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Science News Archive April 2022


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What do jelly and sand have in common?

Researchers from Tokyo Metropolitan University found that falling beds of sand and melting gelatin exhibit similar destabilization behavior, characterized by fingering instabilities and fluidized interface regions. This study provides insights into the macroscopic physical behavior of granular materials and gels under gravity.

SourceTokyo Metropolitan University·JournalScientific Reports·DateApr 30, 2022

New cardiac defibrillator much safer for patients: Study

A new type of cardiac defibrillator implanted under the skin has been found to significantly reduce patient complications, including lead-related complications and blood clotting. The subcutaneous ICD has shown promising results with an average age of patients included in the study ranging from 18 to 60 years old.

SourceMcMaster University·TypeRandomized controlled/clinical trial·DateApr 30, 2022

Around three quarters of the total obesity costs to the US healthcare system among people living with obesity are accounted for by the 20% highest-cost cases

Research shows that around three quarters of total US healthcare costs for people with obesity are accounted for by the 20% highest-cost cases. These high-cost individuals had substantially more obesity-related complications and economic burden than those in lower cost categories.

Insulin spray improved gait, cognitive function in patients with and without type 2 diabetes, clinical trial shows

A phase 2 randomized controlled clinical trial found that intranasal insulin increased walking speed, cerebral blood flow, and improved decision making and verbal memory. The treatment also showed promise for preventing or slowing the progression of Alzheimer's disease-related dementias in older adults.

SourceBeth Israel Deaconess Medical Center·JournalJournal of Neurology·DateApr 29, 2022

New sleep molecule discovered: “It shows just how complex the machinery of sleep is”

Researchers have discovered a new sleep molecule, microRNA-137 (miR-137), that regulates hypocretin levels for normal sleep. The study found that miR-137 is associated with hypocretin regulation and sleep disorders such as narcolepsy and insomnia.

SourceUniversity of Copenhagen - The Faculty of Health and Medical Sciences·JournalProceedings of the National Academy of Sciences·TypeExperimental study·DateApr 29, 2022

How a soil microbe could rev up artificial photosynthesis

A team of researchers discovered a soil microbe's enzyme that performs carbon fixation 20 times faster than plant enzymes. The enzyme consists of pairs of molecules working in sync to get the job done faster. This breakthrough could lead to more efficient artificial photosynthesis and produce fuels, fertilizers, and other products.

SourceDOE/SLAC National Accelerator Laboratory·JournalACS Central Science·TypeExperimental study·DateApr 29, 2022

Pitt research helps explain how Ritalin sharpens attention

Researchers at the University of Pittsburgh discovered that methylphenidate improves visual task performance when specific groups of neurons fire independently. The study sheds light on how Ritalin affects neural activity, which may lead to new treatments for age-related cognitive decline and Alzheimer's disease.

SourceUniversity of Pittsburgh·JournalProceedings of the National Academy of Sciences·TypeExperimental study·DateApr 29, 2022

Perovskite solar cells: Properties still remain enigmatic

Researchers have tested experimentally two common hypotheses about the transport properties in perovskites, eliminating them as possible explanations for superior charge transport. Measurements by Maryam Sajedi did not show a giant Rashba effect or a postulated increase in effective mass for CsPbBr3 and MAPbBr3 samples.

SourceHelmholtz-Zentrum Berlin für Materialien und Energie·JournalPhysical Review Letters·TypeExperimental study·DateApr 29, 2022

Breakthrough in treatment for Dupuytren’s disease

Researchers at the University of Oxford have demonstrated the efficacy of adalimumab in treating early-stage Dupuytren's disease. The trial found that patients receiving adalimumab experienced softening and reduction in size of treated nodules, with sustained effects up to nine months after treatment.

SourceUniversity of Oxford·JournalThe Lancet Rheumatology·TypeRandomized controlled/clinical trial·DateApr 29, 2022

Actigraphy shows promise as objective noninvasive measure of sleep-wake regulation in children with brain injury admitted for pediatric rehabilitation

Researchers developed a new method using actigraphy to monitor sleep-wake cycles in children with brain injury during inpatient rehabilitation. The study found lower rest-activity ratios, suggesting poorer sleep-wake regulation and lower functional status.

SourceKessler Foundation·JournalArchives of Physical Medicine and Rehabilitation·TypeExperimental study·DateApr 29, 2022

How genome organization influences cell fate

A team of researchers at UC Riverside has discovered that a protein complex called CAF-1 controls genome organization to maintain lineage fidelity in blood stem cells. The study found that CAF-1 keeps specific genomic sites compacted and inaccessible to transcription factors, ensuring the expression of lineage-specific genes.

SourceUniversity of California - Riverside·JournalNature Communications·TypeExperimental study·DateApr 29, 2022

Engineering the grain boundary: a promising strategy to configure NiCoP4O12/NiCoP nanowire arrays for ultrastable supercapacitor

Researchers engineered NiCoP4O12/NiCoP nanowire arrays with high specific capacity and improved electrochemical performance through phosphorus doping. The material exhibits a high capacitance of 507.8 μAh·cm−2 and ultra-stable ability after 10000 cycles.

SourceHigher Education Press·JournalFrontiers of Chemical Science and Engineering·TypeExperimental study·DateApr 29, 2022

Breakthrough in how buildings can promote health and well-being

A comprehensive review of 40 years of published studies on the benefits of Maharishi Vastu architecture reveals its potential as a tool for promoting mental and physical health. The findings support the growing recognition that building design plays a key role in both causing and preventing humanity's health challenges.

SourceMaharishi International University·JournalGlobal Advances in Health and Medicine·TypeLiterature review·DateApr 29, 2022

Controlling mirror images

Researchers have developed a method to control the rotational states of chiral molecules, allowing for specific separation of enantiomers. By irradiating chiral molecules with UV radiation and microwaves, the team has gained more control over which 'hand' is in which state.

SourceFritz Haber Institute of the Max Planck Society·JournalPhysical Review Letters·TypeExperimental study·DateApr 29, 2022

The potential activation of the Maqin-Maqu seismic gap on the Eastern Kunlun Fault under the impact of the 2021 Ms7.4 Maduo Earthquake, China

Researchers analyzed stress perturbation on the Maqin-Maqu segment of the Eastern Kunlun fault after the 2021 Ms7.4 Maduo Earthquake, finding it likely to be substantially stressed and promote earthquakes on the seismic gap. The study predicts increased seismic activity in surrounding faults.

SourceScience China Press·JournalScience China Earth Sciences·DateApr 29, 2022

Cedars-Sinai April research highlights

Researchers at Cedars-Sinai have developed an AI tool that accurately predicts pancreatic cancer patients based on CT scan images. Lowering blood cholesterol has also been shown to slow the growth of prostate cancer by enhancing immune cell action. Additionally, a new study found that an ultrasound probe plugged into a smartphone can b...

SourceCedars-Sinai Medical Center·JournalCancer Biomarkers·DateApr 29, 2022

Can computers write product reviews with a human touch?

Researchers from Dartmouth College used artificial intelligence to draft wine and beer reviews, finding agreement between human and machine-generated reviews. The team also developed a system to write review syntheses, aggregating elements from existing reviews to provide limited but relevant information about products.

SourceDartmouth College·JournalInternational Journal of Research in Marketing·DateApr 29, 2022

How hypertension and ageing impact artery walls - new findings on atherosclerosis pathology

Research published in Science Advances discovers the importance of pressure sensing combined with stiffness sensing in determining vascular smooth muscle cell behavior. The study identifies molecular pathways related to mechanical sensing in cells and tissues, shedding light on potential new strategies for targeting atherosclerosis.

SourceQueen Mary University of London·JournalScience Advances·TypeObservational study·DateApr 29, 2022

OHIO researcher looks into little known ‘purging disorder’

Researchers at Ohio University investigated the differences between purging disorder and bulimia nervosa, finding that while both conditions involve self-induced vomiting, purging disorder is characterized by a lack of binge eating episodes. The study suggests that purging disorder requires specific treatments that target its unique sy...

SourceOhio University·JournalInternational Journal of Eating Disorders·TypeSurvey·DateApr 29, 2022

New studies show special mental health risks for certain groups of new doctors

Two new studies found that surgical interns and LGBTQ physicians-in-training experience higher rates of depression than their peers. Surgical interns who identified as female or had a history of adverse childhood experiences were also at increased risk. The studies add to the growing body of knowledge about mental health concerns in me...

SourceMichigan Medicine - University of Michigan·JournalJAMA Health Forum·TypeObservational study·DateApr 29, 2022

Changing climate impacts biodiversity in protected areas globally

Research highlights the need for strategic conservation plans to protect at-risk species as they shift their ranges due to climate change. Climate conditions are expected to change in over a quarter of global protected areas under a scenario of 2°C warming, posing physical and non-physical barriers to species migration.

SourceUSDA Forest Service - Rocky Mountain Research Station·JournalEnvironmental Research Letters·TypeComputational simulation/modeling·DateApr 29, 2022

Research finally answers what Bronze Age daggers were used for

Researchers have found that Bronze Age daggers were used to process animal carcasses, including slaughtering livestock and butchering carcasses. The discovery was made using a new method that extracted organic residues from the daggers, revealing micro-residues of collagen and associated bone, muscle, and tendon fibres.

SourceNewcastle University·JournalScientific Reports·TypeExperimental study·DateApr 29, 2022

High mortality for hospital referred Malawian children with low glucose or blood oxygen levels

A study in rural Malawi found high mortality rates for children admitted to hospital with low blood sugar or oxygen levels. The findings suggest that earlier identification and prompt care-seeking could help reduce the risk of death, emphasizing the need for better clinical management of severely ill children.

SourceKarolinska Institutet·JournalBulletin of the World Health Organization·DateApr 29, 2022

Skeptics of welfare schemes don’t increase with more immigrants

A recent study by Norwegian University of Science and Technology found little evidence to suggest that diversity or antipathy towards ethnic others affects attitudes towards equity or public action aimed at reducing inequalities. People who are already skeptical of immigrants do not increase in skepticism about welfare schemes, but rat...

SourceNorwegian University of Science and Technology·JournalInternational Journal on Minority and Group Rights·TypeSurvey·DateApr 29, 2022

Fermilab engineers develop new control electronics for quantum computers that improve performance, cut costs

Fermilab engineers have developed a new control electronics system, known as Quantum Instrumentation Control Kit (QICK), to improve the performance of quantum computers while reducing costs. The system uses field-programmable gate array-based controls and has been shown to be faster and more cost-efficient than existing systems.

SourceDOE/Fermi National Accelerator Laboratory·JournalReview of Scientific Instruments·TypeComputational simulation/modeling·DateApr 29, 2022