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Here is your customized Science X Newsletter for June 6, 2018:
Spotlight Stories Headlines
Astronomy & Space news
 | Astronomers observe huge flares on a young brown dwarfUsing Kepler, astronomers have spotted two superflares on a very young brown dwarf known as CFHT-BD-Tau 4. The two superflares turn out to be the strongest flares observed on any brown dwarf so far. The finding is detailed in a paper published May 28 on the arXiv pre-print server. |
 | Data discrepancies may affect understanding of the universeOne of the unsolved mysteries in modern science is why the expansion of the universe appears to be accelerating. Some scientists argue it is due to a theoretical dark energy that counteracts the pull of gravity, while others think Albert Einstein's long-accepted theory of gravity itself may need to be modified. |
 | New crew blasts off for ISSA relatively inexperienced crew of two astronauts and a cosmonaut blasted off Wednesday from the Baikonur cosmodrome in Kazakhstan for a five-month mission on the International Space Station. |
 | Collisions of dead stars spray heavy elements throughout small galaxiesCaltech scientists have found, for the first time, that merging pairs of neutron stars—the burnt-out cores of stars that have exploded—create the majority of heavy elements in small "dwarf" galaxies. Heavy elements, such as silver and gold, are key for planet formation and even life itself. By studying these dwarf galaxies, the researchers hope to learn more about the primary sources of heavy elements for the whole universe. |
 | Tumultuous galaxy mergers better at switching on black holesA new study by researchers at the University of Colorado Boulder finds that violent crashes may be more effective at activating black holes than more peaceful mergers. |
 | New Horizons wakes for historic Kuiper Belt flybyNASA's New Horizons spacecraft is back "awake" and being prepared for the farthest planetary encounter in history – a New Year's Day 2019 flyby of the Kuiper Belt object nicknamed Ultima Thule. |
 | As solar wind blows, our heliosphere balloonsWhat happens when the solar wind suddenly starts to blow significantly harder? According to two recent studies, the boundaries of our entire solar system balloon outward—and an analysis of particles rebounding off of its edges will reveal its new shape. |
 | Study explores options that optimize profit in broadband satellite constellationsSeveral large telecommunications companies have proposed plans to provide global broadband services by launching hundreds and even thousands of satellites into orbit. Although broadband for everyone sounds like a great idea, it also carries great financial risk, resulting in bankruptcy for some who've tried it. Recent research at the University of Illinois suggests a more cost-effective strategy using regional coverage and staged deployment. |
 | New data-mining technique offers most-vivid picture of Martian mineralogyA team of scientists led by Carnegie's Shaunna Morrison and including Bob Hazen have revealed the mineralogy of Mars at an unprecedented scale, which will help them understand the planet's geologic history and habitability. Their findings are published in two American Mineralogist papers. |
 | How do you weigh a galaxy? Especially the one you're in?A new technique for estimating the mass of galaxies promises more reliable results, especially when applied to large datasets generated by current and future surveys, according to a research team led by Ekta Patel at the University of Arizona. Published in the Astrophysical Journal, the study is the first to combine the observed full three-dimensional motions of several of the Milky Way's satellite galaxies with extensive computer simulations to obtain a high-accuracy estimate for the mass of our home galaxy. |
 | Wind satellite shows offBefore ESA's Aeolus satellite is packed up and shipped to French Guiana for liftoff in August, media representatives had the chance to see this wind measuring Earth Explorer satellite standing proud in the cleanroom. |
 | ICE Cubes space research service open for businessThe first European facility for commercial research on the International Space Station was installed today in Europe's space laboratory Columbus. The International Commercial Experiments service – ICE Cubes for short – offers fast, simple and affordable access for research and technology experiments in microgravity. |
 | Majority of Americans believe it is essential that the US remain a global leader in spaceSixty years after the founding of NASA, most Americans say the U.S. should be at the forefront of global leadership in space exploration and believe that—even as private space companies emerge as increasingly important players—NASA's role is still vital for U.S. space exploration. |
Technology news
 | Japan 'drone-brella' promises hands-free sun coverIt's the hands-free experience you never knew you needed—a Japanese company has developed a drone-powered parasol it says can hover over users, protecting them from the sun. |
 | Nozzle-rich firefighter is a robot, resembles dragonJapan's engineers and technologists continue working to solve problems in handling various types of disasters—earthquakes, tsunamis, any unforeseen calamity causing extreme damage to property and human lives. This is apparent in a video that shows a research project of disaster robotics, the ImPACT-TRC Program. The Program Manager is named as Prof. Satoshi Tadokoro, Tohoku University. |
 | Sodium-based batteries could make your smartphone cheaper and cleanerSodium—one of the elements that make up table salt—could soon make cellphone batteries much cheaper and cleaner. That's the goal of Chongwu Zhou, a professor of electrical engineering at the USC Viterbi School of Engineering. |
 | Flying car startup backed by Google founder offers test flightsA flying car project backed by Google co-founder Larry Page was closer to take-off on Wednesday, with a model for test flights by aspiring buyers. |
 | Vermont start-up's small packets a big deal for energy industryIt's been a whirlwind few months for Packetized Energy, the energy sector start-up spun off from a large Department of Energy project in 2016 by three University of Vermont electrical engineering faculty, Paul Hines, Jeff Frolik and Mads Almassalkhi. |
Flexible solar cells: Will they someday power your devices?Will you ever be able to charge your mobile device, car and even clothing with flexible solar cells? Researchers at Aalto University in Finland and Université de Montréal are studying whether the now-experimental technology could someday be mass-produced and commercialized, and some of the issues that have to be resolved, including the environmental impact. | |
 | Facebook says Chinese phone makers got access to data (Update)Facebook on Tuesday confirmed that a Chinese phone maker deemed a national security threat by the US was among companies given access to data on users. |
 | Tesla reveals plans to build cars in ShanghaiTesla on Tuesday revealed to shareholders that it is working with officials in China to build electric cars and battery packs in Shanghai. |
 | Tesla shareholders reject bid to strip Musk of chairman roleTesla CEO Elon Musk has rebuffed a shareholder attempt to overhaul the electric car maker's board and strip him of his role as chairman, despite worries about the company's shaky finances and inability to meet its production goals for its first mass-market sedan. |
 | Airbnb culls Japan listings ahead of new rental lawRental platform Airbnb has suspended a large majority of its listings in Japan ahead of a new law that goes into effect next week regulating short-term rentals in the country. |
 | From beep to boom: Europe hears call of Chinese phonesChina's smartphone makers have long been confined to their enormous local market but this is fast changing, with a growing number of western European users opting for a relatively cheap but still sleek Chinese-made upgrade. |
 | Health sector gives blockchain glowing prognosisSecuring safe interchange of patient data, improving the conduct of clinical tests and medicine traceability, and lowering costs. |
 | Artificial intelligence trained to analyze causationThe causes of real-world problems in economics and public health can be notoriously hard to determine. Often, multiple causes are suspected, but large datasets with time-sequenced data are not available. Previous models could not reliably analyze these challenges. Now, researchers have tested the first artificial intelligence model to identify and rank many causes in real-world problems without time-sequenced data, using a multi-nodal causal structure and Directed Acyclic Graphs. |
 | China's Huawei says it hasn't collected Facebook user data (Update)Chinese phone maker Huawei said Wednesday it has never collected or stored Facebook user data, after the social media giant acknowledged it shared such data with Huawei and other manufacturers. |
 | Three steps toward safer and sounder softwareHow confident are you that your software will perform the way it is meant to in the moment of truth? How sure are you that a system going down somewhere else in your industry won't take yours out, too, or vice versa? |
 | Sites want your (anonymized) social media dataSocial media sites' responses to the Facebook-Cambridge Analytica scandal and new European privacy regulations have given users much more control over who can access their data, and for what purposes. To me, as a social media user, these are positive developments: It's scary to think what these platforms could do with the troves of data available about me. But as a researcher, increased restrictions on data sharing worry me. |
 | Microsoft sinks data centre off Scottish archipelagoUS tech giant Microsoft has submerged a data centre off the Orkney archipelago in northern Scotland in a project to save on the energy used to cool the servers on land, the firm said Wednesday. |
 | Facebook announces first original news shows, with partnersFacebook on Wednesday announced its first original news shows for the social network, joining other online platforms producing video to compete with television. |
 | Facebook deals with Chinese firm draw ire from US lawmakersFacebook drew fresh criticism from US lawmakers following revelations that it allowed Chinese smartphone makers, including one deemed a national security threat, access to user data. |
Qualcomm aims to spark virtual reality market with its first standalone AR/VR chipQualcomm is rolling out a dedicated chip targeting virtual reality/augmented reality headsets in hopes of driving the nascent market into the mainstream. | |
 | 'Super window' could save $10 billion annually in energy costsAbout $20 billion worth of energy leaks out of windows in the United States each winter—and that's with double-paned insulating windows installed on a majority of buildings. The Department of Energy's Lawrence Berkeley National Laboratory (Berkeley Lab) is now working with manufacturers to bring to market a "super window" that is at least twice as insulating as 99 percent of the windows for sale today and will be ready to achieve mass-market status. |
 | Electric test plane crashes in Hungary killing twoAn electric plane powered by Siemens crashed during a test flight in Hungary, killing both pilots on board, the German industrial conglomerate said Wednesday. |
 | British cyber expert accused of lying to FBI about malwareA British cybersecurity researcher credited with stopping a worldwide computer virus last year faces new charges, including lying to the FBI, in an updated indictment Wednesday accusing him of developing malware to steal banking information. |
 | Ryanair recognises cabin crew unions for first timeRyanair has for the first time reached an agreement to recognise cabin crew staff who have union membership, but only in Italy, the Irish no-frills airline announced Wednesday. |
Former head of Cambridge Analytica to testifyThe former head of the defunct political consultant Cambridge Analytica is due to testify to British lawmakers investigating the use of Facebook data in election campaigns. | |
 | Insects supply chitin as a raw material for the textile industryHarmful chemicals are often used in textile processing. That is why the Fraunhofer Institute for Interfacial Engineering and Biotechnology IGB is researching harmless biobased alternatives. The Institute is working on utilizing side streams from the animal feed manufacture for the production of chitosan. The biopolymer is supposed to be used as a sizing agent in the processing of yarns or for the functionalization of textiles. Fraunhofer IGB will present its work at the ACHEMA trade fair from June 11 – 15 in Frankfurt am Main. |
Amazon's TV deal with Jordan Peele among the highest-profile to date for streaming serviceWhen it comes to enticing A-list production talent to the world of streaming television, Amazon Studios is showing that two can play this game. | |
It's not all rainbows for Chicago's $1 billion tech 'unicorns'The office space in the old Montgomery Ward catalog warehouse where cancer-fighting data startup Tempus set up shop almost three years ago couldn't contain the company's growth. | |
Tech behemoths Facebook, Google planning big Chicago office expansionsFacebook and Google are mapping big expansions in Chicago, where real estate searches by two of the nation's other technology giants have been the center of attention. | |
 | Twitter to be added to S&P 500 index, shares jump on newsSocial media platform Twitter will be added to the S&P 500 stock index before the start of trading Thursday, a move that will expand the number of individual investors who own the stock through index funds that track the large-company stock gauge. |
End-to-end blood testing device shows capacity to draw sample and provide diagnostic resultsResearchers from the Biomedical Engineering Department at Rutgers University have developed an end-to-end blood testing device that integrates robotic phlebotomy with downstream sample processing. This platform device performs blood draws and provides diagnostic results in a fully automated fashion at the point-of-care. By reducing turnaround times, the device has the potential to expedite hospital work-flow, allowing practitioners to devote more time to treating patients. The research has been published in a paper in the June 2018 issue of Technology. | |
 | Bonjour, Alexa: Amazon digital assistant heads to FranceAmazon on Wednesday announced that its digital assistant Alexa is heading for France in Echo voice-commanded speakers as of next week. |
 | No agreement yet between US, China on ZTE: Trump aideThe United States and China have not yet reached a deal on Chinese telecoms giant ZTE that would lift crippling sanctions against the company, top US economic advisor Larry Kudlow said Wednesday. |
Medicine & Health news
 | Scientists work to dissolve the NETs that worsen TBI damageImmune cells that are first responders to a traumatic brain injury appear to also contribute to the secondary damage that can occur even days later, scientists say. |
 | A better way to trace neuronal pathways—Moving forward by moving backward more effectivelyNew technologies have been likened, famously, to magic. At first, even the few who understand how they work have a tendency to sit back and marvel. Soon, flaws and limitations are detected and the invention process begins again, resulting, almost always, in improvements. |
 | New neural model reveals how the brain adapts to new informationHumans can perform a vast array of mental operations and adjust their behavioral responses based on external instructions and internal beliefs. For example, to tap your feet to a musical beat, your brain has to process the incoming sound and also use your internal knowledge of how the song goes. |
 | Excess zinc in muscles contributes to wasting syndrome in cancerIt's estimated that nearly one-third of all cancer deaths are caused not by the cancer itself but by cachexia—a debilitating muscle-wasting syndrome that affects an estimated 80 percent of advanced cancer patients. Cachexia is linked to reduced tolerance for cancer therapy, poor quality of life, and accelerated death, but there are no effective treatments and its cause is still largely unknown. |
 | Human drug addiction behaviors tied to specific impairments in six brain networksSpecific impairments within six large-scale brain networks during drug cue exposure, decision-making, inhibitory control, and social-emotional processing are associated with drug addiction behaviors, according to a systematic review of more than 100 published neuroimaging studies by experts at the Icahn School of Medicine at Mount Sinai and published Wednesday, June 6 in the journal Neuron. |
 | Scientists create 'genetic atlas' of proteins in human bloodAn international team of researchers led by scientists at the University of Cambridge and MSD has created the first detailed genetic map of human proteins, the key building blocks of biology. These discoveries promise to enhance our understanding of a wide range of diseases and aid development of new drugs. |
 | What does the future hold for the children of the Zika virus outbreak in Brazil?Zika virus is an arbovirus transmitted by the Aedes aegypti mosquito, but it can also be transmitted by sexual contact and blood transfusion. Adult patients infected by Zika usually present only mild symptoms over a few days, such as rashes, conjunctivitis, arthralgia and mild fever. |
 | As mystery deepens over the cause of Alzheimer's, researchers seek new answersFor more than 20 years, much of the leading research on Alzheimer's disease has been guided by the "amyloid hypothesis." |
 | Stem-cell niche for 10 billion colon cells a dayResearchers at the University of Zurich have discovered the identity of the stem-cell niche of the colon. The niche comprises special cells that activate the stem cells of the adjacent intestinal epithelium and are responsible for its continuous renewal. Without the activation signal, the epithelium perishes. If it's constantly activated, early stages of cancer develop. The discovery helps to improve our understanding of intestinal cancer and inflammation. |
 | Scientists see inner workings of enzyme telomerase, which plays key roles in aging, cancerCancer, aging-related diseases and other illnesses are closely tied to an important enzyme called "telomerase." UCLA researchers report in the journal Cell the deepest scientific understanding yet of this once-mysterious enzyme, whose catalytic core—where most of its activity occurs—can now be seen in near atomic resolution. |
 | Antibody blocks inflammation, protects mice from hardened arteries and liver diseaseResearchers at University of California San Diego School of Medicine discovered that they can block inflammation in mice with a naturally occurring antibody that binds oxidized phospholipids (OxPL), molecules on cell surfaces that get modified by inflammation. Even while on a high-fat diet, the antibody protected the mice from arterial plaque formation, hardening of the arteries and liver disease, and prolonged their lives. |
 | Lab-grown neurons improve breathing in mice after spinal cord injuryResearchers from Drexel University College of Medicine and the University of Texas at Austin improved respiratory function in rodents with spinal cord injuries after successfully transplanting a special class of neural cells, called V2a interneurons. Their results, published this week in the Journal of Neurotrauma, indicate that these lab-grown cells have the potential to one day help paralyzed patients breathe without a ventilator. |
 | Immunization with beneficial bacteria makes brain more stress resilient, study showsImmunization with beneficial bacteria can have long-lasting anti-inflammatory effects on the brain, making it more resilient to the physical and behavioral effects of stress, according to new research by University of Colorado Boulder scientists. |
 | Major heart attacks are more deadly during colder monthsHeart attacks are more likely to kill you in the winter than in the summer, according to new research presented at the British Cardiovascular Society Conference in Manchester today. |
 | Researchers take a step closer to developing a DNA test for liver cancerA group of researchers from Mayo Clinic and Exact Sciences Corporation have completed a phase II study comparing a set of DNA markers to alpha fetoprotein as a method to test for liver cancer. The researchers presented their findings today at the 2018 Digestive Disease Week conference in Washington, D.C. |
 | Exposure to smoking before and after birth linked to hearing impairment in toddlersExposure to tobacco smoke prenatally and postnatally was associated with hearing impairment in a Paediatric and Perinatal Epidemiology study of young children in Japan. |
 | Study examines sickness absence from work among abstainers, low-risk drinkers and at-risk drinkersIn a recent study, people who reported not drinking any alcohol over several years were absent from work due to illness more often than low-risk drinkers. The findings are published in Addiction. |
Job strain linked to increased risk of premature death for men with cardiometabolic diseaseHaving a demanding job and little control over it is associated with an increased risk of premature death in men with coronary heart disease, stroke, or diabetes, according to an observational study tracking more than 100000 men and women with and without cardiometabolic disease from Finland, France, Sweden, and the UK for almost 14 years, published in The Lancet Diabetes & Endocrinology journal. | |
 | A look at Zika and its link to microcephalyThree years ago, Brazil experienced a major Zika outbreak that led to the revelation that the virus can cause severe birth defects in babies whose mothers were infected during pregnancy. Here's a look at what scientists know today about Zika and its effect on developing fetuses. |
 | Change a-brewing as health-conscious Brits snub boozeBritain has celebrated its drinking culture for centuries but initiatives such as the "Dry January" campaign show body-conscious adults are now shunning alcohol in record numbers—a phenomenon seized upon by the drinks industry. |
Stroke survivors could gain the most from new blood pressure guidelinesTreating high blood pressure in stroke survivors more aggressively, could cut deaths by one-third, according to new research in Journal of the American Heart Association, the Open Access Journal of the American Heart Association/American Stroke Association. | |
 | Link found between neurotransmitter imbalance, brain connectivity in those with autismOne in 59 children in the United States lives with a form of autism spectrum disorder, according to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. The signs of autism begin in early childhood and can affect individuals differently. However, many with autism share similar symptoms, including difficulties with social communication. Researchers from the University of Missouri School of Medicine and MU Thompson Center for Autism and Neurodevelopmental Disorders identified a link between a neurotransmitter imbalance and brain connectivity between regions of the brain that play a role in social communication and language. The study found two tests that could lead to more precise medical treatments. |
Black, Hispanic people may be more likely to have a second hemorrhagic stroke than whitesBlack and Hispanic people may be more likely to have another intracerebral hemorrhage, or a stroke caused by bleeding in the brain, than white people, according to a study published in the June 6, 2018, online issue of Neurology, the medical journal of the American Academy of Neurology. | |
 | Family blood mystery solvedIn the late 1970s, a man with an unexplained high hemoglobin level (Hb) was referred to Namsos Hospital north of Trondheim, Norway. It turned out that four members of his family had the same condition. Doctor Kjell Kanelønning was the physician who treated the family. He examined the man and his family members thoroughly without finding the cause of their condition. |
 | Fake organs guide the way for 'impossible' cancer surgeryAnthony Camnetar remembers the first time he was told that he had von Hippel-Lindau syndrome, a rare genetic disorder. He was 12 years old and his mother, who had just picked him up from school, broke the news through tears realizing the health challenges her son would face for the rest of his life. |
 | Want narcissists to donate to your cause? Make it about themWhen narcissistic individuals are able to imagine themselves in a victim's situation, they are more likely to donate to charity, according to new research from the University at Buffalo School of Management. |
 | How much empathy do you feel when powerful people suffer?Would you feel sorry for a factory floor worker who suffered a 10 percent cut to his yearly $40,000 annual income? How about for an executive who lost 10 percent of his $400,000? The answer may depend on how strongly you support a social hierarchy. |
 | How superstition changes the way we make decisionsHave you ever worn your "lucky" shoes to a job interview, or knocked on wood after saying something hopeful? These types of superstitious actions aren't rational, but many of us do them anyways. |
Are fast-pitch softball pitchers overdoing it?Youth baseball leagues often have fairly strict limits on how many innings pitchers can pitch, or how many pitches a player can throw. But for girls playing fast-pitch softball, such guidelines are rare. One reason is that softball pitchers throw underhand, a motion thought to stress the arm less than the overhand throws seen in baseball. | |
 | Real-time, web-based tool to revolutionise drug-resistant TB treatmentMelbourne researchers have designed a computer-generated model that will allow clinicians to tailor effective therapies for individual patients with multidrug-resistant tuberculosis (MDRTB), and as a result, reduce drug resistance globally. |
 | Vitamin B3 has a positive effect on damaged nerve cells in Parkinson's patientsUnsteady hands, stiff muscles and slow movements – all these are typical symptoms of Parkinson's disease. Some 220,000 people in Germany are affected by the disease, which becomes more likely to occur as people get older. It is caused by the loss of nerve cells in the brain and remains incurable. A team of researchers headed by Dr. Dr. Michela Deleidi at the Hertie Institute for Clinical Brain Research and the University of Tübingen is now reporting that nicotinamide riboside – a form of vitamin B3 – may offer a possible treatment. Initial results from the laboratory are promising: "This substance stimulates the faulty energy metabolism in the affected nerve cells and protects them from dying off," Deleidi explains. The researchers have published their study in the latest edition of the journal Cell Reports. |
 | Alzheimer's disease—why insulin is a new suspectJohnson and Johnson recently announced that it was halting a clinical trial for a new Alzheimer's drug after safety issues emerged. This latest failure adds to the dozens of large, costly clinical trials that have shown no effect in treating this devastating disease. |
 | Porn, alcohol, peers linked to sexual assault by male college freshmenYoung men entering college may be more likely to perpetrate sexual violence if they are consumers of pornography, engage in heavy drinking, subscribe to exaggerated male stereotypes and have friends who encourage sexual violence, according to a study led by researchers from the School of Public Health at Georgia State University. |
 | Analysis finds schizophrenics have thinner cerebral cortex, on averageIndividuals with schizophrenia, on average, have a thinner cerebral cortex, the largest part of the brain that controls higher intellectual functions and motor activity, compared to healthy people, according to an international study co-led by Georgia State University and the University of California, Irvine. |
 | New study reveals gap in mental health services for at-risk kidsIn a paper published in The Lancet Public Health this month, a University of South Australia (UniSA) research team has estimated a concerning gap in the workforce required to deliver tertiary-level community health care to infants, children, adolescents and their families across South Australia. |
 | Identifying a subgroup of heart failure patients could lead to improved careFor more than six decades, oxidative stress has been linked to heart failure, a progressive weakening of the heart muscle that can lead to death. While antioxidant supplements such as vitamin C, vitamin B and beta-carotene have been widely used in heart failure, they often prove ineffective. |
New research on antidepressant addiction and withdrawalA study of more than 1800 New Zealanders has found a significant number of people on antidepressants believe the drugs are addictive and more than half report experiencing withdrawal symptoms. | |
 | Killing bacteria by silencing genes may be alternative to antibioticsA new approach to killing C. difficile that silences key bacterial genes while sparing other bacteria may provide a new way to treat the most common hospital-acquired bacterial infection in the United States, according to researchers. |
 | Why long-term separation from parents harms kidsAs a society, we often wax eloquent about how important it is to nurture, support and protect our children. The sad reality, however, is that all too often major, life-changing decisions are made without any consideration of their potential lifelong and devastating impact on kids. |
 | Why pregnant women with depression often slip through the cracksJudy's first pregnancy was planned, and she was looking forward to having a baby. Yet, halfway through the pregnancy, something changed. She began to feel down and bad about herself. She had less energy and struggled to concentrate. Thinking this was a normal part of pregnancy, she ignored it. |
What would help or hinder patient participation in mitochondrial disease clinical trials?As clinical trials gear up with the aim of attaining the first FDA-approved treatments for mitochondrial disease, a new study reports for the first time what patients and families say would motivate them for or against participating in such research trials. | |
 | Neighborhoods can help buffer impacts from childhood povertyIn one of the first studies to examine the effect of both socioeconomic status and neighborhoods on children's health, researchers at San Francisco State University and the University of California, San Francisco (UCSF) found that living in higher opportunity neighborhoods may protect children from some of the negative health impacts associated with growing up poor. |
 | The psychosocial toll of our increasingly online livesWant to book plane tickets? Order a pizza for dinner? Check available university courses? Write a note to your Aunt Sally? Chances are you're going to need a smartphone (or laptop or desktop or smartwatch or Amazon Echo personal assistant...) for that. |
 | Ebola toll in DR Congo rises to 27Two more people have died of Ebola in northwestern Democratic Republic of Congo, bringing the toll to 27 in nearly a month, the health ministry said on Wednesday. |
Drug combination offers more effective care for patients suffering miscarriageA combination of the drugs mifepristone and misoprostol can help bring closure to some women and their families suffering from miscarriage, and reduces the need for surgical intervention to complete the painful miscarriage process. Results of a new clinical trial led by researchers at the Perelman School of Medicine at the University of Pennsylvania, show that while the standard drug regimen using misoprostol on its own frequently fails to complete the miscarriage, a combination of misoprostol and the drug mifepristone works much more reliably. The report is published today in the New England Journal of Medicine. | |
 | Most clinical trial participants find benefits of sharing personal data outweigh risksMost participants in clinical trials believe the benefits of broadly sharing person-level data outweigh the risks, according to a new study by Stanford University researchers. |
 | Education linked to higher risk of short-sightednessSpending more years in full time education is associated with a greater risk of developing short-sightedness (myopia), finds a study published by The BMJ today. |
 | New lab technology could reveal treatments for muscle-wasting diseaseResearchers from Queen Mary University of London have developed new cell-based technologies which could help improve understanding of the muscle-wasting disease Duchenne muscular dystrophy (DMD) and test potential drugs for the disease. |
New link identified between inflammation and depression in type-1 diabetesDepression in type-1 diabetes patients is associated with higher levels of the inflammatory protein galectin-3, according to research published in Endocrine Connections. These findings suggest that galectin-3 levels may be useful for diagnosis of depression or may be a new target for treating depression associated with type-1 diabetes, which could lead to better patient care. | |
 | What doctors wear really does matter, study findsPhysicians may want to dig a little deeper into their closets, or grab their white coats on the way out of the operating room, if they want patients to view them favorably, according to the largest-ever study of patient preferences for doctors' attire. |
 | More teens than ever would try marijuana(HealthDay)—One in four U.S. high school seniors would try marijuana or use it more often if it was legal, a new survey finds. |
 | Go vegan to jumpstart weight loss(HealthDay)—Vegan diets are hard for many people to stick with long-term, but studies show that this way of eating can translate to weight loss. |
 | Similar primary outcome for lower O2 sat in extreme preterm(HealthDay)—Different target ranges for oxygen saturation as measured by pulse oximetry (SpO2) do not affect the composite primary outcome of death or major disability for extremely preterm infants, according to research published in the June 5 issue of the Journal of the American Medical Association. |
 | CDC: Office-based physician visit rates vary by patient age, sex(HealthDay)—There is considerable variation in office-based physician visit rates by patient age and sex, according to a June data brief published by the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention's National Center for Health Statistics (NCHS). |
 | USPSTF advises PCPs to screen adults for unhealthy alcohol use(HealthDay)—Screening adults, including pregnant women, and providing brief counseling in primary care settings can reduce unhealthy alcohol use, although inadequate evidence is found to weigh the balance of benefits and harms of screening adolescents. These findings form the basis of a draft recommendation statement published online June 5 by the U.S. Preventive Services Task Force (USPSTF). |
 | FDA OKs first biosimilar to prevent chemo-related infections(HealthDay)—The first biosimilar drug to Neulasta has been approved by the U.S. Food and Drug Administration. Fulphila (pegfilgrastim) is approved for patients with non-myeloid cancer who are receiving myelosuppressive chemotherapy and have symptoms of febrile neutropenia. |
 | FDA: opioid antidote naloxone recalled(HealthDay)—A recall of the opioid overdose antidote Naloxone was announced Monday. The U.S. Food and Drug Administration said the recall was triggered by the possibility of "loose particulate matter on the syringe plunger" that could pose a number of health risks, CNN reported. |
 | Clear predictors of changing insulin requirements and A1C in youth with type 1 diabetesManaging type 1diabetes during the first two decades of life is challenging. Insulin requirements change along with the stages of life —- childhood, puberty, young adulthood, and beyond. But a 20-year longitudinal study conducted by researchers from Joslin Diabetes Center and Harvard Medical School identifies clear predictors of rising A1C levels in young persons, as well as ways to improve glycemic control in this population. The study has been published online by Diabetic Medicine. |
 | Q&A: What's the best way to boost your fiber intake?Dear Mayo Clinic: I experience constipation almost weekly, and eating bran flakes every day isn't helping. Are fiber supplements safe to use regularly and long term? Is there anything else I can do? I'm a 53-year-old woman and otherwise in excellent health. |
 | Bioengineers identify safer way to make rugby tacklesBioengineers have compiled a set of recommendations that could significantly reduce concussions and other head injuries in rugby union, having assessed how head impacts and movement vary based on the position on the body where tackles are made. The bioengineers discovered that the risks are not precisely the same for the two groups, as tacklers are at higher risk of a head injury assessment (HIA) than ball carriers. Chief among the findings is the discovery that tackles made to the lower trunk of the ball carrier's body (roughly around the pelvis) - as opposed to the upper trunk (chest and shoulders) or upper legs (thighs and knees) - lead to a reduced risk of tacklers receiving head injury assessments (HIAs). |
 | International 'A' team debuts brain cancer atlasIt takes an "A" team to make headway against glioblastoma, a highly aggressive type of brain cancer. Glioblastoma is the most common type of malignant brain tumor in adults. In addition to the caliber of the researchers involved, in this case "A" also stands for atlas. |
Recorded calls beat Facebook ads in getting residents to request free smoke alarmA new study from the Johns Hopkins Bloomberg School of Public Health found automated phone calls were far more effective than Facebook ads in getting Baltimore City residents to request a smoke alarm through the city's free installation program. | |
Teenage girls are more impacted by sleepiness than teen boys arePreliminary results of a recent study show that teen girls reported a higher degree of interference of daytime sleepiness on multiple aspects of their school and personal activities than boys. | |
Study suggests new combination treatment against relapsed head and neck cancerThe five-year survival rate for locally-advanced head and neck cancer is only 46 percent, even with treatments including surgery, radiation, chemotherapy and/or genetically targeted treatments such as cetuximab. Often, the problem is that while treatments initially work, cancer evolves to resist treatment. | |
Poor sleep linked to lower cognitive functioning in people with diabetes and prediabetesA study published in the journal Acta Diabetologica reports that people with diabetes and prediabetes who have lower sleep efficiency—a measure of how much time in bed is actually spent sleeping—have poorer cognitive function than those with better sleep efficiency. | |
A deeper understanding of AFib could lower riskMore than 2.5 million Americans are living with Atrial Fibrillation (AFib). AFib is an irregular heartbeat that can lead to blood clots, stroke, heart failure and other heart-related complications. | |
 | Team is first to identify the perinexus in the human heart; potential implications for atrial fibrillationA collaborative research team is on a quest to collapse a tiny pocket between cardiac cells that can cause big problems. Called the perinexus, the structure spans only tenths of a millimeter—all the space it needs to disrupt a person's heartbeat. |
 | Model examines pregnancy's effects on opioid addiction treatmentBuprenorphine (BUP) is approved for the treatment of opioid addiction. The current dosing regimen of BUP in pregnant women is based on recommendations designed for non-pregnant adults, but physiological changes during pregnancy may alter BUP exposure and efficacy. |
 | Optimal sleep linked to lower risks for dementia and early deathShort and long daily sleep duration were risk factors for dementia and premature death in a study of Japanese adults aged 60 years and older. The findings are published in the Journal of the American Geriatrics Society. |
 | Opioid use may affect treatment for alcohol dependenceNew research indicates that opioid misuse and the use of cannabis and other drugs may compromise the effectiveness of treatments for alcohol use disorder. In an Alcoholism: Clinical and Experimental Research study, individuals with alcohol dependence who misused opioids and those who used cannabis and other drugs were more likely to drink heavily and frequently during and following treatment. |
Urinary markers predict bone problems after hip replacementIn a study published in the Journal of Orthopaedic Research, investigators have identified urinary markers that differentiate total hip replacement patients who eventually develop bone tissue destruction, or osteolysis, from patients who do not. | |
Combination drug therapy effectively treats male infertilityTwo drugs that are commonly used off-label in the treatment of male infertility are clomiphene citrate (CC) and anastrozole (AZ); however, data are lacking on the use of combination CC+AZ therapy. | |
 | 'Lipofilling' technique found safe for reconstruction after breast cancer surgeryAutologous fat transfer, also known as "lipofilling", is a minimally invasive procedure in which the plastic surgeon uses the patient's own fat obtained by liposuction to perform breast reconstruction. For more than a decade, experts have questioned the oncological safety of this technique when applied to the former breast cancer patient, because autologous fat transfer stimulates the formation of blood vessels and tissue regeneration; however, a recent BJS (British Journal of Surgery) meta-analysis of published studies found that the technique does not result in an increased rate of cancer recurrence. |
Do arthritis treatments provide mental health benefits?Drugs used to treat rheumatoid arthritis may impact mental health by improving pain and stiffness and by targeting inflammatory processes common to arthritis and depression; however, a recent review of published studies demonstrates that relying on rheumatoid arthritis therapies alone may not meaningfully improve patients' mental health. | |
Different outdoor professions carry different risks for skin cancerOne of the main risk factors for non-melanoma skin cancer (NMSC), the most common cancer worldwide, is solar ultraviolet radiation. A new Journal of the European Academy of Dermatology and Venereology study has found that different outdoor professions carry different risks for NMSC. | |
 | Increased electrical activity in eye may relieve short-term dry eye painA boost of electrical activity in the eye's mucous membranes may lead to new treatments for the painful condition known as dry eye. The study, published ahead of print in the American Journal of Physiology—Cell Physiology, was chosen as an APSselect article for June. |
 | Are two cancer immunotherapy drugs better than one?A class of immunotherapy drugs called checkpoint inhibitors has shown great promise against cancer in some patients. However, researchers' attempts to boost the drugs' efficacy by combining them with other immunotherapies have been disappointing. An article in Chemical & Engineering News (C&EN), the weekly news magazine of the American Chemical Society, describes the many challenges involved with harnessing the immune system to fight cancer. |
 | To get around pharmacy gag rules, ask about drug costs"Do you have prescription insurance?" |
 | New nuclear medicine method shows promise for better detection of neuroendocrine tumorsResearchers have shown that a new nuclear medicine procedure could safely and more effectively detect cancerous gastrointestinal and pancreatic neuroendocrine tumors than current methods. The study is featured in the June issue of The Journal of Nuclear Medicine. |
Emergency physicians debunk 'dry drowning' myths, highlight drowning risk in older swimmersParents have been reading—and sharing—alarming reports of children who died or nearly died due to "dry drowning" over the past year. However, the use of that incorrect, nonmedical term has contributed to confusion about the true dangers of drowning in children and led to serious and fatal conditions being ignored after a "dry drowning" diagnosis was made, according to a special report in the June issue of Emergency Medicine News. | |
Preterm newborns sleep better in NICU while hearing their mother's voiceHearing a recording of their mother's voice may help neonates maintain sleep while in the neonatal intensive care unit (NICU), according to preliminary data from a new study. | |
Biology news
 | Study finds aromatic herbs lead to better parenting in starlingsFor European starlings (Sturnus vulgaris), the presence of aromatic herbs in the nest leads to some improved parenting behaviors, according to a new study. Specifically, birds whose nests incorporate herbs along with dried grasses were more likely to attend their nests, exhibited better incubation behavior for their eggs, and became active earlier in the day. |
 | You talking to me? Scientists try to unravel the mystery of 'animal conversations'African elephants like to rumble, naked mole rats trade soft chirps, while fireflies alternate flashes in courtship dialogues. |
 | Avoiding catastrophe: Yeast study reveals clues to maintaining genome sizeAs cells divide, they must accurately split their DNA between the two daughter cells or risk having an uneven number of chromosomes which can lead to developmental disorders and cancer. A new Donnelly Centre study uncovers how a key molecular machinery drives this process and gives clues to why some children develop aggressive kidney tumours. |
 | Patenting marine genetic resources: Who owns ocean biodiversity?Marine organisms have evolved to thrive in various ocean environments, resulting in unique adaptations that make them the object of commercial interest. Researchers from the Stockholm Resilience Centre and University of British Columbia have identified 862 marine species, with a total of 12,998 genetic sequences associated with a patent. They found that a single transnational corporation (BASF, the world's largest chemical manufacturer) has registered 47% of these sequences. |
 | Study on economics of fishing on the high seasAs much as 54 percent of the high seas fishing industry would be unprofitable at its current scale without large government subsidies, according to a new study by researchers from the National Geographic Society; the University of California, Santa Barbara; Global Fishing Watch; the Sea Around Us project at the University of British Columbia; and the University of Western Australia. The research, published today in the open-access journal Science Advances, found that the global cost of fishing in the high seas ranged between $6.2 billion and $8 billion USD in 2014. Profits from this activity range between a loss of $364 million and a profit of $1.4 billion USD. |
 | Sex and social experience affect ultrasonic vocalizations in miceMale mice produce more vocalizations after being with other mice than after being alone, according to a study published June 6, 2018 in the open-access journal PLOS ONE by Kali Burke from University at Buffalo, SUNY, US, and colleagues. |
 | Obese dogs could have similar 'personality' traits to overweight humans – new studyWe're all told we need to eat healthier and exercise more to combat obesity, but did you know that there's also an obesity epidemic among pets, at least in the West? Between 39% and 59% of pet dogs in Europe, Australia and the US are estimated to be overweight or obese. In fact, obesity is now considered the biggest threat to the the health and well-being of our pets. |
 | Learning good habits is secret to seabird foraging successLong-lived seabird species, such as gannets, take several years to learn where the best feeding grounds are and how to recognise them, new research has revealed. |
 | Species found to lose fear of predators after 13 generations of protective isolationA trio of researchers from the University of Melbourne and the University of Life Science, Sydney, has found an isolated mammal species that lost its fear of predators in just 13 generations. In their paper published in the journal Biology Letters, Chris Jolly, Jonathan Webb and Ben Phillips describe their study of protected northern quolls living in Australia and what they found. |
 | Ocean warming, 'junk-food' prey cause of massive seabird die-off, study findsIn the fall of 2014, West Coast residents witnessed a strange, unprecedented ecological event. Tens of thousands of small seabird carcasses washed ashore on beaches from California to British Columbia, in what would become one of the largest bird die-offs ever recorded. |
 | Researchers glimpse elusive stem cell in the early embryoStem cell researchers at Harvard Medical School and Boston Children's Hospital have, for the first time, profiled a highly elusive kind of stem cell in the early embryo—a cell so fleeting that it makes its entrance and exit within a 12-hour span. |
 | Genetic study offers highest resolution yet of rat populations in the New WorldA team of researchers from the U.S., Canada and Brazil has done a genetic analysis of rats from four major cities in the New World. In their paper published in the journal Proceedings of the Royal Society B, the group describes their study and what they found. |
 | Scientists study how wood is formed and how that process can help develop materials for the futureWhen plants moved from sea to land they faced a problem they hadn't previously encountered. How, when you are now surrounded by air, do you get water up to your leaves? |
 | Male vervet monkeys use punishment and coercion to de-escalate costly intergroup fightsMale vervet monkeys attack members of their own group to prevent them from escalating intergroup encounters into high-risk fights, or to de-escalate ongoing intergroup fights. In contrast, female monkeys use "the carrot and the stick" to promote male participation in intergroup fights, anthropologists at the University of Zurich and University of Neuchâtel have shown. |
 | Camouflaged plants use the same tricks as animalsPlants use many of the same methods as animals to camouflage themselves, a new study shows. |
 | Breeding better Brazilian riceOutside Asia, no other country produces as much rice as does Brazil. It is the ninth largest rice producer in the world. Average annual yields are close to 15 million tons. |
 | Study warns of alarming decline in Australian fishConservation experts warned Wednesday of alarming falls in Australian fish populations and called for more marine reserves and better management to halt the decline. |
 | For disappearing Bicknell's thrushes, statistical models are lifesaversBicknell's Thrush has been identified as a globally vulnerable Nearctic-Neotropical migratory bird in need of serious conservation efforts. This species travels each year between its breeding grounds in the Canadian maritime provinces and upper northeastern United States and its winter home in the Greater Antilles. Males and females use different habitats in winter, with females preferring middle elevation forests that are more vulnerable to human disturbance than the higher, more remote forests used by males. A new study from The Condor: Ornithological Applications identifies key habitat for females in the remaining fragmented montane wet forests of the Dominican Republic. |
 | For flickers, looks can be deceivingThe North American woodpeckers known as "flickers" stand out for their distinctive wing and tail feathers of bright reds or yellows, and for their rampant interbreeding where these birds of different colors meet in the Great Plains. Despite the obvious visual differences between the Red-shafted Flicker of the west and the Yellow-shafted Flicker of the east, scientists have never before found genetic differences between them. A new study from The Auk: Ornithological Advances uses data from thousands of regions across the genome to distinguish these birds molecularly for the first time. |
 | New tool enables large-scale analysis of single cellsNew research led by Holger Heyn at the Centro Nacional de Análisis Genómico of the Centre for Genomic Regulation (CNAG-CRG), presents a sophisticated computational framework to analyze single-cell gene expression levels, scalable to process millions of individual cells. The work, published in the current issue of the scientific journal Genome Research, reports the first tool capable of analyzing such large single-cell RNA-seq dataset. This dramatically extends the limits of single-cell genome research. |
Pine invasion threatens South West native forestsUnintentional seeding from pine plantations poses a grave threat to Australian native forests, new research by Edith Cowan University (ECU) suggests. | |
 | How a genetically modified soybean helped modernize an economyAs Brazil grew richer in the 2000s, its agricultural workers left their farms in droves and headed to work in the rapidly growing industrial sector. |
 | Searching for turtles in a sea of grassSearching for reptiles and amphibians is often quite tedious. You have to carefully scan ahead of each step for movement before a snake gets away, or spend hours flipping over logs to find the particular salamander you are looking for. |
 | The threats behind the plight of the puffinPuffins are facing a perilous future. Population numbers have fallen sharply, and there are even fears the sea bird could be heading towards extinction within the next 100 years. |
 | Not letting the neighbours ruin the moodNew research into the reproductive behaviour of one of New Zealand's most mysterious and unusual insects – the cave weta – shows that the male weta's distinctively-elongated hind legs play a vital role in ensuring mating success. |
 | Microplastics may heat marine turtle nests and produce more femalesHave you ever considered that small pieces of plastic less than 5 millimeters long, or smaller than a pencil eraser head, called microplastics, can affect large marine vertebrates like sea turtles? |
 | Female bats judge a singer by his songFemale lesser short-tailed bats can size up a potential mate just from his singing. A new study in Springer's journal Behavioral Ecology and Sociobiology shows that the New Zealand bat species Mystacina tuberculata relies on singing as a primary method of courtship, and the complex signals given out by males allow females to assess the physiological suitability of a mate. The research was conducted by Cory Toth of the University of Auckland and Stuart Parsons of the Queensland University of Technology in Australia. |
 | Scientists stunned by decline of birds during epic Southern African roadtripA two year project to repeat a famous bird survey by driving over 20, 000km in a 4x4 across Botswana has confirmed researchers' fears: many birds of prey are fast disappearing from one of Africa's last great wilderness areas. |
 | Inside the brains of killer beesAfricanized honeybees, commonly known as "killer bees," are much more aggressive than their European counterparts. Now researchers have examined neuropeptide changes that take place in Africanized honeybees' brains during aggressive behavior. The researchers, who report their results in the Journal of Proteome Research, also showed they could turn gentle bees into angry ones by injecting them with certain peptides. |
Impact of fishing gear entanglement deduced from whale hormone levelsA novel hormone analysis provides a viable way of measuring the duration and effects of fishing gear entanglement on endangered North Atlantic right whales. This forensic technique for analyzing stress responses can also provide information on fasting periods and physical stress in whales. Published in open-access journal Frontiers in Marine Science, the technique can be used to study other baleen species to understand the impact of human activity on threatened whale populations. | |
 | Researchers assess how the quality of red sea urchin roe—uni—influences fishermen's behaviorSea urchin roe is an acquired taste. Served as sushi, uni—the Japanese word for this delicacy—is actually the reproductive organ of the sea urchin. |
 | Human encouragement might influence how dogs solve problemsHuman encouragement might influence how dogs solve problems, according to a new Oregon State University study. |
 | Desert bighorn sheep are crossing Interstate 40 in CaliforniaDesert bighorn sheep are able to climb steep, rocky terrain with speed and agility. New research shows that they can cross a four-lane highway. |
 | Decoding the honeybee dance could lead to healthier hivesUnravelling one of the most elaborate forms of non-human communication – the honeybee's waggle dance – could help researchers better understand insect brains and make farming more environmentally friendly. |
 | Mountain gorilla numbers climb upwardsResults from a two-year survey in the transboundary Virunga Massif, one of the two remaining habitats of the mountain gorilla, show numbers of the critically endangered species are on the rise. |
Study examines how pathogens affect bird migrationWhether long-distance animal migration facilitates or hampers pathogen transmission depends on how infections affect the routes and timing of migrating hosts. In a Journal of Zoology study, investigators have found that haemosporidians—blood parasites commonly infecting birds—likely impede migratory performance, as infected individuals lag behind those who are uninfected. | |
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