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Science News for September 12, 2022


Light-induced topological states

Researchers at the University of Tsukuba have created light-induced topological states in zinc arsenide, exhibiting unusual behavior where electrical currents flow along the surface. This work explores the possibility of creating topological semimetals and manifesting new physical properties by light control.

SourceUniversity of Tsukuba·JournalPhysical Review B·DateSep 12, 2022

UConn study finds that CT directs more than half of identified substance-exposed infants to community supports

A UConn study found that Connecticut's notification system for substance-ex exposed infants has connected over half of identified cases with community supports and services. The system, which uses de-identified data, has shown promise in reducing disparities in testing and reporting, but there is still room for improvement.

SourceUniversity of Connecticut·JournalHospital Pediatrics·TypeData/statistical analysis·DateSep 12, 2022

Eco-friendly credentials not benefiting hotels financially, study says

Researchers at Washington State University found that eco-friendly hotel certifications do not lead to financial benefits for hotels. However, displaying comparable pricing information and informing consumers about green certification can boost future sales. The study suggests that the tourism industry needs sustainable practices to re...

SourceWashington State University·JournalInternational Journal of Hospitality Management·DateSep 12, 2022

“Bulk and cut” dieting linked to symptoms of eating disorders and muscle dysmorphia

A recent study found that nearly half of men and one in five women engaged in 'bulk and cut' cycles, connected with a greater desire for muscularity. The study also linked this dietary method to symptoms of eating disorders and muscle dysmorphia among participants.

SourceUniversity of Toronto·JournalEating and Weight Disorders - Studies on Anorexia Bulimia and Obesity·TypeData/statistical analysis·DateSep 12, 2022

Optical rule was made to be broken

Engineers at Rice University have discovered a way to manipulate light at the nanoscale that surpasses the traditional Moss rule for optical materials. The researchers found that iron pyrite has a high refractive index, making it suitable for applications such as virtual reality and 3D displays.

SourceRice University·JournalAdvanced Optical Materials·TypeExperimental study·DateSep 12, 2022

Ben-Gurion University environmental scientists develop a method to turn hazardous acidic industrial wastewater into valuable resources

Researchers have developed a three-step process to treat phosphoric acid plant wastewater, recovering clean water and phosphate while reducing the volume of wastewater by 90%. The circular process uses selective electrodialysis, reverse osmosis, and neutralization, making it a promising solution for industries worldwide.

SourceBen-Gurion University of the Negev·JournalACS Sustainable Chemistry & Engineering·TypeExperimental study·DateSep 12, 2022

TAVR is an affordable and effective strategy for treating aortic stenosis patients

A budget impact analysis found that catheter-based TAVR is an affordable and effective strategy for treating aortic stenosis patients, with lower total costs compared to surgical SAVR. The study showed that the upfront cost of TAVR is partially offset by reduced healthcare resources, making it a more efficient option.

SourceElsevier·JournalCanadian Journal of Cardiology·TypeComputational simulation/modeling·DateSep 12, 2022

Newcastle University research reveals remarkable variability in coral heat tolerance

A new study by Newcastle University found that individual corals have varying levels of heat tolerance, with some able to withstand double the heat stress required to induce bleaching and mortality. This variability suggests capacity for adaptation if some of the toughest corals can survive marine heatwaves.

SourceNewcastle University·JournalProceedings of the Royal Society B Biological Sciences·TypeObservational study·DateSep 12, 2022

These tiny coral reef fish parents decide when their embryos hatch

A new study finds that neon goby parents help their offspring develop by pushing them out the door at the right time. Offspring hatched by parents are larger and more developed than those that hatch on their own, suggesting a complex parenting behavior. This discovery highlights the surprising complexities of fish parenting behavior.

SourceUniversity of Texas at Austin·JournalProceedings of the Royal Society B Biological Sciences·TypeExperimental study·DateSep 12, 2022

Forests’ carbon uptake will be compromised by climate change, leaf temperature study suggests

A new study suggests that canopy leaves in forests cannot cool themselves below the surrounding air temperature, leading to reduced forest carbon cycling and increased mortality risk. The research challenges a prevailing theory on leaf thermoregulation, highlighting the impact of climate warming on forests.

SourceOregon State University·JournalProceedings of the National Academy of Sciences·TypeObservational study·DateSep 12, 2022

Concussions at school may affect academic performance

A study published in Injury Prevention found that adolescents who experienced a concussion in the past 12 months were 25% more likely to be in poor academic standing. This association was stronger with a history of repeated concussions, and varied by race/ethnicity.

SourceBMJ Group·JournalInjury Prevention·TypeObservational study·DateSep 12, 2022

New study identifies main drivers of government investment in clean energy innovation

A new study by University of California, Berkeley researchers found that participating in Mission Innovation and intensifying technology competition from China are the strongest drivers of funding for clean energy RD&D. Despite growing public investment, the pace of transformation is not fast enough to facilitate rapid decarbonization.

SourceUniversity of California - Berkeley·JournalNature Energy·TypeObservational study·DateSep 12, 2022

A mouse is not just a mouse

A new study from Aarhus University highlights the imbalance in AMD research using young male mice, despite the disease affecting the elderly. The review of 380 scientific articles emphasizes the need for better reporting and guidelines to improve animal testing quality.

SourceAarhus University·JournalInvestigative Ophthalmology & Visual Science·TypeSystematic review·DateSep 12, 2022

New study reveals mechanism for how disease-spreading prions can jump from one species to another

Researchers at Case Western Reserve University have identified the structure of protein fibrils linked to a hereditary form of human prion disease, revealing the mechanism for interspecies transmission. The study suggests that disease transmission between species can be predicted based on structural information.

SourceCase Western Reserve University·JournalNature Structural & Molecular Biology·TypeImaging analysis·DateSep 12, 2022

New research: More than half of all tropical deforestation directly attributable to industrial mining takes place in Indonesia, with Brazil, Ghana and Suriname also suffering major losses

Industrial mining is responsible for more than half of tropical deforestation globally, with Indonesia accounting for 58.2% of the deforestation directly caused by mining activities. The study highlights the need for stronger measures to protect tropical forests from economic activities like mining. For Indonesia, Brazil and Ghana, tro...

SourceBurness·JournalProceedings of the National Academy of Sciences·TypeData/statistical analysis·DateSep 12, 2022

Behavioral research: Study reveals that students aren’t ideal test subjects

A new study by Martin-Luther-University Halle-Wittenberg found that using only students in experiments can lead to biased results, as their decisions differ from those of other population groups. The study compared agricultural science students to farmers and found differences in risk-taking, patience, trust, and generosity.

SourceMartin-Luther-Universität Halle-Wittenberg·JournalAustralian Journal of Agricultural and Resource Economics·TypeExperimental study·DateSep 12, 2022

The September issue of SLAS Discovery highlights a label-free SERS method in detecting SARS-CoV-2 and more

Researchers developed a label-free SERS method to detect the cysteine residues of the SARS-CoV-2 spike protein subunit, allowing consistent detection in human blood plasma, mucus, and saliva samples. This technique holds potential for diagnosing SARS-CoV-2 and other viral infections in remote areas.

SourceSLAS (Society for Laboratory Automation and Screening)·JournalSLAS DISCOVERY·TypeNews article·DateSep 12, 2022

Hurricane Harvey’s hardest hit survivors five times as likely to experience anxiety from COVID-19 pandemic

Researchers found that those severely impacted by Hurricane Harvey were four times more likely to experience income loss and five times more likely to suffer severe anxiety during the pandemic. The study highlights the cumulative effect of economic stress and mental health impacts on an individual's well-being.

SourceUniversity of Notre Dame·JournalEnvironmental Research·DateSep 12, 2022

Daytime eating may benefit mental health

A study found that eating at night increased depression-like mood levels among participants, while daytime eating reduced these levels. The researchers suggest that meal timing could be a novel strategy to minimize mood vulnerability in individuals with circadian misalignment.

SourceBrigham and Women's Hospital·JournalProceedings of the National Academy of Sciences·TypeExperimental study·DateSep 12, 2022

Older adults with regular activity routines are happier and do better on cognitive tests, study finds

A study by University of Pittsburgh researchers found that older adults with consistent daily routines are happier, less depressed, and have better cognitive function. Participants who rose early, stayed active throughout the day, and followed a regular routine performed better on cognitive tests than those with disrupted patterns.

SourceUniversity of Pittsburgh·JournalJAMA Psychiatry·DateSep 12, 2022

Problems persist for kids exposed to cannabis in the womb

Research from Washington University in St. Louis found that children exposed to cannabis in the womb continue to exhibit increased signs of psychiatric conditions, including depression and anxiety. The study, which followed over 10,500 children, revealed no significant changes in psychiatric condition rates as they aged into adolescence.

SourceWashington University in St. Louis·JournalJAMA Pediatrics·TypeMeta-analysis·DateSep 12, 2022

How many drinks is too many?

A new rodent study found that low doses of alcohol can trigger epigenomic and transcriptomic changes in the brain, creating an epigenetic pathway for addiction. The research suggests that even small quantities of alcohol can prime the brain for addiction, regardless of sex or quantity.

SourceUniversity of Illinois Chicago·JournalMolecular Psychiatry·TypeExperimental study·DateSep 12, 2022

Cold method for clearer fatty liver observation found

Researchers at Osaka Metropolitan University developed a cold perfusion method to isolate hepatic stellate cells (HSCs) from both murine and human fatty liver-associated tumors with high yield and purity. This breakthrough could provide new tools for investigating the role of HSCs in NASH-associated liver cancer progression.

SourceOsaka Metropolitan University·JournalCellular and Molecular Gastroenterology and Hepatology·TypeExperimental study·DateSep 12, 2022

Exercise and education: Diabetes prevention work helps local Latino children, families

A study led by Arizona State University Professor Gabriel Shaibi found that a community-based program combining education and exercise significantly improves the health of Latino children at risk for diabetes. The program, which included 117 families from around the Valley, provided culturally focused lessons on healthy eating and phys...

SourceArizona State University·JournalJAMA·TypeRandomized controlled/clinical trial·DateSep 12, 2022

Dual checkpoint inhibitor blockade shows promise as first-line and salvage therapy for merkel cell carcinoma patients

A phase 2 study found that combining nivolumab and ipilimumab showed a high response rate with durable results for patients with advanced Merkel cell carcinoma. The addition of stereotactic body radiation therapy did not improve efficacy in this dual checkpoint inhibitor therapy.

SourceH. Lee Moffitt Cancer Center & Research Institute·JournalThe Lancet·TypeRandomized controlled/clinical trial·DateSep 12, 2022

Immunotherapy before surgery induces complete response in more than half of patients with common skin cancer in international study

In an international clinical trial, 63.3% of patients with stage II-IV cutaneous squamous cell carcinoma saw their tumors nearly or completely disappear when treated with immunotherapy before surgery. The anti-PD1 therapy cemiplimab was well-tolerated and met its primary endpoint with a pathologic complete response rate of 50.6%.

SourceUniversity of Texas M. D. Anderson Cancer Center·JournalNew England Journal of Medicine·DateSep 12, 2022

What killed dinosaurs and other life on earth?

A new study suggests that massive volcanic eruptions were the primary cause of mass extinctions, including the one that wiped out the dinosaurs. The research found a strong temporal connection between flood basalt eruptions and significant climatic events.

SourceDartmouth College·JournalProceedings of the National Academy of Sciences·TypeData/statistical analysis·DateSep 12, 2022

Anti-diarrhea medication may help treat core autism symptoms

Researchers used a computer model to identify potential candidates for treating ASD, including loperamide, which has shown promise in restoring social behaviors in genetically engineered mice. The study suggests that repurposing existing drugs like loperamide could provide a new treatment option for core autism symptoms.

SourceFrontiers·JournalFrontiers in Pharmacology·TypeComputational simulation/modeling·DateSep 12, 2022

Who flirts to get ahead at work? Study finds it’s most often subordinate men

A new study challenges traditional stereotypes by revealing that subordinate men are most likely to engage in social sexual behavior for personal gain. The research found that these men use unwanted flirtation and harassment to appear more powerful and masculine in the workplace.

SourceUniversity of California - Berkeley Haas School of Business·JournalOrganizational Behavior and Human Decision Processes·TypeExperimental study·DateSep 12, 2022

Through the quantum looking glass

Scientists have developed a thin device that can produce complex webs of entangled photons, enabling new information processing schemes and advanced encryption methods. The device uses a metasurface to control the phenomenon of quantum entanglement, paving the way for more compact and powerful computing and sensing technologies.

SourceDOE/Sandia National Laboratories·JournalScience·TypeExperimental study·DateSep 12, 2022

Scientists at the CNIC and Hospital Puerta de Hierro develop a tool to determine if dilated cardiomyopathy has a genetic origin

A new software application predicts the likelihood that a case of dilated cardiomyopathy has a genetic mutation. The Madrid Genotype Score identifies patients most likely to have inherited the disease, facilitating genetic screening and tailored treatment adjustments.

SourceCentro Nacional de Investigaciones Cardiovasculares Carlos III (F.S.P.)·JournalJournal of the American College of Cardiology·TypeRandomized controlled/clinical trial·DateSep 12, 2022