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Science News Archive June 2024 - Page 28


Page 28 of 39

NUS linguists make breakthrough discovery on detecting early linguistic signs of dementia by studying the natural speech of seniors

A novel study led by NUS linguists reveals that seniors with memory-related mild cognitive impairment exhibit distinct speech patterns, including reduced noun usage and increased abstract thinking. These findings hold promise for developing language-based interventions to address dementia symptoms.

SourceNational University of Singapore·JournalAlzheimer s & Dementia Diagnosis Assessment & Disease Monitoring·TypeObservational study·DateJun 10, 2024

Lung cancer screening prolongs lives in real-world study

US Veterans Health Administration data shows lung cancer screening before diagnosis increases early stage detection and lower mortality rates. Researchers found that those who underwent screening had a higher cure rate and improved survival over five years compared to those without screening.

SourceWiley·JournalCancer·DateJun 10, 2024

Keeping the lights on

A study published in Applied Physics Letters reveals that decreasing carbon concentration can increase the amount of light emitted from GaN crystals. The researchers found a threshold concentration above which carbon atoms become a significant factor in dissipating energy, leading to improved internal quantum efficiency.

SourceOsaka University·JournalApplied Physics Letters·TypeObservational study·DateJun 10, 2024

Making remanufacturing profitable

Remanufacturing is a process that transforms end-of-life products into new ones, offering economic benefits and environmental advantages. Companies need to invest time and energy to adopt this approach, but it can lead to increased profitability and sustainability.

Pesticides impair mobility and immune system of Brazilian native stingless bees, study shows

A study found that pesticides imidacloprid, pyraclostrobin, and glyphosate impair the mobility and immune system of Brazilian native stingless bees. Even if bees survive exposure to these pesticides, their immune systems are weakened, making them more prone to infections and increasing the risk of colony collapse.

First trial of new suicide prevention intervention designed for autistic people

A new trial of a suicide prevention intervention for autistic adults found that almost two-thirds of participants found the adapted safety plans useful. The study, funded by the National Institute of Health Research, suggests that personalized interventions can reduce self-harm and suicidal behaviors in autistic individuals.

SourceUniversity of Nottingham·JournalEClinicalMedicine·TypeRandomized controlled/clinical trial·DateJun 10, 2024

Passive heat exposure increases stress on the heart, posing risk to adults with history of CAD

A laboratory study found that passive heat exposure stresses the heart, increasing myocardial blood flow in all participants, regardless of age or health status. Adults with a history of CAD are at particular risk and may benefit from minimizing cardiac strain during extreme heat by staying cool.

SourceAmerican College of Physicians·JournalAnnals of Internal Medicine·TypeNews article·DateJun 10, 2024

Researchers engineer new approach for controlling thermal emission

A team of researchers has created a novel approach to control thermal emission by designing an interface that joins two surfaces with different geometric properties. This allows for localized thermal emissions from designated areas, enabling applications in infrared optics, sensing, and satellite technology.

SourcePenn State·JournalScience·TypeExperimental study·DateJun 10, 2024

NTU Singapore-led study estimates that between 1980 and 2020, 135 million premature deaths could be linked to fine particulate matter pollution

A study by NTU Singapore researchers found that fine particulate matter pollution was associated with approximately 135 million premature deaths globally between 1980 and 2020. The impact of pollution was worsened by climate variability phenomena, leading to a 14% rise in premature deaths.

SourceNanyang Technological University·JournalEnvironment International·TypeMeta-analysis·DateJun 10, 2024

Older, poorer, Black, Medicaid beneficiaries less likely to be placed on liver transplant lists

A new study has identified disparities in liver transplant referral and evaluation that occur before waitlisting for patients with early-stage liver cancer. These disparities affect older, poorer, Black, and Medicaid beneficiaries, highlighting the need for targeted interventions to improve equity in access to liver transplantation.

SourceRegenstrief Institute·JournalCancer Research Communications·DateJun 10, 2024

AJPH study reveals that COVID-19 has widened racial gaps in pregnancy-associated deaths from non-obstetric causes in the US

A recent study found a disproportionate increase in pregnancy-associated deaths across diverse ethnic/racial groups during the COVID-19 pandemic. The study revealed that certain groups, such as Hispanic and Black women, faced higher risks of death from non-obstetric causes like substance abuse and intimate partner violence.

SourceAmerican Public Health Association·JournalAmerican Journal of Public Health·TypeData/statistical analysis·DateJun 10, 2024

Planetary Health Diet associated with lower risk of premature death, lower environmental impact

A new study published in The American Journal of Clinical Nutrition found that adherence to the Planetary Health Diet was associated with a 30% lower risk of premature death and significant reductions in greenhouse gas emissions. The diet emphasizes minimally processed plant foods and modest consumption of meat and dairy foods.

SourceHarvard T.H. Chan School of Public Health·JournalAmerican Journal of Clinical Nutrition·TypeObservational study·DateJun 10, 2024

Fixing excess carbon dioxide: biocatalyst-driven carboxylation under mild conditions

Researchers from Tokyo Institute of Technology developed a biocatalyzed carboxylation reaction using Thermoplasma acidophilum malic enzyme to fix CO2, increasing the yield and sustainability of the process. The method can be tailored for selective synthesis of wider carboxylation products, unlocking new avenues for renewable resources.

SourceTokyo Institute of Technology·JournalJACS Au·TypeExperimental study·DateJun 10, 2024

Association found between media diet and science-consistent beliefs about climate change

A study found a strong association between media diet and science-consistent beliefs about climate change, with far-right media having a stronger negative impact on climate change beliefs and support for a carbon tax. Exposure to centrist and science media was positively associated with these beliefs.

SourceAnnenberg Public Policy Center of the University of Pennsylvania·JournalJournal of Health Communication·DateJun 10, 2024

Does a beet a day keep heart disease away?

A new study led by Penn State researchers found that daily consumption of beetroot juice may improve blood vessel function and reduce future heart disease risk in postmenopausal women. Beetroot juice contains high levels of nitrate, which helps blood vessels expand and improves circulation.

SourcePenn State·JournalFrontiers in Nutrition·TypeRandomized controlled/clinical trial·DateJun 10, 2024

SNMMI Image of the Year: Ultra-high-resolution PET provides never before seen images of the brain

The NeuroEXPLORER PET scanner offers exceptional brain PET images with ultra-high sensitivity and resolution, showcasing focal uptake in specific brain nuclei. This technology has the potential to spur advances in treating conditions like Alzheimer's disease, Parkinson's disease, and mental illnesses.

SourceSociety of Nuclear Medicine and Molecular Imaging·JournalJournal of Nuclear Medicine·DateJun 10, 2024

In a significant first, researchers detect water frost on solar system’s tallest volcanoes

A team of planetary scientists has detected patches of water frost on Mars' Tharsis volcanoes, which are the tallest in the solar system. The frost forms for only a few hours after sunrise and is incredibly thin, but constitutes a significant amount of water that swaps between the surface and atmosphere each day during the cold seasons.

SourceBrown University·JournalNature Geoscience·TypeComputational simulation/modeling·DateJun 10, 2024

Optimism wards off procrastination

A study published in Scientific Reports found that people with an optimistic outlook on the future are less likely to be severe procrastinators. The researchers surveyed nearly 300 young people and discovered that those who believed their stress levels would decrease in the future were more likely to overcome procrastination.

SourceUniversity of Tokyo·JournalScientific Reports·TypeSurvey·DateJun 10, 2024

Case studies show how quasi-governmental organizations could strengthen climate adaptation governance

A new study examines the design characteristics of quasi-governmental organizations (QGOs) to provide insights on how to improve climate adaptation governance. The research finds that some QGOs are useful for overcoming politicization or fostering multi-level stakeholder coordination, but none prove optimal for both simultaneously.

SourcePrinceton School of Public and International Affairs·JournalClimatic Change·TypeCase study·DateJun 10, 2024

Clinical trial shows promising results in a two-drug combination that curbs methamphetamine use

A clinical trial shows that a combination of injectable naltrexone and extended-release oral bupropion reduces methamphetamine use for up to 12 weeks. The study found a significant increase in methamphetamine-negative urine tests among participants receiving the two-drug therapy.

SourceUniversity of California - Los Angeles Health Sciences·JournalAddiction·TypeRandomized controlled/clinical trial·DateJun 10, 2024

When is genome sequencing advisable?

Genome sequencing outperforms exome sequencing in diagnosing rare genetic diseases, revealing new clues and mechanisms. The method's advantages include detecting non-coding mutations and gene segments outside the exome.

SourceUniversität Leipzig·JournalNew England Journal of Medicine·TypeExperimental study·DateJun 10, 2024

Peers crucial in shaping boys’ confidence in math skills

A study from the University of Zurich found that peer relationships play a crucial role in shaping math confidence in boys, while girls' subjective evaluations are more driven by objective performance. The study suggests that math skills are more important to boys and their self-assessment is influenced by social processes.

SourceUniversity of Zurich·JournalEuropean Societies·TypeData/statistical analysis·DateJun 10, 2024

Breakthrough in creating cyclic peptide opens the way for new antibiotics

Scientists at King's College London have developed a rapid method for creating cyclic peptides, an important class of antibiotic molecules, which can be produced in minutes rather than hours or days. This breakthrough could inspire renewed efforts towards developing new antibiotics to combat antimicrobial resistance.

SourceKing's College London·JournalJournal of the American Chemical Society·TypeExperimental study·DateJun 10, 2024

Analyzing the benefits of transboundary cooperation in the Lancang-Mekong River Basin

A new study by IIASA researchers highlights the benefits of transboundary cooperation in the Lancang-Mekong River Basin, which could maximize economic benefits while minimizing environmental losses. Full cooperation is recommended as a more beneficial and stable option for riparian countries, especially under changing climate conditions.

SourceInternational Institute for Applied Systems Analysis·JournalNature Water·TypeComputational simulation/modeling·DateJun 10, 2024

New study helps explain how elderly individuals react differently to COVID-19 than young people

A new study by Boston University researchers found that the immune response of lung endothelial cells is too low in older individuals during early stages of COVID-19 infection, leading to increased severity. The study suggests targeting these immune pathways may have prognostic and therapeutic benefits.

SourceBoston University School of Medicine·JournalFrontiers in Immunology·TypeExperimental study·DateJun 10, 2024

Sensing a biomarker

Researchers at Kanazawa University have developed an electrochemical biosensor to detect ADAR1, a biomolecule associated with several diseases including neurological disorders and cancer. The device shows good sensitivity and selectivity, enabling rapid detection of ADAR1 concentrations in cells.

SourceNano Life Science Institute (NanoLSI), Kanazawa University·JournalBiosensors and Bioelectronics·TypeExperimental study·DateJun 10, 2024