Dear Reader ,
Here is your customized Science X Newsletter for November 10, 2016:
Spotlight Stories Headlines
Astronomy & Space news
 | There's an 'extra-super' Moon on the riseAn unusually large and bright Moon will adorn the night sky next Monday—the closest "supermoon" to Earth in 68 years and a chance for dramatic photos and spectacular surf. |
 | A funnel on Mars could be a place to look for lifeA strangely shaped depression on Mars could be a new place to look for signs of life on the Red Planet, according to a University of Texas at Austin-led study. The depression was probably formed by a volcano beneath a glacier and could have been a warm, chemical-rich environment well suited for microbial life. |
 | Space telescopes pinpoint elusive brown dwarfIn a first-of-its-kind collaboration, NASA's Spitzer and Swift space telescopes joined forces to observe a microlensing event, when a distant star brightens due to the gravitational field of at least one foreground cosmic object. This technique is useful for finding low-mass bodies orbiting stars, such as planets. In this case, the observations revealed a brown dwarf. |
 | Earth-bound instrument analyzes light from planets circling distant starsA team of scientists and engineers led by Princeton researchers recently reported the successful operation of a new instrument for the Subaru Telescope in Hawaii that will allow astronomers to make direct observations of planets orbiting nearby stars. |
 | Supermoon? Meh. It may be closer, but it won't be super duperNASA, Space.com, Sky & Telescope magazine, observatories everywhere—just about any entity with a stake in the night sky—have been busy telling us how great the full moon will be Nov. 14 because the satellite will be closer to Earth than it's been for almost 70 years. |
 | Iceberg patrol gains faster updates from orbitThe international iceberg patrol service set up after the sinking of the Titanic is now able to track drifting ice from orbit more swiftly through ESA-backed cloud computing. |
 | Comet 45P/Honda–Mrkos–Pajdusakova brightens in DecemberLooking for a good binocular comet? Well, if luck is on our side, we should be getting our first looks at periodic Comet 45P/Honda-Mrkos-Pajdušáková as it tops +10th magnitude in dusk skies over the next few weeks. |
 | The peculiarities of the huge equatorial jet stream in Saturn's atmosphere revealedThe atmosphere of the planet Saturn, a gas giant 10 times bigger than the Earth consisting mostly of hydrogen, has a wider, more intense jet stream than all the planets in the solar system. Winds gusting at speeds of up to 1,650 km/h blow from West to East in the equatorial atmosphere, thirteen times the strength of the most destructive hurricane force winds that form on the Earth''s equator. |
 | Virtual Milky WayESA's Gaia is surveying stars in our Galaxy and local galactic neighbourhood in order to build the most precise 3D map of the Milky Way and answer questions about its structure, origin and evolution. |
 | The Super-Kamiokande detector awaits neutrinos from a supernovaOnly three or four supernovas happen in our galaxy every century. These are super-energetic events that release neutrinos at the speed of light. At the Super-Kamiokande detector in Japan, a new computer system has been installed in order to monitor in real time and inform the scientific community of the arrival of these mysterious particles, which can offer crucial information on the collapse of stars and the formation of black holes. |
 | Monday's supermoon extra super; closest in nearly 69 yearsThe moon doesn't get much bigger and brighter than this. |
 | Ready for launch: CU Boulder instrument suite to assess space weatherA multimillion dollar University of Colorado Boulder instrument package expected to help scientists better understand potentially damaging space weather is now slated to launch aboard a National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration satellite on Saturday, Nov. 19. |
 | Where will President-elect Trump take American space endeavours?With the 2016 election now finished and Donald Trump confirmed as the president-elect of the United States, there are naturally some concerns about what this could means for the future of NASA. Given the administration's commitment to Earth science, and its plans for crewed missions to near-Earth Orbit and Mars, there is understandably some worry that the budget environment might be changing soon. |
Technology news
 | Research on the flow of water in flexible tubes could make irrigation technology more sustainable and cost-effectiveA team of MIT engineers has described a novel way of controlling the flow of water in flexible tubes, a finding with implications for agricultural systems worldwide. Their research, published in the Journal of Mechanical Design, could reduce the energy demands of pulsating sprinklers used for irrigation. |
 | Lipreading system is focus of research team at University of Oxford(Tech Xplore)—Another take-a-bow for research at University of Oxford: A Department of Computer Science research team has developed a system for automatic lipreading. Using machine learning, their goal has been to help those who are hard of hearing. |
 | Echodyne uses metamaterials to make drone sized radar system(Tech Xplore)—Bellevue, Washington-based Echodyne has announced the successful testing of a new type of radar system that is both smaller and less expensive than other radar systems currently in use. The new system, company rep Erika Shaffer reports, relies on metamaterials to provide services similar to those seen on very expensive military craft at a much lower price. Eben Frankenberg, CEO of the company has also been speaking to the press about the new system. |
 | The highlight of Google's Daydream VR is ... its controllerThe best thing about Google's new virtual-reality headset isn't the headset at all. |
Artificial-intelligence system surfs web to improve its performanceOf the vast wealth of information unlocked by the Internet, most is plain text. The data necessary to answer myriad questions—about, say, the correlations between the industrial use of certain chemicals and incidents of disease, or between patterns of news coverage and voter-poll results—may all be online. But extracting it from plain text and organizing it for quantitative analysis may be prohibitively time consuming. | |
 | Samsung's biotech unit debuts in Seoul. Here's what to know. (Update)Samsung Biologics Co., the contract drug making unit of Samsung Group, made its market debut in Seoul on Thursday in South Korea's largest initial public offering in six years. |
 | Yahoo reveals more details about massive hackYahoo provided more details on Wednesday about an epic hack of its services, including that the culprits may have planted software "cookies" for ongoing access to users' accounts. |
 | Nintendo and Sony do battle with old vs. new console launchesNintendo on Thursday launched a palm-sized version of its eighties era games console, setting up an old versus new showdown with rival Sony as it released a new PlayStation 4. |
 | Project explores how virtual reality can help students learnAny Trekkie (a fan of Star Trek) knows what the fictional holodeck is: a virtual reality space where people can experience representations of real or imaginary environments and situations for recreation, training, or solving problems. At Penn State, researchers are offering prototype versions of immersive Virtual Reality (iVR) lessons in three courses this fall and spring to engage students in the advantages and promises that such learning offers. |
 | LawOS—regulations as society's operating systemMuch as Linux, Windows, and iOS coordinate the execution of computing applications, laws coordinate the execution of human society. When new kinds of interactions emerge – sharing our airspace with private drones, for example, or algorithmic trading on financial markets – new laws are encoded to regulate those activities. Laws respond to conflicts of interest, keep criminals and cheats in check, and temper the abuse of power. |
 | America's aging voting machines managed to survive another electionDuring this year's voting, the vast majority of states used outdated voting machines perilously close to the end of their projected lifespan. Back in April, we warned that 42 states use machines that are at least a decade old. Given that a high percentage of these machines have projected lifespans of between 10 and 15 years, we argued something needs to be done soon to prevent a real crisis. |
 | Google rejects EU anti-trust charges over AndroidUS Internet giant Google on Thursday rejected EU allegations that it abused its market dominance of its hugely succesful Android mobile phone operating system. |
 | Russia to block LinkedIn after court ruling on user dataBusiness-focused social network LinkedIn faces being blocked in Russia after a court ruled it broke a law on data storage. |
 | Massive cyberattack hit five top Russian banks: KasperskyA massive cyberattack has hit at least five of Russia's largest banks, Moscow-based internet security giant Kaspersky said Thursday. |
 | Progress, but uphill slog for women in techThey are under-represented in the industry and sometimes made to feel unwelcome in geek-infested workspaces, but women are making their voices heard at Europe's largest technology marketplace. |
 | Va-va-hum: Vespa goes electricThe Vespa, an iconic 70-year-old design classic and Italy's most famous scooter, will be available in an electric version by the end of next year, according to its manufacturer, Piaggio. |
 | New Israeli machine to standardize diamond gradingAn Israeli high-tech company has invented a machine that it says can instantly grade the clarity of polished diamonds—a development the company said Thursday will bring new standards to a painstaking process that has long been susceptible to the subjectivity of appraisers. |
Judge: Amazon to reimburse customers for in-app buys by kidsA federal judge has laid out rules for how Amazon must reimburse customers whose kids made in-app purchases without permission. | |
Big Ten to broadcast Minnesota-Nebraska in virtual realityThe Big Ten network is making Saturday's football game between Minnesota and No. 21 Nebraska available in virtual reality. | |
FCC concerned about AT&T exempting DirecTV from data capsFederal regulators say that they are concerned that AT&T's exempting its DirecTV unit from cellphone data caps could hurt competition. | |
 | Peter Thiel wins with bet against Silicon ValleyThe improbable triumph of Donald Trump is a victory for tech sector investor Peter Thiel, who unabashedly backed the Republican candidate despite overwhelming opposition from his Silicon Valley peers. |
 | Preservation of monuments: Pinpointed repair reduces costsThe Waldbahn railway line near Welzheim is one of the most beautiful railway lines in South Germany and listed as a monument. Its viaducts, however, require restoration. The 100-year-old Laufenmühle viaduct, for instance, exhibits major damage, such as cracks in the reinforced concrete. If the viaduct was restored with standard state-of-the-art methods, the expenditure and costs would be enormous and the monument character would be endangered. The KIT Innovation Hub "Prevention in Construction" now succeeded in bringing together the right partners and in developing a customized approach to sustainable repair of the viaduct. |
 | Research prepares for a 'sharing economy' in renewable electric powerRecent years have witnessed the rise of an economic revolution—the so-called sharing economy. Businesses such as Uber, Lyft, and Airbnb have created a new kind of marketplace, in essence, by relying on the investments of others. |
Disney embraces streaming as ratings sagAs more and more people get their favorite TV shows and movies online, Disney is also learning to embrace the stream. | |
Medicine & Health news
 | Researchers show how a targeted drug overcomes suppressive immune cellsA Ludwig Cancer Research study shows that an experimental drug currently in clinical trials can reverse the effects of troublesome cells that prevent the body's immune system from attacking tumors. The researchers also establish that it is these suppressive cells that interfere with the efficacy of immune checkpoint inhibitors. This class of immunotherapies lifts the brakes that the body imposes on the immune system's T cells to unleash an attack on cancer cells. |
 | Molecular signature for aggressive brain tumor uncoveredMeningiomas are the most common primary brain tumors, but the term encompasses over a dozen subtypes that range from benign to highly aggressive. Rhabdoid meningiomas are classified as highly aggressive due to their high rates of recurrence and mortality, but the experience and outcomes for patients with this rare form of brain tumor vary widely. Researchers from Brigham and Women's Hospital, in collaboration with colleagues at Massachusetts General Hospital, have identified genetic mutations in this form of brain cancer that can distinguish aggressive rhabdoid meningiomas from more benign forms using routine laboratory tests. The new findings could have immediate implications for clinical decision-making. The work is published Nov. 10 in the journal Neuro-Oncology. |
Die another day: How the immune system keeps 'traitor cells' in lockdownNew Australian research has shown how the immune system avoids attacking its own tissues with antibodies - whilst still maintaining a strong defence against invaders. The findings, from the Garvan Institute of Medical Research (Sydney) and the John Curtin School of Medical Research (Australian National University), have just been published in the leading journal Nature Communications. | |
 | Creating therapies for Alzheimer's disease by targeting neural circuitsAge-related dementia will affect 10 percent of people in the U.S. within their lifetime. |
 | Study shows memory loss due to cannabis related to harm to mitochondria(Medical Xpress)—An international team of researchers has found what they believe is the source of memory loss in people who smoke marijuana—disruption to mitochondria. In their paper published in the journal Nature, the group describes their study of receptor activation due to exposure to active ingredients in cannabis and its impact on mitochondria. |
 | Scientists analyze repeats in proteins implicated in neurological diseasesRice University scientists have uncovered new details about how a repeating nucleotide sequence in the gene for a mutant protein may trigger Huntington's and other neurological diseases. |
 | Deep dive into NMDA receptor variation and link to epilepsy, IDThe study of human genetics has often focused on mutations that cause disease. When it comes to genetic variations in healthy people, scientists knew they were out there, but didn't have a full picture of their extent. |
 | Your birth year predicts your odds if flu pandemic were to strikeYour birth year predicts—to a certain extent—how likely you are to get seriously ill or die in an outbreak of an animal-origin influenza virus, according to a study co-led by researchers from the University of Arizona in Tucson and the University of California, Los Angeles. |
 | Multi-drug resistant infection spreading globally among cystic fibrosis patientsA multi-drug resistant infection that can cause life-threatening illness in people with cystic fibrosis (CF) and can spread from patient to patient has spread globally and is becoming increasingly virulent, according to new research published today in the journal Science. |
 | Researchers advance treatment of tuberculosis by targeting new enzymeResearchers at Johns Hopkins report they have laid the foundation to develop novel antibiotics that work against incurable, antibiotic-resistant bacteria like tuberculosis by targeting an enzyme essential to the production and integrity of bacterial cell walls. |
 | Researchers use fruit flies to understand how body responds to harmful, cold stimuliThe tiny fruit fly can help humans investigate the genetic and neural bases of detecting painful or harmful cold stimuli and offer intriguing, potential implications for human health, according to a new study. |
 | What does it take to make a memory? Study says new proteinsWhile the romantic poets' idea of memories being akin to spirits may have poetic merit, the scientists' perspective is that memories are concrete, physical entities that can be visualized within various regions of the brain. |
 | $384,961.42 for a house? When precise bids work and when they backfireMaking a very precise offer for a car or a house may hurt your chances of success if you're negotiating with someone who has expertise in that area, according to research published in Psychological Science, a journal of the Association for Psychological Science. Results from a series of studies show that precise bids - for example, $9,572.36 or $384,961.42 - are more effective with novice negotiators, who tend to interpret higher precision as a sign of competence. Experts, on the other hand, found moderately precise bids to be most persuasive. |
 | Tobacco linked to 40 percent of US cancersTobacco use remains the most preventable cause of cancer, and 40 percent of diagnosed US cancer cases may have a link to its use, health authorities said Thursday. |
Can safety netting improve cancer detection in patients with vague symptoms?There is an assumption that following up people with symptoms which are low risk but no risk of cancer will improve cancer pick up. But experts writing in The BMJ today say that we do not know whether this approach works. Nor, do we understand the best way to do it. | |
Study suggests probable scientific misconduct in bone health studiesA new study suggests probable scientific misconduct in at least some of 33 bone health trials published in various medical journals. The study used statistical methods to detect scientific misconduct or research fraud and calls into question the validity of a body of research work led mainly by one researcher in Japan. The study is published in the November 9, 2016, online issue of Neurology, the medical journal of the American Academy of Neurology. | |
 | Regular intake of sugary beverages, but not diet soda, is associated with prediabetesAdult Americans who regularly consumed sugar-sweetened beverages (roughly one can of soda per day) had a 46 percent higher risk of developing prediabetes compared to low- or non-consumers over a 14-year period, according to a new epidemiological analysis led by scientists at the Jean Mayer USDA Human Nutrition Research Center on Aging (HNRCA) at Tufts University. Higher sugar-sweetened beverage intake was also associated with increased insulin resistance, a risk factor for type 2 diabetes. |
Presurgical endocrine therapy less toxic than chemotherapy for ER-positive breast cancerNeoadjuvant endocrine therapy - designed to reduce the size of breast tumors before surgical removal - appears to be as effective as neoadjuvant chemotherapy for patients with localized, estrogen-receptor (ER)-positive breast cancer with considerably fewer side effects. The study conducted by a Massachusetts General Hospital (MGH) Cancer Center research team appears in the current print issue of JAMA Oncology and was published online earlier this year. | |
 | Key protein in prostate cancer energy production identifiedScientists at The Wistar Institute have demonstrated how a protein called TRAP1 - an important regulator of energy production in healthy and cancerous cells - is an important driver of prostate cancer and appears to be a valuable therapeutic target for the disease. The findings were published in the Journal of Biological Chemistry. |
Disability, reduced social participation associated with chronic conditions in middle-ageMiddle-age adults living with a combination of arthritis, heart disease or diabetes, and depression are more likely to experience disability and limited involvement in society, new research from McMaster University has found. | |
Most indoor tanning salons comply with Texas tanning ban for those under 18When female employees of a mystery shopping firm called posing as 17-year-olds interested in tanning, 81 percent of indoor tanning facilities complied with the Texas ban on indoor tanning for those under the age of 18 in a study conducted by The University of Texas MD Anderson Cancer Center. | |
 | Scouts and guides have better mental health in later life, study findsTaking part in the scouts or guides appears to help lower the risk of mental illness in later life, a study suggests. |
 | Suicidal patients need better online support from clinicians and help groupsImprove clinicians' understanding of the online world, review web-based support services for vulnerable people and safeguard the public against pro-suicide content. Those are some of the recommendations being put to the internet industry, health providers and suicide prevention services after researchers mapped how people with suicidal feelings use the internet. |
 | Huperzine A provides seizure protection in genetic epilepsy modelsThe compound huperzine A can increase resistance to induced seizures in mouse models of genetic epilepsy, scientists at Emory University School of Medicine have found. |
 | Clean air for our futurePreterm birth is the leading cause of infant death and long-term neurological disease, and 1 in 10 infants born in the United States is affected by preterm birth according to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. The increasing public health threat of air pollution may be correlated to an increased risk of preterm birth. Researchers at Texas A&M University, including Dr. Qi Ying, associate professor in the Zachry Department of Civil Engineering, are in collaboration with the National Institute of Child Health and Human Development (NICHD), seeking to improve the understanding of the connection between air pollution exposure and the health of pregnant women and their newborns. |
 | Research on new, rapid screening test identifies potential therapies against drug-resistant bacteriaResearchers at the National Institutes of Health's National Center for Advancing Translational Sciences (NCATS), Clinical Center and National Institute of Allergy and Infectious Diseases (NIAID) have created a new way to identify drugs and drug combinations that may potentially be useful in combating infections that are resistant to many different antibiotics. They developed an assay (test) to rapidly screen thousands of drugs to determine how effective they were against a variety of types of resistant bacteria. |
Public health study documents the power of strong community networks in improving healthA national study published by researchers in the University of Kentucky College of Public Health provides strong evidence that community networks can lead to long-term population health improvements. | |
 | Study links 'well-being' metric to life expectancyLife expectancy is strongly linked to a relatively new metric that assesses physical, emotional, and social health, according to a Yale-led study. Referred to as population well-being, the metric is an important indicator that researchers and policy makers can use to promote health and address disparities, said the authors. |
 | Using epigenetics to help the immune system fight ovarian cancerSometimes, even a miracle needs a hand. |
 | Scientists reveal how a common virus triggers blood cancerScientists at the University of Sussex, trying to uncover how the common Epstein-Barr virus causes blood cancer in adults and children, have discovered how the virus takes control of two genes involved in cancer development so it can switch them on or off. |
 | Antibody suppresses HIV in infected individualsThe administration of VRC01, a potent and broadly neutralizing HIV-specific antibody, is safe, is well-tolerated, generated high plasma concentrations and modestly delayed the return of HIV viral rebound in HIV-1 infected individuals after they stopped receiving antiretroviral therapy, according to a study published in the New England Journal of Medicine by researchers at the University of Alabama at Birmingham, the National Institutes of Health and the University of Pennsylvania Penn Center for AIDS Research. |
 | Swipe away your drinking problemAn app has been developed that helps people struggling with alcohol addiction to reduce their alcohol intake, or to quit drinking completely. |
 | Report finds differences in obesity risk factors for children attending schools in disadvantaged areasThere are significant differences in risk factors contributing to childhood obesity among children attending schools in disadvantaged areas compared to pupils attending other schools, according to a Health Services Executive-commissioned report by the National Nutrition Surveillance Centre (NNSC) at University College Dublin. |
Sex-related differences in the brain may affect pathways to substance abuse in adolescents with bipolar disorderA new study has found that adolescents suffering from bipolar disorder are more likely to develop substance use disorders if they have lower gray matter volume in the brain, a clue that can help in the design of better methods for early detection and more targeted prevention and treatment. | |
 | Why the best problem-solvers think with their hands, as well as their headsDuring a lab meeting, one of our PhD researchers recalls how her father would forbid her from using paper to help solve maths homework problems by writing them down. Another admits that she sometimes still uses her hands to make small calculations, although she does so while hiding them behind her back. When we realise that all of us use our fingers in order to answer demands for the "third, fifth, and seventh digits" of our secret online banking password, we laugh in relief. We are not so daft after all, or at least we are not alone. |
 | Higher vitamin D levels associated with better outcomes in breast cancer survivorsWomen with higher vitamin D levels in their blood following a breast cancer diagnosis had significantly better long-term outcomes, according to new research from Kaiser Permanente and Roswell Park Cancer Institute. The study was published online today in JAMA Oncology. |
 | Zika virus can cause severe damage to retina in infantsIn a study published online by JAMA Ophthalmology, Rubens Belfort Jr., M.D., Ph.D., of the Federal University of Sao Paulo, Brazil, and colleagues examined the affected retinal layers in infants with congenital Zika syndrome and associated retinal abnormalities using optical coherence tomography (OCT). |
Evaluating safety, effects of vaginal testosterone cream, estradiol vaginal ringWhile aromatase inhibitors (AIs) are a preferred therapy for postmenopausal women who have hormone receptor-positive early-stage breast cancer, the vaginal dryness and decreased sex drive that may result can lead to poor medical compliance and decreased quality of life. | |
iPad game effective in treating common eye condition in childrenA special type of iPad game was effective in treating children with amblyopia (lazy eye) and was more effective than the standard treatment of patching, according to a study published online by JAMA Ophthalmology. | |
New technique could double success of infertility treatmentFamilies struggling with infertility or a genetic predisposition for debilitating mitochondrial diseases may someday benefit from a new breakthrough led by scientists at OHSU and the Salk Institute for Biological Studies. | |
 | Catching a tumor in a spider's webAfter a decade of research, the Belgian Switch Laboratory (VIB/KU Leuven) has revealed a new designer molecule that inhibits a well-validated cancer driver through the mechanism of amyloid formation. This work demonstrates that amyloid structures can be used to rationally develop a novel class of biotechnological molecules that are able to fight a wide array of diseases. After the publication of this research in the leading journal Science, next steps to translate this groundbreaking technology, branded Pept-in into direct benefits for patients are already being explored by VIB. |
Seroprevalence and disease burden of chagas disease in south TexasChagas disease (Trypanosoma cruzi infection) is a parasitic infection that can lead to fatal cardiac disease. While Latin America is known as an endemic area, there have been relatively few studies investigating the prevalence of Chagas disease in the Rio Grande Valley of Texas. A paper published in PLOS Neglected Diseases led by researchers at the National School of Tropical Medicine at Baylor College of Medicine suggests that the disease burden in southern Texas is much higher than previously thought. Considering up to 30% of people infected with Trypanosoma cruzi can develop fatal cardiomyopathy, this study's findings carry important implications to the health of the population of south Texas. | |
 | Drug resistance mutations also enhance growth in malaria parasiteSome mutations that enable drug resistance in the malaria-causing parasite Plasmodium falciparum may also help it grow, according to a new study published in PLOS Pathogens. |
Scientists create heart cells better, faster, strongerScientists at the Gladstone Institutes identified two chemicals that improve their ability to transform scar tissue in a heart into healthy, beating heart muscle. The new discovery advances efforts to find new and effective treatments for heart failure. | |
Smokers far more likely to develop abdominal aortic aneurysmsPeople who smoke may be nearly twice as likely to develop an abdominal aortic aneurysm than the general population, but they can lower their risk of the potentially life-threating condition by quitting, according to new research in Arteriosclerosis, Thrombosis and Vascular Biology, an American Heart Association journal. | |
Probiotics improve cognition in Alzheimer's patientsFor the first time, scientists have shown that probiotics—beneficial live bacteria and yeasts taken as dietary supplements—can improve cognitive function in humans. In a new clinical trial, scientists show that a daily dose of probiotic Lactobacillus and Bifidobacterium bacteria taken over a period of just 12 weeks is enough to yield a moderate but significant improvement in the score of elderly Alzheimer's patients on the Mini-Mental State Examination (MMSE) scale, a standard measure of cognitive impairment. | |
Fatty liver disease contributes to cardiovascular disease and vice versaFor the first time, researchers have shown that a bi-directional relationship exists between fatty liver disease and cardiovascular disease. Fatty liver disease can lead to increased cardiovascular disease risk and vice versa. | |
 | DNA-based Zika vaccine showed protection from infection, brain damage and deathAs the global spread of the Zika virus continues, efforts are underway to halt the disease's transmission. While no licensed therapies or vaccines to protect against the Zika virus are currently available, new research published in the journal npj Vaccines demonstrates how a synthetic DNA vaccine approach successfully protected against infection, brain damage and death caused by the mosquito-borne Zika virus in vivo. |
N.C. children in rural counties, high poverty schools face obesity riskNorth Carolina children who live in rural counties or attend high poverty schools are more likely to be obese, a newly published study finds. | |
 | Researchers predict melanoma responses through mathematical modelingScientists have significantly improved their understanding of cancer and have developed numerous therapies that have helped to reduce patient mortality; however, the majority of drugs that make it to the clinical trial phase of development fail, despite promising data in laboratory studies. One reason for this high rate of failure is that preclinical studies cannot determine how effective a drug will be in the long term or accurately predict how effective it will be in different patients. |
Aorta more rigid in African-Americans, may explain rates of hypertension and heart diseaseAfrican-Americans have more rigidity of the aorta, the major artery supplying oxygen-rich blood to the body, than Caucasians and Hispanics, according to a study by UT Southwestern Medical Center cardiologists. | |
Study: UChicago's CommunityRx intervention helps patients find community resourcesNew research from the University of Chicago Medicine shows a program that uses electronic medical records to connect Chicagoans with health resources in their community could be a model for other efforts nationally. | |
Brain scans could help predict response to psychotherapy for anxiety and depressionBrain imaging scans may one day provide useful information on the response to psychotherapy in patients with depression or anxiety, according to a review of current research in the November/December issue of the Harvard Review of Psychiatry. | |
 | New eye pressure test could prevent vision loss in older adultsBy age 75, approximately half of all Americans will develop cloudy vision caused by cataracts, according to the National Eye Institute. The most common complication from cataract surgery is high eye pressure, which can cause swelling and other issues that can lead to vision loss or even blindness. Now, researchers from the University of Missouri School of Medicine recommend a new test to check eye pressure to prevent possible vision loss. |
 | PPI use doesn't up recurrence of bacterial peritonitis(HealthDay)—For patients with cirrhosis with previous spontaneous bacterial peritonitis (SBP), proton pump inhibitor (PPI) use is not associated with SBP recurrence, according to a study published online Nov. 7 in the Journal of Gastroenterology and Hepatology. |
 | Reduced CD34+ stem cells predicts CV outcome in T2DM(HealthDay)—Reduced baseline levels of circulating CD34+ stem cells predict adverse cardiovascular outcomes for patients with type 2 diabetes, according to a study published online Nov. 4 in Diabetes Care. |
 | RA disease activity score most influential in patient reports(HealthDay)—Higher disease activity score (DAS) is one of the most influential factors for poor patient-reported outcomes (PROs) in rheumatoid arthritis (RA), according to a study published online Nov. 5 in the International Journal of Rheumatic Diseases. |
 | Protein intake tied to modest survival advantage in breast CA(HealthDay)—For women with breast cancer, higher intake of protein is associated with a modest survival advantage, according to a study published online Nov. 7 in the Journal of Clinical Oncology. |
 | Faster delivery for induction with misoprostol plus cervical foley(HealthDay)—For women undergoing induction, receipt of misoprostol-cervical Foley is associated with an increased likelihood of delivery before those receiving either method alone, according to a study published in the December issue of Obstetrics & Gynecology. |
 | CRC detected after colonoscopy often located in proximal colon(HealthDay)—Colorectal cancer (CRC) detected after colonoscopy examination is more often located in the proximal colon and more likely to have DNA mismatch repair deficiency (dMMR), according to a study published in the November issue of Gastroenterology. |
 | Basal metabolic rate down after CPAP initiation in OSA(HealthDay)—For patients with obstructive sleep apnea (OSA), treatment with continuous positive airway pressure (CPAP) is associated with a decrease in basal metabolic rate (BMR), according to a study published recently in the American Journal of Respiratory and Critical Care Medicine. |
 | Higher iron levels associated with increased risk of gestational diabetes in pregnant womenNew research published in Diabetologia (the journal of the European Association for the Study of Diabetes [EASD]) shows that high levels of iron biomarkers in the body are associated with an increased risk of gestational diabetes (GDM) in pregnant women, raising questions about routine recommendations on iron supplementation in pregnancy. The study is by Dr Cuilin Zhang and Dr Shristi Rawal, Eunice Kennedy Shriver National Institute of Child Health and Human Development (NICHD), US National Institutes of Health (NIH), Bethesda, MD, USA and colleagues. |
Sponge on a string test could replace endoscopiesCancer Research UK-funded scientists have discovered that a 'sponge on a string' pill test can identify which people with a condition called Barrett's oesophagus have a low risk of developing oesophageal cancer - sparing them uncomfortable endoscopies.Researchers from the University of Cambridge gave 468 people who had Barrett's oesophagus a 'sponge on a string' (cytosponge) test (watch a video of the test). Barrett's oesophagus is a condition that can lead to oesophageal cancer in a small number of people. | |
 | Testing stem cells as possible treatment for heart failureStem cells are being tested at the Medical University of South Carolina as a possible treatment for heart failure with a preserved ejection fraction, or HFpEF. The condition causes severe disability and kills half its victims within five years. |
Getting doctors and nurses to work together at patient bedsidesThe structure of health care systems helps determine how doctors and nurses collaborate during hospital rounds, according to Penn State College of Medicine researchers. A greater understanding of such team-based treatment in hospitals could help improve patient care. | |
 | Repeatedly thinking about work-family conflict linked to health problemsThinking over and over again about conflicts between your job and personal life is likely to damage both your mental and physical health, research from Oregon State University suggests. |
 | Patients eager to test device that could ease heart failure symptomsJimmy McMillan doesn't know if it's science or wishful thinking that's making him feel better, but he's starting to believe a round of golf is in his future, something that seemed impossible a few months ago. |
 | Nearly six in ten diabetics skip eye exams, study finds(HealthDay)—Almost two-thirds of people with diabetes don't get annual eye exams, despite having an increased risk for serious eye disease and vision loss, researchers say. |
Study links optimal asthma control with reduced health-care costsIn a study of 736 asthma patients in Singapore, good asthma control resulted in a saving of S$65 (US$48) per physician visit. Compared with an average cost of S$214 (US$158) per visit, this reduction represents a cost saving of 30% versus suboptimally controlled asthma. | |
 | Mothers-to-be struggle, worry in ruins of storm-hit HaitiNathanaelle Bernard was two months short of the due date for her first child when Hurricane Matthew crashed through her town overlooking the Caribbean Sea along Haiti's southwestern coast. |
 | Treating cholera in Haiti after Hurricane MatthewSince Dr. Adam Levine arrived in Haiti in late October, he's been managing a cholera treatment unit for International Medical Corps. Hurricane Matthew devastated the area on Oct. 4, creating conditions that foment the spread of the disease. The unit is still running near its 30-bed capacity. |
Report identifies need for change in Indigenous suicide preventionA new report led by The University of Western Australia calls on the Federal Government to support a radical overhaul of suicide prevention programs including an Indigenous community-led national prevention plan. | |
 | Study warns of Spanish children's overexposure to 'junk food' ads on TVScientists from the UGR and the University Hospital San Rafael (Granada) conclude that Spanish children are overexposed to TV ads of unhealthy food (burgers, pizzas, soft drinks, bakery, etc.), a worrying situation which promotes childhood obesity. The researchers analyzed a total of 1263 advertisements broadcast on television, both in generalist and children-oriented channels. |
 | Research links high prevalence of HIV among migrant workers from western Nepal to lack of technical schoolsHuman Immunodeficiency Virus (HIV) is a global health problem, especially affecting developing countries due to lack of education and awareness of the possible means of transmission. HIV has remained as a big problem in Nepal's western districts, with poor families disproportionately affected. According to government statistics, an estimated 39,249 people in Nepal are living with HIV. |
 | Veterans served by nation's community health centers increased by 43 percentThe number of veterans served by community health centers has increased dramatically from 214,000 to more than 305,000, a 43 percent increase in less than 10 years, according to an infographic produced by researchers at the Geiger Gibson/RCHN Community Health Foundation Research Collaborative, which is based at the George Washington University's Milken Institute School of Public Health (Milken Institute SPH). |
How ACOs are trying to improve patients' health by addressing nonmedical needsHealth care leaders and policy makers agree that in order improve health outcomes and lower costs, we have to address patients' nonmedical needs. Estimates suggest that 40-90% of health outcomes are attributable to social, behavioral, and economic factors, such as homelessness or food insecurity. For example, a study of chronically homeless adults with severe alcohol problems showed that stable housing reduced medical costs by 53%. At the same time, a new array of policy initiatives and payment reform models, such as accountable care organizations (ACOs), bundled payment and managed care are creating financial incentives for providers to improve outcomes and lower costs. In a first-of-its-kind study, researchers from The Dartmouth Institute for Health Policy and Clinical Practice and the School of Public Health at UC Berkeley investigated whether such value-based payment models have spurred providers to address patients' nonmedical needs. | |
Study uncovers link between constipation and kidney diseaseResearchers have discovered a link between constipation and poor kidney health. The findings, which appear in an upcoming issue of the Journal of the American Society of Nephrology (JASN), suggest that the diagnosis and management of constipation might be helpful for preventing or treating kidney disease. | |
Biology news
 | Game theory shows how tragedies of the commons might be avertedLake Lanier in Georgia is the primary water reservoir serving suburban and metropolitan Atlanta. When the lake's water level drops below a certain point, calls go out for water conservation and news reports show images of the red mud shoreline. In some affected counties, water restrictions are imposed. The combination of usage restrictions and changes in precipitation eventually averts the crisis. But, when the crisis ends, water usage rebounds - until the next shortage. |
 | Researchers' Sudoku strategy democratizes powerful tool for genetics researchResearchers at Princeton and Harvard Universities have developed a way to produce the tools for figuring out gene function faster and cheaper than current methods, according to new research in the journal Nature Communications. |
 | Study suggests male chimpanzees are focused on offspring rather than building relationships with femalesNew research suggests that male chimpanzees are more invested in protecting their own offspring than previously thought. Researchers found male chimpanzees spend time with non-mating female chimpanzees that are caring for their offspring. This finding is unexpected since the species is highly promiscuous and researchers previously questioned whether male chimpanzees could recognize their offspring. |
 | Study finds increase in Antarctic marine worm speciesA study by the University of Liverpool has found that the diversity of marine worm species in the Antarctic Ocean has been vastly underestimated, and this finding could help to monitor climate change in this region. |
 | Bees use multiple cues in hunt for pollenBees use a variety of senses and memory of previous experiences when deciding where to forage for pollen, research by the University of Exeter suggests. |
 | Red squirrels in the British Isles are infected with leprosy bacteriaMicrobiologists at EPFL and the University of Edinburgh have discovered that red squirrels in Britain and Ireland carry the two bacterial species that cause leprosy in humans. |
 | Precaution and governance of emerging technologiesPrecautionary approaches to governance of emerging technology, which call for constraints on the use of technology whose potential harms and other outcomes are highly uncertain, are often criticized for reflecting "risk panics," but precaution can be consistent with support for science, concludes an article in the journal Science. Gregory Kaebnick, a research scholar at The Hastings Center, is the lead author. |
 | Predators can drive increase in virus populations, new study showsThe transparent belly of a tiny beast has revealed how algae-infecting chloroviruses bloom in freshwater around the world, says a new study from the University of Nebraska-Lincoln. |
 | Enhanced wheat curl mite control found in genesThe Texas High Plains high winds are known for causing more than just bad hair days; they are a major contributor to the spread of wheat curl mite-transmitted viral diseases in wheat. |
 | Cage-free sounds good, but does it mean a better life for chickens?Massachusetts is the latest state to vote on a ballot initiative to increase the amount of space that animals are allowed in industrial food production systems. It prohibits keeping pigs, cows and egg-laying hens in tight confinement that "prevents the animal from lying down, standing up, fully extending its limbs, or turning around freely." |
 | Should genetically modified organisms be part of our conservation efforts?Biotechnology is rapidly evolving through developments in genome editing and synthetic biology, giving birth to new forms of life. |
 | First report of virus causing flu-like disease in bobtail lizardsIn a world first, Murdoch University researchers have discovered the presence of a new virus in bobtail lizards, which may be threatening the iconic species. |
 | Plant-species hotspot maps identify priority conservation areas of tropical AfricaIdentifying critical areas for global biodiversity is an important step when prioritising areas for conservation, and generating biodiversity hotspot maps based on global species ranges - at a scale usable by local management - has been a long-term ambition in the field. |
 | Animal study registries: Understanding the pros and consImprovements in our understanding of disease and new treatment options are often rooted in findings from research conducted on animals. However, in recent years, several scientific reports have questioned the way animal research is conducted and reported. Too often results of animal studies are not published. Furthermore, those results that are published are often not reproducible in other labs. |
 | Insect vector feeding recognized by machine learningScientists have used machine learning algorithms to teach computers to recognize the insect feeding patterns involved in pathogen transmission. The study, published in PLOS Computational Biology, also uncovers plant traits that might lead to the disruption of pathogen transmission and enable advances in agriculture, livestock and human health. |
 | Team maps genome of black blow fly; may benefit human health, advance pest managementResearchers at the School of Science at Indiana University-Purdue University Indianapolis have sequenced the genome of the black blow fly, an insect commonly found throughout the United States, southern Canada and parts of northern Europe. |
 | Rotting away: Getting at the evolutionary roots of wood decayDecay is a complex process in which organisms use a repertoire of enzymes to slowly exploit and ultimately digest their hosts. Fungi are master decayers of dead plant matter, including wood. So-called white rot fungi have the special ability to decompose the tough, recalcitrant plant polymer lignin, using enzymes that turn solid wood into a stringy, bleached pulp. |
 | In defence of racer snakes – the demons of documentary series Planet Earth IIIt's the stuff of nightmares: a rockface that comes alive with a writhing mass of snapping serpents seemingly hellbent on working together to capture and consume a defenceless young marine iguana. This jaw-dropping scene aired as part of the new series of the BBC's flagship natural history programme, Planet Earth II, and seems to have captured the imagination of millions. |
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