Science X Newsletter Sunday, Sep 16

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Here is your customized Science X Newsletter for September 16, 2018:

Spotlight Stories Headlines

Technology streamlines computational science projects

Eyes in the sky aim to protect Earth's rainforests, resources

NASA blasts off space laser satellite to track ice loss

Firmware weakness extends red carpet for cold boot attacks

Astronomy & Space news

	Eyes in the sky aim to protect Earth's rainforests, resources In the Brazilian state of Para, every week, authorities receive alerts showing them which parts of the Amazon forest have been chopped down, with photos to back it up.
	NASA blasts off space laser satellite to track ice loss NASA's most advanced space laser satellite blasted off Saturday on a mission to track ice loss around the world and improve forecasts of sea level rise as the climate warms.
Lockheed Martin wins $7.2B Air Force satellite contract The U.S. Air Force says it is awarding Lockheed Martin a $7.2 billion contract to build 22 next-generation Global Positioning System satellites.
	NASA counts down to launch of laser study of ice sheets NASA counted down Saturday to the launch of its $1 billion ICESat-2 mission, using advanced lasers to uncover the true depth of the melting of Earth's ice sheets.

Technology news

	Technology streamlines computational science projects Since designing and launching a specialized workflow management system in 2010, a research team from the US Department of Energy's Oak Ridge National Laboratory has continuously updated the technology to help computational scientists develop software, visualize data and solve problems.
	Firmware weakness extends red carpet for cold boot attacks "The chilling reality of cold boot attacks" is the title of a video posted by F-Secure on Thursday. The chilling reality is that savvy security mischief-makers can still perform the attacks, as two researchers learned recently.
	Samsung sets new Galaxy device launch for October Samsung sent out invitations Friday for an October 11 event to launch a new mobile device under its Galaxy line.
	Canada top court rules Hollywood must pay to chase alleged internet pirates Canada's high court on Friday ruled that Hollywood studios and other copyright holders must pay internet service providers to chase down Canadians suspected of illegally downloading movies or other online content.
	Uber glitch leaves drivers unpaid and frustrated Drivers for the ride-hailing company Uber are frustrated over a glitch that is keeping them from being paid immediately.
	Digital assistants hone skills to deliver the news "What's the news?" has become a familiar refrain for consumers with smart speakers, opening up a new channel for publishers but also raising concerns about the growing influence of tech platforms in media.

Medicine & Health news

	Cord blood clue to respiratory diseases New research has found children born in the last three months of the year in Melbourne may have a greater risk of developing respiratory diseases such as asthma.
People with asthma at higher risk of becoming obese Obesity is known to be a risk factor for developing asthma but a new study shows that the reverse is also true: people with asthma are more likely to go on to become obese.
	Mumps spread quickly at Texas cheerleading meets: study (HealthDay)—Mumps is a highly infectious disease, as Texas cheerleaders and their supporters found out in one recent outbreak.
	1 in 12 americans lives with debilitating chronic pain (HealthDay)— Of the 50 million Americans living with chronic pain, the pain is so bad for 20 million that it keeps them from doing the daily activities of life, researchers say.
	Small reduction in lung function with Tx de-escalation in COPD (HealthDay)—A de-escalation from triple therapy to indacaterol/glycopyrronium may lead to a small reduction in lung function in non-frequently exacerbating patients with chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD) but no difference in exacerbations, according to a study published in the Aug. 1 issue of the American Journal of Respiratory and Critical Care Medicine.
	Situation framing, language can influence decision-making (HealthDay)—How a situation is framed and the language used to describe risks can influence patients' decision-making, according to an article published in Physicians Practice.
New device approved for tears in heart's blood vessels (HealthDay)—The PK Papyrus Covered Coronary Stent System has been approved by the U.S. Food and Drug Administration to treat acute coronary artery perforations, the medical term for tears in the heart's blood vessels.
	Five reasons you could develop heart disease before 50 Heart disease is the leading cause of death in the United States, yet people generally associate it with an older, aging population. But heart attacks, strokes and other types of heart disease can be blind to age—particularly when certain factors are in play.
	Genetic testing recommended for familial hypercholesterolemia (HealthDay)—Genetic testing should become the standard of care for patients with definite or probable familial hypercholesterolemia (FH), according to a statement published in the Aug. 7 issue of the Journal of the American College of Cardiology.
	Sales of flavored e-cigarette products up since 2012 (HealthDay)—Sales of flavored electronic cigarette products have increased dramatically since 2012, according to a study published online Aug. 23 in the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention's Preventing Chronic Disease.
	Recommendations issued for enhancing ICU diagnostic safety (HealthDay)—Identifying and reducing diagnostic errors in the intensive care unit (ICU) should be a top priority, according to a perspective article published in the Aug. 1 issue of the Annals of the American Thoracic Society.
	Patrons of 'vampire facial' spa may have been exposed to HIV (HealthDay)—Customers of an Albuquerque spa who received a "vampire facial" are being warned that they may have been exposed to HIV, hepatitis B and hepatitis C through human blood used in the controversial procedure.
	FDA approves novel treatment for hairy cell leukemia (HealthDay)—Lumoxiti (moxetumomab pasudotox-tdfk) injection has been approved to treat certain instances of relapsed or refractory hairy cell leukemia (HCL), the U.S. Food and Drug Administration said yesterday.
	Final CDC update on Salmonella linked to backyard poultry (HealthDay)—At least 334 people in 47 states have been sickened in Salmonella outbreaks linked to contact with live poultry in backyard flocks, according to the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.
	Extreme flooding can up exposure to pathogens (HealthDay)—Extreme flooding, such as was seen in Hurricane Harvey, can increase exposure to pathogens, according to a research letter published recently in Environmental Science & Technology.
	Poor maternal bonding for women denied abortion (HealthDay)—Poor maternal bonding is more common for children born to women who are denied access to abortion, according to a study published online Sept. 4 in JAMA Pediatrics.
	CDC: some sexual minorities have higher sexual risk behaviors (HealthDay)—Bisexual females and "not sure" male students report higher prevalences for many sexual risk behaviors than heterosexual students, according to research published in the Sept. 14 issue of the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention's Morbidity and Mortality Weekly Report.
	First evidence that soot from polluted air is reaching placenta Evidence of tiny particles of carbon, typically created by burning fossil fuels, has been found in placentas for the first time, in new research presented today (Sunday) at the European Respiratory Society International Congress.
	Taste preferences connected to success of long-term weight loss after bariatric surgery Following Roux-en-Y gastric bypass (RYGB), a type of bariatric surgery, many patients exhibit a reduction in taste preference for sweet and fatty foods, although this effect may only be temporary, according to new research from Binghamton University, State University of New York.
	Daily low-dose aspirin found to have no effect on healthy life span in older people In a large clinical trial to determine the risks and benefits of daily low-dose aspirin in healthy older adults without previous cardiovascular events, aspirin did not prolong healthy, independent living (life free of dementia or persistent physical disability). Risk of dying from a range of causes, including cancer and heart disease, varied and will require further analysis and additional follow-up of study participants. These initial findings from the ASPirin in Reducing Events in the Elderly (ASPREE) trial, partially supported by the National Institutes of Health, were published online on September 16, 2018 in three papers in The New England Journal of Medicine.
	Children with asthma are less likely to finish school and to work in non-manual occupations People who suffer with persistent asthma from a young age are more likely to leave school at 16 years old and those who make it to university are more likely to drop out early, according to new research presented today (Sunday) at the European Respiratory Society International Congress.
Cholera death toll climbs to 28 in Zimbabwe The death toll in Zimbabwe's cholera outbreak has risen to 28, state media said Sunday, as the health minister announced new antibiotics were being used after the disease strain was found to be resistant to some drugs.

Biology news

New tool helps conservationists make smarter decisions A new tool developed by University of British Columbia researchers could help ensure limited conservation dollars are well spent by determining which actions would save the most species per dollar.
	Huge squirrel population chomps crops, driving farmers nuts There's a bumper crop of squirrels in New England, and the frenetic critters are frustrating farmers by chomping their way through apple orchards, pumpkin patches and corn fields.
	Spanish farmers go nuts for almonds as global demand booms Surging worldwide demand for almonds is pushing Spanish farmers to replace traditional wheat and sunflower fields with almond orchards, transforming the landscape in the south of the country.
	African tourism alarmed by rhino, elephant losses Animal conservation in Africa has suffered several setbacks in recent months prompting experts at an African tourism conference this week in Cape Town to warn about the cost to the travel industry.

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