Dear Reader ,
Here is your customized Science X Newsletter for January 29, 2018:
Spotlight Stories Headlines
Astronomy & Space news
 | Researchers study interstellar medium in the galaxy NGC 3665Using ESA's Herschel telescope a team of Chinese researchers has performed analysis of the interstellar medium in the early-type galaxy NGC 3665. The study offers insights into physical properties of the matter between its star systems. The results were presented January 16 in a paper published on arXiv.org. |
 | Rare 'super blood blue moon' visible on Jan 31A cosmic event not seen in 36 years—a rare "super blood blue moon"—may be glimpsed January 31 in parts of western North America, Asia, the Middle East, Russia and Australia. |
 | Grand Bend fireball may have dropped meteoritesNothing lights up the night – or sparks the interest of researchers – quite like a meteor sighting. |
 | Image: Hubble's standout stars bound together by gravityThis image from the NASA/ESA Hubble Space Telescope reveals a glistening and ancient globular cluster named NGC 3201—a gathering of hundreds of thousands of stars bound together by gravity. NGC 3201 was discovered in 1826 by the Scottish astronomer James Dunlop, who described it as a "pretty large, pretty bright" object that becomes "rather irregular" towards its center. |
 | The search for life on other planets could get a boost from biosignaturesBy studying the atmospheric contents of ancient and present-day Earth, scientists say they've discovered specific chemical combinations that could reveal the presence of biological activity on other planets. |
 | Team sheds light on the mysteries of Saturn's ringsA Skoltech-led team of international scientists has developed a mathematical model that makes sense of one of the great mysteries of Saturn's rings. |
 | Image: Jupiter's swirling south poleThis image of Jupiter's swirling south polar region was captured by NASA's Juno spacecraft as it neared completion of its tenth close flyby of the gas giant planet. |
 | Blue moon, super moon, total lunar eclipse rolled into oneThe moon is providing a rare triple treat this week. |
 | Teacher killed in space shuttle Challenger disaster honoredNew Hampshire has proclaimed a day in tribute to a local teacher who died in the NASA space shuttle Challenger disaster decades ago. |
 | Image: Mark Vande Hei's 'space selfie'On Tuesday, Jan. 23, 2018, Mark Vande Hei snapped his own portrait, better known as a "space selfie," during the first spacewalk of the year. |
 | NASA's GOLD powers on for the first timeNASA's Global-scale Observations of the Limb and Disk, or GOLD, mission powered on the GOLD instrument for the first time after launch on Jan. 28, 7:23 p.m. EST. |
 | Updates on recovery attempts for NASA IMAGE missionAfter an amateur astronomer recorded observations of a satellite in high Earth orbit on Jan. 20, 2018, his initial research suggested it was the Imager for Magnetopause-to-Aurora Global Exploration (IMAGE)—a NASA mission launched into orbit around Earth on March 25, 2000. |
Technology news
 | Changing the color of 3-D printed objects3-D printing has come a long way since the first "rapid prototyping" patent was rejected in 1980. We've evolved from basic designs to a wide range of highly-customizable objects. Still, there's a big issue: once objects are printed, they're final. If you need a change, you'll need a reprint. |
 | Tiny hygrobots need no batteries—they are powered by waterA team of researchers at Soul National University has developed a series of small robots that move without need for an engine or batteries. Instead, as the researchers explain in their paper published in the journal Science Robots, the hygrobots, as they are called, move due to absorption and evaporation of water. |
 | Ford's patent application puts focus on autonomous police vehiclesDrivers thumbing their nose at speed limits may one day get a surprise when the police car springing out to nab them is driverless, if a concept from Ford were to be realized. The automaker filed for a patent for an autonomous police car. |
 | Microsoft Garage project Ink to Code works on sketched ideasAt the very time of this writing, someone somewhere on a plane, train or bar stool will be excited over some drawing or words scribbled on a napkin which he and his companion are moving around to describe the next big idea—what it will look like and how it will work. |
 | Exercise tracking map highlights locations of deployed troopsA map showing paths taken by users of an exercise tracking app reveals potentially sensitive information about American and allied military personnel in places including Iraq and Syria. |
 | Researchers propose novel solution to better secure voice over internet communicationResearchers at the University of Alabama at Birmingham have developed a novel method to better protect crypto phones from eavesdropping and other forms of man-in-the-middle attacks. |
 | Using AI to uncover the mystery of Voynich manuscriptComputing scientists at the University of Alberta are using artificial intelligence to decipher an ancient manuscript. |
 | Americans are spending more time at home, and it's saving a lot of energyResearchers have identified a positive trade-off for the rise in online shopping, our consumption of streaming video, and employees working from home. Despite increasing the amount of residential energy demand, the decrease in travel and use of non-residential spaces was responsible for a net 1,700 trillion bTU in energy savings for the United States in 2012, 1.8% of the national total. The analysis, published January 29 in the journal Joule, reflects how advances in information technology are changing the American lifestyle, particularly for those under the age of 65. |
 | Earthquake engineers conduct research on steel collectorsAn award-winning team of researchers at the University of Arizona and partnering universities is working to develop buildings that will not collapse under the force of major earthquakes, such as last year's 7.1-magnitude quake in central Mexico and 7.3-magnitude quake near the Iran-Iraq border. The two earthquakes were the deadliest of 2017, killing approximately 900 people combined, flattening hundreds of buildings and leaving tens of thousands of people homeless. |
 | Japan's crypto exchange to refund to customers after theftJapan-based virtual currency exchange Coincheck said Sunday it will refund about $400 million to customers after hackers stole hundreds of millions of dollars' worth of digital assets. |
Estonia makes 'token' effort to take euro cryptoEstonia is looking to drag the euro into the crypto age—and tame the volatility plaguing bitcoin and its peers—by creating a digital token backed by the single European currency. | |
 | Copyright board boosts songwriters' music streaming feesA federal copyright board has raised the music streaming royalties for songwriters and music publishers by more than 40 percent to narrow the financial divide separating them from recording labels. |
 | Japan to sanction Coincheck after massive cryptocurrency heistJapan said Monday it would impose administrative measures on virtual currency exchange Coincheck after hackers stole hundreds of millions of dollars in digital assets from the Tokyo-based firm. |
 | VW under fire for diesel tests on monkeys, humansThe world's biggest carmaker Volkswagen faced fresh scrutiny Monday over reports it helped finance experiments that saw monkeys and humans breathe car exhaust fumes. |
Easy decryption shows that chat-app designers should improve the ways they protect users' personal dataA*STAR researchers have successfully recovered decryption keys for two popular chat-apps—WeChat and WhatsApp. With these decryption keys, they could potentially collect users' personal data and private information. | |
 | Research could help electric cars beat the coldLeave a car overnight in extreme cold and you might get an unpleasant surprise in the morning. |
 | How cities still work around the dominance of parking spaceCar parking is expected but often unnoticed, taking up surprisingly large proportions of city space. A parking bay occupies at least 13 square metres – some codes specify up to 30 square metres including accessways. |
The future of realityThink you know reality? Think again! In 2018, digital technologies are moving into the physical world. | |
 | Factories get more business when they treat workers rightFor years, academics have debated if relaxing labor and environmental standards attracts or repels international business. Now a new study finds that manufacturers that adhere to basic labor and environmental standards saw a 4 percent increase in annual purchases over those that did not. |
 | Indian sacred texts and the logic of computer ethicsThe Indian sacred texts of the Vedas have been studied for millennia. But now, for the first time in history, computer scientists in Vienna analyse them by applying the methods of mathematical logic. This gives Sanskritists new insights and can even settle philosophical disputes which are more than one or two thousand years old. On the other hand, it helps computer scientists to develop reasoning tools to deal with deontic concepts (such as prohibitions and obligations). Such tools are enormously important if we want to implement ethics in artificial intelligence – for instance if a self-driving car has to make ethical decisions in case of an accident. |
 | Artificial intelligence is the weapon of the next Cold WarIt is easy to confuse the current geopolitical situation with that of the 1980s. The United States and Russia each accuse the other of interfering in domestic affairs. Russia has annexed territory over U.S. objections, raising concerns about military conflict. |
 | Flexing for the next silicon waveUltrathin, rigid silicon segments that are wired through interdigitated metal contacts produce ultraflexible high-performance solar cells. |
Student uses novel approach to analyse the value of wordsPip Thornton, a Ph.D. student in Geopolitics and Cybersecurity at Royal Holloway, University of London, uses Google AdWords to analyse poetry. | |
 | Top Dutch banks, government services hit by cyber attacks (Update)The top three banks in the Netherlands have been targeted in rolling multiple cyber attacks over the past week, blocking access to websites and internet banking services, they said on Monday. |
 | BMW takes full control of car-sharing platform DriveNowGerman high-end carmaker BMW said Monday it had bought partner Sixt's share in car-sharing platform DriveNow, stoking speculation a merger with a competing service from Daimler may lie ahead. |
 | What your face says about your heartbeatResearchers at Utah State University don't need an Apple Watch or stethoscope to measure your heartbeat. They only need a video camera. |
 | Networking, data experts design a better portal for scientific discoveryThese days, it's easy to overlook the fact that the World Wide Web was created nearly 30 years ago primarily to help researchers access and share scientific data. Over the years, the web has evolved into a tool that helps us eat, shop, travel, watch movies and even monitor our homes. |
 | Apple's stock sinks as high hope for iPhone X sales fadeApple's stock is backtracking from its recent highs amid mounting concerns that iPhone X sales will fall short of the high hopes for a device that brought facial recognition technology and a $1,000 price tag to the company's flagship product line. |
 | Pentagon probes fitness-app use after map shows sensitive sites (Update)The US military is reviewing how troops use fitness trackers and other devices, the Pentagon said Monday after an exercise-logging company published a map revealing potentially sensitive information about US and allied forces in places including the Middle East. |
 | Trump team weighs plan to nationalize high-speed networks (Update)President Donald Trump's national security team is mulling a plan to nationalize the newest generation of high-speed wireless internet networks, sparking sharp criticism Monday from across industry and the political spectrum. |
360-degree panoramic view via single-sensor matrixVTT Technical Research Centre of Finland has developed a new solution for thermal infrared applications, making it possible to fold a 360-degree panoramic view on a single sensor matrix. The concept guaranteeing optimal image quality is especially suitable for security, surveillance, military, and building diagnostic applications, where the objects to be imaged lie in the horizontal directions from the camera. | |
 | Solar heat could make power + water for Namibia: studyA research study from Stellenbosch University finds that a 100 MW concentrated solar power (CSP) plant adapted to also "co-generate" water via multi-effect distillation (MED) would potentially be financially viable for Namibia given a world class solar resource at Arandis, where state utility NamPower plans a solar park close to the demand. |
 | Explainer: Why are crypto exchanges vulnerable to hacks?Blockchain technology can make transactions safe and secure, but crypto-currency exchanges that trade bitcoins and other virtual currencies that are based on this technology have been hacked because they are not working on secure networks, experts say. Late last week, the Tokyo-based Coincheck exchange reported a 58 billion yen ($530 million) loss of crypto currency due to hacking. The Coincheck exchange has halted trading of the stolen currency, NEM and restricted dealings in most other crypto currencies. It was the second major hacking assault on a Japanese crypto exchange after the Mt. Gox debacle in 2014. Here's a look at the security concerns surrounding crypto currencies. |
Foxconn wants to tap 7 million gallons of water a dayFoxconn Technology Group wants to tap 7 million gallons of water a day from Lake Michigan to meet its needs. | |
Tyson Foods invests in firm trying to make meat from cellsTyson Foods Inc. has invested in a food-tech startup that's developing methods to produce meat directly from animal cells. | |
Medicine & Health news
 | Language is learned in brain circuits that predate humansIt has often been claimed that humans learn language using brain components that are specifically dedicated to this purpose. Now, new evidence strongly suggests that language is in fact learned in brain systems that are also used for many other purposes and even pre-existed humans, say researchers in PNAS. |
 | Study: In heroin addiction, glial cells play key roles in regulating the motivation for the drugScientists studying addiction know that heroin and other opioids induce plasticity in brain cells. Now, University at Buffalo researchers have made the novel discovery that in certain types of brain cells, drug-induced plasticity can work to reduce, rather than boost, motivation for heroin. |
 | Uncovering the early origins of Huntington's diseaseWith new findings, scientists may be poised to break a long impasse in research on Huntington's disease, a fatal hereditary disorder for which there is currently no treatment. |
 | Body clock disruptions occur years before memory loss in Alzheimer'sPeople with Alzheimer's disease are known to have disturbances in their internal body clocks that affect the sleep/wake cycle and may increase risk of developing the disorder. Now, new research at Washington University School of Medicine in St. Louis indicates that such circadian rhythm disruptions also occur much earlier in people whose memories are intact but whose brain scans show early, preclinical evidence of Alzheimer's. |
 | Hidden genetic effects behind immune diseases may be missed, study suggestsThe role of genetics in the risk of having an immune disease could be missed in research, scientists suggest. Using a combination of stem cells and novel analytical tools, scientists at the Wellcome Sanger Institute and their collaborators discovered that clues to the contribution of genetic variation to disease risk lie not only in the genes, but also in the molecular switches that control those genes. |
 | Men hold secret to protect women from multiple sclerosisMen are much less likely to get multiple sclerosis (MS) than women and one reason is that they are protected by high levels of testosterone. |
 | Why do we trust, or not trust, strangers? The answer is PavlovianOur trust in strangers is dependent on their resemblance to others we've previously known, finds a new study by a team of psychology researchers. Its results show that strangers resembling past individuals known to be trustworthy are trusted more; by contrast, those similar to others known to be untrustworthy are trusted less. |
 | Mate-choice copying in humans – are all the taken men good?A new study by researchers from the Universities of St Andrews, Durham, Exeter and Arizona State finds that men get an 'attractiveness boost' from being chosen by others – but so do abstract works of art. |
 | Study focuses on atomic structure of the serotonin transporter bound to SSRIsNew molecular research shows how chemically diverse drugs used to treat depression and anxiety disorders interact with the protein that transports serotonin in the brain. The discovery by researchers at the OHSU Vollum Institute could open the way for the development of additional forms of antidepressants collectively known as selective serotonin reuptake inhibitors, or SSRIs. |
 | Researchers reverse symptoms in neurologic disease modelIt is a parent's nightmare: a child is born apparently healthy, then stops meeting developmental milestones at one year old. Her verbal and motor skills vanish, and irregular breathing, seizures, and a host of other problems appear. The cause is Rett syndrome—a devastating genetic, neurologic disorder that typically affects girls, resulting in severe disability and often accompanied by autistic behavior. Most Rett patients will live into middle age and require specialized full-time care. There is no cure, but researchers from Case Western Reserve University School of Medicine have been working to find ways to restore brain function and reverse disabilities associated with Rett syndrome. |
 | Tickling the brain with electrical stimulation improves memory, study showsTickling the brain with low-intensity electrical stimulation in a specific area can improve verbal short-term memory. Mayo Clinic researchers report their findings in Brain. |
 | Nicotine in E-cigarettes might cause cancers, mouse study suggestsThe nicotine in e-cigarettes seems to damage DNA in ways that may increase cancer risk, a new study in mice suggests. |
Scientists smash thousands of proteins to find four 'Legos of life'By "smashing" proteins and looking at the broken bits, scientists at Rutgers University say they've discovered four basic building blocks that can be stacked like Legos to build all kinds of different proteins. | |
 | Papua's deadly measles outbreak shows decades of neglect: expertsIndonesia's battle to stem a deadly measles outbreak striking malnourished children in Papua is doomed to be repeated unless the government helps lift the isolated region out of grinding poverty, observers said. |
Teens whose mothers had an abortion are more likely to undergo abortionTeens whose mothers had abortions were more likely to also have abortions, according to new research in CMAJ (Canadian Medical Association Journal). | |
Menopause found to worsen symptoms of rheumatoid arthritisA recent study published in Rheumatology suggests that women with rheumatoid arthritis suffer a greater decline in physical function following menopause. After studying 8189 women with rheumatoid arthritis, researchers found that pre-menopausal women experienced a slower physical decline than those that were post-menopausal. | |
 | Sanofi wins big in battle for nano-drug makerFrance's Sanofi announced Monday that it had reached a deal to acquire Belgian biotech firm Ablynx that values the firm at 3.9 billion euros ($4.8 billion), beating out Danish rival Novo Nordisk for the nano-drug maker. |
Guideline adherence, not patient volume, may be better hospital heart failure metricIn evaluating the quality of care given to those hospitalized with heart failure, adherence to clinical guidelines may be a better measure of quality than the number of heart failure patients a hospital admits, according to new research in the American Heart Association's journal Circulation. | |
 | Moving pictures, feeble words: Emotional images sway people more than emotional wordsCan your behavior be influenced by subtle, barely visible signals, such as an emotionally charged image briefly flashed on a TV screen or roadside billboard? It may sound like hysteria about covert advertising—but according to new research published in open-access journal Frontiers in Psychology, the answer is yes. |
 | No sex without kiss! Researchers discover how the brain controls sexA research team led by Professor Julie Bakker at Liège University (Belgium) and Professor Ulrich Boehm at Saarland University (Germany) has made a major advancement in the understanding of how the brain controls sex. Their research results are published today in Nature Communications. |
 | Diabetes makes bones less bendable, more prone to fractureBesides impairing cardiovascular and kidney function, Type 2 diabetes is known to be a risk factor for bone fractures – but exactly how diabetes makes bones more fragile has been unclear. |
 | The age-old search for a cure for hair loss may be close to an endUnderstanding the energy it takes to grow a strand of hair could hold the key to ensuring women end their lives with a wonderful bouffant. |
The biological clock as an ally in the fight against inflammatory diseaseWhat if the symptoms and seriousness of certain inflammatory diseases were linked to time of day? Researchers from Inserm, Institut Pasteur de Lille and Université de Lille have been working on this hypothesis, after noting that the seriousness and mortality associated with fulminant hepatitis were dependent on the time at which the disease was induced. Their study, conducted on human cells and mice, shows that the anti-inflammatory action of a biological clock protein could prevent the onset of fulminant hepatitis by alleviating symptoms and increasing survival rates. | |
 | High rates of diabetes, hypertension found in IndiaRates of diabetes and hypertension are high among middle-aged and elderly people across all geographic measures and sociodemographic groups in India, according to the first nationally representative study of those conditions in the country. The study, led by researchers at Harvard T.H. Chan School of Public Health, also found unexpectedly high rates of hypertension among young adults. |
Graduates of early childhood program show greater educational gains as adultsStudents who participated in an intensive childhood education program from preschool to third grade were more likely to achieve an academic degree beyond high school, compared to a similar group that received other intervention services as children, according to a study funded by the National Institutes of Health. | |
Viruses that infect bacteria abound in bladderPhages—viruses that infect bacteria—are abundant in the bacteria that inhabit the female bladder. This is good news, because phage could be used as alternative treatment when antibiotics become resistant to pathogenic bacteria. The research is reported this week in the Journal of Bacteriology, a publication of the American Society for Microbiology. | |
Virtual reality helping to improve healthcareA virtual reality colonoscopy developed by researchers at the University of Sheffield could help clinicians to detect abnormalities in the digestive system. | |
Expert discusses whether direct-to-consumer genetics testing kits really workFor my family this past holiday season, the most heated discussion was not generated from the usual suspects (politics or sibling dynamics), but rather from a Secret Santa gift: a 23andMe genetics testing kit given by an aunt to her niece. The kit's premise is that by sending in a saliva sample, you can find out how much of your DNA hails from different parts of the world. | |
 | Why the difficult person at work probably isn't a psychopathAs workplaces become increasingly difficult and damaging environments, there are plenty of articles and books on dealing with "psychopaths" among your colleagues. |
 | Culturally sensitive treatments for depressionEach week Dr. Yusra Ahmad, a psychiatrist and clinical lecturer at University of Toronto, meets six to eight women with a range of mental health disorders at a mosque in the city's west end. She leads them through a program that combines mindful meditation with concrete skills to manage negative thoughts and regulate emotions. |
Why health research rarely influences policy in IndonesiaThere is a disconnect between what health researchers in Indonesia are investigating and what the government aims to achieve in solving the country's health problems. | |
 | Toxic shock syndrome is rare. Be vigilant but not alarmedThe tragic case of US model Lauren Wasser who has now lost both legs as a result of toxic shock syndrome while using tampons has shone a spotlight on this rare but potentially fatal condition. So just what is toxic shock syndrome (TSS) and how likely is it if we use tampons? |
 | As flu blankets the nation, a new study links the virus to heart attacksThe flu doesn't just cause aches, chills and debilitating fatigue. A new study shows it may also increase the risk of a heart attack. |
 | What you need to know about compulsive shopping—the modern addiction no one's talking aboutMany people will have hit the shops or gone online to bag a bargain in the January sales over the last few weeks and may now be feeling the pinch until their next payday. It is an annual tradition for some – with tales of shoppers getting up in the middle of the night to secure the latest bargain. For other people though, shopping is not something that can be easily controlled – and is used as a coping mechanism for anxiety and low self-esteem. |
 | What happens in the brain before a bungee jump?Surjo R. Soekadar, psychiatrist and neuroscientist at the University of Tübingen, and his doctoral candidate Marius Nann have for the very first time succeeded in measuring the readiness potential, outside a laboratory and under extreme conditions, namely prior to a 192-meter bungee jump. |
 | Increasing public awareness is vital in the fight against infectious diseasesResearchers from the School of Veterinary Medicine at the University of Surrey working alongside an international team including scientists from the Animal and Plant Health Agency, Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, Azerbaijan Republican Veterinary Laboratory and State Veterinary Service, and Washington State University, examined in detail the effectiveness of raising awareness of the infectious disease, rabies. Although Western Europe is free from rabies, it continues to pose a threat to animal and human health on the borders of Europe. |
India has 21 million 'unwanted' girlsThe desire of Indian parents for sons has created an estimated 21 million "unwanted" girls because couples keep having children until they produce a boy, the government said Monday. | |
 | America's dogs have their own flu battles(HealthDay)—While a brutal flu season is felling humans by the score, veterinarians warn that there have also been outbreaks of canine flu in some parts of the United States. |
 | Who really needs to go gluten-free(HealthDay)—It seems like "gluten-free" labels are popping up everywhere, including on foods that never had any gluten to begin with. Is this a health bandwagon you should jump on … or shy away from? |
 | Left bundle branch block tied to left ventricular dysfunction(HealthDay)—Left bundle branch block (LBBB) is associated with a smaller degree of left ventricular ejection fraction (LVEF) improvement compared with other QRS morphologies, according to a study published in the Jan. 23 issue of the Journal of the American College of Cardiology. |
Schools key to successful integration of child refugees, says studySchools can provide the ideal environment to improve integration and reduce the difficulties faced by refugee children in Western asylum countries, according to a new study from psychologists at City, University of London. | |
Oestrogen causes neuroblastoma cells to mature into neuronsThe female sex hormone oestrogen can perform an important role in neuroblastoma, a form of cancer mainly affecting young children. In laboratory experiments, researchers at Karolinska Institutet in Sweden demonstrate that oestrogen treatment and overexpression of the oestrogen receptor cause malignant neuroblastoma cells to mature into neuron-like cells. The study, which is published in PNAS, gives hope of new treatment possibilities. | |
France's Sanofi buys biotech company Ablynx for $4.8 billionFrench drugmaker Sanofi has made another big purchase aimed at strengthening its position in rare disease treatments, buying Belgian biotech company Ablynx for 3.9 billion euros ($4.8 billion). | |
 | To improve self-control, call weight loss what it is: DifficultTo reach your New Year's fitness goals, a bit of reverse psychology might be in order. Telling people that weight loss is extremely challenging—rather than imparting a "You can do it!" mantra—motivated them to shed more weight, according to a new study by psychologists at Drexel University. However, the strategy did not compel participants to achieve the goal for which it was originally designed: to modify or replace many of the unhealthy foods in their homes. |
Medications to treat cardiovascular risk factors do not impact erectile functionErectile dysfunction (ED) is a major public health problem. Men being treated for cardiovascular risk factors such as high blood pressure and high cholesterol are at increased risk of developing ED and often consider this condition a side effect of their medications. However, a new study into the effects of cholesterol-lowering statins and blood-pressure lowering candesartan/HCTZ concludes that these medications do not negatively affect erectile function. The study is published in the Canadian Journal of Cardiology. | |
 | Motivational music increases risk-taking but does not improve sports performanceA new study finds that listening to motivational music during sport activities and exercise increases risk-taking behavior but does not improve overall performance. The effect was more noticeable among men and participants who selected their own playlist. The study, published in Frontiers in Psychology, also found that self-selected music had the power to enhance self-esteem among those who were already performing well, but not among participants who were performing poorly. |
 | Life expectancy gains are slowing in both rich and poor countriesIncreases in human life expectancy have slowed dramatically across the world since 1950, according to a study from researchers at Johns Hopkins Bloomberg School of Public Health. Although a "ceiling effect" is expected as average lifespan approaches its biological limit, the study found that the trend towards slower gains—and even declines—in lifespan is worst among low-lifespan countries. |
 | Bevacizumab dramatically improves severe hereditary hemorrhagic telangiectasia (HHT) associated bleedingPatients with hereditary hemorrhagic telangiectasia (HHT) with severe bleeding, who were treated with intravenous bevacizumab, reported a marked reduction in nose bleeds and gastrointestinal bleeding and were able to stop or considerably reduce blood transfusions, resulting in significantly improved quality of life. A new study published in Mayo Clinic Proceedings provides good quality evidence for the excellent safety profile and efficacy of intravenous bevacizumab in the management of these patients. |
Low cost, easy to administer drug may be the key to preventing maternal deathsPostpartum hemorrhage (major blood loss after labor and birth) is the leading cause of maternal mortality worldwide, accounting for approximately one-quarter of all maternal deaths. In a study to be presented at the Society for Maternal-Fetal Medicine's (SMFM) annual meeting, The Pregnancy Meeting, researchers will unveil findings that demonstrate that tranexamic acid prevents blood loss after vaginal births and postpartum hemorrhage (PPH) among women who have an operative vaginal delivery (use of a vacuum or forceps) or an episiotomy. In the United States, about 3.1% of births occur via operative vaginal delivery and 11-12% of births include an episiotomy. These rates, however, vary between low, middle and high-income countries. | |
 | Walk in groups to keep exercise goals on trackPeople may be more likely to stick to taking exercise if they walk in groups, according to a paper published in the International Journal of Technology Assessment in Health Care. |
 | Interim publications of randomized trials make news but may not be ready for prime timeEarly results from randomized trials are sometimes published before the trial is completed. The results of such interim publications may generate a great deal of interest in the medical community because the findings often hold a great deal of promise for new and effective therapies. However, in an article recently published in JAMA, Dartmouth researchers compared the consistency and prominence of interim publications with the final publications. They found that 21% of the time, results changed significantly. |
Outpatient clinic reduces no-shows by 34 percent amid 13 percent patient visit increaseJanuary 29, 2018—The Elmont Teaching Health Center (ETHC), a community-based health center in Long Island, New York, implemented a program to reduce its patient no-shows in the fourth quarter of 2015. It was successful, achieving a 34 percent decrease, compared to the same quarter in 2014. | |
 | Rotavirus vaccine could reduce UK health inequalities, new study suggestsNew research led by the University of Liverpool has found that childhood vaccination against rotavirus has greatest benefit in the most deprived communities and could contribute to reducing health inequalities in the UK. |
 | Nutritionally-speaking, soy milk is best plant-based milkHow healthy is your almond milk really? It may taste good and may not cause you any of the unpleasant reactions caused by cow's milk. But though plant-based milk beverages of this kind have been on the market for a couple of decades and are advertised as being healthy and wholesome for those who are lactose-intolerant, little research has been done to compare the benefits and drawbacks of the various kinds of plant-based milk. A new study from McGill University looks at the four most-commonly consumed types of milk beverages from plant sources around the world - almond milk, soy milk, rice milk and coconut milk - and compares their nutritional values with those of cow's milk. After cow's milk, which is still the most nutritious, soy milk comes out a clear winner. |
 | Study suggests PD-1 inhibitors against aggressive pediatric brain cancer subtypeOne type of immunotherapy removes a genetic blindfold that cancer uses to hide from the immune system. These "PD-1 inhibitors", including drugs like pembrolizumab, nivolumab and atezolizumab, have proven useful and have even in some cases revolutionized the treatment of common adult cancers ranging from melanoma, to lung cancer, to kidney cancer and more. Now PD-1 inhibitors are entering clinical trials to treat childhood cancers. A University of Colorado Cancer Center study published in the journal Pediatric Blood Cancers lays the scientific groundwork for the use of PD-1 inhibitors with an aggressive form of brain cancer, namely supratentorial pediatric ependymoma. |
 | New radiation techniques could improve quality of life for lung cancer patientsWhile palliative radiation therapy is used to ease pain in patients with advanced lung cancer, it often has adverse effects on the esophagus which leads to symptoms like heartburn and difficulty swallowing. Through the PROACTIVE clinical trial, Lawson Health Research Institute scientist Dr. Alexander Louie is testing new palliative radiation techniques to spare these effects on the esophagus and improve quality of life for lung cancer patients. |
 | Fainting rarely tied to blood clot, study finds(HealthDay)—A fainting spell is rarely caused by a blood clot in the lungs, and usually doesn't warrant extensive testing, new research suggests. |
 | A new way to thwart disease-spreading mosquitoes(HealthDay)—It sounds like science fiction, but researchers say they have taken the first step toward creating female mosquitoes that don't bite and spread disease. |
 | Most ICU patient alarms not clinically accurate or relevant(HealthDay)—Most intensive care unit (ICU) patient monitoring alarms are not clinically accurate or relevant, according to a review published in the January issue of the American Journal of Critical Care. |
 | Specific white matter patterns linked to youth psychopathology(HealthDay)—General psychopathology is a heritable trait in youth that may be detected early in life through brain structural connectivity, according to a study published online Jan. 24 in JAMA Psychiatry. |
 | Hearing loss common among heart failure patients(HealthDay)—Nearly three-quarters of patients aged 70 or older with heart failure (HF) have hearing loss, according to a research letter published online Jan. 25 in JAMA Otolaryngology-Head & Neck Surgery. |
 | Pharmacist education may cut junior doctor prescription errors(HealthDay)—Pharmacist feedback and education is effective at reducing prescription writing errors by junior doctors in an inpatient setting, according to a study published online Jan. 24 in the Journal of Pharmacy Practice and Research. |
 | Diabetes consultation model helps patient involvement in care(HealthDay)—A consultation model that facilitates person-centered diabetes care results in more patient involvement, including shared decision making, according to a study published online Jan. 23 in Diabetes Care. |
 | 2016 saw increase in birth defects potentially linked to Zika(HealthDay)—From the first half of 2016 to the second half of 2016, there was an increase in the number of birth defects potentially related to Zika virus infection, according to research published in the Jan. 26 issue of the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention's Morbidity and Mortality Weekly Report. |
 | Pre-op physical therapy may cut pulmonary complications(HealthDay)—A 30-minute preoperative physical therapy session focused on breathing exercises is associated with a reduced incidence of postoperative pulmonary complications (PPCs) among patients undergoing upper abdominal surgery, according to a study published online Jan. 24 in The BMJ. |
 | MRI diagnostic for differentiating low-grade bladder cancers(HealthDay)—Magnetic resonance (MR) imaging is accurate in differentiating T1 or lower tumors from T2 or higher tumors among patients with bladder cancer, according to a review published in the February issue of Radiology. |
 | Weight loss among obese tied to improvements in chronic pain(HealthDay)—For obese individuals with chronic pain, a weight loss intervention is associated with improvements in the spatial distribution of pain and comorbid somatic symptoms, according to a study published in the December issue of the Journal of Pain. |
Austerity policies lie at heart of soaring homelessness and related health harms, argue expertsAusterity policies lie at the heart of soaring homelessness across England, with serious health implications for those affected, argue experts in The BMJ today. | |
 | Psychiatric medications are not overprescribed for kids, finds studyA new study at Columbia University Irving Medical Center (CUIMC) challenges the popular notion that psychiatric medications are overprescribed in children and adolescents in the U.S. When the researchers compared prescribing rates with prevalence rates for the most common psychiatric disorders in children, they discovered that some of these medications may be underprescribed. |
 | Microbubbles make breast cancer more susceptible to radiation therapyInjecting breast cancer with oxygen-filled microbubbles makes tumors three-times more sensitive to radiation therapy and improves survival in animal models of the disease. The study, published Jan 21st in the International Journal of Radiation Oncology* Biology* Physics makes a strong case for moving this technology into clinical trials with breast cancer patients. |
Management of diaphragmatic hernia in children: Canadian guideline to standardize careFor babies diagnosed with congenital diaphragmatic hernia, a comprehensive new guideline in CMAJ (Canadian Medical Association Journal) aims to provide guidance to physicians in diagnosing and managing the condition from the time a diagnosis is made during pregnancy through the teen years. | |
 | Is a pear—or apple-shape physique best for our brains?With the new year still ringing, many of us have fat on our minds, but Dr. Alexis M. Stranahan is more interested in what fat does to our minds. |
 | Drug improves PTSD traits in rat model of explosive blastsMale rats exposed to air blasts designed to mimic those from explosives used in recent military conflicts have symptoms of post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD) that are improved by a drug currently being evaluated in humans for treatment-resistant depression and suicidal tendencies. The research, published in eNeuro, provides a new direction for addressing the mental health problems that often arise following a common brain injury in veterans. |
These carbon dioxide-sensing neurons wake up miceStimulating a population of neurons in the midbrain with carbon dioxide (CO2) awakens adult male mice without enhancing breathing, finds a study published in JNeurosci. These findings are relevant to understanding disorders such as obstructive sleep apnea, sudden infant death syndrome and sudden unexpected death in epilepsy. | |
 | Access to water and diverse terrain encourage elderly toward physical activityA recently published study, conducted at the Gerontology Research Center of the University of Jyväskylä, found associations between features of natural environment in the home neighborhood and physical activity of older people. |
Dealing with insomnia in late pregnancyA study led by the University of Granada, in which the Andalusian Health Service (SAS) and researchers from the University of Jaen have taken part, reveals that 64 percent of pregnant women suffer from insomnia in the third trimester of pregnancy. This figure is 10 times higher than that for women suffering from insomnia prior to pregnancy (6 percent). | |
 | New clinical trial using water to treat polycystic kidney diseaseA cheap, safe and effective treatment to polycystic kidney disease may soon be available, thanks to a new national clinical out of Westmead, Australia, which is trialing water to treat the disease. |
Biology news
 | Human genome decoded with pocket-sized deviceScientists used a portable device no bigger than a cellphone to sequence the most complete human genome ever assembled with a single technology, according to a study published Monday. |
 | Method to determine when cell has 'cashed' RNA 'checks' written by active genesDNA has often been called "the book of life," but this popular phrase makes some biologists squirm a bit. True, DNA bears our genes, which spell out the instructions our cells use to make proteins—those workhorse molecules that comprise our physical being and make just about everything in life possible. |
 | Parasite mimics human proteins to provide 'ready meals' from the gutGiardia parasites - responsible for one of the world's most common gastric diseases - are able to mimic human cell functions to break apart cells in the gut and feed off them, new research has shown. |
 | Evolving sets of gene regulators explain some of our differences from other primatesToday, biologists add an important discovery to a growing body of data explaining why we're different from chimps and other primate relatives, despite the remarkable similarity of our genes. The new evidence has to do with the way genes are regulated. It's the result of a comprehensive genome-wide computational analysis of multiple individuals across three primate species - human, chimpanzee and rhesus macaque. |
 | Mammals and birds could have best shot at surviving climate changeNew research that analyzed more than 270 million years of data on animals shows that mammals and birds - both warm-blooded animals - may have a better chance of evolving and adapting to the Earth's rapidly changing climate than their cold-blooded peers, reptiles and amphibians. |
 | How plants 'muscle up' against bacteria in the coldMichigan State University scientists have furthered our understanding on how a plant protein, called CAMTA, helps plants strengthen themselves as they anticipate long periods of cold, such as three to four months of winter in the American midwest or northern Europe. |
 | Visualizing danger from songbird warning calls"Watch out! Snake!" Hearing this, people cannot help but imagine a snake as they prepare for a possible attack. In human conversation, hearing a particular word (e.g., "snake") can cause a listener to retrieve a specific mental image, even if there is nothing in the field of vision. |
 | Boosting Sirt4 gene activity extends healthy lifespan in fruit fliesA new study on the mechanics of aging and longevity finds that fruit flies inhibited from producing the protein Sirt4—which is also found in humans—are short-lived, while flies modified to make extra Sirt4 are long-lived. In addition, flies lacking Sirt4 display increased sensitivity to starvation, decreased fertility and activity, and an inability to use energy stores in their bodies. |
 | Novel technologies reveal key information about depleted east pacific green sea turtlesPopulations of green sea turtles living in the eastern region of the Pacific Ocean have rebounded in recent years, but their numbers remain dangerously depleted. Research by led by biologists at the University of California San Diego and NOAA's National Marine Fisheries Service is offering previously unknown information about where these turtles live and how they use their habitats, key data that will aid future conservation efforts. |
 | In the Galapagos, an idyllic hammerhead shark nurseryFor millions of years, new-born hammerhead sharks have grown up in nurseries sheltered by the mangrove swamps and reefs of the Galapagos Islands, safe from all human threat. |
 | The genome of vascular plants bears witness to the evolution of viruses of the family CaulimoviridaeEndogenous viral elements are viral sequences integrated into the nuclear genome of their host. They are veritable molecular fossils that prove infections that may have happened millions of years ago, and studying them can serve to understand how viruses evolve over time. |
Defining collapse—step forward for ecosystemsA team of researchers has created a four-step guide for defining ecosystem collapse, to improve resource management and help protect ecosystems. | |
 | Less money, more problems – trying to get fisheries rightSustainable marine fisheries seem to tick all the boxes. They can fill your belly, fill your wallet, and do it all for a fraction of the carbon emissions generated by conventional agriculture. They are the last major source of wild food that we can forage. |
 | Comparison of the genomes of two species of coral demonstrates unexpected genetic diversityThe first comparative genome study between two corals reveals significant evolutionary differences. These findings could help scientists understand the resilience of corals and how they might respond to climate change. |
 | Scientists grapple with worms to improve co-existence with wildlife in AfricaFarming at the border of National Parks in Africa can lead to conflict with wildlife, due to the belief that wild animals bring disease, prey upon livestock, and damage crops. In an unexpected twist, research conducted by the University of Bristol and Queen's University Belfast with the charity 'Elephants for Africa' and the University of Pretoria has found that grazing livestock with wildlife may benefit farmers by reducing parasitic disease. |
 | Bone experts offer how-to video for forensic professionalsAdvances in recent years allow forensic practitioners to use bone mineral density to extract more information from human remains – but many forensic experts are unfamiliar with the techniques and technology. Now forensic researchers from North Carolina State University have published a step-by-step methodology in the video journal JOVE, providing forensic professionals with a guide that can help them extract as much information as possible from this emerging tool. |
 | Brown recluse: Pest management tips for the spider that's not as common as you thinkOne of the first things you should know about the brown recluse spider is that its reputation far exceeds its actual prevalence. |
 | Untangling the complex taxonomic history of a Neotropical liana genusWhile untangling the complex taxonomy of Neotropical liana genus Pachyptera, scientists Ms. Jéssica Nayara Carvalho Francisco and Dr. Lúcia Garcez Lohmann from the University of São Paulo used integrative taxonomy to help them recognize five well-defined species, one of which newly described from Colombia and Venezuela. The monograph study was published in the open access journal PhytoKeys. |
 | One of world's oldest gorillas dies at San Diego Safari ParkOne of the world's oldest gorillas has died at San Diego Zoo Safari Park. |
 | Benin's Pendjari National Park comes back to lifeJean-Marc Froment leant against a railing at the lodge in Pendjari National Park in Benin's far north, and spotted about 40 elephants drinking at a large water hole. |
Baby red panda spells hope for the speciesRed pandas are in trouble, but the efforts of a global breeding programme could help save some of the world's most adorable animals. | |
 | France overturns ban on captive dolphin breedingFrance's highest administrative court on Monday overturned a ban on the breeding of dolphins in captivity, a victory for marine parks which had argued the move could put them out of business. |
Copper hydroxychloride in diets fed to weanling pigs improves performance and healthCopper is an essential element in diets for pigs, and it can be provided in a number of different forms. Copper hydroxychloride is less likely to react with other vitamins and minerals in a premix than the more commonly used copper sulfate, but research on its effects when fed to pigs is limited. Results of recent research at the University of Illinois indicate that including copper hydroxychloride in diets fed to weanling pigs improves growth performance and reduces diarrhea. | |
 | Heritage turkey production research profitable but more difficultTo meet increasing consumer demand for heritage-breed turkeys to be the centerpiece of holiday and other meals, researchers in Penn State's College of Agricultural Sciences are studying methods producers can use to raise the historical birds. |
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