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Science News Archive 2021 - Page 489


Page 489 of 510

Rush researchers demonstrate success with new therapy for COVID-19

Researchers at Rush University Medical Center have successfully tested a new peptide therapy that reduces fever, protects the lungs, improves heart function, and reverses cytokine storm in mouse models with COVID-19. The treatment also prevents disease progression and has potential as a post-vaccine measure to manage severe symptoms.

SourceRush University Medical Center·JournalJournal of Neuroimmune Pharmacology·DateJan 19, 2021

Counting elephants from space

Researchers successfully counted African elephants using satellite images and deep learning algorithms, achieving accuracy comparable to human observers. This new surveying technique offers an efficient alternative to manual counting from low-flying airplanes, enabling vast areas of land to be scanned rapidly.

SourceUniversity of Bath·JournalRemote Sensing in Ecology and Conservation·DateJan 19, 2021

Land deals meant to improve food security may have hurt

A recent study by researchers at the University of Notre Dame found that large-scale land acquisitions intended to boost food security had little to no benefit, instead threatening local food security in some areas. The study analyzed satellite imagery, agricultural surveys, and household dietary datasets across four continents between...

SourceUniversity of Notre Dame·JournalProceedings of the National Academy of Sciences·DateJan 19, 2021

Worker safety goes beyond human error

Researchers at Texas A&M University found that worker attitudes towards procedure utility and quality are crucial in preventing incidents. The study suggests that procedures must be both effective and useful for workers to use them correctly, contradicting the traditional 'control paradigm' approach.

SourceTexas A&M University·JournalSafety Science·DateJan 19, 2021

Solar activity reconstructed over a millennium

A team of scientists has reconstructed solar activity from 969 to 1933 using measurements of radioactive carbon in tree rings. The study used modern detection techniques to achieve high precision, confirming the regularity of the eleven-year cycle and revealing potential solar energetic proton events.

SourceETH Zurich·JournalNature Geoscience·DateJan 19, 2021

Inflamed environment is C. diff paradise

Researchers found C. diff produces toxins causing inflammation and damage to the gut lining, allowing it to thrive in an environment with less competition for nutrients. This process enables the pathogen to utilize amino acids from collagen for growth, further promoting its survival and persistence.

SourceNorth Carolina State University·JournalNature Communications·DateJan 19, 2021

Individual and organizational capacity to change can reduce health care workforce burnout

A new study by George Mason University found that healthcare professionals with a greater ability to respond to change experienced lower rates of burnout when their work environments offered strong communication, teamwork, and leadership support. The study also found that practices with higher organizational capacity for change had low...

SourceGeorge Mason University·JournalJournal of General Internal Medicine·DateJan 19, 2021

Researchers discover mechanism behind most severe cases of a common blood disorder

Researchers have uncovered the mechanism behind severe cases of G6PD deficiency, identifying a chain of amino acids that warps the shape of the condition's namesake protein. This breakthrough could pave the way for new treatments and therapeutics for Class I patients, who currently rely on blood transfusions.

SourceDOE/SLAC National Accelerator Laboratory·JournalProceedings of the National Academy of Sciences·DateJan 19, 2021

Canadian researchers create new form of cultivated meat

Researchers at McMaster University have developed a new form of cultivated meat by stacking thin sheets of muscle and fat cells grown in a lab setting. The technique allows for the creation of slabs of meat with customizable fat content and marbling, making it a promising alternative to traditional meat production.

SourceMcMaster University·JournalCells Tissues Organs·DateJan 19, 2021

Experimental evidence of an intermediate state of matter between a crystal and a liquid

Scientists have experimentally confirmed the presence of an intermediate hexatic phase in a monolayer dusty plasma system, resolving a long-standing question in theoretical physics. The research uses an unconventional approach to form a monolayer dusty system and precisely controls temperature to identify the phase transition points.

SourceMoscow Institute of Physics and Technology·JournalScientific Reports·DateJan 19, 2021