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Science News Archive August 2023 - Page 14


Page 14 of 38

Coffee offers performance boost for concrete

Engineers at RMIT University have developed a technique to make concrete 30% stronger using biochar made from roasted used-coffee grounds. This innovation reduces waste going to landfills and emits fewer greenhouse gases, offering a sustainable alternative to traditional construction materials.

SourceRMIT University·JournalJournal of Cleaner Production·TypeExperimental study·DateAug 22, 2023

Want to increase resiliency in kids? Teach creativity

A study found that teaching children literary techniques such as perspective-shifting, counter-factual thinking and causal thinking improved their ability to solve problems and come up with creative solutions. The training increased their sense of self-efficacy and helped them develop a second plan when things didn't go as expected.

SourceOhio State University·JournalJournal of Creativity·TypeExperimental study·DateAug 22, 2023

Speckle diffraction tomography reveals nanoscale features in thick biological specimens

Scientists have developed speckle diffraction tomography, which enables high-resolution images of thick biological samples with lateral resolution up to 500 nanometers. The technique offers full-field quantitative imaging capabilities, revealing nanoscale features in complex specimens.

Diabetes Magazine Paper of the Month features Pennington Biomedical research demonstrating the link between exercise and improved pancreatic function and insulin secretion

A recent study by Pennington Biomedical Research Center identifies GDF15 as a protein that acts as a cellular signal to enhance insulin secretion. High-intensity exercise training in patients with type 2 diabetes was found to have elevated levels of GDF15, associated with improved glycemic control.

Understanding river alteration via shifting flow regime

Researchers investigate drastic short-term alterations in rivers due to shifts in vegetation and geomorphology, attributed to climate change and human factors. The study found that Naeseongcheon Stream experienced significant vegetation encroachment after a drought, leading to rapid alteration from a white river to a green river.

SourceNational Research Council of Science & Technology·JournalRiver Research and Applications·DateAug 22, 2023

Dramatic reductions in malaria cases and deaths continue over five years with seasonal malaria vaccine-drug combination

The Phase 3 study confirmed that combining the RTS,S vaccine with antimalarial drugs reduces clinical malaria episodes, severe malaria cases, and deaths from malaria in young children by nearly two-thirds compared to either intervention alone. The vaccine-drug combination provided greater than 90% protection against malaria episodes.

SourcePATH·JournalThe Lancet Infectious Diseases·TypeRandomized controlled/clinical trial·DateAug 22, 2023

Bronze Age family systems deciphered: Mainz palaeogeneticists analyse a 3,800-year-old extended family

A groundbreaking study has unraveled the secrets of a 3,800-year-old extended family from a Bronze Age necropolis in the Russian steppe. The research reveals that most women buried in the kurgan were immigrants, while their sisters found new homes elsewhere, highlighting the importance of female marriage mobility in prehistoric societies.

SourceJohannes Gutenberg Universitaet Mainz·JournalProceedings of the National Academy of Sciences·TypeCase study·DateAug 22, 2023

Delineating the pathways of warm water towards East Antarctica’s Totten Glacier

A multinational team of researchers studied the flow of warm water to the Totten Ice Shelf, revealing crucial details on how Circumpolar Deep Water interacts with the glacier and accelerates melting processes. The findings highlight the importance of bathymetry and regional circulation in regulating ocean heat transport towards the ice...

SourceResearch Organization of Information and Systems·JournalNature Communications·DateAug 22, 2023

New epoxy resin resists flames and reduces waste

Researchers from Swiss Federal Laboratories for Materials Science and Technology (EMPA) have developed a fully recyclable, flame-retardant epoxy resin-based plastic. The new material retains excellent thermomechanical properties while being reshaped like a thermoplast due to the addition of a special phosphonate ester molecule.

SourceSwiss Federal Laboratories for Materials Science and Technology (EMPA)·JournalChemical Engineering Journal·TypeExperimental study·DateAug 22, 2023

BU commentary: Vitamin D supplementation was found to improve more than 1.5 fold survival of cancers of the digestive tract including colorectal cancer in patients with a cancer fighting immune system

A new commentary suggests that vitamin D supplementation can improve survival outcomes for patients with digestive tract cancers, particularly those with a high-risk genetic makeup. The study found that patients with antibodies to control the production of mutated p53 protein saw improved survival rates when taking daily vitamin D3 sup...

SourceBoston University School of Medicine·JournalJAMA Network Open·TypeCommentary/editorial·DateAug 22, 2023

BU research probes the contradictory roles of SAA in fighting inflammation and infection while triggering life-threatening disease

A new study by Boston University researchers found that Serum Amyloid A (SAA) acts as a universal protein detergent to clear cell membrane debris from wounds and inflammation sites. However, high levels of SAA can also promote fibrous deposits in vital organs like the kidney and liver, leading to life-threatening disease AA amyloidosis.

SourceBoston University School of Medicine·JournalJournal of Lipid Research·TypeExperimental study·DateAug 22, 2023

Whale shark health relies on habitat, diet – and the right mix of microbes

A new study has revealed that the health of whale sharks depends on a balance of microbes in their skin, which is crucial for their well-being and survival. The research, published in Scientific Reports, used genomic sequencing technology to describe the types of microbes on the skin surface of 74 whale sharks from around the world.

SourceFlinders University·JournalScientific Reports·TypeObservational study·DateAug 22, 2023

Researchers decode new antibiotic

Researchers from the University of Bonn and international partners have discovered a new antibiotic called clovibactin that effectively attacks the cell wall of bacteria, including multi-resistant 'superbugs'. The compound has been shown to target bacterial cell wall components with high specificity, minimizing resistance development.

SourceUniversity of Bonn·JournalCell·TypeExperimental study·DateAug 22, 2023

Topology's role in decoding energy of amorphous systems

Researchers from Osaka University and others have used topological data analysis and machine learning to predict the properties of amorphous materials. The study employed a method combining persistent homology and machine learning to accurately predict the energies of disordered structures composed of carbon atoms at varying densities.

SourceOsaka University·JournalThe Journal of Chemical Physics·TypeComputational simulation/modeling·DateAug 22, 2023

NREL analysis quantifies impacts of setback ordinances on land available for renewable energy deployment

A new NREL study quantifies the impacts of setback ordinances on land availability for renewable energy deployment. Setback distances vary significantly across jurisdictions, affecting wind and solar resource utilization. The study suggests that local land use considerations play a crucial role in U.S. decarbonization.

SourceDOE/National Renewable Energy Laboratory·JournalEnvironmental Science & Technology·TypeData/statistical analysis·DateAug 22, 2023

American College of Lifestyle Medicine announces core competencies for physicians specializing in intensive lifestyle medicine treatment

The American College of Lifestyle Medicine (ACLM) has established new core clinical competencies for lifestyle medicine intensivists, a level of certification that requires advanced skills and knowledge to practice intensive therapeutic lifestyle treatment. The competencies aim to guide the education and practice of physicians speciali...

SourceAmerican College of Lifestyle Medicine·JournalAmerican Journal of Lifestyle Medicine·DateAug 22, 2023

UT Health San Antonio, 7 collaborators garner $46 million from NIH to move discoveries into practice

The University of Texas Health Science Center at San Antonio will leverage the funding to translate scientific discoveries into therapeutic benefits, with a focus on reducing health disparities among Mexican Americans, active military personnel, and veterans. The research aims to push ideas along toward national application in the clin...

Immune cells linked to anxiety, depression, and Alzheimer’s disease

A study suggests that immune cells, particularly regulatory T cells, play a role in anxiety and depression, with reduced expression of the transcription factor Foxp3 associated with major depressive disorders. Depletion of these cells leads to increased anxiety-like behaviors in mice, highlighting their potential link to these conditions.

SourcePNAS Nexus·JournalPNAS Nexus·TypeExperimental study·DateAug 22, 2023

Challenges ahead: navigating climate change and water management

Researchers found that climate change and changing water withdrawals have a combined impact on low river flows in Western and Central Europe. The study emphasizes the need for coordinated actions to decrease water withdrawals at regional, national, and international scales to tackle climate change effects.

SourceInternational Institute for Applied Systems Analysis·JournalEnvironmental Research Letters·TypeData/statistical analysis·DateAug 22, 2023

New Chinese Medical Journal review summarizes latest research on gamma delta T cells for tumor immunotherapy

Recent research on gamma delta T cells has made significant progress in understanding their role in antitumor immune response. Key findings include the identification of various hidden mechanisms and a strong association between tumor-infiltrating gamma delta T cells and patient survival.

SourceCactus Communications·JournalChinese Medical Journal·TypeLiterature review·DateAug 22, 2023

Cells with an ear for music release insulin

Researchers at ETH Zurich have developed a gene switch that uses sound waves to trigger insulin release in designer cells. The system works by embedding an ion channel protein from the bacterium E. coli into human cells, which opens in response to sound, causing insulin vesicles to fuse and release insulin.

SourceETH Zurich·JournalThe Lancet·TypeExperimental study·DateAug 22, 2023

Effect of a Mediterranean diet or mindfulness-based stress reduction during pregnancy on child neurodevelopment

A randomized clinical trial found that maternal lifestyle interventions during pregnancy based on a Mediterranean diet or mindfulness-based stress reduction significantly improved child neurodevelopmental outcomes. The study included 626 children and showed that these interventions can have long-lasting effects on a child's development...

SourceJAMA Network·JournalJAMA Network Open·DateAug 22, 2023

Exascale revolution: Supercomputers unleash a new era in biophysics discovery

The next generation of supercomputers is revolutionizing biophysics research, allowing researchers to simulate complex biological processes with extraordinary detail. This enables the creation of new proteins and design of novel molecular circuits, challenging longstanding biological assumptions.

SourceAuburn University Department of Physics·JournalBiophysical Journal·TypeComputational simulation/modeling·DateAug 22, 2023

Digital real estate listings with more photos, descriptions earn higher sale prices

A recent study by Iowa State University found that listings with more experiential features, such as photos and descriptions, increase the sale price of properties. The researchers analyzed data from Zillow and found that experience attributes play a bigger role in sale prices for homes valued above or below the neighborhood average.

SourceIowa State University·JournalInformation Systems Research·TypeData/statistical analysis·DateAug 22, 2023

Origins of coronary arteries

A team of researchers compared the development of blood vessels in various animals, including mice, quails, and fish, to understand the origins of the human heart. They found that the structure of the human coronary arteries likely evolved from a common amniote ancestor, adapting to life on land.

SourceUniversity of Tokyo·JournaleLife·TypeExperimental study·DateAug 22, 2023

Automate or informate? Firms must invest in specific types of IT to improve working capital management

A new study from the University of Notre Dame reveals that investing in specific types of IT can help firms manage their working capital more efficiently. The research shows that IT infrastructure investments have a stronger impact on improving working capital-firm performance relationships than IT labor investments.

SourceUniversity of Notre Dame·JournalJournal of Operations Management·DateAug 22, 2023

Donor motor neurons could restore muscle function in ALS

Scientists have successfully restored damaged nerve-to-muscle connections in a highly aggressive mouse model of amyotrophic lateral sclerosis (ALS) using grafted replacement motor neurons and optical nerve stimulation. The treatment improved muscle contraction force by over 13-fold, suggesting its potential for treating ALS patients.

SourceeLife·JournaleLife·DateAug 22, 2023

High-fidelity mode scaling via topological-optimized on-chip metalens for compact photonic interconnection

The article introduces a new design method for on-chip metalens that enables efficient optical interconnection between devices with large scaling ratios. The optimized metalens achieves high transmission efficiency, lower stray light, and improved focusing efficiency compared to traditional waveguide tapers.