s Using digital twins to design more sustainable cities By www.eurekalert.org Published On :: Thu, 07 May 2020 00:00:00 EDT Over the past several years, a collaboration at HLRS has been developing a digital twin of Herrenberg, a small city just outside of Stuttgart, Germany. The Herrenberg study has already provided valuable information for city planners and government officials in the state of Baden-Württemberg, and paves the way for improving the model to include additional kinds of data. Full Article
s Do I look mad? Reading facial cues with the touch-screen generation By www.eurekalert.org Published On :: Thu, 07 May 2020 00:00:00 EDT 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. Full Article
s Traffic pollution drops in lockdown -- but other risks revealed by Manchester experts By www.eurekalert.org Published On :: Thu, 07 May 2020 00:00:00 EDT Traffic pollution for most parts of the UK is plummeting thanks to the COVID-19 lockdown but more urban ozone -- a dangerous air pollutant which can cause airway inflammation in humans -- is probably being generated, say experts from The University of Manchester. Observations in cities across the UK show marked decreases in nitrogen oxides but with corresponding increases in ozone during lockdown. Full Article
s Immunity of recovered COVID-19 patients could cut risk of expanding economic activity By www.eurekalert.org Published On :: Thu, 07 May 2020 00:00:00 EDT New modeling of coronavirus behavior suggests that an intervention strategy based on shield immunity could reduce the risk of allowing the higher levels of human interaction needed to support expanded economic activity. Full Article
s Stroke doctors establish best practices to protect against COVID-19 By www.eurekalert.org Published On :: Thu, 07 May 2020 00:00:00 EDT To keep patients and health-care providers safe from COVID-19, while providing urgent treatment to stroke patients, extra precautions must be taken, according to new guidelines published in the journal Stroke. Full Article
s Loyola Medicine neurologist calls for broad changes in stroke care during COVID-19 By www.eurekalert.org Published On :: Thu, 07 May 2020 00:00:00 EDT Broad modifications to current standards for treating acute stroke patients during the COVID-19 pandemic may be needed to preserve health care resources, limit disease spread and ensure optimal care, according to a Loyola Medicine neurologist. Full Article
s Editorial: US healthcare must take a more proactive approach to prepare for future disasters By www.eurekalert.org Published On :: Thu, 07 May 2020 00:00:00 EDT 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. Full Article
s Stem cells shown to delay their own death to aid healing By www.eurekalert.org Published On :: Thu, 07 May 2020 00:00:00 EDT A new study shows how stem cells -- which can contribute to creating many parts of the body, not just one organ or body part -- are able to postpone their own death in order to respond to an injury that needs their attention. The study was done in planarians, which are tiny worms used as model organisms to study regeneration because of their ability to recover from any injury using stem cells. Full Article
s Prediction tool shows how forest thinning may increase Sierra Nevada snowpack By www.eurekalert.org Published On :: Thu, 07 May 2020 00:00:00 EDT Thinning the Sierra Nevada forest by removing trees by hand or using heavy machinery is one of the few tools available to manage forests. However, finding the best way to thin forests by removing select trees to maximize the forest's benefits for water quantity, water quality, wildfire risk and wildlife habitat remains a challenge for resource managers. Full Article
s Scientists measured electrical conductivity of pure interfacial water By www.eurekalert.org Published On :: Thu, 07 May 2020 00:00:00 EDT 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. Full Article
s Olanzapine may help control nausea, vomiting in patients with advanced cancer By www.eurekalert.org Published On :: Thu, 07 May 2020 00:00:00 EDT Olanzapine, a generic drug used to treat nervous, emotional and mental conditions, also may help patients with advanced cancer successfully manage nausea and vomiting unrelated to chemotherapy. These are the findings of a study published Thursday, May 7, 2020 in JAMA Oncology. Full Article
s Gemini gets lucky and takes a deep dive into Jupiter's clouds By www.eurekalert.org Published On :: Thu, 07 May 2020 00:00:00 EDT Researchers using a technique known as 'lucky imaging' with the Gemini North telescope on Hawaii's Maunakea have collected some of the highest resolution images of Jupiter ever obtained from the ground. These images are part of a multi-year joint observing program with the Hubble Space Telescope in support of NASA's Juno mission. Full Article
s Telescopes and spacecraft join forces to probe deep into Jupiter's atmosphere By www.eurekalert.org Published On :: Thu, 07 May 2020 00:00:00 EDT NASA's Hubble Space Telescope and the ground-based Gemini Observatory in Hawaii have teamed up with the Juno spacecraft to probe the mightiest storms in the solar system, taking place more than 500 million miles away on the giant planet Jupiter. Full Article
s CCNY physicists shed light on the nanoscale dynamics of spin thermalization By www.eurekalert.org Published On :: Thu, 07 May 2020 00:00:00 EDT In physics, thermalization, or the trend of sub-systems within a whole to gain a common temperature, is typically the norm. There are situations, however, where thermalization is slowed down or virtually suppressed; examples are when considering the dynamics of electron and nuclear spins in solids. Understanding why this happens and how it can be controlled is presently at the center of a broad effort, particularly for applications in the emerging field of quantum information technologies. Full Article
s Treatment for opioid use disorder is rare in hospitals, study finds By www.eurekalert.org Published On :: Thu, 07 May 2020 00:00:00 EDT Despite a national opioid-related overdose epidemic that continues to claim tens of thousands of lives annually, a new nationwide study shows that a scant proportion of hospitalized patients with opioid use disorder receive proven life-saving medications both during and after they're discharged. Full Article
s By the third day most with COVID-19 lose sense of smell By www.eurekalert.org Published On :: Thu, 07 May 2020 00:00:00 EDT The loss of the sense of smell and taste are early indicators of possible COVID-19 infection along with symptoms of respiratory distress. These prognostic markers might assist in determining use of antiviral treatments currently being used and tested on COVID-19 patients. Full Article
s Hygiene reduces the need for antibiotics by up to 30% By www.eurekalert.org Published On :: Thu, 07 May 2020 00:00:00 EDT A new paper published in the American Journal of Infection Control (AJIC), finds improved everyday hygiene practices, such as hand-washing, reduces the risk of common infections by up to 50%, reducing the need for antibiotics, by up to 30%. Global experts responsible for the Paper, are now calling for home and community hygiene to become part of strategic AMR plans to reduce hundreds of thousands of deaths globally each year. Full Article
s Dendrimers finally have what it takes to break into the laser scene By www.eurekalert.org Published On :: Thu, 07 May 2020 00:00:00 EDT A team including researchers from the University of Tsukuba has produced a family of dendrimers that form single-crystals and can harvest non-polarized light and transform it into polarized emission. The dendrimer crystals are both optically and mechanically stable to optical pumping, making them the first example of a crystalline material combining dendrimer properties and laser performance. The crystals are expected to have numerous applications in the field of laser optics, for example in displays. Full Article
s Dearth of medical resources in Africa for COVID-19 reminiscent of early HIV/AIDS pandemic By www.eurekalert.org Published On :: Thu, 07 May 2020 00:00:00 EDT 'We have seen this before.' Global health scholars have issued a clarion call about the needless loss of life expected because of a foreseeable prospect of 'slow and inadequate access to supplies' to control COVID-19 in sub-Saharan Africa. They say what is unfolding now is similar to when lifesaving diagnostics and treatments came to the region long after they were available elsewhere. Full Article
s Controlling quantumness: Simulations reveal details about how particles interact By www.eurekalert.org Published On :: Thu, 07 May 2020 00:00:00 EDT A recent study at the Okinawa Institute of Science and Technology Graduate University has described new states that can be found in super-cold atom experiments, which could have applications for quantum technology. Full Article
s Ancient DNA paints genetic portrait of Andes civilizations By www.eurekalert.org Published On :: Thu, 07 May 2020 00:00:00 EDT An international team of researchers including the University of Adelaide, has completed the first large-scale study of DNA belonging to ancient humans of the central Andes in South America and found early genetic differences between groups of nearby regions, and surprising genetic continuity over thousands of years. Full Article
s New invisibility concept and miniaturization of photonic circuits using ultrafast laser By www.eurekalert.org Published On :: Thu, 07 May 2020 00:00:00 EDT 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. Full Article
s How herpes simplex virus can evade the immune response to infect the brain By www.eurekalert.org Published On :: Fri, 08 May 2020 00:00:00 EDT A research team has discovered a molecular mechanism that helps Herpes simplex virus (HSV1) evade the innate immune system and infect the brain causing a rare disease with high mortality. The study from Aarhus University, University of Oxford, and University of Gothenburg, led by first author Chiranjeevi Bodda in Søren Paludan's lab, will be published May 8 in the Journal of Experimental Medicine (JEM). Full Article
s Pangolins may possess evolutionary advantage against coronavirus By www.eurekalert.org Published On :: Fri, 08 May 2020 00:00:00 EDT Pangolins lack two genes that function to sound the alarm when a virus enters the body, triggering an immune response in most other mammals. The findings from the Medical University of Vienna, Austria, are significant because, while the exotic animals can be carriers of coronavirus, they appear able to tolerate it through some other unknown mechanism. Understanding how pangolins are able to survive coronavirus may point to possible treatment options for humans. Full Article
s Inspired by cheetahs, researchers build fastest soft robots yet By www.eurekalert.org Published On :: Fri, 08 May 2020 00:00:00 EDT Inspired by the biomechanics of cheetahs, researchers have developed a new type of soft robot that is capable of moving more quickly on solid surfaces or in the water than previous generations of soft robots. The new soft robotics are also capable of grabbing objects delicately -- or with sufficient strength to lift heavy objects. Full Article
s Potentially fatal combinations of humidity and heat are emerging across the globe By www.eurekalert.org Published On :: Fri, 08 May 2020 00:00:00 EDT 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. Full Article
s IST Austria scientists demonstrate quantum radar prototype By www.eurekalert.org Published On :: Fri, 08 May 2020 00:00:00 EDT 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. Full Article
s New antigen test for detecting COVID-19 could help triage patients during the pandemic By www.eurekalert.org Published On :: Fri, 08 May 2020 00:00:00 EDT 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. Full Article
s Newly discovered mechanism can explain increased risk of dementia By www.eurekalert.org Published On :: Fri, 08 May 2020 00:00:00 EDT 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. Full Article
s How does the brain link events to form a memory? Study reveals unexpected mental processes By www.eurekalert.org Published On :: Fri, 08 May 2020 00:00:00 EDT The brain has a powerful ability to remember and connect events separated in time. And now, in a new study in mice published today in Neuron, scientists at Columbia's Zuckerman Institute have shed light on how the brain can form such enduring links. Full Article
s First simulation of a full-sized mitochondrial membrane By www.eurekalert.org Published On :: Fri, 08 May 2020 00:00:00 EDT 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. Full Article
s Prehistoric sea creatures evolved pebble-shaped teeth to crush shellfish By www.eurekalert.org Published On :: Fri, 08 May 2020 00:00:00 EDT Ichthyosaurs were marine reptiles during the time of the dinosaurs, and scientists don't know much about their ancestry. But by CT-scanning the fossil of one of the first ichthyosaurs, scientists discovered pebble-shaped teeth hidden in its short snout. These strange teeth, probably used for crushing the shells of snails and clam-like bivalves, help illuminate the ways that early ichthyosaurs filled different roles in Triassic marine ecosystems. Full Article
s Computer vision helps SLAC scientists study lithium ion batteries By www.eurekalert.org Published On :: Fri, 08 May 2020 00:00:00 EDT New machine learning methods bring insights into how lithium ion batteries degrade, and show it's more complicated than many thought. Full Article
s Disproportionate burden of COVID-19 for immigrants in the Bronx, New York By www.eurekalert.org Published On :: Fri, 08 May 2020 00:00:00 EDT The authors explain why COVID-19 presents a greater burden for immigrant communities and this article advocates for a more equitable health care system. Full Article
s Gene therapy in mice builds muscle, reduces fat By www.eurekalert.org Published On :: Fri, 08 May 2020 00:00:00 EDT Researchers at Washington University School of Medicine in St. Louis found that gene therapy in mice helped build strength and significant muscle mass quickly, while reducing the severity of osteoarthritis. The gene therapy also prevented obesity, even when the mice were fed a high-fat diet. Full Article
s Flies sleep when need arises to adapt to new situations By www.eurekalert.org Published On :: Fri, 08 May 2020 00:00:00 EDT Researchers at Washington University School of Medicine in St. Louis have found that flies sleep more when they can't fly, possibly because sleeping helps them adapt to a challenging new situation. Full Article
s Sea level could rise by more than 1 meter by 2100 if emission targets are not met By www.eurekalert.org Published On :: Fri, 08 May 2020 00:00:00 EDT An international study led by Nanyang Technological University, Singapore (NTU Singapore) scientists found that the global mean sea-level rise could exceed 1 meter by 2100 and 5 meters by 2300 if global targets on emissions are not achieved. Full Article
s How a molecular 'alarm' system in plants protects them from predators By www.eurekalert.org Published On :: Fri, 08 May 2020 00:00:00 EDT Some plants, like soybean, are known to possess an innate defense machinery that helps them develop resistance against insects trying to feed on them. However, exactly how these plants recognize signals from insects has been unknown until now. In a new study, scientists in Japan have uncovered the cellular pathway that helps these plants to sense danger signals and elicit a response, opening doors to a myriad of agricultural applications. Full Article
s Canadian study finds temperature, latitude not associated with COVID-19 spread By www.eurekalert.org Published On :: Fri, 08 May 2020 00:00:00 EDT 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. Full Article
s KIST-CUK research team develops vaccine platform applicable to various viruses By www.eurekalert.org Published On :: Fri, 08 May 2020 00:00:00 EDT MERS, which struck South Korea in a 2015 outbreak, was caused by a coronavirus--the same family of viruses that is responsible for COVID-19. Recently, a Korean research team announced that it had developed a new vaccine platform using RNA-based adjuvants for the MERS coronavirus. The research team successfully conducted an experiment on nonhuman primates. It is expected that the new vaccine platform will soon be applicable to the development of a COVID-19 vaccine, an urgent global health priority. Full Article
s A pioneering study into the description of the architecture of a new standard for telecommunications By www.eurekalert.org Published On :: Fri, 08 May 2020 00:00:00 EDT The International Telecommunication Union (ITU) is a United Nations Organization agency commissioned to regulate international telecommunications between different operating administrations and businesses. Pursuant to specific recommendations by this organization, on 1 July, standard Y.3172, an architecture for machine learning in future networks (5G and beyond), was approved for telecommunications networks. Full Article
s Scientists have created new nanocomposite from gold and titanium oxide By www.eurekalert.org Published On :: Fri, 08 May 2020 00:00:00 EDT ITMO University researchers together with their colleagues from France and the USA have demonstrated how a femtosecond laser can be used to tune the structure and nanocomposite properties for titanium dioxide films filled with gold nanoparticles. Full Article
s More selective elimination of leukemia stem cells and blood stem cells By www.eurekalert.org Published On :: Fri, 08 May 2020 00:00:00 EDT 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. Full Article
s Newly discovered cell type plays crucial role in immune response to respiratory infections By www.eurekalert.org Published On :: Fri, 08 May 2020 00:00:00 EDT 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. Full Article
s Our pupil moves to the rhythm of the environment By www.eurekalert.org Published On :: Fri, 08 May 2020 00:00:00 EDT Regular processes in the environment improve our eyesight. Full Article
s NTU Singapore scientists develop sustainable way to extract chitin from prawn shells By www.eurekalert.org Published On :: Fri, 08 May 2020 00:00:00 EDT Scientists at Nanyang Technological University, Singapore (NTU Singapore) have developed a green way to create chitin, by using two forms of food waste - prawn shells and discarded fruit - and fermenting them. Full Article
s Better antibiotic dosing could save lives in ICU By www.eurekalert.org Published On :: Fri, 08 May 2020 00:00:00 EDT More lives could be saved in intensive care units around the world if new antibiotic guidelines designed by The University of Queensland are adopted. Full Article
s Stretched beyond the limits By www.eurekalert.org Published On :: Fri, 08 May 2020 00:00:00 EDT It's a common phenomenon we know from cracked sneakers and burst tyres: worn-out materials can cause anything from mild annoyance to fatal accidents. But while fatigue is well understood in synthetic materials, we know much less about such processes in mammalian tissue. An international team led by HITS researchers has shown that mechanical stress can similarly deteriorate collagen tissue. The findings might help to advance material research and biomedicine. Full Article
s Protein shredder regulates fat metabolism in the brain By www.eurekalert.org Published On :: Fri, 08 May 2020 00:00:00 EDT A protein shredder that occurs in cell membranes of brain cells apparently also indirectly regulates the fat metabolism. This is shown by a recent study by the University of Bonn. The shredder, known as gamma-secretase, is considered a possible target for drugs against cancer and Alzheimer's disease. However, the results suggest that such agents may have long-range effects that need to be watched closely. The study has now been published in "Life Science Alliance". Full Article
s Like a molecular knob: That is how a gene controls the electrical activity of the brain By www.eurekalert.org Published On :: Fri, 08 May 2020 00:00:00 EDT Its name is Foxg1, it is a gene, and its unprecedented role is the protagonist of the discovery just published on the journal Cerebral Cortex. Foxg1 was already known for being a "master gene" able to coordinate the action of hundreds of other genes. As this new study reports, the "excitability" of neurons, namely their ability to respond to stimuli, communicating between each other and carrying out all their tasks, also depends on this gene. Full Article