Thursday, 11 July 2019

Even in svelte adults, cutting about 300 calories daily protects the heart

New data from a two-year Duke Health trial suggests when it comes to cutting your risk for killer ailments such as diabetes and heart disease, there's always room for improvement.

source https://www.lifetechnology.com/blogs/life-technology-news-blog/even-in-svelte-adults-cutting-about-300-calories-daily-protects-the-heart

Chronic kidney disease patients face continual, significant gaps in care

Patients with chronic kidney disease (CKD) have a high prevalence of uncontrolled hypertension and diabetes, as well as statin use below the recommended guidelines for cholesterol control, according to a study by researchers at UC San Francisco.

source https://www.lifetechnology.com/blogs/life-technology-news-blog/chronic-kidney-disease-patients-face-continual-significant-gaps-in-care

Ford, VW to broaden global alliance

Ford and Volkswagen plan to unveil a broader global alliance on Friday that will focus on developing autonomous technology and electric vehicles.

source https://www.lifetechnology.com/blogs/life-technology-news-blog/ford-vw-to-broaden-global-alliance

Whispering southern right whale mums and calves seek refuge in surf

Most mammalian new mums are fiercely protective of their precious offspring; even 5-8 m long southern right whale calves are vulnerable to attack by voracious killer whales. Mia Nielsen from Aarhus University, Denmark, explains that whale mothers and calves often try to hide from predators by gravitating to cloudy water. But the loss of visual contact could force mothers and their young to call to each other more, increasing the risk of attracting the wrong attention. Knowing that humpback whale mothers resort to whispering to their young to protect them from harm, Nielsen and her colleagues, Lars Bejder from the University of Hawaii at Manoa and Peter Madsen, also from Aarhus University, decided to listen in on the conversations between southern right whale (Eubalaena australis) mothers and their calves, to find out how they go unnoticed. The team publishes its discovery that the mothers and their calves shelter in the noisy surf, stay in close proximity and effectively whisper—calling softly less than once per dive—to avoid attracting any unwanted attention in Journal of Experimental Biology.

source https://www.lifetechnology.com/blogs/life-technology-news-blog/whispering-southern-right-whale-mums-and-calves-seek-refuge-in-surf

Ancient epigenetic changes silence cancer-linked genes

An epigenetic change, a form of DNA control, that deactivates some genes linked to cancer late in human development has been conserved for more than 400 million years, new research led by the Garvan Institute of Medical Research suggests.

source https://www.lifetechnology.com/blogs/life-technology-news-blog/ancient-epigenetic-changes-silence-cancer-linked-genes

US launches probe of France's planned tech giants tax

US President Donald Trump has ordered an investigation into France's planned tax on internet services that will hit American tech giants especially hard, officials said Wednesday.

source https://www.lifetechnology.com/blogs/life-technology-news-blog/us-launches-probe-of-frances-planned-tech-giants-tax

Troubled waters: China-fuelled cruise boom sparks environment fears

Cruises are enjoying a boom fuelled in part by hordes of Chinese tourists taking to the high seas, but green groups warn a wave of hulking new liners may cause environmental devastation.

source https://www.lifetechnology.com/blogs/life-technology-news-blog/troubled-waters-china-fuelled-cruise-boom-sparks-environment-fears

Six tourists killed by tornadoes and hailstorms in Greece

Tornadoes and violent hailstorms killed six tourists in northern Greece late Wednesday, police said.

source https://www.lifetechnology.com/blogs/life-technology-news-blog/six-tourists-killed-by-tornadoes-and-hailstorms-in-greece

Hayabusa2: the asteroid probe seeking solar system secrets

Japan's Hayabusa2 space probe made its second touchdown on a distant asteroid on Thursday, in a bid to collect mineral samples that could reveal more about the solar system's evolution.

source https://www.lifetechnology.com/blogs/life-technology-news-blog/hayabusa2-the-asteroid-probe-seeking-solar-system-secrets

Small leak found from nuclear Soviet sub that sank in 1989

Norwegian researchers says they found a leak from a Soviet nuclear submarine that sank 30 years ago, but it poses no risk to people or fish.

source https://www.lifetechnology.com/blogs/life-technology-news-blog/small-leak-found-from-nuclear-soviet-sub-that-sank-in-1989

The Moon now has hundreds of artifacts. Should they be protected?

Three rovers, six US flags, dozens of probes that either landed successfully or crashed, tools, cameras and trash: the Moon is dotted with hundreds of objects as a result of space exploration.

source https://www.lifetechnology.com/blogs/life-technology-news-blog/the-moon-now-has-hundreds-of-artifacts-should-they-be-protected

Vega rocket fails after takeoff in French Guiana

A rocket carrying a satellite for the United Arab Emirates failed shortly after taking off from French Guiana on Wednesday night, launch company Arianespace said.

source https://www.lifetechnology.com/blogs/life-technology-news-blog/vega-rocket-fails-after-takeoff-in-french-guiana

Japan's Hayabusa2 probe makes 'perfect' touchdown on asteroid

Japan's Hayabusa2 probe made a "perfect" touchdown Thursday on a distant asteroid, collecting samples from beneath the surface in an unprecedented mission that could shed light on the origins of the solar system.

source https://www.lifetechnology.com/blogs/life-technology-news-blog/japans-hayabusa2-probe-makes-perfect-touchdown-on-asteroid

Divisive telescope to restart building next week in Hawaii

Construction on a giant telescope will start again next week after lengthy court battles and passionate protests from those who say building it on Hawaii's tallest mountain will desecrate land sacred to some Native Hawaiians.

source https://www.lifetechnology.com/blogs/life-technology-news-blog/divisive-telescope-to-restart-building-next-week-in-hawaii

Team breaks down major players in cell to score future cancer therapy wins

A soccer team is made up of 11 players with each person having a specific role and place on the field. In the world of biology, each individual cell also has many moving parts and pieces, each with specific roles and places to be. If one of those pieces isn't working correctly, it can affect the entire cell, much like a soccer team doesn't perform as well if every player is not doing his or her job.

source https://www.lifetechnology.com/blogs/life-technology-news-blog/team-breaks-down-major-players-in-cell-to-score-future-cancer-therapy-wins

Study finds no correlation between brain function and head impacts after 2 seasons of tackle football

Many parents, potential players and medical providers are increasingly wary of youth contact sports participation. The concern over the potential short- and long-term effects of head impacts experienced by youth football players has likely driven decreasing participation, according to a group of researchers.

source https://www.lifetechnology.com/blogs/life-technology-news-blog/study-finds-no-correlation-between-brain-function-and-head-impacts-after-2-seasons-of-tackle-football

Can computer use, crafts and games slow or prevent age-related memory loss?

A new study has found that mentally stimulating activities like using a computer, playing games, crafting and participating in social activities are linked to a lower risk or delay of age-related memory loss called mild cognitive impairment, and that the timing and number of these activities may also play a role. The study is published in the July 10, 2019, online issue of Neurology, the medical journal of the American Academy of Neurology.

source https://www.lifetechnology.com/blogs/life-technology-news-blog/can-computer-use-crafts-and-games-slow-or-prevent-age-related-memory-loss

Discovery may have implications for diabetes management and therapy

Theodoros Zanos, Ph.D., head of the Neural & Data Science Lab & assistant professor at the Institute of Bioelectronic Medicine, The Feinstein Institutes for Medical Research, and his collaborators, discovered how the vagus nerve relays signals from the periphery to the brain to help regulate glucose, potentially uncovering a new way to measure blood glucose levels. This finding progresses research into future bioelectronic medicine treatments and diagnostics for metabolic syndrome and diabetes. The findings were published today in the Springer Nature journal, Bioelectronic Medicine.

source https://www.lifetechnology.com/blogs/life-technology-news-blog/discovery-may-have-implications-for-diabetes-management-and-therapy

Study explores how social movements can use virtual worlds

Online virtual worlds can help social movements raise awareness and create safe spaces for their members, according to a new study by an academic at the University of East Anglia (UEA).

source https://www.lifetechnology.com/blogs/life-technology-news-blog/study-explores-how-social-movements-can-use-virtual-worlds

Are the 'viral' agents of MS, ALS and schizophrenia buried in our genome?

What if the missing 'environmental' factor in some of our deadliest neurological diseases were really written in our genome?

source https://www.lifetechnology.com/blogs/life-technology-news-blog/are-the-viral-agents-of-ms-als-and-schizophrenia-buried-in-our-genome

Lack of crop diversity and increasing dependence on pollinators may threaten food security

A multinational team of researchers has identified countries where agriculture's increasing dependence on pollination, coupled with a lack of crop diversity, may threaten food security and economic stability. The study, which was published in the journal Global Change Biology on July 11, 2019, is the first global assessment of the relationship between trends in crop diversity and agricultural dependence on pollinators.

source https://www.lifetechnology.com/blogs/life-technology-news-blog/lack-of-crop-diversity-and-increasing-dependence-on-pollinators-may-threaten-food-security

Will your future computer be made using bacteria?

In order to create new and more efficient computers, medical devices, and other advanced technologies, researchers are turning to nanomaterials: materials manipulated on the scale of atoms or molecules that exhibit unique properties.

source https://www.lifetechnology.com/blogs/life-technology-news-blog/will-your-future-computer-be-made-using-bacteria