Science X Newsletter Monday, Nov 5

Dear Reader ,

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

Spotlight Stories Headlines

A principle-based paradigm to foster ethical behavior in autonomous machines

Ready for its close-up—a bacterium's electron transport pathway

Tying the knot: New DNA nanostructures

Chemical synthesis could produce more potent antibiotics

New efficiency record set for perovskite LEDs

Galaxy NGC 3319 may host an active intermediate-mass black hole, study finds

Existing laser technology could be fashioned into Earth's 'porch light' to attract alien astronomers

Hot temperatures can trigger an RNA response in plants

Is there a universal hierarchy of human senses?

Scientist finds elusive star with origins close to Big Bang

Mining bitcoin uses more energy than Denmark: study

Molecular virologist fights influenza at the molecular level

Online program helps prevent teen depression

Paleontologists discover new sauropod species in Argentina

Cheesy music: Swiss experiment with sound to make cheese tastier

Astronomy & Space news

	Galaxy NGC 3319 may host an active intermediate-mass black hole, study finds Chinese astronomers report new findings regarding the central region of a nearby galaxy known as NGC 3319. The researchers found an active intermediate-mass black hole candidate residing in the center of this galaxy. The discovery is detailed in a paper published October 24 on the arXiv pre-print server.
	Existing laser technology could be fashioned into Earth's 'porch light' to attract alien astronomers If extraterrestrial intelligence exists somewhere in our galaxy, a new MIT study proposes that laser technology on Earth could, in principle, be fashioned into something of a planetary porch light—a beacon strong enough to attract attention from as far as 20,000 light years away.
	Scientist finds elusive star with origins close to Big Bang Astronomers have found what could be one of the universe's oldest stars, a body almost entirely made of materials spewed from the Big Bang.
	Evidence of outburst flooding indicates plentiful water on early Mars The presence of water on Mars has been theorized for centuries. Early telescopes revealed ice caps, and early astronomers noted channels that were hypothesized to be natural rivers or creature-created canals.
	Dust production in evolved exoplanetary systems Stellar variability has long offered insights into stars' physical properties. The star Mira (Omicron Ceti), for example, was so-named in 1596 by Dutch astronomers who were amazed by its miraculous brightening because of what we now know to be due to periodic changes in its size and temperature. Much less dramatic variability can also be caused when a star has a disk of dust that occasionally blocks some of its light as seen from the Earth. Smaller and fainter stars are typically out of reach for variability studies, but sometimes their disks (when they have them) can generate enough debris to affect detectable changes in the starlight.
	How life could help atmospheric tides slow a planet's rotation Resonating oscillations of a planet's atmosphere caused by gravitational tides and heating from its star could prevent a planet's rotation from steadily slowing over time, according to new research by Caleb Scharf, who is the Director of Astrobiology at Columbia University. His findings suggest that the effect is enhanced for a planet with an atmosphere that has been oxygenated by life, and the resulting 'atmospheric tides' could even act as a biosignature.
	Neil Armstrong memorabilia fetches $7.5 million at auction Memorabilia that belonged to the first man to set foot on the moon, Neil Armstrong, has fetched more than $7.4 million at auction.
	Image: Hubble finds smiling face in a hunt for newborn stars This image, taken with the NASA/ESA Hubble Space Telescope's Wide Field Camera 3 (WFC3), shows a patch of space filled with galaxies of all shapes, colors and sizes, many of which belong to the galaxy cluster SDSS J0952+3434.
	Image: Polar lights on Uranus On the first day of the 15th annual European Space Weather Week, this image from the NASA/ESA Hubble Space Telescope fittingly shows a striking occurrence of celestial weather in the outer reaches of the Solar System: an aurora on Uranus.
	An extremely large hole has been dug for the Extremely Large Telescope All over the world, some truly groundbreaking telescopes are being built that will usher in a new age of astronomy. Sites include the mountain of Mauna Kea in Hawaii, Australia, South Africa, southwestern China, and the Atacama Desert – a remote plateau in the Chilean Andes. In this extremely dry environment, multiple arrays are being built that will allow astronomers to see farther into the cosmos and with greater resolution.

Technology news

	A principle-based paradigm to foster ethical behavior in autonomous machines A team of researchers at the University of Hartford, the University of Connecticut, and the Max Planck Institute for Intelligent Systems have recently proposed a case-supported, principle-based behavior paradigm toward ensuring the ethical behavior of autonomous machines. Their paper, published in Proceedings of the IEEE, argues that ethically significant behavior of autonomous systems should be guided by explicit ethical principles, determined via a consensus of ethicists.
	Mining bitcoin uses more energy than Denmark: study Extracting a dollar's worth of cryptocurrency such as bitcoin from the deep Web consumes three times more energy than digging up a dollar's worth of gold, researchers said Monday.
	Chip-level vulnerabilities suggest risk of access point attacks A pair of new Bluetooth security flaws expose wireless access points to attack. Well, that's worth a look as flaws in chips for connections include use in hospitals.
	Study explores how robots in the operating room impact teamwork In traditional surgery, doctors and nurses huddle closely around a patient, passing instruments, watching each other's faces and often physically touching.
	Intel receives notice of research on side-channel vulnerability Intel's Hyper-Threading technology was in the news recently and it was all about the spotting of an attack vulnerability aimed at CPUs called PortSmash. It can steal decryption keys.
	Musk tweets new video of LA-area transportation test tunnel Elon Musk has tweeted a new video of a tunnel constructed under a Los Angeles suburb to test a new type of transportation system.
	New attacks on graphics processors endanger user privacy Computer scientists at the University of California, Riverside have revealed for the first time how easily attackers can use a computer's graphics processing unit, or GPU, to spy on web activity, steal passwords, and break into cloud-based applications.
	Web pioneer wants new 'contract' for internet The inventor of the worldwide web, Tim Berners-Lee, on Monday announced plans for a "contract" to ensure the internet remains "safe and accessible" for all.
	Researchers use video games to unlock new levels of AI Expectations for artificial intelligences are very real and very high. An analysis in Forbes projects revenues from A.I. will skyrocket from $1.62 billion in 2018 to $31.2 billion in 2025. The report also included a survey revealing 84 percent of enterprises believe investing in A.I. will lead to competitive advantages.
	Despite crackdown, 'junk news' still flourishes on social media Despite an aggressive crackdown by social media firms, so-called "junk news" is spreading at a greater rate than in 2016 on social media ahead of the US midterm elections, according to researchers.
	Social media's misinformation battle: No winners, so far Facebook and other social platforms have been fighting online misinformation and hate speech for two years. With the U.S. midterm elections just a few days away, there are signs that they're making some headway, although they're still a very long way from winning the war.
	Ahead of vote, Twitter says accounts removed over 'disinformation' Twitter on Saturday said it deleted a "series of accounts" that attempted to share disinformation, ahead of crucial midterm elections, as media reports said thousands of accounts were axed.
	Feeling the need for speed, neutrons study fluid flow for hypersonic flight One of the grand challenges in aerospace engineering is the development of hypersonic vehicles capable of traveling at or above Mach 5—about 4,000 miles per hour or faster. However, liquid fuel combustion at those speeds and atmospheric conditions is not well understood.
	Training with states of matter search algorithm enables neuron model pruning Artificial neural networks are machine learning systems composed of a large number of connected nodes called artificial neurons. Similar to the neurons in a biological brain, these artificial neurons are the primary basic units that are used to perform neural computations and solve problems. Advances in neurobiology have illustrated the important role played by dendritic cell structures in neural computation, and this has led to the development of artificial neuron models based on these structures.
	Even a few bots can shift public opinion in big ways Nearly two-thirds of the social media bots with political activity on Twitter before the 2016 U.S. presidential election supported Donald Trump. But all those Trump bots were far less effective at shifting people's opinions than the smaller proportion of bots backing Hillary Clinton. As my recent research shows, a small number of highly active bots can significantly change people's political opinions. The main factor was not how many bots there were – but rather, how many tweets each set of bots issued.
	VRTIGO lets you test your nerves in virtual reality Why do some people react more strongly than others when faced with the unknown? Researchers at EPFL's Laboratory of Behavioral Genetics, headed by Professor Carmen Sandi, have set out to learn more with a new virtual reality program. Their system evaluates how users' personality traits and prior experience influence their responses to anxiety-inducing situations. Designed to be tested on a large sample of volunteers, it will be available for visitors to try out during the Geneva International Film Festival on 5–10 November, where it will be featured in the Digital Out of Competition category.
	How 'net neutrality' became a hot-button issue For a fundamentally nerdy subject, net neutrality is pushing a lot of political buttons.
	Ride-share companies embrace election frenzy Ride-share companies are capitalizing on voter enthusiasm ahead of Tuesday's midterm elections by offering free or discounted rides to the polls in shared cars, bikes and scooters.
	Under fire tech sector gathers in Portugal Europe's largest tech event, the Web Summit, gets underway in Lisbon on Monday amid a backlash over internet firms' role in spreading "fake news" and how they use consumer data.
	Vietnam could give tech companies one year to obey cyberlaw Vietnam may give internet companies like Google and Facebook one year to comply with a controversial cybersecurity law, according to a draft decree that outlines how the draconian bill could be implemented.
	SoftBank posts eight-fold jump in first-half net profit Japan's SoftBank Group said Monday it logged an eight-fold jump in net profit in the six months to September thanks to strong returns from its investment funds.
	Verizon reorganizes structure under new CEO to prep for 5G Verizon is undergoing a significant restructuring under new CEO Hans Vestberg, including its dominant wireless division, as it prepares to roll out its 5G technology.
	Supreme Court rejects net neutrality appeal The Supreme Court has ended the court fight over repealed Obama-era "net neutrality" rules that required internet providers to treat all online traffic equally.
	Icelandair share price soars after deal with rival Shares in Icelandair shot up more than 40 percent on Monday after it announced it had acquired its fellow Iceland-based low-cost rival WOW Air.
	Michelin closes Scottish plant with 845 workers French tyre manufacturer Michelin announced plans Monday to close a Scottish manufacturing plant with 845 employees due to growing competition from cheeper products in Asia.
TVA announces solar installations being built for Facebook Tennessee and Alabama will get their largest solar power projects yet, to supply a Facebook data center with 100 percent renewable energy.

Medicine & Health news

	Is there a universal hierarchy of human senses? Research at the University of York has shown that the accepted hierarchy of human senses—sight, hearing, touch, taste and smell—is not universally true across all cultures.
	Online program helps prevent teen depression Although up to 20 percent of adolescents experience a depressive episode each year, the medical community has struggled to implement programs that effectively prevent depression.
	Diet rich in fish helps fight asthma A clinical trial led by La Trobe University has shown eating fish such as salmon, trout and sardines as part of a healthy diet can reduce asthma symptoms in children.
	Skin cancer deaths rates soar, mostly for men: study Skin cancer deaths among men have soared in wealthy nations since 1985, with mortality rates among women rising more slowly or even declining, researchers told a medical conference in Glasgow Sunday.
	Happy childhood memories linked to better health later in life People who have fond memories of childhood, specifically their relationships with their parents, tend to have better health, less depression and fewer chronic illnesses as older adults, according to research published by the American Psychological Association.
	Researchers solve mystery surrounding a form of Batten disease A team led by researchers at Baylor College of Medicine has uncovered an unexpected mechanism that can explain a form of Batten disease called neuronal ceroid lipofuscinosis 8. The findings published in the journal Nature Cell Biology provide potential new targets for future therapeutic interventions for this rare and incurable disease.
	'Master key' gene has links to both ASD and schizophrenia Recent studies of complex brain disorders such as schizophrenia and autism spectrum disorder (ASD) have identified a few "master keys," risk genes that sit at the center of a network of genes important for brain function. Researchers at Emory and the Chinese Academy of Sciences have now created mice partially lacking one of those master keys, called MIR-137, and have used them to identify an angle on potential treatments for ASD.
	Largest parasitic worm genetic study hatches novel treatment possibilities The largest genomic study of parasitic worms to date has identified hundreds of thousands of new genes and predicted many new potential drug targets and drugs. The research from the Wellcome Sanger Institute, Washington University in St. Louis, the University of Edinburgh, and their collaborators will help scientists understand how these parasites invade us, evade the immune system and cause disease.
	Pulmonary tuberculosis can be cured with shorter treatment, study finds Almost half of the nearly 10 million patients with active tuberculosis each year could potentially be cured with significantly shorter treatments than current guidelines recommend, a new analysis from UC San Francisco has found. The results suggest targeted therapies could be more effective in treating TB, which killed an estimated 1.3 million people around the world last year.
	Lateral inhibition keeps similar memories apart When you park in the office car park, you usually have no problem finding your car again at the end of the day. The next day, you might park a few spots further away. However, in the evening, you find your car, even though the memories of both days are very similar. You find your car (also) because our brains are able to store memories of very similar events as distinct memories in a process called pattern separation. Researchers at the Institute of Science and Technology Austria (IST Austria) are deciphering how the brain computes this pattern separation in a brain region called the dentate gyrus. Results of their work are published today in Nature Communications.
	Researchers uncover evidence of restored vision in rats following cell transplant Researchers from the University of California, Irvine School of Medicine, have discovered that neurons located in the vision centers of the brains of blind rats functioned normally following fetal retina cell transplants, indicating the successful restoration of vision. The research was published today in JNeurosci, the Journal of Neuroscience.
	Thalidomide reveals path for targeting undruggable transcription factors for cancer treatment Thalidomide, a morning-sickness drug recalled in the 1960s because it caused devastating birth defects, is now commonly used to treat multiple myeloma and other blood cancers. It and its chemical relatives work by causing cells to destroy two proteins—members of a larger family of conventionally "undruggable" proteins called transcription factors—that feature a particular molecular pattern called a C2H2 zinc finger (ZF) motif.
	New gene therapy reprograms brain glial cells into neurons A new gene therapy can turn certain brain glial cells into functioning neurons, which in turn could help repair the brain after a stroke or during neurological disorders like Alzheimer's or Parkinson's diseases.
	Researchers uncover gene that regulates fat accumulation and obesity As obesity continues to be the leading cause of deaths world-wide, researchers are working to understand what role genetics play in a person's predisposition for obesity. New research is shedding light on the fact that while exercise and diet are important, sometimes there are underlying genetic factors at play.
	Scientists develop method to quickly enhance immune-system proteins Rice University scientists have found a simple method to attach drugs or other substances to antibodies, the powerful proteins that are central to the body's immune system.
	Scientists find new drug targets in aggressive cancers Scientists have discovered a previously unknown molecular vulnerability in two rare, aggressive, and hard-to-treat types of cancer, and say it may be possible to attack this weakness with targeted drugs.
	New paper stresses the importance of ecological thinking and diverse study samples to improve psychological science For decades, consensus among psychologists has held that a cluster of five personality traits—or a slight variation thereof—universally defines the structure of human personality. Previous research conducted in high-income countries and across many cultures found strong support for what experts refer to as the "Big Five"—openness, conscientiousness, agreeableness, extraversion and neuroticism. However, when UC Santa Barbara anthropologist Michael Gurven and his team studied the Tsimane, an isolated indigenous population in the Bolivian Amazon, they found not five broad dimensions of personality, but two—prosociality and industriousness. Perhaps the Big Five aren't so universal after all.
	Lax state gun laws linked to more child, teen gun deaths, study finds Compared with U.S. states with the strictest gun control legislation, gun deaths among children and teenagers are twice as common in states with the most lax gun laws, a study from the Stanford University School of Medicine has found.
	Fluorescent marker can help guide surgeons to remove dangerous brain tumor cells more accurately A chemical that highlights tumour cells has been used by surgeons to help spot and safely remove brain cancer in a trial presented at the 2018 NCRI Cancer Conference.
Genetic risk factor for chronic traumatic encephalopathy detected Researchers have identified a genetic variation that may influence chronic traumatic encephalopathy (CTE) disease severity.
Measles outbreak sparks warning from Polish health officials Polish health officials are calling on people to vaccinate themselves and their children after measles cases were reported in the region around Warsaw.
Realizing the potential of gene therapy for neurological disorders Promising findings from preclinical animal studies show the potential of gene therapy for treating incurable neurological disorders. In new research presented today, scientists successfully used gene therapy to slow the progression and improve symptoms of disorders such as amyotrophic lateral sclerosis and Parkinson's disease. The findings were presented at Neuroscience 2018, the annual meeting of the Society for Neuroscience.
	Melanoma death rates are rising in men but static or falling in women The rate of men dying from malignant melanoma has risen in populations around the world, while in some countries the rates are steady or falling for women, according to research presented at the 2018 NCRI Cancer Conference.
	Researchers see cognitive changes in offspring of heavy cannabis-using rats Washington State University researchers have seen cognitive changes in the offspring of rats exposed to heavy amounts of cannabis. Their work is one of the rare studies to look at the effects of cannabis during pregnancy. The drug is the most commonly used illicit substance among pregnant women.
Solitary confinement puts brains at risk Some 80,000 Americans are incarcerated in solitary confinement on any given day, a practice that has been deemed cruel and unusual punishment by the United Nations Committee on Torture. Those in solitary confinement typically have no physical contact and little interaction with others. This extreme isolation can be damaging and may cause or worsen depression, anxiety, and other mental illness. A roundtable of scientists, a physician, a lawyer, and an individual held in solitary for 29 years will explore the psychological and neurobiological burdens of solitary confinement at Neuroscience 2018, the annual meeting of the Society for Neuroscience.
	New glimpses into brain uncover neurological basis for processing social information Neuroscientists are developing a clearer picture than ever before of how the animal brain processes social information, from status and competitive advantage in a group to the calls and vocalizations of peers. New studies in mice and marmosets help us understand a range of disorders defined by deficits in social function and identify mechanisms that could also operate in the human brain. The research is presented today at Neuroscience 2018, the annual meeting of the Society for Neuroscience.
	New device improves balance in veterans with Gulf War Illness Gulf War veterans with unexplained illnesses that cause fatigue, headaches, respiratory disorders and memory problems can improve their balance with a device developed by Rutgers University researchers.
	Researchers use genetics to predict response to antipsychotic medications Genetics can be used to predict a patient's response to antipsychotic drug treatment for schizophrenia, according to a recent study by investigators at The Feinstein Institute for Medical Research. The findings were published online today in the American Journal of Psychiatry.
	Among college students, mental health diagnosis and treatment are up, stigma is down Mental health diagnoses and treatment of college students increased substantially between 2007 and 2017. More than one-third of students reported a diagnosed condition in 2016-2017, according to a study published online today in Psychiatric Services in Advance.
	College education aids in proper use of dietary supplements among young adults Young adults who are educated about dietary supplements in college are more likely to use them appropriately, according to new research from Binghamton University, State University at New York.
	Youth TBI laws promote head injury evaluation in emergency department Millions of children and teens are affected by sports and recreation-related traumatic brain injuries (TBI) annually. To help reduce the effects of TBIs in youth sports, all 50 states and the District of Columbia enacted state youth TBI laws between 2009 and 2014. A new study from researchers in the Center for Injury Research and Policy at Nationwide Children's Hospital examined the effectiveness of these laws by looking at sports and recreation mild TBI (mTBI)-related emergency department (ED) visits for children ages 5 to 18 years before and after TBI legislation was enacted in each state. Specifically, researchers looked at ED visits from 2006 through 2014 for diagnosis of mTBI and compared them with diagnoses of moderate to severe TBI, minor head injury, and long bone fracture.
Patients with low risk thyroid cancer can receive lower doses of radiation treatment Thyroid cancer patients whose disease is at low risk of returning can be treated safely with a smaller amount of radiation following surgery, according to results from the world's longest running trial to investigate this.
Men with prostate cancer willing to accept lower survival odds to avoid side effects Men who have been newly diagnosed with prostate cancer say they would trade some improvement in their odds of survival for improvements in side effects and quality of life, according to research presented at the 2018 NCRI Cancer Conference.
	Barriers to using stroke-preventing anticoagulants in Canada hinder appropriate management of patients with AF International guidelines recommend direct oral anticoagulants (DOACs) over warfarin to prevent stroke for most patients with atrial fibrillation (AF). However, a substantial portion of patients in Canada, who would benefit from anticoagulation, do not receive it adequately or at all. Experts review the evidence for the use of DOACs in the Canadian Journal of Cardiology, discuss reasons for the large gap between guidelines and clinical practice, including policy and funding barriers, and propose strategies for the future.
	Violent crime raises blood pressure even among those living in safe areas A spike in Chicago crime was associated with a relative increase in blood pressure among people who lived in safe neighborhoods, according to preliminary research to be presented in Chicago at the American Heart Association's Scientific Sessions 2018.
Complication of broken heart syndrome associated with both short- and long-term risk of death When patients with broken heart syndrome survive a life-threatening complication that renders the heart suddenly unable to pump enough blood, they remain at greater risk of death for years afterwards, according to research to be presented in Chicago at the American Heart Association's Scientific Sessions 2018. The study will also be simultaneously published in the American Heart Association's journal Circulation.
	Some heart patients ride roller coasters and other thrill-seeking activities despite warnings Adults with an inherited thickening of the heart muscle, often don't stop participating in thrill-seeking activities despite recommendations that they should. And while some experienced minor consequences, only a few suffered serious health effects as a result, according to preliminary research from an online survey to be presented in Chicago at the American Heart Association's Scientific Sessions 2018.
	Big, high-calorie meals after 6 pm may increase heart disease risk for Hispanics A big evening dinner shouldn't be on the menu. Eating the majority of a person's daily calories in the evening may lead to an increased risk of developing prediabetes and high blood pressure among Hispanic/Latino individuals, according to preliminary research to be presented in Chicago at the American Heart Association's Scientific Sessions 2018.
	Nuts for nuts? Daily serving may help control weight and benefit health Eating Brazil nuts and other varieties of nuts daily may prevent weight gain and provide other cardiovascular benefits, according to two separate preliminary studies to be presented at the American Heart Association's Scientific Sessions 2018 in Chicago.
	Opioid use may increase risk of dangerous heart rhythm disorder Opioid use appears to increase a person's risk for developing atrial fibrillation, a dangerous heart-rhythm disorder known to cause strokes, according to preliminary research to be presented in Chicago at the American Heart Association's Scientific Sessions 2018.
	Blood vessel function takes harmful hit from hookah tobacco smoking Smoking hookah tobacco acutely impairs blood vessels' ability to function, according to preliminary research to be presented in Chicago at the American Heart Association's Scientific Sessions 2018.
	Just one energy drink may hurt blood vessel function Young, healthy adults experienced notably diminished blood vessel function soon after consuming one energy drink, according to preliminary research from a small study to be presented in Chicago at the American Heart Association's Scientific Sessions 2018.
	Chronic exposure to excess noise may increase risk for heart disease, stroke Exposure to environmental noise appears to increase the risk of heart attacks and strokes by fueling the activity of a brain region involved in stress response. This response in turn promotes blood vessel inflammation, according to preliminary research to be presented in Chicago at the American Heart Association's Scientific Sessions 2018.
	If you smoke, now is a very good time to quit For former smokers it took more than 15 years for cardiovascular disease risk to return to the level of those who never smoked, according to preliminary research to be presented in Chicago at the American Heart Association's Scientific Sessions 2018.
Hospital admissions for AFib rise with daylight saving time transition Hospital admissions for atrial fibrillation (AFib), the most common type of irregular heartbeat, rise in the days following the spring transition of daylight saving time, according to preliminary research to be presented in Chicago at the American Heart Association's Scientific Sessions 2018.
	Nature or nurture: How do we end child obesity? A smartphone app that challenges children to engage in healthy behaviour, and genetic studies that investigate risk factors for obesity, are taking a nature and nurture approach to tackling one of the biggest epidemics of our time – childhood obesity.
	Reanalyzing gene tests prompt new diagnoses in kids Lori Fullen recalls waking to screams from her little boy's room. She remembers rushing in and seeing the terror in his eyes, wondering if he was having recurring nightmares.
New research shows symptom improvement after concussion in children varies Age and sex must be taken into consideration when looking at children's recovery after a concussion, say researchers at the CHEO Research Institute. In a new article published in the Journal of the American Medical Association Pediatrics, authors describe how the common symptoms following concussion improve by both age and sex over time. In "Natural Progression of Symptom Change and Recovery From Concussion in a Pediatric Population", they found that the length of time for symptom improvement after concussion in children and adolescents varied across age groups and sex.
	New model for the development of hookworm vaccines – bacteria eating worms Having identified the complex physicochemical fingerprint of the parasitic hookworm, Necator americanus, researchers at the University of Nottingham set about changing the diet of a 'friendly' microscopic worm to assess the effectiveness of immune responses to anti-parasitic vaccines currently under development. And what better way to test this potential new model; by using their very own blood!
	New contact lens to treat eye injuries A new therapeutic contact lens that acts as a bandage for eye surface injuries being developed by QUT researchers could soon fast track the healing of previously difficult to treat corneal wounds.
	Nature of immune cells in the human brain disclosed Researchers from the Netherlands Institute for Neuroscience and Amsterdam UMC have discovered how T cells protect the brain against harmful viruses. The results of the study, which are published in Nature Communications, are important for investigating the role of the immune system in numerous brain disorders.
	Researcher discusses what parents should know about acute flaccid myelitis Recently, cases of a poliolike illness have been back in the news. Acute flaccid myelitis, a rare complication from certain viral infections, causes paralysis in one or more limbs and strikes mostly children. Keith Van Haren, MD, assistant professor of neurology and neurological sciences at the School of Medicine, has studied the condition and written scientific review articles covering clusters of cases dating back to 2012.
	Changing how people perceive problems Every day, people try to make sense of challenges in their lives. But sometimes their explanations get in the way of solving them, said Stanford psychologist Gregory Walton in a new paper in Psychological Review.
	Eyes on ice – medical research from Antarctica Results from a medical research study at British Antarctic Survey's Halley Research Station – "Impact of long-term daylight deprivation on retinal light sensitivity, circadian rhythms and sleep during the Antarctic winter" – are published this week in Scientific Reports.
	Driving anxiety experienced by many older adults, new research reveals Driving anxiety is experienced by many older adults in New Zealand, especially among women and those aged over 70, recent collaborative research shows.
	Understanding autism in females Autism affects approximately one in every 100 Australians and costs around $10 billion each year. But, according to Chancellor's Postdoctoral Research Fellow Rachel Grove, there's still so much we don't know, particularly when it comes to females.
	Mobile phones and cancer—misleading headlines fail to mention rats Mobile phones are in the news following the release of results from a US research programme that tested if a certain type of radiation given off by phones can cause cancer. As a result, headlines are claiming that there's now "clear evidence" linking mobile phones to cancer.
	Study supports the use of antibiotic prophylaxis in high-risk dental patients New research has revealed the impact a change in US guidelines had on the prescribing of antibiotic prophylaxis (AP) to prevent a life-threatening heart condition infective endocarditis (IE) in patients before undergoing invasive dental treatment.
	Patient safety in hospitals still a concern Two decades ago, a landmark study by the National Academy of Medicine (NAM) highlighted the prevalence of medical errors and called for a national commitment to reduce patient harm. Despite substantial investment by government and private institutions to increase patient safety, progress has been slow and uneven. A new study, published today in the November issue of the journal Health Affairs, sheds light on what more can be done.
	Music improves social communication in autistic children Engaging in musical activities such as singing and playing instruments in one-on-one therapy can improve autistic children's social communication skills, improve their family's quality of life, as well as increase brain connectivity in key networks, according to researchers at Université de Montréal and McGill University.
	More training required for health professionals to help children of terminally ill patients Health professionals require more guidance to prepare and support children when a parent is dying, a new study in the journal Palliative Medicine reports.
	Technology could revolutionize HPV-related cancer diagnostics A new technology being tested by University of Alberta scientists could revolutionize human papillomavirus (HPV) related cancer diagnostics and cervical cancer screening.
	Is foraging behaviour regulated the same way in humans and worms? How does our nervous system motivate us to get off the sofa and walk to the fridge, or even to the supermarket, to get food? A research team led by Alexander Gottschalk from Goethe University investigated this using the threadworm Caenorhabditis elegans. The results indicate how foraging behaviour in higher animals might have evolved.
	Fear leads people to think donating blood will make them faint A new study by Ohio University faculty members showed that people who are afraid to have their blood drawn believe more people faint or have other symptoms than what statistics show actually occurs.
	'Microdosers' of LSD and magic mushrooms are wiser and more creative We just ran the first ever pre-registered scientific study on the microdosing of psychedelics and found some very promising results.
	Bullying and harassment of health workers endangers patient safety Bullying, harassment and other unprofessional behaviours are culturally ingrained in the Australian health-care system.
	Medics have a part to play in stopping health rumours spreading on the web Medical professionals are reluctant to engage in correcting health rumours circulating on the internet, a study by the University of York has revealed.
	Bipolar structure for nerve cell migration The cerebral cortex is responsible for a large number of complex brain functions, ranging from the perception of sensory stimuli through alertness, memory and language to consciousness. Neurobiologists at the Max Planck Institute for Experimental Medicine in Göttingen have decoded a new regulatory principle that controls the development of the complex neuronal architecture in the cerebral cortex.
	More Australians affected by gambling and for longer On the eve of the Melbourne Cup, new research from The Australian National University (ANU) has found more Australians are experiencing gambling harm and suffering life and health hardships for much longer than previously known.
	Eye research targets scar tissue that forms after surgery Today's cataract surgery is often described as a marvel of modern medicine, a one-hour outpatient procedure that has spared millions from blindness, especially in developed countries.
	Stroke survivors and those at risk urged to focus on yoga and tai chi One of Australia's biggest health issues could be checked if more people took up yoga or tai chi and reduced their blood pressure, an Australian study has found.
	How to sleep soundly in spite of the time change Twice a year, Albertans reset their clocks for daylight saving time and begin the more difficult task of resetting their internal clock as well. While daylight saving time has been accepted for decades by most Canadians, it can play havoc with sleep patterns no matter your age.
Does dietary restriction protect against age-related leaky gut? Flies eating a Spartan diet are protected from leaky gut and the systemic inflammation associated with it as they age. Conversely, flies on a rich Atkins-like diet are more prone to developing intestinal permeability, a condition linked to a variety of human conditions including inflammatory bowel disease. Publishing in PLOS Genetics, researchers from the Kapahi lab at the Buck Institute show that gaps in the intestinal barrier are caused by an age-related increase in the death of intestinal epithelial cells, also known as enterocytes.
	Scientists propose panel to guide gene-editing decisions regarding conservation An Oregon State University environmental ethicist and scientists from nine other universities say an international oversight panel is needed to guide decisions about whether and when to employ gene-editing technology to solve ecological problems.
	Pediatricians renew call to abandon spanking (HealthDay)—The American Academy of Pediatrics is strengthening its recommendation to ban spanking and other forms of corporal punishment, citing new research that says that type of discipline can affect normal brain development.
	If you're considering cosmetic surgery... (HealthDay)—More than 17 million cosmetic procedures are performed in the United States each year. Most of these are minimally invasive, designed to improve your appearance in subtle ways without the surgery, stitches and long healing time of early facelifts, once the only rejuvenating option available.
	Benefits of garlic extend to Alzheimer's While garlic breath might not be good for your social life, Curtin University researchers have found a certain garlic extract that may fight against Alzheimer's.
	Sitting is NOT the new smoking, contrary to popular myth No, sitting is not the new smoking, despite what countless newspaper articles have peddled in recent years.
Breakthrough for treatment of fibrotic diseases Scientists have discovered a drug combination that could halt the progression of fibrosis—a condition believed to be responsible for almost half of all deaths—according to a study published in the journal European Urology.
	New genetic cause of liver fat uncovered New research has uncovered genetic variations that may contribute to the development of non-alcoholic fatty liver disease (NAFLD), the leading cause of liver disease.
	Opioid gene variant in adolescents reduces reward, may increase later substance abuse risk Adolescents with a particular variant of an opioid receptor gene have less response in a part of prefrontal cortex that evaluates rewards, compared to those with the other version of the gene, say researchers at Georgetown University Medical Center (GUMC).
	Standing in for a kidney, MXene materials could give dialysis patients the freedom to move For more than 3 million people around the world, kidney failure is a life-altering diagnosis, if not a life-threatening one. While about 17 percent of people in the U.S. with end-stage kidney disease are now getting transplants, the average time spent waiting is 3-5 years. And much of that time is consumed by planning for, receiving and recovering from treatment. These people spend several hours multiple times each week attached to a dialysis machine that cleans the toxins from their blood—easing the workload on their kidneys.
	Researchers show that a high-protein diet does not affect kidney function A widely held and controversial myth that high-protein diets may cause kidney damage in healthy adults has been debunked by scientists at McMaster University, who examined more than two dozen studies involving hundreds of participants.
Children's vaccinations and development checks prevent hospital admissions in childhood Children who receive nursery vaccinations and development checks are less likely to be admitted to hospital during childhood years.
	First-of-its-kind research models immune responses in cellular immunotherapies In the Cellular Immunotherapy and Transplantation Program at Virginia Commonwealth University Massey Cancer Center, scientists are pursuing a cross-collaborative effort that could potentially change the way cellular immunotherapies such as stem cell transplantation and CAR T-cell therapies are performed. This grassroots research is funded primarily through VCU Massey pilot grants, and it is culminating in a first-of-its-kind body of work that provides a detailed quantitative view of how the immune system responds to cellular therapies.
Does having muscle weakness and obesity lead to falls for older women? As our society continues to age, experts project that falls and the health complications that can come with them will also rise. In fact, about two-thirds of all hospital costs ($34 billion) are connected directly or indirectly with falls among older adults.
	Alcohol industry health campaigns miss the mark by a longshot Alcohol industry social responsibility schemes strengthen their own commercial interests while failing to reduce harmful alcohol use, according to a new worldwide study led by the University of Connecticut.
	Children's sleep not significantly affected by screen time, new study finds Screen-time has little impact on the quality of children's sleep, according to new Oxford University research.
	Efforts to prevent pressure ulcers in hospitals may not be making headway on the worst kind Ask any patient who has ever had one: A bedsore hurts a lot. And if it doesn't heal, that sore can last for years, eating away at the flesh and leading to infections, sepsis or even death.
	Sensitive cardiac injury marker could reduce stress testing High blood levels of troponin, a protein released by injured heart muscle, can tell whether someone recently experienced a heart attack. Measuring lower, but still problematic, levels of troponin can provide useful long-term information for cardiologists, research from Emory University School of Medicine reveals.
	Models project 79 percent drop in lung CA mortality by 2065 (HealthDay)—Existing tobacco control efforts will continue to reduce lung cancer mortality through 2065, according to a study published online Oct. 9 in the Annals of Internal Medicine.
	Notes reflecting financial considerations ID'd in ICU (HealthDay)—Among patients in the intensive care unit (ICU), 4.2 percent of admissions have at least one note reflecting financial considerations, according to a study published online Nov. 2 in JAMA Network Open.
	Abnormalities in genes linked to IRSP in Alzheimer's disease (HealthDay)—Individuals with Alzheimer's disease (AD) have abnormalities and reductions in gene expression in the parahippocampal gyri that map to genes associated with the insulin receptor signaling pathway (IRSP), according to a study published online Nov. 1 in PLOS ONE.
	Team studying rare disorder discovers novel way to target melanoma While studying a rare genetic disorder called NGLY1 deficiency, University of North Texas Health Science Center (UNTHSC) researchers discovered a new targeted treatment for combating melanoma, a skin cancer that kills about 9,000 people in the United States each year.
From asexuality to heteroflexibility: 21st century ushers in new openness about intimate relationships The 21st century has ushered in a "quiet revolution" in the diversity of intimate relationships, and a leading scholar says the scale and pace of this social transformation warrants a "reboot" of relationship studies.
	New research links foods high in anthocyanins to a lower risk of cardiovascular disease Wearing red has become a popular way to support the prevention of heart disease, the #1 killer of women. Now new research suggests eating red may be one of the best ways to keep your heart healthy.
	New study is a smoking gun, shows vaping is no deterrent to teen tobacco use Kids who experiment with e-cigarettes end up smoking tobacco about as much as teen smokers who never used the devices, according to a USC study in the Nov. 5 journal Pediatrics.
	Study could help explain how childhood stress contributes to anxiety, depression New research could help explain why stress early in life can create vulnerabilities to mood and anxiety disorders later on.
	Shorter sleep can lead to dehydration Adults who sleep just six hours per night—as opposed to eight—may have a higher chance of being dehydrated, according to a study by Penn State.
	Drinking coffee may reduce your chances of developing Alzheimer's, Parkinson's Approximately 500 billion cups of coffee are consumed worldwide each year.
	Researchers identify promising proteins for diagnostic, prognostic use in ALS Researchers from North Carolina State University have identified proteins that may be useful in both earlier diagnosis of Amyotrophic Lateral Sclerosis (ALS) and in more accurate disease prognosis.
	Study: At-risk mothers receive less support, information on breastfeeding Single mothers, those with less education and mothers enrolled in the Special Supplemental Nutrition Program for Women, Infants and Children—better known as the WIC Program—may receive less information and support with breastfeeding, a new study found.
Internists note that final CMS payment rule improves on proposed changes to E/M codes The American College of Physicians (ACP) appreciates that the final Medicare Physician Fee Schedule and the Quality Payment Program (QPP) rules for 2019 are responsive to many of the concerns that ACP raised with the Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services (CMS).
Studies highlight lasting effects of early life stress on the genome, gut, and brain Excessive stress during fetal development or early childhood can have long-term consequences for the brain, from increasing the likelihood of brain disorders and affecting an individual's response to stress as an adult to changing the nutrients a mother may pass on to her babies in the womb. The new research suggests novel approaches to combat the effects of such stress, such as inhibiting stress hormone production or "resetting" populations of immune cells in the brain. The findings were presented at Neuroscience 2018, the annual meeting of the Society for Neuroscience.
People in Canada have good health, are living longer: Global Burden of Disease Study trends Data from the Global Burden of Disease Study shows that the overall health of Canadians is good and is consistent with other similar countries, and people are living longer with diseases, according to a study in CMAJ (Canadian Medical Association Journal).
Public AEDs cost-effective for saving lives, improving cardiac arrest outcomes Automated external defibrillators (AEDs) accessible in public places are cost-effective health tools for saving lives and improving cardiac arrest survival, according to two separate research studies to be presented in Chicago at the American Heart Association's Resuscitation Science Symposium 2018.
	PTSD linked to increased complications and death a year after cardiac arrest Post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD) symptoms may significantly increase cardiac arrest survivors' risk of major cardiovascular events and death up to a year after the initial medical crisis, according to preliminary research to be presented in Chicago at the American Heart Association's Resuscitation Science Symposium 2018.
Two novel studies explore why women receive less CPR from bystanders Concerns about inappropriate contact or causing injury may help explain why bystanders are less likely to perform CPR on women—even "virtual" women—than on men who collapse with cardiac arrest, according to two studies presented at the American Heart Association's Resuscitation Science Symposium 2018h.
	Lead, mercury exposure raises cholesterol levels Higher levels of lead and other heavy metals detected in the blood was associated with increased levels of lower density lipoprotein (LDL—bad cholesterol) and total cholesterol, according to preliminary research to be presented in Chicago at the American Heart Association's Scientific Sessions 2018.
	Daily weighing may be key to losing weight Daily weighing may help with weight loss goals. People who don't weigh themselves at all or rarely were less likely to lose weight than those who weighed themselves often, according to research to be presented in Chicago at the American Heart Association's Scientific Sessions 2018.
	Overweight kids often left in the dark about their high blood pressure Pediatricians generally don't address elevated blood pressures in overweight children during well-child visits. When they do broach the subject, their communication is often unclear, according to preliminary research presented at the American Heart Association's Scientific Sessions 2018.
	Abuse and neglect associated with increased cardiovascular disease risk for lesbian and bisexual women Trauma, including abuse and neglect, is associated with higher cardiovascular disease risk for lesbian and bisexual women, according to preliminary research to be presented in Chicago at the American Heart Association's Scientific Sessions 2018.
Fewer cardiac arrest victims get bystander CPR in Latino neighborhoods People who experience sudden cardiac arrest are less likely to receive CPR from bystanders and less likely to survive, when they collapse in neighborhoods with large Latino populations, according to a large, new study to be presented in Chicago at the American Heart Association's Resuscitation Science Symposium 2018.
Cardiac arrest survival higher in states with required high school CPR training Required CPR education in high school may lead to higher bystander CPR and cardiac arrest survival rates, according to preliminary research to be presented in Chicago at the American Heart Association's Resuscitation Science Symposium 2018.
Black infants may have higher cardiac arrest rates A multi-year review of all pediatric emergency response records in Houston found that Black infants comprised a significantly larger proportion of cardiac arrests than expected, more than four times more cases than in non-Hispanic White children, according to preliminary research to be presented in Chicago at the American Heart Association's Resuscitation Science Symposium 2018, an international conference highlighting the best in cardiovascular resuscitation research.
	Imagining different futures with disabled young people The ambitions and future goals of disabled young people with life-limiting and life-threatening impairments are being documented for the first time in an innovative study by the University of Sheffield.
	Can a dog ownership and training program improve symptoms of PTSD among veterans? The results of a new integrative health study that measures the effects of owning and training a therapy dog on posttraumatic stress disorder (PTSD) in veterans are published in JACM, The Journal of Alternative and Complementary Medicine, a peer-reviewed publication from Mary Ann Liebert, Inc., publishers, dedicated to paradigm, practice and policy advancing integrative health.
	Resiliency in NICU parents may be linked to lower depression and anxiety Parents of vulnerable newborns in neonatal intensive care units (NICUs) who feel less resilient may experience more symptoms of psychological distress, including depression and anxiety. A snapshot from an ongoing cross-sectional study exploring this relationship was presented during the American Academy of Pediatrics (AAP) National Conference & Exhibition. Preliminary findings suggest that involving these parents in interventions that bolster resilience, such as kangaroo care, may help them to better contend with psychological distress related to their child being in the NICU.
Disrupted circadian rhythms may drive anxiety and exacerbate brain disorders Sleep disruptions are associated with many brain disorders, including anxiety, dementias, and traumatic brain injury. While these disruptions are sometimes viewed as a side effect of brain disorders, new findings presented today suggest that aberrant sleep-wake cycles can also drive brain pathology. The studies were presented at Neuroscience 2018, the annual meeting of the Society for Neuroscience and the world's largest source of emerging news about brain science and health.
	Mount Sinai is first to use FDA-approved drug-eluting stent that treats PAD Vascular specialists at the Icahn School of Medicine at Mount Sinai are the first in the United States to use the Eluvia, a drug-eluting vascular stent system for clinical treatment of peripheral artery disease (PAD), a circulatory condition that causes a narrowing of the blood vessels and a reduction of blood flow to the limbs.
	What can a tau mouse model reveal about the effects of repetitive brain injury? Researchers have developed a mouse model expressing the human tau protein and subjected it to repeated injury-producing impacts and rotational acceleration to be able to study the effects on social behavior, anxiety, spatial learning and memory, and depressive behavior. These deficits could be assessed in the same animals at acute (immediately after), intermediate (three months later), and chronic (one year later) time points, as reported in the study published in Journal of Neurotrauma.
Proton therapy for pediatric brain tumors has favorable cognitive outcomes Proton therapy treatment for pediatric brain tumor patients is associated with better neurocognitive outcomes compared to X-ray radiation therapy according to a study presented at the American Society for Radiation Oncology (ASTRO) Annual Meeting and the International Society of Pediatric Neuro-Oncology Annual Meeting.
Extracellular vesicles help pass information between cells and onto offspring New studies reveal that small, membrane-bound particles transported between cells have wide-ranging and long-term effects in the brain and throughout the body, from helping neurons communicate to passing the effects of stress onto the next generation. Such extracellular vesicles released from the brain into the blood can also provide a window into brain pathology to help with disease diagnosis. The findings were presented at Neuroscience 2018.

Biology news

	Hot temperatures can trigger an RNA response in plants The stress of hotter temperatures may trigger a response in a plant's RNA, or ribonucleic acid—part of a cell's genetic messaging system—to help manage this change in its environment, according to a team of Penn State researchers.
	Contrary to government report, orangutans continue to decline A recent report by the Government of Indonesia claiming an increase in orangutan populations of more than 10 percent from 2015 to 2017 is at odds with many recently published and peer-reviewed scientific studies on the subject, according to a letter in Current Biology on November 5.
	Study shows movement, evolutionary history of tuberculosis in China A genetic scan of a massive number of samples taken from tuberculosis patients across China has shown a surprising genetic uniformity: just two "strains" of the tuberculosis bacterium account for 99.4 percent of all cases.
	Genome-wide rules of nucleosome phasing in drosophila LMU researchers have, for the first time, systematically determined the positioning of the packing units of the fruit fly genome and discovered a new protein that defines their relationship to the DNA sequence.
	Zebrafish identify virtual shoal partners based on motion patterns typical of their species What does it take for a fish to recognise another fish? Scientists from the Max Planck Institute of Neurobiology in Martinsried show, that a simple dot, animated in specific way, is sufficient to trigger shoaling.
	Red-hued yeasts hold clues to producing better biofuels A compound that has scientists seeing red may hold the key to engineering yeasts that produce better biofuels.
	Researchers unveil clues that could lead to more affordable and effective conservation of species No one had reported seeing the strange creature—a cross between a bear and a monkey—since before the Great Depression. Then, this past summer, an amateur biologist stumbled upon the presumed-extinct Wondiwoi tree kangaroo while trekking through Papua New Guinea. The revelation underscored how little we still know about the natural world—a major obstacle to conservation.
	Caterpillar, fungus in cahoots to threaten fruit, nut crops, study finds New research reveals that Aspergillus flavus, a fungus that produces carcinogenic aflatoxins that can contaminate seeds and nuts, has a multilegged partner in crime: the navel orangeworm caterpillar, which targets some of the same nut and fruit orchards afflicted by the fungus. Scientists report in the Journal of Chemical Ecology that the two pests work in concert to overcome plant defenses and resist pesticides.
	Wind farm 'predator' effect hits ecosystems: study Wind farms act as a top "predator" in some ecosystems, harming birds at the top of the food chain and triggering a knock-on effect overlooked by green energy advocates, scientists said Monday.
	Fire ant colonies could inspire molecular machines, swarming robots Think of it as mathematics with a bite: Researchers at CU Boulder have uncovered the statistical rules that govern how gigantic colonies of fire ants form bridges, ladders and floating rafts.
	Plans for world's largest ocean sanctuary in Antarctic blocked A plan to create the world's largest marine sanctuary in Antarctic waters was shot down when a key conservation summit failed to reach a consensus, with environmentalists on Saturday decrying a lack of scientific foresight.
	Thousands of carp die in mysterious circumstances in Iraq Iraqi fish farmers south of Baghdad have been left reeling after finding thousands of dead carp mysteriously floating in their cages or washed up on the banks of the Euphrates.
	Study shows that mothers prefer daughters and fathers prefer sons Finnish and American researchers in evolutionary biology conducted an online experiment and survey revealing that women prefer and are more likely to invest in their daughters and men in their sons. The study was designed to test the impact of parental resources on offspring sex preferences.
	Could rising carbon dioxide levels trigger return of eradicated mosquito-related disease? Research mapping the evolution of mosquitos against rising CO2 levels over millions of years, has suggested that more mosquito-related diseases could have consequences for future human health, as the climate continues to change.
	The reasons for hemispheric dominance in the brain The left and the right hemispheres specialise in different tasks. However, it has not yet been fully understood how one hemisphere assumes dominance over the other when it comes to controlling specific functions. Biopsychologists at Ruhr-Universität Bochum describe their latest findings in the journal Cell Reports, published online on 30 October 2018. Dr. Qian Xiao and Professor Onur Güntürkün have demonstrated in pigeons that the dominance is caused by slight differences in temporal activity patterns in both hemispheres.
	Removing multi-resistant bacteria from sewage Multi-resistant bacteria have learned to survive treatments with antibiotics by developing defense mechanisms. Not all of them are dangerous for human beings. Still, these bacteria are able to transmit their resistance genes to disease-causing pathogens. In this way, the number of resistant germs increases in the environment. "When the bacteria spread, people have contact with them more often. If we do not take action against the spread, the number of effective antibiotics will decrease and, in the end, there will be few substances only or no substances with which we can fight a disease," says Professor Thomas Schwartz of KIT's Institute of Functional Interfaces (IFG).
	Development of a new fungal production platform C1 for vaccines and therapeutic proteins VTT and Dyadic International, Inc. today announced that VTT scientists will present the excellent results in their collaboration over the past two years at two international conferences: AAPS PharmSci on November 7th in Washington, D.C., and PEGS Europe on November 14th in Lisbon.

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