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Here is your customized Science X Newsletter for February 28, 2019:
Spotlight Stories Headlines
Astronomy & Space news
 | Cluster reveals inner workings of earth's cosmic particle acceleratorUsing unprecedented in-situ data from ESA's Cluster mission, scientists have shed light on the ever-changing nature of Earth's shield against cosmic radiation, its bow shock, revealing how this particle accelerator transfers and redistributes energy throughout space. |
 | Exiled planet linked to stellar flyby three million years agoSome of the peculiar aspects of our solar system—an enveloping cloud of comets, dwarf planets in weird orbits and, if it truly exists, a possible Planet Nine far from the sun—have been linked to the close approach of another star in our system's infancy flung things helter-skelter. |
 | New Horizons research indicates small Kuiper Belt objects are surprisingly rareUsing New Horizons data from the Pluto-Charon flyby in 2015, a Southwest Research Institute-led team of scientists have indirectly discovered a distinct and surprising lack of very small objects in the Kuiper Belt. The evidence for the paucity of small Kuiper Belt objects (KBOs) comes from New Horizons imaging that revealed a dearth of small craters on Pluto's largest satellite, Charon, indicating that impactors from 300 feet to 1 mile (91 meters to 1.6 km) in diameter must also be rare. |
 | Clues to Martian life found in Chilean desertA robotic rover deployed in the most Mars-like environment on Earth, the Atacama Desert in Chile, has successfully recovered subsurface soil samples during a trial mission to find signs of life. The samples contained unusual and highly specialized microbes that were distributed in patches, which researchers linked to the limited water availability, scarce nutrients and chemistry of the soil. These findings, published in Frontiers in Microbiology, will aid the search for evidence of signs of life during future planned missions to Mars. |
 | Dark matter may be hitting the right note in small galaxiesDark matter particles may scatter against each other only when they hit the right energy, say researchers in Japan, Germany, and Austria in a new study. Their idea helps explain why galaxies from the smallest to the biggest have the shapes they do. |
 | SpaceX to launch test for resumption of manned US flightsSpaceX will try to send a dummy to the International Space Station this weekend in a key test for resuming manned US space flights, perhaps this year if all goes well. |
 | NGC 3079: Galactic bubbles play cosmic pinball with energetic particlesWe all know bubbles from soapy baths or sodas. These bubbles of everyday experience on Earth are up to a few inches across, and consist of a thin film of liquid enclosing a small volume of air or other gas. In space, however, there are very different bubbles—composed of a lighter gas inside a heavier one—and they can be huge. |
 | Image: ISS transits the sunHumankind's most distant outpost was recently captured crossing the face of our enormous and gleaming sun. The fleeting transit of the International Space Station was over in the blink of an eye, but Ian Griffin, Director at the Otago Museum of New Zealand, made sure he was in the right place to capture it. |
 | Canada 'going to the Moon': TrudeauCanada will join NASA's space mission to put an orbiter around the Moon in a few years, Prime Minister Justin Trudeau announced Thursday. |
 | SpaceX debuts new crew capsule in crucial test flightSpaceX closes in on human spaceflight with this weekend's debut of a new capsule designed for astronauts. |
Technology news
 | Researchers develop a fleet of 16 miniature cars for cooperative driving experimentsA team of researchers at The University of Cambridge has recently introduced a unique experimental testbed that could be used for experiments in cooperative driving. This testbed, presented in a paper pre-published on arXiv, consists of 16 miniature Ackermann-steering vehicles called Cambridge Minicars. |
 | No wires, more cuddles: Sensors are first to monitor babies in the NICU without wiresAn interdisciplinary Northwestern University team has developed a pair of soft, flexible wireless sensors that replace the tangle of wire-based sensors that currently monitor babies in hospitals' neonatal intensive care units (NICU) and pose a barrier to parent-baby cuddling and physical bonding. |
 | Engineers' printed transistor unlocks potential for portable real-time sensingCambridge engineers have developed a high performance printed transistor with flexibility for use in wearable and implantable electronics. |
 | Researchers safeguard hardware from cyberattackResearchers have developed an algorithm that safeguards hardware from attacks to steal data. In the attacks, hackers detect variations of power and electromagnetic radiation in electronic devices' hardware and use that variation to steal encrypted information. |
 | How machine learning can boost the value of wind powerGoogle talked about the feats of London-based DeepMind on Tuesday—telling the world that a DeepMind system could help make the use of wind farms to produce energy more viable. |
 | 5G presents security challenge for telecom operatorsWhile Washington's concerns that future 5G wireless networks could be vulnerable to spying by China have dominated headlines, businesses have long been pushing to make sure the technology is as secure as possible. |
 | German carmakers team up to tackle 21st Century challenges (Update)German high-end car giants BMW and Mercedes-Benz maker Daimler are banding together to catch up with American and Chinese competitors, with new cooperation on multiple fronts including electric cars and self-driving technology. |
 | Subaru to recall 2.2 million cars over brake light glitchSubaru announced Thursday a global recall of 2.2 million SUVs, the biggest ever for the company, over a brake light glitch that could affect how the vehicle engines start. |
 | British Airways announces huge Boeing orderBritish Airways on Thursday announced a multi-billion dollar deal to buy up to 42 Boeing 777 fuel-efficient passenger jets, after Airbus said it would no longer make the A380 superjumbo. |
 | Image: Electron backscatter diffraction view of hybrid 3-D-printed metal partA colourful microscopic view of a single piece of space-quality Inconel super alloy processed using two different 3-D printing techniques; this is a close-up of the boundary layer between them. |
 | Interactive surfaces enter a whole new dimension of flexibilityAn "interactive surface" refers to an interface whose input and output share a common surface that can be manipulated intuitively with the fingers. However, ordinary multi-touch displays, e.g., liquid crystal displays (LCD), can only provide two-dimensional information, limiting expressions and interactions with such displays to the surface. Novel three-dimensional display systems have been proposed to tackle such limitations. |
 | Can robots ever have a true sense of self? Scientists are making progressHaving a sense of self lies at the heart of what it means to be human. Without it, we couldn't navigate, interact, empathise or ultimately survive in an ever-changing, complex world of others. We need a sense of self when we are taking action, but also when we are anticipating the consequences of potential actions, by ourselves or others. |
 | Bat flight model can inspire smarter, nimbler dronesBats are among nature's best flyers—able to fly for long periods of time, maneouvre in mid-air with pinpoint precision and get into some very tight spaces. However, scientists have not fully understood exactly how bats manage to fly so well, until now. |
 | Your period tracking app could tell Facebook when you're pregnant. An 'algorithmic guardian' could stop itMost of us know tech platforms such as Facebook and Google track, store and make money from our data. But there are constantly new revelations about just how much of our privacy has been chipped away. |
 | Amazon unveils new tools to weed out counterfeit goodsAmazon on Thursday announced a new initiative to crack down on the sale of counterfeit goods on its platform which could allow brands themselves to take down listings of fake merchandise. |
 | Samsung Electronics doubling current smartphone storage speedSamsung Electronics today announced that it has begun mass producing the industry's first 512-gigabyte (GB) embedded Universal Flash Storage (eUFS) 3.0 for next-generation mobile devices. In line with the latest eUFS 3.0 specification, the new Samsung memory delivers twice the speed of the previous eUFS storage (eUFS 2.1), allowing mobile memory to support seamless user experiences in future smartphones with ultra-large high-resolution screens. |
 | Popular Porsche SUV to go electricThe next generation of Porsche's popular SUV, the Macan, will be completely electric, company officials announced recently. |
 | NY startup aims to take on Tesla's PowerwallItalian entrepreneurs who migrated to Stony Brook University's energy incubator to form an innovative-battery startup are planning to take on the Powerwall of Elon Musk's Tesla Inc. |
 | Facebook, Twitter doing too little against disinformation: EUFacebook and Twitter are doing too little to scrutinise advertising placements on their sites in the runup to European Union elections in May, despite their pledges to fight disinformation, EU officials said Thursday. |
 | Huawei racks up 5G deals at top mobile fair despite US pressureChinese telecoms giant Huawei racked up a slew of deals to sell 5G equipment at the world's top mobile fair in Spain despite Washington's campaign to convince its allies to bar the firm from their next-generation wireless networks. |
 | New software application uses artificial intelligence to calculate images of reality based on incomplete dataAdvances in the field of metrology have resulted in totally novel instruments the raw data of which needs to be presented in images comprehensible to human beings, which is why Torsten Enßlin's group at the Max Planck Institute for Astrophysics in Garching has been researching information field theory for the past decade. Building upon this theory, the team develops imaging software known as NIFTy, which is able to process data from different instruments to deduce the structural properties of a given observation. NIFTy5, for example, used data from the Gaia space observatory to determine the spatial distribution of dust clouds in the Milky Way. |
 | Underdog phone makers try to escape shadow of giants at top fairVestel, Noa, Lesia... you have probably never heard of these smartphone brands but they are all taking part in the Mobile World Congress in Barcelona, the mobile industry's biggest annual global event. |
 | New York probing Facebook on data from apps: sourceNew York regulators are probing Facebook's gathering of intimate consumer data such as menstrual cycles and body weight through smartphone applications, a person familiar with the matter said Thursday. |
 | YouTube to block comments on most videos showing minorsYouTube said Thursday it will disable user comments on a broad array of videos featuring children to thwart "predatory behavior" after revelations about a glitch exploited for sharing of child pornography. |
 | Amazon steers further toward autos, hires GM executiveAmazon has hired a top General Motors executive, a source familiar with the move said Thursday, in a further sign of the technology giant's likely expansion into autonomous vehicles. |
 | Facebook's 'Workplace' claims two million usersA version of Facebook tailored for businesses collaboration announced Thursday that it has more than two million paying subscribers |
 | Experts: US anti-Huawei campaign likely exaggeratedSince last year, the U.S. has waged a vigorous diplomatic offensive against the Chinese telecommunications giant Huawei, claiming that any nation deploying its gear in next-generation wireless networks is giving Beijing a conduit for espionage or worse. |
 | Rolls-Royce pulls out of race to power future Boeing planeRolls-Royce no longer wishes to be a candidate to make the engine for a new midsize passenger jet proposed by US planemaker Boeing, the troubled British group said Thursday. |
It looks like a video game, but it's not. it's a 3-D map of the buildings, roads and land in 1815 baltimore, created byIn the early 1800s, you could walk the city of Baltimore in an evening. Thanks to researchers from UMBC, who have created a 3-D digital model of Baltimore circa 1815, you can see an approximation of what that walk would have looked like—building-by-building, block-by-block. | |
 | Building digitally, living digitallyDFAB HOUSE has officially opened today on the NEST building of Empa and Eawag in Dübendorf. It is the world's first inhabited "house" that was not only digitally planned, but also – with the help of robots and 3-D printers – built largely digitally. The construction technologies were developed by ETH Zurich researchers in collaboration with industrial partners. |
 | Boeing lands huge British Airways order, after Airbus ends A380British Airways announced a multi-billion dollar order for up to 42 Boeing 777 fuel-efficient passenger jets on Thursday, just two weeks after Airbus said it would no longer make its A380 superjumbo. |
 | Thai lawmakers approve controversial cybersecurity actThailand's legislature passed a cybersecurity bill on Thursday that would allow authorities access to people's personal information without a court order. |
Nike continues esports push with league partnership in ChinaNike has made another push into the esports market, partnering with China's premier "League of Legends" circuit to become its official provider of apparel and footwear. | |
 | Huawei pleads not guilty to trade secrets charges in SeattleThe Chinese tech giant Huawei pleaded not guilty Thursday to U.S. trade-theft charges in a case that has heightened a trade dispute between the world's two largest economies. |
Medicine & Health news
 | Sleeping in on the weekend won't repay your sleep debtThink sleeping in on the weekend can repair the damage from a week of sleepless nights? |
 | Study of singing mice suggests how mammalian brain achieves conversationBy studying the songs of mice from the cloud forests of Costa Rica, researchers have discovered a brain circuit that may enable the high-speed back and forth of conversation. |
 | How prostate cancer becomes treatment resistantThe development of effective anti-androgen therapies for prostate cancer is a major scientific advance. However, some men who receive these targeted treatments are more likely to develop a deadly treatment-resistant prostate cancer subtype called neuroendocrine prostate cancer (NEPC). No effective treatment for NEPC exists. |
 | An atlas of an aggressive leukemiaA team of researchers led by Bradley Bernstein at the Ludwig Center at Harvard has used single-cell technologies and machine learning to create a detailed "atlas of cell states" for acute myeloid leukemia (AML) that could help improve treatment of the aggressive cancer. |
 | By blocking protein, researchers keep brain tumors from repairing themselvesResearchers at the San Diego branch of the Ludwig Institute for Cancer Research at University of California San Diego, with colleagues around the country, report that inhibiting activity of a specific protein in glioblastomas (GBM) boosts their sensitivity to radiation, thus improving treatment prospects for one of the most common and aggressive forms of brain cancer. |
 | Unveiling disease-causing genetic changes in chromosome 17Potocki-Lupski syndrome is a condition that results from having an extra copy of a small piece of chromosome 17 in each cell. A different condition, known as Smith-Magenis syndrome, results when a similar small piece of chromosome 17 is deleted. It was thought that these conditions occurred because of the imbalance in the genetic information contained in the altered piece of chromosome 17, but a multidisciplinary team led by researchers at Baylor College of Medicine discovered that in addition to duplication or deletion of a chromosomal region containing an entire group of genes, extensive single Watson-Crick base pair mutations can occur and may contribute to the characteristics of the conditions. The study appears in the journal Cell. |
 | Psychiatry: Case notes indicate impending seclusionUsing notes made by the attending healthcare professionals about psychiatric patients enables impending coercive measures to be predicted in advance—potentially even through automated text analysis. This was reported by researchers from the University of Basel and the Psychiatric University Clinics Basel in the journal Frontiers in Psychiatry. |
 | Data sharing uncovers five new risk genes for Alzheimer's diseaseAnalysis of genetic data from more than 94,000 individuals has revealed five new risk genes for Alzheimer's disease, and confirmed 20 known others. An international team of researchers also reports for the first time that mutations in genes specific to tau, a hallmark protein of Alzheimer's disease, may play an earlier role in the development of the disease than originally thought. These new findings support developing evidence that groups of genes associated with specific biological processes, such as cell trafficking, lipid transport, inflammation and the immune response, are "genetic hubs" that are an important part of the disease process. The study, which was funded in part by the National Institute on Aging (NIA) and other components of the National Institutes of Health, follows results from 2013. It will be published online February 28, 2019 in the journal Nature Genetics. |
 | Nicotine may harm human embryos at the single-cell levelNicotine induces widespread adverse effects on human embryonic development at the level of individual cells, researchers report February 28th in the journal Stem Cell Reports. Single-cell RNA sequencing of human embryonic stem cell (hESC)-derived embryoid bodies revealed that 3 weeks of nicotine exposure disrupts cell-to-cell communication, decreases cell survival, and alters the expression of genes that regulate critical functions such as heart muscle-cell contractions. |
 | Making sense of how the blind 'see' colorWhat do you think of when you think of a rainbow? If you're sighted, you're probably imagining colors arcing through the sky just after the rain. |
 | Happy in marriage? Genetics may play a rolePeople fall in love for many reasons—similar interests, physical attraction, and shared values among them. But if they marry and stay together, their long-term happiness may depend on their individual genes or those of their spouse, says a new study led by Yale School of Public Health researchers. |
 | Researchers link mutations in antibodies to heightened risk of allergic diseases in childrenA team of researchers from Stanford University, the University of Cincinnati, Children's Hospital Medical Center and the Garvan Institute of Medical Research has found a link between mutated antibodies and a heightened risk of allergic diseases in children. In their paper published in the journal Science Translational Medicine, the researchers describe their multi-year study involving young children volunteers, and what they found. |
 | Researchers find blocking an inflammatory pathway protects tendons from injuryA team of researchers affiliated with several institutions in the U.S. and one in the U.K. has found that blocking a certain inflammatory pathway in mice protects tendons from injury. In their paper published in the journal Science Translational Medicine, the group describes their study of tendinopathies and possible ways to prevent them. |
 | Gene therapy with implanted LED device automatically corrects heart rhythm disorderResearchers at the Leiden University Medical Center (LUMC), in collaboration with Delft University of Technology, have found a way to reset a racing heart immediately and automatically with an implanted LED device. In the scientific journal Science Translational Medicine, they describe how their bioelectronic defibrillator works in the laboratory. It could be the first step towards a pain-free treatment for patients with atrial fibrillation. |
 | Mobile bedside bioprinter can heal woundsImagine a day when a bioprinter filled with a patient's own cells can be wheeled right to the bedside to treat large wounds or burns by printing skin, layer by layer, to begin the healing process. That day is not far off. |
 | Lipid-filled particle may work with immune system to keep fat healthyResearchers have discovered that fat tissue releases a lipid-filled particle that has a role in immune function and metabolism. The study, in mice, was published online in the journal Science. |
Over 40 percent of GPs intend to quit within five years: New surveyA new survey of GPs has revealed that over 40% intend to leave general practice within the next five years, an increase of nearly a third since 2014. | |
Intervention with at-risk infants increases children's compliance at age 3Children who are maltreated often develop problems complying with directions and expectations of parents and other authority figures. Lack of compliance can lead to other problems, including difficulty regulating anger and academic troubles. A new study tested a home-visiting intervention for parents of children referred to Child Protective Services (CPS). The study found that children whose parents took part in the intervention demonstrated significantly better compliance than children whose parents did not, and that parents' sensitivity also increased. | |
 | Higher hospital readmission rates for cardiac patients in Northern vs. Southern Ontario: ImportancePatients hospitalized with heart attacks, heart failure, atrial fibrillation or stroke in Northern Ontario, Canada, were more likely to be readmitted to the hospital and repeatedly hospitalized after discharge than those living in Southern Ontario. Yet, no geographical differences were found in 30-day survival. A new study published in the Canadian Journal of Cardiology recommends providing access to timely transitional care by clinicians who have the knowledge and expertise to treat patients recently discharged from hospital as one of several strategies necessary to reduce hospital readmission rates. |
Study identifies predictors of psychiatric events during drug-assisted smoking cessationResearchers at University of California San Diego School of Medicine have identified a clear group of characteristics that predict heightened risk for experiencing increased anxiety or worsening of mood that interferes with daily activities when using a smoking cessation drug. Results are published in the February 27, 2019 online edition of the Journal of General Internal Medicine. | |
 | Child anxiety could be factor in school absences, research concludesNew research has concluded that anxiety can be a factor in poor school attendance among children and young people. |
Colon cancer growth reduced by exerciseExercise may play a role in reducing the growth of colon cancer cells according to new research published in The Journal of Physiology. The study found that after a short session of high intensity interval training (HIIT), growth of colon cancer cells was reduced, and this also increased indicators of inflammation. | |
 | Is alcohol consumption more helpful than harmful? It depends on your ageStudies of health effects of alcohol consumption may underestimate the risks of imbibing, particularly for younger people, according to a new study in the Journal of Studies on Alcohol and Drugs. |
 | Study: US pedestrian deaths hit highest number since 1990The number of pedestrians killed on U.S. roads last year was the highest in 28 years, an increase due in part to driver and walker distraction, alcohol and drug impairment and more SUVs on the road, a safety organization report says. |
 | Congenital heart defects vastly increase risk of heart problems later in lifeAn infant born with a relatively simple heart defect is far more likely to develop heart problems as an adult, researchers at the Stanford University School of Medicine have discovered. |
 | Could medical marijuana help grandma and grandpa with their ailments?Medical marijuana may bring relief to older people who have symptoms like pain, sleep disorders or anxiety due to chronic conditions including amyotrophic lateral sclerosis, Parkinson's disease, neuropathy, spinal cord damage and multiple sclerosis, according to a preliminary study released today that will be presented at the American Academy of Neurology's 71st Annual Meeting in Philadelphia, May 4 to 10, 2019. The study not only found medical marijuana may be safe and effective, it also found that one-third of participants reduced their use of opioids. However, the study was retrospective and relied on participants reporting whether they experienced symptom relief, so it is possible that the placebo effect may have played a role. Additional randomized, placebo-controlled studies are needed. |
 | Shedding light—literally—on resistance to radiation therapyA new Johns Hopkins study offers promise towards someday being able to non-invasively examine changes in cancerous tumors to determine whether they'll respond to radiation treatment, before treatment even begins. |
 | Lab study: Parkinson's researchers test a new approach against motor disordersScientists of the German Center for Neurodegenerative Diseases (DZNE) and the University Medical Center Goettingen (UMG) have been able to alleviate motor disorders in mice that resemble those seen in Parkinson's patients. The rodents were treated with a substance that affects the neurons and immune cells of the brain. If this novel approach proves to be successful in further laboratory studies, it could possibly be tested in clinical trials. The findings are published in the Journal of Neuroscience. |
 | Study shows economic burden of dengue feverDengue fever is a major public health concern in many parts of South-East Asia and South America and its prevalence in Africa is thought to be expanding. Researchers have now conducted an analysis of the economic burden of dengue fever in Burkina Faso, Kenya and Cambodia. Their results appear this week in PLOS Neglected Tropical Diseases. |
 | Cognitive behavioral therapy may affect neural processing in agoraphobiaPatients suffering from panic disorder and agoraphobia are significantly impaired in daily life due to anxiety about getting into a situation due to apprehension about experiencing a panic attack, especially if escape may be difficult. Dysfunctional beliefs and behavior can be changed with cognitive behavioral therapy; however, the neurobiological effects of such an intervention on the anticipation and observation of agoraphobia-specific stimuli are unknown. |
 | Adipocyte glucocorticoid receptors play a role in developing steroid diabetesSteroids are used for treating various diseases such as allergic disorders, but they occasionally cause adverse effects, such as steroid diabetes and other metabolic disturbances. Since steroids act throughout the body, how these adverse effects are caused and by which organ are not well understood. |
 | Rehab dogs help children with cerebral palsy walkA team of researchers, physiotherapists and veterinarians at USask are studying how large rehabilitation dogs can help improve the mobility, balance and well-being of children living with cerebral palsy. |
 | Countering stereotypes about teens can change their behavior, study findsIn many societies, teenagers are repeatedly told – by adults, peers and popular media – that teens are more likely than younger children to take risks, ignore their parents, skip schoolwork and succumb to bad influences. But stereotypes are not destiny, a new study of Chinese middle school students suggests. |
 | Study finds depression in millennials on the riseNew research, conducted by the University of Liverpool and University College London, has found that young people today are more likely to be depressed and to self-harm than they were 10 years ago, but antisocial behaviour and substance use – often thought to go hand-in-hand with mental ill-health – are in decline. |
 | Dietary factors affecting gut microbiome may influence response to immunotherapy in melanoma patientsAmong melanoma patients treated with anti-PD-1 immunotherapy, consumption of a high-fiber diet was associated with higher gut microbiome diversity and better response to treatment, according to data presented during a media preview of the AACR Annual Meeting 2019, to be held March 29-April 3 in Atlanta. |
 | Colon cancer usually diagnosed late in under-50 adults(HealthDay)—Young adults are increasingly developing colon cancer—and it's often diagnosed at a late stage, after they've seen several doctors and been misdiagnosed, a new survey shows. |
 | Depression screening rates remain low among adolescentsMajor depressive disorder (MDD) is increasing among U.S. adolescents, while screening rates for depression remain low and insufficient in addressing the rising mental health crisis, according to data from the National Survey on Drug Use and Health. |
 | Soybean oil or fish oil? This study's result surprised cancer researchersInvestigators discovered, unexpectedly, that soybean oil was better than fish oil for reducing cancer-related fatigue in breast cancer survivors. |
 | When watching others in pain, women's brains show more empathyIt's a phrase many of us have uttered at one time or other: "I feel your pain." |
 | Sore throat, cough and phlegm – all you need to know about your horrible coldThe human body has a large surface area that is in contact with the outside world, much of this comes from the body's largest organ – our skin – which protects us from a variety of potential threats. The other major sites of contact with the outside world come from the openings in the body – and our nose and mouth have the greatest exchange with the outside world as we breathe in and out. |
 | What our new study reveals about the genetics and biology of suicidal behaviourMore than three quarters of a million people take their own lives every year, to devastating personal, social and economic cost. Recent research has detailed the strong connection between suicide and mental illness, particularly depression. |
 | Ten tips for surviving a crowd crushOn July 24, 2010, more than a million dancing partygoers converged on an industrial zone in Duisburg, in Eastern Germany. They were attending the Love Parade, one of the most popular music festivals in the world. Decked out in sunglasses and fluorescent wigs, the happy revellers funnelled into a 200-meter-long tunnel, heading toward a former freight station where part of the festival was taking place. |
 | It's time to rethink what the medical profession considers a 'rare disease'International Rare Disease Day is upon us. People around the world spend Feb. 28 raising awareness about the impact that diseases with low prevalence have on patients and their families. |
 | Pan-filovirus T-cell vaccine protects mice from Ebola and MarburgVaccines that induce protective T-cell responses could protect against members across the filovirus family, according to a study published February 28 in the open-access journal PLOS Pathogens by Tomáš Hanke of the University of Oxford, Bette Korber of the Los Alamos National Laboratory, and colleagues. |
Generic immunosuppressants have reduced costs after organ transplantationThe introduction of generic versions of immunosuppressive drugs has resulted in substantial cost savings for transplant patients and Medicare, according to a study appearing in an upcoming issue of the Clinical Journal of the American Society of Nephrology (CJASN). | |
 | Study reveals the structure of the second human cannabinoid receptorA Chinese research team joined forces with Russian and U.S. biologists to obtain the crystal structure of the human type 2 cannabinoid receptor. Their findings could lead to drugs against inflammatory, neurodegenerative, and other diseases. The authors of the paper, published in Cell, compare the newly discovered structure to that of the type 1 cannabinoid receptor, deeming the two receptors to be the yin and yang of the human endocannabinoid system. |
 | Inflammation signals induce dormancy in aging brain stem cellsIn old age, the amount of stem cells in the brains of mice decreases drastically. The remaining ones protect themselves from completely vanishing by entering a state of dormancy, scientists from the German Cancer Research Center (DKFZ) have now reported in Cell. The old stem cells are hard to awaken, but once reactivated, they are just as potent as young ones. Their dormancy is promoted by inflammatory signals from the stem cells' environment. Anti-inflammatory substances may therefore be a key to awakening the stem cells and stimulating repair processes in the brain in old age. |
 | New Australian guidelines released for the rehabilitation of children with strokeResearchers and health professionals have produced the first rehabilitation guidelines in Australia to help children who have had a stroke. Somewhere between 100 to 300 Australian children suffer a stroke every year. A stroke occurs when a blood clot blocks an artery and interrupts blood flow to the brain or when a blood vessel supplying the brain bursts and causes bleeding into the brain. |
 | How much exercise do you need? Not much if you're diligent, U of T researcher saysJenna Gillen is helping change the way we think about exercise. |
 | Scientists identify alterations of neuronal connectivity in the cortex in OCD patientsObsessive-compulsive disorder (OCD) is characterized by alterations in brain connectivity, i.e., patients present a dysfunction related to the synchronization of activity between different groups of neurons, as evidenced by recent research. In a study published this month in the journal Cerebral Cortex, researchers belonging to three CIBER groups of Mental Health (CIBERSAM) led by Jesús Pujol (Consorci Mar Parc Salut de Barcelona-Hospital del Mar), Narcís Cardoner (Corporación Sanitaria Parc Taulí) and Josep Manuel Menchón and Carles Soriano-Mas (Bellvitge Biomedical Research Institute (IDIBELL) - Bellvitge University Hospital) have applied a new assessment method for resting brain connectivity to show how these alterations appear in fact in any region of the cerebral cortex. |
 | Interdisciplinary approach uncovers new clues to triggers of gut inflammationNew detail about what happens when a key cellular process is impaired in cells that are vital for a healthy gut have been uncovered by a wide-ranging analysis. |
 | Reducing risk of cardiovascular diseaseThere is more to consider than just cholesterol levels when it comes to cardiovascular health. Experts at Baylor College of Medicine say even if you have lowered your cholesterol and have been prescribed statins, new data shows you may still be at risk. The latest research is helping to outline the best path to cardiovascular health. |
 | Here's what music sounds like through an auditory implantFor some people with severe hearing loss, it is possible to restore their hearing with an auditory implant (also known as cochlear implants). These electronic devices are surgically implanted into the inner ear, converting the sound from the world into electrical signals that are sent through the auditory nerve to the brain. The damaged parts of the ear are bypassed and people are – almost miraculously – able to hear again. With practice, auditory implant users emerge from a world of silence able to hear the doorbell, to use the phone, to talk and laugh with their friends. Unfortunately, though, music can be hard to enjoy. Smooth melodies become harsh buzzes, beeps and squawks. |
 | Unwanted unacceptable thoughts—most people have them and we should talk about themImagine you're lying in bed when a sack of cocaine falls from a plane, crashes through your roof and lands next to you. You call the police who come round and arrest you for possession. This would be ridiculous. You are not responsible for things that fall into your house. |
 | How being beautiful influences your attitudes toward sexPeople tend to feel strongly about matters of sexual morality, such as premarital sex or gay marriage. |
 | Listening in to brain communications, without surgeryPlenty of legitimate science – plus a whole lot of science fiction – discusses ways to "hack the brain." What that really means, most of the time – even in the fictional examples – involves surgery, opening the skull to implant wires or devices physically into the brain. |
 | Too much TV might dull the aging brain(HealthDay)—The old saying, "TV rots your brain," could have some validity for folks as they age. |
 | Cooking with whole grains(HealthDay)—When it comes to getting the best taste and the greatest nutritional value from grains, keep it whole grain. |
 | Circadian misalignment and cardiovascular riskCurrent opinion is that the increased risk of obesity, hypertension, cardiovascular disease (CVD), and type 2 diabetes mellitus (DM2) in circadian misalignment is multifactorial, with physiologic, social, psychologic, sleep, and eating patterns all likely contributing. The data so far indicate circadian misalignment is robustly associated with increased obesity and cardiovascular events in women, with a dose-response relationship for the latter. |
 | A quarter of patients with bipolar disorder in Scotland are being prescribed medication that could make symptoms worseA quarter of patients with bipolar disorder in Scotland are being prescribed medication that could make symptoms worse and cause serious episodes of mania. |
 | When DNA science goes down an unethical path in China, who is responsible?New reports that China is using DNA science developed in San Diego County for widespread ethnic surveillance raise ethical questions about who is responsible for how that technology is used. |
 | Medtronic Mazor X robotic surgery system enters medical mainstreamFollowing years of work, Medtronic is launching the newest Mazor X spinal surgery system with robotic navigation in the United States, with two systems already sold in Minnesota. |
 | Forecasting infectious diseases can help public health officials fight epidemicsWhooping cough in Texas. Measles in New York. Ebola in the Democratic Republic of Congo. |
Recent advances in spina bifida care extend life and improve quality of lifeSpina bifida (myelomeningocele) is the most common, permanently disabling birth defect compatible with life. In a collection of articles, published in the Journal of Pediatric Rehabilitation Medicine, experts describe important advances made in the care of spina bifida patients that extend life and improve quality of life. | |
 | Ability to control stress reduces negative impactsIn individuals, stress exposure in adolescence increases vulnerability and risk of developing psychopathologies in adulthood, such as drug addiction, mood, anxiety, addiction to gambling, attention deficit hyperactivity disorder, etc. Researchers at the Universitat Autonoma de Barcelona observed in animal models that the ability to control the source of stress diminishes its effects and could reduce the risk of later developing mental disorders. The research appears today in the journal Scientific Reports. |
 | Lymphadenectomy does not up survival in advanced ovarian cancer(HealthDay)—For patients with advanced ovarian cancer who have undergone intra-abdominal macroscopically complete resection and have clinically negative lymph nodes, lymphadenectomy is not associated with longer overall or progression-free survival, according to a study published in the Feb. 28 issue of the New England Journal of Medicine. |
 | For future offspring, docs save eggs from teen transitioning female-to-male(HealthDay)—You're a 14-year-old transgender boy who has opted to block normal female puberty before it can begin. |
 | Pesticide exposure contributes to faster ALS progressionWhile exact causes of amyotrophic lateral sclerosis (ALS) remain unknown, new research showspesticides and other environmental pollutants advance the progression of the neurodegenerativedisease. |
 | New study indicates early-term infants can succeed at breastfeedingResearchers have determined that healthy premature babies can have as much success breastfeeding as full-term babies. |
 | Researchers identify how metabolites target brain-homing immune cells to treat MSUnderstanding and mitigating the role of epigenetics (environmental influences that trigger changes in gene expression) in disease development is a major goal of researchers. Now, a newly published paper featured on the March cover of the journal Brain adds significantly to this work by detailing how metabolites can be used to inhibit epigenetic mechanisms and effectively treat a range of diseases, including multiple sclerosis (MS). |
 | Mindfulness could promote positive body imageMaking people more aware of their own internal body signals, such as heartbeat or breathing rate, could promote positive body image, according to new research published in the journal Body Image. |
 | Open-source software tracks neural activity in real timeTracking the firings of individual neurons is like trying to discern who is saying what in a football stadium full of screaming fans. Until recently, neuroscientists have had to tediously track each neuron by hand. |
 | Junk food purchases increase after recreational marijuana legalizationIt's an infamous pop culture portrayal. After smoking marijuana, the main characters in the movie go on an epic junk-food binge, consuming mass quantities of chips, cookies, and whatever other high-calorie, salt-or-sugar-laden snacks they can get. While some neuroscientists have hypotheses, there remains no formal causal evidence to support this notorious effect of marijuana on the human brain. |
 | California parents are getting around vaccine law, fueling measles outbreaks(HealthDay)—Even though California enacted tough legislation in 2016 barring "personal belief" exemptions for childhood vaccinations, some parents may be turning to unethical physicians to circumvent the new law. |
 | Risk factors ID'd for site infection after orthopedic surgery in seniors(HealthDay)—Five risk factors are independently associated with surgical site infection among geriatric patients undergoing elective orthopedic surgery, according to a study published online Feb. 20 in the International Wound Journal. |
 | Performance improvement sustained after DBT adoption(HealthDay)—Performance improvements after adoption of digital breast tomosynthesis (DBT) relative to digital mammography (DM) performance have been sustained, regardless of DBT volume, according to a study published online Feb. 26 in Radiology. |
 | Researchers use health data tools to rapidly detect sepsis in newbornsAutomated programs can identify which sick infants in a neonatal intensive care unit (NICU) have sepsis hours before clinicians recognize the life-threatening condition. A team of data researchers and physician-scientists tested machine-learning models in a NICU population, drawing only on routinely collected data available in electronic health records (EHRs). |
 | Officials see no link between miscarriage risk and flu shotsHealth officials say further research has not found a miscarriage risk for women who get annual flu shots. |
 | Tracking food leads to losing poundsWithout following a particular diet, overweight people who tracked daily food consumption using a free smartphone app lost a significant amount of weight in a new Duke University study. |
 | New study links electronic cigarettes and wheezing in adultsElectronic cigarette use ("vaping") is associated with wheezing in adults, according to a new study published in the journal Tobacco Control. People who vaped were nearly twice as likely to experience wheezing compared to people who didn't regularly use tobacco products. Wheezing, which is caused by narrowed or abnormal airways, is often a precursor to other serious health conditions such as emphysema, gastro-esophageal reflux disease, heart failure, lung cancer and sleep apnea. |
Brain processes concrete and abstract words differentlyA new review explores the different areas of the brain that process the meaning of concrete and abstract concepts. The article is published ahead of print in the Journal of Neurophysiology (JNP). | |
India's child nutrition program sees higher utilization, but fewer gains in high-burden statesExpansion and utilization of one of India's largest government-run community-based nutrition programs increased significantly between 2006 and 2016, especially among historically disadvantaged castes and tribes. But, women with low education and the poorest households are relatively more excluded from accessing program benefits. Among states too, while overall utilization has improved, high malnutrition states are relatively lagging. These are the findings of a new study, the first to offer an in-depth analysis of the utilization of the Integrated Child Development Services (ICDS) program, conducted by researchers at the International Food Policy Research Institute (IFPRI). | |
 | Cerebral palsy: studying baby steps could lead to better treatmentsUnderstanding the progression from the stepping reflex to independent walking could help find new therapies for children with cerebral palsy (CP) – a movement disability caused by brain damage before, during or shortly after birth. |
 | Don't expect to puff away at next year's Tokyo OlympicsTokyo Olympic organizers have announced a stringent ban on all tobacco products and vaping devices for next year's games. Smoking will be banned at any indoor or outdoor Olympic or Paralympic venue, including perimeter areas being run by the Tokyo Games. |
 | Switzerland mulls studies on legal sale of cannabisSwitzerland's government is taking steps to allow limited studies on the legal sale of cannabis—though any liberalization appears to be a distant prospect. |
 | Dementia carers reassured they can – and should – call police about wandering patientsOnly a small proportion of cases of a person with dementia going missing are reported to police, according to a new study. |
 | Trump plan to beat HIV hits rough road in rural AmericaOne of the goals President Donald Trump announced in his State of the Union address was to stop the spread of HIV in the U.S. within 10 years. |
Obstructive sleep apnea and cardiovascular disease in womenIn the current issue of Cardiovascular Innovations and Applications (Special Issue on Women's Cardiovascular Health, Volume 3, Number 4, 2019, Guest Editor Gladys P. Velarde) pp. 421-434(14); DOI https://doi.org/10.15212/CVIA.2017.0064, Nimeh Najjar, MD, Peter Staiano, MD and Mariam Louis, MD from the University of Florida, Department of Medicine, Jacksonville, FL, USA consider obstructive sleep apnea and cardiovascular disease in women. | |
Challenges in cardiovascular risk prediction and stratification in womenIn the current issue of Cardiovascular Innovations and Applications (Special Issue on Women's Cardiovascular Health, Volume 3, Number 4, 2019, Guest Editor Gladys P. Velarde) pp. 329-348(20); DOI: https://doi.org/10.15212/CVIA.2017.0068 Sonia Henry, MD, Rachel Bond, MD, Stacey Rosen, MD, Cindy Grines, MD and Jennifer Mieres, MD from the Hofstra School of Medicine, Manhasset, NY, USA, Lenox Hill Hospital, New York, NY, USA and The Katz Institute for Women's Health, Lake Success, NY, USA consider the challenges in cardiovascular risk prediction and stratification in women. | |
Heart disease in pregnancy: A special look at peripartum cardiomyopathyIn the current issue of Cardiovascular Innovations and Applications (Special Issue on Women's Cardiovascular Health, Volume 3, Number 4, 2019, Guest Editor Gladys P. Velarde) pp. 403-408(6); DOI: ttps://doi.org/10.15212/CVIA.2017.0066 Dmitry Yaranov, MD and Jeffrey D. Alexis, MD from the College of Medicine, University of Florida, Jacksonville, FL, USA and the University of Rochester, Rochester, NY, USA consider peripartum cardiomyopathy. | |
Psychosocial stress, the unpredictability schema, and cardiovascular disease in womenIn the current issue of Cardiovascular Innovations and Applications (Special Issue on Women's Cardiovascular Health, Volume 3, Number 4, 2019, Guest Editor Gladys P. Velarde) pp. 391-401(11); DOI: https://doi.org/10.15212/CVIA.2017.0065 Tomás Cabeza de Baca, Ph.D. and Michelle A. Albert, MD, MPH from the Department of Medicine, University of California, San Francisco, CA, USA consider psychosocial stress, the unpredictability schema, and cardiovascular disease in women. | |
 | Gonorrhoea: Drug resistance compromises recommended treatment in EuropeGonorrhoea is the second most commonly notified sexually transmitted infection across the EU/EEA countries with almost 500 000 reported cases between 2007 and 2016. The infection is treatable but Neisseria gonorrhoeae keep showing high levels of azithromycin resistance according to latest results of the European Gonococcal Antimicrobial Surveillance Programme. This antibiotic agent is part of the currently recommended therapy regimen for gonorrhoea and observed resistance patterns threaten its effectiveness. |
Large-scale initiative linked to reductions in maternal and newborn deaths in IndonesiaA U.S.-funded initiative to improve quality of care and referrals during pregnancy and childbirth in Indonesia resulted in significant reductions in maternal and newborn mortality at participating hospitals, according to a new study led by scientists at the Johns Hopkins Bloomberg School of Public Health. | |
Online reviews after 'tummy tuck'—Cosmetic results aren't the only factor affecting positive ratingsFor patients undergoing "tummy tuck" surgery (abdominoplasty), satisfaction with the aesthetic outcome is the main factor affecting whether they write a positive or negative online review for their plastic surgeon, reports the March issue of Plastic and Reconstructive Surgery, the official medical journal of the American Society of Plastic Surgeons (ASPS). | |
More women are training to be plastic surgeons, but racial/ethnic representation still lags behindWhile the proportion of women entering plastic surgery residency programs has increased in recent years, numbers of Black and Hispanic trainees are declining or unchanged, reports a study in the March issue of Plastic and Reconstructive Surgery, the official medical journal of the American Society of Plastic Surgeons (ASPS). | |
Biology news
 | How Capsella followed its lonely heartThe Brassicaceae plant family boasts a stunning diversity of fruit shapes. But even in this cosmopolitan company the heart-shaped seed pods of the Capsella genus stand out. |
 | Climate change shrinks many fisheries globally, study findsClimate change has taken a toll on many of the world's fisheries, and overfishing has magnified the problem, according to a Rutgers-led study in the journal Science today. |
 | New species of 'golden death' bacterium digests parasitic worms from the inside outA new species of bacterium, Chryseobacterium nematophagum, has been found to digest its hosts—roundworm parasites—from the inside out. The findings, which are presented in the open access journal BMC Biology, suggest that the bacteria may potentially be used in future, to control roundworm infections in animals, plants, and, potentially, humans. |
 | Researchers discover cell mechanism that delays and repairs DNA damage that can lead to cancerResearchers from the University of Copenhagen have identified a specific mechanism that protects cells from natural DNA errors that could permanently damage the genetic code and lead to diseases such as cancer. The study has just been published in one of the most influential scientific journals, Nature Cell Biology. |
 | Machinery used in basic cell division does double duty as builder of neuronsResearchers at the San Diego branch of the Ludwig Institute for Cancer Research at University of California San Diego have identified an entirely new mechanism underlying the development and structure of the nervous system during embryogenesis. |
 | Researchers reveal unexpected genome-wide off-target mutations caused by cytosine base editingChinese scientists have found that cytosine base editors (BE3 and HF1-BE3) induce genome wide off-target mutations. |
 | Gene activity in defenders depends on invading slavemaking antsTemnothorax americanus is a slavemaking ant found in northeastern America. These tiny social insects neither rear their offspring nor search for food themselves. Instead, they raid nests of another ant species, Temnothorax longispinosus, kidnap their larvae and pupae to bring these back to their own nest. Once these have reached adulthood, the abducted ants must feed the brood of the slavemaking species, search for food, feed the slavemakers, and even defend their nest. A colony of slavemakers, consisting of a queen and two to five workers, can keep 30 to 60 slaves. |
 | Amoebae diversified at least 750 million years ago, far earlier than expectedBrazilian researchers have reconstructed the evolutionary history of amoebae and demonstrated that at the end of the Precambrian period, at least 750 million years ago, life on Earth was much more diverse than suggested by classic theory. |
 | Too-tight membrane keeps cells from splittingCells divide to grow new tissues or patch up damaged ones, but when cell division goes wrong, it can cause more harm than good. To avoid dire consequences, namely disease and unwanted cell death, cells employ a suite of failsafes to ensure they split evenly, every time. Now, scientists have identified a previously unknown mechanism by which cells accomplish this impressive feat. |
 | How fungi influence global plant colonisationThe symbiosis of plants and fungi has a great influence on the worldwide spread of plant species. In some cases, it even acts like a filter. This has been discovered by an international team of researchers with participation from the University of Göttingen. The results appeared in the journal Nature Ecology & Evolution. |
 | 'Mutation hotspot' allows common fungus to adapt to different host environmentsThe fungus Candida albicans is found in the gastrointestinal tract of about half of healthy adults with little if any effect, yet it also causes an oft-fatal blood infection among patients with compromised immune systems, including those with HIV/AIDS. New research from Brown University helps show how this fungus gets the flexibility to live in these vastly different environments. |
 | Research identifies mechanism that helps plants fight bacterial infectionA team led by a plant pathologist at the University of California, Riverside, has identified a regulatory, genetic mechanism in plants that could help fight bacterial infection. |
 | Researchers find mechanism that regulates telomeresThe tips of chromosomes have structures called telomeres comparable to the plastic cover at the end of shoelaces. They work as a protective cap that prevents genetic material from unfolding and corroding. When telomeres do not work properly, the total erosion of genetic material can occur, triggering cancer and age-related diseases. In a study now published in the EMBO Journal, a research team from Instituto Gulbenkian de Ciência (IGC; Portugal), led by Jose Escandell and Miguel Godinho Ferreira, reports a key aspect of the regulation of telomeres. |
 | World's most heavily trafficked turtle plays vital role in Indonesia environment, economyThe Southeast Asian box turtle is the most heavily trafficked turtle in the world – captured and sold to China for food and medicine and for the pet trade in the United States, Japan and Europe. But little was known about its ecology until a University of Rhode Island herpetologist spent six months studying the animal's habits and habitat last year. |
 | Turning off HSF5 gene leads to less and poorer quality spermIn research on zebrafish, Örebro researchers have identified a gene that is essential for producing sperm. Results show that fewer and poorer quality sperm are produced when the gene was turned off with the Crispr/Cas9 technique. The next step is to test whether the same is true in humans. |
 | Asian elephants may lose up to 42 percent of suitable habitats in India and Nepal by 2070Protecting and expanding suitable habitats for wildlife is key to the conservation of endangered species, but owing to climate and land use change the ideal habitats of today may not be fitting in 30 or 50 years. An international team of scientists therefore predicted range shifts of Asian elephants in India and Nepal using species distribution models based on distribution data for the elephants and climate projections. While a few regions in the north and northeast of the subcontinent may provide more suitable habitats in the future, overall a heavy loss is probable in all scenarios. The complex effects of environmental change on the distribution of the elephants is elucidated in a paper published in the journal Diversity and Distributions. |
 | Unexpected complexity: A 3-D look into plant root relationships with nitrogen-fixing bacteriaBy taking nitrogen out of the air and turning it into plant nutrients, some bacteria help plants like beans, peas, and clovers thrive. How? A study shows that the traditional view of this symbiotic relationship doesn't capture the entire picture. Scientists resolved a 3-D map of the metabolic products of bacteria found in plant root nodules. This spatial perspective could help unravel the overall complexity of these highly interdependent organisms. |
 | Sequencing the white shark genome is cool, but for bigger insights we need libraries of genetic dataThe headlines are eye-catching: Scientists have sequenced the genome of white sharks. Or the bamboo lemur, or the golden eagle. But why spend so much time and money figuring out the DNA makeup of different species? |
 | A new species of huntsman spider describedSenckenberg scientist Dr. Peter Jäger has described four new species in the huntsman spider family. One of the newly discovered animals reveals a surprising specialization: It makes its home inside of bamboo. To enter the plants, the palm-sized, eight-legged creature relies on the help of other animals. This is only the second species of spider known to science whose ecology is closely tied to bamboo. The study was published today in the scientific journal Zootaxa. |
 | Biologists capture super-creepy photos of Amazon spiders making meals of frogs, lizardsWarning to arachnophobes and the faint of heart: This is the stuff of nightmares, so you might want to proceed with caution. |
 | Turning them on, turning them off—how to control stem cellsScientists at the University of Bath have identified how a mutant gene in fish is involved in controlling stem cells. |
 | Conservationists release 155 giant tortoises on Galapagos islandConservationists have released 155 giant tortoises on an island in the Galapagos to help replace a similar species that died out 150 years ago, officials aid Thursday. |
 | Despite export bans global seahorse trade continuesMany countries are engaged in a vast illegal and unrecorded international trade in seahorses, one that circumvents global regulations, according to new UBC study that has implications for many other animal species. |
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