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Science News for February 12, 2024


A Chinese Medical Journal Pulmonary and Critical Care Medicine Review looks at the mechanisms of ‘long COVID’

Researchers document various reasons for long-term clinical symptoms in patients infected with SARS-CoV-2. Key findings include immune system alterations, chronic inflammation, endothelial dysfunction, and mitochondrial issues contributing to post-COVID syndrome.

SourceCactus Communications·JournalChinese Medical Journal - Pulmonary and Critical Care Medicine·TypeLiterature review·DateFeb 12, 2024

Revolutionary genomic study sheds light on immune microenvironment in transplanted pediatric hearts

A team of researchers from Texas Heart Institute and Baylor College of Medicine have made a significant discovery about the underlying molecular cell states within transplanted pediatric hearts. They found that donor-derived tissue-resident macrophages are crucial for graft acceptance, but their loss leads to allograft failure.

SourceTexas Heart Institute·JournalCirculation·TypeExperimental study·DateFeb 12, 2024

SwRI scientists identify water molecules on asteroids for the first time

Scientists detected water molecules on two asteroids, Iris and Massalia, indicating a distribution of water in our solar system that can inform searches for life beyond Earth. The discovery was made possible by using the FORCAST instrument to isolate mid-infrared spectral signatures indicative of molecular water.

SourceSouthwest Research Institute·JournalThe Planetary Science Journal·TypeObservational study·DateFeb 12, 2024

Groundbreaking study on decomposing microbes could help transform forensic science

Researchers have identified a network of approximately 20 specialist decomposing microbes that consistently appear on all 36 human cadavers decomposed under various conditions. This discovery has significant implications for the future of forensic science, enabling investigators to more accurately determine a body's time of death.

SourceColorado State University·JournalNature Microbiology·TypeExperimental study·DateFeb 12, 2024

Multiple city hubs, dispersed parks keep metro areas cooler

An analysis by Cornell University city planning scholars found that metropolitan areas with multiple city centers and dispersed green spaces are more effective at mitigating extreme heat than those with one dominant city. Polycentric development can moderate the urban heat island effect, especially in larger urban areas.

SourceCornell University·JournalEnvironment and Planning B Urban Analytics and City Science·DateFeb 12, 2024

New research finds women and minorities likely to pay higher auto loan premiums

Research by Ozturk, He, and Chintagunta found that women and minorities are charged higher interest rates, with women facing a 0.6% markup and minority borrowers paying 2.6% more. These markups amount to significant annual losses, with the estimated total being $40.3 million for women and $226.3 million for minority borrowers nationwide.

SourceInstitute for Operations Research and the Management Sciences·JournalMarketing Science·TypeObservational study·DateFeb 12, 2024

Children’s Hospital Los Angeles RECOVER Study collaborators publish comprehensive report on long COVID symptoms in children

A comprehensive report on pediatric long COVID symptoms has been published, revealing clues to risk factors and common symptoms such as fatigue, headaches, and musculoskeletal pain. The study found that older age, more severe initial infection, and underlying medical conditions are associated with an increased risk of long COVID.

SourceChildren's Hospital Los Angeles·JournalPEDIATRICS·TypeMeta-analysis·DateFeb 12, 2024

Teenagers need better reproductive health education to tackle parenthood fears

Two new studies by UCL researchers found that nearly half of teenagers are worried about having children due to fear, self-doubt, and lack of education on reproductive health. The studies also highlighted gaps in sex education, with many students expressing concerns about endometriosis, infertility, and the impact of lifestyle on ferti...

SourceUniversity College London·JournalHuman Fertility·TypeSurvey·DateFeb 12, 2024

Workers in key government public health occupations earn salaries well below the private sector

Researchers found that 30 out of 44 occupations paid at least 5% less in government than the private sector, with severe disparities in management, leadership, and technical roles. To address this issue, experts suggest improving federal data on public health workforce salaries, offering benefits and work-life balance as motivators.

SourceColumbia University's Mailman School of Public Health·JournalAmerican Journal of Public Health·DateFeb 12, 2024

Children’s positive attitude towards mathematics fades during the early school years

A recent study from Finland found that children's initial positive attitude towards mathematics gradually fades during the first three years of school, negatively impacting their competence perception. The researchers suggest that teaching practices supporting children's interest and experiences of success can help mitigate this effect.

SourceUniversity of Eastern Finland·JournalBritish Journal of Educational Psychology·DateFeb 12, 2024

Australia's most at-risk bird species share some common traits

A recent study from Australian National University reveals that many native bird species are facing uncertain futures due to factors like island isolation, adaptability to agricultural areas, and evolutionary uniqueness. The researchers found that slow-breeding species with larger body sizes tend to struggle with environmental changes.

SourceAustralian National University·JournalEmu - Austral Ornithology·TypeData/statistical analysis·DateFeb 12, 2024

When the global climate has the hiccups

Scientists have found evidence of Dansgaard-Oeschger events during the penultimate glacial period, revealing a different frequency and interval between temperature peaks. The findings suggest that not all glacial periods are the same and provide insights into ocean circulation patterns and climate change mechanisms.

SourceUniversity of Basel·JournalNature Communications·TypeCase study·DateFeb 12, 2024

White people more likely to confront authors of racist online posts to set discussion rules

A recent study suggests that reframing confrontation goals from changing beliefs to setting social norms increases white people's willingness to challenge racist online posts. The study found that participants were more likely to confront those they knew well, such as friends and family members, rather than strangers or acquaintances.

SourceUniversity of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign, News Bureau·JournalNew Media & Society·TypeSurvey·DateFeb 12, 2024

A standard blood test can predict a heart attack

Researchers at Uppsala University have developed a tool that uses standard blood test results to identify individuals at increased risk of having a heart attack within six months. The study analyzed data from 169,053 individuals and identified 90 molecules linked to a first heart attack.

SourceUppsala University·JournalNature·TypeObservational study·DateFeb 12, 2024

Study: Global deforestation leads to more mercury pollution

A new study by MIT researchers reveals that global deforestation is a previously overlooked driver of human-made mercury emissions, with the Amazon rainforest playing a crucial role in mitigating this issue. The study estimates that curbing Amazon deforestation could reduce mercury pollution by 30%, highlighting the need for worldwide ...

SourceMassachusetts Institute of Technology·JournalEnvironmental Science & Technology·DateFeb 12, 2024

Researchers studying ocean transform faults, describe a previously unknown part of the geological carbon cycle

Researchers studying oceanic transform faults have found a previously unknown part of the geological carbon cycle, revealing a potentially vast sink for CO2. The study's findings suggest that magmatic degassing and melt impregnation in these faults contribute significantly to global CO2 fluxes.

SourceWoods Hole Oceanographic Institution·JournalProceedings of the National Academy of Sciences·TypeExperimental study·DateFeb 12, 2024

Interferon-gamma drives brain pathology in a mouse model of multiple system atrophy

In a mouse model of multiple system atrophy, alpha-synuclein overexpression induces neuroinflammation, demyelination, and neurodegeneration. IFNγ produced by infiltrating CD4+ T-cells mediates these changes. The study suggests that IFNγ is a potential future disease-modifying therapeutic target.

SourceUniversity of Alabama at Birmingham·JournalActa Neuropathologica Communications·TypeExperimental study·DateFeb 12, 2024

Including socioeconomic status of patients in calculation of Medicare readmission penalties would reduce stress on safety-net hospitals

A new study suggests that including socioeconomic status in the calculation of Medicare readmission penalties would reduce penalty amounts for 38% of safety-net hospitals compared to 17% of non-safety net hospitals. This adjustment could help alleviate financial pressure on these hospitals, which often care for sicker patients with lim...

SourceRegenstrief Institute·JournalJournal of Vascular Surgery·DateFeb 12, 2024

Reshaping our understanding of granular systems

Scientists at the University of Rochester discovered that even small differences in grain shape can significantly alter grain segregation in dry and wet conditions. The study highlights the importance of interdisciplinary research to better understand and predict geohazards and alleviate segregation issues in industrial flows.

SourceUniversity of Rochester·JournalProceedings of the National Academy of Sciences·DateFeb 12, 2024

Salt substitutes help to maintain healthy blood pressure in older adults

A recent study published in the Journal of the American College of Cardiology found that salt substitutes can help maintain healthy blood pressure in older adults. The study, which included 611 participants, showed that those using salt substitutes had a 40% lower incidence of hypertension compared to those using regular salt.

SourceAmerican College of Cardiology·JournalJournal of the American College of Cardiology·DateFeb 12, 2024

CRISPR-copies: New tool accelerates and optimizes genome editing

Researchers at CABBI developed a computational pipeline for identifying CRISPR/Cas-facilitated integration sites, which can pinpoint neutral integration sites in two to three minutes. This tool enables researchers to efficiently locate all the needles that align with their specific criteria, transforming the genome editing process.

Darting around with a tiny brain

Researchers discovered how insects navigate using limited brain power by simplifying complex problems through their behavior, a strategy that can be applied to robots and computers. A model of insect neuronal activity showed the robot successfully navigated in various environments, leading to potential improvements in energy efficiency.

SourceUniversity of Groningen·JournalNature Communications·TypeComputational simulation/modeling·DateFeb 12, 2024

Widespread machine learning methods behind ‘link prediction’ are performing very poorly

Researchers at UC Santa Cruz find that popular link prediction metrics are flawed and do not accurately measure algorithm performance. They recommend using a new metric, VCMPR, to benchmark link prediction tasks and highlight the importance of accurate metrics in machine learning decision-making.

SourceUniversity of California - Santa Cruz·JournalProceedings of the National Academy of Sciences·DateFeb 12, 2024

Scientists discover biological mechanism of hearing loss caused by loud noise – and find a way to prevent it

Researchers at the University of Pittsburgh have discovered a molecular mechanism behind noise-induced hearing loss, which affects millions of Americans. They found that excess zinc in the inner ear causes cellular damage and disrupts normal cell communication, leading to hearing loss.

SourceUniversity of Pittsburgh·JournalProceedings of the National Academy of Sciences·DateFeb 12, 2024

Understanding chronic wasting disease in deer

A new study from the University of Pennsylvania School of Veterinary Medicine sheds light on how Chronic Wasting Disease (CWD) impacts the gut microbiome, providing a potential tool for disease surveillance. Researchers found that certain types of gut bacteria can differentiate between CWD-positive and -negative deer.

SourceUniversity of Pennsylvania·JournalMicrobiology Spectrum·TypeExperimental study·DateFeb 12, 2024

Can hydrogels help mend a broken heart?

Researchers have created a hydrogel that can be used to heal damaged heart tissue and improve cancer treatments. The gel is made from cellulose nanocrystals derived from wood pulp and has a nanofibrous architecture that replicates the properties of human tissues.

SourceUniversity of Waterloo·JournalProceedings of the National Academy of Sciences·DateFeb 12, 2024

Dartmouth researchers offer new insights into how antibodies function against HSV

Researchers at Dartmouth's Geisel School of Medicine and Thayer School of Engineering have made significant breakthroughs in understanding how antibodies combat herpes simplex virus (HSV) infections. The study reveals that antibody effector functions play a critical role in protecting against HSV, which may lead to new treatments for n...

SourceThe Geisel School of Medicine at Dartmouth·JournalCell Reports Medicine·TypeExperimental study·DateFeb 12, 2024

New study finds life on land is more vulnerable to mass extinctions than life in the oceans and takes longer to recover

A new study published in Proceedings of the Royal Society B found that the end-Triassic extinction had a greater impact on terrestrial ecosystems than marine ecosystems. Terrestrial ecosystems took longer to recover from mass extinction events, with higher extinction severity and fewer groups occupying key ecological roles.

SourceNatural History Museum of Los Angeles County·JournalProceedings of the Royal Society B Biological Sciences·TypeData/statistical analysis·DateFeb 12, 2024

Global taskforce of scientists develop a unifying framework for the human affectome

A global task force of scientists created an integrative framework to study emotions and moods, situating experiences within a single theoretical framework. This framework helps understand mental disorders like depression and anxiety, as well as decision-making and human behavior.

SourceThe Mount Sinai Hospital / Mount Sinai School of Medicine·JournalNeuroscience & Biobehavioral Reviews·TypeContent analysis·DateFeb 12, 2024

Disadvantaged communities in Massachusetts twice as likely to have poor roads—and pay the cost in gas

A new study by University of Massachusetts Amherst engineers highlights the disproportionate impact of poorly maintained roads on residents in disadvantaged communities. The research found that these communities are twice as likely to have poor roads, leading to increased fuel consumption and higher costs for drivers.

SourceUniversity of Massachusetts Amherst·JournalScientific Reports·TypeData/statistical analysis·DateFeb 12, 2024

Novel bispecific design improves CAR T–cell immunotherapy for childhood leukemia

Researchers created an additional means for therapy to find and eliminate cancer cells using a small peptide, demonstrating better efficacy in lab tests and in vitro experiments. The study used computational analysis and predicted protein models to understand how structure impacts antigen recognition and therapy efficacy.

SourceSt. Jude Children's Research Hospital·JournalCell Reports Medicine·TypeExperimental study·DateFeb 12, 2024

Creating safe spaces with and for Black girls

A study published in the Journal of Black Psychology found that creating spaces with and for Black girls can provide psychological safety. The Black Girl Magic Crew program validated participants' experiences, opinions, and encouraged explorations of self through specific curricular activities. This model can be used to create similar ...

SourceCornell University·JournalJournal of Black Psychology·DateFeb 12, 2024