Researchers develop framework to study brain connectivity in living organisms

Bramsh Chandio, a Ph.D. candidate in intelligent systems engineering, advised by Assistant Professor of Intelligent Systems Engineering Eleftherios Garyfallidis, published a paper in Nature Scientific Reports that lays out a large medical analytics framework that can be used in neuroscience and neurology to study brain connectivity in living organisms.

Personalized drug screens could guide treatment for children with brain cancer

Scientists at Sanford Burnham Prebys Medical Discovery Institute, University of California San Diego School of Medicine and Hopp Children's Cancer Center Heidelberg (KiTZ) have demonstrated that personalized drug screens can be used to identify new therapeutic candidates for medulloblastoma, the most common malignant brain cancer in children. The approach measures the effectiveness of therapeutics using tumor cells obtained from a biopsy and can be performed in a few days—making it one of the quickest sources of information used in clinical decision-making. Based on this proof-of-concept study, which was published in Cancer Research, a clinical trial using the approach is now planned.

Learning pathways could guide children who miss best start to improved literacy by age 11

The early talk and communication that children experience when very young, though essential in preparing them for school, has no direct impact on their reading and writing skills by age 11, new research shows.

Life after COVID hospitalization: Study shows major lasting effects on health, work and more

Surviving a case of COVID-19 that's bad enough to land you in the hospital is hard enough. But life after the hospital stay—and especially after an intensive care stay—is no bed of roses, either, according to a new study.

Accuracy of rapid COVID test may be lower than previously suggested

The accuracy of a rapid finger-prick antibody test for SARS-CoV-2, the virus responsible for COVID-19 infection, may be considerably lower than previously suggested, finds a study published by The BMJ.

Use of some contraceptives may temporarily delay a woman's fertility from resuming

Women who stop using some forms of contraception may have to wait up to eight months before their fertility returns, suggests research published online in The BMJ.

Evolution favors new diseases of 'intermediate' severity

New epidemic diseases have an evolutionary advantage if they are of "intermediate" severity, research shows.

Routine testing for COVID-19 can make surgery safer: study

Routine testing patients for COVID-19 before major surgery could reduce the risk of respiratory complications and save lives, a new study reveals.

Increased early-stage cancer diagnoses tied to ACA's Medicaid expansion, study finds

In an analysis published today in the American Journal of Preventive Medicine, researchers from the University of Pittsburgh Graduate School of Public Health demonstrate positive effects of the Affordable Care Act (ACA) Medicaid expansion on rates of early cancer diagnosis.

European Medical Association (EMA) and TAMP Inc. Form Strategic Alliance

European Medical Association (EMA) and TAMP Inc. form Strategic Alliance to enable the "4th Culture Doctor" Movement, an Evolution, focusing on the promotion of social impact, health, wellness & well-being for everyone on the planet. [PR.com]

The South Devon Players Theatre & Film Company Turns Digital to Survive

Internationally award-winning British theatre company survives the COVID pandemic restrictions by creating theatre entirely online using digital software, with the actors working safely from home. [PR.com]

Trump administration says still searching for TikTok resolution

President Donald Trump's administration said Wednesday it was still working to resolve its security concerns over Chinese-owned app TikTok after the firm sought to delay a deadline to sell its US operations.

source https://techxplore.com/news/2020-11-trump-administration-tiktok-resolution.html

New PlayStation hits market ready for battle with latest Xbox

Sony's PlayStation 5 went on sale Thursday, just two days after rival Microsoft released its newest Xbox, with the next-generation consoles vying for holiday season dominance as the pandemic boosts gaming demand.

source https://techxplore.com/news/2020-11-playstation-ready-latest-xbox.html

Rare Russian pink diamond sells for $27 million

A rare pink diamond derived from the biggest raw stone of the colour ever found in Russia was sold for $26.6 million on Wednesday at Sotheby's in Geneva.

source https://phys.org/news/2020-11-rare-russian-pink-diamond-million.html

Emirates airline posts first loss in more than 30 years

Dubai-based Emirates airline on Thursday posted a $3.4 billion half-year loss, its first in more than three decades, saying it had been badly hit by the coronavirus lockdown that brought air transport to "a literal standstill".

source https://techxplore.com/news/2020-11-emirates-airline-loss-years.html

Online shopping surge could lead to holiday delivery delays

Retailers and carriers are preparing for an online holiday shopping surge that could tax shipping networks and lead to delivery delays.

source https://techxplore.com/news/2020-11-online-surge-holiday-delivery.html

Central Florida lands hub for Jetsons-like 'flying cars'

The nation's first regional hub for "flying cars" is being built in central Florida and once completed in five years, the vehicles will be able to take passengers from Orlando to Tampa in a half hour, officials said Wednesday.

source https://techxplore.com/news/2020-11-central-florida-hub-jetsons-like-cars.html

US nuclear lab partnering with utility to produce hydrogen

The U.S. Department of Energy has awarded just under $14 million for an attempt to build a hydrogen-energy production facility at a nuclear power plant in Minnesota with the help of a nuclear research lab in Idaho.

source https://techxplore.com/news/2020-11-nuclear-lab-partnering-hydrogen.html

How to maximize the potential of marketing agility

Researchers from University of South Carolina, Singapore Management University, George Mason University, National University of Singapore, and University of Illinois—Chicago published a new paper in the Journal of Marketing that combines the academic research and field interviews with managers to explicate the concept of marketing agility.

source https://phys.org/news/2020-11-maximize-potential-agility.html

Losing the American Dream

As many Americans struggle to pay their bills, keeping up with mortgage payments can be daunting with the risk of losing one's home. The challenges to retain a home are stratified along racial differences. Black homeowners are twice as likely to lose their homes and transition back to renting than white homeowners, according to a recent Dartmouth-led study published in Demography . African American owners exit their homes at a rate of 10 percent compared with whites' exit rate of five percent. These racial disparities in the loss of homeownership are due in part to Black homeowners having less access to wealth from extended family and higher rates of poverty across family networks.

source https://phys.org/news/2020-11-american.html

Virtual reality forests could help understanding of climate change

The effects of climate change are sometimes difficult to grasp, but now a virtual reality forest, created by geographers, can let people walk through a simulated forest of today and see what various futures may hold for the trees.

source https://phys.org/news/2020-11-virtual-reality-forests-climate.html

Learning pathways could guide children who miss best start to improved literacy by age 11

The early talk and communication that children experience when very young, though essential in preparing them for school, has no direct impact on their reading and writing skills by age 11, new research shows.

source https://phys.org/news/2020-11-pathways-children-literacy-age.html

Evolution favors new diseases of 'intermediate' severity

New epidemic diseases have an evolutionary advantage if they are of "intermediate" severity, research shows.

source https://phys.org/news/2020-11-evolution-favors-diseases-intermediate-severity.html