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Science News for October 6, 2023


Unearthing the leaf miners of ancient times: 312-million-year-old fossil sheds light on insect behavior and evolution

A 312-million-year-old fossil found in the Carboniferous Rhode Island Formation provides evidence of how internal feeding, known as leaf mining, may have originated. The discovery sheds light on the evolution and behavior of holometabolous insects, including modern-day moths, beetles, flies, and wasps.

3D genome architecture influences SCID-X1 gene therapy success

Researchers identified the integration site pattern of lentiviral gene therapies in patient cells, shedding light on treatment safety and efficacy. The study found that integration near nuclear pores is associated with improved safety and effectiveness, avoiding oncogene regions where earlier technologies failed.

SourceSt. Jude Children's Research Hospital·JournalScience Advances·TypeRandomized controlled/clinical trial·DateOct 6, 2023

Rise in overdose deaths increasingly affects those with lower educational attainment, RAND study finds

A new RAND Corporation study reveals that drug overdose deaths have surged among Americans without a college education, nearly doubling over a three-year period. The findings highlight the potential association between the rise in overdose deaths and barriers to education access, a social determinant of health.

SourceRAND Corporation·JournalJAMA Health Forum·TypeData/statistical analysis·DateOct 6, 2023

Our sense of smell changes the colors we see, show scientists

A study in Frontiers in Psychology found that unconscious 'crossmodal' associations with our sense of smell can distort perception of colors. Participants adjusted sliders to change the color of a square, but their choices were influenced by the odor they smelled, such as perceiving coffee as a reddish-brown color instead of neutral grey.

SourceFrontiers·JournalFrontiers in Psychology·TypeExperimental study·DateOct 6, 2023

Clinical trial reveals benefits of inhaled nitric oxide for patients with respiratory failure due to COVID-19 pneumonia

A multicenter clinical trial found that high-dose inhaled nitric oxide improved oxygenation and reduced the risk of sensory and motor neurologic symptoms in adults with severe COVID-19 pneumonia. The treatment was also linked to lower levels of SARS-CoV-2 in the blood and sputum.

SourceMassachusetts General Hospital·JournalAmerican Journal of Respiratory and Critical Care Medicine·TypeRandomized controlled/clinical trial·DateOct 6, 2023

Scientists investigate Grand Canyon's ancient past to predict future climate impacts

Researchers analyzed an ancient stalagmite from a Grand Canyon cave to understand the relationship between global warming and the strength of the North American Monsoon. They found that increasing moisture during the early Holocene period may lead to greater summer rainfall on the Colorado Plateau and intensifying monsoons in the future.

SourceUniversity of New Mexico·JournalNature Geoscience·TypeData/statistical analysis·DateOct 6, 2023

Pulsars may make dark matter glow

Scientists propose that pulsars could detect dark matter by observing a subtle additional glow. If axions are produced in strong electromagnetic fields around pulsars, they could convert into observable light.

SourceUniversiteit van Amsterdam·JournalPhysical Review Letters·TypeComputational simulation/modeling·DateOct 6, 2023

Lurbinectedin for Neuroendocrine Tumors (NETs)

Researchers discuss lurbinectedin as a method to treat neuroendocrine tumors (NETs), with encouraging results from phase II basket studies demonstrating activity in platinum-sensitive relapsed SCLC and other malignancies. Lurbinectedin's mechanism of action involves inhibiting oncogenic transcription, promoting apoptosis and cell death.

SourceImpact Journals LLC·JournalOncoscience·TypeCommentary/editorial·DateOct 6, 2023

Integrated health services in Africa can improve patient care and save money

A new study led by UCL researchers finds that integrated health care for chronic high-burden conditions like diabetes and hypertension is feasible and cost-effective. The study showed that integrated care was associated with high levels of retention in care, no adverse effect on viral suppression among people with HIV, and cost-saving ...

SourceUniversity College London·JournalThe Lancet·TypeRandomized controlled/clinical trial·DateOct 6, 2023

Optically anisotropic, electrically tunable microlens arrays formed via single-step photopolymerization-induced phase separation in polymer/liquid-crystal composite materials

Researchers developed a simple, one-step method for creating large-area liquid crystal microlens arrays (LC-MLAs) with high focusing quality. The LC-MLAs demonstrate polarization-dependent, electrically tunable properties, allowing for adjustable focal length and image depth control.

Researchers create a neural network for genomics—one that explains how it achieves accurate predictions

A team of New York University computer scientists created a neural network that can explain how it reaches its predictions, shedding light on the intricacies of RNA splicing. The breakthrough reveals how a small, hairpin-like structure in RNA can decrease splicing and provides new insights into the transfer of genomic information.

SourceNew York University·JournalProceedings of the National Academy of Sciences·TypeComputational simulation/modeling·DateOct 6, 2023

Offspring of teen, young adult women with cancer history more likely to have birth defects

A recent study by UTHealth Houston found that the offspring of adolescent and young adult women with a history of cancer face a higher risk of birth defects. The study examined 6,882 offspring ages 12 months and younger and found an increased risk of specific types of defects in the offspring of women with a history of cancer.

SourceUniversity of Texas Health Science Center at Houston·JournalCancer Epidemiology Biomarkers & Prevention·DateOct 6, 2023

Patterns in physician burnout

A survey of 1,373 physicians reveals a growing trend of physician burnout, which could compromise patient care. The study highlights the urgent need for solutions to address this critical issue affecting the healthcare sector.

SourceJAMA Network·JournalJAMA Network Open·DateOct 6, 2023

Lack of sexually related injuries does not mean rape victim was ‘making it up’

A new study analyzing over 3,000 women found that more than half of rape survivors had no detectable anogenital injuries, despite being examined by experts. The research challenges the myth that physical violence is always present in rape cases, highlighting the need to support survivors and challenge cultural attitudes towards reporti...

SourceUniversity of Birmingham·JournalEClinicalMedicine·TypeMeta-analysis·DateOct 6, 2023

How do our brains tell us what went wrong?

A team of neuroscientists has identified specific neurons in the auditory cortex that only respond to sounds that violate expectations, sending a message that a mistake has been made. These 'prediction-error neurons' may play a vital role in learning how to speak or play musical instruments.

SourceNew York University·JournalJNeurosci·TypeExperimental study·DateOct 6, 2023

The currency of conservation

A new study led by researchers at the University of Tennessee, Knoxville, proposes a way to improve the effectiveness of conservation funding by giving organizations more freedom to allocate funds. By doing so, the team found that conservation projects can offer a high return on investment and make a greater impact on species protection.

SourceNorth Carolina State University·JournalFrontiers in Ecology and the Environment·TypeData/statistical analysis·DateOct 6, 2023

New research led by Mays Cancer Center reveals how mutations in BRCA1 affect cancer susceptibility in women

Researchers have pinpointed the molecular mechanism by which a large portion of BRCA1 mutations cause cancers in women. The study found that the E3 ligase activity of BRCA1 is crucial in several stages of DNA repair and tumor suppression, reinterpreting previous findings.

SourceUniversity of Texas Health Science Center at San Antonio·JournalMolecular Cell·TypeExperimental study·DateOct 6, 2023

New pathways of Alzheimer's disease identified

A new study has identified two main pathways involved in Alzheimer's disease, with one acting through amyloid and tau proteins and the other based on immune system reactions. The research also found that certain genes have opposite effects in men and women, suggesting a need for further investigation.

SourceUniversity of Lübeck·JournalGenome Medicine·TypeObservational study·DateOct 6, 2023

Ultra-wideband heterogeneous integrated photodiodes on thin-film lithium niobate platform

Researchers have developed high-speed and high-responsivity photodetectors on a thin-film lithium niobate platform, achieving a 3-dB bandwidth of 110 GHz and responsivity of 0.4 A/W at 1550-nm wavelength. The devices demonstrate potential for ultra-high-speed optical communications and multi-function integrated quantum photonics.