Tuesday, June 12, 2018

Science X Newsletter Tuesday, Jun 12

Dear Reader ,

Here is your customized Science X Newsletter for June 12, 2018:

Spotlight Stories Headlines

AI senses people's pose through walls

Researchers study molecular gas in the galaxy Markarian 273

Researchers find IQ scores dropping since the 1970s

Researchers map brain of blind patient who can see motion

Finally, hope for a syphilis vaccine

Basketball teams playing for survival in critical NBA playoffs are more likely to lose

New 28-GHz transceiver paves the way for future 5G devices

How to slow down Ebola—Virologists use 'genetic trees' to evaluate intervention strategies

Researchers investigate the correlation between wind and wave height in the Arctic Ocean

Solar cells combining silicon with perovskite have achieved record efficiency of 25.2 percent

Multiple lasers could be replaced by a single microcomb

Pandoravirus: Giant viruses invent their own genes

Paying communities for forest management activities supports social relationships

New method for cell identification leads to discovery of melanoma subtypes

Now, you can 3-D print clay, cookie dough – or solid rocket fuel

Astronomy & Space news

Researchers study molecular gas in the galaxy Markarian 273

An international group of scientists has recently conducted a study of molecular gas in the northern nucleus of an ultra-luminous infrared galaxy known as Markarian 273. The research, which reveals physical and chemical properties of the galaxy's disc and its outflow, was presented in a paper published May 30 on arXiv.org.

Speculative wormhole echoes could revolutionize astrophysics

The scientific collaborations LIGO and Virgo have detected gravitational waves from the fusion of two black holes, inaugurating a new era in the study of the cosmos. But what if those ripples of space-time were not produced by black holes, but by other exotic objects? A team of European physicists suggest an alternative—wormholes that can be traversed to appear in another universe.

No launch from Australia—something missing from our plans for the new space race

For the past 20 years, Australia has attempted to stake its claim in the lucrative commercial space industry.

The big global space agencies rely on Australia – let's turn that to our advantage

In the conversation around Australia's space agency, the brand leaders – the US National Aeronautics and Space Administration (NASA) and the European Space Agency (ESA) – have had relatively little airplay.

The true power of the solar wind

The planets and moons of our solar system are continuously being bombarded by particles hurled away from the sun. On Earth this has hardly any effect, apart from the fascinating northern lights, because the dense atmosphere and the magnetic field of the Earth protect us from these solar wind particles. But on the Moon or on Mercury things are different: There, the uppermost layer of rock is gradually eroded by the impact of sun particles.

Recently launched twin satellites create 'the Himalaya Plot'

Less than three weeks after launch, the Gravity Recovery and Climate Experiment Follow-On (GRACE-FO) mission has successfully completed its first mission phase and demonstrated the performance of the precise microwave ranging system that enables its unique measurements of how mass migrates around our planet.

Technology news

AI senses people's pose through walls

X-ray vision has long seemed like a far-fetched sci-fi fantasy, but over the last decade a team led by Professor Dina Katabi from MIT's Computer Science and Artificial Intelligence Laboratory (CSAIL) has continually gotten us closer to seeing through walls.

New 28-GHz transceiver paves the way for future 5G devices

Scientists at Tokyo Institute of Technology have designed and fabricated a tiny, but incredibly fast, reliable, and accurate 28-GHz transceiver meant for stable high-speed 5G communications. The fabricated transceiver trumps previous designs in various regards by taking a new approach for beam steering.

Solar cells combining silicon with perovskite have achieved record efficiency of 25.2 percent

In the field of photovoltaic technologies, silicon-based solar cells make up 90 percent of the market. In terms of cost, stability and efficiency (20-22 percent for a typical solar cell on the market), they are well ahead of the competition.

Now, you can 3-D print clay, cookie dough – or solid rocket fuel

It's now possible to 3-D print extremely viscous materials, with the consistency of clay or cookie dough with fine precision, thanks to work done at Purdue University. This development may soon allow the creation of customized ceramics, solid rockets, pharmaceuticals, biomedical implants, foodstuffs, and more.

Cobalt-free batteries: The long goodbye

Lithium-ion batteries make use of cobalt for stability. The use of cobalt, nonetheless, has its drawbacks. The drawbacks have to do with cost, and with availability, and the two as usual are intertwined.

Seattle poised to repeal new tax opposed by Amazon

Seattle leaders said Monday that they plan to repeal a tax on large companies like Amazon and Starbucks as they face mounting pressure from businesses, an about-face just a month after unanimously approving the measure to help pay for efforts to combat a growing homelessness crisis.

Chinese electric carmaker Byton raises $500 mn to take on Tesla

China-based electric car startup Byton has raised $500 million as it ramps up efforts to take on rivals like Tesla.

Ubisoft sees blockbusters shaped by fans and stars

French video game giant Ubisoft is teaming up with a firm founded by actor Joseph Gordon-Levitt to crowd source material for a forthcoming title, the companies announced Monday on the eve of the Electronic Entertainment Expo (E3).

Deadly battles continue to power hit video games

Bandits, soldiers, demons, zombies, aliens and other enemies will be shot, stabbed, bludgeoned, incinerated, or even blow up on the show floor of the Electronic Entertainment Expo opening here Tuesday.

New wind turbines show high efficiency in low winds

VTT Research Centre of Technology (VTT) has explored the potential and economic benefits of new wind power technology. The technology would greatly increase the benefits of wind energy and enable the competitive utilisation of wind power in Finland. Heavy investments are being made in wind power, which highlights the importance of this new and competitive technology. Wind power accounts for around 4 percent of global electricity consumption, and for over 10 percent in Europe.

Turbocharge for lithium batteries

A team of material researchers from Juelich, Munich, and Prague has succeeded in producing a composite material that is particularly suited for electrodes in lithium batteries. The nanocomposite material might help to significantly increase the storage capacity and lifetime of batteries as well as their charging speed. The researchers have published their findings in the journal Advanced Functional Materials.

China auto sales rise 7.9 percent in May as electrics surge

China's auto sales rose 7.9 percent in May from a year earlier as purchases of electric and gasoline-electric hybrid vehicles more than doubled to 102,000, an industry group reported Tuesday.

Simulation for grid transmission, distribution

Renewable energy is on the rise, especially in California, where utility companies are mandated to get at least half of their power from renewable resources, such as solar and wind, by 2030. It may be a positive development for the environment, but questions linger about how electricity generated by residential solar panels and home battery storage can affect the stability of the electrical grid.

Fate of massive AT&T-Time Warner merger in US judge's hands

The fate of the AT&T-Time Warner merger, a massive media deal opposed by the government that could shape how much consumers pay for streaming TV and movies, rests in the hands of a federal judge.

Digital addiction—how technology keeps us hooked

The World Health Organisation is to include "gaming disorder", the inability to stop gaming, into the International Classification of Diseases. By doing so, the WHO is recognising the serious and growing problem of digital addiction. The problem has also been acknowledged by Google, which recently announced that it will begin focusing on "Digital Well-being".

Novel system mimics focus activity of the human eye

With aging comes deteriorating vision. At SIGGRAPH 2018, attendees will have the chance to test a new computational system that effectively mimics the natural way the human eye corrects focus, specifically while viewing objects that are closer rather than farther away.

Direct costs of Daimler diesel recall in Europe limited

Automaker Daimler's recall and software fixes for 774,000 Mercedes-Benz cars and vans in Europe will likely cost close to or more than 100 million euros ($118 million.)

Tesla cuts 9 pct. of workforce in bid to post a profit

Electric car maker Tesla Inc. is laying off about 3,600 workers mainly from its salaried ranks as it slashes costs in an effort to deliver on CEO Elon Musk's promise to turn a profit in the second half of the year.

'Norman,' when artificial intelligence goes psycho

No, it's not a new horror film. It's Norman: also known as the first psychopathic artificial intelligence, just unveiled by US researchers.

Vietnam passes cybersecurity law despite privacy concerns

Vietnamese legislators on Tuesday passed a contentious cybersecurity law, which critics say will hurt the economy and further restrict freedom of expression.

Louboutin wins EU court battle over red-soled shoes

French luxury shoe designer Christian Louboutin won the support of Europe's highest court Tuesday over trademarking his signature red-soled high-heeled shoes.

A new micro-robot delivers drugs in capsules

An international team of researchers, led by Professor Hongsoo Choi, Director of DGIST-ETH Microrobot Research Center, has developed capsule-type microrobots that can encapsulate cells and drugs and deliver them to targeted parts of the human body. Unlike conventional methods that install cells or drugs outside of micro robots, the lids of these microrobots can be open and closed.

Finding faults in the electrical grid

A West Aussie researcher has developed software that could help us avoid another Black Saturday catastrophe

GM: Trump tariffs driving up costs

US President Donald Trump's harsh tariffs on steel and aluminum are increasing costs for US auto giant General Motors but the company is examining the fallout, GM's chief executive said Tuesday.

ZTE shares set to resume trading after US reprieve

Shares in Chinese smartphone maker ZTE are set to resume trading in Hong Kong Wednesday, after the company reached a settlement with American authorities for violating US sanctions.

Medicine & Health news

Researchers find IQ scores dropping since the 1970s

A pair of researchers with the Ragnar Frisch Centre for Economic Research in Norway has found that IQ test scores have been slowly dropping over the past several decades. In their paper published in Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences, Bernt Bratsberg and Ole Rogeberg describe their study and the results they found. They also offer some possible explanations for their findings.

Researchers map brain of blind patient who can see motion

Neuroscientists at Western University's Brain and Mind Institute, have confirmed and detailed a rare case of a blind woman able to see objects—but only if in motion.

Finally, hope for a syphilis vaccine

Despite efforts to eradicate it, syphilis is on the rise. Until now, most health agencies focused on treating infected people and their sex partners but new discoveries may make a vaccine possible, UConn Health researchers report in the 12 June issue of mBio.

Basketball teams playing for survival in critical NBA playoffs are more likely to lose

If a sports team plays a critical game in which losing means elimination from a league, do they work harder to win—or does the high pressure mean they are more likely to make mistakes and lose? A new study in Frontiers in Psychology suggests the latter, finding that basketball teams playing for survival in critical NBA playoff games are more likely to lose. This suggests that the threat of elimination caused the teams to 'choke.' The study is the first to illustrate this effect in a real-world team sports environment—and may be applicable to a variety of high-pressure performance situations, such as those found in the workplace.

How to slow down Ebola—Virologists use 'genetic trees' to evaluate intervention strategies

The phylogenetic tree of the 2013-2016 Ebola epidemic doesn't just reveal how the Ebola virus was able to evolve—it also reveals which events and preventive measures accelerated or slowed down its spread. These findings by researchers from the Rega Institute at KU Leuvenwere have been published in Nature Communications, and open up new perspectives for the containment of epidemics.

New method for cell identification leads to discovery of melanoma subtypes

Cells have traditionally been categorized into different types, such as T-cells and B-cells, based on observable features. But new research published in Nature Communications shows cells are far more complex.

Neural circuit mechanisms of emotion identified

According to a report by the World Health Organization, close to 1 in 10 people in the world are affected by anxiety and/or depression. Alarmingly, the amount has nearly doubled, from 416 million to 615 million, between 1990 and 2013. Since adequate treatments are still lacking for many patients, the scientists at the Max Planck Institute of Psychiatry hope their research will inform the development of new, more effective treatments.

A single control center for sleep and wake in the brain

Until now, it was thought that multiple brain areas were needed to control sleep and wakefulness. Neuroscientists from Bern have now identified one single control center for the sleep-wake cycle in the brain. The findings are of great importance for finding new sleep therapies.

Mother's attitude towards baby during pregnancy may have implications for child's development

Mothers who 'connect' with their baby during pregnancy are more likely to interact in a more positive way with their infant after it is born, according to a study carried out at the University of Cambridge. Interaction is important for helping infants learn and develop.

Genes linked to Alzheimer's contribute to damage in different ways

Multiple genes are implicated in Alzheimer's disease. Some are linked to early-onset Alzheimer's, a condition that develops in one's 30s, 40s and 50s, while others are associated with the more common late-onset form of the disease.

Massive study sheds light on the genetic roots of atrial fibrillation

Patients with atrial fibrillation (AF), a condition causing a rapid, irregular heart rate that can increase the risk of stroke, could use some new treatment options. Despite how common the condition is, the current treatment options don't always work.

Scientists unravel molecular mechanisms of Parkinson's disease

Detailed brain cell analysis has helped researchers uncover new mechanisms thought to underlie Parkinson's disease.

Scientists eradicate cancer cells through dual targeting of DNA repair mechanisms

Proteins commonly known as BRCA—short for BReast CAncer susceptibility gene- serve a critical role in cellular DNA repair, but when mutated they allow genetic errors to replicate, facilitating cancer development. If the BRCA repair system is disabled in cancer cells, the cells simply turn to backup repair mechanisms and adapt to alternative repair pathways, a survival mode that also underlies their ability to evade targeted drug therapies.

Study identifies protein's role in mediating brain's response to stress

A study led by Massachusetts General Hospital (MGH) investigators has identified a critical role for a protein called Kruppel-like factor 9 (Klf9) in the brain's response to stress, which has implications for protecting against the effects of stress in conditions like major depression and post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD). In their paper published in Cell Reports, the team describes finding that blocking the effects of Klf9 before but not during or after the induction of stress protected mice from the detrimental effects of stress on brain-cell structures called dendritic spines and on the animals' subsequent behavior.

Psychedelic drugs promote neural plasticity in rats and flies

Psychedelic drugs may have mind-altering powers in the physical sense, too. A new study, published June 12 in the journal Cell Reports, found psychedelics, specifically DOI, DMT, and LSD, can change brain cells in rats and flies, making neurons more likely to branch out and connect with one another. The work supports the theory that psychedelics could help to fight depression, anxiety, addiction, and post-traumatic stress disorder.

Getting to the heart of congenital cardiac defects

Heart defects are the most common type of birth defect, and can be caused by mutations in the gene CHD4. Researchers at the UNC School of Medicine have now revealed key molecular details of how CHD4 mutations lead to heart defects.

Troves from a search for new biomarkers: blood-borne RNA

It's the critical first step in treating everything from strokes to cancer: a timely and accurate diagnosis. Today, doctors often rely on biomarkers, such as cardiac troponin, the protein that appears in the blood after a heart attack, to help them figure out what's going on with patients.

Discovery shines light on the mystery of cell death in multiple sclerosis

Researchers at the University of Alberta have discovered a unique process of brain cell death that affects the cells that are most vulnerable in multiple sclerosis (MS).

Sex matters: Addressing the Alzheimer's disease research gap

To prevent and treat Alzheimer's disease, scientists need to better understand how the disease differs between women and men, according to a paper published June 12 in Alzheimer's & Dementia: The Journal of the Alzheimer's Association.

Majority of teens to young adults with type 1 diabetes feel socially stigmatized

Michael Wright was your average high school student, juggling the responsibilities of school and friends while taking the first steps towards finding his first real job. Being diagnosed, suddenly, with type 1 diabetes was a shock. Suddenly, Michael found himself struggling with the sudden requirements that accompany treatment, from the intense monitoring of dietary habits to administering insulin—either through injections or via a cell phone-sized pump attached to the body. And, in addition to the daily struggle of staying on top of his new diagnosis, he felt stigmatized.

Immune response associated with inflammation and joint damage in rheumatoid arthritis

To diagnose rheumatoid arthritis, antibodies to the amino acid citrulline are commonly measured. A new study from Uppsala University shows that a broad mix of different antibodies in the joints is the dominant factor that can be associated with severe inflammation and joint damage. These findings, published in Annals of the Rheumatic Diseases, may eventually lead to improved diagnostics.

Physiological benefits may be experienced by veterans with PTSD who use service dogs

A new study shows how veterans with PTSD may benefit physiologically from using service dogs.

Cancer: More targeted use of immunotherapy

Doctors are increasingly fighting cancer by stimulating patients' immune systems. SNSF-supported researchers have now discovered a method for predicting the likelihood of treatment success.

Post-stroke delivery of neurotrophic factor MANF promotes functional recovery in rats

Stroke is the most common cause of adult disability. This is due not only to the high incidence of stroke, but also because spontaneous recovery is often incomplete and no drugs are available that hasten recovery. Mesencephalic astrocyte-derived neurotrophic factor MANF is neuroprotective when administered before experimental stroke in rats.

Artificial gene defect reveals target to fight genetic disease

Fanconi anemia (FA) is caused by defective genes for DNA-repair leading to bone marrow failure, developmental abnormalities and increased cancer risk. Using genome-wide genetic approaches, researchers at CeMM systematically screened for the loss of an additional gene that could rescue the disease—and found it. The corresponding protein turned out to be a potential target that could be therapeutically exploited for FA. The study was published in Nature Communications.

Mu­sic play­school en­hances chil­dren's lin­guistic skills

According to the research conducted at the University of Helsinki, weekly music playschool significantly improved the development of children's vocabulary skills. Several studies have suggested that intensive musical training enhances children's linguistic skills. Such training, however, is not available to all children.

Expert debunks summer health myths

Summer is here and that means many families will be spending time outdoors at the beach or by the pool. To help families prepare, Baylor College of Medicine expert Isabel Valdez, a physician assistant and instructor of family and community medicine, debunks four common summer health myths.

Nurses outperform doctors in colorectal cancer surveillance model

Putting nurses in charge of colorectal cancer surveillance instead of doctors has shown to reduce the number of unnecessary colonoscopies and the number of cases progressing to cancer.

Men with serious heart condition are more likely to die compared to women

Men diagnosed with the heart condition dilated cardiomyopathy (DCM) are 64 percent more likely to die than women with the same disease (of those enrolled, 12.4 percent of women and 19.1 percent of men died during this study), according to new research funded by the British Heart Foundation.

When possessions are poor substitutes for people—hoarding disorder and loneliness

A decomposed, mummified body of a man was recently found by forensic cleaners in a Sydney apartment. The apartment's owner is thought to have suffered from hoarding disorder, and police believe the decomposed body had been there for more than ten years.

Confronting TB resistance

Tuberculosis, caused by Mycobacterium tuberculosis, is a highly infectious lung disease in humans.Unfortunately, resistance to anti-tubercular medicines such as fourth-generation fluoroquinolones is on the rise. In most cases, fluoroquinolone resistance is caused by mutations in a bacterial enzyme called gyrase.

People who deeply grasp the pain or happiness of others also process music differently in the brain

People with higher empathy differ from others in the way their brains process music, according to a study by researchers at Southern Methodist University, Dallas and UCLA.

Physical fitness and healthy aorta key to brain ageing

The rate of decline in certain aspects of memory may be explained by a combination of overall physical fitness and the stiffness of the central arteries, researchers from Swinburne's Centre for Human Psychopharmacology have found.

Vitamin C trialled as life-saving treatment intensive care patients with sepsis

University of Otago, Christchurch researchers are teaming up with intensive care specialists to study whether intravenous infusions of vitamin C could be a life-saving treatment for patients with sepsis.

Virus could help treat advanced cancers

Early results from a small-scale clinical trial have revealed the potential of a virus to treat some advanced cancers.

UK, US drugmakers scrap 'futile' Alzheimer's treatment trial

British and American pharmaceutical giants AstraZeneca and Eli Lilly on Tuesday said they were ending a large clinical trial of a treatment for Alzheimer's that they had been developing jointly.

Exercise opposite side to keep casted limb strong

When you injure an arm, exercising the same healthy limb on the other side of the body may be key to maintaining strength and muscle size in the injured limb, a University of Saskatchewan study shows.

Moral development: children become more caring and inclusive as they age

Schools track and nurture the academic development of children, measuring literacy and numeracy against a bell curve. But what about children's moral development? A new study has found this also develops over time, and there's a lot parents can do to help it along.

Why we all need to be proactive about our bowels

Inflammatory bowel disease (IBD) is a mounting burden on health-care systems globally.

From plagues to obesity: how epidemics have evolved

The word "epidemic" immediately brings to mind a highly infectious and deadly disease of the kind found in Hollywood films. In Contagion, for instance, a lethal infection with frightening symptoms spreads like wildfire, threatening humanity as we know it.

Activated charcoal doesn't detox the body – four reasons you should avoid it

On her Goop website, Gwyneth Paltrow claimed that charcoal lemonade was one of the "best juice cleansers". That was in 2014. Today, charcoal products – from croissants to capsules – are everywhere. Even high street coffee chains have taken to selling charcoal "shots".

From designer microbes to stem cells, researchers are investigating new strategies to treat bowel disease

The University of Toronto's David McMillen and his research team are creating a new life form to ward off disease – a bespoke, gut-dwelling microbe engineered to release drugs when needed.

Alzheimer's disease: How amyloid aggregates alter neuronal function

While the harmful effects of amyloid peptide aggregates observed in Alzheimer's disease are well established, the mechanism through which they act on brain cells remains ill-defined. Researchers from CNRS and universite de Bordeaux have just revealed that they alter the usual functioning of connections between neurons by interacting with a key enzyme of synaptic plasticity. The results will be published on June 12, 2018 in the journal Cell Reports.

Research suggests poet Robert Burns may have had bipolar disorder

Researchers at the University of Glasgow suggest Robert Burns may have had bipolar disorder, according to a paper published in The Journal of the Royal College of Physicians of Edinburgh.

Medicine fails to control blood pressure during exercise

People with high but under control blood pressure saw a jump in their levels during exercise, an increase that mirrored the spikes seen under similar conditions among people with untreated hypertension, according to a new U.K. study. The findings open up the possibility of tailoring blood pressure treatment to a patient's activity level.

Autistic people at greater risk of becoming homeless – new research

Tony had lived on the streets for 45 years, and in recent years had become increasingly physically unwell. Despite this he refused all offers of help, and it became clear to his support workers that he found social engagement of any kind very distressing. It was only when it was recognised that he had autism that staff were able to adapt their approach to support him to move off the streets into a hostel.

Living with neighborhood violence may shape teens' brains

Flinching as a gunshot whizzes past your window. Covering your ears when a police car races down your street, sirens blaring. Walking past a drug deal on your block or a beating at your school.

Gender violence and child maltreatment have a common geographical distribution, research shows

For the first time, the relationship between partner violence against women and child maltreatment in very small geographical areas has been analysed in the 552 census sectors of Valencia, areas of around 630 to 2,845 inhabitants. Thus, these advanced spatial statistical techniques have been combined with disease maps to illustrate the distribution of the risk of these two social problems in city neighbourhoods, and the degree to which they overlap.

How many types of smile are there?

In the mid 19th century, French neurologist Guillaume Duchenne wanted to distinguish real smiles from fake. Interested in the response of nerves and muscles to stimulation, he applied electricity to particular parts of faces to see the results.

Stress is bad for your body, but how? Studying piglets may shed light

Stress affects most of us to one degree or another, and that even includes animals. My lab studies early-life stress in pigs and how it impacts their health later in life, specifically in the gastrointestinal (GI) tract. Pigs, whose GI tracts are extremely similar to those of humans, may be one of the clearest windows we have into researching stress, disease, and new therapies and preventatives – both in livestock and people.

ASCO endorses integrative oncology guidelines for breast cancer patients

The first time Elizabeth Johnson told her oncologist she wanted to start folding integrative therapies into her breast cancer treatment regimen as a way to alleviate side effects, he told her "Sure, you can try, but it's not going to help."

Genetic discovery will help clinicians identify aggressive versus benign bone tumors

The first genetic marker for the bone tumour, osteoblastoma, has been discovered by scientists at the Wellcome Sanger Institute and their collaborators. Whole-genome and transcriptome sequencing of human bone tumours revealed that a genetic change that affects the transcription factor, FOS, is a hallmark mutation of osteoblastoma.

How can patients be protected from post-surgery opioid addiction?

Greater coordination is needed between surgeons and physicians about the prescription of pain-relieving opioid drugs following surgery to help identify patients who are at risk of becoming opioid addicts. This is according to Michael Klueh of the University of Michigan in the US who led a retrospective review of medical specialty areas to find out which are most likely to prescribe opioids for the first time to postoperative patients. The research is published in the Journal of General Internal Medicine which is the official journal of the Society of General Internal Medicine and is published by Springer Nature.

Children with kidney disease show blood flow changes in brain

Blood flow changes in the brains of children, adolescents and young adults with chronic kidney disease may explain why many face a higher risk of cognitive impairment, according to a study published online in the journal Radiology.

Smoking and diabetes linked to brain calcifications

People who smoke or have diabetes may be at increased risk of calcifications in a region of the brain crucial to memory, according to a new study published online in the journal Radiology.

Fruit and vegetable prescriptions encourage children to eat healthy

A new study shows that a fruit and vegetable prescription program can improve access to healthy foods for underserved children. The program, which was implemented in Flint, Michigan, could be replicated in other areas to address food insecurity in children.

How can gardening improve your mood

From keen weekend horticulturalists to those who take things more seriously, millions of people in the UK enjoy getting out into the garden—with gardening ranked among the most popular hobbies in the country. Gardeners often credit cultivating their outdoor space as one of the things that keeps them sane, but have you ever wondered why those who garden seem happier and healthier than those who don't?

Newly-approved therapy provides improved quality of life for midgut neuroendocrine tumor patients

Midgut neuroendocrine tumors are a rare type of cancer that develops in the small intestine and colon. Roughly 12,000 people are diagnosed with this disease each year. In January, the United Stated Food and Drug Administration approved Lutathera, a first-of-its-kind peptide receptor radionuclide therapy. The injection consists of a somatostatin analog combined with a radioactive isotope that directly targets neuroendocrine tumor cells.

Potential new treatment for drug addiction relapse revealed

Research published in Addiction Biology by scientists at the University of Bath reveals a new potential mechanism for combatting drug addiction relapse.

Recipe for perfect balance of breaks and repairs in our genome could help fight cancer

Scientists at the University of Sheffield have discovered what keeps the perfect balance of breaks and repairs in our DNA—something which could help improve the success of chemotherapy and combat neurodegeneration associated with ageing.

One-third of US adults may unknowingly use medications that can cause depression

A new study from University of Illinois at Chicago researchers suggests that more than one-third of U.S. adults may be using prescription medications that have the potential to cause depression or increase the risk of suicide, and that because these medications are common and often have nothing to do with depression, patients and health care providers may be unaware of the risk.

High-tech treatment of open leg wounds no better than using regular dressings: study

A new study of open leg fractures suggests there is no difference to patient recovery whether high-tech negative pressure wound therapy devices are used, compared to standard dressings.

A call to neuroscientists to help reveal root causes of chemobrain

A substantial fraction of non-central nervous system cancer survivors, especially those who have received chemotherapy, experience long-lasting cognitive difficulties, including problems with concentration, word-finding, short-term memory, and multitasking. Though well documented, cancer-related cognitive impairment (CRCI), known colloquially as chemobrain or chemofog, remains a mystery regarding its underlying neurological causes. In a Forum paper published June 12 in the journal Trends in Neurosciences, researchers at the National Cancer Institute propose a new approach to studying CRCI and call for changes in the way it's diagnosed.

Childhood vaccination exemptions rise in parts of the US

Non-medical exemptions from childhood vaccinations are rising in some areas of the United States, creating a risk of vaccine-preventable disease outbreaks, argue Peter Hotez, Melissa Nolan, Jackie Nolan, and Ashish Damania in a Policy Forum article in PLOS Medicine.

Small children and pregnant women may be underdosed in current malaria regimen

Current recommended dosing regimens for the most widely used treatment for uncomplicated Plasmodium falciparum malaria may be sub-optimal for the most vulnerable populations of patients, according to a study published this week in PLOS Medicine, led by Prof Joel Tarning of the WorldWide Antimalarial Resistance Network and the Mahidol Oxford Tropical Medicine Research Network (MORU).

Binging, purging and fasting more common in overweight, obese young adults

Young adults who are overweight or obese are twice as likely as their leaner peers to binge and purge, use laxatives or diuretics, or force themselves to vomit as a means of controlling their weight, according to a new study led by UCSF Benioff Children's Hospitals.

Beyond the 'Reading Wars': How the science of reading can improve literacy

A new scientific report from an international team of psychological researchers aims to resolve the so-called "reading wars," emphasizing the importance of teaching phonics in establishing fundamental reading skills in early childhood. The report, published in in Psychological Science in the Public Interest, a journal of the Association for Psychological Science, shows how early phonics skills are advanced with a rich reading curriculum throughout the school years.

Could you have rosacea?

(HealthDay)—Acne isn't reserved for teens, and breakouts can persist into adulthood. But there's another common skin condition—rosacea—that causes a different type of blemish, strikes in the adult years, and won't respond to typical acne products.

CDC: invasive MRSA more likely among injection drug users

(HealthDay)—Injection drug users are more than 16-fold more likely to develop invasive methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus (MRSA) infections, according to research published in the June 8 issue of the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention's Morbidity and Mortality Weekly Report.

Certification status tied to physician performance measures

(HealthDay)—Maintenance of certification (MOC) among physicians is associated with performance on selected Healthcare Effectiveness Data and Information Set (HEDIS) process measures, according to a study published online June 12 in the Annals of Internal Medicine.

Composition of complex sugars in breast milk may prevent future food allergies

The unique composition of a mother's breastmilk may help to reduce food sensitization in her infant, report researchers at the University of California San Diego School of Medicine with colleagues in Canada.

Video conferencing helps PCPs improve liver disease care, survival rates

For patients who live in rural areas, driving to see a specialist in a large city or at a university hospital can be challenging, if not impossible.

Researchers map the genome of testicular cancer

Testicular germ cell cancer, a disease that is rare but growing in incidence in men in the United States, is considered to be among the most curable of solid tumors. Now researchers from the University of North Carolina Lineberger Comprehensive Cancer Center and a consortium of institutions have discovered the genetic and genomic characteristics that define the disease.

Study links content of service members' art to their trauma levels

When making visual art during their recovery from traumatic brain injuries (TBI), military service members who depicted psychological injuries like depression or anxiety in their artwork tended to have more acute post-traumatic stress disorder than those who used symbols of their military units, a new study found.

People more likely to trust, cooperate if they can tolerate ambiguity, study finds

Can a new colleague be trusted with confidential information? Will she be a cooperative team player on a critical upcoming project? Assessing someone's motives or intentions, which are often hidden, is difficult, and gauging how to behave toward others involves weighing possible outcomes and personal consequences.

Frequent use of the ER fell after the Affordable Care Act

The odds of being a frequent user of California's emergency departments dropped in the two years following the implementation of major provisions of the Affordable Care Act (ACA) in January 2014, according to a new study led by UC San Francisco.

Frustrated AMA adopts sweeping policies to cut gun violence

With frustration mounting over lawmakers' inaction on gun control, the American Medical Association on Tuesday pressed for a ban on assault weapons and came out against arming teachers as a way to fight what it calls a public health crisis.

White matter hyperintensities in RCVS vary over time

(HealthDay)—White matter hyperintense lesions (WMHs) in patients with reversible cerebral vasoconstriction syndrome (RCVS) change over time in a manner that parallels disease severity, according to a study published online June 4 in JAMA Neurology.

APAGBI: teens 13+ should be assessed for VTE prophylaxis

(HealthDay)—In the perioperative period, post-pubertal adolescents should be assessed for venous thromboembolism (VTE) prophylaxis because of their slightly elevated risk, according to a special article from the Association of Paediatric Anaesthetists of Great Britain and Ireland, published online April 27 in Pediatric Anesthesia.

Dorsal reduction adds to social perception of rhinoplasty

(HealthDay)—Dorsal reduction has a greater effect than tip manipulation in adding value to social perception of the facial profile of patients undergoing cosmetic rhinoplasty, according to a study published online June 7 in JAMA Facial Plastic Surgery.

New epigenetic drug against Mantle Cell Lymphoma

A new study by doctor Manel Esteller, Director of the Epigenetics and Cancer Biology Program (PEBC) of the Bellvitge Biomedical Research Institute (IDIBELL), ICREA Researcher and Professor of Genetics at the University of Barcelona, presents an epigenetic drug capable of slowing down cell growth in mantle cell lymphoma (MCL), a type of cancer characterized by its aggressive behavior, its delayed diagnosis, its growth in different organs, and its origin from the B lymphocytes. The research results, published in Haematologica, the European Hematology Society (EHA) scientific journal, may be an answer to current medical need for new treatments that increase long-term survival in this disease.

Germany recalls Dutch eggs over fipronil fears

German authorities have pulled some 73,000 Dutch eggs from supermarket shelves after they were found to be contaminated with fipronil, the same insecticide that sparked a huge food scare last year.

Leucocyte amount proportions associate with menopausal stage

The ERMA cohort comprises women aged 47 to 55 years living in the city of Jyväskylä and surrounding municipalities in Finland. The original invitation was posted to 82% of the cohort and 47% answered the invitation. The prequestionnaire form was received from 3,064 women, who then participated in the first phase of the study. Altogether, 1,158 women participated in the third study phase, which included a wide set-up of physiological and psychological measurements. Women were assigned to pre-, early and late peri-, and postmenopausal groups based on FSH concentrations and a bleeding diary.

JAMA editorial on ECG screening and cardiac risks

Robert J. Myerburg, M.D., professor of medicine and physiology, and the American Heart Association Chair in Cardiovascular Research at the University of Miami Miller School of Medicine, contributed an editorial to the Journal of the American Medical Association placing in perspective some of the conclusions in new recommendations from the U.S. Preventive Services Task Force (USPSTF) regarding the use of electrocardiogram screening for cardiovascular disease risk.

Massachusetts sues opioid maker, executives over drug crisis

Massachusetts sued the maker of prescription opioid painkiller OxyContin and its executives on Tuesday, accusing the company of spinning a "web of illegal deceit" to fuel the deadly drug abuse crisis while boosting profits.

Measles outbreak kills 11 in Ukraine this year

Eleven people, including seven children, have died of measles in Ukraine this year after an outbreak in the war-scarred nation and adjoining Romania, the health ministry said on Tuesday.

Young drivers with autism spectrum disorder may need more time to learn basic driving skills

When first learning to drive, young adults with autism spectrum disorder (ASD) have more difficulty with basic driving skills compared to those with typical development (TD), reports a study in the Journal of Developmental & Behavioral Pediatrics, the official journal of the Society for Developmental and Behavioral Pediatrics.

Biology news

Pandoravirus: Giant viruses invent their own genes

Three new members have been isolated and added to the Pandoravirus family by researchers at the Structural and Genomic Information Laboratory (CNRS/Aix-Marseille Université), working with partners at the Large Scale Biology Laboratory (CEA/Inserm/Université Grenoble-Alpes) and at CEA-Genoscope. This strange family of viruses, with their giant genomes and many genes with no known equivalents, surprised the scientists when they were discovered a few years ago. In the 11 June 2018 edition of Nature Communications, researchers offer an explanation: Pandoviruses appear to be factories for new genes—and therefore new functions. From freaks of nature to evolutionary innovators, giant viruses continue to shake branches on the tree of life.

Scientists find 'patterns in the noise' that could help make more accurate crop performance predictions

New research led by an Iowa State University agronomist identifies clear patterns in how plants react to different environments that could lead to new ways of predicting crop performance.

Breakthrough method predicts resistance to antibiotics under development

Given the ever-increasing threat of antibiotic resistance, European researchers have developed a method to rapidly test new antibiotic candidates for their potential to be hit by emerging resistance. The high-throughput mutagenesis method, dubbed DIvERGE, reveals probable resistance within days, making it a fast and cost-effective tool to guide antibiotic development. Moreover, DIvERGE has widespread biotechnological applications including the directed evolution of enzymes and biosynthetic pathways.

Protecting plants intelligently

We must reduce the environmental and health risks of pesticides. However, rather than banning them completely, Robert Finger advocates an intelligent approach to crop protection.

Citizen science—A powerful tool to combat invasive giant slugs

With the help of citizen science, researchers have unraveled the close correlation between weather conditions and the appearances of a giant slug species, enabling them to predict the slug's activity on the following day.

Sea urchins see with their feet

Sea urchins lack eyes, but can see with their tentacle-like tube feet instead, previous research has indicated. Now, researchers at Lund University in Sweden have tested their vision in a new study, and shown that while sea urchins have fairly low resolution vision—it is good enough to fulfill their basic needs.

Sharks can have bellybuttons – and other facts about their incredible diversity

The first thing that pops into most people's minds when they think of sharks is of big dumb fish with pointy teeth that are to be greatly feared. But as someone who spends their days studying these creatures, I know just how wrong that image is. For one, thing the diversity of sharks is astounding. The differences between species can even make it seem like some of these animals are barely related.

Putting animals in their best light—Researchers find some shades of LED lamps threaten wildlife

A new generation of outdoor lights spreading across landscapes require greater scrutiny to reduce harm to wildlife, says a USC-led research group that developed a new tool to help fix the problem.

The loss of a parent is the most common cause of brood failure in blue tits

Single parent males generally do worse, probably because they are not able to keep their chicks warm. Their findings are published today in the Journal of Animal Ecology.

Threatened whales and dolphins recognize predatory killer whales from their alarming calls

Killer whales have a formidable reputation as one of the ocean's most ferocious predators. Hunting stealthily in packs, some populations pursue ocean-going mammals, however, other killer whales prefer to dine on a diet of fish alone, posing little or no threat to the mammals that share their waters. Knowing that some species, including birds and mammals, are capable of assessing the risk that they are under from predators in the vicinity, Matthew Bowers from Duke University and colleagues wondered whether aquatic mammals that are known to reside alongside killer whales and feature on their menu could distinguish the calls of the predatory killers from those of other marine mammals. With his Ph.D. supervisors, Douglas Nowacek and Andrew Read from Duke University, USA, and Ari Friedlander (University of California at Santa Cruz, USA), Vincent Janik (University of St Andrews, UK) and Brandon Southall (Southall Environmental Associates, USA), Bowers decided to investigate how pilot whales and Risso's dolphins react to the calls of killer whales. They publish their discovery that a subset of orca calls—with many of the characteristics that are found in human screams—trigger whales and dolphins to flea, while other less threatening calls do not provoke cetaceans to take evasive action, in Journal of Experimental Biology.

Rare type of tick inexplicably turns up in Arkansas

A hardy, invasive species of tick that survived a New Jersey winter and subsequently traversed the mid-Atlantic has mysteriously arrived in Arkansas. No one is sure how the Longhorned tick, native to East Asia, arrived in the country, nor how it made its way to the middle of the continent.

How do kangaroos breathe while they hop?

If you hop like a kangaroo, you might be able feel the air being pushed out of your lungs. Here's why it happens and why it matters.

Falling honeybee numbers inspire heat treatments and smart beehives

The number of honeybees, wild bees and other pollinators has been falling in Europe in the last few decades. Pests, pathogens, pesticides and climate change have all driven bee mortality to worrying levels. Currently, Europe has about 13 million less honeybee colonies than are needed for proper crop pollination.


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

ga

No comments: