Biophysical Society stands with Congress to condemn anti-Asian sentiment

sarah JonasUncategorized

ROCKVILLE, MD – The Biophysical Society (BPS) applauds the work of Sens. Kamala D. Harris (D-CA), Tammy Duckworth (D-IL), and Mazie Hirono (D-HI) and Rep. Grace Meng (D-NY) on the introduction of a non-binding resolution (S. Res. 580/H. Res. 908)…

Newspapers report on car safety recalls less when manufacturers advertise more with them

sarah JonasUncategorized

Is the reporting of media outlets biased in favor of firms that advertise with them? A new study looked at the relationship between advertising by car manufacturers in U.S. newspapers and news coverage of car safety recalls in the early…

Overcoming challenges of individuals with autism spectrum disorders during the COVID-19 pandemic

sarah JonasResearch Results

Dr. Adrien A. Eshraghi and University of Miami Health System coauthors published a new correspondence titled COVID-19: overcoming the challenges faced by individuals with autism and their families in The Lancet Psychiatry. In this commentary, the authors address specific challenges patients with autism and their families might encounter during the pandemic, as well as what healthcare providers should know and do to ensure optimal and safe care.

Low Rate of COVID-19 Found in Women Admitted for Childbirth at Cedars-Sinai

sarah JonasResearch Results

A study conducted by investigators at Cedars-Sinai suggests that universal testing of asymptomatic pregnant women in labor may not be necessary at every hospital. The investigation was prompted by reports from several large hospitals in New York City that nearly 14% of asymptomatic women admitted for childbirth had tested positive for COVID-19 during the early weeks of the pandemic. The women did not know they were infected.

Surviving the coronavirus while black: Pandemic’s heavy toll on African American mental health

sarah JonasExpert Pitch

ANN ARBOR—Black communities in the United States have been disproportionately affected by the number of coronavirus cases and deaths. At the same time, white nationalist activities have increased in the last months.Riana Elyse AndersonRiana Anderson, assistant professor at the University of Michigan’s School of Public Health, discusses how these trends are affecting the mental health of African Americans.

Untangling a key step in photosynthetic oxygen production

sarah JonasResearch Results

Researchers zeroed in on a key step in photosynthesis in which a water molecule moves in to bridge manganese and calcium atoms in the catalytic complex that splits water to produce breathable oxygen. What they learned brings them one step closer to obtaining a complete picture of this natural process, which could inform the next generation of artificial photosynthetic systems that produce clean and renewable energy from sunlight and water. Their results were published in the Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences today.

Tip of the Iceberg: Existing Racial Inequalities in Death from COVID-19 Will Soar

sarah JonasFeature

Lifesaving innovations for COVID-19 will only markedly increase the already existing racial inequalities, if public health initiatives for equitable dissemination throughout all communities are not immediately developed. The introduction of drugs for HIV, respiratory distress syndrome, and hepatitis C resulted in racial inequalities. Moreover, before the introduction of the Salk polio vaccine in 1952, initially, black Americans experienced significantly lower rates of paralytic polio than white Americans. By 1959, after the widespread distribution of the vaccine, the reverse was true.

Platinum-free catalysts could make cheaper hydrogen fuel cells

sarah JonasResearch Results

Argonne scientists studied platinum-free catalysts for important fuel cell reactions. The research provides understanding of the mechanisms that make the catalysts effective, and it could inform production of more efficient and cost-effective catalysts.