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Science News for November 6, 2019


Earthquake impact can be affected by seasonal factors, historical study shows

Researchers found that a shallow frozen ground layer likely caused more ground failure in the 1911 Kemin earthquake due to its ability to inhibit drainage of pore-pressure excess. The study suggests seismologists should consider seasonality in soil characteristics when making probabilistic liquefaction or ground failure assessments.

SourceSeismological Society of America·JournalSeismological Research Letters·DateNov 6, 2019

On the way to intelligent microrobots

The Paul Scherrer Institute has developed a micromachine that can perform different actions using magnetic fields. The robot measures only a few micrometres across and can be reprogrammed to flap its wings, hover, turn, or side-slip. This technology is an important step towards micro- and nanorobots that can carry out various tasks.

SourcePaul Scherrer Institute·JournalNature·DateNov 6, 2019

The cost of waiting in emergency departments

A new study published in Economic Inquiry reveals that prolonging emergency department wait times increases hospital costs, with moderate and severe cases bearing the brunt of the expenses. The study found a 3-6% cost increase for moderately severe cases and 6% for serious cases.

SourceWiley·JournalEconomic Inquiry·DateNov 6, 2019

FOCUS may lower PE diagnosis in ED patients with suspected PE and abnormal vitals

A study published in Academic Emergency Medicine found that Focused Cardiac Ultrasound (FOCUS) can significantly lower the likelihood of pulmonary embolism (PE) diagnosis in ED patients with suspected PE and abnormal vital signs. The results suggest that FOCUS can be an important tool in the initial evaluation of these patients.

SourceSociety for Academic Emergency Medicine·JournalAcademic Emergency Medicine·DateNov 6, 2019

Study: Actually, potted plants don't improve indoor air quality

Researchers from Drexel University review a decade of studies on the air-purifying effects of potted plants and find that natural ventilation is far more effective at cleaning the air than plants. To compete with building air handling systems, it would take between 10 to 1,000 plants per square meter of floor space.

SourceDrexel University·JournalJournal of Exposure Science & Environmental Epidemiology·DateNov 6, 2019

VA investigates impact of opioids, sedatives on veterans

The Department of Veterans Affairs is investigating the impact of opioids and sedatives on veteran health, with a focus on reducing overdose and death rates. The study aims to identify effective treatment strategies for co-prescribing these medications, which have been linked to increased risks of respiratory depression and suicide.

A novel method for analyzing marine sediments contributes to paleoclimate reconstitution

Researchers developed a novel method using quartz and feldspar grains from the Parnaíba River in Brazil's Northeast region. The analysis reveals significant differences in luminescence between samples from headwaters and lower reaches of the river, reflecting changes in precipitation patterns over the past 30,000 years.

SourceFundação de Amparo à Pesquisa do Estado de São Paulo·JournalPaleoceanography and Paleoclimatology·DateNov 6, 2019

NIH-funded study: Placenta imaging method may aid diagnosis of pregnancy complications

Researchers developed a new imaging technique to track maternal blood flow to the placenta, identifying women at risk for complications such as preeclampsia and intrauterine growth restriction. The study found that women with reduced placental blood flow later developed one or more complications.

Imaging test may help predict the success of labor induction

Researchers tested an imaging technique to assess cervix stiffness before labor induction, finding it can predict successful outcomes and potentially reduce cesarean rates. The study suggests a new ultrasonic assessment method could replace manual evaluation for more accurate information.

SourceWiley·JournalActa Obstetricia Et Gynecologica Scandinavica·DateNov 6, 2019

Neuron circuitry from brain signals

Researchers at Kyoto University developed a machine learning model that reconstructs neuronal circuitry by analyzing brain signal spikes, estimating the strength of nerve connections with high accuracy. The findings, published in Nature Communications, have the potential to elucidate how different brain regions process information.

SourceKyoto University·JournalNature Communications·DateNov 6, 2019

Electrochemistry amps up in pharma

Researchers use electrochemistry to synthesize difficult-to-make compounds and reduce waste and toxic byproducts compared to traditional chemical reagents. The ElectraSyn 2.0 module has enabled chemists to access the technology without electronics expertise, but scaling up production remains a challenge.

SourceAmerican Chemical Society·JournalChemical & Engineering News·DateNov 6, 2019

School-based sleep program may benefit adolescents

A school-based sleep education program may benefit adolescents by reducing insufficient sleep and improving sleep knowledge. The program showed promising results, with participants two times less likely to report insufficient sleep at follow-up.

SourceWiley·JournalJournal of Sleep Research·DateNov 6, 2019

Study questions video games' effects on violent behavior

A new study examined data from over 15,000 participants and found that playing video games as an adolescent is not linked to acts of violence in young adulthood. The research suggests that competing factors, such as gender differences, may contribute to the observed relationship between gaming and fighting.

SourceWiley·JournalContemporary Economic Policy·DateNov 6, 2019

AI learns to design

Researchers developed an AI framework that learns human design strategies through observation, enabling it to generate new designs without explicit goal information or bias. The AI performed better than humans on average, but its success came without the advantages humans have, such as specific goals and feedback.

Determinants of employability of people living with HIV/AIDS

A study of 170 people living with HIV/AIDS in Turkey found that younger individuals, wealthier participants, and those working at diagnosis had higher employment rates. Illicit drug use, longer time since diagnosis, and low CD4 T cells counts were negatively associated with employment.

SourceWiley·JournalAmerican Journal of Industrial Medicine·DateNov 6, 2019

Researchers model avalanches in two dimensions

Cornell researchers have modeled crackling noise in two dimensions, using a combination of mathematical schemes to solve a decades-old problem. The study sheds light on the behavior of avalanches and crackling noise near critical points, making an important step toward a fuller understanding.

SourceCornell University·JournalPhysical Review Research·DateNov 6, 2019

Researchers explore neuromarkers for poor social outcomes after traumatic brain injury

A study found associations between default mode network connectivity and emotion recognition and social integration in individuals with moderate to severe brain injury. Increased prefrontal-temporal connectivity predicted participants' level of social integration, underscoring the importance of brain connectivity metrics in TBI recovery.

SourceKessler Foundation·JournalFrontiers in Neurology·DateNov 6, 2019

Helping quinoa brave the heat

Researchers developed new techniques to measure heat tolerance in quinoa, a health food rich in essential amino acids. The method uses spectral reflectance indices to assess plant growth under high temperatures, providing insights into grain production and paving the way for breeding more resilient varieties.

SourceAmerican Society of Agronomy·JournalCrop Science·DateNov 6, 2019

A mechanism capable of preserving muscle mass

Researchers identify protein CaVbeta1E that promotes muscle mass maintenance via GDF5 signaling, counteracting sarcopenia. The study opens a new field of activity in developing therapeutic strategies against muscular decline associated with aging.

SourceAFM-Téléthon·JournalScience Translational Medicine·DateNov 6, 2019

Mount Sinai researchers develop novel method to identify patterns among patients with multiple chronic conditions

The study found that high blood pressure, high cholesterol, and diabetes were the most common triplet of chronic conditions, while lung disease and heart attacks were a surprisingly common pair. Patients living in lower-income areas developed a second chronic condition 15 years earlier than their counterparts in higher-income areas.

The first Cr-based nitrides superconductor Pr3Cr10-xN11

Researchers from Chinese Academy of Sciences report discovery of Pr3Cr10-xN11, a chromium-based nitride superconductor with bulk superconductivity at 5.25 K, exhibiting a large upper critical field and strong electronic correlations. The material is the first Cr-based superconductor found in Chromium Nitrides.

SourceScience China Press·JournalNational Science Review·DateNov 6, 2019

Combatting air pollution with nature

Researchers analyzed data to determine the feasibility of using nature-based solutions to combat air pollution. The study found that NBS can support native wildlife and are adaptable, cost-effective, and a truly green solution in reducing pollution and climate change.

SourceAmerican Chemical Society·JournalEnvironmental Science & Technology·DateNov 6, 2019

Time for a nuclear clock

A four-investigator team led by University of Delaware physicist Marianna Safronova has won a prestigious Synergy Grant to build a nuclear clock, which will be far more sensitive than atomic clocks. The project aims to search for undiscovered physics effects and detect dark matter particles.

Scientists should have sex and gender on the brain

Researchers argue that incorporating sex and gender into scientific studies can improve experiments, reduce bias, and lead to new discoveries. Examples include advancements in climate change research, facial recognition systems, and social robots. The goal is to increase transparency and promote inclusion in research.

SourceUniversity of Exeter·JournalNature·DateNov 6, 2019

Study examines depression in the last year of life

A recent study published in Journal of the American Geriatrics Society found that 59.3% of individuals had depression in the last month before death. Depression symptoms escalated gradually from 4 to 1 months before death, with certain groups experiencing higher rates, such as women and younger adults.

SourceWiley·JournalJournal of the American Geriatrics Society·DateNov 6, 2019

Not so quiet, please

Researchers found that early exposure to sounds can restore molecular, cellular, and functional properties in the auditory cortex of mice with Fragile X Syndrome. This discovery suggests that facilitating exposure to sounds during early development could be a novel approach to treat hypersensitivity associated with FXS.

SourceUniversity of California - Riverside·JournalNeurobiology of Disease·DateNov 6, 2019

Shortened sleep may negatively affect women's bone health

A recent study found that postmenopausal women who slept 5 hours or less per night had lower bone mineral density at all four sites assessed. Women reporting 5 hours or less per night were also at higher risk of experiencing low bone mass and osteoporosis, particularly in the hips and spine.

SourceWiley·JournalJournal of Bone and Mineral Research·DateNov 6, 2019

Membrane intercalation enhances photodynamic bacteria inactivation

Researchers have developed a new assembly that enhances photodynamic inactivation of bacteria, achieving significantly improved efficiency against gram-negative E. coli. The assembly combines a photosensitizer and a membrane-intercalating peptide, resulting in nearly 0% survival rate of E. coli upon light irradiation.

SourceChinese Academy of Sciences Headquarters·JournalProceedings of the National Academy of Sciences·DateNov 6, 2019

Factors during pregnancy may affect early childhood weight

A study of 71,892 children born between 2007-2011 found strong associations between pre-pregnancy obesity in mothers and their children's high body mass index between ages two and six. Modest links were also identified with maternal diabetes and excessive weight gain during pregnancy.

SourceWiley·JournalPediatric Obesity·DateNov 6, 2019