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Science News Archive March 2023 - Page 40


Page 40 of 44

Beyond greenspace and bluespace

A new review reveals that environments beyond greenspaces and bluespaces, such as caves, deserts, and glaciers, have potential health benefits. Short-term exposure to solid-state water landscapes showed little evidence of benefits, while longer-term exposure led to improved emotional states, medical treatments for allergies, and physic...

SourceUniversity of Utah·JournalScience of The Total Environment·TypeLiterature review·DateMar 3, 2023

American Foregut Society white paper recommends expanding endoscopic classification of esophogastric junction integrity beyond hill grade

The American Foregut Society has proposed a new classification system to assess esophagogastric junction (EGJ) integrity, expanding beyond the Hill grade. The new classification takes into account EGJ disruption and hiatus hernia extent, providing a more comprehensive understanding of GERD.

SourceSAGE·JournalForegut The Journal of the American Foregut Society·TypeSystematic review·DateMar 3, 2023

HKUMed discovers using real-world data that the newest glucose-lowering drug could reduce the risks of renal and respiratory diseases

A retrospective cohort study found that sodium-glucose cotransporter 2 inhibitors (SGLT2i) significantly reduced the risk of end-stage renal disease, obstructive airway disease, and pneumonia in patients with type 2 diabetes. SGLT2i may be a better alternative to dipeptidyl peptidase-4 inhibitors for extra-glycaemic protection.

SourceThe University of Hong Kong·JournalJAMA Network Open·TypeExperimental study·DateMar 2, 2023

Importance of early-life factors identified in new lung health study

A comprehensive study has identified key early-life factors that negatively affect lung function in young adults. The research analyzed data from over 7,500 participants and found that factors such as mother's weight during pregnancy, birthweight, and body composition at primary school have a significant impact on lung health.

SourceUniversity of Essex·JournalEuropean Respiratory Journal·TypeObservational study·DateMar 2, 2023

Parasitic infections common in kids in low-resource US communities, study finds

A study found 38% of children in a rural Mississippi Delta community had parasitic worms or protist infections. This is a neglected health issue in low-resource areas, linked to poor sanitation and climate change. The researcher emphasizes the need for direct community engagement and investment in infrastructure to address these issues.

SourceWashington University in St. Louis·JournalAmerican Journal of Human Biology·TypeObservational study·DateMar 2, 2023

Destroying the superconductivity in a kagome metal

Scientists at RMIT University and partner organisation confirm electric control of superconductivity and giant anomalous Hall effect in the kagome metal CsV₃Sb₅. Proton intercalation modulates carrier density, allowing for tuning of Fermi surfaces and potentially realizing exotic quantum phase transitions.

SourceARC Centre of Excellence in Future Low-Energy Electronics Technologies·JournalNature Communications·TypeExperimental study·DateMar 2, 2023

Study finds political campaigns may change the choices of voters – but not their policy views

Researchers found that televised debates have little effect on voter decisions, with information from other sources such as media and activists being more influential. Voter choice consistency increased by 17 percentage points over the last two months of campaigns, affecting electoral results.

SourceOxford University Press USA·JournalThe Quarterly Journal of Economics·TypeData/statistical analysis·DateMar 2, 2023

Oregon State develops catalyst that purifies herbicide-tainted water and produces hydrogen

Researchers at Oregon State University have developed a dual-purpose catalyst that can both purify herbicide-tainted water and produce hydrogen. The catalyst, derived from metal-organic frameworks, shows promise in tackling global water pollution and provides a sustainable alternative to conventional hydrogen production methods.

SourceOregon State University·JournalACS Catalysis·TypeExperimental study·DateMar 2, 2023

A blood factor involved in depression

Researchers discovered that administration of GDF11 improves cognitive abilities and reduces depression-like behaviors in aged mice. In humans, low levels of GDF11 are associated with depressive episodes, suggesting a potential link between the protein and mood disorders.

SourceInstitut Pasteur·JournalNature Aging·TypeExperimental study·DateMar 2, 2023

Biologists, chemical engineers collaborate to reveal complex cellular process inside petunias

A team of Purdue University scientists has identified a protein that plays a key role in helping petunias emit volatiles, challenging the idea that simple diffusion is responsible. The study focuses on how volatiles cross the cell wall, a barrier that separates the cellular interior from the plant's outermost protective layer.

SourcePurdue University·JournalNature Communications·TypeExperimental study·DateMar 2, 2023

New sound navigation technology enables the blind to navigate - challenging Nobel Prize winning theory and providing hope for slowing down dimentia

Researchers at Reichman University have developed a new sound navigation technology that activates visual navigation areas in the brain, challenging conventional beliefs about sensory processing. This breakthrough has significant implications for cognitive training and potentially detecting Alzheimer's disease.

SourceReichman University·JournalCurrent Biology·DateMar 2, 2023

NFL players who experienced concussion symptoms during careers show reduced cognitive performance decades after retirement

A study of over 350 former NFL players found that those who reported concussion symptoms performed worse on cognitive tests, particularly in episodic memory and sustained attention. Cognitive decline was not associated with diagnosed concussions or age, but rather with the presence of concussion symptoms.

SourceMass General Brigham·JournalArchives of Clinical Neuropsychology·TypeExperimental study·DateMar 2, 2023

Illuminating the evolution of social parasite ants

Researchers at Rockefeller University have found queen-like mutants among social parasite ants, which can infiltrate and take over host colonies. These unique ants exhibit intermediate traits between worker and queen behavior, allowing them to thrive in the colony while avoiding dangers associated with leaving their nest.

SourceRockefeller University·JournalCurrent Biology·DateMar 2, 2023

Nursing student highlights important role school nurses can play in identifying and supporting young people with eating disorders

A Kingston University student has highlighted the importance of school nurses in addressing the rising number of eating disorders among children and young people. Research and clinical experience have shown that there is an urgent need for early intervention, prevention, and accessibility to help young people living with eating disorders.

SourceKingston University·JournalNursing Children and Young People·TypeCommentary/editorial·DateMar 2, 2023

Edible electronics: How a seaweed second skin could transform health and fitness sensor tech

Researchers at the University of Sussex have developed biodegradable health sensors using natural ingredients like rock salt, water, and seaweed, combined with graphene. These sensors outperform existing synthetic alternatives in terms of sensitivity, making them highly effective for monitoring vital signs.

SourceUniversity of Sussex·JournalACS Sustainable Chemistry & Engineering·TypeExperimental study·DateMar 2, 2023

CityU scholars unify color systems using prime numbers

Researchers from City University of Hong Kong developed a unified colour system based on prime numbers, called C<sub>235</sub>, which can represent various colours more efficiently than existing systems like RGB and CMYK. The new colour system has potential applications in designing energy-saving LCD systems and colourizing DNA codons.

SourceCity University of Hong Kong·JournalLight Science & Applications·TypeComputational simulation/modeling·DateMar 2, 2023

Newly identified personalized immunotherapy combination treats an aggressive form of advanced prostate cancer

Researchers discovered a new personalized immunotherapy combination that treats aggressive forms of advanced prostate cancer. By blocking PD-1-expressing macrophages and Wnt/β-catenin pathway activation, the therapy significantly improves response rates in PTEN-deficient cancers.

SourceUniversity of Chicago Medical Center·JournalClinical Cancer Research·TypeExperimental study·DateMar 2, 2023

March issues of American Psychiatric Association journals cover advances in depression treatment, suicide risk screening, and mental health help seeking among Indigenous populations

The March issues of The American Journal of Psychiatry and Psychiatric Services focus on major depression treatment advances and suicide risk screening for Indigenous populations. Journalists can access the publications by emailing press@psych.org.

SourceAmerican Psychiatric Association·JournalAmerican Journal of Psychiatry·DateMar 2, 2023

Obesity puts people at higher risk of diabetes and hypertension than dyslipidemia, especially women

Research reveals obesity increases risk of diabetes and hypertension more significantly in women, with weight loss effective in reducing disease risk. However, merely losing weight is insufficient for reducing dyslipidemia in women, highlighting the need for lifestyle improvement guidance and treatment.

SourceKobe University·JournalScientific Reports·TypeData/statistical analysis·DateMar 2, 2023

Skin samples reveal where southern right whales feed

Researchers analyzed chemical isotopes in 1002 skin samples to study the distribution of southern right whales and long-term environmental changes in the Southern Ocean. The study shows that the whales' foraging grounds have shifted, reflecting changing prey distributions, and that climate change has driven recent shifts.

SourceMacquarie University·JournalProceedings of the National Academy of Sciences·TypeExperimental study·DateMar 2, 2023

New MIT Sloan research finds Americans are more receptive to counter-partisan messages than previously thought

Researchers found that Americans are more receptive to counter-partisan messages than previously thought, and party loyalty does not significantly distort their processing of evidence. The study used a survey of over 5,000 partisans to test the effect of persuasive messaging on their attitudes.

SourceMIT Sloan School of Management·JournalNature·TypeExperimental study·DateMar 2, 2023

How consciousness in animals could be researched

Consciousness in animals may be more nuanced than previously thought. Researchers at Ruhr-University Bochum suggest ten dimensions of consciousness that cannot be ranked. Strong indicators include complex perception and episodic memory, while weak indicators are simple sensory processing and categorization abilities.

SourceRuhr-University Bochum·JournalCognition·DateMar 2, 2023

How gut microbes help mend damaged muscles

Researchers found that gut microbes drive the production of regulatory T cells, which act as immune healers that repair muscle injury. These cells were previously thought to be only produced in the gut, but now it's clear they also play a role in healing damaged livers.

SourceHarvard Medical School·JournalImmunity·TypeExperimental study·DateMar 2, 2023