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Science News Archive February 2023 - Page 2


Page 2 of 36

Alternative bladder cancer treatment emerges amid worldwide shortage of standard of care BCG

A new study finds that a combination of chemotherapy drugs performs better than BCG in preventing high-grade cancer recurrence in patients with non-muscle invasive bladder cancer. This alternative treatment has shown excellent safety and efficacy outcomes, providing a viable option for patients facing a shortage of standard care treatm...

SourceUniversity of Iowa Health Care·JournalJAMA Network Open·TypeData/statistical analysis·DateFeb 28, 2023

Will future computers run on human brain cells?

Researchers at Johns Hopkins University are developing 'organoid intelligence' using human brain cells, which could exponentially expand computing capabilities and solve energy consumption issues. The technology has the potential to revolutionize drug testing research for neurodevelopmental disorders and neurodegeneration.

SourceJohns Hopkins University·JournalFrontiers in Science·DateFeb 28, 2023

Keqin Zhang/Chenggang Zou revealed that Vitellogenin accumulation leads to reproductive senescence by impairing lysosomal function in C. elegans

Excessive vitellogenin accumulation impairs lysosomal function in germline tissues, leading to reproductive arrest and oocyte quality maintenance. Improvement of lysosomal function is proposed as a potential approach for mid-life intervention in maintaining reproductive health.

SourceScience China Press·JournalScience China Life Sciences·DateFeb 28, 2023

Estuaries face higher nutrient loads in the future – particularly on the Atlantic coast

Estuaries along the Atlantic coast and eastern Gulf of Mexico are expected to experience significant increases in nutrient loading, posing risks for harmful algal blooms and ecosystem health. The study identified regions with high adaptive capacity as having more resources to mitigate these effects.

SourceNorth Carolina State University·JournalEarth s Future·TypeComputational simulation/modeling·DateFeb 28, 2023

CU School of Medicine researchers part of national team that identified a new dietary approach to treatment for eosinophilic esophagitis

A new dietary approach has been identified to treat eosinophilic esophagitis by eliminating only dairy products, showing similar effectiveness to the standard six-food elimination diet. This breakthrough study led by CU School of Medicine researchers offers a more patient-friendly treatment option with fewer drawbacks.

SourceUniversity of Colorado Anschutz Medical Campus·JournalThe Lancet Gastroenterology & Hepatology·DateFeb 28, 2023

Predicting outbreak of ALS disease with AI methods

Bielefeld University researchers developed an AI method using Capsule Networks to analyze genotype profiles of 3,000 ALS patients, achieving 87% accuracy in predicting whether or not people will develop ALS. The study reveals over 900 genes that play a role in identifying the disease.

SourceBielefeld University·JournalNature Machine Intelligence·TypeData/statistical analysis·DateFeb 28, 2023

Daily 11 minute brisk walk enough to reduce risk of early death, say Cambridge researchers

Researchers found that 11 minutes of moderate-intensity physical activity per day, equivalent to a brisk walk, lowers the risk of diseases like heart disease and stroke. This amounts to a 23% lower risk of early death, with benefits also seen in reduced cardiovascular disease and cancer risks.

SourceUniversity of Cambridge·JournalBritish Journal of Sports Medicine·TypeSystematic review·DateFeb 28, 2023

St. Jude approach prevents drug resistance and toxicity

Scientists at St. Jude Children's Research Hospital demonstrate a framework to develop solutions to evade detoxification networks in drug development, potentially reducing side effects. By altering the structure of a small molecule, they found a way to stretch out binding regions, making it energetically unfavorable for drugs to bind a...

SourceSt. Jude Children's Research Hospital·JournalProceedings of the National Academy of Sciences·DateFeb 28, 2023

Lending a paw for defence veterans: ‘Clear evidence’ that assistance dogs help improve mental health

A new Australian study found that assistance dogs used in conjunction with traditional therapies provide the most effective treatment outcomes for defence veterans' mental health. Almost 90% of veterans reported improvements in post-traumatic stress, depression, and anxiety after being matched with an assistance dog.

SourceUniversity of South Australia·JournalInternational Journal of Environmental Research and Public Health·TypeSurvey·DateFeb 28, 2023

Novel method of analyzing microplastic particle pollution can facilitate environmental impact assessment

Researchers propose a novel approach to analyzing microplastic particles, highlighting the importance of particle size and shape in determining environmental impact. Studies show that even samples with similar numbers of particles can have varying levels of plastic pollution based on mass, volume, and specific surface area.

SourceFundação de Amparo à Pesquisa do Estado de São Paulo·JournalEnvironmental Science and Pollution Research·DateFeb 28, 2023

Defect engineering of electrocatalysts for metal‐based battery

Researchers have developed high-performance, low-cost electrocatalysts through defect engineering to improve metal-based battery efficiency. The review highlights strategies for introducing defects into electrode materials and characterization technologies, as well as design principles for optimizing electrochemical performance.

Targeting wealth managers would cripple Russia's oligarchs

A new study by Dartmouth College researchers finds that sanctions on wealth managers would be more effective than asset seizure in crippling Russia's oligarchs. The research uses network science to map the connections between wealthy individuals and their financial experts, revealing a vulnerable network that can be disrupted with targ...

SourceDartmouth College·JournalPNAS Nexus·TypeData/statistical analysis·DateFeb 28, 2023

Goal: Safer bike lanes

The study found that pavement skid resistance is crucial in reducing bicycle and electric scooter crashes. Pavements with higher skid resistance, such as asphalt and concrete, are recommended for bike lanes to minimize the risk of falls and collisions.

SourceUniversitat Politècnica de València·JournalSustainability·TypeMeta-analysis·DateFeb 28, 2023

Keto vs vegan: Study of popular diets finds over fourfold difference in carbon footprints

A new study from Tulane University compared popular diets on nutritional quality and environmental impact, finding that keto and paleo diets scored among the lowest on nutrition quality and had the highest carbon emissions. Vegan diets, on the other hand, generated significantly less carbon dioxide per calorie consumed.

SourceTulane University·JournalAmerican Journal of Clinical Nutrition·TypeData/statistical analysis·DateFeb 28, 2023

Could the background circulation of the record-breaking rainfall in July 2021 in east-central China have been predicted?

Scientists from Chinese Academy of Sciences have revealed the predictable and unpredictable components of the anomalous WPSH in July 2021. The study suggests that positive precipitation anomalies over the tropical western Pacific driven by La Niña contributed to the northward shift, while atmospheric internal intraseasonal oscillations...

SourceInstitute of Atmospheric Physics, Chinese Academy of Sciences·JournalAdvances in Atmospheric Sciences·DateFeb 28, 2023

A Mass General team is the first to trace a rare smooth muscle disorder to a single mutation in a non-coding gene

A Mass General team has identified a single mutation in a non-coding gene, MIR145-5p, as the source of multisystemic smooth muscle dysfunction syndrome, which had gone undiagnosed in a child for years. The discovery enabled physicians to initiate treatment and lessen the risk of future strokes.

SourceMassachusetts General Hospital·JournalJournal of Clinical Investigation·DateFeb 28, 2023

CALYPSO: combined MET and PD-L1 inhibition shows promise in a cohort of patients with MET-driven metastatic papillary renal cancer.

The CALYPSO study assesses the efficacy of combined MET and PD-L1 inhibition in patients with MET-driven metastatic papillary renal cancer. Response rates were 29% for all patients and 53% for those with MET-driven tumors, with improved progression-free survival observed in MET-driven status.

SourceVall d'Hebron Institute of Oncology·JournalJournal of Clinical Oncology·DateFeb 28, 2023

Study finds association between lifetime experiences of discrimination and incidence of dementia

A new study from Wake Forest University School of Medicine found a strong association between lifetime experiences of discrimination and the incidence of dementia. Researchers analyzed data from over 6,500 participants and discovered that individuals who reported experiencing more than two domains of discrimination had a greater risk o...

SourceAtrium Health Wake Forest Baptist·JournalAlzheimer s & Dementia·DateFeb 28, 2023

To promote exercise, planners must look beyond cities

Researchers from Cornell University recommend that planners in suburban and rural communities focus on promoting recreational programs, expanding transportation options, and creating safer environments to help an aging population get more exercise. The study found that demographic factors, such as minority populations and lower incomes...

SourceCornell University·JournalInternational Journal of Environmental Research and Public Health·DateFeb 27, 2023

How common is face blindness?

A new study by Harvard Medical School suggests that face blindness, a condition where individuals struggle to recognize faces, may be more common than previously thought. The research estimates that as many as one in 33 people (3.08%) meet the criteria for face blindness, affecting over 10 million Americans.

SourceHarvard Medical School·JournalCortex·TypeRandomized controlled/clinical trial·DateFeb 27, 2023

Watch weekend tech as teens settle into school

A recent study from the University of South Australia found that teenagers with a 'late sleep chronotype' who use technology before bed on weekends are at greater risk of disturbed sleep. This can lead to a serious sleep deficit, negatively impacting their daily tasks and wellbeing.

SourceUniversity of South Australia·JournalChild and Adolescent Mental Health·TypeCase study·DateFeb 27, 2023

Improving diagnosis of chronic lung, ear and sinus infections in young children

University of Southampton researchers propose a new method for diagnosing primary ciliary dyskinesia (PCD) in young children using nasal nitric oxide measurement while they breathe normally. This approach aims to improve early diagnosis and treatment, reducing the need for invasive procedures and enhancing patient outcomes.

SourceUniversity of Southampton·JournalEuropean Respiratory Journal·TypeLiterature review·DateFeb 27, 2023

Chaos on the nanometer scale

Researchers at TU Wien have detected clear indications of chaos in chemical reactions on nanometer-scale rhodium crystals, a phenomenon previously unseen in atomic scale systems. The coupling behavior can be controlled by changing the hydrogen concentration, leading to a transition from ordered to chaotic behavior.

SourceVienna University of Technology·JournalNature Communications·TypeExperimental study·DateFeb 27, 2023

Nanomedicine targeting hypothalamic lipid metabolism can be a potential approach for controlling obesity

A new nanomedicine platform targets brain lipid metabolism to reduce food intake and body weight in mice, offering a promising approach for managing metabolic diseases like obesity. The study demonstrates the effectiveness of this novel treatment, which could potentially provide an innovative solution for controlling energy balance.

SourceInnovation Center of NanoMedicine·JournalBiomaterials Science·TypeExperimental study·DateFeb 27, 2023

Amazon develops algorithm to improve collaboration between robots and humans

A new study by Amazon uses robotics and operations research to enable humans and robots to work together effectively, reducing distance traveled by robots by 62% and resulting in $500 million in annual savings. The algorithm has also reduced storage footprint by 29%, leading to more efficient use of space and a productive human workforce.

SourceInstitute for Operations Research and the Management Sciences·JournalINFORMS Journal on Applied Analytics·TypeObservational study·DateFeb 27, 2023