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Science News Archive July 2022 - Page 20


Page 20 of 34

Neutrino factories in deep outer space

An international research team has shed light on the origin of neutrinos, shedding new evidence that blazars can be confidently associated with astrophysical neutrinos. The study utilizes neutrino data from the IceCube Neutrino Observatory and BZCat catalogue to establish a connection between high-energy neutrinos and galactic nuclei.

SourceUniversité de Genève·JournalThe Astrophysical Journal Letters·TypeData/statistical analysis·DateJul 14, 2022

BU study: Stem cell transplantation for AL amyloidosis leads to long-term survival and possible cure in selected patients

Researchers at Boston University School of Medicine found that high-dose chemotherapy and autologous stem cell transplantation can produce prolonged survival in patients with AL amyloidosis. The study developed a predictive score to assess event-free survival, which showed improved safety and effectiveness for selected patients.

SourceBoston University School of Medicine·JournalAmerican Journal of Hematology·TypeData/statistical analysis·DateJul 14, 2022

Comparing physicians’ performance to peers decreases job satisfaction and increases burnout

A five-month field experiment involving 199 primary care physicians found that comparing performance to peers decreased job satisfaction while increasing burnout. The study also showed that training leaders on how to best support physicians mitigated such negative effects.

SourceUniversity of California - Los Angeles Health Sciences·JournalProceedings of the National Academy of Sciences·TypeSurvey·DateJul 14, 2022

Lumasiran shows efficacy in adults with reduced GFR and primary hyperoxaluria type 1 (PH1)

Lumasiran, an RNA interference therapeutic, has been shown to reduce oxalate levels in patients with primary hyperoxaluria type 1 (PH1) who have relatively preserved kidney function. In the ILLUMINATE-C study, lumasiran resulted in substantial reductions in plasma oxalate with acceptable safety in patients on hemodialysis.

SourceNational Kidney Foundation·JournalAmerican Journal of Kidney Diseases·DateJul 14, 2022

NTU Singapore study finds that increased use of videoconferencing apps during COVID-19 pandemic led to more fatigue among workers

A recent NTU Singapore study reveals that frequent use of videoconferencing platforms contributed to higher levels of fatigue among workers. The researchers found a significant link between increased videoconferencing usage and feelings of fatigue, with reliable internet connections unable to mitigate this effect.

SourceNanyang Technological University·JournalComputers in Human Behavior Reports·DateJul 14, 2022

Bacteria in donor organs complicate immune response after transplantation

A study by researchers from the University of Chicago reveals that bacteria in donated organs complicate the immune response after transplantation. The findings show that immune responses against commensal bacteria add to the rejection of the organ, reducing the effectiveness of immunosuppressive drugs and causing damage to the graft.

SourceUniversity of Chicago·JournalJournal of Clinical Investigation·TypeExperimental study·DateJul 14, 2022

Acknowledgment of antimicrobial resistance in regulatory frameworks for accelerated drug approval could improve access to new antibiotics

A new report highlights the importance of acknowledging antimicrobial resistance (AMR) in regulatory frameworks for accelerated drug approval. The analysis provides recommendations to improve access to new antibiotics in Brazil, India, and South Africa, where antibiotic development is hampered by regulatory hurdles.

A type of ‘step therapy’ is an effective strategy for diabetic eye disease

A specific step strategy, starting with a less expensive medicine and switching to a more expensive one if vision does not improve sufficiently, gives results similar to starting off with the higher-priced drug. After two years, both groups had similar visual acuity outcomes, improving on average approximately three lines on an eye chart.

SourceNIH/National Eye Institute·JournalNew England Journal of Medicine·TypeRandomized controlled/clinical trial·DateJul 14, 2022

One-hit wonder: How awards, recognition decrease inventors’ creativity

Research from Washington University in St. Louis found that awards and recognition can temper creativity by making producers feel threatened by the prospect of compromising their identity with mediocre work. This phenomenon is particularly pronounced among first-time producers, who are more likely to stop producing altogether if they f...

SourceWashington University in St. Louis·JournalJournal of Applied Psychology·TypeExperimental study·DateJul 14, 2022

Consider farmers at individual level when controlling livestock disease outbreaks, researchers say

A new study suggests that incorporating farmers' behaviors into national infection control policies can better manage livestock disease outbreaks. The research found that individual farmers may respond differently to disease control measures, and their actions could be critical in protecting animal welfare and the farming industry.

SourceUniversity of Warwick·JournalPLOS Computational Biology·DateJul 14, 2022

Evaluating rising incidence of thyroid cancer

A study of 1,300 patients found most thyroid cancers are discovered in asymptomatic individuals, supporting the hypothesis of ongoing subclinical disease detection. The findings contradict the notion of a rising incidence of thyroid cancer.

SourceJAMA Network·JournalJAMA Otolaryngology–Head & Neck Surgery·DateJul 14, 2022

Harvard researcher awarded HSFP Program Award 2022 Research Grant to study water to land transitions in arthropod evolution

A Harvard researcher has been awarded a $1.1 million grant to study the evolution of aerial breathing in arthropods, exploring how they transitioned from water to land over 100 million years ago. The team aims to understand the role of atmospheric oxygen in facilitating this process and its impact on respiratory structures.

Research probes how people control unwanted thoughts

A new study published in PLOS Computational Biology suggests that proactively avoiding associations can help prevent the repetitive looping of unwanted thoughts. Researchers found that most people use reactive control, which can strengthen unwanted thoughts, but also discovered that preemptive control can partially mitigate this effect.

SourcePLOS·JournalPLOS Computational Biology·TypeExperimental study·DateJul 14, 2022

Simple skin biopsy can assess tissue damage related to COVID-19

Researchers found clots in small venous and arterial blood vessels in normal-looking skin from patients with severe COVID-19, distinguishable from other forms of respiratory illness. Antiviral proteins and interferon-induced inflammatory proteins were also detected, associated with disease severity.

SourceElsevier·JournalAmerican Journal Of Pathology·TypeExperimental study·DateJul 14, 2022

Utility of objective testing for initiation of a throwing program following shoulder and elbow surgery in competitive baseball players

A study by Dr. James B. Carr and colleagues evaluated 48 competitive baseball players who underwent shoulder or elbow surgery. The results show that 75% passed an objective return-to-throwing evaluation, while 25% failed due to insufficient shoulder strength and/or endurance. All failing players were able to achieve a passing grade two...

Moderate drinking linked to brain changes and cognitive decline

A study of almost 21,000 people found that moderate drinking is associated with higher iron levels in the brain and poorer cognitive function. Iron accumulation is a potential mechanism for alcohol-related cognitive decline, which can lead to Alzheimer's and Parkinson's diseases.

SourcePLOS·JournalPLOS Medicine·TypeObservational study·DateJul 14, 2022

Whole blood exchange could offer disease-modifying therapy for Alzheimer’s disease, study finds

A new study from UTHealth Houston found that whole blood exchange treatments decreased amyloid plaque formation in mice with Alzheimer's disease-causing amyloid precursor proteins. This approach has the advantage of treating the disease in the circulation instead of the brain, potentially bypassing the blood-brain barrier.

Research reveals how brain inflammation may link Alzheimer’s risk, sleep disturbance

A recent study discovered that brain inflammation may be a key link between Alzheimer's disease risk and sleep disturbance. The research found that age-related increases in brain inflammation can disrupt fast sleep spindles, which are crucial for long-term memory retention. This disruption contributes to age-related memory impairment i...

SourceUniversity of California - Irvine·JournalSLEEP·TypeObservational study·DateJul 13, 2022

A review of seismo-electromagnetic research in China

Researchers in China have developed new techniques for monitoring and predicting earthquake precursors using satellite observation and ground-based methods. These methods include earth resistivity, magnetotelluric, geomagnetic, and geoelectric field observations, as well as EM radiation and satellite observation.

SourceScience China Press·JournalScience China Earth Sciences·DateJul 13, 2022

COVID-19 antibodies from eggs

Scientists at UC Davis have successfully produced COVID-19 antibodies in hen eggs, which may be used as a preventative measure or treatment for people exposed to the disease. The antibodies, similar to those found in human blood, were shown to neutralize the virus effectively.

SourceUniversity of California - Davis·JournalViruses·TypeExperimental study·DateJul 13, 2022

Widely-used kidney function tests underestimate scale of kidney disease in Africa

A study found that widely-used kidney function tests are inaccurate for predicting kidney disease in African populations, suggesting a significant underestimation of kidney disease prevalence. The creatinine-based test was shown to be less effective due to unique biological characteristics in African populations, while the cystatin C t...

SourceUniversity of the Witwatersrand·JournalThe Lancet Global Health·TypeExperimental study·DateJul 13, 2022

Hidden Consciousness Detected with EEG Predicts Recovery of Unresponsive Patients

A new study found that subtle brainwaves detectable with EEG are the strongest predictor of eventual recovery for brain-injured patients who appear unresponsive. Covert consciousness, detectable through customized artificial intelligence software, is linked to higher and faster rates of recovery.

SourceColumbia University Irving Medical Center·JournalThe Lancet Neurology·TypeObservational study·DateJul 13, 2022