Science X Newsletter Wednesday, Nov 22

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Here is your customized Science X Newsletter for November 22, 2017:

Spotlight Stories Headlines

How to cut your lawn for grasshoppers

How the Earth stops high-energy neutrinos in their tracks

Mysterious deep-Earth seismic signature explained

Testing the advantage of being left-handed in sports

Climate change may be making bearded dragons less intelligent

Re-cloning of first cloned dog deemed successful thus far

Physicists open the door to the first direct measurement of Berry curvature in solid matter

Tiny robots step closer to treating hard-to-reach parts of the body

A 'half-hearted' solution to one-sided heart failure—Soft robotic system provides support

Energy-saving LEDs boost light pollution worldwide

Species may appear deceptively resilient to climate change

Uber reveals cover-up of hack affecting 57M riders, drivers (Update)

Princeton researchers spot website visits being watched

Managing antibiotics not enough to reverse resistance

Alzheimer's Tau protein forms toxic complexes with cell membranes

Astronomy & Space news

	NASA telescope studies quirky comet 45P When comet 45P zipped past Earth early in 2017, researchers observing from NASA's Infrared Telescope Facility, or IRTF, in Hawai'i gave the long-time trekker a thorough astronomical checkup. The results help fill in crucial details about ices in Jupiter-family comets and reveal that quirky 45P doesn't quite match any comet studied so far.
	Image: Rover sunset A rover crawls over rocky terrain on Spain's Canary Island of Lanzarote, also known as the island of a thousand volcanoes. A drone follows it closely from the sky as the Sun sets.
	Gadgets for Mars A mini-rover, tools once used on the moon and lasers for 3-D mapping are in the backpack of the explorers of tomorrow. The terrain will be hazardous and it will be dark in volcanic caves, but this equipment could one day help to scout other planets.
	NASA is sending E. coli to space for astronaut health Ever wonder what would happen if you got sick in space? NASA has sent bacteria samples into low-Earth orbit to help find out.
	Discovery of cigar-shaped asteroid from outer space could help unveil secrets of extrasolar worlds It came from outer space … and went back there two weeks later, having astonished and excited astronomers and planetary scientists. A cigar-shaped object, less than half a kilometre long and barely bright enough to be detected by the world's most powerful telescopes, paid us a flying visit in October this year – reminding us that the heavens still hold plenty of surprises.
	Do dark matter and dark energy exist? Researchers have hypothesized that the universe contains "dark matter." They have also posited the existence of "dark energy." These two hypotheses account for the movement of stars in galaxies and for the accelerating expansion of the universe. But according to a researcher at UNIGE, these concepts may be no longer valid, as universal phenomena can be demonstrated without them. This research exploits a new theoretical model based on the scale invariance of empty space. This research is reported in The Astrophysical Journal.
Finns want to look for remains of Arctic meteorite (Update) The remains of a blazing meteorite that lit up the dark skies of the Arctic last week are believed scattered near a lake in northern Finland, amateur Finnish astronomers said Wednesday.
	Lofty Thanksgiving: Astronauts feasting on pouches of turkey Astronauts at the International Space Station will feast Thursday on pouches of Thanksgiving turkey.
	Image: Tending your garden in space If you plant it, will it grow (in space)? The answer is yes, at least for certain types of plants.
The benefits of being a total space cadet Space research. What's it ever done for me? Well, quite a bit as it turns out ...

Technology news

	Tiny robots step closer to treating hard-to-reach parts of the body Tiny remotely operated robots could be designed to diagnose and treat illness in hard-to-reach areas of the human body, research suggests.
	A 'half-hearted' solution to one-sided heart failure—Soft robotic system provides support Soft robotic actuators, which are pneumatic artificial muscles designed and programmed to perform lifelike motions, have recently emerged as an attractive alternative to more rigid components that have conventionally been used in biomedical devices. In fact, earlier this year, a Boston Children's Hospital team revealed a proof-of-concept soft robotic sleeve that could support the function of a failing heart.
	Uber reveals cover-up of hack affecting 57M riders, drivers (Update) Uber is coming clean about its cover-up of a year-old hacking attack that stole personal information about more than 57 million of the beleaguered ride-hailing service's customers and drivers.
	Princeton researchers spot website visits being watched (Tech Xplore)—File under Uncomfortable. A study by a Princeton team finds you may be watched (and watched and watched) as you go on about your business of using the Internet and visiting sites.
	Energy from electric cars could power our lives—but only if we improve the system Power stored in electric cars could be sent back to the grid - thereby supporting the grid and acting as a potential storage for clean energy - but it will only be economically viable if we upgrade the system first. In a new paper in Energy Policy, two scientists show how their seemingly contradictory findings actually point to the same outcome and recommendations: that pumping energy back into the grid using today's technology can damage car batteries, but with improvements in the system it has the potential to provide valuable clean energy - and improve battery life in the process.
	Earplugs unavoidable for musicians in the orchestra and at home Many musicians suffer ear damage. Professional orchestras have therefore taken measures in recent years to reduce the sound levels. Studies now reveal that physical measures, like placing screens between sections or creating more space between them, have little effect. This is due to one's own instrument contributing just as much to the sound level that reaches the ear as all the orchestra's instruments together. So experienced musicians that play alone at home - whether professionals or amateurs - also produce excessive sound levels. The only solution that really helps is earplugs.
	Meg Whitman stepping down as HP Enterprise CEO Meg Whitman, who oversaw the breakup of one of Silicon Valley's pioneering companies, is stepping down as CEO of Hewlett Packard Enterprise Co.
	FCC chairman sets out to scrap open internet access rules The chairman of the Federal Communications Commission set out Tuesday to scrap rules around open internet access, a move that would allow giant cable and telecom companies to throttle broadband speeds and favor their own services if they wish.
Booming life for 'PUBG' death-match computer game Scores of virtual warriors faced off in a Hunger Games-style death match in a massive, real-world eSports matchup of upstart shooter game "PlayerUnknown's Battlegrounds."
	Austria: Bitcoins stolen over public wireless network Austrian police say cyber thieves transferred bitcoins worth more than 100,000 euros ($117,000) from a man's account while he was logged in on a restaurant's public wireless network.
	Skype joins list of apps on China blacklist Skype has apparently joined the lengthening list of internet tools on China's blacklist, disappearing from download stores with Apple saying Wednesday it was ordered by the government to remove certain apps.
	UK made grave errors over Hinkley nuclear project: MPs Britain made "grave strategic errors" in its handling of the Franco-Chinese Hinkley Point nuclear project, a critical parliamentary report concluded Wednesday.
	Singapore to deploy driverless buses from 2022: minister Driverless buses will appear on some roads in Singapore from 2022 as part of plans to improve mobility in the land-scarce city-state, its transport minister said Wednesday.
	What airline passengers want most—to get through security quickly The Transportation Security Administration should consider expanding expedited screening measures like TSA Precheck for airline passengers, according to a new study in the journal Risk Analysis.
	How drones are being used in Zanzibar's fight against malaria On a typically hot and humid July day in Stonetown, the capital of Zanzibar, a gaggle of children, teenagers and the odd parents watched our small drone take flight. My colleagues Makame Makame, Khamis Haji and I had finally found the perfect launch spot.
	Towards better understanding of railway ballast SNCF engineers have been using mathematical models for many years to simulate the dynamic behavior of railways. These models have not been able to take into account large portions of the track have been extremely limited at modelling ballast, the gravel layer located under railway tracks. This is why SNCF Innovation & Recherche asked for help from specialists in wave propagation for all types of media and at varied scales: CNRS and INSA Strasbourg researchers. Together, they have shown that a large part of the energy introduced by a train passing is trapped by the ballast. Their work, published in the November issue of Computational Mechanics, shows that this trapping phenomenon, which is very dependent on train speed, could cause accelerated ballast degradation in railway tracks.
	New technology will help blind people 'see' at the cinema Sight loss affects around two million people in the UK, a number that is likely to increase to four million by 2050.
	Big data creates family tree of constitutions Inspired by the challenge to see how ideas are shared between nation's through their founding documents, researchers at Dartmouth College have constructed a big data, evolutionary taxonomy of the world's constitutions.
	Sports betting case could pay off for internet gambling Internet gambling in the United States has been limited to just three states since it began in 2013, but it could soon get a big boost from an unlikely source: the U.S. Supreme Court.
	Should Uber users be worried about data hack? The theft of the personal data of 57 million Uber riders and drivers highlights how vulnerable we make ourselves when we install apps on our mobile phones and tablet computers.
	Uber in legal crosshairs over hack cover-up Two US states on Wednesday confirmed they are investigating Uber's cover-up of a hack at the ride-sharing giant that compromised the personal information of 57 million users and drivers.
	Did you 'like' Russian propaganda? Facebook will clue you in Facebook says it will show users if they followed or 'liked' Russia propaganda accounts on its service or on Instagram.
	What happens once 'net neutrality' rules bite the dust? The Federal Communications Commission formally released a draft of its plan to kill net-neutrality rules, which equalized access to the internet and prevented broadband providers from favoring their own apps and services.
	AT&T suit may herald a new antitrust era - or Trumpian pique The Trump administration's decision to oppose the $85 billion AT&T-Time Warner merger may be clouded by suspicions of political influence. But considered on its merits, it could mark a significant departure in antitrust policy, one that might block or modify a broader set of mergers found to harm consumers.
	China's former internet czar faces graft probe China's former internet czar, who oversaw a tightening of online censorship during his tenure, has become the latest top Communist Party figure to be ensnared in the country's anti-corruption drive.
	Underwater acoustic localization of marine mammals and vehicles Researchers at IMDEA Networks (Spain) in collaboration with University of Haifa (Israel) have developed an underwater acoustic system for the localization of marine mammals, underwater vehicles and other sound sources in the ocean, using no more than a single hydrophone (basically an underwater microphone) as a receiver.
Virtual and augmented reality technologies influence consumers' eating experiences Could health-promoting foods be made more appealing by using digital tools to enhance consumers' eating experiences? VTT Technical Research Centre of Finland has used Virtual Reality (VR) to amplify such experiences. VR immersion had significant effects on brain signals and consumers' evaluations of the pleasantness of their eating situation and emotional responses.

Medicine & Health news

	Alzheimer's Tau protein forms toxic complexes with cell membranes The brains of patients with Alzheimer's disease contain characteristic tangles inside neurons. These tangles are formed when a protein called Tau aggregates into twisted fibrils. As a result, the neurons' transport systems disintegrate, essential nutrients can't move through, and the cells begin to die, affecting the brain's functions and giving rise to the disease's symptoms.
	Team constructs whole-brain map of electrical connections key to forming memories A team of neuroscientists at the University of Pennsylvania has constructed the first whole-brain map of electrical connectivity in the brain based on data from nearly 300 neurosurgical patients with electrodes implanted directly on the brain. The researchers found that low-frequency rhythms of brain activity, when brain waves move up and down slowly, primarily drive communication between the frontal, temporal and medial temporal lobes, key brain regions that engage during memory processing.
	Pitch imperfect? How the brain decodes pitch may improve cochlear implants Picture yourself with a friend in a crowded restaurant. The din of other diners, the clattering of dishes, the muffled notes of background music, the voice of your friend, not to mention your own – all compete for your brain's attention.
Study reveals new mechanisms of cell death in neurodegenerative disorders Researchers at King's College London have discovered new mechanisms of cell death, which may be involved in debilitating neurodegenerative disorders, such as Alzheimer's disease and Parkinson's disease.
	Surprising roles for muscle in tissue regeneration, study finds A team of researchers at Whitehead has illuminated an important role for different subtypes of muscle cells in orchestrating the process of tissue regeneration. In a paper published in the November 22 issue of Nature, they reveal that a subtype of muscle fibers in flatworms is required for triggering the activity of genes that initiate the regeneration program. Notably, in the absence of these muscles, regeneration fails to proceed. Another type of muscle, they report, is required for giving regenerated tissue the proper pattern—for example, forming one head instead of two.
	Encouraging oxygen's assault on iron may offer new way to kill lung cancer cells Blocking the action of a key protein frees oxygen to damage iron-dependent proteins in lung and breast cancer cells, slowing their growth and making them easier to kill. This is the implication of a study led by researchers from Perlmutter Cancer Center at NYU Langone Health, and published online November 22 in Nature.
	To forget or to remember? Memory depends on subtle brain signals, scientists find The fragrance of hot pumpkin pie can bring back pleasant memories of holidays past, while the scent of an antiseptic hospital room may cause a shudder. The power of odors to activate memories both pleasing and aversive exists in many animals, from humans to the humble fruit fly.
	Researchers find infectious prions in Creutzfeldt-Jakob disease patient skin Creutzfeldt-Jakob disease (CJD)—the human equivalent of mad cow disease—is caused by rogue, misfolded protein aggregates termed prions, which are infectious and cause fatal damages in the patient's brain. CJD patients develop signature microscopic sponge-like holes in their brains. The initial signs of CJD include memory loss, behavior changes, movement disorder, and vision problems, which usually rapidly progress to death. According to the National Institutes of Health (NIH), 90 percent of CJD patients die within one year of onset, and hundreds of Americans are diagnosed annually. There is no available treatment or cure.
	New approach to tracking how deadly 'superbugs' travel could slow their spread Killer bacteria - ones that have out-evolved our best antibiotics—may not go away anytime soon. But a new approach to tracking their spread could eventually give us a fighting chance to keep their death toll down.
	Research points to diagnostic test for top cause of liver transplant in kids Biliary atresia is the most common cause of liver transplants for children in the United States. Now researchers report in Science Translational Medicine finding a strong biomarker candidate that could be used for earlier diagnosis and lifesaving treatments, possibly avoiding more invasive procedures like liver transplant.
	Low-salt and heart-healthy dash diet as effective as drugs for some adults with high blood pressure A study of more than 400 adults with prehypertension, or stage 1 high blood pressure, found that combining a low-salt diet with the heart-healthy DASH diet substantially lowers systolic blood pressure—the top number in a blood pressure test—especially in people with higher baseline systolic readings.
	Moderate coffee drinking 'more likely to benefit health than to harm it', say experts Drinking coffee is "more likely to benefit health than to harm it" for a range of health outcomes, say researchers in The BMJ today.
	Alcohol consumption and metabolic factors act together to increase the risk of severe liver disease A new study provides insights into the interaction between alcohol consumption and metabolic factors in predicting severe liver disease in the general population. The findings, which are published in Hepatology, indicate that multiple components of the metabolic syndrome affect the risk of severe liver disease in conjunction with alcohol consumption at levels that are typically thought to not cause liver damage.
People willing to trade treatment efficacy for reduced side effects in cancer therapies When choosing their preferred treatment, people with chronic lymphocytic leukemia (CLL) place the highest value on medicines that deliver the longest progression-free survival, but are willing to swap some drug efficacy for a reduced risk of serious adverse events according to a study published online in Blood Advances, a Journal of the American Society of Hematology (ASH). The study also suggests that factoring out-of-pocket costs into this decision-making process may significantly influence a patient's choice of treatment.
	MRI shows brain differences among ADHD patients Information from brain MRIs can help identify people with attention deficit hyperactivity disorder (ADHD) and distinguish among subtypes of the condition, according to a study appearing online in the journal Radiology.
	Air pollution linked to poorer quality sperm Air pollution, particularly levels of fine particulate matter (PM2.5), is associated with poorer quality sperm, suggests research published online in Occupational & Environmental Medicine.
	Cases of heart failure continue to rise; poorest people worst affected The number of people being diagnosed with heart failure in the UK continues to rise as a result of demographic changes common to many developed countries, new research by The George Institute for Global Health at the University of Oxford suggests.
Health service complaints system risking patients' and doctors' health The General Medical Council (GMC) regulates doctors in the UK and can stop or limit their rights to practice. Around 9000 doctors a year are reported to the GMC, and around 160 are suspended or erased from the medical register.
	Different types of alcohol elicit different emotional responses Different types of alcohol elicit different emotional responses, but spirits are most frequently associated with feelings of aggression, suggests research published in the online journal BMJ Open.
	Any physical activity in elderly better than none at all for reducing cardiovascular risk Any physical activity in the elderly is better than none at all for reducing cardiovascular risk, according to an 18-year study in more than 24 000 adults published today in the European Journal of Preventive Cardiology.
	Stroke patients may have more time to get treatment, study finds Patients and doctors long have relied on a simple rule of thumb for seeking care after an ischemic stroke: "Time is brain."
Twice is nice—enjoy your holiday leftovers safely One of the best parts of a big meal are the leftovers, and according to an expert at Baylor College of Medicine, there are some important safety tips to follow when storing leftovers this Thanksgiving.
	HIV-positive adults are under-treated for cardiovascular problems compared to those without HIV People with both HIV and risk factors for heart disease and stroke were less likely to be treated with cholesterol-lowering statin drugs and aspirin than patients without HIV. The researchers believe this to be the first national study comparing statin use in patients with and without HIV and the first extensive analysis using U.S. data.
	Researchers show stress suppresses response to cancer treatments New research shows that chronic stress suppresses the immune system's response to cancer, reducing the effectiveness of immunotherapy treatments.
	Study finds infection and schizophrenia symptom link If a mother's immune system is activated by infection during pregnancy, it could result in critical cognitive deficits linked to schizophrenia in her offspring, a University of Otago study has revealed.
Increased use of ambulatory surgery centers for cataract surgery National data shows a major shift in eye surgeries from hospitals to less expensive ambulatory surgery centers where care may be delivered faster and closer to home for some patients.
Schizophrenia drug development may be 'de-risked' with new research tool Researchers at Columbia University Medical Center (CUMC) and the New York State Psychiatric Institute (NYSPI) have identified biomarkers that can aid in the development of better treatments for schizophrenia.
Nanosponges show promise for potentially blinding eye infections In recent years, the number of eye surgeries for conditions including cataracts and glaucoma has dramatically increased and with it, so has the number of potentially blinding intraocular infections. In a new study, researchers demonstrate using a mouse model that engineered nanosponges can be used to protect eyes from infections caused by Enterococcus faecalis. Enterococcus faecalis contain a toxin called cytolysin, which is found in roughly 50% of isolates that cause post-operative intraocular infections seen in the United States.
Meningococcal vaccine could protect against 91 percent of targeted bacterial strains Up to 91 percent of bacterial strains causing a common type of invasive serogroup B meningococcal disease in children and young adults are likely to be covered by a four-component vaccine called MenB-4C (Bexsero), according to laboratory studies conducted by investigators at the federal Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) and at GlaxoSmithKline, manufacturer of the vaccine. The work was published this week in mSphere, an open access journal from the American Society for Microbiology.
	Combination immunotherapy targets cancer resistance Cancer immunotherapy drugs have had notable but limited success because in many cases, tumors develop resistance to treatment. But researchers at Yale and Stanford have identified an experimental antibody that overcomes this problem by targeting a wider range of immune cells linked to tumor growth.
High-fat diet may change breast milk makeup, affect baby's health New research suggests that following a high-fat diet during lactation—regardless of diet during pregnancy—alters RNA activity in breast milk. The changes in genetic material may increase the risk of metabolic disorders such as type 2 diabetes in offspring. The article is published ahead of print in Physiological Genomics.
	Understanding the causes of stress on health of gay or lesbian adolescents Chronic stress is a known factor for poor physical and mental health, including depression, anxiety, substance abuse and suicide. And while stress is often a part of adolescence, research also has demonstrated that adolescents who identify as lesbian, gay or bisexual experience.
	Surgeons and the opioid crisis—prescription guidelines needed Of all the possible ways of alleviating the opioid crisis, one has so far garnered far less attention than it deserves: prescription guidelines for surgeons.
	'Lesser of two evils' argument used to defend antipsychotic overuse for dementia The increasing use of antipsychotic drugs to manage dementia in care homes has been explained by some practitioners as "the lesser of two evils", despite clear risks for patients.
	Predicting vision loss in diabetes A new study from a researcher at City, University of London has found that the location of lesions in the eye can help predict vision-threatening diabetic retinopathy, a frequent cause of blindness in the Western world.
	Three decades on, stigma still stymies HIV prevention and treatment There have been great strides and many important victories in the fight against HIV. Scientific innovations and sustained investment have been the most important weapons in this ongoing battle.
	Tobacco hurts more than just lungs – it damages the communities that grow it The Kipembawe Division is hidden in the southern highlands of south-west Tanzania, a long seven-hour drive north from the city of Mbeya. The scenery is stunning, yet when you look closer you can see that tobacco plants dominate agricultural areas, and the sound of trees being felled is a constant background noise.
The HLF-gene controls the generation of our long-term immune system A research group at Lund University in Sweden has found that when the HLF (hepatic leukemia factor) gene –which is expressed in immature blood cells – does not shut down on time, we are unable to develop a functional long-term immune system. This could be a very early stage of leukemia.
	What if consciousness is not what drives the human mind? Everyone knows what it feels like to have consciousness: it's that self-evident sense of personal awareness, which gives us a feeling of ownership and control over the thoughts, emotions and experiences that we have every day.
	Rainfall can indicate that mosquito-borne epidemics will occur weeks later A new study demonstrates that outbreaks of mosquito-borne viruses Zika and Chikungunya generally occur about three weeks after heavy rainfall.Researchers also found that Chikungunya will predominate over Zika when both circulate at the same time, because Chikungunya has a shorter incubation period—just two days, versus 10 days for Zika. The latter finding explains why a late-2015 Zika epidemic in Rio de Janeiro ended while the number of Chikungunya cases increased in February 2016.
	Spread joy, not foodborne illness, for Thanksgiving (HealthDay)—Though foodborne illness can put a quick end to Thanksgiving festivities, that need not be the case, food safety experts say.
	An exercise game plan for boomers (HealthDay)—If you're a member of the baby boom generation, don't think you're too old to exercise.
	It's the latest diet craze, but is it safe? (HealthDay)—What if you could have your cake, eat it, too, and lose weight?
	Intranasal omalizumab does not increase serum IgE levels (HealthDay)—In patients with birch pollen allergy, intranasal administration of omalizumab does not result in relevant change of allergen-specific and total immunoglobulin E (IgE) levels, according to a pilot study published online Oct. 30 in Allergy.
	Doubts raised about use of products containing oxybenzone (HealthDay)—Use of oxybenzone (Benzophenone-3) in sunscreen and personal care products should be minimized due to its dermatological and environmental toxicity, according to a review published online Oct. 31 in the Journal of Cosmetic Dermatology.
	Workplace sexual harassment ongoing in women, up for men (HealthDay)—Sexual harassment (SH) is a continuing occupational health problem, according to a report published recently in the Journal of Occupational Health Psychology.
	High costs associated with physician burnout, attrition (HealthDay)—Physicians who are experiencing burnout are more than twice as likely to leave their organization within two years, and this is associated with significant economic costs, according to a report from the American Medical Association.
	Preliminary stages of dementia reduce human face memorization ability A Japanese research group has revealed that elderly people with mild cognitive impairment (MCI) have a particularly weakened ability to memorize human faces in the short term when compared to healthy elderly people. MCI patients also had a different gaze behavior when trying to memorize a face. This research may lead to the early detection of dementia.
	Smart people have better connected brains Understanding the foundations of human thought is fascinating for scientists and laypersons alike. Differences in cognitive abilities - and the resulting differences for example in academic success and professional careers - are attributed to a considerable degree to individual differences in intelligence. A study just published in Scientific Reports shows that these differences go hand in hand with differences in the patterns of integration among functional modules of the brain. Kirsten Hilger, Christian Fiebach and Ulrike Basten from the Department of Psychology at Goethe University Frankfurt combined functional MRI brain scans from over 300 persons with modern graph theoretical network analysis methods to investigate the neurobiological basis of human intelligence.
	MicroRNA molecule can cause pathological changes in the heart Cardiac fibrosis involves an increase of connective tissue in the cardiac muscle, causing a loss of function. A team of researchers at the Technical University of Munich (TUM) has now discovered that microRNA 29 (miR-29) plays an important role in the formation of tissue fibrosis. They occur less frequently when miR-29 is suppressed in cardiac muscle cells. Older studies had suggested that it was in fact low levels of miR-29 that caused fibrosis. The new insights point to potential new approaches for developing drugs against fibrotic diseases.
	New research suggests high-intensity exercise boosts memory The health advantages of high-intensity exercise are widely known but new research from McMaster University points to another major benefit: better memory.
Sclerosis medicine can fight multi-resistant bacteria Encountering bacteria with innocent names such as Pseudomonas aeruginosa and Enterobacteriaceae can lead to hospitalisation and - in a worst-case scenario - can also be life-threatening. The bacteria, which cause infections such as pneumonia, frequently develop multi-resistance towards classic antibiotics.
Certain popular cigars deliver more nicotine than cigarettes Cigars may have a reputation for being safer than cigarettes, but they may be just as harmful and addictive, according to Penn State researchers, who add that small cigars have just as much if not more nicotine than cigarettes.
Researchers identify genetic factors linked to acquired narrowing of the airway Endotracheal intubation, in which a tube is inserted through the voice box (larynx) into the windpipe, and tracheotomy, in which surgery is undertaken to create a hole through the neck and into the windpipe (trachea) to facilitate breathing, are widely used in the hospital setting for elective surgery and in cases of serious illness or critical injury. In rare instances, however, the procedures result in the development of scarring and narrowing of the larynx and trachea, a condition known as acquired laryngotracheal stenosis (ALTS). Who is susceptible to ALTS - and why - is unclear, but according to new research at the Lewis Katz School of Medicine (LKSOM) at Temple University, genetic and ethnic background may be underlying factors.
	One in four U.S. seniors with cancer has had it before (HealthDay)—For a quarter of American seniors, a cancer diagnosis signals the return of an old foe, new research shows.
	Child behavior associated with clinician sevoflurane exposure (HealthDay)—Negative behavior among children undergoing elective ear, nose, and throat surgery is associated with higher mean and maximum sevoflurane concentrations in the anesthesiologist's breathing zone, according to a study published online Oct. 25 in Pediatric Anesthesia.
	Plasma rich in growth factors may promote hair regeneration (HealthDay)—Plasma rich in growth factors (PRGF) can minimize postsurgical follicle loss and promote hair regeneration in patients undergoing follicular unit extraction technique (FUE) for hair loss, according to a study published online Oct. 26 in the Journal of Cosmetic Dermatology.
	Researchers ID microbiome genes tied to asthma (HealthDay)—Functional genes in the upper airway microbiome may be tied to childhood asthma, according to a study published Nov. 20 in Allergy.
	Monoclonal antibodies cut ischemia-reperfusion injury (HealthDay)—Anti-CD47 monoclonal antibody (CD47mAb) therapy reduces ischemia-reperfusion injury of renal allografts in an animal transplantation model, according to a study published online Oct. 31 in the American Journal of Transplantation.
	Immediate access to opioid agonists found cost-effective (HealthDay)—Immediate access to opioid agonist treatment (OAT) for patients presenting with opioid use disorder may provide greater health benefits at less cost than observed standard of care, according to a study published online Nov. 21 in the Annals of Internal Medicine.
	Guidelines can cut nonindicated acid-suppressing Rx in infants (HealthDay)—Implementation of a guideline can reduce nonindicated use of proton pump inhibitors (PPIs) and histamine-2 receptor antagonists (H2RAs) among newborns, according to a study published online Nov. 21 in Pediatrics.
	CDC issues warning on contaminated raw milk (HealthDay)—Individuals who may have consumed contaminated raw milk and milk products from the Udder Milk company are urged to seek medical care, according to a report published by the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.
	Maternal GDM tied to child's cardiometabolic profile (HealthDay)—Teenage offspring of mothers with gestational diabetes mellitus (GDM) have increased adiposity and an adverse cardiometabolic profile, according to a study published online Oct. 16 in Diabetes Care.
	Metabolites altered in chronic kidney disease Chronic kidney disease (CKD) affects 1 in 7 people in the United States, according to the U.S. National Institute of Diabetes & Digestive & Kidney Diseases (NIDDK). These individuals have a very high risk of cardiovascular disease, and some will also progress to kidney failure requiring dialysis and transplantation.
One-size treatment for blood cancer probably doesn't fit all, researchers say Though African-American men are three times more likely to be diagnosed with a blood cancer called multiple myeloma, most scientific research on the disease has been based on people of European descent, according to a study led by researchers at the Keck School of Medicine of USC.
Team aims to help patients with cancer make complex care decisions Researchers at the University of Virginia Cancer Center are developing a tool to help patients with prostate cancer better understand the potential risks and rewards of their treatment options. And that tool could ultimately benefit not just those patients but a broad spectrum of patients making complex care decisions based on their tumor's genomic information.
Health Canada considers restricting painkiller tramadol Health Canada said Wednesday it is considering regulating the popular pain killer tramadol as an opioid, after seeing a spike in prescriptions over the past several years.
The future of sutures and staples: A sealant inspired by slugs Although sutures and staples have been used for decades to close wounds or surgical incisions, both have their drawbacks: suturing can be time-consuming and can lead to extended and costly procedures, while staples are limited to use during open procedures and can cause tissue damage upon insertion, which can lead to infection. Additionally, neither offer a waterproof seal and are much stiffer than tissue, which can cause damage over time.
Leaving the house every day may help older adults live longer In a Journal of the American Geriatrics Society study of community-dwelling individuals aged 70 to 90 years who were participating in the Jerusalem Longitudinal Study, leaving the house daily was linked with a lower risk of dying over an extended follow-up period, independent of social, functional, or medical factors.
Analysis reveals barriers to routine HIV testing in high-income countries A new HIV Medicine study identified several barriers to routine HIV testing in emergency departments and acute medical units in the UK and US.
Study examines individuals' perceptions of childbirth's effects on sexuality Media reports have depicted vaginal birth as harmful and cesarean delivery as protective of sexuality, but research does not support these depictions. In a recent survey published in Birth, 16%-48% of participants endorsed beliefs consistent with these media reports, and individuals who endorsed these beliefs tended to identify as heterosexual; hold negative attitudes toward female genitalia; and report that reality, nonreality, and online media sources are influential in terms of childbirth information.
	Time between pregnancies may affect autism risk Investigators have found a link between the amount of time between pregnancies and Autism Spectrum Disorder in children. The findings are published in Autism Research.
	Mass media linked to childhood obesity A task force from the European Academy of Paediatrics and the European Childhood Obesity Group has found evidence of a strong link between obesity levels across European countries and childhood media exposure. The experts' review is published in Acta Paediatrica.
Risk for aging-related diseases elevated among thyroid cancer survivors Risk for aging-related diseases such as heart disease and diabetes was significantly higher among thyroid cancer survivors in Utah than it was among age-matched, cancer-free individuals, with those diagnosed before age 40 having the highest risk for some of the diseases.
Adult survivors of childhood cancer are more likely to develop high blood pressure People who survived childhood cancer were more than twice as likely as the general population to have high blood pressure (hypertension) as adults.
Australian state reaches brink of legalizing mercy killings An Australian state parliament on Wednesday stepped closer to passing a voluntary euthanasia bill, 20 years after the country repealed the world's first mercy-killing law for the terminally ill.
	Diabetes-related mortality in Germany higher than expected In the October 2017 issue of the journal Diabetes Care, DDZ scientists published their study on the number of deaths in Germany due to diabetes and its complications. The number of diabetes-related deaths worldwide has doubled between 1990 and 2010. In 2013, 5.1 million people worldwide and 620,000 people in Europe are estimated to have died of diabetes or diabetes-related complications. This means that life expectancy for people with diabetes is on average about five to six years shorter than for people of the same age without diabetes.
	Good mental health critical to military readiness Mental health is a critical part of every Airman's medical readiness. Although many service members worry that seeking mental health care will negatively effect their career, the opposite is usually true. With early identification and the right treatment by a medical professional, most mental health issues get better quickly without any negative career impact.
Dying in Switzerland—responding to the individual's every need Most people in Switzerland die in hospitals and nursing homes. Their specific needs are often not adequately met. In addition, professional caregivers are not sufficiently well coordinated. This situation could be improved by promoting palliative care, which cares for people's every need at the end of life. These are the conclusions reached by the National Research Programme "End of Life".
Three dead as diphtheria spreads in Yemen Three people have died of suspected diphtheria in conflict-hit Yemen, doctors said Wednesday, as the World Health Organisation and International Committee of the Red Cross warned the disease was spreading.
Weight before pregnancy linked with children's neurodevelopment A recent Obesity Reviews analysis of published studies found that, compared with children of normal weight mothers, children whose mothers were overweight or obese prior to pregnancy had 17% and 51% increased risks for compromised neurodevelopmental outcomes, respectively.
In vitro fertilization linked with increased risk of congenital heart defects A new analysis of published studies found a 45% increased risk of congenital heart defects in newborns when women become pregnant via in vitro fertilization (IVF)/intracytoplasmic sperm injection (ICSI) than through spontaneous conception.
	Do education and poverty affect knee surgery success? In an Arthritis Care & Research study of individuals who underwent total knee replacement, those who did not attend college had worse pain and function after two years if they lived in poor communities, but educational level was not linked with pain or function in wealthy communities.
Scientists identify new marker of arthritis in mice Researchers have discovered a new marker of arthritis in mice that can be used non-invasively to both identify joints with established arthritis and to predict subsequent joint swelling. The finding is published in Arthritis & Rheumatology.
	Opening windows and doors may improve sleep A recent Indoor Air study found that opening windows or doors before going to bed can reduce carbon dioxide levels in bedrooms and improve sleep quality.
Study examines which adolescents benefit most from sleep interventions In a recent study of adolescents, the benefits of cognitive-behavioral sleep interventions were greatest among individuals with higher levels of anxiety and depressive symptoms. The results, which are published in the Journal of Child Psychology and Psychiatry, were consistent across genders.
Intranasal ketamine has more minor side effects than intranasal fentanyl in children with acute pain Minor adverse events (e.g., bad taste in the mouth and dizziness) occur more frequently with intranasal ketamine than with intranasal fentanyl in children with suspected extremity fractures. That is the primary finding of a study to be published in the December 2017 issue of Academic Emergency Medicine (AEM), a journal of the Society for Academic Emergency Medicine (SAEM).

Biology news

	Testing the advantage of being left-handed in sports (Phys.org)—Sports scientist Florian Loffing with the Institute of Sport Science, University of Oldenburg in Germany has conducted a study regarding the possibility of left-handed athletes having an advantage over their right-handed counterparts. In his paper published in the journal Biology Letters, Loffing describes assembling data on athletes from several sports, analyzed it and found what he describes as a pattern.
	Climate change may be making bearded dragons less intelligent (Phys.org)—A team of researchers affiliated with the University of Lincoln in the U.K. has found evidence suggesting that as the planet heats up due to global warming, the bearded dragon may become less intelligent. In their paper published in the journal Royal Society Open Science, the group describes exposing incubating bearded dragons to warmer than normal air temperatures and then testing their intelligence.
	Re-cloning of first cloned dog deemed successful thus far (Phys.org)—A team of researchers with Seoul National University, Michigan State University and the University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign has re-cloned the first dog to be cloned. In their paper published in the journal Scientific Reports, the group describes duplicating the clone and offers an update on how the dogs are doing.
	Energy-saving LEDs boost light pollution worldwide They were supposed to bring about an energy revolution—but the popularity of LED lights is driving an increase in light pollution worldwide, with dire consequences for human and animal health, researchers said Wednesday.
	Species may appear deceptively resilient to climate change Nature itself can be the best defense against climate change for many species—at least in the short term­—according to a study published in the journal Ecology Letters from the University of California, Davis.
	Managing antibiotics not enough to reverse resistance Researchers have discovered that reducing the use of antibiotics will not be enough to reverse the growing prevalence of antibiotic resistance for some types of bacteria.
	Do birdsong and human speech share biological roots? Do songbirds and humans have common biological hardwiring that shapes how they produce and perceive sounds?
	Desert ants are able to assess the reliability of landmarks as they search for the way home Cataglyphis fortis desert ants can learn visual or olfactory cues to pinpoint their nest, but only if these cues are unique to specify the nest entrance. Scientists from the Max Planck Institute for Chemical Ecology in Jena, Germany, discovered that the insects ignore visual landmarks or odors as nest-defining cues, if these occur not only near the nest but also along the route. Hence, ants are able to evaluate the informative value of such cues and are not fooled by ubiquitous unreliable cues.
	Bowhead whales come to Cumberland Sound in Nunavut to exfoliate Aerial drone footage of bowhead whales in Canada's Arctic has revealed that the large mammals molt and use rocks to rub off dead skin.
	EU trade ban brings down global trade in wild birds by 90 percent Trade of wild birds has dropped about 90% globally since the EU banned bird imports in 2005. A study published today in the recognized scientific journal Science Advances demonstrates how the EU's ban decreased the number of birds traded annually from about 1.3 million to 130.000. International trade of wild birds is a root cause of exotic birds spreading worldwide. The study was led by scientists from the Center for Macroecology, Evolution and Climate, University of Copenhagen and CIBIO-InBIO Research Centre in Biodiversity and Genetic Resources, University of Porto.
Camponotini ant species have their own distinct microbiomes Camponotini ant species have their own distinct microbiomes and the bacteria may also vary by developmental stage, according to a study published November 22, 2017 in the open-access journal PLOS ONE by Manuela Oliveira Ramalho from the Universidade Estadual Paulista "Júlio de Mesquita Filho", Brazil, and colleagues.
	The genome of Leishmania reveals how this parasite adapts to environmental changes Leishmaniasis is an important human and veterinary disease caused by Leishmania parasites that affect 12 million people in over 98 endemic countries. The disease is now emerging in Europe due to climate change and massive population displacement. The parasite is known to rapidly adapt to novel environments with important consequences for disease outcome. It has therefore been recognized as an emerging public health threat for the EU.
	Raging debate: Does culling wolves curb poaching? A researcher in Norway launched the latest salvo Wednesday in a fierce, sometimes caustic debate on how legal hunting impacts the poaching of large predators.
	Antibiotics resistance: Researchers succeed to block genes of resistance Antibiotics are commonly used around the world to cure diseases caused by bacteria. But as the World Health Organization and other international bodies have pointed out, the global increase of antibiotic resistance is a rapidly worsening problem. And since antibiotics are also an essential part of modern medicine, as prophylactic treatment during surgeries and cancer therapy, rising resistance of bacteria presents even more of a danger.
	Expansion of tuna quotas 'step backward' for conservation The 51-nation tuna fisheries body for the Atlantic and Mediterranean boosted quotas for highly prized bluefin despite scientific findings that doing so could threaten the species' recovery, delegates and observers at a key meeting said Tuesday.
A model by which plants adapt their photosynthetic metabolism to light intensity Researchers from the University of Seville and the Centro Superior de Investigaciones Científicas have proposed a model that explains the molecular mechanism used by plants to adapt their photosynthetic mechanism to light intensity.
	How an iconic photograph of an apple inspired an improved cellular analysis Identifying a small number of pathogenic cells among many millions of cells is tricky. Researchers at ETH Zurich have now developed a technology that is able to identify enormous quantities of cell properties on a small scale, individually and in detail.
	Which square is bigger? Honeybees see visual illusions like humans do When a human looks at a distant skyscraper, it appears small to the eye. It's a visual illusion, and we use other contextual information to know the building is actually tall.
	Strong hosts help parasites spread farther Large, physically strong Masu salmon disperse farther when infected with parasites, potentially escaping from further infections at the contaminated site but ironically resulting in the greater expansion of the parasite, according to Hokkaido University researchers.
	The secret to turtle hibernation is butt-breathing To breathe or not to breathe, that is the question.
	To succeed, large ocean sanctuaries need to benefit both sea life and people There is growing concern that the world's oceans are in crisis because of climate change, overfishing, pollution and other stresses. One response is creating marine protected areas, or ocean parks, to conserve sea life and key habitats that support it, such as coral reefs.
	White meat or dark meat? Serving up big data to decipher Thanksgiving dinner For Virginia Tech biochemistry majors Cat Hayes, Duke Nguyen, and Will Stone, turkey has taken on a whole new meaning.
	Bacteria as pacemaker for the intestine Spontaneous contractions of the digestive tract play an important role in almost all animals, and ensure healthy bowel functions. From simple invertebrates to humans, there are consistently similar patterns of movement, through which rhythmic contractions of the muscles facilitate the transport and mixing of the bowel contents. These contractions, known as peristalsis, are essential for the digestive process. With various diseases of the digestive tract, such as severe inflammatory bowel diseases in humans, there are disruptions to the normal peristalsis. To date, very little research has explored the factors underlying the control of these contractions. Now, for the first time, a research team from the Cell and Developmental Biology (Bosch AG) working group at the Zoological Institute at Kiel University (CAU) has been able to prove that the bacterial colonisation of the intestine plays an important role in controlling peristaltic functions.
	High yield, protein with soybean gene Leftovers can be quite valuable. For instance, when soybean seed is crushed and the oil extracted, what's left is called soybean meal. You'll want to save this leftover.
	'Black goat' to thrive again in Israel A breed of goat limited for decades by law in Israel is expected to prosper once again in the Jewish state.
Forest Service weighs changes to protections for sage grouse The U.S. Forest Service is rethinking protection plans for sage grouse in six Western states after a U.S. court agreed with mining companies and others that the agency illegally created some safeguards in Nevada.
What can albatross poo tell us about climate change? Sometimes science leads to unexpected places. Just ask Julie McInnes. She measures the effects of climate change by studying fresh albatross poo.
	Felling pines: Doing it sooner rather than later is better for fynbos Here is some advice for landowners who want to remove pine trees from their properties in the hope of seeing fynbos plants grow there again: if you have any choice in the matter, do so before the trees have grown there for more than 30 years. The longer you wait, the less likely the chances that any fynbos seeds will be left in the soil to sprout successfully. This is according to research in the South African Journal of Botany that was conducted by researchers from Stellenbosch University and the City of Cape Town in South Africa.
	Forest plantations are a potent blend for coffee production Climate change is threatening Europe's coffee supplies, but the impacts could be diluted by planting the crops amongst trees - a technique known as agroforestry, which is also being revived in European farming.

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