Dear Reader ,
Here is your customized Science X Newsletter for July 29, 2019:
Spotlight Stories Headlines
Astronomy & Space news
 | NASA's TESS mission finds 'missing link' planetsNASA's newest planet-hunting satellite has discovered a type of planet missing from our own solar system. |
 | Researchers recreate the sun's solar wind and plasma 'burps' on EarthThe sun's solar wind affects nearly everything in the solar system. It can disrupt the function of Earth's satellites and creates the lights of the auroras. |
 | Radio galaxy 3C 236 investigated with LOFARUsing the LOw Frequency ARray (LOFAR) astronomers took a closer look at the giant radio galaxy 3C 236. The observations, detailed in a paper published July 22 on the arXiv pre-print repository, shed more light on the morphology and structure of 3C 236, which could be helpful in advancing our knowledge about radio galaxies in general. |
 | Tracer galaxies probe the cosmic backgroundThe universe, perhaps surprisingly, is not comprised of galaxies randomly distributed throughout space; that is, it is not very homogeneous. Instead, its galaxies are clustered into distinct structures, typically gigantic filaments separated by vast voids—the "large-scale structure (LSS)," an architecture whose discovery and mappings were pioneered by CfA astronomers about thirty years ago. Astronomers since have combined LSS maps with results from the cosmic microwave background radiation (CMBR) and ideas about the inflationary big bang to assemble a remarkably consistent picture of the universe, its origins and its evolution. |
 | Study shows that the Moon is older than previously believedA new study spearheaded by Earth scientists at the University of Cologne's Institute of Geology and Mineralogy has constrained the age of the Moon to approximately 50 million years after the formation of the solar system. After the formation of the solar system, 4.56 billion years ago, the Moon formed approximately 4.51 billion years ago. The new study has thus determined that the Moon is significantly older than previously believed—earlier research had estimated the Moon to have formed approximately 150 million years after solar system's formation. To achieve these results, the scientists analysed the chemical composition of a diverse range of samples collected during the Apollo missions. The study "Early Moon formation inferred from hafnium-tungsten systematics' was published in Nature Geoscience. |
 | NASA's Mars 2020 rover does biceps curlsThe robotic arm on NASA's Mars 2020 rover does not have deltoids, triceps or biceps, but it can still curl heavy weights with the best. In this time-lapse video, taken July 19, 2019, in the clean room of the Spacecraft Assembly Facility at the Jet Propulsion Laboratory in Pasadena, California, the rover's 7-foot-long (2.1-meter-long) arm handily maneuvers 88 pounds' (40 kilograms') worth of sensor-laden turret as it moves from a deployed to a stowed configuration. |
 | Next satellite in the European Data Relay System is fueledThe second satellite to join the constellation that forms the European Data Relay System (EDRS) has finished fueling and is days away from launch. |
 | Image: Hubble snaps a galactic potpourri of particlesEvery now and then, the NASA/ESA Hubble Space Telescope glimpses a common object—say, a spiral galaxy—in an interesting or unusual way. A sharply angled perspective, such as the one shown in this Hubble image, can make it seem as if we, the viewers, are craning our necks to see over a barrier into the galaxy's bright center. |
 | Image: Ahuna Mons on CeresThis image, based on observations from NASA's Dawn spacecraft, shows the largest mountain on the dwarf planet Ceres. |
 | Space mining kits blast off for tests in orbitAstronauts are to test the world's first space mining devices, in an advance that could open up a new frontier in exploring the universe. |
 | NASA's new lightweight X-ray mirrors ready for try-outs in spaceRecent testing has shown that super-thin, lightweight X-ray mirrors made of a material commonly used to make computer chips can meet the stringent imaging requirements of next-generation X-ray observatories. |
Technology news
 | AI-powered tool predicts cell behaviors during disease and treatmentLarge-scale atlases of organs in a healthy state are soon going to be available, in particular, the Human Cell Atlas. This is a significant step in better understanding cells, tissues and organs in healthy state and provides a reference when diagnosing, monitoring and treating disease. However, due to the sheer number of possible combinations of treatment and disease conditions, expanding these data to characterize disease and disease treatment in traditional life science laboratories is labor-intensive and costly, and therefore not scalable. |
 | Firefox Reality browser plus Oculus Quest are prom king and queenGrandma, is it true people in 2019 had to browse the web in 2-D? Mozilla has this time raised web browsing to another level with its virtual reality web browser, Firefox Reality, released for Oculus Quest headsets. Immersion will really grow on users spending time on games and video. Angela Moscaritolo, PCMag, wrote Thursday: "Not thrilled with the Oculus Quest's built-in web browser? Now there's an alternative: Mozilla's Firefox Reality." |
 | Bionic vision system works with augmented reality glassesA company focused on a bionic vision system sees hope for improvements in patients by means of a wireless sub-retinal implant together with augmented reality glasses. |
 | Solar flares, bubble rings, and ink chandeliersEngineers from Caltech have generated a computer simulation of underwater bubble rings that is so realistic it is virtually indistinguishable from a video of the real thing. The point of the research, however, lies well beyond creating next-generation computer graphics. Instead, its developers hope that the simulation can shed light on the mathematics and forces that govern such phenomena. |
 | Using artificial intelligence to fill in gaps in ancient textsEnrique Jiménez makes use of artificial intelligence to fill in the many tantalizing gaps in the surviving texts written on clay tablets by scribes in early urban societies 3000 years ago. |
 | 'Deforming' solar cells could be clue to improved efficiencySolar cells and light sensing technologies could be made more efficient by taking advantage of an unusual property due to deformations and defects in their structures. |
 | Alibaba reveals processor based on RISC-V architectureAn Alibaba chip subsidiary Pingtouge has launched a chip processor suited for high performance applications. It's a RISC-V processor. |
 | Technology on our fingertipsJust a few years ago, "haptics" (interaction by touching) was a subject studied in only a few labs around the world. As it became more widely used in touch screens and in the automotive industry, the number of researchers pursuing this field also grew larger, naturally. There is much attention on surface haptics in particular. The main objective in this area is to provide tactile feedback to the user through frequently used touch screens in mobile devices, tablets, and kiosks. |
 | An elegant solution to the soft sensing challengeFrom warehouses to hospitals, soft robots are used in different places to assist humans in moving items, treating patients, and gathering information. As interests in these robots keep growing, scientists are developing ways to give them the kind of sensing capabilities found in natural soft tissue. |
 | How to make electrical muscle stimulation feel natural to virtual reality usersIf there's one familiar sound whenever a volunteer tries out an interactive device that uses electrical muscle stimulation, it is probably laughter. Even for experienced users of the technology, the sensation of a machine controlling your body feels unnatural and strange. Something about the experience disrupts people's sense of agency—the feeling of being in control of one's actions—which could interfere with the technology's potential to improve learning and make virtual reality more realistic. |
 | How data science in and for Africa can blaze new trailsThe term "data science" was coined by scientists working at the social networks LinkedIn and Facebook in 2008. A few years later, they dubbed it "the sexiest profession of the 21st century." |
 | AI researcher offers insight on promise, pitfalls of machine learningThese days, the latest developments in artificial intelligence (AI) research always get plenty of attention, but an AI researcher at the U.S. Naval Research Laboratory believes one AI technique might be getting a little too much. |
 | How can you reliably spot a fake smile? Ask a computerReal and fake smiles can be tricky to tell apart, but researchers at the University of Bradford have now developed computer software that can spot false facial expressions. |
 | Researchers test ocean robots to make subsea cable surveys faster and cheaperIn 2016, when an oil tanker off the British mainland came upon a patch of stormy weather near the Channel Islands, it dropped anchor to wait things out. Moments later, internet speeds on the UK island of Jersey plummeted. |
 | WhatsApp played a big role in the Nigerian electionThere is growing concern about the potential for the message and media sharing platform WhatsApp to undermine democracy in a number of countries across the world including Brazil and India. |
 | A 26-year-old billionaire is building virtual border walls—and the federal government is buyingOn a Friday afternoon in late July, a crowd of techies, military types and a few civilians deployed to the new Irvine, Calif., headquarters of Anduril Industries, a defense tech start-up, to sip hibiscus margaritas and admire the sensor towers and carbon-fiber drones on display. Dave Brubeck tinkled over the sound system, and the dress code skewed office casual and pastel, offset by the bright red pop of a lone "Make America Great Again" hat by the taco bar. |
 | Hackers could use connected cars to gridlock whole citiesIn the year 2026, at rush hour, your self-driving car abruptly shuts down right where it blocks traffic. You climb out to see gridlock down every street in view, then a news alert on your watch tells you that hackers have paralyzed all Manhattan traffic by randomly stranding internet-connected cars. |
 | H2 Power, hydrogen fuel startup, licenses new formula from Army Research LabThe U.S. Army announced that it signed a patent license agreement with a Chicago-based hydrogen fuel company that hopes to disrupt transportation and portable energy markets. |
 | Solar panels cast shade on agriculture—in a good wayImagine you are a farmer struggling to keep up with production demands because of the increasingly stressful climate. Or perhaps you are a producer of renewable energy struggling with dramatic heat and weather. With increasing temperatures, solar panels get too hot to function properly, and crops demand more water, problems that are exacerbated by drought and climate conditions. |
 | 'Mommy bloggers' study reveals factors that drive success in social influencer marketingInfluencer marketing is extremely widespread, yet ineffective. Eighty-six percent of companies use it as part of their social media strategy, but effectiveness remains low. For an influencer on Facebook, the average engagement rate per post is 0.37 percent; on Twitter, it is even lower at 0.05 percent. |
 | Researchers develop technology to harness energy from mixing of freshwater and seawaterSalt is power. It might sound like alchemy, but the energy in places where salty ocean water and freshwater mingle could provide a massive source of renewable power. Stanford researchers have developed an affordable, durable technology that could harness this so-called blue energy. |
 | Ransomware 'hero' Hutchins freed after guilty pleaA British computer security researcher called a hero for stopping a global ransomware attack but blamed for creating other damaging malware was set free Friday by a federal judge after having pleaded guilty to US criminal charges. |
 | Journalists investigating Russia targeted by cyberattacks: ProtonMailReporters investigating Russian military intelligence have been targeted by highly sophisticated cyberattacks through their encrypted email accounts, with evidence suggesting Moscow was responsible, the email service provider ProtonMail and journalists said Saturday. |
 | France aims for US digital tax deal by late August: ministerFrance wants to reach a deal with the US on taxing tech giants by a G7 meeting in late August, Economy Minister Bruno Le Maire said Saturday. |
 | YouTube needs 'new set of rules and laws': executiveThe video-sharing platform YouTube is striving to block those who would use it to promote racism, hate speech, violence and disinformation, its number two executive has told AFP, as the Google-owned company comes under increasing scrutiny. |
 | Cuba expands internet access, but under a very wary eyeAll Cubans can now have Wi-Fi in their homes, as the island's government extends internet access even while trying to maintain control over its version of the "truth" and to defend its legitimacy, a top official tells AFP. |
 | EU court rules sites must warn about Facebook 'like' buttonEurope's top court ruled Monday that online retailers must warn web users that they send personal data to Facebook through the "like" button. |
 | Americans' views on tech firms turn sharply negative: pollAmericans' views on major technology firms have taken a dramatic negative turn in the past four years, with both Democrats and Republicans seeing the sector in a less positive light, a poll showed Monday. |
 | Uber acts against LGBT discrimination during Dutch gay prideRide-hailing operator Uber announced Monday it has launched in the Netherlands a new function that allows LGBT users to report if they have suffered discrimination. |
Medicine & Health news
 | Brain region linked to altered social interactions in autism modelAlthough psychiatric disorders can be linked to particular genes, the brain regions and mechanisms underlying particular disorders are not well-understood. Mutations or deletions of the SHANK3 gene are strongly associated with autism spectrum disorder (ASD) and a related rare disorder called Phelan-McDermid syndrome. Mice with SHANK3 mutations also display some of the traits associated with autism, including avoidance of social interactions, but the brain regions responsible for this behavior have not been identified. |
 | Two therapeutic targets identified for deadly lung cancerThe vast majority of deadly lung cancer cases (85 percent) are termed non-small-cell lung carcinomas (NSCLCs), which often contain a mutated gene called LKB1. Salk Institute researchers have now discovered precisely why inactive LKB1 results in cancer development. The surprising results, published in the online version of Cancer Discovery on July 26, 2019, highlight how LBK1 communicates with two enzymes that suppress inflammation in addition to cell growth, to block tumor growth. The findings could lead to new therapies for NSCLC. |
 | High levels of estrogen in the womb linked to autismScientist have identified a link between exposure to high levels of oestrogen sex hormones in the womb and the likelihood of developing autism. The findings are published today in the journal Molecular Psychiatry. |
 | Identity-shifting cells protect against rupture in atherosclerosisChanging your identity to protect others might sound like something reserved for comic book vigilantes, but a study led by researchers at the Stanford University School of Medicine has found a select group of cells in artery walls do just that. |
 | Hospitals key in the spread of extremely drug-resistant bacteria in EuropeNew research has found that antibiotic-resistant strains of Klebsiella pneumoniae, an opportunistic pathogen that can cause respiratory and bloodstream infections in humans, are spreading through hospitals in Europe. Certain strains of K. pneumoniae are resistant to the carbapenem antibiotics that represent the last line of defence in treating infections and are therefore regarded as extremely drug resistant (XDR). |
 | Key gene behind hallmark of Lou Gehrig's disease identifiedInside the brains of patients with amyotrophic lateral sclerosis, a debilitating neurodegenerative disease, is a telltale sign that marks almost every case: clumps of toxic proteins. |
 | Study finds genetic basis for re-experiencing symptoms in PTSDA study based on the Million Veteran Program of the U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs has identified multiple locations in the human genome related to the risk of re-experiencing traumatic memories, the most distinctive symptom of posttraumatic stress disorder. |
 | Study reveals how bacteria beat immune systemsThe evolution of more severe infections is not necessarily driven by bacteria multiplying faster, new research shows. |
 | Discovery could lead to new treatments for Parkinson's, other brain diseasesA small protein previously associated with cell dysfunction and death in fact serves a critical function in repairing breaks in DNA, according to new research led by scientists at Oregon Health & Science University. |
 | TET proteins: double agents in DNA methylation prevent catastrophic cancerIn addition to the four major bases in the DNA alphabet—A, C, G and T—there is also a minor "fifth" base, 5-methylcytosine (5mC), which plays a disproportionately important role in deciding whether genes and other DNA elements are turned on or off. Not surprisingly, defects in cytosine methylation are associated with developmental abnormalities, genetic diseases and cancer. |
 | Prosthetics for retinal stimulationIn a study recently published in Advanced Biomedical Engineering, researchers at Okayama University report a thin photoelectric film which can stimulate degenerated retinal tissues of the eye. |
 | Researchers compare cost effectiveness of different types of treatments for rheumatoid arthritisA team of researchers affiliated with several institutions in Finland has created a model to compare the cost-effectiveness of different types of treatments for rheumatoid arthritis. In their paper published in the open access journal PLOS One, the group describes how they created their model and what it showed. |
 | Researchers decode the structure of the ribonucleoprotein of the rabies virusA research team of the Institute of Virology of the University of Veterinary Medicine Vienna has achieved a major breakthrough in exploring the rabies virus: for the first time, researchers were able to exactly depict the structure of the RNP of this virus that is highly dangerous to terrestrial mammals. |
 | Simultaneous infection by 2 viruses the key to studying rare lymphomaNew research has found that a rare blood cancer can be simulated in the lab only by simultaneously infecting white blood cells with two viruses typically found in the tumors. |
New insights into how the brain worksThe brain is composed of many different types of neurons, and scientists are just beginning to uncover the functional significance of this vast cellular diversity. At Baylor College of Medicine, Drs. Benjamin Arenkiel, Gary Liu and their colleagues at Baylor, the Jan and Dan Duncan Neurological Research Institute at Texas Children's Hospital and Rice University studied the functional relationships between inhibitory interneurons, a type of nerve cell, and two excitatory cell types, called tufted cells and mitral cells, in the murine olfactory bulb. | |
 | Lung cell patches its own DNA on the fly to survive influenzaScientists at Duke University have identified one kind of lung cell that can hustle to repair its damaged DNA and survive an attack of the influenza A virus while other kinds of cells around it die in droves. |
 | The effects of skin aging vary depending on ethnicity, review findsThe population in the United States is expected to become increasingly older, with estimates indicating that by the year 2030, nearly 40 percent of Americans will be over the age of 65. |
Medications used to treat atrial fibrillation may raise risk of fallsFor older adults, fainting and falls are serious health concerns. They can lead to injury, hospitalization, and other severe consequences. Having certain chronic conditions, as well as taking certain medications, can raise your risk of experiencing falls and fall-related injuries. | |
 | Robotic surgical tool, not medical evidence, drives free hernia screeningsSome hospitals are trying a curious new tactic to attract patients: free hernia screenings. |
 | Are fighter pilots at greater risk for prostate cancer? The Air Force is now askingThe Air Force has begun to look at whether there's increased risk for prostate cancer among its fighter pilots. A new investigation by McClatchy shows just how serious the problem may be. |
 | Despite vaccine, Ebola is spreadingWhen Ebola broke out in the Democratic Republic of the Congo a year ago, the global stockpile of a long-anticipated vaccine was 300,000 doses. |
Beds are leading cause of non-fatal head injuries in infantsA vast report, looking at the products and activities associated with non-fatal traumatic brain injuries for youngsters aged up to 19, in 66 US hospitals' emergency departments, has revealed that floors, beds and American football are posing some of the greatest risks. | |
 | Most deaths related to noncardiac surgery occur after surgery and after discharge from hospitalIt's not the operating room that is risky for patients undergoing noncardiac surgery; it's the recovery period. According to a large international study, only 0.7% of deaths in these patients occurred in the operating room, whereas 29% of deaths occurred after discharge from hospital. The study, which included patients at 28 centres in 14 countries, was published in CMAJ (Canadian Medical Association Journal). |
Researchers develop novel imaging approach with potential to identify patients with CADCoronary artery disease (CAD) - caused by plaque buildup in the artery walls that constricts the flow of blood to the heart—is the most common form of heart disease and the leading cause of death for both men and women in the United States. Non-invasive imaging such as cardiovascular magnetic resonance imaging is often used to diagnose coronary heart disease. However, current techniques are cumbersome, costly and expose patients to adverse health risks. | |
Interventions aimed at parents and kids boost safe sex practicesMany parents are reluctant to talk with their kids about sex. But a new study shows that interventions involving parents and children lead to safer sexual practices—and do not make adolescents more likely to engage in sexual activity. | |
 | Doctors more likely to recommend antihistamines rather than cough & cold medicine for kidsFor respiratory infections in children under 12, physicians are increasingly more likely to recommend antihistamines and less likely to recommend cough and cold medicines, a Rutgers study found. |
Global scheme to cut price of expensive hepatitis drugs boosts treatment rateAn initiative to improve access to high-cost hepatitis C treatments in poorer countries has resulted in more people being treated for the disease. | |
 | Resilient shark spines may inform treatment for human bone diseaseSharks don't only have powerful jaws. They also have enviably strong spines. Their spines constantly flex when they swim, but never wear out during the fish's lifetime. |
 | Sex differences in kidney injuryEvidence indicates men have higher incidence of chronic kidney disease and quicker renal decline than premenopausal women. However, sex differences in the expression and activation of the EGF receptor (EGFR), which mediates progressive renal injury, are largely unexplored. |
 | Adjusting pH levels in drinking water may be key to combating the obesity crisisObesity and health problems caused by high sugar content in drinks can be tackled by increasing the pH level and reducing the quantity of total dissolved solids (TDS) in water, according to research from the University of Sheffield, Innovate UK, De Montfort University and WET Global Ltd. |
| Protein research: Supposed disorder is not disorder after allMany, but not all, proteins in a living cell have a defined three-dimensional structure. The interrelationship between the structure and function of proteins is the focus of many research initiatives that extend to the development of innovative drugs. |
 | Men and HIV: How poverty, violence and inequality play a partIt's obvious that men's practices and behaviour are central to women's vulnerability to HIV. This is why a major focus in the fight against HIV has been on interventions involving work with men and boys to "transform masculinities" specifically on forms of masculinity that reinforce men's power over women as a way to reduce HIV transmission. |
 | Why parents should fear measles, not the vaccineThe oxygen flow was at maximum but it wasn't enough to keep Aliyah alive. Her measles-damaged lungs failed in the night. |
 | An app to prevent pregnancy? Don't count on itFertility awareness apps are being championed as a new approach to contraception. In reality, while the technology may be new, women have been predicting the fertile days in their menstrual cycles to prevent pregnancy for a very long time. |
 | Study finds people have expectations of the ideal number of collaborators to make a productWhen it comes to how people view the group size of a collaboration, new University of Toronto research finds there's such a thing as too many—and too few—cooks in the kitchen. |
 | Lymph nodes can predict survival in patients with esophageal cancerOptimal methods for predicting treatment efficacy in patients with esophageal cancer are seriously lacking. But now, researchers from Japan have found a useful alternative to existing methods for predicting patient outcomes. |
 | 'Time travel' as dementia care is spreading, but the future may be more powerful than the pastThe village of Hogeweyk in The Netherlands has been compared with the Truman Show. It is home to 152 people with dementia and is run by carers who maintain a round-the-clock false reality for the residents. Hogeweyk resembles a 1950s village, with carers acting as butchers, shopkeepers and greengrocers, allowing the residents to "relate to things from their younger days". Residents are free to shop, visit the local cafe and roam around, all within the confines of this "dementia village." |
 | New treatment option for nonalcoholic fatty liver diseaseA team led by Michael Trauner at MedUni Vienna's Division of Gastroenterology and Hepatology demonstrated the beneficial effect of synthetically produced bile acid with the active agent nor-ursodeoxycholic acid (nor-urso) in the hitherto incurable liver disease primary sclerosing cholangitis (PSC) around two years ago. A recent trial has now shown that nor-urso is also an effective treatment option for nonalcoholic fatty liver disease. The results were recently published in leading journal The Lancet Gastroenterology & Hepatology. |
 | Racial disparity in care starts with youngest, frailest patientsMany studies have uncovered racial gaps in health care in the United States, but now a new review confirms that the disparity begins at birth. |
 | Why you still need omega-3 fatty acids(HealthDay)—After vitamins and minerals, fish oil with its omega-3 fatty acids is the most widely used supplement, taken by an estimated 10% of Americans. |
 | Living with repetitive strain injuryRepetitive strain injury (RSI) can affect anyone who uses his or her hands a lot and repeats the same movements over and over again. It can develop whether you're working at a computer all day or spending hours of leisure time immersed in handicrafts. |
 | FDA: blood clot, death risk up with higher dose of tofacitinibNew warnings about an increased risk of thrombosis and of death among ulcerative colitis patients taking the 10 mg twice daily dose of the drug tofacitinib (Xeljanz, Xeljanz XR) have been issued by the U.S. Food and Drug Administration. |
 | Outpatient service receipt down after medicaid disenrollment(HealthDay)—For patients with mental health (MH) disorders, disenrollment in Medicaid is associated with a reduction in the likelihood of receiving any outpatient service and any MH-related outpatient service, according to a study published in the August issue of Medical Care. |
Asthma medication inhibits changes in diabetic retinopathy in type 1 diabetes mouseIn a study published July 26 online in the journal Diabetes, physician-researchers from University Hospitals Rainbow Babies and Children's Hospital and Case Western Reserve University School of Medicine, found that the asthma medication montelukast (brand name Singulair), can inhibit early changes in diabetic retinopathy, the eye disease which develops due to diabetes, in a mouse model of type 1 diabetes. | |
 | Do babies like yawning? Evidence from brain activityContagious yawning is observed in many mammals, but there is no such report in human babies. Whether babies recognize yawning is an unanswered question. |
 | Bangladesh struggles to contain record dengue outbreakBangladesh is in the grip of the country's worst-ever dengue fever outbreak, officials said Monday, with hospitals overflowing and social media flooded with pleas for blood donors. |
 | Tart cherry juice may juice up the brainMontmorency tart cherry juice has long been coveted by gout sufferers, athletes for exercise recovery, and those seeking a good night's sleep. Now there's evidence that this polyphenol-rich beverage may help improve cognitive performance in older adults. |
New drug providing hope for babies with aggressive Acute Lymphoblastic LeukaemiaA breakthrough new drug is providing hope to tiny babies at risk of dying from an aggressive form of Acute Lymphoblastic Leukaemia and could help all cancer patients. | |
 | Researchers discover incredible HULLK that controls prostate cancer progressionCancer researchers at the University of Virginia School of Medicine have identified a key to controlling the growth and progression of prostate cancer, the second most common cancer in men. The researchers have dubbed this key "HULLK," and they believe it could be used to target and stop the progression of a cancer that kills more than 30,000 American men every year. |
 | Babies display empathy for victims as early as 6 monthsBabies show empathy for a bullied victim at only six months of age, according to researchers at Ben-Gurion University of the Negev and Hebrew University in Israel. |
 | Laboratory study paves way for new approach to treating hair loss in humansJapanese scientists have developed an efficient method of successfully generating hair growth in nude mice. The new method can be scaled up and therefore shows great potential for clinical applications in human hair regenerative therapy. |
 | Mechanical forces control cell fate during brain formationA new study coordinated by the Research Group in Developmental Biology at UPF shows that during the embryonic development of the brain, the cells that are between adjacent segments detect the mechanical forces generated during morphogenesis to regulate the balance between progenitor stem cells and differentiated neurons. The study has been published in the journal Development. |
 | Researchers discover therapy to treat drug-resistant acute lymphoblastic leukemiaAcute lymphoblastic leukemia accounts for one in five adult leukemias, and is the most common pediatric cancer in the United States. While new immune therapies have helped improve survival rates, some patients are unresponsive to existing treatment regimens. In addition, drug-related toxicities and drug resistance are rampant for these patients, spurring an urgent need for new therapy options. |
 | Current challenges and next steps in treating pediatric acute respiratory distress syndromeA new review of Pediatric Acute Respiratory Distress Syndrome (PARDS) highlights the lack of data available for standard treatment approaches and adjunctive therapies, leading to significant variability in patient management. This comprehensive review article, which also identifies a great need for studies to generate outcomes data in pediatric patients with ARDS, is published in Pediatric Allergy, Immunology, and Pulmonology, a peer-reviewed journal from Mary Ann Liebert, Inc., publishers. |
 | Study finds worrisome birth-control knowledge gapsA new study has uncovered concerning gaps in knowledge about birth control effectiveness. |
 | Clinical trial reveals potential for treating larger strokes with thrombectomyBuilding on research results published today in JAMA Neurology showing patients with larger ischemic strokes could benefit from endovascular thrombectomy, an international, multicenter Phase III clinical trial will be starting at The University of Texas Health Science Center at Houston (UTHealth). |
 | Stem cell transplantation: Chance of survival increases with number of proceduresDoes the treatment success of a certain procedure depend on the number of cases in a hospital or on how often the doctors working there have already performed this procedure? In Germany, this is the subject of 8 commissions on minimum volumes awarded by the Federal Joint Committee (G-BA) to the Institute for Quality and Efficiency in Health Care (IQWiG). The IQWiG report is now available for the first indication investigated, stem cell transplantation. |
 | Substantial costs attributable to hospital-acquired C. difficile(HealthDay)—Hospital-acquired Clostridioides difficile infection (HA-CDI) is associated with substantial attributable costs, according to a study published online July 25 in Infection Control & Hospital Epidemiology. |
 | Pivotal trial begins for repair of thoracoabdominal and pararenal aortic aneurysmsThe pivotal trial to determine the safety and effectiveness of a modular device designed to be the first completely off-the-shelf endovascular solution for aortic aneurysms involving the visceral branch vessels is successfully underway with its first surgery at UNC Hospitals in Chapel Hill, NC. |
 | Trying to avoid a second stroke? Blood pressure control is key(HealthDay)—If you've already had one stroke, your risk for another is much higher. But new research found that well-controlled blood pressure can reduce that risk by about 20%. |
 | AHA news: A date with 'The heartbreaker,' then open-heart surgeryAngie Bryan and her date were taking a stroll on a Saturday afternoon when she started to lag behind. Way behind. As she slowed to the point of stopping, she began to gasp for air, able to take only shallow breaths. |
 | Previous silent MI often found at autopsy in sudden cardiac death(HealthDay)—Autopsies show that more than 40 percent of individuals who experience sudden cardiac death (SCD) associated with coronary artery disease (CAD) have had a previously undetected myocardial infarction, according to a study published online July 10 in JAMA Cardiology. |
 | Serious falls pose risk to people living with HIV(HealthDay)—Benzodiazepines and muscle relaxants are associated with serious falls among people living with HIV in their 50s, according to a study recently published in the Journal of Acquired Immune Deficiency Syndrome. |
 | Pediatricians have role to play in addressing racism(HealthDay)—Pediatricians should play a role in advocating to redress biases and inequalities in the health system and other systems, according to a policy statement published online July 29 in Pediatrics. |
 | Opioid prescribing, new persistent use down after childbirth(HealthDay)—Since 2008, there has been a decrease in opioid prescribing and new persistent use after vaginal or cesarean delivery, according to a study published online July 26 in JAMA Network Open. |
 | Smart brain stimulators: Next-gen parkinson's disease therapyResearchers at the University of Houston have found neuro biomarkers for Parkinson's disease that can help create the next generation of "smart" deep brain stimulators, able to respond to specific needs of Parkinson's disease patients. Those with the disease often undergo the high-frequency brain stimulation, a well-established therapy for the progressive nervous system disorder that affects movement, but the therapy has been imprecise. |
 | Deep brain stimulation modifies memoryDeep brain stimulation of the cingulate cortex worsens memory recall, according to research in epilepsy patients published in JNeurosci. The technique could be a way to target specific brain areas in the treatment of memory disorders. |
 | Blocking dopamine weakens effects of cocaineBlocking dopamine receptors in different regions of the amygdala reduces drug seeking and taking behavior with varying longevity, according to research in rats published in eNeuro. |
 | Impaired brain activity in rats with family history of alcohol abuseNeural activity that reflects the intention to drink alcohol is observed in the prefrontal cortex and is blunted in rats with a family history of excessive drinking, according to research from eNeuro. This insight could lead to novel treatments for alcohol use disorders. |
 | Midwives and nurse-midwives may underestimate the dangers of prenatal alcohol useAlcohol use during pregnancy can have harmful consequences on the fetus including restricted growth, facial anomalies, and neurobehavioral problems. No amount of alcohol use during pregnancy has been proven safe. Yet a recent survey of midwives and nurses who provide prenatal care showed that 44% think one drink per occasion is acceptable while pregnant, and 38% think it is safe to drink alcohol during at least one trimester of pregnancy. |
 | WHO hails new DRC aid in fight against EbolaThe head of the WHO on Saturday said a shortage in funding to halt the spread of the deadly Ebola virus in the Democratic Republic of Congo was finally being filled. |
 | Hurry up and wait: Docs say insurers increasingly interfereAfter Kim Lauerman was diagnosed with ovarian cancer, doctors wanted to give her a drug that helps prevent infections and fever during chemotherapy. Her insurer said no. |
 | Big question in opioid suits: How to divide any settlementThe roughly 2,000 state and local governments suing the drug industry over the deadly opioid crisis have yet to see any verdicts or reach any big national settlements but are already tussling with each other over how to divide any money they collect. |
Biology news
 | Komodo dragon genome reveals clues about its evolutionThe Komodo dragons are the largest lizards in the world. These predators weighing up to 200 pounds can detect their prey from up to 7.5 miles away. And although they are cold-blooded, they can ramp up their metabolism to near mammalian levels, which gives them great speed and endurance. However, scientists have understood little about how the DNA of these remarkable lizards encodes such astounding characteristics. |
 | Spotting tomato blight with a smartphoneResearchers at North Carolina State University have developed portable technology that allows farmers to identify plant diseases in the field. The handheld device, which is plugged into a smartphone, works by sampling the airborne volatile organic compounds (VOCs) that plants release through their leaves. |
 | Infants expect leaders to right wrongs, study findsInfants 17 months of age expect leaders—but not others—to intervene when one member of their group transgresses against another, a new study reveals. |
 | Researchers build artificial cells that sense and respond to their environmentThe artificial cells could be used to sense changes in the body and respond by releasing drug molecules, or to sense and remove harmful metals in the environment. |
 | Like film editors and archaeologists, biochemists piece together genome historyOld-school Hollywood editors cut unwanted frames of film and patched in desired frames to make a movie. The human body does something similar—trillions of times per second—through a biochemical editing process called RNA splicing. Rather than cutting film, it edits the messenger RNA that is the blueprint for producing the many proteins found in cells. |
 | It pays to explore in times of uncertaintyWhen making choices, people tend either to go with what they know or try something new. We experience this trade-off every day, whether choosing a route to work or buying breakfast cereal. But does one strategy have an advantage over another? Researchers decided to examine this question by looking at fishing boat captains, who face this choice again and again when deciding where to fish. |
 | Could viruses affect climate? New study probes effects on global nutrient cycleNowadays we're getting more used to the idea that entire ecosystems of tiny bacteria are living on our skin, in the soil of our gardens and within the oceans where we catch dinner. |
 | Just how resilient are biofilms?Biofilms hold promise for generating electricity and removing contamination from groundwater, but they also threaten many industrial processes and human health. As the environment changes in which these biofilms thrive, it is unclear how well these living systems will function. Earlier studies proved that certain biofilms were more resilient to changes in their environment, but how they survived was unclear. To help resolve the issue, researchers examined the molecular workings of model biofilms exposed to the toxic chemical, hexavalent chromium. Their work is helping understand biofilms' responses to stress. |
 | Team's study reveals details of new DNA repair pathwayA team of Vanderbilt investigators has discovered how a DNA repair pathway protein shields sites of damage to avoid mutations and maintain genome integrity. |
 | Scientists look to synthetic biology and 3-D printing for life support in spaceAs NASA gears up to send humans back to the moon or even to Mars, they'll need to figure out how to keep these humans healthy and safe, far away from the resource-abundant Earth. |
 | After years of decline, some European seagrass meadows show signs of recoveryEuropean research has found that a third of European seagrass was lost to disease, declining water quality and coastal development, chiefly during the 1970s and 1980s. However, since the late 20th century that decline has been gradually slowing and in some places seagrass meadows are recovering as a result of EU measures to improve water quality. The findings, made by European scientists including Marieke van Katwijk at Radboud University, have been published in Nature Communications. |
 | Desert seed-harvesting ants will save nestmates from spiderwebsIt started out as a typical day at work for ant researcher Christina Kwapich. |
 | Introduced species dilute the effects of evolution on diversityUnderstanding how biodiversity is shaped by multiple forces is crucial to protect rare species and unique ecosystems. Now an international research team led by the University of Göttingen, German Centre for Integrative Biodiversity Research (iDiv) and the Helmholtz Centre for Environmental Research (UFZ), together with the University of Hawai'i at Mānoa, has found that biodiversity is higher on older islands than on younger ones. Furthermore, they found that introduced species are diluting the effects of island age on patterns of local biodiversity. The findings were published in PNAS (Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences). |
 | Fish reveal limb-regeneration secretsWhat can fish teach scientists about limb regeneration? Quite a bit, as it turns out. |
 | Can tinkering with gut microbes really improve our health?Steven Finkel tells the story of a close family member who had a discomforting health issue—the kind you don't discuss at the dinner table. |
 | When tree planting actually damages ecosystemsTree planting has been widely promoted as a solution to climate change, because plants absorb the climate-warming gases from Earth's atmosphere as they grow. World leaders have already committed to restoring 350m hectares of forest by 2030 and a recent report suggested that reforesting a billion hectares of land could store a massive 205 gigatonnes of carbon—two thirds of all the carbon released into the atmosphere since the Industrial Revolution. |
 | Some good conservation news: India's tiger numbers are going upIndian tiger numbers are up, according to one of the most detailed wildlife surveys ever conducted. Tiger populations have risen by 6%, to roughly 3,000 animals. |
 | For a fragile frog population, wildfire is the latest challengeKaty Delaney stood at the top of the canyon, below her feet a wooded glen transformed into a wasteland. |
 | Increasing value of ivory poses major threat to elephant populationsThe global price of ivory increased tenfold since its 1989 trade ban by the Convention on the International Trade in Endangered Species (CITES), new research has found. The University of Bristol Veterinary School study, published in Biological Conservation [25 July], is the first to analyse trends in global ivory market values since the ban came into effect. |
 | Study considers sensory impacts of global climate changeStudies of how global change is impacting marine organisms have long focused on physiological effects—for example an oyster's decreased ability to build or maintain a strong shell in an ocean that is becoming more acidic due to excess levels of carbon dioxide. |
 | Parasitic bat flies offer window into lives of hostsA new study on a Bahamian bat makes the case for using the species' unusual parasites to reveal details about the species' populations on the archipelago. Using parasites to glean information about their hosts isn't a new concept, but typically scientists have focused only on parasites that exhibit tight links with individual hosts in a species over tens of thousands of years. The new research, published today in the Journal of Parasitology, provides evidence for extending this concept based on information provided by blood-feeding bat flies that spend a large percentage of their lives independent of their hosts and switch among host individuals of the same species. |
 | Vietnam seizes 125 kilos of rhino horn hidden in plasterFifty-five pieces of rhino horn were found encased in plaster at an airport in the Vietnamese capital, authorities said Sunday, as the country tries to crack down on sophisticated wildlife smuggling routes. |
Msholo the African elephant leaves San Diego for AtlantaAn African elephant that spent a decade at San Diego Zoo Safari Park has moved across the country to a new home at Zoo Atlanta. | |
 | 28 days later, French deep-sea divers back from the depthsAfter 28 days below the sea at a crushing depth of 120 metres, a team of four researchers emerged into the sunshine at the French Mediterranean port of Marseille on Sunday. |
This email is a free service of Science X Network
You received this email because you subscribed to our list.
If you do not wish to receive such emails in the future, please unsubscribe here.
You are subscribed as jmabs1@gmail.com. You may manage your subscription options from your Science X profile
No comments:
Post a Comment