In Kabul, some fear economic collapse more than Taliban fist
Tuesday 31 August 2021
Record number of ancient elephant bone tools discovered
Humans living about 400,000 years ago produced an unprecedented diversity of elephant bone tools, including pointed tools for carving meat and wedge-shaped tools for cracking open large femurs and other long bones.
source https://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2021/08/210830144755.htm
source https://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2021/08/210830144755.htm
Learning from a ‘living fossil’
As we live and breathe, ancient-looking fish known as bowfin are guarding genetic secrets that that can help unravel humanity's evolutionary history and better understand its health.
source https://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2021/08/210830140300.htm
source https://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2021/08/210830140300.htm
Tracking genetically modified animals
Researchers have discovered a new way to track genetically modified animals using the artificial transgenes they leave behind in the environment. The discovery provides a powerful new tool to locate and manage genetically modified animals that have escaped or been released into the wild.
source https://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2021/08/210830140257.htm
source https://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2021/08/210830140257.htm
Beavers are well established and moving through the Oregon Coast Range
Beavers are often translocated to restore populations in areas, reduce their conflicts with humans and to take advantage of their ability to improve ecosystems. However, few studies have accessed the impacts of dispersing beavers, making it difficult to determine best practices for translocations.
source https://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2021/08/210830140246.htm
source https://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2021/08/210830140246.htm
Granulocytes may weaken immune response in connection with COVID-19
Information on granulocytes sheds light on the mechanisms associated with COVID-19 and other infectious diseases.
source https://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2021/08/210830140243.htm
source https://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2021/08/210830140243.htm
Breast milk proven to enhance heart performance in premature babies
New research demonstrates the beneficial effect of breast milk consumption on cardiovascular health and early cardiovascular development in premature infants.
source https://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2021/08/210830140234.htm
source https://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2021/08/210830140234.htm
Turning thermal energy into electricity
With the addition of sensors and enhanced communication tools, providing lightweight, portable power has become even more challenging. New research demonstrated a new approach to turning thermal energy into electricity that could provide compact and efficient power.
source https://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2021/08/210830140229.htm
source https://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2021/08/210830140229.htm
How a racing heart may alter decision-making brain circuits
In an effort to understand how the internal state of the body influences the brain's decision-making processes, scientists analyzed the data from a previous study pre-clinical study. They found that two of the brain's decision-making centers contain neurons that may exclusively monitor the body's internal dynamics. Furthermore, a heightened state of arousal appeared to rewire one of the centers by turning some decision-making neurons into internal state monitors.
source https://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2021/08/210830140224.htm
source https://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2021/08/210830140224.htm
Hobit turns immune cells into killers
Against infections, tumors and inflammations, immune cells are locally positioned as rapid reaction forces in the organs of the body. On site, they specialize and take on various tasks.
source https://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2021/08/210830123230.htm
source https://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2021/08/210830123230.htm
New mathematical solutions to an old problem in astronomy
The Bernese theoretical astrophysicist Kevin Heng has achieved a rare feat: On paper, he has derived novel solutions to an old mathematical problem needed to calculate light reflections from planets and moons. Now, data can be interpreted in a simple way to understand planetary atmospheres, for example. The new formulae will likely be incorporated into future textbooks.
source https://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2021/08/210830123242.htm
source https://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2021/08/210830123242.htm
At least 80% of opioid overdoses aren’t fatal, but how do they affect the brain?
Scientists still know little about how opioid overdoses affect the brain and cognition. Researchers found that, while evidence exists to support a link between overdose, cognitive impairment and brain abnormalities, more research is needed in this area.
source https://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2021/08/210830123238.htm
source https://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2021/08/210830123238.htm
‘Smart’ shirt keeps tabs on the heart
Carbon nanotube thread woven into athletic shirts gathered electrocardiogram and heart rate data that matched standard monitors and beat chest-strap monitors. The fibers are flexible and the shirts are machine washable.
source https://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2021/08/210830123233.htm
source https://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2021/08/210830123233.htm
Monday 30 August 2021
Edoxaban may be effective treatment for atrial fibrillation after transcatheter aortic valve replacement
A new study compares edoxaban anticoagulant with the standard of care in large randomized clinical trial.
source https://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2021/08/210829081922.htm
source https://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2021/08/210829081922.htm
The physics behind a tardigrade's lumbering gait
Animals as small and soft as tardigrades seldom have legs and almost never bother walking. But a new study finds that water bears propel themselves through sediment and soil on eight stubby legs, in a manner resembling that of insects 500,000 times their size.
source https://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2021/08/210827184153.htm
source https://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2021/08/210827184153.htm
Common pesticide may contribute to global obesity crisis
Researchers discovered that chlorpyrifos, which is banned for use on foods in Canada but widely sprayed on fruits and vegetables in many other parts of the world, slows down the burning of calories in the brown adipose tissue of mice. Reducing this burning of calories, a process known as diet-induced thermogenesis, causes the body to store these extra calories, promoting obesity. Scientists made the discovery after studying 34 commonly used pesticides and herbicides in brown fat cells and testing the effects of chlorpyrifos in mice fed high calorie diets.
source https://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2021/08/210827184147.htm
source https://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2021/08/210827184147.htm
Scientists discover a new type of infrared polaritons at the surface of bulk crystals
An international team has reported the observation of ghost polaritons, which are a new form of surface waves carrying nanoscale light strongly coupled with material oscillations and featuring highly collimated propagation properties.
source https://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2021/08/210827133759.htm
source https://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2021/08/210827133759.htm
Moderate-vigorous physical activity is the most efficient at improving fitness
In the largest study performed to date to understand the relationship between habitual physical activity and physical fitness, researchers have found that higher amount of time spent performing exercise (moderate-vigorous physical activity) and low-moderate level activity (steps) and less time spent sedentary, translated to greater physical fitness.
source https://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2021/08/210827133756.htm
source https://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2021/08/210827133756.htm
Global sand and gravel extraction conflicts with half of UN Sustainable Development Goals
Sand and gravel are the most mined materials in the world, with between 32 and 50 billion tons extracted globally each year. They are being extracted faster than they can be replaced. But according to a new study, the human and environmental costs of this extraction on lower and middle-income countries have been largely overlooked.
source https://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2021/08/210827133754.htm
source https://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2021/08/210827133754.htm
Rare barley mutation with potential
The importance of the root system for agricultural yields is often underestimated. Whether roots can access water and nutrients effectively also determines the resilience of important crops to drought and climate change. Researchers have discovered and described a mutant in barley: Its roots grow downwards much more sharply than usual. This discovery potentially provides a starting point for breeding more drought-resistant varieties.
source https://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2021/08/210827121524.htm
source https://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2021/08/210827121524.htm
Carbon neutrality – a new policy brief for municipalities world wide
How to design efficient demo areas for urban carbon sequestration? In the latest policy brief research groups focus on the main principles of urban demonstration areas using biochars for carbon sequestration.
source https://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2021/08/210827121520.htm
source https://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2021/08/210827121520.htm
Breakthrough in sizing nanoparticles using fluid-filled tubes
Scientists have discovered that the mass and size of nano-particles can be simultaneously measured by passing the nanoparticles, in their native solution, through an inexpensive and simple mechanical tube.
source https://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2021/08/210827121517.htm
source https://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2021/08/210827121517.htm
Observing a higher-dimensional topological state with metamaterials
Linked Weyl surfaces, a novel type of topological phase that exists in five-dimensional space, have now been experimentally observed. The work provides a unique platform for exploring various topological phases, the transition between them, and the corresponding boundary effects in five dimensions.
source https://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2021/08/210827121507.htm
source https://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2021/08/210827121507.htm
Sunday 29 August 2021
Unravelling the mystery of brown dwarfs
Brown dwarfs are astronomical objects with masses between those of planets and stars. The question of where exactly the limits of their mass lie remains a matter of debate, especially since their constitution is very similar to that of low-mass stars. So how do we know whether we are dealing with a brown dwarf or a very low mass star?
source https://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2021/08/210827082409.htm
source https://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2021/08/210827082409.htm
Climate change challenge: Terminology used by scientists confounds public
A new study finds that U.S. residents struggle to understand terms frequently used by scientists to describe climate change.
source https://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2021/08/210826170208.htm
source https://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2021/08/210826170208.htm
Old habit-controlling neurons may also help the brain learn new tricks
In a study of rodents, scientists discovered that a part of the brain traditionally thought to control typing the old sequence may also play a critical role in learning the new one. The results suggest that this process involves a delicate balance in the activity of two neighboring neural circuits: one dedicated to new actions and the other to old habits.
source https://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2021/08/210826170159.htm
source https://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2021/08/210826170159.htm
Saturday 28 August 2021
Discovery of two-phase superconductivity in CeRh2As2
The phenomenon of superconductivity, providing current transmission without dissipation and a host of unique magnetic properties arising from macroscopic quantum coherence, was first discovered over a century ago. It was not understood until 1957, after which it quickly became clear that superconductors could in principle exist with a wide variety of the fundamental characteristic often referred to as the order parameter. Until the late 1970's, however, all superconductors found experimentally had the same class of order parameter. Since then many aspects of the expected variety of order parameters have been discovered, but one surprising fact remained.
source https://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2021/08/210826170128.htm
source https://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2021/08/210826170128.htm
Ending prices with '.99' can backfire on sellers
Setting a price just below a round number ($39.99 instead of $40) may lead consumers into thinking a product is less expensive than it really is -- but it can sometimes backfire on sellers, a new study shows.
source https://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2021/08/210826170122.htm
source https://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2021/08/210826170122.htm
Environmental pollution may contribute to racial/ethnic disparities In Alzheimer’s disease risk
Fine particle pollution may be one reason why Black women have double the risk of developing Alzheimer's than white women, suggests new research. Data shows that older people are more likely to develop dementia if they live in locations with high PM2.5, and African American populations are more likely to live in neighborhoods near polluting facilities. Even when controlling for other risk factors, this study found that Black women still had roughly two times greater a risk of developing Alzheimer's disease than white women, and it also found that they had higher exposure to PM2.5.
source https://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2021/08/210826170117.htm
source https://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2021/08/210826170117.htm
Embryonic development in slow motion
Roe deer are among the few mammals whose embryos go into a particularly long period of dormancy. Using modern molecular methods, researchers have shown for the first time what exactly happens in the embryo during this phase. They have identified signals that control the embryo`s awakening.
source https://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2021/08/210827121505.htm
source https://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2021/08/210827121505.htm
Seabed recovers more quickly following extreme storms than from the impacts of bottom-towed fishing
Academics have been monitoring the Lyme Bay Marine Protected area using underwater cameras and other techniques since 2008, but this is the first known study to examine an MPA's response and resilience in the face of extreme storms.
source https://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2021/08/210827121455.htm
source https://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2021/08/210827121455.htm
Bacterial bloom as the Earth thawed: Photosynthetic organisms during the Snowball Earth
Around 650 million years ago, the Earth entered into the Marinoan glaciation that saw the entire planet freeze. The 'Snowball Earth' impeded the evolution of life. But as it warmed, biotic life began to flourish. A research team has now analyzed rock samples from China to tell us more about this transition.
source https://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2021/08/210827121450.htm
source https://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2021/08/210827121450.htm
How disorderly young galaxies grow up and mature
Using a supercomputer simulation, a research team has succeeded in following the development of a galaxy over a span of 13.8 billion years. The study shows how, due to interstellar frontal collisions, young and chaotic galaxies over time mature into spiral galaxies such as the Milky Way.
source https://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2021/08/210827121447.htm
source https://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2021/08/210827121447.htm
Drought and climate change shift tree disease in Sierra Nevada
A study provides some of the first evidence that climate change and drought are shifting the range of infectious disease in forests suffering from white pine blister rust disease.
source https://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2021/08/210826111734.htm
source https://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2021/08/210826111734.htm
Friday 27 August 2021
Protect habitat ‘stepping stones’ to help species cope with climate change
Safe passages for species adapting to climate change aren't always being protected, a new study warns.
source https://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2021/08/210826111732.htm
source https://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2021/08/210826111732.htm
Diverse DNA signatures linked to heart disease
Risk for heart disease does not look the same on the genetic level for different population groups, report an international team of researchers. The studY begins to outline gene activity patterns that could serve as early warning indicators for cardiovascular disease.
source https://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2021/08/210826111721.htm
source https://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2021/08/210826111721.htm
Tropical forest vulnerability index
New research will detect and evaluate the vulnerability of global tropical rainforests by focusing specifically on threats from changes to land-use and climate.
source https://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2021/08/210826111719.htm
source https://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2021/08/210826111719.htm
Will it be safe for humans to fly to Mars?
A human space mission would be viable if it doesn't exceed four years, an international research team concludes in new research.
source https://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2021/08/210826111716.htm
source https://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2021/08/210826111716.htm
Research supports FDA recommendation: Patients with implanted medical devices should keep their smart phones and watches at least six inches away
A new study supports the FDA recommendation that patients keep any consumer electronic devices that may create magnetic interference, including cell phones and smart watches, at least six inches away from implanted medical devices, in particular pacemakers and cardiac defibrillators.
source https://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2021/08/210826090845.htm
source https://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2021/08/210826090845.htm
Altered functional brain network connectivity associated with symptoms of post-traumatic stress in COVID-19 survivors, study shows
COVID-19 survivors report significantly higher symptoms of post-traumatic stress, and these symptoms are associated with changes to the brain's connectivity, according to a new study.
source https://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2021/08/210826130550.htm
source https://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2021/08/210826130550.htm
Study identifies 579 genetic locations linked to anti-social behavior, alcohol use, opioid addiction and more
An analysis of data from 1.5 million people has identified 579 locations in the genome associated with a predisposition to different behaviors and disorders related to self-regulation, including addiction and child behavioral problems.
source https://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2021/08/210826111741.htm
source https://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2021/08/210826111741.htm
Volcanic eruptions may have spurred first ‘whiffs’ of oxygen in Earth’s atmosphere
A new analysis of 2.5-billion-year-old rocks from Australia finds that volcanic eruptions may have stimulated population surges of marine microorganisms, creating the first puffs of oxygen into the atmosphere. This would change existing stories of Earth's early atmosphere, which assumed that most changes in the early atmosphere were controlled by geologic or chemical processes.
source https://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2021/08/210826111724.htm
source https://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2021/08/210826111724.htm
A mechanism underlying most common cause of epileptic seizures revealed
An interdisciplinary team studying neurogenetics, neural networks, and neurophysiology has revealed how dysfunctions in even a small percentage of cells can cause disorder across the entire brain.
source https://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2021/08/210826111711.htm
source https://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2021/08/210826111711.htm
Restoring 'chaperone' protein may prevent plaque build-up in Alzheimer’s
Researchers have shown how restoring levels of the protein DAXX and a large group of similar proteins prevents the misfolding of the rogue proteins known to drive Alzheimer's and other neurodegenerative diseases, as well as certain mutations that contribute to cancers.
source https://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2021/08/210826111709.htm
source https://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2021/08/210826111709.htm
Cytokine APRIL protects from atherosclerotic cardiovascular disease
Heart attacks and strokes are the main causes of death and loss of productive years globally. These clinical complications are caused by atherosclerosis, which is a chronic disease that leads to the accumulation of LDL cholesterol and immune cells in the inner layer of arteries and thereby resulting in the build-up of atherosclerotic plaques. Researchers have now identified that a cytokine called A Proliferation Inducing Ligand (APRIL) plays a major protective role against the formation of atherosclerotic plaques.
source https://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2021/08/210826111704.htm
source https://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2021/08/210826111704.htm
Osteoarthritis: New genetic risk factors and novel drug targets
Researchers have found new genetic risk factors for osteoarthritis and identified novel drug targets. Their finding is a milestone towards the development of the first ever curative treatment for osteoarthritis.
source https://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2021/08/210826111642.htm
source https://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2021/08/210826111642.htm
Thursday 26 August 2021
Young athletes with history of concussions may have more changes to their brains
A new study suggests athletes with a history of concussion may show more brain injury from a later concussion, particularly in middle regions of the brain that are more susceptible to damage, when compared to athletes with no history of concussion.
source https://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2021/08/210825163648.htm
source https://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2021/08/210825163648.htm
Add it up: Could this test equal a way to determine dementia risk?
People whose scores on a dementia risk test indicated a less brain-healthy lifestyle, including smoking, high blood pressure and a poor diet, may also have the following: lower scores on thinking skills tests, more changes on brain scans and a higher risk of cognitive impairment, according to a new study.
source https://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2021/08/210825163607.htm
source https://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2021/08/210825163607.htm
Confiscated fossil turns out to be exceptional flying reptile from Brazil
A fossil acquired in a police raid has turned out to be one of the best-preserved flying reptiles ever found, according to a new study.
source https://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2021/08/210825143117.htm
source https://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2021/08/210825143117.htm
‘Nanojars’ capture dissolved carbon dioxide, toxic ions from water
Carbon dioxide from the atmosphere dissolves in waterways, forming bicarbonate ions and other compounds that change water chemistry, with possible harmful effects on aquatic organisms. In addition, bicarbonate can reenter the atmosphere as carbon dioxide later. Now, researchers have developed tiny 'nanojars' that split bicarbonate into carbonate and capture it, as well as certain toxic anions, so they can be removed from water.
source https://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2021/08/210825143106.htm
source https://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2021/08/210825143106.htm
Exposure to tobacco smoke in early life is associated with accelerated biological aging, study finds
A new study analyzes the association between more than 100 environmental exposures and the 'epigenetic clock' of over 1,000 children in six European countries.
source https://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2021/08/210825143100.htm
source https://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2021/08/210825143100.htm
New research finds gender differences in fear and risk perception during COVID-19
New research suggests that men and women worry about the impact of COVID-19 in far different ways. For example, men are more likely to be concerned about financial consequences from COVID-19 while women report greater fear and more negative expectations about health-related outcomes.
source https://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2021/08/210825143051.htm
source https://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2021/08/210825143051.htm
Fossils illuminate dinosaur evolution in eastern North America
Tyrannosaurus rex, the fearsome predator that once roamed what is now western North America, appears to have had an East Coast cousin. A new study describes two dinosaurs that inhabited Appalachia -- a once isolated land mass that today composes much of the eastern United States -- about 85 million years ago: an herbivorous duck-billed hadrosaur and a carnivorous tyrannosaur.
source https://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2021/08/210825143032.htm
source https://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2021/08/210825143032.htm
In hot weather, outdoor laborers work less -- when economy is growing
A new analysis suggests that U.S. workers in industries that expose them to weather conditions work fewer hours per day when temperatures surpass 90 degrees Fahrenheit -- but only during periods of economic growth.
source https://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2021/08/210825143020.htm
source https://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2021/08/210825143020.htm
Climate benefits vs. burdens: Which products are best suited for emerging carbon capture technologies?
Pulling heat-trapping carbon dioxide out of the air and turning it into useful products, a concept called carbon capture and utilization, has the potential to offer both environmental and economic benefits.
source https://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2021/08/210825113659.htm
source https://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2021/08/210825113659.htm
New study gives insight into how often COVID-19 spreads through households
A new study demonstrates how quickly COVID-19 can spread through a household, and provides insight into how and why communities of color have suffered disproportionately from the pandemic.
source https://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2021/08/210825153752.htm
source https://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2021/08/210825153752.htm
Physicists make laser beams visible in vacuum
A beam of light can only be seen when it hits matter particles and is scattered or reflected by them. In a vacuum, however, it is invisible. Physicists have now developed a method that allows laser beams to be visualized even under these conditions. The method makes it easier to perform the ultra-precise laser alignment required to manipulate individual atoms.
source https://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2021/08/210825143048.htm
source https://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2021/08/210825143048.htm
Pictograms are first written accounts of earthquakes in pre-Hispanic Mexico
The Codex Telleriano Remensis, created in the 16th century in Mexico, depicts earthquakes in pictograms that are the first written evidence of earthquakes in the Americas in pre-Hispanic times, according to a pair of researchers who have systematically studied the country's historical earthquakes.
source https://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2021/08/210825143043.htm
source https://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2021/08/210825143043.htm
Baby detector software embedded in digital camera rivals ECG
Facial recognition is now common in adults, but researchers have developed software that can reliably detect a premature baby's face in an incubator and remotely monitor its heart and breathing rates - rivaling ECG machines and even outperforming them. This is the first step in using non-contact monitoring in neonatal wards, avoiding skin tearing and potential infections from adhesive pads.
source https://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2021/08/210825113641.htm
source https://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2021/08/210825113641.htm
Unrealistic experiments mean true impact of nitrogen pollution on the environment is unknown
Unrealistic and flawed scientific experiments mean the true impact of nitrogen pollution on the environment is unknownremains poorly understood, a new study warns.
source https://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2021/08/210825113633.htm
source https://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2021/08/210825113633.htm
Wednesday 25 August 2021
Quantum computing: Exotic particle had an 'out-of-body experience'
Scientists have taken a clear picture of electronic particles that make up a mysterious magnetic state called quantum spin liquid (QSL). The achievement could facilitate the development of superfast quantum computers and energy-efficient superconductors. The scientists are the first to capture an image of how electrons in a QSL decompose into spin-like particles called spinons and charge-like particles called chargons.
source https://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2021/08/210824174405.htm
source https://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2021/08/210824174405.htm
Early-warning system for sepsis shown to improve survival rates and cut hospital stays
Emergency room patients who were flagged by an artificial-intelligence algorithm for possibly having sepsis received antibiotics sooner and had better outcomes, according to a study conducted by physician-researchers.
source https://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2021/08/210824135353.htm
source https://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2021/08/210824135353.htm
A novel gene involved in male infertility: ZFP541
A new gene that controls the completion of meiosis in spermatogenesis has been discovered. Until now, details of the mechanism that inactivates the expression of genes involved in the meiotic program during spermatogenesis had not been clarified. The researchers believe that this may lead to an advancement in reproductive medicine, like identifying causes for infertility from azoospermia or spermatogenic defects.
source https://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2021/08/210824135347.htm
source https://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2021/08/210824135347.htm
Lupin and Arsenic: Research on soil decontamination by an exceptional plant
Researchers have discovered a new chemical mechanism used by roots of white lupin to clean up arsenic-contaminated soils, such as those from mining operations.
source https://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2021/08/210824135322.htm
source https://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2021/08/210824135322.htm
Record-breaking lithium-metal cell
A new type of lithium-metal battery reaches an extremely high energy density of 560 watt-hours per kilogram -- based on the total weight of the active materials -- with a remarkable stability. Researchers used a promising combination of cathode and electrolyte: The nickel-rich cathode enables storage of high energy per mass, the ionic liquid electrolyte ensures largely stable capacity over many cycles.
source https://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2021/08/210824135339.htm
source https://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2021/08/210824135339.htm
Measuring how the Arctic responds to climate change
The Arctic has been warming more than twice as fast as the rest of the planet. Meanwhile CO2 measurements show substantial increases in the amount of carbon absorbed into and emitted by Arctic plants and soil. Scientists assumed this was playing a large role in changes to the Arctic carbon cycle. But they were not able to measure carbon uptake and release independently. This study provides insights into this important process based on the modelling of atmospheric measurements of carbonyl sulfide.
source https://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2021/08/210824135336.htm
source https://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2021/08/210824135336.htm
Like venom coursing through the body: Researchers identify mechanism driving COVID-19 mortality
Researchers have identified what may be the key molecular mechanism responsible for COVID-19 mortality -- an enzyme related to neurotoxins found in rattlesnake venom.
source https://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2021/08/210824135358.htm
source https://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2021/08/210824135358.htm
These robots can move your couch
Engineers have developed robots that can work independently and cooperatively to move unwieldy objects like a couch. In simulations, the robots were successful even when tasked to move an object in new, unfamiliar scenarios.
source https://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2021/08/210824135325.htm
source https://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2021/08/210824135325.htm
Physicists find room-temperature, 2D-to-1D topological transition
Physicists have discovered a room-temperature transition between 1D and 2D electrical conduction states in the topological insulator bismuth iodide.
source https://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2021/08/210824135314.htm
source https://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2021/08/210824135314.htm
Climate change threatens seal hunting by Indigenous Alaskans
Climate change has severely reduced the length of the seal hunting season in a rural Alaska village, potentially threatening a key feature of the community's Indigenous way of life. The study led by Indigenous hunters, the Native Village of Kotzebue and scientists shows that over the past 17 years, the seal hunting season shrank about one day per year. Sea ice decline is a major cause of the shrinking season.
source https://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2021/08/210824135311.htm
source https://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2021/08/210824135311.htm
Stressed teens benefit from coping online, but a little goes a long way
An adolescent's day can be filled with a dizzying array of digital technologies. For many teenagers, being online is a way to pass the time and communicate with friends. Cell phones and social media can also help teens cope with stressful events -- as long as they strike the right balance between spending time online and pursuing other coping activities.
source https://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2021/08/210824135308.htm
source https://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2021/08/210824135308.htm
Tuesday 24 August 2021
Understanding cookiecutter sharks
A little understood species of shark, known for taking cookie cutter-shaped bites out of everything from white sharks and whales to the rubber coated sonar sensors on submarines and even underwater electrical cables, is the subject of a new study. While the deep sea dwelling Cookiecutter shark will take a chomp out of anything it encounters in the upper reaches of the ocean, it really feasts on crustaceans, squid and small fish found in their habitat.
source https://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2021/08/210823125805.htm
source https://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2021/08/210823125805.htm
Eyes provide peek at Alzheimer’s disease risk
Amyloid plaques found in the retinas of eyes may be an indicator of similar plaques in the brain, a hallmark of Alzheimer's disease, and may provide a more visible biomarker for detecting disease risk.
source https://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2021/08/210823125758.htm
source https://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2021/08/210823125758.htm
Machine learning links material composition and performance in catalysts
In a finding that could help pave the way toward cleaner fuels and a more sustainable chemical industry, researchers have used machine learning to predict how the compositions of metal alloys and metal oxides affect their electronic structures.
source https://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2021/08/210823125746.htm
source https://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2021/08/210823125746.htm
Steep rise in cardiac arrests associated with opioid use
A nationwide US study has shown that the rate of opioid-related cardiac arrests has steeply risen and is now on par with the rate of cardiac arrest from other causes. Opioid use disorder, which includes dependence and addiction, affects more than two million people in the US, while opioid overdose is the leading cause of death for those aged 25 to 64 years. This study examined the trends and outcomes of opioid-related cardiac arrest in 2012 to 2018. The US Nationwide Readmissions Database (NRD) was used to study all hospitalisations for cardiac arrest in active or chronic opioid users compared to cardiac arrests in patients not using opioids.
source https://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2021/08/210823125736.htm
source https://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2021/08/210823125736.htm
High-rate magnesium rechargeable batteries move one step closer to realization
Magnesium rechargeable batteries show immense promise for a greener future because of their energy density, safety, and cost. But the lack of high-performance cathode materials has impeded their development. Now, a research team has developed liquid-sulfur/sulfide composite cathodes that enable high-rate magnesium batteries.
source https://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2021/08/210823125733.htm
source https://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2021/08/210823125733.htm
Mathematical model predicts best way to build muscle
Researchers have developed a mathematical model that can predict the optimum exercise regime for building muscle.
source https://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2021/08/210823125730.htm
source https://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2021/08/210823125730.htm
New spontaneous mouse model shows promise for bolstering Sjögren's syndrome treatment
Sjögren's syndrome is an autoimmune disease that attacks the tear duct and salivary glands, leading to patients suffering unbearable dry eyes and mouth. To date, treatment options have been limited. But this may change thanks to a recently developed mouse model that will help explain the pathogenic mechanisms behind the disease.
source https://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2021/08/210823125728.htm
source https://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2021/08/210823125728.htm
Smallest biosupercapacitor provides energy for biomedical applications
The miniaturization of microelectronic sensor technology, microelectronic robots or intravascular implants is progressing rapidly. However, it also poses major challenges for research. One of the biggest is the development of tiny but efficient energy storage devices that enable the operation of autonomously working microsystems -- in more and more smaller areas of the human body for example. In addition, these energy storage devices must be bio-compatible if they are to be used in the body at all. Now there is a prototype that combines these essential properties.
source https://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2021/08/210823125722.htm
source https://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2021/08/210823125722.htm
Rise and fall of water blisters offers glimpse beneath Greenland’s thick ice sheet
A study found that as meltwater lakes on the surface of Greenland's ice sheet rapidly drain, they create water blisters between the ice and the bedrock that scientists could use to understand the hydrological network below Greenland's thick inland ice sheet. These networks could affect the stability of the ice sheet as Earth's climate warms.
source https://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2021/08/210823125717.htm
source https://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2021/08/210823125717.htm
Possible antidote for club drug GHB overdose
Diclofenac and other NSAIDs may limit the passage of narcolepsy medication and illicit party drug GHB to the brain, decreasing the potential for fatal overdose, researchers find.
source https://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2021/08/210823125711.htm
source https://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2021/08/210823125711.htm
New air routes are vital for organ transplants
Research suggests that introducing new airline routes reduces the discard rate of donated kidneys and increases the number of kidneys sent to transplant centers across the U.S.
source https://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2021/08/210823125708.htm
source https://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2021/08/210823125708.htm
Lightweight composite material inspects itself: Changes in color indicate deformations
Researchers have developed a new type of laminate that changes color as soon as the material is deformed. This way, the materials researchers can kill two birds with one stone: a lightweight composite material that inspects itself.
source https://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2021/08/210823125700.htm
source https://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2021/08/210823125700.htm
Benefits outweigh risks for autonomous vehicles - if they are regulated
Experts have assessed the risks and potential benefits associated with deploying autonomous vehicles (AVs) on U.S. roads and predicts that the benefits will substantially outweigh potential harms -- but only if the AVs are well regulated.
source https://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2021/08/210823125654.htm
source https://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2021/08/210823125654.htm
Pecan-enriched diet shown to reduce cholesterol
Researchers show that pecans can dramatically improve a person's cholesterol levels.
source https://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2021/08/210823125651.htm
source https://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2021/08/210823125651.htm
Rare Cambrian fossils from Utah reveal unexpected anatomical complexity in early comb jellies
Researchers describe two new species of fossil ctenophores from the mid-Cambrian of Western USA, one of which has a preserved nervous system, which illuminates the early evolution of nervous and sensory features in ctenophores.
source https://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2021/08/210821113854.htm
source https://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2021/08/210821113854.htm
Monday 23 August 2021
Using artificial intelligence for early detection and treatment of illnesses
Artificial intelligence (AI) will fundamentally change medicine and healthcare: Diagnostic patient data, e.g. from ECG, EEG or X-ray images, can be analyzed with the help of machine learning, so that diseases can be detected at a very early stage based on subtle changes. However, implanting AI within the human body is still a major technical challenge. Scientists have now succeeded in developing a bio-compatible implantable AI platform that classifies in real time healthy and pathological patterns in biological signals such as heartbeats. It detects pathological changes even without medical supervision.
source https://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2021/08/210820135346.htm
source https://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2021/08/210820135346.htm
Distress signal from fat cells prompts heart to shore up defenses against consequences of obesity
A stress signal received by the heart from fat could help protect against cardiac damage induced by obesity, a new study suggests. The finding could help explain the 'obesity paradox,' a phenomenon in which obese individuals have better short- and medium-term cardiovascular disease prognoses compared with those who are lean, but with ultimately worse long-term outcomes.
source https://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2021/08/210820135344.htm
source https://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2021/08/210820135344.htm
Polymer electrolytes for all-solid-state batteries without dead zones
A joint research team succeeds in improving ionic conductivity using electrostatic interface of polymer electrolytes.
source https://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2021/08/210820111058.htm
source https://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2021/08/210820111058.htm
New breakthrough in research into old insect exoskeletons
Researchers have isolated genetic material from exuviae (discarded exoskeletons) left after insects like cicadas molt. The researchers tested five different methods of amplifying the DNA sample by PCR, and were able to isolate nuclear DNA of good enough quality for repetitive loci known as microsatellites to be genotyped. This work is a significant contribution to insect sciences because these methods can be used for any insect species that molts.
source https://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2021/08/210820111055.htm
source https://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2021/08/210820111055.htm
Here comes the Sun: Planetary scientists find evidence of solar-driven change on the Moon
A new study uncovered important clues to help understand the surprisingly active lunar surface. The scientists found that solar radiation could be a more important source of lunar iron nanoparticles than previously thought.
source https://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2021/08/210821113902.htm
source https://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2021/08/210821113902.htm
Cross-pollinating physicists use novel technique to improve the design of facilities that aim to harvest fusion energy
Scientists have transferred a technique from one realm of plasma physics to another to enable the more efficient design of powerful magnets for doughnut-shaped fusion facilities known as tokamaks.
source https://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2021/08/210821113900.htm
source https://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2021/08/210821113900.htm
Sunday 22 August 2021
Saturday 21 August 2021
Fertility:Key protein helps sperm do their job in timely fashion
Researchers detail how a ubiquitous signaling molecule plays a critical role in male fertility, orchestrating key steps that promote sperm motility, survival and fertilization success.
source https://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2021/08/210820111117.htm
source https://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2021/08/210820111117.htm
New fossils show what the ancestral brains of arthropods looked like
Rare fossils preserving the brains of creatures living more than half a billion years ago shed new light on the evolution of arthropods such as insects and crustaceans.
source https://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2021/08/210820111114.htm
source https://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2021/08/210820111114.htm
Biodiversity: Land use – Threat to and opportunity for bumblebees
Bumblebees largely contribute to the pollination of crops. However, they are threatened by land use changes due to climate change. Long-term simulations have now shown that smart land management may stabilize some species.
source https://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2021/08/210820111112.htm
source https://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2021/08/210820111112.htm
Female and young walruses depend on disappearing Arctic sea ice for food sources
A new study shows that disappearing sea ice is a significant element of the food web supporting female walruses and their dependent young in the Arctic's Chukchi Sea. Researchers were able to trace biomarkers that are unique to algae growing within sea ice to connect marine mammals with a food source that is rapidly diminishing in the face of climate change.
source https://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2021/08/210820111104.htm
source https://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2021/08/210820111104.htm
Cloud shadows cue mini-migrations
A new study shows that zooplankton swim up and down repeatedly within the ocean's twilight zone due to subtle changes in daylight intensity, with implications for deep-sea ecology and the Earth's carbon cycle.
source https://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2021/08/210820111101.htm
source https://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2021/08/210820111101.htm
Seeing both the forest and the trees: Trans-scale scope shows big picture of tiny targets
Researchers built a microscope system that can image over a million cells at once. The technology allowed the team to simultaneously observe the actions of individual cells as well as the global features of cell populations. This research may significantly increase the ability of scientists to study rare cellular functions.
source https://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2021/08/210820093420.htm
source https://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2021/08/210820093420.htm
New imaging tool visualizes cell functions in a microphysiological system
A microphysiological system (MPS) is a 3D organ construct using human cells. They show us how organs respond to drugs and environmental stimuli. Now, researchers have developed a new imaging tool for MPS using scanning probe microscopy.
source https://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2021/08/210820111050.htm
source https://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2021/08/210820111050.htm
Hundreds of Cape Fur seals entangled in fishing lines and nets every year
Fishing line and nets are having a major impact on Cape fur seals, the most common marine mammal observed around the coastline of South Africa and Namibia, where they are endemic. The first results from an ongoing study, initiated in 2018, shows that a high number of affected animals are pups and juveniles, which were mainly entangled around the neck with fishing line, causing horrific injuries and resulting in a slow, painful death.
source https://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2021/08/210820111045.htm
source https://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2021/08/210820111045.htm
Evolution now accepted by majority of Americans
The level of public acceptance of evolution in the United States is now solidly above the halfway mark, according to a new study based on a series of national public opinion surveys conducted over the last 35 years.
source https://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2021/08/210820111042.htm
source https://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2021/08/210820111042.htm
Integrative approach by biologists increases accuracy of mosquito vector surveillance
A team of researchers has developed an integrative approach that increases the accuracy of mosquito surveillance and management. The two-pronged strategy boosts accuracy in sampling by including mosquito larvae, and species identification using short DNA sequences.
source https://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2021/08/210820111039.htm
source https://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2021/08/210820111039.htm
Novel resilient state estimation method for process control in cyber-physical systems
A new process control method uses a special mathematical structure to accurately estimate the internal process variables of a system, even when external sensors are damaged.
source https://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2021/08/210820093412.htm
source https://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2021/08/210820093412.htm
Opening the climate change forecasting toolbox
It is not easy to predict how animals -- from insects to fish -- are going to respond to climate change and especially extremes of temperature. This lack of understanding hinders our ability to predict the vulnerability of these animals to climate change. Scientists now make several proposal on how to improve the current, widely adopted thermal vulnerability index.
source https://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2021/08/210820093409.htm
source https://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2021/08/210820093409.htm
Cardiovascular disorder genetic testing in children presents unique challenges
Genetic testing for cardiovascular disorders is rapidly expanding, including among children. In its first scientific statement focused on the issue of cardiovascular genetic testing specifically among children, the American Heart Association provides information and guidance on the topic, including issues of timing, consent, family counseling before and after testing, and follow-up.
source https://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2021/08/210820093403.htm
source https://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2021/08/210820093403.htm
Novel AI blood testing technology can ID lung cancers with high accuracy
A novel artificial intelligence blood testing technology was found to detect over 90% of lung cancers in samples from nearly 800 individuals with and without cancer.
source https://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2021/08/210820093400.htm
source https://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2021/08/210820093400.htm
Friday 20 August 2021
Faster and cheaper ethanol-to-jet-fuel on the horizon
A patented process for converting alcohol sourced from renewable or industrial waste gasses into jet or diesel fuel is being scaled up.
source https://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2021/08/210819125236.htm
source https://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2021/08/210819125236.htm
Understanding enzyme evolution paves the way for 'green' chemistry
Researchers have shown how laboratory evolution can give rise to highly efficient enzymes for new-to-nature reactions, opening the door for novel and more environmentally friendly ways to make drugs and other chemicals.
source https://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2021/08/210819113054.htm
source https://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2021/08/210819113054.htm
Antibodies block specific viruses that cause arthritis, brain infections
Researchers have found antibodies that protect against specific mosquito-borne viruses that cause arthritis and brain infections. The findings could lead to a universal therapy or vaccine for the viruses.
source https://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2021/08/210819113051.htm
source https://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2021/08/210819113051.htm
Researchers develop steerable catheter for brain surgery
A team of engineers and physicians has developed a steerable catheter that will give neurosurgeons the ability to steer the device in any direction they want while navigating the brain's arteries and blood vessels. The device was inspired by nature, specifically insect legs and flagella -- tail-like structures that allow microscopic organisms such as bacteria to swim.
source https://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2021/08/210819113048.htm
source https://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2021/08/210819113048.htm
Blood-pressure drugs could improve colorectal cancer survival, study suggests
ACE inhibitors, beta-blockers and thiazide diuretics were all associated with decreased mortality in patients with colorectal cancer.
source https://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2021/08/210819113037.htm
source https://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2021/08/210819113037.htm
Rattlesnake rattles trick human ears
Rattlesnakes increase their rattling rate as potential threats approach, and this abrupt switch to a high-frequency mode makes listeners, including humans, think they're closer than they actually are, researchers report.
source https://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2021/08/210819113023.htm
source https://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2021/08/210819113023.htm
Key mental abilities can actually improve during aging
It's long been believed that advancing age leads to broad declines in our mental abilities. Now new research offers surprisingly good news by countering this view.
source https://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2021/08/210819113017.htm
source https://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2021/08/210819113017.htm
Landslide disaster risk in the Kivu Rift is linked to deforestation and population growth
New research shows how deforestation and population growth have greatly impacted landslide risk in the Kivu Rift. This is what researchers established from an analysis of six decades of forest cover and population trends in the region.
source https://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2021/08/210819113015.htm
source https://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2021/08/210819113015.htm
Home-grown semiconductors for faster, smaller electronics
'Growing' electronic components directly onto a semiconductor block avoids messy, noisy oxidation scattering that slows and impedes electronic operation. A new study shows that the resulting high-mobility components are ideal candidates for high-frequency, ultra-small electronic devices, quantum dots, and for qubit applications in quantum computing.
source https://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2021/08/210819102755.htm
source https://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2021/08/210819102755.htm
Teens who use cannabis frequently more likely to have premature baby
Teenagers who use cannabis frequently may be more likely to have children born preterm, when they become parents up to twenty years later, finds a new study. The research repeatedly assessed 665 participants in a general population cohort on their tobacco and cannabis use between ages 14 to 29 years, before pregnancy.
source https://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2021/08/210819102752.htm
source https://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2021/08/210819102752.htm
Thursday 19 August 2021
Cooperation under pressure: Lessons from the COVID-19 swab crisis
A major crisis that accompanied the rise of the pandemic was lack of availability of the nasopharyngeal swab -- necessary for testing for COVID-19, which in turn, was necessary to get a grip on the pandemic. An account of how one group addressed that crisis is published this week Journal of Clinical Microbiology, a journal of the American Society for Microbiology.
source https://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2021/08/210818153745.htm
source https://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2021/08/210818153745.htm
The fewer forests, the more space giant anteaters need, study finds
Giant anteaters living in less forested habitats make use of larger home ranges, according to a new study. This behavior may allow them to incorporate forest patches into their territory, the authors say.
source https://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2021/08/210818153714.htm
source https://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2021/08/210818153714.htm
Videos capture lethal progress of COVID-19 virus
Video images capture for the first time in live animals the inexorable spread of the COVID-19 virus, tracking the infection as it moved from the noses of mice to the lungs and other organs over the course of six days, in a new study.
source https://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2021/08/210818135213.htm
source https://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2021/08/210818135213.htm
Tailoring wearable technology and telehealth in treating Parkinson's disease
Wearable health technologies are vastly popular with people wanting to improve their physical and mental health. Everything from exercise, sleep patterns, calories consumed and heart rhythms can be tracked by a wearable device. But timely and accurate data is also especially valuable for doctors treating patients with complicated health conditions using virtual care.
source https://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2021/08/210818135215.htm
source https://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2021/08/210818135215.htm
Protecting largest, most prolific fish may boost productivity of fisheries
Management of many of the largest fisheries in the world assumes incorrectly that many small fish reproduce as well as fewer large ones with similar total masses, a new analysis has found. That can lead to overharvesting the largest, most prolific fish that can contribute the most to the population.
source https://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2021/08/210818135210.htm
source https://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2021/08/210818135210.htm
Plastics aren’t what we think. New study finds they’re a tad rubbery, paving the way for better products
A breakthrough could pave the way for better products, such as improved batteries, automobile paint and cellphone screens.
source https://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2021/08/210818130558.htm
source https://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2021/08/210818130558.htm
Both early experiences and gene expression influence impulsivity in chicks
Differences in impulsivity between individuals are linked to both experience and gene expression, according to a study on the ancestor of domestic chickens, the red junglefowl.
source https://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2021/08/210818130553.htm
source https://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2021/08/210818130553.htm
Does Alzheimer’s disease start inside nerve cells?
An experimental study has revealed that the Alzheimer's protein amyloid-beta accumulates inside nerve cells, and that the misfolded protein may then spread from cell to cell via nerve fibers. This happens at an earlier stage than the formation of amyloid-beta plaques in the brain, something that is associated with the progression of Alzheimer's disease.
source https://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2021/08/210818130550.htm
source https://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2021/08/210818130550.htm
Progress continues in ensuring safety for nation’s high school athletes
Researchers began publishing annual reports and bi-annual updates examining the health and safety policies for secondary schools for each individual state and Washington, D.C. The evaluations are based on safety measures states can implement, including emergency action plans, having automatic external defibrillators on site, training coaches to look for signs of concussion, treatment of exertional heat stroke and others.
source https://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2021/08/210818130545.htm
source https://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2021/08/210818130545.htm
Inhibitor drug entinostat ‘primes’ the body to better respond to anti-cancer treatment with immunotherapy
Combining a histone deacetylase inhibitor drug with immunotherapy agents has been deemed safe, and may benefit some patients with advanced cancers that have not responded to traditional therapy, according to results of a phase 1 clinical trial.
source https://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2021/08/210818130541.htm
source https://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2021/08/210818130541.htm
Urban lights keep insects awake at night
New research sheds light on the effect urbanization has on the flesh fly species Sarcophaga similis. Through a series of laboratory and in-field experiments, scientists show that an increase in nighttime illumination and temperature, two of the major characteristics of urbanization, can postpone S. similis hibernation anywhere from 3 weeks to a month.
source https://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2021/08/210818130525.htm
source https://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2021/08/210818130525.htm
How a Parkinson’s disease-linked protein attacks a cell’s powerhouses
Inside cells, organelles called mitochondria carry out a medley of vital tasks. These structures generate energy and help to keep the cells' interior environment in a state of healthy equilibrium, among other functions. Now, scientists show in detail how alpha-synuclein, a protein associated with Parkinson's disease, can damage these cellular powerhouses.
source https://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2021/08/210818130512.htm
source https://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2021/08/210818130512.htm
Sounds and words are processed separately and simultaneously in the brain
After years of research, neuroscientists have discovered a new pathway in the human brain that processes the sounds of language. The findings suggest that auditory and speech processing occur in parallel, contradicting a long-held theory that the brain processed acoustic information then transformed it into linguistic information.
source https://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2021/08/210818130509.htm
source https://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2021/08/210818130509.htm
Scientists reveal how landmark CFC ban gave planet fighting chance against global warming
New modelling by the international team of scientists paints a dramatic vision of a scorched planet Earth without the Montreal Protocol, what they call the 'World Avoided'. This study draws a new stark link between two major environmental concerns -- the hole in the ozone layer and global warming. The research team reveals that if ozone-destroying chemicals, which most notoriously include CFCs, had been left unchecked then their continued and increased use would have contributed to global air temperatures rising by an additional 2.5°C by the end of this century.
source https://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2021/08/210818130504.htm
source https://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2021/08/210818130504.htm
Wednesday 18 August 2021
New method developed to solve plastics sustainability problem
A research group is developing polymers that can be broken down into their constituent parts; thus, when the catalyst for depolymerization is absent or removed, the polymers will be highly stable and their thermal and mechanical properties can be tuned to meet the needs of various applications.
source https://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2021/08/210817193022.htm
source https://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2021/08/210817193022.htm
As cities grow in size, the poor 'get nothing at all'
On average, people in larger cities are better off economically. But a new study builds on previous research that says, that's not necessarily true for the individual city-dweller. It turns out, bigger cities also produce more income inequality.
source https://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2021/08/210817193019.htm
source https://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2021/08/210817193019.htm
Light can trigger key signaling pathway for embryonic development, cancer
Blue light is illuminating new understanding of a key signaling pathway in embryo development, tissue maintenance and cancer genesis. Researchers have developed an approach using blue light to activate the Wnt signaling pathway in frog embryos. The pathway plays a wide variety of roles in animal and human development, and the ability to regulate it with light will allow researchers to better study its assorted functions, the team says.
source https://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2021/08/210817193016.htm
source https://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2021/08/210817193016.htm
Use your team’s emotions to boost creativity
If you're putting together a team for a project, you might be inclined to pick people with cheerful, optimistic dispositions and flexible thinking. But a new management study indicates your team might also benefit from people who are exactly the opposite.
source https://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2021/08/210817193007.htm
source https://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2021/08/210817193007.htm
New study reveals that children of mothers with diabetes during pregnancy have an increased risk of eye problems
A new study finds that mothers who have diabetes before or during their pregnancy are more likely to have children who go on to develop eye problems.
source https://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2021/08/210817193001.htm
source https://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2021/08/210817193001.htm
Free electron laser insight: laser-beam interaction in a dipole magnet
Researchers contributed to a deeper understanding of free electron laser physics by evaluating the interaction between an ultraviolet laser and a relativistic electron beam in a pure dipole magnet. The team used a 266-nm laser at the soft x-ray FEL test facility to modulate an 800-MeV electron beam....The results showed that a short dipole magnet can serve as an effective tool for introducing energy modulation of relativistic electron beams, effectively tailoring FEL pulse properties by introducing precise bends in the pathway.
source https://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2021/08/210817152602.htm
source https://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2021/08/210817152602.htm
Dieting: Villain or scapegoat?
For decades, there has been an accepted definition of dieting in academia, and in society as a whole. Researchers recently reevaluated the decades of dieting research to redefine the way researchers and the public define -- and therefore understand - dieting and the culture of weight loss.
source https://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2021/08/210817131452.htm
source https://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2021/08/210817131452.htm
Bioprocess for converting plant materials into valuable chemicals
Scientists have developed a bioprocess using engineered yeast that completely and efficiently converted plant matter consisting of acetate and xylose into high-value bioproducts.
source https://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2021/08/210817131446.htm
source https://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2021/08/210817131446.htm
Antibodies elicited by COVID-19 vaccination effective against delta variant
Researchers have found that the delta variant of the virus that causes COVID-19 is largely unable to evade antibodies elicited by vaccination. The findings help explain why vaccinated people have been at low risk of getting seriously ill with COVID-19 despite a surge in cases caused by the delta variant.
source https://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2021/08/210817131425.htm
source https://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2021/08/210817131425.htm
Contact tracing is key to suppressing COVID-19, research shows
New research suggests that officials should prioritize contact tracing and quarantine.
source https://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2021/08/210817131333.htm
source https://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2021/08/210817131333.htm
Moving Towards San Francisco’s Transportation Future
Moving Towards San Francisco’s Transportation Future
By Bonnie Jean von Krogh
Published August 18, 2021 at 02:31AM
https://ift.tt/3za9pKZ
By Bonnie Jean von Krogh
Transportation is a vital part of a thriving and equitable community and economy. We are planning for a future transportation system to deliver the reliable and safe transit San Franciscans tell us they want, address changes in travel patterns and demographics and improve safety. We also need to address the historical wrongs of inequitable service and long delayed infrastructure repairs.
We have looked at our past and begun charting our future. Transportation in San Francisco is on an unsustainable financial path. We are $50 billion short of the transportation system our city needs over the next 30 years. But we can act now to put San Francisco on a path to success. That’s what Transportation 2050 is about.
Over the last 20 years, the demands on San Francisco’s transportation system have increased while revenues haven’t kept up. The last decade saw tremendous growth in San Francisco and its economy. That strength meant that the SFMTA’s operating revenues met the levels we predicted. Strong growth in the city’s General Fund compensated for the agency’s declining parking and transit fare revenues. Since the SFMTA’s financial structure relies significantly on these declining parking and transit fare revenues, growing costs have resulted in a budget deficit. COVID came along and exacerbated these long-standing budget challenges.
How did we get here? San Francisco has grown and transportation has changed, but how we fund transit and our transportation infrastructure has not. Uber and Lyft have steadily eroded San Francisco's parking revenue, even as we’ve expanded paid parking. Costs to retain reliable, highly qualified bus and rail operators and maintenance staff have increased due to the extraordinarily high costs of living in the Bay Area. Even with this, we have been understaffed for years. Our fare discount programs – critical for keeping Muni affordable – have also meant declining fare revenue.
Now the economic shock and impacts of the COVID-19 pandemic have permanently lowered our revenue projections. At the beginning of the pandemic, we immediately tightened our belts and made $119 million in cuts in a way that prioritized equity. Current federal relief is one-time funding that only keeps transportation afloat in the near term.
With expenditures growing with Bay Area Cost of Living and revenues declining after federal relief is exhausted, the SFMTA faces a funding gap that cannot be closed. It will be years before enterprise revenues recover, leaving the agency on a financial path it cannot recover from alone. A new funding source could get the SFMTA back on track.
Community-Driven Vision
Transportation 2050 is based on transportation needs and priorities identified by the community over the last eight years through two mayoral transportation task forces (T2030 and T2045) and input from the city’s Muni Reliability Working Group in 2020. It outlines the resources needed to achieve the community’s transportation vision developed through ConnectSF, the infrastructure needs identified in the SFMTA’s 20-Year Capital Plan and highlights priorities, post COVID, from the SFMTA’s recent 2021 citywide Community Survey.
Top community priorities include:
- Making our service equitable
- Providing quick, convenient transit access to all parts of San Francisco
- Improving access to public transit for people who are disabled
- Repairing and maintaining Muni equipment and facilities
- Improving service for communities most dependent on transit
- Ensuring that trips to all destinations work well
- Making street safety improvements for walking
Here’s how we're focusing on your priorities and vision:
Addressing the needs of San Francisco’s transportation system will require a total of $111.3 billion over the next 30 years, but the costs to deliver on the complete vision are much higher than our revenues can support. Over the next 10 years, the gap between fully implementing this vision and the financial reality we face is $1.04 billion per year on average. We can get part of the way there, but the SFMTA cannot do it alone. We have used most of the tools in our toolbox.
Transportation 2050 has identified some new potential revenue sources, which combined could amount to $149M per year, beginning the process of recovery on which we can build. These include a transportation special tax, changes to San Francisco’s parking tax, a general obligation bond to fix our infrastructure, advocacy for federal and state grants and revenue from the development of SFMTA properties, the newest tool in the SFMTA toolbox. Combining these new sources with existing funds would allow us to fund nearly 2/3 of the transportation vision for San Francisco over 30 years and put our transportation system on the path to firmer financial footing.
Stay tuned for further updates as we work towards achieving this vision while identifying future revenue streams and cost savings strategies to create an equitable and sustainable transportation system for San Francisco. Learn more on our website SFMTA.com/T2050.
Published August 18, 2021 at 02:31AM
https://ift.tt/3za9pKZ
