Dear Reader ,
Here is your customized Science X Newsletter for January 24, 2020:
Spotlight Stories Headlines
Astronomy & Space news
 | Simulations reveal galaxy clusters detailsInspired by the science fiction of the spacefaring Romulans of Star Trek, astrophysicists have used XSEDE-allocated supercomputers to develop cosmological computer simulations called RomulusC, where the 'C' stands for galaxy cluster. With a focus on black hole physics, RomulusC has produced some of the highest resolution simulations ever of galaxy clusters, which can contain hundreds or even thousands of galaxies. |
 | NASA's Kepler witnesses vampire star system undergoing super-outburstNASA's Kepler spacecraft was designed to find exoplanets by looking for stars that dim as a planet crosses the star's face. Fortuitously, the same design makes it ideal for spotting other astronomical transients—objects that brighten or dim over time. A new search of Kepler archival data has uncovered an unusual super-outburst from a previously unknown dwarf nova. The system brightened by a factor of 1,600 over less than a day before slowly fading away. |
 | Galileo now replying to SOS messages worldwideAs well as providing global navigation services, Europe's Galileo satellite constellation is contributing to saving more than 2000 lives annually by relaying SOS messages to first responders. And from now on the satellites will reply to these messages, assuring people in danger that help is on the way. |
 | NESSI emerges as new tool for exoplanet atmospheresThe darkness surrounding the Hale Telescope breaks with a sliver of blue sky as the dome begins to open, screeching with metallic, sci-fi-like sounds atop San Diego County's Palomar Mountain. The historic observatory smells of the oil pumped in to support the bearings that make this giant telescope float ever so slightly as it moves to track the stars. |
 | TV provider shifting satellite to high orbit over explosion fearsUS authorities said Friday they had granted permission to a TV provider to urgently lift a four-ton (3,600-kilogram) satellite to a so-called "graveyard orbit" over fears a battery fault may soon cause it to explode. |
Technology news
 | Nonprofits worry sale of dot-org universe will raise costsThe company that controls the dot-org online universe is putting the registry of domain names up for sale, and the nonprofits that often use the suffix in their websites are raising concerns about the move. |
 | Engineer still concerned over Safari tracking preventionThe headlines on many tech-watching sites this week amounted to one big whaaat? An anti-tracking feature in Apple's Safari browser was actually exposing private browsing habits, according to researchers outside Apple. This was all about the Intelligent Tracking Prevention (ITP) implemented by Apple's Safari browser. |
 | Nano-thin flexible touchscreens could be printed like newspaperResearchers have developed an ultra-thin and ultra-flexible electronic material that could be printed and rolled out like newspaper, for the touchscreens of the future. |
 | Commercial air travel is safer than ever, study findsIt has never been safer to fly on commercial airlines, according to a new study by an MIT professor that tracks the continued decrease in passenger fatalities around the globe. |
 | The robot that grips without touchingETH Pioneer Fellow Marcel Schuck is developing a robotic gripper that can manipulate small and fragile objects without touching them. The technology is based on sound waves. |
 | Stability assessment and reporting for perovskite photovoltaicsImproving the long-term stability of perovskite solar cells, which is crucial for the use of this pioneering technology—this is the topic of a paper published in the journal Nature Energy by an international research team, in which TU materials scientist Professor Michael Saliba is also involved. Perovskite solar cells convert sunlight into electricity and are regarded as the greatest hope for the solar cell industry. |
Coalition of states sue over rules governing 3-D-printed gunsAttorneys general in 20 states and the District of Columbia filed a lawsuit Thursday challenging a federal regulation that could allow blueprints for making guns on 3D printers to be posted on the internet. | |
 | Plastic mini-robot 'walks' under the influence of lightResearchers at Eindhoven University of Technology have developed the first-ever light-controlled package delivery robot. Measuring 2 centimeters, this plastic mini-robot can "walk" under the influence of blue light in order to collect and deliver packages. In the future, it should be possible to use the robot to deliver medicines within the human body or to carry out simple repairs to chip machines, for example. The researchers have published their results in the journal Advanced Science. |
 | Designing a puncture-free tireSome golf carts and lawnmowers already use airless tires and at least one major tire company produces a non-pneumatic automotive tire, but we still have long way to go before they are on every vehicle that comes off the assembly line. Finding a design that balances puncture-free strength with the elasticity needed for a comfortable, shock-free ride like conventional pneumatic tires is the key. |
 | Critical flaw demonstrated in common digital security algorithmCryptographic experts at Nanyang Technological University, Singapore (NTU Singapore) and the French national research institute for digital sciences INRIA in Paris, have demonstrated a critical security flaw in a commonly used security algorithm, known as SHA-1, which would allow attackers to fake specific files and the information within them, and pass them off as authentic. |
 | Forget flying taxis: How to win public support and make drones benefit citiesIt's easy to assume, perhaps thanks to all the lurid tabloid headlines, that people don't like drones. At best, they're a nuisance—the buzzing playthings of inconsiderate hobbyists or photographers taking pictures from above. At worst, they're a tool for idiots to close airports, ruin holidays and cost the country millions. |
 | Capitalism and the internet: It's time we understood the digital economyThe digital economy has been getting a lot of attention, with increasingly strong headlines offering apocalyptic as well as breathtakingly exciting scenarios. Some warn of job losses due to automation, some wonder at the things digital technology can do. And then there's real skepticism about whether this will translate into delivering to people who need it most. |
 | The future of innovation in consumer technology,As celebrations to ring in the new decade were winding down, more than 175,000 tech-minded travelers made their way to Las Vegas for the 53rd Consumer Electronics Show (CES). The forum that has launched gadgets ranging from floppy disks, portable camcorders, and Blu-ray players, has become an annual showcase for all things consumer-oriented technology. |
 | Researchers to teach robots how to differentiate between sandwich ingredientsLoughborough University computer scientists have teamed up with a food production automation company for a project that looks to teach AI robots how to differentiate between food items so they can make sandwiches in real-world factory environments. |
 | Bosses using tech to spy on staff is becoming the norm, so here's a realistic way of handling itWorkplace surveillance sounds like the stuff of nightmares, but we are having to get used to it. In a sign of the times, the European Court of Human Rights has just ruled that a supermarket in Barcelona was entitled to fire employees after catching them stealing on CCTV cameras that they didn't know were installed. This overturned a decision by the court's lower chamber that the cameras had breached the employees' human rights. |
 | Using a menstrual tracker app? This is what happens to your health dataIf you are one of the millions of women who uses period tracker apps to better your chances of having a baby, to prevent pregnancy or just to monitor menstruation, are the risks of sharing sensitive health information about your reproductive cycle worth the benefits? |
 | Apple's new gym partnerships give real perks for working out with Apple WatchWorking out could help you pay down your Apple Watch or gym membership. |
 | How to prevent car break-ins: Turn off your BluetoothThose apps that scan for devices using Bluetooth could sound great. The AirPods have fallen out of the ear and they're somewhere in the house. Whip open the app to find them. Or that lost phone, missing tablet or even camera. All good, right? |
 | UK 'to decide on Huawei 5G next week'Britain is expected to announce next week whether to allow China's Huawei to develop its 5G network, an official said Friday, amid indications it will agree to grant at least limited access despite intense US opposition. |
 | London police to use face scan tech, stoking privacy fearsLondon police will start using facial recognition cameras to pick out suspects from street crowds in real time, in a major advance for the controversial technology that raises worries about automated surveillance and erosion of privacy rights. |
 | Italy threatens Facebook with new fine for selling users' dataItaly's competition authority has warned Facebook it faces a further fine of five million euros ($5.5 million) for persisting in selling users' data without informing them. |
 | UTA aerospace engineer exploring possibility of hypersonic passenger, cargo planesThe idea of speeding through the atmosphere at many times the speed of sound carries great appeal for commercial aircraft carriers. The technology needed to build such hypersonic passenger or cargo transport vehicles, however, does not yet exist. |
 | Saving water when the sun shinesDeserts and other sun-drenched regions are the ideal location for concentrated solar power plants, but where sunlight is abundant, water tends to be scarce and dust covers everything. The EU-funded project MinWaterCSP develops new solutions to reduce water consumption in such plants, making the technology more attractive for countries that suffer from water scarcity and aim to become less dependent on fossil fuels. |
 | Greece: Government websites hit by cyberattackThe Greek government said Friday that the official state websites of the prime minister, the national police and fire service and several important ministries were briefly disabled by a cyberattack but have been restored. |
 | Boeing could again cut production on 787 plane: sourceBoeing, still in crisis mode due to the grounding of the 737 MAX, is considering further production cuts to another key commercial plane, a person close to the matter said Friday. |
Medicine & Health news
 | People plan their movements, anticipate force of gravity by 'seeing it' through visual cues rather than 'feeling it'Gravity is the unseen force that dominates our entire lives. It's what makes walking uphill so difficult and what makes parts of our body eventually point downhill. It is unyielding, everywhere, and a force that we battle with every time we make a move. But exactly how do people account for this invisible influence while moving through the world? |
 | TP53 gene variant in people of African descent linked to iron overload, may improve malaria responseIn a study by The Wistar Institute and collaborators, a rare, African-specific variant of the TP53 gene called P47S causes iron accumulation in macrophages and other cell types and is associated with poorer response to bacterial infections, along with markers of iron overload in African Americans. Macrophage iron accumulation disrupts their function, resulting in more severe bacterial infections. The study, published online in Nature Communications, also showed that P47S macrophages exhibit improved response to the malaria toxin. This effect may confer protection against generalized inflammation associated with signs of acute malaria pathology. |
 | Marburg virus found in Sierra Leone batsScientists have detected Marburg virus in fruit bats in Sierra Leone, marking the first time the deadly virus has been found in West Africa. Eleven Egyptian rousette fruit bats tested positive for active Marburg virus infection. Research teams caught the bats separately in three health districts. |
 | Why eating yogurt may help lessen the risk of breast cancerOne of the causes of breast cancer may be inflammation triggered by harmful bacteria say researchers. |
 | High air pollution exposure in one-year-olds linked to structural brain changes at age 12A new study suggests that significant early childhood exposure to traffic-related air pollution (TRAP) is associated with structural changes in the brain at the age of 12. |
 | Brain-cell helpers powered by norepinephrine during fear-memory formationA sustained state of vigilance will generate a different type of memory than a momentary startle, and these differences are linked to distinct signaling molecules in the brains of mice. Researchers at the RIKEN Center for Brain Science (CBS) have visualized these dynamics in the living mouse brain for the first time, observing fast and slow molecular pathways that support memory function. These processes take place in brain cells called astrocytes, revealing another important way in which these cells help neurons. |
 | A single number helps data scientists find most dangerous cancer cellsStanford data scientists have shown that figuring out a single number can help them find the most dangerous cancer cells. |
 | Chemoresistance in pancreatic cancer: Disrupting cellular metabolism offers potential treatmentPancreatic cancer is one of the most formidable human malignancies. |
 | Optical stimulation causes marmosets to move their forelimbsRIKEN neuroscientists have succeeded in getting marmosets to move their forelimbs when they shine laser light on the motor cortex—the brain region responsible for planning, conducting and controlling voluntary movements. This will help researchers discover what different circuits in the motor cortex of marmosets do, with a view to gaining valuable insights into equivalent circuits in the human brain. |
 | Keto diet works best in small doses, researchers findA ketogenic diet—which provides 99 percent of calories from fat and protein and only 1 percent from carbohydrates—produces health benefits in the short term, but negative effects after about a week, Yale researchers found in a study of mice. |
 | Researchers create three-dimensional organoid models of human forebrainA team of researchers at Stanford University has, for the first time, created three-dimensional organoid models of the human forebrain. In their paper published in the journal Science, the group describes growing the organoids and their uses. |
 | Cell network mapping reveals rewiring in colorectal cancerAn international consortium of researchers from Australia, Ireland, the UK, Europe, and Canada, has painstakingly mapped an intracellular network that could open the door to discovering new targeted treatments for colorectal cancer. |
 | Imbalance between serotonin and dopamine in social anxiety disorderThe balance between the neurotransmitters serotonin and dopamine may affect whether a person develops social anxiety disorder. Previous research has mainly focused on either the serotonin or the dopamine system individually. Now researchers at Uppsala University have demonstrated the existence of a previously unknown link between the two. The results are published in Molecular Psychiatry. |
 | First clinical studies find Wuhan virus closely resembles SARSThe new coronavirus rapidly spreading in China and nearby countries seems to trigger symptoms similar to those seen in the severe acute respiratory distress syndrome (SARS) coronavirus outbreak in 2003, two new studies show. |
 | Opioid dependence found to permanently change brains of ratsApproximately one-quarter of patients who are prescribed opioids for chronic pain misuse them, with five to 10 percent developing an opioid use disorder or addiction. In a new study, published Jan. 14, 2020 in PNAS, researchers at University of California San Diego School of Medicine found that opioid dependence produced permanent changes in the brains of rats. |
 | Neuroscientists to build video dataset that catches people looking (at everything)To better understand the organization of the brain and the perceptual tendencies in humans, a team of four scientists are recording video from four head-mounted cameras—with eyetracking and head movement—and assembling a massive video database with more than 240 hours of first-person video that can be used by researchers everywhere. |
 | Researchers identify a connection between early life adversity and opioid addictionIndividuals with a history of early life adversity (ELA) are disproportionately prone to opioid addiction. A new UCI-led study reveals why. |
 | Weight loss and health improvements with Mediterranean, fasting and paleo dietsThere were some weight loss and health benefits for overweight adults who followed the Mediterranean, Intermittent Fasting and Paleo diets, though adherence to the diets dropped off considerably during the one-year study, new University of Otago research shows. |
 | Benefits of fetal surgery for spina bifida persist in school-age childrenIn a follow-up to the landmark 2011 study that demonstrated prenatal surgery for spina bifida has measurable benefits over surgery after birth for one of the most disabling neural tube defects, researchers have published new findings. These findings show significant physical and emotional benefits a decade later in school-age children who received corrective surgery in the womb for myelomeningocele, the most severe form of spina bifida. |
 | China confirms 1st death outside epicenter of viral outbreakChina moved to lock down at least three cities with a combined population of more than 18 million in an unprecedented effort to contain the deadly new virus that has sickened hundreds of people and spread to other parts of the world during the busy Lunar New Year holiday. |
 | Doctors urged to recognize post-antidepressant sexual dysfunctionA psychiatrist specialising in sexual dysfunction caused by antidepressants is calling for greater recognition of the problems that can endure after treatment stops. Professor David Healy, writing in the Journal of the Royal Society of Medicine, said problems may begin after only a few doses and leave someone affected for life, or a relatively mild dysfunction can worsen dramatically when the person stops treatment. |
 | NIAID officials discuss novel Coronavirus that recently emerged in ChinaThe new cluster of viral pneumonia cases originating in Wuhan, China, marks the third time in 20 years that a member of the large family of coronaviruses (CoVs) has jumped from animals to humans and sparked an outbreak. In a new JAMA Viewpoint essay, Anthony S. Fauci, M.D., director of the NIH's National Institute of Allergy and Infectious Diseases (NIAID), looks back at two earlier novel CoV outbreaks that initially caused global havoc and describes steps needed to contain the current one. |
China expands transport ban to 13 cities, 41 mln affectedChina on Friday added four more cities to a transport ban around the epicentre of a deadly virus, restricting the movement of some 41 million people in 13 cities as authorities scramble to control the disease. | |
 | China rushes to build new hospital for virus within 10 daysChina is rushing to build a new hospital in a staggering 10 days to treat patients at the epicentre of a deadly virus outbreak that has stricken hundreds of people, state media reported Friday. |
 | China virus toll jumps to 25 dead with 830 confirmed cases: govtThe death toll in China's viral outbreak has risen to 25, with the number of confirmed cases also leaping to 830, the government said on Friday. |
Family caregivers are rarely asked about needing assistance with caring for older adultsFamily caregivers usually are not asked by health care workers about needing support in managing older adults' care, according to a study led by researchers at the Johns Hopkins Bloomberg School of Public Health. | |
 | Researchers find drug used widely to treat eye condition has 'no benefit'Researchers from the University of Bristol and University Hospital Southampton have found that a drug used widely to treat a common eye condition has "no benefit" and should no longer be used. Eplerenone, which is primarily used to treat heart failure, is currently offered widely by ophthalmologists as a treatment for central serous chorioretinopathy (CSCR) based on limited clinical data. |
 | What everyone should know about cleft lipAfter discussing actor Joaquin Phoenix's appearance on her talk show earlier this month, Wendy Williams received near universal condemnation for mocking those affected with cleft lip—a common birth defect in which the upper lip does not form completely while still an embryo. To her credit, Williams was quick to apologize. Note that it is also unclear whether Phoenix has a cleft lip or simply a scar. Unfortunately, however, the incident was another reminder of how individuals with facial differences (and their families) often feel stigmatized and can face discrimination and social isolation. |
 | Map tracks coronavirus outbreak in near real timeThe Johns Hopkins Center for Systems Science and Engineering has built and is regularly updating an online dashboard for tracking the worldwide spread of the coronavirus outbreak that began in the Chinese city of Wuhan. |
 | How you might benefit from probioticsProbiotics are live microorganisms, usually bacteria, that can be consumed to offer health benefits. |
 | MoMba app: Social media application for the mental health of young mothersResearch has shown that social support and social connection are important factors in the mental health of young mothers (Huang, et al., 2014). Furthermore, we know that the mental health of mothers is incredibly important for the healthy development of children (Manning and Gregoire, 2006). If a mom is too depressed to get out of bed for example, it will be incredibly difficult for her to engage with and read to her young child. What the lived experiences of mothers tell us, and research increasingly corroborates, is that when mothers feel they have strong support systems and other local mothers to share in their journey of parenting their children are more likely to thrive too (Andresen and Telleen, 1992). |
 | More than 40 percent of status epilepticus patients suffer adverse outcomesA new study published in Seizure gives insight into the short-term outcome of patients treated for status epilepticus in Kuopio University Hospital in Finland. The researchers found a 9 percent risk of death and a 32 percent risk of functional loss at one month after status epilepticus. The patient's risk of death could be predicted relatively reliably already in the emergency room by using status epilepticus-related prognostic tools. |
 | Malnutrition is on the rise in older adultsWhile the obesity crisis is still considered the foremost public health epidemic in the west, one often overlooked condition is quickly becoming a growing concern. Malnutrition, sometimes referred to as under-nutrition, affects an estimated 3 million people in the UK alone. Globally, around 462 million adults are malnourished. |
 | The link between antibiotics and obesity in children doesn't mean you need to avoid antibioticsAustralian children have one of the highest rates of antibiotic use in the world. More than half have received at least one course by their first birthday. |
 | Rotator cuff injuries common but easily remedied, says expertMost rotator cuff injuries are easily remedied and many are even preventable, according to a University of Alberta rehabilitation medicine researcher. |
 | New coronavirus: What you need to knowA new flu-like strain of the coronavirus has been reported in China, South Korea, Taiwan, Japan, Thailand and the US. |
 | No alcohol please—Pass the probiotics and super juice insteadA growing demand for healthier drink options is putting the hospitality sector on notice as patrons increasingly shun alcohol and soft drinks in favor of probiotics and super juices. |
 | Experts explore efforts to tackle tobacco harmThe impact of the tobacco display ban on young people's attitudes to smoking has been analyzed by University of Stirling experts. |
 | Medical emergency observation unit reduces length of stay and raises patient satisfactionIt's a quandary facing many busy emergency departments (EDs) across the country: how to treat young patients who require emergency care and a brief stay, while reserving limited inpatient beds for the most acute cases. In winter, when respiratory cases compound the rising patient census, limited resources are stretched even thinner. |
 | Gene expression pattern pinpoints high-risk colorectal cancerA new technique could dramatically reduce the number of colorectal cancer patients who unnecessarily undergo major surgery to remove tumors, instead of a minimally invasive procedure. |
 | Horror movies manipulate brain activity expertly to enhance excitementHumans are fascinated by what scares us, be it sky-diving, roller-coasters, or true-crime documentaries—provided these threats are kept at a safe distance. Horror movies are no different. |
 | CDC: HIV-1/HIV-2 differentiation test increasingly used in U.S.From 2010 to 2017, use of the HIV-1/HIV-2 differentiation test increased, but the number of HIV-2 diagnoses remained very low, according to research published in the Jan. 24 issue of the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention Morbidity and Mortality Weekly Report. |
 | Baby box: Child welfare experts say use of sleep boxes could potentially put infants' lives at riskHaving a baby can be expensive. So it's maybe not surprising that many retailers around the world have cottoned on to the success of Finland's baby boxes—a package aimed to set up new parents and their bundle of joy. The Finnish boxes include baby clothing, sleep items, hygiene products and a parenting guide –- as well as a "sleep space" for the baby. |
 | Major insurers offer $55 million to lower generic drug costsA nonprofit that develops and sells cheaper drugs will receive a $55 million investment from the Blue Cross Blue Shield Association and associated organizations to create cheaper versions of expensive generic drugs. |
 | Surgical gown shortage reported in the United StatesA surgical gown shortage in the United States is causing surgeries to be postponed, according to CNN. |
 | Many of America's most critical workers are short on sleepMore than one-third of working Americans don't get enough sleep, and the problem is greatest among the police, the military, health care workers and truckers, researchers report. |
 | Faulty immune system may lead to lung cancerAn immune system that's not functioning normally may lead to lung cancer in patients who don't smoke, a new study suggests. |
 | People with obesity who experience self-directed weight shaming benefit from interventionPeople with obesity are often treated with less respect than other people, discriminated against, and socially devalued because of their weight. This societal stigma can sometimes be internalized, leading individuals with obesity to blame and devalue themselves because of their weight. While it's known that weight "self-stigma" is associated with poor mental and physical health, little is known about how to help people combat it. Now, in a first-of-its-kind study, researchers at Penn Medicine showed that people who received a new stigma-reduction intervention, along with standard behavioral weight loss treatment, devalued themselves less due to their weight compared to participants who only received the weight loss treatment. |
 | Study suggests foods like licorice can be used to 'landscape' your gutA new study from researchers at San Diego State University suggests that ancient viruses called biophages may be just the set of garden tools needed to cultivate a healthy microbiome. |
 | 'This time I'm scared': experts fear too late for China virus lockdownChina's bid to contain a deadly new virus by placing cities of millions under quarantine is an unprecedented undertaking but it is unlikely to stop the disease spreading, experts warn. |
 | Fear spreads throughout China as officials take unprecedented measures to stop coronavirusAs Chinese officials take unprecedented measures to contain the spread of a new respiratory virus of unknown potency, 21 million people at the epicenter of the outbreak are under quarantine and Lunar New Year celebrations around the country have been canceled. |
 | One cancer is almost 100% preventable. And Chicago is making a move to eradicate it"It happens when you least expect it. ... It was my last semester before it was time for me to graduate. That's when I found out." |
 | Mayo Clinic: Sepsis—a team response to a potential killerOur bodies are very good at fighting infection. The immune system reacts and attacks bacteria and viruses that make us sick. But sometimes the immune reaction is so strong that it damages the body. This is called a septic reaction or sepsis, and the mortality rate associated with it can be high. |
 | Cell-phone-sized device that stimulates nerve in neck may prevent migraineIf your bank account balance looks nail-bitingly low and you won't get paid for days, you might agonize over every dollar you spend. Maybe you'll scrutinize grocery-store ads more closely than usual or brew your own coffee instead of ordering it from a barista. |
 | The highways of our brainResearchers from the Netherlands Institute for Neuroscience (NIN) used a new technique to show how electrical impulses are traveling at high speed in the brain. It appears that myelin, the sheath around neurons, creates a coaxial cable producing multiple waves of electrical potentials traveling in a more complicated manner than was envisioned earlier. These findings allow us to create better theories and tools to understand demyelinating diseases, including the most common neurological disorder, multiple sclerosis. The paper has been published in the prestigious scientific journal Cell. |
| China imposes massive virus quarantine as US finds second caseChinese authorities expanded a massive quarantine effort covering 13 cities on Friday to contain a deadly virus as nervous residents were checked for fevers and the death toll climbed to 26. |
 | US confirms second case of China virus, 50 under investigationA woman in Chicago in her sixties was Friday confirmed as the second patient on US soil infected with a deadly new virus originating in China, health officials said, with 50 other suspected cases under investigation. |
 | Up to 70 percent chance of Chinese virus reaching Europe: AnalysisThere is up to a 70 percent chance of a patient carrying the deadly coronavirus that originated in China arriving in Europe, according to calculations released Friday by French researchers. |
 | Prenatal surgery yields lasting benefits for myelomeningocele(HealthDay)—For myelomeningocele, prenatal surgery does not improve adaptive behavior but is associated with improved mobility and independent functioning in school-aged children, according to a study published online Jan. 24 in Pediatrics. |
 | Potent, unregulated steroid creams readily available in U.S.(HealthDay)—Potent prescription-strength topical corticosteroids without a prescription (PSTCw/oP) are readily available in many U.S. cities, according to a letter to the editor published in the February issue of the Journal of the American Academy of Dermatology. |
 | Athletic mom's undiagnosed condition led to 2 strokesKelly Naab was waiting in a drive-thru lane with her two young boys in the back seat when her body suddenly felt strange. Her face began drooping. She couldn't move her right arm or speak. |
 | That cushy work-at-home job can lead to social isolation, mental and physical health risksAmericans are getting lonelier and jeopardizing their health as more join the gig economy or skip the commute to an office, a report out Thursday found. |
 | New research shows more people knowingly use fentanylFentanyl use by people who use drugs has doubled since 2015, and two-thirds of people are aware they've taken it, finds new research out of British Columbia, the Canadian province that has experienced the highest number of illicit drug toxicity deaths as a result of the opioid crisis. |
 | 30-year study identifies need of disease-modifying therapies for maple syrup urine diseaseA new study analyzes 30 years of patient data and details the clinical course of 184 individuals with genetically diverse forms of Maple Syrup Urine Disease (MSUD), which is among the most volatile and dangerous inherited metabolic disorders. Researchers collected data on survival, hospitalization rates, metabolic crises, liver transplantation, and cognitive outcome. This represents the largest systematic study of MSUD, with regard to both cohort size and the duration of clinical follow up. The study was a broad collaborative effort led by clinicians and researchers at the Clinic for Special Children (CSC) and will appear in Molecular Genetics and Metabolism. |
 | Chicago woman is 2nd US patient with new virus from ChinaA Chicago woman has become the second U.S. patient diagnosed with the dangerous new virus from China, health officials announced Friday. |
 | UH treats its first glioblastoma patient with genetically modified poliovirusUniversity Hospitals (UH) Seidman Cancer Center treated its first patient in a new clinical trial to validate the groundbreaking effects of the poliovirus on glioblastoma (GBM), a deadly Grade IV cancer of the brain. |
| France confirms two cases of virus from China, first in EuropeFrance on Friday announced two cases of the deadly new virus from China, the first cases in Europe. |
 | China expands lockdown against virus, fast-tracks hospitalChina expanded its lockdown against the deadly new virus to an unprecedented 36 million people and rushed to build a prefabricated, 1,000-bed hospital for victims Friday as the outbreak cast a pall over Lunar New Year, the country's biggest, most festive holiday. |
 | Lung microbiome may help predict outcomes in critically ill patientsChanges in the lung microbiome may help predict how well critically ill patients will respond to care, according to new research published online in the American Thoracic Society's American Journal of Respiratory and Critical Care Medicine. |
South Korea confirms second coronavirus caseSouth Korea on Friday confirmed its second case of the SARS-like virus that has killed at least 25 in China, as concerns mount about a wider outbreak. | |
 | Need a legal pot shop in California? Grab your smartphoneWant to find a legal marijuana shop in California? Grab your smartphone. |
 | Potential upgrades on in vitro toxicological cell-based modelsOver the last 100 years, knowledge regarding drug toxicity has increased significantly, especially since the thalidomide tragedy of the mid-20th century. This tragedy marked the beginning of rigorous drug approval and monitoring systems, and marketed drugs are much safer nowadays. However, there are still many uncertainties regarding the testing of novel drugs, especially considering the existing models, which do not always cover all important aspects of the physiology. Unfortunately, omission of some of these aspects still causes tragedies following the actual drug validation process, for example, in the U.K. in 2006 (TGN1412), and in France in 2016 (BIA 10-2474). |
'See the doctor': fever-hit patients fret in China outbreak cityTrapped in a Chinese city at the centre of a deadly viral outbreak, residents who should have been celebrating Lunar New Year lined up to have their temperatures taken by medical staff wearing full-body protective suits. | |
 | Quinn on Nutrition: What you may not know about carrotsHow do you know when a carrot is dehydrated? Why should we care? I found the answer plus other interesting facts about my favorite vegetable in a recent article by registered dietitian Bethany Oxender in Food & Nutrition magazine, a publication of the Academy of Nutrition and Dietetics. I've highlighted a few here: |
 | Registry data—of sufficient quality—suitable for extended benefit assessment of drugsParticularly in the case of accelerated drug approvals and drugs for rare diseases (orphan drugs), the evidence available at the time of market access is often insufficient for the early benefit assessment of drugs. Often, the studies are too short or no data on patient-relevant outcomes were collected. Comparisons with the German standard of care are also often lacking. In order to close such evidence gaps, in future, routine practice data are also to be included in early benefit assessments of drugs. |
UK clears 14 tested for China virusEveryone tested in Britain for a deadly virus that has infected hundreds in China have been given the all-clear, a top doctor said Friday after an emergency government meeting. | |
Size matters! The neuroanatomy of trigeminal neuralgia's treatment responseA new study published in the journal Cephalalgia, the official journal of the International Headache Society, shows unprecedented data regarding the neuroanatomical influence on the treatment response of patients with trigeminal neuralgia. The study, entitled "Hippocampal and trigeminal nerve volume predict outcome of surgical treatment for trigeminal neuralgia", was conducted by Dr. Tejas Sankar's research group, from the University of Alberta, Canada. | |
Advanced practice registered nurses to have a greater role in national response to opioid epidemicAs we enter a new year and a new decade, many states have enacted legislation affecting the roles of advanced practice registered nurses (APRNs) in terms of practice authority, reimbursement, and prescriptive authority, according to the 32nd Annual Legislative Update in the January issue of The Nurse Practitioner. | |
Biology news
 | Researchers obtain 'high-definition' view of diabetes-related proteinsScientists have examined a key receptor for the first time at high resolution—broadening understanding of how it might function, and opening the door to future improvements in treating conditions such as type 2 diabetes. |
 | 15,000-year-old viruses found in Tibetan glacierA team of researchers from The Ohio State University and Lawrence Berkeley National Laboratory has found a host of ancient virus groups in ice cores taken from a Tibetan glacier. They have written a paper about their discovery and uploaded it to the bioRxiv preprint server. |
 | With a protein 'delivery,' parasite can suppress its host's immune responseToxoplasma gondii is best known as the parasite that may lurk in a cat's litter box. Nearly a third of the world's population is believed to live with a chronic Toxoplasma infection. It's of greatest concern, however, to people with suppressed immune systems and to pregnant women, who can pass the infection to their fetuses. |
 | Shaping the social networks of neuronsThe three proteins teneurin, latrophilin and FLRT hold together and bring neighboring neurons into close contact, enabling the formation of synapses and the exchange of information between the cells. In the early phase of brain development, however, the interaction of the same proteins leads to the repulsion of migrating nerve cells, as researchers from the Max Planck Institute of Neurobiology and the University of Oxford have now shown. The detailed insight into the molecular guidance mechanisms of brain cells was possible due to the structural analyses of the protein complex. |
 | 'Jumping genes' help stabilize DNA folding patterns"Jumping genes"—bits of DNA that can move from one spot in the genome to another—are well-known for increasing genetic diversity over the long course of evolution. Now, new research at Washington University School of Medicine in St. Louis indicates that such genes, also called transposable elements, play another, more surprising role: stabilizing the 3-D folding patterns of the DNA molecule inside the cell's nucleus. |
 | Sharp increase in Ningaloo whale shark injuries might be due to boat encountersAlmost one-fifth of the whale sharks (Rhincodon typus) in Western Australia's Ningaloo Reef Marine Park show major scarring or fin amputations, with the number of injured animals increasing in recent years, new research reveals. |
 | European fish stocks on the moveMany European fish populations are on the move due to warming oceans and increasing numbers, according to new research from an international team of scientists led by the International Council for the Exploration of the Sea and the University of Aberdeen. |
 | What we learn from a fish that can change sex in just 10 daysThe bluehead wrasse is a fish that lives in small social groups in coral reefs in the Caribbean. Only the male has a blue head—signaling his social dominance over a harem of yellow-striped females. |
 | An S.O.S. for Australian wildlifeAlmost 30 people have died and thousands of homes have burned as wildfires have rampaged through Australia, but it is the wildlife that has borne the biggest brunt of the devastation. |
 | As gray whale migration reaches its peak, scientists fear another unexplained die-offAs California gray whales wind their way south along North America's Pacific coast—from their feeding grounds in the Arctic to their spring destination in the secluded lagoons of Mexico's Baja Peninsula—researchers from Alaska to Mexico are watching, worried about another year of unexplained die-offs. |
 | Biologist provides framework for national invasive species policy, implementationA special issue of the journal Biological Invasions, co-edited by University of Rhode Island ecologist Laura Meyerson and University of Tennessee biologist Daniel Simberloff, provides a pathway to strengthening national policies and implementing strategies for addressing a growing threat to national security—invasive species. |
 | The regulators active during iron deficiencyIron deficiency is a critical situation for plants, which respond using specific genetic programmes. Biologists from Heinrich Heine University Düsseldorf (HHU) and Michigan State University (MSU) used artificial intelligence methods to examine how to predict regulatory genetic sequences. They have now published the findings from their joint research work in the journal Plant Physiology. |
 | Crab larvae off Oregon and Washington suffering shell damage from ocean acidification, new research showsOcean acidification is damaging the shells of young Dungeness crab in the Northwest, an impact that scientists did not expect until much later this century, according to new research. |
 | Dance of the honey bee reveals fondness for strawberriesBees are pollinators of many wild and crop plants, but in many places their diversity and density is declining. A research team from the Universities of Göttingen, Sussex and Würzburg has now investigated the foraging behaviour of bees in agricultural landscapes. To do this, the scientists analysed the bees' dances, which are called the "waggle dance." They found out that honey bees prefer strawberry fields, even if they flowered directly next to the oilseed rape fields. Only when oilseed rape was in full bloom were fewer honey bees observed in the strawberry field. Wild bees, on the other hand, consistently chose the strawberry field. The results have been published in the journal Agriculture, Ecosystems & Environment. |
 | Bayer stock climbs on report of Roundup settlementShares in German chemicals and pharmaceuticals giant Bayer climbed Friday on a report it was nearing a $10 billion settlement with US plaintiffs claiming weedkiller Roundup caused their cancer. |
 | Human-wildlife conflict threatens protected reserves in East AfricaEach year, more than a million wildebeest migrate across the grassy plains of the Serengeti National Park in Tanzania into Kenya's Masai Mara National Reserve. But on the borders of these protected areas, human populations are increasing and wild ecosystems are struggling to survive in the face of development. Understanding these pressures is crucial for protecting people and wildlife, and to curb illegal activities such as poaching. |
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