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Science News Archive 2021 - Page 169


Page 169 of 510

Short hospitalizations hit hard for COVID patients

A US nationwide cohort study found that nearly 85% of hospitalized COVID-19 patients were not back to their pre-COVID lives one month later. The study also revealed significant factors driving people's inability to recover, including a lack of follow-up healthcare services and new disabilities preventing daily activities.

SourceMichigan Medicine - University of Michigan·JournalJournal of Hospital Medicine·TypeObservational study·DateAug 18, 2021

8 weeks of meditation studies can make your brain quicker

A new study from Binghamton University tracked how practicing meditation for just a couple of months changed the brain patterns of 10 students. The results show that meditation training led to faster switching between the brain's two general states of consciousness, indicating an effect on fast switching and maintaining attention.

SourceBinghamton University·JournalScientific Reports·DateAug 18, 2021

The new alchemy in carbon neutrality: turning water into ammonia with only renewable energy!

The Korea Institute of Machinery and Materials has developed a process to produce 'green ammonia' with zero carbon emissions, using renewable energy. The process involves combining water with nitrogen plasma, producing hydrogen and nitrogen oxides, which are then reduced to ammonia with high selectivity.

Factors affecting Japanese citizens’ desire for a long life include income level, having children and gender – with men expressing a stronger wish for longevity than women

A national survey in Japan found that men express a stronger wish for longevity than women, while having children and higher income levels also influence desires for a long life. The study sheds light on the individual attitudes toward longevity among Japanese citizens.

SourcePLOS·JournalPLOS ONE·TypeSurvey·DateAug 18, 2021

What if our history was written in our grammar?

An international team reconstructed language families spanning over 10,000 years by combining genetics, linguistics, and musicology data. Grammar was found to reflect population history more closely than other cultural features, highlighting the importance of the grammatical factor in understanding human cultural evolution.

SourceUniversity of Zurich·JournalScience Advances·TypeData/statistical analysis·DateAug 18, 2021

Victims’ gender, race, and child status affected decisions about death penalty in Pennsylvania

A study examining Pennsylvania death penalty cases found that victim's gender and race affected every outcome. Cases with white female, male or black male victims were more likely to receive a death sentence than those with black female victims. The study also found that prosecutors were more likely to seek the death penalty in cases w...

SourceCrime and Justice Research Alliance·JournalJustice Quarterly·DateAug 18, 2021

Receiving threatening or obscene messages from a partner and mental health

A new study found that one in fifteen adults experienced threatening or obscene messaging from a partner, with victims at higher risk of mental health issues. Recipients were more likely to be female, younger, and socioeconomically disadvantaged. The study suggests that exposure to these messages could lead to poor health outcomes.

SourceCity St George’s, University of London·JournalSocial Psychiatry and Psychiatric Epidemiology·TypeSurvey·DateAug 18, 2021

Artificial camouflage skin

Researchers at Seoul National University developed a wearable artificial chameleon skin that can detect and adapt to its surroundings in real-time. The device, which combines thermochromic liquid crystal ink with vertically-stacked silver nanowires, enables high-resolution camouflage and blending into complex backgrounds.

SourceSeoul National University·JournalNature Communications·DateAug 18, 2021

Smartphone cameras offer smallholder farmers promising new access to soil health knowledge

A recent study published in Biosystems Engineering explores the potential of smartphone cameras to assess soil organic matter and evaluate soil fertility. The technique uses advanced image analysis and machine learning to predict SOM values rapidly and with high correlation to traditional soil analysis.

SourceAfrican Plant Nutrition Institute·JournalBiosystems Engineering·TypeExperimental study·DateAug 18, 2021

Telehealth helped physical therapists support patients virtually during pandemic, MU study finds

A study at the University of Missouri found that telehealth helped pediatric physical therapists deliver critical therapy services virtually, despite technical issues in rural areas. Access to reliable Wi-Fi was a common challenge, but caregiver engagement was reported as the biggest facilitator to successful sessions.

SourceUniversity of Missouri-Columbia·JournalPediatric Physical Therapy·TypeSurvey·DateAug 18, 2021

University of Surrey reveals optimal usage time for face coverings to mitigate Covid-19 transmission

Air pollution experts at the University of Surrey recommend wearing respirator masks between 3.2 to 9.5 hours for maximum effectiveness, with 97% effective in protecting against virus-laden particles. Medical and handmade masks also provide protection but with lower usage time and effectiveness.

SourceUniversity of Surrey·JournalJournal of Hazardous Materials·TypeNews article·DateAug 18, 2021

Transformation in the particle zoo

A team led by the University of Bonn has detected a triangle singularity mimicking a new particle in CERN data. The discovery provides insights into the strong interaction and its contribution to particle mass.

SourceUniversity of Bonn·JournalPhysical Review Letters·TypeExperimental study·DateAug 18, 2021

Lundquist Institute investigators find that early administration of convalescent plasma does not prevent COVID-19 disease progression

A new study published in The New England Journal of Medicine found that early administration of convalescent plasma did not prevent COVID-19 disease progression in high-risk patients. Despite the strategy's potential, the study suggests that it is not a viable approach to reduce illness severity.

SourceThe Lundquist Institute·JournalNew England Journal of Medicine·TypeRandomized controlled/clinical trial·DateAug 18, 2021

Sleep duration buffers effects of adversity among recently immigrated Latinx adolescents

A new study by University of Houston researchers suggests that maximizing sleep can offer psychological benefit to adolescents in this at-risk group. The study found that experiences of neglect in childhood were associated with mental health symptoms, but this relation was weakened in the presence of high sleep duration.

SourceUniversity of Houston·JournalJournal of Child & Adolescent Trauma·TypeCase study·DateAug 18, 2021

New research analyzes investor reaction to robo-advisors, some people are missing an opportunity

Investors who need more help from robo-advisors are less likely to adopt them. Those who do use RAs often adjust their usage in response to recent performance, leading to suboptimal outcomes. The study suggests that human-artificial intelligence synergy can be counterproductive if humans have too much control over RA usage.

SourceInstitute for Operations Research and the Management Sciences·JournalInformation Systems Research·TypeData/statistical analysis·DateAug 18, 2021

Supersolid in a new dimension

Researchers at the University of Innsbruck have successfully generated a two-dimensional supersolid quantum gas, a phenomenon previously observed only in one dimension. This breakthrough enables the study of vortices forming in the hole between droplets, furthering our understanding of superfluidity and its properties.

SourceUniversity of Innsbruck·JournalNature·TypeExperimental study·DateAug 18, 2021

Bee flight suffers under temperature extremes

Researchers found that bumblebee flight performance rises rapidly from 12°C and peaks between 25-27°C, but declines beyond this. This study suggests that climate warming may benefit some northern-latitude bee species, but poses risks to southern-latitude populations due to more frequent extreme weather events.

SourceImperial College London·JournalFunctional Ecology·TypeExperimental study·DateAug 18, 2021

New prehistoric ‘Hobbit’ creature is among three discoveries suggesting rapid evolution of mammals after dinosaur extinction

Researchers have discovered three new species of ancient mammals in North America, hinting at rapid evolution following the mass extinction of dinosaurs. The creatures, which include the 'Hobbit'-named Beornus honeyi, differ from earlier known mammals and suggest that mammals diversified more rapidly than previously thought.

SourceTaylor & Francis Group·JournalJournal of Systematic Palaeontology·DateAug 18, 2021

Urban lights keep insects awake at night

A study by Osaka City University reveals that urban lighting and heat delay insect hibernation, allowing insects to enter hibernation up to 3 weeks later than in rural areas. The findings suggest that increased nighttime light and heat from urban areas interfere with the natural photoperiodism of insects.

SourceOsaka City University·JournalRoyal Society Open Science·TypeExperimental study·DateAug 18, 2021

Specific testing required to assess frailty in older adults

A study of 1800 Japanese citizens aged 65 found that low weight and insufficient exercise are significant risk factors for sarcopenia. Those with possible sarcopenia exhibited higher degrees of frailty despite normal Specific Health Checkup results, highlighting the need for a test to identify sarcopenia early on.

SourceKobe University·JournalGeriatrics and Gerontology International·TypeData/statistical analysis·DateAug 18, 2021

Study: Older patients with chronic conditions benefit from reading medical appointment notes

A study published in the Journal of the American Geriatrics Society found that older patients with multiple chronic conditions who read their visit notes reported better understanding their medications and taking them as prescribed. Reading notes also helped these patients feel more in control of their care.

SourceBeth Israel Deaconess Medical Center·JournalJournal of the American Geriatrics Society·TypeContent analysis·DateAug 18, 2021

Vitamin D deficiency is a global health issue for the black community, finds new study from the University of Surrey

A new study published in The European Journal of Clinical Nutrition found that people of African descent are at risk of vitamin D deficiency, particularly in countries with high latitudes. To address this issue, researchers recommend increasing consumption of vitamin D-rich foods and taking supplements, especially during winter months.

SourceUniversity of Surrey·JournalEuropean Journal of Clinical Nutrition·TypeLiterature review·DateAug 18, 2021

JAMA commentary urges uplifting US Latinos to improve health and our nation

The US Latino population faces systemic health inequalities, including lower health insurance coverage, higher rates of chronic diseases, and limited representation in the healthcare workforce. The authors urge uplifting Latinos to improve health and societal presence, citing COVID-19 mortality disparities and the need for culturally s...

SourceUniversity of Texas Health Science Center at San Antonio·JournalJAMA·TypeCommentary/editorial·DateAug 18, 2021

Aided eye: Neural network helps augment 3D micro-CT images of fibrous materials

Researchers from Skoltech and KU Leuven used machine learning to reconstruct 3D micro-CT images of fibrous materials, overcoming the difficulties faced by humans in analyzing these complex materials. The team employed GANs to fill a gap in available inpainting tools, enabling precise material analysis and simulation.

SourceSkolkovo Institute of Science and Technology (Skoltech)·JournalComputational Materials Science·DateAug 18, 2021

Twilight for silicon? Paper reappraises “Moore’s law” through chip density

Researchers at The Rockefeller University shed new light on 'Moore's Law,' revealing a more nuanced historical wave pattern to the rise of transistor density in silicon chips. The study predicts that the end of the silicon chip era is near, with only one or two silicon pulses left before further advances become exponentially difficult.

SourceTerry Collins Assoc·JournalPLOS ONE·TypeComputational simulation/modeling·DateAug 18, 2021