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Science News Archive May 2022 - Page 19


Page 19 of 40

Scientists use machine learning models to help identify long COVID patients

Researchers developed XGBoost machine learning models using de-identified EHR data from the National COVID Cohort Collaborative to identify potential long-COVID patients. The models achieved high accuracy, identifying key features such as post-COVID respiratory symptoms and pre-existing risk factors for acute COVID severity.

SourceUniversity of North Carolina Health Care·JournalThe Lancet Digital Health·TypeData/statistical analysis·DateMay 17, 2022

3D-printed acoustic holograms against Alzheimer's or Parkinson's

Researchers at Universitat Politècnica de València have developed 3D-printed acoustic holograms that can open the blood-brain barrier, allowing for precise administration of therapeutic drugs to treat Alzheimer's and Parkinson's diseases. The technology enables controlled focusing of ultrasonic beams on specific brain structures.

SourceUniversitat Politècnica de València·JournalIEEE Transactions on Biomedical Engineering·TypeExperimental study·DateMay 17, 2022

Photoluminescence, a simple and ubiquitous technique, is far more capable than one might have thought

Researchers develop an all-optical approach using photoluminescence to analyze radiative and nonradiative recombination processes in semiconductors. By combining Raman spectroscopy with PL data, they can extract quantitative information on carrier recombination dynamics, including defect density and capture cross-sections.

Dwarf planet Ceres was formed in coldest zone of Solar System and thrust into Asteroid Belt

Researchers propose that Ceres was formed outside the Frost Line, where ammonia ice is abundant, and then pulled into the Asteroid Belt by gravitational instability. Computer simulations support this hypothesis, showing that giant planet formation led to a turbulent environment that scattered objects into stable orbits.

Caribbean coral reefs need our help

Global warming is expected to destabilize Caribbean coral populations, leading to bleaching and extinction. Coral reefs support the seafood industry, coastal communities, and tourism, with a net economic value estimated in tens of billions of dollars.

SourceLouisiana State University·JournalCoral Reefs·TypeData/statistical analysis·DateMay 17, 2022

Changes in COVID-19 mortality rates by age, race, ethnicity

A recent study found that COVID-19 mortality rates in the United States were significantly higher among younger adults and minority groups compared to older adults and white populations. The research also revealed disparities in mortality rates by sex, with women experiencing lower mortality rates than men.

SourceJAMA Network·JournalJAMA Network Open·DateMay 17, 2022

Alternative to open heart surgery just as effective for patients with common heart condition

A new study has shown that Transcatheter Aortic Valve Implantation (TAVI) is just as effective as conventional open-heart surgery in treating severe symptomatic aortic stenosis. The procedure offers a safer and faster recovery for patients, with improved symptoms, functional capacity, and quality of life at 6 weeks.

SourceUniversity of Leicester·JournalJournal of the American Medical Association·TypeRandomized controlled/clinical trial·DateMay 17, 2022

Steps should be taken now to protect future supplies of infant and pediatric formula

A new perspective published in The American Journal of Clinical Nutrition recommends strategies to prevent future shortages and regain public trust. Strategies include a thorough, public process to instill confidence in safe production, assessment of supply system factors, and evaluation of business practices.

SourceAmerican Society for Nutrition·JournalAmerican Journal of Clinical Nutrition·TypeCommentary/editorial·DateMay 17, 2022

Protein linked to intellectual disability has complex role

The study found that the fragile X protein regulates the opening and closing of the GABA-A receptor in neurons from the brain's memory center, influencing how such neurons process information. This nuanced understanding may hold the key to developing effective therapies for fragile X syndrome.

SourceWashU Medicine·JournalCell Reports·TypeExperimental study·DateMay 17, 2022

Dynamics of adaptive immunity in tuberculosis uncovered

Researchers discovered that adaptive immune response against TB matures over time, with key players in immunity becoming activated by three months after infection. The emergence of these activated T cells is inversely correlated with the number of granuloma-contained live bacteria, suggesting they play critical roles in bacterial control.

SourceUniversity of Pittsburgh·JournalCell Reports·DateMay 17, 2022

The numbers don’t lie: Australia is failing at maths and we need to find a new formula to arrest the decline

Australian secondary students' math rankings have dropped to 29th place globally, with a new study suggesting hand gestures are crucial for understanding mathematical concepts. Online learning has exacerbated the issue, making it harder for students to grasp math concepts without human motor and sensory skills.

SourceUniversity of South Australia·JournalIntegrative Psychological and Behavioral Science·TypeData/statistical analysis·DateMay 17, 2022

“Gold veins mined in the city” A technology to realize ‘urban mining’

A Korean research team has developed a gold recovery process with the world's highest recovery efficiency of 99.9%. The technology uses a capsule-type material that traps gold ions and prevents clogging, allowing for repeated recycling. This innovation can lead to significant cost savings and environmental benefits.

SourceNational Research Council of Science & Technology·JournalChemical Engineering Journal·DateMay 17, 2022

If you take several medications, ‘polypharmacy’ is a word to know

A recent study found that 70% of adults with stage 3 or 4 cancer were at risk of drug-drug interactions, highlighting the importance of deprescribing medications to avoid harm. The study's results emphasize the need for education and problem-solving to address polypharmacy in older adults with cancer.

SourceUniversity of Rochester Medical Center·JournalThe Oncologist·TypeRandomized controlled/clinical trial·DateMay 17, 2022

Meteorological mechanisms behind severe drought in southwestern China during spring 2021 differ from similar historical events

A study found that climatic conditions during the extreme 2021 spring drought in SWC were distinct from similar historical events. Researchers identified atmospheric internal variability and a warming trend as key drivers of the drought, with high temperatures contributing significantly to its severity.

SourceInstitute of Atmospheric Physics, Chinese Academy of Sciences·JournalAdvances in Atmospheric Sciences·DateMay 17, 2022

A CNIC team creates a dynamic 3D atlas of the formation of the embryonic heart

A CNIC team has created a dynamic 3D atlas of the formation of the heart during embryonic and fetal development, allowing for the identification of the first appearance of left–right asymmetry in the heart. This study provides important information on the development of congenital heart malformations.

SourceCentro Nacional de Investigaciones Cardiovasculares Carlos III (F.S.P.)·JournalNature Cardiovascular Research·TypeExperimental study·DateMay 17, 2022

Rice chemists skew the odds to prevent cancer

Researchers at Rice University have developed a theoretical framework to explain how cancers caused by multiple genetic mutations can be identified and potentially stopped. By analyzing energy landscapes of cellular transformation pathways, they found that the most dominant pathways are favored by chance.

SourceRice University·JournalBiophysical Journal·TypeComputational simulation/modeling·DateMay 17, 2022

Vine removal technique foils devastating grape disease

A new vine removal technique called spatial roguing can significantly reduce the incidence of leafroll disease in commercial vineyards. Removing two vines on either side of a diseased grapevine creates a barrier that eliminates the mealybugs' means of transporting the virus, leading to a rapid decline in disease incidence.

SourceCornell University·JournalAmerican Journal of Enology and Viticulture·DateMay 17, 2022

China's Tianwen-1 Solar Wind Observation: The beginning of a multi-spacecraft exploration in Martian space by China, the U.S., and Europe

The Tianwen-1 mission has successfully observed solar wind plasma upstream of Mars, revealing several large-scale solar wind disturbances and consistent tendencies with other Mars missions. The joint observation will bring new opportunities for studying the evolution of the Martian atmosphere and paleoclimate.

SourceScience China Press·JournalScience China Earth Sciences·DateMay 17, 2022

‘Untapped’ potential: Mineral water derived from deep-sea water may have health benefits

Scientists discovered that mineral water derived from deep-sea water can improve cognitive and coordinative functions in obese mice. The researchers found that treatment with DSW extract-added water significantly increased hippocampal NGF secretion and decreased serum parameters, indicating a positive impact on renal function.

SourceShibaura Institute of Technology·JournalNutrients·TypeExperimental study·DateMay 17, 2022