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Science News for April 21, 2023


Social media data provides first glimpse at increased popularity of air conditioning worldwide

New research using social media advertising data provides insights into the adoption of air conditioning units worldwide, particularly in heat-vulnerable regions. The study found that middle-aged, highly educated, married males, and parents with small children are more likely to express online interest in AC units.

SourceRadboud University Nijmegen·JournalOne Earth·TypeData/statistical analysis·DateApr 21, 2023

Rideshares outperform taxis in an emergency

A study by Carnegie Mellon University found that ridesharing platforms significantly outperformed traditional taxi systems during urban emergencies. The platforms' use of technology and elastic supply of vehicles and drivers enabled them to cope with uncertainties more effectively.

SourceCarnegie Mellon University·JournalInformation Systems Research·DateApr 21, 2023

The Mathematics of Cell Boundary 'Ruggedness'

The study, led by Professor Takashi Miura of Kyushu University, has discovered that interdigitated cell boundaries have a mathematically scaling pattern with self-similarity. The team used the Edwards-Wilkinson model to simulate and understand the molecular mechanism responsible for these dynamics.

SourceKyushu University·JournaliScience·TypeExperimental study·DateApr 21, 2023

Heart injury biomarker may help COVID-19 patients avoid hospitalization, new study shows

A new study published in PLOS ONE found that a heart injury biomarker, cardiac troponin, can identify low-risk COVID-19 patients who have normal troponin levels, potentially helping doctors send them home safely. The study suggests that elevated troponin levels may not accurately predict individual patient risk of death.

SourceUniversity of St. Andrews·JournalPLOS ONE·TypeData/statistical analysis·DateApr 21, 2023

New tool facilitates clinical interpretation of genetic information

Researchers developed DeMAG, an open-source web server facilitating accurate interpretation of genetic mutations in disease genes. The tool reduces false positives by integrating structural and evolutionary features, enabling medical professionals to make informed clinical decisions.

SourceMax Planck Institute of Molecular Cell Biology and Genetics (MPI-CBG)·JournalNature Communications·TypeComputational simulation/modeling·DateApr 21, 2023

Researchers identify unique biomarker patterns identifying MIS-C and severe COVID in children

Researchers have identified specific biomarker patterns in blood samples that are unique to severe COVID-19 infection and Multisystem Inflammatory Syndrome in Children (MIS-C) in children. These findings may lead to the development of diagnostic tests to predict severe disease and distinguish MIS-C from other conditions.

SourceChildren's National Hospital·JournalCell Reports Medicine·DateApr 21, 2023

Obstetricians more emotionally stable than most

A study from Lund University found Swedish obstetricians and gynecologists have a significantly higher emotional stability and conscientiousness compared to the general population. This difference affects their decision-making styles in acute childbirth situations.

SourceLund University·JournalScientific Reports·DateApr 21, 2023

Firearms injure or kill up to a quarter of juvenile justice youth after detention

A new study by Northwestern University found that up to a quarter of juvenile justice youth are later injured or killed by firearms within 16 years. The study highlights the need for policy and intervention strategies to address the epidemic of firearm injury and death among high-risk youth, particularly those in the juvenile justice s...

SourceNorthwestern University·JournalJAMA Network Open·TypeData/statistical analysis·DateApr 21, 2023

Putting hydrogen on solid ground: Simulations with a machine learning model predict a new phase of solid hydrogen

Researchers used a machine learning model to simulate the behavior of hydrogen atoms at high pressures, discovering a new phase that was missed by previous theories and experiments. The discovery has sparked further investigation into the properties of solid hydrogen under extreme conditions.

SourceUniversity of Illinois Grainger College of Engineering·JournalPhysical Review Letters·DateApr 21, 2023

Study shows how machine learning can identify social grooming behavior from acceleration signals in wild baboons

Researchers tracked social grooming behavior in wild baboons using collars-mounted accelerometers, identifying and quantifying giving and receiving grooming with high accuracy. The study's findings have important implications for the study of social behavior in animals, particularly non-human primates.

SourceSwansea University·JournalRoyal Society Open Science·TypeObservational study·DateApr 21, 2023

Study finds alcohol-related liver disease soared in nearly all states during the pandemic, with one race particularly affected

Alcohol consumption increased substantially across US during COVID-19 pandemic, particularly among American Indian and Alaska Native populations, leading to a six-fold increase in deaths from alcohol-associated liver disease compared to white people. The study highlights the need for urgent action by public policy leaders to address th...

SourceMassachusetts General Hospital·JournalJAMA Health Forum·DateApr 21, 2023

A K-/Ka-band planar shared-aperture beam-scanning array with a high-isolation for the emerging mm-wave shared-aperture terminals

A K-/Ka-band planar shared-aperture beam-scanning array with high isolation is presented, featuring a compact footprint and wideband operation. The proposed antenna achieves improved channel isolation using a fully differential feed network and filtering response of the substrate-integrated waveguide.

SourceScience China Press·JournalScience China Information Sciences·DateApr 21, 2023

Researchers devise cascaded microfluidic circuits for pulsatile filtration of extracellular vesicles directly from whole blood samples

Cascaded microfluidic circuits successfully isolate and purify EVs directly from blood samples within 30 minutes, surpassing ultracentrifugation and dead-end filtration methods. The technology has high clinical potential for early cancer diagnosis and real-time monitoring of tumor development.

SourceChinese Academy of Sciences Headquarters·JournalScience Advances·DateApr 21, 2023

New approach to developing efficient, high-precision 3D light shapers

Scientists create a simple approach to fabricating highly precise 3D aperiodic photonic volume elements (APVEs) for various applications. The method uses direct laser writing to arrange voxels of specific refractive indices in glass, enabling the precise control of light flow and achieving record-high diffraction efficiency.

SourceSPIE--International Society for Optics and Photonics·JournalAdvanced Photonics Nexus·DateApr 21, 2023

Greener batteries

Researchers have developed a new type of organic battery that uses redox-organic electrode materials (OEMs) synthesized from natural materials. The battery features high capacity, scalability, and recyclability, making it a promising sustainable alternative to traditional lithium-ion batteries.

SourceWiley·JournalAngewandte Chemie International Edition·TypeExperimental study·DateApr 21, 2023

Bank of England media coverage is an "effective” additional channel for accountability, study shows

A recent study by University of Exeter researchers found that the Bank of England's media coverage plays a significant role in reinforcing accountability. The study analyzed 13,986 articles from major news outlets and discovered that media coverage levels are strongly linked to parliamentary hearings and speeches by central bankers. Th...

SourceUniversity of Exeter·JournalGovernance·TypeMeta-analysis·DateApr 21, 2023

Want to make better materials? Read between the lines. Or the “grain boundaries,” as they’re known in materials science.

A team of scientists created a mathematical model that accurately describes microstructures by integrating data from highly magnified images taken during experiments. The findings provide insight into how microstructures change at high temperatures and have implications for the development of new materials.

SourceLehigh University·Journalnpj Computational Materials·TypeComputational simulation/modeling·DateApr 21, 2023

What makes someone likely to be a first-gen college grad? Money

A new study reveals that first-generation college graduates often originate from more affluent families with greater resources. This challenges the notion of a meritocracy, where success is solely based on individual effort. The research highlights the significant advantage these students have due to their family's socioeconomic status.

SourceNorth Carolina State University·JournalSociological Quarterly·TypeData/statistical analysis·DateApr 21, 2023

The right sports bra may increase your running performance by 7%

A new study published in Frontiers in Sports and Active Living found that greater breast support during running is associated with increased knee joint stiffness, altering the lower body biomechanics of female runners. High support sports bras can improve running performance by up to 7% for women.

SourceFrontiers·JournalFrontiers in Sports and Active Living·TypeObservational study·DateApr 21, 2023