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Fighting fruit flies help researchers understand why we stay angry
Science 2023-11-29

Fighting fruit flies help researchers understand why we stay angry

It’s one of those days. On the drive home from work, the car in the next lane cuts you off. You slam on the brakes, lay on the horn, and yell choice words at the offending driver. When you walk into your house half an hour later, you’re still angry, and snap at your partner when they ask about your day. Fruit flies may not have to worry about the lingering effects of road rage, but they also experience states of persistent aggression. In the case of female fruit flies, this behavior is a survival mechanism, causing the flies to headbutt, shove, and fence other female fruit flies to guard prime egg-laying territory on a ...
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Social Science 2023-11-29

Surgeon supply by county-level rurality and social vulnerability

About The Study: Between 2010 and 2020, surgeon supply per 100,000 population decreased in rural counties and increased in urban counties, and decreased in socially vulnerable counties and remained unchanged in other counties. Thus, over the past decade, disparities in surgeon supply between rural and urban counties and between socially vulnerable and other counties have widened in the U.S. The largest widening was observed among general surgeons.  Authors: Vishal R. Patel, B.S., of the Dell Medical School in Austin, Texas, is the corresponding author. To access the embargoed study: Visit our For The Media website at this link https://media.jamanetwork.com/ (doi:10.1001/jamasurg.2023.5632) Editor’s ...
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Medicine 2023-11-29

Surgeon sex and health care costs for patients undergoing common surgical procedures

About The Study: This analysis that included 1.1 million patients found lower 30-day, 90-day, and 1-year health care costs for patients treated by female surgeons compared with those treated by male surgeons. These data further underscore the importance of creating inclusive policies and environments supportive of women surgeons to improve recruitment and retention of a more diverse and representative workforce. Authors: Christopher J. D. Wallis, M.D., Ph.D., of the University of Toronto, is the corresponding author. To access the embargoed study: Visit our For The Media website at this link https://media.jamanetwork.com/ (doi:10.1001/jamasurg.2023.6031) Editor’s ...
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Google DeepMind adds nearly 400,000 new compounds to Berkeley Lab’s Materials Project
Engineering 2023-11-29

Google DeepMind adds nearly 400,000 new compounds to Berkeley Lab’s Materials Project

New technology often calls for new materials – and with supercomputers and simulations, researchers don’t have to wade through inefficient guesswork to invent them from scratch.  The Materials Project, an open-access database founded at the Department of Energy’s Lawrence Berkeley National Laboratory (Berkeley Lab) in 2011, computes the properties of both known and predicted materials. Researchers can focus on promising materials for future technologies – think lighter alloys that improve fuel economy in cars, more ...
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Tracing the evolution of the “little brain”
Medicine 2023-11-29

Tracing the evolution of the “little brain”

The evolution of higher cognitive functions in human beings has so far mostly been linked to the expansion of the neocortex – a region of the brain that is responsible, inter alia, for conscious thought, movement and sensory perception. Researchers are increasingly realising, however, that the “little brain” or cerebellum also expanded during evolution and probably contributes to the capacities unique to humans, explains Prof. Dr Henrik Kaessmann from the Center for Molecular Biology of Heidelberg University. ...
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Science 2023-11-29

Bees are still being harmed despite tightened pesticide regulations

A new study has confirmed that pesticides, commonly used in farmland, significantly harm bumblebees – one of the most important wild pollinators. In a huge study spanning 106 sites across eight European countries, researchers have shown that despite tightened pesticide regulations, far more needs to be done.  While the agricultural uses of insecticides have been in the spotlight for their negative effects on bees, it has remained unknown how the effects scale beyond single substances in focal ...
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The Global Biodiversity Data Portal: enabling biodiversity research worldwide
Environment 2023-11-29

The Global Biodiversity Data Portal: enabling biodiversity research worldwide

EMBL’s European Bioinformatics Institute (EMBL-EBI) has launched the Global Biodiversity Portal – an open access data portal that will consolidate genomic information from different biodiversity projects within the Earth BioGenome Project.  Sequencing and storing the genomic data of all species on Earth is vital for future conservation and biodiversity efforts. In an era where biodiversity is under threat from various environmental pressures, there is an urgent need for centralised, accessible, and actionable data. ...
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Medicine 2023-11-29

Doctors call for expanded reporting of medical care given in ICE detention centers

Embargoed until November 29 11 a.m. ET  A new study led by Dr. Annette Dekker, an assistant professor in the Department of Emergency Medicine at UCLA, calls for the U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) detention centers to increase health outcome reporting for detained immigrants to monitor the quality of medical care. Pulling from three different data sources, the researchers found discrepancies in care reported by emergency medical services (EMS) compared to ICE reports.   Building upon work that reviews deaths that occur at ICE detention centers, Dekker and colleagues sought to address concerns that individuals detained by ICE ...
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Science 2023-11-29

Revisiting gene dosage

Have you ever wondered why we carry two copies of each chromosome in all of our cells? During reproduction, we receive one from each of our parents. This means that we also receive two copies, or alleles, of each gene – one allele per chromosome or parent. Both alleles are able to produce messenger RNA, which is the recipe needed to make proteins and keep cells running. Scientists hypothesize that having two alleles for each gene is the cell’s in-built redundancy system. If there is ever a mutation or drop in messenger RNA production from the allele carried on one of the chromosomes, the allele on the second chromosome will serve as a backup and ...
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Scientists discover rare 6-planet system that moves in strange synchrony
Space 2023-11-29

Scientists discover rare 6-planet system that moves in strange synchrony

Scientists have discovered a rare sight in a nearby star system: Six planets orbiting their central star in a rhythmic beat. The planets move in an orbital waltz that repeats itself so precisely it can be readily set to music. A rare case of an “in sync” gravitational lockstep, the system could offer deep insight into planet formation and evolution. The analysis, led by UChicago scientist Rafael Luque, will be published Nov. 29 in Nature. “This discovery is going to become a benchmark system to study how sub-Neptunes, the most common type of planets outside of the solar system, form, evolve, what are they made of, and if they possess the ...
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Science 2023-11-29

Disruptive ideas rely on old fashioned meetings

A marvel of modernity is the ability to collaborate with others regardless of location. Researchers can work with a colleague, maybe the only person who has a specialized skill, even if they are halfway across the globe. They can pull together a powerhouse team with a dozen of the brightest minds in the field. Yet, according to research from the lab of Lingfei Wu, assistant professor in Pitt’s School of Computing and Information, these collaborative teams are producing fewer truly disruptive ideas or radical innovations than ...
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An astronomical waltz reveals a sextuplet of planets
Space 2023-11-29

An astronomical waltz reveals a sextuplet of planets

An international collaboration between astronomers using the CHEOPS and TESS space satellites, including NCCR PlanetS members from the University of Bern and the University of Geneva, have found a key new system of six transiting planets orbiting a bright star in a harmonic rhythm. This rare property enabled the team to determine the planetary orbits which initially appeared as an unsolvable riddle. CHEOPS is a joint mission by ESA and Switzerland, under the leadership of the University of Bern in collaboration with the University of Geneva. Thanks to a collaboration with scientists ...
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Final call for Awards Nominations 2024 of the World Cultural Council
Social Science 2023-11-29

Final call for Awards Nominations 2024 of the World Cultural Council

The World Cultural Council (WCC) is now accepting nominations for the “Albert Einstein” World Award of Science and the “Leonardo da Vinci” World Awards of Arts.  Nominations must be submitted by 26 January, 2024. NOMINATE NOW: To nominate online or for further details of the awards visit the WCC website Nominations page. Ideal candidates for the “Albert Einstein” World Award of Science are scientists whose achievements can serve as an inspiration for future generations. This award is granted each year. Consideration will be given to ...
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Science 2023-11-29

BU/VA researcher awarded funding to prevent intimate partner violence

(Boston)—Casey Taft, PhD, professor of psychiatry at Boston University Chobanian & Avedisian School of Medicine, has been approved for a five-year, $2.8 million funding award from the Patient-Centered Outcomes Research Institute (PCORI) for his research study “A Randomized Controlled Trial to Evaluate a Trauma-Informed Partner Violence Intervention Program.”   Taft, who also is a staff psychologist at the National Center for PTSD in the VA Boston Healthcare System, is conducting a randomized controlled trial of the Strength at Home program to prevent and end intimate partner violence (IPV) in Rhode Island. Strength at Home ...
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Science 2023-11-29

The act of saying "no" under the linguistic magnifying glass

FRANKFURT. Prof. Bernhard Brüne, Vice President Research, Early Career Researchers and Transfer at Goethe University Frankfurt, congratulated the researchers involved in the successful application: "Anyone who establishes a major project like a Collaborative Research Center must have both creative and viable research ideas as well as a strong network. To discover new things about language and thinking, the new CRC 1629 not only makes use of Goethe University’s structures, and the combination of philology with philosophy and didactics. It also cooperates with partner universities in Göttingen and Tübingen. Aside that, I am of course delighted that ...
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Insilico Medicine showcases latest AI drug discovery platform breakthroughs
Medicine 2023-11-29

Insilico Medicine showcases latest AI drug discovery platform breakthroughs

Insilico Medicine (“Insilico”), an artificial intelligence (AI)-driven, clinical stage biotechnology company and  leader in AI drug discovery platform technology, is hosting three webinars unveiling its latest technology breakthroughs Nov. 28-30, 2023. These new features are part of the expansion of the Company’s end-to-end Pharma.AI platform and include chat functionality, off-target screening tools, enhanced knowledge graphs and more. They represent major steps forward in the advancement of AI drug discovery. The company is an early ...
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New astrophysics model sheds light on additional source of long gamma-ray bursts
Space 2023-11-29

New astrophysics model sheds light on additional source of long gamma-ray bursts

Cutting-edge computer simulations combined with theoretical calculations are helping astronomers better understand the origin of some of the universe’s most energetic and mysterious light shows — gamma-ray bursts, or GRBs. The new unified model confirms that some long-lasting GRBs are created in the aftermath of cosmic mergers that spawn an infant black hole surrounded by a giant disk of natal material. Astronomers previously thought that black holes that generate long GRBs typically form when massive ...
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Medicine 2023-11-29

Brain scans of former NFL athletes show a repair protein in place long after initial injury

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE In a new study using brain scans of former NFL athletes, Johns Hopkins Medicine researchers say they found high levels of a repair protein present long after a traumatic brain injury such as a concussion takes place. The repair protein, known as 18 kDa translocator protein (TSPO), is known to be present in the brain at high levels in the immediate aftermath of brain injury as part of the inflammatory response and to facilitate repair. The new findings, published Oct. 30 in JAMA Network Open, suggest that brain injury and repair processes persist for years after players end collision sports careers, and lead to long-term cognitive ...
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Long-live quantum entanglement goes to distance
Technology 2023-11-29

Long-live quantum entanglement goes to distance

Quantum technologies are currently maturing at a breath-taking pace. These technologies exploit principles of quantum mechanics in suitably engineered systems, with bright prospects such as boosting computational efficiencies or communication security well beyond what is possible with devices based on today’s 'classical' technologies. As with classical devices, however, to realise their full potential, quantum devices will need to be networked. In principle, this can be done using the fibre-optic networks employed for classical telecommunications. But practical implementation requires that the information ...
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To build better tuberculosis vaccines, Saint Louis University researchers develop a new model by leveraging an old vaccine
Medicine 2023-11-29

To build better tuberculosis vaccines, Saint Louis University researchers develop a new model by leveraging an old vaccine

ST. LOUIS – Each year, tuberculosis (TB) kills more people than any other infectious disease, falling out of the top spot only temporarily during the COVID-19 pandemic. Despite TB’s wide reach and some lost progress during the COVID-19 pandemic, researchers believe it is possible to eradicate TB through advances in vaccine development and public health. To cross the finish line, scientists must find ways to test new vaccines rapidly to prevent TB infections more effectively. In a paper published in the Journal of Infectious Diseases, Daniel Hoft, M.D., Ph.D., ...
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Science 2023-11-29

Improving our understanding of the effects of PFOS on fish

Two papers recently published in Environmental Toxicology and Chemistry have made important advancements toward understanding the effects of perfluorooctane sulfonate (PFOS) on aquatic life, especially fish. Zebrafish had been identified in a previous study of limited scope as being among one of the most sensitive aquatic species to PFOS, and the results of that limited-scope study have influenced PFOS water quality criteria derived by some regulatory agencies, including the Australian Environmental Protection Agency (EPA). Kurt Gust and ...
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Enhanced treatment of liver carcinoma with a drug-eluting hydrogel
Medicine 2023-11-29

Enhanced treatment of liver carcinoma with a drug-eluting hydrogel

(LOS ANGELES) – November 29, 2023 - Scientists from the Terasaki Institute for Biomedical Innovation (TIBI) have developed an injectable or catheter-administered hydrogel with enhanced capabilities for treating hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC), a deadly form of liver cancer. As described in their recent publication in Advanced Functional Materials, this drug-eluting hydrogel can provide sustained, pH-dependent drug co-delivery and has capabilities for promoting anti-tumor immune responses. This reduces tumor cell proliferation and growth and offers a more efficient means of enabling tumor cell death. Worldwide, HCC is a leading cause of ...
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Applying semiconductor manufacturing principles to optoelectronic devices
Technology 2023-11-29

Applying semiconductor manufacturing principles to optoelectronic devices

Optoelectronics detect or emit light and are used in a variety of devices in many different industries. These devices have historically relied on thin transistors, which are small semiconductors that control the movement of electrons and photons, made out of graphene and other two-dimensional materials. However, graphene and these other materials often have problems with band gap opening and other shortcomings that have researchers searching for an alternative.   When treated with a method called the ...
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Medicine 2023-11-29

The role of marketing in disrupted health care markets: It’s time to move beyond conventional strategies to account for new actors, roles, and exchanges

Researchers from Duke University, University of New South Wales, University of Wisconsin, and University of Washington published an editorial for the Journal of Marketing that calls for marketing to tackle the challenges and opportunities in dynamic contemporary health care markets. The editorial, introducing a special issue on “Marketing in the Health Care Sector” for the Journal of Marketing, is titled “Marketing in the Health Care Sector: Disrupted Exchanges and New Research Directions” and is authored by Christine Moorman, Harald J. van Heerde, C. Page Moreau, and Robert W. Palmatier. The special issue ...
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Can we crack this cancer’s immune response?
Medicine 2023-11-29

Can we crack this cancer’s immune response?

Recent findings at Cold Spring Harbor Laboratory (CSHL) shine a new light on pancreatic cancer. More than 90% of pancreatic cancer cases are attributed to an aggressive, deadly form of the disease called pancreatic ductal adenocarcinoma, or PDAC. Researchers have a poor understanding of how our immune system interacts with PDAC. So, coming up with treatments is tricky. It’s thought patients do not show a natural immune response to the cancer because the tumor environment somehow prevents that response. Many are unconvinced that PDAC ...
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