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Here is your customized Science X Newsletter for January 23, 2019:
Spotlight Stories Headlines
Astronomy & Space news
 | Birth of massive black holes in the early universe revealedThe light released from around the first massive black holes in the universe is so intense that it is able to reach telescopes across the entire expanse of the universe. Incredibly, the light from the most distant black holes (or quasars) has been traveling to us for more than 13 billion light years. However, we do not know how these monster black holes formed. |
 | Astronomers discover an unusual nuclear transientAn international group of astronomers has detected an unusual nuclear transient in the nucleus of a weakly active galaxy. The new transient was identified by the OGLE-IV Transient Detection System and received designation OGLE17aaj. The finding is reported in a paper published January 11 on the arXiv pre-print repository. |
 | Jeff Bezos's Blue Origin rocket makes 10th flight test (Update)With an eye to launching the first tourists to space by year's end, Blue Origin, the rocket company owned by Amazon CEO Jeff Bezos, blasted off the 10th test flight of its New Shepard rocket on Wednesday. |
 | Scientist sheds light on Titan's mysterious atmosphereA new Southwest Research Institute study tackles one of the greatest mysteries about Titan, one of Saturn's moons: the origin of its thick, nitrogen-rich atmosphere. The study posits that one key to Titan's mysterious atmosphere is the "cooking" of organic material in the moon's interior. |
 | Astronomers find star material could be building block of lifeAn organic molecule detected in the material from which a star forms could shed light on how life emerged on Earth, according to new research led by Queen Mary University of London. |
 | Where is Earth's submoon?"Can moons have moons?" |
 | Image: Lunar eclipse over Lake MaggioreThe lunar eclipse that took place in the early hours of Monday 21 January kicks off a major year for our satellite. This year marks the 50th anniversary of the Apollo 11 mission, the first crewed landing on the Moon. |
 | DIWATA-2 successfully captures first imagesPhilippine microsatellite DIWATA-2 has successfully captured initial images. Launched last autumn, it is the second microsatellite designed and developed under a collaborative project between Hokkaido University, Tohoku University, the Advanced Science and Technology Institute (DOST-ASTI), and the University of the Philippines-Diliman (UPD) |
 | Image: Lunar building blockThis 1.5 tonne block was 3D printed from simulated lunar dust, to demonstrate the feasibility of constructing a Moon base using local materials. |
 | How did Uranus end up on its side? We've been finding outUranus is arguably the most mysterious planet in the solar system – we know very little about it. So far, we have only visited the planet once, with the Voyager 2 spacecraft back in 1986. The most obvious odd thing about this ice giant is the fact that it is spinning on its side. |
 | NASA replaces astronaut on Boeing's 1st crew launchNASA has replaced an astronaut assigned to Boeing's first launch with a crew. |
 | Extreme space weather can wreak havoc on Earth—these tools help warn of the dangers aheadOn a hot day in August 1972 toward the end of the Vietnam War, dozens of naval mines off the coast of Hai Phong in North Vietnam began to explode without warning. In March 1989, a magnetic surge tripped circuits, knocking out power in the entire Canadian province of Quebec. While in 1859, an event sparked telegraph lines, igniting fires, and northern lights so bright that British stargazers could read newspapers at night. These days, scientists know that all these events were caused by intense space weather, capable of wreaking havoc on electric grids and electromagnetically sensitive technology. |
 | Planetary scientists continue to puzzle over the mysterious slope streaks on Mars. What's causing them?Since they were first observed in the 1970s by the Viking missions, the slope streaks that periodically appear along slopes on Mars have continued to intrigue scientists. After years of study, scientists still aren't sure exactly what causes them. While some believe that "wet" mechanisms are the culprit, others think they are the result of "dry" mechanisms. |
Technology news
 | A new approach for modeling central pattern generators (CPGs) in reinforcement learningCentral pattern generators (CPGs) are biological neural circuits that can produce coordinated rhythmic outputs without requiring rhythmic inputs. CPGs are responsible for most rhythmic motions observed in living organisms, such as walking, breathing or swimming. |
 | Researchers create 3-D-printed soft mesh robotsResearchers at North Carolina State University have created 3-D-printed flexible mesh structures that can be controlled with applied magnetic fields while floating on water. The structures can grab small objects and carry water droplets, giving them the potential to be useful as soft robots that mimic creatures living on water surfaces or that can serve as tissue scaffolds for cell cultures. |
 | Paw patrol: Sony offers robocop dog at homeSony's puppy-sized robot dog aibo, equipped with cameras, artificial intelligence and internet capability, can now remotely check up on family members, children or even pets, the Japanese electronics giant said Wednesday. |
 | Learning system for visually impaired features coding by using handsVisually impaired children who would love to learn how to code? Here's looking at you, says Microsoft. Its approach toward teaching with a physical programming language has taken bigger steps since its beginnings four years ago, when it was dubbed Project Torino. |
 | 3-D displays that 'accommodate' the human eyeHave you ever felt dizzy or nauseous after watching a 3D movie or using a virtual reality headset? If so, it is probably because you were subconsciously able to detect the subtle differences between the virtual 3D scene presented to you and the real world. |
 | Boeing flying car prototype completes first test flightBoeing said Wednesday its prototype "flying car"—part of a project aimed at "on-demand autonomous air transportation"—has completed its first successful test flight. |
 | Technology of future delivers doughnuts of today on campusA fleet of high-tech robots has deployed at a northern Virginia university for the noble purpose of delivering pizza, doughnuts and coffee on demand to students. |
 | Sony to shift UK HQ to avoid Brexit disruptionSony will shift its European headquarters from Britain to the Netherlands to avoid Brexit-related customs issues, but operations at its current UK company will remain unchanged, a company spokesman said Wednesday. |
 | Tonga: Whole country cut off from Facebook, YouTubeTonga has been plunged into virtual cyber darkness after an undersea cable broke, cutting off the Pacific island kingdom from almost all cell phone and Internet services. |
 | US video game industry scored $43.4 bn record sales in 2018From "Fortnite" to "Pokemon Go," play in the US drove video-game industry revenue to a record-setting $43.4 billion last year, according to data released Tuesday. |
 | Comcast loses cable users, but internet subscribers surgeComcast is still losing U.S. cable customers but is racking up more internet subscribers and has gotten a revenue boost from Sky, its big bet on European TV. |
 | Now that UK nuclear power plans are in tatters, it's vital to double down on wind and solarNow that Japanese giants Toshiba and Hitachi have walked away from UK nuclear power projects that had previously been abandoned by others, it has forced the government to reassess the pro-nuclear bias of its energy policy. Greg Clark, the UK business secretary, has recognised that nuclear power is no longer cost competitive with renewable energy, but don't expect any extra push into the cheaper technology. |
 | Technology and robots will shake labour policies in Asia and the worldIn the 21st century, governments cannot ignore how changes in technology will affect employment and political stability. |
 | DARPA prototype reflectarray antenna offers high performance in small packageDARPA's Radio Frequency Risk Reduction Deployment Demonstration (R3D2) is set for launch in late February to space-qualify a new type of membrane reflectarray antenna. The antenna, made of a tissue-thin Kapton membrane, packs tightly for stowage during launch and then will deploy to its full size of 2.25 meters in diameter once it reaches low Earth orbit. |
 | Uber threatens to pull back from BarcelonaUber on Wednesday threatened to pull back from Barcelona after the regional government unveiled new regulations which will severely restrict ride-hailing services, as taxis upped the pressure with a restive strike. |
 | Fewer false alarms in intensive careResearchers at ETH Zurich are applying machine learning in intensive care units to distinguish between false alarms and those signalling real medical issues. |
 | Microsoft's Bing search engine goes offline in ChinaThe Microsoft-run search engine Bing was unavailable in mainland China late Wednesday, raising concerns among some social media users that it could be the latest foreign website to be blocked by censors. |
 | Hulu ups price for live-TV service, cuts basic package priceHulu's live-TV streaming service will cost $5 more per month, while its traditional video-on-demand service will be $2 cheaper. |
 | Google to appeal 50-million-euro French data consent fineGoogle said Wednesday it would appeal a record 50-million-euro fine imposed by France's data regulator for failing to meet the EU's strict new General Data Protection Regulation (GDPR). |
 | Amazon rolls out 'Scout' delivery robotsAmazon on Wednesday began putting cooler-sized robots to work delivering packages to customers in a neighborhood outside Seattle. |
 | Verizon cuts jobs at media unit that includes Yahoo, AOLVerizon is cutting hundreds of jobs from its media division which includes the former internet stars Yahoo and AOL, a source familiar with the matter said Wednesday. |
Oracle accused of underpaying women, minorities by $400MU.S. government regulators are accusing software maker Oracle of engaging in discriminatory practices that resulted in thousands of its women, black and Asian employees being underpaid by more than $400 million. | |
 | Building ethically aligned AIThe more AI agents are deployed in scenarios with possibly unexpected situations, the more they need to be flexible, adaptive, and creative in achieving their goals. Thus, a certain level of freedom to choose the best path to a specific goal is necessary in making AI robust and flexible enough to be deployed successfully in real-life scenarios. |
 | Netflix finally accepted in Hollywood club—but not fullyBy earning its first-ever Oscar nomination for best picture with "Roma," Netflix has propelled itself into Hollywood's club of elite filmmakers, but the streaming giant's hybrid business model still hasn't won over its sharpest critics. |
 | Hungary Audi workers in rare strike over wagesWorkers at the German car giant Audi's plant in Hungary called a one-week strike Wednesday over a wage dispute, a rare case of industrial unrest in an economy that relies on the automotive sector. |
Medicine & Health news
 | Researchers discover new type of blood vessel in the bones of miceA team of researchers affiliated with multiple institutions across Germany has discovered a new type of blood vessel in mouse bones. In their paper published in the journal Nature Metabolism, the group describes making sample mouse bones transparent, as well as their microscopic properties. Christopher Ritchlin and Iannis Adamopoulos with the University of Rochester and the University of California, respectively, have written a News and Views piece on the work done by the team in the same journal issue. |
 | Feeling groovy: Neurons integrate better with muscle grown on grooved platformsGrowing muscle tissue on grooved platforms helps neurons more effectively integrate with the muscle, a requirement for engineering muscle in the lab that responds and functions like muscle in the body, University of Illinois researchers found in a new study. |
 | Childhood lead exposure linked to poor adult mental healthLead exposure in childhood appears to have long-lasting negative effects on mental health and personality in adulthood, according to a study of people who grew up in the era of leaded gasoline. |
 | Study supports physical activity as a preventive strategy against depressionWhile many studies have found associations between greater levels of physical activity and lower rates of depression, a key question has remained—does physical activity actually reduce the risk of depression or does depression lead to reduced physical activity? Now a team led by Massachusetts General Hospital (MGH) investigators has used a novel research method to strongly support physical activity as a preventive measure for depression. Their report is being published online in JAMA Psychiatry. |
 | Cancer has a biological clock and this drug may keep it from tickingA new drug shows potential to halt cancer cells' growth by stunting the cells' biological clock. |
 | The price we pay for our advanced brains may be a greater tendency to disordersProf. Rony Paz of the Weizmann Institute of Science suggests that our brains are like modern washing machines—evolved to have the latest sophisticated programming, but more vulnerable to breakdown and prone to develop costly disorders. He and a group of researchers recently conducted experiments comparing the efficiency of the neural code in non-human and human primates, and found that as the neural code gets more efficient, the robustness that prevents errors is reduced. Their findings, which recently appeared in Cell, may help to explain why disorders as ADHD, anxiety, depression, PTSD and even autism are common in humans. |
 | Small metabolites have big effects on the intestinal immune responseFor at least a decade, researchers have known that normal bacteria in the gut can induce intestinal immune cells to extend tentacle-like structures, known as dendrites, to "capture" antigens, triggering both immediate and long-term immune responses. What was less clear was how the bacteria activate this process. Now, a research team led by Osaka University has found that the molecules responsible have been hiding in plain sight. |
 | Old cells repair damage in the brains of multiple sclerosis patientsA new study shows that there is a very limited regeneration of cells in the brains of patients diagnosed with multiple sclerosis (MS). These findings underline the importance of treating MS at an early stage of disease progression, when the affected cells can repair the damage, as they are not replaced by new ones. The results are published in the journal Nature by researchers from Karolinska Institutet and Uppsala University in Sweden. |
 | Targeted treatment shrinks deadly pediatric brain tumorsChemotherapy and radiation are effective cancer treatments because they kill rapidly dividing cells, including tumor cells. But for children—whose tiny bodies are still growing—these treatments can cause lifelong damage. This is particularly true for children with brain cancer, and researchers are working hard to find treatments that reduce side effects while remaining effective. |
 | Bacterial pathogen Porphyromonas gingivalis may contribute to Alzheimer's disease: StudyCortexyme, Inc., a privately held, clinical-stage pharmaceutical company developing therapeutics to alter the course of Alzheimer's disease (AD) and other degenerative disorders, today announced publication of a foundational paper supporting its approach in Science Advances. In the paper, an international team of researchers led by Cortexyme co-founders Stephen Dominy, M.D. and Casey Lynch detail the role of a common bacterium, Porphyromonas gingivalis (Pg), in driving Alzheimer's disease pathology, and demonstrate the potential for small molecule inhibitors to block the pathogen. |
 | In surprising reversal, scientists find a cellular process that stops cancer before it startsJust as plastic tips protect the ends of shoelaces and keep them from fraying when we tie them, molecular tips called telomeres protect the ends of chromosomes and keep them from fusing when cells continually divide and duplicate their DNA. But while losing the plastic tips may lead to messy laces, telomere loss may lead to cancer. |
Study sheds light on brain cell changes in people with MSFresh insights into the types of cells found in the brains of people with multiple sclerosis could help develop improved therapies, research has found. | |
 | Possible link found between cases of high blood pressure and 'unhealthy' shopping centersA new study using Pop-Up health check stations found a possible link between 'unhealthy' shopping centres and the number of cases of suspected or diagnosed high blood pressure recorded for people who volunteered for checks. |
 | Shift work for mothers associated with reduced fetal growth and longer pregnanciesNew research published in The Journal of Physiology indicates shift work exposure in mothers can result in reduced fetal growth and longer pregnancies, even when the shift work is only carried out early in pregnancy. |
 | Greater access to information reduces unnecessary antibiotic prescriptionsA new study in the Journal of Antimicrobial Chemotherapy suggests that providing more information about how doctors prescribe drugs could reduce problems associated with overprescription. |
Suicide deaths among incarcerated youthSuicide is the second leading cause of death among youth aged 10 to 24 years, and it accounts for more than 17 percent of all deaths in this age group. In 2016, an estimated 6,150 youths died by suicide, according to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC). The overall rate of deaths by suicide in this age group is 9.6 per 100,000. | |
 | Cigarette smoking associated with increased risk of peripheral artery disease in African-AmericansAfrican Americans who smoke cigarettes are more likely than those who don't smoke to develop peripheral artery disease, according to new research in Journal of the American Heart Association, the Open Access Journal of the American Heart Association/American Stroke Association. |
Dermatologists find inconsistencies in Medicare off-label prescription listIf a patient has private insurance, doctors can get prior approval to prescribe a drug "off-label" to make sure the medication will be covered, but when it comes to Medicare part D, coverage decisions are dictated by two compendia—lists of medications and what they're indicated for. Physicians have no way of checking for approval in advance, and if the compendia indicate coverage should be denied, there is no appeals process. Researchers from several institutions, including the Perelman School of Medicine at the University of Pennsylvania, examined these lists and found they are incomplete, outdated, and frequently in conflict with each other. They published their findings, as well as their call for new policy surrounding off-label coverage decisions, today in JAMA Dermatology. | |
 | Short-term hospital readmissions for gun injuries cost $86 million a yearHospital readmissions of patients within six months of suffering a firearm injury cost taxpayers, private insurers and uninsured families an average of $86 million a year from 2010 through 2015, according to new estimates from Stanford University School of Medicine researchers. |
Even in young adults, blood pressure above normal may be linked to brain shrinkageFor people in their 20s and 30s, having blood pressure above normal but below the level considered to be high blood pressure, may be linked to loss of brain volume, according to a study published in the January 23, 2019, online issue of Neurology, the medical journal of the American Academy of Neurology. | |
 | Multiple sclerosis – helping cells to help themselvesDiseases such as multiple sclerosis are characterized by damage to the myelin sheath, a protective covering wrapped around nerve cells akin to insulation around an electrical wire. Researchers from Charité - Universitätsmedizin Berlin have discovered how the body initiates repair mechanisms to limit the extent of any damage to this sheath. Their findings, which provide a basis for the development of new drugs to treat multiple sclerosis, have been published in Nature Communications. |
 | French watchdog sounds alert over chemicals in diapersA French public health watchdog warned Wednesday about the risks of several chemicals found in disposable nappies, leading the government to demand that manufacturers withdraw them from their products. |
 | Researchers warn online GP consultations need careful implementationThe new NHS 10-year plan launched earlier this month [7 January] states all patients in England will have access to a "digital first primary care offer", such as GP online consultations, by 2022/23. Online consultations have the potential to improve patient access and reduce face-to-face contacts, freeing up GP time. But research led by NIHR CLAHRC West and the Centre for Academic Primary Care at the University of Bristol found that unless these systems are carefully implemented, they won't yield the benefits policymakers are hoping for. |
 | Researchers discover possible way to make resistant melanomas susceptible to immunotherapyA Ludwig Cancer Research study has uncovered a cellular mechanism by which melanomas that fail to respond to checkpoint blockade may be made susceptible to immunotherapies. Led by Ping-Chih Ho of the Lausanne Branch of the Ludwig Institute for Cancer Research and reported in the current issue of Nature Immunology, the study also identifies an existing diabetes drug that could be used to accomplish this feat. |
 | High-tech tools, teamwork were key to separating infant girls joined at the headOver a year and a half after the successful separation of two infant twins joined at the top of their heads, surgical team leaders report on this dramatic case in the Jan. 24 New England Journal of Medicine. The surgeons describe the innovative devices, elaborate planning and precisely orchestrated teamwork needed to perform the complex separation surgery at Children's Hospital of Philadelphia (CHOP). |
 | Final verdict on finasteride: Safe, effective prevention for prostate cancerFinasteride, a generic hormone-blocking drug, was found to reduce the risk of prostate cancer by 25 percent in the landmark Prostate Cancer Prevention Trial (PCPT). Long- term data, published today in the New England Journal of Medicine, show that reduction in prostate cancer risk has continued and fewer than 100 men on the trial died from the disease. |
 | Three weeks in a cast may be just as good as six for healing ankle fracturesWearing a cast or ankle support for three weeks may be no worse than the usual six weeks for healing ankle fractures, suggest the findings of a randomised controlled trial published in The BMJ today. |
All that slipping and sliding on tennis courts prevents injuries: A biomechanics expert explains how"Hard courts are very negative for the body. I know the sport is a business and creating these courts is easier than clay or grass, but I am 100% sure it is wrong. I may have to play more on clay than before, but there aren't that many options." So said Rafael Nadal back in 2012 – and several times since – before succumbing to another knee injury in 2018. | |
 | UAH nurses give tips for preventing Hepatitis, Hepatitis AHepatitis A is on the rise in Alabama. In December, the Alabama Department of Public Health sounded the alarm about a Hepatitis A (Hep A) outbreak in Jackson County, the north easternmost county in the state. Hep A is contracted through contaminated foods that have not been washed well prior to consumption or that was handled by someone who does not practice good hand-washing. |
 | Emergency caesareans put new mothers at higher risk of developing postnatal depressionA new study has revealed first-time mothers who give birth via unplanned caesarean section are 15 percent more likely to experience postnatal depression. |
 | Sex and gender differences in psychopathologyCynthia Hartung's recently published article recommends more consistently and systematically considering sex and gender in all aspects of psychopathology research. Hartung, an associate professor and director of the Psychology Clinic in the University of Wyoming's Department of Psychology, co-wrote the article with Elizabeth Lefler, an associate professor of psychology at the University of Northern Iowa. |
 | Let's talk about marijuanaMarijuana and its active components, THC and CBD, exist in many forms and strengths and can affect people differently. |
 | Should you exercise when you're sick?You just worked out all of the kinks in your workout routine and now…you're sick. What do you do? Do you sweat through it or forsake the gym for a much-needed nap? Follow these tips for working out when you're sick. |
 | Communications recommendations for sugar-sweetened beverage-free zonesIn the ongoing battle against childhood obesity, institutions are increasingly restricting the sale, and even the consumption, of sugar-sweetened beverages (SSBs) on their premises. The American Medical Association now endorses "SSB-free zones" for hospitals, schools, and health centers. In the current issue of the American Journal of Public Health, CUNY SPH Associate Professor Chris Palmedo presents recommendations to organizations seeking to adopt sugar-sweetened beverages from their premises. His recommendations are based on focus group research he conducted with patients and staff at Union Community Health Center in the Bronx, along with established communication guidelines. |
 | How does ecstasy kill?MDMA (Methylenedioxymethamphetamine), commonly referred to as ecstasy, was manufactured as a potential pharmaceutical early last century. It had some limited use in the 1970s as a therapeutic aid in trauma treatment and in relationship counselling, and more recent studies using MDMA for trauma have shown some promise. |
 | Contraception: The way you take the pill has more to do with the Pope than your healthThe way women have been advised to take the combined contraceptive pill for the last 60 years unnecessarily increases the likelihood of taking it incorrectly, leaving them at risk from unplanned pregnancy. And this far from ideal situation is the result of a cosmetic quirk of pill design, based on long redundant historical context. |
 | Thirty percent fewer prostate cancer deaths with PSA screeningPSA screening cuts deaths from prostate cancer by some 30 percent. This research was based on data of 20,000 men monitored for more than two decades. The men's initially measured PSA levels proved highly significant as a predictor of future cancer risk. |
 | Panic attacks tackled in one-week intensive online therapyScientists from UNSW Science's School of Psychology and St. Vincent's Hospital are leading world-first research to learn more about a novel therapeutic approach for people who suffer from panic attacks. They are conducting a study that seeks to treat people with panic disorder and agoraphobia – the fear of places and situations that might lead to panic attacks – with just one week of therapy. |
 | Gene-edited disease monkeys cloned in ChinaThe first cohort of five gene-edited monkey clones made from fibroblasts of a monkey with disease phenotypes were born recently at the Institute of Neuroscience (ION) of the Chinese Academy of Sciences (CAS) in Shanghai. The expression of BMAL1, a core circadian regulatory transcription factor, was knocked out in the donor monkey using CRISPR/Cas9-mediated gene editing at the embryo stage, and the fibroblasts of the donor monkey were used to clone five monkeys using the method of somatic cell nuclear transfer, the same method that generated Zhong Zhong and Hua Hua, the first two cloned monkeys, last year. This major advance, reported in two articles in the journal National Science Review on January 24, demonstrates that a population of customized gene-edited macaque monkeys with uniform genetic background will soon be available for biomedical research. |
 | Women four times more likely to experience sexual assault at workViolence-related injuries at work are on the rise across Canada and this is especially the case for women, according to two recent studies we conducted at the not-for-profit Institute for Work and Health. |
 | Heart remodeling during pregnancy and the early postpartum periodAn article published in Experimental Biology and Medicine provides new insights regarding the molecular events underlying cardiac remodeling during pregnancy and the early post-partum period. The study, led by Dr. Holly LaVoie, Department of Cell Biology and Anatomy at the University of South Carolina School of Medicine, USA, reports that changes in heart function during pregnancy and the early post-partum period in an animal model are accompanied by changes in the expression of genes encoding the extracellular matrix, proteins and substances that connect the muscle cells of the heart. |
 | Childhood trauma affects brain and increases risk of substance use in adolescence, study findsA new study led by FIU researchers at the Center for Children and Families found that traumatic childhood experiences like domestic violence, abuse and parental incarceration impact brain functioning and increase the risk of substance use during adolescence. |
Cannabis use disorder: The policy climate mattersAdolescents and young adults living in states with more liberal policies reported higher average rates of past-year cannabis use than those in states with more conservative policies, according to a new study conducted at Columbia University Mailman School of Public Health. However, the rates of cannabis use disorder—abuse or dependence on the drug—were significantly lower in states with more liberal policies compared to states with more conservative policies, for ages 12 to 17, and marginally lower for ages 26 and older. These results remained significant even when controlling for the presence of medical cannabis laws. This study is one of the first to assess the relationship between policy liberalism and health outcomes, and specifically cannabis use-related outcomes. The findings are published in the International Journal of Drug Policy. | |
 | FDA chief threatens to halt E-cigarette sales(HealthDay)—Sales of electronic cigarettes could be halted if companies do not stop marketing the devices to youth, U.S. Food and Drug Administration Commissioner Scott Gottlieb, M.D., warned. |
 | Canadian syncope risk score IDs ED monitoring time postsyncope(HealthDay)—The risk for arrhythmic conditions can be identified quickly among patients with syncope presenting to the emergency department, according to a study published online Jan. 21 in Circulation. |
 | Soup's on: Quick, nutritious, figure-friendly recipes(HealthDay)—Making soup is an easy way to get your veggies while having a warming, low-calorie meal. Soups can also double as easy lunches that just need re-heating. Here are two to try: |
 | How to safely use plastic containers in your microwave(HealthDay)—For many, a microwave is indispensable, but questions remain about the safety of containers used to cook and reheat food in it. |
 | GeneCapture scientists preview new technology for rapid antimicrobial susceptibility testingScientists at GeneCapture, Inc., an associate company on the campus of the HudsonAlpha Institute for Biotechnology, have developed a method to report phenotypic antibiotic sensitivities/resistances direct from patient samples in only 5-75 minutes. The patent-pending technology is being developed for point of care and emergency applications. |
 | Child's age at parental divorce can affect antidepressant use in adulthoodDivorce has become increasingly common in recent decades, not just in Norway. Married couples currently have 40% chance of divorce. More adults are living in partnerships even when they have children, and these unions are less stable than marriages. Consequently, many children experience parental separation. Despite much research, little is known about their well-being. |
 | People with boring jobs tend to design dull jobs for their colleaguesManagers and professional employees who have boring and dull jobs themselves are more likely to design demotivating, disengaging, low-skill and repetitive jobs for others, new research led by Curtin University has found. |
 | New findings may help oncologists determine effectiveness of checkpoint inhibitorsIn an article recently published in JCI Insight, researchers from the University of Alabama at Birmingham and Vanderbilt University have identified checkpoint inhibitor resistance mechanisms in many solid tumor cancers, including melanoma, lung cancer and breast cancer. Randall S. Davis, M.D., professor in the University of Alabama at Birmingham Division of Hematology and Oncology and senior scientist in the O'Neal Comprehensive Cancer Center, served as the paper's co-senior author. |
 | New vaccine offers fresh take on malaria fightEarly research on a new approach to protecting against malaria is offering promising, potentially long-lasting results against the persistent parasite that sickens hundreds of millions people each year. |
 | Can you pick an MMA winner by studying fighters' faces?With the UFC set to appear in Prague for the first time this February 23rd, Czech researchers at Charles University have been getting into the fighting spirit. |
 | Breakthrough in understanding male infertilityHope has emerged for infertile men as scientists at Newcastle University have understood the importance of a gene in regulating the production of fully-functioning sperm. |
 | Innovative diagnostic test could revolutionise cervical cancer screeningCoinciding with Cervical Cancer Prevention Week, researchers at St George's are working on a field study to fine-tune an exciting new method of human papilloma virus testing that could revolutionise care for women in low and middle income countries. |
 | Overlapping genomic regions underlie canine fearfulness and human mental disordersResearchers in the Hannes Lohi research group in the University of Helsinki focused on two forms of canine fearfulness: noise sensitivity and general fearfulness. The latter encompasses the fear of unfamiliar humans and new situations. Among Finnish dogs, noise sensitivity has been observed in as much as 40 percent of the population, while, according to estimates, one in four dogs suffers from fearfulness. |
 | Have you caught a catfish? Online dating can be deceptiveOn the internet, you can become anyone you want to – at least for a while. And though deception doesn't fit well with lasting romance, people lie all the time: Fewer than a third of people in one survey claimed they were always honest in online interactions, and nearly nobody expected others to be truthful. Much of the time, lies are meant to make the person telling them seem better somehow – more attractive, more engaging or otherwise worth getting to know. |
 | How the 'English disease' turned out to be not so very English after allA vitamin D deficiency is often associated with smoggy English industrial cities during the Industrial Revolution, but research carried out on skeletons now suggests that the 'English disease' was also prevalent in rural areas of the Netherlands. Doctoral defence on 29 January. |
 | Understanding warfighter performance from the inside outA new program out of DARPA's Biological Technologies Office could help the Department of Defense enhance and sustain military readiness both by revolutionizing how troops train, perform, and recover, and by mitigating shortages of highly qualified candidates for extremely specialized roles. The anticipated outputs of the Measuring Biological Aptitude (MBA) program are a set of biomarkers—measurable indicators of biological processes—that correspond to traits of highly effective performance in a given role, along with new tools to measure and report on those biomarkers in real time. This information will enable individual warfighters to understand and affect the underlying biological processes that govern their success. MBA technologies could improve training, team formation, mission performance, and post-mission recovery, yielding a better prepared, more effective, more resilient force. |
 | Urbanization changes shape of mosquitoes' wingsThe mosquito Aedes aegypti is the main transmission vector of dengue, Zika, yellow fever and chikungunya in Brazil. It is highly adapted to urban environments and rarely found in forested areas. The mosquito Anopheles cruzii is the primary vector of Plasmodium, the protozoan parasite that causes malaria in humans. It mostly inhabits the countryside and is infrequent in urban areas. |
 | Australia will never be HIV-free if access to prevention requires a Medicare cardAustralia aims to "virtually eliminate" HIV transmission by 2022, according to the health minister's new national HIV strategy. This ambitious goal has been made possible by biomedical HIV prevention, a new and highly effective way of preventing HIV using medications. |
How the global gag rule affects women's healthPresident Trump reinstated and expanded the global gag rule with the goal of reducing abortions, but new research suggests the policy could do the opposite. A study by Rutgers University Professor Yana Rodgers finds that women in Latin America and Africa were up to three times more likely to have an abortion when the rule was in effect under President George W. Bush. The findings appear in Rodgers' new book, The Global Gag Rule and Women's Reproductive Health. | |
 | Flu vaccination keeps COPD patients out of the hospitalA new study published in the January issue of Chest establishes that patients with chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD) face heightened risks of death, critical illness, and hospitalization if they develop the flu and demonstrates the beneficial effects of influenza vaccination. The report also reveals gaps in care that need to be addressed, including less-than-universal influenza vaccination in patients with COPD and failure to provide an antiviral medication in a timely manner once the patient is diagnosed with the flu. |
New tumor test could guide personalized treatment for children with cancerScientists at the University of British Columbia and BC Children's Hospital are the first in Canada to use a new test for pediatric tumour analysis that may one day guide personalized treatments for children with cancer. | |
Study finds correlation between eviction rates in the US and high number of STIsAlmost 2.3 million people are evicted from their homes annually and four evictions are filed every minute in the United States. A study published in the journal Sexually Transmitted Diseases outlines a correlation researchers found between America's eviction crisis and the high rate of sexually transmitted infections. The study is part of an ongoing collaboration between researchers from American University, Yale University, and Drexel University that is aimed at examining connections between mass incarceration, housing instability, subsidized housing policies, race inequities, and sexually transmitted infections. | |
 | Those with inadequate access to food likely to suffer from obesityAccording to the National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey, over one-third of U.S. adults are obese. At the same time, obesity is the second leading cause of premature death in the North America and Europe. |
 | Another day at the office—thanks to a defibrillator close at handOn National Wear Red Day in 2018, few people at the Nashville law firm Lewis, Thomason, King, Krieg & Waldrop took notice of the occasion, which calls attention to heart disease being the No. 1 killer of women. |
 | Herd protection seen with 4-valent HPV vaccination(HealthDay)—From 2006 to 2017, there was a decrease in 4-valent vaccine-type human papillomavirus (HPV) detection among vaccinated and unvaccinated women, according to a study published online Jan. 22 in Pediatrics. |
Poll: Support for 'Medicare-for-all' fluctuates with detailsAmericans like the idea of "Medicare-for-all," but support flips to disapproval if it would result in higher taxes or longer waits for care. | |
 | Parents' mental health problems increase the risk of reactive attachment disorder in childrenChildren's risk of being diagnosed with reactive attachment disorder (RAD) increases if parents are diagnosed with any type of mental health disorder, discovered researchers from the Research Centre for Child Psychiatry of the University of Turku, Finland. Particularly parents' alcohol and drug addiction and mother's depression were associated with reactive attachment disorder in children. The nationwide population-based study is the most extensive study on the risk factors of RAD. |
 | Self-testing cervical cancer screening could save Māori women's livesCervical cancer is the second leading cause of cancer death for Māori women aged 25–44 and Māori women are more than twice as likely as New Zealand European women to be diagnosed with, and three times more likely to die from, the disease. |
 | Injuries from burns in Kenya affect mostly children and happen in homesAn estimated 180,000 people die every year worldwide as a result of burns and survivors often suffer terribly. Burn injuries are particularly common in low- and middle-income countries. |
 | Infertility can be caused by microelements disbalanceRUDN scientists report that the imbalance of vital and toxic microelements in a woman's body may cause infertility and be passed to the fetus during pregnancy. The correction of a woman's microelemental status before pregnancy can improve the situation and help conceive a child naturally. The results of the study were published in Reproductive Toxicology. |
 | CDC: Slight hike in prevalence of gastroschisis since 2006-2010(HealthDay)—Over time, the prevalence of gastroschisis has increased, with more babies born with gastroschisis in areas with high and medium versus low opioid prescription rates, according to research published in the Jan. 18 issue of the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention Morbidity and Mortality Weekly Report. |
 | New CDC study examines effects of smoking status on ART clinical outcomesA new Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) study found that smoking in the three months prior to assisted reproductive technology (ART) treatment was associated with higher adjusted odds of cycle cancellation resulting in no embryo transfer and cancellations before fresh oocyte retrieval or frozen embryo transfer. Associations between smoking and selected ART clinical outcomes are described in an article published in Journal of Women's Health. |
 | Researchers discover an RNA sequence interaction that could be Hepatitis C virus therapyResearchers Ángel Cantero and José Gallego, from the Structural and Computational Biochemistry laboratory of Valencia's Catholic University (UCV) have jointly published a research article in Nucleic Acids Research on their progress in the fight against the hepatitis C virus. |
 | Temperature-stable experimental tuberculosis vaccine enters clinical testingVaccinations have begun in a Phase 1 human clinical trial testing a freeze-dried, temperature-stable formulation of an experimental tuberculosis (TB) vaccine candidate. The trial is being conducted at the Saint Louis University School of Medicine Center for Vaccine Development and will enroll as many as 48 healthy adult volunteers aged 18 to 55 years. The experimental vaccine, called ID93, was developed by scientists at the Infectious Disease Research Institute (IDRI) in Seattle. The National Institute of Allergy and Infectious Diseases (NIAID), part of the National Institutes of Health, is supporting the trial through a contract to IDRI. |
A muscle protein promotes nerve healingInjuries or diseases of nerves in the central nervous system result in lifelong disabilities, such as paraplegia caused by a damage to the spinal cord or blindness following the injury of the optic nerve. "Nerve regeneration therapies for clinical applications are not available yet," points out Dietmar Fischer. This is because nerve fibres – so-called axons – either don't produce any proteins that are essential for their regeneration at all, or they don't produce enough of them. "If we identified such proteins and triggered their production using gene therapy, we'd have novel, applicable methods for nerve regeneration at our disposal," says Fischer. | |
Biology news
 | Researchers first to use CRISPR/Cas9 to control genetic inheritance in miceBiologists at the University of California San Diego have developed the world's first CRISPR/Cas9-based approach to control genetic inheritance in a mammal. |
 | Experts disagree with prior study that claimed sheep have face-recognition abilities comparable to humansA team of facial recognition experts from the University of New South Wales, Newcastle University and the University of York has published a Comment piece in the journal Royal Society Open Science challenging claims made by another research team. In their paper, they acknowledge that the findings of a team last year regarding the facial recognition abilities of sheep was compelling, but they take issue with the claim that the research showed that sheep have facial recognition abilities comparable to humans. |
 | How male dragonflies adapt wing color to temperatureNew research from Case Western Reserve University in how dragonflies may adapt their wing color to temperature differences might explain color variation in other animals, from lions to birds. |
 | Construction without coordination: how ants build megaprojectsLeaf-cutter ants build super highways to transfer food and building materials hundreds of metres without communicating with each other, scientists claimed Wednesday, in findings that could prompt a rethink about how some insect communities organise themselves. |
 | Frog eggs help researchers understand repair of DNA damagesThe DNA replication process in which cells divide to create new cells also triggers repair of DNA damage, researchers from the University of Copenhagen report in a new study. The researchers studied extracts from frog eggs, which have proteins very similar to those of human cells. The researchers hope the new research results can be used to develop more effective treatments for cancer in the long run. |
 | A surprisingly early replacement of Neanderthals by modern humans in southern SpainA new study of Bajondillo Cave (Málaga) by a team of researchers based in Spain, Japan and the U.K., coordinated from the Universidad de Sevilla, reveals that modern humans replaced Neanderthals at this site approximately 44,000 years ago. The research, to be published in Nature Ecology and Evolution, shows that the replacement of Neanderthals by modern humans in southern Iberia began early, rather than late, in comparison to the rest of Western Europe. |
 | Human mutation rate has slowed recentlyResearchers from Aarhus University, Denmark, and Copenhagen Zoo have discovered that the human mutation rate is significantly slower than for our closest primate relatives. This new knowledge may be important for estimates of when the common ancestor for humans and chimpanzees lived—and for conservation of large primates in the wild. |
 | Unique camera enables researchers to see the world the way birds doUsing a specially designed camera, researchers at Lund University in Sweden have succeeded for the first time in recreating how birds see colours in their surroundings. The study reveals that birds see a very different reality compared to what we see. |
 | Scientists engineer new CRISPR platform for DNA targetingA team that includes the scientist who first harnessed the revolutionary CRISPR-Cas9 and other systems for genome editing of eukaryotic organisms, including animals and plants, has engineered another CRISPR system, called Cas12b. The new system offers improved capabilities and options when compared to CRISPR-Cas9 systems. |
 | Dual control: Plant peptide hormone generates distinct cell structures for water flowWater flow through plants is critical to our food supply: without proper water flow, plants cannot carry out photosynthesis, or grow or reliably produce flowers, fruit or seeds. Water flows within specialized structures from the roots, through the stem to the leaves, where its evaporation is regulated by microscopic pores called stomata. All the water-conducting structures are produced by tightly controlled developmental sequences: cells must divide to produce the necessary cell types in the correct place at the right time. But many details of how these complex developmental processes are controlled remain unclear. |
 | A close look at the specific feeding habits of territorial damselfish reveals strategies for coexistenceIn the animal kingdom, food access is among the biggest drivers of habitat preference. It influences, among other things, how animals interact, where they roam and the amount of energy they expend to maintain their access to food. But how do different members of ecologically similar species manage to live close to each other? |
 | Humpback whales' songs at subarctic feeding areas are complex, progressiveHumpback whales overwintering in feeding areas may sing complex, progressive songs which closely resemble those associated with breeding grounds, according to a study published January 23, 2019 in the open-access journal PLOS ONE by Edda E. Magnúsdóttir and Rangyn Lim from the University of Iceland. |
 | Researchers study one of the most important growth processes on EarthSo-called bifacial stem cells are responsible for one of the most critical growth processes on Earth – the formation of wood. By alternately developing into wood and bast cells, these stem cells are thus starting points for forming wood as well as generating plant bast fibres. A team of researchers under the direction of Dr. Thomas Greb, a Heisenberg Professor at Heidelberg University, were recently able to demonstrate this phenomenon using new experimental tools. The scientists from the Centre for Organismal Studies labelled and studied specific types of cells in the growth layer of plants, the cambium. |
 | First steps to understanding biochemistry of how plants detect odorsPlants don't need noses to smell. The ability is in their genes. Researchers at the University of Tokyo have discovered the first steps of how information from odor molecules changes gene expression in plants. Manipulating plants' odor detection systems may lead to new ways of influencing plant behavior. |
 | A single gene turns socially organized bees into social parasitesA small change in the genetic makeup of the South African Cape bee turns the socially organised animal into a fighting parasite. This change ensures that infertile worker bees begin to lay their own eggs and fight other colonies. In the current issue of the journal Molecular Biology and Evolution, an international research team led by Martin Luther University Halle-Wittenberg (MLU) outlines for the first time the genetic basis for this rare phenomenon. |
 | Courage to aim for less cleanliness?Do the same laws of biodiversity which apply in nature also apply to our own bodies and homes? If so, current hygiene measures to combat aggressive germs could be, to some extent, counterproductive. So writes an interdisciplinary team of researchers from the German Centre for Integrative Biodiversity Research (iDiv) in the journal Nature Ecology & Evolution. They propose that examination of the role diversity of microorganisms plays in the ecosystems of our bodies and homes should be intensified. The findings could challenge existing strategies for fighting infectious diseases and resistant germs. |
 | How hyper-manicured public spaces hurt urban wildlifeI walked my kids to school recently through the pretty North East English village of East Boldon and saw a red cross on a beautiful old rowan tree. I thought it might be the diesel haze of nearby commuter traffic confusing my senses, but no. |
 | Freshwater wildlife face an uncertain futurePacific salmon are one of Canada's iconic creatures. Each summer, they complete their, on average, four- to five-year-long life cycle by returning from their rich ocean feeding grounds to the creeks and streams where they were born. Here, following in the "footsteps" of their parents, they will lay eggs, die and give rise to the next generation of salmon. |
 | Copy cats: When is a bobcat not a bobcat?Two UBC Okanagan biologists, who have publicly solicited images of wild cats for their research, have answered that question. |
 | High-protein rice brings value, nutritionMore than 750 million people don't get enough nutrients from their food. More than two-thirds of those people live in places that consume a lot of rice. Can rice bred for extra protein be the answer? |
 | Conservation efforts help some rare birds more than others, study findsLand conservation programs that have converted tens of thousands of acres of agricultural land in Illinois back to a more natural state appear to have helped some rare birds increase their populations to historic levels, a new study finds. Other bird species with wider geographic ranges have not fared as well, however. |
 | More than ruffled feathers: Mockingbirds show heightened aggression after lead exposureMockingbirds exposed to sub-lethal levels of lead in urban areas display significantly heightened aggression, said Morris Animal Foundation-funded researchers at Tulane University. The team said their findings highlight the possibility that sub-lethal lead exposure may be common among other wildlife living in urban areas and more work is needed to better understand its full effects. Their study was published in Science of the Total Environment. |
 | Team uses synthetic biology to elucidate the complexities of cell functionArizona State University's Giovanna Ghirlanda and Matthias Heyden, professors in the School of Molecular Sciences and Sara Vaiana, professor in the Department of Physics are viewing our cells through a new lens enabling them to gain novel insight into the mechanisms of several cellular activities. |
 | Shutdown makes it tough for groups to help endangered whalesRescuers who respond to distressed whales and other marine animals say the federal government shutdown is making it more difficult to do their work. |
 | Soil fungi secrete an antibiotic with antitumor activityA team of scientists from I.M. Sechenov First Moscow State Medical University (MSMU) together with their colleagues isolated a peptide named emericellipsin A from soil fungi. The substance was proved to possess antitumor and antibacterial properties. The report of the scientists was published in the Molecules journal. |
 | Combining forces to combat E. coli PI-7 in Saudi Arabia's wastewater systemsSolar irradiation treatment, combined with naturally occurring viral components, could help destroy a highly antibiotic-resistant form of Escherichia coli (E. coli PI-7) that has been identified in Jeddah's wastewater network. |
 | How much rainforest do birds need?Researchers of the Department of Conservation Biology at the University of Göttingen have carried out research in Southwest Cameroon to assess which proportion of forest would be necessary to provide sufficient habitat for rainforest bird species. The results of the study were published in the journal Biological Conservation. |
 | New equine research reveals laminitis is as common as colic and is a year-round threatOne in 10 horses or ponies may develop at least one laminitis episode each year, making it just as common as colic, according to a new study led by Dr. Danica Pollard, a Ph.D. student at the Royal Veterinary College. The research was conducted by the Animal Health Trust in collaboration with Rossdales Equine Hospital, and funded by World Horse Welfare. Laminitis is a debilitating disease that affects the structure and healthy function of equine feet. It is an extremely painful condition in horses and ponies that has significant welfare implications. It often recurs in individual animals and around 15% of equine deaths in the UK are linked to laminitis. The study followed 1,070 horses and ponies in Great Britain and monitored regular updates on their management and health over 29 months. |
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