158 articles from FRIDAY 2.4.2021

Evidence for PeVatrons, the Milky Way's most powerful particle accelerators

The Tibet ASγ experiment, a China-Japan joint research project on cosmic-ray observation, has discovered ultra-high-energy diffuse gamma rays from the Milky Way galaxy. The highest energy detected is estimated to be unprecedentedly high, nearly 1 Peta electronvolts. These gamma rays are spread out across the Milky Way. Scientists believe they are produced by the nuclear interaction between...

Fungi could manipulate bacteria to enrich soil with nutrients

Symbiotic relationships between plants and soil microbes could yield new methods for enriching soil and improving crop yields. Researchers have discovered that fungi living symbiotically with most land plants have a bacterial "microbiome" that may help the fungi access soil nutrients and share them with their host plants. Identifying the specific beneficial bacteria and how the fungi attract them...

Health and academic professionals with dependents at high risk of quitting after COVID-19

Up to one in five employees at an academic medical institution are considering leaving their professions due to the strains of coping with the pandemic in their own lives, according to a new University of Utah Health study. The findings suggest that retaining highly trained doctors, nurses, and scientists in the aftermath of the COVID-19 pandemic could be the next great health care challenge.

How pathogenic bacteria weather the slings and arrows of infection

Infectious diseases are a leading cause of global mortality. During an infection, bacteria experience many different stresses. In this arms race to outwit their competition, bacteria have evolved mechanisms to stay alive in the face of adversities. One such mechanism is the stringent response pathway. Understanding how the activation of the stringent response pathway is controlled can provide...

In-situ nanoscale insights into the evolution of solid electrolyte interphase shells

Straightforward visualized evidence of SEI shells evolution during Li deposition/stripping to reveal anode degradation is provided via in-situ atomic force microscopy (AFM). Nucleation and growth of quasi-spherical Li particles are observed on a Cu substrate, followed by Li stripping and collapse of SEI shells. In subsequent cycling, new Li deposits tend to nucleate at pristine sites with fresh...

Mapping policy for how the EU can reduce its impact on tropical deforestation

EU imports of products contribute significantly to deforestation in other parts of the world. In a new study, published in One Earth, researchers from University of Louvain and Chalmers University of Technology, evaluated thousands of policy proposals for how the EU could reduce this impact, to assess which would have the largest potential to reduce deforestation.

Massive X-ray screening identifies promising candidates for COVID drugs

A team of researchers has identified several candidates for drugs against the coronavirus SARS-CoV-2 at DESY´s high-brilliance X-ray lightsource PETRA III. They bind to an important protein of the virus and could thus be the basis for a drug against Covid-19. In a massive X-ray screening, the researchers tested almost 6000 known active substances that already exist for the treatment of other...

Michigan's Middle Eastern and North African population face barriers to optimal health

Within southeast Michigan's Middle Eastern and North African community, those who worry about deportation or believe they've been treated unfairly are likely to face more adverse conditions associated with poor health, including food insecurity and financial distress.The MENA people who face several of these barriers are also more likely to report chronic illness and mental health issues as well...

MOF-based sensor for water quality testing

Researchers at Shinshu University developed an affordable portable equipment which can detect fluoride in a simple manner at low costs. The United Nations Sustainable Development Goals, Number 6, addresses the need for access to clean water and sanitation for all. One in three people do not have access to safe drinking water, and two out of five do not have basic hand-washing facilities with soap...

OECD PISA report on student growth mindset to be released April 8

The Organisation for Economic Co-operation and Development (OECD) will release a new PISA report on student growth mindset on Thursday, April 8 at 5:00 a.m. ET, followed by a press conference held in collaboration with the American Educational Research Association (AERA) and the Yidan Prize Foundation at 10:30 a.m. ET.

Prioritizing who gets vaccinated for COVID-19 saves lives

Waiting for your turn can be frustrating, especially when it comes to COVID-19 vaccinations. But prioritizing who receives the limited supply of vaccines available saves lives and reduces spread of infection, according to a study published today from the University of California, Davis.

Protein based biomarker identifies the chemo drug sensitivity

Researchers from Niigata University, Japan and their collaborators have identified adipose most abundant 2 protein as a potential marker to predict the sensitivity to cisplatin chemotherapeutic medication. The study holds immense potential to minimize the adverse effect usually caused by the heavy dose of the chemo drug. These promising results are now published in Scientific Reports.

Radicalization to extremist ideologies is often triggered by negative life events

A new study based on the personal accounts of former white supremacists and Islamic extremists describes what leads people to join extremist groups and, at least in some cases, leave these groups and their radical ideologies. Findings include the observation that people who radicalize often are triggered by negative life events, and those who escape from extreme groups frequently are aided by an...