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Science News Archive 2021 - Page 97


Page 97 of 510

Artificial intelligence-based technology quickly identifies genetic causes of serious disease

A new AI-powered algorithm, GEM, has been developed to quickly identify genetic causes of serious disease in newborns. The technology leverages machine learning and natural language processing to analyze vast amounts of genomic data and clinical records, achieving an accuracy rate of 92% compared to existing tools.

SourceUniversity of Utah Health·JournalGenomic Medicine·TypeData/statistical analysis·DateOct 13, 2021

Pain relief without side effects with promising technique

Researchers at Lund University have developed a promising new pain relief method using ultra-thin microelectrodes, providing effective and personalized pain relief without common side effects. The study showed that this technique can block pain signals in the brain without affecting other sensory systems or motor skills.

SourceLund University·JournalScience Advances·DateOct 13, 2021

Free food provided to US households at school and work is relatively unhealthy, though food for families in the supplemental nutrition assistance program appears to be of better nutritional quality

A study published in PLOS ONE found that free food provided to US households at school and work is of poor nutritional quality. In contrast, food for families receiving the Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP) appears to be of better nutritional value.

SourcePLOS·JournalPLOS ONE·DateOct 13, 2021

Solving mystery of rare cancers directly caused by HIV

A team of scientists from the University of Pittsburgh and National Cancer Institute discovered why HIV is rarely the direct cause of cancer. The research found that it requires a specific series of events involving changes in HIV and additional mutations in human genes, resulting in T cell lymphomas. However, the occurrence is rare, a...

SourceUniversity of Pittsburgh·JournalScience Advances·DateOct 13, 2021

International team of astronomers report on largest-ever observed set of mysterious fast radio bursts

An international team of astronomers observed over 1,650 fast radio bursts from one source in deep space, shedding new light on the engine that powers these phenomena. The bursts were measured using the Five-hundred-meter Aperture Spherical Telescope (FAST) and represent more FRBs in one event than all previous reported occurrences com...

SourceUniversity of Nevada, Las Vegas·JournalNature·TypeObservational study·DateOct 13, 2021

Troubling birth findings show importance of timely flu vaccination

New research from an international team of scientists found that poor timing of influenza vaccination campaigns in Brazil led to increased premature births, lower birth-weight babies, and the need for more cesarean sections. The study suggests that earlier flu vaccination campaigns could better protect pregnant women and their babies.

SourceUniversity of Virginia Health System·JournalEmerging Infectious Diseases·DateOct 13, 2021

Genes and collective behaviour

Researchers used CRISPR-Cas9 technique to edit genes in zebrafish larvae, altering individual behavioral responses and group behavior. The study suggests two simple visuomotor reflexes explain the collective behavior of zebrafish.

SourceUniversity of Konstanz·JournalScience Advances·DateOct 13, 2021

Ancient poop shows people in present-day Austria drank beer and ate blue cheese up to 2,700 years ago

Researchers found evidence of two fungal species used in blue cheese and beer production in ancient feces from Hallstatt-Dachstein/Salzkammergut. The findings suggest that people consumed blue cheese and beer during the Iron Age, nearly 2,700 years ago, and retained a non-Westernized gut microbiome structure until the Baroque period.

SourceCell Press·JournalCurrent Biology·TypeObservational study·DateOct 13, 2021

Center for Innovation in Mental Health at CUNY SPH awarded NIH grant for Harlem Strong Collaborative

The CUNY Graduate School of Public Health and Health Policy has received a nearly $2 million NIH grant to develop a multisectoral coalition to implement a community-wide collaborative care model to address mental health and socio-economic risks in Harlem. The initiative aims to close the mental health treatment gap for ethnic minoritie...

Study finds correlation between rural geography and access to handguns, suicidality among Colorado teenagers

A cross-sectional study found a correlation between rural geography and easy access to handguns, leading to higher risks of suicidality among Colorado teenagers. The findings can inform the allocation of educational firearm safety and suicide prevention resources in the state.

SourceUniversity of Colorado Anschutz Medical Campus·JournalJAMA Network Open·TypeData/statistical analysis·DateOct 13, 2021

LLU study identifies uptick in mammogram cancellations from early pandemic

A Loma Linda University Health research study found that mammogram cancellations increased during the early months of the COVID-19 pandemic before decreasing to pre-pandemic levels. The study's findings could help breast cancer surgeons prepare for a potential surge of patients presenting with more advanced stages of breast cancer.

SourceLoma Linda University Adventist Health Sciences Center·JournalThe American Surgeon·TypeData/statistical analysis·DateOct 13, 2021

Harvard researchers use dyes to store data

A Harvard research team has created a new method of storing digital information using mixtures of fluorescent dyes, which can potentially store data for thousands of years or more. The technique uses inkjet printing and fluorescence microscopy to encode and decode binary messages in the dye molecules.

SourceHarvard University·JournalACS Central Science·TypeExperimental study·DateOct 13, 2021

How many people get 'long COVID?' More than half, researchers find

According to a study by Penn State researchers, more than half of the 236 million people who have been diagnosed with COVID-19 worldwide since December 2019 will experience post-COVID symptoms, also known as 'long COVID', up to six months after recovery. The research team found that adults and children can experience various adverse he...

SourcePenn State·JournalJAMA Network Open·DateOct 13, 2021

Climate model shows that Venus could never have had oceans

A new climate model challenges the idea that Venus ever had oceans, suggesting high surface temperatures and limited solar radiation prevented ocean formation. The research team found that clouds on night-side Venus would actually maintain high temperatures through a greenhouse effect, further supporting this conclusion.

SourceCNRS·JournalNature·DateOct 13, 2021

Making data visualizations more accessible

A new study by MIT researchers has found that blind and sighted readers have sharply different takes on what content is most useful to include in a chart caption. The study created a four-level framework for evaluating charts, which could help develop more effective tools for automatically generating captions and alternative text.

SourceMassachusetts Institute of Technology·JournalIEEE Transactions on Visualization and Computer Graphics·DateOct 13, 2021

Catching malaria evolution in the act

Scientists have developed a technique to sequence individual malaria parasites' genomes, allowing for the detection of new mutations. These mutations are often targeting a gene family controlling transcription in malaria, suggesting potential avenues for developing more effective treatments and vaccines.

SourceTexas Biomedical Research Institute·JournalCell Host & Microbe·DateOct 13, 2021

I’m not a little kid anymore! 10-year-old children act like adults, giving more credit to the opinion of adults who have previously endorsed their ideas.

A study published in Royal Society Open Science found that 10-year-old children follow social norms and reciprocate consideration from adults. Children of this age tend to behave more like adults, giving weight to adults' opinions if they are credited, whereas younger children trust their own decisions independently of adult behavior.

SourceIstituto Italiano di Tecnologia - IIT·JournalRoyal Society Open Science·TypeExperimental study·DateOct 13, 2021

Children repeatedly exposed to malaria from birth are more likely to be anemic by the age of two

A Brazilian study found that children exposed to malaria from birth are more likely to develop anemia by age two. The researchers, led by Dr. Marly Augusto Cardoso, followed 1,539 children and discovered that 12.6% were anemic, with a higher prevalence in rural areas not covered by the study.

SourceFundação de Amparo à Pesquisa do Estado de São Paulo·JournalPLOS Neglected Tropical Diseases·DateOct 13, 2021

Leprosy confirmed in wild chimpanzees

Researchers have confirmed cases of leprosy in two unconnected West African populations of chimpanzees, in Guinea-Bissau and Ivory Coast. The strains identified are different and rare among humans. Long-term health monitoring is needed to establish the scale and possible effects of leprosy on critically endangered western chimpanzees.

SourceUniversity of Exeter·JournalNature·TypeExperimental study·DateOct 13, 2021

Soybean study designs and implements a more effective and less toxic bio-fungicide

Researchers have successfully used double-stranded RNA (dsRNA) molecules as a bio-fungicide to suppress the production of a toxin in soybean plants. The study found that dsRNAs produced in bacterial cells can effectively manage fungal diseases, reducing the need for toxic chemicals and potentially mitigating fungicide resistance.

SourceAmerican Phytopathological Society·JournalPhytopathology·TypeExperimental study·DateOct 13, 2021

Higher fasting ‘hunger hormone’ levels from healthy diet may improve heart health and metabolism

A clinical trial found that a green Mediterranean diet rich in leafy greens like Mankai and green tea can elevate fasting ghrelin levels, reducing belly fat and improving insulin sensitivity. This approach may also have additional cardiometabolic benefits.

SourceThe Endocrine Society·JournalThe Journal of Clinical Endocrinology & Metabolism·TypeRandomized controlled/clinical trial·DateOct 13, 2021

Surface chemistry reveals corrosive secrets

A new technique reveals the role of cations in surface chemistry, shedding light on environmental issues like rust and pollution. The study uses surface analysis to understand the initial stages of iron corrosion, which can help monitor carbon dioxide capture, water quality, and infrastructure management.

SourceMichigan Technological University·JournalThe Journal of Physical Chemistry A·TypeImaging analysis·DateOct 13, 2021

Estimated pulse wave velocity predicts severe Covid

Researchers have discovered that estimated pulse wave velocity is an effective tool to refine risk stratification of hospitalized patients with Covid-19. The study found that the addition of ePWV to clinical predictive markers improved prognostic value for in-hospital mortality.

SourceNewcastle University·JournalScientific Reports·TypeRandomized controlled/clinical trial·DateOct 13, 2021