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Study reveals how bacterial pathogen adapts to nutritional stress

Researchers at Illinois provided insight into the signal transduction mechanism utilized by Staphylococcus aureus's TCS ArlRS in response to host-imposed manganese and glucose starvation. The study found that histidine kinase ArlS is necessary for activation of response regulator ArlR under both manganese and glucose-limited conditions.

SourceCarl R. Woese Institute for Genomic Biology, University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign·JournalJournal of Bacteriology·TypeExperimental study·DateDec 6, 2021

Manganese makes its mark in drug synthesis

Rice chemist Julian West and graduate student Yen-Chu Lu discovered manganese as a more efficient catalyst for synthesizing fluoroketones, precursor molecules for drugs. The use of manganese reduces material costs and simplifies purification.

SourceRice University·JournalACS Catalysis·TypeExperimental study·DateOct 5, 2021

Manganese could make luminescent materials and the conversion of sunlight more sustainable

Researchers at the University of Basel have developed new luminescent manganese complexes with promising properties, including improved efficiency and stability. These findings offer a potential solution for more sustainable energy production and could lead to the creation of water-soluble variants for medical applications.

SourceUniversity of Basel·JournalNature Chemistry·TypeExperimental study·DateAug 2, 2021

Solving a long-standing mystery about the desert's rock art canvas

Researchers have solved a long-standing debate about the origin of rock varnish in deserts by attributing its formation to microbial communities that use manganese to combat the desert sun. The study used advanced techniques such as X-ray spectroscopy and DNA sequencing to understand how these ecosystems interact with rock varnish.

SourceDOE/SLAC National Accelerator Laboratory·JournalProceedings of the National Academy of Sciences·DateJul 2, 2021

Hybrid redox-flow battery with a long cycle life

A team of researchers from the University of Freiburg has developed a non-aqueous All-Manganese Flow battery with a long cycle life, achieving an energy density roughly twice that of previous batteries. The new design uses sustainable manganese as its active material and has shown promising results for stationary energy storage.

SourceUniversity of Freiburg·JournalAdvanced Energy Materials·DateMay 31, 2021

High-capacity electrodes by valence engineering developed for desalination

Researchers from Hefei Institutes of Physical Science created three manganese oxides with different Mn valences for high-capacity capacitive desalination. The results showed that these electrodes displayed high salt adsorption capacity and corresponding high salt adsorption rates surpassing other carbon materials.

Pancake strategy for the win

Researchers at HZDR have created a novel method for growing magnetic thin-film materials that host skyrmions, tiny magnetic vortices promising for high data storage and processing capacities. The new process involves rapid heating with brief flashes of light to prevent undesired crystal phases, resulting in stable skyrmion formation.

SourceHelmholtz-Zentrum Dresden-Rossendorf·JournalAdvanced Functional Materials·DateMar 31, 2021

Highly sensitive dopamine detector uses 2D materials

A supersensitive dopamine detector developed using 2D materials can help diagnose disorders such as Parkinson's disease and schizophrenia. The detector is low-cost, flexible, and can detect dopamine in real-time, making it a promising tool for non-invasive monitoring.

SourcePenn State·JournalScience Advances·DateAug 7, 2020

Scientists link decline of Baltic cod to hypoxia -- and climate change

A recent study by Dr. Karin Limburg and Michele Casini reveals that hypoxia caused by climate change is responsible for the declining condition of Baltic cod. The researchers analyzed otoliths, or earstones, found in the fish's hearing and balance system, which showed a clear link between hypoxia and the decline of the species.

Secure printing with water-based invisible ink

Researchers have created a rewriteable paper coating that can encrypt secret information using relatively low-tech invisible ink--water. The method allows reversible secure printing for at least 30 cycles, significantly reducing the cost and being environmentally friendly.

SourceCell Press·JournalMatter·DateSep 25, 2019

New contrast agent could make MRIs safer

Researchers at MGH develop a new, possibly safer contrast agent for MRI exams using a manganese-based compound that provides comparable tumor contrast enhancement to state-of-the-art gadolinium-based agents. The new agent is designed to be more quickly and thoroughly cleared from the body, reducing concerns about long-term safety.

SourceMassachusetts General Hospital·JournalInvestigative Radiology·DateAug 15, 2019

Toward a better battery

Sodium-ion batteries have shorter lifetimes than lithium-based batteries due to the unintended presence of hydrogen. Hydrogen leads to degradation of the battery electrode. The study reveals that measures can be taken during fabrication and encapsulation to suppress incorporation of hydrogen, leading to better performance.

SourceUniversity of California - Santa Barbara·JournalChemistry of Materials·DateJul 17, 2019

A better way to make acrylics

A team of researchers at UConn and ExxonMobil have discovered a new, more energy-efficient method for producing acrylics. The technique uses a porous catalyst made of manganese and oxygen to facilitate chemical reactions, resulting in reduced energy consumption and fewer unwanted byproducts.

SourceUniversity of Connecticut·JournalNature Communications·DateFeb 8, 2019

How manganese produces a parkinsonian syndrome

Researchers discovered manganese's role in disrupting protein transport, leading to parkinsonian symptoms. Manganese accumulates in cellular vesicles, disturbing nerve cell function and affecting Parkinson's disease-like symptoms.

SourceCNRS·JournalACS Chemical Neuroscience·DateJan 16, 2019

Scoliosis linked to essential mineral

A new study links scoliosis to the body's inability to utilize the essential dietary mineral manganese. Children with severe scoliosis are twice as likely to carry a gene variant that makes it hard for their cells to take in and use manganese, which is required for growing bones and cartilage.

SourceWashU Medicine·JournalNature Communications·DateOct 9, 2018

Manganese plays a key role in bacterial infection

Enterococcus faecalis relies on manganese acquisition systems for virulence, which are essential for growth in manganese-restricted environments. Inactivating these transporters led to a loss of virulence in animal models, making them promising targets for new antimicrobial therapies.

SourcePLOS·JournalPLOS Pathogens·DateSep 20, 2018