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Here is your customized Science X Newsletter for November 18, 2019:
Spotlight Stories Headlines
Astronomy & Space news
 | How to observe a 'black hole symphony' using gravitational wave astronomyShrouded in mystery since their discovery, the phenomenon of black holes continues to be one of the most mind-boggling enigmas in our universe. |
 | Study sheds more light on the nature of the transient X-ray pulsar MAXI J1409-619Turkish astronomers have analyzed the observational data of the transient X-ray pulsar MAXI J1409-619 to probe the properties of this source. The study provided a comprehensive timing and X-ray spectral analysis of the pulsar, shedding more light on the nature of this object. Results of the research were published November 7 on arXiv.org. |
 | First global geologic map of Saturn's largest moon, Titan, completedThe first map showing the global geology of Saturn's largest moon, Titan, has been completed and fully reveals a dynamic world of dunes, lakes, plains, craters and other terrains. |
 | Image: Orion A in infraredStars form within giant clouds of gas and dust that pervade galaxies like our own Milky Way. This image depicts one such cloud, known as Orion A, as seen by ESA's Herschel and Planck space observatories. |
 | The measurements of the expansion of the universe don't add upPhysicists use two types of measurements to calculate the expansion rate of the universe, but their results do not coincide, which may make it necessary to update the cosmological model. "It's like trying to thread a cosmic needle," explains researcher Licia Verde of the University of Barcelona, co-author of an article on the implications of this problem. |
 | How LISA pathfinder detected dozens of 'comet crumbs'LISA Pathfinder, a mission led by ESA (the European Space Agency) that included NASA contributions, successfully demonstrated technologies needed to build a future space-based gravitational wave observatory, a tool for detecting ripples in space-time produced by, among other things, merging black holes. A team of NASA scientists leveraged LISA Pathfinder's record-setting sensitivity for a different purpose much closer to home—mapping microscopic dust shed by comets and asteroids. |
 | Hibernating astronauts would need smaller spacecraftIf a sci-fi spaceship does not come with hyperdrive then it is usually fitted with hibernation capsules instead. In movies from 2001: A Space Odyssey to Event Horizon, Alien to Passengers, fictional astronauts get put into "suspended animation" to cross the vastness of space. Now ESA has investigated how real life crew hibernation would impact space mission design. |
 | Zeroing in on baby exoplanets could reveal how they formTwenty-four years ago, Swiss astronomers Michel Mayor and Didier Queloz discovered the first planet orbiting a sun-like star outside our solar system—a milestone recognised by this year's Nobel prize in physics. Today we know of thousands more 'exoplanets," and researchers are now trying to understand when and how they form. |
Technology news
 | An imitation learning approach to train robots without the need for real human demonstrationsMost humans can learn how to complete a given task by observing another person perform it just once. Robots that are programmed to learn by imitating humans, however, typically need to be trained on a series of human demonstrations before they can effectively reproduce the desired behavior. |
 | Marine bioplastic made with fish waste, red algae wins prizeLaura Parker in National Geographic last year: Scientists have tried to get a handle on the amount of plastic that ends up in the seas and harm to birds, marine animals, and fish. .Billions of tons of plastic have been made over the past decades, say reports, and much of it is becoming trash and litter. |
 | A hands-on look at Google's Stadia cloud game serviceGamers were counting down to Tuesday's launch of Google's feature-rich, on-demand offering Stadia. But is its bang as big as its much-advertised buck? |
 | Google enters battle for cloud gaming marketEver-expanding Google becomes a gaming company Tuesday with the launch of its Stadia cloud service that lets people play console-quality video games on a web browser or smartphone. |
 | New continuum robot design achieves motion resolutions of 1 micron or lessA new continuum robot designed by Vanderbilt engineers achieves multi-scale motion and may open up a huge world of previously impossible complex microsurgeries. |
 | How much energy do we really need?Two fundamental goals of humanity are to eradicate poverty and reduce climate change, and it is critical that the world knows whether achieving these goals will involve trade-offs. New IIASA research for the first time provides a basis to answer this question, including the tools needed to relate basic needs directly to resource use. |
 | An artificial intelligence algorithm can learn the laws of quantum mechanicsArtificial intelligence can be used to predict molecular wave functions and the electronic properties of molecules. This innovative AI method developed by a team of researchers at the University of Warwick, the Technical University of Berlin and the University of Luxembourg, could be used to speed-up the design of drug molecules or new materials. |
 | Google's new system captures character lighting for virtually any environmentEven novice photographers and videographers who rely on their handheld devices to snap photos or make videos often consider their subject's lighting. Lighting is critical in filmmaking, gaming, and virtual/augmented reality environments and can make or break the quality of a scene and the actors and performers in it. Replicating realistic character lighting has remained a difficult challenge in computer graphics and computer vision. |
 | AI's ethics problem: Abstractions everywhere but where are the rules?Machines that make decisions about us: what could possibly go wrong? Essays, speeches, seminars pose that question year after year as artificial intelligence research makes stunning advances. Baked-in biases in algorithms are only one of many issues as a result. |
 | Microsoft hires ex-AG Holder to audit face-scanning firmMicrosoft is hiring former U.S. Attorney General Eric Holder to review its investment in a facial recognition startup that scans faces at Israeli military checkpoints. |
 | Researchers bring gaming to autonomous vehiclesResearchers have designed multiplayer games occupants of autonomous vehicles can play with other players in nearby self-driving cars. |
 | HP rejects takeover bid from XeroxHP Inc. said Sunday it turned down a $33 billion hostile takeover bid from Xerox, saying it undervalued the computer and printer maker. |
 | Facial recognition makes subtle advance in BritainThe experiment was conducted discreetly. Between 2016 and 2018, two surveillance cameras were installed in the Kings Cross area of London to analyse and track passers-by using facial recognition technology. |
 | SoftBank's Yahoo Japan to merge with Line app operatorJapan's Softbank said Monday it will merge its Z Holdings unit—formerly called Yahoo Japan—with popular chat app Line in a multibillion-dollar deal it hopes will help it better compete against big guns in the digital services sector such as Amazon. |
 | Airbus nails $30B in new plane orders at Dubai AirshowAirbus nailed down $30 billion in new plane orders on the second day of the Dubai Airshow after previous rounds of the biennial showcase saw its competitor Boeing take the lion's share of deals. |
 | Ford Mustang SUV starts a blitz of new electric vehiclesFord is unveiling its first all-electric SUV, marking the start of an avalanche of battery-powered vehicles coming from mainstream and luxury automakers during the next two years that industry analysts say will boost electric vehicle sales. |
'Kawaii!' Olympic robot mascots thrill Tokyo studentsRobot versions of Japan's Olympic and Paralympic mascots thrilled hundreds of school children in Tokyo on Monday, striking sporting poses and displaying hearts in their electronic eyes. | |
 | Yahoo Japan, Line to merge business to form online giantOnline services Yahoo Japan and Line Corp. have announced they are merging. |
 | The main problem with virtual reality? It's almost as humdrum as real lifeJust a few years ago, virtual reality (VR) was being showered with very real money. The industry raised an estimated US$900 million in venture capital in 2016, but by 2018 that figure had plummeted to US$280 million. |
 | New laser hits mark on cancer imaging to airport securityThe terahertz frequency range—which sits in the middle of the electromagnetic spectrum between microwaves and infrared light—offers the potential for high-bandwidth communications, ultrahigh-resolution imaging, precise long-range sensing for radio astronomy, and much more. |
 | Twitter's political ad ban will exempt some 'issue' adsTwitter Inc. is making some exceptions to its recent ban on all political advertising, announcing Friday that it will allow "cause-based" ads for some economic, environmental or social issues. |
 | Moody's: AT&T is making 'an error in judgment' in its HBO Max pricingAT&T's streaming service, HBO Max, hasn't yet debuted, but credit agency Moody's Investors Service is already predicting customers may have sticker shock. |
 | AI could transform how we monitor the structural health of civil infrastructureThe University of Surrey and King's College London have developed a new machine learning algorithm (AI) that could transform the way we monitor major infrastructure—such as dams and bridges. |
 | Apple Music's new Replay feature will show your most-played music of 2019Apple Music is rolling out a new feature that is similar to one Spotify users have had for years. |
 | CyLab researchers propose new rules for Internet fairnessJust weeks after a team of Carnegie Mellon researchers showed that Google's new congestion control algorithm (CCA) was giving an unfair advantage to its own traffic over services using legacy algorithms, the same team has proposed new guidelines on how future algorithms should be developed. |
 | Engineering team invents novel direct thermal charging cell for converting low-grade waste heat to usable electricityDr. Tony Shien-Ping Feng of the Department of Mechanical Engineering at the University of Hong Kong (HKU) and his team invented a Direct Thermal Charging Cell (DTCC) which can effectively convert heat to electricity, creating a huge potential to reduce greenhouse effects by capturing exhaust heat and cutting down primary energy wastage. |
 | US extends license for businesses to work with Huawei by 90 daysThe United States on Monday granted another 90 days for companies to cease doing business with China's telecoms giant Huawei, saying the move would allow service providers to continue to offer coverage in rural areas. |
 | New York loses rideshare provider as Juno drops outNew York-based rideshare firm Juno said Monday it was shutting down its service, citing a "changing market situation," as its Israeli-based parent company announced a partnership with Lyft. |
 | UAW members ratify Ford labor agreementMembers of United Auto Workers have approved a new labor agreement with auto giant Ford, the union announced late Friday. |
 | Renault-Nissan alliance in flux a year after Ghosn shockA year on from the shock fall of boss Carlos Ghosn, the Renault-Nissan automobile alliance is bent on a reboot to leave behind the upheaval and dust kicked up by the affair. |
 | Colorful T-Mobile CEO leaving, even as Sprint deal not doneT-Mobile said Monday its colorful CEO John Legere is stepping down next year, even as the wireless company's long-running effort to merge with rival Sprint remains unfinished. |
 | Russian internet giant Yandex to restructure under pressureYandex, the internet giant said to be Russia's answer to Google, unveiled planned governance changes Monday as authorities seek to tighten control over the internet. |
 | Germany pumps 1 bn euros into 'embarrassing' mobile dead zonesGerman ministers agreed Monday to spend more than one billion euros plugging gaps in its mobile phone networks, whose patchy coverage has been blasted as "embarrassing" for the advanced industrial nation. |
 | Technology strengthens connectivity of 1 in 8 of world's smartphonesToday, your smartphone's switch from Wi-Fi to 4G goes completely unnoticed. The key is an open technology developed by UCLouvain, used by one in eight people around the world, called the Multipath Transmission Control Protocol (Multipath TCP). |
 | New assessment finds EU electricity decarbonization discourse in need of overhaulIt's well known that the EU is focusing its efforts on decarbonizing its economy. In many respects, Germany's Energiewende personifies the poster child of that effort. Unfortunately, substantial investments in the Energiewende have not yet yielded significant reductions in GHG emissions and political disillusionment has emerged as an unwelcome result. Decarbonization efforts in other European countries risk making similar blunders unless the contemporary EU policy discourse is thoroughly cross-examined. |
Medicine & Health news
 | Cryptosporidium: Hot on the trail of a new anti-infectiveDeveloped countries and resource-poor nations alike report Cryptosporidium infections but doctors in nations rich and poor are stymied in efforts to effectively treat it in extremely vulnerable patients—particularly babies—for whom the condition can turn deadly. |
 | Intermittent fasting increases longevity in cardiac catheterization patientsWhile Intermittent fasting may sound like another dieting craze, the practice of routinely not eating and drinking for short periods of time has shown again to lead to potentially better health outcomes. |
 | Big study casts doubt on need for many heart proceduresPeople with severe but stable heart disease from clogged arteries may have less chest pain if they get a procedure to improve blood flow rather than just giving medicines a chance to help, but it won't cut their risk of having a heart attack or dying over the following few years, a big federally funded study found. |
 | One-two punch drug combination offers hope for pancreatic cancer therapyScientists at Sanford Burnham Prebys Medical Discovery Institute have identified a combination of two anti-cancer compounds that shrank pancreatic tumors in mice—supporting the immediate evaluation of the drugs in a clinical trial. U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA)-approved versions of the compounds are used today to treat certain leukemias and solid tumors, including melanoma. The study was published in Nature Cell Biology. |
 | Possible new treatment strategy against progeriaProgeria is a very rare disease that affects about one in 18 million children and results in premature aging and death in adolescence from complications of cardiovascular disease. In a study on mice and human cells, researchers at Sweden's Karolinska Institute and IFOM, the FIRC Institute of Molecular Oncology in Italy, have identified how antisense oligonucleotide therapies could be used as a new possible treatment option for the disease. The results are published in the journal Nature Communications. |
 | High-fat maternal diet can cause brain damage in the unborn childA research team at MedUni Vienna's Center for Brain Research has found that high-fat maternal diets can cause life-long changes in the brains of the unborn offspring. When a pregnant woman consumes a diet high in polyunsaturated omega-6 fatty acids, her body produces an excess of endogenous cannabinoids (endocannabinoids), which overload the fetal system and impair the development of healthy brain networks. Such a mechanism seems relevant to pathologies such as ADHD, schizophrenia and anxiety disorders. It is unlikely that such damage can simply be reversed by a subsequent change of diet. |
 | Quitting smoking could lead to major changes in gut bacteriaQuitting smoking leads to major changes in intestinal bacteria, according to new research. But just what the changes mean will need further investigation. |
 | The difference between an expert's brain and a novice'sWhen mice learn to do a new task, their brain activities change over time as they advance from 'novice' to 'expert.' The changes are reflected in the wiring of cell circuits and activities of neurons. |
 | Researchers split the 'AtoM' in search of a treatment for rheumatoid arthritisArthritis is a common chronic disease in which joints become inflamed, leading to stiffness and pain that can often be debilitating. Rheumatoid arthritis (RA) is an autoimmune form of the disease, arising when immune cells attack the tissue that lines the joints. There is a need for new treatment options, as current therapies only alleviate symptoms or, at best, slow the disease. Now, in a study published in Nature Immunology, researchers at Osaka University have discovered a previously unknown type of RA-causing cell within arthritic joints that could someday be a target for new treatments. |
 | Genetic alterations caused by cancer therapies identifiedLiving implies change. This is what happens to the cells of our bodies as we grow older: They accumulate genetic alterations, most of which are harmless. However, in some specific cases, these mutations can affect certain genes and can lead to the development of cancer. The source of these alterations can be exogenous (e.g., solar radiation, tobacco smoke or some toxic substance) or endogenous (e.g., errors in DNA processing). |
 | Among transgender children, gender identity as strong as in cisgender childrenChildren who identify as the gender matching their sex at birth tend to gravitate toward the toys, clothing and friendships stereotypically associated with that gender. |
 | Study casts doubt on angioplasty, bypass for many heart patientsBypass operations, angioplasty and the placement of artery-opening stents: For decades, millions of Americans have undergone these expensive, invasive procedures to help treat clogged vessels. |
 | Article proposes important mucin link between microbial infections and many cancersIt is generally known that viruses, with their cell-invading capabilities, can be responsible for a number of different cancers. What is less broadly discussed are the cancer-causing capabilities of bacteria, or the processes by which they may cause malignancy. |
 | Rare genetic variants predispose to sudden cardiac deathSudden cardiac death affects 220,000 U.S. adults annually, most of whom have no prior symptoms of a heart issue. By identifying rare DNA variants that substantially increase risk of sudden cardiac death, researchers led by investigators at Massachusetts General Hospital (MGH) and the Broad Institute of MIT and Harvard have laid the foundation for efforts to identify individuals who could benefit from prevention strategies prior to experiencing symptoms. |
 | Early diagnosis of pregnancy-associated heart disease linked to better outcomesWomen who are diagnosed with peripartum cardiomyopathy (PPCM) during late pregnancy or within a month following delivery are more likely to experience restored cardiac function and improved outcomes compared to those who are diagnosed later in the postpartum period, according to a new study from Penn Medicine. The findings underscore the need for increased awareness and monitoring of heart failure symptoms, particularly among black women, who, on average, are diagnosed significantly later than white patients, researchers found. |
 | Teens with heart disease improve exercise capacity in large clinical trialThe largest-ever clinical trial of a medication for pediatric cardiology patients found that an oral drug significantly improved exercise capacity in adolescent patients with severe, congenital single-ventricle heart defects. A study leader says the physiologic benefits represent a milestone in the care of those who have undergone the Fontan procedure, a palliative operation for single-ventricle disease. |
 | Researchers discover new mutations in gene associated with disease that causes the heart to weakenResearchers from the Intermountain Healthcare Heart Institute in Salt Lake City have identified new mutations in a gene commonly associated with non-ischemic dilated cardiomyopathy (NIDC), a disease that weakens the heart muscle, making it more difficult to adequately circulate blood to meet the body's needs. |
 | Opening Medicare to Americans aged 50 to 64 would cut their insurance costsOpening Medicare to Americans aged 50 to 64 would lower health care premiums for the group, but also drive up costs for younger people who buy health insurance on exchanges created under the federal Affordable Care Act, according to a new RAND Corporation study. |
Study estimates mild cognitive impairment among diverse Latino populations at 10%A study of over 6,300 Latinos of Dominican, Central American, Cuban, Mexican Puerto Rican and South American heritage estimates that nearly 10% of middle-age and older Latinos in the U.S. meet the criteria for mild cognitive impairment. MCI is a transitional stage between healthy aging and dementia characterized by a slight decline in memory and thinking skills. | |
Clearing damaged cells out of the body helps heal diabetics' blood vesselsResearch published today in Experimental Physiology shows that ramping up one of the body's waste disposal system, called autophagy, helps heal the blood vessels of diabetics. | |
 | 2/3 of parents cite barriers in recognizing youth depressionTelling the difference between a teen's normal ups and downs and something bigger is among top challenges parents face in identifying youth depression, a new national poll suggests. |
Screening for thyroid dysfunction in people without symptoms: Don't routinely check that boxA new guideline from the Canadian Task Force on Preventive Health Care recommends against routine screening for thyroid dysfunction in nonpregnant adults without symptoms or risk factors. This guideline, which is based on a rigorous systematic review of the latest evidence, is published in CMAJ (Canadian Medical Association Journal). | |
 | Cancer trends in Canada from 1971 to 2015The overall rate of new cancer cases is decreasing in men but increasing in women younger than 80 years, and obesity-related cancers are increasing in young people, according to a study on cancer trends in Canada from 1971 to 2015 published in CMAJ (Canadian Medical Association). |
 | Omega-3 shows protection against heart disease-related death, without prostate cancer riskShould you take omega-3 pills? Or try to have two to servings of omega-3 rich fish a week, as the American Heart Association recommends? It may seem a bit murky if you follow headlines about nutrition and health. |
 | 15-year study finds treatment gaps exist for patients with peripheral arterial diseasePeripheral arterial disease (PAD) is a progressive and life-threatening form of atherosclerosis that narrows the arteries serving the legs, arms, chest, and abdominal organs. It affects more than 8.5 million people in the United States, including 10 to 20 percent of individuals over 60 years old. |
 | Samoa shuts schools, declares emergency as measles kills 6Samoa has closed all its schools, banned children from public gatherings and mandated that everybody get vaccinated after declaring an emergency due to a measles outbreak that has so far killed six people. |
China diagnoses 3rd case of bubonic plagueChina says a 55-year-old man has been diagnosed with bubonic plague after killing and eating a wild rabbit, adding to two plague cases already discovered in the capital Beijing. | |
 | Personality traits affect retirement spendingHow quickly you spend your savings in retirement may have as much or more to do with your personality than whether you have a lot of debt or want to leave an inheritance. |
 | Disease outbreaks are increasing; study shows that legislators are taking actionVaccine-preventable disease (VPD) outbreaks are increasing in frequency in the United States, but this trend is also met with an uptick in legislation aimed at increasing childhood vaccination in places where those epidemics occurred, according to findings published today in JAMA Pediatrics from researchers at the Dornsife School of Public Health at Drexel University. |
 | Metabolic syndrome: New use for an old drugNew drugs can be developed from old ones. This revolutionary pharmacological approach was confirmed by a study published today in Nature Communications that was conducted by two major research centers of the University of Trento: one at Cosbi (Fondazione The Microsoft Research—University of Trento Centre for Computational and Systems Biology), which is specialized in IT and big data, and one at Cibio Department, which is focused on biology and genomics. |
 | Advanced bowel cancers have very few molecular flags, hindering immune recognitionAdvanced bowel cancer cells have very few "molecular flags" on their surface, helping to explain why they may be hard for the immune system to detect, a new study has shown. |
 | What are parasites and how do they make us sick?A parasite is an organism that lives in or on an organism of another species. |
 | Instagram's move to eliminate 'likes' could improve mental health of the social media platform's usersA number of Instagram users in the U.S. soon will go to double-tap a post and not see any change in the number of likes underneath it. Actually, the likes won't be there at all. |
 | To prevent drug-resistant infections in hospitals, start with washing your handsThis week, the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention released a report that underscores the threat of antibiotic resistance in the U.S., where more than 2.8 million antibiotic-resistant infections occur each year and more than 35,000 people die as a result. |
 | Respiratory syncytial virus transmission in the Middle EastHuman respiratory syncytial virus (RSV) is a primary cause of lower respiratory tract infections among young children worldwide, and leads to 60,000 deaths globally each year. A vaccine does not yet exist, although several candidates are in development. |
 | Modifications to social, physical spaces make living at home easier for older adultsSocial and physical modifications can make aging in place more accessible at the same time they positively impact cognitive function in older adults living alone, finds a new study from the Brown School at Washington University in St. Louis. |
 | HIV treatment innovation leads to better lifetime choices, study findsDomestic violence and illicit drug use plummeted among women who realized they could live decades longer than they'd expected because of a new HIV treatment, according to a new study involving a Washington University in St. Louis health care-innovation researcher. |
 | Turn down for what? Why you turn down the radio when you're trying to park your carYou're driving down an unfamiliar street on a clear spring evening. You've been invited to a friend of a friend's party, at a house you've never been to before. |
 | Advanced breast cancer patients denied access to life-prolonging drugs and opioidsSurvival for patients with the most common forms of advanced breast cancer could be substantially improved if both younger and older patients had access to a group of anti-cancer drugs called CDK4/6 inhibitors, according to experts at the Advanced Breast Cancer Fifth International Consensus Conference (ABC5) in Lisbon on Saturday. |
 | Making sense of menopausal hormone therapy means understanding the benefits as well as the risksAt menopause, a woman's ovaries lose their reproductive function. Eggs are no longer released and the production of the hormones estrogen and progesterone falls. It's the lowered levels of estrogen after menopause that gives rise to troublesome postmenopausal symptoms. |
 | CDC: number of vaping-linked lung illnesses up to 2,172The number of Americans stricken with a severe respiratory illness tied to vaping has now reached 2,172, the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention reported Thursday. That is a rise from the 2,051 case total from a week ago. |
 | FDA panel: Expand use of fish oil drug VascepaApproved use of the prescription-strength fish oil drug Vascepa should be widened to include more patients at risk for heart attack and stroke, a U.S. Food and Drug Administration advisory panel recommended Thursday. |
 | Don't just fear memory loss: Take action now to keep your brain sharpDo you forget what you walked into the bedroom to get? |
 | Health care professionals consider 'lifestyle medicine' to address various chronic illnessesAs more options become available to pursue a healthy lifestyle, from dietary choices to exercise plans to preventative medicine and other advances, one organization—and one South Florida doctor in particular—is leading a movement toward "lifestyle medicine." |
 | Sleep-training and babies: Why 'crying it out' is best avoidedA full night's sleep will be near the top of many parents' wish lists. Sleep deprivation is no fun and many parents find themselves turning to baby care books that promise to train their child to sleep through the night. |
 | Statins not associated with memory or cognition decline in elderly, may be protective in some patientsGiven consumer concern that statins may be associated with memory or cognitive decline, a new study published today in the Journal of the American College of Cardiology may offer reassurance, as no difference was found in the rate of memory or cognitive decline of elderly statin-users compared to never-users. |
 | Ischemia trial validates current practice standardsThe Society for Cardiovascular Angiography & Interventions (SCAI) congratulates the investigators of the ISCHEMIA trial on their very important late-breaking research presented today at the American Heart Association 2019 Scientific Sessions. |
 | Side effects mild, brief with single antidepressant dose of intravenous ketamineNational Institutes of Health researchers found that a single, low-dose ketamine infusion was relatively free of side effects for patients with treatment-resistant depression. Elia Acevedo-Diaz, M.D., Carlos Zarate, M.D., and colleagues at the NIH's National Institute of Mental Health (NIMH) report their findings in the Journal of Affective Disorders. |
 | New clinical guideline for the treatment and prevention of drug-resistant tuberculosisThe American Thoracic Society, Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, European Respiratory Society and the Infectious Diseases Society of America have published an official clinical guideline on the treatment of drug-resistant tuberculosis (DR-TB) in the Nov. 15 American Journal of Respiratory and Critical Care Medicine. |
 | Opioid prescription doses are increasingly being tapered, often more rapidly than recommendedStigma and safety fears have made daily dose tapering of opioid prescriptions more common. New research from UC Davis Health physicians, however, shows tapering can occur at rates as much as six times higher than recommended, putting patients at risk of withdrawal, uncontrolled pain or mental health crises. |
 | Experimental cholesterol-lowering drug effective at lowering bad cholesterol, study showsTwice-yearly injections of an experimental cholesterol-lowering drug, inclisiran, were effective at reducing low-density lipoprotein (LDL) cholesterol, often called bad cholesterol, in patients already taking the maximum dose of statin drugs, according to data of the ORION-10 trial presented Saturday, Nov. 16, at the American Heart Association's Scientific Sessions 2019. |
 | Gene that causes atrial fibrillation discoveredGenetic studies spanning three generations of a Persian Jewish family by researchers at Ben-Gurion University of the Negev (BGU) have identified a gene that causes nighttime atrial fibrillation (AFib). |
 | More children survive neuroblastomaBoth the survival rate and the incidence of neuroblastoma have increased in recent years, as was shown by a study from the Princess Máxima Center. The improved chance of survival and the increase in the number of patients has been greatest in the high risk group; children older than 18 months with a stage 4 neuroblastoma. |
 | Gene therapy: Development of new DNA transportersScientists at the Institute of Pharmacy at Martin Luther University Halle-Wittenberg (MLU) have developed new delivery vehicles for future gene therapies. A team of researchers led by Dr. Christian Wölk are using artificial fats to transport DNA into cells. The scientists demonstrate how well this technique works in a study conducted in collaboration with pharmacists from the University of Marburg. The study has been published in Biomaterials Science. |
 | HIV drug exposure in womb may increase child risk of microcephaly, developmental delaysChildren born to women on HIV therapy containing the drug efavirenz were 2 to 2.5 times more likely to have microcephaly, or small head size, compared to children born to women on regimens of other antiretroviral drugs, according to an analysis funded by the National Institutes of Health. The children with microcephaly also had a higher risk for developmental delays, compared to children with normal head size. |
 | Studies confirm HPV shot is safe(HealthDay)—The HPV vaccine gives parents a chance to prevent their children from developing some types of cancer, and two new studies reaffirm what past research has found—the vaccine is safe. |
 | Randomized trial at music festival shows potential of virtual reality for CPR trainingThe study, Lowlands Saves Lives, compared the effect of twenty minutes of CPR training by a certified trainer with a training session of the same duration using a free downloadable virtual reality (VR) app (created by Lifesaver, UK Resuscitation Council). The participants were 381 Lowlands visitors, who were randomized to these two groups. Both groups then had to take an exam with an examiner who didn't know which form of training they had undergone. The study was prompted by the hope that an app could assist a broader and faster spread of CPR skills among the general population. This is because rapid citizen intervention is one of the greatest predictors of survival when it comes to resuscitation. |
 | High-protein diets may harm your kidneysA high-protein diet is believed to be healthy. It is suggested that it keeps you fit, helps you to lose fat and to retain lean muscle mass. Avoiding carbohydrates and substituting them with proteins has become a leading dogma for all those who care for their looks and health. |
 | Cheap, older gout drug could be a lifesaver after heart attack(HealthDay)—A cheap drug that's been around for centuries as a gout treatment might also shield heart attack survivors from future heart crises, new trial results show. |
 | Tailored T-cell therapies neutralize viruses that threaten kids with PIDTailored T-cells specially designed to combat a half dozen viruses are safe and may be effective in preventing and treating multiple viral infections, according to research led by Children's National Hospital faculty. |
 | Expensive device used in heart surgeries might pose dangers: Study(HealthDay)—A pricey high-tech pump that maintains blood flow during heart procedures could be more dangerous to patients than its low-tech predecessor, a pair of new studies finds. |
 | Standard treatment programmes for OCD are not always enoughThey wash their hands until the skin hangs in tatters, are in a state of panic about bacteria and infections—and are unable to use common sense and distance themselves from the stressful thoughts that are controlling their lives. |
 | How do those born preterm at very low birth weight fare as adults?The Finnish Institute for Health and Welfare (THL) is investigating the health and well-being of adults who were born preterm at very low birth weight in a series of studies that are unique worldwide. |
 | Research shows 'bad cholesterol' is only as unhealthy as its compositionNew research at Ohio University shows that a particular subclass of low-density lipoproteins (LDL), also known as "bad cholesterol," is a much better predictor of potential heart attacks than the mere presence of LDL, which is incorrect more often than not. |
 | Money spent on beer ads linked to underage drinkingAdvertising budgets and strategies used by beer companies appear to influence underage drinking, according to new research from Iowa State University. |
 | Vietnam-era women veterans continue to experience wartime stressVietnam-era women veterans suffer with stress-related mental health conditions, including posttraumatic stress disorder (PTSD), major depression and generalized anxiety disorder, more than four decades after their service. |
 | Philadelphia had 46 neighborhood mass shootings over 10 years, team findsThe definition of mass shooting varies widely depending upon the information sources that are used. In a new study published online in the journal Preventive Medicine, a research team led by Temple's Jessica H. Beard, MD, MPH, standardized the defining features of neighborhood mass shootings using police department data, then examined media coverage of the shooting incidents. |
 | Gut microbiota imbalance promotes the onset of colorectal cancerThe gastroenterology team at Henri-Mondor AP-HP Hospital and University Paris-Est Créteil, led by Professor Iradj Sobhani, together with teams from Inserm and the Institut Pasteur Molecular Microbial Pathogenesis Unit (U1202), led by Professor Philippe Sansonetti—holder of the Microbiology and Infectious Diseases Chair at the Collège de France—have demonstrated that an imbalance in the gut microbiota, also known as "dysbiosis," promotes the onset of colorectal cancer. The teams, operating as the "Oncomix" group since April 2016, demonstrated that transplanting fecal flora from patients with colon cancer into mice caused lesions and epigenetic changes characteristic of the development of a malignant tumor. |
 | People in counties with worse economies are more likely to die from heart diseaseCommunities in the United States that experienced the most economic distress in the wake of the Great Recession saw a significant increase in death rates from heart disease and strokes among middle-aged people, according to a new multi-institution study led by researchers at Penn Medicine. While the death rates remained nearly unchanged in counties with the least economic distress (62.6 deaths per 100,000 residents in 2010; 61.5 in 2015), areas experiencing worsening economic trends—such as high unemployment, lower median incomes and lack of affordable housing—saw a sharp increase, from 122 deaths per 100,000 residents in 2010 to 127.6 deaths in 2015. |
 | Studies confirm safety of 9-valent HPV vaccination(HealthDay)—The safety of the 9-valent human papillomavirus vaccine (9vHPV) has been confirmed, according to two studies published online Nov. 18 in Pediatrics. |
 | Revision, removal risks low for synthetic midurethral slings(HealthDay)—The long-term risk for women with stress urinary incontinence needing surgical revision or removal after initial placement of synthetic midurethral slings is low, according to a study published in the November issue of Obstetrics & Gynecology. |
 | Common TB vaccine associated with lower lung cancer rates(HealthDay)—Childhood vaccination with the bacille Calmette-Guérin (BCG) vaccine is associated with a reduced risk for lung cancer, according to a study published online Sept. 25 in JAMA Network Open. |
 | Risk for ischemic CV events lower with colchicine after MI(HealthDay)—Patients with recent myocardial infarction have a lower risk for ischemic cardiovascular events with colchicine versus placebo, according to a study published online Nov. 16 in the New England Journal of Medicine to coincide with the annual meeting of the American Heart Association, held from Nov. 16 to 18 in Philadelphia. |
 | Impact of valsartan recall examined for Ontario, Canada(HealthDay)—The generic valsartan recall has had population-level impacts on patients in Ontario, Canada, according to a research letter published online Nov. 11 in Circulation to coincide with the annual meeting of the American Heart Association, held from Nov. 16 to 18 in Philadelphia. |
 | FDA approves first contact lens that slows myopia progression(HealthDay)—MiSight, the first contact lens indicated to slow the progression of myopia in children ages 8 to 12 years, has been approved by the U.S. Food and Drug Administration, the agency announced Friday. |
 | Millions who never smoked cigarettes are using other tobacco productsAdults who have never smoked traditional cigarettes are being lured into tobacco use by a host of other products, including e-cigarettes, new research shows. |
 | High blood pressure, unhealthy diets in women of childbearing ageOne in five women of childbearing age has high blood pressure, according to a new study that found few of these women are on a diet that could help them—and their babies—reduce their risk for health problems. |
 | Helicopter parents and 'hothouse children'—exploring the high stakes of family dynamicsTrue helicopter parents talk a good game in making their actions all about their children, but according to one West Virginia University researcher, what they're doing is reaping—and heaping—the rewards for themselves. |
 | Mailing free home HIV tests helps detect more infectionsMailing free home HIV tests to high-risk men offers a potentially better strategy for detecting infections than usual care. |
Craigslist linked to 15% increase in drug abuse facilities, 6% increase in overdose deathsNew research in the INFORMS journal Management Science looks at the influence online platforms have on the rising illegal drug epidemic. This study shows drug abuse treatment admissions and overdose deaths have increased since the founding of Craigslist. | |
Disparities in care among homeless adults hospitalized for cardiovascular conditionsCardiovascular disease is a major cause of death among homeless adults, with mortality rates that are substantially higher than the general population. However, little is known about whether there are differences in care between homeless and non-homeless adults and whether any such differences contribute to disparities in cardiovascular outcomes. Understanding these patterns is critically important from a public health perspective, particularly given the growing homeless population in the United States and rising rates of acute hospitalization among homeless adults. | |
 | New, old drugs may offer fresh ways to fight heart diseaseNovel drugs may offer fresh ways to reduce heart risks beyond the usual medicines to lower cholesterol and blood pressure. |
Hospital: Mold outbreak linked to infections since 2001Seattle Children's Hospital said Monday it believes a mold outbreak that has sickened seven patients, one fatally, since summer 2018 is linked to mold-related infections dating back nearly two decades. | |
 | Sexual minority adolescents more likely to experience mental health problemsNew research, published in The Lancet Child and Adolescent Health, has found that adolescents from sexual minorities (those attracted to same sex or both sexes) in the UK are more likely to experience mental health problems, adverse social environments and negative health outcomes in contrast to their heterosexual counterparts. |
 | New screening method identifies inhibitors of cancer cell metabolismA new screening system developed by scientists at the UCLA Jonsson Comprehensive Cancer Center leverages redundancy in an important component of a cell—nucleotide metabolism—to help identify new drugs that specifically and potently block processes that are essential for cancer cell growth. |
 | What will make grandma use her Fitbit longer?For older adults, Fitbits and other activity trackers may be popular gifts, but they may not be used for very long. |
 | Judge lowers opioid settlement to $465 million, blames errorAn Oklahoma judge who had ordered Johnson & Johnson to pay $572 million for its role in the opioid crisis on Friday reduced the figure to $465 million, after a miscalculation. |
 | Drug cost legislation gets a push from White HouseThe White House is ramping up its push to get a bill through Congress that curbs prescription drug costs, feeling a new urgency as the impeachment investigation advances amid the 2020 election campaign. |
 | FDA sends warning letter about foreign OTC drugs to Dollar TreeDollar Tree has been sent a warning letter for selling over-the-counter (OTC) drugs made by foreign companies with serious, multiple violations of federal manufacturing laws, the U.S. Food and Drug Administration says. |
 | Ketamine reduces drinking in male, but not female, ratsThe drug ketamine decreases alcohol consumption in male, but not female, rats, according to new research published in eNeuro. The findings suggest that ketamine may be a viable treatment option for male patients with an alcohol use disorder. |
 | Mechanism connects early binge drinking to adult behaviorsUniversity of Illinois at Chicago researchers report that intermittent exposure to high levels of alcohol in adolescent animals leads to increased levels of microRNA-137—a molecule that regulates gene expression in cells—in the brains of adults. |
 | Study shows gaps in healthcare workers' knowledge and attitudes about antibioticsKnowledge and awareness of antibiotic resistance and related issues is generally high among European healthcare workers, according to the first European survey to examine attitudes and behaviours in relation to antibiotic resistance in this group. However, the study also illustrates important knowledge gaps. |
 | Communication support technology for training surgeons has promising resultsResearchers at the University of Maryland, Baltimore County (UMBC) and Anne Arundel Medical Center have conducted a study that explores how surgical trainees are experiencing a new gestural technology designed to improve communication during laparoscopic surgery. The results of this research has just been presented by Azin Semsar, first author and UMBC Ph.D. student in Human-Centered Computing, at the annual symposium of the American Medical Informatics Association (AMIA). |
 | California sues e-cigarette maker Juul over ads and salesCalifornia is suing the nation's biggest e-cigarette maker, alleging Juul Labs deliberately targeted teenagers with its early marketing campaigns. |
Majority US parents cite socioeconomic factors negatively impact their families' healthNearly two-thirds of American parents of children under 18 (65%) report at least one economic, environmental, or lifestyle factor that limits their family's ability to live a healthy life, according to a new nationwide survey conducted by The Harris Poll on behalf of Nemours Children's Health System. Eighty percent of parents believe that they have sufficient resources to raise healthy children, but a majority also cite serious obstacles to staying healthy. | |
Biology news
 | Scientists make vampire bats 'glow' to simulate vaccine spreadUniversity of Michigan scientists and their colleagues used glowing fluorescent gel to test the potential effectiveness of vaccines to control rabies and other diseases in wild bats. |
 | Dozens of potential new antibiotics discovered with free online appA new web tool speeds the discovery of drugs to kill Gram-negative bacteria, which are responsible for the overwhelming majority of antibiotic-resistant infections and deaths. The tool also offers insights into discrete chemical changes that can convert drugs that kill other bacteria into drugs to fight Gram-negative infections. The team proved the system works by modifying a Gram-positive drug and testing it against three different Gram-negative bacterial culprits in mouse sepsis. The drug was successful against each. |
 | Can plants tell us something about longevity?The oldest living organism on Earth is a plant, Methuselah a bristlecone pine (Pinus longaeva) that is over 5000 years old. Conversely, animals only live up to a few hundred years. Can we learn something from plants about longevity and stay young forever or even recapture lost youth? |
 | 'Dual login' mechanism found to resist fungal infection in cellsIndiana University researchers have identified a mechanism involving the body's ability to resist fungal infection. The work could help advance research on cancer therapies that use the body's own immune system to fight disease. |
 | Study of Wisconsin walleye finds recreational fishing contributes to stock declinesThere's a long-standing belief in the freshwater fishing community that once anglers find it too hard to land a particular fish for their dinner plate, they either move on to fishing for different species or fish in new waters, giving depleted populations time to rebound. |
 | Yellowstone's migrating bison manipulate springtime green-upOn a typical June day in Yellowstone, it's not unusual to see hundreds of bison grazing in the Lamar Valley. The herds appear to aimlessly move back and forth through meadows threaded by a winding river, just passive figures in an idyllic scene. But, as it turns out, that's far from the full picture. |
 | Tracking inheritance of human mitochondrial DNANew insight into how genetic information stored in human mitochondria is passed from one generation to the next could have important implications for genetic counseling of women planning pregnancies, according to a study by researchers at Penn State and the University of California, Berkeley. The findings are especially relevant to women carrying disease-causing mutations within their mitochondrial DNA and those suffering from mitochondrial diseases. |
 | Researchers clear the path for 'designer' plantsA team of researchers at the University of Georgia has found a way to identify gene regulatory elements that could help produce "designer" plants and lead to improvements in food crops at a critical time. They published their findings in two separate papers in Nature Plants. |
 | Study links Asian carp with Mississippi River fish dropSport fish have declined significantly in portions of the Upper Mississippi River infested with Asian carp, adding evidence to fears about the invader's threat to native species, according to a new study. |
 | The little duck that could: Study finds endangered Hawaiian duck enduresThe endangered Hawaiian duck, or koloa, the only endemic duck remaining on the main Hawaiian Islands, is threatened with genetic extinction due to interbreeding with feral mallards. This has led to the creation of hybrid forms of the koloa. But new research has found that the genetic diversity of the koloa is high, and conservation efforts on the island of Kauai have been successful. |
 | Plants use a single communication route when developing new chloroplastsResearchers in Japan and the U.K. have discovered new details of how young leaves build their first chloroplasts, the energy factories of plant cells. The researchers identified a new role for a protein that was first identified 25 years ago, but which had defied characterization until now. |
 | Scientists uncover resistance genes for deadly ash tree diseaseNew research has identified the genetic basis of resistance to ash dieback in UK trees, opening up new avenues for conservation. |
 | New method takes analysis of genetic libraries to next levelUppsala researchers have developed a new method for investigating dynamic processes in large genetic libraries. By using this method to study cell cycle regulation,researchers can paint a clearer picture of the elusive control mechanism. The study is published in the journal Nature Methods. |
 | A genetic tug-of-war between the sexes begets variationIn species with sexual reproduction, no two individuals are alike, and scientists have long struggled to understand why there is so much genetic variation. In a new study published in Nature Ecology & Evolution, a team of researchers from the University of Uppsala in Sweden now show that a genetic tug-of-war between the sexes acts to maintain variation. |
 | New research into badger dispersal could minimize bovine tuberculosis spreadZoology researchers from Trinity, working with the Department of Agriculture, Food and The Marine (DAFM) and the National Parks and Wildlife Service (NPWS), have unlocked the secrets of dispersing badgers. |
 | Should scientists change the way they view (and study) same sex behavior in animals?Over the years, scientists have recorded same-sex sexual behavior in more than 1,500 animal species, from snow geese to common toads. And for just as long evolutionary biologists studying these behaviors have grappled with what has come to be known as a "Darwinian paradox": How can these behaviors be so persistent when they offer no opportunity to produce offspring? |
 | How gene expression noise shapes cell fateEssential genes are often expressed with high variability during the development of cells. Scientists call this phenomenon "biological noise" and suspect that it is also decisive for the fate of cells, i.e. the developmental pathway a cell takes. Max Planck researcher Dominic Grün now presents a method based on single-cell data to quantify this variability in gene expression. The advantage of the so-called VarID method is that the noise of gene expression can be measured across groups of very similar or related cell states. Thus, the Freiburg researcher hopes to gain a better understanding of the extent to which noise regulates development or is even necessary for the differentiation of cells. |
 | Mantis shrimp vs. disco clams: Colorful sea creatures do more than dazzleWhen Lindsey Dougherty was an undergraduate student at CU Boulder in 2011, she got the chance to visit North Sulawesi, Indonesia, on a research trip. There, in the clear tropical waters off the coast, she encountered an animal that would change the course of her career. |
 | Antibiotics from the seaThe team led by Prof. Christian Jogler of Friedrich Schiller University, Jena, has succeeded in cultivating several dozen marine bacteria in the laboratory—bacteria that had previously been paid little attention. The researchers then carried out a functional characterisation of the bacteria, thus enabling a systematic screening for active substances. Initial bioinformatic analyses and cell biological observations indicate potential for the production of new antibiotics. The research team reports on this work in the current issue of the journal Nature Microbiology. |
 | A century later, plant biodiversity struggles in wake of agricultural abandonmentDecades after farmland was abandoned, plant biodiversity and productivity struggle to recover, according to new University of Minnesota research. |
 | Survey finds gain in endangered red squirrel populationWildlife officials say an endangered squirrel subspecies in southeastern Arizona is fighting its way back after much of its mountain habitat was burned by a 2017 wildfire. |
 | Nanomaterials in wastewater have toxic effects on crustaceans and fishYou may not always think about it when you do your laundry or flush the toilet, but whatever you eat, wear or apply on your skin ends up in wastewater and eventually reaches the environment. The use of nanoparticles in consumer products like textiles, foods and personal care products is increasing. What is so special about nanoparticles is their tiny size: One nanometer is one-billionth of a meter. The small size gives nanoparticles unique and novel properties compared to their bigger counterparts and may for example reach locations that bigger particles cannot reach. |
 | How mammoth poop contributes to antibiotics researchPh.D. student Doris van Bergeijk brought 40,000-year-old bacteria from mammoth poop back to life. She hopes to find new information that can help research at the Institute of Biology Leiden into antibiotics and antibiotics resistance. |
 | Researchers: Ingredient for new mosquitocidal agent produced by cultivated edible mushroomMushrooms have many enemies that they repel with toxins. This is also true for the mushroom Agrocybe aegerita, which is cultivated in Southern Europe, Asia and the U.S., amongst others, and is prized as an excellent edible. But there is more to this mushroom: In 2017, it was discovered that the mushroom produces the toxin ageritin. Scientists of the German Senckenberg Biodiversity and Climate Research Centre and their colleagues from Swiss ETH Zurich in collaboration with other German and Swiss research institutions have now analyzed this fungal toxin's mode of action and its genetic basis. |
 | This scientist has been counting butterflies for 47 years and has no plans to stopArt Shapiro stands on the edge of a Chevron gas station in the north-central Sierra, sipping a large Pepsi and scanning the landscape for butterflies. |
 | Can the long-lost abalone make a comeback in California?Hunched over a tank inside the Bodega Marine Laboratory, alongside bubbling vats of seaweed and greenhouses filled with algae, Kristin Aquilino coaxed a baby white abalone onto her hand. |
 | Fate of bigeye tuna in the balance in quota meetThe fate of big-eye tuna, over-fished and in decline, could be decided this week when fishing nations meet to set quotas after failing last year to agree on safeguard measures for the valuable food resource. |
 | Unlikely wasp enemy of a serious alien pest in North America named Idris elbaA parasitic wasp was recently discovered in Guanajuato, Mexico, where it was found to parasitize the eggs of an invasive stink bug, known as the bagrada bug, which is a major pest of cruciferous vegetables. A research team from Colegio de Postgraduados (Mexico), Agriculture and Agri-Food Canada (AAFC) and the Florida State Collection of Arthropods (FSCA) collaborated to publish a study on the biology this species, Idris elba, and describe it as a species new to science. |
 | Subtle changes, big effects"Does the flap of a butterfly's wings in Brazil set off a tornado in Texas?," Edward Lorenz, once famously wondered at the 139th meeting of the American Association for the Advancement of Science. Scientists have recently discovered the mechanism by which a minuscule change in 3 atoms in a protein molecule can affect immune signalling in cells. This 'butterfly effect' is used by the bacterium, Shigella flexneri, to survive within the host cells that it infects. |
 | Structure of a mitochondrial ATP synthaseATP synthase is a universal molecular machine for energy conversion. By coupling to cellular respiration in mitochondria, it catalyzes conversion of chemical energy of cells. |
 | Four ways to curb light pollution, save bugsArtificial light at night negatively impacts thousands of species: beetles, moths, wasps and other insects that have evolved to use light levels as cues for courtship, foraging and navigation. |
 | Potato virus Y is the most serious threat to potato—some strains more than othersPotato virus Y (PVY) is the most serious problem facing the potato industry in the United States and is the main cause for rejection of seed potato lots. The virus affects potatoes in two ways: It reduces the yield of potato tubers by 70-80% and also negatively affects the quality of the remaining tubers due to necrotic reactions. |
 | Research suggests ponies could play critical role in Dartmoor's future healthDartmoor ponies are among the most iconic species of any British moorland. But a dramatic decline in population since the 1950s has led to widespread concern about their long-term survival prospects and an urgent requirement to recognize their value as conservation grazers. |
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