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Here is your customized Science X Newsletter for September 18, 2018:
Spotlight Stories Headlines
Astronomy & Space news
 | Japanese billionaire businessman revealed as SpaceX's first Moon travelerA Japanese billionaire and online fashion tycoon, Yusaku Maezawa, will be the first man to fly on a monster SpaceX rocket around the Moon as early as 2023, and he plans to bring six to eight artists along. |
 | Magellanic clouds duo may have been a trioTwo of the closest galaxies to the Milky Way—the Large and Small Magellanic Clouds—may have had a third companion, astronomers believe. |
 | Image: Frosty crater on MarsThis image shows the south-facing rim of a pit crater at 68°S in the Sisyphi Planum region of Mars. It is a colour composite made from images acquired on 2 September 2018 by the Colour and Stereo Surface Imaging System, CaSSIS, onboard the joint ESA-Roscosmos ExoMars Trace Gas Orbiter, when the southern hemisphere of Mars was in late spring. |
 | GOLD instrument captures its first image of the EarthNASA's Global-scale Observations of the Limb and Disk (GOLD) instrument powered on and opened its cover to scan the Earth for the first time, resulting in a "first light" image of the Western Hemisphere in the ultraviolet. GOLD will provide unprecedented global-scale imaging of the temperature and composition at the dynamic boundary between Earth's atmosphere and space. The instrument was launched from Kourou, French Guiana, on Jan. 25, 2018, onboard the SES-14 satellite and reached geostationary orbit in June 2018. After checkout of the satellite and communications payload, GOLD commissioning—the period during which the instrument performance is assessed—began on Sept. 4. |
 | First images of mist dispersing around young galaxyGalaxies in the early universe are shrouded in a kind of mist: a cloud of hydrogen. With galaxies in the later universe this mist has disappeared. Astronomer Jorryt Matthee has made the first images of this dissipating mist. Ph.D. defence 19 September. |
 | 1st private moon flight passenger to invite creative guestsAfter announcing that he'll take the first-ever commercial rocket trip around the moon, Yusaku Maezawa said he wants company for the weeklong journey. The Japanese billionaire said he plans to invite six to eight artists, architects, designers and other creative people to join him on board the SpaceX rocket "to inspire the dreamer in all of us." |
Technology news
 | Facebook researchers build a dataset to train personalized dialogue agentsResearchers at Facebook have recently compiled a dataset of 5 million personas and 700 million persona-based dialogues. This database could be used to train end-to-end dialogue systems, resulting in more engaging and rich dialogues between computer agents and humans. |
 | Bombardier electric hybrid train to keep Germany's green ambitions on trackThe conversation around a greener future and transportation weighs heavily in the court of electric cars, with ample input from car vendors over research, development and models in the wings. What about trains? Can a battery train pose a veritable challenge to diesel? Inter-city and cross-state travel involves trains and attention must be paid toward what and how engineers intend to deliver viable environmental solutions that not only work but pay off in the end. |
 | A novel approach of improving battery performanceNew technological developments by UNIST researchers promise to significantly boost the performance of lithium metal batteries in promising research for the next-generation of rechargeable batteries. The study also validates the principle of enhanced battery performance via the real-time in situ observation of charge-discharge cycling. |
 | Machine-learning system tackles speech and object recognition, all at onceMIT computer scientists have developed a system that learns to identify objects within an image, based on a spoken description of the image. Given an image and an audio caption, the model will highlight in real-time the relevant regions of the image being described. |
 | Meet the new guardians of the ocean – robot jellyfishNew robot jellyfish could be the key to monitoring and caring for fragile parts of the world's oceans without damaging them. |
 | Scientists use artificial neural networks to predict new stable materialsArtificial neural networks—algorithms inspired by connections in the brain—have "learned" to perform a variety of tasks, from pedestrian detection in self-driving cars, to analyzing medical images, to translating languages. Now, researchers at the University of California San Diego are training artificial neural networks to predict new stable materials. |
 | Japan eager to be on board vertical-takeoff 'flying cars'Electric drones booked through smartphones pick people up from office rooftops, shortening travel time by hours, reducing the need for parking and clearing smog from the air. |
 | Study suggests Facebook's war on fake news is gaining groundIn the two years since fake news on the Internet became a full-blown crisis, Facebook has taken numerous steps to curb the flow of misinformation on its site. Under intense political pressure, it's had to put up a fight: At the peak in late 2016, Facebook users shared, liked, or commented on an estimated 200 million false stories in a single month. |
 | There's a reason AI is so bad at conversation"I'm sorry, I didn't quite get that." Anyone who has ever tried to have a deeper conversation with a virtual assistant like Siri knows how frustrating it can be. That's despite the fact that AI systems like it are increasingly pushing into our lives, with new success stories on an almost daily basis. Not only do AIs now help radiologists detect tumours, they can act as cat repellent and even detect signals of potential alien technology from space. |
 | Mathematicians calculate the safest way homeA mobile app that guides pedestrians along the safest instead of quickest route to their destination is being developed by researchers at Cardiff University. |
 | Low cost navigation system for unmanned aerial systemsAn EU-funded initiative has developed a low-cost positioning and navigation system for unmanned aerial systems (UASs). Utilising multiple-antenna, the device is based on off-the-shelf components and advanced data fusion algorithms. |
 | Smart grids: Enhancing resilienceRobustness of urban infrastructures in situations of crisis mainly depends on stable power supply. This is a particular challenge when planning future smart grids that have to cope with volatile conditions anyway. Smart grids are not only characterized by the interaction of many components, they are increasingly controlled automatically and, thus, even more vulnerable to cyber attacks or natural disasters. Researchers of Karlsruhe Institute of Technology (KIT) work on specifically and sustainably enhancing grid resilience. |
 | A control system to improve the efficiency of wave energy convertersInterest in wave energy has been growing in recent years, and electric generators specially designed to generate electricity from this renewable energy source are being developed. The UPV/EHU's Advanced Control Group (GCA) has come up with a robust control system for these generators which, during the tests conducted, has been shown to substantially improve their efficiency. |
 | Deepfakes: What fairies and aliens can teach us about fake videos"Deepfake" is the name being given to videos created through artificially intelligent deep learning techniques. Also referred to as "face-swapping", the process involves inputting a source video of a person into a computer, and then inputting multiple images and videos of another person. The neural network then learns the movements and expressions of the person in the source video in order to map the other's image onto it to look as if they are carrying out the speech or act. |
 | Cybersecurity firm: More Iran hacks as US sanctions loomedAn Iranian government-aligned group of hackers launched a major campaign targeting Mideast energy firms and others ahead of U.S. sanctions on Iran, a cybersecurity firm said Tuesday, warning further attacks remain possible as America re-imposes others on Tehran. |
 | German firm's 7 commandments for ethical AIGerman business software giant SAP published Tuesday an ethics code to govern its research into artificial intelligence (AI), aiming to prevent the technology infringing on people's rights, displacing workers or inheriting biases from its human designers. |
 | Twitter to offer users option to go back to 'chronological' feedTwitter is preparing an option for users to go back to its original chronological news feed, responding to complaints about its algorithmic system implemented two years ago. |
 | Computer scientist working to test security of IoT systems, blockchainsComputer data breaches cost companies millions of dollars each year. When combined with the damage leaks of private information do to consumers, the total cost of security issues is even greater. |
 | Too much screen time? New phone controls for you and kidsApple and Google want to help you spend less time on their phones—really. Like that time you checked Facebook at 3 a.m. Stats don't lie. |
 | Back to its roots: Ferrari unveils wide-ranging new plansFerrari is going back to its roots. |
 | Ireland recovers 14bn euros in Apple 'back taxes'Apple has completed payment of 14.3 billion euros ($16.7 billion) in back taxes to the Irish government, Dublin said Tuesday, following a European Commission ruling that the tech giant had benefitted from illegal tax breaks in the country. |
 | Renault-Nissan to use Android system in its dashboardsThe Renault-Nissan-Mitsubishi alliance, one of the world's top-selling automakers, has decided to go with Google's Android operating system to run its dashboard information and entertainment features. |
 | EU investigates German carmakers for possible collusionEuropean Union regulators have opened an in-depth investigation into whether automakers BMW, Daimler and Volkswagen colluded to limit the development and roll-out of car emission control systems. |
 | Eying Uber, China's Didi launches in Mexico's second cityChinese ride-hailing service Didi Chuxing said Tuesday it is launching service in Mexico's second-largest city, Guadalajara, expanding its presence in the country—and its challenge to market king Uber. |
 | European nations plan to use more hydrogen for energy needsDozens of European countries are backing a plan to increase the use of hydrogen as an alternative to fossil fuels to cut the continent's carbon emissions. |
 | Researchers find hints of Israeli spyware around globeResearchers say an increasingly notorious brand of Israeli surveillance software is being used further afield than previously known, with possible infections detected around the globe. |
 | EU targets BMW, Daimler, VW in pollution cartel probeThe EU opened an in-depth probe into alleged collusion by major German carmakers over anti-pollution technology Tuesday, a fresh blow to the scandal-hit industry three years after the notorious "dieselgate." |
 | Ferrari says most of its cars will be hybrid by 2022Most of the cars made by Ferrari will be hybrid petrol-electric by 2022, the Italian sports car manufacturer said on Tuesday, including its first SUV. |
 | Renault-Nissan alliance takes Google Android for a driveRenault's alliance with Nissan and Mitsubishi said Tuesday it would start equipping its cars with the Android operating system to make dashboards smart. |
 | ACLU: Facebook allows gender-biased job ads on its platformFacebook is allowing job ads on its platform that exclude women, according to the American Civil liberties Union. |
 | Apple escapes China tariff hit for now, but threats loomThe latest round of tariffs imposed on China imposed by President Donald Trump appeared to largely spare Apple and other consumer electronics makers but they face increasing threats from the deepening trade war between the two economic giants. |
 | BMW to pause UK output of Minis after BrexitBMW will stop production at its Mini factory in Oxford for several weeks to avoid supply disruption in case of a no-deal Brexit, the German auto giant said Tuesday. |
 | Tesla confirms criminal probe into Musk talk of going privateTesla confirmed Tuesday that US Justice Department officials were looking into possible criminal aspects of a seemingly spontaneous, and later aborted, announcement by chief executive Elon Musk on taking the electric automaker private. |
 | SunTrust's online banking difficulties enters third dayCustomers of the large regional bank SunTrust are experiencing a third day of outages and difficulties from its online banking services, a particular problem for its customers in North and South Carolina who are currently dealing with Hurricane Florence. |
Medicine & Health news
 | Muscle relaxants increase risk of respiratory complicationsMuscle relaxants are a necessary part of anesthesia during certain major operations. However, studies have hinted at respiratory risks connected with these drugs. POPULAR, a major prospective observational European study has confirmed the association between the use of muscle relaxants and respiratory complications, and assessed the chances of the current avoidance strategies. |
 | Engineers decode conversations in brain's motor cortexHow does your brain talk with your arm? The body doesn't use English, or any other spoken language. Biomedical engineers are developing methods for decoding the conversation, by analyzing electrical patterns in the motor control areas of the brain. |
 | Effective drug delivery to heart with tannic acidTypical methods of drug delivery to the heart require surgical procedures involving incisions in the chest wall and bones. To efficiently treat cardiovascular and related vascular diseases without surgery, a KAIST research team developed a heart-targeting drug delivery technology using tannin acid via intravenous systemic injection. This method can be applied to the development of a variety of new protein-based drugs. |
 | Researchers resolve decades-old mystery about the most commonly mutated gene in cancerThe most commonly mutated gene in cancer has tantalized scientists for decades about the message of its mutations. Although mutations can occur at more than 1,100 sites within the TP53 gene, they arise with greatest frequency at a handful of points dubbed "hot spots." Does this imbalance suggest that hotspot mutations are especially conducive to cancer or that they're particularly disabling to TP53? What does the plethora of mutations at hot spots tell scientists about the role of TP53 within cells and about the ability of certain mutations to disrupt that role? |
 | Drugs that stop mosquitoes catching malaria could help eradicate the diseaseResearchers have identified compounds that could prevent malaria parasites from being able to infect mosquitoes, halting the spread of disease. |
 | Why some human genes are more popular with researchers than othersHistorical bias is a key reason why biomedical researchers continue to study the same 10 percent of all human genes while ignoring many genes known to play roles in disease, according to a study publishing September 18 in the open access journal PLOS Biology, led by Thomas Stoeger and Luís Amaral of Northwestern University, and colleagues. This bias is bolstered by research funding mechanisms and social forces. |
 | Eating foods with low nutritional quality ratings linked to cancer risk in large European cohortThe consumption of foods with higher scores on the British Food Standards Agency nutrient profiling system (FSAm-NPS), reflecting a lower nutritional quality, is associated with an increased risk of developing cancer, according to a study published this week in PLOS Medicine. The study, conducted by Mélanie Deschasaux of the French National Institute for Health and Medical Research (INSERM U1153/Inra/Cnam/Paris 13 University-EREN), France and colleagues, in association with the WHO-IARC, suggests broad potential for the use of FSAm-NPS-based package labeling (e.g. Nutri-Score) to promote healthy food choices in European settings. |
 | CRISPR screen reveals new targets in more than half of all squamous cell carcinomasA little p63 goes a long way in embryonic development—and flaws in p63 can result in birth defects like cleft palette, fused fingers or even missing limbs. But once this early work is done, p63 goes silent, sitting quietly in the genome from that point forward. Unless it is accidentally reactivated. When p63 comes back to life within the adult genome, the result can be cancer. More than half of all squamous cell carcinomas, often found in the skin, lung, breast, and head/neck, involve excess p63 activity. |
 | Class of neurological disorders share 3-D genome folding pattern, study findsIn a class of roughly 30 neurological disorders that includes ALS, Huntington's Disease and Fragile X Syndrome, the relevant mutant gene features sections of repeating base pair sequences known as short tandem repeats, or STRs. Healthy people have STRs of normal lengths distributed across their DNA. For people with trinucleotide repeat (TNR) expansion diseases, however, the STRs in the mutant genes are unstable: the number of repetitions expand into ultra-long lengths that are related to the disease's pathology. |
 | Separated entry and exit doors for calcium keep energy production smooth in the powerhouses of heart cellsStress demands the heart to work harder and faster. To keep pace, the muscle must make its fuel at an accelerated rate. Bursts of calcium entering mitochondria—the cell's powerhouses—normally help control energy output, but too much calcium can overload the system and lead to cell death. Now research led by Jefferson (Philadelphia University + Thomas Jefferson University) scientist Gyorgy Csordas shows how mitochondria manage the flow of calcium to keep the engine running smoothly. |
 | Middle-aged moderate drinkers rarely have health concerns about drinkingMiddle-aged drinkers (30-65 year olds), who consume low-levels of alcohol, have either minor or non-existent concerns about the health effects of drinking, according to a systematic review published in the open access journal BMC Public Health. |
Inexpensive testing spurs cancer patients' relatives to assess own disease riskAn online initiative offering low-cost genetic testing to relatives of people with genetic mutations that increase their risk of cancer encourages the "cascade" testing that can help to identify healthy people at risk of the disease, according to a new study by researchers at the Stanford University School of Medicine and Color Genomics, a genetic testing company. | |
 | Women who experienced higher levels of trauma gave birth to significantly smaller male babiesIn the first study of its kind, researchers from the Icahn School of Medicine at Mount Sinai have found significantly lower birth weights in male infants—an average decrease of 38 grams, or approximately 1.3 ounces—born to women who had been exposed to trauma at some point in their lives and who secreted higher levels of cortisol, a hormone related to stress, in late pregnancy. |
 | Small molecule plays big role in weaker bones as we ageWith age, expression of a small molecule that can silence others goes way up while a key signaling molecule that helps stem cells make healthy bone goes down, scientists report. |
Despite changes to US kidney allocation system, inequality persistsThe implementation of a new U.S. kidney transplant allocation system did not solve many of the inequities that low-income and minority kidney disease patients face, Drexel University College of Medicine researchers found in a new study published recently in the journal Clinical Transplantation. | |
 | The way you move post-surgery is connected to long-term success of ACL reconstructionA third of people who undergo ACL reconstruction surgery will have osteoarthritis in their injured knee within 10 years. Within two decades, nearly 50 percent will—terrible odds for getting a debilitating condition with no known cure. |
 | New era in virtual reality therapy for common phobiasDick Tracey didn't have to visit a tall building to get over his fear of heights. He put on a virtual reality headset. |
 | Do we trust people who speak with an accent?You are in a strange neighbourhood, your cell phone's dead, and you desperately need to find the closest garage. A couple of people on the street chime in, each sending you in opposite directions. One person sounds like a local and speaks in a nonchalant manner, while the other uses a loud, confident voice but speaks with a strong accent. Who are you going to trust? A recently published study shows that unless they speak in a confident tone of voice, you're less likely to believe someone who speaks with an accent. And, interestingly, as you make this decision different parts of your brain are activated, depending on whether you perceive the speaker to be from your own "in-group" or from some type of "out-group" (e.g., someone with a different linguistic or cultural background). |
 | Sleep deprived people more likely to have car crashesA new study in SLEEP indicates that people who have slept for fewer than seven of the past 24 hours have higher odds of being involved in and responsible for car crashes. The risk is greatest for drivers who have slept fewer than four hours. |
 | Study reveals the current rates of diagnosed type 1 and type 2 diabetes in American adultsA new study from the University of Iowa finds that type 2 diabetes remains overwhelmingly the most common type of diabetes diagnosed in American adults who have the disease. |
 | Alzheimer's patients are more often hospitalized after initiating antibiotic usePeople with Alzheimer's disease (AD) are more often hospitalized after antibiotic initiation than people without AD, a new study from the University of Eastern Finland shows. The risk of hospitalization was 40 per cent higher for persons with Alzheimer's disease. The findings were published in Journal of Alzheimer's Disease. |
 | MoreGrasp: Getting a better grip on thingsThe goal of the MoreGrasp project was to develop a sensoric grasp neuroprosthesis to support the daily life activities of people living with severe to completely impaired hand function due to spinal cord injuries. The motor function of a neuroprosthesis was to be intuitively controlled by means of a brain-computer interface with emphasis on natural motor patterns. After three years, the breakthrough was reported by the members of the project consortium led by Gernot Müller-Putz, head of the Institute of Neural Engineering at TU Graz, which include the University of Heidelberg, the University of Glasgow, the two companies Medel Medizinische Elektronik and Bitbrain as well as the Know Center. |
 | Vaccine opt-outs dropped slightly when California added more hurdlesIn response to spiking rates of parents opting their children out of vaccinations that are required to enroll in school—and just before a huge outbreak of measles at Disneyland in 2014—California passed AB-2109. The law required that parents who wanted to exempt their children from vaccines get the signature of a healthcare provider who shared the risks of not being vaccinated, adding additional steps to opting out. |
 | Healing animals with fish skinsWARNING: contains graphic burn images. |
 | AI used to detect fetal heart problemsA research group led by scientists from the RIKEN Center for Advanced Intelligence Project (AIP) have developed a novel system that can automatically detect abnormalities in fetal hearts in real-time using artificial intelligence (AI). This technology could help examiners to avoid missing severe and complex congenital heart abnormalities that require prompt treatments, leading to early diagnosis and well-planned treatment plans, and could contribute to the development of perinatal or neonatal medicine. |
 | Guardians of the GenomeFor many, breast cancer is more than just a disease – it's personal. One in eight women will be diagnosed with breast cancer at some point in their lives. But through new discoveries at the genetic level, the personal nature of cancer will eventually be what helps to beat it. |
 | Genes, joules or gut bugs—which one is most to blame for weight gain?With obesity on the rise, so too is the diet and weight loss industry, currently valued at US$70 billion in the US alone. But most of us are still confused about the factors that lead to weight gain. |
 | Gene variations linked to severity of Zika-related birth defects, small NIH study suggestsUniformed Services University of the Health Sciences, Federal University of Rio de Janeiro, and Professor Joaquim Amorim Neto Research Institute in Campina Grande, Brazil. The enzyme, adenylate cyclase, is required to make cyclic adenosine monophosphate (cAMP), which plays a role in placental development and other cellular processes, including the immune response to infection. The findings appear in the Journal of Internal Medicine. |
 | Survivors of sexual assault less likely to report it if they were drunkResearchers from the University of Birmingham have found that survivors of sexual assault are more likely to blame themselves for the incident if they were drunk at the time. |
 | Research confronts 'yucky' attitudes about genetically engineered foodsIs a non-browning apple less "natural" than non-fat milk? In one case, people have injected something into apple DNA to prevent it from turning brown after it's cut. In the other, people used technology to remove something that appears naturally in milk. |
 | New brain research suggests that schizophrenia is an extreme version of a common personality typeResearchers have found that the signals in people's brains differ depending on a particular aspect of an individual's personality, termed Schizotypy, a discovery that could improve the way schizophrenia is characterised and treated. |
 | A geospatial approach to identifying causes of childhood diarrhea in West AfricaDiarrhea is a leading cause of malnutrition in young children and is globally the second leading cause of death among post-neonatal children under five. A quarter of all global cases occur in Africa, with particularly high burden countries in West Africa. This disparity led Drs. Gillian Dunn, of Hawaii Pacific University, and Glen Johnson of CUNY SPH, to identify where specific geo-spatial clusters of childhood diarrhea exist in West Africa, and to identify household and climatic factors that are associated with such clusters. |
 | Why pandemic influenza is so deadly – revealedThe Spanish flu virus infected a third of the world's population 100 years ago and claimed the lives of up to 100m people. The virus continued to evolve and its descendants went on to cause all subsequent flu pandemics, leading to the 1918 pandemic flu to be called the "mother of all flu pandemics". The US army predicts that if a similar flu virus emerged today, it would kill 2.8m people in the US alone or six times more than the 1918 flu. How can a virus be so deadly? |
 | Combatting the opioid epidemicIn the U.S. 115 people die from opioids every day. The number of opioid overdoses increased fivefold from 1999 to 2016. While increased funding for resources like Narcan has helped—the opioid overdose-reversing drug now carried by emergency responders in cities throughout the country—changes to standard healthcare practices are still sorely needed. |
 | Enlarged genotype-phenotype correlation for a three-base pair deletion in neurofibromatosis type 1International collaborative research led by Ludwine Messiaen, Ph.D., shows that while a three-base pair, in-frame deletion called p.Met992del in the NF1 gene has a mild phenotype for people with the genetic disorder neurofibromatosis type 1, or NF1, the mutation does cause complications. These include non-optic brain tumors, mostly low-grade and asymptomatic, as well as cognitive impairment and/or learning disabilities. This study extends findings first reported in 2007 that included only 19 NF1 adults. |
 | Why the brain struggles to get off the sofaAbout 30% of adults and 80% of teenagers today do not meet the minimum levels of daily physical activity for staying healthy, as recommended by the World Health Organisation (WHO). Previous studies have already demonstrated that there is a gap between the intention to play sport and actually playing it among individuals with a leaning towards a sedentary lifestyle. But what happens in the brain to prevent intention being followed by action? |
 | Five math skills your child needs to get ready for kindergartenParents play a critical role in their children's early math education. They not only can provide math-related toys and games, but serve as role models demonstrating how math is used in everyday activities. |
 | Sending help where it's needed most after disastersAfter costly and deadly disasters, large deliveries of supplies – whether they are needed or not – arrive. So do throngs of people who want to pitch in. |
 | Antipsychotic drugs are rarely effective in 'calming' dementia patientsAntipsychotic medications were initially developed to treat schizophrenia, a mental health condition characterised by psychotic symptoms such as delusions and hallucinations. Because of their sedative effects, antipsychotic medications (such as risperidone, olanzapine, quetiapine and haloperidol) are often used to "manage" people with dementia. |
 | Pac-Man's influence on capitalism revealed in new bookNew research into one of the most influential videogame characters of all time reveals as much about contemporary capitalism as it does about the history of gaming. From consumption to addiction, and from dance music to the welfare state, the work by Dr. Alex Wade at Birmingham City University offers a guide through the maze of western society through the lens of Pac-Man. |
 | New test kit enables quick, accurate, inexpensive screening of diseasesTest results are denoted by a colour change and could be further analysed by a smartphone app, making it attractive as a point-of-care diagnostic device |
 | The brain predicts words before they are pronouncedThe brain is not only able to finish the sentences of others: A study by the Basque research centre BCBL has shown for the first time that it can also anticipate an auditory stimulus and determine the phonemes and specific words the speaker is going to pronounce. |
 | Pathology staff shortages causing delays to cancer diagnosis, says reportNHS pathology departments are suffering from chronic staff shortages, finds a new report. |
 | Searching for a diagnosis: How scientists are untangling the mystery of developmental disordersEvie Walker sits on Alison's lap, playing a game she never grows tired of: turning her mum's hand over and over, stroking and examining it. When she takes a break and looks around, it is with the open-mouthed look of curiosity and awe that you see in many infants. Evie's vocabulary currently consists of a repertoire of squawks and "mmm" sounds. In the past few months, she has begun to stand unaided for short periods – even taking a few steps in her walking frame – progress that fills her parents with immeasurable pride, not to mention hope for the future. |
 | Is apple cider vinegar good for you? A doctor weighs inWhen my brother and I were kids back in the '80s, we loved going to Long John Silver's. |
 | Five foods to always have in your freezer(HealthDay)—Shopping at specialty stores and farmers' markets is great for getting fresh foods, but that's not always possible, depending on where you live and the season. And sometimes you just don't have time to get to the store. |
 | Factors predictive of escalated care in infant bronchiolitis ID'd(HealthDay)—Variables have been identified that predict escalated care for infants with bronchiolitis, according to a study published in the September issue of Pediatrics. |
 | Proportion of female authors rising in cardiology literature(HealthDay)—Over the last two decades, the proportion of women in the first and senior authorship positions has increased in academic cardiology literature, according to an article published in the Aug. 7 issue of the Journal of the American College of Cardiology. |
 | Feds approve importation of pot drug for tremor studyIn a rare move, the U.S. government has approved the importation of marijuana extracts from Canada for a clinical trial, highlighting a new avenue for American researchers who have long had trouble obtaining the drug for medical studies. |
 | 15 dead in Malaysia from suspected alcohol poisoningFifteen men, most believed to be foreign workers, have died in Malaysia and 33 more are in hospital with suspected poisoning after consuming alcoholic drinks, police said Tuesday. |
 | Plague outbreak kills two in MadagascarAn outbreak of plague in Madagascar has killed two people, a health official said on Tuesday, marking the official start of the season when the disease is considered to be at its deadliest. |
Monitoring serum Albumin can help patients recover from gastrectomyAs one of the most common malignant tumors, gastric cancer (GC) occupies the second leading cause of cancer-related deaths worldwide with an increasing trend. | |
 | Zika vaccine shows promise for treating deadly brain cancerSeptember 18, 2018—An international team of researchers has successfully deployed a Zika virus vaccine to target and kill human glioblastoma brain cancer stem cells, which had been transplanted into mice. In a study published this week in mBio, an open-access journal of the American Society for Microbiology, the team shows that a live, attenuated version of the Zika virus could form the basis of a new treatment option for this fatal brain cancer. |
Failure rate in some surgical mesh treatments unacceptably highFailure rates in some treatments using surgical mesh are unacceptably high according to a newly published comprehensive biomedical review that considers the findings from peer-reviewed scientific articles assessing its use. In addition, the review concludes that more experiments should have been conducted to properly assess how surgical mesh would behave in some of the bodily environments in which it has recently been used, such as the vagina and urinary system. | |
 | Digital games show potential to improve cardiovascular disease-related exercise outcomesA scoping review of studies on game interventions for cardiovascular disease (CVD) self-management found that the use of digital games improved exercise capacity and energy expenditure significantly. Average adherence rates for the game interventions ranged from 70% to 100% across all studies, and they were enjoyed by a majority of participants in studies that assessed perceptions of the interventions. However, the use of digital games did not affect quality of life, self-efficacy, anxiety, or depression, as reported in Games for Health Journal, a peer-reviewed publication from Mary Ann Liebert, Inc., publishers. |
 | Thermal ablation effectively treats early-stage lung cancerThermal ablation is a safe, effective treatment for early-stage lung cancer, according to a study published in the journal Radiology. The results show that ablation may be an effective alternative for patients who cannot undergo lung cancer surgery because of age or health status. |
 | Mannose's unexpected effects on the microbiome and weight gainScientists continue to unravel links between body weight and the gut microbiome. Now, researchers from Sanford Burnham Prebys Medical Discovery Institute (SBP) report an unexpected finding: mice fed a fatty diet and mannose, a sugar, were protected from weight gain, leaner, and more fit—and this effect tracked with changes in the gut microbiome. The study published today in Cell Reports. |
Medical schools lag behind in veterans' tuition aidTuition aid supported by the U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs for military veterans enrolling in medical school covers a smaller proportion of tuition compared to aid for other graduate programs, according to a Northwestern Medicine study. | |
 | Nearly half of resident physicians report burnoutResident physician burnout in the U.S. is widespread, with the highest rates concentrated in certain specialties, according to research from Mayo Clinic, OHSU and collaborators. The findings appear on Tuesday, Sept. 18, in the Journal of the American Medical Association. Physician burnout is a dangerous mix of exhaustion and depersonalization that contributes to physicians making mistakes while administering health care. |
Solving the gut inflammation puzzleInflammatory bowel disease (IBD), an umbrella term for a number of gut disorders—including ulcerative colitis and Crohn's disease—remains a clinical challenge. Current treatments don't work for all patients, and many stop working over time. But despite their different responses to treatment, all IBD patients share a commonality: intestinal inflammation. Better understanding what drives gut inflammation is therefore important for finding medicines that work effectively and consistently for patients. | |
 | The ADHD brain retrainedThe cost of attention deficit hyperactivity disorder (ADHD) can be as high as EUR 7,000 per patient per year in the United Kingdom and some 4 million children suffer from the disorder in Europe. NEWROFEED has developed a personalised, drug-free treatment for home use based on neurofeedback. |
Study to examine possible effects of cannabis compound for common movement disorderResearchers at University of California School of Medicine are preparing to launch a novel clinical trial to examine the safety, efficacy and pharmacological properties of cannabis as a potential treatment for adults with essential tremor (ET). Currently, ET is treated using repurposed medications originally developed for high blood pressure or seizures. Surgery is another option. | |
 | First gut bacteria may have lasting effect on ability to fight chronic diseasesNew research showing that the first bacteria introduced into the gut have a lasting impact may one day allow science to adjust microbiomes—the one-of-a-kind microbial communities that live in our gastrointestinal tracts—to help ward off serious chronic diseases. |
 | A new defender for your sense of smellNew research from the Monell Center increases understanding of a mysterious sensory cell located in the olfactory epithelium, the patch of nasal tissue that contains odor-detecting olfactory receptor cells. The findings suggest that the so-called microvillous cells (MVCs) may protect the vulnerable olfactory epithelium by detecting and initiating defenses against viruses, bacteria, and other potentially harmful invaders. |
 | Use of electrical brain stimulation to foster creativity has sweeping implicationsWhat is creativity, and can it be enhanced—safely—in a person who needs a boost of imagination? Georgetown experts debate the growing use of electrical devices that stimulate brain tissue, and conclude there is potential value in the technique. However, use of these machines also raises neuro-ethical, legal, and social issues that must now be addressed. |
 | Lacking quality weed extract, US researchers turn to CanadaIn a rare move, the U.S. government has approved the importation of marijuana extracts from Canada for a clinical trial, highlighting a new avenue for American researchers who have long had trouble obtaining the drug for medical studies. |
 | Could the zika virus fight the brain cancer that killed john McCain?(HealthDay)—Preliminary research in mice suggests that the Zika virus might be turned from foe into friend—enlisted to curb deadly glioblastoma brain tumors. |
 | FDA ad campaign hopes to extinguish e-cigarette use among teens(HealthDay)—The U.S. Food and Drug Administration on Tuesday launched a new ad campaign aimed at curbing rampant e-cigarette use among American teens. |
 | Common treatment for AFib may also lower anxiety, depressionLevels of anxiety and depression seen in people who have a common heart rhythm disorder called atrial fibrillation may be affected by how the heart condition is treated, a new study suggests. |
 | Heart health pays dividends for businessman who survived cardiac arrestWill Treinen has never been one to sit on the sidelines. The 51-year-old entrepreneur sacrificed many nights and weekends building a successful consulting company in Olympia, Washington. When he's off the clock, Will and his wife, Denise, enjoy spending time with their two grown daughters and two young grandchildren, as well as hiking, rock climbing and biking. |
 | Tips for advising patients living in highly polluted settings(HealthDay)—Clinicians advising families living overseas in highly polluted settings should understand their patients' concerns and have a network of resources to draw upon for guidance, according to an article published in the Aug. 1 issue of the Annals of the American Thoracic Society. |
 | Ranolazine doesn't cut VT, VF, death in high-risk ICD patients(HealthDay)—For high-risk patients with implantable cardioverter-defibrillators (ICDs), ranolazine does not significantly reduce the risk of ventricular tachycardia (VT) or ventricular fibrillation (VF) requiring appropriate ICD therapy, or death, according to a study published in the Aug. 7 issue of the Journal of the American College of Cardiology. |
 | 2006 to 2015 saw increase in severe maternal morbidity(HealthDay)—From 2006 to 2015, the proportion of women experiencing severe maternal morbidity increased 45 percent, according to a statistical brief published by the Agency for Healthcare Research and Quality. |
 | Review: Treatments for primary basal cell carcinoma compared(HealthDay)—For patients with primary basal cell carcinoma (BCC), estimated recurrence rates are similarly low for excision, Mohs surgery, curettage and diathermy, and external-beam radiation, according to a review and meta-analysis published online Sept. 18 in the Annals of Internal Medicine. |
 | Scribes improve physician workflow, patient interaction(HealthDay)—Use of medical scribes is associated with decreased physician documentation burden, improved work efficiency, and improved patient interactions, according to a study published online Sept. 17 in JAMA Internal Medicine. |
 | Tafamidis treats transthyretin amyloid cardiomyopathy(HealthDay)—In patients with transthyretin amyloid cardiomyopathy, treatment with tafamidis reduces all-cause mortality and cardiovascular-related hospitalizations versus placebo, according to a study published in the Sept. 13 issue of the New England Journal of Medicine. |
 | Incident contrast sensitivity common in middle-aged adults(HealthDay)—The risk of incident contrast sensitivity (CS) impairment is increased with factors such as cadmium exposure and older age, according to a study published online Sept. 13 in JAMA Ophthalmology. |
 | Goal setting strategies can influence positive emotionsFor most people, the sense of happiness derived from a luxurious vacation, a good movie or a tasty dinner at a restaurant may seem short-lived, but what if it were possible to extend these feelings of enjoyment? |
 | Air pollution may be linked to heightened dementia riskAir pollution may be linked to a heightened risk of developing dementia, finds a London-based observational study, published in the online journal BMJ Open. The associations found couldn't be explained by factors known to influence the risks of developing the condition, say the researchers. |
 | Canada opioid deaths hits 8,000More than 1,000 Canadians died of an apparent opioid overdose in the first three months of this year, bringing the toll since the public health crisis erupted in 2016 to 8,000, the public health agency said Tuesday. |
 | Drug prices increased twice as quickly than expected during shortagePrices for drugs under shortage between 2015 and 2016 increased more than twice as quickly as they were expected to in the absence of a shortage. While researchers could not assess reasons for the increases, manufacturers were suspected of exploiting shortages to charge more for drugs in high demand. A brief research report is published in Annals of Internal Medicine. |
Father's obesity in early puberty doubles asthma-risk for future offspringAn international EU-study (ALEC), including researchers from the Centre for International Health at the University of Bergen, has shown that the period between the age of eight and puberty is particularly important for lung health later in life. | |
 | Macron announces changes to France's health care systemFrench President Emmanuel Macron on Tuesday unveiled plans to make France's health care system, considered one of the best in the world, more efficient and sustainable for the next 50 years. |
 | California: Drugmaker paid doctors to overprescribe HumiraPharmaceutical giant AbbVie illegally plied doctors with cash, gifts and services to prescribe one of the world's best-selling drugs, Humira, despite its potentially deadly complications, a California official said in a lawsuit filed Tuesday. |
AI improves doctors' ability to correctly interpret tests and diagnose lung diseaseArtificial intelligence (AI) can be an invaluable aid to help lung doctors interpret respiratory symptoms accurately and make a correct diagnosis, according to new research presented today (Wednesday) at the European Respiratory Society International Congress. | |
Green space near home during childhood linked to fewer respiratory problems in adulthoodChildren who have access to green spaces close to their homes have fewer respiratory problems, such as asthma and wheezing, in adulthood, according to new research presented today (Wednesday) at the European Respiratory Society International Congress. In contrast, children who are exposed to air pollution are more likely to experience respiratory problems as young adults. | |
Biology news
 | How honeybees maintain protective clumps under stressful conditionsA team of researchers at Harvard University has discovered the means by which honeybees keep their temporary clumps intact during adverse weather conditions. In their paper published in the journal Nature Physics, the group describes their study of honeybee behavior in their lab and what the found. |
 | CRISPR screen identifies gene that helps cells resist West Nile, Zika virusesUT Southwestern researchers today report the first use of CRISPR genome-wide screening to identify a gene that helps cells resist flavivirus infection. That nasty class of pathogens includes West Nile virus, dengue fever, Zika virus, and yellow fever. |
 | The gene code of growing limbsWhen a fetus develops, cell division and differentiation, gene expression, cell-to-cell signaling, and morphogenesis must be carefully coordinated to occur in the correct sequence and for the proper amount of time. Failures in timing can result in congenital deformities, disabilities, and even death. For a long time, developmental biologists have sought to determine what sets the pace and directs the order of developmental events. |
 | Detangling DNA replicationDNA is a lengthy molecule—approximately 1,000-fold longer than the cell in which it resides—so it can't be jammed in haphazardly. Rather, it must be neatly organized so proteins involved in critical processes can access the information contained in its nucleotide bases. Think of the double helix like a pair of shoe laces twisted together, coiled upon themselves again and again to make the molecule even more compact. |
 | Intestinal bacteria produce electric current from sugarIntestinal bacteria can create an electric current, according to a new study from Lund University in Sweden. The results are valuable for the development of drugs, but also for the production of bioenergy, for example. |
 | The nocturnal pollinators: Scientists reveal the secret life of mothsScientists have discovered that moths may play a much broader role as plant pollinators than previously suspected. |
 | Jumping genes work together to control programmed deletion in the genomeScientists have discovered a new family of molecules that work together to precisely remove unwanted DNA during reproduction in single-celled, freshwater organisms called ciliates. |
 | New study shows Florida Keys' corals are growing but have become more porousResearchers have long questioned what impact climate change has on the rate at which corals are growing and building reef habitats in the Florida Keys. A new study from the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill explored this topic, finding both good and bad news. The rate of coral skeletal growth in the Florida Keys has remained relatively stable over time, but the skeletal density of the region's corals is declining, possibly due to ocean acidification. |
 | Review explores how birds can stay slim, even when they overeatNoticing that songbirds, such as finches, never seem to get fat despite overeating at bird feeders, London environmental biologist Lewis Halsey wondered whether the amount of energy birds put into singing, fidgeting, or exercising could be adjusted in ways that regulate weight. In a literature review published September 18 in the journal Trends in Ecology & Evolution, he explores whether songbirds don't need to worry about their calorie counts because they can control the way their bodies use energy. |
 | E. coli's adaptation to extreme temperatures helps explain resistance to certain drugsLong before bacteria had to contend with antibiotic drugs, they had to survive extreme temperatures as Earth warmed and cooled over millennia. Could the adaptations they evolved to temperature—especially heat—help explain why certain strains are resistant to certain drugs? A new study by a research team at the University of California-Los Angeles that includes Santa Fe Institute External Professor Pamela Yeh suggests that defenses against extreme temperatures, do, indeed, give E. coli bacteria an advantage in fending off certain drugs. |
 | Silver nanoparticles toxic for aquatic organismsSilver nanoparticles are increasingly being used in consumer products, such as clothing and personal care products, in the medical and pharmaceutical industry, and in the food industry. That is why their presence is expected to increase in the environment where they can exert harmful effects on organisms. The UPV/EHU's Cell Biology in Environmental Toxicology research group has analysed adult zebrafish to find the effects that can be caused in the long term by silver particles present in fresh water. |
 | Understanding group relationships in gorillasA study by researchers from The University of Western Australia has found that the behaviour between groups of African mountain gorillas is very much influenced by the strong, life-long bonds they form with members of their group. |
 | To protect pollinators, go easy on the fall garden cleanupTime to rake up the yard, deadhead the perennials and till the vegetable garden? Not so fast. |
 | Global trade in exotic pets threatens endangered parrots through the spread of a virusBeak and feather disease virus (BFDV) in wild parrot populations has been detected in eight new countries, raising concerns for threatened species. |
 | Surviving insects and plants are tougher than we thinkInsect pollinators that have survived the impacts of agricultural intensification may have a greater ability to resist future environmental changes than previously thought, a new study has found. |
 | Researchers confirm glyphosate resistance in junglericeThere has been a lot of publicity in recent years about growers battling glyphosate-resistant pigweed in soybean and cotton crops. But pigweed isn't the only weed resistant to glyphosate. New research published in the journal Weed Science shows certain populations of junglerice (Echinochloa colona) are now among a growing number of weeds resistant to the herbicide. |
Researchers predict invasion risk of starry stonewort in upper MidwestResearchers from the Minnesota Aquatic Invasive Species Research Center recently published a new paper predicting the invasion risk of starry stonewort (Nitellopsis obtusa) in Minnesota and Wisconsin lakes. Starry stonewort is a macroagla invasive in North America that has been found in fourteen lakes in Minnesota to date. | |
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