Dear Reader ,
Here is your customized Science X Newsletter for November 17, 2016:
Spotlight Stories Headlines
Astronomy & Space news
 | Scientists discover a nearby superearthPh.D. student Alejandro Suárez Mascareño, of the Instituto de Astrofísica de Canarias (IAC) and the University of La Laguna (ULL), and his thesis director, Rafael Rebolo and Jonay Isaí González Hernández, have discovered a "superearth"-type planet, GJ 536 b, whose mass is around 5.4 Earth masses, in orbit around a nearby very bright star. The study has been accepted for publication in the journal Astronomy & Astrophysics; researchers from several countries are involved. |
 | NASA microthrusters achieve success on ESA's LISA pathfinderA next-generation technology demonstration mission has just passed a big milestone. |
 | Hot spring in Chile may show where to look for life traces on MarsTwo geoscientists at Arizona State University have made a discovery among hot springs in Chile that may spur scientists to revisit a location on Mars explored several years ago by NASA's Spirit rover. The discovery involves fingerlike structures that form in the hot spring deposits by processes that combine biological and non-biological activity. |
 | Bright radio bursts probe universe's hidden matterFast radio bursts, or FRBs, are mysterious flashes of radio waves originating outside our Milky Way galaxy. A team of scientists, jointly led by Caltech postdoctoral scholar Vikram Ravi and Curtin University research fellow Ryan Shannon, has now observed the most luminous FRB to date, called FRB 150807. |
 | Foie gras, saxophone blast into space with astronauts (Update)A trio of astronauts soared into orbit Friday bound for the International Space Station, with their Soyuz spacecraft delivering some fancy French food, a saxophone and the future female commander. |
 | Student fascinated with comets devises a strategy for defending earth from potential impactGrowing up in the California desert, Qicheng Zhang developed an early appreciation for stars and the universal expanse beyond the sky. But his biggest space curiosity by far was with comets, those celestial bodies of ice, gas and dust, leftovers from the long-ago formation of stars and planets. |
 | Image: Sentinel sees Rhine-Main area south of the city of FrankfurtThis image was taken by the Sentinel-2A satellite on 29 August 2015. It spotlights the Rhine-Main area south of the city of Frankfurt, one of Europe's leading business, transport and innovation hubs. |
 | Galileo satellites rocket into space aboard Ariane 5Four Galileo satellites lifted off on board the Ariane 5 rocket from French Guiana on Thursday and will soon be detectable by European smartphones. |
 | Rocket carrying crew of 3 blasts off for Int'l Space StationA Soyuz rocket carrying a veteran American astronaut, a French newcomer and a Russian cosmonaut blasted off for the International Space Station on Friday. |
 | The future of moon miningEver since we began sending crewed missions to the moon, people have been dreaming of the day when we might one day colonize it. Just imagine, a settlement on the lunar surface, where everyone constantly feels only about 15% as heavy as they do here on Earth. And in their spare time, the colonists get to do all kinds of cool research trek across the surface in lunar rovers. Gotta admit, it sounds fun! |
Technology news
 | Tech would use drones and insect biobots to map disaster areasResearchers at North Carolina State University have developed a combination of software and hardware that will allow them to use unmanned aerial vehicles (UAVs) and insect cyborgs, or biobots, to map large, unfamiliar areas – such as collapsed buildings after a disaster. |
 | More than animation: Software supports animated storytellingDisney Research has developed new tools to help people use animation to tell stories by eliminating distracting details that hamper creativity, suggesting ways to fill holes in plots and assisting in the creation of virtual worlds where stories can play out. |
 | New 'smart metal' technology to keep bridge operational in next big quakeA bridge that bends in an strong earthquake and not only remains standing, but remains usable is making its debut in its first real-world application as part of a new exit bridge ramp on a busy downtown Seattle highway. |
 | Disgruntled gamer 'likely' behind October US hacking: expertThe hacker who shut down large parts of the US internet last month was probably a disgruntled gamer, said an expert whose company closely monitored the attack Wednesday. |
20 percent of US households think landline phones are an important telecom choiceThe predicted death of the household landline telephone in the United States may be premature, according to a new RAND Corporation study. | |
Research groups predict robust online holiday shoppingAfter a tumultuous presidential election, will Americans be ready to shop for the holidays? Research firms are predicting robust growth for online shopping, at least. | |
China doubles down on internet control after tough new lawChina's leaders and official media are pushing for greater control of the internet and technology products as tensions surrounding a far-reaching Chinese cybersecurity law loom over a gathering this week of the world's leading tech firms and Chinese officials. | |
 | Russia starts blocking LinkedIn network (Update)Russian internet providers on Thursday started blocking the LinkedIn professional networking site after a state watchdog found it broke a law on personal data storage. |
 | Engineers study glass in batteries as a way to increase performance and safetySteve Martin gestured toward an office shelf full of red-bound doctoral dissertations about glassy solids and the basic properties that could make them useful in a battery. |
 | New capsule achieves long-term drug deliveryResearchers at MIT and Brigham and Women's Hospital have developed a new drug capsule that remains in the stomach for up to two weeks after being swallowed, gradually releasing its drug payload. This type of drug delivery could replace inconvenient regimens that require repeated doses, which would help to overcome one of the major obstacles to treating and potentially eliminating diseases such as malaria. |
 | Protein feed and bioplastic from farm biogasVTT has developed a solution for converting even small sources of methane-rich biogas into raw materials for animal feed or bioplastic on farms, landfills and wastewater treatment plants. This emission-reducing solution is based on the ability of methanotrophic bacteria to grow on methane in gas fermentors. |
 | Mind the drones: 'Near-miss' with plane near London's ShardA drone just missed hitting an A320 plane flying above the Shard skyscraper in central London in July—one of several near-misses involving passenger jets in Britain, a new report said. |
 | Tesla, SolarCity shareholders prepare to vote on mergerTesla Motors CEO Elon Musk will learn Thursday if shareholders support his plan to merge with SolarCity Corp. after a lengthy debate over the merits of the deal. |
 | Local grid solution for global energy transitionWhat will intelligent, decentralized energy management look like in the future? Using its own Micro Smart Grid and control systems developed in-house, the Fraunhofer Institute for Industrial Engineering IAO is exploring how to efficiently coordinate energy producers, storage systems, and consumers as well as how to test the innovative technologies required. The research parking garage houses 30 charging spots for electric vehicles, Europe's fastest high-speed charging station, as well as Europe's first hydrogen storage system based on LOHC technology. |
One-fourth make money from online platforms in US: surveyNearly one-fourth of American adults have earned money recently using online commerce platforms for "gigs" or to sell goods, a survey showed Thursday. | |
Facebook buys Pittsburgh-based facial analysis software firmFacebook has bought a facial analysis software firm linked to Pittsburgh's Carnegie Mellon University, a move that will help the social media giant boost its artificial intelligence-powered facial recognition technology. | |
Verizon-owned AOL trims jobs ahead of Yahoo buyVerizon-owned internet firm AOL said Thursday it is trimming jobs as part of a restructuring plan making priorities of mobile, video and data. | |
 | Liquid silicon: Computer chips could bridge the gap between computation and storageComputer chips in development at the University of Wisconsin-Madison could make future computers more efficient and powerful by combining tasks usually kept separate by design. |
Chinese makers lead smartphone growth: surveyChinese manufacturers are driving growth in the smartphone market as sector leaders Samsung and Apple sputter, a survey showed Thursday. | |
Facebook boosts efforts to 'do good' with new tools (Update)Facebook is offering new tools for charity fundraising, for marking yourself safe during a crisis and for helping others—or asking for help—after a natural disaster. | |
 | Beyond rooms and homes: Airbnb adding tours and activitiesNot content with just renting out spare rooms and vacant homes, Airbnb is adding local tours and activities like surfing lessons and pub crawls to its travel services in major cities around the world. |
 | Tesla, SolarCity get shareholder approval for mergerTesla Motors got approval from investors to combine with SolarCity Corp. in an effort to expand the market for solar power and give electric car owners new options for solar charging. |
US solar panel maker to cut 1,600 jobs, 450 at plant in OhioThe biggest U.S. manufacturer of solar panels is cutting a quarter of its jobs worldwide and will reduce production at its only North American plant. | |
 | Closing tech gaps can fortify advanced manufacturing, save $100 billionTo spur significant innovation and growth in advanced manufacturing, as well as save over $100 billion annually, U.S. industry must rectify currently unmet needs for measurement science and "proof-of-concept" demonstrations of emerging technologies. This is the overall conclusion reached by economic studies funded by the National Institute of Standards and Technology (NIST) of four advanced manufacturing areas used to create everything from automobile composites to zero-noise headsets. |
 | Jefferson Lab's newest cluster makes Top500 list of fastest supercomputersFor the third time in its history, Thomas Jefferson National Accelerator Facility is home to one of the world's 500 fastest supercomputers. The SciPhi-XVI supercomputer was just listed as a TOP500 Supercomputer Site on November 14, placing 397th on the 48th edition of the list of the world's top supercomputers. |
Medicine & Health news
 | Aging mice given blood plasma from young humans regain youthful attributes(Medical Xpress)—A team of researchers working at a company called Alkahest has reported at this year's Society for Neuroscience annual meeting that injections of blood plasma from young human beings caused aging mice to regain some youthful attributes. Company representative Sakura Minami claimed that testing with mice given youthful human plasma led to improved cognition in middle-aged mice. She has also spoken to the media regarding the experiments and results conducted by the company. |
 | Pessimism associated with risk of death from coronary heart diseasePessimism seems to be a strong risk factor for death from coronary heart disease (CHD), while optimism does not protect from it, according to a study published in the open access journal BMC Public Health that involved 2,267 middle aged and older Finnish men and women. |
 | IVF online calculator predicts individualized chances of couples having a babyWriting in The BMJ today, researchers describe a new calculator that has been developed to estimate the individualised chances of couples having a baby, both before and after first IVF treatment, and over multiple cycles. |
 | Heart disease, high blood pressure and diabetes may combine to worsen thinking skillsResearch from the University of Glasgow shows that people who have a cardiometabolic disease, such as high blood pressure, diabetes or coronary heart disease (CHD), perform worse on mental tests of reasoning, memory and reaction time, and having more than one of these conditions has an even greater effect. |
 | New research clarifies why wounds heal more slowly with ageOlder bodies need longer to mend. This reality of aging has been documented since World War I, with the observation that wounds heal slower in older soldiers. Yet until now, researchers have not been able to tease out what age-related changes hinder the body's ability to repair itself. |
 | Nutty stimulant revealed as anticancer toolArecoline—the stimulant component of areca nuts—has anticancer properties, researchers at Winship Cancer Institute of Emory University have discovered. |
 | Landmark project shows heart disease and arthritis risk raised by genetic changes in bloodToday in Cell and associated journals, 24 research studies from the landmark BLUEPRINT project and IHEC consortia reveal how variation in blood cells' characteristics and numbers can affect a person's risk of developing complex diseases such as heart disease, and autoimmune diseases including rheumatoid arthritis, asthma, coeliac disease and type 1 diabetes. |
 | High-fiber diet keeps gut microbes from eating colon's lining, protects against infectionIt sounds like the plot of a 1950s science fiction movie: normal, helpful bacteria that begin to eat their host from within, because they don't get what they want. |
 | Researchers identify missing links that connect human DNA variation with diseaseA team of Cambridge researchers led by scientists at the Babraham Institute have discovered the hidden connections in our genomes that contribute to common diseases. Using a pioneering technique developed at the Babraham Institute, the results are beginning to make biological sense of the mountains of genetic data linking very small changes in our DNA sequence to our risk of disease. Discovering these missing links will inform the design of new drugs and future treatments for a range of diseases, including rheumatoid arthritis and other types of autoimmune disease. |
 | Mobile game designed to help better understand dementia on a massive scale(Medical Xpress)—A mobile phone app called Sea Hero Quest designed by researchers at Alzheimer's Research UK, Deutsche Telekom, University College London, the University of East Anglia and game designer Glitchers has reportedly been downloaded and played by approximately 2.4 million people around the world, giving researchers unprecedented amounts of data regarding dementia. Dr. Hugo Spiers, with University College London gave a presentation to an audience at this year's Neuroscience 2016 outlining findings by the team thus far. In addition to citing statistics garnered from the game, he also suggested that the work by the team represents the largest study ever conducted on dementia, offering accuracy that greatly exceeds any other experiments conducted in the field to date. |
 | Discovery opens door to new Alzheimer's treatmentsAustralian researchers have shed new light on the nerve cell processes that lead to Alzheimer's disease (AD), overturning previously held ideas of how the disease develops and opening the door to new treatment options that could halt or slow its progression. |
 | Genetically engineered T cells render HIV's harpoon powerlessWhen HIV attacks a T cell, it attaches itself to the cell's surface and launches a "harpoon" to create an opening to enter and infect the cells. To stop the invasion, researchers from the Penn Center for AIDS Research at the University of Pennsylvania and scientists from Sangamo BioSciences, Inc. have developed genetically engineered T cells armed with a so-called "fusion inhibitor" to disrupt this critical step and prevent a wide range of HIV viruses from entering and infecting the T cells. The findings were reported today online in a preclinical study in PLOS Pathogens. |
 | Older first-time mothers are also more likely to live longerThe average age of a woman giving birth for the first time has risen dramatically in the United States over the past 40 years, driven by factors like education or career. A new study by researchers at University of California San Diego School of Medicine found that women choosing to become first-time mothers later in life may increase their chances of living into their 90s. |
 | Unraveling how a brain works, block by high-tech blockPsychologists have long used building blocks to assess cognitive skills. But researchers at Case Western Reserve University are imbedding the blocks with technology that may provide a clearer view of problems a child or adult may suffer due to developmental disabilities, brain trauma or dementia. |
 | Finally, a type of face that men recognize better than womenFinally, psychologists have discovered a type of face that men are better at identifying than women: the faces on Transformer toys. |
 | Neurons in the human eye are organized for error correctionNeurons found in the human eye naturally display a form of error correction in the collective visual signals they send to the brain, according to a new study in PLOS Computational Biology. |
 | Hepatitis C virus tricks liver cells to sabotage immune defensesThe virus that causes hepatitis C protects itself by blocking signals that call up immune defenses in liver cells, according to University of Washington researchers and colleagues reporting Nov. 14 in Nature Medicine. |
Good news for kids recovering from complex pneumoniaIn some good news for families of children recovering from complex pneumonia, doctors recommend in a study published by Pediatrics it's better to send kids home from the hospital with oral instead of intravenous antibiotics. | |
 | Scientists explore how nutrition may feed mental healthGood nutrition has long been viewed as a cornerstone of physical health, but research is increasingly showing diet's effect on mental health, as well. A special section in Clinical Psychological Science highlights the different approaches that psychology researchers are taking to understand the many ways in which nutrition and mental health intersect. |
 | Sleep apnea immediately compromises blood pressureA single bout of sleep apnea impacts the human body's ability to regulate blood pressure. |
 | 3-D imaging of muscles points to potential treatments for muscle diseases and injuriesEight million people per year in the UK suffer from muscular diseases and injuries including muscular dystrophy, cerebral palsy, exercise-related injuries, rotator cuff tears, and age-related muscle loss. |
Severe dizziness treated with steroid injections into the eardrumInjections of steroid into the ear are an effective treatment for a common form of severe dizziness, suggests a new study. | |
Physiotherapy treatment does not benefit ankle sprainsPhysiotherapy given to patients with simple ankle sprains does not benefit recovery when compared to basic self management of the injury at home, reveals a study published by The BMJ today. | |
Serious, highly drug-resistant infections increasing among US childrenHighly drug-resistant infections are on the rise among U.S. children, reports a new study published in the Journal of the Pediatric Infectious Diseases Society. Researchers found increasing rates of antibiotic resistance among samples of Pseudomonas aeruginosa, an important type of bacteria, collected from pediatric patients nationwide over the last decade. The findings provide more evidence that aggressive strategies to track, prevent, and treat these concerning infections in children are greatly needed. | |
 | Surgeon general report: 'Addiction is not a character flaw'In what may be his last significant act as President Barack Obama's surgeon general, Dr. Vivek Murthy released a report Thursday calling for a major cultural shift in the way Americans view drug and alcohol addiction. |
Better definition of 'pre-diabetes' can help identify those at risk for long-term complicationsDefining pre-diabetes based on hemoglobin A1C, a common test that determines a long-term average blood sugar level, is the most accurate predictor of who will go on to develop long-term complications from diabetes, new Johns Hopkins Bloomberg School of Public Health research suggests. | |
 | How to prevent 440,000 yearly deaths due to medical errorsWhy do physicians accidentally jab themselves in the hand with an EpiPen (epinephrine injection) when they are trying to give another person an injection while holding their breath? |
 | Bilingual babies are better at detecting musical sounds, research showsExposure to multiple languages may sharpen infants' music sensitivity in the first year after birth, new research has found. |
 | With legal pot comes a problem—how do we weed out impaired drivers?On Nov. 8 voters in California, Maine, Massachusetts and Nevada approved ballot measures to legalize recreational cannabis. It is now legal in a total of eight states. And this creates potential problems for road safety. How do we determine who's impaired and who's not? |
 | Why do we sacrifice sleep?Sleeping well is often cited as a key method of improving one's health and well-being. But when the challenges of life require more hours in the day than a person has available, sleep is often sacrificed. |
 | New study shows that for runners, age is but a numberWho says you can't stay physically fit well into your old age? A new study from Ithaca College biomechanics researcher Rumit Singh Kakar reveals that running mechanics remain largely unchanged as runners grow older. |
 | HIV survives in our chromosomal DNAIt has been said that HIV cannot be cured since the virus propagates in places beyond the reach of antiviral agents. New research from Karolinska Institutet suggests, however, that this view is incorrect. |
 | Research suggests that the arts might play a role in empathy trainingA recent study from researchers at City, University of London and the University of the Balearic Islands suggests that dancers are more emotionally sensitive than the rest of us. |
 | Kidney disease risk for some pregnant womenResearch from the University of Aberdeen has found that that there was an increased risk of chronic kidney disease later in life for mothers who had high blood pressure during pregnancy. |
 | How to recognise a stroke and what you should know about their treatmentOne in every six people will experience a stroke during their lifetime. And by the time you have read this article, it's likely that someone in Australia will have experienced one. Stroke kills more women than breast cancer and more men than prostate cancer yet you're unlikely to read much about it. |
 | Epilepsy – why do seizures sometimes continue after surgery?New research from the University of Liverpool, published in the journal Brain, has highlighted the potential reasons why many patients with severe epilepsy still continue to experience seizures even after surgery. |
 | Study sheds light on 'surprise' ER billingIn an unprecedented study of 2.2 million emergency room visits across the United States, Yale researchers found that 22% of patients who went to emergency departments within their health-insurance networks were treated by an out-of-network doctor and potentially incurred major, unexpected expenses. |
 | Clearest memories made between 15 and 25 – here's whyAsk people about memorable things or events that happened during their lives and their recollections tend to be from between the ages of 15 and 25. It doesn't matter if it's current affairs, sporting or public events. It can be Oscar winners, hit records, books or personal memories. We researchers in the science of memory call this the reminiscence bump – in reference to the shape it gives when we plot a curve of memories over a person's lifespan. |
 | How a Mediterranean-style diet may reduce heart failure in the agedIn mouse experiments, University of Alabama at Birmingham researchers have shown how aging and excess dietary fat create signals that lead to heart failure after a heart attack. |
 | Why people have affairs—and how a relationship can recover"Life is short. Have an affair." That was the marketing slogan of AshleyMadison.com, a dating site aimed at people who are married or in committed relationships. When the site was hacked, releasing users' information onto the Web, it was national news that sparked countless conversations about infidelity and its consequences. |
 | Fish oil supplements may improve muscle function in older womenTaking omega-3 supplements could improve muscle function in older women, potentially increasing their quality of life into old age and preventing unnecessary falls and loss of independence. |
Survey finds fungal skin infections commonly misdiagnosedFungal skin infections may be commonly misdiagnosed, according to a survey published in the Journal of the American Academy of Dermatology by George Washington University (GW) dermatologist Adam Friedman, M.D. | |
Researchers identify pathway important for kidney functionBoston University researchers, in collaboration with Centers for Therapeutic Innovation (CTI) at Pfizer Inc. (NYSE:PFE), have discovered a novel molecular pathway needed to regulate kidney podocytes—special octopus-like cells that are critical in maintaining normal kidney function. | |
 | Estimating survival in patients with lung cancer, brain metastasesA new article published online by JAMA Oncology updates a tool to estimate survival in patients with lung cancer and brain metastases. |
Can facial plastic surgeons correctly estimate age from a photograph?The lack of scientific tools to translate perceptions - such as more beautiful or rejuvenated - into numbers that can be analyzed is a challenge in the field of facial plastic surgery and it can get in the way of producing high-quality scientific publications. | |
Restoring flawed tumor vessels could lead to better cancer treatmentsResearchers led by Peter Carmeliet (VIB-KU Leuven) have found a novel way to normalize the dysfunctional blood vessels that are typical for tumors. Those vessels play a pivotal role in cancer metastasis, as their fragility and permeability allows cancer cells to escape through the blood stream and invade other organs. By manipulating the blood vessel cells' sugar metabolism, the scientists were able to 'cool down' their overheated engines and create a healthy and structured blood vessel network. On top of preventing the spread of cancer cells, the restored vessels delivered chemotherapy drugs in a more efficient way to the tumor. These groundbreaking results are published in the scientific journal Cancer Cell. | |
 | Walking is bound hand and foot: How long projecting neurons couple the movement of our limbsWe humans walk with our feet. This is true, but not entirely. Walking, as part of locomotion, is a coordinated whole-body movement that involves both the arms and legs. Researchers at the Biozentrum of the University of Basel and the Friedrich Miescher Institute for Biomedical Research have identified different subpopulations of neurons in the spinal cord with long projections. Published in Neuron, the results show that these neurons coordinate movement of arms and legs and ensure a stable body posture during locomotion. |
 | How the heart turns into boneConnective tissue cells in the heart turn into bone-producing cells in response to injury, University of California, Los Angeles scientists report November 17 in Cell Stem Cell. The discovery helps explain why some people who survive heart damage develop abnormal calcium deposits—the main component of bone—in the valves or walls of the heart. The researchers also show that heart calcification can be prevented in mice by blocking an enzyme that regulates bone mineralization with small molecules. |
 | Shared epigenetic changes underlie different types of autismIndividuals with both rare and common types of autism spectrum disorder share a similar set of epigenetic modifications in the brain, according to a study published November 17 in Cell. More than 68% of individuals with different types of autism spectrum disorder show evidence of the same pattern of histone acetylation—a chemical modification of the protein scaffold around which DNA wraps. The findings suggest that a single global epigenetic pattern affecting shared molecular pathways in the brain could underlie diverse manifestations of this psychiatric disease. |
 | Why raising good cholesterol may not always protect against heart diseaseGood cholesterol is well associated with lower cardiovascular disease risk, but just raising high-density lipoprotein (HDL) levels have produced disappointing results in recent clinical trials. A study published November 17 in Cell Metabolism may explain why: HDL actually increases the inflammatory response of immune cells called macrophages, potentially counteracting its well-established anti-inflammatory effect in various other cell types. |
Researcher explores best treatments for glaucomaResearchers at Queen's University Belfast together with University of St Andrews and Aberdeen have found that the procedure used to remove cataracts is more successful than current standard treatments with laser in treating Primary Angle-Closure Glaucoma – a leading cause of irreversible blindness worldwide. | |
Uncombable hair gene discoveredSome children suffer from completely tangled hair, which cannot be combed at all. In German, the phenomenon bears the apt name "uncombable hair syndrome" or even "Struwwelpeter syndrome". Researchers at the Universities of Bonn and Toulouse have identified mutations in three genes that are responsible for this. Scientists from a total of eight countries were involved in the work. The results were published today in the American Journal of Human Genetics. | |
Targeting brain chemistry to beat diseaseThanks to advances in big data and medicinal chemistry, scientists can screen thousands of molecules in the search for protein structures leading to new drugs for brain diseases. | |
HC-based NGS impacts treatment decisions in lung cancer patients with adenocarcinomaThe use of hybrid capture-based (HC-based) next-generation sequencing (NGS) to identify targetable oncogenic drivers in patients with lung adenocarcinoma results in the detection of genomic alterations (GAs) not identified in routine screening, and impacts treatment decisions and clinical outcomes. | |
One state's temporary gun removal law shows promise in preventing suicidesA Connecticut law enacted in 1999 to allow police to temporarily remove guns from potentially violent or suicidal people likely prevented dozens of suicides, according to a study by researchers at Duke and Yale universities and the University of Connecticut. | |
Study finds arthritis drug significantly effective in treating Crohn's diseaseResearchers at University of California San Diego School of Medicine have shown that ustekinumab, a human antibody used to treat arthritis, significantly induces response and remission in patients with moderate to severe Crohn's disease. Results of the clinical trial will appear in the November 16 issue of the New England Journal of Medicine. | |
 | Beyond the DNA: Comprehensive map of the human epigenome completedScientists have established comprehensive maps of the human epigenome, shedding light on how the body regulates which genes are active in which cells. Over the last five years, a worldwide consortium of scientists has established epigenetic maps of 2,100 cell types. Within this coordinated effort, the CeMM Research Center for Molecular Medicine contributed detailed DNA methylation maps of the developing blood, opening up new perspectives for the understanding and treatment of leukemia and immune diseases. |
Reducing unnecessary testing of UTIs improves patient care, saves resourcesMany hospital patients may be unnecessarily tested, and treated, for catheter-associated urinary tract infections (CAUTIs), according to a study published today in Infection Control & Hospital Epidemiology, the journal of the Society for Healthcare Epidemiology of America. Researchers significantly reduced rates of CAUTI, one of the most common types of healthcare-associated infections, through a multifaceted intervention emphasizing best practices for insertion, maintenance and removal of indwelling catheters, as well as following strict criteria for testing patients for infection. | |
 | Studies point to gene-based brain glitches in ill Gulf War vetsVeterans Affairs researchers have found that certain forms, or alleles, of a gene known to play a key role in the immune system appear to offer protection from Gulf War illness (GWI). Further, they discovered how such protection is manifested in the brain. |
 | New technology detects COPD in minutesThis technology is now being taken forward commercially through the recently formed spin-out company PulmonIR Ltd. |
Updated ASTRO guideline expands pool of suitable candidates for accelerated partial breast irradiationThe American Society for Radiation Oncology (ASTRO) today issued an updated clinical practice statement for accelerated partial breast irradiation (APBI) for early-stage breast cancer. The updated guideline reflects recent evidence that greater numbers of patients can benefit from accelerated treatment and also provides direction for the use of intraoperative radiation therapy (IORT) for partial breast irradiation. The update to the 2009 ASTRO consensus statement for APBI is available as a free access article in Practical Radiation Oncology, ASTRO's clinical practice journal. | |
BAG3 protein plays critical role in protecting heart from reperfusion injury, research showsThe inability of cells to eliminate damaged proteins and organelles following the blockage of a coronary artery and its subsequent re-opening with angioplasty or medications - a sequence known as ischemia/reperfusion - often results in irreparable damage to the heart muscle. To date, attempts to prevent this damage in humans have been unsuccessful. According to a new study by scientists at the Lewis Katz School of Medicine at Temple University (LKSOM), however, it may be possible to substantially limit reperfusion injury by increasing the expression of a protein known as Bcl-2-associated athanogene 3 (BAG3). | |
 | Malaria parasite evades rapid test detection in childrenThe Democratic Republic of the Congo (DRC) has one of the highest rates of people living with malaria. Rapid diagnostic tests (RDTs) account for more than 70 percent of diagnostic testing for malaria in Africa. Most rapid test diagnostics rely on the detection of histidine-rich protein 2 (HRP2), an antigen specific to Plasmodium falciparum malaria. However, one of every 15 children infected with Plasmodium falciparum malaria parasites in the DRC is infected by a pfhrp2-deleted mutant, producing a false-negative result when an RDT is used, investigators from the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill found. Their results were published in the Journal of Infectious Diseases and discussed during a recent World Health Organization meeting during the American Society of Tropical Medicine and Hygiene's annual conference in Atlanta. |
 | T cell channel could be targeted to treat head and neck cancersResearchers at the University of Cincinnati (UC) have discovered that an ion channel, active within T cells (white blood cells), could be targeted to reduce the growth of head and neck cancers. |
 | Researchers examine how drug policy impacts HIV vulnerability among African-AmericansAlthough HIV rates are higher among the African American community compared to the White population, research shows that engagement in risky behaviors does not fully account for these differences. |
The cell of origin in childhood brain tumors affects susceptibility to therapyChildren that are diagnosed with the severe the brain tumour malignant glioma often have a very poor prognosis. Knowledge about how pediatric malignant glioma arises and develops is still limited. New findings from Uppsala University show that in mice glioma development and glioma cell properties are affected by both age and the cell type from which the tumour has arisen. The tumour cell of origin was also important for the susceptibility of the tumour cells towards cancer drugs. | |
 | Insurers use high drug costs to deter some Obamacare patients, economist saysAn economist at The University of Texas at Austin will brief members of Congress on how insurers are using high out-of-pocket prescription drug costs to deter certain chronically ill patients from joining their plans in the individual markets. |
 | Scientists advance a novel urine test to predict high-risk cervical cancerJohns Hopkins Medicine specialists report they have developed a urine test for the likely emergence of cervical cancer that is highly accurate compared to other tests based on genetic markers derived directly from cervical tissue. |
 | Study reveals new information on how brain cancer spreadsGlioblastoma multiforme remains the most common and highly lethal brain cancer and is known for its ability to relapse. Researchers at The University of Texas MD Anderson Cancer Center have identified a pathway by which cancer cells aggressively spread and grow in the brain, opening up new possibilities for treatment. |
 | Knowing your fitness number predicts your risk for future ill healthIt is well known that individuals who are unfit are at substantially greater risk for lifestyle-related diseases and premature death. Despite its high value in assessment of risk, fitness is not routinely measured in clinical practice. The likely reason for this is the costly and time consuming testing procedure that requires trained personnel and expensive equipment. Therefore, research has recently turned to non-exercise algorithms, which, without the need for expensive equipment or trained personnel, estimate fitness from available clinical information and information provided by the patient. |
 | Large-scale cancer gene profiling is feasible but faces barriersResearchers leading the largest genomic tumor profiling effort of its kind say such studies are technically feasible in a broad population of adult and pediatric patients with many different types of cancer, and that some patients can benefit by receiving precision drugs targeted to their tumors' mutations or being enrolled in clinical trials. |
| Women who have their last baby after 35 are mentally sharper in old age, study findsA new study has found that women have better brainpower after menopause if they had their last baby after age 35, used hormonal contraceptives for more than 10 years or began their menstrual cycle before turning 13. |
 | Scientists develop new mouse model to aid Zika virus researchResearchers have developed a new mouse model that could be used in Zika research to better understand the virus and find new treatments, according to a study published in PLOS Pathogens. |
Menopausal hormone therapy improves bone healthWomen who undergo hormone therapy for menopausal symptoms such as hot flashes can not only increase bone mass, but also can improve bone structure, according to a new study published in the Endocrine Society's Journal of Clinical Endocrinology & Metabolism. | |
Low blood glucose levels in hospitalized patients linked to increased mortality riskIn hospitalized patients, low blood sugar—also known as hypoglycemia—is associated with increased short- and long-term mortality risk, according to a new study published in the Endocrine Society's Journal of Clinical Endocrinology & Metabolism. | |
Fear of gaining weight may influence contraception choicesConcerns about weight gain may be driving contraception choices, according to Penn State College of Medicine researchers. Women who are overweight or obese are less likely than women who are not overweight or obese to use the birth control pill and other hormonal contraceptive methods. | |
 | Study reveals workings of immune response to deadly fungal infectionsEvery year, fungal infections threaten thousands of patients—from those with depressed immune systems to others who have had surgeries or devices such as catheters implanted. Moreover, some anti-fungal medications are beginning to lose their power. |
 | Study finds reasons for accumulated stress levels more complicated than thoughtAfrican-American and Latina women have a higher accumulated stress level than Caucasian women, but a new study found that less than half the differences could be explained by expected factors such as poverty, neighbourhoods, stress and support systems. |
Study examines vulnerability of gonorrhea to older antibiotic drugA new clinical research study seeks to determine whether a rapid molecular diagnostic test can reliably identify gonorrhea infections that may be successfully treated with a single dose of an older antibiotic, ciprofloxacin. The study will enroll up to 381 men and women diagnosed with untreated Neisseria gonorrhoeae. It is sponsored by the National Institute of Allergy and Infectious Diseases (NIAID), part of the National Institutes of Health. The study is being conducted by the NIAID-funded Sexually Transmitted Infections Clinical Trials Group at four sites: one each in San Francisco, and Philadelphia, and two in Los Angeles. | |
 | Study brings undiagnosed adults struggling with autism out of the shadowsFor most of his life, Kevin Hughes has felt like an outsider. A loner as a child, the 65-year-old comedian struggled socially as a teenager and lacked friends as an adult, often offending people without knowing why. |
 | Sleep apnea may make lung cancer more deadlyA team of researchers from the University of Chicago and the University of Barcelona has found that intermittent hypoxia, or an irregular lack of air experienced by people with sleep apnea, can increase tumor growth by promoting the release of circulating exosomes. Their results are published in the current issue of the journal Chest. |
 | The role of physical environment in the 'broken windows' theoryFor decades, the influential "broken windows" theory has linked signs of petty crime to bigger problems in a neighborhood. Largely left out of such discussions, however, is the role simple perceptual features in physical environments play in encouraging rule-breaking. |
 | E-cigarettes may harm teens' lung healthE-cigarette use among teenagers is growing dramatically, and public health experts are concerned that these devices may be a gateway to smoking. Now, new research indicates that even if these young e-cigarette users do not become tobacco smokers, e-cigarettes may harm their health. |
 | CDC reveals top 5 causes of death(HealthDay)—Heart disease tops the list of what's most likely to kill you or someone you love, U.S. health officials reported Thursday. |
Intrarosa approved for post-menopausal pain during sex(HealthDay)—Intrarosa has been approved by the U.S. Food and Drug Administration to treat women who have moderate-to-severe pain during sexual intercourse caused by post-menopausal vulvar and vaginal atrophy (VVA). | |
 | Data from clinical registries can ID novel drug interactions(HealthDay)—Data mining can be used to discover unknown drug-drug interactions in cardiovascular medicine, according to a study published online Nov. 8 in Circulation: Cardiovascular Quality and Outcomes. |
 | Sodium bicarbonate prophylaxis linked to lower mortality(HealthDay)—For patients undergoing coronary angiography, sodium bicarbonate prophylaxis for contrast-associated nephropathy (CAN) is associated with reduced long-term mortality, according to research published in the Nov. 15 issue of The American Journal of Cardiology. |
 | DECIDE modalities beneficial for african-americans with T2DM(HealthDay)—For African-Americans with type 2 diabetes, the Decision-making Education for Choices In Diabetes Everyday (DECIDE) program is beneficial, according to a study published online Nov. 14 in Diabetes Care. |
 | Palbociclib efficacious in metastatic breast cancer(HealthDay)—Palbociclib can help slow the progression of advanced breast cancer, according to a study published in the Nov. 17 issue of the New England Journal of Medicine. |
 | Competing risks influence warfarin, thromboembolism link(HealthDay)—For patients with nonvalvular atrial fibrillation, warfarin is associated with a reduction in thromboembolism, although the correlation is attenuated after accounting for competing death events, according to a study published online Nov. 12 in the Journal of the American Geriatrics Society. |
Australian euthanasia law loses by single parliament voteAn attempt to legalize voluntary euthanasia in an Australian state was defeated by a single vote in parliament on Thursday. | |
Aboriginal Australians' welfare 'stagnating or worsening'Imprisonment and self-harm rates have soared among Aboriginal Australians, an official report said Thursday as it slammed a lack of research into whether government programmes were effective at addressing the issues facing the community. | |
Pakistani doctor transplants hope to millions for freeCamped on the baking concrete outside a gleaming transplant centre, Karachi's sick have come from miles around in desperate hope for a last chance at life. | |
Interpersonal violence increases the risk of repeated suicide attemptsA study conducted by researchers from the Karolinska Institute shows that patients with an experience of violence have an increased risk to carry out repeated suicide attempts. | |
 | National trial to assess drugs for severe seizuresQuestions remain regarding how best to treat patients experiencing prolonged, dangerous seizures. Although emergency medical teams around the country use a variety of approaches, more research is needed to give patients the best chance of surviving and to prevent or limit brain damage. |
How an 'urban zoo' project in Kenya is helping unpack the spread of diseaseThere are fears that Africa's next major modern disease crisis will emerge from its cities. Like Ebola, it may well originate from animals. Understanding where it would come from and how this could happen is critical to monitoring and control. | |
Rift Valley Fever epidemic kills at least 32 in NigerAt least 32 people have died since late August in an epidemic of Rift Valley fever in the western Niger region of Tahoua, the country's health ministry said Thursday. | |
Puerto Rico unveils $200M center to treat, research cancerPuerto Rico is opening a long-awaited $200 million cancer treatment and research center that aims to serve patients across the Western Hemisphere with more affordable treatment than on the U.S. mainland, officials said Thursday. | |
Study links health literacy to higher levels of health insurance coverageUninsured individuals who had greater knowledge about health insurance and financial issues were more likely to gain coverage after health insurance exchanges opened under the federal Affordable Care Act, according to a new RAND Corporation study. | |
Telemedicine program provides life-saving kidney care to patients in rural areasAlthough dialysis rates are similar in urban and rural areas, most remote rural counties in the United States lack in-county dialysis facilities. Of all the community hospitals in the country, only 38% are designated as rural hospitals, and it is estimated that two-thirds of rural hospitals do not offer acute dialysis due to a lack of dialysis and/or kidney specialists. A model telehealth program may help provide much-needed care to these regions, according to a study that will be presented at ASN Kidney Week 2016 November 15¬-20 at McCormick Place in Chicago, IL. | |
 | Does traffic-related air pollution increase asthma risk by stimulating immune mediated inflammation?A recent study of 577 children living in Puerto Rico shows that residential distance to a major road (a marker of exposure to traffic-related air pollution, or TRAP) is associated with increased plasma levels of interleukin 31 (IL-31), a cytokine that promotes allergic inflammation. This study was published in Pediatric Allergy, Immunology, and Pulmonology. |
ACMG issues new recommendations for reporting secondary findings in genomic sequencingIn order to promote standardized reporting of medically actionable information from clinical genomic sequencing, the American College of Medical Genetics and Genomics (ACMG) in 2013, published a minimum list of genes to be reported as secondary findings during exome or genome sequencing. The goal was to identify and manage risks for selected highly penetrant genetic disorders through established interventions aimed at preventing or significantly reducing morbidity and mortality. Subsequently, in 2014, the ACMG established the Secondary Findings Maintenance Working Group (SFWG) to develop a process for curating and updating the list of recommended genes periodically. | |
Reducing salt intake may help protect kidney patients' heart and kidney healthNew research indicates that reducing sodium intake may provide kidney and heart benefits for patients with chronic kidney disease (CKD). The findings appear in an upcoming issue of the Journal of the American Society of Nephrology (JASN). | |
Kidney failure patients' advance directives are often inadequateIn a recent study, nearly half of kidney failure patients receiving dialysis had advance directives outlining their preferences related to end-of-life care, but only a very small minority of these directives addressed the management of dialysis. The findings, which appear in an upcoming issue of the Clinical Journal of the American Society of Nephrology (CJASN), indicate that the simple presence or absence of an advance directive is not adequate for fully addressing important aspects of dialysis patients' end-of-life care. | |
 | Poor sensitivity for HPV 16/18 in minor abnormal cytology(HealthDay)—Testing for human papillomavirus (HPV) 16/18 has poor sensitivity for triaging women with minor abnormal cytology, according to a meta-analysis published online Nov. 15 in the Annals of Internal Medicine. |
Smoking may block some of the benefits of kidney disease medicationsTo improve care for patients with kidney dysfunction, investigators are striving to identify modifiable risk factors that may slow the progression of chronic kidney disease (CKD) to kidney failure. A new study suggests that cigarette smoking partially negates the kidney-protective effects of medications taken by patients with early CKD, possibly by inducing higher kidney levels of oxidative stress. The findings will be presented at ASN Kidney Week 2016 November 15¬-20 at McCormick Place in Chicago, IL. | |
Method to create kidney organoids from patient cells provides insights on kidney diseaseA new method to create kidney organoids from patient cells may provide insights into how kidney diseases arise and how they should be treated. The research will be presented at ASN Kidney Week 2016 November 15¬-20 at McCormick Place in Chicago, IL. | |
Research provides insights on the link between kidney damage and cognitive impairmentPeople with kidney disease are at high risk of cognitive impairment, but the nature of this relationship remains uncertain. A new analysis that investigates this link will be presented at ASN Kidney Week 2016 November 15¬-20 at McCormick Place in Chicago, IL. | |
Program may help increase numbers of live kidney donorsA new program may help overcome common barriers to finding living kidney donors. The program will be highlighted at ASN Kidney Week 2016 November 15-20 at McCormick Place in Chicago, IL. | |
Biology news
 | Engineering a more efficient system for harnessing carbon dioxideDespite the vast diversity of organisms on the planet that express enzymes for the conversion of carbon dioxide into such organic compounds as sugars - as plants do through photosynthesis - the efforts to harness these capabilities to transform CO2 into high-value products such as biofuel and renewable chemicals have met with limited success. While increasing concentration of CO2 in the atmosphere poses a challenge, researchers also see it as an opportunity. |
 | Scientists tweak photosynthesis to boost crop yieldResearchers report in the journal Science that they can increase plant productivity by boosting levels of three proteins involved in photosynthesis. In field trials, the scientists saw increases of 14 percent to 20 percent in the productivity of their modified tobacco plants. The work confirms that photosynthesis can be made more efficient to increase plant yield, a hypothesis some in the scientific community once doubted was possible. |
 | A milestone in small RNA biology—piRNA biogenesis from start to finishPIWI-interacting RNAs, or piRNAs for short, are a class of 'small regulatory RNAs'—tiny pieces of nucleic acid just 22–30 nucleotides in length. They may be small, but with their associated Argonaute proteins, piRNAs have the power to 'silence' transposable elements, so called egoistic genes found in the genomes of plants, fungi, and animals. piRNA-guided silencing can act on chromatin to block transposon transcription, or by destroying transposon mRNAs in order to block their translation into proteins. |
 | A small piece of DNA with a large effect on leaf shapeMillions of years ago, some plants in the mustard family made the switch from simple leaves to complex leaves through two tiny tweaks to a single gene. One tweak to a small enhancer sequence gave the gene a new domain of expression in the leaf. Paradoxically, the other tweak sub-optimised its function in this new domain. But together, these changes gave rise to fit plants with complex leaves. |
 | Coral genomes reveal how populations rebound after environmental catastrophesNew genome-sequence data show that Caribbean corals that have survived mass-extinction events caused by environmental change can rebound and expand their populations. |
 | Tasting light: New type of photoreceptor is 50 times more efficient than the human eyeAn international team of scientists led by the University of Michigan has discovered a new type of photoreceptor—only the third to be found in animals—that is about 50 times more efficient at capturing light than the rhodopsin in the human eye. |
 | Genome sequence of a 5,310-year-old maize cob provides new insights into the early stages of maize domesticationResearchers who have sequenced the genome of a 5,310-year-old corn cob have discovered that the maize grown in central Mexico all those years ago was genetically more similar to modern maize than to its wild ancestor. For example, the ancient maize already carried genetic variants responsible for making kernels soft, a common feature of modern corn. The findings are reported in Current Biology on November 17. |
 | 3-D imaging technique maps migration of DNA-carrying material at the center of cellsScientists have mapped the reorganization of genetic material that takes place when a stem cell matures into a nerve cell. Detailed 3-D visualizations show an unexpected connectivity in the genetic material in a cell's nucleus, and provide a new understanding of a cell's evolving architecture. |
 | Another species of Varroa mite threatens European honeybeesA sister species of the Varroa destructor mite is developing the ability to parasitize European honeybees, threatening pollinators already hard pressed by pesticides, nutritional deficiencies and disease, a Purdue University study says. |
 | Ducklings 'maintain two separate memory banks of visual information'Scientists from the University of Oxford have shown that newly hatched ducklings that are shown a substitute mother object with only one eye do not recognise it when they have only the other eye available. |
Nepalese porters do it the hard wayIf you've ever found yourself struggling under a heavy pile of suitcases at the end of a holiday, spare a thought for the porters in some of the planet's most remote locations. | |
 | Disentangling the myth of the singing bushmaster viper with the help of tree frogsReaching over 3.5 m in length, the bushmaster (belonging in the Lachesis genus) is the largest viper in the western hemisphere. Legend spread among both colonists and natives from the Amazon region and Central America has it that it sings. Finding these numerous unrelated reports quite puzzling, since it is well known that snakes cannot sing, scientists took to finally disentangle the myth. |
 | AP Analysis: How well will Antarctic marine reserve work?Last month 24 nations and the European Union agreed to create the world's largest marine reserve near Antarctica. The reserve in the Ross Sea is about twice the size of Texas, although will account for only a tiny fraction of the world's total ocean area. Studies indicate other marine reserves have had mixed results in protecting fish, although the Antarctic reserve has several factors in its favor. |
 | Winegrape powdery mildew app goes globalGrape growers and winemakers around the world will be able to easily assess powdery mildew in the field with the help of a mobile application just released globally. |
 | Snake black market poses risk to humans and wildlifeThe illegal reptile trade in Australia, including venomous snakes, could put our wildlife, the environment and human lives at risk, a new study has found. |
 | Exploring how rice could survive salt stressReal-time genetic detailing of rice plants highlights the roles of different loci in response to salt stress during growth. |
 | Dung beetles found to reduce survival of livestock parasitesScientists from the University of Bristol have found that dung beetles can help farmers by reducing the development and survival of parasites in cowpats that cause serious illness in cattle during the summer months. |
 | Chemical origami yields new plant compounds with therapeutic and economic potentialPlants—from the maple or the yew tree to the corn in roadside fields—produce countless kinds of compounds, also known as natural products, that the plants manufacture using the enzymes predetermined by their genetic code. Many of these natural products are very useful as antibiotics, anti-cancer drugs or vitamins, among myriad other applications. Many of these compounds are far too complex to synthesize in the laboratory, but they can be purified from the plants in which they are found. |
 | Dormancy relief, storage protocols for uhaloa seedsUhaloa (Waltheria indica) is a pantropical shrub species found in the Americas, Mexico, and Brazil. In Hawaii, uhaloa is widely classified as a native plant. A team of scientists at the University of Hawaii at Manoa published a research study that contains recommendations for long-term storage and utilization of uhaloa from seed stock. The protocols can inform sustainability methods for uhaloa, a plant that has been identified for expanded use as a roadside groundcover in lowland dry ecosystems. |
 | Scientists design first reserve network balancing fishing benefits, species protectionFor the first time, Smithsonian researchers and collaborators have designed a marine reserve network to protect species threatened by overfishing while boosting fishing yields on nearby fishing grounds, resolving a long-standing global "conserve or catch" conflict in marine conservation efforts. |
Virologists unravel mystery of late C20th gibbon leukaemia outbreakThe mystery of an outbreak of lymphoma and leukaemia in gibbon colonies in the US, Bermuda and Thailand in the late 1960s and early 1970s has been solved by animal disease detectives at The University of Nottingham. | |
 | Discovering what keeps cellular cargo on trackMichigan State University researchers, for the first time, have identified how plants' largest cell factory moves to maintain vital functions, which could lead to advances in improving plant cells' critical functions and growing better crops. |
 | Scientists discover how bacteria induce 'NET' releaseFlagellar motility of Pseudomonas aeruginosa is the main factor required to induce the release of neutrophil extracellular traps (NETs), according to a study published November 17, 2016 in the open-access journal PLOS Pathogens by Bala?zs Rada from The University of Georgia, Athens, and colleagues. |
Further reduction in antimicrobial use in Danish animalsAntimicrobial consumption in Danish animals has continued to decrease in 2015, mainly due to a reduction in pigs. By contrast, serious outbreaks of disease among broilers and mink have resulted in an increased use of antimicrobials in these animals. These are some of the findings in the annual DANMAP report from Statens Serum Institut as well as the National Veterinary Institute and the National Food Institute, which are both departments under the Technical University of Denmark. This year's report is the 20th anniversary edition of DANMAP. | |
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