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Science News Archive July 2022 - Page 31


Page 31 of 34

Zapping our tastebuds can help reduce our salt intake

A Japanese research team has developed a chopstick-shaped device that uses weak electrical charges to stimulate the tongue's saltiness. The study found that individuals following a low-sodium diet can reduce their salt intake by 30% through electric taste stimulation, enhancing the full flavor of salty foods.

SourceFrontiers·JournalFrontiers in Virtual Reality·DateJul 5, 2022

Ethnic pride may help protect Latino college students from problem drinking

A new study suggests that developing culturally-sensitive interventions for Latino college students can help prevent problem drinking. The research found that ethnic pride was associated with significantly less drinking and alcohol-related consequences, while ethnic shame was linked to a higher likelihood of problem drinking. Familismo...

SourcePenn State·JournalJournal of Ethnicity in Substance Abuse·TypeObservational study·DateJul 5, 2022

Timing is everything for weed management

Researchers identified peak emergence times for 15 problematic weed species in the Northeast, revealing that waiting till after June 1 can avoid common ragweed. Flexible crop rotations and weather-based predictions can help farmers plan ahead and control weeds more effectively.

SourceCornell University·JournalFrontiers in Agronomy·DateJul 5, 2022

Molecule boosts fat burning

A new molecule, inosine, has been identified as a key booster of fat burning through activation of brown fat cells. Studies have shown that inosine can increase energy consumption and protect against diabetes in mice fed high-energy diets.

SourceUniversity of Bonn·JournalNature·DateJul 5, 2022

New research on intensive nurse home visiting program shows no impact on birth outcomes; study is ongoing

A randomized evaluation of Nurse-Family Partnership found that low-income mothers in South Carolina experienced adverse birth events at a rate of 26.9 percent, similar to the control group. The study evaluated various outcomes, but more evidence is needed on effective interventions to address racial and structural inequities.

SourceHarvard T.H. Chan School of Public Health·JournalJAMA·TypeRandomized controlled/clinical trial·DateJul 5, 2022

Nanoparticle vaccine protects against a spectrum of COVID-19-causing variants and related viruses

A new nanoparticle vaccine has shown promising results in protecting against a spectrum of COVID-19-causing variants and related viruses. The vaccine induces the production of cross-reactive antibodies that recognize virtually every SARS-like betacoronavirus strain, providing broad-spectrum protection against future pandemics.

COVID-19 virus spike protein flexibility improved by human cell's own modifications

Researchers created an atomic-level computational model of the COVID-19 spike protein, finding that human cell modifications increase its flexibility and mobility. The study suggests that these modifications can enhance virus infectivity and immune avoidance.

SourceUniversity of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign, News Bureau·JournalProceedings of the National Academy of Sciences·TypeComputational simulation/modeling·DateJul 5, 2022

Dominant omicron subvariants better at evading vaccines, antibody treatments

A study by Columbia University researchers found that new omicron subvariants BA.4 and BA.5 are better at evading vaccines and antibody treatments than previous variants, causing more breakthrough infections in vaccinated individuals. Only one available monoclonal antibody treatment remained highly effective against these subvariants.

SourceColumbia University Irving Medical Center·JournalNature·TypeExperimental study·DateJul 5, 2022

Brain’s response to understanding stories changes as we grow up

Research reveals that brain responses to stories change dramatically between childhood and adulthood, with different brain regions activated in each age group. Children as young as seven show similar patterns of brain activity to adults when watching a story, but their brains are less synchronized and more focused on sensory details.

SourceeLife·JournaleLife·DateJul 5, 2022

Unchecked emissions could double heat-related child mortality

A new study published in Environmental Research Letters estimates that thousands of heat-related child deaths could be prevented if temperature increases are limited to the Paris Agreement's 1.5ºC target through to 2050. Under a high emission scenario, heat-related child mortality is projected to double by 2049 compared to 2005-2014.

SourceUniversity of Leeds·JournalEnvironmental Research Letters·TypeData/statistical analysis·DateJul 5, 2022

Latest study on telehealth consultations highlights potential health inequalities

A recent study by Staffordshire University highlights the potential for telehealth consultations to widen disparities in healthcare access. Despite the benefits of reduced costs and increased flexibility, service managers and clinicians reported limited technological skills and patient technology as major barriers to telehealth adoptio...

SourceStaffordshire University·JournalInternational Journal for Equity in Health·TypeSurvey·DateJul 5, 2022

COVID-19 vaccination activates antibodies targeting parts of virus spike protein shared between coronaviruses

A new analysis suggests that the COVID-19 vaccine generates antibodies targeting unique and conserved regions of the SARS-CoV-2 spike protein. The immune system's history with other coronaviruses shapes the patient's response, and the antibody response to common cold coronaviruses appears to follow different paths than to SARS-CoV-2.

SourceNorthern Arizona University·JournalCell Reports·TypeComputational simulation/modeling·DateJul 5, 2022

A new frontier in water purification

Researchers at Boise State University developed a new water purification system that uses Ti3C2Tx MXene to remove ammonia from simulated wastewater. The system achieves a 100 times improvement in deionization capacity compared to activated carbon-based electrode systems, reducing energy consumption and pollutant ions.

SourceBoise State University College of Engineering·Journalnpj Clean Water·TypeExperimental study·DateJul 5, 2022

Making it easier to differentiate mirror-image molecules

Researchers from PSI, EPFL, and the University of Geneva developed a new method to distinguish between mirror-image molecules using helical dichroism. This approach provides stronger signals compared to circular dichroism (CD), which is widely used but has weak signals suitable only for gas-phase samples.

SourcePaul Scherrer Institute·JournalNature Photonics·TypeExperimental study·DateJul 5, 2022

Taking Vitamin D during pregnancy could lower the risk of eczema in babies

A new study published in the British Journal of Dermatology found that taking Vitamin D supplements during pregnancy can substantially reduce the chances of babies developing atopic eczema. Babies who were breastfed for more than a month showed a lower risk of eczema, suggesting that supplementation may have long-lasting benefits.

SourceUniversity of Southampton·JournalBritish Journal of Dermatology·TypeRandomized controlled/clinical trial·DateJul 5, 2022

“Good evidence” that ADHD drugs might also treat Alzheimer’s disease

A pooled data analysis of available research found that ADHD drugs may successfully treat key aspects of Alzheimer's disease. Noradrenergic drugs, which target the neurotransmitter noradrenaline, showed a small but significant positive effect on overall cognition and a large positive effect on apathy in patients with Alzheimer's disease.

SourceBMJ Group·JournalJournal of Neurology Neurosurgery & Psychiatry·TypeSystematic review·DateJul 5, 2022

Finding HIV’s sweet spot

Researchers found that HIV prefers to infect memory CD4 T cells with large amounts of specific sugars, including fucose and sialic acid. The study also reveals that HIV boosts the production of these sugars in infected cells, highlighting a new target for potential treatments.

SourceGladstone Institutes·JournaleLife·DateJul 5, 2022

Why natural gas is not a bridge technology

The study highlights the risks of natural gas infrastructure expansion, including underestimated methane emissions and economic climate risks. The researchers propose five measures to avoid these risks, including a timely and consistent natural gas exit.

SourceRuhr-University Bochum·JournalNature Energy·TypeData/statistical analysis·DateJul 5, 2022

Seeing photovoltaic devices in a new light

A team of researchers at Osaka University measured the photovoltaic properties of antimony sulfiodide:sulfide devices and discovered a novel effect. They found that changing the color of incident light from visible to ultraviolet induced a reversible change in output voltage, while leaving current unchanged.

SourceOsaka University·JournalAdvanced Functional Materials·TypeExperimental study·DateJul 5, 2022

Age may rival politics in COVID-19 vaccine debate

A new study from the University of Georgia suggests that age and risk perception have a significant impact on COVID-19 vaccine acceptance, surpassing political ideology. Older adults (50+) are more likely to consider themselves at risk for severe illness and are universally vaccinated, particularly above 75 years old.

SourceUniversity of Georgia·JournalInternational Journal of Strategic Communication·DateJul 5, 2022

Young Black patients with AML face significantly worse outcomes than white patients of the same age

A new study published in Blood Advances highlights significant inequities in diagnosis, treatment, and care between Black and white patients with acute myeloid leukemia (AML). Young adult Black patients were five times more likely to die within 30 days of beginning treatment compared to comparable white patients. The study also found c...

SourceAmerican Society of Hematology·JournalBlood Advances·DateJul 5, 2022