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Here is your customized Science X Newsletter for December 3, 2019:
Spotlight Stories Headlines
Astronomy & Space news
 | Astronomers propose a novel method of finding atmospheres on rocky worldsWhen NASA's James Webb Space Telescope launches in 2021, one of its most anticipated contributions to astronomy will be the study of exoplanets—planets orbiting distant stars. Among the most pressing questions in exoplanet science is: Can a small, rocky exoplanet orbiting close to a red dwarf star hold onto an atmosphere? |
 | Gamma-ray binary HESS J0632+057 contains a pulsar, study suggestsUsing NuSTAR spacecraft and the VERITAS array of telescopes, an international team of astronomers has investigated a gamma-ray binary known as HESS J0632+057. The study found that a compact object in this system is most likely a pulsar—a highly magnetized, rotating neutron star emitting beams of electromagnetic radiation. The finding is reported in a paper published November 21 on arXiv. |
 | NASA's exoplanet-hunting mission catches a natural comet outburst in unprecedented detailUsing data from NASA's Transiting Exoplanet Survey Satellite (TESS), astronomers at the University of Maryland (UMD), in College Park, Maryland, have captured a clear start-to-finish image sequence of an explosive emission of dust, ice and gases during the close approach of comet 46P/Wirtanen in late 2018. This is the most complete and detailed observation to date of the formation and dissipation of a naturally-occurring comet outburst. The team members reported their results in the November 22 issue of The Astrophysical Journal Letters. |
 | NASA finds Indian Moon lander with help of amateur space enthusiastIndia's Vikram lunar lander, which crashed on its final approach to the Moon's surface in September, has been found thanks in part to the sleuthing efforts of an amateur space enthusiast. |
 | Heavyweight in the heart of the Abell 85 central galaxyIn space, black holes appear in different sizes and masses. The record is now held by a specimen in the Abell 85 cluster of galaxies, where an ultra-massive black hole with 40 billion times the mass of our sun sits in the middle of the central galaxy Holm 15A. Astronomers at the Max Planck Institute for Extraterrestrial Physics and the University Observatory Munich discovered this by evaluating photometric data from the Wendelstein Observatory as well as new spectral observations with the Very Large Telescope. |
 | Science around the planet uses images of Earth from the space stationArtificial lighting at night affects the behavior of urban wildlife, according to a recent study published in Nature Scientific Reports, which examined animals in the laboratory and the field. The researchers mapped light levels in the city of Chicago using publicly available images of Earth taken by astronauts from the International Space Station. |
 | A study of Saturn's largest moon may offer insights for earthScientists studying the weather and climate of Titan, Saturn's largest moon, have reported a significant seasonal variation in its energy budget—that is the amount of solar energy absorbed by the celestial body and the thermal energy it emits. |
 | Gas giant composition not determined by host starA surprising analysis of the composition of gas giant exoplanets and their host stars shows that there isn't a strong correlation between their compositions when it comes to elements heavier than hydrogen and helium, according to new work led by Carnegie's Johanna Teske and published in the Astronomical Journal. This finding has important implications for our understanding of the planetary formation process. |
 | Detecting solar flares, more in real timeComputers can learn to find solar flares and other events in vast streams of solar images and help NOAA forecasters issue timely alerts, according to a new study. The machine-learning technique, developed by scientists at CIRES and NOAA's National Centers for Environmental Information (NCEI), searches massive amounts of satellite data to pick out features significant for space weather. Changing conditions on the Sun and in space can affect various technologies on Earth, blocking radio communications, damaging power grids, and diminishing navigation system accuracy. |
 | Image: Exoplanet satellite encapsulatedAt Europe's Spaceport in Kourou, French Guiana, ESA's Characterising Exoplanet Satellite, Cheops, is being encapsulated into the flight adapter of the Soyuz-Fregat rocket that will lift it into space on 17 December. |
 | Mars: We may have solved the mystery of how its landslides formSome landslides on Mars seem to defy an important law of physics. "Long, runout landslides" are formed by huge volumes of rock and soil moving downslope, largely due to the force of gravity. But their power is hard to account for. With volumes exceeding that of the Empire State Building, they move at high speeds of up to 360 kilometers per hour over flat surfaces for up to tens of kilometers. |
 | NASA develops second-generation search and rescue beacon technologyNASA's Search and Rescue (SAR) office, technology development lead for the international Cospas-Sarsat program, has developed second-generation emergency beacons that offer users improved accuracy and quicker response times. Artemis astronauts returning from the Moon will be the first users of these beacons, which will be commercially available to the general public in the coming years. |
 | Meteorite-loving microorganismChemolithotrophic microorganisms derive their energy from inorganic sources. Research into the physiological processes of these organisms—which are grown on meteorite—provides new insights into the potential of extraterrestrial materials as a source of accessible nutrients and energy for microorganisms of the early Earth. Meteorites may have delivered a variety of essential compounds facilitating the evolution of life, as we know it on Earth. |
Technology news
 | World first as artificial neurons developed to cure chronic diseasesArtificial neurons on silicon chips that behave just like the real thing have been invented by scientists—a first-of-its-kind achievement with enormous scope for medical devices to cure chronic diseases, such as heart failure, Alzheimer's, and other diseases of neuronal degeneration. |
 | Old Norse plunder tactic inspires Oslo team to call Android flaw StrandHoggAn Android bug can steal bank credentials, namely bank logins. The flaw is called StrandHogg and security investigators at an Oslo, Norway-based security company say it has been targeting 60 financial institutions—at least. |
 | Car batteries can be frozen for safer transportationCurrently, transporting damaged and defective car batteries is an expensive process as they need to be placed in an explosion-proof box, which costs thousands of pounds. However, researchers from WMG at the University of Warwick in collaboration with Jaguar Land Rover engineers have been able to freeze batteries with liquid nitrogen. |
 | Bending an organic semiconductor can boost electrical flowSlightly bending semiconductors made of organic materials can roughly double the speed of electricity flowing through them and could benefit next-generation electronics such as sensors and solar cells, according to Rutgers-led research. |
 | Tracking power generation and use in the U.S. on an hourly basisA team of researchers at Stanford University has found a way to track how much electricity is generated and used in the U.S. on an hourly basis. In their paper published in Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences, the group describes their method and how it can be used to reduce greenhouse gas emissions. |
 | New software aims to make science more replicableEvery field in science and engineering employs highly specialized equipment: surface area analyzers, nanosizers, recording membrane osmometers. This equipment is often incredibly specific, designed for just a single function, but it's essential for performing accurate, replicable research. And without the ability to replicate the research of other scientists, the validity of science itself falls apart. |
 | The government is hyping digitalized services, but ignoring a history of e-government failuresIn politics, when you have little to show for your achievements, you can release a "roadmap" for what will supposedly be achieved in the future. |
 | Machine-learning algorithm automatically classifies sleep stages of lab miceResearchers at the University of Tsukuba have created a new artificial intelligence program for automatically classifying the sleep stages of mice that combines two popular machine learning methods. Dubbed MC-SleepNet, the algorithm achieved accuracy rates exceeding 96 percent and high robustness against noise in the biological signals. The use of this system for automatically annotating data can significantly assist sleep researchers when analyzing the results of their experiments. |
 | Electric cars might not yet be green, but we should buy them anywayTransforming the way we travel is an essential part of tackling the climate crisis. The transport sector contributes about 20% of global carbon emissions. In the UK the figure is 33%, and the country has made virtually no progress in reducing emissions from transport. In many countries, they're actually increasing. |
 | Can anyone be completely anonymous?Research published in the International Journal of Electronic Governance has investigated whether any of five "anonymous" social media applications are secure in that they do not allow a third party to see personal data or track the users. |
 | China to target quarter of vehicle sales to be electric by 2025China should adopt a plan that will see electric vehicles make up a quarter of all autos sold in the country in six years' time, the industry ministry said Tuesday, as the sector struggles with falling sales. |
 | EU to relaunch push to regulate WhatsApp, Skype on privacyThe EU will relaunch its deadlocked effort to more closely regulate internet phone and message services such as WhatsApp, Skype and Messenger, a top bloc official said on Tuesday. |
 | UN agency: Europe leads in readiness for online shoppingThe U.N.'s trade and development agency estimates that Europe, led by the Netherlands, leads the world in readiness for online shopping. |
 | Siting cell towers needs careful planningNo one can overengineer like an engineer. So introducing a little more caution into an existing engineering process is nothing much to ruffle feathers. A new paper published in Environmental Research offers insight on how to include simple precautionary approaches to siting cell towers. |
 | Google co-founders step down as execs of parent AlphabetGoogle co-founders Larry Page and Sergey Brin are stepping down from their roles within the parent company, Alphabet. |
Video game maker to pay $10 million in gender bias caseThe maker of popular video game League of Legends has agreed to pay $10 million to female employees to settle a broad gender discrimination case. | |
 | Apple's best games and apps of 2019 for iPhone: Picks pay homage to the pastThe best games of 2019 are a throwback. |
 | Pushing the boundaries of land-based rotor growthResearchers from the U.S. Department of Energy's (DOE's) National Renewable Energy Laboratory (NREL) and Sandia National Laboratories are searching for ways to maximize the advantages of large-scale rotors and their potential for increased energy generation. Their work as part of DOE's Big Adaptive Rotor (BAR) project aims to create the next generation of land-based wind turbines with 206-meter rotors, which will increase capacity factors by 10 percent or more over a typical land-based turbine. |
 | Criticism mounts as 'peak' season for Amazon arrivesAs Amazon ramps up to its holiday "peak," scrutiny and criticism of the company is becoming more strategic, widespread and coordinated. |
 | Workers fired from Google plan federal labor complaintFour workers fired from Google last week are planning to file a federal labor complaint against the company, claiming it unfairly retaliated against them for organizing workers around social causes. |
 | Huawei to shift research from hostile US to Canada: founderChinese tech giant Huawei, facing US criminal charges and economic sanctions, is planning to relocate its telecommunications research from the United States to Canada, founder Ren Zhengfei said in an interview published Tuesday. |
 | Co-combustion of wood and oil-shale reduces carbon emissionsUtilization of fossil fuels, which represents an increasing environmental risk, can be made more environmentally friendly by adding wood—as concluded based on the preliminary results of the year-long study carried out by thermal engineers of Tallinn University of Technology. In search of less polluting means of energy production, increasing the amount of biomass as a source of raw materials offers a good way to use fossil fuels and reduce emissions. |
Medicine & Health news
 | Deep learning identifies molecular patterns of cancerA new deep-learning algorithm can quickly and accurately analyze several types of genomic data from colorectal tumors for more accurate classification, which could help improve diagnosis and related treatment options, according to new research published in the journal Life Science Alliance. |
 | 3-D model of human liver for better diagnosisNon-alcoholic fatty liver disease is becoming the most common chronic liver disorder in developed countries. Histological analysis of liver tissue is the only widely accepted test for diagnosing and distinguishing different stages of the disease. However, this technique provides only two-dimensional images of the liver tissue in low resolution and overlooks potentially important 3-D structural changes. Researchers at the Max Planck Institute of Molecular Cell Biology and Genetics in Dresdenand the University Hospital Carl Gustav Carus Dresden together with colleagues from the Technische Universität Dresden now generated 3-D geometrical and functional models of human liver tissue for different disease stages. They reveal new critical tissue alterations, providing new insights into pathophysiology and contributing to high definition medical diagnosis. |
 | Micro implants could restore standing and walkingWhen Vivian Mushahwar first applied to grad school, she wrote about her idea to fix paralysis by rewiring the spinal cord. |
 | Study shows children can spontaneously recreate core properties of languageA trio of researchers from Stanford University, Leipzig University and the Max Planck Institute for Evolutionary Anthropology has found that young children are able to recreate the core properties of spoken language using sign language when speaking aloud is not possible. In their paper published in Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences, Manuel Bohn, Gregor Kachel and Michael Tomasello describe language experiments they carried out with children and what they learned from them. |
 | Diabetes drug has unexpected, broad implications for healthy agingMetformin is the most commonly prescribed type 2 diabetes drug, yet scientists still do not fully know how it works to control blood sugar levels. In a collaborative effort, researchers from the Salk Institute, The Scripps Research Institute and Weill Cornell Medical College have used a novel technology to investigate why it functions so well. The findings, which identified a surprising number of biochemical "switches" for various cellular processes, could also explain why metformin has been shown to extend health span and life span in recent studies. The work was published in Cell Reports on December 3, 2019. |
 | Improving blood vessel health in the brain may help combat Alzheimer'sIn patients with Alzheimer's disease, amyloid-beta protein fragments accumulate in the tissue and blood vessels of the brain, likely due to a faulty clearance mechanism. In experiments conducted in mice, investigators at Massachusetts General Hospital (MGH) have found that very slow spontaneous vessel pulsations—also known as 'vasomotion' - drive the clearance of substances from the brain, indicating that targeting and improving this process may help to prevent or treat amyloid-beta accumulation. |
 | Eating in sync with biological clock could replace problematic diabetes treatmentType 2 diabetics inject themselves with insulin, a hormone that regulates the movement of sugar into liver, muscle and fat cells, up to four times a day. But insulin injections are linked to weight gain and the loss of control of blood sugar levels. This triggers a vicious cycle of higher insulin doses, continuous weight gain, a higher incidence of cardiovascular disease and other complications. |
 | Neurodegenerative diseases may be caused by transportation failures inside neuronsAll neurodegenerative diseases have a common thread: the appearance of protein clumps in the brain such as amyloid-beta plaques in Alzheimer's disease and alpha synuclein aggregates in Parkinson's. The root cause of this buildup has been hard to pinpoint, but Rockefeller scientists have identified a likely culprit that opens up a new avenue for developing treatments. |
 | Scientists slam Chinese CRISPR babies research after manuscript releasedThe gene editing performed on Chinese twins last year meant to immunize them against HIV may have failed in its purpose and created unintended mutations, scientists said Tuesday after the original research was made public for the first time. |
 | Transition to exhaustion: Clues for cancer immunotherapyResearch on immune cells "exhausted" by chronic viral infection provides clues on how to refine cancer immunotherapy. The results are scheduled for publication in Immunity. |
Building a better breast with eye-tracking technologyWhat makes the female breast attractive? The answer is subjective, of course. But studies using eye-tracking technology are providing a more objective basis for determining which breast areas are most attractive—which may help to improve the outcomes of surgery, reports the December issue of Plastic and Reconstructive Surgery. | |
 | Death of STAT lab tests could be good for patient careWhile a lab test might be ordered STAT to help save a life, a new study suggests that the STAT test order should rest in peace, and instead the time standard for most clinical lab tests, like the commonly requested complete blood count, or CBC, should be more efficient. |
 | Olaparib becomes first gene-targeted medicine to show benefits in prostate cancerA pioneering precision medicine already licensed for breast and ovarian cancer can also slow or stop tumour growth in some men with advanced prostate cancer, a new clinical trial shows. |
 | Focused ultrasound may open door to Alzheimer's treatmentFocused ultrasound is a safe and effective way to target and open areas of the blood-brain barrier, potentially allowing for new treatment approaches to Alzheimer's disease, according to initial study results presented at the annual meeting of the Radiological Society of North America (RSNA). |
 | Imaging reveals pathways behind depressionMRI illuminates abnormalities in the brains of people with depression, potentially opening the door to new and improved treatments for the disorder, according to two studies presented this week at the annual meeting of the Radiological Society of North America (RSNA). |
 | Concussion alters how information is transmitted within the brainDamage from concussion alters the way information is transmitted between the two halves of the brain, according to a new study presented today at the annual meeting of the Radiological Society of North America (RSNA). |
 | New study looks at motorized scooter injuriesMore than half of people who received X-rays or CT scans after electric scooter accidents were found to have injuries, most commonly to the upper extremities, according to a new study presented today at the annual meeting of the Radiological Society of North America (RSNA). Researchers said the findings underscore the need for more public education on the use of these scooters. |
 | AI helps find signs of heart disease on lung cancer screensArtificial intelligence (AI) provides an automated and accurate tool to measure a common marker of heart disease in patients getting chest CT scans for lung cancer screening, according to a study presented today at the annual meeting of the Radiological Society of North America (RSNA). |
 | New study explores the link between obesity and gum diseaseObesity and gum (periodontal) disease are among the most common non-communicable diseases in the United States—and studies show these chronic conditions may be related. This new study explores the effect of obesity on non-surgical periodontal care and evaluates potential pathways that may illustrate the connection between the two conditions. |
 | Why is my poo green?It's happened to many of us at some point in our lives: we finish our bowel movement, look down in the bowl and have a moment of panic when we see an unusual color. |
 | Young children and infants read to by parents have stronger vocabulary skillsShared reading between parents and very young children, including infants, is associated with stronger vocabulary skills for nearly all children by age three, say physicians at Rutgers Robert Wood Johnson Medical School. According to research published in The Journal of Pediatrics, this is true also for children who genetically may be vulnerable to barriers in learning, attention and behavior development. |
 | Online grocery shopping leaves 'food deserts' behindThere's a new path out of the "food desert," and it's as close as the nearest Internet connection. |
 | Research into LGBTIQ psychology reveals a positive but precarious historyTo commemorate the anniversary a special issue in American Psychologist was published, edited by Alexandra Rutherford and The University of Surrey's Professor Peter Hegarty. The issue includes an innovative exploration into the history of lesbian, gay, bisexual, trans, intersex and queer (LGBTIQ) psychology in Britain which suggests that while substantial progress in LGBTIQ liberation has been achieved, there is still a long way to go. |
 | Diet, exercise, and apologize to your sister: A prescription for long-term healthStrained relationships with parents, siblings, or extended family members may be more harmful to people's health than a troubled relationship with a significant other, according to a study published by the American Psychological Association's Journal of Family Psychology. |
 | Machine learning algorithms develop a risk score to predict tachycardia episodesArtur Dubrawski is not a critical care physician, but his best friend is. Dubrawski, a research professor in Carnegie Mellon University's Robotics Institute, loves talking about disease symptoms with Michael Pinsky, a professor of critical care medicine, cardiovascular disease, bioengineering and more at the University of Pittsburgh Medical Center. They also love talking about data and, more important, what the data means. |
 | Fighting infections and resistancesWinter is influenza season. In the northern hemisphere, cases of this infectious disease peak between November and March, and fatalities are not uncommon. Influenza vaccines can protect against the illness, but they aren't always effective. According to the Robert Koch Institute, the vaccines for 2018/2019 were only about 20 percent effective. In the iCAIR project, Fraunhofer researchers are collaborating with partners to develop new, urgently needed agents against influenza, as well as against other infectious diseases that are gaining ground worldwide. What is particularly interesting here is that the research team at the Fraunhofer Institute for Toxicology and Experimental Medicine ITEM can test the anti-infective agents in vital human lung slices. |
 | The eyes are the window to the nervous systemIndividuals who experience an unpleasant tingling in their hands or feet or who suffer from painful discomfort and numbness could be affected by a neuropathy—a disorder of the nervous system in which the nerve fibers become damaged and may begin to degenerate. This effect is already visible on the cornea before the first symptoms appear. Through cornea and tear fluid examinations, a team of researchers at the Fraunhofer Institute for Molecular Biology and Applied Ecology IME, in cooperation with Friedrich-Alexander- Universität Erlangen-Nürnberg (FAU), is establishing a method that enables early determination of how much damage the nerves have already sustained. |
 | An engineering approach to reduce the pain of chemotherapyA study published in the American Journal of Managed Care states that the number of patients requiring first-line chemotherapy is expected to increase by more than 50%, from 9.8 million to 15 million, from 2018 to 2040. |
 | Virtual reality could help flu vaccination ratesUsing a virtual reality simulation to show how flu spreads and its impact on others could be a way to encourage more people to get a flu vaccination, according to a study by researchers at the University of Georgia and the Oak Ridge Associated Universities in Oak Ridge, Tennessee. This is the first published study to look at immersive virtual reality as a communication tool for improving flu vaccination rates among "flu vaccine avoidant" 18- to 49-year-old adults. |
 | Research: Antiretroviral drugs may damage the hearts of infants exposed to HIV but uninfectedAll babies born to mothers infected with HIV are exposed to the virus in utero, but not all of them become infected with it. Yet, all pregnant women in the U.S. with HIV receive antiretroviral therapy (ART), so both infected and uninfected babies exposed to HIV in utero are exposed to these powerful drugs. |
 | Fitness consultations in oncology care motivate child cancer survivors to be more activeJust one exercise physiology consultation is enough to improve motivation and exercise levels among most child cancer survivors, a UNSW Sydney study has found. |
 | Understanding malnutrition in vulnerable older New ZealandersNew Massey University research that explores the eating habits of older people provides crucial insights for helping to prevent malnutrition in ageing New Zealanders. |
 | Stimulus package: Brain stimulation holds huge promise, but is critically under-regulatedThis year, a Chinese patient known only as Mr Yan became a medical pioneer. He agreed to have electrodes surgically inserted into his brain, allowing his surgeon, by touching the screen of a simple tablet computer, to change the emotions that Yan feels. |
 | Study shows importance of quality of life scores as prognostic factors in cancer patientsCancer patients own reporting of their quality of life can be important in predicting the outcome of their disease, say researchers from the European Organisation for Research and Treatment of Cancer (EORTC). Until recently, reports from clinicians on issues such as patient age and tumor status were used primarily in determining prognoses, but now researchers have shown conclusively that patient-reported outcomes (PROs) have considerable value in predicting survival. |
 | Neuroblastoma: Improved treatment prospects in futureNeuroblastoma is a rare form of malignant tumor, primarily affecting children under the age of six. A research team led by molecular pathologist Lukas Kenner from MedUni Vienna's Department of Pathology has now discovered, through genome sequencing, that the protein ALK and the cancer gene PIM1 are involved in the development of this tumor. The study found that targeted cancer treatment using an ALK inhibitor in combination with a PIM1 inhibitor can increase the chances of survival of children with an unfavorable prognosis. The study has now been published in the leading journal Nature Communications. |
 | Online cognitive behavioral therapy for fibromyalgia shows promiseResearchers at Karolinska Institutet have developed an online cognitive behavioral therapy (CBT) program for the difficult-to-treat pain syndrome fibromyalgia. In her doctoral thesis, Maria Hedman-Lagerlöf shows that patients who receive the treatment experience fewer symptoms and enjoy better quality of life. |
 | Frequently sharing deeply emotional posts online may be a sign of a deeper psychological issueWhen Kendall Jenner recently shared a series of emotionally-charged Instagram posts about her experiences with acne, the 24-year-old model was immediately accused by many online observers of "sadfishing"—particularly because the post was a paid brand partnership with a skincare product used to treat acne. |
 | Half of people who are homeless may have experienced traumatic brain injuryA systematic review and meta-analysis on the prevalence of traumatic brain injury (TBI) in people who are homeless or in unstable housing situations—including 38 studies published between 1995 and 2018, and published in The Lancet Public Health journal—suggests that homeless people experience a disproportionately high lifetime prevalence of TBI. |
 | Researchers identify four types of opioid stigma contributing to the current crisisResearchers from the University of Toronto have identified four types of opioid-related stigma that depend on a variety of factors, including the context of opioid use, the social identity and networks of the person who is consuming the opioid, and what type of opioid is being consumed, including prescribed opioids. |
 | Research sets the groundwork for patient-specific 3-D printed meniscusThe human knee joint is the largest and most complex joint in the body. It has combines hard and soft tissue elements to provide stability and proper functioning, including the meniscus. The meniscus, a cartilage pad between the thighbone and the shinbone, acts as a shock absorber to dissipate the body weight and reduce friction during physical activities. Considering the knee joint is the most-used joint in the body, meniscal tears are the most common knee injury due to wear and tear due to age and injuries. |
 | When your microbiome and your genome aren't a good combinationOne of the most astounding discoveries of recent times is just how much influence gut bacteria have on our health and well-being. In addition to extracting nutrients from food, the collective activity of these tiny organisms protects people from infection and regulates the immune system. However, changes in the gut microbiota have been implicated in diseases ranging from obesity and diabetes to inflammatory bowel disease and cancer. |
 | Fake news feels less immoral to share when we've seen it beforePeople who repeatedly encounter a fake news item may feel less and less unethical about sharing it on social media, even when they don't believe the information, research indicates. |
 | Inhibiting a protease could improve the treatment of inflammatory bowel diseaseScientists at the Centro Nacional de Investigaciones Cardiovasculares (CNIC) and the Centro de Investigaciones Biológicas (CIB) of the Consejo Superior de Investigaciones Científicas (CSIC) have identified the protease MT1-MMP as a possible future target for drugs to treat inflammatory bowel disease (IBD). The study was led by Dr. Alicia G Arroyo and is published today in EMBO Molecular Medicine. The study shows that inhibition of this protease could improve the treatment of IBD. |
 | What is 'vaginal seeding' and will it help your C-section baby?Should every baby born by cesarean section (C-section) be given a smear of microbes to the mouth, nose or skin from the mom's vagina soon after birth? |
 | Overall, 8.5 percent of suicide acts in U.S. are fatalOverall, 8.5 percent of suicidal acts are fatal, with higher rates for males and older adults, according to a study published online Dec. 3 in the Annals of Internal Medicine. |
 | Outcomes of hep C screening intervention examinedA multicomponent intervention can improve hepatitis C virus (HCV) screening, although there is considerable variation by practice, according to a study published online Dec. 3 in the Annals of Internal Medicine. |
 | Prediabetes prevalent in U.S. adolescents, young adultsThe prevalence of prediabetes is high in U.S. adolescents and young adults, according to a study published online Dec. 2 in JAMA Pediatrics. |
 | Some cities' smog can ruin your vacationGot travel plans abroad? Spending just a short time in a highly polluted city can harm your health, researchers warn. |
 | How much for health insurance? Employee premiums and deductibles topped 11.5% of median incomeEveryone knows it's expensive to get sick in America. But it also costs a lot to stay healthy—so much, in fact, that many people aren't willing to pay the price. |
 | Research shows South Asians make up 60% of heart disease patientsMunaf Patel is an active husband and father. He plays cricket, basketball and volleyball, and runs around with his young kids in the family's yard near the city's Far Northwest Side. |
 | Parents of teens, here's what you really need to know about MDMAWe all want to reduce drug-related harm and ensure young people don't take unnecessary risks. But decades of research shows fear isn't an effective way to do this. |
 | 'Tis the season to say things we later regret—and new research tells us whyChristmas is a stressful time for many, so not surprisingly it's also known as the season for arguments. |
 | One dose of radiotherapy as effective as five doses for cancer in the spineA single dose of radiotherapy is as "effective" as five doses for end-of-life cancer patients suffering with painful spinal canal compression, finds a large study conducted by UCL. |
 | In sickness and in health: Study looks at how married couples face chronic conditionsWhen they said their wedding vows, many of them promised to stand by one another in sickness and in health. |
 | Cannabis dependence and abuse nearly doubled risk of heart attack post-surgeryPatients with active cannabis dependence and abuse were nearly twice as likely to suffer a heart attack after surgery, according to a study led by researchers at St. Michael's Hospital of Unity Health Toronto. |
 | Got a migraine? Relief may already be on your medicine shelfAccording to a new report in The American Journal of Medicine, aspirin can be considered an effective and safe option to other, more expensive medications to treat acute migraines as well as prevent recurrent attacks. A review of randomized evidence suggests efficacy and safety of high dose aspirin in doses from 900 to 1,300 milligrams taken at the onset of acute symptoms. The data also support a lower dose of from 81 to 325 milligrams as a possible preventive option. |
 | Rural-urban flip: How changing ACA rules affected health insurance premium costsPeople in rural areas of the U.S. who receive subsidies to buy health insurance in the Health Insurance Marketplaces pay less in premiums than their counterparts in urban areas, a flip that occurred in 2018 and has been widening since, according to an analysis by University of Pittsburgh, Duke University and University of Minnesota health policy scientists. |
Prescribing for self, family, and friends widespread among young Irish doctors, poll showsPrescribing for self, family, friends and colleagues is widespread among young Irish doctors, suggest the results of a survey, published online in the Journal of Medical Ethics. | |
 | Physician assistant programs adopt first-in-nation partnership to prevent opioid abuseMorbidity and mortality from prescription and synthetic opioid use and abuse continues to be a U.S. public health issue. In an effort to help curtail this crisis, researchers from Boston University School of Medicine (BUSM) describe an approach to ensure Physician Assistant (PA) students graduating from any PA program in Massachusetts will have the knowledge and skills to prescribe opiates safely. |
 | Young children receiving housing vouchers had lower hospital spending into adulthoodYoung children whose household received a housing voucher were admitted to the hospital fewer times and incurred lower hospital costs in the subsequent two decades than children whose households did not receive housing vouchers, according to a new study from researchers at Johns Hopkins Bloomberg School of Public Health. The study was published online December 3 in JAMA. |
 | Early immune response may improve cancer immunotherapiesIn a paper published in the Journal of Biological Chemistry, University of Illinois at Chicago researchers and colleagues report a new mechanism for detecting foreign material during early immune responses. |
 | AI improves chest X-ray interpretationA sophisticated type of artificial intelligence (AI) can detect clinically meaningful chest X-ray findings as effectively as experienced radiologists, according to a study published in the journal Radiology. Researchers said their findings, based on a type of AI called deep learning, could provide a valuable resource for the future development of AI chest radiography models. |
 | CRISPR-Cas9 gene editing shows very low risk of mistakesAlong with the promise that CRISPR-Cas9 gene editing technology can offer new human therapies is the need to ensure its safety. A recent study showed that CRISPR-Cas9 did not produce off-target gene mutations in zebrafish. These results, published in Frontiers in Genetics, confirm previous data in animal models that the risk to the rest of the genome from gene editing is minimal. |
 | Investigating the human intestinal mucus barrier up-close and personalWe have a mutualistic but complicated relationship with the collection of microbes in our gut known as the intestinal microbiome. This complex community of bacteria breaks down different food components, and releases nutrients such as vitamins and a plethora of other factors that control functions in tissues way beyond the intestinal tract. However, the sheer numbers of microbes also present a threat as they can trigger inflammation, which is thought to be at the root of many intestinal diseases, including inflammatory bowel disease, radiation-induced intestinal injury, and some cancers. |
 | Neuro interface adds tactile dimension to screen imagesResearchers from Duke University and HSE University have succeeded in creating artificial tactile perception in monkeys through direct brain stimulation. This breakthrough can be used to create upper-limb neuroprostheses, capable of delivering a tactile sensation. The study's results were recently published in the Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences. |
 | Distress tolerance plays role in alcohol use and abuse among firefightersNew findings by a University of Houston psychology professor indicate that among firefighters, distress tolerance amplifies associations between posttraumatic stress disorder (PTSD) symptoms and alcohol use severity. In the world of psychology, distress tolerance is your actual or perceived ability to withstand emotional distress. It is surviving—and knowing you can survive—an emotional incident. |
 | How a cellular shuttle helps HIV-1 spread in immune organsNew insight on how a type of cell facilitates the spread of HIV-1 has been published today in the open-access journal eLife. |
 | Time to stop commercial distortion of healthcare evidence and practice, experts urgeIt's time to stop the endemic financial entanglement with industry that is distorting the production and use of healthcare evidence, causing harm to individuals and waste for health systems, argue an influential group of international experts in The BMJ today. |
 | Implant survival poor for converted 'partial' knee replacements(HealthDay)—Total knee arthroplasty (TKA) converted from medial unicompartmental (or "partial") knee arthroplasty (UKA) has a risk for revision that is threefold higher than that for primary TKA, according to a study published online Nov. 20 in The Journal of Bone & Joint Surgery. |
 | Palmoplantar pustulosis confirmed as orphan disease(HealthDay)—Co-occurring psoriasis is common among patients with palmoplantar pustulosis (PPP), according to a study published in the November issue of the British Journal of Dermatology. |
 | Vegan diet may decrease heart disease, stroke risk in African AmericansFollowing a vegan diet for five weeks may decrease risk factors for heart disease, new research shows. |
 | How does protein fit in your holiday diet or New Year's resolutions?While some diets load up on protein and other diets dictate protein sources, it can be hard to know what to consume while managing weight or during weight loss. |
 | Lack of specialists doom rural sick patientsResidents of rural areas are more likely to be hospitalized and to die than those who live in cities primarily because they lack access to specialists, recent research found. |
 | White Americans far likelier to receive HIV prevention drug than minoritiesWhite Americans who are at risk of HIV are seven times more likely than blacks to receive a daily oral pill shown to be extremely effective at preventing infection, according to official statistics published Tuesday. |
 | Brazil approves sale of medical cannabis in pharmaciesBrazil's health watchdog on Tuesday approved the sale of cannabis-based products for medical use in pharmacies to people with a prescription. |
 | Marijuana vaping busts on rise; over 500K seized in 2 yearsAs health officials scrutinize marijuana vaping, it's increasingly on law enforcement's radar, too. |
WHO warns measles resurgent as Samoa deaths riseThe World Health Organisation warned of a "slide back" in global efforts to eliminate measles Tuesday, as the death toll from an outbreak that has killed dozens of children in Samoa continued to climb. | |
Improving drug delivery for brain tumor treatmentDespite improvements in drug delivery mechanisms, treating brain tumors has remained challenging. | |
 | Antibiotic resistance in an intensive care unitA study coordinated by the UPV/EHU-University of the Basque Country did not detect any increase in antimicrobial susceptibility after applying a selective digestive decontamination (SDD) protocol. The research, conducted in collaboration with the Microbiology Service and the intensive care unit at the University Hospital of Álava (Basque Country), where a selective digestive decontamination (SDD) protocol was implemented in 2002, did not find any increase in the acquisition rate of antibiotic resistance and found that the rate was no higher than that of Spanish intensive care units without the protocol. |
 | How plant-based meat is stretching New Zealand's cultural and legal boundariesEarlier this year, the New Zealand-based pizza chain Hell Pizza offered a limited-edition "Burger Pizza." Its customers weren't told that the "meat" was plant-based. |
 | Immunotherapy is safe following chemoradiotherapy for women with node-positive cervical cancerResults from the NRG Oncology phase I clinical trial NRG-GOG 9929 show that using the immunotherapy drug ipilimumab after chemoradiotherapy (CRT) is tolerated in the curative treatment of women with lymph node-positive cervical cancer. The maximum tolerated dose of ipilimumab was determined to be 10 mg/kg. These results are published in JAMA Oncology and was be highlighted at a gynecologic session during the American Society for Radiation Oncology's (ASTRO) Annual Meeting in September 2019. |
 | New remote-controlled 'smart' platform helps in cardiovascular disease treatmentAccording to the World Health Organization, cardiovascular (CV) disease has become the leading cause of death worldwide. However, vascular regeneration is a promising treatment for cardiovascular disease. Remodeling the endothelium—i.e., forming a confluent vascular endothelial cell monolayer on the lumen—plays a vital role in this process. |
New approach to treating cystic fibrosis could lower risk of lung transplants and deathA new approach to treating people with cystic fibrosis (CF) has been shown to reduce inflammation, which has the potential to reduce the need for lung transplants and lower the risk of death. | |
 | Social media could be a force for good in tackling depression but for privacy concernsSocial media has been identified by a number of studies as being a significant factor in mental health problems, especially in young people. But imagine if the power of Twitter, Facebook and Instagram could also be harnessed to identify those with depression symptoms and signpost them to support services. |
 | Medicine against bone disease found in the leaves of saussureaSaussurea controversa is a perennial herbaceous plant that has been traditionally used by the people of the Far East, Siberia, Tibet, and Mongolia to treat liver, kidney, digestive tract, and locomotive diseases. Its dried leaves are sold in pharmacies because their decoction is widely used as a medicine against cold and bronchitis. To understand what substances this plant owes its medicinal properties to, a team of scientists from Siberian State Medical University and Tomsk Polytechnic University extracted individual components from the plant and determined their composition. To do so, they passed the substances in gas form through a special station. As the substances were of different size, it took them different time to pass through it. The useful components of the decoction included flavonoids and polysaccharides. These groups of substances are known for their antimicrobial properties and the ability to speed up bone tissue regeneration. Flavonoids are small aromatic molecules, while polysaccharides are high molecular weight hydrocarbons. However, both have a positive effect on bone tissue regeneration. |
 | New prevention program uses emergency room to reach black women at risk for HIVWith a disproportionate number of black cisgender women in the U.S. becoming HIV positive, researchers at The University of Texas Health Science Center at Houston (UTHealth) are sharing critical health information through an atypical venue: the emergency room. |
 | Is disability a risk factor for miscarriage?A new study compared the proportion of women with any cognitive, physical, or independent living disability who experienced a miscarriage during the previous 5-year period to women without disabilities. Regardless of the type of disability, a greater proportion of women with a disability had a miscarriage, according to the study results published in Journal of Women's Health. |
 | How to help fix the Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services' hospital rating systemThe current hospital star-rating system used by the U.S. government's Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services is plagued with numerous flaws, and University of Chicago Booth School of Business Professor Dan Adelman has come up with a new way to address one of its most controversial issues. |
 | Hepatitis A outbreak tied to berries spreads to one more stateA hepatitis A outbreak tied to blackberries sold in Fresh Thyme grocery stores now includes 16 confirmed cases in six states. |
Biology news
 | Through the eyes of animalsHumans are now closer to seeing through the eyes of animals, thanks to an innovative software framework developed by researchers from the University of Queensland and the University of Exeter. |
 | Female fish can breed a new species if they aren't choosy about who is Mr. RightFish will mate with a species outside their own if the male's colouring is attractive enough or if the female can't see him properly, according to new research. |
 | Using pathogen-specific viruses to control pathogen outbreaksResearchers from the Utrecht University, in collaboration with colleagues at the University of York (UK) and the Nanjing Agricultural University (China) have developed a new technology to selectively destroy the pathogen that causes the devastating bacterial wilt disease without side effects on other beneficial microorganisms. |
 | Fungus produces active agent in a medicinal herbTatarinow's aster is used in traditional Chinese medicine to treat a number of ailments; the plant contains an active ingredient known as astin—and it is this agent which cancer researchers are now investigating. However, the plant does not produce the astins itself, as was assumed for a long time; instead, they are made by a fungus that lives in the tissue of the flowers. The discovery was made by an international team including Dr. Thomas Schafhauser and Professor Wolfgang Wohlleben from the University of Tübingen, and Dr. Linda Jahn, Professor Jutta Ludwig-Müller and Professor Karl-Heinz van Pée of the Technische Universität Dresden. The researchers were successful in isolating the fungus, Cyanodermella asteris, and in cultivating it independently of the host plant. They have therefore laid the foundations for large-scale biotechnological production of astins. The study has been published in the latest Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences. |
 | Bird evolution unique in seeing shrinking testesBirds are the only group of vertebrate animals to have repeatedly evolved smaller testes over time according to a new study. |
 | All pilsner yeast strains originate from a single yeast ancestorPilsner yeast, the well-known microorganism that brewers use every year to make hundreds of billions of liters of pilsner and other lagers, came into being 500 years ago through an accidental encounter between two species of yeast. The yeast strains now used to brew pilsner can all be traced back to that time. This is the conclusion reached by TU Delft researchers based on extensive DNA analysis. |
 | How the strep bacterium hides from the immune systemA bacterial pathogen that causes strep throat and other illnesses cloaks itself in fragments of red blood cells to evade detection by the host immune system, according to a study publishing December 3 in the journal Cell Reports. The researchers found that Group A Streptococcus (GAS) produces a previously uncharacterized protein, named S protein, which binds to the red blood cell membrane to avoid being engulfed and destroyed by phagocytic immune cells. By arming GAS with this form of immune camouflage, S protein enhances bacterial virulence and decreases survival in infected mice. |
 | Social influencers: What can we learn from animals?Research from Oxford University calls us to reconsider how behaviours may spread through societies of wild animals, and how this might provide new insights into human social networks. |
 | How accumulating useful genes helps older yeast fare better in tougher timesGenome amplification, whereby organisms bump up the number of copies of beneficial genes in response to environmental stresses, is implicated in diseases such as cancer and also in ageing. Researchers in the Babraham Institute's Epigenetics research programme have used yeast to learn more about how satellite (extrachromosomal) DNA circles are formed to carry amplified genes, how the gene duplication is specific to the environmental pressure and the effects of age. Their research is published today in the journal PLOS Biology. |
 | Genomic gymnastics help sorghum plant survive droughtScorching temperatures and parched earth are no match for the sorghum plant—this cereal crop, native to Africa and Australia, will remain green and productive, even under conditions that would render other plants brown, brittle and barren. |
 | Study reveals dynamics of crucial immune system proteinsOf the many marvels of the human immune system, the processing of antigens by the class I proteins of the major histocompatability complex (MHC-I) is among the most mind-boggling. Exactly how these proteins carry out their crucial functions has not been well understood. Now, however, researchers at UC Santa Cruz have worked out the details of key molecular interactions involved in the selection and processing of antigens by MHC-I proteins. |
 | Highly sensitive epigenomic technology combats diseaseMuch remains unknown about diseases and the way our bodies respond to them, in part because the human genome is the complete DNA assembly that makes each person unique. A Virginia Tech professor and his team of researchers have created new technology to help in understanding how the human body battles diseases. |
 | New expert findings seek to protect national parks from invasive animal speciesMore than half of America's national parks are facing a grave and immediate threat: the ongoing presence and spread of invasive animal species. The National Park Service has taken the first step in combatting this invasion by asking a group of experts to help chart a course that will ensure the survival of these national treasures. |
 | To save Everglades, guardians fight time—and climateGrabbing a clump of vegetation to steady herself, Tiffany Troxler gingerly slides her feet along the makeshift boardwalk as she ventures out into the marsh. The boards sag, dipping her up to her knees in the tea-colored water. |
 | Scientists hunt wild relatives of food crops to bolster defencesScientists have been on a global search for the wild relatives of our food crops, hoping to bolster their defences against disease and climate change, a study showed Tuesday. |
 | In the Atlantic's far south, cameras reveal biodiversity gemFrom the ship's deck, there nothing to see but deep blue water, not the remotest sign of a marine paradise that lies just a few metres (feet) below the waves. |
 | Computer-generated antibiotics, biosensor Band-Aids, and the quest to beat antibiotic resistanceImagine if a computer could learn from molecules found in nature and use an algorithm to generate new ones. Then imagine those molecules could get printed and tested in a lab against some of the nastiest, most dangerous bacteria out there—bacteria quickly becoming resistant to our current antibiotic options. |
 | An ecofriendly method for curbing crop pestsMoths and other winged insects, and particularly their larva, can become a problem for farmers, often causing major damage to crops. Pesticides help alleviate the problem, but they have also been strongly criticized. Pheromones offer a sustainable alternative, albeit an expensive one. A new manufacturing technique is designed to reduce the costs of pheromones and make them competitive. In the EU project OLEFINE researchers at the Fraunhofer Institute for Building Physics IBP are dedicated to sustainability and Life Cycle Assessment. |
 | Rezone marine parks to better conserve sharksA lack of habitat protection is hindering our ability to manage the conservation of endangered open-ocean sharks in Australian waters, according to new research by The University of Western Australia. |
 | Project to enhance shrimp and fish health in BangladeshExperts at the University of Stirling are working with senior industry, government and scientific officials from Bangladesh in a bid to tackle a major issue in the aquaculture sector. |
 | The bizarre and ecologically important hidden lives of mosquitoesMosquitoes. Hordes of them, buzzing in your ear and biting incessantly, a maddening nuisance without equal. And not to mention the devastating health impacts caused by malaria, Zika virus and other pathogens they spread. |
 | Australia's threatened birds declined by 59% over the past 30 yearsAustralia's threatened birds declined by nearly 60% on average over 30 years, according to new research that reveals the true impact on native wildlife of habitat loss, introduced pests, and other human-caused pressures. |
 | Raising plants to withstand climate changeSuccess with improving a model plant's response to harsh conditions is leading plant molecular researchers to move to food crops including wheat, barley, rice and chickpeas. |
 | Most complete commercial sugarcane genome sequence assembledAn international group of researchers led by Brazilian scientists has assembled the most complete genome sequence of commercial sugarcane. They mapped 373,869 genes or 99.1 percent of the total genome. |
 | Modeling the evolutionary development of C4 photosynthesisThe C4 cycle supercharges photosynthesis and evolved independently more than 62 times. Using constraint-based modeling, researchers successfully investigated which factors contributed to the evolution of the C4 trait. The study was a joint project of the Bielefeld University and the IPK in Gatersleben. Findings were published in eLife. |
 | Non-native species should count in conservation – even in AustraliaAs the world struggles to keep tabs on biodiversity decline, conservation largely relies on a single international database to track life on Earth. It is a mammoth and impressive undertaking—but a glaring omission from the list may be frustrating conservation efforts. |
 | Research team deciphers how stem cells decide their identityA research team headed by Prof. Dr. Sebastian Arnold and Jelena Tosic from the Faculty of Medicine at the University of Freiburg has now succeeded in deciphering basic molecular control mechanisms by which stem cells decide which embryonic cell types to turn into. This is achieved at least partially through selective usage of the genes for each different cell type, despite the presence of the identical genetic information in every cell in the body. The scientists have published their findings in the journal Nature Cell Biology. |
 | Researchers map the formation of ducts connecting digestive organs in zebrafishA specialised system of ducts transports bile and enzymes from the liver and pancreas to the intestine. In a new study, researchers from the University of Copenhagen have shown how this ductal system is formed. The new knowledge can help understanding how congenital diseases in that part of the body arise. |
 | Dramatic transition in Streptomyces life cycle explained in new discoveryStreptomyces bacteria are our primary source of antibiotics, which are produced in the transition from vegetative growth to sporulation in a complex developmental life cycle. |
 | Characterizing whale vocalization can help map migrationKiller whale pods each have their own set of calls they use to communicate, sometimes referred to as the pod's "dialect." By characterizing an individual pod's calls, researchers can track the pod's seasonal movements, gaining a better understanding of the whales' lives. |
 | Researchers use genomics to discover potential new treatment for parasite diseaseUsing innovative RNA sequencing techniques, researchers at the University of Maryland School of Medicine (UMSOM) Institute for Genome Sciences identified a promising novel treatment for lymphatic filariasis, a disabling parasitic disease that is difficult to treat. The potential new therapy is an experimental cancer drug called JQ1 and targets proteins found prominently in the worm's genome; it appears to effectively kill the adult worms in a laboratory setting, according to the study which was published today in the journal mSystems. |
 | Young tree swallows carry environmental stress into adulthoodCornell University researchers have found that colder temperatures during tree swallows' development stage has an effect on swallows later in life. |
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