280 articles from WEDNESDAY 22.7.2020
NIH leadership details unprecedented effort to ramp up testing technologies for COVID-19
In a paper in NEJM, scientific leaders from the National Institutes of Health set forth a framework to increase significantly the number, quality and type of daily tests for detecting SARS-CoV-2, the virus that causes COVID-19, and help reduce inequities for underserved populations that have been disproportionally affected by the disease. The authors describe the current testing landscape and...
No honor among cyber thieves
A backstabbing crime boss and thousands of people looking for free tutorials on hacking and identity theft were two of the more interesting findings of a study examining user activity on two online 'carding forums,' illegal sites that specialize in stolen credit card information.
Non-invasive biomarkers to diagnose infant urinary tract obstruction
One in every 500 babies is born with ureteropelvic junction obstruction (UPJO), an obstruction of the ureter that prevents urine from flowing from one or both of the kidneys into the bladder. A group of researchers led by Linda Shapiro and Charan Kumar Devarakonda from UConn's School of Medicine developed an inexpensive, non-invasive panel of five biomarker proteins for the diagnosis and...
Novel 'on-off' switch discovered in plant defenses
Researchers investigating the ways that plants protect themselves--from insects to pathogens--have discovered an "on-off" switch that controls plant defensive mechanisms. The switch turns on immune responses minutes after an attack and later sends a deactivation signal to avoid self-inflicted damage. The finding lays the groundwork for improved plant disease resistance and food stability.
Novel technology extends battery life, increases upload speed, and reduces data corruption
Researchers from the University of Southern California have created a memory device with improved material and structure and which promises to increase data upload speed, extend smartphone battery life, and reduce data corruption.
Older adults feel stressed, yet resilient in the time of COVID-19
America's oldest citizens say they've been through worse, but many older adults are feeling the stress of COVID-19 and prolonged social distancing measures, according to a new study from the University of Georgia.
Oncotarget: Therapeutic efficacy of liposomal Grb2 antisense oligodeoxynucleotide (L-Grb2)
The cover for issue 29 of Oncotarget features Figure 5, "In vivo effects of treatment with L-Grb2 in combination with anti-angiogenic therapy in an ovarian tumor model," by Lara, et al. which reported that adaptor proteins such as growth factor receptor-bound protein-2 play important roles in cancer cell signaling. In the present study, the authors examined the biological effects of liposomal...
Optimizing neural networks on a brain-inspired computer
Neural networks in both biological settings and artificial intelligence distribute computation across their neurons to solve complex tasks. New research now shows how so-called 'critical states' can be used to optimize artificial neural networks running on brain-inspired neuromorphic hardware. The study was carried out by scientists from Heidelberg University working within the Human Brain...
Patients who lived longer with cancer at greater risk of severe COVID-19 infection
Cancer patients diagnosed more than 24 months ago are more likely to have a severe COVID-19 infection, research has found. Cancer patients of Asian ethnicity or who were receiving palliative treatment for cancer were also at a higher risk of death from COVID-19.
Perceived "whiteness" of Middle Eastern Americans correlates with discrimination
The perceived "whiteness" of Americans of Middle Eastern and North African descent is indirectly tied to discrimination against them, and may feed a "negative cycle" in which public awareness of discrimination leads to more discrimination, according to a Rutgers-led study.
Photonic crystal light converter
Spectroscopy is the use of light to analyze physical objects and biological samples. Different kinds of light can provide different kinds of information. Vacuum ultraviolet light is useful as it can aid people in a broad range of research fields, but generation of that light has been difficult and expensive. Researchers created a new device to efficiently generate this special kind of light using...
Plastics found in sea-bed sharks
Microplastics have been found in the guts of sharks that live near the seabed off the UK coast.
Popular hypertension drugs don't increase risk of COVID-19 severity, fatality
A new study in mice found a widely used class of drugs to treat patients with hypertension, cardiovascular disease and diabetic kidney disease - many of whom are elderly -- does not increase the risk of developing a severe and potentially fatal COVID-19 infection, as previously feared.
Primary care physicians during the COVID-19 epidemic
Scientists from the University of Geneva has analysed clinical data from more than 1,500 ambulatory patients tested for COVID-19. Their results point out the great disparity in symptoms between inpatient and outpatient care and the diagnostic difficulties that can result. They highlight the need for greater involvement of primary care physicians in defining and implementing health policies aimed...
Princeton scientists discover a topological magnet that exhibits exotic quantum effects
An international team led by researchers at Princeton University has uncovered a new class of magnet that exhibits novel quantum effects that extend to room temperature. Their findings provide insights into a 30-year-old theory of how electrons spontaneously quantize and demonstrate a proof-of-principle method to discover new topological magnets.
Putting the spring-cam back into stroke patients steps
A research group has developed a new, lightweight and motor-less device that can be easily attached to an ankle support device - otherwise known as an ankle foot orthosis (AFO). The new device will aid stroke patients in their rehabilitation, improving their walking and preventing falls.
Racial and LGBT bias persists in ridesharing drivers despite mitigation efforts
Despite efforts by ridesharing companies to eliminate or reduce discrimination, research from the Indiana University Kelley School of Business finds that racial and LGBT bias persists among drivers.
Raising legal age for handgun sales to 21 linked to fewer adolescent suicides
Restricting the sale of handguns to those aged 21 or older is associated with a reduction in suicide rates among adolescents in the United States, finds a study published by The BMJ today.
Research explores the link between wages, school and cognitive ability in South Africa
Using data sets that only became available in recent years, researchers at Binghamton University, State University of New York analyzed the wage impact of cognitive skills in South Africa.
Research shows ibuprofen does not hinder bone fracture healing in children
Doctors have traditionally avoided prescribing nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory medications (NSAIDs) such as ibuprofen to patients with fractures. However, a new study from the University of Missouri School of Medicine and MU Health Care shows ibuprofen is an effective medication for fracture pain in children and its use does not affect fracture healing.
Researchers simulate, assess damage to brain cells caused by bubbles during head trauma
Researchers led by Nicole Hashemi, an associate professor of mechanical engineering at Iowa State University, are using their expertise with the manufacture of microstructures to study how the collapse of microbubbles within the skull can damage brain cells. Their research, which is supported by the Office of Naval Research, could lead to the design of better helmets.
Science sweetens native honey health claims
Examination of honey from five different stingless bee species across Neotropical and Indo-Australian regions has enabled for the first time the identification of the unusual disaccharide trehalulose as a major component representing between 13 and 44 g per 100 g of each of these honeys. The previously unrecognised abundance of trehalulose in stingless bee honeys is concrete evidence that supports...
Scientists develop new material for longer-lasting fuel cells
New research suggests that graphene -- made in a specific way -- could be used to make more durable hydrogen fuel cells for cars
Scientists discover how immune cells mobilize to fight infection
New research from the University of York is an important step forward in understanding how our immune system works and also why it fails.
Sharks almost gone from many reefs
A massive global study of the world's reefs has found sharks are 'functionally extinct' on nearly one in five of the reefs surveyed.