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Science News for May 9, 2023


Artificial visual perception nervous system using solution-processable MoS2-based in-memory light sensor

Researchers have developed a single sensing-storage-processing node using solution-processable MoS2-based metal–oxide–semiconductor devices, mimicking the human visual system. The device can optically sense, store, and process data, improving response time, area, and energy efficiency.

Making vaccines longer lasting

A recent study by Monash University researchers found that a unique subtype of an immune cell produces long-lasting antibodies in response to certain vaccinations. This discovery may lead to the development of improved vaccines providing life-long protection.

SourceMonash University·JournalImmunity·TypeExperimental study·DateMay 9, 2023

Signature of spin-triplet exciton condensations in LaCoO3 at ultrahigh magnetic fields up to 600 T

Scientists at the University of Electro-Communications successfully measured the effects of an ultra-high magnetic field on a transition metal oxide, discovering signs of a new magnetic superfluid state. This achievement has significant implications for spintronics technology and potential applications in quantum computing.

SourceThe University of Electro-Communications·JournalNature Communications·TypeExperimental study·DateMay 9, 2023

Study calls for action to explore potential impacts of decommissioned offshore structures

Researchers highlight the need for a coherent international framework for decommissioning offshore structures due to limited evidence on their environmental impact. The study emphasizes the critical need for consensus on future approaches as an estimated 1,800 offshore wind turbines will require decommissioning by 2030.

SourceUniversity of Plymouth·JournalTrends in Ecology & Evolution·TypeLiterature review·DateMay 9, 2023

Concussion in women’s rugby going unreported

A new study by sports experts at Staffordshire University explores how social identity influences concussion disclosure in elite women's rugby. The research found that brain injury is often underreported or not disclosed due to a strong sense of teamwork and obligation to play while injured.

SourceStaffordshire University·JournalFrontiers in Sports and Active Living·TypeSurvey·DateMay 9, 2023

Carbon-negative hydrogen production technology: a new perspective for bio-energy with CO₂ capture and storage

A new alkaline thermal treatment (ATT) technology produces hydrogen from biomass with significant potential for negative carbon emissions. The study highlights the importance of alkali and catalysts in the reaction mechanism, suggesting strategies to enhance efficiency and overcome kinetic limitations.

SourceKeAi Communications Co., Ltd.·JournalCarbon Resources Conversion·TypeSystematic review·DateMay 9, 2023

Can a city store as much carbon as a forest?

A new metric, called the carbon storage (CS) factor, enables urban planners to evaluate how a new development will affect the city's carbon balance. By using the right kind of wooden construction technologies, up to 70% of future construction can preserve lost forest carbon storage capacity.

SourceAalto University·JournalEnvironmental Research Letters·DateMay 9, 2023

Hey Siri, can you hear me? #ASA184

Researchers found that people produce louder and slower speech with less pitch variation when communicating with AI systems, while clearer speech improves comprehension. The study aims to improve AI's ability to understand human speech and investigate language changes as technology advances.

Environment impacts mental health of young people - research

Research found that young people living in health-constraining environments were more likely to experience poorer emotional and mental health. In contrast, those living in health-promoting environments were less likely to have problems with substance-abuse and hospitalisations for self-harm.

SourceUniversity of Otago·JournalSocial Science & Medicine·TypeData/statistical analysis·DateMay 9, 2023

Regulations reducing lead and copper contamination in drinking water generate $9 billion of health benefits per year according to new analysis

A new study from Harvard T.H. Chan School of Public Health estimates that regulations reducing lead and copper contamination in drinking water generate $9.2 billion in health benefits annually, exceeding the EPA's public estimates by an order of magnitude. The analysis also reveals at least $2 billion in infrastructure benefits, bringi...

SourceHarvard T.H. Chan School of Public Health·JournalEnvironmental Research·DateMay 9, 2023

Tooth enamel provides clues to hunter-gatherer lifestyle of Neanderthals

A study using tooth enamel analyzed by laser ablation revealed that Neanderthals in western Europe hunted large animals, such as wild goat and horses, whereas humans consumed smaller creatures like rabbits and fish. The researchers estimated the territory size of both human groups, finding contrasting results.

SourceUniversity of Southampton·JournalProceedings of the National Academy of Sciences·TypeExperimental study·DateMay 9, 2023

The Voting Rights Act’s impact on Black representation in local government

The Voting Rights Act of 1965 significantly increased Black representation in local government, particularly in county commissions where coverage was implemented. The study found that capital spending grew more rapidly in these counties with higher shares of African Americans, indicating a positive impact on local governance. However, ...

SourceUniversity of Chicago Press Journals·JournalJournal of Political Economy·DateMay 9, 2023

Breaking the heat barrier of computing innovation

Researchers have developed a new technology that could revolutionize computing by moving beyond the limitations of traditional semiconductors. Coherent antiferromagnetic spintronics enables information to travel without generating significant heat, potentially leading to a hundredfold increase in processing speed and energy savings.

SourceUniversity of California - Riverside·JournalNature Materials·TypeLiterature review·DateMay 9, 2023

Fentanyl, heroin use substantially decline in patients receiving methadone treatment for opioid use disorder during first year

Patients receiving methadone treatment for opioid use disorder show significant decline in fentanyl and heroin use over the course of a year, with average positivity rates dropping from 21.8% to 17.1% for fentanyl and 8.4% to 4.3% for heroin. Methamphetamine and cocaine use remains steady.

The impact of thermal drawdown-induced alterations in rock thermal properties on heat recovery

A team of researchers from Peking University found that temperature-dependent rock thermal conductivity and specific heat capacity affect the long-term thermal performance of Enhanced Geothermal Systems (EGS). The study showed that increased thermal conductivity improves thermal conduction, while decreased specific heat capacity impair...

SourceKeAi Communications Co., Ltd.·JournalRock Mechanics Bulletin·TypeComputational simulation/modeling·DateMay 9, 2023

A CRISPR-edited calf shows virus resistance

A gene-edited calf demonstrates reduced susceptibility to bovine viral diarrhea virus (BVDV) after intentionally altering the CD46 receptor with CRISPR/Cas9. The healthy calf showed no measurable infectious virus in its blood, despite both calves developing antibodies to the virus.

SourcePNAS Nexus·JournalPNAS Nexus·DateMay 9, 2023

New research sheds light on how human vision perceives scale

Researchers from Aston University and the University of York discovered new insights into how the human brain makes perceptual judgments of the external world. They found that humans can exploit 'defocus blur' to infer perceptual scale, but this process is crude and more heuristic than metrical analysis.

SourceAston University·JournalPLOS ONE·TypeComputational simulation/modeling·DateMay 9, 2023

UC Santa Cruz to lead data collection center for major federal project on genetic underpinnings of neurological conditions

The UC Santa Cruz Genomics Institute will run the Data Coordination Center for the Scalable and Systematic Neurobiology of Psychiatric and Neurodevelopmental Disorder Risk Genes (SSPsyGene) Consortium. The team will coordinate an initial selection of 250 relevant genes from nearly 30,000 protein coding genes in the human genome.

Researchers track endangered Nassau grouper eggs with underwater microscope

Scientists tracked fertilized Nassau grouper eggs using an underwater microscope, finding that they stayed local in some years but drifted to nearby islands in others. The study reveals the importance of local reproduction and ocean currents in boosting populations and providing spillover benefits for neighboring islands.

SourceUniversity of California - San Diego·JournalProceedings of the Royal Society B Biological Sciences·TypeExperimental study·DateMay 9, 2023

Antibiotic-resistant bacteria contaminates whole ICU - study

A study published in The Lancet Regional Health - Western Pacific found that carbapenem-resistant Acinetobacter baumannii (CRAB) contaminated the entire ICU, with samples detected on bed units, ventilators, and equipment. The researchers highlight the urgent need for targeted infection prevention and control measures to stem the global...

SourceUniversity of Birmingham·JournalThe Lancet Regional Health - Western Pacific·TypeObservational study·DateMay 9, 2023

Water warming study shows unexpected impact on fish size

A 24-year study of freshwater fish exposed to warm water pollution found changes in growth rates, death rates, and size. Despite expectations, the study revealed that warmer waters led to larger fish, contradicting general predictions of global warming's effects on natural ecosystems.

SourceeLife·JournaleLife·DateMay 9, 2023

Synthetic sRNAs to knockdown genes in medical and industrial bacteria​

Researchers at KAIST have developed a new sRNA tool that can effectively inhibit target genes in various bacteria, including both Gram-negative and Gram-positive bacteria. The BHR-sRNA system was shown to suppress pathogenicity in antibiotic-resistant pathogens and improve industrial strains for high-value-added chemical production.

SourceThe Korea Advanced Institute of Science and Technology (KAIST)·JournalNature Communications·TypeMeta-analysis·DateMay 9, 2023

A key protein for repairing broken nerves

A study explores the role of dynamin protein DYN-1 in axonal fusion, revealing its ability to guide injury-induced reparative responses. Researchers found that DYN-1 regulates levels of fusogen, a transmembrane glycoprotein essential for physical repair of damaged axons.

SourcePNAS Nexus·JournalPNAS Nexus·DateMay 9, 2023

Extracting the best flavor from coffee

A study published in Physics of Fluids reveals that uneven extraction in coffee brewing can result in weaker espresso and affect its taste. The researchers found that a positive feedback loop between flow and extraction leads to more bitter flavors, making it essential to understand the origin of uneven extraction.

SourceAmerican Institute of Physics·JournalPhysics of Fluids·DateMay 9, 2023

The search for the origin of a rare tumor points to a poorly studied mechanism as a new would-be hot topic in cancer research: ‘succinylation’

Scientists at CNIO identify succinylation as a poorly studied mechanism in cancer research; mutated DLST protein prevents succinylation, leading to pseudohypoxia and tumor growth. Succinylation is crucial for protein function and may be linked to various diseases.

SourceCentro Nacional de Investigaciones Oncológicas (CNIO)·JournalCancer Communications·TypeExperimental study·DateMay 9, 2023

Data compression scheme facilitates measurement of blood flow to the brain

Researchers develop innovative data compression scheme to facilitate multispeckle diffuse correlation spectroscopy with high pixel resolutions, enabling non-invasive measurement of brain blood flow. The scheme uses field-programmable gate array compression to alleviate computational burdens and expand the use of SPAD cameras in biomedi...

SourceSPIE--International Society for Optics and Photonics·JournalJournal of Biomedical Optics·DateMay 9, 2023

Novel nomogram based on routine clinical indicators for Wilson's disease detection

Researchers in China have created a simple nomogram using easily accessible and automatable detected routine clinical indicators to reduce missed diagnosis and misdiagnosis of Wilson's disease. The study identified six independent predictors of the disease, including serum copper and direct bilirubin.

SourceKeAi Communications Co., Ltd.·JournalLiver Research·TypeRandomized controlled/clinical trial·DateMay 9, 2023

Change in breast density over time linked to cancer risk

Researchers found that women with denser breasts who developed cancer had slower declining density over time. The study suggests using past history of density in addition to current estimates to better understand risk levels and potentially identify which breast is at risk.

SourceWashU Medicine·JournalJAMA Oncology·TypeObservational study·DateMay 9, 2023

Lack of belief in body’s ability to function through pain linked to daily pre-surgery prescribed opioid use among candidates for elective spine surgery

A new Johns Hopkins Medicine study found that patients with low pain self-efficacy are more likely to use daily prescribed opioids before surgery. Surgeons can use pain self-efficacy scores to identify high-risk patients and provide education and counseling to improve post-surgery outcomes.

SourceJohns Hopkins Medicine·JournalThe Spine Journal·DateMay 9, 2023

New study led by Brown researchers sheds light on incidental findings in lung cancer screening

A new study by Brown researchers found that 33.8% of patients with low-dose computed tomography (LDCT) screening had significant incidental findings, many of which were clinically important. The study suggests that standardizing reporting of these findings could improve patient care and reduce unnecessary medical interventions.

SourceBrown University·JournalJAMA Internal Medicine·TypeCase study·DateMay 9, 2023

Scientists at uOttawa streamline a widely used chemical reaction, creating new manufacturing opportunities

Researchers have streamlined a widely used chemical reaction to create new manufacturing opportunities. The innovative method uses two distinct metal catalysts and produces water as a waste product, allowing for the efficient creation of complex molecules from easily accessible substrates. This breakthrough has significant implications...

SourceUniversity of Ottawa·JournalNature Synthesis·TypeExperimental study·DateMay 9, 2023

Spanish courts hand down milder sentences for rapes if they are committed by the victim's partner or ex-partner

A study by UOC researchers found that Spanish courts impose milder punishments and lower compensation amounts when a victim's partner or ex-partner is accused of rape. In cases involving intimate partners, only 22% of rulings mentioned this as an aggravating factor, leading to milder sentences.

SourceUniversitat Oberta de Catalunya (UOC)·JournalEuropean Journal on Criminal Policy and Research·TypeData/statistical analysis·DateMay 9, 2023

Most antidepressants prescribed for chronic pain lack reliable evidence of efficacy or safety, scientists warn

A Cochrane review found that most antidepressants used to manage chronic pain lack sufficient evidence of their effectiveness, with only duloxetine showing reliable pain relief. The review also revealed that harms from many commonly recommended drugs have not been well studied, posing a global public health concern.

SourceUniversity of Southampton·JournalCochrane Database of Systematic Reviews·TypeMeta-analysis·DateMay 9, 2023

Dark clouds on the horizon

The study improves the accuracy of black carbon's refractive index, revealing it may contribute up to 16% to atmospheric warming, affecting climate models. The method developed can be applied to other particles in the atmosphere and ocean.

SourceUniversity of Tokyo·JournalAerosol Science and Technology·TypeExperimental study·DateMay 9, 2023

Potential found to counter depression by restoring key brain rhythm

A study found that restoring gamma oscillations in brain regions processing smells can counter depression, suggesting a potential new treatment approach. The research involved mice and rats, who showed increased depressive behaviors when gamma signals were suppressed, but returned to normal after receiving amplified signals.

SourceNYU Langone Health / NYU Grossman School of Medicine·JournalNeuron·TypeExperimental study·DateMay 9, 2023