ScienceDaily: All - August 02, 2024
Today's top research news
Trying to limit calories? Skip the dip, researchers advise
Snacks provide, on average, about one-fourth of most people's daily calories. With nearly one in three adults in the United States overweight and more than two in five with obesity, researchers are investigating how Americans can snack smarter.
Image: New Africa/Shutterstock.com
Drug developed for pancreatic cancer shows promise against most aggressive form of medulloblastoma
A drug that was developed to treat pancreatic cancer has now been shown to increase symptom-free survival in preclinical medulloblastoma models -- all without showing signs of toxicity.
Retreat of tropical glaciers foreshadows changing climate's effect on the global ice
As they are in many places around the globe, glaciers perched high in the Andes Mountains are shrinking. Now, researchers have uncovered evidence that the high-altitude tropical ice fields are likely smaller than they've been at any time since the last ice age ended 11,700 years ago.
Aging-related genomic culprit found in Alzheimer's disease
Researchers have developed a way to study aged neurons in the lab without a brain biopsy, allowing them to accurately model the effects of aging in the development of late-onset Alzheimer's disease. By studying these cells, the researchers identified aspects of cells' genomes -- called retrotransposable elements, which change their activity as we age -- in the development of late-onset Alzheimer's disease. The findings suggest new treatment strategies targeting these factors.
Climate anomalies may play a major role in driving cholera pandemics
New research suggests that an El Nino event may have aided the establishment and spread of a novel cholera strain during an early 20th-century pandemic, supporting the idea that climate anomalies could create opportunities for the emergence of new cholera strains.
When it comes to DNA replication, humans and baker's yeast are more alike than different
Humans and baker's yeast have more in common than meets the eye, including an important mechanism that helps ensure DNA is copied correctly, reports a pair of studies. The findings visualize for the first time a molecular complex -- called CTF18-RFC in humans and Ctf18-RFC in yeast -- that loads a 'clamp' onto DNA to keep parts of the replication machinery from falling off the DNA strand.
Connections between obesity and heart failure
A new small study has revealed the impact of obesity on muscle structure in patients having a form of heart failure called heart failure with a preserved ejection fraction (HFpEF).
Method prevents an AI model from being overconfident about wrong answers
Thermometer, a new calibration technique tailored for large language models, can prevent LLMs from being overconfident or underconfident about their predictions. The technique aims to help users know when a model should be trusted.
'Smarter' semiconductor technology for training 'smarter' artificial intelligence
A research team has recently demonstrated that analog hardware using ECRAM devices can maximize the computational performance of artificial intelligence, showcasing its potential for commercialization.
Climate change may lead to shifts in vital Pacific Arctic fisheries
Commercially important marine fish and invertebrate species will likely shift northwards under a warmer climate, according to new research.
Multiple urinary metals play key role in cardiovascular disease and mortality, study finds
Higher levels of urinary metals such as cadmium, tungsten, uranium, cobalt, copper and zinc are linked to increased cardiovascular disease and mortality in a racially and ethnically diverse U.S. population, according to a new study.
Engineering researchers crack the code to boost solar cell efficiency and durability
Photovoltaic (PV) technologies, which convert light into electricity, are increasingly applied worldwide to generate renewable energy. Researchers have now developed a molecular treatment that significantly enhances the efficiency and durability of perovskite solar cells. Their breakthrough will potentially accelerate the large-scale production of this clean energy.
Human odorant receptor for geosmin identified for the first time
Geosmin is a volatile compound of microbial origin with a distinct 'earthy' to 'musty' odor that can affect the quality of water and food. A research team has now identified and characterized the human odorant receptor for geosmin for the first time.
Novel nanosensing technique for quality control of viral vectors in gene therapy
Researchers develop a nanosensing platform that can assess the quality of individual viral vector particles Viral vectors hold much potential for gene editing and gene therapy, but there is a pressing need to develop quality control methods to minimize potential side effects on patients. Addressing this, researchers from Japan developed a nanosensing-based approach that can differentiate between functional and faulty viral vectors at the single-particle level. This convenient and inexpensive technique will hopefully get us one step closer to advancing treatments for genetic disorders.
Breakthrough in plant disease: New enzyme could lead to anti-bacterial pesticides
Scientists uncover a pivotal enzyme, XccOpgD, and its critical role in synthesizing C G16, a key compound used by Xanthomonas pathogens to enhance their virulence against plants. This breakthrough opens new avenues for developing targeted pesticides that combat plant diseases without harming beneficial organisms. Insights into XccOpgD's enzymatic mechanism and optimal conditions offer promising prospects for sustainable agriculture, bolstering crop resilience and global food security while minimizing environmental impact.
Recently, researchers developed a non-invasive method combining electrical impedance tomography and extracellular voltage activation to evaluate drug effects on ion channels. The resulting printed circuit board sensor allows real-time monitoring of how newly developed drugs can affect ion flow in channels, providing a cost-effective and accurate alternative to traditional methods like patch-clamp techniques and paving the way toward more efficient and shorter preclinical testing in the drug discovery process.
Proteins as the key to precision medicine: Finding unknown effects of existing drugs
Fewer side effects, improved chances of healing: the goal of precision medicine is to provide patients with the most individualized treatment possible. This requires a precise understanding of what is happening at the cellular level. Researchers have now succeeded in mapping the interactions of 144 active substances with around 8,000 proteins. The results could help to identify previously unknown potential benefits of existing drugs.
Cheese of the future: Consumers open to animal-free alternatives
Companies and institutes are currently working on biotechnological processes for the production of 'dairy products' without the use of cows: In so-called precision fermentation, egg and milk proteins are produced with the help of bacteria, yeasts or other fungi. This results in foods such as milk or cheese with a familiar flavor and texture. Supporters hope that this will lead to more sustainable food production, as nutrient-rich proteins can be produced using fewer resources. But will consumers accept such products?
Judging your own happiness could backfire
Judging how happy you are could backfire and negatively impact life satisfaction and psychological well-being, according to new research.
Uncontrolled hypertension: The old 'silent killer' is alive and well
High blood pressure affects about 45% of U.S. adults. In the 1970s, only about 50% of patients were aware of their hypertension. Today, 54% are aware of their high blood pressure, 40% are actively treated and 21% are actively controlled. As such, researchers alert health care providers that the old 'silent killer' is alive and well. Healthy individuals should have a systolic blood pressure of 130 mmHg or less, and a diastolic blood pressure of 80 mmHg or less.
New study explores how antifragility could revolutionize cancer treatment
Researchers offer a new perspective on antifragility, proposing a unified framework for understanding the property across different complex systems.
Researchers have developed a new model to explain the formation of giant planets such as Jupiter, which furnishes deeper insights into the processes of planet formation and could expand our understanding of planetary systems.
Modern behavior explains prehistoric economies
What if the 'Market Economy' always existed? Archaeologists tried to answer this question by researching how much Bronze Age people used to spend to sustain their daily lives. Their results show that, starting at least 3,500 years ago, the spending habits of prehistoric Europeans were not substantially different from what they are today.
Warming stops tiny organisms working together
Hotter conditions prevent two tiny organisms working together for mutual benefit, new research shows.
In a study of more than 100,000 people, researchers found that people with a less healthy lifestyle (higher BMI, greater smoking, greater alcohol consumption, less physical activity, poorer diet quality) had a greater reduction in risk of colorectal cancer associated with aspirin use, compared to participants with a healthier lifestyle. Participants with a healthier lifestyle had a lower baseline risk of colorectal cancer, and their benefit was less pronounced. The study's findings could encourage a more nuanced approach to preventive aspirin use.
Study examines effect of fish oil in older adults' brains
A clinical trial suggests that a subset of older adults with a genetic predisposition to Alzheimer's disease may benefit from fish oil supplements.
Tipping risks from overshooting 1.5 °C can be minimized if warming is swiftly reversed
Current climate policies imply a high risk for tipping of critical Earth system elements, even if temperatures return to below 1.5 C of global warming after a period of overshoot. A new study indicates that this risk can be minimized if the warming is swiftly reversed. That is why reducing emissions in the current decade is crucial for the stability of the Earth systems functions, researchers write. They analyzed the tipping risks for four interconnected core climate tipping elements: the Greenland Ice Sheet, the West Antarctic Ice Sheet, the Atlantic Meridional Overturning Circulation (AMOC), and the Amazon Rainforest.
Towards smart cities: Predicting soil liquefaction risk using artificial intelligence
Soil liquefaction that results in infrastructure damage has long been a point of contention for urban planners and engineers. Accurately predicting the soil liquefaction risk of a region could help overcome this challenge. Accordingly, researchers applied artificial intelligence to generate soil liquefaction risk maps, superseding already published risk maps.
Easy tool helps estimate fall risks
Researchers have developed a formula and easy-to-use assessment tool for estimating fall risks using a database of older adults. Preventing falls among older adults is expected to extend life expectancy and reduce medical and nursing care costs.
Pursuing the middle path to scientific discovery
Scientists have made significant strides in understanding the properties of a ferroelectric material under an electric field. This breakthrough holds potential for advances in computer memory, lasers and sensors for ultraprecise measurements.
A new large study suggests incidence rates continued to rise in successively younger generations in 17 of the 34 cancer types, including breast, pancreatic, and gastric cancers. Mortality trends also increased in conjunction with the incidence of liver (female only), uterine corpus, gallbladder, testicular, and colorectal cancers.
'Smarter' semiconductor technology for training 'smarter' artificial intelligence
Scientists develop next-generation semiconductor technology for high-efficiency, low-power artificial intelligence.
Precision oncology via artificial intelligence on cancer biopsies
An artificial intelligence method to detect biomarkers in tumor biopsies promises to cut weeks and thousands of dollars from cancer detection, extending the benefits of precision oncology to underserved and under-resourced patients.
Researchers found a small molecule that increases fetal hemoglobin production in human blood stem cells and leads to fewer sickled red blood cells in mice, providing proof of principle for developing more effective therapeutics for sickle cell disease.
Mass extinction 66 million years ago triggered rapid evolution of bird genomes
Study finds that the mass extinction caused by an asteroid about 66 million years ago led to critical changes in bird genomes that ultimately sparked the incredibly diversity living birds.
The next generation of RNA chips
An international research team has succeeded in developing a new version of RNA building blocks with higher chemical reactivity and photosensitivity. This can significantly reduce the production time of RNA chips used in biotechnological and medical research. The chemical synthesis of these chips is now twice as fast and seven times more efficient.
3D models provide unprecedented look at corals' response to bleaching events
Marine biologists are providing a glimpse into coral 'bleaching' responses to stress, using imaging technology to pinpoint coral survival rates following multiple bleaching events off the island of Maui. Using a time series of coral reef 3D models from Maui, the researchers tracked the bleaching response of 1,832 coral colonies from 2014 to 2021. The seven-year data set provided detailed imagery of the reefs year-by-year, allowing the team to identify patterns of coral growth and survivorship through sequential bleaching events that occurred in 2015 and 2019.
Underwater mapping reveals new insights into melting of Antarctica's ice shelves
Clues to future sea level rise have been revealed by the first detailed maps of the underside of a floating ice shelf in Antarctica. An international research team deployed an unmanned submersible beneath the Dotson Ice Shelf in West Antarctica.
Downwind states face disproportionate burden of air pollution
A recent U.S. Supreme Court decision to block a federal rule curbing interstate air pollution further complicates efforts to reduce emissions and adds to an already disproportionate burden on 'downwind' states, according to researchers.
Smell reports reveal the need to expand urban air quality monitoring, say researchers
Researchers have uncovered surprising insights into the Vancouver region's 'smellscape' using data from the Smell Vancouver app. Analyzing 549 reports from one year of app data, they discovered that 'rotten' and 'chemical' odours dominated, making up about 65 per cent of submissions. These unpleasant smells were linked to self-reported health issues like headaches and anxiety, leading some residents to change their behaviours, like closing windows even in stifling-hot weather.
Recently published research shows a medical device may be beneficial for patients who have previously had a stroke and are planning to undergo a transcatheter aortic valve replacement, a type of heart valve operation.
Are cardiovascular risk factors linked to migraine?
Having high blood pressure, specifically high diastolic blood pressure, was linked to a slightly higher odds of ever having migraine in female participants, according to a new study. Diastolic pressure is when the heart is resting between beats. However, the study did not find an increased risk between other cardiovascular risk factors and migraine.
Nasal COVID-19 vaccine halts transmission, animal study finds
A nasal COVID-19 vaccine blocks transmission of the virus, according to an animal study. The findings suggest that vaccines delivered directly to the nose or mouth could play a critical role in containing the spread of respiratory infections.