Science X Newsletter Tuesday, Jan 21

Dear Reader ,

Be an ACS Industry Insider: https://connect.acspubs.org/Insider?LS=SciX

Sign-up and get free, monthly access to articles that cover exciting, cutting edge discoveries in Energy, Environmental Science and Agriculture.

---

Here is your customized Science X Newsletter for January 21, 2020:

Spotlight Stories Headlines

High-precision distributed sensing using an entangled quantum network

A new strategy for directly detecting light particle dark matter

Eyeing a cure: Scientists examine strategies to end of the global HIV/AIDS pandemic

Astronomers perform a comprehensive study of young open cluster NGC 1960

Astronomers use 'cosmic echolocation' to map black hole surroundings

Study uses physics to explain democratic elections

First detailed electronic study of new nickelate superconductor

Global study finds predators are most likely to be lost when habitats are converted for human use

Europe's guardian of stem cells and hopes, real and unrealistic

Plugin vulnerability finders tell WordPress users to update asap

Preparing land for palm oil causes most climate damage

Flight through the comet Chury's dust cloud resolves chemical mystery

Plants absorb lead from perovskite solar cells more than expected

Emissions of potent greenhouse gas rises, contradicting reports of huge reductions

Life's constant struggle against ferroptosis

Astronomy & Space news

	Astronomers perform a comprehensive study of young open cluster NGC 1960 Indian astronomers have conducted a comprehensive photometric, kinematic and variability study of a young open cluster known as NGC 1960. Results of the research shed more light on the properties of this cluster and its member stars. The study was detailed in a paper published January 13 on arXiv.org.
	Astronomers use 'cosmic echolocation' to map black hole surroundings Material falling into a black hole casts X-rays out into space—and now astronomers have used the echoes of this radiation to map the dynamic behavior and surroundings of a black hole itself.
	Flight through the comet Chury's dust cloud resolves chemical mystery Under the leadership of astrophysicist Kathrin Altwegg, Bernese researchers have found an explanation for why very little nitrogen could previously be accounted for in the nebulous covering of comets: the building block for life predominantly occurs in the form of ammonium salts, the occurrence of which could not previously be measured. The salts may be a further indication that comet impacts may have made life on Earth possible in the first place.
	Global Gaia campaign reveals secrets of stellar pair A 500-day global observation campaign spearheaded more than three years ago by ESA's galaxy-mapping powerhouse Gaia has provided unprecedented insights into the binary system of stars that caused an unusual brightening of an even more distant star.
	Mars' water was mineral-rich and salty Presently, Earth is the only known location where life exists in the Universe. This year the Nobel Prize in physics was awarded to three astronomers who proved, almost 20 years ago, that planets are common around stars beyond the solar system. Life comes in various forms, from cell-phone-toting organisms like humans to the ubiquitous micro-organisms that inhabit almost every square inch of the planet Earth, affecting almost everything that happens on it. It will likely be some time before it is possible to measure or detect life beyond the solar system, but the solar system offers a host of sites that might get a handle on how hard it is for life to start.
	Astrophysicists find massive black holes wandering around dwarf galaxies A new search led by Montana State University has revealed more than a dozen massive black holes in dwarf galaxies that were previously considered too small to host them, and surprised scientists with their location within the galaxies.
	Source position and duration of a solar type III radio burst observed by LOFAR Type III solar radio bursts are generated by non-thermal electron beams propagating through the solar corona and interplanetary space. In dynamic spectra, the flux of solar type III radio bursts have a time profile of rising and decay phases at a given frequency, which has been actively studied since the 1970s.
	Warming up for the sun Today, the Solar Orbiter control team is simulating launch for the penultimate time, before the sun-seeking spacecraft lifts-off for real.
	Budget battle hampers EU in space Space is becoming increasingly militarised and European satellites are under-protected, experts warned Tuesday, voicing dismay at cuts proposed in the EU's draft budget.
EU announces funding for Ariane 6 and other space-tech The European Union on Tuesday announced 200 million euros ($222 million) of funding for the Ariane 6 rocket launcher and for small and medium-sized space technology companies.
	China's 500-meter FAST radio telescope is now operational The world's largest and most sensitive radio telescope is officially open for business, according to Xinhua, China's official state-run media. The FAST Radio Telescope saw fist light in 2016, but has been undergoing testing and commissioning since then. FAST stands for Five-hundred meter Aperture Spherical Telescope.

Technology news

	Plugin vulnerability finders tell WordPress users to update asap Three WordPress plugins have been picking up quite the glare of attention this month after researchers found serious vulnerabilities in them—and the numbers are sobering, in that these plugins have been installed on more than 400,000 websites—with users too wide open for cyberattacks to ignore.
	Uber sells meal delivery service in India to competitor Ride-share giant Uber has sold its meal delivery business in India to Zomato, one of its local competitors, as it steps up efforts to achieve profitability.
	Facebook to boost site safety with 1,000 more UK staff Facebook on Tuesday said it plans to create 1,000 more London-based jobs this year to improve safety on the social network with the aid of artificial intelligence.
	Disney+ European streaming launch set for March 24 US entertainment behemoth Disney said Tuesday that it would begin rolling out its Disney+ streaming service in Europe on March 24, its latest challenge to established on-demand television and movie providers such as Netflix, Amazon Prime and Apple.
	Huawei chief says US may 'escalate' but confident on business The chief executive of Chinese telecoms giant Huawei on Tuesday said he was ready for the United States to escalate a "campaign" against the firm this year but insisted it would not have a significant effect on business.
	Cybercrime: Internet erodes teenage impulse controls Many Australian teenagers are struggling to control their impulses on the internet, in a scramble for quick thrills and a sense of power online. This potentially increases their risks of becoming cybercriminals.
	Using social media at work: Effect depends on platform used, says research A new study by researchers in the U.S. suggests that the use of social media can sometimes have a negative impact on a work project and sometimes correlate positively with success. Writing in the International Journal of Information Technology and Management, the team suggests that using one of the most well-known social media systems, Facebook, can have a negative effect on project success whereas LinkedIn has a positive effect.
	What will it take for the government to protect your privacy? Is 2020 the year when the government finally does something real to protect your privacy? Up until now, it has been all on you, the consumer.
	First flight of Boeing's 777X set for Thursday: sources Following months of delay on a plane under development, Boeing plans the first flight for its new long-range 777X on Thursday, two people with knowledge of the matter said Tuesday.
	Airbus to build second production line in France for A321 jets European aircraft maker Airbus said Tuesday it will build a new production line for its hugely popular A321 single-aisle jet in France, adding to the output of the original plant in Germany.
	Germany launches raids over suspected Mitsubishi diesel fraud German prosecutors on Tuesday said they were searching business premises across the country as part of an investigation into suspected diesel emissions cheating involving Mitsubishi cars.
US military claimed 'success' in hacking ISIS: documents The US military claims to have "successfully" disrupted the online propaganda efforts of the Islamic State in a hacking operation dating back at least to 2016, according to declassified national security documents released Tuesday.
	Central banks join to study possible digital currencies Major central banks have joined together to explore whether they should issue digital currencies as the use of cash declines and more people turn to electronic forms of paying.
	South Africa Airways cancels flights in bid to save cash Beleaguered national airline South African Airways (SAA) announced on Tuesday it was cancelling 10 domestic and one international flight in an effort to streamline services and save cash.
	Unbuilding cities as high-rises reach their use-by date We are entering a new world where skyscrapers and other huge buildings are becoming redundant and need significant overhaul or replacement. The process is called unbuilding or, if you're a bit highfalutin, deconstruction.
	An integrated travel solution for Manchester Wouldn't it be great if you could have your own travel manager on you with instant access to car hire, trains, buses and trams? And what if you could plan, book and pay for each journey using a mobile app? Now you can contribute to positive change in travel habits using shared or public transport, walking and cycling, instead of driving your car. These are all possible now thanks to the EU-funded IMOVE project introduced to speed up the uptake and unlock the scalability of mobility-as-a-service (MaaS) schemes in Europe.
	Boeing shares tumble as it sees mid-2020 MAX return Boeing officially pushed back the timeframe for the 737 MAX's return on Tuesday, saying the jet will not win regulatory approval to resume service before mid-2020.

Medicine & Health news

	Eyeing a cure: Scientists examine strategies to end of the global HIV/AIDS pandemic As infectious diseases that are new to science continue emerging around the world, researchers have not forgotten older foes, and are doubling down on efforts to conquer them. For HIV/AIDS, they've begun looking toward a cure.
	Europe's guardian of stem cells and hopes, real and unrealistic Poland has emerged as Europe's leader in stem cell storage, a billion-dollar global industry that is a key part of a therapy that can treat leukaemias but raises excessive hopes.
	Life's constant struggle against ferroptosis In the natural course of events, multicellular organisms frequently need to eliminate cells. In humans, for example, superfluous tails, finger webbing, immune cells raised with wrongthink or neurons making inappropriate friends may all be be healthy cells, but they need to be given a clean exit. On the other hand, cells that have become corrupted from mutation or oxidative damage are a direct threat to their neighbors and frequently need more drastic encouragements before they gracefully bow out.
	Discovery of new T-cell raises prospect of 'universal' cancer therapy Researchers at Cardiff University have discovered a new type of killer T-cell that offers hope of a "one-size-fits-all" cancer therapy.
	'Ancient' system unlocks cancer secrets A long-hidden metabolic system in cells could lead to new strategies for therapeutic cancer treatments in future.
	Opioid prescriptions affected by computer settings Simple, no-cost computer changes can affect the number of opioid pills prescribed to patients, according to a new UC San Francisco study.
	Glutamate in the brain has unexpected qualities, researchers show with a new analysis method Researchers at Chalmers University of Technology and Gothenburg University in Sweden have achieved something long thought almost impossible—counting the molecules of the neurotransmitter glutamate released when a signal is transferred between two brain cells. With a new analysis method, they showed that the brain regulates its signals using glutamate in more ways than previously realized.
	Cardiac and visual degeneration arrested by taurine supplement UNIGE researchers have discovered a new gene that causes blindness and cardiomyopathy. They have also managed to halt the progression of eye disease and treat cardiac disease by administering a food supplement.
	Scientists develop test that will help prevent glaucoma-related blindness Australian researchers have identified 107 genes that increase a person's risk of developing the eye disease glaucoma, and developed a genetic test to detect those at risk of going blind from it.
	Immune cell health discovery could optimise cancer therapies Scientists at UCL have discovered how immune cells, essential for tackling life-threatening infections and cancers, are able to 'recycle' material within themselves in order to stay healthy and function, a breakthrough finding which could lead to more effective immunotherapies.
	Proteins that protect against joint inflammation identified Endogenous proteins that play a vital part in allergies and parasitic infection can prevent the immune system from wrongly attacking the body and causing inflamed joints, a study from Karolinska Institutet in Sweden published in the scientific journal PNAS reports. The researchers hope that the results will give rise to new drugs for rheumatoid arthritis.
	Editing RNA delivers precision strike on triple-negative breast cancer The move toward targeted anti-cancer treatments has produced better outcomes with fewer side-effects for many breast cancer patients. But so far, advances in precision medicine haven't reached people diagnosed with so-called triple-negative breast cancer.
	Zebrafish teach researchers more about atrial fibrillation Researchers from the Faculty of Health and Medical Sciences have shown a possible link between a genetic variation and the widespread type of cardiac arrhythmia, atrial fibrillation.
	Antiviral compound offers hope against deadly flu What keeps most infectious disease researchers up at night aren't infamous viruses like Ebola. Instead, influenza, commonly known as the flu, continues to be a clear and present danger to humanity.
	Sunscreen chemicals absorbed into body, study finds The chemicals in sunscreens help shield people from the sun's rays, but they are also absorbed into the body at levels that raise some safety questions, a new study confirms.
	New roles found for Huntington's disease protein A Duke University research team has identified a new function of a gene called huntingtin, a mutation of which underlies the progressive neurodegenerative disorder known as Huntington's Disease.
	Sperm donation to strangers after death should be allowed in the UK, say ethicists Men in the UK should be allowed to voluntarily donate their sperm after death, if they want to, argue ethicists in an analysis published online in the Journal of Medical Ethics.
	New policy reduces anti-psychotic medications in foster children Rutgers researchers have found that a Texas strategy to reduce anti-psychotic medication for children can serve as a model for other state Medicaid programs.
	Belly fat linked with repeat heart attacks Heart attack survivors who carry excess fat around their waist are at increased risk of another heart attack, according to research published today in the European Journal of Preventive Cardiology.
	China says virus spreading between humans as WHO set to meet China has confirmed human-to-human transmission in the outbreak of a new SARS-like virus as the number of cases soared and authorities Tuesday said a fourth person had died.
	Philippines probing possible case of Chinese virus The Philippines was probing on Tuesday its potential first case of the SARS-like virus that has infected hundreds in China, health authorities said.
	As virus spreads, anxiety rises in China and overseas Face masks sold out and officials at airports and train stations checked passengers for fevers as China on Tuesday sought to control the outbreak of a new virus that has reached four other countries and territories and threatens to spread further during the Lunar New Year travel rush.
	Groups publish statements on CT contrast use in patients with kidney disease The risk of administering modern intravenous iodinated contrast media in patients with reduced kidney function has been overstated, according to new consensus statements from the American College of Radiology (ACR) and the National Kidney Foundation (NKF), published in the journal Radiology.
	Opioid addiction treatment is increasing, except in the young An analysis of national data on buprenorphine use found that treatment with the FDA-approved medication for opioid addiction is increasing in all age groups except the young (age 15-24 years), in whom use of the medication is decreasing.
	Taiwan reports first case of new SARS-like virus Taiwan on Tuesday reported its first confirmed case of the new SARS-like coronavirus as the government warned the public against travelling to Chinese city where it emerged.
	Asia steps up checks as China virus kills six, infects more than 300 Asian countries on Tuesday ramped up measures to block the spread of a new virus as the death toll in China rose to six and the number of cases surpassed 300, raising concerns in the middle of a major holiday travel rush.
	What we know so far about the new China virus A new SARS-like virus has killed six people in China and infected nearly 300 others.
	Diabetes prediction tool overestimates risk and creates unnecessary anxiety The FINDRISC questionnaire has been used extensively to predict a person's degree of risk for getting type 2 diabetes, but new findings show that it does not adequately identify the most vulnerable individuals.
	Select few cancer patients enroll in potentially life-extending clinical trials Patient enrollment in clinical trials as the first course of treatment after cancer diagnosis is low, despite the fact that enrollment may increase life expectancy, according to researchers at Penn State. They also found that white males with private health insurance and metastatic cancers treated at academic medical centers are more likely than other groups to enroll in clinical trials.
	Compassionate approach to interrogation more effective, study shows A University of Liverpool research paper, published in American Psychologist, provides new evidence for using a humane, respectful and compassionate approach to interrogating High-Value Detainees (HVDs—i.e. terrorist suspects) to encourage co-operation and disclosure of information.
	Hormone therapy now available for newly diagnosed prostate cancer in Scotland  A hormone therapy will now be available for some people with newly diagnosed, advanced prostate cancer in Scotland for the first time.
	Head collision rates at World Cups similar but women received more medical assessments Female and male soccer players had similar rates of head collision events during elite tournaments such as the World Cup but half of the female players involved received medical assessments, compared with only one third of the impacted male players, according to research led by St. Michael's Hospital of Unity Health Toronto.
	Traumatic brain injury impairs hormone production, disrupting sleep, cognition, memory More than 2.5 million people in the United States alone experience a traumatic brain injury, or TBI, each year. Some of these people are plagued by a seemingly unrelated cascade of health issues for years after their head injury, including fatigue, depression, anxiety, memory issues, and sleep disturbances.
	Visits to pediatricians on the decline Commercially insured children in the U.S. are seeing pediatricians less often than they did a decade ago, according to a new analysis led by a pediatrician-scientist at the University of Pittsburgh and UPMC Children's Hospital of Pittsburgh.
	Cousin took a DNA test? Courts could use it to argue you are more likely to commit crimes How similar do you think you are to your second cousin? Or your estranged great aunt?
	New species of antibiotic-resistant bacteria found in infected wound A hitherto unknown antibiotic-resistant bacteria species, in the same family as E. coli and Salmonella spp., has been found and classified in Sweden. The proposed taxonomic name of the species—the first of the new genus—is Scandinavium goeteborgense, after the city of Gothenburg, where the bacterium was isolated and the research was done.
	Blue light triggers memory and emphatic fear in mice via noninvasive approach Researchers at the Center for Cognition and Sociality, within the Institute for Basic Science (IBS) in South Korea, have engineered an improved biological tool that controls calcium (Ca2+) levels in the brain via blue light. Published in Nature Communications, this optogenetic construct, called monster-OptoSTIM1 or monSTIM1 for short, causes a change in mice's fear learning behavior without the need of optic fiber implants in the brain.
	New research aims to improve healthcare for cancer patients with heart disease A new study led by cardiologists at Keele University could have a significant impact on treatment procedures for people with both cancer and heart disease after a major analysis revealed significantly worse health outcomes for patients with both of these conditions.
	Cyclosporine investigated for external treatment of psoriasis and atopic dermatitis A research team from the University of Valencia, DrugBiOp, coordinated by professors Teresa Mª Garrigues and Ana Melero (Department of Pharmacy and Pharmaceutical Technology and Parasitology), has studied the skin penetration of cyclosporine A (CyA), a principle active ingredient formed by eleven amino acids and which has immunosuppressive properties. Psoriasis and atopic dermatitis are two chronic inflammatory ailments related to the immune system and that need easier-to-administer, less economically expensive, more efficient and less toxic treatments to be developed.
	Drug profiling and gene scissors open new avenues in immunotherapy Researchers have discovered ways to boost CAR T-cell therapy. According to a study published in the Blood journal, drug profiling and the CRISPR-Cas9 gene editing method have opened new avenues in the development of CAR T-cell therapy, used to treat leukemia and lymphoma.
	A third of people would want to know they have Alzheimer's 15 years before symptoms Over a third of people would want to know they had Alzheimer's disease 15 years before symptoms show, according to new findings from Alzheimer's Research UK.
	Preventing suicide in nursing homes is possible. Here are 3 things we can do to make a start Suicide among nursing home residents is a major concern. Between 2000 and 2013, around 140 Australian nursing home residents took their own lives.
	Parent confidence is key to keeping kids from unhealthy foods As the countdown to a new school year begins, many parents will soon find themselves facing the often-arduous task of filling the school lunchbox which, despite the best of intentions, often ends up containing more junk food than nutrition.
	Measuring blood chemistry levels through the skin of newborns Scientists at the University of Strathclyde are researching a system to measure and monitor blood chemistry levels in premature and sick babies through their skin, which if successful, could eventually replace the need for invasive blood tests.
	Call for ready-to-drink alcoholic beverages to be reduced in sugar and calories Popular ready-to-drink premixed spirits sold in major UK retailers are unnecessarily high in hidden sugar and calories and should be forced to reformulate immediately to the agreed criterion set by government in the Soft Drinks Industry Levy (SDIL) or pay the fine, according to a NEW product survey by Action on Sugar at Queen Mary University of London to mark Sugar Awareness Week (20th-26th January 2020).
	Bioengineering living heart valves Researchers at Qatar University, in collaboration with Imperial College London, Biostage, Inc. in the U.S., and the American University of Beirut, Lebanon, have made progress developing living heart valves that can grow with the body and integrate with the patient's native tissue.
	Blood test for eight gene signatures could predict onset of tuberculosis Scientists at UCL have shown a blood test could predict the onset of tuberculosis three to six months before people become unwell, a finding which could help better target antibiotics and save countless lives.
	Protein powder, shake, and supplement: How much can our body actually use? Once only used by bodybuilders, more and more people are using sports supplements as a regular part of their health and fitness regime—and the industry is booming worldwide. Protein shakes, powders, bars, and pills are being marketed to the average gym-goer as an essential part of getting fit. A recent study even found that over half of gym goers regularly consumed protein supplements as part of their training. But while protein is an essential nutrient that we can't live without, these supplements might not be as necessary as we're led to believe.
	Researchers identify a possible cause and treatment for inflammatory bowel disease Inflammatory bowel disease (IBD) is a category of refractory inflammatory disease, of which ulcerative colitis (UC) and Crohn's disease (CD) are the main types.
	Algorithm turns cancer gene discovery on its head A method for finding genes that spur tumor growth takes advantage of machine learning algorithms to sift through reams of molecular data collected from studies of cancer cell lines, mouse models and human patients.
	Art speaks for itself and makes hearts beat faster Information about an artwork has no effect on the aesthetic experience of museum visitors. The characteristics of the artwork itself have a much stronger impact on observers. Psychologists from the University of Basel reached these conclusions in a new study.
	California considers declaring common pain killer carcinogen A fight is coming to California over whether to list one of the world's most common over-the-counter drugs as a carcinogen, echoing recent high-profile battles over things like alcohol and coffee.
	Light therapy for immune cells helps with side effects of cancer therapy Only within the past few years has malignant melanoma been treatable with immunotherapy. However, in every second patient, strong autoimmune reactions such as skin rash or diarrhea occur after immunotherapy. Researchers from the Medical Center—University of Freiburg and Swiss colleagues have now shown that these reactions can be stopped with a specific light therapy. They treated a 29-year-old cancer patient with severe inflammation of the intestinal mucosa very successfully using extracorporeal photopheresis (ECP).
	New drug prevents liver damage, obesity and glucose intolerance in mice on high-fat diet Mice given a new drug targeting a key gene involved in lipid and glucose metabolism could tolerate a high-fat diet regimen (composed of 60% fat from lard) without developing significant liver damage, becoming obese, or disrupting their body's glucose balance. The study by Georgetown Lombardi Comprehensive Cancer Center researchers appeared January 20, 2020, in Cell Death and Differentiation.
	Researcher discovers previously rejected function in the brain's blood vessels Allegedly, they should not exist in the brain, the so-called precapillary sphincters—a kind of squeezing 'muscle clamp' between the larger and smaller vessels of the bloodstream.
	New opportunity for cancer drug development After years of research on cell surface receptors called Frizzleds, researchers at Karolinska Institutet in Sweden provide the proof-of-principle that these receptors are druggable by small molecules. The results, which are published in the scientific journal Nature Communications, open the way for new strategies to treat different types of cancer.
	Changing cancer care, one organoid at a time A patient-specific tumor organoid platform developed by Wake Forest Institute for Regenerative Medicine (WFIRM) researchers and their cancer center colleagues could someday take the guessing game out of immunotherapy treatments. The hope is that, one day, these tumor organoids will be used to personalize patients' treatments, to focus on those that will best help them fight their own cancer.
	Zika inhibits the proliferation of prostate cancer cells After revealing in a groundbreaking study that Zika virus can be used to combat brain tumors, researchers at the University of Campinas (UNICAMP) in São Paulo State, Brazil, have shown that the pathogen may also be a weapon against prostate cancer. The study was led by Rodrigo Ramos Catharino, a professor in UNICAMP's School of Pharmaceutical Sciences.
	Feds to let states tap opioid funds for meth, cocaine surge Alarmed by a deadly new twist in the nation's drug addiction crisis, the government will allow states to use federal money earmarked for the opioid epidemic to help growing numbers of people struggling with meth and cocaine.
	How can you make healthy food resolutions really stick? For many of us, January is all about giving things up: Maybe we're going to stop eating meat and embrace a plant-based diet. Or we're ready to kick excess sugar to the curb after a holiday season awash in sweets. Or we're committed to avoiding fast food.
	Certain liver cells may help prevent organ rejection after transplant, study finds Mesenchymal stromal cells from fat tissue and bone marrow are widely used in therapeutic trials for their anti-inflammatory qualities, but new Mayo Clinic research finds that liver cells may be of greater value.
	Kids rice snacks in Australia contain arsenic above EU guidelines: study Rice snacks for kids found in Australian supermarkets contain arsenic at levels above European safety guidelines, a new study shows.
	Esports organisations look to optimise player sleep Esports has developed from relative obscurity into a billion dollar global industry, with an estimated 453 million viewers worldwide in 2019—and its set to get even bigger.
	Brain activity patterns linked with improved learning and memory in multiple sclerosis A recent article by Kessler Foundation researchers demonstrated g people with multiple sclerosis (MS). The article, "Brain activation patterns associated with paragraph learning in persons with multiple sclerosis: The MEMREHAB trial," (doi: 10.1016/j.ijpsycho.2019.09.008 ) was epublished on October 20, 2019 by the International Journal of Psychophysiology. The authors are Olga Boukrina, Ph.D., Ekaterina Dobryakova, Ph.D., Veronica Schneider, BA, John DeLuca, Ph.D., and Nancy Chiaravalloti, Ph.D., of Kessler Foundation.
	Maternal depression on rise in poor countries Women in low and medium-income countries struggle with many health issues in pregnancy and childbirth, but little attention is given to antenatal depression—which is on the rise in many developing countries, new PLOS ONE paper shows.
	New method to enable the production of cheaper, longer-lasting vaccines A new method to produce vaccines that have a longer shelf-life, are cheaper and can be stored without the need for cooling is being presented in the open access journal BMC Biotechnology.
	Science Says: What to know about the viral outbreak in China Health officials around the world are keeping a close watch on an outbreak of a new virus in China. In response, governments are stepping up surveillance of airline passengers arriving from the affected area to try to prevent the virus from spreading.
	Treatment for depression must also restore proper functioning of the blood-brain barrier To better treat people with depression, not only must we treat the neurons affected by the disease, but we must also restore the integrity of the barrier that regulates exchanges between blood circulation and the brain. This is the conclusion of a study published today in PNAS by Université Laval researchers and their international collaborators.
	Kids' behavior, socioeconomic risk linked to gut microbiome composition, function A study of early school-aged children shows a connection between the bacteria in their gut and their behavior, and that parents play a key role in their kids' microbiome beyond the food they provide.
	Scientists show gene therapy protection of eyesight in models of multiple sclerosis New research by Dorothy P. Schafer, Ph.D., at the University of Massachusetts Medical School, reveals the molecular process in which synaptic connections in the brain are damaged in multiple sclerosis and how this contributes to neurodegenerative symptoms. The paper, published in Immunity, also shows how gene therapy may be used to preserve neural circuits and protect against vision loss in the disease.
Engagement and education key to changing attitudes towards virginity testing Virginity testing is a complex, culturally mediated practice that is poorly understood by Western clinicians. Although there is published literature on the ethics of 'virginity' testing and on the lack of reliability of a hymen examination to determine 'virginity', little practical guidance has been published for clinicians who may encounter requests for virginity testing in the clinical setting.
	Vitamin D supplementation linked to potential improvements in blood pressure in children Overweight and obese vitamin D-deficient children who took a relatively high dose of vitamin D every day for six months had lower blood pressure and improved insulin sensitivity than their peers who took a lower dose, according to the results of a UPMC Children's Hospital of Pittsburgh clinical trial reported in The American Journal of Clinical Nutrition.
	Women still face barriers to breastfeed at work Despite the protections in place to support breastfeeding for employees, the burden still falls on working mothers to advocate for the resources they need, according to a new study from the University of Georgia.
	Link found between maternal depression and atopic dermatitis in children Maternal depression in the postpartum period, and even beyond, is associated with the development of atopic dermatitis (AD) throughout childhood and adolescence, according to a recent study published in the journal Dermatitis.
Vitamin C-B1-steroid combo linked to lower septic shock mortality in kids Treating septic shock in children with a combination of intravenous vitamin C, vitamin B1 and hydrocortisone (a commonly used steroid) is associated with lower mortality, according to a study from Ann & Robert H. Lurie Children's Hospital of Chicago. This is the first pediatric study of the safe and relatively inexpensive treatment for septic shock, and the preliminary data supports the promising outcomes seen in adults. Findings were published in the American Journal of Respiratory and Critical Care Medicine.
	Study provides the first data on concussion risk in youth football For decades, there's been a widespread assumption among people with an interest in sports-related injury that youth football players are more vulnerable to concussion and other head injuries than their older, bigger counterparts.
	New study debunks notion that salt consumption contributes to weight loss High blood pressure (BP) affects more than 150 million adults in the United States, putting them at increased risk for a range of health problems, including heart attack and stroke. Because salt consumption is thought to contribute to high blood pressure by stimulating thirst and leading to greater fluid intake, cutting salt intake is widely considered to be an important strategy for lowering blood pressure. Separately, recent studies have suggested that higher sodium intake does not in fact stimulate thirst and fluid intake but promotes weight loss by changing the body's total energy needs.
Pharmaceutical companies marketing stimulants to physicians: study Results of a new study show that a large number of physicians in the US may have received marketing payments from pharmaceutical companies that produce stimulant medications. Led by researchers at Boston Medical Center's (BMC) Grayken Center for Addiction, the first of its kind study found that one in 18 physicians received some form of pharmaceutical marketing about stimulants, most often in the form of food or beverage. Published in JAMA Pediatrics, the results indicate the potential role that the subtle, low-cost marketing can have on increasing physician prescribing of stimulants, which could be associated with the recent increase in prescribing and misuse of these medications.
	Autism study finds later diagnoses for girls, high rates of co-occurring disorders A new study analyzing the first 1,000 participants in the Rhode Island Consortium for Autism Research and Treatment (RI-CART) identifies key trends in the presentation and diagnosis of autism spectrum disorder. The study was published in Autism Research on Monday, Jan. 20.
	Our biological clock plays crucial role in healing from surgery If you have just had knee, shoulder or hip surgery, you may want to take anti-inflammatories in the morning or at noon, but not at night. A McGill-led study shows, for the first time, that circadian clock genes are involved in healing from surgery. Indeed, the researchers demonstrated that anti-inflammatory medications are most effective in promoting post-operative healing and recovery when taken during the active periods of our biological clocks.
	US gets 1st case of mysterious new Chinese illness The U.S. on Tuesday reported its first case of a new and potentially deadly virus circulating in China, saying a Washington state resident who returned last week from the outbreak's epicenter was hospitalized in good condition near Seattle.
	New guidance issued for care of children with williams syndrome (HealthDay)—In an American Academy of Pediatrics clinical report, published online Jan. 21 in Pediatrics, recommendations are presented for the management of patients with Williams syndrome (WS).
	Further improvements in survival seen after allogeneic transplant (HealthDay)—From 2003-2007 to 2013-2017, there was an improvement in survival for allogeneic hematopoietic cell transplantation, according to a study published online Jan. 21 in the Annals of Internal Medicine.
	Cognitive behavioral program benefits patients with diabetes (HealthDay)—A peer-delivered cognitive behavioral therapy (CBT)-based intervention may improve quality of life (QOL) among patients with diabetes and chronic pain, according to a study published in the January/February issue of the Annals of Family Medicine.
	A workout could be good medicine for the common cold (HealthDay)—It might be the last thing you want to do when you are battling a cold, but exercise might actually make you feel better, suggests one health expert.
	Vape devices like Juul 'reversing' efforts to keep youth from tobacco: study (HealthDay)—The epidemic of addictive vaping among youth continues, with e-cigarette devices by Juul continuing to surge in popularity among teens and young adults, new research shows.
	Influenza vaccination of children cuts hospitalization in half Fully vaccinating children reduced the risk of hospitalization for complications associated with influenza by 54%, according to a new study by Ben-Gurion University of the Negev (BGU) and University of Michigan researchers.
America's largest medical specialty society endorses single-payer Medicare for All Physicians for a National Health Program (PNHP) today welcomed the American College of Physicians' (ACP) endorsement of single-payer Medicare for All. The ACP, a national organization of 159,000 internists, is the largest medical specialty society and second-largest physician group in the U.S. after the American Medical Association (AMA).
Internists call for comprehensive reform of US health care The American College of Physicians (ACP) today issued a bold call to action challenging the U.S. to implement systematic reform of the health care system, and released an ambitious new vision for a better health care system for all and expansive policy recommendations for how to achieve it. The series of policy papers is published as a supplement in Annals of Internal Medicine.
	New study to diagnose children with leukemia Scientists from the University of Granada have discovered that detecting the expression of the TCL6 gene can help diagnose a subtype of pediatric patients with acute lymphoblastic leukemia (ALL).
	Light scattered by thrombocytes can improve the treatment of cardiovascular diseases A team of scientists from Immanuel Kant Baltic Federal University used Raman spectroscopy to study the thrombocytes of patients with cardiovascular diseases and compared their spectra with those of healthy people. The researchers identified informative areas of the spectra and confirmed that Raman spectroscopy was a promising method allowing one to diagnose the diseases associated with changes in thrombocyte activity and also to forecast the efficiency of antithrombotic therapy.
	Avatar worms help to identify factors that modify genetic diseases Often, patients from the same family and carriers of the same genetic mutation, develop a disease differently. This disparity may be due to the existence of mutations in other secondary genes, which influence the onset and progression of the disease caused by the main mutation. As an example, members of a family who are carriers of the same mutation may show symptoms of the disease at age 20, and others at age 50. Knowing what factors influence the onset and development of the disease would help gain a better prognosis and the application of preventive treatments. Retinitis pigmentaria is a group of a genetic and degenerative diseases characterized by the loss of light-receptor cells in the retina, this causes a non-responding retina and progressive vision loss.
	Magnetic nanomaterials become an effective treatment against liver fibrosis A team of scientists from Immanuel Kant Baltic Federal University together with their colleagues from NUST MISiS and RWTH Aachen University (Germany) compared different treatments against liver fibrosis and published the results of their study in the Cells journal. In the course of this disease liver tissue is replaced with connective (cicatricial) tissue preventing the organ from its normal functioning. According to the scientists, magnetic nanomaterials may become a basis for a completely new approach to anti-fibrosis treatment and help avoid the issues associated with traditional therapeutic methods.
	No joke: Denmark to cut kids off from laughing gas Denmark plans to ban sales of laughing gas to minors to prevent them from using the substance—which is used for making whipped cream or filling balloons—to get high, officials said Tuesday.
	Other countries join China in responding to new coronavirus Countries in Asia and elsewhere are checking the body temperatures of arriving airline passengers and adopting precautionary quarantine procedures in response to a new coronavirus that has sickened nearly 300 people and killed six in China. India, Nigeria, Japan and the United States are some of the countries where airport screening procedures were in place.
	Recreational marijuana availability in Oregon and use among adolescents New research from the Prevention Research Center of the Pacific Institute for Research and Evaluation suggests that legalization and greater retail availability of recreational marijuana is positively associated with marijuana use among adolescents.
	'Reading' with aphasia is easier than 'running' Neurolinguists from HSE University have confirmed experimentally that for people with aphasia, it is easier to retrieve verbs describing situations with several participants (such as 'someone is doing something'), although such verbs give rise to more grammar difficulties. The results of the study have been published in Aphasiology.
	New Jersey law bans sale of flavored vaping products The sale of flavored vaping products is banned in New Jersey under legislation Democratic Gov. Phil Murphy signed Tuesday.
New AGA guideline outlines treatment best practices for ulcerative colitis patients Ulcerative colitis (UC), a chronic inflammatory bowel disease (IBD) associated with an increased risk of colorectal cancer, can be life-altering for patients with moderate to severe disease activity.
Recent health reforms in Oregon reduce infant deaths, improve access for women's health Oregon's unique health care delivery system for low-income patients is resulting in fewer infant deaths, according to a recent study by Oregon State University researchers.

Biology news

	Global study finds predators are most likely to be lost when habitats are converted for human use A first of its kind, global study on the impacts of human land-use on different groups of animals has found that predators, especially small invertebrates like spiders and ladybirds, are the most likely to be lost when natural habitats are converted to agricultural land or towns and cities. The findings are published in the British Ecological Society journal Functional Ecology.
	Plants absorb lead from perovskite solar cells more than expected Lead from metal-organic perovskite compounds can be absorbed particularly easily by plants. The bioavailability is significantly higher than that of lead from inorganic compounds, as found in batteries. This is shown in a study by HZB researcher Antonio Abate with partners in China and Italy, published in Nature Communications.
	New study confirms the importance of tiger population in Thailand forest complex A new scientific survey has reinforced the importance of one of the world's only remaining breeding populations of Indochinese tigers and provided evidence of tiger cubs in eastern Thailand's Dong Phayayen-Khao Yai Forest Complex.
	Crucial reef species may survive ocean changes under climate change A seaweed species crucial to the survival of coral reefs may be able to gain resistance to ocean changes caused by climate change, new Te Herenga Waka—Victoria University of Wellington research recently published in Nature Climate Change shows.
	Novel composite antimicrobial film could take a bite out of foodborne illnesses A novel composite film—created by the bonding of an antimicrobial layer to conventional, clear polyethylene plastic typically used to vacuum-package foods such as meat and fish—could help to decrease foodborne illness outbreaks, according to researchers in Penn State's College of Agricultural Sciences.
	Warmer and acidified oceans can lead to 'hidden' changes in species behavior Projected ocean warming and acidification not only impacts the behavior of individual species but also the wider marine ecosystems which are influenced by them, a new study shows.
	Taming electrons with bacteria parts Electrons are tough to pin down in biology. Learning how to harness electrons is no fool's errand because, when electrons move, they are the electricity that powers life.
	Mayfly populations falling fast in North America A team of researchers from the University of Oklahoma, Virginia Tech and the University of Notre Dame has found that populations of mayflies in parts of North America have fallen dramatically in recent years. In their paper published in the Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences, the group describes using weather radar data to calculate mayfly populations and what they learned about them.
	Method triggers selective degradation of proteins for analysis Scientists of Ludwig-Maximilians-Universitaet (LMU) in Munich have developed a tool to eliminate essential proteins from cells with a flash of light. The new method makes it possible to study the function of essential proteins.
	Insecticides becoming more toxic to honey bees During the past 20 years, insecticides applied to U.S. agricultural landscapes have become significantly more toxic—over 120-fold in some midwestern states—to honey bees when ingested, according to a team of researchers, who identified rising neonicotinoid seed treatments in corn and soy as the primary driver of this change. The study is the first to characterize the geographic patterns of insecticide toxicity to bees and reveal specific areas of the country where mitigation and conservation efforts could be focused.
	Fat cells can sense sunlight—not getting enough increases metabolic syndrome risk Yes, fat cells deep under your skin can sense light. And when bodies do not get enough exposure to the right kinds of light, fat cells behave differently.
	Insect bites and warmer climate means double-trouble for plants Recent models are telling us that, as our climate warms up, herbivores and pests will cause increased damage to agricultural crops. One study predicted that crop yield lost to insects increases 10 to 25 percent for every 1 degree Celsius increase.
	To reverse engineer dynamics of microbial communities, researchers construct their own Scientific and public appreciation for microbes—and the key role their communal actions play in environmental health, food production, and human wellness—has grown in recent years. While initially considered to be static, uniform entities, microbial communities are highly complex and contain internal chemical swapfests that are in constant flux.
	Walking sharks discovered in the tropics Four new species of tropical sharks that use their fins to walk are causing a stir in waters off northern Australia and New Guinea.
	Modified plants to curb climate change Each year, an average of 120 gigatons of carbon dioxide (CO2) worldwide is released through soil and vegetation respiration. Plants are capable of taking in nearly 123 gigatons through photosynthesis in the same period. But as humans release another ten gigatons of carbon dioxide into this cycle, mainly by burning fossil fuels such as crude oil and natural gas, there are seven gigatons of excess CO2. "And these seven gigatons are our big problem," says Thomas Dandekar who holds the Chair of Bioinformatics at the University of Würzburg. They fuel global warming and cause global temperatures to rise at an alarming rate.
	Conservation scientists are grieving after the bushfires—but we must not give up That a billion animals may die as a result of this summer's fires has horrified the world. For many conservation biologists and land managers, however, the unprecedented extent and ferocity of the fires has incinerated much more than koalas and their kin.
	Many of our plants and animals have adapted to fires, but now the fires are changing Australia is a land that has known fire. Our diverse plant and animal species have become accustomed to life with fire, and in fact some require it to procreate.
	'Shazam for fish': Acoustic monitoring a window into health of waterways Listening to the environment—singing birds and chirping crickets—is increasingly used as a means of monitoring change in ecosystems. Together with two colleagues from Melbourne and Paris, Griffith University senior lecturer Dr. Simon Linke has led a major drive to kickstart acoustic monitoring in freshwater systems.
	Lizard and snake size unrelated to climate For well over a century, scientists have thought climate is a key factor affecting the evolution of animal body sizes. However, a recent study has shown that, for squamates, a group of reptiles that includes lizards and snakes, there are no consistent global correlations between body size and climate.
	New study reveals a life aquatic for many spider species From sea shores to salt flats, a high incidence of spiders spin a life in or around water. Researchers at the California Academy of Sciences and William Paterson University found that nearly one fifth of all spider families are associated with saltwater or freshwater aquatic habitats. Their findings—recently published in the Zoological Journal of the Linnean Society and aptly titled "The Life Aquatic with Spiders"—address the common misconception that all spiders dwell on land, and reveal surprising evolutionary pathways of this group from a land-based existence back to a water-based existence.
	Cave fights for food: Voracious spiders vs. assassin bugs Killing and eating of potential competitors, also known as intraguild predation, is a rare event that occurs only in specific situations such as severe scarcity of food resources, resulting in the competition between predators.
	Research shows potential for zero-deforestation pledges to protect wildlife in oil palm New research has found that environmental efforts aimed at eliminating deforestation from oil palm production have the potential to benefit vulnerable tropical mammals.
	Tracking the scent of warming tundra Climate change is causing subarctic tundra to warm twice as fast as the global average, and this warming is speeding up the activity of the plant life. Researchers from the University of Copenhagen, Denmark, and the Helmholtz Zentrum München, Germany, have now elucidated how this warming affects the tundra ecosystem and the origin of an increased amount of volatile compounds released from the tundra.
	Corals' partnership with microalgae helps in stressful times but there's a trade-off In the warmer and brighter shallow waters of Kāne'ohe Bay, O'ahu, the Hawaiian rice coral (Montipora capitata) hosts more heat-tolerant symbiotic microalgae in their tissues compared to corals in deeper waters. This pattern was demonstrated in a recent study by scientists at the University of Hawai'i (UH) at Mānoa School of Ocean and Earth Science and Technology (SOEST), and they suggest that while this can help corals weather a heat wave, it may have a price—lower nutrition when the heat wave has passed and seawater temperatures cool down.
	Advancing the application of genomic sequences through 'Kmasker plants' The development of next-generation-sequencing (NGS) has enabled researchers to investigate genomes that might previously have been considered too complex or too expensive. Nevertheless, the analysis of complex plant genomes, which often have an enormous amount of repetitive sequences, is still a challenge. Therefore, bioinformatics researchers from Leibniz Institute of Plant Genetics and Crop Plant Research (IPK), Martin Luther University Halle-Wittenberg (MLU) and Leibniz Institute of Plant Biochemistry (IPB) have now published "Kmasker plants," a program that allows the identification of repetitive sequences and thus facilitates the analysis of plant genomes.
	New image analysis method for time-lapse microscopy shows how giant viruses infect amoeba Viruses are probably the most peculiar "life forms" known to us, with each species having unique characteristics. One thing common to all viruses is that they attack a "host" cell and hijack its machinery, using it for its own replication. A type of large virus, called "giant virus," has interesting ways of attacking its host organism—an amoeba. Virologists have been trying to understand what makes these viruses so unique for some time now, but to observe them, complex techniques are required. A method called phase-contrast microscopy is commonly used to study all types of cells, including amoebal cells. But, this technique relies heavily on the variation in the conditions of the cell and its background, and sometimes this leads to disruptions in the image produced—for example "halo" (in which the cell is surrounded by a bright light) and "shade-off" (in which the inside of the cell and background are of a similar intensity). This is why, to dig deeper into exactly how giant viruses infect amoebal cells, more efficient cell-tracking techniques are needed. Just earlier this month, scientists from the Tokyo University of Science, led by Professor Masaharu Takemura, had reported the discovery of two new species of pandoravirus and mimivirus—both families of giant viruses infecting amoebae—from a riverbank in Japan. Prof Takemura says that continual discovery of viruses from soil is crucial from the standpoint of understanding the ecology of giant viruses.
	How fruit flies flock together in orderly clusters Opposing desires to congregate and maintain some personal space drive fruit flies to form orderly clusters, according to a study published today in eLife.
	A model ecosystem fish story Have I got a fish story for you. Any angler beginning a yarn like that usually ends up spinning a tall tale, an exaggeration or bald-faced lie.
	Mosquitoes are drawn to flowers as much as people—and now scientists know why Without their keen sense of smell, mosquitoes wouldn't get very far. They rely on this sense to find a host to bite and spots to lay eggs.
	How drones could help save our most endangered species With funding from Cabot Institute for the Environment, BZS and the EPSRC's CASCADE grant, a joint team flew to Cameroon in December to trial the use of drones, sensor technologies and deployment techniques to monitor populations of the Critically Endangered Kordofan giraffe at Bénoué National Park.
	Counting Antarctic penguins with AI the British Antarctic Survey, the world's largest Emperor penguin colony has suffered unprecedented breeding issues for the past three years, is uniquely vulnerable to ongoing and projected climate change, and could virtually disappear by the year 2100. In order to study penguin populations, researchers first need to accurately count them. A new crowd counting solution from Intel AI Builder member and data science company Gramener could enable researchers to use computer vision to count penguin populations faster and more accurately.
	Fanged frogs, dwarf crocodiles and folding tortoises? Welcome to West Africa Forget the peculiar creatures populating the pages of Alice in Wonderland. This is your chance to follow in the footsteps of the intrepid explorers who have just delved deep into a West African fantasy world filled with fanged frogs, lipstick-wearing snakes and folding tortoises.
	Discovery of beneficial fungal taxa may help restore native plant in the PNW Camas, a seed-producing forb, grows in prairie and wetland habitats in the Pacific Northwest (PNW) and carries profound prehistoric and current significance as a food resource and article of commerce among indigenous cultures of the PNW. The forb once flourished among the region but decreased in population after the conversion to modern forms of agricultural production.

---

This email is a free service of Science X Network
You received this email because you subscribed to our list.
If you do not wish to receive such emails in the future, please unsubscribe here.
You are subscribed as jmabs1@gmail.com. You may manage your subscription options from your Science X profile