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Science News Archive January 2024 - Page 22


Page 22 of 37

Being rough and hairy isn't all it's cracked up to be - at least if you're a tree

Researchers found that evergreen trees with smaller leaves, particularly those with awl-shaped leaves like Yew and Japanese cedar, were most effective at catching particles of pollution. In contrast, the study showed that the size and shape of the leaf, rather than its roughness or hairiness, was key to removing pollutants.

SourceUniversity of Surrey·JournalScience of The Total Environment·TypeExperimental study·DateJan 16, 2024

Molecular ‘super-glue’ shows promise of cancer drug discovery platform

Researchers at St. Jude Children's Research Hospital have developed a molecular glue that sticks to the cancer-related protein casein kinase 1 alpha (CK1α), leading to its destruction. The compound, SJ3149, displays broad anti-cancer activity and may have clinical utility as an alternative to conventional small molecule inhibitors.

SourceSt. Jude Children's Research Hospital·JournalNature Communications·DateJan 16, 2024

BU/BMC researchers create first model of the most common genetic cause of childhood interstitial lung disease: ABCA3 mutations

Researchers developed a disease model using induced pluripotent stem cells from children with ABCA3 mutations, revealing key differences between diseased and healthy cells. The study opens doors for therapeutic discovery and highlights the utility of pluripotent stem cells for disease modeling.

SourceBoston University School of Medicine·JournalJournal of Clinical Investigation·TypeExperimental study·DateJan 16, 2024

Spider venom heart drug a step closer

A University of Queensland team has developed a spider venom molecule, Hi1a, that protects cells from heart attack and stroke damage. The drug candidate has passed critical benchmarks in preclinical tests, which indicate it could be an effective therapeutic with reduced side effects.

SourceUniversity of Queensland·JournalEuropean Heart Journal·TypeExperimental study·DateJan 16, 2024

Two atoms playing ping-pong

Researchers at TU Wien have developed a 'quantum ping-pong' where two atoms bounce a single photon back and forth. The team used a Maxwell fish-eye lens to achieve pinpoint accuracy, allowing the photons to be transferred from one atom to another with high efficiency.

SourceVienna University of Technology·JournalPhysical Review Letters·DateJan 16, 2024

IAA-miR164a-NAC100L1 mediates graft incompatible

Researchers found that the IAA-miR164a-NAC100L1 module induces callose deposition to mediate graft incompatible cucumber/pumpkin seedlings. The module regulates callose synthase activity and interacts with NAC100L1 to enhance symbiotic incompatibility.

SourcePlant Phenomics·JournalHorticulture Research·TypeExperimental study·DateJan 16, 2024

How did free wi-fi help unlock Hanoi wet markets’ mysteries?

A study analyzed mobile device tracking data from 25 Wi-Fi access points to characterize changes in behavior at five wet markets in Hanoi. The researchers found a significant decrease in visits and market engagement during the initial COVID-19 crisis phase, with peak shopping times shifting due to behavioral changes.

New study reveals significant reduction in lumbar spine reoperation with chiropractic spinal manipulation

A new study published in BMC Musculoskeletal Disorders found that chiropractic spinal manipulation significantly reduces the likelihood of undergoing additional lumbar surgery. Adults who received CSM for sciatica experienced a substantial 45% reduction in lumbar spine reoperation compared to those receiving usual medical care.

SourceUniversity Hospitals Cleveland Medical Center·JournalBMC Musculoskeletal Disorders·DateJan 16, 2024

New method for addressing the reliability challenges of neural networks in inverse imaging problems

Researchers introduce a cycle-consistency-based uncertainty quantification technique to enhance the reliability of deep neural networks in solving inverse imaging problems. The method uses forward-backward cycles to estimate network uncertainty, demonstrating improved accuracy in detecting image corruption and out-of-distribution images.

SourceIntelligent Computing·JournalIntelligent Computing·DateJan 16, 2024

A new, rigorous assessment of OpenET accuracy for supporting satellite-based water management

A new study provides a comprehensive assessment of OpenET accuracy for various crops and natural land cover types, with high accuracy found for agricultural settings. OpenET data has an average error rate of approximately 10-20% for annual crops, making it useful for water management in arid regions like California and the Southwest.

SourceDesert Research Institute·JournalNature Water·DateJan 16, 2024

Evolutionary conservation of CD4 and LAG-3 and their cytoplasmic tail motifs with opposing immune functions: do we finally understand LAG-3?

Researchers have discovered that CD4 and LAG-3 are conserved throughout jawed vertebrate species, including sharks. The study reveals that the cytoplasmic tail motifs of these proteins have opposing immune functions, with CxC/H promoting activation and ITIM-like motif inhibiting cell activity.

SourceFujita Health University·JournalFrontiers in Immunology·TypeData/statistical analysis·DateJan 16, 2024

Largest-ever study of palliative care demonstrates scalable strategy to increase support for seriously ill patients in the hospital

A new study demonstrates a simple, pre-programmed order in electronic medical records can increase palliative care consultation rates and reduce hospital stay length for patients with COPD, dementia, or kidney failure. This scalable strategy improves quality of life and symptom management for critically ill patients.

The commonalities of common sense

A unique framework measures individual perceptions of common sense and collective beliefs across groups, finding that larger groups have fewer common beliefs. Demographic factors like age or education do not influence common sense, but social perceptiveness does correlate with higher levels.

SourceUniversity of Pennsylvania·JournalProceedings of the National Academy of Sciences·TypeComputational simulation/modeling·DateJan 16, 2024

Innovative COVID-19 analysis supports prevention protocols in health care settings

Researchers analyzed electronic health records and contact tracing data to evaluate the effectiveness of prevention measures implemented during the pandemic. Universal masking was found to be a crucial factor in preventing SARS-CoV-2 transmissions in healthcare settings, with airborne negative pressure rooms and N95 respirator masks no...

SourceUniversity of California - San Diego·JournalClinical Infectious Diseases·DateJan 16, 2024

Novel MRI technique improves the lasting effects of treatment for severe depression

A new MRI technique has shown that patients with severe depression can experience substantial improvements in symptoms and quality of life for at least six months. The technique uses functional MRI to guide the delivery of magnetic stimulation to specific areas of the brain, reducing variability and increasing effectiveness.

SourceUniversity of Nottingham·JournalNature Medicine·TypeRandomized controlled/clinical trial·DateJan 16, 2024

Silkmoths: Different olfactory worlds of females and males

Research found that female silkmoth long sensilla recognize silkworm feces as a deterrent, helping females avoid mulberry trees with high silkworm populations. In contrast, male silkmoths have specialized antennae to detect female sex pheromones, but no clear male counterpart has been identified.

SourceMax Planck Institute for Chemical Ecology·JournalProceedings of the Royal Society B Biological Sciences·TypeExperimental study·DateJan 16, 2024

Cannabis has no clear effect on treatment of opioid addiction, US study finds

A new peer-reviewed study suggests that cannabis is having no significant effect on people's use of opioids, taken outside of medical guidance. The findings have substantial implications for U.S. treatment programs, which still require patients to abstain from cannabis before qualifying for potentially life-saving treatment.

SourceTaylor & Francis Group·JournalThe American Journal of Drug and Alcohol Abuse·TypeSystematic review·DateJan 16, 2024

New Scientific Reports publication reveals major difference in genomes of American and Chinese chestnut

The study reveals significant differences in the nucleolus organizing region (NOR) of the two species, which has major implications for blight-resistance in American chestnut restoration. Researchers used fluorescent in situ hybridization to analyze the NOR region and found unique DNA arrangements.

Will long-term operation of constructed wetlands become a source of pollution itself?

Research found that long-term operation of constructed wetlands can lead to reduced pollutant removal efficiency due to plant decay and microbial activity. The study also highlights the poor ability of constructed wetlands to remove organic pollutants, which can become a source of pollution if not properly managed.

SourceHigher Education Press·JournalFrontiers of Agricultural Science and Engineering·TypeExperimental study·DateJan 15, 2024

Scientists open door to achieving high-precision 'slippery structural hydrogel'

Researchers introduce trehalose into hydrogels to form hydrogen bond interactions, improving dehydration resistance, lubrication performance, mechanical properties, and manufacturing accuracy. This discovery proposes a new design principle for high-precision manufacturing of hydrogel materials.

SourceInternational Journal of Extreme Manufacturing·JournalInternational Journal of Extreme Manufacturing·DateJan 15, 2024