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Science News Archive July 2022 - Page 13


Page 13 of 34

The 20th anniversary of China’s signing of the Stockholm Convention: Towards a POPs-free World

China has established an implementation guarantee system and strengthened capacity development to promote the implementation of the Stockholm Convention. The country has seen significant reductions in pesticide residues and PCBs, with a disposal rate of 100% for hazardous waste.

SourceHigher Education Press·JournalFrontiers of Environmental Science & Engineering·TypeLiterature review·DateJul 20, 2022

Chemists create artificial protein that peers into Earth’s chemical past

Researchers at Ohio State University have developed an artificial protein that could provide new insights into chemical evolution on early Earth. The protein, inspired by a key enzyme in energy production, has been shown to build molecules one step at a time, shedding light on how organic chemistry matured on the planet.

SourceOhio State University·JournalProceedings of the National Academy of Sciences·TypeExperimental study·DateJul 20, 2022

Statement from NIH and BARDA on the Novavax COVID-19 vaccine

The Novavax COVID-19 vaccine has been recommended by the CDC for primary series use in US adults ages 18+, following FDA authorization. The vaccine demonstrates 90.4% effectiveness in preventing symptomatic COVID-19 and 100% effectiveness against moderate-to-severe disease. NIH and BARDA supported its development, with NIAID scientists...

SourceNIH/National Institute of Allergy and Infectious Diseases·JournalNew England Journal of Medicine·DateJul 20, 2022

Hormone replacement therapy doesn't lead to breast cancer reoccurrence

A large cohort study found that hormone replacement therapy for breast cancer survivors is not associated with an increased risk of recurrence. The study included over 8,400 Danish postmenopausal women and found no link between vaginal estrogen or menopausal hormone therapy and breast cancer reoccurrence.

SourceOxford University Press USA·JournalJNCI Journal of the National Cancer Institute·TypeData/statistical analysis·DateJul 20, 2022

Study identifies barriers to COVID-19 vaccine uptake and the powerful influence of family and friends

A study found that COVID-19 vaccination rates are driven more by perceptions of others' intentions than public health messaging. Family and friends have a stronger influence on vaccination decisions, while public health efforts targeting broader groups may be less effective.

SourceBrown University·JournalProceedings of the National Academy of Sciences·TypeData/statistical analysis·DateJul 20, 2022

Going against the flow: Scientists reveal garden eels’ unique way of feeding

Researchers at Okinawa Institute of Science and Technology Graduate University found that garden eels retreat into their burrows to feed in strong currents, reducing drag on their body by 57%. Their feeding rate peaks at around 0.2 m/s, wider than free-swimming reef fish.

SourceOkinawa Institute of Science and Technology (OIST) Graduate University·JournalJournal of Experimental Biology·TypeExperimental study·DateJul 20, 2022

Racial discrimination affects brain microstructure

A new study finds that racial discrimination affects brain microstructure, increasing the risk for health disorders in Black women. Traumatic experiences lead to changes in brain white matter tracts, which may enhance risk for negative health outcomes.

SourceElsevier·JournalBiological Psychiatry Cognitive Neuroscience and Neuroimaging·TypeImaging analysis·DateJul 20, 2022

Researchers make new discoveries about severe alcoholic hepatitis

Researchers have identified two distinct phenotypes of inflammatory cell infiltration in severe alcoholic hepatitis, suggesting separate mechanisms driving liver injury and failure. These findings could lead to personalized treatment approaches, such as identifying patients who are more or less likely to respond to steroid therapy.

SourceIndiana University School of Medicine·JournalJournal of Clinical Investigation·DateJul 20, 2022

Melanoma thickness equally hard for algorithms and dermatologists to judge

Researchers from the University of Gothenburg found that assessing melanoma thickness is challenging for both human dermatologists and machine-learning algorithms. Despite differences in success rates, both groups achieved comparable results when evaluating dermoscopic images, highlighting the need for further study to improve diagnost...

SourceUniversity of Gothenburg·JournalJournal of the European Academy of Dermatology and Venereology·TypeImaging analysis·DateJul 20, 2022

Early detection by Tango

The Tango assay combines accumulation and a logical AND gate operation to identify prostate cancer biomarkers in blood samples. It achieves 91% accuracy in detecting prostate cancer in just 15 minutes, offering a non-invasive alternative to biopsies.

SourceWiley·JournalAngewandte Chemie International Edition·TypeExperimental study·DateJul 20, 2022

A healthy lifestyle can offset a high genetic risk for stroke, according to new research by UTHealth Houston

A new study published in the Journal of the American Heart Association found that people with high genetic risk for stroke can reduce their risk by 30-45% by adopting a healthy cardiovascular lifestyle. The study followed 11,568 adults over 28 years and showed that modifying lifestyle risk factors can offset genetic risk.

SourceUniversity of Texas Health Science Center at Houston·JournalJournal of the American Heart Association·DateJul 20, 2022

Deep learning for new alloys

Using the Stampede2 supercomputer, researchers have developed a deep learning model that predicts the properties of over 370,000 high-entropy alloy compositions. The study also applied association rule mining to discover design rules for high-entropy alloy development and proposed several compositions for experimentalists to synthesize.

SourceUniversity of Texas at Austin, Texas Advanced Computing Center·Journalnpj Computational Materials·TypeComputational simulation/modeling·DateJul 20, 2022

Law enforcement in the emergency department

Researchers examined law enforcement interactions with patients and clinicians in an urban emergency department, highlighting their impact on patient care. The study's findings suggest that effective communication between law enforcement officers and healthcare providers is crucial for safe and efficient patient treatment.

SourceJAMA Network·JournalJAMA Surgery·DateJul 20, 2022

Johns Hopkins APL assembles first global map of lunar hydrogen

Scientists from Johns Hopkins APL have compiled the first complete map of hydrogen abundances on the Moon's surface using data collected over two decades ago. The map identifies two types of lunar materials containing enhanced hydrogen and corroborates previous ideas about lunar hydrogen and water.

SourceJohns Hopkins University Applied Physics Laboratory·JournalJournal of Geophysical Research Planets·TypeData/statistical analysis·DateJul 20, 2022

Magnetic memory milestone

Scientists have successfully switched the state of a bit in memory using spin-orbit torque switching in antiferromagnetic material Mn3Sn, promising faster and more efficient devices. This breakthrough could lead to radical improvements in performance compared to current electronic devices.

SourceUniversity of Tokyo·JournalNature·TypeExperimental study·DateJul 20, 2022

With just a tablespoon of blood, B.C. researchers aim to transform cancer treatment

Researchers developed a new blood test that analyzes circulating tumour DNA, providing unprecedented insight into cancer make-up. The test reveals unique characteristics of each patient's cancer, enabling personalized treatment plans. It also sheds light on treatment resistance and helps predict effective treatments.

SourceUniversity of British Columbia·JournalNature·TypeData/statistical analysis·DateJul 20, 2022

Review outlines methods to estimate life expectancy

A systematic review by Leicester researchers has explored common methods used to predict years of life lost, highlighting differences between basic and advanced methods. The study aims to provide a comprehensive guide for healthcare professionals and researchers, promoting better understanding of life expectancy metrics.

SourceUniversity of Leicester·JournalJournal of Clinical Epidemiology·TypeSystematic review·DateJul 20, 2022

Study details U.S. health spending by region

A new study analyzes US health spending by region and finds that distinct factors drive variation across payers. Regional utilization of healthcare services is highly correlated across payers, but spending itself shows minimal correlation between Medicaid and Medicare populations.

SourceYale University·JournalJAMA Network Open·DateJul 20, 2022

Higher cardiovascular health may partially offset increased genetic risk for stroke

A new study published in the Journal of the American Heart Association found that adopting a healthy cardiovascular lifestyle can significantly lower the risk of stroke, even for people at high genetic risk. The study used data from over 11,500 adults and estimated lifetime stroke risk based on polygenic risk scores.

SourceAmerican Heart Association·JournalJournal of the American Heart Association·DateJul 20, 2022

Putting the brakes on "budding" viruses

Researchers have published the first-ever look at a key stage in the life cycles of measles and Nipah viruses, revealing how future therapies might stop these viruses. The study identifies how paramyxoviruses utilize a host cell lipid for viral spread, providing a new target for developing inhibitors of the assembly process.

SourceLa Jolla Institute for Immunology·JournalScience Advances·TypeExperimental study·DateJul 20, 2022

Bioinspired whisker arrays can work as antennae to detect sources of flow disturbances under water or in the air

Researchers at City, University of London have developed bioinspired whisker arrays that can locate sources of hydrodynamic wakes, similar to how sea lions use their whiskers. This technology has the potential to monitor flow over aerofoils and detect unusual signatures in the air.

SourceCity St George’s, University of London·JournalNature·TypeExperimental study·DateJul 20, 2022

Is there wealth stability across generations in the U.S.?

A study analyzing U.S. data from 1984-2017 found that grandparents' wealth is strongly positively correlated with their younger generation's asset components. However, Black individuals tend to be less invested in risky assets even after adjusting for intergenerational transfers.

SourceWiley·JournalContemporary Economic Policy·DateJul 20, 2022