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Science6 Apr 2023

Model simulates variable flap stiffness for the best lift

There is extensive research on how a fixed-position flap affects lift in the realm of fluid-structure interaction. However, taking the conversation in a new direction, researchers at the University of Illinois Urbana-Champaign conducted a bio-inspired study with a novel twist—variable stiffness—to learn more about how it affects lift. The researchers wondered if they could model a flap on an airfoil, or wing, with varying stiffnesses over time much like a bird can tense, or stiffen, the musculature and tendons connected to covert feathers. “We know from previous studies ...

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Medicine6 Apr 2023

Broccoli consumption protects gut lining, reduces disease, in mice

UNIVERSITY PARK, Pa. — Broccoli is known to be beneficial to our health. For example, research has shown that increased consumption of the cruciferous vegetable decreases incidences of cancer and type 2 diabetes. In a recent study, researchers at Penn State found that broccoli contains certain molecules that bind to a receptor within mice and help to protect the lining of the small intestine, thereby inhibiting the development of disease. The findings lend support to the idea that broccoli truly is a ‘superfood.’ “We ...

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Environment6 Apr 2023

UNLV, SNWA study makes case for Candida auris wastewater surveillance

A rapid spike in cases of a potentially deadly, drug-resistant fungus has concerned public health officials across the nation. But a team of Southern Nevada researchers hope their new study applying wastewater surveillance can help health officials get a step ahead of this emerging global public health threat. The Pathogen Problem Candida auris is a fungus that can cause serious infections, particularly in patients who are immunocompromised, have pre-existing health conditions, are in long-term healthcare settings, or are undergoing treatment with invasive medical devices such as a catheter. Infection prevention ...

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Science6 Apr 2023

Giving pregnant women routine third trimester ultrasound scans could reduce rates of undetected breech pregnancy by 71%, enabling better care before and during labor and improved outcomes for newborns

Giving pregnant women routine third trimester ultrasound scans could reduce rates of undetected breech pregnancy by 71%, enabling better care before and during labor and improved outcomes for newborns In your coverage, please use this URL to provide access to the freely available paper in PLOS Medicine: http://journals.plos.org/plosmedicine/article?id=10.1371/journal.pmed.1004192 Article Title: Impact of point-of-care ultrasound and routine third trimester ultrasound on undiagnosed breech presentation and perinatal outcomes: An observational multicentre cohort study Author Countries: United Kingdom, Turkey Funding: The author(s) received no specific funding for this work. END ...

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Medicine6 Apr 2023

Implant treats dangerously low blood pressure in people with spinal cord injury

An implant that delivers electrical stimulation to a select group of spinal neurons can treat dangerously low blood pressure in people with spinal cord injuries, addressing an often “invisible” consequence of paralysis. For his work in developing this treatment, called the neuroprosthetic baroreflex, Jordan W. Squair is the winner of the 2023 BioInnovation Institute & Science Prize for Innovation. The prize seeks to reward scientists who deliver research at the intersection of the life sciences and entrepreneurship. “Dr. Squair’s prize-winning research on epidural electrical stimulation restores blood pressure control in patients ...

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Science6 Apr 2023

Editorial: Share SARS-CoV-2 data immediately

In an editorial, Maria Van Kerkhove – who serves as the technical lead for the COVID-19 response at the World Health Organization (WHO) – outlines how earlier this month (March 2023), WHO learned that scientists in China possessed data on viral samples from Wuhan that had been gathered in January 2020. “These should have been shared immediately—not 3 years later,” she writes. “The lack of data disclosure is simply inexcusable.” WHO continues to call on China and all countries to share any data on the origins of SARS-CoV-2 immediately. “China has advanced technical capabilities,” Van ...

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Science6 Apr 2023

Uncovered: A new mode of reproduction that produces chimeric males in yellow crazy ants

Male yellow crazy ants (Anoplolepis gracilipes) are chimeras of two separate genetic lineages, researchers report in a study that reveals a unique mode of reproduction in this species – one previously unknown to science. While most multicellular organisms develop from a single-cell zygote into a collection of genetically identical cells – a hallmark of biological inheritance – the new findings show that yellow crazy ants deviate from this expectation. According to the study, all male yellow crazy ants are instead composed ...

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Medicine6 Apr 2023

Bushmeat consumption unchanged by COVID-19 in Kenya and Tanzania border towns, new study reveals

First ever study looking at disease risks of wild meat activities in rural communities. Nearly 70% of rural respondents at Kenya-Tanzania border said that COVID-19 did not impact their levels of wild meat consumption, with some even reporting increased consumption. Ungulates were found to be the most consumed species, followed by birds, rodents and shrews. Governments need to focus on better controlling zoonotic disease transmission risks through community engagements on behavior change interventions, improving hygiene and standards of informal markets, supporting wildlife conservation ...

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Environment6 Apr 2023

Methyl groups enhance key properties of PHA plastics and enable closed-loop recyclability

A class of polyesters considered a promising alternative to common plastics, were it not for limitations like brittleness and thermal instability, have now been made more mechanically tough and thermally stable. Researchers replaced the reactive hydrogens in the monomer of these materials – polyhydroxyalkanoate (PHA) plastics – and found it enhanced PHA thermal and mechanical properties and enabled closed-loop chemical recyclability. The new approach could provide a route for increased use of sustainable PHA plastics. ...

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Physics6 Apr 2023

Ultra-fast light at the end of the vacuum tunnel: Meta-optics shows physical processes in the attosecond range

Developed at Harvard, and successfully tested at Graz University of Technology (TU Graz), a revolutionary new meta-optics for microscopes with extremely high spatial and temporal resolution has proven its functional ability in laboratory tests at the Institute of Experimental Physics at TU Graz. Microscopes using this kind of lens promise completely new research and development approaches, especially in semiconductor and solar cell technology. The research team from Graz and Boston currently reports on the construction and the successful laboratory experiment with this new meta-optics in the specialist journal Science. The lens of ...

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Energy6 Apr 2023

New atomic-scale understanding of catalysis could unlock massive energy savings

MADISON – In an advance they consider a breakthrough in computational chemistry research, University of Wisconsin–Madison chemical engineers have developed model of how catalytic reactions work at the atomic scale. This understanding could allow engineers and chemists to develop more efficient catalysts and tune industrial processes — potentially with enormous energy savings, given that 90% of the products we encounter in our lives are produced, at least partially, via catalysis. Catalyst materials accelerate chemical reactions without undergoing changes themselves. ...

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Medicine6 Apr 2023

Researchers reveal why viruses like SARS-CoV-2 can reinfect hosts, evade the immune response

The human body is capable of creating a vast, diverse repertoire of antibodies—the Y-shaped sniffer dogs of the immune system that can find and flag foreign invaders. Despite our ability to create a range of antibodies to target viruses, humans create antibodies that target the same viral regions again and again, according to a new study led by investigators from Brigham and Women’s Hospital, a founding member of the Mass General Brigham healthcare system, and Harvard Medical School. These “public epitopes” mean that the generation ...

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Science6 Apr 2023

UH study finds Black Lives Matter movement had significant impact on Black entrepreneurs’ crowdfunding efforts

New research conducted by the University of Houston Conrad N. Hilton College of Global Hospitality Leadership suggests the Black Lives Matter movement had a significant, positive impact on the fundraising efforts of Black restaurateurs. In a study published in the International Journal of Hospitality Management, the researchers found in the decade before Black Lives Matter rose to prominence, Black restaurateurs were 76% less likely to be successful in the use of crowdfunding sources, such as Kickstarter, than non-Black restaurateurs. From 2010 – 2015, funding was 72% lower for Black-owned businesses and from 2016-2020 it was 79% lower. But that all changed ...

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Social Science6 Apr 2023

Aston University hosts Royal Society of Chemistry prize-giving

Professor Arthur Ragauskas awarded Royal Society of Chemistry prize He is based at the Oak Ridge National Laboratory and University of Tennessee He chose to receive award at Aston University because of its research into renewable resources. Aston University has hosted a prestigious Royal Society of Chemistry prize-giving and lecture. Professor Arthur Ragauskas of the Oak Ridge National Laboratory and University of Tennessee chose the University as the venue for this event because its research into renewable resources has inspired his work. He is the recipient of the Society’s 2022 environment, sustainability and energy division open award: Environment ...

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Physics6 Apr 2023

New professor to boost Aston University’s photonics expertise

Professor Richard Hogg will be joining Aston Institute of Photonics Technologies It is a leading photonics research centre, with a successful track record of scientific achievements Professor Hogg will be focusing on research and commercialisation. Aston University is to welcome Professor Richard Hogg who will be joining its flagship photonics research institute He will be focusing on research and commercialisation at Aston Institute for Photonic Technologies, Aston University’s Aston Institute of Photonics Technologies (AIPT) a leading photonics research institute with a successful track record of ...

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Space6 Apr 2023

NASA, Webb Telescope industry team awarded Collier Trophy

NASA and the James Webb Space Telescope industry team, led by Northrop Grumman Corporation, have won the prestigious National Aeronautic Association (NAA) Robert J. Collier Trophy for revolutionizing the field of astrophysics with the team’s pioneering design and exceptional performance of the telescope. The Collier Trophy is awarded annually for “the greatest achievement in aerospace and astronautics in America.” The award will be presented at the NAA Gala in Washington, D.C., on June 15. “The James Webb Space ...

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Medicine6 Apr 2023

Paris will host the 6th World Congress on Targeting Phage Therapy 2023 next June with more than 51 scientific communications from 27 different countries

More than 125 international academics and industrials from 27 different countries will be joining Targeting Phage Therapy 2023 on June 1-2 in Paris. During Targeting Phage Therapy 2023, 50+ communications will be presented in the form of major talks, short orals, and posters. Among the speakers Targeting Phages 2023 will address how phages play a strategic role to combat infection and antibiotic resistance, but also to modulate gut microbiota. Phage enthusiasts and experts will be presenting their latest data and innovations. Domenico Frezza, University of Roma Tor Vergata, Italy “Phage Therapy: Vision, Gaps and Evolution” Martha Clokie, ...

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Environment6 Apr 2023

Sierra squirrels find their niche amid a changing climate

As the climate changes, many species are expected to adjust where and how they live. Some are expected to seek cooler elevations as it warms, but what happens to species already at the top of a mountain? A study of squirrels living in California’s high-elevation Sierra Nevada indicates that climate is only one factor to consider when trying to predict where an animal will make its home in a changing world. The study, led by the University of California, Davis, is published in the journal Ecology and Evolution and was conducted in alpine regions stretching ...

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Environment6 Apr 2023

Gender and energy key to sustainable development goals

DURHAM, N.C. – Most of us woke up this morning, used energy and technology to learn about the weather and the news, got a fresh cup of coffee, and went about our day informed and refreshed. Imagine if every woman in a poor village in rural Africa or Asia could power on technology for vital information the same way. Yet, they cannot. Lack of energy access disempowers women. Research demonstrates that empowered people are far more resilient to climate shocks and harms. While energy technology can advance resilience, it can also create new vulnerabilities. Think of disasters that can damage complex energy systems or destroy off-grid solar home systems. A new review published in Nature ...

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Medicine6 Apr 2023

Black, Hispanic severe allergy patients less likely to receive allergy shots

HERSHEY, Pa. — Black and Hispanic patients with severe allergies are less likely to get a common treatment, allergen immunotherapy, compared to white patients, according to Penn State College of Medicine researchers. They said identifying the causes, which could include being less likely than white patients to be referred to an allergist and the difficulty accessing treatment due to time and other resource constraints, and developing solutions for this health disparity, could help patients get relief from symptoms, including runny nose, congestion, post-nasal drip, sinus pain and ...

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Social Science6 Apr 2023

Community-based prevention system linked to reduced handgun carrying among youth growing up in rural areas

Firearm injury is now the leading cause of death among U.S. children and adolescents. As its toll grows, researchers have focused on stopping violence in the moments before it happens. But new research led by the University of Washington suggests that interventions made earlier in young people’s lives may reduce the chances of it happening at all. The study, published April 6 in JAMA Network Open, found that UW’s Communities That Care (CTC) prevention system reduced handgun carrying among adolescents growing up in rural areas. By the 12th grade, adolescents in CTC communities were ...

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Medicine6 Apr 2023

Blind dating in bacteria evolution

Proteins are the key players for virtually all molecular processes within the cell. To fulfil their diverse functions, they have to interact with other proteins. Such protein-protein interactions are mediated by highly complementary surfaces, which typically involve many amino acids that are positioned precisely to produce a tight, specific fit between two proteins. However, comparatively little is known about how such interactions are created during evolution. Classical evolutionary theory suggests that any new biological feature involving many components (like the amino acids that enable an interaction between proteins) ...

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Science6 Apr 2023

Costs of natural disasters set to spiral with continued rise in CO2 and global temperature, study shows

BOSTON – Scientists have long predicted that global climate change could fuel an increase in the frequency and severity of natural disasters including hurricanes, heatwaves and cold snaps, droughts and floods and wildfires. In a paper published in the Journal of Climate Change and Health, members of the Beth Israel Deaconess Medical Center (BIDMC) Fellowship in Disaster Medicine estimated that climate change-related natural disasters have increased since 1980 and have already cost the United States more than $2 trillion in recovery costs. Their analysis also suggests that as atmospheric carbon dioxide levels and the global temperature continue to rise, ...

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Social Science6 Apr 2023

AERA announces 2023 award winners in education research

Washington, April 6, 2023—The American Educational Research Association (AERA) has announced the winners of its 2023 awards for excellence in education research. “We are honored to present this year’s awards to an excellent and deserving group of scholars,” said AERA Executive Director Felice J. Levine. “Their contributions to education research, across all career stages and fields, have made and continue to make a difference in the lives of students and educators.” AERA will ...

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Science6 Apr 2023

Forest futures

When you walk through a forest, you are surrounded by carbon. Every branch and every leaf, every inch of trunk and every tendril of unseen root contains carbon pulled from the atmosphere through photosynthesis. And as long as it stays stored away inside that forest, it’s not contributing to the rising concentrations of carbon dioxide that cause climate change. So it’s only natural that we might want to use forests’ carbon-storage superpower as a potential climate solution in addition to reducing human greenhouse gas emissions. But climate change itself might compromise how permanently forests are able to store carbon and keep it out of the air, according to a new paper by ...

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