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Science News Archive August 2022 - Page 6


Page 6 of 38

How do land sparing vs. land sharing interventions influence human wellbeing?

The study found that integrated interventions, which prioritize people and nature coexistence, positively impact local human wellbeing. In contrast, single-sector interventions like high-input conventional agriculture and strict protected areas have negative impacts on human health and ecosystems.

Mixing things up: optimizing fluid mixing with machine learning

A team of Japanese researchers used reinforcement learning to study fluid mixing during laminar flow, achieving exponentially fast mixing without prior knowledge. The method also enabled effective transfer learning, reducing training time for new mixing problems, and has potential applications across various industries.

SourceTokyo University of Science·JournalScientific Reports·TypeComputational simulation/modeling·DateAug 29, 2022

Keeping Kermit: New clues to protecting frogs from deadly Bd fungus

A new study from the University of South Australia shows that captive frogs can be protected from the deadly fungus Batrachochytrium dendrobatidis (Bd) through natural skin shedding processes. However, captivity also reduces skin bacteria diversity and richness, potentially affecting the frogs' resilience to pathogens.

SourceUniversity of South Australia·JournalTransactions of the Royal Society of South Australia·TypeExperimental study·DateAug 28, 2022

Improving the robustness of bound states in the continuum with higher topological charges

The study proposes merging bound states in continuum (BICs) using higher topological charges, significantly enhancing Q factors and suppressing scattering loss. The approach enables steerable BICs with designed momentum, improving performance for direction-related applications.

Getting to the bottom of the Arctic sea ice decline: Investigation of heat movement near the North Pole and under the Arctic sea ice

Researchers studied heat movement near North Pole and under Arctic sea ice, providing insights into the mechanisms of Arctic sea ice decline. Their findings suggest that strong winds cause mixing of water where ice and ocean meet, leading to enhanced heat transfer and changes in seawater salinity.

SourceResearch Organization of Information and Systems·JournalJournal of Geophysical Research Oceans·DateAug 28, 2022

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