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Science News for April 6, 2023


Men and women have different obesity drivers, pointing to the need for tailored interventions

A new UCLA study identifies sex-specific brain signatures associated with obesity in men and women, revealing differences in brain networks related to early life adversity, mental health, and sensory stimulation. The findings suggest the need for tailored interventions based on an individual's sex.

SourceUniversity of California - Los Angeles Health Sciences·JournalBrain Communications·TypeExperimental study·DateApr 6, 2023

Ultra-fast light at the end of the vacuum tunnel: Meta-optics shows physical processes in the attosecond range

A new type of meta-optics, developed at Harvard, has been successfully tested at Graz University of Technology, allowing the observation of ultra-fast physical processes. The lens uses extreme ultraviolet radiation to track charge carriers in space and time, enabling optimization of modern transistors and optoelectronic circuits.

SourceGraz University of Technology·JournalScience·DateApr 6, 2023

Anti-smoking campaigns on Facebook that discuss the risks of second-hand smoking to pets receive the most user engagement

Researchers from George Mason University found that anti-tobacco campaigns on Facebook discussing the risks of second-hand smoking to pets received the most user engagement. The studies analyzed factors influencing effective antismoking campaigns and user interaction.

SourceGeorge Mason University·JournalJournal of Medical Internet Research·TypeContent analysis·DateApr 6, 2023

Vaccination during pregnancy could prevent RSV illness in infants

A clinical study has shown that vaccination during pregnancy can effectively prevent severe respiratory syncytial virus (RSV) disease in infants. The vaccine was found to be well-tolerated and provided over 80% protection against RSV illness, with benefits expected for vulnerable populations worldwide.

SourceCharité - Universitätsmedizin Berlin·JournalNew England Journal of Medicine·TypeRandomized controlled/clinical trial·DateApr 6, 2023

“Alarming” rate of girls quit sport due to clothing concerns, shows hockey star’s new study already revolutionizing rules

A recent study by England Hockey star Tess Howard found that 70% of teenage girls in the UK dropped out of sports due to body image concerns related to their clothing. The research led to the introduction of new, more inclusive uniform policies allowing athletes to choose between skirts and shorts.

SourceTaylor & Francis Group·JournalSport Education and Society·DateApr 6, 2023

Giving pregnant women routine third trimester ultrasound scans could reduce rates of undetected breech pregnancy by 71%, enabling better care before and during labor and improved outcomes for newborns

Regular third trimester ultrasound scans can help identify undiagnosed breech pregnancies, allowing for better care before and during labor. This could lead to improved perinatal outcomes and reduced rates of undetected breech pregnancy by 71%.

SourcePLOS·JournalPLOS Medicine·TypeObservational study·DateApr 6, 2023

NIH-funded study finds doxycycline reduces sexually transmitted infections by two-thirds

A new study published in the New England Journal of Medicine found that doxycycline can reduce the incidence of syphilis, gonorrhea, and chlamydia by two-thirds when taken within 72 hours after condomless sex. The research also highlighted a slight increase in antibacterial resistance, emphasizing the need for further exploration.

SourceNIH/National Institute of Allergy and Infectious Diseases·JournalNew England Journal of Medicine·DateApr 6, 2023

Costs of natural disasters set to spiral with continued rise in CO2 and global temperature, study shows

A study by Beth Israel Deaconess Medical Center found that climate change-related natural disasters have increased since 1980 and cost the US over $2 trillion in recovery costs. The analysis suggests that rising CO2 levels and temperatures will lead to more frequent and severe disasters, with exponentially increasing costs.

SourceBeth Israel Deaconess Medical Center·JournalJournal of Climate Change·DateApr 6, 2023

Blood-based biomarkers accurately predict neuroendocrine tumor response to radiopharmaceutical therapy

A blood draw can provide valuable information on the effectiveness of peptide receptor radionuclide therapy for neuroendocrine cancer patients. Blood-based biomarkers PPQ and NETest were found to predict PRRT response with 96% and 90% accuracy, respectively. The study opens possibilities for tailoring treatment to individual patients.

SourceSociety of Nuclear Medicine and Molecular Imaging·JournalJournal of Nuclear Medicine·DateApr 6, 2023

Researchers clear the way for well-rounded view of cellular defects

A recent study has investigated how cells divide in fibrous environments, revealing the impact of extracellular matrix shape and fiber number on mitotic errors. By re-creating and studying lattice structures, researchers have gained a deeper understanding of cellular dynamics and its connection to disease biology.

SourceVirginia Tech·JournalProceedings of the National Academy of Sciences·DateApr 6, 2023

New peer-reviewed, decade-long study suggests Indigenous-managed forests in Brazil’s Amazon absorb thousands of dangerous pollutants from noxious fumes from wildfires, preventing 15 million costly cases of disease every year

A decade-long study suggests Indigenous-managed forests can absorb up to 26,000 metric tons of dangerous pollutants from wildfires each year, preventing an estimated 15 million cases of respiratory and cardiovascular disease. This absorption saves Amazon cities US$2 billion a year in healthcare costs.

SourceBurness·JournalCommunications Earth & Environment·TypeExperimental study·DateApr 6, 2023

Fasting diet reduces risk markers of type 2 diabetes

A fasting diet that focuses on early eating has been shown to reduce the risk markers of type 2 diabetes. Researchers found that participants who followed a time-restricted, intermittent fasting diet experienced greater tolerance to glucose and reduced blood lipids compared to those on a daily, low-calorie diet.

SourceUniversity of Adelaide·JournalNature Medicine·TypeRandomized controlled/clinical trial·DateApr 6, 2023

‘Snowball Earth’ might have been slushball

New research suggests the Marinoan Ice Age, which created glaciers from pole to pole 635 million years ago, had patches of open water in mid-latitude seas. This finding provides evidence that life could have persisted during this period, potentially influencing the carbon cycle and climate.

SourceUniversity of Cincinnati·JournalNature Communications·TypeExperimental study·DateApr 6, 2023

Significant step in fight against drug resistance in TB

Researchers have identified new ways to treat antibiotic-resistant TB by targeting unique weaknesses in the bacteria. The study found that certain drug-resistant strains are more sensitive to antibiotics targeting unrelated pathways, paving the way for faster treatment and reduced resistance.

SourceUniversity of Otago·JournalNature Communications·TypeExperimental study·DateApr 6, 2023

Toward tunable molecular switches from organic compounds

Researchers at Hokkaido University and Kyushu University have developed a technique to synthesize potential molecular switches from anthraquinodimethanes (AQDs), a group of overcrowded organic molecules. The synthesized derivatives can stably form twisted and folded isomers, as well as other isomeric forms, in different solvents.

SourceHokkaido University·JournalMaterials Chemistry Frontiers·TypeExperimental study·DateApr 6, 2023

Bushmeat consumption unchanged by COVID-19 in Kenya and Tanzania border towns, new study reveals

A new study found that despite awareness of COVID-19 risks, bushmeat consumption remained unchanged in rural communities along the Kenya-Tanzania border. Education levels played a critical role in understanding disease transmission. Increased food costs caused by regulations led to increased bushmeat consumption.

SourceInternational Livestock Research Institute·JournalFrontiers in Ecology and Evolution·TypeSurvey·DateApr 6, 2023

MSU to refurbish world’s first superconducting cyclotron for chip testing

The MSU facility will provide several thousand additional hours of chip testing capacity annually, addressing the US national shortfall in advanced microelectronics testing. The K500 cyclotron will be used to test electronic components for space-based applications where levels of ionizing radiation are higher than at Earth's surface.

Microbes that “eat together” may benefit from a shared immunological memory

Researchers discovered that viruses that infect bacteria and archaea in deep-sea hydrothermal vents share a common immunological memory, allowing symbiotic microbes to defend against the same virus. This challenges conventional wisdom on virus-host interactions, revealing a more nuanced relationship between these microorganisms.

Random matrix theory approaches the mystery of the neutrino mass!

Researchers at Osaka Metropolitan University analyzed the collection of leptons to demonstrate that the lepton flavor mixings are large in the random mass matrix model. The study found that the measure of the matrix should obey the Gaussian distribution, which supports the experimental results for the seesaw model.

SourceOsaka Metropolitan University·JournalProgress of Theoretical and Experimental Physics·TypeData/statistical analysis·DateApr 6, 2023

Non-drug interventions for patients with Alzheimer’s are both effective and cost-effective, study shows

A Brown-led research team found that four dementia-care interventions saved between $2,800 and $13,000 in societal costs and reduced nursing home admissions while improving quality of life. Non-drug interventions have been shown to be effective in clinical trials and can help people with dementia stay safely at home longer.

SourceBrown University·TypeComputational simulation/modeling·DateApr 6, 2023

Community-based prevention system linked to reduced handgun carrying among youth growing up in rural areas

A study published by the University of Washington found that a community-based prevention system called Communities That Care (CTC) reduced handgun carrying among adolescents growing up in rural areas. By the 12th grade, adolescents in CTC communities were 24% less likely to report carrying a handgun than those in control communities.

SourceUniversity of Washington·JournalJAMA·TypeRandomized controlled/clinical trial·DateApr 6, 2023

New study reveals design clues for silver-based superatomic molecules

Researchers from Japan have synthesized two di-superatomic molecules composed of Ag and evaluated the factors involved in their formation. The study found that a twist between the two icosahedral structures stabilizes the nanocluster by shortening the distance between them. Additionally, the presence of Pd and Pt central atoms was foun...

SourceTokyo University of Science·JournalCommunications Chemistry·TypeExperimental study·DateApr 6, 2023

Study assesses risk of mutation due to residual radiation from the Fukushima nuclear disaster

A recent study published in Environment International found that the mutation rate in trees growing in contaminated areas did not increase significantly due to ambient radiation. The researchers used a new bioinformatics pipeline to evaluate de novo mutations in two widely cultivated tree species, Japanese cedar and flowering cherry.

SourceForestry and Forest Products Research Institute·JournalEnvironment International·TypeExperimental study·DateApr 6, 2023

Blind dating in bacteria evolution

Researchers used ancestral sequence reconstruction to study protein interactions in cyanobacteria, finding that they can evolve independently of direct selection pressure. The discovery challenges classical evolutionary theory and suggests that fortuitous compatibility may be the basis for a significant fraction of cellular interactions.

SourceMax-Planck-Gesellschaft·JournalNature Ecology & Evolution·TypeObservational study·DateApr 6, 2023

Forest futures

A new study predicts US forests may lose significant carbon storage due to climate change, compromising their role as a climate solution. The researchers used multi-perspective modeling approaches to forecast changes in aboveground carbon storage in different regions.

SourceUniversity of California - Santa Barbara·JournalNature Geoscience·DateApr 6, 2023

Effect of palladium chemical states on CO2 photocatalytic reduction over g-C3N4: Distinct role of single-atomic state in boosting CH4 production

Researchers found that single-atomic state of Pd enhances CO2 reduction and boosts CH4 production in a novel Pd/CN-SA catalyst. Comprehensive analysis reveals superior activation of CO2, negative conduction band potentials, and excellent hydrogen utilization efficiency.

SourceDalian Institute of Chemical Physics, Chinese Academy Sciences·JournalChinese Journal of Catalysis·DateApr 6, 2023

Twinkling stars fuel interstellar dust

Research reveals connection between star brightness and dust concentrations, paving way for study of dust's role in planetary formation. The University of Tokyo's latest findings may help unravel the secrets of life's creation.

SourceUniversity of Tokyo·JournalPublications of the Astronomical Society of Japan·TypeObservational study·DateApr 6, 2023

Physicians should be on alert for group A strep as cases experience historic rise, study finds

A study published by the University of Texas Health Science Center at Houston found a historic increase in group A strep infections among young children in Houston. The researchers identified three main types of group A strep diseases and found that emm12 strains were disproportionately represented, compared to emm1 strains.

SourceUniversity of Texas Health Science Center at Houston·JournalClinical Infectious Diseases·DateApr 6, 2023

Implant treats dangerously low blood pressure in people with spinal cord injury

Researchers developed an implant that delivers electrical stimulation to specific spinal neurons to treat dangerously low blood pressure in people with spinal cord injuries. The treatment, called the neuroprosthetic baroreflex, has shown promise in clinical trials and could be used in hospitals and at home to monitor blood pressure.

Uncovered: A new mode of reproduction that produces chimeric males in yellow crazy ants

A new study reveals that male yellow crazy ants are composed of haploid cells with two distinct genetic compositions, producing chimeric males. This unique reproductive mode deviates from the typical single-cell zygote development and may be associated with a genetic conflict between co-occurring genetic lineages.

New test could help identify type 2 diabetes risk

Researchers used DNA methylation data alongside traditional risk factors to improve prediction accuracy for type 2 diabetes. The study, involving over 14,600 participants, found that the new approach correctly predicted an extra 449 individuals, leading to potential preventative measures and reduced health burden.

SourceUniversity of Edinburgh·JournalNature Aging·TypeObservational study·DateApr 6, 2023

Respiratory virus plagues SA but new vaccine for pregnant moms saves babies

The MATISSE study found that administering the Pfizer Bivalent Prefusion F Vaccine in pregnancy reduces severe RSV-associated lower respiratory tract infection by 82% in infants aged six months old. This vaccine is particularly important in low- and middle-income countries where the burden of RSV illness is highest.

SourceUniversity of the Witwatersrand·JournalNew England Journal of Medicine·TypeRandomized controlled/clinical trial·DateApr 6, 2023

Obstructive sleep apnea may directly cause early cognitive decline

Researchers found that obstructive sleep apnea (OSA) can cause premature cognitive decline in middle-aged men, including poorer executive functioning and social cognition. The study suggests that OSA itself is sufficient to cause these deficits, rather than being solely attributed to co-morbidities.

SourceFrontiers·JournalFrontiers in Sleep·TypeExperimental study·DateApr 6, 2023

People with NAFLD have decreased expression of a liver enzyme needed for medication processing, according to researchers from Indiana University and Eli Lilly

A study from Indiana University School of Medicine found that people with NAFLD have significantly decreased levels of the liver enzyme CYP2C19, which is important for medication processing. This decrease may lead to slower clearance of certain medications and reduced effectiveness of medicines like antidepressants and clopidogrel.

SourceIndiana University School of Medicine·JournalNature Communications·DateApr 6, 2023

Disparities identified among patients receiving advanced pulmonary support

A study published in Annals of the American Thoracic Society has identified disparities in patients receiving extracorporeal membrane oxygenation (ECMO) treatment for severe respiratory illness. Men and those with private health insurance are more likely to receive ECMO, while women and Medicaid recipients are less likely.

SourceNIH/National Heart, Lung and Blood Institute·JournalAnnals of the American Thoracic Society·DateApr 6, 2023

Gender and energy key to sustainable development goals

Research highlights gaps in knowledge about the relationship between gender and energy, limiting policymakers' actions and exacerbating inequality. Women's access to finance, education, and household bargaining power can increase adoption of efficient cooking technologies and cleaner fuels.

SourceDuke University·JournalNature Energy·TypeLiterature review·DateApr 6, 2023

Newly discovered probiotic could protect Caribbean corals threatened by deadly, devastating disease

Researchers have identified a probiotic that can protect Caribbean corals from stony coral tissue loss disease (SCTLD), a deadly and rapidly spreading affliction. The probiotic treatment has been shown to stop or slow the progression of the disease in infected coral fragments, offering an antibiotic-free alternative.

SourceSmithsonian·JournalCommunications Biology·TypeExperimental study·DateApr 6, 2023

Providing critical insights for animal development - HKU biologists determine the evolutionary age of individual cell types

A research team led by Dr Chaogu ZHENG from the University of Hong Kong studies the transcriptome age of C. elegans at the single-cell level, revealing insights into cellular basis of 'hourglass' pattern of animal development and evolutionary relationship among cell types.

SourceThe University of Hong Kong·JournalProceedings of the National Academy of Sciences·TypeMeta-analysis·DateApr 6, 2023

Simple but revolutionary modular organoids

Scientists at RIKEN have developed a new technique for creating complex 3D organoids using a cube-like structure made of hydrogels. This innovation enables researchers to control the environment around cells, allowing for the creation of tissues with faithful reproduction of asymmetric genetic expression. The technology has the potenti...

SourceRIKEN·JournalCommunications Biology·TypeExperimental study·DateApr 6, 2023

UH study finds Black Lives Matter movement had significant impact on Black entrepreneurs’ crowdfunding efforts

A study by the University of Houston found that Black restaurateurs were 76% less likely to succeed in using crowdfunding sources before the Black Lives Matter movement rose to prominence. However, after the movement's endorsement on Kickstarter, funding success for Black-owned restaurants increased nearly four times.

SourceUniversity of Houston·JournalInternational Journal of Hospitality Management·TypeData/statistical analysis·DateApr 6, 2023

Optimizing sepsis treatment timing with a machine learning model

A new machine learning model estimates optimal treatment timing for sepsis, taking into account vital signs and lab test results to predict patient survival. The model was trained on a dataset of over 14,000 individuals with sepsis and showed improved outcomes when actual treatment matched the recommended timeline.

SourceOhio State University·JournalNature Machine Intelligence·TypeComputational simulation/modeling·DateApr 6, 2023

Studying consciousness without affecting it

Researchers at MIT's Picower Institute have developed a new method to measure consciousness without external stimulation, using a breathing task internally prompted by the subject. This approach detected loss of responsiveness at lower concentrations of anesthetic than previous methods, suggesting it is more sensitive.

SourcePicower Institute at MIT·JournalBritish Journal of Anaesthesia·TypeExperimental study·DateApr 6, 2023

US forests face an unclear future with climate change

A new study by University of Utah researchers finds that US forests may lose carbon through fire, stress, and insect damage, compromising their role as a climate solution. The study suggests urgent need to update carbon offset protocols with best available science on climate risks.

SourceUniversity of Utah·JournalNature Geoscience·TypeData/statistical analysis·DateApr 6, 2023

UBC Okanagan researchers create real estate market assessment tool

A team of UBC Okanagan researchers has developed a regional house price mining and forecasting framework (RHPMF) that provides comprehensive reports on neighborhood data. The tool helps users analyze population, social dynamics, housing costs, and historical background to assess the market and make informed decisions.

SourceUniversity of British Columbia Okanagan campus·JournalInformation Fusion·TypeMeta-analysis·DateApr 6, 2023

Requirement to wear masks in hospitals may have little impact on COVID-19 transmission during Omicron wave, UK study suggests

A new UK study found that wearing surgical masks in a large London hospital during the first 10 months of Omicron activity made no difference to reducing hospital-acquired SARS-CoV-2 infections. Researchers analyzed infection control data and found no significant change in infection rates when mask-wearing policies were removed or cont...