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Here is your customized Science X Newsletter for October 19, 2018:
Spotlight Stories Headlines
Astronomy & Space news
 | Chandra and ALMA measure speed of sloshing gas in galaxy clusterAlmost all galaxy clusters experience mergers. While a merger takes place, a specific spiral pattern can often be observed in X-ray images. Such a spiral feature is due to the motion of the sloshing gas induced by a merger. Observing a phenomenon similar to sloshing gas in the daily life is easy: When you swirl a wine glass containing liquid, you will see how the water rotates along with the glass. Discovering how fast the sloshing gas moves in galaxy clusters has profound astronomical meaning and therefore is of great interest to astronomers. A group of researchers from Taiwan and Japan has now measured it using a novel technique. |
 | New moon: China to launch lunar lighting in outer spaceChina is planning to launch its own 'artificial moon' by 2020 to replace streetlamps and lower electricity costs in urban areas, state media reported Friday. |
 | Image: Launching the Galileo missionSpace Shuttle Atlantis deployed the Galileo spacecraft six hours, 30 minutes into the flight on Oct. 18, 1989. In this image, Galileo, mounted atop the inertial upper stage, is tilted to a 58-degree deployment position in Atlantis's payload bay with the Earth's limb appearing in the background. |
 | Europe, Japan ready spacecraft for 7-year journey to MercuryFinal preparations were underway Friday for the launch of a joint mission by European and Japanese space agencies to send twin probes to Mercury, the closest planet to the sun. |
 | Preparing future explorers for a return to the MoonTo train future explorers to support NASA's mission to return to the Moon's surface, scientists use similar environments found on the Earth. Last week, a group of domestic and international students traveled to Barringer Meteorite Crater, Arizona (aka Meteor Crater) to learn necessary skills that could help NASA implement its plans for human and robotic missions to the lunar surface. |
 | 12-pound lunar meteorite sells for more than $600,000A 12-pound (5.5 kilogram) chunk of the moon that fell to the Earth as a lunar meteorite has been sold at auction for more than $600,000. |
Technology news
 | A new strategy to correct imperfections in occupancy grid mapsResearchers at Laboratório de Computação de Alto Desempenho (LCAD) of Universidade Federal do Espírito Santo (UFES), in Brazil, have devised a novel strategy for correcting imperfections in occupancy grid maps by correcting invalid occupancy probabilities of map cells that are unobservable by sensors. This novel technique, called map decay, is inspired by current empirical knowledge of the human brain's memory architecture. |
 | How your little email server puts you in chargeHelm is a startup that wants to satisfy people who dream of having ownership of their email content. Companies hold your data on their servers; this Helm concept is the price you would pay for turning that around, where you manage your mail on a personal server. Consider that arrangement, and if it is in the best of worlds, where you have access to your mail. Consider composing emails all day and not having that uneasy feeling that outsiders leverage the mail content too. |
 | Researchers demonstrate 120-kilowatt wireless charging for vehiclesResearchers at the Department of Energy's Oak Ridge National Laboratory have demonstrated a 120-kilowatt wireless charging system for vehicles—providing six times the power of previous ORNL technology and a big step toward charging times that rival the speed and convenience of a gas station fill-up. |
 | Consumers choose smartphones mostly because of their appearanceWhat motivates a customer to choose a particular model of mobile phone? Experts from the University of Seville, in collaboration with the Catholic University of North Chile, have recently published a study in which they report that the most important influence on the purchase of a mobile phone is what it looks like. The more attractive the image and design of the phone, the stronger the emotional relationship that consumers have with the product, which is a clear influence on their purchasing decision. |
 | Virtual learning robot for youngstersProgramming a robot: something most kids would love to do. "RosieReality" makes it possible – even if it's only in augmented reality. The ETH spin-off plans to use the new technology to teach young kids about programming and robotics. |
 | Shining a light on electricity reliability in Sub-Saharan AfricaMore than one billion people do not have access to electricity, and gaining access is a critical part of improving economic and human health outcomes in developing countries, where electrification rates can be as less than 10%. Recognizing this need, the United Nations (U.N.) established access to electricity as one of the Sustainable Development Goals. The U.N. has also stated that electrification efforts around the world should increase the use of renewable energy resources and reduce the environmental impacts of energy production and use. While significant efforts are focused on expanding access to populations that have never had an electricity connection, unreliable delivery of electricity to existing customers can lead to additional consumer costs, limited economic benefits, and increased environmental impacts from production and consumption. |
 | Who's in control? Researcher examines why it's so difficult to disconnect from social mediaAcademics have spent the last decade studying connectivity and social media – a trend that has more than two billion people around the world on Facebook and counting. |
 | Hydrogen car prototypeResearchers at the Institute of Chemical Technology and collaborators have successfully developed and tested a scale car prototype that stores and generates hydrogen safely and is capable of using it as fuel. |
 | Amazon infiltrated eBay's email system to poach top sellers in 'global conspiracy': LawsuitFor three years Amazon has been illegally infiltrating an internal email system at e-commerce rival eBay, seeking to hide its tracks as it tried to poach top sellers, a new lawsuit claims. |
 | Tech Q&A: How an online bank knows who you areQ: Besides entering my user ID and password, my financial institution makes me verify my identity by entering a personal identification number (PIN) that is sent via text, email or phone call. Even after that, I'm always asked whether my PC is a public or private computer (it's private). |
 | Facebook does, indeed, want to track your calls on deviceFacebook wants to you to spend $199 to $349 to install its version of a connected, talking video speaker—such as Amazon's Echo—into your home. It has a camera that follows you as you move for video calls and the ability to track what you're doing. |
 | Facebook hires British ex-deputy PM as global affairs headBritish former deputy prime minister Nick Clegg, a leading anti-Brexit advocate, said on Friday he would be starting a job at Facebook, as the US giant faces up to regulatory pressures. |
 | Clapping Music app reveals that changing rhythm isn't so easyScientists at Queen Mary University of London have developed an app to understand why some rhythms are more difficult to perform than others. |
 | US existing home sales drop in September as mortgage rates riseWith mortgage rates on the rise, sales of US existing homes dropped sharply last month to the lowest rate in three years, the National Association of Realtors said Friday. |
 | Daimler cuts 2018 profit forecast on diesel woesGerman luxury automaker Daimler on Friday again cut its profit outlook for 2018, warning that costs related to polluting diesel engines would drag down earnings. |
 | Khashoggi crisis shines light on Saudi ties to Silicon ValleyThe crisis surrounding the disappearance of journalist Jamal Khashoggi, and concerns that he may have been killed in the Saudi consulate in Turkey, has highlighted the role of the Middle East kingdom in the US economy, especially in Silicon Valley. |
 | Spain backs new tax on internet giants in budget planSpain's socialist government approved Friday a new tax on big internet companies as part of its 2019 budget, hoping to raise up to 1.2 billion euros ($1.4 billion) next year. |
 | WhatsApp tells companies to stop spam amid Brazil electionsThe messaging service WhatsApp says it has sent "cease and desist" letters to stop companies from sending bulk messages related to Brazil's election and banned their accounts. |
Medicine & Health news
 | How clutch molecules enable neuron migrationThe brain can discriminate over 1 trillion odors. Once entering the nose, odor-related molecules activate olfactory neurons. Neuron signals first accumulate at the olfactory bulb before being passed on to activate the appropriate brain region. Unlike other parts of the brain, the olfactory bulb receives a continuous supply of new neurons, even into adulthood. To reach the olfactory bulb, these neurons migrate from elsewhere. A new study seen in Cell Reports by researchers at the Nara Institute of Science and Technology (NAIST) reports that shootin 1b is critical for neuron migration to the olfactory bulb. |
 | New hope for cystic fibrosisA new triple-combination drug treatment being trialled at the Mater Hospital in Brisbane could increase the life expectancy of patients with cystic fibrosis. |
 | Scientists to improve cancer treatment effectivenessTogether with researchers from the University of Nantes and the University of Reims Champagne-Ardenne in France, experts from the National Research Nuclear University MEPhI have recently developed a quantum dot-based microarray that enables the screening of effective inhibitors (substances used for decreasing activity) of enzymes that repair DNA damage in cancer cells in response to radiation therapy and anti-cancer medication. The new development will significantly increase the effectiveness of cancer treatment. The findings were published in Scientific Reports. |
 | A single missing gene leads to miscarriageA single gene from the mother plays such a crucial role in the development of the placenta that its dysfunction leads to miscarriages. Researchers from the Medical Faculty of Ruhr-Universität Bochum (RUB) have observed this in so-called knockout mice that were specifically modified for this purpose. These mice lack the gene for the transcription factor Math6. By conducting further analyses, the research team is now hoping to gain new insights into the role the gene plays in recurrent miscarriage in humans. The researchers headed by Professor Beate Brand-Saberi published their results in the journal Scientific Reports on 9 October 2018. |
 | Research shows signalling mechanism in the brain shapes social aggressionDuke-NUS researchers have discovered that a growth factor protein, called brain-derived neurotrophic factor (BDNF), and its receptor, tropomyosin receptor kinase B (TrkB) affects social dominance in mice. The research has implications for understanding the neurobiology of aggression and bullying. |
Women may experience more side effects than men during gastric cancer chemotherapyInfluence of sex on chemotherapy efficacy and toxicity in oesophagogastric (OG cancer): a pooled analysis of 4 randomised trials. | |
Women more prone to selected oesophagogastric cancer chemotherapy side-effectsMen and women may need to be treated differently—at least when it comes to some types of cancer. In an analysis (1) to be presented at the ESMO 2018 Congress in Munich, data was pooled from four UK randomised controlled clinical trials (RCTs) of first line chemotherapy in oesophagogastric (OG) cancer, finding significant differences in a number of important side-effects experienced by male and female patients. | |
 | 1 in 4 JUULvapor tweeps is underageE-cigarette brand JUUL's Twitter handle is attracting adolescents to the point that at least a quarter of its followers appear to be under age 18, according to a new analysis by the University of Pittsburgh School of Medicine. |
 | One in six premenopausal early breast cancer patients do not adhere to hormonal therapyNearly one in six premenopausal women being treated for early stage breast cancer do not adhere adequately to tamoxifen therapy after one year of treatment, potentially putting themselves at increased risk of recurrence and reduced survival, a French prospective study reports at ESMO 2018. |
 | How schools can optimise support for children with ADHDNew research gives the clearest guidance yet on how schools can best support children with ADHD to improve symptoms and maximise their academic outcomes. |
 | Pediatric advance care planning linked to better understanding of child's end-of-life care choicesWASHINGTON-The more that families understand the end-of-life treatment preferences expressed by adolescents living with human immunodeficiency virus (HIV), the less likely these youth are to suffer HIV-related symptoms compared with youths whose families do not understand their end-of-life care goals, according to a single-blinded, randomized study published online Oct. 19, 2018, in Pediatrics. And when families struggle to understand their child's end-of-life care choices, that is associated with a higher likelihood of HIV-positive adolescents suffering physical symptoms, including pain. |
Treat-to-target strategy in gout management is effectiveGout is the most common form of inflammatory arthritis, caused by crystallization of uric acid in the joint. Rheumatologists have long recommended that patients with gout be treated with drugs to lower uric acid in their blood to prevent crystallization. Specifically, rheumatology societies around the world recommend that uric acid should be lowered to below 6mg/dL because that's below the concentration at which uric acid can crystalize. This strategy is known as "treat-to-target." | |
Nurse-led care significantly more successful in treating gout, trial revealsThe research, led by academics at the University of Nottingham and published in The Lancet, has shown that keeping patients fully informed and involving them in decisions about their care can be more successful in managing gout. | |
 | Length of breathing disruption in OSA may be better predictor of mortality riskHow long a person with obstructive sleep apnea (OSA) stops breathing may be a better predictor of mortality risk from OSA than the number of times they stop breathing, according to new research published online in the American Thoracic Society's American Journal of Respiratory and Critical Care Medicine. |
Patients at risk of coverage denialResearchers at Brigham and Women's Hospital analyzed a national sample of Emergency Department visits between 2011-15 to determine what proportion of them could be denied coverage if commercial insurers across the U.S. adopted the policy of a large national insurer, Anthem, Inc., to potentially deny coverage, after the visit, based on ED discharge diagnoses. | |
Link found between chronic inflammation and risk for Alzheimer's diseaseWhile it is widely shown that possessing the ApoE4 gene is the major genetic risk factor of Alzheimer's disease (AD), not all ApoE4 carriers develop AD. For the first time, researchers at Boston University School of Medicine (BUSM) have shown that ApoE4 linked with chronic inflammation dramatically increases the risk for AD. This can be detected by sequential measurements of C-reactive protein, a common clinical test which can be could be done routinely in a clinical setting. | |
 | Juul e-cigarettes pose addiction risk for young users, study findsTeens and young adults who use Juul brand e-cigarettes are failing to recognize the product's addictive potential, despite using it more often than their peers who smoke conventional cigarettes, according to a new study by researchers at the Stanford University School of Medicine. |
 | Study illustrates how neutrophils contribute to healthy tissue functionThe cells of the immune system sustain life by infiltrating infected and damaged tissue and eliminating pathogenic microorganisms and cell debris. However, immune action produces collateral damage that can lead to autoimmune disease or contribute to the injury associated with myocardial infarction or stroke. Now, a new study led by CNIC researcher Andrés Hidalgo and published in the Journal of Experimental Medicine shows that in addition to its defense function and the collateral damage to affected tissues, the immune system also plays an important role in the day-to-day function of healthy organs. The research results show that immune cells called neutrophils help to maintain the normal function of healthy tissues. |
 | Muscle mass should be considered a new vital sign, research showsAdults go to the doctor roughly three times a year, during which vitals are taken, including blood pressure, pulse and weight. But are these measurements really showing the full picture of a person's overall health? Extensive research shows health care professionals should be considering something often overlooked—muscle mass. A new review paper published in the Annals of Medicine confirms the critical role muscle mass plays in health. It reports studies demonstrating that people with less muscle have more surgical and post-operative complications, longer hospital stays, lower physical function, poorer quality of life and overall lower survival. |
 | Do some people really want to get HIV?(The names used by the interviewees in this article are pseudonyms.) |
 | Engineers drawn to stem cells' abundance, humanityThere was a time when Eric Shusta's lab was more reliant on the local butcher shop than you might expect. |
 | Faster liquid biopsies could replace invasive tissue cancer detectionsTests to determine if you have cancer can be frightening, uncomfortable and time-consuming. Now, Purdue University researchers have developed and are commercializing a new method that could make early detection of cancer and other diseases easier, faster and less agonizing for patients. |
 | Increased mortality in children with inflammatory bowel diseaseChildren who develop inflammatory bowel disease (ulcerative colitis or Crohn's disease) have an increased risk of death, both in childhood and later in life, a study from Karolinska Institutet published in the journal Gastroenterology reports. It is therefore important that patients who are diagnosed as children are carefully monitored, argue the researchers behind the study. |
 | Test predicts outcome of hay fever therapiesAllergen-specific immunotherapy can make everyday life much more pleasant for allergy sufferers and provide long-term protection against asthma. It is unclear, however, what exactly happens during this treatment. A team at the Technical University of Munich (TUM) and Helmholtz Zentrum München investigated the processes taking place in the body over the course of a three-year allergen-specific immunotherapy. The researchers found clues as to why the allergy immunization takes so long and how the chances of success can be determined at a very early stage. |
 | People who commute through natural environments daily report better mental healthAccording to a new study led by the Barcelona Institute for Global Health (ISGlobal), people who commute through natural environments report better mental health. This is the main conclusion of a research based on questionnaires answered by nearly 3,600 participants from four European cities and published in Environment International. |
 | The CDC confirms that a mysterious disease is paralyzing children across the US—but where does it come from?A six-year-old Tennessee boy. Three children in Pittsburgh. Ten people from northern Illinois, all under 18. |
 | Exercise during pregnancy improves health, reduces complicationsPhysical activity is a critical component of achieving a healthy pregnancy – with fewer complications and better physical and emotional wellness for the mother, and better outcomes for the baby – according to new national guidelines. |
 | Research reveals da Vinci's genius may have been partly due to eye conditionLeonardo da Vinci may have had an eye condition that gave him an unusual ability to recreate three-dimensional shapes in his sculptures and paintings, according to new research. |
 | Alzheimer's treatment shows unique resultsIn late July there were reports in the media from a conference in Chicago about Alzheimer's disease. The focus of journalists' attention was a new study of how the progression of the disease is affected by the BAN2401 antibody, a Swedish product developed by Lars Lannfelt, Senior Professor of Geriatrics at the Department of Public Health and Caring Sciences. |
 | Gene plays critical role in noise-induced deafnessIn experiments using mice, a team of UC San Francisco researchers has discovered a gene that plays an essential role in noise-induced deafness. Remarkably, by administering an experimental chemical—identified in a separate UCSF lab in 2013—that acts on the pathway linking this gene to hearing loss, they found that they could prevent noise-induced deafness in the mice, a condition that affects tens of millions of adults and about 17 percent of teens in the U.S. |
 | Why some cancers affect only young womenAmong several forms of pancreatic cancer, one of them specifically affects women, often young. How is this possible, even though the pancreas is an organ with little exposure to sex hormones? This pancreatic cancer, known as "mucinous cyst", has strange similarities with another mucinous cancer, affecting the ovaries. By conducting large-scale analyses of genomic data, researchers at the University of Geneva (UNIGE) and at the University Hospitals of Geneva (HUG), Switzerland, in collaboration with colleagues from the United States have provided an answer: both tumours originate from embryonic germ cells. While still undifferentiated, these cells migrate to the reproductive organs. On their way, some can mistakenly stop in other organs, bringing a risk of tumour that may occur 30 years later. By allowing a better classification of these mucinous tumours, this study, to be read in the Journal of Pathology, paves the way for a more appropriate and personalized management aligned with the tumour's origin. |
 | Pesticides and suicide prevention – why research needs to be put into practiceAs many as 800,000 people around the world die every year by suicide, with 76 percent of these deaths in low and middle income countries like India and China. Between 110,000 and 168,000 people die from self-poisoning using pesticides – the same pesticides which are banned in wealthier countries due to human health and environmental concerns. |
 | The surprising secret to successful psychotherapyAs a clinical psychologist and educator, I am often asked to recommend a psychotherapist for people in need. These requests come with a sense of urgency to find the best possible therapist. Many people are at a loss over what to look for. |
 | Adding refined fiber to processed food could have negative health effectsAdding highly refined fiber to processed foods could have negative effects on human health, such as promoting liver cancer, according to a new study by researchers at Georgia State University and the University of Toledo. |
 | Drug homing method helps rethink Parkinson'sThe brain is the body's most complex organ, and consequently the least understood. In fact, researchers like Michael Tadross, MD, PhD, wonder if the current research methods employed by neuroscientists are telling us as much as we think. |
 | New way to prevent heart disease in type 1 diabetesScientists reveal the mechanism which allows a commonly prescribed drug for type 2 diabetes to prevent heart disease in patients with type 1 diabetes–and could lead to new treatments. |
 | Fat fuels aggressive brain cancersFat is powering tumour growth in brain cancer, finds a new study by Cardiff University and the University of Florida. |
 | Emotions: how humans regulate them and why some people can'tConsider the following scenario: You are nearing the end of a busy day at work, when a comment from your boss diminishes what's left of your dwindling patience. You turn, red-faced, towards the source of your indignation. It is then that you stop, reflect, and choose not to voice your displeasure. After all, the shift is nearly over. |
 | Stop marginalising men with breast cancerBreast cancer is the most common cancer in the UK and the leading cancer in women worldwide. Approximately 150 cases are diagnosed in the UK every day – that's one every 10 minutes. Breast cancer does not discriminate. The illness is undeterred by age, ethnicity, socioeconomic status, sexuality, or even sex. Yes, men get breast cancer, too – although you wouldn't necessarily think so from much of the breast cancer awareness material around. |
 | Can a dose of strong cocoa help people with Raynaud's disease?People with a circulation condition called Primary Raynaud's are being asked to help researchers at the University of Nottingham find out whether antioxidant compounds in cocoa can help alleviate symptoms. |
 | Scientists discover the region of the brain that registers excitement over a preferred food optionAt holiday buffets and potlucks, people make quick calculations about which dishes to try and how much to take of each. Johns Hopkins University neuroscientists have found a brain region that appears to be strongly connected to these food preference decisions. |
 | Why radiation protection experts are concerned over EPA proposalThe Takata Corporation sold defective air bag inflators that resulted in the death of 16 people in the United States and a massive recall of cars. While it was rare for the air bags to fail, the brutal consequences of this defective device in even minor collisions was easy to recognize. But the effects of low-dose ionizing radiation – high energy waves or particles that can strip electrons from atoms and physically damage cells and the DNA within – on people's health is much harder to see, and prove. |
 | Model identifies adolescents at risk for smoking initiation(HealthDay)—A novel prognostic tool can be used to accurately identify adolescents at risk for initiating cigarette smoking, according to a study published online Oct. 1 in Pediatrics. |
 | WHO says Zika risk low in Pacific ahead of Meghan visitAs Prince Harry and his expectant wife Meghan prepare to tour Fiji and Tonga next week, the World Health Organisation (WHO) has declared the risk of contracting Zika virus in the Pacific nations is low. |
 | Women fight to win attention for PCOS, a major cause of infertility and other serious health issuesWhen Sasha Ottey was diagnosed with polycystic ovary syndrome a decade ago, she learned that it affects at least 10 percent of women and is a leading cause of infertility, not to mention a major risk factor for diabetes, heart disease, and high blood pressure. |
 | UC San Diego Moores administers its first personalized cancer vaccineMore than 18 rounds of chemotherapy and three abdominal surgeries have failed to slow the tumor that doctors discovered after Tamara Strauss felt a suspicious lump in 2015. |
 | Home remedies: Treating anxiety with herbal remediesSeveral herbal remedies have been studied as a treatment for anxiety, but more research is needed to understand the risks and benefits. Here's what we know—and don't know: |
 | Dementia and guns: When should doctors broach the topic?Some patients refuse to answer. Many doctors don't ask. As the number of Americans with dementia rises, health professionals are grappling with when and how to pose the question: "Do you have guns at home?" |
 | States act to safeguard young cancer patients' chances to have childrenWhen Katherine Frega was diagnosed with Hodgkin lymphoma eight years ago at age 17, she was so sick that all she could focus on was starting chemotherapy to treat her aggressive blood cancer. It was her dad who thought to ask the oncologist, "How is this treatment going to affect her ability to have children?" |
 | Why you need your flu shot nowEvery year, millions of people in the U.S. contract the flu. Many people recover from the illness, but some require hospitalizations. And, unfortunately, every year some people die of flu-related complications. Dr. Tina Ardon, a Mayo Clinic family medicine specialist, says the flu vaccine is the best defense against seasonal flu, and everyone who is able to get one should do so. |
 | A young doctor had a stroke, now he's back at work treating stroke patientsWhen Justin Sciancalepore talks to his patients now about how treatments for stroke feel, he doesn't pretend they will be less painful or less exhausting than they really are. |
 | Could herpes virus help cause alzheimer's?(HealthDay)—There's growing evidence that the herpes virus responsible for cold sores also may cause Alzheimer's disease, a new research paper contends. |
 | Try small 'Bites' to get kids to exercise(HealthDay)—Kids take their cues from mom and dad, so it only makes sense to participate with them when teaching them the merits of exercise. |
Huge variations between countries in time for reimbursement decisions on new cancer drugsSome European countries take more than twice as long as others to reach health technology assessment (HTA) decisions to reimburse new cancer drugs following their approval by the European Medicines Agency (EMA). The average decision time is longer than one year in some countries, according to a study to be reported at ESMO 2018 Congress. | |
 | Eating leafy greens could help prevent macular degenerationA new study has shown that eating vegetable nitrates, found mainly in green leafy vegetables and beetroot, could help reduce your risk of developing early-stage age-related macular degeneration (AMD). |
Does herpes cause Alzheimer's?What causes Alzheimer's disease? The answer could be right under our noses, says leading expert Professor Ruth Itzhaki. Her latest paper presents a lifetime of research evidence that the herpes virus responsible for cold sores can also cause Alzheimer's—and new data which show antiviral drugs drastically reduce risk of senile dementia in patients with severe herpes infections. The review in Frontiers in Ageing Neuroscience raises the tantalizing prospect of a simple, effective preventive treatment for one of humanity's costliest disorders. | |
Tough laws prevent gun deathsA major global report confirms gun-related homicides, suicides and accidents are falling in Australia after the introduction of anti-gun laws, and that the effect of such tough laws is similar elsewhere. | |
 | The stress-free way to listen to your unborn baby's heartChecking the heartbeat of babies in the womb is set to become more accurate and less stressful for expectant mothers thanks to research by the University of Sussex. |
Securing access to optimal cancer care through innovation, integration and sustainabilitySecuring access to optimal cancer care for all patients can only be achieved through integrated, sustainable translation of today's scientific advances into tomorrow's treatments, reinforced by a clear understanding of the magnitude of clinical effects and accurate identification of patients most likely to benefit. | |
 | CDC: many pregnant women not receiving immunizations(HealthDay)—Many pregnant women are not getting recommended vaccinations, with less than half of those pregnant during the peak influenza vaccination period in 2017 to 2018 reporting being vaccinated before or during their pregnancy, according to research published in the Sept. 28 issue of the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention Morbidity and Mortality Weekly Report. |
 | Researchers show better cardiorespiratory fitness leads to longer lifeCleveland Clinic researchers have found that better cardiorespiratory fitness leads to longer life, with no limit to the benefit of aerobic fitness. |
 | Recent survey provides updated national estimate of doctors' financial ties to industrySince 2013, gifts and payments to doctors by pharmaceutical and medical device companies have been publicly reported. In addition, some medical centers, physician employers, such as Kaiser Permanente, and states have banned or restricted detailing visits, physician payments or gifts. Some manufacturers have also changed their practices for certain gifts. In order to better understand the effects of these changes, a team of researchers from Harvard Medical School, The Dartmouth Institute for Health Policy and Clinical Practice and the American Board of Internal Medicine in Philadelphia conducted a national survey of internal medicine doctors. |
 | Good spatial memory? You're likely to be good at identifying smells tooPeople who have better spatial memory are also better at identifying odors, according to a study published this week in Nature Communications. The study builds on a recent theory that the main reason that a sense of smell evolved was to aid in navigation, since most animals rely primarily on smell to find food and avoid predators. The McGill research team, led by Véronique Bohbot from McGill's Department of Psychiatry and the Douglas Mental Health University Institute, hypothesized that if this were indeed the case, there would be a strong link between navigation and olfaction. The researchers were able to show, for the first time, that similar regions of the brain (the hippocampus and the medial orbitofrontal cortex) are involved in these seemingly very different activities. They also discovered that the medial orbitofrontal cortex (mOFC), which is known to be involved in olfaction, is also critical to spatial memory. |
How do pelvic floor muscle exercises reduce overactive bladder symptoms?Overactive bladder (OAB) is a common form of urinary incontinence that is widely treated with pelvic floor muscle (PFM) training. A new laboratory study lends insights into how PFM training works: by reducing contractions of the detrusor muscle of the bladder, reports the American Journal of Physical Medicine & Rehabilitation, the official journal of the Association of Academic Physiatrists. The journal is published by Wolters Kluwer. | |
PTSD symptoms improve when patient chooses form of treatment, study showsA multiyear clinical trial comparing medication and mental health counseling in the treatment of post-traumatic stress disorder shows that patients who chose their form of treatment—whether drugs or therapy—improved more than those who were simply prescribed one or the other regardless of the patient's preference. | |
New drug could sustain oxygen-starved heartsRunning low on oxygen is a major danger for any of your body's tissues, but the heart is particularly sensitive to such hypoxic conditions, which can lead to long-term tissue damage or even heart attacks. | |
 | Making the case for a comprehensive national registry for pediatric CKDEven though chronic kidney disease (CKD) is a global epidemic that imperils cardiovascular health, impairs quality of life and heightens mortality, very little is known about how CKD uniquely impacts children and how kids may be spared from its more devastating effects. |
 | Stroke rates higher among pot users(HealthDay)—As the use of marijuana is growing, with Canada legalizing the drug just this week, a new study that ties pot to a raised risk for stroke might give users pause. |
 | Almost half of americans are trying to lose weight: CDC(HealthDay)—The latest national tally on dieting finds that nearly half of U.S. adults are doing what they can to trim a widening waistline. |
 | AHA: hospital exec saved at very facility where he's worked for decadesGerard Blaney figured his excruciating headache was simply due to a combination of too much stress and too little food. It was budget season at Einstein Healthcare Network in Philadelphia, and as the network's chief financial officer, his entire lunch that day in April 2016 consisted of a single pretzel. |
 | Aspirin, anticoagulants similarly prevent VTE after TKA(HealthDay)—Among patients undergoing total knee arthroplasty (TKA), aspirin alone may provide protection against postoperative venous thromboembolism (VTE) that is similar to that of other anticoagulants, according to a study published online Oct. 17 in JAMA Surgery. |
 | Poor experience with PCP linked to hospitalization in CKD(HealthDay)—For Hispanic patients with chronic kidney disease (CKD), lower perceived quality of the patient experience with their primary care physician is associated with increased risk of hospitalization, according to a study published online Oct. 18 in the Clinical Journal of the American Society of Nephrology. |
Biology news
 | With a microbe-produced toxin, bacteria prove old dogs can learn new tricksA newly discovered toxin that some bacteria deploy to fend off competing bacteria stands out from others in the battle for microbial domination. While many deadly substances have been identified among bacteria, this previously unknown toxin behaves in a familiar way. |
 | Sculpting bacteria into extreme shapes reveals the rugged nature of cell divisionWhat do watermelons and bacteria have in common? Just like the tasty fruit, microbes can be molded into unusual shapes, a study in Nature Communications has shown. The paper, produced by researchers at the Okinawa Institute of Science and Technology Graduate University (OIST), has modified the structure of bacterial cells from simple rods into elaborate shapes not seen in nature, showing just how robust these life forms can be. |
 | Advanced sequencing technology provides new insights into human mitochondrial diseasesThe ability to translate the genetic code into proteins is an essential step in all living organisms. A cornerstone of this molecular process is the ability of transfer RNA (tRNA) molecules to couple recognition of the genetic code with the cognate amino acid, which are the building blocks of proteins. Chemical modification of individual tRNAs is a critical step for the decoding process during protein synthesis. |
 | How plants bind their green pigment chlorophyllChlorophyll is the pigment used by all plants for photosynthesis. There are two versions, chlorophyll a and chlorophyll b. These are structurally very similar to one another but have different colors, blue-green and yellowish green, respectively. Both pigments fulfill different jobs during photosynthesis and are therefore bound very selectively by the proteins of the photosynthesis apparatus in plants. But it is still unknown how these plant proteins recognize the two chlorophylls and thus bind them selectively. |
 | Genetic behavior reveals cause of death in poplars essential to ecosystems, industryScientists studying a valuable, but vulnerable, species of poplar have identified the genetic mechanism responsible for the species' inability to resist a pervasive and deadly disease. Their finding, published in the Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences, could lead to more successful hybrid poplar varieties for increased biofuels and forestry production and protect native trees against infection. |
 | Monkeys do not start to resemble their parents before pubertyMost of us would acknowledge that family members often resemble one another, particularly in the face. Indeed, humans are good at picking out pairs of close relatives amongst the faces of unfamiliar adults. We are also more likely to trust and help hypothetical partners whose faces have been subtly manipulated to resemble our own in computer experiments. Furthermore, in natural populations perceived facial similarity can have important consequences in terms of whether fathers invest in or discriminate against their putative children. At what point in the lifespan does the relevant facial information become discernible? This is important to resolving whether there are evolutionary pressures for paternity to be concealed (to avoid withdrawal of care or even infanticide, if a male perceives he is unrelated to the child) or, alternatively, for advertising one's paternity in order to encourage parental investment. Results of studies examining the faces of newborns have been inconclusive, but there is evidence that by mid-childhood individuals can, on average, be matched to their parents. |
 | Adding the third dimension to marine conservationA new approach to tackle conservation decisions in 3-D marine environments could lead to better conservation outcomes. |
 | Understanding enzyme could help produce frost-resistant cropsResearchers from The University of Western Australia have found that an enzyme in plants, ATP Synthase, plays a critical role in how plants respond to the cold. |
 | Prince William shows conservation still has a problem with 'white saviours'Prince William recently spoke at one of the largest illegal wildlife summits ever held in London. He said, "Poaching is an economic crime against ordinary people and their futures." |
 | From peaceful coexistence to potential peril: The bacteria that live in and on usBacteria are everywhere, including in and on our bodies. There are estimated to be as many bacteria in a human body as there are human cells. |
 | With the right help, bears can recover from the torture of bile farmingBear bile farms, which exist in some Asian countries like Vietnam and China, are a terrible reality for Asiatic black bears (Ursus thibetanus). |
 | New data tool can help scientists use limited funds to protect the greatest number of endangered speciesA large majority of Americans strongly support the goal of preventing the extinction of endangered wildlife and plants. Today, over 1,600 U.S. species are listed under the Endangered Species Act, and more are added every year. The list includes well-known species like the manatee, grizzly bear and green sea turtle, as well as hundreds of imperiled plant species, and more than 400 species in the Hawaiian Islands. |
 | Louisiana university gives Smithsonian crustacean collectionA Louisiana university is giving the Smithsonian Institution a huge collection of crustaceans that has, among other things, been used to identify seafood mislabeled as coming from the Gulf of Mexico. |
 | Breaching dams to save Northwest orcas is contentious issueCalls to breach four hydroelectric dams in Washington state have grown louder in recent months as the plight of critically endangered Northwest orcas has captured global attention. |
 | S.Africa divers risk all to poach marine delicacies for China dinersOne Saturday night in August, Deurick van Blerk, 26, climbed into his small boat off the coast of Cape Town on another of his illegal fishing expeditions. He never returned. |
 | Shark washes up dead on Florida shore with old hat wrapped around headThe body of a shark was found washed ashore in Florida with the remains of an old hat wrapped around its body. |
 | New study may provide clues to how birds began to flyFor the first time, researchers have measured what is known as the ground effect of flying animals—and it turns out that they save a lot more energy by flying close to the ground than previously believed. The study from Lund University in Sweden supports one of the theories on how birds began to fly. |
 | Invasive forage grass leads to grassland bird declineThe prairies of North America once covered vast stretches of land, with towering grasses creating ideal nesting and forage habitat for grassland birds. But the deep, rich soil and treeless expanse also represented the ideal conditions for farming—both row crops and cattle grazing—in the eyes of settlers. Today, largely thanks to agricultural conversion, a mere 1 percent of tallgrass prairie remains. And what's left is now being threatened by invasive species and forest encroachment. |
 | Environmental groups file suit to block waivers for Texas border wallA coalition of environmental groups has sued to stop the Trump administration from speeding construction of the first phase of southern border wall construction by waiving dozens of landmark environmental laws meant to protect air and water quality, public lands and wildlife. |
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