Add BrightSurf on Google Email

Science News for March 5, 2023


Battling drug resistant bacteria with bacteriophages

Researchers explore alternative methods to overcome obstacles in phage therapy, including species specificity, bioavailability, and infectivity loss. Nanotechnology is being used to detect bacteria and facilitate phage delivery, offering a promising diagnostic tool.

SourceNanjing Agricultural University The Academy of Science·JournalBioDesign Research·DateMar 5, 2023
Anker Laptop Power Bank 25,000mAh (Triple 100W USB-C)

Anker Laptop Power Bank 25,000mAh (Triple 100W USB-C) keeps Macs, tablets, and meters powered during extended observing runs and remote surveys.

Researchers achieve nonreciprocal frequency conversion with optical and mechanical modes

A research team from USTC demonstrated nonreciprocal routing between any two modes with different frequencies using radiation pressure force. They used two optical modes and two mechanical modes to form a closed loop in a microresonator, achieving phonon-phonon, photon-photon, and photon-phonon nonreciprocal conversions.

SourceUniversity of Science and Technology of China·JournalPhysical Review Letters·DateMar 5, 2023

Potential treatment of autoimmune diseases revealed in new study

Scientists have discovered a chemical compound, phosphoenolpyruvate (PEP), that holds promise as a therapeutic agent for various autoimmune diseases. PEP inhibits the maturation of Th17 cells, reducing inflammation and resolving symptoms in mouse models.

SourceOkinawa Institute of Science and Technology (OIST) Graduate University·JournalCell Reports·TypeExperimental study·DateMar 5, 2023

Label-free superior contrast with c-band ultra-violet extinction microscopy

Researchers developed a new label-free UV microscopy technique that provides superior contrast for cellular-scale biological research. The method uses c-band ultra-violet (UVC) light to enhance image contrast and extract quantitative information from biological samples.

SourceLight Publishing Center, Changchun Institute of Optics, Fine Mechanics And Physics, CAS·DateMar 5, 2023
Apple iPhone 17 Pro

Apple iPhone 17 Pro delivers top performance and advanced cameras for field documentation, data collection, and secure research communications.

Death rates from lung cancer will fall overall in the EU and UK in 2023, but rise among women in France, Italy and Spain

Lung cancer death rates are projected to decrease overall in the EU and UK in 2023, however, a concerning trend is observed among women in France, Italy, and Spain. Meanwhile, pancreatic cancer death rates are forecasted to rise among women due to continued smoking habits.

SourceEuropean Society for Medical Oncology·JournalAnnals of Oncology·TypeObservational study·DateMar 5, 2023

Antarctic sea ice at lowest level in 45 years marks a reversal from the long-term increasing trend to a decreasing trend

Satellite observations reveal Antarctic sea ice extent has dropped to a record low of 1.788 million square kilometers, marking a reversal from long-term increasing trend to a decreasing one. This occurrence raises questions about the cause and implications of this change, particularly in light of human-caused global warming.

SourceOcean-Land-Atmosphere Research (OLAR)·JournalOcean-Land-Atmosphere Research·TypeNews article·DateMar 5, 2023

AI-based staining of biological samples

Researchers have developed AI-based virtual staining technology to digitally generate histological stains, eliminating labor-intensive preparation steps, lengthy turnaround time, high costs, and inconsistent outcomes. This emerging field has the potential to improve diagnosis accuracy and speed patient outcomes.

SourceLight Publishing Center, Changchun Institute of Optics, Fine Mechanics And Physics, CAS·DateMar 5, 2023

Transcatheter mitral valve repair in heart failure patients significantly reduces hospitalizations and improves survival

A new study shows that transcatheter mitral valve repair significantly reduces hospitalizations by almost 50 percent and death by nearly 30 percent in heart failure patients with severe mitral regurgitation. The procedure, using Abbott's MitraClip system, improves symptoms, reduces hospitalizations, and leads to longer survival.

SourceThe Mount Sinai Hospital / Mount Sinai School of Medicine·JournalNew England Journal of Medicine·TypeRandomized controlled/clinical trial·DateMar 5, 2023
Celestron NexStar 8SE Computerized Telescope

Celestron NexStar 8SE Computerized Telescope combines portable Schmidt-Cassegrain optics with GoTo pointing for outreach nights and field campaigns.

Physical activity and tailored support fails to deliver lasting benefits for smokers not ready to quit

A recent study found that promoting physical activity and behavioral support can help smokers reduce their smoking in the short-term, but delivering lasting benefits is challenging. The research, which recruited over 900 smokers, discovered that engaging with motivational support had some initial benefits, but only a small percentage o...

SourceUniversity of Plymouth·JournalAddiction·TypeRandomized controlled/clinical trial·DateMar 5, 2023

Sensitive and selective electrochemical sensor for the detection of dopamine by using AuPd@Fe2O3 nanoparticles as catalyst

Researchers developed a sensitive and selective electrochemical sensor using AuPd@Fe2O3 nanoparticles to detect dopamine. The sensor shows high sensitivity and anti-interference capabilities, making it suitable for detecting dopamine in pharmaceuticals and biological samples.

SourceBeijing Zhongke Journal Publising Co. Ltd.·JournalAdvanced Sensor and Energy Materials·DateMar 5, 2023

Decoding the genetics behind plant height and seed weight scaling in barley

A recent study by researchers from Australia identified the possible genetic factors underlying the correlation between plant height and seed weight scaling in barley crops. The team found that two distinct genetic mechanisms, pleiotropy and genetic linkage, form the basis of size scaling in barley.

SourceNanjing Agricultural University The Academy of Science·JournalPlant Phenomics·DateMar 5, 2023
Creality K1 Max 3D Printer

Creality K1 Max 3D Printer rapidly prototypes brackets, adapters, and fixtures for instruments and classroom demonstrations at large build volume.

Novel deep brain simulation approach for treating drug-refractory epilepsy

A novel deep brain simulation approach has been developed to treat intractable epilepsy, with the potential to be a safer and more effective treatment than conventional methods. The sequential narrow-field stimulation method accurately detects seizure onset and alleviates symptoms while minimizing side effects.

SourcePohang University of Science & Technology (POSTECH)·JournalNature Communications·DateMar 5, 2023

Alert banners dramatically increase prescribing rates of life-saving heart failure medication

Researchers at NYU Grossman School of Medicine found that automated systems with alert banners increased MRA therapy prescriptions for heart failure patients by 30%. The system aims to improve care and reduce costs by streamlining medical information in one place. The study tested two notification types, finding that banner-like alerts...

SourceNYU Langone Health / NYU Grossman School of Medicine·DateMar 5, 2023

New ‘phase shifter’ technology will reduce signal loss in antenna systems

Researchers at the University of Birmingham have developed a new type of high-performance 'phase shifter' that uses a liquid Gallium alloy to control microwave and millimetre-wave radio signals. The prototype testing shows low signal losses and extremely low phase deviation over a wide bandwidth.

SourceUniversity of Birmingham·JournalIEEE Transactions on Microwave Theory and Techniques·TypeExperimental study·DateMar 5, 2023

Weight loss surgery showing promising results for type 2 diabetes

A new study published in PLOS ONE found that weight loss surgery significantly improved health outcomes for people with type 2 diabetes and morbid obesity. After 12 months, patients experienced a 24% decrease in body weight and a 24% improvement in blood glucose levels.

SourceGriffith University·JournalPLOS ONE·TypeCase study·DateMar 5, 2023

The weight of responsibility: biomass of livestock dwarfs that of wild mammals

A recent study reveals the combined weight of cattle, pigs, sheep, and other domesticated mammals surpasses that of wild terrestrial mammals, dwarfing their biomass by 30 times. Human impact on the environment is also strongly affecting the relatively limited remaining mammalian presence in nature.

SourceWeizmann Institute of Science·JournalProceedings of the National Academy of Sciences·DateMar 5, 2023
SAMSUNG T9 Portable SSD 2TB

SAMSUNG T9 Portable SSD 2TB transfers large imagery and model outputs quickly between field laptops, lab workstations, and secure archives.

Transcatheter Mitral Valve Repair Safe and Effective in Real World Setting

The study found that transcatheter edge-to-edge repair achieved a successful repair for nearly 9 out of 10 patients and reduced valve leakage from severe to moderate or less in almost 90% of patients. Patients who underwent the procedure were half as likely to die within one year compared with those in whom the procedure was unsuccessful.

SourceAmerican College of Cardiology·DateMar 5, 2023

COVID-19 infection leads to increased rates of chest pain six months to a year after infection in patients

Researchers at Intermountain Health studied nearly 150,000 COVID-19 patients and found a significant increase in chest pain rates six months to one year after infection. Long-term cardiovascular complications may be emerging, Dr. Heidi May notes., Chest pain persisted as a problem despite no major events like heart attacks or strokes.

SourceIntermountain Healthcare·TypeObservational study·DateMar 5, 2023