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PNAS Nexus


High-speed rail and regional environmental inequality

The introduction of high-speed rail between 1998 and 2010 spread green technologies and reduced industrial pollution across lagging regions, particularly in central inland provinces and northeastern areas. This led to a 0.49%–1.70% reduction in national industrial pollution and increased patent filings for green technology patents.

SourcePNAS Nexus·JournalPNAS Nexus·DateDec 10, 2024

The biomechanics of the rose prickle

The rose prickle's curved tapering shape and microstructural density enable supreme damage resistance capabilities. Researchers propose that these features could be used to develop ultra-small anchoring tools for diverse applications.

SourcePNAS Nexus·JournalPNAS Nexus·DateDec 10, 2024

COVID infection and age-related blindness

An experimental study in mice found that SARS-CoV-2 infection can damage the retinas, leading to long-term implications for vision. The virus caused widespread inflammation across the retinal pigment epithelium, including complement activation and increased production of inflammatory cytokines.

SourcePNAS Nexus·JournalPNAS Nexus·DateDec 3, 2024

Parasite-inspired medical devices

Researchers designed a millimeter-scale mechanism inspired by tapeworms to anchor small medical devices to soft tissues. The device, made of stainless steel and polyimide film, can be used in various medical applications and has potential for affixing sensors to marine organisms.

SourcePNAS Nexus·JournalPNAS Nexus·DateDec 3, 2024

Engineering hypoallergenic cats

A team of scientists used CRISPR technology to investigate the role of Fel d 1, a gene that triggers cat allergies. By analyzing genetic diversity and expression levels, they found that cats genetically modified to lack CH2 were healthy, suggesting that the allergen may not be essential for feline health.

SourcePNAS Nexus·JournalPNAS Nexus·DateNov 26, 2024

Digital twins and complexity data science

Digital twins simulate real-world objects or systems, allowing researchers to explore unexplored scenarios and gain insights. Complexity data science combines techniques from complexity science and data science, providing novel capabilities for society's challenges.

SourcePNAS Nexus·JournalPNAS Nexus·DateNov 12, 2024

A national indicator for a just energy transition

The Energy Transition Vulnerability Index (ETVI) measures a nation's susceptibility to adverse effects of transitioning away from fossil fuels. Countries in the Global South face greater challenges than those in the Global North, with global vulnerability decreasing but interrupted by the COVID-19 pandemic.

SourcePNAS Nexus·JournalPNAS Nexus·DateOct 22, 2024

Cognitive effort whets the appetite for reward

Research suggests that cognitive effort enhances the perceived reward of unhealthy choices, such as overeating potato chips or seeking cocaine. This link may be adaptive in certain contexts and has significant implications for understanding addiction and other unhealthy behaviors.

SourcePNAS Nexus·JournalPNAS Nexus·DateOct 22, 2024

Plastic mulch is contaminating agricultural fields

A study found plastic mulch contaminates soil with up to 25 kg of macroplastic debris per hectare, affecting critical soil functions even under best management practices. Microplastics were also detected, with concentrations positively correlated with macroplastic levels.

SourcePNAS Nexus·JournalPNAS Nexus·DateOct 22, 2024

Political polarization and trust

Researchers identified ways in which partisans mistrust and inaccurately perceive their opponents, as well as ineffective interventions to combat misinformation. A Perspective proposes redesigning digital media platforms to combat polarization, with tools like generative AI to promote consensus across ideological divides.

SourcePNAS Nexus·JournalPNAS Nexus·DateOct 15, 2024

Election delays and voter trust

A survey of nearly 10,000 Americans found that election delays cause distrust in the electoral process. Reassuring voters before polls close about normal delays can prevent distrust from taking root.

SourcePNAS Nexus·JournalPNAS Nexus·DateOct 15, 2024

Farmer ants’ wearable bacteria

A study on attine ants reveals that beneficial bacteria live on the surface of their exoskeletons, which nourish these bacteria. The researchers found that these bacteria, including Pseudonocardia, are thought to have initially been gut symbionts and became cuticular symbionts around 20 million years ago.

SourcePNAS Nexus·JournalPNAS Nexus·DateOct 15, 2024

Continuous monitoring of fatigue in factory workers

Researchers developed a system to continuously monitor factory workers for signs of physical fatigue, using wearable sensors and machine learning. The system uses data from heart rate, skin temperature, and locomotor patterns to predict fatigue levels in real-time, with universal trends identified across individual variations.

SourcePNAS Nexus·JournalPNAS Nexus·DateOct 15, 2024

Nudges fail to reduce online hate

A pre-registered experiment found that seven nudges aimed at reducing hateful speech online had no effect, but unexpectedly increased engagement with harmless posts. The study recruited over 4,000 Americans and showed participants one of the nudges before engaging with a website featuring varied content.

SourcePNAS Nexus·JournalPNAS Nexus·DateOct 1, 2024

Immigrants to the United States still assimilate

Research suggests that immigrant assimilation patterns have remained consistent over the past century, with immigrants still working low-paying jobs and their children entering the middle class. Attitudes toward immigration are more positive than ever before, but also more polarized by political party.

SourcePNAS Nexus·JournalPNAS Nexus·DateOct 1, 2024

Diagnosing respiratory infections with breath

A proof-of-concept study introduces a medical device that measures protease activity in human breath to diagnose lower respiratory tract infections. The system showed elevated levels of human neutrophil elastase in patients with confirmed lower respiratory tract infections, suggesting its potential for rapid and non-invasive diagnosis.

SourcePNAS Nexus·JournalPNAS Nexus·DateSep 24, 2024

The impact of AI on specific jobs

A study using machine learning to analyze patents and job task descriptions found that AI is likely to augment rather than replace many jobs. The most impacted occupations included orthodontists, security guards, and air traffic controllers.

SourcePNAS Nexus·JournalPNAS Nexus·DateSep 24, 2024

Well-being as student success

Well-being is defined as a sense of belonging, agency, purpose, identity, civic engagement, and financial well-being. The authors summarize data-backed teaching practices supporting elements of student well-being, including supportive mentorships and experiential learning opportunities.

SourcePNAS Nexus·JournalPNAS Nexus·DateSep 24, 2024

Police body-camera footage as data

Researchers used body-worn camera footage to study changes in police behavior after procedural justice training, finding a significant increase in respectful communication techniques with drivers of all races. Post-training stops were twice as likely to use formal titles and express concern for the driver's safety.

SourcePNAS Nexus·JournalPNAS Nexus·DateSep 17, 2024

ChatGPT and cultural bias

A recent study found that ChatGPT exhibits cultural values similar to those in English-speaking and Protestant European countries. The model's responses consistently reflected a focus on self-expression values, such as environmental protection and tolerance for diversity.

SourcePNAS Nexus·JournalPNAS Nexus·DateSep 17, 2024

Natural selection may create inter-species exploitation

A modeling study suggests that one-sided interspecies cooperation can emerge and persist over time, with only one species benefiting. The authors use evolutionary game theory and the prisoner's dilemma to model this phenomenon, finding that natural selection may favor asymmetric states where one species exploits another.

SourcePNAS Nexus·JournalPNAS Nexus·DateSep 3, 2024

Obesity and susceptibility to SARS-CoV-2

A recent study analyzing electronic medical records found obese individuals have a 34% increased odds of SARS-CoV-2 positivity. The research highlights obesity as a significant transmission risk factor for the virus among exposed individuals, regardless of age or sex.

SourcePNAS Nexus·JournalPNAS Nexus·DateAug 27, 2024

Darwin’s longstanding interest in biological rhythms

Charles Darwin's work on biological rhythms dates back to 1838, when he observed plant leaves closing in response to touch. He also noted seasonal and daily changes in animal behavior, hibernation patterns, and tidal rhythms, demonstrating a profound engagement with chronobiology.

SourcePNAS Nexus·JournalPNAS Nexus·DateAug 27, 2024

Ambitious people aren’t born leaders

A study of 472 executives found that leadership ambition is linked to self-rated effectiveness, but not third-party evaluations. This implies that society may need alternative approaches to choosing and training leaders.

SourcePNAS Nexus·JournalPNAS Nexus·DateAug 20, 2024

Nudges fail to motivate vaccination

A recent study found that behavioral nudges in social media ads had limited ability to encourage COVID-19 vaccination across countries. Nudge ads with messages appealing to norms and family/ community protection performed better than placebo ads, but only in certain contexts.

SourcePNAS Nexus·JournalPNAS Nexus·DateAug 6, 2024

The variability of ocean weather

A recent study has found that tropical ocean waters exhibit significant variability in temperature over time and space, contradicting the long-held 'climate variability hypothesis'. This unexpected finding may help explain why some fish species can tolerate a wider range of temperatures than others.

SourcePNAS Nexus·JournalPNAS Nexus·DateAug 6, 2024

Bacteria and keloids

Research found higher bacterial concentrations in keloid tissue, especially in deep layers, leading to increased inflammation and fibroblast production. Antibiotics and phage treatments may help reduce bacteria and improve treatment outcomes for keloids.

SourcePNAS Nexus·JournalPNAS Nexus·DateJul 30, 2024

New car smell reaches toxic levels on hot days

High levels of formaldehyde and aldehydes are emitted from new cars on hot summer days, exceeding national safety limits. A machine learning model has been developed to predict in-cabin concentrations of volatile organic compounds, potentially informing exposure assessments and intelligent car systems.

SourcePNAS Nexus·JournalPNAS Nexus·DateJul 23, 2024