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| Researchers discover source of super-fast electron 'rain' Posted: 29 Mar 2022 04:17 PM PDT Scientists have discovered a new source of super-fast, energetic electrons raining down on Earth's atmosphere, a phenomenon that contributes to the colorful aurora borealis and poses hazards to satellites, spacecraft and astronauts. |
| Immune cells produce chemical messenger that prevents heart disease–related inflammation Posted: 29 Mar 2022 03:54 PM PDT In the bone marrow, B cells produce a chemical messenger called acetylcholine that prevents inflammation in the heart and blood vessels by blocking white blood cell production. Tapping into this process may help scientists target inflammation in cardiovascular conditions. |
| Drought alters Mammoth Mountain’s carbon dioxide emissions Posted: 29 Mar 2022 03:54 PM PDT A study suggests the weight of snow and ice atop the Sierra Nevada affects a California volcano's carbon dioxide emissions, one of the main signs of volcanic unrest. |
| Universal flu vaccine candidate Posted: 29 Mar 2022 03:53 PM PDT Scientists have leveraged on a novel vaccine platform to deliver M2e to immune cells. This allowed them to prove that a single shot immunization containing M2e was able to trigger long-lasting immune responses that could protect effectively against multiple strains of the flu. The team was also able to demonstrate that this vaccination approach significantly enhanced protective immune responses in the context of pre-existing flu immunity. This scenario is particularly relevant in adult and elderly populations, where individuals have been exposed to flu viruses multiple times in the past and have low levels of M2e-specific antibodies in their blood circulation. |
| Posted: 29 Mar 2022 12:28 PM PDT The same light bulbs used in offices and public spaces can destroy coronaviruses and HIV, according to a new study. |
| Unravelling the mystery of parrot longevity Posted: 29 Mar 2022 12:28 PM PDT Bigger brains have led some species of parrot to live surprisingly long lives, new research shows. |
| Zebra finch males sing in dialects and females pay attention Posted: 29 Mar 2022 12:28 PM PDT Male zebra finches learn their song by imitating conspecifics. To stand out in the crowd, each male develops its own unique song. Because of this individual-specific song, it was long assumed that dialects do not exist in zebra finches. However, with the help of an artificial intelligence technique, researchers have now been able to show that the songs of four different zebra finch populations differ systematically. They also discovered that these 'cryptic dialects' are decisive for the females' choice of mate. Thus, female zebra finches pay more attention to a cultural trait than to male appearance. |
| Researchers identify key complex for ribosome generation Posted: 29 Mar 2022 11:25 AM PDT Researchers have identified a four-protein complex that appears to play a key role in generating ribosomes -- organelles that serve as protein factories for cells -- as well as a surprising part in neurodevelopmental disorders. The findings could lead to new ways to manipulate ribosome production, which could impact a variety of conditions that affect human health. |
| Head-mounted microscope reaches deeper into mouse brains Posted: 29 Mar 2022 11:25 AM PDT Researchers have developed a miniature microscope that is designed for high-resolution 3D images inside the brains of living mice. The new, lightweight design could help scientists understand how brain cells operate by imaging deeper into the brain than previously possible with miniature widefield microscopes. |
| Roundworms’ egg cells have a backup plan Posted: 29 Mar 2022 11:25 AM PDT Researchers discovered a previously unknown mechanism in roundworms that protects their egg cells from division errors. Uncovering and understanding this hidden mechanism could ultimately lead to new strategies for combating infertility in humans. |
| Posted: 29 Mar 2022 11:25 AM PDT Researchers presented the results of efforts to perform global full waveform inversions of the Earth using the Frontera supercomputer. They used data from 300 earthquakes to construct the new global full wave inversion models that include attenuation and azimuthal anisotropy and approach continental-scale resolution. The researchers also recently released a visualization toolbox for large seismic model files and are building a platform for seismic analysis. |
| Mounds of ice in craters give new insight into Mars’ past climate Posted: 29 Mar 2022 11:25 AM PDT Newly discovered deposits of layered ice in craters scattered around Mars' southern hemisphere provide insights into how the planet's orientation controlled the planet's climate over the past 4 million years, according to a new study. The findings help scientists understand what controlled Mars' past climate, which is essential for predicting when the planet could have been habitable. |
| New software to help discover valuable compounds Posted: 29 Mar 2022 11:25 AM PDT Because the comparative metabolomics field lacks sophisticated data analysis tools that are available to genomics and proteomics researchers, metabolomics researchers spend a lot of time hunting for candidate compounds that could be useful as leads for the development of new pharmaceuticals or agrochemicals. To solve this problem, scientists have developed Metaboseek, a free, easy-to-use app that integrates multiple data analysis features for the metabolomics community. |
| Posted: 29 Mar 2022 11:25 AM PDT Scientists show that responses to the Pfizer-BioNTech BNT162b2 mRNA vaccine differ significantly in individuals based on whether or not they were previously infected with SARS-CoV-2. Notably, those who had COVID before vaccination experienced rapid antibody production after the first vaccine dose, with little or no increase after the second dose. The opposite pattern was observed in infection-naive individuals. |
| Describing the devastating eruption in Tonga Posted: 29 Mar 2022 11:25 AM PDT On January 15, the volcano Hunga Tonga-Hunga Ha'apai devastated the nation of Tonga. The eruption triggered tsunamis as far afield as the Caribbean and generated atmospheric waves that travelled around the globe several times. Meanwhile, the volcano's plume shot gas and ash through the stratosphere into the lower mesosphere. |
| Study finds 10-second videos predict blood cancer relapse Posted: 29 Mar 2022 11:25 AM PDT Ten-second videos of white blood cell motion in the skin's microvasculature greatly improved the prediction of which stem cell and bone marrow transplant patients would have a relapse of their blood cancer. |
| Plastic bag bans may unintentionally drive other bag sales Posted: 29 Mar 2022 11:23 AM PDT When cities or counties institute plastic bag bans or fees, the idea is to reduce the amount of plastic headed to the landfill. But a new analysis finds these policies, while created with good intentions, may cause more plastic bags to be purchased in the communities where they are in place. |
| How accelerated biological aging may cause bowel cancer Posted: 29 Mar 2022 08:47 AM PDT Scientists have shown how accelerated biological aging measured by an epigenetic clock may increase the risk of bowel cancer, according to a new report. |
| Sensor for faster, more accurate COVID-19 tests Posted: 29 Mar 2022 08:47 AM PDT Researchers say the sensor combines accuracy levels approaching that of PCR testing with the speed of rapid antigen tests, and could be used for mass testing at airports, schools, and hospitals. |
| Nature-based carbon removal can help protect us from a warming planet Posted: 29 Mar 2022 08:47 AM PDT A new study finds that temporary nature-based carbon removal can lower global peak warming levels but only if complemented by ambitious fossil fuel emission reductions. |
| Newly discovered drug candidate increased insulin secretion in type 2 diabetes Posted: 29 Mar 2022 08:47 AM PDT Researchers have discovered increased levels of of a microRNA in type 2 diabetes, which has a negative effect on insulin secretion. Their experiments on human insulin producing cells in the pancreas also demonstrates that it is possible to increase the insulin secretion by reducing the levels of this microRNA. An important goal of the research is to develop new treatments for people with the disease. |
| Scientists achieve record efficiency for ultra-thin solar panels Posted: 29 Mar 2022 08:47 AM PDT A team has successfully increased the levels of energy absorbed by wafer-thin photovoltaic panels by 25%. Their solar panels, just one micrometer thick, convert light into electricity more efficiently than others as thin and pave the way to make it easier to general more clean, green energy. |
| Posted: 29 Mar 2022 08:47 AM PDT A new study reports that, among youth with substance use and depression, a significant proportion show early improvements in depression during their treatment for substance use. Youth who are using cannabis less frequently prior to treatment and those without conduct disorder are more likely to experience early depression improvement. |
| Researchers expand target range of CRISPR/Cas Systems Posted: 29 Mar 2022 08:47 AM PDT Researchers have created a genome editing technology that allows for slight variations in target DNA but retains local specificity, and which could help realize the potential of CRISPR/Cas-based gene therapy and pathogen diagnosis. |
| Posted: 29 Mar 2022 08:47 AM PDT According to the latest assessment report from the Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change, a considerable reduction in CO2 emissions is required to limit the consequences of climate change. Producing fuel from renewable sources such as waste wood and straw or renewable electricity would be one way to reduce carbon emissions from the area of transportation. |
| Researchers shorten manufacturing time for CAR T cell therapy Posted: 29 Mar 2022 08:47 AM PDT A new approach could cut the time it takes to alter patients' immune cells for infusion back into the body to find and attack cancer. The cell manufacturing process for this type of immunotherapy that was pioneered at Penn -- CAR T cell therapy -- typically takes nine to 14 days. In a pre-clinical study, scientists have abbreviated this process and generated functional CAR T cells with enhanced anti-tumor potency in just 24 hours. |
| Promising Alzheimer's drug may also improve memory in Down syndrome and normal aging Posted: 29 Mar 2022 08:47 AM PDT New research is breaking ground in repurposing an FDA-approved drug as a potential treatment in Down syndrome and normal aging. The results suggest that GM-CSF may improve cognitive function in people with Down syndrome. The drug sargramostim (GM-CSF, which stands for granulocyte-macrophage colony-stimulating factor) is also the first to show memory improvement in Alzheimer's patients in a phase II clinical trial. GM-CSF is a normal human protein that is safe and well-tolerated with over 30 years of FDA-approved use for other disorders. |
| Lung damage may persist long after COVID-19 pneumonia Posted: 29 Mar 2022 08:47 AM PDT Some people recovering from COVID-19 pneumonia have CT evidence of damage to their lungs that persists a full year after the onset of symptoms, according to a new study. |
| Spiders use webs to extend their hearing Posted: 29 Mar 2022 08:47 AM PDT A newly published study of orb-weaving spiders has yielded some extraordinary results: The spiders are using their webs as extended auditory arrays to capture sounds, possibly giving spiders advanced warning of incoming prey or predators. |
| How eye imaging technology could help robots and cars see better Posted: 29 Mar 2022 08:47 AM PDT Using lessons learned from the eye-imaging technology optical coherence tomography (OCT), engineers have demonstrated a LiDAR system that is fast and accurate enough to potentially improve the vision of autonomous systems such as driverless cars and robotic manufacturing plants. |
| AI helps radiologists detect bone fractures Posted: 29 Mar 2022 08:47 AM PDT Artificial intelligence (AI) is an effective tool for fracture detection that has potential to aid clinicians in busy emergency departments, according to a new study. |
| Posted: 29 Mar 2022 08:47 AM PDT Researchers discovered that two distinct classes of fibroblast cells accumulate in pancreatic tumors and play opposing roles to promote and restrain pancreatic cancer growth. Appropriately targeting these cells may offer options to improve treatment outcomes. |
| Dried avocado meal, a novel fiber source to be added to commercial dog food Posted: 29 Mar 2022 08:47 AM PDT Thanks to avocados' rise to superfood stardom, there are now more avocado-derived products in the supply chain than ever. In a unique study, researchers looked at the possibility of using avocado meal -- the ground, dried, and defatted pulp, seed, and skin left over after avocado oil processing -- as a fiber source in dry dog food. |
| Good hydration may reduce long-term risks for heart failure Posted: 29 Mar 2022 08:47 AM PDT Staying well-hydrated may be associated with a reduced risk for developing heart failure. New findings suggest that consuming sufficient amounts of fluids throughout life not only supports essential body functioning but may also reduce the risk of severe heart problems in the future. |
| Researchers redefine the mechanisms of Dravet syndrome Posted: 29 Mar 2022 08:46 AM PDT Researchers have found that dysfunction in an important cell subtype in the brain's neuronal network contribute to chronic symptoms in the neurodevelopmental disorder Dravet syndrome. |
| New approach needed for forecasting corrosion within bridges, concrete structures Posted: 29 Mar 2022 08:46 AM PDT Researchers advocate for a paradigm change in the science of forecasting corrosion damage within reinforced concrete structures. They discuss the severe flaws in using the chloride threshold concept for forecasting corrosion and say change is needed to address the growing challenges of aging structures losing functionality and potentially collapsing, greenhouse gas emissions, and the economy at large. To achieve this, a multiscale, multidisciplinary approach combining scientific and practical contributions from materials science, corrosion science, cement/concrete research, and structural engineering is needed. |
| Folding design leads to heart sensor with smaller profile Posted: 29 Mar 2022 08:46 AM PDT Researchers want to leverage the centuries-old art of cutting paper, kirigami, into designs to develop a sensor sheet that can stretch and breathe with the skin while collecting electrocardiographic data. Scientists in Japan use cuts in a film made of polyethylene terephthalate printed with silver electrodes to fit a sensor on a person's chest to monitor his or her heart. At the optimal size found, they were able to detect enough signal from the heart to be used in a smartphone app. |
| Osmotic pressure and viscosity: Anticancer drug efficacy and restricting tumors using LDDS Posted: 29 Mar 2022 07:00 AM PDT Chemotherapy is known for its painful side-effects. It also has limitations when the cancer has metastasized to the lymph nodes. The lymphatic drug delivery system, where anticancer drugs are injected directly into the sentinel lymph nodes under ultrasound guidance, offers an alternative to conventional chemotherapy. Researchers have now found the optimal osmotic pressure and viscosity ranges, significantly improving the antitumor effect. |
| Heat storage: Scientists develop material that is stable, efficient and eco-friendly Posted: 29 Mar 2022 07:00 AM PDT A new heat storage material could help to significantly improve the energy efficiency of buildings. It can be used to store surplus heat and release it back into the environment when needed. Unlike existing materials, the new one can absorb significantly more heat, is more stable, and is made of harmless substances. |
| Residual water from the food industry gives seaweed cultivation a boost Posted: 29 Mar 2022 07:00 AM PDT Process water from the food industry is an excellent fertilizer in land-based seaweed cultivation. Not only does the seaweed grow faster; its protein content also multiplies. In this way, process water can go from being a cost to becoming a resource in the food industry. |
| An approach to treating a severe congenital myopathy Posted: 29 Mar 2022 07:00 AM PDT The diagnosis is rare, but devastating -- children with congenital muscle disorders often never learn to walk. Until now, there was no chance of recovery, but researchers are now presenting a possible therapeutic approach. |
| New estimation strategy improves soil carbon sampling in agricultural fields Posted: 29 Mar 2022 07:00 AM PDT Researchers have evaluated strategies for efficiently estimating soil organic carbon in agricultural fields. Quantifying soil organic carbon stocks in agricultural fields is essential for developing sustainable management practices and monitoring. The research team found that in a typical Midwestern agricultural field, public soil surveys and satellite imagery can be leveraged to efficiently select sample locations. This may reduce the number of samples needed to achieve a given precision (compared to random sampling). |
| I was here first! This is how hepatitis C inhibits hepatitis E Posted: 29 Mar 2022 06:07 AM PDT Infections with hepatitis C and E are so common that, going only by statistics, many people should be infected with both viruses at the same time. However, only very few such cases have been reported. A research team has a guess as to why this is the case: The researchers found that the viruses inhibit each other when they infect at the same time. |
| Posted: 29 Mar 2022 06:07 AM PDT Police and fire first responders are often first on the scene during an out-of-hospital cardiac arrest, and a new study finds that their intervention correlates with significantly higher chances of patient survival and hospital discharge with good neurological outcomes. Researchers say non-medical first responders are likely underutilized as lifesaving resources in these cases. |
| Rehabilitation psychologists: Specialists you may not yet know, but might one day need Posted: 29 Mar 2022 06:07 AM PDT Rehabilitation psychology is a field that focuses on assessing and treating cognitive, emotional and functional difficulties for patients in a rehabilitation setting. In a recent state of the field survey paper, researchers conclude that providers need to communicate the value they bring to organizations through saving costs from decreased hospitalizations, assessing the likelihood of successful interventions and recovery, and more. Authors also call for broad and simultaneous promotion and recruitment in the field. |
| Improving asphalt road pavement using engineered nano mineral composites Posted: 29 Mar 2022 06:07 AM PDT Researchers have developed a new, greener nano asphalt binder that produces a new type of asphalt which uses less energy and produces less vapor and fewer greenhouse gas emissions. |
| Posted: 29 Mar 2022 06:07 AM PDT Pharmacogenetic testing was associated with nearly a two-fold (89 per cent) increase in remission rates compared to treatment as usual in a recent clinical study. |
| Potential window for treating ALS identified Posted: 29 Mar 2022 06:07 AM PDT Amyotrophic lateral sclerosis (ALS) is a neurodegenerative disorder that affects as many as 30,000 people in the United States, with 5,000 new cases diagnosed each year. It weakens muscles over time, impacting physical function and ultimately leading to death. There is no single cause for the disease and no known cure. However, researchers have found a possible window of opportunity during ALS treatment to target astrocyte abnormalities. |
| Solid aerosols found in Arctic atmosphere could impact cloud formation and climate Posted: 28 Mar 2022 01:53 PM PDT Solid aerosols can change how clouds form in the Arctic. And, as the Arctic loses ice, researchers expect to see more of these unique particles formed from oceanic emissions combined with ammonia from birds, which will impact cloud formation and climate. Additionally, understanding the characteristics of aerosols in the atmosphere is critical for improving the ability of climate models to predict current and future climate in the Arctic and beyond. |
| Lack of sleep increases unhealthy abdominal fat, study finds Posted: 28 Mar 2022 01:53 PM PDT New research shows that lack of sufficient sleep combined with free access to food increases calorie consumption and consequently fat accumulation, especially unhealthy fat inside the belly. |
| Caribou herd rebounds as Indigenous stewards lead conservation efforts Posted: 28 Mar 2022 01:06 PM PDT Despite recovery efforts from federal and provincial governments, caribou populations across Canada continue to decline, largely due to human activity. But as a new study finds, in central British Columbia there is one herd of mountain caribou, the Klinse-Za, whose numbers are going in the opposite direction -- all thanks to a collaborative recovery effort led by West Moberly First Nations and Saulteau First Nations. |
| New information about amyloid filaments in neurodegenerative diseases Posted: 28 Mar 2022 01:06 PM PDT Researchers have helped identify that a common protein found in neurodegenerative diseases forms amyloid filaments in an age-dependent manner without a connection to disease. |
| Scientists observe mysterious death of a star emitting six rings Posted: 28 Mar 2022 12:39 PM PDT Astrophysicists studying in unprecedented detail a red giant star named V Hydrae have witnessed the star's mysterious death throes. Researchers discovered that the carbon-rich star has expelled six slowly expanding molecular rings and two hourglass-shaped structures ejecting matter out into space at high speeds. |
| Quantum information theory: Quantum complexity grows linearly for an exponentially long time Posted: 28 Mar 2022 12:06 PM PDT Physicists know about the huge chasm between quantum physics and the theory of gravity. However, in recent decades, theoretical physics has provided some plausible conjecture to bridge this gap and to describe the behavior of complex quantum many-body systems -- for example, black holes and wormholes in the universe. Now, researchers have proven a mathematical conjecture about the behavior of complexity in such systems, increasing the viability of this bridge. |
| Posted: 28 Mar 2022 12:06 PM PDT With the advent of cutting-edge apparatus that can image samples at the atomic scale, scientists found that traditional molecular models did not fit the images they saw. Researchers have devised a better way to visualize molecules building on these traditional methods. Their models fit the imaging data they acquire well, and they hope the models can therefore help chemists with their intuition for interpreting molecular images. |
| Hundreds of new mammal species waiting to be found, study says Posted: 28 Mar 2022 12:05 PM PDT At least hundreds of so-far unidentified species of mammals are hiding in plain sight around the world, a new study suggests. Researchers found that most of these hidden mammals are small bodied, many of them bats, rodents, shrews, and moles. |
| Invading hordes of crazy ants may have finally met their kryptonite Posted: 28 Mar 2022 12:05 PM PDT Scientists have have demonstrated how to use a naturally occurring fungus to crush local populations of tawny crazy ants. |
| Spirituality can improve quality of life for heart failure patients, study finds Posted: 28 Mar 2022 11:10 AM PDT Numerous studies have shown that spirituality can help improve quality of life for people with chronic diseases like cancer. According to a literature review, spirituality can also have a positive impact on quality of life for heart failure patients. |
| Black patients with cancer fare worse with COVID-19, study shows Posted: 28 Mar 2022 10:38 AM PDT Lack of access to health care, social determinants of health, preexisting comorbidities and reduced access to clinical research are common to both cancer and COVID-19 in Black individuals. Together these two diseases create a perfect storm in this population, a new study indicates. |
| Posted: 28 Mar 2022 10:38 AM PDT In a potential paradigm change for sepsis diagnostics, a new test predicted sepsis soon after infection in mice -- well before blood clotting and organ failure -- enabling early antibiotic treatment and markedly increased survival. The findings provide a platform to develop rapid and easy-to-perform clinical tests for early sepsis detection and clinical intervention in human patients. |
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