The Latest: G20 leaders toss coins into Trevi Fountain
Sunday 31 October 2021
Detector advance could lead to cheaper, easier medical scans
Researchers have demonstrated the first experimental cross-sectional medical image that doesn't require tomography, a mathematical process used to reconstruct images in CT and PET scans. The work could lead to cheaper, easier and more accurate medical imaging.
source https://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2021/10/211029134034.htm
source https://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2021/10/211029134034.htm
Solving complex learning tasks in brain-inspired computers
Spiking neural networks, which mimic the structure and function of a natural nervous system, are powerful, fast, and energy-efficient. One key challenge is how to train such complex systems. An interdisciplinary research team has now developed and successfully implemented an algorithm that achieves such training. It can be used to train spiking neural networks to solve complex tasks with extreme energy efficiency.
source https://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2021/10/211029114002.htm
source https://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2021/10/211029114002.htm
Engineers develop better method for cleaning up orbiting space junk
Mechanical engineers have discovered a method of manipulating orbiting space debris with the use of spinning magnets, allowing agencies more dexterous movement in clearing out space junk or repairing satellites.
source https://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2021/10/211029103127.htm
source https://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2021/10/211029103127.htm
Saturday 30 October 2021
Linking the past and present: Reconstructing the dragonfly and damselfly family tree
Researchers used transcriptomics (a type of gene sequencing) calibrated using information from the fossil record to create the first phylogenetic reconstruction of the insect order Odonata (dragonflies and damselflies), covering 105 species. This reconstruction of the evolutionary history allowed robust estimations of the species divergence time (or first appearance, around 200 million years ago) and the timing of evolutionary changes, such as the development of egg-laying organs.
source https://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2021/10/211029114012.htm
source https://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2021/10/211029114012.htm
Friday 29 October 2021
Juno peers deep into Jupiter’s colorful belts and zones
A new study of data captured in orbit around Jupiter has revealed new insights into what's happening deep beneath the gas giant's distinctive and colorful bands.
source https://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2021/10/211028153800.htm
source https://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2021/10/211028153800.htm
Feedback, goal-setting improve attention
For individuals to sustain their attention on a task over a long period of time, goal-setting is effective but receiving feedback produces a much stronger effect, according to a new study.
source https://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2021/10/211028143651.htm
source https://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2021/10/211028143651.htm
New species of human ancestor named: Homo bodoensis
Palaeoanthropologists have announced the naming of a new species of human ancestor, Homo bodoensis. This species lived in Africa during the Middle Pleistocene, around half a million years ago, and was the direct ancestor of modern humans.
source https://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2021/10/211028143648.htm
source https://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2021/10/211028143648.htm
After California’s 3rd-largest wildfire, deer returned home while trees were ‘still smoldering’
While many animals have adapted to live with wildfires of the past -- which were smaller, more frequent and kept ecosystems in balance across the West -- it's unclear to scientists how animals are coping with today's unprecedented megafires. A team of researchers tracked a population of black-tailed deer before, during and after the 2018 Mendocino Complex Fire and found that most of the deer returned home within hours of the fire, while trees were still smoldering.
source https://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2021/10/211028143641.htm
source https://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2021/10/211028143641.htm
New research casts doubt on claims that people have ‘rose-tinted glasses’
New research casts doubt on claims that people have 'rose-tinted glasses' and findings suggest governments should re-examine their use of 'optimism bias' in large-scale projects.
source https://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2021/10/211028120425.htm
source https://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2021/10/211028120425.htm
Reducing vessel activity key to southern resident killer whale survival
Reducing ship speed and noise levels would increase the probability that endangered West Coast southern resident killer whales will spend more time hunting for Chinook salmon, a new study has found.
source https://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2021/10/211028120421.htm
source https://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2021/10/211028120421.htm
Cleveland Clinic study links gut microbiome and aggressive prostate cancer
Researchers have shown for the first time that diet-associated molecules in the gut are associated with aggressive prostate cancer, suggesting dietary interventions may help reduce risk. While more research will be necessary, the study's lead author says findings from the team's analysis of nearly 700 patients may have clinical implications for diagnosing and preventing lethal prostate cancer.
source https://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2021/10/211028120417.htm
source https://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2021/10/211028120417.htm
Best water treading technique to prevent drowning
Unless you're a water-polo player, the 'egg-beater' technique may mean little to you. But new research has found it may be the most effective skill you can learn to prevent drowning.
source https://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2021/10/211028120413.htm
source https://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2021/10/211028120413.htm
Stacking the deck: Layers of crystalline nanosheets enable tunable electronic properties
Researchers have obtained and characterized two-dimensional (2D) boron monosulfide (BS) nanosheets. The bandgap energy of a single BS nanosheet was greater than that of the bulk material from which it came. As additional 2D layers were stacked, the bandgap energy eventually decreased to that of the bulk material. This result reflected the tunable electronic properties of BS nanosheets, which are suitable for electronic devices and photocatalytic applications.
source https://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2021/10/211028120404.htm
source https://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2021/10/211028120404.htm
New study solves energy storage and supply puzzle
Researchers have found a simple and affordable method to determine which chemicals and types of metals are best used to store and supply energy, in a breakthrough for any battery-run devices and technologies reliant on the fast and reliable supply of electricity, including smart phones and tablets.
source https://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2021/10/211028120400.htm
source https://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2021/10/211028120400.htm
These hips don’t lie: 3D imaging of a pelvis suggests social care for saber-tooths
A new study reveals saber-toothed cats suffered from hip dysplasia, an affliction common in pet cats and dogs, and points to supportive social structures for Smilodon.
source https://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2021/10/211028120354.htm
source https://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2021/10/211028120354.htm
Increased cognitive demands offset low-back exoskeleton advantages, research finds
In manufacturing, work-related lower-back injuries from lifting and handling heavy objects account for approximately $100 billion in medical bills annually in the United States, according to new data. Although novel ergonomic interventions such as industrial exoskeletons have shown promise in reducing the risk of musculoskeletal injuries, new research finds that the cognitive fit (where the wearer has ample mental resources available to accurately operate the exoskeleton while conducting their daily work tasks) of such wearable robotic solutions in the workplace may impose newer risks on workers.
source https://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2021/10/211028120351.htm
source https://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2021/10/211028120351.htm
Nurses as parents exemplify link between poor sleep and daily stress
A new article details how nurses who also are parents might be more susceptible than other groups to daily stress aggravated by poor sleep.
source https://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2021/10/211028120349.htm
source https://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2021/10/211028120349.htm
How two people controlled HIV after stopping treatment
Research has identified two distinct ways that people with HIV can control the virus for an extended period after stopping antiretroviral therapy (ART) under medical supervision. This information could inform efforts to develop new tools to help people with HIV put the virus into remission without taking lifelong medication, which can have long-term side-effects.
source https://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2021/10/211028120345.htm
source https://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2021/10/211028120345.htm
Creating a new 'toehold' for RNA therapeutics, cell therapies, and diagnostics
Synthetic biologists have developed eToeholds -- small versatile devices built into RNA that enable expression of a linked protein-encoding sequence only when a cell-specific or viral RNA is present. eToehold devices open up multiple opportunities for more targeted types of RNA therapy, in vitro cell and tissue engineering approaches, and the sensing of diverse biological threats in humans and other higher organisms.
source https://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2021/10/211028120332.htm
source https://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2021/10/211028120332.htm
Engineers devise a way to selectively turn on RNA therapies in human cells
Researchers have designed a way to selectively turn on gene expression in target cells, including human cells. Their technology can detect specific mRNA sequences, which triggers production of a specific protein.
source https://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2021/10/211028120330.htm
source https://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2021/10/211028120330.htm
Long-lived proteins in mitochondria of brain stabilize protein complexes
Scientists have taken a closer look at how mitochondria are maintained in nondividing cells, such as neurons, with the ultimate goal of developing a better understanding of how to prevent or treat age-related diseases.
source https://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2021/10/211028120328.htm
source https://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2021/10/211028120328.htm
Thursday 28 October 2021
New computer modeling could boost drug discovery
Scientists have developed a computer-aided data tool that could improve treatment for a range of illnesses.
source https://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2021/10/211027121951.htm
source https://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2021/10/211027121951.htm
Brain connectivity is lower in adults with PTSD or a history of sexual abuse
A study has found that adults with maltreatment-related posttraumatic stress disorder or a history of sexual abuse have lower brain connectivity in the attention systems known as the ventral and dorsal attention network. These networks enable us to shift attention from external events to a specific task. The team also found that oxytocin, a hormone associated with social affiliation as well as stress response, increases brain connectivity in those systems.
source https://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2021/10/211027121948.htm
source https://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2021/10/211027121948.htm
Powerful X-ray technique finds new degradation-inducing materials in British shipwreck
In 1545, King Henry VIII's favorite ship, the Mary Rose, capsized and sank in the Battle of the Solent defending England and Portsmouth from a French invasion fleet. The wreck remained on the seabed until 1982 when it was salvaged in a widely viewed televised event. Now, it is a time capsule for 16th century Tudor society, and conservators are working to preserve it for future generations. Scientists use X-ray analysis to identify previously undetected products in the wood -- nanoparticles originating from underwater bacterial activity.
source https://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2021/10/211027121945.htm
source https://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2021/10/211027121945.htm
The surprising origins of the Tarim Basin mummies
Researchers have determined the genetic origins of Asia's most enigmatic mummies. Once thought to be Indo-European speaking migrants from the West, the Bronze Age Tarim Basin mummies are revealed to be a local indigenous population with deep Asian roots and taste for far-flung cuisine.
source https://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2021/10/211027121943.htm
source https://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2021/10/211027121943.htm
Genetic risk of mental health conditions may influence where people choose to live, study suggests
Research on around 386,000 UK adults has found that a high genetic risk for schizophrenia and other mental health conditions, including bipolar disorder, anorexia and autism, is associated with living in and moving to urban areas. In contrast, people with low genetic risk of ADHD preferentially moved from rural/suburban environments to cities.
source https://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2021/10/211027121940.htm
source https://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2021/10/211027121940.htm
Making Martian rocket biofuel on Mars
Researchers have developed a concept that would make Martian rocket fuel, on Mars, that could be used to launch future astronauts back to Earth.
source https://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2021/10/211027122016.htm
source https://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2021/10/211027122016.htm
Polar bear diet may indicate prey distribution changes due to climate shifts
How are warming temperatures and a loss of sea ice affecting polar bears and their marine mammal prey in the Arctic? A York University-led research team used a novel approach to the question by monitoring what polar bears eat across Nunavut and where they are catching their prey.
source https://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2021/10/211027122011.htm
source https://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2021/10/211027122011.htm
Red paint on 1,000-year-old gold mask from Peru contains human blood proteins
Thirty years ago, archeologists excavated the tomb of an elite 40--50-year-old man from the Sicán culture of Peru, a society that predated the Incas. The man's seated, upside-down skeleton was painted bright red, as was the gold mask covering his detached skull. Now, researchers have analyzed the paint, finding that, in addition to a red pigment, it contains human blood and bird egg proteins.
source https://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2021/10/211027121956.htm
source https://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2021/10/211027121956.htm
Carbon nanotubes could help electronics withstand outer space’s harsh conditions
Space missions, such as NASA's Orion that will take astronauts to Mars, are pushing the limits of human exploration. But during their transit, spacecrafts encounter a continuous stream of damaging cosmic radiation, which can harm or even destroy onboard electronics. To extend future missions, researchers show that transistors and circuits with carbon nanotubes can be configured to maintain their electrical properties and memory after being bombarded by high amounts of radiation.
source https://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2021/10/211027085415.htm
source https://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2021/10/211027085415.htm
Making the strange metal state in high temperature superconductors even stranger
Researchers have uncovered a striking new behavior of the 'strange metal' state of high temperature superconductors. The discovery represents an important piece of the puzzle for understanding these materials.
source https://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2021/10/211027085412.htm
source https://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2021/10/211027085412.htm
A new 3D printing frontier: Self-powered wearable devices
Researchers have created an innovative hybrid printing method -- combining multi-material aerosol jet printing and extrusion printing -- that integrates both functional and structural materials into a single streamlined printing platform.
source https://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2021/10/211027085346.htm
source https://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2021/10/211027085346.htm
How do plants act fast to fight off infections?
New work reveals a new mechanism by which plants are able to rapidly activate defenses against bacterial infections. These findings could inspire efforts to improve crop yields and combat global hunger.
source https://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2021/10/211027085343.htm
source https://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2021/10/211027085343.htm
Potentially harmful industrial chemicals detected in US fast foods
Chicken nuggets, burritos and other popular items consumers buy from fast food outlets in the United States contain chemicals that are linked to a long list of serious health problems, according to a new study.
source https://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2021/10/211027085324.htm
source https://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2021/10/211027085324.htm
Wednesday 27 October 2021
New research finds air pollution reduces sperm counts through brain inflammation
Researchers have long known that air pollution can increase the risk of disorders such as obesity, diabetes, and fertility, but they did not know the exact mechanism for how it can lead to these health conditions. Now researchers have shown how air pollution reduces sperm count in mice by causing inflammation in the brain.
source https://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2021/10/211025101719.htm
source https://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2021/10/211025101719.htm
Metabolic memory plays a key role in breast cancer relapse
Molecular targets for therapies that could prevent breast cancer recurrence have been identified by a group of scientists who analyzed tumor cells that proved resistant to the original treatment. Recent advances in early detection and targeted therapy have led to a growing success in treating breast cancer upon first presentation. This often is achieved by silencing tumor driving oncogenes and causing tumor regression.
source https://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2021/10/211025101717.htm
source https://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2021/10/211025101717.htm
Genes may affect the level of harmful bacterial toxins in the bloodstream
Lipopolysaccharide, a virulence factor produced by bacteria, is a toxin that can cause a systemic inflammation via the circulation. In a recently completed study, genetic markers were discovered which are associated with a heightened lipopolysaccharide level in the blood.
source https://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2021/10/211025101714.htm
source https://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2021/10/211025101714.htm
A big leap forward in using iron catalysts for pharmaceuticals
Researchers have created and characterized a novel, three-component cross-coupling reaction that is a 'tremendous leap forward' in developing effective and practical iron-based reactions that could be used to create pharmaceuticals. Unlike palladium, the transition metal catalyst most often used in industry and academic labs, iron is abundant, cheap and relatively nontoxic.
source https://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2021/10/211025101711.htm
source https://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2021/10/211025101711.htm
Resistance is not futile: Predicting how changes in production, materials impact EV battery life
As demand for electric vehicle batteries continues to grow, researchers have developed a method for predicting how changes to manufacturing processes and materials will impact battery life.
source https://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2021/10/211025101706.htm
source https://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2021/10/211025101706.htm
New study suggests that breastfeeding may help prevent cognitive decline
A new study has found that women over the age of 50 who had breastfed their babies performed better on cognitive tests compared to women who had never breastfed. The findings suggest that breastfeeding may have a positive impact on postmenopausal women's cognitive performance and could have long-term benefits for the mother's brain.
source https://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2021/10/211023122141.htm
source https://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2021/10/211023122141.htm
Slow release of a drug, TT-10, improves heart attack recovery in a mouse model
A pharmaceutical product called TT-10, which spurs proliferation of heart muscle cells, was thought to offer promise to treat heart attacks. In a mouse heart-attack model several years ago, intraperitoneal injection of TT-10 at first promoted proliferation of heart muscle cells and showed declines in the size of the dead area of heart muscle. However, these early improvements were followed by worsened cardiac function at later time points. Now researchers show that a different delivery method, nanoparticle-mediated, slow-release of TT-10, enhances the potency and durability of TT-10 treatment for repair of heart muscle in the mouse heart-attack model.
source https://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2021/10/211023122139.htm
source https://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2021/10/211023122139.htm
Machine learning predicts antibiotic resistance spread
Genes aren't only inherited through birth. Bacteria have the ability to pass genes to each other, or pick them up from their environment, through a process called horizonal gene transfer, which is a major culprit in the spread of antibiotic resistance.
source https://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2021/10/211022171524.htm
source https://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2021/10/211022171524.htm
Experiments confirm a quantum material’s unique response to circularly polarized laser light
Scientists are probing topological insulators with circularly polarized light to reveal their many secrets. These exotic materials have potential for quantum computing and other technologies. They discovered that high harmonic generation produces a unique signature from the topological surface.
source https://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2021/10/211022171514.htm
source https://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2021/10/211022171514.htm
Specific molecular mechanism that controls the transition from acute to chronic pain
A new study reveals the specific molecular mechanism that controls the transition from acute to chronic pain, and identifies this mechanism as a critical target for disease-modifying medicines.
source https://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2021/10/211022171503.htm
source https://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2021/10/211022171503.htm
Mechanism behind ineffective psoriasis drugs identified
Interleukin-12 -- a messenger molecule of immune cells -- was long considered to trigger the development of psoriasis. Now, researchers have shown that interleukin-12 does not actually cause the skin disease but protects against it. This also explains why common psoriasis drugs that block the messenger show insufficient treatment efficacy.
source https://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2021/10/211022171455.htm
source https://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2021/10/211022171455.htm
No ‘silver bullet’ for UK reaching net zero carbon emissions for electricity
CO2 emissions from electricity in the UK fell by two thirds in the last decade due to several factors working together, rather than a single panacea.
source https://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2021/10/211022123817.htm
source https://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2021/10/211022123817.htm
Fighting multiple sclerosis with cold
In evolutionary biology, the 'Life History Theory,' first proposed in the 1950s, postulates that when the environment is favorable, the resources used by any organism are devoted for growth and reproduction. Conversely, in a hostile environment, resources are transferred to so-called maintenance programs, such as energy conservation and defense against external attacks. Scientists developed this idea to a specific field of medicine: the erroneous activation of the immune system that causes autoimmune diseases. By studying mice suffering from a model of multiple sclerosis, the research team succeeded in deciphering how exposure to cold pushed the organism to divert its resources from the immune system towards maintaining body heat.
source https://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2021/10/211022123753.htm
source https://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2021/10/211022123753.htm
Gene therapy shows early promise as angelman syndrome treatment
Scientists have reported encouraging early tests of a gene therapy strategy against Angelman syndrome, a neurodevelopmental disorder that features poor muscle control and balance, hard-to-treat epilepsy, and intellectual disabilities.
source https://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2021/10/211022123744.htm
source https://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2021/10/211022123744.htm
Animated Map Shows Record Expansion of Transit Lanes
Animated Map Shows Record Expansion of Transit Lanes
By Michael Rhodes
Published October 26, 2021 at 11:32PM
https://ift.tt/2ZuiUYw
By Michael Rhodes
An animated map showing the expansion of transit lanes in San Francisco. View as a PDF.
It’s been a record year for transit lanes in San Francisco: we’ve installed nearly 14 miles of new or upgraded lanes since summer 2020. That’s the fastest expansion of transit lanes in the city’s history. These transit lanes benefit Muni routes that serve nearly two-thirds of current customers. It’s all part of our efforts to give transit riders priority on congested streets and improve Muni speed and reliability. Better Muni service means more people will opt to take transit instead of driving, that reduces congestion and supports our environmental goals.
To commemorate this milestone, we’ve put together an animated map showing the evolution of San Francisco’s transit lane network over the last 15 years. We hope you find it as mesmerizing as we do to watch transit lanes expand across the city during this time.
Transit lanes are dedicated to Muni vehicles as well as other buses and taxis in most cases. They help improve Muni’s travel time and reliability and protect transit riders from traffic congestion. Red transit lanes were first introduced in San Francisco in 2013 and have proven to be even more effective than non-red transit lanes, leading to about a 50% reduction in violations.
We’ve been steadily adding to the transit lane network since the 1970s, when the original Transit First Policy was adopted, but the past five years have been especially busy. And as the final map shows, many more transit lanes are fully approved and coming soon, including the much anticipated Van Ness Avenue transit lanes.
An SFMTA paint shop crew installs new red transit lane on Geary Boulevard
A few highlights to look out for in the map:
- Transit lanes on the T Third, installed as part of the line’s launch in 2007
- The city’s first red transit lanes, installed on Church Street in 2013
- The major expansion of red transit lanes in 2014, including Geary, O’Farrell, Market, Haight and 3rd streets
- The evolution of Market Street in downtown from a short segment of transit lanes in 2006 to full transit lane coverage by 2021
- The extension of transit lanes on Geary Boulevard, our busiest bus corridor, in 2018 and 2020 to cover nearly the entire 38 Geary /38R Geary Rapid lines (with more red paint on its way!)
- The upgrading of existing transit lanes on Mission Street in SoMa from part-time to 24/7 in SoMa in 2021 (soon to be upgraded with red paint)
- A short but important new transit lane on the 4th Street bridge added in 2021, filling a key gap in the T Third’s transit lanes
- The record-setting expansion of transit lanes in 2020 and 2021 as part of our Temporary Emergency Transit Lanes program, which benefits nearly half of all current Muni riders
- The state’s first urban arterial HOV lanes, installed on Lombard Street in September 2021
A train crosses a new transit lane on the historic 4th Street Bridge
What’s Next
Transit lanes have proven their worth in getting Muni riders where they’re going faster yet again this year, and more are on the way. In addition to installing transit lanes that are already approved, we’ll be starting outreach on a new round of Muni Forward projects in the coming year to deliver faster, more reliable and less crowded service to Muni customers. These projects will include transit lanes and other transit priority measures that keep Muni moving. Sign up for our Muni Forward mailing list to receive updates about new transit lanes coming your way.
Map Notes
For those who can’t get enough detail about transit lanes, here are a few more notes about how we created the map:
- We didn’t differentiate between one-way and two-way transit lanes on the map, except on Market Street
- We included any dedicated lane within a city street as a transit lane, including rail tracks that can’t be used by buses. Subways, tunnels and rail rights-of-way that are entirely separate from any roadway (such as the J Church right-of-way through Dolores Park) were not included.
- We included HOV lanes on Lombard that serve the 28 19th Avenue bus line, but didn’t include a short stretch of HOV lane on Bryant Street because it’s not used by transit
- In a few cases, transit lanes go away temporarily during roadway construction, such as on 4th Street for the Central Subway. In rare cases, transit lanes are removed because transit is rerouted to a new street, such as the transit lane on Harrison Street that served the old 12 Folsom route before it was eventually rerouted a block north to Folsom Street.
- Not all approved Temporary Emergency Transit Lanes on the 43 and 44 lines are shown as we’re monitoring transit performance to help us determine when to move forward with these lanes. Learn more on the 43/44 TETL project webpage.
Published October 26, 2021 at 11:32PM
https://ift.tt/2ZuiUYw
Tuesday 26 October 2021
Vitamin D deficiency for the first time visible after cremation
The cremation process destroys a lot of information that can usually be obtained from the human skeleton. Especially diseases are difficult to observe. Researchers have now found a way to reveal some of the information. For the first time, they have succeeded in detecting vitamin D deficiency in cremated human remains.
source https://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2021/10/211025101741.htm
source https://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2021/10/211025101741.htm
Stronger than spider silk: Bagworm silk enables strong conducting fibers
Researchers have harnessed the strength of bagworm silk to produce a strong conductive fiber. To obtain this novel fiber, the research team combined bagworm silk with polyaniline as a conducting polymer. The composite fibers act as an optical waveguide and are suitable for use in textile transistors. This production of a bagworm silk/polyaniline composite will enable the use of biocompatible conducting fibers for applications ranging from microelectronics to biomedical engineering.
source https://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2021/10/211022123825.htm
source https://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2021/10/211022123825.htm
Traces of an ancient road in a lake
Eight hundred years of settlement history with land reforms, epidemics and repeated wars are preserved in the sediments of Lake Czechowskie in Poland. The key role was played by the so-called Margrave's Road, the 'Via Marchionis', between the Prussian heartland and the Teutonic Order's castle Marienburg (today Malbork in Poland). The road remained significant for centuries.
source https://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2021/10/211022123819.htm
source https://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2021/10/211022123819.htm
70 Years at Elkton Shops: Part 1
70 Years at Elkton Shops: Part 1
By Jeremy Menzies
Published October 25, 2021 at 11:39PM
https://ift.tt/2ZsJG3E
By Jeremy Menzies
In this two-part blog series, we will look back at the history of one of our city’s hardest working transportation properties. For almost 115 years, the Elkton lot, located on San Jose Avenue between Ocean and Niagara Avenues, has been the epicenter of SF streetcar operations. In this post, we will explore the first 70 years at the property when it was known as “Elkton Shops”.
Built between 1905 and 1907 by the United Railroads of San Francisco (URR) on a several acre field in the outskirts of the city, Elkton Shops was the most comprehensive transit facility in the city. The new shops, mainly surrounded by farmland, were named after a Southern Pacific Railroad stop just steps away on Ocean Avenue.
A lone cable car sits on a muddy ladder track outside the newly built Elkton Shops in this January 1907 shot.
In 1921, Elkton changed hands, going to the Market Street Railway Company after URR suffered years of financial troubles. During its heyday in the 1920s, Elkton Shops was a powerhouse of repair and production. A staff of over 350 people were responsible for building and overhauling hundreds of streetcars and cable cars to keep the railway’s sprawling system running.
This 1928 photo was taken at the peak of production at Elkton Shops when staff was turning out 26 brand new cars a year on top of 316 complete overhauls and myriad other work.
Every type of job from replacing broken windows and upholstering seats to machining wheels, overhauling electric motors, and painting cars was performed in the shops. According to a 1928 article in the company’s newsletter, the average time it took to completely overhaul a streetcar at Elkton was 19 days. On average, 22 cars would be in the shops undergoing the process at any one time.
A view inside the overhaul shop in 1912 showing a row of streetcars at left and staff tearing down trucks and motors at right.
In 1944, the Market Street Railway Co. was purchased by the city and Elkton became a part of the now greatly expanded San Francisco Municipal Railway. The heyday of streetcars would soon be coming to an end but the ramshackle old shops continued to hold a valuable place in the future of Muni.
This 1942 shot shows Elkton’s rear yard crowded with everything from cobblestones to streetcar wheels.
Following World War II, Muni began quickly expanding its bus fleet and in 1948, Elkton’s rear yard was cleared and excavated to build the Ocean Division bus yard. The new yard would provide fueling, maintenance and storage for Muni’s growing fleet, including newly leased Mack buses. Elkton Shops remained in service next to the bus yard for another two decades.
Looking southwest from San Jose and Ocean Avenues, this view shows Muni’s Ocean Division in 1972. At the left is a service station, center the fueling and shop buildings and at right are the Elkton Shops.
The death knell for Elkton occurred in the mid-1970s as the city moved to bring Muni Metro to life with “light rail vehicles.” As these new trains travelled through a subway underneath Market Street, Muni needed a new facility to house and maintain this brand-new fleet. In 1975, Ocean Division was demolished and construction began on what would become the city’s first modern rail repair shop. Just two years later on May 27, 1977, workers at Elkton Shops punched their last timecards in the run-down old building. Four days later, the huge turn of the century shop buildings met their fate with the wrecking ball.
The end of an era came on May 31, 1977 when Elkton Shops was torn down after 70 years of service. In less than 3 years, a rail yard filled with brand new light rail vehicles would stand in place of the old shop buildings.
Tune in next month for part two of this series and learn about the next phase of life at this storied property.
Published October 25, 2021 at 11:39PM
https://ift.tt/2ZsJG3E
Monday 25 October 2021
Sunday 24 October 2021
Controlling light with a material three atoms thick
Thin structures made of black phosphorus can tune the properties of light, with implications for science and technology.
source https://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2021/10/211022171506.htm
source https://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2021/10/211022171506.htm
Saturday 23 October 2021
Plans for 2022 Muni Service Take the Next Step
Plans for 2022 Muni Service Take the Next Step
By Mariana Maguire
Published October 23, 2021 at 04:02AM
https://ift.tt/3nkh2tn
By Mariana Maguire
A 2 Clement Muni bus serving its route to Park Presidio Boulevard. The 2 Clement is proposed to return to service in early 2022.
When we asked about what SFMTA should do with resources to expand a bit of service, the SFMTA received more than 4,500 responses to our survey asking San Franciscans what they want to see when we’re able to add more service in February 2022.
We also received detailed feedback about Muni service at meetings, pop-ups and via email and our hotline. In response to that feedback, in early 2022 we are restoring connections, particularly for people with disabilities and seniors. Taking the time to evaluate our service and working with the public, we have also developed ideas for new connections, allowing Muni to take more people more places.
These changes will restore key pre-pandemic connections, preserve or restore Muni access in hilly areas and focus on access for people with disabilities and seniors. At the same time, they will provide new direct connections from the Western Addition, Tenderloin and Richmond District to Caltrain, Oracle Park (Giants’ Stadium) and SoMa, and will provide new through-service between North Beach, Fisherman’s Wharf, Russian Hill and the Marina through all the western neighborhoods.
In the survey responses, we also heard a desire for increased frequency to reduce crowding and wait times on high ridership Muni routes, so we are looking for opportunities where resources allow us to do that as well. Once we know the extent of the impact of the city's vaccination mandate, we will restore as much service as we can, and then increase frequency on high ridership routes to reduce crowding and wait times as resources allow.
Proposed 2022 Muni Service Route Restorations and Improvements
We are proposing to restore five of the seven pre-pandemic routes that are currently still suspended, although some of those routes would be restored with some changes to balance resources.
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The 2 Clement would be restored to Presidio Avenue and California Street and operate every 15 minutes all day on weekdays
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The 6 Haight/Parnassus would return every 20 minutes, and the 52 Excelsior and 66 Quintara would return to their past routes
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The 10 Townsend would be restored to Sansome and Montgomery streets and run along 16th Street in Potrero Hill
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The 21 Hayes would be restored every 15 minutes to Grove and Hayes streets
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The 31 Balboa would be rerouted to 5th Street, Townsend Street, 3rd Street and Harrison Street, with a terminal at the 4th and King Caltrain Station
These routes are especially important to access hospitals such as St. Mary’s and UCSF, senior centers, low-cost food options and other key connections among neighborhoods. We also heard the need for more connections to Caltrain, between Potrero Hill and the Financial District.
The 28R 19th Avenue Rapid would also be restored in full for stronger North/South connections and the 43 Masonic would be extended to its pre-pandemic route north of Presidio and California to the Presidio, the Marina and Fort Mason. This responds to the need we heard for connections to Fort Mason and nearby grocery stores.
While we don’t propose to restore the 3 Jackson and 47 Van Ness in early 2022, we are proposing some changes to the 5 Fulton, 12 Folsom/Pacific, 28 19th Avenue, 30 Stockton, 38R Geary Rapid and 49 Van Ness/Mission to help bridge service gaps, including more frequent service to reduce crowding and wait times and route extensions to make connections to grocery stores, hospitals, schools and diverse workplaces.
Changes could also be made to some routes that were temporarily changed during the pandemic, such as the 23 Monterey, 48 Quintara/24th Street, 57 Parkmerced and 58 Lake Merced that could potentially address demand for service along Brotherhood Way, Sloat Boulevard, better access to businesses in Noe Valley, and safety concerns along Clipper Street.
The proposal also includes options for the J Church: When rail service was restored to the J Church line in December 2020, we did not reintroduce the J Church into the subway, ending the line at Church and Duboce. This change allows us to limit the number of trains in the subway, reduce congestion and improve reliability for the entire Muni Metro system. In early 2022, the J Church could remain as it currently is, an all-surface route terminating at Church Street and Duboce Avenue, to maintain the improvement in reliability on the J Church and the 75% reduction in delays we are seeing in the subway. But, it could also be returned to the Market Street Subway evenings only, when there is less congestion in the tunnel, or even full-time.
Next Steps
We will be seeking approval of the service plan by the SFMTA Board on December 7, 2021, and expect to implement the additional service in February 2022. This time frame may be pushed back depending on transit operator availability related to the vaccine mandate.
We will present this plan for input at several upcoming meetings where the public can provide public comment. See SFMTA.com/2022Network for upcoming meetings. To provide feedback, email TellMuni@SFMTA.com or call 415.646.2005.
We expect to finalize the proposal for these improvements to Muni service in November. We will continue to seek additional funding, which we will need to make any further changes. Looking forward to the next 6 months, it is our goal to restore more if we can tackle the long-term funding. We will also continue community dialogue and planning to develop an expansion of our Rapid network and other frequency improvements to address crowding and reduce wait times as the system continues to recover. There are many competing needs for our Muni system. We are doing our best to balance as many of them as possible with the resources that we have.
Published October 23, 2021 at 04:02AM
https://ift.tt/3nkh2tn
Celebrating Quicker Muni Trips on a Safer Geary
Celebrating Quicker Muni Trips on a Safer Geary
By Amy Fowler
Published October 23, 2021 at 03:13AM
https://ift.tt/3E9uUNM
By Amy Fowler
The sky was gloomy but the mood was celebratory at the Japantown Peace Plaza on Wednesday. Fortunately, the rain stopped just long enough for the SFMTA, along with Mayor London Breed and other city departments and community members, to celebrate the completion of the Geary Rapid Project. This major civic improvement project has helped to revitalize one of San Francisco’s busiest corridors between Market and Stanyan streets with more reliable bus service, safer streets, upgraded utilities and new trees.
One safety improvement in particular was a much-anticipated addition for residents of the Fillmore, Japantown and St. Francis Square communities: a new signalized crosswalk at Geary and Buchanan. That and three other new crosswalks in the area are providing safer crossing opportunities for people walking and helping to reconnect neighborhoods that were divided by the Geary Expressway and “urban renewal” in the mid-twentieth century.
Pre-pandemic, the combined Geary routes boasted one of the highest bus riderships in the country, with more than 56,000 daily customers relying on the 38 Geary and 38R Geary Rapid. As riders return, they are experiencing a faster, more reliable ride thanks to transit improvements that were made along the three-mile stretch of Geary.
Dedicated transit lanes, bus stop optimization and signal retiming were implemented at the beginning of the project in late 2018. These quick-build improvements alone resulted in 38R Geary Rapid travel time savings of up to 20%. More recent improvements include coloring the transit lanes red to improve compliance and installing 12 new transit bulb-outs—sidewalk extensions at stops that reduce delays by allowing buses to remain in the travel lane. The Transit Signal Priority system, which helps buses get the green light at intersections more often, has also been upgraded. Now that the full suite of transit improvements has been installed, we’re beginning to assess how well they’re working and will share full evaluation results in 2022.
SFMTA Director of Transportation Jeffrey Tumlin makes opening remarks at the Geary Rapid ribbon cutting event
Other upgrades include a host of safety improvements to address Geary’s designation as a high-injury corridor. Thirty-four new pedestrian bulbs-outs were built along the corridor to shorten crossing distances for people walking and slow turning vehicles. Other additions include accessible pedestrian signals, curb ramps, countdown signals and longer crosswalk timing to allow people of all abilities to cross Geary safely. The Tenderloin, where there is a disproportionate number of severe and fatal collisions, was a focal point for many of these improvements.
The Western Addition has also been spruced up with the addition of 31 new trees. The trees, plus visual narrowing of the lanes and reducing the number of travel lanes from eight to six, all work together to give the area more of a neighborhood feel and slow down speeding vehicles who have treated the thoroughfare like a highway.
Visit our virtual tour to explore an interactive map of Geary Rapid Project highlights.
This three-year capital project was completed on time and on budget. To minimize the need to dig more than once, construction was coordinated with other City agencies, including 1.5 miles of new sewer mains and almost three miles of upgraded water mains by San Francisco Public Utilities Commission (SFPUC). Public Works has rejuvenated 1.5 miles of deteriorated streets between Masonic and Van Ness avenues with fresh paving.
The Geary Rapid Project is the first of two phases of improvements planned as part of the Geary Corridor Bus Rapid Transit (BRT) project. Outreach and preliminary design is currently underway on the second phase, the Geary Boulevard Improvement Project, which would bring similar transit and safety improvements west of Stanyan Street to 34th Avenue.
Published October 23, 2021 at 03:13AM
https://ift.tt/3E9uUNM
Under arrest: Using nanofibers to stop brain tumor cells from spreading
Researchers have used high-density nanofibers that mimic the microenvironment of the brain to capture tumor cells, opening doors to novel therapeutic solutions for aggressive brain cancer.
source https://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2021/10/211021120943.htm
source https://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2021/10/211021120943.htm
Friday 22 October 2021
Savannah chimpanzees, a model for the understanding of human evolution
To prosper, most great apes need lush forests in Africa (bonobos, chimpanzees, and gorillas) or Southeast Asia (orangutans), except for some groups of chimpanzees that live in Savannahs, habitats characterized by high temperatures and very low seasonal rainfall.
source https://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2021/10/211020140009.htm
source https://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2021/10/211020140009.htm
Astronomers provide 'field guide' to exoplanets known as hot Jupiters
By combining Hubble Space Telescope observations with theoretical models, a team of astronomers has gained insights into the chemical and physical makeup of a variety of exoplanets known as hot Jupiters. The findings provide a new and improved 'field guide' for this group of planets and inform ideas about planet formation in general.
source https://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2021/10/211021121109.htm
source https://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2021/10/211021121109.htm
New photonic chip for isolating light may be key to miniaturizing quantum devices
Light plays a critical role in enabling 21st century quantum information applications. Limited by size, engineers need to miniaturize quantum devices, which requires re-thinking certain components for harnessing light. Researchers have designed a simple, compact photonic circuit that uses sound waves to rein in light. The team's measurements show that their approach to isolation currently outperforms all previous on-chip alternatives and is optimized for compatibility with atom-based sensors.
source https://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2021/10/211021121107.htm
source https://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2021/10/211021121107.htm
Spending time in nature promotes early childhood development
Want to ensure your child hits their expected developmental milestones? New research suggests living in areas with high exposure to green-space can help set them up for success.
source https://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2021/10/211021121016.htm
source https://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2021/10/211021121016.htm
Northern lakes warming six times faster in the past 25 years
Lakes in the Northern Hemisphere are warming six times faster since 1992 than any other time period in the last 100 years, new research has found.
source https://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2021/10/211021121002.htm
source https://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2021/10/211021121002.htm
Africa-wide great ape assessment reveals human activity, not habitat availability, is greatest driver of ape abundance
The first-ever Africa-wide assessment of great apes -- gorillas, bonobos and chimpanzees -- finds that human factors, including roads, population density and GDP, determine abundance more than ecological factors such as forest cover.
source https://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2021/10/211021120949.htm
source https://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2021/10/211021120949.htm
Tap water produces a protective shield against microplastics
Tap water produces a natural protective shield against harmful microplastics, which can help prevent household products such as plastic kettles from releasing them.
source https://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2021/10/211021120932.htm
source https://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2021/10/211021120932.htm
Early dinosaurs may have lived in social herds as early as 193 million years ago
Scientists believe they have found the earliest evidence for complex herd behavior in dinosaurs. Researchers say Mussaurus patagonicus may have lived in herds some 193 million years ago -- 40 million years earlier than other records of dinosaur herding.
source https://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2021/10/211021120921.htm
source https://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2021/10/211021120921.htm
Thursday 21 October 2021
Astronomers detect signs of an atmosphere stripped from a planet in a giant impact
A team has discovered evidence of a giant impact in the nearby HD 17255 star system, in which an Earth-sized terrestrial planet and a smaller impactor likely collided at least 200,000 years ago, stripping off part of one planet's atmosphere.
source https://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2021/10/211020135916.htm
source https://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2021/10/211020135916.htm
Humans did not cause woolly mammoths to go extinct -- climate change did
Humans did not cause woolly mammoths to go extinct -- climate change did. For five million years, woolly mammoths roamed the earth until they vanished for good nearly 4,000 years ago -- and scientists have finally proved why. The hairy cousins of today's elephants lived alongside early humans and were a regular staple of their diet -- their skeletons were used to build shelters, harpoons were carved from their giant tusks, artwork featuring them is daubed on cave walls, and 30,000 years ago, the oldest known musical instrument, a flute, was made out of a mammoth bone.
source https://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2021/10/211020135914.htm
source https://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2021/10/211020135914.htm
Unmasking the magic of superconductivity in twisted graphene
Researchers report an uncanny resemblance between the superconductivity of magic graphene and that of high temperature superconductors. Magic graphene may hold the key to unlocking new mechanisms of superconductivity, including high temperature superconductivity.
source https://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2021/10/211020135912.htm
source https://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2021/10/211020135912.htm
Lightweight electric wristband heaters for constant, portable warmth
As the fall chill settles in across the U.S., people are getting out their cozy sweaters and electric blankets, or stocking up on handheld heat packets for extra warmth. But sweaters and blankets are bulky, and heat packs only work for a little while. Now, researchers demonstrate a conductive, durable yarn for lightweight wearable heaters that are re-usable and provide constant, portable warmth.
source https://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2021/10/211020135908.htm
source https://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2021/10/211020135908.htm
Plugging into ocean waves with a flexible, seaweed-like generator
Ocean waves can be powerful, containing enough energy to push around sand, pebbles and even boulders during storms. These waves, as well as smaller, more gentle ones, could be tapped as a source of renewable energy. Now, researchers have developed flexible power generators that mimic the way seaweed sways to efficiently convert surface and underwater waves into electricity to power marine-based devices.
source https://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2021/10/211020135844.htm
source https://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2021/10/211020135844.htm
Male-female differences in heart disease could start before birth
New research suggests that male-female differences in protein expression occur immediately after embryonic cells become heart cells called cardiomyocytes. This is the earliest stage of heart development, well before the embryo is exposed to sex hormones.
source https://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2021/10/211020135840.htm
source https://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2021/10/211020135840.htm
Urban wastes used as fertilizers contain higher PFAS than livestock manure
Because of their useful surfactant properties, per- and polyfluoroalkyl substances (PFAS) have been massively produced for non-stick coatings, water-repellant fabrics and firefighting foams. However, scientists have detected these highly stable 'forever chemicals' throughout the environment, prompting toxicity concerns. Now, researchers have characterized PFAS in contemporary and historical organic waste products applied to agricultural fields in France, finding the highest amounts in urban samples, with compounds changing over time.
source https://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2021/10/211020083852.htm
source https://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2021/10/211020083852.htm
In your face: Children’s expressions tell the story of poor sleep
When children are overtired, their facial expressions can forecast social problems years later, according to a new report published by a psychologist.
source https://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2021/10/211019223241.htm
source https://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2021/10/211019223241.htm
Scientists develop sperm cells from primate stem cells
A new study shows that functional sperm cells can be made in a dish using primate embryonic stem cells.
source https://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2021/10/211019223238.htm
source https://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2021/10/211019223238.htm
Brain activation in sleeping toddlers shows memory for words
Very young children learn words at a tremendous rate. Now researchers have seen how specific brain regions activate as two-year-olds remember newly learned words -- while the children were sleeping.
source https://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2021/10/211019223219.htm
source https://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2021/10/211019223219.htm
Small-scale foragers left more than footprints on the landscape
Archaeological sites like the Great Wall of China and the pyramids can be seen with the naked eye from space, but for ancient societies that did not build, their traces on the landscape are more difficult to find. Now researchers have used satellite data to identify areas in coastal southwest Madagascar where indigenous foragers altered their surroundings.
source https://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2021/10/211019223151.htm
source https://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2021/10/211019223151.htm
Cat bacteria treats mouse skin infection, may help you and your pets as well
Researchers identify a strain of bacteria on healthy cats that produces antibiotics against severe skin infections. The findings may soon lead to new bacteriotherapies for humans and their pets, wherein cat bacteria is applied via topical cream or spray.
source https://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2021/10/211019123551.htm
source https://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2021/10/211019123551.htm
How quickly does the climate recover?
It took the climate 20,000 to 50,000 years to stabilize after the rise in global temperatures of five to eight degrees Celsius 56 million years ago. Climate change today is causing temperatures to rise and is also increasing the likelihood of storms, heavy rain, and flooding -- the recent flood disaster in the Ahr valley in Germany is just one such example. What we need to ask ourselves in this connection is how quickly the climate can recover from the warming caused by an increase in carbon dioxide in the atmosphere.
source https://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2021/10/211019123548.htm
source https://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2021/10/211019123548.htm
'Ray guns' let scientists use light instead of DNA to tell plant populations apart
Using a handheld device that looks a little like a ray gun, scientists recorded how plant leaves on different Alaskan mountains reflect light. And, it turns out, different populations of plants of the same species -- for instance, plants living on neighboring mountaintops -- reflect light differently, in ways that echo their genetic variation from each other.
source https://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2021/10/211019123544.htm
source https://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2021/10/211019123544.htm
Viral infections could promote neurodegeneration
Some viral diseases could possibly contribute to neurodegeneration. Researchers found that certain viral molecules facilitated intercellular spreading of protein aggregates that are hallmarks of brain diseases like Alzheimer's. These findings may provide clues how acute or chronic viral infections could contribute to neurodegeneration.
source https://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2021/10/211019120145.htm
source https://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2021/10/211019120145.htm
Amount of information in visible universe quantified
Researchers have long suspected a connection between information and the physical universe, with various paradoxes and thought experiments used to explore how or why information could be encoded in physical matter. A researcher attempts to shed light on exactly how much of this information is out there and presents a numerical estimate for the amount of encoded information in all the visible matter in the universe -- approximately 6 times 10 to the power of 80 bits of information.
source https://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2021/10/211019120142.htm
source https://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2021/10/211019120142.htm
More than 99.9% of studies agree: Humans caused climate change
More than 99.9% of peer-reviewed scientific papers agree that climate change is mainly caused by humans, according to a new survey of 88,125 climate-related studies.
source https://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2021/10/211019082702.htm
source https://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2021/10/211019082702.htm
Wednesday 20 October 2021
Street Transformations to Address COVID-19 Keep San Francisco Moving
Street Transformations to Address COVID-19 Keep San Francisco Moving
By Eillie Anzilotti
Published October 20, 2021 at 03:08AM
https://ift.tt/3n8e5Mo
By Eillie Anzilotti
A street closure in the Tenderloin as part of the COVID-19 response efforts.
Since the start of the COVID-19 pandemic in March 2020, many aspects of people’s lives have changed – including how we get around town. To reflect this new reality, the SFMTA pivoted in the way we design and operate our streets. From streets that prioritized people walking and bicycling in some of San Francisco’s major parks to Temporary Transit Lanes (TETLs) that protected Muni lines from the return of traffic congestion, San Francisco reimagined how streets could be used for people.
We have documented some of these transformations in a new report that highlights emergency street operations, Temporary Emergency Transit Lanes, the Slow Streets Program, Tenderloin street closures and reusing streets within or close to parks for recreational purposes. Within each effort, the report touches on the ways in which city programs have been responsive, equitable and people-centered.
Some highlights of our COVID-19 response work over the last year include:
- The SFMTA implemented over 700 street changes to remove parking and close streets based on the request of essential service providers, including medical care, food banks, testing sites and more. The majority of these requests were filled in less than three days.
- 12.5 miles of Temporary Emergency Transit Lanes (TETLs) were installed, significantly reducing travel times for tens of thousands of riders. For instance, after transit lanes were installed, transit travel times on Mission Street in the South of Market neighborhood stayed constant, even as traffic volumes increased by 20%. Travel times on the 14 Mission and 14R Mission Rapid are now 20% faster than pre-pandemic.
- The SFMTA installed 45 lane miles of Slow Streets during the pandemic. On average, traffic volumes decreased by over 50% after Slow Streets treatments were installed, while bicycle ridership increased by over 70%.
- Two miles of safer and calmer street treatments were implemented in the Tenderloin, including block closures for essential services, physical distancing lanes for increased walking space, shared spaces and play streets.
In response to unprecedented circumstances, the SFMTA has delivered a suite of responsive, innovative programs and projects within short timelines. Some aspects of these new programs and projects, such as Slow Street corridors, have demonstrated benefits beyond emergency response and are now moving towards a permanent, post-pandemic future.
Additional programs will continue to be monitored for their value and effectiveness within a rapidly evolving environment. As the pandemic continues and the needs of our streets and residents continue to shift, the SFMTA is committed to keeping San Francisco moving.
Published October 20, 2021 at 03:08AM
https://ift.tt/3n8e5Mo
