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Science News Archive January 2022 - Page 22


Page 22 of 34

Unlocking the mysteries of the pecking order

This article discusses the 100-year-old concept of pecking order dominance hierarchies in animals, with researchers Elizabeth Hobson and Eli Strauss exploring its relevance to human behavior. The study highlights that dominance often relates to circumstance and opportunity rather than genetics or size.

SourceUniversity of Cincinnati·JournalPhilosophical Transactions of the Royal Society B Biological Sciences·TypeData/statistical analysis·DateJan 13, 2022

The “gold” of the Midas cichlids

Researchers have identified a previously unknown gene, goldentouch, responsible for the golden coloration in Midas cichlids. The gene, found on chromosome 11, is present in two variants: one associated with dark coloration and the other with orange/yellow coloration.

SourceUniversity of Konstanz·JournalNature Communications·DateJan 13, 2022

Bioengineered nanoparticles show promise for fibrinogen manufacture, says Journal of Pharmaceutical Analysis study

Researchers developed a novel polymeric nanoparticle that selectively binds to fibrinogen in human plasma, offering a simpler and less expensive way to manufacture fibrinogen concentrate. This breakthrough could lead to the creation of more efficient fibrinogen-specific affinity reagents for drug development.

SourceCactus Communications·JournalJournal of Pharmaceutical Analysis·TypeExperimental study·DateJan 13, 2022

Citizen science data from Berlin show that urban areas can be a refuge for bats, if certain conditions are met

A study in Berlin found that urban areas can provide suitable habitat for bats if certain conditions are met, including low artificial light and access to vegetation and water bodies. The research involved over 200 citizen scientists and revealed that features of the urban landscape influenced the presence of bats.

SourceLeibniz Institute for Zoo and Wildlife Research (IZW)·JournalEnvironmental Pollution·DateJan 13, 2022

E-cigarette users who test positive for COVID-19 are more likely to experience COVID-19 symptoms

A new study from the Mayo Clinic finds that people who vape and test positive for COVID-19 are more likely to experience common symptoms such as headaches, muscle aches, and chest pain. The study also shows that those who vape and smoke tobacco have labored breathing and more frequent emergency department visits compared to non-vapers.

SourceMayo Clinic·JournalJournal of Primary Care & Community Health·DateJan 13, 2022

HSS study explores trends and outcomes in outpatient joint replacement compared to hospital stay

A recent HSS study analyzed trends and complications in patients undergoing outpatient hip and knee replacements, finding no significant difference in readmission rates for hip replacements but slightly higher odds for knee replacements. The study suggests same-day discharge joint replacement is safe but requires additional monitoring.

SourceHospital for Special Surgery·JournalThe Journal of Arthroplasty·TypeData/statistical analysis·DateJan 13, 2022

Scientists dive deep into the different effects of morning and evening exercise

Researchers discovered how different tissues respond to exercise at various times of day, influencing sleep, memory, and metabolic homeostasis. The 'Atlas of Exercise Metabolism' provides a comprehensive map of exercise-induced signaling molecules present in different tissues following exercise.

Researchers develop new metrics to better decipher how companies exploit investment opportunities

Researchers have developed a new text-based analytics model that analyzes firms' tailoring of investments to their portfolio of products, using the four-stage product cycle. This framework provides insights into how firms exploit investment opportunities, including disclosure patterns and strategic alliances.

SourceUniversity of Maryland·JournalReview of Financial Studies·TypeData/statistical analysis·DateJan 13, 2022

Touch induces rapid floral closure in gentians

Researchers found that four species of Gentian flowers respond to mechanical stimulation with rapid corolla contraction and full closure. This phenomenon may serve as an induced defense or a pollination stimulator, allowing the flowers to control interactions with potential pollinators like bumblebees.

SourceScience China Press·JournalScience Bulletin·DateJan 13, 2022

Climate adaptation increases vulnerability of cocoa farmers, study shows

A new study by Sean Kennedy found that corporate sustainability efforts to adapt to climate change actually increase the vulnerability of small cocoa farmers in Indonesia. The researchers' strategy transfers climate-related risks from chocolate manufacturers to the farmers.

SourceUniversity of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign, News Bureau·JournalAnnals of the American Association of Geographers·TypeObservational study·DateJan 13, 2022

Swapping just one food item per day can make diets substantially more planet-friendly

A study by Tulane University found that swapping just one serving of beef per day for a more planet-friendly alternative can reduce greenhouse gas emissions by up to 48% and water-use impacts by 30%. This simple change could collectively make a substantial difference in reducing the carbon footprint of US diets.

SourceTulane University·JournalAmerican Journal of Clinical Nutrition·TypeMeta-analysis·DateJan 13, 2022

Protective gene variant against COVID-19 identified

Researchers at Karolinska Institutet have identified a specific gene variant that protects against severe COVID-19 infection, found in individuals of African ancestry. The study analyzed 2,787 hospitalized patients and 130,997 people from six cohort studies, revealing an 80% prevalence of the protective variant among Africans.

SourceKarolinska Institutet·JournalNature Genetics·TypeMeta-analysis·DateJan 13, 2022

Next-generation tissue expansion method improves neural imaging

A new tissue expansion method, eMAP, has been developed to improve neural imaging. It allows for the imaging of proteins at neural connections, enabling the measurement of their relative distances and abundance. The technology facilitates high-throughput analysis and enables multiscale imaging of synapses along whole neuronal branches.

SourcePicower Institute at MIT·JournalScience Advances·TypeExperimental study·DateJan 13, 2022

Newly-found planets on the edge of destruction

Three newly-discovered gas giant planets have extremely short orbits around subgiant or giant stars, with one planet TOI-2337b destined for consumption in less than 1 million years. The study's findings suggest chaotic planet-to-planet interactions and unpredictable heating rates, offering new insights into planetary system evolution.

SourceW. M. Keck Observatory·JournalThe Astronomical Journal·TypeObservational study·DateJan 13, 2022

Tiger shark migrations altered by climate change, new study finds

A new study found that climate-driven changes in ocean temperatures have shifted tiger shark movements outside of protected areas, making them more vulnerable to commercial fishing. The study's results suggest that warmer waters are now suitable for tiger sharks, allowing them to migrate farther poleward and earlier than usual.

SourceUniversity of Miami Rosenstiel School of Marine, Atmospheric, and Earth Science·JournalGlobal Change Biology·TypeData/statistical analysis·DateJan 13, 2022

Reducing air pollution: Policies that pay off

A study by CNRS and partners found that policies like replacing wood heaters with modern stoves and reducing motor vehicle traffic can meet health objectives while generating significant economic benefits. The analysis shows that such measures could lead to an annual benefit of €629 per capita, outweighing the cost.

SourceCNRS·JournalEnvironment International·DateJan 13, 2022

One in 10 people may still be infectious for COVID after 10 days, new research indicates

A new study by the University of Exeter found that 13% of people who tested positive for COVID-19 on standard PCR tests remained clinically relevant for the virus beyond 10 days. This could pose a risk of onward transmission, and the authors recommend applying the newly adapted test to settings where vulnerable individuals are present.

SourceUniversity of Exeter·JournalInternational Journal of Infectious Diseases·TypeExperimental study·DateJan 13, 2022

A treasure map for the realm of electrocatalysts

Researchers developed a data-guided combinatorial synthesis strategy and computational modeling to identify promising high entropy alloys for electrocatalysis. The method enables the exploration of atomic scale effects on catalytic activity, providing insights into composition-activity-stability trends.

SourceRuhr-University Bochum·JournalAdvanced Energy Materials·TypeExperimental study·DateJan 13, 2022

The role of risk aversion in the coal contracting behavior of US power plants

A new study finds that US power plants prioritize reducing input cost variance over minimizing expected total costs, resulting in longer coal contracts and higher contract prices. The researchers estimate that if all power plants purchased coal from the spot market, the annual aggregate cost savings would be $2.9 billion.

SourceUniversity of Chicago Press Journals·JournalJournal of the Association of Environmental and Resource Economists·TypeData/statistical analysis·DateJan 13, 2022

Nanostructures get complex with electron equivalents

Researchers create complex colloidal crystals by using smaller nanoparticles that simulate electrons, breaking symmetry and enabling new materials with tailored properties. The study reveals three low-symmetry structures with no known natural equivalents, offering opportunities for advanced applications in photonics and catalysis.

SourceUniversity of Michigan·JournalNature Materials·DateJan 13, 2022