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Here is your customized Science X Newsletter for September 8, 2017:
Spotlight Stories Headlines
Astronomy & Space news
 | Image: Cassini captures wave structure in Saturn ringsThis view from NASA's Cassini spacecraft shows a wave structure in Saturn's rings known as the Janus 2:1 spiral density wave. Resulting from the same process that creates spiral galaxies, spiral density waves in Saturn's rings are much more tightly wound. In this case, every second wave crest is actually the same spiral arm which has encircled the entire planet multiple times. |
 | Are we being watched? Tens of other worlds could spot the EarthA group of scientists from Queen's University Belfast and the Max Planck Institute for solar system Research in Germany have turned exoplanet-hunting on its head, in a study that instead looks at how an alien observer might be able to detect Earth using our own methods. They find that at least nine exoplanets are ideally placed to observe transits of Earth, in a new work published in the journal Monthly Notices of the Royal Astronomical Society. |
 | Pondering the Cassini Saturn mission's legacyAs the Cassini spacecraft nears the end of a long journey rich with scientific and technical accomplishments, it is already having a powerful influence on future exploration. In revealing that Saturn's moon Enceladus has many of the ingredients needed for life, the mission has inspired a pivot to the exploration of "ocean worlds" that has been sweeping planetary science over the past decade. |
 | Massive sunspots and huge solar flares mean unexpected space weather for EarthIf you still have your solar viewing glasses from the eclipse, now is a good time to slap them on and look up at the sun. You'll see two big dark areas visible on our star. These massive sunspots are regions of intense and complicated magnetic fields that can produce solar flares – bursts of high-energy radiation. You can just make them out with solar viewing glasses, but they're better viewed through a solar telescope. |
 | Unistellar's eVscope successfully finds, images asteroid florenceLast week, 5-km asteroid Florence paid Earth a visit—and, using the advanced features of Unistellar's eVscope, we were able to observe it from a location just outside of San Francisco. This, our first attempt to image an asteroid using the eVscope's Autonomous Field Detection (ADF) feature, was a huge success, as you can see in the image, which captures what we saw in the telescope's eyepiece after just three minutes of observing. |
 | 'Sling-shot' show for NASA spacecraft over AustraliaStargazers will be treated to a rare skyshow when NASA's OSIRIS-REx spacecraft 'sling-shots' its way over Australian skies on September 23. |
Technology news
 | 143 mn affected in hack of US credit agencyA major American credit reporting agency entrusted to safeguard personal financial information said Thursday hackers looted its system in a colossal breach that could affect nearly half the US population as well as people in Britain and Canada. |
 | Researchers explore inaudible voice command attack(Tech Xplore)—The novelty has worn off; we are now quite accustomed to the technology advances leveraged by leading vendors that allow the daily use of human-device interactions via voice. |
 | Feds probe Uber's tracking of Lyft drivers (Update)The Justice Department in Manhattan is investigating whether Uber illegally used software to track drivers for Lyft, its main ride-hailing competitor, to gain an advantage in attracting and recruiting drivers, according to two people familiar with the probe. |
 | US court rejects Qualcomm bid to limit Apple lawsuitsA US federal judge Friday rejected an effort by Qualcomm to limit legal challenges from Apple in the contentious patent battles between the two California technology giants. |
New software can detect when people text and driveComputer algorithms developed by engineering researchers at the University of Waterloo can accurately determine when drivers are texting or engaged in other distracting activities. | |
 | Anti-terror chiefs want social media help with 'lone wolves'As jihadist attacks are increasingly being carried out by home-grown "lone wolves," top counter-terror chiefs of four Western powers said Thursday they need more support from social media companies to detect potential threats. |
NASA air traffic management research tool shows new colorsA pivotal piece of NASA air traffic management (ATM) software is getting fresh attention as the agency and its government, industry and academic partners prepare to test new ideas for more efficiently guiding aircraft through the nation's skies. | |
 | Cotton gin trash finding new life for electrical powerFinding sustainable markets for gin trash, wood chips and other waste products could be viable in producing more electrical power for a growing global population, according to researchers. |
 | Computational tool recognizes filamentary sections of neurons and blood vesselsA computational tool is now available for faster and more reliable screening and diagnosis of serious vascular and neurological conditions, including glaucoma, diabetic retinopathy, and Alzheimer's disease, in their early stages. Developed by A*STAR researchers, the software automatically segments filamentary structures, such as retinal blood vessels and neurons, in various biomedical images. |
 | Peugeot suspected of fraud over diesels: reportInvestigators suspect French carmaker PSA intentionally built diesel cars that failed to meet pollution rules, the daily Le Monde reported Friday, but the company immediately denied it acted fraudulently. |
 | New Japanese robot dog sniffs out smelly feetDo your feet smell bad? Just a little or absolutely awful? |
 | E-cars to shine at Frankfurt show as diesel takes backseatHundreds of thousands of car enthusiasts are set to flock to Frankfurt's IAA motor show next week where auto giants hope to show off their electric prowess as scandal-plagued diesels take a backseat. |
 | Apple embarks on Emmy quest with big bet on video streamingTelevision is one of the few screens that has Apple hasn't conquered, but that may soon change. The world's richest company is appears ready to aim for its own Emmy-worthy programming along the lines of HBO's "Game of Thrones" and Netflix's "Stranger Things." |
 | Investors punish Equifax for massive data breachInvestors were bailing out on Equifax a day after the credit monitoring company said a data breach exposed the Social Security numbers and other personal data of 143 million Americans. |
 | In wake of Equifax breach, what to do to safeguard your infoThere's no way around it: The news from credit reporting company Equifax that 143 million Americans had their information exposed is very serious. |
 | Equifax breach: Criticism from lawmakers, what people can doThere's no way around it: The news from credit reporting company Equifax that 143 million Americans had their information exposed is extremely serious. |
Algorithm uses Instagram posts to advise tourists on attractions most favoured by localsProgrammers from ITMO University created a computer algorithm that guides tourists to places of interest that are most popular with locals based on their Instagram posts. To test the algorithm, the team analyzed Instagram photos taken in Saint Petersburg and compiled a list of museums, cafes, streets and event venues preferred by the residents of Russia's northern capital, thus providing local suggestions to tourists. The results of the research were presented at the International Conference on Computational Science and published in Procedia Computer Science. | |
 | How safe is critical infrastructure from hacker attacks?Critical infrastructure elements such as wind power stations are partially controlled via mobile phone networks. Using state-of-the-art tests, researchers at Horst Görtz Institute for IT-Security (HGI) in Bochum are investigating how well protected such control systems are from external attacks. The team from Ruhr-Universität Bochum has joined forces with colleagues from TU Dortmund University in the Bercom project, with the aim of making critical infrastructure in Europe able to withstand hacker attacks. A report on their research was published in Bochum's science magazine Rubin. |
Medicine & Health news
 | Mice found able to ward off fungal lung infections by causing fungus to kill itself(Medical Xpress)—A team of researchers from the U.S., Germany and Israel has found that mice are able to ward off fungal lung infections because their immune systems cause fungal spores to die. In their paper published in the journal Science, the team describes the means by which they discovered how mice are able to ward off fungal lung infections and what their findings might mean for human patients. |
 | Scientist finds secret to thrivingWhat it takes to thrive, rather than merely survive, could be as simple as feeling good about life and yourself and being good at something, according to new research. |
 | Protein links alcohol abuse and changes in brain's reward centerWhen given access to alcohol, over time mice develop a pattern similar to what we would call "problem drinking" in people, but the brain mechanisms that drive this shift have been unclear. Now a team of UC San Francisco researchers has identified a protein that links alcohol consumption with structural changes in one of the "reward centers" in the mouse brain. |
 | New study suggests an unconventional way for memories to form(Medical Xpress)—A team of researchers working at Howard Hughes Medical Institute has found possible evidence of a way for memories to form that differs from conventional theory. In their paper published in the journal Science, the team describes their theory, the biophysical model they built and what their findings suggest about the way some memories may form. Julija Krupic with University College London offers a Perspective piece on the study in the same issue and gives some background on memory research in general. |
 | Meeting a microbe in the morning or in the evening: Is it all the same?Does the time of day matter when our body is infected by a parasite? According to new research from McGill University, it matters a great deal. |
New facial recognition findings could help develop new treatments for conduct disorderTeenage girls and boys with severe antisocial behaviour have difficulty recognising facial expressions and look less at important parts of the face, such as the eyes, when viewing faces, according to a new study published today. | |
 | Endobronchial valve treatment appears to improve lung function in patients with severe emphysemaPeople with severe emphysema may breathe better after a minimally invasive procedure that places valves in the airways leading to diseased portions of their lungs, according to a randomized, controlled trial published online in the American Thoracic Society's American Journal of Respiratory and Critical Care Medicine. |
 | Folic acid may mitigate autism risk from pesticidesResearchers at UC Davis and other institutions have shown that mothers who take recommended amounts of folic acid around conception might reduce their children's pesticide-related autism risk. |
 | Alcohol industry misleading the public about alcohol-related cancer riskLed by the London School of Hygiene & Tropical Medicine with the Karolinska Institutet, Sweden, the team analysed the information relating to cancer which appears on the websites and documents of nearly 30 alcohol industry organisations around the world between September 2016 and December 2016. |
 | Research shows aspirin could repair tooth decayResearchers at Queen's University Belfast have discovered that aspirin could reverse the effects of tooth decay resulting in a reduction in the need for fillings. Currently about 7 million fillings are provided by the NHS each year in England alone. |
 | Virtual reality alleviates pain, anxiety for pediatric patientsAs patients at Lucile Packard Children's Hospital Stanford undergo routine medical procedures, they are being whisked away to swim under the sea, zap flying cheeseburgers in outer space, catch basketballs using their heads and fly on paper airplanes through the sky, thanks to virtual-reality technology, which is being implemented throughout the hospital to help ease patients' feelings of pain and anxiety. |
 | New study offers high-resolution images of heart valvesOn Aug. 30, a team led by associate professor of biomedical engineering Morten Jensen published an article in the scientific journal PLOS ONE titled "High resolution imaging of the mitral valve in the natural state with 7 Tesla MRI." The article discusses a study in which Jensen and colleagues sought to develop a method and apparatus for obtaining high-resolution 3D MRI images of porcine mitral valves. The systematic approach taken by the authors produced 3D datasets of high quality which, when combined with physiologically accurate positioning by the apparatus, can serve as an important input for validated computational models. |
 | World Trade Center responders might face greater risk of HPV throat and tongue cancerResearchers at Rutgers University – investigating the causes of head and neck cancers in World Trade Center rescue and recovery workers – will take the lead in a study to determine whether the responders are at a greater risk for human papillomavirus (HPV)-related throat and tongue cancer because of their exposure to toxic dust and debris. |
 | Want better sleep? Spend face-to-face time with your friends and familyStudies have shown that the quality of our relationships may determine how healthy we are, how well we recover from illness and even how long we live. |
 | New drugs and treatments for Parkinson's, but where are the doctors?For many, hearing the word "Parkinson's" conjures an image of tremors. But Parkinson's disease, brought about by loss of nerve and other brain cells, is actually an incredibly complex movement disorder that can cause symptoms as wide-ranging as smell loss, thinking issues, depression and swallowing problems. More than 1.5 million people in the U.S. have the illness, and millions more loved ones and caregivers are affected by it, too. |
 | Consumers need more protection from chemicals and pesticidesSanne Knudsen was an undergraduate in Chicago when she got her first close-up look at environmental justice. |
 | Social deprivation sits at the heart of children's oral decayA study of 347 children in Plymouth aged between four and six years has shown that social deprivation is an indicator of increased risk of dental decay in children. However, obesity was not associated with decay in this group of children. |
 | Focus on dengue vision problemsThe first insights into dengue virus damage to the eye start the work needed to combat one of the important side effects in the infectious disease's spread across the world. |
 | Study explains why myasthenia patients relapse after treatmentA new Yale-led study helps explain why some myasthenia gravis (MG) patients relapse after initially responding to a drug called rituximab, commonly used to treat the incurable autoimmune disease marked by muscle weakness and fatigue. |
Unique lipid profile could help diagnose and treat lung cancerThe lipid contents of a fluid that surrounds the lungs in some diseases contains specific fats that could be used as a biomarker to distinguish people with and without lung cancer. It can also identify a subtype of the cancer that needs to be treated with drugs that are different from those used in other types of the disease. | |
 | Why teen suicide is on the riseEvery 40 seconds, another human life is taken by suicide, according to World Health Organization data. |
Concussion in teenagers increases the risk of multiple sclerosis in later lifeConcussion in teenagers increases the risk of multiple sclerosis (MS) in later life. However, there is no association with MS for concussion in younger children. This was reported by a new study, led by Scott Montgomery, Professor at Örebro University in Sweden. | |
 | Alcohol increases cancer risk, but don't trust the booze industry to give you the facts straightThe alcohol industry has been misleading the public about the real link between alcohol and cancer, with tactics similar to those used by the tobacco industry. This is the finding from research published today in the Drug and Alcohol Review journal. The misleading information is being passed off as health messaging to a public largely unaware that it's coming from the industry itself. |
 | Nine signs children may need an eye examBack-to-school shopping lists might include school supplies, new clothes, and even a haircut, but does it include an eye exam? Physicians in the University of Alabama at Birmingham Department of Ophthalmology think it should. |
Assessment tools, relationships key to addressing child traumaTwo new studies led by researchers at the Johns Hopkins Bloomberg School of Public Health suggest that the bevy of tools available to assess and address childhood adversity and trauma, as well as the interconnected webs of relationships among families and the providers who care for children, are key to healing the effects of these potentially life-altering circumstances. | |
 | Scleraxis found vital for knitting muscles and bones togetherIn vertebrates, bodily support and movement requires bones and muscles. Muscles pull and push, contract and relax - and bones respond accordingly. Taken together they form the musculoskeletal system. |
How to help offenders on probation who are at high risk of suicideAn estimated 800,000 people die by suicide around the world each year, according to the World Health Organisation. This translates to about one person every 40 seconds, and every year on September 10 World Suicide Prevention Day aims to raise awareness and prevent more loss of life. | |
 | Study finds legal cannabis may reduce use of dangerous prescription drugsThe United States is in the midst of a major drug epidemic. Stories continue to roll in daily about the lives claimed by prescription and non-prescription drug overdoses. The numbers are staggering. Opioids alone (including prescription pain killers and street heroin) killed more than 33,000 people in 2015, 90+ Americans every single day, and more than any year on record according to the Center for Disease Control (CDC). From 2000 to 2015, half a million people died from prescription drug overdoses. |
 | Immune cells help fat deal with environmental challengesImmunosuppressive regulatory T-cells play an important role in the functioning of adipose tissue. This is the discovery of scientists from the Helmholtz Diabetes Center (HDC) at Helmholtz Zentrum München and the Technical University of Munich (TUM). Their findings are published in the journal Cell Metabolism. |
 | Internal mechanism found to be responsible for the limitless growth potential of epithelial tumoursResearchers from the Development and Growth Control Laboratory at IRB Barcelona have identified the cell types and molecular mechanism responsible for the unlimited growth potential of epithelial tumours (carcinomas) and demonstrated that the growth of these tumours is independent of its microenvironment. "In epithelial tumours caused by chromosomal instability or loss of cell polarity, the interaction between two tumour cell populations drives malignant growth," explains Marco Milán, ICREA Research Professor and head of the laboratory. |
 | Statins may help people with COPD live longer(HealthDay)—Drugs known as statins may have benefits beyond lowering "bad" LDL cholesterol levels. A new study suggests people with chronic lung disease who take these drugs may extend their survival. |
 | Budget cuts threaten research on antimicrobial resistance(HealthDay)—Proposed budget cuts could seriously hamper efforts to address antimicrobial resistance (AMR), according to an article published online Sept. 4 in the Annals of Internal Medicine. |
 | Intensive BP control associated with increased CKD risk(HealthDay)—Intensive systolic blood pressure (SBP) lowering is associated with an increased risk of chronic kidney disease (CKD) events but a reduced risk of cardiovascular events and mortality, according to a study published online Sept. 4 in the Annals of Internal Medicine. |
 | Traditional flu tests not as accurate as newer tests(HealthDay)—Digital immunoassays (DIAs) and rapid nucleic acid amplification tests (NAATs) have higher sensitivities for detecting influenza than rapid influenza diagnostic tests (RIDTs), according to a review published online Sept. 4 in the Annals of Internal Medicine. |
 | Third dose of MMR vaccine could help curb mumps outbreaks(HealthDay)—A third dose of the measles-mumps-rubella (MMR) vaccine lowers the risk of mumps during an outbreak, according to a study published online Sept. 6 in the New England Journal of Medicine. |
 | New treatment on the horizon for type 1 diabetes sufferersPatients suffering from type 1 diabetes may soon have access to improved approaches to treat the disease, courtesy of new research out of Sydney's Westmead Institute for Medical Research. |
 | Scientists reveal that new combination of clinically tested drugs inhibits growth of lung tumorsResearch at the University of Southern Denmark has revealed that a new combination of clinically tested drugs inhibits the growth of tumours, thereby potentially improving patients' survival. |
Under-reporting of vertebral fractures by radiologists: A missed opportunityVertebral fractures are the most common osteoporotic fractures. People with osteoporotic vertebral fragility fractures (VFFs) are at increased risk of future fractures, including potentially devastating and life-threatening hip fractures. Hip fractures are very costly to the healthcare system, and in the UK account for at least £1,1 billion in hospital costs alone. | |
 | New guidelines discourage use of brain imaging as a 'lie detector' for chronic painA task force consisting of researchers from around the world and led by a scientist at the Krembil Research Institute in Toronto has released a set of recommendations that advise against the use of brain imaging as a test for chronic pain. |
Nursing home workers often fail to change gloves, risking spread of infectionThe failure to change gloves is common among certified nursing assistants, and may be a significant cause of the spread of dangerous pathogens in nursing homes and long-term healthcare settings, according to a new study published in the September issue of the American Journal of Infection Control, the journal of the Association for Professionals in Infection Control and Epidemiology (APIC). | |
 | Later circadian timing of food intake is associated with increased body mass indexWeight gain and obesity has been described as an epidemic and a complex problem in the United States. Previous research has linked poor diet to weight gain and high body fat, and eating later in the day has also been described as a risk factor for weight gain; however, the impact of an individual's body clock, independent of the time of day of food consumption, has not been explored. |
 | Guinea pigs harbor a hidden health hazard(HealthDay)—Been looking for a reason to turn down your child's pleas for a pet Guinea pig? Dutch researchers say the rodents may carry germs tied to serious pneumonia. |
 | Poor health habits add up to poor grades for teens(HealthDay)—American high school students with poor grades are much more likely to have unhealthy behaviors—including illegal drug use—than teens at the top of the class, federal health officials say. |
 | Center surgical volume linked to LVAD patient outcomes(HealthDay)—Center surgical volume is associated with left ventricular assist device (LVAD) patient outcomes, with worse survival at very-low-volume centers, according to a study published online Sept. 6 in JACC: Heart Failure. |
 | Zika, cobalamin C deficiency tied to similar retinal problems(HealthDay)—Retinal maldevelopment associated with congenital Zika syndrome (CZS) is similar to the maldevelopment seen with cobalamin C (cblC) deficiency, according to a study published online Sept. 7 in JAMA Opthalmology. |
 | Vaccine-type HPV rates down for unvaccinated young women(HealthDay)—From 2009-2010 to 2013-2014 there was a decrease in the prevalence of vaccine-type human papillomavirus (HPV) among unvaccinated young women aged 18 to 26 years, according to a study published online Sept. 7 in Obstetrics & Gynecology. |
Eye changes may signal frontotemporal lobe degenerationFrontotemporal degeneration (FTD) is a progressive neurodegenerative condition that is present in tens of thousands of Americans, but is often difficult to diagnose accurately. Now in a study published this week online ahead of print in Neurology, researchers from the Perelman School of Medicine at the University of Pennsylvania have found evidence that a simple eye exam and retinal imaging test may help improve that accuracy. | |
Medicaid expansion linked to lower uninsured ratesNew research led by American Cancer Society researchers finds that after full implementation of the Affordable Care Act (ACA), the percent of uninsured decreased substantially in Medicaid expansion states among the most vulnerable patients: low-income nonelderly adults with newly diagnosed cancer. Meanwhile the number of uninsured remained persistently high in nonexpansion states. | |
Years after CDC report, money remains an obstacle to reformsEven in a city that had become almost numb to gun violence, Wilmington's record-setting 154 shootings in 2013 proved to be a tipping point. | |
What mediates the beneficial effects of exercise on breast cancer outcomes?The ability of serum obtained from women with breast cancer immediately after finishing two hours of moderate to intense exercise to prevent the growth and survival of breast cancer cells lines in vitro and in mice was attributable, at least in part, to epinephrine activation of the Hippo signaling pathway. | |
Do we need to reform international drug treaties as more countries legalize cannabis?The future of international drug control treaties is in doubt because of recent treaty-violating decisions to legalize cannabis use in Canada, the United States and Uruguay. Professor Wayne Hall, whose 2014 review of 20 years of cannabis research made world headlines, thinks so. If decriminalization is the way of the future, Hall advocates a cautious approach to policy reform that would involve trialling and evaluating the effects of incrementally more liberal drug policies. His suggestions, outlined below, are published online today by the scientific journal Addiction. | |
PATH and WRAIR announce largest-ever controlled malaria infectionPATH's Malaria Vaccine Initiative (MVI) and the US Department of Defense's Walter Reed Army Institute of Research (WRAIR) announced today that vaccinations are under way in a clinical trial to evaluate modifications to the vaccine regimen of GSK's RTS,S/AS01 (RTS,S) malaria vaccine candidate. The partners seek to understand if these modifications will provide equal or increased protection compared to the standard pediatric regimen. | |
 | New treatment significantly improved bladder activity after spinal cord injuryResearchers have shown that compared to placebo, a drug treatment intended to prevent remodeling of the bladder wall and given within 48 hours after spinal cord injury (SCI) in dogs was associated with significantly higher bladder compliance. The long-term improvement seen in animals that had experienced intervertebral disc herniation and were treated with blockade of matrix metalloproteinases (MMPs) is reported in the Journal of Neurotrauma. |
Frailty and older men: Study identifies factors that speed/slow progressionAs we age, we may be less able to perform daily activities because we may feel frail, or weaker than we have in the past. Frailer older adults may walk more slowly and have less energy. Frailty also raises a person's risks for falling, breaking a bone, becoming hospitalized, developing delirium, and dying. | |
 | City kids with asthma suffer less if they live near a parkMilan, Italy: Children with asthma who live in the city may have fewer days with symptoms the closer they live to parks and green spaces, according to research to be presented at the European Respiratory Society International Congress 2017 on Monday. |
DNA sequencing could open up new drug indications for patients with rare cancersThanks to DNA sequencing, patients with rare cancers for which no standard treatment is available could receive existing therapies that work in patients treated for different cancers, but who carry the same genetic mutations. The first results of a multi-drug and multi-tumour clinical trial, to be presented at the ESMO 2017 Congress, show that this kind of precision oncology trial is not only feasible, but also has the potential to identify patient subgroups who could benefit from existing drugs outside of their registered indication. | |
 | Website offers critical mosquito, disease information after Hurricane HarveyVisitors to the Mosquito Safari website at http://mosquitosafari.tamu.edu will find comprehensive information on common mosquitoes, the diseases they carry and instructions for controlling the pest, said Texas A&M AgriLife Extension Service entomologists. |
Cholera outbreak in northern Nigeria kills at least 23: UNThe United Nations says a cholera outbreak in northern Nigeria has killed at least 23 people and threatens thousands of others displaced by the Boko Haram extremist insurgency. | |
Pembrolizumab promising for pretreated metastatic gastric cancerPembrolizumab has shown a promising response rate in patients with pretreated metastatic gastric cancer, according to late-breaking results from the KEYNOTE-059 trial presented today at the ESMO 2017 Congress in Madrid. | |
Report links a healthy heart to a healthy brainAn expert committee of researchers in the US has highlighted the strong link between cardiovascular risk factors and brain health, following a review of existing evidence. | |
 | Getting physical with a personal trainer(HealthDay)—You might think that hiring a personal trainer is a luxury reserved for the rich. But even just a few sessions can add up to big fitness gains and a great return on investment in yourself, according to the American Council on Exercise. |
Rucaparib boosts progression-free survival in BRCA mutant recurrent ovarian cancerRucaparib maintenance therapy increases progression-free survival in BRCA mutant recurrent ovarian cancer by 77%, according to late-breaking results from the ARIEL3 trial reported today at the ESMO 2017 Congress in Madrid. | |
LORELEI: Taselisib boosts breast tumor shrinkageAdding taselisib to letrozole before surgery significantly improved outcomes for patients with early breast cancer that was both estrogen receptor positive and HER2-negative (ER+/HER2-) according to results of the LORELEI trial, presented at the ESMO 2017 Congress in Madrid. | |
Patients with high risk prostate cancer may benefit 'equally' from two new treatmentsPatients with high risk prostate cancer starting long-term hormone therapy may benefit from two new treatments, according to late-breaking results from the STAMPEDE trial presented at the ESMO 2017 Congress in Madrid. (1) | |
New data confirms superiority of docetaxel based triplet therapy in gastric cancerThe superiority of docetaxel based triplet therapy over standard care in patients with resectable oesophago-gastric cancer has been confirmed in late-breaking results from the FLOT4 trial presented at the ESMO 2017 Congress in Madrid. (1) | |
 | Bariatric surgery associated with semen abnormalities and reduced fertility in menA meta-analysis of studies in which men underwent Roux-en-Y gastric bypass (RYGB) procedures found frequent sperm aberrations and lower fertility rates despite improvements in weight, androgen levels, and sexual quality of life following the procedure. Researchers discuss the possible impact of RYGB on male reproductive capability in the article "Semen Analysis and Fertility Rates After Bariatric Surgery in Males," published in Bariatric Surgical Practice and Patient Care. |
 | Improving cervical cancer screening rates for transgender menA new study indicates that alternative options for cervical cancer screening, including self-sampling for human papilloma virus (HPV) testing, could improve the screening rate among transgender men. More than half of the participants expressed a preference for HPV self-sampling in the study published in LGBT Health. |
 | Researchers investigate genetics of suicideEven today, suicide is a taboo topic often discussed in whispers and swept to the shadows of society, despite it being the leading cause of death among youth in Utah and the tenth leading cause of death in the United States. Researchers at the University of Utah Health are collaborating with Janssen Research & Development to shed light on these understudied and tragic deaths. The research will attempt to identify genetic variations associated with an increased risk for suicide. |
Flood-hit Niger launches campaign to fight malariaNiger has launched a campaign to destroy mosquito breeding sites in the capital in the wake of heavy rains that have lashed the city since June. | |
Biology news
 | Monarch butterflies disappearing from western North AmericaMonarch butterfly populations from western North America have declined far more dramatically than was previously known and face a greater risk of extinction than eastern monarchs, according to a new study in the journal Biological Conservation. |
 | Bats fail to detect smooth, vertical surfaces when they are in a rushSometimes bats perceive a smooth, vertical surface as an open pathway, a dangerous error near buildings with glass facades, shown by injured or dead bats next to birds found underneath. The smooth surface reflects the echolocation calls away from the bat until shortly before collision and therefore acts like an acoustic mirror. Researchers of the Max Planck Institute for Ornithology in Seewiesen studied echolocation and flight behaviour of three bat species experimentally and in the wild. They observed them trying to fly through a smooth, vertical plate. However, bats seemingly also manage to avoid these collisions. Here, the number of echolocation calls and the time the animals spent in front of the surface influenced the probability of collision. |
 | Chimpanzees and orangutans look for information to fill gaps in their knowledgeIt's a familiar problem: you leave the house and while closing the door, the question whether the stove was turned on or off pops up in your head. Although annoying, this problem could easily be solved by turning around and taking a second look. This simple example illustrates an important form of thinking: metacognition or the ability to monitor ones' own mental states. Before turning around, you assess whether you remember the state of the stove. Once you realize that you don't remember, you seek additional information. Importantly, in humans, this monitoring process is very flexible and can be applied to all sorts of thoughts, not just the ones about your stove. Researchers from the Max Planck Institute for Evolutionary Anthropology and the University of St. Andrews asked what great apes would do when they are confronted with such a situation. |
 | Experiments with bacteria show that genes can fuse together, leading to the production of novel proteinsAll organisms must continuously adapt to their environment in order to survive. Such adaptation is brought about by changes in their genetic material. Together with colleagues from New Zealand, Paul Rainey from the Max Planck Institute for Evolutionary Biology in Plön has been studying the emergence of new, better adapted cell types in the laboratory. The researchers have discovered that one mechanism by which bacteria can develop new characteristics is through the fusion of two existing genes. In some of the cells, this resulted in genes coming under the control of a new promoter, resulting in the synthesis of larger quantities of the protein encoded by the gene. In another case, two neighbouring genes fused together. The protein encoded by the resulting gene – composed of parts of the two original genes – has a different localization within the cell. This effect is also known from other organisms, including humans. A gene fusion of this type results in bacterial cells which are better adapted to their environment. |
 | Why it's difficult to predict evolutionary fate of a new traitThe phrase "survival of the fittest" makes the principle of evolution by natural selection easy to understand—individuals with a trait that adapts them well to their circumstances are more likely to pass that trait along. But as a new study explains, multiple factors make predicting the fate of a trait fiendishly difficult. |
 | Lazy ants make themselves useful in unexpected waysIf the first thing that comes to mind when you think about ants is "industrious," you might be in for a surprise. In 2015, biologists at the University of Arizona reported that a sizable chunk of the "workers" that make up an ant colony spent the vast majority of their day engaging in one task: doing absolutely nothing. |
 | Neuroscientist explores 'What It's Like to Be a Dog'Five years ago, Emory neuroscientist Gregory Berns became the first to capture images of actual canine thought processes. To explore the minds of the oldest domesticated species, the Berns lab trained dogs to remain still and alert while undergoing functional Magnetic Resonance Imaging (fMRI)—the same tool that is unlocking secrets of the human brain. The project opened a new door into canine cognition and social cognition of other species. |
 | What roadkill is costing CaliforniaCollisions between vehicles and wildlife cost California $276 million in 2016, up about 20 percent from the previous year, according to an annual report from the UC Davis Road Ecology Center. |
 | Super-resolution microscopy reveals lamin protein meshwork at the inner side of the nuclear membraneAll creatures of the animal kingdom share one thing: the nuclear membrane. Wrapping the genetic core of the cell, this membrane, together with all the attached proteins, plays a vital role in biological functions. Despite its importance, details of its architecture are still missing. |
 | Research reveals how humans develop echolocation skillsOngoing research in Sweden reveals that when navigating by echolocation, as blind people do, our powers of hearing can be used in ways we never realized. |
Maximum precision in protein synthesisResearchers from the Center for Molecular Biology of Heidelberg University (ZMBH) and the German Cancer Research Center (DKFZ) have investigated the mode of action of a molecular chaperone vital to protein synthesis. Together with colleagues from the University of Cologne and the Penn State University (USA), they were able to demonstrate that the speed of protein synthesis is associated with the function of the Ssb chaperone. The information controlling synthesis speed is stored in the genetic code of the cell, thus ensuring maximum efficiency and precision in synthesising functional proteins. The results of their research were published in Cell. | |
 | A-MUD: A method for automatically detecting mouse songMice, like birds, are natural born singers. From birth, they emit a wide repertoire of vocalizations especially in the ultrasonic range, which are inaudible for humans. They emit ultrasonic vocalizations (or USVs) to form complex patterns to communicate with each other. The amount of calls and sequences of different types of vocalizations are important form of communication. Mouse vocalizations are also used as a model system in research into neuropsychiatric disorders such as autism. |
 | Young birds suffer in the cityCity life is tough for young birds. But if they survive their first year, they are less susceptible to the effects of stress, according to research from Lund University in Sweden. |
 | Wild tigers to reappear in Kazakhstan after 70 yearsWild tigers could be returning to Kazakhstan after a groundbreaking reintroduction plan was signed off Friday. |
 | Animal welfare: Potential new indicator of chronic stress in horsesCortisol, deemed the quintessential stress hormone, allows us to cope with important events and imminent threats. A spike in cortisol levels mobilizes necessary resources—such as by tapping into our body's reserves to produce energy—and then allows us to return to a stable state. But can our bodies cope with prolonged or repeated stress in the same way? Some studies report lower cortisol levels in humans—or other mammals—subject to chronic stress, while other studies contradict these findings. In light of this, is cortisol still a reliable stress indicator? |
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