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Science News for May 24, 2021


New study shines light on hazards of Earth's largest volcano

Researchers found that a large earthquake could set off the eruption of Hawaii's Mauna Loa volcano by relieving stress from magma influx, generating additional pressure and buoyancy. The study also identified movements along near-horizontal faults under the flanks as essential features of long-term volcano growth.

Autonomous cortisol secretion associated with 2- to 3-fold increase in mortality risk

A retrospective cohort study found that autonomous cortisol secretion is associated with a 2- to 3-fold increased risk of death and cardiovascular disease in patients with adrenal incidentalomas. Researchers recommend treating known cardiovascular risk factors and incorporating findings into treatment decisions, including surgery.

SourceAmerican College of Physicians·JournalAnnals of Internal Medicine·DateMay 24, 2021

Sterilizing skeeters

Researchers at UC Santa Barbara have created sterile male mosquitoes using CRISPER/Cas9, a technique that could suppress Aedes aegypti populations. The study found that the mutant males produced no sperm but still suppressed female fertility, making them effective in controlling mosquito populations.

SourceUniversity of California - Santa Barbara·JournalProceedings of the National Academy of Sciences·DateMay 24, 2021

Keeping it rolling

Scientists at Osaka University employ machine learning algorithms to assess the remaining useful life of mechanical rolling bearings, which may lead to industrial cost savings and fewer discarded parts. The new method improves prediction accuracy by about 32%.

SourceOsaka University·JournalIEEE Access·DateMay 24, 2021

Researchers identify facilitators for rehabilitation care for people with spatial neglect

A recent qualitative study identified facilitators for rehabilitation care of individuals with spatial neglect, including the importance of family support, interdisciplinary collaboration, and continuous treatment. Experts also highlighted the need for therapists to engage patients and their families in therapy to improve outcomes.

SourceKessler Foundation·JournalArchives of Rehabilitation Research and Clinical Translation·DateMay 24, 2021

Fat around the heart linked to increased risk of heart failure

Researchers found that excess pericardial fat increases the risk of heart failure, even after adjusting for established risk factors. High pericardial fat volume was associated with a double increase in risk for women and a 50% increase for men, according to the study published in the Journal of the American College of Cardiology.

SourceThe Mount Sinai Hospital / Mount Sinai School of Medicine·JournalJournal of the American College of Cardiology·DateMay 24, 2021

Using waste heat to power an environmentally sustainable future

Dr Martin White's research proposes a two-phase expansion system that can generate up to 28% more power than conventional single-phase systems. The study aims to enhance the performance of Organic Rankine Cycle (ORC) systems for waste heat recovery, reducing environmental footprint in industries such as iron and steel, food, and drink.

SourceCity St George’s, University of London·JournalApplied Thermal Engineering·DateMay 24, 2021

New fishing tech may pose risks to fisheries, says study co-authored by UMass researcher

A new study co-authored by UMass researcher Andy Danylchuk warns that advances in recreational fishing technology can have significant impacts on fish ecosystems. The study emphasizes the need for resource management agencies to share their experiences and for scientists to intensively study the effects of technological innovations.

SourceUniversity of Massachusetts Amherst·JournalReviews in Fish Biology and Fisheries·DateMay 24, 2021

How "paralyzed" immune cells can be reactivated against brain tumors

Scientists discover a way to reactivate paralyzed immune cells against IDH-mutant gliomas, leading to improved vaccine effectiveness. The researchers identified the molecular mechanism behind the 'immune paralysis' caused by cancer-promoting metabolic products and found a substance that deactivates a key immune system regulatory molecule.

Study: Diet to lower blood pressure also improved other factors in cardiac health

A new study published in the Journal of the American College of Cardiology found that a diet proven to lower elevated blood pressure, known as the DASH diet, reduces inflammation and heart injury. The findings also showed that a low-sodium diet can improve cardiovascular risk factors in a relatively short time period.

SourceBeth Israel Deaconess Medical Center·JournalJournal of the American College of Cardiology·DateMay 24, 2021

Cancer treatments may accelerate cellular aging

New research suggests that anti-cancer therapies can hasten cellular aging, leading to increased inflammation and fatigue in patients with head and neck cancer. Epigenetic changes associated with these treatments may contribute to age-related conditions.

SourceWiley·JournalCancer·DateMay 24, 2021

Study finds women with osteoporosis and low bone density are at increased risk of hearing loss

Researchers from Brigham and Women's Hospital analyzed data from nearly 144,000 women and found a 40% higher risk of moderate or worse hearing loss in those with osteoporosis or low bone density. Bisphosphonates did not alter this risk, suggesting that other factors may contribute to the development of age-related hearing loss.

SourceBrigham and Women's Hospital·JournalJournal of the American Geriatrics Society·DateMay 24, 2021

The birth of a subnanometer-sized soccer ball

Researchers successfully captured a video image of the bottom-up synthesis of fullerene C60, an allotrope resembling a soccer ball. The process was observed using single-molecule atomic resolution real-time electron microscopy (SMART-EM), revealing a kinetically and thermodynamically controlled cyclodehydrogenation reaction.

SourceInstitute for Basic Science·JournalACS Nano·DateMay 24, 2021

Virus infection cycle revealed in dynamic detail

Researchers have developed a pioneering plant-based technology to study the virus maturation process, revealing large structural rearrangements that enable chemical reactions necessary for infection. The study provides valuable insights into the dynamics of an essential part of a virus infection cycle.

SourceJohn Innes Centre·JournalCommunications Biology·DateMay 24, 2021

Researchers identify the causes of the extreme drought that affected the Pantanal

The study reveals that the 2019-20 drought was caused by a meteorological phenomenon, atmospheric blocking, which prevented raincloud formation. The Pantanal's severe drought had devastating effects on the biome due to high temperatures, low humidity, and exacerbated by human activities like deliberate burning of vegetation.

Facilitating speech comprehension in rare inherited hearing loss patients

Scientists have discovered a novel deafness gene, TMEM43, linked to auditory neuropathy spectrum disorder (ANSD), a rare form of hearing loss that affects speech comprehension. The treatment involves cochlear implants, which have successfully restored speech discrimination in patients, offering new hope for those affected.

SourceInstitute for Basic Science·JournalProceedings of the National Academy of Sciences·DateMay 24, 2021

Wolves and road safety

A study in Wisconsin found that wolf introduction reduced deer-vehicle collisions by 24%, with an economic benefit of 63 times the harm caused by livestock predation. The study suggests that wolves' impact on prey behavior is a key factor in collision reduction.

SourceProceedings of the National Academy of Sciences·JournalProceedings of the National Academy of Sciences·DateMay 24, 2021

Accurate evaluation of CRISPR genome editing

Researchers developed a novel software tool to quantify potential CRISPR-induced errors, including adverse translocation events that can cause cancer. The tool, CRISPECTOR, analyzes next-generation sequencing data and applies statistical modeling to determine editing activity.

SourceBar-Ilan University·JournalNature Communications·DateMay 24, 2021

Ludwig Cancer research study finds way to revive potent immune cells for cancer therapy

A Ludwig Cancer Research study has discovered how to revive terminally exhausted T lymphocytes, found within tumors, for cancer therapy by using an immune factor called interleukin-10. This revival restores their potent anti-cancer activity, leading to tumor regression and cures in mouse models of melanoma and colon cancer.

SourceLudwig Institute for Cancer Research·JournalNature Immunology·DateMay 24, 2021

Pristine quantum criticality found

A team of physicists from Rice University and colleagues discovered that quantum fluctuations may give rise to topological phases of matter. The study used magnetic susceptibility, specific heat, and inelastic neutron scattering measurements to show that the material CeRu4Sn6 is quantum critical without fine-tuning.

SourceRice University·JournalScience Advances·DateMay 24, 2021

Prebiotic ethanolamine found in space

Researchers found prebiotic ethanolamine in a molecular cloud near the center of our galaxy, suggesting it may have formed in space and was incorporated into meteorites and planetesimals. This discovery supports the idea that the molecule could have contributed to the assembly and evolution of primitive cell membranes on early Earth.

SourceProceedings of the National Academy of Sciences·JournalProceedings of the National Academy of Sciences·DateMay 24, 2021

Sustainable funding needed to provide nursery places

Researchers found that children who attended childcare outside the home during COVID-19 made greater gains in language and thinking skills, particularly among those from less advantaged backgrounds. The study recommends sustainable funding for nursery provision, promotion of funded places in target areas, and removal of administrative ...

SourceUniversity of Leeds·JournalInfant and Child Development·DateMay 24, 2021

How hepatitis C virus evades the immune system

Researchers discovered a novel molecular mechanism by which HCV interferes with the host's immune system, leading to chronic infection. The study found that HCV core protein is degraded via SPP and MHC class I proteins, impairing proper immune response and allowing infection to become chronic.

SourceOsaka University·JournalProceedings of the National Academy of Sciences·DateMay 24, 2021

How tendons become stiffer and stronger

Researchers have deciphered how tendon cells adapt to physical demands, revealing a molecular force sensor that promotes stiffness. A gene variant associated with West African ancestry enhances jumping performance in humans by 13%, suggesting its potential role in elite athletic success.

SourceETH Zurich·JournalNature Biomedical Engineering·DateMay 24, 2021

Storytelling reduces pain and stress, and increases oxytocin in hospitalized children

A new study by D'Or Institute for Research and Education found that storytelling can decrease cortisol levels and increase oxytocin production in ICU children. The results showed that the narrative activity was more effective than riddles, improving the quality of life for hospitalized kids.

SourceD'Or Institute for Research and Education·JournalProceedings of the National Academy of Sciences·DateMay 24, 2021

Mapping the local cosmic web

Researchers have created a new map of dark matter in the local universe using machine learning, revealing previously undiscovered filamentary structures connecting galaxies. The map provides a detailed understanding of the distribution of dark matter and its gravitational influence on galaxies.