Gut's immune response in COVID-19 may not provide efficient protection of other organs

Our guts may not provide long-lasting systemic immunity from COVID-19, which is where immune cells circulate through the body to provide protection to other organs, finds a new study published in Frontiers in Immunology. An analysis of blood samples from patients infected with SARS-CoV-2 revealed that immune cells circulating in the blood, which were triggered by the gut's response to infection, were limited in number when compared to immune cells that had been triggered elsewhere in the body.

Breakthrough in travel behavior research with artificial neural networks

Researchers at the Future Urban Mobility Interdisciplinary Research Group at Singapore-MIT Alliance for Research and Technology, MIT's research enterprise in Singapore, have created a synthetic framework known as a theory-based residual neural network (TB-ResNet), which combines discrete choice models (DCMs) and deep neural networks (DNNs), also known as deep learning, to improve individual decision-making analysis for travel behavior research.

Selective mRNA degradation via autophagy: A novel role for autophagy in gene regulation

Optimal cell function requires a fine balance between the synthesis and degradation of biomolecules. Autophagy is the process by which cells degrade and recycle their own components, helping to clean up and maintain the cell's internal environment and ensure the smooth functioning of cellular processes. Autophagy is strongly induced when cells are subjected to stresses like nutrient deprivation, acting under such conditions to supply nutrients through its breakdown of unneeded cellular material.

Researchers revise indicator of mobility limitation in older adults

Aging entails a loss of muscle mass and strength, which in some cases impairs mobility, hinders walking or performance of day-to-day tasks, and exposes the elderly to the risk of falls and hospitalizations.

Researchers find negative impact of junk food on kids' skeletal development

A team of researchers from the Hebrew University of Jerusalem has proven the linkages between ultra-processed foods and reduced bone quality, unveiling the damage of these foods particularly for younger children in their developing years. The study, led by Professor Efrat Monsonego-Ornan and Dr. Janna Zaretsky from the Department of Biochemistry, Food Science and Nutrition at the University's Faculty of Agriculture, was published in the journal Bone Research and serves as the first comprehensive study of the effect of widely-available food products on skeleton development.

Ingenuity helicopter successfully flew on Mars: NASA

NASA's experimental Mars helicopter rose from the dusty red surface into the thin air Monday, achieving the first powered, controlled flight on another planet.

Fire-hit chipmaker Renesas plans full capacity by May

Japanese chipmaker Renesas Electronics said Monday it was on track to restore full capacity by May after a plant fire, as manufacturers around the world battle to secure semiconductor supplies.

India's capital to lock down as nation's virus cases top 15M

New Delhi was being put under a weeklong lockdown Monday night as an explosive surge in coronavirus cases pushed the India's capital's health system to its limit.

Scientists crack 'the Brazil-nut' puzzle, how do the largest nuts rise to the top?

Scientists have for the first time captured the complex dynamics of particle movement in granular materials, helping to explain why mixed nuts often see the larger Brazil nuts gather at the top. The findings could have vital impact on industries struggling with the phenomenon, such as pharmaceuticals and mining.

Gender-affirming hormone therapy may increase risk of high blood pressure

Gender-affirming hormone therapy (GAHT) was associated with blood pressure changes in both transgender men and women, according to new research published today in Hypertension, an American Heart Association journal. Given the higher burden of heart attack, stroke and other cardiovascular conditions among transgender men and women, blood pressure screening and monitoring are important, especially after beginning hormone therapies.

Volcanic pollution return linked to jump in respiratory disease cases

Respiratory disease increased markedly following one of Iceland's largest volcanic eruptions, a new study has found.

Rangers battle human encroachment in Sudan's biggest park

Tucked away by the Ethiopian border, Sudan's Dinder National Park boasts the country's most diverse wildlife, but rangers face a daily battle to protect it as human encroachment mounts.

Do we need masks outdoors? Experts weigh in

It's a familiar sight in some US cities like Washington, New York and San Francisco: people walking on the street, riding bikes or sitting in parks with their masks on even when they're far away from others.

US hits vaccine milestone as NZealand, Australia open travel bubble

The hard-hit United States has passed a hopeful milestone as half its adults have had at least one COVID vaccine dose and from Monday all its over 18s will be eligible to get their shot.

NASA aims for historic helicopter flight on Mars

NASA is hoping to make history early Monday when the Ingenuity Mars Helicopter attempts the first powered, controlled flight on another planet.

Bitter experience helps French ICUs crest latest virus wave

Slowly suffocating in a French intensive care ward, Patrick Aricique feared he would die from his diseased lungs that felt "completely burned from the inside, burned like the cathedral in Paris," as tired doctors and nurses labored day and night to keep gravely ill COVID-19 patients like him alive.

VW, Ford unveil SUVs at China auto show under virus controls

Volkswagen, Ford and Chinese brands unveiled new SUVs for China's growing market on Monday at the Shanghai auto show, the industry's biggest marketing event in a year overshadowed by the coronavirus pandemic.

Remote Alaska villages boast high vaccination rates

John Waghiyi remembers rushing his cousin to the clinic in the Bering Sea city of Savoonga in December, worried he was having a possible heart attack while out butchering a bowhead whale. Waghiyi arrived to see elders waiting in the lobby for a COVID-19 vaccine.

India's electric vehicles face practical, technical hurdles

H.S. Panno, an independent contractor living in a spacious two-story penthouse in New Delhi, had his doubts when he bought his first electric car in September.

Canada to send support to virus-hit province

Canada will funnel additional health staff and equipment into virus-hit Ontario as the province battles a worrying spike in COVID-19 infections, Prime Minister Justin Trudeau said Sunday.

Common plants and pollinators act as anchors for ecosystems

The next time you go for a hike, take an extra moment to appreciate the seemingly ordinary life all around you. A house fly, humble yarrow weed and other "generalist" plants and pollinators play a crucial role in maintaining biodiversity and may also serve as buffers against some impacts of climate change, finds new University of Colorado Boulder research.

Online farmers' markets valuable when crisis events like COVID occur

New research is shining light on the importance of farmers' markets' ability to mitigate potential disruptions to distribution networks in the face of system shocks like the COVID-19 pandemic.

Videoconferences more exhausting when participants don't feel group belonging

Videoconferences may be less exhausting if participants feel some sense of group belonging, according to new research published by the American Psychological Association.

Under 30 and sexually active? It's a good idea to get tested for chlamydia and gonorrhea

Anyone sexually active under age 30 should be offered testing for chlamydia and gonorrhea, according to a new guideline from the Canadian Task Force on Preventive Health Care published in CMAJ (Canadian Medical Association Journal).