The authors test different machine learning algorithms to remove background noise from audio to help people with hearing loss differentiate between important sounds and distracting noise.
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The effects of container materials on food microwave heat times
The authors analyzed the heat transfer of different containers in the microwave aiming to identify the most optimal material of container to reduce heating time.
Read More...A Taste of Sweetness in Bioplastics
Sweet potatoes are one of the most common starches in Taiwan, and sweet potato peels hold significant potential to make biodegradable plastics which can alleviate the environmental impact of conventional petroleum-based plastics. In this paper, Tsai et al created starch-based bioplastics derived from sweet potato peels and manipulated the amount of added glycerol to alter the plastic’s strength and flexibility properties. Their results indicated that higher concentrations of glycerol yield more malleable plastics, providing insights into how recycled agricultural waste material might be used to slow down the rate of pollution caused by widespread production of conventional plastics.
Read More...Cocktail therapy to inhibit multispecies biofilm in cystic fibrosis patients
Here, recognizing the important role of bacterial biofilms in many life-threatening chronic infections, the authors investigated the effectiveness of a combination treatment on biofilms composed of up to three different common species within the lungs of cystic fibrosis patients with computational analysis. They found that a triple cocktail therapy targeting three different signaling pathways has significant potential as both a treatment and prophylaxis.
Read More...The Effect of Caffeine on the Regeneration of Brown Planaria (Dugesia tigrina)
The degeneration of nerve cells in the brain can lead to pathologies such as Parkinson’s disease. It has been suggested that neurons in humans may regenerate. In this study, the effect of different doses of caffeine on regeneration was explored in the planeria model. Caffeine has been shown to enhance dopamine production, and dopamine is found in high concentrations in regenerating planeria tissues. Higher doses of caffeine accelerated planeria regeneration following decapitation, indicating a potential role for caffeine as a treatment to stimulate regeneration.
Read More...Towards an Integrated Solution for Renewable Water and Energy
An integrated plant that would generate energy from solar power and provide clean water would help solve multiple sustainability issues. The feasibility of such a plant was investigated by looking at the efficacy of several different modules of such a plant on a small scale.
Read More...An alternative to textile dyes: Synthesizing and applying PMMA nanoparticles to create structural coloration
The authors looked at developing a PMMA nanoparticle fabric dye that would be more sustainable compared to traditional fabric dyes. They were able to create PMMA based dyes in different colors that were also durable (i.e., did not fade quickly on fabric).
Read More...Parental exposure of cannabinoids THC and CBD reduces reproductive rates in Drosophila melanogaster
The authors looked at whether CBD and THC would decrease reproductive rates in a Drosophila melanogaster model. They found that CBD had a greater impact on reducing hatching rates than THC, and that THC resulted in unexpected mortalities.
Read More...Generation of a magnetic field on Mars
The authors propose and test a method that would allow for the generation of a magnetic field on Mars sufficient to support future colonization.
Read More...Thermoelectric cooling in greenhouses: Implications for small-holder production
The authors set to test a system that would help with the dehumidification and overall management of greehouses.
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