Science X Newsletter Thursday, Oct 27

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Here is your customized Science X Newsletter for October 27, 2016:

Spotlight Stories Headlines

Shocks in the early universe could be detectable today

The oldest star cluster in Tarantula Nebula even older than previously thought, study finds

Metamaterial device allows chameleon-like behavior in the infrared

Team spots elusive intermediate compound in atmospheric chemistry

Research helps explain formation of ringed crater on the moon

Detailed images of Schiaparelli and its descent hardware on Mars

Facebook updates could help understand—and potentially treat—mental health disorders

Common cuckoo and warbler eggshells undergo similar levels of eggshell thinning

Australia set for more heatwaves amid climate change: study

Worth it? A faster transplant but a kidney with hepatitis C

Cause of phantom limb pain in amputees, and potential treatment, identified

How a fungus inhibits the immune system of plants

New approach tests the strength of immunity

Mitochondria control stem cell fate

Navdy offers smart way to keep drivers connected and not getting lost along the way

Astronomy & Space news

	The oldest star cluster in Tarantula Nebula even older than previously thought, study finds (Phys.org)—The Hubble Space Telescope Hubble Tarantula Treasury Project (HTTP) survey has revealed new insights on the star formation history of the oldest star cluster in the Tarantula Nebula (also known as 30 Doradus), designated Hodge 301. According to a study published Oct. 19 on arXiv.org, this star cluster could be even several million years older than previously estimated.
	Research helps explain formation of ringed crater on the moon Using data from NASA's Gravity Recovery and Interior Laboratory (GRAIL) mission, scientists have shed new light on the formation of a huge bull's-eye-shaped impact feature on the Moon. The findings, described in two papers published in the journal Science, could help scientists better understand how these kinds of giant impacts influenced the early evolution of the Moon, Mars and Earth.
	Detailed images of Schiaparelli and its descent hardware on Mars A high-resolution image taken by a NASA Mars orbiter this week reveals further details of the area where the ExoMars Schiaparelli module ended up following its descent on 19 October.
	A dead star's ghostly glow The eerie glow of a dead star, which exploded long ago as a supernova, reveals itself in this NASA Hubble Space Telescope image of the Crab Nebula. But don't be fooled. The ghoulish-looking object still has a pulse. Buried at its center is the star's tell-tale heart, which beats with rhythmic precision.
	NASA missions harvest a passel of 'pumpkin' stars Astronomers using observations from NASA's Kepler and Swift missions have discovered a batch of rapidly spinning stars that produce X-rays at more than 100 times the peak levels ever seen from the sun. The stars, which spin so fast they've been squashed into pumpkin-like shapes, are thought to be the result of close binary systems where two sun-like stars merge.
	International Space Station passes by Venus and Saturn Look west in the evening sky and Venus is almost impossible to miss, shining with a brilliant steady light. In fact, it is so bright it's often mistaken for a plane.

Technology news

	Navdy offers smart way to keep drivers connected and not getting lost along the way (Tech Xplore)—Staying connected while driving—it's a notion that continues to appeal to drivers looking for directions, eager to hear their favorite songs, and expecting some incoming calls. Distracting info overload is always a danger, but self-managing drivers seem confident they know how to keep it all safe.
	New tool detects malicious websites before they cause harm Malicious websites promoting scams, distributing malware and collecting phished credentials pervade the web. As quickly as we block or blacklist them, criminals set up new domain names to support their activities. Now a research team including Princeton University computer science professor Nick Feamster and recently graduated Ph.D. student Shuang Hao has developed a technique to make it more difficult to register new domains for nefarious purposes.
	Learning Morse code without trying It's not exactly beating something into someone's head. More like tapping it into the side.
	Apple adds keyboard touch functions to Mac in major refresh Apple's high-end Mac laptops are getting a touch-sensitive strip above the keyboard, as the company aims to spark consumer interest in a product line that's often overshadowed by newer gadgets like the iPad and iPhone.
	More changes await Twitter users as service tries to grow Twitter users are bound to see changes as the beleaguered service favored by journalists, celebrities, politicians and cranks tries to broaden its appeal and attract advertisers.
Groupon buys rival LivingSocial after reporting loss The daily deals ecommerce operator Groupon will buy its rival LivingSocial for an undisclosed amount, the companies announced Wednesday.
	Ex-Pixar executive to head federal tech innovation service A former Pixar executive who won the first ever Oscar for software is taking over a U.S. government agency responsible for improving federal digital technology.
	Samsung heir joins board, moving toward top leadership role The grandson of Samsung's founder is stepping up as its new leader after the failure of the company's flagship smartphone, the Galaxy Note 7.
Nokia in Q3 loss, sales drop amid networks downturn Mobile networks operator Nokia continued to be hit by a downturn in the industry, reporting a loss in the third quarter and a 12-percent drop in sales that saw the company's share price plunge more than 7 percent.
	Chinese ride-share king Didi Chuxing could go global Fresh from forcing Uber to back down in China, ride-sharing king Didi Chuxing plans to put what it knows to work in other parts of the world.
Samsung posts 30 percent profit plunge on Note 7 crisis Samsung Electronics on Thursday reported an expected 30 percent profit plunge on the back of a highly damaging recall crisis that hammered the reputation of the world's largest smartphone maker.
Samsung says Note 7 probe open to 'all possibilities' Samsung on Thursday acknowledged technical problems that killed off its Galaxy Note 7 may extend beyond its battery, and vowed an ongoing probe would examine all elements of the flagship smartphone.
	Robots help position interventional needles Finding the ideal position for interventional needles – as used in biopsies, for instance – is a difficult and time-consuming process. This can now be performed automatically, using a robotic arm to place a needle guide for the doctor at the optimal insertion point. With robotic assistance, doctors need five minutes to position the needle, as opposed to 30 minutes with conventional techniques. The solution will be shown at the MEDICA trade fair in Düsseldorf from November 14 to 17, 2016 (Hall 10, Booth G05).
	Deep underground, smartphones can save miners' lives American mining production increased earlier this decade, as industry sought to reduce its reliance on other countries for key minerals such as coal for energy and rare-earth metals for use in consumer electronics. But mining is dangerous – working underground carries risks of explosions, fires, flooding and dangerous concentrations of poisonous gases.
	With staff cuts, Twitter sees road to profit (Update) Still losing money and without a merger partner, Twitter said Thursday it sees a path to profitability as the struggling social network unveiled job cuts as part of a reorganization.
	Online privacy may be boosted by new FCC data rules (Update) New privacy rules may make it easier to escape at least some online tracking.
	Samsung keeps smartphone lead despite Note 7 debacle Samsung maintained its lead in the global smartphone market in the third quarter despite a massive recall that has tarnished the South Korean giant's image.
	Rising star: YouTube playing key role in Google's success YouTube has emerged as a break-out star in Google's cast of services as the online video site upstages cable television for a younger generation of viewers looking for amusement, news and music on their smartphones.
	Mobile and video pump profit at Google parent Alphabet Google parent Alphabet on Thursday reported its quarterly profit climbed 27 percent to $5.1 billion, boosted by mobile and video advertising revenue.
	Amazon misses 3Q profit forecasts Shares of Amazon.com Inc. fell in after-market trading on Thursday after the online retailer reported third-quarter net income that missed analyst expectations.
	Samsung Galaxy Note 7 troubles, by the numbers Samsung Electronics said Thursday that it has confirmed 140 cases of the Galaxy Note 7 smartphone overheating or catching fire. Samsung's President Shin Jong-kyun apologized at a meeting with shareholders, saying the company still does not know what is causing the problem.
	Efficient exploitation of energy efficiency research Carrying out research is all well and good, but what happens to the knowledge once the project has finished? Many research projects consider in advance how to use research findings, either to get a product onto the market or to define how to share the new knowledge.
	Fujitsu Semiconductor launches world's largest density 4 Mbit ReRAM product for mass production Fujitsu Semiconductor Limited today announced the launch of the 4 Mbit ReRAM MB85AS4MT, the world's largest density mass-produced ReRAM product. This is the first ReRAM product to be jointly developed with Panasonic Semiconductor Solutions Co., Ltd.
	Chip maker Qualcomm buying NXP Semiconductors in $38.1B deal Smartphone chipmaker Qualcomm is buying NXP Semiconductors N.V. in a deal valued at approximately $38 billion.
	How energy-efficient upgrades can increase your home's value Energy-efficient upgrades can not only shrink your utility bill; they can increase the value of your home.
	Amazon courts food shoppers Amazon wants you to order your turkey, stuffing and cranberry sauce online this Thanksgiving—its latest effort to make its Prime subscription service a central part of food shopping, much the way it's done for other consumer goods.

Medicine & Health news

	Facebook updates could help understand—and potentially treat—mental health disorders Our Facebook status updates, 'likes' and even photos could help researchers better understand mental health disorders with the right ethical safeguards, argue researchers from the University of Cambridge, who suggest that social networks may even be used in future to provide support and interventions, particularly among young people.
	Worth it? A faster transplant but a kidney with hepatitis C A bold experiment is giving some patients a chance at cutting years off their wait for a kidney transplant if they agree to a drastic-sounding option—getting an organ almost sure to infect them with hepatitis C.
Cause of phantom limb pain in amputees, and potential treatment, identified Researchers have discovered that a 'reorganisation' of the wiring of the brain is the underlying cause of phantom limb pain, which occurs in the vast majority of individuals who have had limbs amputated, and a potential method of treating it which uses artificial intelligence techniques.
	New approach tests the strength of immunity The immune system orchestrates large and small scale attacks on innumerous targets: viruses, bacteria, cancer, but it also misfires causing allergy or autoimmune reactions. Compounding the problem, not every immune reaction is equal - sometimes a necessary reaction is not strong enough or at times it's too strong. Now Thomas Jefferson University researchers have developed a new way to determine the strength of an immune response to a particular antigen. The results, published in Nature Communications on October 27th, could be used to help doctors personalize immune-modulating therapies - like cancer immunotherapies, or immunosuppressive therapies used in organ transplantation - more effectively.
	Mitochondria control stem cell fate What happens in intestinal epithelial cells during a chronic illness? Basic research conducted at the Chair of Nutrition and Immunology at the Technical University of Munich (TUM) addressed this question by generating a new model system. Functioning mitochondria play a decisive role in cellular homeostasis, but what happens when an important player of the anti-stress program in mitochondria is switched off? On the one hand, this leads to the loss of stem cells, but on the other, it sets healing processes in motion.
	Transplanted embryonic nerve cells can functionally integrate into damaged neural networks When it comes to recovering from insult, the adult human brain has very little ability to compensate for nerve-cell loss. Biomedical researchers and clinicians are therefore exploring the possibility of using transplanted nerve cells to replace neurons that have been irreparably damaged as a result of trauma or disease. However, it is not clear whether transplanted neurons can be integrated sufficiently, to result in restored function of the lesioned network. Now researchers at the Max Planck Institute of Neurobiology in Martinsried, the Ludwig Maximilians University Munich and the Helmholtz Zentrum München have demonstrated that, in mice, transplanted embryonic nerve cells can indeed be incorporated into an existing network and correctly carry out the tasks of damaged cells originally found in that region.
	Study finds non-invasive method that may help speed relief from depression A study by researchers at the Semel Institute for Neuroscience and Human Behavior at UCLA has found a new noninvasive way to predict which individuals will respond favorably to the most commonly used medications to treat depression—using brain wave recordings.
	Public health concern as superbug breaches Australia's final drug defence The first evidence of a superbug in a domestic cat that could infect humans and livestock has been discovered in Australia.
	A metabolic switch to turn off obesity You've tried all the diets. No matter: you've still regained the weight you lost, even though you ate well and you exercised regularly! This may be due to a particular enzyme in the brain: the alpha/beta hydrolase domain-6 enzyme, better known as ABHD6. A study published this week in Cell Reports demonstrates that when this enzyme is blocked in certain neurons of the mouse hypothalamus, it becomes impossible for them to lose weight, even if they adhere to an ideal regimen... ideal for mice that is!
	Mimicking life-like cigarette smoke exposure in human lung airway chips While it is well known that cigarette smoking is a major cause of lung disease, and a key exacerbating factor for patients suffering from chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD), it has not been possible to effectively model its deleterious effects on human lungs under normal breathing conditions.
	Natural compound reduces signs of aging in healthy mice Much of human health hinges on how well the body manufactures and uses energy. For reasons that remain unclear, cells' ability to produce energy declines with age, prompting scientists to suspect that the steady loss of efficiency in the body's energy supply chain is a key driver of the aging process.
	Research links senescent cells and atherosclerosis progression Atherosclerosis is a disease in which arteries narrow due to plaques. That narrowing can lead to heart attacks and strokes—both of which are leading causes of death in the U.S. Now, in a paper published in Science, Mayo Clinic researchers and colleagues show that senescent cells drive plaque formation in animal models of atherosclerosis.
	Research into basic workings of immune system points to way of improving therapies for cancer In people with chronic infections or cancer, disease-fighting T cells tend to behave like an overworked militia - wheezing, ill-prepared, tentative - in a state of "exhaustion" that allows disease to persist. In a paper posted online today by the journal Science, researchers at the Dana-Farber/Boston Children's Cancer and Blood Disorders Center report that, in mice with chronic viral infection, exhausted T cells are controlled by a fundamentally different set of molecular circuits than T cells effectively battling infections or cancer—a finding that suggests a way to increase the staying power of CAR T cells, a promising form of immunotherapy for cancer.
	Placebo sweet spot for pain relief found in brain Scientists have identified for the first time the region in the brain responsible for the "placebo effect" in pain relief, when a fake treatment actually results in substantial reduction of pain, according to new research from Northwestern Medicine and the Rehabilitation Institute of Chicago (RIC).
	Be your own control: Cancer sequencing differs based on genetic background of reference genome When University of Colorado Cancer Center researcher, Jing Hong Wang, MD, PhD, found more than 1,000 genetic translocations in her mouse model of B cell lymphoma, she assumed her lab had made a mistake. To rule out experimental technique as the cause of the way-more-than-expected genomic alterations, Wang's lab sequenced three different types of cells from "wildtype" mice - effectively the kind that might move into your garage in bad weather. Like the lymphoma cells before them, the cells from wildtype mice also had over a 1,000 translocations.
	Commonly prescribed medicines no more effective than placebo for pediatric migraines Prescribed medications are no more effective than a sugar pill when used to prevent migraines in children and teens.
	Engineering a cardiac stem cell therapy inspired by the body itself During a heart attack, known clinically as acute myocardial infarction (MI), cardiac muscle cells are severely damaged and eventually die.
Promising blood test fails to yield clues about strategies for bladder cancer treatment A blood test that has shown promise in predicting how cancer will progress and what treatments will be most effective for a given patient may not be reliable for either, according to a new Penn Medicine study published this week in Cancer, a peer-reviewed journal of the American Cancer Society.
	Want to exercise more? Get yourself some competition Imagine you're a CEO trying to get your employees to exercise. Most health incentive programs have an array of tools—pamphlets, websites, pedometers, coaching, team activities, step challenges, money—but what actually motivates people? Is it social support? Competition? Teamwork? Corporate leaders often try a little bit of everything.
Promise of better targeted treatments now possible in children's brain cancer More than 4,000 children and teens are diagnosed with brain cancer each year and the disease kills more children than any other cancer. Writing this week in the journal Cell Reports, researchers at Huntsman Cancer Institute (HCI) at the University of Utah report they have identified an existing group of drugs that appear to reduce or eliminate a certain subgroup of childhood brain cancers while sparing normal brain tissue. The research was conducted using a new zebrafish animal model system developed by the researchers, which closely resembles an aggressive subtype of pediatric brain tumors.
	Psychopathy increases risk of violence in romantic relationships People with higher levels of psychopathic tendencies are more likely to assault their romantic partners. They are also more likely to drink alcohol, a UBC study has found.
Molecule that 'lights up' cancer accelerating toward FDA approval The U.S. Food and Drug Administration has granted fast-track status to a Purdue University scientist's optical imaging technology that may one day significantly improve outcomes for pancreatic cancer patients.
Most pediatric ICU physicians don't use current guidelines to diagnose acute kidney injury A study by University at Buffalo researchers has shown that physicians in pediatric intensive care units are not using the newest guidelines to diagnose acute kidney injury (AKI) in critically ill children, a practice that could affect their patients' long-term health.
Early diagnosis key for artery disease that can lead to limb loss Blood circulation is not something most people think about until it becomes an issue, but a vascular surgeon at Baylor College of Medicine suggests that those with a certain medical history be evaluated for peripheral artery disease – or the narrowing of the peripheral arteries to the legs, stomach, arms and head that is associated with poor blood circulation – ahead of time to prevent serious complications.
	Scientists find oxidants aren't always the 'bad guys' when it comes to the heart Scientists funded by the British Heart Foundation have discovered that oxidants, which have historically been blamed for heart disease, have a vital role ensuring the heart pumps blood around the body effectively. The discovery, by researchers working collaboratively in Manchester and London, opens up the potential for new treatments.
	New study links America's health to social, economic and environmental factors in state comparisons The state you live in could reveal a lot about your health. In the Health of the States project, researchers at Virginia Commonwealth University's Center on Society and Health and the Urban Institute compared states on dozens of health-related measures. The first-of-its-kind study measured factors including life expectancy, heart disease prevalence and quality of life at an unprecedented level of detail.
	Can diabetes be reversed? Researchers are testing ways to do so Can type 2 diabetes be stopped in its tracks, pushed into remission, and perhaps reversed? McMaster University researchers want to find out.
	Number games with preschoolers count for little, study suggests New research suggests playing counting games with young children does little to improve their numeracy skills.
	Poor young women at greater risk of unintended pregnancies Poor women have fewer but longer relationships, use contraceptives less frequently and use less effective methods than women from more advantaged backgrounds, according to a new University of Michigan study.
	Is more, better? Finding the balance between nutritional supplements and eye health In the past decade, ophthalmologists have been prescribing nutritional supplements to be taken daily to prevent or slow vision loss from age-related macular degeneration (AMD). Now, using nutritional supplements for eye health has become more common. But does increasing the recommended dose increase your protection?
	Study finds lack of benefit of cranberry in reducing urinary tract infections among older women Among older women residing in nursing homes, administration of cranberry capsules compared with placebo resulted in no significant difference in presence of bacteriuria plus pyuria (presence of bacteria and white blood cells in the urine, a sign of urinary tract infection [UTI]), or in the number of episodes of UTIs over l year, according to a study published online by JAMA. The study is being released to coincide with its presentation at IDWeek 2016.
Prognostic role of side where colon cancer occurs Does the location of colon cancer—left or right side—matter for survival? A new report published online by JAMA Oncology reviewed medical literature to examine the prognostic role of a primary colon cancer tumor being located on the left vs. right side.
	How 'neurosexism' is holding back gender equality – and science itself People looking for proof that men and women learn, speak, solve problems or read maps differently often think brain scanners are the ultimate answer. And it's easy to see why. Whether you want to advocate separate schools for girls and boys or sex-segregated training of our armed forces, you can be sure to find brightly colour-coded maps highlighting differences between males and females in various brain areas – potentially backing up your argument.
Application of comprehensive chromosome screening could improve IVF success An increase in the frequency of polymorphic variants among infertile patients compared with fertile donors suggest they have an impact on fertility.
	50-year-old bacteria could be alternative treatment option for cancer According to the Centers for Disease Control, 48 million Americans contract foodborne diseases annually, with Salmonella being the leading cause of illness. Salmonella has a unique characteristic that allows the bacteria to penetrate through cell barriers and replicate inside its host. Now, scientists at the Cancer Research Center and the University of Missouri have developed a non-toxic strain of Salmonella to penetrate and target cancer cells. Results from this study could lead to promising new treatments that actively target and control the spread of cancer.
Shift work has negative impact on most employees' health Most people who work shifts in Ireland regularly skip meals and do not get enough sleep, according to new research led by an investigator at University College Dublin.
Vaccination of newborn mice with bacteria suppresses asthma as adults The hygiene hypothesis proposes that a 20th century surge in allergies and asthma is because people are living in increasingly hygienic environments. Rather than the rural farm life of the agricultural 19th century, families live in urban and suburban communities, have fewer children who can exchange infections, bathe and wash their hands more frequently, and use antibiotics excessively. This all means reduced infant exposure to microbes that would have tempered excessive immune reactions, such as asthma, later in life.
	New research reveals pictograms help seniors understand medication instructions Simple images designed to convey information about prescription drugs could help save lives and reduce the economic burden of non-adherence to treatment. New research published in Applied Ergonomics shows that including pictograms on written medication instructions helps seniors take their drugs correctly.
	Asthma study provides 'paradigm shift' in understanding of life-threatening condition A new study led by the University of Leicester to understand how to improve the health of severe asthma patients has made a breakthrough finding.
	Childhood bullying places 'long term strain' on UK mental health services New research shows that childhood bullying has a strong link to mental health service use throughout a person's life, putting additional strain on an "already overstretched" UK healthcare system.
Blood test for early osteoarthritis diagnosis unveiled Patients could soon be diagnosed with early-stage arthritis several years before the onset of physical and irreversible symptoms, thanks to a new test developed by researchers at the University of Warwick.
	Team announces mapping of the mouse cortex in 3-D The Allen Institute for Brain Science has completed the three-dimensional mapping of the mouse cortex as part of the Allen Mouse Common Coordinate Framework (CCF): a standardized spatial coordinate system for comparing many types of data on the brain from the suite of Allen Brain Atlas resources.
	The transition from daylight saving time to standard time leads to depressions The number of people diagnosed with depression at psychiatric hospitals increases immediately after the transition from daylight saving time to standard time. This is the conclusion of a recent register-based study from Denmark. The study is based on analysis of 185,419 depression diagnoses registered in The Central Psychiatric Research Register between 1995 and 2012.
Death vs. another hospital stay: Study suggests Medicare should weigh them equally In the last few years, American hospitals have focused like hawks on how to keep patients from coming back within a few weeks of getting out.
	Stopped hearts need more research to start: Review shows lack of cardiac arrest studies Hundreds of thousands of times a year in this country, a heart stops suddenly, when the electrical signals that keep it beating go tragically haywire.
	High blood pressure can impair cognitive function, pose risk for Alzheimer's High blood pressure in middle age can lead to impaired cognition and is a potential risk factor for Alzheimer's disease, according to a statement from the American Heart Association co-authored by Loyola Medicine neurologist José Biller, MD.
	Team illuminates molecular player in morphine addiction and rare disease In a remarkable "two for one" discovery, scientists from the Florida campus of The Scripps Research Institute (TSRI) have illuminated a key molecular player in the addictive effects of morphine in animal models.
	To treat one rare blood disorder, scientists exploit another For the nearly 400,000 individuals around the world with hemophilia A and hemophilia B—rare blood disorders that impair a person's ability to form clots to stop bleeding—relief may someday come from a treatment with similarities to another blood disorder, known as factor V Leiden.
Researchers unveil new wound-healing role for protein-folding gene in mice National Institutes of Health researchers have identified a novel role for a gene known as heat shock protein 60 (Hsp60), finding that it is critical in tissue regeneration and wound healing. The study found that topical treatment of an Hsp60-containing gel dramatically accelerates wound closure in a diabetic mouse model.
Hospital rooms and patients equally likely to transmit pathogens Hospital rooms, not just the patients in them, can spread germs through contact with health care personnel, a Duke Health study reports.
	Scientists develop 'world-first' 3-D mammary gland model A team of researchers from Cardiff University and Monash Biomedicine Discovery Institute has succeeded in creating a three-dimensional mammary gland model that will pave the way for a better understanding of the mechanisms of breast cancer.
	Could apps be the answer to self-managing diabetes? Smart phone apps could offer patients with type 2 diabetes a highly effective method of self-managing their condition, concludes a study by Cardiff University.
Nurses' scrubs often contaminated with bad bugs Bad bugs readily spread from patients in the intensive care unit (ICU) to nurses' scrubs and the room, according to research being presented at IDWeek 2016. The sleeves and pockets of the scrubs and the bed railing were the most likely to be contaminated.
Regular dental visits may help prevent pneumonia, study shows That twice-yearly trip to the dentist could do more than keep teeth and gums healthy: It may decrease the risk of pneumonia by reducing bacteria in the mouth, suggests research being presented at IDWeek 2016.
	Fatty liver: Turning off TAZ reverses disease Scientists at Columbia University Medical Center (CUMC) have identified a factor in liver cells that is responsible for turning a relatively benign liver condition, present in 30 percent of U.S. adults, into a serious disease that can lead to liver failure.
	Medicaid policies that help smokers quit also save on health care costs Medicaid policies that require patients to go for tobacco-cessation counseling before they get a nicotine patch or some other type of anti-smoking drug actually lead to a reduction in the use of such medication, according to a study by Leighton Ku, PhD, MPH, Professor of Health Policy and Management at Milken Institute School of Public Health (Milken Institute SPH) at the George Washington University. Medicaid agencies that adopted the policy did so because they thought it would give smokers a powerful tool to help them quit. But this study suggests that the policy did the opposite—and actually lowered the use of anti-smoking medication by one-quarter to one-third.
3-D tumors grown in the lab provide new perspective for cancer drug discovery Understanding how cells within tumors respond to drugs is a critical issue in anticancer drug development. In an article published in Cell Chemical Biology researchers from Uppsala University report a new approach to study cancer cells' reactions to treatments and present how it can be used to find new promising drug combinations.
	Effect of facial expression on emotional state not replicated in multilab study A coordinated replication effort conducted across 17 labs found no evidence that surreptitiously inducing people to smile or frown affects their emotional state. The findings of the replication project are published as part of a Registered Replication Report (RRR) in Perspectives on Psychological Science, a journal of the Association for Psychological Science.
	Enzyme is crucial for combatting antibiotic-resistant E. coli infections Research by bioscientists at the University of Kent and the University of Queensland is expected to pave the way for new approaches to kill bacteria that no longer respond to conventional antibiotics.
	Researchers use video game-like test to study learning and recovery in stroke patients A robotic arm and a virtual game were essential tools in a new study from researchers at Johns Hopkins Medicine. The study results suggest that while training doesn't change neurological repair in chronic stroke patients, it can indeed help such patients learn new motor skills and achieve more independence in their daily lives.
	Study finds optimal walking and cycling speeds to reduce air pollution inhalation Cyclists should be riding at speeds between 12 and 20 kilometres per hour on city roads, while pedestrians should be moving at two to six kilometres per hour to minimize their inhalation of air pollution while still getting the health benefits of exercise, according to new UBC research.
Stability of exhausted T cells limits durability of cancer checkpoint drugs Checkpoint inhibitor drugs that boost the immune system to fight cancer owe part of their existence to infectious diseases. Microbes that cause diseases like HIV, malaria, and hepatitis C exploit and often activate the same checkpoint pathways—cell surface receptors such as CTLA4 and PD-1—to slow immune cells and prevent their elimination by the host.
	Resveratrol reverses heart damage in mice with Chagas disease Resveratrol is the antioxidant found in red wine and famous as a food supplement capable of mimicking the effects of exercise and low calorie diets in the heart. Now Vilar-Pereira and colleagues show that treatment with resveratrol reverses heart damage and improves heart function in mice with Chagas disease, in a new study published in PLOS Pathogens. The findings open up a new potential pathway to better treatments in humans.
	Normal insulin rhythm restored in mouse pancreas cells by glucose pulse Pulses of the sugar glucose can restore normal insulin release in mouse pancreas cells that have been exposed to excess glucose, according to a study published in PLOS Computational Biology. This finding could improve understanding of high blood sugar, also known as hyperglycemia, which is a hallmark of Type 2 diabetes.
	Have a dental emergency? Your smartphone may soon be able to help you avoid trip to the ER Have a dental emergency? Your smartphone may be able to help you avoid an unnecessary trip to the hospital.
	Battle hymns and lullabies: Scientist sheds light on the T cell orchestra In research published in the prestigious journal Immunity, a Saint Louis University researcher reports new findings that help understand how the immune system's dendritic cells direct other immune cells called T lymphocytes to continue to learn tolerance for the body's own cells.
Impulsive personality linked to greater risk for early onset of meth use Methamphetamine users who described themselves as impulsive were more likely to have started taking the drug at an earlier age, a study of more than 150 users showed.
	Antibody breaks leukemia's hold, providing new therapeutic approach Acute myeloid leukemia (AML) is an aggressive cancer known for drug resistance and relapse. In an effort to uncover new treatment strategies, researchers at University of California San Diego School of Medicine and Moores Cancer Center discovered that a cell surface molecule known as CD98 promotes AML. The study, published October 27 by Cancer Cell, also shows that inhibiting CD98 with the therapeutic antibody IGN523 blocks AML growth in patient-derived cells and mouse models.
Male birth control shots prevent pregnancy Men can take birth control shots to prevent pregnancy in their female partners, according to a new study published in the Endocrine Society's Journal of Clinical Endocrinology & Metabolism.
Customized vitamin D supplements may benefit pregnant women Individualized supplement doses help protect pregnant women from vitamin D deficiency, according to a new study published in the Endocrine Society's Journal of Clinical Endocrinology & Metabolism.
Statement provides blueprint for healthcare providers to translate nutrition recs Healthcare providers who counsel people about choosing a healthier eating pattern are encouraged to consider personal, ethnic, and cultural preferences and use easy- to-understand language and food examples, according to a new scientific statement from the American Heart Association.
Young people with liver conditions face an elevated risk of depression and anxiety Researchers have found that many teens and young adults with chronic liver conditions suffer from depression and anxiety, which can have considerable impacts on their emotional and physical health. The findings, which are published in Liver Transplantation, indicate that greater attention should be directed to the mental health of these young patients.
Auto insurers: Distraction big factor in traffic death surge Auto insurers believe drivers who text, use smartphone apps or are otherwise distracted are a big factor in the recent surge in traffic fatalities and injuries, an industry official said Thursday.
	Telerehabilitation through Internet ameliorate the life of women suffering breast cancer Researchers from the University of Granada (UGR) and from hospitals Virgen de las Nieves and San Cecilio (Granada) have proven that "telerehabilitation" (rehabilitation with the help of the internet using the application Skype as a control platform) may help to alleviate the side effects associated with breast cancer and its treatment, including pain, fatigue, strength loss, quality of life deterioration, etc.
Development of multifunctional films for peripheral nerve regeneration A vast number of people are affected by different types of peripheral neuropathies in United States alone. Peripheral nerve injuries frequently occur in people involved in accidents or in combat veterans who suffered loss of limb function or paralysis. The global nerve repair market is expected to grow from approximately $5 billion in 2015 to about $10 billion by 2020. To take care of peripheral nerve injuries, implantable devices in the shape of tubes or conduits are designed to facilitate the growth of nerves after they get damaged.
Many young children with liver failure die while waiting for a transplant or soon after receiving one A new analysis reveals unacceptable mortality rates in young US children with chronic liver disease while they are on transplant waiting lists as well as after transplantation.
Concern that radiation may contribute to development of Alzheimer's More humans than ever are exposed to higher levels of ionizing radiation from medical equipment, airplanes, etc. A new study suggests that this kind of radiation may be a confounding factor in the neurodegenerative disease Alzheimer's.
Arkansas court disqualifies 2nd medical marijuana proposal The Arkansas Supreme Court on Thursday disqualified a medical marijuana proposal from the ballot less than two weeks before the election and with thousands of votes already cast, but voters will still be able to consider a competing plan.
Patients benefit from tranexamic acid in surgery, withholding blood pressure meds before Four innovative studies exploring ways to reduce complications related to heart surgery or minimize patient mortality due to risks associated with low blood pressure and surgery were highlighted during the Anesthesiology Major Trials Session held at the ANESTHESIOLOGY 2016 annual meeting.
	Large integrated health outcomes study reveals shifting epidemiology in drug-resistant organisms A first-of-its-kind study of 900,000 hospital admissions from an integrated health system has yielded insights into shifts in the epidemiology of multi-drug resistant organisms (MDROs) in the community.
	People in Florida's latest Zika 'hot zone' want more buzz Mosquitoes bite everyone, not just Haitians. It's a point health educator Marie-Jose Ledan is sure to make when she approaches Little Haiti's churches, laundromats and mom-and-pop businesses about protecting people from the Zika virus.
	Health law consumers face least choice in program's history Americans in the health insurance markets created by President Barack Obama's law will have less choice next year than any time since the program started, a new county-level analysis for The Associated Press has found.

Biology news

Common cuckoo and warbler eggshells undergo similar levels of eggshell thinning As avian embryos develop, they draw needed calcium from the inner most layer of their eggshell, which in turn thins the eggshell and facilitates hatching. Yet, parasitic cuckoos, which lay their eggs in nests of other bird species (hosts), must maintain thick eggshells to avoid pecking and ejection by the sharp beaks of the foster parents. A new study in the Journal of Zoology shows that common cuckoo eggs undergo similar degrees of embryonic eggshell thinning as eggs of their host, thus maintaining thick-shelled eggs at all stages of development.
	How a fungus inhibits the immune system of plants A newly discovered protein from a fungus is able to suppress the innate immune system of plants. This has been reported by research teams from Cologne and Würzburg in the journal Nature Communications.
	'Neighbor maps' reveal the genome's 3-D shape A group coordinated by SISSA Trieste has built a 3-D computer model of the human genome. The shape of DNA (and its sequence) affects biological processes and is crucial for understanding its function. The study has provided an approximate but realistic 3-D identikit of the human genome. The resulting structural reconstruction, based on experimental information and statistical methods, will be refined as new experimental data become available. The study is published in Scientific Reports.
	Excess wildfire, cheatgrass affecting sage-grouse—targeted actions needed Larger, more frequent wildfires across the Great Basin have contributed significantly to a decline in greater sage-grouse, according to a new study that also indicates that if this trend continues unabated, it could reduce the population of this indicator species to 43 percent of its present numbers.
	Research group suggests using guppies to control mosquitoes be abandoned (Phys.org)—A team of researchers with members from the U.S., the West Indies, Canada and Brazil has conducted a survey of research efforts looking into the effectiveness and safety of releasing guppies to reduce the number of mosquitoes and report that evidence supporting such use is lacking—they also note that guppies can become an invasive species putting other species at risk. In their paper published in the journal Biology Letters, the team describes their research and why they believe that guppies are not an effective tool for fighting the spread of infectious diseases.
	Study shows mixed fortunes for Signy penguins A forty year study on a remote Antarctic island shows that while populations of two penguin species are declining, a third is increasing. Analysis of census data from Signy Island in the South Orkney Islands reveals that, between 1978 and 2016, the number of chinstrap penguin pairs declined by nearly 70 per cent. Pairs of Adélie penguins dropped by more than 40 per cent but the number of gentoo penguin pairs more than trebled.
	Midwater ocean creatures use nanotech camouflage Crustaceans that thrive in the vastness of the open ocean have no place to hide from their predators.
	Ten months in the air without landing Common swifts are known for their impressive aerial abilities, capturing food and nest material while in flight. Now, by attaching data loggers to the birds, researchers reporting in the Cell Press journal Current Biology on October 27 have confirmed what some had suspected: common swifts can go for most of the year (10 months!) without ever coming down.
	Mutant plants reveal temperature sensor As we push the limits of agriculture to feed more people in a warmer world, we do not understand how plants sense temperature.
	Plant 'thermometer' discovered that triggers springtime budding by measuring night-time heat An international team of scientists led by the University of Cambridge has discovered the 'thermometer' molecule that enables plants to develop according to seasonal temperature changes.
	Genome sequencing reveals ancient interbreeding between chimpanzees and bonobos For the first time, scientists have revealed ancient gene mixing between chimpanzees and bonobos, mankind's closest relatives, showing parallels with Neanderthal mixing in human ancestry. Published today in the journal Science, the study from scientists at the Wellcome Trust Sanger Institute and their international collaborators showed that 1% of chimpanzee genomes are derived from bonobos.
	How sharks recycle toxic ammonia to keep their skin moist The Pacific spiny dogfish shark is a master at recycling the ocean's toxic ammonia and converting it into useful urea, according to new research from University of British Columbia (UBC) zoologists.
	Underfed worms program their babies to cope with famine Going hungry at an early age can cause lifelong health problems. But the extent of malnutrition's damage depends on mom's diet too—at least in worms.
	Humanity decimating planetary wildlife Nearly three-fifths of all animals with a backbone—fish, birds, amphibians, reptiles and mammals—have been wiped out since 1970 by human appetites and activity, according to a grim study released Thursday.
	Forage sorghum management, hybrids determine silage value Unique data for forage sorghums, including varying feed values and management needs of different hybrids, is coming out of a Texas A&M AgriLife trial being conducted near Bushland.
	Genes help scientists track odd migrations of Zika mosquitoes Mosquitoes that carry Zika virus and Dengue fever are genetically distinct throughout the globe, a fact that may help public health officials assess risk to populations newly exposed to the species, a new Yale-led study shows.
	New invention aids detection of prevalent parasitic disease Researchers from The University of Western Australia have invented a device that can detect very small quantities of the parasite eggs that cause schistosomiasis in humans which are currently difficult to detect.
Paws without claws? Effects of carnivore comeback in European anthropogenic landscapes In most European countries there are now permanent, reproducing populations of wolves, lynx and/or brown bears. In some countries, all three. But it is not virgin land that these animals recolonize, but rather lands that are characterized by high human activity.
	Report: Wildlife populations halved on average since '70s Global wildlife populations have fallen an average of 58 percent from 1970 levels, with human activity reducing the numbers of elephants in Tanzania, maned wolves in Brazil, salamanders in the United States and orcas in the waters of Europe, researchers say.
	First direct visualization of archaella's rotation using cross-kymography Microorganisms have sophisticated motility mechanisms that enable them to move in response to changes in the environment. These mechanisms are well characterized in bacteria, which use flagella to propel themselves. In contrast, little is known about how archaea swim. In a study published recently by Yoshiaki Kinosita and co-authors in Nature Microbiology, researchers at Gakushuin University and Tohoku University clarified how the swimming model archaeon Halobacterium salinarum produces motility by using its rotary archaella filaments.
New warning over spread of ash dieback The ash dieback fungus could spread more quickly and affect more trees than previously expected, according to research at the University of Exeter.
	Family of scaffold web spiders increased with 20 percent following discovery of 43 new species Recent study into spider individuals collected from across China, Indonesia, Philippines, Singapore, Thailand, Vietnam and Madagascar over the past 15 years, revealed the striking number of 43 scaffold web spiders that have stayed hidden from science until now. By describing the new species in a paper published in the open access journal ZooKeys, scientists from Sichuan University and the Chinese Academy of Sciences increase the number of a scaffold web spider family (Nesticidae), known from around the world, with about twenty percents.
	Researchers root for more cassava research Cassava makes up nearly 50 percent of the diet in parts of Sub-Saharan Africa, where populations are projected to increase by more than 120% in the next 30 years. With stagnant yields for the last half century, scientists realize the need to focus their efforts on this crop now. It is particularly valuable for rural smallholder farmers.
	Vietnam seizes third illegal ivory shipment in a month Vietnam customs officials have seized nearly one tonne of ivory hidden in a timber shipment from Kenya, an official said Thursday, the third major illegal haul of precious tusks in less than a month.
	Herbivores, sustainability, and trophy hunting in the Matetsi Trophy hunting is the selective hunting and harvesting of wild game for human recreation—with the "trophy" being the portion of the animal that is kept, ranging from the entire animal to the head, skin, pelt, horns, or antlers. Even before more recent controversies related to black rhinos or Cecil the lion, trophy hunting has been a contentious issue. Those for the practice point out the financial benefits to local communities and to conservation efforts, while opponents question the morality of the practice or the motives of the hunters, along with the supposed conservation benefits. Much work has focused on the impacts of trophy hunting on large predators (1, 2, 3, 4). Victor Muposhi, from The School of Wildlife, Ecology and Conversation at Chinhoui University of Technology in Zimbabwe and his co-authors recently published a study in PLOS One on the temporal dynamics of trophy quality and harvesting patterns of wild herbivores in central Africa.
	World body agrees to stricter oversight of Japan's whale hunts The world's whaling watchdog voted Thursday to conduct stricter reviews of whales killed under an exemption to a 30-year-old moratorium which Japan's critics say it abuses to hunt for meat.

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