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Science News for December 14, 2023


Physical and social activities promote healthy brain aging

A recent study published in NeuroImage found that physically active individuals experienced less decline in entorhinal cortex thickness over a seven-year period. Cognitive reserve is also boosted through regular mental stimulation, suggesting that brains can be trained like muscles to counteract age-related decline.

SourceUniversity of Zurich·JournalNeuroImage·TypeExperimental study·DateDec 14, 2023

Rice study: AI provides more accurate analysis of prehistoric and modern animals, painting picture of ancient world

A recent study published in Annals of the New York Academy of Sciences found that AI technology can accurately identify prehistoric and modern African antelopes, with an accuracy rate of over 90% compared to humans. This breakthrough sheds light on ancient ecosystems and their impact on human evolution.

SourceRice University·JournalAnnals of the New York Academy of Sciences·TypeData/statistical analysis·DateDec 14, 2023

‘Long flu’ has emerged as a consequence similar to long COVID

A new study from Washington University School of Medicine reveals that people hospitalized for seasonal influenza face increased risks of long-term health effects, including death, hospital readmission, and organ system problems. Long flu is more debilitating than initially thought, with patients experiencing health loss similar to tho...

SourceWashington University in St. Louis·JournalThe Lancet Infectious Diseases·TypeData/statistical analysis·DateDec 14, 2023

Quantum batteries break causality

Researchers from the University of Tokyo have developed a new way to charge quantum batteries using optical apparatuses and the phenomenon of indefinite causal order. This approach enables significant gains in energy storage and thermal efficiency, even with lower power chargers.

SourceUniversity of Tokyo·JournalPhysical Review Letters·TypeExperimental study·DateDec 14, 2023

New gene therapy could significantly reduce seizures in severe childhood epilepsy

Researchers at UCL Queen Square Institute of Neurology have developed a new gene therapy that significantly reduces seizures in mice with focal cortical dysplasia. The treatment, which involves the overexpression of a potassium channel, has shown an average reduction of 87% in seizures without affecting the mouse's memory or behavior.

SourceUniversity College London·JournalBrain·TypeExperimental study·DateDec 14, 2023

Princeton research reveals the secret sites where America’s migrating songbirds stop to rest and refuel

Researchers have identified over 2.4 million hectares of land as critical stopover hotspots for migratory songbirds in the eastern United States, primarily consisting of deciduous forests. Protecting these sites is essential to safeguarding bird populations, which have plummeted by a quarter since 1970 due to habitat loss and climate c...

SourcePrinceton School of Public and International Affairs·JournalCurrent Biology·TypeObservational study·DateDec 14, 2023

What do Gifted dogs have in common?

A recent study published in Scientific Reports found that a group of exceptionally gifted dogs, known as Gifted Word Learners (GWLs), share common characteristics. The researchers identified 41 dogs from various breeds and countries with the ability to learn hundreds of toy names, highlighting their unique talent for language acquisition.

SourceEötvös Loránd University·JournalScientific Reports·DateDec 14, 2023

Updated Canadian Cardiovascular Society Guidelines advise against routinely taking aspirin daily for primary prevention of heart attack or death but acknowledge there may be a role for some people

The Canadian Cardiovascular Society has updated its guidelines to no longer recommend routine daily aspirin use for primary prevention of heart attacks or death. However, daily aspirin may be considered for people with high risk factors for heart attack, such as diabetes, high cholesterol, and smoking. The new guidelines emphasize the ...

SourceElsevier·JournalCanadian Journal of Cardiology·TypeSystematic review·DateDec 14, 2023

How the immune system fights to keep herpes at bay

Researchers have discovered key mechanisms by which the host immune system blocks viral infection in the cell's nucleus, including the role of signaling proteins called interferons and host protein IFI16. These findings could lead to new treatments for herpesviruses and other nuclear DNA viruses.

SourceHarvard Medical School·JournalProceedings of the National Academy of Sciences·TypeExperimental study·DateDec 14, 2023

Enabling early detection of cancer

Scientists at Paul Scherrer Institute achieve breakthrough in detecting developing tumors at an early stage and monitoring therapy success. They used artificial intelligence to analyze blood cell chromatin, distinguishing between healthy and sick cells with high accuracy, and identifying tumor types with over 85% precision.

SourcePaul Scherrer Institute·Journalnpj Precision Oncology·TypeExperimental study·DateDec 14, 2023

Being overweight costs society far more than obesity

The study found that people who are only slightly overweight, with a BMI of 25-30, and those with mild obesity, have the highest costs for healthcare services. This is because these individuals represent a larger proportion of the population than obese individuals, who have a higher risk of disease but lower costs.

SourceNorwegian University of Science and Technology·JournalTidsskrift for Den norske legeforening·TypeData/statistical analysis·DateDec 14, 2023

Menstrual cycles affect day-to-day suicide risk, UIC researchers find

A new study by University of Illinois Chicago researchers found that female patients with a history of suicidality experience increased suicidal ideation and planning during the premenstrual phase, offering new guidance for clinicians. The study identified individual differences in how the menstrual cycle affects symptoms and suicidality.

SourceUniversity of Illinois Chicago·JournalAmerican Journal of Psychiatry·DateDec 14, 2023

Egocentric coding unveiled: researchers unlock brain's spatial perception mechanisms

The study reveals functional clustering in dendrites with significant egocentric tuning, suggesting the existence of specialized channels for processing egocentric information about boundaries. The researchers found that boundary-representing cells are largely independent of visual landmark-representing cells, contributing to our under...

Mount Sinai receives $1.3 million from the National Institutes of Health to support program that introduces high school students to virus surveillance

The Mount Sinai Hospital has received a $1.3 million grant from the National Institutes of Health to expand its New York City Virus Hunters program. The program engages high school students in virus surveillance and mapping, tracking circulating avian influenza and paramyxoviruses in wild birds.

Attoscience unveils a light-matter hybrid phase in graphite reminiscent of superconductivity

ICFO researchers observed a light-induced increase and control of conductivity in graphite by manipulating its many-body state, showing signatures of superconductivity. The study uses attosecond soft-X-ray pulses to probe electronic dynamics, providing new insights into material properties and quantum states.

SourceICFO-The Institute of Photonic Sciences·JournalNature Communications·TypeExperimental study·DateDec 14, 2023

In-depth analyses of racism and greater recruitment of Black practitioners needed to address inequities in mental health treatment for Black Americans

The study highlights the need for a culturally informed approach to improve mental well-being of Black Americans, who face greater exposure to risk factors due to centuries of racism. Community-based participatory research and inclusive systems are proposed as solutions to combat systemic biases and inequities.

SourceNYU Langone Health / NYU Grossman School of Medicine·JournalThe Lancet Psychiatry·TypeLiterature review·DateDec 14, 2023

New red galaxies turn out to be already known blue galaxies

Researchers discover extremely red objects (EROs) in James Webb Space Telescope data that resemble blue-excess dust obscured galaxies (BluDOGs) found in Subaru Telescope data. The similarity suggests EROs and BluDOGs may be at similar stages of evolution, with a larger sample needed to confirm the relationship.

SourceNational Institutes of Natural Sciences·JournalThe Astrophysical Journal Letters·TypeObservational study·DateDec 14, 2023

People, not the climate, caused the decline of the giant mammals

A new study from Aarhus University confirms that human activity, not climate change, caused the dramatic decline of giant mammals over the past 50,000 years. By analyzing DNA data from 139 large living mammal species, researchers found that populations fell dramatically around 50,000 years ago, coinciding with the spread of modern humans.

SourceAarhus University·JournalNature Communications·TypeData/statistical analysis·DateDec 14, 2023

Were Neanderthals morning people ?

Genetic material from Neanderthal ancestors may have influenced the preference for waking up early in some people. Studies found that introgressed genetic variants from Neanderthals are associated with increased morningness and a shorter circadian period, which is beneficial at higher latitudes.

SourceOxford University Press USA·JournalGenome Biology and Evolution·TypeContent analysis·DateDec 14, 2023

Ultrafast laser technology could offer improved cancer treatment

Researchers at INRS's Advanced Laser Light Source Laboratory have discovered that ultrafast lasers can accelerate electrons to MeV ranges, opening the door to more effective use of radiation therapy in oncology. This breakthrough has major implications for medical physics and could lead to better cancer treatments.

SourceInstitut national de la recherche scientifique - INRS·JournalLaser & Photonics Review·TypeExperimental study·DateDec 14, 2023

Novel insights into HBV-hepatocellular carcinoma at single-cell sequencing

This review highlights the role of single-cell sequencing in HBV-HCC research, shedding light on tumor heterogeneity and immune microenvironment dynamics. The study provides new avenues for visualizing intratumoral and intertumoral heterogeneity, monitoring tumor progression, and preventing cellular deterioration.

SourceSichuan International Medical Exchange and Promotion Association·JournalMedComm – Oncology·TypeLiterature review·DateDec 14, 2023

Custom software speeds up, stabilizes high-profile ocean model

Researchers developed a new solver algorithm for the MPAS-Ocean ocean circulation model, reducing run time by 45% and enabling semi-implicit stability. This allows for faster climate predictions and energy efficiency, as well as reduced computational power consumption.

SourceDOE/Oak Ridge National Laboratory·JournalThe International Journal of High Performance Computing Applications·TypeComputational simulation/modeling·DateDec 14, 2023

Research from Duke-NUS’ GK Goh Centre for Neuroscience reveals novel ways of cultivating brain cells to treat and study neurodegenerative diseases

Scientists have successfully grown neurons from stem cells that can repair damaged brain tissue after stroke, offering new hope for treatments. The technology also holds promise for studying neurodegenerative diseases like Alzheimer's, Parkinson's, and spinal cord injury.

SourceDuke-NUS Medical School·JournalAdvanced Science·TypeExperimental study·DateDec 14, 2023

Three articles in the Journal of Pharmaceutical Analysis uncover previously unknown drug and disease mechanisms

Researchers have identified promising treatment candidates for morphine tolerance and cancer, as well as a biomarker for kidney injury. A monoclonal antibody targeting the mu-opioid receptor has been shown to alleviate morphine tolerance and physical dependence, while inducing excessive mitochondrial fission in tumor cells. Additionall...

SourceCactus Communications·JournalJournal of Pharmaceutical Analysis·TypeExperimental study·DateDec 14, 2023

Mining salt stress-related genes in Spartina alterniflora via analyzing coevolution signal across 365 plant species using phylogenetic profiling

Researchers developed a novel gene mining strategy using phylogenetic profiling and machine learning to identify salt stress-related genes in Spartina alterniflora. The study found that highly co-evolved genes were involved in ion transport, detoxification metabolism, and response to toxic substances.

Move over Blitzen: geese outpace reindeer impacts on Arctic ecosystems

A new study from Utah State University reveals that geese have a greater impact on Arctic ecosystems than previously thought, while reindeer only exert a smaller influence. The research found that goose grazing in concentrated patches leads to significant reductions in plant biomass and soil compaction.

SourceS.J. & Jessie E. Quinney College of Natural Resources, Utah State University·JournalJournal of Ecology·TypeExperimental study·DateDec 14, 2023

Where patients live impacts whether they pick up their heart-failure medications

A new study by NYU Langone Health found that patients from lower socioeconomic areas were less likely to fill their heart-failure medications, highlighting the importance of neighborhood-level interventions to improve access to lifesaving drugs. The research team plans to explore additional barriers, such as cost and language barriers,...

Tropical ice cores offer deeper insights into Earth’s temperature record

Scientists at Ohio State University discovered that tropical ice cores can provide accurate measurements of surface global mean temperature. The study found that the temperature in the middle and upper troposphere cooled by 7.35 degrees Celsius during the Earth's glacial period, shedding light on new theories about climate dynamics.

SourceOhio State University·JournalScience Advances·TypeExperimental study·DateDec 14, 2023

Research shows disadvantaged people wait significantly longer for power restoration after major storms

Researchers analyzed data from 15 million customers in nine states and found that people in lower socioeconomic tiers experience significantly longer power outage durations. The study suggests that poorer communities are more distant from critical infrastructure or require more significant repairs to power lines.

SourceGeorgia Institute of Technology·JournalPNAS Nexus·TypeComputational simulation/modeling·DateDec 14, 2023

HKUST researchers report the high-res structure of a cyanobacterial virus

Researchers at Hong Kong University of Science and Technology have mapped the high-resolution structure of a little-known cyanophage virus, shedding light on its role in controlling marine biogeochemical cycles. The study provides new insights into how viral proteins interact to make the virus stable and infect cells.

SourceHong Kong University of Science and Technology·JournalNature Communications·TypeObservational study·DateDec 14, 2023

Accurate snow measurement thanks to AI and satellites

Researchers at ETH Zurich have developed a new technology using satellite images and artificial intelligence to determine snow depth with high accuracy. The system can provide detailed snow distribution patterns, even for areas without existing measurements, and offers an indication of uncertainty.

SourceETH Zurich·JournalISPRS Journal of Photogrammetry and Remote Sensing·TypeComputational simulation/modeling·DateDec 14, 2023

Unlocking the human genome: Innovative machine learning tool predicts functional consequences of genetic variants

Researchers developed an innovative machine learning tool, LoGoFunc, to predict pathogenic gain- and loss-of-function variants across the human genome. The tool distinguishes between different types of harmful mutations, offering valuable insights into diverse disease outcomes.

SourceThe Mount Sinai Hospital / Mount Sinai School of Medicine·JournalGenome Medicine·TypeComputational simulation/modeling·DateDec 14, 2023

Large sequence models for sequential decision-making

Researchers summarize recent works on using large sequence models like Transformers for sequential decision-making and reinforcement learning tasks, highlighting their potential and limitations. The study categorizes approaches based on data utilization and proposes avenues for future research to improve these models.

SourceHigher Education Press·JournalFrontiers of Computer Science·TypeExperimental study·DateDec 14, 2023

Mothers and children have their birthday in the same month more often than you’d think – and here’s why

Researchers found that women are more likely to have children in the same month as their own birth, a phenomenon influenced by socio-demographic characteristics. This is due to family members sharing similar backgrounds and behaviors, which can affect fertility and birth seasonality.

SourceTaylor & Francis Group·JournalPopulation Studies·TypeData/statistical analysis·DateDec 14, 2023

Seattle metro residents near Amazon delivery stations face more pollution but order fewer packages

Researchers found that neighborhoods within 3 kilometers of an Amazon last-mile delivery station experience twice the amount of delivery van and truck traffic as farther-away areas. These neighborhoods are disproportionately home to low-income households and people of color, who order 14% fewer packages than average. The study highligh...

SourceUniversity of Washington·JournalResearch in Transportation Economics·DateDec 14, 2023

Can you change a chicken into a frog, a fish or a chameleon?

A team of researchers developed a theoretical framework that can reproduce and predict the patterns associated with gastrulation in a chicken embryo. Small changes in cell parameters and behavior can have a dramatic impact on the resulting gastrulation patterns, which are seen in other species such as frogs, fish, and chameleons.

Viking dentistry was surprisingly advanced

A study of Viking Age teeth from Varnhem in Sweden found that 49% of the population had one or more caries lesions, with children's milk teeth being entirely caries-free. The Vikings also underwent dental treatment, including filing front teeth and relieving pressure through holes drilled into molars.

SourceUniversity of Gothenburg·JournalPLOS ONE·DateDec 14, 2023

High cholesterol caused by childhood sedentariness could be reversed with light physical activity

A new study found that increased sedentary time in childhood can raise cholesterol levels by two thirds as an adult, leading to heart problems. However, light physical activity was shown to be up to five times more effective than moderate-to-vigorous physical activity at promoting healthy hearts and lowering inflammation.

SourceUniversity of Exeter·JournalThe Journal of Clinical Endocrinology & Metabolism·TypeData/statistical analysis·DateDec 14, 2023

A new force of nature is reshaping this planet

Erle Ellis, professor of geography and environmental systems, argues that human societies have developed unprecedented capabilities to scale up and transform ecological systems. However, these advancements often come with negative environmental consequences, such as climate change and species extinctions.

SourceUniversity of Maryland Baltimore County·JournalPhilosophical Transactions of the Royal Society B Biological Sciences·TypeCommentary/editorial·DateDec 14, 2023