All posts tagged: protects

Storm-proofing 1% of power lines protects entire grid from blackouts

Storm-proofing 1% of power lines protects entire grid from blackouts

Published by skeptic

The damage from storms like Hurricane Harvey caused serious blackouts to the Texas power grid Mark Ralston/AFP via Getty Images Storm-proofing as little as 1 per cent of the power lines in an electricity grid could slash the chance of hurricane-induced blackouts by between fivefold and 20-fold, a simulation suggests. The demonstration, which took place in a simulated version of the Texas electricity grid, could help boost the resilience of power transmission systems worldwide. “The importance of various lines to the overall system only becomes apparent if we study the partially destroyed states of the grid that occur as the storm progresses,” says Frank Hellmann at the Potsdam Institute for Climate Impact Research in Germany. To identify those critical power transmission lines most in need of protection, Hellmann and his colleagues examined how the grid responds to widespread damage over time. They focused on large “failure cascades” that occur after the initial storm damage: as power plants and transmission lines shut off to protect themselves from additional damage, they cause secondary power outages that can …

Drug-Emitting Vaginal Ring Safely Protects Pregnant Women From HIV

Drug-Emitting Vaginal Ring Safely Protects Pregnant Women From HIV

Published by skeptic

By Ernie Mundell HealthDay Reporter HealthDay WEDNESDAY, March 6, 2024 (HealthDay News) — A vaginal ring that emits the antiviral dapivirine has passed safety trials and could shield vulnerable women against HIV infection during pregnancy, a new trial shows. “We now have data on the ring’s safety during all stages of pregnancy,” said study leader Dr. Felix Mhlanga, a senior lecturer at the University of Zimbabwe Clinical Trials Research Centre. Based on that data, “we can now say with much greater confidence that the dapivirine ring is safe to use during pregnancy — safe for the mother and safe for her baby,” said Mhlanga in a news release from the Microbicide Trials Network. While anyone can become infected with HIV, Mhlanga and his team noted that pregnancy more than triples the odds of infection, compared to other time periods. Especially in countries where HIV is endemic, providing constant protection against HIV during a pregnancy could save the life of both a mother and her child. The new trial, called DELIVER, wanted to assess the safety …

Classified documents: Trump’s lawyers claim presidential immunity protects him

Classified documents: Trump’s lawyers claim presidential immunity protects him

Published by skeptic

WASHINGTON (AP) — Former President Donald Trump’s legal team filed multiple motions Thursday night urging a Florida judge to dismiss the criminal case charging him with illegally retaining classified documents, claiming in part that presidential immunity protects him from prosecution — an argument they have already submitted to the U.S. Supreme Court in his election interference case. Lawyers Christopher Kise and Todd Blanche wrote that the charges “turn on his alleged decision to designate records as personal under the Presidential Records Act (PRA) and to cause the records to be moved from the White House to Mar-a-Lago.” Since Trump made this decision while he was still in office, they wrote, it “was an official act, and as such is subject to presidential immunity.” Trump faces dozens of felony counts in federal court in Florida accusing him of illegally hoarding classified documents at his Mar-a-Lago estate and obstructing government efforts to retrieve them. The case is currently set for trial on May 20, but that date could be pushed back. Trump’s lawyers also argued that Attorney …

First-ever rotator cuff treatment repairs and protects shoulder from reinjury

First-ever rotator cuff treatment repairs and protects shoulder from reinjury

Published by skeptic

Advances in surgery have made ever better rotator cuff repairs possible. But failure rates with surgery can be high. (CREDIT: Adobe Images) Tears of the rotator cuff are a common injury among adults. Advances in surgery have made rotator cuff repairs more effective, but failure rates are still high. However, a team of researchers from the UConn School of Medicine led by Dr. Cato Laurencin has discovered a new technique that could help repair the damaged shoulders of millions of people worldwide. Laurencin, a surgeon, engineer, and scientist, along with graduate student Nikoo Shemshaki and other UConn Connecticut Convergence Institute researchers, has reported in the Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences (PNAS) that a graphene/polymer matrix embedded into shoulder muscle can prevent re-tear injuries. The technique uses advanced materials to encourage muscle growth in rotator cuff muscles, addressing the real problem: muscle degeneration and fat accumulation. “Most repairs focus on the tendon,” Laurencin explains, “and how to reattach it to the bone most effectively. But the real problem is that the muscle degenerates and …

Cyber Wargaming – how the UAE Banks Federation protects against cyberattack

Cyber Wargaming – how the UAE Banks Federation protects against cyberattack

Published by skeptic

It’s called “Cyber Wargaming 2024,” and it’s being conducted under the supervision of the Central Bank of the UAE and the UAE Government’s Cyber Security Council. Cyber Wargaming was a big success for the second games in 2022 in the Middle East — the UAE Banks Federation (UBF) organized the third edition of Cyber Wargaming this year. The event has specially designed simulated cyberattacks to learn about the security of UBF member banks. These games reveal the security, risks, strengths, and gaps in security. The cybersecurity exercises improve the procedures that protect the banks along with the varied knowledge, techniques, and methods used to protect the banks. Abdulla Matar Al Muhairi, Head of the Banking Supervision Department at the Central Bank of the UAE, spoke of the vital importance and the role of strengthening the resilience of the financial infrastructure in the banking sector. The banking sector must have a preparedness to defend against cyberattacks. The Cyber Wargaming 2024 event will focus on developing capabilities to protect the digital infrastructure of banking. Mr. Jamal Saleh, …

‘Water comes from all four sides’: how Rotterdam’s tidal park protects the city | Environment

‘Water comes from all four sides’: how Rotterdam’s tidal park protects the city | Environment

Published by skeptic

It was once an industrial harbour, but now this small space is an entirely new kind of thing; a tidal park built to allow the river to rise and fall in the middle of the city as wildlife thrives. The swans are already at home on the sparkling waters of the Keilehaven in Rotterdam, in the Netherlands, and other birds are quickly settling in; grebe, oystercatchers, wild ducks and kingfishers. This, believes landscape architect Dirk van Peijpe, of architecture bureau De Urbanisten, may be a shape of things to come. “We are increasingly working on an ecological agenda that is not only climate-sensitive but also nature-sensitive. What are we doing for city residents other than the human ones?” The award-winning tidal park, a stone’s throw from his shared offices, is one answer to that question. Once it was a typically grim industrial harbour. Now a beach of sand leads to the water, surrounded by shelves of varying heights and barriers made with tiles Rotterdammers have removed from their gardens, where indigenous plants will be seeded …

Ancient Chinese herb protects the brain from developing Alzheimer’s disease, study finds

Ancient Chinese herb protects the brain from developing Alzheimer’s disease, study finds

Published by skeptic

Chinese scientists have highlighted the potential of the goji berry. (CREDIT: Creative Commons) In a groundbreaking discovery, Chinese scientists have highlighted the potential of the goji berry, traditionally cherished for its health benefits in Chinese culture, in the fight against Alzheimer’s disease. Often donned with the name ‘wolfberry’, the goji berry’s vibrant orange-red hue and sweet-tart flavor are not its only attractions. The fruit, originating from a shrub native to China, is revered both in culinary traditions and ancient medicinal practices. Its reputation has grown beyond China, largely due to its antioxidant-rich nature and its myriad health benefits. A Deep Dive into the Science The study, led by a team at the Institute of Biophysics under the prestigious Chinese Academy of Sciences, delved into the mechanisms by which goji berry extract could play a role in neuroprotection. To achieve this, researchers turned to a trusted model in biological studies: C. elegans, a worm celebrated for its simple and fully-mapped genome. The revelations of the study are nothing short of fascinating. The scientists uncovered that goji …

New nasal spray protects against all COVID variants

New nasal spray protects against all COVID variants

Published by skeptic

[Jan. 24, 2024: JJ Shavit, The Brighter Side of News] Researchers have developed a molecule that, when administered nasally, effectively prevents the disease caused by all known variants COVID. (CREDIT: Creative Commons) University of Helsinki researchers have developed a molecule that, when administered nasally, effectively prevents the disease caused by all known variants of the SARS-CoV-2 virus. The molecule, called TriSb92, can be a crucial tool in preventing the transmission and spread of the virus, particularly in anticipation of future pandemics. In laboratory animal studies, TriSb92 was confirmed to offer effective protection against coronavirus infection by identifying a region in the spike protein of the coronavirus that is common to all current variants of the virus and inhibiting its functioning. The molecule is effective in preventing infection when administered nasally, even after a few hours of exposure, unlike face masks. Postdoctoral Researcher Anna R. Mäkelä from Professor Kalle Saksela’s research group explains that experiments carried out in cell cultures indicate that TriSb92 also encompasses the very latest variants, including XBB, BF7, and BQ.1.1. Moreover, the …

Groundbreaking rotator cuff treatment both repairs and protects shoulder from reinjury

Groundbreaking rotator cuff treatment both repairs and protects shoulder from reinjury

Published by skeptic

[Jan. 15, 2024: JJ Shavit, The Brighter Side of News] Advances in surgery have made ever better rotator cuff repairs possible. But failure rates with surgery can be high. (CREDIT: Adobe Images) Tears of the rotator cuff are a common injury among adults. Advances in surgery have made rotator cuff repairs more effective, but failure rates are still high. However, a team of researchers from the UConn School of Medicine led by Dr. Cato Laurencin has discovered a new technique that could help repair the damaged shoulders of millions of people worldwide. Laurencin, a surgeon, engineer, and scientist, along with graduate student Nikoo Shemshaki and other UConn Connecticut Convergence Institute researchers, has reported in the Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences (PNAS) that a graphene/polymer matrix embedded into shoulder muscle can prevent re-tear injuries. The technique uses advanced materials to encourage muscle growth in rotator cuff muscles, addressing the real problem: muscle degeneration and fat accumulation. “Most repairs focus on the tendon,” Laurencin explains, “and how to reattach it to the bone most effectively. …

Prince Louis sparks fan frenzy as he ‘protects’ Princess Charlotte in adorable video | Royal | News

Prince Louis sparks fan frenzy as he ‘protects’ Princess Charlotte in adorable video | Royal | News

Published by skeptic

Royal fans could not help but comment on the adorable clip. One user wrote on TikTok: “Prince Louis watching over his big sister [love heart face emojis]” while another one said: “Prince Louis is a good brother.” A third one added: “Louis be like: Don’t ever touch my sister” while a fourth one commented: “Love Louis what a little character”. Mia showed up again on Christmas Day when she was pictured holding hands with her younger cousin as they walked together along with the rest of the royals. Zara and Mike’s children are known to be getting on quite well with Prince William and Princess Kate’s children. But they often get competitive with each other. Mike has previously said: “Our kids play with their kids in this competition we have.” Zara agreed and added: “I think our families are fairly competitive.” Source link