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Science News Archive September 2022 - Page 23


Page 23 of 38

Beyond AlphaFold: A.I. excels at creating new proteins

Researchers developed a new software tool called ProteinMPNN to create protein molecules more accurately and quickly than before. The team used machine learning algorithms, including AlphaFold, to generate new protein shapes and sequences, paving the way for novel vaccines, treatments, and sustainable biomaterials.

SourceUniversity of Washington School of Medicine/UW Medicine·JournalScience·TypeComputational simulation/modeling·DateSep 15, 2022

Toshiba’s double-transmon coupler will realize faster, more accurate superconducting quantum computers

Researchers at Toshiba Corporation achieved a breakthrough in quantum computer architecture with the development of a double-transmon coupler. This technology enables high-speed quantum computations with strong coupling and completely turns off residual coupling, improving accuracy and processing time.

SourceToshiba Corporation·JournalPhysical Review Applied·TypeComputational simulation/modeling·DateSep 15, 2022

Study: Communities of color at greatest risk of pesticide exposure in Ventura County, Calif.

A new study by Environmental Working Group finds that communities of color in Ventura County are disproportionately exposed to pesticides, threatening their health and well-being. The study analyzed over 340,000 pesticide application records and found that farmworkers and their families face the greatest risk of pesticide exposure.

SourceEnvironmental Working Group·JournalScience of The Total Environment·TypeComputational simulation/modeling·DateSep 15, 2022

Agricultural organic amendments may hold the key to conserve soil productivity while alleviate non-point source pollution of intensified hillslope cropping

Crop residue and pig manure slow down nitrogen release compared to synthetic fertilizer, reducing nitrogen loss through synchronized nutrient release and crop demand. Substituting up to 40% synthetic nitrogen with organic amendments can maintain high crop yield and significantly reduce nitrogen loss from sloping cropland.

SourceHigher Education Press·JournalFrontiers of Agricultural Science and Engineering·TypeExperimental study·DateSep 15, 2022

NIH launches $8 million prize competition to reduce maternal deaths in regions that lack maternity care

The NIH is launching a $8 million prize competition to develop technologies improving postpartum healthcare in areas with limited access to maternity care. Diagnostic devices and wearables are prioritized to detect conditions like heart-related conditions, infection, and bleeding during the first year after delivery.

Lessons learned in COVID-19: SHEA offers guidance for antibiotic use in a pandemic

The Society for Healthcare Epidemiology of America highlights the need to strengthen antibiotic stewardship programs to address overuse of antibiotics in early stages of viral epidemics. The guidance provides strategies for hospitals and healthcare personnel to improve antibiotic prescribing and diagnostic testing.

SourceSociety for Healthcare Epidemiology of America·JournalInfection Control and Hospital Epidemiology·TypeLiterature review·DateSep 14, 2022

Kessler Foundation scientist Jeanne Zanca, Ph.D., receives $100,000 award to facilitate uptake of research results by rehabilitation clinicians

Kessler Foundation scientist Jeanne Zanca has received a $100,000 award from the Patient-Centered Outcomes Research Institute to facilitate the uptake of effective treatments in rehabilitation settings. Her study aims to improve research reporting and adoption of the Rehabilitation Treatment Specification System framework.

Smoking around your young son could raise the risk of asthma for your future grandchildren

A recent study published in the European Respiratory Journal found that children are more likely to develop asthma if their father was exposed to second-hand smoke as a child. The risk is even higher if the father went on to become a smoker himself. The researchers suggest that smoking can damage health not only for smokers and their c...

SourceEuropean Respiratory Society·JournalEuropean Respiratory Journal·TypeObservational study·DateSep 14, 2022

New study published in The Crop Journal cracks the code to increasing grain size and reducing chalkiness in rice

A new study published in The Crop Journal has identified the gl9 gene variant as a key factor in increasing grain size and reducing chalkiness in rice. By introducing this allele into elite rice varieties, scientists have improved grain length, width, and weight, leading to enhanced appearance quality and yield.

SourceCactus Communications·JournalThe Crop Journal·TypeExperimental study·DateSep 14, 2022

Technique developed in mice could aid detection of cancer in dense breasts

A novel imaging approach developed in mice may help detect early signs of cancer in dense breasts, which is essential for improved breast imaging and prognosis. Researchers created an analytic computer program that sorts mammary gland tissue into two assessments, resulting in better detection accuracy.

SourceGeorgetown University Medical Center·JournalAmerican Journal Of Pathology·TypeImaging analysis·DateSep 14, 2022

High efficiency and low noise amplification of ultrashort pulses by quasi-parametric amplification

Researchers have developed an ultrahigh-efficiency and low-noise scheme of quasi-parametric chirped-pulse amplification (QPCPA), achieving 56% energy efficiency for signal conversion. This process greatly suppresses parametric superfluorescence noise, enabling high repetition-rate operation and potential peak powers over 50 PW.

Genomics study identifies unique set of proteins that restores hearing in zebrafish

Researchers at NIH/National Human Genome Research Institute discovered a network of proteins necessary for restoring hearing in zebrafish through cell regeneration. The study identifies two families of transcription factors that work together to activate hair cell regeneration, offering potential insights into treating human hearing loss.

Interwoven: Charge and magnetism intertwine in kagome material

Researchers at Rice University have discovered a unique arrangement of atoms in iron-germanium crystals that leads to a collective dance of electrons. The phenomenon, known as a charge density wave, occurs when the material is cooled to a critically low temperature and exhibits standing waves of fluid electrons.

SourceRice University·JournalNature·TypeExperimental study·DateSep 14, 2022

What was left out of the founding myth of the Green Revolution?

A recent analysis by researcher Jacob van Etten found that the Green Revolution's narrative omits institutional change and neglects ethnic tensions dominating market exchange. The study highlights the importance of markets and institutions in agricultural development, contradicting the traditional technology-centric view.

SourceThe Alliance of Bioversity International and the International Center for Tropical Agriculture·JournalAgriculture and Human Values·TypeCommentary/editorial·DateSep 14, 2022

Modeling antimicrobial use and resistance in Canadian turkey flocks

Researchers used E. coli as an indicator of antimicrobial resistance in Canadian turkey flocks. They found that antimicrobial use in feed and injection into eggs were main drivers of resistance. The study suggests that disease treatment also contributes to the development of resistance.

SourceCarl R. Woese Institute for Genomic Biology, University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign·JournalFrontiers in Microbiology·TypeComputational simulation/modeling·DateSep 14, 2022

Strategic brand factors that moderate the impact of business cycles on brand equity

A new study examines the role of six brand factors, including price positioning, advertising spending, and distribution breadth, in moderating the impact of business cycles on brand equity. The research finds that premium pricing, market leadership, and extensive distribution contribute to brand equity during economic expansions.

SourceAmerican Marketing Association·JournalJournal of Marketing·DateSep 14, 2022

Cultural connection improves health of Indigenous young adults

A recent study found that Cherokee youth who participated in an educational program connecting them to their history and culture experienced significant benefits to their health. Participants reported lower levels of stress, anxiety, and depression, as well as increased positive mental health and cultural identity. The study suggests t...

SourceUniversity of Missouri-Columbia·JournalInternational Journal of Environmental Research and Public Health·TypeCase study·DateSep 14, 2022

Study examines current state regulations, public health risks of growing medicinal and recreational marijuana market

A new study urges regulators to take a closer look at the health and safety risks of the growing medicinal and recreational cannabis market. The research team found that many pesticides in cannabis cultivation were highly unlikely to be used, but still detected, highlighting the need for stricter regulations.

SourceArizona State University·JournalEnvironmental Health Perspectives·TypeData/statistical analysis·DateSep 14, 2022

HKU-CAS researchers make history: Biomimetic dual-color domes programmable for encryption

Researchers from HKU-CAS have created a new material that can produce dual-color spots inspired by nature, leading to innovative applications in message encryption and storage. The breakthrough was achieved through the self-assembly of nanostructures in a one-pot method, enabling programmable binary color information.

SourceThe University of Hong Kong·JournalNano Letters·TypeExperimental study·DateSep 14, 2022

New model to help reframe the transition to low-carbon electric power

A new model developed by Penn State researchers proposes a more flexible approach to the energy transition, considering uncertainty and option value. The model identifies multiple technology pathways that can help achieve emissions reduction goals, such as wind, solar, and natural gas with carbon capture.

SourcePenn State·JournalEnvironmental Science & Technology·TypeMeta-analysis·DateSep 14, 2022

Are we missing a crucial component of sea-level rise?

A new study identifies areas in Antarctica's East region that could significantly contribute to sea-level rise if they undergo basal thaw. The researchers used numerical ice sheet models to simulate temperature changes at the base of the ice sheet, revealing regions such as Enderby-Kemp and George V Land as most susceptible to thawing.

SourceStanford University·JournalNature Communications·DateSep 14, 2022

Dense liquid droplets act as cellular computers

Researchers discovered that dense liquid droplets in human cells can act as 'computers' by recognizing and calculating responses to incoming chemical signals. The formation of these condensates is driven by molecular crowding and can influence the activity of enzymes called kinases, which are involved in various cellular processes.

SourceNYU Langone Health / NYU Grossman School of Medicine·JournalMolecular Cell·TypeExperimental study·DateSep 14, 2022

Ecologists find evidence that pet and medicine trades bring tokay geckos from across Asia into Hong Kong, impacting resident gecko populations and highlighting local and global conservation needs

New research finds that most tokay geckos sold in Hong Kong's TCM shops originated from Southeast Asia, not locally. The study highlights the need for stricter control of pet trade releases to protect this vulnerable species.

SourceThe University of Hong Kong·JournalProceedings of the Royal Society B Biological Sciences·TypeObservational study·DateSep 14, 2022