Dear Reader ,
Here is your customized Science X Newsletter for October 16, 2018:
Spotlight Stories Headlines
Astronomy & Space news
 | All in the family: Kin of gravitational wave source discoveredOn October 16, 2017, an international group of astronomers and physicists excitedly reported the first simultaneous detection of light and gravitational waves from the same source—a merger of two neutron stars. Now, a team that includes several University of Maryland astronomers has identified a direct relative of that historic event. |
 | How geology tells the story of evolutionary bottlenecks and life on EarthEvidence that catastrophic geological events could have created evolutionary bottlenecks that changed the course of life on Earth may be buried within ancient rocks beneath our feet. |
 | Missing gamma-ray blobs shed new light on dark matter, cosmic magnetismWhen astrophysicists look at the gamma-ray glow from a galaxy outside our own, all they typically see is a small spot because the galaxy is extremely far away. So, when a galaxy appears as an extended blob, something extraordinary must be going on that could help researchers better understand the properties of deep space. |
 | Jeff Bezos to invest more than $1 bn in Blue Origin in 2019The world's richest man, billionaire entrepreneur and Amazon boss Jeff Bezos, said Monday that he is planning to boost his annual investment in Blue Origin, the aerospace company he launched in 2000. |
 | NASA wants to send humans to Venus – here's why that's a brilliant ideaPopular science fiction of the early 20th century depicted Venus as some kind of wonderland of pleasantly warm temperatures, forests, swamps and even dinosaurs. In 1950, the Hayden Planetarium at the American Natural History Museum were soliciting reservations for the first space tourism mission, well before the modern era of Blue Origins, SpaceX and Virgin Galactic. All you had to do was supply your address and tick the box for your preferred destination, which included Venus. |
 | Scientists to debate landing site for next Mars roverHundreds of scientists and Mars-exploration enthusiasts will convene in a hotel ballroom just north of Los Angeles later this week to present, discuss and deliberate the future landing site for NASA's next Red Planet rover—Mars 2020. The three-day workshop is the fourth and final in a series designed to ensure NASA receives the broadest range of data and opinion from the scientific community before the agency chooses where to send the new rover. |
 | New infrared telescope first to monitor entire northern skyA new infrared telescope designed and built by astronomers at ANU and the California Institute of Technology (Caltech) in the US will be the first of its kind to monitor the entire northern sky in search of new cosmic events. |
 | SwRI's Strofio will measure Mercury's 'exosphere'The European Space Agency's BepiColombo spacecraft will launch towards Mercury carrying a unique payload designed and built at Southwest Research Institute: an instrument called Strofio, which will study Mercury's tenuous exosphere. Part of the SERENA suite of instruments, Strofio's measurements will help us better understand the planet's surface and the history of the smallest rocky planet orbiting close to the Sun. |
 | 'Concrete block on your chest': astronauts recount failed space launchRussian cosmonaut Aleksey Ovchinin on Tuesday said the G-force during last week's emergency landing of the Soyuz spacecraft felt like a concrete block on his chest but he and NASA astronaut Nick Hague are now in "great" health. |
 | NASA astronaut describes close call following failed launchThe NASA astronaut who survived last week's failed launch and emergency landing knew he needed to stay calm. |
Technology news
 | A new approach to infuse spatial notions into robotics systemsResearchers at Sorbonne Universités and CNRS have recently investigated the prerequisites for the emergence of simplified spatial notions in robotic systems, based on on a robot's sensorimotor flow. Their study, pre-published on arXiv, is a part of a larger project, in which they explored how fundamental perceptual notions (e.g. body, space, object, color, etc.) could be instilled in biological or artificial systems. |
 | Independent solar power could offer reliable electricity to sub-saharan AfricaSix-hundred million people in Sub-Saharan Africa lack access to electricity. To meet these power needs, a mix of large public-run utility grids and standalone systems will be necessary for universal access in the region. Governments, aid organizations, and scientists are working to understand which electricity grid solution would be most cost-effective and reliable across urban, peri-urban, and rural areas. |
 | Eating with your eyes: Virtual reality can alter tasteHumans not only relish the sweet, savory and saltiness of foods, but they are influenced by the environment in which they eat. Cornell University food scientists used virtual reality to show how people's perception of real food can be altered by their surroundings, according to research published in the Journal of Food Science. |
 | An advanced snake-robot for disaster sites climbs by coiling"Ladder Climbing with the Snake Robot" is a video that was released last year by Kyoto University's Matsuno Lab, and it is still drawing stares and shivers. Comments on the video have included "Thanks, I hate it." |
 | Simple stickers may save lives of heart patients, athletes and lower medical costs for familiesHeart surgery can be traumatic for patients. Having to continuously monitor your status without a doctor when you are back home can be even scarier. Imagine being able to do that with a simple sticker applied to your body. |
 | Microsoft co-founder, philanthropist Paul Allen dies at 65Paul G. Allen, who co-founded Microsoft with his childhood friend Bill Gates before becoming a billionaire philanthropist who invested in conservation, space travel, arts and culture and professional sports, died Monday. He was 65. |
 | Bezos defends Amazon effort for Pentagon cloud projectAmazon chief Jeff Bezos on Monday defended the company's bid for a major Pentagon cloud computing contract, saying it was important to support US defense efforts even if unpopular. |
 | Artwork by an algorithm is up for auction, so does that mean AI is now creative?A painting generated by artificial intelligence will go up for sale at auction later this month – raising again the question of whether a machine can be creative. |
 | Using smartphone cameras to track alertnessOur level of alertness rises and falls over the course of a workday, sometimes causing our energy to drop and our minds to wander just as we need to perform important tasks. |
Using mobile data to model the drinking habits of Swiss youthResearchers from Idiap Research Institute and EPFL have carried out a study using smartphone data from young Swiss people to better understand the circumstances in which they are most likely to drink. A computer model developed from the data can estimate, with over 75% accuracy, whether alcohol was consumed on a given weekend night. | |
 | Printable solar materials could soon turn many parts of a house into solar panelsNew houses could soon deliver on a long-awaited promise and incorporate windows or roof tiles that harvest solar energy, research conducted at KAUST suggests. |
 | Airline ticket prices expected to take off for the holiday season because of fuel costsHigh crude oil prices could fuel a jump in ticket prices for people flying during the holiday travel season, according to a Purdue aviation professor. |
 | How biomethane can help turn gas into a renewable energy sourceAustralia's report card on reducing its greenhouse gas emissions is not exactly glowing, but there are ample opportunities to get it on track during this period of rapid change in the energy sector. Greater use of renewable electricity sources like wind and solar are playing a large part in reducing emissions, and gas can also lift its game. |
 | Recycling of photovoltaic waste boosts circular economyAn EU-funded initiative has developed methods for recovering valuable materials from photovoltaic (PV) waste such as silicon (Si) for re-use in the industry. |
 | Evolution is at work in computers as well as life sciencesArtificial intelligence research has a lot to learn from nature. My work links biology with computation every day, but recently the rest of the world was reminded of the connection: The 2018 Nobel Prize in Chemistry went to Frances Arnold together with George Smith and Gregory Winter for developing major breakthroughs that are collectively called "directed evolution." One of its uses is to improve protein functions, making them better catalysts in biofuel production. Another use is entirely outside chemistry – outside even the traditional life sciences. |
 | Audi to pay mega fine in VW's latest dieselgate falloutAuto giant Volkswagen cleared a new hurdle in its "dieselgate" scandal Tuesday, paying a hefty fine to close a German investigation into subsidiary Audi, but the group is not yet in the clear over its years of emissions cheating. |
Robot's debut in UK parliament invites 'Maybot' mockeryA walking and talking robot appeared in Britain's parliament for the first time on Tuesday, prompting Twitter users to seize the chance to heap more mockery on Theresa May. | |
 | Check-in with facial recognition now possible in ShanghaiIt's now possible to check in automatically at Shanghai's Hongqiao airport using facial recognition technology, part of an ambitious rollout of facial recognition systems in China that has raised privacy concerns as Beijing pushes to become a global leader in the field. |
 | Uber eyes valuation topping $100 bn in IPO: sourcesUber is eyeing a valuation above $100 billion for its much-anticipated share offering due in 2019, which would be the biggest-ever in the tech sector, sources familiar with the plan said Tuesday. |
 | Google CEO says 'important to explore' China projectGoogle chief executive Sundar Pichai has acknowledged publicly for the first time that the tech giant is considering a search engine for China, saying it could offer "better information" to people than rival services. |
 | Delivery startup Instacart valued at $7.6 bn in funding roundOnline grocery delivery startup Instacart, a symbol of the "on demand" economy, said Tuesday it raised $600 million in capital, at a valuation of $7.6 billion. |
 | Could cutting CO2 emissions provide water during droughts?Power plants provide homes and businesses with electricity on a daily basis. But plants also consume a daily essential: Water. In fact, the US electrical power industry uses nearly half of all water in the country. Power plants use water for cooling and creating steam to turn turbines, which then generate electricity. But during droughts and water shortages, these plants can put a strain on the entire water system. |
 | Hey Google, you don't really want to replace me, right?Google wants to do more than just organize the world's information. It wants to infuse itself into our lives and replace several of our daily tasks robotically. That, clearly, is the goal, as outlined this week. |
 | Can Pinterest succeed as the 'un'-social network?If Instagram is the dream vacation you'll never go on and Facebook is Thanksgiving with too many relatives arguing over politics, Pinterest is sitting on the couch by yourself, watching a home-improvement show and absent-mindedly flipping through an old issue of Gourmet magazine. |
 | Automated system identifies dense tissue, a risk factor for breast cancer, in mammogramsResearchers from MIT and Massachusetts General Hospital have developed an automated model that assesses dense breast tissue in mammograms—which is an independent risk factor for breast cancer—as reliably as expert radiologists. |
 | When it comes to smartphone lifespan, brand name matters more than hardwareMany critics have denounced smartphone manufacturers in recent years for producing devices that quickly become obsolete, creating a "planned obsolescence" that is costly for consumers and the global environment. |
 | Google offers solutions to avoid more EU Android finesGoogle formally offered its solutions to avoid more EU mega-fines Wednesday, after Brussels accused the US tech giant of illegally abusing the dominance of its Android operating system for mobile devices. |
 | Google to charge for apps on Android phones in EuropeGoogle plans to start charging smartphone makers to pre-install apps like Gmail, YouTube and Google Maps on Android handsets sold in Europe, a response to a record $5 billion antitrust fine imposed by the European Union. |
 | Netflix surges on user gains, strong profitsNetflix reported Tuesday a strong jump in profits and better-than-expected growth in users in the past quarter, sparking a rally in shares of the streaming television market leader. |
 | Payments companies hit deadline for keeping data in IndiaGlobal credit card and payments companies like American Express, Visa and MasterCard are facing a challenge in meeting a requirement to store transaction data for all Indian customers within the country. |
 | Facebook requires UK political ad buyers to reveal identityFacebook says that anyone who takes out a British political ad on the social media platform will now be forced to reveal their identity, in a bid to increase transparency and curb misinformation. |
 | When the line between machine and artist becomes blurredWith AI becoming incorporated into more aspects of our daily lives, from writing to driving, it's only natural that artists would also start to experiment with artificial intelligence. |
Profits up 10% at India's InfosysIndia's second-largest software services exporter Infosys reported a 10.3-percent rise in quarterly profits on Tuesday, beating estimates thanks to a slew of major new deals. | |
Judge approves Elon Musk settlement with SECA federal judge is approving a settlement between Elon Musk and federal regulators over his infamous tweet about taking Tesla private. | |
Medicine & Health news
 | New model suggests cuffless, non-invasive blood pressure monitoring possible using pulse wavesA large team of researchers from several institutions in China and the U.S. has developed a model that suggests it should be possible to create a cuffless, non-invasive blood pressure monitor based on measuring pulse waves. In their paper published in Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences, the group describes their model and how well it worked when tested on artificial blood vessels. |
 | Marker may help target treatments for Crohn's patientsCrohn's disease (CD), a chronic inflammatory condition of the intestinal tract, has emerged as a global disease, with rates steadily increasing over the last 50 years. Experts have long suspected that CD likely represents a collection of related but slightly different disorders, but until now it has not been possible to predict accurately which subtype of CD a patient is likely to develop. |
 | Adequate consumption of 'longevity' vitamins could prolong healthy aging, nutrition scientist saysA detailed new review of nutritional science argues that most American diets are deficient in a key class of vitamins and minerals that play previously unrecognized roles in promoting longevity and in staving off chronic diseases such as heart disease, cancer and, potentially, neurodegeneration. |
 | New findings cast light on lymphatic system, key player in human healthScientists at the Oklahoma Medical Research Foundation have broken new ground in understanding how the lymphatic system works, potentially opening the door for future therapies. |
 | Father's nicotine use can cause cognitive problems in children and grandchildrenA father's exposure to nicotine may cause cognitive deficits in his children and even grandchildren, according to a study in mice publishing on October 16 in the open-access journal PLOS Biology by Pradeep Bhide of Florida State University in Tallahassee and colleagues. The effect, which was not caused by direct secondhand exposure, may be due to epigenetic changes in key genes in the father's sperm. |
 | Student develops microfluidics device to help scientists identify early genetic markers of cancerAs anyone who has played "Where's Waldo" knows, searching for a single item in a landscape filled with a mélange of characters and objects can be a challenge. Chrissy O'Keefe, a Ph.D. student in the Department of Biomedical Engineering, understands this all too well: She spends her days searching for subtle DNA changes in cancer cells hiding among many healthy cells. |
 | Study finds evidence of intergenerational transmission of trauma among ex-POWs from the Civil WarA trio of researchers affiliated with the National Bureau of Economic Research has found evidence that suggests men who were traumatized while POWs during the U.S. Civil War transmitted that trauma to their offspring—many of them were found to die earlier. In their paper published in Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences, Dora Costa, Noelle Yetter and Heather DeSomer describe their study of Union POWs during the Civil War and the longevity of their offspring. |
 | Environmental factors may trigger onset of multiple sclerosisA new Tel Aviv University study finds that certain environmental conditions may precipitate structural changes that take place in myelin sheaths in the onset of multiple sclerosis (MS). Myelin sheaths are the "insulating tape" surrounding axons; axons carry electrical impulses in neurons. |
 | No sweat required: Team finds hypertension treatment that mimics effect of exerciseCouch potatoes rejoice—there might be a way to get the blood pressure lowering benefits of exercise in pill form. |
 | Infants are more likely to learn when with a peerInfants are more likely to learn from on-screen instruction when paired with another infant as opposed to viewing the lesson alone, according to a new study. |
 | Age-related increase in estrogen may cause common men's herniaAn age-related increase in estrogen may be the culprit behind inguinal hernias, a condition common among elderly men that often requires corrective surgery, according to a Northwestern Medicine study was published Oct. 15 in Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences. |
National bans on slapping children linked to less youth violenceNational bans on parents slapping or spanking their children to punish them for bad behaviour are linked to lower rates of youth violence, reveals an international study published in the online journal BMJ Open. | |
Simply eyeballing patients may trump formal assessment for prioritizing seriously illSimply eyeballing a patient may be more effective than using a formal structured assessment (algorithm) to prioritise those who are the sickest and therefore most in need of urgent medical care, finds research published online in Emergency Medicine Journal. | |
New way to determine whether metastatic cancer cells in breast cancer patients are dormant or soon to turn deadlyFor the first time ever, Mount Sinai researchers have identified a protein as a marker that can indicate whether a cancer patient will develop a reoccurrence of lethal, metastatic cancer, according to a clinical study published in Breast Cancer Research in October. | |
Major changes needed to improve the care of older adults who self-harmOlder adults (aged 65 and older) who self-harm have a higher risk of dying from unnatural causes (particularly suicide) compared to their peers without a history of self-harm, according to a large observational study of UK primary care published in The Lancet Psychiatry journal. | |
 | Us vs. them: Understanding the neurobiology of stereotypesRecent studies into how human beings think about members of other social groups reveal that biases sometimes operate beyond our conscious control. Called implicit bias, the tendency to be suspicious of people we perceive as strangers or "not like us" probably evolved early in our ancestry, when small groups of humans competed against each other for precious resources like food and water. Today, our brains' inherent tendency to stereotype can result in discrimination, injustice and conflict. |
 | Top athletes weigh in on perceived effectiveness of anti-doping measuresWhen trying to determine how best to deter doping in competitive sports, who better to ask than the athletes themselves? A first-of-its-kind study in Frontiers in Psychology did precisely that by asking top level German cyclists and field athletes to rate which anti-doping methods they perceived as the most effective. The athletes identified improved detection and diagnostics, increased bans for offenders and anti-doping laws, which make doping a criminal offense, as the most important methods. Increased fines and leniency programs for offenders who cooperate in the identification of other offending athletes were ranked as far less effective. |
 | Researchers engineer dual vaccine against anthrax and plagueA team of researchers has now engineered a virus nanoparticle vaccine against Bacillus anthracis and Yersinia pestis, tier 1 agents that pose serious threats to national security of the United States. |
Experts recommend new way to describe cognitive changes after anesthesia, surgery in elderly patientA multidisciplinary, international group of experts has recommended changing the way clinicians and patients describe cognitive changes experienced in some patients after anesthesia and surgery. The recommendations are being published simultaneously in six peer-reviewed journals including, Anesthesiology, the official medical journal of the American Society of Anesthesiologists (ASA), Acta Anaesthesologica Scandinavica, Anesthesia & Analgesia, British Journal of Anaesthesia, Canadian Journal of Anesthesia and the Journal of Alzheimer's Disease. | |
| Artificial intelligence used in clinical practice to measure breast densityAn artificial intelligence (AI) algorithm measures breast density at the level of an experienced mammographer, according to a new study published in the journal Radiology. The researchers said the study, the result of a collaboration between breast imagers and AI experts, represents a groundbreaking implementation of AI into routine clinical practice. |
 | Amount of weight regain after bariatric surgery helps predict health risksMeasuring the percentage of weight regained following the maximum amount of weight lost after bariatric surgery can help predict a patient's risk of several serious health problems, according to a long-term, multicenter study led by University of Pittsburgh Graduate School of Public Health researchers. |
 | Bariatric surgery reduces heart attacks, strokes and death in obese people with diabetesPeople with diabetes and severe obesity who had bariatric surgery were 40 percent less likely to have a heart attack or stroke within 5 years than those who had usual medical care for their diabetes, according to a new study published today in JAMA. |
 | Research assesses geographic distribution of new antibiotics following market introductionThere is a growing need for new antibiotics to help combat the looming threat of antimicrobial resistance. According to a new study conducted by researchers at the Center for Disease Dynamics, Economics & Policy (CDDEP) with colleagues at the University of Oslo, and other organizations, between 1999 and 2014, only 25 new antibiotics representing nine different antibiotic classes entered the global market. The majority of antibiotics released in this time period originated from Japanese (11 of 25) or US (6 of 25) companies and were launched in Japan (7) or the US (12). Of the 25 antibiotics, 18 were intended to treat community-acquired respiratory tract infections, 14 for skin and skin structure infections, and 12 for urinary tract infections. Furthermore, 52% of new antibiotics were indicated to treat infections caused by resistant bacteria while none targeted Gram-negative bacteria, which are the cause of most untreatable infections. |
 | Why mothers in mainland China, Hong Kong and Taiwan choose cesarean deliveryPregnant women in mainland China, Hong Kong, and Taiwan are more likely to express preference for cesarean section (CS) as their mode of delivery later in pregnancy and postpartum, as compared to early in pregnancy, according to a study published this week in PLOS Medicine. The study, conducted by Qian Long of Duke Kunshan University in China, and collaborators, found that fear of pain, antagonistic relations with providers, and beliefs of deteriorating quality of care during labor and vaginal birth contributed to perceptions of planned CS as preferable. |
 | Cellular 'tuning mechanism' builds elegant eyesHow different cells in a multicellular organism acquire their identities remains a fundamental mystery of development. In the eye, for example, the lens contains two cell types—lens epithelial cells and lens fiber cells—the first of which differentiates into the second as an animal matures. Scientists have long known that fibroblast growth factor, or FGF, accelerates this process. Now, scientists at the Okinawa Institute of Science and Technology Graduate University (OIST) have discovered that a different molecular signal acts as a brake pedal, preventing cells from differentiating where they shouldn't. |
 | Researchers elucidate roles of TP63 and SOX2 in squamous cell cancer progressionSquamous cell carcinomas (SCCs) are aggressive malignancies arising from the squamous epithelium of various organs, such as the esophagus, head and neck, lungs, and skin. Previous studies have demonstrated that two master transcription factors, TP63 and SOX2, effect genomic activation in SCCs. Now, researchers from the Cancer Science Institute of Singapore (CSI Singapore) at the National University of Singapore have identified an SCC-specific protein complex activated by TP63 and SOX2 that triggers a gene cascade promoting SCC growth. The findings were published in Nature Communications. |
 | Increasing vigorous exercise decreases risk of type two diabetes, cardiovascular disease in childhoodPhysical exercise can reduce the risk factors of type 2 diabetes and cardiovascular disease even in children, according to a new study from the University of Eastern Finland. In a two-year follow-up of primary school children, sedentary behaviour increased the accumulation of risk factors, whereas increasing the amount of vigorous exercise reduced it. This is one of the first follow-up studies to reliably demonstrate these associations in children. |
 | No, we're not all working for a bunch of psychopathsIf you've ever worked for an impulsive or vengeful boss, these headlines may not seem so far-fetched: "CEO is the profession with the most psychopaths," or "1 in 5 CEOs is a psychopath, study finds." |
 | After stroke strikes, what comes next?The American Heart Association/American Stroke Association, the world's leading voluntary health organization devoted to fighting cardiovascular disease and stroke, wants stroke survivors to know that while life may be different after a stroke, rehabilitation can help them regain some independence, decrease chances of another stroke and provide new goals to work toward. |
 | Health declines are more rapid in older women with urinary incontinenceAs women age, their ability to get around affects their quality of life. A new study shows that older women's physical functioning declines more rapidly if they develop urinary incontinence, according to public health researchers at the University of Hawaiʻi at Mānoa. |
 | Technique to 'listen' to a patient's brain during tumour surgerySurgeons could soon eavesdrop on a patient's brain activity during surgery to remove their brain tumour, helping improve the accuracy of the operation and reduce the risk of impairing brain function. |
 | Concussion researchers study head motion in high school football hitsThree Bay Area high school football teams have been outfitted with mouthguards that measure head motion. Stanford scientists hope to use the data to better understand what causes concussions. |
 | HIV-positive infants are at high risk for acquiring congenital cytomegalovirus infectionInfants born to HIV-positive mothers had high rates of congenital cytomegalovirus, or CMV. Infants who also were infected before birth by the virus that causes AIDS were especially prone to CMV infection. |
 | Many U.S. adults confused about primary care, study showsAdults in the United States have a limited understanding of the basic duties that nurse practitioners and physician assistants can perform, a new study suggests. |
 | New treatment prevents transplant rejectionA new treatment strategy could increase the success rate of stem cell transplants, according to University of Queensland researchers. |
 | Why heart contractions are weaker in those with hypertrophic cardiomyopathyWhen a young athlete suddenly dies of a heart attack, chances are high that they suffer from familial hypertrophic cardiomyopathy (HCM). Itis the most common genetic heart disease in the US and affects an estimated 1 in 500 people around the world. A protein called myosin acts as the molecular motor which makes the muscles in the heart contract. Researchers had suspected for some time that the R403Q mutation in some of the myosin genes is among those that play a role in causing HCM. But experiments using mice models failed to show that this was indeed the case. (Mice are often used in experiments because their behaviour, biology and genetic material resemble those of humans). |
 | The role of PRMT1-mediated alternative splicing in dilated cardiomyopathyIn a study published in iScience, Professor Akiyoshi Fukamizu of the University of Tsukuba has reported the discovery of the important role of PRMT1 in dilated cardiomyopathy (DCM). |
 | Endurance exercise training has beneficial effects on gut microbiota compositionAccording to recent research, endurance exercise training beneficially modifies gut microbiota composition. After six weeks of training, potentially inflammation causing microbes (Proteobacteria) decreased and microbes that are linked to enhanced metabolism (Akkermansia) increased. |
 | Poor breakfast quality has a negative effect on cardiovascular health in childhoodResearchers at the Institute for Innovation and Sustainable Development in the Food Chain (IS-FOOD) of the Public University of Navarre (NUP/UPNA) have published a piece of research in which they show that the nutritional quality of breakfast is associated with significant cardiovascular and metabolic risk factors in overweight children (even in those who are fit and who do exercise every day). |
 | Brain cancer survival has improved – but not much for elderlyA new study from Helsinki University Hospital, University of Helsinki and the Finnish Cancer Registry shows that survival after glioblastoma has improved since the millennium. The improvement in survival was, however, modest in elderly patients, raising concerns whether current treatment strategies are optimal for this patient group. |
 | Study focuses on causes of MS disability"Determining the mechanism that may be contributing to nerve cell damage could help us develop new drugs that better treat the disability caused by multiple sclerosis," said USask neurology professor Dr. Michael Levin, Saskatchewan Multiple Sclerosis Clinical Research Chair. |
 | Hypothesis underpinning dementia research 'flawed'A hypothesis which has been the standard way of explaining how the body develops Alzheimer's Disease for almost 30 years is flawed, according to a University of Manchester biologist. |
 | New autism guidelines aim to improve diagnostics and access to servicesNew Australian autism guidelines, released today, aim to provide a nationally consistent and rigorous standard for how children and adults are assessed and diagnosed with autism, bringing to an end the different processes that currently exist across the country. |
 | Opinion: An enlightened approach to 'illegal' drugs will revolutionise medicine and scienceThe issue of drug use and harm is one of the most compelling challenges of the current era. The so-called "war on drugs," in which the UN has tried to stamp out recreational drug use through attacking drug suppliers and drug users, has been fought for over 40 years at great economic social and human costs and despite being widely discredited it is still ongoing. |
 | Income and wealth affect the mental health of Australians, study showsAustralians who have higher incomes and greater wealth are more likely to experience better mental health throughout their lives, new research led by the Bankwest Curtin Economics Centre has found. |
 | Milestone reached in major developmental disorders projectThe Deciphering Developmental Disorders (DDD) project aims to provide diagnoses for the families of around 13,600 children with severe undiagnosed developmental disorders. Launched eight years ago this month at the Wellcome Sanger Institute, the project has just completed the first phase of analysing the gene sequences of every participant in the study. The project has provided genetic diagnoses to approximately one third of the families involved so far and now moves into its next phase. |
 | Researchers use brain cells in a dish to study genetic origins of schizophreniaA study in Biological Psychiatry has established a new analytical method for investigating the complex genetic origins of mental illnesses using brain cells that are grown in a dish from human embryonic stem cells. Researchers at the University of California Los Angeles examined the process in which new neurons are designated for certain roles, and found that changes in gene expression over the course of neural development were significantly associated with genetic risk for schizophrenia. |
As a therapist, how should I grieve after a patient's suicide?Beth (Some names have been changed) is a social worker based in the USA. As I interview her over Skype, she rifles through paperwork looking for an envelope with the name Toby* on it, which contains a photograph, a funeral card and some drawings. One of the things on Beth's busy desk is a stone, which she tells me Toby had liked to hold while he was in group therapy sessions or 1:1s. Toby had been Beth's patient, and he died from suicide seven years ago. | |
 | How a wooden bench in Zimbabwe is starting a revolution in mental healthDixon Chibanda spent more time with Erica than most of his other patients. It wasn't that her problems were more serious than others' – she was just one of thousands of women in their mid-20s with depression in Zimbabwe. It was because she had travelled over 160 miles to meet him. |
 | Is exercise still important to weight loss? Absolutely, a doctor says"Exercise isn't really important for weight loss" has become a popular sentiment in the weight loss community. "It's all about diet," many say. "Don't worry about exercise so much." |
China fines pharma firm $1.3 billion in vaccine scandalChinese authorities have slapped penalties totalling a whopping $1.3 billion on a pharmaceutical company over a vaccine scandal that fuelled public fears of domestically-made medicine, drug regulators said Tuesday. | |
Long-running study identifies modifiable dementia risk factor in older adultsFor older adults, it may seem as though the die is already cast regarding their odds of developing dementia, but new research from the University of Pittsburgh has identified a dementia risk factor among older adults that should be modifiable even well into old age. | |
 | Number of children not receiving vaccines slightly increased(HealthDay)—Overall, vaccine coverage for children aged 19 to 35 months remained high and stable from 2013 to 2017; however, a small, but growing number of children received no vaccinations, according to research published in the Oct. 12 issue of the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention Morbidity and Mortality Weekly Report. |
 | Beta-blockers in 1st trimester do not up congenital malformations(HealthDay)—Maternal use of β-blockers in the first trimester of pregnancy is not associated with a large increase in the risk for overall or cardiac congenital malformations, according to a study published online Oct. 16 in the Annals of Internal Medicine. |
 | Five strength-training mistakes to avoid(HealthDay)—Developing lean muscle mass is important for everyone—it can keep you active and independent throughout your life. |
 | Increased violence and suicidal thoughts characterized in study of menAn Australian first study involving 1000 men aged 18 to 30 has found those who conform to traditional definitions of manhood – dubbed 'the man box' – are twice as likely to consider suicide and seven times more likely to be violent towards others. |
 | Healthy elders consuming nearly 300 calories of walnuts daily show no negative effects on body weight, compositionResearchers at Loma Linda University Health found that walnuts can be incorporated into the daily diet of healthy elders without having a negative impact on weight gain or weight management. |
Early onset of menopause and diabetes may limit life spanOnly in science fiction novels can scientists predict people's lifespans. However, researchers have advanced the understanding of those risk factors that adversely affect mortality rates. A new study concludes that women who experienced early menopause lived shorter lives and spent fewer years without diabetes than women who experienced normal or late menopause. Study results are published online in Menopause, the journal of The North American Menopause Society (NAMS). | |
 | Infectious diarrhea spores survive high temperatures of hospital launderingWashing contaminated hospital bedsheets in a commercial washing machine with industrial detergent at high disinfecting temperatures failed to remove all traces of Clostridium difficile (C. difficile), a bacteria that causes infectious diarrhea, suggesting that linens could be a source of infection among patients and even other hospitals, according to a study published today in Infection Control & Hospital Epidemiology, the journal of the Society for Healthcare Epidemiology of America. |
Religious leaders' support may be key to modern contraceptionWomen in Nigeria whose clerics extol the benefits of family planning were significantly more likely to adopt modern contraceptive methods, new research suggests, highlighting the importance of engaging religious leaders to help increase the country's stubbornly low uptake of family planning services. | |
Are trigger warnings emotionally protective?Do you like to see warnings about violent or other distressing content before watching a TV show or movie, or reading a book? | |
 | In Canada's wine country, greenhouse drops orchids to grow cannabisDressed in white overalls, horticulturists carefully tend to small pot plants lined row after row. Not long ago, orchids were growing in this greenhouse south of Toronto where cannabis plants are now budding. |
 | After 2 breast cancer diagnoses, survivor learns she needs a new heartThe hair loss, fatigue and nausea were a given. As a nurse, Toni C. Wild had seen patients faced with these common side effects of chemotherapy. What Wild did not expect when she was diagnosed with breast cancer at age 29 is that the chemotherapy drugs she received would damage her heart. |
 | Change in shelter eligibility policy tied to more ED visits(HealthDay)—A policy change to Massachusetts' shelter eligibility was tied to increased pediatric emergency department visits for homelessness and substantial health care costs, according to a study published online Oct. 15 in Pediatrics. |
 | 2006 to 2015 saw decrease in Medicare beneficiary ICU use(HealthDay)—From 2006 to 2015, there was a significant decrease in intensive care unit (ICU) admissions among Medicare fee-for-service beneficiaries, according to a research letter published online Oct. 15 in the Annals of Internal Medicine. |
 | Job market for nephrologists continuing to improve(HealthDay)—The job market for new nephrologists is continuing to improve, and most fellows would recommend nephrology to medical students or residents, according to a report published online Oct. 15 by the American Society of Nephrology. |
 | Clinical trials support efficacy of tretinoin lotion for Tx of acne(HealthDay)—Tretinoin 0.05 percent lotion (ALTRENO Lotion) provides statistically significant improvement in patients with moderate-to-severe acne, compared to placebo, according to two phase 3 studies published in the October issue of the Journal of Drugs in Dermatology. |
For cancer, a biopharmaceutical company and UC San Diego test another kind of immune cellWhen the U.S. Food and Drug Administration approved the first cell-based gene therapies for cancer in 2017, advanced malignancies once seen as terminal suddenly looked treatable, perhaps even curable. | |
Poliolike illness strikes 2 in Philly area, is rising nationallyA rare, mysterious poliolike illness seems to be on the rise again in the U.S., with 38 cases confirmed so far this year to the federal government—including at least five in Pennsylvania and New Jersey. | |
As US suicides rates rise, Latinos show relative immunityThe young man held the medication in his hand—and considered using it to end his life. | |
 | Study: Opioid controlled substance agreements safely reduce health care visitsThe medical community has long known that patients on long-term opioid therapy often have significantly more health care visits. But adhering to a standardized care process model for opioid prescriptions appears to reduce the overall number of health care visits for these patients while maintaining safety, shows new research published in Mayo Clinic Proceedings. |
 | Mayo Clinic researchers study immunity-boosting vaccine to target aggressive form of breast cancerTreating breast cancer has long involved addressing two problems: the elimination of cancer cells from the tumor and potential disease recurrence. The key may be to harness the full capabilities of the body's immune system to do both jobs. |
 | A bad influence—the interplay between tumor cells and immune cellsResearch at Huntsman Cancer Institute (HCI) at the University of Utah (U of U) yielded new insights into the environment surrounding different types of lung tumors, and described how these complex cell ecosystems may in turn ultimately affect response to treatment. The results were published today in Immunity and featured on the print cover of the journal. |
 | Video monitoring of tuberculosis treatment effective in urban and rural areasResearchers from University of California San Diego School of Medicine, with statewide collaborators, report that patients who recorded videos of themselves taking tuberculosis (TB) medications better adhered to treatment than patients who were observed in-person. |
For-profit nursing home residents more likely to be diagnosed with neglect issuesResidents receiving care in for-profit nursing homes are almost twice as likely to experience health issues caused by substandard care compared with clients living in not-for-profit facilities or in homes in the community, according to a new report in the journal Gerontology. | |
Mysterious paralyzing illness found among kids in 22 statesU.S. health officials on Tuesday reported a jump in cases of a rare paralyzing illness in children, and said it seems to be following an every-other-year pattern. | |
 | Canada primed for pot legalizationPot stores across much of Canada were poised to throw open their doors Wednesday as the sale and recreational use of cannabis is made legal for the first time by a major Western country. |
 | Holographic images increase accuracy of external ventricular drain insertionResearchers from Beijing have developed a new technique of external ventricular drain (EVD) insertion that involves the use of a mixed-reality holographic computer headset. Wearing this headset, the neurosurgeon can visualize holographic images of individual patients' brain structures while performing the procedure. This makes EVD insertion more accurate than the usual freehand technique, which relies only on referral to external anatomical landmarks. The new technique is described and illustrated in the article, "A wearable mixed-reality holographic computer for guiding external ventricular drain insertion at the bedside," by Ye Li, M.D., Ph.D., and colleagues, published today in the Journal of Neurosurgery. |
New data identifies variation in US laws governing procedures for involuntary commitment for substance use disorderSubstance use disorder is grounds for involuntary commitment in more 37 US states and the District of Columbia, according to a dataset released on LawAtlas.org that explores US laws governing procedures for involuntary civil commitment for substance use disorders. | |
Unlike obese adults, obese children don't have more pain after surgeryWhile obese adults often report more pain after surgery, the same does not appear to be true for obese children, according to the largest study of its kind, being presented at the ANESTHESIOLOGY 2018 annual meeting. | |
 | Factors linked with wellbeing and medication adherence in young adults with kidney failureA new study evaluates important aspects of psychological health in young adults with kidney failure. The findings, which appear in an upcoming issue of the Clinical Journal of the American Society of Nephrology (CJASN), point to the need for additional efforts to address the wellbeing of these patients. |
 | In vivo skin imaging technology developedA Research and Development group led by Professor Yoshifumi Saijo of Tohoku University and Noriyuki Masuda of Advantest has succeeded in developing in vivo skin imaging technology that can simultaneously generate dual-wavelength photoacoustic images and ultrasound images. |
 | Australian study reveals the dangers of 'toxic masculinity' to men and those around themYoung men who conform to traditional definitions of manhood are more likely to suffer harm to themselves, and do harm to others, according to a new survey of Australian men aged 18 to 30. |
Diets rich in fish oil could slow the spread and growth of breast cancer cellsOmega-3 fatty acids, such as those typically contained in fish oil, may suppress the growth and spread of breast cancer cells in mice. This is according to a new study in the journal Clinical & Experimental Metastasis, which is published under the Springer imprint. According to lead author, Saraswoti Khadge of the University of Nebraska Medical Centre in the US, fatty acids stopped further delayed tumors from forming, and blocked the cancerous cells from spreading to other organs in mice. The researchers speculate that this might be because of the way in which omega-3 fatty acids support the body's immune and anti-inflammatory systems. | |
 | Number of veterans affairs facilities offering acupuncture growing rapidlyAcupuncture is an increasingly important and effective component of chronic pain management and other areas of care in the Veterans Health Administration (VHA). Over the past 7 years, the number of VHA facilities offering acupuncture has increased from 42% to 88%, according to an article published in a special issue on the use of acupuncture in the Veterans Health Administration in Medical Acupuncture. |
 | Canada is ready to open the door wide to legal marijuanaTom Clarke has been dealing marijuana illegally in Canada for 30 years. He wrote in his high school yearbook that his dream was to open a cafe in Amsterdam, the Dutch city where people have legally smoked weed in coffee shops since the 1970s. |
Fewer black male doctors has broader public health impactAaron Doctor, a bright and ambitious young African-American man, grew up in a black community in South Carolina's Lowcountry, but he was 21 years old the first time he met a black doctor, a man whose wife was also a physician. | |
 | Hippocampus yields clues to treatment strategies for cognitive deficits in multiple sclerosisA recent article by a team of international experts on multiple sclerosis (MS) underscores the importance of expanding the knowledge base about the hippocampus in order to better understand the genesis of cognitive deficits and develop new treatment strategies. |
 | In the fight against Alzheimer's, Down syndrome may hold vital cluesAt first glance, Down syndrome (DS) and Alzheimer's disease (AD), two severe brain abnormalities, may seem to have little in common. Down syndrome is a hereditary disease, the source of which has long been recognized—a triplication of chromosome 21. By contrast, the overwhelming majority of Alzheimer's cases (over 95 percent), do not have a clear-cut genetic source. Instead, the disease, which usually becomes clinically apparent late in life, is caused by a perplexing constellation of factors. While these have been the focus of intense study for over 100 years, few conclusive answers have come to light. |
Biology news
 | Study reveals best use of wildflowers to benefit crops on farmsWith bee pollinators in decline and pesky crop pests lowering yields, sustainable and organic farmers need environmentally friendly solutions. |
 | Algorithmic innovation may help reduce invasive heart proceduresDoctors use invasive procedures to map the hearts of patients suffering from atrial fibrillation, an abnormal heart rhythm, to decide whether an ablation procedure to remove heart tissue is likely to have a positive outcome. Computed tomography (CT) scans or ultrasounds are useful in determining the structure of a patient's heart, but invasive electrical procedures are used to identify and localize the source of the atrial fibrillation. |
 | Loss of a microRNA molecule boosts rice productionThe wild rice consumed by our Neolithic ancestors was very different from the domesticated rice eaten today. Although it is unclear when humans first started farming rice, the oldest paddy fields—in the lower Yangzi River Valley—date back to 4000 BC. During its long history of cultivation, rice plants with traits that reduce yield or impede harvest (e.g., grain shattering) were weeded out, whereas those with traits that increase yield (e.g., highly branched flowering structures) were selected and propagated. Although the resulting rice plants are super-producers that feed much of the world's population, they rely on human assistance and cannot withstand harsh environmental conditions. |
 | A selfish gene makes mice into migrantsHouse mice carrying a specific selfish supergene move from one population to another much more frequently than their peers. This finding from a University of Zurich study shows for the first time that a gene of this type can influence animal migratory behavior. It could help in dealing with invasive plagues of mice. |
 | Big Agriculture eyeing genetic tool for pest controlA controversial and unproven gene-editing technology touted as a silver bullet against malaria-bearing mosquitos could wind up being deployed first in commercial agriculture, according to experts and an NGO report published Tuesday. |
 | How communication among cells affects development of multicellular tissueUsing a combination of computational modeling and experimental techniques, a research team has developed new information about how intercellular communication affects the differentiation of an embryonic stem cell colony over time. |
 | Researchers develop new method to address deep-seated biases in science, starting with birdsNew UMBC research is helping dismantle gender and publication biases in science. A team of researchers working across disciplines has developed a new statistical technique to understand similarity, rather than difference, in the natural world. With this new technique, they've determined that among Eastern Bluebirds the structure of songs female birds sing is statistically indistinguishable from songs males sing. |
 | Population aging and decrease may have socioeconomic and environmental benefitsEnvironmental scientists argue that societies should embrace population aging and decrease in an opinion appearing October 16 in the journal Trends in Ecology & Evolution. They cite multiple reports of the socioeconomic and environmental benefits of population aging, mortality-related decrease, and shrinking workforces due to retirement and maintain that, contrary to some economic analyses, costs associated with aging societies are manageable, while smaller populations make for more sustainable societies. |
 | Researchers recommend satellite technology as a way to create more effective, 'true' shark sanctuariesWhen they first set out to follow grey reef sharks around the Republic of the Marshall Islands (RMI), Darcy Bradley and her colleagues intended to survey their movement in the protected waters there. What they found was a disturbing development for the Pacific island nation. |
 | Computing solutions for biological problemsProducing research outputs that have computational novelty and contributions, as well as biological importance and impacts, is a key motivator for computer scientist Xin Gao. His Group at KAUST has experienced a recent explosion in their publications. Since January 1, 2018, they have produced 27 papers, including 11 published in the top three computational biology journals and seven presented at the top artificial intelligence and bioinformatics conferences. |
 | How catching malaria gave me a new perspective on saving gorillasConservationists are in a desperate fight to save the last of the world's gorillas. Numbers of some subspecies are so low that organisations are literally saving the species one gorilla at a time. |
 | Proteins wear clothes – and understanding their fashion choices could help us treat cancerWe humans are top of the evolutionary tree, the most complex organisms that have ever lived on Earth in five billion years. Right? One way we might actually prove our biological complexity is to look at the number of different proteins that our bodies can produce for building all our different types of cells and the other things they need. |
 | 3-D imaging opens a door to fascinating leaf complexityThe field of plant science is in the process of being profoundly transformed by new imaging and modelling technologies. These tools are allowing scientists to peer inside the leaf with a clarity and resolution inconceivable a generation ago. |
 | Letting nature take its course: Wolves in Yellowstone National ParkSince the reintroduction of wolves to Yellowstone National Park in 1995, the park's ecosystem has become a deeply complex and heterogeneous system, aided by a strategy of minimal human intervention. The new study is a synthesis of 40 years of research on large mammals in Yellowstone National Park, conducted by University of Alberta ecologist Mark Boyce. |
 | Just how blind are bats? Color vision gene study examines key sensory tradeoffsCould bats' cave-dwelling nocturnal habits over eons enhanced their echolocation acoustic abilities, but also spurred their loss of vision? |
 | Root architecture discoveries could help breed drought-resistant cropsWe should breed new varieties of crops based on their root architecture rather than just focusing on the top half of the plant, according to scientists looking at how to cultivate plants that use water more efficiently and better withstand drought conditions. |
 | Australians care about animals but don't buy ethical meatAustralians clearly care about animal welfare: our research has found 92% shoppers in Sydney considered animal welfare to be important. |
 | Researchers take genomic sequencing to the farm to help transform livesIn a world first, international scientists including a University of Otago researcher, have used whole genome sequencing to help diagnose a plant pathogen destroying crops on African farms, potentially paving the way for preventing crop failures, vital to the African economy. |
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