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Pediatricians ID cause of muscle breakdown in rare disease found on newborn screening

Eurekalert - Jun 28 2021 - 00:06
It was a nagging mystery: A rare disease expert at UPMC Children's Hospital had found a successful treatment for two of the deadliest symptoms of one of the more common classes of rare diseases diagnosed by newborn screenings, but one symptom -- painful episodes of muscle breakdown that land victims in intensive care -- persisted. Today, the scientists announce that they've gotten to the bottom of the self-destructive syndrome and have a good lead on a treatment.
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Unique exoplanet photobombs Cheops study of nearby star system

Eurekalert - Jun 28 2021 - 00:06
While exploring two exoplanets in a bright nearby star system, ESA's exoplanet-hunting Cheops satellite has unexpectedly spotted the system's third known planet crossing the face of the star. This transit reveals exciting details about a rare planet 'with no known equivalent,' say the researchers.
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Public opinion surveys on vaccine hesitancy can help predict where vaccine uptake is likely to be lower

Eurekalert - Jun 28 2021 - 00:06
Public opinion surveys could be used more widely to understand regional variation in vaccine hesitancy, experts have recommended.
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US presidents' narcissism linked to international conflict

Eurekalert - Jun 28 2021 - 00:06
The most narcissistic US presidents since 1897 preferred to instigate conflicts with other great power countries without seeking support from allies, a new study suggests.Results showed that of the presidents measured, those highest in narcissism -- including Lyndon B. Johnson, Teddy Roosevelt and Richard Nixon -- were about six times more likely to initiate a dispute with another great power in any given year than a president with average levels of narcissism.
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Plant physiology: A tale of three proteins

Eurekalert - Jun 28 2021 - 00:06
LMU biologists have shown that 'supervisor' and 'motivator' proteins are required to enable a third factor to perform its function in photosynthesis.
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Mangrove forest study has takeaways for coastal communities

Eurekalert - Jun 28 2021 - 00:06
A new paper published by an East Carolina University researcher in the Department of Coastal Studies shines light on the effect human-made infrastructure and natural topography has on coastal wetlands after major storm events. In partnership with NASA and Florida International University, the study, led by assistant professor David Lagomasino, was published in the July edition of Nature Communications.
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Review by Temple scientists: Endovascular therapy best for superior vena cava syndrome

Eurekalert - Jun 28 2021 - 00:06
In recent decades minimally invasive endovascular stenting, in which a tubular support is placed inside the collapsed or obstructed vessel, has become the preferred option of care for superior vena cava syndrome (SVCS). Whether it is the best option has been unclear, but now, a new analysis by researchers at the Lewis Katz School of Medicine at Temple University shows that endovascular therapy currently is the safest and most effective treatment for SVCS.
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New report explains microbiome impact on glucose control

Eurekalert - Jun 28 2021 - 00:06
A new study by Pendulum Therapeutics was presented at the American Diabetes Association's (ADA) 81st (Virtual) Scientific Sessions, the preeminent global conference for diabetes clinicians, researchers, and professionals where cutting-edge science and advances in diabetes research, prevention, and care are discussed. The findings shine a light on proprietary probiotic formulations that may be used to help patients with Type 2 diabetes (T2D).
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Finding support for India during its COVID-19 surge

Eurekalert - Jun 28 2021 - 00:06
Ashique KhudaBukhsh of Carnegie Mellon University's Language Technologies Institute led a team of researchers who used machine learning to identify supportive tweets from Pakistan during India's COVID crisis. In the throes of a public health crisis, words of hope can be welcome medicine.
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Scientists discover at the Dead Sea a mineral previously only known in meteorites

Eurekalert - Jun 28 2021 - 00:06
Scientists from St. Petersburg University, in cooperation with researchers from Germany, USA and Italy, have discovered terrestrial allabogdanite, (Fe,Ni)2P. It is a mineral that, until now, has been found only in the extraterrestrial substance of meteorites. The discovery was made in the vicinity of the Dead Sea, in the historical region of the South Levant in the Middle East.
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How lead (maybe) caused the downfall of ancient Rome (video)

Eurekalert - Jun 28 2021 - 00:06
Ancient Rome's emperors did some pretty bizarre stuff--bursting into uncontrollable fits of laughter, appointing a horse as a priest, dressing in animal skins and attacking people... the list goes on. Why were they acting that way? Possibly... lead poisoning. In this week's episode, we unwrap the possibility that lead caused the Roman Empire's collapse.
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Connective tissue protein fights bacterial infection

Eurekalert - Jun 28 2021 - 00:06
A connective tissue protein known to support the framework of organs also encourages immune responses that fight bacterial infections, while restraining responses that can be deadly in the condition called sepsis.
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Acidic pH enhances butyrate production from pectin by faecal microbiota

Eurekalert - Jun 28 2021 - 00:06
Researchers from Tallinn University of Technology, Grete Raba, Signe Adamberg, and Kaarel Adamberg showed that an acidic environment enhances the production of butyric acid from apple pectin by faecal bacterial consortia - microbiota. Pectin is a dietary fibre abundant in apples, berries, fruits, and vegetables. Pectin is used in jellies and desserts. As human digestive enzymes are not able to degrade pectin, it is metabolized by the microbes of the large intestine.
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RAMBO speeds searches on huge DNA databases

Eurekalert - Jun 28 2021 - 00:06
Rice computer scientists are sending RAMBO to rescue genomic researchers who sometimes wait days or weeks for search results from enormous DNA databases.
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Alzheimer's and aducanumab: Unjust profits and false hopes

Eurekalert - Jun 28 2021 - 00:06
The US Food and Drug Administration's controversial decision to approve aducanumab for the treatment of Alzheimer's disease raises at least three major ethical issues that need to be addressed, states a new article in the Hastings Center Report.
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TPU scientists offer scalable technology to obtain polytetrafluoroethylene membranes

Eurekalert - Jun 28 2021 - 00:06
Scientists of Tomsk Polytechnic University were able to obtain polytetrafluoroethylene (PTFE) membranes using electrospinning. PTFE is known to be the most stable existent polymer. According to the scientists, it is a simple, affordable and easily scalable method, which will allow obtaining chemically stable membranes in industrial-scale production. The membranes can be used in petrochemical, aerospace, nuclear industries, carbon-free energy and medicine.
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CHEOPS unexpectedly detects a unique exoplanet

Eurekalert - Jun 28 2021 - 00:06
The exoplanet satellite hunter CHEOPS of the European Space Agency (ESA), in which the Instituto de Astrofísica de Canarias (IAC) is participating along with other European institutions, has unexpectedly detected a third planet passing in front of its star while it was exploring two previously known planets around the same star. This transit, according to researchers, will reveal exciting details about a strange planet "without a known equivalent".
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Danger caused by subdomains

Eurekalert - Jun 28 2021 - 00:06
Scientists have uncovered an important security vulnerability that has been overlooked so far. Large websites often have many subdomains - for example, "sub.example.com" could be a subdomain of the website "example.com". With certain tricks, it is possible to take control of such subdomains. And if that happens, new security holes open up that also put people at risk who simply want to use the actual website.
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Patients with high-deductible insurance plans less likely to seek care for chest pain

Eurekalert - Jun 28 2021 - 00:06
Researchers investigated whether switching to an HDHP influenced the frequency of ED visits and hospitalizations for chest pain. Their findings, published in Circulation, report a 4.3% decrease in ED visits for chest pain and an 11.3% decrease in visits that led to inpatient hospitalization based on the initial ED evaluation.
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Gut microbe secreted molecule linked to formation of new nerve cells in adult brain

Eurekalert - Jun 28 2021 - 00:06
* International research team discovers how microbes in the gut stimulate the production of new neurons (nerve cells) in the adult brain. * Gut microbes can break down amino acid tryptophan, and generate secreted molecules - indoles - that stimulate development of new neurons in the brain. * This discovery offers insight into brain ageing, the potential of dietary modification and next generation treatments for neurodegenerative conditions including but not limited to Alzheimer's disease.
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