Using photos of toasters and fridges to train algorithms in detecting COVID-19

New research using machine learning on images of everyday items is improving the accuracy and speed of detecting respiratory diseases, reducing the need for specialist medical expertise.

Deep machine learning completes information about one million bioactive molecules

The Structural Bioinformatics and Network Biology laboratory, led by ICREA Researcher Dr. Patrick Aloy, has completed the bioactivity information for a million molecules using deep machine-learning computational models. It has also disclosed a tool to predict the biological activity of any molecule, even when no experimental data are available.

Could life exist in the atmosphere of a sub-Neptune planet?

Earth is perfectly suited for organic life. It stands to reason then that similar worlds orbiting distant stars might also be rich with life. But proving it will be a challenge. One of the better ways to discover extraterrestrial life will be to study the atmospheres of inhabited exoplanets, but Earth is fairly small for a planet and has a thin atmosphere compared to larger worlds. It will be much easier to study the atmospheres of gas planets, but could such worlds harbor life? A new paper in Universe argues it could.

Women feel positive about at-home sampling for cervical cancer screening

Although most participating patients and doctors find the self-collection cervical screening pathway "highly acceptable," key implementation barriers reduce the capacity of primary care providers to offer it as an alternative to traditional cervical screening tests.

Advances in intracellular spaces with de novo designed peptide

Scientists at Tokyo Institute of Technology (Tokyo Tech) have set out to harness the potential of self-assembling peptides (SAPs) in intracellular spaces. They present a de novo designed peptide, Y15, which displays a strong tendency to assemble in cellular environments. The addition of Y15-tagged bioactive proteins can functionalize these assemblies, enhancing their utility and relevance by leaps and bounds.

History of Antarctic ice sheets holds clues for our future

A new study from researchers at The Australian National University (ANU) on how the world's largest ice sheet developed also provides vital clues about climate change tipping points.

Synthesizing green gold nanoparticles for cancer therapy with biomolecules

Scientists at Tokyo Institute of Technology (Tokyo Tech) have designed an eco-friendly protocol for synthesizing gold nanoparticles with optimized morphology for near-infrared light absorption using a biomolecule called B3 peptide. In their paper, they report the synthesis of triangular and circular gold nanoplates and their effectiveness in killing cancer cells by converting the absorbed light into heat, providing useful insights for the development of non-invasive cancer therapy.

How to safely use the right flea and tick product for your pet

(HealthDay)—When choosing and using flea and tick products for your pets, there are a number of things to consider, the U.S. Food and Drug Administration says.

Summer playgrounds come with fun and random hazards

(HealthDay)—As the pandemic eases and children flock to playgrounds this summer, parents need to make sure their kids are safe, the American Academy of Orthopaedic Surgeons (AAOS) says.

Australia battles several clusters in new pandemic phase

Australia was battling to contain several COVID-19 clusters around the country on Monday in what some experts have described as the nation's most dangerous stage of the pandemic since the earliest days.

Cancer risk in ART children and young adults is not increased

The risk of cancer in children born as a result of fertility treatment has been found to be no greater than in the general population.

AI and computer vision remove the need for cell biopsy in testing embryos

Despite continuing controversies over its value in improving birth rates in IVF, testing embryos for their chromosomal content has become routine in many fertility clinics. Embryos with a normal complement of chromosomes (known as "euploid") are known to have a good chance of implanting in the uterus to become a pregnancy, while abnormal embryos (aneuploid) have no chance. Testing embryos for aneuploidy (known as PGT-A) has so far required a sample single cell or several cells taken from the embryo by biopsy, and this too has raised fears over safety such that a search for non-invasive methods has arisen in recent years.

Previous infection with COVID-19 does not affect the chance of success in IVF

Only now, more than a year after COVID-19 infection rates first hit peak levels and in the knowledge that receptors for SARS-CoV-2 are present in the ovary, are we able to assess the effect of the virus on reproductive function. Now, a new study has shown that the ovarian reserve of women previously infected with the virus was not adversely affected, and that their chance of success from fertility treatment remained as it was before infection.

People with high-deductible health plans less likely to seek ER treatment for chest pain

People who must spend $1,000 or more annually in out-of-pocket medical deductibles under their health care insurance plan were less likely to seek care in the ER for chest pain and less likely to be admitted to the hospital during these visits, compared to people who have health insurance plans with an annual deductible of $500 or less, according to new research published today in the American Heart Association's flagship journal Circulation.

S.Africa hardens lockdown to combat Delta variant surge

South Africa's President Cyril Ramaphosa on Sunday reimposed restrictions for two weeks to combat a surge in the highly contagious coronavirus Delta variant.

Mask-free and 'low risk', Italy welcomes milestone

All of Italy became a mask-free, "low-risk" zone for coronavirus Monday, marking a dramatic milestone for the first European country to be hit by the global pandemic in February 2020.

COVID-19 curbs reimposed in Moscow as Asia-Pacific outbreaks flare

Work-from-home restrictions were reimposed in Moscow on Monday as Russia tried to contain a deadly coronavirus wave fuelled by the Delta variant, while several Asian nations also tightened curbs to contain growing outbreaks.

Australia COVID measures to have 'profound' long-term impact

Australia faces stalled population growth and budget deficits until at least 2060 as a result of emergency COVID-19 measures, the government warned Monday.

New restrictions as coronavirus cases spread across Australia

New coronavirus cases popped up in cities across Australia on Monday, prompting local authorities to impose restrictions in areas not used to living under strict COVID-19 rules.

Trauma patients with COVID-19 face greater risk of complications and death

In addition to sickening and taking the lives of millions across the globe, COVID-19 complicated patient care in a range of less-direct ways, from increased incidence of heart attacks to decreased cancer screenings. The virus also increased the risk of complications and death among trauma patients with injuries from car crashes, falls or other accidents, or who were victims of violent injuries such as gunshots and stabbings, according to new research conducted by the Perelman School of Medicine at the University of Pennsylvania published recently in The Journal of Trauma and Acute Surgery.

National Poll: 1 in 4 parents worry that their child is behind in developmental milestones

As their infants and toddlers grow, many parents may wonder if their children are walking, talking and socializing when they're supposed to be.

Researchers engineer cells to destroy malignant tumor cells but leave the rest alone

Researchers at McMaster University have developed a promising new cancer immunotherapy that uses cancer-killing cells genetically engineered outside the body to find and destroy malignant tumors.

Escape room simulation promotes infection control adherence at the temple VA

Designed initially for entertainment purposes, escape rooms are proving their value as medical training tools as demonstrated by the Central Texas Veterans Health Care System. Staff there have used the concept for a flu pandemic escape room and is reporting increased staff handwashing and acceptance of flu vaccines as a result.