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Science News Archive 2022 - Page 76


Page 76 of 448

New gene editing strategy could lead to treatments for people born with inherited diseases of the immune system

Researchers have developed a pioneering gene editing strategy that can repair faulty genes in immune cells, offering new hope for patients with conditions like CTLA-4 insufficiency. The technique uses CRISPR/Cas9 to target and correct the faulty gene, preserving important regulatory mechanisms.

SourceUniversity College London·JournalScience Translational Medicine·TypeExperimental study·DateOct 26, 2022

A pocket full of water molecules – how actin filaments drive the cell’s motion

Researchers used cryo-EM to obtain high-resolution images of actin filaments in three states, revealing the movement of hundreds of water molecules and their role in ATP hydrolysis. The study provides new insights into the assembly and aging of actin filaments, potentially leading to therapeutic applications.

SourceMax Planck Institute of Molecular Physiology·JournalNature·TypeExperimental study·DateOct 26, 2022

Effects of low-carbohydrate dietary intervention on A1C

A 6-month randomized clinical trial found that a low-carbohydrate diet intervention resulted in larger reductions in hemoglobin A1c (HbA1c) levels compared to usual diet among adults with elevated untreated HbA1c. The study suggests that this dietary approach may be useful for preventing and treating type 2 diabetes.

SourceJAMA Network·JournalJAMA Network Open·DateOct 26, 2022

Simple machine may pave the way for more powerful cell phones and WIFI

Scientists from Harvard John A. Paulson School of Engineering and Applied Sciences have created a machine that uses surface tension of water to grab and manipulate microscopic objects, enabling nanoscopic manufacturing. The device can braid micrometer-scale fibers of synthetic material Kevlar, opening doors for high-frequency conductors.

Contact tracing data sheds light on COVID-19 spread in New York City

A study using contract tracing data in New York City found the city's program was efficient, producing data that informs neighborhood-level interventions like vaccination and reactive restriction. The researchers also identified large heterogeneity in reported close contacts and secondary infections across neighborhoods.

SourceColumbia University's Mailman School of Public Health·JournalNature Communications·TypeData/statistical analysis·DateOct 26, 2022

Automatic text simplification: efficacy in the foreign language classroom

A study by Professor Dennis Murphy Odo found that automatic text simplification (ATS) software makes authentic materials more comprehensible for L2 learners with high reading proficiency. However, the tool's effectiveness is limited for learners with lower reading proficiencies. The researcher suggests that ATS tools need to be further...

SourcePusan National University·JournalApplied Linguistics·TypeExperimental study·DateOct 26, 2022

Smoking and vaping had overlapping adverse health effects, dual product use may be worse

Two studies found that cigarette smoke and e-cigarette vapor have similar cardiovascular effects due to airway irritation. This irritation can lead to vascular damage and impaired blood vessel function. The research suggests that dual product use may be worse than single product use, highlighting the need for stricter regulations.

SourceAmerican Heart Association·JournalArteriosclerosis Thrombosis and Vascular Biology·DateOct 26, 2022

New research shows link between workplace bullying and conspiracy beliefs

A new study by the University of Nottingham reveals that people who experience workplace bullying are more likely to engage in conspiracy theorizing. The research found that both bullying and conspiracy theories share similar psychological factors, such as feelings of paranoia. This can lead to a vicious cycle where victims of bullying...

SourceUniversity of Nottingham·JournalSocial Psychology·TypeExperimental study·DateOct 26, 2022

New class of porous metal nanoparticles will give rise to new capabilities in biomolecular absorption, chemical sensing and separations

Researchers from Northwestern University have synthesized open-channel superlattices with pores ranging from 10 to 1,000 nanometers in size. The new findings will enable the use of these colloidal crystals in molecular absorption and storage, separations, chemical sensing, catalysis, and optical applications.

SourceNorthwestern University·JournalNature·DateOct 26, 2022

Yes, people with autism have empathy

A new concept, empathic disequilibrium, suggests a balance between cognitive and emotional empathy is needed for social functioning in individuals with autism. Research found those diagnosed with autism exhibited higher rates of empathic disequilibrium, which may hinder some social interactions.

SourceBen-Gurion University of the Negev·JournalAutism Research·TypeObservational study·DateOct 26, 2022

Drs. Harriette Van Spall and Erica Gunderson to be honored with the Dr. Nanette K. Wenger Research Goes Red® Award

The American Heart Association honored Drs. Harriette Van Spall and Erica Gunderson with the 2022 Dr. Nanette K. Wenger Research Goes Red Award for their groundbreaking study on sex-specific clinical outcomes of heart failure patients. The research found that women experienced improved outcomes after receiving transitional care service...

UMD research shows three distinct attitudes toward improving stormwater management

A University of Maryland study found that stakeholders agree on the need for a decentralized approach to stormwater management but diverge on responsibility. Two groups believe stormwater poses a public threat, while the third sees it as an underutilized resource that can be managed with technology.

SourceUniversity of Maryland·JournalJournal of Environmental Planning and Management·TypeSurvey·DateOct 26, 2022

At risk for diabetes? Cut the carbs, says new study

Researchers at Tulane University have discovered that following a low-carbohydrate diet can lead to reduced hemoglobin A1c levels and improved fasting glucose levels among individuals with unmedicated diabetes and prediabetes. The study suggests that a low-carb diet may be a useful approach for preventing and treating Type 2 diabetes.

SourceTulane University·JournalJAMA Network Open·TypeRandomized controlled/clinical trial·DateOct 26, 2022

How Imperfections can actually improve alloys

Using transformation-induced plasticity (TRIP) and twinning-induced plasticity (TWIP), researchers design metastable alloys that can overcome the strength-ductility trade-off. The resulting materials are self-strengthening, making them suitable for applications such as earthquake construction, naval ships, and aerospace.

SourceUniversity of Pittsburgh·JournalScience Advances·DateOct 26, 2022

Deep learning-based virtual staining of tissue facilitates rapid assessment of breast cancer biomarker

A recent study published in BME Frontiers developed an AI-based approach that rapidly transforms autofluorescence images into virtual histological images for accurate HER2 assessment. This computational staining process takes only a few minutes per sample and does not require expensive facilities or toxic chemicals.

SourceBMEF (BME Frontiers)·JournalBME Frontiers·TypeExperimental study·DateOct 26, 2022

Elevated levels of arsenic and other metals found in Nevada's private wells

A recent study published in Science of The Total Environment found that many household wells in Nevada are contaminated with heavy metals such as arsenic, which can cause adverse health effects. The study suggests that frequent testing and improved treatment systems are necessary to ensure safe drinking water for rural communities.

SourceDesert Research Institute·JournalScience of The Total Environment·TypeObservational study·DateOct 26, 2022

Tracking mental health over the COVID-19 pandemic

A new study found that psychological factors such as coping abilities play a significant role in individuals' risk or resilience to mental health disruptions during the COVID-19 pandemic. Brain connectivity within specific brain networks also predicted individual vulnerability to anxiety and depression symptoms.

SourceElsevier·JournalBiological Psychiatry Cognitive Neuroscience and Neuroimaging·TypeData/statistical analysis·DateOct 26, 2022

New research shows how octopuses may have evolved

A team of researchers from Japan sequenced the draft genome of Argonauta argo and discovered that the species' egg case protein-coding genes were not used to form shells in distantly related species. This suggests that the eggs case evolved independently, rather than being a modified shell.

SourceOxford University Press USA·JournalGenome Biology and Evolution·TypeContent analysis·DateOct 26, 2022

Cancer drug could potentially be used against malaria

Researchers found that sapanisertib can kill the malaria parasite at several stages during its life cycle, including in the liver and red blood cells. The study's findings offer new hope against a disease that kills over half a million people annually.

SourcePenn State·JournalScience Translational Medicine·TypeExperimental study·DateOct 26, 2022