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Medicine 2023-10-05

Isis presents a special bibliographic issue on the history of pandemics

In 1913, historian of science George Sarton created what has become the Isis Current Bibliography of the History of Science (IsisCB). For the last 110 years, the journal Isis has included a comprehensive survey of the recent work in the history of science and allied fields, first in each issue and later as a full yearly supplement. Now the basis of a free online search tool called IsisCB Explore, the IsisCB continues to serve as an indispensable reference for scholars and students. “Bibliographic ...
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Plot thickens in hunt for ninth planet
Space 2023-10-05

Plot thickens in hunt for ninth planet

CLEVELAND—A pair of theoretical physicists are reporting that the same observations inspiring the hunt for a ninth planet might instead be evidence within the solar system of a modified law of gravity originally developed to understand the rotation of galaxies. Researchers Harsh Mathur,  a professor of physics at Case Western Reserve University, and Katherine Brown, an associate professor of physics at Hamilton College, made the assertion after studying the effect the Milky Way galaxy would have on objects in the outer solar system—if the laws of gravity were governed by a theory known as Modified ...
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Social Science 2023-10-05

Factors associated with marijuana use among high-risk college students

The past decade has seen a significant increase in marijuana use among U.S. college students. This increase has coincided with notable changes in national and local cannabis laws and policies, and perceptions of the associated drug’s risk over the same period. However, cannabis use by students continues to be a public health challenge throughout the country. Universities have long relied on education programs to address these risks; however, many of these programs have limitations and fail to consider some of the modern risk factors ...
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Medicine 2023-10-05

Precise gene editing in human stem cells and neurons reveals links between genome organization and autism

NEW YORK, NY (October 5, 2023) – Researchers have used CRISPR gene editing, stem cells and human neurons to study the impact of a gene that is commonly mutated in autism. This new study, published today in The American Journal of Human Genetics, ties mutations in the gene CHD8 with a broad spectrum of molecular and cellular defects in human cortical neurons.  Autism is a highly heritable disorder with a recent increase in incidence — approximately 1 in 40 children in the US are diagnosed with autism. Over the past decade, sequencing studies have found many ...
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AI helps reduce online harassment by enhancing conversation courtesy
Technology 2023-10-05

AI helps reduce online harassment by enhancing conversation courtesy

Check the comments section of many social media and digital news platforms, and you’re likely to find a cesspool of insults, threats and even harassment. In fact, a Pew Research Center survey found that 41% of American adults have personally experienced online harassment, and one in five adults say they’ve been harassed online for their political views. But researchers at BYU and Duke University say derisive online conversations don’t have to be the norm. A joint paper between the two universities found that artificial intelligence can be used to improve conversation quality and promote civil dialogue in online ...
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Medicine 2023-10-05

Two-day course teaches hospitals and health systems how to address unprofessionalism and unsafe behavior

With a myriad of external pressures and challenges facing hospitals and health systems today, it is more important now than ever to mitigate internal risks. Unprofessional behavior, which negatively impacts patient care, retention, and team dynamics, is a legal, financial, and cultural risk that many health systems are now looking to address head-on. Peer-reviewed research consistently shows unprofessional behavior in health systems can be reduced by 85% through implementing the right tools and processes.   The Vanderbilt ...
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Study highlights use of TikTok to encourage cervical cancer screening
Medicine 2023-10-05

Study highlights use of TikTok to encourage cervical cancer screening

TikTok and other short-form video platforms are booming in popularity — for entertainment and for sharing information, including health information. Researchers are currently examining the effects of social media videos, and among them is Ciera Kirkpatrick, assistant professor of advertising and public relations at the University of Nebraska–Lincoln. Kirkpatrick, who studies the intersection of communication and health, recently turned her scientific eye toward TikTok. In a newly published article, Kirkpatrick and co-author LaRissa Lawrie, a doctoral ...
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K-pop fans helped COVID-19 public health messaging go viral
Medicine 2023-10-05

K-pop fans helped COVID-19 public health messaging go viral

Three years ago, as part of the public health messaging in response to the COVID-19 pandemic, the World Health Organization launched the "Wear A Mask" campaign on social media. However, despite their benefits to public health, mask-wearing quickly became a highly politicized and divisive issue across the globe. But the campaign gained impressive traction after World Health Organization Director-General Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus issued the following tweet on X, the social media platform known at the time as Twitter, on August 21, 2020, thanking BTS, a South Korean K-pop group, for supporting the mask-wearing public ...
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Physicists find evidence for magnetically bound excitons
Physics 2023-10-05

Physicists find evidence for magnetically bound excitons

In art, the negative space in a painting can be just as important as the painting itself. Something similar is true in insulating materials, where the empty spaces left behind by missing electrons play a crucial role in determining the material's properties. When a negatively charged electron is excited by light, it leaves behind a positive hole. Because the hole and the electron are oppositely charged, they are attracted to each other and form a bond. The resulting pair, which is short lived, is known as an exciton [pronounced exit-tawn].    Excitons are a key part of many technologies, including solar panels, photodetectors and sensors, as well as light-emitting ...
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Science 2023-10-05

Dr. Julie Damp named ACC Annual Scientific Session Vice Chair

The American College of Cardiology has announced Julie Damp, MD, FACC, as the next vice chair of the American College of Cardiology’s Annual Scientific Session. Damp will serve as vice chair for ACC.25 and ACC.26 and transition to chair for ACC.27 and ACC.28. "ACC Annual Scientific Session is an incredibly impactful learning experience for cardiovascular care providers globally,” Damp said. “I am truly honored and excited to have the opportunity to work with the ACC team to provide effective and innovative education that impacts the care of our patients and expands the reach of cardiovascular science." Damp is a professor of medicine in cardiovascular medicine ...
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Technology 2023-10-05

New research may make future design of nanotechnology safer with fewer side effects

A new study may offer a strategy that mitigates negative side effects associated with intravenous injection of nanoparticles commonly used in medicine.   The study was published today in Nature Nanotechnology. “Nanotechnology’s main advantage over conventional medical treatments is its ability to more precisely target tissues, such as cancer cells targeted by chemotherapy. However, when nanoparticles are injected, they can activate part of the immune system called complement,” said senior author Dmitri Simberg, Ph.D., professor of Nanomedicine and Nanosafety at the University of Colorado Skaggs School of Pharmacy ...
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Technology 2023-10-05

Climate intervention technologies may create winners and losers in world food supply

A technology being studied to curb climate change – one that could be put in place in one or two decades if work on the technology began now – would affect food productivity in parts of planet Earth in dramatically different ways, benefiting some areas, and adversely affecting others, according to projections prepared by a Rutgers-led team of scientists. Writing in the journal, Nature Food, the scientists described the results of computer models simulating varying climate scenarios and their impacts over time on the production of the world’s four major food crops: ...
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Science 2023-10-05

Racial and ethnic disparities in glycemic control among insured adults

About The Study: In this study of 4,070 insured adults with diabetes, disparities in poor glycemic control persisted despite adjustment for social, health care, and behavioral factors. Research is needed to identify the barriers contributing to poor control even in populations with access to care.  Authors: Sandra S. Albrecht, Ph.D., M.P.H., of the Columbia University Mailman School of Public Health in New York, 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/jamanetworkopen.2023.36307) Editor’s Note: Please see the article ...
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Medicine 2023-10-05

Changes in cannabis-attributable hospitalizations following nonmedical cannabis legalization in Canada

About The Study: This study of 26.9 million individuals in four Canadian provinces found that cannabis legalization with restrictions was not associated with an increase in hospitalizations due to cannabis but commercialization was. The findings suggest that commercialization of cannabis may be associated with increases in cannabis-related health harms, including cannabis-induced psychosis.  Authors: Daniel T. Myran, M.D., M.P.H., of the Ottawa Hospital Research Institute in Ottawa, Ontario, Canada, is the corresponding author.  To ...
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Technology 2023-10-05

Generative AI for chest radiograph interpretation in the emergency department

About The Study: In a representative sample of emergency department chest radiographs, results suggest that the generative artificial intelligence (AI) model produced reports of similar clinical accuracy and textual quality to radiologist reports while providing higher textual quality than teleradiologist reports. Implementation of the model in the clinical workflow could enable timely alerts to life-threatening pathology while aiding imaging interpretation and documentation.  Authors: Mozziyar Etemadi, M.D., Ph.D., of Northwestern Medicine ...
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First epidemiological study links popular weight-loss drugs to stomach paralysis, other serious gastrointestinal conditions
Medicine 2023-10-05

First epidemiological study links popular weight-loss drugs to stomach paralysis, other serious gastrointestinal conditions

They’re being hailed as an effective way to lose weight, but diabetes drugs like Ozempic may come with a heightened risk of severe gastrointestinal problems. That’s according to new research from the University of British Columbia showing that medications known as GLP-1 agonists—which includes brands like Wegovy, Ozempic, Rybelsus and Saxenda—are associated with an increased risk of serious medical conditions including stomach paralysis, pancreatitis and bowel obstruction. While previous studies highlighted some of these risks in patients with diabetes, this is the first large, population-level study to examine adverse gastrointestinal ...
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Human vascular organoids reveal clues for a potential COVID treatment
Medicine 2023-10-05

Human vascular organoids reveal clues for a potential COVID treatment

When the new SARS-CoV-2 virus began killing thousands of people every week, physicians and scientists around the globe raced to learn why the new pathogen was so deadly. Among many early findings, experts noted that the infection played havoc with blood circulation, both inflaming the linings of blood vessels and making the blood itself more likely to form dangerous clots. Critically ill COVID-19 patients suffered pulmonary embolisms, deep vein thrombosis (DVT), arterial thrombosis, as well as microvascular thrombosis affecting tissues of the lungs, kidneys, and heart. Doctors tried a wide array of existing medications in hopes of controlling the blood system impacts, with mixed ...
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Science 2023-10-05

New research sheds light on genetics of placenta growth and link to preeclampsia in mother

New research has shed light on how genetics influences the growth of the placenta, revealing a link to risk of disease in the mother. Scientists from the University of Exeter worked with colleagues in Norway and Denmark to lead a largescale international collaboration which examined placental growth in the greatest detail yet. They caried out the first ever genome-wide association study of the weight of the placenta at birth, generating a number of revelations. Among the findings published in Nature Genetics, the team concluded that faster growth of the placenta can contribute to risk of preeclampsia, and to earlier delivery ...
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Medicine 2023-10-05

The medicine of the future could be artificial life forms

Creating artificial life is a recurring theme in both science and popular literature, where it conjures images of creeping slime creatures with malevolent intentions or super-cute designer pets. At the same time, the question arises: What role should artificial life play in our environment here on Earth, where all life forms are created by nature and have their own place and purpose? Associate professor Chenguang Lou from the Department of Physics, Chemistry, and Pharmacy, University of Southern Denmark, together with Professor Hanbin Mao from Kent State University, is the parent of a special artificial hybrid molecule that could lead to ...
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Scientists discover the highest energy gamma-rays ever from a pulsar
Energy 2023-10-05

Scientists discover the highest energy gamma-rays ever from a pulsar

Scientists using the H.E.S.S. observatory in Namibia have detected the highest energy gamma rays ever from a dead star called a pulsar. The energy of these gamma rays clocked in at 20 tera-electronvolts, or about ten trillion times the energy of visible light. This observation is hard to reconcile with the theory of the production of such pulsed gamma rays, as the international team reports in the journal Nature Astronomy. Pulsars are the left-over corpses of stars that spectacularly exploded in a supernova. The explosions leave behind ...
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Discovery made by University of Warsaw scientists may enable network interface for quantum computers
Technology 2023-10-05

Discovery made by University of Warsaw scientists may enable network interface for quantum computers

A team of scientists at the QOT Centre for Quantum Optical Technologies, including a student from the Faculty of Physics (University of Warsaw), made a device capable of the conversion of quantum information between microwave and optical photons. The results of research, published in “Nature Photonics” magazine, highlight a new microwave detection method with possible applications in quantum technologies, as a part of quantum network infrastructure, and in microwave radio-astronomy.    Conversion of quantum information Whenever you listen to a song on your phone or computer, a conversion of information happens – ...
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Science 2023-10-05

Risk of gastrointestinal adverse events associated with glucagon-like peptide-1 receptor agonists for weight loss

About The Study: This study found that use of glucagon-like peptide-1 agonists for weight loss compared with use of bupropion-naltrexone was associated with increased risk of pancreatitis, gastroparesis, and bowel obstruction but not biliary disease. Given the wide use of these drugs, these adverse events, although rare, must be considered by patients who are contemplating using the drugs for weight loss because the risk-benefit calculus for this group might differ from that of those who use them for diabetes.  Authors: Mahyar Etminan, Pharm.D., M.Sc., of the University of British Columbia in Vancouver, is the corresponding author. To access the embargoed study: Visit ...
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Medicine 2023-10-05

UK study shows hybrid closed-loop technology improved maternal glucose levels during pregnancy complicated by type 1 diabetes

For pregnant women with type 1 diabetes, a technology giving insulin doses, as informed by a smartphone algorithm, helps them better manage their blood sugars compared with traditional insulin pumps or multiple daily injections, according to a new randomised trial published in The New England Journal of Medicine (NEJM) and presented at the European Association for the Study of Diabetes (EASD) meeting in Hamburg (2-6 October). Despite better systems for monitoring blood sugars and delivering insulin, hormonal changes and altered eating patterns during pregnancy mean that ...
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Successful morphing of inorganic perovskites without damaging their functional properties
Science 2023-10-05

Successful morphing of inorganic perovskites without damaging their functional properties

A research team co-led by scholars from City University of Hong Kong (CityU) has successfully morphed all-inorganic perovskites at room temperature without compromising their functional properties. Their findings demonstrate the potential of this class of semiconductors for manufacturing next-generation deformable electronics and energy systems in the future. All-inorganic lead halide perovskites are becoming increasingly important semiconducting materials in energy conversion and optoelectronics because of their outstanding performance and enhanced environmental stability. “However, unlike metal ...
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MD Anderson launches collaborative initiative to reduce breast cancer disparities in Houston area
Medicine 2023-10-05

MD Anderson launches collaborative initiative to reduce breast cancer disparities in Houston area

HOUSTON ― The University of Texas MD Anderson Cancer Center today announced the launch of Texas Health Equity Alliance for Breast Cancer (THEAL), a community-wide health care initiative to reduce breast cancer disparities in the Houston area, particularly for Black women.  THEAL builds upon the expertise of MD Anderson’s Department of Health Disparities Research in addressing the determinants of cancer disparities while leveraging the cancer prevention and control platform’s experience in leading cross-sector collaboratives ...
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