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Science News Archive 2022 - Page 58


Page 58 of 448

A new air purification strategy might reduce the risk of COVID-19 transmission in classrooms and other indoor spaces by as much as tenfold

A new study by USC researchers demonstrates that high-efficiency air filtration systems can significantly improve indoor air quality. Operating such systems with portable HEPA air purifiers can maximize the removal of tiny airborne particles, reducing COVID-19 transmission risk by up to tenfold.

SourceUniversity of Southern California·JournalInternational Journal of Environmental Research and Public Health·TypeExperimental study·DateNov 9, 2022

Are new antiseptics safer than their antimicrobial predecessors?

A new study assesses the environmental safety of three topical antiseptic compounds, finding high margins of safety for two of them. Researchers conclude that these substances are unlikely to cause ecological harm, providing a sound basis for interpreting future environmental data.

SourceWiley·JournalEnvironmental Toxicology and Chemistry·DateNov 9, 2022

Study shows heart failure treatment with dapagliflozin consistently benefited both men and women

A recent study by Brigham and Women's Hospital found that dapagliflozin consistently improved outcomes for both men and women with heart failure, regardless of left ventricular ejection fraction. The treatment was safe and well-tolerated in both sexes, suggesting a lack of sex-specific indications for this class of HF therapies.

SourceBrigham and Women's Hospital·JournalCirculation·TypeRandomized controlled/clinical trial·DateNov 9, 2022

Why eye contact is different in autism

Researchers at Yale University used innovative technology to study brain activity during social interactions between individuals with and without autism. They found that people with ASD had reduced activity in the dorsal parietal cortex during eye contact, which was associated with ADOS scores.

SourceYale University·JournalPLOS ONE·DateNov 9, 2022

Ambition to succeed despite adversity motivates people from diverse backgrounds to pursue legal careers, study shows

A new study suggests that a desire to succeed despite adversity is a key motivator for individuals from diverse backgrounds to pursue legal careers. The research, based on 650 UK tweets, found that financial support and positive careers advice are crucial in overcoming barriers to entry into the legal profession.

SourceUniversity of Exeter·JournalResearch in Post-Compulsory Education·TypeObservational study·DateNov 9, 2022

How does a skeleton move?

Researchers have developed a videography-based method to track skeletal kinematics in freely moving rodents, providing insights into animal behavior and brain function. The approach uses an anatomically grounded skeleton model and can be applied to multiple furry species.

SourceMax-Planck-Gesellschaft·JournalNature Methods·TypeComputational simulation/modeling·DateNov 9, 2022

Combined effect of bacteria and iron levels on the progression of colorectal cancer

Researchers found that excessive iron accumulation accelerates tumor growth in F. nucleatum-positive colorectal cancer by enhancing inflammatory responses in immune cells, promoting interpatient prognostic variability. Iron levels also modulate macrophage expression profiles, transforming them into pro-tumor cells expressing CCL8.

SourceKumamoto University·JournalJCI Insight·TypeExperimental study·DateNov 9, 2022

How squid and octopus get their big brains

Researchers discovered that cephalopods develop their large nervous systems using similar mechanisms as vertebrates, with a focus on the retina. This study provides insight into the developmental process of these intelligent creatures and could lead to new discoveries about human brain development.

SourceHarvard University·JournalCurrent Biology·TypeExperimental study·DateNov 9, 2022

The allocation of COVID-19 vaccinations in 29 countries at the beginning of 2021

Researchers mapped out variations in vaccine distribution policies among 29 countries, highlighting differing priorities such as age, comorbidities, and occupation. The study suggests that vaccination schedules differ from resource allocation strategies in healthcare, reflecting diverse moral judgments underlying each approach.

SourceInterdisciplinary Centre for Ethics, Jagiellonian University in Kraków·JournalJournal of Law and the Biosciences·TypeContent analysis·DateNov 9, 2022

Nazi propaganda from 1927–1945 reveals role of dehumanization of Jews in the Holocaust

A linguistic analysis of Nazi propaganda shows that dehumanization of Jews shifted over time, with earlier propaganda focusing on disengaging moral concern and later propaganda portraying Jews as having a greater capacity for agency. This study suggests that dehumanization can motivate violence by reducing moral concern for victim groups.

SourcePLOS·JournalPLOS ONE·TypeObservational study·DateNov 9, 2022

Growing pure nanotubes is a stretch, but possible

Materials theorists Boris Yakobson and Ksenia Bets propose a method to control the growth of carbon nanotubes by constraining the carbon feedstock in a furnace. This approach allows for the production of batches with single desired chirality, which is essential for highly conductive applications. The researchers suggest etching away lo...

SourceRice University·JournalScience Advances·TypeComputational simulation/modeling·DateNov 9, 2022

Does racial resentment motivate confidence in false beliefs?

A new study found that racial resentment significantly motivates Americans to express confidence in misinformed beliefs about policy issues associated with race, such as human-caused climate change and COVID-19 origins. In contrast, this effect was not observed for less racially charged topics like childhood vaccine safety.

SourceWiley·JournalSocial Science Quarterly·DateNov 9, 2022

Sex role flexibility is key to the evolution of homosexual partnerships in termites

A new study published in PNAS found that female and male Japanese termites can flip sex roles to form stable same-sex pairs. The researchers discovered that this 'sex role flexibility' allows same-sex pairings to evolve, enabling termites to survive and thrive.

SourceOkinawa Institute of Science and Technology (OIST) Graduate University·JournalProceedings of the National Academy of Sciences·TypeExperimental study·DateNov 9, 2022

Toxic cooking fumes cause life-threatening complications in pregnant women with high blood pressure

A study by King's College London found a significant correlation between deaths due to indoor household pollution and eclampsia rates. The researchers evaluated over 2,690 cases of eclampsia in eight low- and middle-income countries and discovered that indoor cooking with solid fuels increases the risk of adverse birth outcomes.

SourceKing's College London·JournalInternational Journal of Gynecology & Obstetrics·TypeData/statistical analysis·DateNov 9, 2022

Evolution of tree roots may have driven mass extinctions

A study led by Gabriel Filippelli suggests that the evolution of tree roots during the Devonian Period caused massive algae growth, depleting ocean oxygen and triggering mass extinctions. The researchers found that tree roots released excess nutrients into the oceans during times of decay, leading to catastrophic events.

SourceIndiana University·TypeExperimental study·DateNov 9, 2022

The theory of micro-hairs

Researchers have developed a continuum theory of micro-hairs, allowing for the study of collective movements and fluid flows. The theory reveals that even random movement is unstable and leads to synchronisation, while perfect unison is also unstable, resulting in specific patterns of movement.

SourceVienna University of Technology·JournalProceedings of the National Academy of Sciences·TypeComputational simulation/modeling·DateNov 9, 2022

Magnetism or no magnetism? The influence of substrates on electronic interactions

Researchers at Monash University found that electric fields and applied strain can turn magnetism on and off in two-dimensional metal-organic frameworks. This discovery could lead to applications in magnetic memory, spintronics, and quantum computing.

SourceARC Centre of Excellence in Future Low-Energy Electronics Technologies·Journalnpj Computational Materials·TypeComputational simulation/modeling·DateNov 9, 2022

Contactless screening tool could revolutionise chronic wound treatment

Researchers at RMIT University have developed an AI-powered system to predict how leg ulcers will heal based on thermal images from the first assessment. This innovation enables nurses to identify chronic wounds during the first visit, allowing for specialized treatment up to four weeks earlier than the current gold standard.

SourceRMIT University·JournalScientific Reports·TypeRandomized controlled/clinical trial·DateNov 9, 2022