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Science News Archive October 2024 - Page 31


Page 31 of 44

Hospitals that are understaffed for infection prevention and control have higher rates of infection, study says

A new study published in the American Journal of Infection Control found that nearly 4 in 5 hospitals are not staffed at sufficient levels to keep patients safe from preventable infections. The study highlights the need for customized infection prevention staffing recommendations, which can be provided by an online calculator tool.

SourceAssociation for Professionals in Infection Control·JournalAmerican Journal of Infection Control·TypeData/statistical analysis·DateOct 10, 2024

UCSB researchers create the first ever visualization of photoexcited charges traveling across the interface of two semiconductor materials

UCSB researchers used scanning ultrafast electron techniques to visualize fleeting electric charges in semiconductor materials. The study provides direct visual evidence of charge transfer across the interface, shedding light on the behavior of hot photocarriers and their impact on device performance.

SourceUniversity of California - Santa Barbara·JournalProceedings of the National Academy of Sciences·DateOct 10, 2024

From chaos to structure

A team of scientists has created a comprehensive atlas of early mammalian morphogenesis, revealing that individual events such as cell divisions and movements are highly chaotic. However, the embryos as a whole end up looking very similar to one another, with physical laws driving them to form a specific morphology shared among mammals.

SourceInstitute of Science and Technology Austria·JournalScience·TypeComputational simulation/modeling·DateOct 10, 2024

Hypersaline brine produced by fracking has left us in a pickle. A new process developed by Lehigh University researchers could help dry it up.

A new process developed by Lehigh University researchers uses evaporative ion exchange (EIX) to concentrate hypersaline brine at room temperature, avoiding scaling and fouling. The process has shown promising results in concentrating salts from hypersaline water, with the potential for widespread use.

SourceLehigh University·JournalNature Water·TypeExperimental study·DateOct 10, 2024

Emerging electronic materials for next generation soft bioelectronic applications: From material designs to devices performances

Liquid-based electronic materials offer inherent flexibility and conformability, mitigating mechanical mismatches between human tissues and electronic devices. These materials have been demonstrated in various applications such as strain sensors, touch sensors, implantable stimulators, encapsulation solutions, and adhesives.

SourceIndustrial Chemistry & Materials·JournalIndustrial Chemistry and Materials·TypeLiterature review·DateOct 10, 2024

Retiring coal plants with climate and equity in mind

New research led by energy systems modelers at Princeton University demonstrates that retiring coal plants based on minimizing costs could leave other climate and equity benefits on the table. Retiring half of Pennsylvania's coal plants under a climate- or equity-focused strategy could reduce carbon emissions, air pollution, and deaths...

SourcePrinceton University, Engineering School·JournalEnvironmental Science & Technology·TypeComputational simulation/modeling·DateOct 10, 2024

A holy grail found for catalytic alkane activation

Hokkaido University researchers have developed a novel method to activate alkanes, making it easier to convert these building blocks into valuable compounds. The new technique utilizes confined chiral Brønsted acids, improving efficiency and selectivity in producing desired products.

SourceHokkaido University·JournalScience·TypeExperimental study·DateOct 10, 2024

Climate change can alter methane emission and uptake in the Amazon

Researchers found that extreme temperatures and humidity projected for the Amazon under climate change may increase methane-producing microorganisms in flooded areas and reduce methane uptake in upland forests by 70%. This could lead to a shift in the balance of greenhouse gas emissions, with significant global impacts.

Preoperative prediction of mesenteric lymph node metastasis in colorectal cancer using machine learning with CT-based data

Researchers developed a machine learning model to predict mesenteric lymph node metastasis preoperatively in colorectal cancer patients. The XGB-based model achieved high accuracy, identifying key predictors such as perineural invasion and hematocrit levels.

"islands" of regularity discovered in the famously chaotic three-body problem

Astronomers have discovered patterns of regularity within the chaotic three-body problem, which is a fundamental challenge in physics. The researcher's findings suggest that certain configurations of three massive objects can lead to predictable outcomes, offering new insights into astrophysics and the behavior of black holes.

SourceUniversity of Copenhagen - Faculty of Science·JournalAstronomy and Astrophysics·DateOct 10, 2024

Development of a new electrolyte synthesis method for next-generation fuel cells: a step closer to green hydrogen production

Researchers developed a new synthesis method to lower the sintering temperature of proton ceramic electrolytes in fuel cells. This allows for the production of high-efficiency cells at lower temperatures, enhancing thermal stability and performance. The new process enables the creation of large-area cells with superior proton conductance.

SourceNational Research Council of Science & Technology·JournalAdvanced Energy Materials·DateOct 10, 2024

A new study finds that even positive third-party ratings can have negative effects

A new study found that receiving a Michelin star can lead to negative effects, including increased bargaining problems with suppliers and employees. Restaurants may struggle to maintain key relationships and resources, ultimately leading to closures. Despite this, some firms perform fine post-Michelin star

SourceStrategic Management Society·JournalStrategic Management Journal·TypeData/statistical analysis·DateOct 10, 2024

Earthquake fault friction’s dependence on temperature different from previously thought

Researchers have long believed that rock friction follows a simple relationship with temperature, but a new study published in PNAS suggests otherwise. The study reveals that different underlying mechanisms affect the frictional resistance of faults, which could improve earthquake hazard assessments and forecasts.

SourceUniversity of Southern California·JournalProceedings of the National Academy of Sciences·TypeData/statistical analysis·DateOct 10, 2024

Extreme heat may substantially raise mortality risk for people experiencing homelessness

A new study found that extreme heat increases mortality risk for people experiencing homelessness, particularly in hot-climate US counties like Las Vegas and Los Angeles. Heat exposure is estimated to be 10-100 times greater among unhoused individuals than in the general population.

SourceBoston University School of Public Health·JournalAmerican Journal of Epidemiology·TypeObservational study·DateOct 10, 2024

Streamlining solar cell structure and fabrication for more affordable energy

Researchers at City University of Hong Kong have developed a new fabrication technique for perovskite solar cells, achieving power conversion efficiencies over 25% and 95% efficiency after 2,000 hours. This simplification makes industrial production more cost-effective and paves the way for more reliable and efficient solar cells.

Optimizing inhibitors that fight antibiotic resistance

Researchers from Duke University have discovered the mechanism behind the discrepancies in how resistant infections react to combination treatments. The study found that bacteria with a higher level of 'selfishness' are more likely to thrive after treatment, while less selfish strains benefit more.

SourceDuke University·JournalNature Communications·TypeExperimental study·DateOct 10, 2024

One-third of cancer-related crowdfunding campaigns share medical financial hardship and health-related social needs, new research shows

A large comprehensive analysis found that more than one-third of fundraising stories on the GoFundMe platform share experiences of medical financial hardships and health-related social needs, including housing and food insecurities. The study highlights the fragility of safety nets in the US and underscores the need for support.

SourceAmerican Cancer Society·JournalJAMA Oncology·DateOct 10, 2024

SNU-KAIST researchers jointly develop a new visible light communication encryption technology using chiral nanoparticles

The SNU-KAIST joint research team developed a novel visible light communication encryption technology with high security using chiral nanoparticles. This technology uses unclonable nanoparticles like fingerprints to encrypt information, making it impossible to intercept without detailed information about the nanoparticles.

SourceSeoul National University College of Engineering·JournalNature Communications·TypeExperimental study·DateOct 10, 2024