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Science News Archive June 2023 - Page 8


Page 8 of 40

Taking higher-than-recommended doses of vitamin D for five years reduced the risk of atrial fibrillation

A five-year study found that taking higher-than-recommended doses of vitamin D reduced the risk of atrial fibrillation by 27-32% in older men and women. The Finnish Vitamin D Trial involved 2,495 participants who received either a placebo or vitamin D supplementation, with lower risks observed in those taking higher doses.

SourceUniversity of Eastern Finland·JournalAmerican Heart Journal·DateJun 27, 2023

Data driven model discovery and interpretation for CAR T-cell killing using sparse identification and latent variables

Researchers applied sparse identification and latent variables (SINDy) to analyze experimental CAR T-cell killing assay data for glioblastoma cancer cells. The study aimed to extend the CARRGO model by capturing more precise interactions between CAR T-cells and glioma cells.

SourceCollege of Charleston·JournalFrontiers in Immunology·TypeComputational simulation/modeling·DateJun 27, 2023

‘Critical climate solution’ or ‘worse than coal’? Study explores debate around divisive energy technology

A new study analyzed coverage of BECCS in 166 newspaper articles to understand public opinion on the energy technology. The research identified eight key storylines, including Pro-BECCS narratives that emphasized its necessity and Revolutionary technology, alongside Anti-BECCS lines that highlighted environmental concerns.

SourceUniversity of Southampton·JournalEnergy Research & Social Science·DateJun 27, 2023

Brain imaging-based biomarker of depression identified

Researchers used brain imaging to identify multiple subtypes of depression, finding distinct deviation patterns in functional connectivity among brain regions. This study provides leads for developing better treatments and personalized therapeutic interventions.

SourceElsevier·JournalBiological Psychiatry·TypeObservational study·DateJun 27, 2023

When at first you don’t succeed: Tobacco researchers to test whether switching medications helps people to quit smoking after an unsuccessful first attempt

A randomized trial will be conducted to test whether sticking with the initial medication or switching to a different one increases quitting success. The study aims to provide guidance for clinicians on handling relapses and may explore the effectiveness of e-cigarettes as an alternative to traditional cigarettes.

UC Irvine scientists develop freely available risk model for hurricanes, tropical cyclones

A team of researchers at UC Irvine has developed a freely available computer model to estimate the economic costs of hurricanes and typhoons. The model combines data from climate change science and household vulnerability information, providing return periods of asset losses and helping countries better prepare for these disasters.

SourceUniversity of California - Irvine·JournalWeather Climate and Society·DateJun 27, 2023

SciOpen signs new food science journal

Food Science of Animal Products, a new journal published by Tsinghua University Press on SciOpen, offers authoritative platform for animal-origin foods research. The journal features innovative technological breakthroughs and provides an outlet for scholars to publish scientific theories.

SourceTsinghua University Press·JournalFood Science of Animal Products·DateJun 26, 2023

Research Spotlight: health surveillance in a Down syndrome specialty clinic: implementation of electronic health record integrations during the coronavirus disease 2019 pandemic

A study found improved adherence to AAP guidelines for children with Down syndrome after implementing electronic health record integrations, coinciding with the COVID-19 pandemic reopening. The intervention resulted in higher follow-up visit adherence (69%) and improvements in audiology and sleep study components.

SourceMassachusetts General Hospital·JournalPEDIATRICS·DateJun 26, 2023

DNA discovery may assist in fight against aggressive cancer

Researchers have discovered abnormalities in the DNA instruction code that lead to the aggressive spread of colorectal cancer. By studying DNA methylation levels, they identified unique gene regions associated with liver metastasis and found a link between these changes and cancer cell aggression.

SourceUniversity of Otago·JournaliScience·TypeRandomized controlled/clinical trial·DateJun 26, 2023

American Dental Association releases new tooth decay treatment guideline

The American Dental Association's new clinical practice guideline recommends conservative carious tissue removal (CTR) as an effective treatment option for moderate and advanced tooth decay. CTR involves removing most, but not all, of the decayed tissue before sealing the tooth with a filling or cap, which stops tooth decay.

SourceAmerican Dental Association·JournalThe Journal of the American Dental Association·TypeSystematic review·DateJun 26, 2023

Lean body mass, age linked with alcohol elimination rates in women

A new study found that women's lean body mass and age significantly impact their ability to eliminate alcohol from the bloodstream. Women with obesity and those who are older have a faster rate of alcohol elimination compared to healthy-weight women and younger individuals.

SourceUniversity of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign, News Bureau·JournalAlcoholism Clinical and Experimental Research·TypeExperimental study·DateJun 26, 2023

Tuning T cell traits and functions with biomechanical materials

A research team at the Wyss Institute engineered a 3D model of extracellular matrix to study the impact of tissue mechanics on T cells. They found that viscoelasticity played a crucial role in shaping T cell traits and functions, enabling the creation of functionally distinct T cell populations for adoptive therapies.

SourceWyss Institute for Biologically Inspired Engineering at Harvard·JournalNature Biomedical Engineering·TypeExperimental study·DateJun 26, 2023

Study finds human impact on wildlife even in protected areas

A large-scale camera-trap survey reveals that tropical mammals living inside protected areas are not spared the effects of human activity, with specialist species thriving near low-density habitats and generalist species benefiting from diverse environments. The study informs biodiversity policy and highlights the importance of conside...

SourceRice University·JournalNature Ecology & Evolution·TypeData/statistical analysis·DateJun 26, 2023

New geochemistry research confirms megalodon shark was warm-blooded

A new study published in the Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences confirms that the Megalodon shark was warm-blooded, with a body temperature estimated at around 27°C. This discovery provides empirical evidence for the extinct species' internal heat production, shedding light on its biology and ecological role.

SourceWilliam Paterson University·JournalProceedings of the National Academy of Sciences·TypeExperimental study·DateJun 26, 2023

Are more babies born if embryos are cultured for three or five days in the lab? Largest randomised clinical trial to date suggests that age matters

A large randomized clinical trial found that culturing embryos for three days versus five days in the lab has no significant impact on live birth rates. Women's age affects outcomes, with younger women aged under 36 experiencing better results from cleavage-stage transfers.

SourceEuropean Society of Human Reproduction and Embryology·TypeRandomized controlled/clinical trial·DateJun 26, 2023

Changing the therapeutic landscape for patients with refractory metastatic colorectal cancer: FRESCO-2 supports fruquintinib as a global treatment option

The FRESCO-2 phase III study demonstrated statistically significant improvements in overall survival and progression-free survival in patients with refractory metastatic colorectal cancer treated with fruquintinib. Fruquintinib showed a favorable safety profile, with patients staying on treatment almost twice as long as those on placebo.

SourceVall d'Hebron Institute of Oncology·JournalThe Lancet·TypeRandomized controlled/clinical trial·DateJun 26, 2023

Cheap and safe hormone treatment shows promise for couples with unexplained infertility

A small study suggests that vaginal progesterone treatment can increase the chances of conception in couples with unexplained infertility. The treatment, which is safe and low-cost, showed more than double the birth rate among treated women, but further research is needed to confirm these results.

SourceEuropean Society of Human Reproduction and Embryology·TypeRandomized controlled/clinical trial·DateJun 26, 2023

Don’t wait, desalinate: a new approach to water purification

Researchers at the Beckman Institute developed a new purification system that uses an electrified version of dialysis to separate salt and other unnecessary particles from wastewater. The method saves money and saps 90% less energy than its counterparts, making it a promising solution for global water scarcity.

SourceBeckman Institute for Advanced Science and Technology·JournalACS Energy Letters·TypeExperimental study·DateJun 26, 2023

RIPE researchers determine chloroplast size unlikely option for improving photosynthetic efficiency

Researchers at the Carl R. Woese Institute for Genomic Biology found that manipulating chloroplast size is unlikely to improve photosynthetic efficiency in crops. They created tobacco lines with enlarged and reduced chloroplasts, but field tests showed minimal effects on productivity.

Towards efficient lithium–air batteries with solution plasma-based synthesis of perovskite hydroxide catalysts

Researchers at Shibaura Institute of Technology have developed a faster way to synthesize CoSn(OH)6, a powerful catalyst required for high-energy lithium–air batteries. The new method uses solution plasma-based synthesis and achieves highly crystalline CSO crystals with improved catalytic properties.

SourceShibaura Institute of Technology·JournalSustainable Energy & Fuels·TypeExperimental study·DateJun 26, 2023

Number of autistic people in England may be twice as high as previously thought

A new study by University College London researchers estimates that between 150,000 and 500,000 adults aged 20-49 and 250,000 to 600,000 adults over 50 may be undiagnosed with autism. This brings the total autistic population in England to over 1.2 million, approaching double the government's cited figure.

SourceUniversity College London·JournalThe Lancet Regional Health - Europe·TypeMeta-analysis·DateJun 26, 2023

Breakthrough boosts quantum AI

A new theoretical proof shows that overparametrization enhances performance in quantum machine learning, allowing for enhanced learning and classification tasks. The Los Alamos team developed a framework to predict the critical number of parameters at which a quantum machine learning model becomes overparametrized.

SourceDOE/Los Alamos National Laboratory·JournalNature Computational Science·TypeExperimental study·DateJun 26, 2023

“Anchoring bias” can delay testing and diagnosis by physicians for deadly conditions like blood clots in the lung

Researchers found that when a patient's congestive heart failure is mentioned during the initial check-in process, emergency room physicians are less likely to test for pulmonary embolism, potentially leading to delays in diagnosis. This anchoring bias can delay crucial testing and diagnosis of deadly medical conditions.

SourceUniversity of California - Los Angeles Health Sciences·JournalJAMA Internal Medicine·TypeData/statistical analysis·DateJun 26, 2023

Research Brief: Investing in nature improves equity, boosts economy

A new study finds that investing in nature can turn economic losses into gains, especially for the world's poorest countries. The research combines a global economic model with ecosystem service models to capture interactions between humans and the environment, highlighting the importance of public goods and services provided by nature.

SourceUniversity of Minnesota·JournalProceedings of the National Academy of Sciences·DateJun 26, 2023

Study shows unsafe storage of firearms continues to put guns in the hands of children

A new study from Nationwide Children's Hospital analyzed 10 years of data on unintentional firearm fatalities among children to investigate cases where children younger than 15 unintentionally killed themselves or another child with a firearm. The majority of victims were male, and most incidents occurred at the victim's residence.

SourceNationwide Children's Hospital·JournalInjury Epidemiology·DateJun 26, 2023

New research clarifies connection between autism and the microbiome

A recent study published in Nature Neuroscience clarifies the connection between autism and the microbiome, identifying autism-specific metabolic pathways associated with particular human gut microbes. The analysis, which harmonized dozens of previously published datasets, reveals a common microbial signature distinguishing autistic fr...

SourceSimons Foundation·JournalNature Neuroscience·TypeData/statistical analysis·DateJun 26, 2023