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Science News Archive April 2024 - Page 14


Page 14 of 41

Study finds COVID-19 pandemic led to some, but not many, developmental milestone delays in infants and young children

A study by Johns Hopkins Children's Center found that the COVID-19 pandemic caused modest delays in developmental milestones for infants and young children. The researchers analyzed data from over 50,000 children aged 0-5 years and found small decreases in communication, problem-solving, and personal-social skills.

SourceJohns Hopkins Medicine·JournalPEDIATRICS·DateApr 22, 2024

Japan’s premodern concept of nature at root of distinctive mindset in early childhood education

A new study reveals that Japan's traditional concept of nature, dating back to the premodern era, shapes the country's early childhood education philosophy. This approach emphasizes a balance between self-guided action and entrusting oneself to external forces, guided by principles similar to Sozo Kurahashi's 'yūdō' theory.

SourceOsaka Metropolitan University·JournalHistory of Education·TypeLiterature review·DateApr 22, 2024

KIER accelerates international cooperation on 'clean energy' with Europe's largest research institute

The Korea Institute of Energy Research (KIER) signed MOUs with Forschungszentrum Jülich and Helmholtz-Zentrum Berlin for Materials and Energy, promoting joint research in clean energy and low-carbon technologies. The partnership aims to advance scientific and technological competitiveness through information and personnel exchanges.

New metasurface innovation unlocks precision control in wireless signals

The new metasurface technology offers independent control of beam scanning and polarization conversion, boosting signal strength and efficiency in wireless networks. This innovation has vast implications for radar systems, wireless communication, high-resolution imaging, and environmental monitoring.

More economical and sustainable rechargeable batteries

Researchers have created a more economical and sustainable rechargeable battery using an ultralow-concentration electrolyte. The new electrolyte, based on lithium difluoro(oxalato)borate and ethyl carbonate/dimethyl carbonate, has a record-breaking low salt content while maintaining high ionic conductivity.

SourceWiley·JournalAngewandte Chemie International Edition·TypeExperimental study·DateApr 22, 2024

Study identifies signs of repeated blast-related brain injury in active-duty United States Special Operations Forces

Researchers found structural, functional, and neuroimmune brain alterations associated with higher blast exposure, impacting health-related quality of life. The frontal lobe's rostral anterior cingulate cortex (rACC) was particularly sensitive to blast waves.

SourceMassachusetts General Hospital·JournalProceedings of the National Academy of Sciences·TypeImaging analysis·DateApr 22, 2024

Spanish scientists identify the key cell type for strategies to prevent atherosclerosis in progeria syndrome

Researchers discovered that eliminating progerin from vascular smooth muscle cells prevents atherosclerosis and improves life expectancy in HGPSrev mice. This finding suggests a potential therapeutic strategy for treating progeria, an extremely rare genetic disease affecting 1 in every 20 million people.

SourceCentro Nacional de Investigaciones Cardiovasculares Carlos III (F.S.P.)·JournalProceedings of the National Academy of Sciences·TypeExperimental study·DateApr 22, 2024

Bringing bio-inspired robots to life

Eric Markvicka is developing a manufacturing approach to produce novel liquid metal mixtures with enhanced properties, including thermal and electrical conductivity. These mixtures can be used in additive manufacturing and accelerate momentum toward 4D printing, enabling the creation of machines that mimic biological organisms.

This alloy is kinky

Researchers discovered an alloy with exceptional strength and toughness across a wide temperature range, outperforming even cryogenic steels. The alloy's unique properties are attributed to the formation of rare kink bands that enable it to resist bending and fracture.

First Nations patients leave ED without completing treatment more than comparable non–First Nations patients

A new study found that First Nations patients in Alberta are more likely to leave emergency departments without completing treatment, with 6.8% of visits ending in incomplete care compared to 3.7% for non-First Nations patients. Racism and stereotyping, as well as communication issues, transportation barriers, and wait times, were iden...

SourceCanadian Medical Association Journal·JournalCanadian Medical Association Journal·TypeObservational study·DateApr 22, 2024

Pressure in the womb may influence facial development

A recent study published in Nature Cell Biology found that increased hydrostatic pressure can hinder the healthy development of neural crest cells, leading to an increased risk of facial malformations. The researchers suggest that physical cues in the womb, such as pressure, may play a role in shaping facial features.

SourceUniversity College London·JournalNature Cell Biology·TypeExperimental study·DateApr 22, 2024

Bonobos aren’t as peace-loving as we thought

A new Harvard study reveals that male bonobos engage in more acts of aggression than chimpanzees, contrary to their peaceful reputation. The researchers found that bonobos exhibit less sexual coercion and violence towards females, but more frequent 'squabbling' among males.

SourceHarvard University·JournalCurrent Biology·TypeObservational study·DateApr 22, 2024

Switching off the light to see better

Researchers from Osaka University have developed a new approach for super-resolution microscopy that can observe dense microstructures inside cells with excellent sharpness. By selecting only a desired plane to image using thin 'light sheet' illumination, they were able to achieve background-free super-resolution imaging.

SourceOsaka University·JournalNature Methods·TypeImaging analysis·DateApr 22, 2024

Cleveland clinic researchers use AI to improve Alzheimer’s treatment through the ‘gut-brain axis’

Researchers used machine learning to analyze over 1.09 million potential metabolite-receptor pairs and predict the likelihood that each interaction contributed to Alzheimer's disease. The study found a protective metabolite called agmatine interacting with a receptor called CA3R in brain cells, reducing CA3R levels and lowering phospho...

SourceCleveland Clinic·JournalCell Reports·DateApr 22, 2024

Enjoying nature shown to lower inflammation levels

A study published by Cornell University researchers found that more frequent positive contact with nature is associated with reduced inflammation levels. The study, which analyzed data from the Midlife in the U.S. survey, suggests that enjoying nature can help prevent or manage diseases linked to chronic inflammation.

SourceCornell University·JournalBrain Behavior and Immunity·DateApr 22, 2024

National Jewish Health researchers identify connection between air pollutants and allergic diseases

A new study by National Jewish Health researchers found that air pollutants can disrupt the skin barrier, contributing to the development and exacerbation of allergic diseases. The study's findings highlight the importance of minimizing exposure to pollutants from an early age, with potential long-term effects on future generations.

SourceNational Jewish Health·JournalAnnals of Allergy Asthma & Immunology·DateApr 22, 2024

New logarithmic step size for stochastic gradient descent

A new logarithmic step size strategy for stochastic gradient descent (SGD) is introduced to address the challenge of probability distribution, improving performance in critical concluding iterations. Numerical results show significant improvements in test accuracy, particularly on the CIFAR100 dataset with a convolutional neural networ...

SourceHigher Education Press·JournalFrontiers of Computer Science·TypeExperimental study·DateApr 22, 2024

Research showcases Indigenous stewardship’s role in forest ecosystem resilience

A new computer simulation model highlights the importance of cultural burning in maintaining forest ecosystem health. Researchers found that Indigenous fire stewardship was extensive across a landscape in northern California before European colonization, with an estimated 6,972 cultural ignitions occurring annually.

SourceOregon State University·JournalEcological Applications·TypeComputational simulation/modeling·DateApr 22, 2024

Being treated by a female physician associated with lower risk for death

An observational study of over 700,000 patients found that female physicians treated male and female patients with lower mortality and readmission rates. The effect was particularly pronounced in female patients treated by female physicians, possibly due to patient-centered communication and reduced sociocultural taboos.

SourceAmerican College of Physicians·JournalAnnals of Internal Medicine·TypeNews article·DateApr 22, 2024