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Science News Archive October 2024 - Page 36


Page 36 of 44

What makes a home garden program successful?

A new case study in India found that home garden interventions struggled due to verbal training, lack of demonstrations, and limited household engagement. However, flexibility and participatory techniques like Process Net-Mapping revealed positive outcomes on nutrition and sustainable agriculture practices.

Applied Biological Laboratories, maker of Biovanta, to present at American Society of Microbiology’s Clinical Virology Symposium 2024

Researchers will showcase results of a randomized clinical trial demonstrating Biovanta's efficacy in reducing common cold symptoms by strengthening the respiratory barrier and controlling inflammation. The presentation will also include preclinical data on antiviral formulas targeting rhinovirus and influenza.

Study reveals how parasites thrive by balancing specialisation with exploiting diverse species communities

A new study published in Journal of Biogeography finds that malaria-like blood parasites increase in prevalence with the number of bird species present, highlighting the importance of host diversity. The research also shows that parasites can spread more rapidly when they specialize in closely related or functionally similar bird species.

SourceSwansea University·JournalJournal of Biogeography·TypeData/statistical analysis·DateOct 8, 2024

Increase access to nature in all daily environments and in education

A Kobe University research team analyzed conditions for access to nature across generations, finding that availability of green spaces, nature-relatedness, and childhood experiences drive visits. The study highlights the importance of effective environmental education and urban planning policies to address inequalities in nature access.

SourceKobe University·JournalJournal of Environmental Management·TypeSurvey·DateOct 8, 2024

What we can learn from hungry yeast cells

Scientists discovered a unique way in which yeast cells adapt to starvation by coating their mitochondria with massive molecular complexes called ribosomes. This adaptation has potential implications for cancer treatment as it may help overcome the challenges faced by cancer cells when they are starved of nutrients.

SourceEuropean Molecular Biology Laboratory·JournalNature Communications·TypeExperimental study·DateOct 8, 2024

Researchers link El Niño to accelerated ice loss in tropics

Researchers have confirmed that El Niño causes a drastic reduction in the snow-covered area of the Quelccaya Ice Cap in the Peruvian Andes. The study used NASA Landsat satellites to measure the ice cap's sensitivity to climate shifts, finding that it lost about 58% of its snow cover between 1985 and 2022.

SourceOhio State University·JournalThe Cryosphere·TypeComputational simulation/modeling·DateOct 8, 2024

Scientists from IOCB Prague help to improve medical drugs

Researchers at IOCB Prague successfully isolated the proteasome enzyme complex of the T. vaginalis parasite, enabling them to develop new medicines that can target this parasite without harming humans. This breakthrough has critical implications for treating trichomoniasis and reducing HIV risk.

Transition to low-carbon futures: New research uncovers rise in legal challenges to climate action

A new study highlights the emergence of 'just transition litigation', challenging climate policies and projects that disproportionately impact vulnerable communities. The phenomenon emphasizes the need for balancing climate action with social justice considerations, particularly for Indigenous Peoples, workers, and local residents.

SourceUniversity of Eastern Finland·JournalNature Sustainability·DateOct 8, 2024

Stressed bees lack the buzz in life

New research reveals stressed bees make pessimistic choices and lack a buzz in life. They reduce their expectations of reward when agitated, which could impact how they approach and pollinate flowers.

SourceNewcastle University·JournalProceedings of the Royal Society B Biological Sciences·TypeRandomized controlled/clinical trial·DateOct 8, 2024

Wavelength-independent and photoinitiator-free laser 3D nanolithography

A team of scientists developed a new method for 3D nanolithography using low peak power laser oscillators, enabling the creation of non-photosensitized materials without photo-initiators. Wavelengths of 517 nm, 780 nm, and 1035 nm are suitable for producing 300 nm polymerized features with high linear writing speeds.

Green education can create new generation of eco-leaders - study

A new study reveals that green education can nurture a generation of eco-leaders to tackle climate change and environmental issues in the Middle East and North Africa. The study recommends integrating sustainability into national curricula, providing sustainable funding for education initiatives, and monitoring evaluation systems.

SourceUniversity of Birmingham·JournalSustainable Development·TypeLiterature review·DateOct 8, 2024

New seed fossil sheds light on wind dispersal in plants

Researchers have discovered a new plant seed fossil, Alasemenia, which provides insight into the origin and early evolution of wind dispersal strategies in plants. The study found that Alasemenia's three-winged seeds are more adapted to wind dispersal than one, two, or four-winged seeds.

SourceeLife·JournaleLife·DateOct 8, 2024

A new technique that makes competition between tumour cells visible can help personalise treatments for multiple myeloma

A new technique called Clonal competition assays helps understand the evolutionary advantages of multiple myeloma cells over available treatments. It allows researchers to see how each population of cells in the same myeloma reacts to treatments, getting closer to understanding heterogeneity and resistance.

Transition to a circular bioeconomy requires getting prices right

A circular bioeconomy aims to reduce waste, transform industries, and regenerate natural systems for environmentally sustainable food and energy production. The concept needs a values-based economic lens with the right policies and incentives to persuade consumers and producers.

The secret strength of our cell guards

A team from UNIGE and EPFL has demonstrated the Entropic Pulling mechanism of Hsp70 chaperones, a long-debated theory that explains their role in controlling protein quality. The study uses nanopore single-molecule technology to show that Hsp70s generate a strong force to manipulate protein structure, ruling out previous models.

SourceUniversité de Genève·JournalNature Communications·TypeNews article·DateOct 8, 2024

Study: One-time cooperation decisions unaffected by increased benefits to society

A new study found that individuals' willingness to cooperate in one-time situations is remarkably stable, regardless of the potential benefits. Across two experiments involving over 2,000 participants, the researchers found no significant change in cooperation rates when benefits were increased.

SourceUniversity of Innsbruck·JournalProceedings of the National Academy of Sciences·TypeExperimental study·DateOct 8, 2024

4+ hour emergency care wait linked to heightened risks of death and longer hospital stay for hip fracture patients

A study found that patients with hip fractures who wait over 4 hours for treatment in emergency care are at higher risk of death and longer hospital stays. The researchers analyzed data from a single trauma center in Scotland, where over 1 in 3 patients waited longer than the required standard time frame.

SourceBMJ Group·JournalEmergency Medicine Journal·TypeObservational study·DateOct 8, 2024

Scientists at The Wistar Institute discover novel series of SARS-CoV-2 mpro inhibitors for potential new COVID-19 treatments

Scientists at The Wistar Institute have identified a novel series of SARS-CoV-2 Mpro inhibitors that effectively inhibit viral replication in vitro against multiple COVID variants. These compounds also synergize with existing antivirals, offering promise for developing future therapies.

SourceThe Wistar Institute·JournalAntimicrobial Agents and Chemotherapy·TypeExperimental study·DateOct 8, 2024

New research calls for transparency in Medicare Advantage operations

A new study reveals that some Medicare Advantage plans engage in strategic cross-subsidization, offering extra benefits to healthier patients while providing fewer benefits to sicker patients. This practice can lead to reduced care quality for vulnerable populations and exacerbate socioeconomic inequalities in healthcare access.

SourceInstitute for Operations Research and the Management Sciences·JournalManufacturing & Service Operations Management·TypeObservational study·DateOct 8, 2024

NASA: new insights into how Mars became uninhabitable

Researchers used instruments on board Curiosity to measure the isotopic composition of carbon-rich minerals and discovered extreme evaporation, suggesting a climate that could only support transient liquid water. This finding rules out life on Mars' surface but leaves open the possibility of an underground biosphere.

SourceNASA/Goddard Space Flight Center·JournalProceedings of the National Academy of Sciences·TypeObservational study·DateOct 7, 2024

Better-prepared emergency departments could save kids’ lives cost-effectively, Stanford Medicine-led study finds

A new study by Stanford Medicine found that upgrading emergency departments to be more prepared for pediatric care could save children's lives and reduce costs. The research team analyzed data from hundreds of hospitals in 11 states and found that doing so would cut deaths of pediatric emergency patients by almost half.

SourceStanford Medicine·JournalHealth Affairs·TypeData/statistical analysis·DateOct 7, 2024

Study finds common breast cancer treatments may speed aging process

A new study found that common breast cancer treatments, including chemotherapy, radiation, and surgery, can increase expression of aging markers in breast cancer survivors. The study suggests that these treatments can have a more extensive impact on the body than previously thought, leading to accelerated biological aging.

SourceUniversity of California - Los Angeles Health Sciences·JournalJNCI Journal of the National Cancer Institute·DateOct 7, 2024

Bias found when drug manufacturers fund clinical trials

A recent study found that psychiatric drugs are 50% more effective in clinical trials funded by the manufacturer compared to those sponsored by other groups. The researcher attributed this phenomenon to the sponsorship effect, which is reduced by 20% when unpublished trials are included in the analysis. Preregistration has helped reduc...

SourceOhio State University·JournalJournal of Political Economy·TypeData/statistical analysis·DateOct 7, 2024

Ultra-powered MRI scans show damage to brain’s ‘control center’ is behind long-lasting Covid-19 symptoms

Damage to the brainstem, the brain's control centre, is behind long-lasting physical and psychiatric effects of severe Covid-19 infection. Researchers used ultra-high-resolution scanners to observe the damaging effects of Covid-19 on the brain, finding inflammation in key regions associated with breathlessness, fatigue and anxiety.

SourceUniversity of Cambridge·JournalBrain·DateOct 7, 2024