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Science News Archive August 2021 - Page 16


Page 16 of 38

Tracking water storage shows options for improving water management during floods and droughts

Researchers at the University of Texas at Austin tracked water storage in 14 major US aquifers over 15 years, finding that irrigation habits can be managed more effectively in humid regions. The study highlights the importance of surface water in replenishing groundwater, which helps dampen the impacts of irrigation.

SourceUniversity of Texas at Austin·JournalEnvironmental Research Letters·TypeData/statistical analysis·DateAug 19, 2021

Junctional pacemaker may replace the sinoatrial node

Researchers propose using junctional pacemakers to replace the sinoatrial node in patients with bicuspid aortic valve and sinoatrial node dysfunction. This innovative approach offers a new treatment strategy for managing daily life while avoiding the need for sinoatrial node replacement surgery.

SourceCompuscript Ltd·JournalCardiovascular Innovations and Applications·DateAug 19, 2021

Study suggests solutions to criminal justice involvement among people experiencing homelessness, serious mental illness

A new study from Simon Fraser University found that nearly 60% of people experiencing homelessness and serious mental illness in Metro Vancouver have had a criminal conviction. The study identified factors associated with criminal convictions, including irregular income assistance payments, drug addiction, and psychiatric hospitalization.

SourceSimon Fraser University·JournalScientific Reports·DateAug 19, 2021

Rivers are largest global source of mercury in oceans

A new study by Yale University researchers reveals that rivers are the main source of mercury in coastal areas, rather than atmospheric deposition. The Amazon River, Ganges, and Yangtze are among the top contributors, with levels highest in August and September.

SourceYale University·JournalNature Geoscience·TypeData/statistical analysis·DateAug 19, 2021

Efficacy and renal tolerability of ultrafiltration in acute decompensated heart failure: A meta-analysis and systematic review of 19 randomized controlled trials

A meta-analysis of 19 randomized controlled trials found that ultrafiltration is superior to control treatments for weight loss (WMD 1.24 kg) and fluid removal (WMD 1.55 L), but associated with increased serum creatinine levels. The use of ultrafiltration in ADHF patients is efficient for fluid management but less safe renally.

SourceCompuscript Ltd·JournalCardiovascular Innovations and Applications·DateAug 19, 2021

Longest study of its kind reveals how gender-affirming hormone therapies impact obesity among U.S. transgender individuals

The study found that transgender patients taking gender-affirming hormone therapy should be monitored for changes in body weight and BMI. Transmasculine individuals experienced significant weight gain within two to four months of starting hormone therapy, while transfeminine individuals saw weight gain beyond 12 months.

SourceBeth Israel Deaconess Medical Center·JournalInternational Journal of Obesity·DateAug 19, 2021

Measuring electric current in soil could provide answers on soil health

Researchers at Washington State University have created a sensor that can measure the electric current produced by tiny microbes in soil, allowing for real-time assessments of soil health and potential. This breakthrough could provide farmers with valuable insights into soil productivity, enabling data-driven management strategies.

SourceWashington State University·JournalJournal of The Electrochemical Society·TypeExperimental study·DateAug 19, 2021

Mount Sinai researchers uncover the biology and treatment behind a rare autoinflammatory disease

A rare rheumatoid-like autoinflammatory condition is found to be treatable with FDA-approved TNF inhibitors due to the absence of a protein that activates antiviral defenses. Researchers confirm its underlying biology and mechanisms of autoinflammation, leading to quick and substantial clinical improvement.

SourceThe Mount Sinai Hospital / Mount Sinai School of Medicine·JournalCell·TypeObservational study·DateAug 19, 2021

NTU Singapore scientists develop ‘greener’ way to make fertiliser

Researchers at Nanyang Technological University (NTU) Singapore have devised a new method for producing urea, a key compound in fertilisers, through electrocatalysis. This approach produces urea five times more efficiently than previous methods and has the potential to contribute to sustainable agricultural practices.

SourceNanyang Technological University·JournalNature Sustainability·TypeExperimental study·DateAug 19, 2021

Researchers discover hidden SARS-CoV-2 ‘gate’ that opens to allow COVID infection

Scientists have discovered a hidden 'gate' in the SARS-CoV-2 spike protein that allows the virus to infect cells. The discovery reveals a glycan mechanism that opens the gate, enabling the virus to enter host cells. This breakthrough could lead to new therapeutics to counter COVID infection.

SourceUniversity of California - San Diego·JournalNature Chemistry·TypeComputational simulation/modeling·DateAug 19, 2021

How ions get their electrons back

Researchers created highly charged ions by removing 20-40 electrons from atoms and studied their interaction with solid materials. They found that the ions capture electrons from the material to become electrically neutral, a process that can be explained by simple laws.

SourceVienna University of Technology·JournalCommunications Physics·TypeExperimental study·DateAug 19, 2021

Nutrient-rich human waste poised to sustain agriculture, improve economies

A new study characterizes human urine-derived nutrients for sustainable agriculture, revealing three supply-demand typologies across the globe. Countries with co-located supply-demand, like India and Uganda, can reuse nutrients locally, while dislocated countries, such as the US and Australia, need concentrated fertilizer production.

SourceUniversity of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign, News Bureau·JournalEnvironmental Science & Technology·TypeData/statistical analysis·DateAug 19, 2021

Study identifies patterns in bird-plane collisions

Researchers from Cornell University have identified key factors in bird-plane collisions, including the time of year and species size, to inform collision avoidance strategies. The study predicts that risk for damaging strikes during periods with high migration intensity increases by up to 700%.

SourceCornell University·JournalJournal of Applied Ecology·TypeComputational simulation/modeling·DateAug 19, 2021

Existing drugs kill SARS-CoV2 in cells

Researchers have identified several drug contenders that can block or reduce SARS-CoV2 infection in cells, including lactoferrin and MEK-inhibitors. These findings suggest potential efficacy against COVID-19 variants, with ongoing clinical trials to examine their ability to reduce viral loads and inflammation.

SourceMichigan Medicine - University of Michigan·JournalProceedings of the National Academy of Sciences·TypeExperimental study·DateAug 19, 2021

A master gear in the circadian clock

Researchers have identified a gene called Npas4 that appears to influence hundreds of other genes for timekeeping in the brain. The study suggests that Npas4 is a master regulator of many light-induced genes, which could lead to new treatments for managing challenges such as jet lag and sleep disorders.

Flawed quality control in the brain

Scientists developed a new mouse line to study protein balance and quality control in the mammalian brain. The research revealed that different neurodegenerative diseases have distinct protein misfolding patterns, offering insights into potential therapeutic options.

SourceMax-Planck-Gesellschaft·JournalThe EMBO Journal·DateAug 19, 2021

US influence on Australia’s illegal pet trade

A study by University of Adelaide researchers found that unregulated reptile trade in the US drives demand for illegal reptiles in Australia. Three reptile families had the highest probability of being smuggled, with species listed in CITES Appendices I having a higher smuggling probability

SourceUniversity of Adelaide·JournalConservation Letters·TypeData/statistical analysis·DateAug 19, 2021

Researchers find circular RNA can inhibit metastasis of gastric cancer

A recent study by Chinese Academy of Sciences researchers found that circular RNA circURI1 inhibits the spread of gastric cancer cells. It achieves this by sequestering hnRNPM, modulating alternative splicing in gastric cancer cells. This breakthrough provides a new perspective on the molecular basis of cancer metastasis.

SourceChinese Academy of Sciences Headquarters·JournalProceedings of the National Academy of Sciences·TypeExperimental study·DateAug 19, 2021

Short hospitalizations hit hard for COVID patients

A US nationwide cohort study found that nearly 85% of hospitalized COVID-19 patients were not back to their pre-COVID lives one month later. The study also revealed significant factors driving people's inability to recover, including a lack of follow-up healthcare services and new disabilities preventing daily activities.

SourceMichigan Medicine - University of Michigan·JournalJournal of Hospital Medicine·TypeObservational study·DateAug 18, 2021

8 weeks of meditation studies can make your brain quicker

A new study from Binghamton University tracked how practicing meditation for just a couple of months changed the brain patterns of 10 students. The results show that meditation training led to faster switching between the brain's two general states of consciousness, indicating an effect on fast switching and maintaining attention.

SourceBinghamton University·JournalScientific Reports·DateAug 18, 2021

The new alchemy in carbon neutrality: turning water into ammonia with only renewable energy!

The Korea Institute of Machinery and Materials has developed a process to produce 'green ammonia' with zero carbon emissions, using renewable energy. The process involves combining water with nitrogen plasma, producing hydrogen and nitrogen oxides, which are then reduced to ammonia with high selectivity.

Factors affecting Japanese citizens’ desire for a long life include income level, having children and gender – with men expressing a stronger wish for longevity than women

A national survey in Japan found that men express a stronger wish for longevity than women, while having children and higher income levels also influence desires for a long life. The study sheds light on the individual attitudes toward longevity among Japanese citizens.

SourcePLOS·JournalPLOS ONE·TypeSurvey·DateAug 18, 2021

What if our history was written in our grammar?

An international team reconstructed language families spanning over 10,000 years by combining genetics, linguistics, and musicology data. Grammar was found to reflect population history more closely than other cultural features, highlighting the importance of the grammatical factor in understanding human cultural evolution.

SourceUniversity of Zurich·JournalScience Advances·TypeData/statistical analysis·DateAug 18, 2021