Add BrightSurf on Google Email

Science News Archive 2022 - Page 150


Page 150 of 448

New risk score predicts mortality for atrial fibrillation patients undergoing transcatheter aortic valve replacement

A new risk score can help predict mortality for patients with atrial fibrillation who have undergone successful TAVR and been discharged home. The risk score was developed using data from the ENVISAGE-TAVI AF trial, which found that patients with certain clinical risks were more likely to die within a year of discharge.

Clinical trial, meta-analysis find diabetes drugs may benefit all heart failure patients

A meta-analysis of clinical trials found that SGLT2 inhibitors, like dapagliflozin and empagliflozin, reduce cardiovascular death and hospitalization in patients with mildly reduced or preserved ejection fraction heart failure. These drugs may benefit a wide range of patients, regardless of age, sex, or medical history.

SourceBrigham and Women's Hospital·JournalNew England Journal of Medicine·TypeRandomized controlled/clinical trial·DateAug 27, 2022

Hydropower dams induce widespread species extinctions across Amazonian forest islands

New research from the University of East Anglia finds that hydropower developments lead to flooding forests, driving biodiversity loss and ecosystem disruptions. The study reveals widespread species extinction, especially among large-bodied species, highlighting the need for sustainable energy security and biodiversity conservation.

SourceUniversity of East Anglia·JournalScience Advances·TypeData/statistical analysis·DateAug 26, 2022

Study: Slogans protesting federal COVID-19 vaccine mandate displayed three themes

A recent study found three distinct themes in slogans protesting federal COVID-19 vaccine mandates: Support for individual freedom/rights, opposition to government control, and anti-science misinformation/disinformation. The majority of slogans opposing vaccines were about individual rights or resistance to government control.

SourceUniversity of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign, News Bureau·JournalFrontiers in Communication·TypeContent analysis·DateAug 26, 2022

Researchers use nitric oxide ‘scavengers’ to target triple-negative breast cancer

A new treatment approach for triple-negative breast cancer is being developed using nitric oxide scavengers. The study found that converting nitric oxide into nitrogen centred free radicals inhibits the migration of cancer cells in the tumor environment, suggesting a potential use of modified hyaluronic acid as a key material.

SourceUniversity of Galway·JournalBiomacromolecules·TypeExperimental study·DateAug 26, 2022

Reclaimed water aerosol is becoming a health concern

A study in China reveals high infection probabilities for populations exposed to reclaimed water aerosols containing Legionella, exceeding WHO thresholds. To mitigate the risk, researchers recommend disinfecting reclaimed water before use and setting up warning signs in parks.

SourceHigher Education Press·JournalFrontiers of Environmental Science & Engineering·TypeExperimental study·DateAug 26, 2022

Obesity, alcohol use, and decreased blood clotting associated with return to operating room after liver transplant

Research finds that liver transplant recipients with a BMI of 30 or higher and those who drank heavily have a high risk of needing a second surgery within 48 hours. Coagulopathy, or decreased blood clotting, is also linked to this risk. The study aims to reduce the number of return-to-operating-room cases by mitigating these factors.

SourceUniversity of Colorado Anschutz Medical Campus·JournalThe American Journal of Surgery·TypeData/statistical analysis·DateAug 26, 2022

Getting data to do more for biodiversity

A new model developed by MSU researchers uses low-cost data about abundant species to generate insights on harder-to-find neighbors, helping monitor and preserve biodiversity. The model can be particularly helpful for rare and elusive species, providing valuable information with minimal data.

SourceMichigan State University·JournalConservation Biology·DateAug 26, 2022

Hidden microearthquakes illuminate large earthquake-hosting faults in Oklahoma and Kansas

Seismologists have identified hundreds of thousands of microearthquakes along previously unknown fault structures in Oklahoma and Kansas, allowing them to map and measure earthquake clusters. The study found that nearly a 5% chance that a cluster would host a magnitude 4 or larger earthquake within a year if it reached a certain length...

SourceSeismological Society of America·JournalThe Seismic Record·TypeObservational study·DateAug 26, 2022

Dielectric metalens speed up the development of miniaturized imaging systems

Dielectric metalenses have made significant progress in compact imaging systems, offering aberration-correction and dispersion-engineering capabilities. However, challenges such as phase discretization, diffraction constraints, and crosstalk among sub-units need to be addressed for practical development.

Majority of clinicians in US safety net practices report ‘moral distress’ during COVID-19 pandemic

A recent study found that nearly 72% of primary care, dental, and behavioral health clinicians in US safety net clinics reported experiencing moral distress during the first year of the COVID-19 pandemic. The distress was mainly caused by limitations on patient care, witnessing patients' struggles, and challenges in their work situations.

SourceUniversity of North Carolina Health Care·JournalBMJ Open·TypeSurvey·DateAug 26, 2022

Climate change is increasing frequency of fish mass die-offs

A study found that air and water temperatures are reliable predictors of fish mass mortality events. The researchers predict an approximate six-fold increase in the frequency of fish mortality events by 2100 based on local water temperature projections, and a 34-fold increase based on air temperature projections.

SourceUniversity of Arkansas·JournalLimnology and Oceanography Letters·TypeData/statistical analysis·DateAug 26, 2022

Important role of the ENSO combination mode in the maintenance of the anomalous anticyclone over the western North Pacific in boreal summer

This study demonstrates that ENSO combination mode is a stable relationship with the WNPAC during El Niô decaying summer, regardless of changes in ENSO evolution features. The C-mode mechanism appears invulnerable to changes in ENSO decaying speed, suggesting its crucial role in maintaining the WNPAC.

SourceScience China Press·JournalScience China Earth Sciences·DateAug 26, 2022

One zip of alcohol is enough to modify the brain

Research finds that a single dose of alcohol permanently changes brain structure and function, leading to increased risk of addiction. The study used fruit flies and mice models to show that ethanol-induced changes in mitochondrial dynamics and synapse balance contribute to long-lasting behavioral changes.

SourceUniversity of Cologne·JournalProceedings of the National Academy of Sciences·TypeObservational study·DateAug 26, 2022

Small molecules, giant (surface) potential

Scientists at Kyushu University have developed organic molecules that align in the same direction, creating a 'giant surface potential' when evaporated onto a surface. This alignment leads to a significant electric field, which can improve OLED efficiency and open new routes for realizing devices that convert vibrations into electricity.

SourceKyushu University·JournalNature Materials·TypeExperimental study·DateAug 26, 2022

UC Davis Health study reports on the safety, efficacy of tecovirimat in treating monkeypox

A UC Davis Health study found that tecovirimat appears to be safe and effective for treating monkeypox symptoms and skin lesions. The study, which included 25 patients with confirmed monkeypox infection, showed that 92% of patients had lesions in their genital or anal area, while 40% healed from their lesions within a week of treatment.

SourceUniversity of California - Davis Health·JournalJAMA·TypeCase study·DateAug 26, 2022

“Polypill” reduces cardiovascular mortality by 33% in patients treated after a heart attack

The SECURE trial found that the polypill, containing aspirin, ramipril, and atorvastatin, achieves clinically relevant reductions in recurrent cardiovascular events among patients recovering from a heart attack. This simplified approach improves treatment adherence, leading to a 33% reduction in cardiovascular mortality.

SourceThe Mount Sinai Hospital / Mount Sinai School of Medicine·JournalNew England Journal of Medicine·TypeRandomized controlled/clinical trial·DateAug 26, 2022

Study finds that agricultural diversity has a positive impact on food security

Researchers found that in almost two-thirds of cases, agricultural diversity had a positive effect on food security. However, the relationship was mixed or showed no effect in about one-third of cases. The study highlights the importance of preserving agrobiodiversity to ensure food systems can adapt to climate change and other stresses.

Bound by light

A team of researchers at the University of Vienna has found a new mechanism that fundamentally alters the interaction between optically levitated nanoparticles. By applying coherent scattering, they were able to create non-reciprocal forces and improve coupling in arrays of particles, enabling new ways to study complex physical phenomena.

SourceUniversity of Vienna·JournalScience·DateAug 26, 2022

Tendon tissue plus parathyroid hormone reproduces a normal meniscus

A group of researchers from Osaka Metropolitan University found that administering parathyroid hormone to rat Achilles tendons increased the production of cartilaginous matrix and promoted chondrogenic differentiation. This breakthrough discovery may lead to improved outcomes for meniscal reconstruction surgery, protecting knee cartila...

SourceOsaka Metropolitan University·JournalThe American Journal of Sports Medicine·TypeExperimental study·DateAug 26, 2022

Cameras candidly capture bushmeat mammals to avert crisis

A team of researchers from Kyoto University and Cameroon used camera trap surveys to predict the total biomass of large rodents and duikers in southeast Cameroon. They developed six candidate indicators, including the ratio of red duikers to blue duikers, which showed positive linear correlations with total bushmeat biomass.

SourceKyoto University·JournalJournal of Applied Ecology·TypeObservational study·DateAug 26, 2022

NIH-funded pediatric COVID-19 testing study finds school-aged children can self-swab

A new study found that school-aged children can successfully use a nasal swab to obtain their own COVID-19 test specimen, providing data for recommendations on self-swabbing in schools and other settings. The study showed that children as young as 4 years old can follow instructions and collect their own samples with high accuracy.

SourceNIH/National Institute of Biomedical Imaging & Bioengineering·JournalJAMA·TypeExperimental study·DateAug 26, 2022

Keeping balance between inside and outside

Gut epithelial cells control mutualism between host immune system and gut microbiome by regulating SFB and Th17 cell levels. Lack of IκBζ gene impairs defense mechanisms against pathogens, leading to inflammatory diseases.

SourceToho University·JournalMucosal Immunology·TypeExperimental study·DateAug 26, 2022

Experimental verification of generalized eigenstate thermalization hypothesis in integrable system

Researchers experimentally verified the generalized eigenstate thermalization hypothesis (GETH) using a quantum-walk platform. They demonstrated that any superposition state within a small energy-momentum window relaxes to the same reduced state, independent of the initial state.

Optimizing wind flow simulations

Researchers at the University of Oldenburg and Fraunhofer IWES collaborate on a new project to develop more accurate wind flow simulations using artificial intelligence. The goal is to reduce computing times and enhance precision, ultimately accelerating innovation in wind turbine design.

Cardiac arrest survival rate rising

The study found that the probability of surviving cardiac arrest outside hospital has more than doubled in 30 years, from approximately 5% to 11%. The improvement is attributed to increased CPR training and better healthcare resources. However, ambulance delays and an increase in difficult-to-treat cases are hindering further progress.

SourceUniversity of Gothenburg·JournalEuropean Heart Journal·TypeData/statistical analysis·DateAug 26, 2022