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Here is your customized Science X Newsletter for January 30, 2018:
Spotlight Stories Headlines
Astronomy & Space news
 | Deuterated formaldehyde detected in protostar HH 212Using the Atacama Large Millimeter Array (ALMA) in Chile, a team of researchers has detected the emission of deuterated formaldehyde (HDCO) from the hot inner region of the protostar HH 212. The finding, reported January 20 in a paper published on the arXiv.org pre-print repository, could be helpful in our understanding of chemical processes in this protostar and in similar objects. |
 | Astrochemists reveal the magnetic secrets of methanolA team of scientists, led by Boy Lankhaar at Chalmers University of Technology, has solved an important puzzle in astrochemistry—how to measure magnetic fields in space using methanol, the simplest form of alcohol. Their results, published in the journal Nature Astronomy, give astronomers a new way of investigating how massive stars are born. |
 | Cluster measures turbulence in Earth's magnetic environmentFor the first time, scientists have estimated how much energy is transferred from large to small scales within the magnetosheath, the boundary region between the solar wind and the magnetic bubble that protects our planet. Based on data collected by ESA's Cluster and NASA's THEMIS missions over several years, the study revealed that turbulence is the key, making this process a hundred times more efficient than in the solar wind. |
 | Newborns or survivors? The unexpected matter found in hostile black hole windsThe existence of large numbers of molecules in winds powered by supermassive black holes at the centers of galaxies has puzzled astronomers since they were discovered more than a decade ago. Molecules trace the coldest parts of space, and black holes are the most energetic phenomena in the universe, so finding molecules in black hole winds was like discovering ice in a furnace. |
 | Stellar embryos in nearby dwarf galaxy contain surprisingly complex organic moleculesThe nearby dwarf galaxy known as the Large Magellanic Cloud (LMC) is a chemically primitive place. |
 | NASA's small spacecraft produces first 883-gigahertz global ice-cloud mapA bread loaf-sized satellite has produced the world's first map of the global distribution of atmospheric ice in the 883-Gigahertz band, an important frequency in the submillimeter wavelength for studying cloud ice and its effect on Earth's climate. |
 | Interstellar fullerenes may help find solutions for earthly mattersFullerenes were first discovered by Harry Kroto in the 1970s, for which he and his colleagues received a Nobel Prize in Chemistry. Recently, fullerenes have been detected in the stellar winds of red giants and in the interstellar medium. |
 | Image: Obscured Sirius reveals Gaia 1 clusterIf you gazed at the night sky over the past few weeks, it is possible that you stumbled upon a very bright star near the Orion constellation. This is Sirius, the brightest star of the entire night sky, which is visible from almost everywhere on Earth except the northernmost regions. It is, in fact, a binary stellar system, and one of the nearest to our Sun – only eight light-years away. |
 | Putting everyday computer parts to space radiation testESA's next mission, the miniature GomX-4B, includes a piggyback experiment to test how well everyday commercial computer memories perform in the radiation-soaked environment of space. |
 | Image: Eroded Layers in Shalbatana VallesLayers, probably sedimentary in origin, have undergone extensive erosion in this image from NASA's Mars Reconnaissance Orbiter (MRO) of Shalbatana Valles, a prominent channel that cuts through Xanthe Terra. |
Technology news
 | ATM makers alert to cash-spitting attacksToo much trouble. Holding up a bank means you need to buy a ski mask, map out bank exits, zap the surveillance cameras, threaten panic-stricken customers of bad consequences if anyone dares move. And then there is someone smarter than you who figures out how to sneak and call the cops anyway. You are toast. |
 | Facebook to deliver more local news to US usersFacebook said Monday it has decided to deliver more local news to US users, in its latest effort to manage the flow of information on the enormously-influential social network. |
 | India's Ola enters Australia as it battles UberIndian ride-hailing company Ola is launching in Australia, it announced Tuesday, making its first foray abroad as it steps up a battle with rival Uber. |
 | A ski jacket that actively gets rid of sweatTo keep the body warm and dry during winter sports, high-performance clothing is a must. The demands on these textiles are high, as a person sweats up to one liter per hour on his upper body alone when skiing. A new technology, co-developed by a team of Empa scientists, helps athletes sweating by actively transporting moisture away from the body and to the outside. This is possible because ultra-thin layers of gold in the fabric are electrified. |
 | Can we generate clean energy by using sunlight to superheat fluids?Ever used a magnifying glass to focus sunlight on your hand? |
 | Cyber peacekeeping is integral in an era of cyberwar – here's whyCyber warfare is upon us, from interference in elections to a leak of cyber weapons from a national stockpile. And, as with most evolutions in warfare, the world is largely unprepared. Cyber peacekeeping presents significant challenges, which we explore in our research. |
 | How virtual 3-D modelling and simulation can help us create better citiesNew technologies offer new possibilities for planning and designing cities. 3-D urban modelling and simulation can give a real sense of the outcomes of planning decisions. However, incorporating these technologies into planning practice has its challenges. |
 | Empowering the powerless—let's end energy poverty"Power to the people," the activists chanted in the 1960s. |
Dutch have done human, animal diesel tests 'for years' (Update)Dutch researchers have been performing tests "for years" on humans and animals to study the effects of diesel fumes, scientists said Tuesday, amid an outcry in Germany over similar experiments. | |
 | China directs users to approved VPNs as firewall tightensChina vowed Tuesday to force both local and foreign companies and individuals to use only government-approved software to access the global internet, as overseas firms fear losing unrestricted online services under an impending deadline. |
 | Child experts: Just say 'no' to Facebook's kids appChild development experts and advocates are urging Facebook to pull the plug on its new messaging app aimed at kids. |
 | Why buy social bots? For 'illusion of popularity,' researcher saysOn Saturday, the New York Times published an article detailing its investigation into Devumi, a company that sells Twitter followers to celebrities, influencers, and anyone else willing to pay for online popularity. The purchased followers are automated social bots—fake Twitter accounts that exist solely to boost a user's follower count or perform simple tasks like retweeting. The Times reported that about 55,000 of these bots were found to be using photos stolen from the profiles of real people. |
 | Waymo ramps up self-driving fleet with 'thousands' of carsFormer Google car unit Waymo said Tuesday it was ordering "thousands" of vehicles from Fiat Chrysler for the expansion of its autonomous ride-hailing service across several US cities. |
 | Aussie military says tracking app doesn't breach securityAustralia's military said on Tuesday that a fitness tracking application did not breach security despite revelations that an interactive, online map using its data can show troop locations around the world. |
Tesla seeks its own Wisconsin dealerships to teach customersTesla officials pressed Wisconsin legislators Tuesday to let them to establish their own dealerships in the state, saying the company needs direct contact with customers to teach them about the electric vehicles' technology. | |
 | Wanda stock skyrockets after $5.4bn Tencent tie-upHong Kong shares linked to troubled Chinese conglomerate Wanda surged 52 percent Tuesday after the company announced a $5.4-billion stake sale and retail tie-up with investors including internet giant Tencent. |
 | Amazon opens plant-filled "The Spheres" buildingsInternet giant Amazon on Monday opened its plant-packed "The Spheres" buildings in its home city of Seattle. |
 | Philips says profits soar 25% in 2017Dutch electronics giant Philips on Tuesday posted soaring profits of 1.87 billion euros ($2.3 billion) in 2017, as it increasingly focuses its business on health technology. |
 | Scientists create new material for nuclear reactorsResearchers from the National Research Nuclear University MEPhI (Russia) have conducted a study on the use of isotopically modified molybdenum as an alternative to zirconium alloys from which nuclear fuel-element casings are created. They have proved that this can enhance the safety of nuclear reactors. The study is published in the scientific journal Chemical Engineering Research and Design. |
 | Volkswagen suspends executive over monkey tests (Update)Automaker Volkswagen has suspended a top executive in response to widespread public criticism over experiments in which monkeys were exposed to diesel exhaust. |
 | Venture fund invests in startups to improve labor practicesCompanies like Apple and Walt Disney as well as Walmart's philanthropic foundation are investors in a $23 million venture fund aiming to use tools like artificial intelligence and blockchain technology to improve global labor practices. |
 | AI researcher Ng launches $175 million investment fundThe artificial intelligence researcher who has said he wants to free humanity from repetitive mental drudgery also wants to save AI entrepreneurs time spent raising funds. |
Medicine & Health news
 | Your brain reveals who your friends are: Study illustrates how similar neural responses predict friendshipsYou may perceive the world the way your friends do, according to a Dartmouth study finding that friends have similar neural responses to real-world stimuli and these similarities can be used to predict who your friends are. |
 | Scientists discover how gene mutation triggers immune diseaseScientists discovered how a gene mutation affects T cell function to promote immune disorders and then tested a treatment based on the discovery—successfully fixing donated immune cells from a 16-year-old boy with an abnormally low level of white blood cells called lymphopenia. |
 | Study of polio in Pakistan shows insecurity a barrier to eradicationA team of researchers from Canada, the U.S. and the U.K. has found that insecurity in a country or region can be a barrier to eradication of a disease such as polio. In their paper published in Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences, the team describes their study and what they found about the relationship between social insecurity and polio incidence in northwest Pakistan. |
 | Genetic basis for glaucoma uncoveredIn two recent publications, Northwestern Medicine scientists and international collaborators discovered mutations that cause improper drainage and a buildup of ocular pressure leading to one form of congenital glaucoma, and identified a path towards future treatments for the disease. |
 | Brain signals for drug screeningThere are still comparatively few treatments available for brain diseases. Among other reasons, this is due to the difficulty of developing new drugs, as it is not easy to establish the effects and side effects of a substance on the brain. The standard in medical research is behavioural studies involving rodents, in which researchers give the animals a new drug and document their patterns of behaviour. These studies are important, but they are not suitable for use in the search for new drugs via high-throughput screening. This method is used in the pharmaceutical industry, among other, and involves testing tens of thousands of substances in parallel, which is not possible when making behavioural observations of rodents. |
 | Study shows vitamin D3 could help heal or prevent cardiovascular damageA new study conducted by Ohio University scientists suggests that a little more sunlight might help restore damage to your cardiovascular system. |
 | Study of brain pacemaker shows promise in slowing decline of Alzheimer'sWhile most treatments for Alzheimer's disease focus on improving memory, researchers at The Ohio State University Wexner Medical Center conducted a study aimed at slowing the decline of problem-solving and decision-making skills in these patients. |
 | Scientists identify brain region in mice that keeps the body from losing its balanceNew scientific research has revealed how a small part of the brain singlehandedly steadies the body if it is thrown off balance. The study in mice found that a brain region called the lateral vestibular nucleus, or LVN, accomplishes this feat by moving muscles in a two-step, kneejerk response that first widens the animal's center of gravity, and then strengthens and stabilizes its limb muscles and joints. These findings provide powerful evidence that the LVN is the key to animals' ability to maintain balance, while also offering insight into the mechanics of how animals stay upright when unexpected changes occur beneath their feet. |
 | New tool for tracking 'kiss-and-run' communication between cellsA new method for monitoring interactions between cells, dubbed LIPSTIC by its creators, is much more than a cosmetic improvement over existing techniques. The breakthrough, led by The Rockefeller University assistant professor Gabriel Victora, offers scientists in a wide range of disciplines a powerful new tool for studying complex biological events as they play out in live animals. |
 | Epigenetic alteration of a vitamin B12 gene shines new light on our understanding of rare diseasesRare hereditary recessive diseases were thought to be expressed in off-spring only when both parents carry a mutation in the causal gene, but a new study is changing this paradigm. An international research team led by scientists at the University of Lorraine in France along with McGill University and the Research Institute of the McGill University Health Centre (RI-MUHC) in Canada discovered a new cause of a rare condition known as cblC, that they named "epi-cblC". They reported it in patients from Europe and the United States. Patients who have cblC are not able to process vitamin B12*, leading to severe health problems. |
'Friends and family test' should no longer be compulsory, argue expertsThe friends and family test should no longer be mandatory, argue experts in The BMJ today. | |
 | Research compares neural activity in children with and without autism spectrum disorderPick a hand, any hand. That familiar refrain, repeated in schoolyards the world over, is the basis of a simple guessing game that was recently adapted to study how and why kids with autism spectrum disorder (ASD) interact with the people around them. |
 | Breastfeeding reduces hypertension riskA study published in the American Journal of Hypertension indicates that women who breastfeed more children, and for longer periods of time, are less likely to suffer from hypertension after they reach menopause. This is less true of obese women, however. |
 | Mediterranean diet may help women receiving IVF to achieve successful pregnanciesNew research has found that women who follow a "Mediterranean" diet in the six months before assisted reproductive treatment have a significantly better chance of becoming pregnant and giving birth to a live baby than women who did not. |
Memory loss hitting some fentanyl abusers(HealthDay)—Using fentanyl or other opioids alongside other illicit drugs could trigger possibly permanent amnesia caused by brain damage, doctors warn. | |
 | Regulators trying to reduce physician burden linked to EHR(HealthDay)—The Office of the National Coordinator for Health Information Technology (ONC) is trying to address some of the issues relating to physician electronic health record (EHR) burden, partly with the appointment of Don Rucker, M.D., who is skilled in informatics and board-certified in emergency and internal medicine, according to an article published in Medical Economics. |
 | Can just 5 therapy sessions work for those with PTSD?(HealthDay)—A mere five sessions of specialized therapy could help people struggling from post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD), new research suggests. |
Researchers identify a novel periodic autoinflammatory syndromeA research team from the University of Helsinki, Helsinki University Hospital and Folkhälsan Institute of Genetics in Helsinki, Finland, has identified a new genetic mutation that alters the function of cryopyrin and leads to a life-long periodic inflammation of the cornea, the transparent window of the human eye. Patients who carry the mutation also develop corneal opacities that compromise vision. The study, which broadens the spectrum of cryopyrin-associated periodic syndromes, was published in the American Journal of Ophthalmology. | |
 | Researchers cure lung fibrosis in mice with a gene therapy that lengthens telomeresIdiopathic pulmonary fibrosis is a potentially lethal disease associated with the presence of critically short telomeres, currently lacking effective treatment. The Telomere and Telomerase Group at the Spanish National Cancer Research Centre (CNIO) has succeeded in curing this disease in mice using a gene therapy that lengthens the telomeres. This work constitutes a "proof of concept that telomerase activation represents an effective treatment against pulmonary fibrosis," the authors write in their publication in the journal eLife. Given that telomere shortening is also an indicator of organism aging, Maria A. Blasco, lead author of the paper, says, "This is the first time that pulmonary fibrosis has been treated as an age-related disease, looking for rejuvenating the affected tissues." |
 | Short-course radiation treatment is safe and effective for skin cancerA recent Penn State College of Medicine physician's study review suggests that shorter courses of radiation are preferable to longer ones for older patients receiving treatment for slow-growing skin cancers. |
Vitamin B2 deficiency puts cancer cells into hibernationCancer stem cells can be put into "hibernation" by a little-known drug called diphenyleneiodonium (DPI) according to researchers from the University of Salford, UK. DPI effectively switches off the cancer stem cells, preventing their proliferation. | |
Adults with autism show a diminished brain response to hearing their own namePreviously, research has shown that children at risk of an autism diagnosis respond less to hearing their own name. Now, a new study from Ghent University shows for the first time that the brain response to hearing one's own name is also diminished in adults with an autism diagnosis. The study was conducted by Dr. Annabel Nijhof as part of her Ph.D. project, supervised by Prof. Dr. Roeljan Wiersema and Prof. Dr. Marcel Brass. | |
 | Alternatives to face-to-face GP consultations unlikely to deliver hoped-for benefits in practiceThe realities of implementing alternatives to face-to-face GP consultations, such as telephone, email, online and video consultations, mean that hoped-for reductions in GP workload and increases in available appointments for patients might not be realised. This is the finding of a study by led by researchers at the University of Bristol, published in the British Journal of General Practice today. |
 | Sanitation improves health but not stunted growth in Bangladesh trialDespite mounting research over the last decade linking poor sanitation to stunted growth in children, a new study found that children born into housing compounds with improvements in drinking water quality, sanitation and handwashing infrastructure were not measurably taller after two years compared with those born into compounds with more contamination—although children who received the interventions were significantly healthier overall. |
Imaging features predict tumor gradeThe vast majority of meningiomas—tumors that form from the membranes surrounding the brain and spinal cord—are slow-growing and benign. "Atypical" meningiomas have a more aggressive clinical course, and patients with atypical tumors would potentially benefit from earlier surgery and efforts to achieve complete tumor removal. | |
 | Could a protein called klotho block dementia and aging?Neurologist and neuroscientist Dena Dubal, MD, Ph.D., is taking an innovative approach to battling neurodegenerative diseases like Alzheimer's disease and dementia. Rather than trying to understand the specific mechanisms that cause each disease, she took a step back and asked, "What do all these conditions have in common?" |
Product recall decisions need balance to prevent overreactingAs health care and technology become ever more intertwined, the importance of data-driven, evidence-based product recall decisions is only going to accelerate. According to published research co-written by a University of Illinois expert who studies technology adoption in health care, the timely detection of potential medical device recalls could both reduce the cost of and improve the effectiveness of health care delivery. | |
 | Are smartphones making people sad?New psychological research from the University of Virginia has found that smartphones are having a chilling effect on human relationships |
Research shows shocking rise in obesity levels in urban Africa over past 25 yearsRapid urbanisation and associated changes in people's lifestyle means Africa faces a growing obesity problem. Across the continent the share of the urban population is projected to increase to 50% by 2030 and 60% by 2050. | |
 | More children are starting school depressed and anxious – without help, it will only get worseThis article is part of a series that draws on the latest research on back to school transitions. In it, experts explain how best to prepare children for school, and counter difficulties such as stress or bad behaviour. |
Why the e-cigarette industry needs global regulationsThe e-cigarette industry has been increasingly viewed as one of the most disruptive changes in the tobacco market, with vapes now commonly perceived as an alternative to traditional tobacco products. | |
 | Amazon, Buffett and JPMorgan join forces on health careThree of corporate America's heaviest hitters—Amazon, Warren Buffett and JPMorgan Chase—sent a shudder through the health industry Tuesday when they announced plans to jointly create a company to provide their employees with high-quality, affordable care. |
 | Neuroscientists find differences in brain activity depending on whether people are outdoors or in a labThe brain acts much differently when we're outdoors compared with when we're inside the lab, a new study shows. |
'World's oldest man' dies in Spain aged 113A Spanish village on Tuesday declared a day of mourning following the death of a retired farmer billed as "the world's oldest man", who passed away just over a month after turning 113. | |
 | New computational method reveals chemoresistance drug targetsOsaka – In cancer, one of the most important features is the methylation of deoxycytosine to form 5-methylcytosine (5mC). DNA methylation is a process by which methyl groups (structural units of organic compounds consisting of three hydrogen atoms bonded to a carbon atom) are added to the DNA molecule. |
 | Study proves 'muscle memory' exists at a DNA levelA study led by researchers at Keele University has shown for the first time that human muscles possess a 'memory' of earlier growth—at the DNA level. |
Disrupted rest and activity patterns could be an early indicator of Alzheimer'sScientists from the US have found a link between certain biological fingerprints thought to indicate early stages of Alzheimer's and sleep disturbances. Their findings are published today in JAMA Neurology. | |
 | Brain stimulation shows promise for Alzheimer's disease in early trialScientists in the US have found that electrically stimulating regions of the brain in three people with Alzheimer's disease was safe and appeared to show an effect on thinking skills and day-to-day tasks in two of the volunteers. The findings are published today in the scientific journal, Journal of Alzheimer's Disease. |
 | How to eat well for a healthy brain in later lifeA new international report gives the clearest evidence to date on the impact of diet on brain health in older adults. |
 | MyD88—villain of allergies and asthmaEven if you don't have allergies yourself, I guarantee you can list at least three people you know who have allergies. Asthma, a respiratory disorder commonly associated with allergies, afflicts over 300 million individuals worldwide. |
 | Why there need to be more autistic characters in children's booksThe children's writer Michael Morpurgo has written a new novel inspired by his autistic grandson, which is set to be published later this year. Flamingo Boy is set in the Camargue in the south of France during World War II and features a boy who "sees the world differently". |
 | How neoliberalism is damaging your mental healthThere is a widespread perception that mental ill health is on the rise in the West, in tandem with a prolonged decline in collective well-being. The idea that there are social and economic causes behind this perceived decline is increasingly convincing, amid what has been termed the zombie economics and grinding austerity, which have followed the global financial crash. |
 | Patient exposure to X-rays depends on how dentists are paidDentists' calculation of the benefits vs the risks of X-rays is being distorted by financial incentives. |
 | New evidence suggests a role for curcumin and related compounds in the treatment of cancer and Alzheimer's diseaseIt has long been believed that curcumin, a component of the golden spice (turmeric), has medicinal properties, but problems with its bioavailability and a lack of understanding of how it works have complicated its use. |
 | Mindfulness may reduce cravings for food and drugs, says reviewMindfulness strategies may help prevent or interrupt cravings for food and drugs, such as cigarettes and alcohol, by occupying short term memory, according to a new review from City, University of London. |
 | Exercise can improve Alzheimer's symptomsA new University of Connecticut analysis of years of previous research suggests there is ample evidence that exercise may delay the decline in cognitive function associated with Alzheimer's disease. |
Long-term opioid use has dropped among US military veteransA new study in the Journal of General Internal Medicine, published by Springer, shows that opioid prescribing has dropped after a peak in 2012. Lead author Katherine Hadlandsmyth of the Iowa City VA Healthcare System and the University of Iowa in the US further noted that the decline was mostly due to decreases in long-term opioid prescribing, which carries much greater risk for harmful side effects, addiction and overdose, relative to short-term prescribing. In contrast, studies of general US health care outside the VHA have shown decreases in short-term opioid use, but potential increases in long-term use. | |
 | Benefits of smoking cessation medications diminish over timeA new Tel Aviv University study published in Addiction finds that only eight out of 100 smokers who take smoking cessation medications will have benefited from taking smoking medications after one year's time. The researchers conclude that this low rate of success should lead policymakers to find better methods to help smokers quit—and to prevent young people from taking up smoking to begin with. |
Researchers discover new approach to stimulate an immune response against tumor cellsNew drugs that activate the immune system to target cancer cells have improved the lives of many patients with cancer. However, immunotherapies are not effective in all patients, and the success of these therapies depends on individual patient factors. A team of Moffitt Cancer Center researchers is trying to find new ways to further enhance the activity of the immune system against cancer. In an article published in the January issue of Cancer Cell, the researchers describe how a new type of immunotherapy drug targeting the protein TIM-3 works to stimulate the immune system. | |
 | Weight-loss surgery alone won't keep the pounds off(HealthDay)—If you think your battle against obesity ends on the operating table, you're mistaken. |
 | Choosing the right home weight machine(HealthDay)—Still looking for a New Year's resolution? Consider strength training. It's important for everyone, regardless of age, gender and how developed you do and don't want to get. |
 | TBI is associated with increased dementia risk for decades after injuryTraumatic brain injuries increase the risk of a dementia diagnosis for more than 30 years after a trauma, though the risk of dementia decreases over time, according to a new study published this week in PLOS Medicine by Anna Nordström and Peter Nordström of Umeå University in Sweden. |
What factors make 'age-friendly environments' effective?A new study, published in the journal Systematic Reviews, conducted by researchers at the University of Liverpool and Newcastle University has identified the most effective initiatives for promoting respect and social inclusion for older people living in the community. | |
 | Study finds bacteria in milk linked to rheumatoid arthritisA strain of bacteria commonly found in milk and beef may be a trigger for developing rheumatoid arthritis in people who are genetically at risk, according to a new study from the University of Central Florida. |
 | E-cigarette flavors are toxic to white blood cells, warn scientistsSugar and spice are not so nice, at least when it comes to vaping or inhalation. Exposure to e-cigarette flavoring chemicals and liquids can cause significant inflammation to monocytes, a type of white blood cell—and many flavoring compounds are also toxic, with cinnamon, vanilla and buttery flavors among the worst. That's the finding of new research published in open-access journal Frontiers in Physiology, which also found that mixing e-cigarette flavors has a much worse effect than exposure to just one. The study adds to growing evidence on the harmful health effects of e-cigarettes. |
 | Expert panel issues new guidelines for lung cancer molecular testingLung cancer treatment often pairs targeted therapies with genetic alterations driving the disease. This makes detecting these genetic alterations an essential step in diagnosis. In 2013, an expert panel made up of members of the College of American Pathologists, the International Association for the Study of Lung Cancer, and the Association for Molecular Pathology published guidelines describing the genetic tests that should be performed to evaluate a patient's lung cancer. Now a similar expert panel updates these guidelines. |
Better-educated men = healthier women and mothers in the developing worldPublic-health agencies have long stressed the importance of good education in improving the health of women and young mothers in the developing world. Less focus has been put on the men in these women's lives, however - specifically, how the level of education of partners and fathers, or lack of it, affects how the women care for themselves as sexually active people and expectant mothers. | |
 | Interactive tool improves patient knowledge of breast cancer treatment optionsBreast cancer patients face complex decisions about their treatment. |
The first step in generating an artificial adrenal glandIn a new study, published in Cell Reports, researchers from Queen Mary University of London used cells derived from urine to take the first step in generating an artificial adrenal gland, which could help develop future treatments for adrenal gland disorders. | |
 | Unique research approach finds FDA-approved drug shuts down Ewing sarcoma cells in labBased on a novel approach to drug discovery, researchers at Georgetown Lombardi Comprehensive Cancer Center say an agent approved to treat a type of leukemia might also help young people with a much rarer and aggressive form of cancer, Ewing sarcoma. |
 | For children with respiratory infections, antibiotics with narrower targets are betterWhen doctors prescribe antibiotics for children with common respiratory infections, a more selective approach is better. Researchers who studied pediatric treatment practices in 30,000 patients with earaches, strep throat and other common infections found that narrow-spectrum antibiotics, which act against a smaller range of bacteria, had fewer adverse effects than broad-spectrum antibiotics, which target a broader variety of bacteria. |
 | US officials seek packaging fix for diarrhea-drug abuseU.S. health regulators on Tuesday asked makers of popular anti-diarrhea drugs to sell their medications in smaller amounts to make them harder to abuse. |
 | Concussions tied to rise in dementia risk decades later(HealthDay)— A serious head injury may increase the risk for dementia even decades later, a new, large study suggests. |
 | Resolutions to cut drinking may be tough to keep(HealthDay)—New Year's resolutions to curb drinking are likely made with the best intentions. But wishful thinking often isn't enough, a new survey suggests. |
 | Surgeon case experience impacts peds cholecystectomy morbidity(HealthDay)—High-volume general surgeons have lower morbidity rates than low-volume pediatric surgeons for laparoscopic cholecystectomy in pediatric patients, independent of pediatric volume, according to a study published online Jan. 17 in JAMA Surgery. |
 | Full-length inferior turbinate reduction best improves airflow(HealthDay)—The effectiveness of partial inferior turbinate reduction (ITR) for the treatment of nasal obstruction may depend on individual patient anatomy, according to a study published online Jan. 25 in JAMA Facial Plastic Surgery. |
 | Diet soda associated with higher odds of diabetic retinopathy(HealthDay)—Diet soda consumption may up the odds of diabetic retinopathy (DR), according to a study published online Jan. 23 in Clinical & Experimental Ophthalmology. |
 | Intra-op decision support system improves process measures(HealthDay)—For adults undergoing surgical procedures under general anesthesia, an intraoperative decision support system with real-time visualization can improve process measures, but not clinical outcomes, according to a study published in the February issue of Anesthesiology. |
 | Decreased survival when surgery refused for esophageal cancer(HealthDay)—Refusing surgery for esophageal cancer (EC) is associated with worse survival, according to a study presented at the annual meeting of The Society of Thoracic Surgeons, held from Jan. 27 to 31 in Fort Lauderdale, Fla. |
 | CABG may be better than PCI for 3-vessel Dz in younger adults(HealthDay)—For young patients (≤50 years) with three-vessel coronary artery disease, percutaneous coronary intervention (PCI) is associated with increased rates of adverse outcomes compared with coronary artery bypass grafting (CABG), according to a study presented at the annual meeting of The Society of Thoracic Surgeons, held from Jan. 27 to 31 in Fort Lauderdale, Fla. |
 | CDC: Many school children are not getting enough sleep(HealthDay)—Many middle school and high school students have short sleep duration, 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. |
 | How to avoid opioid addiction after surgery(HealthDay)—Following surgery, many patients head home with prescriptions for 30 or more opioid painkillers—enough to trigger addiction, warns a leading group of anesthesiologists. |
Analysis looks at long-term risks of living kidney donationLiving kidney donors are not at increased risk for some health outcomes previously of concern, but do seem at risk for worse blood pressure and kidney function than nondonors. In addition, female donors seem to be at increased risk for preeclampsia. The findings of a systematic review and meta-analysis are published in Annals of Internal Medicine. | |
Brazil short of ammo in fight against yellow feverBrazil is firing from all barrels to stop a yellow fever surge that has already killed dozens, but with vaccines short, the ammunition is already running out. | |
Ireland to hold abortion referendum in MayIreland will hold a referendum at the end of May on liberalising its restrictive abortion laws, a highly sensitive issue in the traditionally devoutly Catholic country. | |
Study shows effectiveness of the school fruit schemeHow can you convince elementary school students to consume more fruit and vegetables? Scientists from the University of Bonn and the University of Koblenz-Landau have found that school fruit schemes can actually help to achieve this goal. If children receive fruit and vegetables free of charge in their schools several times a week, they consume considerably more of this food group, which is often less popular with children, even on days without school fruit distribution. The results will now be presented in the journal Public Health Nutrition. | |
 | Researchers map out the atlas of gene regulators in human cardiac cells for the first timeInformation for building cells is stored in DNA, the blueprints for the more than 20,000 proteins in the human body. Every cell requires several thousand proteins in order to function. If you were to roll every single protein blueprint into one, the information they contain would occupy less than 2 percent of all DNA. What is the remaining 98 percent of the genome needed for? It contains the switches that control gene activity. For the first time, a research team led by Dr. Ralf Gilsbach and Prof. Dr. Lutz Hein from the University of Freiburg have mapped out the gene regulators in the DNA of human cardiac muscle cells. |
Abortion bans around the worldTraditionally Catholic Ireland has announced a referendum in May on easing some of the strictest legislation in Europe that imposes a near-total ban on abortion. | |
US, Australia scientists win Japan Prize for immunology workAn American professor at Emory University and an Australian scientist have been awarded the Japan Prize for research in immunology. | |
Developing new dental devices for the elderlyThirty years ago, Stephen Shuman, D.D.S., M.S., never would have imagined he'd be working with aerospace engineers on oral health issues. Now, the associate professor in the School of Dentistry works with them on a regular basis. He's collaborating with a local aerospace research company, ASTER Labs, to create new dental devices to help the elderly maintain their oral health and function. | |
 | Why ignoring mental health needs of young Syrian refugees could harm us allWhen a seven-year-old student in eastern Aleppo was asked at the peak of the bombardment campaign by the Assad regime in 2015 to draw a picture, he did not draw children playing, nor did he draw a blue sky or a smiling sun. |
 | Arts and humanities in medical school promote empathy and inoculate against burnoutMedical students who spend more time engaging in the arts may also be bolstering the qualities that improve their bedside manner with patients, according to new research from Tulane and Thomas Jefferson universities. |
 | Roadmap to guide progress toward replacing animal use in toxicity testingSixteen federal agencies partnered to develop a strategic roadmap that offers a new framework for the safety testing of drugs and chemicals, which aims to provide more human relevant toxicology data while reducing the use of animals. The roadmap was published Jan. 30 by the National Toxicology Program (NTP), a federal interagency program headquartered at the National Institute of Environmental Health Sciences (NIEHS) in North Carolina. NIEHS is part of the National Institutes of Health. |
Study shows inappropriate antibiotic prescribing differs by patient age, insurance, raceA patient's age and race are associated with risk of receiving an unneeded antibiotic prescription for upper respiratory conditions caused by viruses, according to a study published today in Infection Control & Hospital Epidemiology, the journal of the Society for Healthcare Epidemiology of America. Additionally, the study found that advanced practice providers, such as nurse practitioners and physician assistants, are 15 percent more likely than physician providers to prescribe antibiotics to adults. | |
 | Researchers advance the understanding of preterm birthPreterm birth is the leading cause of infant morbidity and mortality worldwide. The causes for preterm birth are complex and not fully understood, however emerging data suggest that the presence of certain bacteria in a woman's vagina and cervix may increase her risk of premature birth. In a study to be presented on February 1, 2018, at the Society for Maternal-Fetal Medicine's (SMFM) annual meeting, The Pregnancy Meeting, researchers will unveil findings that demonstrate that the byproducts of bacteria induce cervical changes which may lead to preterm birth. |
 | New study shows severe toxicity with high-dose AAV9-based gene therapy in animal modelsResearchers have described severe, life-threatening toxicity in monkeys and piglets given high doses of gene therapy delivered using an adeno-associated virus (AAV9) vector capable of accessing spinal cord neurons. The liver and neuronal toxicity reported here are different than the immune-related toxicity described with other AAV vectors, as reported in an article published Human Gene Therapy. |
 | Rio urges Carnival visitors to stick to urban areasBrazilian health authorities are urging Carnival visitors to stick to celebrations in the city of Rio de Janeiro and avoid heading out of town for sightseeing at waterfalls and forests where yellow fever has been detected. |
 | 5 ideas win $10,000 each in Ohio opioid technology challengeVirtual reality, neural feedback and digital therapy were among five ideas to help solve the U.S. opioid crisis that won a global technology challenge on Tuesday. |
Biology news
 | Scientists image molecules vital for gene regulationAll the trillions of cells in our body share the same genetic information and are derived from a single, fertilized egg. When this initial cell multiplies during fetal development, its daughter cells become more and more specialized. This process, called cell differentiation, gives rise to all the various cell types, such as nerve, muscle, or blood cells, which are diverse in shape and function and make up tissues and organs. How can the same genetic blueprint lead to such diversity? The answer lies in the way that genes are switched on or off during the course of development. |
 | Naked mole rat found to defy Gompertz's mortality lawA team of researchers at Google-owned Calico Life Sciences LLC has found that the naked mole rat defies Gompertz's mortality law. In their paper published in eLife, the group describes their study of the unusual-looking rodent and describe some of its unusual traits. |
 | Plotting the path of plant pathogensIn a sneak attack, some pathogenic microbes manipulate plant hormones to gain access to their hosts undetected. Biologists at Washington University in St. Louis have exposed one such interloper by characterizing the unique biochemical pathway it uses to synthesize auxin, a central hormone in plant development. |
Light-controlled tool can be used to reveal secrets of protein functionUC San Francisco scientists have invented a technique that lets them precisely and reversibly disrupt the action of specific cellular proteins at a microscopic scale by making them split apart when illuminated with blue light. The researchers envision a vast number of applications for the technique in the study of cell biology. | |
 | Morphing time—plant chloroplasts wake up before they go goNew research published this week in Nature Plants by University of Sheffield scientists explains how plants switch from photoprotection to photosynthesis when transitioning from darkness to daylight. |
 | Tracking microbial diversity through the terrestrial subsurfaceDeep underground, the earth beneath our feet is teeming with microbial life, the majority of which has yet to be characterized. Cut off from sunlight, these enigmatic organisms must obtain life-sustaining energy and carbon, which all living cells need, through other means. |
 | Why roosters don't go deaf from their own loud crowingA team of researchers with the University of Antwerp and the University of Ghent, both in Belgium, has uncovered the means by which roosters prevent themselves from going deaf due to their own loud crowing. In their paper published in the journal Zoology, the group outlines their study of the birds and what they found. |
 | Urban foxes and coyotes learn to set aside their differences and coexistDiverging from centuries of established behavioral norms, red fox and coyote have gone against their wild instincts and learned to coexist in the urban environment of Madison and the University of Wisconsin-Madison campus, according to a recently published study in the journal PLOS One. |
 | How new evidence of sex reversals helps show how sex chromosomes are maintained over evolutionary timeWhen it comes to sex, frogs, just like in people, exhibit a similar XX (female) and XY (male) sex chromosome pattern of inheritance. |
 | Researchers find basic mechanisms for root growth and cell replenishmentUnderstanding the functioning of root biology is crucial to understand how plants adapt to adverse environmental conditions like droughts. Two recent studies describe these kinds of mechanisms. One, published in the journal Molecular Systems Biology, describes the process through which cells stop growing due cell differentiation; the second one, published in Journal of Cell Science, describes plants' cell replenishment after being damaged. |
 | Three critically endangered red-headed vulture nests discovered in Cambodia's Chhep Wildlife SanctuaryThree nests of the critically endangered red-headed vulture were found in January in Cambodia's Chhep Wildlife Sanctuary by conservationists from the Ministry of Environment (MoE), Wildlife Conservation Society (WCS) and local communities. The population of this species in Cambodia is possibly less than 50 individuals. These nest discoveries give hope that conservation efforts may save this species from extinction. |
 | Little genetic difference among Dungeness crab from California to WashingtonA new study of Dungeness crab along the West Coast found strong genetic diversity throughout various sampling sites, with little genetic "differentiation" between them, meaning that crab found off the California coast are similar to those found off Oregon and Washington. |
 | A novel approach could help manage the impact of invasive speciesSome species of plants and animals can cause harm when introduced to areas where they aren't found naturally. They can affect biodiversity, ecosystems, health and livelihoods. On the other hand many newcomer species are harmless. The number of introduced species is growing fast worldwide and there are now too many to control. To decide which ones to focus on, scientists and managers need to compare their impacts. |
Protecting cassava from disease? There's an app for thatCassava is one of the developing world's most important crops. Its starchy roots and leaves are a staple food for more than 500 million people in Africa each day. And Africa produces half of the world's total cassava output; the continent's main growers are the Congo, Côte d'lvoire, Ghana, Nigeria, Tanzania and Uganda. | |
 | How algae survive the harsh world of sea iceNew research from the University of East Anglia has revealed new clues into how algae survive within polar sea ice. |
 | Mega-herbivores were displaced by humans who partly took their placeSenckenberg scientist Hervé Bocherens has studied the extinction of mega-herbivores – plant-eating animals that weighed more than one ton – that occurred approx. 12,000 years ago. The scientist from Tübingen reached the conclusion that, on the one hand, modern man was the cause of these giant terrestrial animals' extinction, and on the other hand, humans took over part of the animals' ecosystem functions. In his study, recently published in the scientific journal Frontiers in Ecology and Evolution, he concludes that the reintroduction of large animals in certain parts of the world could have a positive effect in regard to species diversity. |
 | New ecological maps show a wider range of functional diversityTogether with a large international team of scientists, researchers Peter van Bodegom and Nadia Soudzilovskaia of the Leiden Institute of Environmental Sciences (CML) have created maps of variability in plant trait distribution across the globe. The new maps have been published in Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences in December 2017. |
 | Warming climate shrinks British Columbia beetlesSome of B.C.'s beetles are shrinking as their habitats get warmer, according to new UBC research. The study provides evidence that climate change is affecting the size of organisms. |
 | Unusual properties within the grass genus DiplachneThe grass genus Diplachne only includes two species, but it the does not fall short when it comes to remarkable features. It was precisely this affinity to the unusual displayed by the nearly worldwide genus that inspired Dr Neil Snow and his co-authors to delve deeper in a dedicated monograph published in the open access journal PhytoKeys. |
 | An outdoor cat can damage your sustainability credIf you install solar panels on your roof and avoid dousing your lawn with chemicals and pesticides, your online peers may consider you to be environmentally friendly. But this street cred can all be erased if you let your cat roam around outdoors. |
 | Pendjari park hopes to be new elephant sanctuary in West AfricaMatthieu Yoa smiles at a job well done. The ranger and his colleagues have just put a satellite tracking collar on an elephant in the Pendjari National Park in northern Benin. |
 | The balance of marine bacteria in the Baltic SeaCarina Bunse has written a thesis on marine bacteria and how they respond to the changes in their environment. Bacteria affect nutrient turnover in the Baltic Sea and with it the balance of the sea. As they are invisible, our knowledge of marine bacteria is still limited. By studying these microbes and their genes, we can learn more about how the ocean will behave in the future. |
Declining species of shark added to endangered species listThe federal government says the oceanic whitetip shark will be listed as threatened under the Endangered Species Act to help the species recover. | |
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