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Science News Archive 2023 - Page 439


Page 439 of 444

Another step toward an insulin tablet

Researchers have developed an orally administered tablet powered by chemical micromotors that deliver insulin to the colon, reducing blood glucose levels for over five hours. The mini-tablets protected from stomach acid and used hydrogen gas bubbles as micromotors to propel insulin into the bloodstream.

SourceAmerican Chemical Society·JournalACS Nano·DateJan 9, 2023

Is ‘fear’ driving bias in environmental scholarship?

Researchers propose a new framework to address place-based biases in environmental scholarship, recognizing that historical events and social contexts can influence research outcomes. By acknowledging and overcoming these biases, scientists can design more inclusive and culturally sensitive conservation efforts.

SourceYale University·JournalBioScience·DateJan 9, 2023

Poor glycemic control in patients with type 2 diabetes can be predicted from patient information systems with the help of machine learning

A new study uses machine learning to predict poor glycemic control in patients with type 2 diabetes, identifying key factors such as prior glucose levels and anti-diabetic medicines. The findings suggest that data routinely collected for diabetes monitoring can reliably identify patients at risk of hyperglycemia.

SourceUniversity of Eastern Finland·JournalClinical Epidemiology·DateJan 9, 2023

Unraveling key determinant of successful therapeutic vaccination against chronic hepatitis B

A study published in Journal of Hepatology found that efficient priming of HBV-specific CD4 T cells is crucial for the success of therapeutic hepatitis B vaccination. The researchers developed a novel heterologous prime-boost vaccine, TherVacB, which induced antiviral efficacy in preclinical mouse models.

Warming oceans have decimated marine parasites — but that’s not a good thing

A study of preserved fish specimens reveals a 140-year decline in parasite populations due to warming oceans. Parasites with multiple host species declined severely, threatening ecosystems and top apex predators. The study highlights the vulnerability of parasites to climate change and inspires further research.

SourceUniversity of Washington·JournalProceedings of the National Academy of Sciences·TypeObservational study·DateJan 9, 2023

Researchers propose a more effective method to predict floods

A team of researchers from Xi'an Jiaotong-Liverpool University and other institutions has identified a flexible and user-friendly model for predicting flood frequency in a changing environment. The fractional polynomial-based regression method is more effective than existing models, which often fail to account for factors like climate ...

SourceXi'an Jiaotong-Liverpool University·JournalJournal of Hydrology·TypeComputational simulation/modeling·DateJan 9, 2023

A new genetic test improves ovarian cancer treatment

A new genetic test has been developed to identify ovarian cancer patients who benefit from PARP inhibitors, a treatment option with significant improvements in prognosis. The test has been optimized for the Finnish population and is clinically approved, allowing for targeted treatment and reduced adverse effects.

SourceUniversity of Helsinki·Journalnpj Precision Oncology·DateJan 9, 2023

Exposure to Russian Twitter campaigns in 2016 presidential race highly concentrated, largely limited to strongly partisan Republicans

A new study by NYU's Center for Social Media and Politics found that Russian Twitter campaigns during the 2016 presidential race primarily reached a small subset of highly partisan Republicans. Despite influencing efforts, there were no measurable changes in attitudes, polarization, or voting behavior among those exposed to these forei...

SourceNew York University·JournalNature Communications·TypeSurvey·DateJan 9, 2023

USC study suggests one solution to America’s opioid epidemic: Tell doctors their patients fatally overdosed

A USC study found that notifying clinicians about fatal opioid overdoses through letters from medical examiners reduces opioid prescribing over the next three months. The study shows these notifications have a lasting impact, with a 7% reduction in prescriptions after one year.

SourceUniversity of Southern California·JournalJAMA Network Open·TypeRandomized controlled/clinical trial·DateJan 6, 2023

DNA repair scheme gets closer look for cancer therapy

Researchers at Rice University and St. Jude Children’s Research Hospital discovered the structural basis of DNA polymerase theta-mediated microhomology-mediated end joining, a process complementary to homologous recombination and non-homologous end joining. This mechanism could be a promising target for precision cancer therapy.

SourceRice University·JournalNucleic Acids Research·TypeExperimental study·DateJan 6, 2023

New discovery of sunscreen-like chemicals in fossil plants reveals UV radiation played a part in mass extinction events

Scientists detected compounds in 250 million-year-old pollen grains that function like sunscreen, suggesting UV-B radiation played a key role in the end-Permian mass extinction event. The discovery supports the theory of palaeoclimate emergency triggered by volcanic eruptions and global warming.

SourceUniversity of Nottingham·JournalScience Advances·TypeExperimental study·DateJan 6, 2023

nTIDE December 2022 Jobs Report: Hot job market continues for people with disabilities despite efforts to cool the economy

The employment-to-population ratio for people with disabilities increased from 36.5% in November to 37.0% in December, up 1.4%, while it remained unchanged at 74.4% for those without disabilities. This surge continues the gains of the last four months and highlights the ongoing strength of people with disabilities in the job market.

Most former SpAds become “shadow lobbyists” when they leave Whitehall, major new analysis shows

A major new analysis of former British special advisers' career paths shows that most transition to corporate lobbying and policy advocacy roles. However, few register with official lobbying registers, and public service careers have declined significantly over the past three decades.

SourceUniversity of Exeter·JournalThe British Journal of Politics and International Relations·TypeData/statistical analysis·DateJan 6, 2023

Indigenous territories and protected areas are key to forest conservation in the Brazilian Amazon, study shows

A recent study published in Nature Sustainability reveals that Indigenous territories and protected areas play a vital role in forest conservation in the Brazilian Amazon. The study found that these areas accounted for approximately 52% of forests in the region, leading to only 5% of net forest loss and 12% of gross forest loss.

SourceUniversity of Oklahoma·JournalNature Sustainability·DateJan 6, 2023

Toward standardized tests for assessing lidars in autonomous vehicles

The three-year effort aims to establish a widely accepted protocol for comparing lidar performance. The first year's tests evaluated range, accuracy, and precision of eight automotive-grade lidars using a survey-grade reference. Results showed the distribution of measured values was not Gaussian, with significant errors in some cases.

Rice University scientists get fungi to spill their secrets

Researchers at Rice University have developed a multiplex base-editing platform that significantly improves the pace of new drug discovery by inducing fungi to produce more bioactive compounds. The technique has been deployed as a tool for mining fungal genomes for medically useful compounds, reducing research timeline by over 80%.

SourceRice University·JournalJournal of the American Chemical Society·TypeExperimental study·DateJan 6, 2023

New USC study challenges previous ideas regarding Alzheimer’s disease

A new USC study found that the buildup of amyloid beta protein in the brain is not directly linked to Alzheimer's disease, but rather a general change associated with aging. Researchers discovered higher levels of soluble Aβ protein in healthy brains, while insoluble fibrillary amyloid was more closely tied to poor brain health.

SourceUniversity of Southern California·JournalAlzheimer s & Dementia·TypeObservational study·DateJan 6, 2023

Researchers uncover key codon repeats regulating chilling tolerance in rice

A recent study has revealed a novel cold domesticated repair mechanism for DNA damage in rice, providing elite modules for improving chilling tolerance. The discovery of GCG codon repeats in the first exon of COLD11, a DNA repair protein, has opened the way for fine regulation of rice chilling tolerance with a single site.

SourceChinese Academy of Sciences Headquarters·JournalScience Advances·TypeMeta-analysis·DateJan 6, 2023

Loss of glaciers faster than expected

A new study found that glaciers are losing mass at a rate higher than previously estimated, with small glaciers being the most impacted. By 2100, 49% of the world's glaciers could disappear due to global warming, leading to a 9-cm sea level rise under 1.5°C conditions.

SourceCNRS·JournalScience·DateJan 6, 2023

Novel platform helps researchers reveal mechanism of fatigue damage by high thermal loads of tungsten composites

A study investigates the relationship between microstructure evolution and property degradation of two tungsten composites after electron beam thermal loading. The results show that full recrystallization and grain growth occur in one composite, leading to decreased ultimate tensile strength and total elongation.

SourceHefei Institutes of Physical Science, Chinese Academy of Sciences·JournalJournal of Material Science and Technology·DateJan 6, 2023

Lab lights way to simple chemical synthesis

Researchers at Rice University have developed a photochemical process that simplifies the manufacture of essential precursors for drugs and agricultural chemicals. By illuminating reagents with visible light, they can form diazides in conditions far gentler than current industrial processes.

SourceRice University·JournalNature Communications·TypeExperimental study·DateJan 6, 2023

Inflammatory trigger a new clue in Alzheimer’s

Researchers at UT Health San Antonio identified a new inflammatory trigger in Alzheimer's disease and progressive supranuclear palsy, involving 'jumping genes' that form double-stranded RNA mimicking viral infections. This discovery opens new doors for understanding astrocyte biology and their role in transposable element control.

SourceUniversity of Texas Health Science Center at San Antonio·JournalScience Advances·TypeExperimental study·DateJan 6, 2023