ScienceDaily: All - July 25, 2024
Today's top research news
The reactivity of zirconium on silicon nitride enhances the conversion of propane into propylene, a key commodity chemical needed to make polypropylene. This finding hints at the reactivity researchers might achieve with other nontraditional catalysts.
Could wearable devices adversely affect health?
For patients with Afib, using a wearable device can lead to higher rates of anxiety about their Afib symptoms and treatment, doctor visits, and use of informal healthcare resources, according to a new study.
Researchers develop innovative battery recycling method
A research team is tackling the environmental issue of efficiently recycling lithium ion batteries amid their increasing use.
Nationwide flood models poorly capture risks to households and properties, study finds
Government agencies, insurance companies and disaster planners rely on national flood risk models from the private sector that aren't reliable at smaller levels such as neighborhoods and individual properties, according to researchers.
The praying mantis is one of the few insects with compound eyes and the ability to perceive 3D space. Engineers are replicating their visual systems to make machines see better.
Image: Valerii Stepankov/Shutterstock.com
Stroke recovery: It's in the genes
New research has found that specific genes may be related to the trajectory of recovery for stroke survivors, providing doctors insights useful for developing targeted therapies.
Foam fluidics showcase lab's creative approach to circuit design
Engineers have shown that something as simple as the flow of air through open-cell foam can be used to perform digital computation, analog sensing and combined digital-analog control in soft textile-based wearable systems.
New groups of methane-producing organisms in Yellowstone
The team verified that microbes found in Yellowstone National Park hot springs produce methane to grow.
Does your body composition affect your risk of dementia or Parkinson's?
People with high levels of body fat stored in their belly or arms may be more likely to develop diseases like Alzheimer's and Parkinson's than people with low levels of fat in these areas, according to new research. The study also found that people with a high level of muscle strength were less likely to develop these diseases than people with low muscle strength.
Daily rhythms depend on receptor density in biological clock
Tweaking the numbers of receptors in a key brain area changes the daily rhythms of rest and wake in mice.
Increasing Prediabetes remission for type 2 diabetes
In mice with heart failure with preserved ejection fraction (HFpEF), increasing ketone supply to the heart allowed their hearts to utilize more ketones and produce more energy.
Prediabetes remission for type 2 diabetes prevention
Current medical guidelines recommend that people in a preliminary stage of type 2 diabetes lose at least 7 percent of their body weight in order to prevent manifest diabetes. Diabetes experts advocate glycemic remission (normalization of blood sugar regulation) as a prevention goal for people with prediabetes or a high risk of type 2 diabetes. The article's claim is supported by numerous international scientists as well as by the DZD's Prevention Academy.Current medical guidelines recommend that people in a preliminary stage of type 2 diabetes lose at least 7 percent of their body weight in order to prevent manifest diabetes. In an article in 'Nature Reviews Endocrinology,' diabetes experts Prof. Andreas Birkenfeld and Prof. Viswanathan Mohan advocate glycemic remission (normalization of blood sugar regulation) as a prevention goal for people with prediabetes or a high risk of type 2 diabetes. The article's claim is supported by numerous international scientists as well as by the DZD's Prevention Academy.
Waters along Bar Harbor, Acadia home to billions of microplastics
Researchers reveal there are an estimated 400 billion microplastic fibers on the surface of Frenchman Bay, which borders Bar Harbor and Acadia National Park in Maine, and several connected rivers and estuaries where freshwater from rivers meet salty seawater. The watershed contains an average of 1.8 fibers per liter of water. The team also investigated how microplastics traveled throughout the watershed by sampling water from nine sites on Mount Desert Island, particularly within Bar Harbor.
Preventing brain damage in preterm babies
An interdisciplinary team of physicians and scientists show for the first time that a blood protein called fibrin blocks an essential biological process that drives brain development in early life. They identified a root cause of developmental delays that result from brain bleeds in premature infants, opening a path for new therapeutic strategies to counter long-term health risks.
Dark matter flies ahead of normal matter in mega galaxy cluster collision
Astronomers have untangled a messy collision between two massive clusters of galaxies in which the clusters' vast clouds of dark matter have decoupled from the so-called normal matter.
AI model identifies certain breast tumor stages likely to progress to invasive cancer
A new machine-learning model can identify the stage of disease in ductal carcinoma in situ, a type of preinvasive tumor that can sometimes progress to a deadly form of breast cancer. This could help clinicians avoid overtreating patients whose disease is unlikely to progress.
Researchers are closing in on a mouse model for late-onset Alzheimer's
Researchers are working to create the first strain of mice that's genetically susceptible to late-onset Alzheimer's, with potentially transformative implications for dementia research.
Targeted Alzheimer's research and drug discovery
Researchers offer the first comprehensive ranking of the relative role and significance of every known gene and protein in the development of Alzheimer's Disease.
Hens blush when they are scared or excited, study finds
Hens fluff their head feathers and blush to express different emotions and levels of excitement, according to a new study.
How Saharan dust regulates hurricane rainfall
New research underscores the close relationship between dust plumes transported from the Sahara Desert in Africa, and rainfall from tropical cyclones along the U.S. Gulf Coast and Florida.
The COVID-19 pandemic significantly widened existing economic and health disparities between wealthy and low-income countries and slowed progress toward health-related Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs), according to a new study.
Southern Ocean absorbing more carbon dioxide than previously thought, study finds
New research has found that the Southern Ocean absorbs more carbon dioxide (CO2) than previously thought. Using direct measurements of CO2 exchange, or fluxes, between the air and sea, the scientists found the ocean around Antarctica absorbs 25% more CO2 than previous indirect estimates based on shipboard data have suggested.
Proof-of-concept study to find functional cure for HIV
Researchers conducted a breakthrough proof-of-concept study that found an HIV-like virus particle that could cease the need for lifelong medications.
Fighting leukemia by targeting its stem cells
Acute myeloid leukemia is one of the deadliest cancers. Leukemic stem cells responsible for the disease are highly resistant to treatment. A team has made a breakthrough by identifying some of the genetic and energetic characteristics of these stem cells, notably a specific iron utilization process. This process could be blocked, leading to the death or weakening of these stem cells without affecting healthy cells. These results pave the way for new therapeutic strategies.
'Gene misbehavior' widespread in healthy people
New insights into the prevalence and mechanisms of gene misexpression in a healthy population could help in diagnosing and developing treatments for complex diseases.
Neuroscientists discover brain circuitry of placebo effect for pain relief
Researchers have discovered a novel pain control pathway that links the cingulate cortex in the front of the brain, through the pons region of the brainstem, to cerebellum in the back of the brain.
Study of urban moss raises concerns about lead levels in older Portland neighborhoods
Lead levels in moss are as much as 600 times higher in older Portland, Oregon, neighborhoods where lead-sheathed telecommunications cables were once used compared to lead levels in nearby rural areas, a new study of urban moss has found.
At what age do Olympic athletes peak?
There's a lot that goes into an Olympic athlete's quest for gold -- years of training and rigor -- but also, an athlete's age. A team used statistics to figure out when an Olympic track-and-field athletes' peak performance will be.
The ocean is becoming too loud for oysters, research finds
Baby oysters rely on natural acoustic cues to settle in specific environments, but new research reveals that noise from human activity is interfering with this critical process.
See less to move better: Dynamic schooling of fish by visual selection and focus
Sometimes less is more. Researchers accurately modeled dynamic fish schooling by incorporating the tendency of fish to focus on a single visual target instead of the whole school, as well as other visual cues.
Researchers record images and data of a shark experiencing a boat strike
Researchers have captured what they believe is the first ever video of a shark or any large marine animal being struck by a boat.
Warehousing industry increases health-harming pollutants, research shows
A new study shows an average 20-percent spike of nitrogen dioxide polluting the air for communities located near huge warehouses. And people of color are harder hit.
How well does tree planting work in climate change fight? It depends
Using trees as a cost-effective tool against climate change is more complicated than simply planting large numbers of them, an international collaboration has shown.
Komodo dragons have iron-coated teeth to rip apart their prey
Scientists have discovered that the serrated edges of Komodo dragons' teeth are tipped with iron. The study gives new insight into how Komodo dragons keep their teeth razor-sharp and may provide clues to how dinosaurs like Tyrannosaurus rex killed and ate their prey.
A tunable metasurface can control optical light in space and time, offering a path toward new ways of wirelessly and securely transmitting large amounts of data both on Earth and in space.
Large genetic study on severe COVID-19
Whether or not a person becomes seriously ill with COVID-19 depends, among other things, on genetic factors. With this in mind, researchers investigated a particularly large group of affected individuals. They confirmed the central and already known role of the TLR7 gene in severe courses of the disease in men, but were also able to find evidence for a contribution of the gene in women. In addition, they were able to show that genetic changes in three other genes of the innate immune system contribute to severe COVID-19.
BePRECISE consortium unveils guidelines to enhance reporting in precision medicine research
The inaugural reporting guidelines for precision medicine research have just been published.
Traffic-related ultrafine particles hinder mitochondrial functions in olfactory mucosa
Ultrafine particles, UFPs, the smallest contributors to air pollution, hinder the function of mitochondria in human olfactory mucosa cells, a new study shows. The study showed that traffic-related UFPs impair mitochondrial functions in primary human olfactory mucosa cells by hampering oxidative phosphorylation and redox balance.
Language affects how quickly we perceive shades of color
People who speak a language that has multiple words for different shades of colour perceive the shades more quickly.
How Rembrandt combined special pigments for golden details of The Night Watch
Chemists have for the first time established how Rembrandt applied special arsenic sulfide pigments to create a 'golden' paint.
A single-molecule-based organic porous material with great potential for efficient ammonia storage
Novel porous crystalline solid shows promise as an efficient and durable material for ammonia (NH3) capture and storage, report scientists. Made through a simple reprecipitation process, the proposed organic compound can reversibly adsorb and release NH3 via simple pressurization and decompression at room temperature. Its stability and cost-effectiveness make this material a promising energy carrier for future hydrogen economies.
Scientists assess how large dinosaurs could really get
A study looks at the maximum possible sizes of dinosaurs, using the carnivore, Tyrannosaurus rex, as an example. Using computer modelling, experts produced estimates that T. Rex might have been 70% heavier than what the fossil evidence suggests.
Whale shark tracked for record-breaking four years
Researchers have been tracking a 26-foot endangered whale shark -- named 'Rio Lady' -- with a satellite transmitter for more than four years -- a record for whale sharks and one of the longest tracking endeavors for any species of shark.
Blood test may guide use of multiple myeloma immunotherapy
A simple blood test that measures the number of lymphocytes, a type of white blood cell in the body, may predict whether people who have relapsed multiple myeloma are going to respond well to CAR-T immunotherapy, according to new research.
Research sheds light on the role of PTPRK in tissue repair and cancer
New research has advanced our knowledge of multiple roles for PTPRK, a receptor tyrosine phosphatase linked to the regulation of cell-cell adhesion, growth factor signalling and tumor suppression. Through a characterization of the function of PTPRK in human cell lines and mice, the team distinguished catalytic and non-catalytic functions of PTPRK. The findings extend what is known about the signalling mechanisms involving PTPRK as a phosphatase and its role in colorectal health but also shed new light on the extent of its function via non-catalytic signalling mechanisms.
A new analysis of rocks thought to be at least 2.5 billion years old helps clarify the chemical history of Earth's mantle -- the geologic layer beneath the planet's crust. The findings hone scientists' understanding of Earth's earliest geologic processes, and they provide new evidence in a decades-long scientific debate about the geologic history of Earth. Specifically, the results provide evidence that the oxidation state of the vast majority of Earth's mantle has remained stable through geologic time and has not undergone major transitions, contrary to what has been suggested previously by other researchers.
Study across multiple brain regions discerns Alzheimer's vulnerability and resilience factors
Genomics and lab studies reveal numerous findings, including a key role for Reelin amid neuronal vulnerability, and for choline and antioxidants in sustaining cognition.
Rates of subsequent myalgic encephalomyelitis/chronic fatigue syndrome (ME/CFS) following an acute illness were roughly the same between people whose acute illness was due to COVID-19 and those who did not have COVID-19, a new study finds.
Building a molecular brain map to understand Alzheimer's disease
Resulting atlas of the aging human brain holds molecular insights into the brain's vulnerability and resilience.
Trees reveal climate surprise -- bark removes methane from the atmosphere
Tree bark surfaces play an important role in removing methane gas from the atmosphere.
Images of nearest 'super-Jupiter' open a new window to exoplanet research
Using the James Webb Space Telescope (JWST), astronomers imaged a new exoplanet that orbits a star in the nearby triple system Epsilon Indi. The planet is a cold super-Jupiter exhibiting a temperature of around 0 degrees Celsius and a wide orbit comparable to that of Neptune around the Sun. This measurement was only possible thanks to JWST's unprecedented imaging capabilities in the thermal infrared. It exemplifies the potential of finding many more such planets similar to Jupiter in mass, temperature, and orbit. Studying them will improve our knowledge of how gas giants form and evolve in time.
Under pressure: How cells respond to physical stress
Cell membranes play a crucial role in maintaining the integrity and functionality of cells. However, the mechanisms by which they perform these roles are not yet fully understood. Scientists have used cryo-electron microscopy to observe how lipids and proteins at the plasma membrane interact and react to mechanical stress. This work shows that, depending on conditions, small membrane regions can stabilize various lipids to trigger specific cellular responses. These discoveries confirm the existence of well-organized lipid domains and begin to reveal the role they play in cell survival.
Physical activity improves early with customized text messages in patients with heart problems
Personalized text messages effectively promoted increased physical activity for patients after significant heart events -- such as a heart attack or surgery -- but those effects later diminished. Researcher say the results show incredible promise for simple, low cost interventions delivered through mobile technology and their potential to help prevent secondary cardiovascular events in patients.
New study confirms mammal-to-mammal avian flu spread
A new study provides evidence that a spillover of avian influenza from birds to dairy cattle across several U.S. states has now led to mammal-to-mammal transmission -- between cows and from cows to cats and a raccoon.
Long-acting injectable cabotegravir for HIV prevention is safe in pregnancy, study finds
Long-acting injectable cabotegravir (CAB-LA) was safe and well tolerated as HIV pre-exposure prophylaxis (PrEP) before and during pregnancy in the follow-up phase of a global study among cisgender women.
Large language models don't behave like people, even though we may expect them to
People generalize to form beliefs about a large language model's performance based on what they've seen from past interactions. When an LLM is misaligned with a person's beliefs, even an extremely capable model may fail unexpectedly when deployed in a real-world situation.
Researchers leveraging AI to train (robotic) dogs to respond to their masters
An international collaboration seeks to innovate the future of how a mechanical man's best friend interacts with its owner, using a combination of AI and edge computing called edge intelligence. The overarching project goal is to make the dog come 'alive' by adapting wearable-based sensing devices that can detect physiological and emotional stimuli inherent to one's personality and traits, such as introversions, or transient states, including pain and comfort levels.
A new way to make element 116 opens the door to heavier atoms
Researchers have successfully made super-heavy element 116 using a beam of titanium-50. That milestone sets the team up to attempt making the heaviest element yet: 120.
The unintended consequences of success against malaria
The insecticide-treated bed nets and insecticide sprays that were so effective in preventing mosquito bites -- and therefore malaria -- are increasingly viewed as the causes of household pest resurgence after pests became resistant to pesticides, according to a new article.
Taco-shaped arthropod fossils gives new insights into the history of the first mandibulates
Palaeontologists are helping resolve the evolution and ecology of Odaraia, a taco-shaped marine animal that lived during the Cambrian period. Fossils reveal Odaraia had mandibles. Palaeontologists are finally able to place it as belonging to the mandibulates, ending its long enigmatic classification among the arthropods since it was first discovered in the Burgess Shale over 100 years ago and revealing more about early evolution and diversification.