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Science News for August 2, 2023


Unhappy family or trauma in youth leads to poor health in old age

Researchers found that adults who experienced violence, financial stress, or separation from parents as children were more likely to experience physical and cognitive impairments. Adverse childhood experiences can have lifelong consequences, including difficulty walking, carrying out daily activities, and problems with memory.

SourceUniversity of California - San Francisco·JournalJournal of General Internal Medicine·DateAug 2, 2023

Important step toward next-generation probiotics

Researchers at the University of Gothenburg have developed a new strategy for producing oxygen-tolerant probiotics, including Faecalibacterium prausnitzii, which can improve glucose control. The combination of bacteria increased biomass and butyrate production, making it safe for human consumption.

SourceUniversity of Gothenburg·JournalNature·TypeExperimental study·DateAug 2, 2023

People with a hepatitis C cure still face substantial risk of death

A study of over 20,000 patients with a hepatitis C cure found that they have a substantially greater risk of death compared to the general population. Drug and liver-related causes were the main drivers of excess deaths, highlighting the importance of continued support to fully realise the benefits of a hepatitis C cure.

SourceBMJ Group·JournalThe BMJ·TypeObservational study·DateAug 2, 2023

Daily flushing regimen with simple implant may prevent shunt clogs and reduce revision surgeries in patients with hydrocephalus

Researchers at Medical University of South Carolina describe a new, non-surgical approach to managing hydrocephalus by implanting a shunt-clearing device and performing daily flushing. The study shows promising results, reducing revision surgeries and improving patient outcomes.

SourceMedical University of South Carolina·JournalPediatric Neurosurgery·TypeObservational study·DateAug 2, 2023

When D turns to F, quantum matter is A-plus

Researchers have found that certain materials can exhibit D-wave effects, entangled with other quantum states, allowing for efficient coupling at higher temperatures. This breakthrough bridges condensed matter physics subfields and could enable practical applications of quantum computing.

SourceRice University·JournalScience Advances·TypeComputational simulation/modeling·DateAug 2, 2023

Super Radar: Breakthrough radar research overcomes a nearly century-old trade-off between wavelength and distance resolution

Researchers from Chapman University and other institutions developed a new interference radar function that improves distance resolution between objects using radar waves. The technology breaks the trade-off between resolution and wavelength, allowing for high spatial resolution with long wavelengths.

SourceChapman University·JournalPhysical Review Letters·TypeExperimental study·DateAug 2, 2023

Researchers discover a novel pathway that minimizes liver injury during transplantation

Researchers have discovered a novel pathway that minimizes liver injury during transplantation by activating the protective CEACAM1-S version. This protective characteristic is regulated by HIF-1α and can be enhanced using molecular tools and alternative gene splicing, reducing organ injury and improving post-transplant outcomes.

SourceUniversity of California - Los Angeles Health Sciences·JournalScience Translational Medicine·TypeExperimental study·DateAug 2, 2023

Fact-checking can influence recommender algorithms

A Cornell University study found that encouraging fact-checking on Reddit led to a drop in story rank by an average of minus-25 spots, causing stories to be missed by readers. The research suggests that collective efforts to improve information environments can influence algorithmic recommendations.

SourceCornell University·JournalScientific Reports·DateAug 2, 2023

Lockdowns create global appetite for feeding feathered friends

Researchers found a significant increase in global bird feeding interest during COVID-19 lockdowns, with dramatic increases in search terms like 'bird feeder' and 'bird food' across 115 countries. The study suggests that this trend may have implications for avian communities, migration patterns, and biodiversity.

SourceGriffith University·JournalPLOS ONE·TypeData/statistical analysis·DateAug 2, 2023

Researchers find drugs that reduce infant death may lead to long-term health issues

A new study published in The BMJ found that steroid use during pregnancy may increase the risk of short and long-term health issues in infants. Researchers analyzed data from 1.6 million infants and found that full-term babies exposed to corticosteroids had a higher risk of neonatal intensive care admission, respiratory and growth issu...

SourceMcMaster University·JournalBMJ·TypeSystematic review·DateAug 2, 2023

Secondary school students have difficulty identifying bird species

A study by the University of the Basque Country found that secondary school students have limited knowledge of biosphere reserves, marshes, and bird migration. However, students from rural areas and those who participated in primary school bird-related projects showed better understanding of local biodiversity.

SourceUniversity of the Basque Country·JournalInternational Journal of Environmental Research and Public Health·DateAug 2, 2023

New insights on pelvic floor damage after vaginal birth, and new directions for treatment

Researchers at UC San Diego report new direct evidence of atrophy and fibrosis in pelvic floor muscles of women with symptoms of pelvic organ prolapse. They also showed that an acellular injectable skeletal muscle extracellular matrix hydrogel reduces the negative impact of simulated birth injury on rat pelvic floor muscles.

SourceUniversity of California - San Diego·JournalScience Translational Medicine·TypeExperimental study·DateAug 2, 2023

Calculations reveal high-resolution view of quarks inside protons

Researchers used supercomputers to predict the spatial distributions of charges, momentum, and other properties of 'up' and 'down' quarks within protons. The results revealed key differences in the characteristics of the up and down quarks, implying different contributions to the proton's fundamental properties.

SourceDOE/Brookhaven National Laboratory·JournalPhysical Review D·TypeComputational simulation/modeling·DateAug 2, 2023

New method has promise for accurate, efficient soil carbon estimates

Researchers developed a new method to estimate soil organic carbon stocks in agricultural fields, reducing the number of samples needed by 30%. The approach uses doubly balanced sampling and accounts for auxiliary information available in elevation maps, satellite images, and previous surveys. By improving soil sampling efficiency, thi...

Study defines disparities in memory care

A new study from WashU Medicine reveals that patients from underrepresented groups and lower socioeconomic neighborhoods are less likely to receive specialized dementia care. Black patients are also more likely to be diagnosed with advanced-stage dementia, exacerbating healthcare disparities.

SourceWashU Medicine·JournalNeurology·TypeObservational study·DateAug 2, 2023

NUS scientists develop a new class of artificial water channels for more efficient industrial water purification

Researchers have created self-assembling protein-mimics that can selectivity transport water across membranes while rejecting salts, offering a potential solution to improve energy efficiency in industrial water purification. The oligourea foldamers are smaller and more stable than existing artificial water channels.

SourceNational University of Singapore·JournalChem·TypeExperimental study·DateAug 2, 2023

Stalking a silent killer

Researchers aim to treat pancreatic ductal adenocarcinoma by targeting amino acid transporter SLC6A14 and compensatory nutrient scavenging mechanisms autophagy and macropinocytosis. Using alpha-methyl-L-tryptophan and hydroxychlorquine, the study seeks to improve therapeutic outcomes in patients with pancreatic cancer.

An escape signal for the nematode: Artificial intelligence helps elucidate structure of a novel light sensor

A team of scientists has successfully elucidated the structure and function of LITE-1, a biomolecule used by Caenorhabditis elegans to detect danger. The researchers used artificial intelligence to predict the structure of LITE-1, which is a channel protein that forms a pore in the cell membrane allowing charged particles to pass through.

SourceGoethe University Frankfurt·JournalCurrent Biology·TypeExperimental study·DateAug 2, 2023

Study exposes plight of deported noncitizen veterans

A study by UC Riverside-led researchers reveals that deportation causes social, economic, and political insecurities among noncitizen veterans. The study found that many veterans struggle to maintain access to necessities, experience chronic stress, and face poor health outcomes after deportation. The researchers emphasize the need for...

SourceUniversity of California - Riverside·JournalPLOS Global Public Health·TypeSurvey·DateAug 2, 2023

Correlation between neutron pairs observed in helium-8 nuclei

A research team led by Associate Professor Wataru Horiuchi and Professor Naoyuki Itagaki from Osaka Metropolitan University successfully demonstrated the existence of dineutron-dineutron clusters in helium-8 nuclei. Their findings provide new insights into the binding forms of neutrons and shed light on the origins of elements around us.

SourceOsaka Metropolitan University·JournalPhysical Review C·TypeComputational simulation/modeling·DateAug 2, 2023

Unveiling cellular composition and zpatial architecture of tumor microenvironment in multiple primary lung cancers

A study published in Cell Death & Disease has characterized the cellular composition and spatial architecture of tumor microenvironment in human multiple primary lung cancers. The researchers identified a previously undescribed sub-population of epithelial cells, CLDN2+ alveolar type II (AT2), specifically enriched in MPLCs.

Many people feel their jobs are pointless

A sociological study by the University of Zurich confirms that many professionals consider their work to be socially useless. Office jobs were found to be more than twice as likely to feel pointlessness compared to other occupations. The study suggests that factors such as routine work, job autonomy, and management quality also contrib...

SourceUniversity of Zurich·JournalWork Employment and Society·TypeData/statistical analysis·DateAug 2, 2023

New study: Political animosity is global

A new study found that affective polarization, a global bias against opposing political parties, is fueled by shared cognitive frameworks and disagreements over issues. The research suggests interventions like highlighting shared opinions and unique perspectives may reduce polarization.

SourceMichigan State University·JournalPersonality and Social Psychology Bulletin·DateAug 2, 2023

Novel fatty acids-governed cannibalism in beneficial rhizosphere Bacillus enhances biofilm formation via a two-component system OmpS/R and toxin transporter

Researchers discovered that Bacillus velezensis SQR9 uses a two-component system OmpS/R and toxin transporter to regulate fatty acid-mediated cannibalism, promoting biofilm formation. This precision system allows the strain to gain an evolutionary benefit by sacrificing cells involved in cannibalism.

SourceScience China Press·JournalScience Bulletin·DateAug 2, 2023

Cost of translating consent documents may serve as a barrier to participation of members of underrepresented groups in clinical trials

Researchers found that translating consent documents can discourage investigators from recruiting patients with limited English proficiency, contributing to low rates of participation from underrepresented groups. By relieving investigators of these costs, studies can become more inclusive and results more accurate and generalizable.

In states that legalized cannabis, frequent cannabis use became more common in young adults who are not in college, OSU study finds

An Oregon State University study found that young adults not in college became more frequent users of cannabis and met criteria for cannabis use disorder after state legalization. The prevalence of frequent cannabis use increased by 5 percentage points among non-college young adults, while college students saw a smaller increase.

SourceOregon State University·JournalAmerican Journal of Preventive Medicine·TypeData/statistical analysis·DateAug 2, 2023

Duct tape evidence holds up in court using innovative method from WVU forensic scientists

Forensic scientists at West Virginia University have developed a systematic approach to compare pieces of trace evidence, including duct tape, using a novel method. The technique evaluates fracture edges and demonstrates physical fit, providing a foundation for evaluating error rates and improving accuracy in crime scene investigations.

SourceWest Virginia University·JournalForensic Chemistry·DateAug 2, 2023

Interest in bird feeding surged in over 100 countries worldwide during the COVID-19 lockdowns

A study published in PLOS ONE found a significant surge in bird feeding interest worldwide during the pandemic, with countries having higher bird diversity exhibiting more Google search activity. The researchers analyzed data from 115 countries and found an average increase of 511 bird species in countries with higher search interest.

SourcePLOS·JournalPLOS ONE·TypeObservational study·DateAug 2, 2023

Scientists discover mechanisms that could explain high risk of complications from lung infections in Down syndrome

Researchers have discovered two major mechanisms that contribute to the high risk of complications from lung infections in individuals with Down syndrome: poor ciliary function, which impairs the respiratory tract's ability to clear mucus and viral particles, and immune hyper-reactivity, which leads to an overactive immune response. Th...

SourceUniversity of Colorado Anschutz Medical Campus·JournaliScience·TypeExperimental study·DateAug 2, 2023

Faster thin film devices for energy storage and electronics

Researchers have successfully grown high-quality single-crystalline T-Nb2O5 thin films with two-dimensional vertical ionic transport channels, enabling fast and dramatic changes in electrical properties. The material undergoes a significant electrical change upon Li insertion, allowing it to switch from an insulator to a metal.

SourceMax-Planck-Institut für Mikrostrukturphysik·JournalNature Materials·TypeExperimental study·DateAug 2, 2023

Researchers map cadmium in cacao: “The problem isn’t as bad as we thought”

Researchers in Peru found that the majority of cacao can meet EU cadmium limits, but areas like Piura face significant challenges due to high levels of cadmium in their soils. The study provides an interactive map predicting cadmium levels across the country.

SourceThe Alliance of Bioversity International and the International Center for Tropical Agriculture·JournalScience of The Total Environment·TypeData/statistical analysis·DateAug 2, 2023

Scientists tie obesity to sex- and age-specific genes

Researchers identified five genes influencing BMI in women and two in men, with faulty variants of three genes linked to higher BMI in women. Age-specific factors also emerged, with genes OBSCN and MADD associated with childhood body size and fat.

SourceCell Press·JournalCell Genomics·TypeObservational study·DateAug 2, 2023

Human vs machine

A Pitt Professor believes oligodendrocytes, the nerve insulating cells, hold the solution to BCI's nagging problem. By understanding and preserving these cells, researchers aim to improve BCI's performance and expand its applications beyond paralysis.

Moderna is safest, most effective mRNA vaccine against COVID-19 for older adults, study shows

A large head-to-head comparison study of the Moderna and Pfizer-BioNTech vaccines found that the Moderna vaccine was associated with a slightly lower risk of adverse events for older adults. The study also showed that the Moderna vaccine was linked to a 4% lower risk of pulmonary embolism and a 15% lower risk of diagnosed COVID-19.

SourceBrown University·JournalJAMA Network Open·TypeObservational study·DateAug 2, 2023

A boost in dopamine during adolescence permanently amplifies dopamine function, impulsivity, and aggression in mice

Researchers found that blocking dopamine transporters during mid-adolescence increases adult aggression, impulsivity, and the behavioral response to amphetamine in mice. Artificially stimulating dopaminergic neurons also exacerbated impulsive behavior in tasks. The study suggests potential harm from stimulant exposure in healthy teens ...

SourceColumbia University Irving Medical Center·JournalMolecular Psychiatry·TypeObservational study·DateAug 2, 2023