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Here is your customized Science X Newsletter for June 1, 2016:
Spotlight Stories Headlines
Astronomy & Space news
 | Dozens of new variable stars found in a dense globular cluster(Phys.org)—Located some 87,000 light years away, a dense globular cluster named Messier 54 (also known as NGC 6715) is a real gold mine for astronomers. Recently, an international team has discovered dozens of new variable stars in this cluster, improving the stellar census of Messier 54. The findings were presented in a paper published online on May 23 on the arXiv pre-print server. |
 | Study shows how comets break up, make upFor some comets, breaking up is not that hard to do. A new study led by Purdue University and the University of Colorado Boulder indicates the bodies of some periodic comets - objects that orbit the sun in less than 200 years - may regularly split in two, then reunite down the road. |
 | Team finds convection could produce Pluto's polygonsOn Pluto, icebergs floating in a sea of nitrogen ice are key to a possible explanation of the quilted appearance of the Sputnik Planum region of the dwarf planet's surface. |
 | Study reveals the galaxy is under pressure to make starsA new study led by Canadian astronomers provides unprecedented insights into the birth of stars. Using observations from the Green Bank Telescope in West Virginia and the Hawaii-based James Clerk Maxwell Telescope in the United States, astronomers from the National Research Council of Canada (NRC) have discovered that star formation is more regulated by pressure from their surroundings than previously thought. |
 | Blowing bubbles in the Milky Way's magnetic fieldAn international team of astronomers has discovered a possible connection between the magnetic fields of supernova remnants and that of our own Milky Way Galaxy. The study, recently published in the journal Astronomy & Astrophysics, found that the orientation of supernova remnants can help astronomers understand the nature and shape of the magnetic field of the Milky Way Galaxy itself. |
 | Image: The transits of ISS and Mercury captured simultaneouslyOn 9 May Mercury passed in front of the Sun as seen from Earth. These transits of Mercury occur only around 13 times every century, so astronomers all over Earth were eager to capture the event. |
 | Satellite communication of the futureIn disasters, rescuers usually communicate via satellite if phone and mobile telecommunication is out. But that has drawbacks: Once the data lines are overloaded, the connection disconnects. In addition, there barely are systems available yet for moving vehicles. Fraunhofer researchers have developed a new antenna system which reliably transmits data via satellite with a high-bandwidth and which is suitable for mobile use. |
 | Asteroids most likely delivered water to the moon – here's how we cracked itOne of the moon's greatest mysteries has long been whether it has any water. During the Apollo era in 1960s and 70s, scientists were convinced it was dry and dusty – estimating there was less than one part in a billion water. However, over the last decade, analyses of lunar samples have revealed that there is a considerable amount of water inside the moon – up to several hundred parts per million – and that it's been there since the satellite was very young. |
 | Orbital ATK conducts test of Antares first stageOrbital ATK conducted a full-power test of the upgraded first stage propulsion system of its Antares medium-class rocket using new RD-181 main engines. The 30-second test took place at 5:30 p.m. (EDT) on May 31, 2016 at Virginia Space's Mid-Atlantic Regional Spaceport (MARS) Pad 0A. |
 | Mapping that sinking feelingFor a low-lying, densely populated country like the Netherlands, monitoring subsidence is critical. Until recently, tiny displacements in the ground beneath our feet couldn't be mapped nationally but, thanks to the Sentinel-1 mission, this is now possible. |
 | Elliptical galaxies not formed by mergingUsing an "intuitive" approach, a SISSA study confirms a recent hypothesis on the formation of galaxies, according to which the larger elliptical galaxies formed in very ancient times through a process of local (in situ) star formation. This contradicts the current paradigm that they formed through the merging of spiral galaxies, a view which, despite being generally accepted by most of the scientific community, has been a source of theoretical inconsistencies. The study has been published in The Astrophysical Journal. |
Technology news
 | Actuators inspired by muscleTo make robots more cooperative and have them perform tasks in close proximity to humans, they must be softer and safer. A new actuator developed by a team led by George Whitesides, Ph.D. - who is a Core Faculty member at Harvard's Wyss Institute for Biologically Inspired Engineering and the Woodford L. and Ann A. Flowers University Professor of Chemistry and Chemical Biology in Harvard University's Faculty of Arts and Sciences (FAS) - generates movements similar to those of skeletal muscles using vacuum power to automate soft, rubber beams. |
 | Renewable energy sources grew at record pace in 2015: studyDeveloping countries spent more on renewable power than rich ones for the first time last year, driving the fastest increase in sources of green energy on record, a study said Wednesday. |
 | Microsoft wants Windows to open into mixed realityMicrosoft is out to use Windows software to do for altered reality what it did for personal computers: make them commonplace. |
 | Coding tidings: BBC micro:bit set to increase audience(Tech Xplore)—In Tuesday's news: The BBC micro:bit, the little pocket sized computer that was originally designed to get UK children coding, is going commercial and selling via pre-sale signups. |
 | New devices, wearable system aim to predict, prevent asthma attacksResearchers have developed an integrated, wearable system that monitors a user's environment, heart rate and other physical attributes with the goal of predicting and preventing asthma attacks. The researchers plan to begin testing the system on a larger subject population this summer. |
 | Software turns webcams into eye-trackersNew software created by Brown University computer scientists could help website owners and developers easily determine what parts of a page are grabbing a user's eye. |
Tesla says software update will fix Model X doorsTesla Motors said Tuesday that two upcoming software updates should fix persistent glitches with the futuristic rear doors on its Model X SUV. | |
 | Futuristic Dubai office showcases 3-D printing's potentialThere are office printers that spit out documents and others that always seem to jam. And then there those that make the office itself. |
 | China smartphone maker Xiaomi buys Microsoft patentsUpstart smartphone maker Xiaomi has bought nearly 1,500 patents from US technology giant Microsoft, the companies and reports said, as part of a "global partnership" that will help the Chinese firm expand outside its home market. |
 | Sorting black plastics according to type enables previously impossible recyclingRecycling black plastics, such as those found in car instrument panels, used to be impossible because their absorption properties made them simply invisible to typical analysis systems. But Fraunhofer researchers have developed a new technology that can sort black plastics according to type – and at affordable prices. |
 | Better forecasting for solar and wind power generationThe sun does not shine and the wind does not blow with constant intensity. This is a problem for the power grid, where the power supply must always match the power demand. In the EWeLiNE project, Fraunhofer and the German Weather Service have been working to develop better models for forecasting the generation of renewable electricity. Now they have launched a platform for transmission system operators to test the new models live. |
 | A new dimension in analyzing metal structuresA new software program reduces the time needed to identify weak points in large structures like cranes, bridges and mining equipment from several days to several minutes. The program, which was developed by Akselos, a company based at EPFL's Innovation Park, combines 1D and 3D elements and is more reliable than the conventional method. |
 | Going electric adds up to a good idea for NYC busesNew York City Transit is considering adding electric buses to its fleet. The purchase price of electric buses is higher than for diesel buses-, but using them would reduce harmful emissions. So is this a good idea? |
 | Nanomaterials can help make windows more efficientA team of researchers at the U.S. Department of Energy's (DOE's) Argonne National Laboratory is using nanomaterials to improve the energy efficiency of existing single-pane windows in commercial and residential buildings. The team was recently awarded a $3.1 million grant from DOE's Advanced Research Projects Agency-Energy (ARPA-E) to develop a technology that could help achieve that goal. The nanofoam the team is developing—known as a nanocellular composite with superthermal insulation and soundproofing—uses gas bubbles less than 100 nanometers in diameter to block the transfer of heat and sound through glass windows while allowing visible light to pass through and maintain a clarity similar to normal windows. |
 | Is photoshopping science universally wrong?"Photoshop should be banned from every scientific research institution". |
 | Salesforce buys cloud rival Demandware for $2.8 bnUS cloud computing giant Salesforce said Wednesday it was buying rival Demandware for $2.8 billion in a move that expands its offerings to the retail sector. |
 | Smartphone growth slows to a trickle in 2016: surveyThe global smartphone market is sputtering in 2016, with Apple likely to see its first "down" year for the iPhone, a research report said Wednesday. |
 | Googling yourself now leads to personal privacy controlsSoon, all you'll need to do is Google yourself if you're wondering how deeply Google has been digging into your digital life. |
 | Amazon's Jeff Bezos: 'Golden era' of technology is comingAmazon founder Jeff Bezos (BAY'-zohs) says when it comes to technology, "We're on the edge of the golden era." |
 | Radar, bed sensors help health providers detect problems earlyDeveloping and evaluating motion-capture technology to help older adults "age in place" has been the focus of researchers at the University of Missouri for more than a decade. Previous research has utilized video game technology and various web-cameras to detect health changes in Tiger Place residents. Now, two new studies demonstrate how monitoring walking speed using radar and heart health by utilizing bed sensors help maintain older adults' health and warn of impeding issues. |
 | Swiss inaugurate $12 billion rail tunnel, world's longestJust like Hannibal in ancient times, Swiss engineers have conquered the Alps. |
 | Safety, technology upgraded in 2016 Ford Focus hatchbackFord's jack-of-all-trades Focus hatchback has been upgraded for 2016 with a racy RS model, new safety features and a more responsive voice-recognition system for making phone calls and sending texts. |
FBI seeks to exempt biometrics database from Privacy ActCivil liberties groups are criticizing an FBI proposal that they say would make it harder for people to know if personal information about them such as fingerprints and iris scans is on file. | |
 | Zuckerberg streams live chat with men in spaceFacebook chief Mark Zuckerberg took the leading social network on a new journey Wednesday, with a live-streamed chat with astronauts on the International Space Station. |
 | Uber raises $3.5 billion from Saudi investment fundUber announced Wednesday it raised $3.5 billion from the Public Investment Fund of Saudi Arabia to help fuel global expansion plans for the ride-sharing giant. |
 | How an animation studio uses 3D printingThe features of 3D printing are significant for the movie industry. The US animation studio LAIKA, relies on using the cutting edge software and 3D printing hardware to make its films. A new collaboration with Fraunhofer and Stratasys now adds the ability to print thousands of precise colors and subtle gradients in plastic, achieving color accuracy unseen in the past. |
 | Just why does Tribune want to stay independent, anyway?The newspaper business is shrinking fast. Print ad revenues keep falling, and cost-cutting is the mantra of the day. So why is Tribune Publishing fighting so hard to avoid the embrace of USA Today owner Gannett? |
Medicine & Health news
 | How fear makes us freezeAndreas Lüthi and his group at the Friedrich Miescher Institute for Biomedical Research (FMI) have identified and characterized the neuronal circuitry in the brain, which controls defensive behavior in threatening situations. In a study published in Nature, they show which neurons trigger fear-related freezing and how the freezing pathway interacts with pathways responsible for flight. |
 | Long-term memory test could aid earlier Alzheimer's diagnosisPeople with Alzheimer's disease could benefit from earlier diagnosis if a long-term memory test combined with a brain scan were carried out, a study suggests. |
 | Scientists discover and test new class of pain relieversA research team at Duke University has discovered a potential new class of small-molecule drugs that simultaneously block two sought-after targets in the treatment of pain. |
 | Stress receptor found to regulate metabolic responses to stressful situations differently in male and female miceIn the face of stress, our body diverts metabolic resources to its emergency response. It has been thought that the sympathetic nervous system - the body's instinctive system for reacting to stress - directs this activity, but Weizmann Institute of Science research now shows that neurons in the brain have a surprising role to play. The findings, which recently appeared in Cell Metabolism, may, in the future aid in developing better drugs for such stress-related pathologies as eating disorders. |
 | Women find men more masculine when wearing deodorantNew research by the University of Stirling has found that men who are perceived low in masculinity can significantly increase this by applying deodorant, but that this is not the case for men who already have high levels of masculinity. |
 | First gene mutation explaining development of multiple sclerosis foundAlthough multiple sclerosis (MS) is known to run in certain families, attempts to find genes linked to the disease have been elusive. Now for the first time researchers are reporting a gene mutation that can be connected directly to the development of the disease. The results appear June 1 in Neuron. |
 | Scientists trick body's viral response to combat cancerGerman researchers on Wednesday presented a Trojan horse method of attacking cancer, sneaking virus impersonators into the human body to unleash an anti-tumour immune offensive. |
 | New measurement technique shows link between T-cells and agingResearchers in the Cockrell School of Engineering at The University of Texas at Austin have discovered a correlation between aging and the effectiveness of T-cells, a type of immune cell programmed to fight or kill a threat. The researchers found that older people have T-cells that are less effective at fending off the hepatitis C virus (HCV). |
 | Genetic approach could help identify side-effects at early stages of drug developmentAn approach that could reduce the chances of drugs failing during the later stages of clinical trials has been demonstrated by a collaboration between the University of Cambridge and pharmaceutical company GlaxoSmithKline (GSK). |
 | Flu-like symptoms in pregnant woman could affect babyBabies born to mothers whose immune systems had to grapple with a viral assault—even a mild one—have increased risk of brain and central nervous system abnormalities, according to a new study. |
 | Brain cancer treatment shows promise in early trial(HealthDay)—An experimental viral treatment may extend the lives of patients with a hard-to-treat brain cancer, researchers say. |
ADHD medication linked to slightly increased risk of heart rhythm problemsUse of methylphenidate in children and young people with ADHD is associated with a slightly increased risk of abnormal heart rhythm (arrhythmia) shortly after the start of treatment, suggests research published by The BMJ today. | |
Study finds evidence of racial and class discrimination among psychotherapistsA new study suggests that psychotherapists discriminate against prospective patients who are black or working class. | |
 | Report reveals top driving distractions for teens as '100 Deadliest Days' beginOver the past five years, more than 5,000 people have been killed in crashes involving teen drivers during the "100 Deadliest Days," the period starting at Memorial Day when teen crash deaths historically climb. As the summer driving season begins, the AAA Foundation for Traffic Safety is releasing a follow-up study confirming that nearly 60 percent of teen crashes involve distractions behind the wheel. The research also finds a disturbing trend showing that texting and social media use are on the rise amongst teen drivers. |
 | US to establish lab network for combating 'superbugs'US authorities said Tuesday they are establishing a network of labs that can respond quickly to antibiotic-resistant "superbugs," following America's first human case of a dangerous strain of E. coli. |
 | Changes in dieters' social networks may undermine weight-loss effortsEfforts to lose weight may be unsuccessful because of an important mismatch between the social contacts created by individuals desiring to lose weight, and the factors that are actually beneficial for achieving weight loss goals, according to a Yale study. |
 | A urine test to diagnose preeclampsiaA team of scientists from the Moscow Institute of Physics and Technology and partners have developed a method of non-invasive testing for pregnant women with preeclampsia by detecting potential biomarkers in the urine of pregnant women. In the future, this urine-based diagnostic method could enable specialists to detect the disease in its early stages. A paper detailing the results has been published in the Journal of Proteomics. |
Folic acid during pregnancy could help to prevent autism caused by antiepileptic drugsIf pregnant women take antiepileptic drugs, the child can develop autistic traits. The administration of folic acid preparations appears to be a suitable means of preventing this serious side-effect. This finding is suggested by a Norwegian study presented at the Congress of the European Academy of Neurology in Copenhagen. | |
 | Rush of wild nature lowers PTSD in veterans, at-risk teensWhen Jet Garner socializes with fellow combat veterans who are studying at UC Berkeley, the conversation often turns to battlefield memories he'd rather forget. |
 | Low-income, rural mothers express need for family time outdoorsLow-income mothers in rural communities say participating in outdoor activities as a family is a primary need for their physical and emotional well-being. But a new paper co-authored by Iowa State University's Kimberly Greder and published in the Journal of Leisure Research demonstrates many of these families aren't getting time together. |
 | Persons with diabetes face financial stress, often sacrifice health care and foodSome of the current fixes aimed at reducing the financial burden of chronic illness—including the ability to enroll in a health care plan under the Affordable Care Act—are not enough to save those with diabetes from the stress of having to figure out how to manage their health and put food on the table. |
 | Empowering pediatric pain medicineCanada stands at the verge of a new standard of pediatric pain management, thanks to the dedicated leadership of Samina Ali. Over the last few years, she has been making headlines for leading several research projects revealing that Canada's children are consistently undertreated for pain in emergency departments across the country, with lack of policies and self-reported knowledge gaps identified as leading causes. |
 | Five things you may not know about smoking, explained by an expertMay 31 is World No-Tobacco day. Dr. Barry Finegan, a professor from the FoMD's Department of Anesthesiology & Pain Medicine and a leading expert in research on smoking cessation, tells us some facts about smoking that everyone should know. |
 | FDA approves 'game changer' immunotherapy drug for bladder cancerA new immunotherapy drug, atezolizumab, has been approved for patients with metastatic urothelial carcinoma, a type of bladder cancer. The drug represents the first new treatment for this form of the disease in more than 20 years and is expected to have a major impact on bladder cancer—the fifth most common form of cancer and the fourth most common in men. Its benefit appears to be lasting in some patients. |
 | Scientists assess hydration potential of different drinksScientists at the universities of Stirling, Loughborough and Bangor are calling for the creation of a beverage hydration index to help people understand how different drinks can keep you hydrated. |
Endocrine disrupters accelerate reproductive aging in ratsFemale rats exposed to endocrine disrupters during early development end up with fewer eggs in their ovaries and are at risk of losing their ability to reproduce at an earlier age. These are some of the findings from a study conducted at the National Food Institute, Technical University of Denmark, which has increased our knowledge of how endocrine disrupting chemicals affect the female reproductive system. The results give rise to concern that endocrine disrupters may also affect egg reserves in women and cause earlier menopause. | |
 | Why cancer is so hard to beatA new study published in Biotechnology & Biotechnological Equipment may have identified one of the key reasons why cancer is so hard to beat; it's an evolutionary mechanism to protect the survival of life on Earth. As authors Rumena Petkova and Stoyan Chakarov explain, our bodies are usually very efficient at identifying and repairing damaged DNA through a series of 'checkpoints.' When the damage cannot be repaired, the cell usually dies in a process called apoptosis. But when that doesn't happen, cancer can result as a last-ditch 'checkpoint' to remove defective cells, the mutations that caused the damage and their DNA from the gene pool. |
 | Helping African-American young adults cope with the consequences of discriminationBe proud of being Black, take care of your mental health, and find constructive ways to confront institutional racism. That's the advice that a team of psychology researchers has for young African-American adults who are dealing with the consequences of racial discrimination – and tips they want to share with psychologists, counselors and health care professionals who work with young African-Americans. |
 | West African genes lower the risk of obesity in men, study suggestsThe obesity epidemic affects women and men of every ethnic group in the United States, but strong gender and racial disparities in the risk of overweight and obesity exist. African American women are currently more at risk than any other group in the United States: 82.1% of African American women are overweight or obese (defined as having a BMI of 25 or higher), compared to 76.2% of Hispanic women and 64.6% of Caucasian women, according to the 2011-2012 National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey (NHANES). Socioeconomic factors, such as inequalities in access to healthcare, healthy food, and safe places to exercise, are known to be important causes of these and other racial disparities in health characteristics. |
For women, barriers to physical activity can vary by weightFor women, barriers to physical activity can vary by weight, according to new study by Dartmouth researchers | |
 | US bionic engineer Hugh Herr wins prestigious Spanish prizeAmerican bionic limb specialist Hugh Herr won Spain's Princess of Asturias 2016 scientific research prize Wednesday in recognition of his work to improve mobility for people with disabilities. |
 | FDA issues new guidelines on salt, pressuring food industryThe Obama administration is pressuring the food industry to make foods from breads to sliced turkey less salty, proposing long-awaited sodium guidelines in an effort to prevent thousands of deaths each year from heart disease and stroke. |
 | Most Americans support rise in legal smoking age(HealthDay)—Highlighting tobacco's growing unpopularity, a new survey finds most Americans support pushing the legal smoking age even higher. |
 | Calling your kid 'fat' could be counterproductive(HealthDay)—Two studies highlight the complex relationship between parents' perceptions and their children's weights. |
 | Transformational leadership predicts next year absenteeism(HealthDay)—The relationship between transformational leadership and sickness absenteeism is complex, according to a study published online April 21 in Work & Stress. |
 | AHRQ communication toolkit can help after patient harm occurs(HealthDay)—A new communication toolkit created by the Agency for Healthcare Research and Quality (AHRQ) can help health care organizations and providers communicate with patients and families when harm occurs to patients. |
 | DAPT score improves risk prediction of continued DAPT(HealthDay)—A decision tool (dual antiplatelet therapy [DAPT] score) improves risk prediction for continued DAPT beyond assessment of myocardial infarction (MI) history, according to a study published in the May 31 issue of the Journal of the American College of Cardiology. |
 | Glucocorticoid use ups diabetes risk in rheumatoid arthritis(HealthDay)—For patients with rheumatoid arthritis (RA), glucocorticoid treatment is associated with increased risk of diabetes mellitus (DM), according to a study published in the May issue of Arthritis & Rheumatology. |
 | ASCO develops recommendations for invasive cervical cancer care(HealthDay)—The American Society for Clinical Oncology (ASCO) has developed guidelines for the management and palliative care of women with invasive cervical cancer. The clinical practice guideline was published online May 25 in the Journal of Global Oncology. |
 | Possible benefit found for betrixaban in acutely ill(HealthDay)—Betrixaban may be beneficial versus enoxaparin in acutely ill medical patients, according to a study published online May 27 in the New England Journal of Medicine. The research was published to coincide with the annual meeting of the International Society on Thrombosis and Haemostasis Scientific and Standardization Committee, held from May 25 to 28 in Montpellier, France. |
 | Educational booklet improves bowel preparation for inpatients(HealthDay)—Providing inpatients with an educational booklet before colonoscopy improves the odds of achieving adequate bowel preparation, according to a study published in the June issue of Clinical Gastroenterology and Hepatology. |
 | FDA approves ocaliva for primary biliary cholangitis(HealthDay)—Ocaliva (obeticholic acid) has been approved by the U.S. Food and Drug Administration to treat primary biliary cholangitis (PBC) in combination with ursodeoxycholic acid (UDCA) in adults with inadequate response to UDCA, or as a single therapy in adults unable to tolerate UDCA. |
 | One in five women with ovarian cancer does not undergo surgery, study revealsNearly 20 percent of women with ovarian cancer do not undergo surgery, despite it being a standard part of treatment recommendations, according to new research from the Perelman School of Medicine at the University of Pennsylvania. The findings, which suggest women may live four times longer with surgical treatment, were especially striking among older patients; researchers found that nearly half of women over 75 with stage III/IV cancer do not have surgery and roughly 25 percent receive no treatment at all. The study is published this month in the journal Gynecologic Oncology. |
Cancer studies should include overweight, elderly miceResearchers should include laboratory mice that are old and obese in their studies of immunotherapy treatments for cancer, according to a review article by Saint Louis University scientists. | |
Combination of cells and genes repairs damaged heart tissues in animal models of myocardial infarctionResearchers at the University of Utah compared the therapeutic potential of umbilical cord-derived sub-epithelial cells (UC-SECs), bone marrow-derived mesenchymal stem cells (BM-MSCs) and induced pluripotent stem cell-derived cardiomyocytes (iPSC-CMs)—all derived from human tissue—along with genes (S100a1 and SDF-1a) and growth factor (VEGF165) to evaluate how injected biologics might enhance cardiac function in mice modeled with myocardial infarction (MI; commonly referred to as heart attack). The study revealed a range of beneficial results. | |
 | Pancreatic cancer: Aggressive behavior from the startPancreatic cancer is regarded as the cancer type with the lowest survival rates. Fewer than seven in 100 patients survive the first five years after diagnosis. Clinicians attribute this devastating prognosis to two circumstances: Pancreatic cancers often do not cause any signs or symptoms and by the time they are detected they have already reached a very advanced stage in most cases. In addition, they spread outside the pancreas very early. |
CD34+ cell treatment reduced angina frequency for 'no option' patientsA two-year, multi-center clinical study with 167 patients with class III-IV refractory angina randomized to low and high dose CD34+ cells or placebo has revealed that patients who received either a high or low dose of CD34—a member of a family of proteins that have an impact on vascular-associated tissue—cells had a significant reduction in angina frequency over patients who received placebo. The patients, who were unresponsive to other treatments, were considered to have no other options (refractory). | |
 | De-coding the character of a hackerMalicious hacking online costs the private and corporate sectors up to $575 billion annually, according to internet security firm McAfee. While security agencies seek out "ethical" hackers to help combat such attacks, little is known about the personality traits that lead people to pursue and excel at hacking. A recent study published on Frontiers in Human Neuroscience now shows that a characteristic called systemizing provides insight into what makes and motivates a hacker. |
 | Why aren't you shopping for lower prescription drug prices?Most people don't shop for lower prescription drug prices. They should, especially now that there are easier ways to do so. |
 | Dietary fiber intake tied to successful aging, research revealsMost people know that a diet high in fiber helps to keep us "regular." Now Australian researchers have uncovered a surprising benefit of this often-undervalued dietary component. |
Studies examine use of newer blood test to help identify or rule-out heart attackTwo studies published online by JAMA Cardiology examine the usefulness of a high-sensitivity cardiac troponin I assay to help identify or exclude the diagnosis of a heart attack for patients reporting to an emergency department with chest pain. | |
 | Long-term marijuana use associated with periodontal diseaseWhile using marijuana for as long as 20 years was associated with periodontal disease, it was not associated with some other physical health problems in early midlife at age 38, according to an article published online by JAMA Psychiatry. |
New muscular dystrophy drug target identifiedScientists at the University of Liverpool have discovered that muscle cells affected by muscular dystrophy contain high levels of an enzyme that impairs muscle repair. This finding provides a new target for potential drug treatments for the disease, which currently has no cure. | |
Survey suggests patients prefer dermatologists in professional attire, white coatThe majority of patients prefer their dermatologists to be dressed in professional attire with a white coat, according to an article published online by JAMA Dermatology. | |
 | Reported data on vaccines may not build public trust or adherenceThe Vaccine Adverse Event Reporting System (VAERS) is a national vaccine safety reporting system that collects information about possible side effects that may occur after inoculation. Developed by the Centers for Disease Control (CDC) and available online, anyone can report possible adverse reactions to vaccines for any reason, making it a rich source of information about possible vaccine harms. Recently, University of Missouri researchers proposed that open communication about VAERS could improve public trust that vaccines are safe, thereby increasing vaccine acceptance. Findings from the study suggest that data and stories may not increase the public's acceptance of vaccines. |
 | Novel mouse model sheds new light on autism spectrum disorderA new mouse model, developed by researchers at the University of Wisconsin-Madison, is the first to show that when more of a specific biological molecule moves between different parts of nerve cells in the mouse brain, it can lead to behaviors that resembles some aspects of autism spectrum disorder (ASD) in humans. |
Researchers report clinical utility of personalized medicine program for cancer patientsScientists from the Icahn School of Medicine at Mount Sinai developed and tested a personalized cancer therapy program using an integrated genomic approach that led to therapeutic recommendations for 91 percent of patients. In a paper released today in Genome Medicine, they report results of the pilot program and show that multidimensional genomic profiles outperform the targeted cancer panels in use at many clinical labs today. | |
 | A vision for revamping neuroscience educationThe expanding scope and growing number of tools used for neuroscience is moving beyond what is taught in traditional graduate programs even as nations around the world make neuroscience a research priority, say leaders in American neuroscience education, funding, and policy. In a Perspective paper published June 1, 2016 in Neuron, the authors call for reinvestment in neuroscience graduate and post-graduate training to meet the challenges of this new era in brain science—such as creating programs to broaden student experiences across disciplines and reimagining scientific staff positions. |
 | Imaging biomarker distinguishes prostate cancer tumor gradePhysicians have long used magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) to detect cancer but results of a University of California San Diego School of Medicine study describe the potential use of restriction spectrum imaging (RSI) as an imaging biomarker that enhances the ability of MRI to differentiate aggressive prostate cancer from low-grade or benign tumors and guide treatment and biopsy. |
 | Study highlights 'emotional labor' of college student-athletesA recent study from North Carolina State University highlights the "emotional labor" required of collegiate student-athletes, which can leave student-athletes feeling powerless, frustrated and nervous. The study calls on universities to better prepare their student-athletes with communication skills they can use to address the challenges of emotional labor. |
A new look at caspase 12 researchInflammasomes are assemblies that are central to inflammatory responses. Dr. Lieselotte Vande Walle, Daniel Jiménez Fernández and colleagues from Prof. Mo Lamkanfi's group (VIB/UGent) shed new light on the function of caspase 12. In doing so, they have rid the field of a stubborn dogma, which held that caspase 12 was a negative regulator of inflammasomes. These novel insights pave the way for researchers to break from the route of existing research and identify the real physiological functions of caspase 12. | |
 | Team IDs gene involved with fracture healingNew identification of a gene involved in the fracture healing process could lead to the development of new therapeutic treatments for difficult-to-heal injuries. |
 | New insights into muscular dystrophy point to potential treatment avenuesThe average healthy man is 54 percent muscle by mass, but people with muscular dystrophy, an incurable, genetic condition, have almost no muscle at terminal stages of the disease. New research from The Rockefeller University provides insights about what causes patients' muscles to degenerate and offers potential avenues for drug development. |
 | Researchers identify new 'druggable' target for sporadic Parkinson's diseaseResearch at the Buck Institute shows the same mechanisms that lead to neuronal cell death in mice genetically fated to develop Parkinson's disease (PD) are involved in the much more common sporadic form of the age-related, neurodegenerative disorder that robs people of the ability to move normally. The research, published in the journal Neurobiology of Disease identifies new targets that show promise for drug development for an incurable condition that affects as many as one million Americans. |
 | Are drops in estrogen levels more rapid in women with migraine?Researchers have long known that sex hormones such as estrogen play a role in migraine. But there's been little research on how that works. Do women with migraine have higher estrogen levels in general? Higher levels at the peak of the monthly cycle? |
Post coronary artery bypass infections may be linked to severe obesityCoronary artery bypass patients who have severe obesity are more likely to experience infection shortly after surgery and stay in the hospital longer, according to new research in Journal of the American Heart Association, the Open Access Journal of the American Heart Association/American Stroke Association. | |
 | What will it take to protect hospital patients from UTIs? National effort shows promiseRight now, about one in five hospital patients has a catheter collecting their urine - and putting them at risk of a painful and potentially dangerous urinary tract infection, or UTI. |
Study finds minimal risk for serious infection with 'in bone' prosthesisA new study in today's issue of the Journal of Bone and Joint Surgery found minimal risk for severe infection with osseointegrated implants—a newer prosthetic system, press-fitted directly into the femur bone—that enables bone growth over a metal, robotic prosthetic limb in patients with above knee amputations. | |
Research examines the social benefits of getting into someone else's headDo you often wonder what the person next to you is thinking? | |
 | Shift work unwinds body clocks, leading to more severe strokesStatistics show that some 15 million Americans don't work the typical nine-to-five. These employees (or shift workers), who punch in for graveyard or rotating shifts, are more prone to numerous health hazards, from heart attacks to obesity, and now, new research, published in Endocrinology, shows shift work may also have serious implications for the brain. |
Deployed US military service members more likely to suffer noncombat bone and joint injuriesSince September 11, 2001, an estimated 60,000 U.S. military service members have been injured in combat during the Afghanistan and Iraq wars. Nearly 45,000 (75 percent) of all combat injuries are caused by improvised explosive devices, also known as IEDs. Approximately two out of five service members with combat injuries (40 percent) have suffered fractures, traumatic amputations, and injuries to the spine. | |
US death rate rose slightly last year—first time in decadeThe U.S. death rate rose slightly last year—the first increase in a decade, health officials reported Wednesday. | |
 | Things to Know: The Obama administration's sodium guidelinesFrom cheese to sliced turkey, the Obama administration is encouraging food companies and restaurants to lower the amount of salt in the foods they sell. |
 | Vigilance urged for heparin-induced thrombocytopenia(HealthDay)—Diagnosis and management of heparin-induced thrombocytopenia (HIT) are discussed in a review published in the May 31 issue of the Journal of the American College of Cardiology. |
 | Prophylactic antibiotics cut risk of anti-EGFR skin rash(HealthDay)—For patients receiving anti-epidermal growth factor receptor (EGFR) treatment, the risk of developing skin rash is reduced for those taking prophylactic antibiotics, according to a review published online May 23 in the British Journal of Dermatology. |
 | Gut microbiome tied to metabolic hormones in early pregnancy(HealthDay)—In overweight and obese women, gut microbiome composition is associated with the metabolic hormonal environment at 16 weeks of gestation, according to a study published in the May issue of Diabetes. |
 | Patients with IBS often have negative health care encounters(HealthDay)—Patients suffering from severe irritable bowel syndrome (IBS) often have negative experiences of health care encounters, and actively negotiate such professional discourse by presenting a counternarrative describing their own suffering and strengths, according to a study published online May 24 in the Journal of Clinical Nursing. |
 | Many parents know too little about their child's asthma meds(HealthDay)—Only half of parents of children with asthma fully understand the use of their child's asthma medications, according to research published online May 17 in the Journal of Allergy and Clinical Immunology. |
Indonesia's battle to bring healthcare to the massesWhen Heni Karmila sought to find a doctor for her ailing mother using Indonesia's new healthcare system, she faced a nine-hour wait in a line outside a crowded public hospital in Jakarta. | |
 | Poll: People unsure about ability to pay for long-term careDemand for long-term care is expected to increase as the nation ages, but the majority of Americans 40 and older lack confidence in their ability to pay for it. |
More than 2,000 Indians contract HIV after transfusionsMore than 2,000 Indians contracted HIV over a 17-month period after receiving blood transfusions, data from the national AIDS body showed Wednesday. | |
Latest Ebola outbreak in Guinea is over: WHO (Update)The latest outbreak of Ebola in Guinea has ended, the World Health Organization said Wednesday, warning that a recurrence of the killer tropical disease remained a threat. | |
Chronic pain often overlooked in patients with dementiaChronic pain often goes unnoticed and therefore untreated in patients with cognitive impairments such as dementia. This was shown in a recent Slovenian study that was presented at the Congress of the European Academy of Neurology (EAN) in Copenhagen. | |
Better prediction of long-term consequences of whiplash traumaPossible long-term consequences from a whiplash trauma can be effectively predicted if the injured persons are subdivided into different risk groups shortly after the car accident. This is shown by a Danish study that was presented at the Congress of the European Academy of Neurology in Copenhagen. | |
Roadmap for biomarker research on Alzheimer's disease should lead to better resultsBiomarkers could revolutionise the early detection of and therapy for Alzheimer's disease. However, experts attending the Congress of the European Academy of Neurology (EAN) in Copenhagen criticized that the big breakthroughs are slow in coming because of a lack of priorities in research. A roadmap should help to push along advances in this area. | |
Monoclonal antibodies could become additional migraine therapy optionPreventing or shortening the duration of migraine attacks – established drug treatment options and those that could shape future therapies were discussed at the Congress of European Academy of Neurology in Copenhagen. | |
ACA boosts coverage for blacks, HispanicsThe Affordable Care Act has reduced racial and ethnic disparities in health insurance coverage, although substantial disparities remain, a new study shows. | |
How do we prevent suicide? Listen upJacob Gerner Lawaetz and Chloé Pedersen-Arseneau from NCDFREE's Copenhagen team share highlights from the recent NCDFREE Copenhagen Long Lunch on Suicide Prevention. NCDFREE's Long Lunch series bring emerging and established leaders from a variety of disciplines together to address a particular health issues relevant to non-communicable disease action and advocacy. | |
To fight superbugs, fight povertyOn May 26, 2016, researchers at the Walter Reed National Military Medical Center reported the first case of what they called a "truly pan-drug resistant bacteria." By now, the story has been well-covered in the media: a month earlier, a 49 year old woman walked into a clinic in Pennsylvania with what seemed to be a urinary tract infection. But tests revealed something far scarier—both for her and public health officials. The strain of E. Coli that infiltrated her body has a gene that makes it bulletproof to colistin, the so-called last resort antibiotic. | |
 | Study aims to teach future doctors how to help patients manage their weightLosing weight is one of the keys to improving health, but medical schools traditionally do not offer adequate opportunities to prepare future physicians to help their patients lose weight. Now, researchers at the University of Alabama at Birmingham and a consortium of other institutions are working to teach medical students the skills needed to help patients manage their weight. |
 | Baby born in US to Honduran mom with Zika has birth defectA Honduran woman infected with Zika gave birth in New Jersey to a baby girl with birth defects caused by the virus, her doctor said Wednesday. |
 | Clinical trial will test use of MRI to improve prostate cancer diagnosis and managementThe Movember Foundation, the Ontario Institute for Cancer Research (OICR) and Prostate Cancer Canada today announced $3 million in funding for a new Phase III clinical trial to evaluate if magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) can replace the current standard of care to diagnose prostate cancer. The primary objective of the multi-centre trial, called PRECISE, is to determine whether MRI imaging can spare some men from undergoing a biopsy and avoid the possible associated side effects. |
Opioids are not necessarily evilSince 1999, the use of opioids for pain management has quadrupled in the USA, resulting in what is now well known as the 'opioid epidemic'—too many Americans are now unnecessarily reliant on the drugs and opioid-related overdoses have rocketed. | |
The association between Medicare eligibility and rehabilitative careRehabilitation is an essential component of high-quality health care. Several studies have shown that insurance status is a key factor in determining a patient's access to rehab, but little is known about how recent policy changes have affected insurance coverage and therefore access to rehab. Using regression discontinuity (RD) models, researchers at the Center for Surgery and Public Health at Brigham and Women's Hospital found that becoming Medicare eligible at age 65 (as compared to age 64) was associated with an abrupt 6.4 percentage-point decline in the number of people who were uninsured and a 9.6 percentage-point increase in rehabilitation. In other words, Medicare coverage was associated with a significant gain in access, allowing an additional one-in-ten patients to take advantage of rehabilitative care. | |
 | New study of the memory through optogeneticsRaül Andero Galí, one of the heads of the "Neurobiology of Stress and Addiction" research group at the Institut de Neurociències (INc) of the Universitat Autònoma de Barcelona (UAB) and researcher at Harvard University, published an article in which, for the first time in Spain, optogenetics was used to increase memory. |
 | Discovery of new IRAP inhibitors to improve cognitive functionsNew Rochelle, June 1, 2016-Researchers have discovered three new inhibitors of insulin-regulated aminopeptidase (IRAP), compounds shown to improve cognitive functions in animal models of human disorders. The new inhibitors are able to block human IRAP at low concentrations with rapid reversibility, as described in a study published in ASSAY and Drug Development Technologies. The article is available free on the ASSAY and Drug Development Technologies website until July 1, 2016. |
Health officials: Tourist contracted dengue in Key WestFlorida health officials say a tourist contracted dengue fever while visiting Key West. | |
 | Americans accept and engage in same-sex behaviors more than ever, study showsIn a large study examining a nationally representative survey of American adults from 1973 to 2014, researchers from Florida Atlantic University, San Diego State University and Widener University have found that same-sex sexual experience has doubled, and acceptance of same-sex sexual experience has quadrupled. This suggests that the cultural change of the last few decades extends beyond simple tolerance of gay, lesbian, and bisexual individuals and their civil rights to include acceptance of same-sex sexuality and the freedom to engage in same-sex sexuality—or at least the freedom to report one has done so on a survey. Either way, Americans have experienced a fundamental shift toward acceptance of same-sex sexual behavior and a greater willingness to engage in it. |
 | New smartphone app makes it easy to find—and enroll in—clinical trialsIt takes an astounding 17 years, on average, for laboratory breakthroughs to reach patients. A big part of the delay is the time it takes to recruit patients into clinical trials to test new treatments or devices: only 5 to 10 percent of eligible adults enroll in these trials and some studies have found that only 5 percent of patients who showed initial interest in a clinical trial will complete it. |
UN: Latest Ebola outbreak in Guinea is now overThe World Health Organization says the latest Ebola outbreak in Guinea has ended and the country is now entering a 90-day heightened surveillance period to monitor for any unexpected cases. | |
Nurses cite language barriers to educating parents about 'shaken baby syndrome'Language is a key obstacle to meeting guidelines for educating parents of newborns about "shaken baby syndrome"—also called abusive head trauma (SBS/AHT), reports a study in the Journal of Trauma Nursing, official publication of the Society of Trauma Nurses. | |
 | UAB developing training program on Ebola for first responders in Deep SouthSerious health and safety concerns for health care, public safety and support service personnel arose after the 2014 Ebola virus disease that resulted in 11,000 deaths across multiple countries, with four confirmed cases in the United States. In the event of an Ebola or other infectious disease outbreak, the responsibility for patient transfer, assessment and testing falls on the local health care and public safety systems. |
Latvia bans sales of energy drinks to under-18sLatvia has banned the sale of energy drinks containing caffeine or stimulants like taurine and guarana to people under the age of 18. | |
 | Man who got 1st US penis transplant released from hospitalThe man who received the nation's first penis transplant is heading home. |
 | Insurance rates going up: New concerns for ObamacareFresh problems for "Obamacare": The largest health insurer in Texas wants to raise its rates on individual policies by an average of nearly 60 percent, a new sign that President Barack Obama's overhaul hasn't solved the problem of price spikes. |
Biology news
 | Sparrows with unfaithful 'wives' care less for their youngA new study shows that male sparrows can judge if a spouse is prone to infidelity, providing less food for their brood if their partner is unfaithful. |
Artificial muscle fibers help keep muscle stem cells potent in labThere's no place like home—particularly if you're a muscle stem cell. | |
 | Plants remember stress to help protect themselvesA new generation of plants better adapted to mitigate the effects of environmental change could be created following a fundamental step towards understanding how plants are able to retain a memory of stress exposure. |
 | Biologists discover cane toads have a heightened sense of balance to aid in landing(Phys.org)—A pair of researchers with the University of Massachusetts has found that cane toads utilize sensory feedback to coordinate asymmetrical landings mid hop. In their paper published in the journal Biology Letters, Suzanne Cox and Gary Gillis describe a series of experiments they carried out with cane toads and what they found out by doing so. |
 | Juvenile kaka found to be better problems solvers than their elders(Phys.org)—A trio of researchers with Victoria University of Wellington in New Zealand has found that juvenile kaka (forest cousins of the well known kea mountain parrots) are better at solving problems than are older birds in the same area. In their paper published in Proceedings of the Royal Society B, Julia Loepelt, Rachael Shaw and Kevin Burns describe three types of experiments they conducted with wild kaka living in Zealandia Sanctuary, which is located on the North Island's Wellington peninsula, and what they learned by doing so. |
 | 'Jumping gene' took peppered moths to the dark sideResearchers from the University of Liverpool have identified and dated the genetic mutation that gave rise to the black form of the peppered moth, which spread rapidly during Britain's industrial revolution. |
 | Genetic switch that turned moths black also colors butterfliesThe same gene that enables tropical butterflies to mimic each other's bright and colourful patterning also caused British moths to turn black amid the grime of the industrial revolution, researchers have found. |
 | Male orb-weaving spiders cannibalized by females may be choosy about matingIn a colonial orb-weaving spider, Cyrtophora citricola, females often eat the males after mating, but it is often the males that choose their mates, according a study published June 1, 2016 in the open-access journal PLOS ONE by Eric Yip from Ben-Gurion University of the Negev, Israel, and colleagues. |
 | Uncovering the purpose of birds' extra fatOrnithologists have long wondered why some birds carry more fat than they need to fuel their migration, and a new study in The Auk: Ornithological Advances provides the answer: Leftover fuel from spring migration gives female birds a reproductive boost when they reach their breeding grounds. |
 | Elephants in Tanzania reserve could be wiped out by 2022Elephants in Tanzania's sprawling Selous Game Reserve could be wiped out within six years if poaching continues at current levels, the World Wildlife Fund warned. |
 | Shock as Honduras national park cleared to halt bugsA massive bug infestation and cut-down of pine trees in a national park in Honduras has stunned residents and sparked a warning from experts that a localized spike in temperatures will ensue. |
 | 'Baby dragons' in Slovenia poised for rare hatchingThe strange, slithery creatures inside Slovenia's Postojna cave were once considered living proof that dragons existed, prompting locals to give it a wide berth. |
EU proposes temporary approval of weedkiller glyphosateThe European Commission on Wednesday proposed to extend approval of weedkiller glyphosate in Europe for between 12 and 18 months amid disagreements that the chemical could cause cancer. | |
 | Research shows that corals share many of the genes in the human genomeUH Mānoa scientists at the John A. Burns School of Medicine and the Hawaiʻi Institute of Marine Biology have published new research showing that corals share many of the genes humans possess, especially those that can sense temperature and acidity, both of which are important to keeping both coral and humans healthy. |
 | Experimental trap uses sound to disrupt citrus pest's matingAgricultural Research Service (ARS) scientists this summer plan to field-test a new trap designed to disrupt the mating of Asian citrus psyllids. These pinhead-sized invasive insects transmit citrus greening, a devastating citrus disease also called "Huanglongbing." |
 | World's first project on dolphin gender sheds light on researchThe world's first sex-based study with insights into the abundance and movement patterns of bottlenose dolphins acts as an impetus for future studies. |
 | Unlocking the secrets of bacterial biofilms – to use against themStanding on a walkway at Yellowstone National Park, I admired the hues of orange, blue and yellow in the sand of the Grand Prismatic Spring. A small sign nearby read "bacterial mats." Visitors to Yellowstone may have noticed similar signs all over the park, but they're often overlooked on the way to waterfalls, geysers, hot springs and more. |
 | Kodiak bears track salmon runs in AlaskaA University of Montana graduate student's research on Alaskan brown bears and red salmon is the May cover story of the high-profile journal Ecology. |
 | Scientists pioneer new method to classify praying mantisesScientists from The Cleveland Museum of Natural History have pioneered a new method to identify praying mantises. They described a new species of leaf-dwelling mantis by establishing a female genitalia character system. Male genitalia characters have historically been a standard in classifying insect species. The research is the first formal study to use female genital structures to delimit a new species of praying mantis. The new species from Madagascar was named in honor of Ruth Bader Ginsburg, associate justice of the Supreme Court of the United States, for her relentless fight for gender equality. The research was published in the journal Insect Systematics & Evolution. |
 | One of eight new endemic polyester bees from Chile bears the name of a draconic PokemonAmong the eight new bee species that Spencer K. Monckton has discovered as part of his Biology Master's degree at York University, there is one named after a popular draconic creature from the Japanese franchise Pokémon. Called the stem-nesting Charizard, the new insect belongs to a subgenus, whose 17 species are apparently endemic to Chile, yet occupy a huge variety of habitats. |
 | The organizer of body axes: 600 million years old molecular principlesIn humans and in animals, the correct position of tissues, organs and appendages is essential. Two body axes (the head-tail and the back-belly axes) usually define this position by generating a coordinate system, which supplies each cell in the body with its precise address. Thus, for example, the vertebrate central nervous system is always located on the back, and the intestinal tract on the belly of the animal. |
 | How the names of organisms help to turn 'small data' into 'Big Data'Innovation in 'Big Data' helps address problems that were previously overwhelming. What we know about organisms is in hundreds of millions of pages published over 250 years. New software tools of the Global Names project find scientific names, index digital documents quickly, correcting names and updating them. These advances help "Making small data big" by linking together to content of many research efforts. The study was published in the open access journal Biodiversity Data Journal. |
 | Largest global coffee initiative to cope with climate variabilityWith an investment of 25 million euros the Colombian coffee sector should become climate proof to ensure more than half a million coffee farmers to cope with or fight the impact of lack or excess of water in 25 Colombian river basins. The programme 'Manos al Agua' ('hands on water') generates solutions to avoid annual losses of up to 30% of crops, affecting farmers' income and livelihood. On Friday May 27th the private-public initiative presented their mid-term results in The Hague, Netherlands. |
Novel methods to evaluate fish response to stressFarmed fish are submitted to many stressors that have an important impact on their health and can even lead to their premature death. The COPEWELL project has tried to help fish farmers cope with this issue by developing methods that will allow them to better understand how fish experience their surrounding environment. | |
Sustainable, faster and more productive aquaculture of catfishWith 57 % of EU consumption being imported from China and Southeast Asia, European producers are facing fierce competition only aggravated by depleting fish stocks. Catfish production for instance is overrun by pangasius imports, and more efficient production techniques for aquaculture are desperately needed. The SILGEN project promises just that. | |
 | Hundreds of toads hop free, offering hope for at-risk animalThe release of more than 900 Wyoming toads in a valley Wednesday could lay the groundwork for helping the critically endangered species and other amphibians resist a devastating fungus, researchers say. |
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