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Science News Archive December 2021 - Page 8


Page 8 of 33

Identifying fake voice recordings

A new study has generated a massive dataset of artificial voice recordings, revealing subtle differences in high frequencies between real and fake files. The researchers developed algorithms that can distinguish between deepfakes and real speech, providing a starting point for other researchers to improve detection methods.

Policy analyses severely underestimate impact of air pollution on racial minorities

A new study by Carnegie Mellon University estimates that current regulatory analyses of air pollution significantly understate mortality costs among racial minorities. The study found that using race- and ethnicity-specific data increases premature mortality estimates related to PM2.5 from pollution exposure, with a $100 billion annual...

SourceCarnegie Mellon University·JournalEnvironmental Health Perspectives·DateDec 20, 2021

Safer, newer blood thinners are under-prescribed for elderly and at-risk patients

A new study published in the Canadian Journal of Cardiology found that frail patients with atrial fibrillation are under-prescribed for direct oral anticoagulants (DOACs), a safer alternative to traditional warfarin treatment. Despite needing DOACs most, these patients are less likely to receive them than non-frail patients.

SourceElsevier·JournalCanadian Journal of Cardiology·TypeData/statistical analysis·DateDec 20, 2021

Establishing an elemental structure that facilitates high-intensity broadband spin waves

A research team at Toyohashi University of Technology demonstrates a new substrate structure that enables the excitation and detection of high-intensity broadband spin waves, even when miniaturized. The YIG-on-metal (YOM) structure achieves broader frequency bandwidth and higher intensity than conventional electrode structures.

SourceToyohashi University of Technology (TUT)·JournalJournal of Physics D Applied Physics·TypeExperimental study·DateDec 20, 2021

Desert shrubs cranked up water use efficiency to survive a megadrought. It may not be enough.

In a new study, desert shrubs in the Southwest have increased their water use efficiency at unprecedented rates to survive a decades-long megadrought. The study found that despite this heroic increase, shrubs may not be adapting quickly enough to long-term drying trends in the West.

SourceUniversity of Utah·JournalProceedings of the National Academy of Sciences·TypeObservational study·DateDec 20, 2021

Digital silver lining seen in failed COVID-19 drug trial

A clinical trial found that remote monitoring of medication's potential arrhythmic side effects is feasible and safe for patients with mild COVID-19. The study used handheld devices to transmit digital ECGs, suggesting a potential expansion of clinical research to broader populations and reducing participants' burdens.

SourceUniversity of Washington School of Medicine/UW Medicine·JournalCommunications Medicine·TypeRandomized controlled/clinical trial·DateDec 20, 2021

Microbe sneaks past tomato defense system, advances evolutionary battle

A new study reveals that Xanthomonas euvesicatoria has evolved to evade the immune system of tomato plants by changing a single amino acid in its flagellin proteins. This finding poses significant challenges for breeding disease-resistant tomato varieties, forcing farmers to rely on fungicides and copper treatments.

TGen helps develop analysis tool, leading to more-accurate evaluation of new brain tumor treatments and individual estimates of survival

A new nomogram tool helps predict patient-level survival probabilities, accounting for sex differences in glioblastoma. The study analyzed over 1,300 patients and recommends further research on biological mechanisms underlying these differences.

SourceThe Translational Genomics Research Institute·JournalJournal of Neuro-Oncology·TypeMeta-analysis·DateDec 20, 2021

mRNA vaccines highly effective at preventing death from COVID-19, less effective at preventing infection

Researchers found that mRNA vaccines were highly effective (86%) in preventing SARS-CoV-2-related deaths among vaccinated individuals, especially in the elderly population. However, vaccine effectiveness against infection was lower (69%) and decreased with increasing age and comorbidity burden.

SourceAmerican College of Physicians·JournalAnnals of Internal Medicine·TypeRandomized controlled/clinical trial·DateDec 20, 2021

Plant scientists find recipe for anti-cancer compound in herbs

Researchers at Purdue University have identified a new pathway for producing the anti-cancer compound thymohydroquinone, found in plants like thyme and oregano. By understanding this process, plant scientists can engineer plants to produce higher levels of beneficial compounds or synthesize them in microorganisms.

SourcePurdue University·JournalProceedings of the National Academy of Sciences·DateDec 20, 2021

Boundaries between work and family life disrupted by COVID-19 pandemic – Increased childcare responsibilities often shouldered by mothers

The COVID-19 pandemic disrupted work-life boundaries, particularly for mothers, who took on more childcare responsibilities. Research in Finland found that mothers' flexibility was key to managing multiple roles, while the absence of support services highlighted gendered practices.

SourceUniversity of Turku·JournalGender Work and Organization·TypeSurvey·DateDec 20, 2021

Could life be making its own habitable environment in the clouds of Venus?

Scientists suggest that possible lifeforms in Venus' clouds are producing ammonia, which neutralizes sulfuric acid and increases the pH of the clouds. This process makes the environment more tolerable to live in, despite being extremely acidic. The study proposes a biological origin for the ammonia, rather than non-biological sources.

SourceCardiff University·JournalProceedings of the National Academy of Sciences·DateDec 20, 2021

Alcohol consumption during the COVID-19 pandemic projected to cause more liver disease and deaths

A new study projects that increased alcohol consumption during the COVID-19 pandemic will result in 8,000 additional deaths from liver disease and 18,700 cases of liver failure by 2040. The researchers estimated a one-year increase in consumption to cause 100 additional deaths and 2,800 cases of liver failure by 2023.

SourceMassachusetts General Hospital·JournalHepatology·TypeComputational simulation/modeling·DateDec 20, 2021

Researchers use smart technologies to reveal what impacts workers’ productivity the most

Study reveals that employees' performance is influenced by human attitudes, interactions, emotions, and environmental conditions. Smart tools like wearable sensors and smartphones were used to monitor workers' behavior, leading to a better understanding of individual, collaborative, and environmental factors affecting productivity.

SourceKaunas University of Technology·JournalThe TQM Journal·TypeExperimental study·DateDec 20, 2021

School uniforms don’t improve child behavior, study finds

A new national study found that school uniforms have no effect on young students' behavior or attendance. However, students who attended schools with uniform requirements reported lower levels of 'school belonging'. The study's findings suggest that fashion and self-expression may play a role in students' sense of belonging.

SourceOhio State University·JournalEarly Childhood Research Quarterly·TypeData/statistical analysis·DateDec 20, 2021

Study compares COVID-19 vaccines’ ability to stimulate immune protection against the coronavirus

The study found that two doses of Moderna and Pfizer vaccines produced higher antibody concentrations than a single dose of Johnson & Johnson vaccine, with levels more than 10 times higher for recovered COVID-19 patients. The analysis also showed that the Moderna vaccine had the lowest risk for breakthrough infections.

SourceMassachusetts General Hospital·JournalThe Journal of Infectious Diseases·TypeObservational study·DateDec 20, 2021

Sneezes, rain clouds and ink jets: NIST improves the ability of optical microscopes to measure the volume of microdroplets

Researchers at NIST developed new standards and calibrations for optical microscopes, enabling accurate measurement of microdroplet volumes smaller than 100 trillionths of a liter. They combined microscopy with gravimetry to verify results, linking their findings to fundamental constants of nature.

Gum disease increases risk of other illness such as mental health and heart conditions, study finds

A University of Birmingham-led study found that patients with a recorded history of gum disease are at higher risk of developing mental ill-health (37%), autoimmune diseases (33%), cardiovascular disease (18%), and cardiometabolic disorders, particularly Type 2 diabetes (26%). The study used UK primary care data to explore the associat...

SourceUniversity of Birmingham·JournalBMJ Open·DateDec 19, 2021

Understanding human-elephant conflict and vulnerability in the face of climate change

A new study investigates the impact of climate change on human-elephant conflict in Africa's Kavango Zambezi Transfrontier Conservation Area. The research finds that households and communities have adaptive capacity to cope with these challenges, but institutions need to support effective risk mitigation strategies.

SourceNorthern Arizona University·JournalCurrent Biology·TypeData/statistical analysis·DateDec 19, 2021

The language of holography: Problems and hints for solving them

The article examines the inconsistencies in holography's language and its evolution across diverse communities. The pioneers created a useful and accurate language, but much of it has been lost over time. A layman can describe a hologram as a window that transforms light into a different wave, enabling viewing of a 3D image.

Drinking in Mexico by Whites and Hispanics on California’s Border

A new study by the Pacific Institute for Research and Evaluation found that those living near the border, Hispanic, and regular drinkers are more prone to heavy drinking in Mexico. Exposure to riskier environments increases heavy drinking, alcohol intoxication, and related problems like aggression and injuries.

SourcePacific Institute for Research and Evaluation·JournalJournal of Ethnicity in Substance Abuse·TypeData/statistical analysis·DateDec 19, 2021

Using videos and farmer-to-farmer learning to make agriculture more sustainable

A study by Göttingen University found that training methods combining farmer-to-farmer learning with educational videos significantly increased the use of productive practices among smallholder farmers in Ethiopia. This approach also promoted informal information transfer and improved adoption of complex technologies.

SourceUniversity of Göttingen·JournalThe World Bank Economic Review·TypeSurvey·DateDec 19, 2021

New biosensors measure toxic drugs in cancer, arthritis, and organ transplant patients

Researchers have developed new designer biosensors that can accurately measure immunosuppressant drugs and anticancer drugs using colour or electrical responses. The biosensors could enable sophisticated tests on cheaper lab equipment and point-of-care devices, potentially leading to faster diagnosis and treatment.

SourceQueensland University of Technology·JournalNature Communications·TypeExperimental study·DateDec 19, 2021

Medicinal cannabis oil found effective for treating autism

Researchers at Tel Aviv University successfully treated autism in animal models with medical cannabis oil, improving behavioral and biochemical parameters. The treatment showed significant improvement in compulsive and anxious behaviors, and a decrease in the concentration of the arousing neurotransmitter glutamate.

SourceTel-Aviv University·JournalTranslational Psychiatry·DateDec 19, 2021