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Researchers develop novel organic redox-active molecules for flow batteries
Science 2024-08-28

Researchers develop novel organic redox-active molecules for flow batteries

Organic redox-active molecules (ORAMs) are abundant and diverse, offering significant potential for cost-effective and sustainable energy storage, particularly in aqueous organic flow batteries (AOFBs). However, ensuring the stability of the ORAMs during the charge and discharge process is critical, as side reactions can deactivate them and eliminate their redox activity. Air stability remains a challenge for many ORAMs, complicating their practical use. Recently, a research group led by Prof. LI Xianfeng and Prof. ZHANG Changkun from ...
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Environment 2024-08-28

Study finds limits to storing CO2 underground to combat climate change

Imperial College London press release    Under strict embargo until:  Wednesday 28 August 2024  10am UK time/5am Eastern    Study finds limits to storing CO2 underground to combat climate change  Imperial research has found limits to how quickly we can scale up technology to store gigatonnes of carbon dioxide under the Earth’s surface.  Current international scenarios for limiting global warming to less than 1.5 degrees by the end of the century rely on technologies that remove carbon dioxide (CO2) from the Earth’s atmosphere faster than humans release it. This means removing ...
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Medicine 2024-08-28

Pain identified as dominant symptom in long Covid

Pain may be the most prevalent and severe symptom reported by individuals with long Covid, according to a new study led by UCL (University College London) researchers. The study, published in JRSM Open, analysed data from over 1,000 people in England and Wales who logged their symptoms on an app between November 2020 and March 2022. Pain, including headache, joint pain and stomach pain, was the most common symptom, reported by 26.5% of participants. The other most common symptoms were neuropsychological ...
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What role did fear play in Europe's population growth?
Science 2024-08-28

What role did fear play in Europe's population growth?

[Vienna, August 26 2024] – Since the end of the last Ice Age, growth of human population was far from uniform, marked instead by periods of rapid expansion followed by sharp declines. The reasons behind these fluctuations remain only partially understood. Previous research by CSH scientists Peter Turchin, Daniel Kondor, and an international team of collaborators, demonstrated that social conflicts, rather than – or in addition to – environmental factors, could have significantly impacted these patterns. Now, they add another piece to the puzzle. Wars and conflicts not only cause direct casualties but also create an atmosphere of distress ...
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Engineering 2024-08-28

Shot of confidence: Building trust in vaccination programs

A new paper in the Journal of Public Health, published by Oxford University Press, finds that highlighting the harms of not getting vaccinated is a more effective message than emphasizing the benefits of vaccination for individual patients or the benefits to public health. Vaccination remains the most economical and effective public health strategy for reducing morbidity and mortality. But some vaccines, such as those for flu, pneumonia and HPV, are given voluntarily. Often due to misinformation or ignorance many people are reluctant to get vaccinated for various diseases (or to vaccinate their children). For years researchers have been investigating various strategies ...
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Protect your teeth with fruit: antimicrobial effects found in biomass compounds
Science 2024-08-28

Protect your teeth with fruit: antimicrobial effects found in biomass compounds

Periodontal disease is an inflammatory disease caused by a periodontal pathogenic bacteria infection that affects oral and internal health. Good oral care is essential for prevention, but most over-the-counter oral hygiene products are disinfectants that can be highly irritating. This makes them unsuitable for use by young children and the elderly, who are susceptible to periodontal disease. To find an antibacterial that is easy to use and effective in preventing periodontal disease at all ages, Professor Shigeki Kamitani of Osaka Metropolitan University’s Graduate School of Human Life and Ecology led a research team in verifying the antibacterial effect of seven ...
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Technology 2024-08-28

AI tools like ChatGPT popular among students who struggle with concentration and attention

Since their release, AI tools like ChatGPT have had a huge impact on content creation. In schools and universities, a debate about whether these tools should be allowed or prohibited is ongoing. Now, researchers in Sweden have investigated the relationship between adolescents’ EF and their use and perceived usefulness of generative AI chatbots for schoolwork. They published their results in Frontiers in Artificial Intelligence. “Students with more EF challenges found these tools particularly useful, especially for completing assignments,” said Johan Klarin, a school psychologist and research assistant at the Department of Psychology ...
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Insights into spinel cobalt oxides may lead to efficient ammonia synthesis
Science 2024-08-28

Insights into spinel cobalt oxides may lead to efficient ammonia synthesis

Researchers have made a significant breakthrough in the development of catalysts for the electrochemical nitrate reduction reaction (eNO₃RR) to ammonia, a process that has broad implications for sustainable energy, agriculture, and industrial applications. Ammonia, a critical component in global food production, also holds promise as a zero-carbon fuel due to its high energy density, clean combustion products, and established infrastructure for storage and transportation. However, the current method of producing ...
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U of A College of Nursing receives $1.6M grant to support Indigenous students
Social Science 2024-08-28

U of A College of Nursing receives $1.6M grant to support Indigenous students

Indigenous students pursuing nursing careers at the University of Arizona College of Nursing will benefit from additional financial support thanks to a $1.6 million grant from the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services’ Indian Health Service. The grant will fund the successful Indians in Nursing: Career Advancement and Transition Scholars, or INCATS, program for another five years. The program provides Indigenous students at the U of A College of Nursing with financial support for tuition, fees and a living stipend. Additionally, the grant provides resources for dedicated time and personnel to partner with tribal ...
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Moths may use disco gene to regulate day/night cycles
Science 2024-08-28

Moths may use disco gene to regulate day/night cycles

How does one species become two? If you’re a biologist, that’s a loaded question. The consensus is that, in most cases, the process of speciation occurs when individuals from a single population become geographically isolated. If they remain separate long enough, they lose the ability to interbreed. A new study published in the journal Proceedings of the Royal Society B: Biological Sciences demonstrates what happens when a less common form of speciation occurs. Rather than being separated by a physical barrier, such as a mountain range or an ocean, members of a species can become ...
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Technology 2024-08-28

Henna secures $30,000 from PSU’s University Venture Development Fund to enhance AI fairness & safety

UVDF Funding, Henna Henna Secures $30,000 from PSU’s University Venture Development Fund to Enhance AI Fairness & Safety Portland, OR – August 13, 2024 – Henna, a startup with deep ties to Portland State University (PSU), has successfully secured $30,000 in funding from the University Venture Development Fund (UVDF). This grant will support Henna's mission to make AI adoption fairer and safer. Henna was founded earlier this year by Arsh Haque (they/them), Chair of the Diversity, Equity, & Inclusion ...
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Heriot-Watt University breaks ground on new £2.5M Optical Ground Station
Technology 2024-08-28

Heriot-Watt University breaks ground on new £2.5M Optical Ground Station

Work has started on a new Quantum Communications Hub Optical Ground Station (HOGS), a state-of-the-art telescope which is being built on Heriot-Watt University’s Research Park. The new facility will demonstrate and test satellite quantum secure communications, maintaining and growing the UK’s strength in the field of quantum technologies. It is scheduled to be fully operational by late Autumn [2024]. As well as helping to tackle future cyberattacks by researching methods to send secure transmissions via satellites, it will unlock new research on space environmentalism alongside innovative R&D activities for future laser communication ...
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Medicine 2024-08-28

SUNY Board of Trustees and Chancellor King announce presidential appointment at SUNY College of Optometry

New York, NY – The State University of New York Board of Trustees today appointed Dr. David Troilo as president of SUNY College of Optometry. He is the 4th president to serve the state’s only college of optometry, following the retirement of Dr. David A. Heath after 17 years of dedicated service to the campus. Dr. Troilo’s appointment is effective immediately.   The SUNY Board of Trustees said, “SUNY College of Optometry is a center of research and academic excellence, and Dr. Troilo is a collaborative and thoughtful leader who is ready to move the campus forward growing ...
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Cold math, hot topic: Sea ice thermal conductivity
Science 2024-08-28

Cold math, hot topic: Sea ice thermal conductivity

A new applied mathematical theory could enhance our understanding of how sea ice affects global climate, potentially improving the accuracy of climate predictions. The authors of a new paper published in the Proceedings of the Royal Society A on 28 August, offer new insights into how heat travels through sea ice, a crucial factor in regulating Earth's polar climate. Dr Noa Kraitzman, Senior Lecturer in Applied Mathematics at Macquarie University and lead author of the study, says the research addresses a key gap in current climate modelling. “Sea ice covers about 15 per cent of the ocean’s surface during ...
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Medicine 2024-08-28

Individuals with type 2 diabetes who are at higher risk of certain cancers could be identified by a simple blood test, Danish study suggests

Individuals with type 2 diabetes who are at higher risk of certain cancers could be identified by a simple blood test, this year’s Annual Meeting of the European Association for the Study of Diabetes (EASD) (Madrid, 9-13 September) will hear. People with type 2 diabetes are known to be at higher risk of developing cancers associated with obesity (OR cancers), including breast, kidney, womb, thyroid and ovarian cancer, as well as gastrointestinal cancers, including colorectal and pancreatic ...
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Medicine 2024-08-27

New UT School of Public Health San Antonio welcomes inaugural class, launches degree program designed for South Texas

The University of Texas School of Public Health San Antonio (UT School of Public Health San Antonio), a collaboration between The University of Texas Health Science Center at San Antonio (UT Health San Antonio) and The University of Texas at San Antonio (UTSA), proudly welcomes its inaugural class and the official launch of the region’s first Master of Public Health (MPH) graduate degree program. Beginning Monday, Aug. 26, the first cohort of 40 students will attended classes at the new UT School of Public Health San Antonio, located on the Greehey Campus at UT Health San Antonio. Many of the students in the program ...
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Mizzou researchers explore solutions to help reduce nurse burnout
Science 2024-08-27

Mizzou researchers explore solutions to help reduce nurse burnout

COLUMBIA, Mo. -- Even before the coronavirus pandemic, high rates of burnout and staffing shortages plagued the nursing industry, primarily because of the stressful demands of the job. The COVID-19 pandemic only amplified these challenges, and with nearly a third of all Missouri nurses nearing retirement, improving nurse retention is key to avoiding an impending nursing workforce crisis in our state. Despite dozens of studies proving burnout is an issue, few provide interventions to help nurses — and their patients — overcome its challenges. A recent study by the University of Missouri has found that ...
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Algorithm raises new questions about Cascadia earthquake record
Technology 2024-08-27

Algorithm raises new questions about Cascadia earthquake record

The Cascadia subduction zone in the Pacific Northwest has a history of producing powerful and destructive earthquakes that have sunk forests and spawned tsunamis that reached all the way to the shores of Japan. The most recent great earthquake was in 1700. But it probably won’t be the last. And the area that stands to be affected is now bustling metropolises that are home to millions of people.   Figuring out the frequency of earthquakes – and when the next “big one” will happen – is an active scientific question that involves looking for signs of past earthquakes in the geologic record in the form of shaken up rocks, ...
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Defining chronic pain for high-performance athletes with disabilities
Science 2024-08-27

Defining chronic pain for high-performance athletes with disabilities

With the Paris 2024 Paralympic Games just around the corner, the extensive training and the sacrifices athletes make to compete at the games take centre stage. For Paralympians and high-performance athletes with spinal cord injuries (SCI), assessing chronic pain plays a key role in their training and readiness to compete. However, the source of chronic pain is often misattributed to acute trauma or overuse injuries. While the International Olympic Committee acknowledges pain management data among Paralympians and athletes with disabilities is limited, few studies have been launched investigating this dilemma. Now, new research from UBC Okanagan highlights the need for more comprehensive ...
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Illinois researchers develop near-infrared spectroscopy models to analyze corn kernels, biomass
Science 2024-08-27

Illinois researchers develop near-infrared spectroscopy models to analyze corn kernels, biomass

URBANA, Ill. – In the agricultural and food industry, determining the chemical composition of raw materials is important for production efficiency, application, and price. Traditional laboratory testing is time-consuming, complicated, and expensive. New research from the University of Illinois Urbana-Champaign demonstrates that near-infrared (NIR) spectroscopy and machine learning can provide quick, accurate, and cost-effective product analysis. In two studies, the researchers explore the use of NIR spectroscopy for analyzing characteristics of corn kernels and sorghum biomass. “NIR spectroscopy has many advantages over traditional methods. ...
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Medicine 2024-08-27

It’s the most common STI you’ve never heard of. Will this newly developed drug provide the cure?

Researchers at Tulane University are leading a groundbreaking study to seek a more effective treatment for trichomoniasis, an infection that, despite being the most common curable sexually transmitted infection (STI) worldwide, continues to fly under the radar. The five-year, multi-center study is funded by a $9.2 million National Institutes of Health grant and will compare the effectiveness of a recently approved medication, secnidazole, against the current standard treatment, metronidazole, using ...
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Science 2024-08-27

Texas A&M researchers find that aoudad, bighorn sheep share respiratory pathogens

By Courtney Price, Texas A&M College of Veterinary Medicine and Biomedical Sciences  A team of researchers at the Texas A&M College of Veterinary Medicine and Biomedical Sciences (VMBS) has discovered that aoudad — an animal in the sheep and goat family — can catch and spread many of the same respiratory pathogens that can impact desert bighorn sheep, a native species in Texas that often shares its habitat with aoudad. The new research, recently published in the journal PLOS ONE, will help wildlife conservationists better understand the complex relationship between ...
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Medicine 2024-08-27

CRF announces TCT 2024 late-breaking clinical trials and science

NEW YORK – August 27, 2024 – The Cardiovascular Research Foundation® (CRF®) is pleased to announce the late-breaking clinical trials and science to be featured at TCT® 2024. As the annual scientific symposium of CRF® and the world’s premier educational meeting specializing in interventional cardiovascular medicine, TCT® 2024 will be held October 27-30 in Washington, D.C. at the Walter E. Washington Convention Center. For over three decades, TCT® has been at the forefront of innovation, education, and collaboration in interventional ...
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Not sure how to stand out as a leader on Zoom calls? It starts with how you communicate, new study shows
Science 2024-08-27

Not sure how to stand out as a leader on Zoom calls? It starts with how you communicate, new study shows

BINGHAMTON, N.Y. -- More companies are embracing remote work, and with that comes a need for more frequent communication. Teamwork through a screen isn’t always the same as having a group in the same room, so how are companies cultivating leaders in these virtual settings? New research involving a collaboration between Binghamton University, State University of New York schools and research centers shows how, in virtual teams where nonverbal cues are limited, a person’s engagement and influence in conversations can significantly shape whether they’re perceived as a leader. But taking charge of the conversation isn’t enough, the study found; for leadership ...
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Prenatal smoking risks academic achievement of unborn babies
Science 2024-08-27

Prenatal smoking risks academic achievement of unborn babies

Smoking harms almost every part of your body. But if you smoke when pregnant, the toxic chemicals in tobacco will also harm your unborn baby, with new research showing that it could lead to reduced academic outcomes at school.   In a systematic review of 19 studies and 1.25 million participants, researchers at the University of South Australia along with a team at Curtin University, SAHMRI, Harvard University and others* found that 79% of studies reported reduced academic achievement in children exposed to maternal prenatal smoking.   An additional meta-analysis of eight primary studies with 723,877 participants ...
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