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Science News Archive February 2023 - Page 25


Page 25 of 36

Single-dose antibiotic prevents maternal sepsis and death

A single oral dose of azithromycin can reduce postpartum sepsis and death among women who deliver vaginally by one-third, according to a large clinical trial. The study enrolled over 29,000 women in seven low- and middle-income countries and found that only 1.6% developed sepsis or died within six weeks after delivery.

SourceNIH/Eunice Kennedy Shriver National Institute of Child Health and Human Development·JournalNew England Journal of Medicine·TypeRandomized controlled/clinical trial·DateFeb 9, 2023

New damselfly sharing habitat with UK natives

A new study by the University of Exeter found that a small red-eyed damselfly from Europe has established itself in the UK without harming native species. Most native dragonflies and damselflies were either found more often or unchanged in areas colonized by the newcomer.

SourceUniversity of Exeter·TypeData/statistical analysis·DateFeb 9, 2023

Oncolytic virus treatment produces promising results in patients with triple-negative breast cancer

A phase 2 trial found that talimogene laherparepvec combined with chemotherapy provided strong responses and immune cell activation in 45.9% of patients with early stage triple-negative breast cancer. Tumor samples showed high levels of tumor-fighting T cells, indicating a potential for improved outcomes.

SourceH. Lee Moffitt Cancer Center & Research Institute·JournalNature Medicine·TypeRandomized controlled/clinical trial·DateFeb 9, 2023

HETDEX reveals galaxy gold mine in first large survey

Astronomers have cataloged over 51,863 Lyman-alpha-emitting galaxies, 123,891 star-forming galaxies, and 4,976 active galactic nuclei using HETDEX's spectroscopic data. The survey is a non-targeted, moon-sized survey that collects spectra from 35,000 fiber optic cables, providing a unique dataset for future galaxy mapping.

SourceUniversity of Texas at Austin, Texas Advanced Computing Center·JournalThe Astrophysical Journal·TypeExperimental study·DateFeb 9, 2023

Is a Government program to tackle childhood obesity doing more harm than good?

A UK government program aimed at tackling childhood obesity may be having negative effects on children's mental health and relationships with food. The study found that some families expressed concerns about the potential for weight-related teasing and stigma, which can lead to poorer self-perceptions and unhealthy dieting behaviors.

SourceQueen Mary University of London·JournalCritical Public Health·DateFeb 8, 2023

Reducing pesticide pollution and the intensity of harvesting can increase crop yield and contribute to climate change mitigation

Researchers at the University of Turku found that reducing pesticide pollution and harvesting intensity can increase crop yields and contribute to climate change mitigation. By optimizing carbon sequestration and storage in soils, farmers can improve plant resilience and productivity, while minimizing environmental harm.

SourceUniversity of Turku·JournalJournal of Sustainable Agriculture and Environment·DateFeb 8, 2023

Killer whale mums pay high price for raising sons

A new study found that killer whale mothers pay a high price for raising their sons, with each living son cutting their annual breeding likelihood in half. This lifelong burden on mothers has significant implications for the future viability of the southern resident killer whale population, which is critically endangered.

SourceUniversity of Exeter·JournalCurrent Biology·TypeObservational study·DateFeb 8, 2023

Navigating complex biological systems with smart fibers

Researchers at Tohoku University developed flexible polymer-based actuatable fibers with integrated shape-memory alloy wires and biochemical sensing composite materials. The technology enables high-precision operations, closed-loop control, and diagnostic capabilities for soft robotic fields and minimally invasive surgical tools.

SourceTohoku University·JournalACS Applied Engineering Materials·DateFeb 8, 2023

Regenstrief-led study shows enhanced spiritual care improves well-being of ICU surrogate decision-makers

A Regenstrief-led study found that enhanced spiritual care for family members of ICU patients resulted in a clinically significant decline in anxiety and improved spiritual well-being. The study demonstrated the importance of chaplains to the long-term psychological health of surrogate decision-makers.

SourceRegenstrief Institute·JournalJournal of Pain and Symptom Management·DateFeb 8, 2023

Mandrills teach their daughters good hygiene practices

In a study published in the Proceedings of the Royal Society of London B, researchers found that mandrill females pass on hygienic practices to their daughters, reducing parasite infection. This social transmission of hygiene has potential consequences for infectious disease dynamics in primate groups.

SourceCNRS·JournalProceedings of the Royal Society of London·DateFeb 8, 2023

A culturally adapted online experience improves type 2 diabetes nutrition education for American Indians and Alaska Natives

A culturally adapted online experience improved type 2 diabetes nutrition education for American Indians and Alaska Natives. The program prioritized traditional food practices and mindful eating activities, leading to increased engagement and positive experiences among participants.

SourceElsevier·JournalJournal of Nutrition Education and Behavior·TypeSurvey·DateFeb 8, 2023

Controllable ‘defects’ improve performance of lithium-ion batteries

Researchers at North Carolina State University used a new laser technique to improve the performance of lithium-ion batteries. The technique creates tiny defects in graphite material, which can enhance battery performance, increase current capacity by up to 20%, and reduce the risk of fires. However, excessive defects can lead to probl...

SourceNorth Carolina State University·JournalCarbon·TypeExperimental study·DateFeb 8, 2023

Investigation of NiFe based catalysts for water oxidation in different pH electrolytes

Researchers investigated NiFe-based catalysts for water oxidation in different pH electrolytes, revealing a clear pH-dependent OER activity. The study found that forming high-valent Ni3+ and Fe4+ species requires higher potential in neutral and near-neutral conditions compared to alkaline conditions.

SourceDalian Institute of Chemical Physics, Chinese Academy Sciences·JournalChinese Journal of Catalysis·DateFeb 8, 2023

Worldwide prevalence rates and trends of eczema in youth

Eczema affects approximately 6% of children and adolescents worldwide, with a median prevalence rate of 3.5%. Researchers analyzed data from 14 countries involving over 74,000 adolescents and found an average increase in eczema symptoms of 0.98% per decade among adolescents and 1.21% per decade among children.

SourceWiley·JournalClinical & Experimental Allergy·DateFeb 8, 2023

New strategy proposed for efficient degradation of antibiotics

Researchers developed a pre-assembly strategy to anchor single atoms on carbon nitride nanosheets, increasing catalytic activity by 1-2 orders of magnitude for tetracycline pollutant degradation. The study demonstrates versatility in Fenton-like catalysis and great ability to treat organic pollutants.

SourceHefei Institutes of Physical Science, Chinese Academy of Sciences·JournalSeparation and Purification Technology·DateFeb 8, 2023

Covid vaccination in pregnancy protects infants against infection and hospital admission

A recent study published by The BMJ found that COVID-19 vaccination during pregnancy may have benefits for both mother and baby. Two doses of mRNA Covid-19 vaccine were highly effective against delta infection, while two doses against omicron infection showed moderate effectiveness. A third dose during pregnancy also bolstered protecti...

SourceBMJ Group·JournalThe BMJ·TypeObservational study·DateFeb 8, 2023

Chung-Ang University researchers review deep learning-based methods to detect time series data anomaly

A group of researchers from Chung-Ang University have summarized the applications based on anomaly detection in multivariate time series. They evaluated the current state-of-the-art anomaly detection techniques and addressed the challenges associated with them, providing a thorough overview of the applications for anomaly detection in ...

SourceChung Ang University·JournalInformation Fusion·TypeComputational simulation/modeling·DateFeb 8, 2023

How does COVID-19 compare with bacterial and viral pneumonia for older patients in intensive care?

A recent study published in the Journal of the American Geriatrics Society found that COVID-19 is associated with higher mortality rates compared to bacterial and viral pneumonia among older patients in intensive care units. The study analyzed data from over 11,500 patients aged 70 years and older who were admitted to Dutch ICUs, revea...

SourceWiley·JournalJournal of the American Geriatrics Society·DateFeb 8, 2023

Phthalate exposure may increase diabetes risk in women

A new study published in the Journal of Clinical Endocrinology & Metabolism found that phthalate exposure may contribute to a higher incidence of diabetes in women. The research, which studied 1,308 women over six years, showed that White women exposed to high levels of certain phthalates had a 30-63% higher chance of developing diabetes.

SourceThe Endocrine Society·JournalThe Journal of Clinical Endocrinology & Metabolism·DateFeb 8, 2023

Understanding customer participation: the secret to seeking feedback for subscription boxes

A new study examines how customer participation in subscription box services translates into outcomes that benefit companies. The researchers found that customers who provided feedback before or after receiving their box were more likely to make future purchases, with a 14% increase in revenue for those who participated before and an 5...

SourceAmerican Marketing Association·JournalJournal of Marketing·DateFeb 8, 2023

Artificial sweetener as wastewater tracer

A new study by the University of Vienna shows that the persistence of acesulfame varies with temperature, making it an effective tracer for groundwater flows. The research team analyzed seasonal fluctuations in acesulfame concentrations to better understand subsurface processes and optimise waterworks operations.

SourceUniversity of Vienna·JournalWater Research·DateFeb 8, 2023

Algorithms for hiring: Bias in, bias out

Researchers tested three common techniques to make algorithms fairer and found that one approach didn't reduce social norm bias at all. They proposed a new technique: a formula to directly measure social norm bias in an algorithm so it can be corrected. This bias can persist even after overt discrimination is removed.

SourceUniversity of Texas at Austin·JournalData Mining and Knowledge Discovery·TypeData/statistical analysis·DateFeb 8, 2023

Scanning for the best results: pediatric trauma team helps reduce radiation exposure in children

A pediatric trauma team at Golisano Children's Hospital significantly reduced unnecessary CT scans, minimizing radiation exposure and healthcare costs. The team's efforts, which included adapting existing guidelines and developing new ones, resulted in a 45% reduction in non-indicated scans.

SourceUniversity of Rochester Medical Center·JournalJournal of Pediatric Surgery·TypeSystematic review·DateFeb 8, 2023

Donor hearts can be reprogrammed with medication for longer storage, improved transplant outcomes

A new study found that a medication previously used to treat seizures can reprogram donor hearts to boost the production of beneficial enzymes, increasing storage time and improving post-transplant function. This technology could lead to a paradigm shift in extending heart storage and reducing primary graft dysfunction.

SourceMichigan Medicine - University of Michigan·JournalScience Translational Medicine·TypeExperimental study·DateFeb 8, 2023

Marine reserves unlikely to restore marine ecosystems

A study led by researchers from the University of Barcelona found that marine reserves are unlikely to restore food webs in marine ecosystems. The protection of fishing did not cause significant changes in trophic structure, but it favored the recovery of some species like the dusky grouper.

SourceUniversity of Barcelona·JournalICES Journal of Marine Science·TypeData/statistical analysis·DateFeb 8, 2023

Scientists propose a novel NO2 sensor based on static magnetic field faraday rotation spectroscopy

A new NO2 sensor has been proposed using static magnetic field faraday rotation spectroscopy, featuring high species specificity and detection sensitivity. The sensor detects paramagnetic molecules by analyzing changes in light polarization caused by a gaseous medium immersed in an external magnetic field.