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Here is your customized Science X Newsletter for August 31, 2016:
Spotlight Stories Headlines
Astronomy & Space news
 | First stars formed even later than previously thoughtESA's Planck satellite has revealed that the first stars in the Universe started forming later than previous observations of the Cosmic Microwave Background indicated. This new analysis also shows that these stars were the only sources needed to account for reionising atoms in the cosmos, having completed half of this process when the Universe had reached an age of 700 million years. |
 | Galaxy cluster discovered at record-breaking distanceA new record for the most distant galaxy cluster has been set using NASA's Chandra X-ray Observatory and other telescopes. This galaxy cluster may have been caught right after birth, a brief, but important stage of evolution never seen before. |
 | NASA's DNA sequencing in space is a success, researchers confirmTwo hundred miles above Earth, NASA has conducted the first genome sequencing in space, and researchers at UC San Francisco helped analyze the data sent back from the International Space Station and confirm that the process was a success. |
 | Discovery one-ups tatooine, finds twin stars hosting three giant exoplanetsA team of Carnegie scientists has discovered three giant planets in a binary star system composed of stellar ''twins'' that are also effectively siblings of our Sun. One star hosts two planets and the other hosts the third. The system represents the smallest-separation binary in which both stars host planets that has ever been observed. The findings, which may help explain the influence that giant planets like Jupiter have over a solar system's architecture, have been accepted for publication in The Astronomical Journal. |
 | Dawn sets course for higher orbitAfter studying Ceres for more than eight months from its low-altitude science orbit, NASA's Dawn spacecraft will move higher up for different views of the dwarf planet. |
 | Image: Space recovery USBAll computer enthusiasts have a recovery disk available in case their computer stops working – and it's no different for a liquids experiment on the International Space Station. |
 | Galileo's Ariane 5 arrives at Europe's SpaceportThe first Ariane 5 rocket modified to carry four Galileo satellites into orbit has arrived at Europe's Spaceport in French Guiana for a November launch. |
 | Dark matter—hot or not?For almost a century, astronomers and cosmologists have postulated that space is filled with an invisible mass known as "dark matter". Accounting for 27% of the mass and energy in the observable universe, the existence of this matter was intended to explain all the "missing" baryonic matter in cosmological models. Unfortunately, the concept of dark matter has solved one cosmological problem, only to create another. |
 | Tiny particle blows hole in European satellite's solar panel (Update)With its sights firmly fixed on Earth, Europe's eye in the sky never saw it coming. |
 | 'Ring of fire' eclipse for African stargazersStargazers in south and central Africa will be treated to a spectacular solar eclipse Thursday when the Moon wanders into view to make the Sun appear as a "ring of fire", astronomers say. |
Technology news
 | New cooling method for supercomputers to save millions of gallons of waterIn different parts of the country, people discuss gray-water recycling and rainwater capture to minimize the millions of gallons of groundwater required to cool large data centers. But the simple answer in many climates, said Sandia National Laboratories researcher David J. Martinez, is to use liquid refrigerant. |
 | Samsung updates smartwatch, Lenovo ditches laptop keyboard (Update)Samsung's next smartwatch will come with GPS capabilities and the ability to call or text for help by triple-tapping a side button. |
 | Drive.ai focus is on retrofitted self-driving kit for business fleets(Tech Xplore)—Drive. ai is a team to watch as the world's drivers face a future of self-driving cars. On Tuesday Drive.ai introduced its path to support, through its technology, the commercialization of self-driving cars. |
IBM's Almaden Lab: A glimpse into the futureTo step inside IBM Research-Almaden is to get a peek into how the latest advances in technology are being applied to a crazy quilt of important issues from food safety and cancer to recycling. | |
For young kids, YouTube beats Disney, OreoA new study has determined something most astute parents are already hip to: YouTube is the most-loved brand with their young kids. | |
 | The quest to end lost airline luggageVictor DaRosa stands under a scorching afternoon sun, loading bags onto a jet heading to Detroit. |
 | Berlin's IFA fair dons virtual reality headsetsVirtual and augmented reality gadgets are expected to hog the limelight at Berlin's mega consumer electronics show IFA this week, as Pokemon Go gave a tantalising preview of the appetite for reality-altering technologies. |
 | Dotcom's battle to avoid US trial goes liveThe protracted battle to have Megaupload founder Kim Dotcom face video piracy charges in the United States broke new ground on Wednesday with live-streaming of his appeal against extradition. |
Apple on firm financial footing as EU tax bill hitsA multi-billion-dollar tax bill imposed by the European Union could bruise Apple's image more than its finances, which remain solid even as the trend-setting company looks for the next big thing. | |
 | Twitter offers video creators share of ad moneyTwitter on Tuesday began offering video creators a cut of ad revenue in a move that could help it better compete with YouTube and Facebook for content viewers seek. |
 | A data-cleaning tool for building better prediction modelsBig data sets are full of dirty data, and these outliers, typos and missing values can produce distorted models that lead to wrong conclusions and bad decisions, be it in healthcare or finance. With so much at stake, data cleaning should be easier. |
Lyft and Uber launch programs to cater to seniorsUber and Lyft spent the last four years cornering the millennial market. Now they're going after a new demographic: senior citizens. | |
Intelligent technology—the evolution and future of automationThe world's oldest board game still has a few moves to play. Go, a game of strategy and instinct considered more difficult to master than chess, was created roughly in the same era as the written word. The game is uniquely human—at least, it used to be. Last year, a computer program called AlphaGo defeated an internationally ranked professional player. | |
 | Machine learning techniques enable models from partial image dataVirtual three-dimensional models of buildings and cities are used in an increasing number of situations, including systems such as driving and flying simulators and first responder training, internet maps, games, movies and even architectural and engineering walkthroughs. In each of these virtual environments, small buildings or dwellings can make up a huge proportion of the objects encountered and the character of these buildings sets the look, identity and locale for the simulation. However, with thousands of such buildings in the background, developers of virtual cities can have difficulty populating their world models with realistic buildings in addition to the specific locations that form the focus of the simulation. |
 | Where's your data? It's not actually in the cloud, it's sitting in a data centreWithout data centres, today's world stops. Flights are grounded, Wall Street closes, and the internet grinds to a halt. Yet despite their emergence as nerve centres of the global economy, data centres have drawn almost no attention in debates about globalisation and nor are they often discussed outside of business and IT publications. |
 | How does a computer know where you're looking?Imagine driving a car, using a heads-up display projection on the windshield to navigate through an unfamiliar city. This is augmented reality (AR); the information is used to not only guide you along a route, but also to alert you to salient information in your surroundings, such as cyclists or pedestrians. The correct placement of virtual content is not only crucial, but perhaps a matter of life and death. |
Turbulence forces emergency landing in Ireland; 12 injuredA United Airlines flight bound for London made an emergency landing at Shannon Airport in Ireland on Wednesday after severe turbulence that left 12 passengers needing hospital treatment, officials said. | |
Crowdfunding site launches in Singapore and Hong KongCrowdfunding site Kickstarter made its Asia debut Wednesday with launches in Singapore and Hong Kong, giving entrepreneurs in the two cities the opportunity to raise funding from global investors. | |
 | New digital antenna could revolutionize the future of mobile phonesAalto University's Radio Science and Engineering researchers have developed a method that allows antennas to make the shift from the analogue to the digital world. The antennas currently in use are mostly based on technology developed half a century ago. |
 | iRobot CEO says vacuum cleaners clear path to robot futureThe clash this year over the future of iRobot pitted visionary robotics against the retail success of the company's Roombas, the circular-shaped domestic helpers that have cleaned millions of living rooms around the world. |
 | Facebook changes to Trending Topics questioned after blunderFacebook's changes to its "Trending Topics" section are being questioned after it featured a false report about Fox News anchor Megyn Kelly. |
Tesla planning upgrade to semi-autonomous Autopilot systemTesla Motors is planning improvements to its semi-autonomous Autopilot system after a fatal crash earlier this summer. | |
Apple case highlights huge untaxed profits of corporate giantsThe huge back-tax bill European authorities slapped on Apple has put a spotlight on $2.4 trillion in untaxed earnings parked offshore by US companies, a tempting target for governments seeking to strengthen their finances. | |
 | If one lens on a phone camera is good, are two better?Apple isn't saying much about its next iPhones, but there's been plenty of speculation that the giant Plus model will have two camera lenses side by side on the back. |
A software 'detective' for wind power generationAdvanced detection of wind anomalies could help prolong the lifespan of wind turbine components and reduce the cost of wind energy generation. In this context, European researchers have developed smart control software | |
 | Going sustainable to rejuvenate the suburbsPeripheral areas often face poverty, crime, waste, pollution and decay. A new trend, however, considers suburbs the best places to develop green initiatives and energy efficiency interventions. Many peripheral areas are becoming laboratories of innovation, hosting initiatives for a sustainable future. Now, a social housing building in Zaragoza, Spain, is piloting the regeneration of a suburb. |
Apple tax bill undermines transatlantic cooperation, Lew saysUS Treasury Secretary Jacob Lew on Wednesday reiterated the Obama administration's frustration with European authorities over their decision this week to impose back taxes on Apple. | |
 | 'Help Wanted' signs go unanswered at some small businessesSmall businesses that can't find the right people to fill their job openings may be suffering from a Great Recession hangover. |
Lew says Apple's tax fight could spur congressional actionU.S. Treasury Secretary Jacob Lew on Wednesday criticized a European ruling that Apple owes more than $14.5 billion in back taxes. But he said the decision may spur Congress to finally address the stalled effort to reform America's corporate tax structure. | |
Medicine & Health news
 | Researchers gain new understanding of how neutrophilsAs an arm of the innate immune system, white blood cells called neutrophils form the first line of defense against invading pathogens. Neutrophils spend most of their lives racing through the bloodstream, patrolling for bacteria or other foreign particles. Once they arrive at tissues besieged by infectious agents, they halt on a dime and then blast through the vessel wall to reach the inflammatory attack site. They do this by activating integrins, a class of adhesion receptors that can switch on in less than a second. |
 | Study finds potential new biomarker for cancer patient prognosisTo treat or not to treat? That is the question researchers at the Department of Energy's Lawrence Berkeley National Laboratory (Berkeley Lab) hope to answer with a new advance that could help doctors and their cancer patients decide if a particular therapy would be worth pursuing. |
 | Trial drug shows 'impressive' Alzheimer's action: studyAn experimental drug cleared protein buildup in the brains of people with mild Alzheimer's disease and slowed their mental decline, the results of a preliminary trial showed Wednesday. |
Accumulation of a product of cell metabolism found to be linked with kidney tumor growthResearchers funded by the Medical Research Council (MRC) have shown that when the metabolite fumarate accumulates in a hereditary form of renal cancer it leads to an epigenetic reprogramming that drives cancer, according to a study published in Nature. The tumour growth mechanism seen here could be similar in other cancers, such as lung and bowel cancer, where the enzyme that breaks down fumarate is not present or not fully functional. | |
 | Researchers use a single molecule to command stem cells to build new boneResearchers at the University of California San Diego have discovered an easy and efficient way to coax human pluripotent stem cells to regenerate bone tissue—by feeding them adenosine, a naturally occurring molecule in the body. The stem-cell-derived bone tissue helped repair cranial bone defects in mice without developing tumors or causing infection. |
 | Forensic DNA analysis checks the origin of cultured cellsCell lines are cultured cells that are commonly used in medical research. New results from Uppsala University show that such cells are not always what they are assumed to be. Using genetic analyses, the researchers showed that a commonly used cell line which was established in Uppsala, Sweden, almost fifty years ago does not originate from the patient it is claimed to stem from. The findings are published today in the journal Science Translational Medicine. |
 | Tall people have built-in advantage when it comes to spatial relations, study findsTall quarterbacks might have more going for them than a clear view over the offensive line. |
 | Body's cellular building blocks arise from genetic tugs of warDeveloping blood cells are caught in tugs of war between competing gene regulatory networks before finally deciding what type of cell to become, according to a study published Aug. 31 in Nature. |
One-time treatment rescues lethal metabolic liver disease in miceTo treat the liver disorder tyrosinaemia type I, one of the most severe forms of the disease, doctors typically use drug therapy. However the treatment is lifelong and a residual risk of liver cancer persists, which is usually treated by orthotopic liver transplantation. Now, researchers at Baylor College of Medicine have shown in mice that by deleting a disease-associated gene they can turn the once deadly illness into a benign form. | |
 | Neuroscientists decrypt the sleeping brain to reveal hidden memoriesThe brain connects sensory information from the environment to our subjective experiences, resulting in our perceptions, emotions, and memories. However, our brains need to disconnect—i.e., sleep—from the noisy sensory world that we're steeped in. Sleep helps us maintain brain health, makes our memories stronger, and aids in problem solving. |
 | Zinc found to reverse brain cell changes in autismCellular changes in the brain caused by genetic mutations that occur in autism can be reversed by zinc, according to research at the University of Auckland. |
 | High level of knowledge about a topic doubles the chances of 'false memories'Experts that are knowledgeable about certain subjects are twice as likely to have 'false memories' about their topic of specialisation, according to new research by scientists at UCD School of Psychology. |
 | Out of sync: How genetic variation can disrupt the heart's rhythmIn the August 31 issue of Science Translational Medicine, new research from the University of Chicago shows how deficits in a specific pathway of genes can lead to the development of atrial fibrillation, a common irregular heartbeat, which poses a significant health risk. |
Experts urge rethink on health targetThe concept of premature mortality needs to be either abandoned or redefined if it is not to discriminate against older people, according to a University of East Anglia (UEA) academic and other experts on ageing. | |
 | Three steps to lower a woman's risk of premature birth(HealthDay)—Up to one-quarter of preterm births might be prevented if women paid attention to three risk factors that are under their control, new research suggests. |
Nationwide study sets benchmarks for 30-day mortality following chemotherapy for breast and lung cancer in EnglandFor the first time, national data on 30-day mortality for patients with breast and lung cancer treated with chemotherapy have been collected and analysed in order to help clinical teams review and improve patient care, and identify groups of patients who may have additional needs. | |
Is your child snoring? It may be a sign of a serious sleep issueSnoring can be a normal symptom of a cold or virus in children. But when snoring persists and children have difficulty sleeping, parents should take their children to a doctor to look for signs of more serious conditions. | |
Is strength training safe for teens?Dear Mayo Clinic: My daughter is 15 and lifts weights regularly to stay in shape. Lately, she's complained about stretch marks on her legs as a result of weight lifting. She doesn't like how they look, but I'm more concerned that she is doing too much. Is weight training healthy for girls who are still growing? How much is too much? | |
 | Low diastolic BP linked to subclinical myocardial damage(HealthDay)—Low diastolic blood pressure (DBP) is associated with subclinical myocardial damage and coronary heart disease (CHD) events, according to a study published online Aug. 30 in the Journal of the American College of Cardiology. The research was published to coincide with the annual European Society of Cardiology Congress, held from Aug. 27 to 31 in Rome. |
Sexual function problems prevalent among younger adults after heart attack, more common among womenAmong men and women 18 to 55 years of age, more than half of women and just under half of men had sexual function problems in the year after a heart attack, according to a study published online by JAMA Cardiology. Despite a high prevalence of sexual function problems, few study participants reported having any conversation with a physician about resuming sex after a heart attack. | |
Parents' psychiatric disease linked to kids' risk of suicide attempt, violent offendingRisk for suicide attempts and violent offending by children appears to be associated with their parents' psychiatric disorders, according to an article published online by JAMA Psychiatry. | |
Weight loss following bariatric surgery sustained long-termObese patients who underwent Roux-en-Y gastric bypass (RYGB) lost much more weight than those who did not and were able to sustain most of this weight loss 10 years after surgery, according to a study published online by JAMA Surgery. | |
 | Liberian malaria cases declined following mass drug administration during Ebola outbreakMass drug administration may have reduced malarial incidence during the 2014 Ebola outbreak in Liberia, according to a study published August 31, 2016 in the open-access journal PLOS ONE by Anna Kuehne from Epicentre, France, and colleagues. |
 | Traces of Ebola virus linger longer than expected in semenInitial data from a Liberian public health program show about 9 percent (38) of 429 male Ebola survivors had fragments of Ebola virus in their semen. Of those, 63 percent had semen samples that tested positive for Ebola fragments a year after recovering from disease and, in one man's case, at least 565 days after he recovered from illness. Men older than 40 were more likely than younger men to have a semen sample test positive. |
 | Is a trend for pink chicken livers making diners sick?People are being warned to take the current trend for 'pink' chicken liver recipes with a pinch of salt. |
New research uncovers the first steps of how human organs and tissues developFor the first time, the precise way individual human organs and tissue develop has been mapped – providing new insight into how genetic disorders can occur during the crucial early phase of development. | |
 | Can combat PTSD be cured?Combat-related post traumatic stress disorder—or Combat PTSD—is a serious but poorly understood condition that affects hundreds of thousands of American military veterans. Along with Traumatic Brain Injury (TBI) and Clinical Depression, PTSD can be one of the most pervasive "invisible injuries" faced by veterans who have been wounded physically, psychologically, or both. |
 | Naloxone—an antidote to opioid overdoseNaloxone is an opioid antagonist, used as an "antidote" for opioid overdose which includes heroin, and opioid pain medicines such as morphine, fentanyl and codeine. It has been used since the 1970s by ambulance services and hospital emergency departments, and in these settings has been shown to be safe, reliable and effective. |
Holes found in report on St. Jude medical device securityA recent report that alleges security flaws in St. Jude Medical's pacemakers and other life-saving medical devices has major flaws of its own, University of Michigan researchers say. | |
 | Operational mechanism of the 'acid-sensing ion channel' that recognizes internal body painProfessor Byung-Chang Suh's research team from the Department of Brain and Cognitive Sciences at Daegu Gyeongbuk Institute of Science and Technology (DGIST), South Korea, succeeded in identifying a new operational mechanism principle of the 'Acid-sensing Ion Channel,' which recognizes internal pain in an organism. |
Researchers clarify relationships between diabetes and two cognitive disordersResearchers in the University of Kentucky College of Public Health and UK College of Medicine recently published a landmark study examining the relationships between diabetes and two types of cognitive dysfunction, Alzheimer's disease and cerebrovascular disease. | |
 | Some obese people show little evidence of diseases linked to unhealthy dietsWe know that excess weight, and especially obesity, can lead to heart disease and diabetes. But not all obese people have the same risk factors for disease. In fact, some extremely overweight people are actually "metabolically healthy," meaning that they exhibit few symptoms of metabolic syndrome, such as high blood pressure, high blood sugar and high cholesterol. |
Simple measures cut sepsis deaths nearly in halfSepsis, commonly called blood poisoning, is a common affliction that can affect people of all ages. A series of simple measures tested at a Norwegian hospital can make a difference in successfully treating sepsis. | |
PTSD increases risk for metabolic syndrome and reduced cortical thicknessMetabolic syndrome, a cluster of cardiometabolic conditions, may be a biological mechanism linking posttraumatic stress disorder (PTSD) to structural brain abnormalities, according to a new study in Biological Psychiatry. The findings highlight the need to develop effective interventions for PTSD to treat not only the symptoms associated with the disorder, but also potential ensuing metabolic and neurodegenerative consequences, which may be suggestive of premature aging. | |
 | New drug to fight fatal but neglected tropical diseaseIn a breakthrough for those infected by the parasites that cause sleeping sickness, a young Queensland researcher has identified a compound that kills the parasites in the lab without having any toxic effect on human cells. |
Cognitive behavior therapy could be key for children with autism getting enough sleepCognitive behavioral therapy is a short-term form of therapy that focuses on changing how a person thinks about and reacts to specific situations. Used by therapists for decades, it has been proven effective for treating a number of problems including insomnia. During the therapy, patients usually keep a sleep diary and work with a therapist to identify behaviors that are interfering with sleep. Experts from the University of Missouri believe that a family-based cognitive behavioral therapy may be the key for children with autism spectrum disorder (ASD) who have problems sleeping. | |
 | Children must be protected from robust marketing if they're going to eat wellFor the sake of future generations, it is critical that we teach our children to eat well: lots of fruit and vegetables, less salt, less sugar and fewer processed carbohydrates. |
 | Healing virus 'Rigvir' can double cancer survival ratesStrangely enough, cancer patients across the world seem to have come to terms with the fact that the most effective treatment against cancer - chemotherapy - actually destroys their immune system. In Latvia, however, a breakthrough virotherapy called Rigvir has been doing wonders since 2004. This new treatment, which breaks down cancer cells, simulates the immune system and promotes cancer cell suicide, will soon be brought to the rest of Europe partly thanks to EU support under Horizon 2020. |
 | Potential new treatment for cocaine addictionA team of researchers led by Cardiff University has discovered a promising new drug treatment for cocaine addiction. |
CRISPR/Cas9 technology to inactivate cancer mutationsAs for many other biomedical and biotechnology disciplines, the genome scissor "CRISPR/Cas9" also opens up completely new possibilities for cancer research. Scientists of the National Center for Tumor Disease (NCT), the German Consortium for Translational Cancer Research (DKTK) and the Medical Faculty of the TU Dresden have shown that mutations that act as cancer drivers can be targeted and repaired. The most relevant mutations could therefore be diagnosed faster, improving personalized therapies. | |
 | Major step towards Alzheimer's blood testA research team, led by Cardiff University, has made a significant step towards the development of a simple blood test to predict the onset of Alzheimer's disease. |
 | No link to lower IQs in children of mothers who have taken newer forms of epilepsy drugsTwo newer epilepsy drugs may not harm the thinking skills or IQs of school-aged children whose mothers took them while pregnant - but an older drug is linked to cognitive problems in children, especially if their mothers took high doses - according to new research from The University of Manchester. |
Internet and mobile devices prompt positive lifestyle changesPeople are more likely to adopt heart healthy behaviors when guided and encouraged via the Internet, their cellphones or other devices, according to 23 years of research reviewed in Journal of the American Heart Association, the Open Access Journal of the American Heart Association/American Stroke Association. | |
 | Multiple sclerosis misdiagnosis study supports improved education of cliniciansA number of common conditions are mistaken for multiple sclerosis (MS), a disabling central nervous system disease, say researchers at four academic medical centers across the U.S in a study published online August 31, 2016 in the journal Neurology. |
 | High alcohol intake associated with slightly decreased female fertilityWomen who drink 14 or more servings of alcohol a week are slightly more likely to have reduced fertility, suggests a study published by The BMJ today. |
Researchers see hyperbaric chamber easing drug withdrawal symptomsWashington State University researchers have found that treatments of pure oxygen in a high-pressure chamber can relieve the symptoms of opiate withdrawal. | |
 | Scientists discover noninvasive technique to monitor migrainesNew UBC research has found that amplified electroencephalograms (EEGs) can produce diagnostic results of a brainwave associated with migraines and epilepsy that are comparable to the current, more invasive, standard—a discovery that could lead to better treatment and diagnosis of these conditions. |
Youth crimes spike immediately after drinking ageA new study from the Northern Medical Program at the University of Northern British Columbia has shown that minimum legal drinking age (MLDA) legislation in Canada can have a major effect on crimes committed by young adults. Young people just older than the legal age had significant increases in commission of all crimes, including violent crimes and nuisance crimes, compared to those immediately under the restriction. | |
 | Insecure childhood can make dealing with stress harderImagine two candidates at a high stakes job interview. One of them handles the pressure with ease and sails through the interview. The other candidate, however, feels very nervous and under-performs. |
Scientists show that a 'Superman' disguise could actually workResearchers at the University of York have shown that small alterations to a person's appearance, such as wearing glasses, can significantly hinder positive facial identification. | |
Researchers discover signaling cascade that drives fatty tumorsA common cell signaling pathway that controls differentiation of stem cells may also control the formation of tumor cells in fat, according to a Purdue University study. | |
Selenium status influence cancer riskAs a nutritional trace element, selenium forms an essential part of our diet. In collaboration with the International Agency for Research on Cancer, researchers from Charité - Universitätsmedizin Berlin have been able to show that high blood selenium levels are associated with a decreased risk of developing liver cancer. In addition to other risk factors, the study also examines in how far selenium levels may influence the development of other types of cancer. Results from this study have been published in the American Journal of Clinical Nutrition. | |
 | A new key in fighting Kennedy's diseaseIf a disease affects motoneurons, cells that control voluntary muscle activity, researchers should focus their efforts on motoneurons to find potential treatments, right? |
 | Feeling heavy, light, or about right? Your genes may be to blameDo you feel overweight, about right, or too skinny? Your answer to that question may be tied to genes you inherited from your parents, especially if you are a female, according to a new study led by the University of Colorado Boulder. |
 | Off-hours presentation not detrimental in STEMI(HealthDay)—For patients with ST-segment elevation myocardial infarction (STEMI), presentation off-hours seems not to be associated with risk, according to a research letter published online Aug. 30 in the Journal of the American College of Cardiology. The research was published to coincide with the annual European Society of Cardiology Congress, held from Aug. 27 to 31 in Rome. |
 | Optimism, cynical hostility influence fall risk in women(HealthDay)—Optimism is associated with a decreased fall risk and cynical hostility with an increased fall risk for women, according to a study published online Aug. 27 in the Journal of Bone and Mineral Research. |
 | Funds to fight Zika nearly exhausted: CDC(HealthDay)—Federal funds to combat the Zika virus are nearly exhausted and there will be no money to fight a new outbreak unless Congress approves more funding, the head of the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention said Tuesday. |
 | Body mass index, fat percentage predict menses resumption(HealthDay)—For patients with a history of anorexia nervosa, both body mass index and fat percentage can predict resumption of the menstrual cycle, according to a study published online Aug. 29 in the International Journal of Eating Disorders. |
 | TBC1D4 mutation common in north american inuit(HealthDay)—More than one-quarter of Canadian and Alaskan Inuit have the TBC1D4 mutation resulting in elevated postprandial glucose, and those with prediabetes and type 2 diabetes have increased risk of remaining undiagnosed, according to a study published online Aug. 25 in Diabetes Care. |
 | New study finds connection between chronic pain and anxiety disordersNew research provides insight into a long-observed, but little-understood connection between chronic pain and anxiety and offers a potential target for treatment. The study's findings, published as an Article in Press in Biological Psychiatry, show that increased expression of PACAP - a peptide neurotransmitter the body releases in response to stress - is also increased in response to neuropathic pain and contributes to these symptoms. |
Study points to a novel culprit type 2 diabetes gene at well-established genomic locationGene researchers have used sophisticated scientific tools to reveal a new gene for type 2 diabetes at a well-established genomic location. Because this gene, ACSL5, codes for a protein that regulates how the body recognizes insulin, that protein may represent an important target for future treatments for the disease. | |
'Ask a Doctor' surfaces reliable information about heart conditionsA Google search for heart conditions will now prominently display important questions patients should ask their doctor based on clinical guidelines developed by the American College of Cardiology. | |
 | Motivating eco-friendly behaviors depends on cultural valuesThe specific cultural values of a country may determine whether concern about environmental issues actually leads individuals to engage in environmentally friendly behaviors, according to the new research published in Psychological Science, a journal of the Association for Psychological Science. |
ICU patients lose helpful gut bacteria within days of hospital admissionThe microbiome of patients admitted to the intensive care unit (ICU) at a hospital differs dramatically from that of healthy patients, according to a new study published in mSphere. Researchers analyzing microbial taxa in ICU patients' guts, mouth and skin reported finding dysbiosis, or a bacterial imbalance, that worsened during a patient's stay in the hospital. Compared to healthy people, ICU patients had depleted populations of commensal, health-promoting microbes and higher counts of bacterial taxa with pathogenic strains - leaving patients vulnerable to hospital-acquired infections that may lead to sepsis, organ failure and potentially death. | |
 | New game advances research into the microbes that play a role in our healthYou may not think of yourself in this way - but in some ways your body is just a host for hundreds of trillions of microbes (including bacteria) that colonize us in fairly unique combinations in our guts, inside our various orifices and on the surface of our skin. These tiny creatures are essential to our survival - we couldn't digest anything without them, for instance. |
 | UN: Yellow fever outbreak in Africa isn't a global emergency (Update)The ongoing yellow fever outbreak in Africa is serious but does not warrant being declared an international health emergency, the World Health Organization said Wednesday. |
 | Study suggests size of Zika epidemic may be underestimatedA study supported by FAPESP and coordinated by researchers at the São José do Rio Preto Medical School (FAMERP) in São Paulo State, Brazil, suggests official statistics may underestimate the size of the epidemic caused by Zika virus. Some cases of Zika may be misreported as dengue, the authors also argue. |
Study shows combination drug therapy for asthma patients is safeA post-marketing safety study mandated by the U.S. Food and Drug Administration has shown that a combination drug therapy for the treatment of asthma is safe and effective. | |
Study suggests persistent childbirth pain increases risk of postnatal depressionNew research presented at this year's World Congress of Anaesthesiologists (WCA) in Hong Kong (28 Aug-2 Sept) shows that women who experience persistent childbirth pain are more likely to develop postnatal depression (PND) following the birth of their child. | |
Pregnant woman in Singapore infected with Zika as cases soar (Update)The number of confirmed Zika cases in Singapore surged past 100 late Wednesday, including the first pregnant woman to be infected by the disease which can cause deformities in babies. | |
Saving the lives of Romanian children with HIVDr Paul Marinescu has chosen to meet me on a cold winter's day in a room stocked with plants, fish tanks and two parrots singing in their cages. It's a room as lively as its incumbent's life. This grey-haired man with a gentle voice acts as father to 18 – two his own children and 16 HIV-positive orphans that he took in at a time when nobody wanted them. | |
Sleepy Singapore suburb turned into Zika battlegroundHomemaker Sulaiha Ngatiman hunkered indoors as the scent of mosquito repellent lingered in her second-storey flat. | |
AstraZeneca to pay $5 mn over China, Russia bribesBritish drugmaker AstraZeneca has agreed to pay more than $5 million to settle allegations that it broke US anticorruption laws in China and Russia. | |
Pakistani team develops menstrual game app to break taboosA Pakistani entrepreneur has developed a mobile game app intended to break taboos surrounding menstruation in the developing world, including beliefs that periods are "evil" or make women impure. | |
Americans lack awareness about heart valve disease, new public opinion surveys findNew public opinion surveys released today by the nonprofit Alliance for Aging Research (Alliance) show that public awareness about heart valve disease (HVD) in the U.S. is alarmingly low. A national omnibus survey of 2,018 adults reveals that, while over half of respondents say they have heard of heart valve disease, less than one in four know somewhat or a great deal about HVD. Although awareness increases with age, 30 percent of those over the age of 65 say that they know nothing about HVD. | |
New study highlights high rates of suicide and self-harm among transgender youthIn a new study, 30 percent of transgender youth report a history of at least one suicide attempt, and nearly 42 percent report a history of self-injury, such as cutting. | |
Half-a-million people experience food insecurity in British Columbia, says new reportAlmost half a million British Columbians experienced some level of household food insecurity in 2011-2012, according to a new report from PROOF, a research group based at the University of Toronto. | |
Building the world's largest health study on heart-, vascular- and lung diseasesSCAPIS, a population-based health research project on heart-, vascular- and lung diseases, is launched today in Umeå, Sweden. The project's aim is to build the world's largest collection of health data in order to identify individual factors for disease. SCAPIS, which is principally funded by the Swedish Heart-Lung Foundation, is a collaboration between Umeå University and University Hospital of Umeå and five other national universities. | |
 | Breast cancer mortality lower in women who breastfeedA new study of women 20 years after undergoing surgery for primary breast cancer shows that breastfeeding for longer than 6 months is associated with a better survival rate. Among breast cancer survivors who breastfed for >6 months, both breast cancer mortality and overall mortality risk were less after 20 years, according to the study published in Breastfeeding Medicine, the official journal of the Academy of Breastfeeding Medicine. The article is available free on the Breastfeeding Medicine website until September 30, 2016. |
FDA warns of fatal risks from mixing opioids and sedatives (Update)Health officials are strengthening warnings about the potentially fatal consequences of mixing prescription painkillers and sedatives like Xanax, saying the combination can lead to breathing problems, coma and death. | |
NYU dental researcher to study 'mitochondrial permeability transition'Stroke and heart attack are severe medical conditions that affect millions of people worldwide. They occur when blood supply to the tissue is interrupted. This lack of blood supply can cause extensive damage leading to permanent injury and/or death. It has been found that at the elementary cellular level, damage to the individual cell is caused by the loss of mitochondrial function - in a phenomenon known as the Permeability Transition. Thus, if the occurrence of Permeability Transition can be blocked, we may be able to protect the affected tissue against damage. | |
HUD proposes lowering acceptable lead level for childrenThe nation's top housing official is proposing lowering the level of lead that must be detected in children's blood before triggering federal action to clean up the homes where they live. | |
Heroin overdoses surge in LouisvilleDuring a recent shift spent treating numerous overdoses, Dr. Robert Couch heard a similar refrain from patients: they couldn't believe that the small amounts of heroin they took nearly killed them. | |
Biology news
 | Smarter brains are blood-thirsty brainsA University of Adelaide-led project has overturned the theory that the evolution of human intelligence was simply related to the size of the brain—but rather linked more closely to the supply of blood to the brain. |
 | Female rhesus macaque calls may reflect familiarity rather than relatednessAn acoustic analysis showed that similarities between contact calls - known as coos - of female rhesus macaques may be explained by familiarity rather than relatedness, according a study published August 31, 2016 in the open-access journal PLOS ONE by Dana Pfefferle from the Cognitive Neuroscience Laboratory of the German Primate Center, Germany, Kurt Hammerschmidt from the Cognitive Ethology Laboratory of the German Primate Center, Germany, and colleagues. |
 | Herbicides can't stop invasive plants. Can bugs?Over the past 35 years, state and federal agencies have spent millions of dollars and dumped untold quantities of herbicides into waterways trying to control the invasive water chestnut plant, but the intruder just keeps spreading. |
 | Mountain lions likely to go extinct in Santa Monica Mountains in fifty years(Phys.org)—A team of researchers affiliated with multiple institutions in the U.S. has found that mountain lions in the Santa Monica Mountains are likely to go extinct in approximately 50 years if something is not done to protect them. In their paper published in the journal Proceedings of the Royal Society B, the team describes the conditions under which the mountain lions are living and why they believe they are severely threatened. |
Novel method enables absolute quantification of mitochondrial metabolitesWhitehead Institute scientists have developed a method to quickly isolate and systematically measure metabolite concentrations within the cellular organelles known as mitochondria, often referred to as the "powerhouses of the cell." Prior attempts at such measurements have yielded unreliable results, either by taking too long to isolate mitochondria or by contaminating mitochondrial metabolites with contents from other cellular components. | |
Devotion to rearing chicks can come at a cost for migratory birdsBirds that have to work harder during breeding season will feel the effects of their exertions the following year, according to research by Oxford University scientists. | |
 | Study documents a lost century for forest elephantsBecause forest elephants are one the slowest reproducing mammals in the world, it will take almost a century for them to recover from the intense poaching they have suffered since 2002. Not only does it take more than two decades for female forest elephants to begin reproducing, but they also give birth only once every five to six years. |
 | Which snowy owls thrive in Saskatchewan's wintersSnowy Owls capture the imagination, but ornithologists know surprisingly little about how these birds of the far north fare during the harsh winters they endure. The researchers behind a new study in The Auk: Ornithological Advances trapped and tracked Snowy Owls wintering in Canada and found that while age and sex affect the birds' condition, most do fairly well, showing few signs of starvation and some even putting on weight over the winter months. |
 | Jungle school helps rescued orangutans return to wildIgnoring the shrieks of his rowdy, wrestling classmates, baby orangutan Otan practises swinging alone at his "jungle school" on Borneo island, switching hands and hanging upside down as he builds confidence high above the forest floor. |
 | Hawaii set to host world's largest conservation meetingSome 8,000 heads of state, policymakers and environmentalists convene in Hawaii this week for the world's largest gathering aimed at forging a path forward on the planet's toughest conservation problems. |
 | Lunar cycle affects timing of birth in cowsA popular belief that there is a higher number of births around the full moon has been shown to be true for dairy cows by a group of University of Tokyo researchers. |
 | Seabirds fall victim to junk food dietA University of Queensland study has found widespread ingestion of debris by Australian marine and coastal birds – including among vulnerable and threatened species. |
 | Sabotaging bacteria propellers to stop infectionsWhen looking at bacteria, you typically see also flagella: long hairs that protrudes from the bacteria's body. The key function of the flagella is movement – what scientists call 'motility'. The flagella give the bacteria the ability to swim in their environment by rotating like propellers. Bacteria can have a different number of flagella, and flagella are important because there is a clear correlation between motility and infection. Dr Hideyuki Matsunami of the Trans-Membrane Trafficking Unit at the Okinawa Institute of Science and Technology Graduate University (OIST), together with a team of scientists, explored some aspects of the formation of flagella in research that may have implications for contrasting bacterial infections. They published their findings in Scientific Reports. |
 | Dogs chase cats in the name of scienceIt doesn't take a science degree to know that dogs like chasing cats. |
Algorithms offer insight into cellular developmentThrough RNA sequencing, researchers can measure which genes are expressed in each individual cell of a sample. A new statistical method allows researchers to infer different developmental processes from a cell mixture consisting of asynchronous stages. This finding has been published by researchers of Helmholtz Zentrum München in collaboration with colleagues from Technical University Munich in the journal Nature Methods. | |
Scientists publish 'blueprints' showing how the vertebrate body comes from a single cellA new theory aims to explain how the complex vertebrate body, with its skeleton, muscles, nervous and cardiovascular systems, arises from a single cell during development and how these systems evolved over time. The theory, called embryo geometry, is the culmination of nearly 20 years of work by a team of researchers and science illustrators. | |
 | Bird bugs shed new light on malaria infectionThe Griffith University study investigated parasite interactions in wild birds and found they are a crucial indicator of malaria infection risk. |
 | The Great Elephant Census reports massive loss of African savannah elephantsResults of the two-year, $8 million Great Elephant Census (GEC) of African savannah elephants led by Elephants Without Borders (EWB) were released today at an international wildlife conference in Hawaii, confirming massive declines in elephant numbers over just the last decade. The researchers report the current rate of species decline is 8 percent per year, primarily due to poaching. |
First test of oral rabies vaccine brings hope to the world's rarest canidResearch published this week in the journal Vaccine reports field trials of the oral vaccine SAG2 in Ethiopian wolves, Africa's most threatened carnivore and the world's rarest canid. | |
 | How are pollinators faring with Anthropogenic change?Pollinators provide irreplaceable ecosystem services. One out of every three bites of food are attributable to pollination. Pollinators bring us many of our favorite fruits and vegetables (see this list of crops that use bee pollination), and without them, our diets would be a lot less colorful (see picture below). But pollinators are declining at unprecedented rates. Anthropogenic effects, such as introduction of exotic species and habitat loss, are considered main drivers of worldwide pollinator decline. The theme of ESA 2016 was "novel ecosystems in the Anthropocene," and the effects of anthropogenic changes on pollinators were center stage. |
 | Tiger at Rome zoo undergoes root canal—no bones for a bitA team of veterinarians at the Rome zoo has performed a root canal on a 2-year-old Sumatran tiger named Terima Kashi. |
 | Rare whale's recovery hurt by entanglements, scientists sayThe ability of an endangered whale species to recover is jeopardized by increasing rates of entanglement in fishing gear and a resultant drop in birth rates, according to scientists who study the animal. |
Habitat is a crucial factor in survivability of released tortoisesAs conservationists work to recover endangered species populations, taking individuals that are maintained and protected under human care and reintroducing them into the wild, it becomes apparent that there is a great deal to learn about the science of species recovery. In a paper published in the recent edition of the Journal of Applied Ecology, a team of wildlife experts from San Diego Zoo Global, the U.S. Geological Survey, the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service and the University of Nevada analyzed the effect of habitat quality on the survival and dispersal of released desert tortoises. Juvenile tortoises used in this study originated from eggs produced by females housed at the Desert Tortoise Conservation Center in Las Vegas. Ages ranged from 6 months to 4 years. The tortoises were translocated and monitored for one year, using radio tracking systems. | |
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