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Science News Archive November 2023 - Page 7


Page 7 of 40

Scientists harness flower “super power” to pave the way for new drug treatments

Researchers at the University of Bath have created a novel bacterial system to mass-produce cyclic proteins and peptides, addressing a significant bottleneck in the development of new therapeutic treatments. By harnessing the natural cyclization process from the Oldenlandia flower, they improved heat and chemical stability, as well as ...

SourceUniversity of Bath·JournalJACS Au·TypeExperimental study·DateNov 28, 2023

Slash-and-burn agriculture can increase forest biodiversity

A study in Belize found that Indigenous farmers' slash-and-burn techniques increased forest plant diversity when used in intermediate-sized farm patches. This contradicts the standard view of slash-and-burn as a cause of deforestation, and highlights the importance of Indigenous knowledge for sustainable agriculture.

SourceOhio State University·JournalCommunications Earth & Environment·TypeObservational study·DateNov 28, 2023

CHOP researchers define seizure burden, developmental outcomes for STXBP1-related disorders

A study by CHOP researchers found that seizure patterns and response to treatment can help determine epilepsy trajectories and developmental outcomes for patients with STXBP1-related disorders. The study identified key treatment windows and outcome measures that will inform the interpretation of clinical trial success.

SourceChildren's Hospital of Philadelphia·JournalBrain·TypeExperimental study·DateNov 28, 2023

Personal wealth is associated with health care costs in people with Alzheimer’s disease

A new study from the University of Eastern Finland found that individuals with higher wealth levels had greater hospital care and medication costs before diagnosis. However, after diagnosis, wealth was associated with lower healthcare costs due to differences in comorbidities among different wealth groups.

SourceUniversity of Eastern Finland·JournalJournal of the American Medical Directors Association·DateNov 28, 2023

The jigglings and wigglings of atoms reveal key aspects of COVID-19 virulence evolution

A groundbreaking study analyzed the behavior of atoms in COVID-19 proteins to understand its evolution and spread. The research found critical distinctions in mechanical stability among various virus strains, highlighting how these differences contribute to the virus's aggressiveness.

SourceAuburn University Department of Physics·JournalNature Nanotechnology·TypeComputational simulation/modeling·DateNov 27, 2023

Secrecy at Canada's pest management agency must end

Health experts argue that Health Canada's secrecy on pesticide data hinders constructive public debates and allows the agrochemical industry to influence policy. The Canadian Medical Association Journal calls for transparency in data about pesticides, citing a need to address potential health risks and ensure safe use of these products.

SourceCanadian Medical Association Journal·JournalCanadian Medical Association Journal·TypeCommentary/editorial·DateNov 27, 2023

Revolutionary idea by Lithuanian scientists: recycling cigarette waste to produce green fuel

Researchers at Kaunas University of Technology develop method to treat cigarette butts using pyrolysis, producing oil, char, and gas with real applications in fertilizers, wastewater treatment, energy storage, and biofuels. The process reduces biodiesel production costs by adding triacetin-rich oil as an additive.

SourceKaunas University of Technology·JournalJournal of Analytical and Applied Pyrolysis·TypeExperimental study·DateNov 27, 2023

Three new articles in the Journal of Pharmaceutical Analysis demonstrate the potential of natural compounds to treat gastrointestinal disorders

Researchers found that 1,8-cineole inhibits inflammatory pathways in the gut, while ginsenoside Rk2 alleviates liver inflammation and restores intestinal barrier function. Another compound, specnuezhenide, modifies gut microbiota and has potential to inhibit colorectal tumor growth.

SourceCactus Communications·JournalJournal of Pharmaceutical Analysis·TypeExperimental study·DateNov 27, 2023

Doctors whose psychological needs are met is associated with greater well-being in the new digital era

A Canadian study examines how rapid shift to virtual care during COVID-19 pandemic impacts primary care doctors' well-being. The researchers found that basic psychological need satisfaction at work was associated with higher well-being, while controlled motivation towards using virtual care predicted lower well-being.

SourceAmerican Academy of Family Physicians·JournalThe Annals of Family Medicine·DateNov 27, 2023

Innovative design achieves tenfold better resolution for functional MRI brain imaging

The ultra-high resolution NexGen 7T scanner allows neuroscientists to see functional MRI features 0.4 millimeters across, enabling the study of brain circuitry underlying different diseases with higher spatial resolution. This will help track signals propagating through the brain and reveal underlying causes of developmental disorders.

SourceUniversity of California - Berkeley·JournalNature Methods·DateNov 27, 2023

SMART researchers pave the way for faster and safer T-cell therapy through novel contamination-detection method

A novel contamination-detection method enables faster and safer T-cell therapy production, reducing the risk for patients and speeding up treatment. The method uses cutting-edge technology to identify harmful microorganisms within 24 hours.

SourceSingapore-MIT Alliance for Research and Technology (SMART)·JournalMicrobiology Spectrum·TypeRandomized controlled/clinical trial·DateNov 27, 2023

Wind and solar projects can profit from bitcoin mining

A new study finds that wind and solar projects can generate millions of dollars by leveraging bitcoin mining during the precommercial phase. The research suggests strategic placement of mining farms to maximize productivity, with Texas emerging as a top state for profitability. The authors recommend policy incentives to encourage envir...

SourceCornell University·JournalACS Sustainable Chemistry & Engineering·DateNov 27, 2023

No IKAROS, no antibodies

Researchers at La Jolla Institute for Immunology and Massachusetts General Hospital mapped the genome to understand how IKAROS controls healthy B cell development. They found that IKAROS solves a big problem in B cell development by bringing together far-away genes through looping, leading to proper expression and antibody production.

SourceLa Jolla Institute for Immunology·JournalCell·TypeExperimental study·DateNov 27, 2023

Survey finds patients’ coping styles changed during COVID-19 and that stable coping styles can reduce anxiety and depression

Researchers assessed Veterans Affairs participants' coping strategies over three timepoints, finding that stable coping styles are associated with lower levels of anxiety and depression. The majority of the sample (71%) changed their coping style at least once during the study period.

SourceAmerican Academy of Family Physicians·JournalThe Annals of Family Medicine·DateNov 27, 2023

Seeing cancer’s spread through a computational window

Researchers at Duke University have developed a new computational model called Adaptive Physics Refinement (APR) that can simulate the movement of individual cancer cells across long distances within the entire human body. This approach captures detailed cellular interactions and their effects on cellular trajectory, providing valuable...

SourceDuke University·TypeExperimental study·DateNov 27, 2023

Molecular cooperation at the threshold of life

Amyloids have been found to selectively bind with codon-sized RNA, a crucial step in the emergence of life. These interactions may represent a universal genetic code that unites all living beings, increasing stability and order in an otherwise dilute system.

SourceETH Zurich·JournalJournal of the American Chemical Society·DateNov 27, 2023

Aston University research shows extra tuition on blending letter sounds helps struggling readers

New research at Aston University found that extra practice in blending printed letter sounds can significantly help struggling beginner readers. The study, led by Dr Laura Shapiro, showed that training on both sounding out letters and blending sounds is most beneficial for phonological awareness.

SourceAston University·JournalBritish Journal of Educational Psychology·TypeObservational study·DateNov 27, 2023

Mount Sinai researchers find testosterone hormone therapy for transmasculine individuals is safer than previously thought

Mount Sinai researchers have found that testosterone treatment is safer than previously reported, with a smaller degree of change in hematocrit levels. The study, involving over 6,670 transmasculine patients, suggests that providers can feel more comfortable prescribing testosterone as part of gender-affirming hormone therapy.

SourceThe Mount Sinai Hospital / Mount Sinai School of Medicine·JournalThe Journal of Clinical Endocrinology and Metabolism·DateNov 27, 2023

Measuring long-term heart stress dynamics with smartwatch data

Biomedical engineers at Duke University created a new 'digital twins' framework using smartwatch data to capture personalized arterial forces over 700,000 heartbeats. This approach reduces the computational load by simulating tasks in parallel, enabling real-time tracking of cardiovascular disease progression and risk assessment.

SourceDuke University·TypeExperimental study·DateNov 27, 2023