Posted on

It’s OK to tango with mango

While a golden, juicy mango contains nearly 23 grams of sugar and would in the past not be a recommended afternoon snack for someone with blood-sugar challenges, new research suggests it could be OK to indulge in one of the sweetest fruits.

The good news for anyone struggling with obesity, or chronic low-grade inflammation, is that regular mango consumption may improve insulin sensitivity.

A randomized, controlled study by researchers at the Illinois Institute of Technology revealed no significant changes in inflammation markers in participants who consumed mango twice daily for four weeks. The mango-consuming participants also showed lower fasting insulin levels and enhanced insulin-resistance markers than the control group.

The results, published in Nutrients, suggest that consuming mango could support better glucose regulation and reduce type 2 diabetes risk.

The team believes the bioactive compounds and influence on cellular antioxidant defenses in mangoes may be the link to these benefits.

The bigger picture indicates that with more research, further fruit-based dietary interventions may improve metabolic health.

More like this: More midges, more chocolate

Posted on

Understanding problematic
gaming

A group of researchers from the IT-University of Copenhagen recently interviewed self-identified problematic gamers.

The team used Self-Determination Theory (SDT), a psychological concept that explores how self-determination impacts motivation, and concluded that individuals lacking autonomy, competence and relatedness – all elements of intrinsic motivation – are more inclined to experience distress.

The study calls into question the notion that high gaming consumption leads to negative outcomes, but rather the gaming fulfilled psychological needs.
The study also suggests that an awareness of personal motivation may be the key to healthy online gaming.

The research highlights the need for continued conversation and exploration around gaming disorders rather than blanketly classifying gaming as problematic.

The study was published in Computers in Human Behavior.

More like this: Tech conceived during the pandemic aims to calm a post-COVID world

Posted on

Throwing shade on the desert

The world’s scorching deserts are generally thought of as unforgiving environments, but the sizable, sun-exposed landscapes have proven suitable locations for vast solar parks. The unexpected result? Shade-bearing solar panels appear to be changing ecosystems.

Deserts are among the Earth’s major ecosystems. They cover more than 20 percent of the Earth’s surface and are home to plants and animals that have adapted to the harsh environment. Almost 7,000 species, like the scavenging brown hyena that gets its water almost exclusively from prey and fruits, are found there.

But the harsh environment the hyena calls home might be in for a little reprieve.

A new study from Xi’an University of Technology shows that solar panels that provide constant shade may be responsible for renewed and enhanced desert ecosystems.

The environmental impact of solar panels may be two-fold: They produce renewable energy and life-sustaining conditions.

The panels offer constant shade, which assists in moisture retention, lowers soil temperatures and, ultimately, reduces evaporation.

CAPTION: Solar Innovation Centre, Dubai, UAE IMAGE: Shutterstock

The research suggests these small alterations could allow vegetation to flourish and support microorganism growth that is imperative for soil health. The research study in China’s Qinghai Gonghe Photovoltaic Park used the DPSIR model. The model is typically tapped to measure environmental problems but was used here to develop a system for evaluating the positive impact of the panels. The results suggested that the solar panels were actually restoring the desert soil.

Measuring 57 environmental indicators, including soil composition, temperature, biodiversity and humidity, the research team assessed the area underneath the panels as having general good ecological health. This area scored almost double the health rate of the surrounding desert.

“The index system constructed in this study helps to clarify the changes in the driving forces, pressures, states, impacts and responses of desert photovoltaic power plants and their comprehensive relationships. The use of different levels of indicators is an effective method for examining integrated environmental decision-making and can help managers make improved decisions,” the team says.

More like this: A bounty in the desert

Posted on

A step forward in targeting tumors

Current immunotherapies often struggle against hard-to-treat tumors with low mutation rates and high variability.

They are hard to target effectively, but new research published in Nature introduces a promising approach by targeting tumor-wide neoantigens — abnormal proteins created due to errors in RNA splicing.

The researchers found that these public neoantigens are common across multiple cancer types, including those more difficult to treat. By mapping RNA splicing patterns
RNA splicing patterns, they identified specific abnormal proteins that are consistently presented by cancer cells and recognized by the immune system.

Targeting these neoantigens could offer a more universal and stable target. This approach could lead to immunotherapies that work across different cancer types, potentially improving outcomes for patients with hard-to-treat tumors.

More on this topic: Launching medical research

Posted on

Swimming with the fishes again

For the first time, researchers have found that wild fish can identify individual human divers using visual cues.

In a study published in Biology Letters, researchers trained saddled sea bream and black sea bream to follow a diver for food. The fish quickly learned to distinguish between two different divers when they wore different dive gear.

However, when both divers dressed identically, the fish could not tell them apart, suggesting they rely mainly on external appearance rather than facial recognition.

While some animals, like dogs and crows, can recognize individual humans, this study provides the first strong evidence that wild fish can do the same — at least under certain conditions. This has implications for marine research, conservation and ethical considerations in human-wildlife interactions.

It also suggests that fish cognition may be more advanced than previously thought.

More on this topic: Baby fish master early survival skills