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Here is your customized Science X Newsletter for February 1, 2019:
Spotlight Stories Headlines
Astronomy & Space news
 | The 'stuff' of the universe keeps changingThe composition of the universe—the elements that are the building blocks for every bit of matter—is ever-changing and ever-evolving, thanks to the lives and deaths of stars. |
 | Image: The accidentally discovered galaxy Bedin IThis image, taken with Hubble's Advanced Camera for Surveys shows a part the globular cluster NGC 6752. |
 | Cutbacks at Stratolaunch, Virgin Galactic show the space industry is entering a second stageEven space projects backed by billionaires are not immune to Earth-bound realities. |
 | Researcher discusses space tourism, the first mission to MarsIn December 2018, Thomas Zurbuchen, associate administrator for NASA's Science Mission Directorate, visited Boston University to discuss funding opportunities with faculty and researchers. While on campus, he also gave a talk about NASA's current and future missions. Afterward, Zurbuchen sat down with BU Research to talk about the timeline for traveling to Mars and whether he thinks humans are destined to live in a galaxy far, far away. |
Technology news
 | Implementing kick control on simulated and real-world wheeled robotsA team of researchers at Babes-Bolyai University, in Romania, and Goethe University Frankfurt have recently collaborated on a study exploring implementations of kick control on both simulated and real-world wheeled robots. The term 'kick control' refers to short, higher-order commands that can be used to 'kick' a system from one self-organized attractor into the basin of attraction of another attractor. |
 | Thanks for the memory cards but now Samsung talks up 1TB storage for phonesSamsung is making 1TB storage chips for phones. Storage is one word on many wish lists among smartphone users. |
 | Putting neural networks under the microscopeResearchers from MIT and the Qatar Computing Research Institute (QCRI) are putting the machine-learning systems known as neural networks under the microscope. |
 | Researchers report advances in stretchable semiconductors, integrated electronicsResearchers from the University of Houston have reported significant advances in stretchable electronics, moving the field closer to commercialization. |
 | Nintendo chief: Seeking growth sources as Switch sales slowNintendo's president says the Kyoto-based video game maker behind the Super Mario and Pokemon franchises is counting on business outside the game sector for future growth as sales for its Switch console machines fall short of forecasts. |
 | Facebook at 15: a titan with grown-up woesFifteen years after its founding, Facebook has made strides toward Mark Zuckerberg's goal of connecting the world. But it has also made some huge missteps that have turned some of its cheerleaders into vocal detractors. |
 | Nintendo 'prepping new Switch model' as sales slowNintendo is reportedly developing a smaller, cheaper version of its popular Switch games console, as sales of the device slow after initial runaway success. |
 | Tech firms, states face feds in net neutrality court battleTech companies and nearly half a dozen U.S. states are clashing with the Trump administration in federal court over the repeal of net neutrality, a set of rules aimed at preventing big internet providers from discriminating against certain technology and services. |
 | Directly cooled electric motor made from polymer materialsMaking electric cars lighter also involves reducing the weight of the motor. One way to do that is by constructing it from fiber-reinforced polymer materials. Researchers at the Fraunhofer Institute for Chemical Technology ICT are working together with the Karlsruhe Institute of Technology KIT to develop a new cooling concept that will enable polymers to be used as motor housing materials. And that's not the only advantage of the new cooling concept: it also significantly increases the power density and efficiency of the motor compared to the state of the art. |
 | Facebook is a persuasion platform that's changing the advertising rulebookFacebook – the social network that started in a Harvard dorm room 15 years ago – has evolved into a media and advertising giant. It's helped create a new age of precise consumer insights. With over 2 billion users worldwide, Facebook can offer granular data about each and every one of them to advertisers – not just demographics but the very narrowly defined interests, conversations and interactions they have on the platform. Advertisers try to leverage all that information into online purchases by directly targeting consumers with messages meant to stand out as they scroll through a newsfeed. |
 | Estimation of technology level required for low-cost renewable hydrogen productionNIMS, the University of Tokyo and Hiroshima University have jointly evaluated the economic efficiency of hydrogen production systems combining photovoltaic power generation and rechargeable batteries. They also estimated technology levels necessary for the systems to produce hydrogen at a globally competitive cost. The results may provide vital guidelines for advancing intermittent renewable power generation systems as a main power source of the country. |
 | Could artificial intelligence make life harder for hackers?As the volume of digital information in corporate networks continues to grow, so grows the number of cyberattacks, and their cost. One cybersecurity vendor, Juniper Networks, estimates that the cost of data breaches worldwide will reach $2.1 trillion in 2019, roughly four times the cost of breaches in 2015. |
 | Stroboscopic visibility measure – understanding how people experience LED-light fluctuationLight emitted by LEDs can flicker or exhibit a stroboscopic effect, which can lead to annoyance, fatigue and even headaches. Researchers at Eindhoven University of Technology and Signify determined the characteristics of light at which the human eye no longer perceives these unwanted effects. The model developed allows lighting manufacturers to test for these undesirable effects while designing their LED products. Gosia Perz will be awarded a Ph.D. for this research at TU/e on February 5th. |
 | Apple issues fix for FaceTime eavesdropping bugApple said Friday it had fixed a software bug that could allow iPhone users to see people through its FaceTime calling application even before they answered the phone. |
 | 14-year-old's FaceTime bug discovery could rattle AppleAt the heart of Apple's shocking FaceTime bug, which allowed just about anyone to turn an iPhone into a live microphone, stands a 14-year-old boy who stumbled upon the eavesdropping flaw more than a week before Apple took action. |
 | Facebook: from Harvard dorm to global phenomenonKey dates in the history of Facebook, which is celebrating its 15th anniversary in February: |
 | Game over for gamers? UK studios count Brexit costsCould it possibly be game over for the bright minds behind "Grand Theft Auto" and other global gaming hits? |
 | Software that can automatically detect fake newsInvented stories, distorted facts: fake news is spreading like wildfire on the internet and is often shared on without thought, particularly on social media. In response, Fraunhofer researchers have developed a system that automatically analyzes social media posts, deliberately filtering out fake news and disinformation. To do this, the tool analyzes both content and metadata, classifying it using machine learning techniques and drawing on user interaction to optimize the results as it goes. |
 | Vice to cut 10% of staff in latest media downsizingVice Media unveiled plans Friday to cut 10 percent of its staff, or some 250 jobs, in the latest round of job slashing in the once-sizzling digital media sector. |
New tool compares costs and benefits of alternative fuels and vehicle technologiesMany fleet managers are looking at alternative fuels and advanced vehicle technologies to reduce their environmental footprint and save money. The AFLEET Tool, and its newly launched web-based version, AFLEET Online, developed by the U.S. Department of Energy's (DOE) Argonne National Laboratory, can help fleets optimize their purchasing decisions to do exactly that. | |
Medicine & Health news
 | More die after surgery than from HIV, TB, and malaria combined: studyAround the world 4.2 million people die every year within 30 days after surgery—with half of these deaths occurring in low- and middle-income countries (LMICs), a new study reveals. |
 | Common e-cigarette chemical flavorings may impair lung functionTwo chemicals widely used to flavor electronic cigarettes may be impairing the function of cilia in the human airway, according to a new study led by Harvard T.H. Chan School of Public Health. |
 | Researchers breathe new life into COPD research using mouse modelsThe airways and lungs are affected by a range of diseases, but while some have been well characterized and treated, others, such as chronic obstructive pulmonary disorder (COPD), are still somewhat of an enigma. This condition is known to involve a variety of progressively deteriorating symptoms such as inflammation of the lungs and narrowing of the airways, but the causes of these at the cellular and molecular levels have largely remained obscure. |
 | Connective tissue on the wrong road—When organs start to scarScientists from Friedrich-Alexander-Universität Erlangen-Nürnberg (FAU), Department of Medicine 3—Rheumatology and Immunology, headed by Prof. Dr. Georg Schett, have now decrypted a molecular network that could in future provide a new way to treat organ scarring. The results show that the protein PU.1 causes pathological deposition of connective tissue. The scientists have now published their results in Nature. |
 | A correlation found between psychiatric disorders and events during the prenatal stageParticular genetic variants in the human genome that are important for the development of the brain early in the life of the foetus are frequently found in psychiatric disorders. This is shown by a study carried out by iPSYCH. |
 | Stem cell growth accelerated by tropoelastin proteinTropoelastin, the raw material used to create 'MeTro' elastic surgical glue developed with the University of Sydney, has been found to encourage stem cell growth—with the potential to ultimately help the body repair itself. |
 | How the immune system protects us against bowel cancerResearchers at Universitätsmedizin Berlin have discovered a protective mechanism which is used by the body to protect intestinal stem cells from turning cancerous. The body's innate immune system was found to play a pivotal role in this regard. The researchers were able to demonstrate that, rather than having a purely defensive role, the immune system is crucial in maintaining a healthy body. The study has been published in the renowned scientific journal Nature. |
 | MRI scans reveal how brain protects memoriesTwo distinct parts of the human brain—the neocortex and the hippocampus (a part of the brain involved in higher-order brain functions) - have been shown to help protect our memories from interfering with one another. |
 | Identity crisis of satiety neurons leads to obesityObesity − as research in the past decade has shown − is first and foremost a brain disease. Researchers at Helmholtz Zentrum München, partners in the German Center for Diabetes Research, have now discovered a molecular switch that controls the function of satiety neurons and therefore body weight. The findings were published in the journal Nature Metabolism. |
 | Molecule effective in killing tuberculosis bacteriaA team of researchers affiliated with several institutions in the U.S. and one in France has found a molecule that is effective against tuberculosis. In their paper published in the journal Science, the group identifies the molecule and describes how well it worked when tested in vitro and in a mouse model. Valerie Mizrahi and Digby Warner with the University of Cape Town have authored a Perspective piece on the study in the same journal issue. |
 | How type 1 diabetes gradually destroys insulin productionUsing the new Imaging Mass Cytometry method, researchers of UZH have investigated the pancreas of healthy organ donors and those with type 1 diabetes. The study shows that many beta cells, which normally produce insulin, are still present in the early stages of the disease, but look very different. These beta cells could potentially be rescued for the benefit of the patient and the progression of the disease could be slowed down or even stopped. |
 | An overview of microbiome researchA trio of medical researchers, two with Tel Aviv Sourasky Medical Center, the other with the Weizmann Institute of Science, has published a Focus piece in the journal Science Translational Medicine as part of the journal's 10th anniversary celebration. In their paper, Eliran Soffer, Eran Elinav and Niv Zmora give a brief history of microbiome research and then outline four main areas of study. |
 | Exploring the dark side of the genomeResearch has shown a direct relationship between mutations in introns and variability in human populations. |
 | Gene therapy cassettes improved for muscular dystrophyExperimental gene therapy cassettes for Duchenne muscular dystrophy have been modified to deliver better performance. The cassettes, which carry the therapy into muscle cells, contain newer versions of a miniaturized treatment gene. The micro-dystrophin, as the treatment is called, has been restructured to enhance its functionality. |
 | Researchers find new clues to controlling HIVThe immune system is the body's best defense in fighting diseases like HIV and cancer. Now, an international team of researchers is harnessing the immune system to reveal new clues that may help in efforts to produce an HIV vaccine. |
 | 'More work needed' for new IVF techniqueTreating male infertility using a new IVF technique called PICSI, which is already offered in some private clinics, does not increase the likelihood of having a baby, according to the results of a randomised controlled trial. |
 | Genetic testing gives answers on developmental disorders during pregnancyGenetic testing improves the diagnoses of abnormalities in developing babies that are picked up during ultrasound scans, scientists report today (31 January) in The Lancet. Scientists from the Wellcome Sanger Institute, University of Cambridge, University of Birmingham, Great Ormond Street Hospital (GOSH) and their collaborators used genome sequencing to improve the diagnoses of abnormalities detected by ultrasound by around 10 per cent. Without genomic information, these abnormalities may not have been diagnosed until after pregnancy, if at all. |
 | Statin therapy reduces cardiovascular disease risk in older peopleThe study assessed the effects of statins in nearly 187,000 people who had taken part in 28 large clinical trials. Participants were divided into six age groups (under 55 years, 55-60, 60-65, 65-70, 70-75, and over 75 years) in order to assess the effects of statins on major vascular events (heart attacks/strokes/coronary revascularisations), cancer incidence and deaths. |
 | In prenatal testing, 'genomics' sometimes sees what genetic tests can'tA new kind of prenatal genetic testing can improve obstetricians' ability to diagnose the underlying causes of fetal anomalies found during prenatal ultrasounds. But the results require expert interpretation, according to a study by researchers at Columbia University Vagelos College of Physicians and Surgeons. The study was published in The Lancet. |
 | Blood test for specific metabolites could reveal blocked arteriesA Duke Health pilot project suggests that in the near future, a blood test could show whether arteries carrying blood to the heart are narrow or blocked, a risk factor for heart disease. |
 | Fathers are happier parents than mothers, new study showsA study of 18,000 people shows that fathers experience more well-being from parenthood than mothers. |
 | Underage marijuana use and impaired driving common in Colorado and Washington where marijuana is legalizedA new study by the University of Minnesota School of Public Health, published in the International Journal of Drug Policy, shows law enforcement agencies in Colorado and Washington—states where marijuana is legalized—report common problems with underage marijuana use (under age 21) and driving under the influence of marijuana in their communities. |
 | Sleep program helping ADHD kids rest easier and improve quality of lifeKids with attention deficit hyperactivity disorder (ADHD) are showing promising gains from a sleep program developed by researchers at Murdoch Children's Research Institute and Deakin University. |
 | Insecticide resistance genes affect vector competence for West Nile virusOveruse of insecticides, which leads to the selection of resistant mosquitoes, affects interactions between mosquitoes and the pathogens they transmit. Researchers from the Institut Pasteur (Paris) and its partners have now shown that mechanisms of insecticide resistance, observed in Culex quinquefasciatus vector, impact the transmission of West Nile virus. |
 | In utero antibiotics and obesity riskIdentifying risk factors for childhood obesity is necessary for developing prevention strategies. Previous studies of a potential association between antibiotic use during pregnancy and childhood obesity have had conflicting results. |
 | Children with chronic lung diseases at higher risk of flu hospitalisationFlu vaccination is provided free for children with chronic illnesses, yet uptake is low prompting UNSW researchers to call for renewed efforts to get this message out to parents in order to keep affected children out of hospital. |
 | How chronic pain threatens a good night's sleepAsk anyone who is in pain how their much-needed sleep was, and there's a good chance they will say it was not great. And, it appears they may not be too far off as chronic pain and poor sleep can become a vicious cycle, according to new research from the University of California, Berkeley, and the University of Colorado Boulder. |
 | Falls in people over 60 can be prevented by exercise programmesFalls are a leading cause of accidental or unintentional injury deaths worldwide. Older adults suffer the greatest number of fatal falls and over 37 million falls are severe enough to require medical attention each year. |
 | Children exposed to air pollution at school may be at greater risk of overweight and obesityExposure to air pollution, particularly at school, could be associated with a higher risk of overweight and obesity during childhood. This is the conclusion of a study by the Barcelona Institute for Global Health (ISGlobal), an institution supported by "la Caixa", performed with 2,660 children between 7 and 10 years of age from 39 schools in Barcelona. |
 | Blood runs deep: Lab blood vessel model sheds light on angiogenesisTo provide sufficient oxygen to tissues and organs within the body, blood vessels need to sprout new offshoots to form a widespread blood supply network, much like the trunk, branches, and twigs of a tree. However, the mechanisms by which this sprouting occurs, in both normal healthy conditions and in conditions like cancer, have remained unclear. |
 | The development of brain stem cells into new nerve cells and why this can lead to cancerStem cells are the true jacks-of-all-trades of our bodies, as they can turn into the many different cell types required by different organs. This allows the tissues such as muscle or even brain to renew and to heal after injury, and this amazing multipotency makes stem cells in the adult body key tools for the future of regenerative medicine. Scientists at the German Cancer Research Center (DKFZ) now publish in the journal Nature how brain stem cells make the decision to transform into new nerve cells. |
 | New knowledge could help predict and prevent depressionIn a new study, researchers from the Danish iPSYCH project demonstrate that people with the highest genetic propensity are over two and a half times as likely to be treated in a psychiatric hospital for depression compared to people with the lowest propensity. This knowledge could be utilised to strengthen preventative efforts for those who are at risk. |
 | Short anti-rejection therapy protects transplants in diabetic animalsTransplanted pancreatic islets in diabetic animals can survive for a long period of time if the animals are treated with short anti-rejection therapy around the time of the transplant. This has been shown by researchers at Karolinska Institutet, Sweden, and the Diabetes Research Institute, University of Miami Miller School of Medicine, USA, in a new study published in Diabetologia (the journal of the European Association for the Study of Diabetes [EASD]). The results may have a significant impact on clinical islet transplantation in the treatment of type 1 diabetes. |
 | Study explores genetic risk for suicide attemptUsing data from the UK Biobank and Vanderbilt's BioVU, a new study in the journal Molecular Psychiatry finds that approximately 4 percent of suicide attempt risk is captured by genotype data. |
 | Study finds patient messages help predict medication adherenceAround two-thirds of patients treated for breast cancer will have had hormone-sensitive tumors and, after their initial treatment, will be advised to undergo hormone therapy for five to 10 years to prevent recurrence. |
 | Controlling blood sugarUniversity of Texas at Arlington third-year doctoral student Benjamin Young received an American Heart Association grant to support research that pinpoints underlying mechanisms of impaired blood sugar control in Type 2 diabetes patients. |
 | New method may better predict the best treatment for burn woundsAccording to the World Health Organization, approximately 180,000 deaths every year are caused by burns, with the majority occurring in low- and middle-income countries. Upon arriving at the emergency room with a burn, the patient undergoes a clinical inspection to assess both the severity of the lesion in relation to the affected area of the body and the depth of the injury (1st, 2nd or 3rd-degree burns). Based on this assessment and other considerations including bleeding and the extent of the damage, the surgical team makes a decision regarding management of the patient's care. |
 | A half-million fewer deaths from lung cancer over 40 yearsLung cancer death rates in men have plummeted since 1979 with nearly 500,000 fewer deaths than would have been expected if the mortality rate had stayed the same, according to the latest figures released by Cancer Research U.K. ahead of World Cancer Day. |
 | Hair styles that can lead to hair loss(HealthDay)—Hairstyles are a defining feature for many people, but some 'dos can also damage hair follicles. |
 | Breastfeeding is still best(HealthDay)—The benefits of breastfeeding are wide-ranging. |
 | Make a healthy game plan for super bowl partying(HealthDay)—Chips, dips, wings and other fatty and salty things—Super Bowl parties can be a challenge for people with diabetes, high blood pressure or high cholesterol, an expert warns. |
 | Science Says: Can a Super Bowl ad give you brain tingles?A new Super Bowl commercial will expose a vast audience to an internet craze known as ASMR, or autonomous sensory meridian response. |
 | Explainer: Why Congo's Ebola outbreak still going strongThe Ebola outbreak in eastern Congo, the second deadliest in history, marks six months on Friday and is moving toward the major border city of Goma, a development that would greatly complicate any hope of stopping the virus' spread in the unstable region. |
 | The delicate balance of treating growing but brittle bonesOsteoporosis is a medical condition that causes bones to become fragile and brittle. It is a major health problem worldwide, mainly affecting adults. However, children can also rarely be affected as a result of other diseases or genetic disorders. |
 | Minimal risk for Māori consuming eel, toxicology study findsA University of Canterbury toxicology study recently published in the New Zealand Medical Journal has concluded that "PFOS residues in eels are likely to be of no concern from a carcinogenicity perspective," which will likely ease fears around the traditional Māori food. |
 | Living donors may benefit transplant patientsFor a patient awaiting a new organ—namely a liver or kidney—living donation provides a viable alternative and can often shorten a recipient's wait time. |
 | How joking around with your brothers and sisters shapes your sense of humourTwo siblings are playing on the living room floor. The girl, aged six, looks at her brother, and smiling, sings: "A, B, C, D, E, F – R!" Her older brother, aged seven, grins and joins in with: "H, I, J, K, L, M, N, O, pee! Get it? Pee! Pee-pee!" Both fall about laughing. |
 | How virtual reality might help fight recurring nightmaresYou might say that Patrick McNamara is in a frightening line of work. As a sleep researcher, he's hunting for new ways to treat people with nightmare disorder (also known as dream anxiety disorder). Being chased by a malevolent entity, McNamara says, is one of the most common recurring nightmares that patients report experiencing over and over again. |
Measles: Why it's so deadly, and why vaccination is so vitalOn the darkest day of 2018, the winter solstice, we at the Center for Vaccine Research at the University of Pittsburgh tweeted, with despair, a report in the Guardian that measles cases in Europe reached the highest number in 20 years. | |
 | Who's smoking now, and why it mattersSuppose you were told that there is something responsible for nearly 1 of every 5 deaths of Americans, and that it is completely avoidable. Would you believe – today – that "something" is cigarette smoking? |
 | Enjoying classical music: how reading influences our hearingA recent study puts the influence of a composer's prestige on the evaluation of classical music into perspective and shows that the enjoyment of music is promoted by lively texts. |
 | So you went vegan in January – now what?Many people will have had their fill of cheese, chocolate and meat over Christmas and have felt much more energised after going vegan in January (an event known as Veganuary). This invigorating feeling is largely due to the increase in fruit, vegetables, nuts and pulses as opposed to the cutting out of meat and dairy, but it's still a big win. |
In defence of Canada's Food GuideCanada's new food guide is an audacious piece of healthy public policy. | |
 | The dangers of hidden fat: Exercise is your best defense against deep abdominal fatFeb. 1, 2019—Scientists know that the type of fat you can measure with a tape isn't the most dangerous. But what is the most effective way to fight internal, visceral fat that you cannot see or feel? The answer: exercise. |
 | Northwest US measles cases prompt look at vaccine exemptionsA measles outbreak near Portland, Oregon, has revived a bitter debate over so-called "philosophical" exemptions to childhood vaccinations as public health officials across the Pacific Northwest scramble to limit the fallout. |
 | Newly identified messenger molecules could help protect survival of neuronesScientists from the University of Sheffield have identified new messenger molecules shuttled between cells which could help to protect the survival of neurones—potentially leading to new treatments for MND. |
 | Suicide can't be predicted by asking about suicidal thoughts, major Australian study showsThe majority of people who die by suicide deny having suicidal thoughts when asked by doctors in the weeks and months leading up to their death, a ground-breaking UNSW Sydney study has found. |
 | A new toolkit for studying how 'PARP' activity boosts cancersA new method developed by scientists at Johns Hopkins Bloomberg School of Public Health is likely to speed the study of an important biological process called ADP-ribosylation. |
 | Site of care may affect patients' access to palliative treatmentFor patients at the end of life, palliative care can prolong survival and improve the quality of life for patients with a life-threatening illness and for their families. But studies have found that racial and ethnic minorities are less likely to receive end-of-life palliative care than their counterparts. A new study conducted by investigators at Brigham and Women's Hospital set out to understand why and has revealed that site of care may be a key contributing factor to this difference among patients with advanced, metastatic cancer. Their results are published in JAMA Network Open. |
 | Study predicts worsening of overdose crisis, limits of focusing on prescription opioidsA study from investigators at the Massachusetts General Hospital (MGH) Institute for Technology Assessment projects that the opioid overdose epidemic in the U.S. is likely to increase in coming years, and that measures based on restricting access to prescription opioids will have a minimal impact in reducing overdose deaths. In their report published in JAMA Network Open, the team notes that the changing nature of the epidemic—which is now driven by the use of illicit opioids like heroin and fentanyl—has reduced the potential impact of programs targeting prescription opioids. |
 | No sweat? That's an issue for home-schooled childrenParents who home-school their children may think putting them into organized sports and physical activities keeps them fit, but Rice University researchers say young people need more. |
 | Protecting those on the frontline from EbolaIn a world where we can travel the globe by jet, diseases that were once thought to plague faraway places can now strike close to home. |
New study may help guide treatment of pediatric anxietyResearchers from the University of Cincinnati (UC) examined common medications prescribed for children and adolescents with anxiety disorders, to determine which are the most effective and best-tolerated. This study revealed that the selective serotonin reuptake inhibitors (SSRIs) performed best overall compared to other types of medications. | |
 | Walking for health benefits just got easier to trackIn an ongoing study exploring walking for health across the adult lifespan, University of Massachusetts Amherst kinesiology researchers found that walking cadence is a reliable measure of exercise intensity and set simple steps-per-minute guidelines for moderate and vigorous intensity. |
Keeping the peace when mom and grandma disagree on feeding the kidsMany mothers have to navigate a sea of advice from family and experts when it comes to feeding their babies. Nonetheless, nutrition educators typically focus only on the mother, even in Latino communities where grandmothers and other older female relatives often play major roles in caring for children. | |
 | Vaping may pose big risk for smoking in otherwise 'low-risk' kids(HealthDay)—The kind of teenager least interested in smoking appears to be the type most likely to try a cigarette after they experiment with vaping, a new study indicates. |
 | Seven things that can affect the heart—and what to do about themDebby Schrecengast's blood pressure was "through the roof." She had gained a lot weight. A history of heart disease ran deep in her immediate family. |
 | CDC: most black HIV patients interviewed for partner services(HealthDay)—More black index patients diagnosed with HIV are interviewed for partner services than all index patients combined, according to research published in the Feb. 1 issue of the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention Morbidity and Mortality Weekly Report. |
 | Minimal benefit for decision aid about prolonged ventilation(HealthDay)—A personalized web-based decision aid about prolonged mechanical ventilation does not improve prognostic concordance between clinicians and surrogate decision makers, according to a study published online Jan. 29 in the Annals of Internal Medicine. |
 | Use of image analysis to ID HER2 status in breast cancer outlined(HealthDay)—Recommendations have been developed to improve accuracy, precision, and reproducibility in the interpretation of human epidermal growth factor receptor 2 (HER2) immunohistochemistry (IHC) results for breast cancer with use of quantitative image analysis (QIA); the guideline was published online Jan. 15 in the Archives of Pathology & Laboratory Medicine. |
 | Maternal glucose in pregnancy tied to child's glucose outcomes(HealthDay)—In utero exposure to higher levels of maternal glucose is associated with higher glucose levels and insulin resistance during childhood, according to a study published online Jan. 7 in Diabetes Care. |
 | As Ebola outbreak marks 6 months, health centers a concernThe deadly Ebola outbreak in eastern Congo is marking six months with officials noting a worrying number of confirmed cases linked to health centers. |
 | Designing antibodies to fight the fluThe influenza virus is an annual threat to public health around the world. Rapid changes in viral surface proteins (antigens), however, make it difficult to identify antibodies with broadly neutralizing activity against different influenza subtypes. |
 | Quinn on Nutrition: What's in your lunch bag?I have to admit I was pretty proud of myself when I unpacked the leftovers from my lunch bag this week. Almost by accident, what I had pulled out of the fridge as I ran out of the house turned out to be a fairly balanced meal: the last bit of turkey soup I had thawed from my freezer and reheated for dinner the previous night, the remainder of a spinach, cucumber and tomato salad, and a square of leftover cornbread. I love when that happens. |
 | ATS publishes new clinical guideline on home oxygen for childrenThe American Thoracic Society has developed a new clinical practice guideline for home oxygen therapy for children. The guideline appears in the Feb. 1 edition of the Society's American Journal of Respiratory and Critical Care Medicine. |
60+ health care groups urge CMS to maintain coverage for medically necessary cancer testingLeading health care companies and organizations representing patients, providers, academic medical centers, laboratories, and diagnostic manufacturers urged the Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services (CMS) to revise its interpretation of the National Coverage Determination (NCD) for Next Generation Sequencing (NGS). In a letter to CMS Administrator Seema Verma, 63 organizations expressed serious concerns that the overly broad interpretation will restrict patient access to medically necessary and relevant clinical tests and adversely impact cancer care and outcomes. | |
 | The future of minority health and health disparities research is hereHealth disparities have persisted, despite extensive research and a decades-long mandate to eliminate them. Thus, the National Institute on Minority Health and Health Disparities (NIMHD) led a National Institutes of Health-wide, two-year science visioning process to chart a new research course to improve minority health and reduce health disparities. The American Journal of Public Health (AJPH) special issue, New Perspectives to Advance Minority Health and Health Disparities Research, is the culmination of this process with input from experts to help NIH determine the science needed to address health disparities. Thirty specific research strategies were identified across the three pillars that guided the science visioning: methods and measurement, etiology, and interventions. |
Biology news
 | New type of map connects the dots in cellular reprogrammingA new use of an old mathematical method analyzes a massive single-cell RNA sequencing experiment to explore how cells move from one state to another. |
 | Study shows lungless salamanders' skin expresses protein crucial for lung functionFor decades, scientists have assumed that the hundreds of species of salamanders that lack lungs actually "breathe" through their skin and the lining of the mouth, and Harvard researchers are providing the first concrete evidence for how they do it. |
 | Microbes help make the coffeeWhen it comes to processing coffee beans, longer fermentation times can result in better taste, contrary to conventional wisdom. Lactic acid bacteria play an important, positive role in this process. Other species of microbes may play a role in this process as well, but more research is needed to better understand their role. The research is published February 1 in Applied and Environmental Microbiology. |
 | Microbes hitched to insects provide a rich source of new antibioticsMedicine was transformed in the 20th century by the discovery and development of antibiotics, the vast majority of which came from one source: soil bacteria. |
 | Hong Kong seizes record eight tonnes of pangolin scalesA record eight tonnes of pangolin scales found in a container from Nigeria was unveiled by Hong Kong officials Friday, underscoring the city's central role in the booming illegal wildlife trade. |
 | Special airlift for baby flamingos in peril in South AfricaA special airlift for thousands of baby flamingos is under way in South Africa as drought has put their breeding ground in peril. |
 | Cloning monkeys for research puts humans on a slippery ethical slopeScientists have many tools at their disposal to study, manipulate and copy genes. |
 | Researchers identify proteins that control mucous production, suggest clues to treating colon and airway diseasesCells produce mucins at a constant rate, and when exposed to an allergen or pathogen, they produce more mucin in a rapid burst. Both the constant and rapid mucin secretion is controlled by calcium. CRG researchers Gerard Cantero-Recasens and Vivek Malhotra wanted to understand how normal cells secrete mucins in the right quantity and quality, so they can design procedures to correct mucin secretion defects in diseases where either too much or too little mucin is produced, such as asthma, chronic obstructive pulmonary disease, Crohn's disease and colorectal cancer. |
 | The presence of people is slowing shark recovery on the Great Barrier ReefMuch of the Great Barrier Reef is legally protected in an effort to conserve and rebuild the fragile marine environment. Marine reserves are considered the gold standard for conservation, and often shape our perception of what an "undisturbed ecosystem" should look like. |
 | UH marine mammal research captures rare video of newborn humpback whaleThe humpback whale calf is so new that its dorsal fin and tail flukes appear soft and flimsy, and its mother is still excreting blood, while sometimes supporting the calf on her back. The rare video minutes after birth was captured by the University of Hawaiii at Manoa's Marine Mammal Research Program (MMRP) in January 2019. |
Fiber composition in rice coproducts revealed in new studyRice coproducts in pig diets add fat and fiber, but too much fiber can decrease energy absorption and digestibility. A recent study from the University of Illinois characterizes the chemical composition of fiber in rice and rice coproducts, which could lead to diet interventions for improved digestibility. | |
Enzyme warps space to break the cell's speed limitJohns Hopkins researchers have found that rhomboid enzymes, which are special proteins that cut other proteins, are able to break the "cellular speed limit" as they move through the cell membrane. Rhomboid enzymes do this by warping their surroundings, letting them glide quickly from one end of the membrane to another. | |
 | You know that 'rain' smell? It can help scientists study how smell affects behaviorTake a whiff when it rains after a dry spell, and breathe in the earthy scent that pervades the air. That smell comes from decomposing bacteria, and scientists call the compound geosmin. |
 | Scientists strategize for better conservation plansEndangered and invasive species may be better managed in the future with new techniques outlined by a Texas A&M University scientist and others. |
 | If you think they're warm enough, wear a thin jacket and spend 10 minutes outside with your petAs frigid temperatures sweep parts of the country during the final days of January, experts from Purdue's College of Veterinary Medicine have some advice when it comes to keeping your furry friends safe from the winter elements. |
Rare whale found dead in Everglades National Park watersA rare whale was found dead in the waters of Florida's Everglades National Park. | |
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