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Science News Archive December 2024 - Page 33


Page 33 of 39

Milestone in defining electrical units

Researchers at the University of Würzburg have experimentally implemented a quantum resistance standard that can operate without an externally applied magnetic field. This milestone enables precise measurements essential in industrial production and electronics, reaching thresholds comparable to early conventional standards.

SourceUniversity of Würzburg·JournalNature·DateDec 4, 2024

Non-invasive imaging tests may lead to early sepsis detection

Researchers have developed a non-invasive strategy that assesses blood flow through skeletal muscle to detect early signs of sepsis. The technique, combining hyperspectral near-infrared spectroscopy and diffuse correlation spectroscopy, was tested in rodents and detected sepsis before vital organs were affected.

SourceWiley·JournalThe FASEB Journal·DateDec 4, 2024

Helping robots make good decisions in real time

A team of Caltech researchers has developed an algorithm called Spectral Expansion Tree Search (SETS) that enables autonomous robots to determine the best movements to make as they navigate the real world. SETS uses control theory and linear algebra to find natural motions that use a robotic platform's capabilities to its fullest extent.

SourceCalifornia Institute of Technology·JournalScience Robotics·DateDec 4, 2024

Getting a grip on quark mixing

Researchers use precise measurements of radioactive decay processes to calculate quark mixing, uncovering effects involving weak interactions that dominate uncertainty. The work may hold promise for uncovering footprints of new physics in nuclear processes.

SourceUniversiteit van Amsterdam·JournalPhysical Review Letters·TypeComputational simulation/modeling·DateDec 4, 2024

With a quarter-century of data on gun usage, new study examines when and why people start carrying guns and if they persist in doing so

A new long-term study of gun usage found that most gun carriers began to carry in adulthood, not adolescence. Adult-onset carriers were more persistent in their carrying and had a different pattern of exposure to violence, whereas adolescent-onset carriers were associated with direct exposure to gun violence.

SourceHarvard University·JournalScience Advances·TypeData/statistical analysis·DateDec 4, 2024

Ancient maize genomes reveal the early evolutionary history of commercially important flint and dent varieties

Researchers reconstructed the journey of maize into eastern North America, tracing its dispersal routes and history of selection. Ancient genomes reveal a genetic link between Northern Flints and 1,000-year-old Ozark maize, highlighting early adaptations for local climates and culinary preferences.

New research on chronic inflammation explores potential treatments for chronic diseases and cancer

A recent study by Krishna Rao Maddipati suggests that chronic inflammation has a distinct etiology, differing from acute inflammation. The study proposes increasing anti-inflammatory compounds to treat chronic inflammation, potentially leading to new advancements in cancer therapy.

SourceWayne State University - Office of the Vice President for Research·JournalFrontiers in Immunology·TypeData/statistical analysis·DateDec 4, 2024

Korea University study highlights a novel non-invasive brain surgery for lasting relief from severe obsessive-compulsive disorder

Researchers reported positive long-term results of bilateral capsulotomy for severe obsessive-compulsive disorder treatment, with high patient satisfaction even at 10 years. The study suggests MRgFUS capsulotomy may also be effective in managing other psychiatric diseases.

SourceKorea University College of Medicine·JournalMolecular Psychiatry·TypeRandomized controlled/clinical trial·DateDec 4, 2024

Mass General Brigham research leads to new insights on preventing brain injury after cardiac arrest

A team of researchers from Mass General Brigham has identified changes in immune cells that can predict patient recovery after cardiac arrest. The study suggests that a particular population of cells may provide protection against brain injury and a drug that can activate these cells, improving neurological outcomes in preclinical stud...

SourceMass General Brigham·JournalScience Translational Medicine·TypeObservational study·DateDec 4, 2024

Novel all-in-one computational pipeline identifies protein biomarkers associated with alzheimer’s disease and predicts 3D structural alterations

Researchers developed a novel computational pipeline to identify protein biomarkers linked to Alzheimer's risk, offering insights into disease mechanisms and potential therapeutic targets. The pipeline, MR-SPI, can predict 3D structural changes in proteins, providing a deeper understanding of the molecular mechanisms driving disease.

The Italian language enters the Semantic Web with LiITA, a project to create a linguistic knowledge base to serve as a basis for developing new technologies

The LiITA project creates an interoperable Knowledge Base for Italian language resources, enabling dialogue between resources and artificial intelligence model development. The project aims to foster innovation in linguistics and counteract declining interest in humanities studies.

With Indigenous heritage sites under threat, KFN-SFU collaborative study identifies pathways to enforce Nation-led cultural heritage protection

A new research collaboration between the K’ómoks First Nation and Simon Fraser University highlights how Indigenous cultural heritage policies can protect archaeological sites threatened by development. The study found that the K’ómoks First Nation’s Cultural Heritage Policy provides a pathway to reconciliation and greater certainty fo...

SourceSimon Fraser University·JournalFrontiers in Environmental Archaeology·DateDec 4, 2024

The heart has its own ‘brain’

Researchers at Karolinska Institutet and Columbia University identified a mini-brain within the heart with its own nervous system that controls the heartbeat. This discovery challenges current views on how the heartbeat is controlled and may lead to new insights into heart diseases and treatments.

SourceKarolinska Institutet·JournalNature Communications·TypeExperimental study·DateDec 4, 2024

Do soil microbes affect flowers’ ability to attract bees?

Research reveals that certain soil microbes can enhance flower size, resulting in increased bee visitations, but high colonization levels may lead to smaller flowers. The study focuses on arbuscular mycorrhizal fungi associations with plant roots and their impact on floral traits and pollinator interactions.

SourceWiley·JournalNew Phytologist·DateDec 4, 2024

Key objections to collecting immigration status data in national health surveys

National health surveys omit questions about nativity, including immigration status, which limits the assessment of health disparities across diverse immigrant subgroups. Researchers conducted a study to address these complexities, presenting evidence that objections to asking directly about immigration status lack substantiation and c...

SourceAmerican Public Health Association·JournalAmerican Journal of Public Health·TypeData/statistical analysis·DateDec 4, 2024

Astronomers witness the in situ spheroid formation in distant submillimetre-bright galaxies

Researchers found evidence of spheroid formation in distant submillimeter-bright galaxies, which challenges current understanding of galaxy evolution. The study provides the first solid observational evidence that spheroids can form directly through intense star formation within the cores of highly luminous starburst galaxies.

The American College of Medical Genetics and Genomics (ACMG) releases highly anticipated evidence-based clinical guideline for phenylalanine hydroxylase deficiency

The American College of Medical Genetics and Genomics has published a new evidence-based clinical guideline for phenylalanine hydroxylase deficiency diagnosis and management. The guideline provides recommendations for treatment, implementation considerations, research priorities, and economic considerations to improve patient outcomes.

SourceAmerican College of Medical Genetics and Genomics·JournalGenetics in Medicine·TypeSystematic review·DateDec 4, 2024

Why some individuals believe fake news and conspiracies

A study published in PLOS Global Public Health found that individuals with high credulity are more susceptible to fake news and vaccine hesitancy. Mistrust was also linked to conspiracy thinking and difficulty distinguishing between real and fake news, particularly in those exposed to childhood adversity.

SourcePLOS·JournalPLOS Global Public Health·TypeExperimental study·DateDec 4, 2024