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Science News Archive May 2024 - Page 6


Page 6 of 44

Solving the problems of proton-conducting perovskites for next-generation fuel cells

A newly developed perovskite with large intrinsic oxygen vacancies achieves high proton conduction at low and intermediate temperatures. The material can take up more water to increase its proton concentration, reducing proton trapping through electrostatic repulsion between the dopant and proton.

SourceTokyo Institute of Technology·JournalJournal of Materials Chemistry A·TypeExperimental study·DateMay 29, 2024

New wind speed sensor uses minimal power for advanced weather tracking

A new wind speed sensor has been developed that uses minimal power to track wind speeds, allowing for extended deployment periods and reduced maintenance. The device, called B-WA, can operate autonomously and efficiently in varying wind conditions, providing precise and reliable data collection.

The use of new technologies expands understanding of brain tumors in children

A new study using next-generation molecular sequencing and DNA methylation profile analysis identified a rare type of pediatric brain tumor with specific genetic alterations. The tumors were found to be clinically aggressive but some responded well to chemotherapy, highlighting the need for personalized treatment strategies.

SourceD'Or Institute for Research and Education·JournalActa Neuropathologica Communications·DateMay 29, 2024

AI helps medical professionals read confusing EEGs to save lives

Researchers at Duke University developed an assistive machine learning model that greatly improves the ability of medical professionals to read EEG charts. The model, which provides visual explanations and decision support, has been shown to almost double medical professionals' accuracy in identifying seizure-like events, potentially s...

SourceDuke University·JournalNEJM AI·TypeExperimental study·DateMay 29, 2024

Portable pathology passes the test

Researchers from Flinders University tested on-site pathology testing and found it to be equivalent to laboratory tests in terms of quality and accuracy. The study was conducted across 100 remote Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander communities in Australia.

SourceFlinders University·JournalDiagnostics·TypeData/statistical analysis·DateMay 29, 2024

Editing without “cutting”: Molecular mechanisms of new gene-editing tool revealed

Researchers elucidated the spatial structure and molecular mechanisms of 'prime editor,' a novel gene-editing tool that achieves reverse transcription without DNA cutting. This breakthrough contributes to designing gene-editing tools accurate enough for gene therapy treatments, opening new avenues for both basic and applied research.

SourceSchool of Science, The University of Tokyo·JournalNature·TypeExperimental study·DateMay 29, 2024

Slugs and snails love the city, unlike other animals

A study using crowd-sourced data from iNaturalist found that slugs and snails are more common in urban areas than other native species. In contrast, butterflies and moths were the least tolerant of urban environments. The analysis provides valuable insights for city planners to increase urban biodiversity.

SourcePLOS·JournalPLOS ONE·TypeObservational study·DateMay 29, 2024

Hiding in plain sight

A team of researchers from Japan, China, and Finland created a system called generative content replacement (GCR) that uses AI to replace parts of images that might threaten confidentiality with visually similar but AI-generated alternatives. In tests, 60% of viewers couldn't tell which images had been altered.

SourceUniversity of Tokyo·TypeImaging analysis·DateMay 29, 2024

Study shows effectiveness of updated COVID-19 vaccines wanes moderately over time, is lower against currently circulating variants

New research shows updated COVID-19 vaccines still offer reasonably durable protection against infection, hospitalization, and death from COVID-19, but effectiveness decreases over time. Boosters targeting omicron subvariants are less protective against the now-dominant JN.1 strain.

SourceUNC Gillings School of Global Public Health·JournalNew England Journal of Medicine·DateMay 29, 2024

Breakthrough in poplar genomics: Nearly gap-free genome assembly unveils new insights and applications

A research team has successfully assembled a nearly gap-free, telomere-to-telomere genome of P. ussuriensis, filling gaps present in the P. trichocarpa genome. The assembly's high collinearity with P. trichocarpa facilitates comparative genomics, epigenetic research, and reproductive biology studies.

SourceMaximum Academic Press·JournalForestry Research·TypeExperimental study·DateMay 29, 2024

Study finds older adults hospitalized for heart failure had high risk of kidney complications

Researchers found that 6% of patients with heart failure progressed to dialysis within a year, highlighting the need for integrating heart and kidney care. The study emphasizes prioritizing kidney function assessment in all patients with heart failure and promoting systemic changes to manage both conditions simultaneously.

SourceBrigham and Women's Hospital·JournalJAMA Cardiology·TypeObservational study·DateMay 29, 2024

Johns Hopkins Children’s Center study shows more than just social media use may be causing depression in young adults

A Johns Hopkins Children's Center study found that social media use is associated with depression in young adults, but may not be the sole cause. Participants who were more depressed also tended to spend more time on social media, while excessive screen time was linked to lower green space exposure and cannabis use.

SourceJohns Hopkins Medicine·JournalInternational Journal of Mental Health and Addiction·DateMay 29, 2024

Establishing a novel inherited arrhythmia model mouse causing sudden cardiac death at young age

Researchers established a novel mouse model of inherited arrhythmia that spontaneously causes lethal arrhythmias, shedding light on the pathogenesis and potential drug efficacy. The study identifies a critical mutation in ryanodine receptor 2 (RyR2) as a key regulator of cardiomyocyte contraction.

SourceInternational Institute for Integrative Sleep Medicine, University of Tsukuba·JournalProceedings of the National Academy of Sciences·DateMay 29, 2024

Low-cost, high-precision: a new ambiguity resolution method for urban GNSS positioning

A new ambiguity resolution method has been developed to improve the accuracy and reliability of urban GNSS positioning. The improved Best Integer Equivariant estimation method with Laplacian distribution achieved positioning errors under 0.5 meters in three directions, improving over traditional methods.

When should you neuter or spay your dog?

Researchers at UC Davis have updated their guidelines on neutering popular dog breeds, finding major differences in joint disorders and cancers. The study emphasizes personalized decisions, considering breed, sex, and context, and provides a table with guidelines for all 40 studied breeds.

SourceUniversity of California - Davis·JournalFrontiers in Veterinary Science·DateMay 28, 2024

COVID-19 pandemic leads to drop in breast cancer screenings, especially among older and racial minority women

The COVID-19 pandemic led to a decline in breast cancer screenings, particularly among older and racial minority women. A study analyzing real-world electronic health records found that follow-up screening rates decreased significantly during the pandemic, resulting in missed opportunities for early detection and treatment.

SourceAmerican Academy of Family Physicians·JournalThe Annals of Family Medicine·DateMay 28, 2024

Optimal cancer-killing t cells discovered

Researchers at the University of Houston have identified a subset of T cells called CD8-fit that show high motility and serial killing capabilities in patients with clinical responses. These cells were discovered using a patented approach called TIMING, which evaluates cell behavior and movement to identify potential cancer-killing cells.

SourceUniversity of Houston·JournalNature Cancer·DateMay 28, 2024