Science X Newsletter Tuesday, Nov 21

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

Spotlight Stories Headlines

Unexpected atmospheric vortex behavior on Saturn's moon Titan

Researchers conduct chemical study of an old, metal-rich globular cluster

Using magnets to control chemical reactions that target release of medicines inside the body

Moon's crust underwent resurfacing after forming from magma ocean

Researchers develop potentially low-cost, low-emissions technology that can convert methane without forming CO2

Twisted sex allows mirror-image snails to mate face-to-face, research finds

Dementia study sheds light on how damage spreads through brain

Maintaining sufficient vitamin D levels may help to prevent rheumatoid arthritis

Researchers reveal new details on aged brain, Alzheimer's and dementia

Revolutionary imaging technique uses CRISPR to map DNA mutations

Study identifies new malaria parasites in wild bonobos

New human mobility prediction model offers scalability, requires less data

How waste coffee grounds could help fuel London buses

Good cells gone bad: Scientists discover PINK-SNO

Schooling fish mainly react to one or two neighbors at a time

Astronomy & Space news

	Unexpected atmospheric vortex behavior on Saturn's moon Titan A new study led by a University of Bristol earth scientist has shown that recently reported unexpected behaviour on Titan, the largest moon of Saturn, is due to its unique atmospheric chemistry.
	Researchers conduct chemical study of an old, metal-rich globular cluster (Phys.org)—Chilean researchers have presented a chemical study of the old, metal-rich globular cluster NGC 5927. The new research determines abundances of 22 elements in seven giant stars of the cluster. The findings are available in a paper published November 8 on the arXiv pre-print repository.
	Uncovering the origins of galaxies' halos Using the Subaru Telescope atop Maunakea, researchers have identified 11 dwarf galaxies and two star-containing halos in the outer region of a large spiral galaxy 25 million light-years away from Earth. The findings, published in The Astrophysical Journal, provide new insight into how these 'tidal stellar streams' form around galaxies.
	Cassini image mosaic: A farewell to Saturn In a fitting farewell to the planet that had been its home for over 13 years, the Cassini spacecraft took one last, lingering look at Saturn and its splendid rings during the final leg of its journey and snapped a series of images that has been assembled into a new mosaic.
	Ice shapes the landslide landscape on Mars How good is your Martian geography? Does Valles Marineris ring a bell? This area is known for having landslides that are among the largest and longest in the entire solar system. They make the perfect object of study due to their steep collapse close to the scarp, extreme thinning, and long front runout. In a new research paper published in EPJ Plus, Fabio De Blasio and colleagues from Milano-Bicocca University, Italy, explain the extent to which ice may have been an important medium of lubrication for landslides on Mars. This can in turn help us understand the geomorphological history of the planet and the environment of deposition.
	Image: SDO spies broad coronal hole A broad hole in the corona was the sun's dominant feature November 7-9, 2017, as shown in this image from NASA's Solar Dynamics Observatory. The hole is easily recognizable as the dark expanse across the top of the sun and extending down in each side.

Technology news

	New human mobility prediction model offers scalability, requires less data A new method to predict human mobility—which can be used to chart the potential spread of disease or determine rush hour bottlenecks—has been developed by a team of researchers, including one from Arizona State University.
	How waste coffee grounds could help fuel London buses (Tech Xplore)—Across continents, people are concerned about how to address harmful CO2 emissions in the environment. Now there is news that some London buses will run on a biofuel partially made from old coffee grounds. The idea comes from a company called bio-bean. The company has a key premise for what they do: There is no such thing as waste, just resources in the wrong place.
	A new perspective on ancient materials inspires future innovation Contemporary building materials are guaranteed for only about 100 years, yet structures built in Ancient Rome have survived for millennia. Questions about what accounts for this discrepancy in durability and resilience, and what engineers could learn from ancient technologies, are central to the research interests of Admir Masic, the Esther and Harold E. Edgerton Career Development Assistant Professor of Civil and Environmental Engineering at MIT.
	US regulator unveils plan to end 'net neutrality' (Update) The top US telecom regulator formally unveiled plans Tuesday to roll back "net neutrality" rules adopted in 2015 aimed at treating all online traffic equally.
	Free wheelin' in New York: the Big Apple bike boom Expanding bike lanes, handing out free helmets and making lessons free: New York is making great strides in encouraging pedal power at the expense of exhaust fumes, even if some cyclists are still nervous about navigating bottleneck traffic.
	Toyota unveils third-generation humanoid robot T-HR3 Toyota Motor Corporation today revealed T-HR3, the company's third generation humanoid robot. Toyota's latest robotics platform, designed and developed by Toyota's Partner Robot Division, will explore new technologies for safely managing physical interactions between robots and their surroundings, as well as a new remote maneuvering system that mirrors user movements to the robot.
	Battery-switching device promises more road time for Tesla, Leaf drivers Nissan Leafs, which go about 107 miles on a charge, sometimes end up relegated to commuter cars due to battery-life worries. The mass-market, standard Tesla Model 3 can go double that, but even that distance can be disconcerting on long road trips.
	Do speed cameras really save lives? Speed cameras have been the focus of motorists' anger and frustration for years, although we are told repeatedly that they are an effective means of reducing death and injury on the roads. But is this really the case?
	How a Native American tribe came to own one of the world's most valuable patents Allergan, the drugmaker behind Botox, is using an unprecedented tactic to protect its valuable patents – angering lawyers and politicians, and keeping the price of its medicines high.
	Using math to study a masterpiece Combining the mathematics of digital image processing with the history, craftsmanship and science of art conservation, the Bass Connections Image Processing Algorithms for Art Conservation team spent last year working with the NC Museum of Art to study, restore and exhibit a 14th-century altarpiece that hadn't been displayed in its entirety for over a century.
	We built a robot care assistant for people with dementia – here's how it works Not all robots will take over human jobs. My colleagues and I have just unveiled a prototype care robot that we hope could take on some of the more mundane work of looking after elderly and disabled people and those with conditions such as dementia. This would leave human carers free to focus on the more personal parts of the job. The robot could also do things humans don't have time to do now, like keeping a constant check on whether someone is safe and well, while allowing them to keep their privacy.
	Russia denies nuclear accident after radioactive pollution Russia on Tuesday denied its nuclear facilities experienced any incidents after reports of contamination by the ruthenium 106 radioactive isotope in parts of the country, and said the concentration detected posed little threat.
	China's Tencent becomes more valuable than Facebook Chinese social media and video game giant Tencent became more valuable than Facebook on Tuesday as investors sent the company soaring into the top five of the world's biggest firms.
	After US pushback, AT&T prepares to fight for Time Warner Seeing an attempt to block its buyout out of Time Warner as a "radical" departure by the U.S. government, AT&T is preparing for a fight to see the $85 billion deal through.
	EU frees up cross-border online shopping The European Union have agreed to lift barriers to consumers shopping online for cheaper goods and services in other EU countries, with the rules to take effect late next year.
	US charges Iranian over 'Game of Thrones' HBO hack The United States on Tuesday charged an Iranian computer whiz with hacking into HBO, stealing scripts and plot summaries for "Games of Thrones," and trying to extort $6 million in Bitcoin out of the network.
'Augmented reality' brings art alive in Vienna Vienna's Albertina art gallery unveiled on Tuesday a new mobile phone application that "brings to life" works by the likes of Monet and Picasso.
FCC chairman sets out to repeal 'net neutrality' rules Federal Communications Commission Chairman Ajit Pai is following through on his pledge to repeal 2015 regulations designed to ensure that internet service providers treat all online content and apps equally.
	Biomechanical model could reduce wobbling of pedestrian bridges The dangerous wobbling of pedestrian bridges could be reduced by using biomechanically inspired models of pedestrian response to bridge motion and a mathematical formula to estimate the critical crowd size at which bridge wobbling begins, according to a study led by Georgia State University.
	Politics or policy? Behind the dispute over AT&T-Time Warner AT&T is vowing to fight the U.S. government to save its $85 billion bid for Time Warner, after the Justice Department sued to block the deal on grounds it could hike television bills and hamper innovation.
Hulu sued for not offering audio service for blind customers Advocacy groups have sued Hulu in an effort to force the subscription streaming service to provide an audio track that helps people who are blind or visually impaired enjoy TV shows and movies.
Apple supplier used illegal teenage labor to assemble the iPhone X: report If you own an iPhone X, there is a chance your prized smartphone was built from forced labor of Chinese high school students.
Comcast, Verizon and maybe Amazon want look at 21st Century Fox assets First it was Disney and then along came Comcast, but now other industry heavyweights, Verizon and possibly Amazon, are eyeing some of 21st Century Fox's rich media empire.
Amazon Key delivery driver could knock out security camera, researchers show A Seattle-based group of cybersecurity researchers has demonstrated a way to knock Amazon.com's new security camera offline, a capability that could enable malicious delivery drivers for the online retailer's new in-home delivery service to snoop around a house undetected.
	Justice Dept. sues to stop AT&T's $85B Time Warner deal (Update) The Justice Department is suing AT&T to stop its $85 billion purchase of Time Warner, setting the stage for an epic legal battle with the telecom giant.
	'Advanced' cyber attack targets Saudi Arabia Saudi authorities said Monday they had detected an "advanced" cyber attack targeting the kingdom, in a fresh attempt by hackers to disrupt government computers.
	Manufacture of high performance soft magnetic materials by melt spinning The methodology is to design a master alloy with different starting compositions, to which Fe is added to get the desired atomic ratio of components. With this starting alloy, using the method of melt spinning, are achieved amorphous ribbons (FeSiB) with desired soft magnetic behavior. Then these ribbons are thermally treated for achieve nanocrystalline structures to improve the performance in the magnetic cores.
Virtual reality allows you to look inside your body and could help improve drug delivery Renderings of 3D cells in the body are traditionally displayed using 2D media, such as on a computer screen or paper; however, the advent of Virtual Reality (VR) headsets means it is now possible to visualize and interact with scientific data in a 3D virtual world.
China says ex-top internet regulator under investigation China's former top internet regulator and censor is being investigated by the ruling Communist Party's anti-corruption arm, the agency said Tuesday.
	Linguistics team using Ohio Supercomputer Center to translate lesser-known languages Off the top of your head, how many languages can you name? Ten? Twenty? More?
Fiat Chrysler and Eni cooperating on emissions reductions The CEOs of Italian-American carmaker Fiat Chrysler Automobiles SpA and Italian energy giant ENI have agreed to jointly develop technologies to reduce carbon emissions from vehicles.

Medicine & Health news

	Dementia study sheds light on how damage spreads through brain Insights into how a key chemical disrupts brain cells in a common type of dementia have been revealed by scientists.
	Maintaining sufficient vitamin D levels may help to prevent rheumatoid arthritis Maintaining sufficient vitamin D levels may help to prevent the onset of inflammatory diseases like rheumatoid arthritis, research led by the University of Birmingham has discovered.
	Researchers reveal new details on aged brain, Alzheimer's and dementia In a comprehensive analysis of samples from 107 aged human brains, researchers at the Allen Institute for Brain Science, UW Medicine and Kaiser Permanente Washington Health Research Institute have discovered details that will help researchers better understand the biological bases for Alzheimer's disease and dementia in older populations. The analysis also highlights surprising variability in the aged brain, including examples of donors with resilience to pathology. The research is published this month in the journal eLife, and the data underlying the research are publicly available as part of the suite of open data resources at the Allen Brain Atlas portal.
Good cells gone bad: Scientists discover PINK-SNO A new study from The Scripps Research Institute (TSRI) is the first to show precisely how a process in nerve cells called the S-nitrosylation (SNO) reaction—which can be caused by aging, pesticides and pollution—may contribute to Parkinson's disease.
	Sunrise and sunset guide daily activities of city-dwellers Despite artificial lightning and social conventions, the dynamics of daylight still influence the daily activities of people living in modern, urban environments, according to new research published in PLOS Computational Biology.
	Sugar industry withheld evidence of sucrose's health effects nearly 50 years ago A U.S. sugar industry trade group appears to have pulled the plug on a study that was producing animal evidence linking sucrose to disease nearly 50 years ago, researchers argue in a paper publishing on November 21 in the open access journal PLOS Biology.
	Study explores whole-body immunity Over the next few months, millions of people will receive vaccinations in the hope of staving off the flu—and the fever, pain, and congestion that come with it.
	Cinnamon turns up the heat on fat cells New research from the University of Michigan Life Sciences Institute has determined how a common holiday spice—cinnamon—might be enlisted in the fight against obesity.
	Gastric acid suppressant lansoprazole may target tuberculosis A cheap and widely used drug, used to treat conditions such as heartburn, gastritis and ulcers, could work against the bacteria that cause tuberculosis (TB), according to new research from UCL and the London School of Hygiene & Tropical Medicine.
	New study points the way to therapy for rare cancer that targets the young After years of rigorous research, a team of scientists has identified the genetic engine that drives a rare form of liver cancer. The findings offer prime targets for drugs to treat the usually lethal disease, fibrolamellar hepatocellular carcinoma (FL-HCC), which mainly strikes adolescents and young adults.
	Researchers discover specific tumor environment that triggers cells to metastasize A team of bioengineers and bioinformaticians at the University of California San Diego have discovered how the environment surrounding a tumor can trigger metastatic behavior in cancer cells. Specifically, when tumor cells are confined in a dense environment, the researchers found that they turn on a specific set of genes and begin to form structures that resemble blood vessels.
	How rogue immune cells cross the blood-brain barrier to cause multiple sclerosis Drug designers working on therapeutics against multiple sclerosis should focus on blocking two distinct ways rogue immune cells attack healthy neurons, according to a new study in the journal Cell Reports.
Food bank use in the UK is more complex than suggested, according to new research Food bank use is becoming more prevalent in the UK but headline figures may have overstated the scale of its growth, according to a case study of one food bank published in the open access journal BMC Public Health. The increasing reliance on emergency food nonetheless warns of an unfolding public health crisis, suggests Dr. Elisabeth Garratt of the Centre for Social Investigation, Nuffield College, Oxford, and a national surveillance system to monitor food insecurity and food bank use in Britain may be needed.
	Big Tobacco's anti-smoking ads begin after decade of delay Decades after they were banned from the airwaves, Big Tobacco companies return to prime-time television this weekend—but not by choice.
	Male triathletes may be putting their heart health at risk Competitive male triathletes face a higher risk of a potentially harmful heart condition called myocardial fibrosis, according to research being presented next week at the annual meeting of the Radiological Society of North America (RSNA). The increased risk, which was not evident in female triathletes, was directly associated with the athletes' amount of exercise.
Women prefer getting mammograms every year Women prefer to get their mammograms every year, instead of every two years, according to a new study being presented next week at the annual meeting of the Radiological Society of North America (RSNA).
	NAFLD linked to smaller total cerebral brain volume (HealthDay)—Nonalcoholic fatty liver disease (NAFLD) is associated with smaller total cerebral brain volume, according to a study published online Nov. 20 in JAMA Neurology.
	Treatment trajectories vary for children with depression (HealthDay)—For youths with depression, there are distinct treatment trajectories, which have varying health outcomes, according to a study published online Nov. 20 in JAMA Pediatrics.
	New findings to help HIV scientists establish 'template' for potent antibodies New data published today in Immunity further illuminate how some human beings generate powerful, HIV-blocking antibodies. Led by scientists at the International AIDS Vaccine Initiative (IAVI) and The Scripps Research Institute (TSRI), the results offer important insight into a potential AIDS vaccine design.
	Proposed cuts to US Malaria Initiative could mean millions more malaria cases Cutting the budget of the President's Malaria Initiative (PMI) by 44%, as the U.S. Congress has proposed, would lead to an estimated 67 million additional cases of malaria over the next four years, according to a mathematical model published this week in PLOS Medicine by Peter Winskill of Imperial College London, UK, and colleagues.
Second HIV test helps prevent incorrect HIV diagnosis in infants Confirmatory HIV testing can substantially reduce the number of infants in South Africa who may be falsely diagnosed as HIV-infected and started on unneeded treatment, according to a new study published this week in PLOS Medicine by Lorna Dunning of the University of Cape Town, South Africa, and colleagues. Confirmatory testing is recommended by the World Health Organization and South African guidelines, but in many settings, uptake is low.
Enterovirus vaccine prevents virus-induced diabetes in a T1D experimental model Scientists at the University of Tampere (Finland) and the Karolinska Institutet (Sweden) have demonstrated that an enterovirus vaccine can protect against virus-induced diabetes in a mouse model for type 1 diabetes.
Turkey is not the only culprit for drowsiness on Thanksgiving There are many traditions that families hold dear during the holidays, including a post-Thanksgiving-meal nap. While most people assume that the tryptophan in turkey is the culprit, a registered dietitian at Baylor College of Medicine says it is a combination of factors.
	Exercising and eating well are greater contributors to health than standing at work By now you've probably heard the edict from the health community: Sitting is the new smoking. Perhaps you've converted to a standing desk, or maybe you have a reminder on your phone to get up once an hour and walk around the office a few times.
	Researchers define function of an enigmatic synaptic protein In the brains, neurons communicate by sending chemical signals across synapses. The molecular machinery required to send a signal involves not only the neurotransmitter signal itself, but a large variety of other proteins that act as sensors, effectors, modulators and scaffolds. synaptotagmins are part of this complex machinery.
	Improving prediction accuracy of Crohn's disease based on repeated fecal sampling Researchers at the University of California San Diego Center for Microbiome Innovation (CMI) have found that sampling the gut microbiome over time can provide insights that are not available with a single time point. The findings could help doctors and researchers more accurately determine if a patient has Crohn's disease. The findings were published as a letter in Gut on October 21, 2017.
	There's some evidence lithium protects from dementia, but not enough to put it in drinking water When people think of lithium, it's usually to do with batteries, but lithium also has a long history in medicine. Lithium carbonate, or lithium salt, is mainly used to treat and prevent bipolar disorder. This is a condition in which a person experiences significant mood swings from highs that can tip into mania to lows that can plunge into depression.
	Healthy food choices in childhood lowers risk of developing cardiovascular disease Cutting saturated fat in childrens' diets reduces the risk of cardiovascular disease in adulthood, a University of Otago study has found.
Most nursing home residents eligible for palliative care but lack access Nearly 70 percent of nursing home residents are eligible for palliative care, but do not receive any corresponding support to provide relief from their symptoms and improve their quality of life, according to a study by researchers at UC San Francisco.
	Painless dental lasers can render teeth cavity-resistant Almost as soon as lasers were invented in the 1960s, curious dentists wondered if these powerful forms of light could be used on teeth, though those early lasers were much too crude for any useful dental work.
	Is it possible to boost your intelligence by training? We reviewed three decades of research Scientists achieved astonishing results when training a student with a memory training programme in a landmark experiment in 1982. After 44 weeks of practice, the student, dubbed SF, expanded his ability to remember digits from seven numbers to 82. However, this remarkable ability did not extend beyond digits – they also tried with consonants.
	Pneumonia treatment with vaccines instead of antibiotics Mycoplasma bacteria are one of the most common causes of bacterial pneumonia in children. It is still unclear how the disease develops. Researchers from the University Children's Hospital Zurich and UZH have now demonstrated that there are specific immune cells, so-called B cells, which are crucial for recovery from the infection.
	Decongestant 'highly effective' at starving cancer cells Cancer researchers seeking non-toxic alternatives to harmful chemotherapy are reporting a highly significant result for a humble cold remedy. N-Acetyl cysteine (NAC) is routinely used as a dietary supplement and as a decongestant given to children to ward off a cold.
	An iPhone app that monitors heart failures — and perhaps saves lives Your smartphone could be the key to a healthy heart.
	Nurses of the future must embrace high-tech Picture someone who works in tech. They might fit a stereotype: Heavy-rimmed glasses, hoodie, T-shirt branded with a start-up's logo, male. You probably don't imagine a nurse.
	Researchers zero in on molecular fingerprint for prostate cancer Six cancers that claim more than 23,000 Australian lives each year1 should be prioritised for research that makes it possible to identify the molecular fingerprint of the tumour and improve survival, according to a landmark report launched today.
	Human research study explores effects of hot yoga Bikram yoga, the most commonly practiced type of hot yoga, offers practitioners a vigorous workout in a studio kept at 100°F or more. But is working out in that much heat good for you? That's what Dr. Shannon Mathis and Dr. Gordon MacGregor, two professors at The University of Alabama in Huntsville (UAH), decided to find out with a cross-college research project entitled "Calcium Lost Through Sweat: Is There Evidence of Bone Remodeling Due to Cutaneous Calcium Loss during Bikram Hot Yoga?"
	Older men need more protein to maintain muscles The amount of protein recommended by international guidelines is not sufficient to maintain muscle size and strength in older men, according to a new study.
	Is radon lurking in your home? Here's why you need to find out Asbestos, mold and radon: three hazardous substances you never want to find in your home. While all three can be removed and remediated by trained professionals, radon is different, because you can't see, smell or taste it. That doesn't mean radon is harmless. If left untreated, it can be hazardous to your family's health. In fact, it's the second leading cause of lung cancer in the United States.
	Atopic eczema—one size does not fit all Researchers from the UK and Netherlands have identified five distinct subgroups of eczema, a finding that helps explain how the condition can affect people at different stages of their lives.
	New health guidance on breast cancer In their draft guidance, the National Institute for Health and Care Excellence (NICE) said that postmenopausal women with a family history of breast cancer should now be offered the drug anastrozole, and not tamoxifen, to help prevent the onset of the disease.
	Research suggests 50 million patients suffer complications after surgery each year Three hundred and ten million patients undergo surgery worldwide each year, but while global initiatives are increasing access to surgical treatment, little data has been compiled about complication rates after surgery.
	Onions, embroidery and other historical lessons could help you sleep Most developed societies in the West are currently plagued by endemic sleep loss, falling well short of the eight hours recommended by the World Health Organisation. In particular, many children and young people are currently suffering from sleeping problems. A recent BBC documentary went so far as to label this a "crisis".
Children with better physical fitness levels have greater volume of gray matter Researchers from the University of Granada (UGR) have proven that physical fitness in children may affect their brain structure, which in turn may have an influence on their academic performance. More specifically, the researchers have confirmed that physical fitness in children is associated with a greater volume of gray matter in several cortical and subcortical brain regions.
Resistance training improves quality of life and psychological functioning for older adults Resistance training can promote environmental quality of life and sense of coherence in older adults. This was observed in a study carried out at the University of Jyväskylä, Faculty of Sport and Health Sciences, Finland, in co-operation with the Gerontology Research Center and the Neuromuscular Research Center.
Disordered eating among young adults found to have long-term negative health effects According to a recent University of Helsinki study, disordered eating among young adults has long-term effects on their health. Disordered eating among 24-year-old women and men was an indicator of higher body weight, larger waist circumference and lower psychological wellbeing as well as a lower self-evaluation of general health both at age 24 and ten years later.
	Startup wants to bring back Vioxx for hemophilia joint pain Could there be a second life for the once-popular arthritis pill Vioxx? A startup pharmaceutical company hopes so.
Researchers identify a potential molecular trigger for invasiveness in prostate cancer cells A small protein modification can trigger the aggressive migratory and invasive properties of prostate cancer cells, according to new research published on the cover of Oncotarget. The findings give greater insight into how cancers can move from one location in the body to another, and could help develop more effective therapies in the future.
Chemo brain starts during cancer's progression, not just after chemotherapy The memory and thinking problems experienced by cancer survivors, known as "chemo brain" or "chemo fog," are not just the result of chemotherapy treatment, they may start as tumors form and develop, suggests a Baycrest-led study.
Researchers reduce antibiotic prescriptions through physician education Physicians at Kaiser Permanente in Southern California reduced the odds of prescribing an antibiotic for sinusitis by 22 percent using computer alerts to inform doctors when antibiotics may not be the best course of treatment. The research was published today in the American Journal of Managed Care.
Tempting your taste buds: Food cues entice consumers to overeat The mouth-watering aroma of juicy burgers and crispy fries, and the eye-catching menu signs with delicious food pictures can tempt many hungry patrons to stop at fast-food restaurants.
	Study calculates contribution of risk factors to cancer in the US A new American Cancer Society study calculates the contribution of several modifiable risk factors to cancer occurrence, expanding and clarifying the role of known risk factors, from smoking to low consumption of fruits and vegetables. The study finds more than four in ten cancer cases and deaths in the United States are associated with these major modifiable risk factors, many of which can be mitigated with prevention strategies. The study appears early online in CA: A Cancer Journal for Clinicians.
	Women's health has worsened while men's health has improved, trends since 1990 show Researchers at Umeå University and Region Norrbotten in Sweden have studied health trends among women and men aged 25-34 from 1990-2014. In 1990, 8.5 percent of women self-rated their health as being worse than peers in their own age group. At 2014, this trend had increased to 20 per cent of women. In contrast, a bigger part of the men self-rated their health as better at the end of the study period compared to the start. This according to a study published in PLOS One.
Social networks and survival: Social ties could help with cancer management Researchers from Brigham and Women's Hospital led by Ying Bao, MD, ScD, an epidemiologist in BWH's Channing Division of Network Medicine and Assistant Professor at Harvard Medical School, have found that women with stronger social networks had better survival after colorectal cancer diagnosis and conclude that social network strengthening could be a tool for management of colorectal cancer.
Simple test predicts diabetes remission following weight loss surgery A new simple test that helps predicts which people with type 2 diabetes will benefit most from weight loss surgery has been developed by a UCL-led team.
For infants with heart disease, are shunts or stents better to maintain blood flow? Infants with various forms of congenital heart disease require a stable source of blood flow to their lungs in order to survive until a more definitive operation can be performed. In a recent study, pediatric researchers compared two methods to provide that flow: a shunt to reroute blood and an implanted stent to maintain an open path for blood flow.
	New simple test could help cystic fibrosis patients find best treatment Several cutting-edge treatments have become available in recent years to correct the debilitating chronic lung congestion associated with cystic fibrosis. While the new drugs are life-changing for some patients, they do not work for everyone. In a study published today in the Journal of Clinical Investigation Insight, a team led by UNC researchers presented a simple test that aims to predict which treatment is most likely to work for each patient, an approach known as personalized or precision medicine.
	Turtles and technology advance understanding of lung abnormality A study of an unusual snapping turtle with one lung found shared characteristics with humans born with one lung who survive beyond infancy. Digital 3D anatomical models created by Emma Schachner, PhD, Assistant Professor of Cell Biology & Anatomy at LSU Health New Orleans School of Medicine, made the detailed research possible. The work is published in the December 2017 issue of The Journal of Anatomy, the cover of which features an image of the study's 3D models.
	The slight difference: Why language is a uniquely human trait Language makes us human. For a long time, psychologists, linguists and neuroscientists have been racking their brains about how we process what we hear and read. One of them is the renowned linguist and neuroscientist Angela D. Friederici, director of the Max Planck Institute for Human Cognitive and Brain Sciences in Leipzig. Thanks to her we know why humans, in contrast to animals, are able to learn and understand language. It's her achievement to prove linguist Noam Chomsky's famous theory of a universal grammar according to which all humans are born with a universal system for grammar by neuroscientific data. Her book, "Language in Our Brain" has just been published and represents, in essence, a lifetime's work.
Children with Alagille Syndrome have malformed bile ducts Serious liver and heart problems can affect children with Alagille Syndrome early in life. While there is as yet no cure, researchers at Karolinska Institutet in Sweden have discovered that the liver disease part of the syndrome is caused by specific malformations of the bile ducts. The results, which are published in the journal Gastroenterology, were discovered with the aid of a new mouse model that can now be used to develop and test new therapies.
Drug could cut transplant rejection A diabetes drug currently undergoing development could be repurposed to help end transplant rejection, without the side-effects of current immunosuppressive drugs, according to new research by Queen Mary University of London (QMUL).
	Controlling diabetes with your phone might be possible someday Think about this. You have diabetes, are trying to control your insulin levels and instead of taking a pill or giving yourself an injection, you click an app on your phone that tells your pancreas to bring blood sugar levels back to normal.
	Self-harm, suicide attempts climb among US girls, study says Attempted suicides, drug overdoses, cutting and other types of self-injury have increased substantially in U.S. girls, a 15-year study of emergency room visits found.
	Diabetes: Immune system can regulate insulin Inflammation processes are responsible for the failure of insulin production in diabetes patients. The patients' own immune systems can contribute to treatment of this disease: researchers at the University of Basel and University Hospital Basel have found a feedback mechanism that could help maintain insulin production in overweight sufferers, as they report in the journal Immunity.
Taking proton pump inhibitors not linked to higher dementia risk Proton pump inhibitors (PPIs) are medicines commonly prescribed to treat acid-related digestive problems, including gastroesophageal reflux disease (or GERD). As of 2011, up to 1 in 5 older adults reported using a PPI. Although healthcare practitioners have long believed that PPIs are safe, recent studies have linked PPIs to potential risks, including fractures and kidney disease. Some studies also have linked PPIs to an increased risk for dementia among older adults. However, several experts have suggested that these studies may not correctly measure the connection.
	Video game improves balance in youth with autism Playing a video game that rewards participants for holding various "ninja" poses could help children and youth with autism spectrum disorder (ASD) improve their balance, according to a recent study in the Journal of Autism and Developmental Disorders led by researchers at the University of Wisconsin-Madison.
	Health of people with cystic fibrosis shows positive trends in US and Canada New research comparing cystic fibrosis patients in the United States and Canada showed that, although the patients' nutritional status and lung function improved in both countries over the period from 1990 to 2013, the rate of improvement was faster in the United States.
	Insulin pill may delay type 1 diabetes in some (HealthDay)—It's often said that timing is everything. New research suggests this may be true when giving an insulin pill to try to prevent or delay type 1 diabetes.
	Is a common shoulder surgery useless? (HealthDay)—New research casts doubt on the true effectiveness of a common type of surgery used to ease shoulder pain.
	Almost 21 million worldwide now have access to HIV meds (HealthDay)—The number of people with HIV who take life-saving antiretroviral medications has increased by tens of millions worldwide in recent decades, a United Nations report says.
	Getting annual flu shot won't weaken your immune system (HealthDay)—There's no evidence to support the notion that people who get the flu vaccine every year somehow "weaken" their immune system over time, researchers say.
	Everything you need to know about exercise and hydration (HealthDay)—Working up a good sweat when you exercise lets you know you're working hard, but it's also a sign that you're losing water—water that needs to be replaced.
	Higher β-blocker dose linked to lower mortality risk (HealthDay)—An increased β-blocker dose is associated with a greater prognostic advantage in patients with chronic heart failure (CHF) and diabetes than in those with CHF but no diabetes, according to a study published online Oct. 25 in Diabetes Care.
	5-fluorouracil promising for vaginal intraepithelial neoplasia (HealthDay)—5-fluorouracil is associated with a 74 percent success rate as the initial treatment modality for high-grade intraepithelial vaginal dysplasia, according to a study published online Nov. 7 in Obstetrics & Gynecology.
	Increased repolarization dispersion seen in SCD survivors (HealthDay)—Survivors of sudden cardiac death (SCD) with structurally normal hearts have increased dispersion of repolarization after exertion, and this is detectable on non-invasive electrocardiographic imaging (ECGi), according to a study published online Nov. 1 in the Journal of Cardiovascular Electrophysiology.
	No treatment or imaging follow-up most effective for tiny UIAs (HealthDay)—For patients with unruptured intracranial aneurysms (UIAs) that are 3 mm or smaller, no preventive treatment or imaging follow-up is the most effective management strategy, according to a study published online Nov. 20 in JAMA Neurology.
	VA study shows parasite from Vietnam may be killing vets A half a century after serving in Vietnam, hundreds of veterans have a new reason to believe they may be dying from a silent bullet—test results show some men may have been infected by a slow-killing parasite while fighting in the jungles of Southeast Asia.
	Baby-boomers and millennials more afflicted by the opioid epidemic Baby-boomers, those born between 1947 and 1964, experienced an excess risk of prescription opioid overdose death and heroin overdose death, according to latest research at Columbia University's Mailman School of Public Health. Individuals born between 1979 and 1992 were also at significantly increased risk for death from heroin overdose. The study findings, which were consistent for both men and women, are published online in the American Journal of Public Health.
	Do pancreatic cysts become cancerous? What is a pancreatic cyst?
	RNG105/Caprin1 is essential for long-term memory formation The research group of Associate Professor Nobuyuki Shiina of the National Institute for Basic Biology have revealed that the function of RNG105 (aka Caprin1) is essential for the formation of long-term memory.
Integrative medicine approaches for pain treatment—can they be an alternative to opioids? Can acupuncture and yoga help to fight the opioid epidemic? These and other integrative medicine approaches have shown at least preliminary evidence of effectiveness in pain management, according to an article in the December issue of Anesthesia & Analgesia—a special thematic issue addressing the opioid crisis.
	Three-dimensional folding of DNA provides important epigenetic mechanisms in the formation of cardiac muscle cells During differentiation of pluripotent stem cells to cardiomyocytes, the three-dimensional folding of the DNA reorganizes itself. This reorganization of the DNA architecture precedes and defines important epigenetic patterns. A team lead by private lecturer Dr. Ralf Gilsbach and Stephan Nothjunge, who both conduct research at the University of Freiburg in the Department of Experimental and Clinical Pharmacology and Toxicology headed by Prof. Dr. Lutz Hein, have come to this conclusion. The results suggest that the genome's spatial organization is an important switch for defining cell types, thereby representing a very promising starting point for future reprogramming strategies. The team recently published its results in the scientific journal Nature Communications.
Internists offer recommendations to improve CMS's approach to testing new payment models While the American College of Physicians (ACP) is supportive of the role that the Center for Medicare and Medicaid Innovation (CMMI) plays in the move toward value-based payment models, it has significant concerns about several elements of its plans to test new payment models. In a letter sent in response to the Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services' (CMS) Innovation Center New Direction Request for Information (RFI), ACP expressed concern about the impact on disadvantaged patients of the agency's shift toward testing "consumer-directed and market-based" innovation models.
	Are lipid-based products more effective for treating dry eye disease? New treatments for dry eye disease that deliver lipids to the ocular surface are designed to more closely mimic the important tear film lipid layer at the air-water interface in the eye. The range and effectiveness of lipid-based products to treat dry eye disease, including liposome lid sprays, emulsion eye drops, lipid nanoparticles, and lipid-drug conjugates are examined in a new Review article published in Journal of Ocular Pharmacology and Therapeutics.
	Are patients sufficiently shielded against stray radiation during CT scans? Radiation exposure during diagnostic imaging such as computed tomography (CT) contributes to a small, but potentially preventable percentage of cancers, yet a new study reports that 40% of hospitals surveyed do not routinely utilize CT shielding. Overall, 99% of the hospitals were aware that shielding can safeguard patients and 84% believed it to be beneficial, so why isn't it being used more routinely—a topic explored in the study published in Journal of Endourology.
Mucosal healing: An objective measure of disease activity? The absence of inflammatory and ulcerative lesions in all segments of the colon, also known as mucosal healing, should be the end goal in treating patients with ulcerative colitis according to an editorial in the journal Gastrointestinal Endoscopy. The authors believe the analysis in the study by Flores and colleagues, Impact of Mucosal Inflammation on Risk of Colorectal Neoplasia in Patients with Ulcerative Colitis: A Systematic Review and Meta-Analysis, reaffirms the suspicion that ongoing colonic inflammation not only increases the risk of abnormal growth of colorectal tissue (pre-cancer and/or cancer), but also may affect guidelines for surveillance colonoscopies.
Researchers link post-right stroke delirium and spatial neglect to common brain mechanism Stroke researchers at Kessler Foundation have proposed a theory for the high incidence of delirium and spatial neglect after right-brain stroke. Their findings are detailed in "Disruption of the ascending arousal system and cortical attention network in post-stroke delirium and spatial neglect," which was published online ahead of print on September 27, 2017 by Neuroscience & Biobehavioral Reviews. The authors are Olga Boukrina, PhD, research scientist, and A.M. Barrett, MD, director of Stroke Rehabilitation Research at Kessler Foundation.
	Poll finds a majority of LGBTQ Americans report violence, threats, or sexual harassment This report is part of a series titled "Discrimination in America." The series is based on a survey conducted for National Public Radio, the Robert Wood Johnson Foundation, and Harvard T.H. Chan School of Public Health. While many surveys have explored Americans' beliefs about discrimination, this survey asks people about their own personal experiences with discrimination.
Legal analysis finds Arkansas law that bars protection of LGBTQ people unconstitutional An original legal analysis by NYU College of Global Public Health finds an Arkansas law that prohibits local governments from enacting civil rights protections for lesbian, gay, bisexual, transgender, or queer (LGBTQ) individuals to be unconstitutional.

Biology news

	Twisted sex allows mirror-image snails to mate face-to-face, research finds A study led by the University of Nottingham has found that differently-coiled types of Japanese land snails should in fact be considered a single species, because - against all odds - they are sometimes able to mate, a result which has implications for the classification of other snails.
	Revolutionary imaging technique uses CRISPR to map DNA mutations A team of scientists led by Virginia Commonwealth University physicist Jason Reed, Ph.D., have developed new nanomapping technology that could transform the way disease-causing genetic mutations are diagnosed and discovered. Described in a study published today in the journal Nature Communications, this novel approach uses high-speed atomic force microscopy (AFM) combined with a CRISPR-based chemical barcoding technique to map DNA nearly as accurately as DNA sequencing while processing large sections of the genome at a much faster rate. What's more—the technology can be powered by parts found in your run-of-the-mill DVD player.
	Study identifies new malaria parasites in wild bonobos Malaria parasites, although widespread among wild chimpanzees and gorillas, have not been detected in bonobos, a chimp cousin. Reasoning that previous studies may have missed infected bonobo populations, a team led by Beatrice Hahn, MD, a professor of Microbiology in the Perelman School of Medicine at the University of Pennsylvania, conducted a more extensive survey, increasing both the number and places they sampled wild bonobo populations. Although they saw evidence of a new malaria species in bonobos, it was limited to one small area of their range. The team published their findings in Nature Communications this week.
	Schooling fish mainly react to one or two neighbors at a time The study, published in PLOS Computational Biology, developed a new method combining behavioral analyses with a computer model to map the chain of direct interactions in a school of fish. The international research team, that includes the University of Bristol, found individual fish pay attention to its neighbours when the school moves together.
	Male dolphins offer gifts to attract females Researchers from The University of Western Australia have captured a rare sexual display: evidence of male humpback dolphins presenting females with large marine sponges in an apparent effort to mate.
	Refining pesticides to kill pests, not bees Pyrethroid pesticides are effective. Sometimes too effective.
	Corn genetics research exposes mechanism behind traits becoming silent For more than a century, plant geneticists have been studying maize as a model system to understand the rules governing the inheritance of traits, and a team of researchers recently unveiled a previously unknown mechanism that triggers gene silencing in corn. Gene silencing turns off genetic traits, an important consideration for plant breeders who depend on the faithful inheritance of traits from one generation to the next.
	Researchers identify how bacterium survives in oxygen-poor environments Columbia University biologists have revealed a mechanism by which bacterial cells in crowded, oxygen-deprived environments access oxygen for energy production, ensuring survival of the cell. The finding could explain how some bacteria, such as Pseudomonas aeruginosa (P. aeruginosa), are able to thrive in oxygen-poor environments like biofilms and resist antibiotics.
	New discovery: Common jellyfish is actually two species University of Delaware professor Patrick Gaffney and alumnus Keith Bayha, a research associate with the Smithsonian's National Museum of Natural History, have determined that a common sea nettle jellyfish is actually two distinct species.
	Study pinpoints arctic shorebird decline A new study co-authored by WCS (Wildlife Conservation Society) addresses concerns over the many Arctic shorebird populations in precipitous decline. Evident from the study is that monitoring and protection of habitat where the birds breed, winter, and stopover is critical to their survival and to that of a global migration spectacle.
A chicken-flavored electrolyte drink could help sniffer dogs stay hydrated The first comparison of three common hydration methods for sniffer dogs shows that while all are effective, dogs drink more and are more hydrated when given a chicken-flavored electrolyte drink compared to plain water or when injected with electrolytes under the skin. The study, published in open-access journal Frontiers in Veterinary Science, also shows that the dogs did not suffer from a buildup of electrolytes from the drink, suggesting that electrolyte drinks are a safe hydration alternative for sniffer dogs, who are at risk of heat stroke in hot weather.
	Smiling human faces are attractive to dogs—thanks to oxytocin Researchers in the University of Helsinki's Canine Mind research project found that oxytocin made dogs interested in smiling human faces. It also made them see angry faces as less threatening. Correlated with affection and trust, the hormone oxytocin is probably a key factor in the interaction between dogs and humans.
	Climate change models of bird impacts pass the test A major study looking at changes in where UK birds have been found over the past 40 years has validated the latest climate change models being used to forecast impacts on birds and other animals.
	The isoforms of the HP1 protein regulate the organization and structure of heterochromatin Researchers from the Epigenetics and Cancer Biology Program of the Bellvitge Biomedical Research Institute (IDIBELL), led by Dr. Àlex Vaquero, have elucidated the role of HP1 proteins in relation to chromatin structure and genome stability, distinguishing different functions based on the presence of different variants of this protein. The work, published in Cell Reports, was carried out in collaboration with other research groups in Europe and the United States.
	Migration pays off for songbirds It is estimated that there are over one-and-a-half billion songbirds living in Europe alone. Around half of them embark on their journey southwards in autumn over a period of less than twelve nights. It is warmer there and there is enough food for them. However, the journey to the south is arduous and dangerous. So, is the effort involved worthwhile for migratory birds? Researchers at the Max Planck Institute for Ornithology in Radolfzell have now demonstrated for the first time that the members of a bird species that migrate to winter in the south are more likely to survive than their conspecifics that remain in central Europe.
	Research details genetic resistance to sudden death syndrome in soybeans An Iowa State University agronomist is charting mechanisms – gene by gene – that could lead to soybean varieties resistant to sudden death syndrome.
	Jet fuel from sugarcane a realistic prospect The aviation industry produces 2 percent of global human-induced carbon dioxide emissions. This share may seem relatively small – for perspective, electricity generation and home heating account for more than 40 percent – but aviation is one of the world's fastest-growing greenhouse gas sources. Demand for air travel is projected to double in the next 20 years.
	Feeding by humans alters behavior and physiology of green turtles in the Canary Islands Feeding animals is altering the behaviour and eating habits of the green turtle in the Canary Islands (Spain). This is the conclusion of a study published in the journal Science of the Total Environment carried out by a team from the Biodiversity Research Institute of the University of Barcelona (IRBio).
	Infectious diseases: CTRL + ALT + Delete Gene editing is revolutionizing the bioscience research landscape and holds great promise for "deleting" diseases from human bodies. Sandia National Laboratories is working to make this technology safer and to ensure that one day it can be delivered into humans without triggering adverse immune system reactions or causing other undesirable side effects.
	Report highlights opportunities and risks associated with synthetic biology and bioengineering Human genome editing, 3D-printed replacement organs and artificial photosynthesis - the field of bioengineering offers great promise for tackling the major challenges that face our society. But as a new article out today highlights, these developments provide both opportunities and risks in the short and long term.
	Eight-year research stretch yields treatise on tapeworms along with hundreds of new species Before setting out to assemble a 400-page tome on tapeworms, it might be a good time for a gut check.
	Correctly used neonics do not adversely affect honeybee colonies, new research finds The three most widely used neonicotinoid pesticides for flowering crops pose no risk to honeybee colonies when used correctly as seed treatments, according to new studies by University of Guelph researchers.
	Norway court grants reprieve to seven wolves A Norwegian court on Tuesday granted a reprieve to seven wolves near Oslo caught in the middle of a battle between environmental activists and sheep farmers.
	New database catalogues plants that soak up contamination Hyperaccumulators are unusual plants that can absorb much larger amounts of metal compounds in their leaves and stems than normal plants, and they are very useful for cleaning up contaminated land. As described in a New Phytologist article, researchers have published a database that provides easier access to information on the plant world's hyperaccumulators.

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