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New study determines parentage, age, and survival of North Atlantic right whales using genetic testing

A new study published in Mammalian Biology analyzed the life history data of 13 North Atlantic right whales using genetic samples and photo identification. The researchers found that four calves previously thought to be dead survived, revealing a significant variation in calf separation time from mothers and physical development.

SourceNew England Aquarium·JournalMammalian Biology·TypeObservational study·DateJan 20, 2022

SMART researchers discover novel way to perform ‘general inverse design’ with high accuracy

Researchers from Singapore-MIT Alliance for Research and Technology (SMART) have discovered a way to perform 'general inverse design' with high accuracy. This breakthrough enables the creation of materials with specific characteristics and properties, paving the way for revolutionizing materials science and industrial applications.

SourceSingapore-MIT Alliance for Research and Technology (SMART)·JournalMatter·TypeExperimental study·DateJan 6, 2022

Botox injections may reduce anxiety

Researchers found that Botox-treated patients reported anxiety significantly less often than those undergoing different treatments for similar conditions. The data used was from the FDA's Adverse Effect Reporting System and showed a 22-72% lower risk of anxiety for four out of eight conditions and injection sites.

SourceUniversity of California - San Diego·JournalScientific Reports·DateDec 21, 2021

Greater odds of overall satisfaction three months after lumbar fusion when surgery is minimally invasive

Researchers found that minimally invasive spinal fusion surgery (MIS) was associated with significantly greater odds of patient satisfaction 3 months post-operatively, but not at 12 months. MIS procedures were also linked to less disability and pain at both time points.

SourceJournal of Neurosurgery Publishing Group·JournalJournal of Neurosurgery Spine·TypeObservational study·DateDec 14, 2021

Digitizing the Natural History Museum London's entire collection could contribute over £2 billion to the global economy

The Natural History Museum's digital collection has been downloaded over 28 billion times, contributing to advancements in food security, biodiversity conservation and medicine discovery. The museum's digitisation efforts are expected to have a tenfold return on investment, with benefits exceeding £2 billion over 30 years.

SourcePensoft Publishers·JournalResearch Ideas and Outcomes·DateDec 8, 2021

Turbo boost for materials research: Researchers train AI to predict new compounds

A new machine learning-based algorithm can predict stable material compounds much faster than traditional methods, opening up new avenues for research and discovery. The researchers identified several thousand potential new compounds using the computer, offering a promising breakthrough in materials science.

SourceMartin-Luther-Universität Halle-Wittenberg·JournalScience Advances·TypeComputational simulation/modeling·DateDec 6, 2021

Expert comment: How studying fossilized parasites can contribute to knowledge of infectious diseases

Researchers have developed a database of parasite-host interactions among ancient ocean animals, shedding light on the evolution of biodiversity and the impact of parasitism on ecosystems. The study suggests that parasites can positively stabilize coastal ecosystems, making them more stable despite individual harm to hosts.

SourceUniversity of Missouri-Columbia·JournalPhilosophical Transactions of the Royal Society B Biological Sciences·TypeData/statistical analysis·DateNov 8, 2021

Life’s a beach: Finding trends in marine debris across Australia

A UNSW-led study analyzing 10 years of citizen science data found that almost half of marine debris can be linked to land-based sources. Plastic accounts for 84% of the rubbish found on Australian beaches, with a significant portion coming from external sources such as stormwater drains near capital cities.

SourceUniversity of New South Wales·JournalThe Science of The Total Environment·TypeData/statistical analysis·DateOct 18, 2021

Study finds critical data needed for monitoring and preserving biodiversity is missing

The world's largest repository of raw genomic sequences is missing critical data necessary for monitoring and preserving biodiversity. Only 14% of archived datasets contain information about when and where organisms were sampled, highlighting the need for community standards to preserve metadata.

SourceUniversity of Central Florida·JournalProceedings of the National Academy of Sciences·TypeContent analysis·DateSep 8, 2021

COVID-19 long-haulers at risk of developing kidney damage, disease

Research reveals a significant decline in kidney function among COVID-19 long-haulers and even those with mild infections. The study highlights the critical need for paying attention to kidney function and disease in caring for patients who have had COVID-19, as kidney problems can be silent and untreated until it's too late.

SourceWashington University in St. Louis·JournalJournal of the American Society of Nephrology·TypeData/statistical analysis·DateSep 1, 2021

A multi-site, multi-disorder, resting-state magnetic resonance image database

A multi-site, multi-disorder resting-state magnetic resonance image database was compiled to harmonize data from patients with various diseases, measured at 14 sites. The dataset comprises over 2,400 samples and includes 'traveling-subject' data to minimize inter-site differences.

SourceATR Brain Information Communication Research Laboratory Group·JournalScientific Data·TypeData/statistical analysis·DateAug 30, 2021

A database of 3,000 lead isotope analyses in geological and archaeological samples from the Iberian Peninsula

A database of 3,000 lead isotope analyses has been compiled for the Iberian Peninsula, providing a comprehensive resource for geological and archaeological research. The IBERLID database includes standardized data on minerals, rocks, and metallic objects, facilitating comparison and analysis.

SourceUniversity of the Basque Country·JournalOre Geology Reviews·TypeNews article·DateAug 6, 2021

DeepMind and EMBL release the most complete database of predicted 3D structures of human proteins

The AlphaFold Protein Structure Database provides the most accurate and complete picture of human proteins, enabling researchers to accelerate discovery and advance scientific knowledge. The database covers all ~20,000 human proteins and offers a treasure trove of data that could unlock future advances in AI-enabled biology.

Farm marketing success linked to natural, cultural assets

A nationwide database of community assets was created to help municipalities craft development plans, finding that natural and cultural assets correlate most strongly with farmers' success. The research suggests that communities with nonprofits, social enterprises, and creative industries support DTC farm marketing efforts.

SourceCornell University·JournalFood Policy·DateJul 13, 2021

Vegetation of planet Earth: Researchers publish unique database as Open Access

A global geodatabase of vegetation plots has been published as open access, containing data from 114 countries and all climate zones on Earth. The sPlotOpen database provides a balanced representation of the Earth's vegetation, enabling researchers to study biodiversity and climate change across different regions.

SourceMartin-Luther-Universität Halle-Wittenberg·JournalGlobal Ecology and Biogeography·DateJun 21, 2021

Ramanome Database can help mining microalgal cell factories for reducing carbon emissions

Researchers have developed a Ramanome Database to rapidly identify and characterize microalgae, which can convert carbon dioxide into valuable compounds. The database achieves 97% accuracy in identifying species and their metabolic functions, accelerating the mining of microalgal cell factories for carbon-neutral production.

SourceChinese Academy of Sciences Headquarters·JournalAnalytical Chemistry·DateJun 21, 2021

Survival among adults with early-onset colorectal cancer

A recent study found that adults with early-onset colorectal cancer (diagnosed before age 50) have significantly better survival rates than those diagnosed later in life. The research used data from the National Cancer Database and found a significant difference in survival rates between the two groups.

SourceJAMA Network·JournalJAMA Network Open·DateJun 16, 2021

Aurora records and historical magnetic fluctuations

A study of historical equatorial auroral records from Seoul, South Korea, suggests that the West Pacific Anomaly may be an analog to the current South Atlantic Anomaly. The record shows strong fluctuations centered around 1590 and 1720, indicating changes in regional magnetic field strength not captured by current geomagnetic models.

SourceProceedings of the National Academy of Sciences·JournalProceedings of the National Academy of Sciences·DateMay 10, 2021