Dear Reader ,
Here is your customized Science X Newsletter for October 3, 2017:
Spotlight Stories Headlines
Astronomy & Space news
 | Explosive bursts of methane helped ancient Mars keep liquid water flowing, study findsIn a drying time, Mars may have been kept warm enough for liquid water to remain stable on the surface thanks to explosive bursts of methane gas, a new study finds. |
 | Researchers conduct more accurate chemical analysis of the star 68 Tauri(Phys.org)—French astronomers have recently presented a new abundance analysis of the star 68 Tauri (also known as HD 27962), which determines its chemical composition more precisely than previous studies. The results of the research are available in a paper published Sept. 28 on the arXiv pre-print repository. |
 | Image: Goodbye to the dark side of SaturnStunning views like this image of Saturn's night side are only possible thanks to our robotic emissaries like Cassini. Until future missions are sent to Saturn, Cassini's image-rich legacy must suffice. |
 | Seeing double: Scientists find elusive giant black hole pairsAstronomers have identified a bumper crop of dual supermassive black holes in the centers of galaxies. This discovery could help astronomers better understand how giant black holes grow and how they may produce the strongest gravitational wave signals in the Universe. |
 | Sputnik, the tiny sphere that launched the space raceWhen the Soviet Union launched the first artificial satellite 60 years ago, it marked both the beginning of space exploration and the start of a race between Moscow and Washington. |
 | Private companies are launching a new space race – here's what to expectThe space race between the USA and Russia started with a beep from the Sputnik satellite exactly 60 years ago (October 4, 1957) and ended with a handshake in space just 18 years later. The handshake was the start of many decades of international collaboration in space. But over the past decade there has been a huge change. |
 | The most mysterious star in the cosmosRound 5 a.m. on a Tuesday this past May, Tabetha "Tabby" Boyajian sat staring at a laptop, cross-legged on her couch in the living room of her Baton Rouge, La., home. The coffee table was cluttered with the artifacts of an all-nighter: an empty wine glass to calm her nerves alongside an empty coffee mug to fuel her through the night. |
 | Scientists behind the discovery of gravitational waves win the 2017 Nobel Prize for PhysicsThe Swedish Academy of Sciences has announced that the 2017 Nobel prize in Physics goes to three scientists for their foundational work leading to the discovery of ripples in the fabric of space and time known as gravitational waves. |
Technology news
 | Nissan highlights how coating on wheel and seats can signal dehydration(Tech Xplore)—Drink before you drive. |
 | Researchers develop method to quantify life cycle land use of natural gasA case study of the Barnett Shale region in Texas, where hydraulic fracturing was first implemented, for the first time provides quantifiable information on the life cycle land use of generating electricity from natural gas based on physical measurements instead of using assumptions and averages that were previously used for evaluation. |
 | In hurricanes' aftermath, technology eases return to schoolSmartphone exchanges, social media, messaging apps and websites rendered students and their teachers at once disconnected and connected in the aftermath of hurricanes Harvey and Irma. |
Equifax raises breach victim number to 145.5 millionEquifax said Monday an investigation into the massive data breach at the credit agency discovered 2.5 million additional potential victims, bringing the total to 145.5 million. | |
Uber CEO holds 'constructive' talks with London officialsThe new CEO of Uber met with London transport officials on Tuesday, just days after they refused to renew the cab-hailing app's license to operate. | |
 | Magnetic electrodes increase solar cell efficiencyAn international research collaborative led by the Ikerbasque researcher Luis Hueso has developed a photovoltaic cell in which magnetic materials such as electrodes are used for the first time to provide current. The journal Science reports on the results of this research which, according to Luis Hueso, "is opening up a new channel for converting light into electrical power more efficiently." |
Producing simple kits for safe water in RajasthanUniversity of Adelaide researchers are planning to produce simple, low-cost, self-assembly water purification kits to provide fresh drinking water in the Indian state of Rajasthan, South Australia's sister state. | |
 | European court asked to rule on Facebook data transfersThe European Court of Justice has been asked to consider whether Facebook's Dublin-based subsidiary can legally transfer users' personal data to its U.S. parent, after Ireland's top court said Tuesday that there are "well-founded concerns" the practice violates European law. |
 | Governments, car companies must resolve their competing goals for self-driving carsWhat self-driving cars want, and what people want from them, varies widely. And often these desires are at odds with each other. For instance, carmakers – and the designers of the software that will run autonomous vehicles – know that it's safest if cars stay far away from each other. But traffic engineers know that if every car operated to ensure lots of surrounding space, local roads and highways alike would be clogged for miles, and nobody would get anywhere. |
 | Good vibrations for the future of computingVibrating mechanical switches that can be cascaded to perform complex computational operations could take computing significantly further than today's technologies. KAUST researchers have demonstrated an alternative technology based on mechanical vibrations. |
 | Twitter banks on sport fans' passionTwitter is exploring new ways to engage sports fans, tapping into their passion as it fights its corner in the cutthroat world of social media. |
 | New machine evaluates soybean at harvest for qualityWhen a field of soybeans is ready to harvest, speed is of the essence. But harvesting grinds to a halt every time the combine operator has to climb down out of the cab to manually check for quality—whole, un-split beans without stray husk material. Researchers from Kyoto University and University of Illinois recently developed a machine to automate the process, evaluating bean quality on the fly, so harvesting can go on uninterrupted. |
 | Web giants allowed fake news to flow on Las Vegas shootingUS online giants acknowledged Tuesday they failed to prevent rumors and misinformation from being circulated during and after the deadly mass shooting in Las Vegas. |
 | US orders divestment in CenturyLink-Level 3 dealThe US Department of Justice said Tuesday that Level 3 Communications will have to sell networks in three American cities ahead of its planned acquisition by telecoms giant CenturyLink. |
 | EU to decide Amazon tax break case: sourcesThe EU will on Wednesday decide a landmark case against Luxembourg, which stands accused of giving illegal tax breaks to internet shopping giant Amazon, according to two sources familiar with the matter. |
 | Saudi Arabia opens bid for 'utility scale' solar projectSaudi Arabia invited bids on Tuesday for a "utility-scale" 300-megawatt solar project, a first for the world's top oil exporter. |
Microsoft touts VR headsets that pair with Windows 10Microsoft is touting virtual reality headsets made by other companies in hopes of establishing personal computers running on its Windows 10 operating system as the best way for people to experience artificial worlds. | |
 | Former Equifax CEO says response should have been betterThe former chairman and CEO of Equifax says the challenge of responding to the concerns of tens of millions of consumers in the wake of a massive data breach proved overwhelming, and regrettably, his company made mistakes. |
 | Irish court refers landmark EU-US data transfer case to EUIreland's High Court on Tuesday asked the EU's Court of Justice of the European Union to decide on rules on the transfer of data from Europe to the US in a case with far-reaching implications for industry. |
 | How to regulate e-sports gambling debated in Gaming Law ReviewThe new and rapidly evolving esports industry, while currently enjoying minimal regulatory oversight, would benefit in the long-term from a solid regulatory structure that embodies consumer protections. Lessons can be learned from the rush to regulate daily fantasy sports in the U.S., and how best to move adopting regulations for the fast-moving esports industry is the focus of a special issue of Gaming Law Review. |
 | Lawmakers grill former Equifax chairman over data breachHouse Republicans and Democrats on Tuesday grilled Equifax's former chief executive over the massive data hack of the personal information of 145 million Americans, calling the company's response inadequate as consumers struggle to deal with the breach. |
US reviewing better tech identifiers after hacks: Trump aideUS officials are studying ways to end the use of social security numbers for identification following a series of data breaches compromising the data for millions of Americans, a Trump administration official said Tuesday. | |
 | Former Intel chief Paul Otellini diesIntel on Tuesday announced that former chief executive Paul Otellini died in his sleep a day earlier, at the age of 66. |
Medicine & Health news
 | Study shows brain response to unfair situations can predict future depression levels in healthy people(Medical Xpress)—A trio of researchers with Tamagawa University and the National Institute of Information and Communications Technology, both in Japan, has found that it is possible to predict the level of depression a person will report a year after playing a video game while also undergoing an MRI scan. In their paper published in the journal Nature Human Behavior, the group describes their study, what they found and some possible implications for those who suffer from depression. Megan Speer and Mauricio Delgado with Rutgers University offer a News & Views piece on the work done by the team in the same journal issue. |
 | Tobacco smokers could gain 86 million years of life if they switch to vaping, study findsUp to 6.6 million cigarette smokers will live substantially longer if cigarette smoking is replaced by vaping over a ten-year period, calculates a research team led by investigators from Georgetown Lombardi Cancer Center. In all, cigarette smokers who switch to e-cigarettes could live 86.7 million more years with policies that encourage cigarette smokers to switch completely to e-cigarettes. |
 | One hour of exercise a week can prevent depressionA landmark study led by the Black Dog Institute has revealed that regular exercise of any intensity can prevent future depression - and just one hour can help. |
 | Rare benign tumors hold the 'genetic recipe' to combat diabetesRare benign tumors known as insulinomas contain a complicated wiring diagram for regeneration of insulin-producing human beta cells, which may hold the key to diabetes drug development, researchers at the Icahn School of Medicine at Mount Sinai report. |
 | New method for tissue regeneration, inspired by nature, described by scientistsScientists have found a way of mimicking our body's natural healing process, using cell derived nano-sized particles called vesicles, to repair damaged tissue. |
Two agents deliver knockout punches to Ewing sarcomaWhen combined with an already FDA-approved chemotherapy, a novel agent developed by researchers at Georgetown Lombardi Comprehensive Cancer Center, appears to halt the ability of Ewing sarcoma to grow and progress. | |
 | Tapping into how the brain perceives values can influence choicesResearchers have been able to tap into the decision-making processes in the brain to play with our sense of value. |
 | Researchers uncover drain pipes in our brainsBy scanning the brains of healthy volunteers, researchers at the National Institutes of Health saw the first, long-sought evidence that our brains may drain some waste out through lymphatic vessels, the body's sewer system. The results further suggest the vessels could act as a pipeline between the brain and the immune system. |
 | Neuroscientists find 'gatekeeper' in itching sensations plays no role in pain transmissionA study from North Carolina State University researchers shows that a neurotransmitter involved in relaying itching sensations from the skin to the spinal cord and into the brain plays no role in pain transmission. |
 | Obesity linked to 13 types of cancer (Update)There's a link between obesity and 40 percent of all the cancers diagnosed in the United States, health officials reported Tuesday. |
 | Study finds that microbial dispersal impacts animal gutsIn a special experiment, zebrafish with defective immune systems swam and dined with counterparts with normal immune systems. In short order, their gut microbiomes became similar. |
 | New cardiac catheter combines light and ultrasound to measure plaquesTo win the battle against heart disease, cardiologists need better ways to identify the composition of plaque most likely to rupture and cause a heart attack. Angiography allows them to examine blood vessels for constricted regions by injecting them with a contrast agent before X-raying them. But because plaque does not always result in constricted vessels, angiography can miss dangerous buildups of plaque. Intravascular ultrasound can penetrate the buildup to identify depth, but lacks the ability to identify some of the finer details about risk of plaque rupture. |
Man develops severe liver damage after taking epsom saltsA 38-year-old man developed serious liver damage after taking epsom salts to treat gallstones, reveal doctors in the journal BMJ Case Reports. | |
Reduced exposure to bullying could reduce mental illness in extreme preemiesDecreased exposure to bullying and family problems during childhood and adolescence could help reduce adult mental illness in extremely low birth weight preemies, according to a new study from McMaster University. | |
 | Program for parents improves ADHD behaviors in young childrenA program that focuses on strengthening parenting skills also improves symptoms of Attention Deficit/Hyperactivity Disorder (ADHD) in 3-8 year-olds, according to researchers at the at the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill. FPG scientists completed a rigorous review of evidence that demonstrated the effectiveness of the "Incredible Years Basic Parent Program." |
 | Is the '5-second rule' real?Over the course of three decades, food scientist and professor at Clemson University Paul Dawson has studied how common food habits may increase the spread of bacteria in the human system. |
 | CDC shutters command center for Zika monitoringWith Zika waning in the Caribbean and South America, the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention announced on Friday that the federal agency was deactivating the command center for monitoring and coordinating emergency response to the virus. |
 | Vancomycin + piperacillin / tazobactam ups kidney risk(HealthDay)—For hospitalized children, coadministration of intravenous (IV) vancomycin and piperacillin/tazobactam is associated with increased risk of acute kidney injury (AKI), according to a study published online Oct. 2 in JAMA Pediatrics. |
 | Low-dose alteplase no better for acute ischemic stroke(HealthDay)—For key demographic subgroups of patients with acute ischemic stroke (AIS), low-dose alteplase does not differ from standard-dose alteplase in terms of treatment effects on death or disability, according to a study published online Oct. 2 in JAMA Neurology. |
 | Trying to get sober? NIH offers tool to help find good careThe phone calls come—from fellow scientists and desperate strangers—with a single question for the alcohol chief at the National Institutes of Health: Where can my loved one find good care to get sober? |
Blood-thinning medications associated with increased risk of complications from having blood in urineUse of blood-thinning medications among older adults was significantly associated with higher rates of hematuria (the presence of blood in urine)-related complications, including emergency department visits, hospitalizations and urologic procedures to manage visible hematuria, according to a study published by JAMA. | |
Use of non-vitamin K blood-thinners with certain medications associated with increased risk of major bleedingAmong patients with nonvalvular atrial fibrillation, concurrent use of certain commonly prescribed medications with non-vitamin K oral anticoagulants was associated with an increased risk of major bleeding, according to a study published by JAMA. | |
 | Incidence of measles in the United StatesFrom 2001 to 2015, the overall annual incidence of measles in the United States remained extremely low (less than 1 case/million population) compared with incidence worldwide (40 cases/million population); relative increases in measles rates were observed over the period, and the findings suggest that failure to vaccinate may be the main driver of measles transmission, according to a study published by JAMA. |
 | Fecal transplant success for diabetes might depend on the recipient's gut microbesA small clinical trial in the Netherlands found that a fecal transplant from a lean donor can temporarily improve insulin resistance in obese men—but only half of the recipients responded. Upon further investigation, the researchers discovered that they could predict the success of the treatment by analyzing each patient's fecal gut-bacterial makeup. This understanding could help shape the development of personalized fecal transplant for diabetes. The work appears October 3 in the journal Cell Metabolism. |
Scientists think public opinion important before human gene editingThe public should be consulted before gene editing is used to treat human embryos, according to a survey of scientists published in the American Heart Association's journal Circulation: Cardiovascular Genetics. | |
Adverse events spike after blood pressure meds go generic in CanadaOne month after generic versions of three widely-used blood pressure drugs became available in Canada, hospital visits for adverse events spiked in generic drug users, according to new research in Circulation: Cardiovascular Quality and Outcomes, an American Heart Association journal. | |
 | New key regulator of acquisition of immune tolerance to tumor cells in cancer patientsResearchers of the Chromatin and Disease Group from the Bellvitge Biomedical Research Institute (IDIBELL) in Barcelona have identified a distinctive epigenetic event in immune cells that differentiate in the tumoral microenvironment and make them tolerant to cancer cells. |
 | Black tea may help with weight loss, tooUCLA researchers have demonstrated for the first time that black tea may promote weight loss and other health benefits by changing bacteria in the gut. In a study of mice, the scientists showed that black tea alters energy metabolism in the liver by changing gut metabolites. |
Menopause and estrogen affect muscle functionAccording to a study conducted at the University of Jyväskylä, estrogen acts as a regulator of muscle energy metabolism and muscle cell viability. Menopause leads to the cessation of ovarian estrogen production concurrent to the deterioration of muscle function. After menopause, the risk of metabolic diseases also increases. Although a healthy lifestyle does not increase the amount of estrogen in circulation, it reduces risks. | |
Beetroot fails to warm up those sensitive to coldIn people at higher risk of feeling the cold, and contrary to what scientists thought, beetroot juice doesn't appear to help re-warm the body after exposure to the cold, according to new research. | |
Irritable bowel syndrome diagnosis needed earlyAn early, definitive diagnosis of irritable bowel syndrome (IBS) would do much to instil confidence in patients and allow them to move from searching for answers to effectively managing their condition. | |
 | Earlier school start times may increase risk of adolescent depression and anxietyTeenagers with school starting times before 8:30 a.m. may be at particular risk of experiencing depression and anxiety due to compromised sleep quality, according to a recent URMC study. |
 | How to talk to your kids about opioidsBy now, most people are aware of the enormity of the opioid epidemic. In 2015, over 33,000 Americans died from an opioid overdose – more from opioid pain relievers than heroin. |
 | Australian ready meals are saltier than ever, study findsSome ready meals contain more than an entire day's worth of salt in a single serve, according to new research published by The George Institute for Global Health and VicHealth. |
 | Severe anxiety best treated with drugs and therapyChildren and teens with severe anxiety need both behavioral therapy and medication for the best chance of improvement, a new Yale-led analysis has found. |
 | Genre may impact cognitive training using video gamesVideo games are quickly becoming a hot topic in cognitive training. Many see them as a potential tool to help patients improve their performance and memory, yet little is known about how different types of video games may affect white matter in the brain and cognition. In a new study in Restorative Neurology and Neuroscience, investigators analyzed learning on two different types of video games—action and strategy—to determine if they were functionally different. They found that cognitive performance and white matter connectivity in the brain predicted how best we can learn to play the two types of games. |
 | One disaster after another, could fatigue set in?The largest mass shooting in modern U.S. history has rocked Las Vegas, pushing the aftermath of Hurricane Maria to inside pages of newspapers and well beyond top-of-the-hour stories in news broadcasts. Just a week prior, news of Hurricane Maria had claimed the top spot from the earthquakes of Mexico, which had replaced headlines about Hurricane Irma. Before that, it was Hurricane Harvey and its assault on Texas and the Gulf coast. Scientists now wonder if disaster fatigue is about to set in. |
 | How we can overcome the lack of treatment options for rare cancersRare cancers are just that: rare. This means research into each of these particular types of rare cancers is limited, and so are the treatment options. As a consequence, patients diagnosed with rare cancers face significant challenges. |
 | People diagnosed with the same mental illness can be quite different, and research must address thisIt's commonly accepted that symptoms in psychiatric conditions like bipolar disorder or schizophrenia present differently between different people. That is, one person with a given diagnosis can be entirely different, symptomatically speaking, from another with the same diagnosis. |
 | New app supports a plan to cope and a strategy for suicide preventionThe University of South Australia has released a new mobile application designed to help people cope with stress on a day-to-day basis. |
 | Cycling to watch TV, and other clever ways to beat obesity from the comfort of your own homeThe BBC recently reported that middle-aged people are being urged to walk faster to stay healthy, amid concern that high levels of inactivity may be causing health problems such as type 2 diabetes and cardiovascular disease. The report states that "just ten minutes a day could have a major impact, reducing the risk of early death by 15%". Meanwhile, other reports indicate that child obesity rates are on the rise and a survey of more than 2,000 older people in the UK found that nearly 25% don't do any exercise to maintain good muscle strength. Recent global statistics also show that a relatively high percentage of people in a majority of countries are becoming obese. |
 | Non-invasive imaging predicts cancer malignancyA new study by Osaka University scientists shows that non-labeling multiphoton microscopy (NL-MPM) can be used for quantitative imaging of cancer that is safe and requires no resection, fixation or staining of tissues. The report is expected to simplify and reduce the time of cancer diagnosis and can be read in Scientific Reports. |
3-D microscopy gives more accurate cancer diagnosisA novel microscopy technique to examine tumour tissue in three dimensions can more accurately diagnose cancer than current two-dimensional methods, according to a study conducted at Karolinska Institutet and Karolinska University Hospital in Sweden. The study is published in Nature Biomedical Engineering. | |
US citizens living near a mass public shooting more likely to favour stricter gun control, study findsPeople living near a mass shooting in the United States of America are more likely to support stricter gun controls, new research has found. | |
Patients' expectations influence effectiveness of SSRI antidepressantsSelective serotonin reuptake inhibitors (SSRIs) are commonly prescribed for depression and anxiety but their superiority over placebo has been questioned, generating considerable debate among researchers and clinicians. In a new study, Uppsala University researchers show that the way in which the treatment is described to the patient can be as important as the treatment itself. | |
 | Progesterone does not prevent preterm birth or complications, says studyAn increasingly popular hormonal "treatment" for pregnant women with a history of preterm birth does not work, a major new international study shows. |
 | Vitamin D protects against severe asthma attacksTaking oral vitamin D supplements in addition to standard asthma medication could halve the risk of asthma attacks requiring hospital attendance, according to research led by Queen Mary University of London (QMUL). |
Cigarette makers to publish new statements on health risks (Update)Major U.S. cigarette companies will soon begin publishing a series of blunt statements about the health risks of smoking as part of a court order stemming from a 1999 lawsuit brought by the federal government. | |
Link between childhood in care and mums who have babies removed by the courtsA study has found a high number of women, who repeatedly appear before the family courts and lose many children into public care or adoption because of child protection concerns, have been in care themselves. | |
Tiny protein offers major insight into foot-and-mouth virusScientists have identified that a tiny protein, which plays a major role in the replication of foot-and-mouth disease virus, demonstrates a greater level of genetic economy than previously reported. | |
 | Protein identified that drives initiation and growth of aggressive form of leukemiaA team led by Massachusetts General Hospital (MGH) investigators has identified a new cancer-causing pathway behind most cases of an aggressive type of leukemia, findings that could lead to new targeted treatment approaches. In the report published online in Cancer Discovery, the team describes finding a protein called TOX (thymocyte selection-associated high mobility box protein) that acts in concert with other oncogenes to initiate the development of T-cell acute lymphoblastic leukemia (T-ALL). Expressed in 95 percent of human T-ALL cases, TOX is also required for the cancer's growth and persistence. |
High-deductible health care plans curb both cost and usage, including preventive careA team of researchers based at IUPUI has conducted the first systematic review of studies examining the relationship between high-deductible health care plans and the use of health care services. They found these plans reduce both the cost and the use of health care services, according to an article published in the October issue of the journal Health Affairs. | |
Cooling treatment reduces epilepsy in childrenCooling babies deprived of oxygen at birth (perinatal asphyxia) can reduce the number of children who develop epilepsy later in childhood, according to a new study published in the journal Epilepsia. | |
 | Study: Sepsis care initiatives may lead to higher C. difficile infection rates, antibiotic resistanceHealthcare experts have long known the benefits of integrated sepsis care programs, yet less information has been published on potential unintended consequences of these programs. That's changed with a new study that suggests that electronic sepsis screenings and treatment protocols could, in fact, lead to increased use of certain broad-spectrum antibiotics and healthcare facility-onset (HCFO) C. difficile infection (CDI) rates, according to findings published in the October issue of the American Journal of Infection Control (AJIC), the journal of the Association for Professionals in Infection Control and Epidemiology (APIC). |
Online parent training helps young kids with ADHDParents of children with ADHD can feel desperate for resources or treatments to help their children who struggle with inattention, distractibility and impulsiveness affecting school and home. Researchers at Lehigh University have discovered that brief online or in-person behavioral therapy for parents is equally effective in improving children's behavior and parental knowledge - a potential game changer for parents strapped for time and access. | |
 | IBD patients may stay healthier when doctors monitor medications before they lose efficacyIn patients with inflammatory bowel disease (IBD), the body attacks the lining of the digestive tract. Up to half of patients who benefit from the first-line anti-inflammatory drug infliximab eventually stop responding to it. When that happens, doctors may begin to monitor patients' blood serum concentrations of the drug. |
 | How to start a walking plan(HealthDay)—Are you completely new to exercise? Getting fit doesn't have to be expensive or complicated. In fact, it can be as simple as putting one foot in front of the other. |
 | Adding surveillance to FIT screening cuts CRC mortality(HealthDay)—Adding surveillance to fecal immunochemical test (FIT) screening reduces colorectal cancer (CRC) mortality and increases colonoscopy demand, according to a study published online Oct. 2 in the Annals of Internal Medicine. |
 | Tattoo pigment hypersensitivity can mimic lymphoma(HealthDay)—Tattoo pigment hypersensitivity causing widespread lymphadenopathy has been described in a case report published online Oct. 2 in the Annals of Internal Medicine. |
 | Patient with CAS of 50 percent should not undergo screening(HealthDay)—A vascular surgeon and primary care physician agree that an asymptomatic patient with cardiovascular risk and stenosis of 50 percent on screening carotid ultrasonography should not undergo carotid artery stenosis (CAS) screening, according to an article published online Oct. 2 in the Annals of Internal Medicine. |
 | High epsom salt intake can lead to severe liver injury(HealthDay)—Epsom salt intake can lead to severe liver injury in predisposed patients, according to a case study published online Oct. 2 in BMJ Case Reports. |
 | Sodium-glucose cotransporter 2 inhibitors not cancer risk factor(HealthDay)—Over the short term there is not a significantly increased overall cancer risk among individuals with type 2 diabetes using sodium-glucose cotransporter 2 (SGLT2) inhibitors, according to a study published in the October issue of Diabetologia. |
 | Clinical exome sequencing useful for critically ill infants(HealthDay)—Clinical exome sequencing is an effective diagnostic tool for infants suspected of having monogenic disorders, according to a study published online Oct. 2 in JAMA Pediatrics. |
 | Staff training intervention doesn't impact fall prevention(HealthDay)—An intervention targeting gaps in staff communication and coordination (complexity science-based staff training intervention [CONNECT]) does not improve the impact of an evidence-based falls quality improvement program (FALLS), according to a study published online Oct. 2 in JAMA Internal Medicine. |
 | Subjective cognitive decline linked to global tau burden(HealthDay)—For clinically healthy older adults, subjective cognitive decline (SCD) is associated with increasing entorhinal cortical tau burden and β-amyloid (Aβ) burden, according to a study published online Oct. 2 in JAMA Neurology. |
Gabapentin co-use may increase risk of fatal opioid overdoseCo-prescription of the anticonvulsant gabapentin is associated with an increased risk of opioid-related death in people who are prescribed opioid painkillers, according to a new study published in PLOS Medicine. | |
Medical scribes reduce hospital wait time, study showsA new study from the University of Colorado Denver finds that medical scribes, or specialists who prepare patient medical charts, significantly decrease physician overtime and patient wait time in emergency room settings. | |
 | Gut bacteria metabolism may factor into hypertensionOne in three American adults suffers from high blood pressure, or hypertension. The disease can be passed down in families, and certain lifestyle factors such as smoking, high-sodium diets, and stress can increase the risk. In recent years, scientists have discovered that certain gut bacteria may contribute to hypertension, as well. |
 | Genetic targets to chemo-resistant breast cancer identifiedResearch led by Dr. Carlos Arteaga, Director of the Harold C. Simmons Comprehensive Cancer Center, has identified potential targets for treatment of triple negative breast cancer, the most aggressive form of breast cancer. |
 | Breast cancer's decline may have saved 322,000 lives(HealthDay)—New research finds the number of American women who've lost their lives to breast cancer has fallen precipitously in the past 25 years, with more than 322,000 lives saved in that time. |
 | Americans more open about mental health issues, but stigma lingers(HealthDay)—Americans may be more willing to talk about mental health issues these days, but misperceptions and stigmas persist, a new survey finds. |
 | Free iPhone app could guide MS research, treatmentFor some diseases, a simple blood test is all that's needed to estimate severity or confirm a diagnosis. Not so for multiple sclerosis. |
 | Got a picky eater? How 'nature and nurture' may be influencing eating behavior in young childrenFor most preschool-age children, picky eating is just a normal part of growing up. But for others, behaviors such as insisting on only eating their favorite food item—think chicken nuggets at every meal—or refusing to try something new might lead to the risk of being over- or underweight, gastrointestinal distress, or other eating disorders later in childhood. |
CDC finds workers at a coffee facility in Wisconsin with increased respiratory symptoms; abnormal breathingThe U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention has uncovered more evidence pointing to the need for people who spend their days roasting, grinding and packaging coffee at commercial plants or corner cafes to pay close attention to their health. | |
 | Retailers suffer, but officials say raising tobacco age decreases smokingIn the past year, Cody Rector has seen most of the regular customers at his smoke shop near Loyola University disappear. |
 | 'CRISPR-Gold' fixes Duchenne muscular dystrophy mutation in miceScientists at the University of California, Berkeley, have engineered a new way to deliver CRISPR-Cas9 gene-editing technology inside cells and have demonstrated in mice that the technology can repair the mutation that causes Duchenne muscular dystrophy, a severe muscle-wasting disease. A new study shows that a single injection of CRISPR-Gold, as the new delivery system is called, into mice with Duchenne muscular dystrophy led to an 18-times-higher correction rate and a two-fold increase in a strength and agility test compared to control groups. |
 | ALS patient behind ice bucket challenge: I will bounce backPete Frates was mistakenly written off as dead this summer. Turns out, the man who helped spark the ice bucket challenge that raised millions of dollars for research on Lou Gehrig's disease hasn't gone anywhere yet. |
This elephant tranquilizer is killing people, but no one knows how many"I see her on the floor by her bathroom and she was crumpled up on the floor and I just say 'Krissy.' My mind was racing. Maybe she fell asleep on the floor for some odd reason," Lisa Lutz recalled through tears. "She was cold to the touch when I touched her." | |
 | Plague in Madagascar hits urban areas, kills 2 dozen peopleAuthorities in Madagascar are struggling to contain an outbreak of plague that has killed two-dozen people in recent weeks and has prompted a ban on large public gatherings in the capital to curb the disease's spread. |
UN battles mounting illness in Rohingya campsRelief agencies on Tuesday fought to contain a diarrhoea outbreak around camps in Bangladesh where more than 500,000 Rohingya have taken shelter in the past five weeks. | |
 | Disaster plans and the mentally illHouston, Miami, San Juan—Category 5 hurricanes, the most destructive storm systems, have made a record-breaking 6 landfalls this year. This represents a quarter of the total category 5 hurricane landfalls that the Atlantic has seen since 1851. |
 | Novel platform for investigating quiescence in dormancy-capable cancer cellsA team of researchers from the University of Minnesota-Twin Cities has reported a novel encapsulation approach in identifying dormant cancer cells and maintaining them in a quiescent state. Their method involves immobilizing cells within a rigid silica-PEG matrix that prevents movement and proliferation, thus imposing a selective stress on cells. Immobilization within the silica-PEG matrix was performed via a cytocompatible, sol-gel encapsulation method, creating a highly porous matrix with pores large enough to allow sufficient nutrient and gas diffusion to meet metabolic requirements but small enough to prevent cell movement and proliferation. These findings appear in the September 2017 issue of the journal Technology. |
Breast cancer statistics, 2017: Gap in death rates between whites, blacks closing in several statesOverall breast cancer death rates dropped 39 percent between 1989 and 2015, averting 322,600 breast cancer deaths during those 26 years. And while black women continue to have higher breast cancer death rates than whites nationally, death rates in several states are now statistically equivalent, perhaps reflecting an elimination of disparities in those states. | |
 | New targeted alpha therapy protocol for advanced prostate cancerTherapy options are limited for men with advanced-stage, metastatic castration-resistant prostate cancer (mCRPC), but a new treatment protocol offers hope. In the featured article of The Journal of Nuclear Medicine's October issue, German researchers report on their recent clinical experience, which establishes a dosing regimen for actinium-225 (225Ac)-labeled targeted alpha therapy of patients with prostate specific membrane antigen (PSMA)-positive tumors. The protocol balances treatment response with toxicity concerns to provide the most effective therapy with the least side effects. |
Lawyer: Crossbow killing a failure of mental health systemLisa Caplan had bounced in and out of mental health facilities, moving back home with her 71-year-old mother after her latest psychiatric stay ended in May. Neighbors say Caplan behaved strangely, carrying a shovel around the neighborhood and knocking on doors at odd hours. | |
House GOP proposes 5-year extension for children's healthA popular program that provides health insurance for 8.9 million low-income children would get five more years of funding under legislation Republicans plan to push through a House committee this week. The measure comes days after federal funding for the program expired. | |
 | UN: More should have been done to fight cholera in YemenThe World Health Organization's emergencies chief says the agency could have acted faster and sent more vaccines to fight a massive, deadly surge of cholera cases in war-battered Yemen this year. |
Pesticide use during pregnancy linked to increased risk of childhood brain tumorsPrevious epidemiological studies have suggested that exposure to pesticides during pregnancy may have a possible role in the development of childhood brain tumors. In a new International Journal of Cancer analysis, researchers found a link between maternal residential pesticide use—particularly insecticides—and the risk of childhood brain tumors. | |
Trastuzumab treatment need not delay breast reconstruction following mastectomyTreatment with trastuzumab (Herceptin/Genentech) of breast cancers that express the HER-2 protein does not increase the risk for complications at the surgical site for women who undergo immediate breast reconstruction after mastectomy. The first study to assess the effect of trastuzumab on surgical wound complications indicates that breast reconstruction need not be delayed because of the type or length of this form of adjuvant therapy. (Adjuvant therapy is treatment that is given in addition to the primary or main form of treatment to maximize effectiveness.) Study results appear as an "article in press" on the Journal of the American College of Surgeons website in advance of print. | |
 | ACLU sues to challenge FDA limits on access to abortion pillThe American Civil Liberties Union sued Tuesday in a challenge to federal restrictions that limit many women's access to the so-called abortion pill. |
 | What men need to know about planning a familyHaving children can sometimes be a crapshoot. Some couples achieve pregnancy on the first try, while other can try for years with no success. |
Nowhere to go: Young people with severe autism languish in hospitalsTeenagers and young adults with severe autism are spending weeks or even months in emergency rooms and acute-care hospitals, sometimes sedated, restrained or confined to mesh-tented beds, a Kaiser Health News investigation shows. | |
Biology news
 | Gold nanoparticle used to replace virus in new CRISPR approach(Phys.org)—A team of researchers from the University of California and the University of Tokyo has found a way to use the CRISPR gene editing technique that does not rely on a virus for delivery. In their paper published in the journal Nature Biomedical Engineering, the group describes the new technique, how well it works and improvements that need to be made to make it a viable gene editing tool. |
 | Tracking live brain activity with the new NeuBtracker open-source microscopeA team of scientists from the Helmholtz Zentrum München and the Technical University of Munich (TUM) has successfully developed a new type of microscope. The NeuBtracker is an open source microscope that can observe neuronal activities of zebrafish without perturbing their behavior. This is opening up completely new perspectives for science, because now it will be possible to track natural behavior while simultaneously imaging neuronal activity in the brain. |
 | Keeping moving—flat worms shed light on role of migrating stem cells in cancerA new study carried out by the University of Oxford has used flat worms to look at the role of migrating stem cells in cancer. |
 | Cell signals that trigger wound healing are surprisingly complexIn a sharp and pointy world, wound healing is a critical and marvelous process. Despite a tremendous amount of scientific study, many outstanding mysteries still surround the way in which cells in living tissue respond to and repair physical damage. |
 | Algorithm explains how ants create and repair trail networksImagine you're a member of the Cephalotes goniodontus species, an arboreal ant with a Darth Vader-like head that has inspired humans to call you "turtle ants." You're moving along a branch of the tangled tree canopy in Jalisco, Mexico, following a scent trail left by other ants from your colony, but you hit an abrupt end where the branch is broken. How do you know where to go? |
 | Clumps as temporary storageResearchers at ETH have discovered that the formation of protein aggregates in yeast cells is reversible. This casts new light on human diseases that can be attributed to certain protein aggregates. |
 | Bats and bugs do battle in the tropicsn the tropical rainforests of Panama, Dartmouth's Hannah ter Hofstede is witness to what Charles Darwin called a "struggle for existence." She studies a competition for survival that pits the cricket-like katydids rubbing their wings together to make their ultrasonic mating songs, and bats hearing that mating call as a dinner bell. |
 | Health researchers visualize a life in silicoProgramming a molecular biology experiment can be similar to playing Sudoku; both are simple if you're working with only a few molecules or a small grid, but they explode in complexity as they grow. Now, in a paper published on Oct. 3 in the Biophysical Journal, researchers at UConn Health's Virtual Cell Project (vcell.org) have made it far easier for cell biologists to build complex biological models. |
 | Designer biosensor can detect antibiotic production by microbesResearchers from North Carolina State University have engineered designer biosensors that can detect antibiotic molecules of interest. The biosensors are a first step toward creating antibiotic-producing "factories" within microbes such as E. coli. |
 | Genetic study investigates ways to increase productivity and tenderness of meatBrazil has the world's largest commercial beef herd, numbering over 225 million, yet only 20 percent of Brazil's production is intended for export. Because of this, beef ranks 10th on the list of products exported by Brazil, after soybeans, iron ore, oil, sugarcane, automobiles, chicken, cellulose, soybean meal and coffee. |
 | A prioritised list of invasive alien species threatening the UK's environmentMore species urgently need to be considered for inclusion on the EU's 'List of Invasive Alien Species of Union Concern', stresses a new study published on 3 October 2017 in the Journal of Applied Ecology. |
 | Biologist's new book details a new era in the study of evolutionThree years ago, when Harvard biologist Jonathan Losos settled in at the Geological Lecture Hall for a talk by fellow scientist Richard Lenski, he was toying with the idea of writing a book on evolution. When the lecture was over, he was done toying. |
 | Stranded cetacean? There's an app for thatCraig Harms has seen his share of stranded whales and dolphins as an NC State aquatic wildlife veterinarian based on the North Carolina coast. Now, thanks to a collaboration with the College of Charleston, Harms is enabling first responders to provide aid to these animals via iPhone. |
 | How gender and stereotypes can shape our relationship with dogsThe relationship between people and their dogs can be a lasting and loving bond if the match is right. But when acquiring a dog, how do you know if that match will be a good one? |
 | European sea bass show chronic impairment after exposure to crude oilWe may be underestimating the long-term impact of oil spills on fish, particularly their ability to tolerate low oxygen environments, according to research from the University of British Columbia (UBC), the Université de Bretagne Occidentale (UBO) and L'Institut Français de Recherche pour l'Exploitation de la Mer (Ifremer). |
 | Magpies can form friendships with people—here's howCan one form a friendship with a magpie? –even when adult males are protecting their nests during the swooping season? The short answer is:" Yes, one can" - although science has just begun to provide feasible explanations for friendship in animals, let alone for cross-species friendships between humans and wild birds. |
 | Biologists on the trail of 'brain-eating amoebae'MBARI researchers are used to braving gusty winds and choppy seas as they test their high-tech equipment in Monterey Bay. But a recent field experiment in Yellowstone National Park saw MBARI researchers Kevan Yamahara and Roman Marin III dodging hordes of tourists and herds of elk while searching for "brain-eating amoebae." |
 | Scientists join forces to save Puerto Rico's 'Monkey Island'"00O made it!" There was some news to celebrate on Sept. 28 in the email chain of scientists who work at the Cayo Santiago Field Station. Cayo Santiago is a 38-acre tropical island off the coast of Puerto Rico and home to approximately 1,500 rhesus monkeys, earning it the local nickname "Monkey Island." |
 | New research highlights the need to learn from past climate changesNew international research led by The University of Manchester has highlighted that learning from previous periods of climate change is essential if we are to understand the vulnerability of species and ecosystems to global warming. |
 | Livestock grazing harming giant panda habitatIncreased livestock grazing in China's Wanglang National Nature Preserve has damaged one third of all giant panda habitat in the park, a new study by Chinese and U.S. scientists finds. |
 | House sparrow decline linked to air pollution and poor dietDespite being well-adapted to urban life, house sparrow numbers are falling. A study in open-access journal Frontiers in Ecology and Evolution finds that compared to sparrows living in the country, urban-dwelling birds show clear signs of stress linked to the toxic effects of air pollution and an unhealthy diet. This could have health implications for people living in cities. |
 | To breed or not to breed? Migratory female butterflies face a monsoonal dilemmaWhat do CPUs, stockbrokers, and butterflies have in common? They are good at investing their resources in the right place at the right time so as to maximize their returns! Trade-offs are a way of life for butterflies and other small insects that must budget their energy between numerous morphological features and activities during their short lifespans. Time, food, and space are always at a premium, and optimizing resource use is particularly important for migratory butterflies that must prepare for arduous journeys in uncertain environments. A new study by researchers at the National Centre for Biological Sciences (NCBS-TIFR, Bangalore) reports on butterfly migrations in peninsular India and explores the effect of migration on resource investment strategies of migratory butterflies. It reveals that migration affects the morphology and physiological states of female butterflies much more prominently compared to that of males. |
 | Global research team fills language gap in plant scienceTo keep pace with the fast-evolving study of cellular plant science, an international team of researchers has created terminology and definitions likely to become everyday language in laboratories and university classrooms worldwide. |
 | Durian industry could suffer without the endangered fruit batScientists have discovered that Southeast Asia's endangered fruit bats - commonly known as flying foxes - play an important part in the pollination of the iconic and economically important durian tree. |
 | Scientists bring new insights into the heritability of HIV infection severityHIV's pernicious persistence in human populations—despite more than 25 years of heroic HIV research efforts —owes in part to its particular abilities to exploit its human hosts, constantly adapting and mutating to enhance its infectiousness and virulence. |
 | Recluse or not? Scientists use Twitter to tackle spider questionsRecluse spiders, especially the brown recluse (Loxosceles reclusa), are one of the world's most maligned groups of spiders. Everybody thinks they know someone who's been bitten by one, but bites are actually uncommon. |
 | Up to 50% fewer phytosanitary products required to treat vine diseasesThe FITOVID project, the results of which were presented recently, has managed to decrease the amount of phytosanitary products required in vineyards by up to 50 percent. |
This email is a free service of Science X Network
You received this email because you subscribed to our list.
If you no longer want to receive this email use the link below to unsubscribe.
https://sciencex.com/profile/nwletter/
You are subscribed as jmabs1@gmail.com
No comments:
Post a Comment