Dear Reader ,
Put the power of simulation in the hands of those who need it with COMSOL Multiphysics and the Application Builder. Check out the online showcase to learn more: http://goo.gl/IlMaZ5
Here is your customized Science X Newsletter for June 8, 2016:
Spotlight Stories Headlines
Astronomy & Space news
 | Scientists observe supermassive black hole feeding on cold gasAt the center of a galaxy cluster, 1 billion light years from Earth, a voracious, supermassive black hole is preparing for a chilly feast. |
 | Cloudy days on exoplanets may hide atmospheric waterWater is a hot topic in the study of exoplanets, including "hot Jupiters," whose masses are similar to that of Jupiter, but which are much closer to their parent star than Jupiter is to the sun. They can reach a scorching 2,000 degrees Fahrenheit (1,100 degrees Celsius), meaning any water they host would take the form of water vapor. |
 | Black holes might not be dead-ends after allA physical body might be able to cross a wormhole in spite of the extreme tidal forces, suggests a new study by Rubiera-Garcia, of Instituto de Astrofísica e Ciências do Espaço (IA), and his team. This result, published on April 28 in the journal Classical and Quantum Gravity, is supported by the fact that the interactions between different parts of the body that hold it together are preserved. The team was invited by the journal editors to write an insight article that was published online today. |
 | Evolution of cataclysmic variables and related binaries containing accreting white dwarfsAbout one-half of the stars in our Milky Way galaxy are thought to be in binary systems wherein both stars orbit their common center of mass. If the binaries are formed with the appropriate masses and separations, it is possible for the stars to exchange mass. In other words, the gravitational pull of one of the stars can be so strong that it literally rips the gas from the atmosphere of its companion. These interacting binary systems are some of the most exotic and intriguing astronomical objects in the galaxy and can give rise to a wide variety of phenomena including highly energetic explosions. |
 | Image: Frosted dunes on MarsSand dunes cover much of this terrain, which has large boulders lying on flat areas between the dunes. |
 | Why the Deep Space Atomic Clock is key for future space explorationWe all intuitively understand the basics of time. Every day we count its passage and use it to schedule our lives. |
 | NASA's NICER mission arrives at Kennedy Space CenterAn upcoming NASA astrophysics mission will uncover the physics governing the ultra-dense interiors of neutron stars. Using the same platform, the mission will demonstrate trailblazing space navigation technology. |
Technology news
Dutch architect unveils 3D printer to make 'endless' houseA Dutch architect Wednesday unveiled a unique 3D printer with which he aims to construct a large building "without beginning or end" shaped like an infinite loop. | |
 | Facebook says bug in Messenger app on Android fixed(Tech Xplore)—As many know by now, Facebook recently had a security issue involving Messenger. Outside Facebook, security researchers said that a bug with the Messenger service would have allowed attackers to change the content of a conversation. |
 | Researchers find the right balance to speed wireless downloads through use of duplexingIn a world of 7 billion cell phones, wireless service providers are always searching for ways to maximize the efficiency of wireless spectrum to improve service. The so-called "half duplex" radios that comprise today's cellular base stations perform two functions: They send signals and receive signals. Yet, despite a decade of dizzying advances in speed, they still can only perform one of these functions at a time. |
 | Team makes hobby drones crash to expose design flawsSales of drones—small flying machines equipped with cameras—are soaring. But new research by a Johns Hopkins computer security team has raised concerns about how easily hackers could cause these robotic devices to ignore their human controllers and land or, more drastically, crash. |
 | Your phone may soon sense everything around youSuppose your smartphone is clever enough to grasp your physical surroundings—the room's size, the location of doors and windows and the presence of other people. What could it do with that info? |
Amazon's Jeff Bezos bets on India with $3 bn investmentAmazon chief executive Jeff Bezos has pledged to invest $3 billion in India, in a big bet on the growth of online shopping in the fast-growing South Asian economy. | |
France unveils smartphone emergency appThe French government has created an emergency alert application intended to send swift warnings to smartphone users in the event of a bombing, shooting or other disaster. | |
Singapore to cut off internet access for government workersGovernment employees in Singapore will soon lose their internet access at work to make official information systems more secure, authorities said Wednesday. | |
 | Dissertation finds more ways to use footprints found at crime scenesA final-year student at the University of Dundee has used his dissertation to find more ways to use footprints found at crime scenes. |
Learning in fewer than 140 characters on TwitterTwitter can be an engaging communication tool for building a learning community according to research just published in the International Journal of Social Media and Interactive Learning Environments. Scott Warren of the College of Information, at the University of North Texas, in Denton, USA, explains how the merits of the microblogging platform have been little discussed as an educational tool despite its widespread use and familiarity as a social networking platform. | |
 | Helping Senegalese farmers with smart solarBy 2050, the world will need to produce 70 percent more food than we did in 2007 to feed a global population expected to reach 9.6 billion, according to the United Nations Food and Agriculture Organization. Increased food production means a greater demand for energy. But many farmers in developing countries do not have access to clean and affordable modern energy. Moreover, they are often unaware of what technology might enable them to farm more efficiently and have no way to finance the up-front costs of new technology. |
 | Students develop algorithm that categorizes user-generated restaurant photosWhether they are surfing the web in search of surf and turf, or browsing for the perfect grass-fed beef burger, more than 90 percent of U.S. consumers search online for restaurants, according to a study by market research firm Chadwick Martin Bailey. |
 | Germany slows pace of green energy transitionGermany on Wednesday moved to slow the rapid growth of subsidised renewable energy to cap rising costs, drawing fire from environmentalists who charged it is betraying its ambitious climate goals. |
 | Energy-saving devices work—if you use them correctlyA well-insulated home with a high-efficiency air conditioner and programmable thermostat are only as effective as the person using it. |
 | Iconic rubber duck goes digital, but does it need to?The iconic rubber duck has gone digital—but maybe it doesn't need to. |
 | Yahoo puts more than 3,000 patents on auction blockYahoo is hoping to auction off most of its technology patents as part of a purge that also could culminate in the sale of its internet operations. |
 | No long-term 'star effect' for baseball teams on TwitterIn previous generations, when professional sports franchises had athletes who were considered to be all-star caliber on their teams, those teams would experience a "star effect," which would result in long-term increases in publicity, fan interest, and merchandise and ticket sales. Now, University of Missouri researchers have analyzed the Twitter usage of Major League Baseball (MLB) teams, athletes and fans and discovered that the "star effect" had no long-term impacts on MLB teams' Twitter following and fan engagement. Nicholas Watanabe, an assistant teaching professor in the MU Department of Parks, Recreation and Tourism, says this is important for professional sports franchises that are looking for ways to improve fan engagement and expand their brand reach. |
 | Snapchat seen surging past Twitter, Pinterest in USEphemeral messaging app Snapchat by year's end will have more US users than either Twitter or Pinterest, a market tracker said Wednesday. |
Math. Science. Recess. Minecraft? Twitch club brings gaming to schoolSeventh-grader Brayden Foxhoven hurries to finish his chicken fingers. He has bases to capture. Gems to collect. Viewers to entertain. | |
Will Uber's cash path spur others?Startups have long been the domain of venture capitalists. But with last week's staggering $3.5 billion investment in Uber from Saudi Arabia's Public Investment Fund, the tech world has been put on notice - sovereign wealth funds are loaded with cash and ready to do business directly. | |
FCC offers hope for consumers seeking online privacy protectionsI think most of us can agree that the internet poses some unique and wide-scale risks to our privacy. | |
Where Yahoo's media play went wrongWhen Yahoo announced last year that it had lost $42 million reviving NBC's TV series "Community" and launching two other original shows, the company framed it as a failed experiment. It didn't work, so Yahoo was cutting its losses. | |
Apple to start showing ads in App StoreApple says it will start showing paid ads when people search for apps in its popular mobile store. | |
 | Poo power no longer just a pipe dreamSewage treatment uses huge amounts of energy, accounting for up to 20 per cent of total electricity consumption in some cities – but what if that waste could be turned back into power? |
 | Glowing antlers failed, so Finns try app to save reindeerFinnish reindeer herders in the Arctic have painted Rudolph's antlers in fluorescent colors, hung reflectors around their necks and even used movable traffic signs, but none of the efforts have helped reduce the annual 4,000 reindeer road deaths. |
Pencil test for pipeline cracksIt is impossible to see when the "lead" in a pencil cracks within the pencil, but an acoustic sensor can "hear" the change in the way the pencil vibrates. Now, researchers in China have reported in the International Journal of Sensor Networks how the same principle can be used to detect cracks in oil pipelines components in remote regions where extreme conditions can lead to corrosion, damage to welds and pipe alike. | |
 | New mobile application allows users to take virtual tour of Project Y of Manhattan Project National Historical ParkA new, free mobile application titled "Los Alamos: The Secret City of the Manhattan Project," is now available for download from the Apple store. |
 | The millennials won't save you, but culture canCreating a positive digital culture in the workplace is a more important factor than generational change in ensuring digital roll-outs are successful, according to research commissioned by Cisco in partnership with the Institute of Cultural Capital (ICC). |
 | Imaging technique acquires a color image and depth map from a single monocular camera imageResearchers have developed an imaging technique that can simultaneously acquire a color image and a depth map from a single image taken by a monocular camera. This technique achieves high-precision distance/range detection, comparable to that of a stereo camera, through the combination of a lens device and image processing. This technology will be announced at The 22nd Symposium on Sensing via Image Information (SSII2016) which will be held at Pacifico Yokohama starting June 8, 2016. |
 | Few insurers cut rates for new electronic safety devicesAfter hearing good things about the latest in crash-prevention technologies, you decided to add automatic emergency braking to your new car. |
Medicine & Health news
 | Study finds differences in male, female brain activity when it comes to cooperationStudies have long shown that when faced with a problem that must be solved by cooperating with others, males and females approach the task differently. Now, researchers at the Stanford University School of Medicine have discovered how those differences are reflected in brain activity. |
 | Sexual transmission of Ebola likely to impact course of outbreaksSexual transmission of the Ebola virus could have a major impact on the dynamics of the disease, potentially reigniting an outbreak that has been contained by public health interventions, according to research by University of Georgia ecologists just published in the Royal Society journal Biology Letters. |
 | Think talking on your hands-free is safe? Think again, research saysDriving while talking on a hands-free phone can be just as distracting as talking on a hand-held mobile phone, psychologists at the University of Sussex have found. |
 | Barley lowers not one but two types of 'bad cholesterol', review suggestsEating barley or foods containing barley significantly reduced levels of two types of "bad cholesterol" associated with cardiovascular risk, a St. Michael's Hospital research paper has found. |
 | Mice infected with a parasite show reduced symptoms of rheumatoid arthritis(Medical Xpress)—A team of researchers working in Germany has found that intentionally infecting mice that had rheumatoid arthritis with a parasite, led to reduced symptoms of the immune disorder. In their paper published in the journal Nature Communications, the researchers describe their studies with test mice and the tiny worm-like parasite, Nippostrongylus brasiliensis and what they found by doing so. |
 | Metabolite of multiple sclerosis drug could be safe, effective therapy for Parkinson's diseaseThe metabolite of a drug that is helping patients battle multiple sclerosis appears to significantly slow the onset of Parkinson's disease, researchers say. |
 | A single strain of plague bacteria sparked multiple historical and modern pandemicsA single entry of the plague bacterium into Europe was responsible for the Black Plague of the mid-14th century. This same strain sparked recurrent outbreaks on the continent over the following four centuries before spreading to China, where it triggered the third plague pandemic in the late 19th century. The wave of plague that traveled to Asia later became the source population for modern-day epidemics around the globe. The bacterium's routes over time were revealed by genome analyses published June 8, 2016 in Cell Host & Microbe. |
 | Study reveals how altered gut microbes cause obesityObesity is linked to changes in our gut microbes—the trillions of tiny organisms that inhabit our intestines. But the mechanism has not been clear. In a new study published in Nature, a Yale-led team of researchers has identified how an altered gut microbiota causes obesity. |
New safety and efficacy evidence for mitochondrial donation revealedA new IVF-based technique is likely to lead to normal pregnancies and reduce the risk that babies born will have mitochondrial disease, according to researchers at the Wellcome Trust Centre for Mitochondrial Disease at Newcastle University. | |
 | Lighting color affects sleep and wakefulnessA research team from Oxford University have shown how different colours of light could affect our ability to sleep. |
 | Potential new therapy could reduce dangerous post-heart-attack inflammationA new study led by investigators at Massachusetts General Hospital (MGH) has identified a mechanism behind the surge in cardiovascular inflammation that takes place after a heart attack. Working with collaborators from the Massachusetts Institute of Technology (MIT), the team also developed a potential strategy for suppressing inflammation within atherosclerotic plaques, the first approach that targets the immune system's contribution to cardiovascular disease. Their work in animal models of heart disease is described in a Science Translational Medicine paper. |
 | Challenges of custom-engineering living tissue to fix a heartJianyi "Jay" Zhang, M.D., Ph.D., brought his biomedical engineering expertise to the University of Alabama at Birmingham to fix hearts. |
 | Researchers find key to Parkinson's disease neurodegenerationResearchers at the University of Pittsburgh School of Medicine have uncovered a major reason why the Parkinson's-related protein alpha-synuclein, a major constituent of the Lewy bodies that are the pathological hallmark of Parkinson's disease (PD), is toxic to neurons in the brain. The finding has the potential to lead to new therapies that could slow or stop progression of the devastating illness. The new research appears online today in Science Translational Medicine. |
 | Landmark study shows Acute Myeloid Leukaemia is at least 11 different diseasesScientists at the Wellcome Trust Sanger Institute and their international collaborators have shown that Acute Myeloid Leukaemia (AML) is not a single disorder, but at least 11 different diseases, and that genetic changes explain differences in survival among young AML patients. Published in the New England Journal of Medicine, the ground-breaking study on the genetics of AML could improve clinical trials and the way patients are diagnosed and treated in the future. |
 | New mutation-testing technology has potential to guide targeted lung and colorectal cancer therapiesA new technology suitable for practical clinical testing can detect KRAS gene mutations in lung and colorectal cancers and could thereby facilitate targeted therapies, according to a new report in The Journal of Molecular Diagnostics. |
New study lays groundwork for potential new anti-cancer therapyIdentifying the cell of origin is crucial to understanding how a tumor develops and metastasizes and for developing targeted therapies. Researchers have found evidence supporting a lymphatic endothelium origin for angiomyolipoma (AML) and lymphangioleiomyomatosis (LAM), two related tumors with previously unknown cellular origins. Furthermore, the newly identified lymphatic endothelial lineage shows translational potential for pharmaceutical treatment. Their findings are published in The American Journal of Pathology. | |
 | Review: similar / improved outcomes for TAVI versus SAVR(HealthDay)—Transcatheter aortic valve implantation (TAVI) may be associated with improved clinical outcomes versus surgical aortic valve replacement (SAVR) in adults with severe aortic stenosis, according to a review and meta-analysis published online June 7 in the Annals of Internal Medicine. |
Electronic anti-theft systems remain a threat to cardiac device patientsElectronic anti-theft systems still post a threat to cardiac device patients, according to research presented today at CARDIOSTIM - EHRA EUROPACE 2016 by Professor Robert Stevenson, senior scientist at Greatbatch Medical in Santa Clarita, California, US. | |
 | Self-administered aroma foot massage may reduce symptoms of anxietyResearchers at Okayama University conduct the first community-based study on the effects of self-administered aromatherapy foot massage on stress and anxiety symptoms. The results suggest aromatherapy massages might provide an inexpensive, simple way of managing anxiety. |
 | Regular exercise protects against cognitive decline in later yearsRegular exercise in middle age is the best lifestyle change a person can make to prevent cognitive decline in the later years, a landmark 20-year study has found. |
 | Saturated fats make some cells lose track of time—and that's badFoods high in fat, especially saturated fat, are bad for you. A high-fat diet is a risk factor for cardiovascular disease as well as metabolic disorders like obesity and type 2 diabetes. So why does saturated fat have these effects on the body? What's going on in your body when you eat a fatty meal? |
'Now-or-never bottleneck' explains language acquisitionWe are constantly bombarded with linguistic input, but our brains are unable to remember long strings of linguistic information. How does the brain make sense of this ongoing deluge of sound? | |
Portable probes hunt down cancer cells during surgeryLight, wireless probes the size of a large pen have been developed to identify cancer cells and suspicious lymph nodes during surgery. The probes, which EPFL helped develop, are now being tested by surgeons at the University Hospital of Lausanne (CHUV) and across Europe. | |
Parents-only therapy may be optimal in treating anorexiaFamily therapy for 12- to 18-year-olds with anorexia nervosa, in which all household members participate and a meal is held in the clinician's office, may be less effective than a streamlined model involving only the parents and without the meal. | |
Study indicates benefits to treating young adults with high cholesterolTreating young adults with high blood pressure and high cholesterol levels may reduce risk of future heart attacks and heart disease, according to researchers at UC San Francisco and Columbia University in a study published recently in PLOS One. | |
 | Air pollution affects young people's psychiatric healthNew research from Umeå University indicates that dispensed medication for psychiatric diagnosis can be related to air polution concentrations. The study covers a large part of the Swedish population and has been published in the journal BMJ Open. |
 | Do parents' sleep problems get passed on to their kids?The sleeping habits of more than 1,000 adult West Australians are to be assessed to see if their sleep disorders are capable of being passed on to their children. |
 | Salacious alibi more credible if you lie about it at firstIf you are suspected of a crime, you might be better off if you lie about an alibi in the first place and subsequently admit that you were in the company of an adulterous lover: it is even more credible than if you state this salacious alibi immediately. Legal psychologist Ricardo Nieuwkamp discovered this during his research on alibis. He carried out his project at Maastricht University with funding from the Open Competition of NWO. |
Sugar tax could cut consumption of unhealthier breakfast cereals, new study findsA 20 percent sugar tax could discourage shoppers from buying unhealthier breakfast cereals, new research led by Newcastle University shows. | |
 | B lymphocytes associated with psoriasis for the first time"A pathological and very complex autoimmune reaction of the skin": This is the definition doctors and scientists use to describe psoriasis, a disease that affects 1 percent to 3 percent of the population. It is characterised by accelerated cell division in the upper dermal layers with proliferated skin cells and an inflammation of the skin beneath. Many different cells are involved in the complex processes: skin cells (keratinocytes) and cells of the immune system, among others T lymphocytes, macrophages, mast cells and others. |
 | Bubbly drinks inspire more effective cancer treatmentCancer researchers are developing a bubbly drink packed with oxygen microbubbles to make treatments more potent for hard to treat tumours like pancreatic cancer. |
 | Study sheds light on uncategorized genetic mutations in cystic fibrosisWhen it comes to cystic fibrosis (CF), more than 2,000 different genetic mutations have been reported. However, only 200 of them have been categorized - leaving a genetic soup of 1,800 others for scientists and genetic counselors to figure out. |
 | Mathematical simulation of open-heart surgery lends clues to kidney failureNo one can deny that open-heart surgery, where the heart is exposed and the blood is made to bypass it, is one of the most invasive of all medical procedures. Nearly a third of all patients undergoing heart surgery experience kidney failure, yet little is known about why kidney injury occurs or how to prevent it. |
Adults at risk for diabetes double activity levels through healthy lifestyle programAdults at risk for type 2 diabetes or heart disease or both can substantially increase their physical activity levels through participating in a lifestyle intervention program developed at the University of Pittsburgh Graduate School of Public Health for use in community-settings, such as senior centers or worksites. | |
 | Teenage boys who show empathy attract 1.8 more girlfriends than boys who don'tBoys high in cognitive empathy attracted an average of 1.8 more girl friendships than low empathy counterparts, as revealed by a landmark study - When Empathy Matters: The Role of Sex and Empathy in Close Friendships. |
 | Study highlights multiple factors of ADHD medication useYouth who take Ritalin, Adderall or other stimulant medications for ADHD over an extended period of time early in life are no more at risk for substance abuse in later adolescence than teens without ADHD, according to a University of Michigan study. |
Pubertal timing strongly influences men's sexual and reproductive healthA new study from Rigshospitalet and EDMaRC finds a strong association between late onset of puberty and subsequent semen quality. This is the first study of its kind to investigate the influence of pubertal timing on male reproductive health. 1068 healthy young Danish men participated in the study and provided information on the timing of puberty. This suggests that timing of pubertal onset may be a fundamental marker of male reproductive health. | |
 | Increase in biomarker linked with increased risk of heart disease, heart failure, deathIn a study published online by JAMA Cardiology, Elizabeth Selvin, Ph.D., M.P.H., of the Johns Hopkins Bloomberg School of Public Health, Baltimore, and colleagues examined the association of 6-year change in high-sensitivity cardiac troponin T with incident coronary heart disease, heart failure and all-cause mortality. |
Clinical trial examines treatment of complicated griefA new study reports on the results of a randomized clinical trial that looked at whether the antidepressant citalopram would enhance complicated grief treatment psychotherapy, and if citalopram would be efficacious without it in an article published online by JAMA Psychiatry. | |
 | Philadelphia could become 1st major US city with soda taxA City Council showdown over a proposed soda tax in Philadelphia got off to a stormy start. |
 | New compound shows potential for triple-negative breast cancerResearchers at the University of Michigan have identified a promising new compound for targeting one of the most aggressive types of breast cancer. |
 | Antibodies triggered by avian influenza virus vaccine illuminate a new path toward a universal flu vaccineDiverse antibodies induced in humans by vaccination with an avian influenza virus vaccine may offer broader, more durable protection against multiple strains of influenza than today's vaccines typically provide, according to a study led by Florian Krammer, PhD, Assistant Professor in the Department of Microbiology at the Icahn School of Medicine at Mount Sinai, and Patrick Wilson, PhD, Associate Professor in the Department of Medicine at the University of Chicago. The research, published today in the journal Cell Host & Microbe, suggests new pathways toward the long-cherished goal of a "universal vaccine" that would be effective against all strains of influenza virus. |
Constipated? Study finds surprising causeA Yale-led study has shown a surprising link between constipation and herpes infection. The finding, published June 8 in Cell Host & Microbe, advances the science on herpes, and could help patients with chronic gastrointestinal diseases with no clear cause. | |
 | Modeling the correct doses for disease-fighting drugsIn treating diseases with drugs, dosing is critical; too little is ineffective, while too much can be lethal. Colorado State University's Brad Reisfeld takes a mathematical approach to achieving optimal dosing for various drugs. |
Immune system blood cell a potential marker for sinus polyp regrowthIn an effort to identify a simple, reliable way to track the course of nasal polyps in chronic sinus disease, Johns Hopkins Medicine researchers say they've linked rising levels of immune system white blood cells, called eosinophils, with regrowth of polyps removed by surgery. The findings, they say, reported online in the May 13, 2016 International Forum of Allergy & Rhinology, could lead to the development of a simple blood test to screen for early growth of polyps in sinus disease, track disease progression, and develop and monitor treatments for a common, often troublesome condition, called chronic rhinosinusitis with nasal polyposis. | |
Use of glucocorticoids is associated with increased risk of serious bacterial blood infectionThe risk of life-threatening blood infections by Staphylococcus aureus bacteria is more than doubled in users of systemic glucocorticoids compared with non-users. The risk escalates with increasing dose, according to a new Danish population-based case-control study published in Mayo Clinic Proceedings. | |
 | Narrow wavelength of UV light safely kills drug-resistant bacteriaScientists from the Center for Radiological Research at Columbia University Medical Center have shown that a narrow wavelength of ultraviolet (UV) light safely killed drug-resistant MRSA bacteria in mice, demonstrating a potentially safe and cost-effective way to reduce surgical site infections, a major public health concern. |
 | New drug to prevent migraine may start working in daysA new drug to prevent migraine was associated with fewer headache hours for people with chronic migraine within three to seven days after the first injection, according to a study published in the June 8, 2016, online issue of Neurology, the medical journal of the American Academy of Neurology. Chronic migraine is defined as headaches occurring at least 15 days per month. Study participants had migraine attacks for an average of 20 years prior to treatment. |
 | Strangers reach mutual understanding through talking and asking questions, not from non-verbal cuesPsychologists at The University of Texas at Arlington have discovered that when two strangers meet and interact for the first time, the extent to which they develop mutual understanding depends on how much they talk and ask questions rather than on non-verbal cues such as gestures or exchanging glances. |
 | Whole-exome sequencing predicts which bladder cancers and cell lines respond to cisplatinMuch of basic cancer research is based on studies with cultured cancer cells. However, the usefulness of these studies greatly depends on how accurately these cancer cells grown in a dish represent human tumors. A University of Colorado Cancer Center study published in the journal Oncogene used next-generation sequencing technologies to perform the most detailed DNA-based analysis to date of 25 commonly used bladder cancer cell lines, allowing researchers to match patient tumors with their closest genetic cell line match, and demonstrated genetic alterations that may make cells more or less sensitive to common therapies. |
 | Sound sleep elusive for many kids with ADHD(HealthDay)—A new study supports a claim parents have long made about children with attention-deficit/hyperactivity disorder—kids with ADHD don't sleep as well as other kids. |
 | Moving in first year of life ups preventable hospitalizations(HealthDay)—Children who move homes in the first year of life have a significantly increased risk of emergency admissions for potentially preventable hospitalizations (PPH) between ages 1 and 5 years, according to research published online June 3 in Pediatrics. |
 | PPI use ups risk of osteoporosis, osteopenia in femur(HealthDay)—Proton pump inhibitor (PPI) use is associated with increased risk of developing osteoporosis and osteopenia in femur bones, according to a study published online May 31 in the International Journal of Rheumatic Diseases. |
 | Clonidine has antipyretic effect in ICU patients(HealthDay)—For mechanically ventilated intensive care unit (ICU) patients, clonidine in addition to commonly used sedative agents has an antipyretic effect, according to a study published online June 6 in the Journal of Clinical Pharmacology. |
Replicating psychiatrists' expertise to prevent inpatient suicideClimbing suicide rates over the past ten years have prompted three Joint Commission Sentinel Event Alerts—the most recent in February 2016 - urging health care organizations to step up screening and detection of those individuals most at risk. But due to a shortage of both time and psychiatry staff, complying with this mandate presents a challenge. A tablet-based suicide risk assessment tool developed by researchers at the University of Vermont may provide clinicians in the hospital with a solution. | |
 | Sports practice accounts for just one percent of elite athletes' performance differencesAmong elite athletes, practice accounts for a scant 1 percent of the difference in their performances—and starting sports at an early age does not necessarily provide athletes an upper hand—according to new research. |
Chivalry is not dead when it comes to moralityWe're more likely to sacrifice a man than a woman when it comes to both saving the lives of others and in pursuing our self-interests, a team of psychology researchers has found. | |
 | Team develops blood test that detects early Alzheimer's diseaseA research team, led by Dr. Robert Nagele from Rowan University School of Osteopathic Medicine and Durin Technologies, Inc., has announced the development of a blood test that leverages the body's immune response system to detect an early stage of Alzheimer's disease - referred to as the mild cognitive impairment (MCI) stage - with unparalleled accuracy. In a "proof of concept" study involving 236 subjects, the test demonstrated an overall accuracy, sensitivity and specificity rate of 100 percent in identifying subjects whose MCI was actually caused by an early stage of Alzheimer's disease. |
 | Study links late sleep timing to poorer diet quality and lower physical activityA new study suggests that among healthy adults with a habitual sleep duration of at least 6.5 hours, late sleep timing was associated with higher fast food consumption and lower vegetable intake, particularly among men, as well as lower physical activity. |
Trauma in childhood linked to drug use in adolescenceLatest research from a national sample of almost 10,000 U.S. adolescents found psychological trauma, especially abuse and domestic violence before age 11, can increase the likelihood of experimentation with drugs in adolescence, independent of a history of mental illness. Results of the study conducted at Columbia University's Mailman School of Public Health are published online in the Journal of the American Academy of Child and Adolescent Psychiatry. | |
 | Standard blood pressure target is sufficient for treating some strokesAn international stroke study found that standard and intensive blood pressure treatments were equally effective in the emergency treatment of acute intracerebral hemorrhage, a type of stroke caused by bleeding into the brain. Patients whose systolic blood pressure was reduced rapidly in emergency rooms to standard levels used to treat acute stroke (140-179 mm Hg) did as well as patients whose pressure was reduced to intensive levels (110-139 mm Hg). The study, published in the New England Journal of Medicine, was funded by the NIH's National Institute of Neurological Disorders and Stroke (NINDS). |
Suicide prevention strategies revisited: A 10-year systematic reviewA major international review of suicide prevention has confirmed that some methods do work in reducing suicides, whereas others currently in use still have little proven effectiveness. | |
Congress sends Obama bill to regulate toxic chemicalsCongress on Tuesday sent President Barack Obama a sweeping bill that would for the first time regulate tens of thousands of toxic chemicals in everyday products, from household cleaners to clothing and furniture. | |
 | Research shows high cancer death rates in AsiaAsia has one of the lowest overall cancer rates globally, but cancer patients are more likely to die there than most other regions. |
You could be paying more for less effective medicineA new study suggests that weak drug regulation and misleading marketing can lead doctors to prescribe more expensive, riskier, and less beneficial drugs. "Under the Influence: The Interplay among Industry, Publishing, and Drug Regulation" appeared in the journal Accountability in Research. | |
Portugese president vetos surrogacy lawPortugal's centre-right President Marcelo Rebelo de Sousa on Tuesday vetoed a law authorising surrogacy in some cases where a couple cannot conceive, quashing legislation adopted by parliament in May. | |
 | Physical activity in dementiaIt has been recognised for over 60 years that regular physical activity provides health benefits. Our bodies are designed to be stimulated by physical exertion. Fitness is associated with lower all-cause mortality, along with improved sleep, quality of life, social life and reduced stress. On the other hand, physical inactivity predicts obesity, diabetes, cardiovascular disease, mental health issues, reduced quality of life and overall mortality. The evidence is clear: we need to get moving. |
How web search data might help diagnose serious illness earlierEarly diagnosis is key to gaining the upper hand against a wide range of diseases. Now Microsoft researchers are suggesting that records of the topics that people search for on the Internet could one day prove as useful as an X-ray or MRI in detecting some illnesses before it's too late. | |
Plant-based sweeteners may help individuals control their blood glucose levelsA new study shows that it is possible to reduce the level of sugar in muffins without affecting their textural properties by replacing half of the sugar content with stevianna or inulin, which are plant-based sweeteners. Also, after individuals consumed sugar-replaced muffins, their glycemic response—or the concentration of glucose in the blood—was lower than when they consumed regular muffins. | |
 | Biomarkers from microvesiclesAlicia Llorente is the project leader for the project "Microvesicles as a Source of Prostate Cancer Biomarkers". Alicia works as a project group leader at the Department of Molecular Cell Biology, Institute for Cancer Research at Oslo University Hospital. Her general research interest is Biomedicine.In particular she studies the biology and clinical applications of exosomes, nanovesicles released by cells to the extracellular environment, in cancer. |
Cancer researchers take on an old foeIn the annals of cancer research, a protein known as KRas has become notorious. Part of a family of proteins implicated in 30 percent of cancers, KRas is considered a highly desirable but defiant drug target. Scientists have resuscitated efforts to crack its structure and find drugs to disable it. The cover story of Chemical & Engineering News (C&EN), the weekly newsmagazine of the American Chemical Society, reports on the latest efforts to fight KRas. | |
Rush-hour for neutrophilsResearchers at Ludwig-Maximilians-Universitaet (LMU) in Munich have shown that circadian oscillations in the influx of immune cells into the damaged tissue play a crucial role in exacerbating the effects of an acute heart attack in the early morning hours. | |
Recovery-oriented systems of care—new approach to integrated treatment for people with substance use, mental disordersRecovery-oriented systems of care (ROSC) offer a promising approach to improving care for the millions of individuals who have substance use disorders and, very frequently, co-occurring mental health disorders. An update on recovery, recovery management (RM), and ROSC for the comprehensive, integrated management of substance use and psychiatric disorders is presented in the June issue of Journal of Addictions Nursing, the official journal of the International Nurses Society on Addictions. | |
 | Cultural sensitivities obstacle at UN AIDS conferenceNo one at the high-level United Nations conference devoted to ending the AIDS epidemic by 2030 denies serious scientific and financial challenges remain, but cultural sensitivities may prove the toughest stumbling block on the way to achieving that goal. |
UN plan to end AIDS by 2030 faces Russian resistanceUN member-states agreed on Wednesday to fast-track their response to end the AIDS pandemic by 2030 despite a last-minute bid by Russia to dilute efforts to focus on drug users and gay men. | |
 | California aid-in-dying law concerns some Latinos, blacksCalifornia on Thursday becomes the latest state to allow the terminally ill to legally choose to end their lives, raising worries among some people in the state's large Latino and African-American communities that poor people with serious illnesses could be pressured to take lethal drugs as a cheaper option to long-term care. |
Oregon races to finalize rules for marijuana, issue licensesAfter months of public hearings with pot growers, lawmen, public health officials and others, an Oregon commission is racing to finalize recreational marijuana regulations and issue licenses to hundreds of businesses within a few months. | |
Study shows sleep disturbances common among military spousesA new study found that spouses of military service members experience significant sleep problems, which can impact their health and psychosocial functioning. | |
 | UAB receives cutting-edge robot to diagnose and support treatment of prostate cancerThe world-renowned iSR'obotTM Mona Lisa makes its way to the United States, providing urologic surgeons with a tool to diagnose prostate cancer earlier through accurate diagnosis and precise localization that may allow for targeted treatments in the future. |
Study finds targeting 'ideal cardiovascular health' lowers diabetes risk, but with ethnic differencesA new study published in Diabetologia (the journal of the European Association for the Study of Diabetes [EASD]) shows that significant differences by race/ethnicity exist in the degree of association between measures of cardiovascular health (together constituting 'ideal cardiovascular health') and the risk of diabetes, and that as many as three out of five cases of diabetes may be attributable to poor cardiovascular health factors. | |
Biology news
 | Secret lives of Amazonian fishes revealed by chemicals stored in their ear-stonesFish species that are both economically and ecologically important in South America live mysterious lives. |
 | Sea snakes can sense objects at a distance by feeling movements in the waterThe move from life on land to life in the sea has led to the evolution of a new sense for sea snakes, a University of Adelaide-led study suggests. |
 | Study looks at bacteria to remove metals from mine-impacted waterResearchers at Penn State are refining a natural, low-cost process that will help remove some of the most abundant pollutants, such as iron, from mine-contaminated water. |
 | Sperm with specific 'looks' are selected to fertilise bird eggs, say scientistsFewer than one per cent of inseminated sperm reach the egg and a new study has discovered that successful sperm have certain characteristics which are preferred by the female bird. |
 | Closer look reveals how deep ocean squid uses 'leaky' optical fibers to disappear into the background(Phys.org)—A pair of researchers with the University of Pennsylvania has discovered how a type of deep ocean squid is able to remain unseen by predators despite having clearly visible eyes. In their paper published in Journal of the Royal Society Interface, Amanda Holt and Alison Sweeney describe their study of glass squid and how it has evolved to hide itself from predators that lurk in any direction. |
 | Computer games help explain lizard stripes(Phys.org)—A pair of researchers with the Indian Institute of Science Education and Research Thiruvananthapuram has found that stripes on lizards cause predators to see them as moving slower than they actually are, causing attackers to miss their targets. In their paper published in the journal Royal Society Open Science, Gopal Murali and Ullasa Kodandaramaiah discuss their theories on why some animals have stripes, their experiments with grad students playing specially designed computer games and what they found as a result. |
 | Second layer of information in DNA confirmedLeiden theoretical physicists have proven that DNA mechanics, in addition to genetic information in DNA, determines who we are. Helmut Schiessel and his group simulated many DNA sequences and found a correlation between mechanical cues and the way DNA is folded. They have published their results in PLoS One. |
 | Malaria-proof mosquito? Tool promising but needs more studyA powerful new technology holds the promise of rapidly altering genes to make malaria-proof mosquitoes, eliminate their Zika-carrying cousins or wipe out an invasive species, but a report Wednesday says these "gene drives" aren't ready to let loose in the wild just yet. |
 | Bearded dragons change color on different body parts for social signals and temperature regulationNew research shows that bearded dragons are able to partition colour change to specific body parts, depending on whether they are responding to temperature or communicating with other lizards. |
 | Slime mold gives insight into the intelligence of neuron-less organismsHow do organisms without brains make decisions? Most of life is brainless and the vast majority of organisms on Earth lack neurons altogether. Plants, fungi and bacteria must all cope with the same problem as humans - to make the best choices in a complex and ever-changing world or risk dying - without the help of a simple nervous system in many cases. |
 | New chromosome origin element identifiedNewcastle University scientists have discovered a new essential sequence within bacterial genomes required for DNA replication - the second ever to be discovered and the first for 30 years. |
New research shines light on surprising numbers and evolutionary variety of bioluminescent ocean fishA study appearing in the journal PLOS ONE this week shows that bioluminescence—the production of light from a living organism—is more widespread among marine fishes than previously understood. | |
 | Hiking, hunting has minor effects on mammals in protected eastern forestsA North Carolina State University study of mammals in protected Eastern forests found that hiking and hunting caused minor effects on wildlife distribution. |
 | Climate change likely to turn up heat on koalasA changing climate means that by 2070 koalas may no longer call large parts of inland Australia home, researchers have found. |
 | Fijian bees' love for exotic plants makes Fiji especially vulnerable to invasive speciesNative Fijian bees' love for pollen from introduced species could be a major threat to the Pacific island's ecosystems, according to research by students from Flinders University and the University of South Australia. |
 | Students isolate potentially novel soil-dwelling virusesAfter sifting through soil samples collected from across Massachusetts, then drilling down to analyze the DNA of viruses they found, a team of undergraduates at Worcester Polytechnic Institute (WPI) hit pay dirt—three potentially novel viruses. |
 | Minecraft tree 'probably' the tallest tree in the TropicsA tree the height of 20 London double-decker buses has been discovered in Malaysia by conservation scientists monitoring the impact of human activity on the biodiversity of a pristine rainforest. The tree, a Yellow Meranti, is one of the species that can be grown in the computer game Minecraft. |
 | The Godzilla goby is the latest new species discovered by the Smithsonian DROP projectAs part of the Deep Reef Observation Project (DROP), initiated by the Smithsonian Institution, a new goby fish species was discovered in the southern Caribbean. Living at depths greater than conventional SCUBA divers can access, yet too shallow to be of interest for deep-diving submersibles, the fish will now be known under the common name of the Godzilla goby. |
 | How 'super organisms' evolve in response to toxic environmentsScientists have long known that many diseases have a strong genetic component, but they are only recently paying more attention to the role played by the relationship between genetics and the environment. |
 | Switched-on Salmonella: Fluid forces guide disease traits of multidrug-resistant bacteriaOnce inside the human body, infectious microbes like Salmonella face a fluid situation. They live in a watery world, surrounded by liquid continually flowing over and abrading their cell surfaces—a property known as fluid shear. |
 | Fishing prohibitions produce more sharks along with problems for fishing communitiesScientists working for Murdoch University, the Wildlife Conservation Society, The Nature Conservancy, and other groups have good news about fishing closures established in Indonesia's shark sanctuary: It's good for sharks and other fish, all of which are more abundant within zones with fishing restrictions. |
 | Changing weather patterns threaten grassland sparrowsTwo of North America's declining grassland songbirds may be particularly vulnerable to altered weather patterns caused by climate change, according to new research in The Condor: Ornithological Applications. |
Death of gorilla sparks much bigger questions around role of zoosPlenty of debate, outrage and chatter ensued when a 17-year-old gorilla was shot and killed at the Cincinnati Zoo last month after a young boy fell into the animal's enclosure. | |
 | Gene test reveals severe skeletal disease in Shetland poniesA genetic defect that can cause skeletal deformities in Shetland ponies (skeletal atavism) has been identified by researchers at Uppsala University and the Swedish University of Agricultural Sciences, in cooperation with colleagues in the USA. The discovery means that healthy carriers now can be tracked using a gene test. |
 | What does the Hawaiian lava-tube bat tell us about bat paleobiogeography?Hawaii is among the most remote places on earth, and that fact is reflected among its vertebrate fauna. In fact, only two extant mammal species can claim to be native to the islands: the Hawaiian monk seal and the Hawaiian hoary bat. Perhaps it is obvious that an aquatic and a volant mammal were the only species to make the 3,000 mile plus journey to the middle of the Pacific Ocean, but, at least in the case of bats, paleobiogeography is rarely straightforward. |
Wildlife phone apps cause chaos in S.Africa's Kruger ParkMobile telephone apps that track wildlife sightings in South Africa's Kruger Park have caused a rise in road rage, roadkills and speeding as tourists rush to animal sightings, officials said Wednesday. | |
 | France seizes 350 kg of ivoryFrench customs said Wednesday that officers had seized over 350 kilogrammes (770 pounds) of elephant tusks in recent weeks, the biggest haul of ivory in the country in ten years. |
This email is a free service of Science X Network
You received this email because you subscribed to our list.
If you no longer want to receive this email use the link below to unsubscribe.
https://sciencex.com/profile/nwletter/
You are subscribed as jmabs1@gmail.com
No comments:
Post a Comment