Add BrightSurf on Google Email

Science News Archive 2024 - Page 194


Page 194 of 484

New two-step flu vaccine strategy shows promise in pig model

A novel two-step vaccination strategy has been developed to combat seasonal flu, pairing an intramuscular injection with a nasal spray of a weakened live-virus. The approach resulted in a strong immune response and reduced shedding of the vaccine candidate from the upper respiratory tract.

SourcePLOS·JournalPLOS Pathogens·TypeExperimental study·DateAug 8, 2024

Dissolvable microneedle patch enables local delivery of immunomodulatory microparticles containing bifunctional molecules for periodontal tissue regeneration

Researchers developed a dissolvable microneedle patch to deliver immunomodulatory microparticles containing bifunctional molecules, such as azithromycin, to treat periodontitis. The patch demonstrated therapeutic outcomes by suppressing bacterial growth and modulating immune responses in both in vitro and in vivo studies.

Cleveland Clinic study adds to increasing evidence that sugar substitute erythritol raises cardiovascular risk

A new study by the Cleveland Clinic found that consuming foods with erythritol increases the risk of cardiovascular events such as heart attack and stroke. The artificial sweetener makes platelets more active, which can raise blood clot risks. This research adds to evidence that erythritol may not be as safe as previously thought.

SourceCleveland Clinic·JournalArteriosclerosis Thrombosis and Vascular Biology·DateAug 8, 2024

Rising nighttime temperatures disrupt plant metabolism: a review calls for adaptive strategies

High nighttime temperatures accelerate leaf senescence, disrupt cellular membranes, and increase respiration rates in plants. Understanding the key metabolic pathways and molecular mechanisms involved is crucial for developing genetic modifications, breeding strategies, and management practices to enhance plant resilience.

SourceMaximum Academic Press·JournalGrass Research·TypeExperimental study·DateAug 8, 2024

Eating for necessity or pleasure? There is a brain circuit for that

A study published in Nature Metabolism reveals neural circuits in the mouse brain that promote hunger-driven feeding and suppress pleasure-driven eating. The discovery of a specific group of neurons called diagonal band of Broca (DBB) Penk neurons that regulates balanced feeding is promising for developing strategies to combat obesity.

SourceBaylor College of Medicine·JournalNature Metabolism·TypeExperimental study·DateAug 8, 2024

The olfactory performance of family dogs was tested by hungarian ethologists The olfactory performance of family dogs was tested by Hungarian ethologists

Researchers from Eötvös Loránd University found temperature and humidity have no impact on dogs' ability to detect scents. However, indoor testing outperformed outdoor environments due to distracting stimuli. Age also plays a role, with 2-3 year old dogs exhibiting superior olfactory performance.

SourceEötvös Loránd University·JournalScientific Reports·DateAug 8, 2024

Hebrew SeniorLife’s Hinda and Arthur Marcus Institute for Aging Research to launch food study

A large clinical food trial will be conducted to test the effects of a combination of probiotics and prebiotics on bone health in women aged 60 years and above. The study aims to develop potentially safe and inexpensive dietary interventions for osteopenia and osteoporosis.

SourceHebrew SeniorLife Hinda and Arthur Marcus Institute for Aging Research·TypeRandomized controlled/clinical trial·DateAug 8, 2024

Nature at risk in the hunt for the perfect selfie

Research collaboration highlights social media's detrimental effects on nature, including disrupted breeding patterns and trampling of endangered plant species. However, the study also emphasizes photography as a powerful tool for conservation and education.

SourceEdith Cowan University·JournalScience of The Total Environment·TypeData/statistical analysis·DateAug 8, 2024

Women at risk of ‘digital overload’ – new research reveals

A new study by Lancaster University highlights that women are more likely than men to experience 'digital overload' and burnout due to their greater use of digital technologies in both work and family lives. The research emphasizes the need for gender-egalitarian work-from-home arrangements and policies to address this issue.

SourceLancaster University·JournalCommunity Work & Family·TypeData/statistical analysis·DateAug 8, 2024

HKUST develops groundbreaking artificial compound eye to revolutionize robotic vision at lower cost but higher sensitivity

The research team at HKUST has developed a novel artificial compound eye system that offers a high sensitivity at least twice that of existing market products. This innovation can be applied in various scenarios, such as drone navigation and emergency rescue.

SourceHong Kong University of Science and Technology·JournalScience Robotics·TypeExperimental study·DateAug 8, 2024

The first universal principles for designing solid-state batteries developed by Korean researchers

Researchers from KIER and UNIST developed the first universal design principles and toolkit 'SolidXCell' for solid-state batteries, increasing energy density and reducing fire risk. The pouch cell produced based on these principles demonstrated an energy density of 310Wh/kg, surpassing commercial lithium batteries.

SourceNational Research Council of Science & Technology·JournalNature Communications·DateAug 8, 2024

Breakthrough in molecular control: new bioinspired double helix with switchable chirality

Researchers from Tokyo University of Science created a novel mechanical motif, double-helical monometallofoldamers, with controllable chiral switching properties. The new molecule can undergo inversion switching in response to external stimuli, paving the way for novel high-order molecular systems and molecular information processing.

SourceTokyo University of Science·JournalJournal of the American Chemical Society·TypeExperimental study·DateAug 8, 2024

Machine learning approach helps researchers design better gene-delivery vehicles for gene therapy

Researchers at the Broad Institute of MIT and Harvard developed a machine-learning approach to design better AAVs for gene therapy. The tool helps engineer capsids with multiple desirable traits, such as targeting specific organs or working in multiple species. About 90% of predicted capsids successfully delivered cargo to human liver ...

SourceBroad Institute of MIT and Harvard·JournalNature Communications·DateAug 8, 2024

UVA Engineering receives $900,000 grant to create character-building initiative

The University of Virginia School of Engineering and Applied Science will create a character-building initiative with the new grant. The ECSI aims to develop future leaders who are prepared and motivated to apply values in professional contexts. UVA Engineering is committed to integrating character education into its undergraduate curr...

Millions of years for plants to recover from global warming

A study by ETH Zurich scientists found that global warming's effects on plant recovery can last for thousands to millions of years. The research team discovered that the severity of climate shifts and the speed at which carbon is sequestered affect the duration of climate warming.

SourceETH Zurich·JournalScience·TypeComputational simulation/modeling·DateAug 8, 2024

Study: Flying keeps getting safer

A new MIT study analyzes airline safety trends over the past few decades and finds that commercial flight has become roughly twice as safe each decade since the 1960s. The study estimates that passengers are about 39 times safer than they were in the 1968-1977 period, with a 1 in 13.7 million risk of fatality per boarding.

SourceMassachusetts Institute of Technology·JournalJournal of Air Transport Management·DateAug 8, 2024

Construction and investigation of all-in-one microneedles complexed with functionalized polydiacetylene liposomes for improved in situ detection sensitivity

The study combines PDA liposomes with swellable microneedles to create a solid-phase detection system, enabling integration of target sampling and detection. The platform demonstrates enhanced pH sensing capabilities and can detect lead ions and sialic acid with lower limits of detection compared to liquid-phase matrices.

SourceTsinghua University Press·JournalhLife·DateAug 8, 2024

Towards high quality transferred barium titanate ferroelectric hybrid integrated modulator on silicon

Researchers developed a high-quality transferred barium titanate ferroelectric hybrid integrated modulator on silicon, overcoming limitations in light modulation. The new method enables optimized thickness and rotation angle to enhance EO modulation efficiency, achieving V π L as low as 1.67 V˜m.

Flow of sweetness: key sugar transporters identified for enhanced Camellia seed growth

A recent study investigates the mechanisms of sugar import in developing seeds of Camellia oleifera, identifying key sugar transporters that facilitate efficient sugar import and partitioning. The research provides insights into the molecular regulation of seed development and offers potential strategies to enhance seed yield and quality.

Distinct pattern in protein production can predict severe side effects from skin cancer treatment

Researchers found that a specific pattern of gene activity can predict which melanoma patients are likely to experience severe side effects from immunotherapy. The study identified a heightened gene signature, known as the spleen tyrosine kinase pathway, as the key indicator of increased risk.

SourceNYU Langone Health / NYU Grossman School of Medicine·JournalClinical Cancer Research·DateAug 8, 2024

Saliva indicates severity of recurrent respiratory infections in children

A saliva test has been found to be more accurate than a blood test in assessing the severity of recurrent respiratory infections in children. The test measures broadly protective antibodies in saliva, which indicate disease burden and predict treatment needs. Saliva testing also holds promise for new treatments and therapies.

SourceRadboud University Medical Center·JournalEuropean Respiratory Journal·TypeObservational study·DateAug 8, 2024

Does physical isolation increase loneliness?

A new study using COVID-19 lockdown data in Australia found that physical isolation made little difference to reported feelings of loneliness. Instead, the quality of social interactions and supportive networks were key factors in alleviating loneliness. Young people and extroverts showed increased loneliness during lockdowns.

SourceUniversity of Technology Sydney·JournalJournal of Economic Behavior & Organization·TypeSurvey·DateAug 8, 2024

Study finds sclerotherapy can be successfully used by patients of all skin types, ethnic backgrounds

A new study from Boston University finds that sclerotherapy is safe and effective in patients with skin of color, but may cause post-inflammatory hyperpigmentation at a higher rate. The treatment is safe for all skin types when conducted by trained professionals.

SourceBoston University School of Medicine·JournalJournal of the American Academy of Dermatology·TypeObservational study·DateAug 8, 2024

Record-breaking recovery of rocks that originated in Earth’s mantle could reveal secrets of planet’s history

An international team has recovered a nearly continuous 1,268-metre-long section of rocks that originated in the Earth's mantle, providing insights into the role of the mantle in the origins of life on Earth, volcanic activity, and global cycles. The study also reveals new information about how magma is formed and feeds volcanoes.

SourceWoods Hole Oceanographic Institution·JournalScience·TypeObservational study·DateAug 8, 2024

The long-lasting impact of war on global diabetes prevalence

A new study by the Complexity Science Hub estimates that the ongoing war in Ukraine could lead to up to 180,000 additional cases of type 2 diabetes worldwide due to supply chain disruptions and food shortages. Malnutrition during early pregnancy is also linked to increased risk of developing diabetes later in life.

SourceComplexity Science Hub·JournalScience·TypeComputational simulation/modeling·DateAug 8, 2024

New membrane technology developed by NYU Abu Dhabi researchers could lead to more effective and efficient water purification systems

The NYU Abu Dhabi team has developed a new type of dual-faced membrane that effectively purifies water from contaminants and boasts strong antibacterial properties. The microwave-mediated synthesis method allows precise control over the membrane's properties, enabling efficient removal of pollutants.

SourceNew York University·JournalJournal of the American Chemical Society·DateAug 8, 2024