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Here is your customized Science X Newsletter for November 6, 2019:
Spotlight Stories Headlines
Astronomy & Space news
 | Dusty star-forming galaxy MAMBO-9 investigated in detailUsing the Atacama Large Millimeter/submillimeter Array (ALMA), an international team of astronomers has conducted detailed observations of the dusty star-forming galaxy MMJ100026.36+021527.9, better known as MAMBO-9. The study, described in a paper published October 29 on arXiv.org, provides physical characterization of this galaxy, shedding more light on its nature. |
 | Astronomers map new emission line to trace most common molecule in the universeMolecular hydrogen (H2) makes up 99 percent of the cold, dense gas in galaxies. So mapping where stars are born basically means measuring H2, which lacks a strong characteristic signature at low temperatures. Astronomers from SRON Netherlands Institute for Space Research and the University of Groningen have now mapped an emission signal from the trace molecule hydrogen fluoride (HF) in a place where the standard trace molecule carbon monoxide is absent. They are the first to produce a map of HF for a region in space, creating a new tool to indirectly map H2. Publication on November 6th in Astronomy & Astrophysics. |
China launches Sudan's first ever satellite: officialSudan's first ever satellite for conducting research in military, economic and space technology has been launched by China, the northeast African country's ruling body said Tuesday. | |
 | Researcher makes the heart of Mars speakFor 20 years, Véronique Dehant, a space scientist at University of Louvain (UCLouvain) and the Royal Observatory of Belgium, has been working on understanding the Earth's core. In a few months, she will be able to complete her research by studying the heart of Mars, thanks to the ExoMars mission. Its purpose is to collect Martian radio science data and analyse the planet's rotation in order to better understand the red planet's innards and thus determine whether life is feasible on Mars. In the end, for Véronique Dehant, "This UCLouvain research is one more brick in the wall of understanding outer space." |
 | 132 grams to communicate with MarsDust storms, ionising cosmic radiation, extreme cold at night ... Mars is not very hospitable! It's for these extreme conditions that the research team of Christophe Craeye, a professor at the UCLouvain Louvain School of Engineering, developed antennas for the 'LaRa' measuring instrument (Lander Radioscience ), which will go to Mars in 2020. |
Technology news
 | EduSense: Researchers develop comprehensive classroom sensing systemWhile training and feedback opportunities abound for K-12 educators, the same can't be said for instructors in higher education. Currently, the most effective mechanism for professional development is for an expert to observe a lecture and provide personalized feedback. But a new system developed by Carnegie Mellon University researchers offers a comprehensive real-time sensing system that is inexpensive and scalable to create a continuous feedback loop for the instructor. |
 | UK needs to act to prevent electric vehicle battery waste mountain, new study saysRecycling technologies for end-of-life lithium ion batteries (LIBs) are not keeping pace with the rapid rise of electric vehicles, storing up a potentially huge waste management problem for the future, according to a new study. |
 | When a light is a thief that tells your garage door to openShining lasers at voice assistants like Alexa and Siri, researchers from Michigan and Japan achieved a hack where lasers had the power of commands from the human voice. |
 | Brain-like computer chips could address privacy concerns and greenhouse emissionsA team lead by Professor Simon Brown at the University of Canterbury (UC) has developed computer chips with brain-like functionality, that could significantly reduce global carbon emissions from computing. |
 | On the way to intelligent microrobotsResearchers at the Paul Scherrer Institute PSI and ETH Zurich have developed a micromachine that can perform different actions. First nanomagnets in the components of the microrobots are magnetically programmed and then the various movements are controlled by magnetic fields. Such machines, which are only a few tens of micrometers across, could be used, for example, in the human body to perform small operations. The researchers have now published their results in the scientific journal Nature. |
 | Showing robots 'tough love' helps them succeed, finds new studyAccording to a new study by USC computer scientists, to help a robot succeed, you might need to show it some tough love. |
 | An engineer proposes a new model for the way humans localize soundsOne of the enduring puzzles of hearing loss is the decline in a person's ability to determine where a sound originates, a key survival faculty that allows animals—from lizards to humans—to pinpoint the location of danger, prey and group members. In modern times, finding a lost cell phone by using the application "Find My Device," just to find it had slipped under a sofa pillow, relies on minute differences in the ringing sound that reaches the ears. |
 | Software behind self-driving Uber crash didn't recognize jaywalkersAn Uber self-driving car that struck and killed a woman last year in Arizona failed to recognize her as a pedestrian because she was jaywalking, US transport regulators said Tuesday. |
 | Video game 'Death Stranding' bids to rekindle hopeIn a world fractured by political populism and divisive voices on social media, can a video game build bridges to harmony? The Japanese auteur behind "Death Stranding" hopes so. |
 | SoftBank Group logs worst quarterly loss, Son admits 'poor' decisionsJapanese giant SoftBank Group said Wednesday it suffered an operating loss of $6.4 billion in the second quarter, the worst in its history, as it took a hit from investments in start-ups including WeWork and Uber. |
 | Electric planes are here—but they won't solve flying's CO2 problemThe UK government plans to ban the sale of new conventional petrol and diesel cars by 2040. Clearly the plan is for all citizens to be driving electric or hybrid-electric cars, or—better still—riding bicycles. But can electrification help cut emissions from that other carbon-intensive form of passenger transport, flying? |
 | Machine learning advances new tool to fight cybercrime in the cloudIncreased adoption of cloud applications, such as Dropbox and Google Drive, by private users has increased concern about use of cloud information for cybercrimes such as child exploitation, illegal drug trafficking and illegal firearm transactions. |
 | Why Uber Works will probably be great for businesses but not for gig economy workersUber is still best known as a ride-hailing platform but it has been branching out into other industries. Food (Uber eats), electric scooters and bicycles (Jump), and now shift work with the launch of Uber Works. It is being trialled in Chicago, with plans to launch elsewhere soon, and enables casual workers such as cleaners, bar staff and warehouse workers to find work. |
 | New antenna technology for extremely fast 5G and 6G successfully testedMany connected devices, films downloaded in seconds, autonomous driving: the extremely fast 5G should make all this possible. The problem is that the fastest form of 5G now requires very fast connections within the network, which only works at short distances. New antenna technology has therefore been developed at Eindhoven University of Technology (TU/e), making long-distance communication possible for this fast form of 5G and its successor, 6G. The first practical test was recently carried out from the roof of two buildings on the TU/e campus and proved successful. |
 | Engineers invent smartphone device that detects harmful algae in 15 minutesA team of engineers from NUS has developed a highly sensitive system that uses a smartphone to rapidly detect the presence of toxin-producing algae in water within 15 minutes. This invention can generate test results on-site, and findings can be reported in real-time using the smartphone's wireless communications capabilities. |
 | Review: Facebook's Portal TV is video chat at its best. Too bad it's from FacebookI don't like the idea of granting my TVs access to Facebook and allowing the social network to install a video camera and microphone in my living room. |
 | Adaptive cruise systems are not made equalAdaptive cruise control, once only seen on luxury vehicles, has now become increasingly available on entry-level models. For example, nearly every new Honda and Toyota vehicle comes with this feature as standard equipment. Five years ago, hardly any of them offered it, even as an option. |
 | Boeing still hopes 737 Max will fly again this yearA top Boeing executive insisted Wednesday the aviation giant was confident its controversial 737 Max jets could be flying again before the end of the year. |
 | Libra's regulatory hurdles appear taller after House hearingFacebook CEO Mark Zuckerberg provided only a few additional details about the company's proposed cryptocurrency to a House Financial Services Committee on Oct. 23 that generally didn't like what it heard. |
 | Fewer protections come with digital payments like Apple CashMy desperation to see Ariana Grande in concert created the perfect trap. |
 | Pokemon Go maker Niantic making a game of the worldPokemon Go maker Niantic on Wednesday moved closer to turning the world into a giant game board in a fun mix of fantasy and reality. |
 | UPS makes first drone deliveries of CVS prescriptions to consumers' homesUPS has completed its first commercial drone deliveries of CVS prescriptions to consumers' homes, as part of a partnership between the shipping giant and the drugstore chain to develop plans for drone delivery service. |
 | Xerox eyes deal for PC maker HP: reportsXerox is mulling a takeover deal worth $27 billion for HP Inc., the consumer technology unit created by the split of Silicon Valley-based Hewlett Packard, reports said Wednesday. |
 | AI agents imitate engineers to construct effective new designs using visual cues like humans doTrained AI agents can adopt human design strategies to solve problems, according to findings published in the ASME Journal of Mechanical Design. |
 | California discloses probe on Facebook privacy practicesCalifornia attorney general says he has been investigating Facebook's privacy practices since 2018. |
 | Study: Russia's web-censoring tool sets pace for imitatorsRussia is succeeding in imposing a highly effective internet censorship regime across thousands of disparate, privately owned providers in an effort also aimed at making government snooping pervasive, according to a study released Wednesday. |
 | Twitter offering 'topics,' from sports teams to K-popTwitter said Wednesday it is rolling out a feature that lets users follow topics the way they do people, starting with sports and K-pop, as part of its efforts to bring in and keep more users on the service. |
 | How do solar panels work?How do solar panels work? – Nathan, age 5, Melbourne, Australia. |
 | Breaking down controls to better control wind energy systemsResearchers based in Brazil have developed a way to better control wind energy systems in electrical generation. Wind energy systems are typically expensive to maintain, and they can only convert a portion of their produced energy into storage. |
 | Group says misinformation on the rise on FacebookAn advocacy group tracking misinformation says it has found an increase in fake political news shared on Facebook ahead of the 2020 presidential elections. |
 | Lufthansa cancels 1,300 flights over two-day German strikeLufthansa said Wednesday it was scrapping 1,300 flights as German cabin crew pressed ahead with a two-day strike, plunging passengers into travel chaos amid an escalating row over pay and conditions. |
 | Apps have become safer after the EU's General Data Protection RegulationResearchers have studied how apps' access to our personal data has changed since the EU General Data Protection Regulation (GDPR) was introduced in May 2018. The study shows that apps practice less access to personal data today, although many apps still have access to more functions than the ones described in their privacy policy. |
 | Walmart, Tesla settle lawsuit over fiery solar panelsWalmart and Tesla have settled a lawsuit filed by the retail giant alleging that Tesla installed rooftop solar panels that caught fire. |
 | Advertising woes hit NY Times, as digital subscriptions growThe New York Times said Wednesday that profits slipped in the third quarter as declines in advertising revenues offset gains in its digital subscription efforts. |
 | From Silicon Valley to Baltimore: Opportunity zone lures surgical robot maker and opens new investmentThe robot looks like a stout, little filing cabinet with one long arm, a simple-looking contraption that belies the precision of the brain, ear and throat microsurgeries it is designed to improve. |
New, free website helps teens, adults with special needs make new friendsJuliana Fetherman's love for her brother Michael inspired a new, free social media website to help teens and adults with autism and other special needs chat with new friends. | |
 | Huawei, barred in US, offers app inducements in EuropeBlacklisted in the United States, Chinese telecoms group Huawei is on a charm offensive at Europe's biggest tech gathering, wooing app developers to embrace its own operating ecosystem. |
 | Airbnb to verify all 7 million properties to improve trustAirbnb says it will spend the next year verifying that all 7 million of its listings are accurate and that the homes and rooms being offered for short-term stays meet basic quality standards. |
 | Amazon to open new robotics hub outside Boston in 2021Amazon says it plans to open a $40 million robotics innovation hub west of Boston. |
Medicine & Health news
 | Liver-chip identifies drug toxicities in human, rat, and dog modelsAmong the numerous microengineered Organ-on-a-Chip (Organ Chip) models developed at the Wyss Institute, the Liver Chip is of special interest to a number of industries because the real-time analysis of complex biochemical interactions could greatly enhance the liver toxicity testing that is ubiquitous in the development of drugs, foods, and other consumer products. The Wyss Institute's unique innovation model has brought together a multidisciplinary team of collaborators from academia, government agencies, and biopharmaceutical companies to support the translation of Organ Chips from an academic project to a platform that is commercially available to advance research and development. |
 | Differences in sensory brainwaves of autistic teenagers could assist in earlier diagnosis and supportResearchers at the Aston Neuroscience Institute (ANI), Aston University, in Birmingham, UK have found differences in the brainwaves of autistic teenagers responsible for their visual perception, which could assist in earlier diagnosis and help inform how support is given to young people with Autism. |
 | Mutations linked to expression of genes associated with complex traitsHard-to-study mutations in the human genome, called short tandem repeats, known as STRs or microsatellites, are implicated in the expression of genes associated with complex traits including schizophrenia, inflammatory bowel disease and even height and intelligence. |
 | Why myelinated mammalian nerves are fast and allow high frequencyUniversity of Alabama at Birmingham researchers, for the first time ever, have achieved patch-clamp studies of an elusive part of mammalian myelinated nerves called the Nodes of Ranvier. At the nodes, they found unexpected potassium channels that give the myelinated nerve the ability to propagate nerve impulses at very high frequencies and with high conduction speeds along the nerve. Both qualities are necessary for fast conduction of sensations and rapid muscle control in mammals—keys to an animal's survival in a predator-prey world. |
 | Evidence that tobacco smoking increases risk of depression and schizophreniaA new study published today [6 Nov] in Psychological Medicine and led by University of Bristol researchers has found that tobacco smoking may increase your risk of developing depression and schizophrenia. |
 | Typical olfactory bulbs might not be necessary for smell, case study suggestsOur sense of smell depends on the transmission of olfactory information from the nose to the olfactory bulb in the brain through the olfactory nerve. And without olfactory bulbs, smell isn't possible—or so scientists thought. |
 | New technology promises improved treatment of inflammatory diseasesA study led by researchers at Washington State University has uncovered a potential new treatment approach for diseases associated with inflammation, including sepsis, stroke, rheumatoid arthritis, acute lung injury, and atherosclerosis. |
 | New clues found to help protect heart from damage after heart attackStudying mice, scientists have shown that boosting the activity of specific immune cells in the heart after a heart attack can protect against developing heart failure, an invariably fatal condition. Patients with heart failure tire easily and become breathless from everyday activities because the heart muscle has lost the ability to pump enough blood to the body. |
 | A mechanism capable of preserving muscle massSkeletal muscle is the most abundant tissue of the human body (about 40%) and it plays essential role in locomotion and vital functions (heart rate, breathing). During aging, in a large majority of individuals a loss of muscle mass, quality and strength occurs: this is called sarcopenia. This state, leading to disability and dependence, was declared as a disease in 2016 by the World Health Organization. |
 | Researchers find link between eye disease and degeneration of the brainA global research team led by scientists from Singapore and the United States has discovered new evidence that there is an underlying link between degeneration of the eye and brain. They found that genetic variation at a beta-amyloid gene was significantly associated with increased risk of Primary Open Angle Glaucoma (POAG), the most common form of glaucoma and the leading cause of irreversible blindness worldwide. The association was identified specifically in people with African ancestry. The high-risk variant was common in African populations (around 20%), but essentially absent in all other ancestral groups. |
 | Doctors try CRISPR gene editing for cancer, a 1st in the USThe first attempt in the United States to use a gene editing tool called CRISPR against cancer seems safe in the three patients who have had it so far, but it's too soon to know if it will improve survival, doctors reported Wednesday. |
 | A game-changing test for Prion, Alzheimer's and Parkinson's diseases is on the horizonThere are currently no effective treatments for prion diseases, a family of fatal neurodegenerative conditions caused by accumulations of misfolded copies of a naturally occurring protein. But now, there is finally an effective way to test for them. |
 | Study finds association between physical activity, lower risk of fractureRegular physical activity, including lighter intensity activities such as walking, is associated with reduced risk of hip and total fracture in postmenopausal women, according to new research from the University at Buffalo. |
 | Only-children more likely to be obese than children with siblingsFamilies with multiple children tend to make more healthy eating decisions than families with a single child. |
Study shows bariatric surgery's impact on diabetic kidney disease in severely obese teensDiabetic kidney disease is the leading cause of kidney failure in the nation, and its occurrence in youth with type 2 diabetestype 2 diabetes is rapidly rising. Medical treatments are only partially effective. However, in a new study published online in Diabetes Care, researchers at Children's Hospital Colorado (Children's Colorado) have found that severely obese teens with type 2 diabetes experienced a dramatic decrease in the rate of diabetic kidney disease, among other benefits, after bariatric surgery when compared to those who received medical treatment alone. | |
 | Normal body weight can hide eating disorder in teensTeens and young adults with atypical anorexia nervosa can have normal body weights and still be dangerously ill, according to a new study led by researchers at the Stanford University School of Medicine and the University of California-San Francisco. |
 | Critical protein that could unlock West Nile/Zika virus treatments identifiedA protein that is critical in controlling replication of West Nile and Zika viruses—and could be important for developing therapies to prevent and treat those viruses—has been identified by a Georgia State University biologist and his research group. |
Women with HIV at increased risk of early onset menopauseThanks to medical advancements, HIV-positive women now have a longer life expectancy, exposing them to numerous midlife health issues such as menopause. A new study demonstrates that women with HIV are more likely to enter the menopause transition at an average age of 48 years, 3 years younger than the general population. Study results are published online today in Menopause, the journal of The North American Menopause Society (NAMS). | |
Researchers develop novel method to identify patterns among patients with multiple chronic conditionsA study published this month in BMJ Open by researchers at Icahn School of Medicine at Mount Sinai proposes a novel method for identifying patterns in the frequency and cost of multiple chronic conditions (MCC). | |
 | Trouble sleeping? Insomnia symptoms linked to increased risk of stroke, heart attackPeople who have trouble sleeping may be more likely to have a stroke, heart attack or other cerebrovascular or cardiovascular diseases, according to a study published in the November 6, 2019, online issue of Neurology, the medical journal of the American Academy of Neurology. |
 | Dogs are more than companions, they are great for our mental wellbeingA study published in the Journal of Public Health by Oxford University Press and led by The University of Western Australia and Telethon Kids Institute has highlighted the positive impact dog ownership has on our mental health. |
 | Vaccine candidate for gonorrhea shows preclinical effectivenessA report in the journal mBio, published by the American Society for Microbiology, describes a prototype vaccine candidate for Neisseria gonorrhoeae, the bacterium that causes gonorrhea, a sexually transmitted infection that affects men and women. Untreated, gonorrhea can cause infertility in women. |
 | Students engineer blood vessel receptors to signal life-threatening conditionsIn the battle against heart disease, more than 400,000 coronary artery bypass grafting surgeries are performed in the U.S. each year. |
 | Aussie women born overseas have higher rates of stillbirthsStillbirth occurs more frequently among women with non-white backgrounds born overseas than for Australian-born women, particularly among women with African or Indian backgrounds, according to research published online today by the Medical Journal of Australia. |
 | Dodgy diet affects daytime drowsinessEfforts to understand excessive daytime sleepiness have resulted in researchers finding that a high intake of saturated fats and carbohydrates increases the risk of excessive daytime sleepiness. |
 | Study debunks hormonal misconception of exerciseWomen are not only underrepresented in exercise-related studies, but may be receiving incomplete information about physical activity because of a now-debunked belief that hormonal fluctuations linked to menstrual cycles can lead to inconsistent study results. |
 | Brain clue signals anxiety, depression in some kidsThe discovery of a biomarker in the brains of those with neurodevelopmental disorders—such as autism, attention deficit hyperactive disorder (ADHD) or obsessive compulsive disorder (OCD) – may offer hope to families looking for clues in how to address anxiety and depression in their children. |
 | Research: It is more permissible to jokingly disparage a group if you belong to itJokes targeting certain groups of people are better received when the joke teller is part of the group being mocked, research from The University of Queensland has found. |
 | One in four Australian adults take a food safety risk eating raw eggsThe Food Safety Information Council today released national Omnipoll research that shows one in four Australian adults are taking a food safety risk by eating raw or undercooked egg dishes especially as 12% of them eat them at least monthly. |
 | UK has one of the lowest breastfeeding rates in the world – here's how to change thisIt's been four years since shared parental leave was introduced in the UK. The policy that would see more dads taking an active role in parenting—with new parents sharing time off following the birth of a baby or an adoption. |
 | How you experience the menopause may have a lot to do with your familyThe menopause happens around the age of 50, and for many women, the end of their fertile life is accompanied by uncomfortable symptoms, such as hot flashes, night sweats and anxiety. In the West, it is generally taken as read that these symptoms are a normal part of the menopause. But cross-cultural research suggests that menopause symptoms are not necessarily inevitable. |
 | Plague was around for millennia before epidemics took hold – and the way people lived might be what protected themOne of civilization's most prolific killers shadowed humans for thousands of years without their knowledge. |
 | Living in walkable cities predicts success of 'American dream'New research from the University of Virginia finds children who are raised in walkable cities are more likely to climb the economic ladder, earning more than their parents did at similar points in their lives. |
 | Orthopedic surgery advances: The screw that dissolvesWhere bones fracture, surgeons often have to join the fragments with implants. Magnesium orthopedic screws, which over time dissolve in the body, spare patients another operation after healing is completed and reduce the risk of infection. What happens inside the body during this process, though, is still largely unknown. To develop optimized alloys and orthopedic screws with functionalized surfaces, Empa researchers are now investigating magnesium corrosion. |
 | 'Super-grafts' that could treat diabetesTo save patients with a severe form of type 1 diabetes (characterized by the absence of functional insulin-producing cells), pancreatic cell transplantation is sometimes the last resort. The pancreas contains cell clusters—called islets of Langerhans—where cells that produce blood glucose regulating hormones are grouped together. However, the transplant process is long and complex: a significant part of the grafted cells die quickly without being able to engraft. By adding amniotic epithelial cells to these cell clusters, researchers at the University of Geneva (UNIGE) and the Geneva University Hospitals (HUG), Switzerland, have succeeded in creating much more robust "super-islets" of Langerhans. Once transplanted, more of them engraft; they then start producing insulin much more rapidly. These results, to be discovered in Nature Communications, would not only improve the success of cell transplants, but also offer new perspectives for other types of transplants, including stem cell transplantation. |
Tweaking prescribing rules won't fix chemical restraint in aged careThe Royal Commission into Aged Care and Safety wasn't supposed to make any recommendations in its interim report. Yet it identified three key areas where immediate action should be taken. | |
 | Even mild hearing loss as a child can have long-term effects on how the brain processes soundWhen we are born, our brains have a lot to learn. For the newborn baby, everything they learn about the world around them comes from their senses. Therefore, if a child's brain is deprived of sensory information, it will continue to develop, but in a different way. |
 | Admitting practices of junior doctors may be behind 'weekend effect' in hospitals, study suggestsThe 'weekend effect' of increased hospital mortality has been well documented, including a 2015 study linking this to 11,000 extra UK deaths annually, which led to controversial contract changes for junior doctors as the UK government sought a "seven-day" National Health Service. |
 | Giving billions of live bacteria to boost the gut health of premature babiesBoosting the milk of premature babies with healthy bacteria may have helped half the number of serious gut problems and infections, according to new research led by the Norfolk and Norwich University Hospital, and involving the University of East Anglia. |
 | Time in host country—a risk factor for substance abuse in migrantsRefugees and other migrants who move to Sweden are initially less likely to be diagnosed with alcohol or drug addiction than the native population but over time their rates of substance abuse begin to mirror that of the Swedish born population. That is according to a new study by researchers at UCL in the U.K. and Karolinska Institutet in Sweden published in the journal PLOS Medicine. The findings suggest that migrants and refugees may over time be more likely to adopt local alcohol and drug behaviors and/or begin to access the host country's health care system to a greater extent. |
 | Connecting the brain and consciousnessWhat is consciousness? What does it mean to be 'aware', and how is our consciousness connected to the physical brain? A recent thesis from Uppsala University explores the philosophical aspects of the issue, and proposes a solution: the 'intrinsic consciousness' theory. |
 | Prevalence of e-cigarette use high among U.S. preteens, teensThe prevalence of self-reported current electronic cigarette use is high among U.S. middle and high school students, according to a study published online Nov. 5 in the Journal of the American Medical Association. |
 | FDA: biotin supplements could affect results of medical testsBiotin supplements can interfere with the results of some critical lab tests, the U.S. Food and Drug Administration warned Tuesday. |
 | How to head off holiday weight gainFrom Halloween through New Year's, holiday weight gain affects people the world over and, according to a study published in the New England Journal of Medicine, it can happen with any major holiday, not just the winter ones. |
 | Even a little exercise may bring a brain boostJust 10 minutes of exercise a day appears to sharpen mental prowess, new research suggests. |
 | Alzheimer's treatments: What's on the horizon?Current Alzheimer's treatments temporarily improve symptoms of memory loss and problems with thinking and reasoning. |
 | Record number of Legionnaires' cases in 2018 risk lives, cause cleanup headachesCases of Legionnaires' disease reached a record high in 2018—a more than eight-fold increase since the numbers began to climb nearly two decades ago. |
 | Genetically modified mice can show which functional foods can heal kidney diseaseChronic kidney disease affects 750 million people each year. Aging populations and an increase in diseases such as diabetes will lead to a greater burden of kidney disease. In general, when doctors want to check if a patient has kidney disease, they must do so by a blood test or a biopsy. This is usually only feasible when the disease is in its later stages. By then it might be too late to treat, and the patients may have to undergo transplant or dialysis. |
 | Medical practices burdened by regulatory requirements(HealthDay)—The vast majority of group medical practices report that regulatory requirements, including prior authorization and quality payment programs, are burdensome, according to a survey released by the Medical Group Management Association. |
 | Preemies who develop chronic lung disease had more stem cells at birthIn the first large-scale clinical study to characterize stem cells from the umbilical cord blood and tissues of premature infants with bronchopulmonary dysplasia—a severe, chronic lung disease—researchers found that these babies had more stem cells at birth. They also found that a growth factor (G-CSF), which is responsible for stem cell migration and differentiation, is decreased in these infants. Based on these results, researchers speculate that the increase in cord stem cells might play an early role in the development of bronchopulmonary dysplasia, which is usually diagnosed when the infant is 2-3 months old. Their findings, published in the Frontiers in Pediatrics, also add to the identification of disease risk factors, as well as contribute to the research into cell-based therapies for prevention and management of bronchopulmonary dysplasia. |
 | Study finds most surfing injuries involve shoulder or knee, surgery usually not requiredOver the last few years, surfing has increased in popularity, with about 2.6 million recreational surfers in the United States. Efforts are under way to include competitive surfing in the Olympics. However, the number of reports on surfing-related injuries is limited and does not mirror the trend in popularity, according to researchers at Hospital for Special Surgery (HSS). |
 | Neuron circuitry from brain signalsThe brain is considered to be one of the most complex systems in existence. And while significant headway has been made to understand it, we tend to generate more questions than answers. |
 | Prenatal exposure to pollution linked to brain changes related to behavioral problemsOver the past few decades, various studies have investigated the impact of air pollution on cognitive capacities in children. However, very little research has been done on the changes that air pollution could induce in children's growing brains. A new study led by the Barcelona Institute for Global Health (ISGlobal), a centre supported by "la Caixa," has found a link between air pollution and changes in the corpus callosum, a region of the brain associated with neurodevelopmental disorders such as attention deficit hyperactivity disorder (ADHD) and autism spectrum disorder (ASD). |
 | Mailed self-sampling kits helped more women get screened for cervical cancerSignaling a potential major change in cervical cancer screening options for American women, a new study found that mailed self-sampling kits that test for HPV—the virus that can cause cervical cancer—helped significantly more women get screened for the cancer. |
 | A new machine learning approach detects esophageal cancer better than current methodsRecently, deep learning methods have shown promising results for analyzing histological patterns in microscopy images. These approaches, however, require a laborious, high-cost, manual annotation process by pathologists called "region-of-interest annotations." A research team at Dartmouth and Dartmouth-Hitchcock Norris Cotton Cancer Center, led by Saeed Hassanpour, Ph.D., has addressed this shortcoming of current methods by developing a novel attention-based deep learning method that automatically learns clinically important regions on whole-slide images to classify them. |
Many insured Americans go out of network, pay more for behavioral healthAmericans are using more out-of-network care and paying more out of pocket for behavioral health care than for treatment of other conditions, despite efforts to increase coverage and access to mental health services, according to new research. | |
 | Women less likely to receive treatment for myocardial infarction(HealthDay)—Use of sex-specific diagnostic thresholds for myocardial infarction identifies more additional women than men with myocardial injury, but women are less likely to receive treatment, according to a study published in the Oct. 22 issue of the Journal of the American College of Cardiology. |
 | Cardiorespiratory fitness may improve lung cancer outcomes(HealthDay)—Higher cardiorespiratory fitness is associated with a lower risk for lung cancer incidence in former smokers and a reduced risk for cancer mortality in current smokers diagnosed with lung cancer, according to a study published in the November issue of the American Journal of Preventive Medicine. |
 | Few eligible patients receive prescriptions for weight-loss medications(HealthDay)—Few eligible patients receive prescriptions for weight-loss medications, according to a study published online Oct. 11 in Obesity. |
 | Prolific pianist uses music to heal, inspireAs soon as Paul Cardall was born, doctors knew something was terribly wrong. He was a blue baby. Oxygenated blood wasn't pumping properly through his body. |
 | Mechanism of beta-cells involved in the development of type-1 diabetes revealedResearchers Lorenzo Pasquali and Mireia Ramos-Rodríguez have published recently in Nature Genetics the results of a study on the mechanisms that cause an inflammatory response to trigger pancreatic beta-cell death, leading to the onset of Type 1 Diabetes (T1D). Pasquali is a Ramon y Cajal researcher at the Josep Carreras Leukaemia Research Institute (IJC), affiliated with CIBERDEM and the Germans Trias i Pujol Research Institute (IGTP), where he leads the Endocrine Regulatory Genomics group. Mireia Ramos-Rodríguez, the first author of the paper, is a doctoral student in the Endocrine Regulatory Genomics group. The study was carried out in collaboration with Decío Eizirik of ULB (Brussels, Belgium). |
 | Head and neck cancer patients benefited from Affordable Care ActThe rate of uninsured patients with head and neck cancers was "significantly reduced" following the implementation of the federal Patient Protection and Affordable Care Act (ACA). |
 | Researchers link specific protein mutations to ataxia disease symptomsFor the first time, the UNC School of Medicine lab of Jonathan Schisler, MS, Ph.D., linked the specific biochemical changes to a protein called CHIP to specific disease characteristics of patients with a wide range of rare disorders. The symptoms of patients with CHIP mutations include accelerated aging, hypogonadism, and early onset cerebellar ataxia, which is characterized by difficulties with speech, eye movement, swallowing, and a lack of muscle control or coordination of voluntary movements. |
 | Vitamin D dials down aggression in melanoma cellsVitamin D influences the behaviour of melanoma cells in the lab by making them less aggressive, Cancer Research UK scientists have found. |
 | Research maps link between air pollution and obesityAmie Lund, a cardiovascular toxicology researcher with the University of North Texas, has found that exposure to certain air pollutants may cause weight gain, especially when coupled with a high-fat diet. |
 | 'I knew that was going to happen:' Déjà vu and the 'postdictive' biasFor many, déjà vu is just a fleeting, eerie sensation that "I've been here before." For others, it gets even eerier: In that moment of unsettling familiarity, they also feel certain they know what's going to happen next—like, a girl in a white shirt is going to pass me on the left. |
 | Tumor-specific therapy targets ovarian cancerNami Therapeutics Corporation, which gets its name from the Mandarin word for "nano," is committed to using nanotechnologies to make big advances in cancer therapy. |
 | Research aims to make technologies for controlling blood sugar more accessibleThe rise of continuous blood glucose monitor and insulin pump technologies has lessened the intricate task of monitoring and regulating blood glucose levels for people with diabetes, but improvements to these devices could still significantly improve lives. |
 | New technique lays foundation for regenerative cardiac therapiesScientists have devised a technique to sort out which heart cells can replicate and which cannot, a critical step toward treatments that may one day help the heart heal itself after injury. |
 | Hospital disinfectants struggling to kill C. diff bacteria coloniesThe deadly and notoriously stubborn superbug, Clostridioides difficile (C. diff), is putting up a winning fight against hospital-grade disinfectants meant to kill it, according to results of a new study published in the Antimicrobial Agents and Chemotherapy journal of the American Society for Microbiology. The C. diff bacterium causes inflammation of the colon with symptoms ranging from diarrhea to life-threatening sepsis and is most common among the elderly in hospitals or other health care facilities. |
 | Mouse study finds early exposure to sounds can address hypersensitivity to noise associated with Fragile X SyndromeA research team at the University of California, Riverside, has found exposure to sound—not sound reduction—during early development of mice engineered to have Fragile X Syndrome, or FXS, restores molecular, cellular, and functional properties in the auditory cortex, the area of the brain that processes sounds. |
 | Screening truckers for sleep apnea cuts health insurance costs(HealthDay)—Requiring drivers to get treatment for obstructive sleep apnea (OSA) saved a trucking company a large amount in insurance costs for other health conditions, a new study shows. |
 | Study questions video games' effects on violent behaviorA new study finds that there is not enough information to support the claim that violent video games lead to acts of violence. |
Study examines depression in the last year of lifeDepression impacts quality of life at all life stages, but little is known about the factors related to depression in the last year of life. A recent study published in the Journal of the American Geriatrics Society found that 59.3% of individuals had depression in the last month before death. | |
 | Factors during pregnancy may affect early childhood weightIn a study published in Pediatric Obesity, a child's high and increasing body mass index between ages two and six years was strongly associated with pre-pregnancy obesity and overweight in the child's mother; modestly associated with maternal type 1 diabetes, type 2 diabetes, gestational diabetes that required medication, and excessive weight gain during pregnancy; and slightly associated with breastfeeding for six months or less. |
 | Imaging test may help predict the success of labor inductionWhen labor is induced in pregnant women, one in five women will require an emergency cesarean section. A study published in Acta Obstetricia et Gynecologica Scandinavica has demonstrated an effective way to predict such cases. |
 | Determinants of employability of people living with HIV/AIDSPeople living with HIV/AIDS may face discrimination in employers' hiring practices. A study published in the American Journal of Industrial Medicine found that medical and socioeconomic factors may hinder their employment. |
 | Medication use during pregnancy is common in women with preeclampsiaUse of medications during pregnancy is more common in women with preeclampsia than in those without, according to an analysis of women who gave birth at a hospital in Finland in 2002-2016. |
Analysis by surgical trainees examines recommendations for mastectomy across the UKA woman's decision to undergo mastectomy for breast cancer relies on communication with her surgeon and, in addition, often draws on recommendations from a "multidisciplinary team" (MDT) of doctors from different specialties such as oncology and radiology. | |
The reproductive function of the clitorisA recent review published in Clinical Anatomy highlights evidence that the female clitoris is important for reproduction. | |
 | Study examines theory on menopause age and symptom severityA recent theory states that women enter menopause at different ages and have varying extents of symptoms due in part to residence patterns after marriage—or whether couples disperse to live with paternal or maternal kin. Investigators found little support for this theory in a study of four ethnic groups in China, however. The findings are published in Ecology and Evolution. |
 | The cost of waiting in emergency departmentsWait times in U.S. emergency departments are increasing. A new study published in Economic Inquiry indicates that prolonging the wait time in the emergency department for a patient who arrives with a serious condition by 10 minutes will increase the hospital's cost to care for the patient by an average of 6%, and it will increase the cost to care for moderately severe cases by an average of 3%. There were no increased costs associated with waiting among relatively healthier patients. |
 | Are oral medications for vaginal yeast infections safe during pregnancy?Vaginal yeast infections may occur more commonly during pregnancy, and most are treated with topical medications, or creams. Oral medications are prescribed when topical treatment fails, but the safety of such agents during pregnancy is controversial. A recent review and analysis examined all relevant studies published on this topic. |
 | Shortened sleep may negatively affect women's bone healthGetting too little sleep was linked with a higher risk of having low bone mineral density (BMD) and developing osteoporosis, as reported in a recent Journal of Bone and Mineral Research study of postmenopausal women. |
 | School-based sleep program may benefit adolescentsA recent study uncovered potential long-term benefits of a school-based sleep education program for adolescents. |
 | Quality of life changes after weight lossObesity increases a number of adverse health consequences including reduced health-related quality of life. But little is known about the relationship between weight loss and changes in quality of life. |
Australia's rural doctors speak up to boost regional health servicesA national study has found that longer rural doctor postings and more rural training positions are needed to provide regional areas with the right doctor, at the right time and in the right place. | |
 | Unlocking happinessWhat is the key to happiness? More to the point, is there a universal skeleton key that city dwellers could use to unlock happiness? Writing in the aptly named International Journal of Happiness and Development, a Canadian team finds the answers. |
 | To solve the hidden epidemic of teen hunger, we should listen to teens who experience itFor many young people, the toughest choice they will ever have to make about food is what to eat at home or what to choose from a menu. |
 | Dengue cases soar to record high in PakistanA record-breaking 44,000 people have been infected with mosquito-borne dengue in Pakistan this year, a senior health official said Wednesday, as increased outbreaks linked to rising temperatures and erratic rainfall ravage other parts of Asia. |
 | Bringing up the rear: A workout for your glutesWhen it comes to sculpting a better booty, here's the bottom line: You need to strengthen your glutes. And more than giving these muscles a toned look, working them also improves the mobility of your hips, helps stabilize your core and eases lower back pain. Here are three to add to your repertoire. |
 | VA investigates impact of opioids, sedatives on veteransVeterans who simultaneously take opioids for chronic pain and benzodiazepines for anxiety and insomnia are at an increased risk of unintentional overdose and death as well as suicide. |
AI blood test can spot signs of brain tumor to speed up diagnosisChemical analysis of blood samples, combined with an artificial intelligence program, could speed up the diagnosis of brain tumours, according to research presented at the 2019 NCRI Cancer Conference. | |
 | Polyamide kitchen utensils: Keep contact with hot food as brief as possibleCooking spoons, spatulas or whisks: polyamide (PA) kitchen utensils provide valuable baking, roasting and cooking assistance. However, components of this plastic can migrate from the utensils into the food and consequently be ingested by consumers. |
 | FOCUS may lower PE diagnosis in ED patients with suspected PE and abnormal vitalsFocused cardiac ultrasound (FOCUS) performed by emergency physicians with advanced training in emergency ultrasound may significantly lower the likelihood of the diagnosis of pulmonary embolism (PE) in most patients who are suspected of PE and have abnormal vital signs. This was especially true in those patients with a heart rate > 110 beats/min. That is the conclusion of a study to be published in the November 2019 issue of Academic Emergency Medicine (AEM), a journal of the Society for Academic Emergency Medicine (SAEM). |
Biology news
 | Quantitative biology opens trail to ecological exploration, evolutionary predictionOne of the best studied topics of molecular biology is bacterial chemotaxis-the movement of bacterial cells in response to chemical stimuli. While scientists at UC San Diego thought they—and the science community in general—knew everything there was to know about how and why bacterial cells moved around, they were surprised to realize how little they understood about how bacteria moved around as a group. New findings on this latest research are published as rare back-to-back articles in Nature, Nov. 6, 2019. |
 | Researchers discover new toxin that impedes bacterial growthAn international research collaboration has discovered a new bacteria-killing toxin that shows promise of impacting superbug infectious diseases. |
 | Blocking cannabinoid receptors affects zebrafish development, study showsDisrupting natural cannabinoid receptors has a detrimental effect on the development of zebrafish, according to new research by University of Alberta biologists. |
 | Scientists crack structure of a novel enzyme linked to cell growth and cancerRNA, or ribonucleic acid, is present in the cells of all living beings and required to synthesize proteins. A research team at the University of California, Riverside, has discovered the structure of a novel RNA-modifying enzyme, ZCCHC4, and identified the mechanism that controls how this enzyme recognizes its substrate. |
 | Team solves structure of key mTORC1 activatorA research team led by scientists at the Whitehead Institute has described the structure of a key protein complex that helps activate mTORC1, a master growth regulator that enables cells to quickly respond to changing nutrient levels. This activating complex includes two proteins, folliculin (FLCN), which is disrupted in an inherited tumor syndrome, and FNIP2. As described in the November 5 issue of Cell, the team's findings reveal how FLCN and FNIP2 interact with each other and with other key components of mTORC1 to regulate nutrient and growth signals. These insights will help guide future studies, including the discovery of drugs that interfere with mTORC1 signaling. |
 | How human population came from our ability to cooperateHumans may owe their place as Earth's dominating species to their ability to share and cooperate with each other, according to a new study published in the Journal of Anthropological Research. |
 | To save biodiversity, scientists suggest 'mega-conservation'While the conservation of charismatic creatures like pandas, elephants and snow leopards are important in their own right, there may be no better ecological bang-for-our-buck than a sound, science-based effort to save widespread keystone systems. And the majestic aspens could be a perfect start for such an endeavor. |
 | Study shows invasive blue catfish can tolerate high salinitiesA new study by researchers at the Virginia Institute of Marine Science warns that blue catfish—an invasive species in several Chesapeake Bay tributaries—tolerate salinities higher than most freshwater fishes, and thus may be able to expand their range downstream into mainstem Chesapeake waters, and from there into new Bay tributaries and even Delaware Bay. |
 | High-tech chestnuts: US to consider genetically altered treeChestnuts harvested from high branches on a chilly fall morning look typical: they're marble sized, russet colored and nestled in prickly burs. But many are like no other nuts in nature. |
 | Lost pup turns out to be a rare purebred dingoHe's furry, playful, and has puppy eyes. It's little wonder Wandi was mistaken for a dog when he was found in an Australian backyard—but DNA testing has confirmed he's a rare 100 percent dingo. |
 | Analysis of butterfly genomes reveals answers to complex evolutionary history questionsColorful Heliconius butterflies have a wide variety of wing patterns and an amazing ability to mimic the appearance of other butterfly species. They also split into many species during a short timescale, which has made them prime research subjects for evolutionary biologists for more than a century. |
 | Wildlife studies show damage wrought by major stormsBeyond downed power lines and damaged buildings, major storms such as hurricanes uproot the lives of fish and wildlife as well, according to research conducted at the University of Georgia. |
 | Figuring out the total human impacts on biodiversityHow much have humans affected the population of other species on the planet? A new methodology for documenting the cumulative human impacts on biodiversity aims to answer this question. |
 | New drone, underwater footage of orcas stuns researchers, gives intimate look at killer whales' family lifeWho knew orcas were so playful, so full of affection, so constantly touching one another? |
 | Pharmacy in the jungle study reveals indigenous people's choice of medicinal plantsThe Amazon Rainforest produces more than 20 percent of the world's oxygen, 20 percent of the world's fresh water and is home to more than 150,000 species of plants rich in beneficial nutrients, phytochemicals and active elements. Many of these plants are the source of some the most widely used and lifesaving medicines, which have antioxidant, antibacterial and anti-inflammatory properties used to treat type II diabetes, Alzheimer's disease, among others. |
 | Membrane intercalation enhances photodynamic bacteria inactivationBacterial infections pose a threat to human health. Now, with increasing antibiotic resistance, such infections may again ravage humanity as they did in the pre-antibiotic era. Scientists are thus seeking new, non-antibiotic means to combat bacterial infection. |
 | Extinct species rediscovered in Winterhoek mountains, South Africa, after 200 yearsOne of the first recorded species to have been lost to forestry and agriculture in the Western Cape in the 1800s, a type of fountain bush from the pea family that used to grow next to mountain streams in the Tulbagh region, have been rediscovered. |
 | Why did the turtles cross the highway? They didn't, but they still might be impactedOhio University researchers set out to determine the impact of the Route 33 bypass through Wayne National Forest on the local box turtle population. The answers were not exactly what they expected. |
 | A new CRISPR-Cas9 protein to increase precision of gene editingA team of researchers from City University of Hong Kong (CityU) and Karolinska Institutet has recently developed a new protein that can help increase the targeting accuracy in the genome editing process. It is believed that it would be useful for future gene therapies in humans, which require high precision. |
 | New findings on gut microbiome's interactions with GI diseasesA study from the Texas A&M College of Veterinary Medicine & Biomedical Sciences (CVM) offers new insight on how the gut bacteria of dogs interact with a healthy vs. unhealthy GI tract, which could contribute to the development of new therapies for GI diseases in both dogs and humans. |
 | Horses blink less, twitch eyelids more when stressedHow can you tell when a horse is feeling stressed? It's all in the eyes and the way their eyelids twitch, University of Guelph researchers have discovered. |
 | Pangolins threatened by criminal networks in southern AfricaPangolins are under threat from illegal trafficking networks, conservationists said Wednesday, as they urged southern African countries to step up protection of one of the world's most smuggled mammals. |
 | Why have so many new diseases developed in the bagged salads sector?Ready-to-eat salads, also known as fresh-cut or bagged salads, have steadily gained popularity since their introduction in Europe in the early 1980s. This popularity is expected to grow, marking opportunities for the fresh food industry. |
 | The importance of Madagascar's lowland rainforest for lemur conservationThroughout their evolutionary history, animals in regions with limited lowland habitat have evolved to adapt to higher elevations. Although lemurs—among the most endangered mammals on earth—are flexible and can persist at intermediate and high elevations in the Madagascar's eastern rainforest, a new Mammal Review study shows that the few remaining patches of lowland rainforest host the highest levels of lemur abundance for several species. |
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