Science X Newsletter Tuesday, Nov 14

Dear Reader ,

Here is your customized Science X Newsletter for November 14, 2017:

Spotlight Stories Headlines

New mirror reflects light differently than conventional mirrors

Giant ionized gas nebula found by astronomers

Simulating a meat-free America

Measuring impact of 'likes' by users on Facebook being targeted by sellers

Graphene water filter turns whisky clear

Artificially cooling planet 'risky strategy,' new research shows

Air quality and health in US will improve from other nations' actions to slow climate change

Simple water test could prevent crippling bone disease

High blood pressure is redefined as 130, not 140: US guidelines (Update)

When water met iron deep inside the Earth, did it create conditions for life?

New technology makes artificial intelligence more private and portable

Female mongooses help their pups by driving out rivals

To find new biofuel enzymes, it can take a microbial village

US regulators approve first digital pill to track patients

Mammal brains identify type of scent faster than once thought

Astronomy & Space news

	Giant ionized gas nebula found by astronomers (Phys.org)—A group of astronomers has discovered a giant nebula of ionized gas extending over 300,000 light years. This nebula turns out to be associated with the quasar dubbed the "Teacup." The finding was presented November 7 in a paper published online on the arXiv pre-print server.
	Space Delivery: Astronauts get ice cream, make-own pizzas Astronauts got a mouth-watering haul with Tuesday's Earth-to-space delivery—pizza and ice cream.
	The anatomy of a 'cosmic snake' reveals the structure of distant galaxies We have a fair understanding of the fundamental mechanisms that regulate star formation in galaxies, from the interstellar matter to the diffuse clouds distributed in space whose gravitational contraction leads to the birth of stars within large stellar clusters. But observations of distant galaxies have questioned this picture, the size and mass of these distant stellar nurseries largely exceeding that of their local counterparts. An international team of astrophysicists led by the Universities of Geneva (UNIGE), Switzerland, for the observations and Zurich (UZH) for the simulations has tackled this inconsistency, which seems to question our knowledge of star formation when we study the early universe, far away in time and space. They have found the first answers thanks to new observations of the so-called cosmic snake. Their study is published in the journal Nature Astronomy.
	Black holes, curved spacetime and quantum computing Rotating black holes and computers that use quantum-mechanical phenomena to process information are topics that have fascinated science lovers for decades, but even the most innovative thinkers rarely put them together. Now, however, theoretical physicist Ovidiu Racorean from the General Direction of Information Technology, Bucharest, Romania suggests that powerful X-rays emitted near these black holes have properties that make them ideal information carriers for quantum computing. This work was recently published in New Astronomy.
	Astronaut meets volcano An expedition of astronauts, planetary scientists and engineers is off to Spain's Canary Island of Lanzarote to learn best how to explore uncharted planets. The training will equip space travellers with a geologist's eye.
	Contracting white dwarf observed for the first time Astrophysicists from MSU (Russia) and colleagues from Italy and Russian Academy of Sciences have found the first observational evidence for a contracting white dwarf. Constant high spin-up rate of a star of this type, located in an enigmatic binary system, can be easily explained if the white dwarf is contracting, the researchers argue. The discovery is reported in the Monthly Notices of the Royal Astronomical Society.
	California launch of new US weather satellite postponed Officials have postponed the California launch of a new type of U.S. weather satellite intended to improve the accuracy of extended forecasts.
	Zwicky Transient Facility sees 'first light' A new robotic camera with the ability to capture hundreds of thousands of stars and galaxies in a single shot has taken its first image of the sky—an event astronomers refer to as "first light." The camera is the centerpiece of a new automated sky survey project called the Zwicky Transient Facility (ZTF), based at Caltech's Palomar Observatory near San Diego, California.
	New NASA mission concept aimed at studying why planets lose their atmospheres A team of NASA scientists want to use Earth as a laboratory to understand how planets lose their atmospheres and has proposed a mission that the agency recently selected as one of five for further consideration as a possible NASA Explorer mission.
	Proposed NASA mission would investigate where space weather begins A NASA team is advancing a mission to reveal unprecedented details about solar flares, powerful eruptions that explode with enough energy that each one could power all of Earth for 16,000 years, and which—when extreme—can interfere with radio communications and satellites near Earth.
	With launch of new night sky survey, UW researchers ready for era of 'big data' astronomy The first astronomers had a limited toolkit: their eyes. They could only observe those stars, planets and celestial events bright enough to pick up unassisted. But today's astronomers use increasingly sensitive and sophisticated instruments to view and track a bevy of cosmic wonders, including objects and events that were too dim or distant for their sky-gazing forebears.
	Cygnus cargo ship arrives at space station Orbital ATK's unmanned Cygnus cargo ship arrived Tuesday at the International Space Station carrying more than 7,400 pounds (3,400 kilograms) of food, supplies and experiments, the US space agency said.

Technology news

	New technology makes artificial intelligence more private and portable Technology developed at the University of Waterloo is paving the way for artificial intelligence (AI) to break free of the internet and cloud computing.
	China maintains reign over world supercomputer rankings: survey China now has more high-performance supercomputers than ever before, again besting the United States in global rankings, a supercomputer tracking organisation said.
	How a wall of lamps in an office lobby supports randomness (Tech Xplore)—Lava lamps are well known for mood-enhancing functions in living rooms, after-hours cubicles, or anywhere else where humans prefer to dream while wide awake. For a security company with headquarters in San Francisco, however, they serve another key function. They help keep the Internet safe.
	Speedy collision detector could make robots better human assistants Electrical engineers at the University of California San Diego have developed a faster collision detection algorithm that uses machine learning to help robots avoid moving objects and weave through complex, rapidly changing environments in real time. The algorithm, dubbed "Fastron," runs up to 8 times faster than existing collision detection algorithms.
	Cellphone data reveals Hurricane Maria's impact on travel in Puerto Rico Nearly two months after Hurricane Maria swept through Puerto Rico, the infrastructural damage remains evident—today, FEMA estimates that only 41 percent of the island has had power restored. But the impact on human behavior is just beginning to be understood.
	Uber comes of age with SoftBank tieup Uber's tieup with Japanese tech giant SoftBank suggests the ridesharing giant is set to come of age in the business world, but it still faces a long road ahead.
	Amazon or Walmart? Some retailers are choosing alliances Store chains feeling the upheaval in retail are making strategic alliances—and that can mean picking sides.
	More governments manipulate media with 'bots,' trolls: study More governments are following the lead of Russia and China by manipulating social media and suppressing dissent online in a grave threat to democracy, a human rights watchdog said on Tuesday.
	Qualcomm spurns $130 bn Broadcom bid for big tech tie-up Qualcomm on Monday rejected a $130 billion bid from fellow computer chip maker Broadcom, setting the stage for a potentially bitter fight for control of a key player in the world of mobile technology.
	In Morocco, a blue tourist town is turning green Huddling against a hillside in northern Morocco is a tourist town famed for the striking blue of its buildings, and now the mayor is mixing in another colour—green.
	Toshiba sells TV, visual solutions unit to Hisense of China Troubled Toshiba Corp. is selling 95 percent of its TV and other visual products subsidiary to Chinese electronics maker Hisense Group as part of its effort to stay afloat.
	Scientists create a prototype neural network based on memristors Lobachevsky University scientists under the supervision of Alexey Mikhailov, head of the UNN PTRI Laboratory of Thin Film Physics and Technology, are working to develop an adaptive neural interface that combines a living culture and a neural network based on memristors. This project is one if the first attempts to combine a living biological culture with a bio-like neural network based on memristors. A multi-electrode system will record and stimulate the bioelectrical activity of a neuron culture that performs the function of analyzing and classifying the network dynamics of living cells.
Microsoft pledges to curb carbon emissions despite growth Microsoft says it aims to cut carbon emissions generated from its operations by 75 percent by 2030, from 2013 levels.
	Austrian activist can sue Facebook: EU court adviser Austrian activist Max Schrems can sue Facebook over alleged privacy breaches, but cannot bring a class action lawsuit against the US social media giant, the adviser to the EU's top court said Tuesday.
	A fast reactor system to shorten the lifetime of long-lived fission products A team of scientists at Tokyo Institute of Technology (Tokyo Tech) working in collaboration with Tohoku University, Tokyo City University and the Japan Atomic Energy Agency has proposed a novel approach to tackle the problem of radioactive waste disposal.
	Researchers release evaluation of solar pumps for irrigation and salt mining in India In 2014, the government of India made an ambitious goal to replace 26 million groundwater pumps run on costly diesel, for more efficient and environmentally-friendly options such as solar pumps.
	'Criticality' experiments enhance nuclear safety, security and effectiveness Gathered in a control room deep in the Nevada desert, a team of researchers from Lawrence Livermore and Los Alamos national laboratories watched safety monitors as a carefully layered stack of plutonium inched toward "critical" - the point at which fissile material can sustain a nuclear chain reaction. It took five years of planning, calculations and preparatory experiments, but they had successfully conducted the first LLNL-designed critical experiment in 40 years.
Taiwan's Hon Hai quarter profit falls on iPhone X costs Taiwanese tech giant Foxconn said Tuesday its third-quarter profit dropped by more than a third, dragged by costs associated with producing the latest iPhone model.
	Robots can help us better understand how infants learn Robots are a hot item and Radboud University is right on trend by using them to replicate babies' brain and behaviour. Johan Kwisthout, coordinator of the Master's programme in Artificial Intelligence, explains how this works and what else we can expect from robots.
	Twisting molecule wrings more power from solar cells Inside a solar cell, sunlight excites electrons. But these electrons often don't last long enough to go on to power cell phones or warm homes. In a promising new type of solar cell, the solar-excited electrons have better odds going on to work. Why? Scientists revealed the dominant force behind the higher efficiency of these promising hybrid organic-inorganic perovskite solar cells. They found that positively charged molecules rotate in the cell. In moving, the molecules screen the excited charge carriers—electrons and holes (missing electrons)—from annihilation. How far the molecules can rotate determines how long the excited electrons and holes last.
	High energy costs make vulnerable households reluctant to use air conditioning: study The trifecta of rising electricity prices, soaring temperatures and concerns over possible blackouts risks increasing heat-related deaths and illness this summer, as households struggle to afford to run cooling appliances.
New internet TV service has $16 monthly tab and no sports The hook of the latest internet TV service is a low price and no sports channels.
	Sunny future for renewables thanks to China: IEA Solar energy is to lead the race to new power generation over the coming decades, thanks in large part to China and India, the International Energy Agency said Tuesday.
	Gadgets, comfort, luggage: A gift guide for travelers What's in your bag when you take a trip? What gadgets, tools and comfort items are essential?
	Samsung worker killed by brain tumor wins compensation case Overturning an appeals court's decision, South Korea's Supreme Court said Tuesday the family of a Samsung worker who died of a brain tumor should be eligible for state compensation for occupational disease.
Solution enables compact devices for telecommunications, security camera applications at even higher frequencies VTT Technical Research Centre of Finland has developed a new manufacturing technology for the integration of very high-frequency terahertz systems. This enables the cost-effective development of telecommunications and imaging solutions and space instruments that are even smaller and have higher frequencies. VTT's technology was awarded at the European Microwave Conference.
	Bioengineered robotic hand with its own nervous system will sense touch The sense of touch is often taken for granted. For someone without a limb or hand, losing that sense of touch can be devastating. While highly sophisticated prostheses with complex moving fingers and joints are available to mimic almost every hand motion, they remain frustratingly difficult and unnatural for the user. This is largely because they lack the tactile experience that guides every movement. This void in sensation results in limited use or abandonment of these very expensive artificial devices. So why not make a prosthesis that can actually "feel" its environment?
US attorney general slams 'epidemic' of leaks to media Leaks of classified information under Donald Trump's presidency have reached "epidemic proportions," US Attorney General Jeff Sessions said Tuesday.

Medicine & Health news

	High blood pressure is redefined as 130, not 140: US guidelines (Update) High blood pressure was redefined Monday by the American Heart Association, which said the disease should be treated sooner, when it reaches 130/80 mm Hg, not the previous limit of 140/90.
	US regulators approve first digital pill to track patients U.S. regulators have approved the first drug with a sensor that alerts doctors when the medication has been taken, offering a new way of monitoring patients but also raising privacy concerns.
Potential new autism drug shows promise in mice Scientists have performed a successful test of a possible new drug in a mouse model of an autism disorder. The candidate drug, called NitroSynapsin, largely corrected electrical, behavioral and brain abnormalities in the mice.
	Unique approach to treatment of rare and aggressive blood cancers A unique approach to targeting the abnormal T-cells that cause T-cell lymphomas could offer hope to patients with the aggressive and difficult-to-treat family of cancers, finds a study involving researchers from Cardiff University.
	A new strategy for prevention of liver cancer development Primary liver cancer is now the second leading cause of cancer-related death worldwide, and its incidences and mortality are increasing rapidly in the United Stated. In late stages of the malignancy, there are no effective treatments or drugs. However, an unexpected finding made by a team of University of California San Diego School of Medicine researchers sheds light on the development of a new strategy for prevention of liver cancer.
	The brain auditions different cells when learning a task, some don't make the cut For decades, neuroscientists have wondered how the brain can continue to learn new skills without needing to grow in size or volume over a person's lifetime. Evidence suggests that the number of brain cells - such as neurons and glial cells - does initially increase as we're learning, but many are eventually pruned away or assigned to other roles. Researchers in Germany and Sweden present this theory November 14 in the review journal Trends in Cognitive Sciences.
	New player in Alzheimer's disease pathogenesis identified Scientists at Sanford Burnham Prebys Medical Discovery Institute (SBP) have shown that a protein called membralin is critical for keeping Alzheimer's disease pathology in check. The study, published in Nature Communications, shows that membralin regulates the cell's machinery for producing beta-amyloid (or amyloid beta, Aβ), the protein that causes neurons to die in Alzheimer's disease.
	Researchers reveal new insights into why sleep is good for our memory Researchers at the University of York have shed new light on sleep's vital role in helping us make the most of our memory.
Study of impact of climate change on temperatures suggests more deaths unless action taken The largest study to date of the potential temperature-related health impacts of climate change has shown that as global temperatures rise, the surge in death rates during hot weather outweighs any decrease in deaths in cold weather, with many regions facing sharp net increases in mortality rates.
	Screen time might boost depression, suicide behaviors in teens Increased time spent in front of a screen—in the form of computers, cell phones and tablets—might have contributed to an uptick in symptoms of depression and suicide-related behaviors and thoughts in American young people, especially girls, according to a new study by San Diego State University professor of psychology Jean Twenge. The findings point to the need for parents to monitor how much time their children are spending in front of media screens.
	Sugary beverage consumption in US declining but remains high among certain groups Consumption of sodas and other sugar-sweetened beverages (SSBs) fell for both children and adults between 2003 and 2014, according to a new study led by researchers from Harvard T.H. Chan School of Public Health. But despite this positive trend, the researchers found, consumption remains high among adolescents and young adults, and is particularly high among black, Mexican American, and non-Mexican Hispanic populations.
Clinicians need a clear definition of severe asthma for precise management Those who treat patients suffering with severe asthma know how frustrating it can be to try to get the disease under control - despite the introduction in recent years of both biologics and bronchial thermoplasty. These treatments have proven effective, but require an understanding of all that is involved before being prescribed or recommended.
	High cognitive ability not a safeguard from conspiracies, paranormal beliefs The moon landing and global warming are hoaxes. The U.S. government had advance knowledge of the 9/11 attacks. A UFO crashed in Roswell, New Mexico.
New research shows most women report more body dissatisfaction directly after seeing fashion and bikini models Chapman University has published research measuring women's perceptions of how media impacts their body image. Results showed that many women reported feeling worse about their bodies when shown media images of bikini or fashion models, compared to those shown images of paintings or products.
Increased risk of vascular dementia in heart attack survivors Heart attack increased the risk of vascular dementia by 35 per cent, and the risk remains elevated for up to 35 years after the heart attack.
	Expanding geographic sharing of donor kidneys would increase transplants, study finds Broadening the geographic range that a number of deceased-donor kidneys would be available would increase the number of transplants and improve the lives of patients unlikely to receive one based on where they live, according to study that includes a University of Kansas researcher.
	Rise in teen suicide, social media coincide; is there link? An increase in suicide rates among U.S. teens occurred at the same time social media use surged and a new analysis suggests there may be a link.
	Annual influenza vaccination does not prevent natural immunity Earlier studies have suggested that having repeated annual influenza vaccination can prevent natural immunity to the virus, and potentially increase the susceptibility to influenza illness in the event of a pandemic, or when the vaccine does not match the virus circulating in the population.
Hair cortisol levels predict which mothers are more likely to suffer postpartum depression Researchers from the University of Granada (UGR), who belong to the Brain, Mind and Behavior Research Center (CIMCYC, from its abbreviation in Spanish) and the Faculty of Psychology, have proven that cortisol levels present in the hair of pregnant women during the first or third trimesters of pregnancy may indicate which of them are more likely to suffer postpartum depression.
The first effective therapy against glioblastoma achieved by attacking telomeres The Telomere and Telomerase Group at the Spanish National Cancer Research Centre (CNIO) has shown that it is possible to block the growth of human and murine glioblastoma in mouse models by blocking the TRF1 protein, an essential component of the telomere-protective complex known as shelterin. The study, published in Cancer Cell, describes a new and promising way to combat this type of brain tumour, considered one of the most lethal and difficult to treat, by attacking its ability to regenerate and divide immortally.
	Genetic defects in the cell's 'waste disposal system' linked to Parkinson's disease An international study has shed new light on the genetic factors associated with Parkinson's disease, pointing at a group of lysosomal storage disorder genes as potential major contributors to the onset and progression of this common neurodegenerative disorder. The study appears in the journal Brain.
Researchers make killer superbug breakthrough Researchers at Queen's University Belfast together with the University of Vienna have discovered that treatment for the antibiotic resistant bacteria Klebsiella pneumoniae could lie within our bodies' natural defences.
	Music training strengthens children's brains, decision-making network If the brain is a muscle, then learning to play an instrument and read music is the ultimate exercise.
	Cryotherapy versus ice baths—it's a draw The first study to compare the effect of cold water immersion versus extreme cold air has found very little difference between the two treatments on athletes' muscle recovery.
	Dramatic rise in deaths caused by climate change A sharp surge in deaths is forecast without action to combat climate change, warns the biggest global study into the harmful effects from shifting temperatures.
	Discontinuity of care puts older patients at risk of emergency hospital admission Older patients who do not see the same GP over a period of time are at higher risk of emergency hospital admission than those who see the same or a small number of GPs, according to new research.
	Researchers find pathological signs of Alzheimer's in dolphins, whose brains are much like humans' A team of scientists in the United Kingdom and the U.S. recently reported the discovery of pathological signs of Alzheimer's disease in dolphins, animals whose brains are similar in many ways to those of humans.
	The story of America, as told through diet books "The South Beach Diet" sold 23 million diet books. Dr. Atkins sold another 15 million. Even lesser-known diet books like Christian best-sellers "The Maker's Diet" regularly sell millions of copies.
	Women urged to give up alcohol before conceiving Women who consume alcohol around the time of conception could be putting their male offspring at greater risk of obesity in later life.
	Trials bring hope for world–first rheumatoid arthritis treatment Human trials of an innovative treatment for rheumatoid arthritis developed by The University of Queensland have begun in Brisbane.
Salt, inflammation and hypertension Although dietary salt intake positively correlates with blood pressure, the mechanisms linking salt to hypertension are not well understood.
	Society's excluded people 10 times more likely to die early People excluded from mainstream society in high-income countries have a tenfold increased risk of early death, according to research from UCL, homeless health charity Pathway and an international team of experts.
	Pregnancy-related conditions taken together leave moms—and dads—at risk Research has already shown that women who develop either diabetes or high blood pressure during pregnancy are at risk of getting type 2 diabetes, high blood pressure or heart disease years later. Now, a new study from a team at the Research Institute of the McGill University Health Centre (RI-MUHC) and McGill University shows that the risk of developing those conditions post pregnancy is drastically higher if the women had both diabetes and high blood pressure during pregnancy. The study, published today in the American Journal of Epidemiology, doesn't end with the mother's risks. The father's risks also rise if the mother has one gestational condition and rises even higher if she has both.
	Apprentices in the construction industry are a high risk group for alcohol and drug use Apprentices in the construction industry are a high risk group for alcohol and other drug-related harm.
	Could Amazon's Alexa help you cut down on your drinking? It can tell you the time, read you the news and even crack a joke or two, but could Amazon's Alexa play a role in your health too?
	Better monitoring needed for pregnant women with diabetes Half the babies born to women with diabetes are at risk of suffering complications due to fluctuations in their mothers' glucose levels, say researchers.
	Gobbling your food may harm your waistline and heart People who eat slowly are less likely to become obese or develop metabolic syndrome, a cluster of heart disease, diabetes and stroke risk factors, 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.
	Drinking coffee may be associated with reduced risk of heart failure and stroke Drinking coffee may be associated with a decreased risk of developing heart failure or having stroke, 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.
	Plant-based diet associated with lower heart failure risk Eating a mostly plant-based diet was associated with less risk of developing heart failure among people without previously diagnosed heart disease or heart failure, 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.
	Catastrophic costs for hospitalization expenses common among uninsured heart and stroke patients The majority of patients without health insurance who were hospitalized for heart attack, stroke or coronary artery bypass graft (CABG) surgery experienced catastrophic healthcare expenses before passage of the Affordable Care Act, 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.
	Motor on, heart patients: Electric cars don't harm cardiac implants (HealthDay)—Heart patients who've bought an all-electric Tesla need not worry that their car might interfere with their implanted defibrillator.
How the genomics health revolution is failing ethnic minorities Statistics Canada recently released its 2016 census data, which depicts a Canada that is more diverse than ever before. Today, nearly a quarter of Canadians belong to a "visible minority" and 1.7 million Canadians are Indigenous.
	Comprehensive study examines gun-related deaths and how to prevent them A University of Alabama at Birmingham study provides new insight into gun violence by taking a more in-depth look at gun-related mortality rates and suggesting methods for reducing those rates by focusing on specific components that change based on the type of death.
	High-dose statin drugs more effective than low doses in Japanese patients For years, Asian doctors haven't had the kind of solid evidence that U.S. doctors have had to show high-dose statins could lower heart risks in their patients. But a large new study released Monday does just that.
	New cancer cell screening is improving childhood leukaemia treatment A study has shown that current methods used to determine the correct level of chemotherapy required for each young patient may be improved by looking at the genetic make-up of the child's cancer cells.
	Introducing titin, the protein that rules our hearts Although scientists have long speculated that a protein named titin measures thick filaments—the proteins that make muscles contract—no one has been able to provide evidence to support their theories.
	Revisions to guidelines for management and treatment of low back pain bring changes to treatment If you visit your family doctor with low back pain (LBP), you may be surprised at the treatment options they suggest now.
	Research finds injury from contact sport has harmful, though temporary effect on memory McMaster University neuroscientists studying sports-related head injuries have found that it takes less than a full concussion to cause memory loss, possibly because even mild trauma can interrupt the production of new neurons in a region of the brain responsible for memory.
	Stem cells express genes differently in the lab dish than in the body, study finds Stem cells in the body have a significantly different gene-expression profile than do the same cells when they're isolated in a lab dish, according to researchers at the Stanford University School of Medicine.
	Scientists develop a sensor for the most important human cancer gene If it burns in a house smoke detectors alert us hence protecting life. A molecular smoke alert has now been developed by Dresden researchers for the TP53 gene, the most important human cancer gene. The alert goes on if the TP53 gene is mutated in cells. The molecular smoke detector works like a TP53 sensor, which monitors the correct function of the gene. A non-functional TP53 gene is going to activate the sensor, which initiates cell death. Results from this study from the research team of Prof. Frank Buchholz are now published in the journal Nature Communications.
	Stress faced by emergency call handlers damaging to long term health During this innovative study, researchers from the University of Surrey, University of Dundee, Anglia Ruskin University and Kingston University/St George's, University of London investigated areas that impacted on the psychological health of call handlers.
	Study in mice finds dietary levels of genistein may adversely affect female fertility Exposure to the phytoestrogen genistein prior to conception may adversely affect female fertility and pregnancy outcomes, depending on the dosage and duration of exposure, a new study in mice suggests.
	Ibuprofen may block damage from fetal-alcohol exposure An anti-inflammatory drug may have the potential to stall the damaging effects of alcohol on the fetal brain, a new study suggests.
	Parents help shape how much pain preschoolers feel after vaccination While vaccinations protect children against various illnesses, the pain can sometimes be too much to bear. It's no wonder most children and parents dread their vaccination appointments. Now new research from York University's OUCH Cohort at the Faculty of Health found that the amount of distress and pain felt by a preschooler during a vaccination is strongly related to how their parents help them cope before and during an appointment.
Evidence-based approach to treating post-delivery pain in new moms during opioid crisis Women who undergo vaginal delivery often do not require opioids to manage pain after hospital discharge, concludes a study published in Anesthesiology, the peer-reviewed medical journal of the American Society of Anesthesiologists (ASA). In addition, the quantity of opioids prescribed to women after cesarean delivery can be less than currently prescribed. The study looked at the times it takes for pain to resolve, stopping the use of opioids and other pain medications, and functional recovery following childbirth in healthy, first-time mothers.
	Psoriasis severity linked to increased risk of type 2 diabetes People with psoriasis are at a higher risk to develop type 2 diabetes than those without psoriasis, and the risk increases dramatically based on the severity of the disease. Researchers from the Perelman School of Medicine at the University of Pennsylvania found people with psoriasis that covers 10 percent of their body or more are 64 percent more likely to develop diabetes than those without psoriasis, independent of traditional risk factors such as body weight. Applying the study's findings to the number of people who have psoriasis worldwide would equate to 125,650 new cases of diabetes attributable to psoriasis per year. They published their findings this month in the Journal of the American Academy of Dermatology.
	Researchers reverse heart failure in Marfan mice In experiments with mice that have a rodent form of Marfan syndrome, Johns Hopkins researchers report that even modestly increasing stress on the animals' hearts—at levels well-tolerated in normal mice—can initiate heart failure.
Stem cell therapy shows promise for common cause of blindness Results from two early clinical trials show that it may be possible to use human embryonic stem cells as treatment for the dry form of macular degeneration, according to presentations given today at AAO 2017, the 121st Annual Meeting of the American Academy of Ophthalmology. Stem cells injected into the eye appear to have replaced the missing cells damaged by the disease, with no serious side effects. One study suggests it may have even improved patients' vision.
	HPV testing is better than the Pap test at detecting cervical cancer A new paper in the Journal of the National Cancer Institute finds that testing for cervical cancer using HPV testing in addition to the Pap smear is unlikely to detect cancer cases that wouldn't be found using HPV testing alone.
	Cognitive training enhanced innovative thinking and brain networks in older adults Researchers at the Center for BrainHealth at UT Dallas have demonstrated in a pilot study that cognitive training improves innovative thinking, along with corresponding positive brain changes, in healthy adults over the age of 55.
	Global birth season study links environment with disease risk Studies have shown that babies born in winter tend to have a greater risk of developing type 2 diabetes at some point, while fall babies have a greater lifetime risk of depression. What might explain these curious connections? In a new analysis of health information from more than 10 million patients living in three countries and five different climates, data scientists have found that a woman's exposure to certain seasonal or environmental factors during pregnancy may affect her offspring's lifetime disease risk.
	Study reveals why testicular cancer is so responsive to chemo Cornell researchers have taken a major step toward answering a key question in cancer research: Why is testicular cancer so responsive to chemotherapy, even after it metastasizes?
	Aspirin can prevent heart attacks after noncardiac surgery in patients with prior PCI A Canadian-led study has found that perioperative aspirin can prevent heart-related complications after major noncardiac surgery in patients with previous percutaneous coronary intervention (PCI) such as an angioplasty or stent.
	Three decades of responding to infectious disease outbreaks Soon after his appointment in 1984 as director of the National Institute of Allergy and Infectious Diseases (NIAID), part of the National Institutes of Health, Anthony S. Fauci, M.D., testified before Congress showing a world map annotated with a single emerging infectious disease threat, HIV/AIDS. Since then, diseases and pathogens including chikungunya, H1N1 influenza, severe acute respiratory syndrome (SARS), West Nile, Ebola and Zika viruses were added, providing a powerful visual reminder of the enduring need to anticipate, detect and manage new and emerging infectious diseases around the globe. In an essay in Annals of Internal Medicine published online today, Dr. Fauci reflects on the ways efforts have been marshalled to address infectious disease outbreaks of the past three decades.
	FDA warns of injury, death with herbal supplement kratom Federal health authorities are warning about reports of injury, addiction and death with a herbal supplement that has been promoted as an alternative to opioid painkillers and other prescription drugs
	Birth rate in Brazil falls to 26-year low after Zika crisis The birth rate in Brazil has fallen by its fastest rate in nearly three decades after the Zika and microcephaly crisis of 2016.
	Many hospitalized heart patients not getting protective statin medications upon discharge While patients who are discharged from the hospital after treatment for heart disease, cerebrovascular disease, or peripheral artery disease, should be on statin medications to reduce their risk of reoccurrence, very few of them remain on the drugs long-term—and many never even receive a statin prescription, according to a new study.
Confusion, different priorities may cause EMTALA violations Legislation requires Medicare-participating emergency departments to give emergency care to everyone even if they don't have insurance, but violations of the law may be underreported, according to researchers.
Process used to select lung transplant patients may need to be changed: study With a limited number of lungs available, deciding who gets a transplant can be a matter of life or death. New research from the University of Maryland School of Medicine (UMSOM) suggests that the system for choosing transplant recipients in chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD) may underestimate how long a person might survive without a lung transplant and therefore, may mislead clinicians.
Inducing first-time mums aged 35 and over earlier may reduce stillbirths and neonatal deaths The cohort study of nearly 80,000 UK women giving birth in the NHS in England, led by the London School of Hygiene & Tropical Medicine with the University of Cambridge, showed that inducing first-time mothers aged 35 or over 1-2 weeks earlier was linked to the risk of perinatal death - the stillbirth or death of a baby within seven days of birth - falling from 26 per 10,000 pregnancies to 8 per 10,000 pregnancies.
	Is meth use destroying vets' hearts? (HealthDay)—Methamphetamine appears to be damaging the hearts of U.S. military veterans at an increasing rate, researchers report.
	New 'heat-not-burn' cigarettes harm blood vessels: study (HealthDay)—Heat-not-burn "cigarettes" could be as harmful to your blood vessels as traditional smokes, a new animal study suggests.
	Is low-dose aspirin right for you after surgery? (HealthDay)—Each year, millions of American heart patients go "under the knife" for various kinds of surgery. Often they're told to take a low-dose aspirin, to help lower their odds for a post-op blood clot.
	Weighing too much or too little when pregnant can be risky (HealthDay)—For women contemplating having a baby, new research adds to the evidence suggesting that starting a pregnancy at a normal weight is best.
	Help for seasonal depression (HealthDay)—As many as 20 percent of Americans get the winter blues when days grow shorter.
	More laboratory tests performed at major teaching hospitals (HealthDay)—For inpatients with a primary diagnosis of bacterial pneumonia or cellulitis, significantly more laboratory tests are performed per day at major teaching hospitals versus nonteaching hospitals, according to a study published online Nov. 13 in JAMA Internal Medicine.
	LRRK2 variants linked to lower age at onset of Parkinson's (HealthDay)—The presence of multiple LRRK2 risk variants is associated with a younger age at onset (AAO) of Parkinson's disease (PD), according to a research letter published online Nov. 13 in JAMA Neurology.
	Outbreaks linked to drinking water mainly due to Legionella (HealthDay)—Most drinking water-associated waterborne disease outbreaks and waterborne disease outbreaks associated with environmental or undetermined exposure to water are due to Legionella, according to two studies published online Nov. 9 in Morbidity and Mortality Weekly Report.
	Leisure time exercise linked to reduced mortality in T1DM (HealthDay)—For patients with type 1 diabetes, including those with chronic kidney disease (CKD), leisure-time physical activity (LTPA) is associated with reduced risk of all-cause mortality, according to a study published online Oct. 16 in Diabetes Care.
	Drug combination cost-effective for cesarean prophylaxis (HealthDay)—The addition of azithromycin to cephalosporin for cesarean delivery infection prophylaxis is cost-effective and leads to better maternal outcomes, according to a study published online Nov. 7 in Obstetrics & Gynecology.
Multifunctional fluorescent nanoparticles for cancer surgery show promise Even with pre-operative imaging techniques, surgeons still rely on visual inspection to locate malignant tissues during surgery. New research released today at the 2017 American Association of Pharmaceutical Scientists (AAPS) Annual Meeting and Exposition may help surgeons better view and treat these tumor cells with engineered naphthalocyanine-based nanoparticles (SiNc-PNP) injected 24 hours before surgery, which then light up when they connect with the cancerous tumors.
	If sitting is the new smoking, should employers be held liable? Doctors have warned us for years about the health risks associated with sitting too much. Researchers have linked sitting for long periods of time to a number of health issues, including increased high blood pressure, high blood sugar, excess body fat and cholesterol. They also warn that prolonged sitting increases the risk of cardiovascular problems and cancer. What does this mean for organizations whose employees end up sitting for at least eight hours a day? Should they be held liable for harms caused to employees in sedentary workplaces?
Aggressive testing provides no benefit to patients in ER with chest pain Patients who go to the emergency room (ER) with chest pain often receive unnecessary tests to evaluate whether they are having a heart attack, a practice that provides no clinical benefit and adds hundreds of dollars in health-care costs, according to a new study from researchers at Washington University School of Medicine in St. Louis.
	E-cigarettes are more likely to be used by alcohol drinkers and former cigarette smokers Electronic cigarettes are more frequently used by people who recently quit smoking and alcohol drinkers, 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.
Keyhole surgery more effective than open surgery for ruptured aneurysm The use of keyhole surgery to repair ruptured abdominal aortic aneurysm is both clinically and cost effective and should be adopted more widely, concludes a randomised trial published by The BMJ today.
Medicaid coverage for methadone improves treatment for opioid use disorder in pregnancy Pregnant women with opioid use disorder (OUD) are more likely to receive evidence-based treatment with an "opioid agonist"—usually methadone—in states where those medications are covered by Medicaid, reports a study in the December issue of Medical Care.
	San Francisco under pressure to pass cannabis-friendly rules (Update) Supervisors in famously pot-friendly San Francisco are under pressure from cannabis advocates to pass regulations that would allow the industry to flourish once recreational sales become legal throughout California in January.
Insurance linked to black-white survival disparities in colorectal cancer Health insurance coverage differences account for nearly one-half of the black-white survival disparity in colorectal cancer patients, according to a new study. The study, published in Gastroenterology, reinforces the importance of equitable health insurance coverage to mitigate the black-white survival disparity in colorectal cancer.
Entire set of rare quintuplets die in Kenya A Kenyan mother who gave birth to extremely rare naturally-conceived quintuplets has lost all five babies, according to a hospital in the south west of the country.
	Who are you without that cigarette? Do you want to be successful at stopping smoking? If so, the main thing is that you should see yourself as a non-smoker. Psychologist Eline Meijer has discovered that smokers who are unable to do this are more likely to resume smoking. This is more common among smokers from a lower socio-economic background. PhD defence 14 November.
	Caregivers of child support beneficiaries at risk for depression In South Africa, the Child Support Grant (CSG), a cash transfer for poor children, reaches a third of children under eight years. It is one of the country's most successful poverty reduction programmes with positive benefits for children, but by itself it cannot address all the socioeconomic and developmental needs of children and their families.
	New study compares sexual practices among older and younger HIV-infected women A new study that compared HIV-positive women over 50 years of age with their younger HIV-infected cohorts found that while the older women were less likely to be sexually active and to report condomless sex with a male partner, those who were sexually active were not as likely to undergo screening for gonorrhea, chlamydia, or syphilis than their younger counterparts. The authors emphasize the importance of reinforcing sexual risk-reduction messages for older patients living with HIV in the study published in Journal of Women's Health.
Comprehensive health study in India finds rise of non-communicable diseases A new state-by-state health analysis in India finds that over two decades heart- and lung-related conditions, as well as other non-communicable diseases (NCDs), have surpassed infectious diseases, such as diarrhea and tuberculosis, as the nation's leading killers. The extent of this difference, however, varies significantly among the nation's 29 states and seven union territories.
Studies uncover the hard-hitting consequences of sports-related head injuries Playing contact sports can injure the brain even if head impacts don't result in concussions, according to new research 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. The studies also suggest that relatively simple changes in equipment and athlete education could improve safety.
	Yerba mate's beneficial effects on cellular energy and lipid metabolism linked to weight Researchers have shown that use of the dietary supplement yerba mate over an extended period had significant effects on body weight and weight gain and was associated with lower levels of blood lipids and insulin in obese mice fed a high-fat diet. This new study, which supports the anti-obesity effect of long-term supplementation with yerba mate, and its beneficial effects on related metabolic disorders, is published in Journal of Medicinal Food.
Greater oversight of precursor chemicals at retail level needed to reduce threat from IEDs Policymakers' efforts to reduce threats from improvised explosive devices (IEDs) should include greater oversight of precursor chemicals sold at the retail level - especially over the Internet - that terrorists, violent extremists, or criminals use to make homemade explosives, says a new report from the National Academies of Sciences, Engineering, and Medicine. While retail sales of these precursor chemicals present a substantial vulnerability, they have not been a major focus of federal regulations so far.
Engineering tomorrow's responsive, adaptable neuroprosthetics and robots Advanced prosthetic limbs and eyes as well as brain-machine interfaces are harnessing existing neural circuitry to improve the quality of life for people with sensory impairment, 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.
Pregnant Asian women who develop high blood pressure at highest risk for heart failure hospitalization Women who develop high blood pressure during pregnancy are more likely to experience heart problems within a few years of giving birth, 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.
	Critical Care Recovery Center concept could benefit adult ICU survivors of all ages A growing number of individuals of all ages are surviving intensive care unit hospitalization, however their mental and physical health problems persist. A new study from Regenstrief Institute and Indiana University researchers reports that a care model they originally developed for older adults with dementia could benefit ICU survivors of all ages.
When child sex isn't rape: French to set age of consent Is a 13-year-old girl old enough to agree to sex with an adult? That's a question France is asking itself as the government prepares to set a legal age for sexual consent for the first time.
Legal implications of neuroscience research—Harvard Review of Psychiatry presents update New research on the biological basis of psychiatric disorders has important implications for legal proceedings as well as mental health treatment, according to a special issue on "Psychiatry, Neuroscience, and the Law," presented in the Harvard Review of Psychiatry.

Biology news

	Female mongooses help their pups by driving out rivals Mongoose mothers boost their pups' survival chances by evicting rival females from their social groups, new research shows.
	To find new biofuel enzymes, it can take a microbial village A new study led by researchers at the Department of Energy's Joint BioEnergy Institute (JBEI), based at Lawrence Berkeley National Laboratory (Berkeley Lab), demonstrates the importance of microbial communities as a source of stable enzymes that could be used to convert plants to biofuels.
	Mammal brains identify type of scent faster than once thought It takes less than one-tenth of a second—a fraction of the time previously thought—for the sense of smell to distinguish between one odor and another, new experiments in mice show.
	Study offers detailed insight into early-life behavior of grey seal pups at sea Male and female grey seal pups show distinct behavioural differences as they learn to forage in the early stages of their independence, according to new research which scientists believe could be crucial to the future protection of their habitat.
	Study finds 'black box' methods used by biologists probably overestimate number of new species Do researchers need to "hit the brakes a little" before declaring a species is new to science?
	Pesticides may cause bumblebees to lose their buzz, study finds Pesticides significantly reduce the number of pollen grains a bumblebee is able to collect, a new University of Stirling study has found.
	Making mosquitoes self-destruct Researchers at the University of California, Riverside have developed transgenic mosquitoes that stably express the Cas9 enzyme in their germline. The addition of Cas9 will enable the use of the CRISPR gene editing tool to make efficient, targeted changes to the mosquitoes' DNA.
	From southeast Asia to the sewers: Study determines new geographical origins of brown rats When it comes to rats, even scientists can get caught up in the blame game.
	Rare flying foxes shot in 'horrific' Australia attack Dozens of rare grey-headed flying foxes have been shot in remote bushland near Australia's eastern coast, authorities said Tuesday as locals told of a "horrific scene" when the carcasses were discovered.
'Super invader' tree hits South, but flea beetle may be hero The tallow tree, a "super invader" with toxic leaves and no natural enemies in North America, is conquering the South.
	The forgotten scientist who paved the way for the discovery of DNA's structure When James Michael Creeth finished adding acid to the sample of DNA taken from a calf's thymus gland, he wasn't just completing the experiments that would earn him his PhD. He was paving the way for a discovery that would change the world.
	Campylobacter uses other organisms as Trojan horse to infect new hosts Kingston University researchers have shown how a leading cause of bacterial food poisoning can multiply and spread – by using another organism's cells as a Trojan horse.
Exploring evolution acceptance for better science education Understanding the nature of science is the greatest predictor of evolution acceptance in college students, a new study finds. With a minority of American adults fully accepting evolution, the fundamental principle of biological science, this research provides guidance for educators to improve science literacy.
	Did they mean to do that? Accident and intent in an octopuses' garden We recently published a scientific report of octopuses living together in unusual numbers at a site on the south coast of New South Wales.
	Parasitic plants rely on unusual method to spread their seeds Three species of non-photosynthetic plants rely mainly on camel crickets to disperse their seeds, according to new research from Project Associate Professor Suetsugu Kenji (Kobe University Graduate School of Science). These findings were published on November 9 in the online edition of New Phytologist.
	New study 'sheds light' on sun's role in mitigating fungal disease of mango fruit Mango fruits play host to some economically damaging fungal diseases, especially during ripening and storage; but mango growers and suppliers have a new ray of hope...in the form of sunlight.
More stress and lower survival rates for birds in young, managed forests Birds experience less stress during the winter months when they shelter in old forests rather than in younger, managed plantations suggests new research. The study in Springer's journal The Science of Nature was led by Indrikis Krams of the University of Latvia and the University of Tartu in Estonia.
	Microbiome transplants provide disease resistance in critically-endangered Hawaiian plant Transplanting wild microbes from healthy related plants can make a native Hawaiian plant healthier and likelier to survive in wild according to new research from The Amend Laboratory in the University of Hawai'i at Mānoa (UHM) Botany Department and the O'ahu Army Natural Resources Program (OANRP). Professor Anthony Amend and postdoctoral researcher Geoff Zahn used microbes to restore the health of a critically endangered Hawaiian plant that, until now, had been driven to extinction in the wild and only survived in managed greenhouses under heavy doses of fungicide.
	Disease-resistant apples perform better than old favorites You may not find them in the produce aisle yet, but it's only a matter of time before new disease-resistant apple cultivars overtake favorites like Honeycrisp in popularity, according to a University of Illinois apple expert.
	Sad farewell as Malaysia-born panda heads to China Malaysia's first locally-born giant panda headed to its homeland China on Tuesday, with officials bidding a sad goodbye to the female cub.
	Four sperm whales die in Indonesia beach rescue Four sperm whales stranded on a beach in Indonesia have died, a local official said Tuesday, despite frantic efforts to save the massive mammals.
How robots could solve the antibiotics production crisis A WHO report in February listed a worrying number of pathogens that threaten our health because there are fewer and fewer drugs that can treat the infections they cause. Indeed, since their 1960s heyday, the production of novel antibiotics has declined markedly and it's been 30 years since a major new class of antibiotics for clinical use has been discovered. There are even cases of resistance to Vancomycin, used by doctors as an antibiotic of last resort.
	Selenium might hold key to mystery of crib-biting in horses Crib-biting in horses – a distressing compulsive disorder – might be related to a lack of trace element selenium in their diets, according to new research.
Study provides insights for combating devastating amphibian disease Amphibian chytridiomycosis, caused by infection with the Batrachochytrium dendrobatidis fungus, is the most devastating vertebrate disease on record. The fungus infects more than 600 species of amphibian and has been implicated as the primary cause of decline in more than 200 species.
	Prague zoo fetes health of rare Malayan tiger cubs The Prague zoo on Tuesday celebrated the health of two rare Malayan tiger cubs—a male and a female—born there six weeks ago.

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