Science X Newsletter Tuesday, Aug 22

Dear Reader ,

Here is your customized Science X Newsletter for August 22, 2017:

Spotlight Stories Headlines

Unconventional quantum systems may lead to novel optical devices

Astronomers detect methanol maser emission towards nearby galaxy

Physicists explore a new recipe for heating plasma

Electrons flowing like liquid in graphene start a new wave of physics

Stretchable biofuel cells extract energy from sweat to power wearable devices

Common antiseptic ingredients de-energize cells and impair hormone response

Biologists show how plants turn off genes they don't need

Hidden river once flowed beneath Antarctic ice

Google to serve next version of Android as 'Oreo"

Where's the kelp? Warm ocean takes toll on undersea forests

Drone team took cues from birds for fixed-wing perching on vertical surfaces

Retaining one normal BRCA gene in breast, ovarian cancers influences patient survival

Turning human waste into plastic, nutrients could aid long-distance space travel

'Coffee-ring effect' harnessed to provide rapid, low-cost analysis of tap water

Cyborg bacteria outperform plants when turning sunlight into useful compounds

Astronomy & Space news

	Astronomers detect methanol maser emission towards nearby galaxy (Phys.org)—Using the Australia Telescope Compact Array (ATCA), a team of astronomers has detected methanol emission toward a nearby galaxy known as NGC 4945. The finding, reported Aug. 18 in a paper published on arXiv.org, could be helpful in improving our understanding of star formation processes.
	Variable sunshine— researchers explain why our Sun's brightness fluctuates The Sun shines from the heavens, seemingly calm and unvarying. In fact, it doesn't always shine with uniform brightness, but shows dimmings and brightenings. Two phenomena alone are responsible for these fluctuations: the magnetic fields on the visible surface and gigantic plasma currents, bubbling up from the star's interior. A team headed by the Max Planck Institute for Solar System Research in Göttingen reports this result in today's issue of Nature Astronomy. For the first time, the scientists have managed to reconstruct fluctuations in brightness on all time scales observed to date – from minutes up to decades. These new insights are not only important for climate research, but can also be applied to distant stars. And they may simplify the future search for exoplanets.
	The moving Martian bow shock As the energetic particles of the solar wind speed across interplanetary space, their motion is modified by objects in their path. A study, based on data from ESA's Mars Express orbiter, has thrown new light on a surprising interaction between the planet Mars and supersonic particles in the solar wind.
	There could be snow on Mars – here's how that's possible Given that there are ambitious plans to colonise Mars in the near future, it is surprising how much we still have to learn about what it would be like to actually live on the planet. Take the weather, for instance. We know there are wild fluctuations in Mars's climate – and that it is very windy and at times cloudy (though too cold and dry for rainfall). But does it snow? Might settlers on Mars be able to see the red planet turn white? A new study surprisingly suggests so.
A trace of galaxies at the heart of a gigantic galaxy cluster Very large yet faint galaxies have been found where no one would have expected them – in the middle of a giant galaxy cluster. Heidelberg astronomers discovered the extremely-low density galaxies, known as ultra-diffuse galaxies, a find that is "both remarkable and puzzling", states Dr Thorsten Lisker. The research work was carried out by Carolin Wittmann in Dr Lisker's team at the Centre for Astronomy of Heidelberg University (ZAH). The results have been published in the Monthly Notices of the Royal Astronomical Society

Technology news

	Stretchable biofuel cells extract energy from sweat to power wearable devices A team of engineers has developed stretchable fuel cells that extract energy from sweat and are capable of powering electronics, such as LEDs and Bluetooth radios. The biofuel cells generate 10 times more power per surface area than any existing wearable biofuel cells. The devices could be used to power a range of wearable devices.
	Google to serve next version of Android as 'Oreo" An upcoming update to Google's Android software finally has a delectable name. The next version will be known as Oreo, extending Google's tradition of naming each version after a sweet treat.
	Drone team took cues from birds for fixed-wing perching on vertical surfaces (Tech Xplore)—Reliable perching? Roboticists working with fixed-wing drones know that is not so easy if the drone is to qualify as a useful UAV. Well, now there is a drone capable of landing on walls like a bird, and drone watchers are impressed.
	Designing custom robots in a matter of minutes Even as robots become increasingly common across different parts of our world, they remain incredibly difficult to make. From designing and modeling to fabricating and testing, the process is slow and costly: even one small change can mean days or weeks of rethinking and revising important hardware.
	Newest solar cells underperform in cloudy countries To determine how efficient new solar cells convert sunlight into electricity, small sample cells are tested under ideal conditions. However, the reported efficiency is not very representative of the actual annual yield when the cells are placed onto a rooftop and exposed to the Dutch weather. In an article published in ACS Energy Letters on August 22, 2017, AMOLF researchers present a model that predicts how the next generation of solar cells will perform under realistic conditions.
	Tricking the eye to defeat shoulder surfing attacks Every ATM or smartphone user can attest to the discomfort of having a stranger standing close enough to observe a financial transaction—and potentially note a PIN or account number. Now researchers at the NYU Tandon School of Engineering have announced a first-of-its-kind application to combat such "shoulder-surfing," whether in person or via a building's video camera.
Boeing, Northrop get contracts for nuclear missile work The Air Force said Monday it has awarded contracts to Boeing Co. and Northrop Grumman Corp. for work that could lead to replacement of the nation's intercontinental ballistic missiles.
	'Fashnology' a factor for picking wearable devices, researchers find From fitness bands to smart glasses, wearable technology has grown in popularity in recent years. But what prompts people to put on a wearable device? A recent study conducted by researchers at Missouri University of Science and Technology provides some answers.
	Mimicking the reflexive detection ability of the animal visual system for computer detection of moving objects The detection of moving objects is one of the most fundamental and important mechanisms of the animal visual system, having evolved to quickly detect both predators and prey. Yet reproducing the ability of animals to reflexively detect moving objects has remained elusive.
	Car industry needs cybersecurity rules to deal with the hacking threat It's common to hear modern cars referred to as computers on wheels. They boast sensors that measure fuel and braking, along with built-in navigation and infotainment systems. These digital systems could be hacked and Australia needs to preemptively tackle this threat.
	How long will you keep playing? The game knows We have a tendency to consider ourselves unique and unpredictable, but digital games research shows that this is far from the case. In fact, we can be categorised into groups of people who show the same behaviours, and what we do in the future is imminently predictable. For example, how you play a game will reveal what you are likely to do in the game next and how long you are going to stay interested in doing it. This means that games can now change tack while you're in them to provide you with the best possible experience and to encourage you to keep playing.
	Greening the concrete jungle—how to make environmentally friendly cement Cement is the world's most widely used material apart from water, largely because it is the key ingredient in concrete, the world's favourite building material.
It's hard to find a humble CEO. Here's why Humility is the latest badge of virtue for those in positions of influence. From politicians, to executives, to chart-topping artists.
Expert discusses how cities should respond to urban vehicular attacks Last week, a van was driven into pedestrians on Las Ramblas in Barcelona, killing 13 and injuring at least 130 people, and the driver then killed a 14th victim in order to steal his car and escape. Later in the same day, five men from the same terrorist cell drove into pedestrians in nearby Cambrils, killing one woman and injuring six others. Here, Reader in International Politics Martin Coward discusses these attacks, and how cities can respond to them.
	Cleaner diesel on the horizon On September 1, 2017, new emissions regulations for passenger vehicles will come into force in the EU and Switzerland. These will plug the gaps in the existing legislation and ensure that diesel vehicles in particular become considerably cleaner as regards their nitric oxide emissions. However, they will also permit existing vehicles to continue to be sold for some time. Empa recommends buying diesel vehicles only if they have been approved in accordance with Euro 6d-TEMP or Euro 6d.
	Iran in talks to unblock Twitter, says new minister Iran's new communications minister said Tuesday that negotiations were underway with Twitter to unblock the service, which has been banned for years despite being used even by the country's supreme leader.
	Accelerating the mobile web: 'Vroom' software could double its speed Despite that most web traffic today comes from smartphones and tablets, the mobile web remains inconveniently slow. Even on fast 4G networks, a page takes 14 seconds to load on average—an eternity in today's connected world.
	Facebook losing teens to Instagram-Snapchat: forecast Facebook use in the US will slow as teens and young adults opt for smartphone image-sharing services Instagram and Snapchat, according to an eMarketer forecast released on Tuesday.
	Flaw detector for testing composite aircrafts A thermal flaw detector developed at Tomsk Polytechnic University will be used in the manufacturing of a new aircraft to replace the AN-2. The new model fully consists of composite materials and is developed by the Siberian Aeronautical Research Institute S. A. Chaplygin (SibNIA), Novosibirsk, Russia.
A disposable alcohol test reveals whether you are fit to drive within two minutes The Finnish company Goodwiller has launched a rapid alcohol test it has developed in collaboration with VTT that measures the blood alcohol content from saliva. A disposable test fits easily into a small wallet and reveals the user's fitness to drive within couple of minutes.
	Verizon tweaks prices, cuts video quality on unlimited plans Verizon is raising the price of its unlimited plan while introducing a slightly cheaper, more limited version as wireless carriers battle each other for customers.

Medicine & Health news

	Common antiseptic ingredients de-energize cells and impair hormone response A new in-vitro study by University of California, Davis, researchers indicates that quaternary ammonium compounds, or "quats," used as antimicrobial agents in common household products inhibit mitochondria, the powerhouses of the cell, as well as estrogenic functions in cells. Their findings will appear online Aug. 22 in Environmental Health Perspectives, a publication of the National Institute of Environmental Health Sciences.
	Retaining one normal BRCA gene in breast, ovarian cancers influences patient survival Determining which cancer patients are likely to be resistant to initial treatment is a major research effort of oncologists and laboratory scientists. Now, ascertaining who might fall into that category may become a little easier for physicians taking care of people with BRCA1/2 mutations. Researchers in the Perelman School of Medicine at the University of Pennsylvania found a relationship between the genetics of tumors with germline BRCA1/2 mutations and whether the tumor retains the normal copy of the BRCA1/2 gene, and risk for primary resistance to a common chemotherapy that works by destroying cancer cells' DNA. The team published their study this week in Nature Communications.
	Brain region mediates pleasure of eating Providing the body with food is essential for survival. But even when full, we can still take pleasure in eating. Researchers at the Max Planck Institute of Neurobiology in Martinsried and the Friedrich Miescher Institute in Basel have characterized a type of neuron in the amygdala of the mouse brain that is involved in making eating rewarding. When given the choice, mice choose to activate these amygdala neurons. Artificially activating these neurons increases food intake even when the mice are not hungry. The neurobiologists have identified the neuronal circuitry underlying this behavior, raising the possibility that there could be cells with a similar function in the human brain.
	Study provides insight into link between two rare tumor syndromes UCLA researchers have discovered that timing is everything when it comes to preventing a specific gene mutation in mice from developing rare and fast-growing cancerous tumors, which also affects young children. This mutation can also cause a benign tumor condition in humans in adulthood.
	Activating brain region creates intense desire to use cocaine Researchers have identified a portion of the brain that intensifies one's desire for certain rewards—in this case, mimicking addiction to cocaine.
	High moral reasoning associated with increased activity in the human brain's reward system Individuals who have a high level of moral reasoning show increased activity in the brain's frontostriatal reward system, both during periods of rest and while performing a sequential risk taking and decision making task according to a new study from researchers at the Perelman School of Medicine, the Wharton School of the University of Pennsylvania, Shanghai International Studies University in Shanghai, China and Charité Universitätsmediz in Berlin, Germany. The findings from the study, published this month in Scientific Reports, may help researchers to understand how brain function differs in individuals at different stages of moral reasoning and why some individuals who reach a high level of moral reasoning are more likely to engage in certain "prosocial" behaviors - such as performing community service or giving to charity - based on more advanced principles and ethical rules.
	Scientists find RNA with special role in nerve healing process Scientists may have identified a new opening to intervene in the process of healing peripheral nerve damage with the discovery that an "anti-sense" RNA (AS-RNA) is expressed when nerves are injured. Their experiments in mice show that the AS-RNA helps to regulate how damaged nerves rebuild their coating of myelin, which, like the cladding around a cable or wire, is crucial for making nerves efficient conductors.
	Mouse model of human immune system inadequate for stem cell studies A type of mouse widely used to assess how the human immune system responds to transplanted stem cells does not reflect what is likely to occur in patients, according to a study by researchers at the Stanford University School of Medicine. The researchers urge further optimization of this animal model before making decisions about whether and when to begin wide-scale stem cell transplants in humans.
	Firing of neurons changes the cells that insulate them Through their pattern of firing, neurons influence the behavior of the cells that upon maturation will provide insulation of neuronal axons, according to a new study publishing 22 August in the open access journal PLOS Biology by Balint Nagy, Maria Kukley and colleagues at the University of Tübingen, Germany. The findings suggest the existence of a complex and nuanced interplay between neurons and the non-neuronal cells that support and protect them.
	Wealth disparity and family income impact the brain development of female youth Female teenagers living in neighbourhoods with wide salary gaps and a low-income household show changes to their brain maturation that could indicate a higher risk of developing mental illness in adulthood, suggests a recently published study by Canadian researchers.
	Contact in sports may lead to differences in the brains of young, healthy athletes People who play contact sports show changes to their brain structure and function, with sports that have greater risk of body contact showing greater effects on the brain, a new study has found.
	New report finds growing number of people in Ontario treated for opioid addiction The rate at which people are being prescribed opioids to treat pain in Ontario has stabilized while the amount of drugs they receive has declined considerably, a new report has found. However, nearly 40 per cent of long-acting opioids prescribed to people already using opioids to treat pain still had daily doses that exceeded new national guidelines.
	A&E attendance for people with dementia is common and increasing A new paper published today in the journal Alzheimer's & Dementia: The Journal of the Alzheimer's Association found that Accident and Emergency (A&E) attendance among people with dementia in their last year of life is common and is increasing.
Close friendships in high school predict improvements in mental health in young adulthood Adolescence is a time of social challenges and changing expectations. While relationships with peers may be important for youth at this time, do they also have implications over time? A new longitudinal study suggests that the types of peer relationships youth make in high school matter for mental health through young adulthood. The study, authored by researchers at the University of Virginia, is published in the journal Child Development.
Mothers' responses to their babies' distress help predict infant attachment The security of the relationship infants establish with their mothers is important for children's development. Although most babies establish secure attachment relationships with their mothers, approximately 40% of infants establish insecure attachment relationships, with some developing insecure-avoidant attachments (minimizing expressing negative emotions and avoiding contact with their mothers when they're afraid or uncertain) and others developing insecure-resistant attachments (becoming emotionally overwhelmed and inconsolable by their mothers in these circumstances). These infants are at risk of problems later in life. A new study sought to identify factors that predict infants' avoidance and resistance, looking specifically at how mothers respond physiologically and emotionally to their infants' distress.
	Getting fat to 'talk' again could lower blood glucose and weight Diabetes is a tough disease to manage. Oral medications, insulin shots, close monitoring of blood sugar, dietary changes and exercise can all factor into a person's treatment regimen. Now researchers are exploring a novel, simpler approach: implanting a polymer sponge into fat tissue. Their study has shown that in obese mice with symptoms resembling Type 2 diabetes, the implant reduced weight gain and blood-sugar levels—by getting the fat to "talk" again.
	Key synapse formation regulator identified Professor Ko Jae-won at Korea Advanced Institute of Science and Technology (KAIST) has conducted a study of the three-dimensional structure of proteins that regulate neuronal cell connections for the first time, and has identified the control mechanisms of synapse formation.
	Chronic stress induces fatal organ dysfunctions via a new neural circuit Hokkaido University researchers revealed that fatal gut failure in a multiple sclerosis (MS) mouse model under chronic stress is caused by a newly discovered nerve pathway. The findings could provide a new therapeutic strategy for the intractable disease, particularly progressive MS, which has no therapeutic strategy at present.
Steroids not effective for chest infections in non-asthmatic adults Oral steroids should not be used for treating acute lower respiratory tract infection (or 'chest infections') in adults who don't have asthma or other chronic lung disease, as they do not reduce the duration or severity of symptoms, according to a new study published in the journal JAMA.
Updated analysis finds newer type of LDL-C reducing drugs still not cost-effective An updated analysis of the low-density lipoprotein cholesterol (LDL-C) lowering drugs, proprotein convertase subtilisin/kexin type 9 (PCSK9) inhibitors, finds they are not cost-effective at current prices and that even greater price reductions than previously estimated may be needed to meet cost-effectiveness thresholds, according to a study published by JAMA.
Medicaid patients continue high prescription opioid use after overdose Despite receiving medical attention for an overdose, patients in Pennsylvania Medicaid continued to have persistently high prescription opioid use, with only slight increases in use of medication-assisted treatment, according to a study published by JAMA.
	Researchers offer new targets for drugs against fatty liver disease and liver cancer There may no silver bullet for treating liver cancer or fatty liver disease, but knowing the right targets will help scientists develop the most effective treatments. Researchers in Sweden have just identified a number of drug targets that can be used in the development of efficient new treatment strategies with minimal side effects.
	Some nerves: How loud noise may change hearing Our modern world is loud. Just sitting in a car, or an airplane, or watching movie previews, we are bombarded with sound. Even when those noises aren't damaging to the sensitive microphone that is our ear, our auditory system is constantly activated. What are the consequences of this?
	Online support helps parents of children with cancer Online support can help parents of children with cancer to cope with symptoms of post-traumatic stress and depression. This finding emerges from a study by researchers at the Department of Women's and Children's Health at Uppsala University.
	Will CRISPR fears fade with familiarity? The first "test-tube baby" made headlines around the world in 1978, setting off intense debate on the ethics of researching human embryos and reproductive technologies. Every breakthrough since then has raised the same questions about "designer babies" and "playing God" – but public response has grown more subdued rather than more engaged as assisted reproductive technologies have become increasingly sophisticated and powerful.
	Gut-on-chip good predictor of drug side-effects Research conducted at Leiden has established that guts-on-chips respond in the same way to aspirin as real human organs do. This is a sign that these model organs are good predictors of the effect of medical drugs on the human body. Publication in Nature Communications on 15 August.
Cognitive-behavioural therapy particularly efficient in treating ADHS in adults Cognitive-behavioural therapy (CBT) group training was shown to achieve the same results as neurofeedback training in treating attention-deficit hyperactivity disorder (ADHD). Both methods led to a comparable decrease in symptoms. CBT, however, proved to be generally more efficient, concluded Dr. Michael Schönenberg and his team at the Department of Clinical Psychology and Psychotherapy at the University of Tübingen. Their statement is based on the results of a comparative study of different types of therapy carried out with adult test subjects. The results have been published in the professional journal The Lancet Psychiatry.
	The Medical Minute: Solar eclipses and laser pointers pose similar eye hazards Much attention is focused on the potential dangers that the upcoming solar eclipse will pose to the unprotected eye. But health experts caution there's at least one other—and more prevalent—way to do lasting damage to one's vision.
	Study finds link between spike in cost of living and tuberculosis death rates New U of T research finds that a rise in the cost of living experienced during times of crisis – like war, outbreaks of disease and food shortages – can lead to a spike in tuberculosis mortality rates, with women the most vulnerable.
	Freeing up hospital beds—how children can leave hospital sooner Experts have found that some children with severe infections requiring intravenous (through the vein) (IV) antibiotics, can safely have these at home instead of in hospital. This will help children to leave hospital earlier, which will free up hospital beds and will allow kids to recover at home with their families.
	Study finds that you may be as friendly as your genes A group of researchers from the National University of Singapore has found that CD38 and CD157 genes that regulate oxytocin, the supreme human social hormone, are associated with the sociality of young individuals. They found that young adults who have higher expression of the CD38 gene as well as differences in CD157 gene sequence are friendlier and more socially adept than others. They have more close friends and show greater social skills
	Study identifies miR122 target sites in liver cancer and links a gene to patient survival A new study of a molecule that regulates liver-cell metabolism and suppresses liver-cancer development shows that the molecule interacts with thousands of genes in liver cells, and that when levels of the molecule go down, which often happens during liver-cancer development, the activity of certain cancer-promoting genes goes up.
	Regular pub binge drinkers are more likely to be violent People who admit to regularly binge drinking at the pub are more prone to have acted violently in the past 12 months, according to my new research. The findings raise questions about what strategies can be used to reduce alcohol-related violence and suggest promise for measures to modify alcohol pricing and taxation as well as restrictions on pub licences.
	The brains of newborns distinguish between caresses The ability to distinguish between different kinds of caresses on the skin already exists at a very early age. This is evident from a study by the Sahlgrenska Academy, in which the blood supply in brains of infants 6 to 10 weeks old was investigated.
New test for rare immunodeficiency Researchers at the University of Basel have developed a test to quickly and reliably diagnose a rare and severe immune defect, hepatic veno-occlusive disease with immunodeficiency. They reported on their findings in the Journal of Clinical Immunology.
Largest study of its kind reveals women have superior response to esophageal cancer treatment Female patients with locally advanced esophageal cancer that is treated with chemotherapy and radiation therapy before surgery are more likely to have a favorable response to the treatment than male patients are, and women are less likely to experience cancer recurrence, according to a study published online today in The Annals of Thoracic Surgery.
	Americans misinformed about smoking After voluminous research studies, numerous lawsuits and millions of deaths linked to cigarettes, it might seem likely that Americans now properly understand the risks of smoking.
	Non-employment in older age is associated with feeling isolated and under-utilised Compared to those who work, and in contrast to many popular perceptions, older people who are retired, home-makers, unemployed, or not working because of sickness or disability are more likely to feel that their status results in poorer social and mental engagement and lower self-esteem, according to a new study.
	Blood test predicts prostate tumor resistance When bacteria develop antibiotic resistance, treatment with these medications becomes ineffective. Similarly, tumor cells can also change in such a way that renders them resistant to particular medications. This makes it vitally important for cancer patients and their doctors to determine as early as possible whether a specific therapy is working or not. A new blood test developed by researchers at the Technical University of Munich (TUM) can predict drug resistance in patients with advanced prostate cancer.
	Brain's self-regulation in teens at risk for obesity In a small study that scanned the brains of teenagers while exposing them to tempting "food cues," researchers report that reduced activity in the brain's "self-regulation" system may be an important early predictor of adult obesity.
	Caregiving needs double as end of life nears (HealthDay)—Reliance on caregivers doubles as people near death, and half of those caregivers—typically unpaid family members—report having no time for themselves, a new study indicates.
	Meditation's soothing effects (HealthDay)—Meditation has been embraced by cultures around the world for thousands of years.
	He complains she shops too much—and marriage suffers (HealthDay)—It's sometimes a case of "till shopping do us part."
	Clinical feature model predicts colitis outcomes (HealthDay)—Clinical features, including response at day seven of hospitalization for the index episode of acute severe colitis (ASC), can predict both colectomy and steroid dependence with reasonable accuracy, according to a study published online Aug. 12 in the Journal of Gastroenterology and Hepatology.
	Geriatric consults remain rare in kidney cancer care (HealthDay)—Use of geriatric consultation remains sparse among older patients undergoing surgery for kidney cancer, according to a study published online Aug. 11 in the Journal of the American Geriatrics Society.
	Secure messaging linked to better diabetes management (HealthDay)—For patients with diabetes, use of secure messaging for medical advice is associated with better diabetes management, according to a study published online Aug. 14 in Diabetes Care.
	Once-daily triple-Tx improves lung function, HRQoL in COPD (HealthDay)—For patients with chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD), once-daily single-inhaler triple therapy is better for lung function and health-related quality of life than inhaled corticosteroid (ICS)/long-acting β2-agonist (LABA) therapy, according to a study published in the Aug. 15 issue of the American Journal of Respiratory and Critical Care Medicine.
	Early, single non-ablative fractional laser Tx aids scarring (HealthDay)—Early, single non-ablative fractional laser (NAFL) exposure can offer improvement in clinical scar appearance, according to a study published online Aug. 16 in Lasers in Surgery and Medicine.
	Arsenic levels higher in patients with nonmelanoma skin cancers (HealthDay)—Certain arsenic species levels are higher among patients with nonmelanoma skin cancer (NMSC), according to a study published online Aug. 16 in the Journal of Dermatology.
	Transcranial magnetic stimulation aids PTSD in eating disorders (HealthDay)—Repetitive transcranial magnetic stimulation (rTMS) of the dorsomedial prefrontal cortex (DMPFC) seems to be beneficial for treatment of posttraumatic stress disorder (PTSD) in patients with eating disorders, according to research published online Aug. 16 in the International Journal of Eating Disorders.
	Depression, anxiety may affect bone metabolism in older teens (HealthDay)—Major depressive disorder (MDD), generalized anxiety disorder (GAD), and selective serotonin reuptake inhibitor (SSRI) use are associated with bone metabolism in older adolescents and young adults, according to a study published online Aug. 16 in the Journal of Bone and Mineral Research.
	Literacy level an issue in laryngectomy-related patient ed (HealthDay)—Current laryngectomy-related patient education materials are too difficult for an average American adult to understand, according to a study published online Aug. 16 in Head & Neck.
	Anti-vaccine info in pregnancy may delay infant immunization (HealthDay)—Pregnancy is an important time for educating about infant immunization, according to a study published online Aug. 18 in Pediatrics.
New recommendations for managing menopausal symptoms in breast cancer survivors A large proportion of the world's estimated 9.3 million breast cancer survivors experience menopausal symptoms or clinical manifestations of estrogen deficiency. A comprehensive review published in the Endocrine Society's Journal of Clinical Endocrinology & Metabolism focuses on current and future approaches to management of menopausal symptoms after breast cancer.
	The environment can become a noninvasive therapeutic approach to bolster white matter health Those parents you overhear transforming trips to the grocery store into sensory adventures—telling babies too young to babble that broccoli is GREEN, radishes are RED and tangerines are ORANGE—are onto something. Being exposed to a complex and stimulating environment rich with new sights, sounds and a full vocabulary can play a powerful role in strengthening infants' developing brains, helping to maintain a smooth running neural network, Children's National Health System researchers report Aug. 22, 2017 in Trends in Neurosciences.
	Study suggests serotonin may worsen tinnitus Millions of people suffer from the constant sensation of ringing or buzzing in the ears known as tinnitus, creating constant irritation for some and severe anxiety for others. Research by scientists at OHSU shows why a common antidepressant medication may worsen the condition.
	Does a mother's pre-pregnancy weight determine her child's metabolism? The link between a mother's body mass index (BMI) before pregnancy and the metabolic traits of her children is likely mediated by shared genetics and familial lifestyle rather than effects on the fetus during gestation, according to study published this week in PLOS Medicine by Debbie Lawlor of the University of Bristol, UK, and colleagues.
Low-income patients more likely to take blood pressure medication when doctor involves them in conversation The key to getting low-income patients to take their blood pressure medications as prescribed may be as simple as a conversation. Low-income patients with high blood pressure were less likely to take their medications as directed when their healthcare providers did not use a collaborative communication style or ask them about social issues such as employment, housing and partner relationships, according to new research in the American Heart Association's journal Circulation: Quality and Outcomes.
Abstinence-only-until-marriage programs and policies are a failure, research shows Two scientific review papers released today show that abstinence-only-until-marriage programs and policies in the United States are ineffective as they do not delay sexual initiation or reduce sexual risk behaviors. They also violate adolescent human rights, withhold medically accurate information, stigmatize or exclude many youth, reinforce harmful gender stereotypes, and undermine public health programs. Abstinence-only-until-marriage programs have been widely rejected by health professionals who care for young people, including the Society for Adolescent Health and Medicine. The findings are published online today in the Journal of Adolescent Health.
	Opioid misuse can be tracked using Twitter Social media such as Twitter can be a useful tool to find out how widespread the misuse of prescribed opioid drugs is in a particular state or town, or to track the dynamics of opioid misuse in a given locality over time. This is according to a study in the Journal of Medical Toxicology published by Springer Nature. The research was led by Michael Chary from the Department of Emergency Medicine of New York PresbyterianQueens Hospital in the US. Chary and his team analyzed more than 3.6 million tweets and found that the information about opioid misuse was significantly correlated with federal surveys over the last three years.
	Scientists develop infection model for tickborne flaviviruses National Institutes of Health (NIH) scientists have filled a research gap by developing a laboratory model to study ticks that transmit flaviviruses, such as Powassan virus. Powassan virus was implicated in the death of a New York man earlier this year. The unusual model involves culturing organs taken from Ixodes scapularis ticks and then infecting those organ cultures with flaviviruses, according to researchers at Rocky Mountain Laboratories, part of NIH's National Institute of Allergy and Infectious Diseases (NIAID). The researchers say the culture model will greatly increase knowledge about how flaviviruses infect ticks and could become a tool to evaluate medical countermeasures against tick-borne viruses.
Thoracic kyphosis in those over 50 may not be a predictor of physical decline A recently published study in the Journal of the American Geriatrics Society has found that using CT scans to evaluate early signs of hyperkyphosis (extreme forward curvature of the upper spine) in people over age 50 does not help to identify those at risk of subsequent physical function decline. The article's conclusions are based on a study conducted at the Institute for Aging Research at Hebrew SeniorLife using information from The Framingham Heart Study - a collection of data from Framingham, MA residents and their offspring dating back to the 1940s.
	Yoga and meditation improve mind-body health and stress resilience Many people report positive health effects from practicing yoga and meditation, and experience both mental and physical benefits from these practices. However, we still have much to learn about how exactly these practices affect mind-body health. A new research article published in Frontiers in Human Neuroscience investigates the effects of yoga and meditation on brain derived neurotrophic factor (BDNF), the activity on the hypothalamic pituitary adrenal (HPA) effects and inflammatory markers. By studying the participants of an intensive 3-month yoga and meditation retreat, the researchers found that the practices positively impacted BDNF signaling, the cortisol awakening response (CAR) and immunological markers, and in addition improved subjective wellbeing.
Study documents continued decline in use of hormone therapy by Canadian women Ever since menopause was first discussed publicly, the debate over the use of hormone therapy (HT) has monopolized headlines. Recognized as the most effective option for managing hot flashes and other menopause symptoms, the use of HT has continued to decline, largely as a result of the data released from the Women's Health Initiative (WHI) in 2002. New study results published in Menopause, the journal of The North American Menopause Society (NAMS), documents the decline, along with the factors affecting a Canadian woman's likelihood of using HT.
	Id genes play surprise role in cardiac development Researchers from Sanford Burnham Prebys Medical Discovery Institute (SBP), the Cardiovascular Institute at Stanford University and other institutions were surprised to discover that the four genes in the Id family play a crucial role in heart development, telling undifferentiated stem cells to form heart tubes and eventually muscle. While Id genes have long been known for their activity in neurons and blood cells, this is the first time they've been linked to heart development. These findings give scientists a new tool to create large numbers of cardiac cells to regenerate damaged heart tissue. The study was published in the journal Genes & Development.
	Artificial intelligence predicts dementia before onset of symptoms Imagine if doctors could determine, many years in advance, who is likely to develop dementia. Such prognostic capabilities would give patients and their families time to plan and manage treatment and care. Thanks to artificial intelligence research conducted at McGill University, this kind of predictive power could soon be available to clinicians everywhere.
Opioid crisis in Staten Island affects all races, ages, and socioeconomic backgrounds Contrary to media reports, the opioid epidemic on Staten Island is not confined to affluent young white residents, and affects all neighborhoods, races, ages, and socioeconomic backgrounds. The study by researchers at Columbia University's Mailman School of Public Health and the School of International and Public Affairs (SIPA) are published in a report titled, "Staten Island Needs Assessment: Opioid Addiction Prevention and Treatment Systems of Care," issued by the District Attorney's Office for Staten Island.
	Out-of-pocket health costs can cause financial problems for survivors of childhood cancer Adult survivors of childhood cancer face an increased likelihood of financial difficulties related to out-of-pocket costs for their health care, compared with adults not affected by childhood cancer. In their report published online in the Journal of Clinical Oncology, investigators from the Massachusetts General Hospital (MGH) Cancer Center also report that survivors of childhood cancer who pay higher out-of-pocket costs were more than eight times more likely to have trouble paying their medical bills than were either survivors not facing higher out-of-pocket costs or adults without a history of childhood cancer.
	When given the chance to pay less, patients choose cheaper prescription drugs As prescription drug spending continues to rise in the United States, along with prices for new and well-established drugs, insurers, employers and patients are searching for ways to cut costs. A new study led by UC Berkeley researchers found that a policy called reference pricing is effective at encouraging patients to spend significantly less on prescription drugs by choosing cheaper drugs over name brand options.
	Like adults, children show bias in attributing mental states to others Young children are more likely to attribute mental states to characters that belong to the same group as them relative to characters that belong to an outside group, according to findings published in Psychological Science, a journal of the Association for Psychological Science. The study shows that 5- and 6-year-olds were more likely to describe interactions between two characters in terms of what they were thinking and feeling when the characters had the same gender or geographic origin as them.
	Clear link between heavy vitamin B intake and lung cancer New research suggests long-term, high-dose supplementation with vitamins B6 and B12—long touted by the vitamin industry for increasing energy and improving metabolism—is associated with a two- to four-fold increased lung cancer risk in men relative to non-users.
CRC screening with flexible sigmoidoscopy reduces risk for death A re-analysis of all-cause mortality in the United States Preventive Services Task Force (USPSTF) evidence review for colorectal cancer screening found that flexible sigmoidoscopy reduces risk for death. These findings suggest that the USPSTF guidelines for colorectal cancer screening, which concluded that no colorectal cancer screening methods reduced all-cause mortality, could be reassessed. The brief research report is published in Annals of Internal Medicine.
Heart Safe program boosts CPR and AED use in participating communities Allina Health researchers say individuals in Heart Safe Communities who suffer out-of-hospital cardiac arrests (OHCA) are four times more likely to receive chest compressions (CPR) and twice as likely to have automated external defibrillators (AEDs) placed by bystanders and first responders before EMS personnel arrive, according to a Minnesota study published in the August issue of the journal, Resuscitation.
New tool for cell-free therapy based on artificial membrane vesicles Scientists at Kazan Federal University's Institute of Fundamental Medicine and Biology, led by Professor Albert Rizvanov, have shown that artificial membrane vesicles generated by Cytochalasin B treatment of human cells retain angiogenic activity.
	Five things parents should know to protect their high school athletes A new study by the Korey Stringer Institute described in the Orthopedic Journal of Sports Medicine ranks Arkansas No. 11 for its high school sports safety policies.
	Mum in her 30s discusses realities of life with a 75% chance of Alzheimer's With a one in over 600 million chance of her parents both having the same rare, inherited gene, a young mum has spoken of the anguish of knowing she has a 75 percent risk of developing Alzheimer's in just a few years, and how she's found hope through research.
Evidence is clear on the benefits of legalising same-sex marriage Emotive arguments and questionable rhetoric often characterise debates over same-sex marriage. But few attempts have been made to dispassionately dissect the issue from an academic, science-based perspective.
	New meta-analysis finds a plant-based vegetarian diet is associated with lower cholesterol A new dietary review of 49 observational and controlled studies finds plant-based vegetarian diets, especially vegan diets, are associated with lower levels of total cholesterol, including lower levels of HDL and LDL cholesterol, compared to omnivorous diets. The meta-analysis appears as an online advance in Nutrition Reviews.
	Dengue outbreak kills five people in northwest Pakistan A Pakistani health official says an outbreak of dengue fever in the country's northwest has killed five people in the past 10 days.
	Chile families fight for acceptance of transgender children Monica Flores was returning from a holiday abroad when Chilean police stopped her for questions at the airport. They were bothered that their records didn't match: She had left the country with a son and returned with a daughter.

Biology news

	Biologists show how plants turn off genes they don't need A plant has one genome, a specific sequence of millions of basepairs of nucleotides. Yet how this genome is expressed can vary from cell to cell, and it can change as a plant goes through various life stages, from germination to vegetative growth to flowering to dormancy. Some genes must be turned on and others shut off to ensure each plant cell is doing what it needs to do when it needs to do it.
	Where's the kelp? Warm ocean takes toll on undersea forests When diving in the Gulf of Maine a few years back, Jennifer Dijkstra expected to be swimming through a flowing kelp forest that had long served as a nursery and food for juvenile fish and lobster.
	How cytoplasm 'feels' to a cell's components Under a microscope, a cell's cytoplasm can resemble a tiny underwater version of New York's Times Square: Thousands of proteins swarm through a cytoplasm's watery environment, coming together and breaking apart like a cytoskeletal flash mob.
	New open-source software for analyzing intact proteins An estimated 20,300 genes in the human genome encode proteins. The number of proteins themselves, as intact proteoforms, could be as high as one billion.
	Crystal structure reveals details of nonstandard RNA transcription High-resolution crystal structure reveals a new pathway for RNA during a nontraditional form of transcription—the process by which RNA is produced from a DNA template. Caught during the act of reiterative transcription, a form of transcription in which a single base of DNA (represented by the letters A, T, C, and G) codes for several corresponding bases in the RNA (one G in DNA leads to several Gs in the RNA, for example), the new crystal structure reveals RNA exiting the polymerase enzyme through an alternative channel to enable this unconventional mode of transcription.
	Scientists find soil bacteria require two-layer security, just like digital world Those people at Google think they're sooooo smart. So, too, the Apple and Microsoft wunderkinds.
	Kodiak bears found to switch to eating elderberries instead of salmon as climate changes (Phys.org)—A team of researchers affiliated with several institutions in the U.S. has found that warming in Alaska has sometimes caused the Kodiak bear to switch to eating elderberries during salmon spawning periods instead of eating salmon. In their paper published in Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences, the group describes their multi-pronged study of the impact that seasonal changes occurring on the Kodiak Archipelago are having on the bears that live there.
	How a bacterium can live on methanol ETH Zurich researchers have identified all the genes required by a bacterium to use methanol as a food source. The results will help scientists advance the use of this resource in the field of biotechnology.
	How humans and their gut microbes may respond to plant hormones A bowl of salad contains more than vitamins and minerals. Plant matter also includes remnants of the hormones plants produce to control how they grow, age, and manage water intake. Recently, scientists have reported that our gut microbes and cells may respond to these hormones and even produce similar molecules of their own. In an opinion article published August 22 in the journal Trends in Plant Science, researchers in France explore how plant hormones may influence human health.
	No microbes? No problem for caterpillars The microbiome seems ubiquitous: humans and many other species rely on billions of tiny organisms in their guts to aid in digestion, metabolism and other functions. Now, scientists at the University of Colorado Boulder are questioning the idea that the microbiome is universal among animals.
	Hormonal tug-of-war helps plant roots navigate their journey through the soil A sophisticated mechanism that allows plant roots to quickly respond to changes in soil conditions has been identified by an international research team.
New study calls for better information on changes in wild animal populations Key statistics about the world's animal and plant life could present a misleading picture about the natural world according to new research from the University of St Andrews.
Mechanism that impairs production of bovine embryos is revealed A longstanding obstacle to the market for bovine embryos is lipid accumulation in oocytes. Researchers have now described a hitherto unknown mechanism of lipid accumulation in oocytes that limits the success of in vitro production of bovine embryos.
	Algorithm speeds metabolic pathway analysis, spurring computational advances in network science Scientists need a systematic understanding of cellular functioning to metabolically engineer microbes that produce biofuels and other high-value products, and to design drugs that combat pathogens and cancers. Metabolic networks are highly complex, however, so researchers computationally break them down into simplified metabolic pathways in order to analyze function. Think of the complex network of roads between New York City and Seattle. The simplified pathways help determine an optimum route.
	Captive lemurs get a genetic health checkup Careful matchmaking can restore genetic diversity for endangered lemurs in captivity, researchers report.
	Biotechnology researchers turn to landfill sites Far from being a load of rubbish, landfill sites should be considered one of the great untapped resources in the search for new enzymes for biotechnology, and could fuel more efficient biofuel production.
	Female fish 'more reluctant' to change sex than males Scientists in the UK have observed a fascinating new fact about sex changing fish: the direction of sex change has implication for population numbers.
	A potential breeding site of a Miocene era baleen whale Baleen whales are amongst the largest animals to have ever lived and yet very little is known about their breeding habits. One researcher's second look at previously found baleen whale fossils from Japan provides new evidence of a now long-gone breeding ground of the extinct baleen whale Parietobalaena yamaokai dating back over 15 million years.
	Why tiger snakes are on a winner Australian tiger snakes have "hit the jackpot" because prey cannot evolve resistance to their venom.
	Rare white koala born at Australian zoo A koala at an Australian zoo has given birth to a rare white joey, staff announced Tuesday.
	Study links fish stress hormones to whether they take the bait Take a fish out of water and its stress hormones will go up. Adrenaline and noradrenaline, the "fight or flight" hormones, peak first, followed more gradually by cortisol. A new study finds that largemouth bass whose cortisol levels rise most after a brief bout of stress are inherently harder to catch by angling.
	Study finds that gravity, 'mechanical loading' are key to cartilage development Mechanical loading, or forces that stimulate cellular growth for development, is required for creating cartilage that is then turned to bone; however, little is known about cartilage development in the absence of gravity or mechanical loads. Now, in a study led by the University of Missouri, bioengineers have determined that microgravity may inhibit cartilage formation. Findings reveal that fracture healing for astronauts in space, as well as patients on bed rest here on Earth, could be compromised in the absence of mechanical loading.
	The secret life of slugs and snails WA agriculture researchers have made it possible to watch five consecutive evenings of slug antics with time-lapse photography of canola crops.

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