In Physics of Fluids, researchers use principal component analysis along with fluid dynamics simulation models to show the crucial importance of proper fit for all types of masks and how face shape influences the most ideal fit. They modeled a moderate cough jet from a mouth of an adult male wearing a cloth mask over the nose and mouth with elastic bands wrapped around the ears and calculated the maximum volume flow rates through the front of mask and peripheral gaps at different material porosity levels.
Tag: Coronavirus
DNA Analysis Provides Insight into Associations Between Worse COVID and Other Conditions
Through analyzing human DNA samples in a large biobank, Penn Medicine researchers found associations between genetic variants with severe COVID and conditions involving blood clots and respiratory issues
At U-M, risk from surface contamination of COVID-19 was much lower than air transmission
Air transmission of SARS-CoV-2, the virus behind the coronavirus pandemic, was much higher than surface transmission at the University of Michigan, according to a study by researchers at U-M’s School of Public Health.
Decoy receptor protects against Omicron infection
They say that the best defense is a good offense; and now, researchers from Japan have found that the best defense against coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) infection could be a good decoy.
Researchers scour Twitter to analyze public attitudes about COVID-19 vaccinations
Vaccination policy, vaccine hesitancy and post-vaccination symptoms and effects among top topics tweeted
UCI professor wins prestigious Robert Koch Prize for groundbreaking research
Irvine, Calif., April 27, 2022 – Philip Felgner, Ph.D., professor in residence of physiology & biophysics at the University of California, Irvine, is one of two scholars to win the prestigious 2022 Robert Koch Prize for fundamental contributions to the transfer of nucleic acids into cells. This pioneering technology for treating infectious diseases played a crucial role in developing the messenger RNA COVID-19 vaccines.
Rural Bangladeshis turn to faith, family for fact-checking
On top of the COVID-19 pandemic, people worldwide have dealt with an infodemic – a flood of ever-evolving information and misinformation about the virus, causing confusion and mistrust. New Cornell research finds that in remote parts of Bangladesh with little internet access, people have relied on local experts, spiritual views and their sense of social justice to evaluate new coronavirus information.
Yale researchers develop RNA-based therapy that clears SARS-CoV-2 from mice
Researchers at Yale School of Medicine have discovered that an RNA molecule that stimulates the body’s early antiviral defense system can protect mice from a range of emerging SARS-CoV-2 variants. The study, published today in the Journal of Experimental Medicine (JEM), could lead to new treatments for COVID-19 in immunocompromised patients, as well as providing an inexpensive therapeutic option for developing countries that currently lack access to vaccines.
Advanced Photon Source helps Pfizer create COVID-19 antiviral treatment
The new drug candidate, Paxlovid, significantly reduced hospitalization and death in adult patients, according to Pfizer, and will be submitted for an emergency use authorization in the United States. Data was taken at IMCA-CAT at the APS.
Montefiore-Einstein Researchers Test Whether Molnupiravir Can Prevent COVID-19
As part of a recently launched international phase 3 clinical trial, Montefiore Health System and Albert Einstein College of Medicine are investigating whether the Merck antiviral pill, molnupiravir, now approved in Britain for treating COVID-19, can prevent COVID-19 in unvaccinated individuals living with people who have contracted the disease. Montefiore-Einstein is the first and only New York State site for the trial and was selected due to its diverse patient population and expertise in clinical trials of COVID-19 and other infectious diseases.
Cellular Quality-Control System Identified as a Culprit in Coronavirus Infection
The unfolded protein response plays a key role in how Middle East Respiratory Syndrome damages the lungs. MERS is much less common but much lethal than COVID-19, which is also caused by a coronavirus.
Children, Adults Equally Vulnerable to Coronavirus Infection, But Children Less Likely to Become Sick
New research addresses the misconception that children are less susceptible to infection with the new coronavirus. According to a recent report in JAMA Pediatrics, children and adults have similar risks of becoming infected with SARS-CoV-2, but a much larger proportion of infected children do not show symptoms of COVID-19. When one household member is infected, there is a 52% chance they will transmit it to at least one other person with whom they live.
Vaccinating children against COVID-19 can prevent tragedy
Three in 10 parents say they will “definitely not” get their 5- to 11-year-old vaccinated against COVID-19, according to new data from the Kaiser Family Foundation. Neil Lewis, Jr., a behavioral scientist at Cornell University who was not involved with…
FDA authorization of COVID-19 vaccine for kids 5 to 11: IU experts available to comment
Following a daylong meeting Oct. 26, the FDA authorized Pfizer’s COVID-19 vaccine for use in children ages 5 to 11. This was the first in a series of meetings to make this vaccine available to younger children. Next, the Advisory…
Trigonopterus corona, the new species of tiny beetle named after the coronavirus
Many curious animals can be found on the Indonesian Island of Sulawesi – such as the deer-hog and the midget buffalo.
AI-driven dynamic face mask adapts to exercise, pollution levels
Researchers reporting in ACS Nano have developed a dynamic respirator that modulates its pore size in response to changing conditions, such as exercise or air pollution levels, allowing the wearer to breathe easier when the highest levels of filtration are not required.
Working from home and can’t sleep? WVU neuroscientist says your circadian rhythms are to blame
Disruptions to the circadian rhythms that regulate the sleep-wake cycle may especially affect people working from home, according to WVU researcher Randy Nelson.
Clip Health (formerly Luminostics) Announces Company Rebranding, Immediate Product Pipeline
Clip Health has rebranded from Luminostics ahead of exciting product launches this fall.
COVID Patient Stories
The Society of Thoracic Surgeons is highlighting two particularly interesting stories from COVID survivors who were on ECMO for months, with one patient eventually underdoing a double lung transplantation.
Rutgers Toxicologist Available to Discuss Dangers of Taking Iodine to Treat COVID-19
Professor Lewis Nelson, M.D., is available to discuss the dangers of gargling, snorting, or ingesting Betadine, an iodine-based antiseptic to treat COVID-19. “Although many topical disinfectants such as povidone-iodine, which, is also known as Betadine, generally destroy viruses on direct…
COVID-19 slows birth rate in U.S., Europe
Throughout history, pandemics have been a key driver of human population change, thanks to mortality and declining fertility rates. And, according to a new study co-authored by a Cornell professor, COVID-19 is no exception.
Many Mothers May Have Delayed or Abandoned Plans for Additional Children Because of COVID-19 Pandemic
Nearly half of New York City mothers who had been trying to become pregnant again before the coronavirus pandemic began stopped in the first few months of the outbreak, a new study shows.
Johns Hopkins Center for Communication Programs Launches Comprehensive Global COVID Behavior Dashboard
A new dashboard launched by the Johns Hopkins Center for Communication Programs unpacks survey findings and helps explain why some people say they definitely or probably won’t get a COVID-19 vaccine.
Medicine that treats gout could also battle COVID-19
New research from the University of Georgia offers hope for a viable therapeutic to combat the disease that has claimed more than 4 million lives worldwide.
Returning to School Sports Runs Low Risk for COVID-19 Infection, Say Loyola Medicine Experts
As students head back to school this fall, sports medicine physicians with Loyola Medicine say the risk of COVID-19 exposure among student athletes is low. As the Delta variant of COVID-19 continues to spread across the U.S., Nathaniel Jones, MD, a sports medicine physician for Loyola Medicine, emphasizes the importance of getting vaccinated.
Early social distancing results in smaller death tolls, but leads to larger second waves
Early social distancing results in smaller death tolls, but leads to larger second waves, according to research led by faculty at Binghamton University, State University of New York.
These fridge-free COVID-19 vaccines are grown in plants and bacteria
Nanoengineers at the University of California San Diego have developed COVID-19 vaccine candidates that can take the heat. Their key ingredients? Viruses from plants or bacteria.
Rutgers Neurologist Explores Link between COVID and ‘Brain Fog,’ Dementia
A new Rutgers study will examine how COVID-19 is affecting individuals in a number of cognitive-related areas, including memory loss, “brain fog,” and dementia.
Research highlights mental health impacts of isolation
Female mice exhibit a strong drive to socialize with other females following periods of acute isolation, significantly increasing their production of social calls that are akin to human emotional vocalizations, new Cornell University research finds.
The Medical Minute: Vaccination, conversation keys to protecting kids as they return to school
Just as the moves to protect students by keeping them at home required them to weather some detrimental effects, their return this fall carries new risks. Two Penn State Health doctors discuss how you can keep your kids safe this fall.
What you need to know about the delta variant
For more than 40 years, UCI infectious disease researcher Michael Buchmeier has studied coronaviruses, and he’s one of the leading experts on SARS-CoV-2, the version of the virus causing the COVID-19 pandemic. As a more lethal mutation of the virus, called the delta variant, sparks another wave of cases, he offers his expertise about this threat.
COVID-19 Antibody ‘Cocktail’ Discovered at VUMC Protects Chronically Ill: Study
A monoclonal antibody cocktail against the COVID-19 virus discovered at Vanderbilt University Medical Center and developed by AstraZeneca reduced the risk of symptoms in a study of immunocompromised and chronically ill adults later exposed to the virus by 77%, the company announced today.
Clinical trial shows testing saliva for COVID-19 is as reliable as nasal swab
In a real-world trial, a team of clinician-researchers at Beth Israel Deaconess Medical Center have demonstrated that tests of self-collected saliva provided comparable results to tests performed by trained healthcare professionals using NP swabs.
Nearly 140,000 U.S. deaths prevented by early COVID-19 vaccinations
A new study by Indiana University and RAND Corp. researchers assessed the impact of COVID-19 vaccination and found that 139,393 deaths were prevented during the first five months of vaccination efforts in the United States.
Expert can comment on best practices for cleaning and disinfecting as kids return to school
Cleaning and disinfecting to protect against bacteria and viruses is always important, but even more so this year as schools re-open for in-person learning amid the ongoing COVID-19 pandemic and evolving Delta variant. Dr. Steve Bennett, Executive Vice President, Scientific…
The CDC recommended that pregnant people be vaccinated against COVID-19. Learn more from BIDMC’s Dr. Ai-ris Collier, who has led research evaluating the immunogenicity of COVID-19 mRNA vaccines.
Ai-ris Collier, MD, a Maternal-Fetal Medicine specialist at Beth Israel Deaconess Medical Center, is available for expert comment regarding the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention’s recommendation that pregnant people be vaccinated against COVID-19. Dr. Collier has led research published…
Most of UC San Diego’s COVID-19 Cases Detected Early by Wastewater Screening
Part of UC San Diego’s Return to Learn program, wastewater screening helped prevent outbreaks by detecting 85 percent of cases early, allowing for timely testing, contact tracing and isolation.
American Society of Anesthesiologists and Anesthesia Patient Safety Foundation Say Preoperative Testing for COVID-19 is Essential, Regardless of Vaccination
All patients undergoing non-emergency surgeries or procedures should continue to have preoperative polymerase chain reaction (PCR) testing for SARS-CoV-2, irrespective of vaccination status, according to an updated guidance from the American Society of Anesthesiologists and Anesthesia Patient Safety Foundation.
American College of Surgeons urges surgeons to “Talk It Up” with patients about COVID-19 vaccination
ACS is launching a “Talk It Up” campaign to help surgeons address patient concerns and help them understand the importance of getting vaccinated against COVID-19.
LEDs Light the Way to Coronavirus Disinfection
LEDs are commonly used for sterilization, and in the continued effort to combat the coronavirus pandemic, LEDs can also help inactivate SARS-CoV-2. A team in Pakistan designed far-ultraviolet LEDs at a targeted wavelength of 222 nanometers, chosen both for its ability to inactivate the virus and for being safe on human skin. They based their design on the material aluminum gallium nitride, part of a set of materials called III-nitrides which are efficient, inexpensive, and environmentally friendly.
New study details enzyme that allows coronavirus to resist antiviral medications
A new Iowa State University study details the structure of a critical enzyme present in SARS-CoV-2, the coronavirus that causes COVID-19. This enzyme removes nucleoside antiviral medications from the virus’s RNA, rendering many treatments ineffective. Scientists could use data uncovered in the new study to find ways to inhibit the enzyme, possibly leading to more effective treatments.
Mouse Model of COVID-19–induced Lung Injury May Aid Development of Coronavirus Treatments
Article title: The SARS-CoV-2 spike protein subunit 1 induces COVID-19–like acute lung injury in Κ18-hACE2 transgenic mice and barrier dysfunction in human endothelial cells Authors: Ruben Colunga Biancatelli, Pavel Solopov, Elizabeth R. Sharlow, John S. Lazo, Paul Ellis Marik, John…
Existing drug is shown to inhibit virus that causes COVID-19
Scientists using the Advanced Photon Source have discovered that a drug used to fight tumors in animals might be effective against many types of coronaviruses, including SARS-CoV-2.
Argonne’s Macal named Fellow of the Society for Computer Simulation International
Charles M. “Chick” Macal, a modeling and simulation expert at Argonne, garnered the distinguished title of Fellow of the Society for Computer Simulation International for his 20 years in the field and his recent studies on COVID-19 spread.
No Particular Risk of Infection of SARS-CoV-2 From Cash
How long do coronaviruses remain infectious on banknotes and coins? Is it possible to become infected through contact with cash?
New economic dashboard could serve as early warning system for state-level recessions, other economic shocks
University of Notre Dame researchers developed the first near-real-time dashboard that tracks weekly state-level economic conditions.
Facebook News Consumers Less Likely To Be Vaccinated, Survey Finds
People who rely exclusively on Facebook for news and information about the coronavirus are less likely than the average American to have been vaccinated, according to a new survey.
Indian women’s nutrition suffered during COVID-19 lockdown
A new study from Cornell University finds the nationwide lockdown India imposed last year in response to COVID-19 caused disruptions that negatively impacted women’s nutrition.
Rutgers ER Expert Available to Discuss CDC’s Anticipated New Mask Rules
Professor Lewis Nelson, chair of emergency medicine at Rutgers New Jersey Medical School, is available to discuss expected new rules from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention on mask-wearing as COVID-19 cases surge nationwide. “The CDC is doing the…
Twitter study tracks early days of COVID-19 pandemic in U.S.
Researchers at Binghamton University, State University of New York studied Twitter communications to understand the societal impact of COVID-19 in the United States during the early days of the pandemic.