UK health workers were let down by government during COVID pandemic, say doctors

Health and social care workers were often let down by the government whose claims that it was 'guided by the science' when developing policy to deal with the COVID-19 pandemic were questionable, according to an editorial published online today in The BMJ.

UK hospitals face a £2 million per month extra spend this winter due to fuel price surge

Hospital trusts are facing "eye watering" rises in their energy bills this coming winter and have warned that some patient care will have to be reduced to cope, according to an exclusive investigation published online today in The BMJ.

Food and health: The front-of-pack label is not enough if the consumption of ultra-processed foods is not reduced

Foods are not only characterized by their nutritional composition, but also by the degree of processing, which is crucial to determine the overall food health potential. Its indication on the labels would therefore help consumers to choose with greater awareness.

New study links ultra-processed foods and colorectal cancer in men

For many Americans, the convenience of pre-cooked and instant meals may make it easy to overlook the less-than-ideal nutritional information, but a team led by researchers at Tufts University and Harvard University hope that will change after recently discovering a link between the high consumption of ultra-processed foods and an increased risk of colorectal cancer.

Researchers find link between health outcomes and sugarcane smoke exposure

A new study from a Florida State University team estimates that sugarcane fires in South Florida emit harmful particulate matter in quantities comparable to motor vehicles and is a factor in mortality rates across the region.

source https://www.lifetechnology.com/blogs/life-technology-science-news/researchers-find-link-between-health-outcomes-and-sugarcane-smoke-exposure

Treating antibiotic-resistant infections with peptides inspired by human saliva

Antibiotic resistance is a problem that impacts tens of millions of people each year worldwide. According to the CDC, "more than 2.8 million antibiotic-resistant infections occur in the United States each year, and more than 35,000 people die as a result." Drug-resistant infections are threatening advances in surgery, wound healing, cancer treatment, organ transplants and many other areas of modern medicine by decreasing our ability to control infections.

source https://www.lifetechnology.com/blogs/life-technology-science-news/treating-antibiotic-resistant-infections-with-peptides-inspired-by-human-saliva

Biologists address global extinction crisis

Brook trout are disappearing from American streams. Amphibian habitats are changing. Coral species are dying.

source https://www.lifetechnology.com/blogs/life-technology-science-news/biologists-address-global-extinction-crisis

American River Basin Study finds increasing temperatures will impact basin through rest of 21st century

The American River Basin in central California expects to see increasing temperatures and a declining snowpack through the end of the 21st century. The Bureau of Reclamation released the American River Basin Study today, which also found an increased variability of fall and winter precipitation that will amplify the severity of droughts and flooding in the basin. The report is available on Reclamation's Basin Study website.

source https://www.lifetechnology.com/blogs/life-technology-science-news/american-river-basin-study-finds-increasing-temperatures-will-impact-basin-through-rest-of-21st-century

Diamonds and rust at the Earth's core-mantle boundary

Steel rusts by water and air on the Earth's surface. But what about deep inside the Earth's interior?

source https://www.lifetechnology.com/blogs/life-technology-science-news/diamonds-and-rust-at-the-earths-core-mantle-boundary

New blood test for ALS promises rapid diagnosis

Patients with ALS, one of the most serious neurological diseases known, have been hampered by the time it takes to receive an accurate diagnosis. The period between the onset of symptoms and diagnosis averages over a year, precious time for a disease in which most patients die between 2-5 years from diagnosis. Researchers estimate that an inaccurate diagnosis occurs in 13-68% of cases.

Beetles rely on unique 'back pockets' to keep bacterial symbionts safe during metamorphosis

Beetles of the genus Lagria need a little help from their bacterial friends throughout their immature life stages. But keeping them in the same spot throughout life isn't feasible. This is because beetles are holometabolous insects, which undergo an overall bodily reorganization (metamorphosis) as pupae.

source https://www.lifetechnology.com/blogs/life-technology-science-news/beetles-rely-on-unique-back-pockets-to-keep-bacterial-symbionts-safe-during-metamorphosis

New labeling approach enables examination of packages cells send out to gain insight about health

Our cells are constantly communicating, and scientists have developed an efficient way to find out what messages they are sending in protein-packed biological suitcases called exosomes.

source https://www.lifetechnology.com/blogs/life-technology-science-news/new-labeling-approach-enables-examination-of-packages-cells-send-out-to-gain-insight-about-health

State-level earned income tax credit linked to reduction in high-risk HIV behavior among single mothers

UCLA research finds that a refundable State-level Earned Income Tax Credit (SEITC) of 10% or above the Federal EITC was associated with a 21% relative risk reduction in reported behavior that could put single mothers at high risk for becoming infected with HIV during the previous year. Also, a 10 percentage-point increase in SEITC was linked to a 38% relative reduction in the same reported high-risk behavior the previous year.

Paper finds employers increasingly willing to hire workers with criminal records

A new paper in The Quarterly Journal of Economics indicates that many American businesses are willing to hire workers with criminal records. Such companies become even more interested in hiring such workers if offered crime and safety insurance.

source https://www.lifetechnology.com/blogs/life-technology-science-news/paper-finds-employers-increasingly-willing-to-hire-workers-with-criminal-records

Pregnant women exposed to cancer-causing chemicals in dishware, hair coloring, plastics, and pesticides: study

Pregnant women in the U.S. are being exposed to chemicals like melamine, cyanuric acid, and aromatic amines that can increase the risk of cancer and harm child development, according to researchers at UC San Francisco and Johns Hopkins Bloomberg School of Public Health.

Ethereum crypto overhaul targets environmental impact

The world's second biggest cryptocurrency after bitcoin, ethereum, will soon overhaul its blockchain technology to curb the network's much-criticised environmental impact.

source https://www.lifetechnology.com/blogs/life-technology-technology-news/ethereum-crypto-overhaul-targets-environmental-impact

Keeping Kermit: New clues to protecting frogs from deadly Bd fungus

As the globe continues to battle COVID-19, another pandemic—the deadly fungus Batrachochytrium dendrobatidis (Bd)—is ravaging the world's frog species, contributing to the instability of Earth's delicate ecosystem.

source https://www.lifetechnology.com/blogs/life-technology-science-news/keeping-kermit-new-clues-to-protecting-frogs-from-deadly-bd-fungus

Therapeutic viruses help turbocharge the immune system against cancer

The immune system has evolved to safeguard the body from a wildly diverse range of potential threats. Among these are bacterial diseases, including plague, cholera, diphtheria and Lyme disease, and viral contagions such as influenza, Ebola virus and SARS CoV-2.

Sick dolphin calf improves with tube-fed milk, helping hands

The Irrawaddy dolphin calf—sick and too weak to swim—was drowning in a tidal pool on Thailand's shore when fishermen found him.

source https://www.lifetechnology.com/blogs/life-technology-science-news/sick-dolphin-calf-improves-with-tube-fed-milk-helping-hands

Social exclusion more common form of bullying than physical, verbal aggression

Bullying is typically portrayed in popular culture as either physical aggression, such as pushing and kicking, or verbal aggression, such as threats and derogatory insults.

source https://www.lifetechnology.com/blogs/life-technology-science-news/social-exclusion-more-common-form-of-bullying-than-physical-verbal-aggression

Biden to attend groundbreaking of Intel's $20B Ohio plants

Intel Corp. will break ground Sept. 9 on its planned $20 billion Ohio semiconductor facilities with President Joe Biden in attendance, the company and the the White House said Thursday.

source https://www.lifetechnology.com/blogs/life-technology-technology-news/biden-to-attend-groundbreaking-of-intels-20b-ohio-plants

Study indicates neurosurgical procedure used to measure dopamine and serotonin is safe

Scientists at Wake Forest University School of Medicine have demonstrated that a neurosurgical procedure used to research and measure dopamine and serotonin in the human brain is safe.

New chemical technology leads to better targeted therapeutics against high-risk leukemia in lab

More-effective therapies are greatly needed for children with the high-risk blood cancer T-cell acute lymphoblastic leukemia (T-ALL). St. Jude Children's Research Hospital scientists have leveraged the latest chemical technology called a proteolysis targeting chimera (PROTAC) to develop a drug for these patients. The findings were published today in Science Translational Medicine.

NIH experts review monkeypox challenges

Lessons learned from the public health responses to the HIV and COVID-19 pandemics should help guide the response to the current outbreak of monkeypox, National Institutes of Health experts write in an editorial published today in the New England Journal of Medicine. Anthony S. Fauci, M.D., director of the National Institute of Allergy and Infectious Diseases (NIAID), and H. Clifford Lane, M.D., NIAID deputy director for clinical research and special projects, discuss a published case series (JP Thornhill et al.) detailing the symptoms and outcomes of 528 people with monkeypox from 16 countries in five continents.

Study: Pfizer COVID pill showed no benefit in younger adults

Pfizer's COVID-19 pill appears to provide little or no benefit for younger adults, while still reducing the risk of hospitalization and death for high-risk seniors, according to a large study published Wednesday.

Distress leads to higher COVID vaccine rates, less adherence to distancing guidelines

People who were more distressed—showing signs of anxiety or depression—during the COVID-19 pandemic were less likely to follow some best practice recommendations from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, according to a new study by Washington University in St. Louis researchers.

Scientists help probe dark energy by testing gravity

Could one of the biggest puzzles in astrophysics be solved by reworking Albert Einstein's theory of gravity? A new study co-authored by NASA scientists says not yet.

source https://www.lifetechnology.com/blogs/life-technology-science-news/scientists-help-probe-dark-energy-by-testing-gravity

New fungus to help Australian farmers fight fast-spreading weed

Farmers now have a new biocontrol tool to help fight one of Australia's most challenging agricultural weeds, flaxleaf fleabane, which causes grain crop revenue losses of more than $43 million each year. Researchers from Australia's national science agency, CSIRO, are piloting the release of a fungus from Columbia to help farmers tackle the weed.

source https://www.lifetechnology.com/blogs/life-technology-science-news/new-fungus-to-help-australian-farmers-fight-fast-spreading-weed

Psychotic symptoms in children may have a genetic cause

A 6-year-old boy began hearing voices coming from the walls and the school intercom telling him to hurt himself and others. He saw ghosts, aliens in trees, and colored footprints. Joseph Gonzalez-Heydrich, MD, a psychiatrist at Boston Children's Hospital, put him on antipsychotic medications and the frightening hallucinations stopped. Another child, at age 4, had hallucinations with monsters, a big black wolf, spiders, and a man with blood on his face.

Survey finds demand for cosmetic surgery, driven by women under 45, surged after the pandemic

After the stress of the COVID-19 pandemic, a new national survey called the Inaugural ASPS Insights and Trends Report: Cosmetic Surgery 2022 finds many Americans are now investing in themselves through cosmetic procedures, despite an uncertain economy. The American Society of Plastic Surgeons polled member surgeons nationwide and found more than three-quarters of cosmetic-focused plastic surgery practices are seeing more business than before the pandemic, with nearly 30 percent reporting their business has at least doubled.

News addiction is linked to not only poor mental well-being but physical health too, new study shows

People with an obsessive urge to constantly check the news are more likely to suffer from stress, anxiety, and physical ill health, finds a new study published in the peer-reviewed journal Health Communication.

How the sounds we hear help us predict how things feel

Researchers at the University of East Anglia have made an important discovery about the way our brains process the sensations of sound and touch.

Deep learning algorithm may streamline lung cancer radiotherapy treatment

Lung cancer, the most common cancer worldwide, is targeted with radiation therapy (RT) in nearly one-half of cases. RT planning is a manual, resource-intensive process that can take days to weeks to complete, and even highly trained physicians vary in their determinations of how much tissue to target with radiation. Furthermore, a shortage of radiation-oncology practitioners and clinics worldwide is expected to grow as cancer rates increase.

Gene therapy for completely color blind children partly restores cone function

Gene therapy has partly restored the function of the retina's cone receptors in two children who were born completely color blind, reports a new study led by University College London (UCL) researchers.

Poor heart health predicts premature brain ageing

By estimating people's brain age from MRI scans using machine learning, a team led by UCL researchers has identified multiple risk factors for a prematurely aging brain.

Regular physical activity linked to lower risk of COVID-19 infection and severity

Regular physical activity is linked to a lower risk of COVID-19 infection and severity, including hospital admission and death, finds a pooled data analysis of the available evidence, published online in the British Journal of Sports Medicine.

Caffeine metabolite may slow progression of short-sight (myopia) in children

A metabolite of caffeine, known as 7-MX, may slow the progression of short-sightedness, also known as myopia, in children, suggests observational research published online in the British Journal of Ophthalmology.

A reinforcement learning framework to improve the soccer shooting skills of quadruped robots

Researchers University of California, Berkeley (UC Berkeley), Université de Montréal and Mila have recently developed a hierarchical reinforcement learning framework to improve the precision of quadrupedal robots in soccer shooting. This framework, introduced in a paper pre-published on arXiv, was deployed on a Unitree A1, a quadruped robot developed by UnitreeRobotics.

source https://www.lifetechnology.com/blogs/life-technology-technology-news/a-reinforcement-learning-framework-to-improve-the-soccer-shooting-skills-of-quadruped-robots

Tracking air pollution disparities—daily—from space

Studies have shown that pollution, whether from factories or traffic-snarled roads, disproportionately affects communities where economically disadvantaged people and Hispanic, Black and Asian people live. As technology has improved, scientists have begun documenting these disparities in detail, but information on daily variations has been lacking. Today, scientists report preliminary work calculating how inequities in exposure fluctuate from day to day across 11 major U.S. cities. In addition, they show that in some places, climate change could exacerbate these differences.

source https://www.lifetechnology.com/blogs/life-technology-science-news/tracking-air-pollution-disparities-daily-from-space

How did the early COVID-19 pandemic affect cancer survivors?

Recent research indicates that during the first year of the COVID-19 pandemic, the proportion of working-aged U.S. adults without health insurance did not change despite increases in unemployment, and the prevalence of unhealthy behaviors decreased. The findings, which were published in CANCER, pertained to individuals with and without a history of cancer.

Fast-warming, ailing Med Sea may be a sign of things to come

While vacationers might enjoy the Mediterranean Sea's summer warmth, climate scientists are warning of dire consequences for its marine life as it burns up in a series of severe heat waves.

source https://www.lifetechnology.com/blogs/life-technology-science-news/fast-warming-ailing-med-sea-may-be-a-sign-of-things-to-come

DR Congo investigates suspected Ebola case

The Democratic Republic of Congo is investigating a suspected case of Ebola in its violence-wracked east, the World Health Organization said Saturday, just weeks after the end of a previous epidemic.

Cuba's first monkeypox case recorded in Italian tourist

Cuba reported its first case of monkeypox Saturday in an Italian tourist who is in "critical" condition, the health ministry said.

Rat race: What rodent drivers can teach us about mental health

The girls can't hide their excitement as they're brought out to the racing arena.

New model for predicting belief change

A new kind of predictive network model could help determine which people will change their minds about contentious scientific issues when presented with evidence-based information.

source https://www.lifetechnology.com/blogs/life-technology-science-news/new-model-for-predicting-belief-change

50 years ago, NASA's Copernicus set the bar for space astronomy

At 6:28 a.m. EDT on Aug. 21, 1972, NASA's Copernicus satellite, the heaviest and most complex space telescope of its time, lit up the sky as it ascended into orbit from Launch Complex 36B at what is now Cape Canaveral Space Force Station, Florida.

source https://www.lifetechnology.com/blogs/life-technology-science-news/50-years-ago-nasas-copernicus-set-the-bar-for-space-astronomy

New study shows patient preference for medical cannabis products in the absence of clinical guidelines

Due to a lack of publicly available data, understanding what products medical cannabis patients use for various conditions has mostly come from survey responses. In a new study, USC Schaeffer Center researchers established a clearer picture by analyzing point-of-sale data from nearly 17,000 patients who made more than 80,000 purchases as part of the New York state medical cannabis program.

Transplant candidates' thoughts about tradeoffs of shorter wait time for lower quality kidneys

Approximately 20% of deceased donor kidneys are discarded each year in the United States, but a recent study in CJASN indicates that many patients on the transplant waitlist would prefer accepting such lower quality kidneys in return for a shorter waiting time.

Fake research can be harmful to your health—a new study offers a tool for rooting it out

If you are suffering with chronic pain, diabetes, heart problems or any other condition, you want to be confident that your doctor will offer you an effective treatment. You certainly don't want to waste time or money on something that won't work, or take something that could do you harm.

When COVID-19 or flu viruses kill, they often have an accomplice—bacterial infections

The 1918 influenza pandemic resulted in the loss of over 3% of the world's population—at least 50 million people. But it wasn't the flu virus that caused the majority of these deaths.

Peritoneal dialysis costs Medicare less than hemodialysis, even as more patients are placed on peritoneal dialysis

People with kidney failure who do not choose conservative management and have not received a kidney transplant can undergo either hemodialysis, which is typically performed several times a week at a clinic, or at-home peritoneal dialysis (PD). New research published in the Journal of the American Society of Nephrology indicates that cost savings associated with PD compared with hemodialysis have continued over the years despite growth in the use of PD.

New study estimates over 5.5 million US adults use hallucinogens

Hallucinogen use has increased since 2015, overall and particularly among adults 26 and older, while use decreased in adolescents aged 12–17 years according to a new study by Columbia University Mailman School of Public Health and Columbia University Irving Medical Center. Estimates of over 5.5 million people in the U.S. used hallucinogens in the past year in 2019, which represents an increase from 1.7% of the population ages 12 years and over in 2002 to 2.2% in 2019.

GlyNAC supplementation reverses aging hallmarks in aging humans

A randomized, double blind human clinical trial conducted by researchers at Baylor College of Medicine reveals that supplementation with GlyNAC—a combination of glycine and N-acetylcysteine—improves many age-associated defects in older humans and powerfully promotes healthy aging. This is relevant because until now, there have been no solutions toward improving many of these age-related declines in people.

Research team introduces new technology for analysis of protein activity in cells

Proteins constitute principal building blocks in all living organisms. They are often described as the workers of the cell, where they⁠—together or individually⁠—perform numerous essential tasks. If something goes wrong, the consequences are often serious. Both research and health care have expressed the need for effective tools to analyze the functions and activities of proteins, and in a new article in scientific journal Nature Communications, Professor Ola Söderberg's team introduces MolBoolean, a technology that is expected to open important doors in cell and cancer research.

source https://www.lifetechnology.com/blogs/life-technology-science-news/research-team-introduces-new-technology-for-analysis-of-protein-activity-in-cells

Statistical tool finds 'gaps' in DNA data sets shouldn't be ignored

A simple statistical test shows that contrary to current practice, the "gaps" within DNA protein and sequence alignments commonly used in evolutionary biology can provide important information about nucleotide and amino acid substitutions over time. The finding could be particularly relevant to those studying distantly related species. The work appears in Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences.

source https://www.lifetechnology.com/blogs/life-technology-science-news/statistical-tool-finds-gaps-in-dna-data-sets-shouldnt-be-ignored

Risk of SARS-CoV-2 infection during the omicron surge in patients on dialysis

In a recent study published in Journal of the American Society of Nephrology, a third COVID-19 mRNA vaccine dose in adults with kidney failure who were on dialysis enhanced patients' protection against SARS-CoV-2 infection during the omicron-dominant period. A patient's response to vaccination or prior infection—as measured by circulating anti-SARS-CoV-2 antibody levels—was also an important predictor for subsequent risk of infection.

Monkeypox virus found in anal samples from asymptomatic MSM

A brief research report documents positive monkeypox virus PCR results found in anal samples taken from asymptomatic MSM (men who have sex with men). These findings suggest that vaccination limited to those with known exposure to the monkeypox virus may not be an effective strategy for preventing infection. The report is published in Annals of Internal Medicine.

New research shines light on racial disparities in cancer treatment

In a study published August 5 in Advances in Radiation Oncology, researchers from Huntsman Cancer Institute at the University of Utah found significant health care delays for people of color when they tried to obtain a more advanced, targeted form of radiation therapy.

Clinical practice guidelines for the appropriate use of COVID-19 convalescent plasma

The Association for the Advancement of Blood and Biotherapies (AABB) has released clinical practice guidelines for the appropriate use of COVID-19 convalescent plasma (CCP) in hospital and outpatient settings. Based on two living systematic reviews of randomized controlled trials (RCTs), the guidelines provide five specific recommendations for treating patients with COVID-19 and suggest that CCP is most effective when transfused with high neutralizing titers to infected patients early after symptom onset. The guidelines are published in Annals of Internal Medicine.

1 in 3 parents worry that school traffic is a danger for kids

For some elementary and middle schoolers, one of the most nerve-wracking parts of the school day starts before the first bell even rings: morning drop off.

Research shows it's how often you do it, not how much

So… should I exercise a little bit every day, or exercise for longer once a week?

Dutch arrest man linked to currency mixer Tornado Cash

Dutch financial prosecutors say they detained a man suspected of involvement in "concealing criminal financial flows and facilitating money laundering" through the virtual currency mixer Tornado Cash.

source https://www.lifetechnology.com/blogs/life-technology-technology-news/dutch-arrest-man-linked-to-currency-mixer-tornado-cash

Magnitude 5.7 earthquake shakes part of eastern Indonesia

An undersea earthquake shook part of eastern Indonesia on Sunday, but there were no immediate reports of serious damage or casualties.

source https://www.lifetechnology.com/blogs/life-technology-science-news/magnitude-5-7-earthquake-shakes-part-of-eastern-indonesia

Scotland first country to ensure access to free period products

Scotland will on Monday become the first country in the world to ensure universal access to free period products following the passing of landmark legislation in 2020.

US astronaut Jessica Watkins sets sights on Moon... and Mars

If you had the choice, would you rather go to the Moon or Mars?

source https://www.lifetechnology.com/blogs/life-technology-science-news/us-astronaut-jessica-watkins-sets-sights-on-moon-and-mars

'Dead fish everywhere' in German-Polish river after feared chemical waste dump

Thousands of fish have washed up dead on the Oder river running through Germany and Poland, sparking warnings of an environmental disaster as residents are urged to stay away from the water.

source https://www.lifetechnology.com/blogs/life-technology-science-news/dead-fish-everywhere-in-german-polish-river-after-feared-chemical-waste-dump

Hot nights: US in July sets new record for overnight warmth

Talk about hot nights, America got some for the history books last month.

source https://www.lifetechnology.com/blogs/life-technology-science-news/hot-nights-us-in-july-sets-new-record-for-overnight-warmth

Foreigners flock to Canada for monkeypox vaccine

With the monkeypox vaccine in short supply in the United States, thousands of foreigners, including Americans are flocking to Montreal to get their shots.

Vegetarian women are at a higher risk of hip fracture

A study of over 26,000 middle-aged UK women reveals those with a vegetarian diet had a 33% higher risk of hip fracture compared to regular meat-eaters.

Monoclonal antibody reduces asthma attacks in urban youth

A National Institutes of Health clinical trial has found that a monoclonal antibody, mepolizumab, decreased asthma attacks by 27% in Black and Hispanic children and adolescents who have a form of severe asthma, are prone to asthma attacks and live in low-income urban neighborhoods. This population has been underrepresented in previous clinical trials of asthma therapeutics. The findings were published today in the journal The Lancet.

Blood tests in newly brain-injured patients predict death, severe disability

Blood tests taken within 24 hours of a traumatic brain injury (TBI) flag which patients are likely to die and which patients are likely to survive with severe disability, according to a study headed by UC San Francisco, the University of Pennsylvania and the University of Michigan. Their results—available within minutes—may confirm the need for prompt surgical interventions or may help guide conversations with families in cases of devastating injury.

Children infected with a mild case of COVID-19 can still develop long COVID symptoms

While research has revealed that children and adults hospitalized with COVID-19 are more susceptible to developing long COVID symptoms, a new study by researchers at UTHealth Houston found that children infected with COVID-19, but not hospitalized, still experienced long COVID symptoms up to three months past infection.

There's a better way to detect high-risk medications in older adults with cancer, according to new study

A new study in the August 2022 issue of JNCCN—Journal of the National Comprehensive Cancer Network suggests a new way for hematologic oncologists to protect older patients from the risks of medication interactions.

A better roadmap for beating deadly leukemia

Acute myeloid leukemia, or AML, is the most common acute blood cancer in adults—and one of the most difficult to treat. Scientists at Oregon Health & Science University have discovered a potential new target for stopping it: a gene that, when active, predicts worse chances of survival.

How will pending budget bill reduce drug prices for Americans?

The Inflation Reduction Act contains provisions that are expected to lower drug costs for millions of Americans by allowing Medicare to negotiate some drug prices and by limiting the amount of out-of-pocket drug costs for Medicare Part D patients.

Targeting impulsivity early in adolescence could prevent later behavioral disorders

Tendencies toward impulsivity in early adolescence are linked with a variety of poor outcomes in later adolescence, including antisocial personality disorder and alcohol use disorder. However, by the time teenagers reach mid-adolescence, it may be too late to target impulsivity to prevent the development of these behavioral disorders.

Layered limestone deposits give unique insight to Roman aqueducts

Mineral-rich waters originating from the Apennine Mountains of Italy flowed through ancient Rome's Anio Novus aqueduct and left behind a detailed rock record of past hydraulic conditions, researchers have said. Two studies characterizing layered limestone—called travertine—deposits within the Anio Novus are the first to document the occurrence of anti-gravity growth ripples and establish that these features lend clues to the history of ancient water conveyance and storage systems.

source https://www.lifetechnology.com/blogs/life-technology-science-news/layered-limestone-deposits-give-unique-insight-to-roman-aqueducts

Study could lead to new treatments for swallowing disorders

The average human swallows 500 to 700 times a day. Imagine if each of those swallows were a struggle.

source https://www.lifetechnology.com/blogs/life-technology-science-news/study-could-lead-to-new-treatments-for-swallowing-disorders

New flavored nicotine gums, lozenges, and gummies rank second among nicotine products used by US teens

Flavored oral nicotine products, which contain no tobacco but are not FDA-approved to help people quit smoking, are increasingly marketed and sold in the U.S., but researchers have never measured their use among U.S. teens.

Airbus scraps A350 contract with Qatar Airways in feud

European aircraft maker Airbus has cancelled its contract to deliver 19 A350 planes to Qatar Airways, a source close to the matter said Wednesday, amid a feud between the two aviation giants.

source https://www.lifetechnology.com/blogs/life-technology-technology-news/airbus-scraps-a350-contract-with-qatar-airways-in-feud

Pfizer in talks on $5 billion acquisition: media

American drugmaker Pfizer is close to a deal to purchase Global Blood Therapeutics, which manufactures a recently approved drug against sickle-cell anemia, for $5 billion, the Wall Street Journal has reported.

New Pompeii finds highlight middle-class life in doomed city

A trunk with its lid left open. A wooden dishware closet, its shelves caved in. Three-legged accent tables topped by decorative bowls. These latest discoveries by archaeologists are enriching knowledge about middle-class lives in Pompeii before Mount Vesuvius' furious eruption buried the ancient Roman city in volcanic debris.

source https://www.lifetechnology.com/blogs/life-technology-science-news/new-pompeii-finds-highlight-middle-class-life-in-doomed-city

Over 80,000 tourists trapped in 'China's Hawaii' after COVID outbreak

Over 80,000 tourists are stranded in a resort city popularly known as "China's Hawaii" after a COVID flare-up led authorities to impose strict travel restrictions.

UK: 'Early signs' that monkeypox outbreak may be peaking

British health authorities said Friday the monkeypox outbreak across the country may be peaking and that the epidemic's growth rate has slowed.

Neuroimaging study reveals fatigue-related differences by age and gender

To study the relationship between age and fatigue, Kessler Foundation researchers conducted a novel study using neuroimaging and self-report data. Their findings were published online on May 9, 2022, in Frontiers in Human Neuroscience.

New recommendations aim to ease patient access to lung cancer clinical trials

A clinical trial is only as powerful as its participants. For years, researchers have struggled to fill clinical trials and enroll sufficiently diverse groups of patients for results to reflect the broader population, in part because of stringent guidelines on who can participate.

Study finds new chronic rhinitis treatment could be game changer

A new study at Houston Methodist evaluating the long-term effectiveness of a minimally invasive, in-office procedure could be a game changer for individuals with chronic rhinitis, an upper-respiratory condition marked by a near-constant runny nose, post-nasal drip, congestion, sneezing, coughing, and nasal and throat itching.

Preterm birth delay drugs safe for global reduction in neonatal death

Women around the world should be able to access the best medical treatments that help to delay preterm births and improve neonatal outcomes, new research suggests.

Protein that may predict future diabetes risk and death from cancer identified

New research, published in Diabetologia, suggests that people with elevated levels of the protein prostasin (mainly found in epithelial cells which line the surfaces and organs of the body) may be at higher risk of developing diabetes.

A simple, cheap material for carbon capture, perhaps from tailpipes

Using an inexpensive polymer called melamine—the main component of Formica—chemists have created a cheap, easy and energy-efficient way to capture carbon dioxide from smokestacks, a key goal for the United States and other nations as they seek to reduce greenhouse gas emissions.

source https://www.lifetechnology.com/blogs/life-technology-science-news/a-simple-cheap-material-for-carbon-capture-perhaps-from-tailpipes

Researchers point to gap in Indigenous health equalities

A UBC Okanagan researcher is calling attention to the looming gap in health equality when it comes to Indigenous populations living off-reserve in Canada.

New method mass-produces antitumor cells to treat blood diseases and cancer

A Purdue University chemical engineer has improved upon traditional methods to produce off-the-shelf human immune cells that show strong antitumor activity, according to a paper published in the peer-reviewed journal Cell Reports.

Air pollution and stress alter brain development and social behavior in male mice

Naval oceanographer Carina Block had a hunch that the jet exhaust fumes she and her fellow female sailors were regularly exposed to, combined with unavoidable job stress, was leading to adverse health outcomes for their children. A new study in mice backs up Block's suspicion, finding that air pollution along with housing insecurity while pregnant leads to autism-like social behavior and differently wired brains in male, but not female, pups. The immune system seems to be at fault.

Researchers explore treating cancer by sticking cells in place

Future treatments for advanced cancer could work by sticking cancer cells in place and preventing their spread around the body. A new study by researchers at the University of California, Davis, and the University of Washington shows how an antibody strengthens bonds between cells. The work is published Aug. 3 in Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences.

EPA announces flights to look for methane in Permian Basin

The Environmental Protection Agency says it will conduct helicopter overflights to look for methane "super emitters" in the nation's largest oil and gas producing region.

source https://www.lifetechnology.com/blogs/life-technology-science-news/epa-announces-flights-to-look-for-methane-in-permian-basin

Does China's research and development funding reach the right firms?

Chinese investments in research and development (R&D) have burgeoned since the turn of the century, increasing more than tenfold in absolute terms since 2000 and reaching a high of 2.4 percent of GDP in 2020. As the world's second biggest spender on R&D after the United States, China is certainly a force to be reckoned with on the global innovation landscape. Its fresh push toward innovation-led growth and stated ambition of becoming a technological innovation powerhouse by 2050 have prompted questions: is China on course to attain its goals, and will greater investments in R&D—as promised by Premier Li Keqiang—get it there?

source https://www.lifetechnology.com/blogs/life-technology-science-news/does-chinas-research-and-development-funding-reach-the-right-firms

Investigating protein signature changes during heart disease caused by reductive stress

Two years ago, University of Alabama at Birmingham researchers and colleagues reported that reductive stress—an imbalance in the normal oxidation/reduction, or redox, homeostasis—caused pathological changes associated with heart failure in a mouse model. This was a follow-up to their 2018 clinical study that found about one in six heart failure patients shows reductive stress.

Stereotypes can be self-reinforcing, stubborn even without any supporting evidence

A new study from researchers at the University of Wisconsin-Madison shows why letting stereotypes inform our judgments of unfamiliar people can be such a hard habit to break.

source https://www.lifetechnology.com/blogs/life-technology-science-news/stereotypes-can-be-self-reinforcing-stubborn-even-without-any-supporting-evidence

Research confirms new baiting regime is effective for mouse management in agriculture

New research led by Australia's national science agency, CSIRO, has found that mouse populations can be reduced significantly by doubling the amount of zinc phosphide (ZnP) in grain baits used for broadscale agriculture.

source https://www.lifetechnology.com/blogs/life-technology-science-news/research-confirms-new-baiting-regime-is-effective-for-mouse-management-in-agriculture

Scientists reveal method of converting methane gas into liquid methanol

A group of researchers has succeeded in converting methane into methanol using light and dispersed transition metals such as copper in a process known as photo-oxidation. According to an article reporting the study published in Chemical Communications, the reaction was the best obtained to date for conversion of methane gas into liquid fuel under ambient conditions of temperature and pressure (25 °C and 1 bar respectively).

source https://www.lifetechnology.com/blogs/life-technology-science-news/scientists-reveal-method-of-converting-methane-gas-into-liquid-methanol

Health insurance impacts cancer stage at diagnosis in minority children

Disparities in cancer stage at diagnosis among racial and ethnic minority children and adolescents may be partially explained by health insurance coverage, finds a study from the Brown School at Washington University in St. Louis.

Researchers launch global dashboard to track invasive mosquitoes carrying deadly diseases

To combat the ongoing threat of mosquito-borne diseases worldwide, University of South Florida researchers have launched a mosquito-tracking dashboard driven by citizen science—a scalable solution proven effective in a recent USF study.

source https://www.lifetechnology.com/blogs/life-technology-science-news/researchers-launch-global-dashboard-to-track-invasive-mosquitoes-carrying-deadly-diseases

Study could lead to better education and treatment of sexual health for breast cancer patients

A new study released by the University of Colorado Cancer Center shows that more than 70 percent of breast cancer patients have reported changes that affect their sexual health during and beyond treatment.

California governor declares monkeypox state of emergency

California's governor on Monday declared a state of emergency to speed efforts to combat the monkeypox outbreak, becoming the second state in three days to take the step.

Microscopic blood vessel disease in the brain's white matter associated with worse cognition in Alzheimer's

Disease of the microscopic blood vessels that feed the white matter of our brain is associated with worse cognitive function and memory deficits in individuals with Alzheimer's, scientists report.

Research on recognizing facial emotion expressions could change our understanding of autism

There's a common perception that autistic individuals are poor at recognizing others' emotions and have little insight into how effectively they do so.

Could acupuncture help ward off diabetes?

It's been used for thousands of years to treat a variety of illnesses—and now acupuncture could also help fight one of the 21st century's biggest health challenges.

Junk food advertising restrictions prevent almost 100,000 obesity cases

Junk food advertising restrictions on Transport for London (TfL) networks have prevented almost 100,000 obesity cases and is expected to save the NHS over £200 million, according to new research.

SARS-CoV-2 and vaccine uptake among First Nations, Inuit and Métis peoples in urban areas

Despite prioritizing Indigenous populations for SARS-CoV-2 vaccinations, vaccine uptake was low among First Nations, Inuit and Métis Peoples in Toronto and London, Ontario, according to new research published in CMAJ (Canadian Medical Association Journal).

Study examines 'black boxing' in breast cancer survivorship care

Today, many women diagnosed with breast cancer live long after completing their cancer treatments and have post-treatment health and information needs. Unfortunately, across healthcare systems, survivorship care is neither consistent nor systematically implemented.

Physician sheds light on the challenges of medical practice in wartime Ukraine

The Journal of Nuclear Medicine has published a first-hand account of the daily practice of nuclear medicine and molecular imaging during the ongoing war in Ukraine. In a "Discussions with Leaders" article, Yaroslav Kmetyuk, MD, Ph.D., head of the All-Ukrainian Radiosurgery Center at the "Feofaniya" Hospital in Kyiv, Ukraine, speaks openly with JNM editor-in-chief Johannes Czernin, MD, and Ken Herrmann, MD, chair of the Department of Nuclear Medicine at the University of Duisburg-Essen in Essen, Germany, about living and working in a hospital in the midst of a war.

New optical switch could lead to ultrafast all-optical signal processing

Engineers at Caltech have developed a switch—one of the most fundamental components of computing—using optical, rather than electronic, components. The development could aid efforts to achieve ultrafast all-optical signal processing and computing.

source https://www.lifetechnology.com/blogs/life-technology-science-news/new-optical-switch-could-lead-to-ultrafast-all-optical-signal-processing

New study finds global forest area per capita has decreased by over 60%

Over the past 60 years, the global forest area has declined by 81.7 million hectares, a loss that contributed to the more than 60% decline in global forest area per capita. This loss threatens the future of biodiversity and impacts the lives of 1.6 billion people worldwide, according to a new study published today by IOP Publishing in the journal Environmental Research Letters.

source https://www.lifetechnology.com/blogs/life-technology-science-news/new-study-finds-global-forest-area-per-capita-has-decreased-by-over-60