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Science News for June 20, 2022


Inhaled toxic particles take direct route from lungs to brain - study

A new study reveals that inhaled fine particles can take a direct route from lungs to brain through blood circulation, potentially contributing to brain disorders. The particles were found to stay longer in the brain than in other organs, raising concerns about the long-term effects of air pollution on cognitive function.

SourceUniversity of Birmingham·JournalProceedings of the National Academy of Sciences·TypeExperimental study·DateJun 20, 2022

Predicting how fire risks can go from fine to inferno

A Yale University team predicts fire risks can shift from low to catastrophic in a matter of hours, highlighting the need for more accurate models to understand global fire regimes. Climate change exacerbates conditions that fuel intense fires, making land management and prediction challenging.

SourceYale University·JournalProceedings of the National Academy of Sciences·DateJun 20, 2022

Biological clocks set for skin immunity

Researchers at Kyoto University have discovered the skin's natural protection from nighttime bacterial invasion in mice, which may provide a basis for developing a drug treatment. The team found that epidermal CXCL14 is produced in a circadian rhythm-dependent manner, providing antimicrobial function against Staphylococcus aureus.

SourceKyoto University·JournalProceedings of the National Academy of Sciences·TypeExperimental study·DateJun 20, 2022

New hybrid machine learning forecasts lake ecosystem responses to climate change

Researchers have developed a new hybrid machine learning approach that forecasts lake ecosystem responses to climate change with improved accuracy. The model, which uses data-driven methods and minimal assumptions, is able to capture the complex relationships between variables in ecosystems.

SourceUniversity of California - San Diego·JournalProceedings of the National Academy of Sciences·TypeMeta-analysis·DateJun 20, 2022

5-minute record for diagnosis

A new method using the Vortex fluidic device can test hundreds of proteins in under 5 minutes, with data readable by a cell phone camera. This technology has the potential to improve diagnosis and treatment of diseases in remote areas, reducing mortality and morbidity.

SourceFlinders University·JournalAngewandte Chemie·TypeExperimental study·DateJun 20, 2022

Gut microbiota of wild Assamese macaques become more unique with age

Research on wild Assamese macaques reveals that their gut bacteria composition changes uniquely with age, despite similar lifestyles. This finding suggests that the process is part of natural aging and not due to lifestyle changes, with potential implications for developing personalized therapies against intestinal diseases.

SourceDeutsches Primatenzentrum (DPZ)/German Primate Center·JournalMicrobiome·TypeData/statistical analysis·DateJun 20, 2022

TCF-1 protein plays essential role in breaking down barriers as T cells form

Researchers discovered that the TCF-1 protein enables plasticity in cells across neighborhoods during T cell development, weakening insulation and increasing interactions between adjacent neighborhoods. This finding sheds new light on immunotherapy approaches and could lead to more efficient cancer treatments.

SourceUniversity of Pennsylvania School of Medicine·JournalNature Immunology·TypeExperimental study·DateJun 20, 2022

University of Illinois team topples the longstanding "efficiency droop" barrier to green-light LEDs

Researchers have long struggled to create high-power green LEDs due to the 'efficiency droop' phenomenon. The University of Illinois team has now discovered a way to avoid this issue by using cubic-phase crystal structures, which halves efficiency droop in InGaAlN light-emitting diodes.

SourceUniversity of Illinois Grainger College of Engineering·JournalIEEE Transactions on Electron Devices·DateJun 20, 2022

The greening ashore

The invasion of plants onto land triggered a transformation of the hostile environment, accelerating atmospheric changes. This process laid the foundations for modern terrestrial flora, including flowering plants that comprise over 90% of all known species.

SourceHeinrich-Heine University Duesseldorf·JournalTrends in Plant Science·DateJun 20, 2022

Single brain scan can diagnose Alzheimer’s disease

A new approach uses a single magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) brain scan to diagnose Alzheimer's disease with high accuracy, identifying changes in regions not previously associated with the condition. This method has the potential to revolutionize diagnosis and treatment, allowing for early intervention and improved patient outcomes.

SourceImperial College London·JournalCommunications Medicine·DateJun 20, 2022

Who benefits from brain training and why?

A joint UC Riverside and UC Irvine study found that people who show near transfer in brain training are more likely to experience far transfer, meaning improved focus and problem-solving skills. The research suggests that working memory training can be effective for certain individuals, but its impact on fluid intelligence remains deba...

SourceUniversity of California - Riverside·JournalNature Human Behaviour·TypeExperimental study·DateJun 20, 2022

The state-of-the-art in computer-generated holography for 3D display

Researchers present a broad overview of modern computer-generated holography (CGH) algorithms, acceleration techniques, and dedicated hardware solutions. They classify CGH algorithms based on discretization methods and discuss visual quality assessment to optimize perceptual quality.

Scientists conceptualize a species ‘stock market’ to put a price tag on actions posing risks to biodiversity

A conceptual species 'stock market' aims to assign economic value to species and ecosystems, promoting sustainability and biodiversity conservation. The SSM would enable the valuation of ecosystem services and actions that harm or benefit biodiversity, fostering a unified approach to environmental decision-making.

SourcePensoft Publishers·JournalResearch Ideas and Outcomes·DateJun 20, 2022

Unveiling the mysteries of the genome structure in the human cell nucleus using a 3D computational simulation

Researchers at Nagoya University created a 3D model of the human genome structure, analyzing its dynamics and functions. The study provides new insights into chromatin distribution, cell division, and transcription regulation, shedding light on cellular processes and potential disease mechanisms.

SourceNagoya University·JournalProceedings of the National Academy of Sciences·DateJun 20, 2022

Science coverage of climate change can change minds – briefly

A new study suggests that science reporting on climate change can lead to more accurate beliefs and support government action, but these effects are short-lived. Researchers found that factually accurate science reporting changed people's factual understanding and moved their political preferences towards supporting climate action.

SourceOhio State University·JournalProceedings of the National Academy of Sciences·TypeExperimental study·DateJun 20, 2022

Melting Arctic ice could transform international shipping routes, study finds

Climate change is causing rapid warming in the Arctic Ocean, which may lead to shorter, more eco-friendly maritime trade routes. This could reduce the shipping industry's carbon footprint and weaken Russia's control over trade routes through the Arctic. New trade routes could also increase global shipping infrastructure resilience.

SourceBrown University·JournalProceedings of the National Academy of Sciences·TypeData/statistical analysis·DateJun 20, 2022

A better characterization of disinhibition in frontotemporal degeneration

Researchers developed a semi-ecological approach combining behavioral assessment and brain imaging to assess disinhibition in frontotemporal degeneration. The study found that compulsivity and social disinhibition are key components of the symptom, which can be distinguished using neuroanatomical correlates.

SourceInstitut du Cerveau (Paris Brain Institute)·JournalNeuroImage Clinical·TypeObservational study·DateJun 20, 2022

Can feelings be wrong?

A study published in Psychological Science found that our brains treat some emotions as wrong and react as if there was an error. The research, conducted by Ben-Gurion University psychologists, used experiments to assess emotion responses and discovered similarities between counter-normative emotion reports and perceptual errors.

SourceBen-Gurion University of the Negev·JournalPsychological Science·TypeExperimental study·DateJun 20, 2022

Medicare could save up to $3.6 billion by purchasing generic drugs at Mark Cuban prices

A study published in Annals of Internal Medicine found that Medicare could save up to $3.6 billion by purchasing generic drugs at the same prices as the Mark Cuban Cost Plus Drug Company. The researchers compared the price of 89 generic drugs sold by MCCPDC to the price Medicare paid in 2020 and estimated potential savings of up to $3....

SourceAmerican College of Physicians·JournalAnnals of Internal Medicine·TypeData/statistical analysis·DateJun 20, 2022

Chinese Medical Journal review explores the role of macrophages in the progression of acute kidney injury to chronic kidney disease

A recent review article highlights the crucial role of macrophages in the progression from acute kidney injury (AKI) to chronic kidney disease (CKD). The study suggests that targeting specific signaling pathways and altering macrophage activation can prevent renal fibrosis and CKD. Therapeutic strategies such as clodronate liposomes an...

SourceCactus Communications·JournalChinese Medical Journal·TypeLiterature review·DateJun 20, 2022

Henry Ford Health study suggests robotic surgery may lower risk for hip replacement complications

A study published in The Journal of Arthroplasty found that robotic-assisted surgery for hip replacement had lower rates of dislocation and instability compared to traditional methods. This is attributed to the increased precision and control offered by robotic technology, which enables surgeons to position implants more accurately.

SourceHenry Ford Health·JournalThe Journal of Arthroplasty·DateJun 20, 2022

Bodychecking experience does not lower risk of injury for teen hockey players

A new study published in CMAJ found that youth hockey players with more years of bodychecking experience had a significantly higher risk of concussion than those with less experience. The researchers collected data on 941 players aged 15-17 and found that concussion was the most common injury, making up over one-third of all injuries.

SourceCanadian Medical Association Journal·JournalCanadian Medical Association Journal·TypeObservational study·DateJun 20, 2022

Assessing the environmental impact of nuclear power generation

A study by Ritsumeikan University researchers analyzed the life cycle assessment of nuclear power generation, revealing varying TMR coefficients across different mining methods and fuel cycles. The results show that nuclear power generates similar natural resources as renewable energy, significantly less than thermal power.

SourceRitsumeikan University·JournalJournal of Cleaner Production·TypeComputational simulation/modeling·DateJun 20, 2022

BU researchers studying the link between the brain’s extracellular matrix and diseases such as Alzheimer’s, Parkinson’s and schizophrenia

Researchers from Boston University School of Medicine provide comprehensive information on mass spectrometry-based studies of the brain's extracellular matrix in neurological disorders. The study highlights changes in ECM molecule expression associated with neurodegenerative diseases, providing new avenues for treatment and diagnosis.

SourceBoston University School of Medicine·JournalMass Spectrometry Reviews·TypeLiterature review·DateJun 20, 2022

Lack of diversity of microorganisms in the gut or elevated metabolite implicated in heart failure severity

A systematic review found that reduced gut microbiome diversity and elevated trimethylamine-N-oxide (TMAO) metabolite levels are associated with increased risk of death and hospital visits in heart failure patients. Further research on the impact of diet and potential interventions is underway.

SourceGeorgetown University Medical Center·JournalHeart Failure Reviews·TypeLiterature review·DateJun 20, 2022