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Science News for March 21, 2022


New study identifies small yet essential workforce providing abortions in the US

A new study provides comprehensive insights into the abortion provider workforce in the US, revealing a diverse group of clinicians who provide essential abortion services. The research found that while most providers are OB-GYNs, primary care physicians and advanced practice professionals also play a crucial role.

SourceGeorge Washington University·JournalJAMA Internal Medicine·TypeData/statistical analysis·DateMar 21, 2022

NIH analysis of Reddit forum suggests experience of non-suicidal self-harm shares characteristics with addiction

A large majority of individuals who reported non-suicidal self-injury on Reddit described their experience in terms similar to those used to diagnose substance use disorder. The study suggests that clinicians may adopt strategies used to diagnose and treat substance use disorders to better support people living with non-suicidal self-i...

SourceNIH/National Institute on Drug Abuse·JournalJournal of Behavioral Addictions·TypeData/statistical analysis·DateMar 21, 2022

Medical equality undermined by mistaken male doctors

A UK-based study surveyed 425 doctors, finding that both male and female overestimated the proportion of women in various roles. However, men who made this mistake showed significantly lower support for gender-equality initiatives. The research highlights the need to address these misconceptions to achieve progress toward gender equali...

SourceUniversity of Exeter·JournalBMJ Open·TypeSurvey·DateMar 21, 2022

Landmark study demonstrates long-term positive impacts and cost effectiveness of tailored group exercise for over-65s with mobility limitations

A landmark study demonstrates that a community-based group exercise programme can prevent physical decline and improve quality of life in older adults with mobility limitations. The REACT programme, which involves individually tailored exercises and social interaction, shows promising results in reducing health and care costs.

SourceUniversity of Bath·JournalThe Lancet Public Health·TypeRandomized controlled/clinical trial·DateMar 21, 2022

Engineers develop a ‘magnetic tentacle robot’ to pass into the narrow tubes of the lung

A team of engineers and scientists has developed a proof-of-concept for a magnetic tentacle robot that can navigate the narrow tubes of the lung, enabling doctors to take tissue samples or deliver cancer therapy. The device measures just 2 millimeters in diameter and uses an autonomous magnetic guidance system to guide it into place.

SourceUniversity of Leeds·JournalSoft Robotics·TypeCase study·DateMar 21, 2022

U of M Medical School research highlights the broad range of terms Minnesota youth use to describe their sexual orientation and gender identity

The study found that 43% of transgender and gender diverse students identified as nonbinary, with similar numbers identifying as pansexual (1.7%) as gay or lesbian (1.6%). Many LGBTQ+ youth reported depressive symptoms and experiences of identity-based bullying.

SourceUniversity of Minnesota Medical School·JournalPEDIATRICS·TypeSurvey·DateMar 21, 2022

Vegetable oil emissions study reveals urgent need for greener growing solutions

A global study reveals the extent of greenhouse gas emissions from vegetable oil production, emphasizing the need for sustainable growing practices. The study found that land use contributes significantly to emissions, with rapeseed and sunflower oil systems appearing more sustainable than palm and soybean oil.

SourceUniversity of Nottingham·JournalScience of The Total Environment·TypeMeta-analysis·DateMar 21, 2022

Study ties present-day Native American tribe to ancestors in San Francisco Bay Area

A genomic study has found that eight present-day members of the Muwekma Ohlone Tribe share ancestry with 12 individuals who lived in the region several hundred to 2,000 years ago. The study challenges previous notions of the tribe's migration history and highlights the importance of community engagement and traditional knowledge.

SourceUniversity of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign, News Bureau·JournalProceedings of the National Academy of Sciences·TypeData/statistical analysis·DateMar 21, 2022

Coronavirus may double severe complications in pregnancy

A Kaiser Permanente analysis found that pregnant patients with COVID-19 were at twice the risk of poor outcomes, including preterm birth and venous thromboembolism. The study also showed a significant increase in severe maternal morbidity, including conditions such as acute respiratory distress syndrome and sepsis.

SourceKaiser Permanente·JournalJAMA Internal Medicine·DateMar 21, 2022

A global variable-resolution model helps meteorologists understand the hydrological cycle throughout the Tibetan Plateau

A new global variable-resolution model helps meteorologists understand the hydrological cycle in the Tibetan Plateau, revealing complex topography's impact on moisture transport and precipitation. The study shows that resolving topography at a few kilometers improves precipitation simulations by 11%.

SourceUniversity of Science and Technology of China·JournalAdvances in Atmospheric Sciences·DateMar 21, 2022

Metabolomic study links inhaled cortical steroid treatment for asthma to adrenal suppression

A metabolomic study of 14,000 individuals with asthma found that inhaled corticosteroid therapy leads to adrenal suppression, characterized by fatigue, headache, and abdominal pain. The study suggests that monitoring cortisol levels and prescribing the lowest effective dose may help mitigate side effects.

SourceBrigham and Women's Hospital·JournalNature Medicine·TypeObservational study·DateMar 21, 2022

Collaborative RIPE team prove leaf width-biomass correlations in cowpea

Researchers found a correlation between leaf width and above-ground biomass across diverse germplasm and environmental conditions. The study's findings have the potential to improve breeding programs for cowpea biomass in Nigerian fields, enhancing grain and fodder production.

Identifying toxic materials in water with machine learning

Researchers at UBCO's School of Engineering have developed a new, faster method for analyzing toxic waste materials using fluorescence spectroscopy and convolutional neural networks. This method can detect key toxins such as naphthenic acids in oil sands samples, providing a low-cost alternative to current methods.

SourceUniversity of British Columbia Okanagan campus·JournalJournal of Hazardous Materials·TypeComputational simulation/modeling·DateMar 21, 2022

Leftovers in prehistoric pots let scientists peek into the kitchen of an ancient civilization

Scientists analyzed ancient vessels from India and discovered that prehistoric people used a variety of ingredients, including foraged plants, cultivated crops, and traded goods. The study found no evidence of cultural change impacting food processing during the Copper Age to Indus Valley Civilization transition.

SourceFrontiers·JournalFrontiers in Ecology and Evolution·TypeExperimental study·DateMar 21, 2022

A novel painless and reliable allergy test

Researchers developed a novel, in vitro cell culture-based allergy test that simplifies diagnosis and predicts therapy success. The test can generate mature mast cells with IgE receptors, allowing for easy activation and quantification using flow cytometry.

SourceUniversity of Bern·JournalJournal of Allergy and Clinical Immunology·DateMar 21, 2022

New research finds partnership between humanitarian organizations and government is essential to providing cash assistance to refugees

A new study published in Manufacturing & Service Operations Management finds that partnering with governments is essential for providing cash assistance to refugees. The researchers recommend adopting a price-dependent cash assistance policy to restore distorted incentives and benefit both refugees and host communities.

SourceInstitute for Operations Research and the Management Sciences·JournalManufacturing & Service Operations Management·TypeCase study·DateMar 21, 2022

Run not just fun for Rice students, elementary partners

A new study by Rice University researchers shows that scheduled physical activity is beneficial for both elementary students and college students, improving their physical health and mental well-being. The program, which matched undergraduate mentors with local fifth graders, demonstrated the positive effects of exercise on young peopl...

SourceRice University·JournalRecent Progress in Nutrition·TypeExperimental study·DateMar 21, 2022

Thomas Senftle wins NSF CAREER Award

Engineer Thomas Senftle at Rice University has won a prestigious NSF CAREER Award to improve catalysts through machine learning. He will develop open-source models to speed up the development of catalysts with optimized particle/support combinations, aiming to reduce unwanted molecules in water.

Study shows that intranasal Rx halts memory decay in experimental Alzheimer’s model

Researchers at LSU Health New Orleans and Karolinska Institutet found that intranasal application of pro-resolving lipid mediators arrested memory loss and brain degeneration in an experimental Alzheimer's model. This discovery opens up new possibilities for therapeutic interventions for Alzheimer's disease.

SourceLouisiana State University Health Sciences Center·JournalCommunications Biology·TypeExperimental study·DateMar 21, 2022

The shape of bacteria can make it a more effective, and useful predator, says a new study

A new study reveals that the curved shape of a predatory bacterium enables it to efficiently invade and consume harmful bugs like E.coli and Salmonella. The bacterium, called Bdellovibrio bacteriovorus, uses a specialized protein to sculpt its own shape, allowing it to fit into prey cells and grow inside them.

SourceUniversity of Nottingham·JournalNature Communications·TypeExperimental study·DateMar 21, 2022

The secret to staying young: New research highlights power of life long exercise to keep muscles healthy

Research published in The Journal of Physiology highlights the benefits of lifelong exercise on muscle health in older adults. Elderly individuals who engage in regular physical activity throughout their life have healthier ageing muscles with superior function and resistance to fatigue.

SourceThe Physiological Society·JournalThe Journal of Physiology·TypeExperimental study·DateMar 21, 2022

Much more than average, single-cell analysis reveals heterogeneity in metal adsorption

Researchers combined X-ray absorption spectroscopy with single-cell inductively couple plasma mass spectrometry to analyze the interaction between precious metals and Galdieria sulphuraria cells. They found that the amount of metal adsorbed depended on the metal type and solution acidity, revealing differential adsorption mechanisms.

SourceUniversity of Tsukuba·JournalJournal of Hazardous Materials·DateMar 21, 2022

Study finds that youth exposed to environmental tobacco smoke experienced significantly lower odds of wheezing when maintaining a higher quality diet

A study of over 7,000 adolescents found that consuming a high-quality diet, such as the Mediterranean diet, was associated with significantly lower wheezing odds among those exposed to environmental tobacco smoke. This suggests that targeted public health interventions focused on improving access to higher quality foods may be effectiv...

SourceThe Mount Sinai Hospital / Mount Sinai School of Medicine·JournalAnnals of the American Thoracic Society·DateMar 21, 2022

Booster for immune protection after Corona infection

Researchers at Max Planck Institute of Molecular Physiology discovered that vaccination after COVID-19 recovery increases neutralizing antibody levels by up to five times, providing better protection against current coronavirus variants. The study involved 140 volunteers and showed that antibody levels remained high even after 300 days.

SourceMax Planck Institute of Molecular Physiology·JournalEuropean Journal of Immunology·TypeExperimental study·DateMar 21, 2022

Scientists put CRISPR on safer path to patient treatments with new process for evaluating impacts of gene edits that alter rather than “knock out” DNA code

Researchers at ChristianaCare's Gene Editing Institute describe a new process for evaluating the impacts of gene edits that alter rather than completely disabling DNA code. The study validates the safety and efficacy of their novel approach for using CRISPR to improve lung cancer treatments.

SourceChristianaCare Gene Editing Institute·JournalGene Therapy·TypeExperimental study·DateMar 21, 2022

Pandemic-related cancer surgery slowdowns may lead to shorter life spans for patients: Ontario study

A new study by researchers in Ontario found that pandemic-related slowdowns of cancer surgeries resulted in 843 life-years lost across the province's cancer population. The study highlights the need for measures of surgical prioritization during pandemic-related slowdowns.

SourceCanadian Medical Association Journal·JournalCanadian Medical Association Journal·TypeComputational simulation/modeling·DateMar 21, 2022

Shoulder injury a rare potential side effect of vaccination

A retrospective cohort study found that shoulder injuries occurred in fewer than 1 in 10,000 patients who received intramuscular vaccinations administered in the deltoid muscle. Researchers also identified risk factors for developing shoulder conditions, including advanced age, female sex, and receiving pneumococcal conjugate vaccine.

SourceAmerican College of Physicians·JournalAnnals of Internal Medicine·TypeData/statistical analysis·DateMar 21, 2022

Green hydrogen glows pink

Researchers at FAU have developed a sensor that can make invisible hydrogen gas visible to the naked eye, using supraparticles that change color when exposed to hydrogen. The innovative sensor has the potential to increase safety in handling hydrogen and is suitable for real-time leak detection and monitoring.

SourceFriedrich-Alexander-Universität Erlangen-Nürnberg·JournalAdvanced Functional Materials·DateMar 21, 2022

Journal of Hepatology COVID-19 news brief

Research in the Journal of Hepatology suggests that COVID-19 vaccines are unlikely to cause liver injury, but liver transplant patients may experience delayed care due to the pandemic. The study found that vaccinated patients with liver disease had a lower antibody response compared to healthy patients.

SourceElsevier·JournalJournal of Hepatology·TypeObservational study·DateMar 21, 2022

Social media data could help predict the next COVID surge

Researchers have developed a new forecasting approach using machine learning and anonymized datasets from Facebook that significantly outperforms conventional models for projecting COVID trends at the county level. The model captures shifting trends in numbers reflecting lockdowns, waning immunity, or masking policies.

SourceUniversity of Colorado at Boulder·JournalInternational Journal of Data Science and Analytics·TypeData/statistical analysis·DateMar 21, 2022

Appetite genes control how children grow

Researchers at the University of Bergen found that genes linked to extreme obesity, appetite, and energy consumption regulate child growth. The study, published in Nature Metabolism, provides insight into mechanisms controlling appetite and energy metabolism early in life, potentially leading to better treatment for obesity.

SourceThe University of Bergen·JournalNature Metabolism·DateMar 21, 2022

Tufts CTSI publishes first-of-its-kind resource on real-world research conducted with broadly engaged, diverse, and inclusive teams

The Tufts Clinical and Translational Science Institute has published a comprehensive resource on broadly engaged team science, which aims to include stakeholders in the research process. The book features perspectives and best practices from over 60 experts to inspire researchers and stakeholders to build diverse, inclusive teams.

How the Chagas pathogen changes the intestinal microbiota of predatory bugs

Researchers found that Chagas trypanosomes change the bacterial community in predatory bugs' intestines, leading to a decrease in diversity and an increase in certain pathogenic bacteria. The study also identified four bacteria species crucial for bug survival, which could be used to develop defensive substances against the parasite.

SourceGoethe University Frankfurt·JournalMicrobiome·TypeExperimental study·DateMar 21, 2022

New findings suggest that ‘one size does not fit all’ with regard to breast density education

A new study found that women have varying preferences for learning about their personal breast density, with higher rates among Non-Hispanic Black and Asian women. The study suggests that current breast density notifications may not meet the needs of all women, particularly those with lower literacy levels.

SourceBoston University School of Medicine·JournalPatient Education and Counseling·TypeSurvey·DateMar 21, 2022

Wind, solar could replace coal power in Texas

A new study by Rice University engineers suggests that wind and solar projects could eliminate the need for coal in Texas, drastically reducing pollution. The research uses optimization modeling to identify the least-cost combinations of proposed wind and solar projects that can replace coal-fired power generation.

SourceRice University·TypeData/statistical analysis·DateMar 21, 2022

Striking lane-like patterns found in bacteria populations

Researchers from OIST found that Escherichia coli bacteria form lanes of genetically similar individuals when constrained to a channel, aligning parallel to the barriers. The study, published in PNAS, used microfluidic platforms and simulations to observe population dynamics over several generations.

SourceOkinawa Institute of Science and Technology (OIST) Graduate University·JournalProceedings of the National Academy of Sciences·TypeExperimental study·DateMar 21, 2022

Astronomers reveal best image yet of mysterious ORCs in space

Researchers have captured a detailed image of odd radio circles (ORCs), which are enormous rings of faint radio emissions surrounding galaxies with active black holes. The new image provides more information to help narrow down theories on what causes ORCs, with three leading explanations including galactic shockwaves and wormholes.

SourceCSIRO Australia·JournalMonthly Notices of the Royal Astronomical Society·DateMar 21, 2022

Opioid abuse treatment begun in emergency departments is rarely sustained

A study found that fewer than one-third of patients who fill buprenorphine prescriptions written by emergency physicians subsequently fill prescriptions from other clinicians. Researchers emphasize the need for improved systems to seamlessly transition patients from emergency settings to community treatment providers.

SourceRAND Corporation·JournalAnnals of Emergency Medicine·TypeData/statistical analysis·DateMar 21, 2022

The impact of extinction

New research links high levels of stratospheric sulfur to the Chicxulub impact, which ignited widespread fires and global cooling. The unique fingerprints in sulfur aerosols provide direct evidence for catastrophic climate change and cooling.

SourceSyracuse University·JournalProceedings of the National Academy of Sciences·DateMar 21, 2022