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Science News for November 16, 2021


Older-looking brains linked to lower birth weight and genes

A new study by the University of Oslo found that brains with an older appearance are associated with lower birth weights and a genetic tendency towards smaller brain size. The researchers measured the pace of brain aging in 1,500 adults over 10 years and found no strong correlation between estimated brain age and future brain changes.

IU neuroscientists explore mysterious ‘events’ in the brain that open new avenues for understanding brain injuries and disorders

Researchers discovered short bursts of activity in the brain, known as 'events,' which occur regardless of brain state or activity. These events are guided by the brain's structural network and may be tied to the physical structure of brain regions, offering a potential new avenue for understanding brain injuries and disorders.

SourceIndiana University·JournalProceedings of the National Academy of Sciences·DateNov 16, 2021

Flavoured vapes less harmful to young people than smoking, and could help teen smokers quit

A systematic review of over 500,000 under 18s found that flavoured vapes are an important aspect of vaping enjoyed by young people, potentially encouraging them to switch from tobacco smoking to less harm vaping. However, the study warns that more needs to be done to prevent young non-smokers from being attracted to vaping.

SourceUniversity of East Anglia·JournalAddiction·TypeSystematic review·DateNov 16, 2021

Commonly prescribed treatment regimen after stent procedures may be outdated

A recent study published in Circulation found that patients receiving a combination of antiplatelet drugs for many months (up to 2.5 years) after stent procedures may not receive the full benefit of treatment. The researchers compared characteristics of 8,864 patients from an older trial to 568,540 contemporary patients and determined ...

SourceMassachusetts General Hospital·JournalCirculation·TypeObservational study·DateNov 16, 2021

Simultaneous repair of heart valves may benefit some adults

A two-year follow-up of participants found that those who had both their mitral valve and tricuspid valve repaired at the same time experienced better outcomes, including less progression to moderate or severe leakage. This study provides high-level evidence for surgeons on how to perform tricuspid valve repair in these patients.

SourceJohns Hopkins Medicine·JournalNew England Journal of Medicine·DateNov 16, 2021

Unvaccinated: The kids aren’t alright

A study found that vaccination rates among Indian children improved significantly between 1992 and 2016, with a 70% drop in child mortality from vaccine-preventable diseases. However, zero-dose children remained concentrated among disadvantaged groups, including low-income households and mothers with limited education.

SourceUniversity of Montreal·JournalThe Lancet·TypeData/statistical analysis·DateNov 16, 2021

A frugal way to study complex systems and materials

Researchers at Stanford University have developed a new method for rapidly prototyping complex geometries mirroring symmetries present in problems of interest. This technique uses a mixture of water and propylene glycol, along with a slippery surface, to create droplet lattices that can be manipulated and observed over time.

SourceStanford University·JournalProceedings of the National Academy of Sciences·DateNov 16, 2021

An ironclad future

Researchers at the University of Basel have developed a new family of iron-based sensitizers for dye-sensitized solar cells, promising a low-cost supplement to traditional photovoltaic systems. The new materials achieve overall efficiency of 1 percent, but represent a milestone in further research and development.

SourceUniversity of Basel·JournalDalton Transactions·TypeExperimental study·DateNov 16, 2021

Increased religious competition worsens armed conflict in Colombia

A new study by the University of Kent's School of Economics found that religious competition substantially increases the probability of conflict-related violence in Colombia. The presence of a new religion group makes potential contributors or soldiers more scared, leading to violent action from armed groups.

SourceUniversity of Kent·JournalJournal of Economic Behavior & Organization·TypeObservational study·DateNov 16, 2021

OSU study yields a first in fossil research: Seeds sprouting from an amber-encased pine cone

Researchers have uncovered the first fossil evidence of a rare botanical condition known as precocious germination, where seeds sprout before leaving the fruit. A 40-million-year-old pine cone encased in Baltic amber shows embryonic stems emerging from the seeds, providing insight into plant biology and ecology.

SourceOregon State University·JournalHistorical Biology·TypeObservational study·DateNov 16, 2021

Turning the sticky to slippery

A new coating developed by researchers at the University of Illinois Chicago uses thermoresponsive properties to create a hygroscopic slippery layer that prevents harmful substances from coming into contact with surfaces. This technology delays ice and frost formation, outperforming commercial products by up to ten times.

SourceAmerican Physical Society·JournalAdvanced Materials·DateNov 16, 2021

Woodland and hedgerow creation can play crucial role in action to reverse declines in pollinators

A major new study found that woodland and hedgerow creation can support higher numbers of pollinators, including bees, hoverflies, and butterflies. The survey, which covered hundreds of sites across Wales, revealed the importance of carefully managed habitats in land management incentive schemes.

SourceUK Centre for Ecology & Hydrology·JournalJournal of Applied Ecology·TypeObservational study·DateNov 16, 2021

Is watching believing?

A new study by MIT researchers finds that video clips have a modestly larger impact on political persuasion than the written word, but only by one-third. Participants were more likely to believe events occurred when shown in a video, but this advantage was limited to changing attitudes and behavior.

SourceMassachusetts Institute of Technology·JournalProceedings of the National Academy of Sciences·DateNov 16, 2021

Game theory and economics show how to steer evolution in a better direction

Researchers use game theory and economics to steer evolution in a better direction, identifying conditions for improved outcomes through policy changes and coordination. The study provides a mathematical formula to determine when evolution managers will have sufficient incentive to steward biological resources.

SourcePLOS·JournalPLOS Biology·TypeComputational simulation/modeling·DateNov 16, 2021

Mason researchers receive funding for project aimed at advancing content-integrated education for English learners with a STEM focus (ACE-STEM)

George Mason University researchers will provide a professional development program to enhance Northern Virginia teachers' content-integrated instruction for culturally and linguistically diverse students. The ACE-STEM project aims to improve STEM literacy development and family literacy programs for English learners.

In a cross-adoption experiment researchers at Tel Aviv University found that adopted baby fruit bats behave like their adoptive mothers

Researchers at Tel Aviv University conducted a cross-adoption experiment with fruit bat pups to determine whether boldness is genetic or learned. The findings indicate that the pups behave like their adoptive mothers, not biological mothers, suggesting that boldness is an acquired trait passed on through mother's milk.

SourceTel-Aviv University·JournalBMC Biology·DateNov 16, 2021

A new approach to identify mammals good at learning sounds

A recent study found that most vocal learners, such as dolphins and whales, sound higher than expected based on their body size, not lower. This challenges the idea that faking body size is linked to vocal learning and suggests a different evolutionary scenario for vocal communication in mammals.

SourceMax Planck Institute for Psycholinguistics·JournalPhilosophical Transactions of the Royal Society B Biological Sciences·TypeObservational study·DateNov 16, 2021

Outcomes for hospitalized COVID-19 patients taking immunosuppressive medications similar to non-immunosuppressed patients

A nationwide study found that hospitalized COVID-19 patients taking immunosuppressive medications did not have a significantly increased risk of dying from COVID-19 or being put on a ventilator compared to non-immunosuppressed patients. However, patients taking rituximab were at a substantially increased risk of death.

SourceJohns Hopkins Bloomberg School of Public Health·JournalThe Lancet Rheumatology·DateNov 16, 2021

Do you need a COVID-19 booster shot?

A new study from the University of Georgia found that vaccination results in a more robust immune response than natural infection. Even with waning antibodies, vaccinated individuals still have protective immunity against severe disease and hospitalization.

SourceUniversity of Georgia·JournalFrontiers in Immunology·DateNov 16, 2021

Similar follow-up after telehealth and office visits

The study of 2.2 million primary care visits found similar rates of follow-up care for all three visit types, including emergency department visits and hospitalizations. Virtual visits were shown to be a convenient and safe way to address some primary care needs without generating many follow-up office visits.

SourceKaiser Permanente·JournalJAMA Network Open·DateNov 16, 2021

UCLA scientists make strides toward an ‘off-the-shelf’ immune cell therapy for cancer

Researchers produce large quantities of powerful cancer-fighting iNKT cells using stem cell engineering and organoid technology, offering a potential solution for mass-producing an off-the-shelf immune cell therapy. The therapy, which uses hematopoietic stem cell-engineered iNKT cells, has been shown to be effective in killing multiple...

SourceUniversity of California - Los Angeles Health Sciences·JournalCell Reports Medicine·TypeExperimental study·DateNov 16, 2021

Swapping spit helps ants share metabolic labor

Researchers discovered that ants pass proteins through mouth-to-mouth exchanges to share metabolic labor and adapt to colony needs. This discovery sheds light on how ants divide tasks between individuals and the colony's life cycle.

SourceeLife·JournaleLife·DateNov 16, 2021

UTSW study finds Hispanic people receive lower-quality thrombectomies than white people

A recent UTSW study found that Hispanic ischemic stroke patients receive lower-quality thrombectomies than their white counterparts, with similar outcomes observed between Black and white patients. This disparity highlights the need for targeted interventions to improve access to high-quality stroke treatment for underserved populations.

SourceUT Southwestern Medical Center·JournalJournal of Stroke and Cerebrovascular Diseases·DateNov 16, 2021

UCI-led team develops new screening process, could lead to next-generation therapeutics for a broad spectrum of diseases

A UCI-led team has developed a high-throughput screen methodology to identify compounds that affect the functional role of Rh, a key G protein-coupled receptor. The study reveals new allosteric modulators that can alter rod light response kinetics or reduce rod sensitivity, paving the way for next-generation therapeutics.

SourceUniversity of California - Irvine·JournalJournal of Biological Chemistry·TypeExperimental study·DateNov 16, 2021

Oncotarget: The antitumoral effects of chemerin

Researchers discovered chemerin, a multifunctional protein, has antitumoral properties in mouse models of cancer. Bioactive chemerin overexpression inhibits neoangiogenesis, a process distinct from normal tissue vasculature. This effect may provide a therapeutic application for targeting solid tumors.

SourceImpact Journals LLC·JournalOncotarget·DateNov 16, 2021

Machine learning IDs mammal species with the potential to spread SARS-CoV-2

A new study used machine learning to predict the zoonotic capacity of 5,400 mammal species, identifying those at high risk of transmitting SARS-CoV-2. The model, which combined data on biological traits with ACE2 receptor information, predicted 72% accuracy and identified numerous additional species with potential to transmit the virus.

SourceCary Institute of Ecosystem Studies·JournalProceedings of the Royal Society B Biological Sciences·TypeComputational simulation/modeling·DateNov 16, 2021

Physicists reveal non-reciprocal flow around the quantum world

Physicists from Exeter and Zaragoza develop a theory to engineer non-reciprocal flows of quantum light and matter, paving the way for novel devices with directional character. This breakthrough may lead to the creation of quantum technologies requiring efficient, directional energy transfer.

SourceUniversity of Exeter·JournalProceedings of the Royal Society A Mathematical Physical and Engineering Sciences·DateNov 16, 2021

Alterations caused by ALS detected in the retina

Researchers at Universidad Complutense de Madrid have discovered alterations caused by ALS in the retina, which can be used as biomarkers for diagnosis and treatment monitoring. The study found changes in microglial cells and ganglion cell loss, with modifications evolving over the course of the disease.

SourceUniversidad Complutense de Madrid·JournalNeural Regeneration Research·TypeExperimental study·DateNov 16, 2021

Finding tipping points in the climate of the past

Researchers developed an automated method to detect and date abrupt climate events in paleoclimatic data, facilitating the study of climate tipping points in the past. The new tool can help establish chronology of close events and eliminate uncertainties during comparisons of different paleo records.

SourceUniversity of Copenhagen - Faculty of Science·JournalChaos An Interdisciplinary Journal of Nonlinear Science·TypeData/statistical analysis·DateNov 16, 2021

Study tackles reducing bladder cancer recurrence

A new study by the Regenstrief Institute found that lack of protocols or standard operating procedures in the recovery room is a significant barrier to administering post-operative chemotherapy to reduce bladder cancer recurrence. The researchers identified 58 Michigan urologists who reported this as a major obstacle, emphasizing the n...

SourceRegenstrief Institute·JournalThe Journal of Urology·DateNov 16, 2021

Fishing for solutions to the plastic problem

A University of Adelaide study reveals that over 35% of fish caught off southern Australia contain microplastics, with the problem being most acute in South Australia. Simple actions like replacing plastic fishing equipment and using biodegradable bags can quickly reduce plastic pollution in the ocean.

SourceUniversity of Adelaide·JournalMarine Policy·TypeMeta-analysis·DateNov 16, 2021

The prostate cancer cell that got away

Researchers have developed a new approach to studying prostate cancer, allowing them to track the behavior of individual cancer cells from birth to organ spread. The technique uses whole-organ imaging and artificial intelligence to create a 3D reconstruction of the organ at single-cell resolution.

SourceCold Spring Harbor Laboratory·JournalCell Reports·DateNov 16, 2021

Gwangju Institute of Science and Technology makes breakthrough on new electronic material

Researchers at GIST have made a breakthrough in creating a perovskite material with easily tunable electrical properties. The study used ambient pressure X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy and low energy electron diffraction to investigate the effects of fabrication conditions on the material's surface.

SourceGIST (Gwangju Institute of Science and Technology)·JournalJournal of Materials Chemistry C·TypeExperimental study·DateNov 16, 2021

Lundquist Institute investigator is lead author on a JAMA open network publication that positively evaluates EyeArt AI system to prevent diabetic vision loss

A recent study published in JAMA Open Network evaluates the performance of the EyeArt AI system, detecting diabetic retinopathy with high sensitivity and specificity. The results demonstrate the ability to accurately detect vision-threatening diabetic retinopathy without physician oversight, facilitating efficient diabetic eye exams.

SourceThe Lundquist Institute·JournalJAMA Network Open·TypeRandomized controlled/clinical trial·DateNov 16, 2021

Genomic alterations in advanced cancers reveal interactions with therapy

Researchers at Baylor College of Medicine identified over 300 genes with altered expression in advanced cancers due to genomic structural variations. The study found associations between tumor genomic rearrangements and altered metabolism-associated gene expression, suggesting potential mechanisms for therapy resistance. These findings...

SourceBaylor College of Medicine·JournalCell Reports·TypeData/statistical analysis·DateNov 16, 2021

Climate and agriculture in the Mediterranean: less water resource, more irrigation demand

A Mediterranean region study predicts increased crop water demands due to worsening climate conditions, affecting staple crops like maize and wheat. The findings highlight the need for precision agriculture and water management strategies to balance economic growth and environmental sustainability.

SourceCMCC Foundation - Euro-Mediterranean Center on Climate Change·JournalAgricultural Water Management·DateNov 16, 2021

How thinking like a watershed system can help save Narragansett Bay

A new study from UMass Amherst suggests that changing land-use patterns in the greater Narragansett watershed can help mitigate the effects of climate change. The research found that expanding forest cover and investing in green infrastructure, such as rain gardens and living roofs, can reduce surface runoff and nutrient loading.

SourceUniversity of Massachusetts Amherst·JournalScience of The Total Environment·DateNov 16, 2021

Study shows immune cells against COVID-19 stay high in number six months after vaccination

Researchers found that CD4+ T lymphocytes — immune system cells — produced by people who received COVID-19 vaccines persisted at high levels six months after vaccination, with a significant response against the delta variant. The study also showed that vaccine-elicited fighters recognize and help attack coronavirus delta variant.

SourceJohns Hopkins Medicine·JournalClinical Infectious Diseases·DateNov 16, 2021

Ever been lost in the grocery store? Researchers are closer to knowing why it happens

A new study suggests that the brain uses a mechanism called 'repulsion' to differentiate between similar environments. Researchers found that when participants were asked about stores shared between two cities, their brains showed surprisingly different patterns of activity, indicating that they were treating these familiar locations a...

SourceUniversity of Arizona·JournalNature Communications·TypeObservational study·DateNov 16, 2021

Georgia State researchers develop rapid computer software to track pandemics as they happen

A team of researchers at Georgia State University has created a lightning-fast computer software that can process over 200,000 novel virus genomes in under two hours. The software provides valuable information for countries making early decisions about lockdowns, quarantines, and testing during infectious disease outbreaks.

SourceGeorgia State University·JournalJournal of Computational Biology·TypeComputational simulation/modeling·DateNov 16, 2021

Studying the placenta to gain a better understanding of febrile seizures in children

A Québec research team studied the expression of three families of genes in the placenta and found associations with febrile seizure characteristics. The study, led by Professor Sarah Lippé, may help understand the underlying mechanisms of febrile seizures and their impact on children's cognitive development.

SourceInstitut national de la recherche scientifique - INRS·JournalJournal of Neuroendocrinology·DateNov 16, 2021

New study in JNCCN finds disturbing lack of key leukemia medication

A recent study published in JNCCN found that only 31% of hospitals have immediate availability of all-trans retinoic acid (ATRA), a crucial blood cancer medication. This medication is essential for treating acute promyelocytic leukemia, which has a better prognosis when treated appropriately. The lack of ATRA availability poses a signi...

SourceNational Comprehensive Cancer Network·JournalJournal of the National Comprehensive Cancer Network·TypeSurvey·DateNov 16, 2021

Cortex suppression resolves motivation conflict in favor of prosociality

Researchers suppressed cortical excitability to resolve self-interest vs. prosocial motivations in favor of cooperation, particularly in dictator games. In generosity games, no effect was observed. The study suggests the dorsolateral prefrontal cortex plays a key role in resolving conflicts between self-interest and prosociality.

Machine learning helps to locally restore wetlands for coastal protection

International researchers used machine learning to forecast marsh establishment under various environmental conditions, revealing that controllable local factors are more important than global climate change. The study suggests smart management of tidal flats can counteract threats and strengthen wetlands.

SourceRoyal Netherlands Institute for Sea Research·JournalGeophysical Research Letters·TypeData/statistical analysis·DateNov 16, 2021

Same day test identifies secondary infections in COVID-19 patients

A rapid same-day test has been developed to identify secondary infections in COVID-19 patients on intensive care, allowing for targeted antibiotic treatment and reduced risk of antimicrobial resistance. The test uses nanopore sequencing technology to analyze bacterial and fungal pathogens present in patient samples.

SourceNIHR Biomedical Research Centre at Guy’s and St Thomas’ and King’s College London·JournalGenome Medicine·TypeRandomized controlled/clinical trial·DateNov 16, 2021