Dear Reader ,
Here is your customized Science X Newsletter for June 19, 2018:
Spotlight Stories Headlines
Astronomy & Space news
 | Hunting molecules to find new planetsIt's impossible to obtain direct images of exoplanets as they are masked by the high luminous intensity of their stars. However, astronomers led by UNIGE propose detecting molecules present in the exoplanet's atmosphere in order to make it visible, provided that these same molecules are absent from its star. The researchers have developed a device that is sensitive to the selected molecules, rendering the star invisible and allowing astronomers to observe the planet. The results appear in the journal Astronomy & Astrophysics. |
 | Iron-rich minerals on Mars could contain life's fatty acidsA little stream in the south of England could guide the way towards finding evidence for ancient life on Mars, in the form of fatty acids preserved in an iron-rich mineral called goethite. |
 | New tech uses isomeric beams to study how and where the galaxy makes one of its most common elementsOur galaxy produces and destroys the element aluminum-26 in the process of making magnesium-26. As it forms, it can be momentarily "stuck" in a mirror-image (isomeric) state. Getting stuck lets other reactions occur that destroy the element. Measuring how much aluminum-26 the galaxy makes is tough because scientists have to know how much is destroyed. For the first time, scientists produced an aluminum-26 beam in an isomeric state. They used the beam to determine how fast aluminum-26 is destroyed. The resulting study offers the first experimental result for aluminum-26 synthesis. |
 | Image: A dexterous laboratory in spaceHave you ever considered yourself capable of manipulating gravity? When you grip an object, you are doing just that. |
Technology news
 | Sodium- and potassium-based batteries could be key for smart grid of the futureFrom electric cars that travel hundreds of miles on a single charge to chainsaws as mighty as gas-powered versions, new products hit the market each year that take advantage of recent advances in battery technology. |
 | 'Artificial blubber' protects divers in frigid waterWhen Navy SEALs carry out dives in Arctic waters, or when rescue teams are diving under ice-covered rivers or ponds, the survival time even in the best wetsuits is very limited—as little as tens of minutes, and the experience can be extremely painful at best. Finding ways of extending that survival time without hampering mobility has been a priority for the U.S. Navy and science divers, as a pair of MIT engineering professors learned during a recent program that took them to a variety of naval facilities. |
 | IBM computer proves formidable against two human debatersAn argumentative computer proved formidable against two human debaters as IBM gave its first public demonstration of new artificial intelligence technology it's been working on for more than five years. |
 | How dragonfly larvae could inspire more effective artificial heart valvesThe way dragonfly larvae control the water jets they use to move and breathe could have a range of engineering and medical applications, according to new research. |
 | Algorithm can predict debate winnerIdeally, debates are like fuel for the engine of democracy. But in their current form on social media, are they really getting us anywhere? |
 | A 5G standard nod wins confidence as essential step to primetimeA 3GPP TSG #80 Plenary Meeting has approved the completion of the standalone (SA) Release 15 (REL-15), 5G specifications. The 3GPP stands for 3rd Generation Partnership Project, which is a global organization supervising cellular standards. The accent is on "standalone." |
 | Entrepreneurs seek to quantify pressure applied during manual therapyPhysical and occupational therapists, athletic trainers, chiropractors, veterinarians, and other medical professionals could improve the outcomes of manual therapy to treat soft-tissue injuries by using patent-pending, handheld instruments being developed by IUPUI entrepreneurs. |
 | California lawmakers debate creating regional electric gridA contentious proposal to link oversight of California's electric grid with other western states faces a crucial test Tuesday in a state Senate committee. |
 | Apple fined millions for Australia false iPhone claimsApple was Tuesday fined Aus$9 million (US$6.7 million) by an Australian court for making false claims about consumer rights when refusing to fix faulty iPhones and iPads previously repaired by a third party. |
 | Jilted Fujifilm sues Xerox for $1bn after aborted mergerJapanese technology giant Fujifilm said Tuesday it was suing US firm Xerox, seeking more than $1 billion in damages after a merger between the two firms was scrapped last month. |
 | US Senate votes to reimpose ban on China's ZTE, shares plungeThe US Senate defied President Donald Trump on Monday by voting to overrule his administration's deal with Chinese telecom firm ZTE and reimpose a ban on hi-tech chip sales to the company. |
 | Alexa, send up breakfast: Amazon launches Echo for hotelsAlexa has a new job: hotel concierge. |
 | Using mobile money in Afghanistan, researchers develop product that helps people to saveBillions of people worldwide, particularly those in developing countries, face challenges saving money. They may already hold a device that can assist them in the palms of their hands: their cellphone. |
 | SmokeBot – a robot serving rescue unitsSmokeBot is a robot developed to assist fire services and rescue units in deployments under critical conditions. It collects data about accident and disasters situations with extremely limited visibility, effectively improving the safety of rescue operations. |
 | I am not the sum of my personal dataThe Cambridge Analytica scandal scandalises everyone… and at the same time, no one. Similarly, Mark Zuckerberg's solemn yet insolent testimony before the US congress is both reassuring and troubling. |
 | The public health benefits of adding offshore wind to the gridNew plans to build two commercial offshore wind farms near the Massachusetts and Rhode Island coasts have sparked a lot of discussion about the vast potential of this previously untapped source of electricity. |
 | Researchers use machine learning to search science dataAs scientific datasets increase in both size and complexity, the ability to label, filter and search this deluge of information has become a laborious, time-consuming and sometimes impossible task, without the help of automated tools. |
 | Verizon to end location data sales to brokersVerizon is pledging to stop selling information on phone owners' locations to data brokers, stepping back from a business practice that has drawn criticism for endangering privacy, The Associated Press has learned. |
 | Drones could be used to detect dangerous 'butterfly' landmines in post-conflict regionsDrones could be used to detect dangerous "butterfly" landmines in remote regions of post-conflict countries, according to new research from Binghamton University, State University at New York. |
 | Nuclear power shutdowns won't spike power pricesDespite economic woes that could shutter two of Pennsylvania's nuclear power plants—which generate 6 percent of the state's power—power prices will remain steady due to low natural gas prices, according to Seth Blumsack, associate professor of energy policy and economics, Penn State. |
 | Visa says over 5 million payments affected by June outagePayment systems giant Visa said Tuesday that a massive technical glitch earlier this month had affected 5.2 million card transactions, almost half of which were in Britain. |
 | Audi names interim CEO after boss arrested in diesel probeGerman carmaker Audi said Tuesday it had named a new interim chief, a day after prosecutors arrested boss Rupert Stadler in connection with parent company Volkswagen's "dieselgate" scandal. |
 | Facebook to offer interactive game shows on video platformFacebook said Tuesday it is offering a series of new formats for its online video platform including interactive game shows, quizzes and polls. |
 | Japan start-up Mercari soars in first day of Tokyo tradeFlea market app Mercari soared Tuesday as it debuted on the Tokyo Stock Exchange, a major success for a rare Japanese "unicorn"—a start-up valued over $1 billion. |
 | Grown-ups with supportive robotsRobots will be a necessity with the ageing population needing assistance to improve their mobility. On the long road to help seniors maintain their life quality, EU researchers have developed a unique prototype robot. |
 | Moving toward fast internet on the planeStreaming films and music or accessing business data in the cloud when flying to the holiday destination or to business meetings – this is the dream of passengers as well as airlines. So far, however, fast internet on the plane has failed due to the lacking capacity of data connections between the plane and the ground. For the first time, a team of researchers at Karlsruhe Institute of Technology (KIT) has transferred signals at a rate of eight gigabits per second between an airplane and a ground station. |
Foxconn investing in $30 million water recycling systemFoxconn Technology Group plans to invest in a $30 million recycling system that will significantly reduce the amount of water it has to draw from Lake Michigan for its proposed manufacturing complex in southeast Wisconsin, the company said Tuesday. | |
Ford celebrates purchase of iconic Detroit train stationFord Motor Co. is celebrating its purchase of Detroit's long vacant train depot that the company plans to redevelop for research and development of self-driving vehicles. | |
Medicine & Health news
 | Marriage may protect against heart disease / stroke and associated risk of deathMarriage may protect against the development of heart disease/stroke as well as influencing who is more likely to die of it, suggests a pooled analysis of the available data, published online in the journal Heart. |
 | Scientists uncover a factor important for Zika virus host species restrictionPrinceton University researchers Qiang Ding, Alexander Ploss, and colleagues have identified one of the mechanisms by which Zika virus (ZIKV) circumvents immune control to replicate in human cells. The paper detailing this work appears June 18, 2018 in PNAS. |
 | Left, right and center: mapping emotion in the brainAccording to a radical new model of emotion in the brain, a current treatment for the most common mental health problems could be ineffective or even detrimental to about 50 percent of the population. |
 | Blood signature could improve early tuberculosis diagnosisA gene signature in the bloodstream could reveal whether someone is going to develop active tuberculosis (TB) disease months before symptoms begin. Such a signature has now been developed by a team led by the Francis Crick Institute and University of Leicester, in collaboration with BIOASTER and bioMerieux in France and the University of Cape Town in South Africa. |
 | Everything big data claims to know about you could be wrongWhen it comes to understanding what makes people tick—and get sick—medical science has long assumed that the bigger the sample of human subjects, the better. But new research led by UC Berkeley suggests this big-data approach may be wildly off the mark. |
 | Ovarian cancer cells switched off by 'unusual' mechanismScientists at the Ovarian Cancer Action Research Centre at Imperial College London have discovered a mechanism that deactivates ovarian cancer cells. |
 | Mental health declining among disadvantaged American adultsAmerican adults of low socioeconomic status report increasing mental distress and worsening well-being, according to a new study by Princeton University and Georgetown University. |
 | Videogame loot boxes similar to gamblingAdolescents playing video games that offer randomised rewards to increase competitive advantage could possibly be exposed to mechanisms that are psychologically similar to gambling, according to new research just published in Nature Human Behaviour. |
 | Introduction of alcohol found to adversely impact fertility rates in hunter-gatherer communityFernando Ramirez Rozzi, a research director with the French National Centre for Scientific Research has found that the introduction of alcohol to a Baka pygmy hunter-gatherer society caused fertility rates to fall. In his paper published in Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences, Rozzi describes his study of the small community in Cameroon. |
 | Researchers investigate changes in white matter in mice exposed to low-frequency brain stimulationA team of researchers at the University of Oregon has learned more about the mechanism involved in mouse brain white matter changes as it responds to stimulation. In their paper published in Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences, the group describes the experiments they conducted and what they found. |
 | 'Kiss of death' cancer: How computational geeks may have uncovered a therapy for a deadly diseaseIt's called the 'kiss of death'. Triple negative breast cancer has no targeted drug therapy and, as such, the only hope for these patients is chemotherapy. Triple negative breast cancer is aggressive and deadly. Patients are currently treated by chemotherapy but there is no guarantee of success—and unfortunately, for those that chemotherapy does not work, the survival rate remains only 12 months. |
Keyhole may trump robotic surgery for mitral valve repairKeyhole surgery for heart valve repair may trump robotic surgery, because it is associated with lower rates of subsequent heart flutter and blood transfusions, and a shorter hospital stay, reveals research looking at the pros and cons of different surgical approaches, published online in the journal Heart. | |
 | Beware of getting a tattoo if your immune system isn't up to scratch, doctors warnGetting a tattoo may have some unexpected complications if your immune system isn't up to scratch, warn doctors in the journal BMJ Case Reports. |
 | Even modern care wouldn't have saved RFK: study(HealthDay)—The care received by Robert F. Kennedy after he was shot in the head 50 years ago this month was the best possible at the time, and his injuries were so severe that he'd still have a low chance of survival today, researchers say. |
 | Good relationships with siblings may buffer the effects of family conflictChildren who are exposed to hostile, escalating conflicts between parents are at increased risk for developing mental health problems. However, many children from homes marked by conflict don't experience significant psychological problems. A new longitudinal study sought to determine why some children are protected from the negative consequences of witnessing repeated hostility between their parents. It found that having a good relationship with a sibling may help buffer the distress of ongoing family conflict. |
 | Parents' explanations of peer interactions affect how children interpret peers' behaviorYoung children are more likely to behave aggressively if they think other children want to hurt them—for example, when they interpret accidental bumps as provocations. Researchers investigated whether parents' explanations of how peers interact would help 4- to 6-year-olds interpret others' behavior with less hostility and behave less aggressively. They found that parents' explanations help young children view their peers' behavior with less hostility. |
Methadone and buprenorphine decrease mortality after nonfatal overdoseA new study out of Boston Medical Center's Grayken Center for Addiction on opioid overdose survivors indicates that two FDA approved medications to treat opioid use disorder save lives, but only three out of 10 overdose survivors receive them. Using a novel public health dataset from the Massachusetts Department of Public Health, the researchers found that those who received methadone or buprenorphine had significant reductions in all-cause and opioid-related mortality after surviving an overdose compared to individuals not taking medication. In addition, the results underscore the missed opportunities to identify individuals with opioid use disorder and engage them in treatment when and wherever they enter the health care system with opioid-related harms. | |
 | New asthma tool determines best treatment for severe asthma patientsOne in 12 adults and one in 11 children in the United States are living with asthma, according to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC). The communication between patients and clinicians is an important factor in proper management of a patient's symptoms and treatment. |
 | Study on social interactions could improve understanding of mental health risksMcLean Hospital investigators have released the results of a study that outlines how age, socioeconomic status, and other factors might contribute to social isolation and poorer mental health. In a paper published in the online version of Clinical Psychological Science, the researchers examine how individuals of all ages and walks of life seek and enjoy social interactions. Because studies have linked low social motivation or loss of social motivation with a number of psychiatric illnesses, including depression and schizophrenia spectrum disorders, the study's co-author, McLean Hospital's Laura Germine, Ph.D., believes that data presented in the study could increase our understanding of contributing factors that negatively impact a person's mental health. |
 | US could back 1st pot-derived medicine, and some are worriedA British pharmaceutical company is getting closer to a decision on whether the U.S government will approve the first prescription drug derived from the marijuana plant, but parents who for years have used cannabis to treat severe forms of epilepsy in their children are feeling more cautious than celebratory. |
 | Ultra-secure lab in Gabon equipped for Ebola studiesAt a research facility in Gabon, one isolated building stands behind an electrified fence, under round-the-clock scrutiny by video cameras. The locked-down P4 lab is built to handle the world's most dangerous viruses, including Ebola. |
 | U.S. smoking rate hits all-time low(HealthDay)—Fewer than 14 percent of American adults smoked cigarettes in 2017, the lowest level seen since data collection started in 1965, government health officials reported Tuesday. |
 | Chinese parents-to-be seek more fertile ground abroadThe easing of China's one-child policy was a godsend to Zhang Yinzhe and his wife Xu Mengsha, who had decided they wanted to use in-vitro fertilisation (IVF) to freeze an embryo in the hope of one day having a second child. |
 | Children's immune system could hold the key to preventing sepsisChildren's immune systems could hold the key to preventing life-threatening infections and sepsis, a new study has revealed. |
 | Breast cancer could be prevented by targeting epigenetic proteins, study suggestsResearchers at the Princess Margaret Cancer Centre in Toronto have discovered that epigenetic proteins promote the proliferation of mammary gland stem cells in response to the sex hormone progesterone. The study, which will be published June 19 in the Journal of Cell Biology, suggests that inhibiting these proteins with drugs could prevent the development of breast cancer in women at high risk of the disease. |
 | Risks of cancer and mortality by average lifetime alcohol intakeThe risk of mortality, and of developing a number of cancers, is lowest in light drinkers consuming an average of less than one drink per day across their lifetime, and the risk of some cancers increases with each additional drink per week, according to a new study, published this week in PLOS Medicine by Andrew Kunzmann of Queen's University Belfast, and colleagues. |
 | Researchers map cardiovascular disease risk across IndiaThe average 10-year risk of developing cardiovascular disease varies widely among India's states, ranging from 13.2% to 19.5%, with substantial variation across socio-demographic groups according to a study published this week in PLOS Medicine by Pascal Geldsetzer and Rifat Atun of Harvard University, and colleagues. |
 | Study of first birth cohort to receive HPV vaccine shows the treatment worksCompared to a birth cohort from 1983, girls in the first birth cohort to receive the HPV vaccine showed a lower degree of dysplasia that could eventually lead to cervical cancer. This is the conclusion of a new study conducted by researchers at the University of Copenhagen, who have conducted the first study of the vaccine's effect on the general population. |
New radiological procedure for the diagnosis of liver diseaseUniversitätsmedizin Berlin have successfully tested a new technology for use in the assessment of overweight adolescents with liver disease. Known as 'time-harmonic elastography' (THE), the technology enables physicians to determine the disease's severity without having to resort to invasive liver biopsies. The results of this research have been published in Radiology. | |
 | Research shows how a moderate dose of alcohol protects the heartFor at least 20 years, research has shown that for many people, moderate consumption of alcohol can protect the heart, but the reason for this is poorly understood. Now, study conducted at the University of São Paulo's Biomedical Science Institute (ICB-USP) in Brazil suggests that this cardioprotective mechanism may be associated with activation of ALDH2 (aldehyde dehydrogenase-2), a mitochondrial enzyme that helps rid the organism of both the toxic byproducts of alcohol digestion and a type of reactive molecule produced in heart cells that can suffer major damage, such as that caused by a heart attack. |
Racial, ethnic, and sexual minority males among unhealthiest people in U.S., report findsDespite having more privilege, wealth, and career success than women, men in the U.S. generally lead shorter, unhealthier lives than their female counterparts. But a report just released by the American Psychological Association finds that for men of color and sexual minority men this reality is compounded, partly due to systemic oppression and discrimination. | |
Novel information about the effects of in vitro fertilization on embryonic growthIt is known that in vitro fertilization (IVF) can affect the size of the newborns. Children derived from fresh embryo transfer have smaller birth weight, and surprisingly, children derived from frozen embryo transfer have subtly higher birth weight in average. | |
 | Better implants key to repair damaged kneesPeople whose knees have been affected by osteoarthritis, also known as the 'wear and tear' arthritis, often have to get knee implants to repair the damage. But if a knee implant does not fit the specific individual, it can lead to soft tissue damage, collapsing of the underlying bone, loosening of the implant and an increased likelihood of joint pain after an operation. |
 | Toothpaste and hand wash may contribute to antibiotic resistanceA common ingredient in toothpaste and hand wash could be contributing to antibiotic resistance, according to University of Queensland research. |
 | Antibodies may predict transplant rejection riskThe presence of certain antibodies in patients may suggest a higher risk of transplant rejection across multiple organ types, including the kidney, liver, heart and lungs, according to a new study published in PLOS Medicine. |
 | Mild problem-solving task improves brain function after a concussion, new study suggestsA simple cognitive task as early as four days after a brain injury activates the region that improves memory function, and may guard against developing depression or anxiety |
 | Combining different malaria vaccines could reduce cases by 91 percentUsing two experimental anti-malarial vaccines, which work in different ways, can greatly reduce the number of malaria infections in animal studies. |
 | Could playing Fortnite lead to video game addiction? The World Health Organisation says yes, but others disagreeCould your child be addicted to playing video games? Maybe. If you're a parent looking for tips on moderating your child's gaming habits, read on. |
 | Diagnosing and treating disorders of early sex developmentDiagnosing, advising on and treating disorders of early sex development represent a huge medical challenge, both for those affected and for treating physicians. In contrast to the earlier view, DSD (Difference of Sex Development) are now regarded as rare and complex disorders with many different clinical manifestations. The aim is to provide interdisciplinary care, depending upon age and severity, rather than immediately performing sex reconciliation surgery in childhood. A new consensus paper produced by European doctors, psychologists, patients and self-help groups is now to serve as a basis for uniform medical management of DSD throughout Europe. |
 | How old is too old for surgery, and why?Many of us will have been in situations with older loved ones where a doctor says surgery is too risky given the patient's advanced age. Why is it surgery becomes risky in the elderly, and is it based on chronological age or their health? |
 | Helping heroin users have healthier babiesA safer treatment for pregnant heroin-dependent women has been investigated by researchers from the University of Western Australia. |
Mental health recovery influenced by workplace values, new research findsMental health law centres and advocates who uphold values of connectedness, hope, empowerment and identity can positively influence people with mental health issues, new research led by Curtin University has found. | |
 | Can nanotechnology help treat Alzheimer's?Alzheimer's disease (AD) is the most common form of dementia. It takes a devastating toll on patients and family members, who are usually the caregivers. Current drugs only treat symptoms of AD, not its causes. |
 | Patriarchs on pedestals? How doctors are taught to improve their bedside mannerUp until around 30 years ago, in the days of paper patient files, doctors were on pedestals and patients generally did as they were told, in a more patriarchal model of patient care. Over 2,400 years ago, Hippocrates wrote: "The physician ought also to be confidential, very chaste, sober, not a winebibber, and he ought to be fastidious in everything, for this is what the profession demands." |
 | Small vessels with big impact on cardiovascular diseaseCardiovascular diseases are commonly associated with large vessel atherosclerosis. However, accumulating evidence demonstrates disturbances in the small arteries that control tissue perfusion. In particular, under specific conditions such as hypertension, aging, diabetes and obesity, these vessels undergo alteration in size and function, a process known as small artery remodelling. Such changes limit the capacity of these vessels to deliver oxygen to the various organs in our body, resulting in poor oxygenation and loss of organ function. Moreover, remodelling causes hypertension, creating a vicious circle of high blood pressure and remodelling that requires interruption. |
 | New layers in research, treatment of sickle cell trait and strokeSickle cell disease increases the risk of stroke for African Americans – but recent research shows carrying the genetic trait for sickle cell doesn't. |
 | More mental health care alone will not stop gun violenceGun violence remains a highly controversial issue in the wake of school shootings in Parkland, Florida, and other communities. At such times, politicians seem compelled to offer the public solutions. |
 | Higher inflammation in older age is linked to lower bone densitylthough inflammation can arise from infection or injury, chronic inflammation can occur in older age due to ageing processes in the immune system. Higher levels of inflammation in older age has been linked to lower bone density, according to a new study carried out at the University of Southampton. |
 | New screening tool could help diagnose early cognitive decline in dementia from homeAn international team of scientists have developed a new way to screen for age-related cognitive decline at home using a test which asks people to detect sounds and flashes on their laptop or phone. |
 | Emotional eating in childhood is learned at homeThe tendency for children to eat more or less when stressed and upset is mainly influenced by the home environment and not by genes, according to a new UCL-led study. |
 | Opiate addiction and the history of pain and race in the US"I have had little or no sleep, owing to the tooth ache or rather stump ache," Elizabeth Drinker wrote in her diary one night in 1796. "One of my Eye teeth very sore, my face much swelled and painful." |
 | Bad habits that lead to cancer, chronic disease corrected by simple lifestyle interventionDoes this sound like someone you know? He or she spends too much time in front of screens, gets little exercise and eats a diet high in fat and low in fruits and vegetables. |
Embracing respect and dignity as the next frontier in preventing patient harmEven when health care experiences go well, patients and their families can still suffer harm. To date, organizational efforts to reduce harm have focused primarily on physical harm, but other forms of harm are both prevalent and equally as important. These "non-physical" harms can be framed using the concepts of respect and dignity with the overarching goal of eliminating disrespect in health care. Health care organizations have an obligation to "do no harm" and should incorporate non-physical harms into organizational harm prevention programs. | |
Good primary lowers ED use for those with intellectual and developmental disabilitiesOne in three adults with intellectual and developmental disabilities (IDD) visit the emergency department annually but effective primary care could reduce these numbers, suggests a new study led by St. Michael's Hospital and the Institute for Clinical Evaluative Sciences (ICES). | |
 | Low vitamin D levels associated with scarring lung diseaseReviewing medical information gathered on more than 6,000 adults over a 10-year period, Johns Hopkins researchers have found that lower than normal blood levels of vitamin D were linked to increased risk of early signs of interstitial lung disease (ILD). |
 | 'Smart stent' detects narrowing of arteriesFor every three individuals who have had a stent implanted to keep clogged arteries open and prevent a heart attack, at least one will experience restenosis—the renewed narrowing of the artery due to plaque buildup or scarring—which can lead to additional complications. |
 | Cell type and environment influence protein turnover in the brainScientists have revealed that protein molecules in the brain are broken down and replaced at different rates, depending on where in the brain they are. |
 | Research provides insights into why older people respond poorly to cancer treatmentIt's called the Silver Tsunami—the increased incidence of cancer with ageing, combined with the rapidly ageing population means that the Australian health system needs to prepare for an onslaught of cancer diagnoses. |
 | Deep brain stimulation showing promise for patients with mild Alzheimer's disease over 65An age group analysis of data from the ADvance trial has shown that participants over the age of 65 continue to derive the most benefit from Deep Brain Stimulation of the fornix (DBS-f), as observed in the data from the phase 2 findings (12—24 months) of the Phase II trial. |
 | Kids grasp that you get what you pay forFrom a young age, children have a nuanced understanding of fairness. |
 | Tackling bullying could help reduce depression in autistic teensTeenagers with difficulties in social communication, including autism have higher rates of depressive symptoms, especially if they are being bullied. |
 | Team discovers gene mutations linked to pancreatic cancerSix genes contain mutations that may be passed down in families, substantially increasing a person's risk for pancreatic cancer. That's according to Mayo Clinic research published in the June 19 edition of the JAMA. However, because researchers found these genetic mutations in patients with no family history of pancreatic cancer, they are recommending genetic testing for all pancreatic cancer patients as the new standard of care. |
 | Are you sticking to your diet? Scientists may be able to tell from a blood sampleAn analysis of small molecules called "metabolites" in a blood sample may be used to determine whether a person is following a prescribed diet, scientists at Johns Hopkins Bloomberg School of Public Health have shown. |
 | Genes associated with infantile forms of schizophrenia identifiedScientists at the Montreal Neurological Institute and Hospital (The Neuro) and McGill University have identified novel genes associated with a specific form of schizophrenia. |
 | Success of blood test for autism affirmedOne year after researchers published their work on a physiological test for autism, a follow-up study confirms its exceptional success in assessing whether a child is on the autism spectrum. A physiological test that supports a clinician's diagnostic process has the potential to lower the age at which children are diagnosed, leading to earlier treatment. Results of the study, which uses an algorithm to predict if a child has autism spectrum disorder (ASD) based on metabolites in a blood sample, published online today, appear in the June edition of Bioengineering & Translational Medicine. |
 | Meat 2.0? Clean meat? Spat shows the power of food wordingIf meat is grown in a lab without slaughtering animals, what should it be called? |
In US, obesity, smoking more common in rural areas: studyPeople who live in rural areas of the United States are far more likely than city dwellers to smoke, be overweight, and face a host of related health concerns, researchers said Tuesday. | |
Transgenderism no longer a mental illness: WHOTransgender people, who identify as the opposite gender to the one they were born with, should no longer be considered mentally ill, according to a new UN categorisation. | |
 | Experts warn of synthetic 'bioweapons' danger(HealthDay)—The burgeoning field of "synthetic biology" research could lead to the creation of dangerous new bioweapons, and U.S. defense officials need to be alert to assess the potential threat. |
 | Obesity plagues rural America(HealthDay)—Country folk are being hit harder by the U.S. obesity epidemic than city dwellers, two new government studies show. |
 | Severe stress may send immune system into overdrive(HealthDay)—Trauma or intense stress may up your odds of developing an autoimmune disease, a new study suggests. |
 | How to keep a diet diaryTUESDAY, June 19, 2018 (HealthDay News) —To some people, keeping a food diary might seem old hat or just another busy-work task on your diet to-do list. But when done correctly (and diligently), it's a very effective tool for losing weight and keeping it off. |
 | Increased risk of MI, ischemic stroke after COPD exacerbation(HealthDay)—For adults with chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD), acute exacerbations are associated with increased risk of myocardial infarction and ischemic stroke, according to a study published online May 3 in the Annals of the American Thoracic Society. |
 | Pharmacologic Tx should be used sparingly for reflux in preemies(HealthDay)—Conservative measures to control reflux have limited effect on signs of gastroesophageal reflux (GER) in preterm infants, and pharmacologic treatments should be used sparingly, according to a clinical report published online June 18 in Pediatrics. |
 | Rates of cardiac stress testing down but still higher in CKD(HealthDay)—From 2008 to 2012 there was a decrease in overall rates of cardiac stress testing in Medicare beneficiaries, though rates were consistently higher for patients with chronic kidney disease (CKD) than those without CKD, according to a study published online June 13 in JACC: Cardiovascular Imaging. |
 | Opioids killed nearly 4,000 in Canada last year: officialThe opioid crisis claimed nearly 4,000 lives in Canada last year, mainly from overdoses of the powerful painkiller fentanyl, the public health agency said Tuesday, warning of a worsening situation. |
 | Opioid dependence in patients with degenerative spondylolisthesis: More likely to occur before than after surgeryResearchers investigated risk factors for the development of opioid dependence in patients undergoing surgery for degenerative spondylolisthesis (DS). They found that, overall, patients were more likely to have a dependency on opioid medications before surgery than afterward. This finding and more appear in a new article published today in the Journal of Neurosurgery: Spine: "Factors predicting opioid dependence in patients undergoing surgery for degenerative spondylolisthesis: analysis from the MarketScan databases" by Mayur Sharma, MD, MCh, and colleagues. |
 | Roche buys US Foundation Medicine for $2.4 bnSwiss pharmaceutical giant Roche said Tuesday it had reached an agreement to purchase the remaining shares of US lab Foundation Medicine, of which it already holds a majority stake, for $2.4 billion. |
 | Important to be open to discussing sex with young cancer survivorsFeeling unattractive and dissatisfied with their sexual ability – that is reality for many teenage and young adult cancer survivors. Research from Sahlgrenska Academy, Sweden, now gives a voice to a group that often has a difficult journey back to a normal life. |
 | Small babies and asthma in later lifeAirway size in rats with a low birth weight is more varied than those born at a normal weight—which Western Australian scientists think may play a role in the development of asthma. |
 | A mobile application for diabetesDiabetes is a chronic disorder affecting millions of individuals worldwide. European scientists plan to improve patients' lifelong adherence to treatment through a mobile application. |
 | Control of the iRhom2 protein may hold the key to preventing Alzheimer's diseaseIt is known that the onset of Alzheimer's disease (AD) is associated with the accumulation of Amyloid beta (Aβ) peptides in small molecular clusters known as oligomers. These trigger the formation of so-called 'neurofibrillary tangles' within neurons hamper their workings, ultimately causing cell death and so significant cognitive decline. Very large Aβ oligomers which form plaques outside neurons, alongside neuroinflammation have also been found to play a key part in the progression of the disease. |
 | Hypnosis may help reduce distress of cancer treatment in childrenHypnosis could help to reduce the fear of medical procedures in children and young people with cancer. |
 | Breastfeeding is not 'easy' – stop telling new mothers that it isIt's difficult to talk about breastfeeding in a productive way right now. On the one hand, the UK's breastfeeding rates are so low, that campaigns such as National Breastfeeding week have become really important in encouraging more people to support it. Unfortunately, at the same time, these events often stir up a lot of hurt, by reminding many women why we have such low rates in the first place. Whether they are breastfeeding, struggling to, or find they can't, far too many women experience a lack of support in feeding their baby. |
 | New immunotherapy trial for children with central nervous system tumors opensSeattle Children's has opened a pioneering chimeric antigen receptor (CAR) T-cell immunotherapy trial for children and young adults with relapsed or refractory HER2-positive central nervous system (CNS) tumors where CAR T cells will be delivered directly into the brain. In the phase I trial, BrainChild-01, cancer-fighting CAR T cells will be infused through a catheter, either into the cavity where the tumor has been removed or the CNS ventricular system, depending on the location of the tumor. |
 | New study shows how a single binge drinking episode affects gene that regulates sleepOne in six U.S. adults binge drinks at least four times a month, according to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. Previous studies have linked binge drinking to sleep disruption. Now, new findings from the University of Missouri School of Medicine explain how a single episode of binge drinking can affect the gene that regulates sleep, leading to sleep disruption in mice. The finding may shed light on how sleep problems can contribute to alcoholism in humans. |
 | UK reviews medical marijuana ban after outcry over sick kidsThe British government announced Tuesday it would move to lift its ban on cannabis-based medicines, amid mounting criticism over the denial of treatment to severely epileptic children. But it rejected calls to legalize marijuana for recreational use. |
 | Binge drinking during youth may impact future offspringA rat model found preconception binge drinking may have negative consequences on future offspring's growth, social interactions and pubertal development, according to a new study published in the Endocrine Society's Journal of the Endocrine Society. |
New online toolbox to help keep kids safe in disastersA new set of online tools is designed to help families and communities keep children safe in disasters. | |
Biology news
 | Cells can trap viruses in protein cage to stop their spread, study revealsResearchers at The Francis Crick Institute in London have discovered that cells can trap viruses in a protein cage to stop them from spreading to neighboring cells. The study, which will be published June 19 in the Journal of Cell Biology, reveals that the vaccinia virus can escape this trap by recruiting additional proteins to dismantle the cage and propel the virus out of the cell. |
 | Scientists see human immune response in the fruit flyWashington State University researchers have seen how both humans and fruit flies deploy a protein that a plays a critical role in their immune responses to invading bacteria. The discovery gives scientists evolutionary insight and a model organism with which to explore ways to boost the human immune system and create infection-fighting medicines. |
 | Study of bonobos finds that day care pays off for the babysittersDrawn to a behavior she didn't understand, a UO researcher watching bonobos in a zoo has revealed how young female bonobos prepare for motherhood. |
 | Collecting bacterial communities from puddles helps solve ecosystem riddlesResearchers have used puddle ecosystems to start to unravel the roles different bacteria play in complex communities. |
 | Sister species of birds reveal clues to how biodiversity evolvesExtensive new datasets about the world's birds are helping to solve the riddle of how life on Earth diversified. |
 | Blue gene regulation helps plants respond properly to lightResearchers at the RIKEN Center for Sustainable Resource Science (CSRS) have discovered a process through which gene expression in plants is regulated by light. Published in Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences USA, the study found that blue light triggers a shift in which portion of a gene is ultimately expressed. |
 | Exotic invasions can drive native species extinctLatest research from the University of Southampton has revealed the impact of exotic species upon native wildlife, which could potentially lead to native plant species extinctions within their natural habitats. |
 | Road rules for gene transfer are written in DNAA new discovery suggests that bacteria's ability to transfer genes, like those associated with antibiotic resistance, are governed by a previously unknown set of rules that are written in the DNA of the recipient. |
 | Bees love blue fluorescent light, and not just any wavelength will doResearchers at Oregon State University have learned that a specific wavelength range of blue fluorescent light set bees abuzz. |
 | World's first known manta ray nursery discoveredA graduate student at Scripps Institution of Oceanography at the University of California San Diego and colleagues from NOAA's Office of National Marine Sanctuaries have discovered the world's first known manta ray nursery. |
 | World's oldest Sumatran orangutan dies aged 62The world's oldest Sumatran orangutan, which had 11 children and 54 descendants spread across the globe, has died aged 62, Australian zoo officials said Tuesday. |
 | Sacred snappers: The village where crocodiles are welcomeCrocodiles may be one of the deadliest hunters in the animal kingdom, but in a small village in Burkina Faso it is not unusual to see someone sitting atop one of the fearsome reptiles. |
 | Love inspires new species nameLove is in the air at The University of Queensland with entomologist Dr Errol Hassan naming a new species of wasp after his wife to celebrate more than 50 years of marriage. |
 | Twenty-five per cent of seafood sold in Metro Vancouver is mislabelledA quarter of the seafood tested from Metro Vancouver grocery stores, restaurants and sushi bars is not what you think it is. |
 | Weighing the planet's biological matterOur planet is teeming with life: Even in the most extreme places, like the scorching deserts and the pitch-black ocean depths, living organisms can be found. But just how much living matter is on this planet? A new study now makes the first global estimates of the total weight, or biomass, of life on Earth. The research is a collaboration between Yinon Bar-On and Ron Milo of the Weizmann Institute of Science in Israel and Rob Phillips of Caltech. |
 | Tiny jumping roundworm undergoes unusual sexual developmentNematodes may be among the simplest animals, but scientists can't get enough of the microscopic roundworms. They have mapped the entire genome ofC. elegans, the "lab rat" of nematodes, and have characterized nearly every aspect of its biology, with a particular focus on neurons. For years, it was assumed other nematodes' neurons were similar to those ofC. elegans, until researchers at the University of Illinois demonstrated the vast diversity in neuronal anatomy present across species. |
 | On the expansion threshold of a species' rangeWhat stops a species adapting to an ever-wider range of conditions, continuously expanding its geographic range? The biomathematician Jitka Polechová, an Elise Richter Fellow at the University of Vienna, has published a paper in PLoS Biology which explains the formation of species' range margins. The theory shows that just two compound parameters, important for both ecology and evolution of species, are fundamental to the stability of their range: the environmental heterogeneity and the size of the local population. |
 | Deep-sea marine sponges may hold key to antibiotic drug resistanceDrug resistance to antibiotics is on the rise and there is an urgent need to develop new drugs to treat infectious diseases that are a major threat to human health globally. Researchers from Florida Atlantic University's Harbor Branch Oceanographic Institute may have a solution to this problem using sea sponges collected from the ocean depths. |
 | Lion conservation research can be bolstered by input from a wide-range of professionalsThe conservation of lions, while maintaining the well-being of people that live around them, is a complex problem that should be addressed by a wide-range of professionals working together, suggests a new review published in the open-access journal Frontiers in Ecology and Evolution. Rather than focusing solely on human-lion interaction, factors such as the environment, wild prey and domesticated livestock should be considered to get a full evaluation of the problem. This approach can generate effective policies to address the dramatic decrease in lion populations seen in recent years. |
 | Museum collection reveals distribution of Carolina parakeet 100 years after its extinctionWhile 2018 marks the centenary of the death of the last captive Carolina parakeet—North America's only native parrot, a team of researchers have shed new light on the previously known geographical range of the species, which was officially declared extinct in 1920. |
 | Scientists reveal how gut microbes 'recover' after antibiotic treatmentNew insight on how antibiotics affect the gut microbiome—the community of microbes that live inside us—has been published in the journal eLife. |
 | Four new mountain lions kittens found in California mountainsFour new mountain lion kittens have been found by researchers studying the wild cats living in Southern California's Santa Monica Mountains, wildlife officials announced in video posts Tuesday showing the blue-eyed babies meowing and one feisty one hissing and even taking a swipe at the person filming her. |
 | Walking is more efficient than thought for threatened polar bearsA polar bear plunges into the icy Arctic waters in search of firmer ice; its world, which was once a sea of white, is melting beneath its paws. 'Research has documented declines in polar bear populations in some regions of the Arctic', says Anthony Pagano from the US Geological Survey, explaining that the bears now have to roam further on the receding ice to locate the seals upon which they dine. And, to make their predicament worse, measurements in the 1970s and 1980s suggested that polar bears consume more energy than other similarly sized animals because they have to generate heat to remain warm in the frigid environment and walk long distances to catch food. Knowing how much energy polar bears use just to remain alive is essential if we are to understand how the animals will survive in their dwindling environment, so Pagano and colleague Terrie Williams from the University of California, Santa Cruz, embarked on an ambitious programme of measuring how much energy polar and grizzly bears consume as they amble along. The scientists publish their discovery that polar bears and grizzly bears walk efficiently, consuming the same amount of energy while walking as other large animals, in Journal of Experimental Biology. |
 | Accelerated reactions in condensed bio-matter?HITS researcher Dr. Kashif Sadiq explores ribonucleoprotein granules, a condensed form of bio-matter found inside cells. He investigates whether the rate of enzymatic reactions in these membrane-less granules is accelerated. If true, this would lead to new insights in how cells regulate their biochemistry and may shed light on the origins of life on Earth. The project is funded by the Volkswagen Stiftung with an "Experiment!" grant. |
 | Marine natural parks in Catalonia, affected by climate changePopulations of gorgonian and other benthic organisms in the Natural Park of Cap de Creus and Natural Park in Montgrí experienced a high mortality rate during 2017 due the proliferation of filament algae in the Catalan coast during 2017. This phenomenon could be the result of the high temperatures in spring and summer and the high concentration of nutrients in the environment, according to a report on the monitoring of the marine environment in the Natural Park of Cap de Creus and the Natural Park in Montgrí, Medes Islands and Baix Ter in Catalonia (Spain). |
 | Tongues give clues to snake sex secretsFor the Spotted Brown Snake (or dugite), size doesn't matter when it comes to sex. |
 | Insights into group living shed light on ageing mechanismsA new study on how Cape ground squirrels live in the wild is revealing the effects of social stress on ageing. The research has potential to help understand ageing mechanisms in humans as well. |
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