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Medicine 2023-07-10

Racial, ethnic differences in factors associated with delayed or missed pediatric preventive care due to the pandemic

About The Study: In this cross-sectional study, more than one-fourth of children had delayed or missed preventive care due to the COVID-19 pandemic. These findings may guide targeted interventions to enhance timely pediatric preventive care among different racial and ethnic groups.  Authors: Maya Tabet, Ph.D., M.S., of the University of Health Sciences and Pharmacy in St. Louis, 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.2023.22588) Editor’s ...
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Medicine 2023-07-10

Association between pandemic and early childhood development

About The Study: The findings of this study showed an association between exposure to the COVID-19 pandemic and delayed childhood development at age 5. Variations in development widened during the pandemic regardless of age. It is important to identify children with developmental delays associated with the pandemic and provide them with support for learning, socialization, physical and mental health, and family support.  Authors: Koryu Sato, M.P.H., of Kyoto University in Kyoto, Japan, is the corresponding author. To access the embargoed ...
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Medicine 2023-07-10

Prevalence, trends in diagnosed learning disability among US children and adolescents

About The Study: Based on U.S. nationally representative data, the estimated learning disability prevalence was 8.83% among children and adolescents ages 6 to 17 from 1997 to 2021, which was slightly higher than that from a previous National Health Interview Survey study from 2009 to 2017 (7.74%). These data indicate that learning disability is a common chronic condition among U.S. children, affecting about 9 in 100 overall. In this population-based study, no significant annual change was found.  Authors: Wenhan ...
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Medicine 2023-07-10

In-person mindfulness courses help improve mental health for at least six months, study shows

PRESS RELEASE FROM THE UNIVERSITY OF CAMBRIDGE EMBARGOED UNTIL 16:00 LONDON TIME (GMT) ON MONDAY 10 JULY 2023 Paper available at: https://drive.google.com/drive/folders/1TzS8tT1_Z4knsHs38gp4LOlLKiPvOUEy?usp=sharing In-person mindfulness courses help improve mental health for at least six months, study shows Adults who voluntarily take part in mindfulness courses are less likely to experience symptoms of anxiety and depression for at least six months after completing the programmes, compared to adults who do not take ...
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Medicine 2023-07-10

Abatacept, cenicriviroc, or infliximab for treatment of adults hospitalized with COVID-19 pneumonia

About The Study: This randomized clinical trial found that treatment with abatacept, cenicriviroc, or infliximab showed no significant difference of time to recovery compared with placebo for patients hospitalized with COVID-19 pneumonia. Authors: William G. Powderly, M.D., of the Washington University School of Medicine in St. Louis, 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/jama.2023.11043) Editor’s Note: Please see the article for additional information, including other authors, author contributions and affiliations, conflict of interest ...
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Addressing justice in wildfire risk management
Environment 2023-07-10

Addressing justice in wildfire risk management

The frequency and severity of wildfires have become increasingly alarming in recent years, substantially due to the effects of climate change. Rising global temperatures, altered weather patterns, and prolonged droughts are all consequences of climate change that contribute to the heightened risk of wildfires. The 2019-2020 Australian wildfires demonstrated that compound climatic events – long-lasting record high temperatures combined with record low precipitation – can lead to unprecedented ...
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Photonic snake states
Physics 2023-07-10

Photonic snake states

This study has attracted the attention of the international scientific community and opens up unprecedented perspectives in the formation of frequency combs: it predicts the existence of two-dimensional optical rules, more complex than the one-dimensional ones used so far and offering unprecedented versatility in a wide range of applications. Applications in communications, spectroscopy, or computing Frequency combs have a wide range of applications, particularly in the field of communications. According to the authors of the study, these combs allow large amounts of information to be transmitted through optical fibres in a ...
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Social Science 2023-07-10

More menu choices: Migrant orangutans learn a lot about food by watching the locals

Orangutans are dependent on their mothers longer than any other non-human animal, nursing until they are at least six years old and living with her for up to three more years, learning how to find, choose, and process the exceedingly varied range of foods they eat. But how do orangutans that have left their mothers and now live far from their natal ranges, where the available foods may be very different, decide what to eat and figure out how to eat it? Now, an international team of authors has shown that in such cases, migrants follow the rule ‘observe, and do as the locals do’. “Here we show evidence that migrant orangutan males ...
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Chinese Medical Journal study presents new database linking RNA editing and blood cell differentiation
Medicine 2023-07-10

Chinese Medical Journal study presents new database linking RNA editing and blood cell differentiation

The process of converting DNA to proteins through an RNA is far from straightforward. Of the several types of RNA involved in the process of protein synthesis, a few may be edited mid-way. In mammals, RNA editing mostly involves converting adenosine (A) to inosine (I) through deamination, which can result in a wide range of effects. For example, A-to-I conversion can regulate gene expression in different ways and significantly alter the final synthesized protein. While RNA editing is an essential biological process, it is also a key underlying mechanism in some diseases, including cancer. Thus, scientists have created large-scale databases documenting RNA editing sites in various human ...
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Medicine 2023-07-10

Microbial predators cause seasonal fluctuations in wastewater treatment

The community of microbial predators influences the composition of the bacterial community in wastewater. This explains seasonal variations in the microbial community that affect the efficiency of water treatment. This is the result of a study conducted by Nils Heck and PD Dr Kenneth Dumack from the University of Cologne’s Institute of Zoology. The study has been published under the title ‘Microeukaryotic predators shape the wastewater microbiome’ in the journal Water Research. In wastewater treatment plants, a precisely coordinated interaction of different microorganisms takes place in order to effectively ...
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Scientists discover natural repair process that fixes damaged hearing cells
Medicine 2023-07-10

Scientists discover natural repair process that fixes damaged hearing cells

University of Virginia School of Medicine researchers have discovered how the cells that let us hear can repair themselves after being damaged. That important insight could benefit efforts to develop new and better ways to treat and prevent hearing loss. “Hair cells” found in the inner ear, are important both for our ability to hear and our sense of balance. They are known as hair cells because the cells are covered in hair-like structures that serve as mechanical antennas for sound detection. When auditory hair cells are killed, as we learn in school, they are ...
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Medicine 2023-07-10

Tracking down social determinants of health in electronic health records

INDIANAPOLIS – Information on the nonmedical factors that influence health outcomes, known as social determinants of health, is often collected at medical appointments. But this information is frequently recorded as text within the clinical notes written by physicians, nurses, social workers, and therapists. Researchers from Regenstrief Institute and Indiana University Fairbanks School of Public Health recently published one of the first studies in which natural language processing was applied to social determinants of health. The researchers developed three new natural language processing algorithms to successfully extract information from text data related to housing ...
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Medicine 2023-07-10

Association for Molecular Pathology publishes clinical CYP3A4 and CYP3A5 genotyping assay recommendations

ROCKVILLE, Md. – July 10, 2023 – The Association for Molecular Pathology (AMP), the premier global molecular diagnostic professional society, today published consensus recommendations to aid in the design and validation of clinical CYP3A4 and CYP3A5 genotyping assays, promote standardization of testing across different laboratories, and improve patient care. The manuscript, “CYP3A4 and CYP3A5 Genotyping Recommendations: A Joint Consensus Recommendation of the AMP, Clinical Pharmacogenetics Implementation Consortium (CPIC), College of American Pathologists (CAP), Dutch Pharmacogenetics Working Group (DPWG) of the Royal Dutch Pharmacists ...
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Medicine 2023-07-10

First ladies from African countries convene at inaugural executive leadership program to advance health and development

NEW YORK, NEW YORK, July 10, 2023 – First Ladies from countries across Africa and experts from the Columbia University Mailman School of Public Health will meet the week of July 10, 2023 to discuss current trends, critical research, and sustainable, evidence-based approaches to promote population health and well-being. From July 10th to the 13th, First Ladies and their senior advisors will participate in an executive leadership program to advance critical health and development issues in their countries and regions, including communicable and chronic disease ...
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Technology 2023-07-10

Carnegie Mellon University offers new online graduate certificate in computational data science to meet AI demand

Artificial intelligence has transformed how industries and organizations operate, putting data professionals in high demand. To meet this increasing need, Carnegie Mellon University recently launched an online Graduate Certificate in Computational Data Science Foundations program. "Everything we teach will translate into skills that enable mobilization of data for significant impact in your organization," said Carolyn Rosé, the faculty program director and a professor in both the Human-Computer ...
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Medicine 2023-07-10

Sharp rise in severe, alcohol-related liver injury during pandemic

SEATTLE, Wash. – A boom in alcohol sales during the pandemic appears to have had dire consequences for some as hospital admissions for alcohol-related hepatitis, a life-threatening liver inflammation, increased dramatically, according to a study of national hospitalization data. Researchers found increasing cases of the alcohol-related liver illness from 2016 through 2020, but the rise was particularly pronounced the year COVID-19 arrived in the U.S. in 2020, which saw a 12.4% increase over 2019 levels. It was worse in younger patients, ages 18 to 44, a group that had a nearly 20% ...
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A safe, easy, and affordable way to store and retrieve hydrogen
Energy 2023-07-10

A safe, easy, and affordable way to store and retrieve hydrogen

Researchers at the RIKEN Center for Emergent Matter Science (CEMS) in Japan have discovered a compound that uses a chemical reaction to store ammonia, potentially offering a safer and easier way to store this important chemical. This discovery, published in the Journal of the American Chemical Society on July 10, makes it possible not only to safely and conveniently store ammonia, but also the important hydrogen is carries. This finding should help lead the way to a decarbonized society with a practical hydrogen economy.   For society to make the switch from carbon-based to hydrogen-based energy, we need a safe way to store and transport hydrogen, which by itself ...
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These lollipops could ‘sweeten’ diagnostic testing for kids and adults alike
Medicine 2023-07-10

These lollipops could ‘sweeten’ diagnostic testing for kids and adults alike

A lollipop might be a sweet reward for a kid who’s endured a trip to the doctor's office, but now, this candy could make diagnostic testing during a visit less invasive and more enjoyable. Researchers publishing in ACS’ Analytical Chemistry have shown, for the first time, that a lollipop-based saliva collection system can capture bacteria from adults and remain shelf-stable for up to a year. Study participants also preferred the candies over conventional collection systems. Throat swabs are commonly used to collect samples for the diagnosis of a wide variety of illnesses, including strep throat. A less-gag-inducing method is saliva sampling, in which technicians ...
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Air monitor can detect COVID-19 virus variants in about 5 minutes
Medicine 2023-07-10

Air monitor can detect COVID-19 virus variants in about 5 minutes

Now that the emergency phase of the COVID-19 pandemic has ended, scientists are looking at ways to surveil indoor environments in real time for viruses. By combining recent advances in aerosol sampling technology and an ultrasensitive biosensing technique, researchers at Washington University in St. Louis have created a real-time monitor that can detect any of the SARS-CoV-2 virus variants in a room in about 5 minutes. The inexpensive, proof-of-concept device could be used in hospitals and health care facilities, schools and ...
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Medicine 2023-07-10

Policy guidance offers strategies to shift to value-based health care and payment

Statement Highlights: The American Heart Association supports a value-based care and payment (VBP) system that is person-centered, equitable, coordinated and seeks to improve equity, patient and provider experience, and individual and population health while controlling costs. Defining and improving clinician understanding of value-based payment program design and best practices promotes informed decisions for participating and successfully engaging in these models. Embargoed until 4:00 a.m. CT/5:00 a.m. ET, Monday, July 10, 2023 DALLAS, July 10, 2023 — The American Heart Association, a global force for longer, healthier lives for all, ...
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Medicine 2023-07-10

Study identifies prostate cancer–related disparities between Indigenous and non-Indigenous men in a universal health care system

Indigenous Peoples in Canada have higher illness rates and lower life expectancies than non-Indigenous Canadians. A new study reveals that Indigenous men in the country who have prostate cancer are being diagnosed with more advanced and more aggressive tumors than their non-Indigenous counterparts. The findings are published by Wiley online in CANCER, a peer-reviewed journal of the American Cancer Society. To identify disparities in prostate cancer screening, diagnoses, management, and outcomes between Indigenous and non-Indigenous men in Canada, a team led by Adam Kinnaird, MD, PhD, of the University of Alberta, ...
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ERC Advanced Grant awarded to study laughing gas and its relation to climate change
Environment 2023-07-10

ERC Advanced Grant awarded to study laughing gas and its relation to climate change

Ülo Mander, Professor of Physical Geography and Landscape Ecology at the University of Tartu, received the Advanced Grant from the European Research Council to study the cycle of nitrous oxide (N2O), commonly known as the laughing gas, in fens and peatlands, its links to global climate change, and possible land-use practices that could help curb the production of this greenhouse gas in the future. Laughing gas is one of the most dangerous greenhouse gases produced by microbial life in the soils of agricultural areas and drained ...
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Developer dollars not enough to save species
Environment 2023-07-10

Developer dollars not enough to save species

Financial payments made by land developers to offset their impacts on threatened species may fall short, according to University of Queensland-led research. Professor Jonathan Rhodes from the School of the Environment focused on koala populations in the fast-developing South East Queensland region and a government scheme which allows developers to make financial payments to compensate for environmental consequences.  “Just like when you make a financial contribution to offset your carbon emissions when ...
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Strawberry fields forever? Strawberry production leaves long-term plastic pollution
Environment 2023-07-10

Strawberry fields forever? Strawberry production leaves long-term plastic pollution

Researchers have found that the plastic mulch used to support the growth of Californian strawberries sheds large quantities of plastic mulch fragments. These particles have been shown to negatively impact soil qualities, casting doubt on the long-term viability of their use. The findings from the survey are likely to apply world-wide to plastic use in agricultural production. Presenting their work at the Goldschmidt geochemistry conference in Lyon, postdoctoral researcher Dr Ekta Tiwari (from Sistla group at California Polytechnic ...
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Beak shape can predict nest material use in the world’s birds, study finds
Engineering 2023-07-10

Beak shape can predict nest material use in the world’s birds, study finds

The material a bird selects for its nest depends on the dimensions of its beak, according to researchers. Using data on nest materials for nearly 6,000 species of birds, a team based at the University of Bristol and the University of St Andrews utilised random forest models, a type of machine learning algorithm, to take data from bird beaks and try to predict what nest materials that species might use. They found a surprisingly strong correlation. Using only information on beak shape and size, they were able to correctly predict broad nest material use in 60% of species, rising to ...
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