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Science News for July 7, 2022


Randomized controlled trial finds women’s help desks in local police stations in India increased registration of cases of gender-based violence; scale-up in progress

A randomized controlled trial found that establishing specialized help desks for women in local police stations in Madhya Pradesh, India led to increased registration of cases of gender-based violence. The presence of female officers was particularly effective in making the police more responsive to women's security needs.

SourceAbdul Latif Jameel Poverty Action Lab·JournalScience·TypeRandomized controlled/clinical trial·DateJul 7, 2022

When your older sibling chooses to stay in education for longer, so do you: new study suggests nature and nurture combine to link siblings' educational attainment

A new study suggests that the relationship between siblings' educational outcomes is influenced by both genetic and environmental factors. The research found that individuals with older siblings are more likely to excel academically, highlighting the complex interplay between nature and nurture.

SourcePLOS·JournalPLOS Genetics·DateJul 7, 2022

The beginning of life: The early embryo is in the driver's seat

Researchers using 'blastoids' - in vitro models of the blastocyst - discovered that early embryonic signals induce placental development and prepare the uterus. The findings may contribute to a better understanding of human fertility and potentially improve IVF procedures, fertility drugs, and contraceptives.

Birds of a feather flock together, but not in experts’ brains

A Baycrest study found that expert knowledge helps memorize new information by providing a mental organizational structure. Experts grouped birds based on specific features, while non-experts relied on superficial characteristics like color. This structure supports memory and may mitigate age-related decline.

SourceBaycrest Centre for Geriatric Care·JournalProceedings of the National Academy of Sciences·TypeExperimental study·DateJul 7, 2022

Older adults with advanced bladder cancer prioritize honest information about what to expect

A recent study by Elizabeth Kessler, MD, found that older patients with advanced bladder cancer prioritize open communication with their care providers about treatment expectations and quality of life changes. The research also highlights the importance of involving families in care planning and aligning care with patients' core priori...

SourceUniversity of Colorado Anschutz Medical Campus·JournalJournal of Geriatric Oncology·DateJul 7, 2022

Social interactions tied to sense of purpose

Research from Washington University in St. Louis finds that positive social interactions are associated with a greater sense of purpose in older adults, particularly those who are retired. The study suggests that the quality of relationships and social connections play a significant role in shaping one's sense of purpose.

SourceWashington University in St. Louis·JournalAmerican Journal of Geriatric Psychiatry·TypeData/statistical analysis·DateJul 7, 2022

How might Big Tech affect financial inclusion and stability?

A recent analysis found that Big Tech companies can provide innovative financial services to people excluded from traditional banking, improving financial inclusion. However, the authors caution that without proper education, these services may introduce risks to financial stability.

SourceWiley·JournalContemporary Economic Policy·DateJul 7, 2022

Photoinduced large polaron transport and dynamics in organic-inorganic hybrid lead halide perovskite with terahertz probes

Photoinduced large polaron transport and dynamics in organic-inorganic hybrid lead halide perovskite have been studied using terahertz probes. The researchers found that the formation of large polarons protects charge carriers from scattering with grain boundaries or defects, explaining the long lifetime of photoconductivity.

Advances in the design and manufacturing of novel freeform optics

Freeform optics have revolutionized the way we approach precision optical systems, enabling superior imaging in compact packages. Researchers have summarized the present state of art in advances, design methods, manufacturing, metrology, and applications. Key challenges include standard definitions, optimization complexities, and measu...

SourceInternational Journal of Extreme Manufacturing·JournalInternational Journal of Extreme Manufacturing·DateJul 7, 2022

Unlocking the secrets of the ancient coastal Maya

Researchers have uncovered thousands of artifacts along Mexico's Yucatán Peninsula, shedding new light on the ancient Maya people who lived in a dynamic interplay between social and natural processes. The project has provided valuable insights into how the Maya adapted to environmental changes, such as rising sea levels, and offers a m...

SourceGeorgia State University·JournalThe Journal of Island and Coastal Archaeology·TypeObservational study·DateJul 7, 2022

Insilico Medicine identified multiple new targets for amyotrophic lateral sclerosis (ALS) using its AI-driven target discovery engine

Researchers at Insilico Medicine used their proprietary AI-driven target discovery engine, PandaOmics, to identify 17 high-confidence and 11 novel therapeutic targets for ALS. These targets were further validated in various model systems, including a c9ALS Drosophila model, and showed strong functional correlations to ALS. The study's ...

SourceInSilico Medicine·JournalFrontiers in Aging·DateJul 7, 2022

The importance of elders

Researchers challenge the notion that natural selection declines after reproduction is complete. Instead, they propose that older adults play a crucial role in maintaining their fitness through intergenerational transfers of resources and knowledge.

SourceUniversity of California - Santa Barbara·JournalProceedings of the National Academy of Sciences·DateJul 7, 2022

Radiation for responsible recycling: A distributed, microwave-based method to recycle batteries

A new distributed recycling system using microwave irradiation recovers 97% of manganese oxide and zinc from spent alkaline batteries, outperforming conventional methods. The system's potential to reduce annual energy consumption and greenhouse gas emissions in Japan is estimated at 26,500 GJ and 1.54 Gg-CO2 eq, respectively.

SourceRitsumeikan University·JournalResources Environment and Sustainability·TypeExperimental study·DateJul 7, 2022

Balancing protein in your diet could improve water quality

A study from the University of California, Davis, found that balancing protein consumption with human needs can reduce nitrogen excretion rates in US waters by 27% by 2055. Coastal cities have the largest potential to make this change, which could also improve environmental health without increasing wastewater treatment costs.

SourceUniversity of California - Davis·JournalFrontiers in Ecology and the Environment·TypeData/statistical analysis·DateJul 7, 2022

Carbon conservation efforts would be enhanced by highlighting threatened forest primates

Researchers highlight the importance of linking carbon conservation with threatened forest primates, which could enhance climate action and biodiversity protection. The study found that 15.5 gigatonnes of irrecoverable carbon are stored in areas with high primate species richness, equivalent to 40% of current annual fossil fuel emissions.

SourceOregon State University·JournalProceedings of the National Academy of Sciences·TypeData/statistical analysis·DateJul 7, 2022

Protecting our coastline

A new computer model developed by Louisiana State University oceanographer Giulio Mariotti shows that barrier island retreat will accelerate by 50 percent within a century due to rising sea levels. The model challenges the common assumption that barrier islands respond instantly to sea level rise, revealing a lag between the two.

SourceLouisiana State University·JournalNature Geoscience·TypeComputational simulation/modeling·DateJul 7, 2022

Ozone depletion over North Pole produces weather anomalies

Researchers found a correlation between Arctic ozone depletion and extreme weather events in the Northern Hemisphere. Simulations suggest that reduced ozone levels contribute to warmer temperatures and droughts in central Europe, while wet conditions prevail in polar regions.

SourceETH Zurich·JournalNature Geoscience·TypeComputational simulation/modeling·DateJul 7, 2022

Bees’ ‘waggle dance’ may revolutionize how robots talk to each other in disaster zones

A new study takes inspiration from the 'waggle dance' of honeybees to devise a way for robots to communicate effectively in situations with unreliable network communications. Researchers designed a visual communication system using on-board cameras, allowing robots to interpret gestures and convey complex information.

SourceFrontiers·JournalFrontiers in Robotics and AI·TypeExperimental study·DateJul 7, 2022

Most studied Vietnam Era veterans spontaneously describe traumatic experiences in the telling of their life stories

A study of 231 Vietnam Era veterans reveals that 71% describe at least one traumatic event, including combat exposure, adverse childhood experiences, and navigating a life-threatening illness. The findings underscore the importance of clinician-patient relationships and trauma-informed care in older adult healthcare.

SourceWiley·JournalJournal of the American Geriatrics Society·DateJul 7, 2022

Towards autonomous prediction and synthesis of novel magnetic materials

A team of researchers from Tokyo University of Science has developed an efficient integrated materials synthesis system for automatic discovery of new functional magnetic materials. Using artificial intelligence and computational science, they identified promising materials five times more efficiently than traditional trial-and-error a...

SourceTokyo University of Science·JournalScience and Technology of Advanced Materials Methods·TypeComputational simulation/modeling·DateJul 7, 2022

Deep-ultraviolet nonlinear optical crystals: Concept development and materials discovery

Researchers review current progress on DUV NLO crystals, discussing key performance criteria, material development, and design strategies to surpass existing KBBF crystals. They propose rational tuning of interlayer cations as an effective strategy to improve DUV NLO performance.

Natural selection may be making society more unequal

A new study published in Behavior Genetics found that natural selection favors characteristics associated with lower earnings and poorer education, such as having more children. The research, led by UEA, analyzed data from over 300,000 people in the UK and suggests that this may be contributing to increasing income inequality.

SourceUniversity of East Anglia·JournalBehavior Genetics·TypeData/statistical analysis·DateJul 7, 2022

Coin-sized device detects measles virus in saliva

A novel point-of-care biosensing device has been developed to detect measles virions in human saliva, potentially aiding in viral spread control. The device, smaller than a €1-cent coin or U.S. quarter, utilizes lab-on-a-chip technology and showed high accuracy in experiments.

SourceWiley·JournalAdvanced Functional Materials·DateJul 7, 2022

Are too many young children drinking specialized formula?

Research published in Clinical and Experimental Allergy reveals a significant increase in prescriptions of specialized infant formula for infants with milk allergies. The findings suggest high levels of milk allergy over-diagnosis, marking an important shift in early child nutrition.

SourceWiley·JournalClinical & Experimental Allergy·DateJul 7, 2022

How nuclear war would affect earth today

A new study warns of the devastating effects of nuclear war on the Earth's systems. Global temperatures would plummet by 13 degrees Fahrenheit, causing crop failure worldwide. Ocean temperatures would drop quickly, leading to a 'Nuclear Little Ice Age' and disrupting marine ecosystems.

SourceLouisiana State University·JournalAGU Advances·TypeComputational simulation/modeling·DateJul 7, 2022

New biofabrication approach reveals importance of heart’s helical tissue structure

Researchers developed a new biofabrication method to create three-dimensional helically aligned human heart tissue models using focused rotary jet spinning. This approach enabled the recreation of heart ventricles with similar structural properties as natural hearts and showed that helical architectures increased cardiac performance.

Reduction of global inequalities in energy use necessary to stop climate change

A new study by ICTA-UAB reveals that existing climate mitigation scenarios perpetuate energy use inequalities between the Global North and South. To stop climate change, the Global North must reduce its energy consumption to sustainable levels while allowing for sufficient growth in energy use in the rest of the world.

SourceUniversitat Autonoma de Barcelona·JournalThe Lancet Planetary Health·TypeData/statistical analysis·DateJul 7, 2022

Performance-related bonuses for family healthcare workers in Brazil can improve the quality of primary health care, especially in more deprived areas

A study in Brazil found that performance-related bonuses for family healthcare workers can significantly enhance the quality of primary health care, particularly in more disadvantaged regions. The analysis showed a notable difference in outcomes between areas with and without bonus incentives.

SourcePLOS·JournalPLOS Medicine·TypeObservational study·DateJul 7, 2022

High incarceration rates may not help US citizens feel safer

A new study by Penn State researchers found no significant difference in fear of crime between people living in areas with high and low incarceration rates. Despite the US having the world's highest incarceration rate, the study suggests that mass incarceration policies may not have the desired effect on reducing crime fear.

SourcePenn State·JournalJustice Quarterly·TypeObservational study·DateJul 7, 2022

Should clinicians reconsider standard therapy for gout?

A recent clinical trial found that low-dose benzbromarone was more effective in reducing blood urate levels in patients with renal urate underexcretion. The study showed that more participants in the benzbromarone group achieved the target blood urate level of < 6 mg/dL compared to those receiving febuxostat.

SourceWiley·JournalArthritis & Rheumatology·DateJul 7, 2022

Study finds people who practice intermittent fasting experience less severe complications from COVID-19

Researchers from Intermountain Healthcare discovered that individuals who practice intermittent fasting experience fewer severe complications from COVID-19. The study analyzed data from patients enrolled in the INSPIRE registry, finding that those who regularly fasted had lower rates of hospitalization or death due to coronavirus.

SourceIntermountain Healthcare·JournalBMJ Nutrition Prevention & Health·TypeObservational study·DateJul 7, 2022

Inhaled nitric oxide reduces hospital stay and improves oxygenation in pregnant patients with COVID-19 pneumonia

A study published in Obstetrics & Gynecology found that high-dose inhaled nitric oxide gas significantly reduced the need for supplemental oxygen and hospital stays in pregnant women with severe COVID-19 pneumonia. The therapy was administered twice daily to patients, resulting in no adverse events.

SourceMassachusetts General Hospital·JournalObstetrics and Gynecology·DateJul 7, 2022

A new method developed by researchers from the Josep Carreras Institute predicts childhood hyperdiploid B-ALL relapse risk

Researchers identify chromosomal abnormalities associated with relapse in a frequent subset of B-cell Acute Lymphoblastic Leukemia (B-ALL), a severe condition affecting especially children. The study found that chromosome 10 and 18 trisomies are good prognosis markers, while lower clonal heterogeneity can predict higher relapse risk.

SourceJosep Carreras Leukaemia Research Institute·JournalMolecular Oncology·TypeData/statistical analysis·DateJul 7, 2022

New research finds deep-sea mining noise pollution will stretch hundreds of miles

A new study found that noise from one mine alone could travel approximately 500 kilometers in gentle weather conditions, with cumulative impacts likely in areas with multiple mines. The deep sea is home to organisms found nowhere else on Earth, and mining activities could have untold impacts on these species.

SourceUniversity of Hawaii at Manoa·JournalScience·TypeComputational simulation/modeling·DateJul 7, 2022

Opioid prescriptions significantly higher for patients with lifelong disabilities, study finds

A Michigan Medicine study found that people with cerebral palsy and spina bifida are prescribed opioids at a rate up to five times higher than those without the conditions. Chronic pain is the most commonly reported symptom among these individuals, raising concerns over addiction and overdose issues.

SourceMichigan Medicine - University of Michigan·JournalHeliyon·TypeData/statistical analysis·DateJul 7, 2022

Jumpstarting insulin production with microbial diversity wins NOSTER & Science Microbiome Prize

Dr. Jennifer Hampton Hill's work shows that restoring lost bacterial cues in the gut can stimulate development of insulin-producing cells, potentially protecting against autoimmune destruction associated with Type 1 Diabetes. The discovery of a specific protein, beta-cell expansion factor A (BefA), holds promise for human beta-cells.

Bioproduction Breakthrough: New method for developing Pichia pastoris yeast strains with high productivity of useful proteins

Researchers at Kobe University have successfully identified and disrupted genes in Pichia pastoris yeast to increase its secretory production of useful proteins. Through a series of processes, they developed new host strains that can produce high yields of proteins for industrial enzymes and biomedical antibodies.

SourceKobe University·JournalCommunications Biology·TypeExperimental study·DateJul 7, 2022

Citizen scientist leads discovery of 34 ultracool dwarf binaries using archive at NSF’s NOIRLab

Astronomer Frank Kiwy uses Astro Data Lab to discover 34 new ultracool dwarf binary systems in the Sun's neighborhood, expanding knowledge of brown dwarfs and their companions. The discovery nearly doubles previously known samples, shedding light on how often brown dwarfs have companions.

SourceAssociation of Universities for Research in Astronomy (AURA)·JournalThe Astronomical Journal·TypeObservational study·DateJul 7, 2022