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Here is your customized Science X Newsletter for July 17, 2017:
Spotlight Stories Headlines
Astronomy & Space news
 | Astronomers measure detailed chemical abundances of 158 stars in a nearby dwarf galaxy(Phys.org)—An international team of astronomers has performed detailed measurements of the chemical composition of 158 red giant stars in the nearby Sagittarius dwarf galaxy. The study, presented in a paper published July 11 on arXiv.org, is so far the largest and most chemically extensive high-resolution survey of this galaxy. |
 | Data from NASA's Solar Dynamics Observatory offer clues about sun's coronal irradiance(Phys.org)—A pair of researchers with Aberystwyth University in the U.K. has used data from NASA's Solar Dynamics Observatory to learn more about how the sun's corona behaves over differing stages of its 11-year cycle. In their paper published on the open access site Science Advances, Huw Morgan and Youra Taroyan describe attributes of the sun they observed over time and what they discovered about the "quiet corona" and its possible impact on us back here on Earth. |
 | For moratorium on sending commands to Mars, blame the SunThis month, movements of the planets will put Mars almost directly behind the sun, from Earth's perspective, causing curtailed communications between Earth and Mars. |
 | Astronaut Buzz Aldrin rolls out the red carpet for Mars (Update)Forty-eight years after he landed on the moon, Apollo 11 astronaut Buzz Aldrin on Saturday rolled out a red carpet for the red planet at a star-studded gala at the Kennedy Space Center. |
 | Video: Flyover of Pluto's majestic mountains and icy plainsIn July 2015, NASA's New Horizons spacecraft sent home the first close-up pictures of Pluto and its moons – amazing imagery that inspired many to wonder what a flight over the distant worlds' icy terrain might be like. |
 | The great galactic recessionA simulated universe created by Swinburne University of Technology and The University of Melbourne has revealed galaxies emerging in the first billion years after the Big Bang were experiencing a recession. |
 | NASA listens in as electrons whistle while they workSpace is not empty, nor is it silent. While technically a vacuum, space nonetheless contains energetic charged particles, governed by magnetic and electric fields, and it behaves unlike anything we experience on Earth. In regions laced with magnetic fields, such as the space environment surrounding our planet, particles are continually tossed to and fro by the motion of various electromagnetic waves known as plasma waves. These plasma waves, like the roaring ocean surf, create a rhythmic cacophony that—with the right tools—we can hear across space. |
 | Citizen science project discovers new brown dwarfOne night three months ago, Rosa Castro finished her dinner, opened her laptop, and uncovered a novel object that was neither planet nor star. Therapist by day and amateur astronomer by night, Castro joined the NASA-funded Backyard Worlds: Planet 9 citizen science project when it began in February—not knowing she would become one of four volunteers to help identify the project's first brown dwarf, formally known as WISEA J110125.95+540052.8. |
 | NASA Neutron star mission begins science operationsNASA's new Neutron star Interior Composition Explorer (NICER) mission to study the densest observable objects in the universe has begun science operations. |
 | New horizons unveils new maps of Pluto, Charon on flyby anniversaryOn July 14, 2015, NASA's New Horizons spacecraft made its historic flight through the Pluto system – providing the first close-up images of Pluto and its moons and collecting other data that has transformed our understanding of these mysterious worlds on the solar system's outer frontier. |
 | Introducing JUICE—the Jupiter Icy Moons ExplorerIt may still be five years away from launch, and over a decade before our Jupiter Icy Moons Explorer reaches the gas giant and its icy moons, but preparations are well under way. This new artist's impression depicts the final spacecraft design, the construction of which is being overseen by Airbus Defence and Space. |
 | Hypersonic flight test goes like a rocketCommercialised flight faster than five times the speed of sound has been brought one step closer, thanks to a successful experimental flight featuring University of Queensland knowhow. |
 | Humanity's 'sustainability' is no excuse for abandoning planet Earth"Spreading out into space will completely change the future of humanity," says Stephen Hawking. It "may be the only thing that saves us from ourselves. I am convinced that humans need to leave Earth". |
 | Space station project seeks to crystalize the means to counteract nerve poisonsThe microgravity conditions of the International Space Station (ISS) may hold the key to improving our understanding of how to combat toxic nerve agents such as sarin and VX. That is the hope of Countermeasures Against Chemical Threats (CounterACT) project that is part of an initiative at the National Institutes of Health aimed at developing improved antidotes for chemical agents. |
NASA communications satellite damaged 3 weeks before launchNASA's newest, slickest communications satellite has been damaged, just three weeks before its planned August launch. | |
Technology news
 | Self-fueling boat sets off from Paris on 6-year world tripA boat that fuels itself is setting off around the world from Paris on a six-year journey that its designers hope will serves as a model for emissions-free energy networks of the future. |
 | DRL pockets rainbow for fastest racing drone(Tech Xplore)—The DRL RacerX has taken the title of the fastest racing drone, achieving a top speed of 179.6 miles (289 km/h) per hour. |
 | Robot aide expands in consumer tool for luggage woes and more(Tech Xplore)—Joshua Browder, founder, DoNotPay, has expanded a "robot" initiative to cover more categories and provide not only guidance and letter formats for communicating complaints. |
 | Robots take inspiration from insects to track targetsThe way insects visualise and hunt their prey could help improve autonomous robotic technology, according to a pioneering new study conducted by a team of engineers and neuroscientists from The University of Adelaide and Lund University. |
 | Ultra-high-contrast digital sensingVirtually any modern information-capture device—such as a camera, audio recorder, or telephone—has an analog-to-digital converter in it, a circuit that converts the fluctuating voltages of analog signals into strings of ones and zeroes. |
 | Unbalanced wind farm planning exacerbates fluctuationsIf European countries cooperated better in the field of wind energy, wind power output would fluctuate less. This is the conclusion reached by a group of energy and climate researchers at ETH Zürich and Imperial College London, who for the first time have combined a long-term analysis of predominant weather patterns with Europe-wide wind electricity generation. |
 | Rooftop concentrating photovoltaics win big over silicon in outdoor testingA concentrating photovoltaic system with embedded microtracking can produce over 50 percent more energy per day than standard silicon solar cells in a head-to-head competition, according to a team of engineers who field tested a prototype unit over two sunny days last fall. |
 | Team develops fast, cheap method to make supercapacitor electrodes for electric cars, high-powered lasersSupercapacitors are an aptly named type of device that can store and deliver energy faster than conventional batteries. They are in high demand for applications including electric cars, wireless telecommunications and high-powered lasers. |
 | Report examines automation waves that threaten upward mobility(Tech Xplore)—Remember when there such a thing as the job ladder—do great work and catch the rewards in the form of promotion, or job assurance, or higher salary, or all three in one great moving-up package? |
 | Indonesia limits access to Telegram app, readies total banIndonesia says it's blocking web versions of the encrypted Telegram instant messaging app and will block the app completely if it continues to be a forum for radical propaganda and violent militants. |
 | Rapper Akon to buy 50% of African music download serviceSenegalese-American rapper Akon announced Saturday he would purchase 50 percent of African music download service Musik Bi, as the platform struggles to gain a foothold after its launch 18 months ago. |
 | Estonia to open world's first virtual data embassyCyber-savvy Estonia has taken yet another step forward in global technology, as the small Baltic state is set to open the world's first data embassy in Luxembourg early next year. |
 | Elon Musk talks cars—and humanity's fate—with governorsTesla CEO Elon Musk warned a bipartisan gathering of U.S. governors on Saturday that government regulation of artificial intelligence is needed because it's a "fundamental risk to the existence of human civilization." |
S.Africa's white enclave eyes move to e-cashA whites-only enclave in South Africa has resisted the country's multi-racial reality for more than two decades, even adopting its own paper money in its bid to promote self-sufficiency. | |
 | US to create independent military cyber commandAfter months of delay, the Trump administration is finalizing plans to revamp the nation's military command for defensive and offensive cyber operations in hopes of intensifying America's ability to wage cyberwar against the Islamic State group and other foes, according to U.S. officials. |
 | Researchers prove the security of the Vector Stream CipherHow do we know if the electronic keys we use in our devices are really secure? While it is possible to rigorously test the strength of a cipher—a kind of digital data lock—there are rarely any definitive proofs of unbreakability. Ciphers are highly complex, and while they may ward off certain attacks, they might be vulnerable to others. |
 | Researcher discusses the future of the electric utilityFrancis O'Sullivan, director of research for the MIT Energy Initiative (MITEI), recently led discussions about the future of the electric grid and clean energy technologies with leaders in industry, government, and academia at MITEI's Associate Member Symposium. In the wake of the symposium, O'Sullivan reflects on several of its main themes: current trends in the industry, changes in customer behavior, and innovative potential responses to the challenges facing the utility industry today. |
 | The future of artificial intelligence—two experts disagreeArtificial intelligence (AI) promises to revolutionise our lives, drive our cars, diagnose our health problems, and lead us into a new future where thinking machines do things that we're yet to imagine. |
 | Is America's digital leadership on the wane?American leadership in technology innovation and economic competitiveness is at risk if U.S. policymakers don't take crucial steps to protect the country's digital future. The country that gave the world the internet and the very concept of the disruptive startup could find its role in the global innovation economy slipping from reigning incumbent to a disrupted has-been. |
 | The blockchain could have better security than the banksThere are ways to improve the online ledger blockchain by taking some security notes from banks. If people could use both two-step verification and spending limits on the blockchain, this would reduce any economic loss from cyber attacks and in turn encourage more users. |
A better approach to disease prediction through big data analyticsBig data holds great promise to change health care for the better. However, much of the technology that will someday transform health care and its delivery is not yet mature enough for hospitals and other systems to use. | |
New research tracks global IT's shift from cost-cutting to revenue-boostingInformation technology is often credited for its role in helping companies cut costs. However, new research by Professor Sunil Mithas at the University of Maryland's Robert H. Smith School of Business shows that information technology actually creates increased global profits through increased revenue, not through cost cuts. | |
 | Netflix shares jump as subscriptions top 100 millionNetflix on Monday reported that the number of subscribers climbed more than expected, topping 100 million worldwide and sending shares in the leading on-demand television service soaring. |
 | Lithuania to extradite $100 mn email fraud suspect to USA Lithuanian man who allegedly swindled $100 million (87 million euros) from tech giants Google and Facebook must be extradited to the United States, a court ruled on Monday. |
Five tech tips for unplugging on vacationWith summer travel kicking off, we're offering several tips on how to really disconnect from work electronically. After all, isn't taking a minute to enjoy a breathtaking view or your child's laughter more important than a corporate email? We think so. | |
 | Telegram blocks terror content after Indonesia threatens banThe encrypted messaging app Telegram is forming a team of moderators who are familiar with Indonesian culture and language so it can remove "terrorist-related content" faster, its co-founder said Sunday, after Indonesia limited access to the app and threatened a total ban. |
Somalia's internet returns after 3-week outage caused outcrySomalia's internet has returned after an outage of more than three weeks cost the Horn of Africa nation about $10 million a day, authorities said Monday. | |
 | Judge: Govt. asked Google for too much data in gender caseAn administrative law judge has ruled that Labor Department officials investigating gender pay bias had asked Google for data in a way that's too broad and intrusive on employee privacy. |
Medicine & Health news
 | Artificial sweeteners linked to risk of weight gain, heart disease and other health issuesArtificial sweeteners may be associated with long-term weight gain and increased risk of obesity, diabetes, high blood pressure and heart disease, according to a new study published in CMAJ (Canadian Medical Association Journal) |
 | Hearing is believing: Speech may be a clue to mental declineYour speech may, um, help reveal if you're uh ... developing thinking problems. More pauses, filler words and other verbal changes might be an early sign of mental decline, which can lead to Alzheimer's disease, a study suggests. |
 | Immune system found to control eye tissue renewal in zebrafishResearchers at Johns Hopkins Medicine report evidence that zebrafishes' natural ability to regenerate their eyes' retinal tissue can be accelerated by controlling the fishes' immune systems. Because evolution likely conserved this mechanism of regenerative potential in other animals, the new findings may one day advance efforts to combat degenerative eye disease damage in humans. |
 | New study of brain circuits finds key links to symptoms of depressionUniversity of California San Diego scientists have linked specific wiring in the brain to distinct behavioral symptoms of depression. |
 | Genome therapy could lead to new treatment for life-threatening blood disordersGenome therapy with beneficial natural mutation could lead to new treatment for life-threatening blood disorders |
 | Quantifying effectiveness of treatment for irregular heartbeatIn a small proof-of-concept study, researchers at Johns Hopkins report a complex mathematical method to measure electrical communications within the heart can successfully predict the effectiveness of catheter ablation, the standard of care treatment for atrial fibrillation, the most common irregular heartbeat disorder. This has the potential to let physicians and patients know immediately following treatment whether it was effective, or whether they'll need to anticipate another procedure in the future. |
 | Brief interactions spur lasting waves of gene activity in the brainA five-minute encounter with an outsider spurs a cascade of changes in gene activity in the brain that can last for hours, researchers report in a study of stickleback fish. |
 | Ebola virus can persist in monkeys that survived disease, even after symptoms disappearEbola virus infection can be detected in rhesus monkeys that survive the disease and no longer show symptoms, according to research published by Army scientists in today's online edition of the journal Nature Microbiology. The study sheds light on how the virus persists in certain areas of the body, and holds promise for the development of medical products to counter the disease in humans. |
 | Late-breaking mutations may play an important role in autismA study of nearly 6,000 families, combining three genetic sequencing technologies, finds that mutations that occur after conception play an important role in autism. A team led by investigators at Boston Children's Hospital and the Broad Institute of MIT and Harvard reports the findings today in Nature Neuroscience. |
 | Newly discovered gene variants link innate immunity and Alzheimer's diseaseThree new gene variants, found in a genome wide association study of Alzheimer's disease (AD), point to the brain's immune cells in the onset of the disorder. These genes encode three proteins that are found in microglia, cells that are part of the brain's injury response system. The study is an international collaboration of four AD research consortia that analyzed DNA from 85,000 subjects. The results are reported online this week in Nature Genetics. |
 | New study shows how exposure to a foreign language ignites infants' learningFor years, scientists and parents alike have touted the benefits of introducing babies to two languages: Bilingual experience has been shown to improve cognitive abilities, especially problem-solving. |
 | New discovery in motor neuron disease and dementia could pave the way to novel treatmentsNew discovery in motor neurone disease and dementia could pave the way to novel treatments |
 | Tracking the mechanisms of artery formationArteriogenesis is a critical event - not only during development but also in adult life. Cardiovascular life-threatening events, triggered by disease, could be overcome by alternatives to existing therapies, for example by inducing the formation of new arteries. However, the mechanisms of artery formation are not well understood. A team of scientists led by Ralf Adams from the Max Planck Institute for Molecular Biomedicine in Münster has developed an elegant genetic approach in mice to uncover molecular mechanisms that coordinate arterial growth. Together with Tilman Borggrefe and colleagues from the Institute of Biochemistry of the Justus-Liebig University of Gießen, they found that a receptor called Notch is crucial in this process: high Notch activity directs sprouting cells of the foremost growth front into developing arteries. This is the first study in mice to show a direct coupling of angiogenic sprouting to artery formation. This knowledge from postnatal development may help in identifying new therapeutic approaches that stimulate growth of new arteries after organ injury. |
 | Newly identified genetic marker may help detect high-risk flu patientsResearchers have discovered an inherited genetic variation that may help identify patients at elevated risk for severe, potentially fatal influenza infections. The scientists have also linked the gene variant to a mechanism that explains the elevated risk and offers clues about the broader anti-viral immune response. |
 | Comparing algorithms that search for cancer mutationsSanford Burnham Prebys Medical Discovery Institute (SBP) has undertaken the first-ever comparative analysis of a newly emerging category of algorithms that mine genetic information in cancer databases by focusing on internal gene structure (subgene resolution algorithms), in contrast to classical approaches that focus on genes treated as single units. These powerful data-sifting tools are helping untangle the complexity of cancer, and find previously unidentified mutations that are important in creating cancer cells. |
Adrenal gland activity change under severe stress causing abnormal release of glucocorticoid stressPublished in the Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences (PNAS), the study aimed to find out what the most important factors are to allow fast and flexible responses to stress, and how these factors interact with one another. | |
 | Toddler brain development: Bacterial clues found in dirty baby diapersIf you're the parent of an infant, diaper duty probably isn't your favorite part of the day. But you dutifully check the contents of each one because your pediatrician told you that color and consistency of what they leave behind can tell you a lot about their health. But what does a dirty diaper have to do with your baby's brain? |
 | One social hour a week in dementia care improves lives and saves moneyPerson-centred activities combined with just one hour a week of social interaction can improve quality of life and reduce agitation for people with dementia living in care homes, while saving money. |
 | Drug combined with care program better at reducing Alzheimer's symptoms than drug aloneCombining a specific care management program with a commonly-prescribed drug for Alzheimer's disease multiplies the medication's ability to improve daily function by about 7.5 times, stalling some of the disease's most damaging effects. |
Agent clears toxic proteins and improves cognition in neurodegeneration modelsResearchers have found cell receptors abnormally overexpressed in post-mortem brains of those with Parkinson's and Alzheimer's diseases, and that they can be inhibited in animal models to clear toxic protein buildup, reduce brain inflammation, and improve cognitive performance. | |
 | Concerns over side effects of statins stopping stroke survivors taking medicationNegative media coverage of the side effects associated with taking statins, and patients' own experiences of taking the drugs, are among the reasons cited by stroke survivors and their carers for stopping taking potentially life-saving drugs, according to research published today. |
9/11 survivors may be at increased risk of heart and lung disease years laterPeople who were exposed to the dust cloud or sustained physical injuries during the terrorist attacks on the World Trade Centre on September 11, 2001 may be at increased long-term risk of asthma, other respiratory diseases and heart attack, according to a study published in the open access journal Injury Epidemiology. | |
A prescription of activities shown to improve health and well-beingGyms, walking groups, gardening, cooking clubs and volunteering have all been shown to work in improving the health and well-being reported by a group of people with long-term conditions. | |
 | Canada should continue with separate medical stream after cannabis is legalized for recreational useAfter cannabis is legalized, Canada should continue with a separate medical cannabis stream to keep patients safe, argues a commentary in CMAJ (Canadian Medical Association Journal) |
 | Peptide complex in the brain is responsible for Alzheimer's diseaseMembers of the Faculty of Fundamental Medicine at the Lomonosov Moscow State University have determined the structure of a peptide complex formed in the brain at the early stages of Alzheimer's disease. The research results will contribute to the rational design of compounds to block the progress of the disease. |
 | Prior dengue infection does not increase Zika disease severityIndividuals infected with Zika virus after having dengue fever do not appear to become more severely ill than people with Zika who have never had dengue. This is the conclusion of a study published on June 20 in the journal Clinical Infectious Diseases. |
 | No chocolate milk? No problem—kids get used to plain milkA new study by the Rudd Center for Food Policy and Obesity at the University of Connecticut has found that most students adjust to drinking plain milk after flavored milk is removed from school lunch menus. |
 | Mosquitos are evolving to beat insecticides – except in AustraliaChemical pesticides have been used for many years to control insect populations and remain the most important method of managing diseases carried by pests, including mosquitoes. However, insects have fought back by evolving resistance to many pesticides. There are now thousands of instances of evolved resistance, which make some chemical classes completely ineffective. |
 | The brain and the gut talk to each other—how fixing one could help the otherIt's widely recognised that emotions can directly affect stomach function. As early as 1915, influential physiologist Walter Cannon noted that stomach functions are changed in animals when frightened. The same is true for humans. Those who stress a lot often report diarrhoea or stomach pain. |
 | Study finds molecular explanation for struggles of obese asthmaticsA large, bouquet-shaped molecule called surfactant protein A, or SP-A, may explain why obese asthma patients have harder-to-treat symptoms than their lean and overweight counterparts, according to a new study led by scientists at the University of Arizona and Duke University. The results were published in a recent edition of the Journal of Allergy and Clinical Immunology. |
New target could soothe the itch of inflammatory skin conditionsExisting medicines could offer a new way to treat inflammatory skin conditions, researchers at the Walter and Eliza Hall Institute and the Royal Melbourne Hospital have revealed. | |
 | Daily crosswords linked to sharper brain in later lifeThe more regularly people report doing word puzzles such as crosswords, the better their brain function in later life, a large-scale and robust online trial has found. |
| Being unmarried or widowed linked to increased dementia riskResearchers from University College London have found that people who are single or widowed are at a greater risk of dementia than people who are married. The research, which is a review of 14 existing studies, is being presented today (17 July) at the Alzheimer's Association International Conference (AAIC17) in London. |
The role of diet in healthy brain ageing and dementia riskFour studies being presented at the Alzheimer's Association International Conference 2017 are highlighting the potential benefits of certain diets and how they can support healthy brain ageing and help to reduce dementia risk. | |
 | Less fluent speech could be a sign of early memory problemsResearchers in the US have found that people with very mild memory and thinking problems also show changes in their everyday speech. |
Hearing loss linked to early memory and thinking problemsResearchers at the Alzheimer's Association International Conference 2017 have suggested that people with a family history of Alzheimer's disease who experience hearing loss, are more likely to also experience a decline in their brain function. | |
Brain amyloid PET scans enhance the diagnosis of Alzheimer'sThe build-up of amyloid protein in the brain is a hallmark feature of Alzheimer's disease, and its detection often relies on the testing of brain and spinal fluid samples. More recently, PET brain scans have been able to highlight the presence of amyloid in the brain and are extensively used in research studies into Alzheimer's, such as clinical trials for new treatments. However, whether amyloid PET scans provide additional and more accurate information to aid dementia diagnosis is not clear cut, and the high costs associated with the scans (between £1,000-3,000 per scan) have so far limited their wider clinical use. Three studies presented today at the Alzheimer's Association International Conference 2016 are challenging this view. | |
 | Stressful experiences equivalent to 'more than 4 years cognitive ageing'Researchers at the Alzheimer's Association International Conference 2017 in London have highlighted the impact stressful life events can have on brain function. |
 | Study discovers anticoagulant drugs are being prescribed against safety adviceA study by researchers at the University of Birmingham has shown that GPs are prescribing anticoagulants to patients with an irregular heartbeat against official safety advice. |
 | Researchers discover a crucial gene involved in the development of the placentaA massive genomics study of people with intellectual disabilities performed in the Netherlands points to patient mutations in the TLK2 gene. |
 | Teens may be missing vaccines because parents aren't aware they need oneParents may be up to speed on what vaccines their children need for kindergarten, but may be less sure during high school years, a new national poll suggests. |
The Breivik terrorist attacks in Norway led to mental illness in DenmarkAnders Breivik's politically motivated bombing of the Norwegian parliament building in Oslo and his subsequent massacre of participants in the Norwegian Socialist Party's youth camp on the island of Utøya on 22 July 2011 killed 77 young people and adults. The terrorist attacks also had consequences in neighbouring Denmark. Here the attack was followed by a significant increase in the number of Danes who were diagnosed with trauma- and stressor-related disorders such as PTSD. | |
Screening those at risk of psychosis may help prevent violence, reduce stigmaA new study of young persons at clinical high-risk of developing psychosis has identified measures of violence potential that may be useful in predicting both the increased risk of future violent behavior and the actual development of psychosis. | |
| Bacteria found in Alzheimer's brainsResearchers in the UK have used DNA sequencing to examine bacteria in post-mortem brains from patients with Alzheimer's disease. Their findings suggest increased bacterial populations and different proportions of specific bacteria in Alzheimer's, compared with healthy brains. The findings may support evidence that bacterial infection and inflammation in the brain could contribute to Alzheimer's disease. |
 | New study finds that lymph node removal isn't necessary for all melanoma patientsMany patients with melanoma need a sentinel-lymph-node biopsy to determine if cancer cells have spread there, but a positive finding doesn't mean all the lymph nodes in the area must be removed, according to new international study. |
Improving ICU care and communication through technology useHospitalization in an intensive care unit (ICU) can be a frightening and sometimes traumatizing experience for patients. Although engaging the patient and improving communication among the clinical team can positively impact care and the patient experience, the ICU environment can be a challenging place to engage patients. In new research, led by Brigham and Women's Hospital, researchers tested a structured and technology-centered program that was focused on team communication and patient engagement. They found that this approach was associated with a lower rate of adverse events and improved patient satisfaction. Results of this project, named PROSPECT (Promoting Respect and Ongoing Safety through Patient Engagement Communication and Technology), are published in August issue of Critical Care Medicine. | |
Radiation prior to surgery reduces risk of secondary tumors in early-stage breast cancerMoffitt Cancer Center researchers launched a first of its kind study comparing the long-term benefits of radiation therapy in women with breast cancer either before surgery (neoadjuvant) or after surgery (adjuvant). Their study, published in the June 30 issue of Breast Cancer Research, found that patients who have neoadjuvant radiation therapy have a significantly lower risk of developing a second primary tumor at any site. | |
Improving care of patients with traumatic brain injury in low- and middle-income countriesA new research group focused on improving the care of patients with traumatic brain injury in low- and middle-income countries has been established at the University of Cambridge. | |
 | Happiness can affect physical healthA new review indicates that subjective well-being—factors such as life satisfaction and enjoyment of life—can influence physical health. The review's investigators also examine why this is so and conditions where it is most likely to occur. |
Black light helps diagnose common skin problem found in pregnant womenResearchers at Boston Medical Center (BMC) and Boston University School of Medicine (BUSM) have found that using a black light, or Wood's light, helps dermatologists determine disease extent of melasma, a hyperpigmentation condition that causes brown and gray patches to appear on the face. | |
Hospitalizations and cognitive decline in older adultsEmergency and urgent hospitalizations are associated with an increased rate of cognitive decline in older adults, report researchers at Rush University Medical Center. The results of their study suggest that hospitalization may be a more of a major risk factor for long-term cognitive decline in older adults than previously recognized. | |
 | T-cells lacking HDAC11 enzyme perform more effectively in destroying cancer cellsResearchers at the George Washington University (GW) Cancer Center have discovered a new role for the enzyme, histone deacetylase 11 (HDAC11), in the regulation of T-cell function. |
 | O2 and hyperbaric oxygen therapy reverses brain damage in drowned toddlerDr. Paul Harch, Clinical Professor and Director of Hyperbaric Medicine at LSU Health New Orleans School of Medicine, and Dr. Edward Fogarty, at the University of North Dakota School of Medicine, report the case of the reversal of brain volume loss in a two-year-old drowning victim unresponsive to all stimuli treated with normobaric oxygen (oxygen at sea level) and hyperbaric oxygen therapy (HBOT). The report is published in Medical Gas Research. |
Study identifies tools to identify patients at risk for autism spectrum disordersA tool intended to detect signs of autism in high-risk infants can be used to help identify and treat patients with tuberous sclerosis complex (TSC), a genetic disorder, who most need early intervention. Moreover, they can identify these patients earlier than ever before. | |
 | Ozone pollution connected to cardiovascular healthExposure to ozone, long associated with impaired lung function, is also connected to health changes that can cause cardiovascular disease such as heart attack, high blood pressure and stroke, according to a new study of Chinese adults. |
 | Which infants exposed to Zika virus infection in pregnancy should have eyes examined?Eye abnormalities in infants from Brazil born to mothers with confirmed Zika virus infection in pregnancy are described in an article published by JAMA Pediatrics. |
Cerebrospinal fluid of survivors of Ebola virus disease examinedA new research letter published by JAMA Neurology reports on examinations of cerebrospinal fluid collected from survivors of Ebola virus disease (EVD) to investigate potential Ebola virus persistence in the central nervous system. | |
 | Scientists find rare disease clues in cell's recycling systemScientists have demonstrated how an investigational drug works against a rare, fatal genetic disease, Niemann-Pick type C1 (NPC1). They found that a closely related compound will activate an enzyme, AMPK, triggering a cellular "recycling" system that helps reduce elevated cholesterol and other accumulated fats in the brains and livers of NPC1 patients, which are hallmarks associated with severe neurological problems. The research was led by scientists at the National Center for Advancing Translational Sciences (NCATS), part of the National Institutes of Health, and their colleagues. |
See this? Doctors find 27 contact lenses in woman's eyeDoctors intending to perform cataract surgery on a 67-year-old woman in Britain found something rather unexpected: 17 contact lenses mashed together in her right eye. | |
 | 1 in 10 infants received no vaccinations last year: UNNearly one in 10 infants received no vaccinations in 2016, meaning that they missed the first innoculation against three lethal diseases, the World Health Organization (WHO) said Monday. |
 | Opioids second only to marijuana in illicit drug abuse rates(HealthDay)—Abuse of prescription opioids is second only to marijuana abuse as the most common illegal drug problem in the United States, according to a report from the U.S. Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration (SAMHSA). |
 | Many Americans unaware of this year's heavy tick season: poll(HealthDay)—Most Americans know that ticks can make them sick, and many take steps to avoid them. But few know that this summer could be a particularly bad one for tick bites, a new HealthDay/Harris Poll shows. |
 | Smart steps for sun protection(HealthDay)—You know you're supposed to slather on a high-SPF sunscreen before going out in the sun, but these five steps will help you double up on that protection. |
 | Wait-and-scan strategy feasible for head, neck paraganglioma(HealthDay)—A wait-and-scan strategy seems to be feasible for patients with head and neck paraganglioma (PGL), according to a study published online July 10 in Head & Neck. |
 | Organizational changes encouraged for safer prescribing(HealthDay)—Organizational changes are recommended by primary care physicians to support safer prescribing, according to a study published in the July/August issue of the Annals of Family Medicine. |
 | Female physicians found more likely to leave rural practice(HealthDay)—Factors associated with physician mobility include smaller population size and lower primary care physician supply, according to a study published online in the July/August issue of the Annals of Family Medicine. |
 | About 10 percent present to ER after hysterectomy for benign disease(HealthDay)—Overall, 9.1 percent of women who undergo hysterectomy for benign disease present to the emergency department and are not readmitted to the hospital, according to research published in the August issue of Obstetrics & Gynecology. |
 | Empowerment linked to HRQoL in teen, young adult CA survivors(HealthDay)—For adolescent and young adult (AYA) cancer survivors, empowerment is independently associated with health-related quality of life (HRQoL), according to research published online July 11 in Cancer. |
 | Opioids often overprescribed in patients undergoing surgery(HealthDay)—For patients undergoing common elective procedures, opioids are often overprescribed, according to a study published online July 10 in the Annals of Surgery. |
 | Maternal uncontrolled asthma ups risk of asthma in offspring(HealthDay)—Children whose mothers have uncontrolled asthma during pregnancy are at increased risk of developing the disease at a young age, according to a study published online July 13 in the Journal of Allergy and Clinical Immunology. |
 | Stem cell educator therapy may help fight diabetes(HealthDay)—Stem cell educator therapy may provide long term benefits in type 1 and type 2 diabetes, according to a study published online July 7 in Stem Cells Translational Medicine. |
Nipple-sparing mastectomy has low rate of breast cancer recurrenceWomen with breast cancer who undergo nipple-sparing mastectomy (NSM) have a low rate of the cancer returning within the first five years, when most recurrences in the breast are diagnosed, findings of a single-center study show. The new study, published as an "article in press" on the Journal of the American College of Surgeons website in advance of print publication, found an overall 5.5 percent recurrence rate among 311 operations at a median (midrange) follow-up of 51 months, with no recurrence involving the retained nipple. | |
 | Brain connectivity after 30 may predict psychological problemsUnderdevelopment of the brain network underlying inhibition—the ability to concentrate on a particular stimulus and tune out competing stimuli—after 30 years of age is associated with self-reported psychological problems, according to a study published in The Journal of Neuroscience. |
 | Team-based model reduces prescription opioid use among patients with chronic pain by 40 percentA new, team-based, primary care model is decreasing prescription opioid use among patients with chronic pain by 40 percent, according to a new study out of Boston Medical Center's Grayken Center for Addiction Medicine, which is published online ahead of print in JAMA Internal Medicine. |
 | How dolphins inspired a potentially life-saving method for treating trauma victimsA physiological process used commonly by mammals like seals and dolphins inspired the potentially life-saving method University at Buffalo researchers successfully tested to raise blood pressure in a simulation of trauma victims experiencing blood loss. |
Research in the emergency room helps predict organ failure in critically injured patientsTesting blood samples within the first two hours of injury could help predict which critically injured patients are more likely to develop multiple organ failure, according to an early study led by Queen Mary University of London (QMUL). The finding that there is a specific immune response to trauma shortly after injury could also help with the development of new therapies. | |
 | Not all plant-based diets are created equalPlant-based diets are recommended to reduce the risk of heart disease; however, some plant-based diets are associated with a higher risk of heart disease, according to a study published today in the Journal of the American College of Cardiology. |
 | New tools help surgeons find liver tumors, not nick blood vesselsThe liver is a particularly squishy, slippery organ, prone to shifting both deadly tumors and life-preserving blood vessels by inches between the time they're discovered on a CT scan and when the patient is lying on an operating room table. |
CAR T-cell therapy for leukemia leads to remissions in clinical trialResearchers at Fred Hutchinson Cancer Research Center showed about 70 percent of patients with the most common adult leukemia had their tumors shrink or disappear following an experimental chimeric antigen receptor (CAR) T-cell immunotherapy. | |
 | Study advances the ability to expose latent HIVExposing hidden HIV reservoirs so that they can be cleared is a strategy being tested in efforts to develop therapies to cure the nearly 40 million people worldwide living with HIV. Researchers at the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill have shown that interval dosing of the drug Vorinostat reverses HIV latency and is well-tolerated in people living with HIV. However, while Vorinostat makes latent HIV easier to detect, it does not clear or deplete infection, meaning additional advances will be needed to achieve a cure. These results were published in the Journal of Clinical Investigation on July 17. |
 | Exclusion of mothers-to-be from clinical studies unfair and potentially harmfulThe widely accepted principle that mums-to-be are a 'vulnerable' group unfairly excludes them from taking part in clinical studies, and perpetuates the knowledge void around the impact of drugs taken during pregnancy, conclude researchers online in the Journal of Medical Ethics. |
| Depression among young teens linked to cannabis use at 18A study looking at the cumulative effects of depression in youth, found that young people with chronic or severe forms of depression were at elevated risk for developing a problem with cannabis in later adolescence. |
Large multi-ethnic study identifies many new genetic markers for lupusScientists from an international consortium have identified a large number of new genetic markers that predispose individuals to lupus. | |
 | Working at 'breastaurants' damaging to women's mental healthWomen who work in restaurants that require their bodies to be on display through revealing uniforms may experience higher levels of anxiety and disordered eating, according to a new University of Tennessee, Knoxville, study. |
Opioid tapering may improve outcomes for chronic pain sufferersDose reduction may improve pain, function, and quality of life for patients prescribed long-term opioid therapy for chronic pain. Results of a systematic evidence review are published in Annals of Internal Medicine. | |
 | Major insurance groups call part of health bill 'unworkable'Two of the insurance industry's most powerful organizations say a crucial provision in the Senate Republican health care bill allowing the sale of bare-bones policies is "unworkable in any form," delivering a blow to party leaders' efforts to win support for their legislation. |
The Indian woman defying body stereotypes through yogaA plus-sized Indian woman is challenging body stereotypes and defying internet trolls with a series of yoga videos that are proving a hit on social media. | |
 | Food safety greater concern during summer outingsAnts aren't the only tiny creatures that can ruin a summer outing where food is being served, said a Texas A&M AgriLife Extension Service expert. |
Emergency but not elective hospital admissions linked to faster memory and thinking declineResearchers in Chicago have investigated the link between hospital admissions and memory and thinking problems. Existing research indicates that older people are at an increased risk of both short- and long-term memory and thinking problems after being admitted to hospital. In this study researchers at the Rush Alzheimer's Disease Centre at Rush University compared the risk associated with urgent or emergency admissions and elective stays that might be more common for routine procedures. The researchers found that non-elective hospitalisations were associated with a faster rate of cognitive decline from before hospitalisation, while elective hospitalisations were not. | |
Terminally ill British man in right-to-die court fightA British man who is terminally ill with motor neuron disease asked the High Court in London on Monday to let him end his life. | |
Computers helping emergency doctors make better choicesClinical decision support (CDS) embedded directly into the patient's electronic medical record is associated with decreased overall utilization of high cost imaging, especially among higher utilizers. That is the main finding of a study published in the July 2017 issue of Academic Emergency Medicine (AEM), a journal of the Society for Academic Emergency Medicine. | |
A new era in the interpretation of human genomic variationIn a commentary published today in Genetics in Medicine, Heidi Rehm, PhD, highlights the pressing need for standardized human genomic variant interpretation and calls on more stakeholders to join the data sharing movement. | |
 | Does Medicare/Medicaid incentive payment affect home hospice care in last week of life?A new study has shown that the new Service Intensity Add-on (SIA) payment for in-person routine home hospice care during the last 7 days of life, which was added to Medicare/Medicaid coverage in 2016, could increase visits by registered nurses or social workers during a patient's last week of life. The number of visits, estimated SIA payments, and potential for this incentive to reduce disparities in end-of-life hospice care are discussed in an article published in Journal of Palliative Medicine. |
 | Health plan hinges on the young, but they're a tough sellJulian Senn-Raemont isn't convinced he needs to buy health insurance when he loses coverage under his dad's plan in a couple of years—no matter what happens in the policy debate in Washington, or how cheap the plans are. |
 | Woman, 59, who tried for decades to get pregnant gives birthDuring nearly four decades of marriage, Akosua Budu Amoako and her husband tried to have a child, without success. But last month, at age 59, Budu gave birth to her first child after fertility treatments. |
 | A heart attack in a petri dishIn petri dishes in her campus laboratory at New Jersey Institute of Technology, Alice Lee is developing colonies of cardiac cells, formed into chambers, that pump and contract like a human heart. Derived from stem cells, these primitive organs will help her achieve a research milestone: to observe in microscopic, real-time detail how the heart repairs itself after injury. |
 | Standardized policies needed for how and when police interact with trauma patientsInjured people often interact with police and other law enforcement agents before and during their injury care, particularly when their injuries are due to violence or major motor vehicle crashes. Yet, there are no professional guidelines in trauma medicine or nursing that standardize when and how police interact with injured patients. |
Medicaid 'churning' leads to increased acute care use for patients with major depressionFor adult Medicaid beneficiaries with major depression, disruptions in coverage are followed by increases in emergency department (ED) visits and longer hospital stays after the person goes back on Medicaid, reports a study in the August issue of Medical Care. | |
Biology news
 | Mature cells revert to stem cells to boost tissue regeneration and repair in mouse intestinesResearchers at Harvard Stem Cell Institute, Dana-Farber Cancer Institute, and Harvard Medical School have identified a previously unknown mechanism that plays an important role in the regeneration of the inner intestinal lining. Their findings provide new insights on how this tissue, which undergoes change on a daily basis, maintains itself. |
 | Humans hardwired to lean to the right while kissing the world overIf you lean in for a kiss on the left you may be in the minority. A new study from an international team of psychologists and neuroscientists suggest that humans are hardwired to favour leaning to the right while kissing romantic partners, which may have wider implications for neuroscience and cognitive sciences. |
 | Bac-for good: Bacteria passed between generations benefits you more than othersBacteria passed straight to children have more healthcare benefits than if they are transmitted via the surrounding environment, new Oxford University research reveals. |
 | Is this Gulf of Mexico tubeworm the longest living animal in the world?Large tubeworms living in the cold depths of the Gulf of Mexico may be among the longest living animals in the world. This is revealed in a study in Springer's journal The Science of Nature. According to lead author Alanna Durkin of Temple University in the US, members of the tubeworm species Escarpia laminata live around 100 to 200 years, while the longevity of some even stretches to the three century mark. |
 | Microscopy technique could enable more informative biopsiesMIT and Harvard Medical School researchers have devised a way to image biopsy samples with much higher resolution—an advance that could help doctors develop more accurate and inexpensive diagnostic tests. |
 | Mutation speeds up sperm of zebra finchesIn zebra finches, sperm velocity and morphology and hence reproductive success strongly depend on a specific mutation (an inversion) on one of the sex chromosomes, called Z. This was discovered by scientists of the Max Planck Institute for Ornithology in Seewiesen. Males always carry two copies of the Z chromosome, but those that possess two different versions of it, one regular and one inverted, benefit from an optimal sperm design. Even under the strongest selection, in which only the fastest sperm will successfully fertilize the ovum, the genetically inferior types cannot go to extinction. This is because for the ideal morphology a combination of both forms is needed (heterozygotes), which is not possible without also producing the suboptimal types (homozygotes). According to the scientists, this effect can partly explain infertility in zebra finch males. |
 | Size key to top speed in animals, study findsIt's not quite E=mc2, but scientists unveiled Monday a simple, powerful formula that explains why some animals run, fly and swim faster than all others. |
 | Invasive plant species can enhance coastal ecosystemsInvasive plant species can be a source of valuable ecosystem functions where native coastal habitats such as salt marshes and oyster reefs have severely declined, a new study by scientists at Duke University and the University of North Carolina-Wilmington finds. |
 | What makes red algae so different and why should we care?The red algae called Porphyra and its ancestors have thrived for millions of years in the harsh habitat of the intertidal zone—exposed to fluctuating temperatures, high UV radiation, severe salt stress, and desiccation. |
 | Material from shellfish delivers a boost to bioassays and medical testsScientists at the University of Washington have discovered a simple way to raise the accuracy of diagnostic tests for medicine and common assays for laboratory research. By adding polydopamine—a material that was first isolated from shellfish—to these tests at a key step, the team could increase the sensitivity of these common bioassays by as many as 100 to 1,000 times. |
 | Snip, snip, cure—correcting defects in the genetic blueprintGene editing using 'molecular scissors' that snip out and replace faulty DNA could provide an almost unimaginable future for some patients: a complete cure. Cambridge researchers are working towards making the technology cheap and safe, as well as examining the ethical and legal issues surrounding one of the most exciting medical advances of recent times. |
 | Refined DNA tool tracks native and invasive fishRather than conduct an aquatic roll call with nets to know which fish reside in a particular body of water, scientists can now use DNA fragments suspended in water to catalog invasive or native species. |
 | Climatic stability resulted in the evolution of more bird speciesMore species of birds have accumulated in genera inhabiting climatically stable areas. This is shown by a new study from Umeå University. |
 | Combining genomics with farmers' traditional knowledge to improve wheat productionThe key to produce better crops to meet the needs of the growing world's population may lie in combining the traditional knowledge of subsistence farmers of the Ethiopian highlands with plant genomics. Researchers in Italy and Ethiopia conducted research that demonstrates that the indigenous knowledge of traditional farmers, passed on from one generation to the next since hundreds of years, can be measured in a quantitative way and used with advanced genomic and statistical methods to identify genes responsible for farmers' preference of wheat. |
 | Team reveals the whole genome sequences of rare red batA recent study, affiliated with the Korean Genomics Industrialization and Commercialization Center (KOGIC) at South Korea's Ulsan National Institute of Science and Technology (UNIST) has presented the first whole genome sequence and analyses of the Myotis rufoniger, one of the most well-known and iconic protected wild animals in South Korea, known as the golden bat. |
 | The earliest stages of life might be simpler than we thoughtIn the very earliest stages of life, mammalian cells multiply and form the embryo. New research from the University of Copenhagen suggests that this process might be much simpler than we thought. The development of the embryo can be cut down to the cell's ability to count their neighbouring cells. |
Mow before you spray, and other tips for protecting pollinators in grassy landscapesWith the right combination of methods, landscape managers can strike an effective balance between pest management and protecting pollinators in turfgrass settings. | |
New light on the secret life of badgersPrevious studies have fuelled the assumption that badgers are a territorial and anti-social species, living in exclusive, tight-knit family groups, known as 'setts'. This picture of the mammal's social system led to the belief that they actively defend territorial borders and consequently rarely travel beyond their social-group boundaries. Some culling and vaccination programmes now rely on this perception, considering badger society as being divided up into discrete, impenetrable units. | |
 | Amphibians can become tolerant to pesticides, but at a costAmphibians can develop tolerance to pesticides, but this tolerance can lead to increased susceptibility to parasites, according to new research from Binghamton University, State University of New York. |
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