The AlphaGalileo Blog 02/07/2020
July eNews
TOP 5 JUNE 2020
1. New solar forecasting model performs best, published by the Uppsala University, Sweden on 26 June
A new mathematical model for predicting variations in solar irradiance has been developed at Uppsala University. It may help to promote more efficient use of electricity from solar energy. In tests of various data models, the model proved capable of making highly reliable forecasts, and emerged as the best for this purpose in some respects. The results have now been published in two articles in the journal Solar Energy.
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2. Thousands of tonnes of ocean pollution can be saved by changing washing habits, published by the Northumbria University, UK on 5 June
A new study has revealed that almost 13,000 tonnes of microfibres, equivalent to two rubbish trucks every day, are being released into European marine environments every year – but this could be reduced by as much as 30% if we made a small change to our laundry habits.
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3. Indonesians prefer costly private clinics for TB care, published by SciDev.Net on 20 June
A preference by Indonesians to seek initial care for tuberculosis (TB) at private clinics rather than public facilities is resulting in diagnostic delays and escalated costs, says a new study.
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4. Addressing the infodemic around the COVID 19 pandemic, decision-making simulation game wins first ComplexityJam, published by the European Cooperation in Science and Technology (COST) on 19 June
Addressing the topic of an onslaught of conflicting information and fake news in connection to the coronavirus pandemic, ComplexityJam #survivetheinfodemic challenged participants to represent he complexity of the situation through games and interactive digital narratives, in an online international game jam event coordinated by INDCOR EU COST Action and MOME University, which ended on June 13 with a virtual award ceremony. The main award went to “Temp in Charge”.
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5. University students facing food insecurity due to pandemic, published by the University of Northumbria, Newcastle, UK on 12 June
Four out of ten university students have reported they are worried that they will run out of food as they deal with the impact of the coronavirus pandemic, according to a new report.
A collaboration of universities in the UK and USA surveyed students on their levels of food insecurity during April, after universities in both nations ceased campus-based teaching.
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Editors' picks
Queen’s launch global survey on children’s views and experiences of ‘Life under Coronavirus’, Queen's University, Belfast on 1 June
The Centre for Children’s Rights at Queen’s has launched a global survey for children and young people (aged 8-17 years) to get their views and experiences of ‘Life under Coronavirus’. The survey is the first global survey of children’s views and experiences of COVID-19 (coronavirus), and will be available in English, French and Spanish with other translations to follow. The aim of the survey is to find out how children feel, whether they are able to learn and play, see their parents, stay in touch with their friends, if they can access reliable information and support,and if they are healthy and safe in these challenging times.
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Image caption: Image courtesy of Kelly Sikkema.
Repeated Coughing Seriously Degrades Face Mask Efficiency, American Institute of Physics (AIP), 12 June
Face masks are thought to slow the spread of viruses, including the novel coronavirus that causes COVID-19, but little is known about how well they work.
In an issue of Physics of Fluids, by AIP Publishing, Talib Dbouk and Dimitris Drikakis, from the University of Nicosia in Cyprus, use precise computer models to map out the expected flow patterns of small droplets released when a mask-wearing person coughs repeatedly.
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New Contributors
We are very pleased to count among our new contributors:
African-European Radio Astronomy Platform (AERAP)
European Society of Intensive Care Medicine (ESICM)
Fundación Descubre
IMAGINARY gGmbH
Japan Advanced Institute of Science and Technology
MKC Communications
SciencePOD
The Institute of Occupational Medicine (IOM)
The Swedish knowledge centre for public transport, K2
Vienna University of Economics and Business
Yale University
Image of the month
Blood vessels can make you fat, and yet fit, Institute for Basic Science, 24 June
Can obesity define health? It is a question for much debate. Still, obesity is generally classified into metabolically healthy obesity (MHO) and an unhealthy version of obesity. As we grow older, we tend to put on excess fat more around the waist than the hips and legs with aging, becoming more "apple-shaped" than "pear-shaped" and also at a greater risk of metabolic syndrome. As fat accumulates around our abdominal organs, instead of under the skin where most of our body fat usually sits, this visceral fat releases fatty acids and inflammatory substances directly into the liver, causing toxicity and insulin resistance. People with MHO, meanwhile are characterized by favorable health parameters, including high insulin sensitivity, no signs of hypertension, and less inflammation, and a healthier immune system.
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