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Science News for December 22, 2022


New analysis maps out impacts of marine chokepoint closures

A new study by Lincoln F. Pratson at Duke University uses GIS data and international trade simulations to estimate the types and amounts of disrupted trade if a chokepoint is closed, including increased shipping times and costs. The analysis highlights the importance of marine chokepoints in global economic security.

SourceDuke University·JournalCommunications in Transportation Research·TypeComputational simulation/modeling·DateDec 22, 2022

In some US zip codes, young men face more risk of firearm death than those deployed in recent wars

A study by Brown University researchers found that young men in US zip codes with high firearm violence faced significantly higher risks of firearm-related deaths and injuries compared to military personnel serving in Afghanistan and Iraq. The risk was particularly borne by minority racial and ethnic groups.

SourceBrown University·JournalJAMA Network Open·TypeObservational study·DateDec 22, 2022

Oncotarget | Plasma growth hormone is a potential biomarker of response to atezolizumab and bevacizumab in advanced hepatocellular carcinoma patients

Researchers found that plasma GH levels are a potential biomarker for predicting treatment outcomes in patients with advanced HCC treated with Atezo/Bev. The study showed significantly superior overall survival and non-significant trend in favor of GH-low patients compared to GH-high patients.

SourceImpact Journals LLC·JournalOncotarget·TypeObservational study·DateDec 22, 2022

IU researchers discover “Humpty-Dumpty” water-based mechanism of human sex reversal at edge of developmental ambiguity

Researchers discovered a molecular 'clamping' mechanism within a male-specific protein-DNA complex that exploits a water molecule to stabilize the complex and enable sex reversal. The study sheds light on Swyer Syndrome, a condition where children with XY chromosomes develop female bodies.

SourceIndiana University School of Medicine·JournalFrontiers in Endocrinology·DateDec 22, 2022

Physical fitness a demographic watershed

A study of 5,308 participants aged 50-64 found significant correlations between sedentary behavior and low fitness levels. Highly uneven fitness distribution was observed among groups at higher risk, including older adults, foreign-born individuals, and those with poor health and lifestyle habits.

SourceUniversity of Gothenburg·JournalBMJ Open·DateDec 22, 2022

New and improved multi-band operational receiver for 5G new radio communication

Researchers at Tokyo Institute of Technology have developed a novel harmonic-selection technique to extend the operational bandwidth of 5G NR communication. The proposed technology improves power efficiency and achieves low noise, making it compatible with all existing 5G bands and future 60 GHz licensed band.

SourceTokyo Institute of Technology·JournalIEEE Journal of Solid-State Circuits·TypeExperimental study·DateDec 22, 2022

URI endowed professor joins global experts writing on hazardous drinking and alcohol use disorders

A new paper in Nature Reviews Disease Primers provides a global overview of hazardous drinking and alcohol use disorders, highlighting current approaches to diagnosis, screening, prevention, management, and treatment. The study emphasizes the need for further research, particularly on adolescents and effective behavioral interventions.

SourceUniversity of Rhode Island·JournalNature Reviews Disease Primers·TypeSystematic review·DateDec 22, 2022

Research shows fatty liver disease endangers brain health

A study published in Journal of Hepatology found that non-alcoholic fatty liver disease (NAFLD) can cause a decrease in oxygen supply to the brain and inflammation to brain tissue. The research identified Monocarboxylate Transporter 1 (MCT1) as a potential therapeutic target for protecting against NAFLD-induced brain dysfunction.

SourceKing's College London·JournalJournal of Hepatology·TypeRandomized controlled/clinical trial·DateDec 22, 2022

Where do reproductive-age women receive preventive health care?

A UMass Amherst study reveals that 61% of wellness visits for reproductive-age women (15-49) were with OB-GYNs, while chronic condition patients also relied heavily on these specialists. Key preventive services like pap tests and pelvic exams were more common in OB-GYN settings, whereas lipid testing was rare.

SourceUniversity of Massachusetts Amherst·JournalHealth Services Research·TypeData/statistical analysis·DateDec 22, 2022

Rewriting the textbook on gene regulation: It’s the big picture that counts

UC San Diego researchers have developed a simple quantitative formula to interpret how cells regulate transcription and translation processes. This breakthrough provides insight into how cells process environmental information and modulate behavior, enabling the precise manipulation of protein levels. The study's findings have signific...

SourceUniversity of California - San Diego·JournalScience·TypeExperimental study·DateDec 22, 2022

Mired in silence

A UC Riverside study found that farmworkers in the Eastern Coachella Valley lack information and means to advocate for better public health due to language barriers, job insecurity, and limited access to healthcare. The study highlights disproportionate respiratory illness affecting Latinx children living near the Salton Sea.

SourceUniversity of California - Riverside·JournalInternational Journal of Environmental Research and Public Health·TypeSurvey·DateDec 22, 2022

THE LANCET: Treating COVID-19 infection with molnupiravir does not decrease deaths or hospital admission in high-risk, vaccinated patients, but can lead to quicker recovery

A randomised controlled trial found that molnupiravir treatment did not decrease hospital admissions or deaths in vaccinated adults with higher risk of mortality from COVID-19 infection. However, patients treated at home with molnupiravir recovered faster compared to the control group.

SourceThe Lancet·JournalThe Lancet·TypeRandomized controlled/clinical trial·DateDec 22, 2022

Trigger in MODY3 diabetes: Insulin hypersecretion precedes pancreatic β cell failure

Researchers discovered that MODY3 patients experience hypersecretion of insulin from β cells due to more efficient membrane depolarization. This phenomenon precedes pancreatic β cell failure and can be targeted for prevention or delay with treatments, such as diets or drugs.

Quality of neighborhood residence in early life may be linked to Body Mass Index (BMI) trajectories and obesity risk through adolescence

A new study found that living in neighborhoods with higher opportunity or lower vulnerability can lead to lower mean BMI trajectory and lower risk of obesity in children. The study suggests that investing in neighborhood environments could help mitigate future chronic disease risk, particularly for marginalized communities.

SourceHarvard Pilgrim Health Care Institute·JournalJAMA Network Open·DateDec 22, 2022

Researchers zoom in on battery wear and tear

Researchers at the University of Chicago's Pritzker School of Molecular Engineering have used a combination of electron microscopy and computational modeling to understand how lithium-ion batteries degrade. They found that variation between areas of the battery, particularly electrolyte corrosion, leads to faster degradation.

SourceUniversity of Chicago·JournalJoule·TypeComputational simulation/modeling·DateDec 22, 2022

Cellular messengers improve cancer therapy

Extracellular vesicles from immune cells have been shown to activate the immune system in mice with skin cancer, rendering them sensitive to checkpoint inhibitor therapy. The treatment improved survival rates when used in combination with checkpoint inhibitors.

SourceKarolinska Institutet·JournalCancer Immunology Research·TypeExperimental study·DateDec 22, 2022

Randomized trial finds therapies for spine pain improved disability and quality of life but did not decrease healthcare spending

A randomized trial found that non-invasive interventions for treating spine pain improved disability and quality of life but did not decrease healthcare spending. Both treatments provided a small but significant reduction in pain-related disability at 12 months.

SourceBrigham and Women's Hospital·JournalJAMA·TypeRandomized controlled/clinical trial·DateDec 22, 2022

Uneven wetting under climate change is causing diverse variations in the thawing of frozen ground on the Tibetan Plateau

The Tibetan Plateau's frozen ground is experiencing diverse variations in thawing due to uneven wetting under climate change. The study found that arid regions have become warmer and wetter, while humid regions have become warmer but drier. This has led to a reduction in permafrost area by 28% as substantial wetting in arid areas exert...

SourceInstitute of Atmospheric Physics, Chinese Academy of Sciences·JournalAdvances in Atmospheric Sciences·DateDec 22, 2022

Experimentalists: Sorry, no oxygen required to make these minerals on Mars

Scientists at Washington University in St. Louis found that manganese oxides can be formed without atmospheric oxygen under Mars-like conditions. The study, published in Nature Geoscience, used kinetic modeling to show that halogens like chlorate and bromate can convert manganese into minerals thousands of times faster than by oxygen.

SourceWashington University in St. Louis·JournalNature Geoscience·TypeExperimental study·DateDec 22, 2022

Michigan State University researchers uncover potential climate change-nutrition connection in plant metabolism

Researchers at Michigan State University have found a link between climate change and nutrition, showing that increased carbon dioxide levels can affect plant metabolic processes. The study highlights the importance of understanding how plants use amino acids to produce proteins, as this may impact their nutritional value.

SourceMichigan State University·JournalNature Plants·DateDec 22, 2022

New application of intramuscular electromyography may facilitate detection of neuromuscular disorders

Researchers developed an iEMG classifier framework for detecting myopathy and neuropathy, achieving high accuracy in three muscle types and low computational time. The study showed promise for real-time implementation, aiding clinicians in making quick and accurate diagnoses.

SourceKessler Foundation·JournalInternational Journal of Imaging Systems and Technology·TypeComputational simulation/modeling·DateDec 22, 2022

Ultrafast and ultra-sensitive protein detection method allows for ultra-early disease diagnoses

Osaka Metropolitan University scientists have developed a novel protein detection method that allows for ultra-fast and highly sensitive detection of proteins, enabling early disease diagnoses. The method uses light-induced acceleration of antigen-antibody reaction to detect attogram-level proteins within 3 minutes.

SourceOsaka Metropolitan University·JournalCommunications Biology·TypeExperimental study·DateDec 22, 2022

Novel spatial-omics technology enables investigation of diseases at their early stages

Researchers developed a new spatial-omics technology called DISCO-MS to detect early molecular changes in diseases. This approach allows for the characterization of diseased cells in intact tissues, revealing new biomarkers and therapeutic targets for conditions like Alzheimer's disease and atherosclerosis.