Friday, December 16, 2016

Science X Newsletter Friday, Dec 16

Dear Reader ,

Here is your customized Science X Newsletter for December 16, 2016:

Spotlight Stories Headlines

Movable microplatform floats on a sea of droplets (w/ video)

Astronomers observe mysterious dimming of a young nearby star

Verlinde's new theory of gravity passes first test

New graphene-based system could help us see electrical signaling in heart and nerve cells

World's smallest radio receiver has building blocks the size of two atoms

Scientists boost catalytic activity for key chemical reaction in fuel cells

New type of traveling wave pattern could contain biological coordinates

Internet use in class tied to lower test scores: study

Next Dynamics comes up with electronics and multimaterial printer

Rosetta's last words—science descending to a comet

Scalable energy harvesting of unused mechanical energy in the environment

Researchers find roads shatter the Earth's surface into 600,000 fragments

CRISPR study reveals unexpected roles of non-coding RNAs

New structure shows how cells assemble protein-making machinery

Preserving variety in subsets of unmanageably large data sets to aid machine learning

Astronomy & Space news

Astronomers observe mysterious dimming of a young nearby star

(Phys.org)—Astronomers have spotted transient, transit-like dimming events of a young star named RIK-210 located some 472 light years away in the Upper Scorpius OB association. However, what puzzles the scientists is the mystery behind this dimming as it can not be caused by an eclipsing stellar or brown dwarf companion. They describe their search for plausible explanations in a paper published Dec. 12 on the arXiv pre-print server.

Verlinde's new theory of gravity passes first test

A team led by astronomer Margot Brouwer (Leiden Observatory, The Netherlands) has tested the new theory of theoretical physicist Erik Verlinde (University of Amsterdam) for the first time through the lensing effect of gravity. Brouwer and her team measured the distribution of gravity around more than 33,000 galaxies to put Verlinde's prediction to the test. She concludes that Verlinde's theory agrees well with the measured gravity distribution. The results have been accepted for publication in the British journal Monthly Notices of the Royal Astronomical Society.

Rosetta's last words—science descending to a comet

ESA's Rosetta completed its incredible mission on 30 September, collecting unprecedented images and data right until the moment of contact with the comet's surface.

Are planets like those in 'Star Wars: Rogue One' really out there? NASA plans to find out

In the "Star Wars" universe, ice, ocean and desert planets burst from the darkness as your ship drops out of light speed. But these worlds might be more than just science fiction.

Hubble 'cranes' in for a closer look at a galaxy

In 1900, astronomer Joseph Lunt made a discovery: Peering through a telescope at Cape Town Observatory, the British-South African scientist spotted this beautiful sight in the southern constellation of Grus (The Crane): a barred spiral galaxy now named IC 5201.

All eyes on Trump over Mars

The year 2016 has seen a rekindling of the human desire to conquer Mars, with public and private interests openly vying to take the first step on the Red Planet, possibly with a stopover on the Moon.

Researchers use artificial neural networks to accurately predict short-term solar irradiance

Researchers from Universidad Politécnica de Madrid and Nicaraguan Institute of Territorial Studies have developed a technique to make accurate predictions of short-term global solar irradiance (GSI) using artificial neural networks (ANN).

Dawn space probe discovers water ice in Ceres' polar region

The American Dawn space probe has been orbiting the asteroid Ceres between Mars and Jupiter since March 2015. Thanks to the two identical onboard cameras from the Max Planck Institute for Solar System Research (MPS), the Framing Cameras, the dwarf planet has been almost completely mapped. In a current study, a team headed by scientists from the MPS reports on Ceres' most northerly regions, where the Göttingen cameras have performed a very special feat: they have succeeded in taking photos of water ice deposits in places ruled by almost eternal darkness.

Image: View of NASA's CYGNSS hurricane mission launch from chase plane

Hurricane forecasters will soon have a new tool to better understand and forecast storm intensity. A constellation of eight microsatellites, called NASA's Cyclone Global Navigation Satellite System mission, or CYGNSS, got a boost into Earth orbit at 8:37 a.m. EST today, Dec. 15, 2016, aboard an Orbital ATK Pegasus XL rocket.

The first Catalan nanosatellite successfully launched with three experiments on board

CubeCat-2 is the first Catalan nanosatellite to be placed in orbit. Designed and built by researchers of the Remote Sensing Laboratory of the Department of Signal Theory and Communications and the NanoSat Lab, both at the Universitat Politècnica de Catalunya (UPC), the satellite carries three experiments to demonstrate the feasibility of techniques and technologies related to the use of satellite navigation signals for remote sensing applications. It will also test instruments for a future mission of the European Space Agency.

Technology news

Next Dynamics comes up with electronics and multimaterial printer

(Tech Xplore)—The 3D printer is an item that has been attracting makers for some years now. As time advances, along with technological ingenuity, it is apparent that we are not just stuck with lots of goblins and keychains as a result.

Scalable energy harvesting of unused mechanical energy in the environment

A new concept in energy harvesting could capture energy that is currently mostly wasted due to its characteristic low frequency and use it to power next-generation electronic devices. In a project funded by electronics giant Samsung, a team of Penn State materials scientists and electrical engineers has designed a mechanical energy transducer based on flexible organic ionic diodes that points toward a new direction in scalable energy harvesting of unused mechanical energy in the environment, including wind, ocean waves and human motion.

Preserving variety in subsets of unmanageably large data sets to aid machine learning

When data sets get too big, sometimes the only way to do anything useful with them is to extract much smaller subsets and analyze those instead.

A drone that flies (almost) like a bird

A drone has been equipped with feathers to increase its precision during flight. The bio-inspired device can spread or close its wings while flying, making it easier to maneuver and more resistant in high winds.

Rice, Baylor team sets new mark for 'deep learning'

Neuroscience and artificial intelligence experts from Rice University and Baylor College of Medicine have taken inspiration from the human brain in creating a new "deep learning" method that enables computers to learn about the visual world largely on their own, much as human babies do.

Smiley faced success for Japan's emoji creator

From a humble smiley face with a box mouth and inverted "V's" for eyes, crude weather symbols, and a rudimentary heart—emoji have now exploded into the world's fastest-growing language.

Thai junta passes controversial cyber-crime law

Thailand's rubber-stamp parliament on Friday passed a controversial cyber-crime law that critics say strengthens the junta's ability to police the web and squeeze out criticism.

Method for using focused ultrasound to noninvasively ablate tumors in deep tissue

Researchers from Lomonosov Moscow State University, in cooperation with colleagues from the University of Washington, have developed a method for designing therapeutic transducers that utilize nonlinear focused ultrasound for noninvasive ablation of tumors at deep tissue sites inside the body. Results of this study were recently published in the journal IEEE Transactions on Ultrasonics, Ferroelectrics, and Frequency Control.

Think twice before trusting a digital assistant to do the shopping

Online shopping for Christmas is likely to be very different in the not too distant future. While today we use search engines for information, in the years ahead we will increasingly rely on digital personal assistants, voice-activated digital helpers and our smart phones. These digital helpers will aid our shopping experience and reduce our search time. But these benefits may come at a cost.

How do we keep GPS safe from sabotage?

Aerial drones are already being used to televise football games, produce 3-D maps and tend farm fields. Uber, the giant ride-sharing company, is now testing a service with self-driving cars in Pittsburgh. China deploys unmanned patrol boats in the South China Sea. Rolls-Royce hopes to launch an unmanned cargo ship by 2020.

Rating systems may discriminate against Uber drivers

Many new "sharing economy" companies, like Uber and Airbnb, use consumer-sourced ratings to evaluate their workers – but these systems can be fraught with difficulties, including bias based on race or gender.

A startup's system for cleaning 3-D printed items could revolutionize additive manufacturing

The wonder of 3-D printing has a dirty little secret: It can be very tedious to clean away the support structures and extra material once an item is printed. And getting the item smooth and polished is another hurdle.

Syncing data center computers at the speed of light

When several computers need to work together, as when calculating in parallel on several parts of a single large problem or managing a large database, they need to keep in step. These situations are particularly common in large data centers that make up "the cloud" where institutions farm out their computing needs. So a Cornell computer scientist has come up with a new system, "Datacenter Time Protocol" (DTP), in which signals sent at the speed of light over fiber-optic cables between the computers enable them to stay in sync to within a few nanoseconds.

French cars lead EU list of low CO2 emitters, Ferrari fined

The European Union on Friday said luxury carmakers Ferrari and Aston Martin would receive a fine for exceeding their carbon emission targets, as French cars lead the way in lowering emissions.

Frustrated by self-checkout? Retailers look to smartphones to cut the line

Self-checkout is supposed to be a time-saver.

Delivery robots are showing up on city sidewalks

Designers of futuristic cityscapes envision delivery drones dropping off your packages from the sky and driverless cars taking you to work. But the robotic delivery invasion already has arrived in the form of machines that look like beer coolers on wheels scooting along the sidewalks.

Startup Ranker helps brands tailor ads

If Fox Searchlight Pictures wants to increase attendance at its new film "Jackie," it might consider pitching fans of "True Detective," "The Hunger Games" and Keira Knightley.

Startup Ransomly keeps phone addicts in check

Zack Prager, 39, doesn't like to wash the dishes. In fact, to the chagrin of his fiance, the San Diego software developer has been known to choose app time, particularly Facebook and Instagram time, over chores.

Without these ads, there wouldn't be money in fake news

It's never been easier to launch a wildly profitable online media empire. Whether you're an aspiring mommy blogger or political pundit, $10 gets you a URL and online storage. Fill out a short form and copy-paste some code to get ads on your website.

Review: Price right, service not with DirecTV Now

If you're looking for a low-cost alternative to pricey pay TV service, you've a got new option from AT&T.

Feds: No 'show-stoppers' found in nuke readiness review

U.S. Energy Department officials said Thursday no "show-stoppers" were found during an intensive review of whether the federal government's nuclear waste repository in southern New Mexico is ready to reopen following a radiation leak.

How to spot lies, 'fake news' and propaganda

The Pope has endorsed Donald Trump for president.

Intelligence in the abyss

Would you dive into a body of water populated by about 150 robots? That's what could happen if you were to fall off a "gondola" in the Venice lagoon, where scientists from an initiative of seven European research institutes, are giving birth to the world's largest population of autonomous robots.

Database of software 'fingerprints' expands to include mobile apps

A group of computer scientists at the National Institute of Standards and Technology (NIST) has been working for more than 15 years on an impossible task: to maintain an up-to-date archive of the world's software. Because the amount of software in circulation keeps growing, they will never enjoy the satisfaction of completing their assignment. But they have succeeded in creating the largest publicly known collection of its kind in the world.

FBI's DNA profiles to include more data, making them even more powerful at solving cases

As the new year approaches, forensic labs across the country are gearing up for a big change in the way they generate DNA profiles, the genetic fingerprints so useful in solving crimes and identifying the remains of missing persons. Forensic experts produce DNA profiles by extracting genetic material from blood or other biological evidence and analyzing sites in the DNA called markers.

Medicine & Health news

CRISPR study reveals unexpected roles of non-coding RNAs

UC San Francisco researchers have taken a major step toward understanding the function of the tens of thousands of human genes that do not code for proteins, a phenomenon considered one of the key remaining mysteries of the human genome. New findings , which focused on the roles of these genes in human cancer cells, suggest a possible new strategy for targeting the disease.

Lowering cholesterol to 'levels of a new-born' cuts heart attack risk

Reducing our cholesterol levels to those of a new-born baby significantly lowers the risk of cardiovascular disease, according to new research.

This is your brain on (legal) cannabis: Researchers seek answers

For those suffering depression or anxiety, using cannabis for relief may not be the long-term answer.

New bioinformatics tool tests methods for finding mutant genes that 'drive' cancer

In their search for new ways to treat cancer, many scientists are using a high-tech process called genome sequencing to hunt for genetic mutations that encourage tumor cells to thrive. To aid in this search, some researchers have developed new bioinformatics methods that each claim to help pinpoint the cancer-friendly mutants.

Turning therapeutic antibodies inside-out to fight cancer

Researchers at the University of California, Riverside have camels and llamas to thank for their development of a new cancer treatment that is highly selective in blocking the action of faulty matrix metalloproteinases (MMPs).

Investigating kidney biomarkers to track lupus

Lupus, a chronic autoimmune disease, can wreak havoc on an affected individual's body through inflammation, pain and even damage of the skin, joints and organs.

UK soft drinks industry levy estimated to have significant health benefits, especially among children

The UK soft drinks industry levy, due to be introduced in April 2018, is estimated to have significant health benefits, especially among children, according to the first study to estimate its health impact, published in The Lancet Public Health.

Mexico's overweight population inches up

Nearly three-quarters of Mexican adults are overweight or obese and their numbers have slightly increased in the past four years despite government programs to fight the epidemic, a government survey showed Thursday.

Burkina Faso team aims to beat malaria with soap

Thrusting their arm into a box full of hungry mosquitoes, a group of brave volunteers in a Burkina Faso laboratory test an innovative weapon in the fight against malaria—soap.

Big fine for Nurofen in Australia over misleading claims

Drug giant Reckitt Benckiser was slapped with a Aus$6 million (US$4.4 million) fine Friday for making misleading claims about its popular Nurofen Specific Pain brand in Australia.

Jury orders Gilead to pay Merck $2.5bn in patent case

A US jury has ordered pharmaceutical giant Gilead Sciences to pay $2.5 billion to competitor Merck in a patent infringement case involving a drug used to treat hepatitis C, the two companies said.

Researchers find genetic variants associated with susceptibility to mouth and throat cancer

A number of genetic variants associated with susceptibility to oral cavity and pharyngeal cancer have been described in an international study published in the journal Nature Genetics. The most noteworthy finding was an association between cancer of the oropharynx and certain polymorphisms (alternative versions of a given DNA sequence) found in the human leukocyte antigen (HLA) genomic region. HLAs, proteins found on the surfaces of most cells in the body, play an important role in recognizing potential threats and triggering the immune response to foreign substances.

Kinesiologists find that people enjoy high-intensity interval training more than standard workouts

Having a hard time getting in shape? The key may lie in more intense, short bursts of exercise, according to new research from McMaster.

Frequent sauna bathing protects men against dementia

Frequent sauna bathing can reduce the risk of dementia, according to a recent study carried out at the University of Eastern Finland. In a 20-year follow-up, men taking a sauna four to seven times a week were 66 percent less likely to be diagnosed with dementia than those taking a sauna once a week. The association between sauna bathing and dementia risk has not been previously investigated.

For children with autism, the holidays take planning and communication

The holidays can be challenging for families of children with autism spectrum disorder. Keys to success during the season are advance communication and planning, including making use of modern media, according to an expert at Baylor College of Medicine and Texas Children's Hospital.

Twenty-second test could identify frailty in hospitalized older adults

Falls and fall-related injuries are a common concern in older adults and can have significant consequences. For older adults who are hospitalized for ground-level falls, their level of frailty can be an important indicator of adverse health outcomes upon discharge. Experts at Baylor College of Medicine and the University of Arizona recently developed a 20-second upper-extremity function test to help identify frailty in this group of adults and found that the test can be used in the trauma setting to predict adverse outcomes in older adults after discharge. Their report appeared in the journal Gerontology.

Stem cell 'living bandage' for knee injuries trialled in humans

A 'living bandage' made from stem cells, which could revolutionise the treatment and prognosis of a common sporting knee injury, has been trialled in humans for the first time by scientists at the Universities of Liverpool and Bristol.

Researchers create exact 3-D models of patients' heart valves to assist cardiologists

Tens of thousands of patients each year are diagnosed with heart valve disease, with many in need of lifesaving surgery to treat the condition.

COPD – what causes the lungs to lose their ability to heal?

In chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD), the patients' lungs lose their ability to repair damages on their own. Scientists at the Helmholtz Zentrum München, partner in the German Center for Lung Research (DZL) now have a new idea as to why this might be so. In the Journal of Experimental Medicine, they blame the molecule Wnt5a for this problem.

After harsh light, a cheaper version of EpiPen from Mylan

Mylan is releasing a generic version of its emergency allergy treatment EpiPen at half the price of the branded option, the cost of which drew scorn from parents nationwide and spawned Congressional inquiries.

How to know when holiday drinking is hurting your brain

For many, the holidays are indeed the most wonderful time of the year. Families and friends come together and enjoy food, good cheer – and, often, alcohol.

Lower life expectancy likely caused by lifestyle choices

For the first time in two decades, the life expectancy of Americans declined slightly, and the overall death rate rose, according to a report from the National Center for Health Statistics.

Brain technique improves cognitive control

A cutting edge, non-invasive brain stimulation technique could improve cognitive control for people with conditions such as schizophrenia and autism.

Attempting to remember may hinder intuitive 'gut feeling'

You might think that remembering a specific thing – say, the price of a can of corn – would help you when trying to make a specific determination, like if the corn costs more this week than last.

Trust in government tied to compliance with public health policies

A lack of faith in government institutions' ability to prevent the spread of disease can lead citizens to disregard government-issued disease control measures, a new study suggests.

How much do we know about the psychology of violence?

Violence is one of society's biggest, most tragic problems. The human cost of violent crime is all too obvious: victims, perpetrators and witnesses all suffer. Violence occurs on an enormous scale: in 2014-15, there were 1.3m violent incidents reported in England and Wales alone. The financial impact is staggering, too: violent crime was estimated to have cost the UK £124 billion in the year 2012 – that's 7.7% of the nation's GDP.

Certain high blood pressure drugs block cancer invasion

Researchers at the University of Turku, Finland have identified a new way of blocking the spread of cancer. Calcium channel blockers, which are used to lower blood pressure, block breast and pancreatic cancer invasion by inhibiting cellular structures.

The effects of holiday stress on your body and mind

While you bake, deck the halls and try to pick out the perfect gift, there are stressors on your body that you may not recognize that are affecting your overall well-being. It may be no coincidence you get that annual flu or cold in December in addition to feeling like your pants were shrunk in the dryer.

Lack of education doubles the chance of heart attack

Leaving school early more than doubles your risk of heart attack, according to a new Australian study.

Zika-linked birth defects more extensive than previously thought, research finds

New UCLA-led research finds that Zika-linked abnormalities that occur in human fetuses are more extensive—and severe—than previously thought, with 46 percent of 125 pregnancies among Zika-infected women resulting in birth defects in newborns or ending in fetal death.

Avoiding over-the-counter heartburn meds could save cancer patients' lives

Something as seemingly harmless as a heartburn pill could lead cancer patients to take a turn for the worse. A University of Alberta study published in journal JAMA Oncology discovered that proton pump inhibitors (PPIs), which are very common medications for heartburn and gastrointestinal bleeding, decrease effects of capecitabine, a type of chemotherapy usually prescribed to gastric cancer patients.

Researchers uncover why morning people should not work at night

It has been known for a long time that early risers work less efficiently at night than night owls do. But researchers from the Higher School of Economics and Oxford University have uncovered new and distinctive features between the night activities of these two types of individuals. At night, early risers demonstrate a quicker reaction time when solving unusual attention-related tasks than night owls, but these early risers make more mistakes along the way.

A cure for social anxiety disorders: Cognitive therapy shown to be most effective treatment

Social phobia is the most common anxiety disorder of our time. But the current treatment regimen for patients with this diagnosis has not proven very effective. Norwegian and British researchers spent 10 years studying alternative treatments to find that cognitive therapy works best for social anxiety disorders.

Study finds link between HIV treatment and neuronal degeneration

Antiretroviral drugs have been life-changing therapies for HIV patients, but they can have significant side effects.

Home visits uncover fuller picture of challenges among low-income adults with asthma

Nationally, the highest rates of asthma-related deaths and hospitalizations are among low-income minority adults, but most existing research doesn't focus on these patients. In particular, studies may not investigate patients where they live, in complicated, difficult circumstances. Many adult asthma patients have multiple diseases and exposure to tobacco smoke, but much research reflects the convenience of recruiting patients in clinics and on the relative simplicity of studying patients who do not have accompanying diseases such as hypertension, diabetes, and obesity.

Privacy concerns keep some young Americans from sexual health services

(HealthDay)—Young people may abstain from seeking sexual and reproductive health care because they fear their parents will find out, a U.S. government report suggests.

Minority women less likely to get breast cancer screening

(HealthDay)—Black and Hispanic women are less likely than white women to be screened for breast cancer, a large review finds.

SIOP scale best for detecting ototoxicity with cisplatin Tx

(HealthDay)—The Society for Industrial and Organizational Psychology Ototoxicity Scale (SIOP) seems to be best for classifying ototoxicity in cisplatin-treated pediatric patients, according to a study published online Dec. 12 in the Journal of Clinical Oncology.

Medical service use down with deductibles in diabetes

(HealthDay)—Lower-income patients with diabetes and private insurance with a low (LD) or high deductible (HD) have reduced medical service use, according to a study published online Dec. 12 in Diabetes Care.

'Zombie' outbreak in NYC caused by synthetic cannabinoid

(HealthDay)—Synthetic cannabis that triggered a "zombie" outbreak in a New York City neighborhood last summer was significantly more potent than real cannabis, according to a study published online Dec. 14 in the New England Journal of Medicine.

Microsurgical head and neck reconstruction is cost-effective

(HealthDay)—For patients with squamous cell carcinoma (SCC), microsurgical head and neck reconstruction is cost-effective compared with locoregional flaps, according to a study published online Nov. 29 in Head & Neck.

MRI has a role to play after negative prostate biopsy

(HealthDay)—Magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) and MRI-targeted biopsies have a role in the diagnosis and treatment of patients with a prior negative prostate biopsy, according to a review published in the December issue of The Journal of Urology.

New diagnostic test kit offers easy identification of virulent pathogens in remote locations

A team of researchers has developed a portable detection system that can rapidly identify some of the most virulent, often multi-drug resistant pathogens. This device was designed to be used in places where laboratory resources are lacking, such as isolated villages in developing countries. The research is published December 16th in Applied and Environmental Microbiology, a journal of the American Society for Microbiology.

Guards of the human immune system unraveled

Dendritic cells represent an important component of the immune system: they recognize and engulf invaders, which subsequently triggers a pathogen-specific immune response. Scientists of the University Hospital Erlangen of the Friedrich-Alexander-University Erlangen-Nürnberg (FAU) and the LIMES (Life and Medical Sciences) Institute of the University of Bonn gained substantial knowledge of human dendritic cells, which might contribute to the development of immune therapies in the future. The results were recently published in the journal Science Immunology.

Early surgery increases risk of death for some uterine cancer patients, study finds

Delaying surgery after a diagnosis of uterine cancer can increase a women's risk of death, but operating too soon can be just as detrimental for some, Penn Medicine physicians report in a new study published in the American Journal of Obstetrics and Gynecology. In the study, women who had surgery (usually to remove the uterus) within the first two weeks after diagnosis had a significantly increased risk of death within five years, compared to those who had surgery three or four weeks after their initial diagnosis.

Hookah tobacco labels are misleading, researchers find

Label information on many hookah tobacco products is misleading and may be misinterpreted by consumers, according to new research on nicotine and pH levels in hookah tobacco.

A potential pharmaceutical intervention for co-occurring PTSD and substance use disorder

N-acetylcysteine, when combined with group cognitive behavioral therapy (CBT), reduced symptoms of posttraumatic stress disorder (PTSD), cravings, and depression significantly more than CBT alone in veterans with co-occurring PTSD and substance use disorder, a particularly difficult-to-treat population, according to the findings of a randomized controlled pilot trial conducted by researchers at the Medical University of South Carolina (MUSC) and the Ralph H. Johnson VA Medical Center.

Drug overdose deaths rise significantly in past five years

Drug overdose deaths have increased by 33 percent in the past five years across the country, with some states seeing jumps of nearly 200 percent.

Barn dances bring joy and relief to veterans with PTSD

Nothing puts a smile on Roosevelt Smith's face quite like dancing. It helps him forget, for a while, the post-traumatic stress disorder he's had since the Gulf War.

HealthCare.gov moves sign up deadline to 11:59 PM PST Monday

The Obama administration is giving consumers a few extra days to sign up on HealthCare.gov in time for health insurance coverage to take effect Jan. 1.

Enhancing positive development in youths

Authoritative parenting is significantly linked to positive youth development, according to a recent study published in the Pertanika Journal of Social Sciences & Humanities (JSSH).

This GI test could help patients avoid a hospital stay

Symptoms of possible upper GI bleeding (UGIB) are a leading cause of hospital admissions through emergency departments. But according to a new study, use of capsule endoscopy can avoid many unnecessary hospital admissions in patients with these symptoms. The study, "Use of capsule endoscopy in the emergency department as a triage of patients with GI bleeding," appears in the December issue of GIE: Gastrointestinal Endoscopy, the peer-reviewed journal of the American Society for Gastrointestinal Endoscopy (ASGE).

Study estimates 1,900 arrest-related deaths occurred in US between June 2015-May 2016

An estimated 1,900 people died in the United States during arrest or while in police custody June 2015 through May 2016, according to a new report by the Bureau of Justice Statistics and RTI International.

Children dying preventable deaths from congenital heart disease

Over one million children are born with congenital heart disease (CHD) each year. When children with CHD receive timely treatment, 85% can survive into adulthood to live healthy, productive lives. Sadly, 90% of the children with CHD live in poor regions with little or no access to care. Congenital heart disease and other serious birth defects are among the top five causes of death of children worldwide.

AMP issues joint guideline to standardize interpretation and reporting of sequence variants in cancer

The Association for Molecular Pathology (AMP), the premier global, non-profit molecular diagnostics professional society, today published guideline recommendations for both clinical laboratory professionals and oncologists that assess the status of next-generation sequencing (NGS)-based cancer tests and establish standardized classification, annotation, interpretation, and reporting conventions for somatic sequence variants. The new guideline was developed by a Working Group comprised of representatives from major professional associations whose members provide professional testing and treatment services to cancer patients.

First data on rare sarcomas in Asian patients presented

The first data on rare sarcomas in Asian patients is presented in three studies today at the ESMO Asia 2016 Congress in Singapore. Just half of patients with advanced angiosarcoma received chemotherapy even though it improved overall survival. CIC-rearranged sarcomas are shown to have a much worse prognosis than BCOR-rearranged sarcomas and clinical features are identified to aid accurate diagnoses.

Listeria infections stable but frequently reported among the elderly

Listeriosis affected about 2,200 people in 2015, causing 270 deaths - the highest number ever reported in the EU. The proportion of cases in the over 64 age group steadily increased from 56% in 2008 to 64% in 2015. Additionally, in this period, the number of reported cases and their proportion has almost doubled in those over 84 years.

Actavis UK accused of overcharging hydrocortisone drug

British regulators have accused Actavis UK of charging excessive and unfair prices after the pharmaceutical company increased the price of some hydrocortisone tablets by more than 12,000 percent.

Signaling pathways in the pathogenesis of diamond blackfan anemia

Diamond Blackfan Anemia (DBA) is a condition that is characterized by a failure of the bone marrow to produce red blood cells, congenital abnormalities, and a predisposition to cancer. Current treatment options, including steroid treatments and chronic transfusions, can lead to significant morbidity. Therefore, investigation into molecular mechanisms that drive DBA is critical to saving the lives of patients suffering from this disease.

Texas begins implementing $350M in Medicaid therapy cuts

Some $350 million in cuts to a Texas Medicaid program providing therapy for disabled children have taken effect.

US drops bold warning from anti-smoking pills Chantix, Zyban

U.S. health regulators on Friday removed a bold-letter warning from Pfizer's anti-smoking drug Chantix about risks of dangerous psychiatric side effects.

Biology news

New structure shows how cells assemble protein-making machinery

Scientists at The Rockefeller University have created the most detailed three-dimensional images to date of an important step in the process by which cells make the nano-machines responsible for producing all-important protein. The results, described December 15 in Science, are prompting the researchers to re-evaluate how they envision this early phase in the construction of ribosomes.

Experts weigh in on impact of new US restrictions on seafood imports

(Phys.org)—A small team of ocean experts from the U.S. and Canada has published a Policy Forum piece in the journal Science outlining the possible impact of imminent restrictions on seafood imports into the United States. In their paper, they also suggest ways to reduce the likely negative impact on small countries that export seafood products but do not have the wherewithal to comply with the new U.S. rules.

Devastating mites jump nimbly from flowers to honeybees

Mites that infest honeybees may be blind with tiny brains, but make no mistake: When a bee sidles up next to them, they are surprisingly quick-footed.

CRISPR-based single-cell genetics platform enables rapid analysis of critical gene networks

Researchers from UC San Francisco and the Broad Institute of MIT and Harvard have developed a new method for performing high-throughput functional screening of complex genetic interactions and resulting phenotypes in single cells, which they have dubbed "Perturb-seq."

Orcas seen killing and eating beaked whale and sevengill shark

(Phys.org)—Two unrelated and rare instances of orcas killing and eating other ocean creatures has been witnessed and documented—one off the coast of California, the other off the coast of Australia. In one incident, the action was caught by a drone pilot out for a day of fun—he captured video of an orca killing a sevengill shark that was subsequently passed around for consumption by several other orcas. In the second, a team of researchers studying orcas off Australia's southern coast reported observing orcas capturing and killing beaked whales on four occasions. They have published their findings in a paper they have uploaded to the open access site PLOS ONE.

Research in worms provides a model to study how the microbiome influences disease in humans

The billions of microorganisms living within the human digestive tract appear to play a significant role in health and disease, notably metabolic syndrome, autoimmune disorders and diabetes – but how these organisms do so is not well understood. Researchers at the Buck Institute have used worms to provide a framework for deciphering how specific bacterial signals from the microbiome influence the host, whether the host is a worm or a human.

Rapid population decline among vertebrates began with industrialization

Rapid population decline among vertebrate species began at the end of the 19th century when industrialization was at its peak, according to researchers at The University of Texas Health Science Center at Houston (UTHealth) and the Chinese Academy of Sciences. The research was recently published in Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences.

Early action key to reducing sea lion impacts on salmon, new study finds

A new study used the same kind of models that scientists use to track disease to instead examine how some California sea lions have learned to prey on salmon gathering to ascend fish ladders at Bonneville Dam.

Many GMO studies have financial conflicts of interest

Financial conflicts of interest were found in 40 percent of published research articles on the genetically modified crops, also known as GMO crops, French researchers said this week.

S. Korea issues top bird flu alert

South Korea on Friday issued its top bird flu alert for the first time, giving officials extra powers to contain an outbreak that has already triggered the slaughter of more than 10 percent of national poultry stocks.

Burning ivory, waging war: world battles poaching in 2016

It was one of the most momentous events in the battle against poaching: 11 giant pyres of elephant tusks going up in flames in Kenya as the world looked on.

Links discovered between plant complex type N-glycans and hay fever

Okayama University researchers identify plants expressing substantial amounts of a nitrogen-linked polysaccharide – plant complex type N-glycans – which is linked to allergic responses in mammals, and may provide useful study models for understanding hay fever.

Researchers investigate ancient species in Gulf of Alaska

Invasive species have shaped island ecosystems and landscapes in the Gulf of Alaska, but their histories are unknown. In a study by the University of Oklahoma, Boston University and the Smithsonian Conservation Biology Institute, researchers investigated the archaeological and genetic history of the Arctic ground squirrel on Chirikof Island, Alaska. This small mammal has the ability to affect vegetation and seabirds on these islands and was introduced across much of this region as part of the historic fox farming industry.

Internet data could boost conservation

Businesses routinely use internet data to learn about customers and increase profits - and similar techniques could be used to boost conservation.

Outdoor recreation in protected areas negatively impacts wildlife

It's a good thing to explore the great outdoors. But a new study led by Colorado State University and the Wildlife Conservation Society found that recreation activities in protected areas are impacting wildlife. More often than not, the impact appears in negative ways.

Researchers develop new test, better understanding of deadly infection in boas and pythons

Inclusion body disease is a serious, chronic viral infection of snakes and can be devastating in captive reptile populations. Now, a newly published study in The Veterinary Journal sheds light on the disease, and may help veterinary care teams better protect the health of their populations of large snakes. The study was funded in part by a grant from Morris Animal Foundation.

A compact chip realizing highly precise simultaneous single-cell analysis of 100 cells

Hitachi announced the development of a compact 1-mm square chip that can efficiently analyze small amounts of various genetic material, specifically mRNA, expressed from DNA with high precision. The chip is able to precisely extract and analyze the various types of mRNA which only exist in minute quantities at any one time - 15 molecules per cell in a maximum sample of 100 cells. In general, a few hundred to thousands of cell analyses are required to accurately characterize biological tissue. A demonstration experiment confirmed that the genetic material of 2000 cells could be simultaneously analyzed with high precision using a prototype device on which these chips are arranged in parallel. The results indicated that the characteristics of entire tissue, such as cancer, as well as those of individual cells, could be understood at the same time. This result will contribute to accelerating the elucidation of disease mechanisms as well as the development of treatment methods.

Paris seeks high ground in fight to keep rats underground

Gazing upward to take in the majesty of the Eiffel Tower, visitors to Paris may be astonished to learn that a vicious war, pitting Man against Rat, is unfolding at their feet.

Bird flu hits British turkey farm

Britain on Friday announced the discovery of a highly contagious strain of bird flu at a turkey farm, and sought to allay fears the outbreak could affect the traditional Christmas meal.


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