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Science News Archive 2022 - Page 101


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World’s first stem cell treatment for spina bifida delivered during fetal surgery

A groundbreaking trial at UC Davis Health has successfully treated three babies with spina bifida using a stem cell treatment combined with fetal surgery. The procedure shows promise in improving mobility and reducing the severity of the birth defect, which affects 1,500 to 2,000 children in the US every year.

SourceUniversity of California - Davis Health·TypeRandomized controlled/clinical trial·DateOct 6, 2022

Human cocaine and heroin addiction is found tied to impairments in specific brain circuit initially implicated in animals

A study found impairments in the prefrontal cortex-habenula circuit, critical for regulating executive functions and reward, in people with cocaine or heroin addiction. The circuit's microstructural features were analyzed using diffusion MRI tractography, revealing reduced coherence in white matter fibers.

SourceThe Mount Sinai Hospital / Mount Sinai School of Medicine·JournalNeuron·TypeObservational study·DateOct 6, 2022

Opening the eye of the storm

A team of researchers has developed a novel technique using high-energy muon particles to track and visualize tropical cyclones. This technique, called muography, creates X-ray-like images of large objects, including atmospheric weather systems. The resulting images reveal density variations essential to understanding how cyclones work.

SourceUniversity of Tokyo·JournalScientific Reports·TypeExperimental study·DateOct 6, 2022

Study: Lagoons from the Arctic’s “forgotten coast” teem with fish and birds, vulnerable to climate change and human development

The study highlights the unique characteristics of coastal lagoon ecosystems in the Arctic Beringia Region, including the importance of seasonal channels connecting to the Chukchi Sea. Climate change and human development affecting these channels could have disproportionate negative impacts on lagoon ecosystems.

SourceWildlife Conservation Society·JournalARCTIC·TypeSystematic review·DateOct 6, 2022

The farming community approves the crops and sustainable management practices chosen for diversifying European fields

The European farming community supports multiple cropping systems and sustainable management practices to reduce environmental impact. Key strengths include minimal tillage, plant cover, and rotations, while barriers include limited training in intercropping and profitability concerns.

SourceUniversity of Córdoba·JournalFrontiers in Environmental Science·TypeMeta-analysis·DateOct 6, 2022

Study finds expanding voting rights can reduce violence

A new study by Jean Lacroix found that the Voting Rights Act of 1965 halved instances of actual political violence and reduced the likelihood of new waves of violence. In counties covered by the act, citizens voted to voice their views, leading to a change in political strategies rather than policy changes.

SourceOxford University Press USA·JournalJournal of the European Economic Association·TypeData/statistical analysis·DateOct 6, 2022

Why is there a genetic risk for brain disorders? Neandertal DNA may provide some answers

A recent study analyzed Neandertal DNA associations with various brain disorders and traits, including sleep patterns, smoking habits, and alcohol use. The research found that certain archaic genetic variants may have conferred benefits in the past, but their impact on human behavior is complex and influenced by modern environments.

SourceEstonian Research Council·JournalTranslational Psychiatry·DateOct 6, 2022

COVID-19: Boosting with an mRNA vaccine offers better protection in people who received two doses of CoronaVac

A large observational study in Brazil found that mRNA boosting offers considerably better protection against COVID-19 than inactivated CoronaVac boosting, particularly among elderly individuals. The findings have immediate implications for guiding boosting strategies in countries where most of the population received inactivated vaccines.

SourceBarcelona Institute for Global Health (ISGlobal)·JournalNature Communications·TypeObservational study·DateOct 6, 2022

Detecting Alzheimer’s disease in the blood

Researchers at Hokkaido University have developed a biosensing technology to detect amyloid β build-up in the brain from biomarkers in blood samples. The Digital ICA TM technology can detect Aβ-binding exosomes in mice, increasing with age and disease progression.

SourceHokkaido University·JournalAlzheimer s Research & Therapy·TypeExperimental study·DateOct 6, 2022

Moffitt receives $3.7 million grant to increase minority accrual to cancer treatment trials

The National Cancer Institute grants Moffitt Cancer Center a five-year, $3.7 million grant to develop digital tools and community outreach strategies to increase education on clinical trials and enrollment among Black and Hispanic patients and physicians in the Tampa Bay area. The goal is to improve health equity by ensuring trial demo...

Disposable electronics on a simple sheet of paper

Scientists have developed a prototype circuit board made of a sheet of paper with fully integrated electrical components, making it easy to dispose of responsibly. The new design uses wax and ink to print channels, conductive inks, and metal components onto the paper, creating a flexible and thin device that can be burned or degraded.

SourceAmerican Chemical Society·JournalACS Applied Materials & Interfaces·DateOct 6, 2022

Veterans in the workplace face unwelcome hero worship

A study by the University of Cincinnati found that veterans face a paradox of simultaneous stigma and social aggrandizement in organizations. They experience negative stereotypes, but also receive unwanted praise for their service. This can lead to conflicts over how to navigate their new civilian culture.

SourceUniversity of Cincinnati·JournalThe International Journal of Human Resource Management·TypeCase study·DateOct 6, 2022

Story tips: Reducing molten salt’s corrosive effect. VERIFI-ing and tracking carbon’s big footprint. Moss genome study identifies two new species. Ultrasound for battery health

Researchers at Oak Ridge National Laboratory have developed low-temperature methods to purify molten chloride salts for energy storage, potentially making them suitable for storing solar thermal energy. They also created an online tool called VERIFI to track industrial carbon emissions and improve energy efficiency.

SourceDOE/Oak Ridge National Laboratory·JournalNew Phytologist·DateOct 6, 2022

Re-spun silkworm silk is 70% stronger than spider silk

Scientists at Tianjin University have discovered a way to make silkworm silk 70% stronger than spider silk by removing its sticky outer layer and manually spinning it. This breakthrough could lead to the production of profitable high-performance artificial silks, revolutionizing industries such as biomedicine and tissue regeneration.

SourceCell Press·JournalMatter·TypeExperimental study·DateOct 6, 2022

Human-carnivore coexistence is possible: daytime pastoralist activities do not negatively affect spotted hyenas in Tanzania

A new study found that daytime pastoralist activities do not negatively affect spotted hyenas in Tanzania, contrary to previous research. The study analyzed 24 years of data from eight hyena clans and found that the hyenas' reproductive performance and physiological stress levels remained similar to those of unexposed clans.

SourceLeibniz Institute for Zoo and Wildlife Research (IZW)·JournalJournal of Animal Ecology·TypeData/statistical analysis·DateOct 6, 2022

C-path to lead pre-consortium aimed at transforming, accelerating medical product development in alpha-1 antitrypsin deficiency

The Critical Path Institute has launched a pre-consortium collaboration with the FDA's CBER and CDER to accelerate medical product development in alpha-1 antitrypsin deficiency. The collaboration aims to define unmet needs in drug development and lay the groundwork for specific solutions.

SourceCritical Path Institute (C-Path)·TypeData/statistical analysis·DateOct 6, 2022