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Science News Archive October 2024 - Page 20


Page 20 of 44

Sweetened beverage taxes decrease consumption in lower-income households by nearly 50%, UW study finds

A new study from the University of Washington found that lower-income households decreased their purchases of sweetened beverages by nearly 50%, while higher-income households reduced purchases by 18%. The tax was implemented in four U.S. cities and resulted in a significant decline in consumption among lower-income households.

SourceUniversity of Washington·JournalHealth Economics·DateOct 21, 2024

Towards vehicle electrification: A mathematical prediction of battery electric vehicle ownership growth in Turkey

A new study predicts Turkey's battery electric vehicle (BEV) ownership growth using the Gompertz model, aiming to aid policymakers in preparing for a smooth transition. The predicted BEV market saturation is expected to occur approximately 15 years later than Internal Combustion Engine Vehicles.

SourceBeijing Institute of Technology Press Co., Ltd·JournalGreen Energy and Intelligent Transportation·TypeExperimental study·DateOct 21, 2024

New study finds abdominal aortic calcification results do not significantly increase fruit and vegetable intake

A new randomized controlled trial found that providing individuals with their abdominal aortic calcification (AAC) results did not motivate them to adopt healthier eating habits. However, the study showed improvements in secondary outcomes, including lipid profiles and reduced five-year estimated cardiovascular risk

SourceHebrew SeniorLife Hinda and Arthur Marcus Institute for Aging Research·JournalNature Communications·TypeRandomized controlled/clinical trial·DateOct 21, 2024

Rapidly increasing industrial activities in the Arctic

A comprehensive assessment of human activity in the Arctic reveals that over 5% of the region is affected by light pollution, with an annual increase of 4.8%. The study highlights the critical need for monitoring and planning to support sustainable development and conservation in the Arctic.

SourceUniversity of Zurich·JournalProceedings of the National Academy of Sciences·TypeData/statistical analysis·DateOct 21, 2024

Cloud computing captures chemistry code

A team of scientists and experts led by PNNL has developed a cloud computing approach to democratize access to emerging resources. They demonstrated that cloud computing can provide an agile complement to high-performance computing facilities, enabling complex chemistry workflows to be completed in days instead of months. The initiativ...

SourceDOE/Pacific Northwest National Laboratory·JournalThe Journal of Chemical Physics·TypeComputational simulation/modeling·DateOct 21, 2024

Dynamics of molten pool evolution and high-speed real-time optical measurement in laser polishing

A new optical time-stretch quantitative interferometry (OTS-QI) system records surface morphology during laser polishing with nanosecond-level temporal resolution. The system achieves remarkable measurement speeds exceeding 100 million times per second while preserving accuracy comparable to existing white light interferometers.

Creating a spatial map of the sea: New research visualizes how fishing communities can change fishing habits to adapt to climate change

A spatial map of the sea reveals that different fishing communities and gear types are adapting in unique ways to climate change, with some communities showing high flexibility and others facing challenges. The study's findings highlight the need for policy decisions to support adaptive capacity, rather than limiting it.

SourceWellesley College·JournalICES Journal of Marine Science·DateOct 21, 2024

Researchers develop 3D atlas of the developing mammalian brain

A team of researchers at Penn State College of Medicine has developed a high-resolution 3D atlas of the developing mouse brain, providing a comprehensive view of brain development and structure. The atlas, published in Nature Communications, will help researchers understand neurodevelopmental disorders and analyze large-scale data sets.

SourcePenn State·JournalNature Communications·TypeImaging analysis·DateOct 21, 2024

Creating a simplified form of life

Researchers have built two key components of life: an energy conversion system and a nutrient transport system. The first system uses just five components to convert energy, while the second system uses only two components to transport nutrients. These simplified systems demonstrate the feasibility of creating a synthetic cell.

SourceUniversity of Groningen·JournalNature Nanotechnology·TypeExperimental study·DateOct 21, 2024

Study uncovers the true burden of asthma in African pupils, highlighting need for better access to asthma diagnosis and care

A study from Queen Mary University of London reveals that nearly half of African pupils with asthma symptoms have undiagnosed cases, highlighting the need for better access to diagnosis and treatment. The research found that only a small percentage of diagnosed pupils were using medication effectively.

SourceQueen Mary University of London·JournalThe Lancet Child & Adolescent Health·TypeObservational study·DateOct 21, 2024

A novel SOC estimation model: combining machine learning and Kalman filtering

The improved method achieves high accuracy in lithium-ion battery state of charge estimation, outperforming traditional methods such as Back propagation Neural Network and Long Short-Term Memory. The model's robustness is enhanced through periodic parameter updates based on battery operating conditions.

SourceBeijing Institute of Technology Press Co., Ltd·JournalGreen Energy and Intelligent Transportation·TypeExperimental study·DateOct 21, 2024

Being part of a ‘civilization’ only reduces violence if you’re a woman in ancient Andes populations

A new study suggests that being part of a 'civilization' reduces violence for women, but not men, in ancient Andes populations. The research, published in the Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences, analyzed data from 8,607 adults over 3,000 years and found that women experienced reduced lethal violence in organized states.

SourceUniversity of California - Davis·JournalProceedings of the National Academy of Sciences·TypeData/statistical analysis·DateOct 21, 2024

The asymmetric cosine distribution

The asymmetric cosine distribution model offers improved efficiency for analyzing data with values in [-1,1], including standardized scores and temperature anomalies. Key findings include satisfactory results on simulated and real data, as well as potential applications in machine learning models.

SourceELSP·JournalAsymmetry·TypeData/statistical analysis·DateOct 21, 2024

3D structures of biomolecules – “dictionaries” make fluorescence-based data for integrative structure models and their dynamics accessible

Researchers from Germany and the USA have developed a standardized data description to provide fluorescence-based integrative structural models and their dynamics for large biomolecules. This makes it possible to access experiment-based training data for next-generation AI tools.

SourceHeinrich-Heine University Duesseldorf·JournalNature Methods·DateOct 21, 2024

Advanced online method for battery model parameter identification: Bias-compensated forgetting factor recursive least squares

A new online method for battery model parameter identification is introduced, which improves accuracy under different noise conditions. The Bias-Compensated Forgetting Factor Recursive Least Squares (BCFFRLS) method shows significant improvements in reducing mean absolute and root mean square errors.

SourceBeijing Institute of Technology Press Co., Ltd·JournalGreen Energy and Intelligent Transportation·TypeExperimental study·DateOct 21, 2024

The transformative power of film

Researchers from Stanford University found that watching the film Just Mercy increased participants' empathy towards formerly incarcerated people, leading to greater support for criminal justice reform. The study suggests that storytelling has a powerful impact on changing people's minds and perceptions.

SourceStanford University·JournalProceedings of the National Academy of Sciences·DateOct 21, 2024

UAMS researchers find ground beef packs bigger muscle-building punch than soy-based alternative

A new study from UAMS reveals that 100% ground beef is more effective at building muscle than a soy-based alternative, requiring double the amount of protein to achieve the same results. The study found that just one serving of beef provided the necessary muscle-building benefits, while two servings of the soy-based product were needed.

SourceUniversity of Arkansas for Medical Sciences·JournalAmerican Journal of Clinical Nutrition·TypeRandomized controlled/clinical trial·DateOct 21, 2024

Sexual and gender-diverse individuals face more health challenges during COVID-19: Insights from a large-scale social media analysis

A new study by Zhejiang University highlights the disproportionate health challenges faced by sexual and gender-diverse individuals during the COVID-19 pandemic. SGD individuals experienced higher rates of COVID-19 symptoms and mental health issues compared to non-SGD users, according to a large-scale social media analysis.

SourceHealth Data Science·JournalHealth Data Science·DateOct 21, 2024

Unexpected beauty, major antimicrobial power boost as phages form into surprising flower shapes

A group of McMaster researchers have discovered that phages can form into three-dimensional flower-like shapes, making them 100 times more efficient at finding bacterial targets. This breakthrough has significant implications for the detection and treatment of diseases, as it enables the creation of novel antimicrobial materials.

SourceMcMaster University·JournalAdvanced Functional Materials·TypeExperimental study·DateOct 21, 2024

Can aerobic exercise help prevent brain fog caused by chemotherapy?

Women who started an aerobic exercise program during chemotherapy reported improved cognitive function and quality of life compared to those receiving standard care. The study found that while cognitive performance was similar after chemotherapy completion, the exercise program had a positive impact on self-reported cognitive function.

SourceWiley·JournalCancer·DateOct 21, 2024

Side-polished pump combiner: Building block for robust all-fiber mid-IR lasers

Researchers developed a novel side-polished fibre pump combiner that achieves high coupling efficiency and stabilizes Mid-IR laser operation. The design effectively distributes heat load across the polished fibre area, enabling long-term stable operation with low excess losses.