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Science News Archive June 2017 - Page 26


Page 26 of 40

Mass. General report outlines strategies to address racial, ethnic health care disparities

The report identifies five essential domains for successfully addressing disparities: knowing who to involve, shaping organizational culture, creating urgency and a vision, engaging the organization and audience, and harnessing the power of a collaborative network. These strategies were developed by participants in the Massachusetts Ge...

SourceMassachusetts General Hospital·JournalHealth Affairs·DateJun 12, 2017

Vegetarian diets almost twice as effective in reducing body weight, study finds

A new study published in the Journal of the American College of Nutrition found that vegetarian diets are more effective than conventional low-calorie diets in reducing body weight. Vegetarian diets also improve glucose and lipid metabolism, which is particularly important for people with metabolic syndrome and type 2 diabetes.

SourceTaylor & Francis Group·JournalJournal of the American College of Nutrition·DateJun 12, 2017

Regenerating damaged nerves with 'Pac-Man' cells

Macrophages, known as the Pac-Man of the immune system, promote healing by regrowing severed nerves in rats, offering a promising alternative to current treatments like autografts. The approach uses biological signals to recruit younger, undifferentiated cells destined to become pro-healing macrophages.

SourceDuke University·JournalProceedings of the National Academy of Sciences·DateJun 12, 2017

Uncovered: 1,000 new microbial genomes

The U.S. Department of Energy Joint Genome Institute has released 1,003 phylogenetically diverse bacterial and archaeal reference genomes, which will aid in understanding the functions of genes, enzymes, and metabolic pathways with wide applications in bioenergy, biomedicine, agriculture, and environmental sciences.

SourceDOE/Joint Genome Institute·JournalNature Biotechnology·DateJun 12, 2017

Concentration spans drop when online ads pop up

Researchers found that online ads decrease brain activity in frontal/prefrontal cortical areas, indicating a drop in concentration levels. The presence of ads also affects the frontal/prefrontal asymmetry index, with some subjects experiencing increased and others decreased activity.

SourceSpringer·JournalCognitive Processing·DateJun 12, 2017

Scientists unravel the interdecadal variability of the Afro-Asian summer monsoon system

The Afro-Asian summer monsoon is projected to intensify and shift northwards following the Atlantic Multidecadal Oscillation (AMO) warm phase since the mid-1990s. Precipitation in the Huanghe-Huaihe River valley increased in the late 1990s, marking a significant change in the region's climate.

SourceInstitute of Atmospheric Physics, Chinese Academy of Sciences·JournalAdvances in Atmospheric Sciences·DateJun 12, 2017

Ontarians still skeptical of flu shot

A new study from the University of Waterloo found that half of those who avoid flu shots do so due to concerns over vaccine effectiveness and personal immune systems. The study also revealed that moral and religious reasons, as well as past poor vaccine experiences, contribute to avoidance.

SourceUniversity of Waterloo·JournalJournal of Health Communication·DateJun 12, 2017

Winning climate strategy demands details

Scientists at Michigan State University found that examining daily climate minutia provides a better understanding of variable land climates, crucial for policy-making. The study reveals dramatic swings in northern China's climate, affecting agriculture and economic development.

SourceMichigan State University·JournalScientific Reports·DateJun 12, 2017

E-cigarettes less addictive than cigarettes, PATH study shows

Researchers at Penn State College of Medicine found that e-cigarette users are relatively less dependent on their product compared to traditional cigarette smokers. The PATH study analyzed responses from over 30,000 young people and adults, showing that e-cigarettes cause less nicotine dependence than cigarettes.

SourcePenn State·JournalPreventive Medicine·DateJun 12, 2017

Healthy diet? That depends on your genes

A Cornell University study reveals genetic adaptations to plant-heavy diets led to increased frequency of FADS1 gene variants, crucial for omega-3 and omega-6 fatty acid production. This discovery has implications for personalized dietary recommendations based on individual genetic backgrounds.

SourceCornell University·JournalEcology and Evolution·DateJun 12, 2017

New carbon nitride material coupled with ruthenium enhances visible-light CO2 reduction in water

A new nanomaterial capable of reducing CO2 with high selectivity and turnover number has been developed by Tokyo Tech. The material consists of carbon nitride nanosheets combined with a metal structure known as binuclear ruthenium(II) complex, resulting in unprecedented binding of RuRu' to the nanosheet surface.

SourceTokyo Institute of Technology·JournalAngewandte Chemie International Edition·DateJun 12, 2017

New study finds more than 2 billion people overweight or obese

A new study reveals that 30% of the world's population is affected by weight problems, resulting in over 4 million deaths attributed to excess body weight. The study found that nearly 40% of these deaths occurred among people with a BMI below the threshold for obesity, highlighting the risks associated with being overweight or obese.

SourceInstitute for Health Metrics and Evaluation·JournalNew England Journal of Medicine·DateJun 12, 2017

Researchers find a surprise just beneath the surface in carbon dioxide experiment

A team of researchers from Caltech and Berkeley Lab found that tiny amounts of oxygen beneath the copper catalyst's surface play a critical role in activating carbon dioxide for conversion to ethanol. The discovery sheds light on the atomic-level details of the reaction, enabling scientists to predict ways to improve efficiency.

SourceCalifornia Institute of Technology·JournalProceedings of the National Academy of Sciences·DateJun 12, 2017

Zig-zagging device focuses high-energy radiation emissions

Physicists have developed a way to control high-energy particle emissions in an undulator device, which could potentially be used as a source of radiation for cancer treatment or nuclear waste processing. The new device produces a much higher level of radiation than traditional ones.

SourceSpringer·JournalThe European Physical Journal D·DateJun 12, 2017

Moffitt researchers identify inhibitor that overcomes drug resistance in prostate cancer

Researchers at H. Lee Moffitt Cancer Center identify novel inhibitor (R)-9bMS that targets epigenetic modification of the androgen receptor gene, blocking growth in resistant prostate cancer cells. The discovery offers a new therapeutic option for castration-resistant prostate cancer patients who do not respond to enzalutamide.