Thursday, October 17, 2019

Science X Newsletter Thursday, Oct 17

Dear Reader ,

Here is your customized Science X Newsletter for October 17, 2019:

Spotlight Stories Headlines

DeNeRD: an AI-based method to process whole images of the brain

Ancient stars shed light on Earth's similarities to other planets

Newly discovered microbes band together, 'flip out'

Lessons from Ridgecrest earthquake sequence

Weaving quantum processors out of laser light

Highest throughput 3-D printer is the future of manufacturing

SUPERB survey detects new slowly-spinning radio pulsar

How human brain development diverged from great apes

New strategy to treat Parkinson's disease

Mathematical modelling vital to tackling disease outbreaks

Information theory as a forensics tool for investigating climate mysteries

Old friends and new enemies: How evolutionary history can predict insect invader impacts

Society's tendency to denigrate kids these days is a 'memory tic,' says cognitive scientist

Mothers' behavior influences bonding hormone oxytocin in babies

Stem cell study offers new way to study early development and pregnancy

Astronomy & Space news

Ancient stars shed light on Earth's similarities to other planets

Earth-like planets may be common in the universe, a new UCLA study implies. The team of astrophysicists and geochemists presents new evidence that the Earth is not unique. The study was published in the journal Science on Oct. 18.

SUPERB survey detects new slowly-spinning radio pulsar

Astronomers have detected a new slowly rotating radio pulsar as part of the SUrvey for Pulsars and Extragalactic Radio Bursts (SUPERB). The newly found object, designated PSR J2251−3711, turns out to be one of the slowest spinning radio pulsars known to date. The finding is detailed in a paper published October 9 on arXiv.org.

Stormy cluster weather could unleash black hole power and explain lack of cosmic cooling

"Weather" in clusters of galaxies may explain a longstanding puzzle, according to a team of researchers at the University of Cambridge. The scientists used sophisticated simulations to show how powerful jets from supermassive black holes are disrupted by the motion of hot gas and galaxies, preventing gas from cooling, which could otherwise form stars. The team publish their work in the journal Monthly Notices of the Royal Astronomical Society.

A new theory to explain how the dunes on Titan formed

A trio of researchers with the University of Hawaii has developed a new theory to explain how the dunes on Saturn's largest moon, Titan, may have formed. In their paper published in the journal Science Advances, Matthew Abplanalp, Robert Frigge and Ralf Kaiser suggest that rather than forming from rainfall, the dunes have formed on the moon's surface.

HiRISE views NASA's InSight and Curiosity on Mars

The HiRISE camera on NASA's Mars Reconnaissance Orbiter recently sent home eye-catching views of the agency's InSight lander and its Curiosity rover.

Dark matter tugs the most massive spiral galaxies to breakneck speeds

When it comes to galaxies, how fast is fast? The Milky Way, an average spiral galaxy, spins at a speed of 130 miles per second (210 km/sec) in our Sun's neighborhood. New research has found that the most massive spiral galaxies spin faster than expected. These "super spirals," the largest of which weigh about 20 times more than our Milky Way, spin at a rate of up to 350 miles per second (570 km/sec).

The clumpy and lumpy death of a star

In 1572, Danish astronomer Tycho Brahe was among those who noticed a new bright object in the constellation Cassiopeia. Adding fuel to the intellectual fire that Copernicus started, Tycho showed this "new star" was far beyond the Moon, and that it was possible for the Universe beyond the Sun and planets to change. 

Mars InSight's 'mole' is moving again

NASA's InSight spacecraft has used its robotic arm to help its heat probe, known as "the mole," dig nearly 2 centimeters (3/4 of an inch) over the past week. While modest, the movement is significant: Designed to dig as much as 16 feet (5 meters) underground to gauge the heat escaping from the planet's interior, the mole has only managed to partially bury itself since it started hammering in February 2018.

Virgin Galactic unveils commercial space suits

The date for the world's first commercial space flight is not even confirmed yet, but future passengers' Star Trek-like outfits are ready and waiting.

Data milestone achieved in variable star repository

Compiling together multiple pieces of information for each of a million-plus objects is no easy or quick task, but that is exactly what Sebastián Otero, Patrick Wils, Patrick Schmeer, and Klaus Bernhard did. Due to this skilled team providing tremendous amounts of time, patience, and attention to detail, data and updated information on 1,391,103 variable stars (and counting) are now entered into the International Variable Star Index (VSX), owned and operated by the American Association of Variable Star Observers (AAVSO).

Near-Earth asteroids spectroscopic survey at the Isaac Newton telescope

The study of near-Earth asteroids (NEAs) is driven by both scientific and practical reasons. Because of their proximity to our planet, they can provide key information regarding the delivery of water and organic-rich material to the early Earth, and the subsequent emergence of life. On the other hand, these small bodies of the Solar System have non-negligible long-term probabilities of colliding with the Earth, and can be targets of future space exploration.

Spiral arms in a young accretion disk around a baby star

An international research team, led by Chin-Fei Lee at the Academia Sinica Institute of Astronomy and Astrophysics (ASIAA, Taiwan), has detected a pair of spiral arms in an accretion disk around a protostar (baby star), using the Atacama Large Millimeter/submillimeter Array (ALMA). Interestingly, these spiral density enhancements make the disk appear like a "space whirlpool." The finding not only supports current theories of accretion disk feeding processes, but also potentially brings key insights into the processes of grain growth and settling that are important to planet formation.

Space station's 2 women prep for 1st all-female spacewalk

Men have floated out the hatch on all 420 spacewalks conducted over the past half-century.

NASA sounding rocket technology could enable simultaneous, multi-point measurements—first-ever capability

NASA engineers plan to test a new avionics technology—distributed payload communications—that would give scientists a never-before-offered capability in sounding rocket-based research.

Technology news

Highest throughput 3-D printer is the future of manufacturing

Northwestern University researchers have developed a new, futuristic 3D printer that is so big and so fast it can print an object the size of an adult human in just a couple of hours.

Team finds glitch that could affect more than 100 scientific studies

A team of researchers at the University of Hawaiʻi at Mānoa came across a discovery they never intended to uncover when a graduate student attempted to verify calculated data just prior to publication of a study involving cyanobacterial natural products that inhibit cancer cell growth. Instead of confirming results, he and his professors found a glitch in a well-adapted computer program that could have an impact on more than 100 published studies citing the original paper.

Breakthrough research allows for 3-D printed chocolate without temperature control

Researchers from the Singapore University of Technology and Design (SUTD) have pioneered a novel approach to 3-D print chocolate-based products at room temperature by cold extrusion.

OpenAI's robot hand makes the moves for Rubik's cube

Those who know how tough it is to get robot hands to grasp, handle and maneuver will do more than glance—stare, rather—at the recent video showing the OpenAI Dactyl Rubik's cube.

Samsung to deploy software patch after Galaxy S10 fingerprint flaw found

A flaw with Samsung's top-end Galaxy S10 fingerprint system that allows the smartphone to be opened by a third party will soon be fixed, the tech giant said Thursday.

Giving robots a faster grasp

If you're at a desk with a pen or pencil handy, try this move: Grab the pen by one end with your thumb and index finger, and push the other end against the desk. Slide your fingers down the pen, then flip it upside down, without letting it drop. Not too hard, right?

China propaganda app fraught with security concerns: report

A widely downloaded Chinese propaganda app that quizzes users on Communist Party heroes and military achievements may be "studying them right back" through data collection and potential security breaches, an internet freedom campaign group says.

Competitors look to free services to take on Netflix

Video streaming upstarts are looking to a different model to take on industry leader Netflix: free-to-viewer services that come with ads.

Virtual walking system for re-experiencing the journey of another person

A research team consisting of Professor Michiteru Kitazaki from the Toyohashi University of Technology, Associate Professor Tomohiro Amemiya from the University of Tokyo, and Professor Yasushi Ikei from Tokyo Metropolitan University have developed a virtual walking system. This system records a person walking, then replays it to another user through the oscillating optic flow and synchronous foot vibrations. Psychological experiments confirmed that the sensations of self-motion, walking, leg action, and telepresence provided by the oscillating visual flow combined with foot vibrations are stronger than with randomized-timing vibrations or without any vibrations. These results suggest that oscillating visual scenes and synchronous foot vibrations are effective for creating virtual walking sensations. The virtual walking system can reproduce experiences of walking to people who are a distance away, or who have a disability that could prevent them from walking in the future. This research has been published in the British open access journal i-Perception on 15th October 2019.

Automatically quantifying gender bias in movies via image analysis

Many commercial films worldwide continue to express womanhood in a stereotypical manner, a recent study using image analysis showed. A KAIST research team developed a novel image analysis method for automatically quantifying the degree of gender bias in in films.

Few aeroplanes land automatically but new systems could make this the norm

When it comes to planes cruising through the air, many of us are used to the idea of them flying on autopilot with little or no input from a human pilot as they travel from one destination to another. Landing a plane under autopilot, known as autoland, is a different matter. While some systems already exist, efforts are underway to improve them to enable safer landings.

Predicting fruit harvest with drones and artificial intelligence

Outfield Technologies is a Cambridge-based agri-tech start-up company which uses drones and artificial intelligence, to help fruit growers maximise their harvest from orchard crops.

Augmented reality app adds interactive enhancements to scientific posters, presentations

USC scientists have launched a smartphone application that uses augmented reality to add 3-D models, fly-throughs and other data to enrich science communication materials such as posters, publications and presentation materials.

How to make your online shopping more environmentally friendly

Online shopping continues to grow at a phenomenal rate. In 2018, the market value of UK retail was £381 billion of which online transactions made up almost one-fifth. That's £12.3 billion of grocery items and £58.8 billion of all non-food items purchased online.

Universal Studios park in China to have facial recognition tech

The Universal Studios amusement park under construction in Beijing will admit visitors without a ticket—thanks to cameras that will scan their faces to determine if they've paid for entry.

Stretchable circuits: New process simplifies production of functional prototypes

Stretchable circuits have the advantage that they also work in textiles such as clothing. However, their production is considered to be very costly. A new, simplified process has now been presented by two computer scientists from Saarland University.

Darn you, R2! When do we blame robots?

A recent study from North Carolina State University finds that people are likely to blame robots for workplace accidents, but only if they believe the robots are autonomous.

European countries bust massive illegal filesharing ring

German prosecutors say authorities in three European countries have dismantled a massive illegal filesharing site for movies, music and pornography.

You're probably not using Spotify right. Here's how to get the most out of your music

If you use Spotify only to search for a specific song or artist, you're really missing out.

'League of Legends' maker Riot Games has new legends in the works

Riot Games, publishers of "League of Legends," is looking to expand its lore.

Zuckerberg defends Facebook's hands-off policy for politicians

Facebook chief executive Mark Zuckerberg on Thursday defended the huge social network's policy of refraining from fact-checking politicians, saying it's not the job of tech firms to "censor."

G7 countries seeking common stance on Facebook's Libra

Facebook's controversial plans for a new digital currency will again come under scrutiny of finance officials from Group of Seven economies Thursday, who worry it undermines their hold over the global financial system.

Netflix revs up growth as streaming TV war looms

Netflix shares rallied Wednesday after its latest quarterly update showed robust subscriber growth and better-than-expected profits ahead of a major escalation in the streaming television war.

US, France and OECD 'getting closer' to tech tax agreement: Mnuchin

Washington is inching toward an agreement with Paris and the Organization for Economic Cooperation and Development on taxing global tech giants, US Treasury Secretary Steven Mnuchin said on Wednesday.

Netflix says it will retain the streaming crown; not worried about Disney Plus and Apple TV Plus

Netflix, which dominates streaming, says it will continue to hold the crown, even in the face of intense new competition in November from the likes of Apple and Disney.

Southwest Airlines again pushes back MAX return date

Southwest Airlines on Thursday again pushed back its target date for returning the Boeing 737 MAX to service because of uncertainty over when regulators will re-certify the plane.

Lebanon to tax calls on messaging apps

Lebanon on Thursday announced a new tax on internet calls made through messaging applications, a move meant to boost the cash-strapped state's revenues but which sparked widespread user outrage.

Ericsson sales rise but earnings hit by corruption provision

Ericsson Thursday reported rising sales, but the bottom line of the Swedish maker of telecommunications network equipment was hit as it set aside 1.1 billion euros to settle a US corruption probe.

Europe prepares four 5G pilots in industrial applications

A European research project coordinated by the Universidad Carlos III de Madrid (UC3M), named 5Growth, will implant 5G technology in four working environments on the continent to validate the functioning of these new telecommunication networks. In Spain, this test will be carried out in the Basque Country, in one of the Innovalia headquarters.

Proposed GM contract lifts wages, closes 4 plants

General Motors' proposed agreement to end a labor strike includes a wage increase and faster transition to fulltime status for temporary workers but permanently shuts four plants, according to a union summary released Thursday.

Medicine & Health news

DeNeRD: an AI-based method to process whole images of the brain

Researchers at the University of Zurich's Brain Research Institute have recently developed a technique to automatically detect neurons of different types in a variety of brain regions at different developmental stages. They presented this deep learning-based tool, called DeNeRD, in a paper published in Nature Scientific Reports.

New strategy to treat Parkinson's disease

Northwestern Medicine scientists have used patient-derived neurons to develop and test a new strategy to treat Parkinson's disease by mitigating the effects of harmful genetic mutations, as detailed in a study published today (Oct. 16) in Science Translational Medicine.

Mothers' behavior influences bonding hormone oxytocin in babies

Oxytocin is an extremely important hormone involved in social interaction and bonding in mammals, including humans. It helps us relate to others, strengthens trust and closeness in relationships, and can be triggered by eye contact, empathy or pleasant touch. It's well known that a new mother's behavior is influenced by her oxytocin levels, and as a result, the bond she makes with her baby. A new epigenetic study by Kathleen Krol and Jessica Connelly from the University of Virginia and Tobias Grossmann from the Max Planck Institute for Human Cognitive and Brain Sciences now suggests that mothers' behavior can also have a substantial impact on their children's developing oxytocin systems.

Stem cell study offers new way to study early development and pregnancy

Although graduating from school, a first job and marriage can be important events in life, some of the most significant events happen far earlier: in the first few days after a sperm fertilizes an egg and the cell begins to divide.

BARseq builds a better brain map

Cold Spring Harbor Laboratory Professor Anthony Zador has taken the next step in his quest to solve exactly how the brain is wired.

Study reveals fundamental insight into how memory changes with age

New research from King's College London and The Open University could help explain why memory in old age is much less flexible than in young adulthood.

Developing next-generation soft hearing implants

Close to a half-million people around the world suffer from serious hearing impairments. In some cases, they cochlear and other types of implants have good results. Yet these devices do not help people whose inner ear is damaged or whose auditory nerve does not function properly.

Molecular control of neurotransmitter linked to autism described

Many neurodevelopmental disorders such as epilepsy, schizophrenia, and autism have been linked to disruption of the key neurotransmitter GABA, but the underlying causes of the disruptions have been difficult to pinpoint. In two new papers published Oct. 15 in Science Signaling, researchers from Yale, France, Japan, and the United Kingdom have zeroed in on a molecular mechanism crucial to normal brain development, which, when impaired, causes autism-like symptoms in mice.

Daily exposure to blue light may accelerate aging, even if it doesn't reach your eyes

Prolonged exposure to blue light, such as that which emanates from your phone, computer and household fixtures, could be affecting your longevity, even if it's not shining in your eyes.

New insights into the structure and function of Cdc34, a target for cancer therapeutics

Some of the greatest insights into cancer and how to treat it come when basic scientists and cancer biologists and clinicians collaborate.

Have a vexing problem? Sleep on it.

New Northwestern University research shows people actually might solve a problem better if they "sleep on it." In fact, the researchers were able to improve problem solving upon waking by manipulating a critical process during sleep.

Parasite paralysis: A new way to fight schistosomiasis?

Scientists at the Morgridge Institute for Research have isolated a natural chemical that acts as a potent kryptonite against schistosomes, the parasitic worms that burrow through human skin and cause devastating health problems.

Risk of brain damage and death in premature babies may reduce if born in specialist units

Extremely premature babies born in English hospitals with specialist neonatal intensive care units may have a reduced risk of brain damage and death, compared to premature babies born in hospitals without such specialist units.

How do ketogenic diets affect skin inflammation?

Not all fats are equal in how they affect our skin, according to a new study in the Journal of Investigative Dermatology. The investigators found that different ketogenic diets impacted skin inflammation differently in psoriasiform-like skin inflammation in mice. Ketogenic diets heavy in medium-chain triglycerides (MCTs) such as coconut, especially in combination with omega-3 fatty acids from fish oil and plant sources like nuts and seeds, exacerbated psoriasis.

E-cigarettes may help more than 50,000 smokers to stop smoking in England each year

A new study published today by the scientific journal Addiction found a positive link between the number of people in England giving up smoking when using e-cigarettes to try and quit.

Blood-collection device makes radiation testing quick and easy

A University of Arizona College of Medicine—Phoenix research team has developed a blood self-collection device to quickly estimate a person's exposure to radiation in the event of a nuclear accident or attack.

Study suggests why some US football players have higher cardiovascular risk

Research has shown that while elite athletes overall are at decreased risk of death from cardiovascular problems, a certain group of athletes—football linemen in the United States—actually have higher risk than the general population than other elite athletes. A study published today in JAMA Cardiology ties that increased risk to the rapid weight gain players undergo during early training and provides the first longitudinal look at players throughout their college careers.

New effective vaccines for Lyme disease are coming

There is no effective vaccine currently available to prevent Lyme disease in humans.

Frequent drinking is greater risk factor for heart rhythm disorder than binge drinking

Drinking small amounts of alcohol frequently is linked with a higher likelihood of atrial fibrillation than binge drinking, according to research published today in EP Europace, a journal of the European Society of Cardiology (ESC).

Preclinical research helps explain why fatty livers are more susceptible to cancer

Fatty liver disease is contributing to an increase in liver cancer and basic scientists at The University of Texas Health Science at Houston (UTHealth) have new insight as to why.

Beyond signaling risk, blood pressure and obesity causally related to lifespan

Researchers are exploring the cause and effect relationships between common health indicators and lifespan, by analyzing polygenic risk scores (PRS), a numerical score of a person's risk for disease based on multiple genetic variants. Saori Sakaue, MD, a Ph.D. candidate at Osaka University, and her mentor Professor Yukinori Okada, recently showed that in addition to signaling inherited risk of a disease, PRS revealed that blood pressure and obesity are themselves causally related to lifespan. The research was presented at the American Society of Human Genetics 2019 Annual Meeting in Houston, Texas.

Researchers develop mouse model of human gene involved in Alzheimer's disease

In research that helps scientists better understand and explore treatments for diseases like Alzheimer's, scientists have developed a line of mice in which the mouse version of the Alzheimer's-associated MAPT gene has been fully replaced by the human version of the gene. In this new animal model, known as a full gene-replacement model, the MAPT gene will function the same way it does in humans, allowing researchers to more accurately develop and evaluate genetic therapies. The research was presented at the American Society of Human Genetics 2019 Annual Meeting in Houston, Texas.

Young adults with PTSD may have a higher risk of stroke in middle age

Young adults who suffer from posttraumatic stress disorder (PTSD) may be more likely to experience a transient ischemic attack (TIA) or major stroke event by middle age, raising the risk as much as other better-known risk factors, according to new research published in Stroke, a journal of the American Stroke Association.

Financial hardship in cancer: The role of health insurance literacy

A new American Cancer Society study links health insurance literacy with medical financial hardship as well as non-medical financial sacrifices among adult cancer survivors in the United States. The authors say the study indicates that health insurance literacy may be an important intervention for addressing financial problems associated with cancer. The report appears in JNCI Cancer Spectrum.

Researchers identify targeted therapy that can help children with deadly nerve cancer

Mount Sinai researchers have identified a targeted therapy for adolescent patients with neuroblastoma, a deadly pediatric nerve cancer, who would otherwise have no treatment options, according to a study published in October in Cancer Cell.

Study examines variation in transplant centers' use of less-than-ideal organs

Researchers who developed a tool to assess organ acceptance practices by transplant centers found wide variability in centers' willingness to use less-than-ideal donor kidneys. The findings, which appear in an upcoming issue of CJASN, may help improve centers' policies related to organ acceptance and therefore boost rates of transplantation.

How hunger makes food tastier: a neural circuit in the hypothalamus

Why does everything taste better when we're hungry? According to new findings from the National Institute for Physiological Sciences in Japan, not only does food taste sweeter when our stomachs are rumbling, but bitter food also becomes less difficult to eat—and both effects are moderated by a neural circuit in the hypothalamus.

Faulty signalling pathway linked to congenital heart condition

A congenital heart condition known as left ventricular non-compaction (LVNC), which occurs when muscly projections in the embryonic heart fail to transform into compact heart muscle, could be caused by signaling defects, according to new preclinical research led by Duke-NUS Medical School in Singapore. The finding, published in the journal JCI Insight, could pave the way towards potential diagnosis and therapies.

C-sections affect children's health less than previously assumed

Conventional wisdom in medicine associates Cesarean sections to a wide variety of adverse short- and long-term health outcomes. However, a new study suggests that potentially avoidable unplanned cesarean sections increase the risk of asthma, but not the risk of other immune-mediated disorders previously associated with C-sections.

People who need healthcare advice the most like it the least

Most people think it's a good thing that public health authorities propose preventive health measures. The greatest resistance is found among individuals who need these measures the most—such as smokers, people with unhealthy diets or who don't exercise.

Men say it's not masculine to talk about body image concerns

Many males think talking about body dissatisfaction is socially undesirable and associate it with a sense of shame, a University of Queensland study has found.

Indigenous Australians' vaccination rates too low and not improving

A new UNSW study has found that most adult Indigenous Australians are not receiving free flu and pneumococcal vaccinations.

Hygiene products associated with presence of chemicals in women's blood

Women who use a vaginal douche could be at a higher risk of exposure to potentially dangerous chemicals, according to a University of Michigan study that looked at the correlation between the use of female hygiene products and the levels of volatile organic compounds in women's blood.

Lead exposure linked to lower quality sleep in youth

Youth who are exposed to lead may have a harder time getting a good night's sleep, which may affect their cognitive abilities, according to a University of Michigan study in Mexico.

Urban green areas promote well-being for people unable to regulate negative emotions

Green areas in the inner city can directly improve the well-being of urban citizens. This is the result of an interdisciplinary study in which Karlsruhe Institute of Technology (KIT) was involved. According to the study, people with a reduced brain capacity to self-regulate negative feelings benefit most from the green areas. The study combining epidemiology, psychology, neural imaging, and geo informatics is reported in Nature Neuroscience.

When it comes to cancer, fighting words might be the wrong approach

aney had severe pneumonia and stomach cancer that had spread to her bones and liver.

Can depression and anxiety be treated by stimulating brain signals?

Maryam Shanechi, the Andrew and Erna Viterbi Early Career Chair and assistant professor of electrical and computer engineering, is trying to do something that has never been done before: treat neuropsychiatric disorders using brain-machine interfaces (BMIs). This work, in part, just landed her on Science News magazine's Top Ten Scientists to Watch. In her perspective article published last week in Nature Neuroscience, Shanechi lays out how she intends to solve this challenge.

Researchers evaluate HIV prevention intervention on farmworker communities, find positive results

Latina immigrants in farmworker communities are a vulnerable and understudied population who are at high risk for contracting HIV. Nationally, rates of new HIV infections among Latinas are more than four times that of non-Latina white women—and the rates are even higher for those in marginalized populations.

For people with a mental illness, loved ones who care are as important as formal supports

People living with mental illness often require support from carers, such as family and friends, on a long-term and somewhat unpredictable basis.

The blind and visually impaired can help researchers by getting their genes tested

Blind and partially sighted people no longer have to wait passively for a research breakthrough in hope of treatment options. In fact, people living with genetic eye conditions can now actively drive vision research forward —by enrolling in a patient registry and getting their genes tested.

What affects people's brain function as they grow older? We sought answers in rural South Africa

The world's population is aging and for the first time ever there are more people over the age of 65 than under the age of 5. This global trend is reflected in many sub-Saharan African countries, including South Africa.

Pioneering cell therapies for nonresponders to current immunotherapies

In today's current era of precision medicine against cancer, research is successfully potentiating and personalizing immunotherapy to unleash the power of the immune system in a greater number of patients to attack disease. Despite such progress, much work is required to better predict those patients who would be most likely benefit from them, and extend their benefits to more patients as well as tumor types—either as monotherapy, or most likely in combination.

Team identifies a protein that helps regulate blood glucose and lipids

Insulin, a hormone essential for regulating blood sugar and lipids, is normally produced by pancreatic β cells. In many people with diabetes, however, pancreatic cells are not (or no longer) functional, causing a chronic and potentially fatal insulin deficiency that can only be controlled through daily insulin injections. However, this approach has serious adverse effects, including an increased risk of life-threatening hypoglycemia, and it does not restore metabolic balance. In order to improve therapy, researchers at the University of Geneva (UNIGE), Switzerland, have identified a protein called S100A9 which, under certain conditions, seems to act as a blood sugar and lipid regulator while avoiding the most harmful side effects of insulin. This discovery, that can be read in Nature Communications, paves the way for better treatment of diabetes and could significantly improve the quality of life for tens of millions of people affected by insulin deficiency.

Researchers bring us one step closer to universal influenza vaccine

The scourge of the influenza virus devastates health and claims many lives worldwide each year. It is especially daunting because vaccines are only protective when they are well matched to the strains circulating in the population. But now, a team led by researchers at the Icahn School of Medicine at Mount Sinai is getting closer to a universal flu vaccine using a novel approach they've developed called chimeric hemagglutinin (cHA).

Competitive people are more prone to drug consumption

Hostile and competitive people are more likely to give in to drug consumption, according to a study published by a research group at the University of Cordoba (Spain). When a person faces a decision regarding these kinds of substances, multiple factors come into play, such as social environment, family history and past experiences. Now, this study has confirmed that certain personality traits can also be risk factors.

Surgery helps tough-to-treat acid reflux

(HealthDay)—For people with gastroesophageal reflux disease (GERD) that doesn't respond to the usual treatments, a complex surgery may help, a new study finds.

Abnormal menstrual cycle linked to elevated mortality

(HealthDay)—Abnormal menstrual cycle characteristics are associated with elevated mortality risk, according to a study presented at the annual American Society for Reproductive Medicine (ASRM) Scientific Congress and Expo, held from Oct. 12 to 16 in Philadelphia.

Postop opioid Rx sevenfold higher in U.S., Canada versus Sweden

(HealthDay)—Patients in the United States and Canada receive prescription opioids after surgeries at a rate that is approximately seven times higher than the rate in Sweden, according to a study published online Sept. 4 in JAMA Network Open.

Dopamine agonists tied to higher risk for psychiatric events

(HealthDay)—Patients with primary restless leg syndrome who begin dopamine agonist (DA) therapy may be at increased risk for adverse psychiatric events, according to a study published in the September issue of the Journal of Clinical Sleep Medicine.

Statins in childhood aid familial hypercholesteremia outcomes

(HealthDay)—Initiation of statin therapy during childhood in patients with familial hypercholesterolemia slows the progression of carotid intima-media thickness and reduces the risk for cardiovascular disease over 20 years, according to a study published in the Oct. 17 issue of the New England Journal of Medicine.

Opioid crisis cost US $631 billion over four years

(HealthDay)—The U.S. opioid epidemic cost the nation's economy $631 billion from 2015 through 2018, a new study says.

Breathalyzer for weed could be a 'game changer' for legalization efforts

When New Jersey lawmakers debated earlier this year whether to legalize recreational use of marijuana, the Garden State's police organizations were adamantly against it.

Opioids may not be needed for acute pain control after vasectomy

Opioids do not provide improved pain control following a vasectomy and may be tied to a higher risk for persistent use, according to a study published in the October issue of The Journal of Urology.

Drug treats inflammation associated with genetic heart disease that can be deadly in young athletes

When young athletes experiences sudden cardiac death as they run down the playing field, it's usually due to arrhythmogenic cardiomyopathy (ACM), an inherited heart disease. Now, Johns Hopkins researchers have shed new light on the role of the immune system in the progression of ACM and, in the process, discovered a new drug that might help prevent ACM disease symptoms and progression to heart failure in some patients.

The Power of Song: Why your doctor should be prescribing choir practice

GPs should prescribe participation in communal singing activities to patients to raise self-esteem and overcome loneliness, a tuneful event at the University of Sussex was told this week.

Even short periods of physical inactivity are damaging to our health

As a society, we aren't getting as much exercise as we should. In fact, current activity guidelines state that adults should get at least 150 minutes of moderately intense activity—or 75 minutes of vigorous activity—every week. But research has found that one in four adults aren't active enough.

Neck circumference of the elderly is associated with their nutritional status

Researchers at the Miguel Servet University Hospital in Zaragoza (Spain) have analysed the ratio between the perimeter of the neck of people living in old people's homes and the probability of malnutrition. Values below 37.8 cm in males and 35.2 cm in females indicate risk.

Three reasons you have neck pain – and why 'bad posture' probably isn't one of them

If you suffer from neck pain, you're not alone. Spinal pain is one of the leading causes of disability worldwide and its occurrence has increased dramatically over the past 25 years. While most episodes of neck pain are likely to get better within a few months, half to three-quarters of people who have neck pain will experience repeated episodes of pain.

Can surgical masks protect you from getting the flu?

Australia has just suffered a severe flu season, with 299,211 laboratory-confirmed cases, at last count, and 662 deaths. This might be a sign of what's to come for the UK and US as the virus spreads to the northern hemisphere.

Treatment of metabolic dysfunction could be a potential therapy for Alzheimer's disease

A team of researchers led by Yale-NUS College has found evidence that metabolic dysfunction is a primary cause of Alzheimer's disease.

Figuring out Alzheimer's

One of the tasks of scientists' work is to explain how the world functions. Their research ideas may often seem unrealistic but, as it turns out, their research may truly help a great many of us.

Bad break-ups may not trigger weight gain from emotional eating

That pint of ice cream after a nasty breakup may not do as much damage as you think. Despite the emotional turmoil, people on average do not report gaining weight after a relationship dissolution, according to new research.

Evidence of behavioral, biological similarities between compulsive overeating and addiction

Does yo-yo dieting drive compulsive eating? There may be a connection.

Adults with undiagnosed Celiac disease have lower bone density, says first study on topic

Research by George Mason University College of Health and Human Services found that adults who likely had undiagnosed celiac disease (UCD) had lower bone density than the adults without UCD, although they consumed more calcium and phosphorous. Celiac disease is an autoimmune disease triggered by consuming gluten, and individuals with CD are often undiagnosed. This is the first known study of bone health of U.S. adults with untreated UCD.

Study finds racial disparities in treatment of multiple myeloma patients

Among patients with multiple myeloma, African Americans and Hispanics start treatment with a novel therapy significantly later than white patients, according to a new study published today in Blood Advances. The study found that on average it took about three months for white patients to start novel therapy after diagnosis, while for both African Americans and Hispanics it took about five months.

High-risk patients benefit from undergoing surgery at teaching hospitals

Patients with a high risk of dying after surgery, including those with multiple chronic diseases, benefit from undergoing general or vascular procedures at a major teaching hospital as opposed to a non-teaching hospital, according to a study from researchers at Penn Medicine and the Children's Hospital of Philadelphia (CHOP).

Combination of AI and radiologists more accurately identified breast cancer

An artificial intelligence (AI) tool—trained on roughly a million screening mammography images—identified breast cancer with approximately 90 percent accuracy when combined with analysis by radiologists, a new study finds.

Deaths due to suicide, homicide on the rise among U.S. youth

(HealthDay)—The anger and fear seething throughout the United States could be having a fatal impact on some of the nation's youngest citizens.

Certain blood pressure meds tied to suicide risk in study

(HealthDay)—A common type of blood pressure medication might be associated with an increased risk of suicide, a new study suggests.

Your personality as a teen may predict your risk of dementia

(HealthDay)—Could your personality as a teen forecast your risk for dementia a half-century later?

Study looks at pediatric firearm-related eye injuries in the U.S.

(HealthDay)—A quarter of all U.S. ocular firearm injuries occur within the pediatric population, according to a study published online Oct. 10 in JAMA Ophthalmology.

Insurance plans vary in policies for gender-affirming surgeries

(HealthDay)—There is great variability in coverage and medical necessity criteria for gender-affirming top surgery across insurance companies, according to a study published in the October issue of Plastic and Reconstructive Surgery.

Outcomes poorer for extreme preemies transferred after birth

(HealthDay)—Birth in a nontertiary hospital and transfer within 48 hours is associated with poorer outcomes compared with birth in a tertiary hospital for extremely preterm infants, according to a study published online Oct. 16 in The BMJ.

Suicide, homicide rates up among youth aged 10 to 24

(HealthDay)—Suicide rates increased from 2007 to 2017 among youth aged 10 to 24 years, according to an October data brief published by the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention National Center for Health Statistics.

Research gauges neurodegeneration tied to FXTAS by measuring motor behavior

The neurological disorder FXTAS (pronounced "fax-tas") stems from a genetic premutation seen in one of every 151 women and one of every 468 men, called the FMR1 premutation.

Vaping-related illnesses still rising, though at slower pace

Vaping-related illnesses in the U.S. are still rising, though at a slightly slower pace.

Opioid industry presses for settlement as trial looms

With a trial looming, major drug distributors and manufacturers are pressing to settle thousands of claims against them related to the nation's persistent opioid crisis.

Online abortion medication demand highest in states with restrictive abortion policies

Demand for abortion medication through online telemedicine varies in the United States, according to new peer-reviewed research from the LBJ School of Public Affairs at The University of Texas at Austin published in the American Journal of Public Health.

Cystic fibrosis carriers at increased risk of digestive symptoms

Researchers have found that carriers of the most common genetic variant that causes cystic fibrosis experience some symptoms similar to those of people with cystic fibrosis. These findings were enabled by large-scale genomic data made available just a few years ago. Yu-Chung (Jerry) Lin, BA, MSc, a graduate student at the University of Toronto, presented the research at the American Society of Human Genetics 2019 Annual Meeting in Houston, Texas.

University of Otago psychiatrists call on colleagues to say no to euthanasia

The impact of legalizing euthanasia will be devastating on older people, the poor and disabled, according to two University of Otago psychiatrists who are calling on their colleagues both in New Zealand and internationally to oppose the move.

Taking the long view on health: Tracking the impact of aging in rural South Africa

Population aging is a growing challenge worldwide, and African is no exception. The World Health Organisation estimates that the continent is home to almost 65 million people aged 60 years or older, and that this number will increase to over 100 million by 2050.

Who takes care of the elderly? Findings from rural South Africa

South Africa is aging rapidly, sparking increasing interest both in what care is needed for older adults and on how it's provided.

A workout to shape your shoulders

(HealthDay)—Don't shrug off working your delts, the muscles of your shoulders. Besides assisting with good posture, strong shoulders help you lift and carry items with ease, and create excellent upper body definition for men and women alike.

How to make your own healthy chicken tenders

(HealthDay)—Are you a chicken finger fanatic, but worried about what might be lurking in the take-out versions? The solution is simple: Do it yourself.

Breast reduction surgery improves well-being for young patients

(HealthDay)—Breast reduction surgery improves physical and psychosocial well-being in young women undergoing surgery for concerns related to excessively large breasts, according to a study published in the September issue of Plastic and Reconstructive Surgery.

Federal proposals to limit Medicaid funding would hit community health centers hard

Most states that transition to block grant funding for Medicaid—in which the federal government provides a fixed annual sum—would see lower revenue for their community health centers that care for Medicaid beneficiaries and other residents. Under a block grant, total health center revenues generated by the Medicaid expansion population would drop 92 percent and 58 percent for traditional enrollees by 2024, according to a study published today in the Milbank Quarterly.

Dementia and eating disorders: it is a problem of (semantic) memory

For the first time, it has been shown that deficits of semantic memory, an ability we use to recognize objects and use them correctly, are involved in specific eating disorders shared by patients suffering from dementia. This is suggested by a study conducted by the Laboratory of Professor Raffaella Rumiati of SISSA in Trieste just published in the Journal of Neuropsychology. Eating disorders shown by patients with dementia are characterised by a vast range of behaviours that span from preference for sugary foods, binges, increase in appetite, to changes in table manners or in food preferences, for instance, the abrupt change to an extremely selective diet in terms of food choices, resulting in an unbalanced nutrition pattern. This new study confirms the hypothesis that sudden changes in preferences and habits, depend, at least in part, on degeneration of semantic memory, opening up interesting perspectives in the field of research and to develop effective strategies to contrast these behaviors in patients.

Researchers quantify limitations of health reports from direct-to-consumer genetic tests

Health reports from direct-to-consumer (DTC) genetic tests that use a limited variant screening approach often yield clinical false-negative results, which pose the risk of informing health care decisions based on incomplete information, according to findings presented at the American Society of Human Genetics (ASHG) 2019 Annual Meeting in Houston, Texas.

First generation of induced pluripotent stem cells from domestic cats

Researchers have reported for the first time producing feline induced pluripotent stem cells (fiPSCs) from adult cells of domestic cats. The methods and implications of this research are published in Stem Cells and Development.

Bone regrowth using ceramic substitute and E. coli-derived growth factors

Synthetic bone substitutes are promising materials for bone defect repair, but their efficacy can be substantially improved by bioactive agents such as growth factors. In a new study, researchers have modified beta-tricalcium phosphate (β-TCP) with increasing quantities of bone morphogenetic protein 2 (BMP-2) derived from E. coli and shown improved bone healing. The study is published in Tissue Engineering.

J&J agrees to $117M settlement over pelvic mesh devices

Johnson & Johnson has agreed to a $117 million multistate settlement over allegations it deceptively marketed its pelvic mesh products, which support women's sagging pelvic organs.

Juul halts sales of fruit, dessert flavors for e-cigarettes

Juul Labs stopped selling fruit and dessert flavors Thursday, acknowledging the public's "lack of trust" in the vaping industry.

WVU researcher studies link between caffeine, sleep and alcohol use in middle-schoolers

Research into young people's drinking habits tends to focus on high school and college students. Middle school students are rarely the subject. Yet they are "at this critical age for substance use initiation," according to Alfgeir Kristjansson, an associate professor in the West Virginia University School of Public Health.

Biology news

Newly discovered microbes band together, 'flip out'

When researchers in Nicole King's lab looked through a microscope at the strange organisms they had collected in Curaçao, they saw sheets of cells clustered together in a pattern that resembled skin. That was unusual enough, since these unicellular organisms are normally loners. But then they did something really bizarre: The sheets "flipped" from a shallow cup shape into little ball-like structures and starting swimming around.

How human brain development diverged from great apes

Researchers from the Max Planck Institute for Evolutionary Anthropology in Leipzig, Germany, Institute of Molecular and Clinical Ophthalmology Basel, and ETH Zurich, Switzerland, have presented new insights into the development of the human brain and differences in this process compared to other great apes. The study reveals features of brain development that are unique to humans, and outlines how these processes have diverged from those in other primates.

Mathematical modelling vital to tackling disease outbreaks

Predicting and controlling disease outbreaks would be easier and more reliable with the wider application of mathematical modelling, according to a new study.

Old friends and new enemies: How evolutionary history can predict insect invader impacts

About 450 nonnative, plant-eating insect species live in North American forests. Most of these critters are harmless, but a handful wreak havoc on their new environment, attacking trees and each year causing more than $70 billion in damage.

First scientific description of elusive bird illuminates plight of Borneo's forests

Scientists with the Smithsonian's National Museum of Natural History and collaborators surveying the birdlife of Borneo have discovered a startling surprise: an undescribed species of bird, which has been named the Spectacled Flowerpecker. While scientists and birdwatchers have previously glimpsed the small, gray bird in lowland forests around the island, the Smithsonian team is the first to capture and study it, resulting in its formal scientific description as a new species.

Researchers obtain the first mice born with hyper-long telomeres

A chance finding 10 years ago led to the creation by researchers of the Spanish National Cancer Research Centre (CNIO) of the first mice born with much longer telomeres than normal in their species. Telomeres shorten throughout life, so older organisms have shorter telomeres. Given this relationship between telomeres and aging, the scientists launched a study generating mice in which 100 percent of their cells had hyper-long telomeres. The findings are published in Nature Communications and show only positive consequences: The animals with hyper-long telomeres live longer and in better health, free from cancer and obesity. This marks the first time that longevity has been significantly increased without any genetic modification.

Enzyme trigger that tells cells to move characterized for first time

Some cells have the ability to travel in the human body, and depending on the circumstances, this can be either very, very good or very, very bad.

Human medicines affect fish behavior

Human medicines that act on important signal systems in the brain make fish bolder, shows a new study on three-spined sticklebacks by researchers at Linköping University. The results reinforce that the signal substances serotonin and dopamine play important roles in behavioral differences between individuals. Further, it shows that drugs that end up in the natural environment may have consequences for animal life. The study has been published in the Journal of Experimental Biology.

Study reveals how collapse of protein processes is driver of aging and death

Cells undergo natural aging and death, processes that impact a multitude of cellular factors. A new Stony Brook University-led study, to be published in PNAS, provides a biophysical model that reveals how damage accumulates in the shapes of cellular proteins with age and is a trigger to death. The finding opens a door to a better understanding of the molecular origins of age-related neurodegenerative diseases, such as Alzheimer's and Parkinson's disease, which all entail protein damage.

Mapping global biodiversity change

A new study, published in Science, which focuses on mapping biodiversity change in marine and land ecosystems shows that loss of biodiversity is most prevalent in the tropic, with changes in marine ecosystems outpacing those on land. The research, led by scientists from the University of St Andrews, in collaboration with leading universities across Europe, the USA and Canada, including McGill, aimed at reaching a consensus about variation in biodiversity change. It found that there were both negative and positive changes in ecosystems across the world and that although on average the numbers of species that live in each place are not changing, many regions were either gaining or losing species.

Phylogenetic analysis forces rethink of termite evolution

Despite their important ecological role as decomposers, termites are often overlooked in research. Evolutionary biologists at the Okinawa Institute of Science and Technology Graduate University (OIST) have constructed a new family tree for this unassuming insect brood, shedding unexpected light on its evolutionary history.

Meet 'le blob' Paris zoo's new star attraction

The Paris zoo's latest attraction is a brainless, eyeless, single-celled organism with no limbs or stomach but more than 700 genders.

Deet gives humans an 'invisibilty cloak' to fend off mosquito bites

Since its invention during the Second World War for soldiers stationed in countries where malaria transmission rates were high, researchers have worked to pinpoint precisely how DEET actually affects mosquitos. Past studies have analyzed the chemical structure of the repellent, studied the response in easier insects to work with, such as fruit flies, and experimented with genetically engineered mosquito scent receptors grown inside frog eggs. However, the Anopheles mosquito's neurological response to DEET and other repellents remained largely unknown because directly studying the scent-responsive neurons in the mosquito itself was technically challenging and labor-intensive work.

Embryo's early development revealed in a dish

During embryonic development, the entire nervous system, the skin and the sensory organs emerge from a single sheet of cells known as the ectoderm. While there have been extensive studies of how this sheet forms all these derivatives, it hasn't been possible to study the process in humans – until now.

Scientists unwind mystery behind DNA replication

The molecules of life are twisted. But how those familiar strands in DNA's double helix manage to replicate without being tangled up has been hard to decipher. A new perspective from Cornell physicists is helping unravel the mystery.

Male and female mice have different brain cells

Caltech researchers have discovered rare brain cell types that are unique to male mice and other types that are unique to female mice. These sex-specific cells were found in a region of the brain that governs both aggression and mating behaviors.

Eye to eye with a 350-year-old cow

What may be the earliest surviving objects seen by microscope—specimens prepared and viewed by the early Dutch naturalist Antoni van Leeuwenhoek—have been reunited with one of his original microscopes for a state of the art photoshoot. This event allowed science historians to recapture the "look" of seventeenth century science, recording the moment in digital films and with stunning high-resolution color photographs for the first time.

Structural protein essential for ciliary harmony in comb jellies

Researchers from the University of Tsukuba's Shimoda Marine Research Center and the Japanese National Institute for Basic Biology have identified a protein that keeps millions of tiny surface organelles moving in harmony to control the gliding locomotion of ctenophores.

Photosynthesis Olympics: Can the best wheat varieties be even better?

Scientists have put elite wheat varieties through a sort of "Photosynthesis Olympics" to find which varieties have the best performing photosynthesis. This could ultimately help grain growers to get more yield for less inputs in the farm.

Researchers discover how left-right information is integrated to correct organ positioning

Scientists from the Instituto de Neurociencias CSIC-UMH in Alicante, Spain, under the supervision of Professor Angela Nieto, have discovered the molecular mechanism that ensures equilibrium in left-right signaling cascades during development for the correct leftward positioning of the heart.

Research networks can help BRICS countries combat invasive species

BRICS countries (Brazil, Russia, India, China and South Africa) should establish more networks of researchers dedicated to invasion science if they wish to curb the spread of invasive species within and outside of their borders. This is one of the major recommendations of an international study published in the Journal PLoS Biology recently.

Ants fight plant diseases

New research from Aarhus University shows that ants inhibit at least 14 plant diseases. Ants secrete antibiotics from glands in the body. On their legs and body, they also host colonies of bacteria that secrete antibiotics. It is probably these substances that inhibit a number of diseases, and researchers now hope to find biological pesticides that may conquer resistant plant diseases.

Biofuels that could be made from seawater

Researchers from the University of Manchester are using synthetic biology to explore a more efficient way to produce the next generation of biobased jet fuels—partly made from seawater.

First method to differentiate the four egg types

In the European Union, hen eggs are labeled with a code starting with numerals 0, 1, 2 or 3, depending on whether the hens are organically produced, free-range, floor-raised or caged, respectively. Now, researchers at the University of Santiago de Compostela (Spain) have developed a technique to distinguish them with 100 percent accuracy by analysing the lipids of the yolk to detect fraud.

Deep water sites off the US northeast coast are suitable for offshore blue mussel farms

Offshore mussel farm sites need to have the right temperature, food availability, and the right currents. According to a study by researchers at NOAA's Northeast Fisheries Science Center, several suitable locations can be found off the Northeastern U.S.

Stranded whales detected from space

A new technique for analysing satellite images may help scientists detect and count stranded whales from space. Researchers tested a new detection method using Very High Resolution (VHR) satellite images from Maxar Technologies of the biggest mass stranding of baleen whales yet recorded. It is hoped that in the future the technique will lead to real-time information as stranding events happen.

Scientists discover new species of wasp-mimicking praying mantis

Cleveland Museum of Natural History Director of Research & Collections and Curator of Invertebrate Zoology Dr. Gavin Svenson and former Case Western Reserve University graduate student, Henrique Rodrigues, have discovered a new species of praying mantis, described as the first known mantis species to conspicuously mimic a wasp. In addition, the new species joins one previously described species within a newly erected genus Vespamantoida. The results of the team's findings were published today in the online journal PeerJ.

How roots grow hair

The roots of plants can do a lot of things: They grow in length to reach water, they can bend to circumvent stones, and they form fine root hairs enabling them to absorb more nutrients from the soil. A team of researchers led by scientists at the Technical University of Munich (TUM) has now identified an important regulator of this process.

Museums put ancient DNA to work for wildlife

Scientists who are trying to save species at the brink of extinction are finding help in an unexpected place.

Groups: Saving Mexican gray wolves requires new approach

Dozens of environmental groups and scientists have asked U.S. wildlife managers to rethink how they plan to ensure the survival of Mexican gray wolves in the Southwest.

Cats are not scared off by dingoes. We must find another way to protect Australian animals

Feral cats are wreaking havoc on our native wildlife, eating more than a billion animals across Australia every year. But managing feral cats and reducing their impacts on our threatened species is challenging, to say the least.

Changes in photochemical reflectance index can be used to monitor crop condition

Currently, agriculture remains one of the most labor-intensive and vital sectors of human activity. For Lobachevsky University scientists, increasing its efficiency is one of their research priorities that requires the development of new methods and approaches, including methods for remote monitoring of the crops.

First report of cotton blue disease in the United States

In August 2017, Kathy S. Lawrence, a plant pathologist at Auburn University, received a call from Drew Schrimsher of Agri-AFC, who had discovered foliar distortion and leaf curling and rolling on approximately 50,000 acres of cotton in southeastern Alabama. After ruling out herbicide damage, Schrimsher contacted Lawrence, and she visited the fields 2 days later.

Next-generation sequencing used to identify cotton blue disease in the United States

Cotton blue disease, caused by Cotton leafroll dwarf virus (CLRDV), was first reported in 1949 in the Central African Republic and then not again until 2005, when it was reported from Brazil. In 2017, cotton blue disease was identified in Alabama, marking the first report in the United States.


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