The Blessings Products Blog.

New research indicates that the benefits of a dietary compound on kidney health may depend on an individual's genetics. The findings, which appear in an upcoming issue of JASN, may be helpful for tailoring interventions to prevent or treat kidney disease.

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Vaping illnesses in US still rising, though at slower pace

The number of vaping illnesses in the U.S. is still rising, but at a slower pace.

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New Jersey seeks $640M from Uber for misclassifying workers

New Jersey is seeking more than $640 million from Uber in taxes and penalties, saying the ride-hailing company misclassified its drivers as independent contractors.

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NASA warned of safety risks in delayed private crew launches

NASA auditors warn the space agency faces "significant safety and technical challenges" that need to be solved before astronauts fly in private capsules.

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WeWork loses $1.25 billion in third quarter

WeWork racked up $1.25 billion in losses in the third quarter as it geared up for, and ultimately scuttled, its debut as a public company.

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German lawmakers approve compulsory measles vaccine plan

Germany's parliament has passed a law requiring that children who attend school or daycare must be vaccinated for measles.

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Americans maintain high levels of trust in science

A new report analyzing decades of public opinion surveys reveals that the public's trust in scientists has remained stable and high over decades.

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How Crohn's disease-associated bacteria tolerate antibiotics

Bacteria associated with Crohn's disease rely on multiple stress responses to survive, multiply, and tolerate antibiotics within white blood cells called macrophages, according to a study published November 14 in the open-access journal PLOS Pathogens by Olivier Espéli of the College de France and PSL Research University in Paris, France, and colleagues.

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Discovery reveals mechanism that turns herpes virus on and off

New research from Dr. Luis M. Schang and his group at the Baker Institute for Animal Health has identified a new mechanism that plays a role in controlling how the herpes virus alternates between dormant and active stages of infection.

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Injection drug use: a new study shows a mixed Canadian portrait

In Canada, 171,900 people injected drugs in 2016, up from 130,000 in 2011. In a study published in the American Journal of Public Health, researchers at the University of Montreal Hospital Research Centre (CRCHUM) estimated, using multiplier methods, the number of people who injected drugs in 11 of the 13 Canadian provinces (Nunavut and Northwest Territories not included) and reported a 30-per-cent increase in the period studied. The researchers also estimated how many people received medication for opioid use disorder and how many needle syringes were distributed.

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Going with the floe: Sea ice movements trace dynamics transforming the new Arctic

Climate change is accomplishing what centuries of exploration could not: opening the fabled Northwest Passage, a maritime shortcut from Europe to Asia via the Arctic Ocean.

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WPI engineers creating miniaturized, wireless oxygen sensor for sick infants

Researchers at Worcester Polytechnic Institute (WPI) are developing a sensor the size of a Band-Aid that will measure a baby's blood oxygen levels, a vital indication of the lungs' effectiveness and whether the baby's tissue is receiving adequate oxygen supply. Unlike current systems used in hospitals, this miniaturized wearable device will be flexible and stretchable, wireless, inexpensive, and mobile—possibly allowing the child to leave the hospital and be monitored remotely.

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New moon-seeking sensor aims to improve earth observations

A new instrument with its eye on the Moon is taking off aboard a high-altitude NASA plane to measure the Moon's brightness and eventually help Earth observing sensors make more accurate measurements.

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Researchers explore how citizens can become agents of environmental change

If you like to walk in the woods, raft a river, dig in a garden or look at butterflies, you could become an agent of change.

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Research explores impact of racial discrimination on dating websites for gay, bisexual men

Race-based discrimination and stereotypes are ubiquitous in the online communities and mobile apps that gay and bisexual men use to search for sexual and romantic partners, research indicates.

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Is opioid treatment available to those who need it most?

The U.S. opioid epidemic is still raging—it's particularly pronounced in low-income areas and in those where people lack access to health care services, which includes cities in Michigan and across the Rust Belt. But the effectiveness of efforts to provide treatment and recovery options to those who need it most—that is, in locations with the greatest number of deaths from opioid overdose—has been unclear.

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Parity law improved medicaid acceptance at substance use disorder treatment centers

A 2008 federal parity law succeeded in expanding Medicaid acceptance by treatment facilities for substance use disorders (SUDs), according to a study by University of Massachusetts Amherst researchers.

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Study: Doctors give electronic health records an 'F'

The transition to electronic health records (EHRs) was supposed to improve the quality and efficiency of healthcare for doctors and patients alike—but these technologies get an "F" rating for usability from health care professionals, and may be contributing to high rates of professional burnout, according to a new Yale-led study.