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Here is your customized Science X Newsletter for August 23, 2018:
Spotlight Stories Headlines
Astronomy & Space news
 | European wind survey satellite launched from French GuyanaA new satellite that will use advanced laser technology to track global winds and improve weather forecasts has been successfully put into orbit, launch company Arianespace said. |
 | Crystalline silica in meteorite brings scientists closer to understanding solar evolutionA multi-institutional team of researchers has discovered silica mineral quartz in a primitive meteorite, comprising direct evidence of silica condensation within the solar protoplanetary disk, and offering new clues to understanding solar formation and evolution. Though previous infrared spectroscopic observations have suggested the existence of silica in young and newly formed T Tauri stars as well as in asymptotic giant branch (AGB) stars in their last phase of life, no evidence of gas-solid condensation of silica had been found in other primitive meteorites from the early stages of the solar system. |
 | Reseachers find out why a supermassive black hole appears to moveResearchers often assume that massive galaxies host supermassive black holes (SMBHs) in their nuclei. In recent years, observers have sought galaxies that might contain an SMBH that is displaced from its equilibrium position. Among the scenarios that could cause such a displacement are the merger of two SMBHs or the existence of a binary pair of SMBHs, and finding an example would give astronomers information about the evolution of galaxies and the frequency of the formation and mergers of this type of object. |
 | Large-scale simulations could shed light on the 'dark' elements that make up most of our cosmosIf you only account for the matter we can see, our entire galaxy shouldn't exist. The combined gravitational pull of every known moon, planet, and star should not have been strong enough to produce a system as dense and complex as the Milky Way. |
 | Building bricks on the moon from lunar dustIn the coming decades, many space agencies hope to conduct crewed missions to the moon and even establish outposts there. In fact, between NASA, the European Space Agency (ESA), Roscosmos, and the Indian and Chinese space agencies, there are no shortages of plans to construct lunar bases and settlements. These will not only establish a human presence on the moon, but facilitate missions to Mars and deeper into space. |
Technology news
 | Researchers compile a new database of executable Python code snippets on GitHubA team of researchers at North Carolina State University has recently carried out an empirical analysis of the executable status of Python code snippets shared on GitHub. Their study, pre-published on arXiv, also presents Gistable, a new database of executable Python code snippets on GitHub's gist system, which could enable reproducible studies in the field of software engineering. |
 | Experts voice safety concerns about new pebble-bed nuclear reactorsResearchers advise caution as a commercial-scale nuclear reactor known as HTR-PM prepares to become operational in China. The reactor is a pebble-bed, high-temperature gas-cooled reactor (HTGR), a new design that is ostensibly safer but that researchers in the U.S. and Germany warn does not eliminate the possibility of a serious accident. Their commentary, publishing August 23 in the journal Joule, recommends continued research, additional safety measures, and an extended startup phase that would allow for better monitoring. |
 | Applying deep learning to motion capture with DeepLabCutA team of researchers affiliated with several institutions in Germany and the U.S. has developed a deep learning algorithm that can be used for motion capture of animals of any kind. In their paper published in the journal Nature Neuroscience, the group describes their tracking tool called DeepLabCut, how it works and how to use it. Kunlin Wei and Konrad Kording with the University of Peking and the University of Pennsylvania respectively offer a News & Views piece on the work done by the group in the same journal issue. |
 | Move over, Musk: Kalashnikov unveils 'electric supercar'Russian arms maker Kalashnikov on Thursday presented its new electric car inspired by a rare 1970s model, saying the new technology will rival Elon Musk's Tesla. |
 | Can tech giants work together against their common enemies?Facebook, Twitter and Google routinely squabble for users, engineers and advertising money. Yet it makes sense for these tech giants to work together on security threats, elections meddling and other common ills. |
 | China's Huawei, ZTE blocked from Australia's 5G networkChinese telecom giants Huawei and ZTE have effectively been banned from rolling out Australia's 5G network, after Canberra said Thursday there were security risks with companies beholden to foreign governments. |
 | Facebook to pull VPN app from App Store over data worryFacebook will pull Onavo Protect virtual private network application from the App Store after getting word that it violates Apple's data collection rules, The Wall Street Journal reported on Wednesday. |
 | Facebook suspends hundreds of apps over data concernsFacebook on Wednesday said it has suspended more than 400 of thousands of applications it has investigated to determine whether people's personal information was being improperly shared. |
 | Facebook pulls security app from Apple store over privacy (Update)Facebook has pulled one of its own products from Apple's app store because it didn't want to stop tracking what people were doing on their iPhones. Facebook also banned a quiz app from its social network for possible privacy intrusions on about 4 million users. |
 | Volkswagen to offer all-electric car-sharing from 2019German auto giant Volkswagen said Thursday it would launch an all-electric car-sharing service in Berlin next year, hoping to show off new models and break into a fast-growing market. |
 | An alternative to propping up coal power plants: Retrain workers for solarThe Trump administration announced new pollution rules for coal-fired power plants designed to keep existing coal power plants operating more and save American coal mining jobs. |
 | What an MIT professor learned analyzing 1 million credit card offersShopping for a new credit card? MIT Sloan finance professor Antoinette Schoar has some advice: Read the fine print, or at least the Schumer box. And double-check that your financial adviser is looking out for your well-being. |
 | Social media's not all bad – it's saving lives in disaster zonesSocial media was recently credited with reducing the number of casualties caused by air strikes in the Syrian civil war. The early warning system, developed by tech startup Hala Systems, uses remote sensors to detect aircraft flying over the opposition-held northern province of Idlib. Alerts are then sent via Facebook and instant messaging apps such as WhatsApp to civilians and aid workers in affected areas. These messages give relevant information such as the areas likely to come under heavy bombardment and the duration of these raids. |
 | Social media provides critical information missed by FEMASocial media sites can be a valuable tool for assessing the impact of natural disasters like Hurricane Harvey, but a new report indicates much of the critical information conveyed by those sites is overlooked by federal authorities. |
 | Siri, get my iCar: Is Apple making a cool new ride or just dabbling with the techie parts?In a few weeks, Apple will unveil its newest iPhone. |
 | Rolling robots could be coming to Dallas sidewalksA rolling robot may be coming to a Dallas sidewalk near you. |
 | Facebook users demand Cambridge Analytica secrets in bankruptcyFacebook users who say their personal data was misused, potentially to distort the last U.S. election, will have to wait to see if they can wring more information from Cambridge Analytica, the disappearing company that played a key role in the drama. |
 | What's the password? Millennials leaders in getting streaming TV for freeIt's no secret that people would rather get something for free than pay for it. And faced with the possibility of paying $10.99 a month for Netflix or getting it for nothing, it should come as no surprise that someone might want to use another person's password to log in and binge on the latest season of "Orange Is The New Black." |
 | Philly start-up Kapsul is making a quieter air conditioner thanks to $2.3 million from crowdfundingThe summer months when air conditioning is considered a necessity are winding down, but a Philadelphia start-up is working to offer improved window units to make it through next year's scorching heat. |
 | Report confirms wind technology advancements continue to drive down wind energy pricesWind energy pricing remains attractive, according to an annual report released by the U.S. Department of Energy and prepared by Lawrence Berkeley National Laboratory (Berkeley Lab). At an average of around 2 cents per kilowatt-hour (kWh), prices offered by newly built wind projects in the United States are being driven lower by technology advancements and cost reductions. |
 | Sony to release AI-infused robotic pups in the USSony on Thursday announced that its Aibo robotic dogs infused with artificial intelligence will be unleashed on the US market by the year-end holiday season, with a price tag of $2,899. |
 | Samsung's $1,000 Note 9 is great—but so is the cheaper S9For $1,000, the premium Galaxy Note 9 is a superb phone that showcases the best Samsung has to offer. |
 | World Bank says demand for blockchain bond tops expectationsThe World Bank raised Aus$110 million ($80.9 million) in the first-ever blockchain bond offering following investor demand that exceeded expectations, the global lender announced Thursday. |
 | US mobile network limits access to firefighters battling blazeA US mobile network has come under criticism after severely limiting service to firefighters battling the biggest wildfire in California's history. |
 | Strike-hit Ryanair announces deal with Irish unionRyanair on Thursday said it had "reached agreement" with an Irish union representing pilots, in a move that could end strike action that has resulted in cancelled flights across Europe. |
 | Alibaba revenue jumps 61% but one-time expense hits profitChinese retail giant Alibaba said on Thursday that its revenue jumped 61 percent in the latest quarter as its core e-commerce segment chugged along, but profit for the period was dragged down by a one-off expense. |
 | Coordinating Wi-Fi trafficThe surge in demand for Wi-Fi networks has created a need to better coordinate the immense traffic. An EU initiative introduced an architecture to reduce interference and boost performance in very congested environments. |
 | Microsoft hopes to protect candidates without skirting lawsTech companies want to protect U.S. political candidates from Russian hackers ahead of the midterm elections, but could that free help count as an illegal campaign contribution? |
Man in Germany killed when AA-battery charger explodesPolice say a man in Germany has died after a battery-charging device exploded, firing an object into the man's chest. | |
 | Siemens could cut up to 20,000 jobs: reportGerman engineering giant Siemens sees potential for axing up to 20,000 jobs worldwide as part of a major cost-cutting drive, the monthly Manager Magazin reported on Thursday. |
Medicine & Health news
 | New research uncovers 'one of the tobacco industry's greatest scams'Two new studies from the Tobacco Control Research Group at the University of Bath, published in the BMJ journal, Tobacco Control, expose evidence that big tobacco companies are still facilitating tobacco smuggling, while attempting to control a global system designed to prevent it, and funding studies that routinely overestimate levels of tobacco smuggling. |
 | Baby poop may be source of beneficial probioticsProbiotics seem to be everywhere these days—in yogurt, pickles, bread, even dog food. But there's one place that may surprise you: There are probiotics in dirty diapers. |
 | Watching neurons in actionCapturing the activity of neurons in the form of electric impulses isn't easy. Information processing happens on different time scales and involves quick changes in voltage, ion concentrations and multiple signaling molecules. In a new study published in the journal Nature Communications, scientists from the Optical Neuroimaging Unit at the Okinawa Institute of Science and Technology Graduate University (OIST), report a newly developed imaging technique that maps electrical activity in single neurons in animals that are conscious. This was previously a challenge due to the delicate structure of neurons and the fast changes in voltage. |
 | Natural sugar defends against metabolic syndrome, in miceNew research, in mice, indicates that a natural sugar called trehalose blocks glucose from the liver and activates a gene that boosts insulin sensitivity, reducing the chance of developing diabetes. Activating the gene also triggers an increase in calories burned, reduces fat accumulation and weight gain, and lessens measures of fats and cholesterol in the blood. |
 | Alzheimer's one day may be predicted during eye examIt may be possible in the future to screen patients for Alzheimer's disease using an eye exam. |
 | Keeping cancer out of breath blocks drug resistanceA new combination of existing drugs shows promise that it could reduce the size of cancerous tumors much more effectively than current treatments. |
 | Radical transformations likely needed to achieve universal health careTechnological innovation, expansion of the use of frontline personnel such as community health workers, and rapid increases in health care financing are likely to be instrumental to achieving universal health care (UHC) in countries around the world, according to a new analysis led by Harvard T.H. Chan School of Public Health. |
 | Tracking the evolution and transmission of yellow feverA pioneering Oxford University research collaboration into yellow fever virus (YFV) has shed new light on the exceptional recent outbreak in Brazil and how the virus spreads. The findings have implications for monitoring viral transmission and could potentially contribute to a strategy for eliminating YFV worldwide. |
 | Study offers clues on why sleepless nights can contribute to weight gainAn international team of researchers has found that a single sleepless night can alter metabolic processes leading to weight gain and lack of muscle maintenance. In their paper published in the journal Science Advances, the team describes their study of the impact of a sleepless night on several volunteers. |
 | Blood vessels instruct brain developmentFunction and homeostasis of the brain relies on communication between its complex network of cells. Consequently, development of the different groups of cells in the brain needs to be coordinated in time and space. The group of Amparo Acker-Palmer (Buchmann Institute of Molecular Life Sciences and the Institute of Cell Biology and Neuroscience, Goethe University) reported in the last issue of Science a novel function of blood vessels in orchestrating the proper development of neuronal cellular networks in the brain. |
 | Dramatic development of immune system after birthAs soon as a baby is born, its immune system starts to change dramatically in response to the pathogens in its new environment, a phenomenon that is common to all babies, researchers from Karolinska Institutet in Sweden write in a paper published in Cell. The study was made possible using new techniques of immune cell analysis. |
 | Researchers identify key brain circuits for reward-seeking and avoidance behaviorResearchers have identified connections between neurons in brain systems associated with reward, stress, and emotion. Conducted in mice, the new study may help untangle multiple psychiatric conditions, including alcohol use disorder, anxiety disorders, insomnia, and depression in humans. |
 | Mapping metabolism with a novel imaging techniqueYale researchers have developed a new imaging technique that captures detailed information about metabolism, which plays a role in many diseases. The novel yet simple technique, which harnesses existing technology, could potentially be used to evaluate the effectiveness of drug therapies for cancer and other conditions, the researchers said. |
 | Electrophysiological signals identify Parkinson's disease subtypesTremor, rigidity and bradykinesia are well known symptoms of Parkinson's disease, occurring in different combinations in individual patients. However, there have not been any neuronal components that definitively identify the main symptom groupings – including tremor-dominant forms and those without tremor – that can be used to guide treatment approaches. |
 | New method grows brain cells from stem cells quickly and efficientlyResearchers at Lund University in Sweden have developed a faster method to generate functional astrocytes from embryonic stem cells. Astrocytes play a significant role in neurodegenerative diseases. The new method reduces the time required to produce the cells from months to two weeks, and the study has been published in Nature Methods. |
 | Chronic inflammation can trigger cancers via newly discovered mechanismIt is well known that extended exposure to the sun's UV rays can cause DNA mutations that lead to skin cancer. Now new research reveals that inflammation from chronic skin injury can trigger cancer-causing mutations as well by a totally distinct mechanism. |
 | Pay attention to the 'noise' in your brainTake a look at your favorite mug; it probably looks the same as it always has, but your neurons may not think so. Neurons are firing in response to the visual stimuli they see but they don't fire in exactly the same way every time. |
 | Research reveals gene regulation can be digital and stochasticEvery cell in our body has the same set of genes, or genome, and can potentially become any type of cell. During development, the epigenome mediates the process that leads a cell to become a skin cell or a neuron, for instance. If the genome is like computer hardware, then the epigenome is the software that turns certain genes on and others off to give rise to a skin cell, and turns other genes on or off to set the cell on a path toward becoming a neuron. |
 | Two-thirds of alcohol sales are to heavy drinkersTwo-thirds of alcohol industry revenue in England comes from consumers drinking at risky levels, according to a new study from the University of Sheffield's Alcohol Research Group. |
 | Antibiotic side effects in kids lead to nearly 70,000 ER visits in the US each yearThe use of antibiotics drives the development of antibiotic resistance, a major threat to public health worldwide. But these drugs also carry the risk of harm to individual patients, including children. According to a new analysis published in the Journal of the Pediatric Infectious Diseases Society, antibiotics led to nearly 70,000 estimated emergency room visits in the U.S. each year from 2011-2015 for allergic reactions and other side effects in children. The study helps quantify the risk posed by specific antibiotics in children across different age ranges. |
 | Scientists close in on mystery surrounding dangerous blood syndromesScientists may be on the road to solving the mystery of a group of mostly incurable blood diseases called myelodysplastic syndromes (MDS), which cause people to have immature, malfunctioning bone marrow cells that fuel a diverse set of health problems and can lead to leukemia. |
 | Cool indoor temperatures linked to high blood pressureTurning up the thermostat may help manage hypertension, finds a new UCL study into the link between indoor temperatures and high blood pressure. |
 | How healthy is the American diet? The Healthy Eating Index helps determine the answerDietary risk factors are among the key contributors to mortality and morbidity in the United States and globally, and there is increasing emphasis on understanding the influence of total diet quality and overall dietary patterns rather than single aspects of what we eat and drink. In order to evaluate the quality of what people eat and drink, researchers often rely on recommendations such as the Dietary Guidelines for Americans (DGA). In the latest issue of the Journal of the Academy of Nutrition and Dietetics, leading nutrition experts describe and evaluate the latest version of the Healthy Eating Index (HEI), which has been issued to correspond to the 2015-2020 Dietary Guidelines for Americans. |
Caution needed when prescribing antibiotics to hypertension patients, study findsIndividual variations in genetic makeup and gut bacteria may explain the different effects of antibiotics on blood pressure, a new rat study suggests. The findings are published ahead of print in Physiological Genomics. | |
 | Kidney transplant recipients do not contract hepatitis C if receiving kidneys from donors with a history of hepatitis CResearchers at Loma Linda University Health found that kidney transplantation can be safely performed using organs testing positive for the hepatitis C virus (HCV) antibody but negative for active viral infection. |
 | Integrated analysis finds vulnerabilities to target in a high-risk pediatric tumorSt. Jude Children's Research Hospital investigators have completed the most comprehensive analysis yet of a common pediatric solid tumor, identifying weaknesses to target and a promising precision medicine that is now in clinical trials. The findings appear today in the journal Cancer Cell. |
 | Scientists discover how RNA regulates genes in embryo that affect seizure susceptibilityScientists at the Stanley Manne Children's Research Institute at Ann & Robert H. Lurie Children's Hospital of Chicago and colleagues discovered how a type of RNA, called Evf2 enhancer RNA, regulates key genes during a critical stage in embryonic brain development. They found that by regulating these genes, the RNA plays an important role in cells that produce GABA neurotransmitters, which block impulses between nerve cells in the brain. Any disruption in this process could lead to seizures, mood disorders, schizophrenia, or other neurological disorders associated with GABA dysfunction. Their findings, published in Molecular Cell, ultimately could help identify therapeutic targets to prevent the development of neurological diseases. |
 | Heart abnormalities may trigger sudden unexplained death in epilepsyImagine putting your child to bed, only to have them pass away inexplicably in their sleep. This is the chilling reality for many victims of sudden unexpected death in epilepsy, or SUDEP—which claims the lives of 1 in every 1,000 people with epilepsy or other seizure disorders. |
 | Fighting lung infection trumps wound healingThe innate immune response to lung infection takes priority at the expense of wound healing, according to a study published August 23 in the open-access journal PLOS Pathogens by a team of researcher at Brown University led by Amanda Jamieson. |
 | How the human immune system protects against EbolaTwo types of human antibodies that target different parts of the Ebola virus synergize their antiviral effects by inhibiting different steps of infection, according to a study published August 23 in the open-access journal PLOS Pathogens by Philipp Ilinykh and colleagues from the University of Texas Medical Branch, Vanderbilt University, and Ragon Institute. These new insights into how the human immune system protects against Ebola infections could lead to the development of effective antibody-based therapies. |
 | JE is transmitted to pigs as rapidly in Cambodian peri-urban areas as rural areasJapanese encephalitis (JE) virus, which causes acute encephalitis in Eastern and Southern Asia, is traditionally considered a rural disease. Now, researchers reporting in PLOS Neglected Tropical Diseases have shown that pigs in a peri-urban and a rural farm were infected by the virus at the same rate. This finding suggests vaccination efforts should be widened to encourage travelers to receive JE virus immunization. |
Researchers outline risk factors for facial gangreneNoma, a rare disease found predominantly in underserved areas, causes progressive destruction, or gangrene, of the tissues of the face and jaw within just the span of one week. Now, researchers reporting in PLOS Neglected Tropical Diseases have analyzed 74 cases of noma in northwest Nigeria to pinpoint the risk factors for developing the disease. | |
 | Research finds bots and trolls influenced vaccine discussion on TwitterSocial media bots and Russian trolls promoted discord and spread false information about vaccines on Twitter, according to new research led by the George Washington University. Using tactics similar to those at work during the 2016 United States presidential election, these Twitter accounts entered into vaccine debates months before election season was underway. The study, "Weaponized Health Communication: Twitter Bots and Russian Trolls Amplify the Vaccine Debate" was published today in the American Journal of Public Health. |
 | New model could help stem opioid crisisStanford University researchers have developed a mathematical model that could help public health officials and policymakers curb an opioid epidemic that took the lives of an estimated 49,000 Americans last year. |
New research proposes using local data in resolving malnutritionKwashiorkor, one of the most extreme forms of malnutrition, is estimated to affect more than a hundred thousand children annually. The condition can make a starving child look healthy to the untrained eye, which makes it difficult to study and track. As a result, it has largely been overlooked by the scientific community. Researchers have recently attempted to increase its recognition by conducting a global study of more than 1.7 million children, but a new study published in the Food and Nutrition Bulletin reveals that kwashiorkor may be a local phenomenon that is underestimated by national statistics. | |
New research presents alternative methods, like robo-advisors, to manage retirement incomeThe need to help retirees make prudent spending decisions has led to the growth of a large industry of financial advisors, but a new article suggests that improved policy approaches may be more effective. Published in Policy Insights from the Behavioral and Brain Sciences, the study reviews the psychology behind rapid spending decisions and presents five policy options that lead to the smarter self-management of assets. | |
 | Air pollution leads to cardiovascular diseasesAir pollution, and fine dust in particular, is responsible for more than four million deaths each year. Almost 60 per cent of deaths occur as a result of cardiovascular diseases. Scientists around Professor Thomas Münzel, Director of Cardiology I at the Department of Cardiology at the Medical Center of Johannes Gutenberg University Mainz (JGU), reviewed the mechanisms responsible for vascular damage from air pollution together with scientists from the UK and the USA. Their findings have been published in the latest issue of the European Heart Journal. |
 | Girls have ADHD too – here's why doctors may be missing themAsked what they know about attention-deficit hyperactivity disorder, or ADHD, many people will likely tell you that it mostly affects children, and mostly boys. However, recent research has shown that neither of these perceptions is entirely true. |
 | The skeletal muscle inflammation enigmaExercise is associated with skeletal muscle inflammation, yet physical activity has beneficial effects on type 2 diabetes (T2D). Recent EU research has looked at the molecules that result in this contradiction. |
 | Physicians confident they could manage resuscitations with families presentToday's physicians are confident they could manage family members who would be present when their loved one is being resuscitated, says a Ball State University researcher. |
 | Strategies for working through daily stressStress affects most Americans at one point or another. |
 | Laser therapy increases survival in grim cancer diagnosisPeople diagnosed with the aggressive brain cancer glioblastoma face a grim prognosis. Half die within 14 months of diagnosis. |
 | Study suggests need to include overweight subjects in metabolic researchChildren's Hospital Los Angeles investigators have demonstrated the need to include a growing constituency of obese and overweight children and adults in clinical research, with their study of a key marker for metabolism and body temperature control. The study, "Post-prandial Uridine Physiology is Altered by Obesity," was published online on August 22 in a letter to the Editorial Board of Gastroenterology. |
 | Small practices also at risk for data breaches(HealthDay)—Data breaches can happen to small medical practices, but staff can take steps to prevent them, according to an article published in Medical Economics. |
 | Prophylactic tranexamic acid doesn't cut postpartum bleeding(HealthDay)—Prophylactic administration of tranexamic acid does not reduce postpartum hemorrhage among women with vaginal delivery receiving prophylactic oxytocin, according to a study published in the Aug. 23 issue of the New England Journal of Medicine. |
 | Gym class memories can influence adults' exercise habits(HealthDay)—Memories of school gym class may affect a person's exercise habits today, according to a study published in the Aug. 15 issue of the Translational Journal of the American College of Sports Medicine. |
 | The more you do to promote your cardiovascular health, the lower your risk of dementiaYou know it's important to eat right, exercise and keep your cholesterol under control to reduce your risk of a heart attack of stroke. If that's not enough of an incentive, new research suggests that taking care of your cardiovascular system will pay off for your brain as well. |
 | Rapid development in Central Africa increases the risk of infectious disease outbreaksThe Central Africa region is experiencing rapid urbanization and economic growth, and infrastructure development. These changes, while generally positive and welcome, also make the region more vulnerable to explosive infectious disease outbreaks, according to an international group of scientists. Writing in the New England Journal of Medicine, the authors, all of whom have field research experience in the region, note that efforts to build up the health care infrastructure in Central Africa are critically needed to mitigate or prevent a large outbreak of Ebola or other infectious disease in the region. The authors represent 12 different organizations, including the National Institute of Allergy and Infectious Diseases, part of the National Institutes of Health. |
 | Children take longer to learn two languages at once compared to just one—don't fretWorldwide immigration patterns are increasing the number of children who grow up exposed to two languages, a circumstance that provides numerous benefits as well as some challenges. Because bilingual children's input is divided between two languages—the majority language of the country where they reside and their family's heritage language—on average, they receive less input in each language compared to children who receive all of their input in just one language. As a result, bilingual children develop each language at a slower pace because their learning is spread across two languages. |
Majority of current and former cancer patients age 50+ are happy with their lifeTwo-thirds of current cancer patients, and more than three-quarters of former cancer patients aged 50 and over, are mentally flourishing despite their illness, according to a large, new, nationally representative study from researchers at the University of Toronto's Factor-Inwentash Faculty of Social Work. | |
 | Study identifies molecular link between aging and neurodegenerationFor decades researchers have worked to shed light on the causes of neurodegenerative disorders, a group of devastating conditions, including Alzheimer's and Parkinson's, that involve the progressive loss of neurons and nervous system function. In recent years, numerous factors, from genetic mutations to viral infections, have been found to contribute to the development of these diseases. |
 | Modifying the major model of a modern major mouse modelIf a new anti-cancer drug shows promise in a Petri dish, often the next step is to test the drug's effect in mice. This system tends to work well with drugs that directly target cancer, but breaks down with immunotherapies. That's because tumors from human cancer samples can only grow in mice with suppressed immune systems. Immunotherapies activate the immune system against cancer. And in a mouse model in which the immune system has been suppressed, there is no immune system to activate against cancer. |
 | Care access not main driver of racial disparities in kidney diseaseAlthough black and Hispanic veterans with chronic kidney disease (CKD) are more likely than white patients to see a kidney specialist—a nephrologist—they are more likely to suffer disease progression from early stage to advanced kidney disease, reports a study published this month in the Journal of the American Society of Nephrology from researchers at the Perelman School of Medicine at the University of Pennsylvania. Although previous studies have indicated that access to nephrology care before kidney disease progresses to end stage is associated with better clinical outcomes, these results suggest that biologic and/or environmental factors may actually be central to racial disparities in CKD progression. |
Treatment for severe heartburn prevents cancerMedical or surgical treatment of severe heartburn prevents cancer of the oesophagus, a study from Karolinska Institutet with almost one million Nordic patients reveals. The results are published in the scientific journal JAMA Oncology. | |
 | Watching the clock—faster countdowns may make people more patientNot only does time fly when people have fun, but when time flies by on a countdown clock, they may have more patience, according to researchers. |
 | Friends who are former smokers are key to helping people with serious mental illness quitPeople with serious mental illness (SMI) have a reduced life expectancy of up to 25 years compared to the general population. Smoking is one of the primary reasons for this disparity. An estimated 53 percent of adults with SMI, including schizophrenia, schizoaffective disorder, bipolar disorder, and major depression, smoke cigarettes, whereas, only 18 percent of adults in the general population smoke. While studies have shown that most smokers with SMI want to quit, they are less likely to do so—or to take advantage of available smoking cessation treatments. In order to better understand why quit rates were so low among this group, researchers from Dartmouth College and Harvard Medical School explored how social networks (defined as social interactions and personal relationships) influenced smoking outcomes among people with SMI who participated in smoking cessation programs. |
 | Research reveals dangerous midlife switch of ditching activity to sit stillPeople are falling into a trap of greater inactivity during middle age, according to new research from The University of Texas Health Science Center at Houston (UTHealth), which calls for its findings to be considered in future national physical activity guidelines. |
 | Parents' behavior during playtime may affect toddler's weight later onParents who positively engage with their children during play time—and gently steer them to clean up afterward—may help toddlers with low-self regulation have lower body mass indexes (BMIs) later on as preschoolers. |
 | On-again, off-again relationships might be toxic for mental healthSam and Diane from "Cheers." Ross and Rachel from "Friends." Carrie and Mr. Big from "Sex and the City." These are just some of the notable on-again, off-again couples found in pop culture. While their relationships made for storylines that kept viewers entertained, a researcher from the University of Missouri says that the pattern of breaking up and getting back together can impact an individual's mental health and not for the better. He suggests people in these kinds of relationships should make informed decisions about stabilizing or safely terminating their relationships. |
 | Government rules aimed at curbing opioid prescriptions may have backfired(HealthDay)—As the U.S. opioid addiction epidemic widened, the federal Drug Enforcement Agency (DEA) placed the prescription painkillers in a tougher-to-refill category. |
 | FDA bans e-cig liquid products that look like snacks, candies(HealthDay)—Potentially poisonous e-cigarette liquid made by 17 different manufacturers comes in packaging that strongly resembles that of candies, cookies and other snacks popular with kids. |
 | CPR training at school now required in 38 statesAn ordinary afternoon became extraordinary when Anthony Rosa Compres saved a man's life. |
First drug approved for rare eye disease(HealthDay)—Oxervate (cenegermin) has been approved by the U.S. Food and Drug Administration to treat neurotrophic keratitis, a rare disease of the eye's cornea. | |
 | Most surgical residents want financial education(HealthDay)—Surgical residents feel strongly that personal financial education should be offered during medical training, according to a study published in the August issue of the Journal of the American College of Surgeons. |
 | Non-medical costs burden families of hospitalized children(HealthDay)—The non-medical cost burden, which includes lost earnings plus expenses, is considerable among families of children who are hospitalized, according to a study published online Aug. 13 in Pediatrics. |
 | Long-term PPI use linked to pneumonia risk in older adults(HealthDay)—Among older adults in primary care, use of proton pump inhibitors (PPIs) is associated with greater risk of pneumonia in the second year of treatment, according to a study published in the July issue of the Journal of the American Geriatrics Society. |
 | Time to stop cancer screenings: what do patients want to hear?(HealthDay)—Older adults prefer explanations about stopping cancer screening that emphasize the shift to focus on other health issues, according to a research letter published in the August issue of JAMA Oncology. |
 | Sodium intake, BP linked in communities with highest intake(HealthDay)—Mean systolic blood pressure is increased with increasing sodium intake only in communities in the highest tertile of sodium intake, according to a study published online Aug. 9 in The Lancet. |
 | High prevalence of diabetes in those with severe mental illness(HealthDay)—Antipsychotic-treated patients with severe mental illnesses (SMI) have a high prevalence of diabetes and prediabetes, according to a research letter published recently in Diabetes Care. |
 | Doctors' intuition linked to number of imaging tests ordered(HealthDay)—Doctors' intuition plays a role in determining how many imaging tests are ordered for a patient, according to research presented at the 40th International Conference of the IEEE Engineering in Medicine and Biology Society, held from July 17 to 21 in Honolulu. |
 | 1997 to 2015 saw increase in HIV viral suppression rates(HealthDay)—From 1997 to 2015 there was a considerable increase in HIV viral suppression rates among people living with HIV (PLWH), according to a study published online Aug. 21 in the Annals of Internal Medicine. |
 | How rabies virus moves through nerve cells, and how it might be stoppedTo successfully infect its host, the rabies virus must move from the nerve ending to the nerve cell body where it can replicate. |
 | Traumatic brain injury recovery via petri dishResearchers in the University of Georgia's Regenerative Bioscience Center have succeeded in reproducing the effects of traumatic brain injury and stimulating recovery in neuron cells grown in a petri dish. This makes them the first known scientific team in the country to do so using stem cell-derived neurons. The procedure, detailed in a new paper in Nature Scientific Reports, has significant implications for the study and treatment of such injuries. |
 | Improving cell replacement therapy for Parkinson's diseaseParkinson's disease is a neurodegenerative disease that affects dopamine signaling neurons in patients' brains. Cell-replacement therapy shows some promise as a treatment for Parkinson's. A recent paper in the journal Molecular & Cellular Proteomics reports a technical advance in selecting cells to use in this therapy. |
 | Early-life alcohol intake may increase the odds of high-grade prostate cancerCompared with non-drinkers, men who consumed at least seven drinks per week during adolescence (ages 15-19) had three times the odds of being diagnosed with clinically significant prostate cancer. |
 | Death toll in DR Congo from Ebola outbreak now at 61Sixty-one people have died in the latest outbreak of Ebola in the Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC), the authorities said, adding that four novel drugs had been added to the roster of treatments. |
Researchers explore retention of minorities in TBI Model System Study of race/ethnicityResearchers analyzed data from the Traumatic Brain Injury Model System National Data and Statistical Center (TBIMSDSC) to study the contribution of race and ethnicity to retention of participants in TBI research. Their article: Sander A, Lequerica AH, Ketchum JM, Hammond FM, Williams Gary K, Pappadis MR, ER Felix, D Johnson-Greene, T Bushnik: Race/Ethnicity and Retention in Traumatic Brain Injury Outcomes Research: A Traumatic Brain Injury Model Systems National Database Study was published ahead of print by the Journal of Head Trauma Rehabilitation on July 1. | |
UK plans medicine airlift in no-deal BrexitBritain is preparing to airlift in medicines with a short shelf life if London cannot strike a Brexit deal with the EU, the government said Thursday. | |
 | Q&A: Lung cancer symptoms and preventionDear Mayo Clinic: Are there ever any early signs of lung cancer, or is it usually found only in the later stages? Can anything be done to prevent it other than not smoking? |
 | Safe' UV light may prevent infections in catheters, cardiac drivelinesA specific wavelength of ultraviolet light, now delivered through light-diffusing optical fibers, is highly effective at killing drug-resistant bacteria in cell cultures, according to a new study led by David J. Brenner, Ph.D., a professor of radiation biophysics at Columbia University Vagelos College of Physicians and Surgeons. The technology is designed to prevent infections around skin-penetrating medical devices, such as catheters or mechanical heart pump drivelines. |
Arkansas abortion pills restriction remains on holdA federal appeals court won't allow Arkansas to enforce a law that critics say would make the state the first in the U.S. to effectively ban abortion pills. | |
Report: Trump administration needs to step up on 'Obamacare'A congressional watchdog said Thursday the Trump administration needs to step up its management of sign-up seasons under former President Barack Obama's health care law after mixed results last year in the throes of a failed GOP effort to repeal it. | |
Antimicrobial stewardship programs in dialysis clinics reduce infections, costsA new analysis indicates that implementing antimicrobial stewardship programs in out-patient dialysis facilities can lead to significant and meaningful reductions in infections caused by multidrug-resistant organisms, infection-related deaths, and costs. The findings appear in an upcoming issue of the Clinical Journal of the American Society of Nephrology (CJASN). | |
 | 'One weird trick' to cut belly fat? Follow a heart-healthy dietDo you wish you could decrease your waistline? Reducing abdominal obesity can lower health risks—but despite claims you may have seen on the Internet, no trending diet can help you specifically eliminate belly fat, according to an article in ACSM's Health & Fitness Journal. |
Biology news
 | Bird feared extinct rediscovered in the BahamasOne of the rarest birds in the western hemisphere, the Bahama Nuthatch, has been rediscovered by research teams searching the island of Grand Bahama. |
 | E. coli bacterium key for boosting iron absorption, new study showsBest known as a pathogen that causes food poisoning or steals nutrients away from its host, the E. coli bacterium actually plays a critical role in promoting health by producing a compound that helps cells take up iron, new University of Colorado Boulder research shows. |
 | 3-D cell environment key for divvying up chromosomes—find could explain cancer hallmarkFor some cells, context is everything. Cells plucked out of their native environs have trouble divvying up their chromosomes correctly, Howard Hughes Medical Institute Investigator Angelika Amon and colleagues have found. |
 | Cleverly located surface proteins make some pneumococcal strains especially dangerousSuccessful pathogenic strains of pneumococci have two proteins that, owing to their location on the surface of the bacteria, enhance their survival and ability to cause disease, according to a study from Karolinska Institutet in Sweden published in Nature Communications . |
 | Scientists crack mystery behind shape of bird eggsA centuries-old mystery behind the shape of a bird's egg has been solved by scientists at the University of Sheffield as part of one of the longest-running scientific studies of its kind. |
 | Researchers unlock secrets of plant developmentUniversity of British Columbia researchers have discovered an internal messaging system that plants use to manage the growth and division of their cells. These growth-management processes are critical for all organisms, because without them, cells can proliferate out of control—as they do in cancers and bacterial infections. |
 | Two new truffle species discovered in Florida pecan orchardsTwo new species of truffles were recently discovered on the roots of pecan trees in Florida orchards. The good news is that you can eat them—the bad news is that you wouldn't want to. |
Kelp forests function differently in warming oceanKelp forests in the UK and the wider North-East Atlantic will experience a marked change in ecosystem functioning in response to continued ocean warming and the increase of warm-water kelp species, according to a new study led by a team from the Marine Biological Association and the University of Plymouth. | |
 | Fish lice could be early indicators of metal pollution in freshwaterEveryone needs safe and clean water to drink. Yet industry, agriculture and urban activities threaten fresh water. In particular, metal pollution can be very hard to detect early. Because of this, scientists are always searching for sensitive indicators of water quality. Now, a fish louse shows great promise as an early indicator for monitoring pollution in rivers and dams. |
 | For the first time, biologists track cownose rays to Florida and backEvery summer, cownose rays stream into Chesapeake Bay to mate and give birth to their pups. When autumn comes, they disappear—presumably to migrate south, but no one knew for certain where they spent the winter. Now, after a three-year tagging study published Aug. 23 and led by the Smithsonian Environmental Research Center (SERC), scientists have solved the mystery. Cownose rays all along the Atlantic winter near Cape Canaveral, Florida, and it is likely they return to the same spots each summer. |
 | More than a label—shelter dog genotyping reveals inaccuracy of breed assignmentsImagine meeting a potential roommate for coffee but instead of questions that gauge how compatible you both would be living together, you were asked about the ancestry of your parents' families. Though this situation seems ridiculous, it happens all the time in animal shelters where dogs are assigned breeds that are often just guessed from their physical appearance. These assigned breeds are then used to infer how the dogs might behave and also often impact the length of time a dog waits to be adopted. |
 | The birth and death of proteins in a single cellThe amount of proteins inside cells fluctuates over time, and this affects various functions of the cells. Cells are constantly synthesizing and degrading proteins, and studies have shown that this "see-saw" effect actually impacts the function of the cell. |
 | Mechanisms of hair follicle-specific fibroblast formation unraveledHair growth is regulated by a small cluster of hair-specific fibroblasts, the dermal papilla. But exactly how the dermal papilla forms has remained elusive until now. In a recent study, professor Marja Mikkola's research group at the University of Helsinki used confocal microscopy of live skin to show that the dermal condensate forms via cell migration. |
 | First chance to see…or last? Spectacular new footage of Vietnam's primatesVietnam is famous for several reasons: it was a notorious theatre of war during an unspeakably horrific but generation-defining conflict; it has become an extremely popular 'new' tourism destination; and it boasts a world-conquering, some would say unparalleled, cuisine. What Vietnam is not famous for – outside the conservation community, at least – is its wildlife. And yet the country is one of the most biologically rich on the planet, harbouring 10 percent of all the world's known species – despite covering just 1 percent of the land area. |
 | Sequencing the genomes of a microbial ecosystemCorn stalks rustle and tractors trundle along, their wheels grinding into the Kansas soil. While it seems like farmers and machinery conduct most of the work on a modern farm, much of the heavy lifting goes on below the surface. The American Midwest's Great Prairie is home to one of the planet's most complex systems of organisms that can't be seen with the naked eye. Researchers supported by the Department of Energy's Office of Science are charting the genes of this community of microorganisms, an effort that could unlock new approaches to genetics, ecology, and agriculture. |
 | Locating the production site of glucan in grass cell wallsWhere an item is manufactured tells you a lot about it. Is it made by an assembly line or handcrafted one at a time? To learn more about glucose, the sugary feedstock of biofuel refineries, scientists want to know where a polymer of glucose, mixed-linkage glucan (MLG), resides in grasses as grass species are a major potential renewable biomass feedstock. Scientists from the center demonstrated that MLG is present primarily in the Golgi apparatus (flattened, stacked pouches near the cell's nucleus). These findings offer new insight and new targets to maximize MLG production. |
 | Could a super snake emerge from Everglades pythons? New DNA study raises possibilityWhat started out as a straightforward genetic study of Florida's invasive python population has turned up a surprising plot twist: a small number of crossbred Burmese and Indian pythons with the potential to become a kind of Everglades super snake. |
 | Shrimp heal injured fishJames Cook University scientists have discovered that shrimp help heal injured fish. |
 | Inbreeding and disease are factors in decline of yellow-banded bumblebeeBy sequencing the genome of the yellow-banded bumblebee, York University researchers have found that inbreeding and disease are likely culprits in their rapid decline in North America. |
 | Why are tropical forests so diverse? New study examines role of 'natural enemies'Ecologists have long struggled to explain why tropical forests have so many different species of trees. One dominant theory to emerge contends that each plant has a specialist natural enemy that helps keep populations of that plant in check—and allows others to thrive. |
 | New study highlights shark protections, vulnerability to fishingA new analysis shows that the habitats of three shark species (great hammerhead, tiger, and bull sharks) are relatively well protected from longline fishing in federal waters off the southeastern United States, but that that some prime locations are still vulnerable to fishing. |
 | Mucosal environment of older pigs helps newborn piglets with intestinal injury recoverResearchers from North Carolina State University have found that the intestinal mucosal environment of juvenile pigs can stimulate repair of intestinal injuries in newborn piglets. The findings have implications both for understanding why newborns of many species—including humans—are unable to repair these injuries on their own, as well as for potential future treatments. |
 | China reports 4th outbreak this month of African swine feverChina on Thursday reported another outbreak of African swine fever that threatens the country's crucial pork industry, but officials say they have the situation under control. |
 | Study of bird migration tricky due to hybridizationHybridization among bird species is a widespread phenomenon, which is best illustrated in Estonia by the lesser spotted eagle and the greater spotted eagle. However, due to the fact that the migration strategies of both bird species are completely different, studying their hybrid offspring helps ornithologists discover a lot about their migration secrets. |
Fresh and raw diets for dogs may have health benefits, study saysMany dog owners think of their furry companions as part of the family, and now products are available to feed them that way, too. Some owners are moving away from traditional extruded kibble products, instead choosing ultra-premium fresh and raw diets found in the refrigerated aisle. The foods may look more similar to what we'd feed a member of the family, but many of the newer diets haven't been rigorously tested for performance in dogs. | |
Avian flu, distemper may be to blame for rash of seal deathsTwo common diseases, avian flu and distemper, may be to blame for a rash of seal deaths that caused dozens of them to wash ashore in Maine, New Hampshire, and Massachusetts in the biggest die-off of seals since 2011, federal scientists said Thursday. | |
Dead great white shark found on Cape Cod beachA great white shark has washed up on a Cape Cod beach. | |
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