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Science News for September 6, 2023


Disease affects blackbirds more than previously thought

A new study by Lund University reveals that disease affects blackbirds for three weeks, rather than just a day or two. The simulated bacterial infection stimulates the birds' immune system, causing them to stop their activities earlier in the evenings and have reduced daily activity periods.

SourceLund University·JournalProceedings of the Royal Society B Biological Sciences·DateSep 6, 2023

Pitt researchers to study Alzheimer’s disease in marmosets

Researchers developed a new model of hereditary Alzheimer's disease in marmosets by introducing mutations into the PSEN1 gene, which causes early-onset disease in humans. The study aims to characterize and validate genetic, molecular, functional, and cognitive features of aging and Alzheimer's disease in these animals.

SourceUniversity of Pittsburgh·JournalAlzheimer s & Dementia Translational Research & Clinical Interventions·DateSep 6, 2023

Microdevices implanted into tumors offer new way to treat brain cancer

Researchers have developed a device that can be implanted into tumors during surgery to test new treatments, providing unprecedented insight into the effects of drugs on glioma tumors. The device, which is designed to be used during standard of care surgery, caused no adverse effects on patients in a phase 1 clinical trial.

SourceBrigham and Women's Hospital·JournalScience Translational Medicine·TypeObservational study·DateSep 6, 2023

Most non-English speakers in the U.S. are turned away before their first cancer visit according to new research in JNCCN

A new study from the University of Michigan found significant language-based disparities in patients' access to cancer care. English-speaking callers were able to get information on next steps 94% of the time, while Spanish-speakers and Mandarin-speakers were only connected at 38% and 28% respectively.

SourceNational Comprehensive Cancer Network·JournalJournal of the National Comprehensive Cancer Network·DateSep 6, 2023

Pumping like the heart

Researchers found a 27% decrease in mean friction and a 9% reduction in energy demand through pulsating pumping similar to the human heart. This approach could lead to less costly modifications than pipe wall changes or actuators, benefiting industrial applications.

SourceInstitute of Science and Technology Austria·JournalNature·TypeExperimental study·DateSep 6, 2023

Experiencing negatively-perceived emotions might prompt people to withdraw from a social group - specifically, shame for individualistic societies, but anger for more collectivistic cultures

A recent study published in PLOS ONE reveals that experiencing shame leads to disidentification in individualistic societies, while anger triggers this effect in collectivistic cultures. The findings highlight the distinct emotional responses to social withdrawal in different cultural contexts.

SourcePLOS·JournalPLOS ONE·DateSep 6, 2023

Study finds association between being breastfed as an infant and risk of colorectal cancer as an adult

A new study published in Clinical Gastroenterology and Hepatology found an association between breastfeeding as an infant and an increased risk of colorectal cancer in adulthood. Researchers analyzed data from over 158,000 women and discovered that breastfed individuals were 23% more likely to develop colorectal cancer later in life.

SourceDana-Farber Cancer Institute·JournalClinical Gastroenterology and Hepatology·DateSep 6, 2023

New research highlights opportunities to protect carbon and communities from forest fires

A new study identifies locations where proactive forest management can reduce carbon loss and protect communities from wildfires in the Western United States. Proactive forest management techniques like thinning, prescribed fire, and cultural burning can help keep carbon in forests and reduce wildfire risk.

SourceUSDA Forest Service - Rocky Mountain Research Station·JournalEnvironmental Research Letters·TypeComputational simulation/modeling·DateSep 6, 2023

After treatment with semaglutide, newly diagnosed Type 1 diabetes patients needed little or no insulin

A small study found that treating newly diagnosed Type 1 diabetes patients with semaglutide significantly reduced their need for insulin. The medication's ability to stimulate insulin secretion from the beta cells of the pancreas allowed for the elimination of mealtime and basal insulin doses in most patients.

SourceUniversity at Buffalo·JournalNew England Journal of Medicine·TypeObservational study·DateSep 6, 2023

Closing in on the Elusive Neutrino

Researchers from the US and Germany report a realistic contender to measure the elusive neutrino mass using Cyclotron Radiation Emission Spectroscopy. The project tracks electrons generated by beta decay to reveal the neutrino mass, aiming for scalability beyond existing technology.

SourceDOE/Pacific Northwest National Laboratory·JournalPhysical Review Letters·TypeExperimental study·DateSep 6, 2023

Agriculture study delivers unexpected results

A recent study at the University of Bonn found that mixed cover crops grow thinner roots than single-type cover crops, contradicting previous assumptions. The researchers tested oil radish, winter rye, and crimson clover in different combinations and observed varying root growth patterns.

SourceUniversity of Bonn·JournalPlant and Soil·TypeExperimental study·DateSep 6, 2023

Scientists studied effect of different geometric porosities on aerodynamic characteristics of supersonic parachutes

Researchers investigate impact of different geometric porosities on aerodynamics of supersonic parachutes. The study reveals that porosity structures have little effect on flow field mode and pressure distribution, but affect drag performance, with single-seam models showing better stability.

SourceBeijing Institute of Technology Press Co., Ltd·JournalSpace: Science & Technology·DateSep 6, 2023

Copy number variation implements pregnancy as an aging model

Researchers found that pregnant mice experiencing copy number variation (CNV) showed similarities to aging, with biomarkers and genetic effects appearing during pregnancy and reversing after delivery. This study aims to revolutionize aging treatment by investigating the mechanisms behind post-labor rejuvenation.

SourceImpact Journals LLC·JournalAging-US·TypeExperimental study·DateSep 6, 2023

Treating high risk heart patients with immediate double cholesterol-lowering therapy could save thousands of lives each year

Research published in the Journal of the American Heart Association found that patients who start taking a combination of statins and ezetimibe after a heart attack are 47% less likely to die within three years. The study suggests that changing treatment guidelines could prevent many thousands of deaths each year.

SourcePolskie Towarzystwo Lipidologiczne (Polish Lipid Association)·JournalJournal of the American Heart Association·TypeObservational study·DateSep 6, 2023

Switching from harmful to helpful fungi

Researchers found a single gene cluster that determines whether fungus aids or hinders plant growth, offering potential for reducing food waste and increasing crop yields. The study highlights the complex relationships between fungi and their host plants, challenging traditional views of pathogenic and mutualistic traits.

SourceUniversity of Tokyo·JournalNature Communications·TypeExperimental study·DateSep 6, 2023

Street medicine filling a major gap by providing behavioral health care for people who are homeless

A new survey by USC Street Medicine found that street medicine programs are helping to fill the gap in access to mental health and substance use treatments for unhoused individuals in California. The study suggests that these programs can serve as a strategy to expand access to behavioral health care for people who are unsheltered.

SourceKeck School of Medicine of USC·JournalCommunity Mental Health Journal·TypeSurvey·DateSep 6, 2023

A secret for boosting hotel bookings: analyze online user reviews for your hotel and your competitors

A new study reveals that a hotel's own sentiment score and its competitor's sentiment score have a significant impact on booking performance. Hotels that improve their own sentiment score by 1% can increase bookings by .38%, while those that improve their competitors' sentiment score by 1% can decrease bookings by .25%. The research al...

SourceAmerican Marketing Association·JournalJournal of Marketing·DateSep 6, 2023

Decaying levees put minority and poor communities disproportionately at risk

A new study by Tufts University reveals that nearly 36 million people in the US live behind levees, but many are from vulnerable populations, including minorities, people with disabilities, and low-income individuals. The study highlights alarming disparities in population density behind levees compared to those on higher ground, parti...

SourceTufts University·JournalEarth s Future·TypeObservational study·DateSep 6, 2023

Immune system plays vital role in longer multiple myeloma remission

Researchers found that patients' immune systems play a vital role in determining the duration of remission from multiple myeloma. Sustained minimal residual disease (MRD) negativity is associated with prolonged survival, with patients achieving MRD negativity for at least two years remaining free from multiple myeloma 10 years later.

SourceUniversity of Miami Miller School of Medicine·JournalNature Communications·DateSep 6, 2023

Capturing carbon in savannas: New research examines role of grasses for controlling climate change

A recent study found that grasses account for over half of the soil carbon content across tropical savannas, including soils directly beneath trees. The researchers' findings suggest that increasing tree cover in these ecosystems has a negligible impact on soil carbon storage.

Study explains role of certain types of oxide in structure and development of specialty glass

Researchers found that adding niobium oxide to silicate glass increases bond density and connectivity, enhancing mechanical and thermal stability. This discovery could lead to the development of innovative glass formulations for various applications, including optics, medicine, and data transmission.

Study illuminates mechanism that annotates genetic information passed from fathers to offspring

Researchers at Van Andel Institute have identified a key part of a mechanism that annotates genetic information before it is passed from fathers to their offspring. The findings shed new light on genomic imprinting, a fundamental biological process linked to diseases such as Silver-Russell syndrome and certain cancers.

SourceVan Andel Research Institute·JournalScience Advances·TypeExperimental study·DateSep 6, 2023

Unveiling the mechanism of 3D folding of cell sheets

A Kyoto University team reveals the Dumpy protein as the key factor in controlling 3D tissue structures through external cues. This finding challenges traditional understanding of morphogenesis and opens up new avenues for manufacturing controllable 3D tissue folding with coordinated cell behaviors.

SourceKyoto University·JournalScience Advances·TypeExperimental study·DateSep 6, 2023

Furthest ever detection of a galaxy’s magnetic field

Researchers using ALMA detected a fully formed magnetic field in a distant galaxy, similar to nearby galaxies, which provides new insights into the formation of galactic-scale magnetic fields. The discovery suggests that intense star formation in the early Universe could have played a role in accelerating the development of these fields.

SourceESO·JournalNature·DateSep 6, 2023

Study finds increase in travelers to Massachusetts seeking abortion care post-Dobbs

A study by Brigham researchers reveals a 37% increase in out-of-state residents seeking abortion care in Massachusetts after Dobbs, with an estimated 45 additional abortions. Non-profit funding for out-of-state residents increased by nearly ten percent, while in-state residents' use of funding remained relatively stable.

SourceBrigham and Women's Hospital·JournalJAMA Network Open·TypeData/statistical analysis·DateSep 6, 2023

Paving the way for better recommendations for how biodiversity may be leveraged to promote delivery of ecosystem services

The authors scrutinize the 23 quantitative syntheses published over three decades on how plant diversity impacts both natural enemies and herbivores in arthropod communities. They find that plant diversity consistently attracts more abundant and diverse communities of predators, while herbivore diversity tends to increase in response t...

SourceUniversity of Chicago Press Journals·JournalThe Quarterly Review of Biology·DateSep 6, 2023

Are children’s growing pains tied to migraines?

A recent study found that pain in the lower limbs of children and adolescents may indicate the presence or risk of migraines. The study included 100 children with mothers who experienced migraines, with growing pains occurring in half of them. After five years of follow-up, headaches occurred in 76% of participants with growing pains.

SourceWiley·JournalHeadache The Journal of Head and Face Pain·DateSep 6, 2023

World can now breathe easier

A recent study published in Nature Communications found that global PM2.5 exposure decreased significantly from 2011 to 2019, largely due to China's air quality management efforts. The study used satellite-derived data and a new regional decomposition approach to quantify local and regional contributions to global PM2.5 pollution.

SourceWashington University in St. Louis·JournalNature Communications·DateSep 6, 2023

Structure formation during freeze casting filmed in 3D and real time

Researchers used X-ray tomoscopy to study freeze casting processes, observing the formation of complex, hierarchically structured materials with large surface areas. The technique provided high spatial and temporal resolution, revealing the dynamics of directional ice crystal growth and the formation of organic-looking structures.

SourceHelmholtz-Zentrum Berlin für Materialien und Energie·JournalAdvanced Functional Materials·TypeExperimental study·DateSep 6, 2023

Medical cannabis use in Australian patients with chronic health issues linked to significant improvements in overall health-related quality of life and fatigue levels

Medical cannabis use in Australian patients with chronic health issues is linked to significant improvements in overall health-related quality of life and fatigue levels. Patients also report clinically meaningful reductions in pain and moderate-severe anxiety and depression.

SourcePLOS·JournalPLOS ONE·TypeSurvey·DateSep 6, 2023

New battery holds promise for green energy

A new battery design without a membrane has been developed by researchers at the University of Cincinnati, offering higher energy density and lower costs. The battery can generate nearly 4 volts of power, eliminating costly and inefficient membrane-separators.

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

Easier and faster materials microstructure analysis through human-AI collaboration!

A new technology enables automatic identification and quantification of materials microstructure from microscopic images via human-in-the-loop machine learning. This approach reduces annotation costs by using scribble annotations instead of dense annotations, making it more efficient for researchers to analyze materials.

ARS scientists and research partners work on developing field diagnostic kit for Lebbeck mealybug with a safer alternative

Researchers found a 5% sodium hydroxide solution successfully turns live Lebbeck mealybug specimens green, identical to the 10% potassium hydroxide solution. The new alternative is less corrosive, more water soluble and less expensive.

SourceUS Department of Agriculture - Agricultural Research Service·JournalJournal of Applied Entomology·TypeExperimental study·DateSep 6, 2023