Sleep app helps treat insomnia

Publicly released: Wed 26 Sep 2018 at 0100 AEST | 0300 NZST

JAMA Psychiatry

Using an online sleep program and app called Sleepio improves symptoms of insomnia and mental well being, according to international and Australian research. The study compared people who used the digital Sleepio program and app (Big Health Ltd), Read more about Sleep app helps treat insomnia - Scimex

Cyber attacks on patient records rising

Publicly released: Wed 26 Sep 2018 at 0100 AEST | 0300 NZST

JAMA

Cyber attacks on US electronic health records have been on the rise since 2010, flaunting the ethical and legal obligations of protecting patient privacy. A US study found that private patient data had been obtained in 2, 150 separate breaches Read more about Cyber attacks on patient records rising - Scimex

Sun exposure gets personal with wearable UV sensors

Publicly released: Wed 26 Sep 2018 at 0100 AEST | 0300 NZST

Nature Communications

RMIT researchers have developed a UV active ink that changes colour when exposed to different types of UV rays and can be printed and worn as a single use, disposable wrist band. Media Release. From:RMIT University. Keeping an eye on your personal Read more about Sun exposure gets personal with wearable UV sensors - Scimex

Study reveals patterns in STEM grades of girls versus boys

Publicly released: Wed 26 Sep 2018 at 0100 AEST | 0300 NZST

Nature Communications

A new study, led by UNSW Sydney PhD student Rose O’Dea, has explored patterns in academic grades of 1.6 million students, showing that girls and boys perform very similarly in STEM – including at the top of the class. Media Release. From:The Read more about Study reveals patterns in STEM grades of girls versus boys - Scimex

Antibiotics or surgery? Appendix removal no longer a golden rule

Publicly released: Wed 26 Sep 2018 at 0100 AEST | 0300 NZST

JAMA

It used to be standard practice to remove an appendix at the first sign of appendicitis, but a simple dose of antibiotics could be an alternative to surgery for some, according to a Finnish trial. A five-year follow-up of the trial (which randomly Read more about Antibiotics or surgery? Appendix removal no longer a golden rule - Scimex

Pasture pests cost NZ farmers

Publicly released: Tue 25 Sep 2018 at 1200 AEST | 1400 NZST

New Zealand Journal of Agricultural Research

Pests targeting New Zealand’s pastures are costing the economy up to $2.3 billion a year, according to a study by AgResearch. The researchers quantified the financial impact of invertebrate pests such as the grass grub, black beetle, nematodes and Read more about Pasture pests cost NZ farmers - Scimex

Advanced animal society thrives without males

Publicly released: Tue 25 Sep 2018 at 1001 AEST | 1201 NZST

BMC Biology

Termite colonies have been found to thrive and reproduce without males, new research from the University of Sydney reveals. The findings provide new evidence that males aren’ t required to maintain some advanced animal populations. They add Read more about Advanced animal society thrives without males - Scimex

Photosynthesis discovery could help next-gen solar biotechnology

Publicly released: Tue 25 Sep 2018 at 0926 AEST | 1126 NZST

Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences

Researchers from The University of Queensland (UQ) and the University of Münster (WWU) have purified and visualized the ‘Cyclic Electron Flow’ (CEF) supercomplex, a critical part of the photosynthetic machinery in all plants, in a discovery Read more about Photosynthesis discovery could help next-gen solar biotechnology - Scimex

What meds are we giving our kids?

Publicly released: Tue 25 Sep 2018 at 0900 AEST | 1100 NZST

Pediatric Drugs

New Zealand researchers have looked into what medicines are being given to our kids using prescription information of more than 1.4 million children from between 2010 and 2015. They found that on average, children received 4.5 prescriptions per year, Read more about What meds are we giving our kids? - Scimex

The dark side of the Martian moon

Publicly released: Tue 25 Sep 2018 at 0700 AEST | 0900 NZST

Journal of Geophysical Research: Planets

Phobos, the larger of Mars’two tiny moons, is the darkest moon in the solar system, which - along with its strange shape - has long suggested to astronomers that it may have originally been an asteroid pulled into orbit by the planet's gravity. Read more about The dark side of the Martian moon - Scimex

Australian Cancer Atlas unpacks cancer burden by locality

Publicly released: Tue 25 Sep 2018 at 0600 AEST | 0800 NZST

Australians can now discover the impact of cancer in their suburb or town, with the launch of a new cutting-edge Australian Cancer Atlas. The interactive digital cancer atlas shows national patterns in cancer incidence and survival rates based on Read more about Australian Cancer Atlas unpacks cancer burden by locality - Scimex

Parasite makes quick exit when researchers remove the handbrake

Publicly released: Tue 25 Sep 2018 at 0400 AEST | 0600 NZST

PLOS Biology

Melbourne researchers have discovered a way to halt the invasion of the toxoplasmosis-causing parasite into cells, depriving the parasite of a key factor necessary for its growth. The findings are a key step in getting closer to a vaccine to protect Read more about Parasite makes quick exit when researchers remove the handbrake - Scimex

First steps after paralysing injury

Publicly released: Tue 25 Sep 2018 at 0100 AEST | 0300 NZST

Nature Medicine

A patient with complete lower limb paralysis has been able to take steps again following a combination of electronic spinal cord stimulation and rehabilitation therapy. The electrical spinal stimulation device enabled the patient – after rehab and Read more about First steps after paralysing injury - Scimex

EXPERT REACTION: Mozzies knocked out with gene drive

Publicly released: Tue 25 Sep 2018 at 0100 AEST | 0300 NZST

Nature Biotechnology

UK researchers say they've successfully used a CRISPR-based gene drive to cause the collapse of a population of caged malaria-carrying mosquitoes by targeting a gene that determines whether an individual mosquito develops as a male or a female. Read more about EXPERT REACTION: Mozzies knocked out with gene drive - Scimex

Algorithm helps tetraplegic patient control paralysed arm

Publicly released: Tue 25 Sep 2018 at 0100 AEST | 0300 NZST

Nature Medicine

US researchers have taught an algorithm to analyse the brain activity of a person with tetraplegia to restore a patient's movement. Using brain-computer interfaces that bypass spinal cord damage, the researchers trained the algorithm with brain Read more about Algorithm helps tetraplegic patient control paralysed arm - Scimex

East Antarctica is drying out and it's messing with the moss

Publicly released: Tue 25 Sep 2018 at 0100 AEST | 0300 NZST

Nature Climate Change

Climate change and ozone depletion may be drying out East Antarctica and impacting old growth moss beds, according to Australian research. Moss beds are only found in East Antarctica during a short 8-16 week period over summer when ice melts and Read more about East Antarctica is drying out and it's messing with the moss - Scimex

Mental distress and substance use higher among queer students

Publicly released: Tue 25 Sep 2018 at 0100 AEST | 0300 NZST

JAMA Pediatrics

Feelings of sadness, hopelessness and suicidal thoughts are higher among students who experience gender nonconformity, according to US study of more than 6, 000 ethnically-diverse high school students in California and Florida. Gender nonconformity Read more about Mental distress and substance use higher among queer students - Scimex

Climate change to create strange bedfellows on deep ocean reefs

Publicly released: Tue 25 Sep 2018 at 0100 AEST | 0300 NZST

Nature Climate Change

By 2060, deep ocean reefs in the cooler waters off south eastern Australia are likely to be substantially different, becoming more tropical in response to climate driven ocean warming, say Australian researchers. Using sea floor images from Read more about Climate change to create strange bedfellows on deep ocean reefs - Scimex

Brain scans reveal common patterns can predict variations in ADHD

Publicly released: Tue 25 Sep 2018 at 0001 AEST | 0201 NZST

American Journal of Psychiatry

Distinct brain patterns can help explain variations in the way children present with attention deficit hyperactivity disorder (ADHD), paving a course towards improved treatment and support for the common neurodevelopmental disorder. Funder: National Read more about Brain scans reveal common patterns can predict variations in ADHD - Scimex

Curtin research finds smarter way to harvest solar energy for clean fuels

Publicly released: Tue 25 Sep 2018 at 0001 AEST | 0201 NZST

Advanced Materials

Curtin University researchers have developed a low-cost and environmentally friendly method to harvest energy from sunlight to produce clean fuels such as hydrogen. In a paper published today in the leading science and chemistry journal Advanced Read more about Curtin research finds smarter way to harvest solar energy for clean fuels - Scimex