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Science News for April 13, 2022


High cardiovascular risk is associated with symptoms of depression

A new study published in PLOS ONE finds that high and very high cardiovascular risk are associated with depressive symptoms, especially in women. The researchers used data from a Mediterranean Diet trial and found that participants with higher cardiovascular risk had lower depressive status scores after following the diet.

SourcePLOS·JournalPLOS ONE·TypeObservational study·DateApr 13, 2022

Kumamoto University’s Dr. Kenichi Miharada awarded this year’s Heisei Memorial Research Grant from the Japan Prize Foundation

Dr. Kenichi Miharada and his team received the grant to develop an in vitro red blood cell production method due to global blood shortage for transfusions. They have already established a semi-infinitely proliferating red blood cell source called immortalized human erythroblast cell line (ELLU cells), but face technical challenges.

South Bronx traffic congestion worsens, raising health and safety concerns

Traffic-related air pollution contributes to high rates of asthma prevalence in Mott Haven and Port Morris, with significant increases in congestion in mixed-use areas and at night. The study's findings highlight the need for measures to mitigate environmental health impacts of traffic congestion.

SourceColumbia University's Mailman School of Public Health·JournalEnvironmental Science & Policy·TypeExperimental study·DateApr 13, 2022

New Chinese Medical Journal study assesses mortality risk in multimorbid patients

A new study published in the Chinese Medical Journal assessed mortality risk in middle-aged and older Chinese individuals with multiple diseases. The study identified four multimorbidity patterns, with cardiometabolic being the most common, and found that individuals with these patterns had a significantly increased mortality risk.

SourceCactus Communications·JournalChinese Medical Journal·TypeObservational study·DateApr 13, 2022

Black Rhino extinction risk sharply increased by killing of specific female rhinos

New research from The University of Manchester found that poaching combined with individual rhino's reproductive variance significantly increases the risk to black rhino survival. Reproductive skew, or variation in breeding success between females, can exacerbate extinction risk by up to 70% in small populations.

SourceUniversity of Manchester·JournalProceedings of the Royal Society B Biological Sciences·DateApr 13, 2022

Climate change affects landscape freeze-thaw but not in the same way everywhere, a new Concordia study shows

A new Concordia study reveals that climate change affects the province-wide analysis of landscape freeze-thaw cycles, leading to increased greenhouse gas emissions in northern regions and transitional days in southern areas. This can have significant impacts on infrastructure and greenhouse gas emissions.

SourceConcordia University·JournalScientific Reports·TypeData/statistical analysis·DateApr 13, 2022

New study and interactive map point to environmental justice disparities (and solutions) in land conservation

A new study in Environmental Research Letters reveals striking disparities in conserved land distribution across social marginalization dimensions in New England. Researchers created a tool to address these disparities and built an interactive map to highlight opportunities for future conservation based on environmental justice criteria.

SourceHarvard University·JournalEnvironmental Research Letters·TypeComputational simulation/modeling·DateApr 13, 2022

Undersea detector proves it’s swell

A new undersea detector has successfully detected a mild tsunami in Tokyo Bay using the power of muons and cosmic rays. This innovative system uses sensitive detectors to measure changes in ocean swells, providing accurate data for early warning systems and potentially revolutionizing tsunami monitoring.

SourceUniversity of Tokyo·JournalScientific Reports·TypeExperimental study·DateApr 13, 2022

Family structure associated with delinquency for adolescents

A new study finds that asymmetrical family structures, such as single-father or single-mother households, are associated with higher delinquency rates among adolescents. In contrast, symmetrical arrangements like mother-stepfather families show lower rates of delinquent behavior.

SourcePLOS·JournalPLOS ONE·TypeSurvey·DateApr 13, 2022

Kiss of sleep: How blood cancer cells put the immune system’s Natural Killer cells to sleep

Researchers have discovered that blood cancer cells steal membranes from immune cells like Natural Killer cells through a process called trogocytosis. This process allows the cancer cells to put the NK cells to sleep, shutting down their anti-cancer activity. The study also sheds light on how PD-1 inhibitors can be used to 'wake up' th...

SourceThe Ottawa Hospital·JournalScience Advances·TypeExperimental study·DateApr 13, 2022

Structure of the active ingredient bismuth subsalicylate in Pepto-Bismol revealed

Scientists at Stockholm University have revealed the structure of bismuth subsalicylate, a century-old pharmaceutical ingredient used to treat nausea and diarrhea. The discovery was made possible by advanced transmission electron microscopy techniques, which provided atomic resolution images of the molecule's molecular packing.

SourceStockholm University·JournalNature Communications·TypeExperimental study·DateApr 13, 2022

What do you see when you listen to music?

A study found that listeners in Arkansas and Michigan imagined similar stories, while those in China envisioned unique narratives. The results suggest that music can generate shared experiences despite cultural differences.

SourcePrinceton University·JournalProceedings of the National Academy of Sciences·TypeExperimental study·DateApr 13, 2022

Structural racism and pandemic stressors associated with postpartum depression and anxiety among Black individuals

A recent study found that structural racism and COVID-19 pandemic stressors are significantly associated with postpartum depression and anxiety among Black individuals. The study, published in JAMA Psychiatry, analyzed data from a large birthing cohort and found that participants who experienced worse pandemic-related worries, interper...

SourceChildren's Hospital of Philadelphia·JournalJAMA Psychiatry·DateApr 13, 2022

Aotearoa's first strontium isoscape developed

The University of Otago has created the first strontium isoscape for Aotearoa New Zealand, allowing researchers to pinpoint biological material to distinct geographical regions. This innovation enables better prediction of unknown materials' origin, benefiting industries and research

SourceUniversity of Otago·JournalPLOS ONE·TypeContent analysis·DateApr 13, 2022

Long-term quality of life in breast cancer patients after breast conservation vs mastectomy, reconstruction

Researchers compared long-term quality-of-life outcomes in women with breast cancer treated with breast-conserving surgery and radiation therapy versus mastectomy and reconstruction without radiation therapy. Mastectomy and reconstruction was associated with lower overall quality of life, but not physical function or mental health.

SourceJAMA Network·JournalJAMA Surgery·DateApr 13, 2022

Chinese researchers report integrated robot system for ultrasound-guided prostate percutaneous intervention

A new robot system enables automatic insertion of needles for prostate diagnosis and treatment, reducing trauma and improving success rates. The 8-joint robot uses a parallel structure for precise control and can be calibrated using particle swarm optimization.

SourceHigher Education Press·JournalFrontiers of Mechanical Engineering·TypeComputational simulation/modeling·DateApr 13, 2022

Estrogen and testosterone deficiency linked to higher rates of rotator cuff repair

Patients with lower levels of sex hormones are more likely to undergo surgery for rotator cuff tears, according to a study published in The Journal of Bone & Joint Surgery. Estrogen deficiency was associated with a 48% higher incidence of rotator cuff repair in women, while testosterone deficiency was linked to an 89% higher rate in men.

SourceWolters Kluwer Health·JournalJournal of Bone and Joint Surgery·DateApr 13, 2022

Disparities remain in end-of-life care in New Jersey

Researchers at Rutgers University found disparities in palliative care and hospice referrals among minority patient groups, highlighting the need for standardized policies to improve access. The studies revealed that language barriers, economic status, and cultural differences contribute to these gaps in care.

SourceRutgers University·JournalCancer Nursing·TypeData/statistical analysis·DateApr 13, 2022

People at risk of future heart disease and stroke may be at greater risk for severe COVID-19

A study of nearly a million adults in England found that those at risk of heart attack or stroke over the next 10 years are substantially more likely to become seriously unwell with COVID-19. People with elevated cardiovascular risk were six times as likely to die from COVID-19 and had three times the risk of hospitalization, according...

Busy mothers did less breastfeeding in 19th century Netherlands

A study found that mothers in a 19th century Dutch village had low rates of breastfeeding, likely due to their busy work schedules and easy access to cow's milk. Researchers analyzed the remains of 277 individuals and found little evidence of breastfeeding, surprising given the community's cultural associations with breastfeeding.

SourcePLOS·JournalPLOS ONE·TypeObservational study·DateApr 13, 2022

New approach enhances muscle recovery in aged mice

Researchers have developed a new method to recover muscle mass in aged mice by injecting pericyte-derived extracellular vesicles into the muscles after disuse. This approach has shown promise in recovering skeletal muscle fiber size and remodeling the extracellular matrix, which supports muscle structure and growth.

SourceUniversity of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign, News Bureau·JournalThe Journal of Physiology·TypeExperimental study·DateApr 13, 2022

How to compete with robots

A study from EPFL and the University of Lausanne developed a method to calculate which jobs are at risk of being automated by robots. The team created an algorithm that predicts the risk of automation for hundreds of jobs and suggests alternative careers with minimal retraining requirements.

SourceEcole Polytechnique Fédérale de Lausanne·JournalScience Robotics·DateApr 13, 2022

How do I sound? Do you like my voice?

A study by the University of Cincinnati suggests that transgender and gender diverse people can benefit from better-designed smartphone apps offering voice and communication training software. The app features identified as most critical include feedback, accountability, automated goal setting, and non-interactive elements like videos ...

SourceUniversity of Cincinnati·JournalJournal of Voice·TypeSurvey·DateApr 13, 2022

Act of sabotage determines mammalian embryonic development

Researchers found that human embryos express a vast variety of alternative mRNAs when they are just 8 cells old, leading to a temporary collapse of splicing regulation at the zygotic genome activation stage. This phenomenon is developmentally programmed and occurs because it is necessary for functional reasons, ultimately affecting DNA...

SourceCenter for Genomic Regulation·JournalScience Advances·TypeExperimental study·DateApr 13, 2022

Pre-school children’s emotional eating partly shaped by innate food drive - research shows

New research at Aston University found that pre-school children's emotional eating is influenced by their innate food drive and mothers' eating habits. The study suggests that parenting practices, such as using food as a reward or restriction, can contribute to emotional eating in young children.

SourceAston University·JournalJournal of the Academy of Nutrition and Dietetics·TypeObservational study·DateApr 13, 2022

Historically redlined neighborhoods burdened by excess oil and gas wells

Research finds that historically redlined neighborhoods are burdened by excess oil and gas wells, leading to increased air and water pollution, noise, and stress. The study reveals a link between these exposure disparities and persistent social inequities in community environmental health.

SourceColumbia University's Mailman School of Public Health·JournalJournal of Exposure Science & Environmental Epidemiology·TypeData/statistical analysis·DateApr 13, 2022