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Science News Archive March 2019 - Page 12


Page 12 of 43

Key evidence associating hydrophobicity with effective acid catalysis

A team of researchers from Tokyo Metropolitan University has demonstrated that the tunable hydrophobic nature of dense siloxane gels strongly correlates with their catalytic activity. The study shows that molecules with different hydrophobicity interact differently with surfaces, leading to increased or decreased catalytic activity.

SourceTokyo Metropolitan University·JournalJournal of the American Chemical Society·DateMar 23, 2019

Treating diabetes in older adults requires simpler medication regimens, looser glycemic targets

The Endocrine Society's Clinical Practice Guideline recommends simplifying medication regimens and tailoring glycemic targets to improve compliance and prevent complications in older adults with diabetes. The guideline prioritizes blood glucose targets over hemoglobin A1c tests, aiming to reduce cardiovascular disease outcomes.

SourceThe Endocrine Society·JournalThe Journal of Clinical Endocrinology & Metabolism·DateMar 23, 2019

Rapid magnetic 3D printing of human cells

Researchers at McMaster University have developed a method to create artificial tumours using magnetic 3D printing, enabling faster and more affordable testing of new treatments. The technique uses magnets to concentrate human cells in a predetermined area, forming 3D cell clusters that mimic human tissues.

SourceMcMaster University·JournalResearch·DateMar 23, 2019

Jupiter's unknown journey revealed

Researchers used computer simulations to discover Jupiter was formed four times further from the sun than its current position and migrated over 700,000 years. The Trojan asteroids' asymmetry provided key evidence for this migration theory.

A social bacterium with versatile habits

A study on Myxococcus xanthus reveals diverse social behaviors among cooperative bacteria, contradicting the assumption that groups are genetically homogeneous. The researchers attribute this diversity to evolutionary selection favoring specific 'social genes' that control behavior.

SourceETH Zurich·JournalScience·DateMar 22, 2019

Chemicals induce dipoles to damp plasmons

Researchers at Rice University discovered that molecules on the surface of gold nanorods induce dipoles, scattering enough energy to dampen plasmon signals. This finding enhances catalysis applications and challenges previous explanations for signal loss via plasmon damping.

SourceRice University·JournalScience Advances·DateMar 22, 2019

Scaling forward

A researcher at Argonne National Laboratory has developed a faster way to create molecular models, accelerating the screening of potential new organic materials for electronics. The approach uses machine learning to predict electronic properties and enables scientists to screen more packing arrangements than before.

SourceDOE/Argonne National Laboratory·JournalScience Advances·DateMar 22, 2019

Mailing colorectal cancer screening kit found effective, regardless of financial incentive

Researchers found that mailing FIT kits directly to patients increased completion rates by 24-29% within two-six months. Financial incentives did not significantly improve results. The study suggests framing and context of incentives can be more important than their dollar value, highlighting the principles of behavioral economics.

SourceUniversity of Pennsylvania School of Medicine·JournalJAMA Network Open·DateMar 22, 2019

Ankle exoskeleton fits under clothes for potential broad adoption

Researchers at Vanderbilt University have developed a lightweight, low-profile, and inexpensive ankle exoskeleton that can be worn under clothes without restricting motion. The device features an unpowered friction clutch mechanism and a soft shank sleeve, weighing just over one pound and costing less than $100 to fabricate.

SourceVanderbilt University·JournalIEEE Transactions on Neural Systems and Rehabilitation Engineering·DateMar 22, 2019

Researchers get humans to think like computers

Researchers found that people strongly agreed with computer-generated answers on image identification tasks, validating the idea that humans and machines see images differently. This suggests that advances in artificial intelligence may need to be improved to narrow the gap between human and machine visual abilities.

SourceJohns Hopkins University·JournalNature Communications·DateMar 22, 2019

Salamanders chew with their palate

Researchers have discovered that salamanders, like the Italian Crested Newt, chew their prey using their palatal teeth, breaking it up with a rhythmic motion. This unique chewing mechanism is similar to that found in ancient mammals and may date back to the early days of land-based vertebrates.

SourceFriedrich-Schiller-Universitaet Jena·JournalJournal of Experimental Biology·DateMar 22, 2019

4D-printed materials can be stiff as wood or soft as sponge

Rutgers engineers created flexible, lightweight materials that change shape with temperature, enabling better shock absorption and morphing airplane or drone wings. The materials can be reshaped and returned to their original form on demand, opening up possibilities for soft robotics, tiny implantable biomedical devices, and more.

SourceRutgers University·JournalMaterials Horizons·DateMar 22, 2019