Science X Newsletter Thursday, Sep 22

Dear Reader ,

Here is your customized Science X Newsletter for September 22, 2016:

Spotlight Stories Headlines

Scientists confirm the universe has no direction

Tattoo therapy could ease chronic disease

Hubble finds planet orbiting pair of stars

X-ray laser glimpses how electrons dance with atomic nuclei in materials

DNA-based vaccine guards against Zika in monkey study

Coral fish stress out if separated from 'shoal-mates'

Automated screening for childhood communication disorders

Scientists say ocean fossils found in mountains are cause for concern over future sea levels

Shaping sound waves in 3-D could be useful for medical ultrasound applications

Head wound suggests ancient Aborigine was killed by a boomerang

Researchers discover a cell in spinach that uses sunlight to produce electricity and hydrogen

Neutrophils are key to harnessing anti-tumor immune response from radiation therapy, study finds

In experiments echoing mice behavior, researchers emulate how brains recognize specific smells

GUIDE-Seq technology might detect double-strand DNA breaks in plants

Fighting the aging process at a cellular level

Astronomy & Space news

	Hubble finds planet orbiting pair of stars Two's company, but three might not always be a crowd — at least in space.
	ALMA explores the Hubble Ultra Deep Field An international team of astronomers using the Atacama Large Millimeter/submillimeter Array (ALMA) has explored the same distant corner of the universe first revealed in the iconic image of the Hubble Ultra Deep Field (HUDF).
	Physicists reveal the role of diffusion in the early universe Scientists from the Space Research Institute of the Russian Academy of Sciences (IKI RAS), the Moscow Institute of Physics and Technology (MIPT), and the Max Planck Institute for Astrophysics (MPA) have shown that diffusion of gas particles during the formation of the first structures in the early universe could have impacted the relative abundance of helium and hydrogen in the first galaxies.
	One billion base pairs sequenced on the space station Aboard the International Space Station, NASA astronaut Kate Rubins checks a sample for air bubbles prior to loading it in the biomolecule sequencer. When Rubins' expedition began, zero base pairs of DNA had been sequenced in space. Within just a few weeks, she and the Biomolecule Sequencer team had sequenced their one billionth base of DNA on the orbiting laboratory.
	US astronaut will vote from orbit if homecoming is delayed The lone American in orbit will end up voting for president from the International Space Station, if her homecoming is delayed.
	Cornell team to create tool that detects molecules in cosmos To find the detailed building blocks of life in the cosmos, a new, third-generation instrument will be placed on NASA's SOFIA – the airliner-based Stratospheric Observatory for Infrared Astronomy. Professor Gordon Stacey will lead a Cornell University team of researchers and students to develop the cryogenic scanning Fabry-Perot interferometers, a key tool for detecting distant molecules.
	First step in the Deep Space mission Deep Space is a project that will use a new specially designed telescope to look far into space in order to observe radiation from the early universe. The equipment will be placed at Summit in the middle of the Greenland ice sheet and now the first step has been taken in this scientific mission.
	Image: Drone inspection of ESA's deep-space tracking station at Cebreros Earlier this month, the team at ESA's deep-space tracking station at Cebreros, near Madrid, Spain, ran a series of test flights to image the antenna using a Dji Phantom 3 drone controlled with an iPad.
Israel says new spy satellite sends first images Israel's latest spy satellite began transmitting pictures on Thursday, the defence ministry said, overcoming initial hiccups on its launch nine days ago.

Technology news

	Automated screening for childhood communication disorders For children with speech and language disorders, early-childhood intervention can make a great difference in their later academic and social success. But many such children—one study estimates 60 percent—go undiagnosed until kindergarten or even later.
	Yahoo hack hit 500 mn users, likely 'state sponsored' Yahoo said Thursday a massive attack on its network in 2014 accessed data from at least 500 million users and may have been "state sponsored."
	Taiwan asks Google to blur images of South China Sea island Taiwan's defence ministry has asked Google to blur images of a new development believed to be for military use on a disputed South China Sea island.
South Korea asks Samsung to extend Galaxy Note 7 refund South Korea's government asked Samsung Electronics to extend the refund period for its Galaxy Note 7 smartphones that have been subject to an unprecedented global recall.
	South Korea orders more checks on Galaxy Note 7 batteries Samsung Electronics on Thursday was ordered to carry out more safety checks of its Galaxy Note 7 smartphones before they go back on sale following an unprecedented global recall after defective batteries caused some of the phones to burst into flames.
	Better person-machine communication designed to help prevent accidents The basic components of communication are transmitter, receiver, code, message, channel and context. This setup is the same for communication between humans and machines. In fact, this concept of human-machine communication is becoming increasingly widespread in the increasingly connected digital world, with elements such as the IoT (internet of things), and interactivity with smartphones and wearables.
	Amazon crafts new section for 'Handmade' goods in Europe US online retailing giant Amazon rolled out across Europe on Thursday its section where it features hand-crafted products sold directly by artisans.
	Feds can read all your email, and you'll never know Fear of hackers reading private emails in cloud-based systems like Microsoft Outlook, Gmail or Yahoo has recently sent regular people and public officials scrambling to delete entire accounts full of messages dating back years. What we don't expect is our own government to hack our email – but it's happening. Federal court cases going on right now are revealing that federal officials can read all your email without your knowledge.
	The NFL joins the data revolution in sports In some potentially game-changing news for the way we understand professional football, the National Football League began the 2016 preseason by placing tracking sensors in its footballs for the first time. The chips are also in balls used in Thursday night games.
	Robots don't have to behave or look like humans The R2-D2 robot from Star Wars doesn't communicate in human language but is, nevertheless, capable of showing its intentions. For human-robot interaction, the robot does not have to be a true 'humanoid'. Provided that it signals are designed in the right way, researcher Daphne Karreman (University of Twente, The Netherlands) says.
Low oil prices reduce pain at the pump If you think you're paying less for gas these days, it's true. And a Missouri University of Science and Technology professor can explain why.Nationally, the average price for a gallon of regular was—on Sept. 21—$2.214, down from September 2015 ($2.365) and 2014 ($3.406). And when measured against September 2008, a gallon of gas today is over $1.50 less.
Norwegian Tesla owners sue car maker in horsepower dispute More than 100 Tesla owners in Norway have sued the electric car maker, saying their vehicles aren't as powerful as advertised.
	CASE coconut building panels on display in Ghana Building panels made of upcycled coconut husks made a statement at the Chalewote Street Art Festival in Accra, Ghana, this summer. A kiosk constructed of the panels was featured in an online video report by MeshTV in Ghana.
	Tesla update halts automatic steering if driver inattentive Tesla Motors says a software update to its Autopilot system will disable automatic steering if drivers don't keep their hands on the wheel.
	LinkedIn adding new training features, news feeds and 'bots' LinkedIn wants to become more useful to workers by adding personalized news feeds, helpful messaging "bots" and recommendations for online training courses, as the professional networking service strives to be more than just a tool for job-hunting.
	Is US giving away the internet? Donald Trump's campaign says a government plan to give up managing key operations of the internet poses a threat of outside censorship of online information. But such an outcome is highly unlikely.
	Hand-delivered hacking: malicious USBs left in mailboxes Julien Ascoet was already suspicious when he pulled the plain white envelope from his mailbox this past July.
	Exoskeleton for rehabilitation of specific body parts Exoskeletons are mechanical structures applied externally to the body; their function is to improve movement, support people suffering from injury or to increase physical strength to lift heavy objects.
	Meet Rutgers' RADICAL supercomputing guru Shantenu Jha is a RADICAL man.

Medicine & Health news

	Tattoo therapy could ease chronic disease A temporary tattoo to help control a chronic disease might someday be possible, according to scientists at Baylor College of Medicine who tested antioxidant nanoparticles created at Rice University.
	DNA-based vaccine guards against Zika in monkey study An experimental DNA-based vaccine protected monkeys from infection with the birth defects-causing Zika virus, and it has proceeded to human safety trials, researchers report.
	Neutrophils are key to harnessing anti-tumor immune response from radiation therapy, study finds Combining targeted radiation therapy with a neutrophil stimulant enhances anti-tumor immunity, according to new research into cancer immunology at UT Southwestern Medical Center.
	In experiments echoing mice behavior, researchers emulate how brains recognize specific smells Though scientists have long known that mice can pick out scents—the smell of food, say, or the odor of a predator—they have been at a loss to explain how they are able to perform that seemingly complex task so easily.
	Fighting the aging process at a cellular level It was about 400 BC when Hippocrates astutely observed that gluttony and early death seemed to go hand in hand. Too much food appeared to 'extinguish' life in much the same way as putting too much wood on a fire smothers its flames. If obesity led to disease and death, he thought, then perhaps restraint was the secret to a longer life?
	New ALS discovery: Scientists reverse protein clumping involved in neurodegenerative conditions In the quest to understand the driving forces behind neurodegenerative diseases, researchers in recent years have zeroed in on clumps of malfunctioning proteins thought to kill neurons in the brain and spinal cord by jamming their cellular machinery. In a new study published in the journal Structure, researchers at the UNC School of Medicine announced the first evidence that stabilizing a protein called SOD1 can help reverse this process in the types of neurons affected by the fatal neurodegenerative condition Amyotrophic Lateral Sclerosis (ALS). Also known as Lou Gehrig's disease, ALS has no cure and its causes remain largely mysterious.
	Researchers identify protein critical in causing chronic urinary tract infections Researchers have identified a potential way to prevent chronic urinary tract infections (UTIs). Their research points to a key protein that bacteria use to latch onto the bladder and cause UTIs, according to scientists at Washington University School of Medicine in St. Louis. Vaccinating mice against the protein reduces the ability of bacteria to cause severe disease.
	Study exposes key requirement for regulatory T cell function A Ludwig Cancer Research study published online September 5th in Nature Immunology illuminates a key requirement for the function of regulatory T cells—immune cells that play a critical role in many biological processes, from suppressing inflammation and deadly autoimmunity to helping tumors evade immune attack. The findings also unravel the complex role these cells can play in the genesis and progression of certain gastrointestinal cancers.
	'Sixth sense' may be more than just a feeling With the help of two young patients with a unique neurological disorder, an initial study by scientists at the National Institutes of Health suggests that a gene called PIEZO2 controls specific aspects of human touch and proprioception, a "sixth sense" describing awareness of one's body in space. Mutations in the gene caused the two to have movement and balance problems and the loss of some forms of touch. Despite their difficulties, they both appeared to cope with these challenges by relying heavily on vision and other senses.
	Satellite technology beams expertise to remote Alaska clinic The only clinic in one of the nation's busiest commercial fishing ports is so remote that even conventional telemedicine for emergencies has been impossible for its limited staff—until this week.
	ASCO/ASTRO/SSO update guidelines on postmastectomy RT (HealthDay)—New guidelines have been issued by three leading cancer organizations for postmastectomy radiotherapy (PMRT). All three groups published the guidelines online this week in their respective journals: the Journal of Clinical Oncology, Practical Radiation Oncology, and the Annals of Surgical Oncology.
	Smoking tied to shorter survival with ALS (HealthDay)—Smoking may speed progression of Lou Gehrig's disease and shorten the lives of those with the fatal illness, new research suggests.
	Around the world, holidays bring added pounds (HealthDay)—All that feasting between Thanksgiving and New Year's Day can mean widening waistlines for Americans.
	Daily baths not a must for kids (HealthDay)—Here's welcome news for parents tired of forcing their kids to take a daily bath: Children may not need to bathe every day after all.
	Alcoholics may lack key enzyme (HealthDay)—Alcoholics may lack an enzyme that would help them control their impulse to drink, a new study with rats suggests.
	Drug-resistant gonorrhea a growing US threat: CDC (HealthDay)—Gonorrhea appears to be developing resistance to the two antibiotics that constitute the last available treatment option for the sexually transmitted bacteria, U.S. health officials announced Wednesday.
Database reveals surgical techniques with better outcomes for gastric sleeve gastrectomy patients By analyzing information included in the Metabolic and Bariatric Surgery Accreditation and Quality Improvement Program (MBSAQIP) database, the largest bariatric-specific nationwide registry, researchers found that laparoscopic sleeve gastrectomy is a safe procedure with a low morbidity rate. But to achieve even better outcomes, common surgical techniques used in this procedure should be examined more closely. Study results are published in the September issue of the Annals of Surgery.
Shedding light on the mutational landscape of the most common pediatric cancer A group of researchers from Columbia University, Rutgers University, and institutions in Europe and Japan have identified genomic alterations in pediatric relapsed acute lymphoblastic leukemia (ALL) that cause both therapy resistance and improved clinical response to multi-agent chemotherapy treatment. Rutgers Cancer Institute of New Jersey researcher Hossein Khiabanian, PhD, an assistant professor of pathology, was involved in the work in the Rabadan and Ferrando laboratories at Columbia University. He is co-lead author of the study published in the current online edition of Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences.
	How neurons talk to each other Neurons are connected to each other through synapses, sites where signals are transmitted in the form of chemical messengers. Reinhard Jahn, Director at the Max Planck Institute for Biophysical Chemistry in Göttingen, has investigated precisely how the process works.
	How to talk with kids about traumatic events When terrible events, such as the terrorist events days ago in New York and New Jersey, following the attacks in Nice, France, and Orlando, Florida, occur, children and adolescents can become emotionally unsettled.
Researchers to study baby teeth in effort to identify autism risk factors University of Washington researchers are part of a national team that will study the baby teeth of children who have siblings with autism to determine if prenatal exposure to chemicals increases their risk of developing the disorder.
	Virtual reality helps children on autism spectrum improve social skills Although most children with high-functioning autism have above average intellectual capabilities, they often experience social difficulties. Deficits in social communication and difficulty inhibiting thoughts and regulating emotions can lead to social isolation and low self-esteem. However, new research from the Center for BrainHealth at The University of Texas at Dallas shows that a new virtual reality training program is producing positive results.
	Inaccurate reporting of diabetes prevalence in the Pacific—are there global implications? The accuracy of reported high rates of type 2 diabetes in some Pacific Island nations has been questioned, after Australian researchers found deficiencies in the methods used to test for the disease.
	Cause of cortical malformations targeted by researchers Cortical malformations are a major cause of epileptic seizures and are a hallmark feature of many neurodevelopmental disorders. Expanding upon its recently-published model of cortical malformations, a Yale team lead by neuroscientist Angelique Bordey identified a molecular target that is critical in generating many of the cellular abnormalities seen in this condition.
Dysfunctional breathing often wrongly thought to be asthma Many people with breathing difficulties remain undiagnosed or are diagnosed wrongly as having asthma when the problem might actually be dysfunctional breathing (DB). Information and breathing exercises can help these patients. This is the subject of a new doctoral thesis by Carina Hagman, a registered physical therapist at the hospital Falu lasarett and a doctoral student at Uppsala University.
	New app to enhance communication skills in health care Peninsula Communication Skills is a new app which has been designed to enhance the communication skills of health care professionals.
More support needed for Pacific youth to address health, social and educational disparities Persistent health, social and educational disparities exposed in the latest report on Pacific youth in New Zealand, require urgent attention according to researchers.
	Simple test may help address $150 billion problem of post-operative delirium Researchers at VA Portland Health Care System (VAPORHCS), in collaboration with Oregon State University and Oregon Health & Science University, have identified a simple test that takes about 2-3 minutes and can predict which surgical candidates are most at risk of delirium, a common complication following surgery in older patients.
	No, fitness trackers do not make you fat and they don't make losing weight harder The headlines say it all. From "Fitness trackers 'don't help weight loss'" through to claims that fitness trackers can "make users fatter" and that "That Fitness Tracker Might Actually Make Losing Weight Harder".
Why is psychosomatic medicine flourishing in Germany? In the current issue of Psychotherapy and Psychosomatics a group of German investigators headed by Prof. Stefan Zipfel brings data on the status of psychosomatic medicine in Germany.
	Thirdhand smoke lingers in the home long after smokers have quit Even when you quit smoking, residue left behind by cigarette smoke can stick to surfaces, penetrate deep into materials in your home and settle in for a long time to come. A new study led by researchers at San Diego State University finds that even six months after people within a home stop smoking, the home, as well as the nonsmokers living there, still show elevated levels of dangerous carcinogens linked to cigarettes.
	The diet that feeds your brain The Mediterranean diet—rich in vegetables, fish and olive oil and featuring moderate alcohol consumption—has been shown to reduce the risk of heart disease, certain cancers and diabetes.
Vitamin D levels in pregnant women could be linked to some learning disabilities in children Learning disabilities are more common in children who were conceived between January and March – the time of year when there is insufficient sunlight to produce vitamin D – according to a new study led by the University of Glasgow.
	Youthful DNA in old age The DNA of young people is regulated to express the right genes at the right time. With the passing of years, the regulation of the DNA gradually gets disrupted, which is an important cause of ageing. A study of over 3,000 people shows that this is not true for everyone: there are people whose DNA appears youthful despite their advanced years. These are the findings of 34 researchers from six collaborating institutes led by Dr Bas Heijmans from the Leiden University Medical Center (the Netherlands), reported in Genome Biology.
New insights into potent cancer tumour suppressor gene New insight into the function of a gene important in the suppression of cancer is published today. Researchers at the National University of Ireland Galway have shown that the TP53 gene has even greater anti-cancer activity than previously thought.
Link found between pre-eclampsia and diabetes later in life Research led by Keele University and published this week in Diabetologia (the journal of the European Association for the Study of Diabetes) has identified a new link between pre-eclampsia in pregnancy and the development of diabetes in later life.
	Arthritis drug may help with type of hair loss (HealthDay)—For people who suffer from a condition that causes disfiguring hair loss, a drug used for rheumatoid arthritis might regrow their hair, a new, small study suggests.
	Health insurance hikes ease but workers pay a price, survey finds (HealthDay)—Premiums for employer-sponsored health insurance rose modestly in 2016, but more workers must meet higher deductibles before their coverage kicks in, a new nationwide survey shows.
New research delimits the possible causes of celiac disease The amount of gluten could be a more important clue than breast-feeding or the timing of the introduction of gluten for continued research into the causes of celiac disease (gluten intolerance). This is one of the findings from several extensive studies of children with an increased genetic risk of celiac disease conducted by researchers at Lund University in Sweden.
	Drug restores hair growth in patients with alopecia areata Seventy-five percent of patients with moderate to severe alopecia areata—an autoimmune disease that causes patchy, and less frequently, total hair loss—had significant hair regrowth after treatment with ruxolitinib, reported researchers from Columbia University Medical Center (CUMC). By the end of their treatment, average hair regrowth was 92 percent.
	Fear of stigma or sanction keeps many doctors from revealing mental health issues, anonymous survey finds Even as doctors across America encourage their patients to share concerns about depression, anxiety and other concerns, so they can get help from modern treatments, a new study suggests the doctors may be less likely to seek help for those same concerns about themselves.
Is it OK for a doctor to attend a patient's funeral? New research at the University of Adelaide has shed light on how many doctors are attending the funerals of their patients and the reasons behind their choice. The researchers say more needs to be done within the medical profession to openly discuss the issue.
	New method to predict skin stretchiness could help burn victims grow new skin Researchers at Binghamton University, State University of New York have developed a method to measure the limit to which human skin can be stretched, which could help to grow new skin for burn victims.
	Fish oil may help improve mood in veterans Low concentration of fish oil in the blood and lack of physical activity may contribute to the high levels of depressed mood among soldiers returning from combat, according to researchers, including a Texas A&M University professor and his former doctoral student.
Sweet news: Review of literature indicates sucralose no-calorie sweetener is not linked to cancer In a society where obesity is increasingly recognized as a risk factor for disease, low- and no-calorie ingredients are logical choices for those wishing to manage their weight. However, some people have concerns that sucralose, a no-calorie sweetener, may be linked to cancer. A new article published in Nutrition and Cancer: An International Journal may finally put those fears to rest; a comprehensive review of studies testing the safety and carcinogenicity of sucralose has confirmed that the artificial sweetener does not cause cancer, and is safe to ingest.
Researchers take a new step towards non-antibiotic bladder infection therapies A cross-border team of scientists has gained fresh insight into the development of bladder infections, also known as cystitis. These findings are the result of a close collaboration between Belgian researchers from VIB-Vrije Universiteit Brussel (VUB) in Brussels and their American colleagues at the center for Women's Infectious Disease Research (cWIDR) at Washington University in St. Louis. Escherichia coli – the main bacterial cause behind cystitis – turns out to use two complementary types of hair-like structures or pili to adhere to bladder cells, depending on whether the infection is in its early stage or a later phase. This discovery, published in the leading scientific journal Cell Host & Microbe, may be crucial to the development of new non-antibiotic therapies to treat the later stages of infection.
Cesarean section carries increased risk for postpartum venous thromboembolism Women are four times more likely to suffer a VTE after a cesarean-section compared to a vaginal birth, according to a new study in Chest.
	Culex mosquitoes do not transmit Zika virus, study finds A Biosecurity Research Institute study has found important results in the fight against Zika virus: Culex mosquitoes do not appear to transmit Zika virus.
	Ancient remedy becomes novel approach to treating Clostridium difficile infection Modern medicine is taking a new look at an ancient remedy for severe diarrhea as a novel approach to treat a serious gastrointestinal infection.
	One single biopsy not sufficient to guide treatment decisions in prostate cancer While the majority of prostate cancers are slow growing and not fatal, some are aggressive and lethal. Genomic fingerprinting can help predict a tumor's aggressiveness and tailor treatment plans; however, in the majority of cases involving multiple prostate tumors, only the largest tumor is typically fingerprinted – resulting in more aggressive tumors potentially going undetected.
	Melanoma tumors use interferon-gamma mutations to fight immunotherapy Melanoma tumors use genetic mutations in a prominent immune response pathway to resist the immunotherapy ipilimumab, researchers from The University of Texas MD Anderson Cancer Center report in the journal Cell.
Researchers update understanding of damaging liver disease An article published today in the New England Journal of Medicine updates the medical community on a potentially devastating liver disease that afflicts approximately 29,000 Americans. Primary sclerosing cholangitis, or PSC, is a condition that damages the ducts that carry digestive bile from the liver to the small intestine. Many individuals affected by this disease eventually require a liver transplant for continued survival.
Black gains in life expectancy In a Viewpoint published online by JAMA, Victor R. Fuchs, Ph.D., Henry J. Kaiser Professor Emeritus, Stanford University, Stanford, Calif., discusses the narrowing life-expectancy gap between the U.S. black and white populations and points out categories of disease and death that could further narrow the gap.
Suicide risk after psychiatric hospital discharge highest for patients with depression Patients discharged from psychiatric hospitals had higher short-term risks of suicide if they were diagnosed with depression, schizophrenia or bipolar disorder and were not connected to a health system for care, according to an article published online by JAMA Psychiatry.
What do we know about adults who indoor tan in private homes? A small percentage of individuals who indoor tan, a pastime associated with skin cancer, do so in private homes. Why do they do it? A research letter published online by JAMA Dermatology attempts to answer that question.
	Falls a growing and deadly threat for older Americans (HealthDay)—Falls are the leading cause of injury and death among older people in the United States, and this health threat is likely to grow since 10,000 Americans now reach age 65 every day, a new federal report shows.
	Smoking losing its cool with kids, CDC says (HealthDay)—U.S. teens seem to be losing interest in smoking cigarettes and cigars, a new federal report finds.
	Software speeds up analysis of breast cancer risk: study (HealthDay)—Software that quickly analyzes mammograms and patient history to determine breast cancer risk could save time and reduce unnecessary biopsies, according to the developers of the technology.
	CCTA has prognostic value in asymptomatic T2DM patients (HealthDay)—For asymptomatic patients with type 2 diabetes, coronary computed tomographic angiography (CCTA) has prognostic value, with excellent long-term prognoses for those with normal coronary arteries and non-obstructive coronary artery disease (CAD), according to a study published online Sept. 14 in JACC: Cardiovascular Imaging.
	High prevalence of allergic sensitization in pediatric asthma (HealthDay)—Among children with persistent asthma, the prevalence of allergic sensitization is high, according to a study published online Sept. 17 in Allergy.
	Decline in eGFR mainly linear in type 1 diabetes (HealthDay)—For patients with type 1 diabetes, the decline of estimated glomerular filtration rate (eGFR) is mainly linear, according to a study published online Sept. 19 in Diabetes Care.
	Tx failure up for high-flow therapy versus CPAP in preemies (HealthDay)—For preterm infants with early respiratory distress, high-flow therapy used as primary support is associated with a higher rate of treatment failure than continuous positive airway pressure (CPAP), according to a study published in the Sept. 22 issue the New England Journal of Medicine.
	KAF156 active for adults with vivax, falciparum malaria (HealthDay)—For adults with acute Plasmodium vivax or P. falciparum, KAF156 shows antimalarial activity, according to a study published in the Sept. 22 issue of the New England Journal of Medicine.
	Changes in blood microbiota in obese with liver fibrosis (HealthDay)—In obese patients, changes in blood microbiota are associated with liver fibrosis, according to a study published online Sept. 17 in Hepatology.
Identifying barriers to basic science research among academic surgeons In an analysis of challenges that academic surgeons across the country face in pursuing basic science research, surgeon-scientists at Baylor College of Medicine in association with colleagues from institutions around the country identified three main factors that are impeding surgeons' ability to be successful in basic science research: clinical demands, work-life balance and increased administrative duties. Their report appeared this week in the Annals of Surgery.
	Making medical students healthier Can activity monitors, exercise, and monthly wellness seminars help medical students improve fitness, reduce stress, and score higher on tests? And, through those techniques, will those future doctors be more prepared to help their patients become healthier?
	Feel-good research to help children with altered appearance In a society that worships the body beautiful, life can be tough for children whose appearance has been altered by burns, trauma, illness or genetic conditions.
Prostatitis: What is it and what can you do about it? Dear Mayo Clinic: What causes prostatitis, and how is it diagnosed? Is it treatable?
	New global initiative will engage 30 cities by 2030 to close the mental health gap King's College London is joining a major new initiative aiming to reduce the mental health gap by engaging global and community leaders across private, public and philanthropic organisations.
How frequent are mental disorders in cancer patients? In an investigation published in the current issue of Psychotherapy and Psychosomatics a group of German investigators provides the largest survey of mental disorders in cancer. Psychological problems are common in cancer patients. For the purpose of planning psycho-oncological interventions and services tailored to the specific needs of different cancer patient populations, it is necessary to know to what extent psychological problems meet the criteria of mental disorders.
Do women still visit an Ob/Gyn in their post-reproductive years? The proportion of women ages 45-64 who rely solely on an obstetrician/gynecologist for their primary care needs is declining, although about 10-20% of the nearly 45,000 women who took part in a recent study still do. A significant number of the women see only a family physician or internist, or visit both an ob/gyn and a generalist, which raises issues of overlap in care and cost effectiveness, as discussed in an article in Journal of Women's Health.
Study will test ecopipam's effectiveness in treating stuttering A genetically influenced condition, stuttering appears to originate when various aspects of a young child's development interact, and is best addressed with early intervention. No cure for it has been found, but behavioral treatment options are available. Currently, no Food and Drug Administration (FDA)-approved drug treatments are available.
Overcoming barriers to sexual healthcare for bisexual adolescent girls Bisexual teenage girls are likely to miss out on the sexual healthcare information and services they need if healthcare providers present judgmental attitudes and assume patients' heterosexuality. Concerns regarding providers' disclosure of confidential information when speaking to parents and bisexual stigma within families are other important factors that can keep adolescent girls from openly discussing their sexuality in the healthcare setting, according to a new study published in LGBT Health.
Arkansas court rejects challenge to medical marijuana plan The Arkansas Supreme Court on Thursday rejected an attempt to block votes from being counted on an effort to legalize medical marijuana in the state, but two other challenges to the November ballot measures remain pending before the justices.
ACS NSQIP now offers a pediatric surgical risk calculator For many of the most common pediatric operations performed in the U.S., the new American College of Surgeons National Surgical Quality Improvement Program (ACS NSQIP) Pediatric Surgical Risk Calculator provides an individualized estimate of the chance of a young patient experiencing postoperative complications, according to research findings appearing online in the Journal of the American College of Surgeons. The study will be published in a print edition of the Journal later this year.
	Medical tattooing improves perception of scar/graft appearance, quality of life Medical tattooing, also known as dermatography, is routinely used by plastic surgeons for nipple reconstruction after mastectomy. The procedure also can be used to improve color mismatch and the appearance of scars and skin grafts after head and neck surgical procedures, although it is often overlooked.
	Findings to help radiologists ID zika virus infection at imaging (HealthDay)—Congenital brain abnormalities are similar for confirmed and presumed Zika infections, according to a study published in the October issue of Radiology.

Biology news

	Coral fish stress out if separated from 'shoal-mates' Coral fish become stressed and lose weight if they are separated from each other, hampering their chances of survival, an Australian study revealed on Thursday.
	GUIDE-Seq technology might detect double-strand DNA breaks in plants Double-stranded breaks in DNA can be detected with several technologies. Doing so in plants is exceptionally difficult, but GUIDE-Seq shows promise in new studies.
	Invasive species may unexpectedly reduce disease prevalence Humans are remarkably good at moving species around: We unwittingly carry stowaway organisms in our luggage when we fly, in our cars when we take a road trip, and on our bodies when we're simply taking a stroll.
	Oceanic crab found to change its mating habits based on refuge size (Phys.org)—A pair of researchers has found that a type of oceanic crab (Planes minutus) alters its mating habits based on the relative size of its refuge. In their paper published in the journal Biology Letters, Joseph Pfaller with the University of Florida and Michael Gil with the University of California describe their study of the crabs and their mating habits in light of resource constraints.
	Are red imported fire ants all bad? Red imported fire ants have earned a justifiably bad rap across the south and most Texans would be hard put to name a single redeeming quality the ants have.
	Researchers find gene that reduces female mosquitoes Virginia Tech researchers have found a gene that can reduce female mosquitoes over many generations.
	Researchers reveal details about the unique feeding habits of whales Whales are the biggest animals to ever have existed on Earth, and yet some subsist on creatures the size of a paper clip. It's a relatively common factoid, but, in truth, how they do this is only just being uncovered, thanks to new technologies.
	How CITES works, and 5 species to look out for The Convention on International Trade in Endangered Species (CITES) is a treaty to protect wild animals and plants against over-exploitation through commercial trade.
	Sanctuaries across US prepare for influx of lab chimpanzees A Dora the Explorer-themed banner, paper plates full of fruit and a bevy of troll dolls make up the decorations at a special birthday party in Washington state.
More than 7 million bacterial genes in the pig gut An international consortium of researchers from INRA (France), University of Copenhagen and SEGES (Denmark), BGI-Shenzhen (China) and NIFES (Norway) has now established the first catalogue of bacterial genes in the gut of pigs. This achievement is published in the latest issue of Nature Microbiology.
	Island restoration supports conservation of two Pacific seabird species The U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service announced today that two Pacific seabird species, the Scripps's murrelet and Guadalupe murrelet, no longer warrant listing under the Endangered Species Act (ESA), due to the efforts of diverse stakeholders in addressing primary threats to the species. As a result, the two species are no longer at risk of becoming endangered in the foreseeable future and will be removed from the ESA Candidate List.
	Review of studies finds genetically engineered crops are safe Genetically engineered (GE) crops are no different from conventional crops in terms of their risks to human health and the environment, according to a report published in May 2016 by the U.S. National Academies of Sciences, Engineering, and Medicine.
	Rising ocean temperatures threaten baby lobsters If water temperatures in the Gulf of Maine rise a few degrees by end of the century, it could mean trouble for lobsters and the industry they support.
	Malaysia's unique freshwater mussels in danger Researchers in Malaysia revealed that Peninsular Malaysia hosts at least three rare mussel species, one of which (Hyriopsis bialata) is not found anywhere else on the planet. Another species (Ensidens ingallsianus) may have already gone extinct.
	Studying the biology of sharks in the wild Typically, the only activity that concerns beachgoers when it comes to sharks is the sight of a dorsal fin slicing through the water's surface. But, for Kevin Weng, assistant professor of fisheries science at William & Mary's Virginia Institute of Marine Science, what's most interesting are the mundane actions that happen below the surface.
	Salmon trucking success could open miles of historical spawning habitat For the past several years, technicians have been trucking spring Chinook salmon above Foster Dam in Sweet Home to see if they would spawn, and if their offspring could survive the passage over the dam and subsequent ocean migration to eventually return as adults some 3-5 years later.
	Ecologists gather the pieces of a first-principles-derived ecological theory Writing in the pages of BioScience two years ago, SFI External Professor Pablo Marquet, SFI Professor and VP for Science Jennifer Dunne, and a team of ecologists – many of them SFI scientists – made a bold call: It's time, they argued, for a new synthesis of ecological theory based on something they termed "efficient theory."
	Can monkeys have autism? The answer could help us understand what causes the condition When Kyoko Yoshida and his colleagues in Japan noticed one of their research monkeys was behaving strangely, they decided to study it more closely. They realised that some of the behaviour it was displaying – repetition, reduced social behaviours and an impaired ability to change behaviour in response to others' actions – bore similarities to autism spectrum disorder (ASD) in humans. They found more similarities with autistic humans when they studied the monkey's DNA.
Edible crickets can be reared on weeds and cassava plant tops To become a sustainable alternative to meat, reared crickets must eat feeds other than the chicken feed that is most commonly used today. Researchers from the Swedish University of Agricultural Sciences now present a study which shows that there are weeds and agricultural by-products that actually work as single ingredients in feeds for crickets. The study was conducted in Cambodia, where many children suffer from malnutrition and where the need for cheap protein is large.
	New study of CRISPR-Cas9 technology shows potential to improve crop efficiency A team that includes a Virginia Tech plant scientist recently used life sciences technology to edit 14 target sites encompassing eight plant genes at a time, without making unintended changes elsewhere in the genome.
	Trophy hunting of lions can conserve the species One year after the worldwide controversy when an American dentist killed Cecil the Lion in Zimbabwe, the DICE team says hunting works but only when hunting companies are given long-term land management rights.
	Rusty patched bumble bee recommended for endangered list Federal wildlife officials on Thursday made a formal recommendation to list the rusty patched bumble bee as an endangered species because it has disappeared from about 90 percent of its historic range in just the past two decades.
	Cows in Fukushima radiation zone find new purpose: science In an abandoned Japanese village, cows grazing in lush green plains begin to gather when they hear the familiar rumble of the ranch owner's mini-pickup. This isn't feeding time, though.
	It's not all about tigers and criminals – illegal wildlife trade responses need nuance Responses to illegal wildlife trade need to be more nuanced and not only focused on high-profile species if we are to truly tackle the problem, say researchers.
	How a native plant ended up on reality TV, and why it's at risk In one of television's more bizarre recent offerings, the History Channel show "Appalachian Outlaws" follows a band of West Virginians as they hunt rugged forests for American ginseng, a medicinal root worth hundreds of dollars per pound. The show has high stakes: These men poach on federal lands, risking fines and jail time, and guard private patches with shotguns and homemade land mines. Most of them are out of work, out of savings and worried about paying for food and heat. Ginseng gives them a way to get by.
Animal rescue team captures wayward manatee off Cape Cod An animal rescue team has captured a manatee that repeatedly had been spotted off Cape Cod, far from its usual Florida haunts.

---

This email is a free service of Science X Network
You received this email because you subscribed to our list.
If you no longer want to receive this email use the link below to unsubscribe.
https://sciencex.com/profile/nwletter/
You are subscribed as jmabs1@gmail.com