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Science News Archive December 2023 - Page 15


Page 15 of 29

Beef farming that keeps cattle on lifelong grass diets may have higher carbon footprint

A recent study found that beef operations with lifelong grass-based diets may produce a 42% higher carbon footprint when considering soil carbon sequestration and carbon opportunity costs. This is in contrast to grain-finished operations, which have been previously shown to have a lower environmental impact. The study's findings emphas...

SourcePLOS·JournalPLOS ONE·TypeObservational study·DateDec 13, 2023

A spinal muscle’s size and shape is linked to body fat, according to new Concordia research

A new study by Concordia researchers found a strong positive relationship between percentage body fat and echo intensity, indicating more fat within the muscle. The study also revealed differences in lumbar multifidus characteristics between male and female athletes, with females having larger LMs than males.

SourceConcordia University·JournalFrontiers in Musculoskeletal Disorders·TypeImaging analysis·DateDec 13, 2023

‘A ticking clock’: First ground-based survey of damage to Ukrainian cultural sites reveals severity, need for urgency

Researchers from the University of Notre Dame document extensive damage to Ukraine's cultural heritage sites, including churches, schools, and archaeological sites. The team found widespread devastation caused by missile strikes and underground trench systems, with many historical buildings and monuments affected.

SourceUniversity of Notre Dame·JournalAntiquity·TypeObservational study·DateDec 13, 2023

National cardiogenic shock initiative study results show significant increase in heart attack survival

The National Cardiogenic Shock Initiative study demonstrates a 71% survival rate for patients treated with the new protocol, which involves rapid initiation of mechanical circulatory support and right heart catheterization. This significant improvement in survival rates is expected to save thousands of lives each year.

SourceHenry Ford Health·JournalJournal of the American Heart Association·TypeExperimental study·DateDec 13, 2023

Understanding the risk of cell therapy for heart repair

A recent study found that human induced pluripotent stem cell-derived cardiomyocytes interact negatively with myofibroblasts, leading to electrical instability and arrhythmogenic potential. Blocking Interleukin-6 signalling reduced these negative effects, suggesting a promising therapeutic strategy for safe regenerative treatments.

SourceUniversity of Surrey·JournalCellular and Molecular Life Sciences·DateDec 13, 2023

Making probiotics more widely applicable through ‘CRISPR’ engineering

Recent progress in CRISPR-Cas editing enables tailored probiotic organisms to promote gut health, support immune systems, and enhance metabolism. Genetically modified probiotics have shown potential in preventing or mitigating diseases, such as antibiotic-resistant bacteria and inflammatory bowel disease.

SourceNanjing Agricultural University The Academy of Science·JournalBioDesign Research·TypeLiterature review·DateDec 13, 2023

A new imaging method for biological samples, developed in collaboration between IOCB Prague and the University of Münster, will help scientists and doctors to more quickly identify, for example, cancerous tissue

A new algorithm, SIMSEF, significantly speeds up and simplifies the identification of chemicals in tissues, enabling researchers to confidently recognize and visualize their distribution in organs. This development has great implications for medical diagnosis and treatment outcomes.

Scientists unveil first complete cellular map of adult mouse brain

Researchers unveiled an atlas cataloging the location and type of every cell in the adult mouse brain, revealing a complex relationship between genetic identity and spatial position. The map, which charts over 5,300 cell types, provides a detailed 'parts list' for the brain and could pave the way for precision treatments for diseases.

SourceAllen Institute·JournalNature·TypeImaging analysis·DateDec 13, 2023

Mpox (monkeypox) vaccine triggers equally strong immune response in smaller than usual doses and in people with or without HIV

A new study found that a smaller dose of the mpox vaccine, administered in two doses spread out over weeks to months, produced a detectable immune response similar to the full FDA-approved dose. This was true for people with or without HIV, and those previously vaccinated against smallpox also had a stronger immune response.

SourceNYU Langone Health / NYU Grossman School of Medicine·JournalNew England Journal of Medicine·TypeObservational study·DateDec 13, 2023

Senior physicians may care for fewer patients with Medicaid and from racial/ethnic minorities than junior physicians

A new study found that senior physicians in cognitive and procedural specialties see fewer Medicaid patients and those from racial/ethnic minorities compared to junior physicians. This raises concerns about a two-tiered healthcare system and disparities in patient access.

SourceHarvard T.H. Chan School of Public Health·JournalJAMA Network Open·TypeObservational study·DateDec 13, 2023

Workplace gossip can benefit employees and employers

A new study from Binghamton University School of Management found that positive workplace gossip can reduce employee turnover and improve an organization's effectiveness. Employees who engage in positive gossip with coworkers may experience social gains, including reduced negative feelings towards their workplace.

SourceBinghamton University·JournalGroup & Organization Management·DateDec 13, 2023

Trees are in trouble

A new study reveals that trees growing in wetter regions are more sensitive to drought, with up to 50% of species' ranges expected to become drier by 2100. Climate change models predict these areas will experience rapid drying, exposing trees to conditions beyond their adaptive capacity.

Was the earthquake induced or natural? New study tests frameworks to answer the question

A panel of experts concluded that the November 2022 Peace River earthquake sequence in Alberta, Canada was likely induced by human activity. The study used questionnaires created to distinguish natural from induced earthquakes, and gathered data on fluid injection information and past regional seismicity.

SourceSeismological Society of America·JournalSeismological Research Letters·TypeExperimental study·DateDec 13, 2023

Wildfires also impact aquatic ecosystems

Research from the University of California San Diego finds that wildfires transform lakes and aquatic ecosystems, storing more carbon and emitting less CO2. The study suggests a shift in the role of aquatic systems in the global carbon cycle, with potential consequences for aquatic health and fisheries.

SourceUniversity of California - San Diego·JournalGlobal Change Biology·TypeExperimental study·DateDec 12, 2023

Development of nanoparticle-based drug delivery system for inflammation treatment and diagnosis

Researchers have designed a nanoparticle-based drug delivery system to target inflammation, addressing issues with conventional anti-inflammatory drugs. The system utilizes targeting moieties to enrich nanoparticles in inflamed tissues, achieving enhanced efficacy.

SourceSichuan International Medical Exchange and Promotion Association·JournalMedComm – Biomaterials and Applications·TypeLiterature review·DateDec 12, 2023

Twenty-year study confirms California forests are healthier when burned — or thinned

A 20-year study confirms that prescribed burning and restoration thinning can reduce wildfire risk and boost forest health. The treatments improve tree resilience to drought and bark beetles without harming biodiversity. Combining thinning with fire produces the best results, making forests more resilient to climate change.

SourceUniversity of California - Berkeley·JournalEcological Applications·TypeExperimental study·DateDec 12, 2023

Mammogram rates increase when patients schedule themselves

Researchers found that patients who scheduled their own mammograms through an online patient portal had a 13 percentage point increase in screening completions. This simple intervention doubled the number of mammogram completions, resulting in approximately 4,500 more people getting screened.

SourceUniversity of Pennsylvania School of Medicine·JournalAmerican Journal of Preventive Medicine·TypeData/statistical analysis·DateDec 12, 2023

In a new light – new approach overcomes long-standing limitations in optics

A multi-institutional research team, including Osaka University, has developed a new approach to enhance the efficiency of Mie scattering, which could lead to significant advancements in meta-photonics and applications like all-optical transistors. The researchers found that misaligning the incident laser on a nanometer scale can induc...

SourceOsaka University·JournalNature Communications·TypeExperimental study·DateDec 12, 2023

COVID-19 symptoms and economic hardship among US families

A study found that persistent COVID-19 symptoms and previous severe cases were associated with increased odds of pandemic-related economic hardship. Families with lower incomes before the pandemic were disproportionately affected, experiencing more employment disruptions and earnings losses.

SourceJAMA Network·JournalJAMA Network Open·DateDec 12, 2023

New computer tools can reconstruct 3D brain from biobank photos

Researchers developed a suite of free tools for analyzing vast amounts of brain dissection photographs, enabling the extraction and integration of quantitative information. The tools allow for the reconstruction of 3D brain images from biobank photos, providing valuable insights into neurodegenerative diseases.

SourceeLife·JournaleLife·DateDec 12, 2023