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Science News for July 6, 2022


Oncotarget | Continuous treatment with abemaciclib leads to sustained and efficient inhibition of breast cancer cell proliferation

Abemaciclib, a CDK4 & 6 inhibitor, showed profound inhibition of cell proliferation and triggered senescence and apoptosis in breast cancer cells. Continuous dosing provided sustained inhibition with irreversible effects through apoptosis, supporting the differentiated safety and efficacy profile.

SourceImpact Journals LLC·JournalOncotarget·TypeExperimental study·DateJul 6, 2022

To reduce carbon, colleges should target purchasing, travel

Research analyzed Cornell University's greenhouse gas consumption during the COVID-19 pandemic and found that 60% of emissions came from off-campus activities. The study provides a framework for universities to reduce carbon footprint and achieve climate goals, with Cornell aiming to reach carbon neutrality by 2035.

SourceCornell University·JournalJournal of Cleaner Production·DateJul 6, 2022

Study shows increase in COVID-19 vaccine acceptance around the world

A new study found that COVID-19 vaccine acceptance increased 3.7% worldwide between 2020 and 2021, with concerns about vaccine safety and efficacy being the primary drivers of hesitancy. The study also revealed that vaccine mandates were strongly supported among international travelers but had lower support among schoolchildren.

SourceCUNY Graduate School of Public Health and Health Policy·JournalNature Communications·TypeSurvey·DateJul 6, 2022

Climate factors predict future mosquito activity

A new study finds that climate variables like temperature, rainfall, and ocean warming predict mosquito population growth in Sri Lanka for the next one to six months. The research can inform programs to limit dengue transmission, a major public health problem in the country.

SourceNew York University·JournalThe Lancet Planetary Health·DateJul 6, 2022

Relaunched doctor reward scheme is missed opportunity for fairer reform

The relaunched National Clinical Impact Awards (NCIAs) are seen as a missed opportunity to create a more inclusive and team-based recognition system. Critics argue that the scheme still focuses on individual achievements, potentially perpetuating existing inequalities in the NHS workforce.

SourceSAGE·JournalJournal of the Royal Society of Medicine·DateJul 6, 2022

Upside-down design expands wide-spectrum super-camera abilities

Researchers at Duke University have developed a new design for plasmonic metasurfaces that greatly expands their frequency range while also making them more robust against the elements. The new fabrication process allows for the use of a wide variety of shapes, opening up new possibilities for applications such as super cameras.

SourceDuke University·JournalNano Letters·TypeExperimental study·DateJul 6, 2022

Safety first: How stigma may impact health

A new theory suggests that lack of perceived safety in marginalized communities can have a direct impact on physical and mental health. This concept challenges decades-old thinking that minority stress is the primary cause of health disparities in the LGBTQ community.

SourceUniversity of Utah·JournalNeuroscience & Biobehavioral Reviews·TypeLiterature review·DateJul 6, 2022

Differentiation of rickets and classic metaphyseal lesions on radiographs

A multicenter study found that radiologists can accurately diagnose rickets and classic metaphyseal lesions (CMLs) with high interobserver agreement and diagnostic performance. The study highlighted the importance of considering age factors in diagnosis, as CMLs mostly occur in children younger than 6 months.

SourceAmerican Roentgen Ray Society·JournalAmerican Journal of Roentgenology·TypeImaging analysis·DateJul 6, 2022

“Unlocking” sarcopenic obesity: A review in portal hypertension & cirrhosis provides clarity on key aspects of disease impact and treatment

Researchers from Tianjin Medical University General Hospital review sarcopenic obesity's impact on liver disease, including nonalcoholic fatty liver disease and cirrhosis. The study aims to clarify the pathogenesis of sarcopenic obesity and identify potential therapeutic avenues.

SourceCactus Communications·JournalPortal Hypertension & Cirrhosis·TypeLiterature review·DateJul 6, 2022

Shedding new light on coral Black Band Disease

A recent study by UNC-Chapel Hill biologists reveals the crucial link between benthic cyanobacterial mats and coral Black Band Disease, a pressing conservation concern. The researchers suggest mitigating strategies to reduce its spread and highlight the importance of monitoring reef cover of cyanobacterial mats for effective management.

SourceUniversity of North Carolina at Chapel Hill·JournalEcological Applications·TypeObservational study·DateJul 6, 2022

World-first studies point way to preventing rheumatic fever

Research led by the University of Otago found a strong association between skin infection and rheumatic fever, highlighting the importance of treating skin infections in young children to prevent rheumatic fever. The studies also revealed barriers to accessing primary health care and a family history of rheumatic fever as risk factors.

SourceUniversity of Otago·JournalThe Lancet Regional Health - Western Pacific·TypeCase study·DateJul 6, 2022

How Omicron dodges the immune system

A study found that Omicron's neutralization capacity outperforms its predecessors, even in vaccinated individuals. Antibody levels against ancestral SARS-CoV-2 are roughly 10 times higher in vaccinated people than those with natural immunity.

SourceUniversité de Genève·JournalNature Communications·TypeNews article·DateJul 6, 2022

After facial feminization surgery, transgender people report better psychosocial health

A new UCLA study found that transgender patients who underwent gender-affirming facial feminization surgery reported higher scores in seven measures of psychosocial health, including anxiety, depression, and positive affect. The study suggests that facial feminization surgery is an important procedure for treating gender dysphoria.

Outcomes of uterus transplants

The study reveals uterus transplant outcomes are safe for the recipient, living donor, and child, making it a potential solution for women struggling with uterine-factor infertility. Uterus transplants may be a viable option for these individuals, offering a chance to conceive and carry a pregnancy.

SourceJAMA Network·JournalJAMA Surgery·DateJul 6, 2022

A four-stroke engine for atoms

Scientists have found a new phenomenon where an atomic switch has to be switched back and forth four times to return to its original state. The spin of gadolinium atoms performs one full rotation during this process. This discovery opens up possibilities for material physics and could potentially be used to store information.

SourceVienna University of Technology·JournalNature·TypeExperimental study·DateJul 6, 2022

False beliefs about prevalence of crime could influence jury decisions, new study shows

A new study by the University of Exeter found that people's perceptions of crime prevalence can significantly impact their legal judgments, with women and men holding different views on the frequency of certain crimes. The research emphasizes the importance of addressing these biases to ensure more informed verdicts.

SourceUniversity of Exeter·JournalApplied Cognitive Psychology·TypeSurvey·DateJul 6, 2022

New imaging technique allows researchers to see gene expression in brains of live mice in real time

A new imaging technique allows scientists to study mRNA molecules in the brains of living mice, revealing insights into how memories are formed and stored. The research could provide new information about diseases like Alzheimer's and help understand the process of memory generation and retrieval.

SourceUniversity of Minnesota·JournalProceedings of the National Academy of Sciences·TypeExperimental study·DateJul 6, 2022

Artificial intelligence enables non-invasive, accurate screening for down syndrome in the first trimester

Researchers developed a convolutional neural network to identify fetuses with Down Syndrome from ultrasound images. The model achieved high accuracy, improving detection by over 15% compared to existing methods. Non-invasive screening could become a convenient and inexpensive tool for early pregnancy diagnosis.

SourceChinese Academy of Sciences Headquarters·JournalJAMA Network Open·DateJul 6, 2022

Physicists work to shrink microchips with first one-dimensional helium model system

Researchers at Indiana University and the University of Tennessee have developed a one-dimensional helium model system, which enables the creation of smaller and faster microchips. The new system is designed to explore the behavior of particles in a confined space, allowing for the study of previously unexplored physics.

SourceIndiana University·JournalNature Communications·TypeExperimental study·DateJul 6, 2022

Messenger RNA technology shows promise for developing infectious disease therapeutics

Researchers at USAMRIID have demonstrated the use of messenger RNA (mRNA) to develop treatments for infectious diseases. The study found that administering mRNAs encoding monoclonal antibodies targeting poxviruses resulted in significant systemic levels of functional antibodies, offering potential for rapid response to disease outbreaks.

SourceUS Army Medical Research Institute of Infectious Diseases·JournalMolecular Therapy — Nucleic Acids·TypeExperimental study·DateJul 6, 2022

Uncovering one of the driving forces of Alzheimer’s disease

A Flinders University study reveals how a protein called tau transforms into a disease state, providing hope for preventing this process and reducing toxic effects on brain cells. The researchers identified 'master sites' in tau that govern subsequent modifications, leading to a similar state seen in Alzheimer's patients.

SourceFlinders University·JournalScience Advances·TypeExperimental study·DateJul 6, 2022

Shedding new light on dark matter

Physicists have developed a method to predict the composition of dark matter by analyzing cosmological signatures. The research uses big bang nucleosynthesis and cosmic microwave background radiation to identify specific categories of dark matter with masses between those of the electron and proton.

SourceNew York University·JournalPhysical Review Letters·TypeComputational simulation/modeling·DateJul 6, 2022

Frozen embryo transfers in IVF linked to greater risk of maternal hypertension in pregnancy

A large study analyzing over 4.5 million pregnancies found that frozen embryo transfers in IVF are associated with a substantially higher risk of hypertensive disorders, particularly pre-eclampsia, compared to naturally conceived pregnancies. The risk was roughly doubled for FETs, while fresh embryo transfers had similar outcomes.

Students without disabilities achieve the same academic results with or without classmates with disabilities in Poland, with implications for the future development of inclusive education

A Polish study found that students without disabilities achieve the same academic results when attending classes with students who have disabilities, with implications for inclusive education. The research suggests that the type of inclusion does not affect academic achievement.

SourcePLOS·JournalPLOS ONE·DateJul 6, 2022

Prenatal exposure to chemicals in consumer and industrial products is associated with rising liver disease in children

A comprehensive study found that prenatal exposure to endocrine-disrupting chemicals is associated with non-alcoholic fatty liver disease in children. The researchers measured 45 chemicals in pregnant women and found elevated levels of biomarkers indicating risk for liver disease in children who were more highly exposed.

Helping teens channel stress, grow in resilience

A new study teaches teenagers to reframe their stress responses from negative to positive driving forces. The intervention improves stress-linked health outcomes, including biological responses, psychological well-being, anxiety symptoms, and academic performance in high-stress environments.

SourceUniversity of Rochester·JournalNature·TypeExperimental study·DateJul 6, 2022

Photorhabdus luminescens – a true all-rounder: Insect pathogenic bacterium also helps to combat fungal infestation

Research at Johannes Gutenberg University Mainz reveals Photorhabdus luminescens can protect plants from fungal infection, colonizing the fungus's hyphae and breaking down its cell wall. This secondary cell form also promotes plant growth and offers new potential for biological crop protection.

SourceJohannes Gutenberg Universitaet Mainz·JournalApplied and Environmental Microbiology·DateJul 6, 2022

An appetite map in the brain

A recent study published in Nature has identified a complex neural network in the fruit-fly brain that shapes behavior and decision-making, particularly when it comes to food choice. The 'appetite map' created by the researchers reveals how internal states, such as nutrient deficiencies and pregnancy, interact to guide behavior.

SourceChampalimaud Centre for the Unknown·JournalNature·TypeExperimental study·DateJul 6, 2022

Caught in the act: Key chemical intermediates in pollutant-to-fuel reaction identified

Scientists from the University of Tsukuba have experimentally measured hydrogenation of copper-adsorbed formate, a crucial step in converting carbon dioxide into methanol fuel. The study found that at temperatures above 200K, atomic hydrogen can catalyze the reaction, producing a product that decomposes back into gaseous formaldehyde.

SourceUniversity of Tsukuba·JournalJournal of the American Chemical Society·DateJul 6, 2022

Quantitative phase imaging through an ultra-thin lensless fiber endoscope

Researchers have developed a new algorithm to reconstruct incident light field from far-field speckles, enabling three-dimensional quantitative phase imaging with nanoscale axial sensitivity and lateral resolution. This technology paves the way for in vivo label-free characterization of cells and tissue with minimal invasiveness.

How to find marker genes in cell clusters

A new statistical method called Association Plot facilitates the determination and analysis of marker genes in single-cell data. This allows researchers to trace back RNA molecules to their cell of origin, providing insights into cell-type specific genes.

SourceMax-Planck-Gesellschaft·JournalJournal of Molecular Biology·TypeData/statistical analysis·DateJul 6, 2022

Gardening can cultivate better mental health

A study by University of Florida researchers found that gardening lowered stress, anxiety, and depression in healthy women attending twice-weekly gardening classes. The participants experienced similar improvements in mental health as those in art-making sessions, with gardeners reporting slightly less anxiety.

SourceUniversity of Florida·JournalPLOS ONE·TypeRandomized controlled/clinical trial·DateJul 6, 2022

Both heat and cold increase risk of death in England and Wales but rates vary across geographical areas and population groups

A new study published in The Lancet Planetary Health found that heat and cold exposure are associated with substantial excess mortality in England and Wales. London had the highest heat-related mortality rate, while the risk of death from cold was highest in Northern England, Wales, and the South West.

SourceLondon School of Hygiene & Tropical Medicine·JournalThe Lancet Planetary Health·DateJul 6, 2022