Latest News Releases 8 April

A growing body of evidence is drawing a surprising connection between poor oral health and liver disease. This new review explores how chronic gum infections might influence liver inflammation and damage through shared inflammatory pathways, dysbiosis, and microbial translocation. While not yet a smoking gun, the findings suggest that treating periodontitis in patients with liver disease could reduce complications and improve outcomes—but more high-quality research is needed.

American Sign Language (ASL) recognition systems often struggle with accuracy due to similar gestures, poor image quality and inconsistent lighting. To address this, researchers developed a system that translates gestures into text with 98.2% accuracy, operating in real time under varying conditions. Using a standard webcam and advanced tracking, it offers a scalable solution for real-world use, with MediaPipe tracking 21 keypoints on each hand and YOLOv11 classifying ASL letters precisely.

A groundbreaking study presents a comprehensive approach to restructuring medium-level voltage (MLV) distribution systems that enhances reliability while reducing both energy losses and carbon emissions.

(WOODLAND HILLS, CA) – April 9th, 2025 – Scientists at Terasaki Institute for Biomedical Innovation, in collaboration with the University of Maryland School of Pharmacy, have developed a new nanoparticle therapy that tackles obesity through two complementary mechanisms: converting energy-storing white fat into calorie-burning beige fat while simultaneously reducing obesity-related inflammation. Their findings, published in the Journal of Controlled Release, are detailed in an article titled: “Apigenin-loaded nanoparticles for obesity intervention through immunomodulation and adipocyte browning.” This innovative approach addresses key limitations of current obesity treatments by precisely targeting adipose tissue with apigenin-loaded nanoparticles - enhancing therapeutic effects while minimizing potential side effects.

As the world transitions from fossil fuels to clean energy storage systems, lithium-ion batteries (LIBs) have become increasingly vital across multiple industries. While larger battery structures offer promising solutions for enhanced energy density, they present significant challenges in electrolyte filling and wetting processes. Researchers from the Tsinghua University have now conducted groundbreaking research to understand the complex relationship between electrode microstructure and electrolyte wetting, addressing a critical bottleneck in battery manufacturing.

Milky seas are a rare bioluminescent phenomenon where vast areas of the ocean glow at night, sometimes for months. This glow, likely caused by Vibrio harveyi bacteria, has been reported by sailors for centuries but remains poorly understood due to its rarity and remote locations, mainly in the Indian Ocean. Researchers at Colorado State University have compiled a 400-year database of sightings, using historical records and satellite data, revealing that milky seas are linked to climatic patterns like the Indian Ocean Dipole and El Niño.

New research in JNCCN from The Ohio State University Wexner Medical Center and James Comprehensive Cancer Center found socially vulnerable patients with metastatic pancreatic cancer were significantly less likely to receive key components of quality care and had poorer survival.

As scientists explore the connections between nutrition and the aging brain, a new study from researchers at Tufts University is shedding light on how insufficient consumption of vitamin K may adversely affect cognition as people get older.

Eighty-five percent of diagnosed cases of lung cancer are non-small cell lung cancer (NSCLC). In this group, 5% of patients show molecular alterations in the ALK gene involved in cell multiplication. The use of inhibitors against this oncogene — one of the most effective strategies against this type of cancer — has benefited many patients. But, is it possible to know if the treatment will be effective in all those affected?

University of Oregon chemists are bringing a greener way to make iron metal for steel production closer to reality, a step towards cleaning up an industry that’s one of the biggest contributors to carbon emissions worldwide.

Iron and its alloys, such as steel and cast iron, dominate the modern world, and there’s growing demand for iron-derived products. Traditionally, blast furnaces transform iron ore into purified elemental metal, but the process requires a lot of energy and emits air pollution. Now, researchers in ACS Energy Letters report that they’ve developed a cleaner method to extract iron from a synthetic iron ore using electrochemistry, which they say could become cost-competitive with blast furnaces.