Dear Reader ,
Here is your customized Science X Newsletter for August 21, 2019:
Spotlight Stories Headlines
Astronomy & Space news
 | MAXI J1621–501 is a low-mass X-ray binary, study findsAn international team of astronomers has uncovered important insights about the recently discovered transient source known as MAXI J1621–501. Results of new observations conducted with NASA's NuSTAR spacecraft indicate that the object is a low-mass X-ray binary. The finding is detailed in a paper published August 9 on arXiv.org. |
 | A step closer to solving the methane mystery on MarsScientists have taken an important step towards revealing the mysterious source of methane on Mars, by refining estimates of the gas in the planet's atmosphere. |
 | Spacewalking astronauts add parking spot to space stationSpacewalking astronauts added another parking spot to the International Space Station on Wednesday. |
 | Spaceflight consistently affects the gutA new Northwestern University study discovered that spaceflight—both aboard a space shuttle or the International Space Station (ISS)—has a consistent effect on the gut microbiome |
 | A planet without an atmosphere bolsters concerns about bodies orbiting stars smaller than the sunMost of the terrestrial planets in the galaxy orbit stars smaller than the sun. Because of their sheer numbers, they would seem to be promising candidates in the search for life elsewhere. But astronomers say they suspect that these bodies—especially ones in close orbit—are vulnerable to losing their atmospheres, necessary to support life. The discovery of one such planet beyond the solar system with no atmosphere at all clouds the prospects for its peers. |
 | Deployment test of Webb's secondary mirrorThe secondary mirror—visible in the top right corner of the image—is among the most important pieces of equipment on the NASA/ESA/CSA James Webb Space Telescope (JWST) and is essential to the success of the mission. |
 | Large cosmological simulation to run on MiraAn extremely large cosmological simulation—among the five most extensive ever conducted—is set to run on Mira this fall and exemplifies the scope of problems addressed on the leadership-class supercomputer at the U.S. Department of Energy's (DOE's) Argonne National Laboratory. |
 | Steam balloon to facilitate satellite launchesSteam balloons could be used to lift space rockets to higher altitude for launch. Launching from high altitude reduces air drag and thus improves efficiency. The researchers present the method in an article published in The Aeronautical Journal. |
Technology news
 | A web application to extract key information from journal articlesAcademic papers often contain accounts of new breakthroughs and interesting theories related to a variety of fields. However, most of these articles are written using jargon and technical language that can only be understood by readers who are familiar with that particular area of study. |
 | Self-folding 'Rollbot' paves the way for fully untethered soft robotsThe majority of soft robots today rely on external power and control, keeping them tethered to off-board systems or rigged with hard components. Now, researchers from the Harvard John A. Paulson School of Engineering and Applied Sciences (SEAS) and Caltech have developed soft robotic systems, inspired by origami, that can move and change shape in response to external stimuli, paving the way for fully untethered soft robots. |
 | Researchers find smart faucets could aid in water conservationBarely hidden from his study participants, William Jou, a former graduate student in mechanical engineering at Stanford University, pulled off a ruse straight out of The Wizard of Oz. Except, instead of impersonating a great and powerful wizard, Jou pretended to be an autonomous sink. He did this to test whether a sink that adapts to personal washing styles could reduce water use. |
 | Polished Chromium-based Edge browser lands in betaA new browser is now in beta and it is Chromium- based. This is the Microsoft Edge beta. Both Windows 10 and MacOS users can try out this new version of Edge, based on Google's open-source Chromium code. |
 | Understanding the animal brain could help robots wash your dishesArtificial intelligence (AI) still has a lot to learn from animal brains, says Cold Spring Harbor Laboratory (CSHL) neuroscientist Anthony Zador. Now, he's hoping that lessons from neuroscience can help the next generation of artificial intelligence overcome some particularly difficult barriers. |
 | In high-tech Japan, cash is still kingOnce a pioneer in cashless transactions, Japan is now lagging behind as the world's biggest economies increasingly embrace electronic payments—because its ageing population still prefers physical money. |
 | Facebook will use journalists to curate news, opening itself to more bias allegationsMark Zuckerberg is a consistent guy. For years, he has worn the same gray T-shirts, idolized the same Roman emperor and repeated the same denials that Facebook Inc. has any desire to become a media company. |
 | Speed identified as the best predictor of car crashesSpeeding is the riskiest kind of aggressive driving, according to a unique analysis of data from on-board devices in vehicles. |
 | Measuring motion sickness in driverless carsWhat good is a driverless car if riding in it nauseates you? |
 | Air Force certifies first 3-D printed nonstructural aircraft partsThe 60th Maintenance Squadron is the first field unit in the U.S. Air Force to be certified with an industrial-sized, 3-D printer that is authorized to produce nonstructural aircraft parts. |
 | 7 used car tech features that might surprise youAutomakers have introduced a flurry of new automotive safety and convenience technology features the past few years. Close-to-new vehicles with these features are now increasingly showing up on dealership lots as used vehicles. The upshot: You don't have to buy a new car to get modern convenience and safety features. |
 | Field trials validate wind turbine wake steering impact at scaleIf every turn of the wheel is a revolution, then every sweep of a wind turbine blade is an opportunity. That's how researchers at the National Renewable Energy Laboratory (NREL) view the potential for wind plant operators to increase energy capture using plant-level controls. By steering individual turbine wakes away from downstream turbines, existing facilities can achieve annual energy production gains of 1 percent–2 percent depending on the plant size and design. |
 | The electric vehicle revolution has a visibility problemWhich comes first: the electric vehicle or the charging station? That question has perplexed some experts and officials tasked with nurturing the electrification of transportation in American cities. |
 | A psychological approach to human-automation interactionIt's called the uncanny valley. Those who are fans of the HBO show "Westworld" or who have seen the movie "Ex Machina" may already be familiar with the phenomenon. But for those who are not, it's essentially the idea that humans are comfortable with robots who have humanoid features, but become very uncomfortable when the robot looks almost but not exactly like a human. |
 | Pricey Samsung Galaxy Note 10 Plus does terrific video, at a costAt a whopping 6.8 inches, if the Samsung Galaxy Note 10 Plus isn't the world's biggest smartphone, we haven't found another like it. |
Palm's $5 smartphone plan: A cellphone bill cheaper than a Netflix subscriptionThese days you can get more than a foot-long sandwich for $5. | |
 | California's rooftop-solar boom leaves equity gapCalifornia leads the nation in the adoption of rooftop solar systems, but information on which communities do, and do not, benefit from these installations has been limited to broad income classifications and anecdotal observations. Now, the data is in: The adoption of distributed solar—rooftop installations as opposed to industrial-scale operations like solar farms—is closely correlated with socioeconomic status as well as with health, environmental and demographic indicators. The study, published online August 20 in Energy Policy, is the first peer-reviewed analysis of distributed solar adoption in disadvantaged communities. |
 | Qualcomm ends patent licensing spat with LG, signs five-year dealQualcomm has inked a new patent licensing deal with South Korean electronics giant LG on terms consistent with other Qualcomm patent agreements globally. |
 | DOJ talking with states in 'broad' tech antitrust probeThe U.S. Justice Department intends to work with state attorneys general in a broad review of whether large technology companies are harming competition, the department's top antitrust official said. |
 | T-Mobile's promise of widespread 5G comes a step closer with new lab in WashingtonTwo decades ago, it was an old warehouse packed with stoves, refrigerators and other appliances. Today, it's a 20,000-square-foot facility with advanced technology meant to bring nationwide 5G to T-Mobile's customers before the competition. |
 | Bias at Facebook? Audit lists conservatives' complaintsPromising to be more transparent about how it makes content decisions, Facebook on Tuesday released the first results of an audit addressing conservatives' accusations that it is biased against them. |
 | Can a Siri-like chatbot help lonely seniors?It's not quite the Joaquin Phoenix-Scarlett Johansson love story from 2013 romance "Her," but researchers believe an artificial intelligence chatbot may help relieve human loneliness, particularly in seniors. |
 | Ryanair cabin crew in Spain warn of September strikeUnions representing Ryanair cabin crew in Spain warned on Tuesday of a 10-day strike in September to protest against the anticipated closing of some airport bases for the low-cast Irish airline. |
 | Suspect in huge Capital One breach seeks release from jailLawyers for a transgender woman charged in a massive data breach at Capital One asked a judge Tuesday to release her from federal custody, saying that for her to remain jailed with men is a serious threat to her mental health. |
 | Spider-Man's Marvel future in peril as Sony deal breaks downMarvel's superhero films could lose their most famous character after Sony confirmed Tuesday that talks over its deal to share Spider-Man with the Disney-owned studio have broken down. |
 | In his words: Huawei CEO says company will not be crushedHuawei founder and CEO Ren Zhengfei said that U.S. restrictions on access to technology would not defeat the Chinese telecom equipment maker and that the United States and Australia should hold off on buying Huawei's 5G network gear if they fear it is a security risk. |
 | Why the police should use machine learning—very carefullyThe debate over the police using machine learning is intensifying—it is considered in some quarters as controversial as stop and search. |
 | Court blocks Ryanair pilots' strike in IrelandIreland's High Court on Wednesday blocked a planned strike by Ryanair pilots in the country due this week that had been triggered by a row over pay. |
 | Sites like Facebook, Google and Twitter allowed white supremacists to flourish. Now what?Before walking into a Norwegian mosque with a pair of shotguns earlier this month, Philip Manshaus called for a race war in a statement he posted on the dark reaches of social media. |
 | Court allows Ryanair British pilots to strikeRyanair's British-based pilots will be allowed to strike as planned this week, the High Court in London ruled on Wednesday, but the High Court in Dublin blocked Ireland's pilots from joining in the walkout. |
Pentagon cancels billion-dollar missile defense projectThe Pentagon is pulling the plug on a billion-dollar, technically troubled project to build a better weapon that would destroy incoming missiles. The move is aimed in part at considering new approaches to missile defense at a time of rapid technological change. | |
 | Macron says tech giants enjoy 'permanent tax haven status'French President Emmanuel Macron, who will defend a global tax on tech giants at this weekend's G7 meeting, on Wednesday criticised a "crazy" system that gives firms a "permanent tax haven status". |
Medicine & Health news
 | Highest-resolution human brain 'parts list' to date lays road map to better treatmentsA new study from the Allen Institute for Brain Science has written the most detailed "parts list" of the human brain to date. This categorization of our brain cell types lays the groundwork to improve our understanding of our own brains and to dramatically change how we treat human brain diseases and disorders. |
 | What drives inflammation in type 2 diabetes? Not glucose, says new researchTo date, the underlying causes of inflammation in obesity and type 2 diabetes mellitus (T2DM) have been poorly understood, which has hampered efforts to develop treatments to prevent complications from a disease that is the third leading cause of death in the United States. |
 | Repeated semen exposure promotes host resistance to infection in preclinical HIV modelContrary to the long-held view that semen can only act as a way to transmit HIV-1 from men to women, scientists at The Wistar Institute and the University of Puerto Rico found that frequent and sustained semen exposure can change the characteristics of the circulating and vaginal tissue immune cells that are targets for infection, reducing the susceptibility to a future infection. This finding, published in the journal Nature Communications, also provides a potential explanation as to why a small number of female sex workers worldwide continue to test negative for infection despite continuous high-risk sexual activity. |
 | Insight into cells' 'self-eating' process could pave the way for new dementia treatmentsCells regularly go through a process called autophagy—literally translated as 'self-eating' - which helps to destroy bacteria and viruses after infection. |
 | Link between brain immune cells and Alzheimer's disease development identifiedScientists from the University of California, Irvine School of Biological Sciences have discovered how to forestall Alzheimer's disease in a laboratory setting, a finding that could one day help in devising targeted drugs that prevent it. |
 | Scientists discover why brown fat is good for people's healthRutgers and other scientists have discovered how brown fat, also known as brown adipose tissue, may help protect against obesity and diabetes. Their study in the journal Nature adds to our knowledge about the role of brown fat in human health and could lead to new medications for treating obesity and type 2 diabetes. |
 | Can pomegranate juice protect the infant brain?When it comes to protecting the newborn brain, taking steps to mitigate risk before birth may be critical. Some newborns, such as those with intrauterine growth restriction (IUGR), are at heightened risk. Being able to intervene before birth to aid in protecting the newborn brain may prevent the often-devastating effects of brain injury. In ongoing investigations, clinical researchers from Brigham and Women's Hospital are exploring whether pomegranate juice intake during pregnancy can have a protective effect. |
 | Biomarkers indicate health in old ageResearchers on aging from the Max Planck Institute for Biology of aging and the Leiden University Medical Center collaborate to link basic insights from model organisms to the causes of aging in humans. Now, they have found a combination of biomarkers in the blood that could help clinicians estimate the disease vulnerability of elderly people in clinical studies, and could possibly be used in intervention studies in model organisms that slow down aging. |
 | Deep brain stimulation eases Parkinson's disease symptoms by boosting dopamineIn a new study of seven people with Parkinson's disease, Johns Hopkins Medicine researchers report evidence that deep brain stimulation using electrical impulses jumpstarts the nerve cells that produce the chemical messenger dopamine to reduce tremors and muscle rigidity that are the hallmark of Parkinson's disease, and increases feelings of well-being. |
 | New pharmaceutical target reverses osteoporosis in miceBiomedical engineers at Duke University have discovered a pharmaceutical target that, when activated, can reverse bone degradation caused by osteoporosis in mouse models of the disease. |
 | Promising gene replacement therapy moves forwardResearch led by Dr. Krystof Bankiewicz, who recently joined The Ohio State University College of Medicine, shows that gene replacement therapy for Niemann-Pick type A disease is safe for use in nonhuman primates and has therapeutic effects in mice. |
 | 'Key player' identified in genetic link to psychiatric conditionsScientists have identified a specific gene they believe could be a key player in the changes in brain structure seen in several psychiatric conditions, such as schizophrenia and autism. |
 | Research team discovers a connection between nutrients and follicular lymphomaCancer deploys a vast array of resources to grow: from instability in its genome to inflammation, as well as the creation of new blood vessels, the microenvironment surrounding the tumour, and the use of mechanisms that allow it to be immortal, among others. At the National Cancer Research Centre (CNIO), the Metabolism and Cell Signalling Group, led by Alejo Efeyan, is studying how cancer uses one of these resources, nutrients, for its own advantage, focusing on an important metabolic pathway coordinated by the mTOR gene. Now, in the journal Nature Metabolism, this team has identified the role played by this pathway as the origin of follicular lymphoma and proposes the exploration in future studies of a possible therapeutic strategy using a drug that is already being used in clinical practice to treat other tumours. |
 | Protein aggregation: Protein assemblies relevant not only for neurodegenerative diseaseAmyloid fibrils play a crucial role in neurodegenerative illnesses. Scientists from Heinrich Heine University Düsseldorf (HHU) and Forschungszentrum Jülich have now been able to use cryo-electron microscopy (cryo-EM) to decode the spatial structure of the fibrils that are formed from PI3K SH3 domains—an important model system for research. Although the fibrils examined are not themselves connected with an illness, the findings made and methods developed could serve to understand diseases such as Alzheimer's and Parkinson's. |
 | New brain map could improve AI algorithms for machine visionDespite years of research, the brain still contains broad areas of unchartered territory. A team of scientists, led by neuroscientists from Cold Spring Harbor Laboratory and University of Sydney, recently found new evidence revising the traditional view of the primate brain's visual system organization using data from marmosets. This remapping of the brain could serve as a future reference for understanding how the highly complex visual system works, and potentially influence the design of artificial neural networks for machine vision. |
 | Hush, baby—the dog is whimpering!We are all familiar with the sounds of a cat or dog vying for human attention, and for pet-owners, these sounds are particularly evocative. Dog sounds are especially sad to both cat and dog owners, who actually rate a whimpering dog as sounding as sad as a crying baby. |
 | In cystic fibrosis, lungs feed deadly bacteriaIn cystic fibrosis, Pseudomonas aeruginosa is a much-feared pathogen. The bacterium easily colonizes the lungs of people with cystic fibrosis, leading to chronic infections that are almost impossible to eradicate and are ultimately fatal. |
 | Health records pin broad set of health risks on genetic premutationIt was long believed the FMR1 premutation—an excessive number of trinucleotide repeats in the FMR1 gene—had no direct effect on the people who carry it. Until recently, the only recognized effect on the carriers of the flawed gene was the risk of having offspring with fragile X syndrome, a rare but serious form of developmental disability. |
Doctors tell parents too late that their child is near death, survey suggestsDoctors tell parents too late that their child is near death, suggest the results of a small survey, published online in the journal BMJ Supportive & Palliative Care. | |
 | Antibiotic use linked to heightened bowel cancer riskAntibiotic use (pills/capsules) is linked to a heightened risk of bowel (colon) cancer, but a lower risk of rectal cancer, and depends, to some extent, on the type and class of drug prescribed, suggests research published online in the journal Gut. |
 | Vehicle exhaust pollutants linked to near doubling in risk of common eye conditionLong term exposure to pollutants from vehicle exhaust is linked to a heightened risk of the common eye condition age-related macular degeneration, or AMD for short, suggests research published online in the Journal of Investigative Medicine. |
Cancer survivors likely to face increase in long-term risk of cardiovascular diseaseIn one of the largest studies of its kind, the research team, led by the London School of Hygiene & Tropical Medicine, analysed the medical records of more than 630,000 people in the UK, including over 100,000 survivors of a range of cancers. | |
New study highlights sociodemographic disparities in oral cancer screening ratesOral cancer accounts for 2 percent of reported malignancies and 1.2 percent of cancer-related deaths in the United States. Oral cancer screening (OCS), recommended by the American Dental Association since 2010, can help to diagnose the cancer early, and this can significantly improve survival rates. If caught early, the five-year survival rate of oral cancer is 82.8 percent, but once the cancer metastasizes, that rate drops to 28 percent. Researchers at Brigham and Women's Hospital led a study to examine OCS rates among those who had been to the dentist within two years, looking at whether sociodemographic factors such as income or race predicted differences in these rates. The team found that a significantly higher proportion of minority and low-income individuals reported that they had not received an OCS exam despite a recent dental visit. The results of this study are published in The American Journal of Preventive Medicine. | |
 | Israel seeks to beat PTSD with 'ecstasy' therapyNachum Pachenick says he lived a nightmare for nearly two decades after being sexually abused and developing post-traumatic stress disorder—until MDMA therapy came to his rescue. |
 | Women more likely to have 'typical' heart attack symptoms than menWomen who have heart attacks experience the same key symptoms as men, quashing one of the reasons given for women receiving unequal care. The British Heart Foundation-funded research puts into question a long-held medical myth that women tend to suffer unusual or 'atypical' heart attack symptoms, and emphasises the need for both sexes to recognise and act on the warning signs. |
 | Fake news can lead to false memoriesVoters may form false memories after seeing fabricated news stories, especially if those stories align with their political beliefs, according to research in Psychological Science. |
 | High BP, rising BP between ages 36-53 associated with smaller brain volume, white matter lesions in later yearsHigh blood pressure and large increases in blood pressure in midlife may be associated with brain pathologies in later life, according to an observational study of 502 people who have been tracked since their birth in 1946, published in The Lancet Neurology journal. |
Electronic dance music party-goers at increased risk for drug-related emergenciesPeople who frequent electronic dance music (EDM) parties often use multiple drugs simultaneously and experience adverse effects with some ending up in the emergency department, say researchers at New York University School of Medicine and Rutgers University. | |
 | Players at risk as clubs ignore injury link to mental healthInjury is a major cause of mental health problems in top footballers, shows a study of counsellors working with players' union, the Professional Footballers' Association. |
 | Texas cities increasingly susceptible to large measles outbreaksThe growing number of children arriving at Texas schools unvaccinated makes the state increasingly vulnerable to measles outbreaks in cities large and small, according to a computer simulation created by the University of Pittsburgh Graduate School of Public Health. |
 | Is it autism? The line is getting increasingly blurryAround the world, the number of people diagnosed with autism is rising. In the United States, the prevalence of the disorder has grown from 0.05% in 1966 to more than 2% today. In Quebec, the reported prevalence is close to 2% and according to a paper issued by the province's public health department, the prevalence in Montérégie has increased by 24% annually since 2000. |
 | Lifestyle counselling and mobile application help people change their lifestyle habitsA Finnish StopDia study has yielded promising preliminary results in reducing the risk of type 2 diabetes. Lifestyle guidance in a group and an application that supports the adoption of healthy lifestyle habits helped StopDia participants to reduce their waist circumference and improve their dietary habits. For example, their fruit and vegetable consumption increased. |
 | Wide distribution of Naloxone effective in preventing opioid-related deathsBroad distribution of the opioid reversal drug naloxone is highly cost-effective in reducing fatal overdoses, according to a new University of Michigan study. |
 | Two hospital infection rates tumbled after move to single-patient roomsThe move to single-patient rooms at the McGill University Health Centre's (MUHC) Glen site in 2015 resulted in significantly reduced rates of hospital-acquired infections, suggests a study published today in the highly respected journal JAMA: Internal Medicine published by the American Medical Association. A team at the Research Institute of the McGill University Health Centre (RI-MUHC) found that rates of both colonization and blood infections due to vancomycin-resistant Enterococcus(VRE), a common multi-drug resistant organism, fell immediately and dramatically after the relocation, suggesting an association between single-patient rooms and reduced risk of hospital-acquired infections. Their findings have important implications for infection control strategies in the context of the construction or renovation of hospitals. |
 | How to stay safe from eastern equine encephalitisA second human case of Eastern equine encephalitis virus infection this year was confirmed in Massachusetts last week, in a young Grafton man. Meanwhile, the first human case of EEE in the state in six years—a man over sixty from southern Plymouth County—reportedly had slipped into a coma. |
 | Ketamine may not be an actual antidepressant, but may decrease the burden of symptomsA new study indicates that the antidepressant effects of ketamine may not be such, according to a paper published in Psychotherapy and Psychosomatics. The study investigates the hypothesis that depressed individual receiving ketamine infusions, associate feelings of lightness and floating which are a typical occurrence in the use of psychoactive-substance, with an antidepressant state. |
 | Study confirms cannabis flower is an effective mid-level analgesic medication for pain treatmentUsing the largest database of real-time recordings of the effects of common and commercially available cannabis products in the United States (U.S.), researchers at The University of New Mexico (UNM) found strong evidence that cannabis can significantly alleviate pain, with the average user experiencing a three-point drop in pain suffering on a 0-10 point scale immediately following cannabis consumption. |
 | Researcher finds connection between job complexity and cognitive functionRetiring from your full-time job might not be the best thing for your brain as you age, according to a new study out of Florida State University. |
 | Bribery linked with difficulty accessing healthcare in sub-Saharan AfricaIn a large survey in sub-Saharan Africa, adults who said they had paid a bribe for healthcare in the past year were more than four times as likely to report difficulty in obtaining care than those who had not paid bribes. Amber Hsiao and colleagues at the Technical University of Berlin, Germany, report these findings in the open-access journal PLOS ONE on August 21, 2019. |
 | Organ transplants: Why so many people are put off donatingIt's well known that there's a worldwide shortage of organ donors. More than 100,000 organ transplants have taken place around the world every year since 2008 but this is way below what's needed. |
 | New Zealand workplace study shows more than quarter of employees feel depressed much of the timeAccording to the World Health organization (WHO), the workplace can be a positive force for improving mental health. |
 | 'Time out' can be a useful parenting tool, if it's well plannedParenting young children is one of the most stressful times in a parent's life. Toddlers and preschoolers are learning how to independently regulate their emotions. And parents are developing their ability to be both warm and firm—the ideal parenting combination. |
 | 'A first for cancer research': New approach to study tumorsCurrent drugs to treat malignant tumors may be successful at reaching the tumor site but often fail to fully reach the cancerous cells in tumors. |
 | New research published in cancer discovery identifies new drug target for glioblastomaA new international study co-led by Cleveland Clinic has identified a new drug target for treating glioblastoma. This target is part of a never-before defined cellular pathway found to contribute to the spread and proliferation of a dangerous subset of cancer cells, called glioma stem cells. |
 | It's not just a pain in the head—facial pain can be a symptom of headaches tooA new study finds that up to 10 percent of people with headaches also have facial pain. The study is published in the August 21, 2019, online issue of Neurology, the medical journal of the American Academy of Neurology. |
 | Once considered rare, an itchy dermatologic skin disorder is more common than thoughtJohns Hopkins researchers report that prurigo nodularis (PN), a skin disease characterized by severely itchy, firm bumps on the skin, may be associated with other inflammatory skin disorders as well as systemic and mental health disorders. Compared with other skin diseases, however, not much is known about PN. While symptoms of PN can be managed, no cures exist. Researchers were looking to determine associated conditions that are more common in patients with PN, compared with similar patients without PN. |
 | When does trash talking work? An expert discusses her unusual researchKaren C.P. McDermott recently completed a study on trash talk, the taunts or boasts meant to intimidate or distract an opponent. |
 | Dog training for babies? Only if you want to raise kids who are anxious and unsympatheticDespite calls to cancel the programme, Channel 4 aired its new documentary "Train Your Baby Like a Dog" on August 20. To give a brief synopsis of the show, an expert dog trainer (yes, a dog trainer) told parents to use dog training techniques with their young children to shape their behaviour. |
 | Patient charges mean young people visit doctor lessWhen young adults pass the age limit for paying patient co-payments, or out-of-pocket prices, their medical consultations in primary care decrease by 7 percent, a study shows. The groups affected most are women and low-income earners. |
 | Study: How people access and use antibiotics in low-and-middle-income countriesIt is often assumed that people use antibiotics inappropriately because they don't understand enough about the spread of drug resistant superbugs, and closing the knowledge gap will change this behaviour. |
 | A serious mental disorder in one's youth can have a lasting impact on employment prospectsMental disorders experienced in adolescence and early adulthood that require hospital care are connected with low income, poor education and unemployment over the life span of individuals. |
Dyslexia could affect pass rates in UK GP clinical skills examTrainee doctors who have dyslexia, and who declare this prior to taking the clinical skills component of the licensing exam for general practice, are less likely to pass than their counterparts, new research has shown. | |
 | Polish village hasn't seen a boy born in nearly 10 years – here's how that computesThe tiny Polish village of Miejsce Odrzanskie has become the unlikely source of international media attention over the past fortnight as a result of what the New York Times called "a strange population anomaly". It has now been almost a decade since the last boy was born in this place, with the most recent 12 babies all having been girls. |
 | Study finds air pollution linked to risk of premature deathExposure to toxic air pollutants is linked to increased cardiovascular and respiratory death rates, according to a new international study by researchers from Monash University (Australia) and abroad. |
 | Unprecedented therapy found effective for blood cancer patients with no treatment optionsMount Sinai researchers have found a new type of therapy to be effective for patients with a particular type of bone marrow cancer that is resistant to several standard therapies, according to results of a clinical trial published in The New England Journal of Medicine in August. |
 | China's two-child policy has led to 5.4 million extra birthsThe introduction of China's universal two-child policy, that permits all couples to have two children, has led to an extra 5.4 million births, finds a study in The BMJ today. |
 | Visits + phones = better outcomes for teens, young women with pelvic inflammatory diseaseA patient-centered, community-engaged program featuring home visits by nurses and mobile phone links to caregivers works better than traditional adult-focused and patient self-managed care systems for treating and managing pelvic inflammatory disease, or PID, among historically underserved teens and young women, a Johns Hopkins Medicine study shows. |
 | DAAs cut deaths in those treated for HCV-related liver cancer(HealthDay)—Among patients with hepatitis C virus (HCV) infection and complete response to hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) treatment, direct-acting antiviral (DAA) therapy is associated with a significant reduction in the risk for death, according to a study published online July 30 in Gastroenterology. |
 | The merits of physical therapy(HealthDay)—You suffered an injury that has sidelined you from exercise, but you dodged a bullet—your doctor has said that you don't need surgery. |
 | How helpful are self-help programs?(HealthDay)—There's no shortage of self-help apps, videos and podcasts on topics from having better mental health to having a better six-pack. |
 | Neural stem cells to be readied for newborn therapy under $5M grant to San Diego researcherCalifornia's stem cell agency has awarded nearly $5 million to a San Diego researcher to prepare a therapy for newborns deprived of oxygen or blood during birth. |
 | Mayo Clinic study calls for screening of family members of celiac disease patientsParents, siblings and children of people with celiac disease are at high risk of also having the disease, according to a Mayo Clinic study. This study calls for screening of all first-degree relatives of patients—not just those who show symptoms. |
 | Women with diabetes more likely than men to not take meds as prescribed(HealthDay)—Women with diagnosed diabetes are more likely than men to not take their medications as prescribed, according to an August data brief published by the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention National Center for Health Statistics. |
 | Taking buprenorphine for opioid use disorder may up other med compliance(HealthDay)—Using buprenorphine to treat opioid use disorder (OUD) may increase adherence to treatments for other chronic conditions, according to a study published in the September issue of Medical Care. |
 | Study shows hazardous patterns of prescription opioid misuse in the USAmong adults aged 18 years and older, 31 percent used prescription opioids only as prescribed by a physician medically and 4 percent misused them. Thus, the overwhelming majority (88 percent) of all past-12-month prescription opioid users used the drugs for medical purposes only, according to a new study at Columbia University Mailman School of Public Health and Vagelos College of Physicians and Surgeons, and the New York State Psychiatric Institute. The findings are published in the American Journal of Public Health. |
 | Parkinson's database gets massive dose of RNAA team at the Keck School of Medicine of USC, in collaboration with The Michael J. Fox Foundation for Parkinson's Research (MJFF), has just added a crucial new element—RNA sequencing data—to its robust study of Parkinson's disease. |
 | Study uses real-time fMRI to treat Tourette SyndromeCharacterized by repetitive movements or vocalizations known as tics, Tourette Syndrome is a neurodevelopmental disorder that plagues many adolescents. A study conducted by Yale researchers has trained adolescents with Tourette Syndrome to control their tics through an imaging technique that allows patients to monitor the function of their own brain in real time. |
 | Researchers convert pro-tumor macrophages into cancer killersEpithelial cancers, such as cancers of the lung and pancreas, use the ανβ3 molecule to gain drug resistance to standard cancer therapies and to become highly metastatic. In a paper published in Cancer Research, University of California San Diego School of Medicine researchers identified a new therapeutic approach in mouse models that halts drug resistance and progression by using a monoclonal antibody that induces the immune system to seek and kill ανβ3-expressing cancer cells. |
 | Babbling babies' behavior changes parents' speechNew research shows baby babbling changes the way parents speak to their infants, suggesting that infants are shaping their own learning environments. |
 | Meaningful PTSD symptom decrease may lower type 2 diabetes riskResearch from Saint Louis University finds treatment for Post-Traumatic Stress Disorder (PTSD) that leads to an improvement in symptoms was associated with a 49 percent lower risk of incident type 2 diabetes. |
 | Scientists unlock secrets of maternal/fetal cellular communication during pregnancyResearchers have unlocked mysteries surrounding how a pregnant mother's cells and her fetus' cells communicate throughout pregnancy. With this new information, The University of Texas Medical Branch at Galveston team and their colleagues in South Korea can develop new non-invasive methods of monitoring and improving the health of the fetus using this mode of communication. The findings are now available in the American Journal of Obstetrics and Gynecology. |
 | Most patients willing to share medical records for research purposesAs medicine becomes both bigger and more personalized, the need for massive databases of patient records, such as the 1 million person All of Us Research Program, become increasingly essential to fueling both new discoveries and translational treatments. |
 | Lower back pain? Self-administered acupressure could help: studyA recent study finds that acupressure, a traditional Chinese medicine technique, can improve chronic pain symptoms in the lower back. |
Leading experts in high-risk pregnancies issue report on reproductive health servicesSafe reproductive health services, including contraception and abortion, can be lifesaving for some women. However, accessing these services can be a challenge for many women in the United States, particularly low-income women of color. Restrictive state legislation, disparities in access to trained providers, and a lack of evidence-based, standardized guidelines for counseling serve as barriers for women receiving the health services they need. | |
 | Study finds new pathway for potential glioblastoma treatmentA team led by Texas A&M University's College of Veterinary Medicine & Biomedical Sciences' (CVM) researcher Dr. Stephen Safe has discovered a new pathway that may help suppress the development of glioblastoma tumors, one of the deadliest forms of cancer. |
 | Parasite needs chemical (lipid/nutrient) in cat intestines for sexToxoplasma gondii is a microbial parasite that infect humans and complete its full life cycle only in cats. New research published August 20 in the open-access journal PLOS Biology shows why: the sexual phase of the parasite's life cycle requires linoleic acid, a nutrient/lipid found at uniquely high levels in the felines, because cats lack a key enzyme for breaking it down. The finding, from by Bruno Martorelli Di Genova and Laura Knoll of the University of Wisconsin-Madison and colleagues, is likely to help in the development of treatments to reduce spread of the parasite from cats to their human companions. Also, presents an opportunity to avoid using cats for Toxoplasma research. |
 | Protein-transport discovery may help define new strategies for treating eye diseaseMany forms of vision loss stem from a common source: impaired communication between the eye and the brain. And at the root of all eye-to-brain communication are the hundreds of proteins generated by the retina's nerve cells. |
 | Venezuela crisis pushes women into 'forced motherhood'Dr. Saturnina Clemente pulls up to the small clinic in the impoverished Caucaguita neighborhood armed with one of Venezuela's most sought-after commodities: Hormonal implants to prevent pregnancy. |
Family history of diabetes linked to increased bone mineral densityThe association between type 2 diabetes and increased fracture risk is well documented. However, little was known about the possible effect of family history of diabetes on bone mineral density (BMD). A study from China now confirms that a history of first-degree family members with diabetes is linked to increased BMD as well as to insulin resistance. Results are published online in Menopause, the journal of The North American Menopause Society (NAMS). | |
Type 2 diabetes may affect heart structure, increase complications among heart failure patients of Asian ethnicityType 2 diabetes affects the structure of the heart in heart failure patients and increases their risk for repeat hospitalizations and/or death, according to new research published in the Journal of the American Heart Association, the Open Access Journal of the American Heart Association/American Stroke Association. | |
North Carolina schools add e-cigs to 'no smoking' signsNorth Carolina public schools have added a picture of an electronic cigarette to their "no smoking" signs. | |
 | It's Fab! A hidden touch of antibodyIn our immune system, antibodies recognize viruses, bacteria and even cancer cells through their Fab arms, initiating recruitment of leucocytes for the destruction of these invaders. The recruitment is mediated by receptors on the leucocytes which, to date, have been supposed to bind the Fc portion of the antibody and have therefore been termed Fc receptors. This textbook view has been established based on cumulative data obtained primarily using Fab and Fc fragments cleaved from antibody molecules. |
 | What the Trump home dialysis plan would really look likeMary Epp awoke from a deep sleep to the "high, shrill" sound of her dialysis machine's alarm. Something was wrong. |
Nigeria hails 'historic milestone' after 3 years polio-freeNigeria on Wednesday announced that three years had elapsed since it last recorded a case of polio, a key step towards eradicating the notorious disease in Africa. | |
 | Swallowable device to detect Barrett's esophagus receives FDA 510(k) clearanceInvestigators at Case Western Reserve University School of Medicine and University Hospitals Cleveland Medical Center developed the test for early detection of Barrett's esophagus that offers promise for preventing deaths from esophageal adenocarcinoma. |
Study explores barriers of access and acceptability for treatment of opioid use disorderIn an effort to find ways to improve long-term outcomes for people with opioid use disorder, University of Massachusetts Amherst epidemiology researcher Elizabeth Evans set out to study the obstacles to treating this chronic condition with an effective medication, buprenorphine-naloxone. | |
Biology news
 | Separate polarization and brightness channels give crabs the edge over predatorsFiddler crabs see the polarisation of light and this gives them the edge when it comes to spotting potentials threats, such as a rival crab or a predator. Now researchers at the University of Bristol have begun to unravel how this information is processed within the crab's brain. The study, published in Science Advances today, has discovered that when detecting approaching objects, fiddler crabs separate polarisation and brightness information. |
 | Poo transplants to help save koalasPoo transplants are helping expand koala microbiomes, allowing the marsupials to eat a wider range of eucalypts and possibly survive habitat loss. |
 | Mosquitoes push northern limits with time-capsule eggs to survive wintersWhen the Asian tiger mosquito (Aedes albopictus) arrived in the United States in the 1980s, it took the invasive blood-sucker only one year to spread from Houston to St. Louis. New research from Washington University in St. Louis shows that the mosquitoes at the northern limit of their current range are successfully using time-capsule-like eggs to survive conditions that are colder than those in its native territory. |
 | For at least one species, ant nurseries are cleaner than human onesAzteca ants are better at limiting pathogenic microbes in their nurseries than humans, according to a new study. The research also found that the microbial make-up—or microbiome—of ant colonies varies from chamber to chamber, much like the microbiome differences we see from room to room in human homes. |
 | Oceanographer reveals link between subseafloor life and global climateUniversity of Rhode Island oceanographer Steven D"Hondt and his collaborators have studied the microbial life that lives deep beneath the seafloor—including the rate at which it breathes and how much food it consumes—for more than 20 years, and they have made some significant discoveries. |
 | Researchers show evidence of cellular clocks in cellsOne of nature's most familiar phenomena is collective behavior—fish swimming in schools, locusts marching together, birds flocking. The same thing happens in humans, with individual cells synchronizing into circadian rhythms, part of a biological clock that tells our bodies when to eat, sleep or reproduce. |
 | MEG3 kissing loops essential for tumor suppressionA team of researchers in the Marcia group at EMBL Grenoble have discovered that the tumor suppressor MEG3 adopts a complex three-dimensional structure to fulfill its function. Furthermore, they were able to fine-tune its activity by targeted manipulation of this architecture. The results of this study, published in Molecular Cell, might help to advance diagnosis and treatment of certain types of cancer. |
 | 'Yin and yang' enzymes evolved over billions of years to protect against cancerResearchers at the University of Dundee have made an important discovery about two enzymes that have evolved over billions of years to control many different bodily functions, including playing a critical role in preventing cancer. |
 | Scientists discover the basics of how pressure-sensing Piezo proteins workA team of scientists from Weill Cornell Medicine and The Rockefeller University has illuminated the basic mechanism of Piezo proteins, which function as sensors in the body for mechanical stimuli such as touch, bladder fullness, and blood pressure. The discovery is a feat of basic science that also opens up many new paths of investigation into the roles of Piezo proteins in human diseases and potential new therapeutic strategies. |
 | More than 2,300 tigers killed and trafficked this century: reportMore than 2,300 endangered tigers have been killed and illegally trafficked since the turn of the century, according to a report published Tuesday, urging more action to protect the giant cats. |
 | New rapid DNA test to diagnose chlamydia infection in koalasA new DNA test to detect chlamydia infection in koalas which can be run in the field and gives on-the-spot results within 30 minutes has been developed in a research collaboration between researchers from Queensland University of Technology (QUT) and University of Queensland (UQ) in Brisbane, Australia. |
 | Environmental DNA proves the expansion of invasive crayfish habitatsEnvironmental DNA (eDNA) has successfully proven the presence of invasive crayfish in almost all the small streams around Lake Akan in Japan, suggesting that eDNA analysis is an efficient and highly sensitive method to assess the distribution of aquatic organisms. |
 | Fungus fuels tree growthThe fungus Mortierella elongata enjoys a dual lifestyle; it can thrive in the soil as a saprophyte, living off decaying organic matter, or as an endophyte, living between a plant's root cells. The fungus is almost always found among and within poplar trees, and in an effort to understand its influence on the plant, a team of scientists studied what happens to the tree's physical traits and gene expression when the fungus is present. |
 | Century-old fish scales reveals startling decline in salmon populationsResearchers drawing on 100-year-old sources of salmon data have found that recent returns of wild adult sockeye salmon to the Skeena River—Canada's second largest salmon watershed— are 75 percent lower than during historical times. Research carried out by Simon Fraser University and Fisheries and Oceans Canada and published today in Conservation Letters reveals that wild sockeye populations have declined by as much as 56-99 percent over the last century. |
 | Plant protection: Researchers develop new modular vaccination kitIt could become significantly easier to vaccinate plants against viruses in the future. Scientists at Martin Luther University Halle-Wittenberg (MLU), the Leibniz Institute of Plant Biochemistry (IPB) and the National Research Council in Italy (CNR) have developed a new method that enables the rapid identification and production of precisely tailored substances that combat different pathogens. The researchers discuss their work in the journal Nucleic Acids Research. |
 | How conserving nature's 'umbrella' species could benefit whole habitatsIn conservation, charismatic mammals and birds such as the black rhinoceros and the capercaillie get a lot of attention, while others, like invertebrates, are often ignored. One way of addressing this problem is to focus on protecting "umbrella species." These are species whose conservation can benefit many others, especially those that rely on similar habitats. But does this work in practice? |
 | Genetic diversity couldn't save Darwin's finchesA study by the University of Cincinnati found that Charles Darwin's famous finches defy what has long been considered a key to evolutionary success: genetic diversity. |
 | Video: Understanding the zebra mussels problemFrom Texas to New York, freshwater sources are being invaded by a tiny but disastrous creature that no one seems able to stop. |
 | Antibiotic resistance: Take action now before it's too lateOne of the biggest global challenges of the 21st century has brought members of the international research community together to assess the next steps for research. |
 | Fruit flies learn their body size once for an entire lifetimeIn order to orient themselves and survive in their environment, animals must develop a concept of their own body size. Researchers at Johannes Gutenberg University Mainz (JGU) have shown that the fruit fly Drosophila melanogaster develops a very stable long-term memory for its own body size and the reach of its extremities after it has hatched from the pupal case. The fruit fly acquires this memory through visual feedback obtained when walking, but in the first two hours after training the memory is still susceptible to the effects of stress and not yet firmly anchored. "Once the memory has consolidated, it appears from our observations that it remains intact for life," said Professor Roland Strauss of the Institute of Developmental Biology and Neurobiology at JGU. "The insects seem to have calibrated themselves for the rest of their lives." However, it is still puzzling why they are only able to access the acquired knowledge 12 hours after training. The researchers still don't know what happens in the brain in the interim. |
 | The secret sex lives of stick insectsMassey University researchers have discovered more about the sexual lives of stick insects in New Zealand and the United Kingdom. |
 | Foodborne pathogen sheltered by harmless bacteria that support biofilm formationPathogenic bacteria that stubbornly lurk in some apple-packing facilities may be sheltered and protected by harmless bacteria that are known for their ability to form biofilms, according to Penn State researchers, who suggest the discovery could lead to development of alternative foodborne-pathogen-control strategies. |
 | The mechanism that controls Chinese cabbage floweringChinese cabbage is part of a crop family that must be exposed to cold temperatures for a particular period of time in order to flower. Scientists have succeeded in comprehensively identifying the long noncoding ribonucleic acids (IncRNAs) that are expressed when Chinese cabbage is temporarily exposed to cold temperatures for four weeks. LncRNAs that are known to be involved in responding to cold in Arabidopsis thaliana do not exist in Chinese cabbage, which suggests that Chinese cabbage has its own independent mechanism for flowering. |
 | Scientists use honey and wild salmon to trace industrial metals in the environmentScientists have combined analyses from honey and salmon to show how lead from natural and industrial sources gets distributed throughout the environment. By analysing the relative presence of differing lead isotopes in honey and Pacific salmon, Vancouver-based scientists have been able to trace the sources of lead (and other metals) throughout the region. Scientists in France, Belgium and Italy are now looking to apply the same approach to measure pollutants in honey in major European cities. The research is being presented at the Goldschmidt conference in Barcelona. |
 | Scientists find precise control of terminal division during plant stomatal developmentStomata are plant-specific epidermal structures that consist of paired guard cells surrounding a pore. The opening and closing of these micro-valves facilitate carbon dioxide uptake for photosynthesis and reduce excessive water loss in plants. |
Florida panthers, bobcats stricken by mystery nerve disorderUS authorities are investigating a mysterious neurological disorder affecting bobcats and Florida panthers that prevents them from walking normally. | |
 | Optimizing fertilizer source and rate to avoid root deathFertilizer is used worldwide in farming. It's used to give plants a boost, increasing yield and ultimately farmers' profits. |
 | Pressure mounting on EU to end ivory tradeAmid growing calls for an outright ban, the European Union has come under increasing pressure to help protect African elephants by ending the trade of ivory within its borders. |
 | 'Otterly adorable'?: Demand for cute selfies puts animals at riskSocial media users are fuelling a burgeoning appetite for acquiring wild otters and other endangered animals as pets, conservationists say, warning the trend could push species towards extinction. |
 | In the Santa Barbara Channel, an underwater sound system tries to keep whales and ships apartThe taut rope that was lowering an underwater listening station to the ocean's floor collapsed on the tug boat's deck with a slap, signaling to the crew on board that their mission was complete. |
 | Analyzing genomes to improve disease control in poultryMarek's disease—a highly contagious viral disease caused by a herpesvirus—is a constant threat to poultry worldwide. It is also one of the most preventable diseases with vaccination. However, while vaccines prevent poultry from becoming sick with symptoms of the virus, they do not prevent virus spread and mutation—considered the main reason for increased virus virulence, or severity, in field strains in U.S. commercial flocks. |
 | Suppressed federal report shows how Trump water plan would endanger California salmonFederal officials suppressed a lengthy environmental document that details how one of California's unique salmon runs would be imperiled by Trump administration plans to deliver more water to Central Valley farms. |
 | Scientists propose network of imaging centers to drive innovation in biological researchWhen sparks fly to innovate new technologies for imaging life at the microscopic scale, often diverse researchers are nudging each other with a kind of collegial one-upmanship. |
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