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Here is your customized Science X Newsletter for May 3, 2017:
Spotlight Stories Headlines
Astronomy & Space news
 | Researchers present first results of solar observations with the Siberian Radioheliograph(Phys.org)—Russian scientists have presented the first results of solar observations made with the new radioheliograph of the Siberian Solar Radio Telescope (SSRT). The Siberian Radioheliograph (SRH), has recently commenced regular observations of active processes in the sun's atmosphere, which will allow better monitoring of solar activity. Results of the initial SRH observations were described in a paper published Apr. 25 on arXiv.org. |
 | VISTA peeks through the Small Magellanic Cloud's dusty veilVISTA's infrared capabilities have now allowed astronomers to see the myriad of stars in the Small Magellanic Cloud galaxy much more clearly than ever before. The result is this record-breaking image—the biggest infrared image ever taken of the Small Magellanic Cloud—with the whole frame filled with millions of stars. |
 | NASA Visualization Explorer App now available for AndroidThe NASA Visualization Explorer App is now available to users with Android devices running version 5.0 or higher. |
 | A ride on NASA's eye in the skyAs with most other telescopes, astronomers apply for observing time on SOFIA by submitting proposals that are being evaluated by peers for their scientific promise and intellectual merits. SOFIA, however, is special in that observers also can apply to be onboard during an observation run. Kate Su of the University of Arizona talked about what it was like to be aboard NASA's flying observatory while the telescope was trained on the object of her scientific interest. |
 | Strike-delayed European rocket launch to go aheadA satellite launch delayed since March 20 due to a crippling general strike in French Guiana, will go ahead on Thursday, launch firm Arianespace said. |
Technology news
 | China to launch own encyclopaedia to rival WikipediaChina plans to launch its own online encyclopaedia next year, hoping to build a "cultural Great Wall" that can rival Wikipedia as a go-to information source for Chinese Internet users who Beijing fears are being corrupted by foreign influences. |
 | Hand that 'sees' offers new hope to amputeesA new generation of prosthetic limbs which will allow the wearer to reach for objects automatically, without thinking—just like a real hand—are to be trialled for the first time. |
 | Engineering research focuses on bringing efficiency to network processesIt is human nature to seek to spend the least amount of energy, time and cost on any given task to achieve a desirable result, whether that is working out at the gym, finding the best path to travel to work or buying cereal at the grocery. |
 | Apple delivers higher profits, but iPhone sales slipApple reported a rise in quarterly profits Tuesday, but its shares took a hit from weaker iPhone sales ahead of a 10-year-anniversary model on the horizon. |
 | Malaysian family sue Honda, Takata in US over air bag defectA Malaysian man whose wife's death is one of at least 16 blamed on air bag defects has sued Japanese automaker Honda and the Takata Corp. in a U.S. court, saying he wants the companies to disclose more about the dangers. |
 | Apple's dilemma: what to do with $256 bn cash pileIt is a sign of Apple's success but also a thorny problem: its cash stockpile has hit a staggering $256.8 billion, sparking debate on what do with such massive reserves. |
 | China tightens rules for online news providersChina has issued new internet regulations increasing Communist party control over online news providers, the latest step in the country's push to tighten its policing of the web. |
 | Tighter building controls needed to achieve government global warming targetsThousands of new homes, schools and offices may be using much more energy than they should, and the reason is rather unexpected, according to the authors of a new study published by the University of Bath. |
 | Peugeot to test driverless cars in SingaporeFrench automaker PSA said Wednesday it was teaming up with nuTonomy to integrate the US startup's software into one of its vehicles for on-road testing of fully autonomous cars in Singapore. |
 | Image: Controlling robots at the Human Robot Interaction LaboratoryWhat is the best way to control a robot from afar as you circle a planet with your mechanised alter ego doing precise work on the surface? ESA is testing human–robot control in space and on Earth as part of a strategy that sees astronauts controlling robots from space. |
 | Protecting young people's privacy as Facebook claims it can identify their anxietiesIn a report leaked to the Australian media, Facebook has outlined how it can use an analysis of activity and sentiment of users posting on its platforms to identify their various levels of anxiety. |
 | Can blockchain, a swiftly evolving technology, be controlled?The headlong pace of technological change produces giant leaps forward in knowledge, innovation, new possibilities and, almost inevitably, legal problems. That's now the case with blockchain, today's buzziest new tech tool. |
 | Students, doctors develop next-generation surgical implantsTwo groups of undergraduate students at Duke University have been creating biomedical devices for their senior design projects with a campus rarity—a titanium 3-D metal printer. |
 | Computers learn to understand humans better by modelling themResearchers from Aalto University, University of Birmingham and University of Oslo present results paving the way for computers to learn psychologically plausible models of individuals simply by observing them. In newly published conference article, the researchers showed that just by observing how long a user takes to click menu items, one can infer a model that reproduces similar behavior and accurately estimates some characteristics of that user's visual system, such as fixation durations. |
New study reveals why people pay for news and what it means for future of journalismSlightly more than half of all U.S. adults pay for news, with roughly half of those subscribing to a newspaper, according to a study conducted by the Media Insight Project, a collaboration between the American Press Institute and The Associated Press-NORC Center for Public Affairs Research. With this study, the Media Insight Project has undertaken one of the largest efforts to date aimed at understanding who subscribes to news, what motivates them, and how news organizations can engage more deeply to convert consumers to subscribers. This research is critical because the future of journalism will increasingly depend on consumers paying for the news directly, as content distributors like Facebook and Google take up a greater share of digital advertising dollars. | |
 | NY Times swings to profit on digital gainsThe New York Times said Wednesday it added more than 300,000 digital subscribers in the first quarter, helping the media group swing to profit. |
 | Turning chicken poop and weeds into biofuelChicken is a favorite, inexpensive meat across the globe. But the bird's popularity results in a lot of waste that can pollute soil and water. One strategy for dealing with poultry poop is to turn it into biofuel, and now scientists have developed a way to do this by mixing the waste with another environmental scourge, an invasive weed that is affecting agriculture in Africa. They report their approach in ACS' journal Energy & Fuels. |
 | Operating smart devices from the space on and above the back of your handIt relies on a depth sensor that tracks movements of the thumb and index finger on and above the back of the hand. In this way, not only can smartwatches be controlled, but also smartphones, smart TVs and devices for augmented and virtual reality. |
 | Facebook adding 3,000 people to screen out violent contentFacebook said Wednesday it is hiring an extra 3,000 staff to remove violent content like the gruesome killings and suicides broadcast on its video platform. |
 | Fake news and filters aren't fooling internet usersDespite what some politicians argue, fake news and biased search algorithms aren't swaying public opinion, finds a Michigan State University researcher. |
Facebook profit jumps as user base nears 2 billionFacebook on Wednesday reported its quarterly profit jumped just over $3 billion as its ranks of monthly users closed in on two billion. | |
 | Tesla revenues surge as it ramps for Model 3 launchTesla said Wednesday that revenues more than doubled in the past quarter compared with a year ago, as the electric carmaker prepared for production of its new mass-market vehicle. |
 | Facebook ramps up its response to violent videosFacebook is stepping up its efforts to keep inappropriate and often violent material—including recent high-profile videos of murders and suicides, hate speech and extremist propaganda—off of its site. |
 | Using sulfur to store solar energyResearchers of Karlsruhe Institute of Technology (KIT) and their European partners plan to develop an innovative sulfur-based storage system for solar power. Large-scale chemical storage of solar power and its overnight use as a fuel are to be achieved by means of a closed sulfur-sulfuric acid cycle. In the long term, this might be the basis of an economically efficient renewable energy source capable of providing base-load power. The pre-development work under the PEGASUS project will be funded by the EU with about EUR 4.7 million. |
 | Supercharging the computers that will save the worldComputer scientist Gonzalo Rodrigo at Umeå University in Sweden has developed new techniques and tools to manage high performance computing systems more efficiently. This in an effort to comply with the increasing demand to handle large amounts of data within research and allowing for advance simulations. |
Medicine & Health news
 | Brain 'relay' also key to holding thoughts in mindLong assumed to be a mere "relay," an often-overlooked egg-like structure in the middle of the brain also turns out to play a pivotal role in tuning-up thinking circuity. A trio of studies in mice funded by the National Institutes of Health (NIH) are revealing that the thalamus sustains the ability to distinguish categories and hold thoughts in mind. |
 | Eye dilation sex specific but not sexually explicit, study findsPeople's eyes dilate when they are looking at people they find sexually appealing—but new research from the University of Kent suggests that their response does not depend on whether the person being viewed is naked or clothed. |
 | First large-scale population analysis reinforces ketamine's reputation as antidepressantBetter known as an anesthetic or as an illicit hallucinogenic drug, ketamine has also long been noted for alleviating depression. But ketamine has not been tested in a large clinical trial, and all evidence of its antidepressant effects has come from anecdotes and small studies of fewer than 100 patients. Now, in the largest study of its kind, researchers at Skaggs School of Pharmacy and Pharmaceutical Sciences at University of California San Diego mined the FDA Adverse Effect Reporting System (FAERS) database for depression symptoms in patients taking ketamine for pain. They found that depression was reported half as often among the more than 41,000 patients who took ketamine, as compared to patients who took any other drug or drug combination for pain. |
 | Surprising link between blood sugar and brain cancer foundNew research further illuminates the surprising relationship between blood sugar and brain tumors and could begin to shed light on how certain cancers develop. |
 | Changes in circadian clock can alter the body's microbes and response to dietResearchers at Baylor College of Medicine have discovered that changing the circadian clock in mouse liver can alter how the body responds to diet and also change the microbes living in the digestive track. In this study, which appears online in the American Journal of Obstetrics and Gynecology, the researchers show for the first time that a liver gene in mice has the ability to link the circadian system, the microbiome and the mouse metabolism under dietary restrictions. What is surprising is that it does so in a sex-specific fashion. |
 | First clear-cut risk genes for Tourette disorder revealedTourette disorder (also known as Tourette syndrome) afflicts as many as one person in a hundred worldwide with potentially disabling symptoms including involuntary motor and vocal tics. However, researchers have so far failed to determine the cause of the disorder, and treatments have only limited effectiveness, in part because the genetics underlying the disorder have remained largely a mystery. |
 | Study suggests genetic reason for impaired skilled movementsScientists report in Neuron the lost function of two genes prevents infant laboratory mice from developing motor skills as they mature into adults. Researchers also suggest in their study that people with certain motor development disabilities be tested to see if they have mutant forms of the same genes. |
 | Stopping the brain's memory circuits from overheatingThe highly interconnected zones of the brain's hippocampus mediate spatial and episodic memory, but to keep memories organized they need the right balance of exciting and calming input. A part of the hippocampus called CA2 has been found to be responsible for this regulation, preventing the local brain circuits from becoming hyperactive. In the absence of CA2 activity, mice experience epilepsy-like activity, a sign that this area is essential for regulating the balance of excitation and inhibition in the brain. A silenced CA2 region has broader implications for information processing in hippocampal circuits, according to a new study from the RIKEN Brain Science Institute (BSI) in Japan and the Université Paris Descartes. |
 | One step closer to finding out how wine may protect your neuronsLet it be no misunderstanding: heavy alcohol intake has severe harmful effects. But already for several years, researchers have been finding that moderate wine intake can be beneficial in delaying the onset of cognitive impairments in aging and neurodegenerative diseases like Parkinson's and Alzheimer's disease. Dr. Esteban-Fernández from the Institute of Food Science Research in Madrid and her colleagues have been investigating the molecular mechanisms underlying the neuroprotective actions of wine, recently published in Frontiers in Nutrition. |
 | Detailed images reveal interactions that affect signaling in the brainScientists at Columbia University have obtained the first detailed images of interactions between the AMPA receptor and molecules that regulate chemical signaling in the brain. Their findings may help understand the processes that contribute to conditions such as Alzheimer's and Parkinson's diseases, epilepsy, and schizophrenia—and could lead to the development of drugs to counteract these conditions. |
 | Mysterious molecule's function in skin cancer identifiedNew research from Sanford Burnham Prebys Medical Discovery Institute (SBP) at Lake Nona uncovers the modus operandi of a mysterious molecule called SPRIGHTLY that has been previously implicated in colorectal cancer, breast cancer, and melanoma. The findings, published in the journal Science Advances, bolster the case for exploring SPRIGHTLY as a potential therapeutic target, or a biological marker that identifies cancer or predicts disease prognosis. |
 | Researchers advance low-cost, low-tech Zika virus surveillance toolTo combat potential Zika virus outbreaks, some countries have considered using pesticides so strong that they are banned elsewhere. But what if you could quickly determine that mosquitoes were not carrying the Zika virus? The use of harmful pesticides could be avoided, as well as the cost of widespread spraying for mosquitoes. |
 | You're not too old to learn that: New theory suggests that adults can combat cognitive aging by learning like an infantOne day, our brains will not work the way they used to, we won't be as "sharp" as we once were, we won't be able to remember things as easily. |
 | Doctors should question the value of most heavily promoted drugsTop promoted drugs are less likely than top selling and top prescribed drugs to be effective, safe, affordable, novel, and represent a genuine advance in treating a disease, argue US researchers in The BMJ today. |
Brexit's Great Repeal Bill will axe the right to health, warn expertsBrexit's Great Repeal Bill will axe the right to health, warn experts in The BMJ today. | |
 | New anti-rejection drug reduces weight gain and enhances outcomes for liver transplant recipientsResearchers have discovered that a new anti-rejection drug that is gentler on the kidneys after liver transplant also reduces weight gain, which is common after surgery and can lead to serious complications for transplant patients. |
Rosemary aroma can aid children's working memoryExposure to the aroma of rosemary essential oil can significantly enhance working memory in children. | |
 | Facebook likes don't make you feel betterReceiving 'likes' on social media posts doesn't make people feel better about themselves or improve their mood if they are down. |
 | How technology use affects at-risk adolescentsMore use of technology is linked to later increases in attention, behavior and self-regulation problems for adolescents already at risk for mental health issues, a new study from Duke University finds. |
Alarming number of babies born with syphilis prompts universal screening recommendationBecause of the increasing prevalence of syphilis in the St. Louis region and an alarming number of babies born last year with the sexually transmitted disease, city and county health officials are recommending all pregnant women get screened for the disease late in pregnancy and at delivery. | |
 | Prenatal cocaine exposure increases risk of higher teen drug use, trouble coping with stress and likelihood of addictionWhile the crack cocaine epidemic peaked in the late 1980's, its effects are still causing harm to an estimated 3 million teenagers and young adults exposed to the stimulant in the womb. |
 | Statins don't cause muscle pain: studyCholesterol-lowering statin drugs may have been wrongly blamed for muscle pain and weakness, said a study Wednesday that pointed the finger at a psychological phenomenon called the "nocebo" effect. |
 | Lab mice may not be effective models for immunology researchThe findings have implications for all aspects of medical and scientific research because laboratory mice underpin studies whose results have a transformative effect on human and animal lives through vaccination and other immune-based therapies. |
 | Study finds more evidence why depressed dads should seek helpNew research from BYU social work professor Kevin Shafer shows that a dad's depression can have a specific impact on his parenting. |
 | Scientists plot antibiotic resistance on a world mapRussian scientists have created an interactive world map of human gut microbiota with potential to resist antibiotics, known as the resistome. Their ResistoMap will help identify national trends in antibiotic use and control antibiotic resistance on a global scale. |
 | Repetition a key factor in language learningLilli Kimppa from the University of Helsinki studied language acquisition in the brain. Even short repetitive exposure to novel words induced a rapid neural response increase that is suggested to manifest memory-trace formation. |
 | Our uniquely lopsided brainWe all know that the human brain is ridiculously large, but how many of us realise that it's lopsided as well? It turns out that the cockeyed shape of our brains is as important to understanding human evolution as its size is. |
 | Suicide risk still left unspokenA study examining Australian suicide cases has highlighted a lack of communication between health care professionals and family members in the last month before the deaths. |
 | Half of breast cancer patients pursue reconstruction without understanding risksMore than half of breast cancer patients (57 percent) undergoing mastectomy lack the necessary medical knowledge to make a high-quality decision about reconstructive surgery that aligns with their personal goals, suggesting a trend toward overtreatment, according to a new study conducted by researchers at The Ohio State University Comprehensive Cancer Center - Arthur G. James Cancer Hospital and Richard J. Solove Research Institute (OSUCCC - James). |
 | Study looks at maternal smoking in pregnancy, severe mental illness in offspringA population-based study that analyzed data for nearly 1.7 million people born in Sweden suggests family-related factors, rather than causal teratogenic effects (birth defect causing), may explain much of the association between smoking during pregnancy and severe mental illness in offspring, according to a new article published by JAMA Psychiatry. |
 | How neurons and glia cells are created in the developing brainNeurons and glia are the cells that make up our brain. In the cortex, the brain area that enables us to think, speak and be conscious, neurons and most glia are produced by a type of neural stem cell, called radial glia progenitors (RGPs). It is vital that no errors occur in this process as disruptions can lead to neurodevelopmental disorders such as microcephaly, a condition in which a baby's head and cortex are significantly smaller than that of other babies. But how is this production of neurons and glia cells controlled? |
 | Study reveals new insight into susceptibility to pneumoniaA new research study of immune responses to pneumococcal vaccines, commonly given to people with compromised immune systems, young children and people over 65, has identified a type of immune cell which is important in generating antibodies that prevent people from developing pneumococcal pneumonia. |
 | People make terrible eyewitnesses – but it turns out there's an exceptionPeople are often poor eyewitnesses. Psychologists have been demonstrating this in experiments for years, but the justice system in the UK has been slow to catch on. There have been improvements, but lawyers and judges continue to rely regularly on eyewitnesses to convict or exonerate people accused of crimes – in some cases, they might argue they have little option. |
Consumers warned about accuracy of heart rate appsConsumers are being warned about the accuracy of heart rate apps after a study found huge variability between commercially available apps, even those using the same technology. The research is published today in the European Journal of Preventive Cardiology. | |
 | Predictive tool for children with type 1 diabetes will improve care, avoid complicationsBenjamin U. Nwosu, MD, has developed a valuable new tool in the battle against type 1 diabetes, according to a study published May 1 by PLOS ONE. |
 | Feeling worn out? You could have iron overloadFeeling a bit tired and worn out? Vague symptoms like these are common in iron deficiency and anaemia. But before you reach for the iron supplements or chow down on steak, these symptoms are common in another condition related to iron. This time the trouble is too much iron, not too little, because of the iron overload disorder called haemochromatosis. |
 | Kalydeco, the drug that treats the cause of cystic fibrosis, not just symptomsKalydeco (ivacaftor) is a drug used to treat cystic fibrosis, a disorder that affects many organs, particularly the lungs. Cystic fibrosis is Australia's most commonly inherited disorder. |
 | Active video gaming is good for brain health and memory, finds studyVideo games which involve physical activity significantly boost our brain health as we get older, according to new research led by University of Manchester experts. |
 | Researchers create clothing to address Alzheimer's patients' needsFrom memory loss and impaired physical abilities to medical costs, Alzheimer's disease creates many hardships for both the people suffering from it and the people trying to care for them. But a collaborative project through Texas Tech University is working to solve at least one of those problems. |
 | Sleepy drivers make dangerous drivers—how to stay awake behind the wheelConservative estimates show that 21 percent of fatal crashes involve drowsy driving. |
 | Sperm study reveals testes repair cellsScientists have discovered a tiny group of cells that is critical to repairing damage to the testes. Blocking the cells prevents repair to tissue involved in producing healthy sperm, the research has found. The findings shed light on mechanisms of cell repair and could help scientists develop ways to preserve fertility, which may benefit boys receiving cancer therapy. |
 | Two simple questions that have changed the way people hear inner voicesOnce the province of prophets, "hearing voices" is still shorthand for madness. And yet in the past 30 years, a new understanding has been created by voice-hearers themselves, as part of the Hearing Voices Movement. This suggests that uncovering the roots of the voice can potentially help the hearer. |
 | People with autism can hear more than most—which can be a strength and a challengeA group of friends are sitting in the garden chatting – only one person hears the ice cream van in the distance. That one person is autistic. He is also able to hear the buzzing of electricity in the walls and sometimes finds it overwhelming to be in a very noisy environment. |
 | Phthalates increase the risk of allergies among childrenPhthalates, which are used as plasticizers in plastics, can considerably increase the risk of allergies among children. This was demonstrated by UFZ researchers in conjunction with scientists from the University of Leipzig and the German Cancer Research Center (DKFZ) in a current study published in the Journal of Allergy and Clinical Immunology. According to this study, an increased risk of children developing allergic asthma exists if the mother has been particularly heavily exposed to phthalates during pregnancy and breastfeeding. The mother-child cohort from the LINA study was the starting and end point of this translational study. |
 | A new unexpected key player in melanoma development identifiedIdentification and functional validation of proteins involved in tumorigenesis are essential steps toward advancing cancer precision medicine. In the Journal of Clinical Investigation researchers from VIB, KU Leuven (Belgium) together with colleagues from INSERM (France) now report the important role for FES in the initiation and progression of melanoma, a malignant type of skin cancer, that is notoriously quick to metastasize and that responds poorly to existing cancer treatments. Unexpectdly the expression of FES, which encodes a kind of protein better known for their ability to promote cancer development-, is lost in a large fraction of human melanoma. The researchers also identified a pharmacological way through which FES expression can be restored in human melanoma. This can be the first step in a novel therapeutic strategy against melanoma. |
 | Is talking to yourself a sign of mental illness? An expert delivers her verdictBeing caught talking to yourself, especially if using your own name in the conversation, is beyond embarrassing. And it's no wonder – it makes you look like you are hallucinating. Clearly, this is because the entire purpose of talking aloud is to communicate with others. But given that so many of us do talk to ourselves, could it be normal after all – or perhaps even healthy? |
 | Testing a new immunotherapy treatment for neuroblastomaImmunotherapies are changing the outlook for many cancer patients. |
 | Study highlights difficulty in estimating serious preventable events in primary careIn hospitals, such events, known as 'Never Events', include operations where something went wrong (e.g. wrong limb amputated) or inadvertent administration of drug overdoses, already require mandatory reporting in hospitals. However, Never Event lists are currently not used in GP settings. A team of NIHR-funded researchers from The University of Manchester and NHS Education for Scotland wanted to see if there was any merit in developing and implementing a similar system specifically for general practice. |
 | Scientists turn human induced pluripotent stem cells into lung cellsHuman lungs, like all organs, begin their existence as clumps of undifferentiated stem cells. But in a matter of months, the cells get organized. They gather together, branch and bud, some forming airways and others alveoli, the delicate sacs where our bodies exchange oxygen for carbon dioxide. The end result, ideally: two healthy, breathing lungs. |
 | Novel treatment offers kidney failure patients with rare disorder new hopeA novel treatment offers kidney failure and kidney transplant patients with a rare disorder new hope. The treatment allows targeted elimination of plasma cell clones producing abnormal proteins that deposits in the kidneys and leads to kidney failure, according to new research. |
 | Helistroke service: Flying the physician to the stroke patient worksFlying a stroke specialist by helicopter to a nearby stroke patient for emergency care is feasible, saves money and, most importantly, gets critical care to patients faster than transporting the patient to a hospital first, according to a single-patient, proof-of-concept study by a Johns Hopkins Medicine research team. |
 | Judging moral character: A matter of principle, not good deedsPeople may instinctively know right from wrong, but determining if someone has good moral character is not a black and white endeavor. |
 | Researchers analyze what a warming planet means for mosquito-borne diseasesAs temperatures rise with climate change, mosquito season extends past the summer months in many parts of the world. The question has been how this lengthened season influences the risk of being infected with mosquito-born diseases such as dengue, chikungunya and Zika. |
Two studies help shed light on aggressive brain cancerTwo studies by researchers at the Translational Genomics Research Institute (TGen) and the University of North Carolina Lineberger Comprehensive Cancer Center (UNC Lineberger) provide insight on the evolution of glioblastoma and how to potentially combat this most aggressive brain tumor. | |
Common cold duration is shortened similarly by zinc acetate and zinc gluconate lozengesThere is no significant difference between zinc acetate lozenges and zinc gluconate lozenges regarding their efficacy in shortening the duration of common colds according to a meta-analysis published in Journal of the Royal Society of Medicine Open. Seven randomized trials with zinc acetate and zinc gluconate lozenges found that the duration of colds was shortened on average by 33%. | |
 | Cell 'canibalism' educates our defensesPhagocytosis is a biological mechanism whereby specialized cells ingest and degrade old, dead, or damaged cells to prevent tissue damage due to their accumulation. But phagocytosis appears to also have an educational role. Scientists at the Centro Nacional de Investigadores Cardiovasculares Carlos III (CNIC) report in the Journal of Experimental Medicine that phagocytosis not only eliminates useless cells, but also 'educates' macrophages, the immune cells that carry it out. |
 | Cost of Zika outbreak in the United States could be highEven a relatively mild Zika outbreak in the United States could cost more than $183 million in medical costs and productivity losses, suggests a computational analysis led by Johns Hopkins Bloomberg School of Public Health researchers, while a more severe one could result in $1.2 billion or more in medical costs and productivity losses. |
Speech and language deficits in children with autism may not cause tantrumsSpeech or language impairments may not be the cause of more frequent tantrums in children with autism, according to Penn State College of Medicine researchers. The findings could help parents of children with autism seek out the best treatment for behavior problems. | |
 | Study: Mexican-Americans receive less intensive stroke rehabilitationA new pilot study reports that Mexican-American stroke survivors are less likely to receive inpatient rehabilitation than non-Hispanic whites. |
 | Recognizing food brands puts preschoolers at risk for obesityYoung children who recognize food name brands, such as Lucky Charms, M&M's and Cheetos, often eat unhealthy items that lead to their high body mass index. |
 | Social smoking carries same heart-disease risks as everyday habitSocial smokers' risk for high blood pressure and high cholesterol is identical to those who light up every day, new research has found. |
Research shows prejudice, not principle, often underpins 'free-speech defense' of racist languageTwo researchers at the University of Kansas have conducted a study suggesting that "explicit racial prejudice is a reliable predictor of the 'free speech defense' of racist expression." | |
 | Got hives? Hold the steroidsDespite standard use for the itching associated with urticaria (commonly known as hives), prednisone (a steroid) offered no additional relief to emergency patients suffering from hives than a placebo did, according to a randomized, placebo-controlled, double-blind, parallel-group study published online yesterday in Annals of Emergency Medicine ("Levocetirizine and Prednisone Are Not Superior to Levocetirizine Alone for the Treatment of Acute Urticaria: A Randomized Double-Blind Clinical Trial"). |
 | Gene mutation may speed up memory loss in Alzheimer's diseaseA gene mutation may accelerate the loss of memory and thinking skills in people who are at risk for Alzheimer's disease, according to a study published in the May 3, 2017, online issue of Neurology, the medical journal of the American Academy of Neurology. The gene mutation is called the BDNF Val66Met allele, or just the Met allele. |
Nearly one in five with highest cardiac risk don't think they need to improve healthNearly one in five people who reported the greatest number of cardiac risk factors did not believe they needed to improve their health, according to new research in Journal of the American Heart Association, the Open Access Journal of the American Heart Association/American Stroke Association. | |
 | Disfiguring eye symptoms diminish in Graves' eye disease drug trialThe disease is characterized by inflammation and a buildup of tissue around the eyes that cause them to bulge painfully from their sockets. |
New technologies show brain tumor firmness, adhesion before surgeryIt's not often that a fall saves someone's life. Helen Powell, 74, says that was the case for her. A computerized tomography scan that followed her fall revealed a cancerous brain tumor that led her to Mayo Clinic and surgery using first-in-the-world technology. Brain magnetic resonance elastography (MRE) imaging, showed the precise firmness of her tumor. New slip interface imaging further revealed how attached the tumor was to normal brain tissue—even before starting surgery. The imaging techniques, invented and available only at Mayo Clinic, show whether the tumor is soft and can be removed easily, or if it is firm, making surgery more challenging and time consuming. | |
 | Daily stress can trigger uptick in illegal drug use for those on parole, probationA recent study finds that even small, day-to-day stressors can cause an increase in illegal drug use among people on probation or parole who have a history of substance use. The study could inform future treatment efforts and was conducted by researchers at North Carolina State Uaniversity, the University of Texas, the Schroeder Institute for Tobacco and Policy Studies, the Truth Initiative, Gateway Foundation Corrections and Texas Christian University. |
 | New deals for drugs: No heart attack or your money backWarranties and money-back guarantees, long used to entice buyers of products like hand tools and kitchen gadgets, are now being used to sell something more crucial: pricey new-generation drugs for diseases like rheumatoid arthritis and cancer. |
Generic drugmakers want antitrust lawsuit dismissedSix generic drugmakers are asking a federal judge in Connecticut to dismiss a 40-state lawsuit accusing them of artificially inflating and manipulating prices to reduce competition for antibiotic and oral diabetes medication. | |
In severe pediatric heart defect, more brain abnormalities appear as staged surgeries progressAs children with single-ventricle disease, a complex and severe heart defect, undergo a series of three reconstructive surgeries, pediatric researchers have detected higher rates of brain abnormalities at each stage. The scientists also found associated changes in the infants' cerebral blood flow that could offer important clues to improving long-term neurological outcomes in these children. | |
Measles outbreak sickens dozens of Minnesota SomalisAn outbreak of measles in Minnesota has sickened more than 30 children in recent weeks, primarily in the state's large Somali-American community, where many parents avoid the measles-mumps-rubella vaccine because of unfounded fears that it causes autism. | |
 | Altering how cancer cells respond to stress could lead to new anticancer drugs, research showsCells exposed to stressful situations respond with precise defense mechanisms programmed in their genes. In breast cancer, these defenses are altered so that they are always on, but how that happens is unknown. Florida Institute of Technology scientists have now found one way cancer cells might manipulate these defenses. |
 | Babies born addicted to opioids often struggle with learning(HealthDay)—Babies exposed to opioid painkillers in the womb are more likely to need special education services by the time they reach school age, a new U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention study found. |
 | The family that eats together, benefits(HealthDay)—No doubt that work, school and outside activities can make it hard to schedule regular family dinners. But research has shown that eating together on a regular basis helps to bond families and build good communication. |
 | H2 injection aids diabetes outcomes in animal model(HealthDay)—Subcutaneous injection of H2 significantly improves type 2 diabetes mellitus (T2DM)-related outcomes in a mouse model, according to a study published online April 8 in the Journal of Diabetes Investigation. |
 | Vagus nerve stimulation promising in Crohn's disease(HealthDay)—Vagus nerve stimulation may represent a new therapeutic option for patients with Crohn's disease (CD), according to a report published online April 18 in the Journal of Internal Medicine. |
 | Oral B. pandurata extract improves skin appearance(HealthDay)—Oral intake of Boesenbergia pandurata (B. pandurata) extract improves skin hydration, gloss, and wrinkling, according to a study published online April 18 in the Journal of Cosmetic Dermatology. |
 | Marked variation in number of stages per case for Mohs surgery(HealthDay)—There is considerable variation in the number of stages per case for Mohs micrographic surgery (MMS), according to a study published online April 28 in JAMA Dermatology. |
 | Exercise study offers hope in fight against Alzheimer'sCould the initiation of a simple walking exercise program help older adults to reverse declines in key brain regions? A new study led by University of Maryland School of Public Health researchers adds more information about how physical activity impacts brain physiology and offers hope that it may be possible to reestablish some protective neuronal connections. Dr. J. Carson Smith, associate professor of kinesiology, and colleagues explored how a 12-week walking intervention with older adults, ages 60-88, affected functionality of a brain region known to show declines in people suffering from mild cognitive impairment (MCI) or Alzheimer's disease. |
 | Neuroscientists seek brain basis of craving in addiction and binge eatingA new article in JAMA Psychiatry details the first step in revealing how craving works in the brain. Scientists at the Center for BrainHealth at The University of Texas at Dallas are the first to propose a systematic and quantitative model for drug addiction research. The model focuses on craving: the intense, urgent feeling of needing or wanting drugs. Their ongoing research and subsequent findings have the potential to open a new frontier of alcohol and substance abuse treatment that may also apply to binge-eating disorders. |
 | Arthritis drug shows promise for ulcerative colitis(HealthDay)—A new study finds that people with moderate to severe ulcerative colitis who haven't done well on other treatments may find relief with Xeljanz (tofacitinib), a drug currently used to treat arthritis. |
 | Dental anxiety has consequences beyond tooth decay(HealthDay)—Does the mere thought of a dentist's drill make you cringe in fear? Be forewarned: Dental phobia can damage more than your teeth, a new British report indicates. |
 | What US healthcare needs most is visionary leadershipThe American healthcare delivery system is breaking. It is faltering in so many ways that it seems like the overall system is beyond fixing. It has become contentious and politicized to the point where it is commonly fought over by politicians, debated endlessly by Americans and yet no substantive changes are enacted that address the system's core goal - providing quality care at a reasonable cost. |
 | Georgia losing patience with drug treatment touristsIn the northwest corner of Georgia, where cows and crops vastly outnumber people, a small cluster of privately owned treatment centers has sprung up in recent years for heroin and prescription painkiller addicts. |
 | Police officer suicide—it's not just about workplace stress, but culture tooThe inquest into the tragic death of former New South Wales police detective Ashley Bryant highlights the issue of suicide among police officers. |
 | Faster image processing for neuroscienceOak Ridge National Laboratory scientists designed software for St. Jude Children's Research Hospital that significantly sped processing of microscopy images used in brain development research. |
 | 10 ways women can stay healthyMay is Women's Health Month. Experts from the UConn Health Women's Center are urging all women to take action each and every day to maintain their overall health and prevent breast and other cancers by keeping these health tips top of mind: |
MTN begins first trial of new dapivirine ring with both anti-HIV drug and contraceptiveResearchers hoping for a single product that women could use to protect against both HIV and unintended pregnancy took an important step toward realizing their goal with the start of the first trial of a vaginal ring containing the antiretroviral (ARV) drug dapivirine and a hormonal contraceptive. | |
 | DMM launches new special collection on neurodegenerationA growing aging population means that age-dependent neurodegenerative disorders such as Alzheimer's disease, Parkinson's disease, Huntington's disease and amyotrophic lateral sclerosis are affecting increasing numbers of people, making research into these diseases more important than ever. As a crucial resource for researchers and to showcase the vital research being done in the field, Disease Models & Mechanisms (DMM) is launching a new special collection - Neurodegeneration: from models to mechanisms to therapies. |
How calorie restriction may prolong lifeA new review proposes a theory to explain how calorie restriction can extend life across a variety of species. | |
Costs of Zika fight rise to nearly $30M in Miami-Dade CountyMiami-Dade County plans to hire a full-time entomologist in its increasingly costly fight against the Zika virus. | |
UK health spending needs to grow faster than GDPThe NHS is frequently in the news about its ongoing funding crisis. New research suggests demand for health services is set to continue to grow faster than GDP per head in all developed countries around the world. Along with a paper about the J-value model for life-expectancy growth in industrialised countries, the research establishes a reason why people in the UK will want to spend an increasing fraction of their income on health services. | |
 | Good socioeconomic status means better health for the ChineseAccording to a doctoral dissertation being examined at the University of Helsinki, Chinese people of a higher socioeconomic status are on average in better physical and cognitive condition at baseline. However, socioeconomic status does not protect people from age-related decreases in the ability to function. |
Italy's vaccine debate heats up as scandal, politics collideThe vaccine debate in Italy heated up across multiple fronts Wednesday, as the country dealt with an outbreak of measles, an invigorated anti-vaccine campaign and a scandal involving a nurse who claimed for years to have inoculated children but didn't. | |
The IASLC Atlas of PD-L1 Immunohistochemistry (IHC) Testing in Lung Cancer releasedMedia Contact: Becky Bunn, MSc Public Relations ManagerBecky.Bunn@IASLC.org | 720-325-2946 | |
More than 500 sign up to buy legal cannabis in UruguayMore than 500 people signed up to buy state-vetted cannabis in Uruguay on the first day of registration for the first such scheme in the world, authorities said Wednesday. | |
 | First evidence of ischemia-induced multipotent stem cells in post-stroke human brainResearchers have shown that following a stroke-induced ischemic injury to the human brain, stem cells are produced that have the potential to differentiate and mature to form neurons that can help repair the damage to the brain. The new clinical study that provides direct evidence of ischemia-induced stem cells (iSCs) in brain tissue removed during treatment of post-stroke patients is published in Stem Cells and Development. |
 | Doubling vegetable consumption in schools with a lower-cost gaming approachA new study shows that the successful strategy to get elementary school children to eat more vegetables based on use of the FIT Game, can be just as effective and less costly to implement when teachers no longer administer the game. Results of a study in which FIT Game episodes were displayed in the school cafeteria, leading to a 99.9% increase in vegetable consumption from baseline levels, are published in Games for Health. |
 | Large trial of acupuncture for allergic asthma finds benefits in quality of lifeA large randomized controlled, pragmatic trial involving 1445 patients with allergic asthma found that an integrative medicine approach in which acupuncture is added to routine care demonstrated improvements in both quality of life and physical and mental health for those receiving acupuncture. The successful results, reported after 3 months of treatment and maintained through the 6-month follow-up, are described in The Journal of Alternative and Complementary Medicine (JACM). |
Report: Younger women battling breast cancer face more aggressive diagnosesAs the nation struggles with soaring health care costs, a new report by RTI International shows that younger women diagnosed with breast cancer face a significant treatment burden. | |
Canada recalls too strong 77% alcohol ginCanadian authorities on Wednesday recalled gin distributed by Bermuda-based Bacardi, after inspectors found the alcohol content was nearly twice the level advertised on the bottle. | |
Ivory Coast breaks up huge fake drugs marketIvory Coast authorities deployed dozens of police Wednesday to break up a fake drugs market in Abidjan estimated to supply nearly a third of all treatments sold in the country. | |
Biology news
 | Mongoose pups conceal identity to surviveYoung mongooses may conceal their identity—even from their own parents—to survive. |
 | A trick of the light: How the hatchetfish hidesHatchetfish, tiny "alien-looking" creatures known for an uncanny ability to hide out in open water, use mirror-like scales to deflect and diffuse light to make themselves invisible to predators, scientists reported Wednesday. |
 | Roommates not all they're cracked up to be (if you're a lizard)In a new study of lizard social behaviour, researchers at Macquarie University have discovered that despite their social nature, family-living lizards do not necessarily thrive in a 'share-house' environment. |
 | Pox virus discovery has implications for vaccines and cancerScientists at the Francis Crick Institute have made a surprising discovery about the Vaccinia virus, a large DNA virus belonging to the pox family that was used as the vaccine to eradicate smallpox. |
 | Study could provide first clues about the social lives of extinct human relativesA new study from The Australian National University (ANU) of the bony head-crests of male gorillas could provide some of the first clues about the social structures of our extinct human relatives, including how they chose their sexual partners. |
 | Neonicotinoid pesticide reduces egg development in wild bumblebee queensNew research published in the journal Proceedings of the Royal Society B has found that wild bumblebee queens are less able to develop their ovaries when exposed to a common neonicotinoid pesticide |
 | 35-year South Carolina alligator study uncovers mysteries about growth and reproductionResearch by wildlife biologists from Clemson University and the Tom Yawkey Wildlife Center near Georgetown is shattering conventional scientific understanding about American alligator growth and reproduction. |
 | Anemonefish dads further fathering researchLike the father in "Finding Nemo," anemonefish dads will do almost anything to support their offspring. Their parenting instincts are so strong that if you give a bachelor anemonefish a scoop of anemonefish eggs from an unrelated nest, he will care for them—constantly nipping at them to remove debris and fanning them with oxygen-rich waters—as if they were his own. (Any other fish would eat them, researchers say.) |
 | Ice Age climate change played a bigger role in skunk genetics than geological barriersClimate plays a key role in determining what animals can live where. And while human-induced climate change has been causing major problems for wildlife as of late, changes in the Earth's climate have impacted evolution for millions of years—offering tantalizing clues into how to protect animals facing climate change today. In a new paper in Ecology and Evolution, scientists have delved into the effects of Ice Age climate change upon the evolution of tiny, hand-standing skunks. |
 | Fish step up to lead when predators are nearResearchers from the University of Bristol have discovered that some fish within a shoal take on the responsibilities of leader when they are under threat from predators. |
 | Drosophila buzzatii fruit fly females may use courtship songs to pick same-species matesFemale Drosophila buzzatii cluster fruit flies may be drawn to the specific courtship songs of males of their own species, according to a study published May 3, 2017 in the open-access journal PLOS ONE by Patricia Iglesias and Esteban Hasson from the University of Buenos Aires, Argentina. |
 | Meerkat call patterns are linked to sex, social status and reproductive seasonWithin a group of meerkats, call patterns vary with factors including sex, rank and reproductive season—but not with stress hormones, according to a study published May 3, 2017 in the open-access journal PLOS ONE by Jelena Mausbach from University of Zurich, Switzerland; Marta Manser from University of Pretoria, South Africa; and colleagues. |
 | 'Princess pheromone' tells ants which larvae are destined to be queensFor Indian jumping ants (Harpegnathos saltator), becoming royalty is all about timing. |
 | Tracking devices reduce warblers' chances of returning from migrationThe tools ornithologists use to track the journeys of migrating birds provide invaluable insights that can help halt the declines of vulnerable species. However, a new study from The Condor: Ornithological Applications shows that these data come at a cost—in some cases, these tracking devices reduce the chances that the birds carrying them will ever make it back to their breeding grounds. |
 | Review highlights challenges faced by birds in the Gulf of MexicoThe Gulf of Mexico is hugely important to birds that migrate between North America and the Neotropics—almost all migrants have to go around it or across it. Coastal habitats around the Gulf of Mexico are critical for these migrating birds, but these habitats face more and more threats from human activity. A new Review in The Condor: Ornithological Applications brings together what we know—and don't know—about the state of the region's ecosystems and the birds that pass through them. |
 | It's a dog's life: purity the key for treasured S.Korean breedPointy-eared and short-haired, the Jindo dog is a symbol of South Korea, where breeders and authorities keep its bloodline even purer than one of the world's least diverse societies. |
 | Morocco fights to save its iconic monkey"If nothing is done, this species will disappear within 10 years," warns a poster on Ahmed Harrad's ageing 4x4 showing Morocco's famed Barbary macaque monkey. |
 | Fantastic fruit flies and where to find themFruit flies are no griffins, but they are more beautiful and varied than one might think. Biologists detail them in a field guide for the Midwest and Northeast. |
 | Aquatic rest stops may pose potential hazards for migratory waterfowlMigratory waterfowl around the world travel hundreds to thousands of miles annually, stopping at lakes, ponds and marshes to refuel and breed. Some of these aquatic rest stops may be at sites polluted by remnants of radioactive waste from nuclear production or accidents, exposing the birds to contamination that they take with them. This poses a potential risk to humans if the waterfowl enter the food chain. |
 | Conflict or coexistenceCompetition within mixed bacterial populations can give rise to complex growth dynamics. LMU researchers are probing the interplay between differential growth rates and stochastic factors in determining the composition of such populations. |
 | How do fishes perceive their environment?Fishes perceive changes in water currents caused by prey, conspecifics and predators using their lateral line. The tiny sensors of this organ also allow them to navigate reliably. However, with increasing current velocities, the background signal also increases. Scientists at the University of Bonn have now created a realistic, three-dimensional model of a fish for the first time and have simulated the precise current conditions. The virtual calculations show that particular anatomical adaptations minimize background noise. The results are now being presented in the Journal of the Royal Society Interface. |
Scientists suggest the world should brace itself for a new wave of biological invasionsWe are all becoming increasingly familiar with the impacts of invasive species. Knotweed from Japan can destroy building foundations, zebra mussels from eastern Europe can clog-up drinking water pipes, and an Asian fungus is causing ash tree die-back in our forests. Now an international team of scientists has identified how our rapidly changing world will bring new types of invaders, often from very unexpected places. | |
 | Excessive DNA replication and its potential use against cancerDNA over-replication is a phenomenon that can have devastating consequences for proliferating cells. When parts of the genome are duplicated more than once, cells suffer from 'genomic instability' (alterations to the structure, composition and/or number of chromosomes), and this process gives rise to aberrant cells as those detected in many carcinomas. The cooperation of two proteins called CDC6 and CDT1 is essential for normal DNA replication but when they are not properly regulated, the genetic material replicates in excess. A paper published in Cell Reports by the DNA Replication Group of the Spanish National Cancer Research Centre (CNIO) sets out the fatal consequences of in vivo re-replication for the first time in mammalian organisms. |
 | Migrating mule deer track 'green waves' of spring forageMigratory mule deer in Wyoming closely time their movements to track the spring green-up, providing evidence of an underappreciated foraging benefit of migration, according to a new study from a team of researchers led by University of Wyoming and U.S. Geological Survey (USGS) scientists at the Wyoming Cooperative Fish and Wildlife Research Unit. |
 | Elephant herpes: Super-shedders endanger young animalsMany herpesviruses infect only a few animal species. Elephants also have their own spectrum of herpesviruses, which can cause infections that end in death. Asian elephants are carriers of virus types1, 4 and 5, while African elephants carry types 2, 3 and 6. Type 1 is particularly dangerous for young Asian elephants and has led to numerous deaths in the wild and in zoos worldwide. In Switzerland as well, three animals have died of "Elephant Herpes" in the last 30 years. How the elephants transmit the disease, however, and how they become infected, has been largely unknown until now. |
 | New study defines the environment as an influencer of immune system responses in dolphinsTwo populations of wild dolphins living off the coast of Florida and South Carolina are experiencing more chronically activated immune systems than dolphins living in controlled environments, raising concerns of researchers about overall ocean health, and the long-term health of bottlenose dolphins. The research, publishing May 3 in the scientific journal PLOS ONE is the first study of its kind analyzing the role the environment plays in the overall health and immune response of dolphins in the wild compared to those in human care. |
 | Register changes in professional sopranos may correspond to vocal fold vibrationsRegister shifts in professional singers may correspond to altered vocal fold vibration patterns which are audible to experts, according to a study published May 3, 2017 in the open-access journal PLOS ONE by Matthias Echternach from University of Freiburg, Christian Herbst from University of Vienna and colleagues. |
 | Do flies over-generalize memories like PTSD sufferers?No two cakes smell identical, yet we are still able to recognise the general aroma that promises pleasure. Ayse Yarali from the Leibniz Institute for Neurobiology, Germany, explains that this ability to generalise a previously learned link between a cue - such as an odour - and an experience - such as a pleasant taste or the attack of a predator - to a range of similar cues can help us to ensure that we repeatedly encounter pleasant situations while avoiding risky ones. |
Parasitic fig wasp hypodermic egg injector sniffs out host larvae to lay eggsIt takes a special kind of insect to pollinate an inside-out flower, which is exactly what the wasps that pollinate figs do. Crawling inside the firm swelling lined with microscopic flowers that will eventually ripen into a fleshy fig, tiny fig wasps pollinate the flowers within while laying their own eggs. However, the fig wasps' robust nursery is not entirely secure. | |
 | Starvation causes atypical cell deathResearchers from the Cell death group of the Bellvitge Biomedical Research Institute (IDIBELL), led by Dr. Cristina Muñoz-Pinedo, have characterized the cell death process due to starvation, in which the endoplasmic reticulum plays a leading role. Their work, chosen as the cover of the latest Molecular and Cellular Biology journal, was carried out within TRAIN-ERs, a European collaborative action that studies diseases associated with this cellular organelle. |
 | Marine conservation must consider human rightsOcean conservation is essential for protecting the marine environment and safeguarding the resources that people rely on for livelihoods and food security. But there are many documented cases where conservation has bumped up against the people who share the same places and resources, even leading to human rights abuses. |
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