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Science News Archive May 2024 - Page 26


Page 26 of 44

Novel inhibitor insights offer pathway to preventing PXR-associated drug resistance

Scientists at St. Jude Children's Research Hospital have designed novel PXR inhibitors that can block the activity of pregnane X receptor, a key regulator of drug metabolism. The study provides new insights into the relationship between compounds that activate and inhibit PXR, with implications for designing more effective therapeutics.

SourceSt. Jude Children's Research Hospital·JournalNature Communications·DateMay 14, 2024

Sensitivity to fairness and the gut microbiome

Taking pro- and prebiotics affects levels of altruistic punishment in ultimatum game players. Participants who took supplements were more likely to reject unfair offers, with those having a high Firmicutes-to-Bacteroidetes ratio seeing the greatest changes.

SourcePNAS Nexus·JournalPNAS Nexus·DateMay 14, 2024

New methodologies to prevent fraud in the determination of the geographical origin of hazelnuts

Researchers have developed new methods to authenticate the geographical origin of hazelnuts, including a multi-isotopic approach that uses multiple markers to identify the most promising ones. This simple methodology could be easily transferable to control laboratories and support control bodies in facilitating more efficient controls.

SourceUniversity of Barcelona·JournalFood Chemistry·TypeExperimental study·DateMay 14, 2024

Towards hazard-resilience cities: Comparative research on resilience-related policies and local practices in five cities worldwide

This study examines the journey toward hazard-resilience in five exemplary cities, highlighting distinct approaches to addressing disaster risk and building resilience. The research emphasizes the importance of government support, community participation, and cultural awareness in enhancing urban resilience.

SourceHigher Education Press·JournalLandscape Architecture Frontiers·TypeExperimental study·DateMay 14, 2024

Looking inside battery cells

A team of researchers used state-of-the-art imaging techniques to study lithium-ion battery cells. They identified macroscopic deformations in the copper current collector due to local accumulations of silicon during electrode manufacturing. The defects compromise cell structure and functioning when agglomerates exceed 50 microns in size.

SourceInstitut Laue-Langevin·JournalEnergy & Environmental Science·TypeExperimental study·DateMay 14, 2024

The case for sharing carbon storage risk

A new multi-tiered framework models CCS liability after nuclear power plant liability, balancing individual developer risk with industry-shared responsibility. This approach encourages knowledge sharing and communitarian self-regulation, reducing the risk of accidents and promoting timely deployment of critical carbon storage technology.

SourceTexas A&M University·JournalNature Sustainability·TypeCommentary/editorial·DateMay 14, 2024

Optical probing of ultrafast laser-induced solid-to-overdense-plasma transitions

Researchers create cutting-edge all-optical single-shot probing technique to capture target dynamics from cold solid to overdense plasma. The new method provides unprecedented insight into interplay of fundamental processes such as ionization dynamics and plasma hydrodynamic expansion.

Using artificial intelligence to speed up and improve the most computationally-intensive aspects of plasma physics in fusion

PPPL researchers utilize machine learning to perfect plasma vessel design, optimize heating methods, and maintain stable control of fusion reactions. The team achieves significant results by predicting disruptions and adjusting settings before instabilities occur, enabling high-confinement modes in tokamaks.

SourceDOE/Princeton Plasma Physics Laboratory·JournalNature Communications·DateMay 14, 2024

Mosaic grassland landscapes are the most beneficial

Researchers found that extensive, unfertilized grasslands promote biodiversity and soil protection, while pastures and meadows provide cultural services. The study suggests a combination of different grassland types is necessary to sustain all ecosystem services.

SourceETH Zurich·JournalNature Communications·DateMay 14, 2024

Heat’s effects on police and judges

High temperatures reduce emotional control and increase aggression in police officers, resulting in more dismissals of hot-day arrests. Judges also make harsher decisions on hotter-than-average days, issuing longer prison sentences and higher fines.

SourcePNAS Nexus·JournalPNAS Nexus·DateMay 14, 2024

Artificial intelligence tool detects sex-related differences in brain structure

A new study using AI technology analyzed MRI scans from 471 men and 560 women, revealing differences in brain organization at a cellular level. The findings highlight the need for diversity in neurological research and may offer new insights into how psychiatric and neurological disorders develop differently in men and women.

SourceNYU Langone Health / NYU Grossman School of Medicine·JournalScientific Reports·TypeImaging analysis·DateMay 14, 2024

Text messages with financial incentives for men with obesity

A new study shows that text messaging with financial incentives significantly improves weight loss in men with obesity compared to traditional methods. The intervention combines personalized text messages with cash rewards, resulting in a 5% weight loss threshold, and could be an effective low-cost solution for health services.

SourceJAMA Network·JournalJAMA·DateMay 14, 2024

New technique improves finishing time for 3D printed machine parts

Researchers at North Carolina State University have developed a technique that automates quality control during the finishing process of 3D printed metal machine parts. This approach allows users to identify potential flaws without removing parts from equipment, making production time more efficient.

SourceNorth Carolina State University·JournalInternational Journal of Manufacturing Technology and Management·TypeExperimental study·DateMay 14, 2024

Rice’s Mamouras wins NSF CAREER Award

Konstantinos Mamouras, assistant professor of computer science at Rice University, has been awarded a $547,555 NSF CAREER Award to decentralize IoT applications and relieve network congestion. He aims to introduce novel programming techniques that enable efficient and reliable IoT development.

Avocado pruning residues used to produce more sustainable food packaging

Researchers at the University of Córdoba have developed a material for food packaging using avocado pruning residues, reducing reliance on bioplastics and increasing durability. The new compound exhibits strong mechanical properties and potential antimicrobial capacities, addressing industry needs ahead of upcoming European regulations.

SourceUniversity of Córdoba·JournalAdvanced Sustainable Systems·TypeExperimental study·DateMay 14, 2024

Check and checkmethane

A research team at Kyoto University has developed an AI method to automatically detect methane emissions globally, resolving trade-offs with existing detection methods. The system can identify small methane plumes, paving the way for systematic quantification of global warming.

SourceKyoto University·JournalNature Communications·TypeData/statistical analysis·DateMay 14, 2024

New transit station in Japan significantly reduced cumulative health expenditures

A new transit station in Japan significantly reduced average healthcare expenditures per capita over four years, with savings of approximately $929.99. The study used a causal impact algorithm and time series data to analyze the medical expenditure data gathered from a suburban city on the West Japan Railway line.

SourceOsaka Metropolitan University·JournalJournal of Transport & Health·TypeData/statistical analysis·DateMay 14, 2024

What’s actually in your supplements? Chapman University researchers detect hidden ingredients and questionable claims in supplements

A recent study by Chapman University researchers reveals that some supplements may mislead customers with unproven health claims and undeclared ingredients. The team analyzed 54 supplements containing Ayurvedic herbs associated with COVID-19 treatment and found concerns in 60% of the products, including undetected expected ingredients.

SourceChapman University·JournalPhytochemical Analysis·DateMay 14, 2024

Simulating diffusion using 'kinosons' and machine learning

By recasting diffusion as a sum of individual contributions called 'kinosons,' researchers developed a new method to model alloy behavior. Machine learning is used to compute the statistical distribution of these contributions, allowing for fast and accurate simulation of diffusion. This breakthrough enables significant improvements in...

SourceUniversity of Illinois Grainger College of Engineering·JournalPhysical Review Letters·DateMay 14, 2024