Dear Reader ,
COMSOL Conference 2016 Boston, October 5-7 >> https://goo.gl/nCbytw
Join fellow researchers, engineers, and scientists from around the world to see the latest innovations in multiphysics modeling and numerical simulation. Learn more and register today!
Here is your customized Science X Newsletter for September 28, 2016:
Spotlight Stories Headlines
Astronomy & Space news
 | Scientists investigate unidentified radio sources(Phys.org)—A team of researchers led by Andrea Maselli of the Institute of Space Astrophysics and Cosmic Physics of Palermo, Italy, has conducted an observational campaign of a group of unassociated radio sources with NASA's Swift space observatory. The observations were aimed at revealing the true nature of these so far unidentified sources. The results were published Sept. 23 in a paper on arXiv.org. |
 | The ultraviolet diversity of supernovaeSupernovae, the explosive deaths of massive stars, are among the most momentous events in the cosmos because they disburse into space all of the chemical elements that were produced inside their progenitor stars, including the elements essential for making planets and life. One class of supernovae (Type Ia) provides yet another benefit: these objects are considered to be standard distance candles. They result when enough material from an orbiting companion star falls onto the progenitor star to trigger it to explode. |
 | Kepler watched a Cepheid star boilAfter four years of continuous monitoring, astronomers detected clear signs of convective cells in a giant pulsating star for the first time using the Kepler space telescope. |
 | Making space rocket fuel from water could drive a power revolution on EarthResearchers led by NASA's former chief technologist are hoping to launch a satellite carrying water as the source of its fuel. The team from Cornell University, guided by Mason Peck, want their device to become the first shoebox-sized "CubeSat" to orbit the moon, while demonstrating the potential of water as a source of spacecraft fuel. It's a safe, stable substance that's relatively common even in space, but could also find greater use here on Earth as we search for alternatives to fossil fuels. |
 | Research resolves a debate over 'killer electrons' in spaceNew findings by a UCLA-led international team of researchers answer a fundamental question about our space environment and will help scientists develop methods to protect valuable telecommunication and navigation satellites. The research is published today in the journal Nature Communications. |
 | Study may give new respect to our Milky Way neighborhoodOur corner of the Milky Way galaxy may be a bigger deal than scientists thought. |
 | SpaceX chief envisions 1,000 passenger ships flying to MarsOn a personal quest to settle Mars, SpaceX founder Elon Musk envisions 1,000 passenger ships flying en masse to the red planet well within the next century, "Battlestar Galactica" style. |
 | Precision measurements of exoplanet velocitiesThe search for exoplanets via the radial velocity technique has been underway for nearly thirty years, measuring the wobbles in a star's motion caused by the presence of orbiting bodies. The method has been very successful and has detected hundreds of exoplanets, but has been overtaken (at least in numbers of detections) by the transit method, which looks for dips in the star's light. |
 | Experiment to investigate antibacterial properties of materials in spaceEverybody knows a clean house is a healthy place to live, but what if you live on the International Space Station? Air and water are constantly recycled and waste can only be removed when a spacecraft departs for Earth every few months. For the six astronauts living in humanity's habitat in space, keeping the Station clean is an important part of their life to avoid bacteria and fungus. Every Saturday is cleaning day, when the whole crew wipe surfaces, vacuum and collect waste. |
 | Confirming the structure and shape of polar cap patchesLarge-scale patches of enhanced electron density (plasma) are often found in the polar ionosphere - about 80 to 1000 kilometers above the Earth's surface. These 'polar cap patches' can last for hours, cover huge areas and travel quickly, and their presence can disrupt satellite communication links. |
 | Rosetta may be crashing, but can still save lives on EarthThe Rosetta Mission will end with a controlled descent to the surface of Comet 67P on Friday 30 September 2016; however, its legacy will live on in applications on Earth, developed by academics at The Open University, including detecting cancer and sniffing bed bugs. |
Technology news
 | Disabled man gets license, shows driverless tech's potentialFormer Indy Racing League driver Sam Schmidt has done a lot in the 16 years since an accident left him paralyzed from the neck down. He runs a racing team and a foundation. He's raced a sailboat using his chin. But the man who raced in the Indianapolis 500 hasn't been able to drive around his neighborhood—until now. |
 | Detailed look at 125 US auto models finds those emitting less carbon are the least expensive to driveYou might think cars with low carbon emissions are expensive. Think again. A newly-published study by MIT researchers shows that when operating and maintenance costs are included in a vehicle's price, autos emitting less carbon are among the market's least expensive options, on a per-mile basis. |
 | Android's Nougat update isn't flashy, but still pretty handyNougat, Google's latest update of its Android smartphone software, isn't particularly flashy; you might not even notice what's different about it at first. But it offers a number of practical time-saving features, plus a few that could save money—and perhaps even your life. |
 | Wireless, freely behaving rodent cage helps scientists collect more reliable dataInstead of building a better mouse trap, Georgia Institute of Technology researchers have built a better mouse cage. They've created a system called EnerCage (Energized Cage) for scientific experiments on awake, freely behaving small animals. It wirelessly powers electronic devices and sensors traditionally used during rodent research experiments, but without the use of interconnect wires or bulky batteries. Their goal is to create as natural an environment within the cage as possible for mice and rats in order for scientists to obtain consistent and reliable results. The EnerCage system also uses Microsoft's Kinect video game technology to track the animals and recognize their activities, automating a process that typically requires researchers to stand and directly observe the rodents or watch countless hours of recorded footage to determine how they react to experiments. |
 | Can Africa's mobile money revolution reduce poverty?When farmer Isaac Tondo fell on lean times in Liberia's long rainy season, his brother in the capital sent 8,000 Liberian dollars (US$87) to his Lonestar mobile money account, ensuring his children's school fees would still be paid. |
US health insurer to subsidize Apple Watch buysA major US health insurance company on Monday said it will help buy Apple smartwatches for customers as part of a move to integrate the gadgets into wellness management programs. | |
Verizon: Call records of 'fewer than 500' customers breachedA Verizon Wireless spokeswoman says it appears that "fewer than 500 customers" had their private information accessed in 2014 in a federal computer breach case involving a former Verizon Wireless network technician. | |
 | One-eyed robot learns to see in weightlessnessA small drone taught itself to judge distances using only one eye during trials aboard the International Space Station, ESA-backed researchers have reported. |
 | Seniors see high-tech cars as both friend and foe, study saysWhen the seniors in a recent McMaster study on high tech cars first started driving, car safety was a comparatively low-tech affair. Forget innovations like ABS and airbags– back in the 1960s and 70s, seatbelt use wasn't even mandatory in most jurisdictions. |
 | The 'uberisation' of work is driving people to co-operativesStreet protests against popular "sharing" economy firms Uber and Airbnb have become commonplace around the world. Both these sector giants are succeeding in circumventing market regulations in many markets in areas including tax and labour law, creating concerns not just among workers but the broader public. |
 | Why human brains hold the key to smarter artificial intelligenceUnderstanding how our brains sustain 'internal evolution' – and help us to adapt and learn complex skills such as language – could one day lead to smarter robots. |
 | Tough microbe settlers in the concrete jungleIt is easy to forget that much of our cities—the sidewalks, buildings, bridges, and runways—are made from the world's most common building material: concrete. |
 | Researchers developing new steel for better electric motorsWithin a few years, the U.S. Department of Energy wants plug-in electric vehicles to be just as affordable and convenient as the internal-combustion machines most of us drive today. |
 | Using EV tires to counter traffic noiseResearch shows that fitting tires with very low rolling resistance, combined with the right road surfacing, can provide just as much noise reduction as traditional noise barriers. |
 | How 'robots' of the Enlightenment era gave us an early glimpse of automationThe Who's lead singer Roger Daltrey and his wife Heather are in Edinburgh, Scotland to auction a selection of rare mechanical devices called automata. Automata are models of people or animals from previous centuries that appear to be moving independently but are actually animated by a hidden clockwork mechanism. They were a form of artificial intelligence that took the world by storm long before the digital age. For too many of us, their fascinating story has been forgotten. |
BlackBerry to outsource handsets, will halt productionBlackBerry announced Wednesday it would halt in-house production of smartphones, marking the end of an era for the once-dominant Canadian tech firm. | |
Europol: Ransomware now top cybercrime threatEuropean police agency Europol says the threat from ransomware has now eclipsed other forms of online theft, a sign of how quickly the computer-scrambling software has found favor in the electronic underworld. | |
SeaWorld mixes virtual reality in roller coasterSeaWorld Entertainment Inc. on Tuesday unveiled a new virtual reality experience on a roller coaster, a new presentation on orcas, and a shareable entrance pass. | |
Apple to make famous Battersea Power Station its London HQGlobal technology colossus Apple on Wednesday announced plans to create a London headquarters in the iconic and long-abandoned Battersea Power Station on the banks of the River Thames. | |
Samsung eyes fix after complaints of 'exploding' washersSamsung is in discussions about "potential safety issues" concerning some of its washing machines after a class-action lawsuit complained the appliances were exploding, the company said Wednesday. | |
HP promises fix for printer software that barred outside inkHP Inc. has apologized to customers for cutting them off from ink cartridges from other companies and says it will fix the problem. | |
 | Researcher developing cost-effective water treatment technologies to meet industrial, agricultural and domestic needsThe Earth can only handle so many contaminants in excess water released into the environment by homes, businesses and industries before becoming overwhelmed. To prevent this daunting introduction of pollutants to the environment, wastewater must be treated adequately prior to being released. |
 | IBM unveils industry's first platform to integrate all data types for AI-powered decision makingIBM today unveiled "Project DataWorks," a Watson initiative that is the industry's first cloud-based data and analytics platform to integrate all types of data and enable AI-powered decision-making. Project DataWorks is designed to make it simple for business leaders and data professionals to collect, organize, govern and secure data, so they can gain the insights needed to become a cognitive business. |
 | Apple teams with Deloitte to push deeper into work (Update)Apple on Wednesday announced an alliance with professional services group Deloitte to get more businesses using iPhones and iPads as workplace tools. |
VW chief: Working on settlement with US for emissions fraud (Update)Volkswagen CEO Matthias Mueller says the company is cooperating with U.S. authorities and hopes to reach a settlement on a fine with the Justice Department for equipping diesel vehicles to cheat on emissions tests. | |
Medicine & Health news
 | The spice of life—cinnamon cools your stomachAdding cinnamon to your diet can cool your body by up to two degrees, according to research published today. |
 | Memory changes may occur in women decades earlier than previously thoughtMany women report forgetfulness and changes in memory as they transition to menopause. But studies that target participants who are 65 and older do not account for cognitive changes that may take place decades earlier in a woman's life. |
 | Vaccine for many common cold viruses achievableScientists are making the case that a vaccine against rhinoviruses, the predominant cause of the common cold, is achievable. |
 | Platelet biomechanics sheds light on coronary diseaseThe answer to a 20-year-old physiology question may offer clues for the treatment and prevention of thrombosis and its related conditions, as well as heart attacks. |
 | Study shows puberty changes facial recognitionFaces are as unique as fingerprints and can reveal a great deal of information about our health, personalities, age, and feelings. Penn State researchers recently discovered adolescents begin to view faces differently as they prepare for the transition to adulthood. |
 | How our cells use mother's and father's genesResearchers at Karolinska Institutet and Ludwig Institute for Cancer Research have characterized how and to what degree our cells utilize the gene copies inherited from our mother and father differently. At a basic level this helps to explain why identical twins can appear rather different, even though they share identical genetic makeup. With this knowledge we will better understand the variation in outcomes of genetic disorders. |
 | Psychics help psychiatrists understand the voices of psychosisPeople with psychosis are tormented by internal voices. In an effort to explain why a Yale team enlisted help from an unusual source: psychics and others who hear voices but are not diagnosed with a mental illness. |
 | The tarpon's rare transformation from nearly blind to super-seers could have human applicationsSport fishing enthusiasts seek to lure tarpon, one of the most sought-after gamefish on Earth, but recently, the tarpon are reeling in scientists. |
 | Epigenetic clock predicts life expectancyUCLA geneticist Steve Horvath led a team of 65 scientists in seven countries to record age-related changes to human DNA, calculate biological age and estimate a person's lifespan. A higher biological age—regardless of chronological age—consistently predicted an earlier death. |
 | Brain disruptions similar across many emotional disordersResearchers have long known that emotional disorders have a lot in common. Many often occur together, like depression and social anxiety disorder. Treatments also tend to work across multiple disorders, suggesting shared underlying elements. But perhaps the most common shared characteristic is that almost all emotional disorders involve persistent negative thinking. |
 | Resveratrol can help to reduce inflammation, study findsA component of red wine and grapes can help control inflammation induced by a bacterial pathogen that is linked to upper respiratory tract inflammatory diseases such as asthma, chronic obstructive pulmonary diseases (COPD) and middle ear infection (otitis media), according to a study by researchers at Georgia State University. |
 | Some brains are blind to moving objectsAs many as half of people are blind to motion in some part of their field of vision, but the deficit doesn't have anything to do with the eyes. |
 | Alcohol shown to act in same way as rapid antidepressantsCan having a few drinks help people with clinical depression feel better? |
 | Synthetic 3D-printed material helps bones regrowA cheap and easy to make synthetic bone material has been shown to stimulate new bone growth when implanted in the spines of rats and a monkey's skull, researchers said Wednesday. |
 | Research finds how the brain decides between effort and rewardHow do we decide if something is worth the effort? A team of researchers from Oxford University and UCL have been finding out. |
 | How baby's genes influence birth weight and later life diseaseNew research finds genetic differences that help to explain why some babies are born bigger or smaller than others. It also reveals how genetic differences provide an important link between an individual's early growth and their chances of developing conditions such as type 2 diabetes or heart disease in later life. |
 | Moderate alcohol use linked to heart chamber damage, atrial fibrillation in new studyEnjoy a glass of wine with dinner or a nightcap before bed, but don't count on their heart benefits. |
 | Brain's biological clock stimulates thirst before sleepThe brain's biological clock stimulates thirst in the hours before sleep, according to a study published in the journal Nature by researchers from the Research Institute of the McGill University Health Centre (RI-MUHC). |
Thais probe babies with microcephaly for Zika link (Update)Thai doctors are running tests to see whether Zika was the cause of microcephaly in two babies whose mothers are infected with the mosquito-borne virus, a health official said Wednesday. | |
 | Many parents won't read their children scary stories—but perhaps we shouldn't blame themAs a children's literature scholar, I'm filled with horror by the results of a recent survey indicating that over a third of parents avoid reading frightening stories to their children. And as a parent of two small children, the study makes my heart sink and – in the manner of blogging mother Gill Sims – reach for the gin. |
Scientists discover how to stop the spread of metastasisA group of researchers from the Institute of Bioorganic Chemistry of the Russian Academy of Sciences and Queen's University (Canada), in conjunction with the Institute of Macromolecular Compounds of the Russian Academy of Sciences, has studied the role of sialic acid in cancer development. The results of their research show that cancer cells can be manipulated by properly adjusting the acid's levels, and this can possibly halt the spread of metastases. Their findings were published in the Oncotarget magazine. | |
 | Diabetes in children is a chronic but treatable diseaseFor those people living with diabetes, every day requires around-the-clock monitoring and management. |
Breast cancer patients benefit physically from mental health supportThe words no one wants to hear: "You have breast cancer." Unfortunately, close to 300,000 American women are expected to receive that diagnosis each year. For many, their early reactions are fear, anger, and denial. Those feelings may escalate. Dealing with the psychological fallout of such a diagnosis can be crucial to patients' physical recovery. As they weigh their medical options, patients also should consider their emotional and mental options. | |
Young people need help in understanding a parent's suicideTalking about suicide is associated with such strong stigma that young people whose parents have taken their own life must turn to strangers, for example people they meet on the internet, to ventilate their grief. This is the conclusion of a doctoral thesis from Linköping University. | |
Aussies hide attempts to cut back on boozeNew research from the University of Adelaide has highlighted the social pressures Australians experience when they try to stop or reduce their alcohol consumption. | |
 | Feed a virus but starve bacteria? When you're sick, it may really matterThink back to the last time you came down with a cold and what it felt like to be sick. For most people, the feeling of sickness is a set of psychological and behavioral changes including fatigue, lethargy, changes in appetite, changes in sleep patterns and a desire to be away from others. |
Newer radiation technique has fewer side effects than traditional techniques for recurrent head and neck cancerWhen a patient's cancer comes back, he or she is often left with limited treatment options and higher odds of debilitating side effects. But a University of Pittsburgh Cancer Institute (UPCI) study presented today at the American Society for Radiation Oncology (ASTRO) 2016 Annual Meeting in Boston offers positive news for people with recurrent head and neck cancer. | |
 | Researchers trial diabetes appResearchers are trialling a new mobile app which helps people with diabetes to monitor their blood sugar levels and enables health professionals to manage their patients remotely. |
 | Now is the lightest you will weigh all yearAs swimsuit season wanes and the holiday season edges closer, Americans everywhere should take a moment to enjoy the current state of their waistline. For the average person, the time just before the start of the holiday season is the low point in an annual weight gain pattern that peaks during the holidays and takes nearly half a year to fully shed. |
 | Researchers develop new weapon for hard-to-treat bacterial infectionsHealth workers may soon have a new weapon in the fight against abscesses—difficult-to-treat bacterial infections that lead to millions of emergency-room visits every year. |
 | Membrane fluidity influences sensitivity of ovarian cancer cell lines to auranofinIncreased fluidity in cell membranes could have a major impact on an ovarian cancer cell's sensitivity to treatment using the anti-rheumatic drug auranofin, research led by Plymouth University suggests. |
 | New insight into eye diseasesMany diseases that lead to blindness, such as glaucoma and macular degeneration, are caused by the death of certain cells in the human retina that lack the ability to regenerate. But in species such as zebrafish these cells, known as Muller glial cells (MGs), do serve as retinal stem cells that are capable of generating new cells. |
 | If legalizing pot, consider health, not profits, analysis saysA new analysis of marijuana legislation offers a framework for states that are considering legalizing the drug and want to protect public health, rather than corporate profits. |
Low cancer symptom awareness linked to lower chance of survivalIn regions where cancer survival is poorer, people on average have lower awareness of cancer symptoms, according to new findings published today (Wednesday) in the British Journal of Cancer. | |
 | Cell pH regulation revealedMost physiological processes are pH-sensitive, and pH within individual cells in skeletal muscles (pHi) must be carefully regulated to maintain normal cellular functioning. During intensive exercise, and also in certain diseases, levels of a cationic form of hydrogen (H+) rise rapidly within cells, causing pHi levels to plummet and become more acidic. There are three membrane transporters known to be involved in regulating pHi, but their precise individual roles are unclear. |
 | Exploring how women's reproductive health and mental health intersectThroughout their lives, women's risk for various mental health problems fluctuates along with reproductive changes, yet research in psychological science seldom investigates the intersection of reproductive health and mental health. |
Heart disease exercise programme could work for bowel cancer patientsCould rehabilitation programmes for heart disease patients be used to help people recovering from bowel cancer get back on their feet? That's the question cancer care experts at the University of Stirling have been exploring. | |
 | Brown adipose tissue is able to secrete factors that activate fat and carbohydrate metabolismBrown adipose tissue, the main organ generating heat in the body, is also an endocrine organ that secretes signaling factors that activate the fat and carbohydrates metabolism. |
Some herbal and dietary supplements can be toxic to the liverA new review based on a research symposium sponsored by the American Association for the Study of Liver Disease and the National Institutes of Health highlights the potentially damaging effects of herbal and dietary supplements (HDSs) on the liver. | |
 | Antibiotics developed in 1960s show promise for TB therapyFirst generation cephalosporins—antibiotics introduced as a treatment against bacterial infections in 1963—now show promise for tuberculosis (TB) therapy, according to new research published in Scientific Reports. |
 | New imaging technique in Alzheimer's disease opens up possibilities for drug developmentTau PET is a new and promising imaging method for Alzheimer's disease. A case study from Lund University in Sweden now confirms that tau PET images correspond to a higher degree to actual changes in the brain. According to the researchers behind the study, this increases opportunities for developing effective drugs. |
 | How the human brain can register information without conscious attentionMagicians, dictators, advertisers and scientists all know it. It is possible to influence people without them even realising it. The technique, known as "priming", involves introducing a stimulus – a word, an image or a sound – that has an effect on a person's later behaviour, even if they cannot remember the stimulus in the first place. |
 | Acne sufferers' cells may be protected against agingScientists at King's College London have found that people who have previously suffered from acne are likely to have longer telomeres (the protective repeated nucleotides found at the end of chromosomes) in their white blood cells, meaning their cells could be better protected against ageing. |
 | New technology improves vision for brain injury patientsThe computer-delivered therapy is designed to improve speed and effectiveness of eye movements to better compensate for visual field loss. |
Randomized trial suggests eating bread made with ancient grains could help lower cholesterol and blood glucoseEating bread made with ancient grains as part of a healthy diet could help lower cholesterol and blood glucose levels—leading risk factors for heart attack and stroke—according to new research published in the International Journal of Food Sciences and Nutrition. The study doesn't prove that ancient grains prevent cardiovascular disease (CVD), but it adds to increasing evidence that ancient grain varieties may help reduce risk factors for CVD. | |
 | Homeless, mentally ill youth benefit from housing program(HealthDay)—A subsidized independent-living intervention appears to help homeless young people with mental illness get and keep a roof over their heads, a new Canadian study indicates. |
 | Food flavors may come from surprising sources(HealthDay)—When is a lemon not a lemon? When it's "lemon flavor" in a processed food or drink. |
 | FDA's cancer-drug reviewers often join industry later: study(HealthDay)—Among federal employees who review new cancer-drug applications for the U.S. Food and Drug Administration, about half who leave to work elsewhere end up working for the industry they once regulated. |
 | USPSTF recommends BP screening for preeclampsia(HealthDay)—The U.S. Preventive Services Task Force (USPSTF) concludes that there is a net benefit for preeclampsia screening with blood pressure measurements throughout pregnancy (B recommendation). These findings form the basis of a draft recommendation statement published online Sept. 27 by the USPSTF. |
 | Review: 5-HT3 receptor antagonists cut peri-op shivering(HealthDay)—5-HT3 receptor antagonists (5-HT3RAs) seem to be effective for preventing perioperative shivering (POS), according to a review and meta-analysis published online Sept. 15 in the Journal of Clinical Pharmacology. |
 | Researchers identify treatment target for blinding diseasesNew research published in Cell Reports identifies a potential treatment target for blinding diseases such as retinitis pigmentosa and advanced dry age-related macular degeneration. In the study, researchers at Washington University in St. Louis School of Medicine (supported in part by an unrestricted Research to Prevent Blindness grant to the Department of Ophthalmology) explored how the retina's photoreceptors—the rods and cones responsible for detecting light, color, contrast, and sharpness—are damaged over the course of these diseases. |
 | Researchers mine Twitter for cardiovascular disease researchFor years, marketers and other commercial data-miners have been using Twitter's vast database of "tweets" to gauge consumer attitudes and track events. Now medical researchers are getting in on the trend. Researchers from the Perelman School of Medicine at the University of Pennsylvania completed a pilot analysis of archived tweets on cardiovascular disease. |
 | Particular HPV strain linked to improved prognosis for throat cancerWhen it comes to cancer-causing viruses like human papillomavirus, or HPV, researchers are continuing to find that infection with one strain may be better than another. |
 | Smoking fathers increase asthma-risk in future offspringA Norwegian study shows that asthma is three times more common in those who had a fAnchorather who smoked in adolescence than offspring who didn't. |
 | Acupuncture reduces hot flashes for half of womenHot flashes – the bane of existence for many women during menopause – can be reduced in frequency by almost half for about 50 percent of women over eight weeks of acupuncture treatment, according to scientists at Wake Forest Baptist Medical Center. |
Study offers insight on antidepressant-induced female sexual dysfunctionOne in 6 women in the U.S. takes antidepressants to improve her well-being, but what is she to do when the medication that is meant to help disrupts another area of her life? | |
Nighttime hot flashes may spark mild depressionA woman's perception that she is experiencing a high number of nighttime hot flashes can trigger mild symptoms of depression during menopause, according to a new study published in the Endocrine Society's Journal of Clinical Endocrinology & Metabolism. | |
 | Depression in pregnancy increases risk of mental health problems in childrenDepression in pregnancy increases the risk of behavioural and emotional problems in children, says a new review published in The Lancet Psychiatry. |
 | US soda-tax battle bubbles up in San Francisco Bay AreaThe national fight over sugary soda is bubbling up in the San Francisco Bay Area, where voters in November will consider a tax on the drinks that many health experts say contribute to diabetes, obesity and tooth decay. |
Non-contrast MRA provides safe diagnostic alternative for patients with kidney diseasePatients with diabetes or renal failure are at high risk for deadly and debilitating vascular diseases, however, the most common imaging tool to evaluate the blood vessels uses a contrast agent that can further damage the kidneys. Radiologists at the Cook County Health & Hospitals System (CCHHS) are studying non-contrast magnetic resonance angiography (MRA) as a viable alternative for patients with chronic kidney disease and those prone to allergic reactions to contrast agents. | |
 | Breast cancer awareness: What women need to knowAs national Breast Cancer Awareness Months begins next week, breast health expert Dr. Sharon Koehler of New York Institute of Technology College of Osteopathic Medicine, says women need to know the following five things: |
Exercise not shown to reduce women's risk of developing multiple sclerosisA large, new study shows no evidence that exercise may reduce a woman's risk of developing multiple sclerosis (MS). The research is published in the September 28, 2016, online issue of Neurology, the medical journal of the American Academy of Neurology. Previous small studies had shown conflicting results. | |
FDA approves 'artificial pancreas' to manage diabetes (Update)Federal regulators have approved a first-of-a-kind "artificial pancreas," a device that can help some diabetes patients manage their disease by constantly monitoring their blood sugar and delivering insulin as needed. | |
 | Questions, concerns about 'three-parent' babyThe surprise announcement that a healthy baby boy was born from a new technique mixing the DNA of two women and a man raises as many questions—scientific and ethical—as it settles, experts said Wednesday. |
 | new study that shows breastfeeding saves mothers' lives, tooBreastfeeding as recommended—for a total of one year and exclusively for six months—could protect babies and their moms from premature death and serious diseases and save the U.S. more than $4.3 billion in health care and related costs, according to a new study published online in Maternal & Child Nutrition. |
Study of early onset menopausal symptoms could predict heart diseaseWomen who experience hot flashes and night sweats earlier in life are more likely to die from cardiovascular disease (CVD) when compared to women with later onset menopausal symptoms, according to research from the University of Pittsburgh School of Medicine published today in the journal, Menopause. | |
 | Dementia: Catching the memory thiefIt's over a hundred years since the first case of Alzheimer's disease was diagnosed. Since then we've learned a great deal about the protein 'tangles' and 'plaques' that cause the disease. How close are we to having effective treatments – and could we even prevent dementia from occurring in the first place? |
 | Case study reports details of mysterious Utah Zika-related deathThe first Zika virus-related death in the continental U.S. occurred in June of this year, but even now, months later, two aspects of this case continue to puzzle health experts. First, why did this patient die? It is quite rare for a Zika infection to cause severe illness in adults, much less death. Second, how did another individual, who visited the first while in the hospital, become ill from Zika? This second patient did not do anything that was known at the time to put people at risk for contracting the virus. |
Nine states to vote soon on expanding legal access to marijuanaFrom California, with its counterculture heritage, to the fishing ports and mill towns of Maine, millions of Americans in nine states have a chance to vote Nov. 8 on expanding legal access to marijuana. Collectively, the ballot measures amount to the closest the U.S. has come to a national referendum on the drug. | |
More frequent energy drink use associated with drunk driving behaviorsHighly caffeinated energy drinks (EDs) have been of concern to the public-health community for almost a decade. Many young people consume EDs with alcohol to decrease alcohol's sedative effects and stay awake longer, enabling them to drink more alcohol. Adding to the growing body of research linking ED consumption with risk-taking and alcohol-related problems, this study examined its relationship with drunk driving. Importantly, the researchers differentiated between the different ways in which EDs are consumed: exclusively with alcohol, exclusively without alcohol, or both with and without alcohol depending on the occasion. | |
Alcohol-involved homicide victimization—common, linked to male gender, minority status, and history of domestic abuseWhile the association between alcohol and homicide may seem obvious, there has been no recent study of alcohol involvement in homicide victimization in U.S. states. This study drills down into the subject, looking at how often alcohol was involved in homicide victimization, and what socio-demographic and other factors may be predictors. | |
 | Racial stereotypes stymie Aboriginal leadership in sport, research findsPatronising racial stereotypes that laud Aboriginal peoples' natural sporting prowess are impeding the development of Aboriginal leadership in sport and its many flow-on benefits, a new study has found. |
Australia's suicide rate the highest in 10 yearsSuicide will continue to be the main cause of death for Australians aged 15 to 44 unless proven prevention strategies are implemented, according to the Black Dog Institute. | |
 | The new intellectual property of healthDr Enrico Bonadio, a Senior Lecturer in Intellectual Property Law, has co-authored The New Intellectual Property of Health: Beyond Plain Packaging, with Professor Alberto Alemanno, Jean Monnet Professor of EU Law and Risk Regulation. |
 | Can Hippocrates prevent overdiagnosis?Hippocrates' famous oath echoed around Barcelona's International Convention Centre throughout the fourth Preventing Overdiagnosis conference, held this past week. For three days, this eclectic and passionate mix of policy makers, clinicians, academics and patients discussed modern medicine's divagation from its binding principle: primum non nocere (first do no harm). |
Expert offers tips on how to keep calm when talking about politicsBetween controversial debates and campaign rallies, conversations during the election season can become divisive. However, one Baylor College of Medicine expert offers some tips on how to keep calm when discussing politics, especially in the workplace. | |
 | Rare disease challenges ICT researchersPeople with cystic fibrosis (CF) need help to ensure they are getting correct nutrition and the right amount of enzymes. They also need constant reminders. Researchers are now developing a digital support device to promote autonomy, but are finding that this is no easy task. |
Overweight and obesity linked to high workers' compensation costsObese and overweight workers are more likely to incur high costs related to workers' compensation claims for major injuries, reports a study in the September Journal of Occupational and Environmental Medicine, official publication of the American College of Occupational and Environmental Medicine. | |
Outbreak of deadly monkeypox in Central Africa RepublicAt least 10 people have died in an outbreak of monkeypox in western Central African Republic, a country already hit by cholera, the health ministry announced Wednesday. | |
Biology news
 | Antibiotic resistance can occur naturally in soil bacteriaSince the 1940s, antibiotics have effectively treated certain bacterial diseases. But over the years, some bacteria have developed resistance to the antibiotics that once killed them. |
 | Researchers modify yeast to show how plants respond to a key hormoneYou read that right. Plants have hormones. |
 | Human settlement and abundant fruit create ecological trap for grizzliesWith its rustic small mountain towns, postcard-perfect vistas, and abundance of "pow" days, British Columbia's East Kootenay region has an undeniable lure for outdoor enthusiasts of all varieties—and the appeal extends beyond ski bums and hikers. The resource-rich Elk Valley (including the towns of Jaffray, Fernie, Elkford, and Sparwood) is also a highly desirable home for wildlife like grizzly bears which are drawn to the area's bountiful fruit supply. |
 | Humans found to be playing a role in spread of ranavirus(Phys.org)—A team of researchers with the Zoological Society of London, Queen Mary University of London, University College London and Herpetofauna Consultants International and assisted by citizen scientists involved with the Frog Mortality Project, has found evidence that suggests human activities may be playing a role in the spread of ranavirus, which attacks and kills reptiles, amphibians and fish. In their paper published in Proceedings of the Royal Society B, the team describes the means by which data was collected, what it showed and outlines ways for people to help prevent the spread of the disease. |
 | Fungus makes mosquitoes much more likely to become infected with malariaResearchers at the Johns Hopkins Bloomberg School of Public Health have identified a fungus that compromises the immune system of mosquitoes, making them more susceptible to infection with the parasite that causes malaria. Because environmental microorganisms can vary greatly from region to region, the researchers say the findings may help explain variations in the prevalence of malaria in different geographic areas. |
 | Nature or nurture: is violence in our genes?Nature or nurture? The quest to understand why humans kill one another has occupied the minds of philosophers, sociologists and psychologists for centuries. |
 | Migratory bird struggles for shelter as chimneys torn downA crowd of several hundred people gathered in the growing darkness outside Chapman Elementary School in Portland, Oregon, before the first Vaux's Swift darted into view high above. |
 | Taking the environmental bite out of salmon farmingIn a peaceful bay off Norway's Hitra island, massive nets teem with salmon destined for dinner tables worldwide—an export boon for the Nordic nation that comes with a long list of environmental side-effects. |
 | France's last ivory carvers faced with extinctionAnnick Colette-Fremond is the fifth generation of her family to practise the art of ivory carving—and she may be the last of her line, due to new rules in France. |
 | Big data study casts serious doubts about the extent to which badgers cause TB in cattleUsing a mathematical model that combines a huge number of cattle and badgers that have TB, the researchers were able to quantify the relationship between the two animals and use a big data approach to show that the route of infection for cattle is from other cattle rather than from other species. Reciprocally, badgers are mainly infected by other infected badgers. |
 | MiPACT reveals infections in plain viewCystic fibrosis (CF) is a genetic disorder in which chronic accumulations of thick mucus, called sputum, can trap bacteria in the lungs and cause frequent, serious lung infections. There is no cure for cystic fibrosis, but infections can be treated with antibiotics. Now, Caltech researchers have developed a technique to render sputum transparent in order to visualize bacterial infections in action. The technique, called MiPACT, allows researchers to tag bacteria and other cells with different colors, creating a three-dimensional "biogeographical map" of infections in sputum samples from CF patients. With this map, the researchers discovered that the majority of bacterial pathogens are in a slow-growth state—and thus physiologically resistant to most antibiotics, which have been developed to treat bacteria in a fast-growing state. |
 | Help scientists research lugworms' sex livesLove is in the air along our coastlines this autumn and scientists from the University of Portsmouth are asking the public to keep an eye out for signs of passion in the lugworm population. |
 | Flies are the key pollinators of the High ArcticForget the view of the Arctic as an icy desert devoid of life. The Arctic summer is buzzing with insects – and here as everywhere else, plants rely on them for pollination. But who are the insects driving the pollination services across the Arctic? A new study finds the biggest heroes among the most modest of animals: small flies related to our common house fly. This finding offers cause for concern, as arctic fly abundances are declining as the Arctic continues to warm. |
 | How choosy should you be?When animals choose their mates, how discriminate they are varies a great deal. For some male Mormon crickets, any female will do; in contrast, blue peahens rarely fall for the first cock courting them. Across nature, all kinds of situations seem to occur (albeit with different frequencies): indiscriminate males and females, only choosy females, only choosy males, very choosy everybody, as well as any situation in between. In a recent study, Alexandre Courtiol from the Leibniz Institute for Zoo and Wildlife Research in Berlin (Germany) and his collaborators from the Institut des Sciences de l'Evolution in Montpellier (France) conclude that how choosy animals are emerges predictably from the biology of each species and sex. This finding matters because by impacting on who mixes their genes with whom, choosiness is a key factor shaping the biodiversity of species. This, in turn, has implications for conservation. |
 | New study shows vitamin D could help control TB in animalsA study published in Research in Veterinary Science demonstrates that vitamin D supplementation can reduce the severity of tuberculosis (TB) in wild boar and red deer |
 | In Kenya, lion hunters become defendersIn the Maasai heartland of southern Kenya, some young men have swapped their ancestral role as lion-hunters to instead protect the big cats under a conservation scheme that also aims to help their community. |
Video: Insect battles provide clues to evolutionThe seemingly peaceful atmosphere in an organic garden on the University of Florida campus belies the battles happening among many of its tiniest inhabitants—the insects. For entomologist Christine Miller, there are endless opportunities here to study how insects compete and even fight for a mate. | |
 | Empowering the Malagasy people to fight against the illegal exploitation of Madagascar's natural resourcesAs the three-year "Preserving Madagascar's Natural Resources Program" (SCAPES) comes to a close, the challenge now rests with the Malagasy people to leverage new capacity to combat illegal exploitation of the island's natural resources. |
 | Dead whales beached in Chile, climate change suspectedSeveral huge whales have washed up dead over recent months on beaches in northern Chile, where scientists suspect they are moving in increasing numbers due to climate change. |
This email is a free service of Science X Network
You received this email because you subscribed to our list.
If you no longer want to receive this email use the link below to unsubscribe.
https://sciencex.com/profile/nwletter/
You are subscribed as jmabs1@gmail.com
No comments:
Post a Comment