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Science News Archive 2023 - Page 373


Page 373 of 444

Crocodiles could save us from deadly infections

A new study by La Trobe University researchers reveals how crocodiles resist fatal fungal infections using a unique pH sensing mechanism. The findings provide a model for understanding the anti-microbial activity of other defensins, including those in humans.

SourceLa Trobe University·JournalNature Communications·TypeExperimental study·DateMar 1, 2023

New Cleveland Clinic-developed screening tool can assess cognition issues in older adults

A new screening tool developed by Cleveland Clinic researchers can effectively detect mild cognitive impairment, early Alzheimer's disease, and other related dementias in older adults. The tool has been shown to identify 90% of patients with mild cognitive impairment, offering a potential solution for early detection and prevention.

SourceCleveland Clinic·JournalJournal of Alzheimer’s Disease·DateMar 1, 2023

Mapping unknown territory

Scientists at Max-Planck-Gesellschaft created an interactive atlas of gene expression in the zebrafish brain, revealing hundreds of genes with single-cell resolution. The new map integrates seamlessly with existing data, providing new insights into neural structure and function.

SourceMax-Planck-Gesellschaft·JournalScience Advances·TypeObservational study·DateMar 1, 2023

New method can provide rapid detection of food adulteration

Scientists at the University of Missouri have developed a novel method to detect food adulteration using nuclear magnetic resonance (NMR) spectroscopy. The technique can identify vegetable oil adulterants in hard cheese products with high accuracy, leading to improved consumer safety and product authenticity.

SourceUniversity of Missouri-Columbia·JournalMolecules·DateMar 1, 2023

Neoadjuvant immunotherapy improves outlook in high-risk melanoma

Patients with stage IIIB-IV melanoma who received neoadjuvant pembrolizumab had a significantly lower risk of cancer recurrence compared to those receiving adjuvant therapy only. The study found improved event-free survival rates in the neoadjuvant group, suggesting that starting immunotherapy before surgery generates better outcomes.

SourceUniversity of Texas M. D. Anderson Cancer Center·JournalNew England Journal of Medicine·DateMar 1, 2023

Special Selection

A team of global experts discovered new signals of natural selection in humans, focusing on the Tsimane and Moseten populations living in the Bolivian Amazon. They found 21 regions in the genome that underwent positive selection for immunity-related traits and metabolic functions.

SourceUniversity of California - Santa Barbara·JournalProceedings of the National Academy of Sciences·DateMar 1, 2023

New UCF project seeks to advance human understanding of AI reasoning

Researchers seek to develop algorithms providing meaningful explanations for AI decision-making, enabling higher human trust and adoption in fields like science. The project focuses on symbolic reasoning and estimating explanation accuracy, addressing the need for transparent AI systems.

SourceUniversity of Central Florida·DateMar 1, 2023

‘Chunky dunk?’ Cleveland’s prehistoric sea monster may have been shorter, stouter, than once believed

Researchers from Case Western Reserve University suggest that the length of the prehistoric fish Dunkleosteus terrelli was greatly exaggerated. The study proposes a new method to estimate the size based on the head, which is consistent among living fishes and smaller relatives. According to this method, Dunkleosteus was only 11-13 feet...

SourceCase Western Reserve University·JournalDiversity·DateMar 1, 2023

High blood pressure during pregnancy linked to thinking problems later

A study published in Neurology found that high blood pressure disorders during pregnancy are associated with an increased risk of cognitive problems later in life. Those with preeclampsia may face a higher risk of cognitive decline compared to those with gestational high blood pressure.

SourceAmerican Academy of Neurology·JournalNeurology·DateMar 1, 2023

Checklist Prompters Support ICU Rounds

A study published in the American Journal of Critical Care found that a single trained observer serving as a checklist prompter can accurately assess whether multidisciplinary rounds addressed key elements of the ABCDEF bundle. This approach enables customized, shorter checklists to streamline workflows and improve patient care.

SourceUniversity of Pittsburgh·JournalAmerican Journal of Critical Care·DateMar 1, 2023

Pregnant Shark birth tracking technology provides key data for species protection

A new technology developed by Arizona State University researchers allows scientists to remotely track the location and time of birth for shark pups, enabling them to protect critical habitats. The device, called Birth-Alert-Tags (BAT), has yielded remarkable results, revealing previously unknown birth sites for certain shark species.

SourceArizona State University·JournalScience Advances·DateMar 1, 2023

Flamingos form cliques with like-minded pals

A study by the University of Exeter found that flamingos form groups based on their individual personalities, with birds of similar traits spending more time together. This complex social behavior could help improve the welfare of captive flocks and provide insights into the evolution of bird societies.

SourceUniversity of Exeter·JournalScientific Reports·TypeObservational study·DateMar 1, 2023

#StopAsianHate Study Sheds Light on Overlooked Aspect of Activism

Researchers analyzed 304,242 #StopAsianHate tweets to understand the role of reflection in social justice activism. The study found that reflection is an essential element, informing both individual involvement and overall movement progress.

SourceNorth Carolina State University·JournalAsian Journal of Communication·TypeContent analysis·DateMar 1, 2023

The Future of Touch

A new study reveals that holographic haptic displays create diffuse and faint tactile sensations due to widespread vibration patterns in the skin. The researchers discovered a phenomenon known as constructive interference that amplifies shock waves, leading to reduced spatial precision and clarity.

SourceUniversity of California - Santa Barbara·JournalScience Advances·DateMar 1, 2023

Dutch healthcare system isn't prepared for pregnant transgender men

A recent study by Amsterdam University Medical Center found that transgender men face significant barriers in accessing maternity care due to a lack of understanding and guidance from healthcare providers. The research highlights the need for gender-inclusive care and guidelines to support pregnant transgender men, addressing their uni...

SourceAmsterdam University Medical Center·JournalMidwifery·TypeObservational study·DateMar 1, 2023

New studies show more stroke patients can benefit from thrombectomy

Recent clinical trials show mechanical thrombectomy significantly improves functional outcomes and independence in patients with larger infarct cores. Thrombectomy may offer a chance of regaining essential functions for those with higher levels of irreversible brain damage.

SourceSociety of NeuroInterventional Surgery·JournalJournal of NeuroInterventional Surgery·DateMar 1, 2023

Scientists synthesise cerium mineral which holds promise for biomedical research

Researchers at Trinity College Dublin have synthesized cerianite, a rare earth mineral with antioxidant properties, using an environmentally friendly method. The study provides new insights into the occurrence and behavior of cerianite in natural deposits and expands knowledge on REE synthesis.

SourceTrinity College Dublin·JournalRSC Advances·TypeExperimental study·DateMar 1, 2023

Coronary CTA for acute chest pain emergencies: Single- vs. dual-source scanners

Using a dual-source CT scanner eliminates the need for beta-blockers and decreases nondiagnostic examinations, resulting in shorter CT completion times. The study found no difference in ED length of stay but demonstrated significant benefits in reducing nondiagnostic examinations.

SourceAmerican Roentgen Ray Society·JournalAmerican Journal of Roentgenology·TypeImaging analysis·DateMar 1, 2023

Fishing for proteins: Scientists use new optical tweezer technology to study DNA repair

Researchers used C-trap technology to investigate how different DNA repair proteins identify and bind to their respective forms of damage. They found that some proteins arrived at the damage site together and departed together, while others showed surprising variability in their association and dissociation patterns. The study provides...

SourceUniversity of Pittsburgh·JournalNucleic Acids Research·TypeExperimental study·DateMar 1, 2023

Hansel and Gretel's breadcrumb trick inspires robotic exploration of caves on Mars and beyond

University of Arizona engineers create autonomous vehicle system that allows robots to scout out underground habitats on other planets. The 'Breadcrumb-Style Dynamically Deployed Communication Network' paradigm enables robots to work together without human input, addressing NASA's space technology grand challenges.

SourceUniversity of Arizona·JournalAdvances in Space Research·TypeComputational simulation/modeling·DateMar 1, 2023

Seabirds in the eye of the storm

Researchers found that seabird species have unique wind tolerance strategies, with some flying fast to counteract wind drift. Albatrosses can fly in most storm conditions, while tropical species use special avoidance tactics.

SourceMax-Planck-Gesellschaft·JournalCurrent Biology·TypeMeta-analysis·DateMar 1, 2023

Can Mediterranean diet help people with MS preserve thinking skills?

A preliminary study found that people with multiple sclerosis who follow a Mediterranean diet have a lower risk for problems with memory and thinking skills. The study involved 563 participants and found that those who more closely followed the diet had a 20% lower risk for cognitive impairment.

SourceAmerican Academy of Neurology·DateMar 1, 2023

‘Swarmalators’ better envision synchronized microbots

Researchers at Cornell University developed a new model called swarmalators, which can simulate swarming behaviors and synchronized timing in microrobots. The model mimics diverse emergent phenomena, such as aggregation, dispersion, and vortices, and can be used for precision medicine and drone applications.

SourceCornell University·JournalNature Communications·DateMar 1, 2023

Oldest human genome from southern Spain

Researchers analyzed ancient DNA from Cueva del Malalmuerzo in southern Spain, uncovering the oldest known human genome from this region. The study found a direct genetic link between the new genome and earlier populations in Belgium and beyond, shedding light on the Iberian Peninsula's role as an Ice Age refuge.

SourceMax Planck Institute for Evolutionary Anthropology·JournalNature Ecology & Evolution·DateMar 1, 2023

Argonne drops data on the question of efficient drone use for e-commerce deliveries

A new Argonne study compares drone energy usage to diesel trucks and electric vehicles, finding that drones consume as much energy as either on average windy days. The models are based on regional energy consumption and facility costs of direct delivery drones under various wind speed scenarios.

SourceDOE/Argonne National Laboratory·JournalTransportation Research Record Journal of the Transportation Research Board·DateMar 1, 2023

Artificial Intelligence from a psychologist’s point of view

GPT-3 performs nearly on par with humans in decision-making but struggles with causal reasoning and information search. The language model's limitations may be due to its passive information-gathering approach, highlighting the need for active interaction with the world to achieve human-like intelligence.

SourceMax-Planck-Gesellschaft·JournalProceedings of the National Academy of Sciences·DateMar 1, 2023

Older Black men are likelier to die after surgery than others, particularly following elective procedures, new UCLA research suggests

Researchers found that Black men have a higher mortality rate after surgery compared to other groups, with a 50% higher risk of death after elective procedures. The study suggests that structural racism, poor pre-operative care, and exposure to toxins may contribute to these disparities.

SourceUniversity of California - Los Angeles Health Sciences·JournalThe BMJ·TypeData/statistical analysis·DateMar 1, 2023

Home-based cardiac rehabilitation may help people live longer

A new study published in the Journal of the American Heart Association found that participating in home-based cardiac rehabilitation was associated with a 36% lower likelihood of death from heart-related complications among US military veterans within four years. The study analyzed data from 1,120 veterans who enrolled in a 12-week hom...

SourceAmerican Heart Association·JournalJournal of the American Heart Association·DateMar 1, 2023

When election winners are announced, their Twitter supporters respond quicker, are more engaged and use less toxic language than supporters of the losing candidate, according to analysis in the US, UK, Brazil and Argentina

Analysis in the US, UK, Brazil, and Argentina shows that winners' Twitter supporters respond faster and engage more positively than losers' supporters. The study found reduced toxicity levels among winners' supporters, suggesting a correlation between winning and increased social media engagement.

SourcePLOS·JournalPLOS ONE·DateMar 1, 2023

Alzheimer’s study links cholesterol and toxic protein clusters

Researchers found that cholesterol increases the toxicity of a peptide implicated in Alzheimer's progression, altering its secondary structure and forming small, toxic clusters called oligomers. A diet rich in cholesterol may contribute to Alzheimer's disease development by changing the lipid composition of neuronal membranes.

SourceTexas A&M AgriLife Communications·DateMar 1, 2023

Hubble captures movie of DART asteroid impact debris

The Hubble movie reveals surprising hour-by-hour changes as dust and chunks of debris were flung into space. The dynamic interaction within the binary system starts to distort the ejecta pattern, forming rotating pinwheel-shaped features tied to the gravitational pull of Didymos.

SourceNASA/Goddard Space Flight Center·JournalNature·TypeObservational study·DateMar 1, 2023

Reexamining time from breast cancer diagnosis to surgery

A case series study of 373,000 patients found that time from diagnosis to surgery over eight weeks was associated with worse overall survival. This delay may be linked to disadvantageous social determinants of health, suggesting the importance of timely surgical interventions in breast cancer care.

SourceJAMA Network·JournalJAMA Surgery·DateMar 1, 2023

Janelia releases 74,000 fruit fly brain images

The Janelia FlyLight Project Team has released over 74,000 images of fruit fly brain neurons, generated from more than 5,000 different genetically modified fly strains. These images are now freely available for scientists to quickly and easily find the neurons they need to test theories about the nervous system.

SourceHoward Hughes Medical Institute·JournaleLife·DateMar 1, 2023

A groundbreaking study reveals the carbon stocks of 10 billion trees in the drylands of sub-Saharan Africa

A groundbreaking study used AI and high spatial resolution imagery to analyze over 300,000 satellite images and identify nearly 10 billion trees in sub-Saharan Africa. The research reveals that tree density and carbon stocks in the arid zone are underestimated, with a total carbon stock of 0.84 billion tonnes.

SourceINRAE - National Research Institute for Agriculture, Food and Environment·JournalNature·DateMar 1, 2023

Bronze Age well contents reveal the history of animal resources in Mycenae, Greece

A study published in PLOS ONE analyzed a Bronze Age debris deposit in Mycenae, Greece, revealing the types of animals that lived there and how they were used as a source of subsistence. The analysis of animal remains and associated artifacts provides clues to the social dynamics of ancient settlements and responses to natural disasters.

SourcePLOS·JournalPLOS ONE·TypeObservational study·DateMar 1, 2023

How patterns emerge in salt deserts

Researchers have discovered that convection of saline water beneath the surface is responsible for the formation of hexagonal honeycomb patterns in salt deserts. The consistent size and shape of these patterns can be attributed to the unique combination of temperature, salinity, and groundwater flow.

SourceGraz University of Technology·JournalPhysical Review X·TypeData/statistical analysis·DateMar 1, 2023

Quantum chemistry: Molecules caught tunneling

Scientists at the University of Innsbruck have successfully measured tunneling reactions in molecular chemistry, confirming a precise theoretical model. The experiment used hydrogen and deuterium isotopes to demonstrate the quantum mechanical tunnel effect in a slow ion-molecule reaction.

SourceUniversity of Innsbruck·JournalNature·TypeExperimental study·DateMar 1, 2023

Review finds fledgling chronic back pain therapy needs more rigorous study

A systematic review of Cognitive Functional Therapy found it to be no better than traditional therapies in reducing pain and disability in people with chronic low back pain. The researchers call for future trials featuring blinded participants and larger sample sizes to improve current evidence.

SourceUniversity of New South Wales·JournalJournal of Orthopaedic and Sports Physical Therapy·TypeSystematic review·DateMar 1, 2023

Study reinforces potential use of zika virus to combat prostate cancer but points to possible side-effect

Researchers analyzed zika virus effects on tumor cells and healthy cells, discovering its potential to treat prostate cancer but also triggering a persistent inflammatory process that damages the male reproductive system. The study's findings suggest long-term treatment could lead to recurrence of prostate cancer.

SourceFundação de Amparo à Pesquisa do Estado de São Paulo·JournalJournal of Proteome Research·DateMar 1, 2023

Gut bacteria are crucial for liver repair

A study by researchers at TUM found that gut bacteria play a crucial role in liver regeneration. The microbiome produces short-chain fatty acids, which are essential for liver cell growth and division. In mice treated with antibiotics, liver regeneration was delayed or not possible, but a

SourceTechnical University of Munich (TUM)·JournalJournal of Hepatology·TypeExperimental study·DateMar 1, 2023

Emerging field of evolutionary medicine could address range of health conditions

UCLA researchers say an emerging field of study could help tackle intractable human diseases by studying evolution of disease-resistant traits. Insights from ecology and evolution can inform biomedical research, public health measures and clinical care to develop new treatments and improve public health policy.

SourceUniversity of California - Los Angeles·JournalFrontiers in Science·DateMar 1, 2023

New fluorescent chiral-selective receptor system represents a breakthrough in molecular detection with potential for applications in diabetes management

Researchers have developed a novel fluorescence recognition method for detecting D-glucose in water, showing excellent D-glucose chiral selectivity. The system consists of cyclodextrin and monoboronic acid-based receptor complexes, which can detect glucose concentrations with low limits of detection.

SourceSophia University·JournalACS Sensors·TypeExperimental study·DateMar 1, 2023

Resurrected supernova provides missing-link

Researchers have discovered a supernova that exhibits unusual rebrightening at millimeter wavelengths, offering insights into the evolution of massive stars. The study suggests that interaction with an intermediate-distance binary companion created a hollow shell of circumstellar medium, leading to the observed rebrightening.

SourceNational Institutes of Natural Sciences·JournalThe Astrophysical Journal Letters·TypeObservational study·DateMar 1, 2023

Chemotherapy alters immune cell landscape in pancreatic cancer

A new study found that chemotherapy alters the immune cell landscape in pancreatic cancer, reducing checkpoint molecules and increasing tumor growth. The research suggests that this may lead to resistance to subsequent immunotherapy, highlighting the need for further study on combining chemotherapy with immunotherapy.

SourceNYU Langone Health / NYU Grossman School of Medicine·JournalNature Communications·TypeExperimental study·DateMar 1, 2023

Glacier National Park could provide climate haven for Canada Lynx

A recent study found that Glacier National Park is home to an estimated 1.28 lynx per 100 square kilometers of terrain, exceeding initial expectations and providing a potential climate haven for the species. The research used camera trapping and coat marking analysis to estimate lynx density in specific areas of the park.

SourceWashington State University·JournalJournal of Wildlife Management·DateMar 1, 2023

Study: Seizures can be predicted more than 30 minutes before onset in patients with temporal lobe epilepsy

A study published in NEJM Evidence found that seizures can be predicted at least 35 minutes before onset in patients with temporal lobe epilepsy. This breakthrough discovery has significant implications for developing more effective therapies for this common seizure disorder, which affects over 50 million people globally.

SourceUniversity of Texas Health Science Center at Houston·JournalNEJM Evidence·DateMar 1, 2023