Science X Newsletter Friday, Oct 5

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Here is your customized Science X Newsletter for October 5, 2018:

Spotlight Stories Headlines

A new molecular programming language: CRN++

On-chip excitation of nanodiamonds embedded in plasmonic waveguides

New bio-inspired dynamic materials transform themselves

A font that helps you remember what you read—Sans Forgetica

Taking lithium-ion batteries to new extremes

New effort will analyze genes of endangered Northwest orcas

'Real' fake research hoodwinks US journals

Flu season lingers in big cities

DNA sequencing and patient data used to halt infection outbreak

Neutrons scan magnetic fields inside samples

Broad genetic variation on the Pontic-Caspian Steppe

Observations challenge cosmological theories

Species-rich forests store twice as much carbon as monocultures

New method measures single molecules from nanoliter of blood in real time

A new take on kangaroo evolution

Astronomy & Space news

	Observations challenge cosmological theories Recent observations have created a puzzle for astrophysicists: Since the Big Bang, fewer galaxy clusters have formed over time than were actually expected. Physicists from the university of Bonn have now confirmed this phenomenon. For the next three years, the researchers will analyze their data in even greater detail. This will put them in a position to confirm whether the theories considered valid today need to be reworked. The study is part of a series of 20 publications appearing in the professional journal Astronomy and Astrophysics.
	First results from Cassini's final mission phase show protons of extreme energies between the planet and its dense rings Approximately one year ago, a spectacular dive into Saturn ended NASA's Cassini mission—and with it a unique, 13-year research expedition to the Saturnian system. In the mission's last five months, the probe entered uncharted territory again: Twenty-two times, it plunged into the almost unexplored region between the planet Saturn and its innermost ring, the D ring. On Friday, 5 October 2018, the journal Science is releasing six articles describing first results from this mission phase.
	A new era in the quest for dark matter Since the 1970s, astronomers and physicists have been gathering evidence for the presence in the universe of dark matter: a mysterious substance that manifests itself through its gravitational pull. However, despite much effort, none of the new particles proposed to explain dark matter have been discovered. In a review that was published in Nature this week, physicists Gianfranco Bertone (UvA) and Tim Tait (UvA and UC Irvine) argue that the time has come to broaden and diversify the experimental effort, and to incorporate astronomical surveys and gravitational wave observations in the quest for the nature of dark matter.
	First SpaceX mission with astronauts set for June 2019: NASA NASA has announced the first crewed flight by a SpaceX rocket to the International Space Station (ISS) is expected to take place in June 2019.
	NASA Voyager 2 could be nearing interstellar space NASA's Voyager 2 probe, currently on a journey toward interstellar space, has detected an increase in cosmic rays that originate outside our solar system. Launched in 1977, Voyager 2 is a little less than 11 billion miles (about 17.7 billion kilometers) from Earth, or more than 118 times the distance from Earth to the Sun.
	New Horizons sets up for New Year's flyby of Ultima Thule NASA's New Horizons spacecraft carried out a short engine burn on Oct. 3 to home in on the location and timing of its New Year's flyby of the Kuiper Belt object nicknamed Ultima Thule.
	Dust is far from the least of our worries as we plan to colonize Mars, book says The stuff we call "dirt" or "soil" or "earth" on Earth is known as "regolith" on the moon and Mars, but dust is dust wherever you go.
	Groundbreaking science emerges from ultra-close orbits of Saturn New research emerging from the final orbits of NASA's Cassini spacecraft represents a huge leap forward in our understanding of the Saturn system—especially the mysterious, never-before-explored region between the planet and its rings. Some preconceived ideas are turning out to be wrong while new questions are being raised.
	Construction of Europe's exoplanet hunter PLATO begins The construction of ESA's PLATO mission to find and study planets beyond our solar system will be led by Germany's OHB System AG as prime contractor, marking the start of the full industrial phase of the project.
	Lunar craters named in honor of Apollo 8 The newly named craters are visible in the foreground of the iconic Earthrise colour photograph taken by astronaut William Anders. It depicts the moment that our shiny blue Earth came back into view as the spacecraft emerged out of the dark from behind the grey and barren Moon. This is arguably the most famous picture taken by Apollo 8. It became iconic and has been credited with starting the environmental movement.
Doorstop turns out to be meteorite worth $100K A Michigan man recently learned that a rock he's been using as a doorstop is a meteorite worth $100,000.

Technology news

	A new molecular programming language: CRN++ Synthetic biology is a relatively new area of research that could significantly impact a number of fields, including biology, nanofabrication and medicine. A primary challenge in this emerging field is that of embedding computation in molecular contexts, in situations where electronic micro-controllers cannot be inserted. Doing this requires the development of methods that can effectively represent computations using molecular components.
	A font that helps you remember what you read—Sans Forgetica A team of researchers at Australia's Royal Melbourne Institute of Technology has come up with a new type font called Sans Forgetica. Its purpose is to help readers remember what has been written using it. The team behind the new font, which was developed with help from creative agency Naked, has spoken with the press about the font and created a web page where people can download the font. They claim it is the first font ever developed that helps people remember what they have read.
	Taking lithium-ion batteries to new extremes Just like Goldilocks and her proverbial porridge, lithium-ion batteries (LIBs) perform best when the temperature range is just right—that is, neither too hot nor too cold. But this is a huge limiting factor when it comes to using LIBs in electric vehicles (EVs) in many locales where temperatures vary widely. LIBs perform poorly in extremes of heat or cold, and this is one roadblock preventing a transition to the wider use of EVs. As the authors of the study to follow note, "out of the 51 metropolitan areas in the United States, 20 areas normally experience extreme cold days below –18° C (0° F ) while the summertime temperatures in 11 areas (including overlaps with the former 20) routinely exceed 38° C (100° F)." Similar temperature variations certainly exist throughout major urban areas worldwide, and likewise represent a barrier to the uptake of EVs as a potential renewable energy transport solution.
	Movement-enhancing exoskeletons may impair decision making As engineers make strides in the design of wearable, electronically active, and responsive leg braces, arm supports, and full-body suits, collectively known as exoskeletons, researchers at MIT are raising an important question: While these Iron Man-like appendages may amp up a person's strength, mobility, and endurance, what effect might they have on attention and decision making?
	Startup uses 3-D printing to reinvent the production of metal parts It's not hard to understand why some of the world's largest corporations have made huge investments in metal 3-D printing recently. Manufacturing metal parts at scale currently requires companies to navigate complex global supply chains that take an unavoidable chunk out of the bottom line.
	Seawater breakthrough in production of climate-friendly fuel bioethanol cuts demands on freshwater In the fight against global warming, bioethanol fuel is seen as a climate-friendly alternative to petrol and its adoption has been encouraged by many governments. But producing it requires huge amounts of freshwater – a precious resource in many parts of the world. Now, scientists at the University of Huddersfield have shown how it is possible to use a seawater-based system instead.
	Three tickets to ride quantum computing include D-Wave Leap platform Never assume you can have the last laugh on IBM's predictions. In fact, seldom assume IBM is off-base about ways in which technology might move forward. Not that IBM is the only wised-up voice to give pause. But back in March IBM was spreading the word that it saw quantum computing going mainstream within five years.
	Samsung Electronics flags record Q3 operating profit Samsung Electronics Friday forecast a record operating profit of 17.5 trillion won ($15.4 billion) in the third quarter led by solid demand for its memory chips.
	Lenovo shares pummelled in Hong Kong after microchip report China's Lenovo led a sharp tech sell-off in Asia on Friday after a report said Beijing had used microchips inserted in US computer goods as part of a drive to steal technology secrets.
	Tesla's Musk mocks US agency just days after settling with it Less than a week after settling fraud charges with the US Securities and Exchange Commission, Tesla Chief Executive Elon Musk on Thursday derided the agency on Twitter.
	Toyota announces new recall of 2.4 million hybrid cars Japanese car giant Toyota said Friday it is recalling more than 2.4 million hybrid cars over a fault that could cause crashes, just a month after an another recall affecting hybrids.
	Spanish cities grapple with invasion of electric scooters Cities across Spain are grappling with electric scooters that have popped up on sidewalks across the country, helping riders zip around but exasperating drivers and pedestrians.
	China tech stocks Lenovo, ZTE tumble after chip hack report Chinese tech stocks Lenovo Group and ZTE Corp. tumbled in Hong Kong on Friday following a news report Chinese spies might have used chips supplied by another company to hack into U.S. computer systems.
	Why does concrete swell and crack? Unfortunately, concrete does not last forever. The ravages of time also take their toll on concrete structures in Switzerland. Not only are reinforced structures like bridges affected, but also concrete buildings without any reinforcement, such as dam walls. One cause is referred to as the alkali-aggregate reaction (AAR). It can affect all concrete structures in open air.
	Painting a clearer picture of the heart with machine learning Coronary artery disease (CAD) is a condition in which plaque forms on the walls of coronary arteries, causing them to narrow. Eventually, this could lead to a heart attack, or death. This condition is now the single largest health problem in the world, with over one million people in the US undergoing cardiac catheterization – where a stent is placed in the artery to prevent blockage – each year.
	Improving poplar biomass production under stress conditions Inside the phytotron, rows of white industrial cabinets hide the life expected in a greenhouse. A peek through a square viewing port, however, reveals the green energy growing inside the bright chamber. These specific poplar saplings may not survive the hardships of prolonged droughts and heat waves, but they are helping a team of researchers make ones that can.
	Could an artificial intelligence be considered a person under the law? Humans aren't the only people in society – at least according to the law. In the U.S., corporations have been given rights of free speech and religion. Some natural features also have person-like rights. But both of those required changes to the legal system. A new argument has laid a path for artificial intelligence systems to be recognized as people too – without any legislation, court rulings or other revisions to existing law.
	Increasing the speed limit won't get the traffic moving faster The UK should raise its motorway speed limit for cars and vans to 80mph as a way of increasing national productivity, a government minister recently suggested. It's a perennial political idea that has already been proposed and then ruled out by the government at least once in the past decade. Despite claims that the current 70mph limit is embedded in the national psyche, 48% of car drivers choose not to comply with it.
	Tesla's autopilot is better than you, statistically When it's machine versus man, it's more likely you'll be exchanging insurance information with man, according to data released by the electric-car maker Tesla.
	Chernobyl begins new life as solar power park Ukraine launched Friday a park of photovoltaic panels at the former Chernobyl power plant as the country seeks to use solar power to give the scene of the world's worst nuclear disaster a new lease on life.
	'Not right away': Electric cars still have long road ahead Under dazzling autumn sunshine in the heart of Paris, Marc Fiot steps out of a new Zoe, Renault's flagship all-electric hatchback, and readily declares it "the future".
	Publisher drops Tronc name, reverts to Tribune Publishing The US newspaper group known as Tronc announced Thursday it was reverting back to its old name Tribune Publishing, two years after a rebranding effort that drew widespread derision.

Medicine & Health news

	Flu season lingers in big cities Big cities with a large commuting workforce tend to have longer, more grinding flu seasons, a new study suggests.
	DNA sequencing and patient data used to halt infection outbreak Clinical and research teams at Oxford University Hospitals (OUH) NHS Foundation Trust, using infection prevention and control best practice, whole genome sequencing and electronic patient data, have halted an outbreak of a potentially deadly fungal pathogen after detecting that multi-use patient equipment was responsible.
	Study reveals new targets to inhibit pulmonary fibrosis In a study out this week in Science Translational Medicine, an international team led by researchers at Vanderbilt University Medical Center sheds new light on the cause of pulmonary fibrosis and demonstrates a way to impede the disease in mice.
	Much still unclear about relationship between screen media use and ADHD in children There is a statistically small relationship between children's screen media use and ADHD-related behaviours. This is the finding of an extensive literature review on this subject carried out by researchers from the UvA's Center for research on Children, Adolescents and the Media (CcaM). The review also reveals several shortcomings. For example, the effects of programme pacing and violent content on ADHD-related behaviour is still not clearly understood, and much remains unknown about how individual differences in temperament, development and social factors influence such behaviours. As a result, the researchers call for a systematic series of empirical studies on the relationship between screen media use and ADHD. Their results were recently published in the journal Proceeding of the National Academy of Sciences.
	Study finds standard treatment for common STD doesn't eliminate parasite in some women A new study led by an infectious disease epidemiologist at Tulane University School of Public Health and Tropical Medicine could change the way doctors treat a common sexually transmitted disease.
Community health workers could help tackle NHS workload crisis The growing workload crisis in NHS primary care could be helped by the systematic integration of community health workers at scale, a study shows. Published by the Journal of the Royal Society of Medicine, the modelling study was led by researchers at Imperial College London. Using a model introduced in Brazil's Family Health Strategy, they estimate likely costs and benefits of deploying community health workers throughout NHS primary care in England.
	Digital marketing exposure increases energy drink usage among young adults Energy drinks represent a new category of nonalcoholic beverage with global sales of over USD 50 billion. Containing caffeine as a main ingredient, energy drinks are a central part of partying and sporting culture. A new study published in the Journal of Nutrition Education and Behavior found that digital marketing of energy drinks was more persuasive with young adults than other marketing methods.
	Sequencing RNA in 20,000 Cardiac cells reveals insights into heart development and disease Scientists using a powerful new technology that sequences RNA in 20,000 individual cell nuclei have uncovered new insights into biological events in heart disease. In animal studies, the researchers identified a broad variety of cell types in both healthy and diseased hearts, and investigated in rich detail the "transcriptional landscape," in which DNA transfers genetic information into RNA and proteins.
	Dengue fever vaccine delivered with nanotechnology targets all four virus serotypes The latest in a series of studies led by the Aravinda de Silva Lab at the UNC School of Medicine shows continued promise in a dengue virus vaccine delivered using nanoparticle technology.
	New tool helps doctors determine which patients are most likely to forget or skip their appointments Patients who don't show up for their scheduled medical appointments drain health care providers' time and resources, reducing appointment availability, increasing wait times, and reducing patient satisfaction.
	Stretch, inflammation and hypertension Monocytes are known to play an important role in hypertension, although the exact mechanism remains unclear. It is hypothesized that a potential source of monocyte activation originates from its interaction with the vascular endothelium.
	Research reveals diagnosis delays and at risk populations for bowel cancer in NZ There are often delays in diagnosis for New Zealanders with bowel cancer with people aged under 60, Māori and those with less formal education most at risk, new research reveals.
	Mysterious kidney disease on the rise in South Asia It was an enigma when it was discovered in the early 1990s. And despite the efforts of scientists in fields from hydrology to medicine, it largely remains so.
	New risk test for sepsis for heart patients Nearly one in four deaths in people with heart failure are caused by sepsis, according to new research.
	Time doesn't heal all wounds: How DNA damage as we age causes cancer As we age, our bodies inevitably deteriorate. Some changes, like grey hair and wrinkles, are easily visible. Others, like high blood pressure, often go unnoticed, but can be deadly.
	Daylight saving is not something for economists to lose sleep over Have you ever noticed that casinos don't have clocks or windows?
	Pilot study suggests migraine can be treated without medicine By slightly changing the body's own molecules using a small inhaler, certain migraine patients can either cut down on medication or do without it completely. This is shown by a pilot study published in the scientific journal Cephalalgia.
	New function of a key component in the immune system discovered The complement proteins that circulate in our blood are an important part of our immune system. They help identify bacteria, viruses and other harmful organisms, making it easier for our white blood cells to find and neutralise dangerous microbes. Researchers at Lund University in Sweden have now discovered a previously unknown function of the central complement protein, C3, which describes how C3 regulates autophagy.
	Nonaddictive drug compound could replace opioids for chronic pain sufferers A new nonaddictive drug compound discovered by Purdue University researchers could lead to the treatment of chronic pain without the need to rely on opioids, just as a bipartisan package of bills moves through the U.S. House and Senate to battle the nation's opioid epidemic.
	How the switchover to daylight saving time affects our health On Saturday night, Australians who switch over to daylight saving time will get an hour less of sleep as they move their clocks forward.
	Expert discusses making exercise part of routine cancer care While most oncologists would agree that exercise is important for people with cancer, generic guidelines for this population do not address the high need for personalized exercises.
	The best foods to eat for a good night's sleep Sleep has become widely recognised as playing a really important role in our overall health and wellness – alongside diet, stress management and exercise.
	Hamsters may hold the clue to beating obesity The global obesity crisis shows no signs of abating, and we urgently need new ways to tackle it. Consuming fewer calories and burning more energy through physical activity is a proven way to lose weight, but it's clearly easier said than done. The problem with eating less and moving more is that people feel hungry after exercise and they have to fight the biologically programmed urge to eat. To develop effective ways to lose weight, we need a better understanding of how these biological urges work. We believe hamsters hold some clues.
	Patient complaints reveal quality and safety 'blind spots' in healthcare delivery Healthcare complaints made by patients can provide unique insight on aspects of healthcare delivery not easily evaluated by hospitals, a new study from the London School of Economics and Political Science (LSE) has found.
	Vitamin D supplements won't build bone health in older adults (HealthDay)—Vitamin D supplements have long been touted as a way to improve bone health and possibly ward off the bone-thinning disease osteoporosis in older adults.
	Number of COPD events over one year predicts rate of future events (HealthDay)—The frequency of acute exacerbations of chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (AECOPDs) in a single year predicts the long-term rate of AECOPDs, according to a study recently published in the American Journal of Respiratory and Critical Care Medicine.
	New cancer vaccine platform a potential tool for tailored and efficacious targeted cancer therapy Researchers at the University of Helsinki have reported PeptiENV, a cancer vaccine platform that can be used to improve the therapeutic efficacy of oncolytic enveloped viruses currently in clinical use. With the help of this new cancer vaccine platform, the activation of the human immune response against cancer cells becomes significantly more effective.
	How the brain learns during sleep Researchers from Ruhr-Universität Bochum and the University of Bonn have investigated which activity patterns occur in the brain when people remember or forget things. They were interested in how the brain replays and stores during sleep what it had learned before. The team recorded the brain activity of epilepsy patients who had electrodes implanted into their brain for the purpose of surgical planning. One result: During sleep, the brain even reactivates memory traces that it can no longer remember later on.
	Working out when under the weather (HealthDay)—Every now and then you might not feel well enough to exercise and decide to skip a workout. But if you have a cold that could last a full week, you probably won't want to find yourself facing a fitness setback once you've recovered.
	Three-quarters of health care workers got flu shot last year (HealthDay)—Just over three-quarters of health care personnel received a flu vaccine last season, according to research published in the Sept. 28 issue of the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention Morbidity and Mortality Weekly Report.
	Tips provided for budgeting in medical residency (HealthDay)—Medical residents should start budgeting and save for the future, according to an article published in the American Medical Association AMA Wire.
	For mothers who lose their babies, donating breast milk is a healing ritual Stillbirth and neonatal loss are painful in many ways.
'Bystander effect' and sexual assault: What the research says Sexual assault, pushed into public conversation by the #MeToo movement, once again dominates the U.S. news cycle. Supreme Court nominee Brett Kavanaugh faces allegations that he sexual assaulted professor Christine Blasey Ford, a former high school classmate.
	How astrophysics could transform the treatment of cystic fibrosis and other rare diseases It's a cruel disease which dramatically shortens life expectancy. One in 25 Europeans carry the cystic fibrosis gene and, in the UK, about 10,400 people currently have the condition. But people are living longer and longer thanks to improvements in screening at birth, early treatment and medication.
	Study links individual HPV types to HIV infection An international research team led by a scientist at the University of California, Riverside, has for the first time identified individual types of the human papillomavirus, or HPV, that are specifically linked to HIV infection.
Sink traps are surprising source of antibiotic-resistant bacteria in ICU During a nationwide outbreak of healthcare-associated infections of an antibiotic-resistant bacteria, an Israeli hospital traced repeated infections of patients in its intensive care unit (ICU) to an unexpected source—sink traps, according to a study published today in Infection Control & Hospital Epidemiology, the journal of the Society for Healthcare Epidemiology of America.
Cancer death disparities linked to poverty, lifestyle factors nationwide Yale researchers have identified factors that may contribute to widening cancer death disparities among counties across the United States. These factors, which include both socioeconomic and behavioral traits, may provide public health experts with specific targets for potentially reducing cancer disparities, the researchers said.
	Health insurer policies may discourage use of non-opioid alternatives for lower back pain Public and private health insurance policies in the U.S. are missing important opportunities to encourage the use of physical therapy, psychological counseling and other non-drug alternatives to opioid medication for treating lower back pain, a study led by researchers at Johns Hopkins Bloomberg School of Public Health has found.
	Could treating psoriasis in the future be as easy as going online? For approximately 8 million Americans, visiting a doctor regularly is the key to managing their psoriasis, a chronic inflammatory skin condition characterized by itchy or painful red patches that can appear anywhere on the body. But for some people, seeing a specialist regularly can be a monumental challenge, especially for those who live in rural or underserved communities. A new study led by the Keck School of Medicine of USC, however, raises the possibility that one day, people with psoriasis may be able to simply go online to receive their care. Published today in JAMA Network Open, the study found that online and in-person care were equally effective at improving psoriasis symptoms.
	American hospitals make it too hard for patients to access medical records Many top hospitals in the United States are making it unduly confusing or expensive for patients to gain access to their own medical records, say researchers at Yale. Their study appeared on Oct. 5 in JAMA Network Open.
	Therapy dogs can spread superbugs to kids, hospital finds Therapy dogs can bring more than joy and comfort to hospitalized kids. They can also bring stubborn germs.
	Outpatient antibiotic overprescribing rampant Clinicians prescribed antibiotics without an infection-related diagnosis nearly half of the time and one in five prescriptions were provided without an in-person visit, according to research being presented at IDWeek 2018. The study, which is the first to look at overall outpatient antibiotic prescribing, analyzed more than half a million prescriptions from 514 outpatient clinics.
	Studies needed on impact of cannabis use on puberty McMaster University researchers say there is an urgent need for studies on the physical health effects of cannabis use, including its impact on puberty.
	Gene signature predicts outcome after spinal cord injury Scientists have determined a gene signature that is linked to the severity of spinal cord injury in animals and humans, according to a study in the open-access journal eLife.
	Team develops a universal vaccine platform that's cheaper and shelf stable Researchers at The University of Texas Medical Branch at Galveston have developed less expensive way to produce vaccines that cuts the costs of vaccine production and storage by up to 80 percent without decreasing safety or effectiveness. The findings are currently available in EBioMedicine.
Energy insecure New Yorkers face multiple health risks Nearly one-third of Washington Heights residents surveyed report problems with lack of heat in the winter and/or paying their electric bills. The study by researchers at Columbia Mailman School of Public Health found these energy insecure New Yorkers were more likely to have breathing problems, mental health issues, and poor sleep.
Participants in dementia prevention research motivated by altruism Researchers at University of California San Diego School of Medicine, with collaborators across the country, report that people who participate in dementia prevention trials are primarily motivated by altruism and pleased to help.
	'Broken heart syndrome' warrants careful monitoring (HealthDay)—It's not a heart attack, but so-called "broken heart syndrome" still puts patients at high risk for hospital readmission and in-hospital death, a new study suggests.
	How many days of checks needed to diagnose high blood pressure? A routine visit to the doctor's office typically results in a single blood pressure measurement.
	First user-fitted hearing aid approved (HealthDay)—The first hearing aid that doesn't require the assistance of an audiologist or other health care provider has been approved by the U.S. Food and Drug Administration.
	One-third of older adults die after emergency intubation (HealthDay)—Of older adults who undergo intubation in the emergency department, 33 percent die during the index hospitalization, according to a study published recently in the Journal of the American Geriatrics Society.
	Models predict intracerebral hemorrhage growth (HealthDay)—Models using four or five predictors have acceptable to good discrimination for determining additional intracerebral hemorrhage growth in patients with acute intracerebral hemorrhage, according to a review published in the October issue of The Lancet Neurology.
	Morbidity, mortality up for youth with CHD presenting to ED (HealthDay)—Children with congenital heart disease (CHD) presenting to the emergency department have increased rates of inpatient admission and mortality and higher emergency department charges than those without CHD, according to a study published in the Oct. 9 issue of the Journal of the American College of Cardiology.
	No increase in in-hospital, post-discharge death with HRRP (HealthDay)—Announcement and implementation of the Hospital Readmissions Reduction Program (HRRP) was not associated with increases in in-hospital or post-discharge mortality after acute myocardial infarction (AMI), heart failure, or pneumonia, according to a study published online Sept. 28 in JAMA Network Open.
New EASD-ADA consensus guidelines on managing hyperglycaemia in type 2 diabetes launched at EASD meeting Following a review of the latest evidence —including a range of recent trials of drug and lifestyle interventions—the European Association for the Study of Diabetes (EASD) and the American Diabetes Association (ADA) have produced an updated consensus statement on how to manage hyperglycaemia (high blood sugar) in patients with type 2 diabetes. The consensus paper is being co-published in Diabetologia, the journal of EASD, and Diabetes Care, the journal of the ADA, during the annual meeting of EASD in Berlin, Germany.
	Fat tissue's "iron sink" Adipose tissue, commonly called "body fat," stores excess fatty acids and supplies it back when the need arises. Finely balanced iron levels are important for the health of adipocytes, the cells that make up adipose tissue. Iron overload, especially in adipocytes, can reduce systemic insulin sensitivity.
	How has children's body image changed over time? Results from a Chinese nationwide survey indicate that the prevalence of childhood overweight/obesity nearly tripled from 6.5 percent to 16.8 percent from 2000-2011, but children's perception of being fat remained at 2 percent. The findings are published in Obesity.
	Zimbabwe launches cholera vaccination drive after 49 deaths: WHO Zimbabwe has begun an oral vaccination drive to curb a cholera outbreak which has claimed at least 49 lives over the past month, a WHO official said Friday.

Biology news

	New effort will analyze genes of endangered Northwest orcas A new scientific effort will sequence the genomes of critically endangered Pacific Northwest orcas to better understand their genetics and potentially find ways to save them from extinction.
	A new take on kangaroo evolution A pair of researchers at Flinders University has found evidence that suggests modern kangaroos diversified due to grassland expansion, not drying during the Miocene, as previous studies have shown. In their paper published in the journal Science, Aidan Couzens and Gavin Prideaux describe their study of marsupial tooth specimens that date back 25 million years and what they found. P. David Polly with Indiana University wrote a Perspective piece on the work done by the pair in the same journal issue.
	Researchers discover how fatal biofilms form By severely curtailing the effects of antibiotics, the formation of organized communities of bacterial cells known as biofilms can be deadly during surgeries and in urinary tract infections. Yale researchers have just come a lot closer to understanding how these biofilms develop, and potentially how to stop them.
	Cryptography techniques to screen synthetic DNA could help prevent the creation of dangerous pathogens In 2016, synthetic biologists reconstructed a possibly extinct disease, known as horsepox, using mail-order DNA for around $100,000. The experiment was strictly for research purposes, and the disease itself is harmless to humans. But the published results, including the methodology, raised concerns that a nefarious agent, given appropriate resources, could engineer a pandemic. In an op-ed published today in PLOS Pathogens, Media Lab Professor Kevin Esvelt, who develops and studies gene-editing techniques, argues for tighter biosecurity and greater research transparency to keep such "information hazards"—published information that could be used to cause harm—in check. Esvelt spoke with MIT News about his ideas.
	Study focused on improving radiation treatment for cancers in pet dogs Can scientists improve cancer treatment for man's best friend?
	Genome sequencing of two Red Sea bacteria highlights their potential as industrial workhorses Analyses of two bacterial strains in the Red Sea show they are enriched with gene clusters with potential to activate the synthesis of a wide range of industrially useful compounds, from novel antibiotics, anticancer agents and pigments to those useful for crop protection and the food industry.
	Genome of Japanese insect delicacy sheds light on history of the earth Japanese scientists have shed light on the evolutionary biology and distribution of Stenopsyche caddisflies, also known as sedge flies, a common insect in Japanese rivers, and a local delicacy. The discovery also identified new genetic lineages among previously recognized species. Their findings were published online in Freshwater Science on July 18th.
	Harassing females lowers reproduction rates and reduces population size Males and females mate to produce offspring, but their relationships are not always cooperative. The conflict between the sexes when they behave selfishly can be negative for the whole group. A group of Japanese researchers found that when males of a species compete, the burden this places on females can cause a drop in reproductive ability and a decrease in population size. These findings were published in Evolution on October 4.
	Elephants and ivory – protecting the world's largest land mammal In the run-up to the forthcoming illegal wildlife trade conference in London, Fauna & Flora international (FFI) has made a point of shining the spotlight on some of the neglected casualties of wildlife crime, from lizards and lansan trees to seahorses and sturgeon. But this passion for pangolins and other less well-publicised victims of large-scale poaching and trafficking doesn't preclude us from protecting some of the most iconic species on the planet.
	Bag a job, bag your prey How many jobs should an applicant consider before accepting the next job offer? Turns out the same decision-making process that goes into searching for a job also applies to hunters searching for prey, and the knowledge can be used in conservation.
	More than 100 baby turtles reported stolen on Galapagos islands A total of 123 baby giant turtles have been stolen from a breeding facility in the Galapagos islands, a lawmaker from Ecuador's prized archipelago in the Pacific told AFP.
	Vietnam makes fresh ivory, pangolin haul from Nigeria Vietnam has seized eight tonnes of pangolin scales and elephant ivory shipped from Nigeria, police said Friday, the second such haul in a week in a country which both consumes and trafficks huge volumes of endangered African wildlife.

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