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Science News Archive February 2023 - Page 26


Page 26 of 36

Encouraging physical activity to upgrade quality of life

A Texas A&M University study found that an intervention program increased physical activity in older rural women, leading to improved quality of life and reduced health risks. The Strong Hearts, Healthy Communities 2.0 program was successful in increasing exercise levels at both 12 and 24 weeks.

SourceTexas A&M University·JournalInternational Journal of Behavioral Nutrition and Physical Activity·DateFeb 8, 2023

Discovery of T-cells that protect against deadly pneumococcal disease

A study by University of Liverpool researchers reveals how a unique subset of lung T regulatory cells provide resistance to bacteraemic pneumonia. These cells, known as TNFR2 expressing Tregs, play a critical role in maintaining and controlling frontline host immune responses when pneumococci infect the lungs. The findings have signifi...

SourceUniversity of Liverpool·JournalCell Reports·TypeExperimental study·DateFeb 8, 2023

Air pollution linked with blood pressure in London teens

A study of 3,284 London adolescents found associations between air pollutants and blood pressure. Higher nitrogen dioxide exposure was linked to lower systolic blood pressure in girls, while higher particulate matter 2.5 exposure was linked to higher systolic blood pressure in boys.

SourcePLOS·JournalPLOS ONE·TypeObservational study·DateFeb 8, 2023

Space dust as Earth’s sun shield

A University of Utah-led study explores using space dust as a shield to reduce solar radiation and slow global warming. Launching lunar dust from the moon instead of Earth's way station at L1 could be an effective and cheap solution.

SourceUniversity of Utah·JournalPLOS Climate·TypeComputational simulation/modeling·DateFeb 8, 2023

A severe begomovirus-satellite DNA disease complex in Texas lower Rio Grande valley okra fields and its potential threat to cotton production: New “focus on cotton” webcast

A severe begomovirus-satellite DNA disease complex has been detected in okra fields in the lower Rio Grande Valley area of Texas, posing a significant threat to cotton production. The complex involves the exotic cotton leaf curl Gezira virus and its associated satellite DNA molecules.

Breakthrough technology transforms waste plastic bottles into polymers for lithium-ion batteries

A team of A*STAR scientists has successfully upcycled waste polyethylene terephthalate (PET) plastic into polymer electrolytes, key components for safer lithium-ion batteries. The study achieved room temperature conductivity comparable to existing commercial systems and showed promising performance in repeatedly charged and discharged ...

SourceAgency for Science, Technology and Research (A*STAR), Singapore·JournalJournal of Materials Chemistry A·TypeExperimental study·DateFeb 8, 2023

Endangered Bahamas bird may be lost from island following hurricane

Researchers at the University of East Anglia found that the Bahama Warbler may only survive on Abaco island after Hurricane Dorian devastated its forest habitat on Grand Bahama. The study, published in Bird Conservation International, reveals that the bird prefers areas with taller, more mature trees and can adapt to burnt vegetation.

SourceUniversity of East Anglia·JournalBird Conservation International·TypeObservational study·DateFeb 8, 2023

New economic model finds Fracture Liaison Services are highly effective

A new economic model estimates the health benefits and budget impact of Fracture Liaison Services, showing significant reductions in fragility fractures, hospital bed days, and social care costs. The model suggests that FLS implementation would lead to improved patient outcomes and cost-effectiveness.

SourceInternational Osteoporosis Foundation·JournalJournal of Bone and Mineral Research·TypeData/statistical analysis·DateFeb 8, 2023

New formulation of FDA-approved drug shows encouraging results for treating a common itch condition

A Phase 2 clinical trial found that patients with notalgia paresthetica experienced a significant reduction in itch intensity after taking oral difelikefalin. The medication, currently approved for chronic kidney disease, has the potential to become the first FDA-approved treatment specifically for this condition.

SourceThe Mount Sinai Hospital / Mount Sinai School of Medicine·JournalNew England Journal of Medicine·TypeRandomized controlled/clinical trial·DateFeb 8, 2023

The ants go marching … methodically

Researchers at the University of Arizona found that rock ants follow a methodical search strategy, combining systematized meandering with random movement to efficiently explore new areas. This unique behavior may provide insights into the evolution of exploration strategies in other species.

SourceUniversity of Arizona·JournaliScience·TypeObservational study·DateFeb 8, 2023

Free speech vs. harmful misinformation: How people resolve dilemmas in online content moderation

A study of over 2,500 U.S. respondents found that most would remove posts spreading misinformation about democratic elections, vaccinations, the Holocaust, and climate change. Characteristics like topic, severity, and repetition had a stronger impact on decisions than account characteristics.

SourceMax Planck Institute for Human Development·JournalProceedings of the National Academy of Sciences·TypeSurvey·DateFeb 8, 2023

Study finds support for second look sentencing

A new study found widespread support for second look sentencing, with respondents backing the approach regardless of age. Factors such as petitioners' intent to reform and victim support increased support for release. The study suggests that releasing reformed individuals can reduce costs and enhance public safety.

SourceAmerican Society of Criminology·JournalCriminology & Public Policy·DateFeb 8, 2023

Extreme earners are not extremely smart

A new study from Linköping University found that cognitive ability levels do not differentiate wages among top earners, contrary to common defenses of their extraordinary earnings. Average ability plates at a modest level of +1 standard deviation above average cognitive ability for those earning above €60,000 annual wage.

SourceLinköping University·JournalEuropean Sociological Review·TypeData/statistical analysis·DateFeb 8, 2023

The geometry of conflict

Conflicts between divergent goals can continue indefinitely through evolutionary time, causing devastating damage to complex organisms and social structures. Modular design is a crucial enabler of complex adaptation and transformative changes in social organisation.

SourceUniversity of St. Andrews·JournalProceedings of the Royal Society B Biological Sciences·TypeData/statistical analysis·DateFeb 8, 2023

Breastfeeding may reduce arsenic exposure in infants in arsenic-contaminated areas

A study published in International Journal of Environmental Research and Public Health found that breastfeeding can reduce arsenic exposure in infants compared to formula feeding. Researchers measured arsenic levels in mothers, babies, and breast milk, revealing a clear association between maternal and neonatal arsenic exposure.

SourceTexas A&M University·JournalInternational Journal of Environmental Research and Public Health·DateFeb 8, 2023

Severe weather straining electrical grids: new research mitigates demand surges, increasing grid reliability and reducing costs

A new study in Management Science finds that direct load control contracts can reduce peak-demand energy costs by about 5% and summer peak demand by 4,000 megawatt hours. By controlling air conditioners and other devices in residential and commercial units, utilities can increase grid reliability and reduce electricity costs.

SourceInstitute for Operations Research and the Management Sciences·JournalManagement Science·TypeCase study·DateFeb 8, 2023

'We're not all that different': Study IDs bacterial weapons that could be harnessed to treat human disease

Researchers discovered a cluster of enzymes in bacteria that can be reprogrammed to edit proteins and potentially treat human diseases such as Parkinson's and Crohn's. The study also identified key components of the bacterial immune system, including two on-off switches, that could be targeted therapeutically.

SourceUniversity of Colorado at Boulder·JournalNature·TypeExperimental study·DateFeb 8, 2023

Microbiome disturbances reported as signature of chronic fatigue syndrome/myalgic encephalomyelitis

Researchers at Columbia University's Mailman School of Public Health have identified differences in gut microbiomes between people with ME/CFS and healthy controls. Gut bacteria Faecalibacterium prausnitzii and Eubacterium rectale, which are normally health-promoting, were reduced in ME/CFS participants. The study found a deficient mic...

SourceColumbia University's Mailman School of Public Health·JournalCell Host & Microbe·TypeExperimental study·DateFeb 8, 2023

Endothelial exploration

Researchers have identified a new protein in the cerebrospinal fluid that can reliably detect endothelial injury, a key contributor to cognitive impairment in pre-symptomatic stages of Alzheimer's. The discovery offers hope for improving diagnostic tests and potentially preventing damage to the brain endothelium.

SourceUniversity of New Mexico Health Sciences Center·JournalAnnals of Clinical and Translational Neurology·TypeRandomized controlled/clinical trial·DateFeb 8, 2023

Goethe University study: Investors also suffer in unregulated competitions for freely available resources

A new game theory study by Professor Claudius Gros finds that unregulated competition can lead to catastrophic poverty for investors, with profits scaling as 1/N². Cooperation among investors can avoid this damage, resulting in a net profit corresponding to the number of investors.

SourceGoethe University Frankfurt·JournalRoyal Society Open Science·TypeComputational simulation/modeling·DateFeb 8, 2023

THE LANCET: No new COVID-19 variants have emerged during China's recent outbreak, analysis of cases in Beijing suggests

An analysis of cases in Beijing found that two existing Omicron sub-variants, BA.5.2 and BF.7, accounted for more than 90% of local infections between November 14 and December 20, 2022. The study suggests these variants are chiefly responsible for the current surge in Beijing, likely China as a whole.

SourceThe Lancet·JournalThe Lancet·TypeObservational study·DateFeb 8, 2023

Single-dose treatment reduces risk of COVID-19 hospitalization by half for high-risk patients in a largely vaccinated population

A single-dose of the antiviral drug peginterferon lambda reduced the risk of hospitalization or Emergency Department visit due to COVID-19 by half in high-risk patients. The treatment was effective across different variants of concern, including Omicron, and showed minimal side effects.

SourceUniversity Health Network·JournalNew England Journal of Medicine·TypeRandomized controlled/clinical trial·DateFeb 8, 2023