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During epic migrations, great snipes fly at surprising heights by day and lower by night
A stocky marsh bird with a 20-inch wingspan, great snipes are also speedy marathoners that can migrate from Sweden to Central Africa in just three days, without stopping to eat, drink, or sleep. Now, researchers find that snipes also rise nearly 2,500 meters in elevation at dawn and descend again at dusk each day, perhaps to avoid overheating from daytime solar radiation by climbing higher. The findings appear June 30 in the journal Current Biology.
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New beetle species found pristinely preserved in fossilized dropping of dinosaur ancestor
Fossilized feces are common finds at paleontological dig sites and might actually contain hidden treasures. By scanning fossilized dung assigned to a close dinosaur relative from the Triassic period, scientists discovered a 230-million-year-old beetle species, representing a new family of beetles, previously unknown to science. The beetles were preserved in a 3D state with their legs and antennae fully intact. The finding appears June 30 in the journal Current Biology.
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Breakthrough for tracking RNA with fluorescence
Researchers at Chalmers University of Technology, Sweden, have succeeded in developing a method to label mRNA molecules, and thereby follow, in real time, their path through cells, using a microscope - without affecting their properties or subsequent activity. The breakthrough could be of great importance in facilitating the development of new RNA-based medicines.
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In-situ structural evolution of Zr-doped Na<sub>3</sub>V<sub>2</sub>(PO<sub>4</sub>)<sub>2</sub>F<sub>3</sub> coated by N-doped carbon for SIB
Analysis of the nanostructure and in-situ structural evolution of Zr-doped NVPF completely coated with nitrogen-doped carbon.
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Reducing need for blood transfusion during heart surgery is focus of new practice guideline
Four leading medical specialty societies released a new clinical practice guideline that includes recommendations for reducing blood loss during heart surgery and improving patient outcomes. The document is a multidisciplinary collaboration among The Society of Thoracic Surgeons, the Society of Cardiovascular Anesthesiologists, the American Society of ExtraCorporeal Technology, and the Society for the Advancement of Patient Blood Management.
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Discovery of the role of a key gene in the development of ALS
Amyotrophic lateral sclerosis, or ALS, attacks nerve cells known as motor neurons in the brain and spinal cord, gradually leading to paralysis. The loss of function of an important gene, C9orf72, may affect communication between motor neurons and muscles in people with this disease. These findings were revealed by the team of Dr Kessen Patten of the Institut national de la recherche scientifique (INRS) in the prestigious journal Communications Biology.
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Slowing down grape ripening can improve berry quality for winemaking
Wine grapes are particularly finicky when it comes to their environment. For instance, heatwaves and droughts lead to earlier berry ripening and lackluster wine. And these types of episodes are expected to intensify as Earth's climate changes. Now, researchers reporting in ACS' Journal of Agricultural and Food Chemistry have tweaked growing conditions for Cabernet Sauvignon grapes to slow down their ripening, which increased the levels of compounds associated with wine's characteristic floral and fruity notes.
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The Southern diet - fried foods and sugary drinks - may raise risk of sudden cardiac death
Participants in a large-scale study who more commonly consumed a Southern-style diet - high in added fats, fried foods, processed meats and sugary drinks - had a higher risk of sudden cardiac death than people who had lower adherence to a Southern-style diet.
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Wildfire changes songbird plumage and testosterone
Following habitat-destroying wildfires, researchers found many male red-backed fairywrens failed to molt into their ornamental plumage, making them less attractive to potential mates. They also had lowered circulating testosterone, which has been associated with their showy feathers. The birds' fat stores and stress hormone corticosterone remained at normal levels. While the findings are specific to this songbird, they may have implications for other species that don special coloration for mating.
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Scientists intensify electrolysis, utilize carbon dioxide more efficiently with magnets
A promising approach captures atmospheric carbon dioxide and then through CO2 electrolysis converts it into value-added chemicals and intermediates, like ethanol. Reducing the energy consumption of this high-power process has been underexplored. In ACS Energy Letters, researchers from the University of Illinois Urbana-Champaign report a new opportunity to use magnetism to reduce the energy required for CO2 electrolysis by up to 60% in a flow electrolyzer.
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Oncotarget: mTORC1 and PLK1 inhibition in adenocarcinoma NSCLC
All these preclinical data strongly suggest that the inhibition of mTORC1 and PLK1 proteins may be a promising therapeutic approach for NSCLC patients
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'There may not be a conflict after all' in expanding universe debate
Our universe is expanding, but our two main ways to measure how fast this expansion is happening have resulted in different answers. But in a new review paper accepted to the Astrophysical Journal, Freedman gives an overview of the most recent observations. Her conclusion: the latest observations are beginning to close the gap. That is, there may not be a conflict after all, and our standard model of the universe does not need to be significantly modified.
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Postmenopausal bleeding may be a sign of endometrial cancer in obese Asian women
The link between obesity and the risk of endometrial cancer has been well documented. A new study, however, shows that an even lower body mass index (BMI) than previously thought can signal an increased risk in Asian women with postmenopausal bleeding. Study results are published online today in Menopause, the journal of The North American Menopause Society (NAMS).
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Prevalence of COVID-19 among hospitalized infants varies with levels of community transmission
How common COVID-19 is among infants may depend on the degree of the pandemic virus circulating in a community.
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Diaries of infection preventionists give inside look at the unsung heroes of the pandemic
Much has been rightfully made of the valiant work of doctors and nurses during the coronavirus pandemic. But what of infection preventionists (IP), whose job was to keep those workers and their facilities safe, and who many Americans do not even know exist?
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New research lifts the clouds on land clearing and biodiversity loss
A new mathematical model has been developed by QUT researchers to uncover land clearing when satellite imagery is obstructed by clouds.
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Mixing it up: A low-cost way to make efficient, stable perovskite solar cells
By using a fluid mixing process instead of expensive, high-temperature fabrication methods, researchers may have demonstrated a pathway to producing flexible, printed solar cells on a cost effective, industrial scale.
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Rattlesnakes may like climate change
A combination of factors makes a warming climate beneficial to rattlesnakes. The snakes are experts at thermoregulation, need few calories to survive, and would likely have more active time seasonally and during a given day.
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Researchers create better method to predict offshore wind power
Rutgers researchers have developed a machine learning model using a physics-based simulator and real-world meteorological data to better predict offshore wind power.
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College students experience significant grief reactions during global pandemic
A new study shows that colleges students are experiencing significant grief reactions in response to the COVID-19 pandemic.
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