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Science News Archive May 2024 - Page 4


Page 4 of 44

How community stress affects Black Americans’ mental health and wellbeing

A new study found that community stress significantly impacts the mental health and emotional well-being of Black Americans, particularly women. Objective neighborhood quality was related to lower levels of negative emotions in women, while perceived community stress had a similar effect on men's emotionality.

SourceUniversity of Illinois College of Agricultural, Consumer and Environmental Sciences·JournalSocial Science & Medicine·TypeObservational study·DateMay 30, 2024

Physical and chemical properties of boiled oil: A traditional method of extracting oil from boiled olive fruits

Researchers found that bubbling olive products before oil extraction decreases oil quality. The study measured absolute phenolic compounds, antioxidant capacity, and acidity levels in bubbled oil (BO) compared to virgin olive oil (VOO). BO had lower antioxidant properties and higher acidity levels than VOO.

SourceBentham Science Publishers·JournalThe Open Agriculture Journal·DateMay 30, 2024

Rapid urbanization in Africa transforms local food systems and threatens biodiversity

A new study reveals that urbanization in Africa affects food security through dietary shifts, particularly rice consumption, leading to increased methane emissions and biodiversity loss. The research highlights the need for policymakers to adopt holistic approaches to address future sustainability challenges.

Controlling ion transport for a blue energy future

A team from Osaka University demonstrates greater control of ion passage through a nanopore membrane by applying a voltage to a gate electrode. This leads to a six-fold increase in osmotic energy efficiency and a power density of 15 W/m^2, enabling the potential for scaling up the technology.

SourceOsaka University·JournalACS Nano·TypeExperimental study·DateMay 30, 2024

UAB researchers uncover protein SRSF1’s uncommon ability to bind and unfold RNA G-quadruplexes

Researchers at the University of Alabama at Birmingham have discovered that the protein SRSF1 can bind and unfold complex RNA Guanine-quadruplexes. This finding could provide new avenues for treating illnesses such as cancer, which is often linked to misfunctioning splicing processes.

SourceUniversity of Alabama at Birmingham·JournalNucleic Acids Research·TypeData/statistical analysis·DateMay 30, 2024

Assessment of knowledge of general and local anesthesia among patients undergoing elective surgery

A study of 370 patients undergoing elective surgery found that those with higher levels of awareness about anesthesia had better understanding of general and local anesthesia. Patients who underwent surgeries related to eyes, nose, and throat scored higher on the knowledge test due to limited sources of information.

SourceBentham Science Publishers·JournalThe Open Anesthesia Journal·DateMay 30, 2024

Studied on social media: The real-world impacts of factual but misleading content & the characteristics of “supersharers”

A new study reveals that unflagged, factual but misleading vaccine content is 46 times more effective at driving vaccine hesitancy on Facebook. Meanwhile, a second study identifies supersharers on Twitter as responsible for spreading 80% of fake news during the 2020 US presidential election.

New study finds people living with dementia who had surgery for hip fractures lived longer than those treated non-surgically

A new study by Brigham and Women's Hospital found that patients with dementia who underwent surgery for hip fractures experienced lower odds of death compared to those treated non-surgically. The benefit was seen in patients with head and neck of the femur fractures, but not in other locations.

SourceBrigham and Women's Hospital·JournalJAMA Network Open·DateMay 30, 2024

UMA scientists have modified the configuration parameters of “phantom sensations” so that they are perceived by individuals

Researchers at the University of Malaga have developed an instruction manual to understand the operating limits of phantom motion, allowing for cost-effective and lighter haptic devices. The study found that individuals can perceive phantom sensation when a vibrating point travels at least 20% of the separation between actuators.

SourceUniversity of Malaga·JournalDisplays·TypeMeta-analysis·DateMay 29, 2024

Marine Protected Areas don’t line up with core habitats of rare migratory fish, finds new research

A new study found that 62% of Marine Protected Areas (MPAs) designated to protect rare migratory fish species are outside of their core habitats. The study suggests that existing MPAs are not adequately protecting these species due to a lack of data on their distribution and habitat.

SourceBritish Ecological Society·JournalJournal of Applied Ecology·TypeComputational simulation/modeling·DateMay 29, 2024

How did the zebrafish get its stripes? Researchers are one step closer to finding out

Researchers have pinpointed the cellular machinery behind zebrafish's ability to rapidly change the color of their characteristic stripes from blue to yellow when distressed. By precisely altering the orientation of light-reflecting crystals, the fish can change the color of their stripes across the entire length of their body in seconds.

SourceHoward Hughes Medical Institute·JournalProceedings of the National Academy of Sciences·DateMay 29, 2024

Mason CARES intervention reduces stress and feelings of burden of family caregivers of older adults with dementia

A recent study published in the Journal of Applied Gerontology found that a 9-week online stress management intervention program for family caregivers reduced caregiver burden scores by 15%. The program provided education and strategies to manage stress, including self-care techniques like breathing and meditation.

SourceGeorge Mason University·JournalJournal of Applied Gerontology·DateMay 29, 2024

Risky path to meeting climate targets for Stockholm

Researchers at Linköping University assess Stockholm's climate strategy, finding a reliance on carbon capture technology without sufficient discussion of its risks. They recommend setting separate targets for emissions reduction and capturing CO2 to ensure clearer decision-making.

SourceLinköping University·JournalEnergy Research & Social Science·TypeCase study·DateMay 29, 2024

Researchers explain social media’s role in rapidly shifting social norms on gender and sexuality

New research reveals how social media has supported an explosion of diversity in gender and sexuality in America, enabling self-expression and authenticity. Online platforms like Tumblr, TikTok, and Twitter have created new cultural narratives around gender identity, bisexuality, asexuality, and intersectionality.

SourceUniversity of California - Santa Cruz·JournalAmerican Psychologist·DateMay 29, 2024

Maintenance of male-related genes after loss of males in stick insects

Researchers investigate gene preservation after loss of male traits in stick insects and find that genes involved in multiple biological processes are more likely to be maintained. This suggests that the molecular ground plan for the lost male reproductive process may persist due to pleiotropic effects on other traits.

SourceSMBE Journals (Molecular Biology and Evolution and Genome Biology and Evolution)·JournalGenome Biology and Evolution·TypeObservational study·DateMay 29, 2024

Abandoned farmlands could play a role in fighting climate change. A new study shows exactly where they are

A new study reveals that nearly 30 million acres of abandoned US cropland could be used to grow crops and trap carbon dioxide from the atmosphere. The researchers mapped the lands at field-level resolution, providing valuable insights into their potential for sustainable energy production.

SourceUniversity of Wisconsin-Madison·JournalEnvironmental Research Letters·TypeData/statistical analysis·DateMay 29, 2024

BGU researchers and colleagues discover therapeutic potential of increasing MIF protein levels as a novel approach for treating amyotrophic lateral sclerosis (ALS)

Researchers at Ben-Gurion University of the Negev and international colleagues found that augmenting MIF protein levels delays motor function decline, modulates critical pathways, and extends lifespan in a SOD1 mouse model of ALS. Diminished MIF levels are also observed in familial and sporadic ALS cases.

SourceBen-Gurion University of the Negev·JournalCell Reports Medicine·TypeExperimental study·DateMay 29, 2024

Black people who fatally overdose in Pennsylvania are half as likely to receive naloxone as white people

A new study of 11,000 overdose deaths in Pennsylvania found that Black people who died from an overdose were half as likely to have received naloxone as white people. This racial disparity in naloxone administration highlights the need for targeted strategies to distribute life-saving medication and educate communities about its use.

SourceSociety for the Study of Addiction·JournalAddiction·TypeData/statistical analysis·DateMay 29, 2024

International experts reach consensus on the labeling of spatial neglect

A consensus has been reached by an international team of rehabilitation researchers and clinicians on the standardized labeling of spatial neglect, a common disorder following neurological injury. The panel adopted 'spatial neglect' as the standard term for the disorder, aiming to improve diagnosis, treatment, and research.

SourceKessler Foundation·JournalArchives of Rehabilitation Research and Clinical Translation·TypeSurvey·DateMay 29, 2024

Bird flu: diverse range of vaccines platforms “crucial” for enhancing human pandemic preparedness

A new review emphasizes the importance of vaccination in preventing avian influenza spread among humans. The study suggests that a diverse range of vaccine platforms, including inactivated and live attenuated vaccines, as well as emerging alternatives like mRNA vaccines, will be crucial for enhancing pandemic preparedness.

SourceTaylor & Francis Group·JournalHuman Vaccines & Immunotherapeutics·TypeLiterature review·DateMay 29, 2024

Visible light-induced photocatalysis–self-Fenton degradation of P-Clphoh over graphitic carbon nitride by a polyethylenimine bifunctional catalyst

A novel bifunctional catalyst, Fe-PEI-CN, was synthesized to degrade p-chlorophenol through photocatalysis and Fenton reaction. The catalyst exhibited high photocatalytic activity due to enhanced light absorption and reduced electron-hole recombination.

SourceBeijing Zhongke Journal Publising Co. Ltd.·JournalTransactions of Tianjin University·DateMay 29, 2024

The case of the missing black holes

Researchers propose a novel approach to correct the leading model of primordial black hole (PBH) formation, aligning with cosmic microwave background observations. This could imply fewer PBHs than expected, potentially affecting the dark matter theory and gravitational wave events.

SourceUniversity of Tokyo·JournalPhysical Review Letters·TypeComputational simulation/modeling·DateMay 29, 2024

What makes some plant groups so successful?

Researchers at Trinity College Dublin discovered that over 10,000 species have been described in just 83 big genera since 2000, with roughly one in four flowering plant species belonging to these groups. Understanding the success of these large genera may help predict their response to climate change and inform conservation efforts.

SourceTrinity College Dublin·JournalProceedings of the Royal Society B Biological Sciences·DateMay 29, 2024