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Science News Archive October 2021 - Page 12


Page 12 of 40

Racial, ethnic disparities in COVID-19 hospitalizations, outcomes

A study of over 143,000 patients found significant racial and ethnic disparities in COVID-19 outcomes, with minorities more likely to be hospitalized or die from the virus. American Indian or Alaska Native, Latino, Black, Asian, or Pacific Islander individuals had higher rates of severe illness compared to white individuals.

SourceJAMA Network·JournalJAMA Network Open·DateOct 21, 2021

Permanent Twitter ban of extremist influencers can detoxify social media

A Rutgers-led study found that banning right-wing extremists from Twitter significantly reduces the spread of anti-social ideas and conspiracy theories. Removing these individuals from social media platforms leads to a nearly 92% decline in tweets referencing them, as well as a 90% decrease in new users tweeting about them.

SourceRutgers University·JournalProceedings of the ACM on Human-Computer Interaction·DateOct 21, 2021

TEDDY study compares characteristics of children diagnosed with type 1 diabetes before and after age 6

The study analyzed data from 8,502 genetically high-risk children and found that half developed type 1 diabetes before age 6, while the other half developed it between ages 6 and 12. The findings suggest a different form of type 1 diabetes emerges in children as they grow older.

SourceUniversity of South Florida (USF Health)·JournalDiabetologia·TypeData/statistical analysis·DateOct 21, 2021

The next big thing: How do scientists bring hydrogen fuel cells from laboratory to public life?

Researchers at USTC have successfully synthesized small-sized Pt intermetallic nanoparticle catalysts with ultralow Pt loading and high mass activity. These catalysts exhibited excellent electrocatalytic performance for oxygen reduction reaction in proton-exchange membrane fuel cells, potentially decreasing the cost of fuel cells.

Measuring financial and digital literacy in vulnerable populations

A new approach to measuring financial and digital literacy is proposed by a team of researchers led by Angela Lyons. The study finds that while promoting literacy is important, it may not be enough to ensure resilience, particularly for vulnerable groups such as women and those living in poverty.

SourceUniversity of Illinois College of Agricultural, Consumer and Environmental Sciences·JournalEmerging Markets Review·TypeData/statistical analysis·DateOct 21, 2021

New, promising opportunities for treating skin fibrosis

Scientists have shown that applying an electric field to the skin affects collagen pathways, temporarily reducing production and increasing degradation. This opens new therapeutic perspectives for the topical treatment of skin fibrosis characterized by excessive collagen deposition.

SourceCNRS·JournalJournal of Investigative Dermatology·DateOct 21, 2021

Cystic fibrosis patients may see personalized treatments emerge from “drug screening in a dish,” stem cell research finds

Stem cell researchers have developed a new method to identify and develop personalized therapies for Cystic Fibrosis patients with rare mutations. By growing precursor lung cells from patients' own blood, they can screen for new drugs and validate responses in mature airway cells.

SourceInternational Society for Stem Cell Research·JournalStem Cell Reports·DateOct 21, 2021

New study helps in finally breaking the “silence” on the brain network

A recent study used gene-targeting drugs to suppress areas of the brain and then imaged brain activity, revealing how this affects other complex operational networks. The research team found that silencing specific brain regions can cause stimulatory and inhibitory changes in brain activity, which can be identified using fMRI.

Disability among adults in US

A recent study using survey data estimates the proportion of US adults with a disability, revealing significant disparities in health and well-being. The research also sheds light on the prevalence of disabilities among different age groups and populations.

SourceJAMA Network·JournalJAMA Network Open·DateOct 21, 2021

Tribocatalysis: challenges and perspectives

Researchers have been exploring tribocatalysis as an alternative clean energy technology. The process converts mechanical energy into electrical energy through the triboelectric effect, with potential applications in material synthesis and energy conversion. Further research is needed to fully develop this promising field.

SourceScience China Press·JournalScience China Chemistry·DateOct 21, 2021

AI tool pairs protein pathways with clinical side effects, patient comorbidities to suggest targeted Covid-19 treatments

A new AI tool pairs protein pathways with clinical side effects and patient comorbidities to suggest targeted Covid-19 treatments. The tool, MOATAI-VIR, predicts 24 out of 26 major clinical manifestations of Covid-19 and their underlying disease-protein-pathway relationships.

SourceGeorgia Institute of Technology·JournalScientific Reports·TypeExperimental study·DateOct 21, 2021

Survey of US dentists shows high rate of opioid prescriptions despite knowledge of effective alternatives

A survey of US dentists found that an overwhelming majority believe nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drug (NSAID)-acetaminophen combinations are as effective or more effective in managing dental pain as opioids. However, nearly half still prescribe opioids, highlighting a disconnect between their knowledge and prescribing habits.

SourceGeorgetown University Medical Center·JournalThe Journal of the American Dental Association·TypeSurvey·DateOct 21, 2021

Study offers snapshot of celebs’ social media influence on COVID-19 info

A study published in the Atlantic Journal of Communication analyzed Instagram posts from 20 celebrity influencers about COVID-19 between March and May 2020. The researchers found that celebrities initially modeled guidance from health experts, normalizing suggested behaviors such as staying home and practicing hand hygiene.

SourceUniversity of Texas at Dallas·JournalAtlantic Journal of Communication·TypeData/statistical analysis·DateOct 21, 2021

How to make a better polymer

A team of researchers at UMass Amherst has developed a method to count the number of strength-enabling entanglements in glassy polymers, which can be used to create stronger, more cost-effective materials. By combining computer simulations with experimental processes, they found that not every entanglement contributes to the polymer's ...

SourceUniversity of Massachusetts Amherst·JournalScience Advances·DateOct 21, 2021

Supernova: A glowing DNA enzyme

Researchers at IOCB Prague have created a glowing DNA enzyme called Supernova, which catalyzes a chemiluminescent reaction. This breakthrough uses artificial evolution to identify light-producing deoxyribozymes in a vast library of DNA molecules, opening up new possibilities for point-of-care assays and high-throughput screens.

Neuroscientists see how practice really does make perfect

Researchers at Duke University used new tools to monitor neurons and analyze machine learning data to see how zebra finches practice their courtship calls. They found that a neurotransmitter called noradrenaline shuts down variability in the song, making it more precise when performed under pressure.

SourceDuke University·JournalNature·TypeData/statistical analysis·DateOct 21, 2021

Chip-based optical tweezers levitate nanoparticles in a vacuum

Researchers created tiny chip-based optical tweezers that can be used to optically levitate nanoparticles in a vacuum, reducing the footprint of traditional optical traps. The new design enables precise sensing applications and has potential uses for studying near-surface forces and quantum processes.

SourceOptica·JournalOptica·DateOct 21, 2021