Thursday, June 21, 2018

Science X Newsletter Thursday, Jun 21

Dear Reader ,

Here is your customized Science X Newsletter for June 21, 2018:

Spotlight Stories Headlines

Physicists show that it is impossible to mask quantum information in correlations

HESS J1943+213 is an extreme blazar, study finds

Laser bursts generate electricity faster than any other method

New study suggests viral connection to Alzheimer's disease

Researchers achieve unprecedented control of polymer grids

Bedrock in West Antarctica rising at surprisingly rapid rate

Einstein proved right in another galaxy

Scientists discover fundamental rule of brain plasticity

Old star clusters could have been the birthplace of supermassive stars

Exposure to fracking chemicals and wastewater spurs fat cell development

DNA barcodes that reliably work: A game-changer for biomedical research

When cozying up with would-be predators, cleaner shrimp follow a dependable script

Novel therapy makes oxidative stress deadly to cancer

Rhesus macaque model offers route to study Zika brain pathology

Human immune 'trigger' map paves way for better treatments

Astronomy & Space news

HESS J1943+213 is an extreme blazar, study finds

An international group of astronomers have carried out multi-wavelength observations of HESS J1943+213 and found evidence supporting the hypothesis that this gamma-ray source is an extreme blazar. The finding is reported in a paper published June 11 on the arXiv pre-print repository.

Old star clusters could have been the birthplace of supermassive stars

A team of international astrophysicists may have found a solution to a problem that has perplexed scientists for more than 50 years: why are the stars in globular clusters made of material different to other stars found in the Milky Way?

Nearly 80 exoplanet candidates identified in record time

Scientists at MIT and elsewhere have analyzed data from K2, the follow-up mission to NASA's Kepler Space Telescope, and have discovered a trove of possible exoplanets amid some 50,000 stars.

The Rosetta stone of active galactic nuclei deciphered

A galaxy with at least one active supermassive black hole – named OJ 287 – has caused many irritations and questions in the past. The emitted radiation of this object spans a wide range – from the radio up to the highest energies in the TeV regime. The potential periodicity in the variable optical emission made this galaxy a candidate for hosting a supermassive binary black hole in its centre. The object was thus labeled a Rosetta stone of active galactic nuclei expressing the hope that this object could be a prototypical object and once deciphered, could explain fundamental properties of active black holes in general. Now an international team of astronomers led by Max Planck researchers has discovered that the active galactic nucleus of OJ 287 generates a smoothly precessing jet on a timescale of about 22 years. The precession of the jet observed could also explain the variability in the radiation of the galaxy. This detection solves many riddles at once and provides a key to understanding variability in active galactic nuclei.

'Red nuggets' are galactic gold for astronomers

About a decade ago, astronomers discovered a population of small, but massive galaxies called "red nuggets." A new study using NASA's Chandra X-ray Observatory indicates that black holes have squelched star formation in these galaxies and may have used some of the untapped stellar fuel to grow to unusually massive proportions.

Space objects will still be hard to protect despite new policy

A new space traffic management policy signed by President Donald Trump could help prevent thousands of space objects from colliding, but sufficient technical solutions are lacking, says Carolin Frueh, Purdue assistant professor of aeronautics and astronautics.

Image: Fireball moon Venus

Sometimes, nature is the best art director!

Image: Through the heat barrier

ESA's next CubeSat mission seen enduring the scorching heat of simulated atmospheric reentry inside the world's largest plasma wind tunnel.

Technology news

Researchers solve major challenge in mass production of low-cost solar cells

An international team of university researchers today reports solving a major fabrication challenge for perovskite cells—the intriguing potential challengers to silicon-based solar cells.

High Court: Online shoppers can be forced to pay sales tax

States will be able to force more people to pay sales tax when they make online purchases under a Supreme Court decision Thursday that will leave shoppers with lighter wallets but is a big financial win for states.

What does midnight electricity use tell us about morning traffic congestion?

To predict when morning traffic is likely to grind to a halt, it may be more effective to examine how we use electricity in the middle of the night instead of travel-time data. By analyzing household electricity use in Austin, Texas, researchers at Carnegie Mellon University were able to predict when morning traffic would snarl up some segments of Austin's highways.

Ford, exoskeleton company address strain in overhead tasks

Ford workers are testing a wearable exoskeleton at an assembly plant and their shoulders, and backs, can benefit from the program.

Buildings as power stations—they generate more energy than they consume

The UK's first energy-positive classroom, designed with research expertise from Swansea University, generated more than one and a half times the energy it consumed, according to data from its first year of operation, the team has revealed.

Xiaomi: A Chinese startup out to challenge Google, Amazon

Xiaomi, a Chinese cellphone maker that helped pioneer the trend toward ultra-low-priced smartphones, is preparing for what would possibly be the biggest tech initial public offering since e-commerce giant Alibaba's in 2014.

MIT researchers release evaluation of low-cost cooling devices in Mali

Across the Sahel, a semiarid region of western and north-central Africa extending from Senegal to Sudan, many small-scale farmers, market vendors, and families lack an affordable and effective solution for storing and preserving vegetables. As a result, harvested vegetables are at risk of spoiling before they can be sold or eaten.

Days after buying Time Warner, AT&T launches new TV service

AT&T is launching a new streaming service incorporating television networks from the Time Warner company it just bought.

Norway fines its main telecoms firm for blocking competition

The Norwegian Competition Authorities has fined Norway's largest telecoms provider Telenor 788 million kroner ($96 million) for abusing its dominant position on the country's mobile market.

We don't own data like we own a car – which is why we find data harder to protect

It's known as the "privacy paradox": people say they want to protect their data privacy online, but often do little to keep it safe.

Realistic avatars for the virtual zoo

Filmmakers and developers of computer games will have a new way of animating animals in the future. A team led by researchers at the Max Planck Institute for Intelligent Systems in Tübingen, Germany, has developed a technique that uses photographs alone to create lifelike 3-D models of almost all quadrupeds. Animations of these avatars can realistically imitate the movements of animals. But the simple method of bringing animals to life on the computer is not only interesting for the entertainment industry. Many people have lost a beloved family pet. Now this technology can bring them back to "life" as a virtual 3-D avatar. It could also benefit biologists in species protection and help to make children in particular aware of the importance of biodiversity.

Driving down freight emissions

Researchers, working with leading supermarket chain Waitrose have developed a more aerodynamic trailer design for articulated vehicles – cutting fuel consumption and pollution by around 7 percent.

Research shows beachgoers negatively impacted by offshore oil platforms

Every year, visitors flock to Delaware's beaches for an opportunity to relax, soak up the sun and take a dip in the ocean.

Intel CEO out after consensual relationship with employee

Intel CEO Brian Krzanich resigned after the company learned of what it called his consensual relationship with an employee.

Facebook expands fact-check effort to photos, videos

Facebook said Thursday it would launch fact-checking of photos and videos as it expands the effort to curb misinformation to more countries.

Electric scooters launch in Paris, to spread in Europe

The boulevards of Paris, already bustling with a dizzying range of transport devices, are set to feature a new shared electric scooter system that has swept the US and is now heading for Europe.

Deutsche Telekom says will slash 10,000 jobs at subsidiary

Deutsche Telekom said Thursday it would slash 10,000 jobs worldwide at its loss-making IT services subsidiary in the next three years as it seeks 600 million euros ($696 million) in savings.

What's that extra in my online cart? Soon, maybe a sales tax

Attention shoppers: You may soon be paying more taxes on what you put in your online cart.

Daimler cuts profit forecast, blaming US-China tariffs

German luxury carmaker Daimler on Wednesday cut its profit forecast for 2018, blaming new tariffs on cars exported from the United States to China, amid lingering fears of a trade war between the world's biggest economies.

Miniaturized infrared cameras take colored photos of the eye

Look into one's eye and you might be able to see their soul—or at least you can see signs of a stroke or diabetes. By looking at the blood vessels in the eyes, doctors can tell a lot about a person's health. This can be done using fundus photography, which has been around for almost two centuries and is the standard imaging tool used by ophthalmologists. However, for many, especially the poor, traveling to a clinic is not practical. Researchers at the Nara Institute of Science and Technology (NAIST), in partnership with scientists at the University of Tokyo, have devised a new fundus camera small enough to fit on a smartphone that could get around this problem. The study was described at the 2018 Symposia on VLSI Technology and Circuits this month.

Next-generation heat pump offers more affordable heating and cooling

A novel geothermal heat pump makes cost-effective, energy-efficient heating and cooling of buildings a reality. How? By harnessing heat sources from the air or ground.

First music festival turns to blockchain

A music festival will for the first time run on blockchain, tapping the fast-growing technology as an innovative way to address longstanding issues such as ticket scalping and fan engagement.

Medicine & Health news

New study suggests viral connection to Alzheimer's disease

Of the major illnesses facing humanity, Alzheimer's disease (AD) remains among the most pitiless and confounding. Over a century after its discovery, no effective prevention or treatment exists for this progressive deterioration of brain tissue, memory and identity. With more people living to older ages, there is a growing need to clarify Alzheimer's disease risk factors and disease mechanisms and use this information to find new ways in which to treat and prevent this terrible disorder.

Scientists discover fundamental rule of brain plasticity

Our brains are famously flexible, or "plastic," because neurons can do new things by forging new or stronger connections with other neurons. But if some connections strengthen, neuroscientists have reasoned, neurons must compensate lest they become overwhelmed with input. In a new study in Science, researchers at the Picower Institute for Learning and Memory at MIT demonstrate for the first time how this balance is struck: when one connection, called a synapse, strengthens, immediately neighboring synapses weaken based on the action of a crucial protein called Arc.

Novel therapy makes oxidative stress deadly to cancer

Oxidative stress can help tumors thrive, but one way novel cancer treatments work is by pushing levels to the point where it instead helps them die, scientists report.

Rhesus macaque model offers route to study Zika brain pathology

Rhesus macaque monkeys infected in utero with Zika virus develop similar brain pathology to human infants, according to a report by researchers at the California National Primate Research Center and School of Veterinary Medicine at the University of California, Davis, published June 20 in Nature Communications.

Human immune 'trigger' map paves way for better treatments

A discovery about how human cells are 'triggered' to undergo an inflammatory type of cell death could have implications for treating cancer, stroke and tissue injury, and immune disorders.

BCG vaccine leads to long-term blood sugar improvement in type 1 diabetes patients

Long-term follow-up of participants in clinical trials of a generic vaccine to reverse advanced type 1 diabetes finds significant clinical benefits, including restoration of near-normal blood sugar levels. Three years after receiving two administrations of the bacillus Calmette-Guérin (BCG) vaccine four weeks apart, all members of a group of adults with longstanding type 1 diabetes showed an improvement in HbA1c to near normal levels—improvement that persisted for the following five years. The study from a Massachusetts General Hospital (MGH) research team—published in npj Vaccines - also reports that the effects of BCG vaccine on blood sugar control appear to depend on a totally novel metabolic mechanism that increases cellular consumption of glucose.

Researchers find important new piece in the Huntington's disease puzzle

In a new study, researchers from the University of Copenhagen have discovered a hitherto unknown error in the transport of glutamine between astrocytes and neurons in the brain of mice with Huntington's disease. At the same time, it is a relevant area on which to focus the effort of developing a future treatment for the disease, the researchers believe.

First ancient syphilis genomes decoded

An international research team, including scientists from the Max Planck Institute for the Science of Human History, the University of Tübingen, the National School of Anthropology and History in Mexico City, and the University of Zurich, has recovered the first historic genomes from the bacterium Treponema pallidum, which causes syphilis. It was previously not thought possible to recover DNA of this bacterium from ancient samples, so the success of this study opens up the possibility of directly studying the evolution and origin of this re-emerging disease. In the study, published in PLOS Neglected Tropical Diseases, the researchers were able to distinguish genetically between the subspecies of the disease that cause syphilis and those that cause yaws. Though the diseases have different effects in living persons, they are not readily distinguishable in skeletal remains, which had previously hampered study of the disease.

Researchers find mechanism behind choosing alcohol over healthy rewards

A new study links molecular changes in the brain to behaviours that are central in addiction, such as choosing a drug over alternative rewards. The researchers have developed a method in which rats learn to get an alcohol solution by pressing a lever. In order to better capture how addiction makes the individual choose alcohol over other rewards, the researchers offered the rats an alternative to alcohol—sweetened water. When the animals could choose between alcohol and sweetened water, the majority stopped making an effort to get alcohol, and chose the sweetened solution instead. But 15 percent of the rats continued to choose alcohol, even when they could obtain another reward. This proportion is similar to the percentage of humans with alcohol addiction.

Existing treatment could be used for common 'untreatable' form of lung cancer

A cancer treatment already approved for use in certain types of cancer has been found to block cell growth in a common form of lung cancer for which there is currently no specific treatment available.

LincRNAs identified in human fat tissue

A large team of researchers from the U.S. and China has succeeded in identifying a number of RNA fragments found in human fat tissue. In their paper published in the journal Science Translational Medicine the group describes their study of the fragments they found and their possible links with obesity.

Dying cancer cells make remaining glioblastoma cells more aggressive and therapy-resistant

A surprising form of cell-to-cell communication in glioblastoma promotes global changes in recipient cells, including aggressiveness, motility, and resistance to radiation or chemotherapy.

Waking up is hard to do: Prefrontal cortex implicated in consciousness

Philosophers have pondered the nature of consciousness for thousands of years. In the 21st century, the debate over how the brain gives rise to our everyday experience continues to puzzle scientists. To help, researchers in the University of Michigan Medical School Center for Consciousness Science are working to identify areas of the brain that help us wake up, a basic building block of everyday consciousness.

Study on instinctive behaviour elucidates a synaptic mechanism for computing escape decisions

How does your brain decide what to do in a threatening situation? A new paper published in Nature describes a mechanism by which the brain classifies the level of a threat and decides when to escape.

Alzheimer's breakthrough: Brain metals that may drive disease progression revealed

Alzheimer's disease could be better treated, thanks to a breakthrough discovery of the properties of the metals in the brain involved in the progression of the neurodegenerative condition, by an international research collaboration including the University of Warwick.

One year of school comes with an IQ bump, meta-analysis shows

A year of schooling leaves students with new knowledge, and it also equates with a small but noticeable increase to students' IQ, according to a systematic meta-analysis published in Psychological Science, a journal of the Association for Psychological Science.

Psychiatric disorders share an underlying genetic basis

Psychiatric disorders such as schizophrenia and bipolar disorder often run in families. In a new international collaboration, researchers explored the genetic connections between these and other disorders of the brain at a scale that far eclipses previous work on the subject. The team determined that psychiatric disorders share many genetic variants, while neurological disorders (such as Parkinson's or Alzheimer's) appear more distinct.

Caffeine from four cups of coffee protects the heart with the help of mitochondria

Caffeine consumption has been associated with lower risks for multiple diseases, including type II diabetes, heart disease, and stroke, but the mechanism underlying these protective effects has been unclear. A new study now shows that caffeine promotes the movement of a regulatory protein into mitochondria, enhancing their function and protecting cardiovascular cells from damage. The work, publishing 21 June in the open access journal PLOS Biology, by Judith Haendeler and Joachim Altschmied of the Medical Faculty, Heinrich-Heine-University and the IUF-Leibniz Research Institute for Environmental Medicine in Duesseldorf, Germany, and colleagues, found that the protective effect was reached at a concentration equivalent to consumption of four cups of coffee, suggesting the effect may be physiologically relevant.

Scientists discover how brain signals travel to drive language performance

Effective verbal communication depends on one's ability to retrieve and select the appropriate words to convey an intended meaning. For many, this process is instinctive, but for someone who has suffered a stroke or another type of brain damage, communicating even the most basic message can be arduous.

No evidence that vitamin D protects against high blood pressure in pregnancy

There is no strong evidence that vitamin D protects against pregnancy-induced high blood pressure (hypertension) or pre-eclampsia, conclude researchers in The BMJ today.

Researchers identify method to diagnose cancer in patients with early onset diabetes

Patients diagnosed with pancreatic cancer can develop elevated blood sugar levels up to three years before their cancer diagnosis, according to the results of a study by Mayo Clinic researchers published the journal Gastroenterology.

New study debunks Dale Carnegie advice to 'put yourself in their shoes'

Putting yourself in someone else's shoes and relying on intuition or "gut instinct" isn't an accurate way to determine what they're thinking or feeling," say researchers from Ben-Gurion University of the Negev (BGU), the University of Chicago and Northeastern University.

Science Says: What makes something truly addictive

Now that the world's leading public health group says too much Minecraft can be an addiction, could overindulging in chocolate, exercise, even sex, be next?

Fans of yoga therapy have yet to win over doctors

Yoga practitioners often tout the unique health benefits of the ancient discipline—from relieving stress and pain to improving vascular health—but most doctors remain sceptical in the absence of hard proof.

NIH initiative aims to address opioid misuse over long term

(HealthDay)—A novel, innovative initiative is being developed to help end addiction over the long term, according to a viewpoint article published online June 12 in the Journal of the American Medical Association.

AMA seeks to make long-term care services more affordable

(HealthDay)—The American Medical Association (AMA) House of Delegates has adopted a policy to make long-term care insurance simpler, more affordable, more innovative, and part of automatic enrollment for current employees and retirees.

AAFP still recommends CRC screening from age 50 to 75

(HealthDay)—In accordance with the U.S. Preventive Services Task Force (USPSTF), the American Academy of Family Physicians (AAFP) does not intend to change its recommendations for colorectal cancer screening based on the recent change in the American Cancer Society (ACS) guideline.

New therapeutic opportunity for the treatment of resistant malignant melanoma

A team of researchers led by Dr. Pierre Close, WELBIO researcher at the ULiège GIGA Institute and Dr. Francesca Rapino has uncovered a new therapeutic opportunity in the treatment of malignant melanoma that has acquired resistance to targeted therapies. In collaboration with researchers from VIB, they have revealed that malignant melanoma cells can reprogram their protein synthesis machinery and become addicted to a new family of enzymes that modify transfer RNAs during acquired resistance. Strikingly, the inhibition of these molecules with targeted therapies produces a strong anti-tumoral effect. These new findings, published in Nature, will contribute to the development of improved diagnostic tools and melanoma treatment.

Researchers uncover new target to stop cancer growth

Researchers at the University of Wisconsin-Madison have discovered that a protein called Munc13-4 helps cancer cells secrete large numbers of exosomes—tiny, membrane-bound packages containing proteins and RNAs that stimulate tumor progression. The study, which will be published June 21 in the Journal of Cell Biology, could lead to new therapies that stop tumor growth and metastasis by halting exosome production.

Reading risk behavior in the brain

Anxious people take fewer risks—this is not surprising. However, a team of psychologists from the German Friedrich Schiller University Jena, together with partners from Würzburg in Germany and the Canadian University of Victoria have succeeded in making this decision process visible in the brain, allowing them to predict the behaviour of individuals. They conducted an experiment to measure participants' risk behaviour while using electroencephalography (EEG) to observe their brain activity. They report on their work in the current issue of the scientific journal Psychophysiology.

Key molecule of aging discovered

Every cell and every organism ages sooner or later. But why is this so? Scientists at the German Cancer Research Center in Heidelberg have now discovered for the first time a protein that represents a central switching point in the aging process. It controls the life span of an individual—from the fly to the human being. This opens up new possibilities for developing therapies against age-related diseases.

Phone insomniac? Sleepy smart screen could be the answer

Visual displays that can induce insomnia can be redesigned, say scientists from the Universities of Manchester and Basel.

Single liver donor benefits two patients—one young, one old

Noah Hernandez, born in 2017, and James Howell, born in 1955, each benefited from a single liver to treat their life-threatening conditions.

New treatment helps avoid deafness in child chemotherapy patients

An international trial has found that a medicine commonly used to treat poisoning is effective in reducing deafness in children receiving chemotherapy for cancer.

Police officers at risk of PTSD when investigating child sexual abuse cases

Police officers investigating child sexual abuse cases experience high levels of stress and anxiety putting them at risk of post-traumatic stress disorder, a new report in the Journal Policing: An International Journal of Police Strategies and Management, has found.

Dry mouth problems may be associated with disease in the eyelids

If you suffer from a dry mouth, the chances are that you also have dry eyes. The problem may be due to the sebaceous glands in the eyelids.

Promoting healthy summer sleep routines for your family

The lazy days of summer can be peaceful and relaxing, but they also can wreak havoc on your body's internal clock. Longer days, evening outdoors activities and a lack of school the next morning can throw even the most conscientious family's sleep schedules out of whack.

Why it's OK for bilingual children to mix languages

Few would consider mastering more than one language a bad idea. In fact, research points to a number of cognitive, economic and academic advantages in being bilingual.

How eye disorders may have influenced the work of famous painters

Vision is an important tool when creating a painted artwork. Vision is used to survey a scene, guide the artist's movements over the canvas and provide feedback on the colour and form of the work. However, it's possible for disease and disorders to alter an artist's visual perception.

Why alcohol after sport and exercise is a bad idea

Drinking alcohol after sport is a social ritual that has become ingrained in Australian culture, and it seems professional athletes are no exception, despite being paid generously to be in peak physical condition.

Fruit and vegetables linked to changes in skin colour, new research finds

Skin colour in young Caucasian men is strongly linked to high levels of fruit and vegetable consumption, new research by Curtin University has found.

Infant colic leads to no ongoing problems, study shows

Colicky babies whose crying eases within three months have no ongoing behavioural problems according to new research by the Murdoch Children's Research Institute (MCRI).

What are the effects of antidepressants during pregnancy?

A small association between pregnant women who take antidepressants and the motor skills of toddlers has been found by a Murdoch University-led team, after a systematic review of research studies.

Why our brains see the world as 'us' versus 'them'

Anti-immigrant policies, race-related demonstrations, Title IX disputes, affirmative action court cases, same-sex marriage litigation.

Probiotics can protect the skeletons of older women

For the first time in the world, researchers at the University of Gothenburg, Sweden, have demonstrated that probiotics, dietary supplements with health-promoting bacteria, can be used to affect the human skeleton. Among older women who received probiotics, bone loss was halved compared to women who received only a placebo. The research opens the door to a new way to prevent fractures among the elderly.

Brain tingles—first study of its kind reveals physiological benefits of ASMR

Autonomous sensory meridian response (ASMR) – the relaxing 'brain tingles' experienced by some people in response to specific triggers, such as whispering, tapping and slow hand movements – may have benefits for both mental and physical health, according to new research.

What the US can learn from other countries in dealing with pain and the opioid crisis

With all the recent news on opioid overuse in the U.S., it's not surprising that Americans consume the vast majority of the global opioid supply. Daily opioid use in the U.S. is the highest in the world, with an estimated one daily dose prescribed for every 20 people. That rate is 50 percent higher than in Germany and 40 times higher than in Japan.

Sitting and diabetes in older adults: Does timing matter?

Adults are sitting more than ever, and few pay attention to how they sit throughout the day.

Opioids don't have to be addictive – the new versions will treat pain without triggering pleasure

The problem with opioids is that they kill pain – and people. In the past three years, more than 125,000 persons died from an opioid overdose – an average of 115 people per day – exceeding the number killed in car accidents and from gunshots during the same period.

Test could help avoid antibiotic related deafness in newborn babies

A new genetic test that could identify the risk of, and therefore help to avoid permanent antibiotic-related hearing loss in newborn babies is being developed in Manchester.

Majority of US adults prescribed epinephrine report not using it in an emergency

The most effective, life-saving treatment for a severe allergic reaction (anaphylaxis) is epinephrine. Yet a new study shows in an emergency, 52 percent of adults with potentially life-threatening allergies didn't use the epinephrine auto-injectors (EAI) they were prescribed.

Genetic variation in progesterone receptor tied to prematurity risk, study finds

Humans have unexpectedly high genetic variation in the receptor for a key pregnancy-maintaining hormone, according to research led by scientists at the Stanford University School of Medicine. The finding may help explain why some populations of pregnant women have an elevated risk of premature birth.

The psychobiology of online gaming

When researchers looked at expression of a particular gene complex that is activated by chronic stress, they found differences depending on whether someone was positively engaging in video games or were problematic gamers.

Parents must ask: 'Is there an unlocked gun in your house?'

(HealthDay)—Before your child goes to a friend's home to play, find out if there are guns in that home, a leading U.S. medical group advises.

Improved CPR training could save more lives, research finds

More people will survive cardiac arrest if resuscitation course designers and instructors address shortcomings in educational offerings, new research shows. A new statement released today by the American Heart Association, the world's leading voluntary health organization devoted to fighting cardiovascular disease, in its journal Circulation, indicates standardized online and in-person courses are falling short and not always implemented to optimize retention and mastery.

Mindful movement may help lower stress, anxiety

Taking a walk may be a good opportunity to mentally review your to-do list, but using the time to instead be more mindful of your breathing and surroundings may help boost your wellbeing, according to researchers.

Study quantifies changes in stress after meditation

For a thousand years, people have reported feeling better by meditating but there has never been a systematic study that quantified stress and how much stress changes as a direct result of meditation until now.

Higher body fat linked to lower breast cancer risk in younger women

While obesity has been shown to increase breast cancer risk in postmenopausal women, a large-scale study co-led by a University of North Carolina Lineberger Comprehensive Cancer Center researcher found the opposite is true for premenopausal women: higher body fat was linked to lower breast cancer risk.

Take your dog to work—and reap the health benefits

It's impossible for anyone to pet a dog, or even just share a story about one, without breaking into a smile.

New recommendations guide arthritis pain management

(HealthDay)—The European League Against Rheumatism has released recommendations—published in the June issue of the Annals of the Rheumatic Diseases—for health professionals to use in approaching pain management in inflammatory arthritis (IA) and osteoarthritis (OA).

Cross-species prion adaptation depends on prion replication environment

A hamster prion that replicated under conditions of low RNA levels in mouse brain material resulted in altered disease features when readapted and transmitted back to hamsters, according to new research presented in PLOS Pathogens by Elizaveta Katorcha of the University of Maryland School of Medicine, Baltimore, and colleagues.

California Aedes mosquitoes capable of spreading Zika

Over the last five years, Zika virus has emerged as a significant global human health threat following outbreaks in South and Central America. Now, researchers reporting in PLOS Neglected Tropical Diseases have shown that invasive mosquitoes in California—where cases of Zika in travelers have been a regular occurrence in recent years—are capable of transmitting Zika.

Crisis can force re-evaluation and derail efforts to reach goals

Setbacks are to be expected when pursuing a goal, whether you are trying to lose weight or save money. The challenge is getting back on track and not giving up after a difficulty or crisis, says a marketing professor in Iowa State University's Ivy College of Business.

Writing away the body image blues

Body dissatisfaction among women is widespread and can lead to a number of worrisome outcomes, including eating disorders, depression and anxiety. While researchers know a lot about what makes women's body image worse, they are still short on empirically supported interventions for improving women's body image.

'Antifreeze' molecules may stop and reverse damage from brain injuries

The key to better treatments for brain injuries and disease may lie in the molecules charged with preventing the clumping of specific proteins associated with cognitive decline and other neurological problems, researchers from the Perelman School of Medicine at the University of Pennsylvania report in a new study published in Neurobiology of Disease.

Medicaid Expansion increased low-income patient access to kidney transplants

After states expanded Medicaid to cover more low-income individuals under the Affordable Care Act (ACA), there was a significant boost in the number of chronic kidney disease patients with Medicaid coverage who were placed on the kidney transplant waiting list, according to a new study led by Drexel University researchers.

Reduction in protein in the urine is a treatment goal in children with kidney disease

In a study of children with chronic kidney disease (CKD), blood pressure medications reduced protein excretion in the urine, which was linked with a lower risk of disease progression. The findings, which appear in an upcoming issue of the Journal of the American Society of Nephrology (JASN), provide valuable information for monitoring and treating pediatric patients with CKD.

First major study comparing robotic to open surgery published in The Lancet

The first comprehensive study comparing the outcomes of robotic surgery to those of traditional open surgery in any organ has found that the surgeries are equally effective in treating bladder cancer. The seven-year study, conducted at 15 institutions, including Sylvester Comprehensive Cancer Center, and directed by Dipen J. Parekh, M.D., chair of urology and director of robotic surgery at the University of Miami Miller School of Medicine, is published in the June 23 issue of The Lancet.

Ketamine acts fast to treat depression and its effects last—but how?

In contrast to most antidepressant medications, which can take several weeks to reduce depressive symptoms, ketamine—a commonly used veterinary anesthetic—can lift a person out of a deep depression within minutes of its administration, and its effects can last several weeks. Researchers have long-wondered how ketamine can both act quickly and be so long-lasting.

Deep data dive helps predict cerebral palsy

When University of Delaware molecular biologist Adam Marsh was studying the DNA of worms living in Antarctica's frigid seas to understand how the organisms managed to survive—and thrive—in the extremely harsh polar environment, he never imagined his work might one day have a human connection.

Our intestinal microbiome influences metabolism—through the immune system

Research tells us that the commensal or "good" bacteria that inhabit our intestines help to regulate our metabolism. A new study in fruit flies, published June 21 in Cell Metabolism, shows one surprising way they do this.

Scientists solve the case of the missing subplate, with wide implications for brain science

The disappearance of an entire brain region should be cause for concern. Yet, for decades scientists have calmly maintained that one brain area, the subplate, simply vanishes during the course of human development. Recently, however, research has revealed genetic similarities between cells in the subplate and neurons implicated in autism—leading a team of Rockefeller scientists to wonder: what if subplate cells don't actually vanish at all?

New cellular pathway helps explain how inflammation leads to artery disease

Investigators have identified a new cellular pathway that may help explain how arterial inflammation develops into atherosclerosis—deposits of cholesterol, fats and other substances that create plaque, clog arteries and promote heart attacks and stroke. The findings could lead to improved therapies for atherosclerosis, a leading cause of death worldwide.

2.5 million U.S. high school students had a concussion in past year

(HealthDay)—The damaging effects of a concussion are well-known, and new research finds the injuries are common among U.S. high school students.

Device may detect heart dysfunction in childhood cancer survivors treated with chemo

A wireless device designed for detection of heart dysfunction in childhood cancer survivors treated with anthracycline chemotherapy was accurate and displayed a low false-negative rate as compared to cardiac magnetic resonance (CMR) imaging.

70 sickened so far in salmonella-tainted melon outbreak

(HealthDay)—A salmonella outbreak linked to melons and fruit salad mixes continues to expand, say officials at the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.

New classification of periodontal and peri-implant diseases and conditions

A new global classification system for periodontal health, diseases and conditions, as well as peri-implant diseases and conditions, has been announced today at the EuroPerio9 congress, the world's leading congress in periodontology and implant dentistry. The comprehensive classification was based upon the most contemporary evidence and includes astaging and grading system for periodontitis, indicating severity and extent of disease, accounting for lifetime disease experience and taking into account the patient's overall health status. The complete review and consensus reports are published today simultaneously in both the Journal of Clinical Periodontology (EFP) and the Journal of Periodontology (AAP).

Your brain anatomy may play a role in determining your food choices

Our indulgence in delicious but unhealthful food may not necessarily reveal a character flaw. Rather, our ability to exercise self-control is linked to our neurobiology, according to a study that has been published in The Journal of Neuroscience in June 2018.

IASLC issues statement paper on liquid biopsy for lung cancer

The lungs can be a difficult organ to biopsy with a needle, so the promise of identifying lung cancer through a blood-based biopsy has lung cancer experts and patients optimistic. Knowing how and when to use a liquid biopsy is critically important and led global experts at the International Association for the Study of Lung Cancer (IASLC) to issue "The IASLC Statement Paper: Liquid Biopsy for Advanced Non-Small Cell Lung Cancer (NSCLC)," now available online in the Journal of Thoracic Oncology.

Bisexual men have higher risk for heart disease

Bisexual men have a higher risk for heart disease compared with heterosexual men across several modifiable risk factors, finds a new study published online in the journal LGBT Health.

Tips to keep from overeating at party time

(HealthDay)—Dieting can be hard on your social life.

New guide for using mechanical stimulation to improve tissue-engineered cartilage

Tissue-engineered articular cartilage (AC) for repairing cartilage damaged by trauma or disease can be made to more closely mimic natural AC if mechanical stimulation of particular magnitude and duration is applied during the development process. A detailed review of the different stimulation techniques used and how to determine optimal loading parameters for improving the mechanical, structural, and cellular properties of AC is published in Tissue Engineering, Part B (Reviews).

Ebola outbreak – this time it's different

Lessons learned from past Ebola epidemics are helping to combat a fresh outbreak in the Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC). Investing in new vaccines, diagnostic tests and laboratories is paying off as expert networks spring into action.

Allen Institute for Brain Science database release nearly doubles mouse brain cell data

The Allen Institute for Brain Science today announced the release of new data, tools to analyze those data and a new web-based 3-D viewer to explore anatomy and connections in the mouse brain, the Allen Brain Explorer. Today's data release almost doubles the number of mouse cells in the Allen Cell Types Database—raising the number included from just over 1,000 to slightly more than 1,900 cells—as well as adding new neuronal connectivity information to the Allen Mouse Brain Connectivity Atlas and adding more single-cell transcriptomics data from mouse, human and macaque brain cells.

Arkansas court clears way for medical pot program's launch

The Arkansas Supreme Court on Thursday cleared the way for the state to launch its medical marijuana program, reversing and dismissing a judge's ruling that prevented officials from issuing the first licenses for businesses to grow the drug.

Biology news

DNA barcodes that reliably work: A game-changer for biomedical research

In the same way that barcodes on your groceries help stores know what's in your cart, DNA barcodes help biologists attach genetic labels to biological molecules to do their own tracking during research, including of how a cancerous tumor evolves, how organs develop or which drug candidates actually work. Unfortunately with current methods, many DNA barcodes have a reliability problem much worse than your corner grocer's. They contain errors about 10 percent of the time, making interpreting data tricky and limiting the kinds of experiments that can be reliably done.

When cozying up with would-be predators, cleaner shrimp follow a dependable script

It's a mystery how cleaner shrimp partner with would-be fish predators—sometimes even climbing in their mouths—without getting eaten. A new study reveals how the shrimp convinces fish not to eat them, and the fish conveys that it's a friend and not a foe.

Encrypted messages in biological processes

RNA modifications can encrypt the RNA code and are responsible for a very sophisticated control of RNA function. A Danish-German research team has shown that modified RNA bases have a great impact on the dynamics of gene expression from DNA to functional RNA. The study yields important new insight into how the basis of RNA modifications can affect the function of mature RNA molecules.The genetic material, DNA, is located in the cell nucleus where gene expression is controlled. DNA is copied into the less stable RNA for translation into protein in the cytoplasm (mRNA or protein-coding RNA) or for mediating independent functions as non-coding RNA. RNA is processed through several maturation steps to ensure its proper expression and localization. One of these maturation steps is called splicing. The non-functional introns are excised from the newly made RNA in the splicing process to build a mature and functional RNA consisting of exons only.

Scientists discover new gene expression mechanism with possible role in human disease

When cells grow and divide to ensure a biological function—such as a properly working organ—DNA must be unwound from its typical tightly packed form and copied into RNA to create proteins. When this process goes awry—if too little or too much RNA is produced—then the result could be diseases such as cancers. UNC School of Medicine researchers have discovered that a protein called Spt6, previously known to have a key role in making RNA and repackaging DNA after RNA copying, also facilitates RNA degradation so that cells have just the right amount of RNA for the creation of proteins.

How do horses read human emotional cues?

Scientists have demonstrated for the first time that horses integrate human facial expressions and voice tones to perceive human emotion, regardless of whether the person is familiar or not.

Two plant cell 'hotspots' tell the cell where to import its resources

Scientists in the Brandizzi lab are increasing our understanding of expand iconendocytosis, how plant cells import molecules from their surroundings.

How fledglings and their parents negotiate the best time for young birds to leave the nest

A team of researchers at the University of Montana has found that fledglings and their parents must negotiate to find the right time for the young birds to leave their nest. In their paper published on the open access site Science Advances, the group describes their study of many types of birds and how they figured out when fledglings should leave the nest.

Crowding inside cells may influence many functions and major diseases

Among the most studied protein machines in history, mTORC1 has long been known to sense whether a cell has enough energy to build the proteins it needs to multiply as part of growth. Because faulty versions of mTORC1 contribute to the abnormal growth seen in cancer, drugs targeting the complex have been the subject of 1,300 clinical trials since 1970.

Fish's use of electricity might shed light on human illnesses

Deep in the night in muddy African rivers, a fish uses electrical charges to sense the world around it and communicate with other members of its species. Signaling in electrical spurts that last only a few tenths of a thousandth of a second allows the fish to navigate without letting predators know it is there. Now scientists have found that the evolutionary trick these fish use to make such brief discharges could provide new insights, with a bearing on treatments for diseases such as epilepsy.

Not junk: 'Jumping gene' is critical for early embryo

A so-called "jumping gene" that researchers long considered either genetic junk or a pernicious parasite is actually a critical regulator of the first stages of embryonic development, according to a new study in mice led by UC San Francisco scientists and published June 21, 2018 in Cell.

Bogong moths first insect known to use magnetic sense in long-distance nocturnal migration

Each spring, millions of nocturnal Bogong moths hatch across breeding grounds throughout southeastern Australia before flying over 1,000 kilometers through the dark night to reach a limited number of high alpine caves in the Australian Alps. After a few months of summer dormancy in those cool mountain caves, the moths fly right back to the breeding grounds where they were born. Now, researchers reporting in Current Biology on June 21 have found that the moths, like migratory birds, depend on the Earth's magnetic field to guide them on their way.

Research identifies how snowshoe hares evolved to stay seasonally camouflaged

Many animals have evolved fur or feather colors to blend in with the environment and hide from predators. But how do animals stay camouflaged when their environment changes with each new season? Researchers at the University of Montana recently discovered that hybridization played an important role in snowshoe hares' ability to match their environment.

Mice not only experience regret, but also learn to avoid it in the future

Experiencing regret can leave a "bad taste" in one's mouth and drive an individual to compensate for one's losses. This immediate post-regret phenomenon was once thought to be unique to humans, but it has been recently demonstrated in other species. However, it was previously unknown if other species are capable of learning from these mistakes over time. New research from the University of Minnesota publishing 21 June in the open access journal PLOS Biology from authors Brian M. Sweis, Mark J. Thomas, and A. David Redish has now discovered that mice are capable of learning to plan ahead in order to avoid regret down the road even if there is no additional gain in rewards.

Zebrafish's near 360 degree UV-vision knocks stripes off Google Street View

Tiny freshwater fish have a view of the world that blows Google Street View out of the water—using different parts of their eyes to deliver optimum uses of colour, black-and-white and ultraviolet.

Monsanto faces first US trial over Roundup cancer link

In the first trial of its kind, a Californian dying of cancer is suing US agrochemical giant Monsanto, claiming its popular herbicide Roundup caused his disease—a case that could have sweeping ramifications.

Floating islands project expands on water quality research to study pollinator plants

Islands have returned to Lake LaVerne.

Bear necessities: cooler home for S. Korea's last polar bear

The last polar bear kept in South Korea will be sent to Britain to escape the country's stifling, humid summers and live out his days in more appropriate surroundings, zookeepers said Thursday.

Study promotes benefits of 'tickling' rats

Parents often use tickling as a playful way to lighten a child's mood. In Brianna Gaskill's Purdue University lab, scientists do the same thing, only with rats.

Proteins with different evolutionary histories now do the same job

Mitochondria are essential organelles of cells with a nucleus – known as eukaryotic cells. These are the cells which make up fungi, plants, and animals including humans. Mitochondria work like tiny power plants, processing the energy produced by the digestion of nutrients into a form the cell can use. Yet they have a number of other functions – which are the focus of research by the working group headed by Professor Doron Rapaport at the University of Tübingen's Interfaculty Institute of Biochemistry.

Genetics research verifies purity of the Mexican wolf

In October 2015, two small minnows in the Lower Colorado River Basin—the headwater chub and the roundtail chub—were proposed for listing as threatened species under the Endangered Species Act of 1973. In April 2017, that proposal was withdrawn after new science identified the two small fish as members of the same species.

The taste for turtle and the disappearing delicacy

It was the 1850s and people were hungry. They were moving by the thousands to northern California to strike it rich during the Gold Rush, but their appetite wasn't just for precious metal, it was for basic food—there wasn't enough of it to satiate bellies in the booming cities and towns.

Garden seed influences young turtle doves' survival chances

Young turtle doves raised on a diet of seeds from non-cultivated arable plants are more likely to survive after fledging than those relying on food provided in people's gardens, new research into Britain's fastest declining bird species has shown.

Six new species of goblin spiders named after famous goblins and brownies

Fictional characters originally 'described' by famous English children's writer Enid Blyton have given their names to six new species of minute goblin spiders discovered in the diminishing forests of Sri Lanka.

Researchers create matchmaking service for peptides and antibiotics

UBC researchers have matched small proteins, called peptides, with antibiotics so they can work together to combat hard-to-treat infections that don't respond well to drugs on their own.

Koko the gorilla, who learned sign language, dies at 46

Koko the gorilla, whose remarkable sign-language ability and motherly attachment to pet cats helped change the world's views about the intelligence of animals and their capacity for empathy, has died at 46.

How competition and cooperation between bacteria shape antibiotic resistance

New computational simulations suggest that the effects of antibiotics on a bacterial community depend on whether neighboring species have competitive or cooperative relationships, as well as their spatial arrangement. Sylvie Estrela of Yale University and Sam Brown of the Georgia Institute of Technology present these findings in PLOS Computational Biology.

Dead plankton, stunned fish: the harms of man-made ocean noise

Human-caused ocean noise and its dangers to marine life are the focus of meetings at the United Nations this week, a victory for advocacy groups that have long warned of this problem.

Escaped lion shot dead at Belgium zoo, sparking criticism

Belgian police have been criticised for shooting dead a young lioness at a zoo on Thursday after it escaped from its enclosure.


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