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Science News Archive April 2023 - Page 31


Page 31 of 37

Non-drug interventions for patients with Alzheimer’s are both effective and cost-effective, study shows

A Brown-led research team found that four dementia-care interventions saved between $2,800 and $13,000 in societal costs and reduced nursing home admissions while improving quality of life. Non-drug interventions have been shown to be effective in clinical trials and can help people with dementia stay safely at home longer.

SourceBrown University·TypeComputational simulation/modeling·DateApr 6, 2023

Community-based prevention system linked to reduced handgun carrying among youth growing up in rural areas

A study published by the University of Washington found that a community-based prevention system called Communities That Care (CTC) reduced handgun carrying among adolescents growing up in rural areas. By the 12th grade, adolescents in CTC communities were 24% less likely to report carrying a handgun than those in control communities.

SourceUniversity of Washington·JournalJAMA·TypeRandomized controlled/clinical trial·DateApr 6, 2023

New study reveals design clues for silver-based superatomic molecules

Researchers from Japan have synthesized two di-superatomic molecules composed of Ag and evaluated the factors involved in their formation. The study found that a twist between the two icosahedral structures stabilizes the nanocluster by shortening the distance between them. Additionally, the presence of Pd and Pt central atoms was foun...

SourceTokyo University of Science·JournalCommunications Chemistry·TypeExperimental study·DateApr 6, 2023

Study assesses risk of mutation due to residual radiation from the Fukushima nuclear disaster

A recent study published in Environment International found that the mutation rate in trees growing in contaminated areas did not increase significantly due to ambient radiation. The researchers used a new bioinformatics pipeline to evaluate de novo mutations in two widely cultivated tree species, Japanese cedar and flowering cherry.

SourceForestry and Forest Products Research Institute·JournalEnvironment International·TypeExperimental study·DateApr 6, 2023

Blind dating in bacteria evolution

Researchers used ancestral sequence reconstruction to study protein interactions in cyanobacteria, finding that they can evolve independently of direct selection pressure. The discovery challenges classical evolutionary theory and suggests that fortuitous compatibility may be the basis for a significant fraction of cellular interactions.

SourceMax-Planck-Gesellschaft·JournalNature Ecology & Evolution·TypeObservational study·DateApr 6, 2023

Forest futures

A new study predicts US forests may lose significant carbon storage due to climate change, compromising their role as a climate solution. The researchers used multi-perspective modeling approaches to forecast changes in aboveground carbon storage in different regions.

SourceUniversity of California - Santa Barbara·JournalNature Geoscience·DateApr 6, 2023

Effect of palladium chemical states on CO2 photocatalytic reduction over g-C3N4: Distinct role of single-atomic state in boosting CH4 production

Researchers found that single-atomic state of Pd enhances CO2 reduction and boosts CH4 production in a novel Pd/CN-SA catalyst. Comprehensive analysis reveals superior activation of CO2, negative conduction band potentials, and excellent hydrogen utilization efficiency.

SourceDalian Institute of Chemical Physics, Chinese Academy Sciences·JournalChinese Journal of Catalysis·DateApr 6, 2023

Twinkling stars fuel interstellar dust

Research reveals connection between star brightness and dust concentrations, paving way for study of dust's role in planetary formation. The University of Tokyo's latest findings may help unravel the secrets of life's creation.

SourceUniversity of Tokyo·JournalPublications of the Astronomical Society of Japan·TypeObservational study·DateApr 6, 2023

Physicians should be on alert for group A strep as cases experience historic rise, study finds

A study published by the University of Texas Health Science Center at Houston found a historic increase in group A strep infections among young children in Houston. The researchers identified three main types of group A strep diseases and found that emm12 strains were disproportionately represented, compared to emm1 strains.

SourceUniversity of Texas Health Science Center at Houston·JournalClinical Infectious Diseases·DateApr 6, 2023

Implant treats dangerously low blood pressure in people with spinal cord injury

Researchers developed an implant that delivers electrical stimulation to specific spinal neurons to treat dangerously low blood pressure in people with spinal cord injuries. The treatment, called the neuroprosthetic baroreflex, has shown promise in clinical trials and could be used in hospitals and at home to monitor blood pressure.

Uncovered: A new mode of reproduction that produces chimeric males in yellow crazy ants

A new study reveals that male yellow crazy ants are composed of haploid cells with two distinct genetic compositions, producing chimeric males. This unique reproductive mode deviates from the typical single-cell zygote development and may be associated with a genetic conflict between co-occurring genetic lineages.

New test could help identify type 2 diabetes risk

Researchers used DNA methylation data alongside traditional risk factors to improve prediction accuracy for type 2 diabetes. The study, involving over 14,600 participants, found that the new approach correctly predicted an extra 449 individuals, leading to potential preventative measures and reduced health burden.

SourceUniversity of Edinburgh·JournalNature Aging·TypeObservational study·DateApr 6, 2023

Respiratory virus plagues SA but new vaccine for pregnant moms saves babies

The MATISSE study found that administering the Pfizer Bivalent Prefusion F Vaccine in pregnancy reduces severe RSV-associated lower respiratory tract infection by 82% in infants aged six months old. This vaccine is particularly important in low- and middle-income countries where the burden of RSV illness is highest.

SourceUniversity of the Witwatersrand·JournalNew England Journal of Medicine·TypeRandomized controlled/clinical trial·DateApr 6, 2023

Obstructive sleep apnea may directly cause early cognitive decline

Researchers found that obstructive sleep apnea (OSA) can cause premature cognitive decline in middle-aged men, including poorer executive functioning and social cognition. The study suggests that OSA itself is sufficient to cause these deficits, rather than being solely attributed to co-morbidities.

SourceFrontiers·JournalFrontiers in Sleep·TypeExperimental study·DateApr 6, 2023

People with NAFLD have decreased expression of a liver enzyme needed for medication processing, according to researchers from Indiana University and Eli Lilly

A study from Indiana University School of Medicine found that people with NAFLD have significantly decreased levels of the liver enzyme CYP2C19, which is important for medication processing. This decrease may lead to slower clearance of certain medications and reduced effectiveness of medicines like antidepressants and clopidogrel.

SourceIndiana University School of Medicine·JournalNature Communications·DateApr 6, 2023

Disparities identified among patients receiving advanced pulmonary support

A study published in Annals of the American Thoracic Society has identified disparities in patients receiving extracorporeal membrane oxygenation (ECMO) treatment for severe respiratory illness. Men and those with private health insurance are more likely to receive ECMO, while women and Medicaid recipients are less likely.

SourceNIH/National Heart, Lung and Blood Institute·JournalAnnals of the American Thoracic Society·DateApr 6, 2023

Gender and energy key to sustainable development goals

Research highlights gaps in knowledge about the relationship between gender and energy, limiting policymakers' actions and exacerbating inequality. Women's access to finance, education, and household bargaining power can increase adoption of efficient cooking technologies and cleaner fuels.

SourceDuke University·JournalNature Energy·TypeLiterature review·DateApr 6, 2023

Newly discovered probiotic could protect Caribbean corals threatened by deadly, devastating disease

Researchers have identified a probiotic that can protect Caribbean corals from stony coral tissue loss disease (SCTLD), a deadly and rapidly spreading affliction. The probiotic treatment has been shown to stop or slow the progression of the disease in infected coral fragments, offering an antibiotic-free alternative.

SourceSmithsonian·JournalCommunications Biology·TypeExperimental study·DateApr 6, 2023

Providing critical insights for animal development - HKU biologists determine the evolutionary age of individual cell types

A research team led by Dr Chaogu ZHENG from the University of Hong Kong studies the transcriptome age of C. elegans at the single-cell level, revealing insights into cellular basis of 'hourglass' pattern of animal development and evolutionary relationship among cell types.

SourceThe University of Hong Kong·JournalProceedings of the National Academy of Sciences·TypeMeta-analysis·DateApr 6, 2023

Simple but revolutionary modular organoids

Scientists at RIKEN have developed a new technique for creating complex 3D organoids using a cube-like structure made of hydrogels. This innovation enables researchers to control the environment around cells, allowing for the creation of tissues with faithful reproduction of asymmetric genetic expression. The technology has the potenti...

SourceRIKEN·JournalCommunications Biology·TypeExperimental study·DateApr 6, 2023

UH study finds Black Lives Matter movement had significant impact on Black entrepreneurs’ crowdfunding efforts

A study by the University of Houston found that Black restaurateurs were 76% less likely to succeed in using crowdfunding sources before the Black Lives Matter movement rose to prominence. However, after the movement's endorsement on Kickstarter, funding success for Black-owned restaurants increased nearly four times.

SourceUniversity of Houston·JournalInternational Journal of Hospitality Management·TypeData/statistical analysis·DateApr 6, 2023

Optimizing sepsis treatment timing with a machine learning model

A new machine learning model estimates optimal treatment timing for sepsis, taking into account vital signs and lab test results to predict patient survival. The model was trained on a dataset of over 14,000 individuals with sepsis and showed improved outcomes when actual treatment matched the recommended timeline.

SourceOhio State University·JournalNature Machine Intelligence·TypeComputational simulation/modeling·DateApr 6, 2023