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Science News for November 3, 2021


Mapping annual wildfire probabilities across California

A statistical modeling approach highlights predictive importance of local climate and human activity in determining wildfire probabilities. The analysis uncovered key roles for climate, human activity, fire history, and short-term climate variations in fire-prone regions.

SourcePLOS·JournalPLOS ONE·TypeComputational simulation/modeling·DateNov 3, 2021

Dipole scatterers for absolute characterization of high numerical aperture optics

A team of scientists has developed a novel method to characterize microscope objectives without an aberration-less reference element, enabling error correction and precise data collection. Using nanoscale dipole scatterers, they create a nearly-perfect reference wave for measurement.

The importance of social support during pregnancy

New research highlights the importance of social support during pregnancy, finding that women with low levels of emotional or affectionate support are at increased risk of depression and anxiety. The study suggests that screening for social support and providing community-based services may help improve health outcomes.

SourceUniversity of Technology Sydney·JournalBMC Pregnancy and Childbirth·TypeSurvey·DateNov 3, 2021

Securing data transfers with relativity

A team from UNIGE has developed a new system to secure data transfers using the principle of relativity. This approach enables users to identify themselves confidentially without disclosing personal information, making it suitable for cryptocurrencies and blockchain applications.

SourceUniversité de Genève·JournalNature·TypeNews article·DateNov 3, 2021

Color-changing indicator predicts algal blooms

Researchers developed a color-changing indicator that detects rising levels of alkaline phosphatase, forecasting phytoplankton growth and impending algal blooms. The portable system reliably detected enzyme activity using smartphone scanning apps, potentially enabling real-time field monitoring and prediction.

SourceAmerican Chemical Society·JournalACS Applied Nano Materials·DateNov 3, 2021

Scientists discover how our brain uses nutritional state to regulate growth and age at puberty

Researchers found that a receptor in the brain detects nutritional state and regulates puberty timing and growth rate, explaining why humans have been growing taller and reaching sexual maturity earlier over the past century. The discovery has immediate practical implications for testing children with growth delays.

SourceUK Research and Innovation·JournalNature·TypeExperimental study·DateNov 3, 2021

Spiny mice regenerate damaged kidneys without scarring

Researchers discovered that spiny mice can regenerate severely damaged kidneys without scarring, a process triggered by unique transcriptional programs in their genome. This finding offers new hope for treatments of end-stage kidney disease and fibrotic diseases.

SourceCell Press·JournaliScience·TypeExperimental study·DateNov 3, 2021

Electric soot collector shows promise in mitigating emissions from residential biomass combustion

A new study from the University of Eastern Finland introduces an electric soot collector that achieves a 45% fine particle reduction efficiency in logwood-fired masonry heaters. The technology uses natural charges of flames to collect particles, but further optimization is needed for higher reduction efficiencies.

SourceUniversity of Eastern Finland·JournalJournal of Cleaner Production·DateNov 3, 2021

Risk of age-related diseases may be higher in younger b-cell non-hodgkin lymphoma survivors than in their older counterparts

A study found that younger B-cell non-Hodgkin lymphoma survivors are at a higher risk of developing age-related diseases, including renal failure, pneumonia, and nutritional deficiencies. The research suggests that aggressive treatment regimens may be the underlying factor contributing to this increased risk.

SourceAmerican Association for Cancer Research·JournalCancer Epidemiology Biomarkers & Prevention·DateNov 3, 2021

It takes cellular teamwork to heal the intestine

Researchers uncover intricate cellular response to rotavirus damage in intestinal epithelium, finding tuft cells contribute to repair process through production of immature enterocytes. The study provides new understanding of gut healing mechanisms and potential therapeutic targets.

SourceBaylor College of Medicine·JournalProceedings of the National Academy of Sciences·TypeExperimental study·DateNov 3, 2021

Experts call for urgent roo management reforms

Scientists call for scientifically-informed reforms to manage overabundant kangaroo populations, addressing animal welfare, conservation and environmental concerns. The special edition of the journal features research papers on sustainable monitoring and management practices to reduce harm to wildlife species.

SourceUniversity of Adelaide·JournalEcological Management & Restoration·DateNov 3, 2021

When is a basin of attraction like an octopus?

Researchers describe a simple argument showing that basins in high-dimensional systems should look like high-dimensional octopi. The volume of these basins cannot be correctly approximated by a hypercube, which fails to encompass the vast majority of points in the basin.

SourceSanta Fe Institute·JournalPhysical Review Letters·TypeComputational simulation/modeling·DateNov 3, 2021

COVID-19: Governments must stop vaccine cost secrecy

A recent study estimates that the net manufacturing costs for 100 million doses of COVID-19 vaccine ready for shipping range from $0.54 to $0.98. Companies charge significantly higher prices, despite discounts and tiered pricing for low-income countries, which are likely to prolong the global pandemic.

SourceSAGE·JournalJournal of the Royal Society of Medicine·TypeData/statistical analysis·DateNov 3, 2021

Is waking up to smoke a drag on people’s ability to quit smoking?

A recent study published in Behavioral Sleep Medicine found that people who wake up, smoke, and return to sleep are more likely driven by stress than nicotine addiction. To help these smokers quit, researchers recommend addressing their psychological distress and developing treatments that go beyond nicotine dependence.

SourcePenn State·JournalBehavioral Sleep Medicine·TypeObservational study·DateNov 3, 2021

Using microbes to make carbon-neutral fuel

Researchers at Washington University in St. Louis have developed a way to train microbes to produce a readily usable biofuel from CO2, solar panel-generated electricity and light. The resulting n-butanol is an authentically carbon-neutral fuel alternative that can be used in blends with diesel or gasoline.

SourceWashington University in St. Louis·JournalCommunications Biology·TypeExperimental study·DateNov 3, 2021

Combating antibiotic resistance

The need for new antibiotics is critical due to rising antibiotic resistance, which kills over 35,000 people annually in the US. Research by Harvard Medical School aims to develop better antibiotics by targeting essential bacterial proteins.

SourceHarvard Medical School·JournalScience·DateNov 3, 2021

Novel tool for reporting symptoms after vaccination helped health care workers discern injection side effects from COVID-19 symptoms

A decision-support tool aided healthcare workers in distinguishing COVID-19 vaccination symptoms from actual infections, preserving the workforce during a surge. The study found that providing this guidance helped curb the spread of COVID-19 and reduced missed workdays.

SourceMassachusetts General Hospital·JournalInfection Control and Hospital Epidemiology·TypeObservational study·DateNov 3, 2021

Vaccine passports/COVID passes: The best way of preventing another lockdown or a threat to civil freedoms and rights?

COVID passes may help prevent lockdowns, but experts warn of risks including segregation, surveillance, and economic barriers. Some researchers advocate for mandatory covid passes as a 'mechanism to target restrictions' and reduce cases, while others argue they introduce profound risks and can exacerbate existing inequalities.

SourceBMJ Group·JournalThe BMJ·TypeCommentary/editorial·DateNov 3, 2021

Brain reveals the risk for developing obesity

A study at the University of Turku found that brain function regulating satiety and appetite is altered before obesity develops, with family background risk factors contributing to these changes. The findings suggest the brain and central nervous system are key targets for treating obesity.

SourceUniversity of Turku·JournalInternational Journal of Obesity·TypeImaging analysis·DateNov 3, 2021

Can eating alone be bad for your heart?

A recent study published by The Menopause Society suggests that eating alone may contribute to an increased risk of heart disease in older women. Older women who eat alone have poorer nutritional knowledge and intake, as well as a higher prevalence of angina, a type of chest pain caused by reduced blood flow to the heart.

SourceThe Menopause Society·JournalMenopause·TypeCase study·DateNov 3, 2021

Study: Algorithm can predict when an adolescent will become suicidal with 91% accuracy

Researchers developed an algorithm that predicts suicidal thoughts and behavior among adolescents with 91% accuracy, analyzing data from 179,384 students. The study reveals online harassment and bullying as leading predictors of suicidal ideation and behavior, with females more likely to experience suicidal thoughts.

SourceBrigham Young University·JournalPLOS ONE·TypeData/statistical analysis·DateNov 3, 2021

Thin-film, high-frequency antenna array offers new flexibility for wireless communications

Princeton researchers create a new type of antenna array that can be used in various applications, including coating airplane wings, functioning as a skin patch for medical implants, or covering a room as wallpaper. The technology uses large-area electronics to overcome limitations of conventional silicon semiconductors and enables fle...

SourcePrinceton University, Engineering School·JournalNature Electronics·TypeExperimental study·DateNov 3, 2021

New research highlights motivations of reviewers

A study published in Marketing Science found that a simultaneous reveal review system on Airbnb increased review rates by shortening the time to receive reviews and making them more accurate. This is attributed to curiosity and business interest, as users want to see their own reviews right away and submit theirs quickly.

SourceInstitute for Operations Research and the Management Sciences·JournalMarketing Science·TypeData/statistical analysis·DateNov 3, 2021

Restoring coral health

Researchers at KAUST develop adaptive framework to increase coral resilience, combining tools like selective sexual propagation, coral probiotics, and environmental hardening. They also investigate the potential of genetic adaptations and beneficial microorganisms to enhance coral's stress resilience.

SourceKing Abdullah University of Science & Technology (KAUST)·JournalNature Reviews Earth & Environment·TypeSystematic review·DateNov 3, 2021

Quantum Physics in Proteins

A new analytical technique combines quantum physics and molecular biology to track biomolecule changes in less than a trillionth of a second. By analyzing the collective movement of atoms, researchers were able to reduce 6000 dimensions to four and characterize conical intersections of quantum states in complex molecules.

100% renewable energy using building science

Researchers found that combining resource diversification, excess generation, building efficiency, and demand flexibility can reduce or eliminate long-duration energy storage in some regions. This approach enables the achievability of a fully renewable system with technology building blocks accessible today.

SourceAmerican Institute of Physics·JournalJournal of Renewable and Sustainable Energy·DateNov 3, 2021

Social media is reshaping British universities’ value systems in a scramble for likes and shares

Researchers at the University of Cambridge found that universities are increasingly using social media metrics to claim impact in research, despite this being a 'naïve and problematic' grasp of the concept. This is linked to institutional isomorphism, where organisations imitate each other's approaches to uncertain goals.

SourceUniversity of Cambridge·JournalPostdigital Science and Education·DateNov 3, 2021

Study: In much of the US, virtual school did not lower COVID-19 case rates in surrounding communities

A nationwide study of 895 US school districts found that opening schools for in-person learning did not increase COVID-19 case rates in surrounding communities, except in the South. The researchers controlled for local policies and community mobility data to analyze the impact of schools on community spread.

SourceUniversity of Utah Health·JournalNature Medicine·TypeObservational study·DateNov 3, 2021

CO2 can be turned into a valuable resource

Researchers from the Paul Scherrer Institute found that CO2 electrolysis can produce formic acid, a promising product for various industries, but generates more CO2 than it consumes. The production process is commercially viable, but depends on a renewable energy mix to have a positive climate effect.

SourcePaul Scherrer Institute·JournalRenewable and Sustainable Energy Reviews·TypeMeta-analysis·DateNov 3, 2021

Restoring normal sleep reduces amyloid-beta accumulation in mouse model of Alzheimer’s disease

In a mouse model of Alzheimer's disease, researchers found that restoring normal sleep reduced amyloid-beta plaque accumulation. The thalamic reticular nucleus played a previously unsuspected role in symptoms associated with Alzheimer's, and its restoration could be a potential therapeutic approach.

SourceBaylor College of Medicine·JournalScience Translational Medicine·TypeExperimental study·DateNov 3, 2021

Interpretation outside training: Discrepancy rates in 5.9 million radiological examinations

A study of 5.9 million radiological examinations found no significant difference in major and minor discrepancy rates for acute community setting exams between concordant and discordant with radiologists' fellowship training. However, advanced examination discrepancies were higher when concordant with radiologists' fellowship training.

SourceAmerican Roentgen Ray Society·JournalAmerican Journal of Roentgenology·TypeObservational study·DateNov 3, 2021

Study reveals “extensive network” of industry ties with healthcare

A study published by The BMJ found an extensive network of financial and non-financial ties between the medical product industry and all major healthcare parties and activities. Researchers are urging enhanced oversight and transparency to protect patients from commercial influence, citing the need for better conflict of interest polic...

SourceBMJ Group·JournalThe BMJ·TypeSystematic review·DateNov 3, 2021

Harnessing Thor’s Hammer -- How forensic science is unlocking the mysteries of fatal lightning strikes

Researchers developed a tool to investigate cause of death when skeletonised remains are recovered, providing a breakthrough in forensic lightning pathology. The study identified unique markers of lightning damage deep within the human skeleton, allowing for recognition of lightning strikes even when only dry bone survives.

SourceUniversity of the Witwatersrand·JournalForensic Science International Synergy·TypeExperimental study·DateNov 3, 2021

The genomes of Mexico's native peoples reveal evolutionary adaptations and challenges to global change

Researchers analyzed the genome of 300 individuals from 15 Mexican ethnic groups to understand their evolutionary histories and adaptability to global changes. The study found that Native Mexican peoples have biological characteristics influenced by their complex history, including susceptibility to certain diseases.

SourceUniversità di Bologna·JournalMolecular Biology and Evolution·DateNov 3, 2021

History of insect invasions offer insight into the future

A recent USDA study analyzed two centuries of alien species discoveries to estimate the rate of new insect arrivals and potential future invasions. The research found that efforts to reduce biological hitchhiking on live plant imports have been successful, but a significant number of Hemiptera insects remain undetected.

SourceUSDA Forest Service - Northern Research Station·JournalScience Advances·TypeData/statistical analysis·DateNov 3, 2021

Machine learning can provide strong predictive accuracy for identifying adolescents that have experienced suicidal thoughts and behavior

A new machine learning-based algorithm has been developed to identify adolescents who have experienced suicidal thoughts and behavior. The algorithm, applied to a large dataset of survey responses from over 179,000 high school students in Utah, shows high accuracy in predicting individual adolescents at risk.

SourcePLOS·JournalPLOS ONE·TypeComputational simulation/modeling·DateNov 3, 2021