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Methane in the plumes of Saturn's moon Enceladus: Possible signs of life?
A study published in Nature Astronomy concludes that known geochemical processes can't explain the levels of methane measured by the Cassini spacecraft on Saturn's icy moon. While the paper by no means suggests that life exists on Enceladus, the results would be consistent with microbial activity similar to that known to occur at hydrothermal vents in Earth's oceans.
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Still waiting at an intersection? Banning certain left turns helps traffic flow
When traffic is clogged at a downtown intersection, there may be a way to reduce some of the congestion: Eliminate a few left turns.
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mRNA vaccines slash risk of COVID-19 infection by 91% in fully vaccinated people
People who receive mRNA COVID-19 vaccines are up to 91 percent less likely to develop the disease than those who are unvaccinated, according to a new nationwide study of eight sites, including Salt Lake City. For those few vaccinated people who do still get an infection, or "breakthrough" cases, the study suggests that vaccines reduce the severity of COVID-19 symptoms and shorten its duration.
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SAEM publishes GRACE guidelines for recurrent, low-risk chest pain care in the ED
The Society for Academic Emergency Medicine (SAEM) is pleased to announce the release of the first publication in a series of Guidelines for Reasonable and Appropriate Care in the Emergency Department (GRACE), which focuses on low-risk chest pain.
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One in four adults with depression or anxiety lack mental health support during pandemic
A new national study published in Psychiatric Services finds that over a quarter of US adults with depression or anxiety symptoms reported needing mental health counseling but were not able to access it during the COVID-19 pandemic. Researchers analyzed data from nearly 70,000 adults surveyed in the US Census Household Pulse Survey in December 2020.
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Personalized medicine for cats with heart disease
Veterinarians at the University of California, Davis, have found that a cat's DNA alters how it responds to a life-saving medication used to treat hypertrophic cardiomyopathy, or HCM, a heart disease that affects 1 in 7 cats.
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Secret to weathering climate change lies at our feet
Researchers at the University of Massachusetts Amherst recently discovered that the ability of agricultural grasses to withstand drought is directly related to the health of the microbial community living on their stems, leaves and seeds.
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Scientists warn on the harmful implications of losing Indigenous and local knowledge systems
Five Simon Fraser University scholars are among international scientists sounding an alarm over the "pervasive social and ecological consequences" of the destruction and suppression of the knowledge systems of Indigenous Peoples and local communities.
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Not enough women and minorities apply for a job? Change the recruitment committee
As businesses and educational institutions are grappling with how to adopt more diversified hiring practices, a study of recruitment data suggests a simple and efficient way of increasing diversity in applicant pools.
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Context in science reporting affects beliefs about, and support for, science
How the media frame stories about science affects the public's perception about scientific accuracy and reliability, and one particular type of narrative can help ameliorate the harm to science's reputation sometimes caused by different journalistic approaches to scientific storytelling, according to a new study led by a University at Buffalo researcher.
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Research enhances understanding of switchgrass, an important bioenergy crop
Switchgrass, a native prairie species, is championed as a promising bioenergy crop due to its ability to grow across many climates. It is also known to associate with beneficial microbes. To better understand the relationship between switchgrass and soil microbes, researchers at Michigan State University and Washington State University examined soil microbial communities and root traits among 12 switchgrass cultivars that had been planted in the same plot over nine years.
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Novel coronavirus infects and replicates in salivary gland cells
A study conducted at the University of São Paulo suggests that tissues specializing in saliva production and secretion serve as reservoirs for SARS-CoV-2, magnifying its infectious potential.
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What to do with food waste? Well, that depends
The expected decline in the number of landfills across the United States coupled with bans on disposing large amounts of organic waste in landfills that have been enacted in multiple states has prompted researchers at the U.S. Department of Energy's (DOE's) National Renewable Energy Laboratory (NREL) to examine other ways to grapple with the issue of food waste disposal.
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About half of people living with HIV have coronary artery plaque despite low cardiac risk
Higher levels of plaque in people with HIV can be partly traced to the nontraditional risk factors of increased arterial inflammation and immune system activation. Researchers uncovered two key biomarkers of plaque that will be studied in the next phase of the global REPRIEVE trial to predict coronary plaque progression and major cardiovascular events, such as heart attacks and stroke, and the potential effects of statins.
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Do heart medications affect COVID-19 outcomes?
Cardiovascular drugs do not affect COVID-19 outcomes--such as disease severity, hospitalizations, or deaths--according to an analysis of all relevant studies published as of November 2020. The findings are published in the British Journal of Clinical Pharmacology.
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From eyebrow beans to 'lost' rice: community seedbanks are protecting China's crops
Despite being relatively new in China, community-led seedbanks are a valuable resource in conserving agricultural biodiversity. For the first time, researchers have provided a comprehensive summary of the services performed by 27 seedbanks across the country
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Work like a dream: new anticholinergic drug keeps PTSD flashbacks and nightmares away
Many people who undergo trauma take a long time to truly heal from the post-traumatic stress disorder, which manifests as flashbacks and nightmares to the traumatic incident. Medical researchers have been trying different therapeutic approaches to reduce these manifestations. A group of Japanese medical researchers report that trihexyphenidyl, a central anticholinergic drug, might just be the answer, in their new study published in Brain and Behavior.
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NYU Abu Dhabi researchers unlock secrets behind liver regrowth and regenerative medicine
NYU Abu Dhabi (NYUAD) researchers uncovered a code that sets the genome of the liver to account for the remarkable ability for this organ to regenerate. This finding offers new insight into how the specific genes that promote regeneration can be activated when part of the liver is removed. These findings have the potential to inform the development of a new form of regenerative medicine that could help non-regenerative organs regrow in mice and humans.
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Ultrathin semiconductors electrically connected to superconductors for the first time
For the first time, University of Basel researchers have equipped an ultrathin semiconductor with superconducting contacts. These extremely thin materials with novel electronic and optical properties could pave the way for previously unimagined applications. Combined with superconductors, they are expected to give rise to new quantum phenomena and find use in quantum technology.
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Acid sensor discovered in plants
If plants are flooded, they lack oxygen and their cells over-acidify. A sensor protein detects this and triggers a stress response. Researchers have now presented details about this topic in the journal Current Biology.
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