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Here is your customized Science X Newsletter for April 27, 2017:
Spotlight Stories Headlines
Astronomy & Space news
 | Astronomers made first measurements of small-scale ripples in primeval hydrogen gas using rare double quasarsThe most barren regions known are the far-flung corners of intergalactic space. In these vast expanses between the galaxies there is just one solitary atom per cubic meter—a diffuse haze of hydrogen gas left over from the Big Bang. On the largest scales, this material is arranged in a vast network of filamentary structures known as the "cosmic web," its tangled strands spanning billions of light years and accounting for the majority of atoms in the universe. |
 | Jupiter and the theory of relativity blamed for course changes of celestial bodiesIn the case of solar system bodies passing close to the sun, there are two important effects playing a crucial role in the orbital evolution. One of the effects is from the general relativity and the other effect is from Newtonian theory of gravitation. |
 | Recently discovered solar system could seed life between adjacent exoplanetsAfter NASA announced in February the discovery of a solar system with seven planets—three of which were deemed potentially habitable—UChicago postdoctoral scholar Sebastiaan Krijt began wondering: If a life form existed on one of these planets, could space debris carry it to another? |
 | Cassini spacecraft dives between Saturn and its rings, back in contact with EarthNASA's Cassini spacecraft is back in contact with Earth after its successful first-ever dive through the narrow gap between the planet Saturn and its rings on April 26, 2017. The spacecraft is in the process of beaming back science and engineering data collected during its passage, via NASA's Deep Space Network Goldstone Complex in California's Mojave Desert. The DSN acquired Cassini's signal at 11:56 p.m. PDT on April 26, 2017 (2:56 a.m. EDT on April 27) and data began flowing at 12:01 a.m. PDT (3:01 a.m. EDT) on April 27. |
 | Image: Cygnus spacecraft approaches ISS in the sunsetOn Saturday April 22, 2017, Expedition 51 Flight Engineer Thomas Pesquet of the European Space Agency photographed Orbital ATK's Cygnus spacecraft as it approached the International Space Station. |
 | From pedicures to the Peregrine rocket, paraffin wax proves its worthYour candles, crayons, and pedicures have something in common with a revolutionary aerospace engineering project from NASA and Stanford University. The paraffin wax used in familiar, everyday products and pampering is also what fuels the Peregrine hybrid rocket motor. |
 | The next Pluto mission—an orbiter and lander?For decades, we could only imagine what the view of Pluto's surface might be. Now, we have the real thing. |
 | Dawn observing Ceres; third reaction wheel malfunctionsNASA's Dawn spacecraft is preparing to observe Ceres on April 29 from an "opposition" position, directly between the dwarf planet's mysterious Occator Crater and the sun. This unique geometry may yield new insights about the bright material in the center of the crater. |
 | Touch new stamp and presto, total solar eclipse becomes moonThe U.S. Postal Service is going all out for this summer's total solar eclipse, with a first-of-its kind stamp. |
Technology news
 | System can 3-D print an entire buildingThe list of materials that can be produced by 3-D printing has grown to include not just plastics but also metal, glass, and even food. Now, MIT researchers are expanding the list further, with the design of a system that can 3-D print the basic structure of an entire building. |
 | Engineers investigate a simple, no-bake recipe to make bricks from Martian soilExplorers planning to settle on Mars might be able to turn the planet's red soil into bricks without needing to use an oven or additional ingredients. Instead, they would just need to apply pressure to compact the soil—the equivalent of a blow from a hammer. |
 | Amazon's Alexa upgraded as 'style assistant'Amazon's digital assistant Alexa is being transformed into a fashionista in a new device that was unveiled Wednesday. |
 | Wireless power could enable ingestible electronicsResearchers at MIT, Brigham and Women's Hospital, and the Charles Stark Draper Laboratory have devised a way to wirelessly power small electronic devices that can linger in the digestive tract indefinitely after being swallowed. Such devices could be used to sense conditions in the gastrointestinal tract, or carry small reservoirs of drugs to be delivered over an extended period. |
 | Breakthrough enables safer alternative to lithium-ion batteriesResearchers at the U.S. Naval Research Laboratory's (NRL) Chemistry Division have developed a safer alternative to fire-prone lithium-ion batteries, which were recently banned for some applications on Navy ships and other military platforms. |
 | From rapid prototyping to output at scale, two metal 3D printing systems are announced(Tech Xplore)—We have been hearing wonderful things about what designers and engineers are doing via the use of 3-D printers and plastics. But what about 3-D printing using metal parts? Safety and cost issues have been key hurdles. Those hurdles have not stopped Massachusetts-based Desk to Metal from working on advances that could rev up metal 3-D printing. |
Seattle startup wants you to make up your mind (and its software will help)Charles Davis has barely stepped outside of his small San Francisco lab space in the last month. His mind is so full of bits of code and musings on human behavior that the bright lights in the Seattle coffee shop he sat in recently seemed to almost shock him. | |
Nokia narrows its Q1 loss as sales stagnate; CEO optimisticSuffering from what the CEO described as "a typically seasonally weak quarter," Finland-based networks provider Nokia has reported a first-quarter net loss of €473 million ($515 million)— a slight improvement from the 623 million-euro loss recorded a year ago. | |
 | Harnessing Fiji hot springs for refrigerationTwo remote off-grid villages on the tiny Fijian island of Vanua Levu in the South Pacific are looking forward to their first reliable source of refrigeration thanks to, rather ironically, their local hot spring. |
 | World's largest moveable steel structure shelters sarcophagus at ChernobylToday marks the 31st anniversary of the catastrophic explosion at the Chernobyl Nuclear Power Plant's Unit 4 reactor. The blast discharged 400 times the radioactivity released by the Hiroshima bomb and drove nearly 200,000 people from their homes near the plant in Ukraine. |
 | This fantastic idea for a circular runway is sadly going nowhereBuilding a new runway is often a tight squeeze. For example, part of the opposition to a new runway in London, which has provoked national debate, comes from the hundreds of families whose homes will be demolished to make way for the airport expansion. But a team of Dutch scientists have now come up with an airport design that would allow large numbers of aircraft to take off in a much smaller space than currently possible – by using a circular runway. |
 | Britons shun ebooks due to 'screen fatigue'British sales of ebooks are waning, trade figures revealed Thursday, suggesting readers were suffering from "screen fatigue". |
 | Theme parks: Comcast's under-the-radar growth driverOne of Comcast's fastest-growing businesses hasn't been selling cable or internet subscriptions—or making movies and TV shows, or selling TV ads. It's been theme parks. |
 | Samsung, Apple keep top spots in smartphone marketSamsung and Apple maintained their leadership in the smartphone market in early 2017 while Chinese-based Huawei's strong growth cemented its number three position, a market tracker said Thursday. |
 | Facebook steps up fight on state-led propagandaFacebook said Thursday it is stepping up its security to counter efforts by governments and others to spread misinformation or manipulate discussions for political reasons. |
 | Crime and virtual punishmentWhen it comes to crime and punishment, how judges dish out prison sentences is anything but a game. |
 | Google parent Alphabet revs up revenue, profitGoogle parent Alphabet on Thursday reported a 29 percent jump in quarterly profit to $5.4 billion, lifted by strong revenue growth at the internet giant. |
 | 5 reasons Amazon is experimenting with physical storesIs the online giant of retail also looking to conquer physical stores? |
Microsoft quarterly profit up 28 percent at $4.8 bnMicrosoft on Thursday reported a strong jump in profits in the just-ended quarter but revenue fell short of expectations in the tech giant's first earnings report incorporating social network LinkedIn. | |
 | YouTube ad boycott could spell trouble for Alphabet's GoogleYouTube's inability to keep big-brand ads off unsavory videos is threatening to transform a rising star in Google's digital family into a problem child. |
Amazon delivers strong profits, shares rallyUS online giant Amazon on Thursday delivered stronger-than-expected financial results for the first quarter, pushing shares higher. | |
How a Pinterest engineer is helping others find inspiration through visual searchSearching for ideas on how to arrange photos in her college dorm room, Cindy Zhang turned to Pinterest for some inspiration as a freshman. | |
Epson EcoTank can print for years before you need to refill the inkI've gone through almost every brand of inkjet printer over the last 15 years. | |
 | Cyber attacks 10 years on—from disruption to disinformationToday is the tenth anniversary of the world's first major coordinated "cyber attack" on a nation's internet infrastructure. This little-known event set the scene for the onrush of cyber espionage, fake news and information wars we know today. |
 | Speak up! Why some TV dialogue is so hard to understandWithin 24 hours of the first episode of wartime drama SS-GB being broadcast the BBC received 100 complaints. Viewers took to Twitter to vent their frustrations with the sound. Many highlighted their annoyance that SS-GB was just the latest drama to be plagued with audibility problems. The debate has stretched to the House of Lords, with peers asking whether consultation with broadcasters is needed to address the issue. |
Medicine & Health news
 | Using a smartphone and engineered cells to control diabetes in mice(Medical Xpress)—A team of researchers affiliated with several institutions in China has developed a way to combine a smartphone with a glucose monitor and engineered cells to automatically control insulin levels in test mice. In their paper published in the journal Science Translational Medicine the team describes their technique and how well it worked in the mice. Mark Gomelsk with the University of Wyoming offers a Focus piece in the same issue highlighting the work done by the team. |
 | Team discovers opportunities to overcome cancer treatment resistanceA collaborative Cleveland Clinic, University of Oxford and Moffitt Cancer Center team of researchers has proven the theory that, while resistance to targeted treatment in cancer is truly a moving target, there are opportunities to overcome the resistance that develops. Though more study is needed, researchers believe understanding and predicting tumor resistance may translate into additional treatment options in the clinical setting. |
 | Stem cells edited to fight arthritis: Goal is vaccine that targets inflammation in jointsUsing new gene-editing technology, researchers have rewired mouse stem cells to fight inflammation caused by arthritis and other chronic conditions. Such stem cells, known as SMART cells (Stem cells Modified for Autonomous Regenerative Therapy), develop into cartilage cells that produce a biologic anti-inflammatory drug that, ideally, will replace arthritic cartilage and simultaneously protect joints and other tissues from damage that occurs with chronic inflammation. |
 | Why do we like our classes? And each other? Our brain waves tell us, new research showsThe synchronization of brainwaves among students during class reflects how much they like the class and each other, a team of neuroscientists has found. |
 | Scientists uncover interactions between bacteria that infect the lungs in cystic fibrosisSubstances produced by a harmful bacterium in the lungs of cystic fibrosis patients may enhance the growth of other bacteria that, in turn, inhibit the harmful bacterium's biofilm, according to new research published in PLOS Pathogens. |
 | Diabetes app forecasts blood sugar levelsColumbia University researchers have developed a personalized algorithm that predicts the impact of particular foods on an individual's blood sugar levels. The algorithm has been integrated into an app, Glucoracle, that will allow individuals with type 2 diabetes to keep a tighter rein on their glucose levels—the key to preventing or controlling the major complications of a disease that affects 8 percent of Americans. |
 | Neurons' faulty wiring leads to serotonin imbalance, depression-like behavior in miceColumbia scientists have identified a gene that allows neurons that release serotonin—a neurotransmitter that regulates mood and emotions—to evenly spread their branches throughout the brain. Without this gene, these neuronal branches become entangled, leading to haphazard distribution of serotonin, and signs of depression in mice. These observations shed light on how precise neuronal wiring is critical to overall brain health, while also revealing a promising new area of focus for studying psychiatric disorders associated with serotonin imbalance—such as depression, bipolar disorder, schizophrenia and autism. |
 | Tibetan people have multiple adaptations for life at high altitudesThe Tibetan people have inherited variants of five different genes that help them live at high altitudes, with one gene originating in the extinct human subspecies, the Denisovans. Hao Hu and Chad Huff of the University of Texas, Houston, and colleagues report these findings in a new study published April 27th, 2017 in PLOS Genetics. |
 | Breathing your way to preventing high blood pressureThe most common type of hypertension, which accounts for 95 per cent of people with high blood pressure, might one day be prevented with breathing exercises if caught early enough. |
 | A turbo engine for tracing neuronsPutting a turbo engine into an old car gives it an entirely new life—suddenly it can go further, faster. That same idea is now being applied to neuroscience, with a software wrapper that can be used on existing neuron tracing algorithms to boost their ability to handle not just big, but enormous sets of data. The wrapper, called UltraTracer, is highlighted this month in Nature Methods. |
 | Mouse teeth providing new insights into tissue regenerationResearchers hope to one day use stem cells to heal burns, patch damaged heart tissue, even grow kidneys and other transplantable organs from scratch. This dream edges closer to reality every year, but one of the enduring puzzles for stem cell researchers is how these remarkable cells know when it's time for them to expand in numbers and transform into mature, adult cells in order to renew injured or aging tissue. |
 | New evidence finds standardized cigarette packaging may reduce number of people who smokeA Cochrane Review published today finds standardized tobacco packaging may lead to a reduction in smoking prevalence and reduces the appeal of tobacco. |
Actress Kiruna Stamell debates gene editing with ethicist Dr. Christopher GyngellTwo papers published today by the Journal of the Royal Society of Medicine, debate gene editing and the health of future generations. Stage and screen actress Kiruna Stamell, who has a rare form of dwarfism, proposes that gene editing does not represent an improvement in healthcare; while Dr Christopher Gyngell, a research fellow at the Oxford Uehiro Centre for Practical Ethics, argues that provided it is well regulated, gene editing could greatly improve the health of our descendants. | |
Resistance exercises recover motor and memory impairment caused by flavor enhancerA study in rats, published in Experimental Physiology, showed that resistance exercise recovers memory and motor impairment caused by the flavour enhancer monosodium glutamate. | |
 | High-fructose diet during and after pregnancy can cause a fatty liver in offspringA diet high in fructose-containing sugars eaten during pregnancy or while breastfeeding can cause offspring to have a fatty liver, increasing their chances of developing obesity or type 2 diabetes. This is according to a new rat study published in The Journal of Physiology. |
Findings suggest underdiagnosis of AMD not uncommon in primary eye careApproximately 25 percent of eyes deemed to be normal based on dilated eye examination by a primary eye care ophthalmologist or optometrist had macular characteristics that indicated age-related macular degeneration (AMD), according to a study published by JAMA Ophthalmology. | |
 | Physical activity helps to counteract weight gain from obesity-causing gene variantPhysical activity can reduce the weight-gaining effects of the genetic variant that carries the greatest risk of obesity, report Mariaelisa Graff of the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill, Tuomas Kilpeläinen of University of Copenhagen and colleagues April 27th, 2017 in PLOS Genetics. |
Blood test predicts kids at risk for dengue shock syndromeThe most serious, life-threatening complication of dengue infection is dengue shock syndrome (DSS), seen primarily in children. Daily platelet counts in children in the early stages of dengue can predict those most at risk for DSS, researchers report in PLOS Neglected Tropical Diseases. | |
Hospital acquired complications may be especially dangerous for kidney disease patientsRecently, researchers reported that patients with chronic kidney disease (CKD) are at an increased risk of experiencing complications when hospitalized. The team has now found that potentially preventable hospital acquired complications (HACs) are linked with an elevated risk of early death—more so in patients with CKD than in those with normal kidney function. The findings appear in an upcoming issue of the Clinical Journal of the American Society of Nephrology (CJASN). | |
 | Researchers find chemoresistance in breast cancer is related to varying tumor cell populationsResearchers from the transformation and metastasis group of the Bellvitge Biomedical Research Institute (IDIBELL), led by Dr. Eva González-Suárez, have recreated and characterized the development of resistance to chemotherapy in orthotopic animal models of breast cancer, presenting the possibility of reversing resistance after a period of rest from the treatment. The paper has been published by Stem Cell Reports. |
Study explores potential of spices and herbs use to increase vegetable consumptionResearchers at the University of Illinois interested in developing interventions to encourage adults to make better food choices are investigating whether using more spices and herbs, like ginger, curry, rosemary, or garlic, for example, can help adults consume more vegetables as part of their diet. | |
 | How do babies coordinate gestures and vocalization?Asier Romero-Andonegi, Aintzane Etxebarria-Lejarreta, Ainara Romero-Andonegi and Irati de Pablo-Delgado, lecturers and researchers at the UPV/EHU's University College of Teacher Training in Bilbao, have studied how nine to 13-month-old babies tackle the shift from early babbling to the use of combinations of gestures and speech. The work, titled "The interrelation of gestures and vocalization in early communication functions: Evidence from Basque language" has been published in the journal Signos. |
 | As temperatures heat up, here's what you need to know about Zika virusSpring has sprung and in many parts of the country, so have the mosquitoes. In light of the current Zika epidemic, experts at the National School of Tropical Medicine at Baylor College of Medicine tell you what you need to be aware of this mosquito season. |
 | Scientists create leukaemia online tool to aid global search for cureFinding a cure for a rare type of blood cancer could be accelerated by a new virtual platform that allows researchers easy access to data from patient samples generated by laboratories around the world. |
Mental Qigong meditation can be just as rewarding as its physical cousinIn recent decades, modern scientific techniques have fully documented the health benefits of the ancient meditation technique of Qigong. One example of physical Qigong is the technique Wu Qin Xi (five animals play), in which participants sequentially move through poses that represent the form of different animals, holding each pose for several minutes. During each phase individuals seek to regulate their breathing and quiet their minds. Although this is a challenging endeavor, the benefits are significant. Effective Qigong practice can reduce feelings of depression and anxiety, decrease blood pressure and increase feelings of relaxation and attention. | |
 | Researchers find molecular trigger for brain inflammationBrain inflammation is a key component of multiple sclerosis, Alzheimer's, Parkinson's, ALS, and most other major neurodegenerative diseases. How inflammation starts, how it's sustained, and how it contributes to these diseases is not well understood, but scientists from the University of North Carolina School of Medicine have just found some important clues. |
 | Opioid abuse drops when doctors check patients' drug historyThere's a simple way to reduce the opioid epidemic gripping the country, according to new Cornell research: Make doctors check their patients' previous prescriptions. |
Regional trends revealed for meth labsHelensville and Hamilton were two of the meth lab hot spots identified in the first geographic study of clandestine meth lab distribution in New Zealand. | |
 | It's time to end the taboo of sex and intimacy in care homesImagine living in an aged care home. Now imagine your needs for touch and intimacy being overlooked. More than 500,000 individuals aged 65+ (double the population of Cardiff) live in care homes in Britain. Many could be missing out on needs and rights concerning intimacy and sexual activity because they appear to be "designed out" of policy and practice. The situation can be doubly complicated for lesbian, gay, bisexual or trans individuals who can feel obliged to go "back into the closet" and hide their identity when they enter care. |
New eye test detects earliest signs of glaucomaA simple eye test could help to solve the biggest global cause of irreversible blindness, glaucoma. | |
 | Bitter taste receptors hold key to treating asthmaOne in nine Australians, among more than 300 million people worldwide, suffer from asthma. They experience a wide range of debilitating, even life-threatening respiratory symptoms from a disease that can be controlled but not cured. |
 | Ethnicity, gender and income strongly affect cycling participation and preferencesEvery summer cycling enthusiasts anticipate the start of the Tour de France, and in more recent times, in the north of the UK, the Tour de Yorkshire. For the latter, yellow and blue bunting lines the streets of Yorkshire towns for one of the biggest cycle races in the country – with some of the top international teams taking part. |
 | 'Outstanding' results announced from new blood cancer studyScientists have described new results of a blood cancer study as 'outstanding' in tackling previously untreatable forms of chronic lymphocytic leukaemia (CLL). |
 | E-cigarettes do not promote cancer growth in lab testsA new study found no evidence that a commercially available e-cigarette vapor promotes the development of cancer in laboratory cells. In contrast, smoke from a reference cigarette was positive for cancer-promoting activity at very low concentrations. |
 | Controlling the spread of antibiotic resistant bacteriaA focus on preventing the introduction of antibiotic resistant bacteria from perceived high risk hospitals may be undermining efforts to control their spread across England. |
Diagnosed autism linked to maternal grandmother's smoking in pregnancyScientists from the University of Bristol have looked at all 14,500 participants in Children of the 90s and found that if a girl's maternal grandmother smoked during pregnancy, the girl is 67% more likely to display certain traits linked to autism, such as poor social communication skills and repetitive behaviours. | |
 | New consensus published on preventing and treating sport-related concussionsThere is no question that concussion is among the more concerning injuries in sport today. The question is how to best detect, assess, treat and prevent it. |
| Mother's family history could pose risk for preterm birthIf a pregnant mother has a family history of premature birth, she is at risk for a preterm birth of her baby, according to a new study by researchers from Ben-Gurion University of the Negev (BGU) and Soroka University Medical Center. |
 | Fecal microbiota transplant is safe and effective for patients with ulcerative colitisA single transplant of microbes contained in the stool of a healthy donor is a safe and effective way to increase diversity of good bacteria in the guts of patients with ulcerative colitis, according to new research from Weill Cornell Medicine and NewYork-Presbyterian. The findings suggest that fecal microbiota transplantation (FMT) might be an effective treatment for the disease, which causes inflammation and ulcers in the digestive tract. |
 | Exercise and vitamin D better together for heart healthJohns Hopkins researchers report that an analysis of survey responses and health records of more than 10,000 American adults for nearly 20 years suggests a "synergistic" link between exercise and good vitamin D levels in reducing the risk of heart attacks and strokes. |
 | Virtual humans help aspiring doctors learn empathyFor medical student Katie Goldrath, the first time delivering difficult health news came when she had to tell a young woman named Robin and her mom, Delmy, that Robin had leukemia. |
Landmark clinical trial to help Juvenile Idiopathic Arthritis sufferersA clinical trial funded by Arthritis Research UK and the National Institute for Health Research (NIHR) led by professors from the Universities of Liverpool and Bristol has discovered a drug combination that could help thousands of children with arthritis. | |
 | Antidepressant may enhance drug delivery to the brainNIH rat study suggests amitriptyline temporarily inhibits the blood-brain barrier, allowing drugs to enter the brain. |
National mental-health survey finds widespread ignorance, stigmaLess than half of Americans can recognize anxiety. Most people don't know what to do about depression even when they spot it. And nearly 8 in 10 don't recognize prescription drug abuse as a treatable problem. | |
 | New blood test may better predict gestational diabetesA new study led by researchers at Brigham and Women's Hospital has found that a single measurement of plasma glycated CD59 (GCD59), a novel biomarker for diabetes, at weeks 24-28 of gestation identified, with high sensitivity and specificity, women who failed the glucose challenge test as well as women with gestational diabetes. Plasma levels of GCD59 were also associated with the probability of delivering a large-for-gestational-age newborn. These findings are published in Diabetes Care. |
 | Wanting more self-control could hinder our efforts to exert self-control, study findsTurning down that delicious piece of chocolate cake. Resisting the temptation to buy clothes that we don't need. If we want to watch our weight and save our pennies, these enticements demand that we exercise some degree of self-control. |
Bullies and their victims more likely to want plastic surgerySchool bullies and their victims are more likely to want cosmetic surgery, according to new research by the University of Warwick. | |
 | Study shows link between maternal marijuana use and low birth weightIn a new study, researchers in London, Ontario found that women who used marijuana while pregnant were almost three times more likely to have an infant with low birth weight than women who did not use marijuana. |
 | Spatial epidemiology used to identify three key hepatitis C hotspots in MassachusettsAn innovative analysis combining geographic information systems (GIS), spatial epidemiology, and statistical modeling identified three hotspot clusters of hepatitis C infection rates in Massachusetts. The study, published in BMC Infectious Disease, found that areas around Boston, New Bedford, and Springfield had the most significant clusters of hepatitis C infection based on rates per 100,000 people. |
 | Molecule identified that helps give resident T cells in the skin their anti-cancer punchThe molecule CD103 is key to the long-term residence of T cells in the skin and to their anti-tumor function, report a team of researchers at the Medical University of South Carolina (MUSC) and the Dartmouth-Hitchcock Norris Cotton Cancer Center In the April 14, 2017 Science Immunology. This finding supplements the ground-breaking discovery by the Dartmouth team, reported in the same article, that T cells residing in the skin are responsible for a potent anti-tumor response against melanoma. |
A quarter of nursing home residents are colonized with drug-resistant bacteriaThe significant presence of multidrug-resistant gram-negative bacteria (MDR-GNB), such as E. coli, among nursing home residents demonstrates the need for heightened infection control prevention and control measures in nursing homes, according to a meta-analysis published in the May issue of the American Journal of Infection Control, the official journal of the Association for Professionals in Infection Control and Epidemiology (APIC). | |
 | Study shows there's a positive side to worryingWorry - it does a body good. And, the mind as well. A new paper by Kate Sweeny, psychology professor at the University of California, Riverside, argues there's an upside to worrying. |
Strong parent connections enhance children's ability to develop healthy response to stressChildren in low-income families have an increased chance of thriving when their caregiver relationships include certain positive characteristics, according to new research from the National Center for Children in Poverty (NCCP) at Columbia University's Mailman School of Public Health. Using data from more than 2,200 low-income families surveyed as part of the Fragile Families and Child Wellbeing Study, NCCP researchers found that school-age children who reported high levels of parent involvement and supervision were more likely to report behaviors associated with positive emotional development and social growth. | |
 | Is your child using drugs?(HealthDay)—Mood swings and sudden changes in behavior can be a normal part of growing up, often starting in the tween years. But they can also signal substance abuse. |
 | Are kids' vaccines a victim of their own success?(HealthDay)—Vaccines prevent serious infections so effectively that many parents mistakenly believe the diseases are no longer a threat in the United States, a pediatrician warns. |
 | Gene expression profile improves ID of high-risk melanoma(HealthDay)—A validated 31-gene expression profile (GEP) signature improves identification of patients with melanoma at high risk of metastasis when used in combination with the American Joint Committee on Cancer (AJCC) outcome prediction tool, according to a study published in the May issue of the Journal of the American Academy of Dermatology. |
 | Genetic variant tied to MS and systemic lupus identified(HealthDay)—A genetic variant that is associated with both multiple sclerosis and systemic lupus erythematosus (SLE) has been identified, according to a study published online April 26 in the New England Journal of Medicine. |
 | EHR documentation may help in harm reduction initiatives(HealthDay)—Electronic health record (EHR) documentation can be used to reduce preventable harm in hospitals, according to a study published online April 27 in Pediatrics. |
 | Pediatricians missing elevated blood lead levels in U.S.(HealthDay)—Many children with a blood lead level ≥10 µg/dL (elevated blood lead level [EBLL]) are being missed by pediatric care providers, according to a study published online April 27 in Pediatrics. |
 | Clinician awareness of exercise addiction may be lacking(HealthDay)—Health care professionals need to recognize exercise addiction and understand its risks, according to a practice pointer published online April 19 in the BMJ. |
 | Early RA treatment important for long-term outcomes(HealthDay)—Early treatment of rheumatoid arthritis (RA) is important for long-term outcomes, and there has been a decrease in mortality rates attributable to RA, according to two studies published online April 20 in Arthritis & Rheumatology. |
 | Analysis: Gender differences in depression appear at age 12An analysis just published online has broken new ground by finding gender differences in both symptoms and diagnoses of depression appearing at age 12. |
 | Pregnancy does not increase expectant mothers' melanoma riskExpectant mothers need not be concerned that they are more prone to develop melanoma, or will have a worse prognosis if they do get this serious skin cancer, than women who are not pregnant, according to study results published online as an "article in press" on the Journal of the American College of Surgeons website ahead of print publication. |
 | Staking self-worth on the pursuit of money has negative psychological consequencesAlthough people living in consumer-based cultures such as the U.S. often believe that they will be happier if they acquire more money, the findings of a newly published paper by a University at Buffalo research team suggest that there may be downsides to this pursuit. |
Treatment improved overall survival in elderly patients with early-stage esophageal cancerElderly patients with early-stage esophageal cancer that received treatment had an increased 5-year overall survival when compared to patients who received observation with no treatment. | |
 | Trauma surgeon seeing rise in burns from electronic cigarettesDr. Gary Vercruysse and his colleagues noticed something strange going on in their emergency room about a year-and-a-half ago. It all started when a 58-year-old man with severe burns to his left thigh arrived at Banner - University Medical Center Tucson for treatment. |
 | A little support from their online friends calms test-anxious studentsReading supportive comments, "likes" and private messages from social media friends prior to taking a test may help college students who have high levels of test-anxiety significantly reduce their nervousness and improve their scores, a new study suggests. |
 | Food insecurity can affect your mental healthFood insecurity (FI) affects nearly 795 million people worldwide. Although a complex phenomenon encompassing food availability, affordability, utilization, and even the social norms that define acceptable ways to acquire food, FI can affect people's health beyond its impact on nutrition. A new study published in the American Journal of Preventive Medicine determined that FI was associated with poorer mental health and specific psychosocial stressors across global regions (149 countries), independent of individuals' socioeconomic status. |
New Mexico city seeks sugary drink taxIt's being pitched as an educational lifeline for impoverished preschool-aged children and condemned as the latest example of local government overreach sweeping progressive cities from coast to coast. | |
Overweight/obese people with diabetes at increased risk of brain abnormalitiesA new study published in Diabetologia (the journal of the European Association for the Study of Diabetes [EASD]) reveals that overweight and obese individuals with early stage type 2 diabetes (T2D) had more severe and progressive abnormalities in brain structure and cognition compared to normal-weight study participants. | |
Follow-up colonoscopies associated with a significantly lower incidence of bowel cancerPatients at risk of developing bowel cancer can significantly benefit from a follow-up colonoscopy, finds research published today in Lancet Oncology. | |
 | Dentistry research ID's novel marker for left-handednessIndividuals with a slender lower face are about 25 percent more likely to be left-handed. This unexpected finding was identified in 13,536 individuals who participated in three national surveys conducted in the United States. |
Trial investigates use of asthma drug for patients with heart conditionsResearchers at Guy's and St Thomas' NHS Foundation Trust have launched an innovative new trial which aims to improve the recovery of patients with serious heart conditions. | |
New research assessment to boost long-term quality and developmentUppsala University is currently conducting its third University-wide research assessment: "Quality and Renewal 2017" (Q&R17). This time, the focus is on preconditions and processes for maximising research quality. The aim is to strengthen Uppsala University's research in the long term, and one means is to clarify how forms of work and environments can be developed. During spring 2017, the evaluation work is in its most intensive phase. | |
 | Keratin hydrogels show significant potential to regenerate lost muscle tissue and functionThe use of human hair-derived keratin biomaterials to regenerate skeletal muscle has shown promise in new research that documents significant increases in both new muscle tissue formation and muscle function among mouse models of volumetric muscle loss. Two new studies that compare muscle regeneration following treatment with keratin hydrogels, no repair, or an alternative tissue matrix are published in in Tissue Engineering, Part A. |
 | ECDC report shows strong potential of e-health to increase vaccination coverage in EuropeTwenty one EU/EEA countries have developed or are in the process of developing systems to digitally record information about vaccination, according to a new "ECDC survey report on immunisation information systems implementation and system characteristics". Fourteen of these countries already have a system in place, whereas innovative systems are being piloted in 7 countries. |
How shifts in excitation-inhibition balance may lead to psychiatric disordersIn a special issue of Biological Psychiatry titled "Cortical Excitation-Inhibition Balance and Dysfunction in Psychiatric Disorders", guest editors Dr. Alan Anticevic and Dr. John Murray, both of Yale University, bring together seven reviews that highlight advancements in understanding the balance of excitatory and inhibitory signaling in the brain, and what might happen when it goes awry. | |
 | Can yoga reduce symptoms of menstrual disorders?A systematic review of the published literature on yoga practice and common menstrual disorders found that all of the studies evaluated reported a beneficial effect and reduced symptoms. The impact of a range of yoga interventions on menstrual distress associated with physical and psychological symptoms for premenstrual women are described in an article published in The Journal of Alternative and Complementary Medicine. |
 | What causes gene transfer to trigger T cell activation and exhaustion?Researchers are beginning to gain a clearer understanding of how the immune system responds, in both a reactive and tolerant way, to gene therapy delivered using what has become the preferred gene delivery vector, adeno-associated viruses (AAV). A new review that takes a comprehensive look at both the AAV-mediated immune reactivation response to gene transfer and the role that regulatory and exhausted T cells play in the development of tolerance to AAV is published in Human Gene Therapy. |
UK pharma industry urges huge health spend hikeBritain's ailing National Health Service needs an annual injection of more than £26 billion, the pharmaceutical industry said Thursday as the country prepares for Brexit and a general election. | |
Team science critical to diagnosis, prevention, treatment of diseasesTackling complex biomedical research increasingly requires the development of new approaches to facilitate innovative, creative and impactful discoveries. A group of scientists from Boston University School of Medicine (BUSM) show that a team science approach is critical to solving complex biomedical problems and advancing discoveries in the prevention, diagnosis and treatment of human disease. | |
Medical marijuana advocates say Iowa program too limitedA medical marijuana oil program approved by the Iowa Legislature might not offer much help to patients with qualifying medical conditions, but advocates say it's at least a step in the right direction. | |
 | Crossroads for Obamacare(HealthDay)—Obamacare, also known as the Affordable Care Act, is still the law of the land. But its fate may be sealed by Congressional Republicans and the Trump administration in the coming days, weeks and months, health policy analysts say. |
 | April 29 is national prescription drug Take Back Day(HealthDay)—You can safely dispose of potentially dangerous expired, unused and unwanted prescription drugs on Saturday, April 29. |
 | Popular iPhone app to study postpartum depression expands to new countries, modules and Android versionThe UNC School of Medicine today launched the Android version of PPD ACT, a mobile app-based study helping to further the understanding of why some women suffer from Postpartum Depression (PPD) and others do not - critical knowledge for researchers working to find more effective treatments. |
Study quantifies kidney failure risk in living kidney donorsResearchers have developed a risk calculator to provide personalized risk estimates of developing kidney failure after donation. The findings, which appear in an upcoming issue of the Journal of the American Society of Nephrology (JASN), may be useful for individuals considering donation, for living donors wishing to understand their long-term risk, and for clinicians who monitor the long-term health of living donors. | |
Biology news
 | Researchers find means by which mushrooms glow(Phys.org)—A team of researchers from Russia, Brazil and Japan has uncovered the means by which two kinds of mushrooms glow in the dark. In their paper published on the open-access site Science Advances, the group describes their study of Neonothopanus gardneri and Neonothopanus nambi—mushrooms that grow and glow in Brazil and Vietnam respectively. |
 | Abating bait: Decline in prized worms threatens way of lifeDan Harrington makes his living unearthing marine worms by hacking away at mudflats with a tool that resembles the business end of an old steel rake. |
 | Scythian horse breeding unveiled: Lessons for animal domesticationNomad Scythian herders roamed vast areas spanning the Central Asian steppes during the Iron Age, approximately from the 9th to the 1st century BCE (Before Common Era). These livestock pastoralists, who lived on wagons covered by tents, left their mark in the history of warfare for their exceptional equestrian skills. They were among the first to master mounted riding and to make use of composite bows while riding. A new study published in Science led by Professor Ludovic Orlando and involving 33 international researchers from 16 universities, now reveals the suite of traits that Scythian breeders selected to engineer the type of horse that best fit their purpose. |
 | Physics of poo—why it takes you and an elephant the same amount of timeThe ancient Chinese practiced copromancy, the diagnosis of health based on the shape, size and texture of feces. So did the Egyptians, the Greeks and nearly every ancient culture. Even today, your doctor may ask when you last had a bowel movement and to describe it in exquisite detail. |
 | Fukomys livingstoni, I presume?Two new species of African mole-rat have been discovered by researchers at Queen Mary University of London (QMUL), together with colleagues in Tanzania and at the University of Pretoria. |
 | Using rooster testes to learn how the body fights virusesOur bodies are constantly under siege by foreign invaders; viruses, bacteria and parasites that want to infiltrate our cells. A new study in the journal eLife sheds light on how germ cells - sperm and egg - protect themselves from these attackers so that they can pass accurate genetic information to the next generation. |
 | Researchers build a novel switch to facilitate tagging of proteins in a cellRice University scientists have learned to spy on cells with a divide-and-conquer strategy to label proteins. |
 | Resource availability drives person-to-person variations in microbes living in the bodyThe collection of microbial species found in the human body varies from person to person, and new research published in PLOS Computational Biology suggests that a significant part of this variation can be explained by variability in shared resources available to the microbes. |
 | Novel antibiotic resistance gene in milkResearchers of the University of Bern have identified a new antibiotic resistance gene in bacteria from dairy cows. This gene confers resistance to all beta-lactam antibiotics including the last generation of cephalosporins used against methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus. A transfer to S. aureus which is likely according to the researchers would jeopardize the use of reserve antibiotics to treat human infections caused by multidrug-resistant bacteria in hospitals. |
 | Black bears on the move in upstate New YorkThe black bear population in southern New York has grown and expanded their range since the early 1990s, which has led to increased encounters with humans. But details about bear populations in the state have remained understudied. |
 | Invasive green crab found near Sequim, WashingtonA new population of invasive European green crab has been found at Dungeness Spit, near Sequim, Washington, rekindling concern over the potential for damage to local marine life and shorelines. |
 | Flawed forensic science may be hampering identification of human remainsResearch from The Australian National University (ANU) has cast doubt on a method used in forensic science to determine whether skeletal remains are of a person who has given birth. |
 | The key to long female lives may be heterogeneityFemales often live longer than men—this is true for humans and for many other animal species. |
 | US probes unusual rise in humpback whale deathsInvestigators are probing an unusually high number of humpback whale deaths since 2016 off the US Atlantic Coast, where many appear to have been killed by colliding with boats, officials said Thursday. |
 | Scientists study portion of Everglades closed to people for decadesAfter nearly 40 years of being closed off to the public, visitors to Everglades National Park can now explore Joe Bay. |
 | Biodiversity ravaged by dredging at renowned Scottish dive siteThe tragic and sudden loss of an important marine site in Scotland highlights the need for better protection of the country's inshore waters. |
 | Opinion: Rhinos should be conserved in Africa, not moved to AustraliaRhinos are one of the most iconic symbols of the African savanna: grey behemoths with armour plating and fearsome horns. And yet it is the horns that are leading to their demise. Poaching is so prolific that zoos cannot even protect them. |
 | Animals actively choose to match their surroundings to avoid predationAnimals can match their background to avoid detection by predators. For instance, numerous species have evolved color patterns that help them blend into their surroundings and avoid predators—a phenomenon called crypsis. A new experimental study found that ghost crabs in the Solomon Islands may achieve crypsis by actively choosing to live in sand background that matches their body color. |
 | Rare vaquita porpoise found dead in MexicoAn endangered vaquita porpoise was found dead in the Gulf of Mexico, the country's environmental protection authority said Wednesday, bringing to four the number of dead vaquitas found in 2017. |
 | Ohio zoo euthanizes 29-year-old polar bear that had cancerThe Columbus Zoo and Aquarium in Ohio says it has euthanized a 29-year-old male polar bear after veterinarians determined he had liver cancer with limited treatment options. |
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