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Here is your customized Science X Newsletter for January 15, 2018:
Spotlight Stories Headlines
Astronomy & Space news
 | Infrared photometric observations reveal insights into the nature of the dwarf nova V2051 OphiuchiBrazilian astronomers have performed photometric observations of the dwarf nova V2051 Oph during its quiescent period, which revealed important insights into the nature of this object. The results were presented in a paper published January 4 on the arXiv pre-print repository. |
 | Classified US satellite launched from California after delayA rocket carrying a classified U.S. satellite has blasted off from California. |
 | What stars will hatch from the Tarantula Nebula? NASA's flying observatory seeks to find outTo have a full picture of the lives of massive stars, researchers need to study them in all stages – from when they're a mass of unformed gas and dust, to their often dynamic end-of-life explosions. |
 | Image: Jupiter's colorful cloud beltsColorful swirling cloud belts dominate Jupiter's southern hemisphere in this image captured by NASA's Juno spacecraft. |
 | The stories behind Aboriginal star names now recognised by the world's astronomical bodyFour stars in the night sky have been formally recognised by their Australian Aboriginal names. |
Technology news
 | Novel 3-D printing technique yields high-performance compositesNature has produced exquisite composite materials—wood, bone, teeth, and shells, for example—that combine light weight and density with desirable mechanical properties such as stiffness, strength and damage tolerance. |
 | Top takeaways from Consumers Electronics ShowThe 2018 Consumer Electronics Show, which concluded Friday in Las Vegas, drew some 4,000 exhibitors from dozens of countries and more than 170,000 attendees, showcased some of the latest from the technology world. |
 | Fossil fuels blown away by wind in cost terms: studyNew onshore wind and solar energy projects are set to deliver electricity more cheaply than fossil fuels plants, with other green technologies also rapidly gaining a cost advantage over dirty fuels, a report published Saturday said. |
 | Forever Battery a compelling talking point at CESWell, this lead was impressive, coming from a tech watcher who if you read his articles regularly know that he does not swoon easily. Andrew Liszewski, Gizmodo. "After covering CES for 10 years, nothing I've seen at the show has me as excited about the future as Ossia's wireless charging technology." |
 | Cryptocurrency rivals snap at Bitcoin's heelsBitcoin may be the most famous cryptocurrency but, despite a dizzying rise, it's not the most lucrative one and far from alone in a universe that counts 1,400 rivals, and counting. |
 | Intel underfoot: Floor sensors rise as retail data sourceThe next phase in data collection is right under your feet. |
 | Researchers in Japan are showing way to decode thoughtsMaking news this month is a study by researchers the Advanced Telecommunications Research Institute International (ATR) and Kyoto University in Japan, having built a neural network that not only reads but re-creates what is in your mind. |
 | US report raps Alibaba's Taobao, others for pirated goodsAlibaba's Taobao website and numerous public markets around the world were cited Friday as purveyors of hundreds of thousands of dollars in pirated goods in the US government's annual "notorious markets" review. |
 | Man's best friend goes high tech at gadget festTechnology is going to the dogs. And to cats and horses, for that matter, as high-end gadgetry showcased at this week's Consumer Electronics Show offered ways that smart devices can improve the lives of animals and their human friends. |
 | Facebook move will play out in long-term: analystsFacebook's move to highlight posts from friends and family over those from brands and publications follows months of turmoil for the social network and will result in lower advertising revenue—at least in the short-term, analysts said. |
 | Bitcoin shouldn't become the new Swiss bank account: MnuchinDominant digital currency bitcoin should not be allowed to become the Swiss bank account of the modern era used to hide illicit activity, Treasury Secretary Steven Mnuchin said Friday. |
 | Detroit Auto Show opens on SundayThe Detroit Auto Show kicks off Sunday, with pickup trucks and SUVs expected to take center stage in a sign of their growing might in the US car market. |
 | Bitcoin fever hits US real estate marketBitcoin fever has hit the US real estate market, especially that of Florida, offering foreign investors a way to dodge currency controls at home and US economic sanctions. |
 | Autonomous cars: Still many questions to answerAutonomous driving is generating talk at this year's Detroit Auto Show after being a star at last week's Consumer Electronics Show in Las Vegas. |
 | Detroit auto show begins amid talk of NAFTA, tax cutsThe Detroit Auto Show shifted into full gear Sunday with international trade and tax cuts dominating the conversation, even as an optimistic industry raced to meet Americans' seemingly insatiable appetite for trucks and SUVs. |
 | US to 'carefully' review GM request on autonomous car: ChaoRegulators will "carefully and responsibly" review General Motors' request to test an autonomous car without a steering wheel, US Transportation Secretary Elaine Chao said Sunday. |
 | First method to detect illicit drone filming developedThe first technique to detect a drone camera illicitly capturing video is revealed in a new study published by Ben-Gurion University of the Negev (BGU) and Weizmann Institute of Science cyber security researchers. The study addresses increasing concerns about the proliferation of drone use for personal and business applications and how it is impinging on privacy and safety. |
 | Volkswagen reports record global car sales in 2017Volkswagen said Sunday that its namesake brand sold more vehicles worldwide in 2017 than ever before, a sign it is recovering from a bruising emissions-cheating scandal three years ago. |
 | Amid tax and trade concerns, Detroit auto show offers nostalgia, glamorThe Detroit auto show arrived Sunday with showman's flair, as the car industry tied its latest offerings to American nostalgia and Hollywood glamor. |
 | 'Earworm melodies with strange aspects' – what happens when AI makes musicThe first full-length mainstream music album co-written with the help of artificial intelligence (AI) was released on 12 January and experts believe that the science behind it could lead to a whole new style of music composition. |
 | Seeking music edge, Apple buys song recognition app ShazamApple said Monday that it would buy leading song recognition app Shazam in a fresh bid to secure an edge in the intensifying battle of streaming services. |
 | A burning ambition for clean fuelFuel combustion chemist Mani Sarathy began his research career as an environmental engineer studying the environmental impact of pollution. But before long, Sarathy realized that the most effective way to mitigate environmental damage was to stop pollution at its source. Sarathy tells us, "I got into combustion research to look at how we could maximize engine efficiency and minimize exhaust emissions to improve the environment." |
 | Smart buildings that can manage our electricity needsResearchers at EPFL have developed a system that can be installed in a building to collect data on people's energy usage. The aim is then to send this data directly to a smart electric grid that will allocate resources optimally. |
China's dystopian social credit system is a harbinger of the global age of the algorithmThe Chinese government's ongoing attempts to create a social credit system aimed at rating the trustworthiness of people and companies have generated equal measures of fascination and anxiety around the world. Social credit is depicted as something uniquely Chinese – a nefarious and perverse digital innovation that could only be conceived of and carried out by a regime like the Chinese Communist Party. | |
 | A brief history of fitness technologyHave you recently taken ownership of a shiny new activity tracking device? For many people, the essential fitness kit now includes gadgets designed not for sitting and staring at a screen, but for encouraging users to get up and move. |
 | Artisanal allure of Lamborghini marvels of modernityThe Lamborghini factory in Sant'Agata Bolognese feels like an Aladdin's Cave of luxury Italian cars—a winning mix of modernity and craftsmanship which saw the company celebrate record production levels last year. |
 | Honda, Volvo, Ford scoop awards at Detroit auto showThe Detroit auto show handed out its self-proclaimed "Oscars of the auto industry" on Monday, rewarding Honda, Volvo and Ford amid a crowded slate of new truck, SUV and crossover unveilings. |
 | At Detroit auto show, trucks and SUVs are kingCar makers appealed to Americans' deep love of SUVs and trucks on Monday at the Detroit Auto Show, unveiling a host of choices from luxurious to utilitarian, while also beefing up the humble sedan. |
 | CEO: Mercedes may miss emission goal if electrics don't sellIf customers don't buy electric and more efficient cars and trucks, then Mercedes may not be able to meet government-imposed carbon dioxide emissions standards across the globe, its top executive says. |
 | With Detroit launch, BMW aims to reignite US car salesBMW, which has been losing ground in the US luxury market to Mercedes, is hoping to turn the tide with a spate of new SUV offerings. |
 | Italian govt mulling three offers for ailing AlitaliaItaly's government said Friday it is considering three bids for troubled airline Alitalia from Lufthansa, EasyJet and a private equity firm, and hopes to have a deal wrapped up by May. |
Company, Idaho regulators at odds over battery storage planAn Idaho-based energy development company is asking federal authorities to declare state regulators in violation of a law intended to promote alternative energy in a case that could have far-reaching ramifications for emerging battery-storage technologies. | |
 | Air France-KLM denies bidding for troubled AlitaliaThe Air France-KLM group on Saturday denied it had made an offer for ailing airline Alitalia, a day after Italy's industry minister listed it among three bidders. |
 | C&A fashion chain eyes sale to Chinese investorsThe billionaire family that owns Dutch clothing retailer C&A is on the brink of selling the chain to Chinese investors, a German media report said Sunday. |
 | Japan's SoftBank Group soars on listing reportsShares in Japan's SoftBank Group soared six percent Monday on reports it could list its mobile unit, raising up to $18 billion in one of the country's biggest public offerings. |
 | Airbus overtakes Boeing, says could halt A380 programme (Update)European aerospace giant Airbus overtook arch-rival Boeing in terms of aircraft orders last year, but warned that it could cease making its A380 jet if it does not receive any more orders for the supersize plane. |
 | Renault posts record year for car salesRenault sold a record number of cars last year, the French carmaker said Monday, with global unit sales reaching 3.76 million, a rise of 8.5 percent over 2016. |
 | UK's Guardian daily goes tabloid to cut costsBritain's Guardian newspaper has adopted a new tabloid format and a re-designed masthead with simple black lettering from Monday as part of a drive to cut costs. |
 | Advancing cloud with memory disaggregationHere at IBM Research – Ireland, we are rethinking the very foundations on which the cloud is built. We are developing a concept and prototype for low-power and high-utilization disaggregated cloud data centres that break known boundaries, enabling the dynamic creation of fit-for-purpose computing environments from a pool of disaggregated resources. |
 | EU tasks experts to find ways to fight fake newsThe European Union has set up an expert group to help identify fake news and propose ways to tackle the problem amid concern that false information is influencing elections. |
 | France wants tougher rules on bitcoin to avoid criminal useFrance's finance minister says he wants new regulation targeted at virtual currencies, to stop them from being used for tax evasion, financing terrorism and other crime. |
German startup AUTO1 gets $558 million Softbank investmentJapan's Softbank is investing 460 million euros ($558 million) in German used car trading platform AUTO1. | |
 | Le smartphone? France has another term in mindSmartphones may have become ubiquitous in France, but the country's language mavens hope there's still time to keep the word from becoming ensconced in everyday speech. |
 | 3-D-printed underwater vortex sensor mimics whiskers of sea animalA new study has shown that a fully 3D-printed whisker sensor made of polyurethane, graphene, and copper tape can detect underwater vortexes with very high sensitivity. The simple design, mechanical reliability, and low-cost fabrication method contribute to the important commercial implications of this versatile new sensor, as described in an article in Soft Robotics |
 | Fiat Chrysler won't sell Jeep: CEOSergio Marchionne, CEO of Fiat Chrysler (FCA), swatted down speculation Monday that he might sell the group's popular Jeep brand and forecasted a future strategic plan by June in anticipation of his retirement. |
Medicine & Health news
 | Blood-vessel-on-a-chip provides insight into new anti-inflammatory drug candidateOne of the most important and fraught processes in the human body is inflammation. Inflammatory responses to injury or disease are crucial for recruiting the immune system to help the body heal, but inflammation can also cause an increase in the production of thrombin, which can lead to dangerous blood clots and other conditions. Activated protein C (APC) is a naturally occurring anti-coagulant protein with anti-inflammatory and other protective effects that has been used medically to treat severe blood infections and wounds; however, its use is limited because its inhibition of thrombin also impacts the blood's ability to clot, increasing bleeding risk. |
 | Surfers three times more likely to have antibiotic-resistant bacteria in gutsRegular surfers and bodyboarders are three times more likely to have antibiotic resistant E. coli in their guts than non-surfers, new research has revealed. |
 | Genes that aid spinal cord healing in lamprey also present in humansMany of the genes involved in natural repair of the injured spinal cord of the lamprey are also active in the repair of the peripheral nervous system in mammals, according to a study by a collaborative group of scientists at the Marine Biological Laboratory (MBL) and other institutions. This is consistent with the possibility that in the long term, the same or similar genes may be harnessed to improve spinal cord injury treatments. |
 | How incurable mitochondrial diseases strike previously unaffected familiesResearchers have shown for the first time how children can inherit a severe - potentially fatal - mitochondrial disease from a healthy mother. The study, led by researchers from the MRC Mitochondrial Biology Unit at the University of Cambridge, reveals that healthy people harbour mutations in their mitochondrial DNA and explains how cases of severe mitochondrial disease can appear unexpectedly in previously unaffected families. |
 | Immunosuppressive cells in newborns play important role in controlling inflammation in early lifeNew research led by The Wistar Institute, in collaboration with Sun Yat-sen University in China, has characterized the transitory presence of myeloid-derived suppressor cells (MDSCs) in mouse and human newborns, revealing a critical role of these cells in regulation of inflammation in the early stages of life. This study was published online in Nature Medicine. |
 | Dietary fat, changes in fat metabolism may promote prostate cancer metastasisProstate tumors tend to be what scientists call "indolent" - so slow-growing and self-contained that many affected men die with prostate cancer, not of it. But for the percentage of men whose prostate tumors metastasize, the disease is invariably fatal. In a set of papers out today in the journals Nature Genetics and Nature Communications, researchers at the Cancer Center at Beth Israel Deaconess Medical Center (BIDMC) shed new light on the genetic mechanisms that promote metastasis in the mouse model and also implicated the typical Western high-fat diet as a key environmental factor driving metastasis. |
 | How the immune system's key organ regenerates itselfWith advances in cancer immunotherapy splashing across headlines, the immune system's powerful cancer assassins—T cells—have become dinner-table conversation. But hiding in plain sight behind that "T" is the organ from which they get their name and learn their craft: the thymus. |
 | Can psychedelic drugs 'reconnect' depressed patients with their emotions?Imperial research suggests psilocybin can help relieve the symptoms of depression, without the 'dulling' of emotions linked with antidepressants. |
 | Memory loss from West Nile virus may be preventableMore than 10,000 people in the United States are living with memory loss and other persistent neurological problems that occur after West Nile virus infects the brain. |
 | Molecule produced by fat cells reduces obesity and diabetes in miceUC San Francisco researchers have discovered a new biological pathway in fat cells that could explain why some people with obesity are at high risk for metabolic diseases such as type 2 diabetes. The new findings—demonstrated initially in mice and supported by data from human patients—could lead to new biomarkers to predict who is at risk and guide treatments to reduce the medical burden of obesity. |
 | Preterm babies may suffer setbacks in auditory brain development, speechPreterm babies born early in the third trimester of pregnancy are likely to experience delays in the development of the auditory cortex, a brain region essential to hearing and understanding sound, a new study reveals. Such delays are associated with speech and language impairments at age 2, the researchers found. |
 | Improvements in mortality rates are slowed by rise in obesity in the United StatesWith countless medical advances and efforts to curb smoking, one might expect that life expectancy in the United States would improve. Yet according to recent studies, there's been a reduction in the rate of improvement in American mortality during the last three decades. According to a new study, a rise in obesity is to blame. |
 | Diabetes gene found that causes low and high blood sugar levels in the same familyA study of families with rare blood sugar conditions has revealed a new gene thought to be critical in the regulation of insulin, the key hormone in diabetes. |
 | Researchers develop a remote-controlled cancer immunotherapy systemA team of researchers has developed an ultrasound-based system that can non-invasively and remotely control genetic processes in live immune T cells so that they recognize and kill cancer cells. |
 | Brain imaging predicts language learning in deaf childrenIn a new international collaborative study between The Chinese University of Hong Kong and Ann & Robert H. Lurie Children's Hospital of Chicago, researchers created a machine learning algorithm that uses brain scans to predict language ability in deaf children after they receive a cochlear implant. This study's novel use of artificial intelligence to understand brain structure underlying language development has broad reaching implications for children with developmental challenges. It was published in the Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences. |
 | Can early symptoms predict bipolar disorder? Evidence shows differing patterns of risk factorsTwo patterns of antecedent or "prodromal" psychiatric symptoms may help to identify young persons at increased risk of developing bipolar disorder (BD), according to a new analysis in the Harvard Review of Psychiatry. |
 | Non-ventilator hospital-acquired pneumonia risk affects all ages(HealthDay)—Non-ventilator hospital-acquired pneumonia (NV-HAP) is a significant burden in U.S. acute care hospitals and poses a risk to nonelderly, non-intensive unit (ICU) patients, according to research published in the January issue of the American Journal of Infection Control. |
 | Ultrasound, diluted calcium hydroxylapatite improves lines(HealthDay)—Microfocused ultrasound with visualization (MFU-V) and diluted calcium hydroxylapatite (CaHA) improves moderate-to-severe lines on the neck and/or décolletage, according to a study published online Dec. 29 in the Journal of Cosmetic Dermatology. |
 | AMA offering new nutrition science course for physicians(HealthDay)—The American Medical Association (AMA) is offering a three-hour online nutrition course for physicians to help patients make the nutritional changes they need to prevent and help treat heart disease, diabetes, and high blood pressure. |
 | Your dishwasher is not as sterile as you think(HealthDay)—Your dishwasher may get those plates spotless, but it is also probably teeming with bacteria and fungus, a new study suggests. |
 | Severe flu season slams all but one state: CDC(HealthDay)— The worst flu season in years is only getting worse, with 49 states now seeing widespread misery, U.S. health officials report. |
 | Embattled French dairy chief breaks silence over salmonella scareThe chief executive of France's Lactalis group on Sunday vowed compensation for victims of salmonella-tainted baby milk, as he revealed that recalls were now under way in 83 countries. |
 | Running in the cold: how to survive and thrive(HealthDay)—Whether you're training for a marathon or just logging miles, cold-weather running requires some special health and safety precautions, according to a sports medicine expert. |
Experts seek to standardize treatments for childhood rheumatic diseasesPediatric rheumatic diseases are a varied group of rare diseases including juvenile forms of arthritis, lupus, fibromyalgia, and other conditions. Currently, there is considerable variability in how patients with these diseases are treated in clinical practice, making it difficult to understand which therapies work best. A new review article in Arthritis & Rheumatology examines recent efforts to address this challenge. | |
Teens who were severely bullied as children at higher risk of suicidal thoughts, mental health issueTeens who were severely bullied as children by peers are at higher risk of mental health issues, including suicidal thoughts and behaviours, according to new research in CMAJ (Canadian Medical Association Journal). | |
NHS bowel scope uptake boosted by a fifth when patients sent reassuring remindersBowel scope screening uptake increased by more than a fifth (21.5%) when people were sent additional reminders with a leaflet that addressed common concerns, according to a new study funded by Cancer Research UK. | |
 | An emergency response to Canada's opioid overdose crisisTo help address the opioid overdose epidemic, Canada should develop a regulated program to distribute opioids and prevent deaths, argues a commentary in CMAJ (Canadian Medical Association Journal). |
 | Flawed research methods exaggerate the prevalence of depressionThe common practice of using patient self-report screening questionnaires rather than diagnostic interviews conducted by researchers has resulted in overestimates of the prevalence of depression, according to an analysis in CMAJ (Canadian Medical Association Journal). |
Electronic modulation of carotid sinus nerve can be used as a treatment for type 2 diabetes in ratsThe team lead by Sílvia Vilares Conde, from CEDOC-NOVA Medical School, in collaboration with the pharmaceutical company Galvani Bioelectronics, demonstrated through findings in rats that is possible to restore insulin sensitivity and glucose homeostasis, by modulating electrically the carotid sinus nerve, the sensitive nerve that connects the carotid body with the brain. The study is published in Diabetologia, the journal of the European Association for the Study of Diabetes [EASD]. | |
 | Quitting smoking can add years, quality of lifeAs resolutions go, quitting smoking could be the most important choice on a smoker's list. |
 | New warning system discovered in the immune defenceResearchers at Linköping University in Sweden have discovered a previously unknown warning system that contributes to the body's immune system. Mitochondria in the white blood cells secrete a web of DNA fibres that raises the alarm. The results have been published in the scientific journal PNAS, and may lead to increased knowledge about autoinflammatory diseases and cancer. |
 | Mould discovery in lungs paves way for helping hard to treat asthmaA team at The University of Manchester have found that in a minority of patients they studied, a standard treatment for asthma—oral steroids—was associated with increased levels of the treatable mould Aspergillus in the lung. |
 | New study finds 'baby brain' is real, but the cause remains mysteriousSo-called "baby brain" refers to increased forgetfulness, inattention, and mental "fogginess" reported by four out of five pregnant women. These changes in brain function during pregnancy have long been recognised in midwifery folklore, but our new study has confirmed "baby brain" is a very real phenomenon, and also affects several cognitive areas. |
 | This year's flu vaccine might not stop the virus, but it can reduce risk of serious illnessH3N2: If you've had it, you know how bad it can be. If you don't, you've heard about it and are afraid. Very afraid. |
 | Pancreatic tumors may require a one-two-three punchOne of the many difficult things about pancreatic cancer is that tumors are resistant to most treatments because of their unique density and cell composition. However, in a new Wilmot Cancer Institute study, scientists discovered that a three-drug combination can simultaneously target the cancer cells as well as the other harmful, inflammatory cells within the tumor, to improve survival. |
 | Can muesli help against arthritis?It is well known that healthy eating increases a general sense of wellbeing. Researchers at Friedrich-Alexander-Universität Erlangen-Nürnberg (FAU) have now discovered that a fibre-rich diet can have a positive influence on chronic inflammatory joint diseases, leading to stronger bones. |
 | New test predicts whether patients with blood cancer respond to therapyA new method developed by UNSW Sydney medical researchers offers a way to predict whether patients with the blood condition myelodysplastic syndrome will respond to treatment. |
New therapeutic approach for advanced lung diseaseResearchers have demonstrated the potential of a new class of drugs for the treatment of refractory chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD). Incurable to date, the disease is one of the most frequent causes of death worldwide, and is typically triggered by smoking. In the current preclinical study, two anti-inflammatory substances have proved more effective than preparations used to date. The results were published in the Journal of Allergy and Clinical Immunology. The study was a cooperative effort between the teams headed by assistant professor Dr Jürgen Knobloch and Prof Dr Andrea Koch. | |
 | BOLD view of white matterThe brain consists of gray matter, which contains the nerve cell bodies (neurons), and white matter, bundles of long nerve fibers (axons) that until recently were considered passive transmitters of signals between different brain regions. |
 | Study listens in on speech development in early childhoodIf you've ever listened in on two toddlers at play, you might have wondered how much of their babbling might get lost in translation. A new study from the University of Toronto provides surprising insights into how much children and adults understand when they speak to each other. |
 | Risk of adverse medication reactions to people with COPDThose with Chronic Obstructive Pulmonary Disease (COPD), together with other chronic illnesses, are at greater risk of adverse medication reactions, according to a new study. |
 | Mitochondria may protect brain against Parkinson'sA Norwegian study shows that impairment in mitochondria may actually protect the brain in Parkinson's disease. |
 | Energy drinks can negatively impact health of youthOver half of Canadian youth and young adults who have consumed energy drinks have experienced negative health effects as a result, according to a study from the University of Waterloo. |
 | War in Ukraine has escalated HIV spread in the country: studyConflict in Ukraine has increased the risk of HIV outbreaks throughout the country as displaced HIV-infected people move from war-affected regions to areas with higher risk of transmission, according to analysis by scientists. |
 | Take your houseplant to work day(HealthDay)—Do you often feel grumpy at work? Sometimes a small change in your surroundings can have a big effect on your mood. |
 | Teens likely to crave junk food after watching TV adsTeenagers who watch more than three hours of commercial TV a day are more likely to eat hundreds of extra junk food snacks, according to a report by Cancer Research UK. |
 | Don't hold your nose and close your mouth when you sneeze, doctors warnPinching your nose while clamping your mouth shut to contain a forceful sneeze isn't a good idea, warn doctors in the journal BMJ Case Reports. |
One separated Gaza twin dies but sister recoveringOne of the Palestinian conjoined twins from the Gaza Strip separated this week in surgery in Saudi Arabia has died but her sister is recovering, the kingdom said Saturday. | |
 | Greece set to allow medical cannabis useGreece's parliament is expected to approve the medical use of cannabis in the coming weeks, a deputy minister said Sunday, adding that the change would attract investment to the country. |
 | Zambia fighting back on choleraZambia said Saturday it would open its international school and some retail centres in the capital after making sufficient progress in its fight to stem a cholera outbreak. |
Sanofi to reimburse Philippines for unused dengue vaccine (Update)French pharmaceutical giant Sanofi will reimburse the Philippine government for leftover doses of an anti-dengue vaccine whose use was suspended due to health concerns, the two parties said Monday. | |
 | The combination of two proteins exerts a regenerating effect in Parkinson's diseaseParkinson's disease is currently the second-most widespread neurogenerative pathology. It is a motor disorder caused by the loss of dopaminergic neurons in the gray matter of the brain. These neurons produce dopamine, a neurotransmitter that plays a key role in the modulation of involuntary movements. |
 | Predator Free 2050 campaign has major benefits for human healthThe Predator Free 2050 campaign to rid New Zealand of rats and possums will have major benefits for human health as well as for native plants and animals, says University of Otago, Wellington public health researcher Dr. Mary McIntyre. |
 | Exploring the neuroscience of behavioral therapy in ratsPsychotherapy may improve symptoms of psychiatric disorders by increasing activity in the medial prefrontal cortex, suggests a study of rats exposed to chronic stress. The research, published in JNeurosci, is a step toward understanding how the brain processes influenced by behavioral therapy may be targeted to improve treatment. |
 | Potential brain-machine interface for hand paralysisA brain-machine interface that combines brain stimulation with a robotic device controlling hand movement increases the output of pathways connecting the brain and spinal cord, according to a study of healthy adults published in the Journal of Neuroscience. This work could have implications for restoring function in stroke patients with hand paralysis. |
 | Risk for some cancers may be determined before birthNormal tissue BRCA1 methylation is associated with risk for high-grade ovarian cancer and may occur as a prenatal event. These findings are published in Annals of Internal Medicine. |
 | Patient's psoriasis improves with initiation of hepatitis C therapyResearchers report the first case of a patient whose psoriasis improved when therapy for his hepatitis C virus (HCV) infection was initiated. Findings from a brief case report are published in Annals of Internal Medicine. |
Patients with myeloproliferative neoplasms have a significantly increased risk for arterial and venous thrombosisPatients with myeloproliferative neoplasms (MPNs) have a significantly increased rate of arterial and venous thrombosis, with the highest rates occurring at and shortly after diagnosis. The findings of a population-based cohort study are published in Annals of Internal Medicine. | |
WHO says 'high' cholera risk in DR Congo capitalThe World Health Organization Monday said there was a high risk of a cholera epidemic after flooding in Kinshasa, the teeming and ramshackle capital of the Democratic Republic of Congo. | |
6-year-old Florida boy dies of rabies contracted from a batA 6-year-old Florida boy has died from rabies he contracted after being scratched by an infected bat. | |
Biology news
 | Unexpected environmental source of methane discoveredAn unexpected source of methane in the environment has been inadvertently discovered. |
 | Scientists use hydroacoustics to find abundance of marine life in reserve is 4 times greater than in surrounding watersResearchers at Scripps Institution of Oceanography at the University of California San Diego were part of an international team that for the first time used hydroacoustics as a method for comparing the abundance of fishes within and outside marine protected areas (MPAs). |
 | Fast-tracking T cell therapies with immune-mimicking biomaterialsImmunologists and oncologists are harnessing the body's immune system to fight cancers and other diseases with adoptive cell transfer techniques. In a normal immune response, a type of white blood cell known as T cells are instructed by another kind of immune cell called an antigen-presenting cell (APC) to expand their numbers and stay alive. Adoptive cell transfer procedures are mimicking exactly this process in a culture dish by taking T cells from patients, multiplying them, sometimes genetically modifying them, and then returning them to patients so that they can, for example, locate and kill cancer cells. However, these procedures often take weeks to produce batches of therapeutic T cells that are large and reactive enough to be able to eliminate their target cells. |
 | 500 years later, scientists finger germ behind Mexican 'pestilence'In 1545, disaster struck Mexico's Aztec nation when people started coming down with high fevers and headaches, bleeding from the eyes, mouth and nose. Death generally followed in three or four days. |
 | New species of lemur found on MadagascarA team of researchers with members from the State University of New York Polytechnic Institute, Omaha's Henry Doorly Zoo and Aquarium, Global Wildlife Conservation and the Madagascar Biodiversity Partnership has discovered a new species of lemur living in southeastern Madagascar. In their paper published in the journal Primate Conservation, the group describes features of the new species, some of its observed behaviors and the two places on Madagascar it was found. |
New dynamic statistical model follows gene expressions over timeResearchers at Carnegie Mellon University have developed a new dynamic statistical model to visualize changing patterns in networks, including gene expression during developmental periods of the brain. | |
 | Wolf found in northern Belgium, first time in over 100 yearsA wild wolf has been found in the northern Belgian region of Flanders for the first time in more than a century, an environmental group said Saturday. |
 | Identifying species via environmental DNAEnvironmental DNA analysis makes it possible to detect water organisms without having to capture them first. For the first time, a team at the Technical University of Munich (TUM) systematically investigated the effect of various environmental factors on environmental DNA analyses. By doing so, the researchers have made an important step towards the standardized application of this method for the monitoring of water bodies. |
 | How climate change alters plant growthGlobal warming affects more than just plant biodiversity—it even alters the way plants grow. A team of researchers at Martin Luther University Halle-Wittenberg (MLU) joined forces with the Leibniz Institute for Plant Biochemistry (IPB) to discover which molecular processes are involved in plant growth. In Current Biology, the group presents its latest findings on the mechanism controlling growth at high temperatures. In the future, this could help breed plants that are adapted to global warming. |
A black cockatoo's journey back to the wildWould you know what to do if you found a sick or injured black cockatoo? | |
 | Luminescent lizardsChameleons are known to communicate with conspecifics by altering their surface coloration. Munich researchers have now found that the bony tubercles on the heads of many species fluoresce under UV light and form impressive patterns. |
 | Seized ivory probed for clues that could help save elephantsScientists are using information gleaned from both illegal ivory art and elephant dung to provide clues that could help save the lives of pachyderms that are being slaughtered for their tusks in Africa. |
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