Science X Newsletter Tuesday, Sep 20

Dear Reader ,

Here is your customized Science X Newsletter for September 20, 2016:

Spotlight Stories Headlines

Astronomers discover five new Neptune trojans

Brain's hippocampus helps fill in the blanks of language

Research team may have observed building blocks of memories in the brain

Newly discovered neural connections may be linked to emotional decision-making

US moves to regulate self-driving cars

Vasectomy may not raise prostate cancer risk after all

How the brain deals with limited sensory input

Building a wireless micromachine

Trial offers hope of a treatment for spinal muscular atrophy

New approach to dynamically tune how a catalyst operates

Scientists uncover a clever ranking strategy bacteria use to fight off viruses

Melting of frozen electrons visualized

First flight of a solar-powered, piloted helicopter

New study examines where and how climate change is altering species

First atomic observation of synthetic fuel production

Astronomy & Space news

	Astronomers discover five new Neptune trojans (Phys.org)—An international team of astronomers led by Hsing-Wen Lin of the National Central University in Taiwan has detected five new so-called "Neptune trojans" – minor bodies sharing the same orbit as the planet Neptune. The discovery was made by the Pan-STARRS 1 (PS1) survey and is described in a paper published Sept. 15 on arXiv.org.
	Stellar activity can mimic misaligned exoplanets The occultation of stellar active regions during the planetary transit can lead to inaccurate estimates of the characteristics of these exoplanets, especially the spin-orbit tilt angle. This was the conclusion of simulations made by a team of astronomers from the Instituto de Astrofísica e Ciências do Espaço (IA) in Portugal, and Institute of Astrophysics of Georg-August University of Göttingen, in Germany.
	Cassini mage: Where the small moon rules Pan may be small as satellites go, but like many of Saturn's ring moons, it has a has a very visible effect on the rings.
	Titan's flooded canyons The aptly named Titan, Saturn's largest moon, is remarkably Earth-like. Its diameter is only about 40% that of our planet, but Titan's nitrogen-rich, dense atmosphere and the geological activity at the moon's surface make comparisons between the two bodies inevitable.
	Does our galaxy have a habitable zone? I've got to say, you are one of the luckiest people I've ever met.
	IRIS Space Observatory mission extended Delivering the most detailed images of the sun's lower atmosphere ever recorded from space, the Interface Region Imaging Spectrograph (IRIS), built and operated by Lockheed Martin for NASA, has received more time to deliver groundbreaking space science. A recent $19.4 million contract extends Lockheed Martin's support for the orbiting observatory through September 2018, with a further extension possible through September 2019.
	Introducing the Daily Minor Planet: Delivering the latest asteroid news Have you ever wondered what piece of cosmic debris is whizzing past the Earth right now? Do you crave up-to-the-minute information about asteroids large and small? Well you're in luck because today you can subscribe to a new service: the Daily Minor Planet.

Technology news

	US moves to regulate self-driving cars The United States unveiled a sweeping new regulatory framework for the unexpectedly rapid rise of self-driving automobile technology, just days after Uber broke ground with its first driverless taxis.
	First flight of a solar-powered, piloted helicopter A University of Maryland student team has once again achieved new aviation heights, this time by successfully lifting a helicopter and passenger through the sole use of solar power.
	Computer scientist shows how to crack Apple iPhone 5c passcode for less than $100 (Tech Xplore)—University of Cambridge computer scientist Sergei Skorobogatov has figured out a way to gain access to an Apple iPhone 5c without having its password. He has written a paper outlining the technique, which he uploaded to the arXiv preprint server and has posted a video demonstrating how it works on YouTube.
	Feds preview rules of the road for self-driving cars Obama administration officials are previewing long-awaited guidance that attempts to bring self-driving cars to the nation's roadways safely—without creating so many roadblocks that the technology can't make it to market quickly.
	Wireless signals can detect your feelings with new device What if your computer or smartphone could tell if you're happy or sad?
	Reconfigurable chaos-based microchips offer possible solution to Moore's law Researchers at North Carolina State University have developed new, nonlinear, chaos-based integrated circuits that enable computer chips to perform multiple functions with fewer transistors. These integrated circuits can be manufactured with "off the shelf" fabrication processes and could lead to novel computer architectures that do more with less circuitry and fewer transistors.
	Google smartphone expected at Oct. 4 event Google have sent out invitations to an October 4 event, hinting that the Internet titan will show off a new smartphone powered by its Android mobile software.
	GoPro captures action from the sky with Karma drone GoPro on Monday took to the sky with a Karma drone with its first-person-action mini-cameras as part of a move to become a platform for modern-day storytelling.
	Congress fights for consumers' right to leave bad reviews Congress is defending your right to Yelp.
	Building a better electronic trumpet David Baylies' small Boston University bedroom is crowded with musical instruments: an electric guitar, an electric bass, amplifiers, an electric keyboard, and his first love, an old, well-worn trumpet. But the instrument most occupying his attention this summer doesn't even look like one.
	First-ever simultaneous wavelength conversion technology with no wavelength restriction Fujitsu Laboratories and the Fraunhofer Heinrich Hertz Institute HHI today announced the development of a new method to simultaneously convert the wavelengths of wavelength-division-multiplexed signals necessary for optical communication relay nodes in future wavelength-division-multiplexed optical networks, and have successfully tested the method using high-bandwidth signal transmission in the range of 1 Tbps.
Incumbent operators and their political allies responsible for high mobile bills In the United States and in many other countries across the world, consumers are paying too much for their mobile phone bills because of government influencing, research by a Purdue University professor indicates.
	Researchers testing cars and roads that talk to each other Smart vehicle technology is being used on the streets of Edmonton, making it the first Canadian city to see cars "communicating" with each other and with roadside infrastructure in an effort to improve road safety.
	A new 3-D viewer for improved digital geoscience mapping Over the years, techniques and equipment for digital mapping have revolutionized the way geoscience field studies are performed.
	Does the UK need or even want a 'Great British Firewall'? You've probably heard of the Great Firewall of China, the virtual fortification that allows the Chinese government to monitor and restrict internet traffic to and from the world's most populous nation. Well, the cyber-security chief of the UK Government Communication Headquarters (GCHQ) has suggested early plans for what sounds rather like a "Great British Firewall". Privacy groups immediately sounded the alarm that it might pose a risk to freedom of speech, and offer the potential for Britain's secret services to get up to no good. So what exactly is GCHQ proposing and should we be worried?
	Nine innovative approaches that utilities are using to plan for increased rooftop solar When an individual utility customer decides to add rooftop solar to their home or business, the utility needs to deliver less power to that customer from other sources. A small number of solar adopters may not have much of an impact, but rapid growth in rooftop solar in some parts of the country has the potential to significantly impact the need for generating resources and transmission and distribution (T&D) infrastructure.
	Monsanto, Bayer officials defend proposed $66 billion merger Top officials for Monsanto and Bayer defended their proposed $66 billion merger before skeptical senators on Tuesday, insisting that the deal would lead to greater investments in technology that could help American farmers.
	Comcast plans to launch wireless service next year Comcast plans to launch a cellphone service roughly in the middle of next year, although it would be limited to areas of the country where it's a cable provider.
	Amsterdam to pilot world's first 'self-drive' boats Amsterdam's iconic canals may soon see the world's first driverless boats, doing everything from moving people and goods to providing "pop-up" bridges and cleaning up thousands of dumped bicycles, the project's scientists said.
	US music business in rare growth as streaming doubles The US music industry Tuesday posted its strongest growth in more than a decade in the first six months as streaming subscriptions doubled, but weakness reigned in other formats.
	Sierra update arrives on Macs: Four things to look for The latest software update for Mac computers, MacOS Sierra, brings iPhone services to Apple laptops and desktops and further breaks down walls between devices. It also borrows an iPad feature for watching video while you work and offers ways to automatically free up storage space.
	New Hikari supercomputer starts solar HVDC The roar can be deafening. Cooling fans and power supplies whoosh and whine from rows and rows of supercomputers at the main data center of the Texas Advanced Computing Center in Austin. The power bill at TACC can reach over a million dollars a year to keep the machines humming. But there's a stranger in town that might change how data centers power their systems.
Samsung says replacements available for recalled Note 7 Samsung says new Galaxy Note 7 smartphones will be available in U.S. stores starting Wednesday to replace about 1 million devices that are being recalled because of a problem with batteries catching fire.
	Spotify-Tinder hookup adds music to romance Spotify and Tinder said Tuesday they are hooking up to give people a little extra help in the dating game, by adding music preferences to the matchmaking application.
	Innovation, safety sought in self-driving car guidelines Saying they were doing something no other government has done, Obama administration officials rolled out a plan Tuesday they say will enable automakers to get self-driving cars onto the road without compromising safety.
	Senate panel to scrutinize proposed Bayer-Monsanto merger The Senate is taking a closer look at a proposed $66 billion merger of American seed and weed-killer company Monsanto and German medicine and farm chemical maker Bayer.
Video: These smart threads could save lives Engineers are joining forces with designers, scientists and doctors at Drexel University to produce new biomedical textiles, and the resulting smart clothes are not only fashionably functional, but could also be life savers.
	Project aims to prevent smartphone-related traffic accidents Toyota Motor, Komeda Co., and KDDI Corporation will begin an initiative on September 20, 2016 by utilizing a smartphone application called Driving Barista. The application is aimed at reducing the number of traffic accidents in Aichi Prefecture which are caused by drivers using their smartphones while driving. This is the first traffic safety initiative in Japan involving a smartphone application, which is to be carried out and jointly promoted by an automobile company, a communication company, and a food and beverage company.
	How the TV show "Mr. Robot" won the prize for hacker realism Finally, the computer hackers of the world have a TV show they can call their own.

Medicine & Health news

	Brain's hippocampus helps fill in the blanks of language A new study shows that when you finish your spouse's sentences or answer a fill-in-the-blank question, you're engaging the brain's relay station for memories, an area that until now was largely neglected by scientists studying language.
	Research team may have observed building blocks of memories in the brain (Medical Xpress)—A team of researchers working at Aix-Marseille University in France has observed what they believe are the building blocks of memories in a mouse brain. In their paper published in the journal Science, the researchers describe how they caused certain neurons to become illuminated when they fired, allowing them to watch in real time as memories were made and then later as they were replayed while the mouse was sitting idle.
	Newly discovered neural connections may be linked to emotional decision-making MIT neuroscientists have discovered connections deep within the brain that appear to form a communication pathway between areas that control emotion, decision-making, and movement. The researchers suspect that these connections, which they call striosome-dendron bouquets, may be involved in controlling how the brain makes decisions that are influenced by emotion or anxiety.
	Vasectomy may not raise prostate cancer risk after all (HealthDay)—A large, new study challenges previous research that suggested vasectomies might increase the risk of prostate cancer or dying from it.
	How the brain deals with limited sensory input Suppose you woke up in your bedroom with the lights off and wanted to get out. While heading toward the door with your arms out, you would predict the distance to the door based on your memory of your bedroom and the steps you have already made. If you touch a wall or furniture, you would refine the prediction. This is an example of how important it is to supplement limited sensory input with your own actions to grasp the situation. How the brain comprehends such a complex cognitive function is an important topic of neuroscience.
	Trial offers hope of a treatment for spinal muscular atrophy A research team led by the University of Oxford has found a promising treatment for degenerative disease spinal muscular atrophy (SMA), a leading genetic cause of child death.
	Neurons feel the force—physical interactions control brain development Researchers have identified a new mechanism controlling brain development: that neurons not only 'smell' chemicals in their environment, but also 'feel' their way through the developing brain.
Scientists spot genes that make some sarcomas less aggressive Scientists at Rice and Duke universities have identified a set of genes they say make sarcoma cells less aggressive. They hope to turn the discovery into new therapeutic approaches to fight metastatic cancers.
	Researchers find a potential signature of cognitive function impairment in people living with HIV UH researchers have identified a unique epigenetic footprint in specific types of immune cells from blood that can identify individuals with HIV that have a range of impairments in cognitive function.
	Alcohol, tobacco and time spent outdoors linked to brain connections Exciting early results from analysing the brain imaging data, alongside thousands of measures of lifestyle, physical fitness, cognitive health and physical measures such as body-mass-index (BMI) and bone density have been published in Nature Neuroscience.
	A tough day could erase the perks of choosing 'good' fat sources The type of fat you eat matters, but a new study suggests that the benefits of good fats vanish when stress enters the picture.
	Breakthrough genomics technique can be used to map epigenetic marks across the genome using fewer cells A Ludwig Cancer Research study published online September 14th in Nature reports a novel technique to map specific chemical (or "epigenetic") modifications made to the protein packaging of DNA using a small population of cells. Such epigenetic marks play a central role in the regulation of the genome's expression. Led jointly by Ludwig San Diego's Bing Ren and Arne Klungland of the University of Oslo, the authors describe their application of this method to unravel a key mystery of the earliest stage of development. The new technique, named μChIP-seq, is also likely to be of notable relevance to cancer research.
	Inherited parental methylation shifts over time, may have functional effects in the brain and other tissues Parental imprinting—a form of gene control passed down from parents to offspring—is far more dynamic than previously thought and may contribute to changes in the brain and other tissues over time. This finding by Whitehead Institute scientists challenges current understandings of gene regulation via DNA methylation, from development through adulthood.
	New therapeutic target for Crohn's disease Research from the Sanford Burnham Prebys Medical Discovery Institute (SBP) identifies a promising new target for future drugs to treat inflammatory bowel disease (IBD). The study, published today in Cell Reports, also indicates that another protein, protein kinase C (PKC) λ/ι, may serve as a biomarker of IBD severity.
	How brain separates relevant and irrelevant information Imagine yourself sitting in a noisy café trying to read. To focus on the book at hand, you need to ignore the surrounding chatter and clattering of cups, with your brain filtering out the irrelevant stimuli coming through your ears and "gating" in the relevant ones in your vision—words on a page.
	Do these genes make me lonely? Study finds loneliness is a heritable trait Loneliness is linked to poor physical and mental health, and is an even more accurate predictor of early death than obesity. To better understand who is at risk, researchers at University of California San Diego School of Medicine conducted the first genome-wide association study for loneliness—as a life-long trait, not a temporary state. They discovered that risk for feeling lonely is partially due to genetics, but environment plays a bigger role. The study of more than 10,000 people, published September 15 by Neuropsychopharmacology, also found that genetic risk for loneliness is associated with neuroticism and depressive symptoms.
	Scientists discover distant DNA working together to affect disease risk A person's DNA sequence can provide a lot of information about how genes are turned on and off, but new research out of Case Western Reserve University School of Medicine suggests the 3-D structure DNA forms as it crams into cells may provide an additional layer of gene control. As long strands of DNA twist and fold, regions far away from each other suddenly find themselves in close proximity. The revolutionary study suggests interactions between distant regions may affect how genes are expressed in certain diseases.
	H1N1 'swine flu' vaccine unlikely to raise birth defect risk (HealthDay)—Swedish researchers report that the vaccine against the H1N1 "swine flu" strain of influenza doesn't seem to have a link to birth defects.
	Canada's First Nations people face greater diabetes risk (HealthDay)—Diabetes is more widespread among descendants of people who lived in Canada before Europeans arrived than among the general population, a new study shows.
	Sleep troubles, heart troubles? (HealthDay)—Sleep disorders—including too little or too much sleep—may contribute to heart disease risk factors, the American Heart Association said in its first statement on the risks of sleep problems.
	IL-32 has inflammatory properties in human obesity (HealthDay)—Interleukin (IL)-32 has inflammatory and remodeling properties in human obesity, according to a study published online Sept. 14 in Diabetes.
	Average premiums for health care coverage stable in 2016 (HealthDay)—The average annual premiums for single and family coverage remained stable in 2016, according to a study published online Sept. 14 in Health Affairs.
	Readmit predictors for congenital heart disease are lesion specific (HealthDay)—For adults with congenital heart disease, readmission is more likely among those with a primary diagnosis of congestive heart failure, and predictors of readmission are lesion specific, according to a study published online Sept. 13 in Circulation: Cardiovascular Quality and Outcomes.
	Most patients prefer oral dual therapy in chronic hepatitis C (HealthDay)—For patients with chronic hepatitis C (CHC), most prefer oral therapy with sofosbuvir (SOF) and ribavirin (RBV) versus triple therapy involving pegylated interferon (PegIFN), according to a study published online Sept. 14 in the Journal of Gastroenterology and Hepatology.
	Adding rituximab to chemo ups event-free survival in ALL (HealthDay)—For young adults with acute lymphoblastic leukemia (ALL), adding rituximab to chemotherapy is associated with increased event-free survival, according to a study published in the Sept. 15 issue of the New England Journal of Medicine.
Researchers study neurological effects of direct eye contact Eye contact is a powerful social signal. Another person's direct gaze not only increases physiological arousal, but it has, in fact, several different types of effects on cognition and behaviour. Research has shown that seeing another person's direct gaze increases peoples' awareness of themselves, improves memory for contextually presented information, increases the likelihood of behaving in a pro-social manner, and makes people evaluate the gazer more positively. But why does a direct gaze have such diverse effects?
	How the brain controls appetite Prof. Eun-Kyoung Kim's research team in the Department of Brain and Cognitive Sciences has uncovered the mechanisms behind the enzyme that controls our appetite in response to low glucose availability in the brain.
	Helping parents of kids with asthma to quit smoking Adult smoking rates in the United States have declined substantially in the past 50 years, but 42 million American adults still smoke, and more than 40 percent of children are exposed to secondhand smoke. Secondhand smoke exposure (SHSe)—exposure to the smoke emitted from the end of a burning cigarette as well as the smoke exhaled by the smoker—has been linked to adverse health effects on children's respiratory health, with voluminous data showing that it increases the risk for asthma and exacerbates existing asthma. According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, 6.3 million children in the US—or 8.6 percent of children under 18—suffer from asthma.
Researchers develop computer simulation of body's heat response For the first time, scientists at the M.M. Shemyakin and Yu. A. Ovchinnikov Institute of Bioorganic Chemistry of the Russian Academy of Sciences have successfully used computer-generated simulations to study the TRPV1-receptor temperature activation phenomenon for higher organisms. The results of the experiment were published in Scientific Reports.
	Sleep disorders may influence heart disease risk factors Sleep problems including sleeping too little or too long, may be linked to a variety of factors that may raise the risk for cardiovascular diseases, according to a new American Heart Association scientific statement published in the American Heart Association journal Circulation.
	Health benefits of evening classes revealed Those with a taste for adult education classes have long known it, but now Oxford University scientists have confirmed that taking part in the weekly sessions can boost wellbeing – regardless of the subject studied.
	COPD epidemic could overwhelm healthcare systems within two decades, study says Health authorities should brace themselves for an epidemic of chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD) over the next two decades, despite a decline in smoking rates, according to a new study from the University of British Columbia.
	Studies may have overestimated effect that smoking bans play in reducing hospitalizations Previous studies of tobacco policies aimed at reducing hospitalizations may have overestimated the benefits of bans on public smoking and underestimated the benefits of cigarette taxes, according to new research by experts at Rice University, Baylor College of Medicine, Yale University, the Agency for Healthcare Research and Quality and Brigham and Women's Hospital.
	Nursing home residents who get palliative care consults use hospitals less Many people, when they hear "palliative care," may think of hospice. But over the last 15 years, another practice has emerged for people who aren't ready for that ultimate step: palliative care consults. Early research has suggested that palliative care specialists help patients in hospital or outpatient settings get better control of pain and other symptoms while opting for less intensive care. Now the first study of the effect of palliative care consults in nursing homes finds that the practice is associated with less hospitalization and intensive treatment.
	A sixth sense? How we can tell that eyes are watching us We've all had that feeling that somebody is watching us – even if we're not looking directly at their eyes. Sometimes we even experience a feeling of being watched by someone completely outside our field of vision. But how can we explain this phenomenon without resorting to pseudoscientific explanations like extrasensory perception (or a "sixth sense")?
	'No pain, no gain' fails to motivate exercisers Fitness instructors should abandon the 'no pain, no gain' mantra and embrace a more motivational style to keep participants coming to classes, research suggests.
	Human 'junk' gene sequences can promote translation One of the biggest surprises of the past decade of genomic studies was the discovery that, contrary to previous belief, the majority of the genome is not used to produce proteins. Initially, many scientists thought that these long non-coding RNAs were non-functional "noise," but in recent studies, a growing fraction of these lncRNAs have been found to have regulatory functions.
Sexual violence in war has lasting effect Survivors of sexual violence in war zones suffer long lasting consequences, such as physical injury, mental trauma and social stigma, research suggests.
	The time for spraying is over in fight against Zika, professor says Biologist Matthew DeGennaro conducts research on mosquito behavior with FIU's Biomolecular Sciences Institute. He hopes to uncover information that will someday lead to better repellants. He holds the distinction of being the first scientist to ever create a genetically modified mosquito. Though his mutant mosquitoes are lifelong residents of his lab, he believes genetically modified mosquitoes also have a place in reducing mosquito populations in South Florida. As the number of confirmed Zika virus cases is on the rise in Miami Beach, he says the time has come to stop spraying.
Why don't antidepressants work in some patients? Mouse study shows it may be down to your environment SSRI antidepressants (Selective Serotonin Reuptake Inhibitors, the best known being Prozactm) are amongst the most commonly taken medicines. However, there seems to be no way of knowing in advance whether or not SSRIs will work effectively. Now a group of European researchers has developed a new theory of SSRI action, and tested it in stressed mice. The results, which are presented at the ECNP conference in Vienna, shows why the circumstances we find ourselves in may influence whether an antidepressant works or not.
High status job means you are less likely to respond to treatment for depression An international study has found that having a high status job means that you are less likely to respond to standard treatment with medications for depression. These results, which may have implications for clinicians and their patients, employers and public policy, are presented at the ECNP Congress in Vienna.
	Research shows innovative heart attack test could reduce pressure on emergency departments A novel test developed by Central Manchester University Hospitals NHS Foundation Trust (CMFT) could allow 40 per cent of patients arriving at emergency departments with a suspected heart attack to be immediately reassured and safely discharged.
Youth health needs specialised training Specialised training in youth health for clinicians who work mainly with young people may result in better health outcomes for students, according to research from the University of Auckland.
	Obamacare tied to rise in mammograms (HealthDay)—The number of Medicare patients getting mammograms increased slightly, but significantly, in the first three years of U.S. health-care reform, according to a new study.
	Close bond between kids, parents has long-term health benefits (HealthDay)—A strong and loving bond with parents may help protect kids' health for decades, a new study suggests.
	Researchers link improved muscle health to better outcomes for people with diabetes Loss of physical strength due to muscle deterioration is a complication for people living with Type 1 diabetes that's often overlooked. New research from McMaster University shows it shouldn't be.
	Continuous electrical brain stimulation helps patients with epilepsy When surgery and medication don't help people with epilepsy, electrical stimulation of the brain has been a treatment of last resort. Unfortunately, typical approaches, such as vagal nerve stimulation or responsive nerve stimulation, rarely stop seizures altogether. But a new Mayo Clinic study in JAMA Neurology shows that seizures were suppressed in patients treated with continuous electrical stimulation.
	Team finds better, cost-effective depression treatment for teens Depression is one of the most common mental health issues a teenager can face. According to the National Institute of Mental Health, an estimated 2.8 million adolescents ages 12 to 17 in the U.S. had at least one major depressive episode in 2014, or 11.4% of adolescents that age.
	Scientists identify concussion treatment for persistent cases in children Concussions can create a host of symptoms—headache, dizziness, moodiness, upset stomach and other issues. In most cases, those symptoms eventually dissipate, but about 15% of young people who get concussions struggle with persistent symptoms despite seeing doctors and receiving medical care. The ongoing symptoms interfere with school, social life and physical activity.
	UN sets its sights on superbugs World leaders on Wednesday will for the first time tackle the growing scourge of superbacteria, which are resistant to antibiotics and are making illnesses from tuberculosis to sexually transmitted diseases increasingly difficult to treat.
	Just how much sugar do Americans consume? It's complicated Sugar has become the nutritional villain du jour, but just how bad is our addiction? The answer is tricky.
	Europe's teens smoking, drinking less but drugs still high: study Europe's schoolchildren are drinking and smoking less than their predecessors, but illicit drug use remains at "high levels", a new study published Tuesday shows.
New evidence that testosterone may explain sex difference in knee injury rates In studies on rats, Johns Hopkins Medicine scientists report new evidence that the predominance of the hormone testosterone in males may explain why women are up to 10 times more likely than men to injure the anterior cruciate ligament (ACL) in their knees.
	Genetic 'switch' identified as potential target for Alzheimer's disease A team at the MRC Clinical Sciences Centre (CSC), based at Imperial College London, has found an important part of the machinery that switches on a gene known to protect against Alzheimer's Disease.
	Two gene therapy vectors partially correct lung disease in a pig model of cystic fibrosis Two new studies from the University of Iowa suggest that gene therapy may be a viable approach for treating or preventing lung disease caused by cystic fibrosis (CF).
Gene discovery in severe epilepsy may offer clues to unique personalized therapies An international team of researchers who discovered a new gene disorder that causes severe childhood epilepsy leveraged that finding to reduce seizures in two children. The collaborators' case report reflects the potential of precision medicine—applying basic science knowledge to individualize treatment to a patient's unique genetic profile.
	New explanation offered for symptoms of fragile X syndrome Until recently, scientists thought they understood one of the underlying causes of fragile X syndrome, the most common inherited cause of intellectual disability in the United States. The syndrome, which is associated with autism, was believed to be linked primarily to overactivity in a molecular pathway in the brain.
	Feeding babies egg and peanut may prevent food allergy Feeding babies egg and peanut may reduce their risk of developing an allergy to the foods, finds a new study.
	Chemical exposure linked to lower vitamin D levels Exposure to bisphenol A (BPA) and other endocrine-disrupting chemicals (EDCs) may reduce levels of vitamin D in the bloodstream, according to a new study published in the Endocrine Society's Journal of Clinical Endocrinology & Metabolism.
Gut bacteria differ between obese and lean youth Children and teenagers who are obese have different microorganisms living in the digestive tract than their lean counterparts, according to a new study published in the Endocrine Society's Journal of Clinical Endocrinology & Metabolism.
	Activity trackers are ineffective at sustaining weight loss, study finds Wearable devices that monitor physical activity are not reliable tools for weight loss, says a new study from the University of Pittsburgh School of Education's Department of Health and Physical Activity. The study specifically investigated whether regular use of commercially available activity trackers is effective for producing and sustaining weight loss.
Calls for greater transparency in the release of clinical trial data Researchers have called for greater transparency in the public release of clinical trial data after a study revealed significant under-reporting of side effects in medical treatments.
Team identifies fungus in humans for first time as key factor in Crohn's disease A Case Western Reserve University School of Medicine-led team of international researchers has for the first time identified a fungus as a key factor in the development of Crohn's disease. The researchers also linked a new bacterium to the previous bacteria associated with Crohn's. The groundbreaking findings, published on September 20th in mBio, could lead to potential new treatments and ultimately, cures for the debilitating inflammatory bowel disease, which causes severe abdominal pain, diarrhea, weight loss, and fatigue.
At bat against rare blood cancers At 38-years-old, Aaron Feldman was in the best shape of his life. He played first base and pitched in two competitive baseball leagues and hit the gym daily. He attributed the pain in his chest to soreness from grueling workouts. That is, until he couldn't breathe.
	Racial gaps persist in how breast cancer survivors function An analysis of the quality of life of several thousand breast cancer survivors in North Carolina found differences in how black and white women functioned and felt physically and spiritually during treatment and two years after diagnosis.
Study demonstrates benefits of long-acting reversible contraception compared to short-acting reversible contraception New research provides strong scientific evidence that long-acting reversible contraception (LARC) benefits a wider population of potential users than previously thought. Women who tried long-acting methods (intrauterine devices and subdermal implants), despite their general preference for oral contraceptives or injections, found LARC highly satisfying. Moreover, the study showed that the decision to try a long-acting contraceptive prevented unintended pregnancy far better than using a short-acting method. These two discoveries were only achieved because of improved scientific approaches. This major study is published in the American Journal of Obstetrics and Gynecology.
	Rising concern over drug-resistant germs prompts UN response World leaders are pushing to end the overuse of antibiotics and to encourage the development of new medicines, driven by concern that drug-resistant germs could lead to millions of deaths and undermine the global economy.
	Smoking leaves lasting marks on DNA, study finds (HealthDay)—Smoking cigarettes can leave a lasting imprint on human DNA, altering more than 7,000 genes in ways that may contribute to the development of smoking-related diseases, a new study says.
	More cancer patients gaining from immune-based treatments (HealthDay)—A leading cancer group says more Americans are benefiting from immunotherapy—a relatively new treatment approach that helps the immune system target and destroy cancer cells.
	More must be done to fight 'superbugs': U.S. gov't report (HealthDay)—Antibiotic-resistant "superbugs" remain a major public health threat, and only a multipronged attack can address the problem, a new U.S. government report warns.
	Annual checkups are becoming wellness visits (HealthDay)—Annual medical checkups are changing so that they'll be more beneficial for patients, according to a family medicine physician.
	BNPratio predicts mortality in degenerative mitral regurgitation (HealthDay)—The ratio of B-type natriuretic peptide (BNP) to upper limit of normal for age, sex, and assay (BNPratio) predicts long-term mortality for patients with mitral regurgitation (MR) who undergo medical management, according to a study published in the Sept. 20 issue of the Journal of the American College of Cardiology.
	Drop in use of digital rectal examination, PSA testing (HealthDay)—Following U.S. Preventive Services Task Force (USPSTF) recommendations against routine prostate-specific antigen (PSA) screening, there has been a decrease in utilization of digital rectal examination and PSA testing, according to a study published in the October issue of The Journal of Urology.
	Gemigliptin, metformin combo beats monotherapy in T2DM (HealthDay)—Gemigliptin combined with metformin is superior to monotherapy with either drug for patients with type 2 diabetes mellitus (T2DM), according to a study published online Sept. 13 in Diabetes, Obesity and Metabolism.
	Misoprostol doesn't cut risk of postpartum hemorrhage (HealthDay)—For women in the third stage of labor, misoprostol administered with routine oxytocin does not reduce the rate of postpartum hemorrhage, according to a study published online Sept. 5 in Obstetrics & Gynecology.
	Diabetes ups risk of amputation in critical limb ischemia (HealthDay)—For patients with critical limb ischemia (CLI), those with diabetes mellitus (DM) are at increased risk of major amputation, according to a study published online Sept. 9 in Diabetes Care.
	Art therapy, clown visits cut children's preoperative anxiety (HealthDay)—An intervention based on art therapy and clown visits can reduce children's anxiety at preoperative separation from parents, according to a study published online Sept. 14 in the Journal of Clinical Nursing.
	Hospitals increasingly employing doctors, effects on care uncertain (HealthDay)—Hospitals are increasingly switching to an employment relationship with physicians, but switching has had no impact on primary composite quality metrics, according to a study published online Sept. 20 in the Annals of Internal Medicine.
	Men with anxiety are more likely to die of cancer, study says Men over 40 who are plagued with the omnipresent of generalized anxiety disorder are more than twice as likely to die of cancer than are men who do not have the mental affliction, new research finds. But for women who suffer from severe anxiety, the research found no increased risk of cancer death.
FDA wants an app to match opioid overdose victims with rescue drug Hoping to reduce the death toll in the nation's epidemic of opioid drug use, the Food and Drug Administration is calling for the development of a cellphone app that could quickly bring lifesaving medication to the rescue of a person in the throes of a potentially deadly overdose.
Key steps can help patients recover from a stay in the ICU Your 80-something-year-old dad has just been admitted to the hospital's intensive care unit after a stroke or a heart attack. Now, he's surrounded by blinking monitors, with tubes in his arms and alarms going off around him.
	Examining mitochondrial DNA may help identify unknown ancestry that influences breast cancer risk Genetic testing of mitochondrial DNA could reveal otherwise unknown ancestry that can influence a person's risk for certain types of breast cancer, a new study finds.
	Can nicotine protect the aging brain? Everyone knows that tobacco products are bad for your health, and even the new e-cigarettes may have harmful toxins. However, according to research at Texas A&M, it turns out the nicotine itself—when given independently from tobacco—could help protect the brain as it ages, and even ward off Parkinson's or Alzheimer's disease.
	Miami's Wynwood cleared of Zika; focus shifts to Miami Beach With health authorities declaring a win against Zika in Miami's Wynwood arts district, their emphasis shifts to the remaining transmission zone on nearby Miami Beach, where residents have objected to the aerial pesticide spraying crediting with halting infections.
	Fitness is important part of recovery in adolescent substance abuse program Julia Sparks was the first person in the University of Kentucky's Adolescent Health and Recovery Treatment and Training (AHARTT) clinic to complete one of her smart goals, graduating from high school. Not only has she accomplished that goal, she's begun working toward accomplishing a new one, getting her degree in hospitality management from Sullivan University.
	Dementia healthcare must adapt to tackle global dementia crisis A new report from Alzheimer's Disease International, authored by researchers at King's College London and the London School of Economics and Political Science (LSE), reveals that most people with dementia have yet to receive a diagnosis, let alone comprehensive and continuing healthcare.
	Research study to assess neurocognitive mechanisms with problem drinking It's a problem of huge proportions affecting millions in the United States and worldwide. According to the National Institute on Alcohol Abuse and Alcoholism, alcohol use disorder (AUD) is defined as problem drinking that becomes severe. In the United States alone, it affects more than 17 million adults 18 and older according to studies released in 2012.
New report examines how Medicare Shared Savings Program can affect radiology practices A new study by the Harvey L. Neiman Health Policy Institute examines how the incentives in an alternative payment model (APM) - the Accountable Care Organization Shared Savings Program (ACO SSP) - might influence cost, quality, utilization and technological investment for radiology practices. The paper, published in collaboration with industrial engineers from Virginia Tech, is available online in the journal Health Care Management Science.
Can traditional chinese medicine offer treatments for dementia and Alzheimer's disease? A new study of classical Chinese medical texts identifies references to age-related memory impairment similar to modern-day Alzheimer's disease, and to several plant-based ingredients used centuries ago—and still in use today—to treat memory impairment. Experimental studies of five of these traditional Chinese medicines suggest that they have biological activity relevant to Alzheimer's disease, according to an article in The Journal of Alternative and Complementary Medicine.
Larger organ transplant centers produce improved outcomes That was a question posed by a group of investigators, including Vanderbilt University Medical Center's Ashish Shah, M.D., in a novel study that used a computerized algorithm to highlight the value of high-volume transplant centers with corresponding improved outcomes.

Biology news

	Scientists uncover a clever ranking strategy bacteria use to fight off viruses Like humans, bacteria come under attack from viruses and rely on an immune system to defend themselves. A bacterial immune system known as CRISPR helps microbes "remember" the viruses they encounter and more easily fend them off in the future. Since researchers first discovered CRISPR in the mid-2000s, they have noticed something peculiar: It records confrontations with viruses sequentially, placing the most recent attack first in a series of genetically encoded memories.
	Quality, not quantity, of diet is key to health of baby birds In a new study that upends the way ornithologists think about a young bird's diet – but won't shock parents used to scanning the nutritional profile of their children's food – Cornell researchers have found that when it comes to what chicks eat, quality trumps quantity.
	Newly discovered algal enzyme could help improve efficiency of photosynthesis and boost crop productivity For plants and algae that carry on photosynthesis, light can be too much of a good thing. On a bright, sunny day, a plant might only be able to utilize 20 percent or less of absorbed sunlight. The plant dissipates the excess light energy to prevent damage and oxidative stress, and a process called the xanthophyll cycle helps to flip the switch between energy dissipation and energy utilization.
	Gum tree habitats in decline, study warns Australians could see fewer suitable environments for the country's iconic eucalypt trees within a generation, according to a new international research project.
	'Water bear' protein shields human DNA from X-rays: researchers A protein unique to a miniscule creature called a water bear, reputedly the most indestructible animal on Earth, protects human DNA from X-ray damage, stunned researchers reported Tuesday.
Scientists discover interplay of yin-yang antagonists vital for cell division How a cell transitions from the G1 phase of the cell cycle to the S phase – a fundamental process of cell division for all eukaryotic cells on Earth – has been a long-studied question in biology. Now UNC School of Medicine scientists discovered that this boundary is regulated by a pair of large enzyme complexes that attack each other in turn to form a molecular switch, which eventually allows the cell cycle to enter into S phase.
Removing cellular bookmarks smooths the path to stem cells In reading, a bookmark tells where you stopped. Cells use bookmarks too, specific proteins that help the cell remember what collection of genes needs to be turned on again after the brief halt of gene expression during cell division. University of Alabama at Birmingham researchers are exploring the implications removing those bookmarks has on the promise of stem cells.
Sea otter survey encouraging, but comes up short of the 'perfect story' The southern sea otter, Enhydra lutris nereis, continues its climb toward recovery, according to the annual count released today by the U.S. Geological Survey and partners. For the first time, southern sea otters' numbers have exceeded 3,090, which is the threshold that must be exceeded for three consecutive years in order for the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service to consider de-listing the species as "threatened" under the Endangered Species Act. However, localized population declines at the northern and southern ends of the range continue to be a cause for concern among resource management officials.
Breakthrough in salt-tolerance in plants research University of Adelaide researchers have made a breakthrough in investigating salt tolerance in plants which could lead to new salt tolerant varieties of crops, and also answer unresolved questions in plant biology.
Antimicrobial resistance gene found in marine pathogen A team of Chinese investigators has discovered a gene for resistance to β-lactamase antibiotics, in the pathogenic marine bacterium, Vibrio parahaemolyticus. The β-lactamase gene, blaVEB-2, has never before been found in V. parahaemolyticus, and in fact, has been found almost exclusively in non-marine pathogens. The research is published Monday, September 19, 2016 in Antimicrobial Agents and Chemotherapy, a journal of the American Society for Microbiology.
Protein synthesis, ATP unnecessary for bacterial spore germination Spores of Bacillus bacteria can survive for years in a dormant state, and then germinate in minutes. But it has long been unclear whether germination required protein synthesis, or cellular energy packets, which are known as ATP. Now, a team from UConn Health, Farmington, CT, has shown that neither is necessary. The research is published online September 19 in the Journal of Bacteriology, published by the American Society for Microbiology.
	Bison decapitated, three missing from Spanish reserve Spanish police were on Tuesday investigating the decapitation of a European bison and the disappearance of three others from a nature reserve which was set to start a breeding programme for the species.
	New Comprehensive Approach to Inland Fisheries Management Managing inland fisheries in the 21st century presents several obstacles including the need to view fisheries from multiple scales, which usually involves populations and resources spanning sociopolitical boundaries. Inland fisheries managers are increasingly using Transboundary Fisheries Science, a strategy that involves organization, cooperation, analytics and implementation, as an interdisciplinary and holistic approach for understanding and managing ecosystems across larger scales. A new study by an LSU researcher was published on Sept. 13 in Fisheries magazine.
	Beasts of Bangkok booted from park lair The hulking, prehistoric-looking monitor lizards that stalk the grounds of Bangkok's Lumpini park have long triggered fascination—and fear—from visitors to the city centre's main green space.
	China aquarium refuses to deliver 'sad bear' Pizza to UK A Chinese aquarium keeping a forlorn-looking polar bear named Pizza said Tuesday it has "no need" for foreign interference, after activists offered to move the animal to a British zoo.
	Weaning calves before auction reduces stress and could increase profits Spring-born calves will soon be arriving at auction markets, but producers should consider a weaning plan that will help keep calves healthier and happier, according to a Texas A&M AgriLife Extension Service beef cattle specialist in Overton.
Plant diversity alleviates the effects of flooding on crops In grasslands, growing plants in higher diversity fields may help alleviate the negative impacts of flooding. This finding may extend to how we grow important food crops.

---

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