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Science News Archive December 2021 - Page 29


Page 29 of 33

Two-dimensional bipolar magnetic semiconductors with high Curie-temperature and electrically controllable spin polarization realized in exfoliated Cr(pyrazine)2 monolayers

Researchers have realized a 2D intrinsic bipolar magnetic semiconductor material with room temperature ferrimagnetic ordering and electrically controllable spin polarization. The material exhibits a Curie temperature of 342 K, making it suitable for high-speed nanospintronic devices.

SourceScience China Press·JournalScience China Chemistry·DateDec 3, 2021

Treadmill exercise training shows promise for managing cognitive effects of multiple sclerosis

Researchers found improvements in verbal learning and memory and preservation of hippocampal volume in participants with relapsing-remitting multiple sclerosis after 12 weeks of supervised treadmill walking exercise. A targeted pilot randomized controlled trial demonstrated the effectiveness of this intervention for managing cognitive ...

SourceKessler Foundation·JournalContemporary Clinical Trials·TypeExperimental study·DateDec 3, 2021

Light speed advances

Prof. Tingyi Gu from the University of Delaware has received a $500,000 DARPA Young Faculty Award to improve the power efficiency of digital communications. Her research focuses on manipulating light direction to create more energy-efficient photonic systems.

Development of a single-process platform for the manufacture of graphene quantum dots

Researchers developed a single-process platform to control heteroatom bonding in graphene quantum dots, reducing fabrication time and increasing economic feasibility. The new method uses weakly alkaline precursors and computer modeling to predict chemical composition, enabling mass synthesis without post-processing or purification.

SourceNational Research Council of Science & Technology·JournalNature Communications·DateDec 3, 2021

Gene-editing used to create single sex mice litters

Scientists at the Francis Crick Institute have developed a gene-editing method to control the sex of mouse offspring, demonstrating its potential to reduce culling in scientific research and farming. The technology shows 100% efficiency in producing single-sex litters, with minimal impact on litter size.

SourceThe Francis Crick Institute·JournalNature Communications·TypeExperimental study·DateDec 3, 2021

A new tool in the fight against rectal cancer

Researchers at Case Western Reserve University are developing an AI tool to analyze medical images and determine which rectal cancer patients require surgery. By using radiomics and machine learning techniques, the team hopes to identify patients who can avoid invasive surgery and opt for chemotherapy or radiation therapy instead.

SourceCase Western Reserve University·TypeMeta-analysis·DateDec 3, 2021

The uneven universe

Researchers develop new model using Mori-Zwanzig formalism to account for uneven matter distribution in the universe. The model predicts a deviation in cosmic expansion speed, offering an opportunity for experimental testing and resolving the enigma of dark energy.

SourceUniversity of Münster·JournalPhysical Review Letters·TypeNews article·DateDec 3, 2021

Lightweight space robot with precise control developed

Developed by researchers from Harbin Institute of Technology, a new robotic arm can manipulate in environments difficult for humans and adapt to changing conditions. The arm weighs only 9.23 kilograms and can exert constant force control, enabling it to maintain contact with curved surfaces in space.

SourceBeijing Institute of Technology Press Co., Ltd·JournalSpace: Science & Technology·TypeComputational simulation/modeling·DateDec 3, 2021

Host and resident bacteria join forces to control fungi in plant roots

A complex microbial community comprising bacteria, fungi, and oomycetes is beneficial for plant growth. Inactivation of the plant innate immune system shifts this balance, making the fungal load a primary cause of disease. Bacterial partners residing in roots provide an additional layer of protection.

SourceMax Planck Institute for Plant Breeding Research·JournalProceedings of the National Academy of Sciences·DateDec 2, 2021

How vaccinated UK healthcare workers infected with different variants respond to new ones

A new study found that vaccinated UK healthcare workers who were previously infected with different COVID-19 variants show varying levels of protection against new variants. The results suggest that the sequence of variant exposure influences immunogenicity profiles, highlighting the need for tailored vaccine development.

Refinement of genetic signals for psoriasis by combining European-origin and South Asian populations

A Michigan Medicine study combined genetic samples from patients of different ethnic backgrounds, identifying two new psoriasis genetic signals. The inclusion of South Asian subjects allowed researchers to pinpoint several genetic variations within HLA genes that are likely to play a causal role in psoriasis.

SourceMichigan Medicine - University of Michigan·JournalHuman Genetics and Genomics Advances·TypeRandomized controlled/clinical trial·DateDec 2, 2021

Microplastic pollution aids antibiotic resistance

A new study led by Rice University engineers finds that microplastic pollution contributes to the spread of antibiotic-resistant genes. The researchers discovered that aging polystyrene breaks down into microplastics with high surface areas, trapping microbes and leaching chemicals that enhance gene transfer.

SourceRice University·JournalJournal of Hazardous Materials·TypeExperimental study·DateDec 2, 2021

Data can help address health disparities

A local health department in Indiana used surveillance data to identify neighborhoods with high disease burden and set up test sites, resulting in a decline in new cases among targeted groups. The success of this intervention highlights the importance of using data to address systemic racism and promote health equity.

SourceRegenstrief Institute·JournalAmerican Journal of Public Health·DateDec 2, 2021

Harvard-led researchers document the presence of quantum spin liquids, a never-before-seen state of matter

Researchers at Harvard have successfully observed quantum spin liquids, a previously unseen state of matter that has been elusive for nearly 50 years. By manipulating ultracold atoms in a programmable quantum simulator, the team was able to create and study this exotic state, which holds promise for advancing quantum technologies.

SourceHarvard University·JournalScience·TypeExperimental study·DateDec 2, 2021

Breakthrough research on human embryo models paves the way for improving in vitro fertilization success rate and new non-hormonal, user-friendly contraception

Researchers have discovered molecules that could be candidates for contraceptives or fertility enhancers using human blastoid models. These models also show promise in improving the self-organization of stem cells during IVF procedures.

Baryon form factor measurements at the BESIII experiment

The BESIII experiment has made significant contributions to understanding the internal structure of baryons. By measuring proton and neutron form factors, the team has clarified long-standing tensions between previous experiments. The study also reveals new insights into the interactions and fundamental structure of baryons.

SourceScience China Press·JournalNational Science Review·DateDec 2, 2021

Discovery of a new kinetic factor that governs the carbon metabolism evolution of ancient microbes

Researchers developed a kinetic hypothesis governing the evolution of the Last Universal Common Ancestor (LUCA) based on simulation experiments. They discovered a kinetic factor that governs the flow of chemical reactions in the TCA cycle, validating their hypothesis for deep-branching bacteria and archaea.

SourceToyohashi University of Technology (TUT)·JournalCommunications Chemistry·TypeComputational simulation/modeling·DateDec 2, 2021

It takes guts to make a heart

Researchers developed a new kind of organoid that grows both heart and gut cells together, mirroring their cooperation in embryonic development. This breakthrough could improve understanding of tissue communication and inform research into congenital disorders.

SourceGladstone Institutes·JournalCell Stem Cell·DateDec 2, 2021

Perovskite solar cells soar to new heights

Researchers have developed a novel method to improve the efficiency of inverted architecture perovskite solar cells by introducing organic halide salts at both interfaces. This approach has achieved a power conversion efficiency of 23.7%, the highest reported to date, while also improving device stability.

SourceTechnische Universität Dresden·JournalScience Advances·DateDec 2, 2021

Growing carbon footprint for plastics

The global plastics supply chain has a significant impact on the climate, with production accounting for 96% of total greenhouse gas emissions. The use of coal-based energy in plastic production is driving this growth, with emissions quadrupling since 1995 and causing health issues like air pollution and asthma.

SourceETH Zurich·JournalNature Sustainability·DateDec 2, 2021

Racial disparities and facility access in mammography recovery after COVID-19 closures

A study found that racial disparities in mammography screening worsened after COVID-19 closures, with non-white patients facing reduced access to facilities. Early interventions aimed at expanding access to these facilities helped to recover late recovery volumes for patients of races other than white.

SourceAmerican Roentgen Ray Society·JournalAmerican Journal of Roentgenology·TypeObservational study·DateDec 2, 2021