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Here is your customized Science X Newsletter for May 13, 2016:
Spotlight Stories Headlines
Astronomy & Space news
 | Manchester astronomers detect precious element in spaceA team of astronomers from The University of Manchester, together with collaborators from the Centro de Astrobiología and the Deep Space Network, Spain and the Universidad Nacional Autónoma de México, have detected a rare gas 4000 light years away from Earth. The discovery, made using the largest antenna of NASA's Madrid Deep Space Communication Complex (70 metres in diameter), could help scientists to understand more about the history of this important element. |
 | Hubble spies a spiral snowflakeTogether with irregular galaxies, spiral galaxies make up approximately 60 percent of the galaxies in the local universe. However, despite their prevalence, each spiral galaxy is unique—like snowflakes, no two are alike. This is demonstrated by the striking face-on spiral galaxy NGC 6814, whose luminous nucleus and spectacular sweeping arms, rippled with an intricate pattern of dark dust, are captured in this NASA/ESA Hubble Space Telescope image. |
 | Scientists use planetarium's advanced astronomical software to accurately date 2,500 year-old lyric poemPhysicists and astronomers from the University of Texas at Arlington have used advanced astronomical software to accurately date lyric poet Sappho's "Midnight Poem," which describes the night sky over Greece more than 2,500 years ago. |
 | UC San Diego gets $40 million to take 'baby pictures' of universeThe University of California, San Diego has received $40 million in gifts to create and lead an observatory in Chile that's expected to greatly improve scientists' ability to study how the universe evolved after its calamitous birth 13.8 billion years ago. |
 | Image: New Antares rocket rolls out at NASA wallopsOrbital ATK's Antares first stage with the new engines is rolled from NASA Wallops Flight Facility's Horizontal Integration Facility to Virginia Space's Mid-Atlantic Regional Spaceport Pad-0A on May 12, 2016, in preparation for the upcoming stage test in the next few weeks. |
Technology news
 | Mini-projector offers up tablet and wall whiteboard viewsAlways a show-stopping concept: something lightweight that turns objects we have in the real world into virtual touchscreens. A Shanghai-based company wants to roll with that concept, in the form of its special mini-projector, the Lazertouch. |
 | Neural networks allow classic painting styles to be applied to modern video(Tech Xplore)—A trio of researchers at the University of Freiburg has taken the science of using neural networks to understand the style of paintings done by human hands and applying it to modern photographs, one step further, by applying it to video. In their paper, which they have uploaded to the preprint server arXiv, Manuel Ruder, Alexey Dosovitskiy and Thomas Brox describe how they adapted photo manipulation techniques to video, how they overcame initial problems and also offer descriptions of their example videos. |
 | China taxi app Didi gets $1 billion from AppleApple will invest $1 billion in Chinese ride hailing app Didi Chuxing, the Beijing company said on Friday as it vies with bitter US-based rival Uber for market share in China. |
 | Humble tofu powering Indonesian homes with clean energyIn a dark and steamy room in Indonesia's tofu heartland three men sweat over bubbling cauldrons, churning creamy beancurd with wooden paddles before draining it by hand and slicing it into silky cubes. |
 | Solar plane on global trip completes Arizona-to-Oklahoma legA solar-powered airplane has landed in Oklahoma after taking off from Arizona on the latest leg of its around-the-world journey. |
Activision Blizzard to bring live eSports to FacebookActivision Blizzard Inc. wants to make eSports mainstream by bringing the video game competitions not to TV, but rather to the world's largest social media company. | |
New cyberattack made on bank, financial supervisor warnsA new cyberattack has been made against an unnamed bank, part of a coordinated campaign that follows February's theft of $101 million from the Bangladesh central bank, the international money transfer supervisor Swift said Friday. | |
 | Researchers build "Blade Runner" Voight-Kampff machineAn emotion detector which, potentially, can tell whether a person really finds you attractive on a first date has been created by researchers at Lancaster University. |
 | Artificial intelligence framework now powers Toyota websitesAn innovation in artificial intelligence that was described in a 2001 paper by a UCLA computer science professor has found a somewhat unexpected application: helping car buyers customize their vehicles online. |
 | The SwimTrain exergame makes swim workouts fun againTo many who swim for exercise, workouts come down to the monotony of doing laps—swimming back and forth in a pool. Over and over. Unlike other exercisers, who can make their routines less of a chore by adding a social component—working out with friends, family, or in groups—swimmers really haven't had many options, because coordinating a group of swimmers is difficult. The Korea Advanced Institute of Science and Technology (KAIST) and Microsoft Research Asia (MSRA) report that with SwimTrain, their new cooperative "exergame" research project, you'll never have to swim alone again. |
 | Students are using 'smart' spy technology to cheat in examsStudents at a medical college in Thailand have been caught using spy cameras linked to smartwatches to cheat during exams. They used wireless spycams in eyeglasses to capture exam questions, transmit them to associates elsewhere and receive responses through linked smartwatches. |
 | How to design trustworthy robot butlers that we won't want to treat like humansDoes your car "not want" to start on cold mornings? And does your toaster "like" burning your toast? This kind of intentional language is natural to us and built into the way we interact with the world – even with machines. This is because we have evolved to become extremely social animals, understanding others by forming mental models of what they are thinking. We use these skills to understand the behaviour of anything complicated we interact with, especially robots. |
GM's Opel to appear before German diesel emissions panelThe German transport ministry says General Motors' Opel division has been asked to appear before a commission looking into diesel emissions controls after an environmental group claimed two of its models are able to reduce pollution controls. | |
Security clearance background checks to include social mediaInvestigators can now probe Twitter, Facebook and other social media sites as a part of background checks for security clearances—something that lawmakers said Friday was a classic case of the government playing catch-up with technology. | |
 | YouTube tests messaging feature to keep people in its appYouTube is testing a messaging feature in its smartphone app so people can share and discuss videos without resorting to other ways to connect with their friends and family. |
 | Head of anti-fakes group closely tied to Alibaba, owns stockWhen an influential anti-counterfeiting group allowed Chinese e-commerce giant Alibaba to join its ranks in April, the group said it was a collaborative move that would help stem the sale of fake goods for top companies such as Apple, Nike and Procter & Gamble. |
 | Facebook CEO Zuckerberg seeks meeting with conservatives (Update)Facebook CEO Mark Zuckerberg says he wants to invite "leading conservatives and people from across the political spectrum" to discuss recent reports that its "Trending Topics" feature is biased against conservatives. |
 | Does social media help the government-citizen relationship? Depends who you askDepending where you live, maybe you follow your local transportation department on Twitter for construction updates. Or maybe you watch Periscope videos of city council sessions, or read live blogs of public school board meetings. |
 | Moving mobile communication onto the cloudThe EU MOBILE CLOUD NETWORKING project, which was officially completed at the end of April 2016, has effectively integrated domains, cloud computing services and mobile networks in order to provide the canvas upon which Europe's future mobile network services can be run. This is vitally important. If European companies are to take advantage of the technologies offered by cloud computing, then communication networks must be appropriately re-designed. |
German intelligence agency warns of Russian cyber sabotage (Update)The head of Germany's domestic intelligence agency warned Friday that Russia is engaged in electronic espionage efforts and appears willing to conduct cyber sabotage against critical infrastructure. | |
Tinder reminds users to be 'vigilant' amid kidnapping reportTinder says "people with bad intentions exist everywhere" and the online dating app is reminding users to be vigilant about safety amid allegations that a Kansas man held a woman he met on Tinder against her will and beat her. | |
Medicine & Health news
 | Deep sleep puts the 'REM' in rememberingWhen it comes to mental health and cognitive function, the importance of rapid eye-movement sleep - that deep, restorative stage of sleep that we cycle in and out of throughout the night - is so well established that experiments depriving humans of it would be considered unethical. |
 | Triple-negative breast cancer target is foundUC Berkeley researchers have found a long-elusive Achilles' heel within "triple-negative" breast tumors, a common type of breast cancer that is difficult to treat. The scientists then used a drug-like molecule to successfully target this vulnerability, killing cancer cells in the lab and shrinking tumors in mice. |
 | Size of brain region is associated with response to PTSD treatmentA study has found that PTSD patients with a larger hippocampus—a region of the brain key to distinguishing between safety and threat—are more likely to respond to exposure-based therapy for posttraumatic stress disorder (PTSD). |
 | New soap to ward off malaria carrying mosquitoes(Medical Xpress)—Gérard Niyondiko along with colleagues Frank Langevin and Lisa Barutel has posted a project on the crowd source funding site ulule for a product called Faso Soap. They claim the soap can cut in half the number of people bitten by anopheles mosquitoes carrying the Plasmodium parasite which is responsible for causing malaria. |
 | Another reason for wine lovers to toast resveratrolRed wine lovers have a new reason to celebrate. Researchers have found a new health benefit of resveratrol, which occurs naturally in blueberries, raspberries, mulberries, grape skins and consequently in red wine. |
Scientists identify protein which could improve treatments for recurrent miscarriagesScientists at the University of Sheffield have identified a protein, involved in the development of the human placenta, may also help embryos implant in the womb - something which could improve treatments for recurrent miscarriages and pre-eclampsia. | |
 | The gluten-free diet in children: Do the risks outweigh the benefits?The prevalence of celiac disease (CD), an autoimmune disease, is increasing. The only treatment for CD is a gluten-free diet. However, the increasing prevalence of CD does not account for the disproportionate increase in growth of the gluten-free food industry (136% from 2013 to 2015). A Commentary scheduled for publication in The Journal of Pediatrics discusses several of the most common inaccuracies regarding the gluten-free diet. |
Researchers find blood marker that determines who will respond to colorectal cancer drugCancer researchers have identified a marker that shows up in a blood test that determines which patients with colorectal cancer that has spread would benefit from receiving the drug cetuximab. | |
US patients face significant barriers in accessing adequate care for chronic lung diseaseDespite being the third leading cause of death in the USA, people with chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (lung disease) face significant challenges in accessing care, with treatment costs remaining out of reach for many, and hospitals failing to provide recommended standards of care, according to a new report commissioned by The Lancet Respiratory Medicine journal, presented at the American Thoracic Society conference in San Francisco. | |
Cancer patients with depression 'struggle to get their lives back after treatment'People with depression are significantly less likely to recover well after treatment for colorectal cancer compared to those without depression, according to new research by Macmillan Cancer Support and the University of Southampton. | |
National project to harness microbes for health, environmentWe share our bodies and surroundings with teeming communities of microbes that are crucial to the health of people and the planet, and now the Obama administration is beginning a major project to better understand those invisible ecosystems—and even control them. | |
 | Can a smartphone application help treat anxiety and depression?In a joint project between the Universities of Liverpool and Manchester researchers have examined the initial trial of a smartphone application designed to help people manage their problems. |
Myocardial fibrosis identified as new therapeutic targetMyocardial fibrosis could be a future therapeutic target after researchers found it correlated with adverse cardiovascular outcomes in patients with obstructive sleep apnoea (OSA) referred for cardiac magnetic resonance (CMR). The study was presented today at EuroCMR 2016 by Dr Yaron Fridman, a cardiology fellow at the Heart and Vascular Institute, University of Pittsburgh Medical Center in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania, US. | |
Arterial switch to 12 o'clock associated with reduced coronary reserve in adolescenceArterial switch to the 12 o'clock position is associated with abnormal coronary perfusion in adolescence, reveals research presented today at EuroCMR 2016. Babies born with transposition of the great arteries (TGA) undergo the arterial switch operation in the first days of life. | |
New cardiac imaging technique improves accuracy by removing need to breatheA new technique for cardiac magnetic resonance (CMR) imaging improves accuracy by removing patients' need to breathe, reveals research presented today at EuroCMR 2016 by Professor Juerg Schwitter, director of the Cardiac MR Centre at the University Hospital Lausanne, Switzerland. The lack of motion allows acquisition of higher quality images in less time. | |
 | Bioengineered blood vessel appears safe for dialysis patientsMan-made blood vessels developed by researchers at Duke University, Yale University and the tissue engineering company Humacyte appear to be both safe and more durable than commonly used synthetic versions in patients undergoing kidney dialysis, the researchers report. |
New test to stop bacteria at factory doorWhat began as a conversation between parents at a hockey game could very well lead to the faster detection of a deadly E. coli bacteria, with the potential to drastically improve food safety around the world. | |
 | Omega-3 lowers childhood aggression in short termIncorporating omega-3, vitamins and mineral supplements into the diets of children with extreme aggression can reduce this problem behavior in the short term, especially its more impulsive, emotional form, according to University of Pennsylvania researchers who published their findings in the Journal of Child Psychology and Psychiatry. |
Fear of violence leads to weight problems for some young womenYoung African-American women who live in fear of the violence in their neighborhoods are more likely to become obese when they reach their 20s and 30s, new research from the University of Michigan shows. | |
Dietary intake differs in infants who follow baby-led weaningUniversity of Otago researchers have undertaken the first-ever study looking at what infants eat when they follow baby-led weaning and found that they have a lot of healthy eating habits, but also some less healthy ones. | |
Study examines effects of galactose ingestion in women before and during exerciseA study from the Journal of the American College of Nutrition, the official publication of the American College of Nutrition, analyzes the effects of consuming a galactose carbohydrate (CHO) drink on substrate oxidation, postexercise satiety, and subsequent energy intake in females. The research examines the effects of a sports drink containing galactose vs. a sports drink containing glucose vs. an artificially sweetened placebo. | |
Shorter regimens offer new hope to adults and children with MDR TB by halving treatment timeRecent treatment regimens for drug-resistant tuberculosis (DR-TB) have resulted in patients enduring a gruelling two-year treatment journey, which necessitates taking up to 20 tablets every day with months of daily painful injections. The side-effects associated with the treatment results in many suffering from permanent hearing loss and some developing suicidal depression and psychosis. For those able to tolerate this miserable treatment, only around half of those suffering with multi-drug resistant tuberculosis (MDR-TB), and one quarter suffering with extensively drug resistant TB (XDR-TB) will be cured. | |
 | Knowing the signs of stroke can save livesAlmost 795,000 Americans suffer from stroke each year, 130,000 which are fatal, making stroke the fifth leading cause of death in the United States. But how many Americans would be able to recognize the signs and symptoms of stroke? And how many know what to do if a family member is having a stroke? |
Prenatal stress could enhance protective mechanisms of babiesMaternal stress and depression during pregnancy may activate certain protective mechanisms in babies. Psychologists from the University of Basel together with international colleagues report that certain epigenetic adaptations in newborns suggest this conclusion. Their results have been published in the journal Social Cognitive and Affective Neuroscience. | |
Researchers analyze effectiveness of school‑based bullying prevention programsResearchers at Dalhousie University have analyzed the effectiveness of bullying prevention programs with the aim of improving lives for Nova Scotia children, and saving money for the province's school boards. | |
Study suggests state-licensed marijuana canopy enough to satisfy recreational and medical marketsThe amount of marijuana allowed to be grown by state-licensed producers in Washington is enough to satisfy both the medical and recreational marijuana markets, a University of Washington study released today finds. | |
Obesity on the rise in IndonesiaObesity is on the rise in Indonesia, one of the largest studies of the double burden of malnutrition in children has revealed. | |
 | Gene therapy against brain cancerOnly a few days ago, the press (especially in English-speaking countries) enthusiastically announced the publication of a study that described in great detail the genetics of breast cancer, a discovery that according to many marks a breakthrough in the battle against this cancer. This kind of news confirms the impression that in the near future the war against cancer will be fought on the battlefields of genetics. Italy too, is working on this front. |
 | What works—and doesn't—to manage your tot's screen time(HealthDay)—As any parent of a preschooler knows, media management can be a minefield of do's, don'ts—and tantrums. |
 | Infection control measures established for Ebola care(HealthDay)—Infection control measures have been developed to strengthen hospitals' capacity for safely diagnosing and treating patients with Ebola virus disease (EVD), according to a review published online May 10 in the Annals of Internal Medicine. |
 | Artificial pancreas protocol deemed feasible for younger kids(HealthDay)—A child-specific version of the modular model predictive control (MMPC) algorithm is feasible and safe for 5- to 9-year-old children with type 1 diabetes, according to the first outpatient single-hormone artificial pancreas (AP) trial in a population of this age, published online May 10 in Diabetes Care. |
 | The power of expectationsExpectations have a lot of power over people as is evidenced by the placebo effect: Patients get pills that have no active ingredient. But the patients are not aware of that. Firmly believing that they are taking an effective drug, they actually get better afterwards. Only their expectations were at play here. |
Singapore reports first Zika caseSingapore said Friday it had detected the first case of Zika in someone who had travelled to Brazil, the epicentre of the outbreak. | |
 | Even in the long term, 'light' does not make you slimmerOffering light varieties of sweets, soft drinks or snacks only leads to over-consumption of these low-calorie products, in the long-term as well. It does not contribute to the reduction of obesity in the population. This was demonstrated in a recent study by the Wageningen marketing professor Joost Pennings. The study was published in the International Journal of Research in Marketing. |
 | Findings expand potential of cancer drugNew research from the Canadian Cancer Trials Group (CCTG) has discovered that a new subset of patients with metastatic colorectal cancer could benefit from taking the drug cetuximab. |
Using precision-genetics in pigs to beat cancerThe numbers are staggering: more than 40 % is the lifetime risk of developing cancer in the U.S., with only 66 % survival-rates 5 years after diagnosis, for all types of cancer. Trends suggest that in 2015, over 1.6 million new cases were diagnosed in the U.S., with over 580,000 deaths in consequence. | |
Noninvasive monitor assesses patients' response to painful stimulation during surgeryA novel measure for assessing the body's response to surgery may allow for better anesthesia management in the O.R., less pain when regaining consciousness from anesthesia and better postoperative outcomes. According to a study published in the Online First edition of Anesthesiology, the official medical journal of the American Society of Anesthesiologists (ASA), the measure, called the nociception (pain) level index, allowed physicians to more accurately evaluate responses to painful stimulation in patients under general anesthesia, compared to traditional measures. | |
 | Evaluating animal threats and human intentions uses common brain networkAssessing whether a fluffy bunny or a giant spider poses a threat to our safety happens automatically. New research suggests the same brain areas may be involved in both detecting threats posed by animals and evaluating other humans' intentions. The study, published in the May 11 issue of the Journal of Neuroscience, offers insight into a basic feature of human cognition: how we understand and evaluate other creatures. |
 | Neuroscientists discover new learning rule for pattern completion"Fire together, wire together" is the famous abridged version of the Hebbian rule. It states that neurons in the brain adapt during the learning process, a mechanism which is called neuronal plasticity. Hebb's theory dates back to the 1940s and subsequent research in neuroscience has further corroborated it. Today, we also know that different factors play a critical role, such as timing of firing, order of activity, and functional connectivity, as cutting-edge technologies allow examining subcellular processes with extraordinary precision. |
 | Italian woman, 116, seen as last living person born in 1800sSurrounded by relatives and friends, Italy's Emma Morano greeted with a smile the news that she, at 116, is now the oldest person in the world. |
Germany reports 1st sexual transmission of Zika virusGerman authorities say the country has recorded its first case of sexual transmission of the Zika virus. | |
FDA warns of potential side effects of powerful antibioticsThe U.S. Food and Drug Administration is ratcheting up its warning about the potential side effects of a type of commonly-prescribed powerful antibiotic often known by the brand name Cipro. | |
 | Booze, high blood pressure a dangerous mix(HealthDay)—Even an ounce of alcohol a day might alter heart function if you have high blood pressure, researchers report. |
 | More children accidently poisoned by 'essential oils'(HealthDay)—Children are increasingly at risk from essential oils that are often used in natural remedies, a Tennessee poison center reports. |
 | Stoned stoners OK with driving while high(HealthDay)—Marijuana users are more likely to say it's acceptable to drive while stoned if they're asked the question while high, a new study finds. |
 | Facebook's lure the same for young and old(HealthDay)—Older adults are joining Facebook in large numbers for the same reasons as kids and younger adults—to develop social connections, a new survey finds. |
 | Temporary skin tattoos can evoke delayed hypersensitivity(HealthDay)—Black henna, used in temporary skin tattoos, can evoke type IV delayed hypersensitivity reactions, according to an article published online April 27 in BMJ Case Reports. |
 | Bundle of practices can cut surgical site infections(HealthDay)—Implementing a bundle of evidence-based practices can reduce 30-day surgical site infection, according to a study published in the June issue of Obstetrics & Gynecology. |
 | Fall risk up with initiation, intensification of HTN meds(HealthDay)—For older adults, initiation and intensification of antihypertensive medication is associated with a short-term increased risk of serious fall injuries, according to a study published online May 10 in Circulation: Cardiovascular Quality and Outcomes. |
 | Lower levels of vitamin D receptors in alopecia(HealthDay)—Patients with alopecia areata (AA) and androgenetic alopecia (AGA) have significantly lower serum and tissue levels of vitamin D receptors (VDRs), according to a study published online May 6 in the Journal of Cosmetic Dermatology. |
 | Smartphone-based self-management feasible for CKD(HealthDay)—A smartphone-based self-management system is feasible for patients with advanced chronic kidney disease (CKD), according to a study published online May 12 in the Clinical Journal of the American Society of Nephrology. |
 | Inactive women may face higher risk for cervical cancer(HealthDay)—Women who are sedentary appear more likely to develop cervical cancer, but just 30 minutes of exercise each week might significantly reduce that risk, new research suggests. |
 | Study: Symptoms of 'chronic multisymptom illness' may be common in Iraq, Afghanistan vetsIn a Veterans Affairs study of more than 300 enlisted Army National Guard and Army Reserve members who had deployed to Iraq or Afghanistan, a majority reported symptoms consistent with a condition known as chronic multisymptom illness (CMI). The data were collected a year after the soldiers returned home. |
 | Is a written asthma action plan for children necessary?Parents of children with asthma need ongoing education and guidance on this chronic condition and how to prevent and manage symptoms, but does a written asthma action plan improve outcomes more than ongoing asthma education? Dr. John Kelso explores this question in a recent review published in Pediatric Allergy, Immunology, and Pulmonology. |
Genetic biomarker may predict nerve pain side effects associated with prostate cancer treatmentTaxanes are a group of drugs commonly used to treat cancers of the breast, lung, ovary, or prostate, but its use can be limited by significant side effects. Researchers from Moffitt Cancer Center report prostate cancer patients who have a variation in the VAC14 gene are more susceptible to a side effect called peripheral neuropathy when treated with the taxane docetaxel. | |
 | Out-of-pocket costs rose moderately under Obamacare: report(HealthDay)—Many Americans enrolled in Obamacare marketplace plans saw their out-of-pocket costs rise moderately in the past year, a new report shows. |
 | Simple steps to help prevent skin cancerWith spring and summer arriving, the air becomes warmer, the sun gets brighter and outdoor activities are more frequent. Naturally, your skin's exposure to the sun increases during this time of year, which results in a greater risk of skin damage, including the development of skin cancer. The good news is most skin cancers can be preventable. |
 | Storing babies' blood samples pits privacy versus scienceTwo-day-old Ellie Bailey squirms in a hospital bassinet and cries as her tiny left heel is squeezed and then pricked with a needle to draw a blood sample. An Indianapolis hospital technician quickly saturates six circles on a special filter card with the child's blood. |
Study reveals effectiveness of text message-based remote monitoring for postpartum hypertensionText messaging could hold the key to identifying postpartum women at-risk for developing potentially life-threatening complications resulting from preeclampsia, according to a new study from researchers at the Perelman School of Medicine at the University of Pennsylvania. The results are presented on Monday, May 16 at the American College of Obstetrics & Gynecology's (ACOG) Annual Clinical and Scientific Meeting in Washington, DC (poster #30-O). | |
 | Gene mutation patterns in melanoma vary from North to South in New ZealandMelanomas in patients from New Zealand's South Island are significantly more likely than those of North Islanders to carry a gene mutation that has implications for mutation-targeted drug therapies and for patient outcomes, new University of Otago-led research suggests. |
Research finds more EMS calls in areas with lots of licensed alcohol establishmentsResearchers found a 7.8 times higher risk of ambulance calls for patients with trauma in areas with the highest density of bars and restaurants licensed to serve alcohol, compared to a low density of such establishments. | |
Study shows high retention rate for IUDs inserted after vaginal deliveryThough some studies have suggested intrauterine devices (IUDs) have a tendency to be expelled when inserted immediately following vaginal childbirth, a new study shows that at least 85 percent of these devices placed after delivery are still in place six weeks later. According to the research team at the Perelman School of Medicine at the University of Pennsylvania, providing IUDs in the hospital immediately following delivery is an effective way to reduce unintended pregnancy and adverse maternal and infant outcomes associated with close pregnancy-spacing. Additionally, noting that IUDs are often covered by insurance (including plans under the Affordable Care Act) when inserted during a routine exam, the authors say the fact that they are not covered when inserted immediately following childbirth points to the need for revised private and public insurance policies. The results will be presented today at the American College of Obstetrics & Gynecology's Annual Clinical and Scientific Meeting in Washington, DC (poster #3-N). | |
'OB Nest': A novel approach to prenatal care"OB Nest": Just the name may bring warm feelings to parents and prospective parents. However, at Mayo Clinic, it's much more than a name. It's a new way that Mayo Clinic is providing prenatal care. And, families say they are thrilled with the process. | |
Clarifying the role of CHOP/GADD153 in cell deathThe results of preclinical studies by investigators at the Medical University of South Carolina (MUSC) reported in the May 2016 issue of Nature Communications demonstrate that CHOP/GADD153-dependent apoptosis reflects expression of the micro-RNA, miR-216b, during periods of endoplasmic reticulum (ER) stress. | |
Florida senators unite on demand for emergency Zika fundingSens. Bill Nelson and Marco Rubio put aside their partisan differences Thursday to introduce legislation that would provide the full $1.9 billion in supplemental appropriations sought by President Barack Obama to combat Zika. | |
House, Senate hope to craft quick anti-drug abuse compromiseCongress is ready to start crafting compromise legislation addressing the nation's opioid abuse crisis, which should be an easier lift than other issues facing lawmakers. The reason: Both parties have an election-year incentive to show they're tackling a problem that's killing people in America's biggest cities and smallest towns. | |
Bringing revolutionary medical diagnostics to marketA new medical diagnostics start-up company spun out of Victoria University of Wellington is set to revolutionise the way medical professionals diagnose and monitor the health of their patients. | |
Researchers determine the best strategy for preventing ulcers when taking NSAIDsNon-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs (NSAIDs)—including ibuprofen, diclofenac, naproxen and others—are commonly used pain medications that are generally safe but may increase the risk of developing stomach and intestinal ulcers. | |
Bangladeshi girl seeks help for rare excess hair conditionThe family of a 12-year-old Bangladeshi girl who suffers from a rare condition that causes thick hair to cover her face and body have spoken out as they seek to fund surgery to give their daughter a chance at a normal life. | |
American Cancer Society report assesses progress against goals set for nationA new report assesses how the nation fared against the ambitious challenge goal set by the American Cancer Society to reduce the cancer death rates by 50% over 25 years ending in 2015. The report finds areas where progress was substantial, and others where it was not. | |
Patients with coeliac disease should receive pneumonia vaccineResearchers have found that patients with coeliac disease are at high risk of acquiring pneumonia if they haven't received the pneumococcal vaccine. | |
Puerto Rico reports 1st Zika-related microcephaly casePuerto Rico on Friday announced its first Zika-related microcephaly case as concerns grow over an outbreak of the mosquito-borne virus in the U.S. territory. | |
Biology news
 | Proton-conducting material found in electrosensory organs of sharksSharks, skates, and rays can detect very weak electric fields produced by prey and other animals using an array of unusual organs known as the ampullae of Lorenzini. Exactly how these electrosensory organs work has remained a mystery, but a new study has revealed an important clue that may have implications for other fields of research. |
 | Uncovering the secrets of Arctic seabird coloniesNinety per cent of Norway's two million pairs of cliff-nesting seabirds are located in nesting colonies above the Arctic Circle. |
Discovery of rules for CRISPR advance metabolic engineeringDiscovery of rules that govern a variation of the CRISPR/Cas9 gene-editing method makes it possible to use living cells to manufacture valuable metabolic compounds like pharmaceuticals and nutraceuticals. Researchers at Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute (RPI) have developed new tools for controlling the signaling pathways in cells to manufacture compounds, dialing down production of unwanted compounds, and increasing production of valuable compounds. | |
 | Possums in NZ prefer leaves high in available proteinResearchers at The Australian National University (ANU) have found possums in New Zealand prefer to eat leaves high in available protein, giving authorities new evidence to help them limit possum damage to New Zealand's forests. |
 | Coral stress test found in the genesUnique sections of coral DNA can indicate a higher tolerance to environmental stress, researchers have revealed for the first time. |
 | Steps that lead to genes being switched on revealed in atomic simulationProteins are essential for processes that sustain life. They are created in cells through a process called gene expression, which uses instructions from stretches of DNA called genes to build proteins. Sometimes genes are faulty and create proteins that contain errors, preventing the cell from functioning properly. These lead to genetic diseases like cystic fibrosis and haemophilia. |
 | Why animals court their own sexSame-sex sexual behaviour is common in animals but puzzles evolutionary biologists since it doesn't carry the same obvious benefits as heterosexual courtship behavior that leads to mating and production of offspring. A study from Uppsala University sheds new light on the pervasiveness of same-sex sexual behaviour in the animal kingdom. |
 | Endangered Sumatran rhino gives birth in IndonesiaA Sumatran rhinoceros has given birth at an Indonesian sanctuary in a success for efforts to save the critically endangered species. |
 | New technique paves the way for drug targeting to fight microbial resistanceResearch investigators in Singapore have developed a new high throughput method that identifies how ribonucleic acid (RNA) molecules come together in an unbiased and large-scale manner inside cells. Named SPLASH, or Sequencing of Psoralen Linked And Selected Hybrids, this newly-developed technique was used to describe the RNA network in human and yeast cells, its dynamics, and how the structural organisation impacts translation and decay processes in the cell. |
 | Two approaches to enhancing tomato flavorAnyone who has ever wondered why some tomatoes can taste so bland might be interested in the work of two Agricultural Research Service (ARS) scientists in Fort Pierce, Florida. They are taking two different approaches to enhance tomato flavor. |
 | Mercury-ridden songbirds get an extra jolt during migrationMigration is hard on a songbird. It has a commute of thousands of miles—north or south, depending on the season—a journey that often includes a nonstop flight over the Gulf of Mexico or even along nearly the entire coastline of North and South America. |
 | Male birds may sing, but females are faster at discriminating soundsIt may well be that only male zebra finches can sing, but the females are faster at learning to discriminate sounds. Leiden researchers publish their findings in the scientific journal Animal Behaviour. |
 | Conservation laws need reshaping to protect sea turtles, research findsAn illegal trade in marine turtles is continuing despite legislation and conservation awareness campaigns, a pioneering study has shown. |
 | Earthworms build huge mounds dotting tropical wetlands in South AmericaEarthworms are the engineers behind the 75,000 km2, densely packed, regularly spaced, and mound-patterned landscapes, called surales, in the South American seasonal tropical wetlands, according to a study published May 11, 2016 in the open-access journal PLOS ONE by Anne Zangerlé from Technische Universität Braunschweig, Germany, Delphine Renard from McGill University, Canada, and colleagues. |
 | Nobel insight into interaction between discharge plasma and cells via TRP channelResearchers at Tohoku University have discovered that the calcium ion influx into cells, which can control the various cell activities, can be enhanced by the short-lived reactive species generated in the atmospheric pressure plasma. |
 | Conservation laws need reshaping to protect sea turtles, research findsAn illegal trade in marine turtles is continuing despite legislation and conservation awareness campaigns, a pioneering study has shown. |
 | Hatchlings give hope for endangered songbird's survivalThe first captive-bred Florida Grasshopper Sparrow hatched this week under the care of researchers with Florida International University's Tropical Conservation Institute. |
Cooperation, not struggle for survival, drives evolutionResearchers believe that competition tends to differentiate ecological requirements after repeated interactions and allows biodiversity. Even if the mechanisms that allow species to evolve, coexist, compete, cooperate, or become extinct are understood, the factors that allow species to coexist within the same environment are still debated. From Gause's principle of competitive exclusion to Connell's ghost of competition in the past, intra- and interspecific competition for the evolution of biodiversity are important. | |
 | New insect pest a threat to onion and related crops in PennsylvaniaAn insect never before found in the Western Hemisphere has been discovered in Pennsylvania, and agriculture officials are asking growers and home gardeners to help monitor and manage the new invasive pest. |
 | Five ways to protect your pet from Lyme diseaseLyme disease is transmitted to people, dogs and cats when a deer tick infected with the bacterium Borrelia burgdorferi attaches itself to the skin for a blood feast. |
 | Cooperative fish take turns with gender rolesChalk bass (Serranus tortugarum) are small sea bass in the grouper family. What makes these fish interesting is that they are simultaneous hermaphrodites: they have both male and female reproductive tissue at the same time. |
 | Loud and low-carb: Cicadas are back in Ohio, West VirginiaThe 17-year cicadas are coming again, millions of them, with their unnerving red eyes, orange wings and cacophonous mating song that can drown out the noise of passing jet planes. |
 | Sugar-free gum can be deadly for dogs(HealthDay)—Here's an alert for all dog lovers: Sugarless chewing gum isn't good for your pooch. In fact, it could be deadly. |
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