Monday, January 9, 2017

Science X Newsletter Monday, Jan 9

Dear Reader ,

Here is your customized Science X Newsletter for January 9, 2017:

Spotlight Stories Headlines

Study suggests computational role for neurons that prevent other neurons from firing

Some catalysts contribute their own oxygen for reactions

What did Big Data find when it analyzed 150 years of British history?

Hubble detects 'exocomets' taking the plunge into a young star

Study characterizes key molecular tool in DNA repair enzymes

New personality model sets up how we see ourselves—and how others see us

Large-scale tornado outbreaks increasing in frequency, study finds

SpaceX set to launch again Monday

Scientists watch growing Antarctic crack but aren't alarmed

Virtual reality seeks momentum at CES gadget gala

Robots show their 'personality' at big tech show

Cities vie to hop on super-speedy hyperloop rail

Hoverboards make comeback at Vegas electronics show

Smartphone revolution blazes on as iPhone turns 10

The hidden artist of the Soviet space programme

Astronomy & Space news

Hubble detects 'exocomets' taking the plunge into a young star

Interstellar forecast for a nearby star: Raining comets! NASA's Hubble Space Telescope has discovered comets plunging onto the star HD 172555, which is a youthful 23 million years old and resides 95 light-years from Earth.

SpaceX set to launch again Monday

SpaceX plans to resume flights of its Falcon 9 rocket on Monday, after pinning down the cause of a launchpad explosion that destroyed a satellite in September, a spokesman said.

The hidden artist of the Soviet space programme

When Galina Balashova designed her first space habitation module for Soviet cosmonauts, she drew a landscape on its interior wall, something that could remind them of home.

Black holes hide in our cosmic backyard

Monster black holes sometimes lurk behind gas and dust, hiding from the gaze of most telescopes. But they give themselves away when material they feed on emits high-energy X-rays that NASA's NuSTAR (Nuclear Spectroscopic Telescope Array) mission can detect. That's how NuSTAR recently identified two gas-enshrouded supermassive black holes, located at the centers of nearby galaxies.

Scientists close in on the true mass of the Milky Way

It's a problem of galactic complexity, but researchers are getting closer to accurately measuring the mass of the Milky Way Galaxy.

Detecting the intense green glow from the youngest galaxies to determine galactic evolution

Galaxies in the young universe were forming stars at 10- to 50-times higher rates than their modern-day counterparts, such as our Milky Way. A recent study has found that they were not merely scaled up versions of star-forming regions seen today. Instead, UCLA Professor Matthew Malkan and several collaborators have found that the earliest galaxies were "going green."

Hubble captures 'shadow play' caused by possible planet

Eerie mysteries in the universe can be betrayed by simple shadows. The wonder of a solar eclipse is produced by the moon's shadow, and over 1,000 planets around other stars have been cataloged by the shadow they cast when passing in front of their parent star. Astronomers were surprised to see a huge shadow sweeping across a disk of dust and gas encircling a nearby, young star. They have a bird's-eye view of the disk, because it is tilted face-on to Earth, and the shadow sweeps around the disk like the hands moving around a clock. But, unlike the hands of a clock, the shadow takes 16 years to make one rotation.

The Milky Way's black hole is spewing out planet-size 'spitballs'

Every few thousand years, an unlucky star wanders too close to the black hole at the center of the Milky Way. The black hole's powerful gravity rips the star apart, sending a long streamer of gas whipping outward. That would seem to be the end of the story, but it's not. New research shows that not only can the gas gather itself into planet-size objects, but those objects then are flung throughout the galaxy in a game of cosmic "spitball."

Image: Mars Reconnaissance Orbiter captures the Earth and its moon

From the most powerful telescope orbiting Mars comes a new view of Earth and its moon, showing continent-size detail on the planet and the relative size of the moon.

Astronomers predict explosion that will change the night sky in 2022

Calvin College professor Larry Molnar and his students along with colleagues from Apache Point Observatory (Karen Kinemuchi) and the University of Wyoming (Henry Kobulnicky) are predicting a change to the night sky that will be visible to the naked eye.

Outflowing gas in ultraluminous galaxies

Galaxies evolve over billions of years in part through the activity of star formation and their supermassive nuclear black holes, and also by mergers with other galaxies. Some features of galaxies, in particular the strong correlations found between the mass of the central black hole and properties like galaxy velocity structure or luminosity, imply a fundamental connection between the growth of the nuclear black hole and the assembly of stars on a global scale. Feedback of some kind is therefore expected to explain these tight correlations, and astronomers have been working to identify and study it. One prominent suggestion for feedback is the presence of warm outflowing gas, powered by new stars but which would deplete the galaxy of the raw material needed for making new stars, and/or for enhancing the black hole mass.

Asymmetric structure in the supermassive black hole at the galaxy's center

The supermassive black hole candidate at the center of our Galaxy (associated with the radio source Sgr A*) is a prime candidate for studying the physical phenomena associated with accretion on to a supermassive black hole. Sgr A* is thought to accrete at an extremely low rate; analogous situations in X-ray binary stars suggest that a jet may be present, making it challenging to formulate a fully self-consistent model that simultaneously explains its spectrum, its variability, its size and its shape. Because Sgr A* is by far the closest supermassive black hole, its expected angular size (the shadow cast from its event horizon) is the largest of any known black hole candidate, making it a prime target for studies using very long baseline interferometry at mm wavelengths, which are capable of reaching spatial resolutions comparable to the expected shadow size.

Study crashes main Moon-formation theory

The Moon, our planet's constant companion for some 4.5 billion years, may have been forged by a rash of smaller bodies smashing into an embryonic Earth, researchers said Monday.

How a moon slows the decay of Pluto's atmosphere

Pluto's relationship with its moon Charon is one of the more unusual interactions in the solar system due to Charon's size and proximity. It's more than half of Pluto's diameter and orbits only 12,000 or so miles away. To put that into perspective, picture our moon three times closer to Earth, and as large as Mars.

Weather delays resumption of SpaceX's rocket launches

Bad weather has postponed SpaceX's plan to resume flights of its Falcon 9 rocket until at least January 14, the California-based private space firm said.

LIGO expected to detect more binary black hole mergers

The Laser Interferometer Gravitational-wave Observatory (LIGO) broke the news almost one year ago about the first-ever direct observation of gravitational waves. Now, LIGO scientists hope that this year could yield even more breakthrough findings in astronomy.

Scientists prepare for the great American eclipse of August 21

Astronomer Jay Pasachoff is busy exciting people about their chance to experience the August 21, 2017, total solar eclipse, whose path of totality will sweep across the United States from coast to coast. He is leading an international team of astronomers in preparing scientific observations to study the sun's outer layer, the solar corona, and also the effect of the eclipse on the Earth's atmosphere. To attendees of the American Astronomical Society's meeting in Grapevine, Texas, this week, Pasachoff presented a paper about scientific observations of solar eclipses and a second paper about matters of outreach and education at all levels relevant to the eclipse. He also participated in a splinter session on eclipse preparations and in a science-writer's seminar.

VLT to search for planets in Alpha Centauri system

ESO has signed an agreement with the Breakthrough Initiatives to adapt the Very Large Telescope instrumentation in Chile to conduct a search for planets in the nearby star system Alpha Centauri. Such planets could be the targets for an eventual launch of miniature space probes by the Breakthrough Starshot initiative.

Lars Bildsten wins 2017 Dannie Heineman Prize for Astrophysics

The American Institute of Physics (AIP) and the American Astronomical Society (AAS) announced today, on behalf of the Heineman Foundation for Research, Educational, Charitable, and Scientific Purposes, that California astrophysicist Lars Bildsten is the winner of the 2017 Heineman Prize for Astrophysics, a distinguished honor awarded annually to recognize significant contributions to the field.

Technology news

Study suggests computational role for neurons that prevent other neurons from firing

Researchers at MIT's Computer Science and Artificial Intelligence Laboratory have developed a new computational model of a neural circuit in the brain, which could shed light on the biological role of inhibitory neurons—neurons that keep other neurons from firing.

What did Big Data find when it analyzed 150 years of British history?

What could be learnt about the world if you could read the news from over 100 local newspapers for a period of 150 years? This is what a team of Artificial Intelligence (AI) researchers from the University of Bristol have done, together with a social scientist and a historian, who had access to 150 years of British regional newspapers.

Virtual reality seeks momentum at CES gadget gala

Virtual reality sought its stride Friday at the Consumer Electronics Show, where despite being a hot topic there was little sign it is racing into mainstream culture.

Robots show their 'personality' at big tech show

Professor Einstein rolls his eyes, sticks out his tongue, and can give a simple explanation of the theory of relativity. With his lifelike rubbery "skin" and bushy mustache, he can almost make you forget he's a robot.

Cities vie to hop on super-speedy hyperloop rail

US startup Hyperloop One disclosed a list of locations around the world vying to put near-supersonic rail transit system to the test.

Hoverboards make comeback at Vegas electronics show

Hoverboards are aiming for a comeback after a series of debacles and recalls for the quirky wheeled personal transport devices.

Smartphone revolution blazes on as iPhone turns 10

The smartphone continues to change the world a decade after the debut of the iPhone, even as Apple is under pressure to come up with a new wonder.

The future of car tech: getting to know you

The car of the future doesn't just want to drive you. It wants to know you.

For 'intelligent' robot, chess is just a hobby

A robot developed by engineers in Taiwan can pour coffee and move chess pieces on a board against an opponent, but he's looking for a real job.

Which strawberry do I eat? Ask your smartphone

(Tech Xplore)—Just when you were getting bored with all the gee-whiz marketing claims of smartphones comes an eye-grabbing feature likely to stir some curiosity.

Waymo self-driving minivan will start test drives this month

Waymo, Google's self-driving car division, will start testing its new fleet of minivans on public roads in California and Arizona later this month.

Emerging tech aims to improve life for handicapped

Emerging technology is giving new hope for the handicapped, and harnessing brainwaves for the physically disabled and helping the visually impaired with "artificial vision" are just the start.

Chinese humanoid robot turns on the charm in Shanghai

"Jia Jia" can hold a simple conversation and make specific facial expressions when asked, and her creator believes the eerily life-like robot heralds a future of cyborg labour in China.

China takes global lead in clean energy: report

China's overseas investment in renewable energy projects jumped last year by 60 percent to a record $32 billion (30 billion euros), marking its leadership in the global market for clean energy, a report said Friday.

Canada competition bureau drops probe of Apple

Canada's competition watchdog announced Friday it is closing its two-year investigation into whether Apple's contracts with local wireless carriers illegally stifled competition when it introduced the iPhone.

Finland's HMD to launch new Nokia phone to run on Android

The Nokia mobile phone is coming back.

Study shows how phishing scams thrive on overconfidence

A new study by H.R. Rao, AT&T Distinguished Chair in Infrastructure Assurance and Security at The University of Texas at San Antonio (UTSA), examines overconfidence in detecting phishing e-mails. According to Rao, most people believe they're smarter than the criminals behind these schemes, which is why so many fall easily into a trap.

Highlights of 2017 Consumer Electronics Show

Here are some key highlights of the 2017 International Consumer Electronics Show, which concluded Sunday:

Technology pours into happy hour

The array of products featured at the Consumer Electronics Show flowed into all aspects of modern life—even freshening up happy hour.

At CES, tech moves into the nursery

As technology caters to an ever-younger crowd, developers are creating new tools for infants and their parents, and even aiming at the yet-to-be born.

Chevy Bolt gets top car award; Pacifica top utility vehicle (Update)

The Chevy Bolt has been named top car in North America, an important milestone for a car General Motors hopes will finally get Americans hooked on electric vehicles.

Building a Google for the dark web

In today's data-rich world, companies, governments and individuals want to analyze anything and everything they can get their hands on – and the World Wide Web has loads of information. At present, the most easily indexed material from the web is text. But as much as 89 to 96 percent of the content on the internet is actually something else – images, video, audio, in all thousands of different kinds of nontextual data types.

America's crumbling infrastructure

No matter how big the issue—national security, health care, gun rights—it's been nearly impossible for Washington lawmakers to find common ground given the deep rancor and partisan division among them. But fixing the nation's aging, crumbling infrastructure seems that rare area where everyone from the conservative U.S. Chamber of Commerce to progressive Democrats see the need for action.

Nokia had the world's best smartphone – then came the 'inferior' iPhone

Ten years ago, anyone who wanted the latest and best smartphone was excited about the Nokia N95. Launched at the Nokia Open Studio in September 2006, it was trumpeted as the all-in-one multimedia computer and went on to achieve sales of a million handsets within the UK in its first year.

Cellphone, Wi-Fi coverage goes live at NYC subway stations

Cellphone and Wi-Fi coverage is now being provided for commuters at each of New York City's many underground subway stations, one year ahead of schedule.

How on earth does geotagging work?

In an increasingly digital world, we don't always consider where on earth the information we find online comes from.

Controversial nuclear power plant near New York to close

The controversial Indian Point nuclear plant near New York will close in 2021, a casualty of low energy prices and relentless criticism by environmentalists, the power company announced Monday.

Honda unveils new Odyssey in small, scrappy minivan market

A veteran player in the small but scrappy minivan segment is getting a major upgrade.

State election systems to get more federal aid for security

Citing increasingly sophisticated cyber bad actors and an election infrastructure that's "vital to our national interests," Homeland Security Secretary Jeh Johnson is designating U.S. election systems critical infrastructure, a move that provides more federal help for state and local governments to keep their election systems safe from tampering.

Energy boss: Nuke dump reopens but work remains

The reopening of the nation's only underground nuclear waste repository nearly three years after a radiation leak marks a key step toward cleaning up a decadeslong legacy of bomb-making and research, but the U.S. energy secretary said more needs to be done before a backlog of contaminated material starts heading to the New Mexico desert again.

New tool helps cities to plan electric bus routes, and calculate the benefits

The recent rollout of Sweden's first wireless charging buses was accompanied by a tool for cities to determine the environmental and financial benefits of introducing their own electrified bus networks.

The Latest: Volvo testing self-driving cars with real people

The Latest from the annual North American International Auto Show in Detroit (all times local):

Wheels to Watch: BMW 5 Series, Kia sports car, Mercedes GLA

From hot-selling SUVs of all sizes to the a redesign for the Toyota Camry, the top-selling car in the U.S., the 2017 North American International Auto Show has a diverse lineup of new vehicles.

Medicine & Health news

New personality model sets up how we see ourselves—and how others see us

A new model for identifying personality traits may help organizations save money by improving the hiring process and with evaluating employee performance.

Bilingualism may save brain resources as you age

New research findings show that bilingual people are great at saving brain power, that is. To do a task, the brain recruits different networks, or the highways on which different types of information flow, depending on the task to be done. The team of Ana Inés Ansaldo, PhD, a researcher at the Centre de recherche de l'Institut universitaire de gériatrie de Montréal and a professor at Université de Montréal, compared what are known as functional brain connections between seniors who are monolingual and seniors who are bilingual. Her team established that years of bilingualism change how the brain carries out tasks that require concentrating on one piece of information without becoming distracted by other information. This makes the brain more efficient and economical with its resources.

Researchers identify new potential treatment for cancer metastasis

Breast cancer metastasis, the process by which cancer spreads, may be prevented through the new use of a class of drugs already approved by the U.S. Food and Drug Administration.

Natural tooth repair method, using Alzheimer's drug, could revolutionize dental treatments

A new method of stimulating the renewal of living stem cells in tooth pulp using an Alzheimer's drug has been discovered by a team of researchers at King's College London.

Researchers identify differences in the brains of people at high risk of bipolar disorder

Young people with bipolar disorder and those at high genetic risk of developing the illness have weak connections in the emotional areas of their brains, a world-first Australian study has found. 

Partially developed brain found in young girl's ovary

(MedicalXpress)—A team of surgeons performing a routine appendectomy on a young woman also found and removed a tumor they noticed growing on their patient's ovary. Subsequent analysis of the tumor by researchers with the Shiga Medical Centre for Adults in Japan revealed that the tumor contained a teratoma with a brain-like structure along with a partially developed skull bone and hair fragments. They have published their findings in the journal Neuropathology.

Gene could play role in body's muscle mass

Scientists have identified a gene they think could play a role in determining a person's muscle mass - which is linked to a number of health factors, including how long someone lives.

New insights into mechanisms of breast cancer development and resistance to therapy

Why does breast cancer develop and how come certain patients are resistant to established therapies? Researchers from the University of Basel have gained new insights into the molecular processes in breast tissue. They identified the tumor suppressor LATS as a key player in the development and treatment of breast cancer. The journal Nature has published the results today.

'Weekend warriors' have lower risk of death from cancer, cardiovascular disease

The finding suggests that less frequent bouts of activity, which might fit more easily into a busy lifestyle, offer significant health benefits, even in the obese and those with medical risk factors.

Prostate cancer researchers find genetic fingerprint identifying how, when disease spreads

Canadian prostate cancer researchers have discovered the genetic fingerprint that explains why up to 30 per cent of men with potentially curable localized prostate cancer develop aggressive disease that spreads following radiotherapy or surgery.

Crohn's disease risk and prognosis determined by different genes, study finds

Researchers have identified a series of genetic variants that affect the severity of Crohn's disease, an inflammatory bowel disease - but surprisingly, none of these variants appear to be related to an individual's risk of developing the condition in the first place.

The science of baby's first sight

When a newborn opens her eyes, she does not see well at all. You, the parent, are a blurry shape of light and dark. Soon, though, her vision comes online. Your baby will recognize you, and you can see it in her eyes. Then baby looks beyond you and that flash of recognition fades. She can't quite make out what's out the window. It's another blurry world of shapes and light. But within a few months, she can see the trees outside. Her entire world is coming into focus.

Neural connection keeps instincts in check

From fighting the urge to hit someone to resisting the temptation to run off stage instead of giving that public speech, we are often confronted with situations where we have to curb our instincts. Scientists at EMBL have traced exactly which neuronal projections prevent social animals like us from acting out such impulses. The study, published online today in Nature Neuroscience, could have implications for schizophrenia and mood disorders like depression.

Experiments in mice may help boost newly FDA-approved therapy for spinal muscular atrophy

Johns Hopkins researchers along with academic and drug industry investigators say they have identified a new biological target for treating spinal muscular atrophy. They report they have evidence that an experimental medicine aimed at this target works as a "booster" in conjunction with a drug called Nusinersen that was recently FDA-approved to improve symptoms of the disorder in mice.

Brain impairments in premature infants may begin in the womb

Even before they are born, premature babies may display alterations in the circuitry of their developing brains, according to a first-of-its kind research study by Yale School of Medicine researchers and their colleagues at the National Institutes of Health (NIH) and Wayne State University.

The strange double life of Dab2: Cancer protein also plays role in fat storage

Sometimes proteins do a lot more than we expect. Dab2, for example, has long been linked to cancer. The molecule is associated with a chain of signaling proteins called the Ras-MAPK pathway. In many cancers, elements of Ras-MAPK mutate and start telling cells to grow uncontrollably.

Fixing overuse and underuse of medical care can improve health and save money

Launched today by The Lancet, the 'Right Care Series' features major commentaries by Vikas Saini (Lown Institute, Boston), Adam Elshaug (University of Sydney), Paul Glasziou (Bond University), Don Berwick (Institute for Healthcare Improvement, Cambridge, MA) and others who examine the areas and extent of overuse and underuse of health and medical services.

How Spain achieved a remarkably high rate of deceased organ donation

Spain is leading the world in deceased organ donation. A new article published in the American Journal of Transplantation contains important information that can help other countries learn from the success of the Spanish system to help address the worldwide problem of transplant organ shortages.

Has the Affordable Care Act reduced socioeconomic disparities in cancer screening?

Out-of-pocket expenditures are thought to be a significant barrier to receiving cancer preventive services, especially for individuals of lower socioeconomic status. A new study looks at how the Affordable Care Act (ACA), which eliminated such out-of-pocket expenditures, has affected the use of mammography and colonoscopy. Published early online in Cancer, a peer-reviewed journal of the American Cancer Society, the study found that use of mammography, but not colonoscopy, increased after the ACA.

Tablet devices show promise in managing agitation among patients with dementia

A new pilot study led by McLean Hospital's Ipsit Vahia, MD, medical director of Geriatric Psychiatry Outpatient Services at McLean Hospital, suggests that the use of tablet computers is both a safe and a potentially effective approach to managing agitation among patients with dementia.

Brain protein predicts recovery time following concussion

Elevated levels of the brain protein tau following a sport-related concussion are associated with a longer recovery period and delayed return to play for athletes, according to a study published in the January 6, 2017 issue of Neurology, the medical journal of the American Academy of Neurology. The findings suggest that tau, which can be measured in the blood, may serve as a marker to help physicians determine an athlete's readiness to return to the game.

Hitherto unknown risk factor for arteriosclerosis identified

Following a blood infection, the first class of antibodies produced by the immune system are IgM antibodies. They form the "vanguard" of the immune response before other cells are activated to fight the infection. Some people are deficient or completely lack these antibodies, and develop congenital immune deficiency. Together with the CeMM (the Austrian Academy of Sciences Research Center for Molecular Medicine), researchers from MedUni Vienna's Division of Medical-Chemical Laboratory Diagnostics have now discovered how this deficiency contributes to an increased risk of arteriosclerosis and consequently even to serious cardiovascular diseases.

Heartburn pills in pregnancy may be linked to childhood asthma

Children born to mothers who take heartburn medication during pregnancy may have a greater risk of developing asthma, research suggests.

Mediterranean diet may protect your brain in old age, new finding suggests

Amid the contention about diets and detoxes, sugar and fats, there is at least general agreement that a Mediterranean diet – fruit, vegetables, olive oil, grains, fish – is a good thing. Now, a new study based on brain imaging in over 400 people seems to show that we have even more reason to celebrate this diet and, more importantly, to stick to it. The researchers found that over a three-year period – from the age of 73 to 76 – adherence to a Mediterranean diet is associated with a reduction in the inevitable loss of brain volume that occurs with age.

Physician-economist on the 'black box' of rising costs, inconsistent care

Few people understand the high costs of medical services in the United States better than David Chan, MD, PhD, a practicing physician and economist specializing in health care. But even Chan isn't immune from sticker shock at the doctor's office.

The benefits of social drinking

New research shows that moderate alcohol consumption may be linked to improved wellbeing, thanks to the improved social interaction associated with having a drink with friends at a local pub.

Researchers explore legacy of Tuskegee syphilis study today

It's been more than 40 years since the revelation of the Tuskegee syphilis study sent shockwaves across the country. The subsequent mistrust of the medical community among African-American men appears to have spread far beyond the Deep South, where the infamous public health project took place.

CDC guidelines for HIV prevention regimen may not go far enough, study suggests

A new study from the UCLA Fielding School of Public Health suggests modifying federal health guidelines related to the use of pre-exposure prophylaxis to prevent HIV transmission because current standards could miss some people who should be on it.

Uncertainty in blood supply chains creating challenges for industry

When we talk about supply chains, we may conjure up images of manufacturing plants, warehouses, trucks and shipping docks. There is another, truly unique supply chain for a product vitally important to health care and life, and it is very volatile at the moment: the blood supply chain.

Sneak peek into the nanoworld of brain cells

A University of Queensland team is among the first in neuroscience to see the brain's tiniest molecules in action and plot their movements.

Study finds babies are relatively safe in Wahakura, woven flax bassinets

Infants sleeping in wahakura (flax bassinets) are relatively safe when compared with bassinets, a joint study between the University of Otago and Otago Polytechnic has found.

Study finds that few children meet daily exercise guideline goals

Guidelines recommend that children get an hour of exercise every day, including a half hour during school. Unfortunately, a study finds that few kids are meeting that goal, with girls particularly likely to fall short during school time.

Stem cell studies of congestive heart failure in dogs could benefit humans, too

Patricia Galipeau was stunned to learn her dog, Mickey, was in congestive heart failure after his vet referred him to the Foster Hospital for a worsening heart murmur. "He's always been so healthy," she says of the 14-year-old Pomeranian-Shetland sheepdog cross.

High cholesterol intake and eggs do not increase risk of memory disorders

A new study from the University of Eastern Finland shows that a relatively high intake of dietary cholesterol, or eating one egg every day, are not associated with an elevated risk of dementia or Alzheimer's disease. Furthermore, no association was found in persons carrying the APOE4 gene variant that affects cholesterol metabolism and increases the risk of memory disorders. APOE4 is common in Finland. The findings were published in the American Journal of Clinical Nutrition.

New categorisation of food scares will help efficient development of strategies to prevent food chain being compromised

Researchers from the University of Surrey have developed a new comprehensive categorisation of food scares, a new study in the British Food Journal reports.

Catheter safeguards at hospitals reduce infections and save money, study shows

U.S. hospitals are reducing bloodstream infections related to catheters by implementing rigorous safeguards that also save millions of healthcare dollars each year, according to research led by Cedars-Sinai.

Psychology essential to achieving goals of patient-centered medical homes

Psychologists can offer critical experience and expertise in strengthening the increasingly common model of coordinated health care, the patient-centered medical home, helping to achieve the "triple aim" of improved outcomes, decreased cost and enhanced patient experience, according to articles published by the American Psychological Association.

New walking app could make later life healthier and happier

'Walking for Well-Being', a prototype app that makes it easy to plan less difficult, less demanding walking routes, could help people to stay fit, active and independent as they get older.

Chemicals in ubiquitous Mediterranean plants hold key to delaying aging diseases

The Mediterranean is a haven for lovers of crystal-clear seas and sun-kissed landscapes. Now, thanks to the work of scientists from the University of Malta and the Centre National de la Recherche Scientifique (CNRS/University of Bordeaux), it has the added appeal of being an actual fountain of youth.

Common viruses prove dangerous in long-term care facility

A widespread outbreak of respiratory syncytial virus (RSV) and human metapneumovirus (HMPV) at a long-term dementia care ward infected 73 percent of patients, demonstrating the serious challenges in mitigating the spread of infectious diseases in such settings. The outbreak led to improved protocols for protecting particularly vulnerable patients, including active screening and more efficient separation of ill and healthy residents and healthcare professionals during cold and flu season, according to a study published today in Infection Control & Hospital Epidemiology, the journal for the Society for Healthcare Epidemiology of America.

Study finds association between insufficient sleep and gestational diabetes mellitus

A Singapore-based study has found a new health link between short sleep during pregnancy and gestational diabetes mellitus (GDM). This is the first study to examine the relationship between sleep duration and GDM in a multi-ethnic Asian population. Findings, published in the journal Sleep, suggest that addressing sleep concerns during pregnancy could potentially reduce the risk of developing GDM.

Researchers reveal how cancer cells cope with genetic chaos

Scientists have uncovered how tumours are able to grow despite significant damage to the structure and number of their chromosomes - the storage units of DNA - according to two new studies published in Cancer Cell and Cancer Discovery today.

What do health plan deductibles really mean for people with chronic illness?

For tens of millions of Americans, the start of a new year means the counter has gone back to zero on their health insurance deductible. If they need health care, they'll pay for some of it out of their own pockets before their insurance takes over.

Parent's physical activity associated with preschooler activity in underserved populations

Preschool-age children from low-income families are more likely to be physically active if parents increase activity and reduce sedentary behavior while wearing movement monitors (accelerometers), according to a Vanderbilt study published today in the American Journal of Preventive Medicine.

Major increase in U.S. glaucoma cases expected by 2030

(HealthDay)—Glaucoma affects more than three million Americans, but that number is expected to surge to more than four million by 2030, according to the Glaucoma Research Foundation.

Sorafenib effect on HCC survival depends on hepatitis status

(HealthDay)—For patients with advanced unresectable hepatocellular carcinoma, the effect of sorafenib on overall survival (OS) is dependent on patients' hepatitis status, according to a meta-analysis published online Jan. 3 in the Journal of Clinical Oncology.

Exercise: an antidote for behavioral issues in students?

(HealthDay)—Children with serious behavioral disorders might fare better at school if they get some exercise during the day, a new study suggests.

Nonsurgical and surgical treatments provide successful outcomes for an Achilles tear

A new literature review published in the Journal of the American Academy of Orthopaedic Surgeons (JAAOS) found successful outcomes for an Achilles tendon tear with either minimally invasive surgery or nonsurgical bracing with a removable boot, especially in recreational athletes. The use of platelet rich plasma (PRP), the injection of plasma-enriched platelets at the injury site, was not deemed an effective treatment.

Counting croutons: Restaurants tally items for calorie rules

How might a bread basket for the table be counted under America's new calorie posting rules? What about seasonal items, croutons for salads, or pizza that's cut into squares?

Recognize sepsis as a separate cause of illness and death

Sepsis should be recognized as a separate cause of illness and death around the world. This focus would help efforts to prevent sepsis by improving hygiene, nutrition and vaccination rates and also lead to timely treatment, better outcomes and quality of life for people with sepsis, argue researchers in a commentary in CMAJ (Canadian Medical Association Journal).

Decision pathway issued for patients with irregular heartbeat on anticoagulants

A new document for the management of patients with irregular heartbeats who are on anticoagulation medications—blood thinners—and need surgery, focuses on how and when to temporarily stop these medications, if a substitute medication should be used, and when it is safe for a patient to go back on blood thinners after surgery. The American College of Cardiology decision pathway document, based on an extensive review of the existing professional literature, is published today in the Journal of the American College of Cardiology.

Pre-pregnancy progesterone helps women with recurrent pregnancy loss

Women who have had two or more unexplained miscarriages can benefit from natural progesterone treatment before pregnancy, a new a study shows.

Medicaid expansion linked to better care quality at health centers

As the incoming administration of President-elect Donald Trump and members of the 115th U.S. Congress consider the possibility of revamping or replacing the Affordable Care Act, a new Brown University study finds an association between the law's expansion of Medicaid and improved care quality at federally funded community health centers that serve more than 20 million predominantly poor residents a year.

Why high-dose vitamin C kills cancer cells

Vitamin C has a patchy history as a cancer therapy, but researchers at the University of Iowa believe that is because it has often been used in a way that guarantees failure.

New year, new idea: High-value health plan concept aims for bipartisan appeal

As Washington grapples with the fate of the Affordable Care Act, a pair of health care researchers has proposed a new way to design health insurance plans that could win bipartisan support - and has already started to do so.

Delirium an insidious, deadly threat to nursing home residents

A comprehensive review of research published today in The Journal of the American Osteopathic Association finds delirium to be an often-undiagnosed syndrome, affecting nearly 18 percent of long-term care residents, with a staggering 40 percent one-year mortality rate.

Study: Obamacare benefitted Latinos, but persistent disparities remain

The implementation of the Affordable Care Act improved health care access and utilization among Latinos, a new study found, although some persistent disparities do remain years later.

Place matters in late diagnosis of colorectal cancer, study finds

In addition to a person's race or ethnicity, where they live can matter in terms of whether they are diagnosed at a late stage for colorectal cancer, according to a recent study led by a researcher at the School of Public Health at Georgia State University.

Do genes steer you to a partner with similar schooling?

(HealthDay)—Were you drawn to your spouse's eyes? Or perhaps it was a great sense of humor you thought drew you in?

Older adults with arthritis need just 45 minutes of activity per week

Older adults who suffer from arthritis need to keep moving to be functionally independent. But in an examination of a goal that is daunting for most of this aging population, a new Northwestern Medicine study found that performing even a third of the recommended activity is beneficial.

Fear of diagnostic low-dose radiation exposure is overstated, experts assert

In an article published in the January 2017 issue of The Journal of Nuclear Medicine, researchers assert that exposure to medical radiation does not increase a person's risk of getting cancer. The long-held belief that even low doses of radiation, such as those received in diagnostic imaging, increase cancer risk is based on an inaccurate, 70-year-old hypothesis, according to the authors.

Study identifies barriers to sexual health among male teens and young men

Johns Hopkins researchers who conducted a dozen focus groups with 70 straight and gay/bisexual Hispanic and African-American males ages 15 to 24 report that gaining a better understanding of the context in which young men grow up will allow health care providers to improve this population's use of sexual and reproductive health care.

Children are more apt to confess misdeeds if they think parents will react positively

Even if they believe they could be punished, older kids are more likely than younger children to view confessing to a misdeed as the right thing to do.

Genitourinary injuries challenge returning US servicemen

Because battlefield medical care has improved throughout the Iraq and Afghanistan wars, many more U.S. servicemen have survived what could have been fatal injuries in the past. This has resulted in many more veterans returning with genitourinary (GU) injuries. In an article in The Journal of Urology, researchers from the U.S. military medical community have examined the extent and severity of GU injuries among nearly 1,400 U.S. service members (SMs) and emphasize the critical need for novel treatments to improve sexual, urinary, or reproductive function among those with severe genital injury.

A novel way to diagnose sleep apnea

Ben-Gurion University of the Negev (BGU) researchers have developed a new system to assess obstructive sleep apnea (OSA) severity while a patient is awake and analyze sleep-wake activity, using his or her smartphone.

Brain cell powerhouses appear good treatment target for stroke, TBI recovery

Cell powerhouses are typically long and lean, but with brain injury such as stroke or trauma, they can quickly become bloated and dysfunctional, say scientists who documented the phenomena in real time for the first time in a living brain.

Transfusions of 'old' blood may harm some patients

The oldest blood available for transfusions releases large and potentially harmful amounts of iron into patients' bloodstreams, a new study by researchers at Columbia University Medical Center (CUMC) has found.

New framework could help online addicts reduce their usage

Research has shown that internet addicts do not always feel guilty about their usage, and in many cases, they do not even perceive their usage as problematic. A new model developed by researchers at Binghamton University, State University of New York could help addicts realize that their usage is a problem and reduce it.

Hospitals in Medicare ACOs reduced readmissions faster

Hospitals in Medicare Accountable Care Organizations outpaced non-ACO hospitals in reducing the rate at which patients discharged to skilled nursing facilities (SNFs) needed to return to the hospital, according to a new study in the January issue of Health Affairs.

Study: Where hospitals send surgery patients to heal matters a lot for health care costs

Thousands of times a day, doctors sign the hospital discharge papers for patients who have just had surgery, and send them off to their next destination. About half of those patients will get some sort of post-surgery care to help them heal and get back into life.

New research suggests appendix may have important function

The human appendix, a narrow pouch that projects off the cecum in the digestive system, has a notorious reputation for its tendency to become inflamed (appendicitis), often resulting in surgical removal. Although it is widely viewed as a vestigial organ with little known function, recent research suggests that the appendix may serve an important purpose. In particular, it may serve as a reservoir for beneficial gut bacteria. Several other mammal species also have an appendix, and studying how it evolved and functions in these species may shed light on this mysterious organ in humans.

Prostate cancer treatment rates drop, reflecting change in screening recommendations

As some national guidelines now recommend against routine prostate cancer screening, the overall rate of men receiving treatment for the disease declined 42 percent, a new study finds.

Process-of-care failures common in adults with rectal bleeding

(HealthDay)—Among adult primary care patients with rectal bleeding, process-of-care failures are frequent and are associated with poor or fair quality care, according to a study published in the January issue of The Joint Commission Journal on Quality and Patient Safety.

Perceived breast density may affect single read suitability

(HealthDay)—Features related to mammographic breast density are key normal mammographic features that influence the difficulty for readers to classify mammograms as normal, according to a study published online Jan. 3 in the Journal of Medical Imaging and Radiation Oncology.

Higher odds of trial of labor with night float call system

(HealthDay)—Physicians working on a night float call system are more likely to have patients with a prior cesarean delivery undergo trial of labor and achieve vaginal birth, according to a study published in the January issue of the American Journal of Obstetrics & Gynecology.

Ivermectin has topical anti-inflammatory properties

(HealthDay)—Ivermectin (IVM) has anti-inflammatory properties that could be beneficial in treatment of T-cell mediated skin inflammatory diseases, according to an experimental study published online Jan. 4 in Allergy.

Adipose tissue insulin resistance up in obese-NGT, IGT, T2DM

(HealthDay)—Resistance to the antilipolytic effect of insulin (Adipo-IR) is increased in obese individuals with normal glucose tolerance (NGT), and in those with impaired glucose tolerance (IGT) and type 2 diabetes (T2DM), according to a study published online Jan. 4 in Diabetes.

Teaching service cuts resource use in COPD exacerbations

(HealthDay)—An internal medicine teaching service can reduce resource use in patients with acute exacerbation of chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (AECOPD) in a community teaching hospital, according to a study published online Jan. 4 in the Journal of Evaluation in Clinical Practice.

Clinical features of vitiligo linked to age of disease onset

(HealthDay)—The clinical features of vitiligo are associated with age of disease onset, according to a study published online Jan. 4 in the International Journal of Dermatology.

HRQoL down for GERD with laryngopharyngeal reflux

(HealthDay)—For patients with gastroesophageal reflux disease (GERD), the presence of laryngopharyngeal reflux symptoms (LPR) is associated with reduced health-related quality of life (HRQoL), according to a study published online Jan. 3 in the Journal of Gastroenterology and Hepatology.

Study suggests enterovirus infections linked with autoimmunity that leads to type 1 diabetes

New research published in Diabetologia (the journal of the European Association for the Study of Diabetes [EASD]) shows that children with type 1 diabetes (T1D) have a higher incidence of enterovirus infections prior to experiencing the autoimmune processes which lead to their T1D. The study is by Professor Heikki Hyöty and Dr Hanna Honkanen, University of Tampere, Finland, and colleagues.

Aggressive prostate cancer secrets revealed in landmark study

A landmark study, led by Monash University's Biomedicine Discovery Institute with the involvement of the Peter MacCallum Cancer Centre, has revealed the reason why men with a family history of prostate cancer who also carry the BRCA2 gene fault have a more aggressive form of prostate cancer.

UN hopes Haiti election will open door for cholera aid

The United Nations is struggling to get pledged aid for Haiti's cholera epidemic victims but hopes nascent political stability will inspire confidence in donors and investors.

Obama health care legacy: Coverage, conflict, and questions

Although his signature law is in jeopardy, President Barack Obama's work reshaping health care in America is certain to endure in the broad public support for many of its underlying principles.

German lawmaker's sex-on-prescription idea draws criticism

A German opposition lawmaker's suggestion that authorities could subsidize paid sex for patients who require nursing care has drawn a critical reception.

Study examines the effects of osteoporosis drugs in children with genetic bone disorders

Previous case reports in patients with osteogenesis imperfecta (OI) have suggested that treatment with bisphosphonates, which are commonly prescribed for osteoporosis, may be associated with atypical femur fractures. A new retrospective study of 119 children with OI indicates that such fractures are related to the severity of OI rather than to bisphosphonate use, however.

Takeda Pharmaceutical to buy Ariad in $5.2 billion cash deal

Japanese drugmaker Takeda Pharmaceutical will buy U.S. cancer drug developer Ariad Pharmaceuticals in a $5.2 billion deal that the companies expect to close by the end of February.

Israeli backpackers demonstrated resounding leadership in aftermath of Nepal earthquake

Prof. Haya Itzhaky was enjoying a routine day in Nepal on April 25, 2015. She had been in the region for about three months studying the behavior of post-Israel Defense Forces (IDF) Israeli backpackers when tragedy struck: a powerful earthquake measuring 7.8 on the Richter Scale took the lives of more than 9,000 people and injured tens of thousands more.

IBS affects women's quality of life more than men's

Double work and a high embarrassment factor can lead to the quality of life being affected more among women than men by irritable bowel syndrome (IBS), a very common gastrointestinal disease. Even with the same level of physical pain and other symptoms, women's perceived quality of life is worse than the mens, according to new research.

Angola records first Zika cases

Angolan health officials said Monday they had recorded the country's first two cases of the Zika virus, a French tourist and a resident in the capital Luanda.

UnitedHealth buying Surgical Care for $2.3 billion

UnitedHealth Group is buying surgical center operator Surgical Care Affiliates for about $2.3 billion in a cash-and-stock deal that will add to its outpatient holdings.

High rates of PTSD and other mental health problems after great east Japan earthquake

The devastating 2011 earthquake, tsunami, and resulting nuclear disaster in Japan had a high mental health impact—with some effects persisting several years later, according to a comprehensive research review in the January/February issue of the Harvard Review of Psychiatry.

Pediatric tuberculosis in Canada: A guide for physicians

Although pediatric tuberculosis (TB) remains relatively uncommon in Canada, some populations—including Aboriginal communities—have a much higher burden of disease. As a result, Canada should focus on addressing the high rates of the disease in these communities, according to a review in CMAJ (Canadian Medical Association Journal).

Reducing drug dosage, and hearing loss in TB patients without reducing efficacy

Aminoglycosides, recommended by the World Health Organization to treat multidrug resistant tuberculosis, cause hearing loss and kidney damage in a dose dependent manner. Now, by reducing the dose in a carefully calculated fashion, Dutch clinician researchers have been able to greatly reduce the numbers of patients suffering hearing loss, without compromising effectiveness against tuberculosis. The research was published in Antimicrobial Agents and Chemotherapy, a journal of the American Society for Microbiology.

Brazil's primary health care expansion

The January issue of Health Affairs includes a study that explores a much-discussed issue in global health: the role of governance in improving health, which is widely recognized as necessary but is difficult to tie to actual outcomes.

Democrat senators vote for public health policies four times more often than republicans: study

Democrat senators are roughly four times as likely to use their vote to positively affect public health policies than their Republican colleagues, according to a Drexel University study that confirms political polarization around the issue.

Lawsuit disputes claims of popular memory loss supplement

A government lawsuit seeks to ban a popular memory loss dietary supplement marketed to seniors, saying there's no scientific evidence to support its claims.

Study identifies potential drug targets for muscular dystrophy treatments

Myotonic dystrophy type I (MD1) is a common form of muscular dystrophy associated with muscle wasting, weakness, and myotonia. These symptoms are linked to the accumulation of toxic gene transcripts in muscle cells that result from abnormal gene splicing.

Breast cancer screening associated with substantial overdiagnosis in Danish study

Breast cancer screening in Denmark was associated with a substantial increase in the incidence of nonadvanced tumors and DCIS but not with a reduction in the incidence of advanced tumors. The rate of overdiagnosis was also substantial. The findings of a cohort study are published in Annals of Internal Medicine.

NHS England taken to task for sore throat 'test and treat plans' in pharmacies

Plans to run a 'test and treat' service for sore throat in community pharmacies in England are based on flimsy evidence and "heroic assumptions" about the potential impact on family doctor (GP) appointments, concludes an editorial in this month's issue of the Drug and Therapeutics Bulletin.

Most breastfed infants not receiving recommended vitamin D supplementation

Although daily vitamin D supplementation is recommended for breastfed infants, adherence to this recommendation is poor.

Primary care physician involvement at end of life associated with less costly, less intensive care

Regions of the country with greater primary care physician involvement in the last six months of life appear to have lower-intensity, lower-cost end-of-life care. The research by Claire K. Ankuda, MD, MPH, with the Robert Wood Johnson Clinical Scholars Program at the University of Michagan Health System in Ann Arbor, and colleagues is published in the January/February 2017 issue of Annals of Family Medicine.

National Commission on Prevention Priorities releases new preventive services rankings

In the January/February issue of Annals of Family Medicine, the National Commission on Prevention Priorities publishes a much anticipated update to its 2006 ranking of clinical preventive services. The report uses microsimulation modeling to demonstrate the relative health impact and cost-effectiveness of preventive services for which there is strong evidence of effectiveness. These findings can be used by individuals, practices and policy makers to focus attention on the preventive services that are most likely to make a difference. The new rankings come at a pivotal time in the changing health care landscape—when access to and uptake of preventive care services is expanding, when clinician time and resources are constrained, and amid a shift to a pay-for-value paradigm.

Biology news

Study characterizes key molecular tool in DNA repair enzymes

New research has revealed the function of a widely shared enzyme component, the Zf-GRF domain, as a critical molecular tool necessary for manipulating DNA during repair processes.

Researchers discover unique microbial photosynthesis

Researchers at Washington State University have discovered a new type of cooperative photosynthesis that could be used in engineering microbial communities for waste treatment and bioenergy production.

Long-distance birdie call: Sex-crazed pipers travel for tail

You fly more than 100 miles for love. You get rejected. You fly another 100 miles. Another rejection. And another.

Secret new weapon of insect-transmitted viruses exposed

Findings by a team of scientists, including two from the University of California, Riverside, could provide critical knowledge to attack deadly viruses transmitted by arthropods such as mosquitoes and aphids.

New findings detail structure of immature Zika virus

Researchers at Purdue University have determined the high-resolution structure of immature Zika virus, a step toward better understanding how the virus infects host cells and spreads.

While not necessarily reality, perception can cause reality to evolve

In an invited perspective published January 6, 2017, in Science, Hamilton Farris, PhD, Associate Professor-Research at LSU Health New Orleans Neuroscience Center of Excellence, finds that the key insight of an important study by Nachev, et al. is that perception can drive the evolution of observable traits.

The buck stops where? Case exposes rift over caring for deer

A dramatic, ultimately tragic tussle over a one-antlered deer that somehow wandered into a tiny Manhattan park has cast a spotlight on a simple question: How much should humans step in to help troubled wildlife?

Study compiles data on 958 types of South American jellyfish

Jellyfish are a highly diverse group of aquatic animals. Their diameters range from 1 mm to over 1 m. Most have long tentacles, in some cases reaching more than 10 m in length. They come in a wide array of shapes and sizes. Some are bioluminescent; others are extremely poisonous. There are species that resemble delicate flowers rooted on the ocean floor but that turn out to be voracious predators when small crustaceans or fish larvae approach. What they all share, besides gelatinous bodies, is beauty and an air of mystery.

High-tech agriculture can prevent oncoming global water wars

Forget about oil or gas – you should be worrying about the less discussed but far more concerning fact that the world is running out of clean, drinkable water.

Study examines ocean acidification effects on rockfish

A new study led by researchers from Moss Landing Marine Labs of San Jose State University, California State University Monterey Bay and University of California Santa Cruz examines how ocean acidification may negatively affect some juvenile rockfish, a key marine prey base to the Calif. ecosystem. The research, which suggests potential negative affects to the structure and function of marine ecosystems that support coastal fishieries and communities, was conducted in collaboration with researchers at the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration's Southwest Fisheries Science Center and the Monterey Bay Aquarium Research Institute.

Bio-inspired suction cups withstand more than splashes

Suction cups are getting a facelift. A shower caddy full of shampoo plopping into the bathtub may be an inconvenience in most cases, but failures like this limit the application of suction cups for more exacting purposes. Petra Ditsche, currently at the University of Alaska Anchorage, and her colleagues are changing that. To create prototype suction cups that are capable of glomming onto rough, wet surfaces and staying there, Ditsche has found inspiration in an aptly-named marine creature: the clingfish.

Neonicotinoid pesticide affects foraging and social interaction in bumblebees

In a plastic, lasercut box blacked out with paint and lit with red light, worker bumblebees (Bombus impatiens) go about their daily activities: interacting with fellow adults, extracting food from honey pots, feeding larvae, and occasionally venturing out to forage for nectar. While this nest is far from normal, the bees that live here have adapted to their new space remarkably well. Still, all is not well within the nest, and not because of its strange form. Some bees have abandoned their daily patterns and are spending more time alone, on the periphery. Others are spending less time caring for the utterly dependent larvae that will become the next generation of bumblebees.

New signal involved in limb growth found in flies

Many of the secrets of life, such as terminal size and shape, have been uncovered in studies performed over a century involving animal models such as the fruit fly Drosophila melanogaster. Now, IRB Barcelona researchers headed by ICREA Professor Marco Milán disclose a new signal involved in the specification and growth of fly wings.

Hidden diversity: 3 new species of land flatworms from the Brazilian Araucaria forest

A huge invertebrate diversity is hidden on the forest floor in areas of the Araucaria moist forest, Brazil. Land flatworms constitute a numerous group among these invertebrates occurring in the Neotropical region. Flatworms are considered to be top predators within the soil ecosystem, preying on other invertebrates.

An ecological invasion mimics a drunken walk

A theory that uses the mathematics of a drunken walk describes ecological invasions better than waves, according to Tim Reluga, associate professor of mathematics and biology, Penn State.

Massive genetic study of humpback whales to inform conservation assessments

Scientists have published one of the largest genetic studies ever conducted on the humpback whale (Megaptera novaeangliae) for the purpose of clarifying management decisions in the Southern Hemisphere and supporting calls to protect unique and threatened populations, according to WCS (Wildlife Conservation Society), the American Museum of Natural History, Columbia University, and other organizations.

What teeth reveal about the lives of modern humans

When anthropologists of the future find our fossilized teeth, what will they be able to conclude about our lives?

SeaWorld's whale-turned-killer Tilikum dies

Tilikum, the killer whale linked to the deaths of three people and made famous by the 2013 documentary "Blackfish"—which criticized the captivity of orcas—died Friday, according to SeaWorld.

US plan on threatened polar bears lacks teeth, critics say (Update)

The U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service released its plan Monday for the recovery of threatened polar bears, acknowledging it will take no direct action for addressing the primary threat—greenhouse gases that contribute to the decline of sea ice habitat.

Russian zoo culls all its birds over avian flu

A Russian zoo has euthanised its entire bird population after an outbreak of avian flu, local authorities said Monday.


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