Dear Reader ,
Here is your customized Science X Newsletter for October 9, 2017:
Spotlight Stories Headlines
Astronomy & Space news
 | Glycolaldehyde and ethylene glycol detected around Sagittarius B2(Phys.org)—Using the Shanghai Tianma 65m Radio Telescope (TMRT) a team of Chinese astronomers has detected a widespread presence of glycolaldehyde and ethylene glycol around the giant molecular cloud Sagittarius B2. The finding, presented Sept. 29 in a paper published on arXiv.org, could be important for studies of prebiotic molecules in the interstellar medium. |
 | Image: Hubble's bubbles in the Tarantula NebulaAt a distance of just 160,000 light-years, the Large Magellanic Cloud is one of the Milky Way's closest companions. It is also home to one of the largest and most intense regions of active star formation known to exist anywhere in our galactic neighborhood—the Tarantula Nebula. This NASA/ESA Hubble Space Telescope image shows both the spindly, spidery filaments of gas that inspired the region's name, and the intriguing structure of stacked "bubbles" that forms the so-called Honeycomb Nebula (to the lower left). |
 | Image: Geology of the Victoria Quadrangle on MercuryMercury, the innermost planet of our solar system is a grey, barren world to our human eyes. In stark contrast, this map shows a portion of the surface in a patchwork of colour, each shade corresponding to a different type of geological feature. |
 | SpaceX launches 10 satellites for Iridium mobile networkSpaceX launched its Falcon 9 rocket on Monday carrying 10 satellites to bolster the global data communications network for Virginia-based company, Iridium. |
Technology news
 | Big Tech has big plans to help reconnect Puerto RicoFacebook and Google once aimed to connect the world. Now they would be happy just to reconnect part of it. |
 | Future of news: bracing for next wave of technologyIf you think technology has shaken up the news media—just wait, you haven't seen anything yet. |
 | Epic world solar car race begins in AustraliaAn epic 3,000-kilometre (1,860-mile) solar car race across the desert heart of Australia designed to showcase new technology that could one day help develop commercial vehicles got underway Sunday. |
 | Google leverages WaveNet model's gains, sounds seem more natural(Tech Xplore)—DeepMind's artificial intelligence talents have been working up capabilities for a consumer product. Sam Shead, Senior Technology Reporter for Business Insider UK, said Google applied software developed by DeepMind for use in its virtual assistant. |
 | EPFL researchers show edible actuator at IROS 2017(Tech Xplore)—Edible what? Swiss researchers from Switzerland's École Polytechnique Fédérale de Lausanne (EPFL) have come up with a fully edible soft pneumatic actuator. So what is the takeaway? |
 | Huge energy potential in open ocean wind farms in the North AtlanticThere is considerable opportunity for generating wind power in the open ocean, particularly the North Atlantic, according to new research from Carnegie's Anna Possner and Ken Caldeira. Their work is published by Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences. |
 | Discovery brings renewable fuel production one step closer to realitySilicon is the element of the electronic age. From tiny microchips to mammoth LCD television screens, the semiconducting metalloid plays a central role in the devices that define modern life. |
 | Singapore's first robot masseuse starts workA robot masseuse has started work in Singapore today. Named Emma, short for Expert Manipulative Massage Automation, it specialises in back and knee massages as it mimics the human palm and thumb to replicate therapeutic massages such as shiatsu and physiotherapy. |
 | 35-second returns? Walmart speeds up online purchase returnsOnline sales have divided retailers into two camps: the quick and the dead. |
California bullet train staff recommend German operatorThe agency overseeing California's bullet train project recommended Friday that a U.S. subsidiary of a German rail company design and operate a train segment from the Central Valley to Silicon Valley in its early stages. | |
Canadian dairy tech company wins $1M to locate in BuffaloA Canadian startup company whose invention lets dairy farmers check the quality of milk from individual cows is getting $1 million to set up shop in Buffalo. | |
 | Facebook begins 'human review' of potentially sensitive adsFacebook says it will begin manually reviewing advertisements that target certain groups and address politics, religion, ethnicity and social issues. |
 | Global firms join rush to bet on Indonesia as next start-up frontierBig-name investors including Expedia and Alibaba are pumping billions of dollars into Indonesian tech start-ups in a bid to capitalise on the country's burgeoning digital economy and potential as Southeast Asia's largest online market. |
 | Balloons to help restore Puerto Rico's cell networksGoogle's parent company is set to launch balloons into the Caribbean skies in an attempt to restore telephone networks in hurricane-ravaged Puerto Rico. |
 | Ten questions you should ask before sharing data about your customersIn 2016, a group of University of Melbourne researchers managed to decrypt some data that should have been anonymous. |
 | Banking sun and wind energyThe EU has a hard goal: it wants the Member States to cut greenhouse gas emissions to a fifth, or even a tenth, of the present level by 2050. |
 | Digital media are changing the face of buildings, and urban policy needs to change with themLooking over the Melbourne skyline in the evening, I can see at least four high-rise building facades containing digital media. They've become animated, almost flickering like diamonds. And we see this across the globe: buildings now seem to compete to be the most mind-boggling in appearance. |
 | From flying taxis to robocops, Dubai as a tech pioneerFrom flying taxis to Batman-style surveillance motorcycles, Dubai's GITEX expo this week showcased innovations that were symbols of the city-state's ambitions to be a metropolis of the future. |
GM buys laser firm in bid to speed autonomous car researchGeneral Motors is buying a small company that is developing Laser light sensors for autonomous cars, a move the automaker says will speed deployment of self-driving technology. | |
 | Google finds Russian-financed content: Washington PostGoogle has found evidence its platforms were exploited by Russian operatives seeking to interfere in the 2016 US presidential election, The Washington Post reported on Monday. |
 | Review: Why wait for iPhone X? iPhone 8 has most of the features for hundreds lessAs expected, Apple announced this year's updated iPhones on September 12, but the iPhone X gathered most of the headlines. |
Facebook security chief warns of dangers to fake-news solutionsFacebook's chief security officer warned that the fake-news problem is more complicated and dangerous to solve than the public thinks. | |
 | Streaming site Mixcloud inks deal in sign of ambitionsMixcloud, the streaming platform popular with DJs and podcasters, announced its first licensing deal with a major music label Monday in a sign of ambitions to compete with top sites. |
 | Uber puts the brakes on UberPOP in NorwayUber announced Monday it was suspending its UberPOP ride-sharing service in Norway until adequate legislation had been adopted in the Scandinavian country. |
 | Fake news is still here, despite efforts by Google, FacebookNearly a year after Facebook and Google launched offensives against fake news, they're still inadvertently promoting it—often at the worst possible times. |
Medicine & Health news
 | New insight into how brain cells die in Alzheimer's disease and frontotemporal dementiaRemoval of a regulatory gene called LSD1 in adult mice induces changes in gene activity that that look unexpectedly like Alzheimer's disease, scientists have discovered. |
 | Global kids study: More trees, less diseaseA University of Vermont-led study of 300,000 children in 35 nations says kids whose watersheds have greater tree cover are less likely to experience diarrheal disease, the second leading cause of death for children under the age of five. |
 | Researchers uncover new congenital heart disease genesApproximately one in every 100 babies is born with congenital heart disease (CHD), and CHD remains the leading cause of mortality from birth defects. Although advancements in surgery and care have improved rates of survival for these infants, CHD patients remain at elevated risk for heart complications later in life, other congenital abnormalities and neurodevelopmental deficits. With relatively little known about the genes underlying many cases of CHD, pressing questions from parents about their children's future health and about risk of CHD for future offspring remain difficult for physicians to answer. But a new study from the NHLBI Pediatric Cardiac Genomics Consortium (PGCG), part of the Bench to Bassinet Program, has helped shed new light on some of the underlying genetic causes of cases of CHD as well as the long-term outlook for patients who carry these mutations. |
 | Liquid biopsy may be new way to detect liver cancer earlier, easierAn international team of researchers at University of California San Diego School of Medicine and Moores Cancer Center, with colleagues at Sun Yet-sun University Cancer Center and other collaborating institutions, have developed a new diagnostic and prognosis method for early detection of hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC), based on a simple blood sample containing circulating tumor DNA. |
 | Study uncovers mutation that supercharges tumor-suppressorCancer researchers have long hailed p53, a tumor-suppressor protein, for its ability to keep unruly cells from forming tumors. But for such a highly studied protein, p53 has hidden its tactics well. |
 | Novel treatment causes cancer to self-destruct without affecting healthy cellsScientists at Albert Einstein College of Medicine have discovered the first compound that directly makes cancer cells commit suicide while sparing healthy cells. The new treatment approach, described in today's issue of Cancer Cell, was directed against acute myeloid leukemia (AML) cells but may also have potential for attacking other types of cancers. |
 | A 'turbo charge' for your brain? Synchronizing specific brain oscillations enhances executive functionTwo brain regions—the medial frontal and lateral prefrontal cortices—control most executive function. Robert Reinhart used high-definition transcranial alternating current stimulation (HD-tACS) to synchronize oscillations between them, improving brain processing. De-synchronizing did the opposite. |
 | Alzheimer's gene poses both risk and benefitsScientists drilling down to the molecular roots of Alzheimer's disease have encountered a good news/bad news scenario. A major player is a gene called TREM2, mutations of which can substantially raise a person's risk of the disease. The bad news is that in the early stages of the disease, high-risk TREM2 variants can hobble the immune system's ability to protect the brain from amyloid beta, a key protein associated with Alzheimer's. |
 | Human brain recalls visual features in reverse order than it detects themScientists at Columbia's Zuckerman Institute have contributed to solving a paradox of perception, literally upending models of how the brain constructs interpretations of the outside world. When observing a scene, the brain first processes details—spots, lines and simple shapes—and uses that information to build internal representations of more complex objects, like cars and people. But when recalling that information, the brain remembers those larger concepts first to then reconstruct the details—representing a reverse order of processing. The research, which involved people and employed mathematical modeling, could shed light on phenomena ranging from eyewitness testimony to stereotyping to autism. |
 | Novel immune cells control neurons responsible for fat breakdownThe biological causes underlying obesity have been under intense scrutiny, with studies suggesting a link between the nervous and the immune systems. Now, in a breakthrough study to be published in Nature Medicine on 9 October, a research team led by Ana Domingos, from Instituto Gulbenkian de Ciência (IGC; Portugal), discovered an unforeseen population of immune cells associated with neurons that play a direct role in obesity. |
 | Study reveals how bilinguals use emoticons to find consensusNaysayers like to cite the popularity of emoji and emoticons as yet more evidence of the erosion of language and literacy and, perhaps, civilization itself. But studying how people use them can reveal much about our ability to socialize and exchange information. |
 | Fruit fly muscles with a hypertrophic cardiomyopathy mutation don't relax properlyUsing fruit flies, Johns Hopkins researchers have figured out why a particular inherited human heart condition that is almost always due to genetic mutations causes the heart to enlarge, thicken and fail. They found that one such mutation interferes with heart muscle's ability to relax after contracting, and prevents the heart from fully filling with blood and pumping it out. |
 | Seeing hope: FDA panel considers gene therapy for blindness (Update)A girl saw her mother's face for the first time. A boy tore through the aisles of Target, marveling at toys he never knew existed. A teen walked onto a stage and watched the stunned expressions of celebrity judges as he wowed "America's Got Talent." |
 | Another downside to college boozing: poorer job prospectsFrequent college binge drinking markedly lowers the chances of landing a full-time job upon graduation, a new study suggests. |
 | Orthorexia: When 'healthy eating' ends up making you sickPeople, it seems, have never been so afraid of their food—and, say some experts, an obsession with healthy eating may paradoxically be endangering lives. |
After shooting, Las Vegas seeks healingFar from the Las Vegas Strip and its flashy hotels, a small healing park opened Friday in the north of Las Vegas, as communities shaken by Sunday's horrific mass shooting join together to grieve. | |
 | US Olympians at the 2016 Rio Games were infected with West Nile virus, not ZikaU.S. Olympic and Paralympic athletes and staff who traveled to Rio de Janeiro, Brazil, for the 2016 Summer Games did not become infected with Zika virus but did test positive for other tropical, mosquito-borne viral infections, including West Nile Virus, Dengue Fever and Chikungunya. Results from the University of Utah Health-led study will be reported at IDWeek, a national infectious disease conference being held in San Diego. |
 | Study finds double mastectomy tied to more missed workWomen who pursue a more aggressive surgery for early stage breast cancer have nearly eight times the odds of reporting substantial employment disruptions, according to a new study from University of Michigan Comprehensive Cancer Center researchers. |
Reported penicillin allergy appears to increase the risk of surgical site infectionsA study by Massachusetts General Hospital (MGH) investigators found that surgical patients believed to be allergic to penicillin were significantly more likely to develop surgical site infections than were patients with no documented allergy, a difference totally attributable to the alternative antibiotics used to prevent such infections. The study is receiving online publication in Clinical Infectious Diseases to coincide with presentation of the data at the IDWeek 2017 conference. | |
Study examines racial differences in quality of end-of-life careAn analysis of survey data found no significant racial differences in various aspects of the quality of end-of-life care, although survey respondents reported deficiencies in the quality of end-of-life care for both black and white patients who died, including unmet symptom needs, problems with communication and less than optimal decision-making, according to an article published by JAMA Internal Medicine. | |
 | Watch out! Brain network calculates impact of approaching objectA neuroimaging study of two monkeys published in Journal of Neuroscience identifies a brain network that tracks the location of an object approaching the face and anticipates its potential consequences upon making contact with the body. |
 | Study finds few restrictions on Rx opioids through MedicareMedicare plans place few restrictions on the coverage of prescription opioids, despite federal guidelines recommending such restrictions, a new Yale study finds. The research results highlight an untapped opportunity for Medicare formularies to limit opioid prescribing, the researchers said. |
 | Fatty diet may boost risk of relapse in kids with multiple sclerosisA fatty diet may boost the risk of a relapse in kids with multiple sclerosis (MS) by as much as 56 per cent, with saturated fat associated with a tripling in risk, suggests research published online in the Journal of Neurology Neurosurgery & Psychiatry. |
 | Topical treatment for fighting skin cancer yields positive results in testsResearchers at the University of São Paulo (USP), in Brazil, are testing a technique in mice that combines low-intensity electric current with a formulation containing nanoencapsulated chemotherapy to treat skin cancer. |
 | Researchers test psychedelic on cerebral organoidsA Brazilian study, published in Scientific Reports on October 09, 2017, has identified changes in signaling pathways associated with neural plasticity, inflammation and neurodegeneration triggered by a compound from the family of dimethyltryptamine known as 5-MeO-DMT. |
 | Ebola vaccine tests hailed a successExperts at St George's, University of London, have reported that an Ebola vaccine is safe for children as well as adults and produces an immune response. |
 | A close look at efforts to turn back the growing problem of myopiaSeveral studies indicate that the prevalence of myopia is increasing in the U.S. and worldwide, and researchers project that the trend will continue in the coming decades. Otherwise known as nearsightedness, myopia occurs when the eye grows too long from front to back. Instead of focusing images on the retina—the light-sensitive tissue in the back of the eye—images are focused at a point in front of the retina. As a result, people with myopia have good near vision but poor distance vision. |
 | Companion animals delay women leaving domestic violenceWomen in domestic violence relationships delay leaving due to concern their abusive partner might hurt or neglect their animals left at home. |
 | Explaining the popularity of pimple-popper videosWhy is the internet going crazy for videos of pimples popping, cysts exploding and stomach-churning ingrown hairs? |
 | Healthy food is key to a healthy mindThe risk of developing depression is directly linked to diet, lifestyle and exercise, a ground-breaking index developed by Swinburne researchers has found. |
New guidelines published to improve diagnosis and treatment of lupusA University of Birmingham academic has led the authorship of the UK's first guideline on the care of adults with systemic lupus erythematosus (lupus). | |
 | Could opticians refer patients with suspected brain tumours?For many of us, an optician is someone we rely on to test our eyes and to help us buy a new pair of glasses or contact lenses. |
 | Sometimes one head is better than two when it comes to decisions—here's the scienceDecision making is an integral part of our everyday life. When it comes to important decisions, we generally want to work with others – assuming that groups are better than individuals. This has, after all, been shown to be the case in both humans and animals. Committees, panels and juries usually achieve this "wisdom of crowds" by sharing individual opinions and views – discussing them within the group until there is consensus. |
 | Pay for performance cuts mortality in diabetes patients(HealthDay)—Diabetes disease management through a pay-for-performance (P4P) program cuts diabetes-related, cancer-related, and all-cause mortality, according to a Taiwanese study published online Oct. 5 in the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention's Preventing Chronic Disease. |
 | Electrolyte issues with chronic alcohol use span social spectrum(HealthDay)—Electrolyte disturbances and acid-base disorders are common occurrences in patients with chronic alcohol-use disorder regardless of social circumstances, according to a review published online Oct. 4 in the New England Journal of Medicine. |
 | No change in flu shot rates for children from '15-16 to '16-17(HealthDay)—Children who received an injectable influenza vaccine (IIV) in 2015-2016 were only slightly more likely than those receiving live attenuated influenza vaccine (LAIV) to return the following season for an IIV, according to a study published online Oct. 6 in Pediatrics. |
 | Flu shot key for people with diabetes(HealthDay)—With predictions calling for a potentially bad flu season this year, doctors are urging people—particularly those with diabetes—to get vaccinated. |
 | Longer anesthesia duration tied to more surgical complications(HealthDay)—Increased anesthesia duration is associated with significantly increased rates of surgical complications, especially the need for postoperative transfusion, among patients undergoing microvascular reconstruction of the head and neck, according to a study published online Oct. 5 in JAMA Facial Plastic Surgery. |
 | Did your urinary infection come from a chicken coop?(HealthDay)—Could ingesting undercooked poultry give you a urinary tract infection? |
 | Enrolling in aerodigestive clinic cuts children's inpatient days(HealthDay)—For children with special health care needs, enrollment in a multidisciplinary aerodigestive clinic may improve health care outcomes, according to a study published online Oct. 5 in JAMA Otolaryngology—Head & Neck Surgery. |
 | IDSA: small drop in MMR vaccination rate would be costly(HealthDay)—Even minor reductions in childhood measles-mumps-rubella (MMR) vaccination, driven by vaccine hesitancy, is likely to have substantial public health and economic consequences, according to a study presented Oct. 6 at IDWeek, the combined annual meeting of the Infectious Diseases Society of America, the Society for Healthcare Epidemiology of America, the HIV Medicine Association, and the Pediatric Infectious Diseases Society, being held Oct. 4 to 8 in San Diego. |
 | Reduction mammaplasty linked to improved HRQoL in teens(HealthDay)—For adolescents with macromastia, reduction mammaplasty is associated with significant improvements in health-related quality of life and breast-related symptoms, according to a study published online Oct. 6 in Pediatrics. |
 | Short-lived benefits for abusive supervisory behavior(HealthDay)—Engaging in abusive supervisory behavior may be associated with short-term beneficial effects, but over longer periods of time, abusive supervisory behavior is negatively related to supervisors' recovery level and engagement, according to a study published online Sept. 11 in the Academy of Management Journal. |
 | First test to detect Zika in blood donations approved(HealthDay)—The cobas Zika test has been approved by the U.S. Food and Drug Administration—the first approved screening test to detect the Zika virus in blood donations. |
 | New tool helps GPs assess frailty in the elderlyResearchers have designed a new tool designed to help GPs assess which older people are the most frail and vulnerable. |
 | Do men need sperm health supplements?Infertility, defined as the inability of a couple to conceive after at least 12 months of regular, unprotected sex, affects about 15% of couples worldwide. Several factors can lead to infertility, but specific to men, infertility has been linked to lower levels of antioxidants in their semen. This exposes them to an increased risk of chemically reactive species containing oxygen, which can damage sperm. |
A little exercise a day keeps the blues at bayYou've probably heard exercise boosts mental health. But when you're not feeling up for high-intensity spin class, can you still reap some benefits just from walking the dog? | |
Scientists identify factors contributing to West Nile virus outbreaksTexas health officials have reported 89 cases of West Nile virus in the state and three deaths as of late September, with 49 deaths reported nationwide so far in 2017. It is expected by the Center for Disease Control that this number will likely increase as the floodwaters continue to recede from Hurricane Harvey, leaving standing pockets of organically rich water pooling among storm debris that acts as a breeding ground for disease-carrying mosquitoes. | |
Sixties lifestyle sets stage for healthy ageingTwo academics are calling for a shift in awareness on 'pretirees,' who face a fork in the road - leading to either healthy ageing or chronic disease threats. | |
 | People can correctly infer some personality traits from online profileJob-related social networking sites (such as LinkedIn) are often used by recruiters to find new employees, because the profiles on these sites contain information on people's education level and work experience. Is it possible to also infer information about a person's personality traits simply by looking at these profiles? |
Safe to treat dementia patients with clot-busting drugsStroke patients with dementia treated with intravenous thrombolysis using powerful clot-busting drugs are at no higher risk of brain haemorrhage or death than other patients receiving the same treatment, a study from Karolinska Institutet published in the journal Neurology reports. | |
The risk of type 1 diabetes not increased by swine flu vaccine PandemrixThere has been a fear that the swine flu vaccine, Pandemrix, would increase the risk of autoimmune diseases other than narcolepsy. However, a new study of children from Sweden and Finland shows that the vaccine increased neither the risk of developing autoantibodies against insulin-producing beta cells nor the occurrence of type 1 diabetes. | |
 | Increase in emergency admissions caused by improved hospital survival ratesRemarkable improvements in the survival rates of patients with acute conditions, including heart attacks and strokes, are driving the increase in emergency admissions to NHS hospitals, according to researchers from City, University of London, Imperial College London, University of York and University of Palermo. |
 | New test set to transform breast cancer preventionWomen who have a family history of breast cancer are set to benefit from a new genetic test at Manchester University NHS Foundation Trust (MFT) that assesses breast cancer risk, with plans for it to enter clinical practice within the next six months. |
 | The value of strength training(HealthDay)—Strength training—also called resistance training or, simply, weightlifting—isn't just for those muscular bodybuilders at the gym. |
 | More nurses are earning bachelor's degrees, but likely will not reach 2020 goalThe proportion of front-line nurses with bachelor's degrees in U.S. hospitals increased from 44 percent in 2004 to 57 percent in 2013, but will fall short of a national goal to reach 80 percent by 2020, finds a new study by NYU Rory Meyers College of Nursing. |
San Diego's hepatitis A outbreak is among nation's worst in decadesExperts say San Diego took all the right steps in addressing what is now one of the largest hepatitis A outbreaks the country has had in decades, but variables unique to the city's situation contributed to the outbreak. | |
Guns play an outsized role in deaths from terror attacks, especially in the US, data showExplosives. Arson. Guns. Driving into a crowd of people. | |
 | Why whole grains are the healthier choiceWant to be a healthier eater? Focus on whole grains. These unrefined grains are linked to a lower risk for heart disease, certain cancers and other health problems. |
 | Durable end to the HIV/AIDS pandemic likely will require an HIV vaccineDespite remarkable gains in the treatment and prevention of HIV infection, development of an effective HIV vaccine likely will be necessary to achieve a durable end to the HIV/AIDS pandemic, according to a new commentary from Anthony S. Fauci, M.D., director of the National Institute of Allergy and Infectious Diseases (NIAID), part of the National Institutes of Health. |
California to require advanced notice on drug cost spikesDrug companies doing business in California will soon have to notify the public two months in advance of dramatic price spikes under legislation signed Monday by Gov. Jerry Brown. | |
 | Are you an 'anti-vaxxer'? Your friends are on Twitter(HealthDay) —American parents who oppose childhood vaccines often take to Twitter to vent, share and seek reinforcement for the widely disproven notion that these shots can trigger autism, new research shows. |
 | Remede system approved for sleep apnea(HealthDay)—The Remede sleep system, an implanted device that treats central sleep apnea by activating a nerve that sends signals to the diaphragm to stimulate breathing, has been approved by the U.S. Food and Drug Administration. |
 | Human adenovirus surveillance data IDs type patterns(HealthDay)—Human adenovirus (HAdV) surveillance data can be used to determine patterns of circulation for individual HAdV types in the United States and to help with the recognition of outbreaks, according to a study published online Oct. 5 in Morbidity and Mortality Weekly Report. |
 | Negative margins, lymph node yields predict survival(HealthDay)—Patients treated at hospitals that attain a high rate of negative margins and lymph node yields (LNY) of at least 18 have improved survival after surgery for head and neck squamous cell carcinomas (HNSCC), according to a study published online Oct. 5 in JAMA Otolaryngology—Head & Neck Surgery. |
 | Antisocial behavior may be highly polygenic(HealthDay)—Antisocial behavior (ASB) may be highly polygenic, with sex-discordant associations identified for some loci, according to a study published online Oct. 4 in JAMA Psychiatry. |
 | Sizable number of HIV-infected children not receiving care(HealthDay)—A substantial proportion of children with diagnosed HIV infection might not be receiving the recommended frequency of medical care, according to a study published online Oct. 5 in Morbidity and Mortality Weekly Report. |
 | Combo Tx superior for polypoidal choroidal vasculopathy(HealthDay)—Combination therapy consisting of ranibizumab plus verteporfin photodynamic therapy (vPDT) is superior to ranibizumab monotherapy for treatment of eyes with polypoidal choroidal vasculopathy (PCV), according to a study published online Oct. 5 in JAMA Ophthalmology. |
 | Rate of adverse effects for dapagliflozin similar to placebo(HealthDay)—The overall incidence of adverse effects (AEs) and serious AEs (SAEs) is similar in patients with type 2 diabetes mellitus taking dapagliflozin or placebo, according to a study published online Sept. 26 in Diabetes, Obesity and Metabolism. |
 | 3-D ultrasound IDs late-onset fetal growth restriction(HealthDay)—Fractional thigh volume measurements improve detection of late-onset fetal growth restriction, compared to two-dimensional biometry, according to a study published in the October issue of the American Journal of Obstetrics & Gynecology. |
 | Vitamin K-1 intake tied to heart structure, function in teens(HealthDay)—For adolescents, phylloquinone (vitamin K-1) intake is associated with left ventricular (LV) structure and function, according to a study published in the October issue of The Journal of Nutrition. |
Trump rolls back Obamacare provision for free birth controlUS President Donald Trump's administration annulled on Friday an Obamacare provision that obliged employer health plans to pay for contraception, potentially stripping free birth control from millions of women. | |
FDA: Drug shortages possible due to Puerto Rico power outageThe U.S. Food and Drug Administration says drug shortages are possible because of expected long-term power outages in Puerto Rico. | |
Addressing the double standardA new editorial by JoAnn Manson, MD, DrPH in JAMA Internal Medicine highlights the need for physicians and pharmacists to educate women about the important distinctions between these hormone therapies | |
 | How honeybees read the waggle danceNeurons that enable honeybees to sense the waggle dance—a form of symbolic communication used by female bees to inform the hivemates about the location of a food source—are investigated in new research published in Journal of Neuroscience. |
Evidence suggests that patient navigators and provider reminders may improve follow-up after positive fecal blood testInterventions, such as patient navigators and provider reminders, may improve follow-up colonoscopy rates after a positive fecal blood test. Follow-up is an important step in effective screening for colorectal cancer. Findings from a systematic evidence review are published in Annals of Internal Medicine. | |
China to allow some drugs based on foreign approvalsChina will allow use of some drugs and medical devices based on approval by foreign regulators, the government said Monday, in a move that could help to ease access to its health care market. | |
 | Mapping hepatitis in Kenya shows where action is neededA study of the different kinds of hepatitis in Kenya showed areas where the government can focus its efforts to prevent infections. One of the findings was a surprise – giving adults the Hepatitis vaccination has been ignored. This is a waiting time bomb, and an area for action that could have been overlooked. |
 | Bleaching creams are by-products of colonialism—a view from French historyAnyone passing through Paris' Chateau Rouge, a busy neighbourhood close to the Gare de Nord train station, will notice the numerous shops selling "African" cosmetics. Young men of the Congolese, Cameroonese or Malian communities regularly call to passers-by of all races and backgrounds, but especially black women, encouraging them to get their nails or hair done in a salon or to buy cosmetics. Products that promise fair skin are prominently promoted and displayed in the various shops. |
 | No more limits for breast reconstruction after tumour surgeryFor many breast cancer patients, the complete or partial loss of their breasts after tumour removal is traumatising. "There is no need to worry because there are many methods of restoring breasts to ensure the integrity of the body and femininity. What is important is the early and precise planning of therapy and treatment at a special centre such as the MedUni Vienna and the Vienna General Hospital (AKH)," says Christine Radtke, Head of the Division of Plastic and Reconstructive Surgery at the MedUni Vienna/ Vienna General Hospital, member of the Comprehensive Cancer Center of MedUni Vienna/ Vienna General Hospital and expert for breast reconstruction, on the occasion of the Breast Cancer Awareness Month in October. |
Study finds no evidence linking reflux medicines to bone fracturesProton pump inhibitors (PPIs)—medications commonly used to treat heartburn, acid reflux, and ulcers—have been linked with potentially serious side effects including a possible increased risk of bone fractures. In a new Alimentary Pharmacology & Therapeutics study, however, patients with Barrett's eosophagus—a long-term complication of acid reflux— who took high doses of PPIs for prolonged periods were no more likely to have bone fractures or evidence of bone thinning (osteopenia or osteoporosis) than people in the general population. | |
Biology news
 | Bacteria with synthetic gene circuit self-assemble to build working device with gold nanoparticlesResearchers at Duke University have turned bacteria into the builders of useful devices by programming them with a synthetic gene circuit. |
 | Study: Great white sharks are swimming farther and deeperThe movements of great white sharks in the Pacific and Indian oceans have long been the subject of academic study, but new research is just starting to shed light on the behavior of their Atlantic Ocean counterparts. |
 | Expanded bluefin tuna quotas could reverse recovery: scientistsEastern Atlantic bluefin tuna's spectacular recovery will be reversed if the region's 51-nation fisheries management body embraces quota recommendations finalised late Friday by its scientific advisory panel, scientists at the meeting warned. |
 | Japan scientists grow drugs in chicken eggsJapanese researchers have genetically engineered hens whose eggs contain drugs that can fight serious diseases including cancer, in a bid to dramatically reduce the cost of treatment, a report said Monday. |
 | Scientists complete conservation puzzle, shaping understanding of life on EarthAn international team of scientists have completed the 'atlas of life' - the first global review and map of every vertebrate on Earth. |
 | Study describes how the three-dimensional architecture of the genome changes during the cell cycleResearchers at The Wistar Institute have uncovered new aspects of the three-dimensional organization of the genome, specifically how the genetic material is compacted and de-compacted in a timely fashion during the different phases of the cell cycle. This study was published in Nature Structural & Molecular Biology. |
 | Genetically boosting the nutritional value of corn could benefit millionsRutgers scientists have found an efficient way to enhance the nutritional value of corn - the world's largest commodity crop - by inserting a bacterial gene that causes it to produce a key nutrient called methionine, according to a new study. |
 | What makes the durian fruit stink? Cancer scientists crack the durian genomeSingaporean scientists and international collaborators have achieved a world's first by deciphering the complete genetic map of durian, a prized tropical fruit delicacy known in Asia as the "king of fruits." The Singapore team's efforts were driven by both innate scientific curiosity and a love of the fruit. |
 | Amazon farmers discovered the secret of domesticating wild rice 4,000 years agoAmazonian farmers discovered how to manipulate wild rice so the plants could provide more food 4,000 years ago, long before Europeans colonised America, archaeologists have discovered. |
Indigenous Nations' environmental stewardship in tackling invasive speciesAs invasive species are threatening ecological habitats throughout the U.S. and Canada, the role of Indigenous nations as environmental stewards has often been overlooked, according to a Dartmouth-led study published in the current issue of American Indian Quarterly. | |
 | Black rhino to return to Chad after South Africa dealSouth Africa and Chad on Sunday signed an agreement that will see the re-introduction next year of critically endangered black rhino to the central African country, decades after it was last seen there. |
 | Artificial nests aim to increase Shy Albatross breeding successSpecially built mudbrick and aerated concrete artificial nests, airlifted on to Bass Strait's Albatross Island in a trial program aimed at increasing the breeding success of the Tasmanian Shy Albatross, appear to have been accepted by the vulnerable sea-birds, early monitoring is showing. |
 | El Nino in the Pacific has an impact on dolphins over in Western AustraliaIndo-Pacific bottlenose dolphins (Tursiops aduncus) are a regular sight in the waters around Australia, including the Bunbury area in Western Australia where they attract tourists. |
 | New technology illuminates microbes that can't be cultivated in a laboratoryAt Stanford University, researchers have used a new microfluidic analysis system to extract 29 novel microbial genomes (the complete set of genetic material) from samples from two Yellowstone National Park hot springs. They extracted the genomes while still preserving single-cell resolution, meaning they knew which cells the genetic material came from. This work was made possible by a new technology that divides the sample to enable accurate analysis of a microbe's genetic material. Specifically, it offers details on genome function and abundance. The work was enabled by the Emerging Technology Opportunity Program, a part of the U.S. Department of Energy Joint Genome Institute (DOE JGI), a DOE Office of Science user facility. |
Official fish trade hugely underestimates global catchesConservation of dwindling fish stocks is being severely hampered by poor controls on global trade, according to research published today (Monday, October 9, 2017) in Scientific Reports. | |
 | Establishing a conservation breeding programme to save the last saolaThe saola (Pseudoryx nghetinhensis), a primitive wild cattle endemic to the Annamite mountain range in Vietnam and Lao People's Democratic Republic (PDR), is in immediate danger of extinction. The primary threat to its survival is intensive commercial snaring to supply the thriving wild meat trade in Indochina. In order to save the saola, it is essential to establish a conservation breeding programme. In a letter published in Science, a group of conservationists and conservation scientists, including members of the IUCN Saola Working Group and the Leibniz Institute for Zoo and Wildlife Research Berlin, have voiced their concern about the future of the species and stressed the importance of urgent ex situ management. |
 | Anthrax may have killed 100 hippos in NamibiaOver 100 hippos have died in Namibia in a remote national park in the past week, the country's environment minister said on Monday, warning that anthrax could be to blame. |
 | Where is fiber fermented in the pig digestive tract?Fiber is increasingly being added to pig diets, but digestion of fiber in pigs is inefficient and poorly understood. In a new study from the University of Illinois, scientists pinpoint the locations within the digestive tract where fiber is fermented. |
Vets nurse sick bobcat, return it to park where it's neededA few minutes before they opened the pet carrier on a sandy trail near the beach, the veterinarians heard a piercing growl from inside the cage. Their patient was ready to go home. | |
 | Iraqi animal lovers go online to help save Baghdad's straysThe welfare of stray cats and dogs roaming Iraq's capital Baghdad is far from a priority for most residents after years of bloodshed and insecurity. |
Whoo cares about WA owls?Meet the first man studying owls in the Peel-Harvey Estuary. | |
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