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Technology6 Sep 2024

Department of Energy announces $68 million in funding for artificial intelligence for scientific research

WASHINGTON, D.C. - The use of Artificial Intelligence (AI) in scientific research is a top priority at the Department of Energy (DOE), which today announced $68 million in funding for 11 multi-institution projects, comprising 43 awards. The funded projects will develop new ways to create foundation models, which are machine learning or deep learning models that can be used across a wide range of applications because they’re trained on broad data. Foundation models are a key building block of AI. Those models will be used in computational science, to automate workflow in laboratories, to accelerate scientific programming, and much more. The possibilities ...

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Technology6 Sep 2024

DOE, ORNL announce opportunity to define future of high-performance computing

The Department of Energy’s (DOE) Office of Science today announced a new research and development opportunity led by Oak Ridge National Laboratory (ORNL) to advance technologies and drive new capabilities for future supercomputers. This industry research program worth $23 million, called New Frontiers, will initiate partnerships with multiple companies to accelerate the R&D of critical technologies with renewed emphasis on energy efficiency for the next generation of post-exascale computing in the 2029 and beyond time frame. “There is a growing consensus that urgent action is needed to address an array of bottlenecks ...

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Technology6 Sep 2024

Molecular simulations, supercomputing lead to energy-saving biomaterials breakthrough

A team led by scientists at the Department of Energy’s Oak Ridge National Laboratory identified and successfully demonstrated a new method to process a plant-based material called nanocellulose that reduced energy needs by a whopping 21%. The approach was discovered using molecular simulations run on the lab’s supercomputers, followed by pilot testing and analysis. The method, leveraging a solvent of sodium hydroxide and urea in water, can significantly lower the production cost of nanocellulosic fiber — a strong, lightweight biomaterial ideal as a ...

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Science6 Sep 2024

Low-impact yoga and exercise found to help older women manage urinary incontinence

Older women struggling with urinary incontinence can benefit from regular, low-impact exercise, with yoga as well as stretching and strengthening showing benefits in a new study published Aug. 27 in Annals of Internal Medicine. The research, led by scientists at Stanford Medicine and the University of California, San Francisco, is part of a larger effort to identify low-risk, low-cost ways to treat one of the most common health problems women face as they age. After 12 weeks of a low-impact yoga program, study participants had about 65% fewer episodes of incontinence. Women in a control group doing stretching and strengthening exercises ...

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Social Science6 Sep 2024

Genetic studies reveal new insights into cognitive impairment in schizophrenia

In a comprehensive review of recent genetic and population studies, published in the peer-reviewed medical journal Genomic Psychiatry (Genomic Press, New York), Professors Michael Owen and Michael O'Donovan of Cardiff University's Centre for Neuropsychiatric Genetics and Genomics present evidence that challenges conventional wisdom about cognitive deficits in schizophrenia. Their analysis reveals that premorbid cognitive impairment – lower IQ and other cognitive deficits present before the onset of psychosis – is largely explained by non-familial factors rather than by the same inherited genetic variants that ...

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Technology6 Sep 2024

Researcher develops technology to provide cleaner energy and cleaner water

As the world transitions to cleaner energy sources, the need for energy-relevant metals and critical minerals has surged dramatically. Driven by the rise of electric vehicles and other green technologies, these essential materials are in high demand across the globe. Metals, such as lithium, cannot be grown. They must be mined or recycled, making this a top priority for researchers in the mining industry. Traditional methods of mining lithium are expensive and can be harmful to the environment, but researchers at Virginia Tech have found a way to minimize this environment impact. They will optimize and scale up this method with ...

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Science6 Sep 2024

Expect the unexpected: nanoscale silver unveils intrinsic self-healing abilities

As an innovative concept in materials science and engineering, the inspiration of self-healing materials comes from living organisms that have the innate ability to self-heal. Along with this line, the search for self-healing materials has been generally focused on “soft” materials like polymers and hydrogels. For solid-state metals instead, one may intuitively imagine that any form of self-healing will be much more difficult to achieve. While a few past studies showcased the self-healing behavior in metals that more or less requires the assistance ...

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Science6 Sep 2024

nTIDE September 2024 Jobs Report: Gains in employment for people with disabilities appear to level off after reducing gaps with non-disabled workers

East Hanover, NJ – September 6, 2024 – Employment and labor force participation trends for people with disabilities appear to be stabilizing after several years of growth that reduced the gaps between individuals with and without disabilities, according to today’s National Trends in Disability Employment – semi-monthly update (nTIDE) issued by Kessler Foundation and the University of New Hampshire’s Institute on Disability (UNH-IOD). Over the past three months, both groups have seen declines in employment and labor force participation, reflecting a broader workforce ...

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Science6 Sep 2024

Wiley enhances NMR Spectral Library Collection with extensive new databases

Wiley, one of the world’s largest publishers and a global leader in research and learning, today announced the addition of ten computed CNMR databases totaling over 384,000 records to its KnowItAll NMR Spectral Library collection. With this addition, the KnowItAll NMR collection now provides access to over 1.3 million spectra, making it one of the most comprehensive collections of NMR spectral data available. “These new databases significantly enhance our ability to support researchers in their quest ...

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Medicine6 Sep 2024

Renowned psychiatrist Dr. Gustavo Turecki sheds light on depression, suicide, and brain trauma response

Montreal, Canada - The "Innovators & Ideas: Research Leader" section of Genomic Psychiatry (ISSN: 2997-2388), published by Genomic Press, New York, features an illuminating Genomic Press Interview with Dr. Gustavo Turecki, a trailblazer in psychiatric research at McGill University. The interview delves into Turecki's pioneering work on depression, suicide prevention, and the molecular underpinnings of mental health, offering valuable insights into cutting-edge research shaping our understanding of these critical issues. Dr. Turecki, who serves as the Chair of the Department of Psychiatry at McGill ...

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Space6 Sep 2024

Plasmonic modulators could enable high-capacity space communication

Researchers have achieved data rates as high as 424Gbit/s across a 53-km turbulent free-space optical link using plasmonic modulators— devices that uses special light waves called surface plasmon polaritons to control and change optical signals. The new research lays the groundwork for high-speed optical communication links that transmit data over open air or space. Free-space-optical communication networks could aid space exploration because they can provide high-speed, high-capacity data transmission with lower latency and less interference than traditional radio frequency communication systems. ...

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Medicine6 Sep 2024

UPenn’s Orphan Disease Center to amplify SYNGAP1 research: SynGAP Research Fund’s Million Dollar Bike Ride team raises $74,851 for one-year grant

Mill Valley, CA – September 5, 2024 – The SynGAP Research Fund 501(c)(3) is proud to announce its continued collaboration with the University of Pennsylvania’s (UPenn) Orphan Disease Center (ODC) through the Million Dollar Bike Ride (MDBR) Pilot Grant Program. ODC is accepting proposals for a grant award of $74,851 to further advance critical research in SYNGAP1-Related Disorders (SRD). Instructions for submitting a letter of interest are available here. Applications are due in two weeks by September 20, 2024. Why We Participate in This Project ​​The SynGAP Research ...

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Medicine6 Sep 2024

Crystallized alternative DNA structure sheds light on insulin and diabetes

The first crystal structure of an alternative DNA shape from the insulin gene has been revealed by a UCL-led research team. DNA is widely accepted to be formed of two strands that wind around one another, known as a double helix, but it is possible for DNA to change shape and structure. The new study, published in Nature Communications, reveals the detail in the structure of a type of DNA called i-motif by crystallising it for the first time. Co-lead author Dr Zoë Waller (UCL School of Pharmacy) ...

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Environment6 Sep 2024

Protecting just 0.7% of world’s land could help save a third of most unique and endangered species

Conservation efforts directed towards just 0.7% of the world’s land mass could help protect one third of the world’s threatened and unique tetrapod (four-limbed vertebrate) species, new research by Imperial College London, On the Edge, and ZSL has shown. The study, led by researchers at Imperial College London and published this week in Nature Communications, finds that large gains in conservation are possible by focusing on areas home to exceptional biodiversity and species with high levels of evolutionary distinctiveness and global ...

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Medicine6 Sep 2024

TGF-beta and RAS signaling are both required for lung cancer metastasis, study finds

When it comes to cancer metastasis, it takes two to tango. That was one of the key findings of a new study led by researchers at Memorial Sloan Kettering Cancer Center (MSK): The TGF-beta and RAS signaling pathways work together to spur the spread of cancer in lung adenocarcinoma, a leading cause of cancer deaths around the world. Take away one of those two signals, and lung cancer will not be able to spread (metastasize) to new parts of the body, their findings in animal models suggest. The research, published September 6 in Cell, points to new opportunities to potentially prevent metastasis, thanks to an updated understanding of the underlying processes. “About ...

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Environment6 Sep 2024

5 lessons to level up conservation successfully

Conservation needs to scale successfully to protect nature. A new paper takes lessons from around the world to show how that might be done. To reverse biodiversity loss and meet ambitious global targets, conservation programmes designed to preserve everything from forests to fish need to work ‘at scale’. Scaling can mean three things. Scaling ‘out’ means expanding a programme to new people and places, while scaling ‘up’ means bringing in higher-level institutions, such as governments introducing policies or incentives that make it easier for individuals and private companies to engage. Scaling ‘deep’ means changing hearts and minds – ...

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Technology6 Sep 2024

Researchers advance new class of quantum critical metal that could advance electronic devices

A new study led by Rice University’s Qimiao Si has unveiled a new class of quantum critical metal, shedding light on the intricate interactions of electrons within quantum materials. Published in Physical Review Letters on Sept. 6, the research explores the effects of Kondo coupling and chiral spin liquids within specific lattice structures. “The insights gained from this discovery could lead to the development of electronic devices with extreme sensitivity, driven by the unique properties of quantum-critical ...

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Technology6 Sep 2024

DOE, ORNL announce opportunity to define the future of high-performance computing

The U.S. Department of Energy’s (DOE) Office of Science (SC) today announced a new research and development opportunity led by Oak Ridge National Laboratory (ORNL) to advance technologies and drive new capabilities for future supercomputers. This industry research program worth $23 million, called New Frontiers, will initiate partnerships with multiple companies to accelerate the R&D of critical technologies with renewed emphasis on energy efficiency for the next generation of post-exascale computing in the 2029 ...

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Medicine6 Sep 2024

Cannabidiol demonstrated to alleviate symptoms of Leigh syndrome

A study led by the UAB Institut de Neurociències and published in the journal Nature Communications demonstrates in animal models how daily administration of cannabidiol (CBD), a substance obtained from the cannabis plant, extends lifespan and improves symptoms associated with Leigh syndrome. This severe mitochondrial disease affecting children is characterised by a progressive decline in cognitive and motor functions and premature death. The research group also demonstrated in both mice and fibroblasts from children with ...

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Environment6 Sep 2024

A chemical cocktail of micropollutants amplified the effect of algal toxins causing mass fish mortality on the River Oder in 2022

Summer 2022’s environmental disaster led to the death of up to 60 per cent of fish biomass and up to 85 per cent of mussel and snail biomass in the River Oder. In August 2022, the UFZ set up an interdisciplinary ad hoc working group together with researchers from the Leibniz Institute of Freshwater Ecology and Inland Fisheries (IGB), the University of Veterinary Medicine, Vienna (Vetmeduni) and the University of Birmingham. They took water samples at five locations along the Oder, extracted poisoned ...

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Medicine6 Sep 2024

Generative AI in cancer imaging: revolutionizing detection & diagnosis

“This editorial explores its impact on expanding datasets, improving image quality, and enabling predictive oncology.” BUFFALO, NY- September 6, 2024 – A new editorial was published in Oncotarget's Volume 15 on September 4, 2024, entitled, “Generative AI in oncological imaging: Revolutionizing cancer detection and diagnosis.” Generative AI is revolutionizing oncological imaging, enhancing cancer detection and diagnosis. This editorial explores its impact on expanding ...

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Medicine6 Sep 2024

Disparity in access to medications for opioid use disorder persist in criminal legal settings

EMBARGOED FOR RELEASE UNTIL 11 A.M. ET FRIDAY, SEPTEMBER 6. 2024 Individuals involved in the criminal legal system have a high rate of opioid use disorder (OUD) and a high risk of overdose death compared to the general population, yet the most effective treatments—medications for opioid use disorder (MOUD)—are underutilized in criminal legal settings where treatment is mandated as part of a person’s probation or parole. Medications are often not provided due to stigma or lack of adequate funding for evidence-based care. According to a study ...

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Medicine6 Sep 2024

Age-related changes in male fibroblasts increase treatment-resistant melanoma

Age-related changes in the fibroblasts, cells that create the skin’s structure, contribute to the development of aggressive, treatment-resistant melanoma in males, according to research in mice by the Johns Hopkins Kimmel Cancer Center. The study was published online Sept. 6 in Cell. The risk of developing melanoma, a potentially deadly skin cancer, increases with age. Men are more at risk than women, and tend to develop more aggressive, hard-to-treat melanomas, particularly at advanced ages, says Ashani Weeraratna, Ph.D., the Bloomberg ...

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Medicine6 Sep 2024

COVID-19 and rates of cancer diagnosis in the US

About The Study: This population-based cross-sectional study of U.S. cancer incidence trends found that rates of diagnosis improved in 2021 but continued to be lower than expected, adding to the existing deficit of diagnosed cases from 2020. Particular attention should be directed at strategies to immediately increase cancer screenings to make up lost ground. Corresponding Author: To contact the corresponding author, Krystle A. Lang Kuhs, PhD, MPH, email krystle.kuhs@uky.edu. To access the embargoed study: Visit our For The Media website at this link https://media.jamanetwork.com/ (doi:10.1001/jamanetworkopen.2024.32288) Editor’s Note: Please see ...

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Environment6 Sep 2024

New research from Swansea University shines a light on how solar power and farming can coexist

Scientists from Swansea University have developed a new tool to help identify optimal photovoltaic (PV) materials capable of maximising crop growth while generating solar power. In a recent study published in Solar RRL, academics from the University’s Department of Physics have been exploring the effect of semi-transparent PV materials placed over crops – an exemplary application of agrivoltaics (solar panels combined with agricultural settings). As part of this work, the team has developed an innovative freeware tool that predicts the light transmission, absorption, and power generation of different PV materials nearly anywhere on the globe using ...

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