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Science News Archive December 2024 - Page 34


Page 34 of 39

Study exposes link between genetic risk of depression and heart disease in women

A study by University of Queensland researchers found a significant link between genetic risk of depression and heart disease in women, even in the absence of a depression diagnosis. The study highlights the need to understand this relationship separately in men and women due to varying risk factors.

SourceUniversity of Queensland·JournalCirculation Genomic and Precision Medicine·TypeData/statistical analysis·DateDec 4, 2024

A modular 16-channel high-voltage ultrasound phased array system for therapeutic medical applications

Researchers developed a modular 16-channel high-voltage ultrasound phased array system for therapeutic medical applications, offering flexible programmable sonication parameters and achieving millimeter-level spatial precision. The system has been successfully employed for various therapeutic purposes such as neuromodulation, temporary...

SourceELSP·JournalNeuroelectronics·TypeExperimental study·DateDec 4, 2024

Emoji use may depend on emotional intelligence and attachment style

A study found that individuals with higher emotional intelligence and secure attachment styles tend to use emojis more frequently, while those with avoidant attachment styles send fewer emojis. The study also revealed a gender gap in emoji use, with women using emojis more than men, particularly in interactions with friends and family.

SourcePLOS·JournalPLOS ONE·TypeSurvey·DateDec 4, 2024

Poor health outcomes—including early deaths—linger for decades for those who lived in ‘redlined’ neighborhoods

A new study found an association between redlining and increased risk of death among individuals who lived in segregated communities in 1940. The study, which analyzed data from nearly 962,000 people, found that those who lived in redlined neighborhoods had a higher risk of death at older ages.

SourceTexas A&M University·JournalJAMA Internal Medicine·TypeData/statistical analysis·DateDec 4, 2024

NYU Abu Dhabi researchers develop a new material that removes a dangerous “forever chemical,” from drinking water

Researchers at NYU Abu Dhabi have developed a new material that efficiently detects and removes perfluorooctanoic acid (PFOA) from drinking water, potentially revolutionizing water purification efforts worldwide. The breakthrough addresses global concerns over PFAS, or 'forever chemicals', which pose severe health risks.

SourceNew York University·JournalNature Communications·DateDec 4, 2024

Protecting the health of wildlife ecosystems

A recent study published in Nature found that mother fleas can transmit the plague to their offspring, posing a significant threat to prairie dog colonies and other rodent populations. This discovery highlights the importance of understanding the role of animals in the dissemination of the disease.

SourceUniversity of Missouri-Columbia·JournalNature·TypeExperimental study·DateDec 4, 2024

Challenging stereotypes

Researchers found that people consistently hold ecology stereotypes across diverse cultural backgrounds, suggesting a connection between environmental context and stereotypical beliefs. The study's findings challenge traditional biases related to race and family structures, highlighting the need for a more nuanced understanding of how ...

SourceUniversity of California - Irvine·JournalJournal of Personality and Social Psychology·TypeData/statistical analysis·DateDec 4, 2024

Regional, racial, and economic disparities in cancer risk from air pollution exposure persist, but improving, new research suggests

A new study finds that urban communities, lower-income areas, and those with higher proportions of racial minorities have higher estimated cancer risks from air pollution. Despite this, the disparity is decreasing over time, suggesting improvements in air pollution control measures.

SourceDesert Research Institute·JournalEnvironmental Science & Technology·DateDec 3, 2024

UCLA professor Helen Lavretsky reshapes brain health through integrative medicine research

Professor Lavretsky's pioneering work integrates conventional psychiatric treatments with mind-body interventions, developing novel therapeutic combinations for treatment-resistant depression and cognitive disorders. Her research has transformed approaches to mental health and aging, emphasizing whole person health and prevention.

SourceGenomic Press·JournalBrain Medicine·TypeNews article·DateDec 3, 2024

Tiny, daily bursts of vigorous incidental physical activity could almost halve cardiovascular risk in middle-aged women

A study found that middle-aged women who engaged in short bursts of vigorous physical activity, such as carrying shopping or power walking, had a significantly lower risk of heart attacks and heart failure. Women who averaged 3.4 minutes of daily activity were 45% less likely to experience a major cardiovascular event.

SourceUniversity of Sydney·JournalBritish Journal of Sports Medicine·TypeObservational study·DateDec 3, 2024

Fred Hutch at ASH: Plenary session on socioeconomic barriers to transplant, new leukemia treatments and phasing out ‘cumbersome’ urine test

Researchers at Fred Hutchinson Cancer Center are addressing socioeconomic barriers to access to life-saving transplants for blood disorders. New leukemia treatment regimens have shown promise in clinical trials, while a prediction model highlights improved survivorship and quality of life outcomes for older patients after transplant.

Brain mapping advances understanding of human speech and hallucinations in schizophrenia

Researchers mapped auditory corollary discharge signals in the brain's motor cortex to better understand human speech and hallucinations in schizophrenia. Disruptions to this system are thought to be hallmarks of auditory hallucinations, offering a new explanation for the source of these symptoms.

SourceNYU Langone Health / NYU Grossman School of Medicine·JournalProceedings of the National Academy of Sciences·TypeExperimental study·DateDec 3, 2024

Tiny dancers: Scientists synchronise bacterial motion

Researchers at Delft University of Technology discovered that E. coli bacteria can synchronise their movements by trapping individual cells in micro-engineered cavities and coupling them through narrow channels. The team observed coordinated bacterial motion and found that the synchronized movement adhered to universal mathematical rules.

SourceDelft University of Technology·JournalSmall·TypeExperimental study·DateDec 3, 2024

New drug candidate for spinocerebellar ataxia

A Phase 2 trial evaluated L-arginine's efficacy and safety in patients with spinocerebellar ataxia type 6, showing a mild improvement in ataxia symptoms. However, the treatment effect was not statistically significant, requiring further investigation to confirm its effectiveness.

SourceNiigata University·JournalEClinicalMedicine·DateDec 3, 2024

Princeton Chemistry advances combo-drug treatment to combat Melioidosis

Researchers at Princeton Chemistry have developed a promising combination-drug treatment for melioidosis, a bacterial infection that causes fever, pneumonia, and sepsis. The approach targets the pathogen's unique metabolic vulnerabilities with low-dose antibiotics, leaving gut microbiome bacteria unscathed.

SourcePrinceton University·JournalProceedings of the National Academy of Sciences·TypeExperimental study·DateDec 3, 2024