Thursday, January 25, 2018

Science X Newsletter Thursday, Jan 25

Dear Reader ,

Here is your customized Science X Newsletter for January 25, 2018:

Spotlight Stories Headlines

Graphene based glucose-monitoring contact lens comfortable enough to wear

Novel methods of synthesizing quantum dot materials

Distinct brain rhythms, regions help us reason about categories

Surprising discovery links sour taste to the inner ear's ability to sense balance

Scientists discover oldest known modern human fossil outside of Africa

Tiny particles have outsize impact on storm clouds, precipitation

Is your sandwich bad for the environment?

Don't want to bother with cat litter? Japan offers robots

Long sought-after form of cubic, semiconducting titanium nitride synthesized

New technology standard could shape the future of electronics design

Century of data shows sea-level rise shifting tides in Delaware, Chesapeake bays

MIND diet may slow cognitive decline in stroke survivors

Mosquitoes remember human smells, but also swats, researchers find

Study could explain link between high-cholesterol diet and colon cancer

The bacterial 'Game of Thrones'

Astronomy & Space news

Europa and other planetary bodies may have extremely low-density surfaces

Spacecraft landing on Jupiter's moon Europa could see the craft sink due to high surface porosity, research by Planetary Science Institute Senior Scientist Robert Nelson shows.

Research shows first jet from massive young star detected outside our galaxy

In a significant astronomical discovery, a University of Canterbury (UC) scientist has made the very first detection of a jet from a very young, massive star in a galaxy that is not our own.

Effective Space signs deal with satellite company to use drones to lengthen life of satellites in orbit

Representatives for Effective Space, a U.K. based space technology company, have announced to the press that a deal has been struck between their company and a well-known satellite operator to provide satellite support in orbit. The support, in this case, will involve placing two drones on a rocket, sending them into space and then using them to rescue two satellites that are about to run out of fuel.

Microbes may help astronauts transform human waste into food

Human waste may one day be a valuable resource for astronauts on deep-space missions. Now, a Penn State research team has shown that it is possible to rapidly break down solid and liquid waste to grow food with a series of microbial reactors, while simultaneously minimizing pathogen growth.

What would it have been like to witness the beginning of the universe?

Something wonderful happened about 13.8 billion years ago. Everything in the universe was created in an instant as an infinitesimally small point of energy: the Big Bang. We know that this event happened, as the universe is constantly expanding and galaxies are moving away from us. The more we peer into the past, the smaller it gets – that's how we know it must have once been infinitesimally small, and that there must have been a beginning.

NASA poised to topple a planet-finding barrier

NASA optics experts are well on the way to toppling a barrier that has thwarted scientists from achieving a long-held ambition: building an ultra-stable telescope that locates and images dozens of Earth-like planets beyond the solar system and then scrutinizes their atmospheres for signs of life.

NASA honors 7 killed on space shuttle Columbia 15 years ago (Update)

NASA honored the seven astronauts killed aboard shuttle Columbia 15 years ago, with a special musical tribute Thursday by the son of Israel's first astronaut.

Image: Space weather effects

Space weather refers to the environmental conditions in space as influenced by solar activity.

Technology news

Graphene based glucose-monitoring contact lens comfortable enough to wear

A team of researchers with the Ulsan National Institute of Science and Technology in the Republic of Korea has developed a glucose monitoring contact lens that its makers claim is comfortable enough to wear. In their paper published on the open access site Science Advances, the group describes their contact lens and suggests it could be ready for commercial use within five years.

Don't want to bother with cat litter? Japan offers robots

Japan, home of the "kawaii" cult of cute, has always had a soft spot for companion robots, in contrast to the more industrial or mechanical types used for assembly lines, surgeries and military missions. The Associated Press spent some time recently with three relatively affordable home robots from Japanese makers that target the elderly, kids and hard-working salarymen pressed for time. Unlike real children or pets, they have off switches and don't need constant attention, dog food or cat litter.

New sensor for measuring electric field strength

Accurately measuring electric fields is important in a variety of applications, such as weather forecasting, process control on industrial machinery, or ensuring the safety of people working on high-voltage power lines. Yet from a technological perspective, this is no easy task.

Nature-inspired soft millirobot makes its way through enclosed spaces

Scientists at the Max Planck Institute for Intelligent Systems invented a magnetically controlled soft robot only four millimeters in size, that can walk, crawl or roll through uneven terrain, carry cargo, climb onto the water surface, and even swim in it. The inspiration comes from soft-bodied beetle larvae and caterpillars, and even jellyfishes posed as biological models. One day, this small-scale robot may enable targeted drug delivery or minimally invasive surgery, the researchers hope. Its multiple locomotion capability in complex environments is so unique that science journal Nature will publish the researchers´ findings in its February edition. 

Bugatti eyes 3-D printing with titanium

3-D printing using plastic is what we normally read about. That, however, has not deterred curious minds from exploring other materials. While the 3-D printing of auto parts has been interesting in and of itself, luxury car makers are fond of imaginative ideas that step beyond the norm. Bugatti, for one, has gone ahead to 3-D-print brake calipers out of titanium.

SK Hynix posts record quarterly net profit

The world's second-largest memory chipmaker SK Hynix saw profits nearly double to hit a record in the fourth quarter on strong demand, it said Thursday.

Hyundai Motor 2017 net profit sinks 20.5%

South Korea's biggest automaker Hyundai saw profits slump last year, it said Thursday, as it was battered by tougher competition and Chinese retaliation over the deployment of a US missile system.

Dutch robots help make cheese, 'smell' the roses

It might be one small move for a robot, but it could prove an important step for Dutch cheesemakers. Moonlander, invented by students, is here to help take the hard work out of curds and whey.

EU top court rules privacy campaigner can go after Facebook

The European Union's top court says that Austrian privacy campaigner Maximillian Schrems can bring a case against Facebook Ireland as an individual but there cannot be a class action suit.

Why wind turbines annoy residents and how to reduce the problem

When falling asleep, relaxing or undertaking recreational activities, nearly a third of residents living near a wind farm report that they are not at all annoyed, or only slightly annoyed by the noise of wind turbines. One in 10 people experience symptoms of stress, such as irritability or difficulty falling asleep. However, noise is not the only problem for those affected, according to psychologists at Martin Luther University Halle-Wittenberg (MLU) in the current issue of the journal Energy Policy. According to the study, a better information policy during the planning phase could help alleviate problems for residents.

Smart speakers could be the tipping point for home automation

One of the biggest trends of the Consumer Electronics Show (CES) in Las Vegas this year was companies taking digital smart assistants – think Apple's Siri, Google's Assistant and Amazon's Alexa – and incorporating them into more and more consumer devices.

A simple new approach to plastic solar cells

Humankind is in the midst of a massive drive to harness solar energy to power our homes, gadgets, and industry. Plastic solar cells, based on blends of conducting organic polymers, are of interest for making lightweight and cheap solar cells. The problem with these kinds of solar cells is that their solar power efficiencies are very closely related to the way the different types of materials mix and crystalize in thin films. This means complex and careful processing is usually needed to make efficient polymer solar cells.

Robots to the rescue: Saving lives with unmanned vehicles

Last week's sea rescue of Australian swimmers by an Unmanned Aerial Vehicle (UAV) is just the start of a robotics revolution.

The state of the U.S. solar industry

On Jan. 22, 2018, the Trump administration announced plans to impose punitive duties on solar panels imported from abroad. This decision came in response to a complaint filed by two solar companies, but much of the industry opposes the action, which trade groups say will increase the cost of solar projects and depress demand. To illustrate what's at stake, energy scholar Joshua Rhodes provides some context on the U.S. solar industry and its opportunities and challenges.

How secure is your data when it's stored in the cloud?

As cloud storage becomes more common, data security is an increasing concern. Companies and schools have been increasing their use of services like Google Drive for some time, and lots of individual users also store files on Dropbox, Box, Amazon Drive, Microsoft OneDrive and the like. They're no doubt concerned about keeping their information private – and millions more users might store data online if they were more certain of its security.

Facebook wins EU court fight against class action lawsuit

The EU's top court on Thursday dismissed a bid by an Austrian activist to bring a class action against Facebook for privacy breaches, although he can sue the US social media giant on a personal basis.

Britain urges global regulation of bitcoin

The British government called Thursday for global regulation of controversial virtual currency bitcoin, adding that the G20 would address the topic in March.

Sky delivers profits surge awaiting takeover by Fox

Sky, the pan-European TV giant, announced Thursday a 40-percent increase in first-half net profit on higher revenues, while awaiting a takeover by Rupert Murdoch's 21st Century Fox.

Temperature swings could cause pothole problems for drivers

Motorists enjoying days of above-freezing temperatures after shivering through frigid single digits may encounter a jarring reality by spring.

Russian experts submit 'impenetrable' smartphone protection system

The team of the Institute of Laser and Plasma Technologies at the National Researcj Nuclear University MEPhI has developed a system of continuous authentication of mobile device users based on behavioral biometrics. The research results have been presented in several international conferences and published in an article titled "Mobile authentication over hand-waving".

Fiat Chrysler nearly doubles profits in 2017

Italian-US carmaker Fiat Chrysler said Thursday that its net profit nearly doubled in 2017, outpacing analysts' expectations, but it downgraded its sales target for the current year.

American Airlines earnings dip on higher costs

American Airlines reported a dip in fourth-quarter profits Thursday due to higher costs as it projected stronger-than-expected 2018 profits because of strong demand.

Integration of AI and robotics with materials sciences will lead to new clean energy technology

Materials are the foundation of essentially all clean energy technologies including advanced batteries, solar cells, low-energy semiconductors, catalysts for capturing and storing CO2, and more. But discovering new materials is currently a time consuming and expensive process: to determine whether they will be useful, newly discovered molecules are run through simulation, synthesis, and testing in an expensive process that can take 10 to 20 years.

Medicine & Health news

Distinct brain rhythms, regions help us reason about categories

We categorize pretty much everything we see, and remarkably, we often achieve that feat whether the items look patently similar - like Fuji and McIntosh apples - or they share a more abstract similarity - like a screwdriver and a drill. A new study at MIT's Picower Institute for Learning and Memory explains how.

MIND diet may slow cognitive decline in stroke survivors

A diet created by researchers at Rush University Medical Center may help substantially slow cognitive decline in stroke survivors, according to preliminary research presented on Jan. 25, at the American Stroke Association's International Stroke Conference 2018 in Los Angeles. The finding are significant because stroke survivors are twice as likely to develop dementia compared to the general population.

Study could explain link between high-cholesterol diet and colon cancer

New UCLA research could help explain the link between a high-cholesterol diet and an elevated risk for colon cancer.

Why mutations that would seemingly affect all cells lead to face-specific birth defects

About 1 in 750 babies born in the United States has some kind of craniofacial malformation, accounting for about one-third of all birth defects.

Discovery offers new genetic pathway for injured nerve regeneration

On the hunt for genes involved in regenerating critical nerve fibers called axons, biologists at the University of California San Diego came away with a surprise: The discovery of a new genetic pathway that carries hope for victims of traumatic injuries—from stroke to spinal cord damage.

Scientists discover stem cells that build a fly's nervous system

Scientists at Columbia's Zuckerman Institute have uncovered new insights into how stem cells transform into brain cells that control leg movements. The surprising details of this process, observed in the brains of fruit flies, could shed light on how the human brain develops—and what happens when problems arise. Stem cells hold tremendous promise for medicine; their ability to metamorphose into other kinds of cells make them useful for repairing injuries—from heart attacks to brain damage. By providing key insight into how stem cells develop and mature, this research should help scientists in their quest to use stem cells to heal.

The secret to building a strong heart—blood vessels

Every year, a small but not insignificant number of babies are born with hearts whose muscles are spongy and thin, although exactly what causes that condition isn't clear. Now, Stanford biologists think they may have found a clue: spongy heart muscles could be the result of improperly developed blood vessels surrounding the heart, the researchers write Jan. 25 in Nature Communications.

Heart cells sense stiffness by measuring contraction forces and resting tension simultaneously

Researchers from Queen Mary University of London have identified a new mechanism in which adhesive structures within the cells of the heart sense stiffness through muscle contractions and resting tension at the same time.

Researchers overcome obstacle for future stem cell therapies

Researchers have discovered a new technique that overcomes one of the major challenges of stem cell therapy.

Using virtual reality to identify brain areas involved in memory

Virtual reality is helping neuroscientists at the University of California, Davis, get new insight into how different brain areas assemble memories in context.

Substantial inequalities in cesarean births persist in many countries

A study published by The BMJ today shows that caesarean section rates have increased in most countries during the past decade, particularly among the richest fifth, indicating an increase in wealth related inequality over time.

Just one cigarette a day carries greater risk of heart disease and stroke than expected, warn expert

Smoking just one cigarette a day has a much higher risk of developing coronary heart disease and stroke than expected - about half the risk of smoking 20 per day - concludes a review of the evidence published by The BMJ today.

Researchers modify common flu virus to attack pancreatic cancer

A modified flu virus has now been used in experiments to successfully inhibit the growth of pancreatic cancer, according to an early study by Queen Mary University of London.

New meta-analysis: Recreational football is broad-spectrum medicine

It is now well-established that physical fitness and resting heart rate are a strong mortality predictors and that exercise training is a cornerstone in the non-pharmacological prevention and treatment of lifestyle diseases including, for example, hypertension, type 2 diabetes and osteoporosis.

Vitamin D supplements could ease painful IBS symptoms

Vitamin D supplements could help to ease painful Irritable Bowel Syndrome (IBS) symptoms, a new study from the University of Sheffield has found.

Study of 3,000 drinkers' attempts to cut down produces sobering results

January is a popular month for people trying to reduce their alcohol intake but how successful are they in doing so? A new study by the University of Bristol that assessed data on the drinking patterns of nearly 3,000 drinkers who reported that they were planning to reduce their alcohol consumption found that very few managed it when followed up six months later.

Alzheimer's drug targeting soluble amyloid falls short in a large clinical trial

A paper published today in the New England Journal of Medicine reports that solanezumab, a monoclonal antibody-based treatment for Alzheimer's disease developed by Eli Lilly that targets amyloid plaques, did not significantly slow cognitive decline.

Study links low carbohydrate intake to increased risk of birth defects

Women who are pregnant or planning to become pregnant may want to avoid diets that reduce or eliminate carbohydrates, as they could increase the risk of having babies with neural tube birth defects, according to a new study from the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill.

Finding the root cause of bronchiolitis symptoms

Every winter, doctors' offices and hospital emergency rooms fill with children who have bronchiolitis, an inflammation of the small airways in the lung. It's responsible for about 130,000 admissions each year. Sometimes these young patients have symptoms reminiscent of a bad cold with a fever, cough and runny nose. Other times, bronchiolitis causes breathing troubles so severe that these children end up in the intensive care unit.

How expectations impact actual exam scores

Confidence in good results is related to academic progress, as confirmed by the results of a study conducted by researchers from the Higher School of Economics, Vrije Universiteit Amsterdam and Tinbergen Institute.

Hugs evaluated

In emotionally charged situations, people tend to hug each other from the left side more often than in neutral contexts. Biopsychologists at Ruhr-Universität Bochum (RUB), headed by Julian Packheiser, Noemi Rook and assistant professor Dr. Sebastian Ocklenburg established this fact by evaluating more than 2,500 hugs. They attribute this ratio to the way emotions are processed in the respective brain hemispheres.

Adipose tissue depots compromise heart health

Researchers from the Institute of Pharmacology of the Charité - Universitätsmediz in Berlin have shown that the release of fatty acids from body fat has a major impact on heart health. By interfering with the body's lipid metabolism, the researchers successfully reduced the risk of heart failure. The results of this study have been published in the journal PLOS Genetics.

Prompt clot-grabbing treatment produces better stroke outcomes

Clot removal may be beneficial up to 24 hours following stroke in carefully selected patients, but every hour delayed after symptoms begin may be associated with more disability, according to preliminary research presented at the American Stroke Association's International Stroke Conference 2018, a world premier meeting dedicated to the science and treatment of cerebrovascular disease for researchers and clinicians.

Cancer researchers propose new ways to select patients for clinical trials

Many clinical trials for breast cancer fail to give clear answers on the efficacy of new therapies, despite enrolling thousands of patients and painstakingly tracking their outcomes for years. Now Yale Cancer Center (YCC) investigators have demonstrated in a new study that more sophisticated models to assess patient risk for cancer can result in better clinical trials with more definitive results.

Combining drugs that lower blood pressure and cholesterol could do more to prevent stroke

Combining medication that lowers blood pressure with medication that lowers cholesterol reduced first-time strokes by 44 percent, according to research presented at the American Stroke Association's International Stroke Conference 2018, a world premier meeting dedicated to the science and treatment of cerebrovascular disease for researchers and clinicians.

More than 20,000 LGBT teens in the U.S. will be subjected to harmful conversion therapy

An estimated 20,000 LGBT youth ages 13 to 17 will undergo conversion therapy from a licensed health care professional before the age of 18, according to a new study by the Williams Institute at UCLA School of Law.

Unexpected findings prompt re-evaluation of how the intestine repairs itself

Researchers at Baylor College of Medicine, Johns Hopkins University School of Medicine and the University of California, San Francisco have gained new insights into how the small intestine, one of the fastest renewing tissues in the human body, repairs itself after injury caused by intestinal rotavirus infection. Their findings have led them to propose that, contrary to the current thinking, how the intestine repairs itself seems to depend on the type of damage, and they found that triggers that were previously thought to be unimportant are actually essential for repairing virus-caused injury. The study appears in Cell Reports.

More than one in 10 U.K. 14-year-olds admit to binge drinking

Just under half of young people in the UK had tried alcohol by the time they were 14, with more than one in ten confessing to binge drinking, according to UCL research. 

A new strategy induces the regression of advanced lung tumors in mice

A study published in Cancer Cell by researchers of the Molecular Oncology Program at the Spanish National Cancer Research Centre (CNIO) shows that the elimination of the c-Raf kinase by genetic manipulation causes the regression of Kras oncogene-driven advanced lung tumours in a genetically designed mouse model that reproduces the natural history of this tumour type. It also demonstrates that the elimination of the c-Raf protein produces tolerable toxic effects. This opens a new possibility for the development of therapies against tumours for which there are still no selective medicines and which therefore must be treated with cytotoxic drugs with abundant side effects.

Trauma support for welfare recipients helps them earn more, study shows

People on welfare can earn more money in their jobs—and potentially leave the program—if the trauma they've faced since childhood is addressed, Drexel University research shows.

Research finds vitamin D is important for respiratory health

A new study carried out by The University of Western Australia, the Busselton Health Study and Sir Charles Gairdner Hospital has found vitamin D deficiency can contribute to poor respiratory functioning and health in middle-aged adults.

Mechanism of familial Parkinson's disease clarified in fruit fly model

Parkinson's disease (PD) is the second most common neurodegenerative disorder, with up to 10 million people affected worldwide. PD is characterized by progressive increase in movement disability and impaired balance, which are resulted from the loss of dopaminergic neurons in the substantia nigra of the midbrain. While most PD occurs sporadically, about 15% of cases are hereditary and linked to genetic mutations. Although the motor symptoms partly respond dopamine replenishment therapy, there is still a need to develop disease-modifying therapy able to delay or prevent illness.

Lifestyle changes prevent cognitive decline even in genetically susceptible individuals

Enhanced lifestyle counselling prevents cognitive decline even in people who are carriers of the APOE4 gene, a common risk factor of Alzheimer's disease, according to a new study published in JAMA Neurology.

Stem cells used to build bone and fight cancer

This year's Broad Clinical Research Fellows will apply stem cell-based approaches to two prevalent problems: non-healing bone injuries, which affect 5 million Americans each year, and neuroblastoma, the most common solid tumor in children.

Don't worry, the chance of dying from potting mix is very slim

Gardening is generally a healthy and pleasurable hobby or occupation. However, any activity carries some risk – and gardening is no exception.

E-cigarettes may help adults switch from conventional cigarettes but encourage smoking among teens

E-cigarettes can be highly addictive, and kids who use them are more likely to start smoking regular cigarettes, concluded a panel of public health experts.

Research test identifies BRCA2 gene mutations that lead to breast, ovarian cancers

A new test developed by researchers at Mayo Clinic shows which mutations in the BRCA2 gene make women susceptible to developing breast or ovarian cancers. The research behind the test was published today in the American Journal of Human Genetics.

Potential therapy identified for aggressive breast cancer

The European Cancer Stem Cell Research Institute, based with Cardiff University, has repurposed a current cancer therapy, TRAIL, to find a new treatment for advanced cancers that are resistant to anti-hormone therapy.

Developing a roadside test for marijuana intoxication isn't as easy as it sounds

As the movement to legalize marijuana in the United States gains momentum, researchers worry about keeping the public safe, particularly on the roads. Recent studies in which marijuana users took controlled doses of cannabis in the lab have identified new biomarkers that can be used to estimate a person's recent cannabinoid intake. But, using those markers to judge cognitive and behavioral impairment is complex, say toxicologists in a commentary published on January 25 in a special issue of the journal Trends in Molecular Medicine on biomarkers of substance abuse.

Drug discount program aimed at improving care for low-income patients generated gains for hospitals

A 25-year-old drug discount program aimed at boosting resources for hospitals treating low-income patients did not deliver on its promise to enhance care for the needy, according to research from Harvard Medical School and the NYU School of Medicine.

Afterschool clubs aren't always safe spaces—what should be done about it

Young people around the world are encouraged to get involved in extracurricular activities. These range from choirs and drama clubs to sports teams, with many other options available depending on the school. These activities are important for several reasons.

The link between drugs and music explained by science

For centuries, musicians have used drugs to enhance creativity and listeners have used drugs to heighten the pleasure created by music. And the two riff off each other, endlessly. The relationship between drugs and music is also reflected in lyrics and in the way these lyrics were composed by musicians, some of whom were undoubtedly influenced by the copious amounts of heroin, cocaine and "reefer" they consumed, as their songs sometimes reveal.

Gender, education and class impacts on retirement and quality of life in older age

Researchers from the University of Birmingham have found that raising your level of education and skills during your working life are key factors in determining your quality of life in retirement and older age.

Everyday exercise has surprisingly positive health benefits

The benefits of low-intensity physical activity, such as standing, walking or doing household chores, can be more health beneficial than once thought. According to a study from Karolinska Institutet published in the journal Clinical Epidemiology, replacing half an hour's sedentariness a day with everyday activity reduces the risk of fatal cardiovascular disease by 24 per cent.

Researchers identify specific protein that helps breast cancer to spread

Researchers from the University's Institute of Translational Medicine have found an explanation for how breast cancer spreads to the lungs, which could potentially hold the key to preventing the progression of the disease.

Giving silenced genes a voice

Stem cell researchers at UConn Health have reversed Prader-Willi syndrome in brain cells growing in the lab, findings they recently published in the Human Molecular Genetics.

Public mental health care for older Californians is lacking as need grows

California's older adult population will increase 64 percent by 2035, and with it the need for more mental health services. Yet the state's public mental health system lacks adequate services specifically tailored to older adults, according to a study and other documents released today by the UCLA Center for Health Policy Research.

Harsh parenting linked with poor school performance in kids with ADHD

The way parents interact with their kids may affect how well children with certain behavioral problems like attention deficit hyperactivity disorder—ADHD—perform in school, according to researchers.

Why climate change is worsening public health problems

Around the world, the health care debate often revolves around access.

Jumping around for good health

Simple yet efficient: intensive jumping might be a panacea for strong bones, muscles and hearts. A European study has confirmed the benefits of making giant leaps not only for astronauts, but also for elderly and sedentary people.

Protein YAP in early life influences adult spinocerebellar ataxia pathology

Spinocerebellar ataxia is a group of neurodegenerative diseases characterized by progressive incoordination of gait, and is often associated with poor coordination of hands, speech and eye movements. There are different types of SCA, and these are classified based on the mutated (altered) gene. In spinocerebellar ataxia type 1 (SCA1), the causative gene ATXN1 and its interacting factors were determined over two decades ago. However, SCA1 remains intractable, and no disease-modifying therapy has reached the clinical bedside.

Study finds genetic link between thinner corneas and increased risk of glaucoma

Genetic studies in mice point to a protein called POU6F2, which can modulate corneal thickness, as a possible risk factor for glaucoma in humans, report Eldon Geisert of Emory University, and colleagues, January 25th in PLOS Genetics.

Polio labs equipped to study rare tropical diseases

In 1988, the World Health Organization set out to eradicate polio and established a network of 145 labs around the world that are designed to process polio tests. Now, those labs are well-equipped to help tackle neglected tropical diseases, researchers report in PLOS Neglected Tropical Diseases.

Better insurance access hasn't eliminated cost barriers to post-stroke meds

Despite federal programs to improve the availability of medical insurance, drug costs still keep more than one in ten stroke survivors from obtaining their recommended medications, putting them at risk of another stroke, according to preliminary research presented at the American Stroke Association's International Stroke Conference 2018, a world premier meeting dedicated to the science and treatment of cerebrovascular disease for researchers and clinicians.

New research shows that muscles and body tone are increasingly rated as more attractive than a purely thin female body

Models used in social media postings, or more than a decade's worth of Miss USA beauty pageant winners tell us that thin female bodies are still rated as attractive. However, US women's perceptions of what constitutes the perfect female figure have evolved in recent years to a "thin and toned" ideal. This is according to Frances Bozsik of the University of Missouri-Kansas City in the US, who led a study in Springer's journal Sex Roles.

Air pollution linked to irregular menstrual cycles

The air your teenage daughter breathes may be causing irregular menstrual cycles. Well documented negative health effects from air pollution exposure include infertility, metabolic syndrome and polycystic ovary syndrome. This study is the first to show that exposure to air pollution among teen girls (ages 14-18) is associated with slightly increased chances of menstrual irregularity and longer time to achieve such regularity in high school and early adulthood.

Understanding emotional responses to traumatic injury key to planning, treatment efforts

Injuries are a major public health problem in the United States, accounting for nearly 60 percent of all deaths among Americans between the ages of 1 and 44 years. Survivors of traumatic injuries often face significant physical and mental health challenges, including depression and post-traumatic stress disorder.

Study provides first systematic survey of metabolites across tumor types

In an advance reminiscent of the earliest maps of genomic mutations in cancer, investigators at Dana-Farber Cancer Institute and Memorial Sloan Kettering Cancer Center have completed the first systematic survey of the products of biochemical reactions within cancer and their relation to the progress of the disease. The products, known as metabolites, arise from the myriad chemical reactions that keep cells alive and functioning.

Study shows a potential new approach to opioid crisis

In a six-month study recently concluded, a research unit affiliated with two hospital institutions and a university in Ottawa found that a reduction in the number of cigarettes smoked daily also reduced a smoker's dependence on opioids.

Repurposed drug found to be effective against Zika virus

In both cell cultures and mouse models, a drug used to treat Hepatitis C effectively protected and rescued neural cells infected by the Zika virus—and blocked transmission of the virus to mouse fetuses.

Thirty years of innovation pays off as oligonucleotide therapeutics come to market

The recent approval of Spinraza (nusinersen), jointly developed by Ionis Pharmaceuticals and Biogen, marks the arrival of a new class of biological products - oligonucleotide therapeutics. A recent publication from the Center for Integration of Science and Industry at Bentley University shows that the thirty year path from the initiation of research on oligonucleotides as therapeutics to the emergence of effective products followed predictable patterns of innovation, in which novel products are successfully developed only after the underlying basic research reaches a requisite level of maturity.

Learning to make healthy choices can counter the effects of large portions

People are often told that eating everything in moderation can help them lose weight, but it is better to choose healthier foods than to try to eat less, according to Penn State researchers.

The eye is not immune to immunity

A person needs immune-suppressive drugs for organ transplants but not typically for transplants in the eye. How come? Like a few other parts of the body, some components of the eye, like the lens, don't have direct access to vessels that deliver immune cells. They were assumed to be places that immune cells couldn't go. They were immune privileged. But new research suggests that assumption is false - a finding that has implications for both wound healing in the eye and for changes in vision like cataracts. The results were recently published in the Nature journal Scientific Reports.

Cancer researchers hit a bullseye with new drug target for Ewing sarcoma

Screening a class of recently-developed drug compounds—so-called "CDK inhibitors" capable of blocking CDK7/12/13 proteins—against hundreds of different human cancer cell lines, researchers at Dana-Farber/Boston Children's Cancer and Blood Disorders Center have found that CDK12 inhibitors pack a particularly lethal punch to Ewing sarcoma, a rare cancer typically affecting children and young adults.

Parents initiating teens to drinking a bad idea: study

Parents who give their teens alcohol, even to teach them how to drink responsibly, are more likely to do harm than good, according to a six-year study in Australia, published Thursday.

A usually ignored finding in the kidneys may signal stroke risk

Sacs of fluid in the kidneys may indicate there is also blood vessel damage in the brain and a heightened risk of stroke, according to preliminary research presented at the American Stroke Association's International Stroke Conference 2018, a world premier meeting dedicated to the science and treatment of cerebrovascular disease for researchers and clinicians.

New research shows diabetes and worse blood sugar control are associated with long-term cognitive decline

A new study of some 5,000 older people in the UK has shown that rates of long-term cognitive decline are steeper in those who have diabetes compared with people with normal blood sugar control, and that efforts to delay the onset of diabetes and/or control blood sugar levels might prevent subsequent progression of brain function decline.

Asian-American ethnicity associated with severe stroke, worse outcomes

Asian Americans were more likely to experience a severe ischemic stroke and have worse outcomes than whites, according to preliminary research presented at the American Stroke Association's International Stroke Conference 2018, a world premier meeting dedicated to the science and treatment of cerebrovascular disease for researchers and clinicians.

Too few with stroke of the eye are treated to reduce future stroke

Too few patients with retinal infarction, or loss of blood flow in the eye, are evaluated for stroke risk or seen by a neurologist, putting them at increased risk for another stroke, according to preliminary research presented at the American Stroke Association's International Stroke Conference 2018, a world premier meeting dedicated to the science and treatment of cerebrovascular disease for researchers and clinicians.

Working before and after stroke is good for brain health

Adult stroke patients who are employed prior to and after suffering strokes are more likely than unemployed adults to have healthier minds two years post stroke, according to preliminary research presented at the American Stroke Association's International Stroke Conference 2018, a world premier meeting dedicated to the science and treatment of cerebrovascular disease for researchers and clinicians.

Microbiome research refines HIV risk for women

Drawing from data collected for years by AIDS researchers in six African nations, scientists have pinpointed seven bacterial species whose presence in high concentrations may significantly increase the risk of HIV infection in women.

Tactic for controlling motor symptoms of advanced Parkinson's disease

Standard drug treatment for Parkinson's disease can over time induce motor complications that reduce the effectiveness of restoring mobility. These complications include abnormal involuntary movements known as dyskinesias. In a nonhuman primate model of Parkinson's, scientists at Yerkes National Primate Research Center, Emory University, have been probing the origin of these abnormal responses to treatment, particularly dyskinesias, and have successfully tested a tactic for controlling them.

US panel rejects marketing plan for heated tobacco device

Government advisers dealt a blow Thursday to Philip Morris International's hopes to sell its heat-not-burn device in the United States as a less-harmful alternative to cigarettes.

Food monitoring system being developed could help vulnerable, say researchers

Technology that accurately monitors food intake could help to better distribute food resources to communities and vulnerable people around the world.

Hundreds of children sickened, dead in Papua health crisis

Some 800 children have been sickened by a measles-and-malnutrition outbreak in Indonesia's remote Papua province, officials said Thursday, with as many as 100 other people, mostly toddlers, feared to have been killed.

Individuals with HIV at higher risk for heart disease

A review of more than 80 studies reveals that changes in the immune cells of people with human immunodeficiency virus (HIV) infection may increase their risk of cardiovascular disease (CVD). The review is published in the journal Physiology.

Scrapping pre-approval of medicine ads in Australia will put consumers at risk

A government bill, currently before a Senate inquiry, aims to simplify the process for advertising medicines. These include over-the-counter products such as Nurofen, and complementary medicines such as vitamins, herbals and homeopathic products. Advertising for prescription medication is not permitted in Australia.

Bicarbonate of soda could spare women in developing countries from caesarean section

Lack of access to a caesarean section, or complications arising from one, accounts for many deaths in developing countries, but now a team of scientists has identified that a simple drink of bicarbonate of soda could make all the difference.

Artificial chromosomes could reverse the genetic defects associated with Duchenne muscular dystrophy

Scientists at Royal Holloway, University of London, along with colleagues at UCL, have developed a novel artificial human chromosome which could be used to reverse the genetic defect in muscle stem cells from patients with Duchenne muscular dystrophy (DMD).

Some smart ways to jumpstart your recycling program

(HealthDay)—Working toward a healthier environment involves more than separating glass and plastic. Try a new take on the three "R's"—recycle, reduce and reuse—to save money, energy and natural resources.

The hidden health inequalities that American Indians and Alaskan Natives face

I was an American Indian student pursuing a doctoral degree in clinical psychology in the 1990s, when I realized the stark contrast between my life experiences growing up on my home reservation and those of my non-Native peers.

Progress toward an HIV cure in annual special issue of AIDS Research & Human Retroviruses

Researchers have shown that despite effective combined antiretroviral therapy (cART), HIV can hide in the spleen of patients with no detectable HIV in their blood. The study confirming the spleen as an HIV sanctuary is part of a comprehensive collection of articles describing the broad scope and current status of the ongoing global effort toward an HIV cure, published in the fourth annual Special Issue on HIV Cure Research of AIDS Research and Human Retroviruses.

Heparan sulfate biomaterials retain structure and function after gamma irradiation

A new study has shown that heparan sulfate, a desirable natural material for use in bioengineered tissues and orthotic implants, can withstand the stress of gamma irradiation for sterilization and retain its structure, binding ability, and biological function. The ability to use a low-cost sterilization method such as gamma irradiation will make heparan sulfate-based biopolymers more broadly applicable for treating a range of disorders, as described in an article publishedin Tissue Engineering, Part A.

Aspiration as good as stent retrievers for removing large-vessel clots in stroke patients

ADAPT (A Direct Aspiration First-Pass Technique), a technique pioneered at the Medical University of South Carolina (MUSC), is non-inferior to stent retrievers for mechanical thrombectomy in stroke patients with large-vessel clots, according to the preliminary results of the head-to-head COMPASS Trial. The results were presented in the main event plenary session at the International Stroke Conference (ICS) in Los Angeles on January 25, 2018.

17 universities oppose anti-smoking group with tobacco ties

Seventeen public health schools in the U.S. and Canada pledged Thursday to refuse research money from a new anti-smoking group funded by the tobacco industry.

Method assesses how well dialysis clinics refer patients for transplantation

A new method may be useful for assessing dialysis facilities' performance concerning referrals to transplant centers. The method, which is described in an upcoming issue of the Clinical Journal of the American Society of Nephrology (CJASN), may help improve patients' chances of receiving potentially life-saving kidney transplants.

Simple test speeds recognition of posterior stroke

A simple finger-to-nose test by medical professionals almost doubled the recognition of possible stroke involving the circulation at the back of the brain, according to preliminary research presented at the American Stroke Association's International Stroke Conference 2018, a world premier meeting dedicated to the science and treatment of cerebrovascular disease for researchers and clinicians.

Biology news

Surprising discovery links sour taste to the inner ear's ability to sense balance

Scientists at the USC Dornsife College of Letters, Arts and Sciences have discovered an entirely new class of ion channels. These channels let protons (H+ ions) into cells, are important in the inner ear for balance, and are present in the taste cells that respond to sour flavors.

Mosquitoes remember human smells, but also swats, researchers find

Your grandmother's insistence that you receive more bug bites because you're 'sweeter' may not be that far-fetched after all, according to pioneering research from Virginia Tech scientists.

The bacterial 'Game of Thrones'

Much like animals and to a degree humans, bacteria enjoy a good fight. They stab, shove and poison each other in pursuit of the best territory. While this much is clear, little is known about the tactics and strategy that bacteria use during their miniature wargames.

Enhancer adoption changes limb morphology

The difference between webbed toes and distinct digits may result from how genes regulate genetic information. Researchers at the National Institute of Genetics, Research Organization of Information and Systems (ROIS) in Japan found that a small, non-specific tweak to a mammal's DNA can potentially cause specific physical changes. The scientists recently published the results of their study in the Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences.

Modern human brain organization emerged only recently

Researchers from the Max Planck Institute for Evolutionary Anthropology in Leipzig, Germany, reveal how and when the typical globular brain shape of modern humans evolved. Their analyses based on changes in endocranial size and shape in Homo sapiens fossils show that brain organization, and possibly brain function, evolved gradually within our species and unexpectedly reached modern conditions only recently.

New population of world's rarest fish discovered off Tasmanian coast

A team of divers from IMAS and the citizen science project Reef Life Survey (RLS) have discovered a new population of what is believed to be the world's rarest fish.

Humans get in the way of mammal movement

Humans modify natural landscapes in a variety of ways, from constructing expansive cityscapes to fencing off otherwise untouched rangeland. A new study, co-authored by biologists at the University of Maryland, describes the extent to which highly modified landscapes impede the movement of 57 land-based mammal species from around the world. On average, these mammals cover about a third to half of the distance they would otherwise travel in wild, unmodified landscapes.

New tool visualizes employment trends in biomedical science

Scientists looking for jobs after completing their training may soon have a new tool that helps them evaluate various career paths. The new tool uses a method that was developed by scientists at the National Institute of Environmental Health Sciences (NIEHS), part of the National Institutes of Health. The method differs from others in that it separates employment trends in biomedical science by sector, type, and job specifics. The creators hope this novel approach will be useful throughout NIH, as well as for academic and research institutions around the world.

Researchers reveal sexual prowess of older males not to be underestimated

Quality sperm, good genes, and courtship knowledge are just a few reasons why females might benefit from mating with older males.

Ancient Eurasian DNA sequencing is revealing links with modern humans

Until recently, very little was known about the genetic relationship between modern humans of the Upper Paleolithic age (the period of time between 50,000 and 10,000 years ago, also called the Late Stone age) and today's populations. But with direct DNA sequencing, researchers are discovering unexpected genetic connections between individuals on opposing sides of Eurasia. These suggest a complex history that may represent early gene flow across Eurasia or an early population structure that eventually led to Europeans and Asians.

Music really is a universal language

Every culture enjoys music and song, and those songs serve many different purposes: accompanying a dance, soothing an infant, or expressing love. Now, after analyzing recordings from all around the world, researchers reporting in Current Biology on January 25 show that vocal songs sharing one of those many functions tend to sound similar to one another, no matter which culture they come from. As a result, people listening to those songs in any one of 60 countries could make accurate inferences about them, even after hearing only a quick 14-second sampling.

Plants increase flower production within a day of soil nutrient application

The molecular mechanisms enabling plants to quickly adapt their rate of flower production in response to changing nutrient levels in soil have been revealed by researchers at the Sainsbury Laboratory.

Historical migrations left genetic footprints on the Irish genome

A genome-wide study of the people of Ireland reveals a previously hidden genetic landscape, shaped through geography and historical migrations. Ross Byrne and Russell McLaughlin of Trinity College Dublin in Ireland report their findings January 25th, 2018 in PLOS Genetics.

Think of honeybees as 'livestock,' not wildlife, argue experts

The 'die-off' events occurring in honeybee colonies that are bred and farmed like livestock must not be confused with the conservation crisis of dramatic declines in thousands of wild pollinator species, say Cambridge researchers.

Do our mitochondria run at 50 degrees C?

Our body temperature is held at a fairly steady 37.5°C, and the assumption has always been that most of our physiological processes take place at this temperature. The heat needed to maintain this temperature in the face of a colder environment is generated by tiny subcellular structures called mitochondria. But a new study publishing January 25 in the open access journal PLOS Biology by INSERM and CNRS researchers at Hôpital Robert Debré in Paris led by Dr Pierre Rustin (and their international collaborators from Finland, South Korea, Lebanon and Germany) presents surprising evidence that mitochondria can run more than 10°C hotter than the body's bulk temperature, and indeed are optimized to do so. Because of the extraordinary nature of these claims, PLOS Biology has commissioned a cautionary accompanying article by Professor Nick Lane from University College, London, an expert on evolutionary bioenergetics.

Honeycomb maze offers significant improvement over current spatial navigation tests

A powerful new tool for the study of spatial memory was today described in Nature as a significant improvement over the current gold standard, the Morris Water Maze. The novel Honeycomb Maze design allows for systematic analysis of the decisions an animal makes during navigation.

Pulling power reveals new insights into membrane dynamics in human cells

Organelles are the functional units of a cell. Like different parts of a production line in a factory, they perform specialised functions but depend on and interact with each other.

Research reveals swaths of Asia inhabited by surprisingly related 'Lizards of the Lost Arcs'

A new paper appearing in Proceedings of the Royal Society B shows a varied collection of lizards throughout Asia to be unexpectedly close cousins of beach-dwelling mourning geckos, all descended from a common ancestor species that thrived along an ancient archipelago in the West Pacific that served as a "superhighway" of biodiversity.

Study uncovering multiple new, unusual bacterial immune defense mechanisms could pave the way toward new biotech tools

Until a decade ago, scientists were not aware that bacteria had complex immune systems - ones that could keep up with the pace of evolution in viruses called phages that infect bacteria. That changed with the discovery of what is now the most famous bacterial immune mechanism: CRISPR. Scientists realized that CRISPR is a natural gene editor, and it has revolutionized the world of biological research in thousands of labs around the world. Researchers now understand that most microorganisms have sophisticated immune systems of which CRISPR is just one element; but there has been no good way to identify these systems.

Scientists culture human placenta stem cells for first time

In a milestone achievement for better understanding the development and function of the human placenta, scientists have derived and grown trophoblast stem cells for the first time.

Modifications enhance fish passage on San Francisquito Creek

Fish passage in nearby San Francisquito Creek has been enhanced, thanks to modifications Stanford made to a concrete roadway creek crossing in the Jasper Ridge Biological Preserve.

Rare Australian rodents under attack from all sides

The continued survival of one of Australia's rarest rodents, the water mouse, could hinge on significantly increasing the size of development buffer zones around their habitats.

Psychologist Jordan Peterson says lobsters help to explain why human hierarchies exist – do they?

Hierarchies are everywhere. It is often argued that they are a social construct, invented to allow certain people (such as white men) to have power over others. But not everyone agrees. While promoting his new book, 12 Rules for Life: An Antidote to Chaos, psychology professor Jordan Peterson, of the University of Toronto, has sparked debate by arguing that hierarchies are in fact natural to some extent.

The origin of snakes—new evolutionary scenario presented

The early evolution of snakes happened from surface-terrestrial to burrowing in the lizard-snake transition suggests a research group at the University of Helsinki.

Two new snout moth genera and three new species discovered in southern China

New members have joined the ranks of the snout moths - one of the largest groups within the insect order known formally as Lepidoptera, comprising all moths and butterflies.

Sea butterflies repair shell damage from ocean acidification

A new study of tiny marine snails called sea butterflies shows the great lengths these animals go to repair damage caused by ocean acidification. The paper, led by researchers at British Antarctic Survey, is published this month in the journal Nature Communications.

Ecologist unearths the foothill yellow-legged frog's past in order to inform its future

Once abundant in Southern California, the foothill yellow-legged frog inexplicably vanished from the region sometime between the late 1960s and early 1970s. The reasons behind its rapid extinction have been an ecological mystery.

Study sheds light on alternative, more convenient method of cell preservation

Researchers at Oregon State University have taken an important step toward a more convenient, less expensive means of preserving mammalian cells for in vitro fertilization, species conservation, cell therapy and other purposes.


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