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Here is your customized Science X Newsletter for May 29, 2019:
Spotlight Stories Headlines
Astronomy & Space news
 | Photometric observations detect 28 new variable stars in NGC 4147Using the Devasthal optical telescope in India, astronomers have conducted photometric observations of the globular cluster NGC 4147. The observational campaign yielded the discovery of 28 new variable stars in this cluster. The findings are detailed in a paper published May 20 on the arXiv pre-print server. |
 | The 'Forbidden' planet has been found in the 'Neptunian Desert'An exoplanet smaller than Neptune with its own atmosphere has been discovered in the Neptunian Desert, by an international collaboration of astronomers, with the University of Warwick taking a leading role. |
 | SpaceX satellites pose new headache for astronomersIt looked like a scene from a sci-fi blockbuster: an astronomer in the Netherlands captured footage of a train of brightly-lit SpaceX satellites ascending through the night sky this weekend, stunning space enthusiasts across the globe. |
 | 'Fettuccine' may be most obvious sign of life on Mars, researchers reportA rover scanning the surface of Mars for evidence of life might want to check for rocks that look like pasta, researchers report in the journal Astrobiology. |
 | Mars Organic Molecule Analyser: A look at the ExoMars rover's tiny ovensThere are few things better than the smell of freshly baked bread from the oven; this is because molecules in the bread disperse in the heat to reach your nose. In a similar way, the ExoMars rover Rosalind Franklin will "bake" and "sniff" Martian samples in miniature ovens, imaged above, as part of its investigation of the extra-terrestrial world. |
 | Are Elon Musk and SpaceX about to ruin our view of the night sky?Already, the first 60 of SpaceX's planned 12,000 internet-delivery satellites have appeared as a decidedly unnatural string of lights in the night sky. Scientists worry the company's plan to ring Earth with orbiting "Starlink" devices will wreck our view of the cosmos. |
 | A wind tunnel designed to simulate the dusty surface of MarsPart of Aarhus University's Mars Simulation Laboratory in Denmark, this wind tunnel has been specially designed to simulate the dusty surface of planet Mars. |
2 Russians venture into open space from Space StationTwo Russian crewmembers on the International Space Station have begun a spacewalk to conduct scientific research and help maintain the orbiting outpost. | |
 | Ocean and space exploration blend at URI's Graduate School of OceanographyScientists with a NASA-led expedition are operating from the Inner Space Center at the University of Rhode Island's Graduate School of Oceanography as colleagues explore the deep Pacific Ocean to prepare to search for life in deep space. |
 | LED device could increase memory retention among astronautsHanli Liu, a professor of bioengineering at The University of Texas at Arlington, is working to improve memory and cognitive function in astronauts during space missions by directing light onto their brains. |
Technology news
 | Defense against wireless attacks using a deep neural network and game theoryA growing number of devices are now connected to the internet and are capable of collecting, sending and receiving data. This interconnection between devices, referred to as the Internet of Things (IoT), poses serious security threats, as cyberattackers can now target computers and smartphones, but also a vast array of other devices, such as tablets, smart watches, smart home systems, transportation systems and so on. |
 | REPLAB: A low-cost benchmark platform for robotic learningResearchers at UC Berkeley have developed a reproducible, low-cost and compact benchmark platform to evaluate robotic learning approaches, which they called REPLAB. Their recent study, presented in a paper pre-published on arXiv, was supported by Berkeley DeepDrive, the Office of Naval Research (ONR), Google, NVIDIA and Amazon. |
 | New organic flow battery brings decomposing molecules back to lifeAfter years of making progress on an organic aqueous flow battery, Harvard University researchers ran into a problem: the organic anthraquinone molecules that powered their ground-breaking battery were slowly decomposing over time, reducing the long-term usefulness of the battery. |
 | Sensor-packed glove learns signatures of the human graspWearing a sensor-packed glove while handling a variety of objects, MIT researchers have compiled a massive dataset that enables an AI system to recognize objects through touch alone. The information could be leveraged to help robots identify and manipulate objects, and may aid in prosthetics design. |
 | Winter could pose solar farm 'ramping' snag for power gridBy adding utility-scale solar farms throughout New York state, summer electricity demand from conventional sources could be reduced by up to 9.6% in some places. |
 | Societal values and perceptions shape energy production and use as much as new technologySocietal values and perceptions have shaped the energy landscape as much as the technologies that drive its production and consumption, a new paper from an Oregon State University researcher suggests. |
 | Only few hundred training samples bring human-sounding speech in Microsoft TTS featMicrosoft Research Asia has been drawing applause for pulling off text to speech requiring little training—and showing "incredibly" realistic results. |
 | A deep neural network that can maximize or minimize coloring to blend into or stand out against a backgroundA team of researchers at the University of Bristol has developed a deep learning neural network that can identify the best way to minimize or maximize coloring to allow for blending into a background or standing out. In their paper published in Journal of the Royal Society Interface, the team describes their network and possible uses for it. |
 | Outsmarting deep fakes: AI-driven imaging system protects authenticityTo thwart sophisticated methods of altering photos and video, researchers at the NYU Tandon School of Engineering have demonstrated an experimental technique to authenticate images throughout the entire pipeline, from acquisition to delivery, using artificial intelligence (AI). |
 | From viruses to social bots, researchers unearth the structure of attacked networksThe human body's mechanisms are marvelous, yet they haven't given up all their secrets. In order to truly conquer human disease, it is crucial to understand what happens at the most elementary level. |
 | Huawei asks court to rule US security law unconstitutionalFighting to maintain its access to major markets for next-generation communications, Chinese tech giant Huawei is challenging the constitutionality of a 2018 U.S. law that bars it from selling telecoms equipment to U.S. government agencies and contractors. |
 | China steps up threat to deprive US of rare earthsChinese state media dangled Wednesday the threat of cutting exports of rare earths to the United States as a counter-strike in the trade war, potentially depriving Washington of a key resource used to make everything from smartphones to military hardware. |
 | Cyberattack hits New Zealand budgetThe New Zealand government said Wednesday that a "systematic" and "deliberate" cyberattack was behind an embarrassing leak of secret finance documents ahead of this week's budget. |
 | Virus-packed laptop sells as artwork for over $1.3 millionFor Chinese artist Guo O Dong, the simple black Samsung laptop computer, loaded with six potent viruses, symbolizes one of the world's most frightening threats. |
 | From European dream to global giant: Airbus marks half centuryFifty years ago at the Paris air show, France's transport minister and Germany's economy minister signed an agreement that would change aviation history. |
 | Gotta catch some shuteye: Pokemon unveils 'sleep game'Having trouble waking up in the morning? Not getting enough sleep? The company that brought you Pokemon Go may have a solution: a game "played" by sleeping. |
 | World's second EPR nuclear reactor starts work in ChinaA next-generation EPR nuclear reactor in China has carried out its first chain reaction, French energy giant EDF announced Wednesday, becoming the second using the much-delayed European technology to reach the milestone. |
 | Fieldwork Robotics completes initial field trials of raspberry harvesting robot systemUniversity of Plymouth spinout company Fieldwork Robotics has completed initial field trials of its robot raspberry harvesting system. |
 | Super-fast broadband may have negative side effects for companiesThe latest expansion of optic fiber broadband creates conditions for parallel expansion of mobile broadband. A study argues that the negative effect is mainly due to mobile broadband. The argument is supported by the fact that the effect does not exist in the countryside, where mobile broadband has poor coverage.. |
 | Japan law loosens rules for self-driving carsStuck in traffic on a Japanese highway? If you're in a self-driving car you might be able to kick back with a sandwich and check your phone under new legislation in the country. |
 | Will we ever agree to just one set of rules on the ethical development of artificial intelligence?Australia is among 42 countries that last week signed up to a new set of policy guidelines for the development of artificial intelligence (AI) systems. |
 | Is China's social credit system coming to Australia?Privacy was not a hot topic in the recent Australian election, but it should have been. This is because the City of Darwin is adapting elements of the Chinese social credit system for use in Australia. The Chinese system's monitoring of citizens' behaviour has been widely condemned as "Orwellian", with frequent comparisons to the dystopian near-future sci-fi of Black Mirror. But for Australians it's pitched as progress towards a digitally integrated future, embedded innocuously in the "Switching on Darwin" plans for a smarter city. |
 | Fraud probe targets top Porsche bosses: reportThree top executives at Volkswagen subsidiary Porsche including chief Oliver Blume are under investigation over alleged excessive payments to a former works council leader, according to a Wednesday media report. |
 | Apple's iPhone sales slump while China's Huawei gainsApple's biggest cash cow, the iPhone, continued to suffer weaker sales around the world in first quarter of the year as Chinese tech giant Huawei flexed its muscles and claimed more market share from Apple and its longtime rival, Samsung. |
 | Why does my iPhone screen crack so easily and what should I do now?From his perch at Jet City Device Repair in Chicago, store manager Neal Dexter wants you to know something about broken phones: It's not you. |
 | Record-breaking chaotic data transmissionEngineers in China have used a chaos-based system to pipe data securely through a fibre-optic at a rate of 1.25. gigabits per second across a distance of 143 kilometres. |
Greater transparency needed over lobbyist influence on UK renewable energy schemesGreater transparency is needed to understand the influence of lobbyists when delivering crucial renewable energy schemes in the UK, new research has claimed. | |
 | Rude Uber riders could be booted from the appUber riders prone to rude behavior such as leaving trash or urging drivers to speed may be booted from the app under a policy change that took effect here Wednesday. |
 | 737 MAX jet grounded for at least 10-12 more weeks: IATAThe global aviation association IATA expects Boeing's troubled 737 MAX 8 plane to remain grounded for at least 10 to 12 more weeks, director general Alexandre de Juniac said Wednesday. |
 | Renault tries to reassure partner Nissan on Fiat plansRenault officials on Wednesday sought to reassure the firm's alliance partner Nissan over a possible tie-up between the French automaker and Fiat Chrysler, which could up-end the auto industry. |
Rare earths: the latest weapon in the US-China trade warThey are used in everything from lightbulbs to guided missiles, but with China controlling 95 percent of the world's supply of rare earth metals, they are also a potentially powerful weapon in Beijing's trade war with Washington. | |
 | Review: Acer's portable projector brings a big picture in a tiny footprintI don't play with projectors very much, so it's a real treat when I get one to review. |
Medicine & Health news
 | Long-term health effects of armed conflict could last years after bombs stop fallingLiving in a warzone is linked with an increased risk of heart attack and stroke among civilians, even years after the conflict ends, a study has found. |
 | As plaque deposits increase in the aging brain, money management faltersAging adults often show signs of slowing when it comes to managing their finances, such as calculating their change when paying cash or balancing an account ledger. |
 | New compounds could be used to treat autoimmune disordersThe immune system is programmed to rid the body of biological bad guys—like viruses and dangerous bacteria—but its precision isn't guaranteed. In the tens of millions of Americans suffering from autoimmune diseases, the system mistakes normal cells for malicious invaders, prompting the body to engage in self-destructive behavior. This diverse class of conditions, which includes Type I diabetes, lupus, and multiple sclerosis, can be very difficult to treat. |
 | How to quell a cytokine storm: New ways to dampen an overactive immune systemBRCA—the family of DNA-repair proteins associated with breast, ovarian prostate, and pancreatic cancers—interacts with a multipart, molecular complex that is also responsible for regulating the immune system. When certain players in this pathway go awry, autoimmune disorders, like lupus, can arise. Now, researchers in the Perelman School of Medicine at the University of Pennsylvania and colleagues at the University of Leeds, United Kingdom, have deciphered the structure of the complex and have found new molecular targets for fighting autoimmunity. Their findings are published this week in Nature. |
 | New findings from Human Microbiome Project reveal how microbiome is disrupted during IBDA new study led by researchers from Harvard T.H. Chan School of Public Health and the Broad Institute of MIT and Harvard is the first to have observed the complex set of chemical and molecular events that disrupt the microbiome and trigger immune responses during flare-ups of inflammatory bowel diseases (IBD), including Crohn's disease and ulcerative colitis. |
 | New blood test uses DNA 'packaging' patterns to detect multiple cancer typesResearchers at the Johns Hopkins Kimmel Cancer Center have developed a simple new blood test that can detect the presence of seven different types of cancer by spotting unique patterns in the fragmentation of DNA shed from cancer cells and circulating in the bloodstream. |
 | Key link discovered between tissue cell type and different forms of arthritisPioneering research by scientists at the Universities of Oxford and Birmingham published today in Nature brings us a step closer to developing targeted therapies for inflammatory diseases. |
 | Breastfeeding moms' milk can transfer lifelong protection against infection to their babiesMothers' breast milk can provide protection against infection that lasts for life, finds new research in mice by an international team of scientists including experts at the University of Birmingham. |
 | Early statin treatment may help children with Fragile XChildren with an inherited form of intellectual disability and autism could be helped by a medicine commonly used to lower cholesterol, if used early in life. |
 | Music helps to build the brains of very premature babiesIn Switzerland, as in most industrialized countries, nearly 1 percent of children are born "very prematurely," i.e. before the 32nd week of pregnancy, which represents about 800 children yearly. While advances in neonatal medicine now give them a good chance of survival, these children are however at high risk of developing neuropsychological disorders. To help the brains of these fragile newborns develop as well as possible despite the stressful environment of intensive care, researchers at the University of Geneva (UNIGE) and the University Hospitals of Geneva (HUG), Switzerland, propose an original solution—music written especially for them. And the first results, published in the Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences (PNAS) in the United States, are surprising: Medical imaging reveals that the neural networks of premature infants who have listened to this music, and in particular a network involved in many sensory and cognitive functions, are developing much better. |
 | Research explains how eyes see continuously in bright lightA study by researchers from the UCLA Jules Stein Eye Institute describes a molecular pathway that helps our eyes see continuously in bright light. The findings help answer a longstanding question about mammalian vision: Why don't our eyes become less sensitive when they're bombarded with bright light? The research, conducted in mice, reveals that a special molecule, which uses sunlight itself, rapidly recycles visual pigments after the pigments sense light and change structure. |
 | Healthy, stress-busting fat found hidden in dirtThirty years after scientists coined the term "hygiene hypothesis" to suggest that increased exposure to microorganisms could benefit health, CU Boulder researchers have identified an anti-inflammatory fat in a soil-dwelling bacterium that may be responsible. |
 | Study finds link between ambient ozone exposure, carotid wall thicknessLong-term exposure to ambient ozone appears to accelerate arterial conditions that progress into cardiovascular disease and stroke, according to a new University at Buffalo study. |
 | Toward a safer treatment for leukemiaAn international team of researchers at VIB-KU Leuven, Belgium, the U.K. Dementia Institute and the Children's Cancer Institute, Australia, have found a safer treatment for a specific type of leukemia. By refining a therapeutic avenue that was previously abandoned because of its severe side effects, they developed a targeted approach that was both effective and safe in mice and in human cancer cells. The findings revive hope for translation to patients and have been published in this week's edition of Science Translational Medicine. |
 | Study finds red meat as part of a healthy diet linked to reduced risk of multiple sclerosisPeople who consume unprocessed red meat as part of a healthy Mediterranean diet may reduce their risk of multiple sclerosis (MS), new research led by Curtin University and The Australian National University has found. |
 | Seeing disfigured faces prompts negative brain and behavior responsesPeople with attractive faces are often seen as more trustworthy, socially competent, better adjusted, and more capable in school and work. The correlation of attractiveness and positive character traits leads to a "beautiful is good" stereotype. However, little has been understood about the behavioral and neural responses to those with facial abnormalities, such as scars, skin cancers, birthmarks, and other disfigurements. A new study led by Penn Medicine researchers, which published today in Scientific Reports, uncovered an automatic "disfigured is bad" bias that also exists in contrast to "beautiful is good." |
 | '13 Reasons Why' linked to uptick in US adolescent suicides: studyA new study about "13 Reasons Why," which follows the story of a high school girl who takes her own life, found that suicides among US youths rose significantly in the months following the popular Netflix show's release. |
 | Study links microbiome composition to African American preterm birth riskPregnant African American women are more likely than white women to give birth prematurely, but they're underrepresented in studies of preterm birth rates. Snehalata Huzurbazar, a biostatistics professor in the West Virginia University School of Public Health, is working to change that. |
 | Patterns of chronic lymphocytic leukemia growth identifiedIn patients with chronic lymphocytic leukemia (CLL), the rate of disease growth is apt to follow one of three trajectories: relentlessly upward, steadily level, or something in between, scientists at Dana-Farber Cancer Institute, the Broad Institute of MIT and Harvard, Massachusetts General Hospital, and the University of Washington report in a new study. The particular course the disease takes is tightly linked to the genetic make-up of the cancer cells, particularly the number of growth-spurring "driver" mutations they contain. |
 | 6 months later, gene-edited babies stir new interest, debateSix months after a Chinese scientist was widely scorned for helping to make the world's first gene-edited babies, he remains out of public view, and new information suggests that others may be interested in pursuing the same kind of work outside the United States. |
 | Women in developing countries need radiotherapy and vaccines for cervical cancerA first of its kind study is reporting that millions of women in low- and middle-income countries will need life-saving radiotherapy to treat their cervical cancer, despite the growth of essential human papilloma virus (HPV) vaccination prevention programs. |
Self-esteem may be key to success for Portland's homeless youth, study findsService providers for youth experiencing homelessness typically focus on the big three: food, shelter and health care. But a new study from Portland State University Community Psychology graduate student Katricia Stewart shows overall well-being is just as important. | |
 | Targeting inflammation to better understand dangerous blood clotsIt's the third deadliest cardiovascular diagnosis, but doctors are still often stumped to explain why 40% of patients experience unprovoked venous thromboembolism (VTE). And after a patient has dealt with these dangerous blood clots once, a second and subsequent events become much more likely. |
 | Study shows vaping is linked to adolescents' propensity for crimeUTSA criminal justice professor Dylan Jackson recently published one of the first studies to explore emerging drug use in the form of adolescent vaping and its association with delinquency among 8th and 10th grade students across the nation. |
 | Reading clinician visit notes can improve patients' adherence to medicationsA new study of patients reading the visit notes their clinicians write, report positive effects on their use of prescription medications. The study, Patients Managing Medications and Reading their Visit Notes: A survey of OpenNotes participants, published today in the Annals of Internal Medicine, shows that when patients read their notes, they report significant benefits, including feeling more comfortable with and in control of their medications, a greater understanding of medication's side effects, and being more likely to take medications as prescribed. |
 | Medicare spending higher among older adults with disabilities who lack adequate supportA new study from researchers at the Johns Hopkins Bloomberg School of Public Health found that more than one in five older adults who were aging in place with a mobility or self-care disability reported experiencing negative consequences such as having to stay in bed or going without eating due to no one being available to help or the activity being too difficult to perform alone. The study also found that Medicare spending was higher for this group as compared with older adults with disabilities who did not experience negative consequences. |
 | Clinical trial assesses telephone-based care program for at-risk homebound elderlySomething as simple as a phone call could be a way to alert health care providers and caregivers that an elderly person suffering from dementia may be spiraling down to dangerous self-neglect, according to researchers at The University of Texas Health Science Center at Houston (UTHealth). |
 | Ghana jabs back against malaria's devastationAbigal Aguanyi, a trader and mother in the West African nation of Ghana, knows first-hand how dangerous malaria can be—her two-year-old niece nearly died from it. |
 | Energy drinks may increase risk of heart function abnormalities and blood pressure changesDrinking 32 ounces of an energy drink in a short timespan may increase blood pressure and the risk of electrical disturbances in the heart, which affect heart rhythm, according to a small study published in Journal of the American Heart Association, the Open Access Journal of the American Heart Association/American Stroke Association. |
 | Could repeated squeezes to the arms, legs protect the brain?What if wearing a blood pressure cuff could help prevent stroke? In a new study, people who restricted their blood flow by wearing inflated blood pressure cuffs on an arm and leg showed signs of more controlled blood flow to their brain, a process that could be protective if blood flow is more severely restricted in the event of a stroke, according at a study published in the May 29, 2019, online issue of Neurology, the medical journal of the American Academy of Neurology. |
 | Researchers identify new roles for common oncogene MYCCancer researchers have discovered surprising new functions for a protein called MYC, a powerful oncogene that is estimated to drive the development of almost half a million new cancer cases in the US every year. The study, which will be published May 29 in the Journal of Experimental Medicine, shows that MYC affects the efficiency and quality of protein production in lymphoma cells, fueling their rapid growth and altering their susceptibility to immunotherapy. |
 | Endovascular aneurysm procedure as effective as open surgery, study findsA minimally invasive procedure to repair abdominal aneurysms thought to be less effective than traditional open surgery has been shown to perform as well as the open repair and be as long-lasting. |
 | Ibrutinib and venetoclax combo effective as front-line therapy for select chronic lymphocytic leukemia patientsIbrutinib and venetoclax, two FDA-approved drugs for treating chronic lymphocytic leukemia (CLL), have been shown to be effective when given together for high-risk and older patients with the disease, according to a study at The University of Texas MD Anderson Cancer Center. |
 | New evidence links ultra-processed foods with a range of health risksTwo large European studies published by The BMJ today find positive associations between consumption of highly processed ("ultra-processed") foods and risk of cardiovascular disease and death. |
 | Primary care specialist discusses AI enhancing the human connection in medicineArtificial intelligence promises to transform medicine. It is already diagnosing cancers and arrhythmias, providing digital health coaching and predicting which patients are at the highest risk of heart failure. Soon, patients with common symptoms can expect to receive advice via AI, and physicians will likely use data from wearable devices to diagnose or treat diseases. |
 | Older adults can be safely discharged from nursing homes if proper networks are in placeIt could be your grandmother who fell and broke her hip and is in a nursing home receiving therapy to get her balance and strength back. Or it could be your father who became ill, but was well enough to be discharged from the hospital, but not well enough to go back home. |
 | Changing the conversation about elective sterilization for womenWomen and men have very different experiences talking with their doctors about elective sterilization. Just ask Sara Davis. |
 | Epigenetic study provides new approaches to combination therapies for aggressive cancersEpigenetic processes enable cells to respond to changes in their environment by regulating the activity of their genes. One of the proteins that plays a key role in gene activation is BRD4, a well-characterized "epigenetic reader" that binds to acetylated lysine residues on both histone and non-histone proteins. To measure cellular BRD4 activity, the laboratory of Stefan Kubicek at the CeMM Research Center for Molecular Medicine of the Austrian Academy of Sciences generated a cellular reporter system in 2016. Now, the researchers have applied this model to test whether loss of any of the approximately 23,000 human genes resembles BRD4 inhibition. Surprisingly, they discovered an interaction of folate metabolism with gene regulation. The results of the study, which included scientists from the Institute of Molecular Pathology (IMP) and the Medical University of Vienna, have now been published in the journal Nature Genetics. |
 | Research highlights cost effectiveness of cardiac rehabilitationThe study, carried out in partnership with the British Heart Foundation and the National Institute for Health Research, adds to the significant evidence base that underscores the benefits and cost effectiveness of CR. |
 | Learning about advanced cancer from the people who donate their bodies after death"Cancer has a way of evolving and adapting," says Dr. Mariam Jamal-Hanjani, a cancer doctor and researcher at the Cancer Research UK Lung Cancer Centre of Excellence. "When tumours are under selection pressures, for example as a result of cancer treatment, they can develop new features that allow them to become resistant and, therefore, more aggressive." |
 | Researchers identify stem cell source of key process in female reproductionEach month during women's reproductive years, the uterus sheds and regenerates the tissue lining its walls in preparation for a pregnancy or the next cycle. The process behind this age-old and essential part of human reproduction is not well understood. But recent research led by Yale pathologist Wang Min identifies stem cells and a gene that contribute to this monthly event. |
 | Shift and FIFO workers at high risk of fatigueAlmost all (97 percent) shift workers are unable to adjust their body clocks between day and night shifts and are missing out on quality sleep, it was reported at the Royal Perth Hospital Research Foundation's Pilbara Sleep Health Summit last week. |
 | 6 ways to protect your mental health from social media's dangersMore than one-third of American adults view social media as harmful to their mental health, according to a new survey from the American Psychiatric Association. Just 5% view social media as being positive for their mental health, the survey found. Another 45% say it has both positive and negative effects. |
 | Do identical causes have varied effects in different population groups?Public health practitioners often encounter interventions or exposures whose effects appear to be different in different groups for reasons that are unclear, even though in daily life we know that causes usually act consistently. |
 | We tested baby food sugar levels in South Africa. This is what we foundSouth Africa has the highest rates of childhood obesity in the world, with an alarming figure of 13%. The global average stands at 6%. One of the main causes of South Africa's rate is the rapid growth of the country's commercial food industry. This has led to increased consumption of cheap, easily accessible and ultra-processed food that is high in sugar. |
 | Surgery rates are rising in over-85s but the decision to operate isn't always easyIn January, 107-year-old Daphne Keith broke her hip and became the oldest Australian to have a partial hip replacement. This isn't something you would have heard of two or three decades ago. |
 | Most older adults feel at least 20 years younger than they areHow old do you feel inside? Not your chronological age (that pesky number on your birthday cake) but how old is the real you, the person inside? |
 | Vaccination: In Canada, many teenagers don't need parental consentA few months ago in the United States, Ohio teenager Ethan Lindenberger made headlines by going against his parent's anti-vaccination views. He got immunized. |
Use of buprenorphine to treat opioid addiction proliferates in CaliforniaBuprenorphine, a relative newcomer in the treatment of opioid addiction, is growing in popularity among California doctors as regulatory changes, physician training and other initiatives make the medication more widely accessible. | |
 | Falling is the leading cause of death for Florida's elderlyWhen 94-year-old former President Jimmy Carter fell and broke his hip recently, he exemplified the danger that falling down represents for the elderly. |
 | FDA permits marketing of test to detect periprosthetic joint infection(HealthDay)—The Synovasure Lateral Flow Test Kit was granted approval for marketing as an aid in detecting periprosthetic joint infection when evaluating patients for revision surgery, the U.S. Food and Drug Administration announced. |
 | Could you have a sensitive gut?(HealthDay)—If you've ever wondered why emotional distress causes stomach cramps or a mad dash to the bathroom, know that there's a direct line of communication that runs from your brain to your digestive tract. |
 | Research shows the impact of homicides in Latin AmericaHomicide rates are dramatically reducing the life expectancy of Latin Americans, a new study from The Australian National University (ANU) shows. |
Recovery twice as hard for survivors of childhood acute lymphoblastic leukemiaNearly 90 percent of children with acute lymphoblastic leukemia (ALL) survive, yet the same treatments that save their life can adversely affect their quality of life and cardiorespiratory fitness health. In fact, the cardiorespiratory fitness of ALL survivors can be significantly worse than a sample of healthy Canadians, despite similar levels of physical activity. | |
 | Breastfeeding struggles linked to postpartum depression in mothersAs a doctor, I encourage mothers to breastfeed. Breastfeeding is affordable, helps with bonding and has health benefits for both the infant and mother. |
 | Study sheds new light on the harms of air pollutionA new University at Buffalo study based on levels before, during and after the Beijing Olympics reveals how air pollution affects the human body at the level of metabolites. |
 | Lifting the lid on bladder cancer supportBladder cancer is a painful and sometimes life-threatening condition that patients can find difficult to talk about, with many becoming homebound as they cope with debilitating side effects such as incontinence. |
 | Researchers explore the epigenetics of daytime sleepinessEveryone feels tired at times, but up to 20 percent of U.S. adults report feeling so sleepy during the day that it interferes with daily activities, including working, having meals or carrying on conversations. Excessive daytime sleepiness (EDS) can lead to car accidents and work-related injuries and may increase risk of stroke and heart disease. Rates of EDS vary by race/ethnicity, but the basis for these differences is not well understood. A new, multi-ethnic study led by investigators from Brigham and Women's Hospital explores associations between daytime sleepiness and epigenetic modifications—measurable, chemical changes that may be influenced by both environmental and genetic factors. The team finds tantalizing clues about EDS, laying a foundation for larger scale studies of diverse populations. Results of the study are published in the journal Sleep. |
 | Cycling lanes, not cyclists, reduce fatalities for all road usersIn the most comprehensive look at bicycle and road safety to date, researchers at the University of Colorado Denver and the University of New Mexico discovered that it's not the cyclists, but the infrastructure built for them, that is making roads safer for everyone. |
 | Researchers standardise test for predicting transplant rejectionResearchers from The Westmead Institute for Medical Research have developed a standardised method of measuring the immune response in islet transplant recipients, helping predict patient outcomes. |
 | More isn't better when it comes to evaluating chest painMost patients seen in a hospital emergency department for chest pain did not experience major cardiac events within six months following discharge, new research from UC Davis Health and Oregon Health Sciences University cardiologists shows. |
 | Analyzing a protein from cerebrospinal fluid will help diagnose patients with prion diseasesEvery year in Catalonia 15 new cases of Creutzfeldt Jakob Disease are diagnosed. It is a deadly prion disease whose cause is unknown and has no treatment, though it is very similar to mad cow disease, also brought on by prions and otherwise known as CJD variant. The challenge has always been to diagnose prion diseases when a person or an animal is suffering from them, since currently the definitive diagnosis can only be made once the patient is dead. |
 | Cognitive behavior therapy shown to improve multiple menopause symptomsAlthough hormone therapy (HT) is the most commonly recommended treatment for menopause symptoms, research is ongoing for alternatives, especially nonpharmacologic options. Cognitive behavior therapy has previously been proposed as a low-risk treatment for hot flashes, but a new study suggests it may also effectively manage other menopause symptoms. Results are published online today in Menopause, the journal of The North American Menopause Society (NAMS). |
 | Study helps develop new treatment option for multi-drug resistant infectionsA new study, published in Antimicrobial Agents and Chemotherapy conducted by a University of Liverpool led research consortium, has helped develop a new treatment option for some multi-drug resistant (MDR) infections. |
 | New research suggests sugar taxes and labelling are effectiveTaxes on sugary products and labels on the front of packages can help reduce sugar consumption, according to a study from the University of Waterloo. |
 | Extragenital tests to detect chlamydia, gonorrhea cleared for marketing(HealthDay)—The U.S. Food and Drug Administration has cleared for marketing two tests that detect the presence of Chlamydia trachomatis and Neisseria gonorrhoeae with diagnostic testing of extragenital specimens. |
 | Teen team sports participation benefits adult mental health(HealthDay)—Among individuals exposed to adverse childhood experiences (ACEs), team sports participation in adolescence is associated with better adult mental health, according to a study published online May 28 in JAMA Pediatrics. |
 | Hip fracture linked to increased risk for death in T2DM patients(HealthDay)—For patients with type 2 diabetes, hip fracture is associated with an increased risk for death, according to a study published online May 21 in the Journal of Diabetes Investigation. |
 | Inappropriate prescribing leads to poor outcomes in older adults(HealthDay)—Potentially inappropriate prescribing (PIP) is tied to increased health care utilization and poor outcomes among older individuals seen in primary care practices, according to a review published in the May/June issue of the Annals of Family Medicine. |
 | New Hampshire sues 3M, Dupont, other chemical companiesNew Hampshire is suing eight companies including 3M and Dupont for damage it says has been caused statewide by a class of potentially toxic chemicals found in everything from pizza boxes to fast-food wrappers. |
 | Life with MS disease seen through a computerThink of the frustration when your computer slows down, watching the little wheel spin round and round, or when your mouse suddenly gets a life of its own and starts jumping around. |
 | Manuka honey to kill drug-resistant bacteria found in cystic fibrosis infectionsManuka honey could provide the key to a breakthrough treatment for cystic fibrosis patients following preliminary work by experts at Swansea University. |
 | Delays lead to late-stage diagosis of young people with colorectal cancerThe incidence of early onset colorectal cancer has increased nearly 50 percent in the last 30 years. A University of Colorado Cancer Center study presented at the American Society of Clinical Oncology (ASCO) Annual Meeting in Chicago aimed to identify factors that may aid in earlier diagnosis and treatment of the disease. |
 | Among older women, 10,000 steps per day not needed for lower mortalityIn the world of step goals and activity trackers, the number 10,000 can sound like a magic one. Many wearable devices that track the number of steps a person takes each day come pre-programmed with a daily goal of 10,000 steps. But while a large body of evidence shows that physical activity is good for a person's health and longevity, few studies have examined how many steps a day are associated with good health, particularly long-term health outcomes. A new study led by investigators from Brigham and Women's Hospital sought to address this knowledge gap by examining outcomes over an average of more than four years for older women in the Women's Health Study who had measured their steps for a full week. The team reports that, among older women, taking as few as 4,400 steps per day was significantly associated with lower risk of death compared to taking 2,700 steps per day. Risk of death continued to decrease with more steps taken but leveled off at around 7,500 steps per day—less than the 10,000 steps default goal in many wearables. The team's results are presented today at the American College of Sports Medicine Annual Meeting and published simultaneously in JAMA Internal Medicine. |
 | Low vitamin D in pregnancy linked to potentially harmful vaginal bacteria in black womenVitamin D, sometimes known as the sunshine vitamin, has long been known to be important for a healthy pregnancy. Pregnant mothers take vitamin D supplements to ensure their own health and that of their unborn child. |
 | Experimental drug completely effective against Nipah virus infection in monkeysThe experimental antiviral drug remdesivir completely protected four African green monkeys from a lethal dose of Nipah virus, according to a new study in Science Translational Medicine from National Institutes of Health scientists and colleagues. |
 | Polysubstance use, social factors associated with opioid overdose deathsA new study led by Boston Medical Center's Grayken Center for Addiction shows that opioid-related overdose deaths involving another substance is now the norm, not the exception, in Massachusetts. The researchers analyzed opioid overdose death data from the Massachusetts Department of Public Health, which showed that 82 percent of those deaths involved an opioid and another substance, including stimulants. Of importance, the researchers also identified specific sociodemographic factors and social determinants of health associated more with polysubstance opioid-related overdose deaths. |
 | Potential novel biomarker for alcohol dependenceSpecific molecules (small noncoding microRNAs or miRNAs) found in saliva may be able to predict alcohol dependence as biomarkers. |
Female patients more likely to survive but experience worse side effects from cancer treatmentAn analysis of over 3000 patients with cancer of the oesophagus and stomach suggests female patients are more likely to survive longer than male patients, but experience more nausea, vomiting and diarrhoea during therapy. | |
 | Cohesive neighborhoods, less spanking result in fewer Child Protective Services visitsNegative neighborhood conditions and parental spanking each contribute to a higher probability that the child welfare system will investigate a household, a new study indicated. |
 | Scientists discover complex connections between social dynamics and diseasesLarge gatherings—from music festivals to religious pilgrimages to sporting events—have long been known to increase risks of infectious disease outbreaks. Now results from an NSF-funded study led by UC Berkeley researchers associate even small-scale community gatherings with increased transmission of diarrheal diseases. The results are published in the American Journal of Epidemiology. |
 | To treat an eating disorder, we need to know what emotion fuels itPinpointing how different emotional states and neural pathways influence our eating behaviours could pave the way for better ways to tackle eating disorders and obesity. |
 | 3 exercises with a speedy payoff(HealthDay)—Compound strength-training exercises get fast results, because they work many muscle groups at once. |
 | Women's wellness: Vaccinations important for pregnant womenVaccines have received a lot of news attention lately. And while vaccinations are most often thought of as a childhood rite of passage, adults need immunizations to remain healthy, too. |
 | DIY dentistry—It's a don'tAs direct-to-consumer marketing becomes pervasive, there's a growing trend of Do-It-Yourself or DIY dentistry—prompting patients to skip the trip to the orthodontist in favor of at-home impression kits and the ability to order low-cost tooth aligners online. |
 | When drug treatment for social anxiety is insufficientA Japanese study group clarified that cognitive therapy maintained its effects more than a year after the end of therapy for patients with a social anxiety disorder (SAD) even for those who did not respond to antidepressant drugs. The study was published online in the journal Psychotherapy and Psychosomatics on May 23, 2019. |
 | WHO decries Big Tobacco bid to rebrand World No Tobacco DayThe World Health Organization on Wednesday condemned efforts by the world's biggest cigarette vendor to rebrand a day dedicated to raising awareness about the dangers of tobacco use. |
 | Sensor-laden glove helps robotic hands 'feel' objects(HealthDay)—Holding an egg is a lot different from holding an apple or a tomato, and humans are naturally able to adjust their grip to avoid crushing or dropping each object. |
Biology news
 | Birds perceive 'warm' colors differently from 'cool' onesBirds may not have a word for maroon. Or burnt sienna. But show a zebra finch a sunset-colored object, and she'll quickly decide whether it looks more like "red" or "orange." |
 | 'Loser effect' evolves separate from fighting abilityThe "loser effect—which causes animals to shy away from violence after losing a fight—evolves independently of any change in fighting ability, new research suggests. |
 | Climate driving new right whale movementNew research connects recent changes in the movement of North Atlantic right whales to decreased food availability and rising temperatures in Gulf of Maine's deep waters. Right whales have been showing up in unexpected places in recent years, putting the endangered species at increased risk. The study, which was published in Oceanography and conducted by scientists from more than 10 institutions, provides insights to this key issue complicating conservation efforts. |
 | Striped maple trees often change sexes, with females more likely to dieAlthough pollen has covered cars for weeks and allergy sufferers have been sneezing, we think of sex as being the realm of animals. But plant sex can be quite interesting, especially in species that can have male or female flowers. |
 | Genomics of Isle Royale wolves reveal impacts of inbreedingA new paper explores the genetic signatures of a pair of wolves isolated on Isle Royale, a remote national park in Lake Superior. The pair are father-daughter and share the same mother. Such close inbreeding leads to genetic anomalies, which likely are the main driver behind the wolf population crash over the past decade. |
 | Evidence found of fish swimming in unison 50 million years agoA team of researchers from Arizona State University working with a group from the Oishi Fossils Gallery of Mizuta Memorial Museum in Japan has found evidence of fish swimming in unison approximately 50 million years ago. In their paper published in the journal Proceedings of the Royal Society B, the group describes their study of a slab of stone containing an entire school of fossilized fish and what they found. |
 | Could some chimpanzees' crustacean crave yield clues about human evolution?Why do we fish? At some point eons ago, our primarily fruit-eating ancestors put their hands in the water to catch and eat aquatic life, inadvertently supplementing their diet with nutrients that initiated a brain development process that eventually led to humans. But how did this begin? |
 | Every bat travels differentlyThe females of some bat species migrate hundreds of kilometers after hibernation to give birth to their offspring in insect-rich regions. Unlike birds, it is largely unknown how bats keep their energy consumption low during flight. Dina Dechmann and colleagues from the Max Planck Institute of Animal Behavior in Konstanz equipped female common noctule bats with air pressure sensors and tracked their flights. This enabled the researchers to record the flight direction and altitude. The data show that, whilst the Nyctalus bats all fly in a similar direction, they each choose their own specific flight altitude, distances and resting places. This suggests that each bat takes advantage of the prevailing weather and terrain to optimize its own individual flight. |
 | Better social skills in pigs found to result in reduced length of rank fightsA small team of researchers from Scotland's Rural College, the University of Veterinary Medicine Vienna and Queens University in the U.K., has found that better social skills in pigs lead to shorter rank fights. They have published a paper in Royal Society Open Science describing experiments they conducted with domesticated pigs and what they found. |
 | Unveiling how the genome has condensed itself inside the virusScientists at the University of Helsinki working in collaboration with the University of Oxford have deciphered for the first time how a virus genome is condensed inside the capsid of a virus. |
 | Researchers tease out genetic differences between cannabis strainsResearch from Washington State University could provide government regulators with powerful new tools for addressing a bevy of commercial claims and other concerns as non-medical marijuana, hemp and CBD products become more commonplace. The new analysis of the genetic and chemical characteristics of cannabis is believed to be the first thorough examination of its kind. |
All ears: Genetic bases of mammalian inner ear evolutionMammals have adapted to live in the darkest of caves and the deepest oceans, and from the highest mountains to the plains. Along the way, mammals have also adapted a remarkable capacity in their sense of hearing, from the high-frequency echolocation calls of bats to low frequency whale songs. Even our best friend companion animals, dogs, have developed a hearing range twice as wide as people. | |
 | Mass die-off of puffins recorded in the Bering SeaA mass die-off of seabirds in the Bering Sea may be partially attributable to climate change, according to a new study publishing May 29 in the open-access journal PLOS ONE by Timothy Jones of the citizen science program COASST at University of Washington, Lauren Divine from the Aleut Community of St Paul Island Ecosystem Conservation Office, and colleagues. The birds appeared to have died from the effects of starvation. |
 | More safe havens for native plants and animals needed in NSW's westLocation matters for species struggling to survive under a changing climate. |
 | Snowflakes inform scientists how tooth enamel is formedPhysicists and mathematicians use the classical Stefan problem to explain the principles of crystal formation, such as those that create snowflakes . Researchers in the University of Helsinki and Aalto University have now adapted the same principles to explain how tooth enamel gets distributed over the crown during growth. The newly published work provides a theoretical basis for the developmental regulation of enamel formation, and helps to uncover why species such as humans and orangutans have very different looking teeth. |
 | To save the African elephant, focus must turn to poverty and corruptionAfrican elephants are threatened with extinction. With numbers shrinking by a third in just seven years, there are now fewer than 350,000 left in the wild. And their dwindling numbers are not just the concern of nature documentaries—they play vital roles in helping plant life prosper, digging water holes and improving foraging conditions for other animals. |
 | Team guides plants towards obtaining ironA team at the University of Cordoba has examined the link between the presence of beneficial organisms in plant roots to their response to iron deficiency. |
 | Antibiotic alternative scores well in second round of swine trialsTravelling can be stressful experience—whether it be to a vacation spot or business destination. The stress of travel also extends to piglets, such as when they're weaned from their mothers and transported to nursery barns. |
 | Artificial intelligence boosts proteome researchUsing artificial intelligence, researchers at the Technical University of Munich (TUM) have succeeded in making the mass analysis of proteins from any organism significantly faster than before and almost error-free. This new approach is set to spur a considerable change in the field of proteomics, as it can be applied in both basic and clinical research. |
Research reveals the link between primate knuckles and hand useResearch carried out by the University of Kent has found differences between the knuckle joints of primates that will enable a better understanding of ancient human hand use. | |
 | Link to stress, health of whales might be in giant mouthsWhale researchers in New England believe they've found a new way to measure the amount of stress felt by whales when they experience traumas such as entanglements in fishing gear, and they say the technique could help protect the massive sea creatures from extinction. |
 | Intelligent algorithms for genome researchAlthough the importance of machine learning methods in genome research has grown steadily in recent years, researchers have often had to resort to using obsolete software. Scientists in clinical research often did not have access to the most recent models. This will change with the new free open access repository: Kipoi enables an easy exchange of machine learning models in the field of genome research. The repository was created by Julien Gagneur, Assistant Professor of Computational Biology at the TUM, in collaboration with researchers from the University of Cambridge, Stanford University, the European Bioinformatics Institute (EMBL-EBI) and the European Molecular Biology Laboratory (EMBL). |
 | Sound barrier to chase seals, prevent shark attacks debatedA plan to develop an acoustic system to chase away seals in order to prevent shark attacks is the latest front in the debate about how Cape Cod should respond in the wake of last year's shark attacks. |
 | Some songbird nests are especially vulnerable to magpie predationA new study has revealed a range of factors that cause a variation in predation by magpies on farmland songbirds. |
 | Microaerobic Fe(II) oxidation could drive microbial carbon assimilation in paddy soilThe carbon assimilation process driven by soil microorganisms is important to maintain the production and ecological function of paddy fields. A recent publication from Prof. Fangbai LI's group has found that Fe(II) oxidation under microaerobic conditions could drive microbial carbon assimilation in paddy soil, and identified the potential microaerophilic Fe(II)-oxidizing bacteria (FeOB). These findings provide an insight into the ecological function of iron cycling in the critical zone of red soil. |
 | Rare crops crucial to protect Europe's food supply, boost healthRye bread or porridge oats may not be everyone's first choice of breakfast, but scientists say Europeans need to broaden their taste in cereals both to boost their own health and to protect the future of Europe's farming. |
Using nature to adapt to climate changeAs the effects of a changing climate are felt with growing intensity, researchers, policymakers, and stakeholders are turning their attention to adaptive strategies that can help build resilience. Of particular import will be adaptions aimed at improving the resilience of cities, many of which lie in the coastal areas that face the greatest peril. | |
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