A study of 20 years of data found that between-workplace share of wage inequality is growing in 12 of the 14 high-income countries studied, including the US. Rising between-firm inequalities are linked to declining national labor market institutions and weak protections for lower-skilled workers.
SourceUniversity of Massachusetts Amherst·JournalProceedings of the National Academy of Sciences·DateApr 13, 2020
Scientists developed a new technique to image proteins in 3D with nanoscale resolution using lanthanide-binding tags, enabling researchers to identify precise protein locations within individual cells. This breakthrough provides new insights into disease mechanisms and potential treatments.
SourceDOE/Brookhaven National Laboratory·JournalJournal of the American Chemical Society·DateApr 13, 2020
Scientists have created a comprehensive atlas of toxic immune cells that damage the brain, revealing a potential new drug target for multiple sclerosis and possibly other neurodegenerative diseases. The 'atlas' was generated using a novel method called Tox-seq, which links gene expression to function in single cells.
SourceGladstone Institutes·JournalNature Immunology·DateApr 13, 2020
Researchers found that a specific gene variant, klotho, can protect against Alzheimer's disease in people with the ApoE4 high-risk gene variant. This finding could help identify individuals at lower risk and inform clinical trial participants and treatments.
SourceStanford Medicine·JournalJAMA Neurology·DateApr 13, 2020
A new study has identified a potent Nrf2 inhibitor, triptolide, as a promising therapeutic approach for IDH1-mutated glioma. The research reveals that disrupting the glutathione synthesis pathway establishes synergistic lethality with a neomorphic IDH1 mutation.
SourceChinese Academy of Sciences Headquarters·JournalProceedings of the National Academy of Sciences·DateApr 13, 2020
Researchers investigate DPP4 enzyme inhibition as a possible treatment for coronavirus. Preliminary studies suggest that inhibiting the DPP4 enzyme could effectively treat COVID-19, offering new hope for treatment options.
SourceUniversity of Miami Miller School of Medicine·JournalDiabetes Research and Clinical Practice·DateApr 13, 2020
William Beksi, a UTA computer scientist, is developing topological methods to process large-scale 3D point cloud data, aiming to overcome limitations in robotic perception applications. This new approach uses persistent homology to extract unique insights into the structure of point cloud data.
A Stanford study found that exercise restores youthful properties to muscle stem cells of old mice, improving their repair capabilities. The researchers identified a molecular pathway involved in this process and suggest that drugs targeting this pathway could be an effective substitute for exercise.
SourceStanford Medicine·JournalNature Metabolism·DateApr 13, 2020
New Yorkers face difficulties with schooling at home, particularly for parents with lower education levels; vaccination hopes are mixed, with 53% of respondents willing to get vaccinated. The most trusted source of information is Governor Andrew Cuomo, according to the CUNY SPH weekly COVID-19 survey.
SourceCUNY Graduate School of Public Health and Health Policy·JournalJournal of Health Communication·DateApr 13, 2020
A new study from Ohio State University found that children's social skills have not declined due to increased screen time, with teachers rating both generations similarly. The study also showed that even heavy screen users showed similar development in social skills compared to those with little exposure.
SourceOhio State University·JournalAmerican Journal of Sociology·DateApr 13, 2020
Pradeep Sharma, a UH mechanical engineer, received a Guggenheim Fellowship to investigate why some people can instantly reproduce music while others cannot. He aims to find a physics explanation for this phenomenon, considering the brain and physical characteristics of the ears.
A large observational study of over 33,000 women found that those born by cesarean section were at higher risk of developing obesity and type 2 diabetes in adulthood. The study, published in JAMA Network Open, controlled for various factors and found a significant association between cesarean births and increased risk of these conditions.
SourceJAMA Network·JournalJAMA Network Open·DateApr 13, 2020
Understanding interactions between metal ions and peptides may lead to improved treatments for diabetes, Alzheimer's, and other diseases. Researchers found that copper can impede the aggregation of pramlintide, but not rat amylin.
SourceKing Abdullah University of Science & Technology (KAUST)·JournalInorganic Chemistry·DateApr 13, 2020
Current medical guidelines for diagnosing cow's milk allergy in babies and young children may lead to overdiagnosis due to common symptoms being mistaken for the condition. Studies have found that only around 1% of infants have cow's milk allergy, but up to 14% of families believe their child has it.
SourceImperial College London·JournalJAMA Pediatrics·DateApr 13, 2020
A new species of bent-toed gecko, Cyrtodactylus phnomchiensis, has been described from Phnom Chi mountain in the sanctuary. The discovery highlights the importance of biodiversity conservation and underscores the need to strengthen management of the Prey Lang Wildlife Sanctuary.
SourceNorth Carolina Museum of Natural Sciences·JournalZooKeys·DateApr 13, 2020
A study analyzing patients treated with remdesivir found clinical improvement in 68% of hospitalized COVID-19 patients. The experimental therapy also showed potential in reducing the need for mechanical ventilators and hospital discharge.
SourceCedars-Sinai Medical Center·JournalNew England Journal of Medicine·DateApr 11, 2020
A new study using wastewater-based epidemiology (WBE) analyzes caffeine, tobacco, and alcohol consumption in a large university population, providing valuable data on psychotropic compound use. The findings highlight the utility of long-term monitoring networks for improving student health and identifying disease trends.
SourceArizona State University·JournalThe Science of The Total Environment·DateApr 11, 2020
The team developed a flexible composite LLZO sheet electrolyte that can be produced at room temperature, reducing energy consumption and enabling widespread adoption of lithium metal batteries. The electrolyte functions over a wide range of temperatures, making it suitable for electric vehicles.
SourceTokyo Metropolitan University·JournalACS Applied Materials & Interfaces·DateApr 11, 2020
Researchers found that UAV sounding data can improve Antarctic weather forecasting, especially for temperature, wind speed, and humidity predictions. The limited flight altitude of UAVs restricts the improvement to the atmospheric boundary layer.
SourceInstitute of Atmospheric Physics, Chinese Academy of Sciences·JournalAdvances in Atmospheric Sciences·DateApr 11, 2020
A recent study found that reducing sulfur dioxide emissions alone can significantly decrease air pollution, mainly due to the stability of ammonium nitrate formed with nitrogen oxides and ammonia. In China, nitrogen dioxide control is more effective in reducing surface PM2.5 concentrations.
SourceInstitute of Atmospheric Physics, Chinese Academy of Sciences·JournalAtmospheric and Oceanic Science Letters·DateApr 11, 2020
Skoltech researchers have found a new mechanism of bacterial self-defense against microcin C, a potent antibiotic produced by some strains of Escherichia coli. The discovery involves histidine-triad (HIT) superfamily hydrolases, enzymes that break down the antibiotic and render it useless.
SourceSkolkovo Institute of Science and Technology (Skoltech)·JournalmBio·DateApr 11, 2020
The review emphasizes the importance of natural daylight and air circulation in reducing disease transmission. Opening windows to improve airflow and admitting natural light can help prevent the spread of COVID-19.
SourceUniversity of California - Davis·JournalmSystems·DateApr 10, 2020
Research reveals that long-term experience of gaming improves cognitive development, particularly in allocating brain resources to individual visual stimuli. Expert players outperform beginners in tasks requiring rapid processing and attentional control.
SourceFrontiers·JournalFrontiers in Human Neuroscience·DateApr 10, 2020
A research team at Washington State University has identified the lipid controlling the switch in light-harvesting proteins to dissipate excess energy. This discovery could lead to optimizing photosynthesis in crops for specific environments, reducing waste and increasing food production.
SourceWashington State University·JournalJournal of Biological Chemistry·DateApr 10, 2020
Researchers developed a model to predict changes in tree genes, reducing unintended consequences of genetic modification. The model captures cross-regulatory influences between genes, enabling more efficient gene-modification strategies.
SourceNorth Carolina State University·JournalPLOS Computational Biology·DateApr 10, 2020
A team of researchers led by Cédric Gillmann found that water on Earth has been there since its formation, likely buried deep in the planet. This discovery challenges previous ideas about the origin of water and has implications for habitability of ancient planets.
SourceUniversité libre de Bruxelles·JournalNature Geoscience·DateApr 10, 2020
The VRAC ion channel transports the messenger substance cGAMP from cell to cell, strengthening the immune response to DNA virus infections. This discovery could also have implications for cancer treatment and new strategies against DNA viruses.
SourceForschungsverbund Berlin·JournalImmunity·DateApr 10, 2020
A survey of Washington state's heroin users found that most are interested in reducing or stopping their use and are open to services to help manage substance use. Syringe exchanges have seen increased possession of naloxone, a drug that reverses opioid overdose.
The COVID-19 pandemic has been linked to an increase in US suicide rates, according to a recent study. The researchers found that the pandemic may have contributed to rising rates of mental health problems and decreased access to healthcare services.
A study investigating neurologic symptoms in hospitalized patients with COVID-19 found notable cases of neurological disorders, including stroke and seizures. The research provides insight into the often-overlooked but serious neurological manifestations of the disease.
The James Webb Space Telescope will study three dense clouds, known as infrared-dark clouds, to understand the formation process of massive stars. These clouds are thought to be raw dough before baking, providing a unique window into the environment needed for star birth.
The perovskite-based detector is 100 times more sensitive than conventional silicon-based detectors, enabling low-dose dental and medical images with reduced risks. The new technology also enhances resolution in security scanners and X-ray research applications.
SourceDOE/Los Alamos National Laboratory·JournalScience Advances·DateApr 10, 2020
Scientists at the University of Central Florida and partners have successfully created anti-ferromagnetic devices that operate on the terahertz level, paving the way for ultra-fast electronics. This breakthrough technology has the potential to revolutionize guidance systems, communications, and even mimic brain function.
SourceUniversity of Central Florida·JournalScience·DateApr 10, 2020
Researchers at the University of Innsbruck propose a new measurement protocol to identify topological states in interacting systems. This method can extract topological invariants from statistical correlations of simple, local random measurements.
SourceUniversity of Innsbruck·JournalScience Advances·DateApr 10, 2020
Researchers have identified ATP10B as a novel risk gene for Parkinson's disease, revealing its role in transporting glucosylceramide, a lipid critical to the disease's pathogenesis. Mutations in this gene can lead to neuronal loss and increased sensitivity to environmental risk factors.
SourceVIB (the Flanders Institute for Biotechnology)·JournalActa Neuropathologica·DateApr 10, 2020
A rural health care system has developed a preparedness response plan that expands use of telehealth and streamlines systemwide staff communication. The plan includes a rapid expansion of telehealth, prioritizing nonessential staff work-from-home, conserving PPE, and postponing elective procedures.
SourceAmerican College of Surgeons·JournalJournal of the American College of Surgeons·DateApr 10, 2020
Researchers at the University of Pennsylvania School of Medicine have discovered a way to modify PARP inhibitor compounds to increase their effectiveness in killing cancer cells. By structurally modifying veliparib, a previously ineffective compound, they were able to boost its ability to trap and kill tumor cells.
SourceUniversity of Pennsylvania School of Medicine·JournalScience·DateApr 10, 2020
Researchers have identified a gene that can help combat Fusarium Head Blight (FHB), a major threat to wheat crops worldwide. The discovery sheds light on molecular mechanisms making wheat resistant to the pathogen and paves the way for new varieties with improved FHB resistance.
SourceUS Department of Agriculture - Agricultural Research Service·JournalScience·DateApr 10, 2020
Researchers found that Stomaphis aphid diversification was primarily driven by host plant shifts, rather than associated ant species. The study revealed a surprising finding that the aphids had not shifted between closely related plant species, but instead between very distantly related host plant taxa.
SourceShinshu University·JournalThe Science of Nature·DateApr 10, 2020
Researchers at Peking University and Chinese Academy of Sciences discover atomic mechanism of spin-valve magnetoresistance at asymmetry SrRuO3 grain boundary. The study reveals a new strategy to create 2D magnetic order in grain boundaries, which can dominate response in nanoscale devices.
SourceScience China Press·JournalNational Science Review·DateApr 10, 2020
A recent study highlights the difficulties healthcare providers face when caring for cancer patients during a pandemic. The authors discuss strategies to mitigate these challenges and improve patient outcomes in Italy during the COVID-19 epidemic.
Scientists have developed single-electron pumping devices in ZnO nanobelt transistors, enabling controlled single- and double-electron pumping at room temperature. This breakthrough has significant implications for spin-based quantum computing and quantum information processing.
Researchers at UC San Diego discovered the critical gene ZNF263, which regulates heparin biosynthesis in human cells. This breakthrough could enable the production of heparin in well-controlled cell culture, providing a safer and more sustainable alternative to current methods.
SourceUniversity of California - San Diego·JournalProceedings of the National Academy of Sciences·DateApr 10, 2020
Research finds people with vaccine skepticism tend to overestimate the likelihood of rare negative events, including mortality-related causes. This suggests a possible explanation for their concerns: cognitive or affective variables influencing vaccine skepticism.
Researchers at Kazan Federal University develop a technology to modify hair fibers using functional ceramic nano containers, expanding the field of application for natural fibers. The technology can change aesthetic properties, protect against biodegradation, and release topical anti-inflammatory drugs.
SourceKazan Federal University·JournalNew Journal of Chemistry·DateApr 10, 2020
A study from Hubei, China offers potential methods to focus on mental health during the COVID-19 pandemic. The authors propose strategies to promote mental well-being and reduce stress among individuals affected by the pandemic.
Researchers are testing the feasibility of building roads from recycled plastics, mixed with asphalt for a safe and durable consistency. The project aims to create more sustainable roads while reducing waste and costs.
Cyclone Harold's transformation into an extra-tropical cyclone was captured by NASA's Terra satellite, revealing elongated clouds and convection displaced to the southeast. The system is undergoing a transition characterized by wind shear and baroclinic processes, which may retain hurricane-force winds.
A research team has identified the cause of performance degradation in CQD PV devices and developed a material processing method to stabilize their performance. The method uses ligand substitution with potassium iodide, maintaining device efficiency above 80% for 300 hours.
SourceDGIST (Daegu Gyeongbuk Institute of Science and Technology)·JournalAdvanced Materials·DateApr 10, 2020
Researchers at KIST have developed a sulfide-based superionic conductor that delivers Li-ion conductivity comparable to liquid electrolytes, solving a key challenge in all-solid-state battery technology. The new material enables accelerated mass production and commercialization of safe batteries.
SourceNational Research Council of Science & Technology·JournalNano Letters·DateApr 10, 2020
A case series study in China describes clinical characteristics of patients who died from COVID-19, highlighting differences in treatment approaches. The study aims to provide insights into factors contributing to mortality rates in critically ill patients with COVID-19.
SourceJAMA Network·JournalJAMA Network Open·DateApr 10, 2020
The Academy of Breastfeeding Medicine recommends keeping mothers and infants together, citing no evidence that separation improves outcomes. Separation may minimize virus transmission but can have negative consequences for both mother and infant, including disrupted breastfeeding and skin-to-skin contact.
SourceMary Ann Liebert, Inc./Genetic Engineering News·JournalBreastfeeding Medicine·DateApr 10, 2020
A NASA-built instrument uses shearing force to grow E. coli bacteria, demonstrating a more suitable method for space travel than existing alternatives. The research opens a new path to bio-manufacturing drugs during long-term space flights.
The American Gastroenterological Association has released official guidance for patients with inflammatory bowel disease (IBD) during the COVID-19 pandemic. According to the AGA, patients with IBD should continue their medication, including scheduled infusions, and stop certain medications if they develop COVID-19 symptoms.
SourceAmerican Gastroenterological Association·JournalGASTROENTEROLOGY·DateApr 10, 2020
UC Davis researchers developed a computer model to screen drugs for unintended cardiac side effects, especially arrhythmia risk. The model uses a drug's chemical formula to predict its impact on heart rhythm and has been validated with comparisons to clinical data from electrocardiogram results of patients.
SourceUniversity of California - Davis Health·JournalCirculation Research·DateApr 10, 2020
The COVID-19 pandemic has had a significant impact on mental health, emphasizing the need for effective physical distancing strategies. The study found that prolonged social isolation can lead to increased symptoms of anxiety and depression.
SourceJAMA Network·JournalJAMA Internal Medicine·DateApr 10, 2020
A remote military surgical team transformed into a pandemic response team to provide care in an isolated population, adapting innovative solutions. Their recommendations emphasize the importance of evaluating everyone's skillsets and experience, including non-medical labor to provide medical interventions.
SourceAmerican College of Surgeons·JournalJournal of the American College of Surgeons·DateApr 10, 2020
Researchers discovered a novel light-sensitive protein in Asgard archaea that functions as an inward proton pump, opening possibilities for controlling pH levels in cells or microorganisms with light. This finding could lead to the development of new biomolecular tools and applications in optogenetics.
SourceUniversity of Tokyo·JournalScience Advances·DateApr 10, 2020
A global COVID-19 response that neglects sexual and reproductive health and justice inequities exacerbates existing social and economic burdens on these groups. The authors advocate for a human rights framework to address the pandemic's inequitable effects.
SourceColumbia University's Mailman School of Public Health·JournalThe Lancet·DateApr 9, 2020
Researchers at Tokyo University of Science devise a new method to synthesize complex acyl fluorides from widely available acyl fluorides through a reversible reaction involving palladium. The technique uses an 'acyl-exchange reaction' to produce adequate amounts of complex acyl fluorides with high efficiency.
SourceTokyo University of Science·JournalOrganometallics·DateApr 9, 2020