Dear Reader ,
Here is your customized Science X Newsletter for October 9, 2018:
Spotlight Stories Headlines
Astronomy & Space news
 | Giant, jagged 'ice spikes' cover Jupiter's moon Europa, new study suggestsIf you're planning a trip to Jupiter's moon Europa, be prepared for a rough landing. |
 | Branson says Virgin Galactic to launch space flight 'within weeks'British entrepreneur Richard Branson said he expects his Virgin Galactic company to conduct its first space flight "within weeks, not months" in comments broadcast Tuesday. |
 | Japan space tourist says moon training 'shouldn't be too hard'Billionaire Japanese tycoon and future space tourist Yusaku Maezawa's training to go the moon should not be too tricky, he joked Tuesday, adding that he planned to use free time from his six-hour work day to squeeze it in. |
 | Your brain on space—the overview effectSpace travel is like a drug—and it could save the rest of us down here on planet Earth. |
 | NASA head: Space station hole cause will be determinedThe head of the U.S. space agency said Tuesday that he's sure that investigators will determine the cause of a mysterious hole that appeared on the International Space Station, which his Russian counterpart has said was deliberately drilled. |
Technology news
 | An evaluation of the accuracy-efficiency tradeoffs of neural language modelsA team of researchers at the University of Waterloo in Canada has recently carried out a study exploring accuracy-efficiency tradeoffs of neural language models (NLMs) specifically applied to mobile devices. In their paper, which was pre-published on arXiv, the researchers also proposed a simple technique to recover some perplexity, a measure of a language model's performance, using a negligible amount of memory. |
 | Social media data used to predict retail failureResearchers have used a combination of social media and transport data to predict the likelihood that a given retail business will succeed or fail. |
 | Code of ethics doesn't influence decisions of software developersThe world's largest computing society, the Association for Computing Machinery (ACM), updated its code of ethics in July 2018 – but new research from North Carolina State University shows that the code of ethics does not appear to affect the decisions made by software developers. |
 | Intel launch event ushers in 9th generation processorsIntel has announced its 9th generation of Core processors, namely the "9th Generation Core-X family," at its October 8 launch event. |
 | Artificial intelligence helps reveal how people process abstract thoughtAs artificial intelligence becomes more sophisticated, much of the public attention has focused on how successfully these technologies can compete against humans at chess and other strategy games. A philosopher from the University of Houston has taken a different approach, deconstructing the complex neural networks used in machine learning to shed light on how humans process abstract learning. |
 | Google launches connected speaker with screen, but no cameraGoogle on Tuesday launched a new version of its connected speaker with a touchscreen display designed to be a hub for smart home devices but without a camera for privacy reasons. |
 | Google expands Pixel phone screens, undercuts Apple on priceGoogle's new Pixel phones mirror the industry trend moving the devices toward lusher, bigger screens and add new twists on the camera for taking better selfies and other pictures. |
UN report: Technologies can help lives but boost inequalityNew technologies from artificial intelligence to gene editing hold immense potential to improve people's live—but can also drive greater inequality and social dislocation, according to a U.N. report launched Monday. | |
 | Comcast faces continued doubts over wisdom of Sky purchaseAs it prepares to take control of British telecommunications company Sky following a tense, months-long bidding war, American cable giant Comcast faces continued doubts about its strategy for content and technology—and whether it will pay off. |
 | Want to delete your Facebook account? It'll take 30 daysFacebook has given users many reasons to consider nuking their accounts lately from data breaches to scandals surrounding election interference. |
 | Google Pixel 3: What we know about Google's next phones from all the rumors and leaksAs the calendar has now turned to October, the fall smartphone season continues to heat up. With the latest Galaxy Note from Samsung and iPhones from Apple now announced, anticipation turns to what is next from other manufacturers including OnePlus, Razer and Google, all of which have events lined up for later this month. |
5G service rolls out—but not without controversyLampposts around downtown Los Angeles are being wired with fiber optic cable and shoebox-sized gadgets to beam the fifth and fastest generation of cellular data, known as 5G, into homes and mobile devices. | |
From cyborgs to sex robots, U of M professor studies how brain science is changing legal systemFrancis Shen spends a lot of time thinking about transhuman cyborgs, brain-wave lie detectors, sex robots and terrorists hacking into devices implanted in our heads. | |
 | Google poised to unveil new Pixel phones, other servicesGoogle is expected to introduce two new smartphones Tuesday, part of its continuing push to embed its digital services and Android software more deeply into peoples' lives. |
Video ad business booming in US: market trackerThe video ad business is booming the US, with spending expected to grow 30 percent this year to $27.82 billion, an eMarketer forecast released Tuesday showed. | |
 | Broadband 'disconnect' has big consequences for midwest farmersSitting in the cab of a combine harvester on a soybean farm in Wells, Minnesota this summer, University of Virginia assistant media studies professor Christopher Ali was amazed as he looked down at the dashboard. |
 | Sophisticated sensors keep bridges, dams and buildings safeThe Story Bridge is 78 years old, the Sydney Harbour Bridge is hitting 95. Australian bridges are designed for a life span of 100 years. |
 | YouTube driving global consumption of musicIf you are listening to music, chances are you're on YouTube. |
 | Researchers build a model that predicts business closures in cities with 80% accuracyOver the past decade, changes in the way people shop have led more and more businesses to close their doors, from small music venues to book shops and even major department stores. This trend has been attributed to several factors, including a shift towards online shopping and changing spending preferences. But business closures are complex, and often due to many intertwined factors. |
 | Methane-based fuels for the transport and energy sectorsThe lead project "Methane from Renewable Sources in Mobile and Stationary Applications" (MethQuest) launched on September 14, 2018 is aimed at developing environmentally compatible, affordable, and feasible approaches to a successful energy transition. The project is funded with EUR 19 million by the Federal Ministry for Economic Affairs and Energy (BMWi). Responsibility for joint project coordination has been assigned to Rolls-Royce Power Systems and the DVGW Research Centre at the Engler-Bunte Institute of Karlsruhe Institute of Technology (KIT). KIT researchers participate in two of the six joint projects. |
 | Google drops out of bidding for massive Pentagon cloud contractGoogle is dropping out of the bidding for a huge Pentagon cloud computing contract that could be worth up to $10 billion, saying the deal would be inconsistent with its principles. |
 | Court orders diesel ban on major Berlin roadsBerlin could shut out diesel drivers from major arterial roads next year, after a court Tuesday ordered the German capital to follow in the footsteps of Hamburg, Frankfurt and Stuttgart with exclusion zones. |
 | UK union calls for 24-hour strike of Uber driversA British union has called for a 24-hour strike of Uber drivers in London, Birmingham and Nottingham, putting up a "digital picket line" to demand better pay and conditions. |
 | Sealy, world-class 3D printers set to create dissolvable medical implantsAs a kid, Michael Sealy was tall. A little clumsy, he says. And he has lasting proof: two metal screws in his left elbow. |
 | Google launch event overshadowed by privacy firestormGoogle was supposed to be focusing Tuesday on its launch of a new smartphone and other devices, but the event was being overshadowed by a firestorm over a privacy glitch that forced it to shut down its struggling social network. |
 | AI tool automatically reveals how to write apps that drain less batteryTo send a text message, there's not only "an app for that," there are dozens of apps for that. |
To crash or swerve? Study reveals which actions taken by self-driving cars are morally defensibleA crash by one of Uber Technologies, Inc.'s self-driving cars earlier this year resulted in the first pedestrian death associated with self-driving technology. The incident highlighted the challenges technology companies are facing in developing software that can adequately detect and respond to hazards in the road and immediate surroundings. The vehicle could have come to a complete stop in three seconds but did not employ emergency braking until 1.3 seconds before impact. Should emergency braking have been the default action taken immediately following the detection of roadway hazard? | |
 | New Pentagon weapons systems easily hacked: reportNew US weapons systems being developed by the US Department of Defense can be easily be hacked by adversaries, a new government report said on Tuesday. |
 | Facebook seeing growth in business network WorkplaceFacebook on Tuesday hosted its first global summit spotlighting a growing Workplace platform launched two years ago as a private social network for businesses. |
 | Google appeals record EU fine over AndroidGoogle on Tuesday appealed the biggest ever anti-trust fine by the EU, which imposed a 4.34 billion euro ($5 billion) penalty on the US tech giant for illegally abusing the dominance of its operating system for mobile devices. |
 | Models of dinosaur movement could help us build stronger robots and buildingsFrom about 245 to 66 million years ago, dinosaurs roamed the Earth. Although well-preserved skeletons give us a good idea of what they looked like, the way their limbs worked remains a bigger mystery. But computer simulations may soon provide a realistic glimpse into how some species moved and inform work in fields such as robotics, prosthetics and architecture. |
 | Team breaks exaop barrier with deep learning applicationA team of computational scientists from Lawrence Berkeley National Laboratory (Berkeley Lab) and Oak Ridge National Laboratory (ORNL) and engineers from NVIDIA has, for the first time, demonstrated an exascale-class deep learning application that has broken the exaop barrier. |
 | Comcast becomes majority shareholder of SkyUS cable giant Comcast on Tuesday said it is now the majority shareholder of pan-European TV satellite company Sky after purchasing 21st Century Fox's 39-percent holding in the group. |
 | How European cities are battling diesel-polluted airA Berlin court ruled Tuesday that older diesel cars must be banned from some major roads in the German capital. |
 | World cybercrime shifts to state-backed hackers: Russian groupThe latest innovations in cybercrime have shifted from financially motivated actors to state-backed hackers focussed on sabotage and intelligence gathering, a Russian cybersecurity firm said Tuesday. |
Medicine & Health news
 | Memory 'brainwaves' look the same in sleep and wakefulnessIdentical brain mechanisms are responsible for triggering memory in both sleep and wakefulness, new research at the University of Birmingham has shown. |
 | Asthma may contribute to childhood obesity epidemicToddlers with asthma are more likely to become obese children, according to an international study led by USC scientists. |
 | Scoliosis linked to essential mineralNobody knows why some children's backs start to curve to one side just as they hit puberty. Most children diagnosed with scoliosis, or curvature of the spine, have no known risk factors. |
 | In childbirth, when to begin pushing does not affect C-section ratesMore than 3 million women in the United States give birth each year. But obstetricians have differing opinions about when women should begin pushing during labor and whether the timing of pushing increases the likelihood of a cesarean section, which carries a higher risk of complications compared with a vaginal delivery. |
 | Invasive breast cancers punch tunnels into neighboring tissueCancers pose the greatest danger when they become invasive and then spread from their originating tissues throughout the body. |
 | Researchers identify common molecular mechanism in two skeletal disordersA rare and as-yet-unnamed skeletal disorder shares a common "signaling pathway" with another rare skeletal disorder called Jansen metaphyseal chondrodysplasia. (A signaling pathway is a group of molecules in a cell that work together to control one or more cell functions.) The findings point to the mechanisms that control both normal and disordered development of the skeleton, and could even lead to a novel target for cancer drugs. |
 | Supercharged natural killer cells may hold promise for cancerA type of 'supercharged' immune cell could be mass-produced to help fight cancer. |
 | Long-acting injectable implant shows promise for HIV treatment and preventionA persistent challenge in HIV/AIDS treatment and prevention is medication adherence – getting patients to take their medication as required to get the best results. |
 | Too much sleep bad for brain, study saysPreliminary results from the world's largest sleep study have shown that people who sleep on average between seven to eight hours per night performed better cognitively than those who slept less – or more – than this amount. Western neuroscientists at the Brain and Mind Institute released their findings today in Sleep. |
 | How the brain retroactively makes sense of rapid auditory and visual sensory stimulationWe experience the world through our senses, a constant torrent of sights, sounds, smells, and more. Our brains take these signals and process them, giving rise to our individual perceptions of the world. But sometimes our senses play tricks on us, notably in the case of perceptual illusions. |
 | Gene therapy breakthrough in treating rare form of blindnessPositive results of the world's first gene therapy trial for a genetic cause of blindness known as choroideremia have been reported in Nature Medicine. |
 | Newly discovered long noncoding RNA plays critical role in brain growth and signalingA new study from the Scripps Research laboratory of Sathyanarayanan Puthanveettil, Ph.D., peers deep within the nucleus of developing brain cells and finds that long noncoding RNAs play an important role in the healthy functioning and maintenance of synapses, the communication points between nerve cells in the brain. |
 | Neuron death in ALS more complex than previously thoughtBrown University researchers have uncovered new clues about the progression of Amyotrophic Lateral Sclerosis (ALS), a surprisingly common disease that causes the death of motor neurons that control voluntary muscles such as those involved in walking, talking, chewing or breathing. |
 | Protein has unique effects in neural connections related to information processingOur cognitive abilities come down to how well the connections, or synapses, between our brain cells transmit signals. A new study by researchers at MIT's Picower Institute for Learning and Memory digs deep into the molecular mechanisms that enable synaptic transmission to show the distinct role of a protein that when mutated has been linked to causing intellectual disability. |
 | Why single embryo transfer during IVF sometimes results in twins or tripletsIt has been known for some time that it is better to transfer a single embryo to a woman's womb during assisted reproduction treatment (ART) rather than several embryos in order to avoid a multiple pregnancy and the risks associated with it such as foetal deaths, miscarriage, premature delivery and low birthweight. However, even when single embryo transfer (SET) is performed, some women still become pregnant with twins or even triplets. |
 | Too much vitamin A may increase risk of bone fracturesConsuming too much vitamin A may decrease bone thickness, leading to weak and fracture prone bones, according to a study published in the Journal of Endocrinology. The study, undertaken in mice, found that sustained intake of vitamin A, at levels equivalent to 4.5-13 times the human recommended daily allowance (RDA), caused significant weakening of the bones, and suggests that people should be cautious of over-supplementing vitamin A in their diets. |
 | Inflammation in the womb may explain why some babies are more prone to sepsis after birthEach year 15 million infants are born preterm and face high risks of short- and long-term complications, including sepsis, severe inflammation of the gut, and neurodevelopmental disorders. A new report in the American Journal of Pathology demonstrates a link between prenatal inflammation and postnatal immune status and organ function in preterm pigs, suggesting that early intervention (eg, antibiotics or anti-inflammatory drugs) may be warranted for infants born preterm with signs of inflammation of fetal membranes. |
New C-CHANGE guideline provides comprehensive recommendations to manage heart diseaseThe updated comprehensive C-CHANGE (Canadian Cardiovascular Harmonized National Guidelines Endeavour) guideline to manage cardiovascular disease will help primary care physicians across Canada provide better care for patients with, or who are at risk of, heart disease. The guideline, published in CMAJ (Canadian Medical Association Journal), updates the 2014 guideline, with 52 newly added or updated recommendations. | |
Immigrant, refugee youth most likely to visit the ED with a new mental health problemRefugee and immigrant youth in Ontario may face barriers to accessing mental health services through primary care, say the authors of a study of emergency department visits published in CMAJ (Canadian Medical Association Journal). | |
 | Faith-based approach to changing lifestyle lowers blood pressureA church-based program to encourage a healthy lifestyle lowered systolic blood pressure more than an educational program alone delivered in other churches, according to new research in Circulation: Cardiovascular Quality and Outcomes, an American Heart Association journal. |
 | Doctors, scientists fight superbugs that could kill millionsCatching an ear infection is uncomfortable enough, but imagine if the antibiotics a doctor prescribed didn't work. |
 | Carotid artery MRI improves risk assessment for cardiovascular diseaseMRI measurements of wall thickness in the carotid arteries improve cardiovascular disease risk assessment, according to a new study appearing in the journal Radiology. |
 | Greater diagnostic certainty in choosing the right treatment for breast cancerChoosing the correct individualised treatment for breast cancer depends upon determination of receptors for oestrogen, progesterone and HER2. The gold-standard method is currently immunohistochemistry (IHC). However, in 5 to 10 percent of cases, this testing of tumour tissue can produce false negative or false positive results – with serious consequences for the patient concerned. In a joint interdisciplinary project, researchers from MedUni Vienna have now demonstrated that diagnostic certainty can be significantly increased by a new investigation technique – namely by checking the gene expression of the receptors on a gene chip and then collating all the data in a mathematical model to derive an overall result. |
 | Anorexia nervosa patients prefer underweight bodiesAn interdisciplinary team of scientists from the Max Planck Institute for Biological Cybernetics, the University of Tübingen and the Max Planck Institute for Intelligent Systems placed test persons in front of their virtual selves and examined their self-perception. The aim of the studies was to investigate how accurately healthy women and men, including patients with anorexia nervosa, perceive their own body weight. The findings provide insights for new therapy approaches for people with eating disorders. |
 | Recovering from a heart attack? Hold the antibioticsThe community of microorganisms that live in the human gut has been shown to confer all kinds of health benefits. Now, an international team of researchers has shown in mice that a healthy gut microbiome is important for recovery after a heart attack. |
 | Stem cells will 'change medicine forever,' says UB surgeon-turned-stem cell engineerNatesh Parashurama, MD, Ph.D., assistant professor of chemical and biological engineering at the University at Buffalo, has made his life's mission the translation of stem cell research from the laboratory to patients. |
 | Study: Sexes differ when it comes to comfort during and after exerciseNew research from the University at Buffalo has, for the first time, identified differences between men and women in their preferences for maintaining comfort both while exercising and in recovery. The results could one day inform the development of new athletic apparel. |
 | 'Genes are not destiny' when it comes to weightA healthy home environment could help offset children's genetic susceptibilities to obesity, according to new research led by UCL. |
 | Study of community efforts to combat childhood obesity, a key risk factor for later chronic diseaseAccording to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, one in five US school-age children and young people ages 6 to 19 years suffers from obesity, a tripling of such numbers since the 1970s. For individual children, genetics, eating and exercise all play a role in weight status—but the influence of a community's design, programs and policies on childhood obesity hasn't been comprehensively understood. |
 | Older caregivers and entrepreneurs a focus of studyShould you launch your first business when you are over 50? How does caring for a loved one fit around paid work in later years? These are among new topics canvassed in the latest biennial survey by Massey University psychology researchers running a longitudinal study on health and ageing in New Zealand. |
 | Lung cancer will remain major health issue, despite falling ratesSmoking-related lung cancer rates are expected to drop dramatically over the next 50 years, but lung cancer will continue to be a significant health problem in the United States, says a University of Michigan researcher. |
 | New Markey study shows promise for targeting breast cancer metastasisA new study by University of Kentucky Markey Cancer Center researchers suggests that targeting a protein known as collagen XIII could be key for suppressing breast cancer metastasis. |
 | Work environment challenges nurses trying to adopt healthy behaviorsResearch among nurses reports fewer than 10 percent meet physical activity guidelines and eat a healthy diet. The American Nurses Association underscored this issue by declaring 2017 as the Year of the Healthy Nurse. A new study published in the Journal of Nutrition Education and Behavior found that despite providing pedometers, a smartphone app, and access to a Facebook group, study participants were unable to change their diet and physical activity levels at the same time. |
 | Sexual abuse as a child changes the body's biochemical response to stress]Anxious depression, often resulting from childhood trauma, causes body changes which mean that standard depression treatments are often ineffective, according to new research presented at the ECNP in Barcelona. |
 | Breast cancer drug could be used to treat life-threatening leukaemiaA recently-approved breast cancer drug could be used to target and treat a life-threatening leukaemia, new research has revealed. |
 | What to look for in mental well-being appsWho are you likely to turn to when experiencing a change in mental health? |
 | Study explains why some childhood abuse victims develop certain mental illnessesChildren who are physically or sexually abused are at greater risk for developing mental health problems later in life, but the severity of these problems may depend on the time that abuse first began, how long it lasted and the severity of abuse, according to a new study from the University of Alabama at Birmingham. The study, published in Child Abuse and Neglect, suggests that abuse occurring in children age 5 or older may have the most harmful impact on mental health. |
 | New attention to women with painful vertebral compression fracturesOlder women who suffer vertebral fractures rarely attract the attention of health care providers. A dissertation at Sahlgrenska Academy, Sweden, throws new light on a group of individuals with chronic pain as a constant companion. |
 | Large-scale study finds that the Mediterranean diet is best for your mental healthAdmittedly, eating chocolate or ice cream to chase the blues away is so much more enjoyable than healthy alternatives. But a new study published in the journal Molecular Psychiatry says that a diet rich in fish, nuts and vegetables could help lower a person's risk of depression. Specifically, a plant-based diet of fruit, vegetables, grains, fish, nuts and olive oil – but little meat or dairy – appears to have benefits in terms of mood. |
 | Time and money—the biggest hurdles to healthy eatingPhilippe Couillard, the freshly defeated Quebec premier, made headlines during the election campaign when he suggested a family of three —comprised of one adult and two adolescents —could feed themselves for $75 a week. |
 | Why people with dementia don't all behave the sameDementia is the is the leading cause of death among Australian women and the third most common cause of death among men. |
 | The emerging field of infant mental healthIn the first years of life, a child's brain produces more than 1 million neural connections a second. |
 | The psychology of closure – and why some need it more than othersImagine your partner unexpectedly changes their Facebook status from "in a relationship" to "single" and then refuses to communicate with you. This sounds awfully cruel, completely robbing you of your right to find out why you have been dumped so that you can get some closure and move on. But it is actually becoming so common that Facebook has created new tools to help people manage their Facebook profiles after a breakup and interact with former partners. |
 | Four myths about breast cancer debunked(HealthDay)—There are four common myths about breast cancer that can affect prevention and treatment of the most common type of cancer in American women, an oncologist says. |
 | Hey home exercisers, sometimes gym classes offer added benefits(HealthDay)—There's nothing like the convenience of working out at home or going for a walk on your schedule. |
 | Weight-loss surgery may raise gallstone risk, study finds(HealthDay)—The quick weight loss that occurs after bariatric surgery seems to have an unintended consequence—a greater risk of gallstones, a new study suggests. |
Genetic tool to predict adult heart attack risk in childhoodPeople at high risk of a heart attack in adulthood could be spotted much earlier in life with a one-off DNA test, according to new research part-funded by the British Heart Foundation and published today in the Journal of the American College of Cardiology. | |
 | Scientists discover a new way to eliminate allergen-induced asthma attacksAround the globe, an estimated 235 million people suffer from asthma. Most people are able to manage their symptoms and live healthy, active lives. However, for some, current treatments are not effective. Managing symptoms can be difficult because triggers are lurking everywhere. |
 | Dummies not to blame for common speech disorder in kidsNew University of Sydney research shows bottles, dummies, and thumb sucking in the early years of life do not cause or worsen phonological impairment, the most common type of speech disorder in children. |
 | Scorpion census: Researchers update global record of medically significant scorpionsScorpions can be found at every corner of the globe and on six of the seven continents, from the southern tip of South America to the arid expanse of the Sahara Desert. |
 | Mechanism of resistance to novel targeted therapy for ovarian cancer identifiedScientists at The Wistar Institute have unraveled a mechanism of resistance to EZH2 inhibitors in ovarian cancers with mutations in the ARID1A gene. The study, published in Nature Communications, suggests that inhibition of the cell death regulator BCL2 may be used to circumvent or prevent ovarian cancer treatment resistance. |
Charting genetic differences in breast can improve care for underserved populationsA study comparing DNA and RNA data from Nigerian breast cancer patients to patients in a United States database found that certain aggressive molecular features were far more prevalent in tumors from Nigerian women than in black or white American women. | |
Future breast imaging and biopsy are not eliminated after mastectomyThe proportion of breast cancer patients who are eligible for breast conservation therapy, yet opt for mastectomy, is increasing, for reasons that include the desire to eliminate future screening and/or biopsy of the remaining breast tissue. A new study led by researchers at the Icahn School of Medicine at Mount Sinai has determined that having a mastectomy does not completely eliminate the need for further breast imaging studies. | |
 | Study uncovers 'sextortion' prevalence in teensAccording to the United States Department of Justice, "sextortion" is labeled as the most important and fastest-growing cyberthreat to children, with more minor victims per offender than all other child sexual exploitation offenses. Sextortion is the threatened dissemination of explicit, intimate, or embarrassing images of a sexual nature without consent. It is usually for the purpose of getting more images, sexual acts, money or something else. |
 | More exercise may not help all cancer patients to the same extentA new article in the Journal of the National Cancer Institute finds that some cancer patients appear to benefit more from exercise than others. |
 | Researchers question benefits of long term oxygen therapy in COPDLong-term oxygen therapy does not decrease the risk for hospitalizations or increase life expectancy for many patients with mild to moderate COPD, but may lower their quality of life, according to Mayo Clinic researchers published in The Journal of the American Osteopathic Association. |
 | Targeting abnormal signals suggests novel method to treat a rare childhood blood diseasePediatric researchers studying the life-threatening blood disorder Fanconi anemia (FA) have devised a method to block the abnormal biological signals that drive the disease. This proof-of-concept finding in animals and stem cells from human cord blood may lay the foundation for better treatments for children with the rare, frequently fatal disease. |
Metastatic breast cancer patients report high level of financial impactA national survey of more than 1,000 women with metastatic breast cancer led by University of North Carolina Lineberger Comprehensive Cancer Center researchers found that nearly one-third of women had no insurance, and many felt significant or catastrophic financial effects from cancer. | |
First automated malnutrition screen implemented for hospitalized childrenA team of clinicians, dietitians and researchers has created an automated program to screen for malnutrition in hospitalized children, providing daily alerts to healthcare providers so they can quickly intervene with appropriate treatment. The malnutrition screen draws on existing patient data in electronic health records (EHR). | |
 | Infective endocarditis increases tenfold in North CarolinaThe number of hospitalizations and the number of surgeries to treat drug-associated infective endocarditis have both increased over tenfold in North Carolina, according to researchers at the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill. |
 | Shaking up how nursing homes and their clinicians are paid to care for sick residentsRegenstrief Institute and Indiana University Center for Aging Research investigators are testing whether providing nursing homes and the doctors and nurse practitioners who care for their residents with increased Medicare payments can further reduce avoidable hospitalizations. |
Thinking outside the box: Adults with ADHD not constrained in creativityPeople often believe those with Attention Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder face challenges that could hinder future employment, but a University of Michigan study found that adults with ADHD feel empowered doing creative tasks that could help them on the job. | |
'10,000 Immunomes' database opens a window on healthy immunityScientists at UC San Francisco have painstakingly assembled a searchable database of normal human immunity that researchers can now use as an instant comparison group in studies of the immune system and immune dysfunction. The new open-access data tool, called the 10,000 Immunomes Project (10KIP), pieces together the results of 83 studies that contain measurements on healthy people of various ages and backgrounds. | |
 | Anti-psychotic drug could treat aggressive breast cancerA commonly-used anti-psychotic drug could also be effective against triple negative breast cancer, the form of the disease that is most difficult to treat, new research has found. |
 | Seizures begin with a muffleSome patients describe epileptic seizures like an earthquake from within, starting slow and growing without their control. To a brain researcher, seizures are an electrical firestorm of neuronal activation in the brain. Now, studies at Jefferson (Philadelphia University + Thomas Jefferson University), have shown that some types of seizure paradoxically begin with a hush: a spike in inhibition. Neurons that dampen neuronal activity may be responsible for starting the large-scale over-activation of a seizure. |
Urban Inuit communities suffer from poor health and limited access to healthcareCases of cancer and hypertension are much higher among Inuit living in and around Ottawa than for the general population of Canada's capital city. This is according to a study co-led by Janet Smylie of St. Michael's Hospital and the University of Toronto in Canada and published in the Springer-branded Canadian Journal of Public Health. The study was conducted in partnership with an Inuit-specific service provider called Tungasuvvingat Inuit (TI) that provides social support, cultural activities, counselling and crisis intervention to the Inuit community in Ontario, who led the collection of study data. According to Smylie, some of the findings of the research have already been incorporated into the development of a new culturally appropriate medical care programme for Inuit in Ottawa. | |
 | New options for breast cancer drug development found in estrogen receptorsMany breast cancer drugs block estrogen receptors inside cancer cells. Blocking the receptors early in disease progression staves off metastasis. But most patients with advanced disease eventually develop drug resistance, leaving doctors desperate for alternatives. Now, researchers from Case Western Reserve University School of Medicine have uncovered a previously uncharacterized, bridge-like structure within the human estrogen receptor that could serve as a valuable new drug target. In Nature Communications, researchers describe a "burning the bridge" strategy to disrupting the estrogen receptor, and how to screen breast cancer drugs designed to do it. |
Austria tiring of being 'ashtray of Europe'Austria is tiring of its reputation as "the ashtray of Europe"—at least according to the results of a nationwide petition backing a ban on smoking in cafes and restaurants. | |
 | Mouse study shows how binge drinking and stress affect males, females differentlyResearchers with the Veterans Affairs Portland Health Care System and Oregon Health & Sciences University found that a history of binge drinking made male and female mice react differently to traumatic stress. The research may help scientists understand why men and women seem to handle both alcohol and stress differently. |
'Man', 'woman' and 'other': research explores gender diversityA growing number of people in Australia no longer see themselves as fitting into the traditional boxes of 'man' or 'woman', with more than 30 gender options available to choose from on some social media platforms and within government institutions. | |
 | Seed oils are best for LDL cholesterolIf you want to lower your low-density lipoprotein cholesterol, called LDL or, colloquially, "bad cholesterol," the research is clear about one thing: You should exchange saturated fats with unsaturated fat. If you want to know what you should use to sauté your dinner, that's a harder question to answer. Many of the studies establishing that mono- and polyunsaturated fats are better for blood lipids than saturated fats swapped out one food source at a time, making it hard to tell which of a plethora of vegetable oils might be most beneficial. |
 | Crosstalk between fallopian tube, ovary may drive the spread of ovarian cancerNew research from the University of Illinois at Chicago shows that cancer cells in the fallopian tube affect normal chemical signaling between reproductive tissues and stimulate the release of norepinephrine, a small molecule hormone, from the ovary. |
 | Micropeptide restores heart function in miceResearchers have discovered a micropeptide molecule that can restore normal heart function in mice, according to a study in eLife. |
Researchers pinpoint ideal protein to help seniors rebuild lost muscleWhile exercise buffs have long used protein supplements to gain muscle, new research from McMaster University suggests one protein source in particular, whey protein, is most effective for seniors struggling to rebuild muscle lost from inactivity associated with illness or long hospital stays. | |
 | Unseen infections harming world's children, research revealsChildren around the world are suffering from unnoticed infections that are stunting their growth and mental development, new research from an international coalition of scientists reveals. |
 | Bug that causes stomach cancer could play a role in colorectal cancerA bacterium known for causing stomach cancer might also increase the risk of certain colorectal cancers, particularly among African Americans, according to a study led by Duke Cancer Institute researchers. |
 | Retention in HIV care drops after release from incarcerationFewer than half of people with HIV are retained in care three years after release from incarceration, according to a study in the U.S. published October 9 in the open-access journal PLOS Medicine by Kelsey Loeliger of Yale School of Medicine, and colleagues. The findings also suggest that better access to health insurance and transitional case-management services may improve retention in HIV care and viral suppression in this population. |
 | Gene changes driving myopia reveal new focus for drug developmentMyopia (nearsightedness) and hyperopia (farsightedness) develop through different molecular pathways, according to a new study publishing October 9 in the open-access journal PLOS Biology by Andrei Tkatchenko of Columbia University and colleagues. The finding provides a new understanding of myopia, the most common form of visual impairment worldwide, and opens the way for development of drugs to prevent it. |
 | HPV vaccine approved for people through age 45(HealthDay)—U.S. Food and Drug Administration approval of the Gardasil 9 human papillomavirus (HPV) vaccine has been expanded to include people ages 27 through 45, the agency said in a news release. |
 | Mechanical ventilation may alter diaphragm muscle fibers(HealthDay)—In critically ill patients, mechanical ventilation with positive end-expiratory pressure (PEEP) results in reduced diaphragm fiber length that may make it more difficult to wean patients from mechanical ventilation, according to a study published in the Aug. 15 issue of the American Journal of Respiratory and Critical Care Medicine. |
 | Integrated classifier identifies benign lung nodules(HealthDay)—An integrated plasma proteomics classifier, which integrates the relative abundance of two plasma proteins with a clinical risk prediction model, can distinguish benign from malignant lung nodules in those at low-to-intermediate risk for cancer, according to a study published in the September issue of CHEST. |
 | Application of blood pressure guidelines ups treatment(HealthDay)—Implementation of the 2017 American College of Cardiology/American Heart Association (ACC/AHA) blood pressure guideline would direct initiation and intensification of antihypertensive medication treatment to adults at high risk for cardiovascular disease (CVD) events, according to a study published in the Sept. 11 issue of the Journal of the American College of Cardiology. |
 | Risk of opioid-benzodiazepine overlap up for dual prescribing(HealthDay)—Receiving prescriptions from both the U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs (VA) and Medicare Part D is associated with increased risk for overlapping of opioid and benzodiazepine prescriptions, according to a study published online Oct. 9 in the Annals of Internal Medicine. |
 | Acetaminophen can reduce recurrence of febrile seizures(HealthDay)—Acetaminophen can reduce the risk for febrile seizure (FS) recurrence during the same fever episode among infants and children, according to a study published online Oct. 8 in Pediatrics. |
 | TYK2 inhibitor clears psoriasis over 12 weeks(HealthDay)—Selective inhibition of TYK2 with the oral agent BMS-986165 at doses of 3 mg daily and higher results in greater clearing of psoriasis versus placebo over 12 weeks, according to a phase 2 study published in the Oct. 4 issue of the New England Journal of Medicine. |
Gene mutation points to new way to fight diabetes, obesity, heart diseaseResearchers say they have discovered a gene mutation that slows the metabolism of sugar in the gut, giving people who have the mutation a distinct advantage over those who do not. Those with the mutation have a lower risk of diabetes, obesity, heart failure, and even death. The researchers say their finding could provide the basis for drug therapies that could mimic the workings of this gene mutation, offering a potential benefit for the millions of people who suffer with diabetes, heart disease, and obesity. | |
 | Earlier treatment could help reverse autistic-like behavior in tuberous sclerosisNew research on autism has found, in a mouse model, that drug treatment at a young age can reverse social impairments. But the same intervention was not effective at an older age. |
Evidence does not support statin use for conditions other than heart diseaseDespite studies suggesting benefits for conditions beyond cardiovascular disease (CVD), the evidence does not support revising current statin prescribing guidelines. Findings from an evidence review and meta-analysis are published in Annals of Internal Medicine. | |
 | Breast cancer survivors who lose muscle mass can benefit from strength training, studies suggestBreast cancer research has resulted in treatment that has greatly improved survival rates. As a result, there are 3.1 million breast cancer survivors alive in the United States today. The five-year survival rate is about 90 percent. This is great news. |
 | Removing Medicare exclusion would improve prisoner healthAn expert in prisoner health from The University of Western Australia is calling for the Federal Government to stop excluding prisoners from Medicare and the Pharmaceutical Benefits Scheme (PBS) to improve health outcomes and close the gap for Aboriginal people. |
Targeted drugs for advanced cancer move from specialist units to community settingNearly 1 in 4 patients with advanced cancer, treated at Comprehensive Cancer Care Network (NCCN) centres in the US, are receiving innovative drugs matched to DNA mutations in their tumours. This achievement, to be reported at the ESMO 2018 Congress in Munich, shows that cutting-edge precision medicine is spreading from highly specialist cancer units to other healthcare facilities so more patients can benefit, wherever they are treated. | |
 | Researchers explore variations in employment outcomes for people with disabilitiesA team of disability researchers has authored a new article that explores the underlying factors for the substantial geographic variation in employment rates among people with disabilities in the U.S. Their findings are detailed in, "State and Local Determinants of Employment Outcomes among Individuals with Disabilities," which was published in the Journal of Disability Policy Studies. 2018, Vol. 29(2) 119 -128. The authors are Purvi Sevak, Ph.D., of Mathematica Policy Research, John O'Neill, Ph.D., of Kessler Foundation, Andrew Houtenville, Ph.D., and Debra Brucker, Ph.D., of the University of New Hampshire—Institute on Disability (UNH-IOD). |
Study finds link between childhood adversity, burnout and depressionA study on childhood adversity at The University of Texas at El Paso School of Nursing found that undergraduate nursing students who were exposed to a higher number ofadverse childhood experiences (ACEs) - such as abuse, neglect or family dysfunction—encountered higher levels of burnout and depression. | |
CDC researchers examine HIV-related stigma among US healthcare providersA Systemic Review from the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention analyzed studies of HIV-related stigma among healthcare provider and identified three main themes: attitudes, beliefs, and behaviors; quality of patient care; and education and training. The CDC researchers found that factors associated with HIV-related stigma varied by gender, race, category of provider, and type of clinical setting, according to the study results reported in AIDS Patient Care and STDs. | |
 | CDC-led study reports prevalence of out-of-pocket payments for screening mammogramsMore than 20% of women aged 50-64 years and those aged 65-74 years with Medicare coverage reported paying out-of-pocket costs for their most recent screening mammogram, according to a study led by researchers from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC). Among uninsured women aged 50-64 years, almost 40% reported out-of-pocket payments for screening mammography. The full results of the analysis are described in an article published in Journal of Women's Health. |
 | Report highlights 15 emerging technologies with potential to reduce global catastrophic biological risksStrategic investment in 15 promising technologies could help make the world better prepared and equipped to prevent future infectious disease outbreaks from becoming catastrophic events. |
Biology news
 | How wasp and bee stinger designs help deliver the painNext time you're stung by a wasp or a honeybee, consider the elegantly designed stinger that caused you so much pain. |
 | Success is sweet: Researchers unlock the mysteries of the sugarcane genomeFor centuries, sugarcane has supplied human societies with alcohol, biofuel, building and weaving materials, and the world's most relied-upon source of sugar. Now, researchers have extracted a sweet scientific prize from sugarcane: its massive and complex genome sequence, which may lead to the development of hardier and more productive cultivars. |
 | Affable apes live longer, study showsMale chimps that are less aggressive and form strong social bonds tend to live longer, research suggests. |
 | Know your enemy—lab builds an arsenal to fight antibiotic-resistant bacteriaTo fight your enemies, it helps to know their weaknesses. And, the more specific your knowledge, the easier it is to undermine their defenses. If your enemy sits safe behind a giant wall, for example, its valuable to know how your foe constructed it, what materials they used, and what cracks you could exploit. |
 | Scientists go 'back to the future,' create flies with ancient genes to study evolutionScientists at New York University and the University of Chicago have created fruit flies carrying reconstructed ancient genes to reveal how ancient mutations drove major evolutionary changes in embryonic development—the impact of which we see today. |
 | Scientists mimic the earliest stages of human developmentHuman embryos start as a tiny mass of cells that are all the same. The first step in growing from a homogenous ball of cells into a complex individual with distinct organs and tissues is for the cells to divide into distinct populations. Scientists at the Gladstone Institutes have modeled this first step in human development in a laboratory with the goal of better understanding how organs form. With this knowledge, they hope to create more authentic organoids that can be used for drug testing, disease modeling, and potentially even transplantation. |
 | Radiotherapy: Repairing proteins in search of the ring to protect DNATo understand why some cancer cells resist radiotherapy, an international team of researchers has used crystallography to "photograph" the first moments of the molecular ballet that allows these cells to repair their DNA. The study involved teams from the CEA, CNRS, PROXIMA-1 beamline at SOLEIL, University of Paris-Sud, Gustave Roussy, Aix-Marseille University and University Paul Sabatier—Toulouse III. It was published in Nature Structural & Molecular Biology. |
 | New knowledge about retrovirus-host co-evolutionRetroviruses have colonised vertebrate hosts for millions of years by inserting their genes into host genomes, enabling their inheritance through generations as endogenous retroviruses (ERVs). Researchers from Uppsala University now provide new knowledge about the long-term associations of retroviruses and their hosts by studying ERV variation and segregation in wild and domestic rabbit populations. The findings are being published in Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences (PNAS). |
 | New study helps explain recent scarcity of bay nettles in the Chesapeake BayWondering why you saw so few jellyfish in the Chesapeake Bay this summer? |
 | Becoming promiscuous to ensure reproductionFemales of a socially monogamous passerine, the Japanese great tit (Parus minor), become more promiscuous after hatchings fail in the first breeding attempt—apparently attempting to ensure successful reproduction. |
 | Shifting desires for forbidden goodsAhead of a symposium organised by the Oxford Martin School on the Illegal Wildlife Trade, and international IWT conference hosted in London this week, Diogo Veríssimo, from Oxford University's Department of Zoology, reveals how campaigns have attempted to influence harmful consumer habits. |
 | Meet the trillions of viruses that make up your viromeIf you think you don't have viruses, think again. |
 | Protecting marine areas may have insidious political effectsZones of ocean known as Marine Protected Areas (MPAs) are all the rage. They have no single or agreed definition, but essentially they are areas of sea in which human activity is restricted or prohibited in order to preserve and protect marine habitat and species. They may be small coastal areas or very large off-shore expanses of ocean. MPAs are established by local or national governments in order to address actual or potential threats to the marine environment, to create "blue corridors" and to safeguard the breeding and feeding grounds of various marine species. |
 | In the absence of bees, flies are responsible for pollination in the Arctic regionMikko Tiusanen, MSc, in his doctoral dissertation, investigated the structure and functioning of plants and their pollinators in Arctic regions. |
 | Endangered native oyster helped by invasive speciesThe presence of invasive oysters can support an endangered native oyster species in certain situations, a team led by a British Antarctic Survey scientist has found. |
 | A study to maintain food security in UgandaBy identifying the genes involved in resisting Africa's most widespread cattle disease, researchers at EPFL have developed a map of Uganda showing cattle farmers where the riskiest areas are. |
 | Newly discovered moth named Icarus sports a flame-shaped mark and prefers high elevationsA newly-recognized species of owlet moth recently discovered to inhabit high-elevation mountains in western North America was named after the Greek mythological character Icarus. From now on, scientists will be referring to the new insect as Admetovis icarus. |
 | Hook injury caused by catch-and-release hampers feeding performance in fishAnglers don't expect to take home dinner when they practice catch-and-release fishing, but they might not be the only ones missing out on a meal. |
 | Polar bears gorged on whales to survive past warm periods; won't suffice as climate warmsPolar bears likely survived past warm periods in the Arctic, when sea ice cover was low, by scavenging on the carcasses of stranded large whales. This food source sustained the bears when they were largely restricted to land, unable to roam the ice in search of seals to hunt. |
Louisiana amphibian shows unique resistance to global diseaseAmphibian populations around the world are declining due to a skin disease caused by fungus. However, an amphibian commonly found in Louisiana, the three-toed amphiuma, has shown a resistance to the fungus, in a new study led by researchers at LSU, Southeastern Louisiana University, Duquesne University and the University of Washington. The study was published in the Journal of Experimental Biology. | |
 | Scientists study African swine fever to prevent outbreak in USAfrican swine fever virus threatens to devastate the swine industry and is positioned to spread throughout Asia. The virus has spread throughout the Caucuses region of Eastern Europe and was reported in China in August. It recently was detected in wild boar in Belgium. |
This email is a free service of Science X Network
You received this email because you subscribed to our list.
If you do not wish to receive such emails in the future, please unsubscribe here.
You are subscribed as jmabs1@gmail.com. You may manage your subscription options from your Science X profile
No comments:
Post a Comment