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Medicine21 Jul 2023

Probiotic combo stops bacteria that cause toxic shock syndrome

Highlights: Toxic shock syndrome (TSS) is a rapid-onset, life-threatening disease associated with strains of Staphylococcus aureus. New findings published in Microbiology Spectrum suggest that a probiotic combination could reduce incidence of TSS. In lab experiments, the probiotics reduced production of the superantigen that causes TSS. The researchers say a probiotic approach may also help people who suffer from other staph infections, including those with atopic dermatitis or type 2 diabetes. Washington, D.C. – The widespread, pathogenic microbe Staphylococcus aureus can colonize the skin and mucous membranes throughout the body, particularly the vagina ...

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Medicine21 Jul 2023

Brigham researchers reverse chemotherapy-related fertility loss using cell-based therapy

The preclinical study showed that injecting ovarian tissue-derived differentiated induced pluripotent stem cells can restore hormone production and fertility in mice with premature ovarian failure related to genetic diseases and cancer treatment A new study by investigators from Brigham and Women’s Hospital, a founding members of the Mass General Brigham healthcare system, in a preclinical model demonstrates the potential for restoring fertility when the ovaries have stopped working. Researchers found that adult stem cells could restore healthy hormone levels after chemotherapy and lead to natural conception resulting in the birth of live mice. Techniques based on the study could revolutionize fertility ...

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Medicine21 Jul 2023

Study: Gastric bypass surgery associated with non-alcohol substance use disorder

ROCKVILLE, Md.—Researchers have discovered a link between gastric bypass surgery and an increased risk of non-alcohol substance use disorder, according to a new study in Obesity, The Obesity Society’s (TOS) flagship journal. “The current study shows that non-alcohol substance use disorder was 2.5 times more common after gastric bypass surgery compared with controls receiving usual obesity care, but the total number of patients having non-alcohol substance use disorder was overall low. Healthcare professionals should consider the risk of non-alcohol substance use disorder in the care of patients treated with gastric bypass surgery,” ...

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Environment21 Jul 2023

Tourists help scientists reveal microplastic pollution on remote Arctic beaches

Tourists acting as citizen scientists have helped a research team detect microplastics on remote Arctic beaches. The global scale of plastic production means that these tiny fragments of plastic are now ubiquitous, and scientists fear that ocean currents will cause plastic to accumulate in the Arctic, damaging ecosystems. But our knowledge of the scale and type of plastic pollution in the Arctic is incomplete. Researchers recruited holidaymakers to carry out sample collection during cruises, hoping to fill in some of the gaps in their knowledge. “Plastic pollution is now ubiquitous. It is found on land and in ...

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Environment21 Jul 2023

'Super premium' industrial motor that benefits both business and the environment

After its successful development of industrial electric motors (three-phase induction motors) with super-premium class efficiency (IE4) for the first time in Korea, the Electric Machine and Drive Research Center of Korea Electrotechnology Research Institute (KERI) has established an "open platform" that enables SMEs to utilize related technologies. Industrial motors are the machines that consume the most considerable amount of electricity in the world. Industrial motors account for more than 50% of total electricity consumption in Korea. In 2018, KERI published a report1) finding that increasing the efficiency of electric motors ...

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Science21 Jul 2023

Early peanut introduction gaining traction among US parents, but more work needed

Peanut introduction is not well known among those with less access to health-care information Having a pediatrician recommend early peanut introduction was best way for parents/caregivers to be informed Fear of an allergic reaction is the main reason parents decline, but only 1% infants had a reaction, which was mild CHICAGO --- In 2017, the National Institutes of Health (NIH) announced a dramatic reversal in its approach to peanut-allergy prevention, recommending parents expose their infants as young as four months old to peanuts to prevent peanut allergy. In the five years since, early introduction ...

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Medicine21 Jul 2023

Digital pathology set to be a game changer in the medical industry

Patients will receive faster and more accurate pathology results following a decade-long research project that is set to transform medical diagnosis. The University of Queensland and Sullivan Nicolaides Pathology (SNP) have automated a microscope scanning and analysis system in Brisbane that has been tested, implemented and accredited ready for rollout around the world. UQ Professor of AI Brian Lovell said the system significantly improved tests in terms of cost, quality and speed. “This digital pathology technology processes thousands of tests a day and has been ...

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Science21 Jul 2023

A ‘toolbox of biocatalysts’ improves control over free radicals

(Santa Barbara, Calif.) — One of the central challenges for synthetic chemists is to impose control over free radicals. Highly reactive molecules with an unpaired electron, free radicals may be familiar to you; these are the type of molecules we take antioxidant supplements for, in an effort to tame oxidative stress. In the world of synthetic chemistry, however, free radicals hold a lot of promise. “Free radical chemistry is very useful for the synthesis of both bioactive small molecules and everyday polymers,” said UC Santa Barbara chemistry professor Yang Yang, an author of a paper on the matter that appears in Nature Catalysis. “However, ...

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Social Science21 Jul 2023

Experts alarmed as free Barbies given to UK primary schools to teach social skills

Toy company Mattel has been criticised for “stealth marketing” after giving away free Barbie and Ken dolls to schools as part of a programme to teach empathy to children, finds an investigation published by The BMJ today. Investigative journalist Hristio Boytchev reports that Mattell’s “Barbie School of Friendship” programme, in which free dolls are given for children to carry out role play exercises, has been rolled out to 700 schools across the UK, "with the potential to ...

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Environment21 Jul 2023

Impacts of climate change on animals will be “multi-faceted,” study in CABI Reviews reveals

A new study published in CABI Reviews suggests that the impact of climate change on animals will be “multi-faceted” with “cascading effects” across five welfare domains including nutrition, environment, behaviour, physical and mental health. The research, highlights how researchers need to carefully consider which domains are immediate and future priority to safeguard the welfare and longevity of animals for food, as domestic pets and those for conservation in nature reserves and zoos. Animals at risk from the impacts of climate change highlighted ...

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Science20 Jul 2023

Center for Open Science welcomes Yvette Seger to its Board of Directors

Charlottesville, VA –The Center for Open Science (COS) is delighted to announce the appointment of Yvette Seger, PhD to its Board of Directors. Seger brings impressive experience and strategic leadership across a range of areas that aligns well with COS’s mission, vision, and activities, including policy analysis, advocacy, and implementation. Seger holds multiple roles as Director of Science Policy, Deputy Director of the Office of Public Affairs, and Director of Strategic Scientific Program ...

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Technology20 Jul 2023

Fueled by new chemistry, algorithm mines fungi for useful molecules

A newly described type of chemistry in fungi is both surprisingly common and likely to involve highly reactive enzymes, two traits that make the genes involved useful signposts pointing to a potential treasure trove of biological compounds with medical and chemical applications. It was also nearly invisible to scientists until now. In the last 15 years, the hunt for molecules from living organisms — many with promise as drugs, antimicrobial agents, chemical catalysts and even food additives — has relied on computer algorithms trained to search the DNA of bacteria, ...

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Medicine20 Jul 2023

Streets recognized by CMS as legitimate locale to deliver health care

The Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services (CMS) officially recognized that medical care can be delivered on the street, making it possible for providers like USC’s Street Medicine team to be reimbursed for services provided to people who are currently unhoused. The decision, which was announced on June 28, 2023, was the result of a multi-year effort on the part of leaders of USC Street Medicine and the Street Medicine Institute to have CMS create a place of service (POS) code for the street. As a result of this designation, street medicine providers nationwide will be able ...

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Medicine20 Jul 2023

Can prehabilitation improve inflammatory biomarkers in American Indian cancer patients?

A University of Arizona Cancer Center researcher was awarded a $1.3 million grant from the National Cancer Institute to study the effectiveness of lifestyle interventions in American Indian patients with obesity-related solid tumor cancers who are preparing for surgery. According to principal investigator Jennifer Erdrich, MD, MPH, there are 13 cancer subtypes linked to obesity that account for 40% of all cancers diagnosed annually in the United States. American Indian and Alaska Native populations are more than 1.5 times more likely to be obese than the general population and have some of the lowest cancer survival rates in the nation. Many factors ...

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Science20 Jul 2023

Hardship affects the gut microbiome across generations

Key takeaways A UCLA-led study has shown that hardship experienced by mothers during their own childhood or during pregnancy is reflected in the composition of their 2-year-old children’s gut microbiome. It was previously understood that in rodents, prenatal stress affects microbiomes into adulthood, but how long after birth the effects lasted in humans was unknown. The changes to this community of microorganisms are likely among the ways that hardship affects a child’s socioemotional development. Hardship experienced by mothers during their own childhood or during pregnancy is reflected ...

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Energy20 Jul 2023

Department of Energy releases draft request for proposals for the Fermi National Accelerator Laboratory Management and Operating Contract Competition

Today, the U.S. Department of Energy (DOE) announced the release of a Draft Request for Proposals (RFP) for the selection of a management and operating (M&O) contractor for the Fermi National Accelerator Laboratory (FNAL). DOE is soliciting public feedback on the draft RFP. Interested parties are encouraged to take advantage of this opportunity to provide comments regarding the draft contract performance requirements. The draft RFP will be open for public comment until August ...

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Science20 Jul 2023

WFSJ presents WCSJ2025 and WCSJ2027!

“It’s a great privilege to host the World Conference of Science Journalists 2025,” says Mandi Smallhorne, president of SASJA. “As it is the first time the conference has ever been held on African soil, this is truly a historic event, we’re delighted to be the pioneers! We look forward to welcoming the science journalists of the world to our home; we are sure it will be an eye-opening and rewarding experience. Our beautiful country has a lot to share, and that includes some fascinating scientific experiences, from the Square Kilometre Array, to cutting edge genomic sequencing, to the Cradle of Humankind. We are brewing ...

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Technology20 Jul 2023

Wide field-of-view metasurface-enhanced scanning lidar technology

Pulsed laser scanning lidar is a core technology for autonomous driving and robotic mobility. Herein, a directional light pulse is backscattered by a reflective object and the elapsed time between emission and detection of the pulse is used to calculate depth. These direct time-of-flight (d-ToF) measurements of returning light pulses enable the three-dimensional imaging of complex scenes. At present, lidar technology requires numerous developments, including enhancement of the observation field of view (FoV) with high angular resolution, improvement of the imaging frame rate, extension of the ambiguity range by reducing the signal-to-noise ...

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Medicine20 Jul 2023

Powerhouse proteins protect heart cells from chemotherapy damage

Researchers at the University of Illinois Chicago have identified a process by which enzymes can help prevent heart damage in chemotherapy patients. The enzymes are normally found in a cell’s mitochondria, the powerhouse that produces energy. But when heart cells are put under stress from certain types of chemotherapy drugs, the enzymes move into the cell’s nucleus, where they are able to keep the cells alive. The paper is published in Nature Communications. “As chemotherapy has become more and more effective, we have more and more cancer survivors. But the tragic ...

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Medicine20 Jul 2023

New theory better explains how the brain stores memories

How useful a memory is for future situations determines where it resides in the brain, according to a new theory proposed by researchers at HHMI"s Janelia Research Campus and collaborators at UCL. The theory offers a new way of understanding systems consolidation, a process that transfers certain memories from the hippocampus – where they are initially stored – to the neocortex -- where they reside long term. Under the classical view of systems consolidation, all memories move from the hippocampus to the neocortex over time. But this view doesn’t always hold up; research shows some memories permanently reside ...

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Science20 Jul 2023

Draining 401(k) accounts when changing jobs: the hidden time bomb undermining retirement savings

Key Takeaways: At job separation, 41.4% of employees cash out 401(k) savings, most draining their entire accounts. Cashing out increases with the proportion of the 401(k) balance contributed by employers. The “account composition effect” is most likely driven by behavioral rather than economic explanations. The cash-out option was presented to terminating employees in a salient way, unintentionally nudging them to withdraw their 401(k) savings. BALTIMORE, MD, July 17, 2023 – When researchers set out to study 401(k) retirement savings ...

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Space20 Jul 2023

Hubble sees boulders escaping from asteroid dimorphos

The popular 1954 rock song "Shake, Rattle and Roll," could be the theme music for the Hubble Space Telescope's latest discovery about what is happening to the asteroid Dimorphos in the aftermath of NASA's DART (Double Asteroid Redirection Test) experiment. DART intentionally impacted Dimorphos on September 26, 2022, slightly changing the trajectory of its orbit around the larger asteroid Didymos. Astronomers using Hubble's extraordinary sensitivity have discovered a swarm of boulders that were possibly shaken off the asteroid when NASA deliberately slammed the half-ton DART impactor spacecraft into Dimorphos ...

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Medicine20 Jul 2023

The American Society for Nutrition appoints Xingen Lei, Ph as next editor-in-chief of The Journal of Nutrition

Rockville, MD (July 20, 2023) Xingen Lei, PhD, professor of molecular nutrition and associate dean of research and innovation at Cornell University’s College of Agriculture and Life Sciences, has been named the next editor-in-chief of The Journal of Nutrition, effective January 1, 2024. Established in 1928, The Journal of Nutrition is the oldest journal devoted to publishing influential original research, reviews, and perspectives of molecular, cellular, animal, human, and population nutrition and mechanisms. Dr. Lei has published extensively in The Journal of Nutrition ...

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Science20 Jul 2023

Sending the shoes back? How about this lovely gift card? Cross-selling can help retailers avoid lost revenue from returns

https://www.rotman.utoronto.ca/Connect/MediaCentre/NewsReleases/20230720 Toronto - It’s become so darn easy to order stuff thanks to the miracles of online shopping. But it’s not so simple on the retailer end, especially when more than 16 per cent of those sales are later sent back. In the U.S., that adds up to a staggering $816 billion in lost revenue. Cross-selling can help, say a pair of researchers. Their experiments show that once we’ve chosen to buy something, we tend to consider that money as already spent or gone, also called ...

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Medicine20 Jul 2023

ECOG-ACRIN adds a new treatment trial to the ComboMATCH precision medicine initiative

The ECOG-ACRIN Cancer Research Group (ECOG-ACRIN) has enrolled the first patient in a new treatment trial to evaluate the effectiveness of adding nilotinib to standard paclitaxel chemotherapy. The trial (EAY191-E4) is for the treatment of adults with cancers that are getting worse after being treated with taxane-based chemotherapy. It is a new addition to the recently launched ComboMATCH precision medicine initiative, which uses tumor biology as a guiding point for testing new combinations of cancer drugs. James M. Ford, MD, the ECOG-ACRIN Chair for ComboMATCH and Professor of Medicine (Oncology) and Genetics at Stanford University, ...

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