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Science News Archive July 2020 - Page 9


Page 9 of 47

Yale to lead trial of potential COVID-19 treatment

LAM-002A has shown promise in reducing SARS-CoV-2 virus levels in infected individuals, with Yale leading a Phase II trial to test its safety and efficacy as a COVID-19 treatment. The study aims to enroll 142 newly diagnosed patients to assess the drug's effectiveness in preventing disease progression.

SourceYale University·JournalNature·DateJul 27, 2020

'Selfish and loveless' society in Uganda really is not

A Baylor University study led by Cathryn Townsend challenges the long-held notion that the Ik ethnic group in Uganda is selfish and loveless. The research found that sharing and cooperation are integral to Ik culture, with a strong emphasis on supernatural punishment for those who do not share.

SourceBaylor University·JournalEvolutionary Human Sciences·DateJul 27, 2020

Pesticides can protect crops from hydrophobic pollutants

Researchers developed two approaches to control plant proteins related to hydrophobic pollutant transport. A pesticide that suppresses MLP gene expression reduced hydrophobic pollutant accumulation, while an MLP-binding pesticide inhibited binding to pollutants. This breakthrough enables safer crop production on contaminated soil.

SourceKobe University·JournalThe Science of The Total Environment·DateJul 27, 2020

Maternal depression increases odds of depression in offspring, study shows

A new study published in JAMA Network Open found that maternal depression during and after pregnancy significantly increases the odds of depression in offspring during adolescence and adulthood. The research, which examined over 15,000 children, shows that perinatal depression can have a lasting negative impact on mental health.

SMART finds new and safe method that enhances dengue vaccination -- Paving way to wide use

A team of researchers from SMART has developed a novel approach to induce strong and broad immunity against the dengue virus. Sequential immunization was found to be more effective in inducing higher levels of neutralizing antibodies to all four DENV serotypes than traditional tetravalent-formulated immunization.

Hedonism leads to happiness

New research from the University of Zurich and Radboud University found that people's capacity for hedonism contributes at least as much to a happy life as successful self-control. Distracted thoughts can undermine immediate pleasure, while consciously planning downtime can help enjoy it more

SourceUniversity of Zurich·JournalPersonality and Social Psychology Bulletin·DateJul 27, 2020

Ultra-low power brain implants find meaningful signal in grey matter noise

The team discovered a technique to compress brain signals, focusing on neural activity spikes called threshold crossing rate or TCR, which requires less data while still being able to predict firing neurons. By listening to a specific feature of neuron data called spiking-band power, the SBP method is highly accurate and takes in one-t...

SourceUniversity of Michigan·JournalNature Biomedical Engineering·DateJul 27, 2020

New study provides valuable historical dataset for Yellow River water management

Researchers reconstructed natural runoff history for the middle reach of the Yellow River from 1492 to 2013 CE, finding reduced runoff and sediment load due to human activities. The study provides an important model for distinguishing anthropogenic influence from natural variability in global change studies.

SourceChinese Academy of Sciences Headquarters·JournalProceedings of the National Academy of Sciences·DateJul 27, 2020

Pristine environments offer a window to our cloudy past

A new study uses satellite data to understand global cloud composition during the industrial revolution, finding that early-industrial aerosol concentrations were much higher than estimated by climate models. This could mean human-generated atmospheric aerosols are not having as strong a cooling effect as previously thought.

SourceUniversity of Leeds·JournalProceedings of the National Academy of Sciences·DateJul 27, 2020

Tendency to select targeted retirement fund ending in zero may impact wealth

A new study by Iowa State University researchers reveals that individuals tend to select retirement funds ending in zero, leading to an incompatible level of risk and potentially lower total wealth at retirement. The findings suggest that demographic factors such as age, income, and education can influence the likelihood of this 'zero'...

SourceIowa State University·JournalJournal of Consumer Research·DateJul 27, 2020

Comprehensive study of vaccine safety concludes that vaccines are 'remarkably safe'

A comprehensive review of vaccine data over 20 years found vaccines to be remarkably safe, with most safety issues identified through existing postmarketing surveillance programs. The study confirms the effectiveness of the vaccine approval system and postmarketing surveillance in ensuring public health benefits while minimizing risks.

SourceAmerican College of Physicians·JournalAnnals of Internal Medicine·DateJul 27, 2020

Molecular cause underlying rare genetic disorder revealed

Researchers discovered abnormalities in communication between brain cells and molecular changes affecting protein production due to dysfunctional CASK gene. The study also suggests an unexpected role for CASK in regulating energy production in cells, which may explain diminished brain size and dysregulated function.

SourceVirginia Tech·JournalExperimental Neurology·DateJul 27, 2020

Population genetic screening shown to efficiently identify increased risk for inherited disease

A new study shows that community-based genetic screening can identify individuals at increased risk for three common inherited conditions, including Hereditary Breast and Ovarian Cancer, Lynch Syndrome, and Familial Hypercholesterolemia. The study found that up to 90% of carriers were not previously identified in a clinical setting.

SourceDesert Research Institute·JournalNature Medicine·DateJul 27, 2020