Dear Reader ,
Here is your customized Science X Newsletter for January 11, 2017:
Spotlight Stories Headlines
Astronomy & Space news
 | Astronomers discover molecular and atomic clouds associated with a superbubble in LMC(Phys.org)—An international team of astronomers has uncovered molecular and atomic gas clouds associated with the superbubble known as 30 Doradus C, which is located in the Large Magellanic Cloud (LMC). The findings were presented Jan. 8 on the arXiv pre-print repository. |
 | Struggle to escape distant galaxies creates giant halos of scattered photonsAstronomers led by David Sobral and Jorryt Matthee, of the Universities of Lancaster in the UK and Leiden in the Netherlands have discovered giant halos around early Milky Way type galaxies, made of photons (elementary particles of light) that have struggled to escape them. The team reports its findings in the journal Monthly Notices of the Royal Astronomical Society. |
 | Distributed computing project Einstein@Home discovers 13 new gamma-ray pulsarsAn analysis that would have taken more than a thousand years on a single computer has found within one year more than a dozen new rapidly rotating neutron stars in data from the Fermi gamma-ray space telescope. With computing power donated by volunteers from all over the world an international team led by researchers at the Max Planck Institute for Gravitational Physics in Hannover, Germany, searched for tell-tale periodicities in 118 Fermi sources of unknown nature. In 13 they discovered a rotating neutron star at the heart of the source. While these all are – astronomically speaking – young with ages between tens and hundreds of thousands of years, two are spinning surprisingly slow – slower than any other known gamma-ray pulsar. Another discovery experienced a "glitch", a sudden change of unknown origin in its otherwise regular rotation. |
 | Farthest stars in Milky Way might be ripped from another galaxyThe 11 farthest known stars in our galaxy are located about 300,000 light-years from Earth, well outside the Milky Way's spiral disk. New research by Harvard astronomers shows that half of those stars might have been ripped from another galaxy: the Sagittarius dwarf. Moreover, they are members of a lengthy stream of stars extending one million light-years across space, or 10 times the width of our galaxy. |
 | Scientists: Moon over the hill at 4.51 billion years oldIt turns out the moon is older than many scientists suspected: a ripe 4.51 billion years old. |
 | NASA's newly announced mission could solve the mystery of water on asteroid PsycheDiscovered in 1852 by Italian astronomer Annibale de Gasparis, Psyche is one of the 10 most massive asteroids in the asteroid belt. Although Psyche is thought to be a world made of metal, scientists have recently detected water on this minor planet. The new findings, which baffled researchers, could be confirmed and further studied by a newly announced NASA mission to this small solar system body. |
 | Image: Antarctic caravan captured by French satelliteHow do you deliver supplies to one of the remotest research stations on Earth? Put the equipment and food on skis and pull them by tractor across the ice and snow in a long caravan. |
 | Huygens: 'Ground truth' from an alien moon—2005 historic descent to Titan revisitedAfter a two-and-a-half-hour descent, the metallic, saucer-shaped spacecraft came to rest with a thud on a dark floodplain covered in cobbles of water ice, in temperatures hundreds of degrees below freezing. The alien probe worked frantically to collect and transmit images and data about its environs—in mere minutes its mothership would drop below the local horizon, cutting off its link to the home world and silencing its voice forever. |
Technology news
 | New type of database-analytics platform queries and maps billions of data points in millisecondsPeople generally associate graphic processing units (GPUs) with imaging processing. Developed for video games in the 1990s, modern GPUs are specialized circuits with thousands of small, efficient processing units, or "cores," that work simultaneously to rapidly render graphics on screen. |
 | Japan researchers warn of fingerprint theft from 'peace' signCould flashing the "peace" sign in photos lead to fingerprint data being stolen? |
 | Researchers use nature's weaving formula to engineer advanced functional materialsFor the first time, UNSW biomedical engineers have woven a 'smart' fabric that mimics the sophisticated and complex properties of one nature's ingenious materials, the bone tissue periosteum. |
 | Zero-emission boat prepares for round-the-world odysseyThe first self-sufficient boat powered only by emission-free energy will start a six-year trip around the world in the spring. |
 | NAVYA Self-driving shuttle goes to work in Las VegasA self-driving electric shuttle built by French firm NAVYA began a one-week stint in Las Vegas, in a US first. |
US warns of unusual cybersecurity flaw in heart devicesThe Homeland Security Department warned Tuesday about an unusual cybersecurity flaw for one manufacturer's implantable heart devices that it said could allow hackers to remotely take control of a person's defibrillator or pacemaker. | |
 | Norway starts tuning out analog radio in favor of digitalNorway began shutting down analog radio technology Wednesday as the Scandinavian country becomes the first in the world to phase out the FM signal for national and some regional broadcasting. |
 | Top poker pros face off vs. artificial intelligenceFour of the world's best professional poker players will compete against artificial intelligence developed by Carnegie Mellon University in an epic rematch to determine whether a computer can beat humans playing one of the world's toughest poker games. |
 | Storing thermal solar energy from summer to winterCan thermal solar energy be stored until wintertime? Within a European research consortium Empa scientists and their colleagues have spent four years studying this question by pitting three different techniques against each other. |
 | Software system labels coral reef images in record timeComputer scientists at the University of California San Diego have released a new version of a software system that processes images from the world's coral reefs anywhere between 10 to 100 times faster than processing the data by hand. |
 | Study: How new Airbnb nondiscrimination policy may be worseThe sharing economy is a booming industry, with companies such as Uber and Airbnb generating billions in value each year. Technology, combined with informal peer business practice, has made it easier than ever to call for a ride or rent a living space. |
Scientists use a gaming algorithm to enhance a DNA sequencing Android appThe accuracy of a smartphone app called GelApp, designed by A*STAR scientists to help analyze biomedical samples, has been greatly enhanced by the addition of a cutting-edge image processing algorithm. | |
 | 10 years on, the iPhone has revolutionised life and freed us from multiple tyranniesIt is 10 years this week since Steve Jobs walked onto a stage and said "Every once in a while, a revolutionary product comes along that changes everything". He was referring to the iPhone, launched on January 9th 2007. |
 | Fighting online trolls with botsThe wonder of internet connectivity can turn into a horror show if the people who use online platforms decide that instead of connecting and communicating, they want to mock, insult, abuse, harass and even threaten each other. In online communities since at least the early 1990s, this has been called "trolling." More recently it has been called cyberbullying. It happens on many different websites and social media systems. Users have been fighting back for a while, and now the owners and managers of those online services are joining in. |
 | How to inflate a hardened, 80-ton concrete shellAt TU Wien, an alternative for resource intensive formwork for the construction of concrete domes was developed. It is now used in a test dome for the Austrian Federal Railways Infrastructure. |
 | How we can make super-fast hyperloop travel a realityAcross Europe and parts of Asia, travellers can enjoy some of the fastest rail services in the world. From Málaga to Madrid, Tokyo to Osaka, high-speed electric trains condense the travel times between major hubs by racing along at some 300kph. The fastest commercial service in the world is the Shanghai maglev – short for magnetic levitation, the method of propulsion it uses to glide along its tracks as rapidly as 430kph. |
 | Why you might want to think twice about surrendering online privacy for the sake of convenienceIt is inconvenient to guard one's privacy, and the better one protects it, the more inconvenience one must endure. Enjoying privacy, at a minimum, demands installing software to block tracking online, using long and different passwords for online services, remembering to turn off the WiFi and Bluetooth signals on your mobile phone when leaving the house, using cash, and so on. |
UAV performs first ever perched landing using machine learning algorithmsThe very first unmanned aerial vehicle (UAV) to perform a perched landing using machine learning algorithms has been developed in partnership with the University of Bristol and BMT Defence Services (BMT). The revolutionary development of a fixed wing aircraft that can land in a small or confined space has the potential to significantly impact intelligence-gathering and the delivery of aid in a humanitarian disaster. | |
Trust issues: Users more gullible when they customize their technologyCheery robots may give people the creeps and serious robots may actually ease anxiety depending on how users perceive the robot''s role in their lives, according to an international team of researchers. | |
 | DirecTV Now: A trial is free, but it's a hard sell for someAT&T says the market for its new internet cable service , DirecTV Now, could be as large as 20 million households. To put it to the test, I farmed out part of this review to several friends and relatives. It's TV, it's fun, it's a free trial with no hassle. Why wouldn't people jump at the chance to try something new? |
 | New Facebook project aims to fight the spread of 'fake news'Facebook announced Wednesday the creation of a Journalism Project aimed at fostering "a healthy news ecosystem" and curbing the spread of fake news. |
 | 2017 Pacifica has more technology than earlier Chrysler vansThe 2017 Chrysler Pacifica is a sharp-looking, roomy and versatile minivan with more technology than previous Chrysler vans and thoughtful features that other minivans can lack. |
 | VW pleads guilty in emissions scandal; six employees indictedSix high-level Volkswagen employees have been indicted by a grand jury in the company's diesel emissions cheating scandal, as the company admitted wrongdoing and agreed to pay a record $4.3 billion penalty. |
 | As they go electric, auto giants vie for tiny US prizeThe auto industry's push into electric vehicles is turning an important corner in 2017 with the arrival of longer-range, battery-powered cars at more accesible prices. |
Personal computer sales fall for fifth year in a rowSales of desk and laptop computers declined last year, extending a slide started in 2012, according to figures released on Wednesday by two market trackers. | |
Amazon to pay Canada fine over pricing practicesThe Canadian branch of US online retailer Amazon will pay Can$1.1 million ($836,967) over allegedly misleading pricing on its website, the government said Wednesday. | |
 | Six things we learned at the Detroit auto showThis year's North American International Auto Show reflects an industry that's flush with cash but uncertain about the future. |
 | Twitter: Obama's 'thank you' tweet his most popular everPresident Barack Obama's tweet following his farewell address to the nation has become the most popular post on the presidential account. |
Medicine & Health news
 | MRI scans reveal surprising similarities in activity patterns of infant and adult visual cortexIn adults, certain regions of the brain's visual cortex respond preferentially to specific types of input, such as faces or objects—but how and when those preferences arise has long puzzled neuroscientists. |
 | Why going to the gym might actually make your muscles look smallerMacquarie University academics have found that exposure to images of extremely muscly physiques could be leading to distorted body perceptions amongst young males. |
 | Study finds superhero culture magnifies aggressive, not defending behaviorsThere's a lot of good that kids can take away from watching their favorite superheroes—defending and protecting the weak, using their talents to help others and fighting for a cause that's bigger than themselves, to name a few. |
 | Why binge drinking cause binge eating(Medical Xpress)—A team of researchers affiliated with several institutions in the U.K. has found what they believe is the reason why consumption of alcohol leads to hunger pangs and excessive eating. In their paper published in the journal Nature Communications, the researchers outline experiments they conducted with mice given alcohol and the ways it impacted their brains. |
 | New genes identified that regulate the spread of cancersResearch led by the Wellcome Trust Sanger Institute has discovered a new biological target for drugs to reduce the spread of tumours in cancer patients. Published in Nature today, the study with genetically modified mice found 23 genes that are involved in regulating the spread of cancers. The researchers showed that targeting one of these genes—Spns2—led to a three-quarters reduction in tumour spread. |
 | Paper examines potential—for better or worse—of 'in vitro gametogenesis'Even in such game-changing reproductive advances as in vitro fertilization or mitochondrial replacement therapy, what has remained necessary is that the gametes—the sperm and the egg—come from the father's testes and the mother's ovaries, respectively. But a new lab technology rapidly advancing in mouse studies could upend that biological imperative by, at its hypothetical endpoint, creating embryos from sources such as repurposed skin cells. |
 | Diabetes impairs activity of bone stem cells in mice, inhibits fracture repairBone fractures in diabetic mice heal better in the presence of a protein that stimulates the activity of skeletal stem cells, according to a study by researchers at the Stanford University School of Medicine. |
 | Tumor-seeking salmonella treats brain tumorsBiomedical engineers at Duke University have recruited an unlikely ally in the fight against the deadliest form of brain cancer—a strain of salmonella that usually causes food poisoning. |
 | A surprise advance in the treatment of adult cancersA team of researchers at the Research Institute of the McGill University Health Centre (RI-MUHC) has found an epigenetic modification that might be the cause of 15% of adult cancers of the throat linked to alcohol and tobacco use. This is a first in the field of epigenetics and the researchers are hopeful that the discovery can blaze a path in the development of new, targeted, more effective treatments that could arise over the next few years. |
 | Researchers use stem cells to regenerate the external layer of a human heartA process using human stem cells can generate the cells that cover the external surface of a human heart—epicardium cells—according to a multidisciplinary team of researchers. |
 | Researchers develop novel treatment to prevent graft-versus-host-diseaseGraft-versus-host-disease (GVHD) is the leading cause of non-relapse associated death in patients who receive stem cell transplants. In a new study published as the cover story in Science Translational Medicine, Moffitt Cancer Center researchers show that a novel treatment can effectively inhibit the development of GVHD in mice and maintain the infection- and tumor-fighting capabilities of the immune system. |
 | Coca-Cola's Christmas truck tour should be banned, say public health expertsCoca-Cola's "Happy Holidays" truck tour should be banned, given the growing evidence of the effect that marketing of unhealthy food and drink has on children, say public health experts in The BMJ today. |
Should gluten-free foods be available on prescription?In The BMJ this week, experts debate whether gluten-free prescriptions for people with coeliac disease should be removed. | |
 | Migraine associated with higher risk of stroke after surgerySurgical patients with a history of migraines have a greater risk of stroke and readmission to hospital, finds a study published by The BMJ today. |
Common epilepsies share genetic overlap with rare typesAn international study led by Columbia University Medical Center (CUMC) and NewYork-Presbyterian researchers has found that several genes previously implicated only in rare, severe forms of pediatric epilepsy also contribute to common forms of the disorder. | |
| No silver bullet to beating obesity, study findsAs many seek to battle festive bulge in January, new research challenges previous findings that any single aspect of diet or lifestyle can be targeted to reduce the risk of obesity in adults with a high genetic risk of putting on weight. |
Nutritional quality of kids' menus at chain restaurants not improvingU.S. chain restaurants participating in a National Restaurant Association initiative to improve the nutritional quality of their children's menus have made no significant changes compared with restaurants not participating in the program, according to a new study led by Harvard T.H. Chan School of Public Health. Among both groups, the researchers found no meaningful improvements in the amount of calories, saturated fat, or sodium in kids' menu offerings during the first three years following the launch of the Kids LiveWell initiative in 2011. | |
Quick blood test for gut bacteria can predict risk of death and heart problems in patientsThe bacteria that inhabit our gut digest food and produce metabolites that can have a marked effect on the heart and blood vessels. Researchers have found that measuring the levels of a molecule called trimethylamine N-oxide (TMAO) that is produced by the gut bacteria from components of red meat, eggs and diary products in blood could give them a quick and reliable way of assessing the risk of death and other major heart problems in patients who arrive in hospital emergency departments with chest pains. | |
IMF lending conditions curb healthcare investment in West Africa, study findsA new study suggests that lending conditions imposed by the International Monetary Fund in West Africa squeeze "fiscal space" in nations such as Sierra Leone - preventing government investment in health systems and, in some cases, contributing to an exodus of medical talent from countries that need it most. | |
 | Air pollution and lack of physical activity pose competing threats to children in ChinaChildren and adolescents in mainland China are facing two serious and conflicting public health threats: ongoing exposure to air pollution and an increasingly sedentary lifestyle with little regular physical activity outside school. |
Updated HPV vaccine recommendations endorsedAs national vaccination rates for the human papillomavirus (HPV) remain low, The University of Texas MD Anderson Cancer Center has again united with the 68 other National Cancer Institute (NCI)-designated cancer centers in issuing a joint statement endorsing the recently revised vaccination recommendations from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC). | |
 | Scientists pave the way for enhanced detection and treatment of vascular graft infectionsA rising prevalence of cardiovascular disease has generated substantial growth in the use of medical implants, such as vascular grafts. Unfortunately, the increased use of implanted devices has been accompanied by more device-associated infections, serious complications, and death. A study in The American Journal of Pathology reports the detrimental aftereffects of infected grafts, including the formation of biofilms that can shelter bacteria and function as a source of recurrent infection. This new research should enable researchers to develop better strategies to diagnose and manage vascular graft infections. |
Fighting sickle cell disease using a medication for type 2 diabetesSickle cell disease and the blood disorder beta thalassemia affect more than 180,000 Americans and millions more worldwide. Both diseases can be made milder or even cured by increasing fetal hemoglobin (HbF) levels, but current treatment to ramp up HbF is limited in its effectiveness. Researchers at Baylor College of Medicine and Texas Children's Cancer and Hematology Centers have discovered a gene, FOXO3, involved in controlling fetal hemoglobin production and were able to target the gene and "turn on" fetal hemoglobin levels in patient samples in the lab using the diabetes drug metformin. This offers promising new treatments – the first new drug treatment for sickle cell disease in 30 years and the first ever for beta thalassemia. | |
Antidepressant use increases hip fracture risk among elderlyAntidepressant use nearly doubles the risk of hip fracture among community-dwelling persons with Alzheimer's disease, according to a new study from the University of Eastern Finland. The increased risk was highest at the beginning of antidepressant use and remained elevated even four years later. The findings were published in the International Journal of Geriatric Psychiatry. | |
New study identifies most important factors in aesthetic surgery patient decisionsCindy Wu, MD, assistant professor in the division of plastic and reconstructive surgery, set out to quantify the anecdotal information she was receiving from her patients. What she found in the course of her study – the results of which were published in the Aesthetic Surgery Journal – surprised her. | |
Researchers developing portable device for early diabetes detectionResearchers at the University of Twente, in cooperation with commercial parties, are developing a portable device for detecting type 1 or type 2 diabetes at an early stage. The STW Technology Foundation is funding a research proposal submitted by Sonia García Blanco of UT's MESA+ institute. The ultimate aim of the project is to develop a prototype of the device. | |
Risk of heart attack in rheumatoid arthritis patients almost halved by biologic drugsA biologic drug which treats rheumatoid arthritis has been shown by new research to reduce the risk of heart attacks in arthritis sufferers by up to 40 per cent. | |
 | Your cell phone could curb the intensity of your workoutWant to get every perk possible from your power walk? Turn off your cell phone, advises Michael Rebold, Ph.D., assistant professor of integrative exercise science at Hiram College. In two recent studies published by Computers in Human Behavior and Performance Enhancement & Health, Rebold and researchers from Bloomsburg University of Pennsylvania revealed that talking or texting on a cell phone will lower the intensity of a workout and also affect balance. |
 | Autism biomarker seen as boon for new treatmentsResearchers at the UCLA Center for Autism Research and Treatment have identified a signature brain-wave pattern for children with autism spectrum disorder related to a genetic condition known as Dup15q syndrome. The research team noted that this signature is among the first quantitative biomarkers identified in electroencephalogram tests discovered for any syndrome highly associated with autism spectrum disorder. |
 | Why we need to keep an eye on whether a blood infection in cattle is linked to breast cancer in humansHumans began domesticating animals for food over 10,000 years ago, cultivating a close relationship with animals over the following millennia. Like humans, animals can get sick, and sometimes infections pass between humans and animals. Some of these infections, like ringworm, are mostly harmless, while others, like bovine tuberculosis, are extremely serious. |
Children remain underrepresented in drug research, says expertChildren continue to be underrepresented in drug and medical research, making them less likely to receive personalized health-care treatments for life-threatening conditions such as cancer and infectious disease, says Purdue University professor of chemistry Peter Kissinger. New tools are about to change this. | |
 | Study finds three primary coping mechanisms used by African-American women facing intimate partner violenceAfrican-American women in abusive relationships use a variety of strategies pulled from three general categories to survive intimate partner violence (IPV), according to a new University at Buffalo study recently published in the journal Social Work. |
 | Cervical cancer is preventable, but still a leading cancerAt the beginning of the year, many women (and men) set resolutions around health and fitness, often focusing on weight loss. But one of the most important habits women can form revolves around regular health checks, particularly for preventable cancers. |
 | Treating generational stress—are probiotics the answer?For the first time, Australian researchers have found a link between a father's stress levels and learning and memory ability in his offspring and that these negative effects can be reversed by probiotics. |
 | New study shows promise for repurposing anti-malarial drug for cancer treatmentA new study by University of Kentucky Markey Cancer Center researchers shows that chloroquine – a drug currently used to treat malaria – may be useful in treating patients with metastatic cancers. |
 | Customers who receive genetic health data not alarmed by results, find information usefulAs consumers have been able to learn more about their genetic makeup in recent years through personal genomic testing, one big criticism has been that without someone to interpret it, the health information could be harmful to the receivers. |
Searching for the secret of youthAs people age, their immune system gradually deteriorates and their ability to respond optimally to infections declines, a process called 'immunosenescence'. A*STAR research shows that not all types of T cells, a type of immune cell that matures in the thymus, follow the same trajectory with age. | |
 | Fighting drug resistance with tailored combinations of antibiotics that kill microbes in different waysTriple-pronged attacks on microbes that cause life-threatening lung infections are much more effective than individual antibiotics, A*STAR researchers have found. Using cocktails of antibiotics is promising for addressing the rising menace of multidrug-resistant microbes. |
Intensive weight loss does not cause major health problems for female fitness competitorsWorries about the potential negative consequences of fat loss regimens for aesthetic purposes in normal weight females have been surfacing in the media. This has taken place regardless of the lack of longitudinal studies on this kind of diets. Now the researchers of the University of Jyväskylä have published a study that shows for the first time what effects an intensive weight reduction had in rather a large group of normal weight females. | |
 | A sudden drop in outdoor temperature increases the risk of respiratory infectionsYou can pretty much put a mark in your calendar for when the annual flu epidemic begins. Using 20,000 virus samples and weather statistics, researchers have now discovered more details about how outdoor temperature and flu outbreaks are linked. |
A blood test may help predict confusion after surgeryMany people experience an extended period of confusion when they awake after surgery. This acute confusional state, called delirium, particularly affects older adults and poses an important clinical challenge as it can lead to greater postoperative complications and may extend hospitalization. | |
For men with prostate cancer, emotional distress may lead to more aggressive treatmentThe anxiety many men experience after being diagnosed with prostate cancer may lead them to choose potentially unnecessary treatment options, researchers from the University at Buffalo and Roswell Park Cancer Institute report in a new study. | |
 | Discovery of gene effects on brain brings scientists closer to understanding rare developmental disorderScientists are closer to finding additional genetic causes for the rare developmental disorder Cornelia de Lange Syndrome after discovering the steps in brain development that may be affected in some patients. |
 | Scientists uncover the structure of a protein complex linked with breast and ovarian cancer riskScientists at the Francis Crick Institute have described the molecular structure of a key tumour suppressor protein and provided insights into its role in cells. |
 | Researchers find a potential target for anti-Alzheimer treatmentsScientists at the Luxembourg Centre for Systems Biomedicine (LCSB) of the University of Luxembourg have identified a gene that may provide a new starting point for developing treatments for Alzheimer's disease (AD). The USP9 gene has an indirect influence on the so-called tau protein, which is believed to play a significant role in the onset of Alzheimer's disease. This discovery by the LCSB researchers, led by Dr. Enrico Glaab, may open a new door to developing active ingredients to treat Alzheimer's disease. The scientists recently published their findings in the journal Molecular Neurobiology. |
Molecular underpinnings of addiction produce strong addiction-related memoriesAddiction-related memories are exceptionally strong and stable, suggesting that addictive drugs remodel the brain's circuitry in a prominent and lasting way. In the past decade, researchers have used mouse models to unravel how cellular changes in the nucleus accumbens (NAc), a brain structure involved in action selection associated with arousal and reward, may contribute to addiction-related behavior. Whereas neuronal remodeling in the NAc explains a wide range of addictive behaviors, it is not required for all of them, according to a study published today in The EMBO Journal. | |
Human senses can't learn under stressStress is part of our everyday lives – while some thrive on it, it makes others sick. But what does stress do to our senses? | |
 | Tucatinib (ONT-380) progressing in pivotal trial against HER2+ breast cancerPhase 1 clinical trial data published this week in the journal Clinical Cancer Research show early promise of the investigational anti-cancer agent tucatinib (formerly ONT-380) against HER2+ breast cancer. The 50 women treated had progressed despite a median 5 previous treatment regimens. Twenty-seven percent of these heavily pretreated patients saw clinical benefit from the drug, with at least "stable disease" at 24 or more weeks after the start of treatment. These data led to two subsequent Phase Ib studies, resulting in tucatinib earning FDA fast-track status and the expansion of this study once meant only to demonstrate drug safety into the "pivotal" trial that will determine approval. |
 | Pumping iron is good for the heart, researchers showJust one session of interval weight-training can improve the risk of Type 2 diabetes complications, according to a UBC Okanagan study. This is encouraging news for those starting the New Year with good intentions. |
 | First study to show chair yoga as effective alternative treatment for osteoarthritisFor the millions of older adults who suffer from osteoarthritis in their lower extremities (hip, knee, ankle or foot), chair yoga is proving to be an effective way to reduce pain and improve quality of life while avoiding pharmacologic treatment or adverse events. A new study, conducted by researchers at Florida Atlantic University and published in the current issue of the Journal of the American Geriatrics Society, is the first randomized controlled trial to examine the effects of chair yoga on pain and physical function in older adults with osteoarthritis. |
Updated classification system captures many more people at risk for heart attackExperts at Johns Hopkins and New York's Mount Sinai Health System have published a suggested new plan for a five-stage system of classifying the risk of heart attack in those with heart disease, one they say puts much-needed and long-absent focus on the risks faced by millions of Americans who pass so-called stress tests or have less obvious or earlier-stage danger signs. | |
More older Americans using cannabis, underscoring need for researchThe U.S. Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration has reported that cannabis use by persons over age 50 has outpaced recent growth observed across all other age groups. In 2000, about one percent of Americans over 50 had used it within the past year; by 2012, that number had risen to 3.9 percent. | |
 | PG-13 movies show more gun violence than R-rated films: study(HealthDay)—The most popular PG-13 movies now depict more acts of gun violence than R-rated films, a new look at the U.S. motion picture landscape reveals. |
 | Want to leave dinner feeling full? Bring on the beans(HealthDay)—Legumes such as beans and peas make people feel fuller after a meal than meat, a small study shows. |
 | Scientists repair gene defect in stem cells from patients with rare immunodeficiencyScientists have developed a new approach to repair a defective gene in blood-forming stem cells from patients with a rare genetic immunodeficiency disorder called X-linked chronic granulomatous disease (X-CGD). After transplant into mice, the repaired stem cells developed into normally functioning white blood cells, suggesting the strategy could potentially be used to treat people with this disease. |
 | Changes to hospital electronic health records could improve care of patients on warfarinWarfarin is a commonly prescribed blood thinner used to prevent harmful blood clots. However, the drug requires frequent monitoring, daily dosing and can result in serious negative effects when mixed with vitamin K, a vitamin commonly found in vegetables such as lettuce or broccoli. Now, a new study from University of Missouri Health Care has found that using electronic health records (EHR) can improve the care patients receive after they leave the hospital and eliminate potential confusion among care providers and pharmacists. |
 | A novel cancer immunotherapy shows early promise in preclinical studiesScientists at the Medical University of South Carolina (MUSC) have designed an antibody-based therapy that could target the functions of TGF-beta that cause cancer. The therapy targets TGF-beta where it is particularly dangerous—docked on the surface of tumor cells. |
 | Contrary to decades of hype, curcumin alone is unlikely to boost healthCurcumin, a compound in turmeric, continues to be hailed as a natural treatment for a wide range of health conditions, including cancer and Alzheimer's disease. But a new review of the scientific literature on curcumin has found it's probably not all it's ground up to be. The report in ACS' Journal of Medicinal Chemistry instead cites evidence that, contrary to numerous reports, the compound has limited—if any—therapeutic benefit. |
Many insured under the Affordable Care Act miss opportunities for financial assistanceA survey conducted by investigators at the Mongan Institute Health Policy Center at Massachusetts General Hospital (MGH) found that almost one-third of Californians enrolling in individual insurance plans offered under the Affordable Care Act (ACA) in 2014 potentially missed opportunities to receive financial assistance with either premium payments, out-of-pocket costs or both. In their report published in the journal Health Affairs, the researchers note that enrollees who received assistance from certified enrollment counselors were less likely to choose plans that made them ineligible for assistance. | |
New therapeutic target against persistent viral infectionsLife is a question of balance, and the body is no exception. Expression levels of certain proteins can affect the immune system's ability to neutralize a virus. Type I interferons (IFN-I) are cytokines that were previously thought of as key contributors to the antiviral response, but emerging lines of evidence suggest that they may also participate in the establishment and maintenance of persistent viral infections. | |
 | Why Lyme disease is common in the north, rare in the southThe ticks that transmit Lyme disease to people die of dehydration when exposed to a combination of high temperature and lowered humidity, a new USGS-led study has found. In an earlier related study, the researchers found that southern black-legged ticks, unlike northern ones, usually stay hidden under a layer of leaves, where they are less likely to encounter people. The research group, whose findings were published Jan. 11 in the journal PLOS ONE, hypothesizes that southern ticks typically shelter under leaves to retain moisture, and that this behavior is a key reason why Lyme disease is very uncommon in the South. |
Study finds vaccination is the most cost-effective way to reduce rabies deaths in IndiaEvery year in India, 20,000 people are estimated to die from rabies. Most of the victims are children. Nearly all of the deaths occur after victims are bitten by rabid dogs. For years, experts have debated the best strategy to reduce this burden. | |
New guideline on how to map brain prior to epilepsy surgeryBefore epilepsy surgery, doctors may consider using brain imaging to locate language and memory functions in the brain instead of the more invasive procedure that is commonly used, according to a guideline published by the American Academy of Neurology in the January 11, 2017, online issue of Neurology, the medical journal of the American Academy of Neurology. It is the first evidence-based guideline that systematically reviewed all evidence for such an evaluation. | |
 | Vet research identifies new target for taming EbolaViruses and their hosts are in a eternal game of one-upmanship. If a host cell evolves a way to stop a virus from spreading, the virus will look for a new path. And so on and so forth. |
Cost, technology issues are barriers to real-time cancer patient symptom reportingCapturing real-time reports of cancer patients' symptoms between doctor's visits has proven health benefits, but technology and cost barriers are getting in the way of widespread adoption of the practice, reports a University of North Carolina Lineberger Comprehensive Cancer Center researcher. | |
 | Study explains how western diet leads to overeating and obesityMore than two in three adults in the United States are considered overweight or obese, with substantial biomedical and clinical evidence suggesting that chronic overconsumption of a "western diet" - foods consisting high levels of sugars and fats - is a major cause of this epidemic. |
 | 'Chemo brain' lasts for months in many breast cancer survivors(HealthDay)—"Chemo brain"—the mental fog common after breast cancer treatment—can persist for six months, new research shows. |
 | Protecting ankles, feet from winter's assaults(HealthDay)—From broken bones to frostbite, you're at extra risk for foot and ankle injuries during winter. But you can protect yourself, according to a surgeon who specializes in podiatry. |
 | Achieving LDL-particle targets deemed cost-effective(HealthDay)—Achieving targets of low-density lipoprotein (LDL), as measured by LDL particle number (LDL-P) compared with LDL-cholesterol (LDL-C), is cost-effective, according to a study published in the Feb. 1 issue of The American Journal of Cardiology. |
 | Complications in one-third undergoing total laryngectomy(HealthDay)—About one-third of patients undergoing total laryngectomy (TL) have complications and 13.9 percent are readmitted within 30 days, according to a study published online Dec. 27 in Cancer. |
 | Parathyroid hormone linked to arterial stiffness in T1DM(HealthDay)—In individuals with type 1 diabetes, parathyroid hormone (PTH) is associated with arterial stiffness, even after adjustment for multiple confounding variables, according to research published online Jan. 6 in Diabetes Care. |
Rural dementia—we need to talkResearch carried out by Plymouth University into the experience of dementia in farming and farming families, and its impact on their businesses and home lives, has identified four areas of concern which need to be addressed if dementia in the countryside is to be managed. It is the first time that research has addressed this issue in farming. | |
Philippines to offer free contraceptives to poorPhilippine President Rodrigo Duterte has ordered government agencies to ensure free access to contraceptives for 6 million women who cannot obtain them, officials said Wednesday, in a move expected to be opposed by the dominant Roman Catholic church. | |
French hospitals overwhelmed by flu epidemicFrench hospitals are being stretched to their limits by a major flu epidemic sweeping the country, France's health authorities warn. | |
 | Telerehabilitation through internet improve life of women suffering breast cancerResearchers from the University of Granada (UGR) and from hospitals Virgen de las Nieves and San Cecilio (Granada) have proved that telerehabilitation may help to alleviate the side effects associated with breast cancer and its treatment, including pain, fatigue, strength loss, and deterioration of the quality of life. In their study, they conducted rehabilitation with the help of the internet, using the application Skype as a control platform. |
 | Could regular exercise help women battling advanced breast cancer?QUT researchers are looking for Brisbane women who have been diagnosed with stage 2 (or above) breast cancer to take part in a study into the safety, feasibility and benefits of a regular exercise program. |
Psychology: Playful people are at an advantageAdults can positively utilise their inclination towards playfulness in many situations. They are good at observing, can easily see things from new perspectives, and can turn monotonous tasks into something interesting. At the same time, playfulness should not be equated with humour. Instead we need a new vocabulary to describe it, write psychologists from Martin Luther University Halle-Wittenberg (MLU) in the current issue of the international journal Personality and Individual Differences. | |
 | New study examines the health benefits of blue cornA new study shows that a rat model of metabolic syndrome fed a high-sugar and high-cholesterol diet and given blue maize extract showed significant improvement in systolic blood pressure, high density lipoprotein (HDL) cholesterol, and triglyceride levels compared to those not given the extract. The natural antioxidants present in blue maize may help protect against metabolic syndrome, cardiovascular disease, diabetes, and cancer, raising interest in using blue maize as a component of functional foods and nutraceuticals, according to an article published in Journal of Medicinal Food. |
Bronchial carcinoma: Added benefit of crizotinib not provenSince August 2016 crizotinib (trade name: Xalkori) has also been available for adults with advanced non-small cell lung cancer (NSCLC) in whom the structure of the enzyme "proto-oncogene tyrosine-protein kinase" (ROS1) is altered in the tumour tissue. In an early benefit assessment the German Institute for Quality and Efficiency in Health Care (IQWiG) investigated whether this drug offers advantages for patients over the appropriate comparator therapies. According to the findings, such an added benefit is not proven: for one patient group, the dossier does not contain any data at all; for two further groups, the data are unsuitable for assessment. | |
Oliver Smithies, 2007 Nobel Prize winner in medicine, diesGenetics researcher Oliver Smithies, who won the Nobel Prize for medicine in 2007, is dead at age 91. | |
Biology news
The best way to include fossils in the 'tree of life'The researchers from the Bristol Palaeobiology Group, part of the School of Earth Sciences, studied the best way to understand relationships of extinct animals to other extinct species as well as those alive today. | |
 | Ice Age 'skeleton crew' offers insights for today's endangered speciesThe ghosts of Ice Age mammals can teach valuable, real-world lessons about what happens to an ecosystem when its most distinct species go extinct, according to a Yale University study. |
 | Tree-bark thickness indicates fire-resistance in a hotter futureA new study has found that trees worldwide develop thicker bark when they live in fire-prone areas. The findings suggest that bark thickness could help predict which forests and savannas will survive a warmer climate in which wildfires are expected to increase in frequency. |
 | Mathematical model sheds light on timing of key intracellular eventsPhage therapy, which exploits the ability of certain viruses to infect and replicate within bacteria, shows promise for treating antibiotic-resistant bacterial infections. |
 | Important bio-chemical produced on a large scale by E.coliIf you had a company that manufactured valuable ingredients for chemicals like detergens or paint, you would probably like to produce the ingredients in large quantities, sustainably, and at a low cost. That's what researchers from The Novo Nordisk Foundation Center for Biosustainability—DTU Biosustain—at DTU can now do. The researchers have developed an E. coli cell line, which produces large quantities of the compound serine. |
 | Dung heaps are rhinos' Facebook: studyRhinos signal gender, age, and sexual availability in their poo, said a study Wednesday which suggested mammals may use communal dung heaps as social networking sites. |
 | Nature's tradeoffs: brawn v. brains, looks v. loyaltyBiologists assessing the natural world sometimes sometimes sound like hard-nosed executives weighing the costs and benefits of an investment opportunity. |
 | 'BioClay' a ground-breaking discovery for world food securityA University of Queensland team has made a discovery that could help conquer the greatest threat to global food security – pests and diseases in plants. |
 | Study shows dog-directed speech more effective on puppies than adult dogs(Phys.org)—A small team of researchers from the U.S., the U.K. and France has found that puppies are more receptive to dog-directed speech than are adult dogs. In their paper published in the journal Proceedings of the Royal Society B, the researchers describe experiments they conducted recording human voices and playing them back to dogs, what they found, and what it might mean for human communications. |
 | Researchers discover 'marvel microbes' explaining how cells became complexIn a new study, published in Nature this week, an international research group led from Uppsala University in Sweden presents the discovery of a group of microbes that provide new insights as to how complex cellular life emerged. The study provides new details of how, billions of years ago, complex cell types that comprise plants, fungi, but also animals and humans, gradually evolved from simpler microbial ancestors. |
 | Termite queens' efficient antioxidant system may enable long lifeTermite queens have an efficient antioxidant system which may underpin their ability to live longer than non-reproductive termites, according to a study published January 11, 2017 in the open-access journal PLOS ONE by Eisuke Tasaki from Tottori and Yamaguchi Universities, Japan, and colleagues. |
 | Baboon vocalizations contain five vowel-like sounds comparable to those of human speechAn acoustical analysis of the grunts, barks, wahoos, copulation calls, and yaks from baboons shows that, like people who use several vowels during speech, these nonhuman primates make five distinct vowel-like sounds, according to a study published January 11, 2017 in the open-access journal PLOS ONE by Louis-Jean Boë, Grenoble Alpes University, France, and colleagues. |
 | Researchers use TACC supercomputers to create first all-atom simulation of genome editing in actionOne of the most talked about biological breakthroughs in the past decade was the discovery of the genome editing tool CRISPR/Cas9, which can alter DNA and potentially remove the root causes of many hereditary diseases. |
 | Strep spreads by harnessing immune defenses of those infectedThe bacteria that cause most cases of pneumonia worldwide secrete a toxin that helps them jump from one body to the next - with help from the hosts' immune defenses. This is the finding of a study led by researchers from NYU Langone Medical Center and published online January 11 in Cell Host & Microbe. |
'Pedal bin machine' of gut bacteria revealedResearchers shed new light on the functioning of human gut bacteria, revealing how nutrients are transported into the bacterial cell. | |
 | Genetic opposites attract when chimpanzees choose a mateWhen it comes to hookups in the animal world, casual sex is common among chimpanzees. In our closest animal relatives both males and females mate with multiple partners. But when taking the plunge into parenthood, they're more selective than it seems. |
 | Bacterial protein structure could aid development of new antibioticsBacterial cells have an added layer of protection, called the cell wall, that animal cells don't. Assembling this tough armor entails multiple steps, some of which are targeted by antibiotics like penicillin and vancomycin. |
 | Study: Some bats showing resistance to deadly fungusThe little brown bat, a species that has been decimated by a deadly fungus, could be taking the first tentative steps to recovery, scientists say in a recent study published by Great Britain's Royal Society. |
 | Mother-daughter competition in orcas may explain menopauseCompetition between mothers and daughters may explain why orcas, also known as killer whales, are among just three species known to go through menopause, researchers said Wednesday. |
Connectivity is key for preserving isolated sage-grouse populationsGreater Sage-Grouse depend on large, intact tracts of the sagebrush habitat. Current sage-grouse conservation plans focus on protecting selected "priority areas," but these areas vary in size and proximity to each other—will they be able to sustain thriving, interconnected populations over time? A new study from The Condor: Ornithological Applications evaluates this approach. | |
 | Lamprey gene helps scientists discover how the human brain appearedResearchers at the M.M. Shemyakin and Yu.A. Ovchinnikov Institute of Bioorganic Chemistry of the Russian Academy of Sciences have collaborated with their colleagues from the A.N. Severtsova Institute of Ecology and Evolution in groundbreaking research work in which they discovered the homeobox gene Anf / Hesx1 in lampreys. It is the most ancient gene in modern vertebrates. The research findings that they published in Scientific Reports support the hypothesis that the appearance of this gene in vertebrates created the conditions necessary for the emergence of the telencephalon. |
 | Study finds fish fraud runs rampant at L.A. sushi restaurantsNext time you go out for sushi in Los Angeles, don't bother ordering halibut. Chances are it's not halibut at all. |
Research uncovers reason for growing pest damage in genetically protected corn cropsA UMD-led study provides new evidence of a decline in the effectiveness of genetically engineered traits widely used to protect corn crops from insects. This loss of effectiveness could damage U.S. corn production and spur increased use of potentially harmful insecticides. | |
 | How far do invasive species travel?As a result of the globalization of trade and transport, in the past decades, tens of thousands of species have spread into regions where they were not originally at home. Potentially serious consequences of this include the displacement or extinction of native species and the spread of health risks. Even though trade flows are known to represent an important path for the introduction of invasive species, this fact alone is not enough to explain the observed distribution patterns of species. |
 | New insights into 'master regulator' of cell division overturn textbook explanationFrancis Crick Institute scientists led by Sir Paul Nurse have resolved a long-standing debate in the field of cell cycle science. In doing so, they have revised the textbook explanation for how the process of cell division is controlled by a protein called CDK. |
 | Scientists reveal how immune system tags Toxoplasma capsuleScientists at the Francis Crick Institute have discovered how the host immune system deals with the prolific Toxoplasma parasite as it attempts to camouflage itself by hiding inside a capsule called a vacuole in human cells. |
 | Double fish production while preserving biodiversity—can it be done?Tanzania, perhaps best known for safaris over its vast open plains, has ambitious plans for diminutive freshwater wildlife with enormous, untapped potential. |
Scientists claim new gibbon species—name it SkywalkerResearchers in China claim they have identified a new species of gibbon in the remote forests along its border with Burma—and have named it after Star Wars character Luke Skywalker. | |
 | Conservation plans to protect the albatrossThe UK Overseas Territory of South Georgia & South Sandwich Islands is this week launching an ambitious conservation effort to help protect the albatross. |
 | New Colombian plant discovered by Kew scientist honors Colombian presidentA new plant species from Northeastern Colombia has been named Espeletia praesidentis, in honour of efforts made by Colombian President Juan Manuel Santos to build peace in his country after over five decades of conflict. The plant, from the genus Espeletia in the sunflower family, was discovered by a Colombian botanist from the Royal Botanic Gardens, Kew and named in a study published in the open access journal PhytoKeys last week. |
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