Dear Reader ,
Here is your customized Science X Newsletter for October 27, 2017:
Spotlight Stories Headlines
Astronomy & Space news
 | Winters on Mars are shaping the Red Planet's landscapeResearchers based millions of kilometres from Mars have unveiled new evidence for how contemporary features are formed on the Red Planet. Their innovative lab-based experiments on carbon dioxide (CO2) sublimation - the process by which a substance changes from a solid to a gas without an intermediate liquid phase - suggest the same process is responsible for altering the appearance of sand dunes on Mars. |
 | September 2017's intense solar activity viewed from spaceSeptember 2017 saw a spate of solar activity, with the Sun emitting 27 M-class and four X-class flares and releasing several powerful coronal mass ejections, or CMEs, between Sept. 6-10. Solar flares are powerful bursts of radiation, while coronal mass ejections are massive clouds of solar material and magnetic fields that erupt from the Sun at incredible speeds. |
 | Astronomers capture first visiting object from outside our solar systemA Queen's University Belfast scientist is leading an international team in studying a new visitor to our solar system - the first known comet or asteroid to visit us from another star. |
 | Image: Studying the genetics of organisms in spaceAt NASA's Kennedy Space Center, organisms in a Petri plate are exposed to blue excitation lighting in a Spectrum prototype unit. Scientists and engineers working on the Spectrum project are developing new hardware for the International Space Station, to support experiments demonstrating how different organisms, such as plants, microbes or worms, develop under conditions of microgravity. |
 | New radio telescope at Brookhaven sees space in a different lightA new prototype radio telescope has begun observing the universe at the U.S. Department of Energy's (DOE) Brookhaven National Laboratory. Constructed by a team of scientists, engineers, carpenters, and students, the prototype telescope was funded through Brookhaven's Laboratory Directed Research and Development program. Brookhaven scientists and collaborators will use the small prototype to test the merits of a radio telescope on-site at the Lab, develop new ways of attacking fundamental problems, and break into the field of 21 centimeter cosmology—the study of our universe's origins through radio signals emitted by hydrogen gas in distant galaxies. |
The successful US/German satellite gravity mission GRACE comes to an end after 15 yearsOn March 17, 2002, the twin satellites of the NASA/German Gravity Recovery and Climate Experiment (GRACE) were launched in order to make precise measurements of the Earth´s gravity field. GRACE has lasted three times as long as originally planned for more than 15 years. Now it has ended science operations. | |
Technology news
 | Vicarious AI team reveals how it defeated CAPTCHAA group of researchers at Vicarious AI has revealed for the first time the new and innovative method they used to defeat CAPTCHA. In their paper published in the journal Science, the team describes their neural network and how it was used to crack the software that was created to prevent bots from accessing websites. |
 | DJI draws attention to drone information techAt an event in Washington, DC, a panel of experts representing the Federal Aviation Administration, National Transportation Safety Board, airport operators and safety researchers discussed collaborative strategies for managing new concerns created by widespread drone use, reported sUAS News on Wednesday. |
 | AI method to upscale low-resolution images to high-resolutionScientists at the Max Planck Institute for Intelligent Systems in Tübingen have used artificial intelligence to create a high-definition version of a low resolution image. While not pixel-perfect, the system produces a better result. |
 | Being Bing: Microsoft's overlooked AI toolMicrosoft's Bing search engine has long been a punch line in the tech industry, an also-ran that never came close to challenging Google's dominant position. |
 | The tide is turning for underwater turbinesA scale-up of tidal energy projects aims to expand capacity, improve reliability and prove their worth to investors as a renewable energy source. |
 | Project uses plastic dialysis waste to produce durable concreteDialysis patients could inadvertently improve sustainability in the construction industry, thanks to an innovative Deakin University recycling project that's turning hospital waste into longer-lasting concrete. |
 | The sharing economy is transforming sustainabilitySharing has always been a part of human society. But in recent years, the internet and smartphones have made sharing easier than ever. You can rent a room in someone's home, hire a ride from a stranger, borrow a power tool and more, all at the click of a button. And that is fundamentally changing the way we consume things, said Steve Cohen, executive director of the Earth Institute at Columbia University, in a talk on October 25. |
 | 3-D printing with a biobased polymer for CO2-neutral manufacturingIn our modern world, eliminating plastics is inconceivable. Unfortunately, they do have disadvantages, including the formation of CO2 in both production and combustion, depletion of fossil feedstocks, and growth of landfills. In the journal Angewandte Chemie, Russian researchers introduce a new way forward, a polymer made entirely from biomass that can easily and inexpensively be used in 3-D printing. Objects produced in this way are of high quality, easily recyclable, and highly solvent-resistant. |
 | New sensor system ensures a safe harvestTractors and combine harvesters are frequently operated on difficult terrain. Crops such as canola and corn grow at different densities; the field is sometimes muddy and is rocky at other times; and plants often obscure the view of potential impediments. In order to enable harvesting machinery to efficiently and safely harvest crops despite changing conditions, a new system for environment detection has been developed by Bielefeld University's Cluster of Excellence Cognitive Interaction Technology (CITEC) and CLAAS, an agricultural machinery manufacturing corporation located in Harsewinkel, Germany. The joint project is being funded as an innovation project within the it's OWL technology network. The results of the project have been presented on 24 October at a workshop in the CITEC Building. |
 | Scientist devises a solar reactor to make water and oxygen from moon rocksAn aerospace engineer has built a machine to make water and oxygen from the lunar regolith, powered by solar energy. Working over a ten year period at the Plataforma Solar de Almeria (CIEMAT) Denk has designed and built a device to make enough oxygen and water for 6 to 8 astronauts, powered by a thermal solar reactor. In 2017 it completed a six-month test run. |
WannaCry cyberattack on UK health service 'preventable'An independent investigation has concluded that the debilitating cyberattack that crippled parts of Britain's National Health Service earlier this year could have been prevented with basic security measures. | |
 | Energy firms back investment into diesel engineAs major carmakers shift towards electric vehicles, a group of major oil and gas firms announced Friday an investment into a diesel engine. |
 | Fit or miss? Retailers offer new tools to help shoppersStores watching Amazon take a larger share of clothing sales are trying to solve one of the most vexing issues for online shoppers: Finding items that fit properly. |
 | Alphabet quarterly profit climbs on ads and other betsGoogle's parent company Alphabet on Thursday reported profit in the recently-ended quarter leapt as money poured in from ads delivered to mobile devices and returns improved on "other bets." |
Microsoft tops forecasts with 16% profit growthMicrosoft on Thursday delivered stronger-than-expected earnings for the past quarter, lifted by gains in cloud computing and other business services. | |
 | Amazon shares soar as earnings top expectationsAmazon shares soared Thursday after the Internet giant reported earnings that topped expectations, boosting revenue from its fresh acquisition of grocery chain Whole Foods and an expanded line-up of devices tapping into its digital assistant Alexa. |
Twitter pushes out Islamic state supporters, but shift may hinder counterterrorism, study findsAlthough Twitter was once the preferred platform of the Islamic State group, the social network's counter-extremism policies – including content removal – contributed to a decline in activity by IS supporters. New research from the George Washington University's Program on Extremism indicates the company's efforts may have been effective, but further analysis suggests IS's fight on Twitter is far from over. | |
Ford-controlled company acquires laser detection firmFord Motor Co.'s autonomous car software and robotics subsidiary has purchased a laser detection company. | |
Medicine & Health news
 | New study suggests 21 percent increase in childhood peanut allergy since 2010Parents often worry about peanut allergies because the reaction to peanuts can be very severe. New late-breaking research being presented at the American College of Allergy, Asthma and Immunology (ACAAI) Annual Scientific Meeting suggests that peanut allergy in children has increased 21 percent since 2010, and that nearly 2.5 percent of U.S. children may have an allergy to peanuts. |
 | Advanced artificial limbs mapped in the brainEPFL scientists from the Center for Neuroprosthetics have used functional MRI to show how the brain re-maps motor and sensory pathways following targeted motor and sensory reinnervation (TMSR), a neuroprosthetic approach where residual limb nerves are rerouted towards intact muscles and skin regions to control a robotic limb. |
 | New molecule shows promise in HIV vaccine designResearchers at the University of Maryland and Duke University have designed a novel protein-sugar vaccine candidate that, in an animal model, stimulated an immune response against sugars that form a protective shield around HIV. The molecule could one day become part of a successful HIV vaccine. |
How often does your heart skip a beat? The answer may explain why fewer blacks have AF than whitesRecent studies have determined that blacks have a lower risk of atrial fibrillation (AF) compared with whites despite having a higher prevalence of risk factors such as hypertension and heart failure. A new study in HeartRhythm found evidence that blacks experience statistically significantly fewer premature atrial contractions (PACs), but with similar frequencies of premature ventricular contractions (PVCs). Both are common causes of early, skipped, or irregular heartbeats. This difference in atrial ectopy by race may help explain the substantial differences in AF rates between blacks and whites. | |
New treatments help those with mild, moderate and severe eczemaIf you think only infants suffer from eczema, think again. The uncomfortable, itchy rash that most people relate to babies and young children occurs frequently in adults. Although many adults with atopic dermatitis (commonly known as eczema) develop the disease in childhood and carry it through life, a large number are first diagnosed in adulthood - a trend being discussed at the American College of Allergy, Asthma and Immunology (ACAAI) Annual Scientific Meeting. | |
Almost half of food allergies in adults appear in adulthoodWhen people think of food allergies, it's mostly in relation to children. New late-breaking research being presented at the American College of Allergy, Asthma and Immunology (ACAAI) Annual Scientific Meeting shows that almost half of all food-allergic adults surveyed reported one or more adult-onset food allergies. | |
Eczema plus family history can mean a longer hospital stay for kids with asthmaAsthma and allergies are related, and many people who suffer from asthma have allergies that trigger their asthma. Research being presented at the American College of Allergy, Asthma and Immunology's (ACAAI) Annual Scientific Meeting examines the relationship between medical history and allergic reactions in children, and how long they stayed in the hospital after an asthma attack. | |
Allergists examine 'webside manner'How does an allergist communicate effectively with his or her patient when they're not in the same room with the person being examined? The issue of improving "webside" manner - is one topic in a panel discussion on telemedicine during the American College of Allergy, Asthma and Immunology (ACAAI) Annual Scientific Meeting. | |
Dogs may protect against childhood eczema and asthma"Good dog!" Two studies being presented at the American College of Allergy, Asthma and Immunology (ACAAI) Annual Scientific Meeting show there may be even more reason to love your dog. The first study shows babies born in a home with a dog during pregnancy receive protection from allergic eczema, though the protective effect goes down by age 10. A second study shows dogs may provide a protective effect against asthma, even in children allergic to dogs. | |
Sharp rise in children admitted to intensive care in England and Wales since 2009The number of children admitted to intensive care in England and Wales has risen sharply since 2009, but is not explained by either population growth or the rising birth rate, finds research published online in the Archives of Disease in Childhood. | |
 | Heart surgery? Slate it for the afternoon, study saysThe risk of serious heart problems after open heart surgery nearly doubles when the operation is performed in the morning rather than the afternoon, researchers said Friday. |
 | Emotional reactions to odorsDo you express your emotions? Are you able to name them, talk about them, relate to your feelings? If your answer is not an unqualified yes, you might be among the 10 percent of the healthy population who has difficulty processing the emotions they experience, a psychological condition known as alexithymia. An alexithymic individual has difficulty, to a greater or lesser degree, in relating to sensations associated with emotion. |
 | Researchers identify molecule that helps cancer stay alive, use antibody therapy against itCertain cancer cells stave off their death with help from a particular molecule in a protein involved in the body's immune system response, a research team at Rush University Medical Center has found. The researchers also have shown that neutralizing the molecule with a customized antibody therapy they developed can kill some types of cancer cells and shrink prostate tumors in mice. |
 | Condition-specific gene co-expression patterns in cancerA Clemson University professor, an alumnus, a former IT staff member and two students have unveiled a computer software that can sort genes to better understand how they interact to cause disease. Published in the journal Scientific Reports in August, the software will help researchers examine complex traits controlled by multiple genes. |
 | The science of fright—why we love to be scaredFear may be as old as life on Earth. It is a fundamental, deeply wired reaction, evolved over the history of biology, to protect organisms against perceived threat to their integrity or existence. Fear may be as simple as a cringe of an antenna in a snail that is touched, or as complex as existential anxiety in a human. |
Biomarkers can reveal traumatic brain injury, even when concussions don't show up on CAT scanUCLA researchers have identified four biomarkers that could help doctors diagnose brain trauma and concussions through a simple blood test. The biomarkers are proteins, from brain cells called astrocytes, which are released instantly into the bloodstream when astrocytes' outer membranes rupture from blunt impact or whiplash trauma. | |
 | Shift needed in understanding risk in play environmentsSince the 1960s, there has been a trend in the United States to eliminate the risk from play environments. Teeter-totters, merry-go-rounds and monkey bars were deemed too dangerous. Even the game "Red Rover" was taboo because of its physical contact and impact. |
 | Five claims about coconut oil debunkedCoconuts have been a valued food in tropical areas for thousands of years, traditionally enjoyed as coconut water from the centre of the coconut, coconut flesh, or coconut "milk" (made by steeping the flesh in hot water). |
Gut response to fluid flowFlow of fluids through the gut, such as milk from an infant's diet, generates a shear stress on cells lining the intestine. Ken Lau, Ph.D., and colleagues have demonstrated that microvilli – finger-like membrane protrusions – are capable of sensing shear forces and subsequently drive an intracellular response called autophagy. | |
Genetic alteration allowing lung cancers to escape the immune system may occur late in tumor evolutionA specific genetic alteration that could allow cancer cells to escape the immune system was detected in 40 percent of non–small cell lung cancers (NSCLCs) analyzed, according to data presented at the AACR-NCI-EORTC International Conference on Molecular Targets and Cancer Therapeutics, held Oct. 26-30. Data suggest that the alteration occurs late in tumor evolution. | |
 | Asthma medication may prevent loss of joint motion following injuryOne cold morning in January 2015, Jacqueline Burrus ran to catch a bus and slipped on the ice. She put her right arm out to break her fall, and in that instant her life was changed forever. |
How studying Alzheimer's in China could unlock its secretsAlzheimer's disease (AD) is the most common form of dementia, affecting some 46 million people globally, and a leading cause of mortality in the elderly. | |
Ticks, landscapes and thresholds of disturbanceClinicians are scrambling to make sense of the rising rash of ehrlichiosis infections in the United States. At William & Mary, Associate Professor of Biology Matthias Leu, a self-avowed landscape ecologist, has a thread on the problem: Follow the deer, particularly the fawns, he said. | |
Burned out trainee surgeons at high risk for alcohol abuse, depression, suicidal thoughtsSeven out of 10 trainee surgeons surveyed experienced burnout driven by emotional exhaustion, "depersonalization" and doubts about their effectiveness at work, impacting their own performance and potentially patients' health, according to a study by UC San Francisco. | |
 | Don't use technology as a bargaining chip with your kidsDo you take away your teenager's phone to manage their behaviour? Maybe when they arrive home late from a party or receive a bad report card? |
Studies in renal hypertension find important immune system differences between sexesWomen account for half of all cases of high blood pressure (hypertension) in the U.S., yet the majority of hypertension research focuses on men. A review of more than 80 studies highlights sex differences in hypertension-related kidney (renal) disease and explores possible reasons why women respond differently than men. The article, published in the American Journal of Physiology—Renal Physiology, emphasizes the need for more hypertension research in females. | |
 | Is drinking wine really good for your heart?As the weekend approaches, people are opening wine bottles in bars and restaurants and homes around the world, ready to kick back and relax. |
 | Finally, unproven stem cell clinic practices might be curtailedIn a welcomed move, the Therapeutic Goods Administration (TGA) has this week announced reforms will be introduced in 2018 to address long held concerns about the provision of unproven stem cell treatments to increasing numbers of Australian and international patients. |
Study identifies biomarker to measure benefits of folic acid on stroke preventionAn analysis of the China Stroke Primary Prevention Trial presented at the 28th Great Wall International Congress of Cardiology (GW-ICC) and published in Neurology has identified a biomarker that can be used to measure the benefits of folic acid supplementation on stroke prevention. | |
 | Regular marijuana use linked to more sexThe jury's still out on rock 'n' roll. But the link between sex and at least one drug, marijuana, has been confirmed. |
3-D scaffold map to help the search for new cancer treatmentsMelbourne researchers have produced the first three-dimensional (3-D) map of a molecular 'scaffold' called SgK223, known to play a critical role in the development and spread of aggressive breast, colon and pancreatic cancers. | |
 | Cellular power outageA common feature of neurodegenerative diseases such as Alzheimer's, Parkinson's or Huntington's disease are deposits of aggregated proteins in the patient's cells that cause damage to cellular functions. Scientists at the Max Planck Institute of Biochemistry and Ludwig-Maximilians-Universität (LMU) in Munich report that, even in normal cells, aberrant aggregation-prone proteins are continually produced due to partial failure of the respiratory system. Unless they are removed by degradation, aggregates accumulate preferentially in the mitochondria, the cellular power plants, ultimately blocking energy production. In order to get rid of these toxic aggregates, cells have developed an elaborate protein quality control system, which the researchers now describe in the journal Cell. |
Want to prevent sexual harassment and assault? Start by teaching kidsIn the wake of sexual assault and harassment allegations involving Harvey Weinstein and Bill O'Reilly, Americans may be learning just how prevalent sexual violence is in our society. | |
 | When commuters vanish—the effect of darkness on active travelPicture the scene: it is 5:30pm on a Tuesday at the end of October and the streets are full of people walking and cycling home from work. The following week, at the same time, the number of walkers and cyclists has dropped by almost half. The only difference is the clocks have moved back one hour to mark the beginning of Daylight Saving Time. |
 | Why the clocks changing are great for your brainOctober is a dismal time of year. The clocks go back, which accelerates the onset of darker evenings and the "shorter days" inevitably lead to calls for the tradition of putting clocks forward or backward to stop. |
 | The family relationship between film characters clearly affects the reactions in the viewers' brainAre we more prone to help the person that resembles us the most? Social neuroscientists have studied the effects of similarity by showing a re-edited version of the film My Sister's Keeper to a group of subjects and by giving them a moral dilemma to consider while measuring their brain function by means of functional magnetic resonance imaging. |
Lifestyle changes lead to healthier populationFor the last seven years, researchers in the UPV/EHU's Department of Physical and Sports Education have been studying the hypertensive population with excess weight/obesity and sedentary habits. In a recent publication, this group has determined the state of health of this population through various key physical, physiological, clinical and nutritional markers and has separated them by sex and physical condition. | |
Public awareness of atrial fibrillation is lowIn a Research and Practice in Thrombosis and Haemostasis study that surveyed the general public in 10 countries, only 48% of people were aware of atrial fibrillation (AF), which is lower than the awareness of other common diseases. AF is an irregular, often rapid heart rate that commonly causes poor blood flow. The rapid heartbeat may also allow blood to pool in the heart, which can cause clots to form and travel to the brain (potentially causing a stroke) or other parts of the body. | |
 | Newly discovered microRNA regulates mobility of tumor cellsCancer cells can reactivate a cellular process that is an essential part of embryonic development. This allows them to leave the primary tumor, penetrate the surrounding tissue and form metastases in peripheral organs. In the journal Nature Communications, researchers from the University of Basel's Department of Biomedicine provide an insight into the molecular networks that regulate this process. |
 | New method to dampen nerve signalsResearchers at Linköping University in Sweden have discovered a previously unknown molecular binding site that can influence electrical impulses in nerves. The results are presented in the journal Science Advances. The discovery opens the possibility of designing new types of drugs against conditions such as epilepsy. |
 | Artificial intelligence to evaluate brain maturity of preterm infantsResearchers at the University of Helsinki and the Helsinki University Hospital (HUH) have developed software based on machine learning that can independently interpret EEG signals from a premature infant and generate an estimate of the brain's functional maturity. |
Anti-myeloma agent opens for new treatment strategyThe tumour form multiple myeloma is very challenging to treat and is still considered incurable. In a recently published study in the scientific journal Oncotarget, researchers at Uppsala University show how inhibition of the protein BMI-1 could be used as a new strategy to treat the disease. | |
 | Parents' early word choices can widen STEM gender gapThe gender gap in STEM can start when children are just learning to speak – the words parents choose to describe their child's world could be the reason boys are outpacing girls, according to a new study. |
 | Predictive models could save lives in rampant opioid crisisBefore Northeastern professor James Benneyan described his research, he gave a stark reminder of the opioid epidemic it aims to address. |
New way to treat cholesterol may be on the horizonA breakthrough discovery by scientists at Houston Methodist could change the way we treat cholesterol. Researchers found new evidence that challenges a 40-year notion of how fast we eliminate it from our bodies. | |
 | Drexel researchers identify 'master regulator' involved in infant lung damageResearchers at Drexel University have revealed that inhibiting the micro-RNA miR-34a significantly reduces bronchopulmonary dysplasia (BPD) in mice. BPD is a chronic lung disease that affects up to 15,000 premature infants every year in the United States. The study, published in Nature Communications, suggests that targeting this "master regulator" (miR-34a) could treat this complex disorder. |
Peers can reduce tobacco use among younger smokersParticipating in a brief intervention delivered by their peers in community settings can help reduce smoking among youth and young adults, a new study from a team of tobacco-cessation researchers shows. | |
 | With severe flu season lurking, shots a must(HealthDay)—Early signs suggest that the United States will see a severe flu season, so it's especially important for Americans to get their shots, health experts say. |
 | Tracking calories has never been easier(HealthDay)—Gone are the days of hunting through calorie and carbohydrate counting books to find the information you need to plan weight loss menus. |
 | New ACOG guidance on long-acting reversible contraceptives(HealthDay)—Long-acting reversible contraceptives (LARC), including implants and intrauterine devices (IUDs), are a safe and effective contraception option for many women, according to a practice bulletin published online Oct. 24 in Obstetrics & Gynecology. |
 | Demand for fertility preservation increasing for women(HealthDay)—The demand for fertility preservation is increasing, and methods to address it include oocyte cryopreservation and ovarian-tissue cryopreservation, according to a review article published online Oct. 25 in the New England Journal of Medicine. |
 | HIV drug resistance is threatening gains of treatment(HealthDay)—Resistance to antiretroviral therapy (ART) is threatening the recent gains of treatment in the rate of new HIV infections, according to a perspective article published online Oct. 25 in the New England Journal of Medicine. |
 | Borderline pulmonary HTN linked to increased mortality risk(HealthDay)—For patients undergoing right heart catheterization (RHC), borderline pulmonary hypertension (PH) is associated with increased risk of mortality, according to a study published online Oct. 25 in JAMA Cardiology. |
 | Chewing ticagrelor loading dose may be beneficial in STEMI(HealthDay)—For patients with ST-segment elevation myocardial infarction (STEMI), chewing a loading dose (LD) of ticagrelor facilitates better early platelet inhibition, according to a study published online Oct. 25 in JAMA Cardiology. |
 | Recommendations developed for trial of labor after C-section(HealthDay)—Recommendations have been developed for trial of labor after cesarean delivery (TOLAC) for women who wish to achieve a vaginal birth after cesarean delivery (VBAC), according to a practice bulletin published online Oct. 24 in Obstetrics & Gynecology. |
 | Concerns surround use of direct-to-consumer genetic testing(HealthDay)—Direct-to-consumer genetic testing raises unique concerns and considerations, according to a committee opinion published online Oct. 24 in Obstetrics & Gynecology. |
 | Better outcomes with transoroal robotic surgery alone in OPSCC(HealthDay)—For patients with oropharyngeal squamous cell carcinoma (OPSCC), transoral robotic surgery (TORS) alone is associated with improved outcomes versus TORS followed by adjuvant treatment, according to a study published online Oct. 26 in JAMA Otolaryngology—Head & Neck Surgery. |
Mayo clinic minute: Let the dogs sleep in your roomWhen it comes to your pooch and your bed, the verdict is in. For a good night's sleep, there's no need to let the dog out of the bedroom when you're ready to go to sleep. A recent Mayo Clinic study found sleeping with your dog in the bedroom - but not in your bed - may not disrupt sleep as previously thought. | |
Stem cell therapy combats a one-in-a-million immune disorder for 4-year-old boyIf it weren't for the wheeled IV stand that squeaks behind him as he moves, Jovon Moss might seem like any other 4-year-old boy. | |
Which stretches to do, avoidDear Mayo Clinic: I recently started jogging for exercise. I have been stretching before each run, but I've heard that some stretches increase your risk of injury. Which stretches should I do, and which should I avoid? | |
 | HIIT alters brain glucose metabolism in insulin resistant peopleResearchers at the University of Turku, Finland, studied how high-intensity interval training (HIIT) alters the brain's glucose metabolism in physically inactive insulin resistant people. Only two weeks of HIIT training reduced glucose metabolism in all areas of the brain. |
Hand surgeons provide update on wild animal bitesInjuries from wild animals are relatively uncommon, with a risk of unusual infections and other potentially severe complications, according to a paper in the November issue of Plastic and Reconstructive Surgery, the official medical journal of the American Society of Plastic Surgeons (ASPS). | |
 | National study aims to prove value of mobile stroke unitsRoughly every 40 seconds, someone in the United States will have a stroke. Almost every four minutes, one of those people will die as a result. Against that backdrop, UCLA Health has officially launched the first mobile stroke unit on the West Coast, enabling rapid delivery of brain-saving medications to stroke patients who might otherwise face debilitating delays in treatment. |
 | New patent will allow for the relief of chronic neuropathic painThe researchers Lucía Martín Banderas and Mercedes Fernández Arévalo, from the I+DNanomed research group at the University of Seville, have patented an innovative formulation based on nanotechnology, which is designed to relieve chronic neuropathic pain. The company GB Sciences, Inc. has obtained the exclusive global intellectual property licence for the use of this patent. |
 | Malaria parasite in the Americas is more genetically diverse than previously thoughtThe populations found in the Americas of Plasmodium vivax, one of the main human malaria parasites, are as genetically diverse as those found in Southeast Asia, where malaria transmission is much more frequent. |
An experimental model might shed new light on the development of brain cancer in childrenPediatric high-grade glioma is the primary cause of cancer death in children. Genesis of these tumors is believed to be driven by mutations in proteins that disrupt fundamental mechanisms governing the development of the human brain. However, our understanding of these tumors remains incomplete due to the lack of faithful experimental models. Now, researchers of the German Center for Neurodegenerative Diseases (DZNE) together with colleagues from Canada and the UK present in the journal "Cancer Cell" a novel laboratory model that replicates key hallmarks of this disease. Results might pave the way for a better understanding of processes, relevant for both cancer and neurodegeneration. | |
Men lacking a caregiver face a greater risk of being placed in a nursing home after strokeA Journal of the American Geriatrics Society study found that in men aged 65 and older who survived an ischemic stroke, the lack of an available caregiver was associated with triple the risk of nursing home placement within five years. A similar risk was not seen in women. | |
 | Zika virus infects developing brain by first infecting cells meant to defend against itResearchers at the University of California San Diego School of Medicine, with colleagues in Brazil, report that the Zika virus is transmitted from mother to fetus by infected cells that, ironically, will later develop into the brain's first and primary form of defense against invasive pathogens. |
Cosmetic surgery on social media—Patients rate preferred social media sites and contentPlastic surgeons using social media to attract patients should know their audience's preferred social media platforms and the types of posts of greatest interest, according to a survey study in the November issue of Plastic and Reconstructive Surgery, the official medical journal of the American Society of Plastic Surgeons (ASPS). | |
Dry mouth symptoms can be side effect of certain medications for older adultsFor older adults, dry mouth can be a common side effect of prescribed medications. Having dry mouth means you don't have enough saliva, or spit, to keep your mouth wet. The condition can lead to problems chewing, eating, swallowing, and even talking. What's more, dry mouth puts you at higher risk for tooth decay and oral infections. | |
 | Study seeks new ways to detect sensory issues in TBI patientsVanderbilt researcher Tonia Rex, Ph.D., is accustomed to performing studies in her lab with a goal of translating the findings into better diagnoses and treatment tools for the visually impaired. |
Easing refugees' trauma with psychotherapyThey are suffering from nightmares, flashbacks, depression, or anxiety disorders: refugees coming to Germany from conflict areas are frequently traumatized. "Realistic estimates state that up to 40 per cent of refugees have mental problems. Hence, for the period since 2015, we are talking about several hundred thousand people who are in real need of psychological support," says Professor Dr. Frank Neuner from Bielefeld University. The psychologist is one of the team responsible for developing "Narrative Exposure Therapy' (NET]. It has been applied over the last 15 years in conflict zones from East Africa to Sri Lanka. What is special about this therapy is that it shows success after only a few sessions. In a new 'research_tv' programme at Bielefeld University, Frank Neuner talks about NET and explains the consequences of leaving refugees without treatment. | |
Indian doctors separate twins joined at the headDoctors in India have successfully separated conjoined twin boys who were attached at the skull in a marathon surgical procedure that lasted more than 36 hours and involved 40 doctors. | |
Fentanyl in more than half of opioid deaths in 10 statesA federal report says the powerful painkiller fentanyl was involved in more than half of the recent opioid overdose deaths in 10 states. | |
In Ohio, overdose deaths soared even with ad campaignAnti-opioid abuse campaigns have targeted Ohio communities for years even as drug overdose deaths continue to soar in the hard-hit state. The effectiveness of such campaigns is under scrutiny as President Donald Trump proposes a "massive advertising campaign" as part of his administration's response to the opioid epidemic killing thousands annually. | |
Biology news
 | Why insects can develop from unfertilized egg cellsA scientist from the Lomonosov Moscow State University, Faculty of Biology, has, together with his Russian colleague, has explained the frequent occurrence of parthenogenesis development of insects from unfertilized egg cells. Studying this phenomenon could contribute to controlling the species that cause damage to agriculture. The results were published in the Journal of Zoological Systematics and Evolutionary Research. |
 | Cryo-electron microscopy advancements bring atomic-level life into clearer viewUC San Francisco researchers recently captured exquisite images of a protein caught in the act of binding to a novel therapeutic drug with enough resolution to model how the individual atoms of the protein and drug lined up. |
 | New study maps priority areas around world to protect mammalsA new study led by ANU has mapped priority areas around the world to protect thousands of mammal species, with a focus on species with few close relatives including echidnas in Australia and PNG and lemurs in Madagascar. |
Should keeping reptiles and amphibians as pets be restricted?Keeping exotic pets, such as reptiles and amphibians, has become increasingly popular, but concerns over public health and safety, animal welfare and conservation have sparked debate. | |
 | Scientists publish the water buffalo genomeAn international team of researchers led by the University of Adelaide has published the full genome of the water buffalo – opening the way for improved breeding and conservation of this economically important animal. |
 | Researcher reports key components of honey bee antiviral defenseA honey bee researcher who earned her doctorate at Montana State University in July had her dissertation research published in a scientific journal in the same month. |
 | Geneticists discover two distinct modes of transcription terminationHelge Grosshans and his group at the Friedrich Miescher Institute for Biomedical Research (FMI) have identified two distinct modes of transcription termination – one dependent on, and one independent of, the highly conserved exoribonuclease XRN2. In a fruitful collaboration between wet-lab and computational biologists, they found that the promoter of a gene determines the mechanism for termination of its transcription. |
 | Curious great white shark plays with cameraMassey scientists captured some astonishing footage of a great white shark on a recent research expedition to the Southwest Pacific. |
Researchers detect parasite signals in amphibian dungA new tool has been developed by scientists at the University of Manchester to help reverse the decline in some of the world's most endangered species of amphibians. | |
 | Frightened of spiders? It could be in your DNAHypodermic needles, houseflies: both potentially threatening or repulsive but neither elicit the same response in the subjects of a recent experiment. The gut reaction of the many who experience arachnophobia, and 4 % of the UK population say they do, is not learned but seems to be innate. |
Why parasite extinction could be a problem for endangered woyliesMurdoch University researchers have identified the woylie parasites most vulnerable to extinction and warned their demise could be bad news for their critically endangered host. | |
 | Researcher investigates the role of small RNAs in communication between cellsWhen a multicellular organism develops, each cell needs to know its place in relation to all other cells. This means cells need to communicate amongst themselves to create the patterns from which different tissue and cell types arise. In the case of animals, we know about the signals and mechanisms which drive these patterning processes. |
Environment plays key role in changing movement behaviour of animalsMathematicians from the University of Leicester have developed a theory which explains how small animals, such as bats, insects and birds, adjust their movement behaviour based on cues within their environment. | |
 | Restoration of iconic native bird causes problems in urban areasAfter a century-long absence, kākā were successfully reintroduced in Wellington in 2002—but the restoration of the iconic native bird has ruffled a few feathers. |
Virtual coasts improve understanding of possible coastal planning outcomesA new immersive visualization allows people to make informed decisions on coastal plans by experiencing changes to an area through a first-person perspective. Published in Frontiers in Marine Science, the tool is the first of its kind to include both audio and visual animations, as well as simulate both above and below the water. The visualization helped people understand trade-offs between aesthetics and functionality, and increased their appreciation for marine environment protection efforts. | |
 | EU member states to vote on five-year weedkiller renewal next monthThe European Commission said Friday it will ask EU countries to vote next month on a proposal to renew for five years instead of 10 the licence for the controversial weedkiller glyphosate. |
Using networks to understand tissue-specific gene regulationResearchers at Brigham and Women's Hospital have discerned that different tissue functions arise from a core biological machinery that is largely shared across tissues, rather than from their own individual regulators. In a paper published in Cell Reports, Kimberly Glass, PhD, of the Channing Division of Network Medicine, and her team explain how they have used PANDA (Passing Attributes between Networks for Data Assimilation) to create network models of the interactions between transcription factors and genes, finding that the presence of different tissue functions is the result of subtle, tissue-specific shifts in a regulatory network. For each of these tissue-specific functions, the network has the same core components, but they're combined in different ways with added genetic and environmental information. The team analyzed data from the Genotype-Tissue Expression (GTEx) consortium, among other regulatory information sources, to reconstruct and characterize regulatory networks for 38 tissues. | |
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