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Science News Archive February 2022 - Page 33


Page 33 of 40

Calls for resilience training, more extra-curricular activities in schools to help prevent mental health disorders

A new study by Murdoch Children's Research Institute calls for increased support for student mental health, including training for educators and co-locating mental health clinicians. The researchers believe schools can play a crucial role in identifying at-risk children and providing prevention and early intervention strategies.

SourceMurdoch Childrens Research Institute·JournalPLOS ONE·TypeSurvey·DateFeb 6, 2022

Increasing the accuracy of atomic force calculations with the space-warp coordinate transformation

Researchers developed a space-warp coordinate transformation (SWCT) method to accurately calculate atomic forces for elements with high atomic numbers. The study used quantum Monte Carlo simulations and found that the SWCT method reduces computational costs, resulting in more accurate calculations.

SourceJapan Advanced Institute of Science and Technology·JournalThe Journal of Chemical Physics·DateFeb 6, 2022

New research bites holes into theories about Megalodons

A new study using a two-dimensional drawing technique has found no general patterns in the fin and body shapes of five warm-blooded Lamniformes species to determine Megalodon's shape. The research challenges previous conclusions about the extinct shark's body form, suggesting that warm bloodedness does not make sharks differently shaped.

SourceUniversity of California - Riverside·JournalHistorical Biology·TypeObservational study·DateFeb 6, 2022

Latest study reveals no one still knows what the Megalodon really looked like

A new study by DePaul University researchers has found that all previously proposed body forms of the Megalodon shark are based on speculations. The lack of scientific evidence means that the public image of a massive, monstrous shark remains unchanged, while paleontologists continue to search for clues in the fossil record.

SourceTaylor & Francis Group·JournalHistorical Biology·TypeObservational study·DateFeb 6, 2022

Wistar scientists move HIV vaccine research forward by developing an immunogen that produces tier-2 antibodies—the kind that matter for combatting HIV

Researchers at The Wistar Institute have developed a DNA-encoded immunogen that produces tier-2 neutralizing antibodies in mice, opening up new possibilities for HIV vaccine development. The study demonstrates the potential of using native-like trimer to generate broadly neutralizing antibody responses.

SourceThe Wistar Institute·JournalNature Communications·TypeExperimental study·DateFeb 4, 2022

New research finds pregnant people with gestational diabetes at increased risk of a wider range of cardiovascular problems than previously thought

A new study finds that women with a history of gestational diabetes are at greater risk for a range of cardiovascular conditions, including coronary artery disease and heart failure. The research, which analyzed data from 219,330 women, suggests that preventative measures during pregnancy may help prevent cardiovascular disease later i...

Spanish-language vaccine resources harder to access, while Hispanic vaccination rates remain below overall average, study finds

A study found that many big box retailers lack Spanish language COVID-19 vaccine resources, hindering access for Hispanic populations. The researchers recommend increasing the visibility of these resources and incorporating non-English materials into public health strategies.

SourceUniversity of Chicago Medical Center·JournalJournal of General Internal Medicine·DateFeb 4, 2022

Those at highest risk for severe COVID-19 often least likely to get monoclonal antibodies

A study published in JAMA found that high-risk COVID-19 patients were less likely to receive monoclonal antibody treatment, despite being at highest risk of severe disease. The researchers suggest that the limited supply of mAbs and difficulties navigating the referral process may be contributing factors.

SourceHarvard T.H. Chan School of Public Health·JournalJAMA·TypeData/statistical analysis·DateFeb 4, 2022

Too many disk galaxies than theory allows

Researchers found that the number of flat disk galaxies in our universe exceeds predictions from the Standard Model of Cosmology. The discrepancy suggests that dark matter may not be as prevalent as thought, forcing scientists to reevaluate their understanding of galaxy formation and evolution.

SourceUniversity of Bonn·JournalThe Astrophysical Journal·TypeComputational simulation/modeling·DateFeb 4, 2022

Change in Medicaid enrollment early in pandemic

A study of 790,000 Wisconsin Medicaid enrollees found that maintenance of eligibility requirements were associated with decreased enrollment, while pandemic-related employment shocks led to significant increases in enrollment. The study suggests that the COVID-19 pandemic has had a substantial impact on Medicaid enrollment patterns.

SourceJAMA Network·JournalJAMA Health Forum·DateFeb 4, 2022

Harvard Chan research shows actions to prevent pandemics cost 5% of lives lost every year from emerging infectious diseases

Researchers provide cost-effective actions to prevent pandemics, including better surveillance and wildlife management, with estimated annual costs under $20 billion. These 'primary pandemic prevention' actions can help prevent future pandemics and have substantial co-benefits for human health, environment, and economic development.

SourceHarvard Chan C-CHANGE·JournalScience Advances·DateFeb 4, 2022

Mechanical control of a reconfigurable intelligent surface

A mechanical RIS has been developed with high reconfiguration degree of freedom, low power consumption, and real-time dynamic control capabilities. It uses a robust control method to determine the rotation angle of each meta-atom and offers a new energy-saving and environmentally friendly alternative for wireless communications systems.

Healing nerves on spider silk

Researchers have produced double-sided spider silk fibers that can attract nerve cells and stimulate their growth. The fibers were created using a biotechnological approach and modified with different proteins to make one side more attractive to cells, while the other side could be used to attach factors or substances.

SourceWiley·JournalAngewandte Chemie International Edition·TypeExperimental study·DateFeb 4, 2022

Strobe light for 5G: NIST imaging system spotlights the tiny mechanical hearts at the core of every cellphone

Researchers at NIST developed an instrument to image acoustic waves over a wide range of frequencies with unprecedented detail. The new instrument captures these waves by relying on an optical interferometer, allowing for the creation of three-dimensional movies of microresonators' vibrational modes.

SourceNational Institute of Standards and Technology (NIST)·JournalNature Communications·TypeExperimental study·DateFeb 4, 2022

Even the smallest pollution particles change the rainfall regime in the Amazon

Researchers found nanoparticles from human activities rapidly grow in atmosphere and influence cloud formation, affecting raindrop formation and changing rainfall regime. The study provides new insights into the impact of small aerosols on precipitation and improves climate change studies based on mathematical models.

The abyssal world: the last terra incognita of the Earth surface

A massive DNA sequencing project has mapped the deep-sea biodiversity, revealing a vast and unknown ecosystem that plays a crucial role in ocean food-webs and carbon sequestration. The study sheds light on the connection between surface and deep-water ecosystems, with implications for understanding climate change.

University of South Florida awarded five-year, $1.35 million NIH institutional grant to train scientists in vascular inflammation and injury research

The University of South Florida has received a five-year, $1.35 million NIH institutional grant to train scientists in vascular inflammation and injury research. The grant will support the comprehensive training of pre- and postdoctoral scientists focused on this emerging area of research.

European-wide review on how community pharmacies dealt with COVID

A European-wide review of community pharmacy interventions during the COVID-19 pandemic found 31 pharmacy interventions across 32 European countries. These interventions included prevention, response, and recovery measures, as well as improved access to medicines, rapid antigen testing, and COVID-19 vaccination.

SourceUniversity of Huddersfield·JournalResearch in Social and Administrative Pharmacy·TypeLiterature review·DateFeb 4, 2022

Research shows actions to prevent pandemics cost 5% of lives lost every year from emerging infectious diseases

A new study suggests that implementing primary pandemic prevention actions, such as better surveillance and wildlife management, can reduce the economic costs of emerging infectious diseases by up to 10%. These actions have a substantial co-benefit of preventing carbon dioxide emissions and conserving water supplies.

SourceHarvard T.H. Chan School of Public Health·JournalScience Advances·TypeMeta-analysis·DateFeb 4, 2022

Researchers discover two treatments that induce peanut allergy remission in children

Two new treatments have been found to induce peanut allergy remission in children, with about half achieving remission and experiencing significant improvements in quality of life. The combination treatment and oral immunotherapy alone were both highly effective, providing substantial benefits for children's health and well-being.

SourceMurdoch Childrens Research Institute·JournalThe Lancet Child & Adolescent Health·TypeRandomized controlled/clinical trial·DateFeb 4, 2022

Mason researchers develop the first social media-based intervention to promote Hepatitis B screening among Korean Americans

The study, published in Digital Health, finds that a culturally-tailored social media campaign increases Hepatitis B awareness among Korean Americans, improving knowledge and perceptions about HBV testing. The campaign, delivered via Kakao Talk, had a 95% retention rate and comparable results to existing in-person interventions.

SourceGeorge Mason University·JournalDigital Health·TypeExperimental study·DateFeb 4, 2022

Protons are probably actually smaller than long thought

A team of physicists from the University of Bonn and TU Darmstadt has developed a method to analyze proton radius data from older and more recent experiments, revealing no difference between the values. This suggests protons are about 5% smaller than previously assumed.

SourceUniversity of Bonn·JournalPhysical Review Letters·TypeComputational simulation/modeling·DateFeb 4, 2022

Supercomputer and quantum simulations solve a difficult problem of materials science

A Japanese research team successfully estimated the bending energy of disiloxane molecules with state-of-the-art quantum Monte Carlo method, overcoming previous simulation challenges. The method's self-healing property reduced basis-set dependence and bias, enabling accurate results without dependence on parameter choices.

SourceJapan Advanced Institute of Science and Technology·JournalPhysical Chemistry Chemical Physics·DateFeb 4, 2022