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Energy 2023-10-16

US Department of Energy selects the high performance data facility lead

Today, the U.S. Department of Energy (DOE) announced the selection of the High Performance Data Facility (HPDF) hub, which will create a new scientific user facility specializing in advanced infrastructure for data-intensive science. The Thomas Jefferson National Accelerator Facility (JLab) will be the HPDF Hub Director and the lead infrastructure will be located at JLab. The project to build the Hub will be a partnership between JLab and Lawrence Berkeley National Laboratory (LBNL), and the two labs ...
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Scientists present the first set of global maps showing geographic patterns of beta-diversity in flowering plants
Science 2023-10-16

Scientists present the first set of global maps showing geographic patterns of beta-diversity in flowering plants

Beta-diversity serves as a crucial metric for gauging shifts in species composition over spatial or temporal scales, bridging the spectrum between localized (alpha) and broader regional (gamma) diversity. In the fields of ecology, biogeography and conservation biology, to elucidate the origins and sustenance of geographic beta-diversity patterns, we need to explore both the taxonomic and phylogenetic beta-diversity at different evolutionary depths. In an article published in the KeAi journal Plant Diversity, using a ...
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New biomarker predicts whether neurons will regenerate
Medicine 2023-10-16

New biomarker predicts whether neurons will regenerate

Neurons, the main cells that make up our brain and spinal cord, are among the slowest cells to regenerate after an injury, and many neurons fail to regenerate entirely. While scientists have made progress in understanding neuronal regeneration, it remains unknown why some neurons regenerate and others do not.  Using single-cell RNA sequencing, a method that determines which genes are activated in individual cells, researchers from University of California San Diego School of Medicine have identified a new biomarker that can be used to predict whether ...
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Peering inside cells to see how they respond to stress
Medicine 2023-10-16

Peering inside cells to see how they respond to stress

Imagine the life of a yeast cell, floating around the kitchen in a spore that eventually lands on a bowl of grapes. Life is good: food for days, at least until someone notices the rotting fruit and throws them out. But then the sun shines through a window, the section of the counter where the bowl is sitting heats up, and suddenly life gets uncomfortable for the humble yeast. When temperatures get too high, the cells shut down their normal processes to ride out the stressful conditions and live to feast on grapes on another, cooler day.  This “heat ...
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Medicine 2023-10-16

Effectiveness of monovalent mRNA vaccines against Omicron XBB infection in Singaporean children

About The Study: The results of this study including 121,000 Singaporean children ages 1 through 4 suggest that completion of a primary mRNA vaccine series provided protection against SARS-CoV-2 infection. Although incidence of hospitalization and severe illness is low in this age group, there is potential benefit of vaccination in preventing infection and potential sequelae.  Authors: Liang En Wee, M.R.C.P., M.P.H., of the National Centre for Infectious Diseases in Singapore, is the corresponding author. To access the ...
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Medicine 2023-10-16

Changes in care use and financial status associated with dementia in older adults

About The Study: The findings of this study demonstrated that the incremental changes associated with dementia in regard to older adults’ long-term care and financial burden are substantial. Family care availability should be accounted for in a comprehensive assessment of predicting the effects of dementia.  Authors: Hwa Jung Choi, Ph.D., of the University of Michigan in Ann Arbor, 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/jamainternmed.2023.5482) Editor’s Note: Please see the article for additional information, including other authors, author contributions ...
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Researchers develop innovative technique for distinguishing tumor from normal tissue
Medicine 2023-10-16

Researchers develop innovative technique for distinguishing tumor from normal tissue

Mass General Brigham investigators tested their approach using specimens from multiple cancer types, including liver, brain, tongue, skin, breast, bone and soft tissue Their visual and quantitative technique, which combines an injected FDA-approved drug with high-speed cameras to detect changes occurring in a billionth of a second, had an accuracy of 97% across tumor types Removing a patient’s tumor while sparing healthy tissue requires exquisite precision, but often surgeons must rely on their eyes and hands to determine where to cut. A team led ...
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Environment 2023-10-16

Climate change coping mechanism discovered in humble algae

One of the building blocks of ocean life can adapt to cope with the effects of climate change, according to new research from the University of East Anglia (UEA).   The discovery holds promises for biotechnology developments that could counter the negative effects of changing environmental conditions, such as ocean warming and even the reduction in the productivity of crops.  Looking at eukaryotic phytoplankton, also referred to as microalgae, found over large parts of the ocean, the international team led by UEA’s Prof Thomas Mock discovered the algae have found a way to cope with nutrient starvation, which is predicted to ...
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Medicine 2023-10-16

Wildfires threaten environmental gains in climate-crucial Amazon

Despite steps toward decreasing deforestation, uncontrolled wildfires are threatening environmental gains in Brazilian Amazonia, one of the world’s most critical carbon sinks and a region of high biological and cultural diversity.   An international team of scientists are raising the alarm in a letter published today in Nature Ecology & Evolution. ‘Increasing wildfires threaten progress on halting deforestation in Brazilian Amazonia’ is co-authored by researchers at the University of East Anglia (UEA) and the University of South Alabama, which led the study. Other contributors ...
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Medicine 2023-10-16

Dementia’s financial & family impact: New study shows outsize toll

Most people think of dementia as something that affects a person’s brain. But a new study shows just how much damage it does to a person’s wallet and bank account too – as well as the higher demands it places on their family members. In all, people diagnosed with dementia saw their out-of-pocket spending for health care more than double, and their net worth decline by more than 60%, within the first eight years of being diagnosed, the study finds. Meanwhile, other people of similar ages and in similar health, ...
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Medicine 2023-10-16

Early behavioral health problems need earlier interventions

CINCINNATI--A six-year study that analyzed data from a 25-question screening tool found alarming evidence of unhealthy behavioral trajectories starting as early as age 2 among families affected by low income and other social stressors. Findings from the study led by Robert Ammerman, PhD, and colleagues at Cincinnati Children’s were published Oct. 16, 2023, in JAMA Pediatrics. (DOI: 10.1001/jamapediatrics.2023.4229) Experts may not be surprised by another study reporting an association between family stress and child behavioral problems. However, the early ages of onset and severity of behavioral problems were unexpected. Importantly, ...
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Salmon cooling stations
Science 2023-10-16

Salmon cooling stations

16 October 2023 The Geological Society of America Release No. 23-36 Contact: Justin Samuel +1-303-357-1026 jsamuel@geosociety.org For Immediate Release   Pittsburgh, Pa., USA: You’ve heard of the salmon run: upon reaching sexual maturity, wild Atlantic salmon, which are born in freshwater rivers but spend most of their adult life in the ocean, swim upstream all the way back to their birthplace to spawn. This remarkable migration—a journey thousands of miles long, against the current—is filled with obstacles, from dams to hop over to hungry bears to dodge. Climate warming has brought about an additional hurdle for wild Atlantic salmon populations: rising water ...
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Measuring the changing soundscape in Glacier National Park
Environment 2023-10-16

Measuring the changing soundscape in Glacier National Park

16 October 2023 The Geological Society of America Release No. 23-38 Contact: Justin Samuel +1-303-357-1026 jsamuel@geosociety.org For Immediate Release   Pittsburgh, Pa., USA: From the eerie echo of a bugling elk to the gentle swoosh of water lapping against a stony shore, a unique combination of sounds helps distinguish each national park. This acoustic environment, as perceived by humans, is known as a soundscape, and it is a vital attribute—albeit one that is increasingly under threat from anthropogenic noise. Whether from the hum ...
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A clean-energy future for legacy coal?
Energy 2023-10-16

A clean-energy future for legacy coal?

Lehigh University researchers Carlos Romero, Director of the Energy Research Center (ERC), co-Associate Director of the Institute for Cyber Physical Infrastructure and Energy (I-CPIE), and a faculty member in the Department of Mechanical Engineering and Mechanics, and Zheng Yao, Principal Research Scientist at the ERC, have been awarded a DOE STTR (Department of Energy Small Business Technology Transfer) award for Phase II of their proposal, “Machine Learning Enhanced LIBS to Measure and Process Biofuels ...
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Science 2023-10-16

New study assesses safety and efficacy of radial access for peripheral artery interventions

WASHINGTON (October 16, 2023) – A new study published today in the Journal of the Society for Cardiovascular Angiography & Interventions (JSCAI) explores the safety and efficacy of using radial access (RA) for peripheral artery interventions. The study, conducted by a team of researchers from prominent medical centers, aimed at examining evaluating the safety and feasibility of RA for complex endovascular lower extremity interventions. Peripheral artery interventions, such as angioplasty and stenting, are commonly performed to treat vascular conditions ...
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New research points out ways to improve tuberculosis vaccines
Medicine 2023-10-16

New research points out ways to improve tuberculosis vaccines

A new study from the University of Pittsburgh Center for Vaccine Research published today in the Journal of Experimental Medicine describes a previously unappreciated role for a class of immune cells in the early stages of tuberculosis (TB) infection. The researchers found that innate CD8+ lymphocytes – a subtype of white blood cells involved in rapid immune response – are essential for curbing the disease. They also discovered that an inflammatory molecule called Interleukin-15, or IL-15, plays an important role in infection control and could potentially be used to boost ...
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Medicine 2023-10-16

Regenstrief and SNOMED International broaden collaboration to facilitate interoperability nationally and globally by linking LOINC and SNOMED CT

INDIANAPOLIS, US and LONDON, UK -- With the goal of facilitating broader interoperability of health data around the globe to enhance and improve the delivery of healthcare, LOINC® from Regenstrief and SNOMED International have commenced generation of The LOINC Ontology: A LOINC and SNOMED CT interoperability solution. The LOINC Ontology supports providers and users who implement different combinations of SNOMED CT and LOINC in health information systems and allows them to meet clinical and regulatory requirements ...
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St. Jude Children’s Research Hospital, ALSAC announce new board leaders
Medicine 2023-10-16

St. Jude Children’s Research Hospital, ALSAC announce new board leaders

St. Jude Children’s Research Hospital® and ALSAC, its fundraising and awareness organization, announced new leaders of the St. Jude Board of Governors and ALSAC Board of Directors today. The announcement comes at a time when St. Jude is advancing the largest strategic investment in its 61-year history, designed to profoundly impact children around the world who face cancer and other life-threatening diseases. Those elected to lead the Boards include: St. Jude Chair Judy A. Habib is an experienced business leader and brand strategist with roots in healthcare and lab sciences. Having ...
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SwRI’s new aerospace acoustic testing system can simulate the deafening noise of a rocket launch
Space 2023-10-16

SwRI’s new aerospace acoustic testing system can simulate the deafening noise of a rocket launch

SAN ANTONIO — October 16, 2023 —Southwest Research Institute’s aerospace acoustic test chamber can now simulate the complex and harsh acoustic environment associated with the thunderous noise of a rocket launch to ensure that space systems can endure blastoff conditions. The test chamber is the newest addition to SwRI’s 74,000-square-foot Space System Spacecraft and Payload Processing Facility, created to rapidly respond to customers needing to design, assemble and test spacecraft, ...
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A powerful new tool in the fight against one of the deadliest cancers
Medicine 2023-10-16

A powerful new tool in the fight against one of the deadliest cancers

Osaka, Japan – Pancreatic ductal adenocarcinoma (PDAC) is one of the deadliest cancers worldwide, with a 5-year survival rate of less than 10%. Many PDAC tumors in early stage go undetected because they are not found using conventional imaging methods, including fluorodeoxyglucose positron emission tomography (PET) scans. To more efficiently combat this pancreatic cancer, a team led by researchers at Osaka University is combining diagnostic and therapeutic procedures into a single integrated process: ‘theranostics’. In an article recently published in Journal of Nuclear Medicine, the team has developed a ‘radio-theranostics’ strategy that uses a new ...
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NYU’s Lerrel Pinto wins Packard Foundation Fellowship
Science 2023-10-16

NYU’s Lerrel Pinto wins Packard Foundation Fellowship

Lerrel Pinto, an assistant professor at New York University’s Courant Institute of Mathematical Sciences, has been named a recipient of a 2023 Packard Fellowship for Science and Engineering. Pinto was one of 20 scientific researchers to receive a fellowship.  Pinto, named to MIT Technology Review’s “35 Innovators under 35” list earlier this year, is seeking ways to train robots that can perform a variety of tasks—or, as the magazine put it, create robots that “do a lot more than vacuum.”  “Think of a seemingly easy task of opening an unlocked door—something humans can do effortlessly by adapting their approach to ...
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Social Science 2023-10-16

National Football League commitment to Nation of Lifesavers supports Hands-Only CPR education for youth

DALLAS, October 16, 2023 — The National Football League (NFL) Foundation and the American Heart Association are helping kids and their families be confident and capable when faced with a cardiac emergency, adding more people to the Association’s Nation of Lifesavers™ movement. Students who participate in the Association’s in-school program, Kids Heart Challenge™, receive free Hands-Only CPR instruction so they can be confident and capable to respond in a cardiac emergency. More than 350,000 out-of-hospital ...
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Clinical trial finds live vaccinations safe for liver, kidney transplant recipients
Medicine 2023-10-16

Clinical trial finds live vaccinations safe for liver, kidney transplant recipients

Live vaccinations provided to children who previously received liver or kidney transplants were found to be safe and prompted an immune response to guard against several life-threatening conditions, according to a new study published Oct. 12, 2023, in JAMA Network Open. The study, based on data from 18 organ transplant centers, was co-authored by Lara Danziger-Isakov, MD, MPH, interim director of the Division of Infectious Diseases at Cincinnati Children’s, and Amy Feldman, MD, MSCS, medical director of the Liver Transplant Program at Children’s Hospital Colorado.  The results are important because the ...
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Holy immunity! Bat genes key against COVID, cancer
Medicine 2023-10-16

Holy immunity! Bat genes key against COVID, cancer

Bats have acquired remarkable traits throughout their evolution. They’re the only mammals that can fly, and they live much longer than other animals their size. But perhaps most impressive is their robust immune system. It protects bats from viruses that wreak havoc in humans, like COVID-19 or Ebola. It also keeps bats relatively cancer-free. How? According to Cold Spring Harbor Laboratory (CSHL) scientists, it’s all in the genes. Using samples collected in Belize with Nancy Simmons from the American Museum of Natural History, CSHL Professors W. Richard McCombie and Adam ...
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Novel enzyme family could provide insights into bacterial pathogenicity
Medicine 2023-10-16

Novel enzyme family could provide insights into bacterial pathogenicity

Gram-negative bacteria cause a variety of infectious diseases in plants and animals alike. Outbreaks of Salmonella and E. coli infections often make headlines due to their severity, and people have to resort to allopathic as well as natural remedies, increasing the burden on the healthcare system. While antibiotics offer an effective solution against bacterial infections, the increasing incidence of antibiotic-resistant bacteria have prompted researchers to identify other possible treatments against these infections. With technological advances and modern medicine, researchers are looking into the possibility of disrupting the pathogenicity of the bacteria ...
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