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Energy 2024-09-03

Department of Energy awards $125 Million for research to enable next-generation batteries and energy storage

WASHINGTON, D.C. - Today, the U.S. Department of Energy (DOE) announced $125 million in funding for two Energy Innovation Hub teams to provide the scientific foundation needed to seed and accelerate next generation technologies beyond today’s generation of lithium (Li)-ion batteries. These multi-institution research teams, led by Argonne National Laboratory and Stanford University, will develop scientific concepts and understanding to impact decarbonization of transportation and incorporation of clean energy into the electricity grid. Rechargeable batteries, such as Li-ion and lead-acid batteries, have had a ...
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New provincial funding to help drive connected and autonomous vehicle research at uOttawa
Engineering 2024-09-03

New provincial funding to help drive connected and autonomous vehicle research at uOttawa

The University of Ottawa has been awarded a $1 million grant from the Ontario Research Fund – Research Excellence (ORF-RE) to support the “Secure, Intelligent and Trustworthy Ecosystems for Connected and Autonomous Vehicles” (SITE-CAV) project. Led by Burak Kantarci,Full Professor, School of Electrical Engineering and Computer Science, uOttawa’s Faculty of Engineering, the project aims to accelerate the development and integration of connected and autonomous vehicles (CAVs – or vehicles equipped with sensors and decision-making software that drives and controls it without direct ...
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Energy 2024-09-03

Department of Energy selects Argonne to lead national energy storage hub

Today the U.S. Department of Energy (DOE) announced the creation of two new Energy Innovation Hubs. One of the national hubs, the Energy Storage Research Alliance (ESRA), is led by DOE’s Argonne National Laboratory and co-led by DOE’s Lawrence Berkeley National Laboratory (Berkeley Lab) and Pacific Northwest National Laboratory (PNNL). ESRA (pronounced ez-ruh) brings together nearly 50 world-class researchers from three national laboratories and 12 universities to provide the scientific ...
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People eating beef are less likely to live near the industry’s pollution, Pitt researchers found
Environment 2024-09-03

People eating beef are less likely to live near the industry’s pollution, Pitt researchers found

Anyone who’s researched ways to lower their environmental impact has likely heard they should eat less meat, particularly beef. Even at scale, cows are an inefficient way to feed people — it takes nearly four tons of water to recoup one ton of beef, and many farming practices emit greenhouse gasses and pollutants. University of Pittsburgh researchers are the first to trace one of those pollutants, nitrogen, along the U.S. beef supply chain at the county level. They found high spatial disconnect between where ...
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Technology 2024-09-03

Can technology turn exercise pain into pleasure?

Virtual reality (VR) video games that combine screen time with exercise are a great way to get fit, but game designers face a major challenge – like with regular exercise, adherence to ‘exergames’ is low, with most users dropping out once they start to feel uncomfortable or bored. Computer scientists at the University of Bath believe they’ve found a solution: create exergames that use sensors to continuously measure a person’s emotional state while they exercise, then tweak the game – for instance, making ...
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When is the right time to launch new technologies?
Technology 2024-09-03

When is the right time to launch new technologies?

New research from Bayes Business School (formerly Cass) finds that being on the cutting edge of technology is not enough to ensure success in the market, and managers must strategically time launches to create a source of opportunity and credibility for the firm. The study, led by Dr Thomas Robinson, Senior Lecturer in Marketing at Bayes, with Dr Ela Veresiu, Associate Professor of Marketing at Schulich School of Business, York University, Toronto, develops a framework for guiding organisations on the best situations for a product launch. The research identifies four timing situations that can confront marketing managers. Knowing ...
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Medicine 2024-09-03

Mayo researchers develop tool that measures health of a person’s gut microbiome

ROCHESTER, Minn. — A team of Mayo Clinic researchers has developed an innovative computational tool that analyzes the gut microbiome, a complex ecosystem of trillions of bacteria, fungi, viruses and other microorganisms within the digestive system, to provide insights into overall well-being. In a new study published in Nature Communications, the tool demonstrated at least 80% accuracy in differentiating healthy individuals from those with any disease. The tool was developed by analyzing ...
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Unveiling the molecular mechanisms linking aging with neurodegenerative diseases
Medicine 2024-09-03

Unveiling the molecular mechanisms linking aging with neurodegenerative diseases

Tokyo Medical and Dental University (TMDU) researchers elucidate the role of PQBP3 in stabilizing the nuclear membrane and its relationship to senescence and neurodegeneration Tokyo, Japan – Aging is the prime cause of neurodegenerative diseases, such as Alzheimer’s disease, Parkinson's disease, and amyotrophic lateral sclerosis. But what exactly increases the prevalence of these brain disorders as one grows older? The molecular forces linking aging, cellular senescence, and the onset of these neurodegenerative conditions ...
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Science 2024-09-03

Keep devices out of bed for better sleep – Otago study

Despite what we’ve been led to believe, the timing of evening screen use, rather than the activity itself, negatively impacts youth sleep, a University of Otago study has found.   Current sleep guidelines recommend no screen use in the hour or two before bed. However, the researchers found screen time in the two hours before bed had little impact on youth sleep, it was screen time once in bed that caused problems.   Lead author Dr Bradley Brosnan, of the Edgar Diabetes and Obesity Research Centre, says screen time is a mainstay in adolescents’ bedtime routines, and sleep guidelines need to be revaluated to better reflect modern life.   Published in JAMA Pediatrics, ...
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Energy 2024-09-03

Dr. Torabi to study vulnerabilities in electric vehicle charging management systems

Dr. Sadegh Torabi, Assistant Professor, Information Sciences and Technology, College of Engineering and Computing (CEC), and Research Fellow at the Center for Secure Information Systems (CSIS), is set to receive funding for the project: “Collaborative Research: CISE MSI: RPEP: OAC: Macroscopic and Microscopic Inference and Analysis of Vulnerabilities within EV Charging-Management Systems.”  Via this project, Dr. Torabi and his partners will establish a collaborative ecosystem among academia, industry, and the public sector to bolster the resilience of the EV Charging Infrastructure (CI). The critical nature of EV CI has made them targets for malicious attacks, often state-sponsored, ...
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Think simpler, flow faster
Science 2024-09-03

Think simpler, flow faster

Analyzing and simulating fluid flow is a challenging mathematical problem that impacts various scenarios, including video game engines, ocean current modeling and hurricane forecasting. The core of this challenge lies in solving the Navier–Stokes equations, a set of classical equations that describe fluid dynamics. Recently, deep learning has emerged as a powerful tool to accelerate equation solving. Using this technique, a team designed a novel approach that can provide accurate solutions 1,000 times faster than traditional equation solvers. The team’s study was published June 26 in Intelligent ...
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Eating fish but not omega-3 supplements during pregnancy associated with lower likelihood of autism diagnosis, NIH-funded study finds
Medicine 2024-09-03

Eating fish but not omega-3 supplements during pregnancy associated with lower likelihood of autism diagnosis, NIH-funded study finds

Eating any amount of fish during pregnancy was associated with about a 20% lower likelihood of autism spectrum disorder (ASD) diagnosis, particularly in females, and a slight reduction in autism-related traits in offspring, according to a new study funded by the Environmental influences on Child Health Outcomes (ECHO) Program at the National Institutes of Health. However, researchers did not find the same association with supplements containing omega-3 fatty acids. Fish is an important source of omega-3 fatty acids, an essential nutrient during pregnancy for supporting maternal health and child neurodevelopment. A recent analysis of ECHO Cohort data revealed that about ...
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Medicine 2024-09-03

Study: racial and ethnic designation inaccuracies in children’s medical records may impede equity efforts

ANN ARBOR, Mich. – Leaders at three Michigan hospitals aiming to address equity issues for pediatric patients wanted to start with inspecting data key to identifying potential inequities. What they learned: much of those data are inaccurate. A study from the Michigan Child Health Equity Collaborative, or Mi-CHEC, found substantial errors across the three health systems in racial and ethnic designations in their electronic medical records. Accuracy of these designations are important to clinical care improvement ...
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Medicine 2024-09-03

Penn study finds taking semaglutide for weight management does not increase risk of depression or suicidal behavior in people without known major psychopathology

PHILADELPHIA— Taking the weight loss medication semaglutide did not increase the risk of depressive symptoms, suicidal thoughts, or suicidal behavior in persons without known major mental health disorders, according to a new study led by researchers from the Perelman School of Medicine at the University of Pennsylvania published this week in JAMA Internal Medicine. Both the Food and Drug Administration (FDA) and the European Medicines Agency are actively monitoring the psychiatric safety of semaglutide and similar medications after post marketing surveillance reports of depression, suicidal thoughts (ideation), ...
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Science 2024-09-03

GLP-1 receptor agonist use and risk of suicide death

About The Study: This cohort study, including mostly patients with type 2 diabetes, does not show an association between use of glucagon-like peptide-1 (GLP-1) receptor agonists and an increased risk of suicide death, self-harm, or incident depression and anxiety-related disorders. Corresponding Author: To contact the corresponding author, Peter Ueda, MD, PhD, email peter.ueda@ki.se. To access the embargoed study: Visit our For The Media website at this link https://media.jamanetwork.com/ (doi:10.1001/jamainternmed.2024.4369) Editor’s ...
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Medicine 2024-09-03

Psychiatric safety of semaglutide for weight management in people without known major psychopathology

About The Study: The results of this post hoc analysis suggest that treatment with semaglutide, 2.4 mg, did not increase the risk of developing symptoms of depression or suicidal ideation/behavior vs placebo and was associated with a small but statistically significant reduction in depressive symptoms (not considered clinically meaningful). People with obesity should be monitored for mental health concerns so they can receive appropriate support and care.  Corresponding Author: To contact the corresponding author, Thomas A. Wadden, PhD, email wadden@pennmedicine.upenn.edu. To access the embargoed study: Visit our For The Media website at this link https://media.jamanetwork.com/  (doi:10.1001/jamainternmed.2024.4346) Editor’s ...
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One minute to save lives: Teaming up with pediatricians to secure firearms
Science 2024-09-03

One minute to save lives: Teaming up with pediatricians to secure firearms

Large study included 47,307 well-child visits at 30 clinics in Michigan and Colorado Almost 50% of clinicians receiving a prompt plus added support delivered a secure firearm storage program during well visits versus just 22% of doctors receiving prompt only Firearm-related injuries are the leading cause of death for young people in the U.S.  ‘We can save lives’ with a brief program to support parents in secure storage CHICAGO --- If it takes a pediatrician less than one minute per visit to talk to parents about how to securely store their firearms and offer a free cable lock, why do only 2% of doctors report routinely doing so? Turns out, they ...
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No link found between popular diabetes medication and suicide
Medicine 2024-09-03

No link found between popular diabetes medication and suicide

There has been concern that common diabetes drugs could increase the risk of suicide and self-harm. In a new study, led by researchers at Karolinska Institutet and published in Jama Internal Medicine, no such risk increase was observed. Drugs of the type GLP-1 analogues lower blood sugar levels and are used by millions of people worldwide. They are mainly used to treat diabetes, but drugs such as Ozempic have also been shown to be effective against obesity, which has increased their popularity. At the same time, both American and European drug authorities have warned that there may be risks associated with ...
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Thousands of jellyfish clones are multiplying in B.C. lakes
Science 2024-09-03

Thousands of jellyfish clones are multiplying in B.C. lakes

An invasive, freshwater jellyfish is popping up in B.C. waters in the thousands and future sightings could increase rapidly, according to UBC research. The peach blossom jellyfish clones have been spotted in 34 places in B.C., its furthest northern range in North America, and a recent paper predicts sightings and the number of locations will increase by the end of the decade as climate change extends this range. Dr. Florian Lüskow, who completed the research during his postdoctoral fellowship ...
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Infertility challenges amongst endangered wild songbird population revealed in new study
Environment 2024-09-03

Infertility challenges amongst endangered wild songbird population revealed in new study

A new study using 10 years of data has provided the most comprehensive estimate of infertility rates to date in a threatened wild animal population Researchers from the University of Sheffield found infertility accounts for 17 per cent  of hatching failure in an endangered songbird, the hihi, with the majority of hatching failure being caused by embryo death This is the first study to find a link between small population size, sex ratio bias, and reduced fertilisation rates in wild animals By considering the impacts of population size and sex ratio on fertility, conservationists can better manage the numbers and composition of animals in populations ...
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Space 2024-09-03

Representatives from NASA, ESA, JAXA, ASI, KASA meet during COSPAR 2024 to reinforce cooperation and coordination for future missions to the asteroid Apophis

Each agency representative presented the status of their current involvement in current and future planning for missions to Apophis (including extended mission for OSIRIS-REx, renamed OSIRIS-APEX, for NASA and the RAMSES mission for ESA) as well as the existing partnerships and mutual involvement in other agency’s missions, e.g. the infrared camera provided by JAXA in ESA’s mission Hera. Concepts to fly to Apophis, as well as reuse of existing payloads, spare parts and hardware, coordination of arrival time at Apophis of the different spacecraft, techniques to be demonstrated, ...
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Science 2024-09-03

Vision-based ChatGPT shows deficits interpreting radiologic images

OAK BROOK, Ill. – Researchers evaluating the performance of ChatGPT-4 Vision found that the model performed well on text-based radiology exam questions but struggled to answer image-related questions accurately. The study’s results were published today in Radiology, a journal of the Radiological Society of North America (RSNA). Chat GPT-4 Vision is the first version of the large language model that can interpret both text and images. “ChatGPT-4 has shown promise for assisting radiologists in tasks such as simplifying patient-facing radiology reports and identifying ...
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Science 2024-09-03

Minimal ADHD risk from prenatal cannabis use new study reveals

A new study reveals nuanced findings on the neuropsychiatric risks of prenatal cannabis exposure. The research found a slight increase in the risk of ADHD and a heightened vulnerability to cannabis use in offspring. These results highlight the need for continued caution and further investigation into the long-term effects of cannabis use during pregnancy. A new study led by Prof. Ilan Matok and Hely Bassalov PharmD from the Department of Clinical Pharmacy at the School of Pharmacy in the Faculty of Medicine at Hebrew University in collaboration ...
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Science 2024-09-03

Study suggests gun-free zones do not attract mass shootings

Gun-free zones have often been blamed for making schools, malls and other public areas more attractive to shooters; however, there have been no quantitative studies examining those claims. Now, in a first of its kind study published in The Lancet Regional Health Americas, researchers at UC Davis Health and other institutions have shown that gun-free zones may, in fact, reduce the risk of mass shootings. "Our most significant finding is that gun-free zones don't attract active shooters,” said the study’s first author, Paul Reeping, ...
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Mathematicians model a puzzling breakdown in cooperative behaviour
Science 2024-09-03

Mathematicians model a puzzling breakdown in cooperative behaviour

Darwin was puzzled by cooperation in nature—it ran directly against natural selection and the notion of survival of the fittest. But over the past decades, evolutionary mathematicians have used game theory to better understand why mutual cooperation persists when evolution should favour self-serving cheaters.    At a basic level, cooperation flourishes when the costs to cooperation are low or the benefits large. When cooperation becomes too costly, it disappears—at least in the realm of pure mathematics. ...
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