Science X Newsletter Thursday, Sep 21

Dear Reader ,

Here is your customized Science X Newsletter for September 21, 2017:

Spotlight Stories Headlines

Gravitational waves may oscillate, just like neutrinos

Remora robot able to adhere quickly and strongly to underwater objects

Ancient human DNA in sub-Saharan Africa lifts veil on prehistory

Detecting cosmic rays from a galaxy far, far away

Babies can learn that hard work pays off

Scientists reveal the beautiful simplicity underlying branching patterns in tissue

Discovery helps improve accuracy of CRISPR-Cas9 gene editing

Google buys HTC's Pixel team in $1.1B bet on devices

Apache vulnerability is reported

Precisely defined polymer chains now a reality

Researchers report new technique for de-icing surfaces

Efforts to save sea turtles are a 'global conservation success story': scientists

Study reveals an ancient Achilles heel in the human genome

Highly precise wiring in the cerebral cortex

New analysis explains role of defects in metal oxides

Astronomy & Space news

	Hope to discover sure signs of life on Mars? New research says look for the element vanadium The search for biology on neighbor planet Mars won't play out like a Hollywood movie starring little green men. Rather, many scientists agree if there was life on the Red Planet, it probably will present itself as fossilized bacteria. To find it, astrobiologists likely will need to decode the chemical analysis of rock samples performed by a rover (like the one NASA plans to send to Mars in 2020). Only then might humankind know conclusively that life exists beyond Earth.
	Fast radio bursts may be firing off every second When fast radio bursts, or FRBs, were first detected in 2001, astronomers had never seen anything like them before. Since then, astronomers have found a couple of dozen FRBs, but they still don't know what causes these rapid and powerful bursts of radio emission.
	Earth through different eyes In the 1960s, photographs of Earth taken by the first astronauts captured the imaginations of people across the world. The pictures not only became icons for space exploration, but also the fragility of our planet. But astronauts were not the only ones with their eyes on Earth.
	Returning humanity to the Moon In the first act of lunar exploration, Neil Armstrong and Buzz Aldrin were major characters. In setting its sights on the moon, ESA hopes to bring many more actors to this off-world stage.
	Solar eruption 'photobombed' Mars encounter with Comet Siding Spring When Comet C/2013 A1 (Siding Spring) passed just 140,000 kilometres from Mars on 19th October 2014, depositing a large amount of debris in the martian atmosphere, space agencies coordinated multiple spacecraft to witness the largest meteor shower in recorded history. It was a rare opportunity, as this kind of planetary event occurs only once every 100,000 years. However, scientists analysing the data have found that a very powerful Coronal Mass Ejection (CME) launched by the Sun also arrived at Mars 44 hours before the comet, creating significant disturbances in the martian upper atmosphere and complicating analysis of the data. Results describing the combined effects of the comet and the CME throughout the martian atmosphere are being presented in a special session at the European Planetary Science Congress (EPSC) 2017 in Riga on Thursday, 21st September.
In space capsules, little room but big improvement In 1961, an American astronaut reached space for the first time and soared through the heavens in a gumdrop-shaped capsule.
	New gravitational wave data analysis now underway Penn State LIGO physicists are members of the LIGO-Virgo collaboration to detect and characterize gravitational waves. The collaboration now is completing a very exciting Second Observing Run that is drawing to a close on August 25, 2017.

Technology news

	Remora robot able to adhere quickly and strongly to underwater objects (Tech Xplore)—A team of researchers from China and the U.S. has created a robot that is able to mimic a remora fish by adhering quickly and strongly to underwater objects. In their paper published in the journal Science Robotics, the team describes the inspiration for their design, how it was made, and how well it works.
	Google buys HTC's Pixel team in $1.1B bet on devices Google is biting off a big piece of device manufacturer HTC for $1.1 billion to expand its efforts to build phones, speakers and other gadgets equipped with its arsenal of digital services.
	Apache vulnerability is reported (Tech Xplore)—The Fuzzing Project blog this week carried a report we really do not like to hear but must know about regardless. Another "bleed" has been discovered. A bug in the Apache Web Server may result in contents from server memory being leaked.
	Football helmet smartfoam signals potential concussions in real time Most football fans have seen players get hit so hard they can barely walk back to the sideline. All too often, those players are back on the field just a few plays later, despite suffering what appears to be a head injury. While football-related concussions have been top of mind in recent years, people have struggled to create technology to accurately measure them in real time.
	Apple shares slip on smartwatch reviews Apple shares slipped Wednesday after mixed reviews of its latest smartwatch and amid concerns pre-orders of coming iPhone 8 models were lagging.
	Nevada quake lab tests new bridge design after Mexico quake Scientists at a Nevada earthquake lab on Wednesday tested new bridge designs with connectors they say are innovative and created to better withstand violent temblors and speed reconstruction efforts after major quake damage.
	Nest looks to shake up home security Nest on Wednesday set out to shake up the home security market, unveiling an internet-age alarm system.
	Tech dreams live or die on startup battlefields Fearing failure but driven by a chance at Silicon Valley stardom, young entrepreneurs pitch their dreams in mere minutes at startup competitions like TechCrunch Disrupt that ended here Wednesday.
	Japanese video gaming adapting new tech for familiar titles The Japanese video game industry is finding its way out of the doldrums by adapting new technology for decades-old titles. And that energy was evident at the annual Tokyo Game Show, which opened to media Thursday before opening to the public over the weekend.
	They're coming for our jobs, but can giant fighting robots save TV? Robots fighting for human entertainment may sound like something out of science fiction - and there is no shortage of movies such as Transformers and Pacific Rim in which fighting robots are the focus. But robots could soon be moving from the big to the small screen, particularly in sports broadcasting.
	Researchers design robots to assist with disaster relief Cities and towns all across the globe are reeling from a spate of hurricanes, earthquakes, and typhoons. Human safety is the most immediate concern. But damage assessment is important too.
Dutch appeals court upholds ban on former Dutch Uber service An appeals court has upheld the Dutch government's ban on a former Uber ride-hailing service in the Netherlands.
	Review: iTunes video upgrade makes the new Apple TV worth it It might seem odd to review the new Apple TV streaming device—one specifically designed to display super-sharp video known as 4K—without actually owning a 4K TV.
	Baidu announces $1.5 bln fund for autonomous driving Chinese internet giant Baidu on Thursday announced a $1.5 billion investment in autonomous driving projects over the next three years, as it seeks to diversify its portfolio and compete with rivals such as Google.
	StoryCorps' Thanksgiving Listen asks kids to record elders StoryCorps is hoping people give their social media apps a break for a few minutes this Thanksgiving and instead use one designed for listening.
	The ATM at 50: How it's changed consumer behavior An automated teller machine. The cash machine. In Britain, a cashpoint. ATMs, known for spitting out $20 bills (and imposing fees if you pick the wrong one), turn 50 years old this year. They're ubiquitous—and possibly still a necessity, despite the big changes in how people pay for things.
	Fed agency urging corporate cybersecurity upgrades is hacked The federal agency responsible for ensuring that markets function as they should and for protecting investors was hacked last year and the intruders may have used the nonpublic information they obtained to profit illegally.
Hack of US regulator a blow to confidence in financial system The hack disclosed at the US Securities and Exchange Commission deals a fresh blow to confidence in the security of the financial system weeks after news of a potentially catastrophic breach at a major US credit bureau.
	Mercedes-Benz to invest $1 billion in Alabama, add 600 jobs Carmaker Mercedes-Benz announced Thursday that it will invest $1 billion to set up electric vehicle production at its Tuscaloosa, Alabama plant and to build a battery factory nearby, moves it said would create 600 new jobs.
	Review: Samsung's Galaxy Note 8 is the phone Note 7 users have been waiting for We interrupt the iPhone mania of late to remind you there are other flagship phones on the market, including the much-anticipated Samsung Galaxy Note 8.
A new recruiting platform combines talent-seeking tech with psychology Celectiv, a recruiting platform that combines talent-seeking tools with analytical tech like organizational psychology assessments, is coming out of stealth mode to launch.
Caricatures become an obsession For Anokhy Desai, a new haircut or outfit requires more than a trip to the shopping center. These days, she also finds herself also diving into the Bitmoji app to chop hair and replace clothes.
	Mayo Clinic offers first aid assistance via Amazon's Alexa digital assistant Alexa, forget my grocery list and morning traffic reports. Tell me about CPR.
	Facebook to release Russia ads to Congress amid pressure Facebook says the company will provide the contents of 3,000 ads bought by a Russian agency to congressional investigators.
	Interview: Japan's emoji creator saw nuance in pictures The tiny smiley faces, hearts, knife-and-fork or clenched fist have become a global language for mobile phone messages. They are displayed in the Museum of Modern Art in New York. They star in a new Hollywood film.
	Germany on guard against election hacks, fake news As the clock ticks down to elections Sunday, Germany's cyber defence nervously hopes it'll be third time lucky after Russia was accused of meddling in the US and French votes.
	Dating apps make men unhappy and provide a platform for racism As the dating app Tinder turns five, new research shows men who regularly use the app have more body image concerns and lower self-esteem.
	Leaders to tech firms at UN: Remove terror posts in 2 hours The leaders of Britain, France and Italy are setting an ambitious goal for tech companies to tackle online posts that promote terrorism: Take them down within an hour or two.
Amazon reviewing its site after bomb-making materials report Amazon says it is reviewing its website after a British TV report said that the online retailer recommended purchasing ingredients together that could make a bomb.
Tesla denies claims that it tried to block unionizing effort Tesla Inc. is denying claims that it threatened to fire pro-union workers at its Fremont, California, factory and tried to prevent them from passing out union literature.
Don't want the new iPhone? Try these smartphone alternatives Three new versions of the iPhone have just been announced, and while they may be light years ahead of Apple's previous models, they may not be for everyone. Looking for a quality smartphone not made by the big A?

Medicine & Health news

	Babies can learn that hard work pays off If at first you don't succeed, try, try again. A new study from MIT reveals that babies as young as 15 months can learn to follow this advice. The researchers found that babies who watched an adult struggle at two different tasks before succeeding tried harder at their own difficult task, compared to babies who saw an adult succeed effortlessly.
	Study reveals an ancient Achilles heel in the human genome In a major study published today, researchers at deCODE genetics use whole-genome data from 14,000 people from across the population of Iceland, including 1500 sets of parents and children, to provide the most detailed portrait to date of how sequence diversity in humans is the result of an evolving interaction between sex, age, mutation type and location in the genome. "Parental influence on human germline de novo mutations in 1,548 trios from Iceland" is published today in the online edition of Nature.
	Highly precise wiring in the cerebral cortex Our brains house extremely complex neuronal circuits whose detailed structures are still largely unknown. This is especially true for the cerebral cortex of mammals, where, among other things, vision, thoughts or spatial orientation are computed. Here, the rules by which nerve cells are connected to each other are only partly understood. A team of scientists around Moritz Helmstaedter at the Max Planck Institute for Brain Research have now discovered a surprisingly precise nerve cell connectivity pattern in the part of the cerebral cortex that is responsible for orienting the individual animal or human in space.
	Neuron types in brain are defined by gene activity shaping their communication patterns In a major step forward in research, scientists at Cold Spring Harbor Laboratory (CSHL) today publish in Cell a discovery about the molecular-genetic basis of neuronal cell types. Neurons are the basic building blocks that wire up brain circuits supporting mental activities and behavior. The study, which involves sophisticated computational analysis of the messages transcribed from genes that are active in a neuron, points to patterns of cell-to-cell communication as the core feature that makes possible rigorous distinctions among neuron types across the mouse brain.
Excess dietary manganese promotes staph heart infection Too much dietary manganese—an essential trace mineral found in leafy green vegetables, fruits and nuts—promotes infection of the heart by the bacterium Staphylococcus aureus ("staph").
	Forgotten strands of DNA initiate the development of immune cells Intricate human physiological features such as the immune system require exquisite formation and timing to develop properly. Genetic elements must be activated at just the right moment, across vast distances of genomic space.
	Gene immunotherapy protects against multiple sclerosis in mice A potent and long-lasting gene immunotherapy approach prevents and reverses symptoms of multiple sclerosis in mice, according to a study published September 21st in the journal Molecular Therapy. Multiple sclerosis is an autoimmune disease in which T cells destroy the myelin sheath—the material that surrounds and protects nerve cells in the brain and spinal cord. The researchers used a viral vector to deliver a gene encoding a myelin sheath protein to the liver, thereby inducing robust and durable immune tolerance in mice by preventing T cells from attacking the myelin sheath.
	Your neurons register familiar faces, whether you notice them or not When people see an image of a person they recognize—the famous tennis player Roger Federer or actress Halle Berry, for instance—particular cells light up in the brain. Now, researchers reporting in Current Biology on September 21 have found that those cells light up even when a person sees a familiar face or object but fails to notice it. The only difference in that case is that the neural activity is weaker and delayed in comparison to what happens when an observer consciously registers and can recall having seen a particular image.
	Touching helps build the sexual brain Hormones or sexual experience? Which of these is crucial for the onset of puberty? It seems that when rats are touched on their genitals, their brain changes and puberty accelerates. In a new study publishing September 21 in the open access journal PLOS Biology researchers at the Bernstein Center, and Humboldt University, Berlin, led by Constanze Lenschow and Michael Brecht, report that sexual touch might have a bigger influence on puberty than previously thought.
	Breathing dirty air may harm kidneys, study finds Outdoor air pollution has long been linked to major health conditions such as heart disease, stroke, cancer, asthma and chronic obstructive pulmonary disease. A new study now adds kidney disease to the list, according to researchers at Washington University School of Medicine in St. Louis and the Veterans Affairs (VA) St. Louis Health Care System.
	Exosomes are the missing link to insulin resistance in diabetes Chronic tissue inflammation resulting from obesity is an underlying cause of insulin resistance and type 2 diabetes. But the mechanism by which this occurs has remained cloaked, until now.
Training course for chronic fatigue syndrome or ME is effective for children alongside specialist care A training course that aims to ease symptoms of chronic fatigue syndrome is effective and probably cost-effective when provided alongside specialist care for children with mild to moderate illness, finds a trial published by the journal Archives of Disease in Childhood.
	Physically active mid-lifers more likely to be active into old age Men who are physically active in mid-life are more likely to continue the habit into older age as well, finds a long term tracking study published in the online journal BMJ Open.
Treating asthma or COPD with steroid inhaler raises the risk of hard-to-treat infections Older people who use steroid inhalers for asthma or chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD) are more likely to suffer particular bacterial infections, according to a large study published in the European Respiratory Journal.
	Pay more, smoke less: Possible effects of raising tobacco taxes across the EU Raising tobacco taxes to increase cigarette prices could reduce cigarette consumption and smoking-associated deaths (SADs) in all 28 EU countries, according to a study published in the open access journal BMC Public Health.
No magic pill to cure alcohol dependence yet A new study published by the scientific journal Addiction has found no reliable evidence for using nalmefene, naltrexone, acamprosate, baclofen or topiramate to control drinking in patients with alcohol dependence or alcohol use disorder. At best, some treatments showed low to medium efficacy in reducing drinking, but those findings were from studies with a high risk of bias. None demonstrated any benefit on health outcomes.
Premature births cost health plans $6 billion annually A new study estimates employer-sponsored health plans spent at least $6 billion extra on infants born prematurely in 2013 and a substantial portion of that sum was spent on infants with major birth defects.
	Many YouTube videos glorify alcohol YouTube videos featuring alcohol are heavily viewed and nearly always promote the "fun" side of drinking.
	US women report diverse preferences related to sexual pleasure: study Faculty members from the Indiana University School of Public Health-Bloomington and the school's Center for Sexual Health Promotion recently published a paper in the Journal of Sex & Marital Therapy focused on addressing gaps in scientific understanding of women's sexual pleasure. The study findings, from the research team's OMGYES Pleasure Report: Women and Touch, focused on orgasm and sexual pleasure as related to genital touch and stimulation.
Higher manganese levels in children correlate with lower IQ scores, study finds A study led by environmental health researchers at the University of Cincinnati (UC) College of Medicine finds that children in East Liverpool, Ohio with higher levels of Manganese (Mn) had lower IQ scores. The research appears online in the journal NeuroToxicology, available in advance of publication.
Alarm over flesh-eating ulcer cases in Australia The spread of a flesh-eating bacterial condition in Australia sparked calls Thursday for more government-funded research into the disease, which is normally limited to developing countries.
	'Capicua' gene plays a key role in T-cell acute lymphoblastic leukaemia Researchers at the Spanish National Cancer Research Centre (CNIO) have discovered a genetic alteration that is directly involved in at least 10 percent of cases of a common cancer in children, T-cell acute lymphoblastic leukaemia. In a paper published this week in the printed edition of Genes and Development, the scientists explain that if a specific gene called Capicua is inactivated, test mice inevitably develop this type of leukaemia.
	New academic study reveals true extent of the link between hard water and eczema Hard water damages our protective skin barrier and could contribute to the development of eczema, a new study has shown.
New kinase detection method helps identify targets for developing cancer drugs Purdue University researchers have developed a high-throughput method for matching kinases to the proteins they phosphorylate, speeding the ability to identify multiple potential cancer drug targets.
	Whole food diet may help prevent colon cancer, other chronic conditions A diet that includes plenty of colorful vegetables and fruits may contain compounds that can stop colon cancer and inflammatory bowel diseases in pigs, according to an international team of researchers. Understanding how these compounds work on a molecular level could be an initial step toward finding treatments for people with cancer, they added.
A rapid alternative to standard safety tests for lentiviral vectors A new, publicly available test to assess the safety of cell therapy products altered by lentivirus generates results within a few hours, potentially hastening the pace at which viral immunotherapies move into clinical trial. Current assays required by the U.S. Food and Drug Administration take about six weeks to complete. The rapid test, which does not have a significant risk of false positives, is also a fraction of the cost of the standard approach. The work appears September 21 in the journal Molecular Therapy—Methods & Clinical Development.
Inflammatory bowel disease in childhood associated with increased risk of cancer Children who develop inflammatory bowel disease (ulcerative colitis or Crohn's disease) run a higher risk of cancer, both in childhood and later in life, a study from Karolinska Institutet published in the BMJ reports.
	A dose of 'wait-and-see' reduces unnecessary antibiotic use Asking patients to take a 'wait-and-see' approach before having their antibiotic prescriptions filled significantly reduces unnecessary use, a University of Queensland study has shown.
	What babies eat – before and just after birth – can impact them for life, says new book Despite efforts to promote healthy eating, the global obesity epidemic continues. Now a new book co-edited by a University at Buffalo researcher discusses how the path to obesity may start before birth or during infancy and how an individual's metabolism can be permanently reprogrammed by overfeeding early in life. The book discusses just how early interventions may need to be implemented in order to significantly reduce obesity.
	NSAIDs, genetics and miscarriage NSAIDs – anti-inflammatory drugs including aspirin and ibuprofen – affect signaling pathways important in achieving and maintaining pregnancy. Studies of their impact on miscarriage risk, however, have produced mixed results.
	Study finds solving obesity epidemic can start at home Fighting the wave of adolescent obesity in New Zealand could be as simple as establishing family rules and routines around food consumption and limiting screen time, a new University of Otago study has found.
Better clinical care may contribute to fewer carotid artery surgeries A nationwide study that reviewed 16 years of Medicare beneficiary data showed a steady reduction in carotid endarterectomy – the surgical procedure used to remove plaque built up inside a carotid artery.
	Individualized diets for irritable bowel syndrome better than placebo Patients with irritable bowel syndrome who follow individualized diets based on food sensitivity testing experience fewer symptoms, say Yale researchers. Their study is among the first to provide scientific evidence for this medication- free approach to a debilitating condition.
Disparities in educational experiences of black youth A more comprehensive picture of mental health that includes subjective well-being and other positive mental health characteristics could lead to more successful educational experiences among black youth, finds a recent study from the Brown School at Washington University in St. Louis.
	Preemies' separation from mom + physical stress may increase health risks in adulthood A new study suggests that physiological stress in premature infants combined with separation from their mothers may have lasting effects into adulthood. In clinical studies, these factors have been found to increase the risk of obesity and insulin resistance, leading to metabolic disorders such as metabolic syndrome and type 2 diabetes mellitus. The study is published ahead of print in the American Journal of Physiology—Regulatory, Integrative and Comparative Physiology.
Personality changes don't precede clinical onset of Alzheimer's, study shows For years, scientists and physicians have been debating whether personality and behavior changes might appear prior to the onset of Alzheimer's disease and related dementias.
	Cannabinoids induce seizures by acting through the cannabinoid CB1 receptor Marijuana is the most commonly abused drug in the world, and the advent of synthetic cannabinoids creates additional challenges to society because of their higher potency and ability to escape drug detection screenings. Scientists from Japan have a warning about a danger of cannabinoid abuse.
	Going 'gluten-free' not for everyone Increasingly often, we see "gluten-free" food options on store shelves and restaurant menus. But what does "gluten-free" mean and why have such products become so popular?
	Experimental brain technology can rewind Alzheimer's disease Alzheimer's disease is considered a global challenge of the century. Alzheimer's disease is a thief. It comes and takes away the most precious memories with which people identify themselves. It is a very clever thief. People whom it affects don't even remember what they have lost—they just feel lost; lost in space and time.
	A new way to regulate surrogacy to give more certainty to all involved Starting a family through surrogacy is fraught with stresses and uncertainties.
Academics end 200-year confusion on diagnosis of hidden child condition New terminology, developed following a five year campaign by academics across the UK, is set to end 200 years of confusion in diagnosing a distressing disorder affecting two children in every classroom.
	Sneaky calorie cut Could cutting calories in food and keeping it quiet be the new way to trick people into losing weight?
	Health checks on users of crumb rubber pitches is insufficient, study finds Sports stars and amateur players who play on crumb rubber pitches could be at risk from a "remarkable" lack of occupational health checks, according to a new paper from the University of Stirling.
	Pioneering app to transform the lives of people with dementia An innovative new app could help enhance home and hospital environments for people with dementia – improving patient outcomes and reducing the strain on health services, according to University of Stirling academics.
New genetic test for predicting cancer recurrence Researchers have discovered a new genetic test which could help predict cancer recurrence - paving the way for more precise, personalised treatments.
'Infiltrin' protein discovery could help stop spread of deadly parasitic worm The discovery of a new 'infiltrin' protein on a parasitic egg that is responsible for spreading deadly infections amongst millions of people could lead to better prevention and treatment.
	Promising immunotherapy drug now available for some lung cancer patients in England Some lung cancer patients in England can now be offered a potentially life-extending immunotherapy drug.
The growing scale of dementia in the UK To mark World Alzheimer's Day Imperial's head of brain sciences describes some of the research being done at the College into the condition.
	Superbug's spread to Vietnam threatens malaria control A highly drug resistant malaria 'superbug' from western Cambodia is now present in southern Vietnam, leading to alarming failure rates for dihydroartemisinin (DHA)-piperaquine—Vietnam's national first-line malaria treatment, leading malaria scientists warn.
	Production of key diabetes cells can be improved Beta cells release insulin in your blood, but when you suffer from Type 1 diabetes, you hardly have any of them left in your body. This is because the immune system attacks the beta cells.
	One weight-loss surgery shows lasting results (HealthDay)—Obesity surgery can have long-lasting effects on weight and the risk of developing type 2 diabetes and high blood pressure, a new study finds.
	When a cold or flu strikes a family member (HealthDay)—When one child gets sick, you might brace yourself for everyone getting sick. But it's possible to keep healthy family members from falling ill, too.
	Long-term weight loss, T2DM remission for roux-en-Y surgery (HealthDay)—For patients with severe obesity, Roux-en-Y gastric bypass is associated with lasting benefits, according to a study published in the Sept. 21 issue of the New England Journal of Medicine.
	HBcrAg levels tied to progression to cirrhosis in HBV carriers (HealthDay)—For hepatitis B virus (HBV) carriers, hepatitis B virus core-related antigen (HBcrAg) levels are associated with progression to cirrhosis, according to a study published online Sept. 15 in the Journal of Gastroenterology and Hepatology.
	Insurer market power lowers providers' prices (HealthDay)—Insurers have the bargaining power to reduce provider prices in highly concentrated provider markets, according to a report published in the September issue of Health Affairs.
	Specific efforts may aid quality of life for schizophrenia caregivers (HealthDay)—Reducing affiliate stigma and strengthening the quality of family-centered care may improve health-related quality of life for primary family caregivers of people with schizophrenia, according to a study published online Sept. 7 in the Journal of Clinical Nursing.
	Ultrasound echo intensity is potential frailty biomarker (HealthDay)—Higher levels of echo intensity (EI) on ultrasound are associated with lower levels of muscle strength (MS) and greater frailty in the elderly, according to a study published online Sept. 7 in the Journal of the American Geriatrics Society.
	Naloxegol has no effect on opioid dose in opioid-tied constipation (HealthDay)—For patients with noncancer pain and opioid-induced constipation (OIC), naloxegol has no clinically relevant effect on patient-reported pain levels or mean daily opioid dose, according to research published online Sept. 12 in PAIN Practice.
	Broad swath of US deemed environmentally suitable for mosquitoes that transmit disease Three-quarters of counties in the contiguous United States present suitable environmental conditions for at least part of the year for either Aedes aegypti or Aedes albopictus mosquitoes to survive if introduced, according to researchers at the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. The two mosquito species can transmit viruses that cause Zika, dengue, chikungunya, and yellow fever.
	Rapid hepatitis C testing may help better screen young adults Routine and rapid hepatitis C virus (HCV) testing among young adults who use injection drugs improves life expectancy and may provide a good use of limited resources, according to new research out of Boston Medical Center, in partnership with the Boston Public Health Commission. The findings are published online ahead of print in the journal Clinical Infectious Diseases.
	Study links brain inflammation to suicidal thinking in depression Patients with major depressive disorder (MDD) have increased brain levels of a marker of microglial activation, a sign of inflammation, according to a new study in Biological Psychiatry by researchers at the University of Manchester, United Kingdom. In the study, Dr. Peter Talbot and colleagues found that the increase in the inflammatory marker was present specifically in patients with MDD who were experiencing suicidal thoughts, pinning the role of inflammation to suicidality rather than a diagnosis of MDD itself.
	Japanese encephalitis vaccine cuts disease rate in Nepal From 2006 through 2011, Nepal conducted a mass immunization campaign against Japanese encephalitis—a mosquito-borne viral disease. Now, investigators have reported in PLOS Neglected Tropical Diseases that the vaccination effort prevented thousands of cases of Japanese encephalitis (JE) and cut JE rates in Nepal by at least 78%.
	Synthetic molecule 'kicks and kills' some persistent HIV in mice Scientists have designed a synthetic molecule that can reactivate dormant human immunodeficiency virus (HIV) in mice and lead to the death of some of the infected cells, according to a study published in PLOS Pathogens.
	Mitochondria drive cell survival in times of need McGill University researchers have discovered a mechanism through which mitochondria, the energy factory of our body's cells, play a role in preventing cells from dying when the cells are deprived of nutrients - a finding that points to a potential target for next-generation cancer drugs.
	Drug combination may improve impact of immunotherapy in head and neck cancer Checkpoint inhibitor-based immunotherapy has been shown to be very effective in recurrent and metastatic head and neck cancer but only in a minority of patients. University of California San Diego School of Medicine researchers may have found a way to double down on immunotherapy's effectiveness.
	Flu vaccine used in elderly may benefit middle-aged adults with chronic conditions Expanding the high-dose influenza vaccine recommendation to include middle-aged adults with chronic health conditions may make economic sense and save lives, report scientists at the University of Pittsburgh School of Medicine.
	UV exposure may contribute to impaired fat homeostasis (HealthDay)—Adipochemokines induced by ultraviolet (UV) light may play a role in reduction of lipogenesis in subcutaneous (SC) fat, according to a study published online Aug. 27 in the British Journal of Dermatology.
	Intradiscal electrothermal therapy cost-effective (HealthDay)—For patients with discogenic low back pain, intradiscal electrothermal therapy (IDET) is an effective and cost-effective treatment alternative to circumferential lumbar fusion with femoral ring allograft (FRA), according to a study published online Sept. 12 in PAIN Practice.
	Steroid injection betters hand function with carpal tunnel (HealthDay)—Local steroid injection is effective for treatment of carpal tunnel syndrome (CTS) and improves hand function, according to a small study published online Sept. 13 in the International Journal of Rheumatic Diseases.
	Thyroid surgery for benign goiters ups quality of life (HealthDay)—Thyroid surgery restores quality of life (QOL) for patients with benign goiters, according to a study published online Sept. 4 in Head & Neck.
	Long-acting erythropoiesis agents can help save resources (HealthDay)—Switching from short- to long-acting erythropoiesis-stimulating agents (ESAs) in patients undergoing hemodialysis (HD) leads to a large reduction in time and subsequent costs, according to a study published online Sept. 12 in the Journal of Renal Care.
	Highest adverse effect rates for three drugs in parkinson's (HealthDay)—Ropinirole, bromocriptine, and piribedil are associated with the highest incidence rates of adverse effects in Parkinson's disease, according to a review published online Sept. 4 in CNS Neuroscience & Therapeutics.
Study reveals high rates of opioid prescriptions and excessive dosing in dialysis patients A new analysis indicates that the US opioid epidemic likely applies to the unique population of dialysis patients. The study, which appears in an upcoming issue of the Journal of the American Society of Nephrology (JASN), also found links between higher opioid drug prescription and increased risks of dialysis discontinuation, hospitalization, and early death.
	Being active saves lives whether a gym workout, walking to work or washing the floor Physical activity of any kind can prevent heart disease and death, says a large international study involving more than 130,000 people from 17 countries published this week in The Lancet.
Study shows diet and exercise improve treatment outcomes for obese pediatric cancer patients Diet and exercise may improve treatment outcomes in pediatric cancer patients, according to a study at The University of Texas MD Anderson Children's Cancer Hospital.
	Investigators may unlock mystery of how staph cells dodge the body's immune system For years, medical investigators have tried and failed to develop vaccines for a type of staph bacteria associated with the deadly superbug MRSA. But a new study by Cedars-Sinai investigators shows how staph cells evade the body's immune system, offering a clearer picture of how a successful vaccine would work.
Over 50 people have died in Chad cholera outbreak The Chadian government said Thursday that more than 50 people have died of cholera in Chad where authorities have since declared an outbreak.
	Your kids weathered the storm, now what? Families are slowly trying to return to normalcy after the devastating Hurricane Irma. As power is restored, schools reopen and the clean-up continues, Jonathan Comer, professor of psychology and psychiatry at Florida International University, offers tips for parents to help children adjust and ease back into daily routines.
	Smart inhaler to help asthma sufferers breathe easier With almost 30 million people under the age of 45 living with asthma in Europe, new 'smart inhalers' may provide better ways of treating the disease and help scientists understand what is driving this growing global epidemic.
Blood metal ion levels can identify hip replacement patients at low risk of ARMD Patients with "metal on metal" (MoM) artificial hips are at risk of complications caused by adverse reactions to metal debris (ARMD). A study in the September 20, 2017 issue of The Journal of Bone & Joint Surgery confirms that blood metal ion levels specific to the type of hip implant used can help predict patients who are at low risk of ARMD.
Exploring the adaptation extremes of human high altitude sickness and fitness Many research groups have recently explored human adaptation and successfully identified candidate genes to high altitude living among three major far-flung global populations: Tibetans, Ethiopians and Peruvians.
'Labyrinth' chip could help monitor aggressive cancer stem cells Inspired by the Labyrinth of Greek mythology, a new chip etched with fluid channels sends blood samples through a hydrodynamic maze to separate out rare circulating cancer cells into a relatively clean stream for analysis. It is already in use in a breast cancer clinical trial.
When good immune cells turn bad Investigators at the Children's Center for Cancer and Blood Diseases at Children's Hospital Los Angeles have identified new findings about an immune cell - called a tumor-associated macrophage - that promotes cancer instead of fighting it. They have identified the molecular pathway, known as STAT3, as the mechanism the immune cell uses to foster neuroblastoma, a pediatric cancer, and have demonstrated use of a clinically available agent, ruxolitinib, to block the pathway. Results of the study were published in the journal Oncotarget on September 20.
New research findings offers hope to people with fibromyalgia A novel psychological therapy that encourages addressing emotional experiences related to trauma, conflict and relationship problems has been found helpful for people with the chronic pain condition fibromyalgia. A research team led by Mark A. Lumley, Ph.D., distinguished professor of psychology in the College of Liberal Arts and Sciences at Wayne State University, in collaboration with a team from the University of Michigan Medical Center led by David A. Williams, Ph.D., professor of anesthesiology, has released the results of its research in the prestigious journal, Pain.
Smoking negatively impacts long-term survival after breast cancer A new study published in JNCI Cancer Spectrum finds that smoking negatively impacts long-term survival after breast cancer. Quitting smoking after diagnosis may reduce the risk of dying from breast cancer.
	Trusted messages key to counter community concerns during disease outbreak Utilizing messages focused on images created by local artists and written information communicated through local dialects proved essential to counter misperceptions during the Ebola epidemic in Sierra Leone, according to a study conducted in part by Muriel J. Harris, Ph.D., associate professor, University of Louisville School of Public Health and Information Sciences, Department of Health Promotion and Behavior Sciences.
Resurgence of whooping cough may owe to vaccine's inability to prevent infections The startling global resurgence of pertussis, or whooping cough, in recent years can largely be attributed to the immunological failures of acellular vaccines, Boston University School of Public Health (BUSPH) researchers argue in a new journal article.
	Frequent blood donations safe for some, but not all (HealthDay)—Some people may safely donate blood as often as every eight weeks—but that may not be a healthy choice for all, a new study suggests.
	Chlorine + pee = breathing trouble for waterpark workers (HealthDay)—Another summer ends, and at least some of America's waterpark attendants may be breathing easier, a new report finds.
Preterm children have more medical sleep problems but fall asleep more independently A new study suggests that while healthy preterm children have more medical sleep problems than full-term children, they are more likely to fall asleep independently.
Study of same-sex couples reveals causes of work, family stress People in same-sex relationships can face considerable angst when deciding whether to disclose their sexual orientation at work, and that anxiety can affect their home life as well, according to a new University of Georgia study.
	Online dementia publication sheds light on latest research More than 400,000 Australians live with dementia and that number is expected to climb to 1.1 million by 2056.
	Cognitive behavioural therapy enhances effects of anti-depressant drugs in Malaysia Augmenting conventional, pharmaceutical-based treatment of depression with cognitive behavioural therapy reduces depressive symptoms of Malaysians more over a shorter period of time than other treatment methods, according to a study in the journal Social Sciences and Humanities.
	Southampton experts to trial 'instant' test for eye infections Clinicians and engineers in Southampton have developed a microchip that could detect sight-threatening eye infections within minutes – and prevent misuse of antibiotics.
	New directory of low- and middle-income population studies A new online directory of low and middle income (LMIC) population studies aims to boost international and interdisciplinary research collaboration.
From pixels to taxels—a new world of opportunities for the blind Digital technologies evolve at an incredible pace. Yet, they are still leaving people behind: visually-impaired people, for example, are completely locked out from the use of touchscreen devices. An EU-funded consortium has therefore created the BlindPAD to exploit and enhance their remaining senses.
	Penn first in world to treat patient with new radiation technology Doctors at Penn Medicine have become the first in the world to treat a patient with a new treatment platform designed to streamline the way therapeutic radiation is delivered to cancer patients. The Varian Halcyon system has the ability to shorten the amount of time patients spend in treatment, and in some cases cut the length of each session by more than half. It was also designed to offer a more user-friendly approach for experts administering the treatment with the goal of making it easier to train new therapists. The first treatment was administered to a patient with head and neck cancer this month. "This is a next-generation technology, and Penn is proud not only to have helped with its development, but also to build on our long history as radiation oncology innovators and be the first in the world to bring the new option to patients, as part of our continued pursuit to offer patients with cancers of all kinds the most advanced array of treatment options," said James Metz, MD, chair of Radiation Oncology at Penn.
	New study on reasons for low rates of blood glucose monitoring in type 2 diabetes in China Researchers in China who assessed self-monitoring of blood glucose (SMBG) behavior among nearly 19,000 patients with type 2 diabetes treated with oral medications reported very low SMBG rates both before and after the patients began treatment with basal insulin, although the data showed an increase in mean SMBG frequency after 6 months and the percentage of patients who never monitored their blood glucose decreased. The study, which also confirmed that patients who performed SMBG more frequently tended to have lower HBA1c levels, is published in Diabetes Technology & Therapeutics (DTT).
Pelvic Floor Society statement—use of mesh surgeries for constipation and rectal prolapse In light of ongoing concerns by the media and the public surrounding the use of mesh in women with pelvic organ prolapse and urinary incontinence, the Pelvic Floor Society has issued a consensus statement addressing the use of mesh for the treatment of constipation and rectal prolapse (via a surgical procedure called ventral mesh rectopexy, or VMR). The Statement is published in Colorectal Disease.
Health center services at risk if Congress fails to renew funding If Congress does not renew a critical fund for community health centers before September 30, these safety net providers could lose 70 percent of their federal grant funding by 2018. As a result 9 million people could lose access to health care, according to a report produced by researchers at the Geiger Gibson/RCHN Community Health Foundation Research Collaborative at the George Washington University's Milken Institute School of Public Health (Milken Institute SPH). The new report also predicts that cutting funds to community health centers would lead to site closures, a loss of 51,000 health care jobs and an economic downturn in communities located throughout the U.S.
NAM releases new special publication guide to help health clinicians counter the opioid epidemic Halting the opioid epidemic requires aggressive action across multiple dimensions, including informed, active, and determined front-line leadership from health clinicians working in every setting throughout the nation, says a new National Academy of Medicine (NAM) special publication developed at the request of the National Governors Association to assist the nation's governors as they work with clinicians to counter the opioid crisis. Authored by leading national authorities on substance use disorders, the 30-page paper is an action guide for clinicians - physicians, physician assistants, nurses, nurse practitioners, dentists, social workers, behavioral health practitioners, pharmacists, and first responders - if they are prescribing an opioid or managing a patient who presents with a likely opioid use disorder. To successfully marshal progress, the paper calls for clinicians to prioritize non-opioid strategies when managing chronic pain, follow five axioms of responsible opioid prescribing, and promote policies that stimulate and support available scientific evidence.

Biology news

	Scientists reveal the beautiful simplicity underlying branching patterns in tissue In the centenary year of the publication of a seminal treatise on the physical and mathematical principles underpinning nature - On Growth and Form by D'Arcy Wentworth Thompson - a Cambridge physicist has led a study describing an elegantly simple solution to a puzzle that has taxed biologists for centuries: how complex branching patterns of tissues arise.
	Discovery helps improve accuracy of CRISPR-Cas9 gene editing Scientists at the University of California, Berkeley and Massachusetts General Hospital have identified a key region within the Cas9 protein that governs how accurately CRISPR-Cas9 homes in on a target DNA sequence, and have tweaked it to produce a hyper-accurate gene editor with the lowest level of off-target cutting to date.
	Efforts to save sea turtles are a 'global conservation success story': scientists New Deakin University research is pointing to signs of recovery in global sea turtle populations thanks to long-term conservation efforts, contrasting with a trend that's seen most endangered vertebrates continue to decline in numbers.
	Scientists unravel mysteries of DNA replication in corn DNA replication is among life's most important processes, providing a way for an organism's genetic material to be reproduced so it can be passed from cell to cell. For the first time, scientists have characterized that process for an entire plant genome.
	Signs of sleep seen in jellyfish Jellyfish snooze just like the rest of us. Like humans, mice, fish and flies, the upside-down jellyfish Cassiopea exhibits the telltale signs of sleep, scientists report September 21, 2017 in the journal Current Biology. But unlike other animals that slumber, jellyfish don't have a central nervous system.
	Study provides insights into how algae siphon carbon dioxide from the air Two new studies of green algae—the scourge of swimming pool owners and freshwater ponds—have revealed new insights into how these organisms siphon carbon dioxide from the air for use in photosynthesis, a key factor in their ability to grow so quickly. Understanding this process may someday help researchers improve the growth rate of crops such as wheat and rice.
	Scientists sequence asexual tiny worm—whose lineage stretches back 18 million years A team of scientists has sequenced, for the first time, a tiny worm that belongs to a group of exclusively asexual species that originated approximately 18 million years ago—making it one of the oldest living lineages of asexual animals known. The work reveals how it has escaped the evolutionary dead end usually met by organisms that do not engage in sex.
	Dino-killing asteroid sped up bird evolution Human activities could change the pace of evolution, similar to what occurred 66 million years ago when a giant asteroid wiped out the dinosaurs, leaving modern birds as their only descendants. That's one conclusion drawn by the authors of a new study just published in Systematic Biology.
	Turning the evolutionary clock back on a light-sensitive protein We are inching closer to using light to help cure diseases. The key is harnessing the power of proteins that are sensitive to light.
	Too much sun is no good—for people or plants People avoid sunburn by applying sunscreen. But how do plants avoid getting burnt?
	Changing of the guard—research sheds light on how plants breathe New research is set to change the textbook understanding of how plants breathe.
	Surprising discovery—how the African tsetse fly really drinks your blood Researchers at the University of Bristol have been taking a close-up look at the biting mouthparts of the African tsetse fly as part of ongoing work on the animal diseases it carries.
	Why poison frogs don't poison themselves Don't let their appearance fool you: Thimble-sized, dappled in cheerful colors and squishy, poison frogs in fact harbor some of the most potent neurotoxins we know. With a new paper published in the journal Science, scientists are a step closer to resolving a related head-scratcher—how do these frogs keep from poisoning themselves? And the answer has potential consequences for the fight against pain and addiction.
	An extraordinary cave animal found in Eastern Turkmenistan A remote cave in Eastern Turkmenistan was found to shelter a marvelous cave-adapted inhabitant that turned out to represent a species and genus new to science. This new troglodyte is the first of its order from Central Asia and the first strictly subterranean terrestrial creature recorded in the country.
	Rolling dice for cell size specification in plant leaf epidermis One of the central questions in biology is how a cell specifies its size. Because size distribution often shows a characteristically skewed pattern in a tissue, there may be some stochastic option for determining cell size. However, the underlying mechanism by which the target distribution is established by organizing a cellular coin-toss remains elusive.
	Tiny Brazilian frogs are deaf to their own calls Pumpkin toadlets, found on the leaf litter of Brazil's Atlantic forest, are among the smallest frogs in the world. An international team from Brazil, Denmark and the United Kingdom, has discovered that two species of these tiny orange frogs cannot hear the sound of their own calls. Their results are reported in Scientific Reports and represent a unique case of a communication signal persisting even after the target audience has lost the ability to detect it.
Glycosylation—mapping uncharted territory Whereas major inroads have been made into genomics, metabolomics, or protein and lipid research, glycosylation remains largely unexplored at the proteome scale. There are limited technologies for profiling the complex glycoproteome. Glycoproteins can differ not only by the number and location of glycosites, but also by the composition and structure of each glycan. Glycoproteomics is "one of the key frontiers of life sciences," says study leader Josef Penninger, MD, IMBA Director.
	First insight into the architecture of viral filaments in Rift Valley Fever virus Researchers at the Universities of St Andrews and Glasgow have made a significant step forward in tackling a viral disease which causes frequent epidemics in Africa and could spread to Europe due to global warming.
	Lizard release brings rare species back to its natural habitat in Britain A Ph.D. researcher from the University of Southampton will closely monitor a population of rare lizards recently released back into the wild.
	Scientists and farmers work together to wipe out African lovegrass A partnership between QUT, the NSW Government and farmers could lead to the eventual eradication of the highly invasive African lovegrass which is threatening pastures and native grasslands Australia-wide.
	Scientists investigate how oil affects smallest organisms in Antarctic waters New research by a Florida State University scientist has examined how oil and other hydrocarbons in Antarctica affect miniature organisms called meiofauna that slip through the sediment widely unnoticed to the casual observer.
	Review of historic stock routes may put rare stretches of native plants and animals at risk Since the 19th century, Australian drovers have moved their livestock along networks of stock routes. Often following traditional Indigenous pathways, these corridors and stepping-stones of remnant vegetation cross the heavily cleared wheat and sheep belt in central New South Wales.
	Cnidarians remotely control bacteria In modern life sciences, a paradigm shift is becoming increasingly evident: life forms are no longer considered to be self-contained units, but instead highly-complex and functionally-interdependent communities of organisms. The exploration of the close links between multi-cellular and especially bacterial life will, in future, be the key to a better understanding of life processes as a whole, and in particular the transition between health and illness. However, how the cooperation and communication of the organisms works in detail is currently still largely unknown. An important step forward in deciphering these multi-organism relationships has now been made by researchers from the Cell and Developmental Biology working group at Kiel University's Zoological Institute: the scientists, led by Dr. Sebastian Fraune, have been able to prove for the first time that host organisms can control not only the composition of their colonizing bacteria, but also their function. The CAU researchers published their ground-breaking findings – derived from the example of the freshwater polyp Hydra and their specific bacterial symbionts – last Monday in the latest issue of the scientific journal Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences.
	New findings on the biomechanics and evolution of suction traps in carnivorous bladderworts Bladderworts (Utricularia spp. Lentibulariaceae) are plants with many superlatives: They belong to the most recently evolved and also the largest genus of carnivorous flowering plants, encompassing more than 240 species. They have one of the smallest genomes known in flowering plants, have the fastest traps, are completely rootless, are distributed almost worldwide, and possess a great variety of different life forms. A team in the Plant Biomechanics Group at the Botanical Garden of the University of Freiburg led by Prof. Dr. Thomas Speck and Dr. Simon Poppinga is conducting comparative morphological and biomechanical analyses on these ultra-fast traps, which capture prey by means of underpressure-induced suction. The journal Scientific Reports has now published two new articles with results from the group.
	Heat-loving Australian ants believe in diversity, hint 74 species new to science The 'furnace ants' or 'honeypot ants' present a very large genus of ants, Melophorus, confined to Australia. Long believed to be megadiverse, some scientists have even suggested that the group may contain 'well over 1000 species'. However, to this point, only 32 species and subspecies had been described.
Obese dogs helped by 'effective' weight loss trials On average overweight dogs lose an average of 11% of their bodyweight when enrolled on a weight loss trial according to researchers who have conducted the largest international multi-centre weight study.
	Researchers discover new cattle disease and prevent it from spreading Following genetic studies of deformed calves research conducted at the University of Copenhagen is able to uncover a hitherto unknown disease found among Holstein cattle. The breeding bull from which the mutation and thus the deformation originate has now been put down to prevent the disease from spreading further.
	DNA discovery could help shed light on rare childhood disorder New insights into how our cells store and manage DNA during cell division could help point towards the causes of a rare developmental condition.
	Scientists propose 'universal laws' on the size and biology of plant seeds Researchers at the University of Granada (UGR) have discovered that different types of seeds allow plants to adapt to environmental cycles as they evolve.
	Amazing diversity of species reported on Solent oyster restoration project A surprising diversity of species including seahorses and critically endangered eels have been reported in the Solent.
The birdlife of an unforgiving paradise When ECU wildlife ecologist Dr Rob Davis describes surveying birdlife on the island of New Britain as the hardest field work he's ever done, he's not exaggerating.
	Africa poaching now a war, task force warns The fight against poaching must be treated as a war, Africa's leading anti-poaching coalition said Thursday, as it called for the illicit wildlife trade to be monitored like global conflicts.
	Scientists study wildlife rangers, what motivates them? Wildlife rangers are on the front lines protecting our most iconic species—tigers, elephants, gorillas and many others. But their challenges involve more than confrontations with wild animals and poachers.

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