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Science News Archive July 2023 - Page 21


Page 21 of 36

Liquid crystals that mimic beetle shell coloration units used to create more secure type of QR code

Researchers at Nagoya University developed a method to process cholesteric liquid crystals into micrometer-sized spherical particles, creating a unique anti-counterfeiting QR code that can only be displayed under a specific circular polarizer. The use of chirality in these particles enables the creation of more secure codes with potent...

SourceNagoya University·JournalAdvanced Optical Materials·DateJul 14, 2023

Approved drug could help overcome resistance to primary treatment against metastatic breast cancer

Researchers have discovered a mechanism leading to resistance in luminal breast cancer and propose using the approved osteoporosis drug denosumab to block RANK protein, promoting effectiveness of CDK4/6 inhibitors. This could lead to new treatment options for patients with metastatic breast cancer.

SourceCentro Nacional de Investigaciones Oncológicas (CNIO)·JournalCell Reports Medicine·TypeExperimental study·DateJul 14, 2023

Baby opera: Study finds babies get a kick out of live music

A study found that babies watching live music had higher heart rates and were more engaged than those watching recordings, even with identical audio. The researchers tracked the babies' responses using heart monitors and tablets, and noted that the live performance captured their attention for 72% of the show.

SourceUniversity of Toronto·JournalPsychology of Aesthetics Creativity and the Arts·TypeExperimental study·DateJul 14, 2023

Pets do not significantly benefit the emotional health of owners with severe mental illness, study shows

A new study published in Human-Animal Interactions suggests that owning pets does not significantly improve the wellbeing, depression, anxiety, or loneliness scores of individuals with severe mental illnesses. Researchers found a strong human-animal bond among pet owners, but no significant benefits to their mental health.

SourceCABI·JournalHuman-Animal Interactions·TypeExperimental study·DateJul 14, 2023

New study demonstrates how music therapy can be integrated across a large health system

A new study from University Hospitals Cleveland Medical Center describes the scope and integration of their music therapy program within10 UH medical centers. The study examined 14,261 music therapy sessions provided to 7,378 unique patients who had been referred by 1,169 healthcare professionals.

SourceUniversity Hospitals Cleveland Medical Center·JournalJournal of Integrative and Complementary Medicine·TypeObservational study·DateJul 14, 2023

NIH spent $8.1B for phased clinical trials of drugs approved 2010-19, ~10% of reported industry spending

A new study by Bentley University reveals the NIH's significant investment in pharmaceutical innovation, with $8.1 billion spent on phased clinical trials between 2010-19. The funding represents only ~10% of reported industry costs for these trials, highlighting the public sector's limited contribution to drug development.

SourceBentley University·JournalJAMA Health Forum·TypeObservational study·DateJul 14, 2023

Conditional cash transfer programs have prevented 739,919 child deaths in Latin America

A study led by the Barcelona Institute for Global Health found that conditional cash transfer programmes in Brazil, Mexico, and Ecuador reduced child mortality by 24%, equivalent to 700,000 deaths averted. Expanding these programmes could save up to 150,000 lives by 2030 during economic crises.

SourceBarcelona Institute for Global Health (ISGlobal)·JournalJAMA Network Open·TypeObservational study·DateJul 14, 2023

Parkinson's disease, intense exercise helps to keep the disease at bay

Researchers have discovered a new mechanism underlying the neuroprotective effects of physical activity on Parkinson's disease. Intensive exercise has been shown to slow disease progression by restoring striatal synaptic plasticity and improving dopamine release, leading to better motor control and visuospatial learning.

SourceUniversita Cattolica del Sacro Cuore·JournalScience Advances·TypeExperimental study·DateJul 14, 2023

Perovskite light-emitting diodes toward commercial full-color displays

Researchers outline key challenges and development prospects for perovskite light-emitting diodes (PeLEDs) in commercial display applications. Large-area PeLEDs, patterning strategies, and flexible devices are crucial for achieving scalable manufacturing lines and high-resolution displays.

Why trees outcompete shrubs to shift upward?

Research found trees and shrubs respond differently to warming, with trees advancing and shrubs delaying their growth due to increased sensitivity to chilling accumulation. This phenological mismatch confers a competitive advantage to trees, potentially driving upward treeline shifts.

SourceScience China Press·JournalNational Science Review·DateJul 14, 2023

Bringing COVID-19 data into focus

Researchers developed a deconvolution method for epidemiology using neural networks, inferring daily infection rates from mortality data. The approach can assess the effectiveness of non-pharmaceutical interventions like lockdowns and mask mandates in reducing infection transmission.

SourceUniversity of California - Davis·JournalScience Advances·TypeData/statistical analysis·DateJul 14, 2023

Remote plant worlds

A research team led by the University of Göttingen investigated the flora of Tenerife and found that island plant-life exhibits a remarkable diversity of forms. However, the plants differ little from mainland plants in functional terms, with slow-growing, woody shrubs dominating the island's flora.

SourceUniversity of Göttingen·JournalNature·DateJul 14, 2023

Researchers solve structure of immune-evading HIV protein complex

Okinawa Institute of Science and Technology researchers determined the atomic structure of the APOBEC3G-Vif complex using cryo-electron microscopy. This discovery may help develop antiviral therapies by targeting the interaction between HIV-1's Vif protein and the human innate immune system.

SourceOkinawa Institute of Science and Technology (OIST) Graduate University·JournalNature Communications·TypeExperimental study·DateJul 14, 2023

Men who previously used antidepressants significantly more likely to need them after having a child

A new study by UCL researchers found that men who previously used antidepressants are over 30 times more likely to take antidepressants in the first year after having a child. Social deprivation was also a key factor in this risk. The study analyzed data from over 500,000 primary care electronic health records and suggests that mental ...

SourceUniversity College London·JournalJAMA Network Open·TypeObservational study·DateJul 14, 2023

Scientists knit futuristic eco-building designs using fungal networks

Researchers create a composite called 'mycocrete' that combines the root network of fungi with a knitted textile framework to produce lightweight, eco-friendly construction materials. The mycocrete samples proved to be stronger than conventional mycelium composites and outperformed them in terms of shape and form.

SourceFrontiers·JournalFrontiers in Bioengineering and Biotechnology·TypeExperimental study·DateJul 14, 2023

This eight-armed octopus-like pore detects taste

Researchers have captured never-before-seen images of the CALHM1 pore, which assembles into a circular channel with flexible arms resembling octopus tentacles. The discovery reveals how fatty molecules stabilize and regulate the channel, offering potential insights into its role in taste perception and Alzheimer's disease.

SourceCold Spring Harbor Laboratory·JournalNature Communications·DateJul 14, 2023

Gender, race and socioeconomic status are associated with comorbidity in people with HIV who smoke

A study in The Journal of the Association of Nurses in AIDS Care (JANAC) found that people with HIV who smoke have higher rates of comorbid health problems, particularly cardiovascular disease and mental health disorders. These comorbidities are associated with demographic factors such as age, race/ethnicity, and socioeconomic status.

SourceWolters Kluwer Health·JournalJournal of the Association of Nurses in AIDS Care·DateJul 14, 2023

Risk assessment for fluoride in groundwater of Mihe-Weihe River Basin——a region with a high fluorine content in the groundwater of Shandong Peninsula in China

The study found high TDS and weak alkalinity, with fluoride concentration generally on the high side. High-fluorine water is mainly in the northeast region, primarily controlled by rock weathering and the dissolution of fluorine-containing minerals.

SourceHigher Education Press·JournalFrontiers of Environmental Science & Engineering·TypeExperimental study·DateJul 14, 2023

UT Health Science Center San Antonio develops tool that counts brain lesions in seconds

The University of Texas Health Science Center at San Antonio has developed an AI algorithm that can accurately count brain lesions on MRI scans in seconds. This tool helps neuroradiologists evaluate patients' brain diseases at earlier stages and identify the most significant lesions associated with stroke and small-vessel disease.

SourceUniversity of Texas Health Science Center at San Antonio·JournalJAMA Network Open·TypeImaging analysis·DateJul 13, 2023

Targeted prevention helps stop homelessness before it starts

Researchers at the University of Notre Dame found that targeted financial assistance can prevent homelessness, with participants 81% less likely to become homeless within six months. The study suggests that investing in homelessness prevention programs can yield benefits exceeding the costs.

SourceUniversity of Notre Dame·JournalThe Review of Economics and Statistics·TypeRandomized controlled/clinical trial·DateJul 13, 2023

How an “AI-tocracy” emerges

A new study by MIT researchers finds that China's government uses AI-driven facial recognition to suppress dissent, but this approach also spurs the development of better AI tools and other innovative technologies. The study suggests that this 'AI-tocracy' cycle entrenches the regime while stimulating further innovation.

SourceMassachusetts Institute of Technology·JournalThe Quarterly Journal of Economics·DateJul 13, 2023