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Science News Archive October 2023 - Page 11


Page 11 of 37

Doebel innovating developmental science with an online, scalable meta-science platform for investigating cognitive development during early childhood

George Mason University Assistant Professor Sabine Doebel is developing an online, scalable meta-science platform to investigate cognitive development during early childhood. The project, GARDEN, aims to gather data from a diverse sample of preschoolers and assess young children's executive functioning.

Simulating cold sensation without actual cooling

Researchers developed a non-contact technology that simulates a cold sensation by leveraging human sensitivity to rapid temperature changes. The system uses air flow and light to rapidly switch between cold and warm stimuli, inducing a cold sensation while maintaining skin temperature fluctuations near zero.

SourceUniversity of Tsukuba·JournalIEEE Transactions on Haptics·DateOct 23, 2023

Who were the first modern humans to settle in Europe?

The study analyzed genome sequences from two skull fragments dated to 36,000 and 37,000 years ago, revealing genetic proximity to current and ancient Europeans. The findings suggest that these individuals contributed to the population that gave rise to the Gravettian culture around 5,000 years later.

SourceCNRS·JournalNature Ecology & Evolution·DateOct 23, 2023

How to slow the spread of deadly ‘superbugs’

A new Australian study suggests harnessing genomic surveillance technology can detect the rise of deadly 'superbugs', slowing their evolution and spread to improve global health outcomes. The study highlights the need for a multifaceted 'One Health' approach to surveillance, with practical recommendations for implementation.

SourceUniversity of Technology Sydney·JournalNature Reviews Genetics·TypeSystematic review·DateOct 23, 2023

Lung cancer outcomes significantly improved with immunotherapy-based treatment given before and after surgery

A Phase III trial found that patients who received perioperative immunotherapy had a 32% lower chance of disease recurrence, progression, or death compared to those who only received chemotherapy. The treatment also showed higher rates of pathologic complete response and improved event-free survival.

SourceUniversity of Texas M. D. Anderson Cancer Center·JournalNew England Journal of Medicine·DateOct 23, 2023

Cathode active materials for lithium-ion batteries could be produced at low temperatures

A team of researchers at Hokkaido University has developed a new method to synthesize layered lithium cobalt oxide (LiCoO2) at low temperatures, reducing synthesis time from hours to minutes. The hydroflux process produces crystalline LiCoO2 with properties only marginally inferior to commercially available materials.

SourceHokkaido University·JournalInorganic Chemistry·TypeExperimental study·DateOct 23, 2023

A step on the way to solid-state batteries

Researchers developed a sinter-free method for efficient, low-temperature synthesis of lithium ceramic, enabling the creation of solid-state batteries with higher power density and lower production costs. This breakthrough could accelerate the transition to electric vehicles by reducing the reliance on conventional lithium-ion batteries.

SourceWiley·JournalAngewandte Chemie International Edition·TypeExperimental study·DateOct 23, 2023

Are retrospective adjustments to sustainability reports helping CEOs score a bonus?

New research found that companies are altering their sustainability reports to improve their environmental and social performance metrics, which are tied to CEO bonuses. Only 15% of revisions were reported as due to error, while 69% were attributed to changes in measurement, suggesting manipulation may be occurring.

SourceUniversity of Technology Sydney·JournalJournal of Management Accounting Research·TypeData/statistical analysis·DateOct 23, 2023

Do people everywhere care less about their cats than their dogs?

A study found that pet owners worldwide tend to be more emotionally attached to and willing to spend more on their dogs compared to their cats. However, there are significant cultural differences in attitudes towards pets across countries, with Denmark showing a notable preference for dog care.

SourceFrontiers·JournalFrontiers in Veterinary Science·TypeSurvey·DateOct 23, 2023

Discovery finds ferns produce crop-saving insecticide

Researchers discovered a novel insecticidal protein in ferns that protects major crop plants from pests and is naturally produced by plants. The protein has features in common with known Bt proteins used extensively in agriculture for insect control.

SourceLa Trobe University·JournalProceedings of the National Academy of Sciences·TypeExperimental study·DateOct 23, 2023

Skin and gut microbiome analysis offers new therapeutic perspectives on atopic dermatitis in Shiba Inu dogs

Researchers analyzed gut and skin microbiota in Shiba Inu dogs with atopic dermatitis, finding that treatment with Oclacitinib restored balance to the microbiome. The study suggests that microbes may serve as potential therapeutic targets for canine atopic dermatitis, offering new disease management strategies.

SourceUniversity of Lübeck·JournalMicrobiome·TypeExperimental study·DateOct 23, 2023

Improvements in social, educational and economic-related characteristics of communities may reduce rates of early childhood asthma

Researchers found that neighborhoods with better socioeconomic and educational opportunities had lower rates of asthma-related emergency department visits among children under five years old. This suggests that improving social determinants of health in areas with high asthma morbidity may help reduce childhood asthma rates.

SourceChildren's National Hospital·JournalJournal of Allergy and Clinical Immunology·DateOct 23, 2023

Researchers probe molten rock to crack Earth’s deepest secrets

A team of researchers at SLAC National Accelerator Laboratory has made a groundbreaking discovery about the behavior of iron in molten rock materials, shedding light on Earth's evolution and the study of exoplanets. The findings reveal that iron in these materials mostly has a low-spin state under extreme pressure and temperature condi...

SourceDOE/SLAC National Accelerator Laboratory·JournalScience Advances·TypeExperimental study·DateOct 23, 2023

Nurse practitioners and physicians are similarly likely to inappropriately prescribe medications to older patients

A recent study published in Annals of Internal Medicine found that both nurse practitioners (NPs) and physicians are similarly likely to inappropriately prescribe medications to older patients, with an average of 1.7 inappropriate prescriptions for every 100 prescriptions written. The authors suggest that use of clinician-level perform...

SourceAmerican College of Physicians·JournalAnnals of Internal Medicine·TypeNews article·DateOct 23, 2023

Plant-based isn't just about burgers anymore

A team of University of Waterloo researchers has developed bio-compatible and non-toxic hydrogel composites using sustainable cellulose nanoparticles derived from plants. The tiny robots have the potential to conduct medical procedures, such as biopsy, and cell and tissue transport in a minimally invasive fashion.

SourceUniversity of Waterloo·JournalNature Communications·DateOct 23, 2023

Normative values of vertical jump (VJ) and sit-and-reach (SR) for Chinese general population.

Researchers established normative values for VJ and SR tests in a diverse Chinese population. Males exhibited an upward trajectory in VJ values until the age of 18, while females maintained stable levels until early adulthood. The findings provide valuable tools for gauging muscle function and detecting health-related issues.

SourceKeAi Communications Co., Ltd.·JournalGlobal Transitions·TypeObservational study·DateOct 23, 2023

Finding Argoland: how a lost continent resurfaced

Geologists at Utrecht University reconstructed the history of lost continent Argoland, which was fragmented into microcontinental shards. The team found that Argoland is still present, albeit in fragments, beneath the islands of Indonesia and Myanmar, revealing a puzzle that fits seamlessly between neighboring geological systems.

SourceUniversiteit Utrecht Faculteit Geowetenschappen·JournalGondwana Research·TypeComputational simulation/modeling·DateOct 23, 2023

Changes in soil organisms in crop rotation farmland accessed by DNA metabarcoding

The study found that soil biota and their networks are easily altered by the soil environment, cultivation history, and crops. The research team applied DNA metabarcoding to analyze changes in soil organisms associated with crop growth, revealing distinct prokaryotic and eukaryotic communities and networks.

SourceToyohashi University of Technology (TUT)·JournalScientific Reports·TypeExperimental study·DateOct 23, 2023

Can we trust autism information on TikTok? Not always.

Researchers from Drexel University's Autism Institute found that most TikTok videos providing information on autism were inaccurate or overgeneralized. Healthcare professionals' content was more likely to include accurate information, while personal experience-based videos were not coded in the study.

SourceDrexel University·JournalJournal of Autism and Developmental Disorders·DateOct 23, 2023