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Adolescents' well-being and learning during COVID-19 linked to psychological needs
A new survey study suggests that, for adolescents who received unplanned distance education due to the COVID-19 pandemic, experiencing one's own competence was linked to positive emotion, self-motivation to learn, and pro-learning behaviors. Feeling connected to others was also linked to positive emotion. Julia Holzer of the University of Vienna, Austria, and colleagues present these findings in the open-access journal PLOS ONE.
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Getting "wind" of the future: Making wind turbines low-maintenance and more resilient
Wind turbines in remote locations with harsh weather often suffer from frequent system failures, increasing cost and yielding unsatisfactory power. Now, in a new study, a global team of researchers suggest and validate a reliable and robust low-cost computation scheme for the simultaneous real time detection and resolution of multiple system faults in wind turbines. Their method paves the way for economical wind mill farms even in challenging environments.
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Study of Utah cancer care-at-home model demonstrates lower costs, better outcomes
A study published today in the Journal of Clinical Oncology expands on evidence of lower health care costs and fewer unplanned health care visits in an acute care model of Huntsman Cancer Institute's Huntsman at Home program, which brings cancer care to patients in their homes.
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New antimicrobial surface reduces bacteria build-up on medical instruments
Patient infection from urinary catheters are a global health concern. In a world-first, Monash University researchers have developed a new 3D antimicrobial surface to reduce bacterial build-up. The study saw a reduction in bacteria colonisation for three leading Urinary Tract Infection (UTI) pathogens, including E. coli.
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Health and the city: Using urban design to promote heart health
Cities harbour a dangerous cocktail of environmental stressors which politicians must tackle to save lives and preserve health. That's the conclusion of a paper published today in European Heart Journal, a journal of the European Society of Cardiology (ESC). "By 2050, three in four people will live in cities, where up to 80% of energy is consumed and 70% of greenhouse gases are emitted," said study author Professor Thomas Münzel
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Doctor and mother recounts COVID-19 experience that saw her placed on special ECMO respiratory support and remain in hospital for 150 days
A general practitioner, wife and mother has recounted her experience with COVID-19 which saw her stay in hospital 150 days and become one of the first patients to be treated with extracorporeal membrane oxygenation (ECMO), special equipment that completely takes over the function of the lungs and is a last resort option. The self-written case report appears in the journal Anaesthesia Reports.
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Study reveals huge pressures on anaesthesia and critical care workforce and hospitals during winter wave of COVID-19 pandemic, and devastating drop in surgical activity
New research published in Anaesthesia (a journal of the Association of Anaesthetists) shows the huge pressure that anaesthesia and critical care staff in the UK have been under throughout the winter wave of COVID-19, as the number of newly admitted infected patients surged and most planned surgeries, including a substantial number of critical cancer operations, were cancelled.
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Did Earth's early rise in oxygen help multicellular life evolve?
Georgia Tech researchers find that oxygenation of Earth's surface is key to the evolution of large, complex multicellular organisms. If cells can access oxygen, they get a big metabolic benefit. However, when oxygen is scarce, it can't diffuse very far into organisms, so there is an evolutionary incentive for multicellular organisms to be small to ensure most of their cells can still access oxygen.
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Rising energy demand for cooling
Climate-related temperature rises will further increase the cooling demand of buildings. A projection by Empa researchers based on data from the NEST building and future climate scenarios for Switzerland shows that this increase in energy demand for cooling is likely to be substantial and could have a strong impact on our future - electrified - energy system.
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Grape genetics research reveals what makes the perfect flower
Cornell University scientists have worked with the University of California, Davis, to identify the DNA markers that determine grape flower sex. In the process, they also pinpointed the genetic origins of the perfect flower.
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Strengthening interpersonal relationships helps medical patients live longer
New research from BYU published in PLOS Medicine found that providing medical patients with social support leads to an increased chance of survival and elongation of life. Such findings come at a critical time as doctors and healthcare professionals seek new ways to improve care and decrease mortality.
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Making mindfulness meditation more helpful starts with understanding how it can be harmful
A study led by Willoughby Britton, an associate professor of psychiatry and human behavior at Brown, shows the importance of defining and measuring the adverse effects of mindfulness.
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Researchers develop framework incorporating renewables and flexible carbon capture
As the global energy demand continues to grow along with atmospheric levels of carbon dioxide (CO2), there has been a major push to adopt more sustainable and more carbon-neutral energy sources. Solar/wind power and CO2 capture - the process of capturing waste CO2 so it is not introduced into the atmosphere - are two promising pathways for decarbonization, but both have significant drawbacks.
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Saving the eastern monarch butterfly: SFU research
Simon Fraser University researchers are playing a key role in guiding conservation efforts to protect a declining butterfly population. The eastern monarch butterfly, an important pollinating species known for its distinct yellow-orange and black colour, is diminishing due to the loss of the milkweed plant--its primary food source.
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WVU researchers find disparities for COVID-19 testing and positivity rates
Specifically, the researchers determined communities with a higher Black population had testing rates six times lower than the state average, which they argue could potentially obscure prevalence estimates. They also found that areas associated with food insecurity had higher levels of testing and a higher rate of positivity.
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A gentler strategy for avoiding childhood dental decay
By targeting the bonds between bacteria and yeast that can form a sticky dental plaque, a new therapeutic strategy could help wash away the build-up while sparing oral tissues, according to a new study by a team from the University of Pennsylvania.
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A new theory for what's happening in the brain when something looks familiar
Research from University of Pennsylvania neuroscientist Nicole Rust and colleagues presents a new theory for what's happening in the brain when something looks familiar. The work brings the field one step closer to understanding how memory functions. Long-term, it could have implications for treating diseases like Alzheimer's.
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Bone marrow disorder nearly 10-times more common in those with venom allergy
In the largest US study of venom allergy and mastocytosis prevalence, Michigan Medicine researchers found that people with venom allergy are nearly 10 times more likely to suffer the bone marrow disorder that causes higher risk of fatal reactions. They also found that elevated levels of tryptase, a chemical secreted by allergy cells, may predict if a person is at higher risk for reaction to immunotherapy.
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Ancient Australian Aboriginal memory tool superior to 'memory palace' learning
Australian scientists have compared an ancient Greek technique of memorising data to an even older technique from Aboriginal culture, using students in a rural medical school.
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San Diego Zoo Wildlife Alliance study finds topography is key factor in where Andean bears mothers make their dens
A new study led by Russ Van Horn, Ph.D., takes the most detailed look yet at the dens of this species. Van Horn, a population sustainability scientist, leads San Diego Zoo Wildlife Alliance's Andean bear conservation program. He was joined by colleagues from the University of British Columbia's Department of Forest and Conservation Sciences and the Spectacled Bear Conservation Society. The study's findings may aid conservation planners in locating den sites or guiding management for suitable bear habitat.
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