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Science News for February 13, 2023


Study reveals optimum time to apply eco-friendly biopesticides to tackle Oriental migratory locust pest

Researchers from the Chinese MARA-CABI Joint Laboratory have discovered the optimum time to apply safer-to-use biopesticides to fight the Oriental migratory locust pest. The study, published in Frontiers in Physiology, found that applying biopesticides on younger locusts at dawn or dusk is most effective due to lower body temperatures.

SourceCABI·JournalFrontiers in Physiology·TypeExperimental study·DateFeb 13, 2023

Do forest trees really “talk” through underground fungi?

Researchers found no strong evidence that underground fungal networks, known as common mycorrhizal networks (CMNs), offer benefits to trees and their seedlings. While CMNs exist, there is limited understanding of their structure and function in the field, leading to questionable claims about resource transfer and seedling survival.

SourceUniversity of Alberta·JournalNature Ecology & Evolution·TypeLiterature review·DateFeb 13, 2023

Black girls benefit most when STEM teachers train up

A study by Rice University found that students in classes taught by STEM teachers who received professional development training were more likely to pursue STEM majors in college. Black female students showed the greatest increase, with nearly double the percentage of non-AMP! teachers.

SourceRice University·JournalThe Journal of STEM Outreach·TypeData/statistical analysis·DateFeb 13, 2023

Nightly sleep is key to student success

A recent study at Carnegie Mellon University discovered that students who receive less than six hours of sleep per night experience a pronounced decline in academic performance. The study, which tracked over 600 first-year college students, found that each hour of lost sleep corresponded to a 0.07 decrease in end-of-term GPA.

SourceCarnegie Mellon University·JournalProceedings of the National Academy of Sciences·DateFeb 13, 2023

The carbon intensive shipping activities on the high seas could become a potential barrier against the worldwide carbon mitigation and sustainability efforts

A recent study found that high seas shipping accounts for one-third of all shipping emissions, with annual CO2-e emissions reaching 211.60 million metric tonnes in 2019. The study suggests implementing tailored carbon mitigation policies in different high seas regions could reduce emissions by up to 54.36 million tonnes.

SourceScience China Press·JournalNational Science Review·DateFeb 13, 2023

Study suggests fructose could drive Alzheimer’s disease

A study suggests that fructose metabolism in the brain may be driving the development of Alzheimer's disease, an evolutionary survival pathway gone awry. Researchers found that fructose reduces blood flow to areas involved in self-control and memory, leading to progressive brain atrophy and neuron loss.

SourceUniversity of Colorado Anschutz Medical Campus·JournalAmerican Journal of Clinical Nutrition·TypeObservational study·DateFeb 13, 2023

Out with the old, in with the new? Exploring differences in elite mobility during the Meiji Restoration

A new study by Tokyo University of Science researchers examines the connection between political regime changes and social mobility during the Meiji Restoration. The results show that social mobility increased before the consolidation of a new political power, with meritocracy playing a key role in this period.

SourceTokyo University of Science·JournalBritish Journal of Sociology·TypeLiterature review·DateFeb 13, 2023

Method found for analysing complex, tiny crystals

Researchers at Universität Leipzig have developed a new method to analyze complex, tiny crystals like phosphorus oxide nitride. The technique successfully uncovers the structure of previously difficult-to-analyze compounds, offering potential for novel phosphors in future studies.

SourceUniversität Leipzig·JournalChemistry - A European Journal·TypeImaging analysis·DateFeb 13, 2023

Overweight and obesity prevalent and poorly managed among adults with type 1 diabetes

A recent study found that adults with type 1 diabetes are at a high risk of being overweight or obese, but only half receive lifestyle recommendations to manage their weight. The study also highlighted the importance of individualized patient education in improving weight management for these patients.

SourceAmerican College of Physicians·JournalAnnals of Internal Medicine·TypeData/statistical analysis·DateFeb 13, 2023

Urban birds prefer native trees

A long-term study from Lund University in Sweden found that native trees are preferred by urban birds due to their availability of resources. Non-native trees lack an evolutionary history with the local ecosystem and have fewer insects, leading to a shortage of food for insectivorous birds.

SourceLund University·JournalOecologia·DateFeb 13, 2023

Scientific AI’s ‘black box’ is no match for 200-year-old method

A new study uses Fourier analysis to understand how deep neural networks learn complex physics. By analyzing the equation of a fully trained model, researchers were able to identify crucial information about how the network learns and generalizes. This breakthrough could accelerate the use of scientific deep learning in climate science.

SourceRice University·JournalPNAS Nexus·TypeComputational simulation/modeling·DateFeb 13, 2023

The relationship between ghosting and closure

A recent study found nearly two-thirds of participants have ghosted someone, and individuals with a high need for closure reported even lower needs satisfaction after being ghosted. On the other hand, those who wanted closure felt more positive when recalled times they were acknowledged by their partner.

SourceUniversity of Georgia·JournalJournal of Social and Personal Relationships·DateFeb 13, 2023

Reign of invasive rusty crayfish may be ending; Wisconsin lakes rejoice

A new study suggests that the invasive rusty crayfish may be dying off naturally, allowing native water plants and snails to flourish. In some Northern Wisconsin lakes, crayfish populations have declined by nearly zero, leading to a resurgence of plant life and potential ecosystem recovery.

Dispersed marketing responsibility enhances the profitability of firms in the early stages of their operations

A recent study found that dispersing marketing responsibility between personnel groups in early-stage operations promotes market orientation and improves profitability. Young firms should avoid rigid structures, instead focusing on information flow to support marketing in the early stages.

SourceUniversity of Eastern Finland·JournalJournal of the Academy of Marketing Science·DateFeb 13, 2023

Surfing the research data wave

The EnzymeML format provides a standardized way to record enzymatic experiment results, including conditions, data, kinetic models, and parameters. This enables seamless communication between experimental platforms and promotes reproducibility and trust in scientific results.

SourceUniversitaet Stuttgart·JournalNature Methods·TypeData/statistical analysis·DateFeb 13, 2023

How teamwork makes superbugs more deadly and drug-resistant

Researchers have characterised the mutually beneficial relationship between Klebsiella pneumoniae and Acinetobacter baumannii, two pathogens responsible for severe infections. This relationship enables Klebsiella to survive in higher antibiotic concentrations, making it more deadly and resistant to treatment.

SourceMacquarie University·JournalNature Communications·TypeExperimental study·DateFeb 13, 2023

Understanding the magic of movie watching in the brain: The goal of a research led by the University of Oxford and UPF

The study shows that watching movies engages necessary brain circuitry for pleasure and motivation, temporarily freeing the mind from stress and problem-solving. This provides new insights into complex changes in brain hierarchy, with potential applications in understanding neuropsychiatric disorders.

SourceUniversitat Pompeu Fabra - Barcelona·JournalScience Advances·TypeObservational study·DateFeb 13, 2023

Urban gardens are good for ecosystems and humans

A new study from researchers at the University of Texas at Austin found that community gardens and urban farms support incredibly high levels of plant and animal biodiversity. These gardens also provide numerous ecosystem services, including pollination, carbon sequestration, and food production, while increasing human well-being.

SourceUniversity of Texas at Austin·JournalEcology Letters·TypeObservational study·DateFeb 13, 2023

Researchers solve a 150-year-old mystery

A team from the University of Bonn has solved a 150-year-old mystery surrounding Aetosaurs' age. Bone examination reveals that two specimens were juvenile, not small adults as previously thought. The discovery attributes this to social behavior among juvenile Aetosaur species.

SourceUniversity of Bonn·JournalJournal of Vertebrate Paleontology·TypeExperimental study·DateFeb 13, 2023

Researchers engineer spinal cord-like tissue with drug-guiding function for spinal cord injury repair

A research team at Chinese Academy of Sciences creates a spinal cord-like implant with covalent conjugation between biomaterials and cells, promoting cell retention and neural regeneration in rats after spinal cord injury. The study's findings have potential implications for human spinal cord tissue engineering therapy.

SourceChinese Academy of Sciences Headquarters·JournalScience Advances·TypeExperimental study·DateFeb 13, 2023

What is the impact of replacing short-haul flights on CO2 emissions and international connectivity?

A study by Universitat Oberta de Catalunya (UOC) finds that replacing short-haul flights with rail in Germany could reduce CO2 emissions by 2.7-22%. However, this policy may also harm international connectivity, particularly for peripheral regions and passengers with limited onward connections.

SourceUniversitat Oberta de Catalunya (UOC)·JournalCase Studies on Transport Policy·TypeCase study·DateFeb 13, 2023

Ohio University professor Jennifer Hines and her research group uncovers new class of medicinal compounds that target RNA

A team of researchers led by Ohio University professor Jennifer Hines has uncovered a new class of compounds that can target RNA and disrupt its function. The discovery identified a chemical scaffold that could be used to develop RNA-targeted medicines for various diseases.

SourceOhio University·JournalBiochemical and Biophysical Research Communications·TypeComputational simulation/modeling·DateFeb 13, 2023

Research aims to expand understanding of link between chronic stress and heart disease, among other age-related conditions

A University of Massachusetts Amherst epidemiologist is leading a team to better understand the effects of chronic stress on future health risks. They will examine metabolites in blood samples from a large, racially diverse population to identify potential biomarkers for heart disease, diabetes and cognitive decline.

Neurosteroid deficits leads to depressed behavior

A study in mice found that chronic stress impairs allopregnanolone production, a key neurosteroid involved in regulating emotions. This finding suggests that synthetic neurosteroid analogs might exert a beneficial effect in individuals with depression.

SourceTufts University·JournalBiological Psychiatry·TypeRandomized controlled/clinical trial·DateFeb 13, 2023

Does risk for heart disease start before birth?

Research highlights the intergenerational impact of prepregnancy heart health on offspring, with low pre-pregnancy cardiovascular health linked to pregnancy complications and higher risk for cardiovascular disease. Improving women's heart health before pregnancy could reduce these risks and have a positive impact on future generations.

SourceAmerican Heart Association·JournalCirculation·DateFeb 13, 2023

Creating 3D objects with sound

Researchers at Max Planck Institute and Heidelberg University have developed a technology to assemble matter in 3D using sound waves. They successfully printed microparticles, gel beads, and biological cells into three-dimensional shapes, paving the way for novel 3D cell culture techniques.

SourceMax-Planck-Gesellschaft·JournalScience Advances·TypeExperimental study·DateFeb 13, 2023

Nickel laden black gold converts CO2 to chemicals using solar energy and green hydrogen

Researchers at Tata Institute of Fundamental Research developed a plasmonic black gold-nickel catalyst that efficiently converts CO2 into chemicals using solar energy and green hydrogen. The catalyst shows a multifold increase in catalytic activity, achieving a high production rate of 2464±40 mmol g−1 h−1 with over 95% selectivity.

European big cat population threatened with extinction as genetics show the population is near collapse

A genetic study reveals that the Eurasian lynx population in France is critically endangered, with a mere 38 healthy breeding individuals. The low genetic diversity poses a significant threat to the species' survival, and urgent action is needed to introduce new genetic material and protect the remaining population.

SourceFrontiers·JournalFrontiers in Conservation Science·TypeObservational study·DateFeb 13, 2023

Tracking the happiness hormone

A team of scientists has created an implantable microsensor that can measure serotonin levels in the brain in real-time without deactivation. This breakthrough could improve diagnosis and treatment of mental illnesses. The sensor uses galvanic redox potentiometry to detect serotonin concentrations over a broad range.

SourceWiley·JournalAngewandte Chemie International Edition·TypeExperimental study·DateFeb 13, 2023

Oldest spinosaur brains revealed

Researchers have reconstructed the brains of two British spinosaurs, uncovering details about their sensory abilities and brain organization. The study suggests that early spinosaurs retained many aspects of common theropod brains, challenging previous assumptions about their semi-aquatic lifestyle.

SourceUniversity of Southampton·JournalJournal of Anatomy·TypeImaging analysis·DateFeb 13, 2023

Conundrum solved over HPV link with head and neck cancer

A major international trial found that patients with 'discordant' HPV test results, where the two types of tests show different results, have significantly worse outcomes than those who tested negative in both tests. The study also found that smoking status is a significant factor, with smokers at higher risk of worse outcomes.

SourceUniversity of Birmingham·JournalThe Lancet Oncology·TypeMeta-analysis·DateFeb 13, 2023

NYUAD researcher and colleagues develop novel “smart pills” that improve the diagnosis and treatment of gastrointestinal disorders

Researchers have developed a new system to facilitate the diagnosis and treatment of gastrointestinal motility disorders. The ingestible 'smart pill' tracks movement through the GI tract using magnetic fields, allowing for more accurate and efficient diagnosis and targeted therapeutic interventions.

SourceNew York University·JournalNature Electronics·DateFeb 13, 2023

Coral reefs in the Eastern Pacific could survive into the 2060s, new study finds

A new study found that some coral reefs in the Eastern Pacific could maintain high coral cover into the 2060s by shuffling symbiotic algae communities. The reefs predominantly built by corals in the genus Pocillopora and hosting heat-tolerant alga Durusdinium glynnii are better equipped to survive and maintain high levels of coral cover.

SourceUniversity of Miami Rosenstiel School of Marine, Atmospheric, and Earth Science·JournalProceedings of the National Academy of Sciences·TypeObservational study·DateFeb 13, 2023

Smart necklace to help you stop smoking

A smart necklace called SmokeMon tracks a user's every puff and provides valuable insights into their smoking behavior. By analyzing heat signatures, the device can detect when a cigarette is being lit, how much smoke is inhaled, and when the person holds it to their mouth, helping to prevent relapse and improve quit rates.

SourceNorthwestern University·JournalProceedings of the ACM on Interactive Mobile Wearable and Ubiquitous Technologies·DateFeb 13, 2023

Telemedicine reduces hospital transfers for very ill kids at rural, community emergency departments

A new study by UC Davis Health confirms that pediatric critical care telemedicine consults result in significantly fewer interfacility transfers for critically ill children. The study found that 84% of patients assigned to telemedicine were transferred, compared to 90.6% for those with telephone consultations.

SourceUniversity of California - Davis Health·JournalJAMA·TypeRandomized controlled/clinical trial·DateFeb 13, 2023

Asphalt volcano communities

Researchers document diverse assemblage of fish species living on asphalt volcanoes in the Santa Barbara Channel, characterized by low densities and high diversity rates. The team's findings highlight the unique nature of these habitats and emphasize the need for conservation efforts to protect them.

SourceUniversity of California - Santa Barbara·JournalBulletin of Marine Science·DateFeb 13, 2023

AI supports doctors’ hard decisions on cardiac arrest

Researchers at the University of Gothenburg have developed three AI-based decision support systems for cardiac arrest care, which can help doctors identify key factors affecting patient outcomes. The tools are based on large datasets and provide accuracy rates of up to 95% in predicting patient survival or death.

SourceUniversity of Gothenburg·JournalEBioMedicine·TypeData/statistical analysis·DateFeb 13, 2023

What’s your gut telling you?

Researchers have created a tiny pill-like electromagnetic device that can provide medical professionals with diagnostic information about the inner workings of the gastrointestinal tract. The device, when swallowed, delivers data to a smartphone as it passes through the body using electromagnetic technology similar to MRI machines.

SourceNYU Tandon School of Engineering·JournalNature Electronics·DateFeb 13, 2023

Chicken of the sea

A study by UC Santa Barbara researchers found that 95% of the cumulative environmental footprint of farmed chicken and salmon is concentrated on less than 5% of the planet, with 85.5% spatial overlap between the two products due to shared feed ingredients. This highlights opportunities for promoting sustainability in the food system.

SourceUniversity of California - Santa Barbara·JournalCurrent Biology·DateFeb 13, 2023

Surrey Space Centre lands £400k UK Space Agency award to boost space-related enterprise in Surrey and Hampshire skills and facilities as part of the Space South Central regional program

The University of Surrey's Surrey Space Centre has secured funding to enhance its facilities, train dedicated engineers, and support the development of space-related technology. The initiative aims to address skills gaps in the region's thriving space industry, fostering collaboration between academia and businesses.

Moffitt researchers discover new pathways to activate dendritic cells, produce strong anti-tumor immunity

Researchers at H. Lee Moffitt Cancer Center & Research Institute discovered a new way to activate dendritic cells, which can produce strong anti-tumor immunity. The approach uses an oncolytic virus expressing CD40 ligand and IFNβ, reducing tumor size and activating immune cells in patients with non-small cell lung cancer.

SourceH. Lee Moffitt Cancer Center & Research Institute·JournalCancer Immunology Research·TypeExperimental study·DateFeb 13, 2023

Heart failure places a great strain on healthcare

A multinational study of over 600,000 heart failure patients found that the disease is relatively fatal, with an average annual death rate of 13%, and results in high healthcare costs. The study also identified new treatment opportunities for heart failure with preserved left ventricular function.

SourceKarolinska Institutet·JournalHeart·TypeObservational study·DateFeb 13, 2023

New funding proposal aims to reduce bottlenecks on Upper Mississippi River

A new funding proposal for a major rehabilitation of the 27 locks and dams on the Upper Mississippi River suggests a public-private partnership to finance the project. The plan, proposed by Iowa State University's Yoshinori Suzuki, could pay off in the long run and reduce delays and bottlenecks for shippers.

SourceIowa State University·JournalTransportation Journal·TypeComputational simulation/modeling·DateFeb 13, 2023

Let them eat cake?: Study reveals grandparents spoil grandchildren with sugar-loaded foods and drinks

A new study published in the Journal of the American Dental Association found that grandparents often spoil grandchildren with sugary foods and drinks, increasing the risk of oral and overall health issues. The study highlights the importance of having 'treats in moderation' conversations with grandparents to promote healthy habits.

SourceAmerican Dental Association·JournalThe Journal of the American Dental Association·TypeRandomized controlled/clinical trial·DateFeb 13, 2023