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Science News Archive September 2023 - Page 2


Page 2 of 37

Small but mighty new gene editor

A new CRISPR-based gene-editing tool, AsCas12f, has been developed with enhanced editing ability and compact size. The engineered enzyme has already shown success in animal trials and holds promise for improved treatments of genetic disorders.

SourceUniversity of Tokyo·JournalCell·TypeExperimental study·DateSep 29, 2023

Congenital Heart Surgeons' Society (CHSS) and fourteen professional organizations announce recommendations for performing pediatric heart surgery in US

Leading professional organizations announce first-time multidisciplinary consensus guidelines for essential and comprehensive care centers in the US. The guidelines aim to address known variation in outcomes at different centers, providing structure, process, and outcome components necessary for quality care.

SourceSAGE·JournalWorld Journal for Pediatric and Congenital Heart Surgery·DateSep 29, 2023

Can ChatGPT help us form personal narratives?

A new study found that ChatGPT-4 can generate highly accurate personal narratives based on stream-of-consciousness thoughts and demographic details. The AI model was used in conjunction with therapists to guide patients toward healthier thoughts and behaviors, suggesting a potential tool for improving therapeutic approaches.

SourceUniversity of Pennsylvania·JournalThe Journal of Positive Psychology·TypeExperimental study·DateSep 29, 2023

Experts present pioneering vision on reducing brain disorders by 2050

A special supplement presents insights on neurodegenerative diseases, including Alzheimer's and Parkinson's, affecting 55 million people worldwide. Researchers explore novel molecular pathways and therapeutic approaches, such as acupuncture therapy, to alleviate the burden of brain disorders.

SourceIOS Press·JournalJournal of Alzheimer’s Disease·TypeSystematic review·DateSep 28, 2023

Researchers of the School of Science of TalTech revived a method abandoned a century ago. Why?

Researchers at TalTech's School of Science have revived the abandoned Barbier method for creating organometallic compounds, improving efficiency and environmental friendliness. The new technique uses mechanochemistry, a process that avoids organic solvents and produces stable compounds with minimal waste.

SourceEstonian Research Council·JournalAngewandte Chemie International Edition·TypeMeta-analysis·DateSep 28, 2023

Child Development journal Q&A: Music intervention programs can enhance parent and baby language interactions

A study of Music Together program found increased conversational turns and parent verbal quality in participants, suggesting community-based music programs as a promising population-level intervention for infancy. Future work should include broader populations to generalize results.

SourceSociety for Research in Child Development·JournalChild Development·TypeObservational study·DateSep 28, 2023

Uncovered: the source of sticking power and virulence for an emerging fungal pathogen

Researchers characterized adhesins produced by Candida auris, discovering a previously uncharacterized adhesin called Surface Colonization Factor (SCF1) that governs surface association and virulence. SCF1 relies on cationic interactions for attachment, unlike other fungal adhesins that function through hydrophobic interactions.

Oldest hunter-gatherer basketry in southern Europe, 9,500 years old, discovered in Cueva de los Murciélagos, Albuñol (Granada, Spain)

A team of scientists has discovered and analyzed the oldest direct evidence of basketry among hunter-gatherer societies and early farmers in southern Europe. The esparto grass objects from Cueva de los Murciélagos date back to the Mesolithic period, between 9,500 and 6,200 years ago.

SourceUniversitat Autonoma de Barcelona·JournalScience Advances·TypeExperimental study·DateSep 28, 2023

“Printing” photo-thermoelectric imagers on soft sheet

A new fabrication process for photo-thermoelectric imagers on soft sheets has been developed, enabling highly durable non-destructive inspections. The process simplifies the integration of multi-functional device substrates, contributing to the manufacturing of image sensor sheets.

SourceChuo University·JournalAdvanced Materials Interfaces·TypeExperimental study·DateSep 28, 2023

Data storage of tomorrow

Researchers have developed a novel supramolecular memristor based on bistable [2]catenanes, which can achieve high-density storage and non-volatile memory capabilities. The memristors demonstrated at least 1000 erase-read-write cycles and switching times comparable to commercial inorganic memristors.

SourceWiley·JournalAngewandte Chemie International Edition·TypeExperimental study·DateSep 28, 2023

SMU working with transportation nonprofit Feonix Mobility Rising, other universities to improve health disparities in Dallas and Detroit

A community-led research program aims to study the impact of improved transportation on health outcomes for people with chronic medical conditions and women with high-risk pregnancies. The project provides individuals with a mobility wallet, allowing them to access medical services without relying on traditional transportation options.

New study provides evidence for more effective brain-based treatment of chronic back pain

A new study published in JAMA Network Open suggests that reattribution of pain to mind or brain processes can lead to significant reductions in chronic back pain intensity. Participants who received pain reprocessing therapy reported being pain-free or nearly so after treatment, compared to those receiving placebo controls.

3D-printed plasmonic plastic enables large-scale optical sensor production

Researchers at Chalmers University of Technology developed 3D-printed plasmonic plastic, enabling the mass production of optical sensors that can detect hydrogen gas. The composite material has unique optical properties, allowing it to filter out molecules except hydrogen, making it ideal for various applications.

SourceChalmers University of Technology·JournalAccounts of Chemical Research·TypeNews article·DateSep 28, 2023

Pharmacist-led intervention can improve medication adherence among Latinos with type 2 diabetes

A pharmacist-led intervention has been shown to improve medication adherence among Latinos with type 2 diabetes, leading to significant reductions in blood sugar levels. The study found that patients who interacted with a pharmacist had an average 0.45% reduction in blood sugar, while systolic blood pressure remained unchanged.

SourceUniversity of California - Los Angeles Health Sciences·JournalJAMA Network Open·TypeObservational study·DateSep 28, 2023

New study reveals promising machine learning model for predicting critical bleeding in immune thrombocytopenia patients

A new machine learning model accurately predicts the risk of critical bleeding in patients with immune thrombocytopenia by analyzing easily accessible clinical variables. The model's performance was validated using various statistical measures, including the area under the receiver operating characteristic curve.

SourceScience China Press·JournalScience Bulletin·DateSep 28, 2023

NTU Singapore scientists discover how human cells distribute and maintain their cholesterol levels, aiding in the understanding of cardiovascular and Alzheimer's diseases

Researchers identified key proteins regulating cholesterol distribution within cells, including OSBP1, ORP92, and GRAMD1s. This discovery sheds light on the critical mechanisms underlying cellular cholesterol distribution, offering insights into various health conditions.

SourceNanyang Technological University·JournalNature Communications·TypeRandomized controlled/clinical trial·DateSep 28, 2023

How a suction cup delivers medications to the bloodstream

A team of researchers at ETH Zurich has developed a suction cup capable of delivering large molecule medications like peptides to the bloodstream through the mucosal lining of the cheek. The device uses an endogenous agent to fluidise cell membranes, allowing the drug to penetrate deeper tissue layers and enter the bloodstream directly.

SourceETH Zurich·JournalScience Translational Medicine·TypeExperimental study·DateSep 28, 2023

Catch-22s of reservoir computing

Researchers have identified a major weakness in reservoir computing, a powerful machine learning tool used to model complex dynamic systems. The tool requires a lengthy warm-up time and relies on key information about the system being predicted being built in, making it challenging to accurately predict chaotic behaviors.

SourceSanta Fe Institute·JournalPhysical Review Research·DateSep 28, 2023

Innovative approach reveals environmental mechanisms of the end-Cretaceous extinction

A novel approach combines models with MCMC inversion to predict CO2 and SO2 emissions, carbon export productivity, and remineralization changes across the K/Pg boundary. The results show decoupled CO2 and SO2 emissions, evidence for a two-stage drop in carbon export productivity, and no clear signal of a volatile impulse at the boundary.

Wearable device data reveals that reduced sleep and activity in pregnancy is linked to premature birth risk

A study using wearable device data found that reduced sleep and physical activity during pregnancy are linked to an increased risk of preterm birth. The research, led by Stanford Medicine, collected data from over 1,000 women throughout pregnancy and identified patterns that can help prevent early deliveries.

SourceStanford Medicine·Journalnpj Digital Medicine·TypeExperimental study·DateSep 28, 2023

Life satisfaction may not enhance cognitive functioning among some older adults

A new study suggests that life satisfaction has limited benefits for cognitive function in older adults experiencing health or socioeconomic challenges. High life satisfaction was associated with increased cognitive functioning among most individuals, but it was less beneficial for those with low SES, poor health, or adverse psychologi...

SourceBoston University School of Public Health·JournalSSM - Mental Health·TypeSurvey·DateSep 28, 2023