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Science News Archive March 2023 - Page 4


Page 4 of 44

ATS publishes official statement on race, ethnicity and pulmonary function test interpretation

The American Thoracic Society has issued a statement recommending the elimination of race and ethnicity in the interpretation of pulmonary function test (PFT) results. The new approach uses an average reference equation, which shows superiority over race-specific equations for assessing overall prognosis and impact of tobacco smoke exp...

SourceAmerican Thoracic Society·JournalAmerican Journal of Respiratory and Critical Care Medicine·TypeLiterature review·DateMar 30, 2023

Structure of 'oil-eating' enzyme opens door to bioengineered catalysts

Researchers at Brookhaven National Laboratory have produced the first atomic-level structure of an enzyme that selectively breaks carbon-hydrogen bonds, suggesting ways to engineer it for producing desired products. The detailed structure reveals how the enzyme operates under ordinary conditions and produces few unwanted byproducts.

SourceDOE/Brookhaven National Laboratory·JournalNature Structural & Molecular Biology·DateMar 30, 2023

Scientists of the University of Malaga found the origin of congenital coronary fistulae

Scientists have discovered the origin of congenital coronary fistulae, a condition where abnormal connections form between blood vessels and heart chambers. This study may help improve early diagnosis and treatment of this condition, which affects up to 0.2% of patients undergoing medical examination.

SourceUniversity of Malaga·JournalExperimental & Molecular Medicine·TypeExperimental study·DateMar 30, 2023

Machine learning models rank predictive risks for Alzheimer’s disease

A recent study found that genetic risk scores are more predictive of Alzheimer's disease in adults over 65 than age. The study used machine learning models to rank risk factors, including household income, which emerged as an important risk factor. The findings suggest considering genetic information when working on Alzheimer's disease.

SourceOhio State University·JournalScientific Reports·TypeData/statistical analysis·DateMar 30, 2023

New Intermountain, Stanford study finds excess harm from commonly overprescribed antibiotics for patients resulting in widespread side effects

A new study by Intermountain Healthcare and Stanford University found that overprescribing antibiotics for upper respiratory infections causes significant patient harm. Researchers analyzed 51 million patient encounters and found that one in 300 patients experienced severe side effects, such as diarrhea or candidiasis, after receiving ...

SourceIntermountain Healthcare·JournalJournal of Internal Medicine·TypeMeta-analysis·DateMar 30, 2023

Earth’s anisotropic inner core structure driven by dipole geomagnetic field: Study

A recent study published in Nature Communications reveals that Earth's anisotropic inner core structure is driven by the dipole geomagnetic field. The researchers found that hexagonal-close-packed (hcp) Fe-H alloy exhibited both seismic anisotropy and H-ion diffusion anisotropy under high pressure-temperature conditions.

SourceChinese Academy of Sciences Headquarters·JournalNature Communications·DateMar 30, 2023

BU researchers solve the cell structure responsible for traveler’s diarrhea

Researchers from Boston University School of Medicine have found that ETEC pili are fine-tuned for their preferred microenvironment, allowing the bacteria to cause disease. By understanding how pili work, scientists may develop new therapeutics that target only disease-causing bacteria, leaving beneficial microbes intact.

SourceBoston University School of Medicine·JournalStructure·TypeExperimental study·DateMar 30, 2023

Toward tasty tomato: recovering the lost STP1 variant in modern tomato to improve soluble solid in fruit

A genome-wide association study identified a new quantitative trait locus, STP1, encoding a Sugar Transporter Protein that alters soluble solid content. Knockout of STP1 led to decreased SSC in fruits, highlighting ZAT10-LIKE transcription factor's role in regulating sugar transporters.

Genome analysis just got personal

Researchers have created a new tool, EN-TEx, to analyze genetic mutations and predict disease risk. The catalog of allele-specific variants provides rich data for accurate personal genomics, enabling scientists to study the effects of genetic mutations in tissues that are difficult to obtain without surgery.

University Hospitals research published in New England Journal of Medicine shows minimally invasive procedure saves most patients with severe vascular disease from amputation

The PROMISE II clinical trial showed that LimFlow therapy enabled 76% of patients to avoid amputation and experience wound healing. This minimally invasive procedure bypasses blocked arteries in the leg and rushes blood back into the foot through the veins, providing a unique alternative to major amputation.

SourceUniversity Hospitals Cleveland Medical Center·JournalNew England Journal of Medicine·DateMar 30, 2023

Can a solid be a superfluid? Engineering a novel supersolid state from layered 2D materials

Researchers predict that layered electronic 2D semiconductors can host a quantum phase of matter called the supersolid. A solid becomes 'super' when its quantum properties match those of superconductors, simultaneously having two orders: solid and super. The study reports the complete phase diagram of this system at low temperatures.

SourceARC Centre of Excellence in Future Low-Energy Electronics Technologies·JournalPhysical Review Letters·TypeComputational simulation/modeling·DateMar 29, 2023

Study assesses prevalence, severity, co-occurrence of common symptoms undertreated in cancer patients

A large population study reveals that common cancer symptoms are pervasive across all types of cancer and sociodemographics, with higher symptom burdens among patients with lung, gastrointestinal, and gynecologic cancers. The study highlights the importance of prioritizing symptom management in patients who need or desire treatment.

SourceRegenstrief Institute·JournalJournal of Pain and Symptom Management·DateMar 29, 2023

CNIO researchers help to understand the functioning of the protein that makes DNA loops in the human genome

Researchers at the CNIO have elucidated a key point about how cohesin attaches to DNA and forms loops. The study suggests that NIPBL is not necessary for cohesin to bind to DNA, but only for it to move and form DNA loops. This finding may be important in understanding Cornelia de Lange syndrome.

SourceCentro Nacional de Investigaciones Oncológicas (CNIO)·JournalNature Communications·TypeExperimental study·DateMar 29, 2023

Autumn stopover hotspots and multiscale habitat associations of migratory landbirds in the eastern United States

Researchers mapped seasonal bird densities across the eastern United States using weather radar stations to identify stopover hotspots. The study found that high-density migrant areas were consistently associated with forest cover and decreased with pasture and cultivated crops.

SourceUniversity of Delaware·JournalProceedings of the National Academy of Sciences·TypeObservational study·DateMar 29, 2023

Woods Hole Oceanographic Institution researchers partner with zoological facilities to find new ways to study heart rate, respiration in wild animal populations

Researchers used thermal video and image analysis to measure heart and respiration rates in exotic wildlife species in controlled settings. The study validated the accuracy of this technology for future use in wild populations, especially threatened species.

SourceWoods Hole Oceanographic Institution·JournalBMC Biology·TypeObservational study·DateMar 29, 2023

Excess death gap widens between US and Europe

A new analysis shows that the US has substantially higher death rates at all but the oldest ages compared to five high-income European countries. The excess death gap widened during the Covid-19 pandemic, with the number of excess deaths nearly doubling between 2019 and 2021.

SourcePLOS·JournalPLOS ONE·TypeObservational study·DateMar 29, 2023

Three newly discovered sea worms that glow in the dark named after creatures from Japanese folklore and marine biologist

Researchers at Nagoya University discovered three new species of bioluminescent polycirrus worms emitting blue-violet light, with names inspired by yokai from Japanese folklore. The findings aim to deepen understanding of bioluminescence mechanisms and potentially lead to new life sciences technologies.

SourceNagoya University·JournalRoyal Society Open Science·DateMar 29, 2023

Study elucidates at cellular level how regular exercise preserves physical fitness during aging

A study found that regular exercise increases mitochondrial fusion, benefiting muscle cells and maintaining physical fitness even in old age. Daily sessions of exercise throughout life delay the accumulation of dysfunctional mitochondria and decline in physical fitness.

SourceFundação de Amparo à Pesquisa do Estado de São Paulo·JournalProceedings of the National Academy of Sciences·DateMar 29, 2023

Does immigration really increase crime?

Researchers led by Nicolas Ajzenman found that immigrants don't increase crime rates, but people's perception of crime does. In Chile, migrants' presence sparked concerns among citizens, with those exposed to immigration inflows more likely to rank crime as a top concern.

SourceMcGill University·JournalAmerican Economic Journal Applied Economics·TypeData/statistical analysis·DateMar 29, 2023

Ancient giant amphibians swam like crocodiles 250 million years ago

A team of researchers from South Africa has discovered exceptional trace fossils that provide insight into the locomotion of ancient giant amphibians. The fossils, found on a rock surface once part of a tidal flat or lagoon, suggest these animals propelled themselves through water with continuous side-to-side tail motions.

SourcePLOS·JournalPLOS ONE·TypeObservational study·DateMar 29, 2023

Membrane discs as antitoxins

Researchers have developed nanodiscs based on the cell membranes of human red blood cells, which can effectively neutralize bacterial toxins. These nanodiscs, called RBC-NDs, are biocompatible and non-toxic, making them potentially useful as nanovaccines.

SourceWiley·JournalAngewandte Chemie International Edition·TypeExperimental study·DateMar 29, 2023