Dear Reader ,
Here is your customized Science X Newsletter for February 12, 2018:
Spotlight Stories Headlines
Astronomy & Space news
 | Astronomers discover a near-grazing transiting 'hot Jupiter'An international group of astronomers has detected a new "hot Jupiter" exoplanet making a near-grazing transit of its host star. The newly found alien world, designated WASP-174b, is most likely similar in size and mass to Jupiter, however much hotter than our solar system's biggest planet. The discovery is reported February 2 in a paper published on arXiv.org. |
 | 'Oumuamua had a violent past and has been tumbling around for billions of yearsThe first discovered interstellar visitor to our solar system has had a violent past, which is causing it to tumble around chaotically, a Queen's University Belfast scientist has discovered. |
 | Russia reschedules Soyuz launch after failure to blast offRussian space agency Roscosmos has delayed the launch of a Soyuz rocket carrying a Progress cargo ship by two days after Sunday's planned lift-off was aborted at the last minute. |
 | US wants to privatize International Space Station: reportCould the International Space Station become a commercial venture run by private industry? |
 | Landsat 8 marks five years in orbitIn its five years in space, the Landsat 8 Earth-observing satellite has racked up some impressive statistics: 26,500 orbits around the planet, 1.1 million "scenes" captured, a motherlode of images that represents 16 percent of all the observations in the 45-year Landsat archive. |
 | Solving the dark energy mystery: A new assignment for a 45-year-old telescopeForty-five years ago this month, a telescope tucked inside a 14-story, 500-ton dome atop a mile-high peak in Arizona took in the night sky for the first time and recorded its observations in glass photographic plates. |
 | New chapter begins for kitt peak telescopeWhen the Mayall first opened its eye to the sky 45 years ago, it was one of the largest optical telescopes in existence. Designed to be versatile, its mission was to assist astronomers in addressing the wide diversity of astronomical questions facing the field. Tremendously successful, it played an important role in many astronomical discoveries, such as establishing the role of dark matter in the Universe from measurements of galaxy rotation, and determining the scale and structure of the Universe. |
 | Trump wants NASA out of space station by 2025, businesses inThe Trump administration wants NASA out of the International Space Station by 2025, and private businesses running the place instead. |
Technology news
 | Programming drones to fly in the face of uncertaintyCompanies like Amazon have big ideas for drones that can deliver packages right to your door. But, even putting aside the policy issues, programming drones to fly through cluttered spaces like cities is difficult. Being able to avoid obstacles while traveling at high speeds is computationally complex, especially for small drones that are limited in how much they can carry on-board for real-time processing. |
 | Are air gaps entirely impermeable? Then you don't know Ben-Gurion team's researchWe read many stories about security sleuths who discover how thieves and mischief-makers break into accounts and networks to plant bad stuff and steal personal data. |
 | Transforming old mine shafts into future storage sitesJust as there is an interest in sources of energy, there is also an urgent keen interest in storage. What is viable, as in what can work efficiently and make economic sense? |
 | Study finds gender and skin-type bias in commercial artificial-intelligence systemsThree commercially released facial-analysis programs from major technology companies demonstrate both skin-type and gender biases, according to a new paper researchers from MIT and Stanford University will present later this month at the Conference on Fairness, Accountability, and Transparency. |
 | Browser extension helps the visually impaired interpret online imagesImagine internet browsing without the ability to make sense of images. It's a problem that visually impaired computer users face every day. While screen reading technology gives users audible access to written content, it needs written descriptions to interpret images, and often there isn't any. |
New fuel cell demonstrates exceptional power density and stabilityA team of researchers led by Northwestern University professor and fuel cell pioneer Sossina Haile has created a new fuel cell offering both exceptional power densities and long-term stability at optimal temperatures, a discovery that heightens the viability of incorporating fuel cells into a sustainable energy future. | |
 | Researchers develop new method for waking up small electronic devicesAs smartphone users know all too well, a sleeping device can still suck the life out of a battery. One solution for extending the battery life of wireless devices under development by researchers at Stanford University is to add a wake-up receiver that can turn on a shut-off device at a moment's notice. |
 | Alibaba's Ma hopes Beijing 2022 can be smarter, cheaper, fasterBillionaire Alibaba co-founder Jack Ma foresees an Olympics that is better for fans and athletes and is more economical—and hopes Beijing 2022 will be the pinnacle of that vision. |
 | Q&A: How is the growth of bitcoin affecting the environment?The growth of bitcoin is fueling speculation and debate about the environmental impact of the energy needed to power the virtual currency in the era of climate change. Some questions and answers about the issue: |
 | Esports officially arrives in Japan, home of game giantsA crowd cheers, banging on balloons, in front of glitzy stages, each with a giant screen. The rising stars at the sprawling Makuhari Messe hall are the quietly seated men in hoodies and T-shirts, with names like Noppi and Refresh, jiggling on buttons and grimacing at screens. |
 | Less-cool Facebook losing youth at fast pace: surveyWith mom, dad and grandma signing up in increasing numbers, Facebook is losing younger users in the United States at a faster pace than previously estimated, researchers said Monday. |
 | Predictive algorithms are no better at telling the future than a crystal ballAn increasing number of businesses invest in advanced technologies that can help them forecast the future of their workforce and gain a competitive advantage. |
 | German court finds Facebook oversharing user dataA German court has found Facebook is breaching data protection rules with privacy settings that over-share by default and by requiring users to give real names, a consumer rights organisation said Monday. |
 | General Dynamics to buy CSRA for almost $7 billionThe defense contractor General Dynamics will spend almost $7 billion to acquire CSRA with the Trump administration pushing defense spending aggressively higher. |
 | Thousands of websites infected by 'crypto mining' malwareThousands of websites around the world, including many operated by governments, have been infected by hackers using the sites' computing power to "mine" cryptocurrencies, security researchers said. |
 | Snapchat redesign sparks backlash among some usersSnapchat's latest app redesign, aimed at broadening the appeal of the youth-oriented social network, sparked a backlash from many users complaining about the abrupt overhaul of their preferred service. |
 | Four robots that aim to teach your kids to codeYou've seen apps and toys that promise to teach your child to code. Now enter the robots. |
 | Marathon Kim Dotcom case back in New Zealand courtInternet mogul Kim Dotcom's legal case returns to court in New Zealand Monday for what may be the Megaupload founder's final chance of avoiding extradition to the United States. |
 | French PM oversees major Airbus deal signed in DubaiFrench Prime Minister Edouard Philippe on Sunday hailed the signing in Dubai of a $16 billion purchase by Emirates Airlines of the Airbus A380 superjumbo commercial airliner. |
 | Back to basics: Taiwan's industrial chicWith watches made from cement, furniture fashioned from factory pipes, and accessories created from motorbike leather, Taiwanese designers are winning new fans at home and abroad with their own brand of industrial chic. |
 | Comcast ponders new bid for 21st Century Fox: US mediaUS cable company Comcast, which in December dropped an attempt to acquire 21st Century Fox, is considering relaunching that bid even though Walt Disney Co. has reached a deal, the Wall Street Journal reported. |
 | Standalone system to produce drinking water via solar energyResearchers from the University of Alicante's research group in applied electrochemistry and electrocatalysis have developed a standalone system for desalinating and treating water through electrodialysis. The system is directly powered by solar energy and can be applied in off-grid areas. |
Few jobs can be completely replaced by new technologiesArtificial intelligence, machine learning, and robotics can perform an increasingly wider variety of jobs, and automation is no longer confined to routine tasks. Nevertheless, the automation potential for non-routine tasks seems to remain limited, especially for tasks involving autonomous mobility, creativity, problem solving, and complex communication. | |
 | Talks still on for Weinstein Company deal: sourceTalks were still on Monday between a group of investors and the troubled Weinstein Company, despite New York prosecutors throwing a spanner in the works by filing a lawsuit against the movie studio, source said Monday. |
 | Fox pledges to keep Sky News independent of MurdochRupert Murdoch's 21st Century Fox has vowed to preserve the editorial independence of Sky News in order to secure its takeover of pan-European TV giant Sky, documents showed Monday. |
Albanian sought by US arrested in cybercrime market probePolice in Albania say they have arrested a 25-year-old citizen who is accused of being part of a cybercrime organization that U.S. authorities allege cost consumers and businesses more than half a billion dollars. | |
Amazon to lay off 'small' number of people in SeattleAfter a ramp-up of hiring last year, Amazon says it will cut a "small" number of positions at its Seattle headquarters. | |
Medicine & Health news
 | Researchers discover brain pathway that dissociates opioid addiction from analgesiaA newly identified protein can be manipulated to make opioid painkillers effective at lower doses while also muting the reward mechanism that leads to addiction, Mount Sinai researchers have found. |
 | New technology enables identification of biomarkers for a wide range of diseasesScientists have developed a way to identify biomarkers for a wide range of diseases by assessing the antibodies we are making to the complex sugars coating our cells. |
 | Scientists describe the mechanism of heart regeneration in the zebrafishSome animals, including the zebrafish, have a high capacity to regenerate tissues, allowing them to recovery fully after cardiac injury. During this process, the heart muscle cells divide to replace the damaged tissue. However, there has been uncertainty about whether all cells contribute equally to the reconstruction of the heart wall. Now, a team of scientists led by Nadia Mercader at the Centro Nacional de Investigaciones Cardiovasculares Carlos III (CNIC) and the University of Bern (Switzerland), working with collaborators at the University of Zurich (Switzerland), have discovered a high level of plasticity among the cells of the zebrafish heart muscle. The study is published in Nature Communications. |
 | Experimental therapy restores nerve insulation damaged by diseaseWhen the body attacks its own healthy tissues in an autoimmune disease, peripheral nerve damage handicaps people and causes persistent neuropathic pain when insulation on healing nerves doesn't fully regenerate. |
 | Tweak to assay could bolster disease detectionA team of School of Medicine researchers has developed a technique that they hope could more precisely detect diseases or disorders such as cancer or a heart attack. |
 | Amygdala may play bigger than expected role in facial recognitionNew research from the Center for BrainHealth at The University of Texas at Dallas reveals that the amygdala may play a larger role in the brain's ability to recognize faces than previously thought. |
 | Study shows NIH spent >$100 billion on basic science for new medicinesFederally funded research contributed to the science underlying all new medicines approved by the FDA over the past six years, according to a new study by Bentley University. |
 | Predictors for infidelity and divorce highlighted in new researchAs Valentine's Day approaches, it's reassuring to know many of us are equipped with the basic psychological instincts to have a successful intimate relationship that lasts. |
 | Mouse study adds to evidence linking gut bacteria and obesityA new Johns Hopkins study of mice with the rodent equivalent of metabolic syndrome has added to evidence that the intestinal microbiome—a "garden" of bacterial, viral and fungal genes—plays a substantial role in the development of obesity and insulin resistance in mammals, including humans. |
 | Cancer killing clue could lead to safer and more powerful immunotherapiesNew research could help to safely adapt a new immunotherapy—currently only effective in blood cancers—for the treatment of solid cancers, such as notoriously hard-to-treat brain tumours. |
 | Building and breaking connections: How neuronal networks influence alcoholismAbout 15.1 million American adults have alcohol use disorder, meaning they cannot stop drinking despite adverse consequences—in other words, they have what is commonly referred to as alcoholism. Although it has been known that alterations in the connections between neurons in the brain likely play a role in alcohol dependence and other addictions, the cause-and-effect between these brain alterations and behavior has been less clear. |
 | Researchers inhibit cancer metastases via novel stepsIn one of the first successes of its kind, researchers from Case Western Reserve University School of Medicine and six other institutions have inhibited the spreading of cancer cells from one part of the body to another. In doing so, they relied on a new model of how cancer metastasizes that emphasizes epigenetics, which examines how genes are turned on and off. |
 | Science self-corrects: Cancer gene does not pass reproducibility testAbout 10 years ago, several labs discovered that a gene called MELK is overexpressed, or turned on to a high degree, in many cancer cell types. This evidence has prompted multiple ongoing clinical trials to test whether drugs that inhibit MELK can treat cancer in patients. Now, Cold Spring Harbor Laboratory (CSHL) researchers, led by CSHL Fellow Jason Sheltzer, report that MELK is not actually involved in cancer. |
 | Norovirus outbreak in South Korea caused no deathsA story shared widely online that claims a norovirus outbreak at the Pyeongchang Olympics has led to fatalities is false. |
 | New immunotherapy combination tolerable, effective in patients with advanced kidney cancerCombining an anti-angiogenesis agent, which blocks blood vessel formation, with an immunotherapy agent, was found to have promising anti-tumor activity and no unexpected side effects in an early-phase clinical trial in patients with advanced kidney cancer who had not been previously treated, according to a researcher at the Georgetown Lombardi Comprehensive Cancer Center who led this study. |
 | Before-school physical activity program helps improve body weight and overall wellnessChildren participating in a 12-week, before-school physical activity program experienced improvement in body weight and social/emotional wellness, compared with their classmates who did not participate. Investigators from MassGeneral Hospital for Children (MGHfC) report the results of their study of the BOKS (Build Our Kids' Success) Program in a paper that will appear in the April issue of the American Journal of Preventive Medicine and is being released online. |
 | NIR light may identify breast cancer patients who will benefit most from chemotherapyA new optical imaging system developed at Columbia University uses red and near-infrared light to identify breast cancer patients who will respond to chemotherapy. The imaging system may be able to predict response to chemotherapy as early as two weeks after beginning treatment. |
Survivors of childhood heart defects may have higher risk of premature dementiaPeople born with heart defects who survive into adulthood may be at higher risk of developing dementia, particularly dementia that starts before 65 years of age, according to new research in the American Heart Association's journal Circulation. | |
Measles vaccine increases child survival beyond protecting against measlesIn the largest study to date on children in a low/middle income country, new research in Ghana finds that the timing of a measles vaccine in an overall vaccination schedule can have a profound impact on child survival rates beyond protecting against measles infection. The findings, published today in open access journal Frontiers in Public Health, suggest that measles vaccination in the recommended sequence may have made an important contribution towards achieving the Millennium Development Goal 4 of reducing child mortality. | |
 | Huntington's disease provides new cancer weaponPatients with Huntington's disease, a fatal genetic illness that causes the breakdown of nerve cells in the brain, have up to 80 percent less cancer than the general population. |
 | Family history increases breast cancer risk in older women: Weighing screening optionsFamily history of breast cancer continues to significantly increase chances of developing invasive breast tumors in aging women—those ages 65 and older, according to research published in JAMA Internal Medicine. The findings could impact mammography screening decisions later in life. |
Medicaid expansion in Kentucky improves breast cancer care for women 20 to 64 years oldSince passage of the Affordable Care Act in 2010, 32 states and the District of Columbia have expanded Medicaid coverage, with the federal government picking up the tab for the increased costs. In Kentucky, one of the Medicaid expansion states, a University of Louisville study of breast cancer care has found a connection between Medicaid expansion and improved quality of breast cancer care, including an increase in diagnosis of early stage disease and greater utilization of breast-conserving surgery instead of more invasive operations such as mastectomy. However, study authors also reported less robust improvements in efficiency and timing of postsurgical therapy. | |
 | Marijuana's 4/20 holiday tied to rise in fatal car crashesMarijuana users' self-proclaimed holiday is linked with a slight increase in fatal U.S. car crashes, an analysis of 25 years of data found. |
Which commonly prescribed drug is more effective for infants with epilepsy?Comparison of two of the most commonly prescribed drugs for infants with nonsyndromic epilepsy revealed that levetiracetam was more effective than phenobarbital, according a multicenter, observational study published in JAMA Pediatrics. After six months of single-drug treatment, 40 percent of infants who received levetiracetam met criteria for successful outcome - they did not require a second anti-epileptic drug to control their seizures and they became seizure-free within three months of starting treatment. Only 16 percent of infants treated with phenobarbital achieved the same outcome. | |
 | Study suggests way to attack deadly, untreatable nerve tumorsGenomic profiling of mostly untreatable and deadly nerve sheath tumors led scientists to test a possible therapeutic strategy that inhibited tumor growth in lab tests on human tumor cells and mouse models, according to research in the journal Cancer Cell. |
 | Researchers explain why base metabolism varies with massA multidisciplinary team of researchers of the Universitat de València, the Universidad Politécnica de Madrid and the Queen Mary University of London has solved a puzzle that bewildered biologists for over a century—how and why an organism's base metabolism varies depending on its mass. Base metabolism is the minimum energy that an organism consumes to stay alive. The group's work has been published in Scientific Reports, Nature's open access variant. |
Mental health provision in schools at crisis point, research findsExperts have called for a significant and urgent increase in resources to support the mental health of young people in schools, after a study uncovered a perfect storm of increased need and decreased provision. | |
 | Twitter reveals side effects of medicines, scientists findA study of over 20,000 Twitter posts has revealed that less serious side effects of steroids worry patients the most. |
Muscular dystrophy cluePatients with Duchenne muscular dystrophy (DMD) have a genetic mutation that causes incurable muscle degeneration. Research has shown that the immune system plays a complex, double-sided role in muscular dystrophy—promoting both muscle repair and muscle degradation. | |
 | Scans could help tailor pancreatic cancer treatmentDoctors should use a specialised type of scan to help decide if patients with pancreatic cancer may benefit from surgery, according to the National Institute for Health and Care Excellence (NICE). |
 | Simple blood test could reveal epilepsy riskA finger-prick blood test to diagnose epilepsy could be available within five years, according to scientists who are using tell-tale molecules called biomarkers to overcome current diagnostic problems and guide treatment. |
 | Supermicrosurgery helps to combat lymphoedema following tumour removalLymphoedema is fluid retention in the tissue caused by damage to the lymphatic system and is one of the most serious side-effects of cancer operations. The problems caused by the swelling can range from severe pain or skin infections right through to loss of limb function and they detract greatly from a patient's quality of life. The conventional forms of treatment are only partially effective and the results temporary. Researchers at the Comprehensive Cancer Center (CCC) at MedUni Vienna/Vienna General Hospital are now refining two innovative techniques for the effective treatment of lymphoedema. |
 | Opioid use increases risk of serious infectionsOpioid users have a significantly increased risk of infections severe enough to require treatment at the hospital, such as pneumonia and meningitis, as compared to people who don't use opioids. |
 | Balancing the benefits and risks of electronic cigarettesWhat should physicians say to their patients who ask them about the safety of electronic cigarettes (e-cigarettes) and whether the devices can help them quit smoking? Massachusetts General Hospital (MGH) physician Nancy Rigotti, MD, outlines what is and is not known about the risks and benefits of e-cigarettes in a commentary published in the February 13 issue of Annals of Internal Medicine. |
 | How we can prevent more Listeria deathsThe largest Listeria food-borne outbreak ever recorded in human history is now taking place in South Africa. |
 | Who's your ideal mate? Your 'first love' may have something to do with itYour first sexual partner may have more to tell you about your spouse or current lover than you may think. Although this may sound surprising to you, studies have shown early experiences play a role in who we choose as a sexual partner. |
 | I'm not overweight, so why do I need to eat healthy foods?We all have that one friend whose eating habits and body shape simply don't add up. While enjoying the unhealthiest of meals and a sedentary lifestyle, somehow they effortlessly retain a slender figure. |
Fewer people being referred to fall prevention programs, new study saysMore than half of older West Australians who reported falling over in the past year did not seek medical assistance, new Curtin University-led research has found, with a significant decline in the number of people being referred to prevention programs after a fall over the past decade. | |
 | New ECPR protocol helps some cardiac arrest patients survive certain deathMore people are walking away from a type of cardiac arrest that is nearly always fatal, thanks to a new protocol being tested at The Ohio State University Wexner Medical Center. It's called an ECPR alert. |
People with learning disabilities suffer from a far greater number of illnesses than previously knownPeople with learning disabilities are suffering from a far greater number of illnesses than had been previously understood, adding to concerns that life-threatening conditions are being routinely missed. | |
 | No, opposites do not attractEveryone seems to agree that opposites attract. Young and old people, happy and distressed couples, single folks and married partners – all apparently buy the classic adage about love. Relationship experts have written books based on this assumption. It's even been internalized by people who are on the hunt for a partner, with 86 percent of those looking for love saying they're seeking someone with opposite traits. |
Sibling bullying makes psychotic disorders three times more likelyPeople who were bullied by siblings during childhood are up to three times more likely to develop psychotic disorders such as schizophrenia in early adulthood, according to new research by the University of Warwick. | |
Evidence that medical marijuana outlets sell to other usersA study of four medical marijuana outlets in California suggests that many of their customers don't fit the profile expected for businesses focused on sick patients. | |
Biomarker predicts success of Afib treatmentJohns Hopkins researchers report successful use of heart imaging to predict the benefit or futility of catheter ablation, an increasingly popular way to treat atrial fibrillation, a common heart rhythm disorder. | |
 | What the flu does to your body, and why it makes you feel awfulEvery year, from 5 to 20 percent of the people in the United States will become infected with influenza virus. An average of 200,000 of these people will require hospitalization and up to 50,000 will die. Older folks over the age of 65 are especially susceptible to influenza infection, since the immune system becomes weaker with age. In addition, older folks are also more susceptible to long-term disability following influenza infection, especially if they are hospitalized. |
 | Engaging family in care of hospitalized loved ones enhances healing, reduces readmission ratesA voluntary program being spearheaded by Intermountain Healthcare that allows family members of hospitalized patients to participate in their care enhanced healing and reduced readmission rates, according to a new study published in the February issue of the medical journal, Chest. |
Dyslexia does not reduce pass rates for UK GP licensing examUK GPs with dyslexia are just as likely to pass the knowledge component of the licensing exam as their counterparts, a new study has found. | |
 | Brain scans show why people get aggressive after a drink or twoResearchers have used magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) scans that measure blood flow in the brain to better understand why people often become aggressive and violent after drinking alcohol. After only two drinks, the researchers noted changes in the working of the prefrontal cortex of the brain, the part normally involved in tempering a person's levels of aggression. The study was led by Thomas Denson of the University of New South Wales in Australia in the journal Cognitive, Affective, & Behavioral Neuroscience which is an official journal of the Psychonomic Society and is published by Springer. |
 | Canadian stroke victims at higher risk of dying in rural hospitalsCanadians who suffer a stroke have a higher risk of dying if they are treated in a rural hospital rather than an urban one. According to a new study published in PLOS One by Université Laval researchers, the mortality rate in the months that follow a stroke is approximately 25% higher for patients treated in rural areas. |
Study examines shift work and genetic risk factors for type 2 diabetesA new study takes a deep look at the connection between shift work and type 2 diabetes. Investigators at Brigham and Women's Hospital leveraged data on hundreds of thousands of people in the UK Biobank to better understand how shift work - especially frequent night work - contributes to the likelihood of type 2 diabetes. The team also developed a genetic risk score for type 2 diabetes, examining genetic data for tens of thousands of workers in the database. They found that more frequent night work increased the odds of type 2 diabetes, regardless of genetic type 2 diabetes risk, among the population studied. Their results are published this week in Diabetes Care. | |
 | Lung cancer drug resistance explained by computer simulationsScientists from the Universities of Bristol and Parma, Italy, have used molecular simulations to understand resistance to osimertinib - an anticancer drug used to treat types of lung cancer. |
 | Study sheds new light on mechanism of breast cancer treatment resistanceA study by researchers at Dana-Farber Cancer Institute has illuminated a specific mechanism by which estrogen receptor-positive (ER+) breast cancers can become resistant to standard therapies and metastasize. |
 | Babies face higher SIDS risk in certain states(HealthDay)—Sudden infant death syndrome (SIDS) claims the lives of some 3,500 babies in the United States each year, but its toll is far heavier in some states than others, health officials report. |
Who gets unneeded antibiotics most often?(HealthDay)—Some patients are more likely than others to get antibiotics they don't need, new research shows. | |
 | Ultrasound for rectal cancer staging tied to more chemoradiation(HealthDay)—Use of endoscopic ultrasound (EUS) for rectal cancer (RC) staging is associated with higher use of neoadjuvant chemoradiation but no significant improvement in overall survival, according to a study published Jan. 26 in the Journal of Gastroenterology and Hepatology. |
 | Quality improvement efforts may improve cath lab efficiencies(HealthDay)—A quality improvement intervention can reduce inefficiencies in the cardiac catheterization lab, according to a study published online Jan. 31 in the Journal of the American College of Cardiology: Cardiovascular Interventions. |
 | Ability to ID face paralysis in others increases with severity(HealthDay)—Laypersons' ability to identify facial paralysis increases with the severity of the condition, although individuals are not always able to accurately localize paralysis on the face, according to a study published online Feb. 8 in JAMA Facial Plastic Surgery. |
 | Cause of sudden unexpected infant deaths shifts in the U.S.(HealthDay)—From 1999 to 2015 there was a small reduction in the rate of sudden unexpected infant death (SUID), according to a study published online Feb. 12 in Pediatrics. |
 | Mortality up in diabetes with low eGFR, no albuminuria(HealthDay)—Among U.S. adults with diabetes, albumin-to-creatinine ratio (ACR) values are decreasing, but mortality rates are increasing among those with ACR |
New research shows shorter fitness test still accurately predicts risk of mortalityQueen's University researcher Louise de Lannoy has determined a short, five minute treadmill test can predict the risk of mortality. This risk is determined independent of other traditional risk factors including age, weight, blood pressure, smoking status, diabetes, cholesterol, and family history. | |
Some racial/ethnic groups have greater chance of developing high blood pressurePeople who are African-American, American Indian/native Alaskan, Asian, or native Hawaiian and other Pacific Islanders have a significantly greater chance of developing hypertension than people who are white or Hispanic who are in the same weight category or live in neighborhoods with similar education levels. | |
 | Slow eating speed may be linked to weight lossSlowing down the speed at which you eat, along with cutting out after dinner snacks and not eating within 2 hours of going to sleep may all help to shed the pounds, suggests research published in the online journal BMJ Open. |
New cannabis products highly potent, pose mental health risksSchizophrenia and other psychiatric issues may be triggered by marijuana use, according to a research analysis in the Journal of the American Osteopathic Association. | |
New study shows vegan diet improves diabetes markers in overweight adultsA plant-based diet improves beta-cell function and insulin sensitivity in overweight adults with no history of diabetes, according to a new study published in Nutrients by researchers from the Physicians Committee for Responsible Medicine. | |
 | Study shows benefits of exercise can outweigh health effects of severe obesityCan you be fit and healthy even if you're overweight? That's the question researchers at York University's Faculty of Health set out to answer in a new study that shows physical activity may be equally and perhaps even more important than weight for people living with severe obesity. |
 | Novel classification can lead to new ways to diagnose and treat cancerA novel approach to studying cancer has enabled researchers to group about 10,000 human cancers of 32 different types into 10 classes based on the molecular pathways that drive tumor growth. A better understanding of these pathways can potentially lead to novel ways to diagnose and treat cancer. The study appears in the journal of Clinical Cancer Research. |
 | Why so many doctors in the UK are at risk of burnoutMore than a thousand GPs have sought professional help from the NHS GP Health Service since it was set up in 2017, with most cases involving stress, anxiety and depression and about 2% addiction. |
 | Progress, but far from perfection, on avoiding risky sedatives in older adultsThey help many people sleep, or feel calmer or less anxious. But in older people, they also double the risk of car crashes, falls and broken hips. |
 | When the body attacks the brain: Immune system often to blame for encephalitis, study findsEncephalitis caused by the immune system attacking the brain is similar in frequency to encephalitis from infections, Mayo Clinic researchers report in Annals of Neurology. |
Hip-hop music influencing more African-Americans to try 'Molly'More rap artists are talking about molly, which is the powder or crystal form of ecstasy, and that's having a big impact on Black listeners. Molly is a synthetic drug that acts as a stimulant and hallucinogenic. While research has shown messages in hip-hop music can influence the use of marijuana and alcohol, no research has looked specifically at whether hip-hop is actually influencing some to try molly. | |
 | Study finds neurotransmitter may play a role in alcohol relapse, addictionA study led by Indiana University on neurochemical changes associated with alcohol addiction found that the neurotransmitter glutamate plays a role in some alcohol cravings. |
 | Smart bomb virus shows promise as brain tumor immunotherapyA common cold virus engineered to attack the most common and deadly of brain tumors allowed 20 percent of patients with recurrent glioblastoma to live for three years or longer, researchers from The University of Texas MD Anderson Cancer Center report on a phase I clinical trial in the Journal of Clinical Oncology. |
How do children's cancer diagnoses affect parents' income?A new study from Sweden found that social benefits often ease the financial burdens experienced by the parents of children recently diagnosed with cancer, but mothers experienced persistently lower income after benefits diminished. Published early online in Cancer, a peer-reviewed journal of the American Cancer Society, the findings indicate that additional efforts may be needed to address the financial hardships experienced by the mothers of children with cancer. | |
Obesity, other risks play large role in sudden cardiac arrest among the youngObesity and other common cardiovascular risk factors may play a greater role in sudden cardiac arrest among younger people than previously recognized, underscoring the importance of earlier screening, a Cedars-Sinai study has found. | |
Soft chemotherapy is very effective in older patients when added to targeted treatment in aggressive breast cancerAvoidance of side-effects of chemotherapy is particularly important in the elderly, but finding the balance between reduced toxicity and maximum effectiveness is not always easy. A trial carried out by the European Organisation for Research and Treatment of Cancer, published today in The Lancet Oncology, shows that, in older patients with HER2 positive metastatic breast cancer (an aggressive breast cancer subtype where the cancer has spread to other parts of the body), a combination of a 'soft' chemotherapy with antiHER2 therapy is highly active and has low toxicity, important in a frail population. | |
 | OxyContin maker will stop promoting opioids to doctorsThe maker of the powerful painkiller OxyContin said it will stop marketing opioid drugs to doctors, a surprise reversal following lawsuits that blamed the company for helping trigger the current drug abuse epidemic. |
Scores of monkeys killed in Rio yellow fever panicFears of spreading yellow fever are behind the illegal killing of scores of monkeys in Rio de Janeiro, complicating efforts to fight the virus, authorities say. | |
 | Brain thickness provides insight into teenage decision-makingYoung adults with thinner cortex in particular brain regions are more impulsive during a decision-making task than teens with thicker cortex, according to a large correlational study of adolescents from the Philadelphia Neurodevelopmental Cohort. The results, published in JNeurosci, suggest that individual differences in brain structure could be used to identify youth at higher risk of making dangerous choices. |
 | Altered pain processing after opioid discontinuationAn imaging study of the brain and spinal cord published in JNeurosci reveals pain processing changes in healthy men after receiving a short-term application of a strong opioid. The research provides a plausible mechanism underlying increased pain sensitivity after discontinuation of opioid medication. |
 | Breaking new ground in medical trainingWith plenty of anticipation, ETH Zurich welcomed the first 100 students to its new Bachelor's degree in human medicine last autumn. The experiences of the first semester have resulted in a lot of enthusiasm – from the lecturers as well as the students. |
 | Predicting antisocial behaviour from the neurobiology of empathyEmpathy encourages prosocial behavior, while an empathy deficit has been linked to psychological disorders. By further examining the mechanisms involved, new research hopes to offer risk analysis and better treatment for antisocial behaviour. |
A gender agenda—improving healthcare equalityIn the past, we've thought diseases affect men and women the same. New evidence suggests this is not the case, and women are suffering for it. | |
 | Science of why we ageAgeing is an accepted fact of life, trivialised and even glorified in books and movies. But why do we actually age? And can we stop it? |
 | Having a tattoo of your lover's name has been a bad idea for hundreds of yearsEvery Valentine's Day we are reminded about the importance of showing our commitment to our lovers – whether we are married to them or not. For some people this might mean getting a tattoo of their lover's name (or initials). |
 | How a moderate form of evolutionary psychology can clarify the study of decision-makingIn recent decades the field of evolutionary psychology has—though not without controversy—become popular as a means to understand thinking and decision-making. |
 | Keeping in touch with your kids in college(HealthDay)—A variety of emotions can arise when kids go off to college and start on their adult life. |
 | Implanted continuous glucose sensor proven safe and accurate in types 1 and 2 diabetesResults of the PRECISE II study showed the implanted continuous glucose monitoring (CGM) system from Eversense to be safe and highly accurate over the 90-day sensor life in patients with type 1 or type 2 diabetes. More than 93% of CGM glucose values were within an acceptable range of reference values, according to the PRECISE II data reported in Diabetes Technology & Therapeutics (DTT). |
Full integration of digital breast tomosynthesis reduces false positive rates, study showsRates of false positive breast cancer screening exams fell significantly after complete integration of diagnostic digital breast tomosynthesis (DBT), potentially leading to higher quality, lower costs, and fewer unnecessary biopsies, according to a study to be presented at the ARRS 2018 Annual Meeting, set for April 22-27 in Washington, DC. | |
Biology news
 | No llamas required—Researchers develop alternate method to uncover protein structures, design new drugsDetouring around a major research roadblock, researchers have found a new way to create valuable antibodies without needing ... llamas? |
 | Salmon face double whammy from toxic stormwaterWashington State University researchers have found that salmon face a double whammy when they swim in the stormwater runoff of urban roadways. |
 | Fastest spin on Earth? For animals that rely on legs, scientists say one spider takes goldThere's no sneaking by this spider. New research from the University of California Merced and the California Academy of Sciences shows that individuals from the spider family Selenopidae—commonly known as flattie spiders—can sense prey approaching from any direction and whip around in one-eighth of a second to strike. High-speed footage reveals that a swift flex of their long legs helps the hunters accomplish this feat, deemed the fastest leg-driven turn of any animal on the planet. Findings are published today in the Journal of Experimental Biology. |
 | For the first time, researchers have isolated a natural resistance gene to SeptoriaWhat is so encouraging about the first successful unpicking of a wheat gene that confers resistance to a devastating fungal disease is the promise it holds for deciphering other resistance genes, en route to a natural barrier to infection, at a time when the fungus has already developed tolerance to most types of fungicides. |
 | Temperature resilient crops now an 'achievable dream'Breeding temperature-resilient crops is an "achievable dream" in one of the most important species of commercially-cultivated plants, according to a new study. |
 | Dynamic DNA dance identified with new CRISPR/Cas9-based labelingDNA twitches during transcription to bring distant regions in contact and enhance gene expression, according to Stanford researchers who devised a new way to label individual, non-repetitive DNA sequences. |
 | Mutation in single rice gene cancels interspecific hybrid sterilityScientists successfully employed mutagenesis to identify the gene that causes hybrid sterility in rice, which is a major reproductive barrier between species. |
 | Research offers new insight into workings of building blocks of lifePioneering new research could offer a fascinating new insight into how genomic information is read. |
 | Despite odds, fish species that bypass sexual reproduction are thrivingThe very rare animals that reproduce asexually—only about one in 1,000 of all living vertebrate species—are thought to be at an evolutionary disadvantage compared with their sexually reproduced counterparts. But that theory doesn't hold true regarding the Amazon molly, an all-female fish species that has thrived for millennia in the fresh waters along the Mexico-Texas border. |
 | Beewolves have been successfully using the same antibiotics for 68 million yearsThe discovery of penicillin about 90 years ago and the widespread introduction of antibiotics to combat infectious diseases have revolutionized human medicine. However, in recent decades, the increase in multidrug-resistant pathogens has confronted modern medicine with massive problems. Insects have their own antibiotics, which provide natural protection against germs. A team of scientists from the Johannes Gutenberg University in Mainz and the Max Planck Institute for Chemical Ecology in Jena have now found that beewolves, unlike humans, do not face the problem of antibiotic resistant pathogens. These insects team up with symbiotic bacteria which produce an antibiotic cocktail of up to 45 different substances within a single species to protect their offspring against mold fungi. The researchers not only discovered that the number of antibiotic substances is much higher than previously thought, they also proved that the cocktail has remained surprisingly stable since the symbiosis emerged, about 68 million years ago. |
 | Researchers raise a 170-million-year question over mysterious moss geneResearchers have identified a fused gene in moss that provides insight into how cells build their external walls. The same discovery raises questions about the one-of-a-kind gene that features two distinct proteins that participate in two distinct functions. |
 | New guide for finding genes linked with behaviorScientists interested in finding specific genes that influence the behavior of humans and animals have a new tool, thanks to a two-year research effort aimed at describing how to apply the latest techniques of molecular genomics to the study of complex behavior. |
 | New machine learning algorithm uncovers time-delayed interactions in cellsBiologists have long understood the various parts within the cell. But how these parts interact with and respond to each other is largely unknown. |
 | Weeds out of controlHerbicides can no longer control the weeds that threaten crop productivity and food security in the UK because the plants have evolved resistance, and future control must depend on management strategies that reduce reliance on chemicals. |
 | Report calls for national parks to get smartReal-time information from environmental monitors and sensors could soon inform rangers of the conditions of footpaths and monitor the effects of climate change. Bins could send alerts when they are full to reduce unnecessary emissions due to bin collections. Your phone could sense when you tire during a walk, notifying you of the nearest pub for a rest stop. It could even send you the menu, or make a reservation on your behalf. |
 | Warmth-loving grass snake survived the Ice Age in Central EuropeUsing genetic analyses, Senckenberg scientists have discovered that not all grass snakes retreated to warm southern refugia during the last Central European Ice Age. Together with a colleague from Spain, they offer the first evidence for the survival of a warmth-loving, egg-laying reptile during this cold period. The study was recently published in the journal Scientific Reports. |
 | Researchers find new unknown Bryozoa genera and species below 1000 meters in the Southwestern AtlanticA scientific team has discovered 20 new species and two genera for unknown Bryozoa below 1000 meters in the Southwestern Atlantic, according to an article published in the journal Zootaxa by first author Blanca Figuerola from the University of Barcelona and collaborators. |
 | Dung beetles' taste preferences uncoveredThe first observational study of a dung beetle species on Langkawi Island in the Andaman Sea reveals insights about its tastes and what that means for the ecosystem. |
 | Researchers discuss climate change and small-scale fisheries in the pacificNations and territories on small islands in the Pacific Ocean are likely to be some of the most drastically affected by global climate change. That's because these communities depend heavily on nearshore, small-scale catches of fish, crustaceans and other marine populations that are likely to be disrupted by changing ocean temperatures and loss of coral reefs. These fisheries are also pillars of cultural and economic independence in impoverished and marginalized areas. |
 | The threatened species in our urban jungleIf you're like most Australians, chances are you're an urban dweller, and your idea of "city wildlife" probably includes pigeons, seagulls and those big, hairy possums that wander along powerlines and eat your roses. |
 | How deadly dragonfly wings bust up bacteriaScientists have revealed the intricate detail of how dragonfly wings kill bacteria, thanks to new methods for using very powerful microscopes to see nature's smallest structures in three dimensions. |
 | Unsuspecting goby might be new hero of the tropical seasWe're all familiar with the heroism of a tiny fish called Nemo. |
 | Bed bug histamines are substantial, persistent in infested homesNew research findings could turn perceptions of the already despised bed bug from nuisance pest into medically important threat. A study from North Carolina State University shows that histamine levels are substantially higher in homes infested by bed bugs than in pest-free homes, and that these histamine levels persist for months - even if the bed bugs have been eliminated from the home. |
 | Recordings spout secrets behind blue whale behaviorResearchers are using underwater microphones to interpret and characterize the calls of blue whales swimming through Southern California's oceans, revealing new insights into the behavior of these endangered marine mammals, according to new research being presented at the Ocean Sciences Meeting here on Tuesday. |
 | Tasmanian devil populations continue to declineOngoing monitoring of wild Tasmanian devils shows that overall population numbers are continuing to decline, due to the presence of devil facial tumour disease. Results of this research—conducted by the Save the Tasmanian Devil Program (STDP) in collaboration with staff from the Tasmanian Department of Primary Industries, Water and Environment (DPIPWE), San Diego Zoo Global, Toledo Zoo and the University of Tasmania—were published this month in the Journal of Applied Ecology, in a paper titled "Density Trends and Demographic Signals Uncover the Long-term Impact of Transmissible Cancer in Tasmanian Devils." |
Mexico hopes fish farming can help save endangered porpoiseMexico hopes fish farming can help weaken the illegal market for the totoaba fish and help save the critically endangered vaquita porpoise, of which less than 30 survive. | |
Study yields valuable insights on underreporting in international wildlife tradeResearchers from the National University of Singapore (NUS) have established several key trends in wildlife trade following an in-depth study on international wildlife trade data. The findings shed light on the market forces driving the movement of wildlife products around the globe, and indicate our understanding of illegal and legal wildlife trade is biased towards certain species and regions of the globe. The findings also implied that wildlife trade networks may be more complicated than previously thought, undermining enforcement and conservation efforts. Regulatory authorities, such as The Convention on the International Trade in Endangered Species of Wild Fauna and Flora (CITES), can leverage this information to improve existing conservation efforts and policies. | |
 | Tennessee program becomes first accredited wildlife and fisheries management concentrationThe Society of American Foresters has granted accreditation to the wildlife and fisheries management concentration of study within the wildlife and fisheries science major in the College of Agricultural Sciences and Natural Resources at the University of Tennessee Institute of Agriculture. This historic achievement represents the first and only time, nationwide, that a concentration of a wildlife and fisheries major has been accredited by a professional organization. |
This email is a free service of Science X Network
You received this email because you subscribed to our list.
If you do not wish to receive such emails in the future, please unsubscribe here.
You are subscribed as jmabs1@gmail.com. You may manage your subscription options from your Science X profile
No comments:
Post a Comment