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Science News for January 26, 2022


Scientists regrow frog’s lost leg

Researchers at Tufts University successfully regrow a functional, nearly complete limb on adult frogs using a five-drug cocktail and silicone wearable bioreactor dome. The treatment sets in motion an 18-month period of growth restoring a fully functional leg.

SourceTufts University·JournalScience Advances·TypeExperimental study·DateJan 26, 2022

Screening study IDs inhibitor of key COVID virus enzyme

A team of scientists at Brookhaven National Laboratory has identified a molecule with significant potential to disable the COVID-19 virus. The molecule was discovered using high-throughput virtual screening and laboratory experiments, and its ability to bind to the virus's main protease was confirmed through structural studies.

SourceDOE/Brookhaven National Laboratory·JournalJournal of Chemical Information and Modeling·TypeComputational simulation/modeling·DateJan 26, 2022

HKUMed researchers identified a key molecule in extracellular vesicles of liver cancer patient as a potential new biomarker for early diagnosis and therapeutic target

Researchers at HKUMed have discovered a stepwise upregulation of polymeric immunoglobulin receptor (pIgR) in circulating extracellular vesicles from liver cancer patients, suggesting its potential as a non-invasive diagnostic marker. The study also found that pIgR-enriched EVs promote cancer stemness and tumorigenesis in mouse models, ...

SourceThe University of Hong Kong·JournalJournal of Hepatology·DateJan 26, 2022

CityU new structured thermal armour achieves liquid cooling above 1,000°C; solves challenge presented by Leidenfrost effect since 1756

Researchers have designed a novel thermal armour that successfully inhibits the Leidenfrost effect up to 1,150°C and achieves efficient liquid cooling across a wide temperature range. The breakthrough has significant implications for applications in aerospace, space engineering, and next-generation nuclear reactors.

SourceCity University of Hong Kong·JournalNature·TypeExperimental study·DateJan 26, 2022

When light loses symmetry, it can hold particles

Scientists at Huazhong University of Science and Technology have created a new type of fiber optical tweezers that can trap particles using transverse electromagnetic modes. This breakthrough enables the manipulation of single biomolecules like DNA and proteins, opening up new possibilities for bioparticle research.

SourceHigher Education Press·JournalFrontiers of Optoelectronics·TypeExperimental study·DateJan 26, 2022

Will the COVID-19 pandemic make waste management more uncontrollable?

The COVID-19 pandemic has significantly increased the generation of medical waste, with daily output surging from 200 tons to over 29,000 tons in September 2020. The study also highlights the need to update emergency medical waste treatment strategies and manage personal protective equipment waste effectively.

SourceHigher Education Press·JournalFrontiers of Environmental Science & Engineering·TypeContent analysis·DateJan 26, 2022

Evolution of dual-energy CT in gout workup

A retrospective study found that dual-energy CT examinations performed in 2019 had a significantly lower frequency of equivocal interpretations compared to those in 2013. Joint aspirations were also less likely to be performed after negative DECT interpretations in 2019.

SourceAmerican Roentgen Ray Society·JournalAmerican Journal of Roentgenology·TypeObservational study·DateJan 26, 2022

Help for stressed-out cells in a crisis

Researchers found that mitochondria can respire away harmful substances to protect protein folding, revealing an unexpected 'patron saint' role. This mechanism is triggered by reductive stress and protects proteins destined for export, showcasing the flexibility of plant mitochondria.

SourceUniversity of Münster·JournalThe Plant Cell·DateJan 26, 2022

Over one-third of young adult US men involved in technology-related abuse, study finds

A study by Michigan Medicine reveals that 25% of young American men experience both delivering and receiving technology-facilitated abuse. Healthcare providers should consider addressing this issue, as men who have mental health care visits are more likely to be involved in abusive relationships.

SourceMichigan Medicine - University of Michigan·JournalThe Annals of Family Medicine·TypeData/statistical analysis·DateJan 26, 2022

First of its kind study proves food intervention can be as effective as medications for lowering cholesterol

A groundbreaking study published in the Journal of Nutrition found that a 'food-as-medicine' approach can significantly lower LDL cholesterol levels, with participants experiencing an average 9% decrease within 30 days. This innovative intervention expands treatment options for high-risk patients unable or unwilling to take statin drugs.

SourceStep One Foods·JournalJournal of Nutrition·DateJan 26, 2022

Bridging atmospheric scientists and solar engineers to reach carbon neutrality

A new überreview provides a comprehensive introduction to solar resource assessment and forecasting, helping bridge the gap between atmospheric scientists and solar engineers. The review compiles recent studies on critical parameters like cloud and aerosol, aiming to facilitate interdisciplinary collaboration for carbon neutrality.

SourceInstitute of Atmospheric Physics, Chinese Academy of Sciences·JournalAdvances in Atmospheric Sciences·DateJan 26, 2022

Banning unhealthy products in plea for public health has financial downfalls for retailers

New research in Marketing Science reveals that banning tobacco products can result in a 4% decline in gross sales for retailers. The study also suggests that the impact of such bans can be felt across other unhealthy product categories, affecting overall store revenue.

SourceInstitute for Operations Research and the Management Sciences·JournalMarketing Science·TypeData/statistical analysis·DateJan 26, 2022

Ancient ice reveals mysterious solar storm

A team of researchers from Lund University analyzed ice cores from Greenland and Antarctica to discover a massive solar storm occurring during a quiet phase about 9,200 years ago. The study challenges the current understanding that solar storms are more likely to occur during active phases of the sun.

SourceLund University·JournalNature Communications·DateJan 26, 2022

Researchers develop optimised framework to help stem the spread of deadly, antibiotic-resistant pathogen

A new standardised test has been developed to accurately determine the transmission of VREfm, enabling rapid identification of potential outbreaks and early intervention. The framework uses genomic analysis to compare bacterial genomes and infer transmission links, facilitating global deployment for outbreak detection and investigation.

SourceThe Peter Doherty Institute for Infection and Immunity·JournalNature Communications·TypeData/statistical analysis·DateJan 26, 2022

Multi-level program enhances primary care treatment for opioid use disorder in rural Colorado

A multilevel program improved the awareness and adoption of buprenorphine treatment for opioid use disorder in rural Colorado. The program increased the proportion of practices providing or referring patients for treatment from 18.8% to 74.4%, with a significant increase in buprenorphine prescriptions over four years.

SourceAmerican Academy of Family Physicians·JournalThe Annals of Family Medicine·DateJan 26, 2022

Instagram teaches AI to recognize rooms

Researchers at the University of Groningen have developed an AI system that can recognize indoor spaces with high accuracy by combining image and audio data. The system achieved a 70% accuracy rate in recognizing nine different types of indoor spaces, surpassing previous results.

SourceUniversity of Groningen·JournalNeural Computing and Applications·TypeExperimental study·DateJan 26, 2022

Updrafts crucial - clouds in the southern hemisphere more precisely understood

New insights into cloud behavior in the southern hemisphere reveal a stronger influence of updrafts, resulting in liquid water droplets and altered radiation balance. This study, led by Leibniz Institute for Tropospheric Research, uses long-term measurements to improve climate models.

SourceLeibniz Institute for Tropospheric Research (TROPOS)·JournalAtmospheric Chemistry and Physics·TypeExperimental study·DateJan 26, 2022

Water as a precious commodity: Competition for natural resources prevents sustainable development and excludes entire communities from water resources

A study by Politecnico di Milano reveals that large-scale land acquisitions for agriculture lead to increased water scarcity, impacting local users. The research analyzed 160 acquisitions and found that 105 resulted in competition for water, often at the expense of local communities.

SourcePolitecnico di Milano·JournalNature Communications·TypeData/statistical analysis·DateJan 26, 2022

Urinary metabolic ‘signatures’ predict diet quality and metabolic health in European children

Researchers identified four metabolites that indicate adherence to a Mediterranean diet, while ultra-processed foods consumption was associated with lower levels of these metabolites. The study's findings support public health efforts to recommend increased Mediterranean diet adoption and limiting ultra-processed food intake in childhood.

SourceeLife·JournaleLife·TypeObservational study·DateJan 26, 2022

Seeing through random diffusers instantly without a computer

Researchers have developed an entirely new paradigm to image objects through diffusive media. A deep learning-based approach uses diffractive surfaces to optically reconstruct distorted images without digital processing. This computer-free method has significant potential for advancements in fields such as biomedical imaging, astronomy...

BU researchers identify a new protein that enables SARS-CoV-2 access into cells

A team of researchers from Boston University School of Medicine has identified extracellular vimentin as an attachment factor facilitating SARS-CoV-2 entry into human endothelial cells. The study found that depletion of vimentin significantly reduces SARS-CoV-2 infection, while over-expression with ACE2 increases the infection rate.

SourceBoston University School of Medicine·JournalProceedings of the National Academy of Sciences·TypeExperimental study·DateJan 26, 2022

NEJM: New data on COVID-19 lung transplants

A national analysis of lung transplantations performed in the US between August 2020 and September 2021 shows that 7% of lung transplants were performed to treat COVID-19-related lung damage. The study suggests that lung transplantation may be a safe option for select patients with severe, irreversible lung damage.

SourceCedars-Sinai Medical Center·JournalNew England Journal of Medicine·DateJan 26, 2022

Bristol team chase down advantage in quantum race

Researchers at the University of Bristol have reduced simulation time for an optical quantum computer from 600 million years to just a few months, achieving a one-billion-fold speedup. This breakthrough paves the way for future studies on quantum advantage and computational power.

SourceUniversity of Bristol·JournalScience Advances·TypeComputational simulation/modeling·DateJan 26, 2022

Using nanodiamonds as sensors just got easier

University of Rochester researchers adapt excited state lifetime thermometry to extract temperatures of nanoscale materials from light emitted by nitrogen vacancy centers in single nanodiamonds. The technique allows for precise measurement of temperature changes on fast time scales and is safe for imaging sensitive nanoscale materials ...

SourceUniversity of Rochester·JournalApplied Physics Letters·TypeExperimental study·DateJan 26, 2022

Stopping heavy bleeding

Case Western Reserve University researchers create nanoparticles that generate a protein mesh to stabilize blood clots and reduce blood loss. The technology could help save lives by rapidly stabilizing clots to reduce blood loss from traumatic injuries.

SourceCase Western Reserve University·JournalScience Translational Medicine·DateJan 26, 2022

Zoo enrichment could go further

New research reveals that zoos and aquariums can prioritize evidence-based environmental enrichment to benefit a wider range of species. The study highlights the need for greater diversity in enrichment types and species researched, as well as more attention to social enrichment.

SourceUniversity of Exeter·JournalAnimal Welfare·DateJan 26, 2022

Starting physical activity three days post-concussion is safe, has better outcomes

A new study published in the British Journal of Sports Medicine found that resuming non-contact physical activity 72 hours after a concussion is safe for children and youth. The study, which involved 456 participants, showed that early return to physical activity can reduce symptoms and delayed recovery.

SourceUniversity of Ottawa·JournalBritish Journal of Sports Medicine·TypeRandomized controlled/clinical trial·DateJan 26, 2022

Flavonoids may reduce mortality risk for people with Parkinson’s Disease

A recent study found that people with Parkinson's Disease who consume more flavonoids have a lower mortality risk than those who don't. The researchers discovered that higher flavonoid intake is associated with improved survival rates in both men and women, particularly when it comes to anthocyanin-rich foods like berries and red wine.

SourcePenn State·JournalNeurology·TypeObservational study·DateJan 26, 2022

Female family medicine researchers submitted fewer manuscripts compared to their male counterparts in 2020, which may reflect larger disparity

A bibliometric analysis of Annals of Family Medicine submissions from 2015 to 2020 found that women represented 46.33% of all manuscript submissions during the COVID-19 pandemic. Women submitted fewer original research articles and briefs than men, potentially impacting future promotions.

SourceAmerican Academy of Family Physicians·JournalThe Annals of Family Medicine·DateJan 26, 2022

Scientists decode 450 years of boom and crisis in Europe from ages of building timber

Researchers analyzed 54,045 georeferenced pieces of building timber to track changes in building activity across Europe from 1250 to 1699. They found clear evidence for the Late Medieval Crisis, the Thirty Years' War, and economic boom periods, with building activity tracking historical price of grain and lead pollution.

SourceFrontiers·JournalFrontiers in Ecology and Evolution·TypeObservational study·DateJan 26, 2022

Scientists use GPS to track baboon troop's movement in urban spaces for the first time

Researchers from Swansea University and University of Cape Town used GPS collars to study baboons' collective behavior in urban and natural spaces. The study found that despite changes in movement patterns, leader-follower roles remained consistent, suggesting flexibility and robustness in group cohesion.

SourceSwansea University·JournalProceedings of the Royal Society B Biological Sciences·TypeObservational study·DateJan 26, 2022

Integrated palliative care in ambulatory settings falls short of relieving symptom burden but improves health care utilization

A mixed-method review and meta-analysis found that integrated palliative care in ambulatory settings has limited effect on reducing symptom burden, but improves health care utilization for U.S. adults with non-cancer related chronic illnesses. The models were also effective in increasing advanced directive documentation.

SourceAmerican Academy of Family Physicians·JournalThe Annals of Family Medicine·DateJan 26, 2022

Study shows surprising breadth of plant viruses that hitchhike on pollen

A recent study by University of Pittsburgh biologists found a wide range of plant viruses associated with pollen grains from 24 plant species across the US. The research, published in Nature Communications, identifies six new species and three variants of known viruses, highlighting the potential for honeybees to spread these diseases.

SourceUniversity of Pittsburgh·JournalNature Communications·TypeExperimental study·DateJan 26, 2022

New diagnoses of common chronic diseases and cancers plummeted during COVID-19 pandemic

Common chronic conditions like high cholesterol, pulmonary diseases, and anxiety disorders saw significant declines in new diagnoses during the COVID-19 pandemic. A substantial increase in primary care physicians, face-to-face visits, and proactive care is needed to address this decline and prevent poor health outcomes.

SourceAmerican Academy of Family Physicians·JournalThe Annals of Family Medicine·DateJan 26, 2022

Illuminating a biological light switch

Scientists at Weill Cornell Medicine developed a new imaging technique to capture bacteriorhodopsin's motions in response to light on a millisecond time scale. This study reveals the protein's kinetics, including the speed of transitions between open and closed states, which informs optogenetics research.

SourceWeill Cornell Medicine·JournalNature Communications·DateJan 26, 2022

Black carbon and aerosol optical properties in Beijing changed due to Clean Air Action

The study found that black carbon decreased significantly in Beijing since the implementation of the Clean Air Action Plan, with a 71% reduction over nine years. However, this decrease was not accompanied by an equivalent decrease in aerosol extinction coefficient, leading to mixed effects on optical properties.

SourceInstitute of Atmospheric Physics, Chinese Academy of Sciences·JournalAtmospheric Chemistry and Physics·DateJan 26, 2022

How to ruin the taste of a cookie with just 2 words

A recent study from Ohio State University found that labeling identical products as 'new and improved' resulted in higher overall liking ratings compared to those labeled as 'consumer complaint.' The researchers suggest that this negative bias has a bigger impact on consumer perception than positive labels.

SourceOhio State University·JournalFood Quality and Preference·DateJan 26, 2022

The genomic structure of microbial communities can predict metabolic activity

A new study reveals that the genes present in a microbial community can predict its dynamic metabolic activity, with implications for the nitrogen cycle and other biogeochemical processes. The research provides insights into how scientists can infer metabolite dynamics from aggregate gene content, design microbial communities for speci...

SourceUniversity of Chicago·JournalCell·TypeExperimental study·DateJan 26, 2022

SLAC and Stanford researchers reveal the fourth signature of the superconducting transition in cuprates

Scientists confirmed the fourth signature of superconducting transition in cuprates, revealing how electrons pair up and condense into a quantum condensate. The discovery provides a holistic picture of unconventional superconductivity and gives researchers two knobs to tune for higher temperatures.

SourceDOE/SLAC National Accelerator Laboratory·JournalNature·TypeExperimental study·DateJan 26, 2022

Eco-friendly micro-supercapacitors using fallen leaves​

A KAIST research team has developed graphene-inorganic-hybrid micro-supercapacitors made of leaves using femtosecond direct laser writing lithography. The innovation enables mass production of flexible and green graphene-based electronic devices, reducing waste and environmental issues associated with traditional batteries.

SourceThe Korea Advanced Institute of Science and Technology (KAIST)·JournalAdvanced Functional Materials·TypeMeta-analysis·DateJan 26, 2022

Eating disorders potentially hiding autism diagnosis

Researchers at Flinders University found that autistic individuals with eating disorders also report higher weight and shape concerns, suggesting a unique combination of symptoms. The study highlights the need for best-practice guidelines to address co-occurring autism and eating disorders in treatment.

SourceFlinders University·JournalAdvances in Neurodevelopmental Disorders·TypeSurvey·DateJan 26, 2022

Constant tinnitus is linked to altered brain activity

Researchers from Karolinska Institutet developed a novel method to diagnose constant tinnitus using auditory brainstem responses (ABR). The study found that people with occasional tinnitus are at increased risk of developing constant tinnitus, while those with existing constant tinnitus are more likely to experience persistent symptoms.

SourceKarolinska Institutet·JournalJournal of Clinical Investigation·DateJan 26, 2022

Chat box usage supports primary care medical staff needs for information, resources and peer support during COVID-19 crisis

Researchers found that chat box interactions supported clinicians' needs for trustworthy information, practical resources, and affirmation, creating a community for connection and validation. The study highlights the importance of meeting clinician needs during public health crises for primary care to reach its full potential.

SourceAmerican Academy of Family Physicians·JournalThe Annals of Family Medicine·DateJan 26, 2022

Mutant stem cells defy rules of development

A recent study by Gladstone Institutes researchers found that mouse stem cells can spontaneously transition from heart cell precursors to brain cell precursors when a specific gene is removed. This discovery upends current understanding of how stem cells differentiate into adult cells and maintain their identity. The study's findings h...

SourceGladstone Institutes·JournalNature·DateJan 26, 2022

Shining light on the dark proteome

Researchers are developing new methods to identify and characterize unknown proteins, including those with multiple forms and modifications. Artificial intelligence-based tools are also helping predict protein structures and functions, providing clues to their roles in health and disease.

SourceAmerican Chemical Society·JournalChemical & Engineering News·DateJan 26, 2022

Ground-breaking study reveals dynamics of DNA replication ‘licensing’

A new study has revealed the dynamics of DNA replication 'licensing,' a process that regulates genome replication during cell division. The researchers found that heterochromatin regions are more susceptible to under-replication and DNA damage when the G1 phase is shortened, potentially leading to genomic instability in cancer cells.

SourceUniversity of North Carolina Health Care·JournalNucleic Acids Research·TypeExperimental study·DateJan 26, 2022

New hair dyes avoid allergic reactions

Researchers have created a range of permanent hair dyes that avoid the allergenic properties of traditional formulations, producing a range of hues from rosy pinks to deep blacks. The new dyes were found to be less reactive toward proteins and generated a reduced inflammatory response in cells compared to PPD.

SourceAmerican Chemical Society·JournalACS Sustainable Chemistry & Engineering·DateJan 26, 2022