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Science News for October 27, 2021


Jewish autistic pupils thrive as bilingual learners, after communities reject advice “not to teach Hebrew”

A University of Cambridge study found that Jewish autistic children who learn Hebrew as a second language benefit from their cultural identity and community involvement. Parents and teachers rejected outdated professional advice, instead teaching pupils Hebrew to enhance their spiritual and family life.

SourceUniversity of Cambridge·JournalJournal of Autism and Developmental Disorders·DateOct 27, 2021

Infections from respiratory viruses follow a predictable seasonal pattern, researchers find

Researchers identified a clear-cut seasonal pattern in respiratory viruses, with peaks in January and lows in June, affecting hospital admissions. The study found that babies born in severe peak years were more likely to be infected and hospitalized, highlighting the importance of planning ahead for high seasons of illnesses.

A heart that beats (almost) like our own

Researchers at the University of Iowa found that the fruit fly's head-heart beats much like a human's, driven by an automatic muscle contraction and relaxation. This rhythmic pulsation generates hemolymph flow to the antennae and may help keep the brain clean.

SourceUniversity of Iowa·JournalJournal of Experimental Biology·TypeObservational study·DateOct 27, 2021

The Lancet Global Health: Treatment of COVID-19 with fluvoxamine reduces risk of prolonged hospitalization, finds largest trial to date

The largest trial to date shows that fluvoxamine treatment for high-risk outpatients with early-diagnosed COVID-19 reduces the need for prolonged observation or hospitalization. The study found an absolute reduction in risk of prolonged hospitalization and a relative risk reduction of 32% compared to the control group.

SourceThe Lancet·JournalThe Lancet Global Health·TypeRandomized controlled/clinical trial·DateOct 27, 2021

UBCO researchers examine how e-cigarette users quit

A UBCO study published in the Journal of Medical Internet Research found that negative health experiences and withdrawal symptoms are major barriers to quitting e-cigarettes. Gradual reduction methods, including tapering nicotine concentration and using distraction techniques, were preferred by over 65% of quitters.

SourceUniversity of British Columbia Okanagan campus·JournalJournal of Medical Internet Research·TypeExperimental study·DateOct 27, 2021

Taking the pulse of flies

A study by Champalimaud Centre for the Unknown found that fruit fly hearts accelerate when in danger and slow down during freezing, a behavior previously thought to be energy-saving. This unexpected result suggests an entirely new mechanism at play in flies' cardiac responses.

SourceChampalimaud Centre for the Unknown·JournalCurrent Biology·DateOct 27, 2021

Not all acne is equal: scientists reveal strains of C. acnes that promote skin health

A new study reveals that certain strains of Cutibacterium acnes (C. acnes) found on healthy skin can prolong the lifespan of Caenorhabditis elegans and help its innate immune system fight against Staphylococcus aureus. RNA sequencing analysis also shows these beneficial strains activate genes related to innate immunity.

SourceOsaka City University·JournalMicrobiology Spectrum·TypeExperimental study·DateOct 27, 2021

People may prefer climate change policies that give incentives, find energy alternatives

Participants preferred policies that used incentives to encourage eco-friendly choices, particularly when they targeted businesses. In contrast, policies that focused on energy alternatives and used incentives were also supported. The researchers found that policy support was influenced by the type of change targeted, who was targeted,...

SourcePenn State·JournalJournal of Environmental Psychology·TypeObservational study·DateOct 27, 2021

Industry must prepare now for a new world of green electricity

The University of Leeds research highlights the need for industry to adopt new technologies that can manufacture materials using renewable electricity. This is crucial to achieving net zero emissions targets by 2050, as current steel and aluminium manufacturing capacities pose a significant barrier to this goal.

SourceUniversity of Leeds·JournalCurrent Opinion in Environmental Sustainability·TypeData/statistical analysis·DateOct 27, 2021

Likely lower risks of adverse pregnancy outcomes from SARS-CoV-2 than previously feared

A national study in Sweden suggests that the risk of adverse pregnancy outcomes from SARS-CoV-2 is likely lower than previously feared. The study found that infants born to test-positive mothers had a higher risk of neonatal care and preterm birth, but no significant difference in stillbirths or low Apgar scores.

SourceKarolinska Institutet·JournalBJOG An International Journal of Obstetrics & Gynaecology·TypeObservational study·DateOct 27, 2021

A lab in the sky: Physics experiment in Earth’s atmosphere could help improve GPS performance

Researchers conducted a controlled radar wave experiment to monitor plasma waves and control wave modes in the ionosphere, which can help improve GPS accuracy during space weather events. The study published in Nature Communications provides new diagnostics for temperature, density, magnetic field, and ion composition.

SourceUniversity of Strathclyde·JournalNature Communications·TypeExperimental study·DateOct 27, 2021

UTSW scientists identify protein that stops cell cycle in response to stress

Researchers at UT Southwestern Medical Center have identified a protein called Xbp1 that plays a crucial role in halting the cell cycle in response to stressful events. The study uses innovative techniques to track proteins in individual cells over time, revealing a previously unrecognized function of Xbp1 in regulating the cell cycle.

SourceUT Southwestern Medical Center·JournalJournal of Cell Biology·DateOct 27, 2021

New study finds potatoes, when enjoyed as part of a healthy diet, are not associated with elevated heart health risk factors among adolescent girls

Researchers found that moderate potato consumption among adolescent girls did not increase the risk of overweight or high blood pressure, and may even be associated with improved nutrient intakes. The study suggests that potatoes can be a part of a healthy diet pattern, particularly when consumed in moderation.

SourceThe Alliance for Potato Research and Education (APRE)·JournalBritish Journal Of Nutrition·DateOct 27, 2021

Brain connectivity is lower in adults with PTSD or a history of sexual abuse

A study found that adults with a history of childhood maltreatment, particularly sexual abuse, exhibit reduced brain connectivity in attention systems. Oxytocin treatment has been shown to increase connectivity, suggesting its potential as a treatment for PTSD and childhood trauma-related disorders.

SourceMedical University of South Carolina·JournalPsychiatry Research Neuroimaging·TypeExperimental study·DateOct 27, 2021

NYU Abu Dhabi researchers discover new nanobodies that can disable a key SARS-CoV-2 structural protein and disrupt viral replication

Researchers identified two nanobodies that specifically target and stabilize the tetrameric form of SARS-CoV-2 non-structural protein Nsp9, potentially repressing viral replication. These findings suggest a new antiviral strategy for diagnosis and treatment against COVID-19.

SourceNew York University·JournalAdvanced Biology·TypeExperimental study·DateOct 27, 2021

Pyruvate as an essential substance for the survival of neurons and Schwann cells under high-glucose milieu

Researchers found that pyruvate supplementation prevents rapid cell death of peripheral sensory neurons and Schwann cells under high-glucose conditions. Exogenous pyruvate may play a key role in maintaining glycolysis-TCA cycle flux by suppressing PARP activity, thereby supporting cellular viability and energy production.

Vascular disease in COVID-19 is not caused by viral infection of blood vessels

Researchers from the University of Queensland found that COVID-19 causes cardiovascular complications due to inflammation in infected airway cells. The study clarifies a key debate about the relationship between the virus and blood vessel linings, suggesting inflammation as the primary cause of damage.

SourceUniversity of Queensland·JournalClinical & Translational Immunology·TypeExperimental study·DateOct 27, 2021

ASTRO: International meta-analysis quantifies impact of three prostate cancer therapy intensification strategies

A new international meta-analysis of randomized clinical trials found that adding androgen deprivation therapy (ADT) to definitive radiotherapy improves metastasis-free survival by 8% and overall survival by 7%. Prolonging adjuvant ADT for 18-36 months also shows similar benefits.

Model could help archeologists unearth new Pleistocene sites in Cyprus, suggesting that more historic hunter-gatherer activity on Eastern Mediterranean islands than previously suspected

A new model has been developed to help archeologists uncover new Pleistocene sites in Cyprus, revealing more evidence of historic hunter-gatherer activity on the island. The study suggests that there may have been more human activity on Eastern Mediterranean islands during the last ice age than previously thought.

SourcePLOS·JournalPLOS ONE·DateOct 27, 2021

A new type of eco-friendly solvent designed to purify polluted water

A new type of eco-friendly solvent, SUPRAS, has been designed to extract polluting substances from the environment and is more stable under various conditions compared to existing ecological solvents. The solvent uses rhamnolipids produced by bacteria, attracting and separating pollutants with a simple decantation process.

SourceUniversity of Córdoba·JournalJournal of Cleaner Production·TypeExperimental study·DateOct 27, 2021

A sub-nanometer supramolecular rectifier

Researchers designed a sub-nanometer molecular rectifier utilizing destructive quantum interference and asymmetric supramolecular interaction, overcoming electronic functionality challenges. The device achieves rectification behavior at the sub-nanometer scale, enabling potential miniaturization of electronic devices.

SourceScience China Press·JournalScience China Chemistry·DateOct 27, 2021

AI-powered glaucoma screening test delivers rapid results

A new rapid screening test for glaucoma uses infra-red sensors to monitor eye movement, providing accurate results within seconds. The test could help advance early detection of the disease, a leading cause of irreversible blindness, and make it more accessible for national screening programs.

SourceRMIT University·JournalIEEE Access·TypeRandomized controlled/clinical trial·DateOct 27, 2021

A universal law of physiology emerges from University of Toronto professor’s research

Professor Willy Wong has discovered a mathematical relationship in the sensory adaptation response curve that is true for all sensory modalities and all organisms. This finding, supported by 250 measurements of adaptation from different branches of sensory physiology, presents a single, simple equation that holds across all species.

SourceUniversity of Toronto Faculty of Applied Science & Engineering·JournalFrontiers in Human Neuroscience·DateOct 27, 2021

ALS and dementia attacked by an RNA-hunting compound that recruits cell's own virus fighter

A collaboration led by Scripps Research Institute successfully treated C9 ALS/FTD in mice using a novel RNA-hunting compound that recruits the cell's own virus fighter. The compound eliminated 70% of toxic protein fragments and removed most hallmarks of the disease from patient-derived nerve cells.

SourceScripps Research Institute·JournalScience Translational Medicine·TypeExperimental study·DateOct 27, 2021

Multi-algorithm approach helps deliver personalized medicine for cancer patients

A team of researchers has developed an ensemble-based machine learning model that can predict how cancer patients will respond to certain drugs with high accuracy. The model was trained on data from 499 independent cell lines and validated against a clinical dataset containing seven chemotherapeutic drugs.

SourceGeorgia Institute of Technology·JournalJournal of Oncology Research·TypeObservational study·DateOct 27, 2021

New whale species named after Māori whale expert

A new beaked whale species has been discovered and named after Māori whale expert Ramari Stewart, highlighting the importance of Indigenous knowledge in scientific discovery. The species, Mesoplodon eueu, was found in South Africa and features a unique name that reflects its Indigenous roots.

SourceUniversity of Auckland·JournalProceedings of the Royal Society B Biological Sciences·TypeObservational study·DateOct 27, 2021

Four commonly used medications reverse Alzheimer's disease in mice

Researchers have found four commonly used medications that can reverse Alzheimer's disease in mice by addressing the underlying causes of the condition. The study identifies non-steroidal anti-inflammatories and anti-hypertensives as effective treatments, paving the way for early diagnosis and potential therapy.

SourceInstitute for Research in Biomedicine (IRB Barcelona)·JournalGenome Medicine·TypeExperimental study·DateOct 27, 2021

Immunotherapy for intractable mutant cancer using a statin, hyperlipidemia drug

Researchers have discovered a novel approach to treat intractable mutant cancer using statins, which selectively kill KRAS mutant cancer cells and activate the immune system. This breakthrough has significant implications for the treatment of cancers with limited options, and may lead to the development of new cancer immunotherapies.

SourceNational Research Council of Science & Technology·JournalJournal for ImmunoTherapy of Cancer·DateOct 27, 2021

Serial radiation therapy is safe and effective as alternative treatment to systemic therapy for kidney cancer

Researchers at MD Anderson Cancer Center reported that serial stereotactic body radiation therapy (SBRT) is a safe and effective treatment for oligometastatic renal cell carcinoma. The study showed promising results, with a median progression-free survival of 22.7 months and minimal toxicity.

SourceUniversity of Texas M. D. Anderson Cancer Center·JournalThe Lancet Oncology·DateOct 27, 2021

All about Eve

Researchers developed AI tool EVE to analyze genetic variations, reclassifying 256,000 variants as benign or disease-causing. The tool enhances clinical methods for diagnosis, prognosis, and treatment choice.

SourceHarvard Medical School·JournalNature·TypeComputational simulation/modeling·DateOct 27, 2021

Timing is everything: Stanford researchers reveal why the right sequence of policies is essential to slow deforestation

A new study by Stanford researchers provides a blueprint for public and private interventions to slow deforestation. The study reveals that the right sequence of policies, including disincentives, incentives, and enabling measures, can deliver conservation goals at lower cost across entire at-risk regions.

SourceStanford Woods Institute for the Environment·JournalGlobal Sustainability·DateOct 27, 2021

Genetic risk of mental health conditions may influence where people choose to live, study suggests

A new study suggests that genetic liability to various mental health conditions may affect an individual's choice of residence. The research found higher genetic risks for schizophrenia and bipolar disorder in those who moved from rural to urban areas, while lower genetic risk was seen for ADHD in those who remained in rural areas.

SourceKing's College London·JournalJAMA·TypeObservational study·DateOct 27, 2021

Scientists discover how forest fires influence rain cloud formation in the Amazon

A Brazilian study reveals that forest fires and wildfires modify the freezing process of cloud droplets, altering natural cloud functioning and potentially impacting precipitation. The research used a large dataset to show that aerosols emitted by fires can affect cloud formation in southern Amazonia during the rainy season.

SourceFundação de Amparo à Pesquisa do Estado de São Paulo·JournalNature Communications·TypeData/statistical analysis·DateOct 27, 2021

Systemic lupus erythematosus linked to altered gut microbiome

A recent study published in Annals of the Rheumatic Diseases reveals a link between systemic lupus erythematosus and an altered gut microbiome. Researchers at Osaka University identified two species of Streptococcus bacteria significantly increased in SLE patients, which can affect the body's functions by altering plasma metabolites. T...

SourceOsaka University·JournalAnnals of the Rheumatic Diseases·TypeData/statistical analysis·DateOct 27, 2021

Survival similar for younger and older patients with metastatic colorectal cancer, study finds

A new study by Dana-Farber Cancer Institute found that younger patients with metastatic colorectal cancer have a similar overall survival time as older patients, defying expectations. The study included data from the CALGB/SWOG 80405 clinical trial and compared survival times in 514 younger patients under 50 with 1,812 older patients.

SourceDana-Farber Cancer Institute·JournalJNCI Journal of the National Cancer Institute·TypeData/statistical analysis·DateOct 27, 2021

Giving disadvantaged kids a sporting chance

A new study by Flinders University highlights the importance of organized activities for disadvantaged youth, finding they are almost three times more likely to miss out on such opportunities. Participation in these activities can help reduce socio-economic disparities by promoting better mental health and improved educational outcomes.

SourceFlinders University·TypeObservational study·DateOct 27, 2021

Making Martian rocket biofuel on Mars

Researchers at Georgia Tech have created a bioproduction process to produce rocket fuel on Mars, reducing mission cost and generating excess clean oxygen. The bio-ISRU strategy uses cyanobacteria to convert CO2 into sugars, which are then converted by E. coli into a Martian propellant.

SourceGeorgia Institute of Technology·JournalNature Communications·TypeObservational study·DateOct 27, 2021

Researchers map best conditions for forage fishes in the Chesapeake

A new study by Virginia Institute of Marine Science researchers maps the conditions most suitable for key species of forage fishes in the Chesapeake Bay, offering guidance for protecting or restoring their habitats. The analysis reveals that factors such as water depth and temperature affect the abundance of forage fish, with some spec...

SourceVirginia Institute of Marine Science·JournalFrontiers in Marine Science·TypeObservational study·DateOct 27, 2021

Biodiversity collections address science workforce needs

A new module in biodiversity collections addresses the need for scientists to have both foundational biological skills and data acumen. The module was implemented in 10 courses across four universities and showed strong learning results, with students feeling well-prepared to collect and archive specimens, as well as deposit digital da...

SourceAmerican Institute of Biological Sciences·JournalBioScience·TypeObservational study·DateOct 27, 2021

An old drug saves lives of COVID-19 patients

A study co-led by McMaster University found that fluvoxamine can save the lives of COVID-19 patients and reduce hospital admissions by up to 30%. The treatment was effective in preventing COVID-19 from becoming a life-threatening illness when administered early.

SourceMcMaster University·JournalThe Lancet·TypeRandomized controlled/clinical trial·DateOct 27, 2021

Researchers uncover new links between arts programming and social action

A study by NYU researchers reveals that participating in arts programming enhances critical consciousness among youth of color and white youth alike, promoting greater awareness of social inequity. This breakthrough finding highlights the significance of arts programming as a site for developing critical consciousness.

SourceNew York University·JournalJournal of Youth and Adolescence·TypeObservational study·DateOct 27, 2021

Tiny pterosaurs dominated Cretaceous skies

Researchers found that tiny pterosaur juveniles, known as flaplings, dominated the Late Cretaceous period due to their exceptional growth rates and feeding ecology. These findings suggest that the smaller species of pterosaurs were overshadowed by their giant parent's offspring.

SourceUniversity of Portsmouth·JournalCretaceous Research·DateOct 27, 2021

Exploiting cancer’s sweet tooth

Researchers discovered that acute myeloid leukemia (AML) depends on a transporter to bring in inositol, a sugar required for cells to survive. By blocking this transporter, cancer cells would starve without inositol. This method leaves normal cells unharmed as they can produce their own inositol.

SourceCold Spring Harbor Laboratory·JournalCancer Discovery·DateOct 27, 2021

Researchers film fundamental life process

Researchers at the University of Bonn have successfully filmed the nuclear export of protein-building machines, or ribosomes, from the nucleus to the rest of the cell. The study provides new insights into this complex process, which is crucial for understanding how cells produce proteins.

SourceUniversity of Bonn·JournalNature Communications·TypeExperimental study·DateOct 27, 2021

Gastric cells—Plant substance from wine influences acid secretion via a bitter receptor

A study by Veronika Somoza's team found that gallic acid stimulates gastric cells to secrete acid via the bitter receptor TAS2R4. The plant substance affects acid secretion regardless of whether it is added to water or red wine. This discovery provides new insights into the functions of bitter receptors in food ingredients.

SourceLeibniz-Institut für Lebensmittel-Systembiologie an der TU München·JournalJournal of Agricultural and Food Chemistry·TypeExperimental study·DateOct 27, 2021

Hazardous levels of alcohol consumption identified in African hunter-gatherer group

Researchers found that 44.3% of the Mbendjele BaYaka population had hazardous alcohol consumption, associated with mental and physical health harms like high blood pressure and increased diarrhoea rates. The study emphasizes the need for community involvement and socioeconomic changes to address the underlying drivers of poor health.

SourceUniversity of Cambridge·JournalPLOS ONE·TypeObservational study·DateOct 27, 2021