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Science News Archive April 2024 - Page 27


Page 27 of 41

Tracking ticks in Georgia to help monitor emerging diseases

Researchers mapped the distribution of lone star ticks, a dominant tick species in Georgia, to identify areas with high prevalence. The study found that these regions contain sweet spots for lone star ticks, including forested areas of mid-elevation and soils retaining moisture but not swampy.

SourceEmory University·JournalParasites & Vectors·TypeData/statistical analysis·DateApr 11, 2024

Trapped in the middle: billiards with memory

Researchers from the University of Amsterdam have introduced a billiards game with memory, where the ball may never cross its own previous path. This leads to a trapping effect, making the system chaotic and fascinating, with many open mathematical questions and potential applications in physics and biophysics.

SourceUniversiteit van Amsterdam·JournalPhysical Review Letters·TypeData/statistical analysis·DateApr 11, 2024

New study validates prediction rules for pediatric intra-abdominal and traumatic brain injuries

A new study from UC Davis Health validates intra-abdominal injury (IAI) and traumatic brain injury (TBI) prediction rules to reduce unnecessary CT scans in pediatric trauma patients. The study found high accuracy rates for IAI and TBI predictions, decreasing the need for CT imaging.

SourceUniversity of California - Davis Health·JournalThe Lancet Child & Adolescent Health·TypeData/statistical analysis·DateApr 11, 2024

Twinkle twinkle baby star, 'sneezes' tell us how you are

Researchers at Kyushu University discovered that baby stars expel plumes of dust, gas, and electromagnetic energy in a phenomenon called 'interchange instability', releasing magnetic flux within the protostellar disk. This finding sheds new light on how baby stars develop and may be crucial for understanding star formation.

SourceKyushu University·JournalThe Astrophysical Journal·TypeObservational study·DateApr 11, 2024

Mass General study identifies an AI model that can accurately assess PTSD in postpartum women

A new AI model can accurately screen for post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD) in postpartum women, offering a potential solution for early intervention and preventing progression of the disorder. The study collected narrative accounts from 1,295 women and showed the model's superiority in identifying PTSD cases.

SourceMassachusetts General Hospital·JournalScientific Reports·TypeExperimental study·DateApr 11, 2024

Oxidant pollutant ozone removes mating barriers between fly species

Researchers found that elevated ozone levels remove mating barriers between different fly species, leading to increased hybridization and sterile offspring. The study used four species of Drosophila and found that ozone concentrations often measured on hot days can cause flies to mate with closely related species.

SourceMax Planck Institute for Chemical Ecology·JournalNature Communications·TypeExperimental study·DateApr 11, 2024

Study finds increased anxiety and PTSD among people who remained in Ukraine

A recent study published in PLOS Global Public Health found that individuals remaining in Ukraine during the ongoing war are more likely to experience anxiety and post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD) than refugees. Exposure to blasts and loss of community, housing, and economic resources contribute to these mental health issues.

SourcePLOS·JournalPLOS Global Public Health·TypeSurvey·DateApr 11, 2024

Researchers identify new genetic risk factors for persistent HPV infections

Researchers have identified new genetic variants linked to susceptibility of cervical cancer-causing virus, raising the risk of getting cervical cancer from high-risk HPV infection. The study found polygenic risk scores to determine likelihood of having prevalent or persistent HPV infections.

SourceUniversity of Maryland School of Medicine·JournalEuropean Journal of Human Genetics·TypeObservational study·DateApr 11, 2024

How does the STB promote the coordination between environmental protection and agricultural development in Erhai Lake?

The STB model has played a huge role in coordinating ecological environmental protection and socioeconomic development in Erhai Lake. The approach aimed to reconcile environmental preservation with economic prosperity through innovative green technologies and sustainable practices.

SourceHigher Education Press·JournalFrontiers of Agricultural Science and Engineering·TypeExperimental study·DateApr 11, 2024

New computer vision tool wins prize for social impact

The DISCount framework combines AI-powered image analysis with human analysis to quickly deliver reliable estimates of building damage and bird flock size. It has been recognized by the Association for the Advancement of Artificial Intelligence for its social impact, winning an award for best paper on AI for social impact.

SourceUniversity of Massachusetts Amherst·JournalProceedings of the AAAI Conference on Artificial Intelligence·DateApr 11, 2024

Low-density polyethylene microplastics partially alleviate the ecotoxicological effects induced by cadmium exposure on the earthworm Eisenia fetida

Low-density polyethylene microplastics partially alleviated the ecotoxicological effects caused by cadmium exposure on earthworms. They reduced histopathological damage and DNA damage in coelomocytes, as well as inhibited Cd's growth-inhibiting effects.

SourceHigher Education Press·JournalSoil Ecology Letters·TypeExperimental study·DateApr 10, 2024

Organizations need to beware whispering death from “institutional parasites”, study finds

A recent study by academics from British and Finnish business schools has warned that organisations can be destroyed from within and without by 'institutional parasites' such as suppliers or employees. These parasites can initially benefit both the organisation and the parasite, but can ultimately cause significant harm if left unchecked.

SourceCity St George’s, University of London·JournalAcademy of Management Review·DateApr 10, 2024

The genesis of our cellular skeleton, image by image

Researchers at the University of Geneva have successfully visualized and reconstructed the assembly of the human centriole, a critical structure in the cell skeleton. By combining high-resolution microscopy and kinematic reconstruction techniques, they were able to model the first 4D assembly of the centriole, providing new insights in...

SourceUniversité de Genève·JournalCell·DateApr 10, 2024

Visiting white parts of town make some Black kids feel less safe

A new study by Ohio State University found that Black youth feel less safe when visiting predominantly white areas of their city. The study, which involved 1,405 11- to 17-year-old youths, showed that Black kids who spent more time in white-dominated areas felt less safe and had higher levels of chronic stress, measured by hair cortiso...

SourceOhio State University·JournalJournal of Adolescent Health·TypeObservational study·DateApr 10, 2024

Advancing brain-inspired computing with hybrid neural networks

Hybrid Neural Networks (HNNs) combine Spiking Neural Networks (SNNs) and Artificial Neural Networks (ANNs), leveraging the strengths of both to achieve better performance and cost balance. HNN models have been applied in various intelligent tasks and are expected to contribute further to the development of Artificial General Intelligence.

SourceScience China Press·JournalNational Science Review·DateApr 10, 2024

Surface emitting semiconductor laser achieves efficiency breakthrough

Researchers have achieved a significant breakthrough in surface-emitting semiconductor laser efficiency using multi-junction cascaded active area technology. The new design strategy increases gain volume, enhancing differential quantum efficiency and maintaining lower threshold current.

Trends in deaths of despair by race and ethnicity

Midlife mortality rates for deaths of despair, including suicide, overdose, and liver disease, vary by race and ethnicity, with higher rates among Black and American Indian/Alaska Native populations. Early mortality from drug- and alcohol-related causes contributes to these disparities.

SourceJAMA Network·JournalJAMA Psychiatry·DateApr 10, 2024

Most cybercriminal threats are concentrated in just a few countries

The study finds that cybercriminal threats are primarily concentrated in a small number of countries, with China, Russia, Ukraine, the US, Romania, and Nigeria ranking high in various categories. The World Cybercrime Index provides a useful tool for targeting investigative and preventive efforts more efficiently.

SourcePLOS·JournalPLOS ONE·TypeSurvey·DateApr 10, 2024

Can probiotics plus vitamin D supplements benefit people with schizophrenia?

A randomized controlled trial found that co-administration of probiotic and vitamin D supplements improved MoCA scores and increased the percentage of patients with normal cognition in individuals with schizophrenia. The study suggests that probiotics may be a novel way to treat mental disorders by regulating gut microbiota.

SourceWiley·JournalNeuropsychopharmacology Reports·DateApr 10, 2024

Navigation software supports kidney research

Researchers developed a new computer method to clarify the question of whether protein excretion in the urine is caused by severely damaged or moderately damaged glomeruli. The technique uses three-dimensional image processing and a highly parallelized geometric algorithm to determine the fastest route on a two-dimensional map.

SourceUniversitatsklinikum Bonn·JournalKidney International·DateApr 10, 2024