Science X Newsletter Friday, Sep 21

Dear Reader ,

Here is your customized Science X Newsletter for September 21, 2018:

Spotlight Stories Headlines

A new method for type synthesis of non-holonomic underactuated parallel mechanisms

Spray-on antennas could unlock potential of smart, connected technology

Researchers teach computers to see optical illusions

New battery gobbles up carbon dioxide

Amazon aims to make Alexa assistant bigger part of users' lives

Synthetic organelle shows how tiny puddle-organs in our cells work

Neutrons produce first direct 3-D maps of water during cell membrane fusion

To improve auto coatings, new tests do more than scratch the surface

Most nations falling short of UN targets to cut premature deaths from chronic diseases

Pre-clinical success for a universal flu vaccine offers hope for third generation approach

It's not just for kids—even adults appear to benefit from a regular bedtime

Japan space probe drops hopping rovers towards asteroid

IBM: If AI decision needs closer look, stay woke, and here's how

DNA vaccine leads to immune responses in HPV-related head and neck cancer

Proof-of-concept HIV immunotherapy study passes Phase 1 safety trial

Astronomy & Space news

	Japan space probe drops hopping rovers towards asteroid A Japanese space probe Friday released a pair of exploring rovers towards an egg-shaped asteroid to collect mineral samples that may shed light on the origin of the solar system.
	Three NASA missions return first-light data NASA's continued quest to explore our solar system and beyond received a boost of new information this week with three key missions proving not only that they are up and running, but that their science potential is exceptional. On Sept. 17, 2018, TESS—the Transiting Exoplanet Survey Satellite—shared its first science observations. Later in the week, the latest two missions to join NASA's heliophysics fleet returned first light data: Parker Solar Probe, humanity's first mission to "touch" the Sun, and GOLD, a mission that studies the dynamic boundary between Earth and space.
	Origami opens up smart options for architecture on the Moon and Mars Origami and high-performance textiles are transforming architecture plans for smart human habitats and research stations on the Moon and Mars. Initial field tests of the MoonMars project's origami prototype will be presented at the European Planetary Science Congress (EPSC) 2018 in Berlin by Dr. Anna Sitnikova.
	Image: Small satellite demonstrates possible solution for 'space junk' The International Space Station serves as humanity's orbital research platform, conducting a variety of experiments and research projects while in orbit around the planet.
	Narrowing down the mass of the Milky Way Since the birth of modern astronomy, scientists have sought to determine the full extent of the Milky Way galaxy and learn more about its structure, formation and evolution. At present, astronomers estimate that it is 100,000 to 180,000 light-years in diameter and consists of 100 to 400 billion stars – though some estimates say there could be as many as 1 trillion.
Oklahoma astronaut corn maze photographed from space It's apt that a maze cut into an Oklahoma cornfield featuring the likeness of a former NASA astronaut can be seen from space—and has been photographed by a satellite orbiting Earth.
	Space-related start-up technology companies create synergistic innovation Researchers have developed innovative business models underlying the successful launch of space-related start-up technology companies in Costa Rica. A fascinating article describes how the company DIT (design, innovation, technology) Space identified key market sectors that could benefit from spaced-based technology and how implementation of the technology could benefit the company and create synergies leading to the development of further space technology. The article is published in New Space: The Journal of Space Entrepreneurship and Innovation.

Technology news

	A new method for type synthesis of non-holonomic underactuated parallel mechanisms Researchers at Shanghai University have developed a new method to achieve type synthesis of non-holonomic underactuated parallel mechanisms. Their method, presented in a paper published in Acta Astronautica, could aid the development of space robots for on-orbit servicing operations.
	Researchers teach computers to see optical illusions Is that circle green or gray? Are the center lines straight or tilted?
	Amazon aims to make Alexa assistant bigger part of users' lives From the kitchen to the car, Amazon on Thursday sought to make its Alexa digital assistant and online services a bigger part of people's lives with an array of new products and partnerships.
	IBM: If AI decision needs closer look, stay woke, and here's how OK we get it. The gee-whiz feeling of artificial intelligence as shown in its developmental glory is with us and we ride the wave willingly.
	Recognizing the partially seen When we open our eyes in the morning and take in that first scene of the day, we don't give much thought to the fact that our brain is processing the objects within our field of view with great efficiency and that it is compensating for a lack of information about our surroundings—all in order to allow us to go about our daily functions. The glass of water you left on the nightstand when preparing for bed is now partially blocked from your line of sight by your alarm clock, yet you know that it is a glass.
	Combining multiple CCTV images could help catch suspects Combining multiple poor quality CCTV images into a single, computer-enhanced composite could improve the accuracy of facial recognition systems used to identify criminal suspects, new research suggests.
	Straight up? DIY colonoscopy among weird science at Tokyo show A gadget to "translate" dog barks for humans, a "babypod" that plays music inside the mother's vagina for unborn babies and the world's first self-colonoscopy method were among the whacky inventions on show Friday at a new Tokyo exhibition.
	At high-tech Tokyo Game Show, old skool ones are the best At the Tokyo Game Show, the world's top firms compete to show off their very latest in high-tech gaming gadgetry: from head-spinning virtual reality to cutting-edge multiplayer eSports.
	Research improves real-time visualization of trees in 3-D videogames The work developed in the Interactive Visualization Centre provides faster and more efficient vegetation design systems.
	Accelerated architecture of America's fastest supercomputer boosts QCD simulations In pursuit of numerical predictions for exotic particles, researchers are simulating atom-building quark and gluon particles over 70 times faster on Summit, the world's most powerful scientific supercomputer, than on its predecessor Titan at the US Department of Energy's (DOE's) Oak Ridge National Laboratory (ORNL). The interactions of quarks and gluons are computed using lattice quantum chromodynamics (QCD)—a computer-friendly version of the mathematical framework that describes these strong-force interactions.
	Can e-scooters solve the 'last mile' problem? They'll need to avoid the fate of dockless bikes As urban planners, we have not been good at integrating land uses, such as homes, shops and offices, with our transport infrastructure. Thus many people find the nearest train or bus stop is too far too walk and too close to drive (even if they could be sure of finding parking). This has created what is commonly known as the "last mile" problem.
	Solar panels replaced tarmac on a motorway—here are the results Four years ago a viral campaign wooed the world with a promise of fighting climate change and jump-starting the economy by replacing tarmac on the world's roads with solar panels. The bold idea has undergone some road testing since then. The first results from preliminary studies have recently come out, and they're a bit underwhelming.
	Samsung's foldable phone could soon be a reality We rarely see a truly remarkable new technology more than once a decade. After years of undelivered promises, such a technology looks finally set to enter the market: the flexible computer screen.
	Paper-based electronics could fold, biodegrade and be the basis for the next generation of devices It seems like every few months there's a new cellphone, laptop or tablet that is so exciting people line up around the block to get their hands on it. While the perpetual introduction of new, slightly more advanced electronics has made businesses like Apple hugely successful, the short shelf life of these electronics is bad for the environment.
	New robot picks a peck of peppers and more The world's most advanced sweet pepper harvesting robot, developed in a consortium including Ben-Gurion University of the Negev (BGU) researchers, was introduced last week at the Research Station for Vegetable Production at St. Katelijne Waver in Belgium.
	Is $1,100 too much for an iPhone? Get an older one for less The $1,100 price tag on Apple's latest iPhone turned heads when the company announced it last week. But for less than half as much, you can still get a good camera, a decent-sized screen and other popular features.
	Congressmen question Google over kids' privacy on YouTube Two members of Congress are calling on Google to address concerns that YouTube might violate children's privacy.

Medicine & Health news

	Most nations falling short of UN targets to cut premature deaths from chronic diseases People in the UK, US and China have a higher risk of dying early from conditions like cancer, heart disease and stroke than people in Italy, France, South Korea and Australia.
	Pre-clinical success for a universal flu vaccine offers hope for third generation approach Researchers from the University of Oxford's Department of Zoology have demonstrated pre-clinical success for a universal flu vaccine in a new paper published in Nature Communications.
	It's not just for kids—even adults appear to benefit from a regular bedtime Sufficient sleep has been proven to help keep the body healthy and the mind sharp. But it's not just an issue of logging at least seven hours of Z's.
	DNA vaccine leads to immune responses in HPV-related head and neck cancer A therapeutic vaccine can boost antibodies and T cells, helping them infiltrate tumors and fight off human papillomavirus (HPV)-related head and neck cancer. Researchers from the Abramson Cancer Center of the University of Pennsylvania tested the immunotherapy approach in two groups of patients with advanced head and neck squamous cell carcinoma (HNSCCa) and found 86 percent showed elevated T cell activity. It is also the first study to show that the vaccine can help immune cells infiltrate tumors. The study also describes one patient who received the vaccine on the trial, developed metastatic disease seven months later, then was treated with anti-PD-1 immunotherapy and has been in remission for more than two years. Researchers published their findings in Clinical Cancer Research today.
	Proof-of-concept HIV immunotherapy study passes Phase 1 safety trial Preliminary results from a phase I clinical trial have demonstrated the safety and tolerability of a cell therapy involving the ex vivo expansion of T cells and their subsequent infusion into HIV-infected individuals previously treated with antiretroviral therapy (ART). The study appears September 21st in the journal Molecular Therapy.
	Genomic study brings us closer to precision medicine for type 2 diabetes Most patients diagnosed with type 2 diabetes are treated with a "one-size-fits-all" protocol that is not tailored to each person's physiology and may leave many cases inadequately managed. A new study by scientists at the Broad Institute of MIT and Harvard and Massachusetts General Hospital (MGH) indicates that inherited genetic changes may underlie the variability observed among patients in the clinic, with several pathophysiological processes potentially leading to high blood sugar and its resulting consequences.
	A new approach to developing a vaccine against vivax malaria A novel study reports an innovative approach for developing a vaccine against Plasmodium vivax, the most prevalent human malaria parasite outside sub-Saharan Africa. The study led by Hernando A. del Portillo and Carmen Fernandez-Becerra, both at IGTP and ISGlobal, indicates the possibility of using small vesicles (or exosomes) secreted by immature red blood cells as a vaccine platform against malaria. The paper was published in the journal Scientific Reports.
	Fatty acids can slow down an overheated immune system Sometimes, the immune system mistakenly attacks the body's healthy tissue by responding to infections that do not exist. This causes chronic inflammation and leads to diseases including lupus (SLE), and this is what happens when the body activates the STING protein. Now, researchers from Aarhus University have discovered that a new type of fatty acid can slow down this overactive protein. This has opened a new path that may possibly result in therapies for diseases that currently have no effective treatments. The results have just been published in the Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences (PNAS).
	The connection between alcoholism and depression Alcoholism and depression often go hand-in-hand.
	Japanese team creates human oogonia using human stem cells in artificial mouse ovaries A team of researchers with members from several institutions in Japan has successfully generated human oogonia inside of artificial mouse ovaries using human stem cells. In their paper published in the journal Science, the group describes their work and their plans for the future.
	Even toddlers weigh risks, rewards when making choices Every day, adults conduct cost-benefit analyses in some form for decisions large and small, economic and personal: Bring a lunch or go out? Buy or rent? Remain single or start a family? All are balances of risk and reward.
	Breast milk may be best for premature babies' brain development Babies born before their due date show better brain development when fed breast milk rather than formula, a study has found.
	Latest research hints at predicting autism risk for pregnant mothers Researchers at Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute—led by Juergen Hahn, professor and head of biomedical engineering—are continuing to make remarkable progress with their research focused on autism spectrum disorder (ASD). A recent paper authored by Hahn and Jill James from the University of Arkansas for Medical Sciences (UAMS) in the journal Research in Autism Spectrum Disorders discusses their work on predicting with approximately 90 percent accuracy whether a pregnant mother has a 1.7 percent or a tenfold increased risk of having a child diagnosed with ASD.
	Big life insurer shifts to activity tracking in health push Financial giant John Hancock is converting all its life insurance policies to an incentive-based system using activity tracking, a move aimed at promoting healthier lifestyles but which also raises privacy questions.
	Smart pills dumb down medical care, experts warn Enthusiasm for an emerging digital health tool, the smart pill, is on the rise but researchers at the University of Illinois at Chicago have published a paper in the American Journal of Bioethics that cautions health care providers and policymakers to slow down when it comes to allowing this technology in patient care settings.
ACA health insurance ads targeted younger, healthier consumers from 2013 to 2016 The themes in television advertisements for health insurance plans have shifted over time, possibly reflecting the shrinking pool of health plans offered through the Affordable Care Act (ACA) as well as rising plan premiums, according to a study led by researchers at the Johns Hopkins Bloomberg School of Public Health.
	Study documents poor mental and physical health in rural borderland community members The borderlands between the United States and Mexico are home to numerous Mexican and Central American rural communities, with many members living in poverty and frustrated by limited access to basic resources.
Black women more likely to skip crucial breast cancer treatments A new study in the Journal of the National Cancer Institute finds that black women are more likely to skip hormone therapy treatments, also known as endocrine therapy, for breast cancer.
	Overwhelming evidence shows hepatitis C treatment effective for people who inject drugs Researchers are calling on an end to discriminatory health and illicit drugs policies, based on overwhelming evidence that new hepatitis C therapies are effective at curing the virus in people who inject drugs.
The BMJ questions transparency of information surrounding safety of Pandemrix vaccine An investigation published by The BMJ today raises fundamental questions about the transparency of information surrounding the safety of GlaxoSmithKline's Pandemrix vaccine used in 2009-2010.
	Cooking with wood or coal is linked to increased risk of respiratory illness and death Burning wood or coal to cook food is associated with increased risk of hospitalization or dying from respiratory diseases, according to new research conducted in China and published online in the American Thoracic Society's American Journal of Respiratory and Critical Care Medicine.
	Fighting a deadly parasite: Scientists devise a method to store Cryptosporidium, aiding vaccine research efforts In May, just before one of the hottest summers on record, the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention issued a warning about diseases lurking in recreational water facilities like swimming pools and water playgrounds. The culprit in nine out of ten cases in which an infectious cause was identified was the microscopic parasite Cryptosporidium.
	Outbreak of preventable eye infection in contact lens wearers A new outbreak of a rare but preventable eye infection that can cause blindness, has been identified in contact lens wearers in a new study led by UCL and Moorfields Eye Hospital researchers.
	Researchers successfully train employees to respond to opioid overdose, administer naloxone A small study shows that business managers and staff—such as those running coffee shops and fast-food restaurants—can be trained to reverse opioid overdoses, which are known to occur in public bathrooms.
	Eight of ten people with cancer risk genes don't know it Genomic screening of more than 50,000 people shows that more than 80% of those who carry an identifiable genetic risk for breast, ovarian, prostate, and pancreatic cancer don't know it despite frequent interaction with the healthcare system.
	Patient-centered visual aid helps physicians discuss risks, treatments with parents A series of illustrations and charts designed as decision aids for parents of children with minor head injuries helped them communicate with emergency medicine physicians and make informed decisions about their child's care, according to a study that will appear Sept. 21 in JAMA Network Open.
	Researchers explore how changes in diet alter microbiome in artificial intestine Using an artificial intestine they created, researchers have shown that the microbiome can quickly adapt from the bacterial equivalent of a typical western diet to one composed exclusively of dietary fats. That adaptation involved an increase in the populations of fatty-acid metabolizing species and a drop in those of protein and carbohydrate metabolizers. These changes led to diminished production of short chain fatty acids and antioxidants, alterations that might negatively affect human health. The research is published in Applied and Environmental Microbiology, a journal of the American Society for Microbiology.
	Talking with the doctor makes it easier to deal with grief and bereavement In a comprehensive study, researchers from Aarhus University have demonstrated that grieving patients who receive talk therapy from a general practitioner shortly after a relative's death have a lower risk of suicide and psychiatric illness than others. Data from 207,000 Danes is included in the register-based study, which can contribute to new practices in the preventative area. The researchers studied health data on Danes over the age of 18 who lost a child, a spouse, siblings or parents during the period 1996-2013. The results have just published in Clinical Epidemiology.
	New test procedure accelerates the diagnosis of multi-resistant hospital pathogens A team of researchers at the University of Cologne's Faculty of Medicine and the German Center for Infection Research (DZIF) has achieved a scientific breakthrough in the accelerated diagnosis of multi-resistant hospital pathogens. Using a novel immunochromatographic method, the researchers detected bacteria that are resistant to the antibiotic group carbapenemes within 20 to 45 minutes from blood cultures with 100 percent certainty. Current test procedures still take up to 72 hours. The results have been published in PLOS ONE.
	How winning friends may influence adolescent behaviors Adolescents may get by with a little help from their friends, but, according to Penn State researchers, friend selection and friend influence, as well as gender, may all play a role in establishing friendships that can help, or possibly hurt, them.
	Tobacco display ban linked to fewer children buying cigarettes in shops Removing displays of tobacco products from shops may have reduced the proportion of children buying cigarettes by 17 per cent.
	Study reveals a promising alternative to corticosteroids in acute renal failure treatment A protein produced by the human body appears to be a promising new drug candidate to treat conditions that lead to acute renal failure. This is shown by a study conducted at São Paulo State University (UNESP) in São José do Rio Preto, Brazil. The results of the study, published in Scientific Reports, indicate that the protein galectin-1 has anti-inflammatory properties capable of minimizing the damage done to kidney cells by hypoxia (lack of oxygen) and reperfusion (restoration of blood flow following ischemia), harmful processes that are inherent in transplants and can cause kidney failure.
	Nerve cells in the human brain can 'count' How do we know if we're looking at three apples or four? Researchers at the Universities of Bonn and Tübingen are now one step closer to answering this question. They were able to demonstrate that some brain cells fire mainly for quantities of three, others for quantities of four and others for other quantities. A similar effect can be observed for digits: In humans, the neurons activated in response to a "2" are, for instance, different from the neurons activated for a "5." The results also demonstrate how humans learn to handle number symbols in comparison to quantities. The study is published online in the journal Neuron.
	Deciphering how memory works in the brain – at the level of individual cells Say you meet an old friend at the train station. She is standing about a metre ahead of you, and on the tracks to your right a train has just pulled into the station. Behind your friend you see a bakery. We often remember such scenes in vivid detail. But exactly how we do that by forming mental images has long been a bit of a mystery.
	The toxic air we breathe When we think of health hazards, many things come to mind: bad nutrition, car accidents, addiction to drugs. But one we rarely consider is our exposure to particulate matter in the air we breathe. After all, aside from the occasional forest fire, we in the U.S. are pretty immune to that, right?
	New test detects tell-tale danger signs in spinal fluid Rare cells resembling those previously thought to exist only in the brain have been discovered in the spinal fluid of HIV patients by using a sensitive new genetic test that could provide insights into a host of neurological diseases.
	Another step toward the hand prosthesis of the future Researchers stimulated the nerves of an amputated arm with signals very similar to the natural ones, succeeding in "imitating the colors" of the evoked sensations of the various types of receptors and related nerve fibers present in the fingertips of the hand. This has brought greater realism and greater functionality of the feelings experienced by patients.
	Most Americans believe a cure for Alzheimer's will come in their lifetime A new survey released today finds that most U.S. adults (54 percent) are worried that they may develop Alzheimer's disease, and a majority believe it is likely a cure will be developed in their lifetime (55 percent).
	Autobiographies about depression offer key information about the illness Autobiographies about depression can play an important role in disseminating knowledge about the disease. That is the conclusion of research conducted by Anne-Fleur van der Meer (VU Amsterdam). Van der Meer reveals that autobiographic books are more than gripping stories about illness. They also provide pointers for how we can articulate and understand depression. Van der Meer will defend her doctoral thesis on 27 September 2018. Her research was funded by the NWO programme PhDs in the Humanities.
	Black individuals at highest risk of legal intervention injury (HealthDay)—Black males were at the highest risk of legal intervention injury per capita from 2005 to 2015, according to a study published online Sept. 14 in JAMA Network Open.
	Cannabinoid trials needed for peds neurologic disorders (HealthDay)—There is an urgent need for clinical trials to investigate the use of cannabinoids in pediatric patients with neurological disorders, according to a commentary published in the Aug. 27 issue of CMAJ, the journal of the Canadian Medical Association.
	Educational disabilities more likely with neonatal abstinence (HealthDay)—Children with a history of neonatal abstinence syndrome (NAS) are more likely to be referred for a disability evaluation and meet criteria for a disability, according to a study published in the September issue of Pediatrics.
	Last year the flu was deadly. Here's how you can fight it now The flu was "everywhere" last year. A Centers for Disease Control doctor cautioned that the last flu season proved to be one of the deadliest.
	Analysis: Is 'precision medicine' the answer to cancer? Not precisely Facing incurable breast cancer at age 55, MaryAnne DiCanto put her faith in "precision medicine—in which doctors try to match patients with drugs that target the genetic mutations in their tumors. She underwent repeated biopsies to identify therapies that might help.
	Q&A: Women 65 and older may not need Pap tests Dear Mayo Clinic: I am way past my childbearing years and do not have any health problems. Do I need to continue getting Pap smears? At what age is this test no longer necessary?
	Alcohol responsible for one in 20 deaths worldwide: WHO Alcohol kills three million people worldwide each year—more than AIDS, violence and road accidents combined, the World Health Organization said Friday, adding that men are particularly at risk.
	Are there health benefits to taking turmeric? Can an ancient yellow root spice be good for you? A recent study published in the Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences shows curcumin, an active ingredient in turmeric, effectively kills certain cancer cells. While research continues on the role turmeric plays in treating cancer, there may be other health benefits to ingesting the spice.
	Study shows surprise low-level ozone impact on asthma patients A new study led by UNC School of Medicine researchers indicates that ozone has a greater impact on asthma patients than previously thought. The study, published in the Journal of Allergy and Clinical Immunology, recruited 23 African American youth ages 12-17 with persistent asthma from the Allergy/Immunology and Pediatric Pulmonary clinics in Raleigh, NC. African American adolescents are at highest risk for morbidity among asthmatics and are a crucial population to consider when studying the health effects of ozone.
	Sexual assault among adolescents: 6 facts Christine Blasey Ford's account of allegedly being sexually assaulted by Supreme Court nominee Brett Kavanaugh when they were teenagers is provoking both informed and uninformed comment from politicians. Still more private conversations about the subject are happening in homes and offices around the country.
	How the elderly can avoid one of old age's most dangerous events Baby boomers, who once viewed themselves as the coolest generation in history, are now turning their thoughts away from such things as partying and touring alongside rock bands to how to they can stay healthy as they age. And, one of the most important parts of healthy aging is avoiding a fall, the number one cause of accidental death among people 65 and older.
	Computer science research could help mental health clinicians save lives Scientists who study the brain are advancing the field so rapidly that they are creating what many would perceive as a good problem: Those who apply the research findings—such as mental health clinicians—are having difficulty keeping up.
	The sound of a broken heart Physicians have been training to hear heart problems with stethoscopes for 200 years. Now engineers at Duke University are training computers hooked to the device's digital descendants to hear heart problems undetectable to the human ear.
	Early warning sign of psychosis detected Brains of people at risk of psychosis exhibit a pattern that can help predict whether they will go on to develop full-fledged schizophrenia, a new Yale-led study shows. The findings could help doctors begin early intervention therapies for those most likely to develop the disabling disorder.
	Researchers uncover previously unknown dementia, Alzheimer's risk factor New research from USC has uncovered a previously unknown genetic risk factor for Alzheimer's disease and related dementias. The study provides insights on how these conditions, and other diseases of aging, might one day be treated and prevented.
	In zebrafish, a way to find new cancer therapies, targeting tumor modulators The lab of Leonard Zon, MD, at Boston Children's Hospital has long been interested in making blood stem cells in quantity for therapeutic purposes. Looking for a way to test for their presence in zebrafish, their go-to research model, they turned to the MYB gene, a marker of blood stem cells. To spot the cells, Joseph Mandelbaum, a Ph.D. candidate in the lab, attached a green fluorescent tag to MYB, easily visible in transparent zebrafish embryos.
	Kiwi teenagers less fit than a generation ago, research reveals New Zealand teenagers are less fit and weigh more than their parents were at the same age, new University of Otago research reveals.
Researchers define possible molecular pathway for neurodegeneration in prion diseases A new study has shed light on the mechanisms underlying the progression of prion diseases and identified a potential target for treatment.
	Researchers identify new genetic disorder Researchers from Michigan State University College of Human Medicine and physicians from Spectrum Health have identified for the first time in a human patient a genetic disorder only previously described in animal models.
New study estimates the caregiving costs for families "Informal care" is the term used in medicine to describe unpaid care provided by family and friends. It's an important lifeline for millions of older adults in the U.S. who need day-to-day help with shopping, cooking, cleaning, eating, taking medicine, looking after their own daily well-being, and many other activities essential to our health and quality of life as we age.
AFib linked to family history in blacks, Latinos Despite being the most common heart arrhythmia disorder in the U.S., there is not much research on the causes of atrial fibrillation in minority populations. And while researchers know that black and Latino individuals are less likely than whites to develop the condition, which is also known as AFib, they cannot yet fully explain why these groups are paradoxically more likely to experience higher rates of complications and even death as a result of AFib.
	Boosting emotional intelligence in physicians can protect against burnout A Loyola Medicine study demonstrates that an educational curriculum for physicians in training improves their emotional intelligence, which may help protect against burnout.
	A Trojan Horse delivery for treating a rare, potentially deadly, blood-clotting disorder In proof-of-concept experiments, University of Alabama at Birmingham researchers have highlighted a potential therapy for a rare but potentially deadly blood-clotting disorder, TTP. The researchers deliver this therapeutic enzyme via the cellular equivalent of a Trojan Horse, using tiny blood cell platelets as their protective delivery vehicle, with a key enzyme hidden inside.
	New findings on chronic pain syndrome in the mouth The picture is becoming clearer regarding the chronic oral pain condition known as Burning Mouth Syndrome, or BMS, which mainly affects women who are middle-aged and older. In a dissertation at Sahlgrenska Academy, additional steps are being taken toward better diagnosis and treatment.
	Repeat CT common in peds traumatic epidural hematoma (HealthDay)—For children with traumatic epidural hematomas (EDHs), repeated computed tomography (CT) imaging is common, but rarely impacts management, according to a study published in the September issue of Pediatrics.
	FDA issues warning on pet reactions to common flea medicine (HealthDay)—Flea medicines protect your pet, but some animals can have serious side effects from products containing isoxazoline, U.S. health officials warn.
	Fewer American teens having sex, most using birth control (HealthDay)—In a finding that should ease parents' minds, new research shows that fewer American teens are having sex and most of those who do are using some form of birth control.
	Stiffening of blood vessels may point to dementia risk Arterial stiffness among people with mild cognitive impairments could put them at higher risk for progressing to dementia, which may include Alzheimer's disease, according to a new study exploring the connection between the brain and vascular health.
	Low vitamin D levels tied to interstitial lung disease (HealthDay)—Vitamin D deficiency is independently associated with subclinical interstitial lung disease (ILD) and its progression, according to a study recently published in the Journal of Nutrition.
	Dozens of medical groups join forces to improve diagnoses (HealthDay)—Every nine minutes, a patient in a U.S. hospital dies because a diagnosis was wrong or delayed—resulting in 80,000 deaths a year. That sobering estimate comes from the Society to Improve Diagnosis in Medicine (SIDM).
	Sensitivity for CRC detection up with decreasing FIT threshold (HealthDay)—Programmatic sensitivity for colorectal cancer (CRC) detection increases modestly with decreasing fecal immunochemical test (FIT) positivity thresholds, according to a study published online Sept. 18 in the Annals of Internal Medicine.
	More hurt, killed in shootings with semiautomatic rifles (HealthDay)—More people are wounded and killed in active shooter incidents in which semiautomatic rifles are used, according to a research letter published in the Sept. 11 issue of the Journal of the American Medical Association.
	Age, sex, APOE genotype identify alzheimer's, dementia risk (HealthDay)—Age, sex and apolipoprotein E (APOE) genotype can identify groups at high 10-year risk for Alzheimer's disease and all dementia, according to a study published Sept. 4 in CMAJ, the journal of the Canadian Medical Association.
	HbA1c variability is a strong predictor of mortality in T2DM (HealthDay)—Hemoglobin A1c (HbA1c) variability may be a more powerful predictor of all-cause mortality with type 2 diabetes than average HbA1c, according to a study published in the August issue of Diabetes, Obesity and Metabolism.
Fear and anger as cholera strikes again in Zimbabwe Sixty-year-old Emma Zhakata winces, struggling to hold back tears as she relates how her husband, one of 32 cholera victims in Zimbabwe, died within hours of falling ill.
	New method improves temperature imaging accuracy in fat-containing tissues A research team led by Prof. Zheng Hairong from the Shenzhen Institutes of Advanced Technology (SIAT) of the Chinese Academy of Sciences developed a dual-step iterative temperature estimation (DITE) method for fat-referenced PRFS temperature imaging in fat-containing tissues. Magnetic resonance thermometry (MRT) is the only imaging technique that noninvasively provides temperature distribution in vivo. The water proton resonance frequency shift (PRFS)-based method is the most popular choice for MR temperature monitoring in aqueous tissues.
	Up to 40% of older Kiwis drink hazardously There is a common misconception that hazardous or risky drinking is something only young people do, but new research shows that between 35 to 40 per cent of New Zealanders aged 50 years or older may also drink hazardously.
	Checklist helps assess early feeding skills in premature infants Infants born prematurely face challenges in developing the complex, interrelated skills needed for effective feeding. An assessment called the Early Feeding Skills (EFS) checklist is a valid and reliable tool for evaluating the emergence of feeding skills in preterm infants, reports a study in Advances in Neonatal Care.
Researchers deploy novel clinical trial regimen for glioblastoma Combating glioblastoma remains a major challenge due the complex nature of these tumors, the inability of drugs to penetrate the brain tissue, and lack of correlation between animal models and the human condition.
	FDA researchers report first evidence of ESBL producing E. Coli in US retail meat A new study using antimicrobial susceptibility testing and whole genome sequencing to test extended spectrum beta lactamase (ESBL) producing E. coli isolated from cattle for food production and from various retail meat products has shown that all were resistant to at least three antimicrobial classes. They also carried various types of CTX-M type ESBL genes, which are increasingly common in clinical patients worldwide and whose presence in food-producing animals and retail meat supplies might contribute to a greater incidence of infections. These findings are reported in Microbial Drug Resistance.

Biology news

	Sparrow in a lead mine—birds adapt to life in contaminated areas A new study of house sparrows' genes has found the first evidence of animals adapting to lead contamination in heavily polluted areas of Australia.
	How quinoa plants shed excess salt and thrive in saline soils Barely heard of a couple of years ago, quinoa today is common on European supermarket shelves. The hardy plant thrives even in saline soils. Researchers from the University of Würzburg have now determined how the plant gets rid of the excess salt.
The extirpation of species outside protected areas Land-based bird populations are becoming confined to nature reserves in some parts of the world—raising the risk of global extinction—due to the loss of suitable habitat, according to a report led by UCL.
	How rats are killing our coral reefs It's an invasion of rats! Some remote islands are crawling with these rodents, and even the coral reefs are suffering from it.
	Vegan dogs: Should they go meat free? Over the last ten years, it's estimated there has been a 360% rise in veganism in Britain – around 542,000 people have "gone vegan". As a nation of animal lovers, with around 44% of homes owning a pet – and somewhere in the region of 8.5m dogs in the UK – it's only natural this phenomenon should start to spill over into the pet food world. This has led to a rise in the availability of both vegetarian and vegan dog foods. But before you make the decision for your pet to go meat free, it's important to consider what impacts this could have.
	Delhi's last elephants await marching orders The mighty Heera marched through a crowded slum chewing bamboo, oblivious that freedom from life as one of Delhi's last six elephants at work in the polluted city could be just around the corner.
	Wild African monkeys infected with the bacterium causing yaws in humans  An international research team, led by scientists from the German Primate Center, the Robert Koch Institute, the Max Planck Institute for Evolutionary Anthropology, McGill University, Masaryk University, the University of Tübingen and the Max Planck Institute for the Science of Human History, has successfully recovered genomes of the bacterium Treponema pallidum, which causes syphilis and yaws in humans, from wild nonhuman primate populations across sub-Saharan Africa. Monkeys showed severe symptoms including lesions on their genitals, face, and extremities. The pathogen's genomes revealed that nonhuman primates across a large geographic range are infected with the same bacterium causing yaws in humans.
	India probes death of 12 endangered lions Indian authorities Friday ordered a probe into the deaths of a dozen endangered wild Asiatic lions, half of them cubs, over the last 10 days, officials said.
	Beyond ivory – championing the neglected victims of illegal wildlife trade The many threats to our planet's biodiversity posed by illegal wildlife trade are as varied as they are daunting, and you could be forgiven for feeling deflated after reading the first installment of this two-part blog. But that was only half the story. Encouragingly, Fauna & Flora International (FFI) has met with considerable success in its efforts to combat illegal wildlife trade and secure the future of numerous threatened species worldwide – including Sumatran tigers, elephants, rhinos and other charismatic large mammals.
	S.Africa rhino poaching drops by a quarter The number of rhino killed for their horns by poachers in South Africa dipped by 26 percent in the first eight months of the year, officials said on Friday.

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