Dear Reader ,
Here is your customized Science X Newsletter for January 7, 2019:
Spotlight Stories Headlines
Astronomy & Space news
 | Three new open clusters discovered in the Milky WayUsing data from ESA's Gaia satellite, Brazilian astronomers have detected three new open clusters in the Milky Way. The clusters, designated UFMG 1, UFMG 2 and UFMG 3, were found in the Sagittarius arm of the galaxy. The discovery is reported in a paper published December 27 on the arXiv.org pre-print server. |
 | Chinese rover powers up devices in pioneering moon missionAll systems are go as a Chinese spacecraft and rover power up their observation equipment after making a first-ever landing on the far side of the moon, the Chinese National Space Administration said. |
 | Chandra detection of a circumnuclear torusMost galaxies host supermassive black holes at their nuclei, each with millions or billions of solar-masses of material. There is thought to be a torus of dust and gas around the black holes, and an accreting disk that becomes very hot as material falls onto it, in turn heating the torus and circumnuclear gas and dust. Such an active galactic nucleus (AGN) radiates across the spectrum while the dust often blocks the innermost regions from view. Powerful bipolar jets of charged particles are often ejected as well. Radiation from the torus can be seen directly at infrared wavelengths and, when it scatters off the fast moving particles, at X-ray energies. |
 | Hubble takes gigantic image of the Triangulum GalaxyThe NASA/ESA Hubble Space Telescope has captured the most detailed image yet of a close neighbour of the Milky Way—the Triangulum Galaxy, a spiral galaxy located at a distance of only three million light-years. This panoramic survey of the third-largest galaxy in our Local Group of galaxies provides a mesmerising view of the 40 billion stars that make up one of the most distant objects visible to the naked eye. |
 | TESS discovers its third new planet, with longest orbit yetNASA's Transiting Exoplanet Survey Satellite, TESS, has discovered a third small planet outside our solar system, scientists announced this week at the annual American Astronomical Society meeting in Seattle. |
 | In space, the US sees a rival in ChinaDuring the Cold War, US eyes were riveted on the Soviet Union's rockets and satellites. But in recent years, it has been China's space programs that have most worried US strategists. |
 | Eating your veggies, even in spaceFresh food is so attractive to astronauts that they celebrated with salad when they were able to cultivate a few lettuce heads on the International Space Station three years ago. In 2021, scientists hope to grow beans in space in high-tech planters developed at the Norwegian University of Science and Technology (NTNU). |
 | Image: Multi-wavelength view of a supernova remnantNew Year's Eve may be past, but we are not done with fireworks just yet. This image, which includes data from ESA's Herschel Space Observatory, shows the remnants of an explosion – not of the colourful type ignited during celebrations, but of the stellar kind. |
 | CubeSats joining Hera mission to asteroid systemWhen ESA's planned Hera mission journeys to its target binary asteroid system, it will not be alone. The spacecraft will carry two tiny CubeSats for deployment around – and eventual landing on – the Didymos asteroids. Each companion spacecraft will be small enough to fit inside a briefcase, as compared to the desk-sized Hera. |
Technology news
 | An end-to-end imitation learning system for speed control of autonomous vehiclesResearchers at Valeo, a tech company specialized in automotive innovation, have recently developed an end-to-end imitation learning system for car speed control. Their approach, outlined in a paper pre-published on arXiv, uses a neural network with long short-term memory (LSTM), a type of recurrent neural network (RNN) that can learn long-term dependencies. |
 | Patent talk: Relax, nobody would be disturbed by your voice commands in public spaceSilent voice commands? Microsoft is on it, thank you very much. They have filed a patent "Silent Voice Input." Microsoft is, in this patent, looking at a module that can detect a user's voice commands that cannot be detected by anyone around the user. |
 | China's Huawei unveils chip for global big data marketHuawei Technologies Ltd. showed off a new processor chip for data centers and cloud computing Monday, expanding into new and growing markets despite Western warnings the company might be a security risk. |
 | You may enjoy a personal data control opportunity if Project Bali bloomsWinter souls among the world's computer users have regrets, with I-give-up resignation over the lack of ownership of one's personal data. Now news of a Microsoft project is raising interest and doing the rounds of tech-watching sites for its attempt to address the situation, well, in its own manner. |
 | Privacy becomes a selling point at tech showApple is not among the exhibitors at the 2019 Consumer Electronics Show, but that didn't prevent the iPhone maker from sending a message to attendees on a large billboard. |
 | Matrix has PowerWatch 2 running on light and body heatForgive the Matrix PowerWatch 2 suggestion if it sounds like aggressive marketing: this is not jargon; this is a powerwatch. The watch uses solar and heat to power its varied functions, from health and fitness monitoring to GPS. It runs off solar power and body-generated heat. |
 | How game theory can bring humans and robots closer togetherResearchers at the University of Sussex, Imperial College London and Nanyang Technological University in Singapore have for the first time used game theory to enable robots to assist humans in a safe and versatile manner. |
 | LG flexes roll-up TV as screens start to bendLG on Monday unveiled a roll-up television screen as a trend of bendable displays began taking shape at a consumer electronics extravaganza in Las Vegas. |
Trump to Apple: 'Make your product in the United States'President Donald Trump called on Apple Friday to make its iPhones in the United States, saying that China is "the biggest beneficiary" of the California tech giant. | |
 | Netflix and chill no more—streaming is getting complicatedStreaming TV may never again be as simple, or as affordable, as it is now. |
 | CES 2019: Chinese tech firms lay lower amid trade tensionsThe CES 2019 gadget show, which kicks off Sunday, will showcase the expanding influence and sway of China's rapidly growing technology sector. But some of its firms are stepping back from the spotlight amid rising U.S. national-security concerns over Chinese tech and a trans-Pacific trade war launched by President Donald Trump. |
 | US Congress to see push to regulate Big Tech in 2019The newly installed US Congress is expected to see a fresh effort to develop new regulations for big technology firms, with a focus on tougher enforcement of privacy and data protection. |
 | Four things Apple needs to do to bounce back in 2019For 11 years, consumers have made Apple technology's jewel, selling hundreds of millions of iPhones happily every year, even as prices increased steadily. |
 | CES 2019: People will buy more smart stuff, fewer TVsThe CES 2019 gadget show is revving up in Las Vegas. Here are the latest findings and observations from Associated Press reporters on the ground as technology's biggest trade event gets underway. |
 | US gadget love forecast to grow despite trust issuesThe trade group behind the Consumer Electronics Show set to start here Tuesday forecast that US gadget love will grow despite trust and privacy issues hammering the tech world. |
 | Sidestepping trade war, Musk breaks ground on Tesla Shanghai plantTesla boss Elon Musk presided Monday over the ground-breaking for a Shanghai factory that will allow the electric-car manufacturer to dodge the China-US tariff crossfire and sell directly to the world's biggest market for "green" vehicles. |
 | Breadmaking robot startup eyes fresh connectionsThe robot breadmaker came to Las Vegas this week, aiming to bring some freshness to a sector that may be ready for disruption. |
 | What is really eating Apple – and why Steve Jobs would not be doing a lot betterApple has started the new year by disappointing investors with its first profit warning in 17 years. The company said that poor sales of its latest range of iPhones has helped to weaken its first financial quarter (September to December 2018). Apple now expects revenues of US$84 billion (£66 billion) with a gross profit margin of 38%, having initially expected between US$89 billion and US$93 billion. In the same quarter last year, Apple brought in US$88.3 billion on a gross margin of 42%. |
 | Why we want to build a machine that can predict a person's attractivenessIt is an age-old question – what makes someone attractive? We often say things like "beauty is in the eye of the beholder" but while this romantic notion may bring comfort to those dealt a poor hand in life, it also gives the impression that the foundations of attractiveness are elusive and unpredictable. It suggests that what each of us sees as an attractive trait – whether physical or psychological – is so variable that everyone must be looking for something different. |
 | 3-D-printed guns may be more dangerous to their users than targetsDespite fears that guns made with 3-D printers will let criminals and terrorists easily make untraceable, undetectable plastic weapons at home, my own experience with 3-D manufacturing quality control suggests that, at least for now, 3-D-printed firearms may pose as much, or maybe even more, of a threat to the people who try to make and use them. |
 | Disruptive technology to predict faults on train tracks and in stationsTrain delays could be a thing of the past, thanks to a system that predicts when part of a train track, signaling equipment or other devices at a station are likely to fail. It does this by using thousands of sensors and 3-D modeling that taps into big data. |
 | CES 2019: It's all about the games (and AI)The CES 2019 gadget show is revving up in Las Vegas. Here are the latest findings and observations from Associated Press reporters on the ground as technology's biggest trade event gets underway. |
 | Home items are getting smarter and creepier, like it or notOne day, finding an oven that just cooks food may be as tough as buying a TV that merely lets you change channels. |
 | CES 2019: Buzz remains as autonomous cars take back seatThe CES 2019 gadget show is revving up in Las Vegas. Here are the latest findings and observations from Associated Press reporters on the ground as technology's biggest trade event gets underway. |
 | Nonprofit groups join industry in self-driving campaignAdvocacy groups representing the elderly and the blind joined automotive and tech firms Monday to launch an educational campaign to explain the benefits of self-driving cars. |
 | Amazon emerges as most valuable US firm amid market turmoilAmazon has eclipsed Microsoft as the most valuable publicly traded company in the U.S. as a see-sawing stock market continues to reshuffle corporate America's pecking order. |
 | Embraer shares dive after Bolsonaro voices wariness at Boeing ventureShares in Brazilian planemaker Embraer plunged nearly five percent Friday after new President Jair Bolsonaro voiced wariness about a $5.2-billion tie-up it is planning with US giant Boeing. |
 | Flights scrapped as Berlin airports brace for Monday strikeHundreds of German passengers were facing travel upheaval on Monday with security staff at Berlin's two airports set to walk out in a pay dispute. |
 | Renault alliance 'not in danger': Nissan CEO tells AFPNissan's alliance with France's Renault is not in danger "at all", the Japanese automaker's CEO told AFP on Monday, despite tensions exposed by the arrest of the partnership's chief Carlos Ghosn. |
 | Ghosn to appear in court: what happens next?The case of auto tycoon Carlos Ghosn has gripped Japan and the business world since his stunning arrest in November, and now he is finally getting his day in court. |
 | Japan billionaire says 'free cash' tweet most shared of all timeBillionaire Japanese tycoon and future space tourist Yusaku Maezawa said Monday his tweet promising a cash giveaway of nearly $10,000 was the most retweeted ever. |
Medicine & Health news
 | How the brain decides whether to hold 'em or fold 'emPicture yourself at a Las Vegas poker table, holding a bad hand—one with a very low chance of winning. Even so, the sight of the large stack of chips that piled up during a recent lucky streak nudges you to place a large bet anyway. |
 | Stopping cancer from recruiting immune system double agentsCancerous tumors trick myeloid cells, an important part of the immune system, into perceiving them as a damaged part of the body; the tumors actually put myeloid cells to work helping them grow and metastasize (spread). A research team co-led by scientists at Rush University Medical Center have discovered a potential therapy that can disrupt this recruitment and abnormal function of myeloid cells in laboratory mice. The findings of their latest study were published on Dec. 19 in Nature Communications. |
 | How does solid stress from brain tumors cause neuronal loss, neurologic dysfunction?A Massachusetts General Hospital (MGH)-led research team has demonstrated, for the first time, how solid stress—the physical forces exerted by the solid components of a tumor—impacts the tissue surrounding brain tumors and contributes to resulting neurological dysfunction and neuronal cell death. In their report published in Nature Biomedical Engineering, the investigators identify characteristics of tumors most likely to impose solid stress, describe a potential way of distinguishing patients with such tumors, and identify the neuroprotective drug lithium as a promising treatment strategy. |
 | Study uses AI to create inexpensive, widely available early detector of heart diseaseA Mayo Clinic study finds that applying artificial intelligence (AI) to a widely available, inexpensive test—the electrocardiogram (EKG) - results in a simple, affordable early indicator of asymptomatic left ventricular dysfunction, which is a precursor to heart failure. The research team found that the AI/EKG test accuracy compares favorably with other common screening tests, such as mammography for breast cancer. The findings were published in Nature Medicine. |
 | New approach may curb treatment-related skin fibrosis in cancer patientsA clinical-scientific team specializing in head-and-neck cancer has identified a way to manipulate metabolism to potentially curb skin fibrosis—a common side effect of radiotherapy affecting quality of life of cancer survivors. |
 | New study of MRSA spread provides framework for community-based infection surveillanceThe identification of the recent spread of community-acquired methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus (CA-MRSA) in a Brooklyn religious enclave is helping medical experts better understand how certain high-risk populations can drive the evolution of antimicrobial resistance and identify steps that can be taken to curtail its spread, according to a new study. |
 | Rising drug prices linked to older products, not just newer, better medicationsIt's no secret that drug prices are increasing, but to what extent are rising costs explained by the advent of newer, better drugs? A study from the University of Pittsburgh found that new drugs entering the market do drive up prices, but drug companies are also hiking prices on older drugs. |
 | Our bodies may cure themselves of diabetes in the futureDiabetes is the inability to produce insulin, a hormone that regulates blood sugar levels, due to damaged or non-existing insulin cells. Many diabetes patients take insulin supplements to regulate these levels. |
 | Hundreds of new blood pressure gene variations discoveredIn one of the largest studies of its kind, an international research team led by 20 Vanderbilt University scientists has discovered more than 200 new genetic variations associated with high blood pressure. |
 | Three studies show gains being made in using AI to create speech from brainwavesThree teams working independently have uploaded papers to the bioRxiv preprint server outlining their research involving attempting to use neural network-based AI systems to translate brainwaves into decipherable speech. The first, by a team with members from Columbia University and Hofstra Northwell School of Medicine, focused on recordings made using brain electrode implants with epilepsy patients. The second team, with members from the University of Bremen, Maastricht University, Northwestern University and Virginia Commonwealth University, used data from brain probes implanted during brain tumor surgery. The third team involved a pair of researchers from the University of California and also relied on data from electrodes implanted into the brains of epilepsy patients. |
 | Short bouts of intense activity may have more benefits than hours of lower exertionThe expectation of constant availability due to our 21st-century, technology-driven lifestyles can be exhausting. Throw in laundry, shopping and social obligations, and finding the time to exercise can seem impossible. |
 | Stem cell signal drives new bone buildingIn experiments in rats and human cells, Johns Hopkins Medicine researchers say they have added to evidence that a cellular protein signal that drives both bone and fat formation in selected stem cells can be manipulated to favor bone building. If harnessed in humans, they say, the protein—known as WISP-1—could help fractures heal faster, speed surgical recovery and possibly prevent bone loss due to aging, injury and disorders. |
 | Human brain allocates attention based on known size of objectsA stop sign at an intersection appears to be larger than a parked car across the street. Is our brain playing tricks on us? |
 | PAC1R mutation may be linked to severity of social deficits in autismA mutation of the gene PAC1R may be linked to the severity of social deficits experienced by kids with autism spectrum disorder (ASD), finds a study from a multi-institutional research team led by Children's faculty. If the pilot findings are corroborated in larger, multi-center studies, the research published online Dec. 17, 2018, in Autism Research represents the first step toward identifying a potential novel biomarker to guide interventions and better predict outcomes for children with autism. |
 | 'DeepSqueak' helps researchers decode rodent chatterMany researchers realize that mice and rats are social and chatty. They spend all day talking to each other, but what are they really saying? Not only are many rodent vocalizations unable to be heard by humans, but also existing computer programs to detect these vocalizations are flawed. They pick up other noises, are slow to analyze data, and rely on inflexible. rules-based algorithms to detect calls. |
 | Team reveals clues into early development of autism spectrum disorderAutism spectrum disorder (ASD) is a relatively common developmental disorder of communication and behavior that affects about 1 in 59 children in the US, according to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. Despite its prevalence, it is still unclear what causes the disease and what are the best ways to treat it. |
 | No Ebola case in Sweden: officialsA patient in Sweden who was admitted to hospital with a suspected case of Ebola, was found not to be suffering from the highly infectious and potentially fatal disease, health care officials said Friday. |
Woman in vegetative state for decade reportedly gives birthA woman said to have been in a vegetative state for at least a decade at a private health care facility in Phoenix reportedly gave birth recently, triggering a police investigation and reviews by state agencies in a situation that the state governor's office called "deeply troubling.'" | |
Watching too much hurricane news can leave you stricken with stress, study saysWatching the news to brace for a hurricane is a fact of life for Floridians, but you need to be careful not to stay glued to all those media reports. | |
Cardiac events, stroke lead to loss of work, reduced income in survivors of working agePeople who have experienced a heart attack (myocardial infarction), stroke or cardiac arrest are significantly less likely to be working than healthy people, and if they are working, on average have lower incomes, found a study published in CMAJ (Canadian Medical Association Journal). | |
 | Opioid crisis roadmap overlooks genderWomen's Health Research at Yale (WHRY) is calling on a government committee to revise its report on a coordinated response to the opioid epidemic so that it reflects the unique needs of women. |
Suicide risk increases significantly following a cancer diagnosisNew research indicates that the risk of suicide increases significantly in the first year following a diagnosis of cancer, and this increase varies by the type of cancer diagnosed. Published early online in Cancer, a peer-reviewed journal of the American Cancer Society, the findings point to the importance of screening for suicide risk in newly diagnosed patients and ensuring that patients have access to social and emotional support. | |
 | Study identifies 'clinical risks' and biomarkers to screen patients with heart conditionResearchers at the University of Birmingham have found two biomarkers that could be used to identify a heart condition known as atrial fibrillation in patients who have three 'clinical risks'. |
Fluctuating personal income may be associated with an increased heart disease riskSudden, unpredictable drops in personal income during young adulthood are associated with an increased risk of developing heart disease and/or dying from any cause, according to new research in the American Heart Association's journal Circulation. | |
 | Researchers find 'unacceptable low' cervical cancer screening ratesThe percentage of women who are screened for cervical cancer may be far lower than national data suggests, according to a Mayo Clinic study recently published in the Journal of Women's Health. Less than two-thirds of women ages 30 to 65 were up-to-date with cervical cancer screenings in 2016. The percentage is even lower for women ages 21 to 29, with just over half current on screenings. Those figures are well below the 81 percent screening compliance rate self-reported in the 2015 National Health Interview Survey. |
 | Prescribed opioids raise risk of pneumonia in patients with and without HIVTaking prescribed opioids raises the risk of pneumonia in individuals with and without HIV, a new Yale-led study finds. |
 | Racial differences in Alzheimer's disease unveiledAfrican-Americans may be twice as likely as Caucasian Americans to develop Alzheimer's disease, but nobody knows why because studies investigating the underlying causes of illness have historically drawn from a nearly all-white pool of research participants. Consequently, little is known about how the neurodegenerative disease arises and progresses in people of non-Caucasian backgrounds. |
 | US health care spending highest among developed countriesThe United States, on a per capita basis, spends much more on health care than other developed countries; the chief reason is not greater health care utilization, but higher prices, according to a study from a team led by a Johns Hopkins Bloomberg School of Public Health researcher. |
 | Dropping individual mandate penalty could reduce coverage enrollment, increase premiumsThe individual mandate that requires most Americans to purchase some level of health insurance continues to be one of the most controversial aspects of the Affordable Care Act, even though, beginning in 2019, there is no longer a penalty for noncompliance in most states. A new study conducted by investigators at the Mongan Institute Health Policy Center at Massachusetts General Hospital (MGH) reports the results of a survey asking Californians enrolled in the individual marketplace in 2017 whether they would have purchased insurance without the penalty. The paper published in the January issue of Health Affairs also estimates how losses in enrollment could increase premiums and which groups might be most affected. |
One in four women at sexual health clinics reports coercion over their reproductive livesAs many as one in four women attending sexual and reproductive healthcare services say they are not allowed to take control of their own reproductive lives, reveals a review of the available evidence, published today in BMJ Sexual & Reproductive Health. | |
 | Bionic reconstruction: after amputation of a hand, muscles can be repurposed using nerve transfersModern prostheses offer hand amputation patients much greater capability in everyday life than was possible with previous prosthetic reconstructive techniques. Redundant nerves from the amputated extremity can be surgically transferred to provide a much better connection between the patient's body and the prosthesis. This technique has proven to be successful, although the specific reasons were not fully understood. A team of researchers led by Konstantin Bergmeister and Oskar Aszmann from the Division of Plastic and Reconstructive Surgery and the Christian Doppler Laboratory for Recovery of Limb Function at MedUni Vienna, demonstrated in an animal model that the key to success lies in the muscle undergoing a change of identity triggered by the donor nerve. |
 | Automated phone calls may help patients to take medicines as prescribed, pilot study suggestsRemembering to take medication is vital for managing long term health conditions such as high blood pressure, type 2 diabetes, or multiple conditions. Latest research from the University of Cambridge suggests that using interactive voice response (IVR) technology supports patients to take their medicine as prescribed. |
 | A new hope in treating neurodegenerative diseaseA research team led by Professor Sung Bae Lee of Brain and Cognitive Sciences and Professor Daehee Hwang of New Biology (vice-head of the Plant Age and Life Research Group, IBS) has identified the early neuropathological mechanism of structural characteristics of polyglutamine toxic protein on neurodegenerative brain disorders. The research was conducted with Professor Yuh Nung Jan at the Howard Hughes Medical Institute (HHMI) in the U.S. |
 | Neural fingerprints ID those likely to abstain from cocaineBy measuring the strength of connections between different brain networks, Yale researchers successfully predicted who would abstain from cocaine during treatment, they report Jan. 4 in the American Journal of Psychiatry. |
 | It's not epilepsy: Counseling helps those with misdiagnosed seizuresOne of four patients admitted to hospitals for evaluation of seizures don't have epilepsy but rather have a debilitating and difficult to diagnose condition known as psychogenic non-epileptic seizures, or PNES. |
 | Five life lessons from your immune systemScientists love analogies. We use them continually to communicate our scientific approaches and discoveries. |
 | What are the effects of total isolation? An expert explainsImagine being confined to a small, dark room, with no social interaction whatsoever for 30 days. Not many people would jump at this opportunity. But, in November 2018, a professional US poker player Rich Alati bet US$100,000 that he could survive 30 days alone and in total darkness. He was kept in a small, completely dark room with nothing but a bed, fridge and bathroom. Even with all the resources he needed to survive, Alati couldn't last the month. After 20 days he negotiated his release, taking a payout of US$62,400. |
 | Our obsession with taking photos is changing how we remember the pastLast year I visited the Hermitage in St Petersburg, Russia – one of the best art museums in the world. I was expecting to serenely experience its masterpieces, but my view was blocked by a wall of smart phones taking pictures of the paintings. And where I could find a bit of empty space, there were people taking selfies to create lasting memories of their visit. |
 | How does regular physical exercise protect against sudden cardiac death?A group of researchers from the departments of Physical Therapy, Medicine and Electronic Engineering of Valencia University and from the innovations group ITACA have published research into physical exercise as a protector against sudden cardiac death. The study has been published in PLoS One. |
 | Is the 'midlife crisis' a real thing?Middle age is often seen as life's pivot point. A hill has been climbed and the view over the other side is unsettling. As Victor Hugo said: "forty is the old age of youth" and "fifty the youth of old age." |
 | When pets are family, the benefits extend into societyThere is a growing global trend to consider pets as part of the family. In fact, millions of people around the world love their pets, enjoying their companionship, going for walks, playing and even talking to them. And there is evidence suggesting that attachment to pets is good for human health and even helps build community. |
 | Fast-food chains use cute animal toys to market meat to children – new vegan ranges pose a dilemmaBeing vegan appears to be all the rage in Britain. The news that McDonald's has launched a new plant-based "Happy Meal" for children based on a vegan "wrap" would seem to bear this idea out. McDonald's new offering is the latest in a wave of vegetarian or vegan product launches, including Gregg's vegan sausage rolls, a new Marks & Spencer vegan range, and Waitrose's expansion of its plant-based product line. |
Researchers describe need for health systems to improve care of gender non-binary patientsA perspective piece authored by UMN Medical School researchers and published in the New England Journal of Medicine uncovers significant healthcare disparities for individuals who identify as neither male nor female or may not identify as having a gender. | |
 | Researchers ID new biomarker for colorectal cancersJohns Hopkins researchers have identified a protein involved in cell proliferation and the development of new blood vessels that could serve as a marker for the early detection of colorectal cancers. |
 | Prenatal valproate exposure linked to increased ADHD risk(HealthDay)—Use of the antiepileptic drug (AED) valproate during pregnancy is associated with an increased risk for attention-deficit/hyperactivity disorder (ADHD) among offspring, according to a study published online Jan. 4 in JAMA Network Open. |
 | More comorbidities, lower mortality for holocaust survivors(HealthDay)—Holocaust survivors in Israel have higher rates of comorbidities but lower mortality compared with a control population, according to a study published online Jan. 4 in JAMA Network Open. |
 | In-hospital morbidity, mortality up with flu in heart failure(HealthDay)—For patients with heart failure, influenza infection is associated with increased in-hospital morbidity and mortality, according to a study published online Jan. 3 in JACC: Heart Failure. |
 | Psychoeducational intervention of little benefit in breast cancer(HealthDay)—A psychoeducational intervention does not improve anxiety or body image but is still considered important among women with breast cancer, according to a study recently published in Reviews on Recent Clinical Trials. |
 | Applying population health data IDs patients at risk for CVD(HealthDay)—Population-level data can help medical practitioners use electronic health records to identify patients at risk for cardiovascular disease, according to a study recently published in the Journal of the American Medical Informatics Association. |
 | School nutrition programs slow BMI gains in children(HealthDay)—Body mass index (BMI) increases in middle school students can be limited by school-based nutrition policies but not by physical activity policies, according to a study published in the January issue of the American Journal of Preventive Medicine. |
 | Early classification predicts one-year trauma outcomes(HealthDay)—During early recovery, patients with orthopedic trauma can be classified into risk and protective clusters that help to predict 12-month functional and health outcomes, according to a study published online Dec. 19 in JAMA Surgery. |
 | Does your insurance card matter when you have a heart attack?Medicaid reimbursement to health care facilities on ST-elevation myocardial management—or STEMI, a serious form of a heart attack—is often lower when compared with the reimbursement rate of private insurance, according to a study published in the journal Circulation: Cardiovascular Quality and Outcomes. The findings were made by a team of cardiovascular researchers at the University of Alabama at Birmingham. |
 | Home remedies: Healthy use of humidifiersHumidifiers can ease problems caused by dry air. Dry sinuses, bloody noses and cracked lips—humidifiers can help soothe these familiar problems caused by dry indoor air. Humidifiers can also help ease symptoms of a cold or another respiratory condition. |
 | Four tips on how to layer up to keep cold weather at bayWhether you're waiting at the bus stop or going for a run, dressing for the conditions and level of outdoor activity is key to staying safe and warm in bitter temperatures, say University of Alberta experts. |
 | Get smart about storing seafood(HealthDay)—With concerns about overfishing, it's shocking to learn that 40 percent of the edible U.S. seafood supply is lost or wasted every year—and half of that is by consumers. |
 | Why it's important to boost baby's vocabulary now(HealthDay)—We know that early learning can set up a child for success. A study done by researchers at Penn State University found out just how early that learning should start—by age 2. |
 | How the medical profession can help heal divisions as well as diseasesMedicine need not be confined to the role of cultural bellwether, a sheep with a bell on its neck that reveals where the whole flock is headed. Along with other professions such as law, clergy and education, medicine can and should play the leadership role of a shepherd, helping our society to develop more thoughtful, balanced and generous approaches to the challenges that face us. After all, the word doctor means teacher, and our culture needs the best instruction we can offer. The dawn of a new year makes the time ripe for such a shift in medicine's role. |
 | Hearing loss announced by protein boom in bloodBlood levels of a special protein found only in the inner ear spike after exposure to loud noise, UConn Health researchers report. The findings point the way to blood tests that could warn people at risk of hearing loss before they suffer serious damage. |
 | Balanced diet, exercise may not prevent gestational diabetesIt may be time to reconsider the conventional wisdom for preventing gestational diabetes: limiting weight gain and increasing physical activity. |
Researchers say auditory testing can identify children for autism screeningA noninvasive hearing test may assist with early detection and diagnosis of autism spectrum disorders, according to research published in the Journal of the American Osteopathic Association. | |
 | Implicit attitudes can change over the long termData from more than 4 million tests completed between 2004 and 2016 show that Americans' attitudes toward certain social groups are becoming less biased over time, according to research published in Psychological Science, a journal of the Association for Psychological Science. The findings show that participants' self-reported (explicit) attitudes regarding groups defined by age, disability, body weight, race, skin tone, and sexuality have all shifted toward neutrality over the span of a decade. Crucially, the data also showed that participants' more automatic (implicit) attitudes toward race, skin tone, and sexuality have also decreased in bias over time. |
 | Opioids fueled a doubling of suicides and overdoses in the USSuicides and drug overdoses kill American adults at twice the rate today as they did just 17 years ago, and opioids are a key contributor to that rise, according to a new review and analysis by a University of Michigan team. |
Symptom-assessment questionnaire should improve understanding, treatment of menopauseA new questionnaire being developed through a collaboration between the Massachusetts General Hospital (MGH) Midlife Women's Health Center and the North American Menopause Society is designed to improve knowledge of the extent and impact on women of genitourinary symptoms of menopause. The progress of the collaboration, which has the ultimate goal of bring effective treatments to more women, is described in a paper that will appear in the April issue of the journal Menopause and has been released online. | |
 | Introducing gun safety into health care providers' checklists to prevent teen suicideIn a recent study exploring the feasibility of introducing gun safety discussions and interventions into routine health care settings, investigators suggest that there is some support for promoting firearm safety in pediatric primary care as a universal suicide prevention strategy for adolescents. |
First-in-human trial of senolytic drugs encouragingUT Health San Antonio researchers, collaborating with the Mayo Clinic and the Wake Forest School of Medicine, are the first to publish results on the treatment of a deadly age-related disease in human patients with drugs called senolytics. The findings were posted Jan. 4 by the journal EBioMedicine, which is published by The Lancet. | |
 | Faulty immune receptor could be reason why many face HIV complicationsFor HIV patients, treatments that control the infection have come a long way. But many still struggle with a host of other disease-related complications such as neurocognitive disorders, cardiovascular issues, diabetes and chronic inflammation. |
 | Adults with autism can read complex emotions in othersNew research shows for the first time that adults with autism can recognise complex emotions such as regret and relief in others as easily as those without the condition. |
 | Flu shot crucial for those with COPD(HealthDay)—If you suffer from chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD), a flu shot can be a lifesaver. But many of the millions with the lung condition don't get it, researchers report. |
 | Could phosphate additives in foods make you less active?A new study suggests that high levels of inorganic phosphate—a preservative widely used in certain sodas, packaged meats and other processed foods—may be a reason why the U.S. population isn't as physically active as it used to be. |
 | Recent nasal preps less effective than injected vax for flu in kids(HealthDay)—The quadrivalent live attenuated influenza vaccine (LAIV4) is less effective than inactivated influenza vaccine (IIV) against influenza A/H1N1pdm09 in all pediatric age groups, according to research published online Jan. 7 in Pediatrics. |
 | New research looks at the promise of 'digital neuropsychology'In a new paper published in The Clinical Neuropsychologist, McLean Hospital's Laura Germine, Ph.D., and her colleagues describe the many ways in which cognitive tests conducted with computers and smartphones might improve upon traditional "pencil-and-paper" tests. The researchers also present a critical overview of modern testing technology to help neuropsychologists understand and benefit from new methods. |
Whites struggle to tell real from fake smiles on black facesWhite people and non-black minorities have a harder time telling the difference between genuine and fake smiles on black faces than they do on white faces, a problem black people don't have, according to research published by the American Psychological Association. | |
Team finds high-risk drinking common in South AfricaAdults in South Africa consume more alcohol than adults in most other countries; previous research has shown this comes with high rates of fetal alcohol syndrome and is a driver of the country's leading causes of death: sexually transmitted infections and interpersonal violence. | |
 | Exposure to sugary breakfast cereal advertising directly influences children's dietsHigh-sugar cereals are heavily promoted to children on TV. The adoption of poor eating habits including excess consumption of sugar can lead to obesity, a known risk factor for 13 cancers. Children's eating habits develop during the preschool years, and children who are overweight by the age of five are likely to remain overweight into adolescence and adulthood. Unfortunately, many young children have diets of low quality and consume too few fruits and vegetables and too much sugar, salt and fat. A new study led by Jennifer Emond, Ph.D., member of the Cancer Control research program at Dartmouth's Norris Cotton Cancer Center and Assistant Professor in the Department of Biomedical Data Science Geisel School of Medicine hits a notable target in the many diet influences that lead to obesity. |
Long-term breastfeeding sheds light on whether an infant becomes right- or left-handed: studyBottle feeding infants is associated with left-handedness, according to a new study from the University of Washington. The study found that the prevalence of left-handedness is lower among breastfed infants as compared to bottle-fed infants. This finding was identified in about 60,000 mother-infant pairs and accounted for known risk factors for handedness. | |
Older people who use hearing aids still report hearing challengesA high proportion of older people with hearing aids, especially those with lower incomes, report having trouble hearing and difficulty accessing hearing care services, according to a study from researchers at Johns Hopkins Bloomberg School of Public Health. | |
 | Brain imaging predicts response to public health campaignNeuroimaging data obtained from a small group of smokers predicts the influence of a large anti-smoking media campaign targeting likely smokers, shows a new study published in JNeurosci. This approach could help improve informational materials designed to change people's attitudes and behaviors. |
 | Stroke produces dysfunctional brain cellsMice produce new neurons in the hippocampus following a stroke that fail to develop properly, finds new research published in JNeurosci. Intervening in the production of these cells may help to mitigate stroke-induced memory impairments. |
 | Prefrontal cortex development and mental illnessFaulty wiring of the prefrontal cortex during development leads to abnormal brain activity and cognitive impairments related to mental illness, according to a mouse study published in JNeurosci. |
 | How body ideals shape the health of gay menGay men currently receive little research attention when it comes to health issues such as eating disorders and other body image concerns. Yet expectations are high for gay men, as the western ideal masculine body is muscular and fat free. |
 | Eli Lilly to acquire Loxo Oncology for $8 billionPharmaceutical giant Eli Lilly announced Monday it will acquire Loxo Oncology for around $8 billion, the latest big transaction aimed at developing and monetizing new treatments for cancer. |
Alcohol-related treatment among American Indians and Alaska nativesDespite having high rates of abstention, American Indians and Alaska Natives (AIAN) also have the highest lifetime alcohol use disorder prevalence among all racial/ethnic groups in the U.S.—just over 41 percent. | |
 | Henry Ford Cancer Institute enrolls first patient in pancreatic cancer research studyThe Henry Ford Cancer Institute announced today it has enrolled the first patient in a new clinical trial to test the effectiveness of using precise, higher dose MRI-guided radiation therapy to treat pancreatic cancer. |
 | Increased risk of comorbid neck injury in females with a concussion-related ED visitIn a study of neck injury comorbidity in concussion-related emergency department (ED) visits in Ontario, Canada, females had significantly higher odds than males of sustaining a comorbid neck injury in a multitude of circumstances and stages of their lives. Sex differences in the rate of neck injury comorbidity among patients with a concussion-related ED visit are reported in an article published in Journal of Women's Health. |
 | Screening all donated blood for Zika virus is not cost-effective in the United StatesUniversal screening of individual blood donations for Zika virus, which began in 2016, was not cost-effective in the 50 states during the first year. Widespread screening would only be cost-effective in the high mosquito season in Puerto Rico and never in the 50 states. Findings from a microsimulation study are published in Annals of Internal Medicine. |
Biology news
 | Evolution used same genetic formula to turn animals monogamousWhy are some animals committed to their mates and others are not? According to a new study led by researchers at The University of Texas at Austin that looked at 10 species of vertebrates, evolution used a kind of universal formula for turning non-monogamous species into monogamous species—turning up the activity of some genes and turning down others in the brain. |
 | Can artificial intelligence tell a polar bear from a can opener?How smart is the form of artificial intelligence known as deep learning computer networks, and how closely do these machines mimic the human brain? They have improved greatly in recent years, but still have a long way to go, a team of UCLA cognitive psychologists reports in the journal PLOS Computational Biology. |
 | Female penguins are getting stranded along the South American coastEvery year, thousands of Magellanic penguins are stranded along the South American coast—from northern Argentina to southern Brazil—1,000 kilometers away from their breeding ground in northern Patagonia. Now researchers reporting in Current Biology on January 7 have new evidence to explain the observation that the stranded birds are most often female: female penguins venture farther north than males do, where they are apparently more likely to run into trouble. |
 | Scientists identify new fuel-delivery route for cellsScientists at Washington University School of Medicine in St. Louis have identified a previously unknown route for cellular fuel delivery, a finding that could shed light on the process of aging and the chronic diseases that often accompany it. |
 | Should researchers engineer a spicy tomato?The chili pepper, from an evolutionary perspective, is the tomato's long-lost spitfire cousin. They split off from a common ancestor 19 million years ago but still share some of the same DNA. While the tomato plant went on to have a fleshy, nutrient-rich fruit yielding bountiful harvests, the more agriculturally difficult chili plant went defensive, developing capsaicinoids, the molecules that give peppers their spiciness, to ward off predators. |
 | Manipulation of gossypol-containing glands in cotton can boost plant's natural defensesDevelopment of a cotton plant with stronger natural defenses due to a greater gland density and thus more gossypol in the leaves could soon be a reality, according to a Texas A&M AgriLife Research plant biotechnologist in College Station. |
 | Scientists open up new world for biologics—inside the cellThe vast majority of top-selling drugs are biologics—also known as proteins. Proteins are used today to treat many debilitating diseases, including arthritis, Crohn's disease, and several forms of cancer. They have helped to improve the lives of many millions of people worldwide. And proteins have the potential to help many millions more, but they can't, because most are unable to pass through the cell boundary to reach the regions of the cell where they are needed: the cell interior. |
 | Researchers discover new bat-borne virus related to EbolaResearchers from Singapore's Duke-NUS Medical School, in collaboration with scientists in China, have identified and characterised a new genus of filovirus from a Rousettus bat in China. Their findings were published in the journal Nature Microbiology. |
 | Bluefin tuna are back around the UK and a new study explains whyBluefin tuna are back in the sea around the U.K. after decades of absence and a new study says that warming seas can explain why. Bluefin tuna are one of the biggest, most valuable and most endangered fish in the oceans. Sportfishermen excited at the prospect of catching a fish that can grow to over 900 kg have already launched a U.K. campaign to allow recreational fishing for one of game fishing's top targets. But should we catch and exploit this endangered species or should we make U.K. waters a safe space for this species? Why has this endangered fish suddenly returned to the U.K. after an absence of nearly 40 years? And are bluefin tuna now more abundant, or have they just changed in their distribution? |
 | Yeast makes ethanol to prevent metabolic overloadWhy do some yeast cells produce ethanol? Scientists have wondered about this apparent waste of resources for decades. Now, University of Groningen scientists think they have a solution: yeast cells produce ethanol as a 'safety valve' to prevent overload when their metabolic operation reaches a critical level. The new theory, which was published in Nature Metabolism on 7 January, could have far-reaching implications, as it also explains why cancer cells waste energy by producing lactate, known as the Warburg effect. |
 | Breakthrough study uncovers origin of plant spermA large international team of researchers has uncovered the origin of an ancient genetic mechanism needed for plant fertility. |
 | Science races against tick-borne virusTwo groundbreaking discoveries by USC researchers could lead to medications and a vaccine to treat or prevent a hemorrhagic fever transmitted by a new tick species before it spreads across the United States. |
 | A little squid sheds light on evolution with bacteriaBacteria, which are vital for the health of all animals, also played a major role in the evolution of animals and their tissues. In an effort to understand just how animals co-evolved with bacteria over time, researchers have turned to the Hawaiian bobtail squid, Euprymna scolopes. |
 | Record $3.1 million paid in New Year's tuna auction at Japan's new marketA Japanese sushi entrepreneur paid a record $3.1 million for a giant tuna Saturday as Tokyo's new fish market, which replaced the world-famous Tsukiji late last year, held its first pre-dawn New Year's auction. |
 | Thousands stung in Australian jellyfish 'invasion'Highly venomous jellyfish have stung more than three thousand people on Australia's northeastern shores in just a few days, authorities said Monday, forcing the closure of several beaches. |
Scientists call for more diversity in genomic researchA growing number of genomic studies have generated important discoveries regarding human health and behaviour, but new research from the University of Oxford suggests that scientific advancement is limited by a lack of diversity. They show that the people studied in genetic discovery research continue to be overwhelmingly of European descent, but also for the first time reveal that subjects are concentrated in a handful of countries—the UK, US and Iceland, and have specific demographic characteristics. The authors caution that this lack of diversity has potentially huge implications for the understanding and applications of genetic discoveries. | |
 | Female age and laying order drive variation of egg quality in blue titsLittle more than 50 years after the German ornithologist Wolfgang Makatsch published his book titled No Egg Is Like Another (Kein Ei gleicht dem anderen), new research at the Max Planck Institute for Ornithology in collaboration with the Max Planck Institute of Biochemistry and the University of Hohenheim reveals exactly how right he was. The study describes for the first time the egg albumen and yolk proteomes—that is, all measurable proteins—of a common songbird, the blue tit. It shows that breeding females can fine tune their eggs' composition to the needs of their young. |
 | Why do sharks dive?Is it to regulate their body temperature? Conserve energy? Find food? |
 | Essential amino acid in humans, methionine, controls cell growth programsA recent study from the Laxman lab elucidates how a small metabolite and amino acid, methionine, acts as a growth signal for cells by setting into motion a metabolic program for cell proliferation. |
 | From dreams to fire: How Aboriginal Australians shaped biodiversityFor many wild species, Aboriginal Australians shaped their diversity and distribution and even helped them thrive. |
 | Sowing seeds for snapper habitatIn an Australian first, recreational fishers will have a crack at restoring the lost seagrass meadows of Cockburn Sound. |
 | How do carrier proteins transport ADP and ATP in and out of mitochondria?Scientists at the MRC-MBU in Cambridge, U.K., have discovered how a key transport protein, called the mitochondrial ADP/ATP carrier, transports adenosine triphosphate (ATP), the chemical fuel of the cell. This process is vital to keep us alive, every second of our lives, for all of our lives. This work will help us understand how mutations can affect the function of these proteins, resulting in a range of neuromuscular, metabolic and developmental diseases. |
 | Cuban crickets, not weapon, heard by ill US diplomats: studyA noise heard by US diplomats in Cuba who suffered mysterious brain injuries came not from technological weapons but local crickets, a new study suggests. |
 | Runaway leopard returns to Indian park after escapeA runaway leopard which escaped from an safari park in eastern India on New Year's Day has been recaptured after a massive search operation, an official said Saturday. |
 | New research to explore how skill influences result of animal fightsThe role of skill in determining the outcome of animal contests is to be explored in new research by the University of Plymouth. |
 | Insect biological control shields tropical forestsThough often perceived as an environmentally-risky practice, biological control of invasive species can restore crop yields, ease land pressure and contribute to forest conservation. This paper illustrates the positive impacts of biological control using the cassava mealybug Phenacoccus manihoti (Hemiptera) as an example. Cassava is a key food, feed and fiber crop grown on around 4 million ha in tropical Asia, where use of a parasitic wasp lowers crop losses, restores farm profitability and slows deforestation. |
 | Environmental groups withdraw from Oregon wolf plan talksEnvironmental groups in Oregon announced Monday they have withdrawn from talks on how to manage the state's rebounding wolf population because of what they called a "broken" process, and concerns that state wildlife officials want to make it easier to kill wolves that eat livestock without trying other alternatives. |
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