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Showing posts from October, 2021

Solving complex learning tasks in brain-inspired computers

Spiking neural networks, which mimic the structure and function of a natural nervous system, are powerful, fast, and energy-efficient. One key challenge is how to train such complex systems. An interdisciplinary research team has now developed and successfully implemented an algorithm that achieves such training. It can be used to train spiking neural networks to solve complex tasks with extreme energy efficiency. source https://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2021/10/211029114002.htm

Cause of Alzheimer’s progression in the brain

For the first time, researchers have used human data to quantify the speed of different processes that lead to Alzheimer's disease and found that it develops in a very different way than previously thought. Their results could have important implications for the development of potential treatments. source https://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2021/10/211029152240.htm

This squirrel watches its neighbor's back

Unlike meerkats that take individual turns watching for predators while the rest forage, Barbary ground squirrels found off the coast of Africa stand sentry together -- a behavior called synchronous vigilance, according to a new study. source https://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2021/10/211029134045.htm

Morro Bay seagrass loss causes change in fish populations

The loss of seagrass habitat caused a dramatic shift in fish species in Morro Bay. Areas once covered with lush seagrass meadows and unique fish species are now home to muddy-seafloor-loving flatfish. The research team saw decreasing numbers of seagrass-specialist fish species, and an increase in flatfishes like the speckled sanddab and staghorn sculpin. The loss of eelgrass habitat along the California coast presents a problem for species that depend on seagrass. source https://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2021/10/211029134032.htm

Innovative chip resolves quantum headache

Quantum physicists are reporting an international achievement for Denmark in the field of quantum technology. By simultaneously operating multiple spin qubits on the same quantum chip, they surmounted a key obstacle on the road to the supercomputer of the future. The result bodes well for the use of semiconductor materials as a platform for solid-state quantum computers. source https://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2021/10/211029114028.htm

Death Holidays and Why We Celebrate Them

If grief is love with nowhere to go, then calendar dates facing mortality alongside friends and family might explain why death holidays are so popular in regions around the world.

High availability of fast-food restaurants across all US neighborhood types linked to higher rates of type 2 diabetes

A new nationwide study suggests that living in neighborhoods with higher availability of fast-food outlets across all regions of the United States is associated with higher subsequent risk of developing type 2 diabetes. source https://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2021/10/211029114022.htm

Drones show promise in speeding up communication with underwater robots for ocean surveys

Researchers have investigated the performance capability of unmanned aerial vehicles (UAVs) as a communication platform with autonomous underwater vehicles (AUVs) for ocean and seafloor monitoring research. Studies suggest that UAVs exhibit suitable communication performance for underwater measurement up to approximately 1 km from the shore, owing to their operation speed, robust hovering control, and stability against sea-surface sway. Further studies are necessary for more complicated applications. source https://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2021/10/211029114014.htm

How legumes give oxygen to symbiotic bacteria in their roots

Scientists discover the genetics inside legumes that control the production of an oxygen-carrying molecule, crucial to the plant's close relationships with nitrogen-fixing bacteria. The finding offers the potential to give other plants the ability to produce ammonia from bacteria -- reducing the need for the fossil fuel-dependent and polluting practice of applying synthetic fertiliser to crops. source https://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2021/10/211028143721.htm

Technology’s impact on worker well-being

In the traditional narrative of the evolving 21st century workplace, technological substitution of human employees is treated as a serious concern, while technological complementarity -- the use of automation and artificial intelligence to complement workers -- is viewed as a good thing. But a new study tells a more nuanced story, demonstrating that the integration of automation and AI in the workplace has mixed, even negative impacts, on worker wellbeing. source https://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2021/10/211028174510.htm

Satellite images show positive impact of conservation efforts for China's coastal wetlands

An international, interdisciplinary research team is using satellite images to measure the changes of coastal wetlands in China from the early 1980s to the present. The research team is also assessing the effects of conservation efforts on preserving and recovering these important ecosystems. source https://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2021/10/211028143657.htm

Warming climate will increase number of harmful algae blooms

A new study shows how changes in light conditions have a significant influence on the growth and impact of harmful algae blooms. The bottom line: a warming climate looks good for the growth of toxic algae and may disrupt other organisms that are part of the food web -- whether they graze on this algae or are consumed by it. source https://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2021/10/211028143654.htm

Fatal Child Poisonings Linked to Common Cough and Cold Meds

Cough and cold medications should not be given to young children, warn experts, who say that kids under the age of 4 are especially at risk.

Have a Fear or Phobia? You’re Not Alone

Do you have a fear or phobia that's among the most common in the U.S.?

Understanding Your Doctor Isn't Always Easy -- Or Your Fault

Low health literacy, poor access to medical records are among the reasons, but doctors also don’t communicate well with patients, AHIMA Foundation report says

After California’s 3rd-largest wildfire, deer returned home while trees were ‘still smoldering’

While many animals have adapted to live with wildfires of the past -- which were smaller, more frequent and kept ecosystems in balance across the West -- it's unclear to scientists how animals are coping with today's unprecedented megafires. A team of researchers tracked a population of black-tailed deer before, during and after the 2018 Mendocino Complex Fire and found that most of the deer returned home within hours of the fire, while trees were still smoldering. source https://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2021/10/211028143641.htm

How Billing Turns a Routine Birth Into a High-Cost Emergency

“Obstetrical emergency departments” are a new feature in some hospitals that can inflate medical bills for even the easiest, healthiest births. Just ask the parents of Baby Gus.

Medicare Plans’ ‘Free’ Dental, Vision, Hearing Benefits Come at a Cost

The ads for supplemental Medicare Advantage plans describe vision and dental benefits, even grocery discounts and food deliveries. But look at the fine print.

CDC: Mood Disorders Increase Risk for Severe COVID-19

Depression and schizophrenia spectrum disorders are now among conditions that evidence suggests increases risk for severe COVID-19.

More Americans Are Dying From Parkinson's Disease

New research shows the number of Americans who are dying from Parkinson's disease has jumped by 63% in the past two decades.

Many Blood Cancer Patients Get Little Protection From COVID Vaccine

New research finds nearly 3 out of 5 blood cancer patients failed to mount an immune response against COVID after receiving a full two-dose course of the Pfizer vaccine.

Optimal concentrations of enzymes and their substrates

Biological cells invest much of their resources into the production of enzymes, which catalyze the conversion of substrates into products. An international team of bioinformaticians and biophysicists discovered that these processes are most efficient at a certain relationship between the intracellular enzyme and substrate concentrations. source https://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2021/10/211027121958.htm

Astronomers discover massive galaxy 'shipyard' in the distant universe

Astronomers have discovered a structure thought to be a 'protocluster' of galaxies on its way to developing into a galaxy supercluster. Observations show the protocluster, which is located 11 billion light-years from Earth, as it appeared when the universe was 3 billion years old, when stars were produced at higher rates in certain regions of the cosmos. source https://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2021/10/211027172624.htm

Flexible device could treat hearing loss without batteries

Some people are born with hearing loss, while others acquire it with age, infections or long-term noise exposures. In many instances, the tiny hairs in the inner ear's cochlea that allow the brain to recognize electrical pulses as sound are damaged. As a step toward an advanced artificial cochlea, researchers report a conductive membrane, which translated sound waves into matching electrical signals when implanted inside a model ear, without requiring external power. source https://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2021/10/211027121953.htm

Answers to Questions About the COVID Booster Recommendations

While the latest recommendations on boosters from federal regulators have cleared a path for people seeking one out, plenty of people are still looking for direction.

Phthalates Found in Many Fast Foods

A new study suggests fast food often has plastic-softening chemicals that could potentially lead to hormone disruption, infertility and learning disabilities.

Demand for Doctors and Nurses Is Tricky to Predict

Making sure the needed number of doctors and nurses available to care for people in communities is difficult, and a new report warns the latest estimates are off.

Beware 'Pinkwashing' During Breast Cancer Awareness Month

Many companies give back for Breast Cancer Awareness Month, but consumers should make sure the money is going where it should.

Brain connectivity is lower in adults with PTSD or a history of sexual abuse

A study has found that adults with maltreatment-related posttraumatic stress disorder or a history of sexual abuse have lower brain connectivity in the attention systems known as the ventral and dorsal attention network. These networks enable us to shift attention from external events to a specific task. The team also found that oxytocin, a hormone associated with social affiliation as well as stress response, increases brain connectivity in those systems. source https://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2021/10/211027121948.htm

Powerful X-ray technique finds new degradation-inducing materials in British shipwreck

In 1545, King Henry VIII's favorite ship, the Mary Rose, capsized and sank in the Battle of the Solent defending England and Portsmouth from a French invasion fleet. The wreck remained on the seabed until 1982 when it was salvaged in a widely viewed televised event. Now, it is a time capsule for 16th century Tudor society, and conservators are working to preserve it for future generations. Scientists use X-ray analysis to identify previously undetected products in the wood -- nanoparticles originating from underwater bacterial activity. source https://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2021/10/211027121945.htm

The surprising origins of the Tarim Basin mummies

Researchers have determined the genetic origins of Asia's most enigmatic mummies. Once thought to be Indo-European speaking migrants from the West, the Bronze Age Tarim Basin mummies are revealed to be a local indigenous population with deep Asian roots and taste for far-flung cuisine. source https://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2021/10/211027121943.htm

Genetic risk of mental health conditions may influence where people choose to live, study suggests

Research on around 386,000 UK adults has found that a high genetic risk for schizophrenia and other mental health conditions, including bipolar disorder, anorexia and autism, is associated with living in and moving to urban areas. In contrast, people with low genetic risk of ADHD preferentially moved from rural/suburban environments to cities. source https://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2021/10/211027121940.htm

Polar bear diet may indicate prey distribution changes due to climate shifts

How are warming temperatures and a loss of sea ice affecting polar bears and their marine mammal prey in the Arctic? A York University-led research team used a novel approach to the question by monitoring what polar bears eat across Nunavut and where they are catching their prey. source https://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2021/10/211027122011.htm

Red paint on 1,000-year-old gold mask from Peru contains human blood proteins

Thirty years ago, archeologists excavated the tomb of an elite 40--50-year-old man from the Sicán culture of Peru, a society that predated the Incas. The man's seated, upside-down skeleton was painted bright red, as was the gold mask covering his detached skull. Now, researchers have analyzed the paint, finding that, in addition to a red pigment, it contains human blood and bird egg proteins. source https://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2021/10/211027121956.htm

Carbon nanotubes could help electronics withstand outer space’s harsh conditions

Space missions, such as NASA's Orion that will take astronauts to Mars, are pushing the limits of human exploration. But during their transit, spacecrafts encounter a continuous stream of damaging cosmic radiation, which can harm or even destroy onboard electronics. To extend future missions, researchers show that transistors and circuits with carbon nanotubes can be configured to maintain their electrical properties and memory after being bombarded by high amounts of radiation. source https://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2021/10/211027085415.htm

Why Kids Might Reject Sugar-Free Halloween Candy

Our taste buds really can tell when sweets contain calorie-free sugar substitutes, according to a new study, offering a possible reason for dislike of ‘diet’ treats.

Tiny microscopic hunters could be a crystal ball for climate change

Tiny unicellular creatures called protists could keep greenhouse gases out of the atmosphere by gobbling up bacteria that emit CO2, researchers say. Now, a study finds that a few simple measures of a protist's size and shape can be powerful predictors of how they might respond to global warming themselves. source https://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2021/10/211025172059.htm

Topological valley Hall edge solitons in photonics

A research team recently discovered a novel kind of topological edge soliton that is independent of magnetic field. The valley Hall edge soliton inherits its topological protection from its linear counterpart and does not require any external magnetic field. The result is a light beam that is robust, localized, and maintains its shape during propagation over distance. source https://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2021/10/211025171757.htm

Antibiotics for appendicitis

Antibiotics are now an accepted first-line treatment for most people with appendicitis, according to final results of the Comparing Outcomes of antibiotic Drugs and Appendectomy (CODA) trial, and an updated treatment guideline for appendicitis from the American College of Surgeons. source https://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2021/10/211025101807.htm

Redefining human diseases through the lens of your DNA

Researchers performed genome-wide analysis studies (GWAS) to identify genetic elements associated with various diseases. To address inequities in previous GWAS, the team included 180,000 Japanese people and 220 health-related phenotypes in this analysis. After meta-analyzing the results with biobanks from the UK and Finland, they identified 5,000 novel genomic loci of phenotypic significance. They made their data publicly available to allow researchers worldwide examine genetic associations with human diseases in an unbiased manner. source https://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2021/10/211025101751.htm

FDA Panel Votes to Approve Pfizer’s Vaccine for Children

The benefits of Pfizer’s COVID-19 vaccine for children ages 5 to 11 outweigh its risks, according to an independent panel of vaccine experts that advises the FDA.

Targeted High-Dose Radiation Helps Fight Advanced Lung Cancer

A preliminary study suggests high-dose radiation therapy may stall tumor growth in patients with advanced lung cancer who are not fully responding to drug therapies.

Insect digestive enzyme activates sugar-containing plant defense substance

The degradation of plant defense substances by insect digestive enzymes can influence the insects' preference for certain food plants, a new study now shows for the first time. Scientists studied this phenomenon in larvae of the cockchafer (Melolontha melolontha) and their food plant dandelion (Taraxacum officinale). source https://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2021/10/211025101734.htm

New research finds air pollution reduces sperm counts through brain inflammation

Researchers have long known that air pollution can increase the risk of disorders such as obesity, diabetes, and fertility, but they did not know the exact mechanism for how it can lead to these health conditions. Now researchers have shown how air pollution reduces sperm count in mice by causing inflammation in the brain. source https://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2021/10/211025101719.htm

Metabolic memory plays a key role in breast cancer relapse

Molecular targets for therapies that could prevent breast cancer recurrence have been identified by a group of scientists who analyzed tumor cells that proved resistant to the original treatment. Recent advances in early detection and targeted therapy have led to a growing success in treating breast cancer upon first presentation. This often is achieved by silencing tumor driving oncogenes and causing tumor regression. source https://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2021/10/211025101717.htm

Genes may affect the level of harmful bacterial toxins in the bloodstream

Lipopolysaccharide, a virulence factor produced by bacteria, is a toxin that can cause a systemic inflammation via the circulation. In a recently completed study, genetic markers were discovered which are associated with a heightened lipopolysaccharide level in the blood. source https://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2021/10/211025101714.htm

Actress Shannen Doherty Gets Candid About Her Breast Cancer

The "Beverly Hills 90210" and "Charmed" star shares stark photos from her breast cancer treatment on social media.

A big leap forward in using iron catalysts for pharmaceuticals

Researchers have created and characterized a novel, three-component cross-coupling reaction that is a 'tremendous leap forward' in developing effective and practical iron-based reactions that could be used to create pharmaceuticals. Unlike palladium, the transition metal catalyst most often used in industry and academic labs, iron is abundant, cheap and relatively nontoxic. source https://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2021/10/211025101711.htm

New study suggests that breastfeeding may help prevent cognitive decline

A new study has found that women over the age of 50 who had breastfed their babies performed better on cognitive tests compared to women who had never breastfed. The findings suggest that breastfeeding may have a positive impact on postmenopausal women's cognitive performance and could have long-term benefits for the mother's brain. source https://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2021/10/211023122141.htm

Stress, Depression During Pregnancy Can Harm Child

The developing fetus is sensitive to the mother's condition during pregnancy, warn researchers, who report changes to the placenta are tied to Mom's mental health.

Vitamin D deficiency for the first time visible after cremation

The cremation process destroys a lot of information that can usually be obtained from the human skeleton. Especially diseases are difficult to observe. Researchers have now found a way to reveal some of the information. For the first time, they have succeeded in detecting vitamin D deficiency in cremated human remains. source https://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2021/10/211025101741.htm

Stronger than spider silk: Bagworm silk enables strong conducting fibers

Researchers have harnessed the strength of bagworm silk to produce a strong conductive fiber. To obtain this novel fiber, the research team combined bagworm silk with polyaniline as a conducting polymer. The composite fibers act as an optical waveguide and are suitable for use in textile transistors. This production of a bagworm silk/polyaniline composite will enable the use of biocompatible conducting fibers for applications ranging from microelectronics to biomedical engineering. source https://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2021/10/211022123825.htm

The Theranos Trial: What You Should Know

Federal prosecutors have charged Elizabeth Holmes and Ramesh “Sunny” Balwani, Theranos’s president and chief operating officer, with nine counts of wire fraud and two counts of conspiracy to commit wire fraud.

Moving Past Theranos: What Is Possible With Blood Analysis?

While the company failed to deliver on its promise to revolutionize the industry, some testing has been slowly moving away from labs and into clinics.

The Little-Known Heart Attack Killing Young Women

Some young women have experienced spontaneous coronary artery dissection, or SCAD, a potentially deadly tear that forms in a blood vessel in the heart.

Su Hua steps down as Kuaishou CEO, Cheng Yixiao takes over

  On October 29, Kuaishou Technology issued an announcement stating that Kuaishou’s board of directors announced that Su Hua would no longer serve as the company’s CEO.  The company's co-founder, executive director and chief product officer, Mr. Cheng Yixiao, has been appointed as the chief executive officer, effective October 29, 2021.  Cheng Yixiao will lead the daily operations and business development of the Group and will report to Chairman Su Hua.  Kuaishou's long-term "dual core" leadership core structure led by two people has since loosened. In the future, Suhua will focus more on the company's overall strategic planning and development, and will also have more time and energy devoted to the exploration of new directions.  Cheng Yixiao will focus on the company's overall business and operation management.  (Source: Network Synthesis) Chip technology man Hu Chengchen joined NIO as chief expert and assistant vice president Hu Chengchen, who has extensive