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Science News for April 22, 2022


Baby-OSCAR trial evaluates if selective early treatment of PDA reduces death or BPD at 36 weeks in extreme preterm babies

Researchers found no evidence that early selective treatment with ibuprofen reduces death or moderate to severe bronchopulmonary dysplasia in extreme preterm infants. However, treatment reduced the risk of an open patent ductus arteriosus and surgical treatment for a symptomatic PDA.

SourcePediatric Academic Societies·TypeRandomized controlled/clinical trial·DateApr 22, 2022

Using satellite data to improve a model’s interpretation of albedo improves snowfall simulations on the Tibetan Plateau

Researchers used satellite spectral albedo data to develop a scheme that optimizes albedo parameters at the local level, significantly reducing model albedo overestimation and improving snowfall simulations. This improves the accuracy of water cycle modeling on the Tibetan Plateau.

SourceInstitute of Atmospheric Physics, Chinese Academy of Sciences·JournalAdvances in Atmospheric Sciences·DateApr 22, 2022

Making 3D printing truly 3D

A group of researchers from Harvard University developed a novel technique to print entire volumes without support structures, eliminating the limitations of traditional layer-by-layer approach. By using an upconversion process and nano capsules, they create self-supporting resin that hardens in three dimensions.

SourceHarvard University·JournalNature·TypeExperimental study·DateApr 22, 2022

Federal research funding has positive ‘ripple effects’

A new study by Ohio State University researchers found that federal research funding has a positive 'ripple effect', stimulating investigations in new areas and providing unexpected benefits. The study showed that funding mostly goes to hiring people who work on the projects, leading to an increase in productivity and quality of research.

SourceOhio State University·JournalScience Advances·TypeData/statistical analysis·DateApr 22, 2022

Topological synchronization of chaotic systems

Physicists discovered that chaotic systems can synchronize due to the emergence of stable fractal structures. As systems are coupled, these fractals assimilate, causing synchronization. Strong coupling leads to complete synchronization through the 'Zipper Effect', where dominant fractals become identical.

SourceBar-Ilan University·JournalScientific Reports·DateApr 22, 2022

Breakthrough in estimating fossil fuel CO2 emissions

A team of scientists from the University of East Anglia has developed a new method to estimate regional fossil fuel CO2 emissions more accurately and in near real-time. Using atmospheric measurements of O2 and CO2, they can detect changes in emissions with higher frequency and provide valuable insights for climate change policies.

SourceUniversity of East Anglia·JournalScience Advances·TypeData/statistical analysis·DateApr 22, 2022

Research shows how people perceive gender through speech

A study by New York University researchers found that people perceive gender through speech, particularly when using binary terms like 'female' and 'male', which are more distinct from 'feminine' and 'masculine'. The study used a rating scale to assess listeners' perceptions of speakers' genders.

SourceNew York University·JournalJournal of Speech Language and Hearing Research·TypeExperimental study·DateApr 22, 2022

A calorie-reduced diet can not only delay the development of diabetes, but also has a positive effect on the immune system

A recent study published in Microbiome found that a calorie-reduced diet can alter the gut microbiome, improving metabolism and delaying immune senescence. Researchers used a low-calorie diet to investigate its effects on the gut microbiome and its impact on metabolism and the immune system.

SourceDeutsches Zentrum fuer Diabetesforschung DZD·JournalMicrobiome·TypeRandomized controlled/clinical trial·DateApr 22, 2022

Obsession with failure and hunt for perfection linked to burnout, sports study uncovers

A University of Essex-led study found that athletes who fixate on their mistakes and strive for perfection are at risk of psychological difficulty. The research suggests that perfectionistic concerns can lead to athlete burnout, causing them to view achievements as inadequate and create a self-fulfilling performance prophecy.

SourceUniversity of Essex·JournalJournal of Clinical Sport Psychology·TypeSurvey·DateApr 22, 2022

Some cases of long COVID-19 may be caused by an abnormally suppressed immune system, UCLA-led research suggests

A UCLA-led team found that an abnormally suppressed immune system, not a persistently hyperactive one, may be to blame for some cases of long COVID-19. The study suggests boosting immunity in those individuals could be a treatment option.

SourceUniversity of California - Los Angeles Health Sciences·JournalClinical Infectious Diseases·TypeRandomized controlled/clinical trial·DateApr 22, 2022

Why is there no Uber for live music?

A study by Cornell University researchers found that live music platforms face difficulties in valuing intangible qualities, managing complex tasks, and achieving economies of scale. This is due to the industry's fragmented nature, with different types of gigs requiring unique expectations from clients.

SourceCornell University·JournalNew Technology Work and Employment·DateApr 22, 2022

Understanding arteriosclerosis: How blood vessels restructure under pressure

High blood pressure can cause long-lasting changes in the structure of vascular smooth muscle cells, stiffening arterial walls and increasing the risk of cerebrovascular disease. Researchers found that a signaling pathway triggered by E–T coupling is involved in this process, leading to inflammation and vascular remodeling.

SourceNagoya City University·JournalProceedings of the National Academy of Sciences·TypeExperimental study·DateApr 22, 2022

Pushing the boundaries of space exploration with X-ray polarimetry

The Imaging X-ray Polarimetry Explorer (IXPE) mission enables new measurements of cosmic X-ray sources, such as pulsars, black holes, and neutron stars. With its state-of-the-art telescopes and detectors, IXPE will provide high-quality polarization data of various sources, including supernova remnants, active galaxies, and blazars.

SourceSPIE--International Society for Optics and Photonics·JournalJournal of Astronomical Telescopes Instruments and Systems·DateApr 22, 2022

Women and lower-income patients have higher rates of death after heart surgeries

A study published in The Journal of Thoracic and Cardiovascular Surgery found that female patients and those from lower-income neighborhoods have higher mortality rates following cardiovascular and thoracic procedures. Patients in these groups also experienced higher comorbidity burdens, urgent admissions, and poorer health outcomes.

SourceBrigham and Women's Hospital·JournalJournal of Thoracic and Cardiovascular Surgery·DateApr 22, 2022

Scientists design learning-enabled safe control for systems in uncertain environments

Researchers at Michigan State University have designed a learning-enabled safe controller for systems operating in uncertain environments. The new method, which combines control barrier functions and Lyapunov functions, allows the system to quickly learn uncertainties while achieving maximum safe performance.

SourceChinese Association of Automation·JournalIEEE/CAA Journal of Automatica Sinica·DateApr 22, 2022

A roadmap for deepening understanding of a puzzling universal process

Researchers propose multiple plasmoids could bridge the vast range of scales in magnetic reconnection, enabling more credible simulations and high-fidelity experiments. The coming experiments will use exascale supercomputers and multiscale laboratory facilities to study reconnection in nature more faithfully.

SourceDOE/Princeton Plasma Physics Laboratory·JournalNature Reviews Physics·TypeObservational study·DateApr 22, 2022

High output voltage

Researchers have developed organic sulfonamides as a flexible and stable material for proton battery cathodes, achieving higher output voltages than conventional cathodes. The new material is also easy to manufacture, stable under standard conditions, and non-toxic.

SourceWiley·JournalAngewandte Chemie International Edition·TypeExperimental study·DateApr 22, 2022

How should long COVID patients be assessed?

Researchers at the University of Malaga developed an assessment proposal for Long COVID patients, focusing on individualized treatment based on predominant symptoms and physical function. The approach aims to address controversy surrounding exercise therapy for these patients.

SourceUniversity of Malaga·JournalMedical Hypotheses·TypeLiterature review·DateApr 22, 2022

The deformation of the hydrogel is used to measure the negative pressure of water

Scientists at Wuhan University developed a non-contact optical characterization method to detect negative water pressure in microfluidic systems. By analyzing the deformation of hydrogel surfaces, they derived the exact value of negative pressure. This innovation has potential applications in mapping dynamic flow and heat transfer.

SourceHigher Education Press·JournalFrontiers of Optoelectronics·TypeExperimental study·DateApr 22, 2022

Marine mollusc shells reveal how prehistoric humans adapted to intense climate change

A study of ancient shell remains found at El Mazo cave site reveals that prehistoric humans in Europe adapted to a 1,500-year cold period by exploiting different mollusc species and avoiding overfishing. This research provides insights into human responses to climate change and its impacts on marine environments.

SourceUniversitat Autonoma de Barcelona·JournalScientific Reports·TypeExperimental study·DateApr 22, 2022

Preliminary study finds organic vegetables contaminated with wide range of disease-causing microbes

A preliminary study found that organic leafy greens are susceptible to contamination with disease-causing bacteria and protozoa, including Pseudomonas, Salmonella, and Helicobacter. The presence of these pathogens inside free-living amoebae suggests a potential risk to public health through contaminated organic vegetables.

Fluid flow stimulates chemosynthesis in a Greek salad of hydrothermal microbes

A new study reveals that fluid flow in Paliochori Bay's shallow-water hydrothermal system supports high rates of chemosynthetic production, with microbes adapting quickly to changing conditions. The study finds that active fluid flow sustains carbon fixation rates among the highest determined for coastal margin sediments.

SourceWoods Hole Oceanographic Institution·JournalCommunications Earth & Environment·DateApr 22, 2022