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Science News Archive November 2023


Page 39 of 40

Parkinson disease and normal aging

Researchers investigate centro-cingulate network changes and cholinergic innervation deficits in Parkinson disease and normal aging. Studies reveal significant correlations between centro-cingulate changes and cognitive impairments, motor symptoms, and age.

Nanowire ‘brain’ network learns and remembers ‘on the fly’

Researchers at the University of Sydney have developed a physical neural network that can learn and remember data in real-time, using nanowire networks to mimic brain-inspired learning and memory functions. The network achieved high accuracy in benchmark image recognition tasks and demonstrated its capacity for online learning.

Study finds JAK inhibitors, common treatment for arthritis, are effective

A multicenter, retrospective study of Japanese patients treated with JAK inhibitors found impressive remission rates and low disease activity. The study's results contradict previous concerns about the effectiveness of these drugs, suggesting they may be a viable option for patients with other health problems.

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.

Human emissions increased mercury in the atmosphere sevenfold

Research from Harvard John A. Paulson School of Engineering and Applied Sciences estimates that humans have increased atmospheric mercury levels sevenfold, with a pre-anthropogenic baseline of around 580 megagrams. Human emissions from coal-fired power plants and waste-incineration are responsible for the majority of this increase.

Celestron NexStar 8SE Computerized Telescope

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

Epigenetic signature for obesity found in study of twins

Researchers found an epigenetic signature in cheek cells of obese twins that differs from their thinner siblings, suggesting a susceptibility to obesity may be written into molecular processes. The discovery could lead to a simple cheek swab test for an obesity biomarker and enable earlier prevention methods.

Permanent damage to self-healing polymers in soft robots

Researchers used a robotic system to test the repeatable healability of a self-healing actuator, finding that it can endure up to 53 cycles before suffering permanent damage. The study aims to prevent soft robot actuators from being disposed due to permanent damage.

Making electric vehicles last

A new polymer binder is introduced to address durability issues in dual-ion batteries. The binder features azide and acrylate groups, which enhance the structural integrity of graphite during charge and discharge cycles. Dual-ion batteries equipped with this binder demonstrate exceptional performance, even after 3,500 recharge cycles.

Immune checkpoint inhibition, when administered together with single fraction stereotactic radiosurgery, does not appear to increase risk of radiation necrosis in patients with brain metastases

A multi-institutional study found that immune checkpoint inhibition and single fraction stereotactic radiosurgery does not increase the risk of radiation necrosis in patients with brain metastases from non-small cell lung cancer. The study suggests that treatment with immune checkpoint inhibitors can continue when radiation necrosis oc...

DJI Air 3 (RC-N2)

DJI Air 3 (RC-N2) captures 4K mapping passes and environmental surveys with dual cameras, long flight time, and omnidirectional obstacle sensing.

Scientists reveal structures of neurotransmitter transporter

Researchers at St. Jude Children's Research Hospital have determined the structure of vesicular monoamine transporter 2 (VMAT2), a protein crucial for packaging and releasing neurotransmitters in neurons. The study provides critical information for drug development to treat hyperkinetic disorders like Tourette syndrome.

The remains of an ancient planet lie deep within Earth

Researchers propose that ancient planet Theia collided with Earth billions of years ago, forming two continent-sized blobs of unusual material and the Moon. The blobs, known as large low-velocity provinces (LLVPs), are rich in iron and likely composed of different proportions of elements than the mantle surrounding them.

Apple iPad Pro 11-inch (M4)

Apple iPad Pro 11-inch (M4) runs demanding GIS, imaging, and annotation workflows on the go for surveys, briefings, and lab notebooks.

November issues of American Psychiatric Association journals cover new insights in psychotic disorders, barriers to addiction treatment, bipolar disorder treatment, and more

The latest APA journal issues provide new insights into psychotic disorders, including altered neurodevelopment and early symptoms associated with schizophrenia risk. The issues also highlight racial disparities in diagnosis and predictors of first psychotic episodes. Psychiatric Services features research on barriers to addiction trea...

A “manganese bullet” targeting the top killer?

Researchers discovered that manganese ions can directly bind to the coat protein complex II (COPII) complex, enhancing its condensation and resulting in a unique bell-shaped regulation on blood lipid levels. This mechanism enables the reversal of atherosclerotic plaques in murine disease models.

New twist on optical tweezers

Scientists have created a method to keep targeted particles cool, allowing safe trapping of living cells in their native fluids. This advancement could help overcome problems with current laser light tweezers and enable targeted drug delivery applications.

Apple iPhone 17 Pro

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

Contraceptive pill users less likely to report depression - study

A new study found that oral contraceptive pill users have a lower prevalence of major depression (4.6%) compared to former users (11.4%). The researchers suggest two possible explanations for the findings: removing concerns about unwanted pregnancy and survivor bias.

Major EU grant will make metal alloys the catalysts of the future

Researchers will investigate high-entropy materials to create more sustainable and durable catalysts. The goal is to improve the efficiency of electrocatalysis, paving the way for a new generation of catalysts and reducing the reliance on rare and expensive materials.

Adverse life experiences and brain function

A meta-analysis of 83 studies found that prior adversity exposure alters adult brain reactivity and increases susceptibility to mental health problems. This study may help identify how adversity impairs coping mechanisms and produces enduring mental health issues.

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.

How the fish got its shoulder

A new analysis of ancient fish bones and muscles suggests that the shoulder evolved from a modified version of the gill-arch hypothesis that reconciles it with the fin-fold hypothesis. The study, led by Dr Martin Brazeau and Natural History Museum researchers, provides new insights into the evolution of the shoulder girdle in animals.

Cracking an age-old thermodynamic puzzle

A team of researchers has devised a novel micro heat engine that can produce both high efficiency and high power at maximum efficiency, overcoming the Carnot limit. The study used a tiny gel-like colloidal bead and a laser beam to direct its motion, achieving an efficiency close to 95%.

Kestrel 3000 Pocket Weather Meter

Kestrel 3000 Pocket Weather Meter measures wind, temperature, and humidity in real time for site assessments, aviation checks, and safety briefings.

What happens when we pass out? Researchers ID new brain and heart connections

Scientists have discovered a genetic pathway between the heart and brain tied to fainting, suggesting that the heart sends signals back to the brain that can change its function. The study found that vagal sensory neurons play a key role in fainting, with their activation leading to rapid pupil dilation, suppressed heart-rate and breat...

UChicago chemists make breakthrough in drug discovery chemistry

Two studies from UChicago chemists offer complementary methods to address the challenge of replacing a carbon atom with a nitrogen atom in molecules. The findings could make it easier to develop new drugs by allowing for more efficient and precise modifications.

CalDigit TS4 Thunderbolt 4 Dock

CalDigit TS4 Thunderbolt 4 Dock simplifies serious desks with 18 ports for high-speed storage, monitors, and instruments across Mac and PC setups.

Chip design with machine learning: a survey from algorithm perspective

This paper surveys chip design with ML algorithms from an algorithmic perspective, proposing a novel taxonomy for target problems. The authors classify problems into regression, search, and generation problems, and discuss existing works in terms of these problems and corresponding ML algorithms.

BESSY II: Neutralizing electronic inhomogeneity in cleaved bulk MoS₂

The study reveals sizeable variations and instabilities in electron energies for freshly cleaved MoS2 surfaces, but also shows that atomic hydrogen treatment can effectively neutralize these effects. The findings have potential applications in electronics, photonics, sensors, and catalysis.

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.

Does your neighborhood affect your care after a stroke?

A study published by the American Academy of Neurology found that people living in lower socioeconomic status neighborhoods are less likely to receive clot-busting medications or undergo clot-removing procedures after a stroke. This disparity was attributed to socioeconomic factors, with those from higher-status areas receiving more tr...

Nikon Monarch 5 8x42 Binoculars

Nikon Monarch 5 8x42 Binoculars deliver bright, sharp views for wildlife surveys, eclipse chases, and quick star-field scans at dark sites.

What happens when cats get fat? Scientists weigh in

Researchers found that as cats gained weight, their gastrointestinal transit time decreased, reducing nutrient extraction. The study also revealed changes in gut microbial composition, with an increase in Bifidobacterium and a decrease in Collinsella, opposite to what has been seen in overweight humans.

New research links high salt consumption to risk of Type 2 diabetes

A new study from Tulane University found that frequent salt consumption is associated with a higher risk of developing Type 2 diabetes. The study surveyed over 400,000 adults and found participants who regularly added salt had a 13% to 39% increased risk of developing the disease compared to those who never or rarely used salt.

Dr. Marlene Rabinovitch to receive the 2023 Research Achievement Award

Dr. Marlene Rabinovitch, a renowned pediatric cardiologist, will receive the 2023 Research Achievement Award for her groundbreaking research on PAH treatment. Her discoveries have led to the identification of neutrophil elastase as a trigger for inflammatory responses and the potential use of immunosuppressant FK506 to restore lung blo...

Meta Quest 3 512GB

Meta Quest 3 512GB enables immersive mission planning, terrain rehearsal, and interactive STEM demos with high-resolution mixed-reality experiences.

Starfish body is a head, say scientists

Researchers compared sea stars to other deuterostomes to learn about their unique body plan, finding that genes controlling development of the ectoderm were correlated with arm patterning in echinoderms. This suggests echinoderms may have evolved by losing trunk region of bilateral ancestors.

Apple Watch Series 11 (GPS, 46mm)

Apple Watch Series 11 (GPS, 46mm) tracks health metrics and safety alerts during long observing sessions, fieldwork, and remote expeditions.

Apple AirPods Pro (2nd Generation, USB-C)

Apple AirPods Pro (2nd Generation, USB-C) provide clear calls and strong noise reduction for interviews, conferences, and noisy field environments.

Urine biomarkers can outperform serum biomarkers in certain diseases

Researchers found that urine biomarkers can be more accurate than serum biomarkers for detecting specific diseases. The study highlights the potential of combining urinary and serum biomarkers for holistic disease diagnosis and management. However, challenges remain in standardizing urinary biomarker assays and expanding their applicat...