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Prediction tool shows how forest thinning may increase Sierra Nevada snowpack

Thinning the Sierra Nevada forest by removing trees by hand or using heavy machinery is one of the few tools available to manage forests. However, finding the best way to thin forests by removing select trees to maximize the forest's benefits for water quantity, water quality, wildfire risk and wildlife habitat remains a challenge for resource managers.




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Scientists measured electrical conductivity of pure interfacial water

Skoltech scientists in collaboration with researchers from the University of Stuttgart, the Karlsruhe Institute of Technology and the Russian Quantum Center achieved the first systematic experimental measurements of the electrical conductivity of pure interfacial water, hence producing new results significantly extending our knowledge of interfacial water.




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Olanzapine may help control nausea, vomiting in patients with advanced cancer

Olanzapine, a generic drug used to treat nervous, emotional and mental conditions, also may help patients with advanced cancer successfully manage nausea and vomiting unrelated to chemotherapy. These are the findings of a study published Thursday, May 7, 2020 in JAMA Oncology.




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CCNY physicists shed light on the nanoscale dynamics of spin thermalization

In physics, thermalization, or the trend of sub-systems within a whole to gain a common temperature, is typically the norm. There are situations, however, where thermalization is slowed down or virtually suppressed; examples are when considering the dynamics of electron and nuclear spins in solids. Understanding why this happens and how it can be controlled is presently at the center of a broad effort, particularly for applications in the emerging field of quantum information technologies.




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Controlling quantumness: Simulations reveal details about how particles interact

A recent study at the Okinawa Institute of Science and Technology Graduate University has described new states that can be found in super-cold atom experiments, which could have applications for quantum technology.




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Ancient DNA paints genetic portrait of Andes civilizations

An international team of researchers including the University of Adelaide, has completed the first large-scale study of DNA belonging to ancient humans of the central Andes in South America and found early genetic differences between groups of nearby regions, and surprising genetic continuity over thousands of years.




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New invisibility concept and miniaturization of photonic circuits using ultrafast laser

Thanks to its unique three-dimensional manufacturing capacity, ultrafast laser writing is a prime candidate to meet the growing demand for the miniaturization of photonic circuitry, e.g., for scaling up optical quantum computers capacity. Towards this goal, scientists from Canada discovered a phenomenon related to the material electronic resonance that allows a much greater miniaturization of the laser written devices. Surprisingly, the new phenomenon allows other intriguing applications such as a new concept of invisibility.




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How herpes simplex virus can evade the immune response to infect the brain

A research team has discovered a molecular mechanism that helps Herpes simplex virus (HSV1) evade the innate immune system and infect the brain causing a rare disease with high mortality. The study from Aarhus University, University of Oxford, and University of Gothenburg, led by first author Chiranjeevi Bodda in Søren Paludan's lab, will be published May 8 in the Journal of Experimental Medicine (JEM).




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Pangolins may possess evolutionary advantage against coronavirus

Pangolins lack two genes that function to sound the alarm when a virus enters the body, triggering an immune response in most other mammals. The findings from the Medical University of Vienna, Austria, are significant because, while the exotic animals can be carriers of coronavirus, they appear able to tolerate it through some other unknown mechanism. Understanding how pangolins are able to survive coronavirus may point to possible treatment options for humans.




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Potentially fatal combinations of humidity and heat are emerging across the globe

A new study has identified thousands of incidents of previously rare or unprecedented extreme heat/humidity combinations in parts of Asia, Africa, Australia, South America and North America, including in the US Gulf Coast region.




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IST Austria scientists demonstrate quantum radar prototype

Physicists at the Institute of Science and Technology Austria (IST Austria) have invented a new radar prototype that utilizes quantum entanglement as a method of object detection. This successful integration of quantum mechanics into our everyday devices could significantly impact the biomedical and security industries. The research is published in the journal Science Advances.




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First simulation of a full-sized mitochondrial membrane

Scientists from the University of Groningen have developed a method that combines different resolution levels in a computer simulation of biological membranes. Their algorithm backmaps a large-scale model that includes features, such as membrane curvature, to its corresponding coarse-grained molecular model. This has allowed them to zoom in on toxin-induced membrane budding and to simulate a full-sized mitochondrial lipid membrane. Their approach opens the way to whole-cell simulations at a molecular level.




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Computer vision helps SLAC scientists study lithium ion batteries

New machine learning methods bring insights into how lithium ion batteries degrade, and show it's more complicated than many thought.




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Disproportionate burden of COVID-19 for immigrants in the Bronx, New York

The authors explain why COVID-19 presents a greater burden for immigrant communities and this article advocates for a more equitable health care system.




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Flies sleep when need arises to adapt to new situations

Researchers at Washington University School of Medicine in St. Louis have found that flies sleep more when they can't fly, possibly because sleeping helps them adapt to a challenging new situation.




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Sea level could rise by more than 1 meter by 2100 if emission targets are not met

An international study led by Nanyang Technological University, Singapore (NTU Singapore) scientists found that the global mean sea-level rise could exceed 1 meter by 2100 and 5 meters by 2300 if global targets on emissions are not achieved.




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A pioneering study into the description of the architecture of a new standard for telecommunications

The International Telecommunication Union (ITU) is a United Nations Organization agency commissioned to regulate international telecommunications between different operating administrations and businesses. Pursuant to specific recommendations by this organization, on 1 July, standard Y.3172, an architecture for machine learning in future networks (5G and beyond), was approved for telecommunications networks.




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More selective elimination of leukemia stem cells and blood stem cells

Hematopoietic stem cells from a healthy donor can help patients suffering from acute leukemia. However, the side effects of therapies are often severe. A group of researchers led by the University of Zurich have now shown how human healthy and cancerous hematopoietic stem cells can be more selectively eliminated using immunotherapy instead of chemotherapy in mice. The aim is to test the new immunotherapy in humans as soon as possible.




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Newly discovered cell type plays crucial role in immune response to respiratory infections

With a discovery that could rewrite the immunology textbooks, an international group of scientists, including the teams of Bart Lambrecht, Martin Guilliams, Hamida Hammad, and Charlotte Scott (all from the VIB-UGent Center for Inflammation Research) identified a new type of antigen-presenting immune cell.




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Our pupil moves to the rhythm of the environment

Regular processes in the environment improve our eyesight.




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Stretched beyond the limits

It's a common phenomenon we know from cracked sneakers and burst tyres: worn-out materials can cause anything from mild annoyance to fatal accidents. But while fatigue is well understood in synthetic materials, we know much less about such processes in mammalian tissue. An international team led by HITS researchers has shown that mechanical stress can similarly deteriorate collagen tissue. The findings might help to advance material research and biomedicine.




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Like a molecular knob: That is how a gene controls the electrical activity of the brain

Its name is Foxg1, it is a gene, and its unprecedented role is the protagonist of the discovery just published on the journal Cerebral Cortex. Foxg1 was already known for being a "master gene" able to coordinate the action of hundreds of other genes. As this new study reports, the "excitability" of neurons, namely their ability to respond to stimuli, communicating between each other and carrying out all their tasks, also depends on this gene.




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How to manipulate light on the nanoscale over wide frequency ranges

An international team has discovered an effective method for controlling the frequency of confined light at the nanoscale in the form of phonon polaritons (light coupled to vibrations in the crystal). The results have now been published in Nature Materials.




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Hydrogen blamed for interfering with nickelate superconductors synthesis

Prof. ZHONG Zhicheng's team at the Ningbo Institute of Materials Technology and Engineering has investigated the electronic structure of the recently discovered nickelate superconductors NdNiO2. They successfully explained the experimental difficulties in synthesizing superconducting nickelates, in cooperation with Prof. Karsten Held at Vienna University of Technology.




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USF researchers find human-driven pollution alters the environment even underground

The Monte Conca cave system in Sicily is showing signs of being altered by pollution from above.




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International research improves quality of CT scan imagery

Computerized tomography (CT) is one of the most effective medical tests for analysing the effects of many illnesses, including COVID-19. An international team has developed a new method that improves the quality of the images obtained from CT scans. The algorithm, tested on simulated data, enables them to distinguish different body's tissue types better and opens the door to lowering the doses of radiation to which patients are exposed during this type of test.




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The Lancet: New triple antiviral drug combination shows early promise for treating COVID-19 in phase 2 randomized trial

A two-week course of antiviral therapy with interferon beta-1b plus lopinavir-ritonavir and ribavirin, started within 7 days of showing COVID-19 symptoms, is safe and more effective at reducing the duration of viral shedding than lopinavir-ritonavir alone in patients with mild to moderate illness, according to the first randomized trial of this triple combination therapy involving 127 adults (aged 18 and older) from six public hospitals in Hong Kong.




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Discovered a multilayer haze system on Saturn's Hexagon

The most extensive system of haze layers ever observed in the solar system have been discovered and characterised on the planet Saturn.




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Neandertals were choosy about making bone tools

Evidence continues to mount that the Neandertals, who lived in Europe and Asia until about 40,000 years ago, were more sophisticated people than once thought. A new study from UC Davis shows that Neandertals chose to use bones from specific animals to make a tool for specific purpose: working hides into leather.




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Stroke evaluations drop by nearly 40% during COVID-19 pandemic

A study from Washington University School of Medicine in St. Louis has found that stroke evaluations fell by nearly 40% during a period of the COVID-19 pandemic, suggesting that many stroke patients are not seeking potentially life-saving medical treatment.




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Neighborhood and cognitive performance in middle-age: Does racial residential segregation matter?

A study at Columbia University Mailman School of Public Health found that black subjects who were exposed to highly segregated neighborhoods in young adulthood exhibited worse performance in cognitive skills in mid-life. This outcome may explain black-white disparities in dementia risk at older age.




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Forecasting urbanization

A new global simulation model offers the first long-term look at how urbanization -- the growth of cities and towns--will unfold in the coming decades. The research team projects the total amount of urban areas on Earth can grow anywhere from 1.8 to 5.9-fold by 2100, building approximately 618,000 square miles.




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Epithelial GPS: Position of RNAi machinery is associated with epithelial identity

Researchers at the Medical University of South Carolina show in a new report that the RNA interference machinery, normally thought to reside in the nucleus or cytoplasm, predominantly localizes to these apical junctions and influences cell biology in the colon. Interestingly, in colon tumors, this localization is dysregulated and may shift the balance of RNAs to promote tumorigenesis.




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New study shines light on mysterious giant viruses

In recent years, giant viruses have been unearthed in several of the world's most mysterious locations, from the thawing permafrost of Siberia to locations unknown beneath the Antarctic ice. But don't worry, 'The Thing' is still a work of science fiction. For now.




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Pediatric coronavirus disease (COVID-19) x-ray, CT in review of new lung disorders

Although the clinical symptoms of SARS, H1N1, MERS, EVALI, and COVID-19 may be nonspecific, some characteristic imaging findings are emerging, says the American Journal of Roentgenology (AJR). Careful evaluation of the distribution, lung zone preference, and symmetry of the abnormalities with an eye for a few unique differentiating imaging features can allow radiologists to offer a narrower differential diagnosis in pediatric patients, leading to optimal patient care.




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'Detailed' plans being drawn up to restart economy, Jenrick says as testing falls below 100,000 for fourth day

The update comes after Prime Minister Boris Johnson confirmed he would set out a lockdown exit strategy on Sunday.




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Debenhams accused of 'stealing' as retailer demands 90% discount on clothes from suppliers already at UK ports

ITV News has seen correspondence from Debenhams’ administrator to Bangladeshi suppliers demanding a 90% discount on garments orders.




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Former Scotland rugby captain takes on walking challenge to raise money for NHS

A former Scotland rugby captain, who suffered life changing injuries in a car crash, is walking to raise money for the NHS.




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Care company launch own We Care badge to support workers during coronavirus pandemic

A North East based care provider, Wellburn Care Homes, has launched their own We Care badge aiming to show support for care workers.




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'Our souls are coming to the fore': The impact of pandemic on faith

Though each religion has faced different challenge, they share the view the lockdown has presented us with insight we might not have had.




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'Almost criminal' coronavirus testing isn't available for everyone, former Prime Minister Gordon Brown says

Former Prime Minister Gordon Brown has called for "more than 200,000" coronavirus tests to be carried out.




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Coronavirus: 'Delays in action on care home crisis cost thousands of lives', documents reveal

Data which identified a massive in Covid-19 was sent to ministers a month before the government's Care Home Action Plan was published.




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Man arrested on suspicion of attempting to murder police officer

The officer’s injuries are not thought to be life-threatening.




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Eating disorder sufferer’s anguish shines light on mental health provision

Emily Nuttall, 26, has sought help from charities such as Mind and Beat to help her cope with mental health problems during lockdown.




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First patients given plasma in coronavirus treatment trial

Hospitals in London and Birmingham have been supplied with fourteen units of convalescent plasma to see if it helps people who are battling




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Special front cover of The Big Issue created by Gruffalo illustrator

Characters created by Axel Scheffler from his popular books with Julia Donaldson are on the cover.




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Duchess of Cambridge calls on budding photographers to capture life under coronavirus lockdown

The Duchess of Cambridge has teamed up with the National Portrait Gallery to launch the Hold Still project.




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Warning over ‘perilous future’ for London Zoo in face of lockdown

Zoological Society of London warns it is facing a very challenging situation as its core income from London and Whipsnade zoos has dried up.




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BAME groups ‘two to three times more likely to die from coronavirus’

The likelihood of death from Covid-19 is significantly higher among England’s BAME communities than the general population, researchers say.




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Only half of businesses prepared to return to pre-crisis levels after lockdown lifts

One in twenty businesses said they would be unable to viably operate as long as social distances measures are still enforced.