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Science News Archive May 2022 - Page 13


Page 13 of 40

More about superconducting Ba2CuO4-δ: Band crossover and magnetic phase diagram

The study reveals a single-band paramagnetic metal behavior at intermediate correlation regime, with two antiferromagnetic insulating parent phases at strongly correlated regimes. The researchers also found that Cooper pairs in Ba2CuO4-δ are s+d-wave symmetric due to spin-fluctuation mediated effective pairing interaction.

Can medications for excessive alcohol use help prevent and treat alcohol-related liver disease?

Research suggests that medications for excessive alcohol use may help prevent and treat ALD by lowering the risk of disease progression among individuals with alcohol use disorder. The study also found that treatment with certain medications was linked to a reduced incidence of ALD among participants without existing liver disease.

SourceMassachusetts General Hospital·JournalJAMA Network Open·TypeData/statistical analysis·DateMay 20, 2022

New guidance released for preventing hospital-acquired pneumonia

The Society for Healthcare Epidemiology of America and four medical societies release recommendations for preventing ventilator-associated events and nonventilator hospital-acquired pneumonia. Evidence-based practices include oral care, managing dysphagia, and multimodal approaches to prevent viral infections.

SourceSociety for Healthcare Epidemiology of America·JournalInfection Control and Hospital Epidemiology·TypeLiterature review·DateMay 20, 2022

Unraveling a perplexing explosive process that occurs throughout the universe

Scientists have simulated a way to create and observe the early stages of fast radio bursts, a mysterious phenomenon that releases enormous energy in space. The proposed experiment uses a strong laser to produce pair plasma, which is then shifted to a higher frequency, demonstrating the prospects for laboratory production and observation.

SourceDOE/Princeton Plasma Physics Laboratory·JournalPhysics of Plasmas·TypeObservational study·DateMay 20, 2022

Machine learning radically reduces workload of cell counting for disease diagnosis

Researchers have developed a new training method for machine learning models to perform blood cell counts, reducing manual annotation work. The U-Net model achieves high accuracy in segmenting images with multiple cell types, promising a simpler and cheaper alternative to traditional cell analyzers.

SourceBeijing Institute of Technology Press Co., Ltd·JournalCyborg and Bionic Systems·TypeExperimental study·DateMay 20, 2022

Trust in the police?

A sociological study found that immigrants' trust in the police decreases over time as they integrate into their host country. The study, which analyzed data from almost 20,000 immigrants across 22 European countries, suggests that experiences of discrimination play a significant role in eroding trust. To maintain high levels of trust ...

SourceGoethe University Frankfurt·JournalEthnic and Racial Studies·TypeData/statistical analysis·DateMay 20, 2022

New research shows no evidence of structural brain change with short-term mindfulness training

A team from the University of Wisconsin-Madison found no significant differences in structural brain changes between participants who received short-term mindfulness training and those who did not. Despite this, participants reported increased mindfulness, suggesting that benefits may be related to wellness interventions more broadly.

SourceUniversity of Wisconsin-Madison·JournalScience Advances·TypeExperimental study·DateMay 20, 2022

Organic farming or flower strips – which is better for bees?

A study by researchers at Göttingen University and the Centre for Ecological Research found that organic farming is more effective in promoting wild bee populations than conventional fields with flower strips. The findings suggest that considering both yield and area of land is crucial when evaluating agri-environmental measures.

SourceUniversity of Göttingen·JournalBasic and Applied Ecology·TypeExperimental study·DateMay 20, 2022

Surprising turbulence

Researchers at HZDR simulated liquid metal flow behavior and found that turbulence under certain conditions leads to reduced heat transport. This finding has implications for battery technology and our understanding of the Earth's core.

SourceHelmholtz-Zentrum Dresden-Rossendorf·JournalPhysical Review Letters·TypeExperimental study·DateMay 20, 2022

Study identifies new molecular target for cancer therapy

Researchers at Ohio State University Wexner Medical Center have discovered a new molecular drug target to treat cancer, VEGF-A, which can increase expression of dopamine D2 receptors on endothelial cells to stop blood vessel growth and spread diseases like colon cancer and ovarian hyperstimulation syndrome.

SourceOhio State University Wexner Medical Center·JournalJournal of Cell Science·TypeComputational simulation/modeling·DateMay 20, 2022

Research brings hope for spinal cord injury treatment

Scientists have shown that a drug called AZD1236 can significantly reduce 'secondary damage' caused by spinal cord injury by blocking the inflammatory response. The treatment promotes significant nerve regeneration and improves movement and sensation, with an 85% improvement in these areas after just three days of treatment.

SourceUniversity of Birmingham·JournalClinical and Translational Medicine·TypeExperimental study·DateMay 20, 2022

NYU Abu Dhabi researchers demonstrate organic crystals can serve as energy converters for emerging technologies

Researchers at NYU Abu Dhabi have discovered that organic crystals can efficiently convert energy, meeting the needs of advanced technologies such as soft robotics and artificial muscles. The material's ability to expand and contract repeatedly without deterioration makes it suitable for applications in electronics.

SourceNew York University·JournalNature Communications·DateMay 20, 2022

Satellites and drones can help save pollinators

Researchers at the University of Exeter are using satellites and drones to track the availability of flowers for pollinators. This technology could be combined with behavioral studies to better understand the impact of human activity on pollinator habitats, leading to more effective conservation efforts.

SourceUniversity of Exeter·JournalFrontiers in Ecology and Evolution·DateMay 20, 2022

PFAS chemicals do not last forever

Researchers at UC Riverside discover that adding iodide to a water treatment reactor using ultraviolet (UV) light and sulfite can destroy up to 90% of PFAS chemicals in just a few hours. This method accelerates the reaction four times, saving energy and chemicals, and enables the treatment of ten times higher concentrations of PFAS.

SourceUniversity of California - Riverside·JournalEnvironmental Science & Technology·TypeExperimental study·DateMay 20, 2022

Are Republicans and Democrats driven by hatred of one another? Less than you think

A new study from the University of Pennsylvania suggests that negative partisanship - the perception that Democrats or Republicans are driven by hatred for their opponents - is exaggerated. In fact, research found that people's primary motivations for choosing a party are more strongly tied to love for their own party.

SourceUniversity of Pennsylvania·JournalNature Human Behaviour·TypeExperimental study·DateMay 20, 2022

Advancing fundamental drilling science

Researchers at Texas A&M University reduced well-completion times and drill bit changeouts by using physics-based instruction and oil and gas techniques. This approach improved the efficiency of drilling geothermal wells, resulting in significant time and cost savings.

SourceTexas A&M University·TypeNews article·DateMay 20, 2022

Research sheds light on crimean-congo hemorrhagic fever disease process

The US Army Medical Research Institute of Infectious Diseases has made a breakthrough in understanding Crimean-Congo hemorrhagic fever virus (CCHFV) disease process. The study found that the host inflammatory response is a significant driver of CCHFV-mediated disease, and that modulating this response could help prevent severe disease....

University of Limerick, Ireland research reveals variety of opinions are crucial for ‘fostering trust’ in vaccination

The research found that people expressing minor reservations about vaccination can limit the influence of vaccine sceptics and promote trust among neutrals. Countries with weak chains of influence between positive and neutral positions toward vaccination performed worse in terms of vaccine coverage.

SourceUniversity of Limerick·JournalScientific Reports·TypeCase study·DateMay 20, 2022

Medical debt during pandemic

Researchers found no net association between the COVID-19 pandemic and medical debt across different income levels and pandemic severity. Decreases in elective medical procedures and government healthcare-related policies may have offset any increase in medical debt.

SourceJAMA Network·JournalJAMA Health Forum·DateMay 20, 2022

Topography and soil pH steer the activity-density and spatial distribution of termites in a fine-scale study

This study reveals that topography and soil pH are key factors influencing the spatial distribution and activity density of termites in tropical forests. The researchers found that different feeding groups respond to environmental influences, such as plant biomass and litter mass, affecting their co-occurrence and ecological impact.

SourceHigher Education Press·JournalSoil Ecology Letters·TypeExperimental study·DateMay 20, 2022

Deciphering the biosynthetic gene cluster for potent freshwater toxin

Researchers discovered and validated the enzymes responsible for producing guanitoxin, a potent neurotoxin associated with freshwater harmful algal blooms. The study revealed that guanitoxin-producing cyanobacteria are more prevalent than known in the US, enabling new molecular diagnostic testing to protect public health.

SourceUniversity of California - San Diego·JournalJournal of the American Chemical Society·TypeMeta-analysis·DateMay 20, 2022

Where do “Hawaiian box jellies” come from?

A team of University of Hawaii researchers found that the number of hours of darkness during the lunar cycle triggers mature Hawaiian box jellyfish to swim to shore to spawn. The study also revealed that jellies are likely to come from the lee of Diamond Head Crater, where they benefit from shelter and food.

SourceUniversity of Hawaii at Manoa·JournalRegional Studies in Marine Science·TypeObservational study·DateMay 20, 2022