Dear Reader ,
Here is your customized Science X Newsletter for March 13, 2018:
Spotlight Stories Headlines
Astronomy & Space news
 | New study suggests galactic bulge emissions not due to dark matterA team of researchers from the U.S., New Zealand, Australia and Germany has found evidence suggesting that a type of star formation near the center of the Milky Way is responsible for large gamma ray emissions, not dark matter. In their paper published in the journal Nature Astronomy, the group describes their study of the stars in the formation, what they found, and what it could mean for dark matter theory. |
 | Double or nothing—astronomers rethink quasar environmentUsing Hyper Suprime-Cam (HSC) mounted on the Subaru Telescope, astronomers have identified nearly 200 "protoclusters," the progenitors of galaxy clusters, in the early universe, about 12 billion years ago, about ten times more than previously known. They also found that quasars don't tend to reside in protoclusters; but if there is one quasar in a protocluster, there is likely a second nearby. This result raises doubts about the relation between protoclusters and quasars. |
 | Image: Volcanic wormholeThe organic and intricate features of a volcanic cave come alive in great detail in this three-dimensional image of La Cueva de Los Verdes in Lanzarote, Spain. Some of the most innovative scanning technologies have produced the largest 3-D scan of a lava tube on Earth. |
Technology news
 | Off-the-shelf smart devices found easy to hackOff-the-shelf devices that include baby monitors, home security cameras, doorbells, and thermostats were easily co-opted by cyber researchers at Ben-Gurion University of the Negev (BGU). As part of their ongoing research into detecting vulnerabilities of devices and networks expanding in the smart home and Internet of Things (IoT), the researchers disassembled and reverse engineered many common devices and quickly uncovered serious security issues. |
 | Google and MOMA collaboration enlivens modern art connectionsThe Google Arts & Culture Lab in Paris is making news in the art world. They are on a mission to see how technology can help connect people with culture in new ways—reaching those who otherwise may not be able to see museum exhibits. |
 | Video-capturing drone tracks moving subjects while freely navigating any environmentIf you're a rock climber, hiker, runner, dancer, or anyone who likes recording themselves while in motion, a personal drone companion can now do all the filming for you—completely autonomously. |
 | Google guru Page tests flying taxis in New Zealand (Update)Pilot-less flying taxis are being tested in New Zealand as part of a project backed by Google co-founder Larry Page that supporters say will revolutionise personal transport. |
 | Researchers find 'critical' security flaws in AMD chipsSecurity researchers said Tuesday they discovered flaws in chips made by Advanced Micro Devices that could allow hackers to take over computers and networks. |
 | Hacked Japan crypto exchange refunds customersJapan-based virtual currency exchange Coincheck said Tuesday it had refunded more than $440 million to customers following the hack of its systems, which was one of the largest thefts of its kind. |
 | Trump blocks Broadcom takeover bid for QualcommPresident Donald Trump blocked Singapore chipmaker Broadcom from pursuing a hostile takeover of U.S. rival Qualcomm, ruling the proposed combination would imperil national security. |
 | Marine exploration sensing with light and soundOceanic sensor networks that collect and transmit high-quality, real-time data could transform the understanding of marine ecology, improve pollution and disaster management, and inform multiple industries that draw on ocean resources. A KAUST research team is designing and optimizing underwater wireless sensor networks that could vastly improve existing ocean sensing equipment. |
 | Unlimited capacity in wireless networks with massive MIMOMassive MIMO is an antenna technology that is considered the most promising for future superfast 5G networks, although researchers have until now believed that there is an upper limit for how much data can be transferred. Emil Björnson, associate professor at Linköping University, has together with colleagues, shown that there is no such limit. |
 | Exposing the biggest computer chip vulnerability ever discoveredThe threat started making headlines around New Years. Publications around the globe warned of the biggest computer chip vulnerability ever discovered, a series of security flaws affecting any device with a microprocessor—from laptops to smartphones. |
 | New research on the strength of children's bones could help in the design of safer car seatsResearchers at the University of Sheffield have successfully used computer simulated models and medical imaging to test the strength of young children's bones, producing results which could help car seat manufacturers design safer car seats for young children. |
 | Making the tools to connect isiXhosa and isiZulu to the digital ageWe live in a world where around 7000 languages are spoken, and one where information and communication technologies are becoming increasingly ubiquitous. This puts increasing demands on more, and more advanced, Human Language Technologies (HLTs). |
 | VW boss 'convinced of diesel renaissance'The chief executive of the world's largest carmaker Volkswagen said Tuesday he was convinced of a comeback for diesel motors, two-and-a-half years after the firm admitted to emissions cheating on a massive scale. |
 | The World Wide Web at 29: Tim Berners-Lee talks weaponization and big techIt's turning 29—what do you get the World Wide Web that has everything? |
Sprint may be rekindling merger plans, unconfirmed report saysSprint may be weighing merger moves again, according to an unconfirmed report of interest in cable company Charter Communications. | |
 | Uber returns to Barcelona with licensed serviceUber said Tuesday it was back in Barcelona with 120 professional drivers after it was forced out three years ago over the suspension of its service that enables unregulated drivers to ferry passengers for money using their own cars. |
 | Blocked Broadcom-Qualcomm tie-up highlights 5G security fearsThe unusual move by President Donald Trump to block a proposed takeover of Qualcomm by a Singapore-based chip rival highlights growing concerns about the rise of Chinese competitors. |
 | China's bike-share app Ofo raises $850 mn to expand overseasChinese bike-sharing start-up Ofo announced Tuesday that it has raised around $850 million from investors including e-commerce giant Alibaba, to finance its overseas expansion while it battles rivals in China. |
Amazon maintains top brand reputation, Apple and Google reps dipAmazon remains the company with the best reputation, but several other tech brands including Apple and Google saw their reputations drop in the annual Harris Poll Reputation Quotient poll, out Tuesday. | |
 | Road, rail, boat: Sandia transport triathlon puts spent nuclear fuel to the testSpent nuclear fuel needs to be safely transported from the power plants where it is generated to interim storage locations and eventually to a permanent geologic disposal site. |
Behind the Broadcom deal block: Rising telecom tensionsBehind the U.S. move to block Singapore-based Broadcom's hostile bid for U.S. chip maker Qualcomm lies a new global struggle for influence over next-generation communications technology—and fears that whoever takes the lead could exploit that advantage for economic gain, theft and espionage. | |
 | Reboot at Vice Media as co-founder Shane Smith steps downVice Media announced Tuesday that co-founder Shane Smith was giving up his position as chief executive, as the youth-oriented digital group sought to move past recent turbulence. |
 | Winklevoss twins pitch plan to regulate digital moneyTwins who made a fortune in cryptocurrency after settling a claim they came up the idea for Facebook on Tuesday pitched a plan to regulate the wild digital money market. |
 | Open dataset of human navigation strategies in foreign networked systemsNavigation within and across different types of information is an underlying process in performing many everyday tasks. Although human navigation is a natural part of life, the exploration of the underlying mechanisms is far from trivial. A structured scientific dataset has been offered by the computer scientist András Gulyás and his research team to investigate human navigation in foreign complex systems. "We have been doing research in navigability of complex networks, both technological and natural ones," says Dr. Gulyás, senior research fellow at Budapest University of Technology and Economics and the Hungarian Academy of Sciences, "and we felt we would need a smart database collecting analyzable data on human navigation." |
 | Software solution controls water pressure in distribution networksSoftware used by Coca-Cola Femsa to reduce liquid waste from the soft drink bottling process has cut water waste due to leakage by 2 percent, equivalent to 2.5 million cubic meters per year. |
How gold rush prospectors made the original smart fridgeFirst came smartphones. Then smart watches. Now smart fridges. But how smart were the fridges of the gold rush? | |
 | Bali to shush social media for Day of SilenceBali's annual Day of Silence is so sacred that even reaching for a smartphone to send a tweet or upload a selfie to social media could cause offense. This year it will be nearly impossible to do that anyway. |
 | Get hit by internet crime? Good luck getting help from some local policeIn practically the blink of an eye, Maggie Irizarry lost about $1,300 to thieves. But the culprits weren't robbers who broke into her Miami home. They were hackers who connived their way onto her Lenovo laptop. |
Amazon recalls portable chargers on reports of fires, burnsAmazon is recalling 260,000 AmazonBasics portable chargers after reports that they can overheat and cause fires or burns. | |
 | Amazon workers in Spain plan first ever strikeMore than 1,000 Amazon workers in Spain are planning to go on strike next week against a planned drop in allowances and overtime, a first in the country, a union said Tuesday. |
 | Divisions over EU's focus on tech groups to stop 'fake news'Divisions emerged Tuesday after experts commissioned by the EU Commission called on tech groups and social media firms to sign up to a voluntary code of conduct for tackling "fake news". |
Medicine & Health news
 | Researchers use single-cell imaging and mathematical modeling to determine effective drug propertiesDrug therapies that target a specific molecule have changed the way patients are treated for cancer and greatly improved survival rates. However, some patients do not respond to these therapies because the drug is not reaching the tumor cells effectively. In a new study published in Scientific Reports, Moffitt Cancer Center researchers combined single-cell imaging of cancer cells in mice with mathematical modeling to determine which drug characteristics are the most important for efficient drug uptake. |
 | Mending broken hearts with cardiomyocyte molds2.5 billion. That's approximately the number of times the human heart beats in 70 years. And sometimes during the course of its unrelenting contractions and relaxations, the heart muscle can no longer bear the strain. |
 | Key drivers of high US healthcare spending identifiedThe major drivers of high healthcare costs in the U.S. appear to be higher prices for nearly everything—from physician and hospital services to diagnostic tests to pharmaceuticals—and administrative complexity. |
 | Psychopaths' disregard for others is not automaticPsychopaths exhibit callous disregard for the welfare of others, suggesting an inability to understand the perspective of people around them. Yet they can also be extremely charming and manipulative, seemingly indicating an awareness of the thoughts of others. This paradox has perplexed researchers, clinicians, legal authorities, and the lay public. |
 | Helicobacter creates immune system blind spotThe gastric bacterium H. pylori colonizes the stomachs of around half the human population and can lead to the development of gastric cancer. It is usually acquired in childhood and persists life-long, despite a strong inflammatory defence reaction in the gastric mucosa. Such inflammation is normally beneficial, as it kills invading pathogens and is then resolved. In the case of H. pylori, however, the inflammation never manages to eliminate the invader, and instead persists for decades – which is a driving force in the development of ulcers and cancer. |
 | Surprising discovery provides insights into aggressive endometrial cancersNew research from Huntsman Cancer Institute (HCI) at the University of Utah (U of U) indicates steroid and hormone receptors are simultaneously active in many endometrial cancer tissues. The findings, published today in the journal Cell Reports, yield insights about factors that contribute to more aggressive endometrial tumors. |
 | Mitochondria may metabolize ADP differently in aging muscle, despite exercise resistanceMost adults reach their peak levels of muscle mass in their late 30s or early 40s. Even for those who exercise regularly, strength and function start to decline after that point. For those who don't exercise, the drops can be dramatic. Now, a study of twenty men published March 13 in the journal Cell Reports provides new clues about the cellular mechanisms of aging muscles, showing a key role for how mitochondria, the powerhouses of the cell, process ADP, which provides energy to cells. |
 | Lopsided ear function can lead to lopsided brain developmentLeft-right differences in ear function have been found to lead to asymmetric brain development that affects the preferred direction of turning movement in mice. In a multi-national study publishing 13 March in the open access journal PLOS Biology, Michelle Antoine, Jean Hébert, and their colleagues at the Albert Einstein College of Medicine investigated the potential link between increased incidences of atypical asymmetries in motor behavior and defects in inner ear function. |
 | Molecular doorstop could be key to new tuberculosis drugsTuberculosis, which infects roughly one quarter of the world's population and kills nearly two million people a year, is not only deadly but ancient: signs of the disease have been found in Egyptian mummies. Despite its age, Mycobacterium tuberculosis, the pathogen that causes the illness, continues to learn new tricks. It has a particular knack for evolving antibiotic resistance, leaving hundreds of thousands of people with few treatment options. |
 | Where language pionieer Paul Broca and alien music meetWhat might alien music sound like? Would it be structured hierarchically as our music is with verses and a chorus? Would we even be able to appreciate it? Vincent Cheung from Max Planck Institute for Human Cognitive and Brain Sciences, thinks the answer would be yes, assuming it was predicated on local and non-local dependencies. His research published this week in Scientific Reports explains what exactly that means. |
 | Molecule that gives energy-burning brown fat its identity could lead to drugs for obesityWhile most fat cells in the human body store energy, everyone has a small subset of brown fat cells that do the opposite—burn energy and generate heat. Now, Salk researchers have discovered how the molecule ERRγ gives this "healthier" brown fat its energy-expending identity, making those cells ready to warm you up when you step into the cold, and potentially offering a new therapeutic target for diseases related to obesity. The paper appears in Cell Reports on March 13, 2018. |
 | Machines see the future for patients diagnosed with brain tumorsFor patients diagnosed with glioma, a deadly form of brain tumor, the future can be very uncertain. While gliomas are often fatal within two years of diagnosis, some patients can survive for 10 years or more. Predicting the course of a patient's disease at diagnosis is critical in selecting the right therapy and in helping patients and their families to plan their lives. |
 | 'Digistain' technology offers revolution in detailed cancer diagnosisNew cutting edge technology can be used to grade cancer tumours, eradicating human subjectivity and ensuring patients get the right treatment. |
Technique developed to improve appendicitis care for pediatric patientsResearchers from Children's Minnesota (Children's) and HealthPartners Institute have developed a new pediatric appendicitis risk calculator (pARC) to aid in the diagnosis of appendicitis. The calculator was developed as part of a $3.1 million, five-year grant from the National Institutes of Health (NIH). | |
 | Lead poisoning may hasten death for millions in US: studyPersistent, low-level exposure to lead over decades is statistically linked to some 400,000 premature deaths in the United States each year, far more than previously thought, researchers said Monday. |
 | 1 in 20 younger women suffers major depression(HealthDay)—Depression is a big problem in women during and after pregnancy, but it's also a concern throughout the reproductive years. |
 | Poor sleep may heighten Alzheimer's risk(HealthDay)—Older adults who are sleepy during the day might have harmful plaque building in their brain that is a sign of impending Alzheimer's disease, researchers report. |
 | Toilet-to-tap: Gross to think about, but how does it taste?Here's a blind test taste like Pepsi never imagined. Researchers at the University of California, Riverside, recently published a study of recycled wastewater that did not focus on its safety-which has long been established-but rather its taste. |
California mental health tax providing services to needy in L.A. County, study findsFunding from California's special tax for mental health services has allowed Los Angeles County to reach the seriously mentally ill and those at risk for mental illness with services and prevention efforts, lowering both homelessness and the need for psychiatric hospitalizations, while improving employment and wellbeing, according to a new RAND Corporation study. | |
Nigeria struggles to contain dramatic spread of deadly Lassa feverNigeria is battling on two fronts against an unprecedented outbreak of Lassa fever, a cousin of Ebola, that has already killed 110 people this year. | |
Patients do as well on generic antiplatelet drugs as more expensive brand-name productGeneric anti-platelet drugs seem to work as well as a brand name drug for heart patients, according to new research in Circulation: Cardiovascular Quality and Outcomes, an American Heart Association journal. | |
 | Scientists discover fish scale-derived collagen effective for healing woundsScientists from Nanyang Technological University, Singapore (NTU Singapore) have established that collagen derived from fish scales could be effective for various biomedical applications such as wound healing. |
Long-term proton pump inhibitor use does not increase hip fracture risk among Alzheimer's patientsLong-term proton pump inhibitor (PPI) use does not increase the risk of hip fracture among persons with Alzheimer's disease, according to a new study from the University of Eastern Finland. The risk of hip fracture was slightly increased for PPI use of less than one year, but not for long-term or cumulative use during a follow-up period of 10 years. In addition, there were no significant differences between PPI drug substances and the associated risk of hip fracture. The findings were published in Alimentary Pharmacology & Therapeutics. | |
 | Scientists create world's first synthetic, non-biologic vaccineResearchers from Cardiff University have created the world's first synthetic, non-biologic vaccine. |
 | Sleep apnea study finds male-female differences in cerebral cortex thickness, symptomsResearchers from the UCLA School of Nursing examined clinical records and magnetic resonance imaging brain scans of patients who were recently diagnosed with sleep apnea, and discovered several apparent connections between thinning of the brain's cerebral cortex and apnea symptoms. The researchers also could discern distinct changes in brain structures and concurrent symptoms that differed between men and women. For example, more regions of the superior frontal lobe were thinner in women with apnea than men or control groups, which might explain enhanced cognitive deficits among women with the disorder. No sleep apnea patients showed any thickening of the cerebral cortex. In addition, overall cortical thinning could possibly lead to impaired regulation of the autonomic nervous system and associated impaired breathing function through the upper airway in these patients. |
 | People with social anxiety disorder take criticism especially hard, study findsPeople who have social anxiety disorder are more likely to internalize criticism than those who do not, research from the University of Colorado Boulder suggests. |
 | Cancer and the artillery of physicsNot long ago, here is what Andrew Ewald did to study cancer. Instead of starting with the conventional research cell lines, he got breast cancer cells from the primary tumors of actual patients. That is, not models standing in for cancer—the real thing. And instead of putting those malignant cells into the artificial two-dimensional environment of standard, planar petri dishes, he embedded them in three-dimensional gels of his own design that mimic the matrix of collagen fibers in the human body. Then he rigged microscopes to photograph not just a single tiny area but hundreds of different positions within a thick swath of cells and gel. He took thousands of pictures, one every 10 to 20 minutes, day after day, photographing hundreds of samples at a time. It was a long, arduous process, but Ewald, a professor of cell biology at the School of Medicine, had his reasons. |
 | Aspirin prevents venous thromboembolism following major orthopedic surgeries, study findsA multicentre, double-blind, randomized, controlled clinical trial of patients who underwent total hip or knee replacement surgery showed that aspirin was as effective as rivaroxaban, the standard anti-coagulation medication, at preventing post-operative venous thromboembolism (VTE). Montreal's Jewish General Hospital (JGH) was among the participating institutions. The results were published in the New England Journal of Medicine. |
Long QT syndrome—revealedLong QT syndrome is a rare disorder that can lead to dangerous heart rhythms, fainting and sudden cardiac arrest. | |
 | Eating disorders underdiagnosed, untreated in men, minoritiesWhen we think about eating disorders, what comes to mind most often are underweight white females. But this stereotype is causing a great number of males and people of color to miss out on getting proper health care, say researchers at the University of Michigan. |
 | Study identifies potential therapy for disease affecting preemiesOne in five very low-birth-weight, premature infants suffers a life-threatening brain hemorrhage, often originating in a vital region known as the germinal matrix. In a recently published study in the journal Developmental Cell, Yale researchers identified a protein that lessens the hemorrhaging in embryonic mice, and they say could potentially serve as a therapy in affected humans. |
 | Too many children still exposed to family violence in their homeNew University of Auckland research has found uneven progress has been made in reducing the amount of violence teenagers have been exposed to in their homes. |
 | Common infections a bigger heart disease and stroke risk than obesityA major study into the impact of common infections leading to hospitalisation has found they may substantially increase the risk of heart attacks, strokes and in the longer term, death. |
 | What led to world's worst listeriosis outbreak in South AfricaSouth Africa has had the biggest listeriosis outbreak in the world that resulted in more than 180 deaths to date. The Conversation Africa's health editor Candice Bailey spoke to Prof Lise Korsten about the challenges around food safety in the country. |
 | Millions could see health benefits with changes to federal nutrition program, report findsMore than 40 million Americans who rely on a government nutrition program face risks for major health problems because the program lacks nutrition standards, according to a new report. |
 | Treating liver failure with stem cell-derived liver cells in the futureA research collaboration between A*STAR's Genome Institute of Singapore (GIS) and Institute of Molecular and Cellular Biology (IMCB), and the Stanford University School of Medicine, has discovered methods to efficiently generate pure liver cells from human stem cells. This could lead to more effective ways of treating liver failure. |
 | Language impairment affects school performanceLanguage impairment is one of the most common childhood disorders that you've never heard of. It affects seven out of every 100 U.S. children, delaying mastery of language skills in children. |
 | Pedometer health boost lasts four yearsWearing a pedometer to count your daily steps can keep you healthier and more active for as long as four years after using it, a new study shows. |
 | Helpful B cells lend a hand to developing neuronsNeuron myelination is critical to early mental development, and defects in myelination have been linked to neurodevelopmental disorders. Researchers at Osaka University found that B immune cells reside in the brains of developing mice, and play a key role in the myelination of neurons by oligodendrocytes. The findings suggest a new avenue of exploration for understanding the origin of disorders such as autism and schizophrenia. |
New biomarkers for neuroblastoma, a type of cancer in childrenTwo new biomarkers for a type of cancer in children called neuroblastoma have been identified in a study published in the journal Cancer Cell. The findings are expected to have immediate significance for disease prognosis, and eventually also for treatment. | |
 | Why is ADHD more common in boys than girls?About one in 20 children are diagnosed with attention deficit hyperactivity disorder (ADHD) at some point during their school life. Interestingly, for every girl diagnosed, there are between three and seven boys who receive an ADHD diagnosis. |
 | Anti-vaxxer effect on vaccination rates is exaggeratedPeople who oppose vaccination – the so-called "anti-vaxxers" – are often thought to be the reason for low vaccination rates. The truth is, anti-vaxxers don't wholly explain low vaccination rates. The influence of the movement is often exaggerated and does not properly explain a complex situation. |
 | How 'before and after' photographs promote unattainable body idealsWhen Weight Watchers announced it would no longer be using "before and after" photographs it was met with mixed reactions. Some dieters who had successfully lost weight – and therefore had before and after photos they were proud of – felt that these so-called "transformational photos" were an important element of their motivation and could be inspirational for would-be dieters. |
Menus with vegetarian sections can lead customers to eat more meatSeparating vegetarian dishes on a menu can, in fact, reduce the proportion of people who choose a vegetarian option. | |
 | 80% cut in liver metastasis by restricting the blood vessels supplying itThe International Journal of Cancer has just published the results of an experimental therapy tested on mice. The research achieved an 80 percent reduction in liver metastasis brought about by colon cancer. Nanoparticles were used to slow down the growth of the blood vessels that reach the tumour cells, and thus cut the supply of oxygen and nutrients to these cells so that their growth is also curtailed. |
 | Taking the jab (and the chill) out of vaccinationScientists in Cairns (Australia) and Cardiff (Wales) have taken an important first step towards solving two problems that hinder access to vaccines: they need to be kept cool, and no one likes needles. |
 | Presidential panel says high-priced cancer drugs harm patient care(HealthDay)—"Financial toxicity" caused by high cancer drug prices is harming people's ability to fight the dreaded disease, a new report from the President's Cancer Panel warns. |
 | Considerable resource use, costs for cardiovascular care(HealthDay)—The 10-year costs associated with cardiovascular disease (CVD) are considerable, according to a study published in the March 13 issue of the Journal of the American College of Cardiology. |
 | Three-pronged approach can improve physician engagement(HealthDay)—The three-pronged approach implemented by one practice successfully improved physician engagement, according to an article published in Medical Economics. |
 | Team training can reduce patient mortality by 13 percentWhen implemented correctly, health care team training can reduce patient mortality by 13 percent, according to a new review paper by a psychologist at Rice University. |
 | Mesenchymal stem cell therapy: Holding promise for feline inflammatory diseasesStem cell therapy is acknowledged as having great potential for the treatment of a variety of diseases in both people and animals. The use of bone marrow-derived stem cells is well established in the treatment of human cancer patients, and veterinary applications for bone marrow- and adipose-derived stem cells are being evaluated. |
 | Into the OR in VR: Doctor harnesses virtual reality as powerful teaching toolPhysicians, trainees and even laypeople can now experience what it's like inside the operating room as an expert radiologist performs one of the most difficult medical procedures of its kind. |
 | Scientists describe potential antibody treatment for multidrug-resistant K. pneumoniaeResearchers are developing a promising alternative to antibiotic treatment for infections caused by Klebsiella pneumoniae bacteria resistant to carbapenem antibiotics. The approach uses antibodies to target the K. pneumoniae protective capsule polysaccharide, allowing immune system cells called neutrophils to attack and kill the bacteria. The early stage, in vitro research was conducted by scientists at NIAID's Rocky Mountain Laboratories and the New Jersey Medical School-Rutgers University. |
Larger families linked to heightened tooth loss risk for momsHaving a larger family is linked to a heightened tooth loss risk for mums, suggest the results of a large European study published online in the Journal of Epidemiology & Community Health. | |
High prices are just one reason Americans spend more on healthcare than EuropeansHigh drug prices as well as the excessive use of imaging and surgical procedures, and excessive administrative burdens contribute the majority to America's health care overspending compared to Europe, argues policy expert Ezekiel J. Emanuel, MD, PhD, chair of the department of Medical Ethics and Health Policy at the Perelman School of Medicine at the University of Pennsylvania, in an editorial in this week's JAMA. | |
 | Google's AI program: Building better algorithms for detecting eye diseaseThe ability of artificial intelligence (AI) to help screen patients for a common diabetic eye disease gains momentum with a new study published online today in Ophthalmology, the journal of the American Academy of Ophthalmology. Lily Peng, M.D., Ph.D., and her colleagues at Google AI research group, show that they could improve their disease detecting software by using a small subset of images adjudicated by ophthalmologists who specialize in retinal diseases. The specialists' input was then used to improve their computer's performance so that it was roughly equal to that of individual retinal specialists. |
 | Men and women have opposite genetic alterations in depressionMen and women with major depressive disorder (MDD) have opposite changes in the expression of the same genes, according to a new postmortem brain study by researchers at the University of Pittsburgh and Centre for Addiction and Mental Health (CAMH), Toronto, Canada. The findings, published in Biological Psychiatry, indicate distinct pathology, and suggest that men and women may need different types of treatment for depression. |
 | Optometrists investigate changes in eye structure in astronautsAstronauts who spend time aboard the International Space Station return to Earth with changes to the structure of their eyes which could impact their vision. NASA has studied the phenomenon, known as space flight-associated neuro-ocular syndrome (SANS), for several years, and now a University of Houston optometrist has quantified some of the changes using optical coherence tomography imaging, reporting his findings in JAMA Ophthalmology. |
Bone marrow edema in lower spine is common in young athletesNew research indicates that young recreational and elite athletes commonly accumulate excess fluid in the bone marrow around the joint that connects the spine with the pelvis. The Arthritis & Rheumatology findings may help define what amount of fluid detected on imaging tests may be considered 'background noise' in physically active healthy individuals compared with patients who have axial spondyloarthropathy (axial Spa), an inflammatory disease with low back pain as its main symptom. | |
 | Study debunks fears of increased teen suicide risk from popular flu drugA new study published by researchers from the University of Illinois at Chicago suggests that the drug oseltamivir—commonly known as Tamiflu—does not cause an increased risk of suicide in pediatric patients. |
 | Emotional suppression reduces memory of negative eventsBy peering at the brains of study subjects prompted to suppress negative emotions, scientists have gained new insights into how emotional regulation influences negative feelings and memories. The researchers hope the findings will lead to new methods to combat depression. |
Thyroid gene variation may increase risk for Alzheimer's disease in African AmericansAfrican Americans with a common genetic variation are at increased risk for developing Alzheimer's disease, while European Americans with the same variation are not, according to a study led by researchers at Rush University Medical Center. They published the study results in the February 22 online issue of the Journal of Clinical Endocrinology and Metabolism. | |
 | 'Right to try' bill advances in USFaced with certain death, what do patients have to lose by trying experimental drugs that have not been approved for the market? |
 | Smartphone-assisted neuroendoscopySmartphones have changed the ways in which we live. They connect us with friends and families by phone, texts, and pictures. They warn us about what weather to expect and what traffic patterns we'll face on our way to work. They keep us abreast of all the news of the day and in touch with colleagues and clients. |
Machine learning to combat hospital-acquired infectionsA group of scientists and doctors led by Skoltech Professor Vladimir Zelman has studied hospital-acquired meningitis risk factors using machine learning methods. Their research findings were published in the Journal of Critical Care. | |
 | Developing rapid molecular method for the detection of Plasmodium knowlesiMalaria is a major public health threat in tropical and subtropical countries. In 2015, an estimated 212 million malaria cases occurred worldwide, resulting in 429000 deaths. Malaysia's aim to eliminate malaria by year 2020 is threatened by the emergence of the zoonotic species Plasmodium knowlesi. It is the predominant malaria species infecting humans in Malaysia and capable of producing severe disease. An early and accurate Point-of-Care (PoC) diagnosis can assist in patient management and reduce mortality. |
 | Poison prevention at home(HealthDay)—Every day, more than 300 children are treated in U.S. emergency rooms for accidental poisoning, and two children die from it. |
Screening mammography for women 40-49 detects more cancers compared with older age groupsWhen compared to the screening population ages 50 and over, screening mammography in women ages 40-49 detects 19.3% additional cancers at the expense of an overall 1.5% increase in callbacks and 0.1% in increased biopsies, according to a study to be presented at the ARRS 2018 Annual Meeting, set for April 22-27 in Washington, DC. | |
 | Mindfulness meditation reduces incidence of major depressionAmong primary care patients with subthreshold depression, mindfulness meditation training reduces the incidence of major depression and improves depression symptoms. |
Study shows bias in use of alcohol screening after traumatic brain injury"Has this patient been drinking?" It's a critical question for neurosurgical nurses and other professionals when evaluating patients with traumatic brain injury (TBI). But some groups of TBI patients are less likely to be screened for alcohol use, including women and younger patients, reports a study in the March issue of the Journal of Neuroscience Nursing, official journal of the American Association of Neuroscience Nurses. | |
First listeriosis case in Namibia after S.Africa outbreakNamibia on Tuesday reported its first case of listeriosis since an outbreak in neighbouring South Africa erupted at the beginning of last year, killing 183 people so far. | |
 | Physicians' work should focus on personalized care, not transactional tasksShifting physicians' roles from transactional tasks to personalized care would best serve patients, physicians and society. |
 | Patients with multiple conditions receive higher level of care in affluent areasPatients with multimorbidity—two or more long-term medical conditions—have complex health care needs, often requiring higher levels of care than other patients. |
 | UTHealth/Memorial Hermann conduct first sinus surgery in US with augmented reality technologySinus surgeons with The University of Texas Health Science Center at Houston (UTHealth) and Memorial Hermann-Texas Medical Center are the first in the United States to use augmented reality technology during minimally invasive sinus procedures. |
Core outcomes established for multimorbidity researchAccording to a panel of international experts, clinical trials of multimorbidity should measure and report, at minimum, quality of life, mortality, and mental health outcomes. | |
 | Health care reform and EHR design should be built around patients' goalsMeaningful reform of primary care should not only address the provision, documentation and payment of care; it should be based on patients' goals for their lives and health, with corresponding redesign of electronic health records. |
 | Electronic consultation system improves access to specialty careAn electronic consultation system designed to reduce excessive wait times for appointments with specialists experienced exponential growth during a recent five-year period. |
Asthma management tools improve asthma control and reduce hospital visitsA set of comprehensive asthma management tools helps decrease asthma-related visits to the emergency department, urgent care or hospital and improves patients' asthma control. | |
Exploring the role of cognitive factors in a new instrument for elders' financial capacityAlthough the general public and mental health professionals seem to disregard incapacity regarding financial issues and relevant decision making in mild cognitive impairment (MCI), and focus only on severe dementia cases, a PhD study in Greece reveals that noticeable deficits do exist in the handling of financial issues in elders suffering from MCI. | |
Biology news
 | Genetic study shows explosion of diversity in fish after end-Cretaceous mass extinctionA team of researchers from several institutions across the U.S. has found evidence suggesting that there was an explosion of diversity in fish after the end-Cretaceous mass extinction. In their paper published in the journal Nature Ecology and Evolution, the team describes their genetic study involving more than 1800 species of fish and what they found. |
 | Raven food calls disclose their age and sexCommon ravens (Corvus corax) use food associated 'haa' calls to recruit other individuals of the same species (conspecifics) to food foraging sites which may be dangerous because of predators or territorial breeding pairs. These calls provide clues about the age and sex of the caller, according to a study published in the open access journal Frontiers in Zoology. |
 | Researchers computationally find the needle in a haystack to treat rare diseasesOne in 10 people in America is fighting a rare disease, or a disorder that affects fewer than 200,000 Americans. Although there are more than 7,000 rare diseases that collectively affect more than 350 million people worldwide, it is not profitable for the pharmaceutical industry to develop new therapies to treat the small number of people suffering from each rare condition. Researchers at the LSU Computational Systems Biology group have developed a sophisticated and systematic way to identify existing drugs that can be repositioned to treat a rare disease or condition. They have fine-tuned a computer-assisted drug repositioning process that can save time and money in helping these patients receive effective treatment. |
 | Breeding trouble: Meta-analysis identifies fishy issues with captive stocksA group of researchers based at the University of Sydney has uncovered patterns that may be jeopardising the long-term success of worldwide animal breeding programs, which increasingly act as an insurance against extinction in conservation, and for food security. |
 | Engineers create most efficient red light-activated optogenetic switch for mammalian cellsA team of researchers has developed a light-activated switch that can turn genes on and off in mammalian cells. This is the most efficient so-called "optogenetic switch" activated by red and far-red light that has been successfully designed and tested in animal cells—and it doesn't require the addition of sensing molecules from outside the cells. |
 | New diagnostic method makes testing for infections in people and animals quick and easyResearchers in the University of Calgary Faculty of Veterinary Medicine (UCVM) have developed a fast, portable and inexpensive way to test humans and animals for different types of chronic and infectious diseases. This new "point of care" method tests for signals of infection, such as specific antibodies, in blood, milk or saliva samples. |
 | Biophysicists discover how small populations of bacteria survive treatmentSmall populations of pathogenic bacteria may be harder to kill off than larger populations because they respond differently to antibiotics, a new study by Emory University finds. |
 | Infected 'zombie ants' face no discrimination from nest matesCarpenter ants infected with a specialized parasitic fungus are not subjected to aggression or isolation from their nest mates, and they continue to share in the colony's food resources until they leave the nest for the last time to die, according to a study led by Penn State researchers. |
 | Feeding wildlife can influence migration, spread of diseaseAnimal migration patterns are changing as humans alter the landscape, according to new research from the University of Georgia. Those changes can affect wildlife interactions with parasites-with potential impacts on public health and on the phenomenon of migration itself. |
$1.5B settlement in suit over Syngenta modified corn seedA $1.5 billion settlement was reached in a class-action lawsuit covering tens of thousands of farmers, grain-handling facilities and ethanol plants that sued Swiss agribusiness giant Syngenta over its introduction of a genetically engineered corn seed. | |
 | In Colombia, birders find their version of EdenDespite his small stature, 10-year-old Juan David Camacho has big dreams: pacing through Colombia's jungle with binoculars in tow, he aims to spot all the bird species his country offers. |
 | Malaysia's honey hunters defy angry bees to harvest treetop treasureOn a moonless night deep in the Malaysian rainforest, two men perched precariously on high branches use a smoking torch to draw thousands of bees from a treetop hive, braving the angry swarm to collect their prized honey. |
 | Plants overcome hunger with the aid of autophagyResearchers at Tohoku University have found that plants activate autophagy in their leaf cells to derive amino acids that are used for survival under energy-starved conditions. The findings show that amino acid utilization in plants can be controlled by the manipulation of autophagy. |
 | Yes, kangaroos are endangered – but not the species you thinkDo you know what kind of animal the mala, nabarlek, or boodie is? What about the monjon, northern bettong, or Gilbert's potoroo? |
 | Predicting an insect community structure based on genomic variation in a tree speciesGenerally, spatial and temporal factors affect how communities of organisms are shaped in an ecosystem. Understanding the structure of associated communities is essential for ensuring biodiversity. However, predicting a community structure, or the combination of organisms forming the community, in the natural ecosystem has been difficult because it involves complex factors such as ever-changing meteorological conditions and species interactions. |
 | Hunger guides mountain lions' actions to enter residential areasIn late February, CBS News Denver reported that mountain lion sightings were on the rise in Colorado's high country. Lion attacks on people in the state and around the world are rare, but the story referenced an attack on a 5-year-old boy in 2016 by a mountain lion near Aspen. |
 | Mowing the lawn less often improves bee habitatWhen it comes to improving habitat for beleaguered native bee species, doing less may accomplish more. New research by the USDA Forest Service and partners funded by the National Science Foundation found that mowing the lawn less frequently can significantly improve pollinator habitat. |
 | New guidelines on preventing and treating 'equine strep throat'Just as strep throat can run rampant in elementary schools, strangles, the "strep throat" of horses, caused by a different Streptococcus bacterium, Streptococcus equi sp equi, is highly contagious. Lymph nodes in the head and neck region become swollen and develop abscesses, resulting in nasal discharge and drainage from the throat. Though rarely fatal, strangles cases can range from mild to severe, and complications that impair eating and breathing can arise in some instances. Altogether, it's a disease that horse owners want to keep far from their stables. |
 | A starfish cold case reopens, climate change remains suspectCornell University scientists are beginning to unravel the complicated connections between viruses, the environment and wasting diseases among sea stars in the waters of the Pacific Northwest. |
 | Die-off of fur seal pups attributed to mites, pneumonia and changing sea temperaturesMorris Animal Foundation-funded researchers uncovered several key factors contributing to a die-off of South American fur seal pups, including mites, pneumonia and sea surface temperature. The findings, published in the Journal of Wildlife Diseases, help scientists better understand the link between environmental factors and health. |
 | Using whole genome analysis to home in on racing pigeon performanceBefore the Wi-fi and the Internet, the telephone and the telegraph, the original instant messaging services of society were homing pigeons. After becoming the first domesticated birds, for an estimated 2,000 years, these reliable messengers have brought news from battlefronts and between heads of state. |
 | The origins of Pama-Nyungan, Australia's largest family of Aboriginal languagesThe approximately 400 languages of Aboriginal Australia can be grouped into 27 different families. To put that diversity in context, Europe has just four language families, Indo-European, Basque, Finno-Ugric and Semitic, with Indo-European encompassing such languages as English, Spanish, Russian and Hindi. |
 | Philippines seizes hundreds of smuggled animalsAuthorities seized on Tuesday hundreds of exotic pets smuggled into the Philippines, which is a regional hub in the illicit animal trade. |
 | Elephant poachers arrested in MalaysiaFour heavily armed poachers who targeted wild elephants in Malaysia have been caught, officials said Tuesday, the second such arrest in less than two years. |
 | University recovers stolen black rhino hornThe University of Vermont has recovered a black rhinoceros horn with a potential street value of more than $100,000 that was stolen from a locked storage room on campus last year, the school announced Tuesday. |
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