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Science News Archive May 2024 - Page 18


Page 18 of 44

First study from the African Ancestry Neuroscience Research Initiative identifies key genes in the brain that account for higher rates of some brain disorders in Black Americans

The study found that people of African ancestry are more likely to experience Alzheimer's disease and stroke, while being less likely to manifest Parkinson's disease. Genetic ancestry was found to influence gene expression in the brain, with 15% of variation attributed to environmental differences.

SourceLieber Institute for Brain Development·JournalNature Neuroscience·TypeRandomized controlled/clinical trial·DateMay 20, 2024

Should your exercise goals be in minutes or steps? Study suggests they are equally beneficial

A study of 14,399 women found that both step-based and time-based exercise targets were associated with lower risks of early death and cardiovascular disease. The research suggests that individuals should choose a goal aligned with their personal preferences rather than focusing on specific metrics.

SourceBrigham and Women's Hospital·JournalJAMA Internal Medicine·TypeObservational study·DateMay 20, 2024

Melon flavor decoded: the genetic keys to aromatic diversity

Researchers have identified over 1000 quantitative trait loci (QTLs) affecting melon aroma and ripening, revealing specific chromosomes that influence ester and aldehyde levels. These findings will aid breeding programs aimed at enhancing fruit quality and provide valuable genetic material for developing melons with enhanced flavors.

Fluoride exposure during pregnancy linked to increased risk of childhood neurobehavioral problems, study finds

A new US-based study examines the link between prenatal fluoride and childhood social, emotional and behavioral functioning. Higher fluoride exposure levels during pregnancy were associated with a higher chance of children showing neurobehavioral problems, including emotional reactivity, anxiety and somatic complaints.

SourceKeck School of Medicine of USC·JournalJAMA Network Open·TypeObservational study·DateMay 20, 2024

What makes some brown algae shimmer and others not?

Kobe University researchers have discovered that the shimmering effect in some brown algae is due to the presence of tiny, uniform-sized spheres within cells called iridescent bodies. These microspheres reflect green light more than other colors, resulting in the alga's characteristic shine.

SourceKobe University·JournalEuropean Journal of Phycology·TypeObservational study·DateMay 20, 2024

Unveiling the genetic interplay in impatiens downy mildew: a transcriptome-based approach to enhancing disease resistance

Researchers analyzed Impatiens walleriana response to Plasmopara obducens infection, identifying key genes involved in susceptibility and resistance. The study provides a fundamental resource for future efforts to engineer disease resistance in this economically significant ornamental crop.

SourceMaximum Academic Press·JournalOrnamental Plant Research·TypeExperimental study·DateMay 20, 2024

New study highlights importance of screening for rare inherited iron metabolism defects

Researchers evaluated anemia cases using stringent clinical and laboratory criteria, identifying rare congenital sideroblastic anemias and nonsideroblastic iron defects with pathogenic gene mutations. This study highlights the importance of active screening and awareness for these conditions in the Indian subcontinent.

SourceElsevier·JournalJournal of Molecular Diagnostics·TypeExperimental study·DateMay 20, 2024

Body’s ‘message in a bottle’ delivers targeted cancer treatment

A new study published in Nature Biomedical Engineering shows that targeted cancer treatment using antibody-displaying extracellular vesicles reduces tumour growth and improves survival in mice. The treatment has the potential to be used against other diseases and cancer types, offering a more effective and fewer side effects compared t...

SourceKarolinska Institutet·JournalNature Biomedical Engineering·TypeExperimental study·DateMay 20, 2024

Enhancing superconductivity of graphene-calcium superconductors

Researchers from Tokyo Institute of Technology experimentally revealed that high-density Ca introduction enhances superconductivity in graphene-calcium compounds through confinement epitaxy, leading to increased critical temperatures. This breakthrough could enable the development of C6CaC6 superconductors with wide applicability in qu...

SourceTokyo Institute of Technology·JournalACS Nano·TypeExperimental study·DateMay 20, 2024

Comparison of four methods on drying efficiency and physicochemical properties of chicken meat

Researchers compared four drying methods, including HAD, EOD, CIRD, and EIRD, to evaluate their effects on physicochemical properties, pet food applications, energy consumption, and costs. The study found that CIRD offered better color retention and lower fat oxidation, while EIRD resulted in higher protein denaturation.

SourceKeAi Communications Co., Ltd.·JournalFood Physics·TypeExperimental study·DateMay 20, 2024

Second Phase 3 clinical trial again shows dupilumab lessens disease in COPD patients with type 2 inflammation

Researchers report that dupilumab substantially decreases exacerbation frequency and improves lung function as well as symptom burden in COPD patients with type 2 inflammation. The study's findings are promising for these patients, who have a high risk of exacerbations.

SourceUniversity of Alabama at Birmingham·JournalNew England Journal of Medicine·TypeExperimental study·DateMay 20, 2024

Alkyl-aromatic hybrid micelles formed from emergent umbrella-shaped molecules

Researchers at Tokyo Institute of Technology have developed alkyl-aromatic hybrid micelles that exhibit high stability in water and excellent host functions towards aromatic guests. The new amphiphiles feature a linear alkyl-chain flanked by two aromatic panels, forming an alkyl core surrounded by an aromatic shell.

SourceTokyo Institute of Technology·JournalAngewandte Chemie International Edition·TypeExperimental study·DateMay 20, 2024

Tricking the Brain’s inner GPS: Grid cells responses to the illusion of self-location

Scientists have observed grid cell activity in the human brain during self-location illusions induced by multisensory virtual reality, without altering visual perspectives. This is the first clinical study to demonstrate that purely cognitive changes in magnetic positions can elicit corresponding activities of human grid cells.

SourceNational Research Council of Science & Technology·JournalProceedings of the National Academy of Sciences·DateMay 20, 2024

PARC model of care associated with fewer deaths among veterans post-ICU

The Post-Acute Recovery Center (PARC) model has been associated with fewer deaths and more days outside of the hospital among veterans who received care after a serious illness. The study found that high-risk veterans who received PARC care had a median increase of four additional days at home compared to matched controls.

SourceAmerican Thoracic Society·JournalAmerican Journal of Respiratory and Critical Care Medicine·DateMay 20, 2024

Researchers develop perovskite X-ray detector for medical imaging

Chinese researchers have developed a high-performance perovskite X-ray detector that offers improved spatial resolution, readout speed, and low-dose detection efficiency for medical imaging applications. The new detector uses a thick inorganic CsPbBr3 perovskite film printed on a dedicated CMOS pixel array.

SourceShenzhen Institute of Advanced Technology, Chinese Academy of Sciences·JournalNature Communications·TypeCommentary/editorial·DateMay 20, 2024

Illuminating neuro-vascular dynamics throughout the body: 3D-printed implants and bioluminescence duet shed light on brain–spinal interactions

A team of visionaries at the Carney Institute developed 3D-printed brain and spinal cord implants, revolutionizing surgical implantations and optical access. Bioluminescence imaging overcomes limitations of traditional fluorescent microscopy, providing unprecedented observation of neural and vascular activity.

By listening, scientists learn how a protein folds

Researchers use data sonification to convert molecular data into sounds, revealing how hydrogen bonds contribute to protein folding. The process involves complex interactions between water molecules and amino acids, with faster bonds speeding up folding and slower ones slowing it down.

SourceUniversity of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign, News Bureau·JournalProceedings of the National Academy of Sciences·TypeComputational simulation/modeling·DateMay 20, 2024

Robot-phobia could exacerbate hotel, restaurant labor shortage

A Washington State University study found that robot-phobia increases job insecurity and stress among hospitality workers, leading to greater intentions to leave their jobs. The impact is pronounced even for managers, highlighting the need for employers to communicate technology's limitations and human workers' roles.

SourceWashington State University·JournalInternational Journal of Contemporary Hospitality Management·DateMay 20, 2024

Combatting air pollution in China: Why secondary pollutants are now a primary concern

A recent study reveals that reducing primary emissions has a significant impact on decreasing fine particles and ozone levels in China's North China Plain region. The research, published in Atmospheric and Oceanic Science Letters, found that controlling anthropogenic emissions can effectively mitigate secondary pollution during summer.

SourceInstitute of Atmospheric Physics, Chinese Academy of Sciences·JournalAtmospheric and Oceanic Science Letters·DateMay 20, 2024

Not sure about vaccines? How public health messaging is framed makes a difference, new research reveals

Researchers found that people with a fixed mindset respond better to loss-based messaging framing when discussing vaccination, highlighting the importance of tailored communication strategies. The study generalized its findings to various contagious viruses and has implications for public health messaging.

SourceBinghamton University·JournalInternational Journal of Research in Marketing·DateMay 20, 2024

'Hunting for treasures' with AI: Astronomers detect rare neutral atomic-carbon absorbers with deep neural network

An international team used deep learning neural networks to identify rare weak signals in quasar spectral data. They discovered 107 extremely rare neutral carbon absorbers, doubling the number of samples found in 2015, and detected more faint signals than before.

SourceChinese Academy of Sciences Headquarters·JournalMonthly Notices of the Royal Astronomical Society·DateMay 20, 2024

Can coal mines be tapped for rare earth elements?

Researchers have discovered concentrated rare earth elements in coal mines and adjacent formations in Utah and Colorado. The findings could enable the extraction of these critical minerals from domestic sources, supporting the transition to renewable energy.

SourceUniversity of Utah·JournalFrontiers of Earth Science·TypeObservational study·DateMay 20, 2024

C-terminal frameshift mutations generate viable knockout mutants with developmental defects for three essential protein kinases

Researchers successfully generated viable and heritable knockout mutants for three essential protein kinases using CRISPR/Cas9 genome editing. These mutants displayed severe developmental defects and enhanced disease resistance, providing valuable resources for gene function studies and signaling network regulation.

One essential step for a germ cell, one giant leap for the future of reproductive medicine

Researchers at Kyoto University's Institute for the Advanced Study of Human Biology have identified a crucial signaling molecule that drives epigenetic reprogramming and differentiation in human germ cells. This breakthrough has significant implications for the development of human IVG research, which aims to treat all forms of inferti...

AI chips could get a sense of time

Researchers at the University of Michigan have created a new type of memristor that can mimic the timekeeping mechanism found in biological neural networks. This breakthrough could lead to significant energy savings for AI chips, potentially reducing energy consumption by a factor of 90 compared to current graphical processing units.

SourceUniversity of Michigan·JournalNature Electronics·DateMay 20, 2024