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Science News Archive 2021 - Page 57


Page 57 of 510

Monash University study uncovers a new understanding of how mesenchymal stromal cells benefit patients in cell therapy

Researchers found that the therapeutic effects of MSCs are due to the recipient's immune cells responding to dying MSCs undergoing apoptosis, promoting anti-inflammatory effects. This understanding may lead to new therapeutic strategies targeting the responding immune cell population.

SourceMonash University·JournalNature Communications·TypeExperimental study·DateNov 11, 2021

KU study shows political ideology determines health behavior, especially during pandemic

A KU study reveals that individuals' political ideologies play a crucial role in shaping their health behaviors during the COVID-19 pandemic. The research, conducted using two surveys and a review of existing data, found that ideology was a significant predictor of health behavior, especially when compared to other factors such as age,...

SourceUniversity of Kansas·JournalSSM - Population Health·TypeSurvey·DateNov 11, 2021

Netflix’s Sex Education lives up to its name – and challenges perceptions about teens and porn

The study analyzes how Sex Education fills the gap in sex education for teenagers, offering a more nuanced understanding of their needs. The show represents sex education as a conversation between teens, parents, and experts, challenging traditional gatekeeper ideas about adult protection.

SourceEdith Cowan University·JournalInformation Communication & Society·TypeLiterature review·DateNov 11, 2021

Finnish parents want assessment that supports and motivates learning

A new study from the University of Eastern Finland reveals that Finnish parents regard assessment as primarily a tool for supporting pupils' learning and growth. They hope for diverse forms of assessment, including numerical evaluations, to motivate children and facilitate comparison. The researchers propose that schools engage in clos...

SourceUniversity of Eastern Finland·JournalStudies In Educational Evaluation·DateNov 11, 2021

Nitrogen calculators not created equal, according to Illinois study

A new Illinois study compares performance of static and dynamic nitrogen recommendation tools, finding that complex dynamic tools do not consistently increase profits but offer a 15% reduction in nitrogen leaching. The researchers highlight the need to refine these tools and prioritize environmental outcomes over economic gains.

Women with long COVID-19 may need targeted rehabilitation to help counter problems with physical activity tolerance

Research suggests women with lingering COVID-19 symptoms experience heart rate irregularities during physical exertion, leading to delayed recovery and reduced exercise tolerance. Targeted rehabilitation programs are needed to manage these consequences in women with persistent heart and lung problems.

SourceThe Physiological Society·JournalExperimental Physiology·TypeExperimental study·DateNov 11, 2021

New technique may lead to safer stem cell transplants

Researchers have developed a new method of stem cell transplantation that does not require chemotherapy or radiation. The approach uses immunotherapeutic drugs to eliminate cancer cells and prevent immune rejection. This technique has the potential to be curative for blood cancers and treat other diseases like sickle cell anemia.

SourceWashU Medicine·JournalJournal of Clinical Investigation·DateNov 11, 2021

New study finds evidence of COVID antibodies in breast milk of vaccinated mothers

A study published in JAMA Pediatrics found that mothers with disease-acquired immunity and those with vaccine-immunity produced high levels of antibodies in their breast milk, providing neutralization against SARS-CoV-2. The antibodies, including IgA and IgG, existed for three months after infection or vaccination.

SourceUniversity of Rochester Medical Center·JournalJAMA Pediatrics·TypeObservational study·DateNov 11, 2021

What people value in digital news

Researchers at the Missouri School of Journalism explored how people value digital news, finding that print newspapers moved to digital platforms without understanding the differences between mediums. The study identified eight affordances of digital news readers, including the importance of design elements like color and hyperlinks.

SourceUniversity of Missouri-Columbia·JournalDigital Journalism·DateNov 11, 2021

Discovering exoplanets using artificial intelligence

Researchers discovered two new exoplanets using AI-powered image recognition, which can predict the effect of interactions between planets on a star's luminosity. This technique improves detection rates for terrestrial-type planets and provides insights into their mass, density, and composition.

SourceUniversité de Genève·JournalAstronomy and Astrophysics·TypeNews article·DateNov 11, 2021

Davemaoite, the first calcium silicate perovskite from Earth’s lower mantle, discovered inside deep-earth diamond

Researchers identified a high-pressure calcium silicate perovskite, named davemaoite, trapped inside a deep-earth diamond. This discovery confirms the existence of a new mineral that concentrates elements incompatible in the upper mantle, including rare-earth elements and radioactive isotopes.

IU findings published in New England Journal of Medicine show effectiveness of low-cost medicine in treating high blood pressure in people with advanced kidney disease

A study published in the New England Journal of Medicine found that chlorthalidone significantly lowered blood pressure by 11mmHg in patients with stage 4 chronic kidney disease. The results also showed a 50% reduction in albuminuria, suggesting potential benefits for reducing kidney failure progression and hospitalizations.

SourceIndiana University School of Medicine·JournalNew England Journal of Medicine·DateNov 11, 2021

Crushed resistance

Researchers propose that crushing large olivine crystals reduces plate resistance, allowing it to bend into segments. Simulations support observations from nature, including fault patterns and seismic velocity structure.

SourceETH Zurich·JournalNature·TypeExperimental study·DateNov 11, 2021

Wistar scientists discover sugar molecule on HIV-infected cell plays role in evading immune system — they exploit as weakness to make more effective “natural killers” against HIV

Researchers at The Wistar Institute identified a glyco-immune checkpoint interaction that allows HIV-infected cells to evade immune surveillance. They developed a novel approach to selectively target these interactions, enabling killer cells to attack and kill infected cells in a selective manner.

SourceThe Wistar Institute·TypeExperimental study·DateNov 11, 2021

Near-earth asteroid might be a lost fragment of the moon

A team of astronomers from the University of Arizona suggests that near-Earth asteroid Kamo`oalewa could be a miniature moon, with its spectrum matching lunar rocks from NASA's Apollo missions. The asteroid's orbit is similar to Earth's but with a slight tilt, making it unlikely to have originated from a typical near-Earth asteroid.

SourceUniversity of Arizona·JournalCommunications Earth & Environment·TypeObservational study·DateNov 11, 2021

Rural COVID patients in ICUs at higher risk of dying than urban counterparts, according to WVU researcher

A study by West Virginia University researcher Sunil Sharma found that rural COVID patients who end up in an intensive care unit are more likely to die within 30 days compared to their urban counterparts. The researchers also discovered that rural patients with COVID-linked ARDS have a higher mortality rate, even when controlling for d...

SourceWest Virginia University·JournalCritical Care Explorations·DateNov 11, 2021

Athletes with a pre-performance routine perform better

Research from the University of Vienna found that athletes with a pre-performance routine outperform those without, regardless of sport task complexity or athlete age/gender. A meta-analysis of 800 athletes across 15 sports revealed significant performance improvements after learning and applying a PPR.

SourceUniversity of Vienna·JournalInternational Review of Sport and Exercise Psychology·DateNov 11, 2021

The global ocean out of balance

A global study reveals that industrial fishing has drastically altered the size spectrum theory in oceans, leading to a drastic loss of large fish and whales. Researchers estimate that losses caused by industrial fishing and whaling over the past century are greater than potential biomass losses due to climate change scenarios.

SourceMcGill University·JournalScience Advances·DateNov 11, 2021

It takes more than one mutant copy of the PIK3CA gene to make breast cancer more aggressive

A new study found that tumors with one mutant copy of the PIK3CA gene tend to have lower PI3K activity, while those with two or more copies often have higher PIK3α activity, leading to more aggressive tumors and poorer prognosis. The research also discovered a counterintuitive relationship between PI3K mutations, PI3K activity, and ste...

SourcePLOS·JournalPLOS Genetics·TypeComputational simulation/modeling·DateNov 11, 2021

Study finds that singing, being male, and being an adult tend to produce more respiratory aerosols

A study by Colorado State University found that singing produces 77% more aerosols than talking, with older males emitting the most particles. The study's findings suggest that measuring carbon dioxide levels and noise levels can be used to gauge transmission risk in enclosed spaces.

SourceColorado State University·JournalEnvironmental Science & Technology Letters·TypeExperimental study·DateNov 11, 2021

In Science, Harvard scholars lead call for more comprehensive research into solar geoengineering

A group of Harvard scholars, including David Keith and Joseph Aldy, argue that more thorough social science research is needed into solar geoengineering to understand its potential risks and benefits. They suggest pursuing three research themes: assessing costs and benefits, understanding deployment incentives, and evaluating SG in a p...

SourceHarvard Kennedy School·JournalScience·TypeCommentary/editorial·DateNov 11, 2021

PFAS exposure, high-fat diet drive prostate cells’ metabolism into pro-cancer state

A new study in mice found that PFAS exposure reprograms the metabolism of benign and malignant human prostate cells to a more energy efficient state. Consuming a high-fat diet significantly accelerated development of tumors in PFAS-exposed mice, suggesting a synergistic interaction between the two.

SourceUniversity of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign, News Bureau·JournalNutrients·TypeExperimental study·DateNov 11, 2021

How alike are the cancer cells from a single patient?

A new study by USC researchers uses a genetic technology to analyze gene expression signatures of individual cancer cells from patients with leukemia. The findings show that cancer cells with distinct gene expression profiles tend to grow in different organs, while those with specific genes are more resistant to chemotherapy.

SourceKeck School of Medicine of USC·JournalNature Communications·TypeExperimental study·DateNov 11, 2021

Lower sex-selective abortion rates in India districts with Muslim legislators

New research by the universities of Kent, Warwick and Notre Dame has found that sex-selective abortion is lower in India districts with a Muslim state legislator. This is due to stronger stated preferences against abortion among Muslims compared to Hindus, making Muslim legislators more effective at reducing abortion rates.

SourceUniversity of Kent·JournalJournal of Development Economics·TypeSurvey·DateNov 11, 2021

Unhoused veterans struggle to find services

A year-long study found that few veterans were able to obtain permanent housing despite living near the region's major VA service center. The study highlights the need for outreach efforts to be expanded to engage unhoused veterans, with mobile services potentially being a key solution.

SourceRAND Corporation·TypeSurvey·DateNov 11, 2021

Only certain patients with chronic neck pain need invasive procedures to treat it

New guidelines recommend using nerve blocks to select patients with chronic neck pain who may benefit from radiofrequency ablation. Only one nerve block is required, rather than two, and patients must experience meaningful pain relief from diagnostic blocks. This approach aims to reduce unnecessary procedures and improve patient outcomes.

SourceBMJ Group·JournalRegional Anesthesia & Pain Medicine·DateNov 11, 2021

Drug combination helps children with acute promyelocytic leukemia avoid conventional chemotherapy

A clinical trial found that a drug combination of all-trans retinoic acid and arsenic trioxide is highly effective in treating standard- and high-risk acute promyelocytic leukemia in children, with nearly all patients surviving for two years without relapse. The treatment reduces the need for conventional chemotherapy, offering fewer s...

SourceNIH/National Cancer Institute·JournalJAMA Oncology·TypeRandomized controlled/clinical trial·DateNov 11, 2021

Poverty, racism and the public health crisis in America

Research highlights the intersection of poverty and racism in exacerbating US public health disparities. The US has a high rate of poverty despite collective wealth, disproportionately affecting communities of color. Beech emphasizes the need for policies to increase access to care and address institutionalized racism.

SourceUniversity of Houston·JournalFrontiers in Public Health·DateNov 11, 2021

COVID-19 leads to a decrease in prosocial behaviour among disadvantaged adolescents

A study by University of Cologne researchers found that COVID-19 has a particularly negative impact on young people from economically disadvantaged and less educated backgrounds. They exhibit decreased prosocial behavior, including lower generosity, altruism, and cooperation, as well as reduced trust in others.

SourceUniversity of Cologne·JournalProceedings of the National Academy of Sciences·TypeObservational study·DateNov 11, 2021

Humans hastened the extinction of the woolly mammoth

New research reveals humans played a significant role in the extinction of woolly mammoths, contributing to population declines and range collapses. The study shows that human hunting, combined with climate change, led to the species' demise in Eurasia thousands of years earlier than previously thought.

SourceUniversity of Adelaide·JournalEcology Letters·TypeComputational simulation/modeling·DateNov 11, 2021