, considering broader impacts on education, criminal justice, housing, consumption, and the environment. Existing evidence shows poorer socio-economic individuals and those with underlying health conditions are at higher risk of contracting COVID-19.

SourceUniversity of Birmingham·JournalInternational Journal of Technology Assessment in Health Care·DateMar 8, 2021

More than 2/3 of Indiana nursing home staff would take COVID-19 vaccine

A survey of over 8,000 nursing home and assisted living staff in Indiana found that 45% would take a vaccine as soon as it was available, while an additional 24% said they would take it at some point in the future. Concerns about side effects, health risks, and effectiveness were common reasons for not wanting to receive the vaccine.

SourceRegenstrief Institute·JournalJournal of the American Geriatrics Society·DateMar 8, 2021

Novel hydrogen fuel purification membrane paves the way for greener future

Researchers develop a novel membrane that efficiently purifies hydrogen fuel from a mixture of gases, offering a low-cost and environment-friendly solution. The membrane, made of polycarbosilane, exhibits high hydrophobicity and selective hydrogen permeation, paving the way for widespread adoption of hydrogen fuel in energy needs.

SourceNagoya Institute of Technology·JournalSeparation and Purification Technology·DateMar 8, 2021

Earth's deep mantle may have proton rivers made of superionic phases

A research group led by Dr. Qingyang Hu discovered a hydrous mineral that enters an exotic superionic phase, similar to water ice in giant planets. The team found that this superionic state may lead to a significant increase in electrical conductivity, potentially changing our understanding of Earth's mantle convection.

New teamwork model could improve patient health care

A new teamwork model developed by researchers at Rice University aims to improve patient health care outcomes. The model emphasizes psychological safety, trust, adaptability, and resilience, and provides tips for implementing team development interventions to advance team effectiveness.

SourceRice University·JournalOrganizational Dynamics·DateMar 8, 2021

Lights on for silicon photonics

Researchers successfully demonstrated electroluminescence from a silicon-germanium device, marking a key step towards the development of a silicon-based laser. The achievement could have significant implications for the large-scale use of terahertz radiation in fields such as medical imaging and wireless communication.

SourceETH Zurich Department of Physics·JournalApplied Physics Letters·DateMar 8, 2021

Research pinpoints unique drug target in antibiotic resistant bacteria

Scientists have pinpointed a critical mechanism allowing deadly bacteria to resist antibiotics, and discovered a potential new target for effective treatment. The study identified quinolone antibiotic resistance mechanisms, including the production of pentapeptide repeat proteins, and revealed how they inhibit bacterial enzymes.

SourceJohn Innes Centre·JournalProceedings of the National Academy of Sciences·DateMar 8, 2021

'Island of Rats' recovers

A coordinated conservation strategy removed invasive rodents from Hawadax Island, leading to the return of native species and a restoration of the island's ecosystem. The study found that removing the rats allowed the seabirds to replenish the seashore invertebrate population, driving down kelp abundance.

SourceUniversity of California - San Diego·JournalScientific Reports·DateMar 8, 2021

Hypertension disorders of pregnancy increase risk of premature maternal mortality

Women with a history of hypertensive disorders of pregnancy (HDPs) have a greater risk of premature mortality, including cardiovascular disease (CVD)-related deaths. A new study found that GHTN and preeclampsia were associated with a 42% increase in premature mortality, while women with HDP had an over two-fold higher risk of premature...

SourceAmerican College of Cardiology·JournalJournal of the American College of Cardiology·DateMar 8, 2021

Sophisticated skin

Researchers have discovered that squids can not only change the color of their skin but also its brightness, achieved through the action of 'osmotic motors' driven by reflectin proteins. This complex mechanism allows for a wide range of iridescent colors and brightness levels.

SourceUniversity of California - Santa Barbara·JournalApplied Physics Letters·DateMar 8, 2021

Paw hygiene no reason to ban assistance dogs from hospitals

Researchers at Utrecht University discovered that assistance dogs' paws are cleaner than their users' shoe soles, invalidating hygiene reasons for banning them from hospitals. A pilot study of 25 assistance dogs and their owners found no significant presence of fecal bacteria or diarrheal bacteria on the dogs' paws.

SourceUtrecht University·JournalInternational Journal of Environmental Research and Public Health·DateMar 8, 2021