Tuesday, 16 March 2021

Study finds evidence of 55 new chemicals in people

Scientists at UC San Francisco have detected 109 chemicals in a study of pregnant women, including 55 chemicals never before reported in people and 42 "mystery chemicals," whose sources and uses are unknown.

More precise diagnoses made possible with whole genome sequencing

More than 1,200 people with rare diseases have received a diagnosis thanks to the integration of large-scale genomics into the Stockholm region's healthcare system. This is according to a study from Karolinska Institutet in Sweden that analyzed the result of the first five years of collaboration on whole genome sequencing between Karolinska University Hospital and SciLifeLab. The work, published in Genome Medicine, constitutes a major leap forward in the emerging field of precision medicine.

Extinct Caribbean bird's closest relatives hail from Africa, South Pacific

In a genetic surprise, ancient DNA shows the closest family members of an extinct bird known as the Haitian cave-rail are not in the Americas, but Africa and the South Pacific, uncovering an unexpected link between Caribbean bird life and the Old World.

Researchers derive urban scaling laws from the 3D geometry of a city

When complex systems double in size, many of their parts do not. Characteristically, some aspects will grow by only about 80 percent, others by about 120 percent. The astonishing uniformity of these two growth rates is known as "scaling laws." Scaling laws are observed everywhere in the world, from biology to physical systems. They also apply to cities. Yet, while a multitude of examples show their presence, reasons for their emergence are still a matter of debate.

Trouble for honeyeaters that sing the wrong song

The critically endangered regent honeyeater is losing its "song culture" due to the bird's rapidly declining population, according to new research from The Australian National University (ANU).

Israeli experts announce discovery of new Dead Sea scrolls

Israeli archaeologists on Tuesday announced the discovery of dozens of new Dead Sea Scroll fragments bearing a biblical text found in a desert cave believed hidden during a Jewish revolt against Rome nearly 1,900 years ago.

An ancient Maya ambassador's bones show a life of privilege and hardship

An important Maya man buried nearly 1,300 years ago led a privileged yet difficult life. The man, a diplomat named Ajpach' Waal, suffered malnutrition or illness as a child, but as an adult he helped negotiate an alliance between two powerful dynasties that ultimately failed. The ensuing political instability left him in reduced economic circumstances, and he probably died in relative obscurity.

Migration routes of one of Britain's largest ducks revealed for the first time

New research, just published in the journal Ringing & Migration, has used state of the art tracking technology to investigate how one of Britain's largest ducks, the Shelduck, interacts with offshore wind turbines during their migration across the North Sea.

US sends team to Detroit to investigate Tesla-semi crash

The U.S. government's highway safety agency is sending a team to Detroit to investigate a crash involving a Tesla that drove beneath a semitrailer.

China state TV raps Kohler, BMW for using facial recognition

Chinese state TV has criticized bathroom fixtures brand Kohler and automaker BMW for using facial recognition to identify customers in a possible violation of privacy rules that took effect this year.

News Corp strikes Facebook pay deal for Australian news

News Corp and Facebook have reached pay deals for news in Australia three weeks after the government passed laws that would make digital giants help cover the costs of journalism.

Non-invasive skin swab samples are enough to quickly detect COVID-19, a new study finds

Researchers at the University of Surrey have found that non-invasive skin swab samples may be enough to detect COVID-19.

Deferred initiation of ART may increase risk for AIDS-defining cancer among patients living with HIV

Deferred antiretroviral therapy (ART) initiation in ART-naive, HIV-positive persons is associated with a small increase in risk for AIDS-defining cancer. These findings add to the evidence that early ART may reduce risk for non-AIDS-defining cancer. A multinational prospective cohort study is published in Annals of Internal Medicine.

Electronic cigarettes help smokers with schizophrenia quit

A new study in Nicotine & Tobacco Research, published by Oxford University Press, finds that the use of high-strength nicotine e-cigarettes can help adults with schizophrenia spectrum disorders quit smoking.

Karaoke World Championships USA Announces New Competition Structure for 2021 Season

Epic Performance Productions, the only licensed partner for the Karaoke World Championships within the United States, proudly announces a new structure of competition for the 2021 season. [PR.com]

Status Group International Now Accepting New Private Capital Investors

Status Group International (SGIC): For the first time in five years has opened its doors to interview new private capital investors for acceptance into their coveted Gatekeeper service. [PR.com]

Acantho Achieved the TIA-942 Rated 3 Facilities Certification in Italy

EPI awards the TIA-942 data centre certification to Acantho. [PR.com]

Free Lifetime Powertrain Warranty on Pre-Owned Vehicles is the Impetus for Increased Sales in 2020 at Sound Auto Wholesalers in Branford, Connecticut

Free Lifetime Powertrain Warranty - No Deductible. Unlimited Mileage. Backed by Walmart. [PR.com]

Wylaina Tucker Dugar Honored as a Woman of the Month for January 2021 by P.O.W.E.R.

Wylaina Tucker Dugar of Cincinnati, Ohio has been honored as a Woman of the Month for January 2021 by P.O.W.E.R. (Professional Organization of Women of Excellence Recognized) for her outstanding contributions and achievements in the field of cleaning services. Each month P.O.W.E.R. features women to represent their professions and industries due to their expertise and success in their chosen specialty. About Wylaina [PR.com]

Defentect Group, Inc. Announces Acquisition Strategy

Looking for compatible private companies in technology [PR.com]

Cal Coast Credit Union Teams Up with Wawanesa Insurance on New Discount for Members

California Coast Credit Union and Wawanesa Insurance partner to offer Cal Coast members discount on auto insurance. [PR.com]

BenchmarkXPRT Releases CloudXPRT v1.1, a Benchmark for Measuring the Performance of Cloud-First Applications Deployed on Modern On-Prem or Hosted IaaS Platforms

Principled Technologies and the BenchmarkXPRT Development Community release CloudXPRT v1.1, an updated version of the benchmark that measures the performance of cloud applications deployed on modern infrastructure as a service (IaaS) platforms, whether those platforms are on premises, private clouds, or public clouds. [PR.com]