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Science News for December 14, 2022


Catalyzing ‘net-zero’ green hydrogen from the sun: HKU chemists discover a fundamental catalyst protonation process to promote solar-driven water-splitting for hydrogen production without CO2 emissions

Researchers at HKU-CAS Joint Laboratory have developed a protonation process to enhance the efficiency of photocatalysts in generating hydrogen using visible solar light. The discovery could lead to more efficient and stable solar energy utilization, paving the way for 'net-zero' green hydrogen production.

SourceThe University of Hong Kong·JournalEnergy·TypeExperimental study·DateDec 14, 2022

Cessation of Medicaid funding for neonatal circumcision examined in new study

A new study examined the impact of Medicaid funding cessation on neonatal circumcision rates in California. The research found a significant decrease in circumcision rates, particularly among low-income families, which can exacerbate existing health disparities such as lower rates of sexually transmitted infections. The findings highli...

SourceUniversity of Kansas·JournalAIDS and Behavior·TypeData/statistical analysis·DateDec 14, 2022

Indo-Pacific Ocean warming increases the uncertainty in forecasting the onset of the South China Sea summer monsoon

Research reveals that Indo-Pacific Ocean warming has increased uncertainty in forecasting South China Sea summer monsoon onset due to the weakening ENSO signal and frequent cold-tongue La Niña events. This challenges ability to predict the onset of the East Asian summer rainy season at subseasonal scales.

SourceInstitute of Atmospheric Physics, Chinese Academy of Sciences·JournalAdvances in Atmospheric Sciences·DateDec 14, 2022

Preoperative immunotherapy for mesothelioma shows favorable outcomes

Researchers at Baylor College of Medicine found that treating patients with resectable malignant pleural mesothelioma with immunotherapy ahead of surgery resulted in significant changes to the tumor microenvironment and increased overall survival. The study's findings provide a groundwork for neoadjuvant immunotherapy in mesothelioma.

SourceBaylor College of Medicine·JournalClinical Cancer Research·TypeExperimental study·DateDec 14, 2022

Does what you drink affect your risk of urinary incontinence?

A new study analyzing Women's Health Initiative data found that artificially sweetened beverages do not significantly increase a woman's likelihood of developing stress or urge urinary incontinence. The study results suggest that behavioral modifications, such as fluid intake management, may be more effective in addressing the condition.

SourceThe Menopause Society·JournalMenopause·TypeData/statistical analysis·DateDec 14, 2022

Blood-based metabolic signature outperforms standard method for predicting diet, disease risk

A new study found that a machine learning-based blood test can accurately predict an individual's entire diet over 19 food groups, outperforming traditional methods. The test, which uses molecular profiling, also identifies who is more likely to develop diabetes and cardiovascular disease based on each food group.

SourceMichigan Medicine - University of Michigan·JournalEuropean Heart Journal·TypeComputational simulation/modeling·DateDec 14, 2022

Patients with treatment resistant depression at higher risk of death

A new study published in JAMA Psychiatry finds that patients with treatment-resistant depression have a 23% higher risk of death, as well as significantly more outpatient care and hospitalization days. The researchers emphasize the importance of identifying patients at risk of developing treatment-resistant depression to improve their ...

SourceKarolinska Institutet·JournalJAMA Psychiatry·TypeObservational study·DateDec 14, 2022

Scandinavian wolves carry many harmful mutations

Researchers found that Scandinavian wolves have an average of 100,000 harmful mutations, with a high proportion occurring in two copies due to inbreeding. This increases the risk of inbreeding depression and defects such as deformed vertebrae and cryptorchidism.

SourceUppsala University·JournalMolecular Ecology·TypeData/statistical analysis·DateDec 14, 2022

From COVID-19 to the common cold: UBC scientists identify broadly-effective, infection-halting compound

Researchers have identified a compound that shows early promise at halting infections from a range of coronaviruses, including all variants of SARS-CoV-2 and the common cold. The findings reveal a potential path toward antiviral treatments that could be used against many different pathogens.

SourceUniversity of British Columbia·JournalMolecular Biomedicine·TypeExperimental study·DateDec 14, 2022

Researchers recreate periodic structure of spine development without biological clocks

A team from Cincinnati Children's Hospital Medical Center discovered how segmentation clock genes instruct the tempo of spine formation, opening doors to new basic science research. By inducing segment formation in zebrafish without biological clocks, the researchers aimed to understand the origins of birth defects in humans.

SourceCincinnati Children's Hospital Medical Center·JournalNature·TypeExperimental study·DateDec 14, 2022

HKUMed scientists lead discovery of two master genes critical for hearing Provide a guide for diagnosis of deafness and balance problems

Researchers discovered the underlying cause of deafness caused by swelling in the inner ear chambers. The study identified two master genes, SOX9 and SOX10, controlling hearing function and providing a new resource for diagnosis and treatment of deafness and balance problems.

SourceThe University of Hong Kong·JournalProceedings of the National Academy of Sciences·TypeExperimental study·DateDec 14, 2022

Research Brief: Racial disparities in surgery recommendations for patients with brain tumors

Researchers found that Black patients were more likely to be recommended against surgical removal of their brain tumors, regardless of tumor size or socioeconomic status. The study provides a basis for future research on racial bias in clinical decision-making and its impact on patient outcomes.

SourceUniversity of Minnesota Medical School·JournalThe Lancet·TypeData/statistical analysis·DateDec 14, 2022

The key to new lupus treatment lies in the blood

Researchers have discovered that a protein called CXCL5 may hold the key to treating systemic lupus erythematosus (lupus), an incurable autoimmune disease. By restoring balance of this protein in the blood, patients may experience improved survival rates and reduced inflammation.

Measuring the stress of moving house

A study by University of Auckland researchers found that the average stress level of homeowners is significantly higher than renters. Individuals dealing with high stress levels are predisposed to move house, while social housing tenants have much higher baseline stress levels than both homeowners and renters.

SourceUniversity of Auckland·JournalUrban Science·TypeData/statistical analysis·DateDec 14, 2022

Association of time to surgery after COVID-19 infection with risk of postoperative cardiovascular morbidity

A study of nearly 4,000 patients found that the longer the time between COVID-19 diagnosis and surgery, the greater the risk of major cardiovascular events during or following surgery. This association could inform discussions on optimal surgical timing and perioperative outcomes for patients with a history of COVID-19 infection.

SourceJAMA Network·JournalJAMA Network Open·DateDec 14, 2022

VA’s new “burden-free” study method finds two blood pressure drugs equally effective

A large VA clinical trial found that chlorthalidone (CTD) was not superior to hydrochlorothiazide (HCTZ) for preventing cardiovascular disease or non-cancer death. The study enrolled over 13,500 Veterans with high blood pressure and showed no difference between the two drugs in terms of effectiveness.

SourceVeterans Affairs Research Communications·JournalNew England Journal of Medicine·TypeRandomized controlled/clinical trial·DateDec 14, 2022

Secondary selling: how salesperson behavior beyond the salesperson-customer dyad increases sales revenues and customer satisfaction

Researchers found that secondary selling, a salesperson's considerate behavior with secondary entities like customers and company property, increases sales revenues and customer satisfaction. The study suggests training initiatives and making secondary selling behaviors visible to customers.

SourceAmerican Marketing Association·JournalJournal of Marketing·DateDec 14, 2022

U.S. firearm death trends revealed over four decades

A new analysis of firearm death rates in the US reveals that Black men are disproportionately affected by homicide, while white men are more likely to die by suicide. The study, which analyzed data from 1981 to 2020, also shows that minority populations bear a disproportionate burden of years lost due to premature death.

SourcePLOS·JournalPLOS ONE·TypeObservational study·DateDec 14, 2022

Religion is not the factor that most influences rejection of evolutionary theory in schools, study says

A survey of 5,500 Brazilian and Italian students aged 14-16 found that nationality, social perceptions of science, and household income were more influential than religion in rejecting evolutionary theory. The study published in PLOS ONE reveals a significant gap in understanding geological time between Italian and Brazilian Catholics.

The hidden secrets of flowers

A team of researchers from McGill University and the Montreal Botanical Garden used photogrammetry to create 3D models of flowers, shedding light on their evolution and interaction with pollinators. The technique has the potential to revolutionize research in plant biodiversity.

SourceMcGill University·JournalNew Phytologist·TypeComputational simulation/modeling·DateDec 14, 2022

THE LANCET GLOBAL HEALTH: Cervical cancer burden remains high in many countries, scale-up needed to meet WHO’s 2030 elimination target

Despite decreases in some high-income countries, the global cervical cancer burden remains high due to inadequate screening and vaccination programs in low- and middle-income countries. The study highlights the need for scaling up HPV vaccination and screening efforts globally to achieve the WHO's 2030 elimination target.

SourceThe Lancet·JournalThe Lancet Global Health·TypeObservational study·DateDec 14, 2022

NIH-funded study finds hepatitis C treatment gap for individuals with alcohol use disorder

A new NIH-funded study found a significant treatment gap for individuals with both hepatitis C and alcohol use disorder, highlighting the need for better care coordination. Researchers analyzed data from over 133,000 veterans and found that those with AUD were less likely to receive direct-acting antiviral treatment for HCV.

SourceNIH/National Institute on Alcohol Abuse and Alcoholism·JournalJAMA Network Open·TypeSurvey·DateDec 14, 2022

Nearly half of deaths for 12 cancers in California due to tobacco, higher than previously reported

A new UC Davis study reveals that close to half of the cancer deaths in California over two years (2017-2019) were associated with tobacco use, totaling 93,764 Californians. Tobacco control efforts have contributed to a decline in cancer mortality in California, but quitting is essential for patients with cancer.

SourceUniversity of California - Davis Health·JournalJAMA Network Open·DateDec 14, 2022

Mild ammonia synthesis

A team of researchers has discovered that reactive boron compounds can efficiently target and activate molecular nitrogen, converting it to ammonium chloride at room temperature without metals or hydrogen gas. This radical-based approach opens up possibilities for ammonia production without fossil-based raw materials.

SourceWiley·JournalAngewandte Chemie International Edition·TypeExperimental study·DateDec 14, 2022

Highest metal concentrations in US public water systems found among Hispanic/Latino and American Indian communities

A new study finds higher arsenic and uranium concentrations in public drinking water linked to communities with higher proportions of Hispanic/Latino and American Indian residents. The findings highlight inequalities in public water contaminant exposures affecting regions with more residents from communities of color.

Tracking plasma cell survival

A study by Osaka University tracked the survival of antibody-producing plasma cells, finding that most die shortly after immune response, but a small population can survive for months or years. The researchers identified molecular markers distinguishing these long-lived plasma cells from short-lived ones.

SourceOsaka University·JournalJournal of Experimental Medicine·TypeExperimental study·DateDec 14, 2022

SLAS Technology's December issue looks at a 3D printed model for improving vasodilation research

A new method for creating freestanding hydrogel lumens that can accurately replicate blood vessels and facilitate vasodilation research. This approach allows researchers to study vasodilation in a more efficient and effective manner, overcoming limitations of existing methods.

SourceSLAS (Society for Laboratory Automation and Screening)·JournalSLAS TECHNOLOGY·TypeExperimental study·DateDec 14, 2022

Machine learning reveals how black holes grow

Using supercomputers and machine learning, researchers created simulations of millions of computer-generated universes to test astrophysical predictions. The study found that supermassive black holes grow in the same way as their host galaxies, revealing a long-elusive relationship.

SourceUniversity of Arizona·JournalMonthly Notices of the Royal Astronomical Society·TypeData/statistical analysis·DateDec 14, 2022

Olfactory viral inflammation associated with accelerated onset of Alzheimer's disease

A new study suggests that olfactory viral inflammation may accelerate the onset of Alzheimer's disease by disrupting connections between the sense of smell and memory centers. Researchers found altered myelination in the olfactory tract, leading to inflammation in the hippocampus, which controls memory and learning.

SourceUniversity of Colorado Anschutz Medical Campus·JournalNeurobiology of Aging·TypeExperimental study·DateDec 14, 2022

Gut microbes can boost the motivation to exercise, Penn Medicine study finds

A Penn Medicine study found that certain gut bacteria produce metabolites that stimulate sensory nerves, increasing dopamine levels in the brain during exercise. This increase reinforces the desire to exercise, boosting performance. The study suggests a new pathway for improving public health and potentially modifying motivation and mood.

SourceUniversity of Pennsylvania School of Medicine·JournalNature·TypeRandomized controlled/clinical trial·DateDec 14, 2022

New study reveals how entrepreneurs avoid burnout and accumulate happiness

A large-scale study revealed that entrepreneurs are less at risk of burnout than salaried employees due to the positive psychological effects of entrepreneurial work. Entrepreneurs show less daily work recovery after regular working hours, indicating a 'positive workaholism'. This leads to a lower risk of burnout and increased happiness.

SourceUniversiteit van Amsterdam·JournalJournal of Business Venturing·TypeObservational study·DateDec 14, 2022

Space-frequency-polarization-division multiplexing of information metasurface makes wireless communications more powerful

Researchers design reflection-type polarization-independent phase-controllable anisotropic STCM to realize frequency-polarization-division and space-frequency-polarization-division multiplexed modulation. Experimental validations confirm the practicability of proposed wireless communication architectures, enabling independent and synch...

SourceScience China Press·JournalNational Science Review·DateDec 14, 2022

A potential screening method to support drug development for dementia treatment featured in the December issue of SLAS Discovery

A new neuronal cell-based reporter system has been developed to identify compounds that inhibit histone deacetylase 2 (HDAC2) with minimal effect on its partner enzyme HDAC1. This innovation holds promise for dementia drug development by targeting the root cause of memory impairment.

SourceSLAS (Society for Laboratory Automation and Screening)·JournalSLAS DISCOVERY·TypeExperimental study·DateDec 14, 2022

USTC make breakthroughs in atomistic neural network representations for chemical dynamics simulations

A USTC team has made significant advancements in atomistic neural network (AtNN) representations for chemical dynamics simulations. By decomposing system properties into atomic contributions, AtNN can satisfy different symmetries and periodicities, achieving accurate and efficient molecular dynamics simulations of complex systems.

SourceUniversity of Science and Technology of China·JournalWiley Interdisciplinary Reviews Computational Molecular Science·DateDec 14, 2022

Shedding light on photosynthesis at sea

Researchers studied the photosynthetic antenna of Codium fragile, a marine algae, to understand how it efficiently utilizes weak blue-green light. The study revealed that siphonaxanthin and chlorophyll b play key roles in absorbing green and blue-green light, respectively.

SourceOsaka Metropolitan University·JournalBBA Advances·TypeExperimental study·DateDec 14, 2022

Pollination loss removes healthy foods from global diets, increases chronic diseases causing excess deaths

A new study finds that inadequate pollination leads to a 3-5% loss of fruit, vegetable, and nut production, resulting in 427,000 excess deaths annually from lost healthy food consumption. The health burden is greater in middle- and higher-income countries with high rates of non-communicable diseases.

SourceHarvard T.H. Chan School of Public Health·JournalEnvironmental Health Perspectives·TypeComputational simulation/modeling·DateDec 14, 2022

Intermittent fasting may reverse type 2 diabetes

A new study found that intermittent fasting can lead to complete diabetes remission in people with type 2 diabetes, with 55% of participants discontinuing their medication and maintaining it for at least a year. The study also showed that diabetes medications costs decreased by 77% after intermittent fasting.

SourceThe Endocrine Society·JournalThe Journal of Clinical Endocrinology & Metabolism·DateDec 14, 2022

Chaos gives the quantum world a temperature

Computer simulations demonstrate that chaos plays a crucial role in the emergence of thermodynamic behavior from quantum theory. A quantum system with indistinguishable particles and a thermometer-like particle shows a temperature distribution consistent with Boltzmann's rules only when the system exhibits chaos.

SourceVienna University of Technology·JournalEntropy·TypeData/statistical analysis·DateDec 14, 2022

Researchers map deep brain stimulation target for Alzheimer's disease

A recent study suggests that stimulating the intersection of two particular brain networks correlated with better patient outcomes than stimulating nearby sites for patients with Alzheimer's disease. Cognitive improvement was associated with DBS to the direct interface between the fornix and bed nucleus of the stria terminalis.

SourceBrigham and Women's Hospital·JournalNature Communications·TypeRandomized controlled/clinical trial·DateDec 14, 2022

A message that resonates

Researchers at the University of Tsukuba have developed an optoelectronic resonator that enhances the sensitivity of an electron pulse detector, allowing for ultrafast electronic characterization of proteins or materials. This breakthrough may aid in the study of biomolecules and industrial materials.

SourceUniversity of Tsukuba·JournalACS Photonics·DateDec 14, 2022

Confining quarks

Physicists propose new method to confine quarks, which could reveal why matter has mass. The strong force, a fundamental force of nature, is believed to be responsible for this property. By exploring quark confinement, researchers hope to gain insights into the structure of the universe.

SourceUniversity of Tokyo·JournalPhysical Review Letters·TypeExperimental study·DateDec 14, 2022

An ecological rule breaker shows the effects of climate change on body size evolution

A study by McGill University researchers found that Northern Tree Shrews' body size increased with warmer climates, contradicting Bergmann's rule. The team analyzed museum specimens and historical climate data, revealing a reversal of the Island rule as well, highlighting the complex interaction between ecological factors.

SourceMcGill University·JournalScientific Reports·TypeObservational study·DateDec 14, 2022