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Released: 11-May-2021 2:05 PM EDT
Study: Researchers use eel-like protein to control brain
University of Washington School of Medicine

Researchers successfully used a protein called parapinopsin to turn off brain circuits. This protein is found in lamprey – an ancient lineage of jawless fish similar to eel. Researchers said the ability to inhibit neurons could eventually lead to turning off mood disorders and unwanted behaviors like depression and addiction.

Released: 3-May-2021 6:20 PM EDT
New class of drug gives hope to some ovarian cancer patients
University of Washington School of Medicine

Rucaparib is in a relatively new class of drugs - Poly(ADP-ribose) polymerase or PARP inhibitors - which have been approved for therapy in ovarian cancers. This study provides insights into both how the cancers resist treatments, and which patients may respond favorably to the drug.

Released: 22-Apr-2021 2:55 PM EDT
Pregnant women with COVID-19 face high mortality rate
University of Washington School of Medicine

In a worldwide study of 2,100 pregnant women, those who contracted COVID-19 during pregnancy were 20 times more likely to die than those who did not contract the virus.

Released: 21-Apr-2021 1:40 PM EDT
A growing problem of ‘deepfake geography’: How AI falsifies satellite images
University of Washington

Using satellite photos of three cities and drawing upon methods used to manipulate video and audio files, a team of researchers led by the University of Washington set out to identify new ways of detecting fake satellite photos and warn of the dangers of falsified geospatial data.

Released: 20-Apr-2021 2:45 PM EDT
Using engineering methods to track the imperceptible movements of stony corals
University of Washington

A new study led by University of Washington researchers borrowed image-analysis methods from engineering to spot the minute movements of a stony coral.

Released: 20-Apr-2021 1:35 PM EDT
How lessons from past emergencies could improve the pandemic response
University of Washington

The federal government, in its response to the COVID-19 pandemic, could learn from how the nation responded to Hurricane Katrina, 9/11 and the H1N1 swine flu, a new University of Washington study found.

Released: 19-Apr-2021 9:00 AM EDT
Arguing on the internet: UW researchers studying how to make online arguments productive
University of Washington

University of Washington researchers worked with almost 260 people to understand online disagreements and to develop potential design interventions that could make these discussions more productive and centered around relationship-building.

   
Released: 7-Apr-2021 3:20 PM EDT
Perinatal patients, nurses explain how hospital pandemic policies failed them
University of Washington

With a lethal, airborne virus spreading fast, hospitals had to change how they treated patients and policies for how caregivers provided that treatment. But for maternity patients and nurses some of those changes had negative outcomes, according to a new University of Washington study.

Released: 1-Apr-2021 4:10 PM EDT
CDC, UW study finds significant vaccine distrust within incarcerated populations, increasing risks
University of Washington

Fewer than half of inmates in jails and prisons surveyed in a study by the CDC and University of Washington said they would accept a COVID-19 vaccine, while the majority either said they wanted to wait before getting the vaccine or would refuse one.

Released: 1-Apr-2021 4:00 PM EDT
New system that uses smartphone or computer cameras to measure pulse, respiration rate could help future personalized telehealth appointments
University of Washington

A University of Washington-led team has developed a method that uses the camera on a person’s smartphone or computer to take their pulse and breathing rate from a real-time video of their face.

   
Released: 24-Mar-2021 5:15 PM EDT
Resident’s NEJM essay discusses combating anti-Asian hate
University of Washington School of Medicine

Dr. James Lee is a Korean-American resident in psychiatry at the University of Washington School of Medicine. His perspective, “Combating anti-Asian sentiment — a practical guide for clinicians,” was published March 24 in The New England Journal of Medicine.

Released: 23-Mar-2021 2:45 PM EDT
Harm-reduction experts offer tips on safe drinking
University of Washington School of Medicine

For the past decade, researchers at the University of Washington School of Medicine, Washington State University, and the VA Puget Sound Health Care System have conducted successful studies on harm reduction in Seattle homeless shelters. The researchers offer great advice on how to cut back on drinking.

Released: 18-Mar-2021 3:00 PM EDT
Could leak in blood-brain barrier cause poor memory?
University of Washington School of Medicine

One of the keys to having a healthy brain at any age is having a healthy blood-brain barrier, a complex interface of blood vessels that run through the brain. Research shows the blood-brain barrier leaks as we age, and we lose cells called pericytes. But could this leak and the difficulties in recall be the early stages of Alzheimer’s disease?

Released: 18-Mar-2021 5:05 AM EDT
‘By-the-wind sailor’ jellies wash ashore in massive numbers after warmer winters
University of Washington

Thanks to 20 years of observations from thousands of citizen scientists, University of Washington researchers have discovered distinct patterns in the mass strandings of by-the-wind sailors, also called Velella velella. Specifically, large strandings happened simultaneously from the northwest tip of Washington south to the Mendocino coast in California, and in years when winters were warmer than usual.

Released: 11-Mar-2021 1:15 PM EST
Mindfulness program in campus dorms, groups improved students’ mental health
University of Washington

Amid a growing mental health crisis among teens and young adults nationwide, a pilot program teaching mindfulness and coping techniques to students at the University of Washington has helped lower stress and improve emotional well-being.

Released: 10-Mar-2021 2:25 PM EST
Helpful behavior during pandemic tied to recognizing common humanity
University of Washington

A new University of Washington study finds that an identification with all humanity, as opposed to identification with a geographic area like a country or town, predicts whether someone will engage in “prosocial” behaviors particular to the pandemic, such as donating extra masks or coming to the aid of a sick person.

Released: 10-Mar-2021 2:20 PM EST
Large computer language models carry environmental, social risks
University of Washington

Computer engineers at the world’s largest companies and universities are using machines to scan through tomes of written material. The goal? Teach these machines the gift of language. Do that, some even claim, and computers will be able to mimic the human brain. But this impressive compute capability comes with real costs, including perpetuating racism and causing significant environmental damage, according to a new paper, “On the Dangers of Stochastic Parrots: Can Language Models Be Too Big?

Released: 9-Mar-2021 5:20 PM EST
The end of hydroxychloroquine as a treatment for COVID-19
University of Washington School of Medicine

A year ago, infectious disease doctor Christine Johnston was leading a study on the use of hydroxychloroquine for the treatment of people with COVID-19. A year later, her team published results that showed the drug -- once a political football -- had no effect. Johnston talks about lessons learned.

4-Mar-2021 8:05 PM EST
Alexa, do I have an irregular heart rhythm? First AI system for contactless monitoring of heart rhythm using smart speakers
University of Washington

University of Washington researchers have developed a new skill for a smart speaker that for the first time monitors both regular and irregular heartbeats without physical contact.

   
Released: 8-Mar-2021 6:05 PM EST
Study: Increase in taking HIV meds using Amazon Prime model
University of Washington School of Medicine

Home delivery of HIV medicines in South Africa significantly increased viral suppression compared to those who received clinical care, according to a study by researchers at the University of Washington School of Medicine. The study was conducted with Amazon.com guidance during COVID-19 restrictions in South Africa.

Released: 3-Mar-2021 8:25 AM EST
Rating tornado warnings charts a path to improve forecasts
University of Washington

A new method to rate tornado warnings shows that nighttime tornadoes in the U.S. have a lower probability of detection and a higher false-alarm rate than other events. Summertime tornadoes, occurring in June, July or August, also are more likely to evade warning.

Released: 24-Feb-2021 6:05 PM EST
Record-high Arctic freshwater will flow through Canadian waters, affecting marine environment and Atlantic ocean currents
University of Washington

An unprecedented bulge of fresh water in the Arctic Ocean will travel through the Canadian Archipelago to the Labrador Sea, affecting local marine environments and global ocean circulation.

Released: 24-Feb-2021 1:35 PM EST
Scientists describe earliest primate fossils
University of Washington

A new study published Feb. 24 in the journal Royal Society Open Science documents the earliest-known fossil evidence of primates. These creatures lived less than 150,000 years after the Cretaceous-Paleogene mass extinction event that killed off non-avian dinosaurs and saw the rise of mammals.

Released: 22-Feb-2021 11:45 AM EST
Good sleep is just what doctor ordered
University of Washington School of Medicine

In a study released Feb. 22 in JAMA Internal Medicine researchers found that six 20-minute telephone calls over eight weeks coaching participants on how to get better sleep improved their sleep, pain, and daytime function. The improvements in sleep and daytime function persisted 12 months after treatment. One of the lead investigators who has been researching age and sleeping for 40 years offers great tips on getting better sleep. Just because you are aging, does NOT mean your sleep needs to get worse.

Released: 22-Feb-2021 11:20 AM EST
Effective treatment for insomnia delivered in a few short phone calls
University of Washington

In a statewide study of adults over 60 with osteoarthritis, researchers found that effective treatment for insomnia can be delivered in a few short phone calls.

Released: 17-Feb-2021 5:15 PM EST
Mental health app equally effective, half the cost
University of Washington School of Medicine

Digital mental health apps and internet-based treatments could overcome both access problems and provider shortages. But these apps have yet to be adopted in the U.S. healthcare system. One reason is that these apps need payment and reimbursement models that would enable broad adoption. Researchers at the University of Washington School of Medicine recently published results to help propel policymakers to create these payment models. They proved that an app to help people with serious mental illness was just as effective as a clinic-based group intervention for half the cost.

Released: 16-Feb-2021 12:40 PM EST
Study: COVID-19 infection rates high in pregnant women
University of Washington School of Medicine and UW Medicine

The study also showed that the number of COVID-19 infections in pregnant patients from nearly all communities of color in Washington was high. There was a twofold to fourfold higher prevalence of pregnant patients with COVID-19 infections from communities of color than expected based on the race-ethnicity distribution of pregnant women in Washington in 2018.

Released: 9-Feb-2021 11:55 AM EST
Limiting Warming to 2 C Requires Emissions Reductions 80% Above Paris Agreement Targets
University of Washington

Even if all countries meet their Paris Agreement goals for reducing emissions, Earth has only a 5% chance of staying below 2 C warming this century, a 2017 study showed. But reductions about 80% more ambitious, or an average of 1.8% drop in emissions per year rather than 1% per year, would be enough to meet the agreement's stated goal, analysis shows.

Released: 5-Feb-2021 2:40 PM EST
To counter health impacts of racism, UW School of Nursing establishing Center for Antiracism in Nursing
University of Washington

Recognizing that nurses play a central role in and hold major responsibility for the health of individuals and communities hit hard by historic racial inequity, the University of Washington School of Nursing is launching the Center for Antiracism in Nursing.

Released: 5-Feb-2021 12:00 PM EST
The Controversy over Sen. Rand Paul Remarks Claiming that Trans Inclusion Will 'Destroy Girls' Athletics'
University of Washington

Sen. Paul claimed that allowing biological males to participate in girls’ sports "would completely destroy girls’ athletics." This has not been proven and some say it misses the point of high school athletic programs.

   
Released: 5-Feb-2021 10:30 AM EST
New nationwide survey shows MAGA supporters’ beliefs about the pandemic, the election and the insurrection
University of Washington

New data from the University of Washington, collected just before and after the Capitol riot, reveals fervent Trump voters' opinions about race, gender, the pandemic and the 2020 election.

Released: 4-Feb-2021 6:35 PM EST
Sports Institute at UW Medicine announces new advisory board members
University of Washington School of Medicine

The Sports Institute at UW Medicine, a leader in sports safety, announced the appointments of new members to its strategic committee of trusted advisors. The Sports Institute has led first-of-its-kind efforts to legislate safe return to play across all 50 states and to advance best practices in sports safety.

Released: 4-Feb-2021 4:10 PM EST
'Audeo' teaches artificial intelligence to play the piano
University of Washington

A University of Washington team created Audeo, a system that can generate music using only visual cues of someone playing the piano.

2-Feb-2021 5:05 PM EST
Global Warming Found to Be Culprit for Flood Risk in Peruvian Andes, Other Glacial Lakes
University of Washington

Human-caused warming is responsible for increasing the risk of a glacial outburst flood from Peru’s Lake Palcacocha, threatening the city below. This study is the first to directly link climate change with the risk of flooding from glacial lakes, which are growing in number and size worldwide.

Released: 2-Feb-2021 5:55 PM EST
Amazon spreads vaccine misinformation, UW iSchool researchers find
University of Washington

Amazon’s search algorithm gives preferential treatment to books that promote false claims about vaccines, according to research by UW Information School Ph.D. student Prerna Juneja and Assistant Professor Tanu Mitra.

Released: 1-Feb-2021 3:00 PM EST
Marine Organisms Use Previously Undiscovered Receptors to Detect, Respond to Light
University of Washington

Single-celled organisms in the open ocean use a diverse array of genetic tools to detect light, even in tiny amounts, and respond. The discovery of these new genetic "light switches" could also aid in the field of optogenetics, in which a cell's function can be controlled with exposure to light.

Released: 1-Feb-2021 7:30 AM EST
Bleeding gums may be a sign you need more vitamin C in your diet
University of Washington

Bleeding of the gums on gentle probing, or gingival bleeding tendency, and also bleeding in the eye, or retinal hemorrhaging, were associated with low vitamin C levels in the bloodstream.

Released: 27-Jan-2021 4:40 PM EST
In Brazil, many smaller dams disrupt fish more than large hydropower projects
University of Washington

A new University of Washington paper published Jan. 11 in Nature Sustainability quantifies the tradeoffs between hydroelectric generation capacity and the impacts on river connectivity for thousands of current and projected future dams across Brazil. The findings confirm that small hydropower plants are far more responsible for river fragmentation than their larger counterparts due to their prevalence and distribution.

Released: 27-Jan-2021 2:15 PM EST
On nights before a full moon, people go to bed later and sleep less, study shows
University of Washington

Sleep cycles in people oscillate during the 29.5-day lunar cycle: In the days leading up to a full moon, people go to sleep later in the evening and sleep for shorter periods of time. Scientists observed these oscillations in urban and rural settings — regardless of an individual’s access to electricity.

   
Released: 27-Jan-2021 12:10 PM EST
Purported phosphine on Venus more likely to be ordinary sulfur dioxide, new study shows
University of Washington

A University of Washington-led team has revisited and comprehensively reinterpreted radio telescope observations underlying a 2019 claim of phosphine in the atmosphere of Venus. They report that sulfur dioxide, a common gas in the atmosphere of Venus, is likely what was detected instead of phosphine.

26-Jan-2021 5:00 PM EST
COVID-19 increases mortality rate among pregnant women
University of Washington School of Medicine

The study, which followed 240 pregnant women between March and June 2020, found that the COVID-19 mortality rate in the pregnant women was significantly higher when compared to the COVID-19 mortality rate in similarly aged individuals within Washington state.

Released: 26-Jan-2021 2:05 PM EST
Anti-poverty policies can reduce reports of child neglect
University of Washington

A University of Washington study analyzes how a state's refundable Earned Income Tax Credit can lead to fewer reports of child neglect, by reducing the financial stress on families.

15-Jan-2021 2:45 PM EST
Researchers use lasers and molecular tethers to create perfectly patterned platforms for tissue engineering
University of Washington

University of Washington researchers developed a technique to modify naturally occurring biological polymers with protein-based biochemical messages to affect cell behavior. Their approach uses near-infrared lasers to trigger chemical adhesion of proteins to scaffolds made from biological polymers like collagen.

Released: 18-Jan-2021 7:50 AM EST
Pregnant women should consider taking the COVID-19 vaccine.
University of Washington School of Medicine

If pregnant individuals catch COVID they will generally get sicker than non-pregnant individuals. They also more commonly end up on ECMO [heart-lung support], in the ICU or on ventilators.

Released: 18-Jan-2021 7:40 AM EST
Have allergies? Worried about COVID-19 vaccine? Don’t be.
UW Medicine

Even people who have experienced severe allergic reactions to food, latex, pets, pollen, or bee stings should get the coronavirus vaccine, UW Medicine allergy and infectious disease experts say.



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