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Here is your customized Science X Newsletter for April 2, 2018:
Spotlight Stories Headlines
Astronomy & Space news
 | Researchers conduct chemical analysis of globular cluster NGC 5824Italian researchers have investigated the chemical composition of NGC 5824, a massive globular cluster in the Milky Way galaxy. Their analysis, based on observational data provided by the Very Large Telescope array, offers some hints into the nature of this cluster. The study was published March 26 in a paper on arXiv.org. |
 | Gravitational lensing by sun-like star in massive cluster reveals blue supergiant 9 billion light years awayThanks to a rare cosmic alignment, astronomers have captured the most distant normal star ever observed, some 9 billion light years from Earth. |
 | China space lab may fall to Earth later: European Space AgencyChina's defunct space lab could hurtle back to Earth later than previously forecast, with the European Space Agency saying it may re-enter the atmosphere as late as Monday morning GMT. |
 | 'Out of control' Chinese space lab to meet fiery end on MondayAn abandoned space laboratory is set to meet a fiery end as it re-enters Earth's atmosphere Monday morning Beijing time, Chinese and European space authorities said Sunday, hitting a speed of around 26,000 kilometres an hour before disintegrating. |
 | China space lab mostly burns up on re-entry in south PacificChina's defunct Tiangong 1 space station mostly burned up on re-entry into the atmosphere over the central South Pacific on Monday, Chinese space authorities said. |
 | Rings and gaps in a developing planetary systemThe discovery of an exoplanet has most often resulted from the monitoring of a star's flicker (the transiting method) or its wobble (the radial velocity method). Discovery by direct imaging is rare because it is so difficult to spot a faint exoplanet hidden in the glare of its host star. The advent of the new generation of radio interferometers (as well as improvements in near-infrared imaging), however, has enabled the imaging of protoplanetary discs and, in the disc substructures, the inference of orbiting exoplanets. Gaps and ring-like structures are particularly fascinating clues to the presence or ongoing formation of planets. |
 | Astrophysicists calculate the original magnetic field in our cosmic neighbourhoodIn the first fractions of a second after the birth of our universe, not only elementary particles and radiation, but also magnetic fields were generated. A team led by the Max Planck Institute for Astrophysics in Garching has now calculated what these magnetic fields should look like today in the universe – in great detail and in 3-D. |
 | NASA survey seen as steppingstone for astronomyImagine trying to see a firefly next to a distant spotlight, where the beams from the spotlight all but drown out the faint glow from the firefly. Add fog, and both lights are dimmed. Is the glow from the firefly still visible at all? |
 | SpaceX readies second launch using recycled rocket, spaceshipSpaceX is poised Monday to send supplies to astronauts on the International Space Station aboard a rocket booster and a cargo ship that have both flown before. |
 | First age-map of the heart of the Milky WayThe first large-scale age-map of the Milky Way shows that a period of star formation lasting around 4 billion years created the complex structure at the heart of our galaxy. The results will be presented by Marina Rejkuba at the European Week of Astronomy and Space Science (EWASS) in Liverpool on Tuesday, 3rd April. |
 | Is the Milky Way getting bigger?The galaxy we inhabit, the Milky Way, may be getting even bigger, according to Cristina Martínez-Lombilla, a PhD candidate at the Instituto de Astrofísica de Canarias in Tenerife, Spain, and her collaborators. She will present the work of her team in a talk on Tuesday 3 April at the European Week of Astronomy and Space Science in Liverpool. |
 | Astronomers find 72 bright and fast explosionsGone in a (cosmological) flash: a team of astronomers found 72 very bright, but quick events in a recent survey and are still struggling to explain their origin. Miika Pursiainen of the University of Southampton will present the new results on Tuesday 3 April at the European Week of Astronomy and Space Science. |
 | Indian scientists lose contact with satelliteIndia's national space agency has lost contact with a satellite days after it was launched into orbit with much fanfare, authorities said Sunday. |
 | Defunct Chinese space lab hurtles toward Earth on wide pathChina's defunct Tiangong 1 space station hurtled toward Earth on Sunday and was expected to re-enter the atmosphere within hours. |
 | China's 'space dream': A Long March to the moonThe plunge back to Earth of a defunct Chinese space laboratory will not slow down Beijing's ambitious plans to send humans to the moon. |
 | Image: Hubble's curious case of a calcium-rich supernovaThis image, captured by the Advanced Camera for Surveys (ACS) on the NASA/ESA Hubble Space Telescope, shows the spiral galaxy NGC 5714, about 130 million light-years away in the constellation of Boötes (the Herdsman). NGC 5714 is classified as an Sc spiral galaxy, but its spiral arms—the dominating feature of spiral galaxies—are almost impossible to see, as NGC 5714 presents itself at an almost perfectly edge-on angle. |
 | Review: Book shows Apollo 8 was a big risk for 3 astronauts"Rocket Men" (Random House), by Robert Kurson |
Technology news
 | Biobot made of heart cells and gel looks like fluttering butterflyA team of researchers at Southeast University in Nanjing, China, has developed a heart-on-a-chip platform incorporating rat heart muscle cells, hydrogel and nanocrystals. In their paper published in the journal Science Robotics, the group describes their structure, how it was made, and the uses to which it might be put. |
 | Ski-worthy exoskeleton set to enhance experienceSan Francisco-based company called Roam Robotics is to provide its first exoskeleton and it's aimed at skiers. Skiers? Sounds strange. One would think the last thing a skier would want to think about is a heavy suit with sundry attachments weighing the person down when all the skier wants is the very lightness of being on a sunny, clear afternoon. |
 | Researchers in Japan focus on a way to mix rocket fuel ingredientsHow to make rocket launches possible has advanced to a more recent question: How to make frequent rocket launches safely. |
 | DNS service announced, puts privacy firstA new service that is offering privacy protection when you browse the web was announced Sunday. The security company Cloudflare is delivering a consumer DNS service called 1.1.1.1. |
 | Intel shares dive on report Apple making own Mac chipsIntel shares dove on Monday after Bloomberg reported that Apple intends to switch to chips of its own for Mac computers in two years. |
 | Tesla says 'Autopilot' was engaged during fatal crash (Update)Electric carmaker Tesla has confirmed its "Autopilot" feature was engaged during a fatal crash last week, a development set to exacerbate concerns over the safety of futuristic vehicles. |
 | Russian sent to US on charges he hacked Dropbox, othersA Russian man arrested over a year ago in the Czech Republic made his first appearance Friday in a U.S. courtroom, denying that he hacked computers at LinkedIn, Dropbox and other U.S. companies, compromising the personal information of millions of Americans. |
 | Sweden introduces eco-friendly aviation taxSweden introduced a new aviation tax on Sunday that will add an extra charge to all passenger flights from the country in a bid to lessen air travel's impact on the climate. |
 | London firm revamps pay by letting staff set salariesAgainst a backdrop in Britain of gender pay gaps and ongoing disputes over executives' earnings, employees at one London company are helping each other set salaries. |
 | Elon Musk makes light of Tesla's woes in April 1 Twitter prankElon Musk, the flamboyant boss of Tesla and SpaceX, took to Twitter on April Fool's day to joke the electric car-maker, which has been rocked by bad news, was going bankrupt. |
 | Saks Fifth Avenue data breached: parent firmA hack at Saks and Lord & Taylor stores in North America has compromised customer payment data, their parent company announced on Sunday. |
 | Alibaba acquisition values meal-deliverer Ele.me at $9.5 bnChinese e-commerce giant Alibaba said Monday it was acquiring full ownership of leading food-delivery firm Ele.me in a deal that values the Shanghai-based start-up at $9.5 billion. |
 | How your WiFi can protect against intrudersThe applications of wireless networks go far beyond logging onto the free Airport WiFi while you wait to board your flight, or binge watching the latest Netflix series on a rainy Sunday afternoon. |
 | Italy's robot concierge a novelty on the way to better AIRobby Pepper can answer questions in Italian, English and German. Billed as Italy's first robot concierge, the humanoid will be deployed all season at a hotel on the popular Lake Garda to help relieve the desk staff of simple, repetitive questions. |
 | Facebook needs 'a few years' to fix problems: ZuckerbergFacebook will likely need "a few years" to fix the problems uncovered by the revelations on the hijacking of private user data, chief executive Mark Zuckerberg said in an interview released Monday. |
 | Facebook CEO defends advertising-supported business modelThe CEO of Facebook is defending its advertising-supported business model. |
 | Building lithium-sulfur batteries with paper biomassA major byproduct in the papermaking industry is lignosulfonate, a sulfonated carbon waste material, which is typically combusted on site, releasing CO2 into the atmosphere after sulfur has been captured for reuse. |
 | Trump targets Amazon again in new tweetsUS President Donald Trump on Saturday resumed his attacks against online retailing giant Amazon and accused The Washington Post, owned by Amazon's founder Jeff Bezos, of lobbying for the company. |
 | Zuckerberg's congressional survival guide: Tips from expertsAs Mark Zuckerberg prepares to testify before Congress over Facebook's privacy fiasco, public-relations experts who have prepped CEOs before have plenty of advice on handling the hot seat. |
 | Cellphones gaining acceptance inside US schoolsCellphones are still absent from most U.S. schools but new data shows them steadily gaining acceptance as administrators bow to parents' wishes to keep tabs on their kids and teachers find ways to work them into lessons. |
Medicine & Health news
 | People use emotion to persuade, even when it could backfireWe intuitively use more emotional language to enhance our powers of persuasion, according to research published in Psychological Science, a journal of the Association for Psychological Science. The research shows that people tend toward appeals that aren't simply more positive or negative but are infused with emotionality, even when they're trying to sway an audience that may not be receptive to such language. |
 | Links between eating red meat and distal colon cancer in womenA new study suggests that a diet free from red meat significantly reduces the risk of a type of colon cancer in women living in the United Kingdom. |
 | Solution to 50-year-old mystery could lead to gene therapy for common blood disordersIn a landmark study that could lead to new therapies for sickle cell anaemia and other blood disorders, UNSW Sydney-led researchers have used CRISPR gene editing to introduce beneficial natural mutations into blood cells to boost their production of foetal haemoglobin. |
 | 'Molecular scissors' could be key to cutting off diseases including HIV infectionOne way to fight diseases including HIV infection and autoimmune disorders could involve changing how a naturally occurring enzyme called SAMHD1 works to influence the immune system, new research suggests. |
 | Two-pronged approach could curb many cases of lung cancerNon-small-cell lung cancer, the most common type of lung cancer, is the leading cause of cancer death in the U.S. A new study suggests that about 1 in 4 cases, those driven by the KRAS oncogene, could be successfully treated with a combination of drugs that are already available clinically. The Boston Children's Hospital study was published today in the Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences (PNAS). |
 | In mice, long-lasting brain proteins offer clues to how memories last a lifetimeIn the tiny brain space where two nerve cells meet, chemical and electric signals shuttle back and forth, a messaging system that ebbs and flows in those synaptic spaces, sometimes in ways that scientists believe aid and abet learning and memory. But because most of the proteins found in those synapses die and renew themselves so rapidly, scientists have had a hard time pinning down how synapses are stable enough to explain the kind of learning and memory that lasts a lifetime. |
 | We'll pay more for unhealthy foods we crave, neuroscience research findsWe'll pay more for unhealthy foods when we crave them, new neuroscience research finds. The study also shows that we're willing to pay disproportionately more for higher portion sizes of craved food items. |
 | CRISPR enhances gene therapy to fight inherited diseasesGene therapy has shown promise in treating inherited genetic diseases, but a major issue that has frustrated scientists remains: Replacing a "bad" gene with a healthy one often is a short-lived fix. Typically, the healthy replacement gene works for just a few weeks. |
 | Scientists discover new method for measuring cellular ageA team led by scientists at Van Andel Research Institute (VARI) and Cedars-Sinai have developed a straightforward, computational way to measure cellular age, a feat that may lead to better, simpler screening and monitoring methods for cancer and other diseases. |
 | New compound helps activate cancer-fighting T cellsInvariant natural killer T (iNKT) cells are powerful weapons our body's immune systems count on to fight infection and combat diseases like cancer, multiple sclerosis, and lupus. Finding ways to spark these potent cells into action could lead to more effective cancer treatments and vaccines. |
 | Studies link legal marijuana with fewer opioid prescriptionsCan legalizing marijuana fight the problem of opioid addiction and fatal overdoses? Two new studies in the debate suggest it may. |
 | Even DNA that doesn't encode genes can drive cancerMost of the human genome—98 percent—is made up of DNA but doesn't actually encode genes, the recipes cells use to build proteins. The vast majority of genetic mutations associated with cancer occur in these non-coding regions of the genome, yet it's unclear how they might influence tumor development or growth. Now researchers at University of California San Diego School of Medicine and Moores Cancer Center have identified nearly 200 mutations in non-coding DNA that play a functional role in cancer. Each of the mutations could represent a new target in the search for cancer drugs. |
 | Researchers uncover protein used to outsmart the human immune systemA University of Maryland (UMD) researcher has uncovered a mechanism by which the bacteria that causes Lyme disease persists in the body and fights your early, innate immune responses. Dr. Utpal Pal, Professor in Veterinary Medicine, has been studying the Borrelia burgdorferi bacteria throughout his twelve years with UMD, and his work has already produced the protein marker used to identify this bacterial infection in the body. Now, Dr. Pal has isolated a protein produced by the bacteria that disables one of the body's first immune responses, giving insight into mechanisms that are largely not understood. He has also observed a never-before-seen phenomena demonstrating that even without this protein and with the immune system responding perfectly, the bacteria can spring back in the body weeks later. Understanding this bacteria, which is amongst only a few pathogens that can actually persist in the body for long periods of time, has major implications for the treatment of tick-borne diseases like Lyme disease, which is an increasingly chronic and consistently prevalent public health issue. |
 | Researchers develop injectable bandageA penetrating injury from shrapnel is a serious obstacle in overcoming battlefield wounds that can ultimately lead to death.Given the high mortality rates due to hemorrhaging, there is an unmet need to quickly self-administer materials that prevent fatality due to excessive blood loss. |
 | Buzzkill? Coffee cancer warnings could go beyond CaliforniaIt's fair to say that a lot of people awoke Friday to a headline that might have jolted them more awake than a morning cup of joe: A California judge had ruled that coffee sold in the state should carry a cancer warning. |
 | 20 years after Viagra, Pfizer seeks another miracle drugIt has been 20 years since Viagra was introduced, and Pfizer is still searching for another drug with as much earning power as the revolutionary blue erection pill. |
 | Put your best feet forward, despite diabetes(HealthDay)—If you have diabetes, it's time to think about your feet. |
 | Simple lung function tests in primary care help ID early COPDA peak flow meter or microspirometer can be used routinely in primary care among patients with suspected chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD) for early case identification, according to a study published online March 13 in the Journal of Evaluation in Clinical Practice. |
 | Bariatric surgery lessens knee OA pain more in certain patients(HealthDay)—Laparoscopic gastric band (LAGB) surgery is associated with more improvement in knee osteoarthritis (OA) in younger patients and those without prior knee injury, according to a study published recently in Seminars in Arthritis and Rheumatism. |
 | Elevated blood pressure before pregnancy may increase chance of pregnancy lossElevated blood pressure before conception may increase the chances for pregnancy loss, according to an analysis by researchers at the National Institutes of Health. The authors conclude that lifestyle changes to keep blood pressure under control could potentially reduce the risk of loss. The study appears in Hypertension. |
 | Heart defects in infant may predict heart problems in birth mother later in lifeWomen who give birth to infants with congenital heart defects may have an increased risk of cardiovascular hospitalizations later in life, according to new research in the American Heart Association's journal Circulation. |
 | Colon signaling pathway key to inflammatory bowel diseaseThe intestine encounters more foreign substances and potential toxins than other parts of the body, so it is not surprising that a healthy gut is maintained by the tight control of immune responses. These protect against harmful pathogens but tolerate harmless bacteria. However, an inappropriate immune response can lead to chronic inflammation and the development of inflammatory bowel disease (IBD). |
 | New technique makes heart valve replacement safer for some high-risk patientsScientists have developed a novel technique that prevents coronary artery obstruction during transcatheter aortic valve replacement (TAVR), a rare but often fatal complication. The method, called Bioprosthetic Aortic Scallop Intentional Laceration to prevent Iatrogenic Coronary Artery obstruction (BASILICA), will increase treatment options for high-risk patients who need heart valve procedures. The findings by researchers at the National Institutes of Health will publish in the Journal of the American College of Cardiology: Cardiovascular Interventions on April 2. |
Medicare program linked with reduced black-white disparities in hospital readmissionsA Medicare program that penalizes hospitals for high readmission rates was associated with a narrowing of readmission disparities between black and white patients and between minority-serving hospitals and other hospitals in the U.S., according to a new study from Harvard T.H. Chan School of Public Health. | |
Proper data analysis might be among Hurricane Maria's casualtiesThe ability to use statistics to guide decision-making may be collateral damage of Hurricane Maria's devastating blow to Puerto Rico, according to a Penn State demographer. | |
New study uncovers major differences in billing complexity among US health insurersOne frequently proclaimed advantage of single-payer health care is its potential to reduce administrative costs, but new Vancouver School of Economics research calls that assumption into question. | |
Maryland's hospital payment reform fails to deliverAn experiment in Maryland designed to save health care dollars by shifting services away from expensive hospital-based care and toward less costly primary, preventive and outpatient services has yielded disappointing results. | |
Fortifying flour with folic acid could immediately prevent 57,000 annual birth defects, study suggestsAccording to researchers from the Rollins School of Public Health, approximately 57,000 birth defects of the brain and spine could be immediately prevented every year in 71 countries by adding folic acid to wheat flour. | |
 | Women most at risk for heart failure weeks after giving birthHeart failure is a leading cause of maternal morbidity and death in the U.S.—with the rate of pregnancy-related deaths more than doubling between 1987 and 2011. Even so, much about heart failure-related hospitalizations before, during and after delivery is unknown. |
 | Unraveling the immunopathogenesis of Johne's diseaseResearchers of Hokkaido University, the National Agriculture and Food Research Organization (NARO), and Tohoku University demonstrated that a physiologically active substance called prostaglandin E2 (PGE2) impairs the immune response by upregulating the expression of an immunoinhibitory molecule, programmed death-ligand 1 (PD-L1), in cattle affected with Johne's disease. The discovery is expected to help develop a method to control Johne's disease, which is most frequently reported among legally designated infectious bovine diseases in Japan. |
 | Five tips to help you make the most of reading to your childrenReading to your child is one of the most successful ways of instilling a love of reading in them. But in our recent study, more than one-quarter of primary-school-aged respondents claimed they were never read to at home. |
 | Drug use can have social benefits, and acknowledging this could improve rehabilitationIllicit drug use is often framed in terms of risk and antisocial or criminal behaviour. But drug use is often a highly social activity. For many people, the pleasure of using drugs is about social connection as much as it is about the physical effects. |
 | Risky sexual behavior stems from physical abuse for boys, marijuana use for girlsWhat leads to risky sexual behavior in adolescence seems to vary by gender, according to new research from Case Western Reserve University. |
 | Baby sitters, relatives often unaware of SIDS risk(HealthDay)—A baby's risk of death from being placed in an unsafe sleeping position or location is higher when they're under the care of a baby sitter, relative or friend, a new study found. |
 | Living near green space may make for a healthier you(HealthDay)—Planning a move in the future? You might want to make sure there are parks nearby. |
 | Children's facial recognition technology lauded by STAT for impact, noveltyChildren's facial recognition technology that enables more timely diagnoses of rare diseases and common genetic disorders, helping to improve kids' health outcomes around the world, garnered more than 33,000 overall votes during STAT Madness 2018, a bracket-style competition honoring biomedical advances. Children's first-ever entry advanced through five brackets in the competition and, in the championship round, finished second. |
 | Infant death study reveals dangerous sleep practices among babysitters, relatives, othersBabies who died during their sleep while being watched by someone other than parents often had been placed in unsafe sleep positions, such as on their stomachs, or in unsafe locations, such as a couch, a new study has found. |
 | People with diabetes visit the dentist less frequently despite link between diabetes, oral healthAdults with diabetes are less likely to visit the dentist than people with prediabetes or without diabetes, finds a new study led by researchers at NYU Rory Meyers College of Nursing and East Carolina University's Brody School of Medicine. |
 | Better fitness in pre-pregnant women linked with less risk of gestational diabetesExpectant mothers who were more fit before pregnancy are at lower risk of developing gestational diabetes, according to a new study from the University of Iowa. |
Self-rating mental health as 'good' predicts positive future mental healthResearchers have found that when a person rates their current mental health as 'positive' despite meeting criteria for a mental health problem such as depression, it can predict good mental health in the future, even without treatment. | |
Where you live, walk, and eat in New York City are important for controlling diabetesIn the first study to directly examine the relationship between environment and individual's ability to control their diabetes, researchers at Columbia University's Mailman School of Public Health and the New York City Department of Health and Mental Hygiene found there is a link between the neighborhood food, built and economic environment where you live and the ability to achieve glycemic control. Their results are consistent with the premise that areas with greater resources to support healthy eating and physical activity, and a high socioeconomic environment are associated with improved glycemic control in persons with diabetes. The results are published today in the American Journal of Epidemiology. | |
 | Online physician reviews don't reflect responses in patient satisfaction surveysPhysicians who receive negative reviews online do not receive similar responses in rigorous patient satisfaction surveys, according to new Mayo Clinic research in Mayo Clinic Proceedings. Yet, compared with colleagues without negative reviews, they score lower on factors that go beyond patient interactions and are beyond their immediate control. |
 | How do you make a destination autism-friendly?Myrtle Beach , South Carolina, has a busy boardwalk and all kinds of attractions, from mini-golf courses and water parks to a zip line and a Ferris wheel. |
Researchers find new trigger for onset of colon cancer, which may lead to better therapiesColon cancer is the second most common cause of cancer-related deaths. The APC protein has long been known for its critical role in preventing colorectal cancer. When APC is inactivated, the development of colorectal cancer is triggered. Inactivation of APC is responsible for the vast majority (80%) of all colorectal cancers. Researchers from the laboratory of Yashi Ahmed, MD, PhD at Dartmouth's Norris Cotton Cancer Center, in collaboration with the groups of Ethan Lee, MD, PhD at Vanderbilt University and David Robbins, PhD at the University of Miami's Sylvester Comprehensive Cancer Center, have identified a new function for this colon cancer gene: APC stops several colon cancer activators. | |
 | Eating more protein may not benefit older menRegardless of whether an adult is young or old, male or female, their recommended dietary allowance (RDA) for protein, set by the Institute of Medicine, is the same: 0.8-g/kg/day. Many experts and national organizations recommend dietary protein intakes greater than the recommended allowance to maintain and promote muscle growth in older adults. However, few rigorous studies have evaluated whether higher protein intake among older adults provides meaningful benefit. A randomized, clinical trial conducted by Brigham and Women's Hospital investigator Shalender Bhasin, MD, and colleagues has found that higher protein intake did not increase lean body mass, muscle performance, physical function or other well-being measures among older men. |
Combination immunotherapy improves survival in mouse models of mesotheliomaCombined treatment with two cancer immunotherapy drugs - one a novel immune modulator and one that focuses and activates the antitumor immune response - significantly prolonged survival in mouse models of the aggressive cancer malignant mesothelioma. In their report published in Cancer Immunology Research, a team from the Vaccine and Immunotherapy Center (VIC) at Massachusetts General Hospital (MGH) describes how adding AMD3100 (plerixafor) - previously approved for the stimulation of stem cell production prior to bone marrow transplantation - to their investigational drug VIC-008 more than doubled the animals' survival time. Among the mechanisms identified as underlying the combination treatment's effects was changing a population of immunosuppressive T cells into a type that could enhance an antitumor immune response. | |
 | Transfusion outcomes differ by race for peds scoliosis surgery(HealthDay)—In the surgical correction of pediatric scoliosis, black race is independently associated with increased estimated blood loss, increased rate of blood transfusion, and increased amount of blood transfused, according to a study published online March 9 in Pediatric Anesthesia. |
 | Grief symptoms similar in donor vs non-donor decision families(HealthDay)—Perceptions of the organ donation experience vary between relatives who decide to donate their relative's organs and those who do not, but the decision does not appear to be associated with subsequent grief symptoms, according to a study published online March 19 in the American Journal of Respiratory and Critical Care Medicine. |
 | Autologous fat transfer effective for facial reconstruction(HealthDay)—Autologous fat transfer (AFT) is an effective technique for treating soft-tissue deformities in the head and neck, according to a review published online March 29 in JAMA Facial Plastic Surgery. |
 | Thyroidectomy rates lower after guideline implementation(HealthDay)—Implementation of the 2015 American Thyroid Association guidelines on surgery for well-differentiated thyroid carcinoma was associated with a significant decrease in the rates of both up-front total thyroidectomy and completion thyroidectomy, according to a study published online March 29 in JAMA Otolaryngology-Head & Neck Surgery. |
 | Vitamin A appears helpful in pediatric retinitis pigmentosa(HealthDay)—For children with retinitis pigmentosa, vitamin A supplementation is associated with slower loss of cone electroretinogram amplitude, according to a study published online March 29 in JAMA Ophthalmology. |
 | Pre-op chronic opioid use ups poor outcomes post spinal fusion(HealthDay)—Preoperative chronic opioid use is associated with poor outcomes and continued dependence after posterior lumbar fusion, according to a study published online March 20 in Spine. |
 | Recombinant influenza vaccine found to be safe in children(HealthDay)—The recombinant influenza vaccine (RIV4) is well tolerated in children aged 6 to 17 years, and it provides immunogenicity comparable to that of the inactivated vaccine, according to a study published online April 2 in Pediatrics. |
 | Babies given certain meds may have higher odds for allergies later(HealthDay)—Babies who are given antacids or antibiotics during their first 6 months of life may have a sharply higher risk for allergies or asthma, a large new study warns. |
Uncovering a mechanism causing chronic graft-vs-host disease after bone marrow transplantAllogeneic bone marrow transplant (BMT) is an essential treatment to cure patients with blood cancers such as leukemia. In patients who have undergone chemotherapy and radiation, a small number of cancer cells can remain in the bloodstream and allow the malignancy to recur. | |
 | When drugs are wrong, skipped or make you sick: The cost of non-optimized medicationsRising drug prices have gotten a lot of attention lately, but the actual cost of prescription medications is more than just the dollars and cents on the bill. Researchers at Skaggs School of Pharmacy and Pharmaceutical Sciences at University of California San Diego estimate that illness and death resulting from non-optimized medication therapy costs $528.4 billion annually, equivalent to 16 percent of total U.S. health care expenditures in 2016. |
 | Reorganization of brain outputs in deaf catsCats deaf from an early age have increased outgoing connections from the auditory cortex to a midbrain region responsible for directing the animal to a particular location in its environment. The study, published in JNeurosci, is the first to examine the reorganization of outputs from the sensory cortex following hearing loss. |
 | Novel PET imaging agent could help guide therapy for brain diseasesResearchers have developed a new imaging agent that could help guide and assess treatments for people with various neurological diseases, including Alzheimer's, Parkinson's, and multiple sclerosis. The agent, which is used in positron emission tomography (PET) scans, targets receptors in nerve cells in the brain that are involved in learning and memory. The study is featured in the April issue of The Journal of Nuclear Medicine. |
Biology news
 | New algorithm enables data integration at single-cell resolutionA team of computational biologists has developed an algorithm that can 'align' multiple sequencing datasets with single-cell resolution. The new method, published today in the journal Nature Biotechnology, has implications for better understanding how different groups of cells change during disease progression, in response to drug treatment, or across evolution. |
 | Breakthrough in determining ages of different microbial groupsAn international team of scientists, which includes the University of Bristol, have made a significant breakthrough in how we understand the first three-quarters of life on earth by creating new techniques for investigating the timing and co-evolution of microbial groups. |
 | Researchers engineer yeast to manufacture complex medicineStanford University bioengineers have figured out a way to make noscapine, a non-narcotic cough suppressant that occurs naturally in opium poppies, in brewer's yeast. |
 | Imaging technique reveals complex protein movements in cell membraneWhat do ballet and cell biology have in common? Perhaps more than you might think. |
 | New insight about how viruses use host proteins to their advantageViruses have a very limited set of genes and therefore must use the cellular machineries of their hosts for most parts of their growth. A new study, led by scientists at Uppsala University, has discovered a specific host protein that many viruses use for their transport within the cell. The discovery opens up new possibilities to develop a broad spectrum anti-viral therapy. The paper is published this week in PNAS. |
 | Japan whalers return from Antarctic hunt after killing 333 whalesJapanese whaling vessels returned to port on Saturday after catching more than 300 of the mammals in the Antarctic Ocean without facing any protests by anti-whaling groups, officials said. |
 | Overlooked 'organ' could play role in cancer spreadThanks to a laser-equipped mini-microscope developed by a French start-up, scientists have discovered a previously undetected feature of the human anatomy that could help explain why some cancers spread so quickly. |
Denver Zoo celebrates birth of Sumatran orangutanThe Denver Zoo is welcoming a baby Sumatran orangutan who is named after an Indonesian word that means "bright" and is often used to refer to sunshine. | |
 | Digital life team creates animated 3-D models of sea turtles from live specimensThe Digital Life team at the University of Massachusetts Amherst, creators of an online catalog of high-resolution, full-color 3D models of living organisms, announce today that they have released two new, online full-color animated models of a loggerhead and a green sea turtle through a collaboration with sea turtle rescue and research institutions. |
Study examines energy and nutrient digestibility in wheat co-products fed to growing pigsWith feed costs and the worldwide demand for meat growing, livestock producers are increasingly turning to co-products from the ethanol and human food industries. Research from the University of Illinois is helping to determine the feed value of wheat middlings and red dog, two co-products of the wheat milling process that can be included in diets fed to pigs and other livestock. | |
 | Spaceflight activates cell changes with implications for stem cell-based heart repairA new study of the effects of spaceflight on the development of heart cells identified changes in calcium signaling that could be used to develop stem cell-based therapies for cardiac repair. The impact of simulated microgravity and environmental factors on the International Space Station on cardiovascular progenitor cell development and signaling is reported in an upcoming special issue of Stem Cells and Development. |
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