Science X Newsletter Wednesday, Oct 10

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Here is your customized Science X Newsletter for October 10, 2018:

Spotlight Stories Headlines

A new developmental reinforcement learning approach for sensorimotor space enlargement

Genetically engineered 3-D human muscle transplant in a murine model

Novel design could help shed excess heat in next-generation fusion power plants

Never forget a face? Research suggests people know an average of 5,000 faces

Ants regulate growth of seemingly 'useless' organ to make huge soldiers

Testing new drugs with 'ALS-on-a-chip'

Uncovering the role of the ilio-sacral joint in frogs

Stamp-sized graphene sheets riddled with holes could be boon for molecular separation

Researchers develop 3-D printed objects that can track and store how they are used

How the seeds of planets take shape

Wind holds key to climate change turnaround

Scientists forge ahead with electron microscopy to build quantum materials atom by atom

Global warming will hike mental health woes, study finds

Patent talk: Exploring self-driving car with device as steering wheel

Controlling chemical reactions near absolute zero

Astronomy & Space news

	How the seeds of planets take shape In theoretical research that could explain everything from planet formation to outflows from stars, to even the settling of volcanic ash, Caltech researchers have discovered a new mechanism to explain how the act of dust moving through gas leads to clumps of dust. While dust clumps were already known to play a role in seeding new planets and many other systems in space and on Earth, how the clumps formed was unknown until now.
	The threat of centaur solar system objects for the Earth Astrophysicists Mattia Galiazzo and Rudolf Dvorak from the University of Vienna, in collaboration with Elizabeth A. Silber (Brown University, U.S.) investigated the long-term path development of centaurs, solar system minor bodies that originally have orbits between Jupiter and Neptune. The researchers have estimated the number of close encounters and impacts with the terrestrial planets after the so-called Late Heavy Bombardment about 3.8 billion years ago, as well as the possible sizes of craters that occur after a collision with the Earth and the other terrestrial planets. The report is published in Monthly Notices of the Royal Astronomical Society.
	Aussie telescope almost doubles known number of mysterious 'fast radio bursts' Australian researchers using a CSIRO radio telescope in Western Australia have nearly doubled the known number of 'fast radio bursts'— powerful flashes of radio waves from deep space.
	The stuff that planets are made of UZH researchers have analyzed the composition and structure of faraway exoplanets using statistical tools. Their analysis indicates whether a planet is Earth-like, made up of pure rock, or a water-world. The larger the planet, the more hydrogen and helium surround it.
	High levels of scandium near the galaxy's giant black hole were illusory, astronomers find Astronomers from Lund University in Sweden have now found the explanation to a recent mystery at the centre of the Milky Way galaxy: the high levels of scandium discovered last spring near the galaxy's giant black hole were in fact an optical illusion.
	Icy moon of Jupiter, Ganymede, shows evidence of past strike-slip faulting A recently published study led by researchers at the University of Hawai'i at Manoa School of Ocean and Earth Science and Technology reveals Ganymede, an icy moon of Jupiter, appears to have undergone complex periods of geologic activity, specifically strike-slip tectonism, as is seen in Earth's San Andreas fault. This is the first study to exhaustively consider the role of strike-slip tectonism in Ganymede's geologic history.
	First telescope on a Cherenkov Telescope Array site makes its debut On Wednesday, 10 October 2018, more than 200 guests from around the world gathered on the northern array site of the Cherenkov Telescope Array (CTA) to celebrate the inauguration of the first prototype Large-Sized Telescope (LST). The telescope, named LST-1, is intended to become the first of four LSTs of the north site of the CTA Observatory, which is located on the existing site of the Instituto de Astrofisica de Canarias' (IAC's) Observatorio del Roque de los Muchachos located in the municipality of Villa de Garafia on the island of La Palma. The plan for the site also includes 15 Medium-Sized Telescopes (MSTs).
	Astronomy Rewind fast-forwards to reanimate "zombie" astrophotos More than 30,000 celestial images that were all but lost to science are about to find their way back into researchers' hands thanks to the efforts of thousands of citizen scientists. The photographs, radio maps, and other telescopic images were scanned from the pages of dusty old journals for a cosmic reclamation project called Astronomy Rewind. Its goal is to bring these "zombie" images back to life so that astronomers can find them online and compare them with modern electronic data from ground- and space-based telescopes, making possible new studies of short- and long-term changes in the heavens.
	Video: BepiColombo mission to Mercury BepiColombo is scheduled for launch at 01:45 GMT (03:45 CEST) on 20 October on an Ariane 5 from Europe's Spaceport in Kourou.
	How we solved a centuries-old mystery by discovering a rare form of star collision A bright new star appeared in the sky in June, 1670. It was seen by the Carthusian monk Père Dom Anthelme in Dijon, France, and astronomer Johannes Hevelius in Gdansk, Poland. Over the next few months, it slowly faded to invisibility. But in March 1671, it reappeared – now even more luminous and among the 100 brightest stars in the sky. Again it faded, and by the end of the summer it was gone. Then in 1672, it put in a third appearance, now only barely visible to the naked eye. After a few months it was gone again and hasn't been seen since.
	Painting cars for Mars When John Campanella's friend wanted his beloved Ferrari painted, he knew exactly who to call. After all, Campanella had been painting, pinstriping and even airbrushing flames on to cars, motorcycles, airplanes, 18-wheelers and guitars in his spare time for decades.
	Israel's maiden moon launch delayed to 2019 The Israeli organisation behind the country's first mission to the moon on Wednesday announced a delay in the vessel's launch from December to early 2019.

Technology news

	A new developmental reinforcement learning approach for sensorimotor space enlargement Researchers at the University of Lorraine have recently devised a new type of transfer learning based on model-free deep reinforcement learning with continuous sensorimotor space enlargement. Their approach, presented in a paper published during the eighth Joint IEEE International Conference on Development and Learning and on Epigenetic Robotics, and freely available on HAL archives-ouvertes, is inspired by child development, particularly by the growth of the sensorimotor space that occurs as a child is acquiring helpful new strategies.
	Researchers develop 3-D printed objects that can track and store how they are used Cheap and easily customizable, 3-D printed devices are perfect for assistive technology, like prosthetics or "smart" pill bottles that can help patients remember to take their daily medications.
	Patent talk: Exploring self-driving car with device as steering wheel Ford received a patent from the United States Patent and Trademark Office (USPTO). The patent is called "Non-Autonomous Steering Modes," and is described as a car capable of receiving a request to steer, and react accordingly.
	Prescience: Helping doctors predict the future During surgery, anesthesiologists monitor and manage patients to make sure they are safe and breathing well. But these doctors can't always predict when complications will arise.
	Researchers uncover security gaps in the 5G mobile communication standard Researchers in the Information Security Group subjected the upcoming 5G mobile communication standard to a comprehensive security analysis. Their conclusion: data protection is improved in comparison with the previous standards 3G and 4G. However, security gaps are still present.
	Technique locates robots, soldiers in GPS-challenged areas Scientists at the U.S. Army Research Laboratory have developed a novel algorithm that enables localization of humans and robots in areas where GPS is unavailable.
	Philippines revs up flagging green energy engine Deep below the ancient volcanoes scattered around the Philippines sits a simmering stockpile of intense heat that officials hope will help revive the nation's sputtering green energy machine.
	Google appeals $5 billion EU fine in Android antitrust case Google has appealed a record $5 billion fine that European Union authorities levied against the tech giant for allegedly abusing the dominance of its Android operating system to stifle competitors.
	A remote Greek island is on its way to becoming energy self-sufficient Climate change vulnerability and sustainable development challenges are becoming more apparent, particularly for islands. Their insularity implies energy dependency on fossil fuels and energy imports that also involve high transportation costs. Facing such difficulties, island communities are increasingly focusing on clean energy solutions. Enter the EU-funded TILOS project, which has set out to make Tilos the first in the Mediterranean to be powered exclusively by renewable energy.
	Mobile apps might make you feel better about travelling alone, but they won't necessarily make you safer As I was writing this article, I was fortunate enough to be at a conference in Florence, Italy. Like a growing number of women who travel overseas, whether for work or leisure, many of the trips I've done in recent years have been alone. And as a digital criminologist (as well as a mobile app enthusiast), I'm certainly a convert to the practical usefulness of technologies for travel.
	3-D computer modeling simulates impacts, depicts most efficient arrangement for tidal turbines Around the world, energy producers are looking for the most reliable and efficient means for generating renewable energy through sustainable practices. Turbines using water currents to power communities is one of these methods.
	Thin films for more efficient solar cells The efficiency of solar cells can be increased by thin-film contacts developed by researchers at KAUST.
Lite Run wins innovation award for 'spacesuit' pants A St. Paul, Minn., company's invention that uses air-powered "spacesuit" pants to train people to walk normally has won an innovation competition at an industry conference in Dallas.
	Report: Facebook captures 25 percent of U.S. digital video ad revenue Facebook Inc. is rapidly increasing its ad revenue from video, capturing 25 percent of the nation's digital ad spending in that category, according to a forecast released Tuesday.
GN Hearing hopes to connect Android phones and hearing aids Modern hearing aids run on digital technology and rechargeable batteries. They come in flashy hues like fashion accessories or can be miniaturized to disappear in the ear. They can communicate over Bluetooth, becoming tiny wearable speakers for streaming music and navigation.
	German car industry warns CO2 targets risk jobs European targets for reducing greenhouse gas emissions threaten jobs in the bloc, Germany's powerful car industry federation said Wednesday after ministers set new goals.
	Successful tests mark important milestone toward a 5G future A future vision of high speed wireless Internet that promises to break down two major 5G challenges has taken a leap forward following milestone tests of a cutting-edge European millimeter wave wireless technology.
	English speakers more likely to receive automated suicide prevention advice When users of Google's search engine submit suicide-related queries, they are repeatedly provided with helpline hotlines on suicide prevention services. But whether such information is actually displayed depends on the user's location and language.
	High winds for power generation Renewable energy sources hold great promise for a future free of fossil fuels, but some forms of renewable energy remain out of reach. Researchers have developed a new kind of wind turbine that can produce clean energy from previously untapped winds at high altitudes.
	New nanosatellite energy solution increases reliability and efficiency, at reduced cost Between the late 1990s and 2012, around 10 small satellites were launched annually; the next six-year forecast is for over 3 000. The European space sector has a chance to gain a prime global position, helped by the right energy storage system.
	Snapchat unveils new original shows under own brand The youth-focused social network Snapchat announced Wednesday it was launching a new slate of original video shows under its own brand in the latest move to spark growth.
	European officials seek tougher emissions rules for cars European Union officials are pushing ahead with tougher car emissions standards aimed at fighting global warming—but which auto industry representatives said could hurt a major source of manufacturing jobs.
	Tech to prepare manufacturers, workers for the 'factory of the future' Today's manufacturers struggle to keep pace with rapid changes in technology because of the inability to adapt and the new skills required of their workforce.
	Dubai airport begins using biometric tech at security Passport control looks a little different in Dubai International Airport—the world's busiest for international travel.
	AT&T to launch streaming service, latest to counter Netflix AT&T's WarnerMedia said Wednesday it will launch a direct-to-consumer streaming service in late 2019, becoming the latest challenger to fast-growing operators such as Netflix and Amazon.
	Instagram ramps up battle against bullying Instagram on Tuesday added more weapons to battle cyber bullying, using artificial intelligence to scan photos for abusive content at the Facebook-owned service.
	Dredging the data lake Data lakes allow information to be added to a system without pre-processing or modelling. Contrast this with a conventional database where data must be delivered in a much more refined and formal manner. Thus a data lake offers much timelier speed of entry. However, as research from Brazil shows, even though a data lake preserves highest granularity level of the data, that useful flexibility can be problematic too. "If not managed, it is easy to lose control of the repository because of the volume it holds and its growth," the team explains.
	Where will Amazon put its second headquarters? What you need to know Amazon has promised to announce the location of its second headquarters by the end of the year, leaving 20 finalist cities on the edge. Where do things stand with the process, what are the stakes and concerns and what's the latest news? Here's what you need to know.
FAA orders engine software upgrade after aborted takeoffs Safety regulators are ordering that engine software be replaced on some Airbus passenger jets because of a problem that has caused pilots to abort several takeoffs in cold weather.

Medicine & Health news

	Genetically engineered 3-D human muscle transplant in a murine model A growing need for tissues and organs in surgical reconstruction is addressed by the promising field of tissue engineering. For instance, muscle atrophy results from severe traumatic events including deep burns and cancer, requiring site/donor compatible surgical reconstruction. The existing 'gold standard' treatment in reconstructive surgery incorporates autologous flaps, although the technique is limited by low anatomical availability and donor site morbidity during clinical transplantation. As a clinically favorable alternative, tissue engineering presents strategies to engineer tissue grafts with improved quality and effectiveness. To maintain the viability of implants upon transplantation, increasing efforts are invested in designing pre-vascularized engineered tissue. Design examples include a multicellular culture of endothelial, mural and tissue-specific cells for self-assembly of vessel networks and cellular co-culture to build lasting, stable blood vessels to induce neovascularization within the host.
	Never forget a face? Research suggests people know an average of 5,000 faces For the first time scientists have been able to put a figure on how many faces people actually know- a staggering 5,000 on average.
	Testing new drugs with 'ALS-on-a-chip' There is no cure for amyotrophic lateral sclerosis (ALS), a disease that gradually kills off the motor neurons that control muscles and is diagnosed in nearly 6,000 people per year in the United States.
	Global warming will hike mental health woes, study finds Mental health problems will increase as temperatures rise due to climate change, a new study warns.
	Synapse 'protection' signal found; helps to refine brain circuits The developing brain is constantly forming new connections, or synapses, between nerve cells. Many connections are eventually lost, while others are strengthened. In 2012, Beth Stevens, Ph.D. and her lab at Boston Children's Hospital showed that microglia, immune cells that live in the brain, prune back unwanted synapses by engulfing or "eating" them. They also identified a set of "eat me" signals required to promote this process: complement proteins, best known for helping the immune system combat infection.
	Path to deadly sepsis varies by bacterial infection Sepsis remains a common and deadly condition that occurs when the body reacts to an infection in the bloodstream. Scientists know little about the early stages of the condition; however, physicians must act fast. Every hour that passes without one or more of the few treatments available increases the risk of death.
	New approach could jumpstart breathing after spinal cord injury A research team at the Krembil Research Institute in Toronto has developed an innovative strategy that could help to restore breathing following traumatic spinal cord injury.
	Cells in 'little brain' have distinctive metabolic needs Cells' metabolic needs are not uniform across the brain, researchers have learned. "Knocking out" an enzyme that regulates mitochondria, cells' miniature power plants, specifically blocks the development of the mouse cerebellum more than the rest of the brain.
	Infants capable of complex babble may grow into stronger readers Infants' early speech production may predict their later literacy, according to a study published October 10, 2018 in the open-access journal PLOS ONE by Kelly Farquharson from Florida State University and colleagues.
	Scientists show change in beliefs associated with dopamine in brain For the first time, scientists have been able to image brain activity when people change their short-term beliefs, and to relate this brain activity to dopamine function in humans. UK scientists monitored brain activity when people changed simple beliefs about the causes of their perceptions, but the results may have important implications for understanding how the brain supports the formation of more general beliefs. This work is presented at ECNP Congress in Barcelona, and at the same time is published in the peer-reviewed journal, PNAS.
	Study firms up diet and depression link Does fast food contribute to depression? Can a healthy diet combat mental illness?
	Engineers develop process to 3-D print cells to produce human tissue such as ligaments and tendons With today's technology, we can 3-D-print sculptures, mechanical parts, prosthetics, even guns and food. But a team of University of Utah biomedical engineers have developed a method to 3-D-print cells to produce human tissue such as ligaments and tendons, a process that will greatly improve a patient's recovery. A person with a badly damaged ligament, tendon, or ruptured disc could simply have new replacement tissue printed and ultimately implanted in the damaged area, according to a new paper published in the Journal of Tissue Engineering, Part C: Methods.
	Creating custom brains from the ground up Scientists studying how genetics impact brain disease have long sought a better experimental model. Cultures of genetically-modified cell lines can reveal some clues to how certain genes influence the development of psychiatric disorders and brain cancers. But such models cannot offer the true-to-form look at brain function that can be provided by genetically-modified mice.
	PIEZO2, a molecular target for treating clinical pain If you've ever been sunburned, you've experienced the dreaded pain of putting on a shirt the next day. Fabric that should feel soft turns into a layer of painful pressure. That kind of pain-from what should feel like a gentle touch-is called allodynia, and it's a fact of life for many people who suffer from chronic conditions, such as fibromyalgia or nerve damage from chemotherapy. There are limited options to help these patients.
	Study finds probiotic bacillus eliminates staphylococcus bacteria A new study from National Institutes of Health scientists and their Thai colleagues shows that a "good" bacterium commonly found in probiotic digestive supplements helps eliminate Staphylococcus aureus, a type of bacteria that can cause serious antibiotic-resistant infections. The researchers, led by scientists at NIH's National Institute of Allergy and Infectious Diseases (NIAID), unexpectedly found that Bacillus bacteria prevented S. aureus bacteria from growing in the gut and nose of healthy individuals. Then, using a mouse study model, they identified exactly how that happens. Researchers from Mahidol University and Rajamangala University of Technology in Thailand collaborated on the project.
	Study identifies gene that makes gentle touch feel painful after injury Ever wonder why things that normally feel gentle, like putting on soft shirts, are painful after a sunburn? In a study of four patients with a rare genetic disorder, NIH researchers found that PIEZO2, a gene previously shown to control our sense of our bodies in space and gentle touch, may also be responsible for tactile allodynia: the skin's reaction to injury that makes normally gentle touches feel painful. This and a second NIH-funded study, both published in Science Translational Medicine, used mice to show how the gene may play an essential role in the nervous system's reaction to injury and inflammation, making PIEZO2 a target for developing precise treatments for relieving the pain caused by cuts, burns, and other skin injuries.
	Leveraging restaurant menus to combat obesity Customers at chain restaurants throughout the United States will start to see more menus that list calorie counts for different food options on the list, but will this motivate people to order healthier items?
	Air pollution may be linked to heightened mouth cancer risk High levels of air pollutants, especially fine particulate matter (PM2.5) and to a lesser extent, ozone, may be linked to a heightened risk of developing mouth cancer, suggests the first study of its kind, published online in the Journal of Investigative Medicine.
Downward mobility link to violent crime and self-harm The children of families who fall upon hard times are at significantly greater risk of being involved in violent crime and harming themselves as young adults, according to a major new study.
	Planned intermittent fasting may help reverse type 2 diabetes, suggest doctors Planned intermittent fasting may help to reverse type 2 diabetes, suggest doctors writing in the journal BMJ Case Reports after three patients in their care, who did this, were able to cut out the need for insulin treatment altogether.
	More young people are choosing not to drink alcohol Young people in England aren't just drinking less alcohol—a new study published in BMC Public Health shows that more of them are never taking up alcohol at all, and that the increase is widespread among young people.
	More than 100 pot shops set to open as Canada legalizes weed Mat Beren and his friends used to drive by the vast greenhouses of southern British Columbia and joke about how much weed they could grow there.
	Researchers identify gene types driving racial disparities in myeloma Researchers at Mayo Clinic have identified three specific gene types that account for a known two-to-three-fold increase in myeloma diagnoses among African-Americans. Researchers also demonstrated the ability to study race and racial admixture more accurately using DNA analysis. The findings were published today in Blood Cancer Journal.
	Worse outcomes for Hispanic infants with critical congenital heart disease Hispanic infants with critical types of congenital heart disease have worse outcomes in their first year than do their non-Hispanic white counterparts, a difference largely driven by their mother's level of education and type of insurance coverage, according to new research in Journal of the American Heart Association, the Open Access Journal of the American Heart Association/American Stroke Association.
	Hong Kong to ban e-cigarettes, other new smoking products Hong Kong plans to ban e-cigarettes and other new smoking products to protect public health, the leader of the semi-autonomous Chinese territory said Wednesday.
	Resistance to therapy and tumor relapse attributed to specific cancer cell population Resistance to therapy is a major problem in cancer patients, as resistant cells are at the root of tumour relapse and are associated with high morbidity and mortality. A better understanding of the mechanisms associated with resistance to therapy is essential for the development of strategies to definitively eradicate cancer and prevent tumour relapse.
	Brain circuits for successful emotional development established during infancy Researchers in the UNC Early Brain Development Study tracking the development of the brain's emotion circuitry in infancy found that adult-like functional brain connections for emotional regulation emerge during the first year of life. And the growth of these brain circuits during the second year of life predicted the IQ and emotional control of the children at 4 years old, suggesting new avenues for early detection and intervention for children who are at risk for emotional problems.
	Nail polishes with 'n-free' labels are not necessarily free of toxic compounds Consumers are growing more knowledgeable about the potential health effects of nail polish, and manufacturers have taken action. They have started removing potentially toxic ingredients and labeling their products as being free of those substances. However, these labels aren't always accurate, and reformulated products aren't necessarily safer, according to a report in Environmental Science & Technology.
	DNA vaccine against Ebola virus shows potent and long-term efficacy in preclinical studies A novel synthetic DNA vaccine developed based on technology pioneered by scientists at The Wistar Institute Vaccine & Immunotherapy Center offers complete protection from Zaire Ebolavirus (EBOV) infection in promising preclinical research. Study results were published online in the Journal of Infectious Diseases.
	Comprehensive report says tobacco control must be highest priority in cancer control The highest priority in a national cancer control plan must be expansion of tobacco control—the intervention with the largest potential health benefits—according to a new American Cancer Society report, the second in a series of articles that together inform priorities for a comprehensive cancer control plan. The report, appearing in CA: A Cancer Journal for Clinicians, says that although some cancer prevention interventions, such as increasing HPV vaccination rates, can be implemented fairly quickly, others, including promoting access to healthier living environments and addressing the social determinants of health, will require concerted and sustained efforts.
	Eczema drug restores hair growth in patient with longstanding alopecia Massachusetts General Hospital (MGH) physicians are reporting an unexpected side-effect from treatment with dupilumab, which is FDA approved for the treatment of moderate to severe eczema, also called atopic dermatitis. In their case report published in JAMA Dermatology, the physicians describe how their 13-year-old patient, who has alopecia totalis—a total lack of scalp hair—along with eczema, experienced significant hair regrowth while being treated with dupilumab, a drug marketed under the brand name Dupixent.
	Have an irregular heartbeat? You may have an increased risk of dementia People with a particular kind of irregular heartbeat called atrial fibrillation may experience a faster decline in thinking and memory skills and have a greater risk of dementia than those without atrial fibrillation, according to a study published in the October 10, 2018, online issue of Neurology, the medical journal of the American Academy of Neurology.
	Hundreds of patients with undiagnosed diseases find answers, study reports More than 100 patients afflicted by mysterious illnesses have been diagnosed through a network of detective-doctors who investigate unidentified diseases, reports a study conducted by scientists at the Stanford University School of Medicine and multiple collaborating institutes.
	Genetics allows personalized disease predictions for chronic blood cancers Scientists have developed a successful method to make truly personalised predictions of future disease outcomes for patients with certain types of chronic blood cancers. The study from the Wellcome Sanger Institute, the Wellcome-MRC Cambridge Stem Cell Institute, the University of Cambridge, and their collaborators, combined extensive genetic and clinical information to predict the prognosis for patients with myeloproliferative neoplasms. The research also identified eight different genetic subgroups of the disease that link with patterns of clinical disease and patient prognosis.
	Study of nearly 41,000 women who almost died giving birth shows who's most at risk Tens of thousands of American women each year need emergency treatment to save their lives while they deliver their babies, or immediately after. A new study shows how much their risk of a life-threatening birth depends on their racial and ethnic background, and their underlying health.
	Recognizing the uniqueness of individuals with schizophrenia Schizophrenia is an extremely variable psychiatric disorder that is diagnosed based on the presence of specific symptoms. Thomas Wolfers and André Marquand of Radboud university medical center investigated how much the brains of individual patients diagnosed with schizophrenia differ from the 'average' patient. For this purpose, they compared brain scans of 250 healthy individuals with those of 218 individuals with schizophrenia. Those with schizophrenia—as a group—differed from the healthy individuals in frontal brain regions, the cerebellum, and the temporal cortex.
	Effects of dementia on family wealth may contribute to economic disparities Dementia is a costly health condition, with the majority of the economic burden falling upon the families of those suffering with the disease. Black Americans, who are at greater risk of developing dementia than white Americans, hold on average less than one-eighth of he wealth of white Americans, and thus may be disproportionately affected by the financial burden.
	Rheumatoid arthritis sufferers can now live a "normal" life MedUni Vienna researchers Daniel Aletaha and Josef Smolen have published a review on the status of rheumatoid arthritis in JAMA to coincide with World Arthritis Day on 12 October. The main positive finding: in recent years there has been a significant improvement in outcomes for sufferers. "Eighty percent of sufferers can lead a normal life with the aid of medication. In the past, rheumatoid arthritis meant being condemned to a wheelchair," says arthritis expert Daniel Aletaha from the Department of Medicine III, Division of Rheumatology.
	Online positive psychology exercises improve quality of life in hemodialysis patients Kidney dialysis patients who engage in technology-based positive psychology exercises during their treatments may significantly improve their depressive symptoms and quality of life, a new study found.
	Chewing gum may be effective for delivering vitamins Nearly 15 percent of all chewing gum varieties sold promise to provide health-enhancing supplements to users, so Penn State researchers studied whether two vitamin-supplemented products were effective at delivering vitamins to the body. Their results validate the concept of gum as an effective delivery system for at least some vitamins.
	Opposing roles for two enzymes in heart failure Investigations in mice have identified molecular processes that could be explored as targets for treatment of heart failure with pulmonary hypertension.
	Sibling rivalry: When the fighting crosses the line Sibling rivalry. Every parent and every sibling understands what this means. Siblings fight. A lot. And sometimes those fights escalate to involve physical, verbal, and psychological aggression. Aggression between siblings is so common that people often believe that these behaviors are part of the normal process of growing up, but recent research shows us that sibling aggression can cross the line and parents need to know when to seek help. How often preschoolers target their sibling aggressively may provide an important clue, suggests a recent study in the Journal of Child Psychology and Psychiatry.
	Dysphoric milk ejection: The real reason you might feel sad when breastfeeding As a health visitor, you get used to friends with babies asking questions about sleep, feeding and dirty nappies. Usually, these are straightforward, or you can at least direct people to the right help. But every once in a while, you get asked something unusual.
	Team develops system for the nighttime monitoring of elderly with dementia The Hong Kong Polytechnic University (PolyU) has developed eNightLog, a multi-function nighttime monitoring system for elderly with dementia, to track their respiration and activities in bed for preventing fall or wandering away. The safe, non-restraint system was designed for the typical environment of nursing homes in Hong Kong, and will greatly improve the quality of life for elderly patients while enhancing the efficiency and lessening the workload of healthcare personnel.
	Five lifestyle changes to enhance your mood and mental health When someone is diagnosed with a mental health disorder such as depression or anxiety, first line treatments usually include psychological therapies and medication. What's not always discussed are the changeable lifestyle factors that influence our mental health.
	New biomarker for Alzheimer's disease found via CRISPR technique The objective of the research, undertaken in the laboratories of the IBPM, is to develop a model for studying Alzheimer's disease (AD) of sporadic origin—in other words, AD that is not due to a hereditary genetic mutation. While Alzheimer's disease of familial or hereditary type is responsible for around 5 percent of all cases, it is thought that 95 percent of incidents are of unknown or sporadic origin.
	App to understand and improve the mental health of young people Teenagers' attachment to their smart phones is being harnessed to prevent anxiety and depression and improve wellbeing.
	Migraine patients can now try three new drugs for prevention Until this year, migraine sufferers had to make do with drugs originally developed for other medical conditions, such as high blood pressure or depression. Now, there are three new drugs that were developed just for preventing the horrible headaches.
	New screening tool to improve outcomes for kids with fetal alcohol spectrum disorder Fetal Alcohol Spectrum Disorder (FASD) has often been called the 'invisible disability' due to its high rate of non- or misdiagnosis among children. Now, a new screening tool being developed by the University of South Australia will enable earlier detection and much needed support for thousands of families affected by this condition.
	Risk of blindness among premature babies with low levels of blood platelets Premature babies with low levels of platelets (thrombocytes) in their blood run a greatly increased risk of being afflicted with a severe variation of retinopathy of prematurity (ROP), an eye disease that can cause blindness, according to a study from Sweden and US published in the journal JCI Insight. In experiments on mice, injections of blood platelets reduce the pathological development of retinal vessels.
	Antiepileptic drugs linked to higher risk of stroke in persons with Alzheimer's disease Antiepileptic drug use is associated with an increased risk of stroke among persons with Alzheimer's disease, according to a new study from the University of Eastern Finland. The risk did not differ between old and new antiepileptic drugs. The results were published in the Journal of the American Heart Association. The risk of stroke was particularly elevated for the first three months of antiepileptic drug use, and remained elevated after accounting for several chronic disorders, socioeconomic position and use of concomitant medications.
	E-cigarettes research shows clear benefits of switching from tobacco Latest figures from the WHO show that smoking is still the number one preventable disease, killing seven million people globally each year.
	Why drugs alone won't stop the spread of parasitic worms in Africa Deworming has become a common practise across the world. It has proved very successful reducing the burden of parasitic worms among children by more than 50%.
E-cigs continue to spark debate over health risks/benefits (HealthDay)—With sales of electronic cigarettes skyrocketing, Americans remain divided on whether the devices are a boon or a threat to public health.
	The ideal weight makes for a healthier pregnancy (HealthDay)—If you're overweight and thinking of starting a family, there's compelling evidence that you should lose the excess pounds before you get pregnant.
	Diagnostic labels for mental health conditions are not always useful The number of people diagnosed with a mental health condition is increasing, globally. Diagnostic labels can act as passports to accessing public services and help create communities of individuals with the same label. But are these reasons enough to justify their continued use? Getting a diagnostic label is no guarantee of getting the right treatment and it is often associated with worry and stigma.
	Larger families reduce cancer risk Families with many children have a lower risk of cancer. Greater family size reduces the risk not only in women but also in men, a global study using data from 178 countries by the University of Zurich and the Adelaide Medical School has found.
	Fruit fly protein could be new tool in tackling disease-carrying mosquitos An insulin-binding protein in fruit flies could provide new opportunities for tackling disease-carrying mosquitoes, such as malaria and yellow fever, scientists at the University of York have found.
	With suicide rates rising, many mental health care providers unprepared, research suggests Suicide rates in the U.S. have risen a quarter since 1999, killing nearly 45,000 Americans each year. About 90 percent of those who attempt or die from suicide had a diagnosable mental disorder, yet most states don't require suicide-related training for mental health care providers.
	Stroke care gains in Puerto Rico falter after Hurricane Maria A project aimed at improving the inequalities in stroke care between Puerto Rico and the mainland did just that—until Hurricane Maria roared ashore last September and further hobbled the territory's already inadequate health care system, experts say.
	Seniors, take steps to reduce your risk of falling (HealthDay)—One in four Americans 65 and older falls each year, with some ending up in hospitals or even dying. But new research suggests that it's possible to avoid some of these serious injuries.
	Type 1 diabetes often misdiagnosed in adults (HealthDay)—It's not always easy—even for doctors—to tell if someone has type 1 or type 2 diabetes when they're diagnosed as an adult.
	Being born in the wrong ZIP code can shorten your life Newly released data on life expectancy across the U.S. shows that where we live matters for how long we live.
	Physical therapy important for women treated for breast cancer The survival rate for breast cancer, the most commonly diagnosed cancer among women, is now about 90 percent, increased by nearly 20 percent since the 1970s.
	Wired for life: Study links infants' brain circuitry to future health Growth rates of brain circuits in infancy may help experts predict what a child's intelligence and emotional health could be when the child turns 4, a new study has found. Along with prior research, these findings could help future physicians identify cognitive and behavioral challenges in the first months and years of life, leading to early treatment.
High chromosomal instability may predict which patients will benefit most from colorectal cancer drug Researchers at RCSI, along with international collaborators within the ANGIOPREDICT research consortium, have discovered that chromosomal instability (where whole human chromosomes or parts of chromosomes are duplicated or deleted) may predict which patients will receive most benefit from a key drug used to treat colorectal cancer (Avastin). By knowing in advance which patients would not benefit from Avastin, individuals could be spared the side-effects of the drug, and are more likely to receive optimal treatment with a minimum of delay, while reducing cost of care.
	New study finds that inflammatory proteins in the colon increase incrementally with weight Studies in mice have demonstrated that obesity-induced inflammation contributes to the risk of colorectal cancer, but evidence in humans has been scarce. A new study shows that two inflammatory proteins in the colon increase in parallel with increasing weight in humans. An incremental rise in these pro-inflammatory proteins (called cytokines) was observed along the entire spectrum of subjects' weights, which extended from lean to obese individuals. In participants with obesity, there was evidence that two pre-cancerous cellular pathways known to be triggered by these cytokines were also activated.
	Researchers develop 3-in-1 vaccine against traveller's diarrhea A first-ever vaccine designed to deliver a one-two-three punch against the main causes of traveller's diarrhea worldwide may result from new research published by a University of Guelph chemist.
	Babies of overweight mothers may risk developing self-regulation problems A mother's weight during early pregnancy may affect how well her baby is able to self-regulate during its first months and years of life. This is according to a study of more than 3100 Finnish women in the journal Pediatric Research, which is published by Springer Nature. According to lead author Polina Girchenko of the University of Helsinki in Finland, there is a one in five chance that overweight or obese women will have babies who suffer from multiple regulatory problems, and these babies may also show a delay in some developmental milestones when they reach childhood.
	Fluoride levels in pregnant women in Canada show drinking water is primary source of exposure A new study led by York University researchers has found that fluoride levels in urine are twice as high for pregnant women living in Canadian cities where fluoride is added to public drinking water as for those living in cities that do not add fluoride to public water supplies.
	Clues to lupus's autoimmune origins in precursor cells In the autoimmune disease systemic lupus erythematosus or SLE, the immune system produces antibodies against parts of the body itself. How cells that produce those antibodies escape the normal "checks and balances" has been unclear, but recent research from Emory University School of Medicine sheds light on a missing link.
	Being overweight or obese in your 20s will take years off your life, according to a new report Young adults classified as obese in Australia can expect to lose up to 10 years in life expectancy, according to a major new study.New modelling from The George Institute for Global Health and the University of Sydney also predicts that 36.3 million years of life will be lost over the lifetime of today's Australian adult population as a result of overweight and obesity—with men standing to lose on average 27% more years of life than women.
	Researchers using 3-D facial scans to aid diagnosis of children with rare genetic syndrome Clemson University faculty have been awarded a grant from the National Institutes of Health to investigate the use of 3-D imaging that could allow for quicker diagnosis of children with Phelan-McDermid syndrome, a rare genetic condition that causes intellectual and physical disabilities.
	Study to explore how cognitive development shapes attitudes about physical activity Even though we know the benefits of physical activity, many of us would rather watch TV than exercise. The reason we avoid working out may stem from our childhood experiences.
In black men, baseline screening in midlife strongly predicts aggressive prostate cancer Black men are more likely to be diagnosed with, and to die from, prostate cancer yet recommendations about prostate cancer screening are primarily based on studies of white men. A new study led by investigators at Brigham and Women's Hospital and Harvard T.H. Chan School of Public Health is the first to look at results exclusively among black men and to address whether an optimized screening strategy with baseline prostate specific antigen (PSA) levels predict prostate cancer in this population. The study finds that baseline PSA levels measured at midlife strongly predicted risk of total and aggressive prostate cancer in black men years in the future. Results are published online in European Urology.
	E-cigarettes should be used more actively to help smokers quit, experts recommend "Ongoing nervousness" about the use of e-cigarettes in stop-smoking services can be a "significant" barrier to people finding support, research revealed during "Stoptober" shows. New research by the University of Exeter and University of Melbourne, funded by Cancer Research UK, suggests stop smoking services which are e-cigarette friendly should advertise this more openly, and says greater use of e-cigarettes has the potential to make considerable impact in helping people give up smoking.
Lung cancer deaths are 28 percent lower in California Early adoption of tobacco control efforts in California lead to fewer people ever smoking, reduced the amount used by those who do smoke and helped smokers quit at a younger age—when their risk of developing lung cancer is lowest. As a result, say the authors of a new study published online October 10 in Cancer Prevention Research, lung cancer deaths are 28 percent lower in California compared to the rest of the country and the gap is widening each year by almost a percentage point.
	Team builds modeling systems identifying gene-drug and environment interaction A team of researchers at the Icahn School of Medicine at Mount Sinai and the University of Washington has designed a modeling system that integrates genomic and temporal information to infer causal relationships between genes, drugs, and their environment, allowing for a more accurate prediction of their interactions over time. The work is described in a paper published today in Nature Communications.
	Markers of dairy fat consumption linked to lower risk of type two diabetes Higher levels of biomarkers of dairy fat consumption are associated with a lower risk of developing type 2 diabetes, according to new research published today in PLOS Medicine. The study, in more than 60,000 adults, was undertaken by an international consortium led by scientists at the Medical Research Council Epidemiology Unit, University of Cambridge, and the Friedman School of Nutrition Science and Policy at Tufts University.
	Nutrients may reduce blood glucose levels Type 2 diabetes is driven by many metabolic pathways, with some pathways driven by amino acids, the molecular building blocks for proteins. Scientists at Joslin Diabetes Center now have shown that one amino acid, alanine, may produce a short-term lowering of glucose levels by altering energy metabolism in the cell.
	Ireland passes law putting cancer warnings on alcohol Alcoholic drinks in Ireland will be labelled with cancer warnings under a groundbreaking law passed Wednesday, which also sets a minimum price in a bid to tackle a "corrosive" drinking culture.
	Intensive BP therapy in diabetes may lower risk for CV events (HealthDay)—Intensive blood pressure (BP) therapy is associated with significantly lower risk for cardiovascular events based on data reweighted to better reflect the U.S. adult population with diabetes, according to a study published in the Sept. 11 issue of the Journal of the American College of Cardiology.
	The study and town that changed the health of a generation It's been 70 years since a small, middle-class community 23 miles west of Boston became the linchpin in helping to solve the mysteries of heart disease.
	Childhood obesity persists into adolescence (HealthDay)—Greater weight gain in early childhood often carries over to overweight and obesity in adolescence, according to a study published in the Oct. 4 issue of the New England Journal of Medicine.
	Halobetasol propionate lotion shows efficacy for Tx of psoriasis (HealthDay)—Halobetasol propionate 0.01 percent lotion (BRYHALI Lotion) appears safe and effective for the treatment of moderate-to-severe plaque psoriasis, according to the results of two phase 3 trials published in the October issue of the Journal of Drugs in Dermatology.
	Hand hygiene program beneficial for day care centers (HealthDay)—An educational and hand hygiene program involving hand sanitizer can reduce the risk for respiratory infections (RI) for children attending day care centers (DCCs), according to a study published online Oct. 8 in Pediatrics.
New appropriate use criteria for lumbar puncture in Alzheimer's diagnosis In preparation for more tools that detect and measure the biology associated with Alzheimer's and other dementias earlier and with more accuracy, an Alzheimer's Association-led Workgroup has published appropriate use criteria (AUC) for lumbar puncture (spinal tap) and spinal fluid analysis in the diagnosis of Alzheimer's disease.
	Trust in non-conventional therapies by cancer patients not matching awareness about risks Sarcoma patients show great openness to the use of complementary alternative medicines (CAMs) for supportive care, but they are poorly informed about safety issues and risk of interactions with anti-cancer drugs, a study to be presented at ESMO 2018 reported.
French health watchdog calls for ban on sunbeds The French health watchdog Wednesday urged the government to follow the example of Australia and Brazil by banning sunbeds and tanning parlours because of the "proven" risk of skin cancer caused by exposure to artificial UV light.
Top French court to rule on faulty breast implant scandal France's top court is ruling Wednesday in a case that may require some 1,700 women around the world to pay back compensation they received over rupture-prone breast implants.
	New research examines long-term anxiety in pediatric brain tumor survivors A new study compared the risk of anxiety and depression several years after the successful treatment of brain tumor relapse versus clinically significant psychosocial impairment in adolescents and young adults who did experience relapse during the ensuing years. The proportion of survivors of a relapse who were identified as clinically anxious (30.4 percent) was more than three times greater than the proportion of non-relapsed survivors who had an elevated level of anxiety (9.4 percent), according to the study published in the Journal of Adolescent and Young Adult Oncology (JAYAO), a multidisciplinary peer-reviewed publication from Mary Ann Liebert, Inc.
	Treating mental disorders with psychedelic psychotherapy Millions of Australians suffer from a myriad of mental health issues. Depression, PTSD and addiction to name a few. But what if we could help them by trying something a little trippy?
	Trump trashes Democrats' Medicare for All plan in op-ed President Donald Trump is stepping up his attack on Democrats over a health care proposal called Medicare for All, claiming it "would end Medicare as we know it and take away benefits that seniors have paid for their entire lives."
	Polio-like condition in children on rise again in the US (HealthDay)—A rare, polio-like condition in children is on the rise again in the United States, with 38 confirmed cases in 16 states so far this year, the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention says.
	Flea-borne typhus outbreak in Los Angeles County (HealthDay)—An outbreak of flea-borne typhus in Los Angeles County has so far resulted in 57 cases, including 20 in Pasadena and nine in downtown Los Angeles, public health officials say.
	First European map on iodine deficiency Iodine deficiency (ID) is the world's leading cause of preventable brain damage. The EU-funded project EUthyroid has set up the first joint European database that can provide information on iodine status and thyroid disease load.
Getting relief from sexual dysfunction and incontinence caused by menopause Microablative fractional CO2 lasers are energy-based devices designed to help manage troublesome menopause symptoms such as painful sex, dryness, itching/burning, urinary frequency, and incontinence. Although there is ongoing debate regarding the safety and effectiveness of vaginal laser surgery, a new study suggests that it may be effective, especially after multiple treatments. Study results are published online in Menopause, the journal of The North American Menopause Society (NAMS).
	Scientists investigate monkey malaria threat as potential therapy A breakthrough in monkey malaria research by University of Otago scientists encouraged the Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation to fund a special meeting in Dunedin recently.
Setting personal goals for dementia care Dementia is a health condition that affects your memory in ways that can make it difficult to carry out your usual daily tasks. The most common cause of dementia is Alzheimer's disease, which causes abnormal changes that kill brain cells. However, there are many other types of dementia. Overall, dementia is a long-term illness, and most people live from four to 10 years after being diagnosed.
	Top French court nixes ruling on faulty breast implants France's highest court overturned Wednesday an appeals court ruling that would have required some 1,700 women in multiple countries to pay back compensation they received over rupture-prone breast implants.
Increased survival in patients with metastatic NSCLC receiving treatment in academic centers Patients with metastatic NSCLC receiving treatment at academic centers (ACs) have an increased 2-year survival compared to patients treated at community-based centers (CCs). An overall histology-dependent survival was also noted in patients with adenocarcinoma verses squamous cell carcinoma and varied by treatment facility.
Ebola death toll rises in DR Congo The death toll from an Ebola outbreak in eastern Democratic Republic of Congo has risen to 118, authorities have said, with three children among the recent victims.
Sleep and cardiovascular health in women Jason Carter, associate vice president for research development and professor of kinesiology and integrative physiology, is speaking at the 2018 National Institute of Health Heart, Lung and Blood Institute Research Conference on Sleep and the Health of Women in Bethesda, Maryland. He is participating in a presentation and panel discussion Wednesday, Oct. 17 at 8:35 a.m. about the effects of sleep on cardiovascular health in women.
	German certifier in breast implant scandal set for retrial A French appeals court on Wednesday ordered a retrial for a German safety certifier accused of negligence after approving breast implants which were later found to be susceptible to rupturing.

Biology news

	Ants regulate growth of seemingly 'useless' organ to make huge soldiers Scientists at McGill have found the answer to a question that perplexed Charles Darwin. So much so, that it actually led him to doubt his own theory of evolution. He wondered, if natural selection works at the level of the individual, fighting for survival and reproduction, how can a single colony produce worker ants that are so dramatically different in size—from the "minor" workers with their small heads and bodies, to the large-headed soldiers with their huge mandibles—especially if, as in the genus Pheidole, they are sterile? The answer, according to a paper published today in Nature, is that the colony itself generates soldiers and regulates the balance between soldiers and "minor" workers thanks to a seemingly unimportant rudimentary "organ" which appears only briefly during the final stages of larval development. And only in some of the ants—the ones that will become soldiers.
	Uncovering the role of the ilio-sacral joint in frogs A trio of researchers, two with the Royal Veterinary College, the other the University of Portsmouth, has found evidence that suggests that the ilio-sacral joint in frogs evolved after they started jumping. In their paper published in the journal Biology Letters, Christopher Richards, Enrico Eberhard and Amber Collings describe their study of the joint and what they found.
	A break from the buzz—bees go silent during total solar eclipse While millions of Americans took a break from their daily routines on August 21, 2017, to witness a total solar eclipse, they might not have noticed a similar phenomenon happening nearby: In the path of totality, bees took a break from their daily routines, too.
	Evolutionary 'arms race'—how dolphins and whales fight disease threats Dolphins, whales and other cetaceans are susceptible to many of the same health hazards as humans including mercury, brevotoxin (e.g. Red Tide), and lobomycosis. They also serve as important sentinel species to highlight concerns relevant to environmental and public health. Yet understanding how these aquatic mammals fight disease-causing pathogens, how they adapt to changing pathogenic threats, and how their immune responses are triggered has been challenging.
	Wild chimpanzees share food with their friends Sharing meat after hunting and exchanging other valued food items is considered key in the evolution of cooperation in human societies. One prominent idea is that humans share valuable foods to gain future favors, such that those we chose to share with are more likely to cooperate with us in the future. Despite regularly occurring in humans, sharing food outside of kinship or mating relationships is rare in non-human animals. Our two closest living relatives, chimpanzees and bonobos, are two of the rare exceptions, and because of the important role of food sharing in human evolution, examining the sharing patterns of chimpanzees can help to answer questions on how sharing food amongst adults evolved and how it may have shaped human cooperation.
	How to make fish shine Scientists from the University of Bath have helped to figure out why shoals of fish flash silver as they twist through the water by studying how the shiny silver cells are created in zebrafish.
	Team gets a closer look at how proteins meet on the cell membrane Scripps Research scientists have uncovered the workings of a critical process in cell survival. Their study, published recently in the Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences, is the first to show exactly how a protein called talin activates another critical protein, called integrin, to do its job on the cell membrane.
	THC amounts identical in most cannabis strains, study finds A rose by any other name is still a rose. The same, it turns out, can be said for cannabis.
	Cleaning, but safely! Cocoons protect sensitive ant brood during toxic disinfection Ants are tidy—when they move into a new nest box, they spend the first days cleaning it thoroughly, just like humans moving into a new home. Many ants produce highly acidic chemicals from specialized glands in their body. Researchers have assumed that ants only spray this poison, which is made mostly of formic acid, to fight other ants and would-be predators. But in two studies published in 2013 and 2018, Sylvia Cremer and her team showed that ants use acidic chemicals to disinfect nest mates contaminated and infected with pathogens.
	Moringa, the next superfood There's nothing super-looking about moringa. It's skinny and sparse in foliage. Its fragile branches sprout puny white flowers and droop with long twisted pods knobby with seeds. But if plants were superheroes, then moringa would be Iron Man.
	Indigenous fire practice protecting the Gibson Desert's biodiversity Traditional Indigenous burning practices are protecting plant biodiversity in Australia's Gibson Desert, according to University of Queensland research.
	Root extract of Chinese medicinal plant makes worms to live longer A root extract of the Fallopia multiflora, or Chinese knotweed, has special properties: It enables the nematode C. elegans to live longer and protects it from oxidative stress. This has been demonstrated in a new study by nutritional scientists at Martin Luther University Halle-Wittenberg (MLU). The researchers provide scientifically substantiated evidence for the effectiveness of this extract, which is primarily used in traditional Chinese medicine and as a dietary supplement. They have also identified molecular signalling pathways that could be responsible for the extract's effect. Their study was recently published in the international scientific journal Plants.
	Scientists successfully implant a polymeric prosthesis imitating bone structure For the first time ever, a research team from the small innovative enterprise Biomimetix, implementing several NUST MISIS developments, has successfully implanted a biomimetic hybrid prosthesis-imitating bone structure made from ultra-high molecular weight polyethylene and titanium alloy into a patient's femoral bone. The successful surgery was carried out at the request of the MedVet veterinary clinic.
	A pheromone-sensing gene that predates land-dwelling vertebrates Scientists at Tokyo Institute of Technology (Tokyo Tech) have discovered a gene that appears to play a vital role in pheromone sensing. The gene is conserved across fish and mammals and over 400 million years of vertebrate evolution, indicating that the pheromone sensing system is much more ancient than previously believed. This discovery opens new avenues of research into the origin, evolution, and function of pheromone signaling.
	Increased cyto-adhesion of malaria parasites during fever uncovered Malaria is the most prevalent blood-borne infectious disease caused by parasites of the species Plasmodium. In 2016, more than 216 million malaria infections were reported resulting in 445,000 deaths across the developing world.
	Research into equine vision leads to trial of new fence and hurdle design to further improve safety in jump racing Research into equine vision leads to trial of new fence and hurdle design to further improve safety in jump racing
	Organic farming with gene editing—an oxymoron or a tool for sustainable agriculture? A University of California, Berkeley professor stands at the front of the room, delivering her invited talk about the potential of genetic engineering. Her audience, full of organic farming advocates, listens uneasily. She notices a man get up from his seat and move toward the front of the room. Confused, the speaker pauses mid-sentence as she watches him bend over, reach for the power cord, and unplug the projector. The room darkens and silence falls. So much for listening to the ideas of others.
	Time travel with bat guano To help determine forest restoration goals in Costa Rica, postdoctoral scholar Rachel Reid will travel to Central America this winter to explore a cave long inhabited by bats. The work is supported by WashU's Living Earth Collaborative.
	Blue roses could be coming soon to a garden near you For centuries, gardeners have attempted to breed blue roses with no success. But now, thanks to modern biotechnology, the elusive blue rose may finally be attainable. Researchers have found a way to express pigment-producing enzymes from bacteria in the petals of a white rose, tinting the flowers blue. They report their results in ACS Synthetic Biology.
	Understanding water's role in antibiotic resistance emergence and dissemination in Africa Greater access to antibiotic drugs, together with their misuse and overuse, has accelerated the emergence of antibiotic resistant bacteria worldwide.
	Bogota implores tourists to stop feeding pigeons On a bright Sunday afternoon, a group of government workers walked around Bogota's most famous square dressed as pigeons, with cardboard beaks covering their noses, as thousands of real birds swarmed overhead and left their droppings on stately monuments.
Crowd-sourced data wins protection for endangered tricolored blackbird When scientists first proposed adding the Tricolored Blackbird to the California endangered species list in 2004, they had a problem. Tricolored Blackbirds nest in large colonies that can move from year to year, and because the locations of these colonies in any given year may not be known, existing survey data were not enough to convince the California Fish and Game Commission to approve the listing.
	Five men and the sea: huge marlin sinks Filipino fishing boat It reads like a modern day take on 'The Old Man and the Sea'—five Filipino fishermen cast adrift for days on a makeshift raft after a huge marlin sinks their boat.
	Chromosome responsible for asparagus gender characterized Garden asparagus is, from a financial perspective, the most important asparagus species of all. Its cultivation area is equal to that of garlic, carrots and eggplants, making it decisive for the asparagus sector.
	Israeli frankincense farmer cashes in on rare honey An Israeli farmer has cashed in by making exotic honey from a rare tree that produces frankincense—the resin once worth its weight in gold and venerated in the Bible. But the farm's location in a far-flung West Bank settlement has left a bitter taste in at least one investor's mouth.
Puppy-killing disease rampant in Australia A University of Sydney study has found that canine parvovirus (CPV), a highly contagious and deadly disease that tragically kills puppies, is more prevalent than previously thought with 20,000 cases found in Australia each year, and nearly half of these cases result in death.

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