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Here is your customized Science X Newsletter for November 13, 2019:
Spotlight Stories Headlines
Astronomy & Space news
 | Astronomers conduct one of the most detailed studies of a stellar haloAn international team of astronomers has used the Subaru Telescope to probe the stellar halo of the nearby Messier 81 (M81) galaxy. The observations resulted in one of the most detailed studies of a stellar halo conducted to date. The study is detailed in a paper published October 31 on arXiv.org. |
 | Mysteries behind interstellar buckyballs finally answeredScientists have long been puzzled by the existence of so-called "buckyballs"—complex carbon molecules with a soccer-ball-like structure—throughout interstellar space. Now, a team of researchers from the University of Arizona has proposed a mechanism for their formation in a study published in the Astrophysical Journal Letters. |
 | Astronauts to test drive a lunar robot from the space stationAstronauts could one day remotely control Moon and Mars rovers from orbit. An upcoming test aboard the International Space Station could help make this a possibility. In November, the ESA (European Space Agency) will conduct an experiment in orbit known as ANALOG-1 to see if station crews, scientists on the ground and new technology can work together to guide a rover on a simulated lunar mission. |
 | Japan spacecraft starts yearlong journey home from asteroidA Japanese spacecraft left a distant asteroid on Wednesday, starting its yearlong journey home after successfully completing its mission to gather soil samples and data that could provide clues to the origins of the solar system, the country's space agency said. |
 | New study proposes light signature for detecting black hole mergersGravitational wave detectors are finding black hole mergers in the universe at the rate of one per week. If these mergers occur in empty space, researchers cannot see associated light that is needed to determine where they happened. However, a new study in The Astrophysical Journal Letters, led by scientists at the American Museum of Natural History and the City University of New York (CUNY), suggests that researchers might finally be able to see light from black hole mergers if the collisions happen in the presence of gas. |
High Definition Earth-Viewing payload reaches end-of-life on station, surpassing life expectancyThe International Space Station's High Definition Earth-Viewing (HDEV) payload officially reached end-of-life Aug. 22, 2019, after delivering live Earth views to more than 318 million viewers across the globe. | |
 | NASA's Mars 2020 will hunt for microscopic fossilsScientists with NASA's Mars 2020 rover have discovered what may be one of the best places to look for signs of ancient life in Jezero Crater, where the rover will land on Feb. 18, 2021. |
 | ESA's Mars orbiters did not see latest Curiosity methane burstIn June, NASA's Curiosity rover reported the highest burst of methane recorded yet, but neither ESA's Mars Express nor the ExoMars Trace Gas Orbiter recorded any signs of the illusive gas, despite flying over the same location at a similar time. |
 | Astrophysicist discovers numerous multiple star systems with exoplanetsIs Earth the only habitable planet in the universe or are there more worlds somewhere out there that are capable of supporting life? And if there are, what might they look like? In a bid to answer these fundamental questions, scientists are searching space for exoplanets: distant worlds that orbit other stars outside our solar system. |
 | Shape of the universe: study could force us to rethink everything we know about the cosmosNo matter how elegant your theory is, experimental data will have the last word. Observations of the retrograde motion of the planets were fundamental to the Copernican revolution, in which the sun replaced Earth at the centre of the solar system. And the unusual orbit of Mercury provided a spectacular confirmation of the theory of general relativity. In fact, our entire understanding of the universe is built on observed, unexpected anomalies. |
 | A virtual reality camera captures life and science aboard the space stationWith only minutes until sunrise aboard the International Space Station (ISS), astronaut Nick Hague rushed to shut off the lights in the Japanese Experiment Module (JEM). Traveling 17,500 miles per hour, the space station orbits Earth 16 times in 24 hours, so every 90 minutes, the space station experiences a sunrise. For this sunrise, though, the speed of their approach was putting a time crunch on Hague. To capture this moment, timing was everything as he worked diligently to set up the perfect camera shot. |
Video: Proba-2 watches Mercury transitESA's Proba-2 had a ring-side seat for the transit of Mercury on 11 November 2019. Proba-2 monitors the sun from Earth orbit and was able to spot Mercury's transit as a small black disc—seen here moving from left to right across the face of the sun. | |
 | Image: Aircraft nose dome assessed in ESA Hertz chamberESA test facilities can test more than just space hardware: here, the 2.0m-diameter nose of an Airbus A340 aircraft is seen in ESA's Hertz chamber, undergoing radio-frequency testing. |
 | November meteors: Taurids, Leonids and a surprise Monocerotids outburstFor the northern hemisphere observers, November is fireball season. This month, keep an eye out for two sure-fire annual meteor showers, and—just maybe—a wild card outburst from the obscure Alpha Monocerotids worth watching out for. |
Technology news
 | Using imitation and reinforcement learning to tackle long-horizon robotic tasksReinforcement learning (RL) is a widely used machine-learning technique that entails training AI agents or robots using a system of reward and punishment. So far, researchers in the field of robotics have primarily applied RL techniques in tasks that are completed over relatively short periods of time, such as moving forward or grasping objects. |
 | Multimaterial 3-D printing manufactures complex objects, fast3-D printers are revolutionizing manufacturing by allowing users to create any physical shape they can imagine on-demand. However, most commercial printers are only able to build objects from a single material at a time and inkjet printers that are capable of multimaterial printing are constrained by the physics of droplet formation. Extrusion-based 3-D printing allows a broad palette of materials to be printed, but the process is extremely slow. For example, it would take roughly 10 days to build a 3-D object roughly one liter in volume at the resolution of a human hair and print speed of 10 cm/s using a single-nozzle, single-material printhead. To build the same object in less than 1 day, one would need to implement a printhead with 16 nozzles printing simultaneously! |
 | Calling Princess Leia: How the out-of-this-galaxy Star Wars hologram just became a step closer to realityAcademics at the University of Sussex have come the closet yet to recreating one of the most iconic of Star Wars technology by developing for the first time holograms that can be seen by the naked eye as well as heard and felt. |
 | Could AI's next chapter bring design of feeling machines?Could robots with feelings be the next step in AI? A research paper discusses an interesting approach to robot design. It is titled "Homeostasis and soft robotics in the design of feeling machines" in Nature Machine Intelligence. |
 | Deep Neural Network aims to improve imaging of cellsImproving the detection, diagnosis, and treatment of diseases like cancer will require more detailed, rapid, and agile imaging technology that can show doctors not just what a specific organ looks like, but also what's happening within the cells that make up those tissues. |
 | Artificial intelligence to run the chemical factories of the futureA new proof-of-concept study details how an automated system driven by artificial intelligence can design, build, test and learn complex biochemical pathways to efficiently produce lycopene, a red pigment found in tomatoes and commonly used as a food coloring, opening the door to a wide range of biosynthetic applications, researchers report. |
 | Engineers help with water under the bridge and other tough environmental decisionsIn two new papers, civil engineers explore how to make decisions using quantifiable social, economic and environmental guidelines. |
 | Paris e-scooters under pressure to prove green credentialsPulling on makeshift roped hooks along a sun-drenched bank of the Seine River in Paris, Youva Hadjali and Edison Gompo fish out two electric scooters—not the most ecological fate for devices billed as a carbon-free fix for strained urban transport systems. |
 | Tesla to build factory in Germany after subsidies announcedGermany on Wednesday hailed Tesla's decision to build its first European factory in the country, days after the government said it would boost subsidies for buyers of electric cars. |
 | China retail giant Alibaba given OK for huge Hong Kong listingChinese online retail titan Alibaba has been given the go-ahead to list shares in Hong Kong, reports said Wednesday, in what could be the city's biggest IPO in almost a decade. |
Art meets AI: computer-generated works set for New York saleTwo paintings up for auction in New York highlight a growing interest in artificial intelligence-created works—a technique that could transform how art is made and viewed but is also stirring up passionate debate. | |
 | Nuclear fuel alternatives after Fukushima have challenges aheadResearch at The University of Manchester suggests that the preferred candidate fuel to replace uranium oxide in nuclear reactors may need further development before use. |
 | As flames encroach, those at risk may lose phone signal when they need it mostYesterday, New South Wales and Queensland issued fire warnings classified as either "catastrophic," "severe" or "extreme"—and these conditions will remain in the coming days. |
 | Elucidation of cause of electromagnetic noise allows for EM noise-less electric circuitsMost common devices are driven and controlled by electric power. Signals and power can be sent by transferring electricity through an electric circuit made up of conductors that conduct electrical current. However, interactions between a circuit and its environment, such as the ground and the earth, generate EM noise, causing malfunctions and generating heat. The equations developed in this study theoretically verified that EM noise was caused not only by the interference between transmission lines, but also by conditions of elements connected to the electric circuit. |
 | The environmental cost of cryptocurrency minesBitcoin, Ethereum, Litecoin and Monero—the names of digital-based cryptocurrencies are being heard more and more frequently. But despite having no physical representation, could these new methods of exchange actually be negatively impacting our planet? It's a question being asked by researchers at The University of New Mexico, who are investigating the environmental impacts of mining cryptocurrencies. |
 | New AI model tries to synthesize patient data like doctors doArtificial intelligence will never replace a doctor. However, researchers at the Department of Energy's Pacific Northwest National Laboratory have taken a big step toward the day when AI can help physicians predict medical events. A new approach developed by PNNL scientists improves the accuracy of patient diagnosis up to 20 percent when compared to other embedding approaches. |
 | Flu season is here: Supercomputers are a new line of defenseTime to stock up on tissues. |
 | Argonne applies machine learning to cybersecurity threatsIt is indisputable that technology is now a fundamental and inextricable part of our everyday existence—for most people, our employment, transportation, healthcare, education, and other quality of life measures are fully reliant on technology. Our dependence has created an urgent need for dynamic cybersecurity that protects U.S. government, research and industry assets in the face of technology advances and ever more sophisticated adversaries. |
 | 10 secret Amazon Prime benefits you may not know aboutAmazon is a trendsetter in retail and delivery. The company is constantly fine-tuning and adding new benefits for Prime members, who fork over $119 a year. |
 | UPS tracks beef shipment from farm to table with new technologyUPS demonstrated blockchain-verified tracking of a shipment of Black Angus beef from Kansas to the table of a Japanese steakhouse last week. |
 | Here's a $10,000 offer to leave the Bay AreaA trio of former Google employees who were drawn to the promise of Silicon Valley have founded a company that will pay Bay Area residents $10,000 to move away. |
 | With its electric motor, Linear Labs wants to turn Dallas-Fort Worth into 'Detroit of electrification'Fort Worth-based Linear Labs wants to put its electric motors into everything from scooters to air conditioners—and it wants to make them in North Texas. |
 | Health websites in UK share data with advertisers: FTHealth websites accessed from within Britain are without permission sharing users' sensitive information with online giants, including Google, Amazon and Facebook, the Financial Times reported Wednesday following an investigation. |
 | AI to determine when to intervene with your drivingCan your AI agent judge when to talk to you while you are driving? According to a KAIST research team, their in-vehicle conservation service technology will judge when it is appropriate to contact you to ensure your safety. |
 | Making (fun) multi-player gaming an educational experienceA new video game framework brings together two well-studied approaches to educational software in order to keep multiple players engrossed in the learning experience while fostering collaboration and problem solving. The framework is one of the first to integrate narrative-centered learning and collaborative learning techniques, laying the groundwork for future efforts in the field. |
 | A new facial analysis method detects genetic syndromes with high precision and specificityEach year, over a million children are born with a genetic disease. Although about half of genetic syndromes present facial dysmorphology, abnormal facial features are often subtle at birth and their identification by paediatricians can prove challenging. Delays and errors in diagnosis have a significant impact on mortality and morbidity associated with genetic syndromes. By way of example, the average accuracy in the detection of one of the most studied genetic syndromes, Down syndrome, by a trained paediatrician is as low as 64% in the US, and so methods for the early detection of genetic syndromes become very important. |
 | Google plans to offer checking accountsGoogle plans to add checking accounts from Citigroup and a credit union to its Google Pay digital wallet in 2020, the tech company said Wednesday. |
 | Privacy, consumer groups seek to block Google-Fitbit dealNine privacy, social justice and consumer groups are calling for the U.S. government to block Google's $2.1 billion acquisition of fitness-gadget maker Fitbit, citing antitrust and privacy concerns. |
 | Promise and peril for German carmakers in Tesla's Berlin touchdownHopes are high that US electric pioneer Tesla's first European factory just outside Berlin will boost German carmakers, but it also ups the pressure on homegrown manufacturers to raise their battery-powered game. |
 | Disrupting the disruptor: Disney+ signs up 10 mn in dayWalt Disney Co.'s new streaming television service Disney+ got off to a roaring start by signing up 10 million subscribers on its first day, the company announced Wednesday. |
 | New artificial intelligence system automatically evolves to evade internet censorshipInternet censorship by authoritarian governments prohibits free and open access to information for millions of people around the world. Attempts to evade such censorship have turned into a continually escalating race to keep up with ever-changing, increasingly sophisticated internet censorship. Censoring regimes have had the advantage in that race, because researchers must manually search for ways to circumvent censorship, a process that takes considerable time. |
 | How Let's Encrypt doubled the internet's percentage of secure websites in four yearsThe percentage of websites protected with HTTPS secure encryption —indicated by the lock icon in the address bar of most browsers—has jumped from just over 40% in 2016 to 80% today. |
 | Volkswagen expanding electric vehicle production in USVolkswagen is making Tennessee its North American base for electric vehicle production, breaking ground on an $800 million (727 million euro) expansion at its plant in Chattanooga. |
 | Disney+ has its classics, plus Marvel and 'Star Wars,' but no R-rated films, little bingeingThe company that got its fame from a 1928 silent cartoon short featuring an animated mouse is betting the bank on a new streaming future with Disney+, which launches Tuesday. |
 | Gadgets: Multi-functional clock radio has alarm and so much moreBedside clock radios are critical for time displays and alarms to get you going in the morning. These days they are also needed for so much more, and the new AC powered iHome iBTW281 dual alarm clock speaker system does it all; it even cleaned up my nightstand mess of cables. |
 | Canada spy agencies split over proposed Huawei 5G ban: mediaCanada's spy agencies are divided over whether or not to ban Chinese technology giant Huawei from fifth generation (5G) networks over security concerns, the Globe and Mail reported Wednesday. |
 | German air force rejects delivery of two Airbus planesGermany's air force said Wednesday it had refused delivery of two Airbus A400M transport planes over technical faults, saying bolts holding the propellers on some already operational aircraft were loose. |
 | The risk of discrimination by algorithmNot only companies but state institutions increasingly rely on automated decisions by algorithm-based systems. Their efficiency saves time and money, but also entails many risks of individuals or population groups being discriminated against. This is the result of a study made by the Institute for Technology Assessment and Systems Analysis (ITAS) at Karlsruhe Institute of Technology (KIT) on behalf of the Federal Anti-Discrimination Agency. |
 | Facebook nixes billions of fake accountsFacebook on Wednesday said it has taken down some 5.4 billion fake accounts this year in a sign of the persistent battle on social media against manipulation and misinformation. |
Medicine & Health news
 | New strategy for encapsulating nutrients makes it easier to fortify foods with iron and vitamin AAbout 2 billion people around the world suffer from deficiencies of key micronutrients such as iron and vitamin A. Two million children die from these deficiencies every year, and people who don't get enough of these nutrients can develop blindness, anemia, and cognitive impairments. |
 | After decades of little progress, researchers may be catching up to sepsisAfter decades of little or no progress, biomedical researchers are finally making some headway at detecting and treating sepsis, a deadly medical complication that sends a surge of pathogenic infection through the body and remains a major public health problem. |
 | Cardiologists establish how e-cigarettes damage the brain, blood vessels and lungsCardiologists have issued a stark warning about the dangers of e-cigarettes, particularly for young people, as results of new research show the damage they cause to the brain, heart, blood vessels and lungs. |
 | Phage therapy shows promise for alcoholic liver diseaseBacteriophages (phages) are viruses that specifically destroy bacteria. In the early 20th century, researchers experimented with phages as a potential method for treating bacterial infections. But then antibiotics emerged and phages fell out of favor. With the rise of antibiotic-resistant infections, however, researchers have renewed their interest in phage therapy. In limited cases, patients with life-threatening multidrug-resistant bacterial infections have been successfully treated with experimental phage therapy after all other alternatives were exhausted. |
 | Researchers unravel protective properties of telomere t-loopsLoops at the ends of telomeres play a vital protective role preventing irretrievable damage to chromosomes, according to new research from the Crick. |
 | Could cytotoxic T-cells be a key to longevity?Scientists from the RIKEN Center for Integrative Medical Science (IMS) and Keio University School of Medicine in Japan have used single-cell RNA analysis to find that supercentenarians—meaning people over the age of 110—have an excess of a type of immune cell called cytotoxic CD4 T-cells. |
 | Nutrition or pathogen? Balancing healthy metabolism and stress resistanceA new study led by the USC Leonard Davis School of Gerontology indicates that the negative long-term metabolic effects of fighting off infections could be mitigated by tweaking how a gene called SKN-1 directs cells to respond to stressors. |
 | Slowing the progression of multiple sclerosisOver 77,000 Canadians are living with multiple sclerosis, a disease whose causes still remain unknown. Presently, they have no hope for a cure. In a study published in Science Translational Medicine, researchers at the University of Montreal Hospital Research Centre (CRCHUM) identify a molecule named ALCAM which, once blocked, delays the progression of the disease. Their results, obtained from in vitro human and in vivo mouse studies, could lead to the development of a new generation of therapies to treat this autoimmune disease. |
 | Neuroscientists have gained new insight into how the brain predicts missing visual informationNeuroscientists at the University of Glasgow have gained new insight into how the brain predicts missing visual information when perceiving the outside world. |
 | Study: Sugar binges increase risk of inflammatory bowel diseaseShort-term increases in sugar consumption could increase the risk of inflammatory bowel disease and have a significant impact on our health, a new study out of the University of Alberta suggests. |
 | Cholesterol, fat profiles at birth linked to psychological health at age 5Babies born with high levels of bad cholesterol and a certain type of fat may face a heightened risk for social and psychological problems in childhood, according to new scientific findings. |
 | Can 'smart toilets' be the next health data wellspring?Wearable, smart technologies are transforming the ability to monitor and improve health, but a decidedly low-tech commodity—the humble toilet—may have potential to outperform them all. |
 | Puberty may offer window to reset effects of early deprived care on stress-response systemPuberty may offer a window of opportunity to recalibrate how children who experienced early life adversity respond to stress, according to a new study by University of Minnesota researchers published in the Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences (PNAS). |
 | Discovery: New biomarker for cancer stem cellsIn the world of cancer biology, not all biomarkers are created equal. These molecules that alert doctors that an abnormal process may be underway can appear as an array of aberrant proteins, such as hormones, enzymes or signaling molecules, and vary from patient to patient. Because they are a mixed bag, no one drug exists to attack them. But now, a University of Houston College of Pharmacy associate professor has discovered a new biomarker in cancer stem cells that govern cancer survival and spread, and it's raising hope that drug discovery to kill cancer stem cells could follow suit. |
 | Talking with trained doctors can help abused womenWomen who are experiencing intimate partner violence feel better supported, more confident, and less depressed when trained family doctors counsel them, according to new research in the journal Family Practice. |
 | Driver found for more deadly prostate cancerA transcription factor that aids neuron function also appears to enable a cell conversion in the prostate gland that can make an already recurrent cancer even more deadly, scientists say. |
Study: 'Pre-habilitation' by peer coaches before knee replacement may improve outcomesRehabilitation after knee replacement is an essential part of the recovery process. But what's the best way to prepare patients before the procedure? Researchers at Hospital for Special Surgery (HSS) in New York City launched a pilot study to find out if a "pre-habilitation" program—counseling by a peer coach who has already had a knee replacement—could empower and inform patients scheduled for the surgery, leading to better outcomes. | |
 | Why only some post-stroke survivors can 'copy what I say'In an article in Brain, researchers at the Medical University of South Carolina (MUSC) and elsewhere report which brain regions must be intact in stroke survivors with aphasia if they are to perform well in a speech entrainment session, successfully following along with another speaker. |
 | Scientists crack rabies virus weaponryResearchers have found a way to stop the rabies virus shutting down the body's immune defence against it. In doing so they have solved a key scientific puzzle and have laid the foundation for the development of new anti-rabies vaccines. |
 | Opioid-based plant might not be best solution to curb habitual alcohol useLawmakers across the United States continue to debate the safety of kratom, an opioid-containing plant that has been listed as a "drug of concern" by the U.S. Food and Drug Administration. Kratom is sold over the counter in specialty stores and online. |
 | How artificial intelligence can transform psychiatryThanks to advances in artificial intelligence, computers can now assist doctors in diagnosing disease and help monitor patient vital signs from hundreds of miles away. |
 | Research points to possible target to treat idiopathic pulmonary fibrosis, or IPFLong-held dogma says lung fibrosis in diseases like idiopathic pulmonary fibrosis, or IPF, results from recurrent injury to alveolar epithelium that is followed by dysregulated repair. Research at the University of Alabama at Birmingham uproots that paradigm, and it suggests a possible treatment target for IPF. |
Cardiac resynchronization therapy benefits cancer survivors with heart failureA pacemaker-like device restored heart function in a group of cancer survivors—mostly women with breast cancer—who had suffered from heart failure as a result of chemotherapy, a study in the Journal of the American Medical Association (JAMA) reports. | |
 | Michigan teen who vaped received double lung transplantA Michigan teenager was the recipient of what could be the first double lung transplant on a person whose lungs were severely damaged from vaping, health officials said Tuesday. |
 | WHO prequalifies first Ebola vaccineThe World Health Organization (WHO) on Tuesday said it had prequalified an Ebola vaccine for the first time, hailing a "critical step" towards its licensing, access and roll-out in countries most at risk of outbreaks. |
Baseline predictors of LDL-cholesterol and systolic blood pressure goal attainment after one-year in the ISCHEMIA trialIn this analysis of 3,984 participants from ISCHEMIA (78% of 5179 randomized) with available data, predictors of reaching one-year goals are reported for low-density lipoprotein cholesterol (LDL-C) and systolic blood pressure (SBP). This paper was led by Jonathan Newman, M.D., M.P.H., from the New York University School of Medicine, and the ISCHEMIA trial investigators and is published today in Circulation: Cardiovascular Quality and Outcomes, an online-only, peer-reviewed journal of the American Heart Association dedicated to furthering the mission of promoting safe, effective, efficient, equitable, timely and patient-centered care. | |
 | Obesity study exposes heavy toll of work-life balanceWorkers with physically demanding jobs who are inactive out of hours are at greater risk of obesity than those with a more even work-life balance, an international study has found. |
 | New health insurance benefit at U-M led to increased rates of IVFFor couples wanting to have a baby, a diagnosis of infertility can be devastating. And while infertility treatments, such as in vitro fertilization (IVF), offer hope for would-be parents, the procedure comes with a high price tag. On average, one cycle of IVF costs more than $12,000, and is typically not covered by health insurance. |
 | Study: Melanoma rates drop sharply among teens, young adultsCases of melanoma among U.S. adolescents and young adults declined markedly from 2006 to 2015—even as the skin cancer's incidence continued to increase among older adults and the general population during the span, new research shows. |
 | Punishing pregnant women for opioid use increases risks to infantsState policies that impose punitive action against pregnant women who use illicit substances are associated with higher rates of infants being born with opioid withdrawal, suggesting policymakers should instead focus on public health approaches that bolster prevention and expand access to treatment, according to a new RAND Corporation study. |
 | In states where recreational marijuana is legal, problematic use increased among adults and teens: studyProblematic use of marijuana among adolescents and adults increased after legalization of recreational marijuana use, according to a new study from NYU Grossman School of Medicine and Columbia University Mailman School of Public Health. |
 | Study raises new warnings about frail surgery patientsA Department of Veterans Affairs study has shown that frail surgery patients may be at higher risk than previously thought. Mortality rates were high for frail patients even after surgeries normally considered low-risk. This led the researchers to conclude that "there are no 'low-risk' procedures among frail patients." |
 | People who cannot read may be three times as likely to develop dementiaNew research has found that people who are illiterate, meaning they never learned to read or write, may have nearly three times greater risk of developing dementia than people who can read and write. The study is published in the November 13, 2019, online issue of Neurology, the medical journal of the American Academy of Neurology. |
 | Bionic pacemaker slows progression of heart failureUsing brain circuits made in silicon, scientists have alleviated symptoms of heart failure by reinstating the body's natural heart rhythm. This study published in The Journal of Physiology today holds great potential for designing more effective pacemakers in the future. |
 | When do children begin to recognize hypocrisy?Practice what you preach. Suit your actions to your words. Walk the talk. Hypocrisy is ingrained as a moral failing for most adults, but when do children learn to make the same distinction? |
 | New 2019 clinical performance and quality measures for adults with high blood pressureToday the American Heart Association (AHA) and the American College of Cardiology (ACC) jointly published the "2019 AHA/ACC Clinical Performance and Quality Measures for Adults with High Blood Pressure" in Circulation: Cardiovascular Quality and Outcomes, an American Heart Association journal. |
 | If you've given your DNA to a DNA database, US police may now have access to itIn the past week, news has spread of a Florida judge's decision to grant a warrant allowing police to search one of the world's largest online DNA databases, for leads in a criminal case. |
 | Researchers develop new methodology to diagnose attention deficit hyperactivity disorderA multidisciplinary scientific team, formed by specialists from three universities in Physics, Mathematics and Psychology and of which Esperanza Navarro, a researcher at the University of Valencia, is part of, has developed a new methodology for rapid prediagnosis of one of the most frequent pathologies in girls and school-age children, attention deficit hyperactivity disorder (ADHD). |
 | International study improves traumatic brain injury diagnosis with the use of precision medicineThe research, in which the professor of the Department of Surgery of the University of Valencia Rafael Badenes has taken part, reveals that the traumatic brain injury (TBI) affects to a greater extent people over 65 years with comorbidities. This contrasts with the fact that, until now, this ailment was related to young men and in good health. The study recommends improving the initial prognosis of this condition, which causes 1.5 million hospital admissions and 57,000 deaths annually in Europe. |
 | Assessing efforts to lower maternal and child mortality in TogoOver the past decade, rates of maternal and child morbidity and mortality in Togo have remained high despite global progress. Child mortality among children under five years old in the West African nation is attributed to diseases that are easy and cheap to prevent and treat, including malaria, acute lower respiratory infections, and diarrheal diseases. |
 | Pediatric liver transplant recipients often undervaccinatedMany pediatric liver transplant recipients are undervaccinated, according to a research letter published in the Nov. 12 issue of the Journal of the American Medical Association. |
 | Less weight regain with EHR-based tracking plus coachingAn electronic health record (EHR)-based weight maintenance intervention coupled with coaching is associated with less weight regain compared with EHR-based care alone, according to a study published online Nov. 12 in the Annals of Internal Medicine. |
 | AHA: About one in three with ASCVD not receiving flu shotAbout one in three individuals with atherosclerotic cardiovascular disease (ASCVD) did not receive an influenza vaccination in the past year, according to a study presented at the annual meeting of the American Heart Association, held from Nov. 16 to 18 in Philadelphia. |
 | Lung cancer report delivers good, bad newsMore Americans are surviving lung cancer in recent years, but very few people at high risk are getting the recommended screening. |
 | How does poor air quality from bushfire smoke affect our health?New South Wales and Queensland are in the grip of a devastating bushfire emergency, which has tragically resulted in the loss of homes and lives. |
 | Gamblers under the influence of alcohol place higher bets after lossesGamblers don't always make rational decisions. Their approach to any given bet is often influenced by the bets, wins and losses that have come before it—even when those things have no bearing whatsoever on the outcome. |
 | Newborns' genomes shouldn't be tested for adult-onset conditionsIn the last decade, genome sequencing has provided many people with a wealth of information about risks for certain diseases. |
 | Infectious diseases A to Z: New flu antiviral availableFor those who become ill with the flu, a new antiviral medication may help. "This is really kind of a blockbuster," says Dr. Gregory Poland, director of the Mayo Clinic Vaccine Research Group. "We have not had a new influenza antiviral drug in a couple of decades." |
 | Copper hospital beds kill bacteria, save lives, study findsHospital infections sicken about 2 million Americans every year and kill nearly 100,000, according to the co-author of a new study. |
 | Young male cancer survivors may benefit from testosterone replacementIn young male cancer survivors with low testosterone levels, testosterone replacement therapy is associated with an improvement in body composition, according to a new study published this week in PLOS Medicine by Richard Ross of University of Sheffield, UK, and colleagues. |
 | Kombucha, kimchi and yogurt: How fermented foods could be harmful to your healthFermented foods have become very popular, thanks to claims about their nutritional properties and reported health benefits, such as improving digestion, boosting immunity and even helping people lose weight. Some of the most popular fermented foods include kefir, kombucha, sauerkraut, tempeh, natto, miso, kimchi and sourdough bread. |
 | Sex workers' preferences for HIV prevention center on conveniencePreventing HIV in sex workers is a powerful tool in lowering the worldwide burden of the disease, and a new study could help ensure that high-risk women take advantage of medical safeguards. |
 | New testing method helps protect workers—and their skin—from harmful chemicalsPeople who work in labs, factories and other workplaces are at risk for developing potentially serious skin allergies to the chemicals they use and encounter on the surfaces they touch. The allergies can be so severe that workers may develop chronic skin conditions and, at times, be forced to abandon their careers. But how can employers know that their workplace housekeeping measures are working and how can work areas be easily tested to protect employees? |
 | How self-reactive immune cells are allowed to developDirectly after birth, the immune system completes production of a subtype of antibody-producing immune cells, B-1, that are to last for a lifetime. No more B1 cells are formed after that point. However, these cells are self-reactive—they produce not only antibodies against foreign substances, but also against the body's own substances, and it is unclear why the immune system allows for the development of these particular cells. Now, a research team at Lund University in Sweden has found the mechanism that controls the growth of B1 cells in mice. The findings, which may lead to a deeper understanding of certain forms of cancer and autoimmune diseases, was recently published in the journal Science Immunology. |
 | Long-term blood pressure variation and risk of dementiaIn a new research study published in the open access journal PLOS Medicine, Albert Hofman and colleagues at Erasmus MC University Medical Center, Rotterdam, the Netherlands and Harvard T.H. Chan School of Public Health, Boston, United States report that people who experienced substantial changes in blood pressure over the long term were at greater risk of dementia than those who did not. |
 | What makes a cancer test?The earlier a cancer is picked up, the more likely a person is to survive. And if we can't stop cancers starting then, detecting them before they cause trouble is the next best thing. |
 | Spinal injuries: A new technology of electrostimulation for a more effective approachDelivering a diversified electric message to the different fibres of the injured spinal cord through a new technology able to deliver it in a targeted and independent manner—what is the result? Greater efficiency in recovering the control of voluntary limb movements in the event of serious damage to the spinal cord. This is the focus of the research study just published in Brain Stimulation. By adopting a completely new approach, the study offers a significant contribution to the field of electrical stimulation for the recovery of motor function, an area of great interest for possible future clinical applications. Although the steps forward in this field have already been outstanding, with some first clinical tests conducted, much still needs to be done. |
Two treated for deadly pneumonic plague in BeijingTwo people in Beijing have been diagnosed with the pneumonic plague—a rare instance of the highly-contagious disease that is fatal if left untreated. | |
 | The effects of a mock shelter environment on sleepIn the Building Environment Laboratory at Toyohashi University of Technology's Department of Architecture and Civil Engineering, researchers study the effects that indoor environments have on the people that live in these spaces. As part of this research, the laboratory conducted an experiment on the nature of sleep in an evacuation shelter environment. This experiment was performed by creating a mock shelter in the university's gymnasium with four of the emergency blankets currently stocked in the case of emergency, as well as a standard futon set. The quality of sleep with these two arrangements in the gymnasium were compared to that in subjects' own beds. The results show that the low temperature (5°C) inside the gymnasium affected subjects' sleep and body temperature regulation, reducing sleep efficiency by 10% and increasing fatigue. |
 | Researchers create model to predict children likely to go into septic shockResearchers at the University of Colorado Anschutz Medical Campus have developed a unique model allowing them to predict which children arriving in emergency departments are most likely to go into septic shock, a life-threatening condition. |
 | Taller people have increased risk for developing atrial fibrillationTaller people have an increased risk of developing atrial fibrillation (AFib), an irregular and often rapid heartbeat that can lead to stroke, heart failure and other complications, according to a new Penn Medicine study. The research, which reveals a strong link between the genetic variants associated with height and one's risk for AFib, is the among the first to demonstrate that height may be a causal—not correlated—risk factor for AFib. The findings will be presented on Saturday, Nov. 16, at the American Heart Association's 2019 Scientific Sessions in Philadelphia. |
 | Just what the doctor ordered: Take a yoga class and depression, anxiety improveScientific studies already support yoga practice as a means to reduce symptoms of depression and anxiety. Now a new study out of Boston University School of Medicine (BUSM) provides evidence that yoga and breathing exercises can improve symptoms of depression and anxiety in both the short term—with each session as well as cumulatively in the longer term, over three months. |
Secondary surgery does not improve overall survival for recurrent ovarian cancer patientsResearchers from The University of Texas MD Anderson Cancer Center reported that secondary tumor-reduction, or cytoreduction, surgery followed by chemotherapy did not result in longer survival than chemotherapy alone in patients with platinum-sensitive recurrent ovarian cancer. | |
 | Wide variation in bowel cancer rates after colonoscopies in EnglandSubstantial variation exists between colonoscopy providers in rates of bowel cancer up to three years after colonoscopy in England, finds a study published by The BMJ today. |
 | Scientists spearhead 'major step forward' for malaria vaccineResearchers have narrowed down the malaria proteins and disease-fighting antibodies that could be used to develop a vaccine against the most severe forms of malaria. |
 | WHO launches initiative to boost insulin access for diabeticsThe World Health Organization on Wednesday said it had begun an initiative that would cut prices and dramatically increase insulin access for diabetics. |
 | Study assesses fracture risk for patients taking multiple medicationsThere is a strong association between the number of fracture-associated drugs (FADs) older patients receive and their risk of sustaining a broken bone, according to a new Dartmouth study published in JAMA Network Open. |
 | Targeting alpha-synuclein in the gut may slow down Parkinson's diseaseAggregates of the protein alpha-synuclein arising in the gut may play a key role in the development of Parkinson's disease (PD). Investigators are testing the hypothesis that by targeting the enteric nervous system with a compound that can inhibit the intracellular aggregation of alpha-synuclein, they can restore enteric functioning in the short term, and possibly slow the progressive deterioration of the central nervous system in the long term. They review results to date in the Journal of Parkinson's Disease. |
 | Study suggests weight-loss surgery may release toxic compounds from fat into bloodstreamToxic man-made chemicals—such as polychlorinated biphenyls and organochlorine pesticides—that are absorbed into the body and stored in fat may be released into the bloodstream during the rapid fat loss that follows bariatric surgery, according to a study from researchers at the Johns Hopkins Bloomberg School of Public Health. The finding points to the need for further research to understand the health effects of this potential toxicant exposure. |
 | Study teases out factors associated with postpartum overdoseMassachusetts researchers have published a new study in the journal Addiction that uncovers several risk factors associated with postpartum opioid overdose. The factors include a history of overdose during pregnancy, a diagnosis of opioid use disorder (OUD), neonatal opioid withdrawal, and greater than average use of emergency care in year before the birth. The study is a follow-up to a 2018 study that found opioid overdose rates decline as women progress through pregnancy but rise significantly after they give birth. |
 | Report identifies three dimensions to lifelong 'longevity fitness'Perseverance and attention to social connections, health, and finances will give people the best chance to thrive as they age, according to a new report titled "Longevity Fitness: Financial and Health Dimensions Across the Life Course." It also says that policymakers, employers, and individuals can take actions now to give people the best chance of maintaining their longevity fitness as older adults. |
 | Injecting illegal drugs ups risk for death after heart surgery(HealthDay)—People who inject drugs (PWID) have shorter survival following cardiac surgery than non-PWID, according to a review published online Nov. 8 in BMC Infectious Diseases. |
 | High-risk surgical patients benefit from teaching hospitals(HealthDay)—High-risk patients benefit from having surgery at teaching hospitals, according to a study published online Oct. 15 in the Annals of Surgery. |
 | More hospital days seen with antipsychotic use in Alzheimer disease(HealthDay)—Alzheimer disease patients who initiate treatment with antipsychotic medications spend more days hospitalized than those who do not initiate antipsychotics, according to a study recently published in the Journal of Post-Acute and Long-Term Care Medicine. |
 | Imaging rates continue to rise despite efforts to reduce(HealthDay)—Despite initiatives to reduce the use of medical imaging, rates continue to rise in both the United States and Ontario, Canada, according to a study recently published in the Journal of the American Medical Association. |
 | U.S. states can do more to prevent, treat lung cancer(HealthDay)—States can do more to prevent and treat lung cancer, according to a report published online Nov. 13 by the American Lung Association. |
 | Congenital heart disease linked to neighborhood pollution, povertyInfants are more likely to be born with serious heart defects if their homes are in neighborhoods that are polluted or economically deprived, a new study finds. |
 | More Americans trying to lose weight, but few succeeding(HealthDay)—Americans are more motivated to lose weight than ever before, with increasing numbers eating less, exercising, drinking water and trying out new diets. |
Even low-stress surgery can be fatal for frail patients, study findsThe threshold for when to perform elective surgery in a frail patient may be much higher than previously thought, according to new research coauthored by Paula Shireman, M.D., M.S., M.B.A., of UT Health San Antonio. The journal JAMA Surgery published the findings Nov. 13. | |
 | US superbug infections rising, but deaths are fallingDrug-resistant "superbug" infections have been called a developing nightmare that could set medicine back a century, making conquered germs once again untreatable. |
 | Firefighters can ease one another's job stress, but loving spouses may increase itStrong same-sex friendships among male firefighters can help cut down on their stress—but loving relationships with their wives may increase anxiety for those who constantly face danger, according to a Baylor University study. |
 | Study finds differences in how men and women perceive their own healthA Mayo Clinic study published in the American Journal of Health Behavior investigates differences in how men and women perceive their own health. The study finds that confidence in maintaining good health habits can be influenced by gender. |
 | NASA, industry partner for space-based study of potential Alzheimer's keyAn innovative experiment underway on the International Space Station could help researchers make new progress in the fight against aggressive neurodegenerative diseases such as Alzheimer's and Parkinson's. |
 | New Zealand lawmakers pass euthanasia bill, referendum nextNew Zealand lawmakers on Wednesday voted in favor of a bill to legalize euthanasia, a watershed moment that ended a contentious two-year debate. |
 | Pinning down consciousness could improve mental health, brain disorder treatmentsConsciousness—the awareness we have of our self and surroundings—is often referred to as 'the hard problem." It's not easy to scientifically explain how a subjective experience, which is something intangible, can be created by the brain—a physical object. But understanding more about how consciousness works could help us find treatments when things go wrong. |
 | Researchers troubleshoot barriers to HIV care and treatment after diagnosisWhen an individual is diagnosed with HIV, it is important that they are enrolled in an HIV care and treatment program to get the medical and emotional support they need. Evidence shows that expansions of the anti-retroviral treatment (ART) eligibility criteria prior to the current "universal treatment" recommendation increased the amount of people initiating ART in a timely manner but, in sub-Saharan Africa, linkage to care after diagnosis remains a challenge. |
 | EPA proposal would limit use of science in public health rulesScientists and doctors are sounding the alarm about a Trump administration proposal to significantly limit the use of scientific and medical research in setting public health regulations. They warn that the new Environmental Protection Agency rule would weaken the scientific basis of government policymaking, The New York Times reported. |
 | Estimating a monetary value of health: Why and how?Monetary estimates of the value of health, as measured by a quality-adjusted life year (QALY), are difficult to obtain. The estimates provided by this research inform such a threshold for both the UK and Germany. Using a regression-based approach, the estimates of the monetary value of a QALY in Germany range between €20,000 and €80,000, dependent on different assumptions. For the UK, the base case empirical estimate for the monetary value of a QALY was £30,786. |
 | Leukaemia cells can transform into non-cancerous cells through epigenetic changesResearchers of the Josep Carreras Leukaemia Research Institute discover that a leukaemic cell is capable of transforming into a non-cancerous cell through epigenetic changes. |
Stress with disrupted body clock increases risk of metabolic diseaseEveryday stress coupled with disruptions to the body's internal clock may increase the risks of developing metabolic disorders including obesity and type 2 diabetes, according to a study presented at the Society for Endocrinology annual conference in Brighton. These mouse data indicate that environmental stress coupled with alterations in normal body clock function can affect food intake, promote weight gain and have long-lasting effects on stress responses. This may help explain why shift-work, jet lag and chronic stress in people can lead to metabolic disorders, as well as highlight therapeutic targets to investigate for future treatment. | |
 | Study finds links between early screen exposure, sleep disruption and EBD in kidsDigital media have become an integral part of lifestyles in recent years, and the ubiquity of digital devices coupled with poor screen use habits can have a detrimental effect on the developmental and psychosocial well-being of children. |
 | Forget the Chardonnay, pass me the grape stems: Anti-tumor activity in prostate cancer cellsGrape stems are discarded en masse during the production of wine. We love and produce a lot of wine in Nagano prefecture, and have been hoping to find a positive use for the previously discarded grape stems. Scientists at Shinshu University studied compounds within grape stem extracts and found significant anti-cancer activity on tumor cells. |
 | International Association for the Study of Lung Cancer issues policy statement on e-cigsThe International Association for the Study of Lung Cancer today issued a new policy statement that strongly discourages the use of electronic cigarettes by youth or by adults who are not currently smoking. |
 | Heart problems ended his NFL career, but magic provides a second actJon Dorenbos was swimming with sharks in Bora Bora when he realized he kept losing his breath. During his 14-year NFL career, he'd never experienced anything like this. |
 | Improving trauma pain outcomesImproving acute pain management after traumatic injury remains a priority for policymakers and clinicians as rates of injury and subsequent pain-related disability rise nationally. Yet, innovations in trauma pain management remain understudied. |
Conjoined twins from Cameroon successfully separated in FranceOne-year-old Cameroonian conjoined twins were successfully separated in a five-hour operation in France on Wednesday, the hospital said. | |
Biology news
 | Modern apes smarter than pre-humansNew research from the University of Adelaide suggests living great apes are smarter than our pre-human ancestor Australopithecus, a group that included the famous "Lucy." |
 | Understanding transporter proteins at a single-molecule levelLike a boat helping passengers cross a river, transporters move substances across cell membranes. This process is fundamental to the healthy functioning of cells in life forms from bacteria to humans. The function of these transporters previously had to be inferred from the behavior of hundreds or thousands of them working together. Published today in Nature, new techniques enable the study of one transporter at a time. |
 | Experts unlock key to photosynthesis, a find that could help us meet food security demandsScientists have solved the structure of one of the key components of photosynthesis, a discovery that could lead to photosynthesis being 'redesigned' to achieve higher yields and meet urgent food security needs. |
 | Extinct giant ape directly linked to the living orangutanBy using ancient protein sequencing, researchers have retrieved genetic information from a 1.9 million year old extinct, giant primate that used to live in a subtropical area in southern China. The genetic information allows the researchers to uncover the evolutionary position of Gigantopithecus blacki, a three-meter tall and possibly 600 kg primate, revealing the orangutan as its closest living relative. |
 | What survives, thrives and dominates over a thousand generations? The answer might be even more complex than thoughtAa team of scientists, led by Harvard researchers, has used a new method of DNA "re-barcoding" to track rapid evolution in yeast. The new approach, published in Nature, advances the field of organismic and evolutionary biology and holds promise for real-world results. |
 | Antidepressants polluting the water can change fish behaviorThe Monash scientists who found that pharmaceutical pollutants in waterways altered reproductive behavior, anxiety levels, activity and antipredator responses of fish have now discovered for the first time that such toxicity is also having a disturbing impact on the social behavior of fish. |
 | Unknown virus discovered in humansAn international team based in Austria has unearthed a previously unknown type of virus in samples of human bodily fluids. The researchers were looking for viruses that infect bacteria, known as bacteriophages, with an emphasis on those that attack the Escherichia coli (E. coli) bacterium found in the human gut. The team identified a total of 43 bacteriophages in samples of human bodily fluids, particularly in blood samples. The discovery of such phages in the human body is especially significant because they can pass antibiotic resistance genes on to bacteria. Consequently, information about the prevalence and frequency of phages in humans, as well as the relationships between them, is urgently needed. The findings of a team from Karl Landsteiner University of Health Sciences under the lead of University of Veterinary Medicine Vienna, which have now been published in an international journal, will make a major contribution in this regard. |
 | Scientists find two identical-looking bird species have very different genesWhile reports of species going extinct are sadly becoming common, an international team of scientists has identified a new species of bird living on the Southern coast of China, that diverged from their Northern relatives around half a million years ago. |
 | Genetic engineering tools produce better-modified plants faster, easierPlants have big genomes; a rare flower from Japan has a genome that is 50 times the size of a human's. These huge genomes, and associated large genes, can make it challenging for plant scientists to introduce precise genetic changes to provide resistance to a new pest or study the fundamentals of how plants grow. |
 | Healthy mangroves help coral reef fisheries under climate stressHealthy mangroves can help fight the consequences of climate change on coral reef fisheries, according to a University of Queensland-led study. |
 | Plants might be helping each other more than thoughtContrary to the long-held belief that plants in the natural world are always in competition, new research has found that in harsh environments mature plants help smaller ones—and thrive as a result. |
 | How the cellular recycling system is put on hold while cells divideResearch at the Babraham Institute uniting cell signalling, autophagy, mass spectrometry and imaging expertise has resolved a fundamental question about whether the cellular recycling process is halted during cell division. In addition, the researchers have identified the mechanisms involved and described how the usual repression system and the mitosis-specific repression of autophagy interlink. The research, led by Simon Cook's group in the Signalling research programme at the Institute, is published today in the journal Molecular Cell. |
 | 'Give me the calcium!' Tulane virus takes over cellular calcium signaling to replicateSome gastrointestinal viruses need calcium. They need calcium ions to carry out several essential aspects of viral life, such as entry into host cells, genome replication and building new viruses to invade other cells. The cells invaded by viruses also use calcium. They use it as signals to regulate many of the cells' own processes, but viruses can takeover cellular calcium signaling to satisfy their own needs. |
 | Hair-raising truth behind pigeons' lost toesNext time you visit your hairdresser spare a thought for the pigeons. |
 | Ant expert discovers newly emergent species in his backyardJack Longino is a global ant expert and has traveled the world documenting and discovering ant species. But for his latest discovery, he didn't need to go any farther than his own backyard. In August 2018, just after dark, Longino caught a glimpse of four ants in his garden that really looked out of place. The next day he dug deeper and found more specimens. They reminded him of species he knew from the tropics or from the deciduous forests of the eastern U.S. |
 | Overfishing of large, predatory fish leaves China's Bohai Sea with only tiny fishSmaller fish and invertebrates such as gazami crab and Japanese sardinella, are replacing larger, more commercially valuable fish such as largehead hairtail in the Bohai Sea in northeastern China. |
 | Who controls whom: Algae or sea anemone?Bleached anemones—those lacking symbiotic algae—do not move toward light, a behavior exhibited by healthy, symbiotic anemones. Published in Coral Reefs, this finding from Carnegie's Shawna Foo, Arthur Grossman, and Ken Caldeira, along with Lauren Liddell of the NASA Ames Research Center, is a fascinating case study for exploring the concept of control in a symbiotic relationship. |
 | Electronic nose to 'sniff' dogs for deadly tropical diseaseFewer dogs in Brazil may be euthanized unnecessarily after researchers showed that a new test is 95 percent accurate in identifying the deadly disease Leishmaniasis. |
 | Research team illuminates system by which plants have formed secondary buds since ancient timesA collaborative research group has succeeded in identifying an important transcription factor, GCAM1, which allows liverwort plants to asexually reproduce through creating clonal progenies (vegetative reproduction). Furthermore, this transcription factor was revealed to have the same origin as those which regulate secondary bud formation in angiosperms. That this transcription factor was found in liverwort suggests that it was an important ancient development in the common ancestor of land plants at least 430 million years ago. |
 | What is a 'mass extinction' and are we in one now?For more than 3.5 billion years, living organisms have thrived, multiplied and diversified to occupy every ecosystem on Earth. The flip side to this explosion of new species is that species extinctions have also always been part of the evolutionary life cycle. |
 | Plant specimens provide powerful data about life in the AnthropoceneResearchers from Carnegie Museum of Natural History and Michigan State University report plant specimens are being used in novel new ways that could influence future environmental policy, species conservation and collections-based science. Specimen digitization and new data analysis technologies increase the relevance of herbaria for scientific research, education, and societal issues like climate change and invasive species. The study was published Sept. 4 in BioScience. |
 | Oyster aquaculture has small but positive impact on Chesapeake Bay water qualityThe rapid growth of oyster aquaculture in the Chesapeake Bay has raised questions about its effects on water quality, with proponents touting benefits including reduction of water-column nutrients and increased clarity, and other stakeholders pointing to drawbacks such as enrichment of sediment nutrients and altered current patterns. |
 | Novel mathematical framework provides a deeper understanding of how drugs interactCombining two or more drugs can be an effective treatment of diverse diseases, such as cancer. Yet, at the same time, the wrong drug combination can cause major side effects. Currently there is no systematic understanding of how different drugs influence each other. Thus, elucidating how two given drugs interact, and whether they have a beneficial effect, would mean a major step towards drug development to treat diseases more effectively in the future. |
 | Body language key to zoo animal welfareWatching the behaviour and body language of zoo animals could be the key to understanding and improving their welfare, new research suggests. Traditionally, zoos have focused on more straightforward measures such as whether animals are eating, sleeping and breeding. |
 | Chitin-binding proteins override host plant's resistance to fungal infectionAn insoluble complex carbohydrate, chitin makes up fungal walls and plays a significant role in the interaction between fungal pathogens and their plant hosts. Plant cells harbor immune receptors that perceive chitin and work to stop fungal infection. However, fungal plant pathogens then release chitin-binding proteins that perturb the chitin-triggered immunity. |
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