As more people turn to social media and other online sources for updates on the novel coronavirus outbreak, determining which sources are reliable becomes increasingly difficult. Experts Dana Coester and Bob Britten in the West Virginia University Reed College of…
Author: sarah Jonas
Quantum and accelerator science enable mysterious dark sector searches at Fermilab
Fermilab technology developed for particle accelerators offers a valuable opportunity to search for a hypothesized particle that would resemble a particle of light. These dark photons could help us understand the large part of our universe that we know is there but have yet to observe.
Breast milk may help prevent sepsis in preemies
Researchers at Washington University School of Medicine in St. Louis and Mayo Clinic in Rochester, Minn., have found — in newborn mice — that a component of breast milk may help protect premature babies from developing life-threatening sepsis.
COVID-19: Do not forget the host in treating this disease
From reading the literature primarily out of China, many of the severely ill coronavirus-infected patients appear to have clinical and laboratory features of a cytokine storm syndrome, or CSS, which is frequently fatal.
Aversion to Risk by R&D Managers May Hurt U.S. Economic Prospects
While concerns loom over an impending recession caused by the spread of COVID-19, policymakers and business leaders have implemented radical strategies, such as slashing interest rates to invigorate the U.S.’s weakened economy. Research and Development (R&D) has long been key in the nation’s economic prospects and according to new research from the University of California San Diego, the country’s ability to maintain its competitive edge in this area largely depends on managers in R&D being less averse to risk.
Scientists Have Discovered the Origins of the Building Blocks of Life
Rutgers researchers have discovered the origins of the protein structures responsible for metabolism: simple molecules that powered early life on Earth and serve as chemical signals that NASA could use to search for life on other planets. Their study, which predicts what the earliest proteins looked like 3.5 billion to 2.5 billion years ago, is published in the journal Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences.
Family Quality Time During the Coronavirus Pandemic
With many schools closed as a measure against the spread of coronavirus, and many parents working remotely, families can incorporate a variety of activities — including educational ones — to keep kids engaged and ready to continue learning when they return to school, say family experts at Baylor University.
Why is Appendicitis Not Always Diagnosed in the Emergency Department?
A new study examines the factors associated with a potentially missed diagnosis of appendicitis in children and adults in the emergency department.
‘Natural killer’ cells could halt Parkinson’s progression
Researchers at the University of Georgia’s Regenerative Bioscience Center and their colleagues have found that “natural killer” white blood cells could guard against the cascade of cellular changes that lead to Parkinson’s disease and help stop its progression.
Soft corals near Virgin Islands recover from 2017 hurricanes, but stony corals still declining
Soft corals at three sites in the U.S. Virgin Islands were able to recover from the destructive effects of nearly back-to-back Category 5 storms in 2017, but research by a UB marine ecologist puts that seemingly good news in the context of an ecosystem that is dramatically changing.
Rutgers Expert Discusses How Community Faith-Based Organizations Can Prepare For COVID-19
John J. Farmer, Jr., director of Rutgers’ Miller Center for Community Protection and Resilience, is available to discuss how faith-based organizations can plan for COVID-19 impacts on their volunteers, staff and the communities they serve. “Community and faith-based organizations, whose…
Most surgeons in pain after surgery, Mayo research finds
Almost two-thirds of surgeons reported an increase in neck pain after performing surgery, and one-quarter rated their neck or lower back pain as clinically significant, a new Mayo Clinic study has found. The research was published in the Journal of American College of Surgeons.
Penn Nursing Podcast Special Edition: COVID-19
As the COVID-19 pandemic grows across the US, Penn Nursing’s Alison Buttenheim, PhD, a public health researcher and behavioral epidemiologist and Penn Medicine’s Carolyn Cannuscio, ScD, a social epidemiologist, join Amplify Nursing to discuss the coronavirus – what we need to know, what we need to do to help lessen the spread, and what we should expect in the days and weeks to come. Listen here or wherever you listen to podcasts.
Rutgers Education Expert Available to Discuss Remote Learning
Rutgers Graduate School of Education Professor Alisa Belzer is available to discuss remote learning, in use by many K-12 schools, colleges and universities due to concerns about COVID-19. She teaches fully online courses to graduate students and studies learner experience. “When it…
“Ruminant Plague” Threatens Populations of Wildlife and Livestock
A disease already known for causing massive die-offs of wildlife in Asia is spreading.
Rutgers Scholar Available to Discuss Children’s Screen Time During COVID-19
Rutgers scholar Dafna Lemish, author of Children and Media: A Global Perspective, is available to discuss how families should handle children’s screen time during school closures related to COVID19. “With schools closing and moving to remote learning amidst COVID-19, children…
California’s strict air quality regulations help farmers prosper, UCI-led study finds
Irvine, Calif., March 16, 2020 – Farmers in California’s Central Valley are not known for their love of government regulations, but those same growers have seen a boost in the productivity of their high-value crops – and greater earnings – as a result of the Golden State’s strict air pollution controls. For a study published today in Nature Food, researchers at the University of California, Irvine and other institutions conducted a statistical analysis of pollution exposure and yields from 1980 to 2015 on a key sector making up about 38 percent of the state’s total agricultural output: perennial crops such as almonds, grapes, nectarines, peaches, strawberries and walnuts.
Leveraging layers for enhanced tissue repair
Bioengineers have created a 3D-printed scaffold designed to regenerate complex tissues composed of multiple layers of cells with different biological and mechanical properties.
Fed must elastically supply liquidity to ensure functioning of markets, sufficient cash for businesses
Professor and Michael P. Grace II Collegiate Chair of Economics Eric Sims is available to comment on the interest rate cut and other Fed issues during this uncertain time. His initial comments are below. You can reach him at [email protected]. “The economic harm…
McLean Mental Health Experts Offer 5 Ways to Reduce Anxiety During the COVID-19 Outbreak
Worrying about catching an infectious disease, the coronavirus or otherwise, while taking care of your family, can be a stressful time. Nathaniel Van Kirk, PhD, Kathryn D. Boger, PhD, ABPP, and Marni J. Chanoff, MD, from McLean, shared ways to keep you…
Rutgers Expert Available to Discuss 2020 Census
Rutgers scholar James Hughes is available to discuss the 2020 Census and its impact in New Jersey. The deadline for the 2020 Census is April 1 and questionnaires are being collected online, via phone and through the mail. “Answering the…
Telehealth can help ‘flatten the curve,’ serve critical role in COVID-19 response, says WVU health expert
West Virginia University is connecting patients, recently discharged from long-term care facilities, with medical professionals who can manage their healthcare remotely via technology. This telehealth approach may now prove to be a more versatile tool as the U.S. responds to the looming threat of the novel coronavirus.
App Detects Harsh Side Effect of Breast Cancer Treatment
Many breast cancer survivors suffer from lymph collection known as lymphedema. It causes arms to swell, and sufferers often become severely depressed. A new app detects it early, and its makers hope it will help spread awareness of the disease.
IU sociologist available to comment on how school closures, e-learning disproportionately impact low-income students
With more than 10,600 of the nation’s public and private schools temporarily closing in response to the novel coronavirus (COVID-19), low-income students are disproportionally impacted. Many families rely on schools to provide child care and meals while the adults are…
If you’re poor, poverty is an environmental issue
A survey from Cornell researchers – conducted among more than 1,100 U.S. residents – found that there were, in fact, demographic differences in how people viewed environmental issues, with racial and ethnic minorities and lower-income people more likely to consider human factors such as racism and poverty as environmental, in addition to more ecological issues like toxic fumes from factories or car exhaust.
Last Call for Entries: AIP’s 2020 Science Communication Awards
The American Institute of Physics is accepting nominations for the 2020 AIP Science Communication Awards through March 31, 2020. Four awards will be given for the best science writing in books; magazine, newspaper or online articles; children’s books and other works intended for children; and broadcast and online. Works should be intended for a general audience and will be judged on their ability to enhance the public’s understanding and appreciation of physics and related fields.
Looking to the future with Dr. Francis Collins
At a presentation at UAB, NIH director Francis Collins outlined the top 10 area of excitement and promise in science.
“Families First Coronavirus Response Act” risks limited testing, surprise patient billing
The Families First Coronavirus Response Act (H.R. 6201) represents swift action by the House of Representatives to bolster federal responses to the spread of coronavirus and aims to reduce the pandemic’s impacts on Americans’ safety and financial security, while addressing an ongoing COVID-19 testing backlog.
Established cell biologists can apply for several honorific awards
The American Society for Cell Biology (ASCB) created several honorific awards to recognize established life scientists who, over their careers, have made significant contributions to the discipline of cell biology and to the community of cell biologists. Applications for all these awards are now open and close May 15.
Healthcare Communication Platform, Pulsara, Announces Release of FREE COVID-19 Management Package
Pulsara’s COVID-19 package enables networked communication (including HIPAA-compliant live video and messaging) across organizations at no charge.
Association for Molecular Pathology Calls on Senate to Close Coverage Gaps for Clinical Laboratory Testing in Families First Coronavirus Response Act
The Association for Molecular Pathology (AMP), the premier global, molecular diagnostic professional society, today released a statement on H.R. 6201, the Families First Coronavirus Response Act, as passed by the House of Representatives on March 14, 2020.
People Prone to Disengage from Difficult Tasks and Goals May Experience Greater Cognitive Decline After Retirement
Certain middle-aged and older adults, especially women who tend to disengage from difficult tasks and goals after they retire, may be at greater risk of cognitive decline as they age, according to research published by the American Psychological Association.
Disneyland Closes: Orange County’s Economy Takes a Hit
Want to know how Disneyland’s closure will hit Southern California’s economy? Ask the Cal State Fullerton trio of economists who determined the resort’s $8.5 billion impact in Southern California. When Disneyland Resort wanted an accurate and objective assessment of its…
Covid-19 Underscores Flawed Eurozone Single Currency System
Finance professor Albert “Pete” Kyle at the University of Maryland’s Robert H. Smith School of Business is available to expand on his comments, below, on why the coronavirus outbreak underscores the flaws of the EU’s single-currency system. The following –…
Pets can protect against suicide in older people
It’s a sad fact that suicide rates among people over 60 are the highest of any age group in Australia, but a new study published today from the University of South Australia has found an unexpected saviour – pets.
Families First Coronavirus Response Act Would Prohibit Insurers from Paying for Some COVID-19 Tests
AACC greatly values the work that the U.S. House of Representatives has done to support American families in the midst of the coronavirus outbreak and is supportive of the goals of H.R. 6201, the Families First Coronavirus Response Act. However, we are concerned that the language as currently drafted does not provide coverage for COVID-19 tests performed prior to those tests receiving Emergency Use Authorization (EUA) from the Food & Drug Administration (FDA).
COVID-19 pandemic poses risk of recession
Johns Hopkins Carey Business School Associate Professor Alessandro Rebucci offers his interpretation of what COVID-19 means for the markets in the near term and long term.
Tips to Cope with the COVID-19 Pandemic
Answers to common questions and ways to help you manage stress during the COVID-19 pandemic
Livermore, university researchers describe how antineutrino detectors could aid nuclear nonproliferation efforts
A tiny, invisible particle, antineutrinos, could offer help for a big problem – the threat of nuclear proliferation. With advances, researchers are moving closer to the day when they can deploy technology to remotely monitor these particles from nuclear power plants at long distances.
Earliest age gender dysphoria experienced by transgender adults seeking gender-affirming surgery
What The Study Did: Data collected from 155 adult transgender women and 55 transgender men were used to identify the earliest age at which gender dysphoria was experienced in this patient population seeking genital gender-affirming surgery at a California hospital. Authors:…
Nonmedical opioid prescription use among transgender girls, young women
What The Study Did: This observational study looked at how common nonmedical prescription opioid use was among transgender girls and young women and risk factors associated with it. Authors: Arjee J. Restar, M.P.H., of the Brown University School of Public…
New study reveals early evolution of cortex
Their researches on the lamprey brain has enabled researchers at Karolinska Institutet in Sweden to push the birth of the cortex back in time by some 300 million years to over 500 million years ago, providing new insights into brain…
Benefits of fish in moderation while pregnant outweigh risks for child
Eating fish 1-3 times a week during pregnancy is associated with improved metabolic health as the child grows, according to new study from Keck School of Medicine of USC
Biophysicists blend incompatible components in one nanofiber
Russian researchers from the Federal Research Clinical Center of Physical-Chemical Medicine, the Moscow Institute of Physics and Technology, and Lomonosov Moscow State University showed the possibility of blending two incompatible components — a protein and a polymer — in one…
Bargain-hunting for biodiversity
New tool pinpoints conservation targets
NASA finds Gretel becoming extra-tropical
NASA’s Terra satellite passed over the Southern Pacific Ocean and captured an image of Tropical Storm Gretel as it was transitioning into an extra-tropical cyclone, northwest of New Zealand. Tropical Cyclone 23P formed on March 14 at 4 p.m. EDT…
Scientists optimize prime editing for rice and wheat
Many genetic and breeding studies have shown that point mutations and indels (insertions and deletions) can alter elite traits in crop plants. Although nuclease-initiated homology-directed repair (HDR) can generate such changes, it is limited by its low efficiency. Base editors…
Data from Sweden used to examine PPI use, risk of fracture in children
What The Study Did: Data from Sweden were used to compare 115,933 pairs of children who did or didn’t use proton pump inhibitors (PPIs) to examine the association between PPI use and risk of fracture in children. Author: Yun-Han Wang,…
New Yorkers and Coronavirus — Support for school closures, while most feel not at risk
Most people changing their behavior because of Coronavirus
Researchers sniff out AI breakthroughs in mammal brains
ITHACA, N.Y. – When you smell an orange, the scent is most likely combined with several others: car exhaust, garbage, flowers, soap. Those smells bind simultaneously to the hundreds of receptors in your brain’s olfactory bulb, obscuring one another, yet…