Science X Newsletter Monday, Nov 13

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Here is your customized Science X Newsletter for November 13, 2017:

Spotlight Stories Headlines

Astronomers discover radio emission from a symbiotic X-ray binary

Best of Last Week–Power of quark fusion, alcohol killing brain stem cells and sleep deprivation causing mental problems

Clothing made from a reversible fabric could warm or cool wearers and keep them comfortable

Researchers take next step toward fusion energy

Computer simulation offers clues to when a pedestrian bridge will wobble

Researchers rethink how 'beige' fat cells burn calories

CRISPR-carrying nanoparticles edit the genome

Genetic variant prompts cells to store fat, fueling obesity

Earliest evidence of winemaking: Team discovers 8,000-year-old wine production in ancient Middle East

Biologists create beetle with functional extra eye

Learning from photosynthesis: Synthetic circuits can harvest light energy

Hitomi mission glimpses cosmic 'recipe' for the nearby universe

Duo of titanic galaxies captured in extreme starbursting merger

Landmark study may impact standard stroke treatment guidelines

Privacy fears over artificial intelligence as crimestopper

Astronomy & Space news

	Astronomers discover radio emission from a symbiotic X-ray binary (Phys.org)—Using the Karl G. Jansky Very Large Array (VLA), an international group of researchers has detected radio emissions from the accreting X-ray pulsar and symbiotic X-ray binary system designated GX 1+4. It is the first discovery of radio emissions from a symbiotic X-ray binary and the first indication of a jet from an accreting X-ray pulsar with a strong magnetic field. The findings are reported November 6 in a paper published on arXiv.org.
	Hitomi mission glimpses cosmic 'recipe' for the nearby universe Before its brief mission ended unexpectedly in March 2016, Japan's Hitomi X-ray observatory captured exceptional information about the motions of hot gas in the Perseus galaxy cluster. Now, thanks to unprecedented detail provided by an instrument developed jointly by NASA and the Japan Aerospace Exploration Agency (JAXA), scientists have been able to analyze more deeply the chemical make-up of this gas, providing new insights into the stellar explosions that formed most of these elements and cast them into space.
	Duo of titanic galaxies captured in extreme starbursting merger New observations with the Atacama Large Millimeter/submillimeter Array (ALMA) have uncovered the never-before-seen close encounter between two astoundingly bright and spectacularly massive galaxies in the early universe. These so-called hyper-luminous starburst galaxies are exceedingly rare at this epoch of cosmic history—near the time when galaxies first formed—and may represent one of the most-extreme examples of violent star formation ever observed.
	Frozen treats, other supplies rocketing toward space station A stash of frozen treats and other supplies rocketed toward the International Space Station on Sunday, this time from Virginia's cold eastern shore.
	Gravitational waves from merging supermassive black holes will be spotted within 10 years, study predicts Astronomers won't have to wait much longer for their first glimpse of one of the biggest types of unions in the cosmos. New research published November 13 in Nature Astronomy predicts that gravitational waves generated by the merger of two supermassive black holes will be detected within 10 years. The study is the first to use real data, rather than computer simulations, to predict when such an observation will be made.
Aircraft overhead forces Orbital to cancel cargo launch The unexpected sighting of an aircraft in the area near Wallops Island, Virginia forced Orbital ATK to cancel its planned launch Saturday of an unmanned cargo ship to the International Space Station.
	James Webb Space Telescope early science observations revealed Astronomers around the world will have immediate access to early data from specific science observations from NASA's James Webb Space Telescope, which will be completed within the first five months of Webb's science operations. These observing programs were chosen from a Space Telescope Science Institute call for early release science proposals, and include examining Jupiter and its moons, searching for organic molecules forming around infant stars, weighing supermassive black holes lurking in galactic cores, and hunting for baby galaxies born in the early universe.

Technology news

	Clothing made from a reversible fabric could warm or cool wearers and keep them comfortable Stanford researchers have developed a reversible fabric that, without expending effort or energy, keeps skin a comfortable temperature whatever the weather.
	Computer simulation offers clues to when a pedestrian bridge will wobble (Tech Xplore)—A trio of researchers with Georgia State University in the U.S. and Volga State University of Water Transport in Russia has developed a computer simulation to help engineers avoid designing pedestrian bridges that wobble. In their paper published on the open access site Science Advances, Igor Belykh, Russell Jeter and Vladimir Belykh, describe the factors they used to construct their simulation and why they believe it could be used as a safety guideline by bridge engineers.
	Privacy fears over artificial intelligence as crimestopper Police in the US state of Delaware are poised to deploy "smart" cameras in cruisers to help authorities detect a vehicle carrying a fugitive, missing child or straying senior.
	Renewable electricity by the numbers gets thumbs-up in new study (Tech Xplore)—Conclusions that we can reach a stage where renewable electricity runs the world may not sit easily with skeptics but a study contends that it is feasible by 2050.
	High-efficiency building bloopers revealed through occupant studies Many researchers know that new high-efficiency buildings don't typically get used as intended. The numbers don't add up, and occupants can easily waste energy if they do not understand how to use the building.
	Scammers get their just rewards: Silly questions and no deal (Tech Xplore)—The notion that a sucker is born every minute may have originated in the 19th century but resonates in 2017.
	Supercomputing speeds up deep learning training A team of researchers from the University of California, Berkeley, the University of California, Davis and the Texas Advanced Computing Center (TACC) published the results of an effort to harness the power of supercomputers to train a deep neural network (DNN) for image recognition at rapid speed.
	AI tool quantifies power imbalance between female and male characters in Hollywood movies At first glance, the movie "Frozen" might seem to have two strong female protagonists—Elsa, the elder princess with unruly powers over snow and ice, and her sister, Anna, who spends much of the film on a quest to save their kingdom.
Massive data breach has cost Equifax nearly $90 million A massive security breach that hit Equifax has cost the US credit bureau nearly $90 million so far, a figure that is set to rise further, its chief financial officer said on Thursday.
Data firm CEO: Reached out to WikiLeaks about Clinton emails A data firm that worked for President Donald Trump's campaign reached out to WikiLeaks during the campaign about obtaining emails related to Democrat Hillary Clinton, the company's CEO said.
'Bots battle for the ball, and the globe, in Robot Olympiad The World Robotics Olympiad, being held in Costa Rica this weekend, shows human athletes still have little to worry about: sweat and glory do not compute well when relegated to faceless automatons.
	Water wizards: Dutch flood expertise is big export business On a calm, clear morning, historic wooden fishing boats float tranquilly on the glassy waters of the Dutch harbor of Spakenburg. Yet just over a century ago, they were slamming through the houses lining the harbor as a powerful storm unleashed flooding that devastated this picturesque fishing village.
	Cybercrimes present unique challenges for investigators The federal investigators looking into the breach that exposed personal information maintained by the Equifax credit report company are used to dealing with high-profile hacks and the challenges they present.
No one satisfied with new Vermont wind power sound rules An effort by Vermont utility regulators to settle the long-standing, contentious issue of how much noise neighbors of industrial wind projects should be subject to ended up upsetting both proponents of wind power and those who say the noise poses a health risk to people who live near turbines.
	Alibaba takes record $25 bn on 'Singles Day' Chinese online shoppers spent a record $25 billion on this year's "Singles Day" promotion run by e-commerce giant Alibaba, up nearly 40 percent from last year, figures showed on Sunday.
E-sport popularity mushrooms but money lags behind It is a paradox pitting popularity against relative pittances—e-sports have exploded into the global consciousness but the big money has not yet appeared pitchside, or screenside.
Colossal SoftBank fund could shake up tech world Japan-based SoftBank is sending tremors through the tech world with a massive new venture capital fund for investing in startups that's expected to dominate the industry so thoroughly it's playfully referred to as a "gorilla."
	Uber seals multibillion-dollar investment from Softbank Japanese technology conglomerate SoftBank has reached a deal with Uber to invest billions in the ride-hailing giant.
	Fuel removal device installed at meltdown-hit Fukushima reactor Workers at Japan's crippled Fukushima Daiichi nuclear power plant have installed a device to remove nuclear fuel from a meltdown-hit reactor nearly seven years after the crisis was sparked by a tsunami, a spokesman said Monday.
	New facades enhance energy efficiency of buildings Recently, two researchers from UPM have developed a ventilated façade with a double chamber and flow control device that significantly saves energy in buildings. This sustainable, efficient solution can be applied in both renovations and new buildings due to its simplicity.
Three ways robots can save lives in war Military robots are not all bad.
	A simple soak for a solar tune-up The performance of solar cells that consist of semiconductor nanoparticles surrounded by ligand molecules is now easier to control. Researchers from KAUST have developed a method that enhances the ability of these colloidal quantum dot (CQD) solar cells to convert the sun's energy into electricity by altering the surface chemistry of their functional layers in a noninvasive way.
	Watchdog warns of 'high risk' digital currency offers A European financial markets watchdog warned Monday of the risks to investors of putting money in Initial Coin Offerings (ICOs), and to firms of stepping over the line of legality.
	Qualcomm rejects Broadcom's $103 billion offer Qualcomm rejected an unsolicited, $103 billion offer from Broadcom, saying that the proposal is significantly undervalued and that a tie-up between the massive chipmakers would face substantial regulatory resistance.
Experts meet at UN Geneva to discuss, define 'killer robots' Government experts, advocacy groups and academics from scores of countries are kicking off a weeklong conference focusing on lethal autonomous weapons systems—colloquially known as "killer robots"—amid rising concerns that human decision-making could be stripped from military action.
	Scalable clusters make HPC R&D easy as Raspberry Pi A quest to help the systems software community work on very large supercomputers without having to actually test on them has spawned an affordable, scalable system using thousands of inexpensive Raspberry Pi nodes. It brings a powerful high-performance-computing testbed to system-software developers, researchers, and others who lack machine time on the world's fastest supercomputers.
	Lyft takes Uber challenge north to Canada US ride-sharing startup Lyft said Monday it is launching next month in Toronto, the first city in what is expected to be an international expansion for the Uber rival.
	Facebook launches Facebook Local, with some Yelp-like features Facebook on Friday launched a new app, Facebook Local. It gives users a single place to find restaurants, bars, cafes and nearby activities but also folds in friends' reviews of the places they might want to go.There are actually multiple things happening in the app. First, users can search for places and happenings, including events your friends might be attending.
An electronic converter that improves the electrical power output of larger wind turbines An electronic converter developed by the NUP/UPNA-Public University of Navarre enables the energy produced by larger wind turbines (of up to 6.6 kilovolts) to be inserted into the power grid. These devices cut energy losses and can operate with a higher output, like that of the turbines currently being deployed, offshore ones in particular.
	Diagonal methods for expensive global optimization The goal of global optimization is essentially to search for optimal solutions in various areas of human activity. The principal advantage of the diagonal approach compared to other methods is its speed. Russian scientists from Lobachevsky State University of Nizhni Novgorod have improved the method of global optimization by offering a so-called "diagonal approach."
	Diagnosing supercomputer problems A team of computer scientists and engineers from Sandia National Laboratories and Boston University recently received a prestigious award at the International Supercomputing conference for their paper on automatically diagnosing problems in supercomputers.
Missouri attorney general investigating Google Missouri's attorney general announced Monday that his office is investigating Google for potential violations of the state's consumer-protection and antitrust laws.

Medicine & Health news

	Researchers rethink how 'beige' fat cells burn calories It has been known for decades that low temperatures can trigger specialized fat cells to burn energy to produce heat, but in a new study, UC San Francisco researchers have discovered a new heat-producing pathway in fat cells that works by burning excess blood glucose, suggesting a potential new approach to treating metabolic disorders such as obesity and type 2 diabetes.
	Genetic variant prompts cells to store fat, fueling obesity Obesity is often attributed to a simple equation: People are eating too much and exercising too little. But evidence is growing that at least some of the weight gain that plagues modern humans is predetermined. New research from the Research Triangle suggests that variants in a gene called ankyrin-B—carried by millions of Americans—could cause people to put on pounds through no fault of their own.
	Landmark study may impact standard stroke treatment guidelines Standard guidelines for stroke treatment currently recommend clot removal only within six hours of stroke onset. But a milestone study with results published today in the New England Journal of Medicine shows that clot removal up to 24 hours after stroke led to significantly reduced disability for properly selected patients.
	Research shows low chance of sudden cardiac arrest after sex A small percentage of sudden cardiac arrest events are related to sexual activity, but survival rates in those cases remain low, according to a research letter published today in the Journal of the American College of Cardiology and presented at the American Heart Association's Scientific Sessions 2017. Despite these sexual activity related SCA events being witnessed by a partner, bystander CPR was performed in only one-third of cases.
	Epigenetic editing reveals surprising insights into early breast cancer development Changing the epigenetic code of a single gene is enough to cause a healthy breast cell to begin a chain reaction and become abnormal, according to research by Queen Mary University of London (QMUL).
	Dengue immunity can protect against Zika virus Manifestations of Zika virus (ZIKV) infection differ drastically. Sometimes they are catastrophic, most notably when they cause microcephaly in some babies born to infected mothers. At other times, they are mild and fleeting, suggesting that unknown factors temper Zika infections' severity. Recently, dengue virus emerged as a prime suspect because it shares many genetic and structural characteristics with ZIKV and is endemic in most of the regions affected by Zika's global spread.
	Breakthrough research suggests potential treatment for autism, intellectual disability A breakthrough in finding the mechanism and a possible therapeutic fix for autism and intellectual disability has been made by a University of Nebraska Medical Center researcher and his team at the Munroe-Meyer Institute (MMI).
	Exercise maintains brain size, new research finds Aerobic exercise can improve memory function and maintain brain health as we age, a new Australian-led study has found.
	Memory—recognizing images seen briefly ten years previously Recalling the names of old classmates 50 years after graduation or of favorite childhood television series illustrates the amazing abilities of human memory. Emotion and repeated exposure are both known to play a role in long-term memorization, but why do we remember things that are not emotionally charged and have only been seen or experienced a few times in the past? To answer this question, scientists from the Centre de recherche cerveau & cognition research unit (CNRS/Université Toulouse III—Paul Sabatier)1 decided to challenge the memory of individuals they had tested in the laboratory a decade previously. They discovered that participants recognized images seen for only a few seconds ten years earlier. These findings were published online on November 5, 2017, in Cognition.
	New study suggests it may be fructan, not gluten, that is upsetting people's stomachs (Phys.org)—A team of researchers with several members from the University of Oslo in Norway and one with Monash University in Australia has found that the familiar bloating many people experience after eating foods containing wheat may be due to sensitivity to fructan, not gluten, as is commonly believed. In their paper published in the journal Gastroenterology, the group describes experiments they conducted with volunteers eating foods with and without fructan and gluten and what they found.
'Mini liver tumors' created in a dish for the first time Scientists have created mini biological models of human primary liver cancers, known as organoids, in the lab for the first time. In a paper published today in Nature Medicine, the tiny laboratory models of tumours were used to identify a new drug that could potentially treat certain types of liver cancer.
	Why head and face pain causes more suffering Hate headaches? The distress you feel is not all in your—well, head. People consistently rate pain of the head, face, eyeballs, ears and teeth as more disruptive, and more emotionally draining, than pain elsewhere in the body.
Secret alter ego of well-known protein fights leaky blood vessels With every heartbeat, a gallon and a half of blood pulses through the body's network of veins and arteries. The force of that blood flow helps keep the cells that line the blood vessels, called endothelial cells, healthy; when blood flow is disrupted, such as during surgical procedures or a stroke, the vessels start to leak, which can cause a host of inflammatory responses that lead to cell damage and disease. Scientists at the Wyss Institute at Harvard University set out to solve the mystery of how blood flow keeps the vessels intact and, to their surprise, discovered a completely new cell signaling pathway that is a promising target for drugs to treat a variety of debilitating conditions.
	Scientists make a major breakthrough to treat fibrotic diseases that cause organ failure Researchers from Duke-NUS Medical School (Duke-NUS) and the National Heart Centre Singapore (NHCS) have discovered that a critical protein, known as interleukin 11 (IL11) is responsible for fibrosis and causes organ damage. While it is surprising that the importance of IL11 has been overlooked and misunderstood for so long, it has now been very clearly demonstrated by this work.
Genes that hold the clues to bladder cancer and its treatment Scientists have discovered the 'genetic signatures' of the most common form of bladder cancer - and it could open up the possibility of better-targeted treatment, according to research published today (13 November).
	Mouse study shows human protein greatly boosts sepsis survival rate A research team led by a biomedical scientist at the University of California, Riverside has discovered that the human protein resistin could be used to treat sepsis, the body's extreme and uncontrolled immune response to an infection.
	How much will we pay for something? Depends on the value of what we've just encountered The value of the products we encounter influences how much we'll subsequently pay for other items, new neuroscience research has found. The results point to a previously undetected factor that affects consumer behavior.
	Experts call for ethics rules to protect privacy, free will, as brain implants advance The convergence of artificial intelligence and brain-computer interfaces may soon restore sight to the blind, allow the paralyzed to move robotic limbs and cure any number of brain and nervous system disorders.
	Next-generation optogenetic molecules control single neurons Researchers at MIT and Paris Descartes University have developed a new optogenetic technique that sculpts light to target individual cells bearing engineered light-sensitive molecules, so that individual neurons can be precisely stimulated.
	Left-brained: Study suggests conservative Democrats don't compute for liberal voters Political partisans would like you to believe voters' heads will explode if faced with candidates crossing party lines on key policies - a Democrat who opposes abortion, say, or a Republican who supports gun control.
	UK and EU action plans should 'lose jargon' in a bid to win the battle with antibiotic-resistant infections One of the UK's leading microbiologists is concerned that confusing language and a lack of specific objectives are hampering the global fight against antibiotic-resistant infections.
	Genetic treatment for blindness may soon be reality Patients who had lost their sight to an inherited retinal disease could see well enough to navigate a maze after being treated with a new gene therapy, according to research presented today at AAO 2017, the 121st Annual Meeting of the American Academy of Ophthalmology.
Study finds men are more likely to receive CPR in public than women When it comes to your likelihood of receiving bystander CPR if you experience a Sudden Cardiac Arrest (SCA) in public, it turns out your gender may play a lifesaving role. According to a new study from researchers in the Center for Resuscitation Science at Penn Medicine, which is being presented at the American Heart Association Scientific Sessions 2017, men are more likely to receive bystander CPR in public than women.
Latinos less aware of automated external defibrillators Latinos are less likely to know what an automated external defibrillator (AED) is and who can use it, which could affect outcomes of sudden cardiac arrests in Latino neighborhoods, according to preliminary research presented at the American Heart Association's Scientific Sessions 2017, a premier global exchange of the latest advances in cardiovascular science for researchers and clinicians.
Sixth-graders can learn, perform hands-only CPR Students as young as sixth-graders can learn and perform CPR effectively and should be targeted for training, according to preliminary research presented at the American Heart Association's Scientific Sessions 2017, a premier global exchange of the latest advances in cardiovascular science for researchers and clinicians.
Innovative genetic and cellular techniques help identify multiple disease targets Research released today highlights advances in the use of CRISPR-Cas9 and human induced pluripotent stem cell technologies to identify novel therapeutic targets for neurological disorders such as schizophrenia and addiction. The studies were presented at Neuroscience 2017, the annual meeting of the Society for Neuroscience and the world's largest source of emerging news about brain science and health.
	Studying sleep's profound and extensive effects on brain function Although the general benefits of a good night's sleep are well established, one-third of American adults do not get a sufficient amount of sleep. Recent research sheds new light on the extensive effects of sleep on the brain, as well as the harms caused by sleep loss. The studies were presented at Neuroscience 2017, the annual meeting of the Society for Neuroscience and the world's largest source of emerging news about brain science and health.
	Heart attack and stroke patients prescribed statin medication upon discharge have better outcomes Patients with a prior history of heart attacks or stroke have better outcomes when cholesterol-lowering medications are used after they're discharged from the hospital, according to a new study from the Intermountain Medical Center Heart Institute in Salt Lake City.
Military service members face unique and sustained threats to optimal brain health Military service exposes soldiers to a unique set of physical challenges, including toxic chemicals and traumatic brain injury, which can have profound effects on their health and well-being. New research examines the effects of military-related brain disorders and possible paths toward treatment, as well as a potential way to harness our brain's learning capabilities to better train pilots. The studies were presented today at Neuroscience 2017, the annual meeting of the Society for Neuroscience and the world's largest source of emerging news about brain science and health.
	Federal policy to reduce re-hospitalizations is linked to increased mortality rates Federal policymakers five years ago introduced the Hospital Readmission Reduction Program to spur hospitals to reduce Medicare readmission rates by penalizing them if they didn't. A new analysis led by researchers at UCLA and Harvard University, however, finds that the program may be so focused on keeping some patients out of the hospital that related death rates are increasing.
Heart's pumping function is not an indicator of heart failure survival rates Contrary to popular practice, a measure of the heart's pumping function known as "left ventricular ejection fraction" is not associated with the long-term outcomes of hospitalized heart failure patients, a UCLA-led study of Medicare patients has found. Hospitalized heart failure patients in all age groups within the study and with all levels of ejection fraction had significantly lower rates of survival after five years and a higher risk of re-hospitalization than people in the United States without heart failure. Better treatments for heart failure and new ways of predicting patient outcomes are needed, researchers concluded.
Quality of stent procedures consistently good across US Hospitals ranked among the best in cardiology and heart surgery by U.S. News and World Report appear no better at performing percutaneous coronary intervention (PCI), a potentially life-saving heart procedure, than unranked hospitals, according to preliminary research presented at the American Heart Association's Scientific Sessions 2017, a premier global exchange of the latest advances in cardiovascular science for researchers and clinicians.
	E-cigarette vapor slows heart rate in mice Electronic nicotine delivery systems (ENDS) such as e-cigarettes, affect heart rhythm and cardiovascular function in mice, according to preliminary research presented at the American Heart Association's Scientific Sessions 2017, a premier global exchange of the latest advances in cardiovascular science for researchers and clinicians.
Study ends debate over best way to prevent acute kidney failure post angiogram Treatments commonly used to prevent acute kidney failure and its complications arising from common angiography procedures make no difference to health outcomes, a major new study has found.
	Risks for blood clot in a vein may rise with increased TV viewing Risk of blood clots increases with the amount of time spent watching television, even if people get the recommended amount of physical activity, according to preliminary research presented at the American Heart Association's Scientific Sessions 2017, a premier global exchange of the latest advances in cardiovascular science for researchers and clinicians.
New tool identifies headache patients at risk of aneurysms in emergency department A new tool to identify potentially fatal aneurysms in patients with headaches who seem otherwise well will help emergency departments to identify high-risk patients, improve survival rates and cut out unnecessary imaging, according to new research published in CMAJ (Canadian Medical Association Journal)
	Exposure to benzene during pregnancy—a pilot study raises concerns Peace River Valley, in northeastern British Columbia, has become known in recent years as a place of hydraulic fracturing for natural gas - "fracking," as it's commonly called. What are the health impacts related to living near fracking sites where contaminants, including volatile organic compounds, are released? To try to answer that question, Élyse Caron-Beaudoin, a postdoctoral researcher at the Université de Montréal Public Health Research Institute, studied a group of pregnant women who live in the area. Her results were published this week in Environment International.
Follow-up cholesterol testing reduces risk of reocurrence for heart attack and stroke patients If you have a heart attack or stroke, it's important to get your "bad" cholesterol measured by your doctor on a follow up visit. Researchers have found that one step is significantly associated with a reduced risk of suffering another serious cardiovascular episode.
Low sodium-DASH diet combination dramatically lowers blood pressure in hypertensive adults A combination of reduced sodium intake and the DASH diet lowers blood pressure in adults with hypertension, according to preliminary research presented at the American Heart Association's Scientific Sessions 2017, a premier global exchange of the latest advances in cardiovascular science for researchers and clinicians.
Eating disorder treatments need to consider social, cultural implications of the illness People in treatment for eating disorders are poorly served when it comes to addressing the cultural aspects of eating problems, according to new research from the University of East Anglia (UEA).
	Reduction in common heart hormone associated with improved outcomes and lower mortality Heart failure patients discharged from the hospital with a reduced level of a common hormone produced by the heart had significantly lower rates of readmission and lower death rates, according to a new study conducted by researchers at the Intermountain Medical Center Heart Institute in Salt Lake City.
	Researcher looks at new treatment for military personnel with PTSD Military deployment can be associated with increased risk of mental health problems for military service members and veterans as well as psychological distress in the spouses and children of the deployed, a risk that increases with longer deployment, according to research.
Groundbreaking study expands clot removal window in stroke A procedure to remove clots from blocked brain vessels – known as thrombectomy - may be beneficial for some stroke patients even if they come in to the emergency room beyond the 6-hour treatment window that current guidelines endorse, according to a groundbreaking study conducted by an international team of physicians and researchers led by UPMC and Emory University.
	Babies with severe respiratory illness have double the risk of childhood asthma If children develop severe respiratory illness before two years old, they are at least double the risk of developing asthma later in childhood, a study of NSW babies has found.
	Study finds less blood can be used in heart operations Heart surgery requires more blood transfusions than almost any other surgical procedure.
	Get a better night's sleep On Wednesday, the University Medicine Zurich research network presented its new flagship project SleepLoop. With this project, the researchers want to tackle one of the most widespread health challenges of our times – a lack of restful sleep and its negative consequences on society and the economy.
	New study shows taurine supplements may improve performance recovery New research recently published in the Antioxidants journal, suggests taurine supplementation taken after exercise, may help improve the rate of muscle recovery.
	Deadly combination in neurodegenerative diseases revealed Neurodegenerative diseases are incurable and debilitating conditions that result in progressive degeneration and death of nerve cells, which leads to problems with movement or mental functioning. Examples include Alzheimer's, Parkinson's, amyotrophic lateral sclerosis (ALS) and frontotemporal dementia (FTD). ALS is characterized by degeneration of motor neurons, while FTD is characterized by progressive neuronal loss mostly in the frontal and/or temporal lobes of the brain.
Omega -6 fatty acids do not promote low-grade inflammation The higher the serum linoleic acid level, the lower the CRP, according to a new study from the University of Eastern Finland. Linoleic acid is the most common polyunsaturated omega-6 fatty acid. The findings were published in the European Journal of Clinical Nutrition.
	Why it can make sense to believe in the kindness of strangers Would you risk your life for a total stranger?
Understanding removal of brain fluid provides avenue for Alzheimer's treatment Researchers in Switzerland have investigated the way fluid is removed from around the brain. Finding a new pathway for its removal, their work may signal a paradigm shift in how scientists think about this process and could have future implications for tackling Alzheimer's disease. The findings are published today in the scientific journal Nature Communications.
	Loneliness could kill you Independence is glorified in North American culture as a symbol of strength. As a society, we value individual achievement and extol self-reliance.
	Inhibition by an immunostimulator The receptor CD27 found on the cell surface of certain types of immune cells is required for the production of so-called regulatory T cells in the thymus, that limit the development of atherosclerotic plaques.
	Fewer heart surgery patients may have to be exposed to blood transfusions, researchers say Not as many heart surgery patients may need to be exposed to the potential dangers of blood transfusions, according to a new study that researchers say may change current practice.
	New hope for osteoarthritis patients suffering severe pain in hands Osteoarthritis is the most prevalent arthritis worldwide and is characterised by chronic pain and impaired physical function.
	Breastfeeding does not protect children against asthma and allergies: study The effect of breastfeeding on the risk of developing asthma and allergy has been debated for a long time. In a recent study, Uppsala University researchers show that breastfeeding might in fact increase the risk of developing hay fever and eczema, while not having any clear effect on the risk of asthma. The results have been published in the Journal of Allergy and Clinical Immunology.
Increased taxes on high fat and high sugar foods will help improve children's diets Increasing the tax on high fat and high sugar foods will help improve children's diets. This is one of the recommendations from the British Psychological Society report "Changing behaviour: Childhood nutrition' published this week. The recommendations are aimed at tackling the causes of poor diets in children.
New recommendations for successful health food claims Researchers have developed recommendations to help food companies successfully substantiate new health claims in the European Union.
	Harmful effects of stress on the brain and promising approaches for relief Stress can have numerous harmful effects on the mind and body, both immediately and over long periods of time. New research reveals mechanisms by which stress exacts its toll throughout the body, from the brain to the male reproductive system, and points to potential paths for reducing the negative effects of stress. The studies were presented at Neuroscience 2017, the annual meeting of the Society for Neuroscience and the world's largest source of emerging news about brain science and health.
	Obesity during pregnancy may lead directly to fetal overgrowth, study suggests Obesity during pregnancy—independent of its health consequences such as diabetes—may account for the higher risk of giving birth to an atypically large infant, according to researchers at the National Institutes of Health. Their study appears in JAMA Pediatrics.
	Breastfed babies are less likely to have eczema as teenagers, study shows Babies whose mothers had received support to breastfeed exclusively for a sustained period from birth have a 54% lower risk of eczema at the age of 16, a new study led by researchers from King's College London, Harvard University, University of Bristol and McGill University shows.
	Cellular network identified that 'short circuits' the antitumor effect of immunotherapies Researchers from The Wistar Institute discovered a novel form of crosstalk among tumor cells and other cell types in the tumor microenvironment, elucidating the mechanism of action of an immunotherapeutic strategy that inhibits tumor-associated macrophages (TAMs) and instructing a more effective use of this therapeutic approach. This work was published online in Cancer Cell.
Sudden cardiac death rates may be seven times higher among young people with diabetes Children and young adults with diabetes may be seven times more likely to die from sudden cardiac death compared to children and young adults without diabetes, according to preliminary research from Denmark presented at the American Heart Association's Scientific Sessions 2017, a premier global exchange of the latest advances in cardiovascular science for researchers and clinicians.
Eating regular variety of nuts associated with lower risk of heart disease People who regularly eat nuts, including peanuts, walnuts and tree nuts, have a lower risk of developing cardiovascular disease or coronary heart disease compared to people who never or almost never eat nuts, according to a study published today in the Journal of the American College of Cardiology. The study is the largest to date looking at frequency of nut consumption in relation to incident cardiovascular disease.
	Five health indicators are enough to predict cardiovascular risk in healthy people In a large population study that was the first of its kind, researchers found that a simple tool not requiring laboratory tests, the Fuster-BEWAT score, is as effective as the American Heart Association-recommended ICHS (Ideal Cardiovascular Health Index), which includes blood analysis of cholesterol and glucose.
	Allergy amplifier implicated in asthma also intensifies food allergy Almost eight percent of children under three years old and four percent of adults suffer food allergies, which trigger not only discomfiting symptoms like dermatitis and diarrhea but can cause deadly anaphylactic shock. Allergic responses emerge when food components, like egg, shellfish, or peanut proteins, stimulate white blood cells called mast cells to dump excessive quantities of histamine or cytokines into the blood, fomenting inflammation in skin, eyes, or gastrointestinal tract, among other tissues.
	Functional impairment in middle age often leads to further decline Nearly 40 percent of individuals who experience an episode of functional impairment in middle age see further functional decline, or even death, within 10 years, according to a study by researchers at UC San Francisco and the affiliated San Francisco VA Health Care System.
	Heart attack test could help patients across the globe, experts say A low-cost, rapid blood test that spots whether people are at risk of a heart attack could improve the treatment of people with chest pain at emergency departments around the world, a study suggests.
Older people with bowel disease receive older medicines Inflammatory bowel disease is common amongst older people and there are big differences in the choice of treatment for different age groups. Patients over the age of 60 often receive cortisone drugs instead of more modern medicines that target the immune system. This according to a large registry study from Karolinska Institutet in Sweden published in Gastroenterology.
	Holiday parties minus the calorie crunch (HealthDay)—Holiday parties are fun social gatherings, but they can also be diet disasters. Here's how to enjoy yourself while sparing yourself hundreds of extra calories.
Bill Gates giving $50 million for Alzheimer's research Microsoft co-founder Bill Gates announced Monday that he is investing $50 million to fund research into treatment for Alzheimer's disease.
No cardiovascular disease reduction with intensive blood pressure lowering treatment Blood pressure lowering treatment does not reduce death or cardiovascular disease in healthy individuals with a systolic blood pressure below 140. This is shown in a systematic review and meta-analysis from Umeå University. The results, published in JAMA Internal Medicine, support current guidelines and contradict the findings from the Systolic Blood Pressure Intervention Trial (SPRINT).
	Parkinson's disease: A looming pandemic New research shows that the number of people with Parkinson's disease will soon grow to pandemic proportions. In a commentary appearing today in the journal JAMA Neurology, University of Rochester Medical Center neurologist Ray Dorsey, M.D. and Bastiaan Bloem, M.D., Ph.D., with Radboud University Medical Center in the Netherlands, argue that the medical community must be mobilized to respond to this impending public health threat.
	Study assesses how we perceive other people's stress levels in the workplace A new Tel Aviv University study finds that people often project their own experiences with stress onto their colleagues and employees, causing miscommunication and, often, missed opportunities.
ACA program to reduce hospital readmissions not all it's cracked up to be A federal program that has been shown to reduce hospital readmissions may not have been as successful as it appears, University of Michigan researchers report in the latest issue of the Journal of the American Medical Association Internal Medicine.
Harder for T cells to fight cancer in absence of VEGF-A Contrary to what was previously believed, the immune system's cancer-killing T cells are more effective in a tumour's anoxic environment when they have access to growth factor VEGF-A. In a study from Karolinska Institutet published in Cancer Cell, the researchers show how the T cells not only survive in this oxygen-depleted micro-environment with the help of transcription factor HIF-1a but also become more effective at killing cancer cells inside it.
	More adults use marijuana in states where it is legal Daily use of marijuana as well as past month rates rose for both men and women aged 26 and older in states with medical marijuana laws in effect, according to researchers at Columbia University's Mailman School of Public Health. Marijuana use among those younger than 26 years old was generally unaffected by changes in the law. The results of the study are published online in Prevention Science.
At-home vision monitoring app may improve patient care Patients with age-related macular degeneration or diabetic retinopathy who used a mobile application to test their vision at home got comparable results to in-office vision testing, according to research presented today at AAO 2017, the 121st Annual Meeting of the American Academy of Ophthalmology. The findings suggest that the smartphone app may help patients take better care of their vision.
	Prenatal exposure to ADHD meds tied to neonatal morbidity (HealthDay)—Exposure to attention-deficit/hyperactivity disorder (ADHD) medication during pregnancy is associated with increased risk of neonatal morbidity, according to a study published online Nov. 10 in Pediatrics.
	Soluble interleukin 2 receptor IDs sarcoidosis in uveitis (HealthDay)—Soluble interleukin 2 receptor (sIL-2R) has slightly better diagnostic value than angiotensin-converting enzyme (ACE) for sarcoidosis in patients with uveitis, according to a study published online Nov. 9 in JAMA Ophthalmology.
	Use of MMR deficiency testing in younger CRC patients is low (HealthDay)—Fewer than half of younger adults with colorectal cancer (CRC) undergo mismatch repair (MMR) deficiency of DNA testing, according to a study published online Nov. 9 in JAMA Oncology.
	AHA: Cardiac troponin I IDs low risk of MI, cardiac death (HealthDay)—High-sensitivity cardiac troponin I concentration can identify individuals at low risk of myocardial infarction or cardiac death within 30 days among patients with suspected acute coronary syndrome, according to a review published online Nov. 11 in the Journal of the American Medical Association to coincide with the American Heart Association's Scientific Sessions, being held Nov. 11 to 15 in Anaheim, California.
	About 20 percent of U.S. adults currently use tobacco products (HealthDay)—About one in five U.S. adults currently uses any tobacco product, according to a study published online Nov. 9 in Morbidity and Mortality Weekly Report.
	Is your own MD best in the hospital? Study eyes hospitalists The old-fashioned, family doctor style of medicine could be lifesaving for elderly hospitalized patients, a big study suggests, showing benefits over a rapidly expanding alternative that has hospital-based doctors overseeing care instead.
Fish oil supplements and dry eyes Dear Mayo Clinic: Is it true that fish oil or an omega-3 supplement can help people with dry eyes? If I decide to take them, do omega-3 supplements have any side effects I should worry about?
	Even one drink a day can increase risk of cancer, study finds Do you enjoy the occasional cocktail? Beware, because even moderate consumption of alcohol can increase your risk of cancer, according to a new report.
	Doctors and patients make more decisions together In a shift away from the more patriarchal/matriarchal relationship between doctor and patient, patients report an increased partnership with their physicians in making medical decisions, reports a new study from Northwestern Medicine and Harvard University.
Study consistent with trial results for dabigatran and warfarin in atrial fibrillation A study of two medications that can reduce risk of ischemic stroke in people with atrial fibrillation showed that outcomes in typical patients with atrial fibrillation align well with those seen in clinical trials. The findings were published on Nov. 14 in Annals of Internal Medicine.
Hormone replacement therapy may protect against eye disease Women who took estrogen-only hormone replacement therapy after ovary removal had a lower risk of developing glaucoma, according to research presented today at AAO 2017, the 121st Annual Meeting of the American Academy of Ophthalmology.
	Nonalcoholic fatty liver disease increases risk of liver, colorectal, and breast cancers Nonalcoholic fatty liver disease (NAFLD) is one of the more common chronic liver diseases worldwide. It is associated with metabolic syndrome (i.e. insulin resistance and diabetes) and predisposes to cardiovascular disease. In a new study published in the Journal of Hepatology, researchers identified links not only between NAFLD and hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC), which have been well established, but also to cancers outside the liver, including colorectal and breast cancer.
	New research reveals workplace bullying and violence are risk factors for type 2 diabetes Workplace bullying and violence may increase the risk of type 2 diabetes, for both men and women, according to new research published in Diabetologia (the journal of the European Association for the Study of Diabetes [EASD]).
	Blood test spots overdose patients at risk of liver damage People who overdose on paracetamol could be helped by a blood test that shows immediately if they are going to suffer liver damage.
	Abdominal aortic aneurysm linked to dysregulated tryptophan metabolism, study finds Researchers have found a link between dysregulated tryptophan metabolism and abdominal aortic aneurysm, a life-threatening vascular disease, according to a new study led by Georgia State University.
Response after single treatment with canakinumab predicts which patients will benefit most A new analysis seeks to answer the question of which patients are likely to gain the greatest cardiovascular benefit when treated with the anti-inflammatory agent canakinumab. At the 2017 American Heart Association Scientific Sessions, Paul M. Ridker, MD, director of the Center for Cardiovascular Disease Prevention at Brigham and Women's Hospital, presented a pre-specified analysis on CANTOS (Canakinumab Anti-inflammatory Thrombosis Outcomes Study) that identifies a simple, clinical method to define patient groups most likely to benefit from long-term canakinumab treatment. The results of this analysis, published simultaneously in The Lancet, could have a major impact not only on patient selection and cost-effectiveness of canakinumab, but also on the future development of anti-inflammatory agents for cardiovascular disease.
Parental Medicaid expansion translates into preventive care for their children When low-income parents enroll in Medicaid through the Affordable Care Act (ACA) state expansion program, their children have considerably better odds of receiving annual preventive care pediatrician visits, according to a new analysis by the University of Pittsburgh Graduate School of Public Health and Johns Hopkins University.
Infants with extra fingers may receive non-evidence-based, complication-prone treatment Polydactyly, or having an extra finger, is fairly common, occurring in 1 in every 1,000 people—among African-Americans, 1 in 150. Children with supernumerary digits are usually treated within the first months of infancy. According to a case report and review in The Journal of the American Osteopathic Association, the standard technique for removing extra fingers is not supported by evidence and frequently causes complications.
PCSK9 Inhibitor improves outcomes for patients with peripheral artery disease Patients with peripheral artery disease (PAD) are at high risk of heart attack, stroke and cardiovascular death. In addition, PAD patients can suffer major adverse limb events, such as acute limb ischemia - the equivalent of a heart attack in the leg - that can lead to limb loss. Managing PAD is challenging for patients and physicians alike - despite best available treatment including high-intensity statins, risk of cardiovascular and limb events remains high. With few clinical trials focused on patients with PAD, physicians must often extrapolate from studies in broader populations with atherosclerosis about the best treatment approach for these patients. Unfortunately, few of these studies have characterized limb risk and fewer have demonstrated benefits of preventive therapies in reducing this risk. A new sub-analysis of the FOURIER clinical trial, however, now offers information on the safety and effectiveness of giving the PCSK9 inhibitor evolocumab on top of statin therapy to this high-risk population. At the 2017 American Heart Association Scientific Sessions, Marc Bonaca, MD, MPH, investigator at the TIMI Study Group and director of the Aortic Disease Center at Brigham and Women's Hospital, presented results from the sub-analysis, which are published simultaneously in Circulation.
Annoyed by floating specks in your vision? You may soon be able to zap them away Millions of people who put up with seeing annoying specks drift through their field of vision may now have a safe, high-tech solution to their problem. A study of patients who had laser treatment to vaporize these flecks and spots known as floaters, showed a very low complication rate, according to research presented today at AAO 2017, the 121st Annual Meeting of the American Academy of Ophthalmology. Additionally, most patients reported a significant improvement in their vision.
Medicaid expansion under ACA linked to higher rate of smoking cessation When low-income adults were newly covered by Medicaid under the Affordable Care Act (ACA), they were more likely to quit smoking cigarettes than their counterparts in states that did not offer Medicaid expansion, according to a new analysis from the University of Pittsburgh Graduate School of Public Health.
	Half of US adults have high blood pressure in new guidelines New medical guidelines lower the threshold for high blood pressure, adding 30 million Americans to those who have the condition. That means now nearly half of U.S. adults have it.
Wouldn't it be great if eyedrops didn't spill out of your eyes? A new kind of eyedropper can deliver tiny droplets of medication, treating the eye more precisely than traditional eyedroppers, while reducing waste and avoiding dangerous side effects. According to research presented today at AAO 2017, the 121st Annual Meeting of the American Academy of Ophthalmology, this technology may prove to be especially advantageous in the treatment of dry eye and glaucoma, for which patients require daily use of medicated eyedrops that can cost hundreds of dollars for a bottle that lasts only a month.
	Nano-targeting treatment for prostate cancer Metastatic or castrate-resistant prostate cancer can spread to the bone in certain patients. While several new treatments are available, they can have a difficult time reaching the bone and can result in missing the metastatic lesions. New research presented today at the 2017 American Association of Pharmaceutical Scientists (AAPS) Annual Meeting and Exposition seeks to address this challenge with the development of a bone-targeted nanoparticle (NP) that delivers the chemotherapy drug cabazitaxel directly to the bone.
	Disneyland shuts cooling towers after Legionnaires' cases Disneyland has shut down two cooling towers after people who visited the Southern California theme park came down with Legionnaires' disease.
	Tanzanian cholera outbreak kills 18: ministry An outbreak of cholera in Tanzania has left 18 dead in two months, the health ministry said Saturday, warning the situation could worsen as the rainy season continues.
Memory complaints and cognitive decline: Data from the GuidAge study A memory complaint, also called Subjective Cognitive Decline (SCD), is a subjective disorder that appears to be relatively common, especially in elderly persons. The reports of its prevalence in various populations range from approximately 10% to as high as 88%, although it is generally thought that the prevalence of everyday memory problems lie within the range of 25% to 50%. It has been suggested that SCD may be an indication of cognitive decline at a very early stage of a neurodegenerative disease (i.e. preclinical stage of Alzheimer's disease) that is undetectable by standard testing instruments. SCD may represent the first symptomatic manifestation of Alzheimer's disease in individuals with unimpaired performance on cognitive tests.
	Chemists discover a surprising effect of a well-known leukemia drug Researchers from RUDN University and Institute of Biomedical Chemistry of the Russian Academy of Sciences have identified an alternative mechanism for the effective antitumor drug—an enzyme called L-asparaginase. Some isoenzymes of L-asparaginase block the growth of telomeres (regions of repetitive nucleotide sequences at each end of a chromosome) on DNA molecules, and this limits the number of divisions of a cancer cell. This effect is reported in the Biochemical and Biophysical Research Communications.
Cancer care that knows no boundaries—NCCN guidelines customized for use in Africa The fact that you live in a particular country or community should not impact your ability to get good care for cancer.
World's largest clinical specialty database yields critical insights The American Academy of Ophthalmology today announced key milestones and clinical insights from studies powered by its clinical database. The IRIS Registry (Intelligent Research In Sight) has amassed more than 41.2 million unique patients in its database, representing 166.2 million patient visits, covering 11 percent of the U.S. population. It is the largest clinical specialty database in the world, allowing ophthalmologists to pioneer research based on real-world clinical practice.
Dry eye sufferers will soon have a drug-free solution A study of dry eye sufferers who inserted a handheld neurostimulator device in their nose to make their eyes produce more tears experienced significant relief from their disease, according to research presented today at AAO 2017, the 121st Annual Meeting of the American Academy of Ophthalmology.
Exploring the neural mechanisms behind social decision-making, cooperation, and aggression Humans, primates, and many other animals are innately social, spending much of their lifetimes in the presence of other individuals, but little is known about the neural mechanisms that generate social behaviors. Recent advances offer insight into neural circuits and mechanisms that underlie social decision-making, cooperation, and aggression. The studies are being presented at Neuroscience 2017, the annual meeting of the Society for Neuroscience and the world's largest source of emerging news about brain science and health.
Trump picks pharmaceutical exec as new US health secretary US President Donald Trump, who harshly criticized pharmaceutical firms during his campaign, said Monday he has chosen an executive from the industry to be his new secretary of health.
Definitive global transfusion study supports patient safety, positive patient outcomes Lower thresholds for blood transfusions during cardiac surgery have proven to be safe and provide good patient outcomes compared to traditional thresholds, according to the largest research study ever performed in this area. The lower or "restrictive" threshold also can help reduce the amount of blood transfused and money spent for each procedure.
	Study on integrative medicine in military health finds extensive offerings, widespread use A new study evaluating the use of complementary and alternative medicine (CAM) across the military health system shows that the large majority of military treatment facilities offer at least one type of CAM, and an estimated 76,000 military patients receive integrative health services each month. The comprehensive, system-wide study entitled "Complementary and Alternative Medicine Services in the Military Health System" is published in JACM, The Journal of Alternative and Complementary Medicine.
Cincinnati expert on congenital heart disease honored for 'extensive and successful' mentoring of future cardiologists The American Heart Association presented one of its highest honors, the Eugene Braunwald Academic Mentorship Award, to Gary D. Webb., M.D., of the University of Cincinnati "for his extensive and successful mentoring of countless pediatric and adult cardiologists, many of whom have gone on to establish and enhance noteworthy congenital heart disease treatment programs throughout the world."
US top court to hear abortion rights info case The US Supreme Court agreed on Monday to examine a California law that obliges private anti-abortion agencies to tell pregnant clients they can get a publicly-financed abortion and contraception.
Sickle cell patients suffer discrimination, poor care—and shorter lives For more than a year, NeDina Brocks-Capla avoided one room in her large, brightly colored San Francisco house - the bathroom on the second floor.
Research advances understanding of opioid addiction in face of public health crisis As the United States grapples with the devastating effects of an opioid epidemic, researchers are making progress in advancing our understanding of opioid addiction-related health issues, according to studies presented today at Neuroscience 2017, the annual meeting of the Society for Neuroscience and the world's largest source of emerging news about brain science and health.
How bacteria in the gut influence neurodegenerative disorders Humans have roughly as many bacterial cells in their bodies as human cells, and most of those bacteria live in the gut. New research released today reveals links between the gut microbiome—the population of microorganisms living in the gastrointestinal tract—and brain diseases such as Parkinson's and Alzheimer's, including potential new ways to track and treat these diseases. The studies were presented at Neuroscience 2017, the annual meeting of the Society for Neuroscience and the world's largest source of emerging news about brain science and health.
Study finds racial disparities in gun-related eye trauma in the United States A review of patients who suffered firearms-related eye trauma shows significant disparities in race, location, and circumstance, according to research presented today at AAO 2017, the 121st Annual Meeting of the American Academy of Ophthalmology. Most of the victims survive, but suffer traumatic brain injury and require extensive rehabilitation. The researchers say their study can inform the direction of future public policy.
Another reason to exercise: Protecting your sight People who engage in moderate to vigorous physical activity may be able to significantly lower their risk of glaucoma, according to research presented today at AAO 2017, the 121st Annual Meeting of the American Academy of Ophthalmology. Researchers from the University of California, Los Angeles reported a 73 percent decline in the risk of developing the disease among the most physically active study participants, compared with those who were the least active.

Biology news

	CRISPR-carrying nanoparticles edit the genome In a new study, MIT researchers have developed nanoparticles that can deliver the CRISPR genome-editing system and specifically modify genes in mice. The team used nanoparticles to carry the CRISPR components, eliminating the need to use viruses for delivery.
	Biologists create beetle with functional extra eye On "Game of Thrones," a three-eyed raven holds the secrets of the past, present and future in a vast fantasy kingdom. But for real-world biologists, a "three-eyed beetle" may offer a true glimpse into the future of studying evolutionary development.
	New mechanisms discovered that bacteria use to protect themselves from antibiotics Antibiotic resistance happens when bacteria evolve mechanisms to withstand the drugs which are used to treat infections.
	Improving the neuron factory—new modulator of stem cell identity found Since their discovery in 2006, induced pluripotent stem cells are a glimmer of hope for many diseases. But further research of the complex regulation of pluripotent stem cell identity is unexpectedly difficult. A team of researchers at the Cluster of Excellence CECAD has now found an efficient way to produce neurons from pluripotent stem cells. Their research was published in Nature Communications.
	Research sheds new light on how organisms use energy in a crowd Monash scientists have uncovered new and surprising discoveries about how organisms can regulate energy use when their numbers increase.
	New insect species mimics dead leaves for camouflage A new species of bushcricket which mimics dead leaves to the point of near invisibility and sings so loud humans can hear it has been examined for the first time using advanced technologies to reveal the unusual acoustic properties of its wings.
	CMU software assembles RNA transcripts more accurately Computational biologists at Carnegie Mellon University have developed a more accurate computational method for reconstructing the full-length nucleotide sequences of the RNA products in cells, called transcripts, that transform information from a gene into proteins or other gene products.
	California birds nesting a week earlier than they did a century ago A new study suggests that many of the state's birds are adapting to rising temperatures by breeding earlier than they did a century ago.
	In the fight against viral infection, spelling counts For millions of years, humans and viruses have engaged in a constant tug of war: as our cells evolve new ways to defend us from our viral enemies, these pathogens in turn acquire new traits to sidestep those defenses.
	Study could bring about strategies to increase 'good' cholesterol After decades of individual attempts to identify the structure of the main building block of HDL (high-density lipoproteins), the so-called "good" cholesterol that associates with protection from cardiovascular disease, a research team representing eight academic institutions across the U.S. and Australia has come to agreement on a predictive model.
Mountain lion in San Francisco neighborhood is tranquilized A mountain lion cornered by a game warden near a San Francisco playground and shot with a tranquilizer gun on Friday has been fitted with a GPS collar and is ready to go back into the wild.
	US sage grouse policy heading back to square one Federal scientists and land managers who've been crafting strategies to protect a ground-dwelling bird's habitat across the American West for nearly two decades are going back to the drawing board under a new Trump administration edict to reassess existing plans condemned by ranchers, miners and energy developers.
Weed-killer prompts angry divide among US farmers When it comes to the herbicide dicamba, farmers in the southern state of Arkansas are not lacking for strong opinions.
	A lipid's role in cell division Proper cell division is a basic process critical to cell survival. A ring composed of actin filaments and myosin motor proteins pinches the cell apart, producing two daughter cells with equal amounts of cellular components.
	Seals, birds and humans compete for fish in the Baltic Sea In Sweden and in other parts of Europe there are concerns that seals and birds compete with humans for fish resources. For the Baltic Sea, an international study now shows that this competition is a reality.
	A genus of European paper wasps revised for the first time using integrative taxonomy The European and Mediterranean species of the paper wasp genus Polistes were recently revised by scientists at the SNSB-Zoologische Staatssammlung München (ZSM).
	Ancient life form discovered in remote Tasmanian valley A team of Tasmanian researchers has uncovered rare, living stromatolites deep within the Tasmanian Wilderness World Heritage Area.
	Uncovering a reversible master switch for development In a paper published in Genes & Development, BWH principal investigator Mitzi Kuroda, PhD, and her team identified a reversible "master switch" on most developmental genes. The team unearthed this biological insight through studies in the fruit fly —a powerful model organism for studying how human genes are organized and function.
	Poison-ivy an unlikely hero in warding off exotic invaders? Dozens of studies have looked at the effects of Japanese knotweed on natural communities in Europe and North America. Yet Bucknell University professor Chris Martine still felt there was something important to learn about what the plant was doing along the river in his own backyard.
	Researchers find first wild alligator snapping turtle in Illinois since 1984 Researchers report the first sighting in 30 years of a wild alligator snapping turtle in Illinois. The discovery may be a sign of hope for this state-endangered species, or the animal could be the last of its kind to have survived in Illinois without human intervention, the researchers say.
Feathers have their own scents, and predators know it In the holey battle of Aussie bushlands, smelly birds get their feathers ruffled.

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