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Physics23 May 2023

Element creation in the lab deepens understanding of surface explosions on neutron stars

Led by Kelly Chipps of the Department of Energy’s Oak Ridge National Laboratory, scientists working in the lab have produced a signature nuclear reaction that occurs on the surface of a neutron star gobbling mass from a companion star. Their achievement improves understanding of stellar processes generating diverse nuclear isotopes. “Neutron stars are really fascinating from the points of view of both nuclear physics and astrophysics,” said ORNL nuclear astrophysicist Kelly Chipps, who led a study published in Physical Review Letters. “A deeper understanding of their dynamics may help reveal the cosmic ...

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Medicine23 May 2023

New treatment helps people stop addictive opioid painkillers used for chronic pain

Programme of combined one-to-one and group support sessions was tested in landmark clinical trial After one year, one in five people were able to stop taking opioids without their pain increasing Experts say the new treatment is an alternative to opioid use and has potential to give patients better quality of life Researchers at the University of Warwick and The James Cook University Hospital, Middlesbrough have led a clinical trial, funded by the National Institute for Health and Care Research (NIHR), on a new treatment which can help people stop needing to use opioid painkillers to manage chronic pain. There are over 1 ...

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Medicine23 May 2023

CT scan best at predicting heart disease risk in middle age

CHICAGO ---CT scans are better at predicting a middle-aged person’s risk for a heart disease, such as a heart attack, than genetics, reports a new Northwestern Medicine study. “Finding the best way to identify who is at risk for developing heart disease can help determine what needs to be done to lower their risk,” said lead study author Dr. Sadiya Khan, an assistant professor of medicine and preventive medicine at Northwestern University Feinberg School of Medicine and a Northwestern Medicine cardiologist. “This finding can help doctors and patients in managing risk for heart disease, which is the leading cause ...

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Science23 May 2023

Study: Transcatheter mitral valve repair safe, successful

Long-awaited outcomes data of transcatheter edge-to-edge procedures to repair patients’ leaky mitral valves revealed the minimally invasive procedure to be safe and effective in nearly 90% of patients, according to Cedars-Sinai physician-scientists. Their findings on the condition called degenerative mitral regurgitation were published today in the peer-reviewed Journal of the American Medical Association (JAMA), representing the largest study to date that examines outcomes for patients treated outside of a clinical trial with transcatheter edge-to-edge repair (TEER). “Treatment was successful in nearly nine out of every 10 patients in whom TEER was used to repair ...

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Medicine23 May 2023

Artificial pancreas reduces disease management burden for people with diabetes

WASHINGTON, May 23, 2023 – Type 1 diabetes affects 46.3 million people worldwide, and the number of people affected increases by about 3% each year. It requires careful calculations of insulin needs and bothersome daily injections to avoid peripheral diseases caused by extremes of high or low blood sugar. Automated insulin delivery systems, also called artificial pancreases, make diabetes management much less onerous for patients. These systems — with implanted insulin sensors, pumps that ...

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Physics23 May 2023

Electronic noses sniff out volatile organic compounds

WASHINGTON, May 23, 2023 – Volatile organic compounds are chemicals emitted as gases that can have adverse health effects. They are often found in paints, pharmaceuticals, and refrigerants, among other common products, but they can also act as markers of explosives, insect infestation, food spoilage, and disease. Tracing VOCs is important for public safety and all “smell” related issues. To this end, in Applied Physics Reviews, from AIP Publishing, Liu et al. introduced a fluid mechanics-based chamber design for an electronic nose (e-nose) that consistently detects ...

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Medicine23 May 2023

Neighborhood income mobility and risk of neonatal and maternal morbidity

bout The Study: In this study of women living in low-income areas, those who moved to a higher-income area between births experienced less morbidity and death in their second pregnancy, as did their newborns, compared with those who remained in low-income areas between births. Research is needed to determine whether financial incentives or enhancement of neighborhood factors can reduce adverse maternal and perinatal outcomes. Authors: Joel G. Ray, M.D., M.Sc., of the University of Toronto, is the corresponding author. To ...

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Medicine23 May 2023

Factors associated with protection from SARS-CoV-2 Omicron variant infection and disease among vaccinated health care workers

About The Study: Immunoglobin G and neutralizing antibody titer levels were associated with protection against infection with the Omicron variant and against symptomatic disease in this study that included 2,300 vaccinated health care workers in Israel. Authors: Gili Regev-Yochay, M.D., of the Sheba Medical Center in Ramat Gan, Israel, is the corresponding author. To access the embargoed study: Visit our For The Media website at this link https://media.jamanetwork.com/ (doi:10.1001/jamanetworkopen.2023.14757) Editor’s ...

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Medicine23 May 2023

Prediabetes and fracture risk among midlife women

About The Study: The findings in this study of nearly 1,700 midlife women without diabetes suggest that prediabetes was associated with risk of fracture. Future research should determine whether treating prediabetes reduces fracture risk. Authors: Albert Shieh, M.D., of the David Geffen School of Medicine at University of California, Los Angeles, is the corresponding author. To access the embargoed study: Visit our For The Media website at this link https://media.jamanetwork.com/ (doi:10.1001/jamanetworkopen.2023.14835) Editor’s ...

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Science23 May 2023

Underreporting of quality measures in nursing home ratings

About The Study: The results of this quality improvement study involving 13,000 nursing homes suggest widespread underreporting of major injury falls and pressure ulcers, and underreporting was associated with the racial and ethnic composition of a facility. Alternative approaches to measuring quality need to be considered. Authors: Prachi Sanghavi, Ph.D., of the University of Chicago, is the corresponding author. To access the embargoed study: Visit our For The Media website at this link https://media.jamanetwork.com/ (doi:10.1001/jamanetworkopen.2023.14822) Editor’s Note: Please see the article for additional information, including other ...

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Technology23 May 2023

Boost for the quantum internet

Quantum networks connect quantum processors or quantum sensors with each other. This allows tap-proof communication and high-performance distributed sensor networks. Between network nodes, quantum information is exchanged by photons that travel through optical waveguides. Over long distances, however, the likelihood of photons being lost increases dramatically. As quantum information cannot simply be copied and amplified, 25 years ago Hans Briegel, Wolfgang Dür, Ignacio Cirac and Peter Zoller, then all at the University of Innsbruck, provided the blueprints for a quantum repeater. These feature light-matter entanglement sources and memories ...

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Medicine23 May 2023

ICUconnect app helped clinicians address unmet palliative care needs across course of ICU care

Session: C16, The Road to Recovery: Improving Long-Term Outcomes After Critical Illness Date and Time: 9:24 a.m. ET, Tuesday, May 23, 2023 Location: WEWCC, Room 143 A-C (Street Level) ATS 2023, Washington, DC – In a randomized controlled trial, ICUconnect helped ICU physicians to reduce unmet palliative care needs of critically ill patients and their families better than standard care did, according to research published at the ATS 2023 International Conference. ICUconnect is a mobile app that enables families to give and receive ...

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Science23 May 2023

Hertz Foundation announces 2023 Hertz Fellows

Pleasanton, Calif., May 23, 2023 — The Fannie and John Hertz Foundation, a nonprofit organization dedicated to empowering the most promising innovators in science and technology, has announced the 2023 Hertz Fellows, 15 remarkable doctoral students in applied science, engineering and mathematics. By funding their graduate studies for five years, Hertz Fellowships provide each new fellow the freedom to tackle some of the most significant challenges facing our nation and the world today. Their research promises to improve human health, usher in advances in artificial intelligence and quantum technologies that redound to the greater good, yield a deeper understanding of our universe, contribute ...

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Medicine23 May 2023

Photon-counting CT offers superior imaging in babies with heart defects

OAK BROOK, Ill. – A new advanced form of CT imaging called photon-counting computed tomography (PCCT) offers better cardiovascular imaging quality at a similar radiation dose compared to dual-source CT (DSCT) in infants with suspected cardiac heart defects, according to a study published in Radiology, a journal of the Radiological Society of North America (RSNA). Congenital heart defects are the leading cause of morbidity and mortality in the neonatal period, occurring in up to one percent of live births. Of those, approximately 25% are critical defects requiring surgical intervention within the first month after birth. ...

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Social Science23 May 2023

Viral transmission in schools

Schoolchildren in China, tracked with wearable devices, provide data about close contact behavior that may influence viral transmission, according to a study. Nan Zhang and colleagues fitted wearable trackers on 24 children at a school comprising of primary, middle, and high school students in Jiangsu Province, China. Two volunteers were selected from each grade, 1–12, and asked to sit near the middle of the classroom. For 45 minutes during class and 10 minutes during breaks between two classes, the devices recorded the children’s interpersonal distance, face orientation, relative position (horizontal and vertical), close ...

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Science23 May 2023

Ready, set, go: New study shows how marathon running affects different foot muscles

With the current trend of fitness consciousness, many people have taken up long-distance running as a part of their exercise regime. They also participate in various local, national, and global marathons. But marathon running can lead to muscular fatigue and damage in the foot muscles, which can in turn lead to chronic pain or injuries. At present, there is little information on the impact of marathon running on the various foot muscles. Foot muscles are generally categorized as either intrinsic or extrinsic muscles. While intrinsic muscles originate and insert within the foot, extrinsic muscles originate ...

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Science23 May 2023

Lessons from blockbusters to help teams adapt

AMES, IA – We all like to think of ourselves as rational human beings. If there’s a drastic change in our lives or at work, we can evaluate our options and make the best choice. But James Summers, an expert in team management and adaptation at Iowa State University, says our ability to process information breaks down when we experience heightened negative emotions. Fear and anxiety can lead to withdrawal and avoidance, both of which hinder a group’s ability to coordinate and overcome challenges. Because of this, many researchers ...

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Science23 May 2023

Flavonol-rich foods like apples and blackberries can lower chances of developing frailty

Eating plant-based foods that contain dietary compounds called flavonols can lower your chances of developing frailty. Foods like apples and blackberries that contain flavonoids called quercetin may be the most important for frailty prevention. Approximately 10% to 15% of older adults experience frailty, a geriatric syndrome that leads to a greater risk of falls, fractures, disability, hospitalization, and mortality. Current dietary recommendations for frailty prevention primarily focus on protein intake. However there are many other foods that may have health benefits “There ...

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Environment23 May 2023

Researchers want to use ‘biochar’ to combat climate change

COLUMBUS, Ohio – A new review of research suggests that the nature-based technology biochar – a carbon-rich material – could be an important tool to use in agriculture to help mitigate climate change. Made by pyrolysis, a process that involves heating organic material in a low-oxygen environment, biochar – a charcoal-like, porous substance – has long been utilized for crop production as a soil amendment or carbon sequestration agent. In recent years, researchers have seen a resurgence of heightened interest in the technology due to its unique physical structure and its various agricultural ...

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Technology23 May 2023

Researchers build bee robot that can twist

PULLMAN, Wash. – A robotic bee that can fly fully in all directions has been developed by Washington State University researchers. With four wings made out of carbon fiber and mylar as well as four light-weight actuators to control each wing, the Bee++ prototype is the first to fly stably in all directions. That includes the tricky twisting motion known as yaw, with the Bee++ fully achieving the six degrees of free movement that a typical flying insect displays. Led by Néstor O. Pérez-Arancibia, Flaherty associate professor in WSU’s School of Mechanical and Materials Engineering, the researchers ...

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Medicine23 May 2023

How the COVID-19 pandemic impacted social cohesion

Did the pandemic bring societies together or increase the drifting apart? That was one of the central questions posed by the scientists. "The empirical knowledge gained in this special issue deepens our understanding of the social consequences of the pandemic," says Dr. Mandi Larsen, a sociologist at Constructor University, "a well-founded scientific basis is also important in order to be able to better counteract future pandemics in socio-political terms." Together with her expert colleagues Dr. Georgi ...

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Science23 May 2023

Are we truly “inattentionally blind”? New study revisits “invisible gorilla” experiment for new insights

We are quite good at spotting unexpected objects while focused on another activity if they are moving fast, reveals a new study by a team of New York University researchers. Their findings cast doubt on a long-standing view that our ability to see the unexpected is necessarily impaired when our attention is already directed elsewhere. “For decades, it’s been thought that when we’re intently focused on something relevant, like driving or playing a game, we fail to spot something that unexpectedly enters our field of vision, even if it is clearly visible and moving,” says Pascal Wallisch, a clinical associate professor at New York University’s ...

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Medicine23 May 2023

Putting the brakes on accelerated aging of bone, muscle from HIV infection, treatment

AUGUSTA, Ga. (May 23, 2023) – Antiretroviral cocktails can make human immunodeficiency virus, or HIV, undetectable and untransmittable, but both the virus and its treatment can also accelerate aging of bone and muscle. Now Medical College of Georgia scientists are looking at drugs already being studied in clinical trials for cancer to help put the brakes on these classic indicators of aging that can lead to falls, fractures and early frailty. “These drugs are doing what they are supposed to be doing: ...

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Science23 May 2023

Viewers actually 'binge-watch' TV with a lot of self-control

If viewers sometimes feel guilty about binge-watching television programing, they really shouldn’t. Though its name implies impulsive behavior, binge-watching TV is a common activity planned out by viewers, suggests new research from the University of California San Diego’s Rady School of Management and School of Global Policy and Strategy. The study, in collaboration with the Tepper School of Business at Carnegie Mellon University and Fox School of Business at Temple University, reveals that viewers prefer to binge-watch ...

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Science23 May 2023

Prescribed burns encourage foul-smelling invaders

Though prescribed burns reduce wildfire threats and even improve habitat for some animals, new research shows these fires also spread stinknet, an aptly named weed currently invading superblooms across the Southwestern U.S. Stinknet, also called globe chamomile, is native to South Africa, but is commonly seen in photos of California’s colorful superblooms. “Not all flowering plants are indicative of a healthy ecosystem,” said Loralee Larios, UC Riverside assistant botany professor and study co-author. “This one isn’t.” In addition ...

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