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Science News for July 19, 2024


Enhanced information in national policies can accelerate Africa's efforts to track climate adaptation

African national adaptation policy documents reveal inadequate information on adaptation investments and tracking progress, limiting investment channeling and tracking effectiveness. However, some countries have robust plans, such as Benin and South Africa, which hold lessons for future climate negotiations.

Estimating rainfall intensity using surveillance audio and deep-learning

Researchers developed a deep learning-based model to estimate rainfall intensity from surveillance audio, achieving a root mean absolute error of 0.88 mm h-1 and a coefficient of correlation of 0.765. This approach offers a new method for high-resolution hydrological sensing, contributing to environmental resilience and urban sensing.

SourceEurasia Academic Publishing Group·JournalEnvironmental Science and Ecotechnology·TypeData/statistical analysis·DateJul 19, 2024

Can consciousness exist in a computer simulation?

Wanja Wiese's research focuses on ruling out deception by conscious AI systems and understanding the prerequisites for consciousness in artificial systems. He draws on Karl Friston's free energy principle, suggesting that computers can simulate consciousness but may require additional conditions to replicate conscious experience.

SourceRuhr-University Bochum·JournalPhilosophical Studies·TypeCommentary/editorial·DateJul 19, 2024

Plastic waste can now be converted to electronic devices

A team of researchers has successfully converted Styrofoam into a high-value conducting polymer known as PEDOT:PSS, which can be used in functional electronic devices. The study demonstrates how upgraded plastic waste can be incorporated into devices such as silicon-based hybrid solar cells and organic electrochemical transistors.

SourceUniversity of Delaware·JournalJACS Au·TypeExperimental study·DateJul 19, 2024

Cracking the code of hydrogen embrittlement

A study published in Science Advances investigated the formation of cracks in a nickel-base alloy. The researchers found that one widely-held hypothesis does not apply to this alloy and discovered new information about crack initiation. This breakthrough helps lay the groundwork for better predictions of hydrogen embrittlement.

SourceTexas A&M University·JournalScience Advances·DateJul 19, 2024

Deeper down the rabbit hole

This study reveals the extent and causes of technology conspiracy beliefs, finding they are widespread among the general population, with at least 20% believing in six out of ten theories. The research highlights the detrimental effects of these beliefs, including a breakdown of social collaboration and constructive political debate.

SourceUniversity of Göttingen·JournalInformation Systems Research·TypeExperimental study·DateJul 19, 2024

Long-term results from Testicular Cancer treatment are positive, study shows

A recent study published in the Journal of Clinical Oncology found that combining different chemotherapy drugs improves testicular cancer's treatability and often curability, even after first-line treatment fails. The study showed a nearly 80% response rate and no significant drop-off in survival over 10 years.

SourceUniversity College Cork·JournalJournal of Clinical Oncology·TypeRandomized controlled/clinical trial·DateJul 19, 2024

University of Cincinnati study examines impact of incarceration on youth health

A University of Cincinnati study found that nearly 2% of youth with a justice keyword in their record had a disproportionate number of physical and mental health diagnoses. These youth also accounted for a significant proportion of behavioral health inpatient admissions, hospitalization inpatient days, and foster care visits.

SourceUniversity of Cincinnati·JournalAcademic Pediatrics·TypeObservational study·DateJul 19, 2024

Large and unequal life expectancy declines in India during COVID-19

A recent study found significant and unequal mortality increases in India during the COVID-19 pandemic, with marginalized social groups experiencing greater life expectancy declines than privileged groups. The study estimated that 17% of overall mortality was higher in 2020 compared to 2019, resulting in 1.19 million excess deaths.

SourceUniversity of Oxford·JournalScience Advances·TypeData/statistical analysis·DateJul 19, 2024

Scientists pinpoint new drug target for RSV

Scientists at Trinity College Dublin have identified a key biological pathway, the JAK/STAT pathway, that RSV suppresses and prevents immune system igniters from activating. This discovery provides a promising new target for therapeutic immune restoration and could lead to significant impact in treating RSV infections.

SourceTrinity College Dublin·JournalFrontiers in Immunology·DateJul 19, 2024

Detection of minimal hepatic encephalopathy in patients with cirrhosis based on the Stroop-CN model (NCRCID-CHESS 2106): A prospective multicenter study

Researchers developed the Stroop-CN model to diagnose minimal hepatic encephalopathy (MHE) in cirrhotic patients. The model uses a simple Stroop test to identify cognitive impairment, and was found to be accurate even in patients with reduced quality of life.

SourceSichuan International Medical Exchange and Promotion Association·JournalMedComm·TypeData/statistical analysis·DateJul 19, 2024

HKUST engineering researchers discover a “secret” hidden structure that paves new way of making more efficient and stable perovskite solar cells

A research team at HKUST discovered surface concavities on individual crystal grains of perovskite thin films, affecting film properties and reliability. They pioneered a new method to remove these concavities, resulting in improved efficiency retention under various tests.

SourceHong Kong University of Science and Technology·JournalNature Energy·TypeExperimental study·DateJul 19, 2024

Revolutionizing the abilities of adaptive radar with AI

Researchers at Duke University have broken through the performance wall of adaptive radar systems using convolutional neural networks, paralleling computer vision. They've released a large open-source dataset for other AI researchers to build upon their work, aiming to tackle industry needs like object detection and tracking.

SourceDuke University·JournalIET Radar Sonar & Navigation·TypeExperimental study·DateJul 19, 2024

Global study by Hawaiʻi Institute of Marine Biology demonstrates benefit of marine protected areas to recreational fisheries

A global study by Hawaiʻi Institute of Marine Biology demonstrates the benefit of marine protected areas to recreational fisheries, producing more 'trophy-size' fish just outside fully protected areas. The effect is growing stronger over time, with tangible benefits materializing in decades.

SourceUniversity of Hawaii at Manoa·JournalScience Advances·TypeData/statistical analysis·DateJul 19, 2024

Bantu language shows that processing of focused information may be universal

Researchers have found that speakers of Makhuwa, a Bantu language, process focused information in the same way as speakers of other languages. The study used EEG to measure brain activity when participants heard sentences with focused or non-focused words. The results show that focused information generated a more negative N400 respons...

SourceMax Planck Institute for Psycholinguistics·JournalProceedings of the National Academy of Sciences·TypeExperimental study·DateJul 19, 2024

Early vision loss linked with difficulty judging sounds

A new study published in Optometry and Vision Sciences found that people with early vision loss are less accurate at estimating the distance of sound compared to those who lose sight later in life. This difficulty can have safety implications, such as judging distances while crossing roads.

SourceAnglia Ruskin University·JournalOptometry and Vision Science·TypeRandomized controlled/clinical trial·DateJul 19, 2024