Science X Newsletter Wednesday, Sep 27

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Here is your customized Science X Newsletter for September 27, 2017:

Spotlight Stories Headlines

Paper supercapacitor addresses power/energy density tradeoff

Study sheds new light on how Earth and Mars were created

Unexpected discovery leads to new theory of liquid streaming

Gravitational twists help theoretical physicists shed light on quantum complexity

Move towards 'holy grail' of computing by creation of brain-like photonic microchips

LIGO and Virgo observatories detect gravitational wave signals from black hole collision

Study links cancerous toxins to cannabis extract

A beautiful wing design solution inspired by owl feathers

Tree-dwelling, coconut-cracking giant rat discovered in Solomon Islands

Researchers compare the performance of human subjects versus deep neural networks in visual searches

Caribbean praying mantises have ancient African origin

Noise pollution found to be disruptive for schooling fish

Twitter aims to boost appeal with new 280-character tweet limit

Giant Australian marsupials were like no other

The strange structures of the Saturn nebula

Astronomy & Space news

	Study sheds new light on how Earth and Mars were created Analysing a mixture of earth samples and meteorites, scientists from the University of Bristol have shed new light on the sequence of events that led to the creation of the planets Earth and Mars.
	LIGO and Virgo observatories detect gravitational wave signals from black hole collision In August, detectors on two continents recorded gravitational wave signals from a pair of black holes colliding. This discovery, announced today, is the first observation of gravitational waves by three different detectors, marking a new era of greater insights and improved localization of cosmic events now available through globally networked gravitational-wave observatories.
	The strange structures of the Saturn nebula The spectacular planetary nebula NGC 7009, or the Saturn Nebula, emerges from the darkness like a series of oddly-shaped bubbles, lit up in glorious pinks and blues. This colourful image was captured by the MUSE instrument on ESO's Very Large Telescope (VLT). The map—which reveals a wealth of intricate structures in the dust, including shells, a halo and a curious wave-like feature—will help astronomers understand how planetary nebulae develop their strange shapes and symmetries.
	Solving the mystery of Pluto's giant blades of ice NASA's New Horizons mission revolutionized our knowledge of Pluto when it flew past that distant world in July 2015. Among its many discoveries were images of strange formations resembling giant knife blades of ice, whose origin had remained a mystery.
	Black holes with ravenous appetites define Type I active galaxies For decades, astronomers have tried to pin down why two of the most common types of active galaxies, known as Type I and Type II galaxies, appear different when observed from Earth. Although both galaxy types host voracious supermassive black holes known as active galactic nuclei, which actively swallow matter and emit massive amounts of radiation, Type I galaxies appear brighter to astronomers' telescopes.
	Russia, US shoot for the moon with joint lunar station project (Update) Russia and the United States agreed Wednesday to cooperate on a NASA-led project to build the first lunar space station, part of a long-term project to send humans to Mars.
	A RAVAN in the sun While people across the nation gazed at August's total solar eclipse from Earth, a bread loaf-sized NASA satellite had a front row seat for the astronomical event.
	The volatile processes that shaped the Earth Oxford University scientists have shed new light on how the Earth was first formed.
	Cartography of the cosmos There are hundreds of billions of stars in our own Milky Way galaxy. Estimates indicate a similar number of galaxies in the observable universe, each with its own large assemblage of stars, many with their own planetary systems. Beyond and between these stars and galaxies are all manner of matter in various phases, such as gas and dust. Another form of matter, dark matter, exists in a very different and mysterious form, announcing its presence indirectly only through its gravitational effects.
	Image: OSIRIS-REx views the Earth during flyby A color composite image of Earth taken on Sept. 22 by the MapCam camera on NASA's OSIRIS-REx spacecraft. This image was taken just hours after the spacecraft completed its Earth Gravity Assist at a range of approximately 106,000 miles (170,000 kilometers).
	Parker Solar Probe gets its revolutionary heat shield On Sept. 25, 2017, media were invited to see NASA's Parker Solar Probe in its flight configuration at Johns Hopkins Applied Physics Laboratory in Laurel, Maryland, where it is being built. The revolutionary heat shield that will protect the first spacecraft to fly directly into the Sun's atmosphere was installed for the first time on Sept. 21. This is the only time the spacecraft will have its thermal protection system—which will reach temperatures of 2,500 degrees F while at the Sun—attached until just before launch.
	Engineers warm NASA's Webb Telescope as end of cryogenic testing nears The temperature of Chamber A at NASA's Johnson Space Center in Houston has begun to rise, signaling the beginning of the end of James Webb Space Telescope's cryogenic testing.
	Cherenkov Telescope Array releases its updated science case The latest iteration of the Cherenkov Telescope Array's (CTA's) science case, Science with the Cherenkov Telescope Array, was made available today via the CTA website library (www.cta-observatory.org/science/library/) and arXiv (1709.07997) and will be published in a special edition of the International Journal of Modern Physics D in the coming weeks. The work includes more than 200 pages that introduce and elaborate on CTA's major science themes and place CTA in the context of other major observatories.

Technology news

	Twitter aims to boost appeal with new 280-character tweet limit Twitter is testing allowing tweets to be expanded to 280 characters—double the existing limit—in the latest effort to boost flagging growth at the social network.
	Computer scientists address gap in messaging privacy Researchers have developed a solution to a longstanding problem in the field of end-to-end encryption, a technique that ensures that only sender and recipient can read a message.
	Engineers create wristbands that keep wearers thermally comfortable Sitting in a stifling subway car or walking Boston's cold winter streets may soon become more bearable, thanks to a "personal thermostat" wristband being released by MIT spinout Embr Labs.
	Researchers design soft, flexible origami-inspired robot A Case Western Reserve University researcher has turned the origami she enjoyed as a child into a patent-pending soft robot that may one day be used on an assembly line, in surgery or even outer space.
	Loihi: Introducing self-learning chip from Intel, to rev up AI (Tech Xplore)—A self learning chip from Intel designed to work like the human brain has been announced.
NFL's Amazon deal could be test for more streaming games Amazon begins its foray into live streaming of NFL games Thursday night when it will air a matchup between the Chicago Bears and Green Bay Packers on its Prime Video service.
	Energy drinks, game faces at Shanghai eSports 'boot camp' Urgent cries ring out in a room crammed with computers and caffeine—"Kill that one!" "They're murdering us!"—as training for the Flash Wolves eSports team gets into full swing.
SK Hynix to put 395 billion yen in Toshiba's chip unit sale SK Hynix Inc. says it will invest 395 billion yen ($3.5 billion) partly through convertible bonds to purchase Toshiba's memory chip unit.
	New algorithms for high speed and low cost 3-D imaging Ultrawideband millimeter-wave radar devices are promising as high precision sensors to monitor environments where vision is hindered due to clouds and fog for applications including automobile collision avoidance systems. Importantly, during the identification of objects under such circumstances, raw data from the sensors must be rapidly and accurately processed into three dimensional images by so-called "conversion algorithms."
	Advanced molybdenum selenide near infrared phototransistors Optical sensors operating in the near infrared (NIR) are important for applications in imaging, photodetectors, and biological sensors. Notably, recent reports on the synthesis of high quality, large areas of graphene has motivated researchers to search for other 2-D materials with properties suitable for NIR devices.
Stereophonic device enables objects to 'talk' to users NEC Corporation today announced the development of acoustic augmented reality (AR) technology that gives a "voice" to objects that can only be heard by users of specialized wireless earphones. These advanced devices also enable users to easily identify the direction and location that the voices originate from, making this technology ideal for marketing purposes and guide services.
	Electric car-sharing service to roll into Singapore An electric car-sharing service will be launched in Singapore in December, in what the company behind the scheme said Wednesday was a first for Southeast Asia.
Engineers to pioneer unprecedented high speed wireless data coverage A major new international research programme is responding to the overwhelming demand of internet traffic to develop ubiquitous wireless data coverage with unprecedented speed at millimetre waves.
	Consumers often compensate for fuel-efficient car by buying bigger second vehicle Like ordering a diet soda with a side of fries, households who buy a fuel-efficient vehicle tend to buy a bigger, more powerful second car to compensate. This tendency, combined with the changes in driving behavior that result, may reduce up to 60 percent of the expected future gas savings from increased fuel economy in two-car households. That is according to a recent white paper from the University of California, Davis, MIT and Yale.
	Tesla Model 3 isn't only affordable EV on market The Tesla Model 3 has captured the interest of both mainstream car buyers and electric vehicle enthusiasts alike. The Model 3's combination of sleek styling, long range and semiautonomous driving features gives the Model 3 an "it" factor that's hard to resist. But with a base price of $35,000, limited availability, and many of its most desirable features on the options list, the Model 3 isn't for everybody.
	Uber appeals UK court case on drivers' rights Uber appealed before a British employment tribunal on Wednesday against a ruling that would give its drivers official worker status, as the company also battles against a threatened ban in London.
	EU police agency calls for better action against cybercrime The European Union's police agency called Wednesday for better awareness and tougher, targeted legislation to tackle cybercrime in the wake of devastating malware and ransomware attacks in recent months.
	How old does your computer think you are? Computerised face recognition is an important part of initiatives to develop security systems, in building social networks, in curating photographs, and many other applications. Systems that allow a computer to estimate with precision a person's age based on an analysis of their face are discussed in the International Journal of Applied Pattern Recognition.
	Drones in disaster zones could prove a lifesaver Pioneering research from the University of South Australia has shown for the first time that drones can be used to detect human vital signs in war zones and natural disasters.
Q&A about Watson, the iHuman supercomputer In 2011, a faceless, emotionless voice named Watson famously defeated two of the greatest champions of Jeopardy!, an American TV gameshow.
	Swiss people may be ready to live car-free under certain conditions The findings of PostCarWorld, a cross-disciplinary study into Swiss people's contradictory relationship with cars, will be presented at EPFL on 3 October. An honorary lecture will then be given by Professor Jacques Lévy, the study's director, followed by the opening of an exhibition showcasing his laboratory's research and the results of the PostCarWorld initiative.
	Future droughts will severely impact power production For every flip of a light switch, thermostat adjustment, and preheated oven, we have a thermoelectric power plant to thank. Thermoelectric plants include coal, nuclear, oil, and natural gas. These plants account for 90 percent of the electricity generated in the U.S.—and every one of them requires water for cooling.
	Chinese dominate eSports at Asian Indoor Games China proved it had most of the best young eSports players by dominating the four events held at the 5th Asian Indoor and Martial Arts Games.
	How am I feeling? Ask my house Someday a health checkup may be as easy as switching on the living room light.
	At risk?: Equifax hack has businesses uneasy about security The Equifax breach is reminding small business owners that they may be vulnerable to cybercriminals.
Ford to integrate autonomous cars with Lyft network Ford is working to integrate its autonomous cars with Lyft's ride-hailing software so someday Ford can carry Lyft passengers.
Uber in London court in employment case Uber lawyers are in a London courtroom trying to overturn a ruling that its drivers are employees of the ride-hailing service—not independent contractors.
	Ransomware attacks 'global epidemic', says Europol An "epidemic" has erupted in global ransomware attacks, taking over computers as well as internet-linked devices like routers and CCTV cameras to turn them into tools for criminals, Europe's police agency said Wednesday.
	Google to create 'separate' shopping unit to avoid EU fines Google formally offered its solution to avoid more EU mega-fines on Wednesday, proposing to run its controversial shopping service as a standalone business.
	Q&A: How Apple's Face ID facial recognition works In mid-September, Apple unveiled its new Face ID facial recognition system , which is due to debut with the iPhone X on Nov. 3. The system lets users unlock their phones just by glancing at them, but has also raised privacy questions and some anxieties over whether someone could force you to unlock your phone by pointing it at your face.
	Twitterverse atwitter over expanded tweet limit Twitter's test of an expanded 280-character limit is aimed at luring new users, but some of the social network's passionate loyalists fear the change will strip it of its unique appeal.
	Amazon slashes price of new Echo speaker to $100 Amazon says it is cutting the price of its Echo smart speaker to $100 from $180, improving the sound quality and upgrading its appearance with six new "shells."
IBM unveils a new high-powered analytics system for fast access to data science IBM today announced the Integrated Analytics System, a new unified data system designed to give users fast, easy access to advanced data science capabilities and the ability to work with their data across private, public or hybrid cloud environments.
Delphi plans split into tech, traditional companies by April The auto parts maker Delphi plans to split itself into two companies early next year.
Fuel-cell cars cruise onto the market Fuel-cell powered cars that emit only water vapor when driven have been in the works for decades, but progress seemed to keep stalling. Now, according to an article in Chemical & Engineering News (C&EN), the weekly newsmagazine of the American Chemical Society, the wait is over. Motorists can finally lease or buy hydrogen-powered, fuel-cell cars, but the road ahead for these vehicles still faces some bumps.
	Trump won't get expanded tweet space, for now US President Donald Trump won't be part of the group testing the expanded character limit for messages on the Twitter the social network.

Medicine & Health news

	Study links cancerous toxins to cannabis extract Researchers at Portland State University found benzene and other potentially cancer-causing chemicals in the vapor produced by butane hash oil, a cannabis extract.
	Researchers compare the performance of human subjects versus deep neural networks in visual searches Before you read on, look for toothbrushes in the photo above. Find them? Both of them? If you're like the vast majority of people, you honed in on the one near the sink, but probably took a moment or two before seeing the other, much larger one hanging on the wall. Although it is technically much more visible and not out of context, for a while at least, your brain excluded that enormous blue toothbrush in your visual search.
Cellular 'message in a bottle' may provide path to new way of treating disease A newly discovered cellular messaging mechanism could lead to a new way to deliver therapeutics to tissues affected by disease, according to a new study from Harvard T.H. Chan School of Public Health. Researchers found that a type of extracellular vesicle (EV)—a sac secreted by cells that contains proteins and RNA molecules—known as ARMMs also carries receptors that allow signaling without direct contact between cells. This capability may make ARMMs uniquely suited to be engineered to send therapeutics directly to affected areas of the body.
	Stem cells could offer hope for patients with lung damage from COPD and asthma Early stage trials have shown promise for a cell-based therapy for treating lung tissue damaged by respiratory diseases.
	Discovery provides glimmer of hope to prevent blindness Macquarie University researchers have discovered that a naturally occurring protein in the body protects the eye from the common eye disease glaucoma, and which is particularly sensitive to oxidation through environmental factors that may include cigarette smoke, in research published in Scientific Reports.
	HIV infection hijacks intracellular highways A Northwestern Medicine study found the human immunodeficiency virus (HIV) uses proteins called diaphanous-related formins (DRFs) to hijack the cytoskeleton of healthy cells, findings that deepen the understanding of HIV infection and present a potential therapeutic target.
	Chemo-loaded nanoparticles target breast cancer that has spread to bone Breast cancer that spreads often infiltrates bone, causing fractures and intense pain. In such cases, chemotherapy is ineffective because the environment of the bone protects the tumor, even as the drug has toxic side effects elsewhere in the body.
	Pass the salt: Mapping the neurons that drive salt cravings While the average American's high-salt diet has been linked to high blood pressure and cardiovascular disease, the truth is we couldn't live without this once scarce mineral. Salt helps the body balance its water content and plays a critical role in regulating blood pressure and cellular function throughout the body. As salt is lost through excretion and other metabolic processes, hormones are released in response to sodium deficiency. But exactly how these hormones work on the brain to trigger salt-seeking and salt-consuming behavior has remained a mystery.
	Epigenetics of addiction: Epigenetic study untangles addiction and relapse in the brain Why do some drug users continue to seek out drugs despite the prospect of losing family, friends, health or livelihood?
	Researchers uncover our brain's filing system for storing experiences A team of neuroscientists has uncovered how our brains organize, over time, our experiences: that is, according to their similarities.
	Melanoma cells rewire to resist drug treatment In 2014, new combination therapies to treat patients with metastatic melanoma hit the market, helping extend the lives of those with this aggressive disease. Yet unfortunately, after several months of treatment, almost all patients on the regimen eventually relapsed.
	Battling belly fat: Specialized immune cells impair metabolism in aging In a new study, Yale researchers have described how nervous systems and immune systems talk to each other to control metabolism and inflammation. Their finding furthers scientists' understanding of why older adults fail to burn stored belly fat, which raises the risk of chronic disease. The study also points to potential therapeutic approaches to target the problem, the researchers said.
	3-D imaging reveals secrets of immune cells' agility Newly developed microscopy techniques have allowed UC San Francisco researchers to observe white blood cells in action in unprecedented detail. Videos the scientists have created using these advanced microscopes are revealing the secrets of how these cells—called neutrophils—are able to move with greater speed and agility than almost any other cell in the body.
	Researchers uncover the source of diabetic nerve pain A new King's College London study reveals the molecular basis of chronic nerve pain in diabetes. The findings in mice, published today in Science Translational Medicine, could one day lead to treatments which target the source of the pain.
	Brain cells that control appetite identified for first time Dieting could be revolutionised, thanks to the ground-breaking discovery by the University of Warwick of the key brain cells which control our appetite.
	Editing genes one by one throughout colorectal cancer cell genome uncovers new drug target Cancers driven by mutations in the KRAS gene are among the most deadly. For decades, researchers have tried unsuccessfully to directly target mutant KRAS proteins as a means to treat tumors. Instead of targeting mutant KRAS itself, researchers at University of California San Diego School of Medicine are now looking for other genes or molecules that, when inhibited, kill cancer cells only when KRAS is also mutated.
	Rapid, easy Zika test developed A new fast, easy and cheap "dipstick" test for the Zika and dengue viruses could revolutionize public health response to dangerous tropical germs, a new study reports.
	Clinical trial reveals genetic fault that reduces the effectiveness of leukemia treatment A genetic fault has been identified in people with an aggressive type of leukaemia that can significantly affect how they respond to treatment.
Restoring breathing capacity in Duchenne muscular dystrophy by activating the brain New research published in The Journal of Physiology today suggests that enhancing breathing via the brain may limit deficiencies in respiratory capacity in Duchenne muscular dystrophy (DMD) patients.
	Brain disconnections may contribute to Parkinson's hallucinations Researchers have found that disconnections of brain areas involved in attention and visual processing may contribute to visual hallucinations in individuals with Parkinson's disease, according to a new study published online in the journal Radiology. The disconnected brain areas seen on functional MRI (fMRI) may be valuable in predicting the development of visual hallucinations in patients with Parkinson's disease.
Taste of the exotic: 'fatty rice' condoms from Malaysia A Malaysian condom company is hoping to spice up sex lives with a contraceptive that tastes like the country's ultimate comfort food—a chili-infused rice dish known as nasi lemak.
	A sixth of new HIV patients in Europe 50 or older: study People aged 50 and older comprise a growing percentage of HIV patients in Europe, accounting for one in six new cases in 2015, researchers said Wednesday.
	New technique to aid bladder cancer diagnosis A new and innovative automated computer technique has been developed by researchers that is able to significantly aid in the diagnosis of bladder cancer.
A novel biomarker for multiple sclerosis An article published in Experimental Biology and Medicine (Volume 242, Issue 15, September, 2017) identifies opioid growth factor (OGF) as a novel biomarker for the onset and progression of multiple sclerosis (MS). The study, led by Dr. Patricia McLaughlin, Professor of Neural & Behavioral Sciences at Penn State University College of Medicine in Hershey, PA demonstrates that OGF (chemically termed [Met5]-enkephalin) levels were decreased in patients with MS relative to non-MS patients as well as MS-patients receiving disease-modifying therapies.
	What is the difference between a food allergy and a food intolerance? If you have a bad reaction after eating certain foods, it can be hard to tell if you are experiencing the symptoms of a food allergy or a food intolerance. One Baylor College of Medicine expert explains the important differences between the two.
Study outlines recommendations for precancerous treatment of anal lesions Currently, no guidelines exist for screening and treatment of precancerous anal lesions or for anal cancer screening because enough is not known about the effectiveness of treating lesions detected through screening. A new study published today by researchers at Baylor College of Medicine and the University of Florida uses a computer model to offer recommendations for monitoring and/or treating these lesions based on a patient's age. Their report appears in the journal Cancer.
High rate of prescriptions for new cholesterol medications never filled In the first year of availability of the cholesterol lowering medications PCSK9 inhibitors, fewer than 1 in 3 adults initially prescribed one of these inhibitors actually received it, owing to a combination of out-of-pocket costs and lack of insurance approval, according to a study published by JAMA Cardiology.
	Defining optimal opioid pain medication prescription length following surgery A new study led by researchers at the Center for Surgery and Public Health at Brigham and Women's Hospital analyzed opioid prescription data from the Department of Defense Military Health System Data Repository, identifying more than 200,000 opioid-naïve individuals who had undergone one of eight common surgical procedures between 2006 and 2014 and were subsequently prescribed opioid pain medication. Their findings appear in JAMA Surgery as a featured article for the week of Sept. 27.
	Study shows minimally invasive valve replacements hold up well after five years A minimally invasive procedure used to replace heart valves without open heart surgery appears to provide a durable remedy for people with a life-threatening form of heart disease in which the aortic valve opening narrows, diminishing blood flow.
	Most alternative therapies for treating autism show inconclusive benefits Dr. Shafali Jeste knows well the desperation of a parent seeking a cure for their child with autism spectrum disorder. As a clinician who both researches the causes of the disorder and treats children with autism, Jeste, UCLA associate professor of psychiatry, neurology and pediatrics and a lead investigator in the UCLA Center for Autism Research and Treatment, understands why many parents will try anything that sounds reasonable. A change to a gluten- and casein-free diet to reduce symptoms. Mega-vitamins for the same. Medical marijuana to calm. Melatonin to sleep. Omega-3 fatty acids for hyperactivity. Delaying or refusing vaccinations. All done, usually, in addition to the standard medications that are prescribed to children on the spectrum, including Ritalin, Adderall or Risperdal.
	Opioid epidemic possibly linked to hepatitis changes in prisons Researchers from the Emory Rollins School of Public Health and Emory School of Medicine have published a paper in AIDS Reviews that examines HIV and hepatitis C virus (HCV) screening in U.S. correctional facilities and the prevalence of HCV in prisons. The paper's authors conducted a nationwide survey of medical directors and others overseeing health programs in prisons, and examined both published and grey literature (documents created by government, academic, and business entities that have not been published by commercial publishers), to collect data for their review.
	How the anal cancer epidemic in gay and bi HIV-positive men can be prevented Almost 620,000 gay and bisexual men in the United States were living with HIV in 2014, and 100,000 of these men were not even aware of their infection. These men are 100 times more likely to have anal cancer than HIV-negative men who exclusively have sex with women. Yet, no national screening guidelines exist for anal cancer prevention in any population.
A Cancer Story: How do cells release their 'brakes' to allow division? In a new study, researchers at UNC Lineberger Comprehensive Cancer Center have discovered details of how cells release their brakes to allow replication and division to proceed. The findings, published in the journal Cell Reports, could help scientists develop a possible therapeutic strategy for halting cancerous growth.
	Migraine with aura – but not without – increases risk of stroke Only people with migraine with aura have a higher risk of stroke, shows a twin study with 12-year follow-up, from Karolinska Institutet published in the journal Brain. The study also found that the risk is lower than previously demonstrated and possibly related to familial factors.
	Strength training and good posture will keep you swinging on the golf course for many years Play golf and live five years longer.
	Aging populations often thoroughly contemplate housing decisions, researchers find As people approach their final stage of life, whether they decide to remain in their home or seek to move to a more supportive place, it's often a well-thought-out choice and not a reactive decision, according to a new study that includes a University of Kansas researcher.
	Interactive web tool shows potential impact of tobacco policies If the minimum age for buying tobacco legally were changed to 21, it could save more than 35,000 lives in Texas, 15,000 in Florida and more than 12,000 in Michigan by 2100, according to a new web application.
	Euthanasia through the ages Today, a primary goal of both movements aimed at care of the dying – palliative care and euthanasia – is to eliminate suffering. These are underpinned by the idea that a good death is a painless death. But it wasn't always so.
	Pelvis-targeting radiotherapy safe for prostate cancer patients A form of radiotherapy targeting the pelvis is safe for men with advanced localised prostate cancer, according to a new study.
	Modelling our hearts Recent television advertisements graphically illustrate what someone might look like when they are having a heart attack.
	Your choice in exercise can lead to healthier eating Researchers at The University of Western Australia have found that people who have no choice in the exercise they do are more likely to eat unhealthy food afterwards.
	One in three older adults take something to help them sleep but many don't talk to their doctors Sleep doesn't come easily for nearly half of older Americans, and more than a third have resorted to some sort of medication to help them doze off at night, according to new results from the National Poll on Healthy Aging.
Adolescents who have experienced terror attacks suffer from sleep disturbance Adolescents who have experienced terror attacks suffer from sleep disturbance for years after the event. Researchers believe there is a need for better assessment and treatment of sleep disturbance in adolescents who have been exposed to trauma.
	Trial aims to reduce serious complications caused by delivery of bigger babies A nationwide study of 4,000 pregnant women is to determine if delivering bigger babies earlier will prevent serious complications during labour and beyond.
Plant substance inhibits cancer stem cells Lab experiments show that the chemical compound damsin found in the plant Ambrosia arborescens inhibits the growth and spread of cancer stem cells. The similar but synthetically produced ambrosin has the same positive effect, according to researchers at Lund University and University Major of San Andrés in La Paz, Bolivia.
	Parents of teenage daughters more likely to divorce, says study Sullen exchanges and broken curfews are part of life for parents of teenagers, but could this period also be a stress-test for parents' marriages?
	Six common questions about eating carbs during pregnancy answered During pregnancy women get bombarded with food and nutrition information. Eat this, don't eat that! It gets very confusing. Recent debates about the role of carbohydrates have cranked the confusion up a notch. In pregnancy, women need nutrient-rich sources of carbohydrate, in the right amounts.
	Taxes on sugary beverages are not enough on their own to halt march of obesity in Asia Facing declining markets in Western countries, multinational food companies are targeting Africa, Asia, and Latin America as new consumers of packaged foods, in a move that may worsen the global epidemic of chronic illness related to diabetes. Governments are striking back at obesity risk factors, including unhealthy foods. Singapore, which might have as many as one million residents with diabetes by 2050, now requires soda producers to reduce sugar content. Obesity and other lifestyle-related diseases have now become a "silent' long-term challenge that will cost governments in healthcare liabilities and lost productivity.
	Light-based cancer therapy moves through clinical trials In 2016, a dog named Eliza made the national news after a miraculous recovery from a terminal cancer diagnosis. The 13-year-old Labrador retriever had been given five weeks to live when she received "immunolight therapy," an experimental treatment developed through a collaboration of Duke University researchers and biotech company Immunolight LLC.
	How transitioning leads to better mental health – and job satisfaction In the EU and the US there is a growing number of trans people who are beginning to change their outward appearances to reflect their gender identity. This physical change might, but does not always, involve medical treatment. Either way, the effects are overwhelmingly positive.
	Is older blood OK to use in a transfusion? (HealthDay)—Using older red blood cells to give transfusions to critically ill patients doesn't appear to affect their risk of dying, Australian researchers report.
What happens when nerve cells stop working? A stroke is just one example of a condition when communication between nerve cells breaks down. Micro-failures in brain functioning also occur in conditions such as depression and dementia. In most cases, the lost capacity will return after a while. However, consequential damage will often remain so that the functional capability can only be restored through lengthy treatment—if at all. For this reason, researchers at Friedrich-Alexander-Universität Erlangen-Nürnberg (FAU) have been investigating what happens during such breakdown phases and looking at possible ways of preventing damage and speeding up the healing processes. Their findings have been recently published in the eminent journal Scientific Reports.
	Anxious moms may give clues about how anxiety develops Moms may be notorious worriers, but babies of anxious mothers may also spend more time focusing on threats in their environment, according to a team of researchers.
	Modeling brain connections to understand Parkinson's disease Some 10 million people worldwide suffer from Parkinson's disease—a debilitating condition that causes degeneration of brain nerve cells that control movement. The exact reasons for this degeneration remain unknown. A study published in open-access journal Frontiers in Computational Neuroscience uses a new approach to model the strength of connections within the brain's basal ganglia. Determining how these differ between healthy and Parkinsonian patients could help scientists understand why individual brains malfunction—and lead to customized therapies specific to the particular pattern of neural degeneration in an individual Parkinson's sufferer.
	Study reveals troubling disparities in prescribing opioids for patients with nonmalignant chronic pain According to the National Institute on Drug Abuse, more than 90 Americans die every day by overdosing on opioids. While heroin and synthetic opioids such as fentanyl account for part of the crisis, in 2015 about 2 million people in the U.S. suffered from substance use disorders related to prescription opioid pain relievers.
	Exercise, not vitamin D, recommended to prevent falls (HealthDay)—Falls and fractures are a major cause of disability in old age. An influential U.S. medical task force is recommending exercise and, in some cases, medical evaluation to help seniors stay on their feet.
	Bayesian method useful for noncompleters of 400-m walk (HealthDay)—A Bayesian multiple imputation (MI) method is useful for calculating the speeds of those who are unable to complete the 400-m walk test within the time constraint (noncompleters), according to a study published online Sept. 8 in the Journal of the American Geriatrics Society.
	Low-dose oxygen no benefit in adults with acute stroke (HealthDay)—The prophylactic use of low-dose oxygen does not reduce death or disability at three months among patients with acute stroke, according to a study published in the Sept. 26 issue of the Journal of the American Medical Association.
Iron supplements have long-term benefits for low birth-weight babies Babies classified as low birth weight (under 2.500 grams) are at risk of iron deficiency, which is linked to impaired neurological development. A long-term randomized study now shows that providing such babies with iron supplements can prevent behavioral problems at school age. The study, led by Staffan Berglund of Umeå University in Sweden, is published in the journal Pediatric Research which is published by Springer Nature.
	Increased arterial stiffness linked to restrictive spirometry pattern and reduced forced vital capacity Increased arterial stiffness is a known predictor of cardiovascular diseases in different populations, including healthy subjects and patients with hypertension, diabetes, or renal disease. A new study examining arterial stiffness in a large population determined that both restrictive spirometry pattern and reduced forced vital capacity (FVC) were associated with a higher risk of arterial stiffness not only in men but also in women. The investigators found that arterial stiffness increased fourfold when FVC decreased. Their findings are published in the August issue of Chest.
	Scientists discover rogue messengers that hinder body's immune response to cancer Researchers from Trinity College Dublin have made a discovery around treatment-resistant breast cancer that may turn the phrase, 'don't shoot the messenger', on its head. The scientists have found that cell to cell messengers released by cancer cells which are not responding to treatment, can negatively affect the body's immune system response against the cancer. They have also discovered a possible way for doctors to identify those patients most at risk of treatment resistance which allows them to choose the best possible treatment for each patient.
Study examines characteristics of mobile mammography patients Significant differences were found among women receiving mammography at a cancer center versus those visiting a mobile mammography van, according to an ahead-of-print article scheduled to be published in the December 2017 issue of the American Journal of Roentgenology (AJR).
	Unlocking the mysteries of memory—and potentially enhancing it Memory acts like an anchor, reminding us of past experiences that have made us who we are today. Attempts to boost it, particularly as we age, have sprouted cottage industries of supplements and brain games. In parallel, researchers have been pursuing pharmaceutical interventions. In some of the latest work on this front, one team reports in ACS Chemical Neuroscience that they have identified a novel compound that enhances long-term memory in animal studies.
	That cup of coffee may not relieve Parkinson's symptoms Contrary to previous research, caffeine may not relieve movement symptoms for people with Parkinson's disease, according to a study published in the September 27, 2017, online issue of Neurology, the medical journal of the American Academy of Neurology.
Early 'full-term' babies may have poorer respiratory fitness through adolescence and young adulthood Babies born early in a full-term pregnancy range may be more likely to have poor cardiorespiratory fitness through adolescence and young adulthood, according to new research in Journal of the American Heart Association, the Open Access Journal of the American Heart Association/American Stroke Association.
Health and social care changes 'paving way for fewer services' warn experts Current reforms to health and social care services, and radical redesign of the local government finance system, may signal the end of the NHS and local government in England as we know them, warn experts in The BMJ today.
	Cancer risk up for RA patients with venous thromboembolism (HealthDay)—Patients with rheumatoid arthritis (RA) and venous thromboembolism (VTE) have increased risk of cancer in the first year after VTE and during a longer follow-up period, according to a study published online Sept. 15 in the Journal of Thrombosis and Haemostasis.
	Fragmented QRS predicts cardiac death during exercise (HealthDay)—Fragmented QRS complex may predict risk of exercise-related sudden cardiac death, according to a study published online Sept. 20 in the Journal of Cardiovascular Electrophysiology.
	VA models provide guidance for care of hepatitis C infection (HealthDay)—The U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs (VA) has developed models of care that can be used to reduce the overall burden of hepatitis C virus (HCV) infection, according to a study published online Sept. 25 in the Annals of Internal Medicine.
	Hereditary hemochromatosis patients can safely donate blood (HealthDay)—There is no evidence to support excluding patients with hereditary hemochromatosis (HH) from serving as blood donors, according to a review published online Sept. 13 in Hepatology.
	Cardiometabolic risk, HOMA-IR up with increasing BMI in young (HealthDay)—Cardiometabolic risk and homeostatic model assessment (HOMA) of insulin resistance (IR) increase with increasing body mass index (BMI) categories among children, and cardiorespiratory fitness (CRF) may attenuate the risk, according to a study published online Sept. 14 in Diabetes Care.
	Individualized SBP tx cuts risk for post-op organ dysfunction (HealthDay)—Management targeting an individualized systolic blood pressure (SBP) is associated with reduced risk of organ dysfunction among patients undergoing major surgery who are at increased risk of postoperative complications, according to a study published in the Sept. 26 issue of the Journal of the American Medical Association.
	Working with a scribe improves physician satisfaction (HealthDay)—Working with a scribe significantly improves physicians' overall satisfaction, satisfaction with chart quality and accuracy, and charting efficiency, according to a study published online Sept. 11 in the Annals of Family Medicine.
Opioid crisis in Staten Island affects all races 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) is published in a report titled, "Staten Island Needs Assessment: Opioid Addiction Prevention and Treatment Systems of Care." The findings were presented at a press conference by the District Attorney's Office for Staten Island.
	Arrowhead data reveal important considerations for future hepatitis B treatment Arrowhead Pharmaceuticals today announced results from studies of ARC-520, a prior-generation RNAi therapeutic candidate against chronic hepatitis B virus (HBV) infection, in a Phase 2 clinical study in HBV patients and a complementary study in chimpanzees chronically infected with HBV. These studies demonstrated that HBV DNA integrated into the host genome is an under-appreciated source of HBV surface antigen (HBsAg), a key protein implicated in maintaining chronic HBV infection.
Expectant mother's elevated blood pressure raises child's risk of obesity When expectant mothers have elevated blood pressure during pregnancy, it may raise their children's risk of developing childhood obesity, according to a study published in the Endocrine Society's Journal of Clinical Endocrinology & Metabolism.
	Many with work-related asthma not getting key vaccine (HealthDay)—Only half of American adults with work-related asthma get the recommended vaccination against pneumococcal disease, a new study finds.
	New study released on nontraffic injuries and fatalities in young children Over the last couple of decades, significant reductions in vehicle crash-related child fatalities have been attributed to advances in legislation, public safety campaigns and engineering. However, less is known about nontraffic injuries and fatalities (occurring primarily in driveways and parking lots) to children in and around motor vehicles.
UK blood contamination scandal victims can sue: court Victims of a contaminated blood scandal in Britain which left at least 2,400 people dead, and their families will be allowed to seek damages following a High Court ruling on Tuesday.
	Russian scientist finds a new way to predict cancer development A scientist from the Moscow Institute of Physics and Technology (MIPT) has proposed a model that can predict the number of key carcinogenic events for each cancer type based on the relationship between morbidity and age. The results of his study were published in the prestigious journal Scientific Reports.
	VA running out of money for private health care program Weeks after a veterans' health initiative received $2.1 billion in emergency funding, the Trump administration says the private-sector Veterans Choice health care program may need additional money as early as December to avoid a disruption of care for hundreds of thousands of veterans.
	The benefits and dangers when genetic testing companies partner with orphan drug developers Pharmaceutical companies developing Orphan Drugs are increasingly partnering with direct-to-consumer (DTC) genetic testing firms to identify individuals with rare diseases, in a trend that is raising concerns related to privacy, drug costs, and rising healthcare-related financial burden for consumers. An in-depth look at the enormous positive potential and concomitant dangers of these evolving corporate relationships and their impact on consumers and the healthcare system is published in Genetic Testing and Molecular Biomarkers.
	Committee aims to facilitate more expeditious design and conduct of nephrology clinical trials When children develop kidney disease, it can play out in dramatically different ways. They can experience relatively mild disorders that respond to existing treatments and only impact their lives for the short term. Children also can develop chronic kidney disease that defies current treatments and can imperil or end their lives.
	Choosing a great family dog (HealthDay)—A dog can be a great addition to your household. But how do you choose the right one for your family?
	Team develops model to predict ER visits in lung cancer patients A pilot program that uses big data to predict which lung cancer patients will require a trip to an emergency department (ED) successfully anticipated a third of all ED visits over a two week trial period, and was further able to identify which patients were at high risk and low risk of requiring such care. The predictive model was designed by researchers at the Perelman School of Medicine at the University of Pennsylvania with the eventual goal of developing a tool for early intervention that will help patients avoid ED visits. They will present their data as an oral abstract at the American Society of Therapeutic Radiation Oncology (ASTRO) 2017 Annual Meeting in San Diego (Abstract #2022).
	Virtual reality helps veterans prepare for new jobs The U.S. Army Research Laboratory and its partners recently developed a new way for veterans to seek employment.
The aftermath of Katrina through the eyes of addiction treatment Ten years post-Hurricane Katrina, experts have reflected on the aftermath through the eyes of addiction treatment professionals to become better prepared for future tragedies. Their Journal of Addictions & Offender Counseling study highlights the experiences of 11 professionals who worked in addiction treatment agencies in Mississippi, Louisiana, and Houston, Texas.
	For foster parents of disabled children, money stays tight Like most parents trying to make ends meet, Vivian Shine-King needs to get creative sometimes. When she has to take her four children to doctor's appointments, for instance, she'll make sure multiple kids are booked at the same clinic around the same time, helping her to save on gas and parking.
Study examines survival of very low birthweight babies A new study published in Acta Paediatrica indicates that survival of babies born weighing ?500 g is poor despite advances in neonatal care.

Biology news

	Tree-dwelling, coconut-cracking giant rat discovered in Solomon Islands Remember the movie The Princess Bride, when the characters debate the existence of R.O.U.S.es (Rodents of Unusual Size), only to be beset by enormous rats? That's kind of what happened here.
	Caribbean praying mantises have ancient African origin Three seemingly unrelated praying mantis groups inhabiting Cuba and the rest of the Greater Antilles actually share an ancient African ancestor and possibly form the oldest endemic animal lineage on the Caribbean islands, Cleveland Museum of Natural History researchers have determined.
	Noise pollution found to be disruptive for schooling fish Human activities, like spreading cities, transport and construction, generate a lot of noise that travels faster in water than in air.
	Emerging infectious disease threatens Darwin's frog with extinction Iconic species likely to be wiped-out by amphibian fungus, despite lack of obvious short-term evidence.
	Moth found to secrete distinct defensive fluids to ward off different types of predators (Phys.org)—A team of researchers from the University of Jyväskylä in Finland and Technische Universität Braunschweig in Germany has found that the wood tiger moth secretes two different types of fluids from different parts of its body to ward off two different types of predators. In their paper published in Proceedings of the Royal Society B, the group describes how they studied the moths in their lab and what they learned about them.
	Crows and kea parrots found to learn usefulness of objects similar to the way human babies do it (Phys.org)—An international team of researchers has found via experimentation that New Caledonian crows and kea parrots learn about the usefulness of objects by playing with them—similar to human baby behavior. In their paper published in Royal Society Open Science, the group describes the experiments they carried out with the birds and what they learned by doing so.
	Cell model reveals dynamic nature of segmentation clock that drives vertebrae formation Like a string of pearls, the spine is made of a series of similar vertebrae. A so-called segmentation clock creates this repetitive arrangement in developing embryos: Each time the clock ticks, a vertebra starts to form.
	Tree-climbing geckos that use narrower perches have longer limbs than expected Tree-climbing geckos that use narrow perches have relatively longer limbs than comparisons with other tree-climbing lizards would suggest, according to a study published September 27, 2017 in the open-access journal PLOS ONE by Travis Hagey from Michigan State University, US, and colleagues.
	Biologists explore the molecular underpinnings of cells that recover from the verge of programmed death A new collaboration between two UC Santa Barbara labs explores the underlying molecular mechanism of a remarkable process called anastasis, a Greek word meaning "rising to life." Building on earlier work showing that cells can recover from the brink of death, the new study demonstrates that anastasis is an active process composed of two distinguishable stages. The team's findings appear in the Journal of Cell Biology.
	Songbird populations may indicate trouble in northwestern forests Populations of many North American songbirds are declining, and in many cases we don't understand why—for example, whether the problem lies with reproductive success or in the survival rates of adults. Conservation efforts need this information to be effective, and bird banding stations can help fill in the gaps, providing insights into how demographics vary across space and time. A new study from The Condor: Ornithological Applications presents ten years of data from banding stations across northern California and southern Oregon and offers new hints on what's driving changes in the region's songbird populations.
	A first look at geographic variation in Gentoo penguin calls Vocal communication is central to the lives of many birds, which use sound to attract mates and defend territories. Penguins are no exception, but we know little about how or why penguin vocalizations vary geographically between isolated populations. A new study from The Auk: Ornithological Advances takes a broad look at vocalizations across the range of Gentoo Penguins and concludes that while their calls do vary from place to place, we still have a lot to learn about the processes at work.
Wasted bird feathers turned into food Every year, millions of tons of bird feathers from slaughterhouses are wasted. In the future, we can instead perhaps make use of the protein in the feathers and eat them. Researchers in biotechnology at Lund University in Sweden have identified and refined a microorganism capable of converting various forms of organic waste into products for food, animal feed and cosmetics, among others.
	Heat-tolerant broccoli for the future Broccoli is becoming more popular with the American consumer, providing plenty of nutrients in the diet. But it isn't easy getting this cool-weather vegetable to your table. Broccoli producers face many factors that impede getting their crop to market—including unexpected temperature fluctuations and excessive heat. Heat stress while broccoli's florets are developing can reduce crop yield and quality, cutting into the crop's $800 million U.S. market value.
	The Mediterranean Sea: incomparable wealth in steep decline Along its 46,000km coastline, the Mediterranean Sea supports around 150 million people living along its shores. The report Reviving the Economy of the Mediterranean Sea: Actions for a sustainable future, launched today, shows that the Mediterranean Sea plays a fundamental role in the region's economy but that the sea's underlying natural asset base – which supports much of the economy and community wellbeing – is eroding.
	Scientists decode the genome of fall armyworm, moth pest that is invading Africa As part of an international consortium, INRA researchers, in partnership with the CEA and INRIA , have sequenced one of the first genomes of a moth from the superfamily Noctuoidea: Spodoptera frugiperda, or armyworm. This crop pest – until now only known on the American continent – has become invasive in Africa since 2016. Published in Scientific Reports on 25 September 2017, this study opens up perspectives for new methods of biological control and a better understanding of the mechanisms involved in the appearance of pesticide resistance.
	More than a 38 percent of the Neotropical parrot population in the American continent is threatened by human activity More than 38 percent of the neotropical parrot population of the American continent is endangered due the impact of human activity, according to a scientific study published in the journal Biological Conservation.
	Earth's biodiversity is changing as the planet warms. But how? As the Earth's climate changes, shifting weather patterns will affect where plants and animals can live.
	Purple plant is on the defensive While lavender has long been known for its strong scent and soothing oils, a UBC researcher is exploring the plant's ability to create natural pesticides.
	Tropical bird likely blown off course by Hurricane Jose A tropical bird never before seen in Massachusetts has been rescued from a Cape Cod beach after it was likely blown off course by Hurricane Jose.
	Citizen science can predict butterfly population trends New research by the University of Kent, Butterfly Conservation and the Centre for Ecology & Hydrology shows that citizen scientists can play a role in gathering meaningful information to inform long-term monitoring of biodiversity trends such as butterfly population change.
	The hormone that could be making your dog aggressive For some dog owners, a leisurely walk can turn stressful the moment their canine companion sees another pup walking by. Dogs with what is known as "leash aggression" may bark, growl or lunge at other dogs during walks, setting the scene for a tense and potentially dangerous interaction.
	Ghanaian villagers profit from monkey business The villagers of Tafi Atome, in Ghana's Volta Region, grew up listening to tales of their spiritual links to the 1,000 or so mona monkeys that inhabit the surrounding lush forest.
Poachers target Africa's lions, vultures with poison Poisoning Africa's wildlife is an old practice, but conservationists fear such incidents are escalating, saying relatively easy access to agricultural chemicals and the surging illegal market for animal parts are increasing pressure on a number of beleaguered species. The threat is compounded by the indiscriminate nature of poisoning, in which a single contaminated carcass can take down a range of animals, particularly scavengers such as vultures.
	Do lime trees kill bees? Public interest in bees is intense. There's rarely a week that goes by without a story in the press about populations plummeting. Although most of these stories focus on chemical pesticides, other factors may also be affecting bee survival. At Kew, we've been studying bees for years, and investigating how the plants they visit for nectar and pollen may play a part in their survival. Nectar and pollen are the main sources of protein, sugars and fats for bees, but these rewards that plants offer in return for the bee's pollination service may contain other plant chemicals, some of which may be bioactive or toxic. We are particularly interested in these substances because while some may harm bees, others may be beneficial.

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