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Science News Archive October 2022 - Page 15


Page 15 of 37

Researchers develop system to test brain ultrasound treatments in mice

A new system has been developed to deliver ultrasound stimulation to the brain in awake, naturally behaving mice, allowing researchers to evaluate its effects on sleep and working memory. This advance will help scientists test different ultrasound treatment protocols in mouse models of diverse neurological conditions.

SourceWiley·JournalAdvanced Science·DateOct 19, 2022
SAMSUNG T9 Portable SSD 2TB

SAMSUNG T9 Portable SSD 2TB transfers large imagery and model outputs quickly between field laptops, lab workstations, and secure archives.

Ocean heating will increase rainfall in east Asia, study suggests

A study published in Nature suggests that ocean heating in the western tropical Pacific will make the East Asian monsoon season wetter. The researchers found a correlation between increases in monsoonal rain in eastern China and the heat content of the Indo-Pacific Warm Pool over the past 360,000 years.

SourceRutgers University·JournalNature·DateOct 19, 2022

Protecting very old trees can help mitigate climate change

Ancient tree conservation is crucial for maintaining ecosystem integrity and mitigating climate change. The researchers propose a two-pronged approach to protect these trees, including germplasm conservation and forest rewilding.

SourceCell Press·JournalTrends in Ecology & Evolution·TypeCommentary/editorial·DateOct 19, 2022

Defining essential surgery during the pandemic response

Researchers compared pre- and post-pandemic surgical procedure volumes, finding significant changes in essential, urgent, and nonurgent procedures. Elective surgeries restrictions led to reduced overall surgery volume, with a notable decrease in nonurgent cases.

SourceJAMA Network·JournalJAMA Surgery·DateOct 19, 2022

Social media damages appearance satisfaction

A study published in Body Image found that social media use is associated with lower appearance satisfaction. Engaging with content from friends and family was found to have a significantly stronger negative impact on appearance satisfaction compared to celebrities or influencers.

SourceAnglia Ruskin University·JournalBody Image·DateOct 19, 2022
Apple iPhone 17 Pro

Apple iPhone 17 Pro delivers top performance and advanced cameras for field documentation, data collection, and secure research communications.

New research rewrites the evolutionary story of gills

New research published in Nature suggests that the earliest gills played a crucial role in ion regulation, contradicting traditional views on their evolution. The study found ion-regulating cells in the gills of lampreys, amphioxus, and acorn worms, revealing an early chapter in the evolutionary story of gills.

SourceUniversity of British Columbia·JournalNature·TypeObservational study·DateOct 19, 2022

Selection of human immune-related genes was driven by the Black Death

Research found that the Black Death drove changes in immune-related genetic variants, affecting disease susceptibility. A specific gene variant, ERAP2, was associated with increased protection against the plague, but also linked to autoimmune diseases like Crohn's disease.

SourceUniversity of Chicago Medical Center·JournalNature·DateOct 19, 2022

Shopping vouchers help women to stop smoking during pregnancy

A UK trial found that offering up to £400 in shopping vouchers to pregnant women can more than double the proportion who remain smoke-free by late pregnancy. However, most women relapsed after giving birth. The study suggests that financial incentives can be an effective tool to reduce smoking during pregnancy and improve health outcomes.

SourceBMJ Group·JournalThe BMJ·TypeRandomized controlled/clinical trial·DateOct 19, 2022
GoPro HERO13 Black

GoPro HERO13 Black records stabilized 5.3K video for instrument deployments, field notes, and outreach, even in harsh weather and underwater conditions.

After more than 300 years of study, researchers developed a new way to understand bacteria

A Princeton team invented a way to observe bacteria in 3D environments, finding that colonies consistently form intricate, branching shapes resembling broccoli. They discovered two factors causing these shapes: nutrient and oxygen availability, and the colony's internal structure.

SourcePrinceton University, Engineering School·JournalProceedings of the National Academy of Sciences·TypeExperimental study·DateOct 19, 2022

Hormone therapy experiences vary by race among women in menopause

A new study found that hormone therapy experiences differ significantly by race among women experiencing menopause symptoms. White women reported higher rates of hormone therapy use and better quality of life compared to women of other ethnicities.

SourceUniversity of Chicago Medical Center·JournalMenopause·DateOct 19, 2022
AmScope B120C-5M Compound Microscope

AmScope B120C-5M Compound Microscope supports teaching labs and QA checks with LED illumination, mechanical stage, and included 5MP camera.

Durable, inexpensive catalyst reduces carbon footprint of ammonia production

Researchers develop stable catalyst that can produce ammonia at rates similar to conventional metal nitride catalysts, reducing the need for fossil fuels and lowering CO2 emissions. The new catalyst is chemically stable in the presence of moisture, enabling more efficient production under milder conditions.

SourceTokyo Institute of Technology·JournalAngewandte Chemie International Edition·TypeExperimental study·DateOct 19, 2022

Landscape of molecular contacts: How the coronavirus SARS-CoV-2 communicates with human cells

A team of scientists has identified over 200 direct protein-protein contacts between the SARS-CoV-2 virus and human cells, shedding light on the mechanisms underlying severe COVID-19. The study reveals chains of connections between viral proteins and infection-relevant human genes, with implications for disease severity and treatment.

SourceHelmholtz Munich (Helmholtz Zentrum München Deutsches Forschungszentrum für Gesundheit und Umwelt (GmbH))·JournalNature Biotechnology·DateOct 19, 2022

Infection research: Antibodies prevent cell infection

Researchers have successfully blocked the adhesion mechanism of Bartonella henselae bacteria, preventing cell infection. The discovery offers a promising new approach to combat highly resistant infectious agents like Acinetobacter baumannii.

SourceGoethe University Frankfurt·JournalMicrobiology Spectrum·TypeExperimental study·DateOct 19, 2022

UCLA engineers design AI material that learns behaviors and adapts to changing conditions

Researchers develop mechanical neural networks (MNNs) with tunable beams that can learn behaviors and adapt to external forces. The MNNs, composed of a triangular lattice pattern, exhibit smart properties through machine learning algorithms. Early prototypes overcame lag issues and achieved accurate performance in various applications.

SourceUniversity of California - Los Angeles·JournalScience Robotics·TypeExperimental study·DateOct 19, 2022
Fluke 87V Industrial Digital Multimeter

Fluke 87V Industrial Digital Multimeter is a trusted meter for precise measurements during instrument integration, repairs, and field diagnostics.

Switching tracks: Changing the trafficking of the glucagon receptor in the liver regulates its metabolic signaling

Helmholtz Munich researchers identified a novel strategy to alter glucagon receptor signaling by changing its intracellular localization. This approach offers therapeutic potential for treating type 2 diabetes by uncoupling glucose and lipid metabolism-related effects.

SourceHelmholtz Munich (Helmholtz Zentrum München Deutsches Forschungszentrum für Gesundheit und Umwelt (GmbH))·JournalCell Metabolism·DateOct 19, 2022
Aranet4 Home CO2 Monitor

Aranet4 Home CO2 Monitor tracks ventilation quality in labs, classrooms, and conference rooms with long battery life and clear e-ink readouts.

Ludwig Lausanne researchers develop strategy to noninvasively monitor key immune cells in tumors

The study, led by Johanna Joyce, develops a strategy to noninvasively monitor key immune cells known as macrophages within brain and breast tumors. The researchers use nanoparticles labeled with fluorine isotopes that emit distinctive signals detectable by MRI, allowing for the direct imaging of TAMs across tumor geography.

SourceLudwig Institute for Cancer Research·JournalScience Translational Medicine·DateOct 19, 2022

‘Farmer-researchers’ join front line in testing crops

A recent study from the Alliance of Bioversity International and CIAT shows that tricot, a citizen science approach for on-farm experimentation, generates agricultural data via local organizations in Central America. The approach enables farmers to contribute their time and land, reducing trial costs and increasing applicability.

SourceThe Alliance of Bioversity International and the International Center for Tropical Agriculture·JournalCrop Science·TypeData/statistical analysis·DateOct 19, 2022

Deeper understanding of the icy depths

Researchers at Hokkaido University have discovered the importance of Frazil ice in producing dense cold water, which is a key component of global ocean circulation. This finding has significant implications for understanding the impact of global warming on this process.

SourceHokkaido University·JournalScience Advances·TypeObservational study·DateOct 19, 2022

Study: Live chat boosts college women’s class participation

A recent UNLV-led study discovered that women enthusiastically embraced live chat during pandemic Zoom classes, with ratings showing significantly higher engagement than men. The researchers hope this data can help colleges incorporate technology into hybrid and in-person courses to increase underrepresented groups' access to STEM fields.

SourceUniversity of Nevada, Las Vegas·JournalPLOS ONE·TypeData/statistical analysis·DateOct 19, 2022
DJI Air 3 (RC-N2)

DJI Air 3 (RC-N2) captures 4K mapping passes and environmental surveys with dual cameras, long flight time, and omnidirectional obstacle sensing.

Yellow pigment keeps social amoebae together

Researchers at Leibniz-HKI discovered a yellow natural substance that regulates the multicellular stage of the amoeba <em>D. discoideum</em>. The polyketide, dictyoden, prevents premature hatching from spores, maintaining the development cycle. The study provides insights into the complex transition from single- to multicellularity.

SourceLeibniz Institute for Natural Product Research and Infection Biology - Hans Knöll Institute -·JournalProceedings of the National Academy of Sciences·TypeExperimental study·DateOct 19, 2022

Type 1 diabetes: New findings on the development of the autoimmune disease in children

A long-term study on infants and young children with increased genetic risk of type 1 diabetes found that metabolic changes occur much earlier than previously assumed. Blood sugar levels were found to be higher in children who developed autoimmunity, suggesting a potential indicator for islet cell dysfunction.

SourceHelmholtz Munich (Helmholtz Zentrum München Deutsches Forschungszentrum für Gesundheit und Umwelt (GmbH))·JournalJournal of Clinical Investigation·DateOct 19, 2022

Preserved in amber

Research into Myanmar amber fossils is hindered by the country's ongoing political, legal, and economic crises. The strict restrictions on research access have led to international researchers acquiring the valuable amber for study.

SourceFriedrich-Alexander-Universität Erlangen-Nürnberg·JournalCommunications Biology·DateOct 19, 2022

Meet the first Neandertal family

Researchers analyzed DNA from 13 Neandertals, finding evidence of a close-knit community with 10-20 individuals. Genetic data suggests that female migration played a key role in maintaining the group's cohesion, contradicting previous theories about male-dominated movements.

SourceMax Planck Institute for Evolutionary Anthropology·JournalNature·DateOct 19, 2022
Rigol DP832 Triple-Output Bench Power Supply

Rigol DP832 Triple-Output Bench Power Supply powers sensors, microcontrollers, and test circuits with programmable rails and stable outputs.

Chang'E-5 mission returned samples shed new light on our moon's surface makeup and geologic history

The Chang'E-5 mission returned samples that revealed a previously unknown iron-rich and high-calcium surface of basalts, challenging previous assumptions about the lunar geology community. The samples were primarily composed of pyroxene, contradicting earlier studies that indicated a high abundance of olivine.

SourceChinese Academy of Sciences Headquarters·JournalNature Communications·DateOct 19, 2022

Electroshock therapy more successful for depression than ketamine

A meta-analysis of six studies concludes that electroconvulsive therapy (ECT) is more effective than ketamine in quickly relieving major depression symptoms. The analysis, published in JAMA Psychiatry, found no significant differences in ECT's success rate across various age groups and geographic locations.

SourceUniversity of Connecticut·JournalJAMA Psychiatry·TypeMeta-analysis·DateOct 19, 2022

Research reveals large emissions from ship scrubbers

The study found that scrubber discharge water accounts for up to 9% of certain carcinogenic and environmentally harmful substances in the Baltic Sea. This increase is partly due to a significant growth in ships equipped with scrubbers, which has tripled since the study was carried out.

SourceChalmers University of Technology·JournalMarine Pollution Bulletin·TypeComputational simulation/modeling·DateOct 19, 2022
Apple iPad Pro 11-inch (M4)

Apple iPad Pro 11-inch (M4) runs demanding GIS, imaging, and annotation workflows on the go for surveys, briefings, and lab notebooks.

These factors have the biggest impact on influencer marketing effectiveness

Researchers found that influencer originality, follower size, and sponsor salience enhance the effectiveness of a message. A balanced approach is most effective, with too little or too much posting hurting engagement. Firms should search for influencers with followers that overlap but aren't an exact match to achieve optimal brand-fit.

SourceUniversity of Washington·JournalJournal of Marketing·DateOct 19, 2022

The most precise accounting yet of dark energy and dark matter

The Pantheon+ analysis reveals that the universe is composed of about two-thirds dark energy and one-third matter, mostly in the form of dark matter. This finding strengthens the Standard Model of Cosmology, but also highlights an unresolved disagreement over the pace of expansion.

SourceCenter for Astrophysics | Harvard & Smithsonian·JournalThe Astrophysical Journal·DateOct 19, 2022

Drones show potential to improve salmon nest counts

A Washington State University study showed that drone photography can effectively estimate the number of rocky hollows in the Wenatchee River where salmon create their eggs. The researchers found roughly double the number of redds using drones compared to ground-level observations, but with high variability. This technology has potenti...

SourceWashington State University·JournalRiver Research and Applications·DateOct 19, 2022

A drop in the sea of electrons

Scientists at Swinburne University of Technology and FLEET collaborators observe and explain signatures of Fermi polaron interactions in atomically-thin WS2 using ultrafast spectroscopy. Repulsive forces arise from phase-space filling, while attractive forces lead to cooperatively bound exciton-exciton-electron states.

SourceARC Centre of Excellence in Future Low-Energy Electronics Technologies·JournalNature Communications·TypeExperimental study·DateOct 19, 2022
Davis Instruments Vantage Pro2 Weather Station

Davis Instruments Vantage Pro2 Weather Station offers research-grade local weather data for networked stations, campuses, and community observatories.

Third COVID-19 vaccine dose is highly effective in patients with cirrhosis

A retrospective study of 26,000 patients with cirrhosis found that receiving a third dose of the COVID-19 vaccine reduced overall and severe cases by 80% and 100%, respectively. This suggests that a third dose can overcome vaccine hyporesponsiveness in patients with cirrhosis.

SourceElsevier·JournalJournal of Hepatology·TypeObservational study·DateOct 19, 2022
Creality K1 Max 3D Printer

Creality K1 Max 3D Printer rapidly prototypes brackets, adapters, and fixtures for instruments and classroom demonstrations at large build volume.

Safe gun storage programs are successful (if implemented)

A pilot study found that a firearm safety program may not reach all parents equitably, with disparities affecting girls and some racial and ethnic minorities. The program aims to reduce suicide deaths by securely storing firearms.

SourceNorthwestern University·JournalPreventive Medicine·DateOct 19, 2022

Novel PET imaging agent detects earliest signs of Alzheimer’s disease

A new radiotracer, 18F-SMBT-1, detects overexpressed monoamine oxidase-B in cognitively unimpaired individuals with high beta amyloid levels, a key early sign of Alzheimer's disease. The agent shows increased binding to reactive astrocytes, suggesting its potential as a surrogate marker for detecting Alzheimer's disease.

SourceSociety of Nuclear Medicine and Molecular Imaging·JournalJournal of Nuclear Medicine·DateOct 19, 2022
Sky-Watcher EQ6-R Pro Equatorial Mount

Sky-Watcher EQ6-R Pro Equatorial Mount provides precise tracking capacity for deep-sky imaging rigs during long astrophotography sessions.

How can digital data stored as DNA be manipulated?

Scientists have developed a new method to store and retrieve digital data encoded in DNA molecules using enzymes. The approach enables complex calculations on DNA-encoded data without converting it back into electronic form.

SourceCNRS·JournalNature·DateOct 19, 2022

Income, segregated schools drive Black-white education gaps

Researchers found that accounting for family, school, and neighborhood hardship narrows the gap by more than 60% between Black and white students. The study suggests systemic economic inequality and segregated schools are primary drivers of educational inequality.

SourceCornell University·JournalSocial Forces·DateOct 19, 2022

TI-RADS, algorithm guide diagnoses of pediatric thyroid nodules on ultrasound

A deep learning algorithm trained on adult populations shows improved sensitivity for diagnosing thyroid nodules in children, with higher accuracy than traditional ACR TI-RADS. The study suggests the potential benefits of this new approach for evaluating thyroid nodules in younger patients.

SourceAmerican Roentgen Ray Society·JournalAmerican Journal of Roentgenology·TypeImaging analysis·DateOct 19, 2022

Discovery gives insight into brain function, breakdowns

Scientists at OHSU have identified synaptotagmin-3 (SYT3) as a crucial protein for replenishing neurotransmitters between neurons. This discovery sheds new light on the underlying causes of neurological disorders such as epilepsy and autism, and may lead to the development of gene therapies or pharmaceutical approaches targeting SYT3.

SourceOregon Health & Science University·JournalNature·TypeExperimental study·DateOct 19, 2022
Anker Laptop Power Bank 25,000mAh (Triple 100W USB-C)

Anker Laptop Power Bank 25,000mAh (Triple 100W USB-C) keeps Macs, tablets, and meters powered during extended observing runs and remote surveys.

Spice containers pose contamination risk during food preparation

A Rutgers University study has revealed that spice containers are a common source of cross-contamination in kitchens, with nearly half of samples showing evidence of contamination. The study's findings highlight the importance of proper handwashing and sanitizing of kitchen surfaces to prevent the spread of foodborne illnesses.

SourceRutgers University·JournalJournal of Food Protection·DateOct 19, 2022