Tuesday, March 10, 2020

Science X Newsletter Tuesday, Mar 10

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Here is your customized Science X Newsletter for March 10, 2020:

Spotlight Stories Headlines

A scheme for hybrid access point (H-AP) deployment in smart cities

A robotic planner that responds to natural language commands

Radio galaxy NGC 3894 investigated with Fermi

How a key brain region combines visual and spatial information to navigate

Research produces most accurate 3-D images of 2-D materials

AMD processors susceptible to security vulnerabilities, data leaks

Electrical power generation from moderate-temperature radiative thermal sources

Astronomers use slime mold model to reveal dark threads of the cosmic web

Wearing clothes could release more microfibres to the environment than washing them

Building a nuclear plant? Go online

Study reveals a mechanism that plants can use to dissipate excess sunlight as heat

Research shows mangrove conservation can pay for itself in flood protection

Uncovering novel relationships between SLCs and cytotoxic drugs in human cells

International study completes the largest genetic map of psychiatric disorders so far

From darkness to light: New findings unravel how plants control energy generation

Astronomy & Space news

Radio galaxy NGC 3894 investigated with Fermi

Using the Large Area Telescope (LAT) onboard NASA's Fermi spacecraft, astronomers have investigated a nearby radio galaxy known as NGC 3894. Results of the study, presented in a paper published March 3, confirm the galaxy's young age and provide more insights into its properties.

Astronomers use slime mold model to reveal dark threads of the cosmic web

A computational approach inspired by the growth patterns of a bright yellow slime mold has enabled a team of astronomers and computer scientists at UC Santa Cruz to trace the filaments of the cosmic web that connects galaxies throughout the universe.

New technique could elucidate earliest stages of planet's life

A new kind of astronomical observation helped reveal the possible evolutionary history of a baby Neptune-like exoplanet.

Solved: The mystery of the expansion of the universe

The Earth, solar system, the entire Milky Way and the few thousand galaxies closest to us move in a vast "bubble" that is 250 million light years in diameter, where the average density of matter is half as high as for the rest of the universe. This is the hypothesis advanced by a theoretical physicist from the University of Geneva (UNIGE) to solve a conundrum that has been splitting the scientific community for a decade: At what speed is the universe expanding? Until now, at least two independent calculation methods have arrived at two values that are different by about 10% with a deviation that is statistically irreconcilable. This new approach, which is set out in the journal Physics Letters B, erases this divergence without making use of any "new physics."

Neutron star with measured at 11 kilometers radius

An international research team led by members of the Max Planck Institute for Gravitational Physics (Albert Einstein Institute; AEI) has obtained new measurements of how big neutron stars are. To do so, they combined a general first-principles description of the unknown behavior of neutron star matter with multi-messenger observations of the binary neutron star merger GW170817. Their results, which appeared in Nature Astronomy today, are more stringent by a factor of two than previous limits and show that a typical neutron star has a radius close to 11 kilometers. They also find that neutron stars merging with black holes are in most cases likely to be swallowed whole, unless the black hole is small and/or rapidly rotating. This means that while such mergers might be observable as gravitational-wave sources, they would be invisible in the electromagnetic spectrum.

Study suggests Earth and Moon not identical oxygen twins

Scientists at The University of New Mexico have found that the Earth and Moon have distinct oxygen compositions and are not identical in oxygen as previously thought according to a new study released today in Nature Geoscience.

Elon Musk dismisses astronomy concerns over Starlink network

SpaceX founder Elon Musk on Monday dismissed scientists' concerns that his company's Starlink constellation of internet satellites would obscure the view of the night sky, predicting the network "will not cause any impact whatsoever in astronomical discoveries."

Image: The foam-coarsening experiment aboard the ISS

Another fluid experiment joins long running research on foam stability on the International Space Station. The Foam-Coarsening experiment, developed by Airbus for ESA, is scheduled to be activated this month in the Fluid Science Laboratory in the European Columbus module.

How the moon formed: New research sheds light on what happened

How the Earth got its moon is a long debated question. The giant impact theory – which states that the moon formed from the a collision between the early Earth and a rocky body called Theia—has become the front runner among the explanations. But the details around how this happened are blurry and there are many observations that scientists are still struggling to explain.

Every part of Blue Origin's new Glenn rocket is gigantic, including its nose cone

Massive. Enormous. Huge. Gigantic. And whatever other words you find in the thesaurus all do the job when it comes to describing Blue Origin's New Glenn Rocket. Especially its nosecone.

Docking, rendezvous and Newton's third law – the challenge of servicing satellites in space

If you want to build or fix something in space, you might think you'd need a human to do it. But what if you didn't? What if robotic spacecraft could be used to refuel satellites in orbit, add new instruments to outdated machinery and even build entire structures while in space?

Technology news

A scheme for hybrid access point (H-AP) deployment in smart cities

Researchers at the University of Essex, UESTC-China and ZTE have recently introduced a scheme for the deployment of hybrid access points (H-APs), which could simultaneously enable wireless information transfer (WIT) and wireless energy transfer (WET) in smart cities. This unique scheme, presented in a paper pre-published on arXiv, uses a mobility model of grid-based streets in urban environments to represent the movements of users navigating a city.

A robotic planner that responds to natural language commands

In years to come, robots could assist human users in a variety of ways, both when they are inside their homes and in other settings. To be more intuitive, robots should be able to follow natural language commands and instructions, as this allows users to communicate with them just as they would with other humans.

AMD processors susceptible to security vulnerabilities, data leaks

Graz University of Technology researchers recently revealed that AMD CPUs dating as far back as the early 2010s are susceptible to side channel attacks. Researchers have now demonstrated that a pair of infiltration approaches—collectively termed "Take A Way"—can access AES encryption keys.

Building a nuclear plant? Go online

Bucking current trends toward safe, clean and renewable energy resources, a Silicon Valley entrepreneur last week launched an initiative to reignite enthusiasm for nuclear energy.

Intel processors still vulnerable to attack: study

Computer scientists at KU Leuven have once again exposed a security flaw in Intel processors. Jo Van Bulck, Frank Piessens, and their colleagues in Austria, the United States, and Australia gave the manufacturer one year's time to fix the problem.

Analysis: Android has more vulnerabilities than Windows 10

Although Windows 10 users are used to complaining about bugs and upgrades, they may be surprised to learn that Android and Linux have more vulnerabilities.

Study uncovers a potential driver of premature solar panel failures

Unlike diamonds, solar panels are not forever. Ultraviolet rays, gusts of wind and heavy rain wear away at them over their lifetime.

Air France-KLM warns of worse to come after virus hits passenger numbers

Air-France KLM warned Tuesday the coronavirus outbreak will hit its business harder in coming months after February passenger numbers fell 0.5 percent overall as flights to China were cut.

Report: Pilots restarted software, causing fatal nosedive

Ethiopian investigators are mostly blaming Boeing for last year's crash of a Ethiopian Airlines jet shortly after takeoff, saying in an interim report Monday that there were design failures in the jet and inadequate training for pilots.

Restricting underage access to porn and gambling sites: Good idea, but technically tricky

Australia should work towards adopting a mandatory age-verification system for gambling and pornography websites, according to a recommendation from the federal parliamentary cross-party committee on social and legal issues.

Fueling a cleaner future for transport

A simple, fast and inexpensive method for modeling the combustion characteristics of gasoline has been developed by KAUST researchers, paving the way for cleaner and more efficient transport fuels.

Approximating a kernel of truth

By using an approximate rather than explicit "kernel" function to extract relationships in very large data sets, KAUST researchers have been able to dramatically accelerate the speed of machine learning. The approach promises to greatly improve the speed of artificial intelligence (AI) in the era of big data.

Avoiding a technological anxiety attack

Almost everywhere you look where two or more people are gathered together, someone is staring at the screen of a mobile phone or other device, swiping left, swiping right, tapping icons, scrolling…

Groundbreaking all-solid-state battery technology

On March 9 in London, researchers from the Samsung Advanced Institute of Technology (SAIT) and the Samsung R&D Institute Japan (SRJ) presented a study on high-performance, long-lasting all-solid-state batteries to Nature Energy, one of the world's leading scientific journals.

Environmental disaster or key to a clean energy future? A new twist on hydropower

Steve Lowe gazed into a gaping pit in the heart of the California desert, careful not to let the blistering wind send him toppling over the edge.

FBI arrests Russian accused of heading hacker 'storefront'

US authorities have arrested a Russian national who ran a hacker "storefront" that took in at least $17 million by selling stolen personal data and other illegal products and services, according to court records.

Edited Biden video portends social media challenges in 2020

As former Vice President Joe Biden's drive for the White House gains momentum, the 77-year-old's political opponents on both the right and left have launched an internet campaign suggesting he's not mentally or physically equipped to serve—sometimes using altered content and other disinformation to make their case.

Google restricts visits to curb coronavirus risk

Google on Monday began restricting visits to its offices in Silicon Valley, San Francisco and New York as it ramped up precautions against the deadly novel coronavirus.

Boeing factory employee tests positive for virus

US aviation giant Boeing said Monday that one of its factory workers had tested positive for COVID-19, the illness caused by the novel coronavirus—the company's first known case.

Qantas grounds planes, CEO forgoes pay as virus spreads

Qantas announced Tuesday it was grounding most of its Airbus A380 fleet and its CEO would forgo his salary as the airline slashed international flights in response to the coronavirus epidemic.

Why raising the alcohol content of Europe's fuels could reduce carbon emissions

By 2030, a fifth of the fuel that motorists put into the petrol tanks of their cars could be alcohol, according to research concluding that new petrol and ethanol blends can reduce carbon emissions from Europe's transport sector with little additional cost to consumers.

Japan Inc scraps corporate joining events due to virus

Major Japanese firms such as Toyota and Toshiba have cancelled their traditional corporate joining ceremonies originally scheduled for next month due to the new coronavirus, officials said Tuesday.

Driver's-ed-inspired system could make automated parallel parking more accessible

One of the most challenging tasks for drivers is parallel parking, which is why automatic parking systems are becoming a popular feature on some vehicles. However, the cost of designing and implementing such computing-intensive systems can significantly increase a vehicle's price, creating a barrier to adding the feature in many models.

Autonomous on-demand buses underway in the streets of Europe

Would you like to take a ride on a driverless bus? This will be possible in five European cities between April and October 2020, where autonomous buses will be tested in real-life traffic conditions. Three international consortia have been awarded with contracts for the final phase of the pre-commercial procurement under the EU-funded FABULOS project. These consortia will pilot autonomous buses as part of the existing public transport systems. The initial tests will run in Gjesdal (Norway), Helsinki (Finland) and Tallinn (Estonia) in the spring and autumn. Pilots will also be launched in Lamia (Greece) and Helmond (the Netherlands).

China's Trip.com says no pay for top execs while virus rages

Top executives with Trip.com, China's leading online travel service, will accept no salaries starting from this month as the company copes with the impact of the coronavirus outbreak, its CEO has told employees.

Twitter's 'manipulated media' tag on Trump tweet suffers glitch

Twitter Inc. marked a video posted by President Donald Trump's team as manipulated content under its new media policy. But the tag doesn't show up for all users.

Airlines slash flights, freeze hiring as virus cuts travel

Airlines are slashing flights and freezing hiring as they experience a sharp drop in bookings and a rise in cancellations in the face of the spreading coronavirus.

EU to stop 'ghost flights' in coronavirus fightback

The EU is to act "very rapidly" to help airlines struggling from the new coronavirus outbreak by proposing a law to stop "ghost flights" to keep airport slots, European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen said Tuesday.

Ryanair and EasyJet cancel Italy flights

Budget airlines Ryanair and EasyJet are to cancel all Italian flights until early April after the government ordered the entire country locked down because of the coronavirus, they announced Tuesday.

Medicine & Health news

How a key brain region combines visual and spatial information to navigate

When we move through the streets of our neighborhood, we often use familiar landmarks to help us navigate. And as we think to ourselves, "OK, now make a left at the coffee shop," a part of the brain called the retrosplenial cortex (RSC) lights up.

International study completes the largest genetic map of psychiatric disorders so far

An international study published in the journal Cell, has described 109 genetic variants associated with eight psychiatric disorders: autism, ADHD, schizophrenia, bipolar disorder, depression, obsessive-compulsive disorder and Tourette syndrome, in a total of about 230,000 patients worldwide.

Cancer cells spread using a copper-binding protein

Researchers at Chalmers University of Technology, Sweden, have shown that the Atox1 protein, found in breast cancer cells, participates in the process by which cancer cells metastasize. The protein could therefore be a potential biomarker for assessing the aggressiveness of the disease, as well as a possible target for new drugs. The research was recently published in the journal PNAS.

How intermittent fasting changes liver enzymes and helps prevent disease

Researchers in Australia have used state-of-the-art analytical tools to understand how intermittent fasting works on the liver to help prevent disease. The findings will help medical scientists working in cancer, cardiovascular and diabetes research develop new interventions to lower disease risk and discover the optimum intervals for fasting.

Scientists categorize neurons by the way the brain jiggles during a heartbeat

The brain jiggles when the heart beats, and now, researchers have found a way to use that motion to better study the differences between types of neurons. In a study appearing March 10 in the journal Cell Reports, researchers find that by analyzing the changes in the waveforms they record from neurons during a heartbeat, they can more accurately classify the different types of neurons in the human brain. This work, they say, could help us better understand how the different types of cells that exist in the brain interact together to produce cognition and behavior.

Thriving neuron 'nursery' found in a section of adult human nose tissue

Is it possible for an adult brain to make new nerve cells? Scientists have debated this question for decades, with many concluding that neuron-making stops after childhood, or around the age of 13.

Deep learning electrocardiogram devices found to be susceptible to adversarial attack

A team of researchers from New York University and NYU Langone Health has found that deep learning electrocardiogram devices can be susceptible to adversarial attacks. In their paper published in the journal Nature Medicine, the group describes how they developed an attack approach and tested it with electrocardiogram devices.

Altruism may not make people as happy as prior studies suggested

A pair of researchers, one with the University of Bonn, the other Harvard University, has found that altruism may not make people as happy as prior studies have suggested. In their paper published in Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences, Armin Falk and Thomas Graeber describe a study they carried out with student volunteers and what they learned.

Intralipid improves efficacy of chemotherapy treatment

Pairing chemotherapy nanodrugs with a nutritional supplement can lessen devastating side-effects while reducing the amount of the expensive drugs needed to treat cancer according to a study from Carnegie Mellon University and Taiwan's National Health Research Institutes. In addition, pretreatment with the supplement promotes the production of tumor-killing macrophages, making it a promising complement and supplement to existing chemotherapies.

Muscle stem cells compiled in 'atlas'

Muscle repair is a crowded, complicated business. Many different types of cells are bumping around, chattering and trying to coordinate with each other as they work to regenerate new tissue.

Study shows CRISPR effectiveness against colitis pathogen

Research at North Carolina State University shows that the CRISPR-Cas system can be used to effectively target and eliminate specific gut bacteria, in this case Clostridioides difficile, the pathogen that causes colitis—a chronic, degenerative disease of the colon.

Flawed coronavirus test strategy contributed to US spread: experts

Faulty test kits for the novel coronavirus coupled with a diagnostic strategy that initially targeted too few people allowed the disease to spread beyond US authorities' ability to detect it, health experts have said.

First-ever analysis of video recorded CPR improves resuscitation outcomes in emergency departments

Less than 8 percent of people who suffer from cardiac arrest outside of the hospital survive the incident, according to the American Heart Association. To improve survivorship and better administer life-saving cardiopulmonary resuscitation (CPR), researchers and physicians at The Feinstein Institutes for Medical Research and North Shore University Hospital developed a novel approach called Mechanical, Team-Focused, Video-Reviewed Cardiopulmonary Resuscitation (MTV-CPR) to video record, review and reform practices to improve performance. Their research results published today in the Journal of the American Heart Association.

66-year study finds tall, slim girls are at greater risk of endometriosis

Girls who are tall and lean are at greater risk of developing endometriosis, a debilitating disease that affects women's quality of life and ability to conceive, according to results from a 66-year-long study which indicates that risk factors can now be picked up at an earlier age.

Persistent sleep difficulties in infancy linked to heightened risk of childhood anxieties

Persistent sleep difficulties during the first 12 months of life are linked to a heightened risk of developing childhood anxieties and emotional disorders, indicates research published online in the Archives of Disease in Childhood.

Around 1 in 20 calls to NHS 111 helpline result in unnecessary emergency care visit

Around one in 20 calls made to the healthcare helpline NHS 111 result in unnecessary attendance at emergency care within 24 hours, despite callers having been advised to seek alternative forms of care, reveals an analysis published in the online journal BMJ Open.

Hospices struggle to deliver specialised support to children when a parent is dying

In the first study of its kind, researchers from the University of Surrey and Princess Alice Hospice investigated the bereavement support provided to children before and after a parent's death. Ensuring children receive adequate support is vital in safeguarding their psychological wellbeing, as previous research in this area has found that approximately half of children who lose a parent through a prolonged illness continue to experience unresolved grief up to nine years later.

Study demonstrates how to collect true incidents from head impact sensors in youth sports

An increased awareness of concussion risks in young athletes has prompted researchers to use a variety of head impact sensors to measure frequency and severity of impacts during sports. A new study from Children's Hospital of Philadelphia (CHOP) shows these head sensors can record a large number of false positive impacts during real game play. The CHOP team's study emphasizes that an extra step to video-confirm the sensor data is essential for research and for use of this data in injury prevention strategies for player safety.

New clinical trial examines a potential noninvasive solution for overactive bladders

Keck Medicine of USC urologists are launching a clinical trial to evaluate the effectiveness of spinal cord stimulation in patients with an overactive bladder due to neurological conditions, such as a spinal cord injury or stroke, and idiopathic (unknown) causes.

Predicting appropriate opioid prescriptions post-cesarean delivery

Knowing the amount of opioids taken following cesarean section surgery and before discharge can inform individualized prescriptions and cut down on unnecessary, leftover pills that could be used for non-medical purposes, according to a new study from the University of Colorado Anschutz Medical Campus.

Urine test could reduce unnecessary prostate cancer biopsies

Unnecessary prostate cancer biopsies could be reduced by 60 per cent thanks to new research from the University of East Anglia.

Italy locks down as China signals major progress in virus fight

Italy imposed unprecedented nationwide restrictions on its 60 million people on Tuesday to control the deadly coronavirus, as China signalled major progress in its battle against the global epidemic.

South Korea reports fewer than 150 new coronavirus cases

South Korea, one of the worst-affected countries in the coronavirus epidemic outside China, on Tuesday reported fewer than 150 new cases for the first time in two weeks.

Italy limits travel and bans public gatherings across whole country

Travel was restricted across Italy from Tuesday and public gatherings were forbidden throughout the country as the government signed off on strict quarantine measures to fight the spread of the new coronavirus.

A single dose of universal flu vaccine, FLU-v, may provide long-lasting protection against influenza

A single dose of adjuvanted FLU-v, a synthetic universal flu vaccine, may provide long-lasting protection across a broad spectrum of influenza viruses. Findings from a randomized, double-blind, placebo-controlled trial are published in Annals of Internal Medicine.

China to ease travel curbs within locked-down province

Hard-hit Hubei, the epicentre of the coronavirus outbreak in China, will relax travel restrictions to allow healthy people to move within the province, officials said Tuesday.

Noncitizens are undertreated for heart attack, stroke risk factors

A new study published in Circulation, a journal of the American Heart Association, shows that noncitizens in the United States are less likely to receive treatment for cardiovascular disease risk factors when compared with born or naturalized U.S. citizens.

Closing in on liver fibrosis: Detailing the fibrosis process at unprecedented resolution

Today, there is no effective way to treat liver fibrosis. In a new study, researchers from University of Southern Denmark present a new technology to investigate cellular processes as they change during fibrosis development. Key findings are being validated in studies of human patients, paving the way for possible novel diagnostics and treatments.

Knowing more about a virus threat may not satisfy you

People who rate themselves as highly knowledgeable about a new infectious disease threat could also be more likely to believe they don't know enough, a new study suggests.

Tomosynthesis outperforms digital mammography in five-year study

A new study published in the journal Radiology has found that the advantages of digital breast tomosynthesis (DBT) over digital mammography (DM), including increased cancer detection and fewer false positive findings, are maintained over multiple years and rounds of screening. In addition, research showed that DBT screening helped detect a higher proportion of poor prognosis cancers than DM.

Low-dose chest CT leaves DNA intact

The low-dose chest CT scans used in lung cancer screening do not appear to damage human DNA, according to a study appearing in the journal Radiology. The results could help allay fears that such screenings will lead to an increase in radiation-induced cancer.

Older women with breast cancer may benefit from genetic testing, study suggests

About 1 in 40 postmenopausal women diagnosed with breast cancer before age 65 have cancer-associated mutations in their BRCA1 or BRCA2 genes, according to a Stanford-led study of more than 4,500 participants in the long-running Women's Health Initiative.

Possible treatment for breast cancer patients could roll out to clinical trial immediately

A worldwide collaborative study led by scientists at the University of Sussex has proposed a new treatment strategy for patients with a rare but aggressive subtype of cancer known as triple negative breast cancer.

Demographics linked to choice not to vaccinate children in Texas, study finds

Texans who are college-educated, live in suburban or urban areas, have higher median incomes and are ethnically white are less likely to vaccinate their children, according to analysis by researchers at The University of Texas at Austin. The findings could help public health officials identify pockets of low vaccination rates where communities within the state are at higher risk for an outbreak of vaccine-preventable diseases such as measles.

Junk food orders up trouble for young brains

That teenager in your kitchen feasting on fast food, candy bars and pop might not be able to help themselves—all the more reason for adults to help them before they cause long-term damage to their developing brains.

COVID-19 and children: What parents should know

By now, we know Coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) is a respiratory illness that can spread from person to person. While the situation is swiftly evolving, and experts are learning more daily, concerns about the younger population may be weighing on parents' minds.

Is your adolescent getting enough sleep? 3 things every parent should know

University of Virginia professors Joanna Lee Williams and Richard J. Bonnie believe that adolescence is a period of "extraordinary" opportunity for learning and exploration, and for laying a strong foundation for a successful life.

Why obesity causes high blood pressure—and potential ways to stop it

Researchers at the University of Virginia School of Medicine have discovered why obesity causes high blood pressure and identified potential ways of treating that form of high blood pressure.

Opioid marketing to Canadian doctors hyped benefits, downplayed harms

Between January 2016 and June 2019 there were over 13,900 deaths from opioid overdoses in Canada, 4,500 of which occurred in 2018. Based on information to date, 2019 is likely to have a similar mortality rate. Most deaths these days are from street drugs laced with fentanyl, carfentanil and other similar products.

You can do it! A 'growth mindset' helps us learn

One of the most influential phenomena in education over the last two decades has been that of the "growth mindset". This refers to the beliefs a student has about various capacities such as their intelligence, their ability in areas such as maths, their personality and creative ability.

Sad about having a boy instead of a girl? 'Gender disappointment' is no mental illness

In an age of gender-reveal parties, baby bumps on Instagram, and hyper-gendered toys and clothing, learning about a baby's sex is big news.

Long-term hemophilia treatment could lie in patients' own cells

Children (and adults) with hemophilia are slow to form blood clots, so are at constant risk for uncontrolled bleeding. Even when the skin isn't broken, a fall or a simple toe stub can become a serious medical issue: internal bleeding cause permanent damage to muscles and joints. While regularly replacing the missing or malfunctioning clotting factor can keep hemophilia under control, the protein must be infused multiple times per week—for life.

Study shows promising approach for the prevention and cure of gonorrhea in women

In research recently published in mBio, researchers from the Abigail Wexner Research Institute (AWRI) at Nationwide Children's Hospital and Griffith University's Institute for Glycomics have discovered non-antibiotic (host-targeted) therapies for the effective treatment of Neisseria gonorrhoeae infections by repurposing existing drugs.

Nutrition research finds novel target for Alzheimer's diagnosis, treatment

Alzheimer's is a costly disease.

Treating asthma with data analytics

As more and more people incorporate Internet of Things (IoT) devices into their lives, users are automating their homes, their vehicles and their workplaces. New research from the University of Delaware's Junbo Son suggests that IoT devices could have another impactful use: managing chronic health conditions and even saving lives.

New automated method developed for corneal nerve fiber tortuosity analysis

The Intelligent Medical Imaging (iMED) Group at the Cixi Institute of Biomedical Engineering, Ningbo Institute of Materials Technology and Engineering (CNITECH) of the Chinese Academy of Sciences proposed a fully automated method for image-level corneal nerve fiber tortuosity estimation, contributing to the examination and diagnosis of eye-related diseases. The study was published in IEEE Transactions on Medical Imaging.

Invasion of exotic plants elevates disease risks

Invasive plants can not only interfere with the recovery of native plants, but also become hotbeds of arthropod disease vectors. Increased numbers of chigger mites that can transmit deadly scrub typhus were observed under exotic invasive plants with facilitated by industrialization, according to disease ecologist Chi-Chien Kuo and colleagues from National Taiwan Normal University and Taiwan Centers for Disease Control in a new study published in PLoS Neglected Tropical Diseases.

Mouse study suggests immune cells could protect against Alzheimer's

Scientists at the German Center for Neurodegenerative Diseases (DZNE), the Ludwig-Maximilians-Universitaet (LMU) Munich and Denali Therapeutics (South San Francisco, CA, U.S.) have developed an approach to stimulate immune cells of the brain in such a way that they might possibly provide better protection against Alzheimer's disease. Their report has been published in the journal EMBO Molecular Medicine. These findings could ultimately enable development of novel therapies to treat Alzheimer's disease.

QuILT study reveals systemic barriers to safe patient transfers in labor and delivery

Delivering a baby is one of life's most thrilling and nerve-racking experiences. Whether someone is about to become a first-time parent or they have young ones at home already, most families have a host of questions before, during and after delivery. The Obstetrics and Gynecology team at St. Michael's Hospital is committed to making sure people have the answers they need and that parents have excellent care and support throughout their pregnancy.

Why you get shorter as you age

While you may be aware that a loss of vision, hearing and memory is a sign of aging, something that is perhaps not so noticeable is a reduction in height. This apparent shrinking is due to several factors relating to changes in bone, muscles, joints and other tissues in your body. While a certain amount of height loss is a normal part of aging and unlikely to be associated with any health problems, significant height loss may indicate underlying issues. Understanding what happens to your body as you age is important so you can counteract some of the negative effects of aging.

Coronavirus: How big, how bad, and what to look out for

Cases of illness from the new coronavirus (SARS-CoV-2) disease, known as COVID-19, have been confirmed in more than 100 countries. The outbreak was first recorded in China in December last year. Coronaviruses are a family of viruses that cause illnesses that can range from a common cold to more severe diseases such as Middle East respiratory syndrome (MERS) and severe acute respiratory syndrome (SARS). The Conversation Africa's Ina Skosana spoke to Shabir Madhi about the situation.

History mustn't repeat itself with COVID-19

As the issue of repatriation of foreign nationals from China grabs the headlines in South Africa and elsewhere on the continent in the wake of the spread of COVID-19, there are some important lessons that can still be drawn from events 102 years ago in 1918 when an earlier epidemic, of so-called Spanish flu, arrived in the country.

7 science-based strategies to cope with coronavirus anxiety

As the SARS-CoV-2 virus continues its global spread and the number of diagnosed COVID-19 cases continues to increase, anxiety related to the outbreak is on the rise too.

Dramatic increase in bowel cancer in young adults in England

There has been a dramatic increase in the incidence of bowel cancer in adults under the age of 50, according to new research from the University of Bristol, UWE Bristol and University Hospitals Bristol NHS Foundation Trust (UH Bristol).

2018 health care spending up due to higher prices

Average employer-sponsored insurance spending rose to $5,892 per person in 2018, according to the Health Care Cost Institute annual Health Care Cost and Utilization Report.

Why young people are drinking less—and what older drinkers can learn from them

Young people are drinking less than ever before. Some reading this will be able to recall the 1990s—the decade of peak alcohol, when drinking was a key part of life for young people. The decade saw the rise of pub and club culture, public displays of drunkenness by young adults and the arrival of new kinds of alcoholic drinks you could buy (alcopops anyone?).

Does screening travelers for disease and infection really work?

Following the emergence of a new coronavirus late last year, China closed its borders to prevent the disease from traveling. Yet many people had already left Wuhan, which allowed the virus to move with people as they traveled around the world.

Virtual screening for active substances against the coronavirus

The University of Basel is part of the global search for a drug to fight the rampant coronavirus. Researchers in the Computational Pharmacy group have so far virtually tested almost 700 million substances, targeting a specific site on the virus—with the aim of inhibiting its multiplication. Due to the current emergency, the first results of the tests will be made available to other research groups immediately.

Health officials say not to touch your face—but that's harder than it sounds

You might be buying—or making—lots of hand sanitizer to help protect yourself from the COVID-19 coronavirus, but health care professionals are asking you to do something a lot harder: Stop touching your face.

Can cash carry coronavirus? World Health Organization says use digital payments when possible

The World Health Organization is reportedly encouraging people to use as many digital payment options as possible in the wake of the coronavirus crisis.

More than a nice coating

Researchers at the Netherlands Institute for Neuroscience (NIN) have shown that specialized aggregates of molecules enwrapping nerve cells in the brain, the perineuronal nets, are crucial for regulating the connections between nerve cells that control motor memories. The discovery, published in the Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences (PNAS), provide novel insight into how memories are formed and stored in the brain.

Tracking down 'illegal parkers' in cancer cells

Squamous cell carcinoma is a very unusual type of cancer. It occurs in many tissues—for example in the lungs, esophagus, pancreas, throat and pharynx, and on the skin. Due to the many mutations in this type of cancer, treatment is a particularly challenging task for medicine.

German hospital creates drive-through for coronavirus tests

In the small German town of Gross-Gerau, you don't go to the drive-through for a burger and fries. You go to get tested for the novel coronavirus.

Scientists uncover a mechanism that could lead to new immunotherapies head and neck cancer

Researchers at UC have discovered a previously unknown mechanism that could explain the reason behind decreased immune function in cancer patients and could be a new therapeutic target for immunotherapy for those with head and neck cancers.

Fatal overproduction of antibodies

Bone marrow plasma cells produce antibodies. These comprise two long and two short protein chains. The pathological proliferation of plasma cells can lead to an overproduction of the short chains. These associate to fibrils and deposit in organs. The result is fatal organ failure. A research team from the Technical University of Munich (TUM) and Heidelberg University has now identified the mutation behind the disease in a patient.

New research shows children and teens worry about political issues

Many surveys of American adults have revealed that they worry about political issues and are concerned for the future of the United States. But what about children and teenagers?

Improving the collection of birth and death data worldwide

University of Melbourne researchers have identified and implemented the key interventions and tools that countries can—and should—use to improve the quality and availability of critical birth and death data and ultimately, improve health outcomes.

Music shows promise in decreasing delirium in critically ill patients

It is common for critically ill patients on life support to develop delirium, a form of acute brain failure for which no effective treatment is known. A study from Indiana University School of Medicine and Regenstrief Institute researchers reports that music appears to decrease delirium in patients on mechanical ventilators in the intensive care unit (ICU).

Routine childhood vaccination linked to improved schooling among adults in India

Vaccines have reduced the global burden of disease by preventing an estimated 2 to 3 million deaths worldwide each year. In India, the reduction in annual under-five deaths, from 3.4 to 1.2 million between 1990 and 2015, was largely due to expansions in coverage of routine childhood vaccination. Vaccines have been linked to increased economic productivity as well as improved cognition, growth, and schooling among children. While the long-term health benefits of vaccination are well known, little evidence exists on the link between routine childhood vaccination and long-term schooling attainment among adults in low- and middle-income countries.

Research finds high rates of trauma exposure, PTSD symptoms for those in drug court

Nearly 94% of defendants in Cuyahoga County drug court have been exposed to trauma and many suffer from symptoms of post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD), according to a new Case Western Reserve University study.

Pain researchers get a common language to describe pain

For the first time, an international collaboration of researchers have succeeded in creating a complete overview of all pain conditions in the face, mouth and jaw and classifying them in the same way.

Modern virtual and augmented reality device can help simulate sight loss

Published today, during World Glaucoma Week 2020, a new study demonstrates how commercially available head mounted displays (HMD) can be used to simulate the day-to-day challenges faced by people with glaucoma.

Coronavirus: top US universities move classes online

Major American universities—including Harvard, Princeton and Columbia—have been forced to cancel classes because of the coronavirus and move lessons online, affecting tens of thousands of students.

Diabetes-related lower-extremity complications increasing

(HealthDay)—Diabetes-related lower-extremity complications (DRLECs) are a large and increasing contributor to the global burden of disability, according to a study published online March 5 in Diabetes Care.

Excess mortality observed for older adults with BP below 130/80 mm hg

(HealthDay)—For older adults, blood pressure (BP) < 130/80 mm Hg is associated with excess mortality, according to a study published online March 5 in Age and Ageing.

Millions of coronavirus test kits available soon, vice president says

(HealthDay)—Millions of much-needed testing kits for COVID-19 are on the way to clinics and labs nationwide, Vice President Mike Pence told reporters during a White House briefing Monday evening.

Could dad-to-be's health affect his newborn's health?

(HealthDay)—The health of both mom and dad are key to a healthy pregnancy and birth, new research finds.

People with implanted heart pumps may have higher suicide risk

People with a left ventricular assist device, a mechanical pump that helps the heart, might face a higher suicide risk, new research suggests.

Study: Daily avocado consumption improves attention in persons with overweight, obesity

A diet including daily avocado consumption improves the ability to focus attention in adults whose measurements of height and weight are categorized as overweight or obese, a new randomized control trial found.

German horse-mad town on lockdown to stop coronavirus

A tiny town in northern Germany known as an equestrian hotspot has gone into lockdown after just one woman tested positive for the coronavirus, with horse-riding schools closed and hundreds of residents forced into quarantine.

Some schools shut for 2 weeks in NYC suburb hit by virus

State officials are shuttering several schools and houses of worship for two weeks in a New York City suburb and sending in the National Guard to help with what appears to be the nation's biggest cluster of coronavirus cases, Gov. Andrew Cuomo said Tuesday.

EU leaders hold virus crisis videoconference

EU leaders held emergency talks by videoconference Tuesday as they scrambled to coordinate a Europe-wide response to the coronavirus epidemic, which has roiled markets and put Italy on lockdown.

Italy sees 168 coronavirus deaths, toll outside China over 1,000

Italy recorded 168 deaths Tuesday from the novel coronavirus, its highest single-day toll to date, pushing the number of fatalities outside China to more than 1,000.

Virus-hit Italy gets more isolated as nations restrict entry

Italians faced travel restrictions inside and outside the country Tuesday as nations near and far isolated Italy with flight bans and sweeping national measures went into effect in a bid to slow the coronavirus' silent spread across the peninsula.

New study identifies valuable tool for treating pancreatic cancer patients

Pancreatic cancer is predicted to become the second leading cause of cancer-related deaths by 2030. However, recent developments in staging and treatment provide options to improve the long-term survival rate for an otherwise devastating diagnosis.

Study evaluates cervical cancer risks of IUDs

Patients who used copper intrauterine devices (Cu IUD) were found to have a lower risk of high-grade cervical neoplasms (cervical cancer) compared to users of the levonorgestrel-releasing intrauterine system (LNG-IUS), according to a Columbia study recently published in Obstetrics & Gynecology.

Experts urge low-risk virus patients not to overwhelm hospitals

People at low risk of falling seriously ill with the new coronavirus must do everything possible to avoid overwhelming hospitals, experts have warned.

UN, Red Cross say keeping kids in school could help fight virus

UN bodies and the Red Cross said Tuesday that keeping schools open could help combat the spread of the new coronavirus by educating children on preventative measures.

Young sugarcane workers at high risk of kidney function decline

Researchers from the Center for Health, Work and Environment (CHWE) at the Colorado School of Public Health have published a paper in PLoS ONE, studying the decline in kidney function for young, first-time sugarcane workers in Guatemala. The study, led by University of Colorado Instructor Miranda Dally, is the first to examine kidney function decline in workers starting their first day on a job with a high risk of developing Chronic Kidney Disease of Unknown Origin (CKDu), a rising epidemic in rural workers in Central and South America.

Virus death toll soars in locked-down Italy as pace slows in China

Locked-down Italy on Tuesday recorded its deadliest day of the novel coronavirus outbreak, with its toll jumping by 168, as airlines halted flights and neighbouring countries clamped down on borders of the worst-hit country outside of China.

Flu and coronavirus: Similar symptoms, different fears

Is it the flu, a cold or the new coronavirus? Patients and doctors alike are parsing signs of illness to figure out who needs what tests or care and how worried they should be.

Too much information? Privacy questions over S. Korea virus details

Allegations of affairs, revelations of membership of religious sects: South Korea's openness about infected patients has been key in its fight against the coronavirus but raised uncomfortable questions over privacy and stigmatisation.

German tourist tests positive for virus in northern Cyprus

A 65-year-old German tourist has tested positive for COVID-19, the illness caused by the novel coronavirus, the first known case in northern Cyprus, authorities said on Tuesday.

'Stay at home': Italy's quarantine rules

Italians have been told to stay at home and avoid all non-essential travel as quarantine measures were extended to the whole country to stop the spread of the coronavirus.

China's Xi says Wuhan has 'turned the tide' againt virus epidemic

Chinese President Xi Jinping said Tuesday that Wuhan has turned the tide against the deadly coronavirus outbreak, as he paid his first visit to the city at the heart of the global epidemic.

Thousands on virus-hit cruise ship await disembarkation

Thousands of passengers aboard a cruise ship struck by the novel coronavirus waited anxiously Tuesday for their chance to leave the vessel, even if it meant being shipped to military bases for weeks of quarantine.

Iran says new virus kills 54, death toll climbs to 291

Iran said Tuesday that the new coronavirus had killed 54 more people, raising the death toll to 291 amid 8,042 cases in the Islamic Republic.

Mongolia seals off cities, bans flights after first virus case

Mongolia on Tuesday barred anyone from entering or leaving its cities for six days and banned most international flights after the country reported its first coronavirus case—a Frenchman who arrived from Moscow.

Lebanon records first novel coronavirus death: health ministry

A Lebanese man died Tuesday from the novel coronavirus, a health ministry official said, marking the country's first recorded death from an epidemic that has infected 41 people nationwide.

First coronavirus cases confirmed in Burkina Faso

Two cases of coronavirus have been detected in Burkina Faso, a couple who returned to the West African country from France, the government said.

Cyprus main hospital shuts after surgeon diagnosed with coronavirus

Cyprus on Tuesday temporarily closed the country's largest hospital after its chief heart surgeon was among three cases of novel coronavirus confirmed on the divided eastern Mediterranean island.

Lockdown ends in Tenerife hotel over coronavirus

The remaining guests at a hotel in Spain's Canary Islands on lockdown over the coronavirus were cleared Tuesday to leave the building after completing their 14-day quarantine period.

Virus not yet causing drug shortage in Europe, says EU

Measures to tackle the coronavirus outbreak have not yet led to reports of drug shortages in the European Union, the bloc's medical agency said on Tuesday.

Italy's 'darkest hour': How coronavirus became a very political problem

The Italian government's decision to expand its lockdown from two small areas of the north to encompass the entire country is a sign of its increasing desperation to control the spread of novel coronavirus. The number of positive cases by the evening of March 9 stood at at least 7,000 with more than 400 people having lost their lives. This has even been described as Italy's "darkest hour" by Giuseppe Conte, the country's prime minister.

Amid COVID-19 outbreak, US State Department cautions against travel by cruise ship

As the number of U.S. COVID-19 cases climbed past 530 in at least 34 states and the death toll hit 22, the State Department issued an advisory Sunday that urged all Americans to avoid cruise travel.

Study reveals health care gaps for trans, non-binary people

Nearly half of transgender and non-binary Canadians who responded to a national survey say they faced one or more unmet health care needs in the past year—with about 1-in-10 saying they avoided an emergency room visit completely, according to a Western-led project exploring this community across Canada for the first time.

Self-help groups empower caregivers of children with disabilities

Caregivers in low-income settings will be able to respond to the challenges of bringing up children with disabilities, thanks to a new model created by the University of East Anglia (UEA) and the Kenya Medical Research Institute (KEMRI).

Morocco announces first coronavirus death

Morocco's health ministry said Tuesday the country had recorded its first death linked to the new coronavirus, an 89-year-old woman who suffered from chronic health problems.

Spain suspends air traffic from Italy over coronavirus

The Spanish government said Tuesday it was suspending all air traffic from Italy for two weeks over coronavirus fears, the official state bulletin said.

Czechs to close schools as central Europe widens virus fight

The Czech Republic said Tuesday it will close all schools, while neighbouring Slovakia suspended church services and Poland cancelled mass events in a bid to stem the spread of the deadly new coronavirus.

Russia issues public transport warning over coronavirus

Russia on Tuesday recommended against hugging, handshakes and taking public transport during rush hour as part of sweeping measures aimed at preventing the spread of the coronavirus.

Missouri virus case shows 1 exposure can mean major response

The 20-something college student didn't know she had the new coronavirus as she flew home from a study abroad program in Italy, landing at one of the nation's busiest airports. She took a train to a St. Louis station shared by Amtrak and the Greyhound bus service. Her father, who was exposed to her but shows no signs of illness, went to a coffee shop and took another daughter to a father-daughter dance at a hotel and a house party.

What features make text-based counseling effective?

A fascinating new study has shown that the duration of a text-based counseling session, the length of the counselor's messages, and quick response time by the counselor are important factors in determining the impact of counseling. The study of young people under the age of 23 who relied on a dialogue-based, human-handled child hotline is published in Cyberpsychology, Behavior, and Social Networking.

EU backs Italy's 'bold measures' to fight virus

The EU on Tuesday praised Italy for taking "bold" steps to curb the spread of the new coronavirus outbreak, adding that Brussels would do all in its power to help.

DR Congo's first coronavirus case confirmed in Kinshasa

The DR Congo confirmed its first coronavirus case in the capital Kinshasa, the third most populous city in Africa, the health ministry said on Tuesday.

Patient-friendly brain imager gets green light toward first prototype

It might not start a fashion trend, but Sandia National Laboratories is designing a wearable brain imager.

25 virus suspects on Nile cruise boat test negative in Egypt

Egyptian authorities said Tuesday that 25 people who had intially tested positive for the novel coronavirus during a Nile River cruise had since tested negative.

Jordan imposes travel restrictions over coronavirus

Jordan's health minister said Tuesday that the country would bar entry to travellers coming from France, Germany and Spain to stop the spread of the novel coronavirus.

Austria, Slovenia impose Italy border restrictions over virus

Austria and Slovenia announced Tuesday they would severely restrict travel from neighbouring Italy, the country worst hit by the new coronavirus after China.

Coronavirus case at Apple's EU headquarters in Ireland

An Apple employee at the tech giant's European headquarters in the city of Cork has tested positive for the novel coronavirus, the firm said Tuesday.

Vatican closes to tourists—but not the faithful

The Vatican said Tuesday it was closing Saint Peter's Square and its main basilica to tourists—but not the faithful—as part of a broader clampdown to curb the coronavirus

Iceland to do general screening for coronavirus

Iceland will screen its population, including random samples, for the new coronavirus to determine how widely it has spread, a company involved in the plan said Tuesday.

Virus disrupts Italy as infections top 10K, deaths at 631

The boisterous hum of Rome dwindled to a whisper and police patrols kept people apart in cafes as Italy enforced an extraordinary, sweeping lockdown Tuesday in hopes of not becoming the next epicenter of the spreading coronavirus epidemic now that life in China is edging back to normal.

Chile to quarantine arrivals from Spain, Italy: official

Chilean health authorities on Tuesday announced all travelers arriving from Italy and Spain would be quarantined amid global fears over the spread of the coronavirus.

Biology news

Study reveals a mechanism that plants can use to dissipate excess sunlight as heat

For plants, sunlight can be a double-edged sword. They need it to drive photosynthesis, the process that allows them to store solar energy as sugar molecules, but too much sun can dehydrate and damage their leaves.

From darkness to light: New findings unravel how plants control energy generation

Researchers at Western Sydney University and The Australian National University have discovered new chemical communication pathways that determine how a plant changes when it emerges from darkness in the soil to light.

Cryo-EM reveals unexpected diversity of photosystems

Annemarie Perez Boerema from Alexey Amunts lab has reconstructed the atomic models of new forms of Photosystem I in collaboration with scientists from Israel and China. The studies, published in two Nature Plants articles, expand on the fundamental understanding of how bioenergetic complexes are assembled and regulated in the photosynthetic membranes of cyanobacteria and algae.

Crosstalk captured between muscles, neural networks in biohybrid machines

Scientists watched the formation of a self-emergent machine as stem cell-derived neurons grew toward muscle cells in a biohybrid machine, with neural networks firing in synchronous bursting patterns. The awe-inspiring experiment left them with big questions about the mechanisms behind this growth and a proven method of capturing data for continued study of bioactuators.

Planet's largest ecosystems collapse faster than previously forecast

New research has shown that large ecosystems such as rainforests and coral reefs can collapse at a significantly faster rate than previously understood. The findings suggest that ecosystems the size of the Amazon forests could collapse in only 49 years and the Caribbean coral reefs in just 15 years.

Biology researchers capture shape-shifting delivery structures in body's 'cellular FedEx system'

A new cellular biology study, published last month in the journal Structure by scientists at Vanderbilt, reports a shape-shifting structure in the human body which plays an important role in the timely delivery of fats and proteins.

Cancerous tumors, surrounding cells illuminated by new imaging agent

Scientists at Washington University School of Medicine in St. Louis have developed a new imaging agent that could let doctors identify not only multiple types of tumors but the surrounding normal cells that the cancer takes over and uses as a shield to protect itself from attempts to destroy it.

Hot time in the city: Urban lizards evolve heat tolerance

Faced with a gritty landscape of metal fences, concrete walls and asphalt pavement, city lizards in Puerto Rico rapidly and repeatedly evolved better tolerance for heat than their forest counterparts, according to new research from Washington University in St. Louis and the University of California, Los Angeles.

Researchers solve mystery of Tuvan throat singing

An international research team has uncoupled the mystery of how Tuvan throat singers produce distinctive sounds in which you can hear two different pitches at once—a low rumble and a high whistle-like tone.

Feeding wildlife can disrupt animal social structures

A team of researchers from the University of Georgia and San Diego State University has found that the practice of feeding wildlife could be more detrimental to animals than previously thought.

Disease-causing virus manipulates crop plants to favor its vector

The virus that causes barley yellow dwarf, the most widespread disease of cereal crops, manipulates its host plant and insect vector to promote its own survival, according to an international team of researchers. The group found that the virus raises the temperature of its host plants along with the heat-tolerance of its aphid vectors to create regions on the plants where aphids can feed free from competing insects. The findings could have implications for crop health as the global climate warms.

Some domesticated plants ignore beneficial soil microbes

While domestication of plants has yielded bigger crops, the process has often had a negative effect on plant microbiomes, making domesticated plants more dependent on fertilizer and other soil amendments than their wild relatives.

New test measures corn nitrogen needs with greater accuracy

The soil fertility tests farmers have used for decades to measure nitrogen levels don't account for the vast majority of the nitrogen in soils, so Iowa State University scientists helped develop a new test that yields more accurate results by using soil biology.

Malnourished bugs: Higher carbon levels make plants less nutritious, hurting insect populations

Grasshopper populations, like those of many other insects, are declining. My colleagues and I identified a new possible culprit: The plants grasshoppers rely on for food are becoming less nutritious due to increased levels of carbon dioxide in the air.

Behind the mask: In search of gorilla-friendly tourism

Rwanda, land of a thousand invisible hills. It's an overcast morning in Kigali, capital of Africa's most densely populated country. The sound of a bamboo broom scraping the tarmac accompanies a solitary sweeper engaged in the Sisyphean task of keeping the hotel frontage spick and span. Overhead, a black kite looms into view. Then another, then a third, swooping down like dementors out of the mist. The drabness of the scene is relieved by the iridescent headgear of a diminutive sunbird, scolding the universe from a nearby palm frond.

Birds of a feather really do flock together

A species of tiny bird, found on a small island has evolved into five different color variations depending on where on the island it lives.

Non-thermal plasma can inactivate airborne viral threat to pigs

One of the most costly diseases facing the pork industry is caused by a virus that new research shows can be rendered harmless in a fraction of a second by a cold plasma reactor developed at the University of Michigan.

Climate shifts prompt shrubs and trees to take root in open areas

Wild, treeless landscapes are becoming more wooded as climate change leads to warming temperatures and wetter weather, research suggests.

Grad student names new treehopper species after Lady Gaga

According to Brendan Morris, a graduate student at the University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign, treehoppers are the wackiest, most astonishing bugs most people have never heard of. They are morphological wonders, sporting bizarre protuberances that look like horns, gnarled branches, antlers, fruiting fungi, brightly colored flags or dead plant leaves. Treehoppers suck on plant juices. They sing to each other by vibrating plant stems. And they are an important food source for other forest creatures.

Disturbed retinal gene function underlying canine blindness

A canine study carried out at the University of Helsinki has described a gene variant in the regulatory region of the retina resulting in the abnormal function of retinal genes and, eventually, in the loss of vision in dogs. The study can benefit the diagnostics and treatment of retinitis pigmentosa, a disease suffered by two million human beings globally.

Common feed ingredient tested safe in bulls

Cattle feeders choose distillers grains in feedlot diets as an inexpensive alternative to corn and soybean meal. But until now, no one had studied the effects of the common feed ingredient on bull development and fertility. With bull fertility to blame for a significant portion of reproductive failures in cow-calf operations, University of Illinois researchers decided it was worth a look.

New study unveils the mechanism of DNA high-order structure formation

A joint research team led by Professor Ja Yil Lee (School of Life Sciences, UNIST) and Professor Ji-Joon Song (Department of Biological Sciences, KAIST) has unveiled the structure and mechanism of proteins that are highly overexpressed in cancers and associated with poor patient prognoses. The findings could speed up the discovery and development of new cancer drugs.

Investigation underway: In­her­ited ar­rhythmia lead­ing to sud­den deaths in young Finnish Le­on­ber­gers

A new study in Finland has revealed that inherited malignant ventricular arrhythmia is fairly common among Finnish Leonbergers under three years of age. At its worst, such arrhythmia can result in the dog's sudden death.


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