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Science News Archive 2021 - Page 390


Page 390 of 510

Income drives the economy, not prices

As consumers become richer, they spend more on services like health and education, while spending less on agriculture and manufactured goods. The study reveals that income and preferences play a larger role than productivity in shaping the sectoral composition of the economy.

SourceDartmouth College·JournalEconometrica·DateMar 22, 2021

New Barrett's esophagus monitoring method could aid in easier and more precise prognoses

A new technique for sampling and testing cells from Barrett's esophagus patients can detect specific chromosomal alterations, including the presence of esophageal adenocarcinoma. The approach combines esophageal brushing with massively parallel sequencing to provide an accurate assessment of disease stages and identify high-risk patients.

SourceCase Western Reserve University·JournalGASTROENTEROLOGY·DateMar 22, 2021

Prostate cancer uses metabolic switch to thrive after hormone therapy

Researchers at Duke University Medical Center identified a key reason hormone therapies fail and proposed a new treatment strategy directly targeting the cancer's fuel source, glutamine. By inhibiting glutamine utilization, tumor growth is successfully inhibited in studies using prostate cancer cell lines and animal models.

SourceDuke University Medical Center·JournalProceedings of the National Academy of Sciences·DateMar 22, 2021

Agricultural biodiversity:

Farmers prioritize government and agricultural sector information, while scientists value scientific information. Female farmers and those using organic farming methods rate biodiversity as more important than others. The study highlights knowledge gaps between research, agriculture, and policy practice.

SourceUniversity of Vienna·JournalBiological Conservation·DateMar 22, 2021

More primary care physicians could mean gains in life expectancy, fewer deaths

A new study suggests that increasing primary care physicians by one per 1,500 residents in critical-shortage regions could boost life expectancy by an average of 56 days and prevent over 7,000 deaths annually. This analysis is based on data from 3,400 regions, highlighting the need to incentivize doctors to practice in underserved areas.

SourceHarvard Medical School·JournalAnnals of Internal Medicine·DateMar 22, 2021

Making plastics production more energy efficient

Researchers at Northwestern University have developed a new method for producing propylene, a key component of plastics, that uses less energy. The technique, which involves the use of two catalysts, produces yields up to 30% higher than traditional methods, making it a promising solution for more energy-efficient plastics production.

SourceNorthwestern University·JournalScience·DateMar 22, 2021

Modifying an implant: Dental implant biomaterials

The use of dental implants for tooth replacement requires careful consideration of biomaterials, which must integrate into the body while minimizing negative immune responses. Researchers have compared titanium and zirconia, highlighting the importance of surface modification processes and coatings in optimizing implant performance.

SourceCompuscript Ltd·JournalBIO Integration·DateMar 22, 2021

Nanobiomaterial boosts neuronal growth in mice with spinal cord injuries

Researchers used layered double hydroxide (LDH) to inhibit inflammatory environments surrounding spinal cord injuries, accelerating neuron regeneration and neural circuit reconstruction in mice. LDH promotes the activation of channels for neuron excitation and induction of action potential, improving locomotive behavior.

The dirt on crop insurance

Researchers found that considering soil organic matter improves water retention, mitigating crop yield losses from drought. Including this data in insurance premiums could reduce liabilities by 36% while increasing corn yields by 35 bushels per acre.

SourceYale School of the Environment·JournalEnvironmental Research Letters·DateMar 22, 2021

Why commercialization of carbon capture and sequestration has failed and how it can work

A recent study by University of California San Diego researchers identified 12 essential attributes that explain why commercial carbon capture and sequestration projects succeed or fail in the US. The credibility of revenues and incentives is crucial, with policies like the 45Q tax credit providing a guaranteed revenue stream.

SourceUniversity of California - San Diego·JournalEnvironmental Research Letters·DateMar 22, 2021

Deep seafloor nutrient vital in global food chain

Iron, a micronutrient crucial for phytoplankton, is being released from deep ocean sediments, providing a new source of nutrition for drifting marine organisms. This finding challenges previous expectations and has significant implications for studying the ocean carbon cycle and managing the marine environment.

SourceUniversity of Leeds·JournalProceedings of the National Academy of Sciences·DateMar 22, 2021

Association of age with SARS-CoV-2 antibody response

A recent study published in JAMA Network Open found that the quantity and quality of SARS-CoV-2 antibodies differ significantly among children, adolescents, and young adults. The research has important implications for understanding the immune response to COVID-19 vaccines and informing public health strategies.

SourceJAMA Network·JournalJAMA Network Open·DateMar 22, 2021

Early warning system for intensive care units

A team of researchers led by Professor Alexander Meyer has created an early warning system for intensive care units (ICUs) using big data and artificial intelligence. The system predicts postoperative bleeding and acute kidney injury with high accuracy, allowing timely interventions to save lives.

SourceBIH at Charité·JournalThe Lancet Respiratory Medicine·DateMar 22, 2021

Plan for globally safer food

The Global Harmonization Initiative aims to establish a legislative framework for recognized food safety professionals, promoting formal requirements for education, registration, and professional bodies. This move seeks to enhance food safety practices globally by setting standards for roles in managing food safety.

Teaching AI what's fair

A team led by Michigan State University's Pang-Ning Tan is working to make artificial intelligence algorithms more fair and aware of their potential biases. They're developing a definition of fairness that considers perspectives from groups of people, rather than just individual outcomes.