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BGT's furious David Walliams threatens to sue Simon Cowell after backstage crash

The Britain's Got Talent judges come crashing into tonight's auditions when Simon can't work the breaks - leaving David to claim he has whiplash




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Convalescent plasma trials begin for coronavirus treatment

Trials to treat COVID-19 using the blood plasma from those who have already recovered from the illness have begun.




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Canadian Music Week cancels postponed 2020 event, citing too many obstacles

Canadian Music Week has abandoned plans for a 2020 festival after initially postponing the spring event due to the COVID-19 pandemic.




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Florian Schneider-Esleben, co-founder of German band Kraftwerk, dead at 73

Florian Schneider-Esleben, a co-founder of German electronic music pioneers Kraftwerk, has died, record label Sony said Wednesday at age 73.




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Being Canadian on American Idol didn't affect my chances of winning, B.C. teen says

Nanaimo, B.C., teen Lauren Spencer-Smith may not have had the hometown advantage on American Idol, but she feels she had a fair shot on the show.



  • News/Canada/British Columbia

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The animated advantage: How Canadian cartoonists are staying home and staying busy

As most film and television production grind to a halt, broadcasters are turning to animation studios for fresh content.




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A devastating diagnosis for Oliver Battersby on Coronation Street

Leanne and Steve are told their son has a life-threatening illness on Corrie




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Man United fans praise Brandon Williams for taunting Liverpool FC

Man Utd defender Brandon Williams liked a post on social media which referenced Liverpool's wait to win the Premier League.




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Variance in tree species results in the cleanest urban air

What kind of an effect do trees have on aerosol particle concentrations in cities? Modelling carried out at the University of Helsinki revealed that the air was cleanest on the street level with three rows of trees of variable height situated along boulevard-type city street canyons.




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Clinicians and autistic transgender youth partner to create first community-built care model

The first ever set of specific recommendations to support transgender autistic young people was co-created by these youth and their families working hand-in-hand with clinical experts. The resulting model offers clinicians a set of concrete ways to provide this unique population the support they need.




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Molecule reduces multiple pathologies associated with Alzheimer's disease

When tested in brain cells and in a mouse model of Alzheimer's disease, a new compound significantly reduced the number of amyloid plaques in the brain, lessened brain inflammation and diminished other molecular markers of the disease.




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GW survey evaluates influence of social media in attracting patients

A recent survey from the George Washington University suggests that patients do not take social media into consideration when looking for a dermatologist and recommend that practitioners should use social media as a tool in engaging and educating patients.




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NIH-funded study links early sleep problems to autism diagnosis among at-risk children

A small study funded by the National Institutes of Health suggests that sleep problems among children who have a sibling with autism spectrum disorder (ASD) may further raise the likelihood of an ASD diagnosis, compared to at-risk children who do not have difficulty sleeping. Previous research has shown that young children who have a sibling with ASD are at a higher risk for also being diagnosed with the condition.




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Do I look mad? Reading facial cues with the touch-screen generation

Are today's children, who grew up with mobile technology from birth, worse at reading emotions and picking up cues from people's faces than children who didn't grow up with tablets and smartphones? A new UCLA psychology study suggests today's kids are all right.




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Editorial: US healthcare must take a more proactive approach to prepare for future disasters

The COVID-19 pandemic has revealed major deficiencies and inequities in the US healthcare system, shining a spotlight on improvements that must be made to steel the country for future disasters, argues Maia.




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Scientists measured electrical conductivity of pure interfacial water

Skoltech scientists in collaboration with researchers from the University of Stuttgart, the Karlsruhe Institute of Technology and the Russian Quantum Center achieved the first systematic experimental measurements of the electrical conductivity of pure interfacial water, hence producing new results significantly extending our knowledge of interfacial water.




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New invisibility concept and miniaturization of photonic circuits using ultrafast laser

Thanks to its unique three-dimensional manufacturing capacity, ultrafast laser writing is a prime candidate to meet the growing demand for the miniaturization of photonic circuitry, e.g., for scaling up optical quantum computers capacity. Towards this goal, scientists from Canada discovered a phenomenon related to the material electronic resonance that allows a much greater miniaturization of the laser written devices. Surprisingly, the new phenomenon allows other intriguing applications such as a new concept of invisibility.




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Potentially fatal combinations of humidity and heat are emerging across the globe

A new study has identified thousands of incidents of previously rare or unprecedented extreme heat/humidity combinations in parts of Asia, Africa, Australia, South America and North America, including in the US Gulf Coast region.




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IST Austria scientists demonstrate quantum radar prototype

Physicists at the Institute of Science and Technology Austria (IST Austria) have invented a new radar prototype that utilizes quantum entanglement as a method of object detection. This successful integration of quantum mechanics into our everyday devices could significantly impact the biomedical and security industries. The research is published in the journal Science Advances.




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New antigen test for detecting COVID-19 could help triage patients during the pandemic

A new antigen test for detecting COVID-19 can return results within 15 minutes. Researchers who evaluated the assay, which was developed by a biotech company in Belgium, say it could help with patient diagnostics in areas hardest hit by the pandemic. While not as sensitive as tests that use viral RNA to detect the presence of an antigen, the COVID-19 Ag Respi-Strip test could be a useful tool in slowing the spread of the virus.




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Newly discovered mechanism can explain increased risk of dementia

Millions of people around the world use acid suppressants called proton pump inhibitors for conditions like heartburn, gastritis and stomach ulcers. Researchers at Karolinska Institutet in Sweden now report that how the long-term use of these drugs could increase the risk of developing dementia. Their results are published in the journal Alzheimer's & Dementia.




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First simulation of a full-sized mitochondrial membrane

Scientists from the University of Groningen have developed a method that combines different resolution levels in a computer simulation of biological membranes. Their algorithm backmaps a large-scale model that includes features, such as membrane curvature, to its corresponding coarse-grained molecular model. This has allowed them to zoom in on toxin-induced membrane budding and to simulate a full-sized mitochondrial lipid membrane. Their approach opens the way to whole-cell simulations at a molecular level.




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Canadian study finds temperature, latitude not associated with COVID-19 spread

Temperature and latitude do not appear to be associated with the spread of coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19), according to a study of many countries published in CMAJ (Canadian Medical Association Journal), but school closures and other public health measures are having a positive effect.




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More selective elimination of leukemia stem cells and blood stem cells

Hematopoietic stem cells from a healthy donor can help patients suffering from acute leukemia. However, the side effects of therapies are often severe. A group of researchers led by the University of Zurich have now shown how human healthy and cancerous hematopoietic stem cells can be more selectively eliminated using immunotherapy instead of chemotherapy in mice. The aim is to test the new immunotherapy in humans as soon as possible.




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Newly discovered cell type plays crucial role in immune response to respiratory infections

With a discovery that could rewrite the immunology textbooks, an international group of scientists, including the teams of Bart Lambrecht, Martin Guilliams, Hamida Hammad, and Charlotte Scott (all from the VIB-UGent Center for Inflammation Research) identified a new type of antigen-presenting immune cell.




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The Lancet: New triple antiviral drug combination shows early promise for treating COVID-19 in phase 2 randomized trial

A two-week course of antiviral therapy with interferon beta-1b plus lopinavir-ritonavir and ribavirin, started within 7 days of showing COVID-19 symptoms, is safe and more effective at reducing the duration of viral shedding than lopinavir-ritonavir alone in patients with mild to moderate illness, according to the first randomized trial of this triple combination therapy involving 127 adults (aged 18 and older) from six public hospitals in Hong Kong.




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Neighborhood and cognitive performance in middle-age: Does racial residential segregation matter?

A study at Columbia University Mailman School of Public Health found that black subjects who were exposed to highly segregated neighborhoods in young adulthood exhibited worse performance in cognitive skills in mid-life. This outcome may explain black-white disparities in dementia risk at older age.




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Epithelial GPS: Position of RNAi machinery is associated with epithelial identity

Researchers at the Medical University of South Carolina show in a new report that the RNA interference machinery, normally thought to reside in the nucleus or cytoplasm, predominantly localizes to these apical junctions and influences cell biology in the colon. Interestingly, in colon tumors, this localization is dysregulated and may shift the balance of RNAs to promote tumorigenesis.




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Plasma medicine research highlights antibacterial effects and potential uses

As interest in the application of plasma medicine -- the use of low-temperature plasma (LTP) created by an electrical discharge to address medical problems -- continues to grow, so does the need for research advancements proving its capabilities and potential impacts on the health care industry. Across the world, many research groups are investigating plasma medicine for applications including cancer treatment and the accelerated healing of chronic wounds, among others.




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New study shines light on mysterious giant viruses

In recent years, giant viruses have been unearthed in several of the world's most mysterious locations, from the thawing permafrost of Siberia to locations unknown beneath the Antarctic ice. But don't worry, 'The Thing' is still a work of science fiction. For now.




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Individualized mosaics of microbial strains transfer from the maternal to the infant gut

Researchers have used a microbiome 'fingerprint' method to report that an individualized mosaic of microbial strains is transmitted to the infant gut microbiome from a mother giving birth through vaginal delivery. They detailed this transmission by analyzing existing metagenomic databases of fecal samples from mother-infant pairs, as well as analyzing mouse dam and pup transmission in a germ-free, or gnotobiotic, mouse model, where the dams were inoculated with human fecal microbes.




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Pediatric coronavirus disease (COVID-19) x-ray, CT in review of new lung disorders

Although the clinical symptoms of SARS, H1N1, MERS, EVALI, and COVID-19 may be nonspecific, some characteristic imaging findings are emerging, says the American Journal of Roentgenology (AJR). Careful evaluation of the distribution, lung zone preference, and symmetry of the abnormalities with an eye for a few unique differentiating imaging features can allow radiologists to offer a narrower differential diagnosis in pediatric patients, leading to optimal patient care.




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Kraftwerk co-founder Florian Schneider dies aged 73

Florian Schneider, co-founder of the pioneering electronic music group Kraftwerk, has died at the age of 73.




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First patients given plasma in coronavirus treatment trial

Hospitals in London and Birmingham have been supplied with fourteen units of convalescent plasma to see if it helps people who are battling




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Special front cover of The Big Issue created by Gruffalo illustrator

Characters created by Axel Scheffler from his popular books with Julia Donaldson are on the cover.




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At least eight dead and thousands taken to hospital after chemical leak in India

The incident led to panic among locals within a three-kilometre radius.




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What does the Virgin Media-O2 merger mean for the UK?

The two firms have announced plans to bring together their mobile, broadband and pay-TV services.




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Lower paid essential workers ‘substantially constrained’ over childcare

The report stated that the groups identified are not an exhaustive list of essential employees.




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Train kills 16 migrant workers in India walking back home in lockdown

Sixteen migrant workers were crushed to death by a goods train in Aurangabad in Western India.




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VE Day celebrations and potential lockdown easing lead the papers

Saturday’s papers are dominated by the 75th anniversary of VE Day.




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'The world has lost one of the greats': Magician Roy Horn dies aged 75 after contracting coronavirus

Magician Roy Horn, best known as part of the Las Vegas performing duo of Siegfried & Roy, has died at the age of 75.




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Songwriter and musician Little Richard dies age 87

The American singer and songwriter was best known for tracks such as Tutti Fruiti, Long Tall Sally and Rip It Up.




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Transport Secretary Grant Shapps announces £2bn package to boost cycling and pedestrian capacity

The Secretary of State will be joined at Downing Street with deputy chief medical officer Professor Jonathan Van-Tam.




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Singapore, Malaysia announce billions in stimulus to prop up economies as coronavirus spreads

Singapore and Malaysia are spending billions to keep their economies afloat, while Indonesia has reported its largest rise in cases in a single day.




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Human rights clampdown as virus spreads in south-east Asia: experts

Authoritarian leaders across south-east Asia are putting tighter controls on their citizens as the coronavirus spreads and infections rise.




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Bernie Sanders says he's staying in the presidential race. Many Democrats fear a reprise of their 2016 defeat

Bernie Sanders has been called "selfish" for failing to "get out" of the presidential race but the senator from Vermont has given no indication he is going anywhere.




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Social distancing, hand washing are fantasy concepts in Europe's squalid migrant camps

A growing chorus of aid workers is warning of an impending humanitarian catastrophe if coronavirus sweeps into makeshift refugee cities.




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Australian expat's push for universal mask-wearing catches fire in the US

When Melbourne expat Jeremy Howard called on all Americans to wear masks three days ago it was a fringe idea. Now US President Donald Trump is considering it.




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China's face-mask diplomacy could reshape power in south-east Asia

Chinese aid and medical experts are flying around the world to help other countries hit by COVID-19. But will the assistance redraw the strategic map?




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'It's going to be very bad': COVID-19 fears for Australia's neighbours

One of the world's largest pharmaceutical companies, Johnson & Johnson, is racing to make a billion vaccines. Its chief scientist is most worried about the impact of coronavirus on developing nations.