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Here is your customized Science X Newsletter for December 12, 2018:
Spotlight Stories Headlines
Astronomy & Space news
 | Periodic radio signal detected from the blazar J1043+2408Using Owens Valley Radio Observatory (OVRO), astronomers have detected a periodic signal in the radio light curve of the blazar J1043+2408, which could be helpful in improving our understanding about the nature of blazars in general. The finding was presented in a paper published November 30 on arXiv.org. |
 | Astronomers find that dark matter dominates across cosmic timeIn findings published today in The Astrophysical Journal, University of Texas at Austin astronomers report that they have stumbled on an extraordinary galaxy that may corroborate a recently contested theory about dark matter. |
 | Russian spacewalkers take sample of mystery hole at space stationUsing knives and shears, a pair of Russian spacewalkers Tuesday cut samples of material around a mysterious hole in a Soyuz spacecraft docked on the International Space Station that a Moscow official suggested could have been deliberate sabotage. |
 | InSight Mars lander takes its first selfieNASA's InSight lander isn't camera-shy. The spacecraft used a camera on its robotic arm to take its first selfie—a mosaic made up of 11 images. This is the same imaging process used by NASA's Curiosity rover mission, in which many overlapping pictures are taken and later stitched together. Visible in the selfie are the lander's solar panel and its entire deck, including its science instruments. |
 | Astronomers confirm extended atmosphere on accretion disk of X-ray binaryAstronomers use stellar eclipses to study the atmosphere of accretion disks around compact stars. SRON-researchers observed this method on a low-mass X-ray binary. They find a thicker atmosphere than predicted and distinguish two different gas components. The research was published in Astronomy & Astrophysics. |
 | Rosetta witnesses birth of baby bow shock around cometA new study reveals that, contrary to first impressions, Rosetta did detect signs of an infant bow shock at the comet it explored for two years – the first ever seen forming anywhere in the solar system. |
 | Juno mission halfway to Jupiter scienceOn Dec. 21, at 8:49:48 a.m. PST (11:49:48 a.m. EST) NASA's Juno spacecraft will be 3,140 miles (5,053 kilometers) above Jupiter's cloud tops and hurtling by at a healthy clip of 128,802 mph (207,287 kilometers per hour). This will be the 16th science pass of the gas giant and will mark the solar-powered spacecraft's halfway point in data collection during its prime mission. |
 | The epoch of planet formation, times twentyAstronomers have cataloged nearly 4,000 exoplanets in orbit around distant stars. Though the discovery of these newfound worlds has taught us much, there is still a great deal we do not know about the birth of planets and the precise cosmic recipes that spawn the wide array of planetary bodies we have already uncovered, including so-called hot Jupiters, massive rocky worlds, icy dwarf planets, and—hopefully someday soon—distant analogs of Earth. |
 | Virgin Galactic aims to reach space soon with tourism rocketRichard Branson's Virgin Galactic is gearing up to finally send its tourism rocket ship to the edge of space. |
 | Image: ICESat-2 reveals profile of ice sheetsLess than three months into its mission, NASA's Ice, Cloud and land Elevation Satellite-2, or ICESat-2, is already exceeding scientists' expectations. The satellite is measuring the height of sea ice to within an inch, tracing the terrain of previously unmapped Antarctic valleys, surveying remote ice sheets, and peering through forest canopies and shallow coastal waters. |
Technology news
 | A new approximate computing approach using CNNsResearchers at Fukuoka University, in Japan, have recently proposed a design methodology for configurable approximate arithmetic circuits. As part of their study, published on ResearchGate, they applied their method to a prototype system for image processing that relies on deep neural networks. |
 | Method to illuminate features of biological tissues in low-exposure imagesSmall imperfections in a wine glass or tiny creases in a contact lens can be tricky to make out, even in good light. In almost total darkness, images of such transparent features or objects are nearly impossible to decipher. But now, engineers at MIT have developed a technique that can reveal these "invisible" objects, in the dark. |
 | Researchers create first sensor package that can ride aboard beesResearchers at the University of Washington have created a sensor package that is small enough to ride aboard a bumblebee. |
 | To guide cancer therapy, device quickly tests drugs on tumor tissueMIT researchers have 3-D printed a novel microfluidic device that simulates cancer treatments on biopsied tumor tissue, so clinicians can better examine how individual patients will respond to different therapeutics—before administering a single dose. |
 | New foldable drone flies through narrow holes in rescue missionsInspecting a damaged building after an earthquake or during a fire is exactly the kind of job that human rescuers would like drones to do for them. A flying robot could look for people trapped inside and guide the rescue team towards them. But the drone would often have to enter the building through a crack in a wall, a partially open window, or through bars – something the typical size of a drone does not allow. |
 | Low-cost catalyst boosts hydrogen production from waterA future powered by carbon-free fuel depends on our ability to harness and store energy from renewable but intermittent sources, such as solar and wind. Now, a new catalyst developed at University of Toronto Engineering gives a boost to a number of clean energy technologies that depend on producing hydrogen from water. |
 | Tabs on Roger headed for coffee shop could spill ad-worthy beansLocation, location. Retailers see gold at the end of the location-tracking rainbow. They seek the advantage of targeting potential footsteps with relevant ads and offers. Questions: Where are you headed? When will you go offline? Facebook in patent filings proposes how they would get some answers. |
 | Professor models system using baking soda filled capsules to capture CO2 emissionsAlthough the use of renewable energy is on the rise, coal and natural gas still represent the majority of the United States energy supply. Even with pollution controls, burning these fossil fuels for energy releases a tremendous amount of carbon dioxide into the atmosphere—in the U.S. alone, coal and natural gas contributed 1,713 million metric tons of CO2, or 98 percent of all CO2 emissions from the electric power sector in 2017.1 In an effort to mitigate these effects, researchers are looking for affordable ways to capture carbon dioxide from power plant exhaust. |
 | Team develops mathematical solver for analog computersYour computer performs most tasks well. For word processing, certain computations, graphic arts and web surfing, the digital box on your desk is the best tool for the job. But the way your computer works, with its style of mathematics that relies on the binary code system of "on" and "off" 1s and 0s, isn't ideal for solving every problem. |
 | Tencent Music raises $1 billion in US IPOTencent Music, the streaming division of Chinese technology giant Tencent, said Tuesday it will raise $1.07 billion from the pricing of its US public share offering. |
 | Hitachi moves to buy ABB's power grid unit for $7bn: reportJapan's Hitachi is moving to purchase the power grid business of Swiss engineering giant ABB for a deal worth as much as $7.05 billion, local media reported Wednesday. |
 | Engineers develop 3-D-printed metamaterials that change mechanical properties under magnetic fieldsA team of researchers have developed an entirely new class of metamaterials that can nearly instantly respond and stiffen 3-D printed structures when exposed to a magnetic field, a development that could be applied to next-generation helmets, wearable armor and a host of other innovations. |
 | Don't worry about screen time – focus on how you use technologyMany Americans find themselves bombarded by expert advice to limit their screen time and break their addictions to digital devices – including enforcing and modeling this restraint for the children in their lives. However, over 15 years of closely observing people and talking with them about how they use technological tools, I've developed a more nuanced view: Whether a technology helps or hurts someone depends not just on the amount of time they spend with it but on how they use it. |
 | Where's my package? Common carrier freight lockers can ease city traffic and prevent failed deliveriesOnline shopping is a big convenience for many Americans, but porch piracy can ruin the experience. For example, Mikaela Gilbert lived in a row house in West Philadelphia while she studied systems engineering at the University of Pennsylvania. By her junior year, Gilbert had lost enough packages to thieves that she devised an elaborate three-pronged security strategy. |
 | For retailers, the smartphone is future of store experienceRetailers are taking back some control of the store experience with smartphone app features that let customers do things like scan and pay, as well as download digital maps. |
New 'Doom' levels to come in Feb. 2019 from game designer John RomeroFor a 25-year-old game, "Doom" is showing plenty of life. | |
Crashes increase when speed limits dip far below engineering recommendationSpeed limits set only five miles per hour below engineering recommendations produce a statistically significant decrease in total, fatal and injury crashes, and property-damage-only crashes, according to a group of Penn State researchers. | |
 | Gaming firm settles VR lawsuit with Facebook-owned OculusZeniMax Media on Wednesday said it struck a deal with Facebook-owned Oculus to settle a lawsuit over the video game giant's virtual reality technology. |
 | Google grilled in Congress: What's ahead for tech companiesU.S. lawmakers' grilling of Google CEO Sundar Pichai may have sounded like a broken record, but it amplified the prickly issues facing tech companies as Democrats prepare to take control of the House next month. |
 | Russian official threatens to block GoogleA Russian communications official has threatened to block Google in Russia unless it complies with a law banning certain websites. |
 | Alstom, Siemens offer Brussels merger concessionsFrench and German engineering giants Alstom and Siemens said Wednesday they had offered EU regulators concessions they believed would meet concerns over the planned merger of their railway businesses. |
 | Novel approach to perovskite solar cells – cheaper production and high efficiencyA team of chemists from Kaunas University of Technology (KTU), Lithuania together with physicists from Helmholtz Zentrum Berlin (HZB) science institute, Germany, offers a novel approach for selective layer formation in perovskite solar cells. The molecule, synthesised by the KTU chemists, assembles itself into a monolayer, which can cover a variety of surfaces and can function as an economical hole-transporting material in a perovskite solar cell. |
 | Verizon loses bet on digital ads, takes $4.6B accounting hit (Update)Verizon's big bet on digital advertising isn't panning out. |
 | Airbus says improper settings played role in Mali helicopter crashEuropean aircraft manufacturer Airbus said Wednesday that an investigation had found improper settings to have been one factor behind the deadly 2017 crash of a German military helicopter in a UN operation in Mali. |
 | Air France gets new CEOAir France on Wednesday appointed a new chief executive, who will have the difficult task of piloting the airline out of difficult relations with its unions that have hobbled its performance. |
 | Pew study: Artificial intelligence will mostly make us better off by 2030 but fears remainThe year is 2030, and artificial intelligence has changed practically everything. Is it a change for the better or has AI threatened what it means to be human, to be productive and to exercise free will? |
 | Google's top trending searches in 2018: World Cup, Hurricane Florence, Mac Miller, Kate SpadeSo much happened in 2018. |
A Miami 'unicorn' is born—parking startup worth more than $1 billion after fundingMiami is now officially home to its first unicorn. | |
 | Tencent Music shares rise on first trading dayShares in Chinese streaming music giant Tencent Music Entertainment are up 7 percent to $13.90 in afternoon trading Thursday, their first day of trade |
Medicine & Health news
 | Brain activity shows development of visual sensitivity in autismResearch investigating how the brain responds to visual patterns in people with autism has shown that sensory responses change between childhood and adulthood. |
 | Combining three treatment strategies may significantly improve melanoma treatmentA study by a team led by a Massachusetts General Hospital (MGH) investigator finds evidence that combining three advanced treatment strategies for malignant melanoma—molecular targeted therapy, immune checkpoint blockade and the use of tumor-targeting viruses—may markedly improve outcomes. Their report of experiments in cellular and animal models is being published in Science Translational Medicine. |
 | Teens get more sleep with later school start time, researchers findWhen Seattle Public Schools announced that it would reorganize school start times across the district for the fall of 2016, the massive undertaking took more than a year to deploy. Elementary schools started earlier, while most middle and all of the district's 18 high schools shifted their opening bell almost an hour later—from 7:50 a.m. to 8:45 a.m. Parents had mixed reactions. Extracurricular activity schedules changed. School buses were redeployed. |
 | Researchers use computer model to predict prostate cancer progressionAn international team of cancer researchers from Denmark and Germany have used cancer patient data to develop a computer model that can predict the progression of prostate cancer. The model is currently being implemented at a prostate cancer clinic in Germany. The researchers have also found an enzyme that appears to trigger some of the first mutations in prostate cancer. |
 | Length of eye blinks might act as conversational cueBlinking may feel like an unconscious activity, but new research by Paul Hömke and colleagues at the Max Planck Institute for Psycholinguistics, suggests that humans unknowingly perceive eye blinks as nonverbal cues when engaging in conversation. The new study is published December 12, 2018 in the open-access journal PLOS ONE. |
 | Paternal grandfather's high access to food may indicate higher mortality risk in grandsonsA paternal grandfather's access to food during his childhood is associated with mortality risk, especially cancer mortality, in his grandson, shows a large three-generational study from Stockholm University. The reason might be epigenetic – that environmental exposures in one generation may influence health outcomes in following generations. |
 | New genetic study could lead to better treatment of severe asthmaThe largest-ever genetic study of people with moderate-to-severe asthma has revealed new insights into the underlying causes of the disease which could help improve its diagnosis and treatment. |
 | Lethal combination: Drug cocktail turns off the juice to cancer cellsA widely used diabetes medication combined with an antihypertensive drug specifically inhibits tumor growth—this was discovered by researchers from the University of Basel's Biozentrum two years ago. In a follow-up study, recently published in Cell Reports, the scientists report that this drug cocktail induces cancer cell death by switching off their energy supply. |
 | How bullying affects the brainNew research from King's College London identifies a possible mechanism that shows how bullying may influence the structure of the adolescent brain, suggesting the effects of constantly being bullied are more than just psychological. |
 | Gut hormone increases response to foodThe holiday season is a hard one for anyone watching their weight. The sights and smells of food are hard to resist. One factor in this hunger response is a hormone found in the stomach that makes us more vulnerable to tasty food smells, encouraging overeating and obesity. |
 | Stem cell researchers develop promising technique to generate new muscle cells in labTo help patients with muscle disorders, scientists at The University of Texas Health Science Center at Houston (UTHealth) have engineered a new stem cell line to study the conversion of stem cells into muscle. Findings appeared in Cell Reports. |
US healthcare costs for animal-related injuries exceed $1 billion every yearThe healthcare costs of injuries caused by encounters with animals in the USA exceed US$1 billion every year, finds research published in the online journal Trauma Surgery and Acute Care Open. | |
The costs and trade-offs of reforming long-term care for older peopleA £36k lifetime cap on care costs for older people would cost £3.6 billion by 2035—according to research from the University of East Anglia, the London School of Economics and Political Science and the Pensions Policy Institute. | |
 | Improved understanding of the pathology of dwarfism may lead to new treatment targetsPseudoachondroplasia (PSACH) is a severe inherited dwarfing condition characterized by disproportionate short stature, joint laxity, pain, and early onset osteoarthritis. In PSACH, a genetic mutation leads to abnormal retention of cartilage oligomeric matrix protein (COMP) within the endoplasmic reticulum (ER) of cartilage-producing cells (chondrocytes), which interferes with function and cell viability. In a report in the American Journal of Pathology, investigators describe how this protein accumulation results in "ER stress" and initiates a host of pathologic changes. These findings may open up new ways to treat PSACH and other ER-stress-related conditions. |
 | Faster, cheaper test can help predict risk of metastasis in prostate cancer patientsFor men newly diagnosed with prostate cancer or patients previously treated, the risk of metastasis is a crucial determinant of whether to choose conservative management or undergo further treatment. For prostate as well as other cancers, primary tumor growth or spread is driven by amplifications or deletions of portions of the genome known as copy number alterations (CNAs). A report in The Journal of Molecular Diagnostics describes a new assay to assess CNAs that is cheaper, faster, reproducible, and requires less tissue than other diagnostic techniques and has the potential to significantly enhance prostate cancer evaluation. |
Meth playing bigger role in US drug overdose crisisA bigger share of U.S. drug overdose deaths are being caused by methamphetamine, government health officials reported. | |
 | Whole-body PET/MRI provides one-stop shop for staging high-risk prostate cancer patientsNew research on prostate cancer staging shows that PSMA-targeted PET/MRI performs equally as well as currently used predictive tools to determine the risk for advanced disease. The first-of-its-kind study, published in the December issue of The Journal of Nuclear Medicine, purports that whole-body imaging with 68Ga-PSMA-11 PET/MRI could be advantageous for physicians, as it offers information to guide treatment options for prostate cancer patients. |
 | Risk of dementia increased among female veterans with TBI, PTSD, depressionFemale military veterans who have traumatic brain injury, post-traumatic stress disorder or depression long after their service may be more likely to later develop dementia than female veterans without those conditions, according to a study published in the December 12, 2018, online issue of Neurology, the medical journal of the American Academy of Neurology. |
 | New understanding of mysterious 'hereditary swelling'For the first time ever, biomedical researchers from Aarhus University, Denmark, report cellular defects that lead to a rare disease, hereditary angioedema (HAE), in which patients experience recurrent episodes of swelling requiring immediate treatment. This new understanding is an important step toward gene therapy for patients. |
 | 15 percent of babies exposed to Zika before birth had severe abnormalities in first 18 monthsResearchers evaluated motor skills and cognitive development, visual and hearing function, and brain images of children who had been exposed to the Zika virus during their mothers' pregnancies. By the age of 12 to 18 months, significant problems were present in seven of the 112 children (6.25 percent) who were evaluated for eye abnormalities, in six of the 49 children (12.2 percent) evaluated for hearing problems, and in 11 of the 94 children (11.7 percent) evaluated for severe delays in language, motor skills and/or cognitive function who also had brain imaging. |
 | 'Consider a number of factors' before buying an at-home genetic testing kitDirect-to-consumer laboratories now offer at-home testing kits that allow individuals to mail in a saliva sample and receive a variety of genetic test results. These at-home kits had an unprecedented year in 2017. According to MIT Technology Review, more people took genetic tests last year than in all previous years combined. Research has estimated that the market for genetic health testing could nearly triple—from $99 million in 2017 to $310 million in 2022. |
 | Alzheimer's drug may help battle antibiotic resistanceDangerous antibiotic-resistant bacteria could soon be targeted with a drug initially developed to treat Alzheimer's disease. |
 | Exercise following weight loss may reduce colorectal cancer risk, study findsNew research suggests that exercise is a key factor in reducing colorectal cancer risk after weight loss. According to the study, physical activity causes beneficial changes in the bone marrow. The study is published ahead of print in the American Journal of Physiology—Endocrinology and Metabolism. |
 | First nationwide study of listeria in mothers and babiesThe first study of the burden of listeria in pregnant New Zealanders and their babies has found reassuringly low rates of the infection – indicating food safety warnings are working to prevent unnecessary cases of miscarriage, still birth, and meningitis in babies infected in the womb. However in those who contract the infection, the consequences are devastating, with the lives of 12 unborn babies claimed over two decades, and more than 100 people hospitalised. |
 | New study shows premature babies' developing brains benefit from caffeine therapyFor many, starting the day off with caffeine from a cup of coffee is a must. In neonatal intensive care units, or NICUs, premature babies born under 29 weeks are given a daily dose of caffeine to ensure the best possible start to life. A new study by University of Calgary researchers shows the earlier the dose of caffeine can be given, the better. |
 | Researchers watch the knee degenerate and understand how osteoarthritis may beginFor hockey great Bobby Orr, a torn knee ligament ended his career at age 30. Orr had more than 17 knee operations, at one point having his meniscus removed—the cartilaginous tissue that helps stabilize and lubricate the knee joint. Now scientists can see in real time just how important the meniscus is. |
 | Age is the biggest risk for heart disease, but lifestyle and meds have impactOf all the risk factors for heart disease, age is the strongest predictor of potential trouble. |
 | People who live in countryside are less likely to survive cancerIt is easy to romanticise about escaping to the country, with its clean air, green space, and idyllic views. But our latest research, a review of 39 studies from around the world, suggests the need for a bit of an adjustment: it turns out that people living in rural locations are less likely to survive cancer. |
 | New study reveals hypervirulent Listeria strains and emerging clonesListeria monocytogenes is a major cause of severe foodborne illness in the United States. But recent research at NC State indicates that not all strains of the bacteria are equally virulent. |
 | 'Designer' babies won't be common anytime soon – despite recent CRISPR twinsDespite reports that two genetically modified babies have been born in China I don't think you'll be seeing designer babies soon. |
 | Neuroscientist sees disease-fighting potential in brain organoidsHuman brain disorders have always presented researchers with a daunting challenge. They're hard to study in laboratory mice because they affect the very organ that separates us from animals. And they're difficult to study in humans because patient safety depends on noninvasive techniques. |
 | Music evokes powerful positive emotions through personal memoriesMusic is known to evoke emotions through a range of mechanisms. A new study gives insights into the way positive emotional reactions can be triggered by music and pictures. |
 | Attention training improves intelligence and functioning of children's brainBeing able to voluntarily regulate our attention is crucial for mental processes such as intelligence and learning in children. Therefore, a group of researchers from the University of Granada, Spain (UGR) have carried out a study in which they evaluated the influence of a computer-based attention-training intervention on intelligence scores and brain functioning on a group of pre-school age children. |
 | Researchers propose guidelines for the therapeutic use of melatoninSixty years after melatonin was isolated and with more than 23,000 published studies showing the many functions of this hormone secreted by the pineal gland, guidelines should be discussed and established for its therapeutic use. |
 | 'Experience to share': Facebook page helps families hit by polio-like illness(HealthDay)—Isolated and afraid, Erin Olivera cast about the internet looking for information about the mysterious paralysis that had stricken her 11-month-old son Lucian. |
 | What's the most economic way to tackle obesity? Increase taxes on alcoholWe don't often equate the kilojoules we drink in our glass of wine or pint of beer with the weight that accumulates around our middle. But our new study shows increasing the price of alcohol is the most value for money policy option to prevent obesity in Australia. |
 | Fentanyl now the no. 1 opioid OD killer(HealthDay)—As the U.S. opioid epidemic grinds on, fentanyl is fast becoming the main culprit in drug overdose deaths, health officials report. |
 | Moderate consumption of alcohol is associated with fewer hospitalizationsA study of the Department of Epidemiology and Prevention of IRCCS Neuromed (Pozzilli, Italy), in collaboration with the Department of Nutrition of the Harvard T.H. Chan School of Public Health (Boston), finds that people who consume alcohol moderately (one glass of wine a day), in the general framework of Mediterranean diet principles, have a lower risk of being hospitalized compared to heavier drinkers and teetotalers. |
 | A new strategy for brain regeneration after strokeStroke is a leading cause of death and chronic disability in adults, causing a heavy social and economic burden worldwide. However, no treatments exist to restore neuronal circuitry after a stroke. While most neurons are generated during embryonic brain development, new neurons continue to be produced in the ventricular-subventricular zone (V-SVZ) of the adult brain. |
 | Teachers don't understand the depth of dyslexiaDyslexia is a common learning difficulty that most of us know for causing problems with writing, reading and spelling. But it is more than this, and can affect people in many different ways. |
 | Santa calorie countingHeated debates often flare in the festive season. Fuelled by the spirit of Christmas, controversial ideas can be flung flippantly across the table. |
 | Always have room for dessert? Here's whyYou're stuffed with cheese and olives, crackers and dips. Glazed ham, roast turkey, barbecued prawns. A million salads, roast veggies and your aunt's famous beans. So why is there always room for dessert? |
 | How you move shows how you make up your mindYou're standing at a vending machine, ready to punch in the code to get your snack. Even as your hand moves toward the keypad, your brain is still deciding what to do, still in the middle of choosing as your hand touches the keys. |
 | New insight into stem cell behaviour highlights therapeutic target for cancer treatmentResearch led by the University of Plymouth and Technische Universität Dresden has identified a new therapeutic target for cancer treatment and tissue regeneration – a protein called Prominin-1. |
 | New valley fever clinical guidelines to help avoid delays in diagnosisArizona physicians often come to a delayed or incorrect diagnosis when seeing patients with newly acquired Valley fever infections, even though the respiratory fungal disease is very common in the state, particularly the corridor between Tucson and Phoenix. |
 | The blood test that could save sightA new blood test is being developed at The Australian National University (ANU) that can detect patients at risk of dry age-related macular degeneration (AMD) and potentially save millions of people from going blind. |
 | Study highlights potential benefits of continuous EEG monitoring for infant patientsA recent retrospective study evaluating continuous electroencephalography (cEEG) of children in intensive care units (ICUs) found a higher than anticipated number of seizures. The work also identified several conditions closely associated with the seizures, and suggests that cEEG monitoring may be a valuable tool for helping to identify and treat neurological problems in patients who are 14 months old or younger. |
 | New compound could enhance the efficacy of standard breast cancer treatmentA novel compound against breast cancer improves the efficacy of standard cancer treatment and shows superior tolerability in laboratory tests when compared to similar agents, setting the stage for its further clinical development. The mechanism of action of this compound is based upon the re-activation of naturally occurring "programmed" cell death or apoptosis, that is switched off by many cancer cells thereby leading to their uncontrolled proliferation. Results of this study have now been published by physician-scientists from the Karl Landsteiner University of Health Sciences, Krems together with colleagues from the University of Heidelberg, Harvard Medical School, St. Jude's Children's Research Hospital, the Huazhong University and others. |
 | Prophylactic mesh implantation reduces hernia formation(HealthDay)—Prophylactic mesh implantation reduces the incidence of hernia formation among patients undergoing elective open abdominal surgery but increases early postoperative pain and leads to prolonged wound healing of surgical site infection, according to a study published online Nov. 21 in JAMA Surgery. |
 | Consensus decision pathway developed for tobacco cessation(HealthDay)—An expert consensus decision pathway has been developed for tobacco cessation treatment; the report was published online Dec. 5 in the Journal of the American College of Cardiology. |
 | Patients may become immune to botulinum toxin treatments(HealthDay)—About 15 percent of patients treated with botulinum toxin type A (BoNT/A) for dystonia or spasticity can develop an immune response to the treatment itself, according to a study published online Nov. 21 in Neurology. |
 | Increase the calories you burn when walking(HealthDay)—Walking is not only a great first exercise, it can also be a forever exercise. |
 | Some foods can be cholesterol fighters(HealthDay)—Watching your cholesterol has gotten easier. |
 | Hispanics bear brunt of exposure to workplace hazards: study(HealthDay)—Exposure to metals and pesticides at work could increase risk of heart disease, researchers say. |
 | Tube travel linked to the spread of flu-like illnessesDespite the commuter cold being a widely accepted concept, it's never been proven that public transport contributes to the spread of airborne infections. Now new research on the London underground commute has proven a link does exist. |
 | How imaginary friends could boost children's developmentPsychologists first became interested in imaginary friends in the early 19th century because they feared they could be a sign of emotional unstability or psychological problems in children. But as scientists have learned more about these invisible playmates over the last two decades, it has become increasingly clear that they are actually quite the opposite – a sign of positive developmental progress. |
 | Taking the virus out of a mosquito's biteThey approach with the telltale sign—a high-pitched whine. It's a warning that you are a mosquito's next meal. But that mosquito might carry a virus, and now the virus is in you. Now, with the help of state-of-the-art technology, researchers at the University of Missouri can see how a virus moves within a mosquito's body, which could lead to the prevention of mosquitoes transmitting diseases. |
 | Researchers developing nonopioid drug for chronic painResearchers from the Virginia Tech School of Neuroscience are teaming with the University of California San Diego and the U.S. National Institutes of Health to develop a drug—now in its earliest stages—that can treat certain types of chronic pain without the addictive consequences of opioids. |
 | Your weight history may predict your heart failure riskIn a medical records analysis of information gathered on more than 6,000 people, Johns Hopkins Medicine researchers conclude that simply asking older adult patients about their weight history at ages 20 and 40 could provide real value to clinicians in their efforts to predict patients' future risk of heart failure, heart attacks or strokes. |
 | Killing the liver-stage malaria parasite with baculovirus: a drug discovery approachCurrently, few antimalarial treatments exist that effectively kill liver-stage malaria parasites, which can lay dormant for months or years as in the case of Plasmodium vivax. Researchers from Kanazawa University have successfully demonstrated that administration of a baculovirus virion (BV) completely eliminates liver-stage parasites in a mouse model via BV-induced fast-acting innate immunity. Further development of BV-based drugs could lead to newer and more effective treatments for malaria. |
 | Attention, please! Anticipation of touch takes focus, executive skillsAnticipation is often viewed as an emotional experience, an eager wait for something to happen. |
Fighting obesity—could it be as plain as dirt?It costs the global economy an estimated US$2 trillion annually and has been dubbed a modern day health epidemic, but new research from the University of South Australia has unearthed a possible cure for obesity—and it is as plain as dirt! | |
 | DNA study shows stethoscopes loaded with bacteria, including staphylococcusStethoscopes carried by health care practitioners are loaded with diverse bacteria, including some that can cause healthcare-associated infections, according to a study published today in Infection Control & Hospital Epidemiology, the journal of the Society for Healthcare Epidemiology of America. The research also reviewed the effectiveness of cleaning methods, finding a standardized approach to be superior for removing bacteria compared with various approaches employed by health care practitioners. |
 | Medical team reports acute findings from Havana embassy phenomenonA team of University of Miami Miller School of Medicine faculty, along with collaborators from the University of Pittsburgh, today presented the first report of acute symptoms and clinical findings in 25 diplomatic personnel living in the U.S. Embassy in Havana, Cuba, who experienced severe neurosensory symptoms after exposure to a unique sound and pressure phenomenon. |
| Excess body weight responsible for nearly four percent of cancers worldwidePolicies, economic systems, and marketing practices that promote the consumption of energy-dense, nutrient-poor food, changing behavioral patterns that couple high total energy intake with insufficient physical activity, and human-built environments that amplify these factors are driving a worldwide rise in excess body weight, according to a new report. The report, appearing early online in CA: A Cancer Journal for Clinicians, a peer-reviewed journal of the American Cancer Society, says excess body weight accounted for approximately 3.9% of all cancers worldwide in 2012, a figure that will undoubtedly rise in the coming decades given current trends. |
 | Eligibility criteria unfairly limit minorities' access to hip and knee replacement surgeriesIn a study of medical records pulled from a national database, Johns Hopkins Medicine researchers have found that underrepresented populations are less likely than others to be eligible for hip or knee replacement surgeries because they do not meet certain rigid—and in their opinion unfairly applied—hospital requirements for surgery, such as weight, blood sugar and tobacco use limits. Such cutoffs, say the researchers, designed to lower costs and in some cases complications, deny minority and lower income groups access to treatments that would improve their quality of life. |
Insight into cause of rare disorder may aid quest for treatmentsFresh discoveries about a rare genetic disorder that affects mainly boys may inform the development of therapies to treat the condition. | |
 | 2017 saw slowing in national health care spending(HealthDay)—National health care spending slowed in 2017, according to a report published online Dec. 6 in Health Affairs. |
 | Continuity of care tied to lower expenditures, hospitalization(HealthDay)—Continuity of care scores are significantly associated with lower expenditures and hospitalization rates, according to a study published in the November/December issue of the Annals of Family Medicine. |
 | Eczema can drive people to thoughts of suicide: study(HealthDay)—Nearly 28 million Americans are affected by the skin condition eczema, and for some it may become so chronic and severe they consider suicide, new research shows. |
 | 'Easy way out'? Stigma may keep many from weight loss surgery(HealthDay)—For many obese people, weight loss surgery can be a new lease on life, but too few who qualify for the procedure opt for it. |
 | Calories in popular restaurant chain meals 'excessive' warn expertsThe calorie content of popular main meals served in UK and international restaurant chains is excessive and only a minority meet public health recommendations, finds a University of Liverpool study published in the Christmas issue of The BMJ. |
Study evaluates efficacy and safety of pancreatic cancer treatment in complex patient care casesGemcitabine given in combination with nab-paclitaxel is the standard of care for patients with advanced pancreatic cancer. This practice, however, rests on data obtained from several recent clinical trials enrolling patients with pancreatic cancer who skewed younger and in better overall condition than most. Currently, there is limited data regarding the management of patients who are older and in worse health, and gemcitabine alone is recommended. | |
 | New mouse model may speed identification of promising muscular dystrophy therapiesA Massachusetts General Hospital (MGH) research team has created a new mouse model of a common form of muscular dystrophy with the potential of rapidly distinguishing promising therapeutic drugs from those unlikely to be successful. In their report published in Nature Communications they also describe testing a novel antisense oligonucleotide drug—a synthetic nucleic acid strand that prevents transcription of a protein by binding to its mRNA molecule—that may more effectively block production of aberrant proteins. |
Hearing loss is a risk factor for premature deathA new study links hearing loss with an increased risk for mortality before the age of 75 due to cardiovascular disease. Researchers at the Robert N. Butler Columbia Aging Center at Columbia University Mailman School of Public Health found that mortality among those with hearing loss is elevated, particularly among men and women younger than age 75 and those who are divorced or separated. However, mortality risk was diminished in adults with a well-hearing partner. This is the first study to investigate the combined effects of hearing loss with partnership, parental status, and increased mortality risk. The findings are published in the journal Social Science and Medicine. | |
 | Researchers find chronic rhinitis influences hospital readmissions for asthma and COPD patientsPatients hospitalized for either asthma or chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD) have a higher risk of being readmitted for a hospital stay within 30 days of release if they also suffer from chronic rhinitis, according to a trio of researchers at the University of Cincinnati (UC). |
 | High-dose antipsychotics place children at increased risk of unexpected deathChildren and young adults without psychosis who are prescribed high-dose antipsychotic medications are at increased risk of unexpected death, despite the availability of other medications to treat their conditions, according to a Vanderbilt University Medical Center study published today in JAMA Psychiatry. |
No female mice? Scientists may still approve NIH grantThe good news: An increasing number of scientists are including female animals in their experimental designs and analyses for preclinical studies, as required by the National Institutes of Health (NIH) in January 2016, reports a new Northwestern Medicine study. | |
 | Health law sign-ups lagging as Saturday deadline is loomingHealth insurance sign-ups for the Affordable Care Act are down with just a few days left to enroll, even though premiums are stable, consumers have more choice and millions of uninsured people can still get financial help. |
 | Home remedies: Cold remedies that workCold remedies are almost as common as the common cold, but are they effective? Nothing can cure a cold, but there are some remedies that might help ease your symptoms and keep you from feeling so miserable. Here's a look at some common cold remedies and what's known about them. |
Cancer therapy shows promise for some brain tumorsWhen Ryan Bayer was diagnosed with an inoperable brain tumor driven by a rare, devastating genetic mutation, doctors told him the malignancy was invariably fatal, usually within a year. | |
 | An integrated approach to finding new treatments for breast cancerUnraveling the complexity of cancer biology can lead to the identification new molecules involved in breast cancer and prompt new avenues for drug development. And proteogenomics, an integrated, multipronged approach, seems to be a way to do it. |
 | Increased motor activity linked to improved moodIncreasing one's level of physical activity may be an effective way to boost one's mood, according to a new study from a team including scientists at Johns Hopkins Bloomberg School of Public Health in collaboration with the National Institute of Mental Health Intramural Research Program. |
 | Researchers compare running economy in Nike shoe, track spikesIn 2014, shoe giant Nike began developing a shoe for elite marathon runners to help them run a marathon in under two hours. In September, a Kenyan running the Berlin Marathon came close with a world record time of 2:01:39. |
 | An opt-out system isn't the solution to Australia's low rate of organ donationOrgan transplantation relies on the generosity of a person to volunteer their organs for donation after death, or the generosity of the family to gift or donate the organs of their deceased relative. |
New data on disease prevention and the utilization of medical services by children and adolescents in GermanyHas tooth brushing frequency improved among children and adolescents? At what age is occupational therapy most commonly used? How many girls have been vaccinated against Human papillomavirus (HPV)? What influence does social status have on the utilization of medical services? The Robert Koch Institute (RKI) has published new and comprehensive data on disease prevention and the utilization of medical services in the Journal of Health Monitoring. The findings are based on data from the German Health Interview and Examination Survey for Children and Adolescents (KiGGS Wave 2). | |
 | Researchers examine testosterone use to increase BMD in HIV-infected menA new study has shown that HIV-infected men had lower median bone mineral density (BMD) scores at the hip compared to HIV-uninfected men, and all men who received testosterone had significantly greater BMD scores at the lumbar spine. Further, in HIV-infected men with virologic suppression testosterone was significantly associated with a higher BMD score at the lumbar spine, as reported in AIDS Research and Human Retroviruses. |
 | Does work stress increase cancer risk?In an International Journal of Cancer study of data on more than 280,000 people from North America and Europe, work stress was associated with a significantly increased risk of colorectal, esophagus, and lung cancers. |
Study finds differences in umbilical cord blood metal levels between urban and rural newbornsNew findings from a team of Marshall University Joan C. Edwards School of Medicine researchers reveal urban and rural differences in prenatal exposure to essential and toxic elements. | |
Biology news
 | Dracula ants possess fastest known animal appendage: The snap-jawMove over, trap-jaw ants and mantis shrimp: There's a faster appendage in town. According to a new study, the Dracula ant, Mystrium camillae, can snap its mandibles at speeds of up to 90 meters per second (more than 200 mph), making it the fastest animal movement on record. |
 | Rice plants that grow as clones from seedPlant biologists at the University of California, Davis have discovered a way to make crop plants replicate through seeds as clones. The discovery, long sought by plant breeders and geneticists, could make it easier to propagate high-yielding, disease-resistant or climate-tolerant crops and make them available to the world's farmers. |
 | Researchers find positive visual contagion in Barbary macaquesA pair of researchers at the University of Roehampton has found that captive Barbary macaques are capable of engaging in positive visual contagion—a behavior normally only seen in humans. In their paper published in Proceedings of the Royal Society B, Juliette Berthier and Stuart Semple describe their experiments with Barbary macaques living in a park in the U.K. and what they learned from it. |
 | Why deep oceans gave life to the first big, complex organismsIn the beginning, life was small. |
 | When less is more: A promising approach for low-cell-number epigenomic profilingScientists at Kyushu University and Tokyo Institute of Technology in Japan have developed a technique that enables analysis of DNA-protein interactions using very small numbers of cells, ranging from 100 to 1,000. Their method could capture previously unexamined epigenomic information, facilitate biomarker discovery and open new avenues for precision medicine. |
 | Tiny tech tracks hummingbirds at urban feedersBeep" is not a sound you expect to hear coming from a hummingbird feeder. Yet "beeps" abounded during a study led by the University of California, Davis to monitor hummingbirds around urban feeders and help answer questions about their behavior and health. |
 | The real history of quantum biologyQuantum biology, a young and increasingly popular science genre, isn't as new as many believe, with a complicated and somewhat dark history, explain the founders of the world's first quantum biology doctoral training centre. |
 | Hot possums risk losing their homesAs our world is warming under climate change, heat waves are becoming more frequent and intense, yet the vulnerability of our wildlife to such events is poorly understood. New research from Australia's Wet Tropics indicates that the area where maximum temperatures are survivable for the green ringtail possum (Pseudochirops archeri) could shrink by over 85 percent this century due to climate change. |
 | New research on deep reefs finds 195 species of coralQueensland Museum scientists have used remotely operated vehicles and specialised diving techniques to find 195 coral species in deeper reef areas in the Great Barrier Reef region. |
 | College textbooks largely overlook the most common animalsA recent study of textbooks aimed at introductory biology courses finds that they devote less than one percent of their text to discussing insects, which make up more than 60 percent of animal species. The study authors argue that this provides a poor foundation for understanding ecosystems, biodiversity, and other core aspects of biological research. |
 | Anti-GMO sentiment has repercussions for developing worldAnti-GMO sentiment holds back agricultural advancement in the developing world, but an Iowa State University agronomist hopes his research will clarify the scientific consensus and spark wider acceptance of the technology in Africa. |
 | How skin cells protect themselves against stressThe skin is our largest organ, and, among other things, it provides protection against mechanical impacts. To ensure this protection, skin cells have to be connected to one another especially closely. Exactly how this mechanical stability is provided at the molecular level was unclear for a long time. Researchers led by Prof. Carsten Grashoff from the Institute of Molecular Cell Biology at the University of Münster and the Max Planck Institute of Biochemistry have collaborated with colleagues at Ludwig Maximilian University of Munich and Stanford University, and now demonstrate how mechanical stress on specialized adhesion points, so-called desmosomes, is processed. They designed a mini-measuring device that can determine forces along individual components of the desmosomes. In the study, published in Nature Communications, they show how mechanical forces propagate along these structures. |
 | Algorithms to locate centrioles in the cellInvestigators from the Neurodegenerative Diseases Research Group at the University of Extremadura are studying signaling mediated by a pathway known as planar cell polarity (PCP), which regulates the coordinated orientation of cells during organogenesis, the process of organ formation in living organisms. This pathway has been highly conserved on the evolutionary scale, and one of its key functions in vertebrates is the regulation of the coordinated positioning of centrioles/ciliary basal cells inside cells. |
 | The eradication of the tsetse fly will boost the livestock sector in SenegalTstetes flies have been eradicated in an entire region of Senegal. This victory was due to be announced by Senegal's president at a ceremony on Dec. 8. It is the fruit of a longstanding collaboration between CIRAD, the Institut Sénégalais de recherches agricoles (ISRA), Senegalese veterinary services, the Ministry of Agriculture and the International Atomic Energy Agency. After several other stages, releasing sterile males finally eradicated the last remaining wild tsetse flies. |
 | During droughts, bacteria help sorghum continue growingThe devastating effects of drought are expected to increase in severity and frequency in the coming years. To protect the world's food supply, scientists turn to genetic engineering. Now, a team of researchers has discovered how changes in the microbiome—the ecosystem of bacteria and other microorganisms attached to the roots of plants and in the soil surrounding it—may improve drought tolerance in plants. |
 | Drones help map sea level riseDrones can be used to create low-cost and accurate 3-D maps of coastal areas, new research shows. The technique – developed by the University of Exeter – was tested at beaches where sea turtles nest, allowing scientists to see how rising sea levels will affect them. It combines drones and photogrammetry (extracting measurements from photographs) with accurate GPS satellite location to create detailed digital models of coastal habitats. Previous methods were either cheap but low in quality, or high-quality but cost thousands of pounds to produce. |
 | 'Eavesdropping' on groupers' mating calls key to survivalEavesdropping on groupers mating in their natural habitats isn't creepy. In fact, it's imperative to ensuring their survival. For years, scientists have used passive acoustic monitoring techniques to study the behavior of fishes. A particular application of this technique is used to observe the reproductive cycle of fishes, including groupers. |
 | Researchers reverse engineer way pine trees produce green chemicals worth billionsWashington State University researchers have reverse engineered the way a pine tree produces a resin, which could serve as an environmentally friendly alternative to a range of fossil-fuel based products worth billions of dollars. |
 | Students around the globe collect quality, eye-opening research data on mammalsChildren all over the world are learning science by collecting data and running experiments in their classroom. But what if the data they collected during their school day could be used to help scientists? Turns out, it can. Researchers at the North Carolina Museum of Natural Sciences and NC State University, running a large-scale camera-trap study called eMammal, recently enlisted the help of K-12 students from 28 schools and four countries—the United States, India, Mexico and Kenya. What the researchers, and the kids, discovered was surprising. |
Cardinals living in adjacent deserts are sharply distinct in genetics and songNew research suggests that populations of the Northern Cardinal —one of the most ubiquitous backyard birds in the United States— are undergoing speciation in two adjacent deserts. This study, which analyzed genetics and vocal behavior, gives clues about the early steps in bird speciation. The study is published in the journal Ecology and Evolution. | |
 | Fishery length, angler effort: How they relateA new study suggests reducing the number of fishing days in a season doesn't reduce catch as much as some would predict. The publication, Compression and relaxation of fishing effort in response to changes in length of fishing season for red snapper (Lutjanus campechanus) in the northern Gulf of Mexico, was released by NOAA in the November 2018 National Fishery Bulletin. |
 | Washington state combats collisions with new wildlife bridgeBefore descending the Cascade Mountains on its final stretch to Seattle, Interstate 90 cuts through a mountain pass of old growth forests and wetlands. |
Cold-stunned turtles flown from New England to Florida KeysOfficials say 32 cold-stunned Kemp's ridley sea turtles rescued off New England's coast have arrived in the Florida Keys to warm up at the Turtle Hospital. | |
 | Lung lavage as new test method improves tuberculosis diagnosis in rhinocerosDiseases and tuberculosis in particular can pose considerable challenges for wildlife. In order to avoid epidemics within populations or to treat individual animals belonging to highly endangered species, fast and reliable tests are paramount. However present tuberculosis testing in rhinos relies on skin tests developed in the 1960s and designed for cattle bearing high risk of false diagnosis in rhinos. To improve diagnostic standards an international team of scientists lead by institutes in Berlin and Jena, Germany, performed repeated lung lavage as a new approach for tuberculosis diagnosis in rhinoceros. Subsequent genetic tests reliably identified mycobacteria in the animals' respiratory fluids – with minimal stress and risk for the rhinos. The study has been published in the journal PLOS ONE. |
More heatwave summers will affect animalsHeatwaves similar to those experienced in Europe in 2018 can have a very negative impact on animals. A new study from Lund University in Sweden shows that overheated birds have smaller offspring, and that those that are born may have lower chances of survival. | |
 | European network of protected areas has not yet been able to stop the decline of butterflies in GermanyThe Natura 2000 network of protected areas runs across the EU as a conservation network for biodiversity. However, only a few studies have so far analysed whether these refuges actually have a positive effect on species diversity. Studies have predominately focussed on birds and have not shown any clear trends. Using long-term data from the "Butterfly Monitoring Germany" citizens' research project, scientists from the Helmholtz Centre for Environmental Research (UFZ) in Halle, Germany, and the Palacký University Olomouc, Czech Republic, have now investigated the matter using butterflies as an example. According to the research, there are more butterfly species in Natura 2000 areas than elsewhere. However, in the journal Diversity and Distributions the researchers reported the same decline in the numbers of species regardless whether the communities are located within or outside the protected areas. |
 | UFZ model in the fight against African swine feverThe European Food Safety Authority (EFSA) has published a new scientific report on the current status of the spread of African swine fever (ASF) within the EU. The report describes, among other things, which management measures EU member states should take if an isolated outbreak of the virus infection occurs, i.e. if it is detected far away from the current spread. The scientific basis for these recommendations comes from a modelling team based at the Helmholtz Centre for Environmental Research (UFZ) in Leipzig. |
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