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Science News for October 22, 2021


‘Powerful new model’ to engage underserved patients

Researchers propose a new model that transfers power to patients to advocate for their own health, enabling them to design interventions with support from healthcare providers. The study finds that traditional expert models are inefficient in treating chronic diseases and socially determined health issues.

SourceUniversity of Houston·JournalSSM - Population Health·TypeLiterature review·DateOct 22, 2021

Experiments confirm a quantum material’s unique response to circularly polarized laser light

Scientists confirmed that topological insulators produce a unique signature from their surface when exposed to circularly polarized laser light. This discovery was made possible by high harmonic generation, which enhances the signal coming from the surface and gives it a distinctive signature.

SourceDOE/SLAC National Accelerator Laboratory·JournalNano Letters·TypeExperimental study·DateOct 22, 2021

Judging the gymnastics judges

Researchers developed a new statistical engine to evaluate gymnastics judges' accuracy and fairness. The study found that some judges are significantly better than others at judging, with the best-trained judges being only two to three times more accurate than their peers.

SourceDe Gruyter·JournalJournal of Quantitative Analysis in Sports·TypeData/statistical analysis·DateOct 22, 2021

NIH study suggests people with rare diseases face significantly higher health care costs

A new study by NIH's NCATS suggests that people with rare diseases face significantly higher healthcare costs, often three to five times those without a rare disease. The study estimates total yearly direct medical costs for approximately 25-30 million individuals in the US could be around $400 billion.

SourceNIH/National Center for Advancing Translational Sciences (NCATS)·JournalOrphanet Journal of Rare Diseases·TypeData/statistical analysis·DateOct 22, 2021

Nature-inspired coatings could power tiny chemistry labs for medical testing and more

Researchers at University of Toronto develop polymer coating that enables low surface tension liquids to be transported over distances up to 15 times longer than currently possible. This technology has important implications for microfluidics, lab-on-a-chip devices and point-of-care diagnostics.

SourceUniversity of Toronto Faculty of Applied Science & Engineering·JournalAdvanced Functional Materials·DateOct 22, 2021

AZ HEROES data show first responders at higher risk of COVID-19 infection

A study analyzing COVID-19 test results from over 1,700 essential workers in Arizona found that first responders had a twice-highest incidence of infection compared to frontline healthcare personnel. Researchers urge increased vaccine promotion and tailored mitigation strategies for these vital professionals.

SourceUniversity of Arizona Health Sciences·JournalJAMA Health Forum·TypeData/statistical analysis·DateOct 22, 2021

Why super sandstorm 2021 in North China?

A severe sandstorm in North China was triggered by a combination of factors, including persistently lower surface air temperatures and reduced winter precipitation. The resulting dry and loose land surface created a significant dust source that led to the storm.

SourceScience China Press·JournalNational Science Review·DateOct 22, 2021

Foveated glasses-free 3D display with ultrawide field of view via a large-scale 2D-metagrating complex

Researchers have developed a glasses-free 3D display with an unprecedented field of view of 160°, overcoming critical trade-offs in spatial resolution and angular resolution. The display uses a large-scale 2D-metagrating complex to manipulate view distribution and achieve a thin form factor.

Nurses think about suicide more than other workers

A national survey of over 7,000 US nurses found that they experience suicidal ideation at a rate nearly 1% higher than the general workforce, with 40% screening positive for depression and 33% exhibiting burnout symptoms. The findings highlight the need for urgent attention and system-based interventions to address nurse well-being

SourceMayo Clinic·JournalAJN American Journal of Nursing·DateOct 22, 2021

Historical analysis finds no precedent for the rate of coal and gas power decline needed to limit climate change to 1.5°C

Historical analysis found no precedent for the rate of coal and gas power decline required to limit climate change to 1.5°C. Rapid declines in fossil fuel use occurred in response to energy security threats, but such cases are less relevant to climate scenarios where continental-size regions are involved.

SourceCell Press·JournalOne Earth·TypeData/statistical analysis·DateOct 22, 2021

Innovative design of titanium alloy with supreme properties by 3D printing

Researchers from City University of Hong Kong created a new titanium-based alloy using additive manufacturing, boasting unprecedented structures and properties. The alloy exhibits high tensile strength, excellent work-hardening capacity, and is up to 40% lighter than stainless steel, making it suitable for various structural applications.

SourceCity University of Hong Kong·JournalScience·TypeExperimental study·DateOct 22, 2021

Black hole thermodynamics: a history from Penrose to Hawking

Historical context of black hole thermodynamics investigated through Roger Penrose's energy extraction theory and its influence on Stephen Hawking's groundbreaking discovery of black hole radiation. The study explores the connections between Western and Soviet physicists, shedding new light on the development of this field.

SourceSpringer·JournalThe European Physical Journal H·DateOct 22, 2021

Stretchy, bendy, flexible LEDs

Researchers at Washington University in St. Louis developed a new material for stretchy flexible LEDs using an inkjet printer, combining the benefits of organic and inorganic LEDs. The new material, called perovskite, can be printed onto unconventional substrates, including rubber, and is elastic and stretchable in nature.

SourceWashington University in St. Louis·JournalAdvanced Materials·TypeExperimental study·DateOct 22, 2021

UCI-led study suggests new molecular target for therapeutic interventions aimed at C. difficile infection

A UCI-led study identifies a glucosyltransferase domain as an ideal molecular target for therapeutic interventions against C. difficile infection. The research reveals the structural basis for Toxin B recognition of small GTPases Rho and R-Ras, offering new strategies to combat this deadly disease.

SourceUniversity of California - Irvine·JournalScience Advances·TypeExperimental study·DateOct 22, 2021

Fighting multiple sclerosis with cold

Scientists at UNIGE discovered that cold therapy can reduce symptoms of multiple sclerosis by shifting energy resources away from the immune system. This approach shows promise for treating autoimmune diseases and could be relevant to other immune-mediated or infectious diseases.

SourceUniversité de Genève·JournalCell Metabolism·TypeNews article·DateOct 22, 2021

New study suggests that breastfeeding may help prevent cognitive decline

A new UCLA Health study suggests that breastfeeding may have a positive impact on postmenopausal women's cognitive performance, potentially preventing cognitive decline and Alzheimer's disease. Women who breastfed their babies performed better on cognitive tests compared to those who did not.

SourceUniversity of California - Los Angeles Health Sciences·JournalEvolution Medicine and Public Health·TypeData/statistical analysis·DateOct 22, 2021

Multiferroic materials: Further improve the efficiency of solar cells

Researchers have developed a new multiferroic solar PV device with high photoconversion efficiency and stability. They attribute the improvement to ferroelectric polarization and magnetization regulation mechanisms, which enhance carrier separation and reduce recombination rates.

Slow release of a drug, TT-10, improves heart attack recovery in a mouse model

Researchers found that slow release of TT-10 from nanoparticles improved heart function after a heart attack, accompanied by increased cardiomyocyte proliferation and smaller infarct size. The study suggests that PLGA nanoparticles could be used to improve treatment administration efficiency for cardiovascular drugs.

SourceUniversity of Alabama at Birmingham·JournalJCI Insight·TypeExperimental study·DateOct 22, 2021

New study suggests women and pregnant people are underrepresented in research to inform nutrition reference values

A new study reveals significant gaps in the representation of women and pregnant individuals in research used to inform nutrition reference values. The study's findings highlight the need for increased diversity and inclusion in nutritional research to provide accurate guidance for Americans and Canadians.

SourceGeorge Washington University·JournalScience Advances·DateOct 22, 2021

Examining the accelerating universe

Researchers examine the accelerating expansion of the Universe, a phenomenon driven by dark energy. The study reveals disparities between observations and theoretical models, highlighting the need for new understanding and precision experiments.

SourceSpringer·JournalThe European Physical Journal Special Topics·DateOct 22, 2021

This pyramid scheme could be helpful

Rice University researchers have developed a method to control the growth of tetrahedron-shaped nanoparticles, which can be used as building blocks for unique metamaterials. The team discovered that balancing thermodynamic and kinetic forces during crystallization allows for symmetry breaking, forming pyramid-shaped nanocrystals.

SourceRice University·JournalACS Nano·TypeExperimental study·DateOct 22, 2021

UCI-led study first to reveal specific molecular mechanism that controls the transition from acute to chronic pain

Researchers have identified a specific molecular mechanism that controls the transition from acute to chronic pain. Disabling an intracellular enzyme called N-acylethanolamine acid amidase (NAAA) can halt chronic pain development in mice, suggesting a new class of drugs to treat various forms of chronic pain.

SourceUniversity of California - Irvine·JournalScience Advances·DateOct 22, 2021

Experiences in prison reduce perceptions of corrections officers’ fairness, regardless of time served

A new study found that most incarcerated individuals' in-prison experiences lessen their perceptions of procedural justice and fairness, regardless of the length of time served. The research used a nationally representative sample of over 31,000 adults and examined various in-prison experiences on inmates' perceptions of staff members'...

SourceCrime and Justice Research Alliance·JournalJustice Quarterly·DateOct 22, 2021

Seamless wayfinding by a deafblind adult on an urban college campus: A case study

A case study evaluated the experience of a deafblind adult using three wayfinding support tools on an urban college campus. The tactile map proved to be the most successful tool, while the mobile application yielded the lowest performance and confidence. Simplifying wayfinding tools and tailoring information to individual preferences a...

SourcePortland State University·JournalFrontiers in Education·DateOct 22, 2021

Quantum battles in attoscience: Following three debates

The attoscience community has clarified points of tension through discussions among researchers, exploring the scope and nature of analytical and ab-initio approaches. Researchers also investigated the physical observables of quantum tunnelling experiments, aiming to explain differing conclusions.

SourceSpringer·JournalThe European Physical Journal D·DateOct 22, 2021