When the Danish bulk carrier Nordic Orion set sail on Sept. 17, 2013, from Vancouver, British Columbia, on a journey to Finland, it set a course for a groundbreaking journey. Rather than turn south to pass through the Panama Canal, it headed north to traverse the Northwest Passage, a winding sea route through the archipelago off Canada’s north and east coasts.
Month: May 2024
Many Microplastics in the World’s Oceans Have Likely Escaped Detection
A new study that investigated the presence of the smallest particles of microplastics (MPs) in ocean waters from the Caribbean to the Arctic found that the most abundant (and tiny) MPs in the ocean are not being detected by net tow surveys.
Sea Surveillance
Off the southeastern tip of Greenland in mid-June, Hayley DeHart, a genomics and marine scientist at APL, disembarked Lindblad Expedition’s National Geographic Endurance — a 407-foot (124-meter) ice-cutting cruise ship — and stepped into a small Zodiac inflatable motorboat.
Boots on the Ground
In February 2016, 215 soldiers from the U.S. and Canadian militaries conducted a 10-day exercise called Arctic Ram. Their objective was to demonstrate they could rapidly respond to an emergency in the Arctic. In this case, they simulated retrieving a military satellite that crash-landed north of the small town of Resolute on Cornwallis Island in Nunavut, Canada.
New research sheds light on RNA’s role in disease
Many scientists study the proteins in our cells in order to fight diseases like cancer, but Cornell College Assistant Biochemistry Professor Collin O’Leary and a team of researchers are turning their focus to the structure of RNA.
Proximity to a Cancer Center Contributes to Cancer Stage at Diagnosis, Study Finds
Location, race and insurance status play a significant part in the odds of a patient being diagnosed with early-stage or late-stage cancer, according to a detailed medical records analysis of more than 94,000 patients with cancer by researchers at the Johns Hopkins Bloomberg School of Public Health and the Johns Hopkins Kimmel Cancer Center.
‘Better than graphene’ material development may improve implantable technology
Move over, graphene. There’s a new, improved two-dimensional material in the lab. Borophene, the atomically thin version of boron first synthesized in 2015, is more conductive, thinner, lighter, stronger and more flexible than graphene, the 2D version of carbon. Now, researchers at Penn State have made the material potentially more useful by imparting chirality — or handedness — on it, which could make for advanced sensors and implantable medical devices.
Expert shares tips for food safety at cookouts and potlucks
As the summer season approaches, lots of people will be planning to host or attend backyard cookouts and potlucks. But before you fire up the grill, Virginia Tech food safety expert Melissa Wright shares tips to protect yourself, your family, and your friends from foodborne illnesses during the warm-weather months. “Safe food handling when eating outdoors is critical,” says Wright.
The Emerging Arctic
Off the north coast of Alaska in the Beaufort Sea, the Sun won’t make its appearance until roughly nine in the morning, its edge arcing over the horizon where a spill of puffy clouds briefly hides its emerging face.
Brain Connectivity Patterns Differ in Infants at Familial Risk for Autism
A study co-led by researchers at UCLA Health has found distinct brain connectivity patterns in six-week-old infants at risk for developing autism spectrum disorder (ASD).
Wearable ultrasound patch enables continuous, non-invasive monitoring of cerebral blood flow
Engineers at the University of California San Diego have developed a wearable ultrasound patch that can offer continuous, non-invasive monitoring of blood flow in the brain. The soft and stretchy patch can be comfortably worn on the temple to provide three-dimensional data on cerebral blood flow—a first in wearable technology.
Food for thought: Study links key nutrients to slower brain aging
Scientists have long been studying the brain with a goal of aiding healthier aging. While much is known about risk factors for accelerated brain aging, less has been uncovered to identify ways to reduce cognitive decline.
The Medical Minute: Trauma-informed care delves into root causes of health conditions
A person’s experiences with trauma can have serious effects on their health later in life. A Penn State Health expert discusses how health care is paying more attention and how you can help.
Mount Sinai Experts to Present New Research on Long COVID, Lung Cancer, Asthma, Sleep Apnea, and More at ATS 2024 International Conference
Available for interview on breaking news, trending topics in respiratory medicine
Nationwide Children’s Hospital Launches “Empower the Possible” Campaign with Historic 10-Year, $100 Million Commitment from Nationwide Foundation
Nationwide Children’s Hospital is honored to announce that it has received a historic 10-year commitment of $100 million from the Nationwide Foundation. This landmark announcement marks the public launch of the hospital’s “Empower the Possible” campaign that with other gifts brings the campaign’s fundraising total to more than $270 million, more than halfway to the campaign goal of $500 million.
Promethium bound: Rare earth element’s secrets exposed
Scientists have uncovered the properties of a rare earth element that was first discovered 80 years ago at the very same laboratory, opening a new pathway for the exploration of elements critical in modern technology, from medicine to space travel.
Preventing Summer Injuries: 12 Tips from Johns Hopkins Pediatricians
The weather is heating up, and school is winding down. But, the start of summer also brings potential for injuries, particularly for children. Water accidents, sunburns, dehydration and head/neck injuries are some of the most common conditions pediatricians see during the summer.
New Study Lays Out How to Find Meaningful, Not Just “Significant”, Results
The framework has the potential to improve one of the basic facets of how science is done and shift researchers’ and clinicians’ perspectives from statistical significance to biological relevance.
Comparison of four methods on drying efficiency and physicochemical properties of chicken meat
In this study, four drying methods including hot air drying (HAD), catalytic infrared drying (CIRD), electric infrared drying (EIRD) and electric oven drying (EOD) were used to prepare dried chicken breast. The study systematically compared the drying efficiencies of different methods and their effects on physico-chemical properties, pet food applications, energy consumption, and cost.
Nearly 3% of Healthy Adolescents use Commercial CBD Products, Study Finds
Researchers at UC San Diego have found that nearly 3% of healthy adolescents use commercial CBD products, many of which contain higher levels of THC than advertised.
New York Valves 2024 Late-Breaking Clinical Trials and Science Announced
The Cardiovascular Research Foundation® (CRF®) has announced New York Valves: The Structural Heart Summit will feature 12 Late-Breaking Clinical Trials and Science presentations. New York Valves 2024, the expanded iteration of our renowned annual Transcatheter Valve Therapy (TVT®) conference, will take place June 5-7, 2024, at the Jacob K. Javits Convention Center, North in New York City.
Hospital Care Unit Meets Hiring Challenges by Growing Its Own Care Partners
To fill high demand positions, CHLA trainees undergo reskilling, a recent addition to the workforce glossary that refers to employees’ learning of new skills in order to pursue a different role within the same organization.
Could corrosion actually be helpful? New 3D printing technique might turn oxidation into an advantage
New research from Binghamton University, State University of New York could revolutionize 3D printing and how engineers think about oxidation.
LSST Camera Arrives at Rubin Observatory in Chile, Paving the Way for Cosmic Exploration
Another exciting milestone in the construction of Rubin Observatory has been achieved! On May 16th Rubin’s LSST Camera reached its forever home, the summit facility on Cerro Pachón.
Indica Labs Receives FDA Clearance for HALO AP Dx Digital Pathology Platform for Use with Hamamatsu Images Acquired with the NanoZoomer® S360MD Slide Scanner
Indica Labs, an industry leader in AI-powered digital pathology solutions, and Hamamatsu Photonics K.K., a pioneer in whole slide imaging systems, announce that the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) has issued a 510(k) clearance to Indica Labs for HALO AP Dx, an enterprise digital pathology platform. HALO AP Dx is indicated for primary diagnosis of surgical pathology slides prepared from formalin-fixed paraffin embedded (FFPE) tissue scanned by the NanoZoomer® S360MD Slide scanner1.
Flexible film senses nearby movements — featured in blink-tracking glasses
Researchers reporting in ACS Applied Materials & Interfaces have designed a soft, flexible film that senses the presence of nearby objects without physically touching them. The study features the new sensor technology to detect eyelash proximity in blink-tracking glasses.
New study points to new ways to effectively combat military food insecurity
One in four service members experience food insecurity. To combat this statistic, Uniformed Services University (USU) researchers recently evaluated military perceptions of the Supplemental Nutrition Program for Women, Infants, and Children (WIC), in hopes of ultimately increasing access to nutritious food.
Cybersecurity expert: AI could leave our operational technology vulnerable. What can we do about it?
The use of AI could expose critical operational technology to cybersecurity vulnerabilities. How can we protect the systems that support our daily life? Operational technology networks (OT) run the infrastructure that supports our daily life – such as train networks…
Dismissed and discharged: health systems still failing people with poor mental health
A serious disconnect between emergency departments and the NDIS is failing people with mental health conditions, as new research from the University of South Australia shows that they frequently receive inadequate care within emergency departments, potentially putting thousands of vulnerable people at risk.
Reduce the risk of electric vehicle fires by analyzing nanostructures!
Dr. Hyeon-woo Son and his research team from the Department of Aluminum in the Advanced Metals Division at KIMS have successfully developed an aluminum alloy for electric vehicles that dramatically improves thermal stability.
NUS scientists discover a novel way of activating muscle cells’ natural defences against cancer using magnetic pulses
A team of researchers led by Associate Professor Alfredo Franco-Obregón from the NUS Institute for Health Innovation & Technology (iHealthtech) has unveiled a novel approach to stimulate muscle, by way of using brief and mild pulsed electromagnetic field exposure, to produce and release proteins possessing anticancer properties.
Brain scans for babies reduce risk of stroke later in life
Non-invasive brain scans for children under the age of one could identify risk factors and reduce the potential for stroke later in life, say researchers at the University of South Australia.
Recent FDA Committee Vote Could Speed Multiple Myeloma Drug Approval
An FDA committee voted unanimously last month to approve a new clinical endpoint, minimal residual disease, when evaluating proposed drugs to treat multiple myeloma. The 12-0 vote was based primarily on an analysis spearheaded by C. Ola Landgren, M.D., Ph.D., first author of a new paper published May 20 in the journal Blood.
MD Anderson Research Highlights for May 21, 2024
The University of Texas MD Anderson Cancer Center’s Research Highlights showcases the latest breakthroughs in cancer care, research and prevention. These advances are made possible through seamless collaboration between MD Anderson’s world-leading clinicians and scientists, bringing discoveries from the lab to the clinic and back.
Can you spot a deepfake?
University of South Australia computer scientist and AI expert Associate Professor Wolfgang Mayer demonstrates in this video how AI is getting closer to replicating voices and faces, and soon it will be very hard to tell the difference between deepfakes and reality.
Nightmares and hallucinations could signal autoimmune disease
An increase in nightmares and hallucinations could signal the onset of autoimmune diseases such as lupus, according to a new study.
استراتيجية “أوميكس” الجديدة لمايو كلينك تحدث طفرة نحو المستقبل
تخيل مستقبلًا تكون فيه الرعاية الصحية مصممة لك خصيصًا، وصولًا إلى الجزيئات في عمق خلاياك. العلاجات الموجَّهة والاستراتيجيات الوقائية مخصصة تحديدًا لتناسب الجينوم الفريد لديك. تحدد خارطة طريقك الطبية الشخصية المتغيرات الجينية الوراثية، وتوفر إرشادات بشأن المخاطر البيئية، وتقدم استراتيجيات للحفاظ على صحة القلب والوقاية من السرطان، مما يجعلها فريدة كحمضك النووي.
How to treat a sunburn
Sunburns can be painful and damaging to your skin, while also increasing your risk of skin cancer, the most common cancer in the United States and one of the most preventable. A new survey by the American Academy of Dermatology shows that one in three Americans (36%) got a sunburn in 2023, a significant increase over the previous year.
Detecting Odors on the Edge: Researchers Decipher How Insects Smell More with Less
While humans feature a sophisticated sense of smell, insects have a much more basic olfactory system. Yet they depend upon smell to survive. Scientists have figured out how fruit flies use a simple but efficient system to recognize odors, and the answer lies at the edges of their antennae.
Researchers Identify Priority Areas That Deliver on Climate Change, Biodiversity and Health
To meet the imperative of the Kunming-Montreal Global Biodiversity Framework target, which seeks to protect at least 30 percent of the planet by 2030, researchers in an essay in PLOS Biology argue that “conservation areas need to be large enough to encompass functioning ecosystems and their associated biodiversity, and located in areas of high ecological integrity.”
NEW TOOL MAY HELP PRIORITIZE HIGH-RISK INFANTS FOR RSV IMMUNIZATION
Pediatric Impact of COVID-19 and Other Respiratory Infections Clinical Prediction Tool for Prioritizing Respiratory Syncytial Virus Prevention Products for High-Risk Infants During Current Limited Availability of Nirsevimab in the United States
Tracking Down Toxic Metals From Tobacco Smoke
Homes and public places where people smoke may have high levels of harmful trace metals from cigarettes, even after smoking stops, Berkeley Lab researchers have found. These metals include cadmium, arsenic, and chromium, and the levels may be above safety limits set by California.
Drug Helps Reprogram Macrophage Immune Cells, Suppress Prostate and Bladder Tumor Growth
A novel therapy that reprograms immune cells to promote antitumor activity helped shrink hard-to-treat prostate and bladder cancers in mice, according to research from the Johns Hopkins Kimmel Cancer Center and its Bloomberg~Kimmel Institute for Cancer Immunotherapy and Johns Hopkins Drug Discovery.
A New Gene-Editing System Tackles Complex Diseases
Current methods to model or correct mutations in live cells are inefficient, especially when multiplexing — installing multiple point mutations simultaneously across the genome. Researchers from the UC San Diego have developed new, efficient genome editing tools called multiplexed orthogonal base editors (MOBEs) to install multiple point mutations at once.
The hidden motive behind U.S. voters’ stance on noncitizen voting
A new study from the University of Florida exposes a driving force fueling the debate on voting rights
Costly gas separation may not be needed to recycle CO2 from air and industrial plants
A costly step in the process of taking carbon dioxide emissions and converting them into useful products such as biofuels and pharmaceuticals may not be necessary, according to University of Michigan researchers.
Study Results: Subsequent Chemotherapy May Increase Risk of Joint Infection for Patients with Joint Replacements
Researchers at Sinai Hospital of Baltimore have found a possible relationship between receiving chemotherapy within a year of total joint replacement surgery and increased incidence of infection in the replaced joint. Findings published this month in the Archives of Orthopaedic and Trauma Surgery.
Skin-Saving Solutions: The Power of Radiotherapy for Treating Skin Cancers
Skin Brachytherapy, also called radiation seed therapy, offers a non-invasive radiation therapy solution to complement or replace surgery for certain skin cancers. Rajesh V. Iyer, MD, is a radiation oncologist at RWJBarnabas Health and chairman of radiation oncology at Community Medical Center, shares more about this treatment option for patients.
It May be Time to Rethink What We Call Ischemic Acute Kidney Injury
Rockville, Md. —There has been extensive research of ischemic acute kidney injury focused on the belief that prolonged low oxygen levels (hypoxia) cause injury to the kidney’s tubular tissue lining, resulting in continued kidney risk. Ischemic acute kidney injury happens…
Gamers say they hate ‘smurfing,’ but admit they do it
Online video game players believe the behavior known as “smurfing” is generally wrong and toxic to the gaming community – but most admit to doing it and say some reasons make the behavior less blameworthy, new research finds. The new study suggests that debates about toxicity in gaming may sometimes be more complex and nuanced than is often acknowledged, according to the researchers.