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Science News for February 1, 2023


Despite concerns over antimicrobial resistance, global antimicrobial use in animals could increase by 8% by 2030 if stronger restrictions are not applied worldwide

A new study predicts global antimicrobial use in food-producing animals will increase by 8% by 2030 if stronger regulations are not implemented worldwide. The findings highlight the need for stricter controls on antimicrobial use, which has raised concerns over antimicrobial resistance.

SourcePLOS·JournalPLOS Global Public Health·DateFeb 1, 2023

Illinois Tech professors’ paper challenging classical view of muscle contraction could lead to new cardiac treatments

Researchers discovered that myosin motor proteins must be activated before muscles can contract, potentially leading to breakthroughs in treating inherited cardiac conditions. This new understanding could lead to medical remedies for diseases like dilated cardiomyopathy and hypertrophic cardiomyopathy.

SourceIllinois Institute of Technology·JournalProceedings of the National Academy of Sciences·TypeExperimental study·DateFeb 1, 2023

Molecular machines could treat fungal infections

Researchers at Rice University have developed light-activated nanoscale drills that can kill pathogenic fungi, providing a potential new treatment option for fungal infections. The molecular machines target the mitochondria of fungal cells, disrupting cellular metabolism and leading to cell death.

SourceRice University·JournalAdvanced Science·TypeExperimental study·DateFeb 1, 2023

Reading out RNA structures in real time

Scientists have developed a technique to detect RNA structures in live cells, shedding light on the role of G-quadruplexes in neurodegenerative diseases. The method uses fluorescent spectroscopy and resolves existing limitations in studying these structures in real-time.

SourceHokkaido University·JournalNucleic Acids Research·TypeExperimental study·DateFeb 1, 2023

Is poorer blood sugar control associated with a reduced capacity to lose heat during exercise in hot conditions for people with type 2 diabetes?

Researchers found that poorer blood sugar control, as measured by haemoglobin A1c, was associated with higher core body temperature and increased heart rate during exercise in a heated chamber. This suggests that people with type 2 diabetes may be at greater risk of heat-related stress and heat-related injuries.

SourceThe Physiological Society·JournalExperimental Physiology·TypeExperimental study·DateFeb 1, 2023

Deep-learning filter improves precision of cell mutation detection, accuracy of cancer diagnoses

A new deep-learning based filter, DeepFilter, was proposed to effectively sift through false positive variants generated by VarDict, improving the accuracy and efficiency of cancer diagnosis and treatment. The experimental results showed promising outcomes, outperforming other filters in terms of false positive variant filter tasks.

SourceTsinghua University Press·JournalTsinghua Science & Technology·DateFeb 1, 2023

Immunocompromised patients remain at higher risk of COVID-19 death in hospital

A UK study using data from over 150,000 hospitalized patients found that immunocompromised individuals had a 44% higher risk of death compared to those with normal immune systems. The gap in mortality rates widened for immunocompromised patients over time, highlighting the need for targeted interventions such as antiviral treatments an...

SourceUniversity of Liverpool·JournalPLOS Medicine·TypeData/statistical analysis·DateFeb 1, 2023

Communities that suffered rapid manufacturing job losses fare worse on sustainability

A study found that communities experiencing sudden and significant job losses in manufacturing are less likely to engage in sustainability planning and meet sustainability-related goals. This is attributed to deep-rooted connections between industry and community identity, making it difficult for these communities to transition.

SourceNorth Carolina State University·JournalEnvironmental Innovation and Societal Transitions·TypeData/statistical analysis·DateFeb 1, 2023

Uncovering the secrets of electron-eating microorganisms

Researchers at Aarhus University are studying electro-trophic microorganisms that convert green electricity and CO2 into high-value products. The project aims to understand the underlying mechanisms of these microbes, which could lead to breakthroughs in microbiological Power-to-X and novel tools for microbial corrosion prevention.

Wildfires are increasingly burning California’s snowy landscapes and colliding with winter droughts to shrink California’s snowpack

A new study shows that midwinter dry spells accelerate snowmelt in burned areas, as wildfires increase sun exposure and reduce the snowpack's ability to reflect sunlight. This can lead to earlier snowmelt, affecting water availability and forecasting, with cascading impacts on hydrology.

SourceDesert Research Institute·JournalGeophysical Research Letters·DateFeb 1, 2023

Plasma-Structural Coloring: A new colorful approach to an inkless future

Scientists at Shinshu University have created a new method for achieving structural coloring through plasma irradiation of graphite, eliminating the need for harmful color dyes. The technique produces erasable and stable colors that can be manipulated using various factors, offering a sustainable solution for the art world.

SourceShinshu University·JournalACS Applied Materials & Interfaces·TypeExperimental study·DateFeb 1, 2023

Lubricants for stainless steel

Researchers at the University of Sheffield have discovered that epoxy-functionalized nanoparticles can significantly reduce friction on stainless steel surfaces. The nanoparticles adhere strongly to metal surfaces due to chemical adsorption, leading to a notable reduction in friction. This finding has potential implications for next-ge...

SourceWiley·JournalAngewandte Chemie International Edition·TypeExperimental study·DateFeb 1, 2023

Academic medical centers are linked to better health outcomes at neighboring hospitals, researchers find

A study published in JAMA Network Open found that patients treated at non-teaching hospitals had lower mortality and more healthy days at home when care was provided in markets with academic medical centers. The presence of AMCs was associated with a spillover effect, improving outcomes for neighboring community hospitals.

SourceBeth Israel Deaconess Medical Center·JournalJAMA Network Open·DateFeb 1, 2023

New research computes first step toward predicting lifespan of electric space propulsion systems

New research computes first step toward predicting lifespan of electric space propulsion systems by developing a model that bridges scales between molecular dynamics simulations and experiments. The model resolves limitations and uncertainties in experimental data, gaining insight into critical phenomenon and surface morphology over time.

Looking beyond microplastics, Oregon State researchers find that cotton and synthetic microfibers impact behavior and growth of aquatic organisms

A new study from Oregon State University found that both cotton and synthetic microfibers have negative impacts on the behavior and growth of aquatic organisms. The research, published in Frontiers in Marine Science, suggests that increasing awareness and control over fiber release can help mitigate these effects.

SourceOregon State University·JournalFrontiers in Marine Science·DateFeb 1, 2023

Shining a light on the biological origins of PTSD

A Tufts-led team discovered a brain region marker that indicates vulnerability to developing post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD). The study found heightened amygdala activation in response to neutral facial expressions, suggesting an acquired characteristic of PTSD. This finding may inform early intervention strategies for individual...

SourceTufts University·JournalJournal of Psychiatric Research·TypeExperimental study·DateFeb 1, 2023

Princeton researchers reveal microscopic quantum correlations of ultracold molecules

Princeton researchers have achieved a major breakthrough by microscopically studying molecular gases at a level never before achieved. The team cooled molecules to ultracold temperatures, observed individual molecules with high spatial resolution, and detected subtle quantum correlations, opening up new avenues for many-body physics re...

SourcePrinceton University·JournalNature·TypeExperimental study·DateFeb 1, 2023

How we navigate through crowds

Scientists from the University of Vienna found that grid cells in the brain play a crucial role in detecting movements of people around us. This mechanism may help explain disorientation in dementia patients. The study suggests that grid cells create a mental map of our surroundings, including the movements of others.

SourceUniversity of Vienna·JournalNature Communications·DateFeb 1, 2023

‘Liquid windows’ inspired by squid skin could help buildings react to changing environments, save on energy costs

A multilayered fluidic system inspired by squid skin can optimize the wavelength, intensity, and dispersion of light reaching building interiors. This could lead to significant savings on heating, cooling, and lighting energy costs, with annual reductions of up to 50%.

SourceUniversity of Toronto Faculty of Applied Science & Engineering·JournalProceedings of the National Academy of Sciences·DateFeb 1, 2023

New approach to “punishment and reward” method of training artificial intelligence offers potential key to unlock new treatments for aggressive cancers

A new approach to deep reinforcement learning demonstrates ability to stabilize large datasets used in AI models, which may lead to uncovering ways to arrest cancer development. The method has been successful in designing and refining existing therapies, with the next step being to use live cells.

SourceUniversity of Surrey·JournalIEEE Transactions on Control of Network Systems·DateFeb 1, 2023

Using CRISPR to detect cancer biomarkers

Researchers developed a novel CRISPR system to detect small amounts of cancer-related molecules in exosomes in plasma, effectively distinguishing between malignant and benign samples. The method has the potential to make cancer diagnosis and monitoring quicker and easier by analyzing blood samples.

SourceAmerican Chemical Society·JournalACS Sensors·DateFeb 1, 2023

A new analysis of the literature on NETosis from Dompé farmaceutici puts a spotlight on neutrophils in carcinogenesis and highlights the importance of targeting IL-8 and EVs in drug-resistant tumors

A new analysis of NETosis from Dompé farmaceutici puts a spotlight on neutrophils in carcinogenesis. Neutrophils' behavior is modulated by extracellular vesicles and interleukin-8, leading to tumor progression and drug resistance. Targeting IL-8 and EVs may lead to novel drugs to regulate neutrophil biology.

SourceDompe farmaceutici SpA·JournalFrontiers in Oncology·DateFeb 1, 2023

Amplified search for new forces

A team of researchers has developed an amplification technique to study a parity-violating interaction between spins mediated by a hypothetical Z' boson. The setup, called SAPPHIRE, uses polarized rubidium and xenon atoms to increase sensitivity five orders of magnitude, setting new constraints on the strength of this interaction.

SourceJohannes Gutenberg Universitaet Mainz·JournalScience Advances·TypeExperimental study·DateFeb 1, 2023

Study offers neurological explanation for how brains bias partisans against new information

A recent study published in Science Advances found that individuals with similar ideologies have more similar neural fingerprints of political words and process new information in a polarized way. The researchers used a range of methods, including fMRI and representation similarity analysis, to explore how the brains of people who iden...

SourceBrown University·JournalScience Advances·TypeObservational study·DateFeb 1, 2023

Mapping Mexico’s dengue fever hotspots

A Rutgers researcher has analyzed data from Mexico's Ministry of Health to identify dengue fever hotspots, highlighting areas where severe outbreaks occur. The study found that lower socioeconomic status increases risk of dengue fever and that DENV-2 is the deadliest serotype.

SourceRutgers University·JournalEcological Informatics·TypeContent analysis·DateFeb 1, 2023

Kessler Foundation team to study impact of strategy-based cognitive training on new learning and memory in individuals with multiple sclerosis

Researchers at Kessler Foundation are conducting a double-blind randomized clinical trial to evaluate the impact of their strategy-based cognitive training program on new learning and memory in individuals with multiple sclerosis. The study aims to assess the efficacy of this protocol, which is based on the KF-STEM protocol.

SourceKessler Foundation·JournalContemporary Clinical Trials Communications·TypeRandomized controlled/clinical trial·DateFeb 1, 2023

Vitamin D supplementation is associated with a reduced risk of suicide attempts in a large cohort of U.S. veterans, especially in Black veterans and those with pre-existing low vitamin D

A large cohort study found that vitamin D supplementation is associated with a reduced risk of suicide attempts among US veterans. The study highlights the importance of vitamin D levels and supplementation in preventing suicidal behaviors, particularly among Black veterans and those with pre-existing low vitamin D.

SourcePLOS·JournalPLOS ONE·DateFeb 1, 2023

Contributing to the utilization of big data! Developing new data learning methods for artificial intelligence

A team of researchers has proposed a novel method for multi-label classification that enables continual learning from big data. The approach combines clustering and Bayesian methods to achieve high classification performance and adaptability in the face of new data.

SourceOsaka Metropolitan University·JournalIEEE Transactions on Pattern Analysis and Machine Intelligence·TypeComputational simulation/modeling·DateFeb 1, 2023

MRI surveillance for postsurgical musculoskeletal soft-tissue sarcomas: AJR systematic review and meta-analysis

A systematic review and meta-analysis found that MRI-based surveillance after surgical treatment can detect clinically occult local recurrences, potentially improving patient outcomes. The study included 19 studies and showed a significant association between high-intensity surveillance and the detection of local recurrences.

SourceAmerican Roentgen Ray Society·JournalAmerican Journal of Roentgenology·TypeSystematic review·DateFeb 1, 2023

Feather mite species related to the Laysan albatross discovered in Japan

Researchers have identified two new feather mite species associated with the endangered Laysan albatross in Japan. The study provides valuable insights into the ecological dynamics of these parasites and their impact on the bird population. The findings highlight the importance of conservation efforts to protect this species.

SourceHosei University·JournalSystematic and Applied Acarology·TypeExperimental study·DateFeb 1, 2023

Regular high-intensity physical activity in early adulthood may increase the risk of urinary and fecal incontinence in middle-aged women

A study of over 1,000 women found that regular high-intensity physical activity in early adulthood was associated with an increased risk of symptoms like urge urinary incontinence and fecal incontinence. Women who engaged in competitive sports as young adults were more likely to experience these issues.

SourceUniversity of Jyväskylä - Jyväskylän yliopisto·JournalBJOG An International Journal of Obstetrics & Gynaecology·DateFeb 1, 2023