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Here is your customized Science X Newsletter for August 29, 2019:
Spotlight Stories Headlines
Astronomy & Space news
 | Busy older stars outpace stellar youngsters, new study showsThe oldest stars in our Galaxy are also the busiest, moving more rapidly than their younger counterparts in and out of the disk of the Milky Way, according to new analysis carried out at the University of Birmingham. |
 | James Webb Space Telescope assembled for the first timeTo combine both halves of Webb, engineers carefully lifted the Webb telescope (which includes the mirrors and science instruments) above the already-combined sunshield and spacecraft using a crane. Team members slowly guided the telescope into place, ensuring that all primary points of contact were perfectly aligned and seated properly. The observatory has been mechanically connected; next steps will be to electrically connect the halves, and then test the electrical connections. |
 | Hints of a volcanically active exomoonA rocky extrasolar moon (exomoon) with bubbling lava may orbit a planet 550 light-years away from us. This is suggested by an international team of researchers led by the University of Bern on the basis of theoretical predictions matching observations. The "exo-Io" would appear to be an extreme version of Jupiter's moon Io. |
 | CERN simulating JupiterThis test facility at CERN, the European Organization for Nuclear Research, was used to simulate the high-radiation environment surrounding Jupiter to prepare for ESA's JUICE mission to the largest planet in our Solar System. |
 | Telescope for NASA's WFIRST mission advances to new phase of developmentOn schedule to launch in the mid-2020s, NASA's Wide Field Infrared Survey Telescope (WFIRST) mission will help uncover some of the biggest mysteries in the cosmos. The state-of-the-art telescope on the WFIRST spacecraft will play a significant role in this, providing the largest picture of the universe ever seen with the same depth and precision as the Hubble Space Telescope. |
 | NASA's Mars helicopter attached to Mars 2020 roverEngineers attached NASA's Mars Helicopter, which will be the first aircraft to fly on another planet, to the belly of the Mars 2020 rover today in the High Bay 1 clean room at the Jet Propulsion Laboratory in Pasadena, California. |
 | NASA invites students to name Mars 2020 roverRed rover, red rover, send a name for Mars 2020 right over! NASA is recruiting help from students nationwide to find a name for its next Mars rover mission. |
 | By continuously watching the moon, we could detect interstellar meteoritesWhen "Oumuamua crossed Earth's orbit on October 19th, 2017, it became the first interstellar object ever to be observed by humans. These and subsequent observations, rather than dispelling the mystery of "Oumuamua's true nature, only deepened it. The debate raged about whether it was an asteroid or a comet, with some even suggesting it could be an extraterrestrial solar sail. |
 | Satellite photos show burning Iran space center launch padA rocket at an Iranian space center that was to conduct a satellite launch criticized by the U.S. apparently exploded on its launch pad Thursday, satellite images show, suggesting the Islamic Republic suffered its third failed launch this year alone. |
No-fly boys: new Russian space suit clashes with pee ritualRussia on Thursday unveiled a new space suit for a future spaceship, but the design may have to be changed to continue a decades-old tradition: making a stop to pee on the way to the launch. | |
OSIRIS-REx's final four sample site candidates in 3-DThis animated flyover of each of the four candidate sample collection sites on asteroid Bennu, selected by NASA's OSIRIS-REx asteroid sample return mission, was produced using close-range data from the OSIRIS-REx Laser Altimeter (OLA), an instrument contributed by the Canadian Space Agency. It illustrates the location of each site on Bennu, the topography of each site, and the potential sampling regions that the spacecraft will target, which are 10 meters in diameter. | |
 | Space Command set to open, will defend US interests in spaceMindful of President Donald Trump's intense interest in space, the Pentagon is declaring U.S. Space Command open for business as part of a broader effort to better defend American interests in space. |
Technology news
 | A system to automatically detect and collect garbageNumerous countries worldwide are currently facing major problems related to waste collection, particularly in urban areas, due to the large amount of waste generated daily by the population. Technology could play a significant role in tackling these issues, for instance, through the development of more effective tools to gather and collect garbage. |
 | A biocompatible magnetic skin that could enable new wearable systemsResearchers at King Abdullah University of Science and Technology have recently developed a flexible and imperceptible magnetic skin that adds permanent magnetic properties to all surfaces to which it is applied. This artificial skin, presented in a paper published in Wiley's Advanced Materials Technologies journal, could have numerous interesting applications. For instance, it could enable the development of more effective tools to aid people with disabilities, help biomedical professionals to monitor their patients' vital signs, and pave the way for new consumer tech. |
 | Implanted device breakthrough: Step toward managing immune response in soft tissueResearchers from the National University of Ireland Galway (NUI Galway), Massachusetts Institute of Technology and AMBER, the SFI Research Centre for Advanced Materials and BioEngineering Research have today (Thursday, 29 August) announced a significant breakthrough in soft robotics which could help patients requiring in-situ (implanted) medical devices such as breast implants, pacemakers, neural probes, glucose biosensors and drug and cell delivery devices. |
 | Ultrathin 3-D-printed films convert energy of one form into anotherMIT researchers have developed a simple, low-cost method to 3-D print ultrathin films with high-performing "piezoelectric" properties, which could be used for components in flexible electronics or highly sensitive biosensors. |
 | Engineers build fleet of autonomous boats that shapeshiftMIT's fleet of robotic boats has been updated with new capabilities to "shapeshift," by autonomously disconnecting and reassembling into a variety of configurations, to form floating structures in Amsterdam's many canals. |
 | Researchers set solar record with next-gen cellsResearchers from the Australian National University (ANU) have broken new ground in solar cell energy efficiency and in the process provided a glimpse of the technology's future. |
 | Quantum safe tape drive: IBM team eyes encryption futureThis week a collaborative effort among computer scientists and academics to safeguard data is winning attention and it has quantum computing written all over it. |
 | Researchers develop low-power, low-cost network for 5G connectivityResearchers at the University of Waterloo have developed a cheaper and more efficient method for Internet-of-Things devices to receive high-speed wireless connectivity. |
 | Ma vs Musk: tech tycoons spar on future of AIJack Ma believes artificial intelligence poses no threat to humanity, but Elon Musk called that "famous last words" as the billionaire tech tycoons faced off Thursday in an occasionally animated debate on futurism in Shanghai. |
 | 400 US police agencies partner with Amazon on smart doorbellAmazon said Wednesday more than 400 US police departments had joined its "Ring Neighbors" network, a program aimed at curbing crime using video from the company's smart doorbell that has raised civil liberties concerns. |
 | Autonomous robots collect precise soil samples, help farmers improve yields, reduce environmental impactCollecting precise soil samples is essential for farmers because a small amount of soil determines the amount of nutrients needed for acres of crops and can determine crop yields. |
 | Novel device to improve powder flowAnyone who has tried to pour powdered sugar into a jar knows that sometimes beating the sides of the container or package is the only way to make it flow. That same process is used in making medicines and products such as powdered milk, where workers routinely hammer on the sides of large bins to unstick the powdery mixture. |
 | Science to reveal how long highway construction should actually takeEver wonder why your commute or vacation route has a lane closed down for days or even months at a time? |
 | How fast can a human cycle? With aerodynamic help, the 300km per hour barrier seems easily within reachBritish cyclist Neil Campbell recently set a new record for the men's "fastest bicycle in a slipstream," clocking up a breathtaking 280km per hour. |
 | Cryptology from the crypt: How I cracked a 70-year-old coded message from beyond the graveIn recent weeks I managed to decrypt a difficult cipher that, despite expert codebreakers' best efforts, had remained unsolved for 70 years. |
 | France climbs aboard hydrogen train revolutionFrance is joining the hydrogen train revolution, the head of state rail operator SNCF said Thursday, announcing an order for 15 emissions-free regional trains to replace polluting diesel models. |
 | Researchers reveal ultra-fast bomb detection method that could upgrade airport securityResearchers from the University of Surrey have revealed a new ultra-fast method to detect materials that could be used to build explosives. The new detection method is able to analyze a wider range of materials than current thermal based detection systems used in today's airports, while reducing false positive reports. |
 | Google Maps will let you plan 'mixed modes' of travel for complicated, multipart tripsIf your daily journey to work requires that you cycle to the bus stop or train station before taking an Uber to your job then planning out your route could be getting easier thanks to Google Maps. |
 | Researchers develop process flow for high-res 3-D printing of mini soft robotic actuatorsSoft robots are a class of robotic systems made of compliant materials and capable of safely adapting to complex environments. They have seen rapid growth recently and come in a variety of designs spanning multiple length scales, from meters to submicrometers. |
 | Facebook says it spoke to FTC about kids chat app that had flawFacebook Inc. said it had spoken to the U.S. Federal Trade Commission, which recently settled with the social media giant for $5 billion over allegations of privacy violations, about its Messenger Kids app that the company acknowledged had a flaw. |
 | Engineers demonstrate key step in robotic disassemblyEngineers at the University of Birmingham have successfully designed a robotic system that can perform a key task in disassembling component parts. |
 | Apple expected to unveil new iPhone at Sept. 10 eventApple sent out invitations on Thursday to a September 10 event at its Silicon Valley campus where it is expected to unveil a new-generation iPhone. |
 | Apple loosens grip on iPhone repair workApple on Thursday said it will begin supplying parts and training to independent repair shops, offering more options to service for devices made by the California tech giant. |
 | New Huawei handset to launch without Google appsHuawei's upcoming flagship Mate 30 smartphone will launch next month without key Google apps, creating a disadvantage for the Chinese tech giant hit by US sanctions. |
 | Darth Vader helmet among Hollywood treasures in $10 mn auctionDarth Vader's helmet from "The Empire Strikes Back" is among a vast collection of coveted Hollywood treasures going under the hammer next month, with experts predicting it could fetch nearly $500,000. |
 | BASF sells pigments unit to Japan's DIC for 1.15 bn eurosGerman chemical giant BASF said Thursday it is selling its global pigments unit to Japanese firm DIC for 1.15 billion euros ($1.27 billion). |
 | Smart software for smart devicesAlmost everywhere one turns, one sees someone using a smartphone or other mobile, internet-connected device. Commonly, usage of such devices is not to make and receive phone calls as one might expect but the use of countless services that allow one to manipulate, share, download, view, listen to digital entities, such as emails, photos, videos, audio files, and so much more. Indeed, many users keep much of their personal, private, and business lives locked and synchronized in these powerful portable computers. But, there is a problem—data leakage. How can we be sure that our smartphones aren't betraying our inner secrets to third parties with perhaps malicious intent or at best with their, not our, interest in mind? |
 | Federal grand jury indicts woman in Capital One caseA former Amazon software engineer arrested last month on charges she hacked into Capital One bank and more than 30 different companies has been indicted by a federal grand jury on charges she not only broke into the company's computer system, but also stole data for her own benefit. |
Medicine & Health news
 | No support for prion hypothesis in Parkinson's diseaseIn recent years, neuroscientists have debated whether prion-like activity damages the brain in people with Parkinson's, but scientists in Japan, after an exhaustive analysis, report no evidence of misfolded, transmissable proteins persisting at the core of the disease |
 | There is no 'gay gene,' major study concludesThere's no such thing as a single "gay gene" that drives a person's sexual behavior, concludes the largest genetic study ever conducted on the issue. |
 | Inflammation triggers silent mutation to cause deadly lung disease, study showsResearchers at the Stanford University School of Medicine have found that inflammation in the lungs of rats, triggered by something as simple as the flu, may wake up a silent genetic defect that causes sudden onset cases of pulmonary hypertension, a deadly form of high blood pressure in the lungs. |
 | Cracking the code of a brain cancer that keeps coming backOne of the most common brain cancers in children, Sonic Hedgehog (SHH) medulloblastoma, also is one of the more survivable for most kids. Unfortunately, for a subset of patients the cancer resists treatment and relapses with a vengeance to then turn deadly. |
 | Drug resistance signature discovered in Crohn's diseaseBy mapping out more than 100,000 immune cells in patients with Crohn's disease, Mount Sinai researchers have discovered a signature of cells that are involved in a type of the disease that does not respond to treatment, according to a study published in Cell in August. The discovery opens the door to identifying biomarkers and tailoring therapeutic options for patients. |
 | Machine learning algorithm can't distinguish these lab mini-brains from preemie babiesBrain organoids—also called mini-brains—are 3-D cellular models that represent aspects of the human brain in the laboratory. Brain organoids help researchers track human development, unravel the molecular events that lead to disease and test new treatments. They aren't prefect replicas, of course. Brain organoids do not replicate cognitive function, but researchers can check how an organoid's physical structure or gene expression changes over time or as a result of a virus or drug. |
 | Prostate-imaging camera captures molecular detail to detect cancerGetting a close look at the prostate is critical for detecting cancer, but its rather intimate positioning (just in front of the rectum) makes it difficult to image. Now, professor and chair of radiology Sanjiv "Sam" Gambhir, MD, Ph.D., thinks he has a solution: a newly devised hybrid camera. |
 | People's initial immune response to dengue fever analyzedResearchers have come one step closer to understanding how the immune system responds to acute dengue fever, a disease that has affected hundreds of thousands of people in Southeast Asia this summer alone. In a study published today in Nature Communications, researchers at Karolinska Institutet and Duke-NUS Medical School show that so-called natural killer cells were especially active shortly after an infection. The discovery could hopefully contribute to the development of new vaccines and improve care of patients with acute infections. |
 | Epigenetic markers associated with Alzheimer's disease foundA team of researchers from the Brigham and Women's Hospital, Harvard Medical School and the Dana-Farber Cancer Institute in the U.S., and Shanghai Medical College of Fudan University in China, has found epigenetic markers associated with Alzheimer's disease (AD). In their paper published in the journal Science Advances, the group describes studying methylation in skin cultures from patients with and without AD, and what they found. |
 | Possible protective immune response in the brain may slow progression of Alzheimer'sResearchers at the German Center for Neurodegenerative Diseases (DZNE) and the Institute for Stroke and Dementia Research (ISD) at the LMU Medical Center have found that a protein named TREM2 may have a mitigating effect on the course of Alzheimer's disease. In a new study led by Professor Christian Haass (LMU, DZNE) and Professor Michael Ewers (ISD, LMU), patients who have higher levels of TREM2 in their cerebrospinal fluid (CSF) at various stages of the disease have a better prognosis than those in whom the protein is present in lower amounts. This observation provides a starting point for the development of new therapeutic strategies. The study appears in the latest issue of the journal Science Translational Medicine. |
 | Nerves could be key to pancreatic cancer spreadA couple of molecules that nerve cells use to grow during development could help explain why the most common pancreatic cancers are so difficult to contain and for patients to survive, a new study led by Johns Hopkins Kimmel Cancer Center researchers suggests. |
 | Immortalised blood cell lines enable new studies of malaria invasionResearchers at the University of Bristol and Imperial College London have established a new model system that uses red blood cells grown in the laboratory to study how malaria parasites invade red blood cells. |
 | Human developmental clock mimicked in a dishIn early mammalian development, timing is everything. |
 | Delivering immunotherapy directly to brain tumorsA new study gives insight into how immunotherapies, treatments that help the body's immune system fight cancer, might one day be delivered directly to the brain in order to treat brain tumors. |
 | Cell-free DNA detects pathogens and quantifies damageA common problem in diagnosing infectious disease is that the presence of a potential pathogen in the body does not necessarily mean the patient is sick. This can be particularly challenging for the treatment of organ transplant recipients, who often grapple with infection as well as complications related to immunosuppression. |
Most-comprehensive analysis of fentanyl crisis urges innovative actionThe U.S. overdose crisis worsened dramatically with the arrival of synthetic opioids like fentanyl—now responsible for tens of thousands of deaths annually—and the problem requires innovative new strateges because the epidemic is unlike others that have struck the nation, according to a new RAND Corporation study. | |
 | Giving trauma patients blood pressure stabilizing hormone cuts transfusions by halfGiving trauma patients with severe blood loss the hormone arginine vasopressin (AVP) cut the volume of blood products required to stabilize them by half, according to results of a new, first-of-its-kind clinical trial from Penn Medicine. The finding, published online this week in JAMA Surgery, suggests that administering AVP to trauma patients with severe bleeding could become standard practice in trauma care, reducing the use of blood products and their adverse side effects. The authors say the study is particularly important for the treatment of patients with gun-related injuries. Each year, there are over 100,00 firearm-related injuries with over 36,000 deaths. |
 | Four European states lose measles eradication status as cases soar: WHOMeasles cases are skyrocketing in Europe and the disease is surging in four countries previously considered to have eliminated it, including the UK, the World Health Organization (WHO) warned Thursday, urging countries to step up vaccination efforts. |
 | Blocking specific protein could provide new treatment for deadly form of prostate cancerBlocking a kinase known as CDK7 sets off a chain reaction that results in the death of prostate cancer cells that have spread and are resistant to standard therapies, according to a new study from researchers in the Abramson Cancer Center at the University of Pennsylvania. The team identified the role of CDK7 as the on/off switch that controls Med-1, a process that works in partnership with the androgen receptor to drive prostate cancer growth. Researchers show turning the switch off eventually leads to the death of cancer cells in mice. Cancer Discovery published the findings today. |
Doctors encouraged to consider social determinants screening, referralsThe Feinstein Institutes for Medical Research Professor and Senior Vice President Karina W. Davidson, Ph.D., MASc, reviews clinical practices for social determinants of health screening and referrals in the September 17 issue of The Journal of the American Medical Association (JAMA). | |
 | Gut microbiota linked to organ damage in patients with sepsisSepsis is a serious condition that can result in organ failure and even death. A novel human study published in The FASEB Journal demonstrates for the first time that the gut microbiota of patients with sepsis plays a major role in organ damage. |
 | Pediatric hematologists introduce a novel way to treat pediatric hemophilia A patientsAn innovative way to treat pediatric hemophilia A patients using a combination approach has seen early success at the Aflac Cancer and Blood Disorders Center of Children's Healthcare of Atlanta, with researchers from Emory University School of Medicine. Now known as the Atlanta Protocol, in a nod to where the approach was developed, the new method involves treating patients with high dose factor VIII concentrates along with emicizumab, a modification of the standard Immune tolerance induction (ITI). |
 | A new drug could revolutionize the treatment of neurological disordersAn international team of scientists from Gero Discovery LLC, the Institute of Biomedical Research of Salamanca, and Nanosyn, Inc. has found a potential drug that may prevent neuronal death through glucose metabolism modification in stressed neurons. The positive results obtained in mice are promising for future use in humans. The new drug could have applications in neurological conditions including amyotrophic lateral sclerosis, Alzheimer's and Huntington's diseases, traumatic brain injury and ischemic stroke. The results have been published in Scientific Reports. |
 | Microbiota in home indoor air may protect children from asthmaLarge amounts of a certain type of bacteria, most likely from outdoors, may reduce the child's risk of developing asthma. This was shown by a new study by the Finnish Institute for Health and Welfare (THL) that analyzed the microbiota of over 400 Finnish homes. |
 | New patient test could tell clinicians if infections are antibiotic resistant in under two hoursA new rapid patient test that could identify whether bacteria isolated from clinical samples are antibiotic resistant in under two hours is being trialled on a range of antibiotics commonly used to treat urinary tract infections (UTIs). If successful, the test could transform decision-making around antibiotic choice by helping inform the five million antibiotic prescriptions written each year in the UK for UTIs. |
 | Autism study stresses importance of communicating with infantsA new language-skills study that included infants later diagnosed with autism suggests that all children can benefit from exposure to more speech from their caregivers. |
 | Study finds online salsa recipes for home canning lacking food safety standardsHomemade salsa recipes are abundant on food blogs, but the majority of them fail to follow USDA home canning guidelines and are a cause of food safety concern, according to a new University of Maine study. |
 | Cutting calories? Budget by meal, not by dayWeight-control programs like Weight Watchers and Jenny Craig and diet app MyFitnessPal tell dieters to set a daily calorie budget. |
 | Childhood report reveals quarter of a million UK children are unhappyAlmost a quarter of a million children in the UK report being unhappy with their lives as a whole, according to a new report by the University of York and The Children's Society. |
 | Strawberries may be key to developing an insulin pillMore than 30 million Americans suffer from diabetes and must inject themselves with insulin two to four times daily. Researchers have been looking for ways to administer the drug orally, and researchers at Carnegie Mellon University have now shown such a feat is possible. |
 | There's no evidence caesarean sections cause autism or ADHDA new study that combines data from over 20 million births has found that a cesarean section delivery is associated with autism spectrum disorder (autism) and attention-deficit hyperactivity disorder (ADHD). |
 | Restoring a gene altered in Down syndrome rescues adult neurogenesis and learning and memory defects in miceA recent study, affiliated with South Korea's Ulsan National Institute of Science and Technology (UNIST) has discovered that restoring a gene altered in Down syndrome called the Down syndrome critical region 1 (DSCR1) rescued adult neurogenesis and learning and memory defects in a Down syndrome mouse model (Ts65Dn). |
 | Using game technology to treat cognitively impaired children in AfricaUsing a game designed for sub-Saharan Africa, Michigan State University researchers are rehabilitating children who suffer from cognitive impairment after surviving life-threatening diseases such as malaria and HIV. |
 | Poor water quality linked to sugar drink consumptionConsumption of sugary drinks is common among Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander infants and toddlers, and it could be down to water quality, according to a study from The Australian National University (ANU). |
 | Covert bullying higher among young girls with disabilitiesA new South Australian study has found a serious problem of covert bullying in schools, particularly in relation to girls with disabilities. |
 | Study discovers abnormal expression of genes in psychopathy, possible treatments proposedThe abnormal expression of many genes that have previously been associated with autism are also present in cases of violent psychopathy, a new study shows. The researchers used stem cell technology to analyze the expression of genes and proteins in the brain cells of psychopathic violent offenders. Published in Molecular Psychiatry, the findings may open up new avenues for the treatment of psychopathy. The study was carried out in collaboration between the University of Eastern Finland, the University of Helsinki and Karolinska Institutet in Sweden. |
 | What's the most dangerous day of the year? Watch out on these onesSociety has become increasingly preoccupied with risk. So it's unsurprising that as social scientists, we are constantly being asked to predict where harm is most likely to strike. In terms of crime and disorder—our specialty—we know a small number of places and people suffer the majority of victimization. Using this knowledge, we know that anti-social behavior peaks around Halloween and that violence is more common in the summer, especially on unusually warm days. |
 | Adults with cerebral palsy about twice as likely to develop non-communicable diseasesAdults with cerebral palsy are about twice as likely to develop cardiovascular disease and chronic respiratory disease compared to adults without cerebral palsy, according to a new study led by RCSI (Royal College of Surgeons in Ireland) and Brunel University London. |
 | Protein shakes may not be the answer for post-gym muscle pain, new research revealsProtein shakes have long been touted as a gym bag essential, consumed by gym-goers in an effort to boost muscle recovery and minimise post-workout muscle soreness, but they may not be the most effective way to relieve aching muscles, according to a new study. |
 | Researchers describe a key protein for Epstein-Barr virus infectionScientists at the Institute for Research in Biomedicine (IRB Barcelona) and the Molecular Biology Institute of Barcelona (IBMB-CSIC) have published a study in the journal Nature Communications revealing the structure of a key protein, known as a portal, in Epstein-Barr virus infection. |
Vaccine for tick-borne disease SFTS protects against lethal infectionA KAIST research team reported the development of a DNA vaccine for Severe Fever with Thrombocytopenia Syndrome Virus (SFTSV) which completely protects against lethal infection in ferrets. The team confirmed that ferrets immunized with DNA vaccines encoding all SFTSV proteins showed 100% survival rate without detectable viremia and did not develop any clinical symptoms. This study was published in Nature Communications on August 23. | |
 | Parenting stress may affect mother and child ability to tune in to each otherA study led by Nanyang Technological University, Singapore (NTU Singapore) has revealed the effects of the stress of parenting in the brains of both mothers and their children. |
Lower risk for heart failure with new type 2 diabetes drugThe new drug type for type 2 diabetes, SGLT2 inhibitors, are associated with a reduced risk of heart failure and death, as well as of major cardiovascular events, a major Scandinavian registry study led from Karolinska Institutet reports in The BMJ. | |
 | Estimate of the national burden of HPV-positive oropharyngeal head and neck cancersOver the last two decades, there has been a rise in head and neck cancers in the oropharynx, a region in the back of the throat that includes the tonsils and the base of the tongue. The rise of this type of cancer has been linked to the human papillomavirus (HPV), a very common sexually transmitted disease. Investigators from the Dana-Farber/Brigham and Women's Cancer Center (DFBWCC) have conducted the largest and most comprehensive study to date on the incidence of HPV-positive oropharyngeal head and neck squamous cell carcinoma (OPSCC) in the United States population, finding that 75 percent of oropharynx cancers are related to HPV. They report that the U.S. incidence of HPV-related throat cancer is 4.6 per 100,000 people, peaking in those aged 60-64. Their results are published in Cancer Epidemiology, Biomarkers and Prevention. |
 | New research correlates inflammation in the brain and gut to negative emotional state during opioid withdrawalOpioid dependence has become a national crisis with serious impact on economic and social welfare, and numerous casualties. A big goal of ongoing research in combating opioid use disorder is understanding drug withdrawal. The physical and emotional symptoms of withdrawal can be life threatening and make up a powerfully negative experience; the fear of these symptoms strongly motivates addiction. |
 | No cure yet, but progress made in managing and detecting Alzheimer'sAlzheimer's disease isn't something you must either passively accept or dread, a panel of doctors and scientific experts told an audience of more than 500. |
 | Study links low vitamin D levels in young kids to aggression in adolescentsHow many times did your parents make you go outside and play? You should call and thank them. |
 | These common antibiotics could increase colon cancer riskAlthough antibiotics can help kill harmful bacteria, the drugs may increase your risk for cancer, according to a new report. |
 | New method could help assess a worker's situational awareness while multitaskingJugglers are skilled at keeping several objects in motion at the same time using a combination of tossing motions and eye movement. As objects are added to a juggler's routine, their gaze moves as the juggler tries to focus on all of the objects and avoid dropping one or two. |
 | Researchers investigate social cognition, mood and fatigue in multiple sclerosisA recent study by Kessler Foundation researchers linked the deficits in social cognition in multiple sclerosis with symptoms in other domains. The article, "Relationship between social cognition and fatigue, depressive symptoms, and anxiety in multiple sclerosis," was epublished on June 1, 2019 by the Journal of Neuropsychology. |
 | How visceral leishmaniasis spread through central-Southern BrazilThe protozoan disease visceral leishmaniasis (VL) has recently expanded to places where it had not previously been reported and has expanded its geographic distribution within countries where it was already endemic. Now, researchers writing in PLOS Neglected Tropical Diseases describe three dispersion routes that have moved Leishmania infantum into and through central-Southern Brazil, helping shed light on the overall mechanisms of VL dispersal. |
 | How chikungunya virus may cause chronic joint painA new method for permanently marking cells infected with chikungunya virus could reveal how the virus continues to cause joint pain for months to years after the initial infection, according to a study published August 29 in the open-access journal PLOS Pathogens by Deborah Lenschow of Washington University School of Medicine in St. Louis, and colleagues. According to the authors, uncovering the mechanisms for long-term disease could aid in the development of treatments and preventative measures for this incapacitating, virally induced chronic arthritis. |
 | Mutation that causes rare muscle disease protects against HIV-1 infectionA mutation that causes a type of muscular dystrophy that affects the limbs protects against HIV-1 infection, according to a study published August 29 in the open-access journal PLOS Pathogens by Sara Rodríguez-Mora, Mayte Coiras and José Alcamí of the Instituto de Salud Carlos III in Madrid, Spain, and colleagues. As the authors noted, this is the second reported genetic defect known to induce strong resistance against HIV-1 infection in humans. |
Family perceptions of end-of-life care for patients with advanced kidney diseaseIn patients with advanced chronic kidney disease (CKD), receiving high intensity care before death was linked with lower family satisfaction with care, while receiving palliative and hospice care was associated with greater family satisfaction. The findings, which appear in an upcoming issue of CJASN, raise concern that the intensive patterns of care directed at life extension rather than comfort received by many of these patients near the end of life may reflect low quality care. | |
 | Drug use, excess alcohol and no helmet common among US injured e-Scooter usersA significant proportion of e-Scooter injuries in the US seem to be occurring while 'drivers' are under the influence of drugs and/or alcohol and almost never wearing a helmet, suggests a study of admissions to three US major trauma centres, published online in Trauma Surgery & Acute Care Open. |
 | Marathoners, take your marks... and fluid and salt!Legend states that after the Greek army defeated the invading Persian forces near the city of Marathon in 490 B.C.E., the courier Pheidippides ran to Athens to report the victory and then immediately dropped dead. The story—and the distance Pheidippides covered—inspired the modern marathon, a grueling 26.2-mile contest that attracts some 1.3 million runners annually to compete in the more than 800 races held worldwide. |
 | Researchers discover new biomarker for rare autoimmune diseaseUniversity of Alberta researchers have identified a unique biological marker that can be used to identify the presence of the rare autoimmune disease myasthenia gravis, predict the course of the disease and identify new, personalized treatments. |
 | New medication may be able to improve effects of psychological treatment for PTSDA medication that boosts the body's own cannabis-like substances, endocannabinoids, shows promise to help the brain un-learn fear memories when these are no longer meaningful. These results, obtained in an early-stage, experimental study on healthy volunteers at Linköping University in Sweden, give hope that a new treatment can be developed for post-traumatic stress disorder, PTSD. The study has been published in the scientific journal Biological Psychiatry. |
 | Hormone therapy not tied to change in muscle mass in older women(HealthDay)—Hormone therapy (HT) does not significantly impact muscle mass in postmenopausal women, according to a review published online Aug. 28 in JAMA Network Open. |
 | Lab-on-a-chip may help identify new treatments for liver diseaseNon-alcoholic fatty liver disease (NAFLD)—the accumulation of liver fat in people who drink little or no alcohol—is increasingly common around the world, and in the United States, it affects between 30 and 40 percent of adults. Currently, there are no approved drugs for the treatment of NAFLD, which is predicted to soon become the main cause of chronic liver problems and the need for liver transplantation. |
 | Female surgical residents have lower salary expectations(HealthDay)—Female residents in general surgery have lower expectations for a minimum starting salary and perceive salary negotiations less favorably than male residents, according to a study published online Aug. 28 in JAMA Surgery. |
 | 2001 to 2016 saw large increase in Mohs surgery for melanoma(HealthDay)—From 2001 to 2016, the use of Mohs surgery for melanoma increased more than threefold, according to a study published online Aug. 28 in JAMA Dermatology. |
 | It's never too late to reap health rewards of exercise, strength trainingAs people age, physical activity still needs to be part of the game plan for living a healthy, happy life—and experts say it's never too late to get active and build strength. |
 | FDA warns of liver problems for some taking hep C drugs(HealthDay)—Taking the hepatitis C drugs Mavyret, Zepatier or Vosevi can trigger rare cases of severe liver problems or liver failure in patients who already have moderate-to-severe liver impairment, the U.S. Food and Drug Administration warned Wednesday. |
 | Running red lights a deadly practice that's becoming more common(HealthDay)—Everyone has done it: breezing through a red light at the last minute. But a new report shows that deaths caused by drivers taking that chance are on the rise in the United States. |
 | Post opioid-overdose interventions emerge in USOpioid-related deaths continue to take the lives of thousands in the U.S. each year, with non-fatal opioid overdoses as a significant risk factor for a subsequent fatal overdose. Post-overdose interventions are emerging in affected communities, using what support systems are available to assist in the program design. |
 | 'This ain't your mother's marijuana,' surgeon general saysFederal health officials issued a national warning Thursday against marijuana use by adolescents and pregnant women, as more states legalize the increasingly potent drug for medicinal and recreational use. |
 | Lack of oxygen doesn't kill infant brain cells, as previously thoughtNearly 15 million babies are born prematurely, or before 37 weeks of pregnancy, around the world each year. When born too early, a baby's immature respiratory center in the brain often fails to signal it to breathe, resulting in low oxygen levels, or hypoxia, in the brain. |
 | Posting all those selfies online could backfire, study finds(HealthDay)—Posting selfies on social media won't do you any favors in terms of likability. |
 | Study of bile acids links individual's genetics and microbial gut communityIn a new study published 29th August in PLOS Genetics, Federico Rey of the University of Wisconsin—Madison and colleagues identified genetic variants in mice that impact the levels of different bile acids as well as the size of a specific population of microbes in the gut. |
 | Dutch 'Bible Belt' town tries to boost measles coverageIn the Dutch coastal town of Urk, many people are still raised with a few core beliefs: God, fishing and refusing to be vaccinated. |
 | No, there's no evidence cookies can help with lactationIf you're a new mum, it's likely you've come across lactation cookies. Perhaps women in your mothers group are talking about them, or they've popped up in your Instagram feed, or you've seen them on the shelves while out shopping for your little one. |
 | Mechanism of epilepsy causing membrane protein discoveredOn August 21, Korea Brain Research Institute announced that a team led by principal researcher Lim Hyun-Ho discovered a new 3-D structure and membrane protein mechanism which causes epilepsy and muscle problems. The study results were published in the August issue of Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences (PNAS). |
 | Kitchen essentials: Gadgets that make healthy cooking easier(HealthDay)—The right tools make healthy cooking so much easier. Just a few gadgets can make all the difference. |
 | Anti-smoking advocates bemoan 'faltering' pace of FDA actionIt seemed like a new era in the half-century battle against the deadly toll of tobacco: U.S. health officials for the first time would begin regulating cigarettes, chew and other products responsible for a half-million American deaths annually. |
 | Mumps outbreaks hitting U.S. migrant detention centers(HealthDay)—A new government report finds more than 900 cases of dangerous and highly contagious mumps have occurred at 57 U.S. migrant detention facilities over the past year, with nearly half of cases occurring in Texas. |
 | Gene therapy reduces obesity and reverses type 2 diabetes in miceThe obesity epidemic affects nearly half a billion people worldwide, many of them children. Obesity-related diseases including heart disease, stroke, type 2 diabetes, and cancer are a leading cause of preventable death. Obesity is caused by both genetic and environmental factors, confounding the development of effective anti-obesity drugs, which exhibit severe off-target effects. In a study published today in Genome Research, researchers developed a gene therapy that specifically reduces fat tissue and reverses obesity-related metabolic disease in obese mice. |
 | Brazil confirms first measles death this yearBrazilian health authorities say the country has had its first death from measles this year. |
 | Source: OxyContin maker seeks to resolve all lawsuitsA settlement being pursued by the maker of OxyContin aims to resolve all claims against the company filed in both state and federal courts and provides a formula for dividing a pot of money reaching into the billions, The Associated Press has learned. |
 | US probing Juul's deceptive social media marketing: reportUS regulators are looking into potentially "deceptive marketing" used by popular e-cigarette brand JUUL Labs that targeted teens, according to a news report. |
 | Uganda says a traveling Congolese girl has EbolaUgandan health authorities say a 9-year-old Congolese girl has tested positive for Ebola within Uganda after traveling from Congo. |
Biology news
 | Pancreas on a chip: Scientists combine organ-on-a-chip and stem-cell technologiesBy combining two powerful technologies, scientists are taking diabetes research to a whole new level. In a study led by Harvard University's Kevin Kit Parker, microfluidics and human, insulin-producing beta cells have been integrated in an "Islet-on-a-Chip". The new device makes it easier for scientists to screen insulin-producing cells before transplanting them into a patient, test insulin-stimulating compounds, and study the fundamental biology of diabetes. |
 | This protein is how creatures sense cold, researchers discoverResearchers have identified a receptor protein that can detect when winter is coming. |
 | Brain waves detected in mini-brains grown in a dishScientists have created miniature brains from stem cells that developed functional neural networks. Despite being a million times smaller than human brains, these lab-grown brains are the first observed to produce brain waves that resemble those of preterm babies. The study, published August 29 in the journal Cell Stem Cell, could help scientists better understand human brain development. |
 | Global warming may diminish plant genetic variety in Central EuropePlant genetic varieties in Central Europe could collapse due to temperature extremes and drought brought on by climate change. According to a new paper, only a few individuals of a species have already adapted to extreme climate conditions. These findings suggest that the overall species genetic diversity could be greatly diminished. The publication was led by Moises Exposito-Alonso, who joins Carnegie next month from the Max Planck Institute for Developmental Biology and the University of California Berkeley. |
 | Bacteria-attacking phages could provide clues to antibiotic resistanceIs there a solution to bacteria becoming resistant to antibiotics? One answer may be found by studying the world's largest and most brutal army, new University of Otago microbiology research shows. |
 | Getting to the root of how plants tolerate too much ironIron is essential for plant growth, but with heavy rainfall and poor aeration, many acidic soils become toxic with excess iron. In countries with dramatic flood seasons, such as in West Africa and tropical Asia, toxic iron levels can have dire consequences on the availability of staple foods, such as rice. |
 | Biological 'Rosetta Stone' brings scientists closer to deciphering how the body is builtEvery animal, from an ant to a human, contains in their genome pieces of DNA called Hox genes. Architects of the body, these genes are keepers of the body's blueprints; they dictate how embryos grown into adults, including where a developing animal puts its head, legs and other body parts. |
 | Detailed map shows how viruses infect humansBiologists at Columbia University Vagelos College of Physicians and Surgeons have leveraged a computational method to map protein-protein interactions between all known human-infecting viruses and the cells they infect. The method, along with the data that it generated, has generated a wealth of information about how viruses manipulate the cells that they infect and cause disease. Among the study's findings are the role of estrogen receptors in regulating Zika virus infection and how human papillomavirus (HPV) causes cancer. |
 | New UN high-seas treaty must close gaps in biodiversity governanceThousands of marine species could be at risk if a new United Nations high-seas biodiversity treaty, now being negotiated in New York, does not include measures to address the management of all fish species in international waters, not just the commercial species, warns an analysis by American, Dutch, Swiss and French researchers. |
 | New research reveals that a human stomach pathogen is attracted to bleachResearchers at the University of Oregon have uncovered a molecular mechanism by which the human stomach pathogen Helicobacter pylori is attracted to bleach, also known as hypochlorous acid or HOCI. The study revealed that H. pylori uses a protein called TlpD to sense bleach and swim toward it, and that the bacteria Salmonella enterica and Escherichia coli can use TlpD-like proteins to detect bleach in the environment. |
 | Closing the gap: A two-tier mechanism for epithelial barrierScientists from Japan's National Institute for Physiological Sciences and their collaborators report in a new study published in the Journal of Cell Biology that the epithelial barrier is composed of two molecular systems with distinct barrier properties. |
 | Africa's Mukula trees score a victory as trade is put under closer scrutinyCITES—the Convention on International Trade in Endangered Species of Wild Fauna and Flora – has decided to include Mukula trees, one of many rosewood species, in its Annex II listing. Species covered by CITES are listed in three Annexes according to how much protection they need. Annex II includes species not directly threatened with extinction, but in which trade must be controlled to ensure their survival. The Conversation Africa's Moina Spooner asked Paolo Cerutti and Nils Bourland about the decision. |
 | Researchers reveal a common deficiency in genetic prediction methodsA study conducted by researchers from the Cancer Science Institute of Singapore (CSI Singapore) at the National University of Singapore and the School of Biological Sciences at Nanyang Technological University, Singapore (NTU Singapore) revealed a common deficiency in existing artificial intelligence methods used to predict enhancer-promoter interactions, that may result in inflated performance measurements. The findings, published in scientific journal Nature Genetics in July 2019, provides an enhanced road map for the understanding of gene regulation. |
 | Plant diversity and endemism in China: Unreachable locations and diverse microclimatesA new issue of the scholarly, open-access and peer-reviewed journal PhytoKeys focuses on the Chinese biodiversity hotspots and their substantial role in understanding the country's unique flora. The special issue embarks on a treasure hunt into China's biodiversity hotspots, including the descriptions of 23 species previously unknown to science and new insights into the ecological diversity of ferns based on their DNA sequences. |
What a Virginia wildflower can tell us about climate changeWhen climates change, plants and animals often are forced to colonize new areas—or possibly go extinct. Because the climate is currently changing, biologists are keenly interested in predicting how climate-induced migrations influence organisms over time. | |
 | New type of visual filter discovered in an unlikely placeA University of Minnesota-led research team recently discovered a new way animals can modify their vision. Crystal-like structures in the photoreceptors of larval mantis shrimp simultaneously reflect and transmit light onto light sensitive cells. This newly described structure resembles how a human-made optical device, known as Fiber Bragg Grating, works. Fiber Bragg Grating is a filter commonly used in sensors that monitor extreme conditions for a variety of industries. |
 | 'Charismatic carbon': Seaweed farming to combat climate changeAccording to the Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change (IPCC), addressing carbon emissions from our food sector is absolutely essential to combatting climate change. While land and agriculture took center stage in the panel's most recent report, missing was how the oceans at large could help in that fight. |
 | Researchers gain new insight about bacteria within grapevine-killing crown gall tumorsScientists have mapped the DNA of bacteria found within a chronic disease affecting grapevines, a feat they hope will ultimately help protect the multibillion-dollar grape industry that produces juice, jelly, wine and other important products. |
 | Diversity of inter-species interactions affects functioning of ecological communitiesMathematical modeling suggests that the diversity of interactions between species in an ecological community plays a greater role in maintaining community functioning than previously thought. Vincent Miele of the CNRS in Lyon, France, and colleagues present these findings in PLOS Computational Biology. |
 | Food, predators, and people influence giraffe social behaviorThe behavior of giraffe groups with calves is influenced more strongly by the risk of predators than is the behavior of all-adult groups, which is mostly determined by the availability of food. An international team of researchers from Penn State and the University of Zürich studied giraffe behavior in a 2,000 square kilometer region of Africa and pinpointed some of the special requirements needed by mother giraffes to keep their babies safe. A paper describing the research, which can help land managers to protect the habitats most important for giraffes, appears online in the journal Oecologia. |
 | How elephant declines are affecting African forestsJohn Poulsen, assistant professor of tropical ecology at Duke University's Nicholas School of the Environment, has received an $848,000 grant from the National Science Foundation (NSF) to study the effects of declining elephant populations on Africa's forests. |
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