Science X Newsletter Monday, Sep 17

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Here is your customized Science X Newsletter for September 17, 2018:

Spotlight Stories Headlines

Optimal resource allocation for UAV communication systems in disaster management

Slowest-spinning radio pulsar detected by astronomers

A complex interplay between transport and dispersion across wiggling nanopores

Large-scale shift causing lower-oxygen water to invade Canada's Gulf of St. Lawrence

X-rays uncover a hidden property that leads to failure in a lithium-ion battery material

After 150 years, a breakthrough in understanding the conversion of CO2 to electrofuels

Targeting this key bacterial molecule could reduce the need for antibiotics

Earth's oldest animals formed complex ecological communities

The surprising environment of an enigmatic neutron star

Ceres takes life an ice volcano at a time

Particles surf their own waves, reveal how microbes and cells move through human body

SapFix cutting cool path toward eliminating debugging-code drudgery

Juno captures elusive 'brown barge'

How phytoplankton survive in ocean gyres with low nutrient supplies

Chandra detection of diskless young stars

Astronomy & Space news

	Slowest-spinning radio pulsar detected by astronomers An international team of astronomers has discovered a new radio pulsar as part of the LOFAR Tied-Array All-Sky Survey (LOTAAS). The newly detected object, designated PSR J0250+5854, turns out to be the slowest-spinning radio pulsar known to date. The finding is reported in a paper published September 4 on arXiv.org.
	The surprising environment of an enigmatic neutron star An unusual infrared emission detected by the Hubble Space Telescope from a nearby neutron star could indicate that the pulsar has features never before seen. The observation, by a team of researchers at Penn State, Sabanci University in Turkey, and the University of Arizona, could help astronomers better understand the evolution of neutron stars—the incredibly dense remnants of massive stars after a supernova. A paper describing the research and two possible explanations for the unusual finding appears September 17, 2018 in the Astrophysical Journal.
	Ceres takes life an ice volcano at a time Every year throughout its 4.5-billion-year life, ice volcanoes on the dwarf planet Ceres generate enough material on average to fill a movie theater, according to a new study led by the University of Arizona.
	Juno captures elusive 'brown barge' A long, brown oval known as a "brown barge" in Jupiter's South Equatorial Belt is captured in this color-enhanced image from NASA's Juno spacecraft.
	Chandra detection of diskless young stars Stars frequently form in crowded environments. By combining the resources of multi-wavelength missions like Chandra in the X-ray and Spitzer in the infrared, astronomers are able to resolve ambiguities and assemble a much more complete census of cluster content and the individual properties of the population. A case in point is the development of disks (possibly protoplanetary) around new stars. Disks form along with the new star and then evolve over a few million years before dissipating, perhaps leaving planets behind, and in clustered environments their development can be influenced by interactions with neighbors.
	Closest planet ever discovered outside solar system could be habitable with a dayside ocean In August of 2016, astronomers from the European Southern Observatory (ESO) confirmed the existence of an Earth-like planet around Proxima Centauri – the closest star to our solar system. In addition, they confirmed that this planet (Proxima b) orbited within its star's habitable zone. Since then, multiple studies have been conducted to determine if Proxima b could in fact be habitable.
	When is a star not a star? The line that separates stars from brown dwarfs may soon be clearer The line that separates stars from brown dwarfs may soon be clearer thanks to new work led by Carnegie's Serge Dieterich. Published by the Astrophysical Journal, his team's findings demonstrate that brown dwarfs can be more massive than astronomers previously thought.
	3,2,1: SpaceX counts down to reveal mystery Moon traveller (Update) SpaceX says it will reveal on Monday the name of the mysterious passenger it plans to send into orbit around the Moon, an ambitious project spearheaded by eccentric CEO Elon Musk.
	TESS shares first science image in hunt to find new worlds NASA's newest planet hunter, the Transiting Exoplanet Survey Satellite (TESS), is now providing valuable data to help scientists discover and study exciting new exoplanets, or planets beyond our solar system. Part of the data from TESS' initial science orbit includes a detailed picture of the southern sky taken with all four of the spacecraft's wide-field cameras. This "first light" science image captures a wealth of stars and other objects, including systems previously known to have exoplanets.
	Past NASA chiefs gather for space agency's 60th anniversary NASA chiefs going back 30 years have come together to mark the space agency's 60th anniversary.
New Mexico observatory closed for security reasons to reopen An observatory in the mountains of southern New Mexico that had been closed since early September because of an undisclosed security concern is scheduled to reopen on Monday, officials managing the facility said.
	Video: Aeolus timelapse This timelapse video shows ESA's Aeolus satellite being prepared for liftoff. It includes shots from the cleanroom in France, its arrival by ship in French Guiana, preparations at Europe's Spaceport in Kourou, roll out to the launch pad and, finally, liftoff on a Vega rocket on 22 August 2018.

Technology news

	Optimal resource allocation for UAV communication systems in disaster management Researchers at Queen's University Belfast (QUB) and Duy Tan University (DTU) have been collaborating on a project aimed at improving the communication systems of unmanned aerial vehicles (UAV). Their research was awarded the Newton Prize 2017, receiving £200,000 by the UK government for the development of a new communication system that can work in extreme weather conditions and at times of natural disasters.
	SapFix cutting cool path toward eliminating debugging-code drudgery Facebook has come up with something called SapFix and their announcement signifies a welcome measure of support for debugging task drudgery; SapFix can rely on artificial intelligence and come up with some answers that save time. The tool is all about finding and fixing bugs automatically. As such it has potential not only to boost the quality of code production but also the speed of generating code.
	Bike-path made from recycled plastic opens in the Netherlands Officials with the Dutch city of Zwolle have announced the opening of a new bike path made using recycled plastic. The bike path is part of a nationwide effort to recycle more user end products. The bike path was made using a modular design called PlasticRoad by a pipe-making company called Wavin.
	Germany rolls out world's first hydrogen train Germany on Monday rolled out the world's first hydrogen-powered train, signalling the start of a push to challenge the might of polluting diesel trains with costlier but more eco-friendly technology.
	TINY cancer detection device proves effective in Uganda testing Its name is an acronym used to convey its size, but researchers at Cornell Engineering and Weill Cornell Medicine are hoping their hand-held cancer detection device's impact in the developing world is anything but small.
	Multi-joint, personalized soft exosuit breaks new ground In the future, smart textile-based soft robotic exosuits could be worn by soldiers, fire fighters and rescue workers to help them traverse difficult terrain and arrive fresh at their destinations so that they can perform their respective tasks more effectively. They could also become a powerful means to enhance mobility and quality of living for people suffering from neurodegenerative disorders and for the elderly.
	Co-founder of Salesforce buys Time magazine for $190 million Time Magazine is being sold by Meredith Corp. to Marc Benioff, a co-founder of Salesforce, and his wife, it was announced Sunday.
Amazon launches small business shop Amazon wants you to shop small.
	Machines will do more tasks than humans by 2025: WEF Robots will handle 52 percent of current work tasks by 2025, almost twice as many as now, a World Economic Forum (WEF) study said Monday.
	Amazon probing staff data leaks Amazon is investigating allegations that some of its staff sold confidential customer data to third party companies particularly in China, the online giant confirmed on Sunday.
	Virtual simulation and 3-D modeling assure high performance of projects Tau Flow, a computational engineering startup based in Campinas, São Paulo State, Brazil, offers the market customized mathematical solutions for the optimization of project performance. It uses 3-D computational fluid dynamics (CFD) to develop "virtual prototypes" of any process or environment that involves flows of liquids or gases (defined in physics as fluids).
	You can't tell whether an online restaurant review is fake—but this AI can Researchers find AI-generated reviews and comments pose a significant threat to consumers, but machine learning can help detect the fakes.
	Big Tech is overselling AI as the solution to online extremism In mid-September the European Union threatened to fine the Big Tech companies if they did not remove terrorist content within one hour of appearing online. The change came because rising tensions are now developing and being played out on social media platforms.
	Why nuclear energy should be part of Africa's energy mix Africa has the least nuclear power of any continent in the world, with the exception of Australia where nuclear power is banned. All the largest economies in the world have nuclear power as part of their energy mix.
	Saudi sovereign fund invests $1B in US electric car firm (Update) Saudi Arabia's sovereign wealth fund invested over $1 billion Monday in an American electric car manufacturer just weeks after Tesla CEO Elon Musk earlier claimed the kingdom would help his own firm go private.
	Tenfold improvement in liquid batteries mean electric car refuelling could take minutes One of the biggest drawbacks of electric vehicles – that they require hours and hours to charge – could be obliterated by new type of liquid battery that is roughly ten times more energy-dense than existing models, according to Professor Lee Cronin, the Regius Chair of Chemistry at the University of Glasgow, UK.
	Pepper-picking robot demonstrates its skills in greenhouse labour automation With the rising shortage of skilled workforce in agriculture, there's a growing need for robotisation to perform labour-intensive and repetitive tasks in greenhouses. Enter SWEEPER, the EU-funded project developing a sweet pepper-harvesting robot that can help farmers reduce their costs.
	DowDuPont names leaders for Corteva Agriscience, DuPont DowDuPont has named the chief executives who will lead its agriculture and specialty products businesses once they're split off from the company.
	MoviePass rival offers unlimited movie-going at theaters A Turkish startup is offering a movie a day in theaters for $30 a month.

Medicine & Health news

	Your teen is underestimating the health risks of vaping Teens today are more reluctant to smoke cigarettes than their counterparts nearly three decades ago, according to a study released this summer. But parents should hold their collective sigh of relief. The study, carried out by the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), uncovered a new, troublesome trend: vaping.
	We are predisposed to forgive, new research suggests When assessing the moral character of others, people cling to good impressions but readily adjust their opinions about those who have behaved badly, according to new research.
	Gene therapy via skin protects mice from lethal cocaine doses There are no approved medications to treat either cocaine addiction or overdose. Frequent users tend to become less and less sensitive to the drug, leading to stronger or more frequent doses. The typical result is addiction. Exposure to the drug, or to drug-associated cues, even after long periods of abstention, often leads to relapse.
	Scientists determine four personality types based on new data Northwestern University researchers have sifted through data from more than 1.5 million questionnaire respondents and found at least four distinct clusters of personality types exist: average, reserved, self-centered and role model. The findings challenge existing paradigms in psychology.
	Study of one million people leads to world's biggest advance in blood pressure genetics Over 500 new gene regions that influence people's blood pressure have been discovered in the largest global genetic study of blood pressure to date, led by Queen Mary University of London and Imperial College London.
	Mouse study reveals that activity, not rest, speeds recovery after brain injury When recovering from a brain injury, getting back in the swing of things may be more effective than a prolonged period of rest, according to a new Columbia study in mice. These findings offer a compelling example of the brain's remarkable capacity to adapt in response to trauma. They also point to new, activity-centered treatment strategies that could one day result in faster and more complete recovery times for patients looking to regain mobility after a brain damage or a stroke.
	Nanoparticle therapeutic restores function of tumor suppressor in prostate cancer Think of it as a cancer therapy zag instead of a zig. While many groups are developing cancer therapies to target proteins and pathways that are highly active in cancer cells, a team of investigators from Brigham and Women's Hospital and Boston Children's Hospital, with collaborators at Memorial Sloan Kettering Cancer Center, is taking a new approach that allows them to go after what is not there. Loss of tumor suppressors—genes such as PTEN and p53—help cancer grow unchecked. But targeting proteins that have been lost rather than gained in cancer has been challenging. The Boston-based collaborative team has leveraged advances in nanotechnology and the unique properties of mRNA to inhibit tumor growth in preclinical models of prostate cancer by targeting PTEN. The results of the team's efforts are published this week in Nature Biomedical Engineering.
	Researchers develop mechanism for characterizing function of rare tumor cells Scientists have long known that circulating tumor cells, rare cancer cells that are released into the bloodstream, have the potential to provide vital information about a person's specific cancer. But until now, they have been unable to reliably access information on how these cells behave. UCLA researchers have created a quick and effective mechanism to measure how these cells perform functions that drive the disease, such as producing proteins that degrade tissue.
	Thinking beyond yourself can make you more open to healthy lifestyle choices Public health messages often tell people things they don't want to hear: Smokers should stop smoking. Sedentary people need to get moving. Trade your pizza and hot dogs for a salad with lean protein.
	Resynchronizing neurons to erase schizophrenia Schizophrenia, an often severe and disabling psychiatric disorder, affects approximately 1 percent of the world's population. While research over the past few years has suggested that desynchronization of neurons may be the cause of its neuropsychiatric symptoms, including memory disorders, hyperactivity and hallucinatory phenomena, the cellular origin of such desynchronization remains poorly understood. Now, researchers at the University of Geneva (UNIGE) have taken a decisive step in understanding this disease. They have deciphered a cellular mechanism leading to the desynchronization of neural networks, and corrected this organizational defect in an adult animal model, thereby suppressing abnormal behaviours associated with schizophrenia. The results, published in Nature Neuroscience, show that a therapeutic intervention is possible at all ages.
	Fine-tuned sense of smell relies on timing If you can tell the difference between a merlot and a cabernet franc just by smell, it's probably all in the timing.
	Opioid users could benefit from meth-relapse prevention strategy, study finds New research raises the possibility that a wider group of people battling substance use disorders may benefit from a Scripps Research-developed relapse-prevention compound than previously thought.
	Genetic mutations thwart scientific efforts to fully predict our future Ever since the decoding of the human genome in 2003, genetic research has been focused heavily on understanding genes so that they could be read like tea leaves to predict an individual's future and, perhaps, help them stave off disease.
	Artificial intelligence can determine lung cancer type A new computer program can analyze images of patients' lung tumors, specify cancer types, and even identify altered genes driving abnormal cell growth, a new study shows.
	Team identifies brain's lymphatic vessels as new avenue to treat multiple sclerosis Lymphatic vessels that clean the brain of harmful material play a crucial role in the development and progression of multiple sclerosis, new research from the University of Virginia School of Medicine suggests. The vessels appear to carry previously unknown messages from the brain to the immune system that ultimately trigger the disease symptoms. Blocking those messages may offer doctors a new way to treat a potentially devastating condition that affects more than 2 million people.
	Circuit found for brain's statistical inference about motion As the eye tracks a bird flying past, the muscles that pan the eyeballs to keep the target in focus set their pace not only on the speed they see, but also on a reasonable estimate of the speed they expect from having watched birds before.
	Household cleaning products may contribute to kids' overweight by altering their gut microbiota Commonly used household cleaners could be making children overweight by altering their gut microbiota, suggests a Canadian study published in CMAJ (Canadian Medical Association Journal).
	Paracetamol use in infancy is linked to increased risk of asthma in some teenagers Children who take paracetamol during their first two years of life may be at a higher risk of developing asthma by the age of 18, especially if they have a particular genetic makeup, according to new research presented at the European Respiratory Society International Congress today (Monday).
Medicaid expansion boosted the financial health of low-income Michigan residents Low-income Michigan residents who enrolled in a new state health insurance plan didn't just get coverage for their health needs—many also got a boost in their financial health, according to a new study. People who gained coverage under the state's expanded Medicaid program have experienced fewer debt problems and other financial issues than they had before enrollment, the analysis of thousands of individuals shows.
	Witnessing violence in high school as bad as being bullied Students who witness violence in school at age 13 are at later risk of psycho-social and academic impairment at age 15, according to a new longitudinal study by researchers at Université de Montréal with colleagues in Belgium and France.
Injuries associated with infant walkers still sending children to the emergency department Although infant walkers provide no benefit to children and pose significant injury risk, many are still being used in US homes. A new study from researchers in the Center for Injury Research and Policy at Nationwide Children's Hospital examined characteristics of infant walker-related injuries and evaluated the effect of the 2010 federal mandatory safety standard on these injuries.
	More than half of parents of sleep-deprived teens blame electronics It's no secret that many teenagers stay up late to scroll through social media or catch up with friends on phones.
	Moneyball in Medicare? It's working, study says Incentives for hospitals to improve their quality and reduce costs do work, according to a new University of Michigan study.
	Baldness caused by alopecia could soon be treatable Baldness caused by alopecia areata could soon be treated safely and effectively, after an international University of Melbourne-led trial found two new drugs to be safe and effective.
	Researchers develop biometric tool for newborn fingerprinting Researchers at the University of California San Diego say they have dramatically advanced the science of biometric identification, creating a novel technology that can capture the fingerprints of infants and children, even on the first day of birth.
	Hurricanes can affect mental health—strategies for coping Alan E. Stewart is a weather and climate psychology professor at the University of Georgia who studies the effect severe weather has on our mental health. As Hurricane Florence makes landfall, he shares his advice on staying calm and clear-headed despite the uncertainties that come with a major storm.
	Number of vapers tops 3 million for first time in Britain More than 3 million people in Great Britain are now vaping, according to new survey data.
	Rapid genomic sequencing to diagnose critically ill children with rare diseases A multidisciplinary team at KK Women's and Children's Hospital (KKH) has developed a test to enable faster diagnosis of rare diseases to help critically ill children. Rapid genomic sequencing or RapidSeq of critically ill children in the neonatal and children's intensive care units is a test, the first of its kind in Singapore, to provide information on the underlying genetic diagnosis of these critically ill children.
	New blood test detects early stage pancreatic cancer Pancreatic cancer is currently very difficult to detect while it is still resectable. A new blood test developed by researchers at Lund University in Sweden, Herlev Hospital, Knight Cancer Center and Immunovia AB, can detect pancreatic cancer in the very earliest stages of the disease. The results have been published in the Journal of Clinical Oncology.
	Salsa dancers less likely to get injured than Zumba dancers Salsa dancers are less likely to get injured while dancing than people taking part in Spanish, aerobic or Zumba dancing, according to new research.
Researchers find children experience concussion symptoms three times longer than adults Concussion symptoms for children under 13 years old typically last three times longer than they do for older teens and adults, but keeping them out of the classroom during recovery is not necessarily the preferred treatment, according to a comprehensive research review in The Journal of the American Osteopathic Association.
	Liver allocation system disadvantages children awaiting transplants Children are at a considerable disadvantage when competing with adults for livers from deceased organ donors in the U.S. allocation system, a University of Pittsburgh Graduate School of Public Health-led analysis reveals today in JAMA Pediatrics.
	Individual, societal changes needed to combat obesity Fighting the obesity epidemic in the U.S. will require changes at both the individual and societal level, according to a review paper published today in the Journal of the American College of Cardiology. This paper is part of an eight-part health promotion series where each paper will focus on a different risk factor for cardiovascular disease.
New evidence of a preventative therapy for gout Among patients with cardiovascular disease, it's a common complaint: a sudden, piercing pain, stiffness or tenderness in a joint that lasts for days at a time with all signs pointing to a gout attack. Gout and cardiovascular disease (CVD) appear to be intimately linked—they are frequently seen together although the underlying connection between the two remains unclear. When rheumatologist Daniel Solomon, MD, MPH, heard about a large, clinical study to determine if targeting inflammation among patients with a history of heart attacks could lower future risk of cardiovascular events, he immediately wondered if the new approach might help prevent gout attacks among these patients as well. Solomon and colleagues found a significant reduction in risk of gout attacks among patients who received the drug that targets a key inflammatory molecule, suggesting a new target for therapeutic strategies to prevent gout attacks. Their findings are published online today in Annals of Internal Medicine.
	An improvement in outcome for patients with severe traumatic brain injury Patients with severe traumatic brain injury treated at Helsinki University Hospital, Finland, recover to functional independence more often than before. At the same time, the proportions of elderly patients and patients treated conservatively have increased. The study found no specific reason to explain the observed improvement in outcomes; the results are accounted for by improvements in performance and effectiveness throughout the treatment chain, researchers say.
	Playing sound through the skin improves hearing in noisy places Hundreds of thousands of people with severe hearing loss depend on surgically implanted electronic devices to recover some of their hearing. These devices, known as auditory or cochlear implants, aren't perfect. In particular, implant users find it difficult to understand speech when there is background noise. We have a new approach to solve this problem that involves playing sound through the skin.
	Why we're looking for cancer clues in urine The human immune system is actually quite good at killing cancer cells. In fact, we believe it does so quite frequently. People who have AIDS or have had an organ transplant have suppressed immune systems and go on to develop cancer more often than healthy individuals. And as people age, their immune systems don't work as well and they develop cancer more often.
	Crested cactuses inspire researchers to look for new ways to control cancer Sun Tzu, the general of ancient China, wrote in his enduring military treatise "The Art of War" of the importance of knowing one's enemy. The idea resonates strongly with Athena Aktipis, a scholar of many titles at Arizona State University who studies cooperation among living things.
	Researchers call for major re-think on sun safety Most Australians are familiar with the 'slip, slop, slap' message, but new research suggests we're not taking sun safety seriously enough.
	Could the next anti-cancer drug be made from seafood? Biomedical scientists at the University of Salford found that sugars from the common cockle (Cerastoderma edule) were approximately as effective as some standard chemotherapy drugs at relative lower dosage.
	Being forgotten by acquaintances can affect self-esteem in the same way as being rejected Psychologists at The University of Aberdeen looking into the experience of being forgotten have discovered that memory lapses can damage relationships.
	Slaying the couch-potato mindset (HealthDay)—There's no shortage of creative excuses people come up with to stay stuck on the sofa, but three of them top the list.
	Antibodies cut heart attack risk Antibodies could protect against heart attacks, according to a study by researchers from Imperial College London.
	Daily low-dose aspirin doesn't reduce heart-attack risk in healthy people Taking low-dose aspirin daily doesn't preserve good health or delay the onset of disability or dementia in healthy older people. This was one finding from our seven-year study that included more than 19,000 older people from Australia and the US.
	Gunshot victims require much more blood and are more likely to die than other trauma patients In a new analysis of data submitted to Maryland's state trauma registry from 2005 to 2017, Johns Hopkins Medicine researchers found that gunshot victims are approximately five times more likely to require blood transfusions, they require 10 times more blood units and are 14 times more likely to die than people seriously injured by motor vehicles, non-gun assaults, falls or stabs.
	Air pollution affects thyroid development in fetuses, research finds Soot and dust alters thyroid development in fetuses before they are born in smoggy cities, raising concern about health impacts later in life, new USC research shows.
The effectiveness of online cannabis responsible vendor training program To date, 6 U.S. states have implemented retail sales of recreational marijuana: Alaska, California, Colorado, Nevada, Oregon, and Washington state. One important issue for these states has been how to implement training in responsible retail sales practices. Examples of how to accomplish this task successfully come from the Responsible Beverage Service trainings for selling and serving alcohol.
	Undiagnosed STIs can increase negative PMS symptoms Women that have undiagnosed sexually transmitted infections may be at greater risk of experiencing negative premenstrual symptoms (PMS), according to new Oxford University research.
	Sperm quality study updates advice for couples trying to conceive Could doctors at fertility clinics be giving men bad advice? Dr. Da Li and Dr. XiuXia Wang, who are clinician-researchers at the Center for Reproductive Medicine of Shengjing Hospital in Shenyang in northeast China, think so.
	Counting (on) sheep? Promising gene therapy for visually impaired sheep now safe for human trials Back in 2009, a group of Israeli researchers identified a herd of Awassi sheep suffering from "day blindness". As its name implies, these sheep were blind during the day (in bright light) but could see at night, in low-light conditions.
Lupus discovery could help manage disease in African patients Two variants of an autoimmune disease that affects thousands but is hard to diagnose are relatively common among black Africans, research shows.
	Is resveratrol an effective add-on to NSAIDS to treat knee osteoarthritis? In what researchers state is the first pilot clinical trial to assess the effects of resveratrol on pain severity and levels of inflammatory biomarkers in patients with mild to moderate knee osteoarthritis, the scientists compared treatment with a nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drug (NSAID) combined with either resveratrol or placebo over 90 days. Pain severity decreased significantly with resveratrol and blood levels of several inflammatory biomarkers were significantly reduced, accorded to the results published in Journal of Medicinal Food.
	Survey finds 2M US teens are vaping marijuana A school-based survey shows nearly 1 in 11 U.S. students have used marijuana in electronic cigarettes, heightening health concerns about the new popularity of vaping among teens.
	Shifting focus from life extension to 'healthspan' extension Clinicians, scientists and public health professionals should proudly "declare victory" in their efforts to extend the human lifespan to its very limits, according to University of Illinois at Chicago epidemiologist S. Jay Olshansky.
Sleep apnea, congenital heart disease may be deadly mix for hospitalized infants Infants often aren't screened for sleep apnea, but a new study suggests the disorder may be tied to an increased risk of death in infants with congenital heart disease.
New school of thought: In-class physical exercise won't disrupt learning, teaching As childhood obesity rates rise and physical education offerings dwindle, elementary schools keep searching for ways to incorporate the federally mandated half-hour of physical activity into the school day.
	Significant disparities in college student mental health treatment across race/ethnicity The first nationally representative study since the 1990s to examine mental health among college students of color, led by a Boston University School of Public Health (BUSPH) researcher, shows significant disparities in treatment across race/ethnicity.
	Recovery of cardiovascular function in spinal-cord-injured people sustained following epidural stimulation training For the first time since 2009, Stefanie Putnam is able to prepare—and eat—meals for herself, put the vest on her service dog, Kaz, and drive herself to activities with her horse without losing consciousness or gasping for breath.
	Coca-Cola looking at cannabis-infused drinks Coca-Cola said Monday it is studying the use of a key ingredient in marijuana in "wellness beverages," as a growing number of mainstream companies develop cannabis-infused drinks.
	Stress over fussy eating prompts parents to pressure or reward at mealtime Although fussy eating is developmentally normal and transient phase for most children, the behavior can be stressful for parents. A new study published in the Journal of Nutrition Education and Behavior found that concern over fussy eating prompts both mothers and fathers to use non-responsive feeding practices such as pressuring or rewarding for eating.
	After florence comes the cleanup: stay safe (HealthDay)—True to its storm-of-the-century hype, Hurricane Florence pounded the Carolinas with historic rainfall and catastrophic flooding—and continuing danger looms in its wake.
	Drug users trying to stay ahead of deadly fentanyl (HealthDay)—As deadly fentanyl is increasingly mixed into heroin and other street drugs, some drug abusers are getting smart, a new study finds.
	Coming soon, computers that will read your heart tests Tapping into the technology behind facial recognition programs and self-driving cars, researchers in a new study have taught computers key elements of assessing echocardiograms.
	Drug prices seem not to be influenced by their value (HealthDay)—For commonly prescribed cardiovascular drugs, there is no evidence that drug prices are influenced by their value, according to a study published in the August issue of Health Affairs.
	Model estimates mortality in patients waiting for hearts (HealthDay)—For patients with advanced heart failure who are listed for transplantation, mortality risk is related to adverse events and end-organ dysfunction that vary over time, according to a study published in the Aug. 7 issue of the Journal of the American College of Cardiology.
	Association health plans can help small businesses offer coverage (HealthDay)—Association health plans (AHPs) will provide small businesses with more choices, access, and coverage options, although critics warn that they may undermine the Affordable Care Act (ACA) marketplace, according to an article published in Managed Healthcare Executive.
	No evidence for milk increasing mucus production from lungs (HealthDay)—There is no evidence to support the myth that milk increases mucus production from the lungs, according to a review published online Sept. 6 in the Archives of Disease in Childhood.
	Geographic disparities seen in distribution of dermatologists (HealthDay)—There are substantial disparities in the geographic distribution of dermatologists that are worsening with time, according to a study published online Sept. 5 in JAMA Dermatology.
	Mercury in traditional Tibetan medicine could be harmful (HealthDay)—The high mercury (Hg) concentration contained in traditional Tibetan medicine (TTM) could be harmful to humans and contribute to the environmental Hg burden in Tibet, according to a study published in the Aug. 7 issue of Environmental Science & Technology.
	Many RA patients' pain related to central nervous system (HealthDay)—Centralized pain pathways may coexist with more established peripheral inflammation-driven pathways in some patients with rheumatoid arthritis (RA), according to a study published in the July issue of Arthritis & Rheumatology.
	Potentially inappropriate opioid prescribing tied to overdose (HealthDay)—Potentially inappropriate prescribing (PIP) of opioids is associated with increased risk of all-cause mortality and fatal and nonfatal overdose, according to a study published in the September issue of the Journal of General Internal Medicine.
	Ambient particulate matter linked to emergency asthma care (HealthDay)—Ambient particulate matter concentrations are associated with emergency/urgent care visits among individuals with asthma, according to a study published in the Aug. 1 issue of the Annals of the American Thoracic Society.
	Clinical gene discovery program solves 30 medical mysteries A table in a recently published paper tells the story of 30 families who have, sometimes after years of searching, finally received an answer about the condition that has plagued one or more family members. The Brigham Genomic Medicine (BGM) program, an integrated, multi-disciplinary clinical and research program, brings together world-class experts from across Brigham and Women's Hospital as well as the entire Harvard-affiliated community to help in the search for these answers, using the power of whole genome sequencing or whole exome sequencing, in combination with other genomic methods, to scour the genome for new genetic culprits. The results of this exhaustive search and analysis can yield not only a diagnosis for a patient or family that has been desperately searching for one but may also offer information that could help guide novel treatment or predict if other family members are at risk. In a recent paper published in Genomic Medicine, the BGM team describes its program, one the team hopes will serve as a model for other academic medical centers or institutions that are endeavoring to solve medical mysteries using genomic sequencing and the power of scientific crowdsourcing.
	More women than men veterans with chronic pain use therapies like yoga and acupuncture A recent major shift in practice by the Veterans Health Administration (VA) now means that complementary and integrative health (CIH) therapies such as meditation, yoga and acupuncture are increasingly being offered to VA patients as non-drug approaches for pain management and related conditions, says Elizabeth Evans, an epidemiology researcher in the School of Public Health and Health Sciences at the University of Massachusetts Amherst.
Exposure to organochlorine pesticides in the womb linked to poorer lung function in childhood Babies exposed to higher levels of organochlorine compounds in the womb go on to have worse lung function in childhood, according to new research presented today (Tuesday) at the European Respiratory Society International Congress.
	COPD patients suffer fewer respiratory problems if treated with Targeted Lung Denervation First results from a clinical trial of a procedure to open obstructed airways in patients with chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD) have shown that it significantly reduces problems associated with the disease and is safe.
Either too much or too little weight gain during pregnancy is associated with adverse outcomes in children aged 7 years New research published in Diabetologia (the journal of the European Association for the Study of Diabetes [EASD]) shows that if a woman gains either too much or too little weight during pregnancy, there are adverse effects in children at 7 years of age. The study is by Professor Wing Hung Tam and Professor Ronald C.W. Ma, at The Chinese University of Hong Kong, Shatin, Hong Kong, and colleagues.
Quick and easy test for viral infections reduces hospital admissions and antibiotic use A quick and easy test for viral infections can reduce unnecessary antibiotic use and hospital admissions, according to new research presented to the European Respiratory Society International Congress today (Monday).
	Characterizing pig hippocampus could improve translational neuroscience Researchers have taken further steps toward developing a superior animal model of neurological conditions such as traumatic brain injury and epilepsy, according to a study of miniature pigs published in eNeuro. The results establish the pig as a promising preclinical research model for hippocampal-dependent human memory disorders.
Pre-activating cath labs prior to STEMI arrival speeds treatment, reduces risk ST-elevation myocardial infarction (STEMI) patients have a higher chance of survival if emergency medical service (EMS) teams notify the cardiac catherization lab at the hospital where the patient will be transported in advance of the patient's arrival, according to a study published today in JACC: Cardiovascular Interventions. However, hospital cardiac catherization labs in the U.S. are only being notified (pre-activated) at least 10 minutes in advance 41 percent of the time.
South Africa superbug kills six newborns An outbreak of the Klebsiella pneumonia superbug that killed six newborns at a government hospital in Johannesburg has forced medics to close the facility's neo-natal and maternity wards.
	To avoid overdoses, some test their heroin before taking it The newest tool in the fight against opioid overdoses is an inexpensive test strip that can help heroin users detect a potentially deadly contaminant in their drugs.
	Doctors group recommends support for transgender children A doctors group took a stand in support of transgender children Monday, offering advice in what it called "a rapidly evolving" field.
	Watchdog slams safeguards for foster kids on psych drugs Thousands of foster children may be getting powerful psychiatric drugs prescribed to them without basic safeguards, says a federal watchdog agency that found a failure to care for youngsters whose lives have already been disrupted.
	Do rock climbers seek out high-risk climbs? The sport of rock climbing is gaining international attention, having been approved for inclusion in the 2020 Olympic Games. But news headlines about the sport are still dominated by reports of gruesome injuries and near-death falls. Are rock climbers going out of their way to seek these risks? A new study published in Risk Analysis: An International Journal reveals that decreasing the level of injury risk at a climbing site generates substantial welfare gains for climbers.
New online tools provide best practices in surgical care for older adults The American Board of Medical Specialties (ABMS) and the American Geriatrics Society (AGS), with funding from The John A. Hartford Foundation, today unveiled one of the field's first suites of online tools to aid surgeons and related medical sub-specialists who care for older people. With the number of older adults undergoing surgery increasing faster than the rate of the population aging itself, the new series of nine AGS' Geriatrics Virtual Patient Cases (VPCs) for Surgical and Related Medical Sub-Specialties are geared toward helping the entire healthcare system better understand and respond to the unique care needs of older adults.
Silicone breast implants linked to increased risk of some rare harms Women receiving silicone breast implants may be at increased risk of several rare adverse outcomes compared to the general population, reports a study in Annals of Surgery.

Biology news

	Targeting this key bacterial molecule could reduce the need for antibiotics Stanford researchers have shown that bacteria involved in urinary tract infections (UTI) rely on a novel chemical form of the molecule cellulose to stick to bladder cells.
	Earth's oldest animals formed complex ecological communities A new analysis is shedding light on the earth's first macroscopic animals: the 570-million-year-old, enigmatic Ediacara biota.
	Machine learning technique to predict human cell organization published in nature methods Scientists at the Allen Institute have used machine learning to train computers to see parts of the cell the human eye cannot easily distinguish. Using 3-D images of fluorescently labeled cells, the research team taught computers to find structures inside living cells without fluorescent labels, using only black and white images generated by an inexpensive technique known as brightfield microscopy. A study describing the new technique is published today in the journal Nature Methods.
	Proteins surf to mitochondria – a novel transport pathway discovered Prof. Johannes Herrmann, a researcher at the Technische Universität Kaiserslautern, Germany, and his team discovered a novel mechanism by which newly synthesized proteins reach their respective target compartment in the cell. Proteins destined to mitochondria, the cell's powerhouse, are not directly transported to mitochondria but are directed to the surface of the endoplasmic reticulum, where they "surf" along its surface. As shown in Science, this so far unknown mechanism keeps newly synthesized protein transport-competent and might prevent their aggregation. Protein aggregation can be a critical problem leading to human pathologies such as Alzheimer's or Parkinson's disease.
	Single mutation protects TB bacteria from antibiotics, immune assault People who fall sick with drug-resistant tuberculosis (TB) face daunting odds. Only about two in three survive the illness, unlike people with drug-sensitive TB, of whom more than 90 percent survive.
	Scientists reveal way to map vast unknown territory of long non-coding RNA Scientists from the University of North Carolina School of Medicine have developed a powerful method for exploring the properties of mysterious molecules called long non-coding RNAs (lncRNAs), some of which have big roles in cancer and other serious conditions. Until now, scientists have lacked the proper methods for identifying the functions of the tens of thousands of different lncRNAs produced in human cells. So far they've characterized only a few hundred of these molecules—a tiny part of the vast terra incognita they represent.
	How dragonfly wings get their patterns Harvard researchers have developed a computational model that can mimic, with only a few, simple parameters, the complex wing patterns of a large group of distantly-related insects, shedding light on how these patterns form.
	Structural map of bacterial toxins raises hopes for new anti-infectives The bacteria Pseudomonas aeruginosa can cause serious and difficult to treat infections. The infection process involves the activation of toxic substances from the bacteria by a common protein in our cells. Researchers at Karolinska Institutet in Sweden now show how this happens and that the activation can be stopped with drug-like molecules. The results are presented in Nature Communications.
	Protein for deeper insights into the brain To be able to examine the function of individual cells or structures in intact tissue, these need to be visible. This may sound trivial, but it is not. To achieve this, researchers implant fluorescent proteins into cells. These will then produce the proteins themselves, without the cell functions being disturbed: cells, structures or their activities thus become visible under the microscope. However, the proteins need to be optimized for their use in research. The required "protein engineering", in which highly sensitive and specific proteins are developed, is a dedicated research branch. Scientists from the Max Planck Institute of Neurobiology in Martinsried have now developed a method that provides for a significant improvement of protein engineering, by means of automated computer analysis and a robot-supported selection process. This has been verified by first successes achieved with a deep red protein.
	New light on the controversial question of species abundance and population density Inspired by the negative results in the recently published largest-scale analysis of the relation between population density and positions in geographic ranges and environmental niches, Drs Jorge Soberon and Andrew Townsend Peterson of the University of Kansas, USA, teamed up with Luis Osorio-Olvera, National University of Mexico (UNAM), and identified several issues in the methodology used, able to turn the tables in the ongoing debate. Their findings are published in the innovative open access journal Rethinking Ecology.
	How plants harness microbes to get nutrients A Rutgers-led team has discovered how plants harness microbes in soil to get nutrients, a process that could be exploited to boost crop growth, fight weeds and slash the use of polluting fertilizers and herbicides.
	Study provides roadmap for measuring animal, plant traits to meet biodiversity goals An international team of researchers has outlined a plan for how to measure changes in key traits of animals and plants and provide these data to policymakers to improve natural resource management and keep nations on track to meet global biodiversity and sustainability goals.
	More than 4 billion birds stream overhead during fall migration Using cloud computing and data from 143 weather radar stations across the continental United States, Cornell Lab of Ornithology researchers can now estimate how many birds migrate through the U.S. and the toll that winter and these nocturnal journeys take. Their findings are published in Nature Ecology & Evolution.
	Newly discovered enzyme is 'firing pin' for plant immunity Just like humans, plants have an immune system that helps them fight off infections. Plant immunity has some important differences: they don't make antibodies and can't fight off the same bug more quickly months or years later. However, plant cells can identify pathogens and react to them, often by producing a burst of reactive oxygen which is toxic to bacteria or fungi. Cells around an infected site will go into programmed cell death to seal off the disease.
	Turmoil behind primate power struggles often overlooked by researchers Anyone who peruses relationship settings on social media knows that our interactions with other humans can be intricate, but a new study in Nature: Scientific Reports suggests that researchers may be overlooking some of these same complexities in the social relations of our closest primate relatives, such as chimpanzees and macaques.
	Tiny moth from Asia spreading fast on Siberian elms in eastern North America In 2010, moth collector James Vargo began finding numerous specimens of a hitherto unknown pygmy moth in his light traps on his property in Indiana, USA. When handed to Erik van Nieukerken, researcher at Naturalis Biodiversity Center (Leiden, the Netherlands) and specialist in pygmy moths (family Nepticulidae), the scientist failed to identify it as a previously known species.
	Dominica's beloved wildlife still shaky a year after Maria 'Sad' parrots and 'stressed-out' frogs might be unlikely contenders for concern in the aftermath of a catastrophic natural disaster.
	New research warns of primate extinction in China Up to 80 per cent of China's primate species are at risk of extinction according to a new study by a group of international primatologists including The University of Western Australia.
	Wheat genome blueprint accelerates innovation "The wheat blueprint will enable us to decipher the genetic basis of important traits in wheat, such as genes responsible for resistance to fungal diseases and pests. That is the disruptive part. What took years to do before can now be done in a matter of a few weeks," said Pozniak, a wheat breeder at the Crop Development Centre (CDC) in the U of S College of Agriculture and Bioresources.
	Better tests and legal deterrence could clean up the mess left behind by fake honey row Last week's fake honey scandal, involving Australia's largest honey producer Capilano, prompted calls for better purity tests and regulation of the industry.
	How the zebrafish got its stripes Stripes are common in our lives. It's a pretty basic pattern, and easy to take for granted.
	Novel carbon source sustains deep-sea microorganism communities The first in-depth analyses of dissolved organic carbon (DOC) cycling in the Red Sea highlights the important role of migrating shoals of fish in sustaining deep-ocean microorganisms and potentially the global carbon cycle.
	Czech Republic to restrict use of glyphosate weedkiller The Czech Republic will limit the use of substances containing the controversial glyphosate weedkiller as of next year, the agriculture ministry said on Monday.
	Blood test could aid cattle health and productivity, study suggests A simple blood test could be used in the future to predict the health and productivity of dairy cows, research shows.
	Anger as rhino trade kingpin released from S.African jail Conservationists expressed shock Monday after a Thai kingpin of the illegal rhino horn trade was released from jail in South Africa after serving just six years of his 40-year sentence.
Decisive sea otters use paws and whiskers to distinguish objects by touch When dinner is encased in a robust shell, brute force is often the only solution, but ingenious sea otters (Enhydra lutris) have been more ingenious. Some pound clams and snails on a rock balanced on their chests, while others skilfully crack open shells to satisfy their voracious appetites. Describing sea otters as eating machines, Sarah McKay Strobel from the University of California Santa Cruz (UCSC), USA, explains that they devour 25% of their own body weight each day just to remain warm. Yet little was known about their hunting tactics because the shy mammals stop seeking food when human divers are near. Suspecting that the enigmatic animals do not rely on smell or vision to located dinner in the cloudy Monterey Bay waters, Strobel and PI Colleen Reichmuth wondered whether the dextrous creatures might depend instead on the sensitivity of their whiskers and paws to hunt by touch. They publish their discovery that sea otters' paws and whiskers are remarkably sensitive, allowing the mammals to distinguish 2.28mm grooves from 2mm grooves with their paws, and 2.48mm groves from 2mm grooves with their whiskers, with just a single touch in Journal of Experimental Biology.
	Eelgrass wasting disease has new enemies: Drones and artificial intelligence Every year, the world loses an estimated 7 percent of its seagrasses. While the reasons are manifold, one culprit has long confounded scientists: eelgrass wasting disease. This September a team of biologists is zeroing in on the problem, in the first study of the disease to stretch along the Pacific Coast from southern California to Alaska, with a $1.3 million grant from the National Science Foundation.
Grizzly's unusually aggressive behavior in Wyoming a puzzle Wildlife officials are puzzled why a grizzly bear that killed a hunting guide and injured his client was behaving so aggressively.

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