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Science News Archive February 2023 - Page 28


Page 28 of 36

What is clinically meaningful to slow Alzheimer’s progression?

The work group reframed what is clinically meaningful to slow Alzheimer's disease progression, including the need for combination therapies and realistic expectations of benefits and risks. Slowing brain deterioration by four to six months in early stages may preserve function, leading to meaningful outcomes for patients and families.

SourceMayo Clinic·JournalAlzheimer s & Dementia·DateFeb 7, 2023

New sodium, aluminum battery aims to integrate renewables for grid resiliency

Researchers developed a new molten salt battery design using sodium and aluminum that can charge and discharge faster, operate at lower temperatures, and maintain excellent energy storage capacity. The battery's specific energy density could reach up to 100 Wh/kg, making it a promising solution for 10-plus hours of energy storage.

SourceDOE/Pacific Northwest National Laboratory·JournalEnergy Storage Materials·TypeExperimental study·DateFeb 7, 2023

Copy-cat? Youth with few friends conform to stay in a friend’s ‘good graces’

Researchers found that children with fewer friends are more susceptible to influence from partners who have more friends, promoting compatibility and reducing dissimilarity. Conformity helps preserve existing friendships by strengthening similarities and reducing potential sources of conflict.

SourceFlorida Atlantic University·JournalJournal of Youth and Adolescence·TypeData/statistical analysis·DateFeb 7, 2023

Proof that Neanderthals ate crabs is another ‘nail in the coffin’ for primitive cave dweller stereotypes

A study published in Frontiers in Environmental Archaeology reveals that Neanderthals regularly harvested large brown crabs from the nearby rocky coast, targeting adult animals and cooking them on coals. The findings add evidence to the notion that marine foods played a significant role in Neanderthal diets.

SourceFrontiers·JournalFrontiers in Environmental Archaeology·TypeObservational study·DateFeb 7, 2023

New study refines precision of medical needles in surgical simulation

Researchers at the University of Bristol have developed a way to improve the accuracy of medical needle-use in surgical simulation, reproducing effects similar to real-life delivery. The breakthrough has the potential to enhance training for junior surgeons and develop surgical robotic solutions.

SourceUniversity of Bristol·JournalMathematical and Computer Modelling of Dynamical Systems·TypeComputational simulation/modeling·DateFeb 7, 2023

Technology development could bring Raman microscopy to the clinic

Researchers developed high-throughput Raman microscope for rapid large-area imaging hundreds of times faster than traditional approach. The new technique enables label-free molecular analysis and multiplex chemical imaging, holding promise for efficient medical diagnoses and drug development.

SourceOptica·JournalBiomedical Optics Express·DateFeb 7, 2023

Can I come, too? How tourism can include people whose health conditions usually keep them at home

A research project from Edith Cowan University highlights the impact of excluding people with chronic diseases on tourism and proposes strategies for accessible travel. The industry can accommodate vulnerable travelers by implementing initiatives such as caregiver support, education, and technological advancements.

SourceEdith Cowan University·JournalInternational Journal of Contemporary Hospitality Management·TypeCommentary/editorial·DateFeb 7, 2023

10 leading stroke scientists to receive American Stroke Association honors, including the Ralph L. Sacco Outstanding Stroke Research Mentor Award

The American Heart Association is recognizing 10 leading stroke scientists who have made significant contributions to the field of stroke research. Among them, Dr. Cheryl Bushnell will be honored with the Ralph L. Sacco Outstanding Stroke Research Mentor Award for her exceptional mentorship and research in women's issues related to str...

Sugar consumption and early interruption of breastfeeding are risk factors for dental caries in infancy

A Brazilian study found that early sugar consumption and interruption of breastfeeding are key factors contributing to dental caries in infants. Extended breastfeeding was shown to protect babies' teeth as long as they didn't receive sugary food, with the risk declining with falling sugar consumption.

SourceFundação de Amparo à Pesquisa do Estado de São Paulo·JournalCommunity Dentistry And Oral Epidemiology·DateFeb 7, 2023

Voter ID laws mobilize voters in both parties, rather than sway election results

A study published in the Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences found that voter ID requirements motivate supporters of both parties equally to comply and participate. The research suggests that these laws have a countermobilization effect, diminishing their anticipated impact on election results. Instead, lawmakers should con...

SourceUniversity of Notre Dame·JournalProceedings of the National Academy of Sciences·DateFeb 7, 2023

Deep learning-assisted visual sensing to detect overcrowding in COVID-19 infected cities

A real-time visual sensing system developed by researchers at Incheon National University can detect overcrowding with an accuracy of 96.55% in real-time. The system uses drones to capture footage, analyze it using a modified ResNet architecture, and feed the data into a social monitoring system.

SourceIncheon National University·JournalIEEE Transactions on Industrial Informatics·TypeComputational simulation/modeling·DateFeb 7, 2023

Shellac-based coating makes pulp materials suitable for food without use of petroleum based polymers or metals

Researchers have developed a shellac-based coating to improve the gas barrier properties of moulded pulp materials, making them suitable for food packaging. The coating, combined with nanofibrillated cellulose, provides superior water resistance and thermal stability, while preserving environmental sustainability.

SourceSociety of Chemical Industry·JournalPolymer International·TypeExperimental study·DateFeb 7, 2023

Reactive oxygen species in pancreatic cancer

Researchers detected high levels of hydrogen peroxide in pancreatic cancer cells, which makes it a critical target for cancer treatment and research. The study also showed that cancer-promoting mutations lead to suppressed genetic expression of enzymes breaking down hydrogen peroxide.

SourceWiley·JournalAngewandte Chemie International Edition·TypeExperimental study·DateFeb 7, 2023

Have model organisms evolved too far?

A new study found that E. coli K-12 has accumulated numerous genetic changes compared to its original isolated bacteria, making it less suitable as a model organism. This discovery highlights the rapid evolution of bacterial genomes and challenges the long-standing use of a single strain in research.

SourceUniversity of Birmingham·JournalMicrobial Genomics·TypeExperimental study·DateFeb 7, 2023

High-speed, high-precision positioning of stages with unknown vibration characteristics

A new control system design method achieves ultra-precision positioning on industrial machinery with unknown vibration characteristics. The system uses a nominal characteristic trajectory following controller and a vibration suppression compensator to reach target positions with high speed and precision.

SourceToyohashi University of Technology (TUT)·JournalPrecision Engineering·TypeExperimental study·DateFeb 7, 2023

Drinking coffee helps maintain low blood pressure

A study published in the journal Nutrients found that regular coffee consumption is associated with lower blood pressure levels, both peripheral and central. The researchers analyzed data from a sample of Italian adults and discovered that moderate coffee drinkers had significantly lower systolic and pulse pressures.

SourceUniversità di Bologna·JournalNutrients·DateFeb 7, 2023

Peptide 3D-printing inks could advance regenerative medicine

Researchers at Rice University have developed a self-assembling peptide ink that enables the 3D printing of complex structures with cells, which can then be used to grow mature tissue in a petri dish. The ink allows for control over cell behavior using structural and chemical complexity.

SourceRice University·JournalAdvanced Materials·TypeExperimental study·DateFeb 7, 2023

Plant diversity may never fully recover from agriculture without a helping hand

Even after 80 years of abandonment, former agricultural sites have only partially recovered in terms of plant diversity compared to undisturbed sites. Researchers from iDiv and other institutions found that restoration interventions can help speed up the recovery process by targeting specific species composition.

SourceGerman Centre for Integrative Biodiversity Research (iDiv) Halle-Jena-Leipzig·JournalJournal of Ecology·TypeData/statistical analysis·DateFeb 7, 2023

Researchers propose a fourth light on traffic signals – for self-driving cars

A new approach, called the white phase concept, uses autonomous vehicles to control traffic flow at intersections, reducing fuel consumption and travel time. The system informs human drivers through a clearly identifiable signal, improving safety and efficiency.

SourceNorth Carolina State University·JournalIEEE Transactions on Intelligent Transportation Systems·TypeComputational simulation/modeling·DateFeb 7, 2023

New study highlights dramatic impact of COVID-19 pandemic on cancer-screening delays

A new study highlights the dramatic impact of the COVID-19 pandemic on cancer-screening delays, with significant delays observed among younger individuals and diverse populations. The study found that 11%-36% of planned cancer screenings were postponed due to COVID-19, with the greatest delays seen for Pap tests and colonoscopies.

SourceOhio State University Wexner Medical Center·JournalJournal of Clinical Oncology·TypeSurvey·DateFeb 7, 2023

As extreme weather events become more often and intensify, the number of people and places exposed to flooding events is likely to grow

A new study from the University of North Carolina found that over ten new residences have been built in NC's 100-year floodplains for every residence removed through government buyouts. This trend contributes to increasing risk, despite community and government efforts to reduce flood damage.

SourceUniversity of North Carolina at Chapel Hill·JournalJournal of the American Planning Association·DateFeb 7, 2023

New study: Group practice of Transcendental Meditation may help decrease drug-overdose deaths

A 15-year study found that group practice of Transcendental Meditation and its advanced aspect, TM-Sidhi, may help counter the rising trends in US drug overdose deaths. The study estimated that 34,194 drug-related fatalities may have been averted as a result of the decline in drug-related fatality rate during the demonstration phase.

SourceMaharishi International University·JournalMedicina·TypeMeta-analysis·DateFeb 7, 2023

New horizons for organoboron and organosilicon chemistry with triple elementalization

Scientists at Tokyo Institute of Technology developed a new synthesis method that allows the introduction of multiple B- and Si-containing groups into aromatic nitrogen heterocycles. This breakthrough unlocks the creation of versatile platforms for organic compounds relevant to medicinal chemistry. The approach enables the production o...

SourceTokyo Institute of Technology·JournalNature Communications·TypeExperimental study·DateFeb 7, 2023