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Here is your customized Science X Newsletter for March 25, 2019:
Spotlight Stories Headlines
Astronomy & Space news
 | Study reveals properties of a Type Ib supernova in NGC 4080A recent study conducted by astronomers has revealed important observational properties of a Type Ib supernova designated MASTER OT J120451.50+265946.6, which exploded in the galaxy NGC 4080. The research, presented in a paper published March 14 on the arXiv pre-print repository, provides crucial hints about the nature of the supernova, what could disclose the progenitor of this stellar explosion. |
 | Hubble captures birth of giant storm on NeptuneImages taken by the Hubble Space Telescope document the formation of a Great Dark Spot on Neptune for the first time, report researchers in a new study. |
 | What ionized the universe?The sparsely distributed hot gas that exists in the space between galaxies, the intergalactic medium, is ionized. The question is, how? Astronomers know that once the early universe expanded and cooled enough, hydrogen (its main constituent) recombined into neutral atoms. Then, once newly formed massive stars began to shine in the so-called "era of reionization," their extreme ultraviolet radiation presumably ionized the gas in processes that continue today. One of the key steps, however, is not well understood, namely the extent to which the stellar ionizing radiation escapes from the galaxies into the IGM. Only if the fraction escaping was high enough during the era of reionization could starlight have done the job, otherwise some other significant source of ionizing radiation is required. That might imply the existence of an important population of more exotic objects like faint quasars, X-ray binary stars, or perhaps even decaying/annihilating particles. |
 | Jupiter's unknown journey through the early solar system revealedIt is known that gas giants around other stars are often located very near their sun. According to accepted theory, these gas planets were formed far away and subsequently migrated to an orbit closer to the star. Now, researchers from Lund University and other institutions have used advanced computer simulations to learn more about Jupiter's journey through our own solar system approximately 4.5 billion years ago. At that time, Jupiter was quite recently formed, as were the other planets in the solar system. The planets were gradually built up by cosmic dust, which circled around our young sun in a disk of gas and particles. Jupiter was no larger than our own planet. |
 | Water in spaceDid you know that up to 80% of the water on the International Space Station is recycled? Astronauts living and working 400 km above our planet might prefer not to think about it, but the water they drink is recycled from their colleague's sweat and exhaled breath – collected as condensation on the Space Station's walls. |
 | More efficient satellite launch platform on the horizonAn efficient and cost-effective satellite launch platform could soon be a reality in Australia thanks to a world first engine that's being developed by University of Sydney combustion experts. |
 | Exploring Mercury in a new bookUp until 2008, only one spacecraft had ever visited the planet Mercury, and it didn't linger long. NASA's Mariner 10 mission flew past the tiny world three times in the 1970s, giving humanity a helpful but limited glimpse of the solar system's innermost planet. Mariner 10 imaged about 45 percent of Mercury's surface and discovered its internal magnetic field, among other things. |
Technology news
 | An AI-based recommendation system for internship placementsChoosing an internship placement is a key step for many students, as an internship can have a substantial impact on their professional development. Researchers at Universitas Pendidikan Ganesha, in Indonesia, have recently developed an AI-based recommendation system that can allocate students to internship placements that best match their skills and aspirations. |
 | Team predicts the useful life of batteries with data and AIIf manufacturers of cell-phone batteries could tell which cells will last at least two years, then they could sell only those to phone makers and send the rest to makers of less demanding devices. New research shows how manufacturers could do this. The technique could be used not only to sort manufactured cells but to help new battery designs reach the market more quickly. |
 | A rubber computer eliminates the last hard components from soft robotsA soft robot, attached to a balloon and submerged in a transparent column of water, dives and surfaces, then dives and surfaces again, like a fish chasing flies. Soft robots have performed this kind of trick before. But unlike most soft robots, this one is made and operated with no hard or electronic parts. Inside, a soft, rubber computer tells the balloon when to ascend or descend. For the first time, this robot relies exclusively on soft digital logic. |
 | Humans compress images better than algorithms, experiment findsYour friend texts you a photo of the dog she's about to adopt but all you see is a tan, vaguely animal-shaped haze of pixels. To get you a bigger picture, she sends the link to the dog's adoption profile because she's worried about her data limit. One click and your screen fills with much more satisfying descriptions and images of her best-friend-to-be. |
 | Rapid magnetic 3-D printing of human cellsImagine being able to visit your physician, and instead of being given a one-size-fits-all treatment, you are given a specifically customized medication for your symptoms. |
 | Apple pivot led by star-packed video serviceWith Hollywood stars galore, Apple unveiled its streaming video plans Monday along with news and game subscription offerings as part of an effort to shift its focus to digital content and services to break free of its reliance on iPhone sales. |
 | Uber to buy Mideast rival Careem: reportUber is set to buy its Middle Eastern rival Careem for $3.1 billion, financial news agency Bloomberg reported Sunday. |
 | Long-awaited video service expected from Apple on MondayApple is expected to announce Monday that it's launching a video service that could compete with Netflix, Amazon and cable TV itself. |
 | Polish dailies print blank front page in EU copyright appealMajor Polish newspapers printed blank front pages on Monday in an appeal to the European Parliament to adopt controversial copyright reforms that have pitted traditional media firms against internet giants. |
 | Germany works to fix air traffic control software glitchGermany's air traffic control agency says a software issue that has caused disruption for several days won't be resolved until at least midweek. |
 | Open source software helps researchers extract key insights from huge sensor datasetsProfessor Andreas Schütze and his team of experts in measurement and sensor technology at Saarland University have released a free data processing tool called simply Dave—is a MATLAB toolbox that allows rapid evaluation of signals, pattern recognition and data visualization when processing huge datasets. The free software enables very large volumes of data, such as those produced by modern sensor systems, to be processed, analysed and visually displayed so that researchers can optimize their measurement systems interactively. |
 | Facebook has shut down accounts spreading fake news, but is it accountable?Since late last year, Facebook has been actively shutting down accounts responsible for spreading hoaxes in some countries, especially those holding general elections. |
 | Spotting hacks automatically, before the hackers doIn early 2018, cybersecurity researchers discovered two security flaws they said were present in almost every high-end processor made and used by major companies. Known ominously as Spectre and Meltdown, these flaws were troubling because they represented a new type of breach not previously known that could allow hackers to infer secret data—passwords, social security numbers, medical records—from the way computers pre-calculate certain data using architectural features called "out-of-order execution" and "speculative execution" to speed up their processes. |
 | Despite consumer worries, the future of aviation will be more automatedIn the wake of the Lion Air and Ethiopian Airlines crashes of Boeing 737 Max planes, people are thinking about how much of their air travel is handled by software and automated systems – as opposed to the friendly pilots sitting in the cockpit. |
 | Pumped storage hydropower a 'game-changer'A series of Pumped Storage Hydropower (PSH) projects planned across 5 states could triple Australia's electricity storage capacity, according to a new study by a researcher at The Australian National University (ANU). |
 | Study examines commercial hybrid-electric aircraft, reduced carbon emissionsAlthough we're still a long way from commercial airplanes powered by a combination of fossil fuel and batteries, a recent feasibility study at the University of Illinois explored fuel/battery configurations and the energy lifecycle to learn the tradeoffs needed to yield the greatest reductions in carbon dioxide emissions. |
 | Apple includes 300 magazines in subscription news serviceApple launched a subscription news service Monday that includes more than 300 magazines as part of the iPhone maker's pivot to services. |
In 'Killer Robots' debate, Japan shuns fully automated armsJapan's ambassador to the United Nations-backed Conference on Disarmament says his country has not developed fully autonomous weapons systems and has no plans to do so. | |
 | Apple is jumping belatedly into the streaming TV businessJumping belatedly into a business dominated by Netflix and Amazon, Apple announced its own TV and movie streaming service Monday, enlisting such superstars as Oprah Winfrey, Jennifer Aniston and Steven Spielberg to try to overcome its rivals' head start. |
 | Founder of India's beleaguered Jet Airways quitsIndia's troubled Jet Airways said Monday that founder Naresh Goyal has stepped down as chairman and left the company board as part of a rescue plan. |
 | Frankfurt flights reduced by air traffic control IT glitchScores of flights to and from Germany's biggest airport Frankfurt were scrapped Monday because of a software problem affecting the national air traffic control service. |
 | WOW Air seeks debt restructuring as Icelandair quits talksIceland's loss-making carrier WOW Air said it was in talks to restructure its debt after Icelandair ended brief negotiations aimed at buying a stake in the no-frills airline. |
 | Ethiopian Airlines says pilots got appropriate trainingEthiopian Airlines' CEO says the pilots who flew the plane that crashed on March 10 had trained on "all appropriate simulators," rejecting reports that they had not been adequately prepared to handle the new aircraft. |
Facebook Live post nets wiretapping guilty plea for studentA Maryland university student has pleaded guilty to illegally wiretapping a congressional staffer and putting the conversation on Facebook Live without consent. | |
 | SAfrica's Naspers to list internet assets in EuropeSouth African conglomerate Naspers, the continent's biggest media company, said Monday that it will spin off online assets into a new company with a primary listing in Amsterdam, creating Europe's biggest listed consumer internet company. |
Medicine & Health news
 | Understanding gene interactions holds key to personalized medicine, scientists sayWhen the Human Genome Project was completed, in 2003, it opened the door to a radical new idea of health—that of personalized medicine, in which disease risk and appropriate treatment would be gleaned from one's genetic makeup. As more people had their genomes sequenced, disease-related genes would start coming into view— and while this is true in many ways, things also turned out to be much more complicated. |
 | The brain starts to register gender and age before recognizing a face, researchers findOur brains are incredibly good at processing faces, and even have specific regions specialized for this function. But what face dimensions are we observing? Do we observe general properties first, then look at the details? Or are dimensions such as gender or other identity details decoded interdependently? In a study published in Nature Communications, neuroscientists at the McGovern Institute for Brain Research measured the response of the brain to faces in real-time, and found that the brain first decodes properties such as gender and age before drilling down to the specific identity of the face itself. |
 | Peptide shows promise for protecting kidneys from nephritisA synthetic peptide appears to directly disrupt the destructive inflammation that occurs in nephritis, enabling the kidneys to better recover and maintain their important functions, investigators report. |
 | Researchers identify over 400 genes associated with schizophrenia developmentIn the largest study of its kind, involving more than 100,000 people, researchers at the Icahn School of Medicine at Mount Sinai have applied a novel machine learning method to identify 413 genetic associations with schizophrenia across 13 brain regions. As described in the February issue of Nature Genetics, examining gene expression at the tissue level allowed researchers to not only identify new genes associated with schizophrenia, but also pinpoint the areas of the brain in which abnormal expression might occur. |
 | Mouse study yields long-awaited insights into human stomach cancerMice have been instrumental in the study of cancer, but like all animal models of human diseases, they have their limitations. For stomach cancer in particular, mice have historically been regarded as quite poor research organisms because rodents rarely develop spontaneous stomach tumors. |
 | Like racecars and geese, cancer cells draft their way to new tumor sitesNASCAR has nothing on cancer cells when it comes to exploiting the power of drafting, letting someone else do the hard work of moving forward while you coast behind. |
 | New angle of attack drives cellular HIV-reservoirs to self-destructionWhile current therapies for HIV can successfully manage active infection, the virus can survive in tissue reservoirs, including macrophage cells, and remain a persistent problem. Now, Dr. David Russell, William Kaplan Professor of Infection Biology at Cornell University College of Veterinary Medicine, and his research team have pinpointed a novel angle of attack that could selectively eradicate these viral reservoir cells while leaving healthy cells untouched. |
 | Brain stem cells age faster in multiple sclerosis patientsBrain stem cells in people with the most severe form of multiple sclerosis look much older than they really are, according to a study led by UConn Health and published in the Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences (PNAS). The prematurely old cells act differently in the brain than normal ones, and could be the key to new treatments for the disease. |
 | 'Technoference': We're more tired and less productive because of our phonesOne in five women and one in eight men are now losing sleep due to the time they spend on their mobile phones, according to new QUT-led research that has found a jump in 'technoference' over the past 13 years. |
 | Chinese famine and the type 2 diabetes epidemic: Challenges of connecting the dotsThe Chinese Famine of 1959-61 has been widely interpreted as an important contributor to later epidemics of Type 2 Diabetes Mellitis (T2DM, but in re-examining 17 related Chinese studies researchers at Columbia University Mailman School of Public Health and Leiden University Medical Center, found little evidence for this association. The paper is published in Nature Reviews Endocrinology. |
 | Scientists home in on microRNA processing for novel cancer therapiesMore than a decade of research on the mda-7/IL-24 gene has shown that it helps to suppress a majority of cancer types, and now scientists are focusing on how the gene drives this process by influencing microRNAs. Published this week in the journal Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences, the findings could potentially have implications beyond cancer for a variety of cardiovascular and neurodegenerative diseases caused by the same microRNA-driven processes. |
 | Marijuana ER visits climb in Denver hospital studyFive years after Colorado first legalized marijuana, a new study shows pot's bad effects are sending more people to the emergency room. |
 | More aging Americans are using pot to soothe what ails themThe group of white-haired folks—some pushing walkers, others using canes—arrive right on time at the gates of Laguna Woods Village, an upscale retirement community in the picturesque hills that frame this Southern California suburb a few miles from Disneyland. |
 | Innovative model improves access to life-saving stroke careTraining interventional radiologists to perform endovascular thrombectomies results in positive outcomes for patients experiencing stroke, according to a study presented today at the Society of Interventional Radiology Annual Scientific Meeting. Expanding access to this treatment provides patients timely access to this gold-standard treatment. |
 | Does story time with an e-book change how parents and toddlers interact?Picking what book to read isn't the only choice families now make at story time—they must also decide between the print or electronic version. |
Income inequalities in Indigenous groups linked to mental health issuesIndigenous peoples in Canada have high rates of psychological distress, suicidal thoughts and suicide attempts, and these mental health issues are linked to income inequalities, found a study published in CMAJ (Canadian Medical Association Journal). | |
Are preventive drugs overused at the end of life in older adults with cancer?A new study reveals that preventive medications—such as those to lower blood pressure or cholesterol, or to protect bone health, among others—are commonly prescribed during the last year of life of older adults with cancer, even though they are unlikely to provide meaningful benefits. Published early online in Cancer, a peer-reviewed journal of the American Cancer Society, the findings point to the need for efforts to reduce the burden of drugs with limited clinical benefit near the end of life. | |
Minimally invasive uterine fibroid treatment safer and as effective as surgical treatmentUterine fibroid embolization (UFE) effectively treats uterine fibroids with fewer post-procedure complications compared to myomectomy, according to new research presented today at the Society of Interventional Radiology's 2019 Annual Scientific Meeting. Women who received this minimally-invasive treatment also had a slightly lower need for additional treatment than those who underwent surgery. | |
 | How watching TV and movies helps people with attachment issuesPeople who have trouble with romantic relationships may watch movies and TV shows for more than just a chance to escape from their lives for a bit. |
 | Suspected cholera cases spikes in Yemen in 2019: UNNearly 110,000 suspected cases of cholera have been reported in war-hit Yemen since the beginning of January, including 190 related deaths, the UN said on Monday. |
 | How the obesity epidemic is taking a toll on our bones and jointsDeb Baranec wasn't always obese. As a teenager, she carried a few extra pounds but managed it by being active. Her weight crept up, however, and by the time she suffered her first knee injury while skiing at the age of 27, she weighed close to 200 pounds. |
 | Female radiation oncologists submit fewer charges to Medicare, collect less revenue, study findsA new study by UCLA researchers has found that female radiation oncologists submit fewer charges to Medicare, are reimbursed less per charge submitted and receive lower Medicare payments overall in comparison to male radiation oncologists. |
 | Bacteria-mimicking particles may help treat infectious diseasesUnique particles modified to mimic bacteria may provide a better means of treating infectious diseases, such as tuberculosis. |
 | How new ketamine drug helps with depressionOn March 5, the Food and Drug Administration (FDA) approved the first truly new medication for major depression in decades. The drug is a nasal spray called esketamine, derived from ketamine—an anesthetic that has made waves for its surprising antidepressant effect. |
 | How does estrogen protect bones? Unraveling a pathway to menopausal bone lossOsteoporosis is a condition in which bones become weak and prone to fractures. Fractures typically occur in the wrist, spine or hip, and can often lead to permanently impaired mobility. Women over 50 are at a high risk of developing osteoporosis, which may be due to the loss of estrogen that occurs after menopause. While studies have linked estrogen levels to bone health, the exact details of this connection are not entirely clear. Researchers at Tokyo Medical and Dental University (TMDU) have described a new molecular link between estrogen and bone aging, which may eventually lead to new strategies to treat postmenopausal osteoporosis. |
 | Advanced imaging technology predicts cardiovascular risk from inflammation detected in arteriesUsing advanced PET/MRI technology, researchers at the Centro Nacional de Investigaciones Cardiovasculares (CNIC) have detected arterial inflammation in regions that have yet to develop atherosclerotic plaques. The results from the PESA-CNIC-Santander study are published today in the Journal of the American College of Cardiology (JACC). In the new report, the research team used this innovative technology to analyze the inflammatory process in the arteries of a group of people who had already developed atherosclerotic plaques. |
 | How the brain perceives timeWhat happens in the brain when listening to the rhythmic pace of a song, or when waiting for a traffic light to turn green? For the first time, an imaging study shows that a time map exists in a specific area of the human brain, the so-called supplementary motor area (SMA). |
 | Red yeast rice supplement 'has the potential to cause' liver damage, doctors warnRed yeast rice supplement has the potential to cause liver damage, warn doctors in the journal BMJ Case Reports, after a 64-year old woman developed acute liver injury after six weeks of taking the supplement. |
 | Walking downhill after meals boosts bone health in postmenopausal women with diabetesWalking downhill after eating can reduce bone resorption, the process in which old bone is broken down and removed from the body, in postmenopausal women with diabetes, according to research to be presented Sunday, March 24 at ENDO 2019, the annual meeting of the Endocrine Society, in New Orleans, La. Walking uphill does not have the same benefit, the study found. |
Time-restricted eating may help prevent breast cancer, mouse study suggestsChanging when you eat rather than what you eat may prove to be a dietary intervention against breast cancer, suggests a new mouse study to be presented Saturday at ENDO 2019, the Endocrine Society's annual meeting in New Orleans, La. | |
Hormone therapy helps strengthen brain connections in transgender womenIn transgender women who have had their testes removed as part of the gender-affirming process, a form of estrogen called estradiol strengthens connections between areas of the brain involved in fine motor skills, learning, emotions and sensory perception, according a study to be presented Monday at ENDO 2019, the Endocrine Society's annual meeting in New Orleans, La. These findings reflect changes on the brain that might have implications, for instance, for treating hot flashes and other symptoms in transgender women, the researchers say. | |
Recovery from sperm suppression due to performance-enhancing drug abuse is slowDecreased sperm and testosterone production caused by abuse of performing-enhancing hormones may be fully reversible once men stop taking the drugs, but full recovery can take at least nine to 18 months, according to research to be presented Sunday, March 24 at ENDO 2019, the Endocrine Society's annual meeting in New Orleans, La. | |
 | Sex hormone levels in older men are linked to lower biological ageOlder men tend to have lower biological age if they have higher levels of sex hormones, particularly the estradiol form of estrogen, a large new study from Australia finds. The study results will be presented on Sunday at ENDO 2019, the Endocrine Society's annual meeting in New Orleans, La., and appear online in the journal Clinical Endocrinology. |
Many postmenopausal women do not receive treatment for osteoporosisThe benefits of treating osteoporosis in postmenopausal women outweigh the perceived risks, according to a Clinical Practice Guideline issued today by the Endocrine Society. The Society introduced the guideline during a news conference on Monday at ENDO 2019, its annual meeting in New Orleans, La. | |
 | Second potential male birth control pill passes human safety testsA new male birth control pill passed tests of safety and tolerability when healthy men used it daily for a month, and it produced hormone responses consistent with effective contraception, according to researchers at two institutions testing the drug. The phase 1 study results was presented Sunday, March 24 at ENDO 2019, the Endocrine Society's annual meeting in New Orleans, La. |
 | Missed something the doctor said? Recording your appointments gives you a chance to go backYou're in a consultation with your doctor and you've just been told you have cancer. You're in shock, and find it difficult to take in anything else the doctor says during the remainder of the appointment. |
 | New study says time-outs for children have an unwarranted bad rapTime-out as a method of discipline for toddlers and young children is a hot topic among parents and educators. Is it harmful? Does it damage the attachment bond between parent and child? New research says no. It is still one of the most effective discipline strategies. |
 | Major medical groups call for soda taxes(HealthDay)—Two medical groups have declared war on sodas and energy drinks by calling for taxes on what has become the leading source of sugar in the diets of children and teens. |
 | Genetic variants may influence post-stroke recoveryGenes may have a bearing not only on stroke risk, but probably also on how well people recover after stroke. For the first time, in an international collaboration, scientists at the University of Gothenburg and elsewhere have identified common genetic variants that are associated with outcome after ischemic stroke. |
 | Cesarean deliveries in India: Too many and yet too fewHas India fallen prey to the epidemic of cesarean currently affecting many countries in the world? Thanks to the data issued from the latest National Family and Health Survey, Christophe Z. Guilmoto and Alexandre Dumont, both IRD researchers, have been able to chart some of the main trends and differentials. |
 | GPs key in ensuring the new faster diagnosis standard for cancer is a successGPs will have a pivotal role in ensuring the success of the new Faster Diagnosis Standard (FDS) for Cancer, new research from the University of Surrey finds. |
Effective fear of heights treatment using a smartphone virtual reality appA fully self-guided treatment using virtual reality (VR) is effective in reducing fear of heights. A team of researchers from Vrije Universiteit Amsterdam (VU) and the University of Twente, led by Dr. Tara Donker, developed ZeroPhobia, a treatment delivered through a smartphone app and a basic VR viewer. The results of the study were published in JAMA Psychiatry. | |
 | More reasons to follow the mediterranean diet(HealthDay)—More and more research supports the health benefits of the Mediterranean diet, the way of eating followed by people who live in countries around the Mediterranean Sea, such as Greece and Italy. |
 | The easy way to cook fish: Wrap it in parchment paper(HealthDay)—Fish is a delicious, lean protein with healthy fats, but many people are afraid to cook it and save it for when dining out. |
 | Microneedle technology gets green lightInnovators at Cardiff Medicentre have pioneered microneedle technology that could end certain types of injections. |
 | FDA: Higher risk for death found with venclexta in multiple myeloma(HealthDay)—A safety statement was issued yesterday by the U.S. Food and Drug Administration regarding risks found to be associated with the investigational use of Venclexta (venetoclax) for treatment of patients with multiple myeloma. |
 | Can eating certain foods make you smarter?Trying to keep up with what constitutes a "healthy" diet can be exhausting. With unending options at the supermarket, and diet advice coming from all directions, filling your shopping trolley with the right things can seem an overwhelming task. |
 | Primed for memory formationA new study carried out in a collaboration between researchers from LMU and UC San Diego suggests that new sensory experiences are encoded in pre-existing patterns of neuronal activity, which are recalled, modulated and enhanced following periods of behavioral activity. |
 | Ebola epidemic in DR Congo now exceeds 1,000 casesThe number of cases in a nearly eight-month-old epidemic of Ebola in eastern DR Congo now exceeds 1,000, almost two-thirds of whom have died, the health ministry said late Sunday. |
 | 3-D technology finds tiny medical clues in children's facesThe Cliniface project aims to assist clinical diagnosis, drug treatment monitoring and clinical trials by using accurate and reliable 3-D facial image visualisation and analysis methods. |
 | What my DNA told me: Avoid fast food, eat vegetablesAvoid fast food, eat vegetables and exercise. It sounds like generic health advice, but they're tips supposedly tailored to my DNA profile. |
 | Researchers develop new heart valve aimed at high-risk patientsResearchers at UBC have created the first-ever nanocomposite biomaterial heart-valve developed to reduce or eliminate complications related to heart transplants. |
 | Study highlights detrimental effect of overlooking female athletes' nutritional needsAs poor nutrition can negatively affect everything from bone to reproductive health, more attention needs to be paid to the specific nutritional needs of female athletes, a collaborative study from New Zealand's University of Otago and University of Waikato argues. |
 | Aspirin to fight an expensive global killer infectionResearch led by the Centenary Institute in Sydney has found a brand new target for treating drug-resistant tuberculosis; our scientists have uncovered that the tuberculosis bacterium hijacks platelets from the body's blood clotting system to weaken our immune systems. |
 | Tuck into colourful fruits and vegetables and see the lightA $5.7 billion global medical bill to restore sight for the estimated 45 million people with cataracts could be slashed in half by a diet rich in colourful fruits and vegetables, according to an international study. |
Giving intravenous therapy to children at home is costly, lowers parents' quality of lifeWhen treating patients, doctors sometimes overlook how their decisions impact a world they never see: a patient's home life. In the case of some serious infections in children, oral antimicrobial drugs are just as good at treating these ailments at home as the standard, intravenous medications. But according to new research led by investigators at University of Utah Health, by-mouth medications excel in the important measure of preserving parents' quality of life. | |
 | Parasitic worms cause cancer—and could help cure itBillions worldwide are infected with tropical worms. Unsurprisingly, most of these people live in poor countries, kept poor by the effects of worm-related malnourishment. |
 | Type 2 diabetes screening in community pharmacies could increase early diagnosisCommunity pharmacies are well placed to screen patients for type 2 diabetes, which could increase early diagnosis and significantly reduce NHS costs—according to new research from the University of East Anglia and Boots UK. |
 | Mothers of fussy babies at higher risk of depressive symptomsIt's no secret that fussy newborns can be especially challenging for parents already facing physical and mental exhaustion from caring for a new baby. |
 | Study reports continued PTSD in women exposed to deepwater horizon oil spillA study led by LSU Health New Orleans School of Public Health reports that women exposed to the 2010 Deepwater Horizon (BP) Oil Spill continue to experience symptoms of trauma and post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD). The results are published in the Journal of Affective Disorders, now available online. |
 | Researchers discover therapeutic target of melanomaResearchers have identified a biomarker and a possible new therapy for melanoma. |
 | Hearing loss before 50 may mean higher risk of drug and alcohol issuesPeople under age 50 with hearing loss misuse prescription opioids at twice the rate of their hearing peers, and are also more likely to misuse alcohol and other drugs, a new national study finds. |
 | Surge in cannabis use among youth preceded legalization in CanadaNational discussions on cannabis legalization, along with increased access to medical marijuana, may have encouraged more high school students to consume the drug years before it became legal in Canada. |
 | Study may explain why immunotherapy not effective for some patients with metastatic melanoma and kidney cancerWhite blood cells known as B cells have been shown to be effective for predicting which cancer patients will respond to immune checkpoint blockade (ICB) therapy, according to a study at The University of Texas MD Anderson Cancer Center. Study results will be presented April 2 at the AACR Annual Meeting 2019 in Atlanta. |
Endocrine disruptors alter female reproduction throughout multiple generationsEndocrine disruptors, hormone-altering chemicals that are widespread in our environment, can shape the brain through four generations, altering offspring's maternal behavior, sexual development and reproduction, according to a new animal study. The results of this study will be presented Monday at the Endocrine Society's annual meeting in New Orleans, La. | |
Automated drug delivery system combats low blood sugar after weight-loss surgeryA new automated drug delivery system can help prevent dangerously low blood sugar in patients who have undergone weight-loss surgery, according to a study to be presented Monday, March 25 at ENDO 2019, the Endocrine Society's annual meeting in New Orleans, La. | |
White women with PCOS more likely to have anxiety than black women with conditionWhite women with polycystic ovary syndrome (PCOS) have significantly higher anxiety symptoms compared to black women with the condition, a new study suggests. These symptoms may be related to obesity, according to the research to be presented Monday, March 25 at ENDO 2019, the annual meeting of the Endocrine Society, in New Orleans, La. | |
Experimental drug reverses high cholesterol, obesity-related nonalcoholic fatty liver disease in animal studyScientists have discovered a novel molecular pathway for an enzyme inhibitor in humans that plays a direct role in the development of high cholesterol and nonalcoholic fatty liver disease, which they then were able to reverse in mice with an investigational drug. The study results will be presented Monday at ENDO 2019, the Endocrine Society's annual meeting in New Orleans, La., by researchers from Northwestern University Feinberg School of Medicine in Chicago, Ill. | |
Sex-based bias: Women in Japan are less likely to receive cardiopulmonary resuscitation in public places from bystandersJapanese women under 65 are less likely to receive cardiopulmonary resuscitation (CPR) by bystanders when they suffer a sudden cardiac arrest in a public location compared to in a residential location, report investigators in Mayo Clinic Proceedings. They speculate that cultural attitudes may influence bystanders and propose that correct knowledge of CPR and better understanding of sex-based disparities are needed to facilitate public health intervention. | |
 | Testosterone can help men with hypogonadism lose weight, keep it offLong-term testosterone therapy can help men with hypogonadism lose weight and maintain their weight loss, researchers from Germany and the United States report. Ten-year results of the ongoing study will be presented Monday at ENDO 2019, the Endocrine Society's annual meeting in New Orleans, La. |
 | A viable alternative to Medicare-for-all? We can and must do better!Medicare-for-all, a solution that would bring United States healthcare policies more in line with other industrial nations, faces strong opposition and is unlikely to be enacted in the foreseeable future. A commentary appearing in the American Journal of Medicine, published by Elsevier, proposes another approach that the authors believe would achieve wider access to care without triggering widespread opposition: a Medicare buy-in option for individuals under 65 years of age. |
 | US experts weigh breast implant safety amid new concernsU.S. medical authorities are revisiting the safety of breast implants used by millions of American women, the latest review in an ongoing debate about their potential health effects. |
 | Diabetes treatment may keep dementia, Alzheimer's at bayPatients on medication for type 2 diabetes may be keeping Alzheimer's disease away. |
Privacy concerns keep men from HIV testing, treatmentPrivacy concerns linked to both health facilities and providers are major barriers to increasing the number of men who are tested and treated for HIV in Cote d'Ivoire, suggests new Johns Hopkins Center for Communication Programs (CCP) research. CCP is based at the Johns Hopkins Bloomberg School of Public Health. | |
 | Removal of 'zombie cells' alleviates causes of diabetes in obese miceMayo Clinic researchers and their collaborators have shown that when senescent cells—also known as "zombie cells"—are removed from fat tissue in obese mice, severity of diabetes and a range of its causes or consequences decline or disappear. The findings appear in Aging Cell. |
 | Study suggests how, when to support military couples after homecomingMilitary couples look forward to joyful celebrations and reunions after long deployments. Difficulties may lie ahead, though, and new research with more than 500 couples in the months after homecoming suggests how and when to help. |
 | The stroke care paradox: Close-knit social networks increase delays in hospital arrivalPatients with closer-knit social networks, including family members and spouses, were more likely to delay seeking hospital care for a stroke whereas those with a more dispersed network of acquaintances were more likely to seek care faster. |
 | Restoring this enzyme's function protects against heart disease in lupus and beyondPatients with lupus, an inflammatory disease in which the body's immune system attacks its own tissues, are on average seven to nine times more likely to develop heart disease than the general population. Younger women with lupus are 50 times as likely to develop the disease as young women without the disease. |
 | Replacing sitting time with physical activity associated with lower risk of deathFor those who get the least amount of physical activity, replacing a half hour of sitting time with physical activity was associated with up to a nearly 50% reduction in mortality, according to a new study from the American Cancer Society. The study, appearing in the American Journal of Preventive Medicine, suggests that replacing modest amounts of sitting time with even light physical activity may have the potential to reduce the risk of premature death among less active adults. |
Abused kids use text-based services to seek help, study shows"She says she will burn the house down with me in it." | |
 | Which diet keeps your heart healthy?Diet doesn't have to be a four-letter word. |
 | Race affects health care of even the smallest and youngest(HealthDay)—Racial segregation starts early in a child's life, with vulnerable black "preemies" receiving worse hospital care in the United States than white, Hispanic or Asian infants, a new investigation finds. |
 | A good spring clean can help tame seasonal allergies(HealthDay)—When it's finally time to store away your winter coats and boots, it's also a good time to rid your home of the allergens that accumulated over the winter, an allergist suggests. |
 | Medicaid coverage for lung cancer screening all over the map(HealthDay)—State Medicaid programs must do more to make sure that people at high risk for lung cancer are screened for the deadly disease, a new American Lung Association report says. |
 | Medicare for all legislation has thorny issuesThe "Medicare for All" legislation that's become a clarion call for progressives has two little-noticed provisions that could make it even more politically perilous for 2020 Democratic presidential candidates. |
 | Groin and hips of hockey players examined in five-second testFive seconds is enough to assess the status of a hockey player's groin. For the first time, a simple field test, called the five-second squeeze test, has been used on ice hockey players to see if it can indicate current hip/groin function and hip muscle strength. According to the new study from Lund University in Sweden, there is a clear correlation between pain levels during the five second squeeze test and impaired sporting function as well as diminished hip muscle strength. |
Study questions value of genetic risk scoresWhat's known as the genome-wide polygenic score, or GPS, combines information from many thousands of genetic markers, each with only a minimal effect, to produce an overall assessment of disease risk based on an individual's entire genetic background. While a recent publication claimed that the GPS could be used by doctors to identify patients at high risk of conditions such as heart disease, cancer, and diabetes, a new Annals of Human Genetics study casts doubt on these claims. | |
 | Anxiety-associated brain regions regulate threat responses in monkeysDamage to parts of the orbitofrontal cortex (OFC), a region within the prefrontal cortex, heightens monkeys' defensive responses to threat, according to new research published in JNeurosci. The study proposes a critical role for subregions of this brain area in different anxiety disorders. |
 | In vivo data show effects of spaceflight microgravity on stem cells and tissue regenerationA new review of data from 12 spaceflight experiments and simulated microgravity studies has shown that microgravity does not have a negative effect on stem-like cell-dependent tissue regeneration in newts, but in some tissues regeneration is faster and more robust. This valuable in vivo data has implications for understanding and managing the ability for repair and regeneration of human tissues during spaceflight. The review is published in Stem Cells and Development. |
 | UA Physician and iTether create app for pregnant women, new moms, with opioid addictionA cell phone app for pregnant women and new moms struggling with opioid addiction is helping them get to doctor appointments on time, chat online with counselors, message their physician and watch videos that teach them about changing their behavior. |
Peer relations linked to smoking behavior in vocational studentsIn a Nursing Open study, peer relations and self-rated health were associated with smoking behavior in both girls and boys studying in upper secondary vocational schools. | |
Bayer announces settlement to resolve Xarelto litigationGerman drugs giant Bayer said Monday it and its US partner Janssen Pharmaceuticals had agreed in principle to jointly pay nearly $800 million to settle a legal dispute over anticoagulant Xarelto. | |
Biology news
 | New CRISPR-powered device detects genetic mutations in minutesA team of engineers at the University of California, Berkeley and the Keck Graduate Institute (KGI) of The Claremont Colleges combined CRISPR with electronic transistors made from graphene to create a new hand-held device that can detect specific genetic mutations in a matter of minutes. |
 | Fossil barnacles, the original GPS, help track ancient whale migrationsBarnacles that hitch rides on the backs of humpback and gray whales not only record details about the whales' yearly travels, they also retain this information after they become fossilized, helping scientists reconstruct the migrations of whale populations millions of years in the past, according to a new University of California, Berkeley, study. |
 | How tree diversity regulates invading forest pestsA national-scale study of U.S. forests found strong relationships between the diversity of native tree species and the number of nonnative pests that pose economic and ecological threats to the nation's forests. |
 | Overland migration of Arctic Terns revealedData from a landmark study of the world's longest migrating seabird reveals how overland migration is an integral part of their amazing journey. |
 | New mechanism of action found for agricultural pesticide fludioxonilA fungicide commonly used by the agricultural industry to protect grains, fruit and vegetables from mold damage seems to kill fungi by a previously uncharacterized mechanism that delivers a metabolic shock to cells, new research finds. |
 | Bacteria may travel thousands of miles through the air globallyBacteria may travel thousands of miles through the air worldwide instead of hitching rides with people and animals, according to Rutgers and other scientists. Their "air bridge" hypothesis could shed light on how harmful bacteria share antibiotic resistance genes. |
 | Engineering cellular function without living cellsGenes in living cells are activated – or not – by proteins called transcription factors. The mechanisms by which these proteins activate certain genes and deactivate others play a fundamental role in many biological processes. However, these mechanisms are extremely complex and scientists have been spending years trying to unlock their secrets. |
 | Researchers discover new species of extinct Australian mammalA team of researchers at the Natural History Museum in London and the Western Australian Museum have discovered a new species of very small, incredibly fast, extinct Australian Pigfooted Bandicoot. |
 | The most aggressive spider societies are not always the ones that flourishEvolutionary biologists at McMaster University who study the social lives and behaviour of colony spiders—some of which are docile, others aggressive— have found that the success of their cooperative societies depend on their neighbours. |
 | New computational tool harnesses big data, deep learning to reveal dark matter of the transcriptomeA research team at Children's Hospital of Philadelphia (CHOP) has developed an innovative computational tool offering researchers an efficient method for detecting the different ways RNA is pieced together (spliced) when copied from DNA. Because variations in how RNA is spliced play crucial roles in many diseases, this new analytical tool will provide greater capabilities for discovering disease biomarkers and therapeutic targets, even from RNA-sequencing data sets with modest coverage. |
 | Desert truffles are Libya's 'manna from heaven'Braving the cold and hostile Libyan desert, Milad Mohammed scratches the ground to extract what he calls "manna from heaven"—white truffles coveted as a delicacy at home and abroad. |
 | Speaking up for invisible raptorsBirds of prey such as owls, eagles, falcons and vultures are soaring and elegant predators. But many raptors worldwide have flown under the scientific radar and are all but invisible: Ten species of raptors, out of 557 total, comprise one-third of all raptor research, and one-fifth of all species have never been studied in a scientific publication. That's the conclusion of a recent paper in Diversity and Distributions by University of Utah researchers and their collaborators. |
 | Here's what that house proud mouse was doing – plus five other animals who take cleaning seriouslyA house proud mouse, considerately tidying up the workbench of the shed in which it lives, has been captured on video and shared online. The mouse pops out of a box, picks up some screws, nail clippers and a metal chain and carries them back into the box. It's tempting to think the mouse is cleaning up its home in the same way that a human would. Of course, in biology, things are rarely that simple. |
 | Researchers discover the connection that enables bilateral visual coordination in mammalsThe laboratory of researcher Eloísa Herrera has discovered that during the development of the brain's visual areas, the two retinas communicate with each other temporarily through nervous projections. This connection is important for synchronizing and aligning the representation of the two images from the eyes in the visual cortex, which ensures they can merge coherently. |
 | Meet Eugenia walkerae, a newly named plant species from AnguillaOnce relegated to the dustbin of history, a Caribbean plant now has a name and a family. |
 | Toxin-spewing bacteria decodedScientists at Emory University School of Medicine have identified a central regulator of toxin production in the bacterium C. difficile, the most common cause of healthcare-associated infections in the United States. C. difficile is a major cause of persistent diarrhea, occurring most often after taking antibiotics. |
 | A fail-safe mechanism for DNA repairSingle-molecule fluorescent measurements provide fresh insights into a process for keeping errors out of our genomes. |
 | 3-D models reveal why bigger bumblebees see betterBy generating 3-D images of bumblebees' compound eyes, researchers at Lund University in Sweden have discovered how bumblebees differ in their vision. The results could contribute to increased knowledge about the pollination process—once researchers are able to determine which flowers different bees see easily, and which ones they find it harder to distinguish. |
 | Tracking down one of the most elusive species on the planetPicture the scene: you're trekking through one of the remotest regions in steepest, starkest Kyrgyzstan, on the trail of a species so elusive that it might just as well be the stuff of legend. At the risk of stating the obvious, it's like searching for the proverbial needle in a haystack. |
 | House hunting for hellbenders: Pick right-sized rock or be eaten by cannibal neighborsFor young hellbenders, choosing the right home is more than a major life decision. Their survival can depend on it. |
 | Study finds climate warming accelerates tallgrass prairie bioiversityA University of Oklahoma study on climate warming in an Oklahoma tallgrass prairie has implications for understanding and predicting ecological consequences of climate change and ecosystem management strategies. More rapid changes in biodiversity are expected in a warmer world. In addition, ecosystem functions and services may become more vulnerable as the structure of an ecosystem is linked to the functions it performs, which may provide positive or negative feedback to climate warming. |
 | Man mauled in fourth shark attack on Barrier Reef in six monthsA man has been bitten on the leg by a shark in Australia's Great Barrier Reef, authorities said Monday, the fourth such attack in six months at the popular tourist site. |
 | Plant seed research provides basis for sustainable alternatives to chemical fertilizersRecent advances in next-generation sequencing technologies have allowed scientists to access and assess previously undetectable plant microorganisms. Scientists have long known that various plant-associated microorganisms contribute to plant health and productivity but were unable to analyze them in plant seeds due to technical restrictions. Thanks to the enhanced development of high-throughput sequencing methods, plant seed microbiomes have been increasingly studied. |
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