Critically ill patients with COVID-19 treated with an arthritis drug that reduces inflammation are significantly more likely to have improved outcomes, an international study has found.© ShutterstockSource:Published: Nov. 19, 2020-Critically ill COVID-19 patients treated with an arthritis drug are significantly more likely to have improved outcomes, a study led by Imperial College London has found.The early findings, which are yet to be published, come from the , led by Imperial College London and the (ICNARC) in the UK and Utrecht University in Europe. The trial evaluates the effect of...…Critically ill patients with COVID-19 treated with an arthritis drug that reduces inflammation are significantly more likely to have improved outcomes, an international study has found.© ShutterstockSource:Published: Nov. 19, 2020-Critically ill COVID-19 patients treated with an arthritis drug are significantly more likely to have improved outcomes, a study led by Imperial College London has found.The early findings, which are yet to be published, come from the , led by Imperial College London and the (ICNARC) in the UK and Utrecht University in Europe. The trial evaluates the effect of...WW…

Pregnant women are 15 times less likely to die from COVID than other women© PixabaySource:Published: Nov. 24, 2020Research into reasons why COVID-19 symptom severity and mortality are more frequent in men than in women and in older people shows evidence that suggests sex steroids may play a role in protecting against COVID-19 symptoms."Sex and Covid-19: A protective role for reproductive steroids," by Graziano Pinna, research associate professor in psychiatry, analyzes existing research to look at reasons why COVID-19 symptom severity and mortality are more frequent in men than in women and...…Pregnant women are 15 times less likely to die from COVID than other women© PixabaySource:Published: Nov. 24, 2020Research into reasons why COVID-19 symptom severity and mortality are more frequent in men than in women and in older people shows evidence that suggests sex steroids may play a role in protecting against COVID-19 symptoms."Sex and Covid-19: A protective role for reproductive steroids," by Graziano Pinna, research associate professor in psychiatry, analyzes existing research to look at reasons why COVID-19 symptom severity and mortality are more frequent in men than in women and...WW…

3 min readLike other organisms, humans tend to adapt fully to the environment they experience.© ShutterstockNov. 30. 2020-The coronavirus pandemic has shifted many of our interactions online, with Zoom video calls replacing in-person classes, work meetings, conferences and other events. Will all that screen time damage our vision?Maybe not. It turns out that our visual perception is highly adaptable, according to research from Professor and Cognitive and Brain Sciences Coordinator Peter Gerhardstein’s lab at .Gerhardstein, Daniel Hipp and Sara Olsen — his former doctoral students — will...…3 min readLike other organisms, humans tend to adapt fully to the environment they experience.© ShutterstockNov. 30. 2020-The coronavirus pandemic has shifted many of our interactions online, with Zoom video calls replacing in-person classes, work meetings, conferences and other events. Will all that screen time damage our vision?Maybe not. It turns out that our visual perception is highly adaptable, according to research from Professor and Cognitive and Brain Sciences Coordinator Peter Gerhardstein’s lab at .Gerhardstein, Daniel Hipp and Sara Olsen — his former doctoral students — will...WW…

2 min readLi Tang’s lab is the first to use the mechanical force of T cells in immunotherapy applications.© EPFLNov. 30. 2020-EPFL scientists have developed a cancer treatment method that destroys tumor cells using the mechanical force of our bodies’ own T cells. They have just completed a proof of concept for their novel immunotherapy approach.Immunotherapy is a promising weapon in the fight against cancer. It has proven to be much more effective than chemotherapy and radiotherapy in treatment of some cancers. The drawback is that it manages to cure only about 20% of patients, the...…2 min readLi Tang’s lab is the first to use the mechanical force of T cells in immunotherapy applications.© EPFLNov. 30. 2020-EPFL scientists have developed a cancer treatment method that destroys tumor cells using the mechanical force of our bodies’ own T cells. They have just completed a proof of concept for their novel immunotherapy approach.Immunotherapy is a promising weapon in the fight against cancer. It has proven to be much more effective than chemotherapy and radiotherapy in treatment of some cancers. The drawback is that it manages to cure only about 20% of patients, the...WW…

3 min readAn artist rendition of the photoacoustic airborne sonar system operating from a drone to sense and image underwater objects.© Kindea LabsNov. 30. 2020Stanford University engineers have developed an airborne method for imaging underwater objects by combining light and sound to break through the seemingly impassable barrier at the interface of air and water.The researchers envision their hybrid optical-acoustic system one day being used to conduct drone-based biological marine surveys from the air, carry out large-scale aerial searches of sunken ships and planes, and map the ocean...…3 min readAn artist rendition of the photoacoustic airborne sonar system operating from a drone to sense and image underwater objects.© Kindea LabsNov. 30. 2020Stanford University engineers have developed an airborne method for imaging underwater objects by combining light and sound to break through the seemingly impassable barrier at the interface of air and water.The researchers envision their hybrid optical-acoustic system one day being used to conduct drone-based biological marine surveys from the air, carry out large-scale aerial searches of sunken ships and planes, and map the ocean...WW…

Source:Published: Nov. 20, 2020The measles-mumps-rubella (MMR) vaccine has been theorized to provide protection against COVID-19. In a new study published in mBio, an open-access journal of the American Society for Microbiology researchers provide further proof of this theory.Researches have shown, in new study , that mumps IgG titers, or levels of IgG antibody, are inversely correlated with severity in recovered COVID-19 patients previously vaccinated with the MMR II vaccine produced by Merck. MMR II contains the Edmonston strain of measles, the Jeryl Lynn (B-level) strain of mumps, and...…Source:Published: Nov. 20, 2020The measles-mumps-rubella (MMR) vaccine has been theorized to provide protection against COVID-19. In a new study published in mBio, an open-access journal of the American Society for Microbiology researchers provide further proof of this theory.Researches have shown, in new study , that mumps IgG titers, or levels of IgG antibody, are inversely correlated with severity in recovered COVID-19 patients previously vaccinated with the MMR II vaccine produced by Merck. MMR II contains the Edmonston strain of measles, the Jeryl Lynn (B-level) strain of mumps, and...WW…

Examples of high transmission settings include bars, nightclubs and overcrowded workplaces while low transmission settings include public transit with masks, distancing in restaurants and outdoor activities.© ShutterstockSource:Published: Nov. 21, 2020-Simon Fraser University professors Paul Tupper and Caroline Colijn have found that physical distancing is universally effective at reducing the spread of COVID-19, while social bubbles and masks are more situation-dependent.The researchers developed a model to test the effectiveness of measures such as physical distancing, masks or social...…Examples of high transmission settings include bars, nightclubs and overcrowded workplaces while low transmission settings include public transit with masks, distancing in restaurants and outdoor activities.© ShutterstockSource:Published: Nov. 21, 2020-Simon Fraser University professors Paul Tupper and Caroline Colijn have found that physical distancing is universally effective at reducing the spread of COVID-19, while social bubbles and masks are more situation-dependent.The researchers developed a model to test the effectiveness of measures such as physical distancing, masks or social...WW…

“Even small increases in social distancing can have a large effect on the number of cases we observe in the next two and a half months,” Thomadsen said. “Going back to a 50% return to normalcy, which was the average level of distancing in early August, would likely result in 5 million fewer cases by the end of January.© ShutterstockSource:Published: Nov. 23, 2020-President-elect Joe Biden has signaled that fighting the COVID-19 pandemic will be an immediate priority for his administration. He recently announced a coronavirus advisory board of infectious disease researchers and former public...…“Even small increases in social distancing can have a large effect on the number of cases we observe in the next two and a half months,” Thomadsen said. “Going back to a 50% return to normalcy, which was the average level of distancing in early August, would likely result in 5 million fewer cases by the end of January.© ShutterstockSource:Published: Nov. 23, 2020-President-elect Joe Biden has signaled that fighting the COVID-19 pandemic will be an immediate priority for his administration. He recently announced a coronavirus advisory board of infectious disease researchers and former public...WW…

3 min readIntact feather blanket© Courtesy of the Edge of the Cedars State Park Museum, Blanding, UtahNov. 26. 2020The ancient inhabitants of the American Southwest used around 11,500 feathers to make a turkey feather blanket. People (women) who made garments most likely painlessly harvested feathers from live birds during natural molting periods.The ancient inhabitants of the American Southwest used around 11,500 feathers to make a turkey feather blanket, according to a new paper in the Journal of Archaeological Science: Reports. The people who made such blankets were ancestors of...…3 min readIntact feather blanket© Courtesy of the Edge of the Cedars State Park Museum, Blanding, UtahNov. 26. 2020The ancient inhabitants of the American Southwest used around 11,500 feathers to make a turkey feather blanket. People (women) who made garments most likely painlessly harvested feathers from live birds during natural molting periods.The ancient inhabitants of the American Southwest used around 11,500 feathers to make a turkey feather blanket, according to a new paper in the Journal of Archaeological Science: Reports. The people who made such blankets were ancestors of...WW…