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Science News Archive March 2022 - Page 37


Page 37 of 44

A sieve for molecules

Researchers from Ruhr-University Bochum, Yale, and Bielefeld have successfully produced a layer of two-dimensional silicon dioxide with natural pores. This material can be used as a fine-mesh sieve for molecules and ions, offering potential applications in desalination, fuel cells, and sustainable energy solutions.

Vehicles Play Important Role in PRRSV Transmission

Researchers from North Carolina State University found that trucks transporting pigs and farm workers can spread porcine reproductive and respiratory syndrome virus (PRRSV) among farms. The model estimated that vehicle movements contributed up to 20% of PRRSV transmissions, highlighting the importance of enhancing biosecurity measures ...

SourceNorth Carolina State University·JournalTransboundary and Emerging Diseases·TypeComputational simulation/modeling·DateMar 7, 2022

Novel acute myeloid leukemia subtypes identified

Scientists at the Max Planck Institute of Biochemistry have discovered a new subtype of acute myeloid leukemia (AML) characterized by high amounts of mitochondrial proteins and altered mitochondrial metabolism. This subtype, called Mito-AML, shows clinical resistance to chemotherapy and can be effectively combated with inhibitors again...

SourceMax-Planck-Gesellschaft·JournalCancer Cell·DateMar 7, 2022

Communities with higher levels of racial prejudice have worse health outcomes

Research published by the American Psychological Association finds that communities with higher levels of racial prejudice have worse health outcomes, including more heart disease and mental health problems. Studies used big data sources to measure community-level racial prejudice and found an association between areas' climates and ad...

SourceAmerican Psychological Association·JournalHealth Psychology·DateMar 7, 2022

First-of-its-kind child ultrasonography dataset enables a wealth of research

Researchers have created a groundbreaking dataset of ultrasonography scans of three major arteries supplying blood to the brain in children. The dataset consists of 821 participants, allowing for the development of machine learning models that can accurately predict a child's age and cognitive abilities based on their ultrasounds.

New study provides first look at gene expression in brains of people with bipolar disorder

A comprehensive study published in Nature Neuroscience has pinpointed significant differences in gene expression in two key regions of the brain of individuals with bipolar disorder. The findings suggest that bipolar disorder may stem from chemical and structural changes in brain cells, impairing communication between brain cells.

SourceLieber Institute for Brain Development·JournalNature Neuroscience·TypeRandomized controlled/clinical trial·DateMar 7, 2022

Keep taking the tablets - ‘big data’ provides clues on how to help prevent repeat heart attacks

Research found that individuals who have previously taken cholesterol- or blood pressure-lowering medications before a heart attack were less likely to adhere to these medications afterwards. Despite the proven benefits, fewer than one-third of patients continued taking their prescribed tablets for over a year after hospitalization.

SourceGeorge Institute for Global Health·JournalFrontiers in Pharmacology·TypeObservational study·DateMar 7, 2022

Rutgers researchers harness AI and robotics to treat spinal cord injuries

Researchers at Rutgers University have successfully stabilized an enzyme that degrades scar tissue resulting from spinal cord injuries, promoting tissue regeneration. The study used AI-driven liquid handling robotics to synthesize and test copolymers that stabilize the enzyme, offering new hope for patients with spinal cord injuries.

SourceRutgers University·JournalAdvanced Healthcare Materials·TypeExperimental study·DateMar 7, 2022

Just follow the yellow brick road: new genetic-labeling method uses a single gene to reveal neuronal circuits from multiple upstream regions

A new genetic-labeling method developed by Osaka City University researchers uses a single gene to reveal neuronal circuits from multiple upstream regions. The 'intersectional, anterograde transsynaptic targeting system' demonstrates enhanced synaptic specificity in two different mouse brain circuits.

SourceOsaka City University·JournalCommunications Biology·TypeExperimental study·DateMar 7, 2022

Leaks an untapped opportunity for water savings

A study from the University of California, Davis, found that reducing leaks in urban water systems can be a highly effective and cost-competitive method for saving water. The research suggests that leak reduction is the most cost-effective tool in an urban water manager's toolkit, with estimated savings of $277 per acre-foot.

SourceUniversity of California - Davis·JournalEnvironmental Research Letters·TypeComputational simulation/modeling·DateMar 7, 2022

How bacteria cope with stress

Researchers discovered that bacteria suppress membrane protein transport in response to stress, using alarm hormones to regulate the process. This allows the microorganisms to slow down their cellular processes and recover when conditions become more favorable.

SourceMax-Planck-Gesellschaft·JournalNature Communications·TypeExperimental study·DateMar 7, 2022

Survivors of heart attack plus cardiac arrest at increased risk of early death

Research by Imperial College London reveals that patients who experience both a heart attack and sudden cardiac arrest are more likely to develop abnormal heart rhythms and die within three years. The study found that these patients were over twice as likely to have subsequent ventricular arrhythmia and 36% more likely to die.

SourceImperial College London·JournalJournal of the American Heart Association·DateMar 7, 2022

How does the brain make memories?

Cedars-Sinai researchers identified two types of brain cells that divide continuous human experience into distinct segments, enabling the brain to recall memories. The discovery provides new hope for treatments of memory disorders like dementia and Alzheimer's disease.

SourceCedars-Sinai Medical Center·JournalNature Neuroscience·DateMar 7, 2022

Uncovering how immune cells nurture brain connections

In a breakthrough discovery, microglia have been found to play a crucial role in forming critical synapses in the brain, particularly in chandelier cells. This finding suggests that immune cells may not only remove unwanted connections but also nurture their formation, which is essential for cognitive functioning.

SourceCold Spring Harbor Laboratory·JournalProceedings of the National Academy of Sciences·DateMar 7, 2022

New study discovers novel inhibitory roles of hnRNPK in skeletal muscle cell differentiation

Researchers uncover the pleiotropic functions of hnRNPK in regulating skeletal muscle cell differentiation, including inhibition of myoblast differentiation and suppression of genes involved in endoplasmic reticulum stress. The study suggests that targeting hnRNPK could be a potential therapeutic strategy for treating human disorders.

SourceFujita Health University·JournalInternational Journal of Molecular Sciences·TypeExperimental study·DateMar 7, 2022

Reading builds resilience among at-risk kids

A study from University of South Australia found that reading aloud to children can triple a child's resilience at school, particularly for those who have suffered abuse or neglect. The study identified reading as a key factor in supporting children's emotional, social and physical development before they start school.

SourceUniversity of South Australia·JournalChild Abuse & Neglect·TypeData/statistical analysis·DateMar 7, 2022

Which promote greater metabolic health, almonds or potatoes? Rigorous, randomized trial weighs in

A rigorous randomized controlled trial found that adding a 300-calorie serving of French fries to one's diet daily for a month did not result in differential weight gain or biomarker changes compared to an isocaloric daily serving of almonds. The study measured body composition, blood sugar, and insulin levels, finding no clinically si...

SourceThe Alliance for Potato Research and Education (APRE)·JournalAmerican Journal of Clinical Nutrition·TypeRandomized controlled/clinical trial·DateMar 7, 2022

Upcycling biomass waste into Fe single atom catalysts for pollutant control

Researchers have developed a sustainable methodology to utilize biomass waste for efficient remediation of antibiotic pollution. Fe-contaminated biomass waste ferns are used to synthesize highly active single atom catalysts, demonstrating an appealing strategy for pollutant control and other applications.

New study questions explanation for last winter’s brutal U.S. cold snap

A new study questions a widely-held theory that sudden stratospheric warming caused the extreme cold weather in Texas and other parts of the US. The research suggests that the polar vortex's disruption, which occurred six weeks after the initial warming event, was not significant enough to impact the weather.

SourceNational Center for Atmospheric Research/University Corporation for Atmospheric Research·JournalNature Communications·TypeComputational simulation/modeling·DateMar 7, 2022

Fralin Biomedical Research Institute at VTC researcher becomes Virginia Tech’s first NIH Outstanding Investigator Award recipient

Robert Gourdie, a cardiovascular scientist at the Fralin Biomedical Research Institute at VTC, has been awarded an R35 grant from the National Heart, Lung, and Blood Institute. This seven-year, $6.4 million grant enables him to pursue research on intercellular communication and its applications in treating various medical challenges.

How do spiders hunt "in unison"?

Researchers from CNRS have identified the mechanisms behind synchronized spider hunting behavior. Spiders in tropical colonies use vibrations to mask prey signals, increasing their ability to detect and capture prey up to several hundred times their size.

SourceCNRS·JournalProceedings of the National Academy of Sciences·TypeComputational simulation/modeling·DateMar 7, 2022

Using raw materials more sustainably

Scientists elucidated the structures at the interface between a working catalyst and reacting molecules in vanadium pentoxide, revealing which oxygen atoms activate hydrocarbons. The study showed that temperature and gas composition influence the reaction, leading to more sustainable oxidation processes.

SourceMax-Planck-Gesellschaft·JournalThe Journal of Physical Chemistry C·TypeExperimental study·DateMar 7, 2022