Wednesday, August 9, 2017

Science X Newsletter Wednesday, Aug 9

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Exciting Acoustics Simulation Stories

Engineers use COMSOL Multiphysics and COMSOL Server for innovative acoustics research. Read their stories in a special edition of COMSOL News: https://goo.gl/UNfMja


Here is your customized Science X Newsletter for August 9, 2017:

Spotlight Stories Headlines

Scientists develop improved, potentially safer Zika vaccine

Patagotitan mayorum: New study describes the biggest dinosaur ever

Researchers discover first winged mammals from the Jurassic period

Fruit fly mutation foretells 40 million years of evolution

Lunar dynamo's lifetime extended by at least 1 billion years

Eradicating exotic pests with 'infertility genes' may be possible

Penguin forensics: Tracking the winter whereabouts of penguins by analyzing tail feathers

Motorhead's 'Lemmy' has dino croc named after him

Study in mice may reveal insights into causes of miscarriages for some women

New ultrafast method for determining antibiotic resistance

Ants dominate waste management in tropical rainforests

Increased floodlighting reducing bat populations in Sweden's churches

Insight into brain via 'friend of fragile X' gene

Four Earth-sized planets detected orbiting the nearest sun-like star

Decades after developing technology, NREL sets new solar-to-hydrogen record

Astronomy & Space news

Lunar dynamo's lifetime extended by at least 1 billion years

New evidence from ancient lunar rocks suggests that an active dynamo once churned within the molten metallic core of the moon, generating a magnetic field that lasted at least 1 billion years longer than previously thought. Dynamos are natural generators of magnetic fields around terrestrial bodies, and are powered by the churning of conducting fluids within many stars and planets. In a paper published today in Science Advances, researchers from MIT and Rutgers University report that a lunar rock collected by NASA's Apollo 15 mission exhibits signs that it formed 1 to 2.5 billion years ago in the presence of a relatively weak magnetic field of about 5 microtesla. That's around 10 times weaker than Earth's current magnetic field but still 1,000 times larger than fields in interplanetary space today.

Four Earth-sized planets detected orbiting the nearest sun-like star

A new study by an international team of astronomers reveals that four Earth-sized planets orbit the nearest sun-like star, tau Ceti, which is about 12 light years away and visible to the naked eye. These planets have masses as low as 1.7 Earth mass, making them among the smallest planets ever detected around nearby sun-like stars. Two of them are super-Earths located in the habitable zone of the star, meaning they could support liquid surface water.

Chaco Canyon petroglyph may represent ancient total eclipse

As the hullabaloo surrounding the Aug. 21 total eclipse of the sun swells by the day, a University of Colorado Boulder faculty member says a petroglyph in New Mexico's Chaco Canyon may represent a total eclipse that occurred there a thousand years ago.

The mystery of the pulsating blue stars

In the middle of the large Chilean Atacama desert, a team of Polish astronomers are patiently monitoring millions of celestial bodies night after night with the help of a modern robotic telescope. In 2013, the team was surprised when they discovered, in the course of their survey, stars that pulsated much faster than expected. In the following years, the team that included Dr. Marilyn Latour, an astronomer from the Dr. Remeis-Sternwarte Bamberg, the astronomical institute of Friedrich-Alexander-Universität Erlangen-Nürnberg (FAU), studied these stars in more detail and concluded that they had stumbled upon a new class of variable star.

RAVAN CubeSat measures Earth's outgoing energy

An experimental small satellite has successfully collected and delivered data on a key measurement for predicting changes in Earth's climate.

NASA's Webb Telescope summertime deep-freeze continues

NASA's James Webb Space Telescope began a nearly 100-day cryogenic test in a giant chamber in Texas in mid-July. Components of the Webb have previously endured similar tests to ensure they would function in the cold environment of space. Now all of those components are being tested together in the giant thermal vacuum known as Chamber A at NASA's Johnson Space Center in Houston.

Image: Moonrise from the space station

From his vantage point in low Earth orbit aboard the International Space Station, NASA astronaut Randy Bresnik pointed his camera toward the rising Moon and captured this beautiful image on August 3, 2017.

Image: Thirty year-old microbiology experiment

This humble parcel-sized hardware is Europe's very first closed-loop life-support experiment to fly in space, 30 years ago this week.

Research to advance disease therapies, understand cosmic rays among cargo headed to space station

The SpaceX Dragon cargo spacecraft is targeted for launch August 14 from Kennedy Space Center for its twelfth commercial resupply (CRS-12) mission to the International Space Station.

Technology news

Decades after developing technology, NREL sets new solar-to-hydrogen record

Innovation is forever marching forward, but sometimes it's necessary to take a small step backward in the interest of greater accuracy. Revisiting previous solar-to-hydrogen research enabled scientists at the Energy Department's National Renewable Energy Laboratory (NREL) to improve the efficiency of a novel process that directly converts sunlight into hydrogen—and recapture a world record first set at NREL in 1998.

How acoustics can be an early warning system for bridges

Jinying Zhu's emerging technology is on the ball, off the chain and poised to make bridges safe by sound.

Smart windows that go from clear to dark in under a minute

Stanford University engineers have developed dynamic windows that can switch from transparent to opaque or back again in under a minute and do not degrade over time. The prototypes are plates of conductive glass outlined with metal ions that spread out over the surface, blocking light, in response to electrical current. The group recently filed a patent for the work, presented August 9 in the journal Joule, Cell Press's new publication for energy research and green technology.

Artificial intelligence uses internet searches to help create mind association magic trick

Scientists from Queen Mary University of London (QMUL) have created an artificial intelligence (AI) that uses internet searches to help co-design a word association magic trick.

Mozilla and fact-checker engine join fight on fake news

Mozilla, the non-profit which runs the Firefox internet browser, said Wednesday it was launching a drive against "fake news" as fact-checking software backed by eBay founder Pierre Omidyar got its first run-out in public.

Researchers 'count cars'—literally—to find a better way to control heavy traffic

There's "Counting Crows," counting sheep, counting blessings and now researchers at Florida Atlantic University have their own version of "counting cars"—literally—in an attempt to improve traffic flow on South Florida's and our nation's overcrowded roads. And with more than 263 million registered passenger vehicles in the United States and more than 14 million registered vehicles in Florida alone, this is no small feat.

Mazda announces gasoline engine using compression ignition

(Tech Xplore)—A new car engine will eventually come on the scene. This week's car watching sites have reacted to Tuesday's announcement from Mazda with interest. At a time when the total focus appears to be on electric cars as our driving future, Mazda is ushering in a type of car engine that they call Skyactiv-X.

Intel set to roll out 100 self-driving cars

Silicon Valley giant Intel on Wednesday announced plans for a fleet of self-driving cars following its completion of the purchase of Israeli autonomous technology firm Mobileye.

Turning homes into power stations could cut household fuel bills by more than 60 percent: report

Energy bills could be cut by more than 60% - saving the average household over £600 a year—if homes were designed to generate, store and release their own solar energy, a report published today has revealed.

New supercomputer seen as big boost for science, Wyoming

One of the world's fastest supercomputers is helping scientists better understand the sun's behavior and predict weather months in advance but also got touted Tuesday as an important tool for diversifying Wyoming's economy, which has seen better days.

US trade commission probing Qualcomm iPhone complaint

The US International Trade Commission on Tuesday said it will look into Qualcomm's complaint that Apple is violating its patents in some iPhones.

Disney to launch streaming services for movies, live sports

With new streaming services in the works, Disney is trying to set itself up for a future that's largely been framed by Netflix: Providing the stuff you want to watch, when you want to watch it.

Take down: Hackers looking to shut down factories for pay

The malware entered the North Carolina transmission plant's computer network via email last August, just as the criminals wanted, spreading like a virus and threatening to lock up the production line until the company paid a ransom.

Smartphone screen maker Japan Display cutting 30% of workforce

Japan Display said Wednesday it would slash 3,700 jobs, or about 30 percent of its workforce, as the struggling smartphone screen maker's chief executive warned it was the "last chance" for a turnaround.

Japan gives world-beating fidget spinner a whirl

One company in perfectionism-obsessed Japan is claiming it has developed a fidget spinner that whirls longer than any rival on the market—12 minutes and counting.

American flight underscores hazards posed by turbulence

At some point during many flights, the captain will calmly announce that there could be some bumps ahead and so passengers must be seated with their seat belts on.

Can a venture capital blacklist stop sexual harassment in Silicon Valley?

Badly shaken over a flood of female founders accusing investors of sexual harassment, Silicon Valley's venture capital community is searching for a new kind of pitch - one that will end unwanted workplace come-ons, groping and off-color jokes.

Should we be worried about how our kids use the internet?

Part of Jacqueline Vickery's job is to be constantly concerned.

Travis Kalanick won't return as CEO of Uber, co-founder Garrett Camp says

Rumors have been circulating that Uber's former chief executive, Travis Kalanick, is angling for a return to the helm of the ride-hailing company.

Disney empire strikes back, sort of, with new streaming plan

Walt Disney Co. has the potential to shake up the television sector with its plan to offer direct-to-consumer streaming services and take on Netflix on its own turf.

Google gender debacle speaks to tech culture wars, politics

The Google engineer who blamed biological differences for the paucity of women in tech had every right to express his views. And Google likely had every right to fire him, workplace experts and lawyers say.

Walmart tests app that lets shoppers skip checkout lines

Walmart is bringing back an app that lets shoppers skip the checkout line and pay for items themselves on their smartphones.

Federal regulators investigating Range Rover doors

Federal regulators are investigating whether a 2015 recall of Range Rovers fixed the problem of their doors opening while driving.

Team researches thermal conductivity of cable bedding materials

The trouble-free operation of the energy distribution grid presents a challenge in the era of renewable energy sources. Researchers at TU Darmstadt demonstrate how grid operators can operate and expand underground cabling in a more efficient manner.

How ambient energy could power the Internet of things

In the modern world, we are increasingly surrounded by digital sensors, cameras and communications devices sending data cloud-based analysis services. Those devices need power, and designers are finding new ways to draw it from ambient sources rather than rely on batteries or hard-wired grid connections. This week Chemical & Engineering News (C&EN), the newsmagazine of the American Chemical Society, examines energy harvesters and their role in the growing internet of things.

HR startups helping companies engage workers, avoid workplace issues

Amy Errett wanted to gauge employee happiness at her e-commerce startup, but surveys weren't working. Responses were often vague, unhelpful or, worse, deceitful. And even if she promised anonymity, some workers didn't trust the process.

Spray can stunt prompts Twitter to act on hateful tweets

An artist tired of seeing hateful tweets ignored by Twitter has managed to get the social network to remove or hide some of them—by spray-painting the offending posts in front of the company's German headquarters.

GE closing Rochester plant, work being moved to China

General Electric says it will close its manufacturing facility in Rochester next year and the work will be moved to China.

Medicine & Health news

Scientists develop improved, potentially safer Zika vaccine

The worldwide Zika threat first emerged in 2015, infecting millions as it swept across the Americas. It struck great fear in pregnant women, as babies born with severe brain birth defects quickly overburdened hospitals and public health care systems.

Study in mice may reveal insights into causes of miscarriages for some women

Researchers at St. Michael's Hospital have identified how natural killer cells in the mouse placenta can cause a fetus to fail to grow in the womb or cause miscarriages.

Insight into brain via 'friend of fragile X' gene

We can learn a lot about somebody from the friends they hang out with. This applies to people and also to genes and proteins. Emory scientists have been investigating a gene that we will call—spoiler alert —"Friend of fragile X."

Gripping someone else when scared maybe not as selfless as it seems

(Medical Xpress)—A trio of researchers, two from Switzerland and one from France, has found evidence that suggests the tendency of people to grip one another when experiencing fright might not be the selfless act that it seems. In their paper published in in the journal Royal Society Open Science, Guillaume Dezecache and Christoph Dahl with the University of Neuchâtel and Julie Grèzes with PSL Research University describe a study that involved analyzing photographs taken of people at a haunted house and what they found.

Rewired taste system reveals how flavors move from tongue to brain

By tangling up bitter- and sweet-sensing cells on the tongues of mice, researchers have teased apart how the taste system wires itself. The results, from Howard Hughes Medical Institute (HHMI) Investigator Charles Zuker at Columbia University and colleagues, reveal how cells constantly reconnect to keep taste abilities running smoothly, allowing flavor information to flow from tongue to brain.

Pioneering immunotherapy shows promise in type 1 diabetes

It may be possible to 'retrain' the immune system to slow the progression of type 1 diabetes, according to results of a clinical trial published today in the journal Science Translational Medicine.

Rain increases joint pain? Google suggests otherwise

Some people with achy joints and arthritis swear that weather influences their pain. New research, perhaps the deepest, data-based dive into this suggestion, finds that weather conditions in 45 U.S. cities are indeed associated with Google searches about joint pain.

Exposure to antibacterials from mother to child may cause adverse effects in development

Lawrence Livermore National Laboratory scientists have discovered that exposure to environmental levels of triclocarban (TCC), an antibacterial chemical common in personal care products like soaps and lotions as well as in the medical field, can transfer from mother to offspring and interfere with lipid metabolism.

Study shows how food preservatives may disrupt human hormones and promote obesity

Can chemicals that are added to breakfast cereals and other everyday products make you obese? Growing evidence from animal experiments suggests the answer may be "yes." But confirming these findings in humans has faced formidable obstacles - until now.

Study boosts hope of 'liquid biopsies' for cancer screening

Scientists have the first major evidence that blood tests called liquid biopsies hold promise for screening people for cancer. Hong Kong doctors tried it for a type of head and neck cancer, and boosted early detection and one measure of survival.

Early puberty may mean less time in education for girls

The age at which girls have their first period may influence how long they stay in education.

Parents' disagreements about bedtime can affect coparenting relationship

Positive parental teamwork is key to promoting healthy child development, but when mothers have stronger opinions than fathers about how to tend to their infants in the middle of the night, the coparenting relationship can suffer, says a group of researchers.

Insomnia, sleep apnea nearly double the risk of preterm delivery before 34 weeks

Pregnant women who are diagnosed with sleep disorders such as sleep apnea and insomnia appear to be at risk of delivering their babies before reaching full term, according to an analysis of California births by researchers at UC San Francisco.

Marijuana associated with three-fold risk of death from hypertension

Marijuana use is associated with a three-fold risk of death from hypertension, according to research published today in the European Journal of Preventive Cardiology.

Harvard bioethicist shares hope, concerns on gene-editing

The announcement by Oregon Health & Science University that scientists there had edited the genes of human embryos to remove the cause of a deadly disease has raised the prospect of a powerful new tool for physicians—as well as fears of a Pandora's Box that could lead to "designer babies" and humans engineered for desirable traits such as strength or intelligence.

Tuberculosis a tragedy in India, and a grave concern for the rest of the world

A study published recently in The Lancet has drawn the world's attention to the specter of particularly dangerous types of tuberculosis, called multidrug-resistant and extensively drug-resistant, in four countries. The study estimated that the percentage of multidrug-resistant TB among all cases in India, which already has the highest burden of the disease of any country, is set to increase to more than 12 percent in India by 2040.

Interval workouts for older women may improve health of blood vessels

Short bouts of interval exercise may be most beneficial for older women at increased risk of heart-related illness, according to new University of Leeds research.

At what age do kids recognise fairness?

Children as young as seven have the same capacity as adults to make judgements on the anti-social behaviour of others.

Antidepressant use increases risk of head injuries among persons with Alzheimer's disease

Antidepressant use is associated with an increased risk of head injuries and traumatic brain injuries among persons with Alzheimer's disease, according to a new study from the University of Eastern Finland. Antidepressant use has previously been linked with an increased risk of falls and hip fractures, but the risk of head injuries has not been studied before. The results were published in Alzheimer's Research & Therapy.

Using miRNA to cure mature B cell neoplasia

Almost half of patients with mature B cell neoplasia are faced with the ineffectiveness of existing treatments. However, they may soon benefit from new therapeutic tools relying on miRNA—a small non-coding RNA molecule involved in RNA silencing and post-transcriptional regulation of gene expression.

Off-the-shelf T cell therapies for multiple myeloma

Although a source of much hope among 'multiple myeloma' (MM) patients, adoptive T cell therapies are still held back by expensive, lengthy, individual-tailored approaches. However, an EU-funded project is aiming to shake things up with off-the shelf solutions of its own.

Microcephaly brain size linked to mutation in stem cell micro environment

New research highlights the significant role the surrounding environment of stem cells, known as the niche, might play in the brain size of babies with microcephaly.

Prostate cancer testing: has the bubble burst?

In 2010, I wrote a free book on prostate cancer testing with two colleagues, Alex Barratt (an epidemiologist) and Martin Stockler (a clinical oncologist), Let sleeping dogs lie? What men should know before getting tested for prostate cancer. It has been downloaded just short of 38,000 times, the highest of any item in Sydney University's open access repository.

Why drugs don't reach cancer cells: Researchers develop technology to provide answers

For cancer patients, understanding the odds of a treatment's success can be bewildering.

Research opens possibility of reducing risk of gut bacterial infections with next-generation probiotics

A team of researchers is exploring the possibility that next-generation probiotics – live bacteria that are good for your health – would reduce the risk of infection with the bacterium Clostridium difficile. In laboratory-grown bacterial communities, the researchers determined that, when supplied with glycerol, the probiotic Lactobacillus reuteri produced reuterin, an antibacterial compound that selectively killed C. difficile. The study appears in Infection and Immunity.

Antisocial children more likely to end up chronically unemployed and in poverty

Live fast and die young—it's a popular saying that could ring a little truer than is comfortable, according to a recent University of Michigan Study.

Program that paid hospitals to adopt electronic records delivers dramatic results

Incentives paid to hospitals to implement electronic health records appear to have paid off, with adoption rates 8 percentage points higher per year over five years for those that were eligible for the payments compared with those that were not, University of Michigan research shows.

In Victorian Britain, the crowds approved of sports doping – with cocaine

The American sprinter Justin Gatlin's recent victory over Usain Bolt at the World Athletics Championships has brought the storied issue of sports doping back into the public eye.

High densities of fast food restaurants are not associated with high levels of obesity

New research from the Chinese Academy of Sciences and University of Aberdeen published in the American Journal of Clinical Nutrition suggests that higher densities of fast food (and full service) restaurants are not associated with higher levels of obesity in the USA.

Transforming skin cells to insulin

Researchers at the University of Bergen have transformed skin puncture cells from diabetes patients into insulin producing cells, using stem cell techniques. The researchers' aim is to transplant these cells under the skin of people with diabetes.

Researchers advise caution about recent US advice on aggressively lowering blood pressure

Medical researchers at Trinity College Dublin, Ireland, are advising caution when treating blood pressure in some older people—after results from a study contrasted with recent advice from the US to attempt to aggressively lower blood pressure in all adults to targets of 120 mmHg.

Early diagnostic imaging to prevent kidney disease

Osaka University researchers, in collaboration with several Japanese companies, translate neuroimaging tools to study renal fibrosis in rat kidney. The technique is expected to replace the invasive biopsies currently used to identify patients at risk of developing chronic kidney disease.

Preparing for longevity—we don't need to become frail as we age

Age-related frailty may be a treatable and preventable health problem, just like obesity, diabetes, and cardiovascular disease, highlights a review in Frontiers in Physiology.

Belgium says Dutch found tainted eggs back in November

Dutch authorities knew as far back as November that some eggs in the country were contaminated with an insecticide and they failed to notify their European partners at the time, Belgium's agriculture minister said Wednesday.

Lassa fever kills two in Lagos, 100 others on watch: hospital

Two people in Lagos have died and a hundred medical workers have been placed under observation after a flare-up of Lassa fever, a cousin of the deadly Ebola virus, officials said Wednesday.

Yoga may boost aging brains

(HealthDay)—Older women who practice yoga may have greater "thickness" in areas of the brain involved in memory and attention, a small study suggests.

It's never too soon to safeguard your bones

(HealthDay)—Bone health is literally something you build on throughout your life, not just as a child. And the efforts you put in now will keep bones strong and help prevent the bone-thinning disease osteoporosis later on, as you age.

Azithromycin tied to poor airflow decline-free survival after HSCT

(HealthDay)—For patients after allogeneic hematopoietic stem cell transplant (HSCT), early administration of azithromycin is associated with worse airflow decline-free survival, according to a study published in the Aug. 8 issue of the Journal of the American Medical Association.

C-section delivery associated with increased risk of complications from hysterectomy

Having a previous cesarean delivery significantly increased the risk of reoperation and complications among women undergoing a hysterectomy later in life, according to a study published by JAMA Surgery.

Increases in alcohol use, especially among women, other groups

Alcohol use, high-risk drinking and alcohol use disorders increased in the U.S. population and across almost all sociodemographic groups, especially women, older adults, racial/ethnic minorities and individuals with lower educational levels and family income, according to a new study published by JAMA Psychiatry.

Racial gap in survival after in-hospital cardiac arrest narrows

There has been a substantial reduction in racial differences in survival after in-hospital cardiac arrest, with a greater improvement in survival among black patients compared with white patients, according to a study published by JAMA Cardiology.

Constructing the first circuit map of a brain's learning and memory center

In the past several years, and in close cooperation with the Janelia Research Campus of the Howard Hughes Medical Institute in Virginia, these neurobiologists used high resolution 3D electron microscopy to reconstruct nerve cells and their individual connections via synapses. The examination of this circuit will be instrumental in guiding future research on how the brain learns new things and then stores these as memories. The research results were published in the 10 August 2017 edition of the journal Nature.

Increased endometrial cancer rates found in women with high levels of cadmium

More than 31,000 new cases of endometrial cancer are expected to be diagnosed in 2017. Through a five-year observational study recently published in PLOS One, researchers at the University of Missouri found that women with increased levels of cadmium—a metal commonly found in foods such as kidneys, liver and shellfish as well as tobacco—also had an increased risk of endometrial cancer. It's an observation the researchers hope could lead to new treatments or interventions to prevent the fourth most common cancer in women.

Intraindividual reaction time variability independently predicts mortality

Inconsistent performance in responding to a stimulus, rather than the speed with which one responds, is a marker of accelerated ageing and predicts mortality in older people, according to research published by the Centre for Healthy Brain Ageing (CHeBA), UNSW Sydney.

Men, not women, may be having fewer strokes

The overall rate of stroke in the United States has been declining in recent years and while that has been good news, a new study suggests it may be primarily good news for men. The research, published in the August 9, 2017, online issue of Neurology, the medical journal of the American Academy of Neurology, found that while the stroke rate for men declined during the study period, for women it remained the same.

Disadvantaged kids may be at higher risk for heart disease later in life

Children from socially and economically disadvantaged families and neighborhoods appear more likely to have thicker carotid artery walls, which in adults may indicate higher risk for heart attack and stroke in later life, according to new research in Journal of the American Heart Association, the Open Access Journal of the American Heart Association/American Stroke Association.

Scientists unearth cell 'checkpoint' that stops allergic diseases

Scientists from Trinity College Dublin have made a significant breakthrough in understanding the regulation of immune cells that play a pivotal role in allergic diseases such as asthma and eczema. They have identified a 'checkpoint' manned by these immune cells that, if barred, can halt the development of the lung inflammation associated with allergies.

Hopes high for a bioengineered liver

Every year, at least 1,500 people die on the waiting list for a new liver because of a donor shortage.

Still sleepy every morning? You may need a sleep test

Dear Mayo Clinic: I get between eight and nine hours of sleep most nights but still feel groggy in the morning. Would a sleep study help me figure out why I'm never rested?

Review: Cholera vaccines effective for adults, much less so for children

A new review of the research literature led by researchers at the Johns Hopkins Bloomberg School of Public Health shows that cholera vaccines provide substantial protection for adults but provide significantly less protection for children under age 5, a population particularly at risk for dying from this diarrheal disease.

Older adults may need better follow-up after ER screenings for suicide

According to the World Health Organization, suicide rates for men over the age of 70 are higher than in any other group of people. In 2015, almost 8,000 older adults committed suicide in the U.S., and the proportion of suicides is higher among older adults than younger people. When older adults try to commit suicide, they are more likely to be successful compared to younger adults. This is why suicide prevention strategies are especially important for older men and women.

Study finds patients needed fewer opioid tablets than prescribed after hernia surgery

A study by investigators from Massachusetts General Hospital (MGH) and Newton-Wellesley Hospital (NWH) found that patients prescribed opioid medications after inguinal (groin) hernia surgery used significantly fewer tablets than prescribed, even though they had received fewer than typically administered for such surgery. Not only did 86 percent of patients use less than half the prescribed tablets, 60 percent of them used no opioids at all, relying totally on other types of pain medication.

Increased risk of suicide, mental health conditions linked to sexual assault victimization

An analysis of nearly 200 independent studies involving more than 230,000 adult participants finds that having been sexually assaulted is associated with significantly increased risk of anxiety, depression, suicidality, post-traumatic stress disorder, substance abuse, obsessive-compulsive disorder and bipolar disorder.

Identifying a new type of liver tumor

Investigators at Children's Hospital Los Angeles have succeeded in better defining a rare pediatric malignant liver disease—a necessary step in achieving an optimum treatment.

Researchers look to improve detection of skin cancer lacking pigment melanin

New findings from an international research team led by University of North Carolina Lineberger Comprehensive Cancer Center scientists may improve detection of skin cancer that lacks any brown or black color.

New model predicts mortality in stable coronary heart disease

(HealthDay)—A biomarker-based model provides a new tool for the prediction of cardiovascular (CV) death in patients with stable coronary heart disease (CHD), according to a study published in the Aug. 15 issue of the Journal of the American College of Cardiology.

Myocardial injury depends on valve type in transfemoral TAVR

(HealthDay)—Myocardial injury occurs frequently following transfemoral (TF) transcatheter aortic valve replacement (TAVR), but does not predict outcome, according to a study published in the Aug. 14 issue of JACC: Cardiovascular Interventions.

Age, tympanogram may ID when to skip abx for acute otitis media

(HealthDay)—For young children with acute otitis media (AOM), older age and peaked tympanogram at entry are associated with reduced risk of treatment failure, according to research published online Aug. 8 in Pediatrics.

Characteristics of diabetes in infancy explored

(HealthDay)—Diabetes in infancy has different characteristics depending on mutation subtype, and is associated with high frequency of diabetic ketoacidosis (DKA), according to a report published online Aug. 4 in Diabetes Care.

Brexanolone tolerated in super-refractory status epilepticus

(HealthDay)—For patients with super-refractory status epilepticus (SRSE), brexanolone as adjunctive therapy is tolerated and associated with a high rate of third-line agent (TLA) weaning, according to a study published online Aug. 5 in the Annals of Neurology.

People with mental illness reoffend less if on specialty probation

Each year, some 2 million people with schizophrenia, bipolar disorder and other mental illnesses are arrested for various crimes, inadvertently turning the U.S. correctional system into the nation's primary provider of inpatient psychiatric care.

One in 12 doctors accepts payment from pharmaceutical companies related to opioids

One in twelve physicians - and nearly one in five family medicine physicians - accepted payments from pharmaceutical companies related to opioids, according to a new study out of Boston Medical Center's Grayken Center for Addiction Medicine. This is the first large-scale, national study of industry payments involving opioids and suggests that pharmaceutical companies may have a stronger hold than previously known on how doctors prescribe the powerful drugs. The study results are published online ahead of print in the American Journal of Public Health.

Use of common heart drugs dropped after price increases, study finds

Following major price increases, the use of two cardiac medications - nitroprusside and isoproterenol—decreased by one-half and one-third between 2012 and 2015, according to a Cleveland Clinic study published in the August 10th issue of the New England Journal of Medicine as a Letter to the Editor.

The ethics of animal research

The ethics pertaining to animal research have evolved over centuries, but there is still need for refining and improving them. A new review examines the chronology and evolution of ethics in animal experimentation, gives strategies to teach them, and points to alternatives to animal research, including tissue cultures, organs on chips, three-dimensional tissue models, human blood derivatives, and computer modelling.

Apathy is common and may decrease life expectancy in nursing home patients

In a study of nursing home patients, apathy was linked with an increased risk of dying over a 4-month period, even after controlling for depression. The study also found that apathy was present in half of nursing home patients.

Finger prick test allows patients taking autoimmune drug to avoid blood draws

A new study shows that patients with rheumatoid arthritis and other autoimmune conditions who take the drug adalimumab can monitor drug levels in their bodies with a finger prick rather than undergoing a full blood draw.

Weight loss surgery's effects on bone marrow fat and bone mass

Bone marrow fat is thought to regulate bone metabolism, and high levels of marrow fat are seen in states of low bone mass, severe underweight, and diabetes. In a study of obese women undergoing gastric bypass surgery, increases in bone marrow fat were associated with a greater decline in bone density. Furthermore, in diabetic women undergoing the surgery, improvements in blood sugar control were associated with decreased marrow fat.

Study compares treatment and outcomes in asthma patients in two countries

In two countries with a Western lifestyle, similar health systems, and similar asthma prevalence, investigators observed differences in asthma management and treatment costs, despite comparable outcomes.

Vitamin therapy may help prevent melanoma

A new review highlights the potential of nicotinamide (Vitamin B3) for preventing melanoma in high-risk individuals.

Young breast cancer patients undergoing breast conserving surgery see improved prognosis

A new analysis indicates that breast cancer prognoses have improved over time in young women treated with breast conserving surgery. The analysis included 1331 patients younger than 40 years treated with breast conserving surgery and whole breast radiotherapy in a single cancer centre in Italy between 1997 and 2010.

Eating disorders linked to increased risk of theft and other criminal behavior

In an analysis of nearly 960,000 females, individuals with eating disorders were more likely to be convicted of theft and other crimes.

New research shows indigenous peoples are much more likely to be infected by hepatitis B and/or C

A new meta-analysis of global hepatitis data—presented at this year's World Indigenous Peoples' Conference on Viral Hepatitis in Anchorage, Alaska, USA (8-9 August)—shows that Indigenous Peoples are up to 10 times more likely to be infected by viral hepatitis than the general population in their respective countries. The analysis is presented by Dr Homie Razavi and Devin Razavi-Shearer, The Polaris Observatory, Lafayette, CO, USA.

Cherokee Nation American Indian Tribe showing it is possible to eliminate hepatitis C

The Cherokee Nation American Indian population is aiming to eliminate hepatitis C virus (HCV) among its tribal citizens, where already almost half have been screened for the virus and around one quarter of those estimated to be infected have already been cured. The tribe will present its progress at the World Indigenous People's Conference on Viral Hepatitis in Anchorage, Alaska (August 8-9).

NRC: Lack of getting medical help abroad kills more in Yemen

The Norwegian Refugee Council says the closure of Sanaa airport has caused more deaths in Yemen than airstrikes by the Saudi-led coalition because many have died from not being able to travel for specialized medical care.

Early drivers of gastric cancer

Gastric cancer – a leading cause of cancer-related deaths worldwide – is commonly diagnosed at a late stage when most patients have a poor prognosis.

Tiny packet is making a big—and growing—dent in childhood HIV

Developed in 2008, the Pratt Pouch—a ketchup packet-like pouch of antiretroviral drugs—has already saved thousands of lives in Ecuador, Zambia and Tanzania. And now, its reach is expanding in Ecuador and a new initiative will bring the pouch to Uganda.

Personalized melanoma genomic risk triggers family conversations

A new study published in the British Journal of Dermatology indicates that personalized melanoma genomic risk information can prompt discussions about skin cancer prevention and skin examinations with family and health professionals.

Ex-Miss Universe urges HIV testing in Philippines

The Philippines' former Miss Universe conducted a public HIV test in Manila on Wednesday a week after the United Nations said her country had the fastest-growing number of infections in Asia.

Mylan, like other generic drugmakers, feels the pricing pain

Mylan's second-quarter profit and revenue surged, but not as much as Wall Street had expected and the company is taking a more conservative view going forward because of "ongoing challenges and the uncertain U.S. regulatory environment."

Biosimilar insulin lispro shown not inferior to Humalog in efficacy or safety

A study comparing the safety and efficacy of SAR342434, a biosimilar (follow-on form) of insulin lispro-Humalog, found it to be comparable to that of the brand name drug in patients also using insulin glargine. The phase 3, randomized SORELLA 1 trial evaluated changes in HbA1c, fasting plasma glucose, and self-monitored plasma glucose levels, as well as hypoglycemic events, and the results are published in Diabetes Technology & Therapeutics.

Belgium accuses Netherlands of tainted eggs cover-up

Belgium accused the Netherlands on Wednesday of failing to inform it that eggs were tainted with insecticide despite knowing about the problem since last November, as Europe's latest food safety scandal deepened.

A personalized approach to Alzheimer's disease prevention

Alzheimer's disease (AD) is a type of dementia that causes problems with memory, thinking, and behavior. It affects more than 5 million Americans. The Alzheimer's Association estimates that some 16 million people will develop the disease by the year 2050 if an effective treatment is not discovered. Symptoms of AD usually develop slowly and worsen over time. They often become severe enough to interfere with daily tasks, and can eventually cause death.

Industry to play critical role in funding neurosurgery research

With federal funding increasingly restricted, industry will play a critical role in funding neurosurgery research, according to a report by three prominent neurosurgeons in the journal World Neurosurgery.

Biology news

Fruit fly mutation foretells 40 million years of evolution

Small, seemingly insignificant mutations in fruit flies may actually hold clues as to how a species will evolve tens of millions of years in the future.

Eradicating exotic pests with 'infertility genes' may be possible

University of Adelaide researchers have shown that it may be possible to eradicate populations of invasive pest animals through the inheritance of a negative gene - a technique known as gene drive.

Penguin forensics: Tracking the winter whereabouts of penguins by analyzing tail feathers

Knowing where and how Antarctic penguins, and other seabirds and marine predators, migrate is critical for conservation efforts. Although electronic tracking devices have helped scientists track marine animals' migration patterns, the devices can be expensive, invasive for the animal and challenging to retrieve. Scientists have discovered a new and potentially better way to track where penguins go over the winter using forensics.

Ants dominate waste management in tropical rainforests

A study by the University of Liverpool, in collaboration with the Natural History Museum, has found that ants are responsible for moving more than half of food resources from the rainforest floor, playing a key role in maintaining a healthy ecosystem.

Increased floodlighting reducing bat populations in Sweden's churches

(Phys.org)—A trio of researchers, two from Sweden and one from Spain has found that installing floodlighting around rural churches drives away roosting bats. In their paper published in Royal Society Open Science, Jens Rydell, with Lund University, Johan Eklöf, with Graptolit Ord och Natur and Sonia Sánchez-Navarro with Estación Biológica de Doñana-CSIC describe their comparison of church bat populations over the course of several decades.

Fossil evidence suggests humans played a role in monkey's demise in Jamaica

Radiocarbon dating of a fossilized leg bone from a Jamaican monkey called Xenothrix mcgregori suggests it may be the one of the most recent primate species anywhere in the world to become extinct, and it may solve a long-standing mystery about the cause of its demise. The short answer: human settlement of its island home.

The color of people's clothing affects lizard escape behavior

The color of T-shirts people wear affects escape behavior in western fence lizards, according to a study published August 9, 2017 in the open-access journal PLOS ONE by Breanna Putman from University of California, Los Angeles and the Natural History Museum of Los Angeles County, U.S.A., and colleagues.

Family break-ups lead to domestic violence in fruit fly relationships

Male fruit flies with strong family ties are less likely to become abusive during mating than others, according to new Oxford research.

Defining standards for genomes from uncultivated microorganisms

During the Industrial Revolution, factories began relying on machines rather than people for mass production. Amidst the societal changes, standardization crept in, from ensuring nuts and bolts were made identically to maintain production quality, to a standard railroad gauge used on both sides of the Atlantic. The importance of standards is dramatically illustrated when they don't exist or are not commonly accepted, e.g., Macs, vs. PCs, or even pounds vs. kilograms.

Too near, or too far? What fruit flies teach us about personal space

Most of us have had the experience of backing away when someone has stepped inside the bounds of our personal space. But, until now, little has been understood about the mechanisms that allow us to determine when someone is "too near" or "too far".

Prairie-chicken nests appear unaffected by wind energy facility

Wind energy development in the Great Plains is increasing, spurring concern about its potential effects on grassland birds, the most rapidly declining avian group in North America. However, a new study from The Condor: Ornithological Applications suggests that for one grassland bird species of concern—the Greater Prairie-Chicken—wind energy infrastructure has little to no effect on nesting. Instead, roads and livestock grazing remain the most significant threats to its successful reproduction.

'Gene drives' could wipe out whole populations of pests in one fell swoop

What if there was a humane, targeted way to wipe out alien pest species such as mice, rats and rabbits, by turning their own genes on themselves so they can no longer reproduce and their population collapses?

Invasive gobies may change Oneida Lake's complexion—again

Oneida Lake, a kissing cousin to New York's Finger Lakes, may soon get an environmental makeover due to another in a series of invasive species bringing havoc to the body's ecosystem and disturbing its recreational waters.

Parasites, snails may factor in Adirondack moose decline

The apparent declining moose population in New York 's Adirondack Mountains may be caused partly by tiny parasite-transmitting snails eaten by moose as they forage vegetation, according to new research presented by two Cornell undergraduate students at the annual Ecological Society of America meeting, in Portland, Oregon, Aug. 8.

Novel poxvirus threatens juvenile squirrels

A previously unknown poxvirus causes severe disease in European red squirrels from Germany. Molecular genetic investigations revealed a new virus species in the family of Poxviridae. Results of the study are published in the scientific journal Emerging Infectious Diseases.

How to save zoos? Focus on education, conservation

One of my earlier memories from my childhood is visiting the Frankfurt zoo in Germany. I watched several elephants in an indoor enclosure, and while they were huge and fascinating, it also saddened me to see such magnificent animals in captivity. I also remember having straw thrown in my face by one of those elephants, although my parents dispute this.

Genetics takes fight to gardeners' green foe

A scientist from The University of Manchester has hit upon an innovative way to control greenflies which infest our gardens and farms.

Why abseiling spiders don't spin out of control—new research

Seeing an abseiling spider descend gracefully using its dragline silk instead of spinning unpredictably and uncontrollably, led us to try and understand the science behind it.

Spying on malaria parasites at -196 Celsius

Malaria research: By combining two advanced microscope techniques an international team of scientists led by postdoc Sergey Kapishnikov from the Niels Bohr Institute has managed to obtain new information about the ravaging mode of operation applied by malaria parasites when attacking their victims. This information can be utilized when designing new medication to more effectively fight malaria - a disease claiming over 400.000 lives each year, a majority of whom are infants.

Researchers detail one of the biggest proteins ever found

A bacterium living in the icy-cold waters of Antarctica manages to survive by gripping on to the ice surface. The protein used by the bacterium to do this—a kind of extendable anchor—has been detailed by a group of researchers from Eindhoven University of Technology (TU/e), Queen's University (Canada) and the Hebrew University of Jerusalem (Israel). Quite special, because at 600 nanometers, it is one of the biggest proteins for which the structure has ever been identified. Useful too, because knowledge about how bacteria attach themselves is helpful if you want to prevent this, for example, in pathogenic bacteria that grip on to human cells in a similar way.

Understanding salamander breeding patterns may lead to better forest management, conservation strategies

With changing environments, pond-breeding salamanders face increasingly hazardous treks as the space between breeding ponds and their non-breeding habitat widens or is degraded. A study from the University of Missouri suggests that a salamander's success may depend more on when it breeds than on the landscape obstacles it might face. Scientists believe that knowing the patterns in which salamanders move back and forth could lead to better forest management and conservation strategies.

Researchers examine contaminants in hunted wildlife

Concerning environmental contaminants, game species are not subject to the same safety testing as commercially marketed livestock. A recent study sampled feral pigs, gray squirrels, and waterfowl from relatively uncontaminated habitats and areas of contamination.

Rogue elephant tramples 15 to death in India, faces culling

An elephant that has killed 15 people in eastern India over a months-long rampage could be shot within days if it is not brought under control, an official said Wednesday.

How to kill fruit flies, according to a scientist

As a researcher who works on fruit flies, I often get asked how to get them out of someone's kitchen. This happens to fly researchers often enough that we sit around fly conferences (these actually exist) and complain about getting asked this question.

Loggerhead sea turtle released after rehab

A loggerhead sea turtle that was rescued in Virginia and named Humphrey has been released back into the ocean after undergoing rehabilitation in New Jersey.

Feds probed anglers linked to shark-dragging but closed case last year

Federal wildlife agents who last year investigated a group of Gulf coast anglers linked to a brutal shark-dragging video were foiled by uncooperative witnesses and an inability to confirm when the illegal acts occurred.

Researchers are undertaking two projects that will inform the oil platform decommissioning process in California

When the Colorado-based oil company Venoco, Inc.—founded in Carpinteria, California, more than two decades ago—declared bankruptcy last spring and ceded its offshore lease, the state of California "inherited" 50-year-old Platform Holly off the coast of Santa Barbara.


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