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Science News Archive May 2022 - Page 32


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3D printing: Advanced optical methods that enable new tissue scaffolds

Researchers have developed advanced optical 3D printing methods for creating tissue scaffolds with controlled structure and scale, mimicking native extracellular matrices. These methods offer high precision, cost-effectiveness, and potential for broader applications in tissue engineering.

HKUST-led research reveals a novel molecular mechanism that regulates secretion of sonic hedgehog, shedding light on cancer treatments

A novel SURF4-to-proteoglycan relay mechanism regulates the secretion of sonic hedgehog (Shh), a key signaling molecule in cancer progression. The study offers new insights into inhibiting Shh secretion and shutting down the Hh signaling pathway to hinder cancer progression.

SourceHong Kong University of Science and Technology·JournalProceedings of the National Academy of Sciences·DateMay 7, 2022

Retinal cell map could advance precise therapies for blinding diseases

A new study maps the distinct differences among cells in the retina's retinal pigment epithelium (RPE), which nourishes and supports photoreceptors. The research identifies five subpopulations with varying levels of disease sensitivity, opening doors to more precise cell and gene therapies for specific degenerative eye diseases.

SourceNIH/National Eye Institute·JournalProceedings of the National Academy of Sciences·DateMay 6, 2022

‘Stressed’ cells offer clues to eliminating build-up of toxic proteins in dementia

Researchers at the University of Cambridge have identified a new mechanism that appears to reverse the build-up of aggregates in neurodegenerative diseases, such as Alzheimer's and Parkinson's. By stressing cells, they found that protein misfolding was eliminated, potentially allowing for the refolding of correctly folded proteins.

SourceUniversity of Cambridge·JournalNature Communications·TypeExperimental study·DateMay 6, 2022

Clasper appendages discovered in mid-Cambrian trilobite show horseshoe crab-like mating behavior

Researchers discovered fossilized trilobite appendages exhibiting characteristics similar to those found in male horseshoe crabs. These findings suggest a unique mating strategy, where males use the appendages to grasp females during reproduction, providing insight into the reproductive behavior of ancient complex animals.

Researchers find superconductors can carry magnetic information to much longer distances than conventional metals

The study reveals that superconductors can transmit spin currents between magnets, allowing for controlled magnetic interactions and modifying the magnetic response. This breakthrough enables new approaches to information processing using magnetic materials at low temperatures.

SourceUniversity of Jyväskylä - Jyväskylän yliopisto·JournalPhysical Review Letters·TypeExperimental study·DateMay 6, 2022

LOEN: Lensless opto-electronic neural network empowered machine vision

A new lensless opto-electronic neural network (LOEN) architecture is developed for computer vision tasks, utilizing a passive mask to perform convolution operations in the optical field. The system achieves high recognition accuracy and energy efficiency compared to traditional machine vision links.

Model finds COVID-19 deaths among elderly may be due to genetic limit on cell division

A University of Washington model found that the body's ability to create cloned immune cells falls significantly with age, leading to increased susceptibility to COVID-19 in the elderly. The study suggests that genetic limits on cell division may play a role in the devastating effects of COVID-19 on older adults.

SourceUniversity of Washington·JournalEBioMedicine·TypeData/statistical analysis·DateMay 6, 2022

Paid leave mandates reduce likelihood of decreasing paid work hours after a spouse’s health shock, study shows

A new study by George Mason University Professor Priyanka Anand found that paid leave mandates reduce the likelihood of caregivers reducing their paid work hours to care for a spouse with a disability or health shock. However, without job protection, these policies may lead to increased employment departure among caregivers.

SourceGeorge Mason University·JournalJournal of Health Economics·TypeData/statistical analysis·DateMay 6, 2022

Does presenting credibility labels of journalistic sources affect news consumption? New study finds limited effects

A new study by New York University's Center for Social Media and Politics found that labeling credible sources does not shift people away from low-quality information or reduce misperceptions. However, providing credibility indicators may improve the news diet quality of heavy misinformation consumers.

SourceNew York University·JournalScience Advances·TypeExperimental study·DateMay 6, 2022

Emissions tied to the international trade of agricultural goods are rising

A UCI-led study shows that the global trade of agricultural goods is driving a growth in greenhouse gas emissions in less-developed nations, with land-use change contributing three-quarters of these emissions. The study highlights the need for importers to adopt 'buy clean' policies and for regions to improve supply chain transparency.

SourceUniversity of California - Irvine·JournalScience·TypeMeta-analysis·DateMay 6, 2022

Towards carbon neutralization: Enclosure radiative cooling for reducing air conditioning energy consumption

A new photonic-engineered thermal management strategy incorporates enhanced color-preserving radiative cooling into existing enclosures, reducing energy consumption by up to 63%. The system is designed to simultaneously reflect solar energy and radiate infrared energy, while blocking heat radiation from entering the inner space.

OH radicals firstly detected at 2.8 μm wave length with optical-feedback cavity-enhanced absorption spectroscopy

Researchers from Hefei Institutes of Physical Science successfully detected OH radicals at 2.8 μm wavelength using optical-feedback cavity-enhanced absorption spectroscopy (OF-CEAS). This breakthrough provides a new direct detection method for OH radicals, crucial for understanding atmospheric chemistry.

Operating rooms are the climate change contributor no one’s talking about

Surgeons-in-training suggest reducing waste, switching to reusable devices and gowns, optimizing OR energy use, and delivering care via telemedicine to lower climate impact. Implementing these changes can help extend patient lifespan and expand access to timely care while addressing climate change.

SourceMichigan Medicine - University of Michigan·JournalJournal of Clinical Oncology·TypeCommentary/editorial·DateMay 6, 2022

Chirped pulse driven cavity soliton dynamics

Chirped pulse driving is proposed to eliminate multiple temporal trapping positions in passive Kerr-resonators-based dissipative cavity solitons. The results demonstrate the chirp is responsible for single soliton generation, with deterministic generation achieved at sufficient chirp parameters.

SourceHigher Education Press·JournalFrontiers of Optoelectronics·TypeExperimental study·DateMay 6, 2022

Flip-flop genome

Inversions in the human genome are more common than previously believed, according to a recent study. The researchers found that these genetic variations can lead to genomic instability and an increased risk of certain diseases, including developmental delays and neuropsychiatric disorders.

Despite ideals, people don’t really like reducing inequality, study finds

A study by Berkeley Haas researchers found that people in advantaged positions perceive equality as harming them, leading to opposition to policies that reduce disparities. This cognitive mistake causes individuals to prioritize their relative advantage over absolute gains, even if it means voting for policies that cause economic harm.

SourceUniversity of California - Berkeley Haas School of Business·JournalScience Advances·TypeExperimental study·DateMay 6, 2022

A review of “classical entanglement” blurring quantum-classical divide

A comprehensive review of non-separability in classical light explores its potential for fundamental science and applications. The study introduces a unified framework for classifying non-separable states involving different degrees of freedom of light, offering a timely perspective on the field.

The forest as a shelter for insects in warmer climates?

Researchers found that forests and forest edges provide natural conditions that buffer extreme heat and drought, allowing for a greater diversity of pollinating insects. This study suggests that maintaining large proportions of forested land in the landscape could help mitigate the negative impacts of climate change on insect populations.

SourceUniversity of Würzburg·JournalScience Advances·DateMay 6, 2022

Wireless self-powered ammonia leakage monitor system developed for ammonia-energy ships

Researchers have developed a full-set wireless self-powered ammonia leakage monitor system for ammonia-energy ships, which includes a honeycomb triboelectric nanogenerator-based power generation system and a carbon nanotube doped polypyrrole-based ammonia detection system. The system exhibited good performance with low detection limits...

SourceDalian Institute of Chemical Physics, Chinese Academy Sciences·JournalNano Energy·TypeCommentary/editorial·DateMay 6, 2022

Self-frequency-conversion nanowire lasers

Researchers have developed a new method to expand the wavelength range of nanowire lasers using the second-order nonlinear effect. By utilizing this effect, high-quality GaAs/In core/shell NWs can generate visible lasing peaks at 508 nm via self-frequency-conversion processes such as second-harmonic generation (SHG). The technology als...

Daniel Preston wins NSF CAREER Award

Daniel Preston, an assistant professor of mechanical engineering at Rice University, has won the National Science Foundation CAREER Award for his proposal on textile-based wearable robots. The grant aims to develop a platform for non-electronic computation that can be integrated directly into wearable robots, addressing problems with s...

Obesity threatens US military readiness

The US military is facing a significant challenge due to the growing obesity epidemic, which limits recruits, decreases re-enlistment candidacy, and reduces mission readiness. Nutrition education and access to healthy food are key solutions proposed by experts to address this issue.

SourceElsevier·JournalJournal of Nutrition Education and Behavior·TypeCommentary/editorial·DateMay 6, 2022

Just 3% of adults with a recording of overweight or obesity in primary care in England are referred to weight management programmes

A recent study found that only 3% of adults with a recording of overweight or obesity in England are referred to weight management programmes, indicating under-reporting in primary care. The programme's effectiveness varies across the country, and the lack of national registry makes it difficult to determine access for patients.

Program issuing mailed kits doubles rate of leftover opioids disposal

A study by researchers at the University of Pennsylvania School of Medicine found that mailing opioid disposal kits doubled the rate of safe disposal among patients who received them. The kits were provided to 235 patients after orthopedic or urologic procedures and resulted in the safe disposal of 480 unused tablets.

SourceUniversity of Pennsylvania School of Medicine·JournalJAMA Network Open·TypeRandomized controlled/clinical trial·DateMay 6, 2022

Minerals can be key to healing damaged tissue

A collaboration between researchers identified crucial minerals regulating gene expression to control tissue renewal and growth. Minerals such as silicon, magnesium, and lithium induce endochondral ossification by turning on key genes, leading to the transformation of stem cells into bone cells.

SourceTexas A&M University·JournalScience Advances·DateMay 6, 2022

It takes three to tangle: long-range quantum entanglement needs three-way interaction

A theoretical study reveals that long-range quantum entanglement can persist at temperatures above absolute zero if a three-way interaction is present. This finding has significant implications for the development of room-temperature stable quantum devices, which could revolutionize future energy transport and computing.

SourceRIKEN·JournalPhysical Review X·TypeComputational simulation/modeling·DateMay 6, 2022