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Science News Archive March 2022 - Page 29


Page 29 of 44

Discovering molecular ‘team-work’ underlying nitrate assimilation in a unicellular red alga

Researchers identified a critical region of CmMYB1 and the CmNDB1 protein that negatively regulate nitrate assimilation genes under nitrogen-repleted conditions. This study provides valuable insights into molecular functions and mechanisms in plants, shedding light on the regulation of transcription under specific nitrogen levels.

SourceTokyo Institute of Technology·JournalFrontiers in Plant Science·TypeExperimental study·DateMar 11, 2022

The next generation of robots will be shape-shifters

Researchers at the University of Bath have developed a new coating method for soft robots that allows them to change shape and movement through human-controlled activity. This breakthrough in active matter could lead to the creation of machines governed by individual units that cooperate to determine movement and function.

SourceUniversity of Bath·JournalScience Advances·TypeExperimental study·DateMar 11, 2022

Project helps East St. Louis residents overcome barriers to COVID-19 testing, vaccination

A project in East St. Louis, Illinois is using a public health model to deploy effective interventions for medically and socially vulnerable residents to obtain COVID-19 testing, treatment, and vaccination services. Critical dialogues are being used to engage participants in discussions about their beliefs on preventive behaviors.

How to make the TB vaccine more effective

Researchers at Texas Biomedical Research Institute have found that adding an antibody to the widely-used TB vaccine significantly improves its long-term effectiveness. The combination of the vaccine and an IL-10 blocker allows for better control of TB infection in mice, with improved lung health and increased memory immune cells.

SourceTexas Biomedical Research Institute·JournalThe Journal of Immunology·DateMar 11, 2022

Using ions to find molecules

Physicists create cold molecular ions using a new method and detect ultracold molecules with high sensitivity. The technique uses a single trapped ion to sense tiny amounts of molecules, opening up new possibilities for precision spectroscopy and understanding ultracold collisions.

SourceUniversiteit van Amsterdam·JournalPhysical Review Letters·DateMar 11, 2022

Christians, Jews and Muslims experience workplace discrimination differently, new Rice research shows

A new study from Rice University finds that two-thirds of Muslims, half of Jews and more than a third of evangelical Protestant Christians experience workplace discrimination in different ways. Muslims and Jews feel targeted by anti-Islamic and antisemitic rhetoric, while Christians are perceived as judgmental for taking moral stances.

SourceRice University·JournalSocius Sociological Research for a Dynamic World·TypeObservational study·DateMar 11, 2022

Worlds first highly accurate tool for the detection of autism as early as 12 months of age – allowing early therapy and better integration

A new early screening tool for autism has been found to be extremely accurate in identifying young children on the autism spectrum. The tool, developed by La Trobe University researchers, detects over 3 years earlier than traditional testing and has already been used in 11 countries.

SourceTania Ewing and Associates·JournalJAMA Network Open·TypeExperimental study·DateMar 11, 2022

All organisms produce methane

A study led by Frank Keppler and Ilka Bischofs reveals that all organisms release methane, with the process driven by reactive oxygen species. The researchers verified this finding in over 30 model organisms, including bacteria, archaea, yeasts, plant cells, and human cell lines.

SourceMax-Planck-Gesellschaft·JournalNature·TypeExperimental study·DateMar 11, 2022

Firefly luminescence reveals pesticides

Researchers developed a simple, inexpensive test to detect organophosphate pesticides directly in foods and biological samples. The method uses a new enzymatic cascade reaction called HELP to synthesize luciferin analogues, which produce luminescence in different wavelengths.

SourceWiley·JournalAngewandte Chemie International Edition·TypeExperimental study·DateMar 11, 2022

New UCI-led study finds links between circadian rhythms, metabolism and addiction

Researchers found that disruption of normal neuronal functions affects metabolic activity, potentially contributing to drug-seeking behaviors. The study suggests that alterations in dopamine signaling may reprogram the circadian liver metabolome, leading to substance use disorders.

SourceUniversity of California - Irvine·JournalProceedings of the National Academy of Sciences·TypeObservational study·DateMar 11, 2022

Diet quality among older adults

The study found that nearly half of older adults in the US have poor diet quality, with overall diet quality worsening over the past two decades. Diet quality is a significant concern for this age group, as it can impact their health and well-being.

SourceJAMA Network·JournalJAMA Network Open·DateMar 11, 2022

Voles cut grass to watch flying predators

Researchers found that voles in Inner Mongolia, China, trim tall grasses when shrikes are nearby, decreasing predation risk. The voles' behavior is an example of ecosystem engineering, where they modify their environment to improve survival.

SourceUniversity of Exeter·JournalCurrent Biology·TypeObservational study·DateMar 11, 2022

A cautionary tale of machine learning uncertainty

Researchers using machine learning methods risk underestimating uncertainties in their final results due to decorrelation with imperfections in simulations. This could weaken or bias classifier algorithms' ability to identify fundamental particles.

SourceSpringer·JournalThe European Physical Journal C·DateMar 10, 2022

A first step towards quantum algorithms: minimizing the guesswork of a quantum ensemble

A team from Waseda University derives analytical solutions to the guesswork problem for quantum ensembles, extending previous results to ensembles with uniform probability distributions. The findings have significant implications for quantum science and technology, including quantum chemistry and software for quantum computing.

SourceWaseda University·JournalIEEE Transactions on Information Theory·TypeExperimental study·DateMar 10, 2022