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Science News Archive December 2023 - Page 21


Page 21 of 29

Study: International scientists believe lack of women in physics tied to personal preference, but viewpoint ignores gender norms

A new study by Rice University researchers examines how scientists' social identities and national context shape their explanations for gender inequality in science. The study finds that viewing women's decisions to pursue careers in physics as individual choices may diminish efforts to promote gender equality in STEM fields.

SourceRice University·JournalGender Work and Organization·TypeSurvey·DateDec 7, 2023

Ancient Balkan genomes trace the rise and fall of Roman Empire’s frontier, reveal Slavic migrations to southeastern Europe

A multidisciplinary study reconstructs the genomic history of the Balkan Peninsula during the Roman Empire's reign. The analysis reveals a large demographic contribution of people of Anatolian descent, highlighting the cosmopolitanism of the Roman frontier and the long-term consequences of migrations.

SourceSpanish National Research Council (CSIC)·JournalCell·TypeExperimental study·DateDec 7, 2023

Trees in wetter forests more sensitive to drought than trees in drier regions – a finding with policy implications

A recent study analyzing tree ring measurements from 122 species found that trees in wetter forests are more vulnerable to drought than those in drier regions. This suggests that land management policies focused solely on drier regions overestimate the resilience of forests in wetter areas.

Children born moderately early are at an increased risk of developmental disorders, according to new research

A new study found that children born moderately early are at an increased risk of developmental disorders, including language delay, cognitive impairment, ADHD, and cerebral palsy. The study analyzed data from over 8 million children and identified a small but significant increase in risk for most developmental disorders.

SourceUniversity of York·JournalPEDIATRICS·TypeMeta-analysis·DateDec 7, 2023

Patients with HR-positive breast cancer may use fertility preservation and assisted reproductive technologies without increased risk of recurrence

A study found that patients with hormone receptor-positive breast cancer who paused endocrine therapy to conceive did not experience worse short-term recurrence rates. Cryopreserved embryo transfer was associated with higher pregnancy rates, and younger age and menstrual cycles returning after pausing therapy were linked to improved ou...

How ChatGPT could help first responders during natural disasters

Researchers developed a geoknowledge-guided GPT model that extracted location data from Hurricane Harvey tweets with an accuracy rate 76% better than default models. The model recognized complete location descriptions, enabling first responders to reach victims more quickly and potentially saving lives.

SourceUniversity at Buffalo·JournalInternational Journal of Geographical Information Science·TypeComputational simulation/modeling·DateDec 7, 2023

New research demonstrates beef meals result in higher muscle protein synthesis rates than vegan meals

A new study published in the Journal of Nutrition found that consuming whole food omnivorous meals with lean beef resulted in significantly higher muscle protein synthesis rates compared to isocaloric and isonitrogenous vegan meals. The research, conducted on healthy older adults, demonstrated a 47% increase in muscle protein synthesis...

SourceMaastricht University Medical Center·JournalJournal of Nutrition·TypeRandomized controlled/clinical trial·DateDec 7, 2023

Thermal impact of 3D stacking photonic and electronic chips

The study found that 3D integration can lead to significant heat spreading and crosstalk, reducing heater efficiency by up to -43.3% and increasing thermal crosstalk by up to +44.4%. However, optimizing design variables, such as spacing between µbumps and interconnect linewidth, can minimize the thermal penalty of 3D integration.

SourceSPIE--International Society for Optics and Photonics·JournalJournal of Optical Microsystems·DateDec 7, 2023

Magnetization by laser pulse

Researchers at Helmholtz-Zentrum Dresden-Rossendorf have identified a promising phenomenon where certain iron alloys can be magnetized using ultrashort laser pulses. The team has now expanded its findings to an iron-vanadium alloy, revealing a new class of materials with potential applications in spintronics and magnetic sensors.

SourceHelmholtz-Zentrum Dresden-Rossendorf·JournalAdvanced Functional Materials·TypeExperimental study·DateDec 7, 2023

Training algorithm breaks barriers to deep physical neural networks

Researchers have developed an algorithm to train an analog neural network just as accurately as a digital one, decreasing energy consumption and eliminating the need for a digital twin. This approach is more biologically plausible and shows improved speed, robustness, and reduced power consumption compared to other methods.

SourceEcole Polytechnique Fédérale de Lausanne·JournalScience·TypeExperimental study·DateDec 7, 2023

Cocoa extract supplement found to have benefits for cognition among older adults with lower diet quality

A new study published in the American Journal of Clinical Nutrition suggests that taking cocoa extract supplements containing 500 mg of flavanols daily may improve cognitive function in older adults with lower habitual diet quality. In contrast, participants with healthy dietary patterns showed no cognitive benefits.

SourceMass General Brigham·JournalAmerican Journal of Clinical Nutrition·TypeRandomized controlled/clinical trial·DateDec 7, 2023

BU researchers determine the structural basis for ApoE-Aβ interactions

The study reveals that apoE-amyloid interactions depend on the exact amyloid structure, termed polymorph. The researchers used four different structures of Aβ fibrils from brains of patients with Alzheimer’s and other neurodegenerative diseases to build models of apoE in complexes with different fibrils.

SourceBoston University School of Medicine·JournalCellular and Molecular Life Sciences·TypeExperimental study·DateDec 7, 2023

Polaritons open up a new lane on the semiconductor highway

Purdue University researchers have found that polaritons can contribute a larger share of thermal conductivity in semiconductors, overcoming phonon limitations. By understanding how to design materials and structures, manufacturers can incorporate these polariton-based nanoscale heat transfer principles into chip designs.

SourcePurdue University·JournalJournal of Applied Physics·DateDec 7, 2023

New Case Western Reserve University study finds diabetes drug may reduce risk for colorectal cancer

Researchers found that GLP-1 RAs significantly reduced the incidence of colorectal cancer in patients with diabetes, compared to those treated with other anti-diabetic drugs. The study's findings support the need for clinical trials to determine whether these medications could prevent one of the deadliest types of cancers.

SourceCase Western Reserve University·JournalJAMA Oncology·TypeData/statistical analysis·DateDec 7, 2023

Novel stem cell therapy using technology from mRNA COVID-19 vaccines may stimulate natural repair in treatment of chronic and acute liver disease

A new stem cell treatment using mRNA technology from COVID-19 vaccines has shown promise in regenerating liver tissue, potentially reversing chronic and acute liver diseases. The treatment stimulates the natural repair mechanism of the liver by activating specific receptors on stem cells.

SourceBoston Medical Center·JournalCell Stem Cell·DateDec 7, 2023

North Korea and beyond: AI-powered satellite analysis reveals the unseen economic landscape of underdeveloped nations​

A new AI-powered satellite analysis technique reveals the economic conditions of regions with limited data, such as North Korea. The approach combines human input with machine learning to provide detailed economic maps and monitor progress towards Sustainable Development Goals.

SourceThe Korea Advanced Institute of Science and Technology (KAIST)·JournalNature Communications·TypeMeta-analysis·DateDec 7, 2023

World’s first logical quantum processor

A Harvard University team has created the world's first logical quantum processor, which can encode up to 48 logical qubits and execute hundreds of gate operations. This breakthrough is a significant step toward reliable quantum computing and fault-tolerant quantum computation.

SourceHarvard University·JournalNature·TypeExperimental study·DateDec 7, 2023

Improving prediction of advanced breast cancer among women of different races and ethnicities

A study published in JAMA Oncology found that regular screening is not enough to prevent advanced breast cancer diagnoses, particularly among women of color who are overweight or obese. The researchers recommend primary prevention strategies to reduce the number of advanced cancer diagnoses.

SourceUniversity of California San Francisco Medical Center·JournalJAMA Oncology·TypeData/statistical analysis·DateDec 7, 2023

Study: How farmers decide to store or sell their grain

A new study from the University of Illinois College of Agricultural, Consumer and Environmental Sciences examines how Illinois corn and soybean producers make marketing decisions. The research found that farms with lower financial positions tend to store more grain, while bigger and older farms have lower storage costs.

SourceUniversity of Illinois College of Agricultural, Consumer and Environmental Sciences·JournalAmerican Journal of Agricultural Economics·TypeData/statistical analysis·DateDec 7, 2023

COVID-19 pandemic study shows adherence to infection precaution measures among healthcare personnel varies by job role

A new study found that healthcare personnel who had the highest risk of exposure to SARS-CoV-2 were also more likely to report errors in their own adherence to infection prevention measures. The researchers recommend improvements to training and strategy to better protect healthcare workers.

SourceAssociation for Professionals in Infection Control·JournalAmerican Journal of Infection Control·TypeSurvey·DateDec 7, 2023

Physicists ‘entangle’ individual molecules for the first time, hastening possibilities for quantum information processing

Princeton researchers successfully entangle individual molecules, a breakthrough in quantum mechanics that could lead to faster quantum computers, simulators, and sensors. The achievement overcomes long-standing challenges in controlling molecular behavior, enabling new ways of storing and processing quantum information.

SourcePrinceton University·JournalScience·TypeExperimental study·DateDec 7, 2023

Nanoparticle magic: fine-tuning gold nanoparticles in tellurite glass for unique photonics

A team of scientists has developed a new approach to form gold nanoparticles in tellurite glasses, enabling precise control over their formation and plasmonic properties. This innovation has potential for real-world impact in exciting photonics research and applications.

Novel and promising pancreatic cancer organoids for effective screening of anticancer drugs

Researchers developed novel PDAC organoids that resemble the unique tumor microenvironment, enabling effective screening of anticancer drugs. The study used patient-derived cells and hiPSC-derived mesenchymal cells to create two distinct organoid types, one with strong chemo-resistance capabilities.

SourceThe Institute of Medical Science, The University of Tokyo·JournalCell Reports·TypeExperimental study·DateDec 7, 2023

Three proposals from researchers to meet EU climate goals

Researchers propose three methods to meet EU climate goals: a carbon removal bank, extended land use regulation, and clear identification of difficult-to-tackle emissions. These measures aim to incentivize companies and countries to invest in new technologies and reduce emissions.

SourceLinköping University·JournalCommunications Earth & Environment·TypeCommentary/editorial·DateDec 7, 2023

Mothers need more “exclusive breastfeeding” support

A study from the University of Tokyo found that the World Health Organization's 24-hour recall method overestimates exclusive breastfeeding by six times. The researchers suggest that in-hospital breastfeeding support and guidance are crucial for increasing exclusive breastfeeding rates. To improve breastfeeding outcomes, experts recomm...

SourceUniversity of Tokyo·JournalBMJ Global Health·TypeSurvey·DateDec 7, 2023