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Science News Archive 2022 - Page 36


Page 36 of 448

University of Limerick, Ireland research demonstrates new method of spinal cord tissue repair

The study successfully synthesised hybrid biomaterials using nanoparticles and showed excellent stem cell attachment and growth on the scaffolds. The material also promoted axonal cell migration towards the site of spinal cord injury, reducing scarring and inflammation. This research holds promise for treating spinal cord injuries.

SourceUniversity of Limerick·JournalBiomaterials Research·TypeRandomized controlled/clinical trial·DateNov 29, 2022

Children have less perceived access to important tools than reported by their parents

A study found that children think they have less access to common measurement tools and toys than their parents. This disparity can hinder STEM interest and success, as prior experience with tools is crucial for self-efficacy. The authors argue that this issue persists due to unnoticed gaps between parental and child perspectives.

SourceFlorida Museum of Natural History·JournalResearch in Science Education·DateNov 29, 2022

Cooling down solar cells, naturally

Researchers found that optimizing solar panel spacing and direction can increase energy production by 2-3% through natural convection. The study's model improves estimates of solar plant efficiency, paving the way for more accurate cost predictions.

SourceAmerican Institute of Physics·JournalJournal of Renewable and Sustainable Energy·DateNov 29, 2022

New tool allows clinicians to better assess and understand patient satisfaction levels

Researchers developed a spreadsheet tool to analyze large comment samples and identify themes within patient comments. The HCP Review Comment Analysis Tool allows providers to easily analyze patient comments and identify actionable measures of patient satisfaction, providing insights into specific actions by healthcare practitioners.

SourceAmerican Academy of Family Physicians·JournalThe Annals of Family Medicine·DateNov 29, 2022

THE LANCET INFECTIOUS DISEASES: New single-dose treatment for sleeping sickness could help eliminate transmission of the disease by 2030

A new study found that a single dose of acoziborole is as effective as current treatments for sleeping sickness, with a cure rate of 95% for late-stage patients and 100% for early/intermediate-stage patients. The treatment could revolutionize treatment for the disease by eliminating barriers such as hospitalization and travel distances.

SourceThe Lancet·JournalThe Lancet Infectious Diseases·TypeExperimental study·DateNov 29, 2022

High-performance and compact vibration energy harvester created for self-charging wearable devices

Researchers at Osaka Metropolitan University developed a compact vibration energy harvester that amplifies electric power generated from human walking motion by about 90 times. The device can generate electricity from non-stationary vibrations, including walking motion, to power small wearable devices.

SourceOsaka Metropolitan University·JournalApplied Physics Letters·TypeExperimental study·DateNov 29, 2022

Trends, disparities in firearm fatalities in the US, 1990-2021

A study of 1.1 million firearm fatalities in the US from 1990 to 2021 found increasing disparities in rates between men and women, as well as by racial and ethnic group. These findings highlight the need for public health approaches to address underlying demographic trends and geographic differences in reducing firearm violence.

SourceJAMA Network·JournalJAMA Network Open·DateNov 29, 2022

Researchers investigate neuron differentiation in fruit fly brains

The study reveals that non-coding regions near sloppy-paired genes are essential for temporal transcription factor expression and that Notch-signaling regulates the transition to subsequent TTFs. This mechanism couples temporal patterning with neuron generation, providing insights into brain diversity.

A combination of behaviour change campaigns and technology could help to keep air pollution at a minimum in schools, according to Surrey experts

A new study from the University of Surrey found that behaviour change campaigns and technology can significantly reduce air pollution in schools. Implementing these interventions can lead to a reduction in outdoor nitrogen dioxide exposure by up to 23% compared to business-as-usual activities.

SourceUniversity of Surrey·JournalScience of The Total Environment·DateNov 29, 2022

Bats growl like death metal singers and Mongolian throat singers

A new study reveals that bats use the same technique as human death metal singers and throat singing members to produce sounds. Bats can span 7 octaves with their vocal range, surpassing most mammals. The research team filmed what happens in a bat's larynx when producing sound, showing heavy vocal folds vibrating at low frequencies.

SourceUniversity of Southern Denmark·JournalPLOS Biology·TypeExperimental study·DateNov 29, 2022

Surgical masks are not inferior to N95 masks for health-care workers providing routine COVID-19 care

A randomized trial involving 1,009 healthcare workers in Canada, Egypt, Israel, and Pakistan found that surgical masks were not statistically less effective than N95 respirators in preventing COVID-19 infections. The study provides evidence for the use of surgical masks as an alternative to N95 masks during routine patient care.

SourceMcMaster University·JournalAnnals of Internal Medicine·TypeRandomized controlled/clinical trial·DateNov 29, 2022

The invention of Lithuanian scientists – AI will become an assistant in voice analysis

Researchers from Kaunas University of Technology and Lithuanian University of Health Sciences developed an AI-based system to evaluate the 'substitute voice' of laryngectomy patients, allowing for faster detection of pathologies. The Acoustic Substitution Voice Index (ASVI) uses acoustic parameters and artificial intelligence methods t...

SourceKaunas University of Technology·JournalApplied Sciences·TypeComputational simulation/modeling·DateNov 29, 2022

New quantum computing feat is a modern twist on a 150-year-old thought experiment

A team of quantum engineers at UNSW Sydney has developed a method to reset a quantum computer using a fast digital voltmeter to watch the temperature of an electron, reducing preparation errors from 20% to 1%. This innovation represents a modern twist on Maxwell's demon, a thought experiment that dates back to 1867.

SourceUniversity of New South Wales·JournalPhysical Review X·TypeExperimental study·DateNov 29, 2022

Cryptoassets: New evidence shows that nested financial services could cause domino effects

A new algorithm unravels the structure of financial services on the Ethereum blockchain, revealing highly intertwined structures that involve risks not yet fully understood. The findings highlight the need for transparency and awareness among users, regulators, and policymakers to mitigate systemic risks associated with cryptoassets.

SourceComplexity Science Hub·JournalACM Transactions on the Web·TypeData/statistical analysis·DateNov 28, 2022

Are older women being over-screened for cervical cancer?

A new study published in JAMA Internal Medicine suggests that more public health data is needed on the utilization of cervical cancer screening-associated services among older women. The analysis showed that over 1.3 million women received cervical cancer screening-associated services after age 65, with costs exceeding $83 million.

SourceUniversity of Illinois Chicago·JournalJAMA Internal Medicine·TypeData/statistical analysis·DateNov 28, 2022

Understanding polar species’ behavior to reduce risk of extinction: HKU Scientists discovered the southward migration of Arctic Ocean species during the last glacial period for the first time

Researchers identify two southward migration events of Arctic ostracods in the Last Glacial Period, revealing the impact of East Asian winter monsoon on marine ecosystems. The study's findings help understand Asian monsoon dynamics and their effects on polar species distribution, highlighting the risk of extinction under climate change.

SourceThe University of Hong Kong·JournalGeophysical Research Letters·TypeObservational study·DateNov 28, 2022

A breakthrough in bacterial vaginosis treatment for women’s health

Researchers at Harvard University developed a Human Vagina Chip to study the effects of microbiome on vaginal health. The chip replicated the human vaginal tissue microenvironment, including its microbiome, and showed that certain strains of bacteria can help maintain an acidic environment and reduce inflammation.

SourceWyss Institute for Biologically Inspired Engineering at Harvard·JournalMicrobiome·TypeExperimental study·DateNov 28, 2022

The Green Mediterranean diet reduces twice as much visceral fat as the Mediterranean diet and 10% more than a healthy diet

A recent clinical trial found that the Green Mediterranean diet reduced visceral adipose tissue by 14%, outperforming both the traditional Mediterranean diet and a healthy diet. The new diet incorporates dietary polyphenols and lower red meat intake, resulting in significant weight loss benefits.

SourceBen-Gurion University of the Negev·JournalBMC Medicine·TypeRandomized controlled/clinical trial·DateNov 28, 2022

Long-standing genomic mystery about the origins of introns explained in new study

A new study led by UCSC scientists suggests that introners are the source of most introns across species, providing a plausible explanation for their vast majority. The researchers found evidence of introners in 5.2% of surveyed eukaryotic species and suggest they may be a fundamental mechanism driving genomic complexity.

SourceUniversity of California - Santa Cruz·JournalProceedings of the National Academy of Sciences·DateNov 28, 2022

In some settings, medical masks may offer similar effectiveness to N95 respirators for preventing COVID-19 infection among health care workers

A study of over 1,000 healthcare workers found that medical masks may be as effective as N95 respirators in preventing COVID-19 infection. However, the results varied across countries and were influenced by factors such as vaccine use and variant circulating during the pandemic.

SourceAmerican College of Physicians·JournalAnnals of Internal Medicine·TypeRandomized controlled/clinical trial·DateNov 28, 2022

People with depression are less likely to have children

Research suggests that people with depression are less likely to have children, particularly men. The study, which examined over 1.4 million participants in Finland, found a significant association between diagnosed depression and the likelihood of having children, as well as the number of children born.

SourceUniversity of Helsinki·JournalAmerican Journal of Obstetrics and Gynecology·DateNov 28, 2022

Study using DNA analysis of sacrificial spider monkey suggests Mesoamerican diplomacy

A study using DNA analysis of a sacrificial spider monkey at Teotihuacàn, Mexico, reveals the earliest evidence of primate captivity and translocation in the Americas. The research provides insight into ancient trade networks and suggests that the spider monkey was a diplomatic gift between Teotihuacàn and the Maya civilization.

SourceUniversity of Oklahoma·JournalProceedings of the National Academy of Sciences·DateNov 28, 2022

Calcifying organisms, under threat from a combination of ocean warming and acidification

A new study reveals that global warming and ocean acidification are threatening marine organisms with calcium carbonate skeletons, such as corals and sea urchins. The researchers found a clear pattern showing that species with high levels of magnesium in their skeletons become more common with warmer seawater temperatures.

SourceInstitut de Ciències del Mar (ICM-CSIC)·JournalEcography·TypeMeta-analysis·DateNov 28, 2022

Nanoengineers develop a predictive database for materials

The researchers have developed an AI algorithm called M3GNet that can predict the structure and dynamic properties of any material. The algorithm was used to create a database of over 31 million yet-to-be-synthesized materials with predicted properties, facilitating the discovery of new technological materials.

SourceUniversity of California - San Diego·JournalNature Computational Science·TypeComputational simulation/modeling·DateNov 28, 2022

HKUMed discovers 90% penicillin allergies labels are false in Hong Kong and proposes a new testing strategy via the Hong Kong Drug Allergy Delabelling Initiative (HK-DADI)

A collaborative research team led by Dr Philip Li from HKUMed has pioneered a new nurse-led penicillin allergy triage and testing strategy, which demonstrated its effectiveness and safety compared to traditional allergy testing. The study found that 90% of penicillin allergy labels in Hong Kong are incorrect, leading to potential letha...

SourceThe University of Hong Kong·JournalJournal of Clinical Immunology·TypeObservational study·DateNov 28, 2022