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Here is your customized Science X Newsletter for February 22, 2019:
Spotlight Stories Headlines
Astronomy & Space news
 | Touchdown: Japan probe Hayabusa2 lands on distant asteroidA Japanese probe sent to collect samples from an asteroid 300 million kilometres away for clues about the origin of life and the solar system landed successfully on Friday, scientists said. |
 | Solving the jet/cocoon riddle of a gravitational wave eventAn international research team including astronomers from the Max Planck Institute for Radio Astronomy in Bonn, Germany, has combined radio telescopes from five continents to prove the existence of a narrow stream of material, a so-called jet, emerging from the only gravitational wave event involving two neutron stars ever observed. With its high sensitivity and excellent performance, the 100-meter radio telescope in Effelsberg played an important role in the observations. |
 | An exoplanet with an 11-hour orbitThe Transiting Exoplanet Survey Satellite (TESS) was launched on April 18 of last year with the primary objective of discovering transiting planets smaller than Neptune around stars bright enough for spectroscopic investigations of their masses and atmospheres. Before TESS there were roughly 385 exoplanets known with masses smaller than Neptune, with orbital periods ranging from less than half-a-day to about two Earth-years. |
 | Virgin Galactic: Rocket reaches space again in test flight (Update)Virgin Galactic's rocket plane reached space for a second time in a test flight over California on Friday, climbing higher and faster than before while also carrying a crewmember to evaluate the long-awaited passenger experience. |
 | Israel flying to moon after SpaceX launchAn Israeli spacecraft rocketed toward the moon for the country's first attempted lunar landing, following a launch Thursday night by SpaceX. |
 | Image: Restless star makes for stunning stormGeomagnetic activity caused by our star recently created a stir in the skies over Iceland, resulting in the seeming electrification of the night, as captured here by photographer Ollie Taylor. |
Technology news
 | An approach for motion planning on asteroid surfaces with irregular gravity fieldsAsteroids are small, rocky bodies orbiting the sun that are too small to be called planets. There are millions of asteroids in the solar system, ranging in size, shape and composition. The exploration of asteroids could help to uncover fascinating information about the origin of the solar system, of planet Earth, and of life itself. |
 | Finding keyholes in metals 3-D printingAdditive manufacturing's promise to revolutionize industry is constrained by a widespread problem: tiny gas pockets in the final product, which can lead to cracks and other failures. |
 | System better allocates time-sensitive data processing across cores to maintain quick user-response timesToday's data centers eat up and waste a good amount of energy responding to user requests as fast as possible, with only a few microseconds delay. A new system by MIT researchers improves the efficiency of high-speed operations by better assigning time-sensitive data processing across central processing unit (CPU) cores and ensuring hardware runs productively. |
 | Report finds uh-oh issues in popular password managersVulnerabilities have been identified in password managers running on Windows 10. Maryland-based Independent Security Evaluators published a report earlier this week baring examination results on a number of popular password managers. |
 | Could blockchain ensure integrity of clinical trial data?UC San Francisco researchers have created a proof-of-concept method for ensuring the integrity of clinical trials data with blockchain. The system creates an immutable audit trail that makes it easy to spot any tampering with results—such as making the treatment look more effective or diminishing side effects. |
 | Apps send intimate user data to Facebook: reportA news report Friday said many smartphone apps were sending highly personal information such as menstrual cycles and body weight to Facebook, without notifying users. |
 | Under fire Huawei and foldable screens in focus at top mobile fairPhone makers will focus on foldable screens and the introduction of blazing fast 5G wireless networks at the world's biggest mobile fair starting Monday in Spain as they try to reverse a decline in sales of smartphones. |
 | Baidu profit falls but revenue beats expectationsLeading Chinese internet search provider Baidu has announced a 50 percent plunge in net profit for the fourth quarter but revenue beat expectations on growth in its core search business and a push into artificial intelligence (AI). |
Pinterest files confidentially for stock listing: reportPinterest, the online "visual discovery" service which claims some 250 million users, has filed confidentially for a stock market listing, The Wall Street Journal reported Thursday. | |
 | BMW, Daimler to invest 1 bn euros in joint carsharing schemeGerman auto giants BMW and Daimler said Friday they would invest one billion euros ($1.1 billion) in combining and extending their carsharing schemes DriveNow and Car2Go, in future offering a slew of "mobility services", including for electric cars. |
 | YouTube walks a tightrope with its video makers, advertisersYouTube's year-in-review video is usually a celebration of video creators who upload free clips—sometimes wacky, sometimes personal, sometimes offensive—that the company then sells ads against. |
 | New program picks out targets in a crowd quickly and efficientlyIt can be harder for computers to find Waldo, an elusive character that hides within crowds in a popular children's book series, than it is for humans. |
 | A nonvolatile spintronics-based 50uW microcontroller unit operating at 200MHzResearchers at Tohoku University have announced the development of a nonvolatile microcontroller unit (MCU) which achieves both high performance and ultra-low power by utilizing spintronics-based VLSI design technology. |
 | How to break down work into tasks that can be automatedVirtually every organization is wrestling and experimenting with automation. But most are missing the benefits that come from deep and systemic change. One of the largest failings, in our estimation, is that organizations aren't spending the time necessary to deeply understand the work they're considering automating. They aren't deconstructing jobs so the specific tasks that can be automated can be identified. And without deconstruction, companies risk significant collateral damage and minimizing their ROI as they attempt to automate entire jobs. |
 | Top German court backs VW owners in 'dieselgate' opinionGermany top court on Friday backed Volkswagen owners' claims against the firm over cars rigged to cheat regulatory emissions tests, in an opinion that could guide lower courts' rulings. |
 | Green New Deal's focus on renewable energy could fight global warming, create healthier communities, says expertThe Green New Deal, a proposal taken up by scores of members of Congress this month, aims to use "clean, renewable, and zero-emission energy sources" to provide 100 percent of the power used in the U.S. |
 | Utilities are starting to invest in big batteries instead of building new power plantsDue to their decreasing costs, lithium-ion batteries now dominate a range of applications including electric vehicles, computers and consumer electronics. |
 | Ford launches probe into actual emissions of its vehiclesFord has launched an investigation into the actual emissions of its vehicles after employees reported errors in data given to authorities, the automaker said. |
 | Why are TVs so cheap now? Well, your smart TV is watching you and making extra money, tooYour smart TV is watching you. And making money off you as well. |
Nike smart sneakers experience connection issues days after release, users reportSometimes, seemingly promising futuristic products don't launch without a hitch. Customers who purchased Nike's brand-new Adapt BB smart sneakers have reported experiencing this firsthand. | |
 | Samsung Galaxy Buds wireless earbuds are $130 rival to AirPodsSamsung's Galaxy Fold foldable phone and line of Galaxy S10 line of smartphones may have attracted most of the attention at the company's latest Unpacked event, but its latest earbuds may be the most interesting, and affordable, new product for many. |
 | Mark Zuckerberg talks privacy, accidentally disses Facebook PortalTalking about the future of technology, which is Mark Zuckerberg's personal challenge this year, can be hard, as the Facebook CEO has found out over the years—whether it's before Congress or on television. |
 | As Spotify gets into podcasts, industry readies for a new eraSome are calling it the second golden age of audio. |
Qualcomm's latest 5G chips to deliver 7 gigabits per second speeds to mobile devicesQualcomm is introducing a 5G cellular modem chip that the company says is capable of delivering peak wireless download speeds of 7 gigabits per second to mobile devices. | |
 | Cellphone internet access bringing changes fast to CubaAfter a tornado slammed Havana in late January, Mijail Ramirez complained on Twitter that authorities were threatening to evict him from his damaged home. A week later he said the government had changed its mind and would help him rebuild the house. |
 | Physicists train the oscillatory neural network to recognize imagesPhysicists from Petrozavodsk State University have proposed a new method for oscillatory neural network to recognize simple images. Such networks with an adjustable synchronous state of individual neurons have, presumably, dynamics similar to neurons in the living brain. |
British investigators drop probes on Rolls-Royce, GSKBritain's Serious Fraud Office on Friday dropped major investigations into engineering firm Rolls-Royce and pharmaceutical giant GlaxoSmithKline in a move condemned by anti-corruption watchdog Transparency International. | |
 | VW sees steady profits in 2018 resultsGerman car giant Volkswagen on Friday reported steady operating profit and rising revenues in 2018, but said its "dieselgate" emissions cheating scandal again inflicted one-off costs of 3.2 billion euros ($3.6 billion). |
For Tesla, effects of Elon Musk's take-private tweet continueTesla and CEO Elon Musk settled with the SEC last year over Musk's tweets about taking the company private, but the fallout isn't over. | |
Medicine & Health news
 | Health policy analysts call for more stringent rules for AI medical applicationsA trio of health policy analysts from the University of Pennsylvania and the University of California has published a Policy Forum piece in the journal Science calling for more stringent rules for the introduction of AI medical applications. In their paper, Ravi Parikh, Ziad Obermeyer and Amol Navathe outline five standards they believe should be instituted as part of allowing AI medical applications to be used for medical purposes. |
 | New MRI sensor can image activity deep within the brainCalcium is a critical signaling molecule for most cells, and it is especially important in neurons. Imaging calcium in brain cells can reveal how neurons communicate with each other; however, current imaging techniques can only penetrate a few millimeters into the brain. |
 | Correct antibiotic dosing could preserve lung microbial diversity in cystic fibrosisChildren and young adults with cystic fibrosis (CF) whose lung infections were treated with suboptimal doses of antibiotics had fewer changes in lung microbial diversity during the IV treatment, and their microbial diversity levels were higher 30 days later, a multi-institutional study that includes Children's researchers shows. By contrast, patients who were treated with therapeutic doses had greater decreases in lung microbial diversity and significantly lower diversity levels when the antibiotic treatment ended as well as 30 days later. |
 | US opioid deaths jump fourfold in 20 years; epidemic shifts to Eastern statesOpioid-related deaths nationwide jumped fourfold in the last two decades, and the epidemic has made major inroads in the Eastern states, according to a new study by researchers at the Stanford University School of Medicine, Harvard University and the University of Toronto. |
 | Treatment to a T? Taking a 'BiTE' out of lung cancerImmune cells called T cells are key components in the fight against cancer. However, they sometimes struggle to recognize cancerous cells or to launch an appropriate response against them. T cell activity can be tweaked to improve anticancer effects using cancer immunotherapy, but this is only effective for a subset of patients, who are difficult to identify in advance. |
 | Why a blow to the chest can kill or save youA blow to the chest can have highly contrasting effects. For instance, some baseball players have died after being hit in the chest by a baseball, while patients undergoing fatal cardiac tachyarrhythmias have been saved by an appropriately timed thump to the chest. Scientists know that such blows create rapid strains on heart tissue, but they still don't fully understand how the blows affect cardiac functioning. Researchers at EPFL's Soft Transducers Laboratory and at the Department of Physiology of the University of Bern (Group Rohr) have developed an experimental device that lets scientists subject bioengineered heart tissue to highly dynamic strain cycles and measure its electrophysiological response. Their work has just been published in Nature Communications. |
 | Researchers map early visual processing between the retina and the brainHow are the images cast on the retina reassembled in the brain? Researchers in Munich and Tuebingen find that processing of visual stimuli occurs at the earliest waystation on the way to the visual cortex—but not all inputs are treated equally. |
 | Phantom limb sensation explainedAfter a limb amputation, brain areas responsible for movement and sensation alter their functional communication. This is the conclusion of a new study published today in Scientific Reports. According to the authors, from the D"Or Institute for Research and Education (IDOR) and Federal University of Rio de Janeiro (UFRJ), the findings may help to understand why some patients report phantom sensations and others do not. |
 | First step toward model brain: turning iPSCs into working blood-brain barrierVanderbilt University engineering researchers took a major step toward building a "brain in a dish:" They cultured induced pluripotent stem cells into a successful three-dimensional blood-brain barrier model. |
 | Researchers create organoid of a brain region to study cognitive disordersIn a lab dish, Yale researchers modeled two brain structures and their interactions to shed light on the origins of neuropsychiatric diseases. |
 | Discovery of new 'checkpoint' points to new cancer immunotherapy optionAn international team involving Vanderbilt researchers has discovered that a new "checkpoint" protein on immune system cells is active in tumors, and that blocking it—in combination with other treatments—is a successful therapeutic approach in mouse models of cancer. The findings were reported in the journal Cell. |
 | Failure to take statins leads to higher mortality ratesPatients who took statins less than 70 percent of the time had a 20 percent increase in mortality compared with those taking them at least 90 percent of the time, a Stanford study found. |
 | Breast cancer study confirms importance of multigenerational family data to assess riskA team of researchers led by Columbia University Mailman School of Public Health Professor Mary Beth Terry, Ph.D., evaluated four commonly used breast cancer prediction models and found that family-history-based models perform better than non-family-history based models, even for women at average or below-average risk of breast cancer. The study is the largest independent analysis to validate four widely used models of breast cancer risk and has the longest prospective follow-up data available to date. The findings are published online in The Lancet Oncology. |
Raging bull: smashing away anger at Indonesia's 'Temper Clinic'Armed with crowbars and wearing protective gear, three women assembled at a Jakarta stress clinic survey the cluster of bottles they're about to smash to pieces. | |
Experts warn of a surge in vector-borne diseases as humanitarian crisis in Venezuela worsensThe ongoing humanitarian crisis in Venezuela is accelerating the re-emergence of vector-borne diseases such as malaria, Chagas disease, dengue, and Zika virus, and threatens to jeopardise public health gains in the country over the past two decades, warn leading public health experts. The conclusion comes from a Review paper that provides the most comprehensive assessment of the impact of the crisis in Venezuela, published in The Lancet Infectious Diseases journal. | |
 | Doctor-affiliated PACs fund political candidates who oppose firearm safety policiesPolitical action committees (PACs) affiliated with physician organizations contribute more money to political candidates who oppose evidence-based policies to reduce firearm-related injuries than to those who support such policies, a new study found. |
 | Clinical trial: Prenatal DHA prevents blood-pressure increase from obesity during childhoodResearch published today in JAMA Network Open by investigators at the University of Kansas and KU Medical Center finds pregnant mothers who daily consumed 600 milligrams of docosahexaenoic acid (DHA)—an omega-3 fatty acid found in prenatal vitamins, fish-oil supplements and fish meat—protected their offspring from the blood pressure-elevating effects of excessive weight in early childhood. |
 | Researchers discover potential attack strategy for aggressive breast cancerUniversity of North Carolina Lineberger Comprehensive Cancer Center researchers have designed a novel way to attack an aggressive breast cancer. By working with a drug development company, they hope their laboratory discovery will translate to a new treatment combination in the clinic in the future. |
 | Prostate cancer patients believe robotic surgery is superior – despite limited evidenceRobotic surgery for prostate cancer – an increasingly popular treatment option – is not proven as more effective, yet many patients believe that it is, a new UNSW and Ingham Institute study shows. |
 | Virus linked to cancer takes over 'cellular mail' to alter tumor environmentA virus linked to cancer can hijack the host's cellular mail and could help drive changes in the environment around tumors, researchers from the University of North Carolina Lineberger Comprehensive Cancer Center found. |
 | Research highlights need to improve access to healthcare for high-needs patientsUniversity of Otago researchers have highlighted the need to improve access to primary health care services for high-needs populations with their recent study of high-needs patients using a free health clinic finding significant health problems. |
 | Chikungunya antibody set to enter clinical trialA monoclonal antibody against the chikungunya virus developed by researchers at Vanderbilt University Medical Center is the first monoclonal antibody encoded by messenger RNA to enter a clinical trial. |
 | Skin diseases study uses crowdsourcing to gather dataIn 1906, English statistician Francis Galton happened to visit a livestock fair where fairgoers were invited to guess the dressed weight of an ox scheduled for imminent slaughter. Some 800 attendees took part and afterwards Galton got hold of the contest data. |
 | Vanderbilt collaboration yields promising compound to treat arrhythmiaA collaboration between Vanderbilt University professors of chemistry and medicine yielded a promising compound to treat arrhythmia from an unlikely place: the fungal natural product verticilide. |
 | Left out: Researcher probes the pain of ostracismThe sad sensation of being left out inspires feelings of anger, sadness and revenge in humans – some of whom even express interest in joining gangs after being left out, according to research from the University of Virginia. |
 | Thermal stress elicits genomic changes that can make cancer cells resistant to chemotherapyHarsh treatments that fail to eliminate tumors can make them more resilient, a new A*STAR study finds. Elevated temperature, nutrient deprivation, or other environmental stressors can cause cancer cells to acquire large-scale genomic changes, some of which make them resistant to the drugs commonly used in cancer care. |
 | Genetic study seeks to prevent foodborne infection caused by SalmonellaA group of researchers from the School of Agricultural and Veterinary Sciences, at the State University of São Paulo (FCAV-UNESP) in Jaboticabal, are investigating genes that are important for the survival of the bacterial species Salmonella in the intestinal tract of poultry. The goal is to prevent foodborne infections in humans. |
 | How diabetes causes muscle lossDiabetes mellitus is associated with various health problems including decline in skeletal muscle mass. A research group led by Professor Wataru Ogawa at the Kobe University Graduate School of Medicine revealed that elevation of blood sugar levels leads to muscle atrophy and that two proteins, WWP1 and KLF15, play key roles in this phenomenon. These findings were published on February 21 in the online edition of JCI Insight. |
 | Varicose veins unlikely to develop into blood clotsSimilar to leaky pipes, veins, as they return blood to the heart, sometimes fail to close completely. They stretch out and subsequently leak near the surface of the skin, creating spider or varicose veins that may cause discomfort. |
 | How childhood infections and antibiotics may increase risks of mental illnessHospitalization for an infection might leave you at greater risk for mental illness, according to a recent study published in JAMA Psychiatry, which draws on data from youth in Denmark up to the age of 17 years. |
 | The ethical argument to reducing legal blood alcohol concentration levelIn the United States, motor vehicle accidents are a leading cause of injury and death, with 29 Americans losing their lives to alcohol-related driving incidents daily, and alcohol consumption is the single greatest contributing factor to motor vehicle fatalities. A heated public debate has resulted surrounding the legal blood-alcohol-consumption (BAC) level and new legislation has been proposed to lower the legal limit. In a new paper published in the American Journal of Public Health, Dr. Stephanie Morain, assistant professor in the Center for Medical Ethics and Health Policy at Baylor College of Medicine, examines the issue and makes an argument for amended legislation in favor of public health and safety. |
 | Do you need to wear sunscreen while skiing or snowboarding?Yes, you definitely do. While the cold winter months may not immediately bring to mind warmth and sunshine, ultraviolet (UV) rays still pose a risk and you need to apply sunscreen before heading outdoors, just like in the summer. Protecting your skin now will help prevent skin cancer, wrinkles, age spots and more. |
 | What's the right age to test for osteoporosis?(HealthDay)—Osteoporosis is a threat to many women, especially after menopause. But the lead up to weak, brittle bones can start much earlier in life. |
 | Fewer U.S. doctors are facing burnout(HealthDay)—For decades, U.S. doctors have battled the long hours and demanding schedules that often lead to "burnout." But a new study brings welcome news, showing a slight decline in the numbers of physicians dealing with the issue. |
 | Go nuts over nuts(HealthDay)—Nuts are a delicious food to enjoy year-round, adding a richer taste to many of your favorite dishes. High in protein, fiber and essential minerals, nuts also contain healthy mono- and polyunsaturated fats that help fight inflammation. |
 | Stopping inflammation from becoming chronicAn international research team led by Friedrich Schiller University in Jena has developed a highly sensitive cell model to study the complex effects – and side effects – of anti-inflammatory drugs, with the ultimate aim of preventing chronic inflammation. |
 | Scientists discover a hidden cause of encephalitisA virus previously considered to be relatively harmless has been pinpointed by University of Alberta researchers as a cause of encephalitis. |
 | Polymer valves refined by computer simulations aim to reduce costs, improve minimally-invasive proceduresNIBIB-funded engineers are designing and testing aortic heart valve replacements made of polymers rather than animal heart tissues. The goal is to optimize performance of these valves in in an effort to improve outcomes and enable increased use of a minimally-invasive method for valve replacement over the current practice of open heart surgery. |
 | New report encourages evidence-based treatment of challenging behavioursWhen an adult with developmental disabilities becomes aggressive or starts to self-harm, most people assume that professional caregivers know how best to handle such challenging behaviour. But what if the professionals aren't necessarily using the best treatments? |
 | Weight stigmatization by medical professionals is preventable, researcher saysAnti-fat stigmatization is a common problem in Canada's health-care system, but one that is preventable, says Dr. Patty Thille, assistant professor of physical therapy in the College of Rehabilitation Sciences. |
 | New World Health Organization strategy aims to halve the global impact of snakebiteA new World Health Organization (WHO) strategy aims to halve the impact of snakebite, which affects 5.4 million people globally each year, kills up to 138 000 and leaves 400 000 suffering permanent physical and psychological disabilities. |
 | Why asbestos litigation won't go away: Because asbestos won't go awayIt is tempting to dismiss asbestos as a problem of the past. The height of its consumption was in the 1970s, and asbestos litigation began over a half century ago. Many of its leading manufacturers and mining companies are long gone. |
 | Scientist identifies gene responsible for spread of prostate cancerA Rutgers study has found that a specific gene in cancerous prostate tumors indicates when patients are at high-risk for the cancer to spread, suggesting that targeting this gene can help patients live longer. |
 | Smartphone gambling encourages 'fruitless' bets"Ubiquitous" smartphone gambling and lack of regulation presents a potential danger to people with addiction problems. |
 | Scientists map cell types in fetal kidneyKidney failure is a serious issue because kidneys cannot regenerate themselves after injury. A possible solution consists of artificially growing healthy kidney tissue. To achieve that, scientists first need to understand kidney development during the earliest stages, in the fetus. Leiden researchers have now discovered that the cells that filter the blood are the only ones that are still maturing during the fetal phase. Publication ahead of print in PLOS biology on February 21st. |
 | Taming the 'hunger nerve'Jessica Knight had tried every diet out there, from low-carb to South Beach to a mail-order boxed meal plan. Ideally, she wanted to lose 50 pounds and lower her BMI, which at more than 30 was in the obese range. But she was losing hope. |
 | 3 tips: How to teach children to watch commercials more closelyWith all the time that young people spend in front of screens these days – from TVs to laptops, cellphones and iPads – children are bound to see a lot of ads and commercials. |
 | Nonconsensual porn is a growing threat among young adults, researchers findOne out of every 12 respondents in a nationwide survey say they have been victims of nonconsensual pornography. |
 | New algorithm boosts accuracy, speed of lung tumour identificationComputing scientists at the University of Alberta have developed a neural network that outperforms other state-of-the-art methods of identifying lung tumours from MRI scans—an advance that could help reduce damage to healthy tissue during radiation treatment. |
Fungus from the intestinal mucosa can affect lung healthWriting in the journal Cell, a research team from Cologne and Kiel describes the mechanism of immune cross-reactivity. The immune system's reaction to Candida albicans in the intestine seems to amplify pathogenic immune processes in the lungs. In consequence, immune-compromised individuals may be at higher risk of health deterioration. | |
 | Researchers report successful measurement of vitamin D in human hairA new study by researchers from Trinity College Dublin and St James's Hospital has reported for the first time that vitamin D can be measured in human hair. The paper has been published in the international, peer-reviewed journal of human nutrition, Nutrients. |
 | A 'joint' problem: Investigating marijuana and tobacco co-useTobacco isn't the only thing being smoked in the Deep South, and for many, it's only half of their habit. |
Researchers examine patterns of prescription opioid misuse and other substance useOn average, 130 Americans die every day from an opioid overdose and almost 218,000 Americans died from overdoses related to prescription opioids from 1999 to 2017, according to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC). | |
 | Study links Celebrex, heart valve calcification after earlier research declared drug safeA well-known, four-year study found popular arthritis drug Celebrex no more dangerous for the heart than older drugs in its same classification—commonly called NSAIDs. Now, a big-data analysis of patient records at Vanderbilt University has found a link specifically between Celebrex and heart valve calcification. |
 | Older biologic age linked to elevated breast cancer riskBiologic age, a DNA-based estimate of a person's age, is associated with future development of breast cancer, according to scientists at the National Institutes of Health. Biologic age was determined by measuring DNA methylation, a chemical modification to DNA that is part of the normal aging process. The study showed for every five years a woman's biologic age was older than her chronologic or actual age, known as age acceleration, she had a 15 percent increase in her chance of developing breast cancer. The study was published online Feb. 22 in the Journal of the National Cancer Institute. |
 | Physician well-being improving, but burnout risk remainsThe good news is that physician burnout appears to be improving, along with indicators for physician well-being. However, physicians remain at high risk for burnout, depression and depersonalization, compared to other professionals. Those are the updated findings from Mayo Clinic researchers and their collaborators that are published in Mayo Clinic Proceedings. |
 | Study: HIV infections in US could be reduced by up to 67 percent by 2030New HIV infections in the United States could be substantially reduced by up to 67 percent by 2030 if ambitious goals for HIV care and treatment are met and targeted prevention interventions for people at risk for HIV are rapidly scaled up, according to a study by Georgia State University and the University at Albany-SUNY. |
US patient advocacy groups received majority of pharma donations in multi-country studyA new study by Johns Hopkins Bloomberg School of Public Health researchers found that U.S.-based patient advocacy organizations received a disproportionate amount of contributions made by the world's 10 largest pharmaceutical companies in 2016. | |
3-D printer helps surgeons rebuild deformed jaws in haitiFor five years, Jefferson University Hospital surgeons have been traveling to Haiti to rebuild the jaws of patients whose faces are disfigured by benign, yet massive tumors. These are delicate operations, made all the more challenging because the doctors cannot see what they are dealing with until they arrive in a sparsely equipped operating room in Port-au-Prince and meet their patients. | |
Google combats opioid epidemic through providing disposable locations on Google MapsGoogle is launching a new effort in the fight against the nation's opioid crisis. | |
App that alerts CPR-trained bystanders could make lifesaving connectionIf you should collapse of a sudden cardiac arrest at the mall food court, your lifesaver could be shopping nearby and completely unaware that someone is in urgent need of help. | |
The fix for foot pain could be a surgery you didn't know aboutBrian Adams was born with very flat feet. | |
Medicaid expansion led to increase in screening for colorectal cancer patients in KentuckyKentucky is one of the poorest states in the U.S.1 However, the state has been one of the most successful in reducing its uninsured rate, which happened in part through the Affordable Care Act's Medicaid expansion that took effect on January 1, 2014.2 In the past, Kentucky has reported low rates of colorectal cancer (CRC) screening and has ranked among the highest states for incidence and mortality for the disease. One research team evaluated the impact of Medicaid expansion on the rates of CRC screening, incidence, and survival among the state's low-income population. The researchers found that the number of Medicaid patients who received screening after the expansion was more than triple the number of patients who were screened before the expansion. Additionally, CRC patients relying on Medicaid exhibited improved survival after the expansion compared to before it was implemented. The findings were published as an "article in press" on the website of the Journal of the American College of Surgeons ahead of print. | |
 | For the best health, does the intensity of your workout matter?Jog for long enough or engage in just about any physical activity that gets the heart pumping, and the result can be a feeling of euphoria commonly known as a runner's high. |
 | Mom's prenatal fish oil might help kids' blood pressure later(HealthDay)—Obese young children may have less risk for high blood pressure if their mother took the omega-3 fatty acid DHA—found in fish oil—during pregnancy, new research suggests. |
 | Odds of receiving tx for CAD up with medicare advantage(HealthDay)—For patients with coronary artery disease (CAD), those enrolled in Medicare Advantage (MA) are more likely to receive secondary prevention treatments than those enrolled in traditional fee-for-service (FFS) Medicare, according to a study published online Feb. 20 in JAMA Cardiology. |
 | Peanut allergy patch shows middling results in trialDelivering "exposure therapy" via a patch to help curb peanut allergy in kids is somewhat effective, but not as good as delivering the tiny amounts of peanut by mouth, new research shows. |
 | France sees no health reason for Nutella output stopFrench authorities said Friday that there appeared to be no health risks behind the decision to halt production of Nutella at a plant in Normandy, the world's largest factory making the prized chocolate-and-hazelnut spread. |
 | U.S. agencies probing Johnson & Johnson over asbestos in talc(HealthDay)—Johnson & Johnson is being investigated by the U.S. Justice Department and the U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission over possible asbestos contamination of the company's baby powder and other talc-based products. |
 | Potential of strategic partnerships to form a Health Equity Network of the Americas (HENA)Recognizing the persistence of health inequities in the Americas, an emerging Health Equity Network of the Americas (HENA) describes its approach to promoting health equity through intersectoral partnerships in a newly released issue of Ethnicity & Disease. |
Scientists unravel genetic basis of hypertrophic cardiomyopathy in FinnsOne third of hypertrophic cardiomyopathy cases in Finland are caused by one of the four major mutations, a new study from the University of Eastern Finland and Kuopio University Hospital shows. Overall, 40% of patients carried a specific or a likely mutation causing the disease, and 20% were carriers of a rare gene mutation whose role in the disease remains unknown. The findings of the nationwide FinHCM study, led by Professor Johanna Kuusisto at the University of Eastern Finland, were published in ESC Heart Failure. | |
 | Virtual reality a promising tool for reducing fears and phobia in autismIn a new pilot study, autistic adults showed real-life, functional improvement after a combination treatment approach that included graded exposure to fear and anxiety-producing experiences in a virtual reality environment. The design and preliminary results of this novel approach are published in Autism in Adulthood. |
 | Many shades of meaning behind 'Medicare-for-all'"Medicare-for-all" can mean different things to different people. |
New 2019 guidelines for patients with atrial fibrillationNearly 3 million Americans are living with atrial fibrillation (AFib), which is described as quivering or irregular heartbeat (arrhythmia). With increasing lifespan and increasing prevalence of risk factors such as obesity, experts believe the number of people living with AFib will increase at an exponential rate in the next decade. This has important public implications since AFib is associated with a higher risk of stroke, heart failure, cognitive decline and dementia, and death. | |
Biology news
 | Triclosan added to consumer products impairs response to antibiotic treatmentGrocery store aisles are stocked with products that promise to kill bacteria. People snap up those items to protect themselves from the germs that make them sick. However, new research from Washington University in St. Louis finds that a chemical that is supposed to kill bacteria is actually making them stronger and more capable of surviving antibiotic treatment. |
 | Climate change may affect ecological interactions among speciesWith herbivores, omnivores, carnivores, insectivores, frugivores, scavengers and decomposers, Earth's ecosystems function within a vast web of interactions among plants, animals, insects, fungi and microorganisms. A fundamental part of this web resides in the equilibrium of the food chain that links predators to herbivores and regulates plant production on our planet. |
 | Scientists sharpen their molecular scissors and expand the gene editing toolboxWake Forest Institute for Regenerative Medicine (WFIRM) scientists have figured out a better way to deliver a DNA editing tool to shorten the presence of the editor proteins in the cells in what they describe as a "hit and run" approach. |
 | Good dog? Bad dog? Their personalities can changeWhen dog-parents spend extra time scratching their dogs' bellies, take their dogs out for long walks and games of fetch, or even when they feel constant frustration over their dogs' naughty chewing habits, they are gradually shaping their dogs' personalities. Dogs, like people, have moods and personality traits that shape how they react in certain situations. New findings from Michigan State University went where few researchers have gone before to reveal that, also like humans, dogs' personalities likely change over time. |
 | Antarctic flies protect fragile eggs with 'antifreeze'The good thing about the short Antarctic summer is it's a lot like a Midwest winter. |
 | Illinois researchers are first to count growth factors in single cellsWhether healthy or diseased, human cells exhibit behaviors and processes that are largely dictated by growth factor molecules, which bind to receptors on the cells. For example, growth factors tell the cells to divide, move, and when to die—a process known as apoptosis. |
 | Preventing the production of toxic mitochondrial proteins—a promising treatment targetResearchers at the University of Helsinki uncovered the mechanisms for a novel cellular stress response arising from the toxicity of newly synthesized proteins. Activation of the stress response is at the epicentre of the molecular events generated by genetic mutations that cause a complex neurological syndrome. |
 | A decline in gene discoveriesThe number of papers reporting new protein-function discoveries in 2017 declined by two-thirds compared with 2000 output, according to research led by A*STAR. |
 | Revealing the role of the mysterious small proteinsThe human genome contains an estimated 20,000 genes coding for proteins. The proteins are the body's "workers," tasked with performing specific functions that are key to survival. Despite their importance, there is a type of very small protein of fewer than 100 amino acids that is essential to understanding how living things work, and about which researchers know very little, since merely identifying them is a veritable technological challenge. |
 | Sexual selection in action: Birds that attract multiple mates change their songs more quicklyHow do individuals choose their mates? Why are some more successful at attracting mates than others? |
 | Researchers get to the bottom of fairy circlesFairy circles are round gaps in arid grassland that are distributed very uniformly over the landscape and only occur along the Namib Desert in southern Africa and in parts of Australia. Various theories circulate about the actual cause of these unusual spatial patterns, ranging from poisonous Euphorbia plants or rising gases, to ants, termites or plant competition for sparse water resources. Scientists from the University of Göttingen, Australia and Israel have now got to the bottom of their cause with soil investigations and drones. The results suggest that the fairy circles in Australia were caused by processes such as the weathering of the soil by heavy rainfall, extreme heat and evaporation. The extensive data collected by the researchers argued against a causal relationship to underground termite structures. |
 | Setting the stage for cassava disease monitoring: A baseline for Vietnam and CambodiaSoutheast Asia is the source of 95 percent of global cassava exports, and the detection in 2015 in Cambodia of the potentially harvest-devastating Sri Lankan cassava mosaic virus (SLCMV) raised alarm. By 2016, the disease, which cannot always be detected visually, had spread, showing its potential to become a major threat to the livelihoods of millions of smallholder farming families. |
 | In hives, graduating to forager a requirement for social membershipIt is a classic coming-of-age story, in many ways. |
 | Study of human impact on food webs and ecosystems yields unexpected insightsWhen the Australian government relocated Martu hunter-gatherers from their Western Australia lands in the 1960s, no one could have predicted the massive impact their absence would have on the desert ecosystem. A new study led by Stefani Crabtree, a Santa Fe Institute Visiting Researcher (Center for Research and Interdisciplinarity, Crow Canyon Archaeological Center), and co-authored by Rebecca Bliege Bird and Douglas W. Bird of the Pennsylvania State University, shows the critical role humans play in food webs, providing important clues to managing resilient ecosystems around the globe. |
 | Being a dad is hard when you're a plainfin midshipman fishEach spring, male plainfin midshipman fish (Porichthys notatus) —a kind of toadfish —emerge from the depths of the Pacific Ocean to breed on the beach. They overwhelm the beach at low tide, wedge themselves beneath rocks and excavate a nest in the rocks and sand. When their work is completed, the bachelors settle down and hum to attract mates. |
Studying species interactions using remote camera trapsSpecies are often involved in complex interactions with other species, which can affect their occurrence, abundance, feeding habits and disease transmission. Observing and studying species interactions can be difficult. To circumvent this problem, ecologists increasingly rely on remote devices such as camera traps. In a recent study carried out by researchers from the Leibniz Institute for Zoo and Wildlife Research (Leibniz-IZW) in Germany and University of California, Davis, USA, the scientists explored to what extent camera trap data are suitable to assess subtle species interactions such as avoidance in space and time. The study is published in the international journal Remote Sensing in Ecology and Conservation. | |
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