Science X Newsletter Tuesday, Dec 5

Dear Reader ,

Here is your customized Science X Newsletter for December 5, 2017:

Spotlight Stories Headlines

New stellar stream discovered by astronomers

Scientists craft world's tiniest interlinking chains

Narrow glass threads synchronize the light emissions of distant atoms

Galileo's free-falling objects experiment passes space test further proving equivalence principle

Earliest example of large hydraulic enterprise excavated in China

Two super-Earths around star K2-18

Breaking electron waves provide new clues to high-temperature superconductivity

Engineers use new technique to 3-D print a 'living tattoo'

In first, 3-D printed objects connect to WiFi without electronics

Experiment demonstrates quantum mechanical effects from biological systems

New algorithm repairs corrupted digital images in one step

Rooftop wiretap aims to learn what crows gossip about at dusk

Red-bellied lemurs maintain gut health through touching and 'huddling' each other

Growing up with coding may start with Google Doodle

Eating for your health is also better for the environment, study shows

Astronomy & Space news

	New stellar stream discovered by astronomers (Phys.org)—An international team of astronomers has detected a new thin stellar stream in the halo of the Milky Way galaxy. The newly discovered feature, named "jet stream," could help researchers answer fundamental questions about the mass distribution of the Milky Way's dark matter halo. The finding was presented November 24 in a paper published on the arXiv pre-print server.
	Two super-Earths around star K2-18 New research using data collected by the European Southern Observatory (ESO) has revealed that a little-known exoplanet called K2-18b could well be a scaled-up version of Earth.
	Meteorite analysis shows reduced salt is key in Earth's new recipe Scientists have found the halogen levels in the meteorites that formed the Earth billions of years ago are much lower than previously thought.
After 900 hours in space, Robert Curbeam is now down to earth at Raytheon Robert Curbeam is vice president and deputy of the space systems division at Raytheon Co. A retired U.S. Navy captain and former NASA astronaut, Curbeam shares the record for most spacewalks - four - by one astronaut during a single space shuttle mission.
	Neutron stars on the brink of collapse When a massive star dies, its core contracts. In a supernova explosion, the star's outer layers are expelled, leaving behind an ultra-compact neutron star. For the first time, the LIGO and Virgo Observatories have recently been able to observe the merger of two neutron stars and measure the mass of the merging stars. Together, the neutron stars had a mass of 2.74 solar masses. Based on these observational data, an international team of scientists from Germany, Greece, and Japan including HITS astrophysicist Dr. Andreas Bauswein has managed to narrow down the size of neutron stars with the aid of computer simulations. The calculations suggest that the neutron star radius must be at least 10.7 km. The international research team's results have been published in Astrophysical Journal Letters.
	Image: Space station transits the moon The International Space Station, with a crew of six onboard, is seen in silhouette as it transits the Moon at roughly five miles per second, Saturday, Dec. 2, 2017, in Manchester Township, York County, Pennsylvania.
	Image: Astronaut Paolo Nespoli in BEAM ESA astronaut Paolo Nespoli completes some tests in the Bigelow Expandable Activity Module, or BEAM, on the International Space Station.

Technology news

	Engineers use new technique to 3-D print a 'living tattoo' MIT engineers have devised a 3-D printing technique that uses a new kind of ink made from genetically programmed living cells.
	In first, 3-D printed objects connect to WiFi without electronics Imagine a bottle of laundry detergent that can sense when you're running low on soap—and automatically connect to the internet to place an order for more.
	New algorithm repairs corrupted digital images in one step From phone camera snapshots to lifesaving medical scans, digital images play an important role in the way humans communicate information. But digital images are subject to a range of imperfections such as blurriness, grainy noise, missing pixels and color corruption.
	Growing up with coding may start with Google Doodle (Tech Xplore)—The 50th anniversary of children learning how to code was celebrated by Google in a very Google fashion: A new home-page Doodle turned out to be an interactive game for children.
	10,000 Google staff set to police YouTube content: chief Google is to deploy a staff of 10,000 to hunt down extremist content on its YouTube platform following recent criticism, the video-sharing site's chief executive told Britain's Daily Telegraph Tuesday.
	Nissan undaunted by bid to stop electric vehicle tax credits The head of Nissan Motor Co.'s operations in North America said Monday that the company is undaunted by congressional efforts to do away with a federal tax credit for plug-in electric vehicles.
Hearing hybrid and electric vehicles while quieting noise pollution Europe, as well as most of the world, faces a future with hybrid or pure electronic road vehicles that rely on alternative drive chains. But these low-emission vehicles are considered too quiet for hearing-impaired pedestrians, so the European Union is mandating that they be equipped with acoustic vehicle alerting systems. With these alert systems would come a marked increase in the amount of noise on the roads across Europe.
	Ireland to start collecting $15 billion in tax from Apple Ireland has struck a deal with Apple to collect up to 13 billion euros ($15 billion) in back taxes and hold it in an escrow account pending an appeal before the Court of Justice of the European Union.
A 'holy grail' of computing hidden in human speech Imagine all 30,557 words of Shakespeare's "Hamlet" being written simultaneously by tens of thousands of people.
	A smart, portable and miniaturized system that can analyze sweat EPFL researchers have teamed up with startup Xsensio to develop a tiny, fully portable system that can encapsulate and analyze biomarkers in a person's sweat. The low-power system, which fits on a chip measuring under 1 cm2, was presented this week at the International Electron Devices Meeting (IEDM) in San Francisco.
	Off-grid, battery-free solar water purifier operating in Puerto Rico Puerto Ricans in the coastal town of Loíza stood in a line that stretched seven blocks, waiting hours for bags of ice and bottles of water. Dirty sewer water flooded a canal in the town. At least one person had died from the bacterial disease leptospirosis, most likely from drinking contaminated water. There was no power.
Intelligent algorithms can help reduce disruptions in online services When the Swedish Tax Agency website went down for nearly two days, thousands of people across Sweden were left frustrated. Users of Gmail, Slack, Facebook, Apple services, and other popular services also regularly experience delays and this type of disruptions. Olumuyiwa Ibidunmoye has developed automated algorithms for troubleshooting to prevent prolonged delays or disruption in services hosted in cloud computing servers.
	IBM scientists demonstrate 10x faster large-scale machine learning using GPUs Together with EPFL scientists, our IBM Research team has developed a scheme for training big data sets quickly. It can process a 30 Gigabyte training dataset in less than one minute using a single graphics processing unit (GPU)—a 10x speedup over existing methods for limited memory training. The results, which efficiently utilize the full potential of the GPU, are being presented at the 2017 NIPS Conference in Long Beach, California.
	Functional ring oscillators based on stacked gate-all-around silicon nanowire transistors At this week's 2017 International Electron Devices Meeting (IEDM), imec, the research and innovation hub in nano-electronics and digital technology, reports on multiple key process optimizations for vertically stacked gate-all-around (GAA) silicon nanowire transistors. The optimized CMOS process flow was then used to integrate, for the first time, the GAA nanowire transistors in a functional ring oscillator. This demonstrator shows the enormous promise this technology holds for realizing the sub-5nm technology nodes.
	Record low contact resistivity on Ga-doped Ge source/drain contacts for pMOS transistors At this week's 2017 International Electron Devices Meeting (IEDM), imec, the world-leading research and innovation hub in nanoelectronics and digital technology, reports ultralow contact resistivity of 5x10-10Ωcm2 on Gallium (Ga)-doped p-Germanium (Ge) source/drain contacts. The low contact resistivity and high level of Ga activation were achieved after nanosecond laser activation (NLA) at low thermal budget. The results show that highly Ga-doped Ge-rich source/drain contacts provide a promising route for suppressing parasitic source/drain resistance in advanced pMOS devices.
	Social networking sites may be controlling your mind – here's how to take charge How can you live the life you want to, avoiding the distractions and manipulations of others? To do so, you need to know how you work. "Know thyself", the Ancients urged. Sadly, we are often bad at this.
	Researchers develop low energy, cost-effective wastewater purification system A team of scientists from the National University of Singapore (NUS) has come up with a novel approach to treat industrial wastewater using electricity as a reagent for purification. The method can remove up to 99 per cent of hard-to-treat organic compounds found in various types of industrial wastewater. The NUS-developed system operates on low electrical power and does not generate secondary waste, such as sludge, that requires further costly residual waste processing such as incineration.
	Have you been 'pwned' in a data breach? Troy Hunt can tell Troy Hunt has collected a trove of 4.8 billion stolen identity records pulled from the darkest corners of the internet—but he isn't a hacker.
	London's iconic black cabs go electric London's first electric-powered black cabs hit the streets on Tuesday, the British capital's iconic taxis getting a facelift for the modern age that should help cut pollution in the city.
	Novel approach to concrete protection slows deterioration in harsh conditions Using crystallising admixture and wax-based curing agents significantly improves the performance of concrete in harsh conditions, a new study from Brunel University London suggests.
	France to question Airbnb executives over payment system The French government has summoned the managers of Airbnb to demand answers over a payment system suspected of facilitating tax avoidance.
US transportation and water infrastructure not broken Transportation and water infrastructure funding and finance in the United States are not nearly as dire as some believe, but a national consensus on infrastructure priorities, accompanied by targeted spending and selected policy changes, is needed, according to a new RAND Corporation study.
	Exploring fluid dynamics in virtual reality Virtual reality has grown beyond the gaming world and is increasingly being used for a variety of applications—including education. Researchers in Assistant Professor Melissa Green's Flow Visualization Lab in the College of Engineering and Computer Science are developing a way to apply it to their work.
	Panasonic develops unique vacuum insulated glass based on its plasma display panel technology Panasonic Corporation today announced it has developed and succeeded in mass production of thin, high-performance vacuum insulated glass by applying technologies the company accumulated in the development and manufacturing of plasma display panels (PDPs). The glass achieves a heat transfer coefficient (Ug value) of 0.7 (W/m²K), the industry's top-class insulation performance for glass with a total thickness of 6 mm, which is equal to or greater than triple glass containing argon gas with a total thickness of about 3 cm.
	Conflicting views on social media balanced by an algorithm Social media has become an important news source for a majority of adults. A common complaint is that social media help create echo chambers in which people reading information do not expose themselves to different viewpoints but are often confined to their own. This happens especially with controversial and polarising topics where two viewpoints become so isolated and conflicting viewpoints can emerge that people do not receive or read information that will not reinforce their own opinion.
	Lighting the world—electrification strategies for Sub-Saharan Africa This study combines geospatial information systems (GIS) tools and energy system modelling in an Open Source Spatial Electrification Toolkit (OnSSET), to identify least-cost electrification strategies for 44 Sub-Saharan countries.
	Facebook CEO to take a month of parental leave in December Facebook CEO Mark Zuckerberg says he's taking parental leave this month to spend more time with his daughters.
	Dish CEO Charlie Ergen steps aside to focus on wireless Charlie Ergen, the founder of satellite TV company Dish, is stepping aside as CEO to focus on the company's wireless business.

Medicine & Health news

	New tuberculosis drugs possible with understanding of old antibiotic Tuberculosis, and other life-threatening microbial diseases, could be more effectively tackled with future drugs, thanks to new research into an old antibiotic by the University of Warwick and The Francis Crick Institute.
	Experimental drug blocks toxic ion flow linked to Alzheimer's disease An international team of researchers has shown that a new small-molecule drug can restore brain function and memory in a mouse model of Alzheimer's disease. The drug works by stopping toxic ion flow in the brain that is known to trigger nerve cell death. Scientists envision that this drug could be used to treat Alzheimer's and other neurodegenerative diseases such as Parkinson's and ALS.
	Lab-engineered ovaries superior to hormone drugs in animal model New research in rats suggests the possibility of bioengineering artificial ovaries in the lab to provide a safer, more natural hormone replacement therapy for women. A team from Wake Forest Institute for Regenerative Medicine found that the engineered ovaries were more effective than hormone therapy drugs at improving bone and uterine health and body composition.
	How musical training affects speech processing Musical training is associated with various cognitive improvements and pervasive plasticity in human brains. Among its merits, musical training is thought to enhance the cognitive and neurobiological foundation of speech processing, particularly in challenging listening environments such as noisy restaurants. However, the brain mechanisms supporting any such potential advantages related to speech perception are not well specified.
	Tapping the genome's social network to find cancer drivers Any one tumor might harbor mutations in thousands of different genes. The challenge is to find the driver mutations—which fuel cancerous activity, and might be promising treatment targets—within the haystack of passengers (mutations that, while present in the tumor, do not help it grow or spread).
	Combination strategy could hold promise for ovarian cancer Johns Hopkins Kimmel Cancer Center researchers demonstrated that mice with ovarian cancer that received drugs to reactivate dormant genes along with other drugs that activate the immune system had a greater reduction of tumor burden and significantly longer survival than those that received any of the drugs alone.
	Men with HPV are 20 times more likely to be reinfected after one year A new analysis of genital human papillomavirus (HPV) in men shows that infection with one HPV type strongly increases the risk of reinfection with the same type. In fact, men who are infected with the type responsible for most HPV-related cancers are 20 times more likely to be reinfected within one year. This increased risk suggests that infection confers no natural immunity against HPV, as is often the case with other viruses.
	Obesity prevented in mice fed high-fat diet Researchers at Washington University School of Medicine in St. Louis have identified a way to prevent fat cells from growing larger, a process that leads to weight gain and obesity. By activating a pathway in fat cells in mice, the researchers found they could feed the animals a high-fat diet without making them obese.
	Study finds link between fragile X syndrome gene and dysregulated tissue growth Researchers at Indiana University have found a previously undetected link between the gene that causes fragile X syndrome and increased tissue growth. The link could reveal a key biological mechanism behind the serious physical and mental impairments caused by the disorder.
	Seeing isn't believing: Biologists show how to shut off hunger 'alarm system' Imagine you're in a restaurant, hungry, anxious and a bit irritable awaiting your food order to arrive at the table. The server exits the kitchen with a tray full of steaming plates and a flood of relief washes over you. But the server ferries the food right past you to another table, and the unpleasant sensation of hunger returns—at least until you take the first bite of your very own meal.
Study shows lithium chloride blunts brain damage linked to fetal alcohol syndrom A single dose of lithium chloride, a drug used to treat bipolar disease and aggression, blocks the sleep disturbances, memory loss, and learning problems tied to fetal alcohol syndrome, new experiments in mice show.
	New estimates of modern contraceptive use in the world's poorest countries Statisticians Leontine Alkema, Niamh Cahill and Chuchu Wei at the University of Massachusetts Amherst, with others, today released new estimates and projections of modern contraceptive prevalence (mCPR) and other family planning outcomes for the 69 poorest countries of the world.
Racial disparities persist in the survival of patients with ovarian, colon, and breast cancer Three new articles present trends in survival for patients with ovarian, colon, and breast cancer in the United States by race and stage. Published early online in Cancer, a peer-reviewed journal of the American Cancer Society, the findings reveal large, consistent, and persistent racial disparities in survival.
	Gene-based Zika vaccine is safe and immunogenic in healthy adults Results from two Phase 1 clinical trials show an experimental Zika vaccine developed by government scientists at the National Institute of Allergy and Infectious Diseases (NIAID), part of the National Institutes of Health, is safe and induces an immune response in healthy adults. The findings will be published on Dec. 4 in The Lancet. NIAID is currently leading an international effort to evaluate the investigational vaccine in a Phase 2/2b safety and efficacy trial.
	Trials show inactivated Zika virus vaccine is safe and immunogenic The investigational Zika purified inactivated virus (ZPIV) vaccine was well-tolerated and induced an immune response in participants, according to initial results from three Phase 1 clinical trials. Scientists at the Walter Reed Army Institute of Research (WRAIR), part of the U.S. Department of Defense, are developing the vaccine as well as leading one of the trials. WRAIR also is co-funding the trials together with the National Institute of Allergy and Infectious Diseases (NIAID), part of the National Institutes of Health (NIH). The results will appear on Dec. 4 in The Lancet.
CVS purchase of Aetna pitched as antidote to US health maze CVS Health's proposed takeover of insurer Aetna is being pitched as a cost-effective antidote to the complex and at times frustrating American health care system, with pharmacies playing a broader role in patient care.
Philippines halts sale of Sanofi's dengue vaccine (Update) The Philippines has suspended the sale and distribution of Sanofi's dengue vaccine, authorities said Tuesday, after the French pharmaceutical giant last week warned it could worsen symptoms for people who had not previously been infected.
	Australia's flu season has US health officials bracing for a bad winter, and wishing for a new vaccine The flu season is just getting underway in North America, but if Australia's experience with influenza is any guide, we're in for a miserable winter.
University was tipped off to possible unauthorized trials of herpes vaccine The university that employed a controversial herpes vaccine researcher has told the federal government it learned last summer of the possibility of his illegal experimentation on human subjects. But Southern Illinois University did not publicly disclose the tip or its findings about researcher William Halford's misconduct for months, according to a memo obtained by Kaiser Health News.
	Shorter course of treatment may provide better outcome for intermediate-risk prostate cancer Prostate cancer is the most common cancer among males in the United States. Approximately, 180,000 men are diagnosed each year, and approximately 95 percent of these men have localized disease that is potentially curable. Previously, studies have consistently demonstrated that conventionally fractionated high dose external beam radiation therapy (CRT), consisting of daily treatment for two months, decreases prostate cancer recurrence, and improves metastasis-free survival. Previous studies also demonstrate that moderate hypo-fractionated radiation therapy (HRT), consisting of daily treatment for one month using a larger dose per treatment, provides a similar low risk of recurrence, and may even be lower with HRT than CRT.
	Working memory positively associated with higher physical endurance and better cognitive function Mount Sinai researchers have found a positive relationship between the brain network associated with working memory—the ability to store and process information relevant to the task at hand—and healthy traits such as higher physical endurance and better cognitive function.
Researchers connect severity of 'kissing disease' to T-cell population Acute infectious mononucleosis (AIM), also known as mono or the "kissing disease," is caused by the Epstein-Barr Virus (EBV). In a paper published this week in mBio, researchers connect the onset and severity of mono to T-cells that react to both EBV and the influenza A virus, which causes the flu. The study represents one of the first reported links between how a person's immune system responds to infection and receptors on T-cells, which instigate the immune response.
Popular blood pressure medicine linked with increased risk of skin cancer Recently published research from The University of Southern Denmark and the Danish Cancer Society shows a connection between one of the most common medications for hypertension and skin cancer. Danish researchers set their sights on anti-hypertensive medicine containing hydrochlorothiazide in relation to an increased risk for skin cancer. The researchers have previously demonstrated that the medicine, which is one of the most commonly used drugs worldwide, can increase the risk of lip cancer.
	Xenon gas treatment progresses into drug development xenon gas was studied at the Intensive Care Unit (ICU) of Turku University Hospital, Finland, in 2009-2014 as a treatment for minimising the damage of cardiac arrest, and now it enters drug development in spring 2018. NeuroproteXeon is advancing the study of xenon in a pivotal phase III trial. An earlier study discovered that xenon protects the white matter in the brain from damage, and the latest research showed that xenon can also protect the heart.
Researchers find hand preference is well defined at 18 weeks of gestation A study led by Valentina Parma, researcher at the SISSA of Trieste, and Professor Umberto Castiello of the University of Padua, just published in Scientific Reports, shows that hand preference is already well defined at the 18th week of gestation. Analysing the characteristics of several foetal movements, the researchers can accurately predict the motor preference observed in the same boys and girls at age nine. The predictive capacity of the method seems to be a good starting point for the early recognition of pathologies characterised by cerebral asymmetries such as depression, schizophrenia and autism spectrum disorders.
	When the doctor's away: What happens to hospitalized patients when substitute doctors fill in? When you are hospitalized and the regular doctor is out sick, on vacation or at a scientific conference, you are increasingly likely to receive treatment not from the doctor's colleague or another hospital staff physician but by an outsider hired to fill in like a substitute school teacher.
	UN warns of drug-resistant germ risk brewing in nature (Update) The UN warned Tuesday of a ticking time bomb of drug-resistant germs brewing in the natural environment, aided by humans dumping antibiotics and chemicals into the water and soil.
	Parental attention can reduce risk of drug abuse in adolescence Children required by parents to follow rules and discuss their activities have fewer problems when they enter adolescence, such as abuse of alcohol and other drugs. The likelihood of such problems is further reduced when parents explain what the rules are for and are supportive when they experience difficulties. In the literature, this parenting style is called responsiveness.
Personalized diagnostic assay for the treatment of knee injuries An article published in Experimental Biology and Medicine (Volume 242, Issue 18, December 2017) describes a new approach for profiling patients with joint injuries. The study, led by Dr. Ursula Anderer, Professor for Cell Biology and Head of the Department Cell Biology and Tissue Engineering at Brandenburg University of Technology in Cottbus-Senftenberg, Germany, demonstrates that a microtissue culture assay can be used to identify patients that will benefit from cell-based therapies.
	Chill-out tunes amplify recovery after workout Your playlist is key to getting the most out of your post-exercise recovery and can help you stick to your routine, scientists show for the first time.
Genes on Y chromosome protect against pulmonary hypertension, study suggests A new UCLA study suggests that the Y chromosome provides protection against the development of pulmonary hypertension and may be the reason the disease is less prevalent among men than women. The researcher found that mice with Y chromosomes were significantly less likely to develop severe pulmonary hypertension than mice without Y chromosomes.
	New computer model predicts your health from the shape of your face, and so does your brain An international study, led by researchers at Macquarie University, has developed a new computer model that can predict the status of certain health characteristics just by analysing a person's face, and reports that our brains work in much the same way.
	Hearing different accents at home impacts language processing in infants Infants raised in homes where they hear a single language, but spoken with different accents, recognize words dramatically differently at about 12 months of age than their age-matched peers exposed to little variation in accent, according to a recent study by University at Buffalo expert in language development.
	Delayed development of fast-spiking neurons linked to Fragile X Northwestern Medicine scientists have discovered a delay in the maturation of fast-spiking neurons in the neonatal cortex of a mouse model of Fragile X syndrome, a human neurodevelopmental disorder.
Protein's role in lupus development Northwestern Medicine scientists have demonstrated that the loss of a protein called Bim in macrophages—a type of immune cell—leads to the development of lupus-like disease in mice. The findings, published in the Journal of Experimental Medicine, suggest that Bim may be a novel therapeutic target for lupus in humans.
	Individual choices, not family influence teenagers' non-alcoholic drink preference Adolescents' non-alcoholic drinks preferences are strongly influenced by their own individual circumstances and lifestyle choices, but not by their families and home environment, according to a new UCL study.
	Personalised epilepsy seizure prediction a possibility with AI The idea of personalised seizure prediction for epilepsy is closer to becoming a reality thanks to new research published today by the University of Melbourne and IBM Research-Australia.
	Study shows interventions, though few, can be effective for students with high-functioning autism Across the country, more and more young people are being diagnosed as with autism spectrum disorder, including those with high-functioning autism. Yet there is little research into how to help educators serve students with high-functioning autism, especially adolescents in middle and high school settings. New research from the University of Kansas shows that interventions can be successful in helping this population and calls for more research in the area.
	Large study links alcohol misuse to subsequent injury risk in young people The immediate effects of drinking too much alcohol are obvious, unpleasant and can even be life threatening, but a new study has shown that young people who drink excessively, to the degree that they are admitted into hospital because of it, are also at a much higher risk of sustaining injuries in the following 6 months.
	A new collaborative approach to investigate what happens in the brain when it makes a decision Decisions span a vast range of complexity. There are really simple ones: Do I want an apple or a piece of cake with my lunch? Then there are much more complicated ones: Which car should I buy, or which career should I choose?
	Is your child a picky eater? Five ways to fun and healthy mealtimes If you have a picky eater at home, you aren't alone. Almost 50 per cent of parents identify their preschoolers as picky eaters.
	Thinking of taking opioids for low back pain? Here's what you need to know Low back pain is a common problem affecting more than 80% of us at some point in our lives. Recommended treatments include staying active and, if possible, avoiding strong pain medicines such as opioids.
	Reducing light and noise made a psychiatric ICU unit calmer and safer, study says Turning down the lights and reducing noise levels as part of a stimulation reduction initiative can decrease assaults and the amount of time patients must spend in restraint at psychiatric intensive care units, according to new research from the University of Alabama at Birmingham. Findings published in the Journal of the American Psychiatric Nurses Association showed that simple techniques to reduce sensory overstimulation played a major role in creating a safer environment for both patients and staff.
	Link found between estrogens and changes in heart physiology Estrogens are powerful hormones important for the formation and function of the nervous, reproductive and cardiovascular systems.
Healthcare consumers find little information online Trying to be an informed healthcare consumer in the United States is harder than you might think, according to researchers from the Duke-Margolis Center for Health Policy. When consumers search for healthcare prices online, only 17 percent of sites provide information on the price of common procedures, making it difficult for patients without insurance, who have high-deductible plans, or whose plans include other kinds of cost sharing to determine how much their care will cost and what they will pay out of pocket.
	Tips to keep blood pressure in check this holiday season The holidays can be filled with everything from family visits, traveling and festive meals to illness and financial concerns. For the millions of American adults with high blood pressure, these changes and stressors can lead to drastic fluctuations in blood pressure that can increase risk for heart attack or stroke.
	Researchers identify an indirect way of countering a key genetic lesion in neuroblastoma Pediatric cancers tend to have relatively "quiet" genomes compared to tumors in adults. They harbor fewer discrete genetic mutations, especially in genes for readily "druggable" targets (such as protein kinases). Instead, these tumors tend to feature other kinds of genetic alterations, such as duplications or translocations.
	Researchers pinpoint pathway to muscle paralysis Researchers at the University of Arizona have taken an essential step forward in the quest to find the cause of amyotrophic lateral sclerosis, also known as ALS or Lou Gehrig's disease. In the cells of flies, mice and humans with ALS, scientists at the UA have pinpointed a process that collapses when a critical protein's blueprint is arrested on its way to protein construction. The study was published recently in the journal Cell Reports.
	Brain map sheds light on smokers' habit Smokers may be predisposed to their habit because of the molecular make-up of their brain, research suggests. The finding comes from a new brain map that helps explain why certain behaviours are linked with particular areas of the brain.
	Specific protein promotes development of pancreatitis and tumours Pancreatic cancer is one of the most aggressive forms of cancer and is currently very difficult to treat. However, the last few years have seen advances in the scientific understanding of how this cancer develops at a molecular level. For example, as well as certain risk factors, genetic changes also play a role. In a study published in leading journal Cancer Cell, a team led by laboratory medicine specialist Jelena Todoric from MedUni Vienna's Institute of Laboratory Medicine and molecular biologist Michael Karin from the University of California in San Diego were able to show that disrupted cell autophagy can be a precursor for these genetic changes. This gives rise to an abnormal amount of the protein p62/SQSTM1, which negatively affects pancreatic cells and consequently causes the tissue changes that then progress into pancreatic cancer.
	Are you among 3.7 million Australians who suffer lower back pain? Researchers from the University of South Australia have established a new interactive website to provide people with evidence-based advice about healthcare.
	Many people are regularly missing GP appointments, according to the largest ever analysis of NHS patients who fail Many people are regularly missing GP appointments, according to the largest ever analysis of NHS patients who fail to attend. The study revealed that socio-economic deprivation is the most important indicator of why patients will miss multiple appointments.
	A groundbreaking pancreatic cancer trial aims to match patients with more targeted and effective treatm A ground-breaking new pancreatic cancer trial, which aims to match patients with more targeted and effective treatment for their tumours, is to begin in Scotland.
	Type 2 diabetes is not for life Almost half of the patients with Type 2 diabetes supported by their GPs on a weight loss programme were able to reverse their diabetes in a year, a study has found.
	Shaming people about their lifestyle habits does nothing to improve their health Going to the doctor usually involves exposing the body with all its faults and flaws. In a culture that increasingly values self control and bodily perfection, being sick or even merely old can lead to feelings of shame and inadequacy.
	It's time to rethink how we do cancer research "A devastating failure of medical research." This was the response of one cancer survivor on hearing the news that over half of European Medical Agency-approved cancer treatments between 2009 and 2013 had no evidence of impact on quality of life or overall survival. As a cancer researcher, my goal above all is to improve patients' lives – the fact we are failing at that struck me deeply.
	Producers of sugary food have more incentives to maintain sugar levels than cut them, study finds A new study from the World Health Organisation and City, University of London has found that producers of food with high sugar content have many more incentives to maintain sugar levels than cut them.
Who's in control when you're giving birth? Kimberly Turbin wasn't expecting childbirth to be a pleasant experience, but she wasn't expecting it to be a nightmare either.
Children with mental health problems more likely to be out of work by 55 Physical and mental illness at younger ages can have a significant impact on people's prospects of being in employment in later life, according to two reports from the International Longevity Centre (ILC-UK) and the renEWL research team based at UCL.
	Most people in favour of screening for spinal muscular atrophy Research from the University of Warwick indicates that most people are in favour of newborn screening for the potentially deadly condition spinal muscular atrophy (SMA). The study Newborn genetic screening for spinal muscular atrophy in the UK: The views of the general population has been published in the journal Molecular Genetics & Genomic Medicine.
	Talking to your baby makes all the difference One in seven Aussie mums (16 per cent) will experience the debilitating symptoms of peri-natal and post-natal depression.
	Migrant deaths are 'vastly under-reported' according to new report The majority of migrant deaths are unrecorded, according to a new report which calls for 'significant improvements' to be made in order to capture the true number of deaths which occur during migration worldwide.
Safer opioid drugs could treat pain and save lives Opioid drugs are the most widely prescribed and effective type of pain medication. But they are highly addictive and have some unpleasant and potentially deadly side effects.
	How parents behave is linked to suicide risk: research (Update) Adolescents who feel their parents rarely express interest in their emotional well-being are far more likely to consider suicide than youths who see their parents as involved, US researchers said Tuesday.
Polyunsaturated fatty acids linked to reduced allergy risk New research from Karolinska Institutet in Sweden reveals that high levels of polyunsaturated fatty acids in children's blood are associated with a reduced risk of asthma or rhinitis at the age of 16 years. The study is published in the Journal of Allergy and Clinical Immunology.
Preschool program helps boost skills necessary for academic achievement Children growing up in poverty face many challenges, but a preschool program that aims to improve social and emotional skills may help increase their focus and improve learning in the classroom, according to researchers.
When contact sports cause concussion injuries, who comes out ahead? Concussions are common injuries among contact sport athletes. While most athletes experience full recovery within a few weeks and can return to their sport, according to a study published in the December issue of the Journal of the American Academy of Orthopaedic Surgeons, female athletes tend to experience a higher concussion injury rate than male athletes. Additionally, athletes who suffered a concussion injury prior to college were three times more likely to suffer a contact sport-related concussion than their collegiate peers without a history of the injury.
Bacteria outbreak kills 36 in S.Africa An outbreak of food-borne listeria bacteria has claimed 36 lives and infected almost 600 people in South Africa, the health minister said Tuesday, warning that newborns and the elderly are particularly vulnerable.
	No sway! Arithmetic + anxiety = a stiffer posture Anxiously solving sums under pressure reduces the amount you sway, a new study supported by Brunel University London suggests.
	Pregnant women with PTSD have higher levels of stress hormone cortisol Research has shown that a woman's emotional and physical health during pregnancy impacts a developing fetus. However, less is known about the effect of past stressors and posttraumatic stress disorder on an expectant woman.
Researchers link binge eating and weight-loss challenges Someone who binge eats consumes an objectively large amount of food while feeling a loss of control over eating. When episodes occur weekly for several months, the action moves into the realm of binge-eating disorder. So how does this type of eating affect people with Type 2 diabetes and obesity who are actively working to lose weight?
	Researchers identify possible new way to treat parasitic infections UT Southwestern Medical Center researchers have identified a chemical that suppresses the lethal form of a parasitic infection caused by roundworms that affects up to 100 million people and usually causes only mild symptoms.
Nursing homes can prevent infections through performance improvement collaboratives Each year, 150,000 U.S. nursing home residents will receive a urinary catheter—half of whom will develop a catheter-associated urinary tract infection (CAUTI). While 70 percent of facilities report having an infection preventionist (IP) on staff, many nursing home IPs often have limited time to advance their training on infection control.
	Study identifies hundreds of genetic 'switches' that effect height It's been understood for decades that a host of factors - everything from pre- and post-natal health, nutrition, and genetics - play a role in determining height, but efforts to untangle the complex web of factors that contribute to height have long been stymied.
	Goldwater Rule 'gagging' psychiatrists no longer relevant, analysis finds The rationale for the Goldwater Rule—which prohibits psychiatrists from publicly commenting on the mental health of public figures they have not examined in person—does not hold up to current scientific scrutiny, a new analysis finds.
	Seaweed could hold key to environmentally friendly sunscreen A compound found in seaweed could protect human skin from the damaging impact of the sun without causing harm to marine ecosystems.
	Augmented-reality technology could help treat 'lazy eye' When signals between the brain and one eye go awry, input from the other eye can become predominant, a condition called amblyopia or "lazy eye." Amblyopia is common and it is typically treated by forcing the less dominant eye to adapt, either through lab-based training or wearing an eyepatch. But new research suggests that people may be able to use wearable augmented-reality technology to reduce this visual discrepancy as they go about everyday activities.
	New process could be key to understanding complex rearrangements in genome Understanding complex genomic rearrangements (CGRs), the culprit in the development of many types of cancer and genetic disorders, has always been a challenge because of the limitations of established DNA sequencing techniques. However, a team led by Tufts University biologists has successfully harnessed new technology to develop an approach that could allow for rapid and precise identification of the CGRs involved in disease, cancer and disorder development, which is critical for diagnosis and treatment. The results appeared this week in the December issue of Genome Research.
	Hyperbaric oxygen therapy may alleviate symptoms of Alzheimer's Disease A new Tel Aviv University study reveals that hyperbaric oxygen treatments may ameliorate symptoms experienced by patients with Alzheimer's disease.
New weakness found in most common childhood malignant brain tumor A new weakness found in medulloblastoma, the most common form of childhood brain tumour, could lead to more personalised medicine and improved treatment for some patients, according to an early study by Queen Mary University of London (QMUL), funded by the Medical Research Council and Brain Tumour Research.
	Scientists create successful mass production system for bioengineered livers Researchers report creating a biologically accurate mass-production platform that overcomes major barriers to bioengineering human liver tissues suitable for therapeutic transplant into people.
Surgeons remove cancerous lymph nodes through hidden scar procedure A team of surgeons at Mount Sinai Beth Israel, led by Hyunsuk Suh, MD, Assistant Professor in the Department of Surgery at the Icahn School of Medicine at Mount Sinai, have performed the first robot-assisted radical neck dissection in the United States using the bilateral axillo-breast approach (BABA), a surgery that involves removing all of the lymph nodes on one side of the neck. The results were published today in the journal VideoEndocrinology.
	Cold discomfort: Increasing cancer rates and adaptation of living in extreme environments It is well known that cancer incidence is increasing worldwide, with pockets of human populations and geographical locations seemingly at higher risk than others.
	Screening has had 'little impact' on falling breast cancer deaths in the Netherlands Breast screening in the Netherlands seems to have had a marginal effect on breast cancer mortality over the past 24 years, suggests research in The BMJ today.
	Traffic pollution putting unborn babies' health at risk, warn experts Air pollution from road traffic is having a detrimental impact upon babies' health in London, before they are born, finds a study published by The BMJ today.
	In multiple myeloma, high levels of enzyme ADAR1 are associated with reduced survival Multiple myeloma is the second most common blood cancer in the United States. Thirty to 50 percent of multiple myeloma patients have extra copies of the gene that encodes the enzyme ADAR1. Using a database of multiple myeloma patient samples and information, researchers at University of California San Diego School of Medicine found that high ADAR1 levels correlate with reduced survival rates. They also determined that blocking the enzyme reduces multiple myeloma regeneration in experimental models derived from patient cancer cells.
	Do heat waves shave dollars off a baby's future earnings? (HealthDay)—Being pregnant during a heat wave may be more than uncomfortable: New research suggests it can shave dollars off your child's potential income.
	Diet may help fight epilepsy when meds fail (HealthDay)—For children with epilepsy who don't find relief from their seizures with medication, a tightly controlled nutrition plan might help, a pair of new studies suggests.
Dating violence tied to spankings in childhood (HealthDay)— Spanking your child may have unintended consequences as he or she forges adult romantic relationships years later, a new study suggests.
	7 signs you'd benefit from a fitness assessment (HealthDay)—You might be excited to begin an exercise program for better health, but for some people, getting a fitness assessment first is the right way to get started.
	Think before you drink (HealthDay)—With the traditional flood of holiday parties and festivities approaching, chances to drink excessively increase. So, what to do?
	Link between diabetes, antibiotic use called into question (HealthDay)—Previous findings that systemic use of antibiotics increases the risk of diabetes may actually be explained by clinical and lifestyle factors, according to a study published online Nov. 20 in Diabetes, Obesity and Metabolism.
	Lymph node density predicts thyroid cancer outcomes (HealthDay)—Lymph node density (LND) can help predict outcomes in patients with papillary thyroid cancer, according to a study published online Nov. 30 in JAMA Otolaryngology—Head & Neck Surgery .
	Antithrombotics deemed safe in carpal tunnel release surgery (HealthDay)—For patients undergoing wide-awake carpal tunnel release (CTR) surgery, antithrombotic (AT) agents may be safely continued, according to a research letter published online Nov. 29 in JAMA Surgery.
	Lipid-linked genetic risk tied to abdominal aortic aneurysm (HealthDay)—Lipid-associated genetic risk correlates with the risk of abdominal aortic aneurysm (AAA), according to a study published online Nov. 29 in JAMA Cardiology.
	Diagnostic mutations ID'd in chronic kidney disease patients (HealthDay)—About one-quarter of adults with chronic kidney disease (CKD) of unknown cause or familial nephropathy or hypertension have diagnostic mutations, which can be identified with whole-exome sequencing (WES), according to a study published online Dec. 5 in the Annals of Internal Medicine.
	Acute intermittent porphyria described in teen girl (HealthDay)—A case of a 16-year-old presenting to the emergency department with acute intermittent porphyria (AIP) is described in a case report published online Dec. 5 in Pediatrics.
	ASHP: Key role for pharmacists in natural, man-made disasters (HealthDay)—Pharmacy specialists play a critical role in preparing for and responding to disastrous events, according to an educational session held at the mid-year clinical meeting and exhibition of the American Society of Health-System Pharmacists, held from Dec. 3 to 7 in Orlando, Fla.
	About one in six readmitted post-revascularization for PAD (HealthDay)—For patients with peripheral arterial disease who are discharged following peripheral arterial revascularization, 17.6 percent have 30-day nonelective readmission, according to a study published online Dec. 5 in the Annals of Internal Medicine.
	Women who attempt suicide exhibit different protein levels years after the attempt Women with a history of suicide attempts exhibit different levels of a specific protein in their bloodstream than those with no history of suicide attempts, according to new research from Binghamton University, State University of New York.
	Mitochondrial protein in cardiac muscle cells linked to heart failure, study finds Reducing a protein found in the mitochondria of cardiac muscle cells initiates cardiac dysfunction and heart failure, a finding that could provide insight for new treatments for cardiovascular diseases, a study led by Georgia State University has shown.
	Lithium in water associated with slower rate of Alzheimer's disease deaths Rates of diabetes and obesity, which are important risk factors for Alzheimer's disease, also decrease if there is a particular amount of lithium in the water, says the study, published recently in the Journal of Alzheimer's Disease.
L.A. homeless housing program saves more money than it costs A public-private effort to provide permanent supportive housing to people in Los Angeles County with complex medical and behavioral health issues who were experiencing homelessness caused a significant drop in their use of public services, resulting in an overall savings to local government, according to a new RAND Corporation study.
	Transgender youth avoid health care due to discomfort with doctors Close to half of transgender young Canadians aren't accessing health care when they need it, according to a new study from the University of British Columbia.
	Loneliness, poor ethnic identity among Latinos contribute to suicide risks Suicide is a serious mental health issue among college students, especially Latinos who may struggle with belonging to their ethnic group.
Fatigue and overuse major factors in dancing injuries New research has identified the most common injuries suffered by professional dancers and examined what can be done to assist in preventing injuries.
New drug-eluting stents very promising New-generation stents containing anti-vasoconstriction medication perform well. They are safe and efficient for most patients, over both the short term and the long term. According to Liefke van der Heijden, a trainee cardiologist at the Medisch Spectrum Twente hospital, future research into stents may focus on high-risk patients or those with complex lesions. She will be awarded a PhD by the University of Twente's Faculty of Behavioural, Management and Social Sciences (BMS) on Wednesday 6 December. Her doctoral thesis is titled Second-generation drug-eluting stents and beyond.
	How can colleges better predict when a person's radical beliefs will turn to violence? In a new study researchers reviewed numerous cases of extremist violence or terrorism and the published literature to develop a set of tools for colleges to use to assess the risk and reduce the potential for acts of violent extremism. The study, which identifies several risk factors linked to a person's transition from thinking about, planning, and actually implementing violence, is published in Violence and Gender.
	Researchers create unique bioengineered organoids for modeling colorectal cancer A new study describes a unique bioengineered tissue construct, or organoid, into which colorectal cancer cells are embedded, creating a model of the tumor and surrounding extracellular matrix (ECM). Researchers can use this model to study how the physical features of the ECM affect the behavior, growth, and even susceptibility to chemotherapy, as described in an article published in Tissue Engineering, Part A.
	Researchers examine role of gene variation linked to major depressive disorder A new study assessed the effects of a SLC6A15 gene variant on resting-state brain function in patients with major depressive disorder (MDD), comparing the results with those in healthy individuals. Based on the results of genotyping and functional magnetic resonance imaging (fMRI) of the brain, researchers identified an association between a specific SLC6A15 polymorphism and resting-state brain function in multiple brain regions in patients with MDD, as reported in Genetic Testing and Molecular Biomarkers.
	As tax bill unfolds, what's in store for Obamacare's individual mandate? (HealthDay)—As U.S. House and Senate leaders huddle to reconcile differences between their respective tax reform bills, the fate of the Affordable Care Act's individual mandate remains uncertain.

Biology news

	Rooftop wiretap aims to learn what crows gossip about at dusk What are crows saying when their loud cawing fills a dark winter's evening? Despite the inescapable ruckus, nobody knows for sure. Birds congregate daily before and after sleep, and they make some noise, but what might be happening in those brains is a mystery.
	Red-bellied lemurs maintain gut health through touching and 'huddling' each other Scientists have found a direct link between physical contact and gut bacteria in red-bellied lemurs. Likely passed through 'huddling' behaviour and touch, the findings suggest implications for human health.
	The bacterial community on the International Space Station resembles homes Microbiologists at the University of California, Davis who analyzed swabs taken by astronauts on the International Space Station (ISS) and compared them with samples from homes on earth as well as the Human Microbiome Project found that the microbial community in this unique habitat was very diverse and more closely resembled that of homes than of humans.
	Tigers cling to survival in Sumatra's increasingly fragmented forests A research expedition tracked endangered tigers through the Sumatran jungles for a year and found tigers are clinging to survival in low density populations. Their findings have renewed fears about the possible extinction of the elusive predators.
	Big data helps researchers in battle to control plant invaders Researchers at The University of Western Australia are part of an international team that has discovered why some plant species are more successful than others at successfully invading new regions.
	Worm genomes reveal a link between humans and distant relatives Researchers from the Marine Genomics Unit at OIST, in collaboration with Okayama University, have decoded two worm genomes and found that they have several genetic similarities with vertebrates. This result is surprising, given that these groups are only distantly related.
	Study sheds new light on how animals and plants respond to changes in the environment Scientists at the University of Sheffield have discovered that living creatures' responsiveness to changes in the environment can evolve and depends on the conditions they experienced in their past.
	Lemur study highlights role of diet in shaping gut microbiome A study of the bacteria in the guts of three lemur species offers new insights into the role of diet in shaping these microbial ecosystems – and how these microbes may relate to primate health.
	Girls will be boys: Sex reversal in dragon lizards One of Australia's iconic lizard species is hiding a secret - female central bearded dragon embryos temporarily grow the lizard equivalent of a penis during development.
	Wing structure vital in producing a range of tones in bush-cricket mating calls The structure of the sound generators in the wings of male bush-crickets is critical for producing tonality within the long-range mating calls that attract distant females, a major new study has shown.
	Study finds variation within species is a critical aspect of biodiversity Concerns about biodiversity tend to focus on the loss of species from ecosystems, but a new study suggests that the loss of variation within species can also have important ecological consequences.
	Researchers show how insect food choice can be manipulated Researchers at the University of California, Riverside have found a way to access and manipulate taste neurons in the pharynx (throat) of the common fruit fly that could help control the spread of mosquito-related illnesses, such as dengue, malaria, yellow fever, and Zika virus, and reduce the loss of crops due to agricultural pests.
New study shows how ant colonies behave differently in different environments A new paper published in Behavioral Ecology finds that some ant colonies defend more gallantly than others, revealing that colonies themselves may have personalities. Trees that have more active, aggressive colonies have less leaf damage, suggesting that colony personality may play an important role in plant health and survival.
'Whodunnit', as Aussie reptiles go extinct: study (Update) Three species of reptile on Australia's Christmas Island have been declared extinct in the wild, according to a study released on Tuesday, with scientists baffled as to the cause.
	2 kiwi birds are rare bright spot in grim extinction report Two types of New Zealand kiwi birds are a rare bright spot in a mostly grim assessment of global species at risk of extinction.
Refrigeration technology to maintain cold-stored mouse sperm viability for 10 days A Japanese research team from Kumamoto University has succeeded in developing a refrigeration preservation technology that maintains the fertilization functionality of mouse sperm for 10 days. Previously, the maximum freezing period was limited to three days, but by extending the preservation period by over three times that amount, it is now possible to send sperm of genetically modified mice to research organizations around the world.
	Computerized biology, or how to control a population of cells with a computer Researchers from the Pasteur Institute and Inria, with researchers from the CNRS and Paris Diderot University, and from the Institute of Science and Technology (IST) in Austria, have published two articles in Nature Communications about computer control of cellular processes. Hybrid experimental platforms combining microscopes and software are enabling researchers to interface living cells with control algorithms in real time. The two articles illustrate that these solutions make it possible to create new and easily reprogrammable behaviours of cell populations. This external control of living tissue would then become a formidable research tool for acquiring a detailed understanding of the biological role of certain proteins and for optimising bio-production processes.
	A monkey and a virus: One million years together An international research team including Vasily Ramensky, a bioinformatics scientist at MIPT's Genome Engineering Laboratory, has classified the six species of African green monkeys based on their genomes, studied their genetic adaptations to the simian immunodeficiency virus (SIV), and produced a gene expression atlas for one of the species. The results of the study were published in two articles in Nature Genetics.
Researchers identify genes that distinguish mammals from other animals What distinguishes mammals from other vertebrates? Researchers from the Hospital del Mar Medical Research Institute (IMIM) have been trying to answer this question in collaboration with the researchers from the Universitat Pompeu Fabra (UPF). To do this, they analysed the sequenced genomes of 68 mammals and identified 6,000 families of genes that are only found in these animals. These are genes with no homologues outside mammals. In humans, it is estimated that they represent 2.5 percent of the genes that code for proteins. The study has been published in the journal Genome Biology and Evolution.
	California's dry regions are hotspots of plant diversity The first "big data" analysis of California's native plants, using digitized information from more than 22 herbaria and botanical gardens around the state, provides some surprises about one of the most thoroughly studied and unique areas in the country.
	High animal product prices part of a 'vicious cycle towards extinction' Skyrocketing prices for rare animal products can push species to extinction even when their populations are abundant, researchers say.
	New study verifies more paths to survival for endangered winter-run Chinook salmon The most treacherous journey of any salmon's life is from its natal river to the ocean when it is still a juvenile, usually when they are only a few months old. For endangered salmon, this early journey is a matter of life and death for the whole population.
	The patterns of climate change Plant Ecology researchers at the University of Tübingen have developed a technique to monitor and predict how plant species will respond to climate change. Dr. Mark Bilton and Professor Katja Tielbörger, from the Institute of Evolution and Ecology, re-analysed data with Spanish collaborators from their unprecedented 16-year experiment. The experiment was conducted in an area the size of two football pitches within the Garraf National park south west of Barcelona. The landscape is mostly a Mediterranean scrubland, featuring thickets of low rise shrubs and herbs such as rosemary and thyme, and home to many protected species.
	World's heaviest bony fish identified and correctly named Japanese fish experts have identified and clarified the biological name of the world's heaviest bony fish ever caught. The 2,300 kilogram whopper is a Mola alexandrini bump-head sunfish, and not, as originally thought, a member of the more commonly known Mola mola ocean sunfish species. The study was led by Etsuro Sawai of Hiroshima University and is published in Ichthyological Research, which is the official journal of the Ichthyological Society of Japan. The journal is published by Springer.
	Which sequences make DNA unwrap and breathe? Accessing DNA wrapped into basic units of packaging, called nucleosomes, depends on the underlying sequence of DNA building blocks, or base pairs. Like Christmas presents, some nucleosomes are easier to unwrap than others. This is because what makes the double helix stiffer or softer, straight or bent - in other words, what determines its elasticity - is the actual base pair sequence. In a new study published in EPJ E, Jamie Culkin from Leiden University, the Netherlands, and colleagues demonstrate the role of the DNA sequence in making it possible for packaged DNA to open up and let genes be read and expressed.
	Scientists find potential weapons for the battle against antibiotic resistance Scientists at the UNC School of Medicine have found that a bacterium can become much more or less susceptible to an antibiotic depending on the specific bacterial community in its midst.
Genetic tool that can doom a species under UN review For some, a new cutting-edge technology called gene drive is the silver bullet able to wipe out invasive species decimating island wildlife, and eradicate the malaria-bearing mosquitos that killed nearly half a million people last year, mostly in Africa.
Gene experts set to tackle pest control Experts are to investigate how genetic techniques could be applied to help control pest species.
	Dahl's toad-headed turtle threatened by fragmented habitat, shrinking populations A recent study published in Conservation Genetics by researchers from the Universidad de los Andes, Universidad Nacional de Colombia, WCS (Wildlife Conservation Society), and the Turtle Survival Alliance (TSA) shows that the Dahl's Toad-headed Turtle (Mesoclemmys dahli), a rare reptile found only in Colombia, is threatened with extinction due to alarmingly small and fragmented populations and high levels of inbreeding.
	Discovery of a mechanism for determining the direction of collective cell migration The phenomenon of collective cell migration has been observed in the process of animal development, the healing of wounds, and cancer cell invasion. Until now, the mechanism by which each cell takes part in ordered collective movement, in particular what kind of information is used by cells to determine the direction of collective cell movements, has not been well understood.
	First-ever tagging of Amazon dolphins to boost conservation efforts For the first time ever, WWF and research partners are now tracking river dolphins in the Amazon using satellite technology after scientists successfully tagged dolphins in Brazil, Colombia and Bolivia, attaching small transmitters that will provide new insights into the animals' movements and behaviour and the growing threats they face.
	Tubers in trouble Extinction by its very nature is irreversible. Once a species is extinct, it's too late for conservation practitioners to act. So, for us working on the front line of plant conservation, instead of just questioning whether a species is extinct, we need to look at the risk of extinction. Using assessments of extinction risk, we can uncover trends that help us to target the conservation resources we have available towards those species that need it most. The IUCN Red List of Threatened Species is one of the most well recognised lists that documents the extinction risk of species.

---

This email is a free service of Science X Network
You received this email because you subscribed to our list.
If you do not wish to receive such emails in the future, please unsubscribe here.
You are subscribed as jmabs1@gmail.com. You may manage your subscription options from your Science X profile