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Science News for July 27, 2022


Bacterial bullseye

A team of researchers connected the dots for one important gut bacterium, revealing its molecular structure and function in the immune system. The study found that Akkermansia muciniphila's lipid activates toll-like receptors, triggering the release of certain cytokines while leaving others alone.

SourceHarvard Medical School·JournalNature·TypeExperimental study·DateJul 27, 2022

Traveling or considering a night on the town? Best time to test for COVID is right before you leave

A new study published in the International Journal of Public Health found that testing people at the door or immediately before social mixing can significantly reduce COVID-19 transmission. The research suggests that testing on the day of an event or even 12 hours prior to arrival can effectively limit the spread of the virus.

SourceYale School of Public Health·JournalInternational Journal of Public Health·DateJul 27, 2022

High-status Danish Vikings wore exotic beaver furs

Researchers analyzed ancient proteins in high-status Viking graves to identify beaver fur, supporting the idea that it was a luxury item. The discovery suggests that wearing exotic fur was an obvious visual statement of affluence and social status during the Viking Age.

SourcePLOS·JournalPLOS ONE·TypeObservational study·DateJul 27, 2022

Van Andel Institute, University of Freiburg study reveals insights into enzyme that combats a common greenhouse gas

Researchers at Van Andel Institute and University of Freiburg have discovered an enzyme that can break down nitrous oxide into harmless nitrogen and water. This breakthrough could potentially combat one of the main contributors to climate change, which accounts for only 7% of greenhouse gases but has a much greater impact.

SourceVan Andel Research Institute·JournalNature·TypeExperimental study·DateJul 27, 2022

How does “learning” turn into memory”? Input type-dependent synaptic dynamics in the motor cortex during learning

The study reveals that top-down information from the higher-order motor cortex to the primary motor cortex is crucial for motor learning, while newly formed synapses in the thalamus store acquired motor memories. This challenge to the widely held view suggests a two-step process for motor skill learning.

SourceNational Institutes of Natural Sciences·JournalScience Advances·TypeExperimental study·DateJul 27, 2022

Newly published study reports daily prune consumption preserves hip BMD in postmenopausal women

A 12-month randomized controlled trial found that daily prune consumption preserved hip bone mineral density and protected against increased fracture risk in postmenopausal women. The study suggests that prunes may serve as a food-based option to support bone health in aging women.

SourceFleishman-Hillard, Sacramento·JournalAmerican Journal of Clinical Nutrition·TypeRandomized controlled/clinical trial·DateJul 27, 2022

Promising developments in pursuit to design pan-coronavirus vaccine

Researchers at the Francis Crick Institute have made significant progress in designing a pan-coronavirus vaccine that targets the S2 area of the spike protein, offering protection against multiple coronaviruses and potential future pandemics. The study found that antibodies targeting this area can neutralize a range of coronaviruses, i...

SourceThe Francis Crick Institute·JournalScience Translational Medicine·TypeExperimental study·DateJul 27, 2022

Western wildfire smoke plumes are getting taller

Climate change is intensifying Western US wildfire activity, resulting in taller smoke plumes and more aerosols injected into the atmosphere. The study models 4.6 million smoke plumes and finds that maximum plume height increased by an average of 320 ft per year in four regions, with some areas experiencing a 750 ft per year increase.

SourceUniversity of Utah·JournalScientific Reports·TypeObservational study·DateJul 27, 2022

Leadership program prepares professionals to respond to public health crises in Puerto Rico

A leadership program called Advancing Leadership in Times of Crisis (ALTC) has increased knowledge and understanding of leadership concepts among public health professionals in Puerto Rico. The program, developed by Impactivo, aims to 'evolve and adapt' to the needs of the public health workforce, with extremely high levels of satisfac...

SourceWolters Kluwer Health·JournalJournal of Public Health Management and Practice·DateJul 27, 2022

Molecular electronics: a possible solution beyond Moore's Law

Researchers have developed instruments for single-molecule electrochemistry and spectroscopy, aiming to design and synthesize materials with chemistry, physics, and engineering at the atomic scale. They discuss challenges and opportunities in functionalizing molecular junctions and forming stable molecular electronic devices.

SourceInternational Journal of Extreme Manufacturing·JournalInternational Journal of Extreme Manufacturing·DateJul 27, 2022

Gemini telescopes help uncover origins of castaway gamma-ray bursts

Astronomers have found that short gamma-ray bursts did not originate as castaways, but instead occurred in distant galaxies up to 10 billion light-years away. The discovery suggests that these events may have been more common in the past than expected and could have seeded the Universe with precious metals.

SourceAssociation of Universities for Research in Astronomy (AURA)·JournalMonthly Notices of the Royal Astronomical Society·TypeObservational study·DateJul 27, 2022

No pain, no gain? How the brain chooses between pain and profit

McGill University researchers identify ventral striatum as key area in brain decisions between future pain and profit, potentially advancing treatments for disorders characterized by excessive avoidance. The study uses brain scans to monitor activity and machine-learning algorithms to predict participants' choices.

SourceMcGill University·JournalProceedings of the National Academy of Sciences·DateJul 27, 2022

New research finds women don’t like to participate in competitive situations when deciding for themselves, but when deciding for others, they are all in

Research finds that women are less likely to engage in competitive environments when making decisions independently, but more willing to compete when making decisions on behalf of others. This disparity results in an equal representation of men and women in competitive situations.

SourceInstitute for Operations Research and the Management Sciences·JournalManagement Science·TypeObservational study·DateJul 27, 2022

Fast food diet before pregnancy can impact breast milk and baby’s health, say scientists

A new study found that a fast food diet before pregnancy can negatively impact breast milk quality and baby's health, increasing the risk of conditions like heart disease and diabetes. Even short-term consumption of high sugar and fat diets affects women's health and fertility.

SourceSt. John's College, University of Cambridge·JournalActa Physiologica·TypeRandomized controlled/clinical trial·DateJul 27, 2022

A methodological leap in the exploration of memory

Researchers have developed a groundbreaking 'toolbox' to study receptor mobility in the brain, revealing its critical role in certain types of memory. The study used high-resolution imaging and manipulation techniques to observe receptor dynamics in intact brain tissue, providing new insights into the mechanisms controlling memory.

SourceCNRS·JournalScience Advances·TypeExperimental study·DateJul 27, 2022

New photoacoustic endoscope fits inside a needle

Researchers have created a photoacoustic imaging endoscope probe that can fit inside a medical needle, resolving subcellular-scale tissue structural and molecular information in 3D. The device has an ultra-thin design, allowing for real-time 3D characterization of tissue during minimally invasive procedures.

SourceOptica·JournalBiomedical Optics Express·DateJul 27, 2022

”No pain, no gain” approach improves walking ability with peripheral artery disease

A new study published in the Journal of the American Heart Association found that walking for exercise at a pace that induces leg pain or discomfort improves walking ability among people with peripheral artery disease. The study involved 264 participants who walked at home at either a comfortable pace or a pace that induced leg symptom...

SourceAmerican Heart Association·JournalJournal of the American Heart Association·DateJul 27, 2022

A natural phenomenon or a warning?

A dramatic decline in wild bees' pollination services was observed at fruit farms in New Jersey and Pennsylvania over an 8-year period. The rate of visitation by bees decreased more than half between 2005 and 2012, with similar declines for other types of wild bees.

SourceRutgers University·JournalInsect Conservation and Diversity·DateJul 27, 2022

Human-like features in robot behavior: Response time variability can be perceived as human-like

A study published in Science Robotics journal reveals that humans are unable to distinguish between a humanoid robot's response time variability and that of a human when interacting with the robot. This finding suggests robots can exhibit human-like behavior, raising questions about the blurring line between humans and machines.

SourceIstituto Italiano di Tecnologia - IIT·JournalScience Robotics·TypeExperimental study·DateJul 27, 2022

Magnetic quantum material broadens platform for probing next-gen information technologies

Scientists at Oak Ridge National Laboratory discovered a specific iron trichloride material hosting a spiral spin liquid in its honeycomb lattice structure. This finding provides a test bed for future studies of physics phenomena that may drive next-generation information technologies, including fractons and skyrmions.

SourceDOE/Oak Ridge National Laboratory·JournalPhysical Review Letters·DateJul 27, 2022

Managing phage therapy to help save lives

Researchers at Texas A&M University's Center for Phage Technology have completed a study on phage therapy, identifying potential applications to fight multidrug-resistant bacterial infections. The study showed promise in treating Acinetobacter baumannii, a deadly pathogen found in hospital settings and the Middle East.

SourceTexas A&M AgriLife Communications·JournalNature Communications·DateJul 27, 2022

New research proposes local Biological Control Agent hubs to fight fall armyworm in Bangladesh

The study proposes the establishment of local Biological Control Agent (BCA) hubs to fight the devastating fall armyworm pest in Bangladesh. The hubs would be owner-managed by farm entrepreneurs and provide nucleus culture and technical support, allowing for non-linear business models that reverse low uptake of safer-to-use BCAs.

SourceCABI·JournalCABI Agriculture and Bioscience·TypeExperimental study·DateJul 27, 2022

Cash transfers more effective than workforce training in improving lives of Rwandans

A study by University of California San Diego found that cash transfers were more effective than workforce training in improving the lives of Rwandan youths. The research revealed that cash transfers improved ownership of assets and productive hours, while training only enhanced business knowledge.

SourceUniversity of California - San Diego·JournalJournal of Development Economics·TypeObservational study·DateJul 27, 2022

Exploring factors that may underlie how domestic cats can live in groups

A new study explores relationships between domestic cats' hormone levels, gut microbiomes, and social behaviors in cohabitating groups. The research found that low testosterone and cortisol concentrations enabled cats to share space, while high oxytocin levels were associated with less affiliative behavior.

SourcePLOS·JournalPLOS ONE·TypeObservational study·DateJul 27, 2022

New model developed to predict landslides along wildfire burn scars

A new model developed by Northwestern University researchers can predict areas susceptible to debris flows, enabling early warnings for people living in high-risk areas. The model simulates how water moves over wildfire burn scars, finding that burned areas cause faster and greater water flow, increasing the risk of landslides.

SourceNorthwestern University·JournalNatural Hazards and Earth System Sciences·TypeComputational simulation/modeling·DateJul 27, 2022

Researchers regulate pore size distribution to improve nanofiltration membrane

A research group developed a novel antifouling nanofiltration membrane by regulating pore size distribution through one-step multiple interfacial polymerization. The resulting membrane exhibits stronger antifouling performance and long-term stability, promising improved robustness in industrial liquid separation.

SourceChinese Academy of Sciences Headquarters·JournalACS Applied Materials & Interfaces·DateJul 27, 2022

How service dogs reduce PTSD symptoms: factors and mechanisms

A new analysis of service dog-veteran pairs found that lower dog excitability and closer relationships between veterans and their dogs are associated with reduced PTSD symptoms. Better mental health outcomes were also linked to perceptions of easy care for the dog and more frequent interactions initiated by the veteran.

SourcePLOS·JournalPLOS ONE·TypeObservational study·DateJul 27, 2022

Supplemental vitamin D did not lower risk of fractures in healthy US adults

A recent study published in The New England Journal of Medicine found that supplemental vitamin D did not lower the risk of fractures in healthy US adults. The research, which involved over 1,991 incident fractures and 5.3 years of follow-up, also showed no effects on major osteoporotic fractures or wrist/pelvic fractures.

SourceBrigham and Women's Hospital·JournalNew England Journal of Medicine·TypeRandomized controlled/clinical trial·DateJul 27, 2022

Discrimination took a toll on the mental health of racial and ethnic minority groups during the COVID-19 pandemic

Research found that everyday discrimination during COVID-19 led to increased odds of moderate to severe depression and suicidal ideation, particularly among Hispanic/Latino and Asian/Pacific Islander participants. The study highlights the need for clinicians and society to address the toll of discrimination on mental health.

SourceMassachusetts General Hospital·JournalJAMA Psychiatry·TypeSurvey·DateJul 27, 2022

Face shields don’t give high level COVID protection, study shows

A recent study from University of East Anglia compared 13 face shield styles in laboratory settings and surveyed over 600 people in Nigeria and Brazil about their views on face shields as PPE. The results showed that all face shields provided some protection, but none gave high levels against external droplets.

SourceUniversity of East Anglia·JournalAmerican Journal of Infection Control·TypeExperimental study·DateJul 27, 2022

Singapore researchers give 2D electronics a performance boost

Scientists from A*STAR and Fudan University found that placing 2D materials on substrates with bulged morphologies enhances carrier mobility by two orders, paving the way for competitive performance in field-effect transistors and thermoelectric devices. The discovery overcomes the intrinsic carrier mobility limit of the material.

Ancient DNA clarifies the early history of American colonial horses

A study published in PLOS ONE analyzed the oldest domestic horse specimen from the Americas, revealing a genetic lineage linked to Southern Europe. The findings support the hypothesis that horses originated on the Iberian Peninsula and highlight the importance of ancient DNA in understanding cultural and historical processes.

SourcePLOS·JournalPLOS ONE·TypeObservational study·DateJul 27, 2022