Saturday, 31 July 2021

World Trade Center responders with the greatest exposure to toxic dust have a higher likelihood of liver disease, study finds

World Trade Center responders with the greatest exposure to toxic dust have a higher likelihood of liver disease, study finds
Researchers have found evidence that World Trade Center responders had a higher likelihood of developing liver disease if they arrived at the site right after the attacks as opposed to working at Ground Zero later in the rescue and recovery efforts.

source https://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2021/07/210730104255.htm

Buffer zones, better regulation needed to prevent agricultural pollution in rivers, streams, review finds

Buffer zones, better regulation needed to prevent agricultural pollution in rivers, streams, review finds
Greater buffer zones around bodies of water and more consistent enforcement of water protection regulations are needed to reduce agriculture-based pollution in the Western U.S., a recent review has found.

source https://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2021/07/210729183635.htm

Researchers film human viruses in liquid droplets at near-atomic detail

Researchers film human viruses in liquid droplets at near-atomic detail
Researchers have used advanced electron microscopy (EM) technology to see how human viruses move in high resolution in a near-native environment. The visualization technique could lead to improved understanding of how vaccine candidates and treatments behave and function as they interact with target cells.

source https://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2021/07/210729183626.htm

Amygdala found to have role in important pre-attentive mechanism in the brain

Amygdala found to have role in important pre-attentive mechanism in the brain
Researchers have shown how the amygdala, a brain region typically associated with fear, contributes to prepulse inhibition (PPI) by activating small inhibitory neurons in the mouse brain stem. The discovery advances understanding of the systems underlying PPI and efforts to ultimately develop medical therapies for schizophrenia and other disorders by reversing pre-attentive deficits.

source https://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2021/07/210729183620.htm

eDNA effective in the calculation of marine biodiversity

eDNA effective in the calculation of marine biodiversity
For almost 20 years, researchers have conducted detailed censuses of the majestic kelp forests off Santa Barbara. By counting fish species and placing them in the context of their environmental conditions, coastal marine ecologists can look at the effects of human activity and natural drivers on kelp and its ability to maintain the kelp forest communities.

source https://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2021/07/210729183516.htm

Solar-powered microbes to feed the world?

Solar-powered microbes to feed the world?
An international research team has shown that using solar-panels to produce microbial protein -- which is rich not just in proteins but also in other nutrients -- is more sustainable, efficient and environmentally friendly than growing conventional crops. This method uses solar energy, land, nutrients, and carbon dioxide from the air.

source https://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2021/07/210730104303.htm

Scientists discover a surprising new way that tuberculosis suppresses immunity

Scientists discover a surprising new way that tuberculosis suppresses immunity
University of Maryland researchers discovered a way that Mycobacterium tuberculosis (Mtb), the bacterium that causes tuberculosis, can cause a person's immune cells to lower their defenses. Specifically, they identified a gene in the bacterium that suppresses immune defenses in infected human cells, which could exacerbate the infection. The findings were published on July 29, 2021, in the journal PLOS Pathogens

source https://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2021/07/210729143508.htm

Friday, 30 July 2021

Collisions of light produce matter/antimatter from pure energy

Collisions of light produce matter/antimatter from pure energy
Scientists studying particle collisions have produced definitive evidence for two physics phenomena predicted more than 80 years ago: that matter/antimatter can be created directly by colliding photons and that a magnetic field can bend polarized light along different paths in a vacuum.

source https://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2021/07/210729183606.htm

Study tests microplasma against middle-ear infections

Study tests microplasma against middle-ear infections
Middle-ear infections are a common affliction in early life, affecting more than 80% of children in the U.S. Antibiotics are often employed as a first line of defense but sometimes fail against the pathogenic bacteria that can develop in the middle ear, just behind the eardrum. In a new study, researchers explore the use of microplasma -- a highly focused stream of chemically excited ions and molecules -- as a noninvasive method for attacking the bacterial biofilms that resist antibiotic treatment in the middle ear.

source https://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2021/07/210729122031.htm

No particular risk of infection of SARS-CoV-2 from cash, study finds

No particular risk of infection of SARS-CoV-2 from cash, study finds
How long do coronaviruses remain infectious on banknotes and coins? Is it possible to become infected through contact with cash? Researchers developed a method specifically to test how many infectious virus particles can be transferred from cash to the skin in real-life conditions. Conclusion: under realistic conditions, the risk of contracting SARS-CoV-2 from cash is very low.

source https://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2021/07/210729122040.htm

Adapting roots to a hotter planet could ease pressure on food supply

Adapting roots to a hotter planet could ease pressure on food supply
The shoots of plants get all of the glory, with their fruit and flowers and visible structure. But it's the portion that lies below the soil — the branching, reaching arms of roots and hairs pulling up water and nutrients — that interests some plant physiologist and computer scientist the most.

source https://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2021/07/210729143426.htm

Planetary scientist puts Mars lake theory on ice with new study that offers alternate explanation

Planetary scientist puts Mars lake theory on ice with new study that offers alternate explanation
For years scientists have been debating what might lay under the Martian planet's south polar cap after bright radar reflections were discovered and initially attributed to water. But now, a new study puts that theory to rest and demonstrates for the first time that another material is most likely the answer.

source https://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2021/07/210729143424.htm

Thursday, 29 July 2021

Nearly half of surveyed female surgeons experienced major pregnancy complications

Nearly half of surveyed female surgeons experienced major pregnancy complications
Researchers surveyed 1,175 surgeons and surgical trainees from across the U.S. to study their or their partner's pregnancy experiences. They found that 48 percent of surveyed female surgeons experienced major pregnancy complications, with those who operated 12-or-more hours per week during the last trimester of pregnancy at a higher risk compared to those who did not.

source https://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2021/07/210728111258.htm

Good toothbrushing habits in children linked to mother's wellbeing

Good toothbrushing habits in children linked to mother's wellbeing
Researchers have shown that postpartum depression can inhibit a mother's ability to instill healthy tooth brushing habits in children. The study demonstrates the need to foster greater mental support and management for mothers and incorporate these factors when assessing children's oral health.

source https://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2021/07/210728105646.htm

Postmenopausal women can dance their way to better health

Postmenopausal women can dance their way to better health
Women often struggle with managing their weight and other health risk factors, such as high cholesterol, once they transition through menopause. A new study suggests that dancing may effectively lower cholesterol levels, improve fitness and body composition and in the process, improve self-esteem.

source https://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2021/07/210728105640.htm

‘Less than 1% probability’ that Earth’s energy imbalance increase occurred naturally

ā€˜Less than 1% probabilityā€™ that Earthā€™s energy imbalance increase occurred naturally
Sunlight in, reflected and emitted energy out. That's the fundamental energy balance sheet for our planet -- and for decades, it has been out of balance. The extra energy manifests as higher temperatures, rising sea levels, floods, droughts, more powerful blizzards and hurricanes, and deadlier extreme events. Not only is the imbalance growing, but there's a 99% chance that the growth is due to human activity, calculated a team of researchers.

source https://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2021/07/210728150340.htm

Researchers identify a gene that regulates the angle of root growth in corn

Researchers identify a gene that regulates the angle of root growth in corn
The discovery of a gene that regulates the angle of root growth in corn is a new tool to enable the breeding of deeper-rooting crops with enhanced ability to take up nitrogen, according to an international team of researchers.

source https://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2021/07/210728150327.htm

A caffeine buzz helps bees learn to find specific flowers

A caffeine buzz helps bees learn to find specific flowers
Researchers have shown that feeding bumble bees caffeine helps them better remember the smell of a specific flower with nectar inside. While previous studies have shown that bees like caffeine and will more frequently visit caffeinated flowers to get it, this study shows that consuming caffeine in their nest actually helps bees find certain flowers outside of the nest.

source https://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2021/07/210728111319.htm

Man's new best friend: What cats can teach us about human genetics and precision medicine

Man's new best friend: What cats can teach us about human genetics and precision medicine
Although cats have lived alongside humans for millennia, it remains a dogs' world. This bias has historically bled into science as well. It's time for cats to get their day, argues veterinary medicine experts. Cats, they say, have the potential to be a valuable model organism for geneticists, as the feline genome is ordered similarly to humans.

source https://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2021/07/210728111322.htm

Wednesday, 28 July 2021

Patients report long-term favorable effects of weight loss surgery in their daily lives

Patients report long-term favorable effects of weight loss surgery in their daily lives
A new study shows that over the course of five years, patients who had bariatric and metabolic surgery to treat uncontrolled type 2 diabetes reported greater physical health, more energy, less body pain, and less negative effects of diabetes in their daily lives, compared with patients who had medical therapy alone for their diabetes.

source https://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2021/07/210727171635.htm

New strategy for drug design: Keeping copper atoms closer to keep bacteria away

New strategy for drug design: Keeping copper atoms closer to keep bacteria away
Hydrogen peroxide reacts with copper to produce hydroxyl radicals with strong antibacterial properties. However, this requires high copper concentrations because two copper atoms have to come close together, which occurs by chance. Now, scientists have engineered a long polymer with copper-containing side units that create regions with locally high copper density, boosting the antibacterial activity of hydrogen peroxide and paving the way to a new drug design concept.

source https://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2021/07/210727163230.htm

DNA tags enable blood-based tests to assess cancer treatment outcomes

DNA tags enable blood-based tests to assess cancer treatment outcomes
Cell-free DNA (cfDNA) shed into the blood was discovered in the late 1940s but with rapid advances in genomics and computational analytics in just the past few years, researchers now believe that studying tags, or modifications to this type of DNA, may lead to a better understanding of how to assess, and possibly modulate, treatment approaches for cancer and other diseases.

source https://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2021/07/210727110212.htm

Breakthrough research examines the effects introduced animals had on Madagascar’s extinct megafauna

Breakthrough research examines the effects introduced animals had on Madagascarā€™s extinct megafauna
Madagascar is renowned for its unique and varied biodiversity, which spans dry grasslands, wet rain forests, mangroves and deserts. This variety, combined with the island's isolation and size, has fostered distinctive assemblages of plants and animals, including the country's famous lemurs and baobab trees.

source https://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2021/07/210727163233.htm

Bird’s-eye view could be key to navigating without GPS

Birdā€™s-eye view could be key to navigating without GPS
A bird's-eye view may take on new meaning thanks to new research. Scientists found that a protein in bird's retinas is sensitive to the Earth's magnetic field thus guiding its migratory patterns. That finding could be key to Army navigation of both autonomous and manned vehicles where GPS is unavailable.

source https://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2021/07/210727145305.htm

Genomic secrets of deep-sea tubeworm

Genomic secrets of deep-sea tubeworm
Researchers have decoded the chromosomal-level genome of a deep-sea gutless tubeworm and the genome of its co-living 'partner' -- a kind of bacteria that provide nutrients they generate from inorganic compounds to the worm for the first time, explaining how the pair adapts to the extreme habitat. Their discovery lays foundation for potential applications such as nutrient generation, biomaterial production and microbial growth control.

source https://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2021/07/210727145300.htm

Scientists uncover how decisions about what we see are relayed back through the brain

Scientists uncover how decisions about what we see are relayed back through the brain
Researchers have discovered that decisions based on visual information, which involve a complex stream of data flowing forward and backwards along the brain's visual pathways, is broadcast widely to neurons in the visual system, including to those that are not being used to make the decision.

source https://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2021/07/210727145239.htm

Researchers demonstrate technique for recycling nanowires in electronics

Researchers demonstrate technique for recycling nanowires in electronics
Researchers have demonstrated a low-cost technique for retrieving nanowires from electronic devices that have reached the end of their utility and then using those nanowires in new devices. The work is a step toward more sustainable electronics.

source https://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2021/07/210727145234.htm

Under pressure, 'squishy' compound reacts in remarkable ways

Under pressure, 'squishy' compound reacts in remarkable ways
When a compound of manganese and sulfide (MnS2) is compressed in a diamond anvil, it transitions from an insulator into a metallic state and back into an insulator. This is accompanied by unprecedented decreases in resistance and volume across an extremely narrow range of pressure changes at room temperatue, say researchers.

source https://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2021/07/210727145247.htm

Destination San Francisco: Muni Gets You to All the Sights

Destination San Francisco: Muni Gets You to All the Sights
Destination San Francisco: Muni Gets You to All the Sights
By

Photo depicting a Muni bus next to Coit Tower.

39 Coit servicing Coit Tower at Telegraph Hill – one of the routes that will be returning in August 2021 as part of Muni’s next service changes.

San Francisco is reopening and the SFMTA is supporting economic recovery by providing Muni access to 98% of the city. By August 2021, a majority of our pre-COVID routes will be back in service connecting residents and visitors with world-class shopping and dining experiences, off-the-beaten-path local flare, diverse neighborhoods and almost boundless outdoor activities. 

Shops, Markets & Dining in Diverse Neighborhoods 

Virtually every neighborhood in San Francisco has its own boutique shopping and dining experiences, as well as unique farmers markets showcasing local shops and amenities.  

With service to 24th Street in the city’s Latino Cultural District, the 67 Bernal Heights (restored August 2020) will take you to Alemany’s Saturday Farmers Market and Sunday Flea Market.  

Or groove on the 22 Fillmore (original Core Service route) through the Fillmore District – once known as the Harlem of the West – through the heart of the Mission for one of San Francisco’s world-famous burritos. Beginning August 14, 2021, late-night service will be extended to midnight on the 22 Fillmore and several other routes. 

Take the 1 California (original Core Service route) from Embarcadero Center to the Richmond District, where you’ll find boutiques, quaint cafes, cozy restaurants, bakeries and a vibrant weekend farmers market. Then ride the 38 Geary or 38R Geary Rapid (original Core Service routes) to Japantown for a crepe and take home a bonsai tree to cultivate your COVID-19 green thumb. 

The KT Ingleside-Third Street (restored May 2021) connects Ingleside to Mission Bay and several Hunter’s Point-Bayview markets, passing through the Dogpatch where customers can find classic beignets and new sports bars. With proximity to the ballpark, Chase Center and waterfront, experience food, culture and local artistry in San Francisco’s historic African American neighborhoods.  

Want to explore the culinary heart of Chinatown? Catch the 45 Union (restored August 2020) or 8 Bayshore (modified May 2021) to Chinatown’s fresh produce and seafood markets. 

You can get an authentic taste of Italy in North Beach – one of San Francisco’s oldest neighborhoods and historic home of the city’s Italian American and Greek communities. Catch the 30 Stockton (modified August 2020) to Joe DiMaggio Park, or all the way to the restored Crissy Field marshlands.  

Get Outdoors 

Choose one of eight routes – soon to be nine on August 14 – to Golden Gate Park. See the list below. 

Take the 24 Divisadero to Sanchez Street, or the 55 Dogpatch to Arkansas Street, and enjoy the city’s most popular Slow Streets for some fun in the fog (or sun). Ride the 5 Fulton (original COVID-19 Core Service route) to a picnic in historic Alamo Square. 

The 9 San Bruno or 9R San Bruno Rapid (restored June 2020) will take you to Portola –known for its plentiful community gardens. Transfer to the 29 Sunset (original Core Service route) to visit McLaren Park, or the 44 O’Shaughnessy (original Core Service route) to explore picturesque Forest Hill.  

For a swing on Billy Goat Hill, take the 24 Divisadero (original Core Service route) then ride to the Castro and catch the F Market & Wharves (restored May 2021) historic streetcar to the bocce courts at Justin Herman Plaza. 

If a day by the ocean is what you seek, the N Judah (restored May 2021) takes customers out to La Playa for a stroll on the Great Highway temporary promenade. Stop by the Sunset Farmers Market and Mercantile first or grab a bite along Judah Street. 

More Connections Coming in August  

In August, with the return of the 39 Coit and the 35 Eureka, you can almost touch the stars from one of San Francisco’s renowned hills and connect to neighborhoods like West Portal, the Outer Sunset, Bernal Heights and Merced Manor. Read our blog to learn more. 

Looking for help with homework as schools reopen? Every San Francisco public library is within steps of a Muni stop. Plan your tips to school with our Back-to-School resources and sign up for the Free Muni for Youth Program

We also plan to ring in the fall by reintroducing the historic Powell-Hyde Cable Car line in September. Enjoy the night lights of Union Square to the hot chocolate of Ghirardelli’s. 

Whether you’re coming from out of town, getting kids back to school or planning your “staycation,” let Muni be your guide on one of our many great routes! 

Muni routes to Golden Gate Park: 

  • N Judah - serves Tenderloin, Chinatown and SoMa 

  • 5 Fulton - serves Western Addition, Tenderloin, Chinatown and SoMa 

  • 7 Haight 

  • 18 46th Avenue - returning August 14 

  • 28 19th Avenue 

  • 29 Sunset - serving Oceanview/Ingleside, Excelsior/Outer Mission and Visitacion Valley 

  • 33 Ashbury - serving the Mission 

  • 43 Masonic - serving Oceanview/Ingleside 

  • 44 O'Shaughnessy -  serving Excelsior/Outer Mission and the Bayview 



Published July 28, 2021 at 01:04AM
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Possible future for Western wildfires: Decade-long burst, followed by gradual decline

Possible future for Western wildfires: Decade-long burst, followed by gradual decline
A model of the eastern California forests of the Sierra Nevada looks at the longer-term future of wildfires under future climate change scenarios. Results show an initial roughly decade-long burst of wildfire activity, followed by recurring fires of decreasing area -- a pattern that could apply to other hot, dry forests in the West.

source https://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2021/07/210727134410.htm

Tuesday, 27 July 2021

No more finger pricks: A continuous glucose monitor benefits patients with diabetes in more ways than one

No more finger pricks: A continuous glucose monitor benefits patients with diabetes in more ways than one
A 15-center study of 175 patients with poorly controlled type 2 diabetes found that continuous glucose monitoring, compared to blood glucose meter monitoring, or finger pricking, significantly decreased their hemoglobin A1C over eight months.

source https://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2021/07/210726170357.htm

What happens to marine life when oxygen is scarce?

What happens to marine life when oxygen is scarce?
In September of 2017, marine biologists were conducting an experiment in Bocas del Toro, off the Caribbean coast of Panama. After sitting on a quiet, warm open ocean, they snorkeled down to find a peculiar layer of murky, foul-smelling water about 10 feet below the surface, with brittle stars and sea urchins, which are usually in hiding, perching on the tops of coral. This observation prompted a collaborative study analyzing what this foggy water layer is caused by, and the impact it has on life at the bottom of the seafloor.

source https://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2021/07/210726165845.htm

Scientists model 'true prevalence' of COVID-19 throughout pandemic

Scientists model 'true prevalence' of COVID-19 throughout pandemic
Scientists have developed a statistical framework that incorporates key COVID-19 data -- such as case counts and deaths due to COVID-19 -- to model the true prevalence of this disease in the United States and individual states. Their approach projects that in the U.S. as many as 60 percent of COVID-19 cases went undetected as of March 7, 2021, the last date for which the dataset they employed is available.

source https://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2021/07/210726152855.htm

Second COVID-19 mRNA vaccine dose found safe following allergic reactions to first dose

Second COVID-19 mRNA vaccine dose found safe following allergic reactions to first dose
A new study reports that among individuals who had an allergic reaction to their first mRNA COVID-19 vaccine dose, all who went on to receive a second dose tolerated it. Even some who experienced anaphylaxis following the first dose tolerated the second dose.

source https://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2021/07/210726113945.htm

Supernova's 'fizzled' gamma-ray burst

Supernova's 'fizzled' gamma-ray burst
On Aug. 26, 2020, NASA's Fermi Gamma-ray Space Telescope detected a pulse of high-energy radiation that had been racing toward Earth for nearly half the present age of the universe. Lasting only about a second, it turned out to be one for the record books -- the shortest gamma-ray burst (GRB) caused by the death of a massive star ever seen.

source https://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2021/07/210726144845.htm

Hubble finds evidence of water vapor at Jupiter's moon Ganymede

Hubble finds evidence of water vapor at Jupiter's moon Ganymede
Astronomers have uncovered evidence of water vapor in the atmosphere of Jupiter's moon Ganymede. This water vapor forms when ice from the moon's surface sublimates -- that is, turns from solid to gas. Astronomers re-examined Hubble observations from the last two decades to find this evidence of water vapor.

source https://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2021/07/210726132125.htm

Plant root-associated bacteria preferentially colonize their native host-plant roots

Plant root-associated bacteria preferentially colonize their native host-plant roots
Researchers have discovered that bacteria from the plant microbiota are adapted to their host species. They show how root-associated bacteria have a competitive advantage when colonizing their native host, which allows them to invade an already established microbiota.

source https://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2021/07/210726113938.htm

Monday, 26 July 2021

Sunday, 25 July 2021

Saturday, 24 July 2021

Americans with higher net worth at midlife tend to live longer

Americans with higher net worth at midlife tend to live longer
In a wealth and longevity study to incorporate siblings and twin pair data, researchers analyzed the midlife net worth of adults (mean age 46.7 years) and their mortality rates 24 years later. They discovered those with greater wealth at midlife tended to live longer.

source https://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2021/07/210723121517.htm

Better healthcare management can reduce the risk of delirium among older adults

Better healthcare management can reduce the risk of delirium among older adults
New research by an Executive PhD Research student at the Business School (formerly Cass) outlines how elderly patients with neurological conditions are significantly more likely to develop delirium shortly after they are hospitalised, and those admitted on Sunday and Tuesday are more likely to develop the disorder.

source https://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2021/07/210723121514.htm

'Feel good' brain messenger can be willfully controlled, new study reveals

'Feel good' brain messenger can be willfully controlled, new study reveals
Researchers have discovered that spontaneous impulses of dopamine, the neurological messenger known as the brain's 'feel good' chemical, occur in the brain of mice. The study found that mice can willfully manipulate these random dopamine pulses for reward.

source https://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2021/07/210723121512.htm

New measure of tropical forest vulnerability to help avoid 'tipping point'

New measure of tropical forest vulnerability to help avoid 'tipping point'
Humid tropical forests, vital in global efforts to limit rising temperatures, are under threat as a result of changes in land use and climate. Now, researchers have developed a new way to keep tabs on the vulnerability of these forests on a global scale using satellite data called the tropical forest vulnerability index (TFVI).

source https://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2021/07/210723121508.htm

Cascaded metasurfaces for dynamic control of THz wavefronts

Cascaded metasurfaces for dynamic control of THz wavefronts
Researchers have developed a general framework and metadevices for achieving dynamic control of THz wavefronts. Instead of locally controlling the individual meta-atoms in a THz metasurface (e.g., via PIN diode, varactor, etc.), they vary the polarization of a light beam with rotating multilayer cascaded metasurfaces.

source https://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2021/07/210723121456.htm

Friday, 23 July 2021

Clever cockatoos learn through social interaction

Clever cockatoos learn through social interaction
Scientists have shown that cockatoos, an iconic Australian bird species, learn from each other a unique skill -- lifting garbage bin lids to gather food. The research confirms that cockatoos spread this novel behavior through social learning. This behavior by cockatoos is actually learnt, rather than a result of genetics.

source https://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2021/07/210722142003.htm

Mobility restrictions can have unexpected impacts on air quality

Mobility restrictions can have unexpected impacts on air quality
Reduced mobility induced by the COVID-19 restrictions had only minor influence on particulate pollution levels, according to atmosphere studies in the Po Valley region of northern Italy. Eventually computer simulations indicated that the change in air quality led to an increase in secondary aerosol formation.

source https://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2021/07/210722112935.htm

Structural biology provides long-sought solution to innate immunity puzzle

Structural biology provides long-sought solution to innate immunity puzzle
Researchers report the first structural confirmation that endogenous -- or self-made -- molecules can set off innate immunity in mammals via a pair of immune cell proteins called the TLR4-MD-2 receptor complex. The work has wide-ranging implications for finding ways to treat and possibly prevent autoimmune diseases such as multiple sclerosis and antiphospholipid syndrome.

source https://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2021/07/210722112920.htm

Gamma-secretase 'buckles up' to reach its destination

Gamma-secretase 'buckles up' to reach its destination
New research has uncovered the early assembly of gamma-secretase, a protein complex linked to numerous cellular processes including the development of Alzheimer's disease. In a first step, two dimeric subcomplexes are formed, which independently exit the ER and only afterwards assemble into a four-subunit complex. This 'buckle up' mechanism is thought to prevent premature assembly and activity.

source https://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2021/07/210722112906.htm

Antimatter from laser pincers

Antimatter from laser pincers
An international physics team has proposed a new concept that may allow selected cosmic extreme processes to be studied in the laboratory in the future. A special setup of two high-intensity laser beams could create conditions similar to those found near neutron stars, for example. An antimatter jet is generated and accelerated very efficiently, as the experts report.

source https://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2021/07/210722113049.htm

Parkinson's disease: How lysosomes become a hub for the propagation of the pathology

Parkinson's disease: How lysosomes become a hub for the propagation of the pathology
Over the last few decades, neurodegenerative diseases became one of the top 10 global causes of death. Researchers worldwide are making a strong effort to understand neurodegenerative diseases pathogenesis, which is essential to develop efficient treatments against these incurable diseases. A team of researchers found out the implication of lysosomes in the spread of Parkinson's disease.

source https://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2021/07/210722113046.htm

Higher levels of omega-3 acids in the blood increases life expectancy by almost five years

Higher levels of omega-3 acids in the blood increases life expectancy by almost five years
Researchers have found that omega-3 levels in blood erythrocytes are very good mortality risk predictors. The study used data from a long-term study group, the Framingham Offspring Cohort, which has been monitoring residents of this Massachusetts town, in the United States, since 1971 and concludes that, 'Having higher levels of these acids in the blood, as a result of regularly including oily fish in the diet, increases life expectancy by almost five years.'

source https://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2021/07/210722113004.htm

3D imaging reveals neural 'vicious cycle' in fatty liver disease

3D imaging reveals neural 'vicious cycle' in fatty liver disease
With the application of a novel three-dimensional imaging technology, researchers have discovered that one portion of the autonomic nervous system in the liver undergoes severe degeneration in non-alcoholic fatty liver disease. The study, which is conducted in mice and human liver tissue, shows that the degeneration of nerves is correlated with the severity of liver pathology.

source https://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2021/07/210722112911.htm

Scientists develop tougher, safer bicycle helmets using new plastic material

Scientists develop tougher, safer bicycle helmets using new plastic material
Researchers have developed a tougher, safer bicycle helmet using a combination of materials. The new helmet prototype has higher energy absorption, reducing the amount of energy transferred to a cyclist's head in the event of an accident and likely lowering the chances of serious injury.

source https://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2021/07/210722112908.htm

Infrared held in a pincer

Infrared held in a pincer
Many applications, from fiber-optic telecommunications to biomedical imaging processes require substances that emit light in the near-infrared range (NIR). A research team has now developed the first chromium complex that emits light in the coveted, longer wavelength NIR-II range. The team has introduced the underlying concept: a drastic change in the electronic structure of the chromium caused by the specially tailored ligands that envelop it.

source https://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2021/07/210722112902.htm

Llama 'nanobodies' could hold key to preventing deadly post-transplant infection

Llama 'nanobodies' could hold key to preventing deadly post-transplant infection
Scientists have developed a 'nanobody' - a small fragment of a llama antibody - that is capable of chasing out human cytomegalovirus (HCMV) as it hides away from the immune system. This then enables immune cells to seek out and destroy this potentially deadly virus.

source https://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2021/07/210722112859.htm

Thursday, 22 July 2021

Unexpected proteome plasticity in response to persistent temperature rise

Unexpected proteome plasticity in response to persistent temperature rise
Common yeast are able to adapt and thrive in response to a long-term rise in temperature by changing the shape, location and function of some of their proteins. The surprising findings demonstrate the unappreciated plasticity in the molecular and conformational level of proteins and bring the power of molecular biology to the organismal response to climate change.

source https://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2021/07/210721141917.htm

Breastfeeding, even for a few days, linked to lower blood pressure in early childhood

Breastfeeding, even for a few days, linked to lower blood pressure in early childhood
Babies who were breastfed, even for a few days, had lower blood pressure at 3 years of age than children who had never been breastfed. Toddlers who had been breastfed had lower blood pressure regardless of their body mass index or their mothers' social, health or lifestyle factors.

source https://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2021/07/210721102422.htm

C is for Vitamin C -- a key ingredient for immune cell function

C is for Vitamin C -- a key ingredient for immune cell function
Regulatory T cells (Tregs) help control inflammation and autoimmunity in the body. Unfortunately, it has proven difficult to find the right molecular ingredients to induce stable iTregs. Now a new study reports that Vitamin C and TET proteins can work together to give Tregs their life-saving power.

source https://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2021/07/210721102352.htm

Fully booked at the bottom of the sea: There seems no room for new bacteria on sand grains

Fully booked at the bottom of the sea: There seems no room for new bacteria on sand grains
Whether summer or winter, midnight sun or polar night, the sand on the ocean floor is always inhabited by the same bacteria. Although the microbial communities differ between different ocean regions, they do not change between the seasons. Presumably, there is simply no room for change. Researchers now describe this phenomenon in a new study.

source https://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2021/07/210721102349.htm

New analysis reveals global distribution of toxic pollution and climate change

New analysis reveals global distribution of toxic pollution and climate change
A new analysis of global datasets shows low-income countries are significantly more likely to be impacted by both toxic pollution and climate change -- and provides a list of at-risk countries most (and least) able to immediately begin direct efforts toward pollution risk reduction.

source https://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2021/07/210721141930.htm

'Magic-angle' trilayer graphene may be a rare, magnet-proof superconductor

'Magic-angle' trilayer graphene may be a rare, magnet-proof superconductor
Physicists have observed signs of a rare type of superconductivity in a material called 'magic-angle' twisted trilayer graphene. They report that the material exhibits superconductivity at surprisingly high magnetic fields of up to 10 Tesla, which is three times higher than what the material is predicted to endure if it were a conventional superconductor.

source https://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2021/07/210721141908.htm

Wednesday, 21 July 2021

SARS-CoV-2: Achilles' heel of viral RNA

SARS-CoV-2: Achilles' heel of viral RNA
Certain regions of the SARS-CoV-2 genome might be a suitable target for future drugs, researchers have found. With the help of dedicated substance libraries, they have identified several small molecules that bind to certain areas of the SARS-CoV-2 genome that are almost never altered by mutations.

source https://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2021/07/210720122337.htm

Scientists uncover how a molecule improves appearance of surgery scars

Scientists uncover how a molecule improves appearance of surgery scars
In a new study, Fralin Biomedical Research Institute at VTC scientists discovered that the alphaCT1 molecule may help repair the skin's collagen matrix by altering how scar-forming cells behave. The findings were published in the Federation of American Societies for Experimental Biology Journal.

source https://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2021/07/210720120543.htm

How green is your plastic?

How green is your plastic?
Despite the best efforts of industry to work towards sustainability, most plastics (or polymers) are still made using non-renewable fossil fuels. However, researchers have now found an economical method for producing biobased acrylate resins. The study shows how all the synthesis steps, from initial building blocks right up to polymerization, can be carried out in a single reactor (one pot), minimizing environmental impact.

source https://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2021/07/210720114421.htm

Untrained beer drinkers can taste different barley genotypes

Untrained beer drinkers can taste different barley genotypes
When it comes to craft beer, the flavor doesn't have to be all in the hops. As a panel of amateur beer tasters at Washington State University recently demonstrated, malted barley, the number one ingredient in beer besides water, can have a range of desirable flavors too.

source https://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2021/07/210720114330.htm

Strong signals: Modeling the dynamics of cell differentiation in the development of bile ducts

Strong signals: Modeling the dynamics of cell differentiation in the development of bile ducts
Scientists employed a mathematical model to simulate the differentiation of epithelial cells based on signaling molecules from the liver's portal vein. This work may lead to new tools to better understand the very complicated signaling pathways involved in cell differentiation.

source https://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2021/07/210720114325.htm

Machine learning models to help photovoltaic systems find their place in the sun

Machine learning models to help photovoltaic systems find their place in the sun
Although photovoltaic systems constitute a promising way of harnessing solar energy, power grid managers need to accurately predict their power output to schedule generation and maintenance operations efficiently. Scientists have developed a machine learning-based approach that can more accurately estimate the output of photovoltaic systems than similar algorithms, paving the way to a more sustainable society.

source https://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2021/07/210720122340.htm

Climate change threatens food security of many countries dependent on fish

Climate change threatens food security of many countries dependent on fish
Analyses by an international team from the UK and Canada and led by scientists reveal that climate change is the most pervasive threat to the supply of essential micronutrients from marine fish catches, and threatens the supply of vital micronutrients from fisheries in 40 per cent of countries.

source https://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2021/07/210720114402.htm

Gene expression mechanism may have immunity, cancer implications

Gene expression mechanism may have immunity, cancer implications
Alternative polyadenylation (APA) is an RNA processing mechanism that regulates gene expression by generating different ends on RNA transcripts of the same gene. Scientists describe an important function of APA in allowing certain mRNAs to reach specific sites of protein synthesis that can determine the destination of mRNAs within the cell.

source https://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2021/07/210720114359.htm

Mycoplasma mobile moves into overdrive: Twin motor modified from ATP synthase discovered

Mycoplasma mobile moves into overdrive: Twin motor modified from ATP synthase discovered
Using electron microscopy and high-speed atomic force microscopy, researchers show the internal molecular motor behind the gliding mechanism for Mycoplasma mobile to consist of two ATP synthase-like molecules. Sharing a similar structure with ATP synthase suggests a common evolutionary ancestor. This synthase-like ATPase is challenging the origin of cells and proteins themselves.

source https://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2021/07/210720114347.htm

Copper transporter potential new treatment target for cardiovascular disease

Copper transporter potential new treatment target for cardiovascular disease
An internal transporter that enables us to use the copper we consume in foods like shellfish and nuts to enable a host of vital body functions also has the essential role of protecting the receptor that enables us to grow new blood vessels when ours become diseased, scientists report.

source https://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2021/07/210720114344.htm

Tuesday, 20 July 2021

Living near woodlands is good for children and young people's mental health

Living near woodlands is good for children and young people's mental health
Analysis of children and young people's proximity to woodlands has shown links with better cognitive development and a lower risk of emotional and behavioural problems, in new research that could influence planning decisions in urban areas.

source https://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2021/07/210719120313.htm

Novel autoantibody adds fuel to COVID-19 'firestorm' of inflammation, blood clots

Novel autoantibody adds fuel to COVID-19 'firestorm' of inflammation, blood clots
Researchers have discovered another functional autoantibody in COVID-19 patients that contributes to the disease's development and the 'firestorm' of blood clots and inflammation it induces. The autoantibody makes it much harder for the body to degrade neutrophil extracellular traps, the toxic webs of DNA and proteins produced by overactive immune cells at heightened levels in COVID patients.

source https://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2021/07/210719153525.htm

When money's tight, parents talk less to kids; could this explain the word gap?

When money's tight, parents talk less to kids; could this explain the word gap?
Parenting deficiencies have long been blamed for the vocabulary gap between low-income children and their more affluent peers. But new research implicates the economic context in which parenting takes place -- in other words, the wealth gap.

source https://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2021/07/210719153506.htm

New metric for designing safer streets

New metric for designing safer streets
A new study shows how biometric data can be used to find potentially challenging and dangerous areas of urban infrastructure. By analyzing eye-tracking data from cyclists navigating Philadelphia's streets, researchers found that these individual-based metrics can provide a more proactive approach for designing safer roadways for bicyclists and pedestrians.

source https://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2021/07/210719120250.htm

Novel techniques extract more accurate data from images degraded by environmental factors

Novel techniques extract more accurate data from images degraded by environmental factors
A team of researchers has developed novel approaches using computer vision and deep learning to resolve the problem of low-level vision in videos caused by rain and night-time conditions, as well as improve the accuracy of 3D human pose estimation in videos.

source https://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2021/07/210719110548.htm

Bats in Tel Aviv enjoy the rich variety and abundance of food the city has to offer

Bats in Tel Aviv enjoy the rich variety and abundance of food the city has to offer
Researchers have found that when fruit bats forage in the city (Tel Aviv), they are much more exploratory and enjoy the diversity of urban life, visiting a variety of fruit trees every night and tasting as wide a variety of foods as possible. In contrast, rural bats living in Beit Guvrin focus on only one or two fruit trees every night.

source https://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2021/07/210719110538.htm

High respiratory efforts in COVID-19 patients could result in self-inflicted lung injury, study shows

High respiratory efforts in COVID-19 patients could result in self-inflicted lung injury, study shows
Some COVID-19 patients who experience acute respiratory failure respond by significantly increasing their respiratory effort -- breathing faster and more deeply. There is concern among some doctors that this level of respiratory effort can lead to further damage to these patients' lungs. Working with intensive care clinicians, engineering researchers have used computational modeling to provide new evidence that high respiratory efforts in COVID-19 patients can produce pressures and strains inside the lung that can result in injury.

source https://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2021/07/210719110529.htm

At last: Separated and freshly bound

At last: Separated and freshly bound
The carbon-hydrogen bonds in alkanes -- particularly those at the ends of the molecules, where each carbon has three hydrogen atoms bound to it -- are very hard to 'crack' if you want to replace the hydrogen atoms with other atoms. Methane (CH(4)) and ethane (CH(3)CH(3)) are made up, exclusively, of such tightly bound hydrogen atoms. A team of researchers has now described how they break these bonds while forming new carbon-nitrogen bonds (amidation).

source https://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2021/07/210719110532.htm

Monday, 19 July 2021

Complexity yields simplicity: The shifting dynamics of temperate marine ecosystems

Complexity yields simplicity: The shifting dynamics of temperate marine ecosystems
Researchers find that the combined effects of ocean warming and acidification in temperate marine ecosystems are resulting in a loss of kelp habitat and a shift to a simple turf-dominated ecosystem. Such changes will lead to a loss of the ecosystem services provided by productive macroalgal forests or tropicalized coral-dominated reefs. These results highlight the need for reductions in greenhouse gas emissions.

source https://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2021/07/210716112506.htm

Sunday, 18 July 2021

Scientists create tool to explore billions of social media messages, potentially predict political and financial turmoil

Scientists create tool to explore billions of social media messages, potentially predict political and financial turmoil
Scientists have invented an instrument to peer deeply into billions of Twitter posts -- providing an unprecedented, minute-by-minute view of popularity, from rising political movements, to K-pop, to emerging diseases. The tool -- called the Storywrangler -- gathers phrases across 150 different languages, analyzing the rise and fall of ideas and stories, each day, among people around the world. The Storywrangler quantifies collective attention.

source https://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2021/07/210716150806.htm