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Science News Archive 2022 - Page 20


Page 20 of 448

Americans flocking to fire: national migration study

A national study found that Americans are moving to regions with the greatest risk of wildfires and significant summer heat, despite climate change projections. The top migration destinations were cities in the Pacific Northwest, parts of the Southwest, Texas, Florida, and the Southeast, which already face significant wildfire risks.

SourceUniversity of Vermont·JournalFrontiers in Human Dynamics·TypeData/statistical analysis·DateDec 8, 2022

Wildlife disease ecologist launches project to help DoD monitor quality of bird habitats on military installations

A new study aims to assess habitat quality by analyzing arthropod food resources in bird diets and vegetation, providing an effective and cost-efficient way for DoD land managers to monitor threatened species. The project uses advanced genetic approaches and bioinformatics expertise to measure habitat quality on military installations.

Facing the heat

Researchers found that Kellet's whelk larvae are susceptible to developmental abnormalities and mortality at high temperatures, with half of hatchlings dying off at 27.6°C and veligers more resistant to defects at 24.9°C

SourceUniversity of California - Santa Barbara·JournalJournal of Shellfish Research·DateDec 8, 2022

Masks can put cognitive performance in check

A University of Queensland study analyzing almost three million chess moves found that wearing a mask reduces the average quality of player decisions due to annoyance caused by the masks. The effect subsides after four to six hours of playing, suggesting mask-wearing impact depends on task type and duration.

SourceUniversity of Queensland·JournalProceedings of the National Academy of Sciences·DateDec 8, 2022

How selfish genes succeed

A study published in PLoS Genetics reveals the mechanism by which a selfish gene in yeast, wtf4, enables its function using a poison-antidote strategy. This strategy involves the production of poison protein that can kill spores, but is countered by an antidote protein produced only by those spores that inherit the drive allele.

SourceStowers Institute for Medical Research·JournalPLOS Genetics·TypeExperimental study·DateDec 8, 2022

Dietary fiber deficiency in lactating mother can lead to obesity in mouse offspring, biomedical sciences researchers find

A new study published in Cell Host & Microbe found that mice offspring from fiberolean mothers gained striking amounts of weight when fed a Western-style diet. The research suggests that microbial diversity plays a crucial role in obesity development, and that fiber is only beneficial if it's metabolized by beneficial bacteria.

SourceGeorgia State University·JournalCell Host & Microbe·TypeExperimental study·DateDec 8, 2022

Polarization after COVID-19: Global study published in Nature reveals that the unvaccinated face prejudice in most countries

A global study published in Nature finds that the unvaccinated face significant prejudice in most countries, with many vaccinated people harboring discriminatory attitudes towards them. The study suggests that this prejudice could lead to severe consequences for society, including hindered vaccination uptake and increased mistrust.

SourceAarhus University·JournalNature·TypeExperimental study·DateDec 8, 2022

Flocking to fire: wildfires don’t deter Americans from moving to at-risk regions

A team of scientists found that Americans are moving to regions prone to wildfires, defying expectations that natural hazards would deter migration. The study suggests that economic factors play a larger role in migration decisions in metropolitan areas, where people are drawn to desirable landscapes with higher year-round temperatures.

SourceFrontiers·JournalFrontiers in Human Dynamics·TypeData/statistical analysis·DateDec 8, 2022

Breast cancer patients who interrupted endocrine therapy to pursue pregnancy did not experience worse short-term recurrence rates

Younger breast cancer patients who paused endocrine therapy to pursue pregnancy experienced similar short-term rates of breast cancer recurrence as those who continued therapy. The study found that many women were able to conceive and deliver healthy babies, with conception and childbirth rates comparable to the general public.

Mode-division demultiplexing spectrometer

The authors propose a new concept for MDM spectroscopy and demonstrate the first integrated mode-division demultiplexing spectrometer. The spectrometer combines mode demultiplexing and spectral detection by dispersion of structure and photocurrent measurement, achieving high spectral resolution.

SourceCompuscript Ltd·JournalOpto-Electronic Science·DateDec 8, 2022

Inequities, research gaps in ophthalmology

A review of 75 publications found significant knowledge gaps on health inequities affecting the LGBTQ+ community and minority groups, including American Indian and Alaska Native individuals. The study emphasizes the importance of investigating barriers to clinical studies and medical trainee recruitment in under-resourced areas.

SourceJAMA Network·JournalJAMA Ophthalmology·DateDec 8, 2022

Graphene scientists firstly manufactured a difunctional composite for high-performance Li-S batteries under extremely low temperatures

Researchers developed a novel separator using graphene oxide, acetylene black and polypropylene to suppress lithium polysulfide dissolution and improve lithium-ion transportation. The new separator enables efficient Li-S batteries with better performance and stability.

SourceInternational Journal of Extreme Manufacturing·JournalInternational Journal of Extreme Manufacturing·DateDec 8, 2022

Hundreds-fold electrochemical measurement output brings data science to reveal microbial electricity generation mechanisms

Researchers developed a device capable of taking hundreds of times more electrochemical measurements than conventional devices, enabling the analysis of molecular mechanisms that enable microorganisms to efficiently generate electricity. The technique can also be used to analyze materials interacting with microorganisms.

Could a nasal spray treat sleep apnea?

A nasal spray has shown promising results in treating obstructive sleep apnea by preventing airway narrowing during sleep. The treatment, which targets specific receptors on the upper airways, improved airway stability and was well-tolerated in a small clinical trial.

SourceFlinders University·JournalCHEST Journal·TypeRandomized controlled/clinical trial·DateDec 8, 2022

Treatment decision guided by circulating tumor cell count may improve long-term outcomes for patients with metastatic breast cancer

Using circulating tumor cell (CTC) count to guide treatment decisions between chemotherapy and endocrine therapy improved overall survival in patients with metastatic, estrogen receptor-positive/HER2-negative breast cancer. CTC count-based strategies resulted in better long-term outcomes for patients with high vs. low CTC counts.

How big, bulky drugs get into our cells

Researchers at UCSF and Arc Institute have discovered a cellular uptake pathway for larger drug molecules composed of linked subunits. This knowledge can be harnessed to create new drugs that are efficiently taken up by target cells, overcoming a fundamental challenge in drug discovery.

SourceArc Institute·JournalScience·TypeExperimental study·DateDec 8, 2022

Scientists propose novel open-path multi-pass cell to measure atmospheric H2O and CO2 fluxes on line

A research team from Chinese Academy of Sciences proposed a new design for online measurement of atmospheric H<sub>2</sub>O and CO<sub>2</sub> fluxes using an open-path and anti-pollution multi-pass cell. The cell's unique coating design improved stability and durability, achieving accuracy comparable to commercial instruments.

Do former football players age faster?

A new study published in British Journal of Sports Medicine found that former professional football players, particularly linemen, tend to develop age-related diseases earlier than the general population. The research team analyzed data from nearly 3,000 former NFL players and found their health spans were reduced by nearly a decade. T...

SourceHarvard Medical School·JournalBritish Journal of Sports Medicine·DateDec 8, 2022

Going with the flow

Lei Fang's NSF-funded project models interactions between active matter and transport barriers to improve understanding of ocean currents and drone technologies. The study uses a laboratory flow system with tiny zooplankton, brine shrimp, to examine the effect of their movement on transport barriers.

Scientists reveal the role of immune progenitor cells in the repair of inflamed intestinal tissue

Researchers from Kumamoto University reveal how hematopoietic stem and progenitor cells orchestrate intestinal tissue repair through microbial signals. The study found that acute gut inflammation triggers the activation and expansion of immune progenitor cells, which migrate to lymph nodes to promote tissue repair.

SourceKumamoto University·JournalThe EMBO Journal·TypeExperimental study·DateDec 8, 2022

UCSF researchers uncover new pathway for molecular cancer drug therapies

Researchers at UCSF have uncovered a cellular uptake pathway important for larger molecules, enabling the creation of new drugs for cancer and other diseases. The discovery of an endogenous pathway involving interferon-induced transmembrane proteins promotes the efficient entry of diverse linked chemotypes into target cells.

SourceUniversity of California San Francisco Medical Center·JournalScience·TypeExperimental study·DateDec 8, 2022

Digital healthcare, location optimization and road improvements are recommended to improve healthcare in Ho Chi Minh City

A study by the University of Eastern Finland and Vietnam National University found that people in urban areas have better access to healthcare than suburban residents. The researchers recommend digital healthcare solutions to improve healthcare quality and accessibility in a cost-effective manner.

SourceUniversity of Eastern Finland·JournalBMC Health Services Research·DateDec 8, 2022

Electric car sales drive toward cleaner air, less mortality

Research found that widespread electric vehicle adoption will significantly reduce air pollution and associated mortality in US metropolitan areas, with Los Angeles projected to see 1,163 fewer premature deaths annually. Electric vehicles could bring up to $12.61 billion in economic health benefits by 2050.

SourceCornell University·JournalRenewable and Sustainable Energy Reviews·DateDec 8, 2022

Palaeontology: No supersonic boom for dinosaur tails

A modelling study published in Scientific Reports found that diplodocid tails were unlikely to create a supersonic boom due to their slow movement speed. The authors simulated tail movements using a model and found that adding hypothetical structures to the end of the tail did not allow it to reach the speed of sound without breaking.

SourceScientific Reports·JournalScientific Reports·DateDec 8, 2022

The messy death of a star

A team of astronomers used JWST images to piece together the death of a 500-million-year-old star, which created shrouds of gas and left a remnant dense white dwarf. The study reveals evidence of two or three companion stars that hastened its death, with implications for supernovae and gravitational wave systems.

SourceMacquarie University·JournalNature Astronomy·TypeData/statistical analysis·DateDec 8, 2022

Largest study of its kind reveals adjuvant chemotherapy improves overall survival for pancreatic cancer patients

A nationwide retrospective study showed that adjuvant chemotherapy after neo-adjuvant chemotherapy and surgery significantly improved overall survival in patients with pancreatic adenocarcinoma, regardless of lymph node status or resection margins. The study included nearly 900 patients and was published in JAMA Oncology.

Researchers gain a better understanding of how the most commonly used ADHD medication works

A new study has shed light on how the most commonly used ADHD medication, methylphenidate, works in the brain. The research found that methylphenidate increases dopamine levels in the nucleus accumbens and improves coordinated brain network activity, resulting in more stable sustained attention in children with ADHD.

SourceElsevier·JournalBiological Psychiatry Cognitive Neuroscience and Neuroimaging·TypeObservational study·DateDec 8, 2022