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Science News Archive October 2024 - Page 40


Page 40 of 44

Child Health Day 2024: influenza vaccine protects children from infection and hospitalization for the disease, Spanish study shows

A Spanish study found that the influenza vaccination campaign for children aged 6-59 months was effective in preventing acute respiratory infections and hospitalization. The study estimated the vaccine to be 70% effective against any influenza type and 77% effective against severe cases.

SourceEuropean Centre for Disease Prevention and Control (ECDC)·JournalEurosurveillance·TypeObservational study·DateOct 3, 2024

New study finds a promising combined therapy for multiple sclerosis

A new study explores a promising combined therapy for multiple sclerosis, using tolerogenic dendritic cells modified with myelin antigens. Researchers found that these cells from patients have a persistent pro-inflammatory signature, making them less effective compared to those derived from healthy individuals.

SourceGermans Trias i Pujol Research Institute·JournalJournal of Clinical Investigation·TypeExperimental study·DateOct 3, 2024

Plants have a backup plan

Researchers found that plants use both DDM1 and RNAi to control chromosome division, providing a 'backup plan' when one molecule is lost. This discovery may lead to better treatments for human diseases such as ICF syndrome and cancer progression.

SourceCold Spring Harbor Laboratory·JournalNature Plants·DateOct 3, 2024

NASA’s LRO: Lunar ice deposits are widespread

The study reveals that water ice is present in permanently shadowed regions outside the South Pole, with concentrations expected near coldest locations and poleward-facing slopes. The research provides maps and surface characteristics to identify where ice is likely to be found, aiding lunar mission planners.

SourceNASA/Goddard Space Flight Center·JournalThe Planetary Science Journal·TypeComputational simulation/modeling·DateOct 3, 2024

Decades-long research reveals new understanding of how climate change may impact caches of Arctic soil carbon

A recent study, led by Colorado State University researchers, sheds new light on the complex interactions between plants, microbes, and soil nutrients in the Arctic. The findings suggest that long-term changes to the soil can impact carbon storage, with shrubs potentially contributing to keeping more carbon in the ground.

SourceColorado State University·JournalNature Climate Change·TypeExperimental study·DateOct 3, 2024

2-billion-year-old rock home to living microbes

Researchers have discovered living microbes in a 2-billion-year-old rock sample from the Bushveld Igneous Complex in South Africa. The team used advanced imaging techniques to confirm the presence of indigenous microorganisms, shedding light on the early evolution of life on Earth and the potential for similar organisms to exist on Mars.

SourceUniversity of Tokyo·JournalMicrobial Ecology·TypeObservational study·DateOct 3, 2024

Do MPH programs prepare graduates for employment in today's market? Mostly yes, but who is hiring may be surprising

A new study at Columbia University Mailman School of Public Health found that MPH programs provide key competencies demanded by employers, but graduate employability could be improved by using more real-time data from employer job postings. The study revealed labor market competition for public health degree graduates and technical ski...

SourceColumbia University's Mailman School of Public Health·JournalAmerican Journal of Public Health·DateOct 3, 2024

Experts publish the latest guide for systematic reviews of preclinical research

A new publication provides essential guidance for conducting rigorous systematic reviews on studies with animals and cells. Regular narrative reviews are prone to biases, but systematic reviews follow a rigorous and transparent methodology, helping researchers make sense of conflicting reports and identify gaps in the field.

SourceRadboud University Medical Center·JournalNature Reviews Methods Primers·DateOct 3, 2024

Body weight is an important health factor in pregnancy – regardless of country of birth

A recent study published in The Lancet Public Health found that body weight is a significant factor in pregnancy complications, affecting women born in different countries. Researchers estimated that approximately half of all cases of gestational diabetes could be prevented if all women were of normal weight during pregnancy.

SourceLinköping University·JournalThe Lancet Public Health·TypeObservational study·DateOct 3, 2024

Study finds minorities more likely to have ‘free’ preventive healthcare denied by insurers

A new study published in JAMA Network Open found that racial and ethnic minorities are more likely to have claims for free preventive care denied by insurance plans, leading to unexpected bills or lack of access. Healthcare providers also charge disadvantaged groups a higher amount for preventive services.

SourceUniversity of Massachusetts Amherst·JournalJAMA Network Open·TypeData/statistical analysis·DateOct 3, 2024

Psychological distress in adults and caregivers about food allergy is widespread and unrecognized, finds Aston University-led research

A study of over 1,329 adults and 1,907 caregivers found that two-thirds of adults with food allergies and three-quarters of adult caregivers reported psychological distress related to food allergy. The biggest barrier to access to psychological help was cost, highlighting the need for free or low-cost support.

SourceAston University·JournalAllergy·TypeObservational study·DateOct 3, 2024

Quantum researchers come up with a recipe that could accelerate drug development

Researchers at the University of Copenhagen's Quantum for Life Centre have developed a new mathematical recipe to make quantum simulators more scalable and efficient. This breakthrough could speed up the development of new medicines from years to months by predicting how molecules behave in the human body before laboratory trials.

SourceUniversity of Copenhagen - Faculty of Science·JournalNature Communications·DateOct 3, 2024

Polymeric cloak stabilizes cytokine complex to generate tumor-targeted nanosuperagonist

A new method to construct protein complex-based therapeutics has been discovered using a polymer cloak, which stabilizes the delivery of protein complexes and enables tumor-targeted immunomodulation. The study presents an IL-15 nanosuperagonist with enhanced efficacy and specificity, promising a safer therapy for cancer treatment.

SourceInnovation Center of NanoMedicine·TypeExperimental study·DateOct 3, 2024

Announcing the 2024 Glenn Foundation Discovery Awards: Jeffrey Friedman, MD, Ph.D/ (the Rockefeller University) and Myriam Heiman, Ph.D. (MIT)

The Glenn Foundation Discovery Award supports research into the biological mechanisms of aging, with a focus on developing new treatments. Dr. Jeffrey Friedman and Dr. Myriam Heiman will receive two-year awards to study the cellular basis of hypothalamus aging and charting the cellular rejuvenation landscape in aging neurons.

Five-mile asteroid impact crater below Atlantic captured in ‘exquisite’ detail by seismic data

Researchers at Heriot-Watt University have captured high-resolution images of a five-mile asteroid impact crater buried deep beneath the Atlantic Ocean. The data reveals minute-by-minute chaos after collision, including rocks flowing upwards to the crater floor and an 800-metre-plus high tsunami. The findings confirm the Nadir Crater w...

SourceHeriot-Watt University·JournalCommunications Earth & Environment·DateOct 3, 2024

Mount Sinai researchers introduce web portal empowering drug discovery and systems-level analysis of critical kinase-substrate interactions

KiNet is an interactive web portal that enables researchers to visualize and study kinase-substrate interactions in systemwide contexts. This facilitates the understanding of kinase functions and their implications in diseases such as cancer, neurodegenerative disorders, and cardiovascular diseases.

SourceThe Mount Sinai Hospital / Mount Sinai School of Medicine·Journalnpj Systems Biology and Applications·DateOct 3, 2024

Water fluoridation less effective now than in past

A recent Cochrane review has found that the dental health benefits of adding fluoride to drinking water may be smaller now than before fluoride toothpaste was widely available. The review analyzed data from over 2,900 children in the UK and Australia, estimating a slight reduction in tooth decay, but with significant uncertainty.

SourceCochrane·JournalCochrane Database of Systematic Reviews·TypeSystematic review·DateOct 3, 2024

‘Forever chemicals’ linked to poor sleep among young adults in first-of-its-kind study

A study published in Environmental Advances found a significant association between four types of PFAS and poor sleep in young adults. The researchers identified genes involved in the body's natural defenses and a hormone that regulates sleep, shedding light on the underlying mechanisms of PFAS' impact on sleep.

SourceKeck School of Medicine of USC·JournalEnvironmental Advances·TypeMeta-analysis·DateOct 3, 2024

Emphasising children’s bodily integrity key to protecting them against genital cutting and modification practices, study says

A new study by Dr. Kate Goldie Townsend from the University of Exeter highlights the importance of prioritizing children's bodily integrity in protecting them against genital cutting and modification practices. The research emphasizes that children's interest in bodily autonomy should take priority over parental, community, or religiou...

SourceUniversity of Exeter·JournalClinical Ethics·TypeCommentary/editorial·DateOct 3, 2024

Logic with light

Researchers at the University of Tokyo introduce a new optical computing scheme called diffraction casting, which improves upon existing methods. The system uses light waves to perform logic operations and has shown promise in running complex calculations, including those used in machine learning.

SourceUniversity of Tokyo·JournalAdvanced Photonics·TypeComputational simulation/modeling·DateOct 3, 2024

New research uncovers how climate and soil shape tree and shrub wood density across ecosystems

A recent study found that climate factors play a more dominant role in determining wood density for tree species than soil characteristics, while both factors equally influence shrub species. The research provides new insights into vegetation responses to environmental factors, with implications for improving ecosystem predictions.

SourceInstitute of Atmospheric Physics, Chinese Academy of Sciences·JournalAdvances in Atmospheric Sciences·DateOct 3, 2024

Stem cell transplants close macular holes in monkeys

Researchers have successfully transplanted human embryonic stem cell-derived retinal organoid sheets into monkeys with macular holes, resulting in graft survival and maturation of light-detecting cells. The study suggests that this method could become a practical treatment option for difficult macular hole cases.

SourceCell Press·JournalStem Cell Reports·TypeExperimental study·DateOct 3, 2024

Promising ‘first’ in Alzheimer’s drug development

Researchers have developed a peptide inhibitor called RI-AG03 that effectively prevents Tau protein aggregation in lab and fruit fly studies. The breakthrough targets both major aggregation-promoting 'hotspots' of the Tau protein, potentially paving the way for more effective treatments for neurodegenerative diseases.

SourceLancaster University·JournalAlzheimer s & Dementia·TypeExperimental study·DateOct 3, 2024

Hoarding disorder: ‘sensory CBT’ treatment strategy shows promise

A novel sensory CBT treatment strategy has demonstrated its potential in a pre-clinical study, improving participants' ability to discard items and reducing anxiety and distress. The study found that imagery rescripting was more effective than other techniques in promoting discarding behavior and reducing negative emotions.

SourceUniversity of New South Wales·JournalJournal of Psychopathology and Behavioral Assessment·TypeRandomized controlled/clinical trial·DateOct 3, 2024