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Here is your customized Science X Newsletter for January 31, 2019:
Spotlight Stories Headlines
Astronomy & Space news
 | Mars rover Curiosity makes first gravity-measuring traverse on the Red PlanetA clever use of non-science engineering data from NASA's Mars rover Curiosity has let a team of researchers, including an Arizona State University graduate student, measure the density of rock layers in 96-mile-wide Gale Crater. |
 | Chinese rover finds lunar nights 'colder than expected'China's lunar lander has woken from a freezing fortnight-long hibernation to find night-time temperatures on the moon's dark side are colder than previously thought, the national space agency said Thursday. |
 | Hubble fortuitously discovers a new galaxy in the cosmic neighbourhoodAstronomers using the NASA/ESA Hubble Space Telescope to study some of the oldest and faintest stars in the globular cluster NGC 6752 have made an unexpected finding. They discovered a dwarf galaxy in our cosmic backyard, only 30 million light-years away. The finding is reported in the journal Monthly Notices of the Royal Astronomical Society: Letters. |
 | Sodium, not heat, reveals volcanic activity on Jupiter's moon IoA large volcanic event was detected on Jupiter's moon Io using Jovian sodium nebula brightness variation, a new paper in Astrophysical Journal Letters said. |
 | Thermal testing of Solar OrbiterA side view of ESA's Solar Orbiter as it entered a vacuum chamber for thermal vacuum testing at the IABG test facility in Ottobrunn, Germany, last month. |
 | After mapping millions of galaxies, dark energy survey finishes data collectionFor the past six years, Fermi National Accelerator Laboratory has been part of an international effort to create an unprecedented survey of distant galaxies and better understand the nature of dark energy—the mysterious force accelerating the expansion of the universe. |
 | First private spacecraft shoots for the moon"Moon of Israel" is an epic 1924 film from the golden era of silent movies, and helped launch the directing career of Michael Curtiz, of "Casablanca" fame. Sequels seldom live up to the original. But if Israel's plans to put a robotic lander on the moon in February 2019 can be considered a sequel, this new "Moon of Israel" mission, led by the nonprofit company SpaceIL, will be a blockbuster in its own right. |
 | Dark matter may not actually exist – and our alternative theory can be put to the testScientists have been searching for "dark matter" – an unknown and invisible substance thought to make up the vast majority of matter in the universe – for nearly a century. The reason for this persistence is that dark matter is needed to account for the fact that galaxies don't seem to obey the fundamental laws of physics. However, dark matter searches have remained unsuccessful. |
Technology news
 | A new model introduces the concept of adaptive virtual organisms (VOs)Researchers at the University of Bucharest have recently developed a compositional model for complex hardware-software binding. Their model, outlined in a paper pre-published on arXiv, introduces the notion of a "virtual organism" (VO) that resides somewhere between slightly reconfigurable hardware agents and abstract, intelligent and adaptive software agents. |
 | New 3-D printer shapes objects with rays of lightA new 3-D printer uses light to transform gooey liquids into complex solid objects in only a matter of minutes. |
 | Hybrid electricity system would reduce rates, improve serviceA new distribution system designed by researchers at the University of Waterloo would reduce electricity prices by more than five per cent while also improving service reliability. |
 | Car designers explore working with virtual realityFord is interested in exploring what can result in sketching cars in virtual reality. Ignore the rollaway chairs, seat cushions, back rests, travel pillows, the lot. Industrial designers can put on their headsets, stand, burn calories, and fire up their minds with new ideas for new models. |
 | Atari master: New AI smashes Google DeepMind in video game challengeA new breed of algorithms has mastered Atari video games 10 times faster than state-of-the-art AI, with a breakthrough approach to problem solving. |
 | 'Quantum leap' in AI-related patent filings: UN (Update)The UN noted Thursday that patent filings for artificial intelligence-based inventions have exploded in recent years, with more than half of all such patents filed since 2013. |
 | Samsung Electronics Q4 profits slump along with global demandSamsung Electronics, the world's biggest smartphone and memory chip maker, reported a slump in fourth-quarter net profits on Thursday, blaming a drop in demand for its key products. |
Tesla posts higher earnings but still falls shortElectric carmaker Tesla posted another quarter of higher earnings on Wednesday but fell short of expectations after announcing another round of job cuts earlier in the month. | |
Nintendo says nine-month profit up nearly 25%, lifted by strong titlesNintendo said Thursday its net profit jumped nearly a quarter for the nine months to December, riding out the crucial holiday season thanks to blockbuster game titles for its popular Switch console. | |
 | Thai retailer Central puts $200 million into ride-hailing app GrabThailand's biggest shopping mall owner, the Central Group, will pour $200 million into the Singapore ride-hailing and food delivery firm Grab, the companies said Thursday, as they look to reel in customers now buying everything from food to holidays online. |
 | Microsoft delivers robust profit, but shares take a hitMicrosoft said Wednesday it swung to profit in the past quarter on gains in cloud computing and business services, but shares took a hit on disappointing revenue growth. |
 | Apple's iPhone problem: It just needs lower pricing, analysts sayTo hear Apple tell it, the reasons for the slowdown in iPhone sales can be attributed to changing economic conditions in China, the fluctuating change of the dollar in other countries and a shift in how people buy the iconic device. |
 | Germany sees surge in new solar power as prices dropGermany added almost 3 gigawatts of new solar power generation in 2018, about 68 percent more than the previous year amid a drop in prices for new systems. |
 | Uber, Cabify stop services in Barcelona due to tighter lawsRide-hailing companies Uber and Cabify said Thursday that they would stop operating in Barcelona after the regional government passed tighter regulations to appease taxi drivers. |
 | European heavyweights Airbus, Altran targeted by cyberattacksEuropean aerospace and defence group Airbus has launched an inquiry into the origin and targets of a cyberattack detected earlier in January, the same month that French IT consulting group Altran also saw attempts to breach its systems. |
 | Seattle's 'other' tech sector, life science, is on the upswing againIn a quiet business park far from Seattle's booming South Lake Union, players in the Northwest's "other" tech sector are coping with growing pains of their own. |
 | Exploring the potential of tall timber buildingsUniversity of Canterbury (UC) engineering doctoral candidate Justin Brown is guiding future timber core-wall design with his research, paving the way for eco-friendly, mid- to high-rise buildings. |
Video: Aircraft-inspecting suction robot successfully trialledA prototype robot that uses intense suction to climb around the outside of aircraft and inspect them for damage has successfully been trialled at Cranfield University. | |
 | Keeping the lights on during extreme cold snaps takes investments and upgradesPolar vortexes. Hurricanes. Wildfires. |
 | Facebook at 15: It's not all bad, but now it must be goodIt is almost too easy to bash Facebook these days. Nearly a third of Americans feel the country's most popular social media platform is bad for society. As the company approaches its 15th birthday, Americans rate its social benefit as better than Marlboro cigarettes, but worse than McDonald's. |
 | 2018 'worst year ever' for smartphone market: surveyGlobal smartphone sales saw their worst contraction ever in 2018, and the outlook for 2019 isn't much better, new surveys show. |
 | Mean streets: Self-driving cars will 'cruise' to avoid paying to parkIf you think traffic in city centers is bad now, just wait until self-driving cars emerge on the scene, cruising around to avoid paying hefty downtown parking fees. |
 | News media lobbies Merkel, Macron on copyright reformEuropean news media associations wrote to French President Emmanuel Macron and Germany's Chancellor Angela Merkel on Thursday to push for action on online copyright reform. |
 | Hungary Audi workers end strike after securing wage dealWorkers at the Hungarian plant of German luxury carmaker Audi went back to work Wednesday, ending a week-long walkout after reaching a wage deal with management, the company said. |
Nokia Q4 profit up as operators switching to 5G networksNokia has reported increased fourth-quarter earnings on the back of grown orders from telecom operators of new-generation mobile networks that are expected to be rolled out commercially this year. | |
 | Efficient adversarial robustness evaluation of AI models with limited accessRecent studies have identified the lack of robustness in current AI models against adversarial examples—intentionally manipulated prediction-evasive data inputs that are similar to normal data but will cause well-trained AI models to misbehave. For instance, visually imperceptible perturbations to a stop sign can be easily crafted and lead a high-precision AI model towards misclassification. In our previous paper published at the European Conference on Computer Vision (ECCV) in 2018, we validated that 18 different classification models trained on ImageNet, a large public object recognition dataset, are all vulnerable to adversarial perturbations. |
 | Tesla shares fall after surprise CFO exitShares of electric carmaker Tesla Motors were under pressure Thursday following the surprise replacement of the company's chief financial officer. |
 | GE shares surge despite disappointing profits (Update)General Electric shares rocketed higher Thursday despite disappointing quarterly earnings after the company announced a preliminary settlement with US officials over subprime mortgages. |
IAEA urges Japan to take ample time in Fukushima cleanupThe International Atomic Energy Agency urged Japan on Thursday to spend ample time in developing a decommissioning plan for the tsunami-damaged Fukushima nuclear power plant and to be honest with the public about remaining uncertainties. | |
 | Certifying attack resistance of convolutional neural networksWhen shopping for a watch, you may notice its water resistance rating, which indicates that the watch is warranted to be waterproof to a certain level. What about your neural network? Can one ensure a neural network is "attack proof", meaning that its functionality is robust against adversarial perturbations? If so, how can this be quantified with an attack resistance number? At AAAI 2019, our group of researchers from MIT and IBM Research proposes an efficient and effective method for certifying attack resistance of convolutional neural networks to given input data. This paper is selected for oral presentation at AAAI 2019 (January 30, 2:00-3:30 pm @ coral 1). |
 | Robert Swan moves from interim to permanent CEO at IntelIntel is changing Robert Swan's status as interim CEO, to permanent. |
 | Companies hope vests will ease burden for assembly workersFord Motor Co. and other manufacturers want to help their workers take a load off. Or at least make it easier to lift a load up. |
 | Chinese engineer charged in theft of Apple car secretsA Chinese engineer was charged with stealing secrets from a stealth self-driving vehicle project at Apple, a freshly unsealed criminal complaint revealed. |
 | Airbus says in talks with Emirates on vital A380 dealAirbus said Thursday it was in discussion with Emirates over a deal for 36 of its A380 jets made last year, amid reports the Gulf carrier is considering converting some or all of the order to the smaller A350, potentially casting doubt on the future of Europe's superjumbo. |
 | Amazon profit jumps on strong holiday quarterAmazon on Thursday reported its profit in the past quarter leapt to $3 billion on strong holiday retail sales and its soaring cloud computing business. |
Medicine & Health news
 | Cancer causes premature ageingLeukaemia promotes premature ageing in healthy bone marrow cells—according to new research from the University of East Anglia. |
 | Opposite effect: Protein widely known to fight tumors also boosts cancer growthSearch for a description of "p53" and it becomes clear that this human protein is widely known for its cancer-fighting benefits, leading to its renown as "the guardian of the genome." |
 | Skin cancer can spread in mice by hijacking the immune systemScientists have uncovered molecules released by invasive skin cancer that reprogram healthy immune cells to help the cancer to spread. |
 | A new approach to peripheral nerve injury? Natural killer cells in the immune system could present a targetIn animal models of a totally crushed peripheral nerve, the damaged axons are broken down, allowing healthy ones to regrow. But humans rarely suffer complete axonal damage. Instead, axons tend to be partially damaged, causing neuropathic pain—a difficult-to-treat, chronic pain associated with nerve trauma, chemotherapy and diabetes. A new study in Cell, led by Michael Costigan, Ph.D., at Boston Children's Hospital, explore the role of immune cells in breaking down damaged nerves. The findings may change our understanding of neuropathic pain and how to treat it. |
 | Bacteria promote lung tumor development, study suggestsMIT cancer biologists have discovered a new mechanism that lung tumors exploit to promote their own survival: These tumors alter bacterial populations within the lung, provoking the immune system to create an inflammatory environment that in turn helps the tumor cells to thrive. |
 | Commonly used anti-rejection drug could be repurposed to treat some liver cancersResearch from the University of Pittsburgh School of Medicine in animal models and patient tissues has identified a new molecular pathway in the liver that suggests a commonly used anti-rejection medication could be repurposed to treat certain liver cancers. |
 | Discovery points to innovative new way to treat Duchenne muscular dystrophyResearchers at The Ottawa Hospital and the University of Ottawa have discovered a new way to treat the loss of muscle function caused by Duchenne muscular dystrophy in animal models of the disease. As reported in Cell Stem Cell, the team restored muscle stem cell function that is impaired in Duchenne muscular dystophy, resulting in efficient regeneration of the muscle and preventing the progressive loss of muscle strength characteristic of the disease. |
 | Pinpointing the cells that control the brain's memory flowFrom the cab driver heading for Times Square to the commuter returning home on the freeway, we all carry maps in our head labeled with important locations. And a new Columbia study in mice shows that, by directing the delicate ebb-and-flow of brain activity, a small cluster of cells helps the brain's internal GPS remember which places matter most. These findings underscore the fact that navigating an environment requires flexibility in the brain: brain-cell activity must change as memories are formed or recalled. |
 | To sleep, perchance to heal: Newly discovered gene governs need for slumber when sickHumans spend nearly one-third of their lives in slumber, yet sleep is still one of biology's most enduring mysteries. Little is known about what genetic or molecular forces drive the need to sleep—until now. In a study of over 12,000 lines of fruit flies, researchers from the Perelman School of Medicine at the University of Pennsylvania have found a single gene, called nemuri, that increases the need for sleep. These findings are published today in Science. |
 | Discovery of blood vessel system in bonesA network of very fine blood vessels that connects bone marrow directly with the blood supply of the periosteum that was previously overlooked has now been discovered by Dr. Anika Grüneboom, a young researcher who is now working at Universitätsklinikum Erlangen. She made this groundbreaking discovery while working on her doctoral thesis at Universität Duisburg-Essen (UDE) with Prof. Dr. Matthias Gunzer. Researchers from Universitätsklinikum Essen, Friedrich-Alexander-Universität Erlangen-Nürnberg (FAU) and research institutes in Jena, Berlin, Dresden and Bern were also involved in the study. |
 | Genetic causes of tumors in salivary glandsAcinic cell carcinoma is the third most common malignant form of salivary gland cancer. These tumours are similar to normal salivary gland tissue and occur most frequently in the parotid gland. Until now, the molecular causes for the illness were unknown. Researchers at Universitätsklinikum Erlangen at FAU, the German Cancer Research Centre (DKFZ) in Heidelberg, and the Berlin Institute of Health (BIH) have now been able to shed light on them. |
 | We need to fine-tune our 'maps' of the visual cortex, study showsMonkey brain scans have revealed new information about the brain structure that processes visual information. The findings were recently presented in PNAS by neurophysiologists Qi Qhu (KU Leuven) and Wim Vanduffel (KU Leuven/ Harvard Medical School). |
 | Machine learning finds multiple factors underlie cancer immunotherapy successA University of Maryland-led research team is using a branch of artificial intelligence known as machine learning to better target immunotherapy treatment to those who will benefit. |
 | Discovery could improve cystic fibrosis treatmentResearchers exploring the effects of a long-standing treatment for cystic fibrosis have discovered a potential new target for drugs to treat the disease, which has no cure and typically cuts decades off the lives of patients. |
 | Skin colour and neurodevelopment are not linkedThe latest findings from the international INTERGROWTH-21st Project, that has monitored healthy, urban children from educated families across four continents from early pregnancy to 2 years of age, show that human neurodevelopment is not influenced by the colour of an individual's skin. |
 | Researchers find TNF cannot be used as a biomarker for RA treatment discontinuationA team of researchers from the Netherlands, the U.S. and the U.K. has found evidence that suggests tumor necrosis factor (TNF) cannot be used as a biomarker for rheumatoid arthritis (RA) treatment discontinuation. In their paper published in the journal Science Translational Medicine, the group describes developing an assay that could be used to quantify TNF concentrations in RA patients taking a TNF inhibitor. They also describe their use of the assay to determine whether TNF levels could be used as a means for determining when to discontinue the inhibitor. |
 | Learning new vocabulary during deep sleepSleeping is sometimes considered unproductive time. Could the time spent asleep could be used more productively—e.g., for learning a new language? To date, sleep research has focused on the stabilization and consolidation of memories formed during wakefulness. However, learning during sleep has rarely been examined. There is considerable evidence for a recapitulation by replay in the sleeping brain of wake-learned information. The replay during sleep strengthens the still fragile memory traces and embeds the newly acquired information in the preexisting store of knowledge. |
 | Improved AI-based tool increases accuracy of schizophrenia diagnosisA tool developed by University of Alberta researchers using machine learning diagnoses schizophrenia more accurately than other AI-based systems, according to a new study. |
 | Scientists shed light on processes behind age-related decline in brain structures important for memoryAgeing can cause damage to support cells in the white matter, which in turn may lead to damage in the grey matter of the hippocampus, finds a new study by Cardiff University. |
 | Fight or flight: Serotonin neurons prompt brain to make the right callKnown for its role in relieving depression, the neurochemical serotonin may also help the brain execute instantaneous, appropriate behaviors in emergency situations, according to a new Cornell study published Feb. 1 in Science. |
 | Eating breakfast may not be a good strategy for weight lossThere is no good evidence to support the idea that eating breakfast promotes weight loss or that skipping breakfast leads to weight gain, finds a review published in The BMJ today. |
 | Medical scribes could help doctors care for more patientsScribes help to increase doctors' productivity and shorten patients' stay at the emergency department, with no significant risk to patient safety, suggest the results of a randomised trial published in The BMJ today. |
 | Americans concerned about weight, but don't understand link to heart conditions, healthA Cleveland Clinic survey finds that while most Americans (88 percent) understand that there is a connection between a healthy heart and a healthy weight, most aren't doing enough—or anything—to combat their own weight issues. The survey found 74 percent are concerned about their weight and 65 percent are worried about getting heart disease due to extra pounds, yet less than half (43 percent) of Americans have tried to make dietary changes to lose weight and 40 percent of those who describe themselves as overweight or obese say they aren't careful about which foods they eat. |
 | Cultural practices improve health care for Indigenous women living with violenceThe health of Indigenous women recovering from the trauma of partner violence improves when the healing process integrates elder-led circles and other cultural elements, finds new research from the University of British Columbia and Western University. |
 | New treatment target emerging for retinal damageScientists at the Medical College of Georgia at Augusta University are looking at new treatment targets for the retinal damage that often accompanies diseases like diabetes, glaucoma and hypertension. |
 | Exercise may fight depression in older adults, study suggestsNew research suggests that exercise-induced muscle changes could help boost mood in older adults. The study is published ahead of print in the American Journal of Physiology—Cell Physiology. |
Vaccination with Streptococcus mitis could protect against virulent sibling, Streptococcus pneumoniaVaccinating laboratory mice with Streptococcus mitis bacteria prevents their virulent sibling, Streptococcus pneumoniae from infecting the mice. The research suggests that vaccination of humans with live S. mitis might offer protection from some of the many serotypes of S. pneumoniae that vaccines currently do not exist for. This pathogen is one of the most common causes of severe pneumonia, and can also cause meningitis, bloodstream and sinus infections, endocarditis, and middle ear infections in young children. The research is published in Applied and Environmental Microbiology. | |
 | Females find social interactions to be more rewarding than males, study revealsFemales find same-sex social interactions to be more rewarding than males, and females are more sensitive to the rewarding actions of oxytocin (OT) than males, according to a research study led by Georgia State University on the brain mechanisms that determine the rewarding properties of social interactions. |
 | Nearly half of all adult Americans have cardiovascular diseaseNearly half (48 percent, 121.5 million in 2016) of all adults in the United States have some type of cardiovascular disease, according to the American Heart Association's Heart and Stroke Statistics—2019 Update, published in the Association's journal Circulation. |
 | Researchers discover method to 'turn off' mutated melanomaMelanoma is the deadliest form of skin cancer and notorious for its resistance to conventional chemotherapy. Approximately 25 percent of melanoma is driven by oncogenic mutations in the NRAS gene, making it a very attractive therapeutic target. However, despite decades of research, no effective therapies targeting NRAS have been forthcoming. |
 | Cell lines deserve unique considerations when creating research protections, researchers sayNew rules recently went into effect, seeking to protect patients who donate tissue samples for research in the age of genetic sequencing. But this rule could have unintended consequences for certain critical types of biospecimens. |
Molecular mechanisms behind AICAr drug; impact on ALLAICAr (5-amino-4-imidazolecarboxamide riboside, also called Acadesine) has been found to inhibit cell proliferation and has cytotoxic potential for childhood acute lymphoblastic leukemia (ALL) cells. Much of the drug's cytotoxic mechanisms, however, remain unknown. A new study published in The FASEB Journal explores the mechanisms behind AICAr. | |
 | Nearly half of American adults have unhealthy hearts: reportAlmost half of U.S. adults have high blood pressure, heart disease or a history of stroke, a new report shows. |
 | The first spontaneous animal model of human hypophosphatasia uncoveredA research group led by Professor Hannes Lohi at the University of Helsinki and Folkhälsan Research Center has uncovered a new skeletal disease in dogs. The disease was recognized in the Karelian Bear Dog breed and associated with an autosomal recessive defect in the alkaline phosphatase gene, ALPL. |
 | Going for an MRI scan with tattoos?Tattoos are increasingly popular. Every eighth person in Germany has already felt the sting of a tattoo needle. Yet, examining tattooed people via magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) could possibly be risky. The first prospective study with statistically verifiable numbers has now been presented by a research team led by Nikolaus Weiskopf in the prestigious New England Journal of Medicine. |
 | Making the case for fluoridated waterA recent University of Alaska study that found an increase in childhood dental decay in two cities that halted the use of fluoridated water demonstrates why this public health measure is needed, says Dean Cecile A. Feldman of Rutgers School of Dental Medicine. |
 | Analyzing metagenome helps understand the role of bacterial species in Crohn's diseaseResearch on the gut metagenome of patients with Crohn's disease elucidates how it influences the taxonomic and functional composition of intestinal microbiota. Among the most common changes are the decrease in the diversity of beneficial microbes and the increased abundance of Escherichia coli and other microbes associated with inflammation. The results can help to better understand the causes and progress of the disease, as well as to optimize treatment schemes. The results were published in BMC Genomics. |
 | Doctors' conscientious objection to abortion can affect women's health, study findsSome Victorian health professionals who conscientiously object to abortion are breaking the law by not referring patients to another professional who doesn't object, new Victorian research has found. |
 | Sticker shock: Why the U.S. needs price tags on health careWhat if you could shop for a magnetic resonance imaging scan like you would for someone to paint your house? |
 | Look to the medicine wheel for mental health, Elders advise in First Nations studyThe traditional medicine wheel, symbolizing balance and interconnection, can serve as a framework for improving the mental well-being of First Nations people in Manitoba. |
 | Expanded recall announced for ibuprofen oral suspension drops(HealthDay)—An expanded recall of ibuprofen oral suspension drops that may contain higher-than-specified levels of ibuprofen that could harm infants' kidneys has been announced by Tris Pharma, Inc. |
 | Death at 10 years similar with bilateral, single-artery CABG(HealthDay)—There is no difference in the rate of death from any cause at 10 years for patients undergoing coronary artery bypass grafting (CABG) with bilateral or single internal-thoracic-artery grafting, according to a study published in the Jan. 31 issue of the New England Journal of Medicine. |
 | FDA receives an 'F' in tobacco prevention report card(HealthDay)—The U.S. Food and Drug Administration was given an "F" in a new American Lung Association report card evaluating tobacco prevention programs. |
 | BDNF–VEGF interplay key to rapid antidepressant actionsA study by researchers at Yale University reveals a complex interplay of two different growth factors in the rapid and long-lasting antidepressant effects of ketamine. The study, published in Biological Psychiatry, reports that the antidepressant-like actions of brain-derived neurotrophic factor (BDNF) require the release of vascular endothelial growth factor (VEGF). |
 | Potential way to treat and prevent cancer in children with neuroblastomaThe MYCN oncogene has long been known to be a key cause of a number of deadly solid tumour cancers, including neuroblastoma, which claims more lives of children under the age of 5 than any other cancer. |
 | Heart patients prescribed opioids at hospital discharge often fare worseHeart disease patients prescribed opioids at hospital discharge were less likely to follow up with their healthcare provider or to participate in heart rehabilitation than patients who were not, according to new research in Journal of the American Heart Association, the Open Access Journal of the American Heart Association/American Stroke Association. |
 | Fasting ramps up human metabolism, study showsFasting may help people lose weight, but new research suggests going without food may also boost human metabolic activity, generate antioxidants, and help reverse some effects of aging. Scientists at the Okinawa Institute of Science and Technology Graduate University (OIST) and Kyoto University identified 30 previously unreported substances whose quantity increases during fasting and indicate a variety of health benefits. |
Heart surgery technology developed at Baptist Health debuts after years of secrecyIn the past decade, as cardiac and vascular surgery has evolved into a team effort involving multiple medical specialists and support staff, the operating suites at many hospitals have remained relatively snug—designed to accommodate a small group of professionals. | |
 | As millions of teens get hooked on vaping, what works to help them quit?(HealthDay)—E-cigarette use is surging among American teenagers, with millions of kids flirting with nicotine addiction by regularly vaping. |
 | Polar vortex brings frostbite danger: Protect yourself(HealthDay)—Minus 29 Fahrenheit in Fargo, minus 28 in Minneapolis, minus 13 in Des Moines. |
 | How bicycle crash inspired doctor to launch startupFor Itay Bengad, a bicycle crash several years ago that left a friend with a broken spine, a concussion and other injuries sparked an idea. |
 | Skipping breakfast may help you lose weight - what hunter gatherers can teach usBreakfast, we are told, is the most important meal of the day. Over the last 50 years, we have been bombarded with messages extolling the health benefits of processed cereals and porridge oats. We are told breakfast helps us reduce weight by speeding up our metabolism – this helps us avoid hunger pangs and overeating later in the day. |
 | Better out-of-hours palliative care neededA better understanding of risks and causes of harm for out of hours palliative care is urgently needed to ensure patient safety, finds a study carried out by researchers at Cardiff University. |
 | Accentuating the positives in breast cancer detectionThe presence of tiny deposits of calcified tissue in the breast remains an important indicator of early breast cancer. However, the standard diagnostic, the X-ray mammogram, cannot always distinguish between benign tissue artifacts and such microcalcifications because there is a great diversity in the shape, size, and distributions of these deposits. Moreover, there is only very low contrast between malignant, cancerous areas and the surrounding bright structures in the mammogram. |
 | How to prevent and treat eye allergies(HealthDay)—When it comes to allergies, allergic rhinitis with its congested, itchy nose gets a lot of attention. But for some, allergic conjunctivitis with itchy, watery eyes is the greater nuisance. You might even have both reactions. |
 | Exercise injury prevention: Protecting your ankles(HealthDay)—Guarding against injury means increasing both flexibility and strength. Target the muscles that support your ankles to protect your joints by strength-training two or three times a week on alternating days and always after you've warmed up. |
 | Why are children so good at learning languages?In 2003, an influential study showed that children from rich families were exposed to around 30 million more words before the age of three than children from poor families—a difference that put children from lower-income families at an educational disadvantage even before they'd started school. |
Slow vocabulary growth linked to teen behaviour and emotional issuesChildren whose vocabulary skills develop slowly are more likely to experience emotional and behavioural issues in adolescence, according to new research published in the journal Child Development. | |
'Physician Associates' an asset to hospital medical and surgical teams, study findsThe first study into the impact on the NHS of a new type of health worker in hospitals, physician associates, has found that they benefit medical and surgical teams and their patients over a wide range of specialities. | |
 | Study identifies two proteins that suppress tumor growth in fruit flies, suggests similar effect on human cancersThe concept sounds simple, but understanding the process has been elusive: Cut off the nutrient supply to suppress the growth of tumors. |
 | Scientists first to pinpoint a cause of pigmentary glaucomaAn international team of researchers has identified a gene responsible for the onset of pigmentary glaucoma, which may lead to new therapies for the condition. |
 | South Asians at risk for tuberculosis often are not testedMany South Asian immigrants from countries where tuberculosis (TB) is common do not get tested even though they are at high risk for developing the disease, according to a recent study by Rutgers University and St. Peter's University Hospital. |
 | Why screen time for babies, children and adolescents needs to be limitedThere is increasing concern about the amount of time children and adolescents are spending in recreational screen time. There's also increasing controversy over whether or not screen time is actually harmful. |
 | Epidemic of autoimmune diseases pushes researchers in new directionThe immune system normally defends the body against everything from microscopic viruses to meters-long parasitic worms. But sometimes, it sets its sights on the wrong target: the body's own cells. |
 | Treatment for obesity and fatty liver disease may be in reachAmiram Goldblum and his team at the Hebrew University of Jerusalem's Institute for Drug Research have discovered 27 new molecules. These molecules all activate a special protein called PPAR-delta and have the potential to treat fatty liver disease, obesity, diabetic nephrotoxicity, and to heal wounds. |
 | The search for environmental causes of Parkinson's disease moves forwardEnvironmental factors are widely believed to play a key role in the development of Parkinson's disease (PD), but little is known about specific environmental triggers. Writing in the Journal of Parkinson's Disease, scientists review novel research hypotheses and approaches that may help better define the role of environment in the development of PD, especially before a diagnosis can be made based on the characteristic motor dysfunction for which PD is known. |
High-dose radiation therapy improves long-term survival in patients with stage-IV cancers, trial findsThe first report from a phase II, multi-center clinical trial indicates that a newer, more aggressive form of radiation therapy—stereotactic radiation—can extend long-term survival for some patients with stage-IV cancers while maintaining their quality of life. The study is published in the January issue of International Journal of Radiation Oncology * Biology * Physics (Red Journal), the flagship scientific journal of the American Society for Radiation Oncology (ASTRO). | |
 | Sleep apnea creates gaps in life memories: studyPeople with sleep apnea struggle to remember details of memories from their own lives, potentially making them vulnerable to depression, new research has shown. |
 | Hurricane Katrina's aftermath included spike in heart disease hospitalizationsNatural disasters such as earthquakes, tornados, and hurricanes are generally described in terms of wind speed, land area, and inches of rain. They're also described in terms of human costs, such as the number of fatalities and injuries. Hurricane Katrina, for example, led to approximately 1,000 deaths in Louisiana, of which 75 percent were among adults age 60 or above. |
Fruit and vegetable consumption linked to lower risk of early death for dialysis patientsA new study found that higher consumption of fruits and vegetables may be associated with a lower risk of premature death in patients undergoing maintenance hemodialysis. The findings, which appear in an upcoming issue of the Clinical Journal of the American Society of Nephrology (CJASN), suggest that more studies are needed to fine-tune dietary recommendations for patients with kidney failure. | |
 | Medical cannabis relieves symptoms in children with autism: studyIn a new study of patients with autism who are 18 years old and under, researchers from Ben-Gurion University of the Negev (BGU) and Soroka University Medical Center report that cannabis as a treatment for autism spectrum disorders appears to be a well-tolerated, safe and effective option to relieve symptoms including seizures, tics, depression, restlessness, and rage attacks. |
Survivors of a firearm injury at risk for subsequent hospitalizationsTen percent of firearm injury survivors will be readmitted to the hospital for further treatment within 90 days of their original injuries. | |
 | Study finds exercise benefits brains, changes blood flow in older adultsExercise training alters brain blood flow and improves cognitive performance in older adults, though not in the way you might think. A new study published by University of Maryland School of Public Health researchers in the Journal of Alzheimer's Disease showed that exercise was associated with improved brain function in a group of adults diagnosed with mild cognitive impairment (MCI) and a decrease in the blood flow in key brain regions. |
Medical experts restore movement and autonomic function in patients with complete paralysisThere are more than 290,000 people estimated to be living in the United States with a spinal cord injury. Previously, it has been shown that it is possible to restore some function to young and healthy patients within a few years of injury. Now, researchers show spinal cord stimulation can immediately restore some voluntary movement and autonomic functions such as cardiovascular, bowel, and bladder years after a paralyzing injury without any significant rehabilitation. | |
 | Feeding tubes shouldn't be on POLST forms: JAGS opinion paperFollowing years of research that demonstrated feeding tubes can harm patients with dementia, the Journal of the American Geriatrics Society has published an OHSU opinion paper recommending patient preference for feeding tubes be excluded from Physician Order for Life-Sustaining Treatment, or POLST, forms. |
 | Generic version of popular asthma inhaler wins FDA approval(HealthDay)—The first generic version of the widely used Advair Diskus inhaler for asthma and chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD) has won U.S. Food and Drug Administration approval. |
 | Chilling studies show cold weather could raise stroke riskOverexertion with a snow shovel isn't the only cardiovascular risk during the winter. |
 | An upbeat attitude might help prevent 2nd stroke(HealthDay)—If you've had a stroke, a positive outlook might just help prevent another one, a new study suggests. |
 | Blood donors needed as cold weather freezes U.S. supply(HealthDay)—The U.S. blood supply is expected to drop to dangerously low levels as sub-zero weather in many parts of the country forces cancellation of crucial blood drives, American Red Cross officials warn. |
 | Oral antibiotics noninferior to IV for bone, joint infection(HealthDay)—For patients being treated for bone or joint infection, oral antibiotics are noninferior to intravenous antibiotics, according to a study published in the Jan. 31 issue of the New England Journal of Medicine. |
 | Management of MS in pregnancy reviewed in U.K. guideline(HealthDay)—It is important to discuss family planning and pregnancy proactively in women of childbearing age who have multiple sclerosis (MS), according to a review published online Jan. 5 in Practical Neurology. |
Methotrexate well tolerated, effective for psoriasis in Chinese(HealthDay)—Methotrexate is well tolerated and effective for psoriasis in a Chinese population and is more effective for those without psoriatic arthritis, according to a study published online Jan. 30 in JAMA Dermatology. | |
 | Mindfulness promising option for easing chronic painMindfulness meditation is a promising option for easing chronic pain, finds a pooled analysis of the available data, published online in the journal Evidence Based Mental Health. |
 | Immune master regulator orchestrates responses to parasite infectionA new study has identified the master regulator that maintains a healthy gut and limits damage by parasitic whipworms. Researchers from the Wellcome Sanger Institute and collaborators have revealed that the interleukin 10 receptor (IL-10R) is critical to prevent uncontrolled whipworm infection in mice and a damaging immune response in the gut. |
 | Persistent low body weight in young kids increases risk for anorexia nervosa laterA new study has found that a persistent low body mass index (BMI) in children, starting as young as age 2 for boys and 4 for girls, may be a risk factor for the development of anorexia nervosa in adolescence. |
 | Do all chemotherapies have equal long-term heart risk?In long-term survivors of childhood cancer, cardiovascular disease is a leading cause of early death from non-cancer causes. In a new study, published Jan. 31 in JAMA Oncology, researchers compared four chemotherapy drugs with development of cardiomyopathy (abnormal heart muscle with impaired function) years after treatment. |
Research identifies pathway connecting some ARV drugs with liver diseaseAs a raft of new treatments for HIV infection have come on the market in the past 20 years, AIDS patients got access to drugs that allowed them to live longer. | |
 | Study: Many small kids in US are using too much toothpasteToo many young kids are using too much toothpaste, increasing their risk of streaky or splotchy teeth when they get older, according to a government survey released Thursday. |
 | When neurons get the blues: Hyperactive brain cells may be to blame when antidepressants don't workThe most commonly prescribed antidepressants, selective serotonin reuptake inhibitors (SSRIs), lift the fog of depression for many people. But for around a third of people with major depressive disorder, SSRIs don't make much of a difference. Now, researchers from the Salk Institute have pinned down a possible reason why—the neurons in at least some of these patients' brains may become hyperactive in the presence of the drugs. The study appeared in Molecular Psychiatry on January 30, 2019. |
 | Patients in Northwest measles outbreak traveled to HawaiiA measles outbreak in the Pacific Northwest became more worrisome Wednesday with word that people infected with the extremely contagious viral illness traveled to Hawaii and central Oregon after being exposed. |
For older people, medications are common; AGS Beers Criteria aims to make them appropriate, tooThe American Geriatrics Society (AGS) today unveiled its latest update to one of geriatrics' most frequently cited reference tools: The AGS Beers Criteria for Potentially Inappropriate Medication Use in Older Adults. With more than 90% of older people using at least one prescription and more than 66% using three or more in any given month, the AGS Beers Criteria—a compendium of medications potentially to avoid or consider with caution because they often present an unfavorable balance of benefits and harms for older people—plays a vital role in helping health professionals, older adults, and caregivers work together to ensure medications are appropriate. | |
French court backs doctors in right-to-die caseA French court on Thursday upheld a decision by doctors to withdraw life support for a man kept alive in a vegetative state for a decade, after the latest legal challenge by the patient's parents in a divisive right-to-die case. | |
Biology news
 | Male mice hard-wired to recognize sex of other mice, study findsA male mouse identifies the sex of an unfamiliar mouse because of hard-wired brain physiology, not previous experience, Stanford University School of Medicine investigators have found. |
 | Flatworms found to regenerate faster or slower when exposed to weak magnetic fieldA team of researchers from Western Michigan University and the University of Colorado Boulder has found that the regeneration rate for planaria flatworms can be impacted by a weak magnetic field. In their paper published in the journal Science Advances, the group describes experiments they conducted with flatworms exposed to weak magnetic fields and what they found. |
 | How the fruit fly got its stripes: Researchers explore precision of embryonic developmentThe first moments of life unfold with incredible precision. Now, using mathematical tools and the help of fruit flies, researchers at Princeton have uncovered new findings about the mechanisms behind this precision. |
 | Evolution, illustrated: Study captures one of the clearest pictures yet of evolution in vertebratesWhat do you get when you put together several tons of steel plates, hundreds of mice, a few evolutionary and molecular biologists and a tiny Nebraska town near the South Dakota border? |
 | Fish fertilize eggs in their male relatives' nestsMale cichlid fish sometimes fertilize eggs in nests belonging to one of their male relatives, a behaviour that is counter-intuitive yet ultimately beneficial, according to a study published in BMC Biology. |
 | Endangered sharks being eaten in UKEndangered species of hammerhead and dogfish are among the sharks being sold as food in the UK, researchers have revealed. |
 | Researchers uncover intracellular longevity pathwayThe search for clues on how to live healthier, longer lives has led researchers at Baylor College of Medicine to look inside the cells of the worm Caenorhabditis elegans. The researchers report in the journal Developmental Cell the discovery of an intracellular pathway that mediates metabolic adjustments that promote health and longevity in the worm. |
 | Male birth control for the malaria parasiteDisrupting two genes involved in the preservation of RNA molecules inhibits the ability of the male form of the malaria parasite to mature and be transmitted from human blood into mosquitoes, interrupting a key stage in the parasite's life-cycle and cutting off an important step in the spread of the disease. Researchers at Penn State and the University of South Florida have identified a complex of proteins encoded by these genes that is crucial for the maturation of the male form—or gametocyte—of the Plasmodium parasite responsible for malaria; developing methods to target this complex with antimalarial drugs could lead to a new weapon in the fight against the disease. A paper describing the research appears January 31, 2019 in the journal PLOS Pathogens. |
 | Tweaking of hormone-producing cells in the intestineResearchers from the group of Hans Clevers at the Hubrecht Institute (KNAW) in the Netherlands and their collaborators shed new light on the origin and function of hormone-producing cells in the intestine and open new avenues to tweak gut hormone production to treat human disease. Their results were recently published in Nature Cell Biology and in Cell. |
 | Genome sequencing of baboon species provides new understanding of evolutionary diversificationRapidly increasing efforts to generate whole genome sequences for many vertebrate species are providing a significantly improved understanding of the biological differences among animals across the tree of life. In a new study published in Science Advances, an international multi-institutional research team, led by the Human Genome Sequencing Center at Baylor College of Medicine, reports novel results describing the genome sequences and evolutionary history of six Papio baboon species. This work sheds new light on the fundamental biological processes that generate new species and has implications for the origin of our own species, Homo sapiens. |
 | Researchers solve the riddle of a unique fishA great mystery around one of our most unique fish species has been solved by researchers at The Australian National University (ANU). |
 | Salmon populations may adapt their eggs to survive in degraded riversA University of Southampton study suggests that the membrane of salmon eggs may evolve to cope with reduced oxygen levels in rivers, thereby helping their embryos to incubate successfully. |
 | Sharks drawn to warm waters by Israeli coastal power plantA giant power plant with billowing smoke may not look like the most natural habitat for sea life. But the hot water gushing from an industrial plant in Israel's northern city of Hadera has drawn schools of sharks that are increasingly endangered by overfishing in the Mediterranean Sea. Now the hotspot is also drawing tourists. |
 | Solving the mystery of Serengeti's vanishing wild dogsIn 1991, a strange thing happened in the wilds of Tanzania's Serengeti National Park. |
 | Aussie plants facing extinctionThe top 100 Australian plant species at risk of extinction have been identified by Threatened Species Recovery Hub research. |
 | Cells find their identity using a mathematically optimal strategyOrganisms are made of many types of cells arranged in a precise and reproducible spatial pattern that gives rise to properly formed and well-functioning tissues and organs. But how do genetically identical cells in an organism become differentiated? A team of researchers, including Gašper Tkačik at the Institute of Science and Technology Austria (IST Austria), has now shown that in the developing fruit fly, expression levels of four genes, the so-called gap genes, can be jointly decoded into an optimal specification of position. This is the result of a study published today in Cell, by senior author Thomas Gregor, Eric Wieschaus, William Bialek, Mariela Petkova and Gašper Tkačik. |
 | What causes rats without a Y chromosome to become male?A look at the brains of an endangered spiny rat off the coast of Japan by University of Missouri (MU) Bond Life Sciences Center scientist Cheryl Rosenfeld could illuminate the subtle genetic influences that stimulate a mammal's cells to develop as male versus female in the absence of a Y chromosome. |
 | Crossbreeding threatens conservation of endangered milky storksA team of researchers from the National University of Singapore (NUS) has discovered that the conservation of milky storks (Mycteria cinerea), an endangered wading bird native to Southeast Asia, is threatened due to crossbreeding with their more widespread cousins, the painted storks (Mycteria leucocephala). |
 | Climate change and infertility – a ticking time bomb?Rising temperatures could make some species sterile and see them succumb to the effects of climate change earlier than currently thought, scientists at the University of Liverpool warn. |
Study reveals wildlife is abundant in ChernobylA scavenger study that used fish carcasses as bait provides additional evidence that wildlife is abundant in the Chernobyl Exclusion Zone, University of Georgia researchers said. | |
Achieving a balance: Animal welfare and conservationIn a paper recently published in the journal Frontiers in Veterinary Science, a team of researchers, animal care experts and veterinarians evaluate the balance between animal welfare and conservation needs for a number of rare species of native birds being raised in San Diego Zoo Global breeding centers in Hawaii. The paper shares the challenges and complexity of situations where the needs of an individual and the needs of a species are weighed, and how that balance is achieved. | |
 | Citizen scientists discover pinhead-sized beetle in BorneoHow many citizen scientists does it take to discover a new species? A recent expedition to the Ulu Temburong forest in Borneo proved that you only need 10 enthusiasts with no professional training, yet fueled with curiosity and passion for the outdoors, to find a new beetle the size of a pinhead in leaf litter. |
 | Imperceptible movements guide juvenile zebra finch song developmentNew research from Cornell University shows zebra finches engage in socially-guided vocal learning, where they learn their songs by watching their mothers' reactions to their immature songs. |
 | Who's the daddy? Surprise in Swiss orangutan paternity testA paternity test on a baby orangutan has come back with a surprising result. |
 | Warmer water, chemical exposure influence gene expression across generations in a coastal fishWarmer water temperatures, combined with low-level exposure to chemicals already known to be harmful to aquatic life, influence the expression of genes in the offspring of an abundant North American fish species—and threaten organisms whose sex determination is sensitive to water temperature. |
 | Researchers investigate factors in 'alarming' rate of cold-stranded sea turtles in Cape Cod BayThe number of cold-stunning and stranding events among juvenile Kemp's ridley sea turtles, one of the world's most endangered species, is increasing at an "alarming" rate and has moved north from Long Island Sound to Cape Cod Bay, say researchers at the University of Massachusetts Amherst, Mass Audubon and the University of Rhode Island. Their recent study looked into what variables are most important in predicting such events, to more effectively help the distressed reptiles. |
 | Understanding white blood cells' defense mechanisms could lead to better treatmentsExperiencing a bacterial infection? You're generally prescribed antibiotics by your doctor. But how exactly do those antibiotics and your white blood cells work in tandem to improve your infection? |
 | 'A way of life': Japan's whalers back treaty withdrawalNeatly lining up sliced whale meat to make "jerky" in the wintry sea breeze, Tetsuya Masaki says whaling is just part of daily life in his tiny Japanese community of Minamiboso. |
 | New study sheds light on illegal wildlife trade in Hong KongHong Kong's illegal wildlife trade is contributing to a global extinction crisis. Every year millions of live animals, plants and their derivatives are illegally trafficked into and through Hong Kong, by transnational companies and organised crime syndicates. |
Uganda seizes 750 pieces of ivory, arrests two VietnameseUgandan authorities have seized 750 pieces of ivory and thousands of pangolin scales being smuggled from neighboring South Sudan, the revenue agency said Thursday, in one of the largest seizures of wildlife contraband in the East African country. | |
 | Rewilding: Can it foster human coexistence with nature?Rewilding may have the potential to drastically improve biodiversity but remains a highly controversial and divisive topic. A new book edited by scientists from ZSL (Zoological Society of London) and Utah State University aims to build common ground and show how rewilding can foster human coexistence with wildlife. |
 | South American hawk in Maine euthanized as condition worsensA group caring for an injured South American hawk that turned up in a park in Maine says the bird had to be euthanized after its condition deteriorated. |
Firm abandons plan to help endangered salmon in Maine riverA plan to test the use of a new technology to help endangered salmon in a Maine river that is critical to their existence has been abandoned, at least for now. | |
 | Ivory and pangolin scales smuggling bust in UgandaMore than 700 pieces of ivory and hundreds of pangolin scales have been discovered inside hollowed out logs in the Ugandan capital Kamapala, authorities said on Thursday, as two Vietnamese men were detained suspected of smuggling. |
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