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Science News Archive August 2023 - Page 13


Page 13 of 38

Male sex chromosome finally deciphered

A team of researchers has fully sequenced the Y chromosome, completing the human genome puzzle and unveiling new insights into male-specific development, fertility, and disease. The achievement reveals detailed structures of sperm-regulating gene families and discovers additional genes in the Y chromosome.

SourceJohns Hopkins University·JournalNature·DateAug 23, 2023

Breast cancer study altered guidelines in Sweden

A Swedish study revealed that including all eleven associated genes in the screening test doubled the proportion of women with genetically confirmed hereditary breast cancer. The study included 4759 individuals and found that around 85% of women investigated for suspected hereditary breast cancer had a genetic abnormality.

SourceLund University·JournalBMC Cancer·DateAug 23, 2023

Heavy drinking, handgun-carrying linked among rural youth

A study published in The Journal of Rural Health found that rural US youth who engage in heavy drinking are more likely to carry a handgun, with a 43% increased risk. The study suggests that evidence-based prevention programs can address both behaviors and potentially lower firearm-related harm among adolescents.

SourceUniversity of Washington School of Medicine/UW Medicine·JournalThe Journal of Rural Health·TypeSurvey·DateAug 23, 2023

A better understanding of myalgic encephalomyelitis/chronic fatigue syndrome could benefit long COVID patients

A special section of WORK journal provides insights into the overlap and differences between ME/CFS and Long COVID, highlighting the importance of early recognition of post-exertional malaise (PEM) for symptom management. Researchers emphasize the need for specialized care and pacing as a therapeutic strategy to improve quality of life.

SourceIOS Press·JournalWork·TypeObservational study·DateAug 23, 2023

Sci­en­tists develop fermionic quan­tum pro­ces­sor

Researchers have designed a new type of quantum computer that uses fermionic atoms to simulate complex physical systems. The processor can efficiently simulate fermionic models in a hardware-efficient manner using fermionic gates, making it ideal for simulating systems where fermionic statistics play a crucial role.

SourceUniversity of Innsbruck·JournalProceedings of the National Academy of Sciences·DateAug 23, 2023

Noncoding DNA explains a majority of the heritability of dairy cattle traits, like milk production and fertility

A study published in Cell Genomics reveals that noncoding DNA accounts for 69% of the heritability of dairy cattle traits, including milk production and fertility. This breakthrough could improve the efficiency of agricultural breeding programs and provide a new model system for future studies in humans and other animals.

SourceCell Press·JournalCell Genomics·TypeExperimental study·DateAug 23, 2023

People taking adult education classes run lower risk of dementia

Researchers found that participants taking adult education classes had a 19% lower risk of developing dementia compared to those who did not. This association held true for both Caucasian and non-Caucasian individuals, as well as those with pre-existing health conditions.

SourceFrontiers·JournalFrontiers in Aging Neuroscience·TypeObservational study·DateAug 23, 2023

Deadly communication

Researchers developed a new strategy for T-cell-based immunotherapy using aptamers, which directly activates immune cells against cancer cells without genetic modifications. The innovative regulatory circuit establishes an artificial interaction between T cells and cancer cells.

SourceWiley·JournalAngewandte Chemie International Edition·TypeExperimental study·DateAug 23, 2023

Gregarious locusts wear contrasting black-brown ‘clothes’ to warn predators

The study reveals the ability of organisms to achieve distinct body color patterns through precise control of pigment deposition. Gregarious locusts use their black-brown warning coloration to enhance aposematism by stimulating both visual and olfactory senses, facilitating recognition of conspecifics and maintaining large swarms.

SourceChinese Academy of Sciences Headquarters·JournalScience Advances·TypeObservational study·DateAug 23, 2023

Health claims and doses of fish oil supplements

Fish oil supplements often make health claims without sufficient trial data, leading to potential variability in safety and efficacy due to differing doses of eicosapentaenoic acid and docosahexaenoic acid. The study highlights the need for more rigorous regulation of these products.

SourceJAMA Network·JournalJAMA Cardiology·DateAug 23, 2023

Knowledge of building blocks of words plays an important role when deaf children learn to read, analysis shows

Morphological awareness plays a crucial role in deaf children learning to read and expand their vocabulary. The study found that this knowledge is more important for deaf students than phonology or phonics, offering opportunities for them to actively construct words.

SourceUniversity of Exeter·JournalThe Journal of Deaf Studies and Deaf Education·TypeLiterature review·DateAug 23, 2023

U of M research team successfully tests new antifungal therapy for fungal meningitis

Researchers at the University of Minnesota Medical School have successfully tested a new oral antifungal therapy, Lipid Nanocrystal Amphotericin B, against cryptococcal meningitis in HIV-positive individuals. The treatment demonstrated improved survival rates and reduced toxicity compared to conventional intravenous amphotericin B.

SourceUniversity of Minnesota Medical School·JournalClinical Infectious Diseases·TypeRandomized controlled/clinical trial·DateAug 22, 2023

Birds living at UCLA were less afraid of humans after the pandemic closure

Researchers found that birds allowed people to get much closer than expected, with an average distance of just 39 inches, suggesting a significant decrease in fear response. The study's findings challenge existing theories on bird behavior and may offer hope for North American bird populations threatened by human disturbances.

SourceUniversity of California - Los Angeles·JournalProceedings of the Royal Society B Biological Sciences·DateAug 22, 2023

HKUST researchers find how stem cell niche guides differentiation into functional cells, significant step towards stem cell therapies

Researchers at HKUST have found that the stem cell niche uses gap junctions to transport cAMP into stem cell progeny, controlling their differentiation. This discovery is significant for developing stem cell therapies to treat diseases such as Parkinson's and Alzheimer's.

SourceHong Kong University of Science and Technology·JournalProceedings of the National Academy of Sciences·TypeExperimental study·DateAug 22, 2023

Statistician earns $1.7M to study long-term effects of neighborhood exposures and racial segregation on cancer risk

A statistician at Virginia Commonwealth University has been awarded a $1.7 million grant to investigate the long-term effects of neighborhood exposures and racial segregation on cancer risk. The researcher aims to better understand how geographic and socioeconomic factors contribute to disparities in cancer incidence and mortality.

Intense ultraviolet-visible-infrared full-spectrum laser

A team of scientists has developed an intense four-octave-spanning ultraviolet-visible-infrared full-spectrum laser source using a cascaded architecture of gas-filled hollow-core fiber, lithium niobate crystal, and chirped periodically poled lithium niobate crystal. The system leverages the synergic action of second-order nonlinear eff...