Dear Reader ,
Here is your customized Science X Newsletter for April 25, 2017:
Spotlight Stories Headlines
Astronomy & Space news
 | Astronomers detect dozens of new quasars and galaxies(Phys.org)—A team of astronomers led by Yoshiki Matsuoka of the National Astronomical Observatory of Japan (NAOJ) has detected a treasure trove of new high-redshift quasars (or quasi-stellar objects) and luminous galaxies. The newly found objects could be very important for our understanding of the early universe. The findings were presented Apr. 19 in a paper published on arXiv.org. |
 | Preliminary results of Breakthrough Listen project released(Phys.org)—The team of researchers working on the Breakthrough Listen project (affiliated with SETI) has released preliminary findings after sifting through several petabytes of data obtained from three telescopes involved in the research project. The findings have been made available on the project's website as the team awaits publication of a paper in the Astrophysical Journal. |
 | Astrophysicists study 'rejuvenating' pulsar in a neighboring galaxyLomonosov Moscow State University scientists published the results of a study of unique ultra-slow pulsar XB091D. This neutron star is believed to have captured a companion only a million years ago, and since then, has been slowly restoring its rapid rotation. The young pulsar is located in one of the oldest globular star clusters in the Andromeda galaxy, where the cluster may once have been a dwarf galaxy. |
 | Team discovers lull in Mars' giant impact historyFrom the earliest days of our solar system's history, collisions between astronomical objects have shaped the planets and changed the course of their evolution. Studying the early bombardment history of Mars, scientists at Southwest Research Institute (SwRI) and the University of Arizona have discovered a 400-million-year lull in large impacts early in Martian history. |
 | New survey hints at exotic origin for the Cold SpotA supervoid is unlikely to explain a 'Cold Spot' in the cosmic microwave background, according to the results of a new survey, leaving room for exotic explanations like a collision between universes. The researchers, led by postgraduate student Ruari Mackenzie and Professor Tom Shanks in Durham University's Centre for Extragalactic Astronomy, publish their results in Monthly Notices of the Royal Astronomical Society. |
 | NASA's Cassini poised to plunge beneath Saturn's ringsAn unmanned NASA spacecraft, Cassini, is poised to plunge into the gap between Saturn and its rings, a pioneering journey that could offer an unprecedented view of the sixth planet from the Sun. |
 | Image: Titan flyby 22 April 2017In the early hours of Saturday morning, the international Cassini–Huygens mission made its final close flyby of Saturn's largest moon, Titan, coming within 1000 km of the atmosphere-clad world. |
 | Image: James Webb Space Telescope mirror seen in full bloomIt's springtime and the deployed primary mirror of NASA's James Webb Space Telescope looks like a spring flower in full bloom. |
 | Into the submillimeter—the early universe's formationIn order to make sense of our universe, astronomers have to work hard, and they have to push observing technology to the limit. Some of that hard work revolves around what are called sub-millimeter galaxies (SMGs.) SMGs are galaxies that can only be observed in the submillimeter range of the electromagnetic spectrum. |
Technology news
 | Who needs coal? Britain did nicely without coal for 24 hours(Tech Xplore)—The energy provider, National Grid, on Twitter confirmed that, on April 21st, Britain went without coal-generated power for its first full day. |
 | 'Data-driven' design could lead to improved lithium-ion batteriesPurdue University is working with MIT and Stanford University in a project funded by the Toyota Research Institute to improve rechargeable lithium-ion batteries and accelerate their integration into electric and hybrid vehicles. |
 | New interface allows more efficient, faster technique to remotely operate robotsThe traditional interface for remotely operating robots works just fine for roboticists. They use a computer screen and mouse to independently control six degrees of freedom, turning three virtual rings and adjusting arrows to get the robot into position to grab items or perform a specific task. |
 | Modeling reveals how policy affects adoption of solar energy photovoltaics in CaliforniaOne key goal for renewable energy in the United States is to promote the continued adoption of solar photovoltaic (PV) systems to reduce greenhouse gas emissions and create a clean energy workforce. |
 | Revolutionary method reveals impact of short circuits on battery safetyHow lithium-ion (Li-ion) batteries behave under short-circuit conditions can now be examined using a new approach developed by a UCL-led team to help improve reliability and safety. |
 | Experts outline pathway for generating up to 10 terawatts of power from sunlight by 2030The annual potential of solar energy far exceeds the world's energy consumption, but the goal of using the sun to provide a significant fraction of global electricity demand is far from being realized. |
 | FCA, Google begin offering rides in self-driving carsFiat Chrysler and Google for the first time will offer rides to the public in the self-driving vehicles they are building under an expanding partnership. |
 | Google tweak aims to curb fake, misleading search resultsGoogle on Tuesday announced changes to how it delivers and ranks internet searches, the latest effort by the tech giant to weed out "fake news" and offensive content. |
 | SK Hynix posts record Q1 profit on mobile chip demandSouth Korean chipmaker SK Hynix on Tuesday said profit in the first three months of the year boomed more than 300 percent to a record high as strong demand for memory chips used in mobile phones boosted prices. |
 | Researchers introduce new battery charging technology that uses light to charge batteriesA team of researchers affiliated with UNIST has developed a single-unit, photo-rechargeable portable power source based on high-efficiency silicon solar cells and lithium-ion batteries (LIBs). |
 | When artificial intelligence evaluates chess championsThe ELO system, which most chess federations use today, ranks players by the results of their games. Although simple and efficient, it overlooks relevant criteria such as the quality of the moves players actually make. To overcome these limitations, Jean-Marc Alliot of the Institut de recherche en informatique de Toulouse (IRIT - CNRS/INP Toulouse/Université Toulouse Paul Sabatier/Université Toulouse Jean Jaurès/Université Toulouse Capitole) demonstrates a new system, published on 24 April 2017 in the International Computer Games Association Journal. |
 | Making robots that can work with their handsIt's quite common for humans – especially those who work in manufacturing – to tie a knot, strip the casing off a cable, insert a pin in a hole or use a hand tool such as a drill. They may seem like simple tasks, but are really very complex and involve extremely fine finger and hand motions. |
Nondigital, analog theft is main driver in identity theftAlthough identity theft is frequently associated with mega-data breaches such as the Target breach in 2013, new research from the Center for Identity at The University of Texas at Austin has found that old-fashioned "analog" theft is the major driver in identity-related crimes. | |
 | Teaming up for cheaper energy from ocean tidesOceanographers at Bangor University's School of Ocean Sciences are launching a major project to study tidal turbulence at the Menai Strait in Wales. Just how can this project help reduce development costs, leading to cheaper energy from the tides? |
 | A more than 100% quantum step toward producing hydrogen fuelEfforts to reduce our dependence on fossil fuels are advancing on various significant fronts. Such initiatives include research focused on more efficient production of gaseous hydrogen fuel by using solar energy to break water down into its components of hydrogen and oxygen. Recently, in an article published in the journal Nature Energy, lead author Yong Yan, an assistant professor in the Department of Chemistry and Environmental Science, reported a key breakthrough in the basic science essential for progress toward this goal. |
UK man jailed for running global cyberattack businessA British man has been sentenced to two years in prison for creating and selling a program used in online attacks around the world. | |
 | Google targets 'fake news,' offensive search suggestionsGoogle has sprinkled some new ingredients into its search engine in an effort to prevent bogus information and offensive suggestions from souring its results. |
 | Wikipedia founder tackles fake news with WikitribuneWikipedia founder Jimmy Wales is launching a project aimed at reshaping the news media—and tackling the scourge of misinformation—using the same collaborative principles as the revolutionary online encyclopedia. |
 | Virtual reality, apps add interactivity to music videosMore musicians are using new technology, including 360-degree cameras, virtual reality musical experiences and vertical videos, to reach the smartphone generation of music fans who are discovering new music on their phones and tablets. |
 | Managing disease spread through accessible modelingA new computer modeling study from Los Alamos National Laboratory is aimed at making epidemiological models more accessible and useful for public-health collaborators and improving disease-related decision making. |
 | Uber sets 'flying car' launch for 2020Uber said Tuesday it wants to launch a system of flying cars to move people around cities, with a goal of putting demonstration projects in place by 2020. |
Official: 'Silver lining' in hacker, foreign nation allianceForeign governments that rely on the services of private criminal hackers leave their operations vulnerable to being exposed and disrupted, creating something of a "silver lining" for U.S. law enforcement investigations of cyberattacks, a top Justice Department official said Monday. | |
 | Smartphone app lets user 'walk a mile in a refugee's shoes'The United Nations helped launch a smartphone app Tuesday that allows users to "walk a mile in a refugee's shoes" by simulating the daily struggles of a fictional Rohingya Muslim who was forced to flee her home. |
 | First cable-driven robot that prints large-sized components in 3-DTogether with the Institute for Advanced Architecture of Catalonia (IAAC), Tecnalia has developed the first cable-driven robot that allows large parts and even small buildings to be created in situ. The innovative technology includes the latest advances in the field of robotics, digital manufacturing and 3-D printing. |
 | Scientists create new system of concrete building structuresProfessor Andrey Ponomarev of Peter the Great Saint-Petersburg Polytechnic University and graduate student Alexander Rassokhin have developed several types of building blocks for construction based on nanostructured high-strength lightweight concrete reinforced with skew-angular composite coarse grids. The development has unique characteristics, enabling the increase of load-carrying capability by more than 200 percent and decrease in specific density of the construction by 80 percent. In addition, the blocks are resistant to corrosion, aggressive environments and excessive frost resistance. |
Facebook Stories could end up driving younger users away instead of attracting themIf you use Facebook's mobile app, you may have recently noticed the sudden appearance of circles at the very top of the display. The social media giant has previously tried pushing this "Stories" feature into three of its other products: Messenger, WhatsApp and Instagram. This point wasn't lost on many internet users, who quickly began sharing memes mocking Facebook's addition of Stories to everything. | |
 | 'Eco-treehouse' could be future of home buildingA University of Dundee researcher has worked with architects to produce conceptual designs for a luxury 'eco-treehouse' capable of housing a family, regulating its own temperature and functioning on a self-maintaining, low-energy cycle. |
 | Rosetta online server that includes everyoneOur bodies are made of biomolecules like proteins, nucleic acids, fats and sugars. These biomolecules are folded into specific 3D structures—predetermined by the DNA and RNA sequences that build them—which allows them to do everything they need to do in our bodies. |
Medicine & Health news
 | Research shows brain stimulation during training boosts performanceYour Saturday Salsa club or Introductory Italian class might be even better for you than you thought. |
 | New chlamydia drug targets discovered using CRISPR and stem cellsScientists at the Wellcome Trust Sanger Institute and their collaborators at the University of British Columbia have created an innovative technique for studying how chlamydia interacts with the human immune system. |
 | Studying a catalyst for blood cancersImagine this scenario on a highway: A driver starts to make a sudden lane change but realizes his mistake and quickly veers back, too late. Other motorists have already reacted and, in some cases, collide. Meanwhile, the original motorist - the one who caused the problem - drives on. |
 | Predicting people's 'brain age' could help to spot who is at risk of early deathA method for predicting someone's 'brain age' based on MRI scans could help to spot who might be at increased risk of poor health and even dying at a younger age. |
 | Blocking angiogenesis to stop cancer growth and target other diseasesNewly published UC Davis research characterizing specific mechanisms involved in blocking angiogenesis, or the formation new blood vessels, has the potential to block cancer growth and target other diseases, researchers said today. |
 | Pink noise synced to brain waves deepens sleep and boosts memory in older adultsGentle sound stimulation—such as the rush of a waterfall—synchronized to the rhythm of brain waves significantly enhanced deep sleep in older adults and improved their ability to recall words, reports a new Northwestern Medicine study. |
 | How brains process facial expressionsHave you ever thought someone was angry at you, but it turned out you were just misreading their facial expression? Caltech researchers have now discovered that one specific region of the brain, called the amygdala, is involved in making these (sometimes inaccurate) judgments about ambiguous or intense emotions. Identifying the amygdala's role in social cognition suggests insights into the neurological mechanisms behind autism and anxiety. |
 | Unique womb-like device could reduce mortality and disability for extremely premature babiesA unique womb-like environment designed by pediatric researchers could transform care for extremely premature babies, by mimicking the prenatal fluid-filled environment to give the tiniest newborns a precious few weeks to develop their lungs and other organs. |
 | Skin stem cells used to generate new brain cellsUsing human skin cells, University of California, Irvine neurobiologists and their colleagues have created a method to generate one of the principle cell types of the brain called microglia, which play a key role in preserving the function of neural networks and responding to injury and disease. |
 | Ancient stress response provides clues to cancer resistanceCancer is often able to craftily outwit the best techniques modern medicine has developed to treat it. In an attempt to understand and combat cancer's vaunted prowess, an unusual collaboration between physicists and a leading geneticist has cast new light on cancer as a biological phenomenon with very deep evolutionary roots. |
 | What's coming next? Scientists identify how the brain predicts speechAn international collaboration of neuroscientists has shed light on how the brain helps us to predict what is coming next in speech. |
 | Novel phage therapy saves patient with multidrug-resistant bacterial infectionScientists and physicians at University of California San Diego School of Medicine, working with colleagues at the U.S. Navy Medical Research Center - Biological Defense Research Directorate (NMRC-BDRD), Texas A&M University, a San Diego-based biotech and elsewhere, have successfully used an experimental therapy involving bacteriophages—viruses that target and consume specific strains of bacteria—to treat a patient near death from a multidrug-resistant bacterium. |
'CYCLOPS' algorithm spots daily rhythms in cellsHumans, like virtually all other complex organisms on Earth, have adapted to their planet's 24-hour cycle of sunlight and darkness. That circadian rhythm is reflected in human behavior, of course, but also in the molecular workings of our cells. Now scientists from the Perelman School of Medicine at the University of Pennsylvania have developed a powerful tool for detecting and characterizing those molecular rhythms—a tool that could have many new medical applications, such as more accurate dosing for existing medications. | |
 | Scientists unravel how protein impacts intellectual disabilityYour brain needs just the right balance between excitatory "on" signals and inhibitory "calm down" signals. Now scientists from the Florida campus of The Scripps Research Institute (TSRI) have shown that a protein helps balance nerve cell communication. |
 | 3-D printing and Hollywood special FX bring heightened reality to surgical trainingA collaborative team of neurosurgeons, neuroradiologists, simulation engineers, and special effects experts have developed a unique tool to teach neurosurgical trainees how to perform minimally invasive surgical procedures. Using 3D printing and Hollywood-style special effects, the team constructed a training simulation model whose physical and functional qualities closely mimic those of the head and brain structures of an adolescent human patient. |
 | Overcoming Opioids: Special schools help teens stay cleanWhen Logan Snyder got hooked on pills after a prescription to treat pain from a kidney stone, she joined the millions already swept up in the nation's grim wave of addiction to opioid painkillers. |
 | Measuring immune response could be key to differentiating malaria from other infectionsAnalysing a patient's immune response could be key to quickly and accurately diagnosing malaria, according to research presented on World Malaria Day at the 27th European Congress of Clinical Microbiology and Infectious Diseases (ECCMID). |
 | Artificial intelligence may help diagnose tuberculosis in remote areasResearchers are training artificial intelligence models to identify tuberculosis (TB) on chest X-rays, which may help screening and evaluation efforts in TB-prevalent areas with limited access to radiologists, according to a new study appearing online in the journal Radiology. |
 | Parents' use of emotional feeding increases emotional eating in school-age childrenEmotional eating - eating when you feel sad or upset or in response to another negative mood - is not uncommon in children and adolescents, but why youth eat emotionally has been unclear. Now a new longitudinal study from Norway has found that school-age children whose parents fed them more to soothe their negative feelings were more likely to eat emotionally later on. The reverse was also found to be the case, with parents of children who were more easily soothed by food being more likely to feed them for emotional reasons. |
 | Novel mode of antidepressant action may help patients unresponsive to SSRIsAntidepressants treat symptoms of depression by increasing levels of brain signaling molecules (neurotransmitters) such as serotonin, as with the most widely used type of antidepressant, selective serotonin reuptake inhibitors (SSRIs). However, many of the 350 million people worldwide thought to be affected with depression do not respond to SSRI treatment. |
Study finds first molecular genetic evidence of PTSD heritabilityA large new study from the Psychiatric Genomics Consortium provides the first molecular genetic evidence that genetic influences play a role in the risk of getting Posttraumatic Stress Disorder (PTSD) after trauma. | |
Ambulances respond more slowly in summer and winterServices are vulnerable to disruptions from both hot and cold weather, with the speed of ambulance response beginning to suffer when the mean daily air temperature drops below 2°C or rises above 20°C. This is thanks, largely, to more emergency calls past these thresholds. | |
 | Orange essential oil may help alleviate post-traumatic stress disorderAbout 8 percent of people will develop post-traumatic stress disorder at some point in their lives, according to the U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs, yet treatments for this debilitating condition remain limited. In a new study, mice exposed to orange essential oil after a stressful situation showed improvements in markers of stress and fear, suggesting essential oil may offer a non-pharmaceutical option to help alleviate PTSD. |
 | Method for observing the effects of drugs on heart cells under the microscopeResearchers from Oxford University created the technique to test the effects of new or commonly used drugs on heart function, as well as exploring new ways to treat diabetes. |
 | Screening for preeclampsia in pregnant women recommendedThe U.S. Preventive Services Task Force (USPSTF) recommends screening for preeclampsia in pregnant women with blood pressure measurements throughout pregnancy. The report appears in the April 25 issue of JAMA. |
Elevated biomarker following surgery linked to increased risk of deathAmong patients undergoing noncardiac surgery, peak postoperative high-sensitivity troponin T measurements (proteins that are released when the heart muscle has been damaged) during the first three days after surgery were associated with an increased risk of death at 30 days, according to a study published by JAMA. | |
 | Patients with positive fecal screening test, sooner is better for colonoscopyThe risk of colorectal cancer increased significantly when colonoscopy was delayed by more than nine months following a positive fecal screening test, according to a large Kaiser Permanente study published today in the Journal of the American Medical Association. |
 | Geophagy—eating soil could harm babiesUp to 80 percent of people in Africa, especially women, regularly eat clayey soil – this habit is known as geophagy. A previous study conducted at MedUni Vienna has already shown that it is a form of craving. Now researchers from the Center for Public Health and the Institute of Medical Genetics at MedUni Vienna have shown that this practice can also be detrimental to health: pregnant women who consume particular types of soil display higher levels of lead contamination – as do their babies. |
Workings of protein hold keys to new cancer treatmentsThough cancer treatments have advanced somewhat in our time, the methods still commonly used on patients are very harsh. These include invasive surgeries and chemotherapy. | |
 | Mosquito discovery sheds light on how malaria is spread in South AfricaAcross the world there are limited tools available for controlling mosquitoes. The two most successful and widely used initiatives are indoor house spraying and the use of insecticide treated bed nets. These target mosquitoes that feed on humans inside their homes and then rest indoors. Hundreds of millions of bed nets have been distributed across Africa in the last 15 years. |
 | Genetic surveillance and why it's critical in the fight against antimalarial drug resistanceEfforts to tackle malaria infections over the past decades have yielded impressive results across the tropics, so much so that full elimination is now a public health priority for many malaria endemic countries. |
 | Pelvic floor training in pregnancy could help prevent the need for 'barbaric' vaginal mesh surgeryFor millions of women, childbirth is a somewhat daunting yet thoroughly rewarding process. In the western world, many years of medical research and professional experience mean that women have access to expert care before, during and after birth. However, there is still one matter that is not being addressed enough during pregnancy: pelvic floor health. Women often do not realise, and are not properly informed, that something can be done to reduce the risks of pelvic floor problems in pregnancy and after childbirth. |
 | Improving social skills in kids with autismWaving goodbye and blowing kisses—no parent wants to miss out on those special moments. Among the 1 percent of the population of the United States who are diagnosed with autism, however, these small but important gestures often are missing from their behavior. Researchers at the Autism Assessment, Research, Treatment and Services Center (AARTS) Center at Rush University Medical Center have set out to alleviate this absence. |
 | Support for health professionals reduces unnecessary antibiotic use in hospitalsA major international review led by the University of Dundee's Professor Peter Davey has identified effective and safe ways to reduce unnecessary use of antibiotics in hospitals. |
 | Rock climbers consistently risking injury and pain to maximise performanceRock climbers are routinely putting themselves at risk of pain and injury by wearing footwear several sizes too small for them, according to new research from the University of Dundee. |
Heart test changes could save livesNew advice for doctors could prevent almost 3000 heart attacks being missed each year, Edinburgh researchers say. They have called for the guidelines on using blood tests to diagnose heart attacks to be urgently implemented to help save lives. | |
 | Movie research results—multitasking overloads the brainPrevious research shows that multitasking, which means performing several tasks at the same time, reduces productivity by as much as 40 percent. Now a group of researchers specialising in brain imaging has found that changing tasks too frequently interferes with brain activity. This may explain why the end result is worse than when a person focuses on one task at a time. |
 | 'Junk food' and the consumer blame gamePeople in the UK are hooked on takeaways and microwave meals, or so we are constantly told by TV chefs and the media. This apparent addiction to fast food is leading to an obesity epidemic. |
 | Potential new treatment for kidney failure in cancer patientsKidney dysfunction is a frequent complication affecting more than 50 percent of all cancer patients, and is directly linked to poor survival. Despite the high occurrence, it is still not clear how presence of a tumour contributes to kidney dysfunction and how this can be prevented. A new study from researchers at Uppsala University shows that kidney dysfunction can be caused by the patient's own immune system, 'tricked' by the tumour to become activated. |
 | Decrease in cardiovascular diseases benefits persons with diabetesThe incidence of cardiovascular diseases in Sweden has decreased sharply since the late 1990s. These are the findings of a study from Sahlgrenska Academy which included almost three million adult Swedes. In relative terms, the biggest winners are persons with type 1 and type 2 diabetes. |
 | Technique dramatically speeds research into cancer, genetic diseasesA new technique developed at the University of Virginia School of Medicine will let a single cancer research lab do the work of dozens, dramatically accelerating the search for new treatments and cures. And the technique will benefit not just cancer research but research into every disease driven by gene mutations, from cystic fibrosis to Alzheimer's disease – ultimately enabling customized treatments for patients in a way never before possible. |
Remember mouth guards when purchasing sporting goodsOne piece of safety equipment often ignored when purchasing sporting goods is the mouth guard. Each year, more than five million teeth are avulsed (come out of the socket) due to trauma. The cost to treat an avulsed tooth, over a lifetime, can range from $5,000 to $20,000. Not only do mouth guards reduce the possibility of dental injuries, they reduce the severity of injuries that do occur and the cost of care. That is why a properly fitted mouth guard or mouth protector should be used by anyone who practices contact sports, some non-contact sports or any activity that poses a risk of injury to the mouth. | |
For many women, body image and sex life may suffer after episiotomyWomen who have episiotomies after childbirth reported having poorer body image and less satisfying sex lives than women who tear and heal naturally. | |
 | Chemotherapy drug may increase vulnerability to depressionA chemotherapy drug used to treat brain cancer may increase vulnerability to depression by stopping new brain cells from growing, according to a new King's College London study out today in Translational Psychiatry. |
 | New guideline published on uncommon risk of death in epilepsyThere is an uncommon risk of death that people with epilepsy and their loved ones may not know about. The risk is called sudden unexpected death in epilepsy, or SUDEP. Now the American Academy of Neurology (AAN) and the American Epilepsy Society have co-developed a new guideline on SUDEP, published in the April 24, 2017, online issue of Neurology, the medical journal of the American Academy of Neurology, and presented at the 69th AAN Annual Meeting in Boston, April 22 to 28, 2017. The guideline is endorsed by the International Child Neurology Association. |
Enzyme treatment reduces alcohol-induced liver damage in mouse modelsAn intestinal enzyme previously shown to keep bacterial toxins from passing from the gastrointestinal system into the bloodstream may be able to prevent or reduce the liver damage caused by excess alcohol consumption. In their report that will appear in the journal Digestive Diseases and Sciences and has been published online, a Massachusetts General Hospital (MGH) research team describes how oral doses of intestinal alkaline phosphatase (IAP) prevented the development of fatty liver in mouse models of both binge drinking and chronic alcohol consumption. The study also provides the first evidence of an expanded role of the liver's stellate cells in alcoholic liver disease. | |
 | Study finds new genetic variants associated with extreme old ageThe search for the genetic determinants of extreme longevity has been challenging, with the prevalence of centenarians (people older than 100) just one per 5,000 population in developed nations. |
 | Therapeutic vaccine designed to reduce recurrence of cervical cancer under studyCervical cancer is often deadly when it recurs and physician scientists want to know if a new therapeutic vaccine can prevent or reduce recurrence in women at high risk for its return. |
 | New method to grow womb lining and mimic menstrual cycle in the laboratory dishScientists at KU Leuven (University of Leuven), Belgium, have succeeded in growing three-dimensional cultures of the endometrium, the uterus' inner lining, in a dish. These so-called endometrial organoids promise to shed light onto the processes that occur during the monthly menstrual cycle and open up the possibility of studying diseases of the uterus, such as endometrial atrophy (thinning of the lining) or cancer, in a lab culture system. |
 | JAMA study, clinical trials offer fresh hope for kids with rare brain diseaseAnna Gunby can't run around as smoothly as most 4-year-olds because her wobbly legs are affected by a rare brain disease that also hinders her intellect. She can't identify colors. She can't count objects. Her attention span is short. |
 | Low levels of 'memory protein' linked to cognitive decline in Alzheimer's diseaseWorking with human brain tissue samples and genetically engineered mice, Johns Hopkins Medicine researchers together with colleagues at the National Institutes of Health, the University of California San Diego Shiley-Marcos Alzheimer's Disease Research Center, Columbia University, and the Institute for Basic Research in Staten Island say that consequences of low levels of the protein NPTX2 in the brains of people with Alzheimer's disease (AD) may change the pattern of neural activity in ways that lead to the learning and memory loss that are hallmarks of the disease. |
 | College students, worms help scientists find new genetic clues to sleepResearchers intent on understanding how too little sleep can undermine health have long suspected a relationship between short sleep duration and the actions of specific genes, but finding the genes involved has proven difficult. Now, a team of scientists based at Brown University has identified genes carrying "epigenetic" tags that are likely associated with shorter sleep in young adults. |
Children conceived after fertility treatments are at increased risk for pediatric cancersBen-Gurion University of the Negev (BGU) researchers have found that babies born from mothers who underwent fertility treatments are at increased risk of developing many types of pediatric cancers and tumors (neoplasms). | |
 | College students exposed to toxic flame retardants in dust from dormitory furnishingsParents getting ready to send their kids off to college next fall might want to take note. A new study shows that students living in college dormitories are exposed to high levels of toxic flame retardants in dust. In the analysis, led by Silent Spring Institute, scientists measured dozens of flame retardants in dorm dust samples, including carcinogens, hormone disruptors, and chemicals that affect brain function. The results also included some of the highest levels ever reported. |
 | Team of scientists created 1,000 3-D protein structures to be used for drug and vaccine researchAn international team of scientists, led by Northwestern University Feinberg School of Medicine, has determined the 3-D atomic structure of more than 1,000 proteins that are potential drug and vaccine targets, to combat some of the world's most dangerous emerging and re-emerging infectious diseases. |
 | Cognitive skills differ across cultures and generationsAn innovative study of children and parents in both Hong Kong and the United Kingdom, led by University of Cambridge researchers Michelle R. Ellefson and Claire Hughes, reveals cultural differences in important cognitive skills among adolescent participants but not their parents. The results are published in Psychological Science, a journal of the Association for Psychological Science. |
Bad feelings can motivate cancer patientsFeeling down is a common side effect of being diagnosed with cancer. Anxiety, guilt, and distress often come hand-in-hand with diagnosis and treatment. | |
Who you are influences what you eat more than food shopping environment, study findsWho a person is may matter more than where they shop for food in predicting their consumption of unhealthy food, according to a new RAND Corporation study that challenges notions that building supermarkets in "food deserts" can help the nation eat better. | |
 | Low-sodium diet might not lower blood pressureA new study that followed more than 2,600 men and women for 16 years found that consuming less sodium wasn't associated with lower blood pressure. The new findings call into question the sodium limits recommended by the current Dietary Guidelines for Americans. |
One step closer to an 'exercise pill'Suppressing production of the protein myostatin enhances muscle mass and leads to significant improvements in markers of heart and kidney health, according to a study conducted in mice. Joshua T. Butcher, PhD, a postdoctoral fellow at the Vascular Biology Center at Augusta University, will present the work at the American Physiological Society's annual meeting during the Experimental Biology 2017 meeting, to be held April 22-26 in Chicago. | |
High rate of tumor shrinkage among pancreatic cancer patients: studyAdding cisplatin to the standard gemcitabine/nab-paclitaxel drug treatment provided a very high rate of tumor shrinkage for patients with advanced pancreatic cancer, according to the results of a pilot clinical trial conducted by the HonorHealth Research Institute and the Translational Genomics Research Institute (TGen). | |
 | Racial, ethnic disparities in pediatric readmission rates for chronic disease vary by conditionDisparities in pediatric readmission rates for chronic conditions such as asthma, depression, diabetes, migraines, and seizures vary, with the lowest one-year readmissions recorded for depression and the highest one-year readmission rates seen for seizure, according to retrospective analyses of hospitalizations at 48 children's hospitals published April 21, 2017 in The Journal of Pediatrics. Health disparities for asthma and diabetes readmissions began to emerge by as early as three weeks after hospitalization; the highest one-year readmission rates for these conditions were seen among non-Latino blacks. Meanwhile, disparities for migraine and seizure readmissions became apparent as early as six weeks after hospitalization, with the highest one-year readmission rates seen in non-Latino whites. |
 | 'Diet' products can make you fat, study showsHigh-fat foods are often the primary target when fighting obesity, but sugar-laden "diet" foods could be contributing to unwanted weight gain as well, according to a new study from the University of Georgia. |
Afghanistan and Iraq veterans' opioid use similar to that of civiliansHeavy rucksacks, parachuting out of helicopters, combat injuries, and stress result in chronic pain for many service members. In the United States, opioids are commonly prescribed to manage chronic pain, and overprescribing is a concern, particularly for veterans' healthcare. | |
 | Study: Higher costs for complex cancer surgery indicator for worse careHigher costs for complex cancer surgery may be an indicator for worse—rather than better—quality of care, according to new research by experts at Rice University and the University of Texas MD Anderson Cancer Center. Their findings are published in the journal Surgery and provide multiple implications for care delivery. |
Estrogen alters memory circuit function in women with gene variantFluctuations in estrogen can trigger atypical functioning in a key brain memory circuit in women with a common version of a gene, NIMH scientists have discovered. Brain scans revealed altered circuit activity linked to changes in the sex hormone in women with the gene variant while they performed a working memory task. | |
Intense training without proper recovery may compromise bone health in elite rowersBone mineral density, an indicator of bone strength, typically increases with regular exercise, acting as a protective mechanism against bone fractures and osteoporosis. But a new study suggests that the extended, high-intensity training sessions of elite athletes could reverse beneficial bone changes. Researchers from Brock University in Canada will present their findings today at the American Physiological Society (APS) annual meeting at Experimental Biology 2017 in Chicago. | |
 | FDA: Avoid fake 'miracle' cancer treatments sold on internetU.S. regulators are warning consumers to avoid 65 bogus products hawked on the internet with false claims that they can cure, treat, diagnose or prevent cancer. |
 | Dutch IVF kids seek DNA tests from late sperm bank docA group of Dutch people born through IVF treatment demanded on Tuesday that DNA tests be done on the late head of a sperm bank who according to reports may have fathered up to 60 children. |
 | Childhood obesity linked to quadrupled risk of developing type 2 diabetesChildren with obesity face four times the risk of developing type 2 diabetes compared to children with a body mass index (BMI) in the normal range, according to a study published today in the Journal of the Endocrine Society. |
 | New drug compounds could provide non-toxic, effective way to inhibit enzymes that cause cancersDrug compounds being developed at Purdue University could effectively target and inhibit protein kinase enzymes and secondary mutated versions that drive multiple types of cancers. The compounds are non-toxic compared to conventional drugs, potentially eliminating adverse patient side effects. |
 | 'Mindfulness' probably won't cure your back pain: study(HealthDay)—Proponents of mindfulness-based stress reduction claim it can improve relationships, mental health, weight and more. But, one complaint it's unlikely to fix is lower back pain, researchers now say. |
 | Some surprising sources of germs(HealthDay)—You might think of public restrooms as scary breeding grounds for germs, but two everyday items can spread colds and the flu as fast as a bathroom doorknob. |
 | Opioid-related deaths might be underestimated: CDC(HealthDay)—America's prescription drug abuse epidemic may be even more deadly than expected, a new report from the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention suggests. |
 | T2DM risk cut by variant in sulfonylurea receptor encoder(HealthDay)—A common missense variant in the gene encoding a component of the sulfonylurea receptor (ABCC8 p.A1369S), which promotes closure of the target channel of sulfonylurea therapy, mimicking the effects of therapy, is associated with reduced risk of type 2 diabetes and coronary heart disease, according to a study published online April 14 in Diabetes. |
 | Central obesity ups mortality across BMI range(HealthDay)—Central obesity is associated with increased risk of mortality even in normal-weight individuals, according to a study published online April 24 in the Annals of Internal Medicine. |
 | Primary care pediatrician vital for cleft lip/palate care(HealthDay)—For children with cleft lip and/or cleft palate (CL/P), the primary care pediatrician has an important role, according to a clinical report published online April 24 in Pediatrics. |
 | HBV reactivation is concern with DAA Tx in HBV-HCV coinfection(HealthDay)—Hepatitis B virus (HBV) reactivation (HBV-R) is a safety concern for patients with HBV and hepatitis C virus (HCV) coinfection receiving direct-acting antiviral agents (DAAs), according to a study published online April 24 in the Annals of Internal Medicine. |
 | Popular belief that saturated fats clog up arteries 'plain wrong', say expertsThe widely held belief among doctors and the public that saturated fats clog up the arteries, and so cause coronary heart disease, is just "plain wrong," contend experts in an editorial published online in the British Journal of Sports Medicine. |
Researchers find cold weather linked to mortality risks in TexasCold weather increases the risk of mortality in Texas residents, according to researchers at The University of Texas Health Science Center at Houston (UTHealth) School of Public Health. The findings were recently published in the journal Environmental Pollution. | |
 | Genes associated with resilience against brain pathology identifiedThe pathologies (damage) in the brain that stroke, Alzheimer's disease and other neurological conditions cause in older adults only partially explain the memory loss, reduced reasoning ability and other cognitive impairments that result from these conditions. Little is known about why the effects of brain pathology vary between people who develop it. |
Study of transgender preschoolers assesses preferences and identityGender may be the earliest identity and social category to emerge in development, research suggests, and acquiring knowledge about one's gender is considered a critical part of early childhood development. In one of the first examinations of early gender development among transgender preschoolers, a new study has found that these children were just as likely as nontransgender children to have preferences associated with their gender, and to have as strong and clear a sense of their gender identity. | |
 | Trailblazing Colorado abortion law marks 50th anniversaryTuesday marks 50 years since a groundbreaking Colorado law significantly loosened tight restrictions on legal abortions. |
 | Study: Trump's hardball tactic on health care may backfireGoing into this week's federal budget battle, the White House toyed with a hardball tactic to force congressional Democrats to negotiate on President Donald Trump's priorities. |
 | Mathematical models accurately predict real-life malaria outbreaksMalaria is just one of many potentially fatal illnesses that spread through the same mechanism: mosquitoes draw blood from infected humans during blood meals then inject that infection into other humans during later meals. In 2015, the World Health Organization estimated that about 214 million people in the world contracted malaria, killing nearly half a million. |
 | A third of emergency cancer patients have not seen their GPAround one third (34 per cent) of cancer patients diagnosed as an emergency in England had not consulted their doctor beforehand, according to a Cancer Research UK funded study published in the British Journal of General Practice . |
Indian doctors defend 500kg Egyptian's weight loss amid rowIndian doctors on Tuesday angrily rejected claims that they had lied about the amount of weight an Egyptian once believed to be the world's heaviest woman had lost following surgery. | |
 | Dopamine control of prolactin secretionIn women, a major role of prolactin is to initiate and sustain pregnancy and lactation. During pregnancy, prolactin secretion from the pituitary gland is important for pregnancy maintenance and prolactin levels are correlated with miscarriage occurrence. When prolactin levels fail to increase properly, there is a higher risk of miscarriage1. But prolactin levels are also important during the female reproductive cycle – as increased prolactin secretion can cause infertility by inhibiting the release of hormones that trigger ovulation. So prolactin levels cannot be too high to allow ovulation and pregnancy to occur, but also have to increase at a proper rate during early pregnancy to ensure pregnancy success. But how the body carefully regulates prolactin in real time has been a mystery – until now. |
What Africa still needs to do to eliminate malariaMalaria is one of the oldest and deadliest infectious diseases affecting man. It is an ancient and modern disease – descriptions of illnesses similar to malaria are found in ancient texts from China, India, the Middle East, Africa and Europe. | |
 | Prenatal screening for Down's syndrome seen as 'routine practice'Optional prenatal screening for Down's syndrome has become a 'normal' part of pregnancy, with consequences for women and their partners, according to new research by Cardiff University. |
More patients can avoid hospital admissions after emergency room visits for diverticulitisAbout 150,000 people are admitted to hospitals each year for diverticulitis,1 an inflammation of an outgrowth or pouching in the colon that can cause severe abdominal pain. Furthermore, emergency room (ER) visits for diverticulitis have increased 21 percent in recent years.2 However, these ER visits don't have to land patients in the hospital as frequently as they do, according to new findings published as an "article in press" on the Journal of the American College of Surgeons website in advance of print publication. A study of patients with diverticulitis who went to emergency rooms in a Minnesota health system found that about half of those admitted could have been sent home at significant savings to not only the health care system, but to the individual patients as well. | |
New guidance for management of aromatase-inhibitor related bone loss in breast cancerA new Position Statement, jointly published by seven international and European organizations, identifies fracture-related risk factors in patients treated by aromatase-inhibitors (AI) and outlines key management strategies to help prevent bone loss and related fractures. | |
 | The fast and the crashed: Study shows collisions five times more likely for street racersOntarians who have street-raced at least once in the past year are five times more likely than other drivers to have crashed their vehicle at some point during those 12 months. |
 | Prostate cancer patients would pay $2,000 for more accurate biopsies, study findsProstate cancer patients are willing to pay up to $2,000 of their own money for a new high-tech biopsy technique that significantly improves accuracy, according to a study published in the journal Urology Practice. |
Post-fracture care: Do we need to educate patients rather than doctors?Patients who suffer a first broken bone due to underlying osteoporosis are at two- to threefold risk of subsequent fractures—which can lead to a host of serious outcomes such as pain, disability, loss of quality of life and even premature death. Given this danger, medical guidelines consistently recommend that fracture patients aged 50 or over, receive intervention that includes assessment of bone status and evaluation of fracture risk. However, despite clear medical recommendations, studies have shown that only approximately 20% of fracture patients are offered adequate post-fracture assessment and care. | |
Vitamin A + high-fat diet = increased risk for obesity, diabetesVitamin A is an essential nutrient that the human body needs to function properly. But new research presented today at the American Physiological Society (APS) annual meeting at Experimental Biology 2017 in Chicago suggests that normal levels of vitamin A within a high-fat diet can negatively affect expression of liver genes associated with glucose and fat metabolism. | |
 | Q&A: Hawaii reassures tourists after brain parasite casesA California couple on their honeymoon and two people who drank a homemade herbal beverage are among the rising number of victims in Hawaii falling ill with a potentially deadly brain parasite. |
 | AANS: women rising in numbers of U.S. neurosurgeons(HealthDay)—The proportion of female neurosurgery residents is slowly increasing, according to a report presented during the 2017 American Association of Neurological Surgeons (AANS) Annual Scientific Meeting, being held April 22-26 in Los Angeles. |
Biology news
 | Venus' hair found growing on the surface of underwater volcano after eruption(Phys.org)—A team of researchers affiliated with several institutions in Spain and Italy studying the aftermath of the eruption of the Tagoro underwater volcano in 2011 and 2012 has found that colonies of bacteria living in filaments attached to the volcano surface (named Thiolava veneris which is Lation for Venus' hair) were the first organisms to colonize the volcano after the eruption. In their paper published in the journal Nature Ecology & Evolution, the group describes how they used a remotely operated vehicle to study the volcano and the events that have transpired since the bacteria moved in. David Kirchman with the University of Delaware offers a News & Views piece on the work done by the team in the same issue. |
 | Genetics and environment combine to give everyone a unique sense of smellResearchers from the Wellcome Trust Sanger Institute and their collaborators have shown that receptors in the noses of mice exposed to certain smells during life are different to genetically similar mice that lived without those smells. Published today in eLife, the study found it is this combination of genetics and experience that gives each individual a unique sense of smell. |
 | 80-year-old 'viable' anthrax strain debunked using advanced genomic sequencingA team of international researchers has found that a strain of anthrax-causing bacterium thought to have been viable 80 years after a thwarted World War I espionage attack, was, in reality, a much younger standard laboratory strain. The team speculates that the mix-up was due to commonplace laboratory contamination. |
 | Species spread in spurts—and here's whyWhen plants and animals move into new spaces they often do so by fits and starts, with lots of progress one year and less—or even a loss of ground—the next. Conventional wisdom attributes this pattern to variations in the environment in which they're immersed—changes in terrain or weather or the presence of other species that aid or inhibit them. |
 | Researchers make tool for understanding cellular processes more usefulUnderstanding how proteins and other molecules move around inside cells is important for understanding how cells function. Scientists use an experiment called Fluorescence Recovery after Photobleaching, or FRAP, to investigate this molecular motion, and now Brown University researchers have developed a mathematical modeling technique that makes FRAP much more useful. |
 | Researchers map the evolution of dog breedsWhen people migrate, Canis familiaris travels with them. Piecing together the details of those migrations has proved difficult because the clues are scattered across the genomes of hundreds of dog breeds. However, in a study published April 25 in Cell Reports, researchers have used gene sequences from 161 modern breeds to assemble an evolutionary tree of dogs. The map of dog breeds, which is the largest to date, unearths new evidence that dogs traveled with humans across the Bering land bridge, and will likely help researchers identify disease-causing genes in both dogs and humans. |
 | Environmental enrichment triggers mouse wound repair responseLiving in a stimulating environment has a wide range of health benefits in humans and has even been shown to fight cancer in mice, but the underlying mechanisms have been unclear. A study published April 25 in Cell Reports reveals that cognitive stimulation, social interactions, and physical activity increase lifespan in mice with colon cancer by triggering the body's wound repair response. |
 | Gut bacteria tell the brain what animals should eatNeuroscientists have, for the first time, shown that gut bacteria "speak" to the brain to control food choices in animals. In a study publishing April 25 in the Open Access journal PLOS Biology, researchers identified two species of bacteria that have an impact on animal dietary decisions. The investigation was led by Carlos Ribeiro, and colleagues from the Champalimaud Centre for the Unknown in Lisbon, Portugal and Monash University, Australia. |
 | More Antarctic protections urged on World Penguin DayThe world needs to do more to protect the Antarctic wilderness and its wildlife, scientists warned Tuesday, as they marked World Penguin Day. |
 | Ice plant to help fight global warming effects on bioenergy cropsThe unassuming ice plant could become an ingenious weapon in the fight against a warming climate that threatens to limit regions suitable for growing biofuel crops. Biochemist and molecular biologist John Cushman at the University of Nevada, Reno will create a gene atlas for the common ice plant that will help find ways to allow bioenergy feedstocks to better tolerate salinity and drought. |
 | Optimizing cyanobacteria for biofuel productionCyanobacteria have attracted significant attention as potential biocatalysts for production of clean energy and green chemicals from sunlight and atmospheric CO2. A recent study investigated effects of altering large cellular complexes called phycobilisomes, which cyanobacteria use to efficiently capture light energy for photosynthesis, to guide development of optimal strategies for biofuel production. |
 | Some cows may be predisposed to subacute ruminal acidosisCattle with subacute ruminal acidosis suffer from a number of low-level ailments that affect productivity. A research team led by University of Illinois scientists has documented changes in pH, microbiome, and rumen epithelial cells in SARA-affected cows. Results indicate that some animals may be predisposed to SARA because of an overabundance of certain bacteria. |
 | Insecticide-induced leg loss does not eliminate biting and reproduction in Anopheles gambiae mosquitoesResearchers at LSTM have found that mosquitoes that lose multiple legs after contact with insecticide may still be able to spread malaria and lay eggs. |
 | GW study finds 33 percent of seafood sold in six DC eateries mislabeledScientists at the George Washington University used a powerful genetic technique to test seafood dinners sold in six District restaurants and found 33 percent had been mislabeled—although in most cases with species that are either closely related or considered acceptable alternatives for menu listing. |
 | Ammonium nitrogen input increases the synthesis of anticarcinogenic compounds in broccoliPlants need nitrogen to grow, and intensive agriculture requires the input of nitrogen compounds. However, classical, nitrate-based fertilization is responsible for considerable environmental problems, such as the contamination of surface and underground water due to nitrate leaching, and the emission of greenhouse gases, owing to the effect of the micro-organisms in the soil that use the nitrate and produce nitrous oxide, a significant greenhouse gas. |
 | New method to ensure reproducibility in computational experimentsResearch reproducibility is crucial to move forward in science. Unfortunately, and according to recent studies and surveys, the number of irreproducible experiments is increasing and research reproducibility is now recognized as one of the major challenges that scientists, institutions, founders and journals must address for science to remain credible and to keep progressing. |
 | Extinction risk for many species vastly underestimated, study suggestsA new study indicates that the number of plant and animal species at risk of extinction may be considerably higher than previously thought. A team of researchers, however, believe they've come up with a formula that will help paint a more accurate picture. |
 | New study suggests overfishing in one of world's most productive fishing regionsA new study suggests that more small-scale fishing boats are operating in the Gulf of California than is economically and ecologically sustainable, suggesting that local fishermen are spending more time and money to catch fewer fish. |
 | Why are so many bear cubs starving? Baffling food shortage (Update)Emaciated, nearly dead bear cubs are turning up more frequently in Vermont and New Hampshire, and experts are blaming an increase in births a year ago and a food shortage in the fall. |
 | A better way to pasteurize eggsAn Agricultural Research Service (ARS) scientist in Pennsylvania and his colleagues have developed a technology that rapidly pasteurizes eggs and could sharply reduce the number of illnesses caused each year by egg-borne Salmonella bacteria. |
Why we need to start listening to insectsIt's a warm summer afternoon in the Tanzanian village of Lupiro, and Mikkel Brydegaard is crouching in a brick hut, trying to fix a broken laser. Next to him, on a tall tripod, three telescopes point through a window at a tree in the distance. A laptop rests on an upturned box, waiting to receive a signal. | |
 | The last remaining male northern white rhino joins TinderThe most eligible bachelor in the world is on Tinder and he's looking for love… |
 | World's last male rhino getting help from Tinder dating appThe world's last male northern white rhino has joined the Tinder dating app as wildlife experts make a last-chance breeding effort to keep his species alive. |
Fighting infections with a silver swordSilver and other metals have been used to fight infections since ancient times. Today, researchers are using sophisticated techniques such as the gene-editing platform Crispr-Cas9 to take a closer look at precisely how silver poisons pathogenic microbes—and when it fails. The work is yielding new insights on how to create effective antimicrobials and avoid the pitfalls of antimicrobial resistance. | |
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