Science X Newsletter Thursday, Oct 20

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

Spotlight Stories Headlines

Did Europe's Mars lander survive? Time will tell: ESA (Update)

Researchers demonstrate extension of electronic metrology to the multi-petahertz frequency range

Major commuting differences found between rich and poor in Colombia

Self-assembled monolayers of NHCs on gold have ballbot-type motion

Researchers posit way to locally circumvent Second Law of Thermodynamics

New perovskite solar cell design could outperform existing commercial technologies

Researchers create a new type of computer that can solve problems that are a challenge for traditional computers

Low vitamin D levels are associated with increased negative and depressive symptoms

Tesla to build self-driving tech into all cars

European Mars lander's fate unclear, signs 'not good'

Scientists work out method to create unique polymeric membranes with carbon nanotubes

Green hydrogen production using algal proteins

Detecting microcrystals of membrane proteins

Astronomers explore mysteries of star formation with uniquely sensitive camera

Lithium ion battery for electronic textiles grows back together after breaking

Astronomy & Space news

	Did Europe's Mars lander survive? Time will tell: ESA (Update) Europe's second attempt at reaching the Mars surface appeared in peril Thursday as initial analysis suggested a lander dubbed "Schiaparelli", a test-run for a future rover, may have plummeted to its demise.
	European Mars lander's fate unclear, signs 'not good' The European Space Agency lost contact with an experimental Mars probe shortly before its planned landing on the red planet Wednesday. Scientists said that wasn't a good sign for the Schiaparelli lander, but it was too soon to give up on the craft.
	Astronomers explore mysteries of star formation with uniquely sensitive camera How do stars form deep inside clouds of molecular gas? What's the history of star formation throughout cosmic time? When did the first stars form? And how did they produce the materials necessary for life on Earth?
	Astronomers predict possible birthplace of Rosetta comet When the Rosetta spacecraft successfully touched down on comet 67P/Churyumov-Gerasimenko on Sept. 30, the news was shared globally via Twitter in dozens of languages. Citizens the world over were engaged by the astronomical achievement, and now the European Space Agency and NASA are eager to learn as much as possible about the critically important celestial body of ice.
	Either stars are strange, or there are 234 aliens trying to contact us We all want there to be aliens. Green ones, pink ones, brown ones, Greys. Or maybe Vulcans, Klingons, even a being of pure energy. Any type will do.
	Tracking waves from sunspots gives new solar insight While it often seems unvarying from our viewpoint on Earth, the sun is constantly changing. Material courses through not only the star itself, but throughout its expansive atmosphere. Understanding the dance of this charged gas is a key part of better understanding our sun - how it heats up its atmosphere, how it creates a steady flow of solar wind streaming outward in all directions, and how magnetic fields twist and turn to create regions that can explode in giant eruptions. Now, for the first time, researchers have tracked a particular kind of solar wave as it swept upward from the sun's surface through its atmosphere, adding to our understanding of how solar material travels throughout the sun.
	Citizen scientists seek south pole 'spiders' on Mars (Phys.org)—Ten thousand volunteers viewing images of Martian south polar regions have helped identify targets for closer inspection, yielding new insights about seasonal slabs of frozen carbon dioxide and erosional features known as "spiders."
	First results from long-term, hi-res tracking of eruptions on Jupiter's moon Io Jupiter's moon Io continues to be the most volcanically active body in the solar system, as documented by the longest series of frequent, high-resolution observations of the moon's thermal emission ever obtained.
	Image: Expedition 49 launch to the International Space Station The Soyuz MS-02 rocket is launched with Expedition 49 Soyuz commander Sergey Ryzhikov of Roscosmos, flight engineer Shane Kimbrough of NASA, and flight engineer Andrey Borisenko of Roscosmos, Wednesday, Oct. 19, 2016, at the Baikonur Cosmodrome in Kazakhstan, at 4:05 a.m. EDT Wednesday (2:05 p.m. Baikonur time). The Soyuz spacecraft is scheduled to dock to the Poisk module of the space station at 5:59 a.m. Friday, Oct. 21.
	Schiaparelli descent data—decoding underway Essential data from the ExoMars Schiaparelli lander sent to its mothership Trace Gas Orbiter during the module's descent to the Red Planet's surface yesterday has been downlinked to Earth and is currently being analysed by experts.
	Europe's Mars lander: What do we know? Scientists and engineers were piecing together clues Thursday to the fate of Europe's "Schiaparelli" Mars lander, which fell silent just seconds before its scheduled touchdown on the Red Planet.
	Mars: graveyard of broken dreams and landers Mars, the fourth planet from the Sun, has become a veritable graveyard for landers and rovers despatched to its surface from neighbouring Earth.
	Did it crash or land? Search on for Europe's Mars craft Europe's second attempt to reach Mars' surface appeared in peril Thursday as initial analysis suggested the latest lander may have plummeted to its demise.
	Russian observatory once closed to public houses art exhibit A remote Russian observatory housing what was once the world's largest mirrored telescope has become the setting for an art installation that explores the near-infinite reaches of both outer space and the human imagination.

Technology news

	New perovskite solar cell design could outperform existing commercial technologies A new design for solar cells that uses inexpensive, commonly available materials could rival and even outperform conventional cells made of silicon.
	Researchers create a new type of computer that can solve problems that are a challenge for traditional computers The processing power of standard computers is likely to reach its maximum in the next 10 to 25 years. Even at this maximum power, traditional computers won't be able to handle a particular class of problem that involves combining variables to come up with many possible answers, and looking for the best solution.
	Tesla to build self-driving tech into all cars Tesla will build self-driving technology into all the electric cars it makes, running it in "shadow" mode to gather data on whether it is safer than having people in control.
	Lithium ion battery for electronic textiles grows back together after breaking Electronics that can be embedded in clothing are a growing trend. However, power sources remain a problem. In the journal Angewandte Chemie, scientists have now introduced thin, flexible, lithium ion batteries with self-healing properties that can be safely worn on the body. Even after completely breaking apart, the battery can grow back together without significant impact on its electrochemical properties.
	Blood molecule key to more efficient batteries A molecule that transports oxygen in blood could be key to developing the next generation of batteries, and in a way that's environmentally friendly.
	The next big renewable energy source could be right beneath your feet Flooring can be made from any number of sustainable materials, making it an eco-friendly option in homes and businesses alike.
	Rice's energy-stingy indoor mobile locator ensures user privacy Rice University computer scientists have created a new system for mobile users to quickly determine their location indoors without communicating with the cloud, networks or other devices. The battery-saving scheme uses image recognition and "hashing," a method that reduces key details in a photo to short strings of numbers called hashes. To determine a location, the system hashes a photo from the user's camera and compares it against a pre-downloaded, highly compressed location database called a hash table.
	Student-designed Hyperloop pod demonstrates magnetic levitation The whirring sound of Hyperloop UC's hover engines filled the conference room as an anxious crowd shuffled closer for a better view.
First complete sabotage attack demonstrated on a 3-D printed drone propeller Researchers from three universities combined their expertise to demonstrate the first complete sabotage attack on a 3D additive manufacturing (AM) system, illustrating how a cyber attack and malicious manipulation of blueprints can fatally damage production of a device or machine.
	Greater global outreach eyed for Micro:bit minicomputer (Tech Xplore)—Kid coders is an idea everyone likes. The vision is that of a new army of survivors who can carry the ball forward in thinking up tomorrow's hardware and software, to make life interesting for themselves and make lives easier if not better for others.
Ultralow power transistors could function for years without a battery A newly-developed form of transistor opens up a range of new electronic applications including wearable or implantable devices by drastically reducing the amount of power used. Devices based on this type of ultralow power transistor, developed by engineers at the University of Cambridge, could function for months or even years without a battery by 'scavenging' energy from their environment.
	Nintendo giving sneak peak at newest console Japanese videogame giant Nintendo said Thursday it will offer gamers a sneak peek at a long-awaited new console that could be key to boosting its bottom line.
	Reports: Nissan CEO Ghosn to head troubled Mitsubishi Motors Carlos Ghosn, CEO of Japan's Nissan Motor, was due to appear at a news conference Thursday amid reports he will become chairman of Mitsubishi Motors, presiding over efforts to turn the troubled automaker around.
Chinese researchers develop algorithms for smart energy grid A fallen tree, a lightning strike—it doesn't take much to disrupt the electrical grid. An outage could last just a few minutes, but restoring electricity to millions of people typically takes hours, days or even weeks. The outdated system, developed a century ago, is due for an overhaul.
Control system serpent: Scientists propose new model for automation In 360 BC, Plato wrote, "Whatever comes into existence always comes as a whole." In 2016, scientists are using the same philosophy to develop a new automation model for robotic systems.
New innovation in modeling and designing power grids You can teach an old dog new tricks—this seems to be true for the research group led by Mengchu Zhou, a distinguished professor of electrical and computer engineering at the New Jersey Institute of Technology. In a recent study published in the IEEE/CAA Journal of Automatica Sinica, Zhou uses the Petri net, a mathematical modeling language invented several decades ago by Carl Adam Petri, to analyze and model a microgrid.
	Balancing the 'yin' and 'yang' in lithium sulfur batteries This decade has witnessed a rapid development in electric vehicles and portable electronics, accompanied by ever-increasing research enthusiasm for high-energy-density rechargeable batteries with long service life. Conventional Li-ion batteries are now approaching their theoretical energy density limits and cannot meet the practical demands of emerging markets. Scientists and engineers are therefore exploring better battery design and solutions.
	Designing the future internet: Mobile-friendly internet that can handle billions of smart gadgets This century, our world will be flooded with hundreds of billions of smartphones, gadgets, sensors and other smart objects connected to the internet.
	Moving toward computing at the speed of thought The first computers cost millions of dollars and were locked inside rooms equipped with special electrical circuits and air conditioning. The only people who could use them had been trained to write programs in that specific computer's language. Today, gesture-based interactions, using multitouch pads and touchscreens, and exploration of virtual 3-D spaces allow us to interact with digital devices in ways very similar to how we interact with physical objects.
Flying drones could soon re-charge whilst airborne with new technology Scientists have demonstrated a highly efficient method for wirelessly transferring power to a drone while it is flying.
Exploding smartphones: What's the silent danger lurking in our rechargeable devices? Dozens of dangerous gases are produced by the batteries found in billions of consumer devices, like smartphones and tablets, according to a new study. The research, published in Nano Energy, identified more than 100 toxic gases released by lithium batteries, including carbon monoxide.
	What is the dark web and how does it work? We often hear about the dark web being linked to terrorist plots, drug deals, knife sales and child pornography, but beyond this it can be hard to fully understand how the dark web works and what it looks like.
	Computer scientists find 'inexact computing' can improve answers Computer scientists from Rice University, Argonne National Laboratory and the University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign have used one of Isaac Newton's numerical methods to demonstrate how "inexact computing" can dramatically improve the quality of simulations run on supercomputers.
	Creating 3-D hands to keep us safe, increase security Creating a 3-D replica of someone's hand complete with all five fingerprints and breaking into a secure vault sounds like a plot from a James Bond movie. But Michigan State University Distinguished Professor Anil Jain recently discovered this may not be as far-fetched as once thought and wants security companies and the public to be aware.
	Rapid Replay feature targets NBA global audience The National Basketball Association's international fans will be able to watch highlights in near real-time as part of changes to the league's subscription service being rolled out for the new season, officials said Thursday.
	Amazon streaming TV devices won't be so Amazon-focused Amazon's own video store will no longer have the starring role on the company's Fire TV streaming devices.
Romania urges automakers to build affordable electric cars Romania's environment minister is urging carmakers to build models that reduce pollution but are also affordable for people in lower-income countries.
Newark company creates novel device to cut tailpipe emissions and eliminate testing lines 4.0 Analytics, a research and development company in NJIT's Enterprise Development Center (EDC), has developed a wireless emissions compliance and reporting technology for cars and trucks that alerts automobile owners in real time—on their own smart phone devices or computers—to engine and emission-system malfunctions that can lead to excessive tailpipe releases and poor performance.
Nintendo combines portable and home gaming with Switch Nintendo has announced a new gaming system that combines a portable handheld device with a dock to use at home.
	Walgreens posts strong 4Q earns, but delays Rite Aid deal Walgreens Boots Alliance earnings topped $1 billion during the fourth quarter, easily surpassing analyst expectations, but also announced a delay in closing its latest megadeal.
	Verizon still digesting Yahoo hack; 3Q profit falls Verizon said its profit fell in its most recent quarter as it added fewer subscribers for its traditional cellphone business. It also said it's still evaluating how the hack at Yahoo affects its $4.8 billion deal for the company.
	Outcry as Facebook removes Swedish breast cancer video Facebook has removed a video on breast cancer awareness posted in Sweden because it deemed the images "offensive", the Swedish Cancer Society said Thursday.
	Apple: Many 'genuine' Apple products on Amazon are fake Apple says it has been buying Apple chargers and cables labeled as genuine on Amazon.com and has found nearly 90 percent of them to be counterfeit.
	Cloud rise helps Microsoft top earnings expectations US software colossus Microsoft on Thursday reported a slip in quarterly profit but still topped expectations due to rising demand for offerings in the internet cloud.

Medicine & Health news

	Low vitamin D levels are associated with increased negative and depressive symptoms New research presented at this year's International Early Psychosis Association (IEPA) meeting in Milan, Italy (20-22 October) shows that low vitamin D status is associated with increased negative and depressive symptoms in psychotic disorders. The research is by Dr Mari Nerhus, NORMENT Research Centre, Institute of Clinical Medicine, University of Oslo, Norway, and colleagues.
	Toxic peptides disrupt membrane-less organelles in neurodegenerative disease Researchers at St. Jude Children's Research Hospital have discovered the way toxic proteins linked to the most common forms of amyotrophic lateral sclerosis (ALS) and frontotemporal dementia (FTD) incapacitate membrane-less organelles inside cells. The toxic peptides directly interfere with the assembly and function of these essential compartments by disturbing normal phase transitions, the processes that allow membrane-less organelles to assemble and function. The findings appear online today in the journal Cell.
	Zika virus infection alters human and viral RNA Researchers at University of California San Diego School of Medicine have discovered that Zika virus infection leads to modifications of both viral and human genetic material. These modifications—chemical tags known as methyl groups—influence viral replication and the human immune response. The study is published October 20 by Cell Host & Microbe.
	ALS study reveals role of RNA-binding proteins Although only 10 percent of amyotrophic lateral sclerosis (ALS) cases are hereditary, a significant number of them are caused by mutations that affect proteins that bind RNA, a type of genetic material. University of California San Diego School of Medicine researchers studied several ALS cases with a mutation in a RNA-binding protein known as hnRNP A2/B1. In the study, published October 20 by Neuron, they describe how damage to this protein contributes to ALS by scrambling crucial cellular messaging systems.
Muscles have circadian clocks that control exercise response Northwestern Medicine scientists have discovered circadian clocks in muscle tissue that control the muscle's metabolic response and energy efficiency depending on the time of day.
	New research verifies TASINs as viable target for colon cancer therapies A small molecule called TASIN-1 can selectively kill cells with a mutation that is considered to be a precursor to colon cancer, while sparing related normal cells, UT Southwestern Medical Center cancer biologists have demonstrated. The mutated cells that are killed using TASIN-1 are found in more than 80 percent of colon tumors.
	Imaging technique maps serotonin activity in living brains Serotonin is a neurotransmitter that's partly responsible for feelings of happiness and for mood regulation in humans. This makes it a common target for antidepressants, which block serotonin from being reabsorbed by neurons after it has dispatched its signal, so more of it stays floating around the brain.
Overlooked molecules could revolutionize our understanding of the immune system Thousands of new immune system signals have been uncovered with potential implications for immunotherapy, autoimmune diseases and vaccine development.
Withholding amino acid depletes blood stem cells, researchers say A dietary approach to depleting blood stem cells may make it possible to conduct bone marrow transplantations without the use of chemotherapy or radiation therapy, according to researchers at the Stanford University School of Medicine.
One-third of breast cancer patients not getting appropriate breast imaging follow-up exam WASHINGTON, DC: An annual mammogram is recommended after treatment for breast cancer, but nearly one-third of women diagnosed with breast cancer aren't receiving this follow-up exam, according to new findings presented at the 2016 Annual Clinical Congress of the American College of Surgeons.
Music may help make high-intensity interval training viable option for average person Listening to music may make it easier for people to adopt short duration exercise regimens that could help them stay in shape, according to researchers at UBC's Okanagan campus.
Opiate painkillers prescribed after severe injury do not lead to long-term use Nearly three of four patients who sustain major trauma and receive a new prescription for an opiate pain reliever will discontinue use of the drug by one month after hospital discharge, according to new study results presented at the 2016 Clinical Congress of the American College of Surgeons.
Ultrasound reveals thickening of neck artery is evident in young patients with early psychosis New research presented at this week's International Early Psychosis Association (IEPA) meeting in Milan, Italy (October 20-22), shows that young people diagnosed with early onset psychosis (EOP) and bipolar disorder (BPD) already show signs of atherosclerosis (blood vessel inflammation and thickening) in their major neck artery (the left carotid artery). The research is by Dr Hannes Bohman, Karolinska Institutet, Stockholm, Sweden, and colleagues.
Red Bull additive taurine improves symptoms of young people suffering first episode psychosis New research presented at this year's International Early Psychosis Association (IEPA) meeting in Milan, Italy (20-22 October) shows that supplementation with taurine (well known as an additive found in drinks such as Red Bull) improves symptoms in young people suffering a first episode of psychosis (FEP). The study is by Dr Colin O'Donnell, Donegal Mental Health Service, Letterkenny, County Donegal, Ireland, and Professor Patrick McGorry and Dr Kelly Allott, Orygen, The National Centre of Excellence in Youth Mental Health, Parkville, VIC, Australia, and colleagues.
	App helps save Seattle cardiac patient If your heart is going to stop, right outside a hospital is not a bad place for it.
	Biden outlines progress in "moonshot" for cancer cure Vice President Joe Biden said Wednesday that the White House's "moonshot" to find a cure for cancer has been making real progress in the past year, but more needs to be done as the nation prepares to elect a new president.
School ban on pregnant teens divides Equatorial Guinea "Pregnancy is neither a crime nor a mental illness," insists Imelda Bosuala, a 15-year-old who was turned away by her school in Equatorial Guinea after falling pregnant.
New compound shows promise in treating multiple human cancers A new compound, discovered jointly by international pharmaceutical company Servier, headquartered in France, and Vernalis (R&D), a company based in the UK, has been shown by researchers at the Walter and Eliza Hall Institute and Servier to block a protein that is essential for the sustained growth of up to a quarter of all cancers.
Breast reconstruction after cancer using abdominal tissue In addition to being faced with the diagnosis of breast cancer, many women also are faced with making several important decisions, including whether to have breast reconstruction surgery. According to a plastic surgeon who specializes in breast reconstruction at Baylor College of Medicine, when making this decision, women should consider all of the options available to them, including techniques that use a patient's own abdominal tissue to rebuild their breasts.
	Anxiety is linked to death from cancer in men About one in 14 people around the world are affected by anxiety disorders at any given time. Those who suffer from these conditions experience impairment, disability, and are at a high risk for substance abuse and suicide. In spite of these considerable risks, research on anxiety is lagging far behind that of other common mental health problems – and many people affected don't even know they have this condition.
	Gene fusions can lead to glioblastoma in children Every year, about 60 children and adolescents in Germany are diagnosed with glioblastoma, a very aggressive type of brain cancer, which is still mostly untreatable. Now, scientists from the Max Planck Institute for Molecular Genetics and the German Cancer Research Center undertook a comprehensive sequence analysis of the genomes and the encoded messenger molecules of pediatric glioblastomas to identify molecular alterations involved in the development of the tumors. The researchers found a recurrently occurring oncogenic alteration in ten percent of the patients that was shown to be a clinically actionable target, potentially offering new therapy options for this dismal cancer type.
Visible minorities missing from London, Ontario landscape London falls short when it comes to visible minorities holding senior leadership positions in the non-profit and municipal public sectors, according to a new study led by Western researchers Stelian Medianu and Victoria Esses.
Large increases in HIV suppression needed to reduce new infections in critical population Achieving moderate reduction of new HIV infections among men who have sex with men (MSM) will depend on significantly increasing the percentage of HIV-infected MSM whose viral load is suppressed to undetectable levels, according to a new mathematical model based on data from Baltimore. Access and adherence to antiretroviral therapy are key to sustained HIV suppression, which dramatically reduces the risk of transmitting HIV to others.
	Gene involved brain development and intellectual disability identified INVESTIGATING the genetics of Down Syndrome has led WA researchers to find a new gene responsible for brain development and intellectual disability.
Investigational immunotherapy safe, tolerable, shows activity against melanoma The investigational immunotherapeutic IMC-20D7S was safe, well tolerated, and showed signs of modest clinical activity for patients with advanced melanoma, according to results from a first-in-human phase I clinical trial published in Clinical Cancer Research, a journal of the American Association for Cancer Research.
Income, education impact aspects of health in race, gender-specific ways Research long has shown that socioeconomic status has much to do with how healthy we are, but a study from the University of Michigan reveals that not all races and genders are equally insulated from certain health conditions, even when income and education levels are higher.
Smart bandage technology provides instant updates on the condition of chronic wounds through a mobile app Injuries that fail to heal within three months, such as many diabetic foot ulcers, can require years of treatment and significant healthcare resources. A sensor-laden bandage developed by a research team at King Abdullah University of Science and Technology (KAUST), Saudi Arabia, promises to reduce the burden on hospitals and enhance patient well-being by transforming how chronic wounds are monitored.
Study finds key regulator in pulmonary fibrosis A Yale-led research team has identified an important enzyme that could lead to new therapies for a chronic fatal lung disease that affects hundreds of thousands in the United States each year.
	Better diabetic foot disease care would save taxpayers billions Australia could save billions of dollars in healthcare costs by investing in proven treatments for people with diabetic foot disease, according to QUT research.
	Cancer's big data problem Data is pouring into the hands of cancer researchers, thanks to improvements in imaging, models and understanding of genetics. Today the data from a single patient's tumor in a clinical trial can add up to one terabyte—the equivalent of 130,000 books.
	Exchanging sedentariness for low-intensity physical activity can prevent weight gain in children As little as 10 minutes of high-intensity physical activity per day reduces the amount of adipose tissue and enhances cardiorespiratory fitness in 6-8-year-old children, according to a new study from the University of Eastern Finland. The higher the intensity of physical activity, the stronger the association with the amount of adipose tissue. Exchanging sedentary behaviour -mainly sitting - for even low-intensity physical activity reduces the amount of adipose tissue. In order for physical activity to enhance cardiorespiratory fitness, the intensity needs to be at least moderate.
New study aims to give children with autism the best start in life A ground-breaking new study has been launched understand how to support families affected by autism as soon as they receive their diagnosis.
	Plan ahead for successful aging, researcher says For many people, the prospect of aging is scary and uncomfortable, but Florida State University Assistant Professor Dawn Carr says that research reveals a few tips that can improve our chances of a long, healthy life.
Researcher discusses link between positive emotions and physical health Can having good feelings be good for your health? A new study by U of T Mississauga researcher Jennifer Stellar is investigating the effects that positive emotions might have on our physical well-being.
Change is needed to prevent homicides by individuals with mental illness Following the stabbing death of Dr. Jeroen Ensink, a new father in London who was killed by a mentally ill man who had walked free after attacking a police officer with a knife days earlier, experts are calling for change. They note that the dangerousness of a small but volatile subset of psychiatric patients is not taken seriously enough.
	Using monkeys for research is justified – it's giving us treatments that would be otherwise impossible The debate about animal experiments often seems to start from false premises. Unsurprisingly, the conclusions are then often flawed. Opponents claim that animals suffer terrible cruelty. The macaques I use for vital research are well looked after, by a lab full of dedicated people who love working with animals. A huge effort goes into minimising suffering every day. This is not some optional extra, but an integral part of what we do and who we are.
	Bowel cancer patients more likely to survive in research-active hospitals Bowel cancer patients are more likely to survive if treated in hospitals where lots of clinical research is taking place - even if they themselves are not involved in trials, a study has found.
'Gene therapy in a box' effective, reports Nature Communications A table-top device that enables medical staff to genetically manipulate a patient's blood to deliver potential new therapies for cancer, HIV and other diseases would eliminate the need for multi-million-dollar "clean rooms," making gene therapy more possible for even the poorest of countries.
HIV active in tissues of patients who were treated, study shows While successful treatment of HIV with antiretroviral medications leads to undetectable levels of virus in the blood, controls the disease and leads to much longer lifespans, scientists know that HIV continues to reside in tissues. Now, UCSF researchers have found in autopsy tissue samples of patients treated with antiretrovirals that the virus evolved and migrated among tissues similar to the way it did in patients who had never received antiretroviral treatment, despite the fact that the treated patients had undetectable levels of virus in their blood.
The smart wheelchair A wheelchair controller that automatically avoids obstacles and knows when the user is tired or stressed is being developed by researchers in India. Details are described in the International Journal of Human Factors Modelling and Simulation.
Penn physician argues for 'meaningful' update to national Alzheimer's act A key strategy missing from the ambitious Alzheimer's disease plan signed into law by President Obama six years ago could send investigational drugs down a precarious pipeline, argue two physicians from the Perelman School of Medicine at the University of Pennsylvania and the University of Michigan in JAMA Internal Medicine. The National Alzheimer Project Act (NAPA) calls for new treatments to slow or prevent the disease by 2025, but as it stands now, there's no strategy in place to determine whether the interventions being studied today have a so-called "meaningful" clinical benefit for patients. Without that strategy, private interests could shape how a drug's clinical benefit is established after approval and therefore costs, similar to what's happening in the oncology world.
Engineers, mathematicians and doctors unite to develop new breast cancer-detection option An international team comprising engineers, mathematicians and doctors has applied a technique used for detecting damage in underwater marine structures to identify cancerous cells in breast cancer histopathology images.
Ex-leper takes to Tokyo runway to fight stigma At 83 Miyo Maki had never manicured her nails, thickened and deformed due to leprosy, a disease she was diagnosed with when she was just 10 years old.
Researchers develop new tool to predict early ICU readmission for surgical patients Health care providers can identify which patients are likely to be readmitted to the surgical intensive care unit (SICU) within several days of leaving it by using just seven common variables that almost all critical care patients have measured, according to study results presented at the 2016 Clinical Congress of the American College of Surgeons.
More American men with early-stage prostate cancer could opt out of immediate treatment A new report on Swedish men with non-aggressive prostate cancer suggests that a lot more American men could safely choose to monitor their disease instead of seeking immediate radiation treatment or surgery.
	Study shows mismatched cuisine could make your meal more enjoyable Ordering an Italian main course? According to a Drexel University food science researcher, if you want to be certain you'll enjoy your meal, you should probably get the spring rolls to start.
Scientists reveal link between cell metabolism and the spread of cancer Scientists at VIB and KU Leuven have discovered a crucial factor in the spread of cancer. A team led by professor Massimiliano Mazzone has demonstrated that the metabolism of macrophages, a particular type of white blood cell, can be attuned to prevent the spread of cancer. The key is in making these macrophages more prone to 'steal' sugar from the cells forming the tumor's blood vessels. As a result, these blood vessels will be structured more tightly, which can prevent cancer cells from spreading to other organs. These conclusions are published in the leading scientific journal Cell Metabolism.
	Optical and PET/CT probes detect early signs of atherosclerosis Researchers at Stanford University have demonstrated for the first time the use of a dual optical and PET/CT activity-based probe to detect atherosclerotic plaques. The study is published in the October issue of the Journal of Nuclear Medicine.
Research in worms provides path to study diabetic complications Researchers at the Buck Institute have found a sensor for the reactive molecules linked to diabetic complications, providing a pathway to study many of the ravages of a disease that affects 29 million people in the US. The work, done in the nematode C. elegans and detailed in Current Biology, provides particular promise for those suffering from painful diabetes-related nerve damage. Scientists identified two natural compounds, including the supplement alpha-lipoic acid, which prevented nerve damage in worms experiencing a similar hypersensitivity to touch as do humans who suffer from diabetic neuropathy. The compounds essentially cured the nematodes of the condition.
Fast-food calorie labeling unlikely to encourage healthy eating Researchers from New York University show why fast-food menu calorie counts do not help consumers make healthy choices in a new study published in the Journal of Public Policy & Marketing.
Taking out the cellular 'trash'—at the right place and the right time New insight about how cells dispose of their waste is now given by the group of Claudine Kraft at the Max F. Perutz Laboratories (MFPL) of the University of Vienna. They show the necessity of a regulation in space and time of a key protein involved in cellular waste disposal. Dysfunctions in the waste disposal system of a cell are linked to cancer and Alzheimer's disease. The study is published in the journal Molecular Cell.
	Novel mechanisms of action discovered for skin cancer medication Imiquimod Imiquimod is a medication successfully used in the treatment of skin diseases. In addition to its known mechanism of action, it also triggers other processes in the body. Scientists at the Technical University of Munich (TUM) have succeeded in explaining the molecular fundamentals of these additional effects. The results also shine a new light on other known molecular processes which could indicate an approach to the treatment of inflammatory illnesses.
	Scientists build a better cancer drug to pass through blood-brain barrier In efforts to develop new treatments for brain cancer, scientists from Johns Hopkins Drug Discovery and the Kimmel Cancer Center's Bloomberg~Kimmel Institute for Cancer Immunotherapy report they have altered the structure of an experimental drug that seems to enhance its ability to slip through the mostly impermeable blood-brain barrier. Results of their proof-of-concept experiments in monkeys, published Aug. 25 in the Journal of Medicinal Chemistry, show a tenfold better delivery of the drug to the brain compared with the rest of animals' bodies.
	Electronic records help link genes to age-related hearing loss A study of patient electronic medical records and genome sequences from adults with age-related hearing impairment by researchers at UC San Francisco and Kaiser Permanente Northern California, identified two genetic variations linked to the hearing disorder.
	Study suggests benefits of laser treatments for dental problems Researchers have developed computer simulations showing how lasers attack oral bacterial colonies, suggesting that benefits of using lasers in oral debridement include killing bacteria and promoting better dental health.
Rac1 protein critical for lung development A study by researchers from The Saban Research Institute of Children's Hospital Los Angeles reveals a promising therapeutic target for improving lung function in infants. Their study, now published online by the American Journal of Physiology-Lung Cellular and Molecular Physiology, shows that a protein called Rac1 is critical for the proper development of mammalian lung.
Genome study identifies risk genes in African Americans with inflammatory bowel disease In the first genome-wide association study (GWAS) of genetic risk factors for inflammatory bowel disease in African Americans, a research team has identified two regions of the genome (loci) associated with ulcerative colitis only in people of African descent.
	Modified HIV-1 virus can integrate into genome of parasitic flatworm A modified form of the HIV-1 virus can integrate into the genome of the parasitic flatworm that causes the disease schistosomiasis, according to a new study published in PLOS Pathogens. This finding could aid research not only into potential new treatments for schistosomiasis and related neglected tropical diseases, but also into virology of HIV.
	Optimal treatment plan for chronic myeloid leukemia suggested by mathematical modeling A new treatment plan that sequentially combines several drugs for chronic myeloid leukemia (CML) has the potential to reduce patients' chance of relapse and increase their life expectancy, according to a study published in PLOS Computational Biology.
	Nanoparticle vaccinates mice against dengue fever Every year, more than 350 million people in over 120 countries contact dengue fever, which can cause symptoms ranging from achy muscles and a skin rash to life-threatening hemorrhagic fever. Researchers have struggled to create effective vaccines against dengue virus, in part because four distinct serotypes, or strains, cause the disease and a vaccine must immunize against all four individually. Now, a new type of nanoparticle, described in PLOS Neglected Tropical Diseases, effectively vaccinated mice against one of the serotypes and could be created to target all four.
	Newly identified rare Alzheimer's disease gene mutation more common in Icelandic people People with Icelandic heritage are more likely to carry a novel rare mutation in the TM2D3 gene, which leads to greater risk for Alzheimer's disease, based on a new study published October 14th, 2016 in PLOS Genetics by Johanna Jakobsdottir of the Icelandic Heart Association, Sven van der Lee of Erasmus University in Rotterdam, and colleagues.
Study sheds light on Dengue immune response India suffers from the highest number of dengue infections in the world, but there are few studies, if any, to understand the immune cells involved in fighting the virus.
Parents of children with cancer value sequencing results, even if non-actionable Parents of children newly diagnosed with cancer value the results of whole exome sequencing for a variety of reasons beyond clinical actionability, according to research presented at the American Society of Human Genetics (ASHG) 2016 Annual Meeting in Vancouver, B.C.
Drosophila study hints at diet-based treatment for NGLY1 deficiency Researchers studying Drosophila fruit flies have found that in flies, providing a common dietary supplement prevents death caused by Pngl deficiency, the fly analog of the human genetic disorder N-Glycanase 1 (NGLY1) deficiency. Findings were reported at the American Society of Human Genetics (ASHG) 2016 Annual Meeting in Vancouver, B.C.
	System changes improve prenatal care for Medicaid beneficiaries Oregon's 2012 shift to an incentivized, accountable-care system for Medicaid beneficiaries led to positive changes for expectant mothers and their babies, research at Oregon State University shows.
Patients weigh in on orthopedic surgeons' pay, reimbursement Most patients don't think an orthopedic surgeon is overpaid but they greatly exaggerate how much a surgeon is reimbursed by Medicare for performing knee surgery, according to a study of patient perceptions by Henry Ford Hospital in Detroit.
Malta tops EU obesity rankings, Romania thinnest Malta has the highest proportion of obese adults in Europe, according to EU figures released Thursday, while Romania is the least obese.
New testing method allows more effective diagnosis of genetically based high cholesterol A new genetic testing method developed at Western University called LipidSeq can identify a genetic basis for high-cholesterol in almost 70 per cent of a targeted patient population. Using next-generation sequencing (NGS) technology, researchers were able to pinpoint specific areas of a person's DNA to more effectively diagnose genetic forms of high-cholesterol, which markedly increase risk for heart attack and stroke.
	Top 3 mistakes teen drivers make (HealthDay)—Speeding is the most common deadly mistake new teen drivers make, and parents don't do enough to help their children drive safely, traffic safety experts say.
	Even for men at high risk, healthy living may help prevent colon cancer (HealthDay)—While it's well known that healthy living can lower the odds for colon cancer, a new study finds it's even true for men whose DNA puts them at high risk for the disease.
	Snakebites a rising danger for U.S. children (HealthDay)—More than 1,300 U.S. kids suffer snakebites each year on average, with one in four attacks occurring in Florida and Texas, a new study reveals.
	Troubled childhood may boost bipolar risk: study (HealthDay)—Adults who suffered childhood abuse may be at increased risk for bipolar disorder, researchers report.
	Zika testing for all pregnant women who have been in Florida county: CDC (HealthDay)—U.S. health officials are now recommending that all pregnant women who have recently spent time in any part of Miami-Dade County in Florida be tested for Zika infection.
	Some Mexican ceramics can serve up lead poisoning (HealthDay)—A charming ceramic reminder of a Mexican vacation could end up giving you lead poisoning, a new study warns.
	Study counters notion that heart surgery poses more kidney risks to women (HealthDay)—A new study challenges the belief that women are more likely than men to develop kidney damage after heart surgery.
	CPAP improves asthma control, QoL for adults with asthma, OSA (HealthDay)—For adults with asthma and obstructive sleep apnea syndrome (OSAS), continuous positive airway pressure (CPAP) is associated with improved asthma control, quality of life, and lung function, according to a study published online Oct. 12 in Allergy.
	Neonatal phototherapy not linked to type 1 diabetes (HealthDay)—Neonatal phototherapy is not associated with type 1 diabetes mellitus (DM-1), according to a study published online Oct. 19 in Pediatrics.
	Pulmonary embolism may be cause of syncope in some elderly (HealthDay)—About one of every six patients hospitalized for a first episode of syncope has a pulmonary embolism, according to a study published in the Oct. 20 issue of the New England Journal of Medicine.
	Superior morbidity profile for robotic partial nephrectomy (HealthDay)—Compared with laparoscopic partial nephrectomy, robotic partial nephrectomy is associated with a superior morbidity profile, according to a meta-analysis published in the November issue of The Journal of Urology.
	Barriers for diabetic retinopathy screening vary (HealthDay)—Patients and health care providers have markedly divergent perceptions of barriers to diabetic retinopathy screening, according to a study published in the Oct. 6 issue of the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention's Preventing Chronic Disease.
Anti-vaccination nurses in Australia face punishment Nurses and midwives promoting anti-vaccination messages in Australia could face punishment, the industry regulator warned Thursday, as the country tackles recent outbreaks of preventable diseases.
With Medicaid, ER visits remain high for two years, study shows People enrolled in Medicaid significantly increase their emergency room visits for at least two years after they first sign up, according to a new study co-authored by an MIT economist. The finding will likely surprise those health care experts who have projected that people would make fewer ER visits after acquiring health insurance.
	Hospitalisations of Aboriginal children too high UNSW research shows avoidable hospitalisations among Aboriginal children are almost double those of non-Aboriginal children.
	Positive clinical trial results on gene transfer to treat macular degeneration The long-term safety of gene transfer to treat neovascular age-related macular degeneration (NVAMD), and the production of two therapeutic proteins encoded by those genes for at least 2.5 years in the eyes of patients with advanced NVAMD are demonstrated in the results of a clinical trial published in Human Gene Therapy.
International study finds high levels of adherence to use of rectal microbicide gel Participants enrolled in a rectal microbicide study were just as likely to follow through using an anti-HIV gel with anal sex as they were to using daily oral pre-exposure prophylaxis (PrEP), according to adherence results presented today at the HIV Research for Prevention conference. The study, led by the U.S. National Institutes of Health (NIH)-funded Microbicide Trials Network (MTN), was the first extended safety study of a rectal microbicide for prevention of HIV infection from anal sex, which initially reported that the gel was safe in February 2016.
	Researchers describe how tumors recruit and use stem cells to support tumor growth and progression A new study has identified a mechanism used by tumors to recruit stem cells from bone and convert them into cancer-associated fibroblasts (CAFs) that facilitate tumor progression. This work, which pinpoints the specific biochemical pathways and cell signaling molecules involved in these processes, could lead to new therapeutic targets for suppressing tumor growth, as discussed in an article in Stem Cells and Development.
	Lawmakers demand answers on leukemia drug price hikes Two top lawmakers on Thursday demanded information from a drug company that has raised prices on a leukemia drug, calling increases of tens of thousands of dollars a sign the company puts profits before patients.
	Texas must reduce nonmedical exemptions to vaccinations As one of the states with the least restrictive vaccine exemption laws in the country, Texas should make the process of obtaining nonmedical exemptions more rigorous to avoid the public health risks and costs associated with preventable diseases, according to a new brief by science policy experts at Rice University's Baker Institute for Public Policy.
	Children in the Syrian Civil War In any conflict children are among the worst affected groups, and in the Syrian Civil War the long term health and welfare of children will be greatly impacted due to the lack of access to immunization programs, little or no formal education, and in many cases missing both parents.

Biology news

	Professor uses frogs to conduct embryonic cell research Mick Yoder, assistant professor of biology at Penn State Brandywine, is using a colony of frogs to study cell behavior in embryonic development.
Self-sorting cells disrupt development In a developing embryo, some cells can self-segregate – like oil separating out of water – to help create the tissues and organs of the human body. For example, brain cells separate into clusters that give rise to different regions of the brainstem.
	Research delivers ground-breaking insights into evolution by studying transcription termination in archaea In order to describe the diversity of life, science differentiates, for example, between the plant and animal kingdoms. Furthermore, life is also divided into three basic categories or domains: the first comprises organisms whose cells have a nucleus, the domain of the so-called Eukarya. The other two domains include, on the one hand, Archaea originally found in extreme environments, and on the other, Bacteria. Organisms belonging to these two domains do not have a cell nucleus. As such, the domain of Archaea has a special status, because it incorporates characteristics of both, Eukarya and Bacteria. Out of which of the two domains the eukaryotic cell developed – and thereby the higher organisms, including the vertebrates – during the course of evolution, has been a controversial topic to date.
	Strong, steady forces at work during cell division Biologists who study the mechanics of cell division have for years disagreed about how much force is at work when the cell's molecular engines are lining chromosomes up in the cell, preparing to winch copies to opposite poles across a bridge-like structure called the kinetochore to form two new cells. The question is fundamental to understanding how cells divide says cell biologist Thomas Maresca at the University of Massachusetts Amherst.
	Newly characterized protein interaction may help in search for new cancer-fighting drugs Some anticancer agents intend to disturb the function of the p97 protein complex, which is essential for survival of cancer cells. A team of researchers of the Max Delbrück Center for Molecular Medicine in the Helmholtz Association (MDC) has now found a way to break up the p97 complex into its subunits and published their results in Nature Communications.
	Scientists can listen to proteins by turning data into music Transforming data about the structure of proteins into melodies gives scientists a completely new way of analyzing the molecules that could reveal new insights into how they work - by listening to them. A new study published in the journal Heliyon shows how musical sounds can help scientists analyze data using their ears instead of their eyes.
	Amazonian frog has its own ant repellent Special chemicals covering the skin of a tiny yellow-striped Amazonian frog provide a protective shield that wards off leaf-cutting ants allowing it to live comfortably among them. "It helps the frog blend in, because it imitates the ants own chemical signals," says André Barros of the National Institute of Amazonian Research in Brazil. He led a study in Springer's journal Behavioral Ecology and Sociobiology. The ants do not give it even a single bite, but will quite aggressively attack all other types of frogs or other animals that cross their path.
Male mice model human speech defect (w/ Video) There's a particular order to the sounds of the ultrasonic song a male mouse performs to impress his potential mate.
	Tobacco plants engineered to manufacture high yields of malaria drug In 2015, the Nobel Prize in Physiology or Medicine was awarded in part for the discovery of artemisinin, a plant-derived compound that's proven to be a lifesaver in treating malaria. Yet many people who need the drug are not able to access it, in part because it's difficult to grow the plant that is the compound's source. Now, research has shown that tobacco plants can be engineered to manufacture the drug at therapeutic levels. The study appears October 20 in Molecular Plant.
	Chemical tags affect ability of RNA viruses to infect cells Large swaths of DNA and its lesser-known cousin RNA are dotted by chemical tags that act like Post-It notes, providing additional instructions to the underlying genetic code.
	Blast of thin air can reset circadian clocks We might not think of our circadian clock until we are jetlagged, but scientists continue to puzzle over what drives our biological timepiece. Now, a study published October 20 in Cell Metabolism has found that variations in surrounding oxygen levels can reset circadian clocks of mice. If confirmed in humans, the research could help inform how airlines moderate cabin air pressure.
	How snakes lost a blueprint for making limbs Snakes lost their limbs over 100 million years ago, but scientists have struggled to identify the genetic changes involved. A Cell paper publishing October 20 sheds some light on the process, describing a stretch of DNA involved in limb formation that is mutated in snakes. When researchers inserted the snake DNA into mice, the animals developed truncated limbs, suggesting that a critical stretch of DNA lost its ability to support limb growth during snake evolution.
	Europeans and Africans have different immune systems, and Neanderthals are partly to thank It's long been clear that people from different parts of the world differ in their susceptibility to developing infections as well as chronic inflammatory and autoimmune diseases. Now, two studies reported in Cell on October 20 show that those differences in disease susceptibility can be traced in large part to differences at the genetic level directing the way the immune systems of people with European and African ancestry are put together.
	How human eggs end up with the wrong number of chromosomes One day before ovulation, human oocytes begin to divide into what will become mature eggs. Ideally, eggs are packaged with a complete set of 23 chromosomes, but the process is prone to error, especially with age. In a Review published October 20 in Trends in Cell Biology, researchers discuss the latest research on why many human oocytes frequently have a wrong number of chromosomes—which may lead to genetic disorders, such as Down syndrome and miscarriage.
	Researchers find genetic change that caused snakes to lose legs About 150 million years ago, snakes roamed about on well-developed legs. Now, two University of Florida researchers have discovered how snakes' legs eventually disappeared.
	Turning biofuel waste into wealth in a single step Lignin is a bulky chain of molecules found in wood and is usually discarded during biofuel production. But in a new method by EPFL chemists, the simple addition of formaldehyde could turn it into the main focus.
	At molecular level, evolutionary change is unpredictable Biologists have been contemplating evolutionary change since Charles Darwin first explained it.
	Ancient proteins shown to control plant growth A UCLA-led international team of life scientists reports the discovery of mechanisms regulating plant growth that could provide new insights into how the mammalian biological clock affects human health. The research will be published Oct. 21 in the journal Science.
	'Mean girl' meerkats can make twice as much testosterone as males Testosterone. It's often lauded as the hormone that makes males bigger, bolder, stronger.
	Uncertainty about your social rank might be bad for your health Having strong social connections has many benefits, from splitting the tab on a pizza to having someone with whom to binge watch Netflix. But for rhesus macaque monkeys at the California National Primate Research Center (CNPRC) at UC Davis, uncertainty about where they rank in their social order may mean the difference between being healthy or not.
	Madagascar lemurs find refuge in private sanctuary Threatened by habitat loss and hunting, Madagascar's lemurs, a critically endangered species, are finding refuge in a private sanctuary on this vast Indian Ocean island.
	Spoon-billed sandpiper population revealed For the first time, scientists have calculated the world population of the spoon-billed sandpiper, after overcoming a number of difficult challenges including limited knowledge about the whereabouts of this tiny shorebird, which breeds across a huge tract of far eastern Arctic Russia and migrates to spend the winter on tropical estuaries and mudflats from south China to Bangladesh. The research by Clark et al. was published today in Fauna & Flora International's journal, Oryx.
	A 30-year cold case involving an egg and the mysterious Night Parrot Sometimes nature leaves little clues that can be difficult to interpret, so getting things right isn't always easy.
	Life on the edge is dangerous Intensive farming, sprawling towns, a dense road network – the modern world leaves less and less space for animals and plants. They are forced back into shrinking refuges, which are ever further apart. But not all react equally sensitively. That is even true for members of the same species, as demonstrated by a new study of the UFZ and the University of Leipzig in the scientific journal Landscape Ecology. According to the study, animals living on the edge of their range suffer more from the fragmentation of their habitat than their fellows in the centre.
	Amazon fishery management provides rare 'win-win' for conservation and poverty alleviation A study into freshwater lake management along the Amazon's most meandering river has demonstrated astounding benefits to local livelihoods in replenishing vitally important fish stocks—a source of much-needed food and income.
	Clemson students name novel Legionella strain: Clemsonensis The Clemson family has gained a new namesake: Legionella clemsonensis, a novel strain of the Legionella bacteria, the most common cause of waterborne bacterial outbreaks in the United States.
	Prey-foraging: The collective search or lone-wolf approach? Wolves in Canada, lions in the Serengeti or fishermen in the Southern Ocean, either hunt alone keeping the spoils to themselves or in packs sharing the bounty with others. Deciding whether to tell fellow predators about some tasty prey is not an easy decision and requires the predator to weigh up many pros and cons.
	Mathematical analysis reveals architecture of the human genome Mathematical analysis has led researchers in Japan to a formula that can describe the movement of DNA inside living human cells. Using these calculations, researchers may be able to reveal the 3D architecture of the human genome. In the future, these results may allow scientists to understand in detail how DNA is organized and accessed by essential cellular machinery.
	Bycatch is the biggest killer of whales With hundreds of thousands of whales and dolphins dying every year after being accidentally entangled in fishing gear, the world must take concrete steps during the International Whaling Commission (IWC) meeting starting today in Slovenia to lessen the serious threat posed by bycatch.
	Soaring species: Endangered baby toads fly to Puerto Rico More than 4,000 wiggling tadpoles conceived via wine fridges in California and then packed in a passenger plane headed to Puerto Rico on Thursday as part of a program to re-establish a technicolor native toad once thought extinct.

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