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Science News Archive August 2024 - Page 29


Page 29 of 38

Concern for children is key driver of advertising complaints

A study found that 46% of advertising complaints were due to concerns about the wellbeing of children, while graphic portrayals accounted for 20%. Researchers call on advertisers to test their ads with vulnerable groups and regulators to consider different management strategies. Charities had the most complained-about adverts, followed...

SourceUniversity of Edinburgh·JournalJournal of Nonprofit & Public Sector Marketing·DateAug 8, 2024

An interpretable deep learning modeling architecture considering process underlying logics reveals a promising way to the intelligent chemical industry

A new interpretable deep learning modeling architecture, LACG, is proposed to handle complex variable interactions in chemical processes. It achieves high-accuracy modeling results via the coupling of three sub-modules based on underlying logics. The model outperforms widely used neural networks in terms of interpretability.

SourceEngineering·JournalEngineering·DateAug 8, 2024

Recurrent wheezing in children linked to 'silent' viral infections

Research from the University of Virginia School of Medicine reveals that nearly a quarter of children with recurrent wheezing have undetected lung infections that do not respond to commonly prescribed steroids. The study suggests that antiviral medications such as azithromycin may be a more effective treatment for these cases.

SourceUniversity of Virginia Health System·JournalJournal of Allergy and Clinical Immunology·DateAug 8, 2024

Houston Methodist study shows new, more precise way to deliver medicine to the brain

Researchers at Houston Methodist have developed a more accurate way to deliver life-saving drug therapies to the brain, using an electric field to infuse medicine into specific targets. This innovation has the potential to improve gene therapy and tumor treatment, as well as treatment for traumatic brain injury and degenerative diseases.

SourceHouston Methodist·JournalCommunications Biology·TypeExperimental study·DateAug 8, 2024

Prioritizing the elderly for COVID-19 boosters reduces overall deaths

A new study published in PLOS Computational Biology found that prioritizing older individuals for booster vaccination consistently leads to the best public health outcomes, regardless of economic level or age category. This strategy is more effective than vaccinating younger individuals with the most contacts.

SourcePLOS·JournalPLOS Computational Biology·TypeComputational simulation/modeling·DateAug 8, 2024

Study shows donor kidneys with toxoplasma do not increase risks for transplant patients

Researchers analyzed 51,000 transplants and found rejection and graft failure rates were similar for toxoplasma-positive and negative donor kidneys. The study suggests it is safe to transplant toxoplasma-positive kidneys with additional monitoring, potentially increasing the supply of donor kidneys.

SourceUniversity of California - Davis Health·JournalTransplant International·TypeSystematic review·DateAug 8, 2024

The search for the earliest traces of life on Earth

Researchers from the University of Ottawa and Carleton University have re-examined the carbon in 3.9-billion-year-old Canadian rocks, challenging previous interpretations that they showed signs of biological life. The study found that graphite in these rocks may have formed without organic life through a carbon-extraction process.

SourceUniversity of Ottawa·JournalNature Communications·TypeMeta-analysis·DateAug 8, 2024

Record-breaking 1.2-kilometer drill core unveils new insights into Earth's mantle

A nearly continuous 1268-meter-long drill core of serpentinized abyssal mantle peridotite has provided new insights into Earth's deep geology and the potential biogeochemical conditions involved in the origins of life. The findings reveal significant mineralogical variations, including low pyroxene content and oblique melt migration.

Cannabis use and head and neck cancer

A cohort study found an association between cannabis-related disorder and the development of head and neck cancer. The study highlights the need for further research on the mechanism of this association and dose response to support evidence of cannabis use as a risk factor.

SourceJAMA Network·JournalJAMA Otolaryngology–Head & Neck Surgery·DateAug 8, 2024

TCR CDR3s and renalase-1 linked to increased melanoma survival

Researchers identified a potential antigen for TCR recognition in melanoma, suggesting that RNLS protein could be recognized by T cells leading to local immune responses against the cancer. The study found that chemical complementarity between melanoma-resident TCR CDR3s and renalase-1 protein correlates with increased melanoma survival.

SourceImpact Journals LLC·JournalOncotarget·TypeNews article·DateAug 8, 2024

Microbes conquer the next extreme environment: Your microwave

A study found that microwaves contain a unique microbial community, comprising 747 different genera, which resembles those on solar panels and kitchen surfaces. The diversity of the microbiome varies between single-household kitchens, shared domestic spaces, and laboratory microwaves.

SourceFrontiers·JournalFrontiers in Microbiology·DateAug 8, 2024

Early mammals lived longer

Researchers analyzed fossilized tooth roots of ancient mammals, finding growth rings that revealed lifespans of eight to fourteen years. These early mammals grew more slowly but lived substantially longer than their modern descendants.

SourceUniversity of Bonn·JournalScience Advances·DateAug 8, 2024

Surprise: infected bacteria fight back with “hidden” genes that halt cell growth, slow viral spread

Researchers discovered that infected bacteria produce a new gene, dubbed 'Neo', which rapidly arrests cell growth and induces programmed dormancy. This mechanism protects the larger bacterial population from phage infection, highlighting the potential for other 'hidden' genes to be unearthed in different biological contexts.

Drug shows promise for treating brain tumors resulting from breast cancer, UT Health San Antonio trial reports

A trial at UT Health San Antonio found that Sacituzumab Govitecan was well-tolerated and showed signs of effectiveness for patients with breast cancer who had progressed to brain tumors. The drug has been shown to deliver a topoisomerase inhibitor into tumors, providing promising clinical signals of efficacy.

SourceUniversity of Texas Health Science Center at San Antonio·JournalNature Communications·TypeRandomized controlled/clinical trial·DateAug 8, 2024

Promoting healthy teen romantic relationships to reduce risk of unintended pregnancies and sexually transmitted infections

A new multi-site randomized-controlled study evaluates an innovative healthy relationships program for teens. The study found the program may have influenced abstinence but not relationship communication, highlighting the need for tailored program components to address unique environmental contexts.

SourceRegenstrief Institute·JournalJournal of Adolescent Health·DateAug 8, 2024

Prioritize well-being over growth: new paradigm needed for climate-friendly lifestyles

A new EU study suggests that focusing on citizens' needs rather than economic growth is crucial for achieving sustainable lifestyles. The research identifies the economic growth paradigm as a major barrier to transformation, and recommends a needs-oriented approach to ensure well-being and sustainability.

SourceResearch Institute for Sustainability (RIFS) – Helmholtz Centre Potsdam·JournalSustainability Science Practice and Policy·TypeExperimental study·DateAug 8, 2024

A ‘thank you’ goes a long way in family relationships

A study found that perceived gratitude from romantic partners and older children positively impacts individuals' psychological well-being and reduces parenting stress. Expressing gratitude within the family can promote a climate of appreciation, teaching children to acknowledge others' efforts.

SourceUniversity of Illinois College of Agricultural, Consumer and Environmental Sciences·JournalThe Journal of Positive Psychology·TypeData/statistical analysis·DateAug 8, 2024

High nitrogen input promotes the redistribution of new organic carbon to deeper soil layers

A recent study found that high nitrogen fertilizer application significantly enhances soil carbon sequestration, primarily through vertical transport of organic matter. This redistribution leads to a greater distribution of new organic carbon in deeper soil layers, resulting in increased soil carbon storage.

SourceHigher Education Press·JournalFrontiers of Agricultural Science and Engineering·TypeExperimental study·DateAug 8, 2024

Corn’s ‘missing link’

Researchers discover a gene drive system, Teosinte Pollen Drive (TPD), that enables the quick transfer of traits from teosinte to maize. This finding sheds light on corn's rapid adaptation to the highlands and has significant implications for agriculture.

SourceCold Spring Harbor Laboratory·JournalNature·DateAug 7, 2024

National Academies progress report: Health disparities

The National Academies of Sciences, Engineering and Medicine has identified the challenges and opportunities involved in overcoming barriers to increased research participation by diverse populations. The report emphasizes the importance of enhancing diversity in clinical trials to improve health equity and elevate the quality of care ...

SourceUniversity of California - Irvine·JournalJournal of the American Geriatrics Society·DateAug 7, 2024

Improving resolution and reducing noise in fluorescence microscopy with ensured fidelity

Researchers have developed a novel deconvolution method called multi-resolution analysis (MRA) that improves image quality without introducing artifacts, allowing for high-fidelity imaging of cells and their processes. The approach capitalizes on the physical properties of excited fluorophores to distinguish useful signals from noise.

Forever chemical pollution can now be tracked

Scientists at the University of Texas at Austin have developed a way to fingerprint organofluorine compounds, also known as 'forever chemicals', allowing them to be traced back to their source. The new technique uses nuclear magnetic resonance spectroscopy and computational tools to identify unique carbon isotope patterns in each molec...

SourceUniversity of Texas at Austin·JournalEnvironmental Science & Technology·DateAug 7, 2024