Science X Newsletter Monday, Oct 16

Dear Reader ,

Here is your customized Science X Newsletter for October 16, 2017:

Spotlight Stories Headlines

Violation of the exponential decay law discovered in open quantum systems

Astronomers identify new asynchronous short period polar

Neutron star smashup seen for first time, 'transforms' understanding of Universe

Lab takes detailed look at 2-D structure of turbulence in tokamaks

A dietary supplement dampens the brain hyperexcitability seen in seizures or epilepsy

Futuristic solar-powered Dutch family car hailed 'the future'

Eyes are on plant in Iceland with carbon removal solution by direct air capture

Modular portable laptop has sliding keyboard and learning paths

Waves in lakes make waves in the Earth

New study describes how dopamine tells you it isn't worth the wait

Patent talk: Apple offers strap solutions for satisfying fit

Chronic inflammation plays critical role in sustained delivery of new muscular dystrophy therapy

How to save giant tropical fruit bats: Work with local hunters who use bat teeth as money

Toyota to highlight reading of driver emotions at Tokyo show

Bolstering fat cells offers potential new leukemia treatment

Astronomy & Space news

	Astronomers identify new asynchronous short period polar (Phys.org)—An international team of astronomers led by Gagik H. Tovmassian of the National Autonomous University of Mexico (UNAM) has uncovered new details into the nature of a cataclysmic variable known as IGR J19552+0044. New observations reveal that this object is an asynchronous short period polar. The finding was presented October 5 in a paper published online on the arXiv pre-print server.
	Neutron star smashup seen for first time, 'transforms' understanding of Universe For the first time, scientists have witnessed the cataclysmic crash of two ultra-dense neutron stars in a galaxy far away, and concluded that such impacts forged at least half the gold in the Universe.
	A powerful tool for characterizing and classifying gamma-ray bursts A powerful tool for characterizing and classifying gamma-ray bursts (GRBs) to allow their use as tracers of the expansion history of the universe has recently been presented by an international team of researchers. The work, which has been published in the Astrophysical Journal, is a statistical analysis of the properties of the mysterious GRBs, aimed at determining a sub-group of GRBs and investigating the physical origin of these systems.
	The remarkable jet of the quasar 4C+19.44 Quasars are galaxies with massive black holes at their cores. So much energy is being radiated from near the nucleus of a quasar that it is much brighter than the rest of the entire galaxy. Much of that radiation is at radio wavelengths, produced by electrons ejected from the core at speeds very close to that of light, often in narrow, bipolar jets that are hundreds of thousands of light-years long. The fast-moving charged particles can also scatter photons of light, kicking them up in energy into the X-ray range. Even after more than two decades of study, however, there is still no clear conclusion as to the physical mechanism actually responsible for the X-ray emission. In more powerful quasars, it does appear that this scattering process dominates. In lower power jets, however, the emission characteristics suggest that the X-ray emission is dominated by magnetic field effects, not scattering.
	Russia launches cargo ship to space station Russia on Saturday launched an unmanned Progress space freighter carrying supplies to the International Space Station from the Baikonur cosmodrome in Kazakhstan.
	Rocket motor for Ariane 6 and Vega-C is cast for testing The first full-scale model of the rocket motor that will propel Ariane 6 and Vega-C into orbit has been cast and filled with inert propellant for testing at Europe's Spaceport in French Guiana.
	Image: Hubble's compact galaxy with big-time star formation As far as galaxies are concerned, size can be deceptive. Some of the largest galaxies in the Universe are dormant, while some dwarf galaxies, such as ESO 553-46 imaged here by the NASA/ESA Hubble Space Telescope, can produce stars at a hair-raising rate. In fact, ESO 553-46 has one of the highest rates of star formation of the 1,000 or so galaxies nearest to the Milky Way. No mean feat for such a diminutive galaxy!
	How bright is the moon, really? The "inconstant moon," as Shakespeare called it in Romeo and Juliet, is more reliable than his pair of star-crossed lovers might have thought. Now researchers at the National Institute of Standards and Technology (NIST) plan to make the moon even more reliable with a new project to measure its brightness.
	Image: Clouds over lava flows on Mars Diffuse, water-ice clouds, a hazy sky and a light breeze. Such might have read a weather forecast for the Tharsis volcanic region on Mars on 22 November 2016, when this image was taken by the ExoMars Trace Gas Orbiter.
Russian supply ship docks at International Space Station An unmanned Russian cargo ship has docked successfully at the International Space Station, delivering supplies to its six-member crew.
	What are neutron stars? Thrilled physicists and astronomers announced Monday the first-ever observation of the merger of two neutron stars, one of the most spectacularly violent phenomena in the Universe.
	Gravitational waves: Why the fuss? Great excitement rippled through the physics world Monday at news of the first-ever detection of two ultra-dense neutron stars converging in a violent smashup.
	Neutron star crash: 'The gift that will keep on giving' The astrophysics world is abuzz after the first-ever observation of two neutron stars merging in a cataclysmic crash that left a rich trail of debris for scientists to comb through.
	Image: Glorious sunrise at the start of a spacewalk NASA astronaut Mark Vande Hei exits the International Space Station on Oct. 10, 2017, for a spacewalk in this photograph taken by fellow spacewalker Randy Bresnik.
Australia's getting a space agency—now what? With an Australian space agency on everyone's mind, we chatted to the European Space Agency's Director General about how we got here, what's next and why space agencies matter.
	Gamma-ray burst detection just what OSU researchers exclusively predicted More than a month before a game-changing detection of a short gamma-ray burst - a finding announced today - scientists at Oregon State University predicted such a discovery would occur.
	Seeing the light of neutron star collisions When two neutron stars collided on Aug. 17, a widespread search for electromagnetic radiation from the event led to observations of light from the afterglow of the explosion, finally connecting a gravitational-wave-producing event with conventional astronomy using light, according to an international team of astronomers.
	Astronomers first to see source of gravitational waves in visible light For the first time, astronomers have observed in visible light a cataclysmic cosmic event that generated gravitational waves detected on Earth.

Technology news

	Futuristic solar-powered Dutch family car hailed 'the future' A futuristic Dutch family car that not only uses the sun as power but supplies energy back to the grid was hailed as "the future" Sunday as the World Solar Challenge wrapped up.
	Eyes are on plant in Iceland with carbon removal solution by direct air capture (Tech Xplore)—Carbon reduction is one part of the battle as countries and organizations do their bit to save our planet. Another goal drawing considerable interest now is carbon removal.
	Modular portable laptop has sliding keyboard and learning paths (Tech Xplore)—A new portable, modular laptop has come on the scene, a laptop powered by the Raspberry Pi. One notable feature is its sliding keyboard.
	Patent talk: Apple offers strap solutions for satisfying fit (Tech Xplore)—Not all wrists were created equal and the smartwatch that satisfies must not only work but feel comfortable. Otherwise, a "wearable" is a word that in and of itself does not fit. Apple thinks it has a solution and has been granted a patent.
	Toyota to highlight reading of driver emotions at Tokyo show Driving sleepy? Hungry? Toyota will be highlighting an array of experimental technologies aimed at improving safety and anticipating drivers' desires at the Tokyo Motor Show later this month.
	US warns of security flaw which can compromise Wi-Fi connections (Update) A newly discovered flaw in the widely used Wi-Fi encryption protocol could leave millions of users vulnerable to attacks, prompting warnings Monday from the US government and security researchers worldwide.
	Study finds auto-fix tool gets more programmers to upgrade code Failure to make necessary upgrades to software code can have dire consequences, such as the major data breach at Equifax. A recent study finds that auto-fix tools are effective ways to get programmers to make the relevant upgrades - if programmers opt to use them.
	US moves closer to EU position on taxing tech giants Washington is softening its position on European plans to impose taxes on US tech giants such as Apple and Google, officials said this week.
	Body cameras, now gun cameras? Some police trying them out A small number of police departments are showing interest in a new type of video camera that can be mounted directly on officers' guns, saying it may offer a better view of officer-involved shootings than body cameras. Some law enforcement officials and civil rights groups are skeptical.
	Drone hit Canadian airliner: minister A Canadian passenger plane landed safely after it was hit by a drone in the first case of its kind in the country, a cabinet minister said Sunday.
	Ethically designed databases can help police without reducing privacy Governments seem to think that the only way to protect national security is to own as much data about the public as possible, but this is not the case.
	Wind turbines suspended high in the sky have potential as an alternative power source for Saudi Arabia The notion of tethered wind turbines that generate electricity from abundant and reliable high-altitude winds seems futuristic. Now, KAUST research led by Georgiy Stenchikov has identified the most favorable areas for high-altitude wind-energy systems in the Middle East.
	German envoy voices concerns about China web restrictions A potential ban in China on software to avoid the country's censors could make it "impossible" to communicate privately online, the German ambassador warned Monday.
	Russia fines Telegram for not giving backdoor access A Russian court on Monday fined the popular Telegram messenger app for failing to provide the country's security services with encryption keys to read users' messaging data.
Huawei bets on AI phone in challenge to Apple, Samsung Chinese technology group Huawei unveiled its latest smartphone Monday, talking up the advanced artificial intelligence capabilities it hopes will cement its place among the world's three biggest manufacturers.
	Yahoo can provide dead man's emails to family, court says Massachusetts' highest court says federal law does not prohibit Yahoo from providing a deceased man's family members access to his email account.
	Tesla sacks hundreds of workers on Model 3 stall: source Tesla Motors, which recently missed its production target on the high-profile "Model 3," has dismissed hundreds of employees following annual performance reviews, a person familiar with the matter said Monday.
	Fact-checking fake news on Facebook works - just too slowly Facebook's effort to limit the spread of fake news using outside fact-checkers appears to be having an effect—though that finding comes with a major caveat.
The solar houses of Konrad Frey Konrad Frey was a pioneer who designed and built solar houses based on data and scientific insights. Yet Frey and his work are largely unknown. A project by the architectural theoretician Anselm Wagner aims to change that with the support of the Austrian Science Fund FWF.
An intelligent digital assistant will lead to smarter programming IBM's Watson and Apple's Siri are two examples of computing systems that help us analyse information and find answers. Scientists at Linnaeus University have developed a system that similarly helps programmers create program code that better utilizes the resources of today's computers and mobiles.
Virtual mission control cuts costs at wind farms Running wind turbines is a costly business but Brunel engineers are developing a digital platform that ramps up efficiency and halves costs.
Justices to hear government's email dispute with Microsoft The Supreme Court is intervening in a digital-age privacy dispute between the Trump administration and Microsoft over emails stored abroad.

Medicine & Health news

	A dietary supplement dampens the brain hyperexcitability seen in seizures or epilepsy Seizure disorders—including epilepsy—are associated with pathological hyperexcitability in brain neurons. Unfortunately, there are limited available treatments that can prevent this hyperexcitability. However, University of Alabama at Birmingham researchers have found that inducing a biochemical alteration in brain proteins via the dietary supplement glucosamine was able to rapidly dampen that pathological hyperexcitability in rat and mouse models.
	New study describes how dopamine tells you it isn't worth the wait How do we know if it was worth the wait in line to get a meal at the new restaurant in town? To do this our brain must be able to signal how good the meal tastes and associate this feeling with the restaurant. This is done by a small group of cells deep in the brain that release the chemical dopamine. The amount of dopamine released by these cells can influence our decisions by telling us how good a reward will be in the future. For example, more dopamine is released to the smell of a cake baking relative to the smell of leftovers. But does waiting change how dopamine is released?
Chronic inflammation plays critical role in sustained delivery of new muscular dystrophy therapy Macrophages, a type of white blood cell involved in inflammation, readily take up a newly approved medication for Duchenne muscular dystrophy (DMD) and promote its sustained delivery to regenerating muscle fibers long after the drug has disappeared from circulation, an experimental model study led by Children's National Health System researchers finds. The study, published online Oct. 16, 2017 in Nature Communications, details the cellular mechanisms of morpholino antisense drug delivery to muscles, improving understanding of how these medicines target muscle tissue and suggesting an avenue to improve treatments for DMD, a devastating disease that currently has no cure.
	Bolstering fat cells offers potential new leukemia treatment Killing cancer cells indirectly by powering up fat cells in the bone marrow could help acute myeloid leukemia patients, according to a new study from McMaster University.
	Blood vessel 'master gene' discovery could lead to treatments for liver disease Scientists have identified a key gene in blood vessels which could provide a new way to assess and potentially treat liver disease.
	Study shows people find well-being more so from special places than from mementoes (Medical Xpress)—A team of researchers at the University of Surrey has found that people experience a feeling of well-being when thinking about or visiting a place that holds special meaning to them. They also found that such feelings are stronger than those induced by objects such as wedding rings or pictures of their wedding.
	Childhood poverty, poor support may drive up pregnant woman's biological age Pregnant women who had low socioeconomic status during childhood and who have poor family social support appear to prematurely age on a cellular level, potentially raising the risk for complications, a new study has found.
Mechanism explains how seizures may lead to memory loss Although it's been clear that seizures are linked to memory loss and other cognitive deficits in patients with Alzheimer's disease, how this happens has been puzzling. In a study published in the journal Nature Medicine, a team of researchers reveals a mechanism that can explain how even relatively infrequent seizures can lead to long-lasting cognitive deficits in animal models. A better understanding of this new mechanism may lead to future strategies to reduce cognitive deficits in Alzheimer's disease and other conditions associated with seizures, such as epilepsy.
	Study shows stress could be just as unhealthy as junk food We all know that a poor diet is unhealthy, but a new BYU study finds that stress may just as harmful to our bodies as a really bad diet.
	AASM releases position statement on home sleep apnea testing A new position statement published by the American Academy of Sleep Medicine (AASM) describes the appropriate clinical use of a home sleep apnea test (HSAT).
	Mental health issues impact retirement saving behavior (HealthDay)—Mental health, as assessed by psychological distress, is associated with retirement saving behavior, according to a report published online Aug. 29 in Health Economics.
	Better patient communication needed after urgent care (HealthDay)—Patients and primary care physicians (PCPs) need to communicate better after urgent care visits, and patients value their relationships with their PCPs, according to research conducted by Harris Poll on behalf of Mercy Health System of Southeastern Pennsylvania.
'Sex addict' therapy unlikely to help Harvey Weinstein: experts Fallen Hollywood mogul Harvey Weinstein has reportedly checked in to a US rehabilitation center that treats male sex addicts, but experts say such therapy is unlikely to help.
Scientists identify biomarker for progression and drug response in brain cancer Scientists at the Icahn School of Medicine at Mount Sinai, Sema4, and collaborating institutions including Colorado State University and Fred Hutchinson Cancer Center reported results today from a glioblastoma study in which they validated a biomarker indicative of a patient's prognosis and likely response to specific therapies. The article appeared in the October 15 issue of Cancer Research.
	Is rushing your child to the ER the right response? If a child gets a small burn from a hot pan, starts choking or swallows medication, parents may struggle to decide whether to provide first aid at home or rush them to the hospital, suggests a new national poll.
Flu vaccine failed to protect young leukemia patients during cancer treatment Young leukemia patients who were vaccinated against influenza were just as likely as their unvaccinated peers to develop flu, suggesting that additional steps are necessary to protect high-risk individuals. These findings from the St. Jude Children's Research Hospital study appear October 16, 2017, in the Journal of Pediatrics.
Study calls for less shame and secrecy around menstruation in global conflict areas A new study by researchers at Columbia University's Mailman School of Public Health and the International Rescue Committee (IRC) found that girls and women in emergency contexts have inadequate access to safe and private facilities and supplies for menstrual hygiene management (MHM), and are provided with insufficient guidance by response teams on the basics of managing menstruation. Moreover, many staff have a limited understanding of what an improved response should entail, and instead, focus predominantly on supplies. The study, published in the journal Conflict and Health, is one of the first studies to provide evidence on the menstrual management-related challenges faced by adolescent girls and women in emergency contexts and what the appropriate humanitarian response should be to meet the basic needs of girls and women in these situations.
	New exercises help athletes manage dangerous breathing disorder A novel set of breathing techniques developed at National Jewish Health help athletes overcome vocal cord dysfunction and improve performance during high-intensity exercise. Vocal cord dysfunction, now also referred to as exercise-induced laryngeal obstruction (EILO), has been shown to improve for athletes after being trained to use the new techniques. The findings were published in the September 16, 2017 online issue of the Journal of Voice.
Inpatient satisfaction improved by five-minute intervention, study finds As hospitals seek to improve inpatient satisfaction, one effective way takes only a few minutes and no expensive equipment. A study at the University of Virginia School of Medicine recently found that a daily five-minute conversation that focused on hospitalized patients "as people" significantly improved their satisfaction with their medical care.
Healthy lifestyle reduces cardiovascular risk after gestational diabetes, study shows A history of gestational diabetes was associated with a modest higher long-term risk of cardiovascular disease in women in a new study, although the absolute rate of cardiovascular disease was low in the study's younger group of predominantly white women and adhering to a healthy lifestyle over time appeared to help mitigate the risk, according to a new article published by JAMA Internal Medicine.
	Learning during development is regulated by an unexpected brain region A half-century of research on how the brain learns to integrate visual inputs from the eyes has provided important insights in critical period regulation, leading to the conclusion that it occurs within the cortex. A group of researchers has discovered that a brain region that passes on input from the eyes to the cortex also plays a crucial role in opening the critical period of binocular vision.
	Hope for chronic obstructive pulmonary disease NUS pharmaceutical scientists have discovered that a naturally-derived compound is a potential drug candidate for chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD).
What is the scope of neurological diseases in the world today? Globally, the burden of neurological disorders (Alzheimer's disease, Parkinson's disease, stroke, epilepsy etc) has increased substantially over the past 25 years. This problem is the topic of a recent report by the Global Burden of Disease (GBD) international project, which was published in The Lancet. One of its participants is Vasily Vlassov, Professor at the Faculty of Social Sciences, the Higher School of Economics.
Scientists reveal the relationship between sugar and cancer A nine-year joint research project conducted by VIB, KU Leuven and VUB has led to a crucial breakthrough in cancer research. Scientists have clarified how the Warburg effect, a phenomenon in which cancer cells rapidly break down sugars, stimulates tumor growth. This discovery provides evidence for a positive correlation between sugar and cancer, which may have far-reaching impacts on tailor-made diets for cancer patients. The research has been published in the leading academic journal Nature Communications.
	Study spells out huge health benefits by cutting back sugar in sugary drinks More than 150,000 Australian deaths could be prevented if the energy content of sugary drinks was cut by around a third, a new report by The George Institute for Global Health has found.
	New tools to combat kidney fibrosis Interstitial fibrosis – excessive tissue scarring – contributes to chronic kidney disease, which is increasing in prevalence in the United States.
	Many pregnant women not getting message about boosting iodine and folic acid New Zealand's Ministry of Health (MOH) rarely recommends using supplements, but does urge mothers to take in additional iodine and folic acid before and during pregnancy, and iodine when breastfeeding, to help avoid neurodevelopmental problems in their babies.
	Filters: a cigarette engineering hoax that harms both smokers and the environment Cigarette filters were initially introduced by the tobacco industry in the 1960s to make cigarettes "safer". But we now know they provide no safety, no health benefits, and are a major cause of environmental littering.
	Sugar in the diet may increase risks of opioid addiction Could a diet high in refined sugars make children and adults more susceptible to opioid addiction and overdose? New research, from our laboratory of behavioral neuroscience at the University of Guelph, suggests it could.
	Funny people are more intelligent than unfunny peers Albert Einstein attributed his brilliant mind to having a child-like sense of humour. Indeed, a number of studies have found an association between humour and intelligence.
	An in-depth look at food-borne illnesses Parties and gatherings are typically centered around food, making it important to know the do's and don'ts of handling food.
	Study finds good feelings from one negotiation can damage subsequent performance What makes negotiations go well?
	Blood cancer gene could be key to preventing heart failure A new study, published today in Circulation, shows that the gene Runx1 increases in damaged heart muscle after a heart attack. An international collaboration led by researchers from the University of Glasgow, found that mice with a limited capacity to increase Runx1 gene activation were protected against the adverse changes that lead to heart failure.
	Artificial pancreas performs well in clinical trial During more than 60,000 hours of combined use of a novel artificial pancreas system, participants in a 12-week, multi-site clinical trial showed significant improvements in two key measures of well-being in people living with type 1 diabetes.
	Blood pressure medication does not completely restore vascular function Treatments for high blood pressure do not totally reverse its damaging effects on the vascular rhythms that help circulation of the blood say researchers.
	Recognising monogenic diabetes is vital for its management Distinguishing monogenic diabetes in the young – that is, a rare type of diabetes caused by a single genetic mutation relatively early in life—from other types of diabetes, is crucial for appropriate therapies, prognosis and family screening, according to research that has been published in the Medical Journal of Australia.
Men develop irregular heartbeat earlier than women; extra weight a factor Men develop a type of irregular heartbeat, known as atrial fibrillation, about a decade earlier than women on average, and being overweight is a major risk factor, according to a large new study published in the American Heart Association's journal Circulation.
	In Madagascar, plague outbreak now threatens largest cities As plague cases rose last week in Madagascar's capital, many city dwellers panicked. They waited in long lines for antibiotics at pharmacies and reached through bus windows to buy masks from street vendors. Schools have been canceled, and public gatherings are banned.
Relatively few kidney patients need to start dialysis after undergoing TAVR The rate of patients with chronic kidney disease undergoing a heart procedure called transcatheter aortic valve replacement (TAVR) who eventually need to start dialysis is relatively low, suggests a new study published in JACC: Cardiovascular Interventions.
Study reveals risk factors for substance use problems, as well as resilience A new study finds that, despite a very high prevalence of numerous, serious risk factors and structural and environmental challenges, the rate of substance use problems is low—and comparable to the general U.S. population—for a substantial proportion of African-American/Black and Latino adults residing in a high-risk urban community. Published in the open-access journal Frontiers in Public Health, the study identifies both risk factors for substance use problems, which include homelessness and incarceration, and protective 'resilience' factors that include support, education, and employment. The findings have the potential to pave the way for targeted intervention and prevention programs for communities most vulnerable to substance misuse.
Endogenous infection marker guides antibiotic therapy The endogenous infection marker procalcitonin can help to guide the use of antibiotics when treating infections. The course of antibiotic therapy is shortened, and its side effects and mortality rate also decrease, as researchers from the University of Basel and other colleagues report in the journal The Lancet Infectious Diseases. They conducted a meta-analysis of over 6,700 international data sets from patients with respiratory infections.
Social media accounts promote skeletal images of women Skeletal images of bodies featuring protruding bones and pencil-thin limbs are being shared and promoted on social media, new research shows.
Insurance plays significant role in breast cancer disparities Differences in insurance account for a substantial proportion of the excess risk of death from breast cancer faced by black women, according to a new study. The study, appearing in Journal of Clinical Oncology, concludes that equalizing access to care could address much of the existing black/white disparity in breast cancer mortality.
GP referral to Weight Watchers avoided type 2 diabetes in third of patients More than a third of patients at risk of developing type 2 diabetes avoided developing the condition after they were referred by their family doctor (GP) to a diabetes prevention programme delivered by the commercial weight management provider, Weight Watchers, finds research published in BMJ Open Diabetes Research & Care.
	The nursing workforce is growing more diverse and educated, finds NYU Meyers study More males and people of color are entering nursing, and more nurses are earning bachelor's degrees compared with a decade ago, according to a new study by NYU Rory Meyers College of Nursing researchers.
Nigeria confirms three cases of monkeypox Nigeria said Monday it had confirmed three cases of monkeypox after receiving dozens of reports of the disease since last month in seven states across the country's south.
	Nearly a third of college kids think ADHD meds boost grades (HealthDay)—Many college students who abuse ADHD drugs mistakenly believe that doing so will lead to better grades, a new survey suggests.
	A 3x10 exercise plan that'll work for you (HealthDay)—Sometimes it's hard to fit 30 minutes of exercise into your day. But did you know you can break up daily workouts into shorter segments and get the same health benefits?
	Moderate alcohol consumption tied to lower heart failure risk (HealthDay)—Moderate alcohol consumption is associated with reduced risk of heart failure but not atrial fibrillation (AF), according to a study published online Oct. 11 in JACC: Heart Failure.
	ACG: fecal transplant safe in primary sclerosing cholangitis (HealthDay)—Fecal microbiota transplantation (FMT) from a rationally selected donor seems safe and effective for patients with primary sclerosing cholangitis (PSC), according to a study presented at the World Congress of Gastroenterology, being held in partnership with the American College of Gastroenterology's annual scientific meeting and postgraduate course Oct. 13 to 18 in Orlando, Florida.
	Worse HIV care outcomes for Hispanics, Latinos (HealthDay)—HIV care outcomes are worse for Hispanics and Latinos, especially for injection drug users, according to a study published online Oct. 12 in Morbidity and Mortality Weekly Report.
	ACG: defecation posture modification device beneficial (HealthDay)—A defecation posture modification device (DPMD) can reduce bowel movement duration and straining patterns among healthy individuals, according to a study presented at the World Congress of Gastroenterology, being held in partnership with the American College of Gastroenterology's annual scientific meeting and postgraduate course Oct. 13 to 18 in Orlando, Florida.
	New screening tool can identify diabetic retinopathy (HealthDay)—A new screening tool can adequately detect risk of diabetic retinopathy in adults with diabetes in low-income communities in Mexico, according to a study published in the October issue of Preventing Chronic Disease.
	ACG: burnout reported by about half of gastroenterologists (HealthDay)—Almost half of gastroenterologists report burnout, with lifestyle or work-life balance factors frequently associated with burnout, according to a study presented at the World Congress of Gastroenterology, being held in partnership with the American College of Gastroenterology's annual scientific meeting and postgraduate course Oct. 13 to 18 in Orlando, Florida.
	Brain training shows promise for patients with bipolar disorder Researchers at McLean Hospital, an affiliate of Harvard Medical School, have discovered for the first time that computerized brain training can result in improved cognitive skills in individuals with bipolar disorder.
	How many opioid pain pills do surgery patients need? New prescribing guide available How many prescription pain pills should a patient receive after breast cancer surgery? Or a hernia repair? Or a gallbladder removal?
Family members play important role in managing chronic illness Family members often play an important role in managing chronic illnesses, and a family approach may produce more effective, long-term benefits for the patient, according to a Penn State researcher.
Most medical students overconfident, underprepared on nutrition guidelines Ohio University researchers found medical students may be more confident than knowledgeable when it comes to nutrition. Of the 257 medical students studied, more than 55 percent were confident they could counsel patients on nutritional recommendations, but half did not achieve a passing score on a nutrition quiz, according to a study published in The Journal of the American Osteopathic Association.
	Key questions and answers about Trump's health care move President Donald Trump's move to stop paying a major "Obamacare" subsidy will raise costs for many consumers who buy their own health insurance, and make an already complicated system more challenging for just about everybody.
West Virginians say Opioid epidemic most important health issue in the state The opioid epidemic is the most important health issue in West Virginia, above obesity, cancer, chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD) and dental disease, according to a state-based public opinion survey commissioned by Research!America. A strong majority of West Virginians (84%) say prescription pain medication abuse and addiction is a major problem in their community, and more than two-thirds (71%) say they know someone who experienced pain so severe they sought prescription medicines to treat it.
One in five witness someone collapse who requires CPR but the majority do not act An estimated one in five adults in the UK witness someone collapse who needs immediate CPR, yet the majority of people do not act, according to new research funded by the British Heart Foundation.
Sleep duration may affect the integrity of sperm DNA A new study found a link between sleep duration and a measure of chromosomal health in sperm. The findings are published in the Journal of Sleep Research.
	A new target for marijuana Cellular-level changes to a part of the brain's reward system induced by chronic exposure to the psychoactive component of marijuana may contribute to the drug's pleasurable and potentially addictive qualities, suggests a study in young mice published in Journal of Neuroscience. The results could advance our understanding of marijuana's effects on the developing brain as the drug's rapidly changing legal status increases its recreational and medical use in the United States.
Study cites race and socioeconomic factors as influential in NSCLC patient survival rates New research found race and specific socioeconomic factors to have a significant influence on disparities in the survival rates of non-small cell lung cancer (NSCLC) patients. Dr. Yanyan Lou of the Mayo Clinic in the United States presented these findings today at the International Association for the Study of Lung Cancer (IASLC) 18th World Conference on Lung Cancer (WCLC) in Yokohama, Japan.
Early palliative care provides no quality of life benefits for recently diagnosed MPM patients Early specialist palliative care for patients that were recently diagnosed with malignant pleural mesothelioma (MPM) does not impact quality of life (QOL) measures, according to research presented by Prof. Fraser Brims of Curtin University in Australia, at the International Association for the Study of Lung Cancer (IASLC) 18th World Conference on Lung Cancer (WCLC) in Yokohama, Japan.
Integration of smoking cessation within CT lung cancer screenings shows life-saving results A study that integrated robust smoking cessation programs into an organized low-dose CT (LDCT) lung cancer screening program found that the inclusion of both interventions has the potential to decrease mortality rates while being relatively cost-effective. Dr. William Evans of McMaster University in Canada presented these findings today at the International Association for the Study of Lung Cancer (IASLC) 18th World Conference on Lung Cancer (WCLC) in Yokohama, Japan.
	What's the next step for exon skipping therapies to treat duchenne muscular dystrophy? A team of leading European clinicians and scientists presents a unique perspective on how to move forward in the development of exon skipping therapies to treat the severe muscle-wasting disease Duchenne Muscular Dystrophy (DMD). Following recent approval by the U.S. regulatory authorities of the first such drug for DMD, the team of authors representing key European regulatory agencies, academic medical centers, industry, and patient groups discusses the main challenges and opportunities for the development and regulatory approval of these therapeutic agents going forward, in an article published in Nucleic Acid Therapeutics.
	Too little fat is bad for cardiovascular health and leptin therapy may help We know that too much body fat is generally bad for our cardiovascular system, and now scientists are learning more about how too little fat yields some of the same damage.
	Novel reagent detects memory immune response in vaccinated animals Researchers have developed a novel reagent capable of detecting rare, antigen-specific B cells that indicate successful vaccination in veterinary animals. The method used to create a B cell tetramer that can detect a memory immune response to porcine reproductive and respiratory syndrome virus (PRRSV) will be widely applicable for demonstrating immunity to other veterinary pathogens, and is presented in an article in Viral Immunology.

Biology news

	How to save giant tropical fruit bats: Work with local hunters who use bat teeth as money Bats often get the short end of the stick—when you look around in October, they're featured in Halloween decorations right up there with unsavory characters like monsters and ghosts. But these animals are key to their environments as pollinators, dispersers of seeds, and insect-eaters. Plus, in the case of flying fox fruit bats, they have faces that even a bat-hating chiroptophobe could love—they look like German shepherd puppies with wings.
	Whales and dolphins have rich 'human-like' cultures and societies Whales and dolphins (Cetaceans) live in tightly-knit social groups, have complex relationships, talk to each other and even have regional dialects - much like human societies.
	Unexpected finding in the cell's power plant Researchers at Karolinska Institutet have discovered that the protein complex RNase P in the cell's mitochondria behaves differently than previously thought. The findings, published in Nucleic Acids Research, give important new clues on how certain mutations cause mitochondrial disease.
	Structural insights into processes at DNA damage sites Ishan Deshpande and his colleagues from the group of Susan Gasser and the Protein Structure Facility at the FMI elucidated the mechanism of how Mec1-Ddc2, a tumor suppressor involved in DNA damage response assembles at sites of DNA damage. They focus on the Ddc2-RPA interaction, which brings the Mec1-Ddc2 kinase complex to single-stranded DNA at sites of DNA damage. With their structural data, the FMI scientists provide the missing link between two previously published structures, allowing them to assemble a to-scale composite structural model of Mec1-Ddc2 on ssDNA-RPA at DNA damage sites.
	An epigenetic key to unlock behavior change When it comes to behaviour, researchers have moved beyond the "nature versus nurture" debate. It's understood that genes and environment both play a role. However, how they interact at a molecular level to shape behaviour is still unclear.
	Risk of Caesarean section is heritable—Natural selection cannot reduce the rates of obstructed labour During the last decades, rates of Caesarean section have multiplied; by now it is one of the most frequently performed surgical treatments worldwide. Even if many of these C-sections are not strictly medically indicated, human childbirth is complicated and risky compared to that in other primates. Why has evolution by natural selection not led to a wider birth canal, thus reducing the high rates of obstructed labor?
	Bite on this: Researcher finds alligators eat sharks Jaws, beware! Alligators may be coming for you, according to a Kansas State University researcher.
	Nidoviruses redundantly express genes and encode more proteins than previously believed, study finds Arteriviruses, a family of single-stranded RNA viruses that belongs to the order Nidovirales, produce more proteins and messenger RNAs than previously reported, a finding that provides important insights about a virus that could potentially evolve to infect humans in the future, according to a new research study.
	Japan zoo mourns death of love-struck penguin An elderly penguin who shot to fame in Japan after falling in love with a cardboard cut-out of a cartoon character has died, at the ripe old age of 21.
New antibiotic resistance genes found Researchers at Chalmers University of Technology and the University of Gothenburg, Sweden, have found several previously unknown genes that make bacteria resistant to last-resort antibiotics. The genes were found by searching large volumes of bacterial DNA and the results are published in the scientific journal Microbiome.
	When lemons give you life: Herpetofauna adaptation to citrus orchards in Belize Natural habitat areas exhibit similar abundances and diversity of herpetofauna as citrus orchards and reclaimed orchard forests in Stann Creek, Belize, reports a comparative study by researchers Russell Gray and Dr. Colin Strine of Suranaree University of Technology (SUT), Thailand.
	Drive for giant new marine sanctuary in Antarctica Australia and France kick off a fresh push Monday to create a vast marine sanctuary in pristine East Antarctica, hoping to build on the success of landmark deal secured last year at a key annual conservation summit.
	More sightings of an endangered species don't always mean it's recovering If more sightings of an endangered species are recorded, does that mean its numbers are increasing? Australia's native forest logging industry is arguing yes.
	Germ-free hatching eggs: an alternative to formaldehyde application Hatching eggs in large-scale hatcheries are currently treated with formaldehyde to eliminate germs. Austrian researchers from TU Graz, acib and Roombiotic have now developed a natural alternative.
	Group: Orangutan orphans a sign of habitat destruction The discovery last week of two orphaned baby orangutans on Borneo is further evidence that deforestation and illegal hunting are threatening survival of the great apes, an Indonesian conservation group said Monday.
	Gutters teem with inconspicuous life CNRS scientists and international collaborators have shown that Parisian street gutters are oases of microscopic life, home to microalgae, fungi, sponges and mollusks. Grouped into communities, these microorganisms may help clean rainwater and urban waste by decomposing solid debris and pollutants such as exhaust fumes and engine oil. A deeper understanding of the role and composition of these communities could help elucidate the services rendered by gutter ecosystems. Published in the ISME Journal on October 13, 2017, the researchers' findings are the first to reveal the unsuspected biodiversity of microscopic life in Paris city streets.
	Increasing our understanding of the impact of compounds produced by certain fish parasites European aquaculture production provides direct employment to 80 000 people and has an estimated EUR 3 billion annual turnover. But parasites can cause severe disease outbreaks leading to high economic losses in finfish aquaculture.
	'Hungry bear' crisis grips far east Russian region Large numbers of hungry, aggressive bears are approaching humans and have killed two people in Russia's far east due to depleting food sources, a forestry worker told AFP Monday.

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