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Science News Archive March 2023 - Page 27


Page 27 of 44

New model provides improved air-quality predictions in fire-prone areas

Researchers developed a deep learning model that provides improved predictions of air quality in wildfire-prone areas, distinguishing between wildfires and non-wildfires. The ST-Transformer model uses sparse attention to prioritize relevant information and captures trends associated with wildfires.

SourcePenn State·JournalScience of The Total Environment·TypeComputational simulation/modeling·DateMar 14, 2023

Looking at a cellular switch

Scientists analyzed the lysine riboswitch in Bacillus subtilis to understand its dynamics with secondary ligands like potassium, cesium, and sodium. They found that these ligands can interact cooperatively with lysine, suggesting a more complex regulatory mechanism than previously thought.

SourceUniversity of Colorado at Boulder·JournalThe Journal of Physical Chemistry B·TypeExperimental study·DateMar 14, 2023

New malaria study is good news for pregnant women

A new study published in The Lancet found that an existing drug, sulfadoxine-pyrimethamine, protects pregnant women from sexually transmitted and reproductive tract infections. Researchers tested this drug alongside a promising new treatment, dihydroartemisinin-piperaquine, which showed unique ability to prevent malaria.

SourceUniversity of Copenhagen - The Faculty of Health and Medical Sciences·JournalThe Lancet·TypeRandomized controlled/clinical trial·DateMar 14, 2023

New focused ultrasound effective for treating Parkinson’s, movement disorders

A new focused ultrasound treatment has been shown to improve dyskinesia and motor impairment in patients with Parkinson's disease. The study, led by UNC School of Medicine researchers, found that 69% of patients who underwent the treatment experienced a response, compared to 32% of those in the control group.

SourceUniversity of North Carolina Health Care·JournalNew England Journal of Medicine·TypeRandomized controlled/clinical trial·DateMar 14, 2023

Embedding aligned nanofibrous architectures within 3D-printed polycaprolactone scaffolds for directed cellular infiltration and tissue regeneration

Scientists create hybrid composite scaffolds with aligned nanofibrous architectures to improve cell seeding efficiency, proliferation rates, and morphogenesis. The findings have potential applications in tissue repairing and regenerative medicine.

SourceInternational Journal of Extreme Manufacturing·JournalInternational Journal of Extreme Manufacturing·DateMar 14, 2023

CHEST releases clinical practice guideline on respiratory management of patients with neuromuscular weakness

The American College of Chest Physicians released a clinical practice guideline on respiratory management for patients with neuromuscular weakness, providing evidence-based recommendations for mouthpiece ventilation and airway clearance therapies. The guideline aims to improve care for this vulnerable population.

SourceAmerican College of Chest Physicians·Journalthe journal CHEST·DateMar 14, 2023

[Press Release] SMART researchers develop the world's first microneedle-based drug delivery technique for plants

Researchers have developed a microneedle-based drug delivery technique for plants, which can precisely deliver controlled amounts of agrochemicals to specific plant tissues. This method has the potential to improve crop quality and disease management while minimizing resource wastage and environmental contamination.

SourceSingapore-MIT Alliance for Research and Technology (SMART)·JournalAdvanced Materials·TypeExperimental study·DateMar 14, 2023

Machine learning helps researchers separate compostable from conventional plastic waste with ‘very high’ accuracy

Researchers developed classification models using machine learning to accurately sort different types of compostable and biodegradable plastics from conventional ones. The technique achieved perfect accuracy for larger samples but showed some variability with smaller ones, highlighting its potential for industrial-scale implementation.

SourceFrontiers·JournalFrontiers in Sustainability·TypeImaging analysis·DateMar 14, 2023

Brain cells inspire new computer components

Researchers developed memristors based on halogenated perovskite nanocrystals for more powerful and energy-efficient computing. Inspired by the human brain's synapses, these components combine data storage and processing, reducing energy consumption.

SourcePolitecnico di Milano·JournalScience Advances·TypeExperimental study·DateMar 14, 2023

Mindsets can influence the course of childbirth

A study by the University of Bonn found that women who view childbirth as a natural process are less likely to need pain medication or a caesarean section. The mindset can also impact postpartum depression and mother-child bonding. The research highlights the importance of psychological factors in childbirth.

SourceUniversity of Bonn·JournalEuropean Journal of Social Psychology·TypeExperimental study·DateMar 14, 2023

Fighting intolerance with physics

A complex system economic model shows that inequality boosts intolerance, but redistribution of wealth can prevent its spread. Economically disfavored individuals from minority groups may prioritize helping wealthy individuals over their own group when discriminated against.

SourceAmerican Institute of Physics·JournalChaos An Interdisciplinary Journal of Nonlinear Science·DateMar 14, 2023

Optical computing for object classification through diffusive random media

Diffractive deep neural networks enable objects to be classified through unknown random diffusers, offering high speed, parallelism and low power consumption. The single-pixel broadband diffractive network achieved a blind testing accuracy of 87.74% in recognizing handwritten digits.

A new and better way to create word lists

Researchers at the Complexity Science Hub have developed an algorithm that can be applied to different languages and expand word lists significantly better than others. The new method, called LEXpander, outperforms previous algorithms in German and English, especially in sentiment analysis tasks.

SourceComplexity Science Hub·JournalBehavior Research Methods·TypeData/statistical analysis·DateMar 13, 2023

Links between maternal autonomy support and controlling parenting and adolescents’ depressive symptoms

Researchers found that maternal autonomy support positively predicts adolescents' basic psychological needs satisfaction, while adolescent-reported controlling parenting negatively predicts depressive symptoms. The study highlights the importance of understanding the relative impact of parents' and adolescents' perceptions on mental he...

SourceDoshisha University·JournalJournal of Youth and Adolescence·TypeSurvey·DateMar 13, 2023

Gut microbiome plays key role in response to CAR-T cell cancer immunotherapy

Researchers found that a healthy gut microbiome can predict the efficacy of CAR-T cell therapy in patients with B-cell lymphomas. The study identified specific microbiome features associated with improved treatment outcomes, but highlights the need for further investigation into the causal nature of this relationship.

Mental fatigue can impair physical performance - study

A study by University of Birmingham's School of Sport, Exercise and Rehabilitation Sciences found that mental fatigue impairs physical exercise performance. Researchers measured cognitive tasks on a group of 16 men and women, showing increased exertion during physical exercise among mentally fatigued participants.

SourceUniversity of Birmingham·JournalInternational Journal of Sports Physiology and Performance·TypeExperimental study·DateMar 13, 2023

How much open space does an urban area need?

A new study found that US metropolitan areas lack sufficient preserved open space, leading to increased land values and improved social well-being. The researchers suggest that this is due to limited public funds, competing demands, and the perception of open space as a luxury rather than a necessary service.

SourceUniversity of Chicago Press Journals·JournalJournal of the Association of Environmental and Resource Economists·DateMar 13, 2023