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Science News for October 11, 2021


Nationwide study shows link between COVID vaccination and reduced household transmission

A nationwide study found that increasing family members with immunity from previous infection or full vaccination reduces the risk of infection and hospitalization in non-immune individuals. Vaccination is crucial not only for individual protection but also for reducing transmission within high-risk environments like families.

SourceUmea University·JournalJAMA Internal Medicine·TypeData/statistical analysis·DateOct 11, 2021

New results from the RHIC Spin Program

The latest results from the RHIC Spin Program provide new insights into the contribution of quarks and gluons to a proton's spin. Researchers at Brookhaven Lab have made significant progress in studying the three-dimensional internal structure of protons using collisions of spin-polarized protons at the Relativistic Heavy Ion Collider ...

Antiviral compound blocks SARS-CoV-2 from entering cells

Researchers have developed a chemical compound that interferes with the entry of coronaviruses into human cells, targeting the transmembrane serine protease 2 protein. The compound, MM3122, has shown potential in preventing infection and reducing disease severity, with effectiveness against SARS-CoV-2, SARS-CoV, and MERS-CoV.

SourceWashU Medicine·JournalProceedings of the National Academy of Sciences·DateOct 11, 2021

Older adults across the globe are more willing to help others, but mostly those in the same country

A global study of 46,500 people aged 18-99 found that older adults are more willing to donate to charities within their own country, but less likely to do so internationally. This preference for 'in-group' behavior remains consistent even after accounting for wealth, pandemic severity, and perceived risk.

SourceUniversity of Birmingham·JournalNature Aging·TypeExperimental study·DateOct 11, 2021

Pass the salt: machine learning accelerates molten salt simulations for nuclear power applications

A team of researchers from the University of Illinois Urbana-Champaign used advanced machine learning to model the physico-chemical properties of a molten salt compound called FLiNaK, enabling accurate atomic-scale reproduction and prediction of behavior under specific reactor conditions. This computational framework can help character...

SourceBeckman Institute for Advanced Science and Technology·JournalThe Journal of Physical Chemistry B·TypeComputational simulation/modeling·DateOct 11, 2021

Unraveling the mystery of touch

A new study reveals that sensitive skin surfaces are overrepresented in the brain due to stronger connections between sensory neurons and brain stem neurons. This mechanism may explain why certain body parts, like hands and lips, are more sensitive than others.

SourceHarvard Medical School·JournalCell·TypeExperimental study·DateOct 11, 2021

Is low-fat or whole-fat milk better for kids? Science says it makes no difference

A recent study published in the American Journal of Clinical Nutrition found that consuming whole fat milk has no negative impact on children's health. The research, which involved 49 healthy children aged four to six, showed that both groups consumed similar amounts of calories and fat.

SourceEdith Cowan University·JournalAmerican Journal of Clinical Nutrition·TypeRandomized controlled/clinical trial·DateOct 11, 2021

Simple numbers for chaotic flows in active fluids

University of Barcelona researchers discovered that chaotic flows in active fluids can be described by simple mathematical laws. The study used cytoskeletal proteins and enzymes to create an active fluid system surrounded by passive fluids, revealing new flow regimes and a theoretical framework to explain the results.

SourceUniversity of Barcelona·JournalPhysical Review X·TypeExperimental study·DateOct 11, 2021

Forgiveness messaging increases willingness to accept former Boko Haram fighters returning home, new study shows

A new study found that forgiveness messaging from a respected Islamic sheikh significantly increased community members' willingness to accept demobilized Boko Haram fighters back into their community. The study, conducted in northeastern Nigeria, showed that 70% of participants who heard the forgiveness messaging were willing to have t...

SourceInnovations for Poverty Action·JournalProceedings of the National Academy of Sciences·TypeRandomized controlled/clinical trial·DateOct 11, 2021

Forsyth researchers reveal that oral TM7 bacteria may protect humans from pathogenic bacteria

Researchers discovered that oral TM7 bacteria decreased periodontal inflammation and bone loss in a mouse model by altering the behavior of their host bacteria. They found two mechanisms by which TM7 modulate inflammation: decreasing production of a collagen binding protein and disrupting host bacterial metabolism.

SourceForsyth Institute·JournalCell·TypeRandomized controlled/clinical trial·DateOct 11, 2021

The new-new kids on the block: Hybrid lizards

Researchers from Washington University in St. Louis uncovered why hybridization among brown anoles is rare in their native range but common in new geographic territories. The study highlights the importance of environmental degradation in facilitating hybridization, which can contribute to biodiversity declines.

SourceWashington University in St. Louis·JournalProceedings of the National Academy of Sciences·DateOct 11, 2021

An efficient and low-cost approach to detecting food fraud

Researchers at the University of Basel have developed a model that can efficiently detect food fraud by analyzing oxygen isotope ratios. The model, which uses publicly available data on temperature, precipitation, and humidity, simulates the regions of origin for various plant products with high accuracy.

SourceUniversity of Basel·JournalScientific Reports·TypeExperimental study·DateOct 11, 2021

A cryptography game-changer for biomedical research at scale

Researchers have developed a federated analytics system, FAMHE, that enables healthcare providers to collaborate on statistical analyses and machine learning models without exchanging underlying datasets. The system has been proven mathematically secure and accurately reproduced published studies in multi-centric settings.

SourceEcole Polytechnique Fédérale de Lausanne·JournalNature Communications·TypeData/statistical analysis·DateOct 11, 2021

Can parental care influence sperm-mediated effects in threespine sticklebacks?

A new study found that parental care does not seem to affect sperm-mediated effects in threespine sticklebacks, contrary to previous expectations. The researchers tested the behavior and stress responses of offspring from predator-exposed fathers with or without parental care.

Genetic study explores how human pregnancy is unique

A new genetic study reveals hundreds of genes that evolved to be turned on or off in the human uterus during early pregnancy, shedding light on what makes human pregnancy uniquely human. These genes are involved in cell-to-cell communication, immune response regulation, and placental invasion, highlighting the importance of evolutionar...

SourceUniversity at Buffalo·JournaleLife·DateOct 11, 2021

Study links COVID-19 rates with nature equity, shows double burden for communities of color

A study by the San Francisco Estuary Institute, the Nature Conservancy, and the University of Illinois suggests that access to nature may contribute to lower COVID-19 rates, regardless of racial or socioeconomic identity. The research team found a strong correlation between green spaces and decreased COVID-19 incidence rates.

Testing troubles

A study by University of New Mexico researchers found that 65% of women with a normal prior co-test had undergone re-screening within three years, far more often than recommended. Meanwhile, some women were not re-tested for over five years after a negative co-test or cytology alone, increasing their risk for poor outcomes.

Patients with kidney transplants more vulnerable to common, usually harmless bacterium

A national review of nocardia infection in kidney transplant patients found that those with compromised immune responses are more vulnerable to the opportunistic agent. Nocardiosis can lead to pneumonia and brain abscess, and screening is crucial, especially in combination with pneumonia symptoms.

SourceMedical College of Georgia at Augusta University·JournalJournal of Investigative Medicine·DateOct 11, 2021

Research points to a strategy for overcoming colorectal cancers’ immunotherapy resistance

New research reveals that boosting numbers of immune cells called dendritic cells may be key to overcoming colorectal cancers' immunotherapy resistance. By augmenting dendritic cells in liver metastases, treatment led to increased cytotoxic T lymphocytes and made tumors sensitive to immune checkpoint inhibitors.

SourceMassachusetts General Hospital·JournalProceedings of the National Academy of Sciences·TypeExperimental study·DateOct 11, 2021

Understanding variations in Salmonella virulence

Researchers from the University of Seville discovered that a single amino acid mutation in Salmonella enzymes enables them to modify more proteins in infected cells, leading to increased virulence. This finding has significant implications for developing inhibitors as alternative antibacterial treatments.

SourceUniversity of Seville·JournalChemical Science·DateOct 11, 2021

Automatic entry into career advancing competitions could help women, study suggests

A recent study by researchers from the University of Toronto and UCLA Anderson School of Management found that automatic entry into competitive processes can reduce gender disparities in decision-making. In three cash-for-task experiments with over 1500 participants, women were shown to be as competitive as men when given the option to...

SourceUniversity of Toronto, Rotman School of Management·JournalProceedings of the National Academy of Sciences·TypeExperimental study·DateOct 11, 2021

Power walk

Researchers developed a powered exoskeleton that provides extra energy for walking, reducing the strain on amputee muscles. The device was tested by six individuals with above-knee amputations, showing a 15.6% improvement in metabolic rate and allowing users to walk for extended periods.

SourceUniversity of Utah·JournalNature Medicine·DateOct 11, 2021

New computational approach uses diagnostic codes and previous doctor’s visits to predict diagnosis of autism spectrum disorder in children

Researchers developed an algorithm that leverages medical informatics to predict autism spectrum disorder (ASD) diagnoses in young children. The new approach uses diagnostic codes from past doctor's visits to calculate a risk score, identifying which patients are at risk of receiving a confirmed ASD diagnosis.

SourceUniversity of Chicago Medical Center·JournalScience Advances·DateOct 11, 2021

New study sheds light on molecular motion

Scientists have developed a synthetic fibre that guides molecular movement fueled by light over long distances, paving the way for new sustainable energy sources and applications in medicine and chemical tasks. The system emulates cellular fibres, allowing for controlled transport of molecules using light as energy.

SourceUniversity of Nottingham·JournalNature Chemistry·TypeExperimental study·DateOct 11, 2021

Teaching ancient brains new tricks

A team of researchers at Carnegie Mellon University has discovered how the brains of advanced physicists organize highly abstract scientific concepts. They found that physicists' brains group concepts into measureable versus immeasurable size, and that these patterns are organized separately in their brains. This study provides insight...

SourceCarnegie Mellon University·Journalnpj Science of Learning·TypeObservational study·DateOct 11, 2021

New gene could help improve tomato flavor and shelf-life

Researchers have identified a gene that regulates fruit softening independent of fruit ripening, allowing tomatoes to stay firm until consumption while maintaining flavor. The discovery could lead to increased shelf-life without sacrificing flavor, benefiting commercial producers and consumers alike.

SourceBoyce Thompson Institute·JournalProceedings of the National Academy of Sciences·TypeExperimental study·DateOct 11, 2021