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Here is your customized Science X Newsletter for May 30, 2019:
Spotlight Stories Headlines
Astronomy & Space news
 | Ammonia detected on the surface of Pluto, hints at subterranean waterA team of researchers affiliated with several institutions in the U.S. and one in France has found evidence of ammonia on the surface of Pluto. In their paper published in the journal Science Advances, the group describes their finding and what it might have revealed about the dwarf planet. |
 | NASA's Curiosity Mars rover finds a clay cacheNASA's Curiosity rover has confirmed that the region on Mars it's exploring, called the "clay-bearing unit," is well deserving of its name. Two samples the rover recently drilled at rock targets called "Aberlady" and "Kilmarie" have revealed the highest amounts of clay minerals ever found during the mission. Both drill targets appear in a new selfie taken by the rover on May 12, 2019, the 2,405th Martian day, or sol, of the mission. |
 | Subaru Telescope captures 1800 new supernovaeAstronomers using the Subaru Telescope identified about 1800 new supernovae in the distant universe, including 58 Type Ia supernovae over 8 billion light-years away. These findings will help elucidate the expansion of the universe. |
 | James Webb Space Telescope emerges successfully from final thermal vacuum testNASA's James Webb Space Telescope has successfully cleared another critical testing milestone, taking this ambitious observatory one step closer to its 2021 launch. The spacecraft has gone through its final thermal vacuum test meant to ensure that its hardware will function electronically in the vacuum of space, and withstand the extreme temperature variations it will encounter on its mission. |
 | A new view of exoplanets with NASA's upcoming Webb TelescopeWhile we now know of thousands of exoplanets—planets around other stars—the vast majority of our knowledge is indirect. That is, scientists have not actually taken many pictures of exoplanets, and because of the limits of current technology, we can only see these worlds as points of light. However, the number of exoplanets that have been directly imaged is growing over time. When NASA's James Webb Space Telescope launches in 2021, it will open a new window on these exoplanets, observing them in wavelengths at which they have never been seen before and gaining new insights about their nature. |
 | NICER's night moves trace the X-ray skyIn this image, numerous sweeping arcs seem to congregate at various bright regions. You may wonder: What is being shown? Air traffic routes? Information moving around the global internet? Magnetic fields looping across active areas on the Sun? |
 | First ever solar eclipse film brought back to lifeThe BFI and the Royal Astronomical Society have announced the rediscovery of the earliest moving picture of a total solar eclipse from 1900. The original film fragment held in The Royal Astronomical Society's archive has been painstakingly scanned and restored in 4K by conservation experts at the BFI National Archive, who have reassembled and retimed the film frame by frame. Available now to watch online for free, Solar Eclipse (1900) is part of BFI Player's recently released Victorian Film collection, and viewers are now able to experience this first film of a solar eclipse originally captured over a century ago. |
Technology news
 | Researchers try to recreate human-like thinking in machinesResearchers at Oxford University have recently tried to recreate human thinking patterns in machines, using a language guided imagination (LGI) network. Their method, outlined in a paper pre-published on arXiv, could inform the development of artificial intelligence that is capable of human-like thinking, which entails a goal-directed flow of mental ideas guided by language. |
 | 'Slothbot' takes a leisurely approach to environmental monitoringFor environmental monitoring, precision agriculture, infrastructure maintenance and certain security applications, slow and energy efficient can be better than fast and always needing a recharge. That's where "SlothBot" comes in. |
 | Amazon digital assistant Alexa gets new skill: amnesiaAmazon on Wednesday added the ability to tell its Alexa digital assistant to forget what it has heard in a move that could assuage concerns about Echo devices remembering conversations. |
 | Researchers add 'time-travel' feature to drives to fight ransomware attacksOne of the latest cyber threats involves hackers encrypting user files and then charging "ransom" to get them back. In the paper, "Project Almanac: A Time-Traveling Solid State Drive," University of Illinois students Chance Coats and Xiaohao Wang and Assistant Professor Jian Huang from the Coordinated Science Laboratory look at how they can use the commodity storage devices already in a computer, to save the files without having to pay the ransom. |
 | Nailing digital fakes with AI-learned artifactsWe see the imaginative feats of photo fakery; now we have to figure out what to do about them. Being able to tell fake from real is the goal, but how to get there? Forensics is the key tool to hunt down fake photos and it does not appear to be an easy task in getting that tool to perform well. |
 | A prosthetic foot that tackles tough terrainTaking on a hiking trail or a cobblestone street with a prosthetic leg is a risky proposition—it's possible, but even in relatively easy terrain, people who use prostheses to walk are more likely to fall than others. Now, Stanford University mechanical engineers have developed a more stable prosthetic leg—and a better way of designing them—that could make challenging terrain more manageable for people who have lost a lower leg. |
 | Simplifying soft robotsA soft robot developed by researchers from the Harvard John A. Paulson School of Engineering and Applied Sciences (SEAS) could pave the way to fully untethered robots for space exploration, search and rescue systems, biomimetics, medical surgery, rehabilitation and more. |
 | New algorithm may help people store more pictures, share videos fasterThe world produces about 2.5 quintillion bytes of data every day. Storing and transferring all of this enormous—and constantly growing—number of images, videos, Tweets, and other forms of data is becoming a significant challenge, one that threatens to undermine the growth of the internet and thwart the introduction of new technologies, such as the Internet of Things. |
 | Traffic sign recognition 'most influential' innovation of past decadeA research paper which revolutionised how cars read traffic signs has been recognised as the 'most influential over the decade' at a ceremony in Tokyo. |
 | G20 countries eye tax policy for internet giants: NikkeiG20 countries are planning a new tax policy for digital giants like Google, based on the business a company does in a country, not where it is headquartered, the Nikkei business daily said Thursday. |
 | Boeing CEO on 737 MAX problems: 'We clearly fell short'The head of Boeing acknowledged Wednesday that the company "clearly fell short" in dealing with the accident-ridden 737 MAX and said that it had not adequately communicated with regulators. |
 | Huawei a key beneficiary of China subsidies that US wants endedA replica of the Palace of Versailles, medieval turrets, and spires rise across Huawei's new campus in southern China, a monument to the telecom giant's growing fortune—and the benefits of state aid. |
 | Will Apple's roots in China hold fast amid political storm?Apple is seen as a prime target for retaliation over US moves against the Chinese tech giant Huawei, but the roots planted by the company in China should help it weather the storm, analysts say. |
 | Researchers make breakthrough discovery in stretchable electronics materialsStretchable electronics are where engineering meets Hollywood special effects. |
 | Australians could have saved over $1 billon in fuel if car emissions standards were introduced 3 years agoWhen it comes to road transport, Australia is at risk of becoming a climate villain as we lag behind international best practice on fuel efficiency. |
 | Tempted to cheat on a written exam? Artificial intelligence is 90% certain to nab youCombining big data with artificial intelligence has allowed University of Copenhagen researchers to determine whether you wrote your assignment or whether a ghostwriter penned it for you—with nearly 90 percent accuracy. |
 | Influencing energy use behavior through training and gamificationBuildings are responsible for approximately 40 percent of energy consumption and 36 percent of CO2 emissions in the EU, according to the European Commission. It's also widely accepted that to reduce the amount of energy used, consumers have to change their behavior. But old habits die hard, especially when it comes to making sacrifices for the environment. |
 | Waymo bringing self-driving trucks to Phoenix area freewaysGoogle's self-driving vehicle division says it's bringing autonomous trucks to the Phoenix area. |
 | Technology can transform global health and education, but it's no silver bulletNew report offers a blueprint for prudent investments in technology, through which governments can create effective and fair health and education services. |
 | Telecoms giant EE launches Britain's first 5G servicesBritish mobile phone operator EE on Thursday became the first in the country to launch a high-speed 5G service, but without smartphones from controversial Chinese technology giant Huawei. |
 | U.S. Postal Service mail, packages are headed to Dallas by self-driving truckBefore letters end up in your mailbox and packages land on your doorstep, many travel hundreds or thousands of miles in the back of a truck. Now, the United States Postal Service is testing what it would take to shuttle that cargo without a driver in the front seat. |
Gadgets: After a day of grilling, have a robot take care of cleaningI've been grilling for years, and love it. I've also been cleaning grills for years, and hate it. The past few years, I've used a power washer with good results but it's still a chore. The Grillbot has been out for a few years but I didn't know about it, so I'll assume you didn't know about the grill cleaning robot either. | |
 | Natural spectral linesCertain ranges of frequency across the electromagnetic spectrum are reserved by regulators for particular applications: TV, digital radio, Wi-Fi, Bluetooth etc. Unregulated devices are precluded from broadcasting on these spread frequencies. However, much of the bandwidth is unused across vast swathes of the planet and could be used by other devices, but for those legal constraints. |
 | UK car output crashes on Brexit-induced shutdownsBritish car output almost halved in April as factories imposed shutdowns in the face of Brexit uncertainty and other sector-wide headwinds, industry data showed Thursday. |
 | Chicago winter without a furnace or gas bill: Passive houses make it possible and are slowly catching onIn the 1970s, long before the Prius and Green New Deal, a small group of engineers and architects at the University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign was already going green. |
 | Renault and Fiat Chrysler stuck over merger terms: reportTalks between Fiat Chrysler and Renault have hit a roadblock over the financial terms of the proposed merger between the Italian-US and French carmakers, the French business daily Les Echos reported online Thursday, citing sources close to Fiat Chrysler. |
Medicine & Health news
 | Stressed pregnant moms may mean lower sperm counts: studyMen whose mothers suffered stressful events such as divorce or job loss in early pregnancy are more likely to have fewer and less active sperm, researchers said Thursday. |
 | Scientists discover 'switch' that helps breast cancer spread around the bodyThe early-stage research, led by scientists from Imperial College London and The Institute of Cancer Research, London, identified a genetic 'switch' in breast cancer cells that boosts the production of a type of internal scaffolding. |
 | DNA tests for patients move closer with genome analysis advanceDiseases caused by genetic changes could be detected more readily thanks to an advance in DNA analysis software. |
 | Circadian clock and fat metabolism linked through newly discovered mechanismThe enzyme Nocturnin, which governs daily tasks such as fat metabolism and energy usage, works in an entirely different way than previously thought, reported a team of researchers at Princeton University. The newly discovered mechanism reveals the molecular link between the enzyme's daily fluctuations and its energy-regulating role in the body, according to a study published this week in Nature Communications. |
 | New imaging tool for diagnosing heart diseaseAn international team led by scientists from Lawson Health Research Institute and Cedars-Sinai Medical Center are the first to show that Magnetic Resonance Imaging (MRI) can be used to measure how the heart uses oxygen for both healthy patients and those with heart disease. |
 | Gut bacteria influence autism-like behaviors in miceAutism spectrum disorder (ASD) affects an estimated one in 59 people in the United States, causing a variety of difficulties with social communication and repetitive behavior. Many factors, including genetic and environmental effects, are believed to influence symptoms, and there are no approved treatments. Now, using mouse models, Caltech researchers have discovered that gut bacteria directly contribute to autism-like behaviors in mice. |
 | Newly discovered immune cell linked to type 1 diabetesIn a discovery that might be likened to finding medicine's version of the Loch Ness monster, a research team from Johns Hopkins Medicine, IBM Research and four collaborating institutions is the first to document the existence of long-doubted "X cell," a "rogue hybrid" immune system cell that may play a key role in the development of type 1 diabetes. |
 | Intranasal stem cell therapy restores smell in miceA stem cell therapy delivered into the nose can restore the sense of smell in a mouse model of olfactory loss. The findings, published May 30 in the journal Stem Cell Reports, provide proof of principle for an approach that has the potential to be of broad utility for a range of clinical conditions causing loss of olfaction. |
 | Interaction with stromal cells influences tumor growth, metastasis in pancreatic cancerA study from researchers at the Massachusetts General Hospital (MGH) Cancer Center has demonstrated how the response to pancreatic cancer cells of normal tissue—called the stroma—within tumors can influence the ability of individual cancer cells to proliferate and metastasize. Their report, which details how differences in the relative amounts of tumor cells and stromal cells alter patterns of gene expression within individual tumor cells, is being published in Cell and may lead to improved therapies for this difficult-to-treat cancer. |
 | Researchers restore beta-cell function by deleting old cellsResearch from Joslin Diabetes Center has shown in mice that insulin resistance increases the proportion of aged beta-cells which are dysfunction. Such an increase in aged beta-cells could lead to type 2 diabetes. These researchers confirmed similarly increased proportion of aged beta-cells in islets recovered from humans with type 2 diabetes. The study also showed that beta cell function can be recovered by removing these aged populations either via genetic modification or oral medication. |
 | Scientists bioengineer human liver disease in the lab to find new treatmentsScientists successfully bioengineered human liver organoids that faithfully mimic key features of fatal liver disease in the laboratory. This allowed them to uncover underlying disease biology in the organoids and test a potential therapy that in preclinical lab tests reversed an often-fatal childhood condition called Wolman disease. |
 | Combination of three gene mutations results in deadly human heart diseaseCongenital heart disease occurs in up to 1% of live births, and the infants who are affected may require multiple surgeries, life-long medication, or heart transplants. In many patients, the exact cause of congenital heart disease is unknown. While it is becoming increasingly clear that these heart defects can be caused by genetic mutations, it is not well understood which genes are involved and how they interact. Genetic mutations, also called genetic variants, can also cause poor heart function, but the type and severity of dysfunction varies widely even among those with the same mutation. |
 | Being refreshed is not the same as being hydratedAfter you have exercised on a hot day, a cool glass of water will quench your thirst immediately—even before your body has had a chance to absorb the water. |
 | Unknown mini-proteins in the heartA team led by Professor Norbert Hübner's MDC research group has observed human heart cell "protein factories" in action, examining the entire tissue for the very first time. In an article published in Cell, the group reveals their surprising discoveries and the possibilities they contain for the future treatment of heart disease. |
 | Radiation-free stem cell transplants, gene therapy may be within reachResearchers at Stanford and the University of Tokyo may have cracked the code to doing stem cell transplants and gene therapy without radiation and chemotherapy. |
 | Researchers discover a new way to protect against high-dose radiation damageRadiotherapy is one of the most effective ways to destroy cancer cells and shrink tumors. Around 50 percent of patients with tumors located in the gastrointestinal cavity (liver, pancreas, colon, prostate, etc) receive this type of treatment, which has increased cancer survival rates in recent decades. However, intensive radiation therapy not only damages tumor cells, but also healthy intestinal cells, leading to toxicity in 60 percent of treated patients. Whereas reversal of toxicity is observed after radiotherapy has concluded, 10 percent of treated patients develop gastrointestinal syndrome, a disease characterized by intestinal cell death, resulting in the destruction of the entire intestine and patient death. |
NHS commissioners are ignoring guidelines by rationing cataract surgeryClinical commissioning groups (CCGs) in England are ignoring clinical guidelines by rationing access to cataract surgery,The BMJ has found. | |
World's tiniest surviving baby born in CaliforniaA California hospital on Wednesday disclosed the birth of the world's smallest baby ever to survive, weighing a mere 245 grams (8.6 ounces)—the same as a large apple—when she was born. | |
 | Early onset colorectal cancer rising fastest in the westEarly-onset colorectal cancer -cancer occurring before age 50—is rising most rapidly in Western states, where healthy behaviors are prominent, according to a new study. The authors of the study, which appears in the Journal of the National Cancer Institute, say the findings indicate the need for further etiologic studies to explore early-life colorectal carcinogenesis. |
 | Concussion symptoms reversed by magnetic therapyConcussion symptoms—such as loss of balance, hazy comprehension, sleep disturbance and ability to walk straight—can be reversed by a new type of magnetic stimulation, research at the University of Saskatchewan (USask) shows. |
 | Immune system discovery inspires a new barometer for inflammatory diseasesA unique discovery about the nature of neutrophils—the most numerous white blood cells in the body—may lead to new models for diagnosing and tracking inflammatory diseases such as cancer and osteoarthritis. |
 | Study could lead to 'cognitive therapy in your pocket'Based on a study by McLean Hospital researchers, individuals with anxiety, depression, and other mental health conditions may soon be able to use a smartphone app to deliver on-demand cognitive bias modification for interpretation (CBM-I), a way to change mental habits without visiting a therapist. |
 | Viral study suggests an approach that may decrease kidney damage in transplant patientsWhile studying one of the smallest DNA viruses known, Sunnie Thompson, Ph.D., may have found a new way to help prevent kidney damage following organ transplant. |
 | Novel protocol significantly improves outcomes in locally advanced pancreatic cancerLocally advanced pancreatic cancer (LAPC) - a tumor that, while still confined to the pancreas, involves major abdominal blood vessels—is one of the worst forms of an already deadly tumor, as it cannot be removed surgically. Now a Massachusetts General Hospital (MGH) Cancer Center clinical trial of a treatment protocol combining intensive chemotherapy and radiation therapy with the blood pressure drug losartan has produced unprecedented results—allowing complete removal of the tumor in 61 percent of participants and significantly improving survival rates. |
 | Greater emphasis is needed on joint role of condoms and vaccines to prevent HPVPublic health efforts must emphasize condom use and vaccination together to reduce human papillomavirus (HPV) cases among young sexually active gay men, according to researchers at Drexel University's Dornsife School of Public Health published today in the journal Vaccine. The work builds on other studies demonstrating success of these methods by modeling how many HPV cases can be prevented by increasing the number of people vaccinated. This study contrasted vaccination scale-up with other STI prevention strategies, such as condoms and selecting sexual partners based on HIV status, in the reduction of HPV. |
 | Wild boars, hunting dogs and hunters carry tick-borne bacteriaRickettsia bacteria cause a number of human and animal infections, including Rocky Mountain spotted fever. Now, researchers reporting in PLOS Neglected Tropical Diseases have for the first time surveyed the prevalence of Rickettsia antibodies and Rickettsia-carrying ticks in wild boars, hunting dogs and hunters in Brazil. |
 | New framework helps gauge impact of mosquito control programsEffective methods of controlling mosquito populations are needed to help lower the worldwide burden of mosquito-borne diseases including Zika, chikungunya, and dengue. Now, researchers reporting in PLOS Neglected Tropical Diseases have described a new statistical framework that can be used to assess mosquito control programs over broad time and space scales. |
 | Understanding why virus can't replicate in human cells could improve vaccinesThe identification of a gene that helps to restrict the host range of the modified vaccinia virus Ankara (MVA) could lead to the development of new and improved vaccines against diverse infectious agents, according to a study published May 30 in the open-access journal PLOS Pathogens by Bernard Moss of the National Institutes of Health, and colleagues. |
 | How the immune system keeps the Epstein-Barr virus in checkA protein called PD-1, which is found on immune cells called CD8+ T cells, plays a key role in controlling infection with the Epstein-Barr virus, according to a study published May 30 in the open-access journal PLOS Pathogens by Christian Münz of the University of Zurich, and colleagues. The results from this study indicate that monitoring PD-1 signaling during future vaccination and immunotherapy studies may inform patient outcomes. |
 | Concussions in elite soccer not assessed according to expert recommendations: studyAn average of at least one potential concussive event occurred per game during the 2016 UEFA European Championship and nearly three quarters of the head collision incidents did not result in a medical assessment by sideline health-care personnel, according to a review published today in the journal BMJ Open. |
 | Alternative molecular mechanisms observed in cancer cellsCurrent anti-cancer drugs can be quite effective but too often, tumors are not fought off completely and end up returning. A recent study published in The FASEB Journal provides the first evidence that some cancer cells evade therapy by switching over to alternative molecular mechanisms that are not affected by existing anti-cancer treatments. |
 | Mentally ill at risk of dangerous pregnancy complicationNew research by Murdoch University and The University of Western Australia has revealed that women with severe mental illness have a greater chance of developing a serious medical complication during pregnancy. |
 | Inflammation-driven deterioration of structural proteins contributes to agingAging-related inflammation can drive the decline of a critical structural protein called lamin-B1, which contributes to diminished immune function in the thymus, according to research from Carnegie's Sibiao Yue, Xiaobin Zheng, and Yixian Zheng published in Aging Cell. |
 | Eating blueberries every day improves heart healthEating a cup of blueberries a day reduces risk factors for cardiovascular disease—according to new research led by the University of East Anglia, in collaboration with colleagues from Harvard and across the UK. |
 | Life isn't over: how best to communicate with people living with dementiaWhen Sandie Read was diagnosed with dementia at 57, she felt a mixture of fear, anxiety and depression. Fifteen years later and not only is she offering support to fellow sufferers but she's also working with researchers to improve the way people communicate and interact with those living with the condition. |
 | As nurse practitioners fill the gap, patients say they're more than satisfied with careFindings from a new research study led by Thomas Kippenbrock, a nursing professor at the University of Arkansas, suggest that patients are just as satisfied—or even happier—with care from nurse practitioners as compared with doctors. |
 | Sunshine may decrease risk of inflammatory bowel diseaseChildren who spend half an hour a day outside in the sun reduce their risk of inflammatory bowel disease (IBD), according to new research from The Australian National University (ANU). |
 | Rising self-harm rates suggest financial crisis may have hit middle-aged men hardestSelf-harm in middle-aged men increased significantly following the 2008 financial crisis, according to a study led by researchers at The University of Manchester. |
 | Molecule involved in immune cell migration plays a critical role in establishing immune responsesA team of researchers led by Kazuhiro Suzuki from the Immunology Frontier Research Center at Osaka University discovered the COMMD3/8 complex as a molecule involved in immune cell migration, clarifying that the complex plays a critical role in the establishment of immune responses. Their research results were published in the Journal of Experimental Medicine. |
 | Backyard chickens and the risk of lead exposureWhen Teresa McGowan and her husband first bought their Somerville, Massachusetts, home in 2004, one of the first things they did was test the soil in their yard for lead. It was a recommendation from local gardeners, who knew that produce grown in contaminated soil can be dangerous. |
 | Infancy and early childhood matter so much because of attachmentWe are born to connect. As human beings we are relational and we need biological, emotional and psychological connection with others. |
 | Over-the-counter contraceptive pill could save the health system $96 million a yearFor many young women who take the contraceptive pill and don't experience any side effects, seeing a doctor to renew your prescription each year is a nuisance. |
 | How long can humans live?Humans are living longer around the world. While there have been obvious ups and downs, life expectancy at birth overall has been steadily increasing for many years. It has more than doubled in the last two centuries. |
 | Gene-edited babies don't grow in test tubes—mothers' roles shouldn't be erasedA baby with incandescent green eyes, a baby stamped with a bar code, another with a glowing gold brain: these are some of the images illustrating stories about the gene-edited twin girls born last November after the world learned of Chinese scientist He Jiankui's controversial efforts to modify embryos with the CRISPR-Cas9 genome editing tool. |
 | Scientists find 'unknown link' between lung cancer and common parasiteToxoplasma gondii, a microscopic parasite that gets inside our cells, is present in about 10 percent of the population in the U.K. |
 | A third of people in Wales use digital technology to self-diagnoseMore than a third of people in Wales (34 percent) use digital technology to self-diagnose health conditions, whilst only 14 percent make a healthcare appointment online. |
 | This year the flu came in two waves—here's whyThe just-ended 2018-2019 flu season was relatively mild compared to the last season, during which nearly 80,000 people in the U.S. died of flu-related illness, according to estimates by the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. |
 | Immune cells determine how fast certain tumors growTumors arise when cells shake off their restraints and start to multiply out of control. But how fast a tumor grows does not depend solely on how quickly the cancer cells can divide, a new study has found. |
 | Waterfall illusion: When you see still objects move—and what it tells you about your brainHumans are fascinated by visual illusions, which occur when there is a mismatch between the pattern of light that falls on the retina, and what we perceive. Before books, films, and the internet allowed illusions to be shared widely, people were captivated by illusions in nature. Indeed, it is here that the long history of the study of illusions begins. Both Aristotle and Lucretius described motion illusions following observation of flowing water. |
 | Cold-parenting linked to premature aging, increased disease risk in offspringNew research out of Loma Linda University Health suggests that unsupportive parenting styles may have several negative health implications for children, even into their adult years. |
Providing a critical roadmap to bridge the gap between medicine and public healthAcademic medical centers across the country and around the world are rapidly creating and expanding population health departments to bridge the worlds of clinical practice and public health. However, few frameworks exist to guide these efforts. Now a new case study from a pioneering leader in the field provides an important and definitive road map. | |
 | Depression sufferers at risk of multiple chronic diseasesWomen who experience symptoms of depression are at risk of developing multiple chronic diseases, research led by The University of Queensland has found. |
 | Does eating fruit and veg help your mental health?Increasing the amount of fruit and vegetables people eat lowers their risk of clinical depression, new research has found. The study discovered that eating, for example, four extra portions of fruit and vegetables a day can boost people's mental health to such an extent that it can offset half the negative psychological impact of divorce and a quarter of the psychological damage of unemployment. |
Five-year outcomes for Brigham face transplant recipientsBrigham surgical teams have performed face transplants for people who have suffered from severe facial injuries. The surgery holds the promise of improving physical and mental health for patients who have been severely disfigured and have no other treatment options. Today, in the New England Journal of Medicine, a Brigham team presents the longer-term outcomes for six patients who had been followed for up to 5 years after surgery, representing the largest cohort of patients in the U.S. Overall, patients had a robust return of motor and sensory function of their face, and all but one patient reported improvements in quality of life. | |
 | Unique SA dataset reveals number of HIV deaths before antiretroviralsA unique dataset has enabled scientists to better estimate the number of HIV-infected South Africans who had died by 2009 before ARVs became available publicly. |
 | Emergency room or doctor's office?A new study in the journal Heliyon examines the relationship between the way individuals perceive and respond to threats (threat sensitivity) and where they most frequently seek medical care. The study investigates the association between the healthcare utilization practices of African American men in a low-income urban neighborhood and their relative levels of threat sensitivity, insurance status, and ages. |
 | Overall cancer mortality continues to declineThe latest Annual Report to the Nation on the Status of Cancer finds that, for all cancer sites combined, cancer death rates continued to decline in men, women, and children in the United States from 1999 to 2016. Overall cancer incidence rates, or rates of new cancers, decreased in men from 2008 to 2015, after increasing from 1999 to 2008, and were stable in women from 1999 to 2015. In a special section of the report, researchers looked at cancer rates and trends in adults ages 20 to 49. |
Significant 'knowledge gap' exists in use of genetic testing to decide cancer treatmentA questionnaire aimed at assessing how well community oncologists understand "molecular profiling" results from tumor specimens found that 69 percent of participants either said they don't know the answers, or they responded incorrectly. In six different clinical scenarios, the oncologists were asked to match a genetic alteration to the targeted therapy designed to attack those cancer-causing aberrations—information that is key to effective personalized treatment. | |
 | Researchers study resistance to 'protect' anti-TB drugIn July last year, South Africa became the first country to roll out a new anti-tuberculosis drug in its national programme. |
 | Brain activity in teens predicts future mood healthAn imbalance of functioning in attention-related brain systems may help forecast the course of teen depression, according to a study published in Biological Psychiatry: Cognitive Neuroscience and Neuroimaging, published by Elsevier. Proper coordination of frontoinsular brain networks help us regulate our attention between external goals and self-focused or emotional thinking. But abnormalities in the coordination between these networks were not only evident in teens with more severe depression, but also, critically, predicted increased depressive symptoms two weeks later. |
 | Research confirms gut-brain connection in autismPeople with autism often suffer from gut problems, but nobody has known why. Researchers have now discovered the same gene mutations—found both in the brain and the gut—could be the cause. |
 | Heartburn drugs linked to fatal heart and kidney disease, stomach cancerExtended use of popular drugs to treat heartburn, ulcers and acid reflux has been associated with an increased risk of premature death. However, little has been known about the specific causes of death attributed to the drugs. |
 | Raw or cooked: This is how we recognise foodDo we see a pear or an apple? The occipital cortex in our brain will activate itself to recognise it. A piece of bread or a nice plate of pasta with sauce? Another region will come into play, called the middle temporal gyrus. Different regions are implicated in recognition of different foods, raw in one case and processed in the other, because two components of the so-called "semantic memory," the one that we always use to recognise the world around us, are involved. More specifically, according to new research by SISSA just published in Scientific Reports, to identify "natural" foods, such as fresh fruit, the "sensory" component of semantic memory is required, in which sensory information, like visual or tactile input, allow us to identify an object. On the other hand, for processed or cooked foods, other areas are preferentially engaged: areas associated with semantic memory that are involved in the recognition of functional features, with which we succeed in identifying an object through the function we associate to it. The results of this study have opened up new prospects for investigation of how our memory functions and of how our brain processes information related to food. |
 | 'Ecstasy' shows promise for post-traumatic stress treatmentAn international study involving researchers from UBC Okanagan has shown that MDMA, also known as ecstasy, may be a valuable tool for treating post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD). |
 | Discovery may lead to natural ent-kaurane diterpenoid for NK-based tumor immunotherapyAs early responders in the surveillance of malignant cells, natural killer (NK) cells play a significant role in the control of transformed cells at the tumor initiation stage through direct cytolysis. For this reason, NK cell-based immunotherapy is a potential therapeutic strategy for tumor sufferers. |
 | Cannabis use among older adults rising rapidlyCannabis use among older adults is growing faster than any other age group but many report barriers to getting medical marijuana, a lack of communication with their doctors and a lingering stigma attached to the drug, according to researchers. |
 | Fishing among worst jobs for healthPeople working in the fishing industry have among the poorest health of all workers in England and Wales, new research suggests. |
 | Cancer patients vaping in growing numbers(HealthDay)—Vaping is gaining a foothold in an unlikely population: New research shows a growing number of cancer patients are using electronic cigarettes. |
 | How kids benefit from doing chores(HealthDay)—Chores. Whether you're an adult or a child, the very word makes any job sound less than fun. |
 | Daratumumab cuts risk for progression in multiple myeloma(HealthDay)—For patients with newly diagnosed multiple myeloma, the addition of daratumumab to lenalidomide and dexamethasone is associated with a reduced risk for disease progression or death, according to a study published in the May 30 issue of the New England Journal of Medicine. |
 | Recent plateauing seen in prevalence of diagnosed diabetes(HealthDay)—The prevalence of diagnosed diabetes has plateaued during the last eight years, while the incidence has declined, according to a study published online May 28 in BMJ Open Diabetes Research & Care. |
 | Towards a new era of small animal imaging researchHave you ever spent half an hour trying to take the best photo of your pets but they won't stay still in the perfect angle? This is also true for small animal imaging research using positron emission tomography (PET). Because of this, the use of anesthesia is a widespread practice in animal imaging. It's one of the biggest limitations to imaging studies because anesthesia alters the animal's normal physiological state, blurring the answers to the questions that many researchers have been asking. |
Wildfire smoke worse for kids' health than smoke from controlled burns, study findsChildren were exposed to higher air pollutant levels during a California wildfire than during a similar-sized controlled burn, and the difference was reflected by changes in immune markers in their blood, a new study from the Stanford University School of Medicine has found. | |
 | Don't take your smartphone to bed if you want a good night's sleepIt's bad enough that your kids can't tear themselves from their smartphone screen during daylight hours. (You know that describes you, too.) |
 | Researchers finds new RX target for common STDResearch led by Ashok Aiyar, Ph.D., Associate Professor of Microbiology, Immunology and Parasitology at LSU Health New Orleans School of Medicine, has identified a target that may lead to the development of new treatments for the most common sexually transmitted infection in the US. The results are published this month online in PNAS, available here. |
 | High costs associated with physician burnout in U.S.(HealthDay)—High costs are associated with physician turnover and reduced clinical hours attributed to burnout, according to a study published online May 28 in the Annals of Internal Medicine. |
 | Infectious Diseases A-Z: Vaccine best way to prevent hepatitis A as infections rise nearly 300%Drug use and homelessness are cited as two main reasons why hepatitis A infections have increased nearly 300% in the U.S. since 2015, according to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC). "Hepatitis A is a viral hepatitis that can infect humans, and it infects through the oral-fecal route," says Dr. Stacey Rizza, an infectious diseases specialist at Mayo Clinic. |
 | Red tape limiting opioid epidemic fight: US doctors' groupAn influential US doctors group on Thursday said administrative barriers are limiting access to opioid addiction treatment and policymakers should do more to address the deadly epidemic. |
 | Human contact plays big role in spread of some hospital infections, but not othersAn observational study conducted in a French hospital showed that human contact was responsible for 90 percent of the spread of one species of antibiotic-resistant bacteria to new patients, but less than 60 percent of the spread of a different species. Audrey Duval of the Versailles Saint Quentin University and Institut Pasteur in Paris, France, and colleagues present these findings in PLOS Computational Biology. |
 | Cancer-fighting combination targets glioblastomaResearchers have paired a specialized diet and a tumor-fighting drug and found the non-toxic combination helps to destroy the two major cells found in an aggressive form of brain cancer, the team reports in the online edition of the Nature group journal Communications Biology. |
 | Teens at greater risk of violence, injury during sexual assaults than previously thought: studyA recent study of the forensic evidence in 563 sexual assault cases in Massachusetts found "striking similarities" in the types of injuries and violence experienced by adult and adolescent victims. |
 | Body parts respond to day and night independently from brain, studies showCan your liver sense when you're staring at a television screen or cellphone late at night? Apparently so, and when such activity is detected, the organ can throw your circadian rhythms out of whack, leaving you more susceptible to health problems. |
 | Prosecutors push back on enforcing new state abortion lawsNew state abortion laws likely to become bogged down in legal challenges face another potential obstacle: prosecutors who refuse to enforce them. |
Being teased about weight linked to more weight gain among children, study suggestsYouth who said they were teased or ridiculed about their weight increased their body mass by 33 percent more each year, compared to a similar group who had not been teased, according to researchers at the National Institutes of Health. The findings appear to contradict the belief that such teasing might motivate youth to change their behavior and attempt to lose weight. | |
New study evaluates transcatheter dialysis conduit procedures over 15 yearsA new research study by Harvey L. Neiman Health Policy Institute found that utilization of invasive procedures on hemodialysis conduits—artificially constructed shuts used by many individuals who require dialysis—increased markedly from 2001 through 2015 for nephrologists and declined for radiologists. The study is published online in the Journal of Vascular and Interventional Radiology (JVIR). | |
Patient groups untested in cancer immunotherapy trials found to also benefitImmunotherapy is a revolutionary cancer treatment, but it was unknown if cancer patients with HIV or viral hepatitis could also reap the benefits of this therapy because they had been excluded from most clinical trials. | |
 | Getting zesty with citrus fruits(HealthDay)—Want to be part of the movement to limit food waste of all kinds? One tasty way is to get the most from all your citrus fruits by using the zest, the brightly colored top layer of peel. |
 | Transgender no longer classified as mental health disorder by WHO(HealthDay)—Transgender people will no longer be classified as having a mental disorder by the World Health Organization. |
 | Q&A: Understanding Duchenne muscular dystrophyDear Mayo Clinic: What is Duchenne muscular dystrophy, and what causes it? Is treatment available? Can Duchenne muscular dystrophy be cured? |
Opioid crisis hurting Canadians' life expectancy: officialAn opioid crisis that has claimed thousands of lives across North America has become a drag on the average life expectancy in Canada, the government statistical agency said Thursday. | |
Oncologists see benefit of medical marijuana, but not comfortable prescribingA University of Colorado Cancer Center study presented at the American Society for Clinical Oncology (ASCO) Annual Meeting 2019 shows that while 73 percent of surveyed oncology providers believe that medical marijuana provides benefits for cancer patients, only 46 percent are comfortable recommending it. Major concerns included uncertain dosing, limited knowledge of available products and where to get them, and possible interactions with other medications. | |
 | Entrectinib gets edge over crizotinib against ROS1+ lung cancerCrizotinib and entrectinib are both active against ROS1+ non-small cell lung cancer. But which is best? The answer seems easy: Just compare the drugs' clinical trial results. However, not all trials are created equal, and these differences in trial designs can lead to irrelevant comparisons—like comparing athletes' running times without noting that one ran a kilometer while the other ran a mile. Now results from an innovative, "virtual" clinical trial presented at the American Society for Clinical Oncology (ASCO) Annual Meeting 2019 attempt to place crizotinib and entrectinib on an equal playing field. In this analysis, patients taking entrectinib were able to stay on treatment longer and had about almost 6 months longer progression-free survival than patients treated with crizotinib. |
Biology news
 | Transgenic fungus rapidly killed malaria mosquitoes in West African studyAccording to the World Health Organization, malaria affects hundreds of millions of people around the world, killing more than 400,000 annually. Decades of insecticide use has failed to control mosquitoes that carry the malaria parasite and has led to insecticide-resistance among many mosquito strains. In response, scientists began genetically modifying mosquitoes and other organisms that can help eradicate mosquitoes. Until now, none of these transgenic approaches made it beyond laboratory testing. |
 | Mole rats are pain-free, thanks to evolutionAfrican mole rats are insensitive to many kinds of pain. As an international research team led by the MDC's Gary Lewin reports in Science, this characteristic has allowed mole rats to populate new habitats. Thanks to a genetic change, the highveld mole rat is able to live alongside venomous ants with painful stings that other mole rats avoid. |
 | For the first time, scientists recreate cell division—outside a cellEvery living thing moves—prey from predators, ants to crumbs, leaves toward sunlight. But at the most fundamental level, scientists are still struggling to grasp the physics behind how our own cells build, move, transport and divide. |
 | Brain size and fertility in mammals may depend on who cares for offspringThe evolution of larger brain size in offspring is associated with the amount of paternal care in mammals, whereas higher fertility in the mothers is correlated with additional care support from individuals that are not the offspring's biological parents (alloparents), according to a study published in the journal Behavioural Ecology and Sociobiology. |
 | CRISPR enzyme protects bacteria by turning infected cells on themselvesWhat doesn't kill a bacterium makes it stronger. |
 | Researchers trace the genetic history and diversity of wheatA team of researchers from Université Clermont Auvergne and BreedWheat in France and the International Wheat Genome Sequencing Consortium in the U.S. has conducted genomic testing of thousands of wheat types to trace the genetic history and diversity of wheat. In their paper published in the journal Science Advances, the group describes their study of the history of wheat domestication and how it has come to exist in its present state. |
 | A new mechanism for accessing damaged DNAUV light damages the DNA of skin cells, which can lead to skin cancer. But this process is counteracted by DNA repair machinery, acting as a molecular sunscreen. It has been unclear, however, how repair proteins work on DNA tightly packed in chromatin, where access to DNA damage is restricted by protein packaging. Using cryo electron microscopy, researchers from the Thomä group at the Friedrich Miescher Institute for Biomedical Research (FMI) have identified a new mechanism whereby repair proteins detect and bind to damaged DNA that is densely packed in nucleosomes. |
 | Bacteria's protein quality control agent offers insight into origins of lifeMay 30—Our cells' process for transforming genes into useful proteins works much like an automobile factory's assembly line; there are schematics, parts, workers, motors, quality control systems and even recycling crews. If the cell's recycling process falters, abnormal protein fragments accumulate, potentially causing the cell's death. In nerve cells, the process is linked to a variety of neurodegenerative diseases, including ALS and dementia. |
 | Freshwater find: Genetic advantage allows some marine fish to colonize freshwater habitatsHow did some marine fish manage to make their way from the salty sea to the newly available freshwater niches after the last ice age and eventually differentiate from their marine brethren? |
 | Scientists identify a novel strategy to fight viral infections and cancer in animal modelA potential therapeutic strategy to treat viral infection and boost immunity against cancer is reported in the May 30 online issue of the journal Cell. |
 | Model identifies high-risk areas for lumpy skin disease in cattleResearchers have combined two separate computer models to identify areas at highest risk for outbreaks of lumpy skin disease virus (LSDV) in cattle. The models could help officials determine where to send resources ahead of outbreaks and serve as a potential early warning system for cattle farmers in affected areas. |
 | Habitat loss doesn't just affect species, it impacts networks of ecological relationshipsHabitat loss is the leading cause of biodiversity loss worldwide. Depending on their size, animals need a given amount of area to be able to find enough resources to maintain viable populations. But once the area of available habitat goes below a certain threshold, populations are no longer viable and species go locally extinct. |
 | Resistance to Fusarium head blight holding in Illinois, study saysIllinois wheat growers, take heart. A new University of Illinois study shows no evidence of a highly toxic Fusarium head blight (FHB) variant, known as NA2, in the wheat-growing region of the state. The study also reinforces the effectiveness of wheat resistance to the fungal disease. |
 | Research proves Midwestern fish species lives beyond 100 yearsResearch recently completed at North Dakota State University has proven that the Bigmouth Buffalo (Ictiobus cyprinellus), a fish native to North America, lives more than eight decades longer than previously thought. The study published in Communications Biology documents several individuals more than 100 years of age, with one at 112 years, which more than quadruples all previous age estimates for this species. In addition, many populations were documented to be 85-90% comprised of individuals more than 80 years old, suggesting unsuccessful reproduction since the 1930s. The Bigmouth Buffalo is now known as the longest-lived freshwater teleost (a group of approximately 12,000 species) and the oldest age-validated freshwater fish (a group of about 14,000 species). |
 | Call to consider raising minimum legal length of bluefish in New South WalesA UNSW study has found the length that tailor (bluefish) are reaching maturity has increased by 5cm in four decades, which means some fish are currently being removed too early in their life cycle through the practice of fishing. |
 | Climate change is causing mass 'die-offs' in seabirds such as puffinsChanges in seabird numbers are probably the best way to monitor the quality of the marine environment. And things are looking bad. In the past 50 years, the world population of marine birds has more than halved. What's worse is that few people have noticed. |
 | Sharks popping up all around Florida for summer beach seasonThere are sharks off Florida's coast. That's not news, but with Memorial Day weekend's traditional summer season kickoff, there are now thousands more people venturing to Florida's beaches, so that means more shark sightings. |
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