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Science News Archive 2021 - Page 65


Page 65 of 510

Air pollution and proximity to blue and green spaces found to be key factors affecting quality of life of people living with chronic obstructive pulmonary disease

High air pollution exposure worsens COPD patients' quality of life, while living far from green spaces also reports negative effects. Access to blue and green spaces improves mental and physical health through increased physical activity.

SourceUniversity of Alberta Faculty of Medicine & Dentistry·JournalEnvironmental Research·DateNov 5, 2021

Pathomechanisms in heart disease discovered

A study published in Science Translational Medicine reveals that truncated titin proteins cause a reduction in contractile force in patients with dilated cardiomyopathy. The research also suggests possible treatment strategies, including genetic editing using CRISPR-Cas9.

SourceUniversity of Münster·JournalScience Translational Medicine·DateNov 5, 2021

D​​​​espite climate change, kids with asthma in Los Angeles didn’t have an increase in allergy diagnoses

A new study followed 5,000 kids with asthma in Los Angeles for 15 years and found no significant increase in allergic sensitizations to environmental allergens. Despite rising temperatures and pollen loads, children with asthma were not more likely to become sensitized to specific pollens.

SourceAmerican College of Allergy, Asthma, and Immunology·JournalAnnals of Allergy Asthma & Immunology·TypeObservational study·DateNov 5, 2021

Increasingly frequent wildfires linked to human-caused climate change, UCLA-led study finds

A UCLA-led study found that human-caused climate change is the main cause of increasing fire weather in the western United States. The study used artificial intelligence to analyze climate and fire data, estimating that 68% of the increase in vapor pressure deficit between 1979 and 2020 was likely due to human-induced global warming.

SourceUniversity of California - Los Angeles·JournalProceedings of the National Academy of Sciences·DateNov 5, 2021

Possible allergic reaction to COVID-19 vaccine shouldn’t mean skipping the vaccine

Two new studies show that people who think they'll have an allergic reaction or believe they've had one to the first vaccine can still be fully vaccinated. The studies found that 100 patients with PEG allergies and 25 patients with adverse events following immunization tolerated the full vaccine series without severe symptoms.

SourceAmerican College of Allergy, Asthma, and Immunology·JournalAnnals of Allergy Asthma & Immunology·TypeObservational study·DateNov 5, 2021

Diamonds are forever: Scientists develop microscopic calibration tool with fluorescent nanodiamonds

Researchers at the University of Illinois created a novel device using microscopic fluorescent diamonds to calibrate sensitive microscopy systems. The nanodiamonds' stability and longevity make them ideal as a 'first-aid kit' for microscopes, allowing for easy reuse and quality control.

SourceBeckman Institute for Advanced Science and Technology·JournalPhotonics Research·TypeImaging analysis·DateNov 5, 2021

New method to assess protein secretability on proteome-wide scale

A new tool called SECRiFY enables training of machine learning predictors of protein secretability, allowing for unprecedented studies on eukaryotic protein secretion. This method improves the predictability of protein manufacturing in biotechnology by identifying sequence properties that allow for secretory processing.

SourceVIB (the Flanders Institute for Biotechnology)·JournalNature Communications·TypeNews article·DateNov 5, 2021

UCSF-led study confirms some cancer immunotherapies may lead to myocarditis and other potentially serious arrhythmias

A new clinical syndrome of ICI-myocarditis has been identified, characterized by highly arrhythmogenic features. The study establishes specific electrocardiographic features to diagnose and prognosticate the syndrome, highlighting the need for further research on prediction and monitoring strategies.

SourceUniversity of California San Francisco Medical Center·JournalCirculation·TypeMeta-analysis·DateNov 5, 2021

CCNY experts master defects in semiconductors

Researchers at The City College of New York have developed a method to manipulate defects in semiconductors using laser optics and confocal microscopy. This technique enables the transfer of quantum information between separate qubits, improving fundamental understanding of charge transport.

SourceCity College of New York·JournalNature Electronics·TypeExperimental study·DateNov 5, 2021

Oral pill as safe, efficacious as conventional treatment for anemia in patients with kidney disease

Researchers developed a new compound based on Nobel Prize-winning discoveries that raised hemoglobin levels in patients with kidney disease undergoing dialysis and those not on dialysis. The oral medication was found to be as safe and efficacious as conventional treatment for anemia, offering a transformative approach to patient care.

SourceBrigham and Women's Hospital·JournalNew England Journal of Medicine·TypeRandomized controlled/clinical trial·DateNov 5, 2021

Computational techniques in ICU: Neural synchrony predicts outcome after coma

Researchers used sound processing to examine neural synchrony in comatose patients. They found that higher neural synchrony was predictive of a favorable outcome, with indistinguishable levels from healthy controls. The study also revealed surprising neural complexity, with reduced complexity in survivors compared to non-survivors.

SourceInselspital, Bern University Hospital·JournalNeuroImage·TypeComputational simulation/modeling·DateNov 5, 2021

Proton transfer between titania surface and dye observed for photocatalysis evaluation

A team of researchers at Shinshu University has successfully observed proton transfer between the titania surface and a dye molecule during UV light irradiation. The study used time-resolved fluorescence spectroscopy to measure the formation of basic hydroxyl groups on the titania surface, which accepts protons from the dye.

SourceShinshu University·JournalThe Journal of Physical Chemistry C·TypeExperimental study·DateNov 5, 2021

Does environmental stress drive migration?

A comprehensive analysis of 178 countries reveals that social factors, such as income and education, play a more important role in explaining migration than environmental factors. The study found that income was the most important factor in some countries, while health was key in areas with high in-migration

SourceAalto University·JournalEnvironmental Research Letters·DateNov 5, 2021

Just a game? Study shows no evidence that violent video games lead to real-life violence

Research by Dr Agne Suziedelyte found no evidence that violent video games increase aggression against people, but did show a link to property destruction. The study suggests that video games may agitate children but does not translate into violence against others.

SourceCity St George’s, University of London·JournalJournal of Economic Behavior & Organization·TypeData/statistical analysis·DateNov 5, 2021

Pediatric practice provides roadmap for COVID-19 vaccination of children and caregivers in hesitant communities

A pediatric practice in Rochester, NY, demonstrates success in vaccinating eligible patients and their caregivers during regular visits, showcasing a model for addressing vaccine hesitancy. The approach found positive outcomes, including increased comfort and trust among caregivers.

SourceUniversity of Rochester Medical Center·JournalJAMA Pediatrics·TypeCommentary/editorial·DateNov 5, 2021

Researchers investigate role of gene associated with Alzheimer’s disease in brain’s immune cells

A recent study published in Science Advances found that deleting the ABI3 gene increases amyloid-beta plaque accumulation and decreases microglia function, which may contribute to Alzheimer's disease progression. The researchers also identified a link between the mutation and increased risk of late-onset Alzheimer's.

SourceIndiana University School of Medicine·JournalScience Advances·DateNov 5, 2021

Four years after release of guidelines, parents still not informed about early peanut introduction

A new study reveals that only 40% of parents received a recommendation to introduce peanut products by 11 months of age, despite the 2017 guidelines. The survey also found that most infants are at moderate- or low-risk for developing peanut allergies and can safely have peanut-containing foods introduced.

SourceAmerican College of Allergy, Asthma, and Immunology·JournalAnnals of Allergy Asthma & Immunology·TypeSurvey·DateNov 5, 2021

Online tool effective in triaging nearly all COVID-19 patients

A newly published study analyzed the effectiveness of Penn Medicine's COVID-19 Triage Tool, which categorized 782 patients into safe severity levels. The tool identified only six patients with symptoms more severe than its assessments, and clinicians were able to upgrade these classifications to ensure accurate care.

SourceUniversity of Pennsylvania School of Medicine·JournalApplied Clinical Informatics·TypeExperimental study·DateNov 5, 2021

​​​​​​​Increased frequency of eating eggs in infancy associated with decreased egg allergy later on

A new study finds that children who didn't have eggs introduced by 12 months were more likely to develop an egg allergy at 6 years. The research suggests early and frequent egg consumption during infancy may be protective against the development of egg allergy.

SourceAmerican College of Allergy, Asthma, and Immunology·JournalAnnals of Allergy Asthma & Immunology·TypeSurvey·DateNov 5, 2021

Most young people with asthma haven’t been prepared to transition to adult asthma care

A new study reveals that many young adults with asthma are not prepared to transition to adult asthma care. The survey found that half of all respondents did not receive sufficient transition preparation from their pediatric providers, highlighting the need for better education and support.

SourceAmerican College of Allergy, Asthma, and Immunology·JournalAnnals of Allergy Asthma & Immunology·TypeSurvey·DateNov 5, 2021