Artificial photosynthesis can produce food without sunshine

Plants are growing in complete darkness in an
acetate medium that replaces biological photosynthesis.
Credit: Marcus Harland-Dunaway/UCR
Full Size Image

Photosynthesis has evolved in plants for millions of years to turn water, carbon dioxide, and the energy from sunlight into plant biomass and the foods we eat. This process, however, is very inefficient, with only about 1% of the energy found in sunlight ending up in the plant. Scientists at UC Riverside and the University of Delaware have found a way to bypass the need for biological photosynthesis altogether and create food independent of sunlight by using artificial photosynthesis.

The research, published in Nature Food, uses a two-step electrocatalytic process to convert carbon dioxide, electricity, and water into acetate, the form of the main component of vinegar. Food-producing organisms then consume acetate in the dark to grow. Combined with solar panels to generate the electricity to power the electrocatalysis, this hybrid organic-inorganic system could increase the conversion efficiency of sunlight into food, up to 18 times more efficient for some foods.

“With our approach we sought to identify a new way of producing food that could break through the limits normally imposed by biological photosynthesis,” said corresponding author Robert Jinkerson, a UC Riverside assistant professor of chemical and environmental engineering.

In order to integrate all the components of the system together, the output of the electrolyzer was optimized to support the growth of food-producing organisms. Electrolyzers are devices that use electricity to convert raw materials like carbon dioxide into useful molecules and products. The amount of acetate produced increased while the amount of salt used decreased, resulting in the highest levels of acetate ever produced in an electrolyzer to date.

“Using a state-of-the-art two-step tandem CO2 electrolysis setup developed in our laboratory, we were able to achieve a high selectivity towards acetate that cannot be accessed through conventional CO2 electrolysis routes,” said corresponding author Feng Jiao at University of Delaware.

Researchers reveal new molecular mechanism for Parkinson’s disease risk

In about a fifth of the cases of Parkinson’s disease, look to a small, malfunctioning protein in the lysosome as a risk factor, say University of Michigan researchers.

Lysosomes are the garbage collectors of cells. These organelles are responsible for breaking down the “trash” in the cell—misfolded proteins, worn out organelles—that cells collect in a process called autophagy. Autophagy depends closely on lysosome function, and when lysosomes malfunction and this process is disrupted, causing cellular debris to build up, various disorders can occur. Many of these are degenerative disorders such as Alzheimer’s disease, Duchenne muscular dystrophy and Tay-Sachs disease.

Now, U-M researchers have discovered how a mutated protein called TMEM175 acts as a risk factor in about 20% of cases of Parkinson’s disease. In Parkinson’s, nerve cells in the area of the brain that controls movement begin to fail and die. According to the National Institute on Aging, researchers think Parkinson’s is a result of a combination of genetic and environmental factors.

The U-M researchers found that if mutated, TMEM 175 does not properly regulate the acidity of the environment within the lysosome. If the acidity in that environment is not correct, enzymes within lysosomes stop working effectively, and the organelles cannot perform their roles correctly. Their study results are published in the journal Cell.

Research finds LGBTQ people face barriers to health care, especially in rural areas

LGBTQ people may face unique barriers to health care, according to a new study by Zachary Ramsey, doctoral candidate in the WVU School of Public Health. By interviewing researchers and physicians, Ramsey identified four pressing health issues that sexual and gender minorities face: discrimination, heteronormativity, health care system barriers and the interconnectedness of physical, mental and social health. His findings appear in the Journal of Gay and Lesbian Social Services.
Credit: West Virginia University

During Pride Month, it’s easy to find rainbow-colored health and wellness products—from bandages, to mouthwash, to fitness trackers—in stores or online. But actual health care that meets the needs of members of the LGBTQ community can be harder to get.

A new qualitative study by Zachary Ramsey—a doctoral candidate in the West Virginia University School of Public Health—suggests sexual and gender minorities may face unique barriers to health care, most particularly in rural areas.

His findings appear in the Journal of Gay and Lesbian Social Services.

“Research into sexual and gender minorities is growing quickly, but mainly in large urban centers,” he said. “There are a lot of differences between urban and rural populations for a general population, so it stands to reason that there would be a lot of differences between urban and rural LGBTQ individuals. Without more studies of LGBTQ rural individuals specifically, these differences will not be known, and policies and rural LGBTQ Center programming can only use an urban population for guidance.”

Long-sought tetra-neutron discovered

Dr. Roman Gernhäuser from the TUM Physics Department is part of the international research team that detected the tetra-neutron.
Image Credit: Uli Benz / TUM

After 60 years of unsuccessful searches, an international research team has discovered a neutral nucleus for the first time – the tetra-neutron. The collaboration succeeded in creating an isolated four-neutron system with low relative kinetic energy in a volume equivalent to an atomic nucleus.

The building blocks of atomic nuclei are the nucleons, which come in two types, the neutral neutrons and the positively charged protons – the two so-called isospin states of the nucleon. Bound nuclei composed exclusively of neutrons have never been clearly identified. The only known bound systems that consist almost exclusively of neutrons are the neutron stars. These are the final stages of stellar evolution with a typical diameter of about ten kilometers. These stars are stable (bound) by gravity, which leads to a very high neutron density inside the stellar corpses. Atomic nuclei, in turn, are bound by the strong interaction, with preference to bind a comparable number of neutrons and protons – this is known from the stable nuclei found on Earth.

However, the study of pure neutron systems is of great importance, since this is the only way to gain experimental knowledge about the interaction of several neutrons with each other and thus about the nuclear interaction. Moreover, the study of the hitherto hypothetical particles could help to better understand the properties of neutron stars. Finding out whether such neutron systems exist as resonance states or even bound nuclei is therefore a long-standing endeavor in nuclear physics. The international team of scientists has now made a new attempt to do this, using a new experimental method that differs from all previous experiments.

The Path to Heart Failure Is Different for Women

Alan Kwan, MD, examines imaging studies to find out how heart disease differs between women and men.
Photo by Cedars-Sinai.

New research from the Smidt Heart Institute at Cedars-Sinai shows for the first time that the path toward heart failure differs for women and men. The important findings—discovered using a novel cardiac imaging technique developed by Cedars-Sinai researchers—were recently published in the peer-reviewed journal Heart.

The gender disparity likely stems from cellular-level differences in the heart muscle and surrounding tissue, said Alan Kwan, MD, the

“We have known for some time that with aging, women’s hearts tend to have a thicker wall, shrink more in size, and pump faster and harder than a man’s,” said Kwan. “While these structural differences can be seen with the naked eye, it requires more sensitive and detailed imaging to understand how these changes lead to, or result in, heart failure.”

Using their novel cardiac imaging technique, the research team found microstructural changes in the cardiac muscle tissue that predicted heart failure, particularly in women. These microstructural changes likely are the result of greater amounts of fibrosis—or scarring—accumulating in the hearts of females when compared to males.

Climate changes lead to water imbalance, conflict in Tibetan Plateau

Many of Asia's rivers flow from the Tibetan Plateau, providing reserves of water to nearly 2 billion people.
Credit: Esther Lee
Creative Commons Attribution 2.0 Generic license.

Climate change is putting an enormous strain on global water resources, and according to researchers, the Tibetan Plateau is suffering from a water imbalance so extreme that it could lead to an increase in international conflicts.

Nicknamed “The Third Pole,” the Tibetan Plateau and neighboring Himalayas is home to the largest global store of frozen water outside of the North and South Polar Regions. This region, also known as the Asian water tower (AWT), functions as a complex water distribution system which delivers life-giving liquid to multiple countries, including parts of China, India, Nepal, Pakistan, Afghanistan, Tajikistan and Kyrgyzstan.

Yet due to the rapid melting of snow and upstream glaciers, the area can’t sustainably support the continued growth of the developing nations that rely on it.

“Populations are growing so rapidly, and so is the water demand,” said Lonnie Thompson, distinguished university professor of earth sciences at The Ohio State University and senior research scientist at the Byrd Polar Research Center. “These problems can lead to increased risks of international and even intranational disputes, and in the past, they have.”

Boeing Signs on for Aireon Space-Based ADS-B Data Services

Photo Credit: Aireon

Aireon, the world’s leading provider of space-based automatic dependent surveillance-broadcast (ADS-B) services, will deliver its flight data stream to Boeing [NYSE: BA]. Boeing will use the stream to expand its advanced data analytics capabilities in its effort to further strengthen commercial air travel safety.

Aireon will provide historical aircraft data and near real-time aircraft event data via its AireonINSIGHTS product for select Boeing airplane programs.

As part of its implementation of an enterprise Safety Management System (SMS), Boeing will integrate the ADS-B data into its safety analytics tools. Recognized worldwide as an industry best practice, SMS is an integrating framework for managing safety risks. Through the use of data science and data analytics, the information will deliver insights to proactively identify hazards and monitor emerging safety trends.

“We are investing in a data stream that can be transformed into safety intelligence,” said Vishwa Uddanwadiker, Boeing vice president of Aerospace Safety Analytics. “We are adding this to our data analytics ecosystem to help predict and prevent safety risks, while identifying other opportunities to strengthen our Safety Management System.”

The global space-based ADS-B data from AireonINSIGHTS can help customers gain insights to key performance indicators on flight safety.

“The power of the Aireon data unlocks a cache of information for Boeing regarding the operations of its aircraft in the global airspace. With this integration, Boeing will have data to provide a full operational view of its fleet, and we are excited to partner with them,” said Don Thoma, Aireon CEO.

As a leading global aerospace company, Boeing develops, manufactures and services commercial airplanes, defense products and space systems for customers in more than 150 countries. As a top U.S. exporter, the company leverages the talents of a global supplier base to advance economic opportunity, sustainability and community impact. Boeing's diverse team is committed to innovating for the future, leading with sustainability, and cultivating a culture based on the company's core values of safety, quality and integrity. 

Aireon has deployed a space-based air traffic surveillance system for ADS-B-equipped aircraft throughout the entire globe. Aireon is harnessing next-generation aviation surveillance technologies that were formerly ground-based and, for the first time ever, is extending their reach globally to significantly improve efficiency, enhance safety, reduce emissions, and provide cost savings benefits to all stakeholders. Space-based ADS-B surveillance covers oceanic, polar, and remote regions, and augments existing ground-based systems that are limited to terrestrial airspace. In partnership with leading ANSPs from around the world, like NAV CANADA, the Irish Aviation Authority, ENAV, NATS UK and NAVIAIR, as well as Iridium Communications, Aireon is providing a global, real-time, space-based air traffic surveillance system, available to all aviation stakeholders.

Source/Credit: Boeing

av062322_01

Recurrent pregnancy loss linked to increased stroke risk later in life

Women with a history of miscarriage and stillbirth have a higher risk of stroke in later life, according to University of Queensland research.

The study compared pooled data from more than 610,000 women in Australia, China, Japan, Netherlands, Sweden, UK and USA, and found the risk increased with multiple pregnancy loses.

Senior author, UQ’s Professor Gita Mishra from the UQ School of Public Health, said many women were unaware that their experiences during pregnancy acted as an early alert for the risk of diseases in later life.

“This is the first study big enough to demonstrate a robust link between stroke and recurrent miscarriage and very rare events like recurrent stillbirths,” Professor Mishra said.

“It’s vital for older women who have suffered multiple miscarriages or stillbirth to share their history with their GPs, no matter how much time has passed.”

The study, led by PhD candidate Ms. Chen Liang, showed that women’s risk of having a stroke in later life climbed with each miscarriage.

Women who had miscarried once had a 7 per cent higher risk of fatal and non-fatal strokes than women who hadn’t experienced miscarriage during their pregnancy.

The risk was 12 per cent higher for a non-fatal stroke and 26 per cent higher for a fatal stroke, for two miscarriages.

After three or more miscarriages, the risk increased to 35 per cent for a non-fatal stroke and 82 per cent for a fatal stroke compared with other women.

While one in 5 pregnancies (19 per cent) end in miscarriage, less than 5 per cent of women will experience multiple miscarriages, and about 1 per cent will experience three or more miscarriages.

“In real terms what we see is– among women who had three or more miscarriages 41 out of every 1000 experienced a non-fatal stroke and 12 in 1000 had a fatal stroke, compared to 29 non-fatal strokes and 7 fatal strokes for every 1000 women who had never miscarried,” Professor Mishra said.

Similarly, the risk of stroke increased for each stillbirth a woman experienced compared to women with no history of stillbirth; after two stillbirths the risk of a non-fatal stroke was 29 per cent higher and the risk of a fatal stroke 26 per cent higher.

“For women who are still grieving and processing – this isn’t the time to worry about these findings,” Professor Mishra said.

“But, if you are heading into perimenopause, or if you’re post-menopausal, and have a history of multiple miscarriages or stillbirths, please talk to your GP about managing your health risks.

“Your doctor might recommend medication, but there are a lot of lifestyle changes you can make to reduce your risk of stroke.”

The Stroke Foundation recommends maintaining a healthy weight, exercising for 30 minutes a day, stopping smoking, and managing blood pressure and cholesterol levels.

This research was made possible through InterLACE, an international collaboration which pooled data from 618,851 women who took part in eight separate studies in Australia, China, Japan, Netherlands, Sweden, the UK, and the USA.

The research is published in BMJ.

Source/Credit: University of Queensland

med062322_01

Brain imaging links stimulant-use relapse to distinct nerve pathway

Researchers used advanced brain imaging techniques to study nerve fibers connecting to the nucleus accumbens, which plays an important role in motivation and addiction.
Credit: Loreen Tisdall and Kelly H. MacNiven.

You might assume that people who are most prone to developing a substance use disorder in the first place would also have the hardest time avoiding relapse following treatment. But a new study by scientists with the Wu Tsai Neurosciences Institute’s NeuroChoice Initiative reveals that relapse may be linked to quite different brain circuits than addiction itself.

“There’s a huge revolving door problem with relapse,” said Brian Knutson, a professor of psychology. “These findings suggest ​​that what gets you into taking drugs may not be the same processes that get you out of it, which could be very valuable to help predict who is at highest risk of relapse coming out of treatment.”

Drug addiction presents a major global challenge. More than 35 million people worldwide self-report problematic use of drugs and admissions to drug treatment programs have surged in the United States in recent years. For many drugs, in particular stimulants such as cocaine and amphetamines, relapse remains a common problem. For example, as many as 50 percent of people with stimulant use disorders relapse within 6 months of release from treatment.

“The statistics are disheartening,” said Kelly MacNiven, a social science research scholar in the Knutson lab and co-author of the new study. “Unfortunately not much is known at a biological level about the drivers of relapse — understanding this better is going to be the first step to developing better ways to help people get out of dependence.”

Technique Allows Researchers to Align Gold Nanorods with Magnetic Fields

Electron micrograph of gold nanorods overcoated with iron oxide nanoparticles and aligned in a magnetic field.
Image Credit: Mehedi H. Rizvi

An international team of researchers has demonstrated a technique that allows them to align gold nanorods using magnetic fields, while preserving the underlying optical properties of the gold nanorods.

“Gold nanorods are of interest because they can absorb and scatter specific wavelengths of light, making them attractive for use in applications such as biomedical imaging, sensors, and other technologies,” says Joe Tracy, corresponding author of a paper on the work and a professor of materials science and engineering at North Carolina State University.

It is possible to tune the wavelengths of light absorbed and scattered by engineering the dimensions of the gold nanorods. Magnetically controlling their orientation makes it possible to further control and modulate which wavelengths the nanorods respond to.

“In other words, if you can control the alignment of gold nanorods, you have greater control over their optical properties,” Tracy says. “And using magnetic fields to control that alignment means that you can control the alignment without actually touching the nanorods.”

In their technique, the researchers synthesize separate solutions of gold nanorods and iron oxide nanoparticles. Mixing the solutions drives assembly of the iron oxide nanoparticles onto the surface of the gold nanorods. The resulting “coated” nanorods can then be controlled using a low-strength magnetic field.