Dear Reader ,
Here is your customized Science X Newsletter for May 6, 2016:
Spotlight Stories Headlines
Astronomy & Space news
 | Astronomers spot hard X-ray emissions from a nearby supernova remnant Cassiopeia A(Phys.org)—A nearby young supernova remnant named Cassiopeia A is an excellent candidate for astrophysical observations regarding supernova explosion processes. One of the recent studies focuses on hard X-ray emissions from this source, describing a non-thermal continuum emission for the first time. A paper detailing the findings appeared online on May 2 on the arXiv pre-print server. |
 | SpaceX lands rocket at sea second time after satellite launchFor the second month in a row, the aerospace upstart SpaceX landed a rocket on an ocean platform early Friday, this time following the successful launch of a Japanese communications satellite. |
 | Skygazers prepare for rare Mercury sightingEarthlings will witness Mercury make a rare passage between our planet and the Sun on Monday, appearing as a black dot tracking the surface of the star we share with the solar system's smallest planet. |
 | Bright dusty galaxies are hiding secret companionsA new University of Sussex study has cleared the air on what lies behind hot dust visible in the distant universe. |
 | Galaxy-sized peanuts? Astronomers use new imaging software to detect double 'peanut shell' galaxyAstronomers at Swinburne University of Technology, Melbourne, have discovered an unusually shaped structure in two nearby disc galaxies. The Swinburne team recently developed new imaging software, making it possible to observe the double "peanut shell shape" formed by the distribution of stars bulging from the centres of these galaxies. The results are published in a new paper in Monthly Notices of the Royal Astronomical Society. |
 | First global topographic model of Mercury among MESSENGER's latest delivery to the planetary data systemThe MESSENGER mission has released the first global digital elevation model (DEM) of Mercury, revealing in stunning detail the topography across the entire innermost planet and paving the way for scientists to characterize fully the planet's geologic history. |
Technology news
 | For virtual reality makers, a new version of an old struggleWhen it comes to virtual reality, how exclusive is exclusive? |
 | Tech world eyes digital life beyond the smartphoneThe smartphone revolutionized how people live and work, but the technology world is now struggling to see what comes next. |
 | Teaching computers to understand human languagesResearchers at the University of Liverpool have developed a set of algorithms that will help teach computers to process and understand human languages. |
 | Google and Honeywell turn down Nest thermostat heatAlphabet-owned Google and Honeywell International on Thursday announced a deal to end a patent dispute over technology used in Nest smart thermostats. |
 | Facebook face-tagging in photos targeted in lawsuitA US judge on Thursday rejected a request by Facebook to toss out a civil suit accusing it of violating privacy with face-recognition software to help "tag" people in pictures. |
A parallel Chinese-language Internet helps immigrants navigate life in AmericaWhen Grace Hui moved to Los Angeles from China in 2014 and Googled the Chinese characters for "Los Angeles immigrant," the first result was Chineseinla.com. | |
 | What's Mother's Day if you've been born in a machine and raised by robots?As far-fetched as it may seem today, there are a couple of compelling reasons why some humans may one day be born without either a mother or father as we now know them, and with no other humans around to bring them up. |
 | How jokes and silence speak volumes in protesting dictators, oppressionBefore 1999 when their country finally returned to civil rule, people in Nigeria faced odds similar to those often encountered by citizens in societies living under oppressive regimes. Among other obstacles, they had little to no means to ventilate their grievances. |
 | Augmented reality is changing the landscape of consumer experienceFrom buying red wine to fulfilling customer orders, augmented reality is changing the landscape of the retail experience. |
 | Biocompatible bone replacements using three-dimensional additive manufacturingTitanium alloys are a primary choice for orthopedic devices such as knee and hip implants because they have excellent mechanical attributes and resist infection. An A*STAR team has now found a way to produce customized, patient-specific implants with improved stress absorption using a titanium-tantalum powder with intriguing properties1. |
 | Google is now involved with healthcare data – is that a good thing?Google has some of the most powerful computers and smartest algorithms in the world, has hired some of the best brains in computing, and through its purchase of British firm Deepmind has acquired AI expertise that recently saw an AI beat a human grandmaster at the game of go. Why then would we not want to apply this to potentially solving medical problems – something Google's grandiose, even hyperbolic statements suggest the company wishes to? |
 | Looking to light highways with light-emitting cementIn order to light roads, highways or bicycle lanes without electricity, Ph.D. José Carlos Rubio, from Michoacan's University of San Nicolas Hidalgo, UMSNH in Spanish, created a light-emitting cement that has a lifespan of 100 years. |
 | Personal aircraft aiming to take off from your homeA start-up company hosted in an ESA business incubator is developing the world's first vertical takeoff and landing aircraft for personal use. The electric two-seater will open the door to a new class of simpler, quieter and environmentally friendly planes available from 2018. |
 | Want to build better computer games? Call an architectIf I said I was a licensed architect helping to fight dementia, you'd probably assume I was designing a care home or some similar building. Actually, I've been working alongside neuroscientists, psychologists, doctors and programmers to produce a computer game that could lead to better diagnoses for the condition. |
 | Design tool enables novices to create bendable input devices for computersA software tool developed collaboratively by Disney Research and ETH Zurich makes it possible for non-experts to design and build flexible objects that can sense when they are being deformed and thus be used to control games, provide feedback for toys or otherwise provide input to a computer. |
US attorney: Two Belarusians took in $1.35M from phishing scamTwo men from the Eastern European country of Belarus have been charged with receiving $1.35 million stolen in an international phishing scheme from the bank account of a Pennsylvania oil and gas drilling company, federal authorities in Pittsburgh said Friday. | |
 | Google front page celebrates Sigmund Freud's 160th birthdayGoogle is celebrating Sigmund Freud's 160th birthday with a special doodle. |
 | Marchionne: Self-driving cars could be on roads in 5 yearsFiat Chrysler CEO Sergio Marchionne says working with Google convinced him that self-driving technology is closer than he thought and could be on the road in five years. |
 | Square sinks as Dorsey-led firm's earnings disappointShares in online payments firm Square took a pounding Friday after the group led by Twitter co-founder Jack Dorsey reported earnings that fell short of investor expectations. |
Warner Music says streaming revenue bigger than downloadsIn a further sign that the download era is waning, Warner Music Group says it made more money from streaming platforms than any other single source of recorded music revenue in the latest quarter. | |
Microsoft to address UN on 'digital terror'Microsoft has accepted an invitation from the UN Security Council to address a special debate next week on counter-terrorism and confronting "digital terror", UN diplomats said. | |
An analysis of electric vehicles to optimise the in- and out-of-car experienceAn international research team led by the Universidad Miguel Hernández (UMH) in Elche, Spain, has been working to acquire, pool and develop knowledge on various aspects of electric and hybrid vehicles, such as vehicle dynamics, drivability, and noise, vibration and harshness (NVH). Brought together under the European COST Action TU1105, the aim of the four-year project was to propose and develop new analysis techniques and tools for use at the design stage of electric vehicles in order to address the specific challenges they pose. | |
Air power now weapon of choiceAir power has become the weapon of choice for Western politicians because it causes maximum destruction with the minimum of commitment, according to new research from a University of Exeter academic. | |
Nevada company to pursue purchase of unfinished nukeA Nevada company said it will try to purchase an unfinished nuclear power plant from the Tennessee Valley Authority and use the site in northeast Alabama to produce electricity with new technology. | |
 | Simulation tool uses FinTech quant techniques and big data to guide best health insurance planUsing technologies originally developed to evaluate complex investments and portfolios, a new data-driven simulator is being developed to help individuals and families evaluate health plans and select the health insurance policies most likely to meet their projected needs, with realistic cost estimates under a wide range of potential healthcare outcomes. The simulator's ability to predict usage and costs for a variety of health services—both typical and unexpected—and to be tailored to specific attributes of families, physicians, or other factors, is highlighted in an article in Big Data. |
Medicine & Health news
 | Smartphones uncover how the world sleepsA pioneering study of worldwide sleep patterns combines math modeling, mobile apps and big data to parse the roles society and biology each play in setting sleep schedules. |
 | Mutations in bladder tumor genomes reveal roles of DNA repair and tobacco-related DNA damageOver the last several years, research teams across the world have scoured the genomes of cancer cells in a quest to uncover the genes that drive tumor growth. Meticulous analyses of the many thousands of genetic mutations that can accumulate in each tumor's DNA have brought an increasing number of "driver genes" into view. Now, scientists are also turning their attention to another key question: What are the biological processes that lead to these DNA mutations in the first place? |
 | Point way to human regenerationAny kid who pulls on a lizard tail knows it can drop off to avoid capture, but how they regrow a new tail remains a mystery. Now, researchers at the Translational Genomics Research Institute (TGen) and Arizona State University (ASU) have identified tiny RNA switches, known as microRNAs, which may hold the keys to regenerating muscles, cartilage and spinal columns. |
An algorithm is sped up to predict harmful effects from specific gene mutationsIn 2001, researchers developed a formula, or algorithm, that predicts whether a specific change in a gene sequence can result in harmful effects. While useful, the algorithm was slow; the computations underpinning these predictions used multiple central processing units (CPUs) and a significant amount of time. Now A*STAR researchers have adapted the algorithm to work on a graphical processing unit, a specialized electronic circuit that can process huge amounts of data in parallel. | |
Relationship between genes that make cells deaf to messages from good gut bacteria and OMVs identified(Medical Xpress)—A team of researchers from several instantiations in the U.S. has found a connection between two defective genes in humans and the messages that are sent from a type of good bacteria and Irritable Bowel Syndrone (IBS). In their paper published in the journal Science, the team describes their studies with mice, isolated human cells and a type of bacteria found in the human gut called Bacteroides fragilis. | |
 | Does the moon affect our mood or actions?Always surrounded by an aura of mystery, the moon and its possible influence over human behavior has been object of ancestral fascination and mythical speculation for centuries. While the full moon cannot turn people into werewolves, some people do accuse it of causing a bad night's sleep or creating physical and mental alterations. But is there any science behind these myths? |
 | Gene linked to Alzheimer's disease impairs memory by disrupting brain's 'playback system'Scientists at the Gladstone Institutes have discovered how the major genetic risk factor for Alzheimer's disease causes memory impairment. A specific type of brain activity important for memory replay is disrupted in mice with the E4 version of the apolipoprotein E (apoE4) gene, which may interfere with memory formation. |
 | Zika virus may cause microcephaly by hijacking human immune moleculeThe U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention recently concluded that Zika virus infection in pregnant women can stunt neonatal brain development, leading to babies born with abnormally small heads, a condition known as microcephaly. Now, for the first time, researchers at University of California San Diego School of Medicine have determined one way Zika infection can damage developing brain cells. The study, published May 6, 2016 in Cell Stem Cell, also shows that inhibiting this mechanism reduces brain cell damage, hinting at a new therapeutic approach to mitigating the effects of prenatal Zika virus infection. |
 | Newly developed device may provide rapid diagnosis of bacterial infectionsA team of Massachusetts General Hospital (MGH) investigators has developed a device with the potential of shortening the time required to rapidly diagnose pathogens responsible for health-care-associated infections from a couple of days to a matter of hours. The system described in the journal Science Advances also would allow point-of-care diagnosis, as it does not require the facilities and expertise available only in hospital laboratories. |
 | Scientists put some muscle behind their researchMichigan State University researchers used an old-fashioned neurobiology technique to explore new avenues for treatments to reverse a late-onset neurodegenerative disease that robs men of the capacity to walk, run, chew and swallow. |
 | Team provides proof of principle for safe, targeted delivery of drugs to the placenta during pregnancyMore than 10 percent of pregnant women develop serious complications during pregnancy. The underlying cause is often a poorly functioning placenta, the organ that nourishes and maintains the fetus. |
 | Antibody therapy opens door to potential new treatment for HIVThe development of antiretroviral therapy, a combination of drugs that slows the replication of HIV in the body, has transformed the treatment of this infection. What was once a certain death sentence is now a chronic condition that people can live with for decades. |
Study examines whether compression stockings can prevent post-thrombotic syndromeDeep vein thrombosis occurs when a blood clot forms in a vein, often in the deep veins of the legs, thigh or pelvis. Approximately half of people with this problem will develop post thrombotic syndrome—a condition marked by pain, swelling, redness and chronic sores in the affected legs. | |
 | FDA will require e-cigarettes and contents to be reviewedThe federal government announced sweeping new rules Thursday for electronic cigarettes that will for the first time require the devices and their ingredients to be reviewed, a mandate that could offer protection for consumers and upend a multibillion dollar industry that has gone largely unregulated. |
How often do you go to the doctor? It depends on where you live, study saysThe odds that you've seen a doctor in the last year vary quite a bit depending on where you live - but so far, the way your state has implemented the Affordable Care Act doesn't seem to have much to do with it, government data show. | |
Spain reports first case of Zika-related microcephalySpanish health authorities say they have detected the country's first known case of the microcephaly birth defect in the foetus of a pregnant woman infected with the Zika virus. | |
Pentagon perpetuates stigma of mental health counseling, study saysEven as troop suicides remain at record levels, the Pentagon has failed to persuade servicemembers to seek counseling without fears that they'll damage their careers, a stinging government review concludes. | |
Preterm birth linked to lengthy traffic exposure in HoustonIf the frustration of sitting in traffic wasn't enough, there is now a new reason to hate the gridlock. Researchers at Baylor College of Medicine and Texas Children's Hospital have discovered a possible correlation between preterm birth and vehicle emissions, typically produced as exhaust in heavy traffic commutes. | |
Two-thirds of young swimmers dehydrated, study showsAbout two-thirds of young athletes in a local swim club showed up for morning practice already dehydrated and never caught up with optimal hydration levels throughout the day, according to a study published in the Journal of Strength and Conditioning Research in March. | |
 | Worrying about being a perfect mother makes it harder to be a good parentEven armed with a Ph.D. in developmental psychology, I remember the frightening first moments after bringing my newborn daughter home from the hospital. I wasn't sure what to do – and not at all confident that I was capable of being the parent she needed me to be. Every little decision about feeding and caring for this helpless human seemed momentous and fraught with anxiety. What if I don't make it a full year of breastfeeding? Should I turn off the TV whenever she is in the room to avoid passive screen exposure? Is it OK for her to enter full-time day care at five months? |
Stacking the deck against ovarian cancerNearly 70 percent of ovarian cancer cases are detected after metastasis, which is the development of secondary malignant growths distant from the primary site of cancer. Understanding ovarian cancer metastasis is a research focus of M. Sharon Stack, the Ann F. Dunne & Elizabeth Riley Director of the Harper Cancer Research Institute (HCRI) and Kleiderer-Pezold Professor of Chemistry and Biochemistry at the University of Notre Dame. | |
Good nutrition positively affects social development, research showsProper nutrition during childhood can positively affect a child's social behaviors and development. | |
Workplace mindfulness could benefit individuals and organisationsWhenever you need a break at work, instead of checking your social media account, try this instead: STOP, and by that I mean Stop, Take a breath, Observe and Proceed. Stop whatever you are currently doing. Take a conscious breath, or two, or three. Observe how you are feeling at this very moment: are you feeling tense? Energetic? Tired? Think about your intentions for the next hour or day: what needs to be done? And finally, proceed to connect back with the flow of your day. | |
 | Study into vitamin C's effectiveness in treating intensive care patientsA Christchurch researcher is doing New Zealand's first study of vitamin C's potential as a treatment for intensive care patients with sepsis. |
Researcher looks at why innocent people confessWhy would an innocent person accused of a crime tell investigators he's guilty? Saul Kassin, a psychology professor at the John Jay College of Criminal Justice, has spent decades researching that question, and says the answer resides in the incredible pressures that can mount during police interrogations. | |
 | Virtual environments get through to local drinkersOnline virtual environments are among the latest tools being used by WA health researchers to get through to heavy drinkers about the risks they face. |
 | Study zeroes in on mutation linked to zitsLittle is known about the genetic causes of pimples and other forms of acne that plague most teenagers. In a new study, a team of Yale researchers identified a genetic mutation responsible for the defects that give rise to mild and severe acne. Their finding might point to new targets for acne treatment. |
 | New technology will allow patients to become partners in researchResearchers at the Yale School of Medicine are launching a novel approach to research that engages people as true partners in science. Using an innovative health information technology platform called Hugo, which was developed in partnership with Yale New Haven Health System, people will be able to acquire their health-related data and use it to participate in studies. |
Weight loss surgery boosts good cholesterol in obese teen boysWeight loss surgery boosts the level of HDL "good" cholesterol and also improves its heart-protecting actions in severely obese teens, according to preliminary research presented at the American Heart Association's Arteriosclerosis, Thrombosis and Vascular Biology | Peripheral Vascular Disease 2016 Scientific Sessions. | |
Restoring leg blood flow is better option than exercise for PAD patientsRestoring blood flow to the legs of patients with peripheral artery disease (PAD) may stop the progression of scarring in their leg muscles, according to preliminary research presented at the American Heart Association's Arteriosclerosis, Thrombosis and Vascular Biology / Peripheral Vascular Disease 2016 Scientific Sessions. | |
 | The immune system of mice is implicated in helping malaria to move from the blood to the brainBy studying malaria in mice, three A*STAR researchers have discovered how malaria parasites in the bloodstream can affect the brain, causing a life-threatening condition called cerebral malaria. |
 | Three-dimensional model sheds light into the synergy between cell microenvironment and cancer stem cellsThe fight against deadly forms of brain cancer, such as glioblastoma, could soon benefit from a major breakthrough, thanks to A*STAR researchers. The team has found a new link between cancer cell growth and its microenvironment. |
Large-scale harvesting of rare immune system cells could lead to effective treatments for immunity-related disordersTherapies based on natural immune system cells hold great potential for treating autoimmune diseases and reducing the number of graft rejections. However, harvesting enough cells from healthy donors in their pure, uncontaminated form is a significant challenge. Now, A*STAR researchers have up-scaled a technique to collect large numbers of one particular rare cell type for the first time. | |
 | New drugs using only a computer, the internet and free online dataPharmaceutical companies typically develop new drugs with thousands of staff and budgets that run into the billions of dollars. One estimate puts the cost of bringing a new drug to market at $2.6 billion with others suggesting that it could be double that cost at $5 billion. |
 | The chemistry of salt in the kitchenWhen we say "salt", we usually mean the stuff we sprinkle on our chips, which is sodium chloride (NaCl). But, technically speaking, this is just one example of a salt. |
 | Rhythm on the brain, and why we can't stop dancingMusic and dance are far from idle pastimes. They are universal forms of expression and deeply rewarding activities that fulfil diverse social functions. Both feature in all the world's cultures and throughout history. |
Study shows how atherosclerosis and osteoporosis are linkedPatients with atherosclerosis—the buildup of cholesterol and fat in arteries—are at a higher risk of osteoporosis. A new study published in the American Journal of Physiology—Endocrinology and Metabolism shows how the development of atherosclerosis encourages the loss of bone density. | |
 | Have children? Here's how kids ruin your romantic relationshipLots of women look forward to motherhood – getting to know a tiny baby, raising a growing child, developing a relationship with a maturing son or daughter. All over the world, people believe that parenting is the most rewarding part of life. And it's good that so many mothers treasure that bond with their child, because the transition to parenthood causes profound changes in a woman's marriage and her overall happiness… and not for the better. |
 | National study casts doubt on higher weekend death rate and proposals for seven-day hospital servicesA University of Manchester analysis of all patients across England receiving emergency hospital care has shown that, contrary to popular belief, fewer patients die after being admitted to hospital at the weekend compared to during the week. The death rate following a hospital admission at the weekend is higher only because the number of patients admitted to hospital at the weekend is lower. |
 | Research uncovers key genes linked to different symptoms of schizophreniaNew research from a team of psychologists including University of Dayton assistant professor Julie Walsh-Messinger has uncovered key genes linked to different symptoms of schizophrenia—a discovery that could lead to better, more precise treatments for individuals. |
 | Study finds catheter ablation is a better treatment for recurrent ventricular tachycardiaA Halifax-led clinical trial shows that catheter ablation is a better treatment for recurrent ventricular tachycardia (VT) than increased drug therapy. The international study was published today in the New England Journal of Medicine. |
 | In loud rooms our brains 'hear' in a different way – new findingsWhen we talk face to face, we exchange many more signals than just words. We communicate using our body posture, facial expressions and head and eye movements; but also through the rhythms that are produced when someone is speaking. A good example is the rate at which we produce syllables in continuous speech – about three to seven times per second. In a conversation, a listener tunes in to this rhythm and uses it to predict the timing of the syllables that the speaker will use next. This makes it easier for them to follow what is being said. |
 | U.S. biotech companies will attempt to regenerate the brains of dead peopleTwo biotech companies in the United States have been given the green light to see if it is possible to regenerate the brains of dead people. |
 | Breastfeeding is good for yet another reason, researchers discoverA mother's breast milk supports immune responses in her newborn that help the infant's gut become a healthy home to a mix of bacterial species, thanks in part to newly identified antibodies from the mother, according to a study by UC Berkeley researchers. |
Mothers' excess pregnancy weight gain, elevated blood sugar 'imprint' obesity in childrenChildren whose mothers gain excess weight or have elevated blood sugar during their pregnancies are more likely to become overweight or obese during their first decade of life, according to a new Kaiser Permanente study published today in Maternal and Child Health Journal. | |
Blood analyses may predict risk of delirium in older surgical patientsDelirium, or sudden severe confusion due to rapid changes in brain function that can occur with physical or mental illness, affects 15% to 53% of older surgical patients. New research led by investigators at Beth Israel Deaconess Medical Center (BIDMC) may now help clinicians assess an individual patient's risk of developing post-operative delirium, enabling preventive measures to safeguard their health. Published online today in the journal Biological Psychiatry, the research also provides insights into the potential mechanisms involved in the development of delirium, which could lead to new therapeutic strategies. | |
Study finds moderate sedation more effective than general anesthesia for TAVR patientsA new study finds the use of moderate sedation, in which patients do not need a breathing tube, leads to better clinical outcomes as compared to general anesthesia for patients undergoing transcatheter aortic valve replacement (TAVR). Researchers from the Perelman school of Medicine at the University of Pennsylvania conducted the largest observational study of minimally invasive transfemoral—entry through the groin—TAVR to find whether the use of moderate sedation is associated with improved patient outcomes, specifically evaluating 30-day mortality and length of hospital stays, as compared to traditional general anesthesia. Their findings were presented today as a late-breaking clinical trial at the Society for Cardiovascular Angiography and Interventions 2016 Scientific Sessions in Orlando, FL. | |
 | New treatment for children with ARDSAcute Respiratory Distress Syndrome (ARDS) affects hundreds of thousands of people each year, many of them children. Those with this life threatening condition have severely injured and wet lungs, and are treated with mechanical ventilation. Now, a study led by Professor Kanwaljeet Anand published in Frontiers in Pediatrics, investigates the effects of a new steroid treatment on children suffering from ARDS. |
 | Walking fido is doggone good for your health(HealthDay)—Walking the dog may be a health boon for older Americans, new research suggests. |
 | Harsh parenting may harm a child's physical health(HealthDay)—Harsh parenting may leave more than psychological scars, it might also leave lasting physical problems—such as obesity—even into young adulthood, new research suggests. |
PAD patients on statins may have lower amputation, death riskPeople who have peripheral artery disease (PAD) and take cholesterol-lowering drugs called statins have a lower risk of amputation and death than PAD patients who don't take statins. And the higher the dose of statins, the lower the risks, according to research presented at the American Heart Association's Arteriosclerosis, Thrombosis and Vascular Biology, Peripheral Vascular Disease 2016 Scientific Sessions. | |
 | Survey: Severe stroke prognoses differ depending on the doctorA physician has to make many quick decisions when confronted with a stroke patient. |
When apples are the default side-dish, children still choose friesThere has been a lot of enthusiasm for nudging individuals to eat better without restricting choice by making healthy foods more visible, attractive, and convenient. One such effort is for restaurants to serve meals with a default healthy side, such as sliced apples instead of fries, while still allowing the customer to opt out of the healthy side in favor of their preferred side dish. While this strategy has proven to work well with adults in certain settings, researchers Brian Wansink, PhD, and David Just from the Cornell Food and Brand Lab tested out this strategy with young children to see if they would opt out of the healthy option. | |
Drug-like peptides show promise in treating two blood diseasesNew research suggests that synthetic peptides called minihepcidins may potentially treat two serious genetic blood diseases in children and adults. Although those diseases, beta-thalassemia and polycythemia vera, have opposite effects on red blood cell production, treating animals with minihepcidin helps to restore normal levels of red blood cells and reduces spleen enlargement. It also controls the accumulation of excess levels of iron in beta-thalassemia that often causes severe toxic effects. | |
 | A new paper-based test for the Zika virusA new paper-based test developed at MIT and other institutions can diagnose Zika virus infection within a few hours. The test, which distinguishes Zika from the very similar dengue virus, can be stored at room temperature and read with a simple electronic reader, making it potentially practical for widespread use. |
 | Clinicians need to screen 'nicotine naive' teenagers for vaping, says addictions expertDuring a checkup, physicians and nurses often ask about drinking habits, safe sex practice or cigarette use. Vaping is rarely mentioned. |
Researcher calls for changes to increase access to life-saving colorectal cancer screeningColorectal cancer is the second highest cause of cancer death in the United States, expected to claim the lives of an estimated 49,190 people in 2016. The Affordable Care Act (ACA) aimed to increase access to CRC screening by not holding patients responsible for all costs of the procedure, yet current Medicare insurance beneficiaries lacking supplemental insurance may not be able to afford colon cancer screening and treatment. This policy disproportionally puts low-income Americans at risk and adds unnecessary strains on overall health care costs, according to a commentary in the May issue of the journal Gastroenterology. | |
Blood thinners on 'as needed' basis is safe and effective for lowering stroke risk as compared to long-term usePatients with atrial fibrillation (AF), a rapid irregular heartbeat caused by pooling blood in the heart which can lead to heart failure and stroke, are often treated with an ablation, a minimally invasive procedure used to remove the tissue which causes the pooled blood. Following this procedure, patients are often prescribed long-term, daily oral anticoagulation medications—also known as blood thinners. However, a new study shows the use of novel anticoagulants for AF prescribed on an "as-needed basis" guided by diligent pulse monitoring, can be a safe and effective alternative to lowering overall risk of stroke. Researchers from the Perelman School of Medicine at the University of Pennsylvania presented their findings today at the Heart Rhythm Society's 37th Annual Scientific Session in San Francisco. | |
Study of elite paralympic athletes supports benefits of exercise for children with cerebral palsyFor highly trained Paralympic athletes with cerebral palsy (CP), bone mineral density and other measures of body composition are similar to those of able-bodied adults of similar age, reports a study in the American Journal of Physical Medicine & Rehabilitation. | |
 | Preventing asthma in children: UA researchers are one step closerEfforts to improve the health of children at increased risk for asthma will receive a major boost with the launch of a new University of Arizona Health Sciences-led, federally funded national clinical study. For Fernando D. Martinez, MD, and his colleagues at the UA Asthma and Airway Disease Research Center, this study follows 30 years of research to prevent and cure this chronic disease. |
Hypertrophic cardiomyopathy may not cause symptoms until later in lifeDear Mayo Clinic: My dad was diagnosed with hypertrophic cardiomyopathy at age 52. He has been on medication for a few months, but doctors said he likely will need surgery, even though his symptoms are very mild. Is surgery always necessary for people with hypertrophic cardiomyopathy? Should my siblings and I be tested for the condition? | |
Hospital discharge: It's one of the most dangerous periods for patientsWithin two weeks of Joyce Oyler's discharge from the hospital, sores developed in her mouth and throat, and blood began seeping from her nose and bowels. | |
 | Pakistan treating 2 brothers who become paralyzed each nightThe two brothers have come to be known as the "solar kids" and their case has completely mystified Pakistani doctors. |
 | Ten-year-old finds relief from rare eyelash growthA rare hereditary disease with which a second row of eyelashes grows toward the eye has affected 10-year-old, Sam Peppers since he was an infant. |
Young women at greater risk for adverse outcomes following PCIWomen younger than 55 years of age who undergo percutaneous coronary intervention (PCI) for acute coronary syndrome (ACS) are more likely to experience one-year adverse cardiovascular events due to risk factors such as diabetes and chronic kidney disease, yet they are less likely to receive potent antiplatelet therapy than men. The PROMETHEUS study found that outcomes for both men and women post-PCI are dependent on their baseline risk factors, not their sex. The results were presented today as a late-breaking clinical trial at the Society for Cardiovascular Angiography and Interventions (SCAI) 2016 Scientific Sessions in Orlando, Fla. | |
DMP 'rheumatoid arthritis': Guidelines cover important health care aspectsOn 28 April 2016 the German Institute for Quality and Efficiency in Health Care (IQWiG) published the results of a search for evidence-based guidelines on the treatment of people with rheumatoid arthritis. The aim of the report is to identify those recommendations from current guidelines of high methodological quality that may be relevant for a potential new disease management programme (DMP) "rheumatoid arthritis". According to the results of the report the recommendations cover nearly all important health care aspects; however, rehabilitation measures are only addressed sporadically. The focus of the recommendations is on drug therapy. | |
Women undergoing TAVR have a different risk profile and greater survival rate than menData from one of the largest national registries of transcatheter aortic valve replacement (TAVR) patients shows that although women are more likely to experience vascular complications in the hospital, their one-year survival rate is more favorable than men. This STS/ACC TVT Registry analysis was presented today as a late-breaking clinical trial at the Society for Cardiovascular Angiography and Interventions (SCAI) 2016 Scientific Sessions in Orlando, Fla. | |
Anticoagulation medications show no gender-based variations in outcomes for TAVR patientsA study on the impact of using different anticoagulation medications on men and women who have undergone a transcatheter aortic valve replacement (TAVR) found no difference in early vascular complications or mortality. The BRAVO 3 results were presented today as a late-breaking clinical trial at the Society for Cardiovascular Angiography and Interventions (SCAI) 2016 Scientific Sessions in Orlando, Fla. | |
Testosterone undecanoate improves sexual function in men with type 2 diabetesIn a recent placebo-controlled study, long acting testosterone undecanoate (an ester of testosterone) improved erectile function, intercourse satisfaction, and sexual desire scores in type 2 diabetic men with severe hypogonadism, a condition in which the body doesn't produce enough testosterone. | |
Surgeries for gastro-esophageal reflux disease have declined in recent yearsResearchers have found that the rates of surgical operations for gastro-esophageal reflux disease (GERD) in the United States have fallen rapidly in recent years, from 0.062 percent in 2009 to 0.047 percent in 2013. The numbers of overweight and obese patients having this surgery have increased, however. Also, women are more likely than men to have surgery for GERD. | |
Agency: Bars can't ban pregnant women or refuse them drinksPregnant women can't be kept out of New York City bars or refused alcoholic drinks just because they're expecting, under new city guidelines. | |
UN establishes a trust fund to help combat the Zika virusSecretary-General Ban Ki-moon has established a U.N. trust fund to help finance urgent priorities in combatting the Zika virus. | |
 | Why 'sharks get cancer, mole rats don't'A provocative new book by Loyola Medicine radiation oncologist James S. Welsh, MD, Sharks Get Cancer, Mole Rats Don't: How Animals Could Hold the Key to Unlocking Cancer Immunity in Humans, explores how animals can help us understand how the immune system can be used to fight cancer. |
Quantum chemical computations provide insight into liver toxicityBalasubramanian and Basak have recently reported quantum chemical computations that enhance our understanding of mechanisms for the causes of liver toxicity. | |
 | What can we learn from zebrafish about human blood disorders?Genetic regulation of the various types of blood cells in zebrafish and humans is highly similar, making it relatively easy and cost-effective to perform genetic, chemical, imaging and other molecular studies on this invaluable model organism to study normal hematopoetic development in humans as well as blood disorders and malignancies, as described in a Review article in Human Gene Therapy. |
Biology news
'Super males' emerge from male-dominated populations, study findsMales who evolve in male-dominated populations become far better at securing females than those who grow up in monogamous populations, according to new research into the behaviour of fruit flies at the University of Sheffield. | |
 | CRISPR/Cas9 used to mimic mitotic recombination to help map out genes(Phys.org)—A small team of researchers with the University of California has developed a way to use CRISPR/Cas9 to mimic mitotic recombination in yeast cells leading to a new way to map out genes and by doing so, determine their functions. In their paper published in the journal Science, Meru Sadhu, Joshua Bloom, Laura Day and Leonid Kruglyak describe how they developed the technique, how they tested it and how the technique may be used going forward. |
 | Deadly snakes or just pretending? The evolution of mimicryFor more than a century, brightly banded and sometimes deadly coral snakes have been held up as textbook examples of a mimicry system shaped by evolution, in which a harmless species deters predators by imitating a harmful one. |
 | Lele flagella motor research develops novel insights in cellular mechanicsDr. Pushkar Lele, assistant professor in the Artie McFerrin Department of Chemical Engineering at Texas A&M University, is developing novel insights in cellular mechanics with bacteria to aid in the design of superior biomedical implants capable of resisting colonization by infectious bugs. Lele's group also focuses on unraveling the fundamental principles underlying interactions in biological soft-matter to build bio-nanotechnology-based molecular machines. Lele's lab currently focuses on a unique electric rotary device found in bacteria—the flagellar motor. |
 | Scientists are first to discover sensory system that detects air humidityHumidity can make us feel miserable—think of sultry summer days in Chicago, for example—but humans do not have dedicated sensory systems in the skin to detect water vapor in the air. Most insects, for whom humidity levels can mean life or death, do have such systems, but little has been known about how they work. |
A few modifications in the genome turn a fungal plant pathogen into a potentially beneficial organismBecause of their sedentary life, plants have to make the most of their surroundings. To do so, they take advantage of hitherto unknown molecular mechanisms to determine what benefits them and what harms them. They also grant microorganisms access to their roots in exchange for essential nutrients in the soil. The soil fungus Colletotrichum tofieldiae serves the model plant Arabidopsis as such a subtenant when required. The plant accepts the fungus as a phosphate supplier in situations where it has no access to those minerals itself, but rejects the fungus if it is able to tap phosphate supplies on its own. Thus, the plant very accurately weighs the demands of its environment to which it must respond. In the process, the plant's immune system plays a key role. Stéphane Hacquard, Paul Schulze-Lefert and Richard O'Connell of the Max Planck Institute for Plant Breeding Research in Cologne are addressing the question of what changes are responsible for ensuring that Colletotrichum tofieldiae no longer has to contend with the full brunt of the plant's immune system under certain conditions. They have found that just a few changes in the genome are sufficient to turn a pathogen into a partner. | |
 | Sonic net could save birds and aircraft, study suggestsIntroducing a noise net around airfields that emits sound levels equivalent to those of a conversation in a busy restaurant could prevent collisions between birds and aircraft, saving passenger lives and billions in damages, new research has found. |
 | How did birds get their wings? Bacteria may provide a clue, say scientistsHow did birds get their wings? Bacteria may provide a clue, say scientists |
 | Finding Zika one paper disc at a timeAn international, multi-institutional team of researchers led by synthetic biologist James Collins, Ph.D. at the Wyss Institute for Biologically Inspired Engineering at Harvard University, has developed a low-cost, rapid paper-based diagnostic system for strain-specific detection of the Zika virus, with the goal that it could soon be used in the field to screen blood, urine, or saliva samples. |
 | In scientific first, researchers visualize proteins being bornFor the first time, scientists at Albert Einstein College of Medicine have developed a technology allowing them to "see" single molecules of messenger RNA as they are translated into proteins in living mammalian cells. Initial findings using this technology that may shed light on neurological diseases as well as cancer were published online today in Science. |
 | Cayman Islands to deploy genetically modified mosquitoesBritish biotech company Oxitec and the Cayman Islands government announced plans Thursday to release millions of genetically modified mosquitoes in the fight against a species that spreads Zika and other diseases. |
As shrubs expanded into a warming Arctic, moose followedShrubs expanding northward into a warming Arctic - and growing taller as they did - paved the way for moose to expand their range northward too. | |
 | Miami cold spell has chilling effect on tropical beesA rare cold spell in Miami, that saw temperatures dip as low as 35 degrees, had damaging effects on tropical bees in South Florida. |
Laser tool effective at identifying mutant listeria bacteriaA Purdue University-developed laser tool already effective in quickly detecting harmful bacteria has been shown to detect mutant varieties of listeria - and in the same amount of time. | |
 | Chinese bug declared world's longest insectA bug over half a metre long discovered in southern China has been declared the world's longest insect, Chinese state media says. |
 | Pregnancy—cooperative paradise or conflict-driven battle between mother and child?Pregnancy sounds like the ultimate form of animal cooperation – mothers share their own bodies to grow and support their children's prenatal development. But in reality, embryos use every trick in the book to take more than their fair share. Mothers, in turn, marshal their best defensive tactics. |
 | Swift parrot critically endangeredThe Australian Government has listed the iconic Tasmanian swift parrot as critically endangered, lifting its status from endangered, following research by The Australian National University (ANU). |
 | Deadly fungus threatens African frogsMisty mountains, glistening forests and blue-green lakes make Cameroon, the wettest part of Africa, a tropical wonderland for amphibians. |
 | Saharan Addax antelope faces 'imminent extinction'The Saharan Addax antelope has been pushed to the brink of extinction by poaching and loss of habitat to the oil industry, the international organisation that tracks threatened species said Friday. |
 | Penguin that wore a wetsuit and starred in kid's book diesA San Francisco penguin that once sported a wetsuit after losing his feathers and who starred in a children's book has died at the age of 33, officials said this week. |
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