Dear Reader ,
Here is your customized Science X Newsletter for January 11, 2019:
Spotlight Stories Headlines
Astronomy & Space news
 | China broadcasts spacecraft pictures from moon's far sideChina on Friday broadcast pictures taken by its rover and lander on the moon's far side, in what its space program hailed as another triumph for the groundbreaking mission to the less-understood sector of the lunar surface. |
 | Group of telescopes finds X-ray engine inside mysterious supernovaESA's high-energy space telescopes Integral and XMM-Newton have helped to find a source of powerful X-rays at the centre of an unprecedentedly bright and rapidly evolving stellar explosion that suddenly appeared in the sky earlier this year. |
 | Holy cow! Mysterious blast studied with NASA telescopesA brief and unusual flash spotted in the night sky on June 16, 2018, puzzled astronomers and astrophysicists across the globe. The event—called AT2018cow and nicknamed "the Cow" after the coincidental final letters in its official name—is unlike any celestial outburst ever seen before, prompting multiple theories about its source. |
 | Steam-propelled spacecraft prototype can theoretically explore celestial objects "forever"Using steam to propel a spacecraft from asteroid to asteroid is now possible, thanks to a collaboration between a private space company and the University of Central Florida. |
 | Elon Musk shows off prototype of Mars-bound rocket, StarshipSpaceX CEO Elon Musk has unveiled the first pictures of a retro-looking, steely rocket called Starship that may one day carry people to the Moon and Mars. |
 | India plans manned space mission by December 2021India will send its first manned mission into space by December 2021, the head of the country's space agency said on Friday. |
 | China's moon rover prepares for a rough ride on the dark sideChina on Friday hailed its historic mission to the far side of the moon as a "complete success" so far but said new challenges await its rover as it explores rugged terrain. |
 | Interstellar objects like 'Oumuamua probably crash into the sun every 30 yearsOn October 19th, 2017, the Panoramic Survey Telescope and Rapid Response System-1 (Pan-STARRS-1) in Hawaii announced the first-ever detection of an interstellar object, named 1I/2017 U1 (aka. 'Oumuamua). In the months that followed, multiple follow-up observations were conducted to learn more about this visitor, as well as resolve the dispute about whether it was a comet and an asteroid. |
 | Space weather can be trying for Arctic regions – new technique aids space weather forecastingResearchers at Aalto University have developed a new technique which can be used for analysing fluctuations in the Earth's magnetic field. The method presented in the Space Weather journal was used to study magnetic field changes in different years and at different times of the day and different latitudes. |
 | SpaceX launches final 10 satellites for IridiumSpaceX on Friday blasted off a payload of global communications satellites for Iridium, marking the first launch of 2019 for the California-based company headed by Elon Musk. |
 | It looks like dark matter can be heated up and moved aroundLook at a galaxy, what do you see? Probably lots of stars. Nebulae too. And that's probably it. A whole bunch of stars and gas in a variety of colorful assortments; a delight to the eye. And buried among those stars, if you looked carefully enough, you might find planets, black holes, white dwarves, asteroids, and all sorts of assorted chunky odds and ends. The usual galactic milieu. |
Technology news
 | A framework for AI-powered agile project managementResearchers at the University of Wollongong, Deakin University, Monash University and Kyushu University have developed a framework that could be used to build a smart, AI-powered agile project management assistant. Their paper, pre-published on arXiv, has been accepted at the 41st International Conference on Software Engineering (ICSE) 2019, in the New Ideas and Emerging Results track. |
 | Technique identifies electricity-producing bacteriaLiving in extreme conditions requires creative adaptations. For certain species of bacteria that exist in oxygen-deprived environments, this means finding a way to breathe that doesn't involve oxygen. These hardy microbes, which can be found deep within mines, at the bottom of lakes, and even in the human gut, have evolved a unique form of breathing that involves excreting and pumping out electrons. In other words, these microbes can actually produce electricity. |
 | 3-D printing 100 times faster with lightRather than building up plastic filaments layer by layer, a new approach to 3-D printing lifts complex shapes from a vat of liquid at up to 100 times faster than conventional 3-D printing processes, University of Michigan researchers have shown. |
 | Fun tricks possible with Google knowledge boxes no laughing matter for someGoogle-watching hounds were understandably happy if not relieved to report that Google appeared to be responding to findings that a search engine bug was leaving the door open to spoofing, as pinpointed by Wietze Beukema last year. |
 | AT&T to end all location-data sales to data brokersAT&T says it will stop selling all location data from mobile phones to brokers following a report that companies are still selling that information to shadowy companies without customer knowledge. |
 | The Jeff Bezos divorce: $136 billion and Amazon in the middleThe announcement by Amazon founder Jeff Bezos, the world's wealthiest man, and his wife that they will divorce has captivated the imagination—how will they split his giant fortune, estimated at $136 billion? |
 | Retailers eye new tech, data to revive fortunesWith robots, augmented reality displays and other advanced technologies, traditional retailers are taking a cue from the online world to find new ways to connect and keep customers. |
 | Under pressure to change, Ford is reinventing itselfStruggling with a sagging stock price and sluggish sales, US car giant Ford took steps to regain its footing this week with the announcement of a massive restructuring effort in Europe—even as it prepared for an imminent strategic partnership with German carmaker Volkswagen. |
 | Increased costs bit US retailers despite higher holiday salesHoliday shopping reports released Thursday underscored anew the challenges US retailers face in the Amazon era—even if consumers are willing to open their wallets to spend. |
 | Virtual reality makes splash, but not ready for prime timeVirtual reality showed off its spectacular side at the Consumer Electronics Show this week, whisking people onto hockey arenas, baseball fields and even into the internet with animated film trouble-maker "Wreck-it Ralph." |
 | Volkswagen sets sales record in 2018 despite headwindsGerman car giant Volkswagen said Friday it sold a record number of vehicles in 2018 even as it felt the sting from US-China trade tensions and problems with European emissions tests in the final months of the year. |
 | Three ways to be smart on social mediaThis past year, many people deleted their social media accounts following revelations about privacy violations on social media platforms and other concerns related to hate speech. |
 | 'Alexa, call my lawyer!' Are you legally liable if someone makes a purchase using your virtual assistant?When Amazon launched its Alexa virtual assistant in 2014, it probably didn't think that a bird would expose a potentially significant legal issue with the device. But an African grey parrot named Rocco, living in Blewbury, England, appears to have done just that. |
 | Quantum computer: We're planning to create one that acts like a brainThe human brain has amazing capabilities making it in many ways more powerful than the world's most advanced computers. So it's not surprising that engineers have long been trying to copy it. Today, artificial neural networks inspired by the structure of the brain are used to tackle some of the most difficult problems in artificial intelligence (AI). But this approach typically involves building software so information is processed in a similar way to the brain, rather than creating hardware that mimics neurons. |
 | The quiet threat inside 'internet of things' devicesAs Americans increasingly buy and install smart devices in their homes, all those cheap interconnected devices create new security problems for individuals and society as a whole. The problem is compounded by businesses radically expanding the number of sensors and remote monitors it uses to manage overhead lights in corporate offices and detailed manufacturing processes in factories. Governments, too, are getting into the act – cities, especially, want to use new technologies to improve energy efficiency, reduce traffic congestion and improve water quality. |
 | Rise of renewables creating 'new world': reportThe rapid growth of renewable energy sources and the demise of fossil fuels are causing major changes in global politics, a special commission said in a report Friday. |
 | Not just for kids: a leap for seniors at Vegas tech showWith artificial intelligence to detect falls, virtual reality to combat isolation and "powered" clothing to assist the incapacitated, the tech world is stepping up its effort to "disrupt" aging. |
 | Tech to the rescue: New products aim to improve disaster reliefAfter catastrophic wildfires in southern California late last year, the Israeli startup Watergen sent in its devices which pull clean water out of the atmosphere for firefighters and relief workers. |
 | Virgin Atlantic consortium agrees to buy FlybeA consortium led by Britain's Virgin Atlantic on Friday said it will buy ailing no-frills airline Flybe for £2.2 million ($2.8 million, 2.4 million euros). |
 | Ghosn hit with more charges, release unlikelyTokyo prosecutors on Friday filed two new charges of financial misconduct against former Nissan chief Carlos Ghosn, meaning the auto tycoon is unlikely to be leaving his jail cell soon. |
 | Washington Post launching Arabic-language commentary pageThe Washington Post on Thursday announced plans to publish an Arabic-language page of opinion columns and editorials. |
 | Boeing-Embraer merger going ahead after Bolsonaro approvalAviation giants Boeing and Embraer will push on with their proposed merger after Brazil President Jair Bolsonaro confirmed on Thursday he would not oppose the move. |
 | Hyperlocal radio and do-it-yourself networks bring information closer to homeModern communications technology means one can find anything, anywhere around the world, on the internet and via mobile phones. But people still live in communities and need information that is relevant to them. |
 | Security staff to strike at Frankfurt airport TuesdayGerman travellers face fresh upheaval on Tuesday when security staff at Frankfurt airport, the nation's largest, are set to walk off the job in a battle for better pay that has already caused hundreds of flight cancellations. |
 | French court backs Uber driver in key gig-economy case (Update)Ride-hailing giant Uber said Friday that it would appeal a fresh legal setback in Europe after a French court ruled a former driver who sued the firm effectively had a work contract, potentially undermining a pillar of the US group's business model. |
Data mining syndromesWith every news story, the concepts of data mining healthcare information move higher still up the research and policy agenda in this area. Clinical information and genetic data contained within electronic health records (EHRs) represents a major source of useful information for biomedical research but accessing it in a useful way can be difficult. | |
 | Activision shares down after split with BungieShares in video game publisher Activision fell more than 11 percent in morning trading Friday, a day after an announcement that its eight-year partnership with game developer Bungie was ending. |
 | GM sees higher 2019 profits on job cuts, solid US, China salesGeneral Motors projected strong 2019 profits Friday, fueled by savings from a deep restructuring including job cuts, and by solid sales in the United States and China. |
 | Ford plans to axe 1,150 UK jobs: unionFord plans to cut 1,150 jobs in Britain, a union announced Friday, one day after the US car giant unveiled a major restructuring of its European operations. |
Medicine & Health news
 | Researchers correct genetic mutation that causes IPEX, a life-threatening autoimmune syndromeUCLA researchers led by Dr. Donald Kohn have created a method for modifying blood stem cells to reverse the genetic mutation that causes a life-threatening autoimmune syndrome called IPEX. The gene therapy, which was tested in mice, is similar to the technique Kohn has used to cure patients with another immune disease, severe combined immune deficiency, or SCID, also known as bubble baby disease. |
 | Ultra-sturdy bones, with a surprising origin, suggest new osteoporosis approachA handful of brain cells deep in the brain may play a surprising role in controlling women's bone density, according to new research by UC San Francisco and UCLA scientists. |
 | Scope advance reveals first look through all cortical layers of awake brainJust like doctors seek to scan deeper into the body with sonograms, CT and MRI, and astronomers seek to look farther out into the universe with space-based telescopes, adaptive optics and different wavelengths of light, neuroscientists pursue new ways to watch brain cells at work deep inside the brain. Three-photon microscopy recently emerged to give them a deeper look at brain cells than ever before. Now, based on a substantial refinement of the technology, scientists at MIT have conducted the first-ever study of stimulated neural activity in an awake mouse through every visual cortex layer and notably the mysterious "subplate" below. |
 | Unconventional immune cells trigger disturbed cytokine production in human spondyloarthritisSpondyloarthritis is one of the most common types of chronic joint inflammation, affecting nearly 1 to 2 percent of the Western population. Cytokine blockade of tumor necrosis factor (TNF), and more recently, Interleukin-17 (IL-17), has revolutionized the outcomes for patients suffering from this disease by achieving high levels of therapeutic efficacy. The disease differs substantially from rheumatoid arthritis, another form of chronic arthritis, not only in clinical presentation, but also in the response to therapy—unlike the benefits of IL-17 inhibition in spondyloarthritis, this therapy failed in rheumatoid arthritis. The reason for this remained elusive. Koen Venken and Dirk Elewaut from the VIB-UGent Inflammation Research Center now report in Nature Communications that rare populations of unconventional T cells may account for this intriguing clinical observation. |
 | Researchers map previously unknown disease in childrenTwo children from Europe and one from Canada, aged four, six and 10, suffer from a previously unknown disease that causes epileptic seizures, loss of magnesium and reduced intelligence. There is currently no way to treat or alleviate their symptoms. |
 | Researchers answer decades-old question about protein found in Alzheimer's brain plaquesAlzheimer's-affected brains are riddled with amyloid plaques, protein aggregates consisting mainly of amyloid-β. However, amyloid-β is a fragment produced from a precursor protein whose normal function has remained enigmatic for decades. A team of scientists at VIB and KU Leuven led by professors Joris de Wit and Bart De Strooper has now discovered that this amyloid precursor protein modulates neuronal signal transmission by binding to a specific receptor. Modulating this receptor could potentially help treat Alzheimer's or other brain diseases. The results are published in Science. |
 | Sugar's sick secrets: How industry forces have manipulated science to downplay the harmWalk into any grocery store, grab a few packaged products, and flip to the ingredients. You'll likely spot added sugars — lots of them — provided you can discern their dizzying array of names: sucrose, dextrose, barley malt, agave nectar, high-fructose corn syrup, treacle, to list just a few. |
 | Researchers discover new binding partner for amyloid precursor proteinAn international team of researchers has discovered a new binding partner for amyloid precursor protein (APP)—a neurotransmitter called GABABR1a. In their paper published in the journal Science, the group describes their study of a nonpathogenic version of APP and what they found. Martin Korte with Technische Universität Braunschweig has written a Perspective piece on the work done by the team in the same journal issue. |
 | Activated PMN exosomes are pathogenic entities that cause destruction in the COPD lungUniversity of Alabama at Birmingham researchers have found a novel, previously unreported pathogenic entity that is a fundamental link between chronic inflammation and tissue destruction in the lungs of patients with chronic obstructive pulmonary disease, or COPD. COPD is the fourth-leading cause of death in the world. |
 | Researchers track the birth of memoriesHow and when the ability to form and store memories arises are topics of great interest to neuroscientists. Now Yale researchers have identified three distinct stages in brain development that occur before episodic memories can form. |
 | VAT fat may cause pathogenic obesityType-2 (adult-onset) diabetes and other diseases related to the obesity epidemic depend on how the body stores excess energy, according to evolutionary biologist Mary Jane West-Eberhard, emeritus scientist at the Smithsonian Tropical Research Institute. In the Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences, she describes her theory about fat inside the abdominal cavity—visceral adipose tissue or VAT—the "VAT prioritization hypothesis." |
 | Harnessing multiple data streams and artificial intelligence to better predict fluInfluenza is highly contagious and easily spreads as people move about and travel, making tracking and forecasting flu activity a challenge. While the CDC continuously monitors patient visits for flu-like illness in the U.S., this information can lag up to two weeks behind real time. A new study, led by the Computational Health Informatics Program (CHIP) at Boston Children's Hospital, combines two forecasting methods with machine learning (artificial intelligence) to estimate local flu activity. Results are published today in Nature Communications. |
 | Treat vitamin D deficiency to prevent deadly lung attacksVitamin D supplements have been found to reduce the risk of potentially fatal lung attacks in some chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD) patients, according to a study led by Queen Mary University of London. |
Repeatedly missing GP appointments may indicate greater risk of death from all causesRepeatedly missing general practice (GP) appointments may be a risk marker for all-cause mortality, particularly in patients with mental health conditions, new research published in the open access journal BMC Medicine suggests. Although further research is needed to better understand the relationship between missed appointments and mortality, the authors suggest that general practices and other services within the UK National Health Service (NHS) may need to consider how to best engage with patients who repeatedly miss appointments. | |
High intake of dietary fiber and whole grains associated with reduced risk of non-communicable diseasesPeople who eat higher levels of dietary fibre and whole grains have lower rates of non-communicable diseases compared with people who eat lesser amounts, while links for low glycaemic load and low glycaemic index diets are less clear. Observational studies and clinical trials conducted over nearly 40 years reveal the health benefits of eating at least 25g to 29g or more of dietary fibre a day, according to a series of systematic reviews and meta-analyses published in The Lancet. | |
Calcium specks may help detect heart disease in South AsiansSpecks of calcium in the heart's artery walls could be an important prognostic marker of early cardiovascular disease in South Asians and may help guide treatment in this population, according to a study by researchers at UC San Francisco. | |
 | Does opioid use in pets create higher risk for abuse in humans?The increase in opioid prescriptions for people over the past decade may have been paralleled by an increase in opioid prescriptions for pets, according to a study from researchers at the University of Pennsylvania's Perelman School of Medicine and the School of Veterinary Medicine. The findings, in this first-ever study of veterinary opioid prescriptions, suggest that there is also an increased demand for veterinary opioids, driven by complex procedures performed in veterinary medicine, as well as a heightened awareness of the importance of pain management. Given that opioid prescribing in veterinary medicine is not as heavily regulated as medical prescriptions for humans, it is possible that misused veterinary prescriptions could contribute to the ongoing opioid epidemic. The results are published today in JAMA Network Open. |
 | New app gives throat cancer patients their voice backVlastimil Gular's life took an unwelcome turn a year ago: minor surgery on his vocal cords revealed throat cancer, which led to the loss of his larynx and with it, his voice. |
Chinese children given expired polio vaccines in latest scareAt least 145 children were administered expired polio vaccines in eastern China, state media reported, despite the government promising to prevent such lapses in the industry following a major scandal last year. | |
 | Binge eating and smoking linked to bullying and sexual abusePeople who ever suffered bullying or sexual abuse have a lower quality of life similar to those living with chronic conditions like heart disease, diabetes, depression or severe anxiety, a new study from the University of Adelaide has found. |
 | Bile acids mediate metabolic benefits of weight-loss surgeryA team of Vanderbilt investigators has pinpointed the role of bile acids and a specific signaling pathway in the positive metabolic effects of weight-loss surgery. |
 | Sugary stent eases suturing of blood vesselsReconstructive procedures and organ transplants demand nimble fingers that can restore blood flow by stitching together millimeter-scale arteries. It's a tough ask and time-consuming task for even the most skilled surgeon. |
 | Here's how the government shutdown could affect your health(HealthDay)—Tainted food, trash-filled parklands and even hungry kids: Public health could be increasingly at risk as the U.S. government shutdown drags into its 21st day, experts say. |
 | When medicine makes patients sickerDespite the jackhammerlike rhythm of a mechanical ventilator, Alicia Moreno had dozed off in a chair by her 1-year-old's hospital bed, when a doctor woke her with some bad news: The common stool softener her son, Anderson, was given months earlier had been contaminated with the bacterium Burkholderia cepacia. |
 | Study identifies novel genetic factors for colorectal cancer riskA large-scale study conducted among East Asians and led by Vanderbilt researchers has identified multiple, previously unknown genetic risk factors for colorectal cancer. |
 | More proof high-fiber diets help prevent cancers, heart disease(HealthDay)—A large, new analysis helps confirm that eating lots of grains, vegetables and fruit lowers your risk of dying early from cancer or heart disease. |
 | A better strategy for quitting smoking(HealthDay)—Quitting smoking is one of the hardest things to do, but studies have found that one strategy in particular can help many people: Start anti-smoking medication well before your intended quit date. |
 | When calorie counts aren't on the menu(HealthDay)—Over the past few decades, the amount of food Americans eat away from home has increased from 18 percent to 33 percent. |
 | Vaccines have health effects beyond protecting against target diseasesA measles vaccine protects against measles infection. By introducing a bit of weakened virus, the immune system learns how to deal with it, so when a real measles virus comes along, it can eliminate it. But does the immune system learn more from the vaccine? Recent research suggests, rather intriguingly, that it does. |
 | New microneedle contraceptive patch could empower the world's poorest womenInnovative microneedle technology is being developed as an effective, pain-free and discreet method of delivering contraception across the world's poorest countries, thanks to a new research consortium led by Cardiff University and supported by the Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation. |
 | Use drones to deliver organs for transplant? Baltimore surgeon says it would save precious time, moneyAt a Southern Maryland airfield, Dr. Joseph Scalea watched a drone carrying a kidney in a cardboard cooler fly 3 miles. |
 | For arthritis in the big toe, surgeons offer new optionThe big toe on Pattie Bostick-Winn's right foot was excruciatingly painful, likely the result of her 10 years as a professional dancer in Broadway-style shows. Often, she had to wear heels on the stage, and by age 48, the cartilage had worn away between the bones connecting her big toe to the ball of her foot. |
 | Childhood body composition may influence future lung healthHow well people breathe as adults may depend on the amount of fat mass and lean muscle mass they have as children, according to a new study led by scientists from the Barcelona Institute for Global Health (ISGlobal), a center supported by the "la Caixa" Foundation. This research has been conducted as part of the Ageing Lungs in European Cohorts (ALEC) project, coordinated by Imperial College London. |
 | There's no such thing as a safe tan. Here's what's happening underneath your summer glowThere's a lot to be said for sunshine – both good and bad. It's our main source of vitamin D, which is essential for bone and muscle health. Populations with higher levels of sun exposure also have better blood pressure and mood levels, and fewer autoimmune diseases such as multiple sclerosis. |
 | Why you should stop buying vitamins and get more sleep insteadAlmost half of all Canadians regularly take at least one nutritional supplement such as vitamins, minerals, fibre supplements, antacids and fish oils. Many of these individuals are healthy and hoping to improve general well-being or prevent chronic disease. |
 | How restaurants are wooing 'flexitarians'Restaurants are struggling to respond to consumers who are rapidly shifting away from animal protein. |
 | Does a smart fitness device or app help you lose weight?The new year is here, and that means new year's resolutions are in full swing. For those trying to lose weight or become more active, a smart fitness device like an Apple Watch or a Fitbit may seem like an ideal purchase to track calories and steps. However, before you buy, make sure you are using the device for the right reason and understand its limitations. |
 | Expression of a molecule in blood cells predicts atherosclerosis riskEarlier detection of cardiovascular disease is a step closer thanks to the findings of a research team at the Centro Nacional de Investigaciones Cardiovasculares (CNIC) led by Francisco Sánchez-Madrid and Pilar Martín. The scientists found that the expression level of the molecule CD69 in blood cells inversely predicts the appearance of subclinical atherosclerosis (developing before symptoms appear) independently of classical cardiovascular risk factors. |
 | Cardiovascular diseases and nutrition in Europe: A lot of premature deaths preventableOf the 4.3 million cardiovascular deaths in Europe in 2016, 2.1 million were the result of poor nutrition. The 28 EU member states account for around 900,000, Russia for 600,000 and the Ukraine for 250,000 of these deaths. Every second to third premature cardiovascular death could be prevented by better nutrition. These were the findings of an international research team led by the Martin Luther University Halle-Wittenberg (MLU), the Friedrich Schiller University Jena, the nutriCARD competence cluster and the University of Washington in the USA. The findings were published in the current issue of the European Journal of Epidemiology. |
 | Spa-like treatments ease symptoms in cancer patientsUntil last year, Charlie Yommer would not have considered treating himself to a facial. That was before the cancer. |
 | Cracking the code on 'cavernous malformations'Although most have never heard the term "cavernous malformation," as many as 1 in 500 people may have this condition, which can cause bleeding, seizures, muscle weakness, and motor and memory problems. |
 | Rising drug costs can be traced to price hikes for older, brand-name medicineAnyone keeping tabs on how much they spend at the pharmacy knows that drug costs are rising, but what exactly is driving prices upward is often a mystery. |
 | Danish malaria vaccine passes test in humansFor many years, a team of researchers at the University of Copenhagen have been developing a vaccine that can protect against pregnancy malaria, from which 220,000 people die every year. |
 | Concussion-detection device developed by Minnesota doctor gets FDA OKThe U.S. Food and Drug Administration has cleared a new medical device invented by a Twin Cities neurosurgeon to detect signs of concussion by tracking a patient's eye movements. |
 | 'Traditional masculinity' officially labeled 'harmful' by the American Psychological AssociationThe American Psychological Association has issued its first official warning against toxic masculinity. |
 | FDA: Chocolates, candies may be contaminated with hepatitis A(HealthDay)—A public health alert about possible hepatitis A contamination in Modjeskas from Bauer's Candies was announced Thursday by the U.S. Food and Drug Administration. |
 | CDC: E. coli outbreak linked to romaine lettuce is over(HealthDay)—The Escherichia coli outbreak linked to California-grown romaine lettuce appears to be over, the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention said Wednesday. |
 | Study examines the course of back pain over timeBack pain is among the most frequently reported health problems in the world. New research published in Arthritis Care & Research, an official journal of the American College of Rheumatology and the Association of Rheumatology Health Professionals, examines patterns in back pain over time and identifies the patient characteristics and the extent of healthcare and medication use (including opioids) associated with different patterns. |
 | Study shows effectiveness of dietary fat in preterm infants in reducing fungus that can lead to infectionsThe more we learn about our microbiota—the teeming community of bacteria and fungi that inhabit us—the more complex it seems. Take one of the common fungi, Candida albicans, which can normally be found in our gastrointestinal (GI) tracts and on our skin. In healthy humans, too much of this fungus may only amount to a bothersome yeast infection. |
 | The politics of fear: How fear goes tribal, allowing us to be manipulatedFear is arguably as old as life. It is deeply ingrained in the living organisms that have survived extinction through billions of years of evolution. Its roots are deep in our core psychological and biological being, and it is one of our most intimate feelings. Danger and war are as old as human history, and so are politics and religion. |
Autistic people urgently need access to tailored mental health supportNew research has revealed that people diagnosed with autism don't have access to effective mental health support, putting them at risk of self-harm and suicide. | |
Parasites from patients with cerebral malaria stick preferentially in their brainsA team at LSTM with their collaborators in Malawi and Denmark have provided, for the first time, evidence which links the ability of red blood cells infected with the malaria parasite to bind to the cells lining the blood vessels of the brain, with the clinical syndrome cerebral malaria. | |
 | Longer siesta on bright daysIncreasing sunlight intensity extends the sleep duration and results in a longer midday siesta which delays the resumption of activity to the evening. What sounds like an analysis of the effects of the unusually hot summer of 2018 is actually the result of the latest research conducted by scientists from Würzburg and the USA. The neurobiologists studied the impact of different light intensities on the circadian rhythm of Drosophila , also known as the common fruit fly. |
Staying on antiretroviral therapy for HIV in Africa: A systematic reviewAn international team of researchers have carried out a review of the evidence examining what influences people who are HIV positive to go to health services and then stay on antiretroviral drugs in Africa. | |
 | Neonatal circumcision could increase the risk of sudden infant death syndrome in babies – new researchSudden Infant Death Syndrome (SIDS) or cot death remains the leading cause of infant death in many developed countries. There are around 2,700 babies who die from cot death every year in the US – and around 300 in the UK. |
 | Menstrual hygiene needs unmet for low-income womenWhile access to menstrual hygiene products has been garnering attention in the developing world, low-income women and girls in major U.S. metropolitan areas also struggle to afford period supplies and often resort to making do with cloth, rags, paper towels, or even children's diapers during their monthly cycles. |
 | New leukemia drug is more effective and easier to useA landmark study co-authored by a Loyola Medicine oncologist has found that a newer targeted drug is significantly more effective than standard therapy for treating elderly patients with chronic lymphocytic leukemia (CLL). |
New study provides clinicians with better analysis of psychological flexibilityAccording to figures from NHS England, some 1.4 million people were referred for NHS mental health therapy during 2017. This does not take into account people who accessed mental health therapy from private sources. | |
 | VISTA checkpoint implicated in pancreatic cancer immunotherapy resistanceResearchers have identified a new potential immunotherapy target in pancreatic cancer, which so far has been notoriously resistant to treatment with immune checkpoint blockade drugs effective against a variety of other cancers. |
 | Millions on prescription sleeping pills would sleep through a fire alarmIn a trial of one of the main class of prescription sleeping pills, half the participants slept through a fire alarm as loud as someone vacuuming next to their bed. But a newer alternative preserves the ability to wake in response to danger signals, according to a new research. |
 | Research to advance cancer therapyResearch led by Suresh Alahari, Ph.D., the Fred Brazda Professor of Biochemistry and Molecular Biology at LSU Health New Orleans School of Medicine, has found a new role for a protein discovered by his lab in preventing the growth and spread of breast cancer. The results of the study, which could have a significant impact on cancer therapy, are published in the OnlineFirst section of the journal Cancer Research. |
Study details a path for treating Latinos with mental health and substance misuse symptomsA team of researchers at the Disparities Research Unit at Massachusetts General Hospital (MGH) - in collaboration with two teams in Spain and collaborators in the U.S. and Puerto Rico—has tested a novel preventive intervention designed to provide tailored treatment for Latino immigrants with both mental health and substance misuse symptoms. Their report is being published online in JAMA Network Open. | |
 | New analytic model to better identify patients likely to develop PTSDNew findings from an international research team led by psychiatrists at NYU School of Medicine show that a newly-developed analytic model can predict soon after a shocking or scary event—and with significant accuracy—the likelihood of someone developing Post-Traumatic Stress Disorder (PTSD). |
 | U.S. flu cases hit 7 million mark: CDC(HealthDay)—The flu season is picking up steam, with about 7 million Americans having been infected with a strain of the flu virus, health officials said Friday. |
 | New cholesterol guidelines put ethnicity in the spotlightAs in most things, family matters. Specifically, your family's ethnicity could make a difference, at least when it comes to cholesterol and your risk of having a heart attack or stroke. |
 | Statin therapy reduces risk for diabetic retinopathy in T2DM(HealthDay)—For Taiwanese patients with type 2 diabetes and dyslipidemia, statin therapy is associated with a reduced risk for diabetic retinopathy, according to a study published online Jan. 10 in JAMA Ophthalmology. |
 | Use of diabetes monitoring tests in primary care suboptimal(HealthDay)—Many primary care patients are not given tests recommended for monitoring diabetes, according to a study published in the December issue of Family Medicine and Community Health. |
Racial disparities in asthma related to health care access, environmental factorsIn the United States, there are persistent racial disparities in asthma prevalence, morbidity and mortality. These disparities can largely be explained by looking at socioeconomic and environmental factors, such as access to healthcare, a nationwide analysis shows. | |
 | US flu season appears milder, one year after brutal oneIt's early, but the current flu season is shaping up to be gentler than last winter's unusually brutal one, U.S. health officials said. |
 | California fight on Trump birth control rules goes to courtA U.S. judge will hear arguments Friday over California's attempt to block new rules by the Trump administration that would allow more employers to opt out of providing no-cost birth control to women. |
Sanitary pad record in India to promote menstrual hygieneParticipants at a medical congress in India have set a new Guinness World Record for the longest line of sanitary pads, in a move aimed at promoting menstrual hygiene. | |
 | Bud Light debuts bigger nutrition labelsBeer drinkers can't claim blissful ignorance for much longer. |
 | Quinn on Nutrition: Don't overlook hazelnutsNutrition professionals have been singing their praises for years. Nuts (the type you eat) are rich in healthful fats and protein. In fact, a typical 1 ounce serving of nuts (unsalted, please) has as much protein as 2 ounces of meat, according to the most current Dietary Guidelines for Americans. |
 | Pressure on food budgets linked to poor mental health for at least 100,000 Danish householdsA major study at the University of Copenhagen reports that food quality is affected when people's food budgets are constrained, as per the definition of insecure or very insecure access to food used in international research. People who experience food insecurity also have a lower quality of life and experience poorer psychological well-being. |
 | U.S. food supply may be at risk due to government shutdown(HealthDay)—Food inspections have declined due to the partial shutdown of the U.S. government, potentially putting the nation's food supply at risk. |
 | Addressing the unique mental health challenges of bisexual veteransNew research indicates that service members and veterans who identify as bisexual may be at higher risk for mental health issues including PTSD and depression than their gay, lesbian or heterosexual peers. |
Biology news
 | Flippable DNA switches help bacteria resist antibiotics and are more common than thoughtBacteria have a number of well-known tricks available to them to adapt to changing environments, such as mutation and sharing snippets of DNA with each other. Less studied is a mechanism that allows bacteria to hedge their bets against rapid environmental changes by fine tuning their use of particular genes or pathways, a process known as "phase variation." |
 | How microbial communities thrive in hydraulically fractured shale wellsIn survival game shows, contestants are whisked away to a foreign location, where they face unfamiliar stresses. To stay in the game, they must adapt to the surroundings and often need to work together with fellow competitors. |
 | Blueprint for plant immune response foundWashington State University researchers have discovered the way plants respond to disease-causing organisms, and how they protect themselves, leading the way to potential breakthroughs in breeding resistance to diseases or pests. |
 | 'Is this a brown recluse?' A year of looking at spidersIn 2017, a group of us decided to tackle the ever-present problem of spider misidentification by creating the Twitter account @RecluseOrNot. Focused mainly around the eponymous recluse spiders – particularly, but not limited to, the brown recluse (Loxosceles reclusa) – our account uses social media to help people identify potential recluses and educate them about spiders in general. |
 | Losing some species may matter more than losing othersCanada risks losing its polar bears in the North. And many runs of Chinook salmon on the Southern West Coast. And the black ash tree, currently widespread from Manitoba to Newfoundland. |
 | The algae's third eyeScientists at the Universities of Würzburg and Bielefeld in Germany have discovered an unusual new light sensor in green algae. The sensor triggers a reaction that is similar to one in the human eye. |
 | Why wasn't the human genome shredded long ago?In the January 7th edition of Communications Biology, researchers at InsideOutBio argue that an unusual form of DNA with a reverse twist may have helped thwart the invasion of the human genome by junk DNA. This mechanism has subsequently evolved into one defending against modern day pathogens. |
 | EU OKs Poland's wild boar slaughter to fight swine diseaseThe European Union's executive body is supporting Poland's slaughter of wild boars as a way of protecting farm pigs and meat production from the deadly African swine fever. |
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