Science X Newsletter Monday, Oct 31

Dear Reader ,

Here is your customized Science X Newsletter for October 31, 2016:

Spotlight Stories Headlines

Best of Last Week–Printing baby universe, releasing mutant mosquitoes and a simple supplement that reduces heart disease

New theory explains how the moon got there

Team heats up exotic topological insulators

Nanobionic spinach plants can detect explosives

Physicists induce superconductivity in non-superconducting materials

Live long and... Facebook? Study links online social interactions to longevity

Brazil mutant mosquitoes to breed out diseases

Time-shaving body scanner system to go to work in test trials

Acne yields up secret that points to new treatments

US, Russian, Japanese astronauts return from ISS

Neural networks learn more about protecting communications: Just ask Alice, Bob and Eve

New MutChromSeq technique makes valuable genes easier to find

Thinking of loved ones lessens our need to 'reconnect' through anthropomorphism

Nepal drains risky glacial lake near Everest

Two billion children breathe toxic air worldwide, UNICEF says

Astronomy & Space news

	New theory explains how the moon got there Earth's Moon is an unusual object in our solar system, and now there's a new theory to explain how it got where it is, which puts some twists on the current "giant impact" theory. The work is published Oct. 31 in the journal Nature.
	US, Russian, Japanese astronauts return from ISS Three astronauts landed safely in Kazakhstan on Sunday following a 115-day mission aboard the the International Space Station, including US astronaut Kate Rubins, the first person to sequence DNA in space.
	Hypervariable galactic nuclei Extreme variability in the intensity of the optical light of galaxies, by factors of two or more, is of great interest to astronomers. It can flag the presence of rare types of supernovae, for example, or spot sudden accretion activity around quiescent black holes or around the supermassive black hole at the galaxy's nucleus. In recent years systematic searches for such variability have been made using instruments that can survey wide swaths of the sky. One, the Panoramic Survey Telescope & Rapid Response System (PanSTARRS), is a facility capable very wide-field imaging using a combination of relatively small mirrors coupled with very large digital cameras, and it can observe the entire sky accessible to it several times a month.
	Swarm reveals why GPS satellites lose track over the equator between Africa and South America Satellite engineers have been puzzling over why GPS navigation systems on low-orbiting satellites like ESA's Swarm sometimes black out when they fly over the equator between Africa and South America. Thanks to Swarm, it appears 'thunderstorms' in the ionosphere are to blame.
	Titan features steep, liquid-filled canyons Although Saturn's largest moon, Titan, is surrounded by a thick, hazy atmosphere, Cornell astronomers have revealed that the moon's terrain features deep, steep-sided canyons filled with liquid hydrocarbons.
	Image: Hubble admires a youthful globular star cluster Globular clusters offer some of the most spectacular sights in the night sky. These ornate spheres contain hundreds of thousands of stars, and reside in the outskirts of galaxies. The Milky Way contains over 150 such clusters—and the one shown in this NASA/ESA Hubble Space Telescope image, named NGC 362, is one of the more unusual ones.
	Image: A sinister-looking aurora over Iceland This whirling, twisting skyscape is an arresting and somewhat intimidating sight – a perfect Halloween Space Science Image of the Week. Jagged lanes in shades of dark and pale green tangle with bright patches of white, creating a knotted spiral somewhat reminiscent of a celestial serpent writhing across the sky, looming ominously over the sleepy town below.
	Mystery solved behind birth of Saturn's rings A team of researchers have presented a new model for the origin of Saturn's rings based on results of computer simulations. The results of the simulations are also applicable to rings of other giant planets and explain the compositional differences between the rings of Saturn and Uranus. The findings were published on October 6 in the online version of Icarus.
	Canary Islands selected as alternate giant telescope site The nonprofit organization that wants to build a giant telescope atop a Hawaii mountain has selected another site in case it can't be built on land many Native Hawaiians consider sacred.

Technology news

	Time-shaving body scanner system to go to work in test trials (Tech Xplore)—From Nairobi to Paris to London to Manhattan, everywhere, really, anything can happen when terrorists are loose and at work. Concert halls, sporting events, bus stations, airports—any site drawing in large crowds is a potential target for those who want to cause terror, death, property destruction, blows to the economy.
	Neural networks learn more about protecting communications: Just ask Alice, Bob and Eve (Tech Xplore)—What will Google think of next? Actually, if you are looking at the goings on of the Google Brain team you are right to suspect they don't want to be thinking at all. They would rather put their AI resources to work.
	Renewable energy – not always sustainable In a new thesis from Uppsala University, Simon Davidsson shows that a rapid expansion of renewable energy technology is not necessarily sustainable. To find the best way forward in the coming transition towards renewable energy, we need to take account of the materials used and make sure the industries that emerge are sustainable.
	Virginia Tech flexible solar panel goes where silicon can't In the very near future, recycling light energy may be easier than recycling any other item in your house.
	Firefox users can plan on seeing web engine leap next year (Tech Xplore)—Mozilla has news about a web engine for Firefox. It is called Project Quantum. Head of Platform Engineering at Mozilla, David Bryant, said in Medium: "Quantum is our effort to develop Mozilla's next-generation web engine and start delivering major improvements to users by the end of 2017."
	Hackers apparently fooled Clinton official with bogus email New evidence appears to show how hackers earlier this year stole more than 50,000 emails of Hillary Clinton's campaign chairman, an audacious electronic attack blamed on Russia's government and one that has resulted in embarrassing political disclosures about Democrats in the final weeks before the U.S. presidential election.
	Electric-car maker Tesla plans to sell solar roof tiles too Further broadening its reach beyond electric cars, Tesla Motors says it's going to sell solar roof tiles that are customizable and meant to look like a traditional roof. The energy-generating tiles would be a joint product with SolarCity, although the two companies have yet to complete a proposed merger.
	Mobile money on the rise in Africa as millions get phones Ivan Kiryowa repeatedly checked the balance on his phone, nervous sweat on his cheeks, as he waited for money from a friend. Thirty minutes later, $150 had landed in his account and he sauntered into a hardware store, where he bought bags of cement.
	Report addresses critical life-cycle issues in building practices What elements determine how much impact a building has on the environment? If things like roofing, insulation, and energy-efficient windows are among the first things that come to mind, you're not wrong—but you also don't have the complete picture. Unfortunately, decision-makers, including architects and builders, may not always have the full picture up front either.
Questions still need answering in Australia's largest health data breach In what is Australia's biggest data breach of medical information, more than 550,000 customers of the Australian Red Cross Blood Service had personal and medical details exposed online and leaked to an anonymous hacker last week.
	Flexible cells on roofs to windows to cars to even clothing could provide another energy source It's a very Australian scene: deckchairs outside the caravan, a BBQ on the go – perhaps a couple of tinnies. And, of course, an awning for much-needed shade.
	GE, Baker Hughes create powerful new player in energy sector General Electric is taking advantage of a prolonged energy slump to become a bigger player in the oil and gas drilling business, a bet that could pay off big when prices recover.
CenturyLink buys Level 3 in big telecom tie-up US telecom group CenturyLink announced Monday it was acquiring Level 3 Communications for $34 billion including debt, boosting its position as a global internet and fiber communications provider.
Dutchman 'who almost broke the internet' to go on trial A Dutchman accused of launching an unprecedented cyberattack that reportedly "almost broke the internet" is to go on trial Tuesday on charges of masterminding the 2013 incident that slowed down web traffic world-wide.
Hackers say they're revealing more from trove of NSA data A group calling itself "Shadow Brokers" says it's releasing another tranche of information from its trove of top secret hacking data stolen from the U.S.'s National Security Agency.
	Toshiba's Polyspector creates powerful visualization platform for big data Toshiba has demonstrated its leadership in developing tools and solutions that support big data mining and analysis with the development of Polyspector, a big data visualization platform that realizes interactive visualization of hundreds of millions of pieces of data from various perspectives. Toshiba delivered a detailed demonstration of Polyspector on October 17, 2016, at the 29th ACM User Interface Software and Technology Symposium in Tokyo, Japan.
	Research study expects EU gas supply mix to change Research study expects EU gas supply mix to change fundamentally – European production will decline but EU remains in a strong strategic position
	US should strike back at cyberattackers: report The US government and private sector should strike back against hackers to counter cyberattacks aimed at stealing data and disrupting important computer networks, a policy report said Monday.
Viacom names Robert Bakish acting president, CEO Viacom has named Robert Bakish as acting president and chief executive to succeed interim CEO Tom Dooley, who is leaving the media conglomerate.

Medicine & Health news

	Live long and... Facebook? Study links online social interactions to longevity Is social media good for you, or bad? Well, it's complicated. A study of 12 million Facebook users suggests that using Facebook is associated with living longer - when it serves to maintain and enhance your real-world social ties.
	Acne yields up secret that points to new treatments (HealthDay)—In a finding that could lead to new treatments for acne, scientists say they've discovered a previously unrecognized way in which bacteria trigger inflammation in the skin.
	Thinking of loved ones lessens our need to 'reconnect' through anthropomorphism Reminding people of their close, caring relationships can reduce their tendency to anthropomorphize objects as a way of feeling socially connected, according to new research published in Psychological Science, a journal of the Association for Psychological Science. The study replicates and extends earlier findings showing that people who report feeling lonely are more likely to ascribe humanlike characteristics to inanimate objects than those who aren't lonely.
	Study reveals that adrenergic nerves control immune cells' daily schedule Researchers in Japan have discovered that the adrenergic nervous system controls when white blood cells circulate through the body, boosting the immune response by retaining T and B cells in lymph nodes at the time of day when they are most likely to encounter foreign antigens. The study, "Adrenergic control of the adaptive immune response by diurnal lymphocyte recirculation through lymph nodes," will be published online October 31 ahead of issue in The Journal of Experimental Medicine.
	Understanding mind-wandering could shed light on mental illness If you think the mind grinds to a halt when you're doing nothing, think again.
	Researchers reveal genomic landscape of core-binding factor acute myeloid leukemia An international team of researchers from the St. Jude Children's Research Hospital - Washington University Pediatric Cancer Genome Project (PCGP) has completed a detailed map of the genomic landscape for core-binding factor acute myeloid leukemia (CBF-AML). The work reveals differences in the landscape of mutations that contribute to the diversity of CBF-AML. The findings are published online today in the journal Nature Genetics.
	Twelve DNA areas 'linked with the age at which we have our first child and family size' Researchers have identified 12 specific areas of the DNA sequence that are robustly related with the age at which we have our first child, and the total number of children we have during the course of our life. The study, led by the University of Oxford, working together with the Universities of Groningen, The Netherlands and Uppsala, Sweden, includes an analysis of 62 datasets with information from 238,064 men and women for age at first birth, and almost 330,000 men and women for the number of children. Until now, reproductive behaviour was thought to be mainly linked to personal choices or social circumstances and environmental factors. However, this new research shows that genetic variants can be isolated and that there is also a biological basis for reproductive behaviour.
	Researchers watch in 3-D as neurons talk to each other in a living mouse brain No single neuron produces a thought or a behavior; anything the brain accomplishes is a vast collaborative effort between cells. When at work, neurons talk rapidly to one another, forming networks as they communicate. Researchers led by Rockefeller University's Alipash Vaziri are developing technology that would make it possible to record brain activity as it plays out across these networks.
	Zika infection causes reduced fertility, low testosterone in male mice Most of the research to understand the consequences of Zika virus infection has focused on how the virus affects pregnant women and causes severe birth defects in their developing fetuses.
	Making sense of the seneses: 'Context' matters when the brain interprets sounds The brain's interpretation of sound is influenced by cues from other senses, explaining more precisely how we interpret what we hear at a particular moment, according to a report published in Nature Neuroscience online Oct. 31.
	How the fruit fly's brain knows where the fruit fly's going When we turn our head to one side, the visual field "turns" the other way. When we are on a train, the landscape slides by us. However, we know that we are the ones moving, while the world remains in place. How does the brain avoid being fooled by apparent motion?
Silencing SIRT2, a sirtuin enzyme, reduces malignancy in deadly breast cancer subtype Silencing SIRT2, a member of the sirtuin family of enzymes, reduces the invasiveness of basal-like breast cancer cells in culture and inhibits tumor growth in mice, according to new research led by scientists from Tufts University School of Medicine and the Sackler School of Graduate Biomedical Sciences at Tufts in Boston. The absence of SIRT2 appears to accelerate the degradation of Slug, a transcription factor that has previously been implicated in tumor progression and metastasis.
	Scientists optimize FRET-FLIM to study activity of two signaling molecules within a single dendritic spine An ongoing challenge for scientists working to understand the brain is being able to see all its parts. Researchers have spent centuries developing better imaging techniques to see beyond the abilities of our naked eyes. They've built microscopes that gather information down to the electron level. They've engineered fluorescent tags that make cells and structures of interest more visible. One of the most effective imaging techniques for neuroscientists has been the combination of FRET (fluorescence resonance energy transfer) and FLIM (Fluorescence Lifetime Imaging Microscopy). This duo gives scientists the power to view biochemical dynamics of proteins with high spatial and temporal accuracy, while also allowing them to calculate the minuscule distances between molecules in real time.
	Study shows how some intestinal cells resist chemotherapy and radiation When treating cancer with chemotherapy and radiation, decisions about dose must walk a fine line between attacking cancerous cells and preserving healthy ones. Overly aggressive radiation therapy to the torso, for example, can damage the epithelial cells that line the intestines, leading to chronic gastrointestinal problems.
	Orgasm is all about rhythmic timing, according to new research paper Many people have speculated on the evolutionary functions of the human orgasm, but the underlying mechanisms have remained mysterious. In a new paper, a Northwestern University researcher seeks to shed light on how orgasm works in the brain.
	Rett Syndrome study finds mechanisms underlying its visual deficits In research published this week in the Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences (PNAS), researchers at the Whitehead Institute for Biomedical Research and the Picower Institute for Learning and Memory at Massachusetts Institute of Technology (MIT) have used precise genetic tools and sophisticated high-resolution electrophysiological measurements to track neurophysiological deficits resulting from the genetic mutation associated with Rett Syndrome (RTT). Further, they demonstrated the ability of recombinant human Insulin Like Growth Factor 1 (rhIGF1) and bumetanide to reverse such deficits in cell-type specific manner in RTT mice—and provided further mechanistic basis for observed clinical benefits of using rhIGF1 to treat RTT patients.
	Scientists show how mutation causes incurable premature aging disease Scientists have demonstrated how a mutation in a specific protein in stem cells causes an incurable premature aging disease called dyskeratosis congenita, and were able to introduce the mutation into cultured human cells using gene editing technology.
DNA damage response links short telomeres, heart disorder in Duchenne muscular dystrophy Progressively shortening telomeres—the protective caps on the end of chromosomes—may be responsible for the weakened, enlarged hearts that kill many sufferers of Duchenne muscular dystrophy, according to a study by researchers at the Stanford University School of Medicine.
	Putting the squeeze on mitochondria: The final cut A new University of Colorado Boulder study shows for the first time the final stages of how mitochondria, the sausage-shaped, power-generating organelles found in nearly all living cells, regularly divide and propagate.
	Balancing time and space in the brain: New model holds promise for predicting brain dynamics For as long as scientists have been listening in on the activity of the brain, they have been trying to understand the source of its noisy, apparently random, activity. In the past 20 years, "balanced network theory" has emerged to explain this apparent randomness through a balance of excitation and inhibition in recurrently coupled networks of neurons. A team of scientists has extended the balanced model to provide deep and testable predictions linking brain circuits to brain activity.
	Study reveals the brain regulates social behavior differently in males and females The brain regulates social behavior differently in males and females, according to a new study published today in the Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences.
	Every day in the womb boosts babies' brain development: study (HealthDay)—Carrying a baby as close to full term as possible is better for the baby's brain development, a new study suggests.
	Low-oxygen environment leads to heart regeneration in mice, research shows Normal, healthy heart muscle is well-supplied with oxygen-rich blood. But UT Southwestern Medical Center cardiologists have been able to regenerate heart muscle by placing mice in an extremely low-oxygen environment.
	Device approved to prevent second strokes in certain heart patients (HealthDay)—The Amplatzer PFO Occluder device has been approved by the U.S. Food and Drug Administration to prevent another stroke among people who had at least one prior stroke involving a PFO (patent foramen avale).
	Alcohol, drugs a poor Halloween mix (HealthDay)—Alcohol, drugs and Halloween are a bad blend, an ER doctor warns.
	IDSA: Experimental Rx may be option in drug-resistant HIV (HealthDay)—The intravenous drug ibalizumab might revolutionize the treatment of HIV patients who don't respond to existing drugs, according to research presented at the annual meeting of the Infectious Diseases Society of America (IDWeek), held from Oct. 26 to 30 in New Orleans.
	Study duration affects rate of diabetes remission post-RYGB (HealthDay)—After Roux-en-Y gastric bypass (RYGB) surgery, variations in rates of diabetes remission are primarily related to differences in the definition of remission and study duration, according to a review published online Oct. 13 in Diabetes Care.
	Useful tips offered for addressing negative patient reviews (HealthDay)—In an article published in Medical Economics, five tips are presented to address negative patient reviews.
	Cardiometabolic syndrome ups subclinical atherosclerosis risk (HealthDay)—Cardiometabolic syndrome (CMS) is associated with increased risk of subclinical atherosclerosis, but the risk is attenuated by high fitness, according to a study published in the Nov. 1 issue of The American Journal of Cardiology.
	Education needed regarding use of herbal weight loss products (HealthDay)—Health care professionals need education about the safety and effectiveness of weight loss medications, according to a study published online Oct. 22 in the Journal of Pharmacy Practice and Research.
	Occipital nerve stimulation effective for chronic migraine (HealthDay)—For patients with chronic migraine (CM), peripheral nerve stimulation of the occipital nerves reduces the number of headache days, according to a study published online Oct. 25 in Pain Practice.
	Epithelial thickness is marker for gastroesophageal reflux (HealthDay)—Epithelial thickness seems to be a marker for gastroesophageal reflux disease (GERD), according to research published in the November issue of Clinical Gastroenterology and Hepatology.
	Eating reassessment urged after negative oral food challenge (HealthDay)—For children with a negative oral food challenge (OFC), there is a correlation between consumption of reintroduced food with the child's interest in tasting new foods before and after the challenge, according to a study published online Oct. 14 in Allergy.
	Whites have longest survival in cutaneous melanoma (HealthDay)—For patients with cutaneous melanoma, whites have the longest survival time, according to a study published in the November issue of the Journal of the American Academy of Dermatology.
	Sudden cardiac death of teen reminds physicians of precision medicine The sudden death of a 13-year-old boy resulted in more than 20 relatives to be incorrectly diagnosed as having a potentially lethal heart rhythm condition. This erroneous diagnosis occurred as a result of inappropriate use of genetic testing and incorrect interpretation of genetic test results, according to Mayo Clinic research published in Mayo Clinic Proceedings.
	Top-level football refs are better at spotting fouls because of enhanced visual perception Top-level professional football referees have enhanced visual perception, which means that they are better at spotting foul play and issuing the correct disciplinary action than lower-level referees, according to new research published in the journal Cognitive Research.
	New app to assess eye-hand coordination An app for testing eye-hand coordination that requires users to trace colourful shapes with a stylus pen in a fun, games-like manner has been developed by UNSW optometrists.
	No limits—can the new guidelines on kids and screens work? There are big changes for families in the new recommendations to guide children's use of anything with a screen, such as computers, tablets, mobile phones, televisions and video games.
	A fractured system—where do you go when you suddenly need health care? Consider the last time you, a family member, or a friend encountered an unexpected health concern. Did you twist your ankle and weren't sure if it was broken? Did you develop discomfort in your chest and weren't sure if it was indigestion or a heart attack? Did your child develop a fever and cough and you weren't sure if this illness required antibiotics to get better? These are all problems that need the help of health services known as acute care.
	Why we'll always be obsessed with – and afraid of – monsters Fear continues to saturate our lives: fear of nuclear destruction, fear of climate change, fear of the subversive, and fear of foreigners.
New research discoveries on endoscopy during pregnancy According to earlier recommendations, women ought to avoid endoscopy during pregnancy. New analyzes by researchers from the Karolinska Institute and Columbia University could question these recommendations.
	Surgery isn't always the best option, and the decision shouldn't just lie with the doctor Surgeons often decide to perform procedures because that's what's usually done, it's what they're taught, it sounds logical or it fits with observations from their own practice.
When the cause of stroke is mystery, patent foramen ovale (PFO) could be the answer A stroke occurs when a blood vessel to the brain is either blocked by a clot or bursts, preventing the brain from receiving the oxygen it needs to survive or directly damaging brain tissue.
	Long-term fright reactions extend beyond scary movies, TV shows Watching a scary movie or TV program can leave some people still feeling frightened years later.
	Pelvic nerve visualizations reduce risk in surgery Every year, thousands of patients suffer nerve damage in the pelvis during rectal surgery, leaving them with incontinence and sexual problems, for example. Noeska Smit has developed a method to make these nerves more visible to surgeons. She will be awarded a doctorate for her work on the subject at TU Delft on Monday, 31 October.
	Profiting from the harm caused by alcohol New research from the International Alcohol Control study, coordinated by Massey University, demonstrates the extent to which the alcohol industry relies on harmful use of alcohol to make money.
	Most meth users too embarrassed to seek treatment The biggest barriers to methamphetamine users seeking treatment are embarrassment or stigma, belief that help is not needed, preferring to withdraw without help and privacy concerns, according to a new study.
	Study identifies molecule that limits excessive expansion of heart muscle cells When the heart is subjected to stress, such as high blood pressure, it responds by expanding, both at the level of the whole organ and some of its chambers, and also at the level of single cells. Although the swelling of heart muscle cells, called cardiomyocytes, has been investigated, the molecular mechanisms that promote and inhibit this process have remained unclear. Researchers centered at Osaka University have now identified a protein that restrains the speeding up of activity and expansion of cells that usually occur under stressful conditions. This novel finding explains how the establishment of oversized cells can be prevented in the heart muscle, which could lead to treatments to limit heart expansion linked to heart failure.
	No Lyme disease in Australia, new research finds Lyme disease cannot be contracted in Australia and patients should not be treated with antibiotics for so-called Lyme-like diseases, new medical research has found.
	High doses of radiation affect the 'memory centre' in the brains of mice Researchers working with mice have found that long-term exposure to radiation can have an effect on specific molecular processes in the brain. The study – a collaboration between researchers in Germany, Denmark, Japan and Italy– suggests that some of these changes might be similar to those that take place in the brain in diseases like Alzheimer's.
Policy to prevent opioid overdose presented Training Allegheny County Jail inmates in the use of the heroin overdose antidote drug naloxone, distributing free naloxone to the family and friends of local veterans at risk for overdosing, improving overdose data collection—these are among the main recommendations that an innovative public health law class at the University of Pittsburgh presented recently to the Allegheny County Health Department.
	Novel, nonsurgical approach helps adolescent athletes with vocal cord dysfunction A new study shows that a novel, nonsurgical approach to treating vocal cord dysfunction (VCD) can help 3 out of 4 adolescent athletes, who did not respond to conventional therapy, breathe better during training and competition. Vocal cord dysfunction (also known as exercise-induced laryngeal obstruction) is a common condition characterized by the throat inexplicably closing during rigorous exercise. It can dramatically increase breathing difficulty, diminish performance and often causes panic in those who experience it.
Stents, bypass surgery equally safe and effective for many with left main heart disease A major international study has found that drug-eluting stents, a less-invasive alternative to bypass surgery, are as effective as surgery for many patients with a blockage in the left main coronary artery.
The more connected we feel to others, the more socially responsible we are: study A crucial factor in someone's decision to act in a socially responsible manner is the extent to which they believe that their actions make a difference.
	Obamacare 2017: Higher prices, fewer choices (HealthDay)—Just days before the next enrollment period for health plans offered through the Affordable Care Act, many Americans were jolted by the Obama administration's announcement of a 25 percent price hike, on average, for coverage in 2017.
	Obamacare 2017: A peek behind the numbers (HealthDay)—As President Barack Obama prepares to leave the White House, his administration is gearing up for another open-enrollment period under the Affordable Care Act (ACA), perhaps the hardest-fought initiative of his eight years in office.
	Clean home may help keep kids' asthma in check (HealthDay)—Reducing indoor allergens and pollutants can help control children's asthma, reducing their need for medication, according to a new report from the American Academy of Pediatrics.
	Nearly two-thirds of smokers also use E-cigarettes: CDC (HealthDay)—Many American adults who use electronic cigarettes also smoke tobacco cigarettes, a U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention survey reveals.
	Bedtime use of media devices more than doubles the risk of poor sleep in children Children using devices such as smartphones and tablets at bedtime have over double the risk of a disrupted night's sleep compared to children without access to such devices, according to a new study led by researchers from King's College London.
Hospitalizations for children, teens attributed to opioid poisoning jump The overall incidence of hospitalizations for prescription opioid poisonings in children and adolescents has more than doubled from 1997 to 2012, with increasing incidence of poisonings attributed to suicide or self-inflicted injury and accidental intent, according to a new study published online by JAMA Pediatrics.
	Vaccinating against dengue may increase Zika outbreaks Vaccinating against dengue fever could increase outbreaks of Zika, suggests new research out of York University and Xi'an Jiaotong University in China.
Scientists identify missing link between smoking and inflammation It's no secret that using tobacco is bad for you, but what has been a mystery until now is how tobacco causes increased inflammation throughout the body. Now, a team of researchers from the United States and Sweden have learned why. In a new report appearing in the November 2016 issue of the Journal of Leukocyte Biology, scientists show that nicotine activates certain white blood cells, called neutrophils, which in turn release molecules that lead to increased inflammation.
	Few children born to parents with serious mental illness live with both parents while growing up Serious mental illness such as depression, bipolar disorder, and schizophrenia has been shown to affect relationships and parenting capabilities. Children of parents with serious mental illness are vulnerable, and therefore comprehensive knowledge about their life circumstances is warranted for public health strategies to provide helpful supportive services.
	Chinese medical education rising unevenly from Cultural Revolution rubble For scores of years after the first medical school opened in China in 1886, the country progressed in building a medical education system for its fast-growing population. Then 50 years ago, it not only came to a screeching halt, but to a full reversal with the Cultural Revolution.
Potential target identified for preventing long-term effects of traumatic brain injury More than 200,000 U.S. soldiers serving in the Middle East have experienced a blast-related traumatic brain injury, making it a common health problem and concern for that population.
	Researchers identify gene associated with intracranial aneurysm in French-Canadian population Scientists have identified a gene in the French-Canadian population that predisposes them to the development of intracranial aneurysm (IA), a potentially life threatening neurological condition that is responsible for approximately 500,000 deaths worldwide per year, half of which occur in people less than 50 years of age.
Complete sanitation of robotic surgical instruments virtually impossible It is virtually impossible to remove all contamination from robotic surgical instruments, even after multiple cleanings, according to a study published today in Infection Control & Hospital Epidemiology, the journal of the Society for Healthcare Epidemiology of America. The results show that complete removal of surface contaminants from these tools may be unattainable, even after following manufacturers' cleansing instructions, leaving patients at risk for surgical site infections.
	Missing link between hemolysis and infection found Worldwide, millions of people suffer from hemolysis, the breakdown of red blood cells, such as those afflicted with sickle-cell disease, malaria or sepsis. These patients face an unprecedented risk of death from bacterial infections and the mechanism for this has remained unclear until now. In the latest edition of Nature Immunology, Sylvia Knapp's Group at the CeMM Research Center for Molecular Medicine of the Austrian Academy of Sciences and the Medical University of Vienna, uncovers the molecular mechanisms that explain how hemolysis escalates the risk for infections. This study puts to rest the old belief that iron availability favors bacterial infections in hemolytic disorders, and moreover reveals a new treatment approach to protect patients with hemolysis from infections.
Telemedicine, in addition to clinical care, may help manage diabetes Telemedicine, including text messaging and Web portals, may help patients with diabetes and their doctors manage blood sugar levels, according to a study in CMAJ (Canadian Medical Association Journal).
Social media proves effective as a tool for antimicrobial stewardship A new study from the University of Chicago Medicine examines the use of social media platforms to inform young physicians about proper use of antimicrobial agents such as antibiotics. Currently, as much as 50 percent of all antibiotic use is inappropriate, leading to such unintended consequences such as antibiotic toxicity and increased antimicrobial resistance. Ensuring optimal use of antibiotics continues to be a central public health concern, and medical residents are a central focus of efforts to improve education in this field. But the question remains as to the best way to reach them.
	Study finds acupuncture lowers hypertension by activating natural opioids UC Irvine Susan Samueli Center for Integrative Medicine researchers report that regular electroacupuncture treatment can lower hypertension by increasing the release of a kind of opioid in the brainstem region that controls blood pressure.
Disparities in postop readmission may be reduced by improving nurse-to-patient staffing A new study from the University of Pennsylvania School of Nursing's Center for Health Outcomes and Policy Research (CHOPR) shows that older black adults are not only more likely to be readmitted following an elective hip/knee replacement, than otherwise similar white patients - they may also be more adversely affected by insufficient hospital nurse staffing. The results are set for publication in a future issue of the Journal of the American Geriatric Society, but are available now online here. The cross-sectional study analyzed data of nearly 107,000 Medicare patients in 483 US hospitals and points to improving nurse-to-patient staffing ratios as a strategy for reducing racial disparities in postoperative readmissions.
	Researchers affirm diet can impact migraines Eliminating that morning 'Cup of Joe,' consuming processed foods high in nitrites or monosodium glutamate (MSG) and enjoying too much alcohol are potential headache triggers for individuals battling migraines, says Vincent Martin, MD, professor in the Department of Internal Medicine at the University of Cincinnati (UC) College of Medicine.
	A common heart problem caused by cancer therapy avoided blood vessel treatment Researchers at the Wihuri Research Institute and the University of Helsinki, Finland, have found that some of the harmful effects of a commonly used cancer drug can be alleviated by using gene therapy that stimulates blood vessel growth in the heart.
Online program reduces neurological symptoms linked to chemotherapy in cancer patients Up to 70 per cent of cancer patients report cognitive symptoms following chemotherapy. These symptoms have been linked to poorer quality of life and increased depression, anxiety, and fatigue among cancer survivors.
	Recreational, commuter biking linked to lower cardiovascular disease risk People who bike regularly, either for pleasure or as a way to commute, appear to have a lower risk of cardiovascular disease, according to two separate studies published simultaneously in the American Heart Association's journal Circulation and Journal of the American Heart Association, the AHA/ASA's Open Access Journal.
To treat or not to treat (to target) in gout Gout is the most common inflammatory arthritis worldwide, caused by high levels of uric acid in the blood. Deposits of uric acid crystals cause episodes of painful attacks in the joints and can accumulate in the skin as nodules. In the U.S. alone, an estimated 8.3 million adults (3.9 percent of the population) are afflicted with this condition.
American College of Physicians releases clinical practice guidelines for acute gout Physicians should use corticosteroids, nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drugs (NSAIDs), or colchicine to treat patients with acute gout, the American College of Physicians (ACP) recommends in a new evidence-based clinical practice guideline for the management of the painful form of arthritis published today in Annals of Internal Medicine. ACP's guideline for diagnosing gout was published in the same issue.
Current system unlikely to pick up surgeons with above average patient death rates Publishing the patient death rates of individual surgeons in England is unlikely to pick up those whose mortality rates are above average, because the caseload varies so much, concludes the first analysis of its kind published in the online journal BMJ Open.
First study to link antibiotic resistance with exposure to the disinfectant chlorhexidine Klebsiella pneumoniae bacteria exposed to chlorhexidine-containing disinfectants can become resistant to colistin, a last resort antibiotic often used against multidrug resistant pathogens. This is the first study to link exposure to chlorhexidine with resistance to colistin in this clinically important pathogen. The research is published this week in Antimicrobial Agents and Chemotherapy, a journal of the American Society for Microbiology.
	Study links athletic performance to mortality It's not the locker room pep talk you'd expect, but new research from the University of Arizona suggests that athletes might perform better when reminded of something a bit grim: their impending death.
	Two genes linked to postpartum immunity revival in women with persistent hepatitis C Alternative forms of two genes are associated with a boost in immunity to hepatitis C after childbirth, a study led by a Nationwide Children's Hospital physician-researcher shows.
Raising 'good cholesterol' not as effective as lowering 'bad cholesterol' Low and very high levels of HDL, or "good cholesterol" are associated with a higher risk of dying from heart disease, cancer and other causes, according to a study today in the Journal of the American College of Cardiology. The findings from the first of its kind study suggest that a low level of good cholesterol may not be a heart disease risk factor on its own and that raising HDL does not likely reduce a person's risk of heart disease.
PCSK9 inhibitors reduce lipoprotein (a) production A new study published today in JACC: Basic to Translational Science sheds light on PCSK9 inhibitors, a new class of low density lipoprotein (LDL) lowering drugs, and their impact on another risk factor for heart disease, levels of lipoprotein (a).
	New study suggests way to slow skin fibrosis in scleroderma The prognosis for patients diagnosed with scleroderma - an autoimmune disease characterized by fibrosis of the skin - is not typically a rosy one. With limited treatment options available, those suffering from the disorder can face disabling hardening and tightening of their skin. Scleroderma can also affect the blood vessels, lungs and other internal organs.
Delayed gratification associated with fast food frequency A new study suggests that an ability to delay immediate gratification is associated with less frequent consumption of fast food. The study, which appears early online in Preventive Medicine has public health significance since away-from-home eating, and fast food consumption in particular, contribute to obesity in the United States.
New method for performing aortic valve replacement proves successful in high risk patients Researchers at the National Institutes of Health (NIH) have developed a new, less invasive way to perform transcatheter aortic valve replacement (TAVR), a procedure widely used to treat aortic valve stenosis, a lethal heart condition. The new approach, called transcaval access, will make TAVR more available to high risk patients, especially women, whose femoral arteries are too small or diseased to withstand the standard procedure. The Journal of the American College of Cardiology published the findings.
	Does 'good' cholesterol matter in heart disease risk? (HealthDay)—A large new study adds to questions about whether your "good" HDL cholesterol levels really affect your risk of heart disease.
	One in four seniors doesn't discuss end-of-life care (HealthDay)—More than one-quarter of American seniors have never discussed end-of-life care, a new study finds.
	Initiation, adherence to AIs low for older women with DCIS (HealthDay)—For older women with estrogen receptor (ER)-positive ductal carcinoma in situ (DCIS), initiation of aromatase inhibitors (AIs) and adherence to treatment are low, according to a study published online Oct. 25 in Cancer.
	Low-dose isotretinoin therapeutic for seborrhea (HealthDay)—For patients with moderate-to-severe seborrhea and seborrheic dermatitis, low-dose oral isotretinoin can be therapeutic, according to a study published online Oct. 25 in the International Journal of Dermatology.
Web-based cognitive exercises improve memory and attention in cancer survivors A new study suggests that a widely available web-based program (Insight) can help cancer survivors reporting cognitive symptoms. The 15-week program markedly improved participants' self-reported (perceived) cognitive function, lowered anxiety and depression, and improved fatigue.
Less than half of cervical cancer patients receive standard-of-care treatment Standard-of-care treatment for locally advanced cervical cancer includes radiation, chemotherapy and brachytherapy (in which radiation is implanted internally). A University of Colorado Cancer Center study published in the journal Gynecologic Oncology shows that only 44 percent of patients in a large, national sample received all three components of this accepted, best treatment. Patients who received standard-of-care (SOC) lived longer than women who received any combination of two components of SOC. The major difference in treatments received and overall survival was the presence or absence of brachytherapy.
Data indicate significant impact of NIH African bioethics training programs From HIV to Malaria to Ebola, health and medical research with human participants in Africa—and the ethical evaluation of that research—has long been conducted by non-African scholars, a circumstance that can present its own ethical challenges. For over a decade, the Fogarty International Center (FIC) at the US National Institutes of Health has funded programs to strengthen capacity among African professionals to provide high quality ethics review of research and conduct their own bioethics research and teaching, leading to significant gains across the continent, according to a study published in BMJ Open.
	Risk factors for prostate cancer aren't what we think, study shows When it comes to prostate cancer biopsies, risk and reality don't always match up, according to research published online today in the Journal of Clinical Oncology.
	When soda makers fund studies, links to obesity weaken (HealthDay)—If you come across a study claiming that sugary drinks don't cause obesity or diabetes, check to see who's paid for the research.
	Timely antibiotic administration cuts death in cirrhosis, UGIB (HealthDay)—Timely administration of antibiotics is associated with a reduction in mortality among patients with cirrhosis and upper gastrointestinal bleeding (UGIB), according to a study published in the November issue of Clinical Gastroenterology and Hepatology.
	Guidelines presented for fluoroquinolone use in children (HealthDay)—In a clinical report published online Oct. 31 in Pediatrics, guidelines are presented for the use of systemic and topical fluoroquinolones in children.
	Few changes in employer-sponsored insurance 2013-2014 (HealthDay)—Private sector employer-sponsored health insurance offerings were similar in 2013 and 2014, with
	Diabetes-related distress ups risk for rx nonadherence (HealthDay)—Diabetes-related distress and depression symptom severity are risk factors for medication nonadherence in type 2 diabetes, according to a study published online Oct. 17 in Diabetes Care.
Technology project to analyse thousands of personal experiences of rheumatoid arthritis drugs A new type of academic research will investigate treatment and management of rheumatoid arthritis (RA), by using software to analyse thousands of real life experiences of RA drugs.
	Precision medicine and genomics—an opportunity to improve public health? Today, healthcare is portrayed as standing at a crossroads. Precision medicine (also referred to as genomic, personal or individualized medicine) is expected to revolutionize future healthcare. Fundamentally, the promise of precision medicine is that an individual's genetic information will increasingly be used to prioritize access to health care. This model contrasts with the "one-size-fits-all" approach of today, in which disease treatment and prevention strategies are developed for the average person, with less consideration for the differences between individuals. Advances in genomic and clinical science have created innovative opportunities to further tailor health care to each patient, allowing providers to create optimized care plans at every stage of a disease, shifting the focus from reactive to preventive health care. Basically, precision medicine maintains that medical care and public health will be radically transformed by prevention and treatment programs more closely targeted to the individual patient. These interventions will be developed by sequencing more genomes, creating bigger biobanks, and linking biological information to health data in electronic medical records.
Results of ILUMIEN III trial presented Although percutaneous coronary intervention (PCI) is most commonly guided by angiography alone, results from a new study investigating adjunctive imaging modalities showed that the use of a novel optical coherence tomography (OCT)-based stent sizing strategy results in similar minimal stent area (MSA) compared to intravascular ultrasound (IVUS)-guided PCI. Imaging-guided PCI (with both OCT and IVUS) also resulted in improved stent expansion and acute stent-based procedural success compared to angiography-guided PCI.
Results from the BIONICS trial reported The large multinational randomized BIONICS study found that a novel ridaforolimus-eluting stent (BioNIR) was non-inferior to a zotarolimus-eluting stent (Resolute) for one-year clinical outcomes in a broad, less selected 'more comers' population. Results of this trial will be submitted to the FDA for U.S. approval of this novel drug-eluting stent.
Two-year results from the LEADERS FREE trial presented The two-year results from LEADERS FREE, the first randomized clinical trial dedicated to high bleeding risk patients treated with one month of dual antiplatelet therapy (DAPT), found that a polymer-free drug-coated stent (DCS) remained both significantly safer and more effective than the comparator bare-metal stent (BMS) used in the trial.
Results from the BIO-RESORT trial presented Results of a large-scale, multicenter study found that treatment with two thin-strut drug-eluting stents were both non-inferior to a durable polymer drug-eluting stent and showed favorable clinical outcomes at one year in treating an all-comers population with a high proportion of patients with acute coronary syndromes.
	Advancing our understanding of how the disease lupus is prevented in healthy individuals A group of researchers at Tokyo Medical and Dental University(TMDU) have identified a molecule that stops the immune system from mistakenly reacting to a component of the body's own cells, which could improve our ability to treat systemic lupus erythematosus (SLE), a disease associated with inflammation of various organs including kidney, brain, skin, heart and lung.
Analysis of reports quantitatively comparing food-industry sponsored studies Researchers in Australia analyzed medical literature to determine whether nutrition studies sponsored by the food industry were associated with outcomes favorable to the sponsor.
	New sperm research could lead to cut in infertility rate Sperm and mathematics don't appear to be the likeliest of bedfellows - but new research bringing the two together could lead to devices that could cut infertility rates.
Understanding the fascinating interaction between bone and brain "The best news is that the brain has become front and centre in the regulation of bone modelling", conclude authors Professors Paul Dimitri and Cliff Rosen in their concise review of the complex role of the central nervous system in bone metabolism.
	Study appears first in the nation to examine the impact of vitamin K supplements on the cardiovascular risk Researchers want to know whether a vitamin K supplement is an effective, inexpensive way to help reduce the cardiovascular risk of obese children.
Canada's health accord must prioritize system innovation To meet the future health care needs of Canadians, the federal and provincial governments should forge a new, flexible approach during health accord negotiations that allows for health system innovation, according to an editorial in CMAJ (Canadian Medical Association Journal) (pre-embargo link only).
Three-year results from the EXCEL trial presented A large-scale randomized trial examining percutaneous coronary intervention (PCI) versus coronary artery bypass graft surgery (CABG) in patients with left main coronary artery disease (LMCAD) and low-intermediate SYNTAX scores found that there was no significant difference in three-year outcomes between the two treatments, with a reduction in 30-day major adverse events with PCI.
Results from the NOBLE trial presented Coronary artery bypass (CABG) surgery is the standard treatment for revascularization in patients with left main coronary artery (LMCA) disease, but use of percutaneousa coronary intervention (PCI) for this indication is increasing. Findings from the Nordic-Baltic-British Left Main Revascularization Study (NOBLE) trial found that despite similar mortality, the five-year risk of major adverse events was higher after PCI compared to CABG for the treatment of unprotected LMCA disease.
Results from REVELUTION reported A first-in-human study of a new polymer-free drug-filled stent, which provides controlled drug elution from an internal lumen, indicated non-inferior in-stent late lumen loss at nine-months compared with historical zotarolimus-eluting stent (Resolute) data. In addition, there was no binary restenosis, and a high degree of early stent strut coverage with minimal malapposition.
	Do candy and soda makers belong at a dietitians' conference? The blinking game show wheel spins past logos for Triscuits, Wheat Thins and Honey Maid before the needle settles at Fig Newtons.
	Screening drugs to kill cancer cells in their safe spaces Existing chemotherapy approaches treat cancer by targeting cells that are actively multiplying and have a high metabolic rate. However, cancer stem cells can escape this targeting, leading to chemotherapy-resistant cancer and disease relapse. Researchers suspect that the microenvironment in which some cancer stem cells develop may give them protection from chemotherapy treatments.
White coat hypertension may indicate risk for heart disease in some people White coat hypertension, where patients have high blood pressure readings in a medical setting but normal blood pressure outside the doctor's office, is most likely an innocuous condition that is not a predictor of heart disease or stroke—except in a small group of older patients, according to a study published online today in the Journal of the American College of Cardiology.
Valeant, ex-executives face criminal probe: report US criminal prosecutors could bring fraud charges in the coming weeks against Valeant Pharmaceuticals International and two former senior executives, Bloomberg News reported Monday.

Biology news

	Brazil mutant mosquitoes to breed out diseases Scientists in Brazil are preparing to release millions of factory-bred mosquitoes in an attempt to wipe out their distant cousins that carry tropical diseases. The insects' method: have sex and then die.
	New MutChromSeq technique makes valuable genes easier to find Identifying the gene for an interesting trait that might help you breed better crops isn't always easy - especially if you're working with wheat or barley. But scientists at the John Innes Centre in Norwich have applied an innovative technique to the wheat and barley genomes that makes it easier to pinpoint specific genes that might be used in crop improvement programmes.
	Long-glanded blue coral snake has unique venom One of the world's most beautiful and venomous snakes has a venom unlike that of any other snake, research involving University of Queensland scientists has revealed.
	Gene that determines floral sex may be key to new hybrid seeds A Yale University-led team of scientists has discovered a key gene in that controls the sex of maize flowers—a discovery that could open the door to creation of highly productive hybrid seed in many agricultural plants the authors say.
	Research finds enzymes essential for DNA repair Scientists at ANU and Heidelberg University in Germany have found an essential component in the DNA repair process which could open the door to the development of new cancer drugs.
	Scientists develop computational tool to aid synthetic, systems biologists  Protein pairs that control stimulus response in bacteria maintain a sensitive balance between interaction specificity and promiscuity, according to Rice University scientists.
Key protein implicated in negative side effects of senescence Cellular senescence is a state in which normal healthy cells do not have the ability to divide. Senescence can occur when cancer-causing genes are activated in normal cells or when chemotherapy is used on cancer cells. Thus, senescence induces a mechanism that halts the growth of rapidly dividing cells. Once thought to only be beneficial to halt cancer progression, work from the The Wistar Institute has shown that during senescence there is an increase in secreted factors called cytokines and chemokines (small proteins important in immune responses) that may have detrimental, pro-tumorigenic side effects.
	Wild cat brains: An evolutionary curveball The brains of wild cats don't necessarily respond to the same evolutionary pressures as those of their fellow mammals, humans and primates, indicates a surprising new study led by a Michigan State University neuroscientist.
	Extreme weather effects may explain recent butterfly decline Increasingly frequent extreme weather events could threaten butterfly populations in the UK and could be the cause of recently reported butterfly population crashes, according to research from the University of East Anglia (UEA).
	Bats perceptually weight prey cues across sensory systems when hunting in noise Dr. Ryan Taylor of Salisbury University's Biological Sciences Department recently published in Science magazine with a team from the Smithsonian Tropical Research Institute in Panama titled "Bats Perceptually Weight Prey Cues Across Sensory Systems When Hunting in Noise."
	Improving half the world's diet The humble rice grain is the staple food for billions of people throughout the developing world, but there is little nutritional value in the grain beyond providing carbohydrates for energy.
	Australians waiting for the Tiger mosquito A swarm of mosquitoes is an accident waiting to happen. But perhaps the bigger issue facing Australia isn't so much whether the mosquitoes here are swarming, but rather whether a certain "tiger" mosquito lurking just to the north in the Torres Strait ever makes it to the Australian mainland.
	DNA methylation affects superiority of hybrid plants Hybrid vigor refers to when a crossbreed plant or animal shows superior traits compared to its parents. A research group has discovered that a gene involved in maintaining DNA methylation is closely connected to hybrid vigor in Arabidopsis thaliana. This has potential applications for other cruciferous vegetables such as Chinese cabbage, and could lead to more efficient breeding of high-yield vegetables. The findings were published on October 8 in the online version of Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences.
	Survey reveals quokka numbers decimated, a year after devastating bushfire Quokkas are popular 'selfie' photograph subjects for visitors to Rottnest Island, but the 'happiest animal on earth' has less to smile about in the South West, a year after a devastating bushfire.
	Re-examination suggests Paul Kammerer's scientific 'fraud' was a genuine discovery of epigenetic inheritance Paul Kammerer committed suicide in 1926 after being accused of fraud in his famous experiments of "inheritance of acquired traits" with the midwife toad. A new study shows how recent advances in molecular epigenetics and re-examination of his descriptions suggest the experiments were actually authentic.
	How epithelial cell extrusion is regulated by cell density An international collaboration has revealed how epithelial cell extrusion is regulated by cell density. The study was published in the scientific journal Current Biology on 5 October 2016.
	Shedding new light on night monkeys Thanks to the moonlighting activities of a CLP-funded team, primatologists are a little less in the dark about the distribution of a nocturnal monkey.
	Drones take off in plant ecological research Long-term, broad-scale ecological data are critical to plant research, but often impossible to collect on foot. Traditional data-collection methods can be time consuming or dangerous, and can compromise habitats that are sensitive to human impact. Micro-unmanned aerial vehicles (UAVs), or drones, eliminate these data-collection pitfalls by flying over landscapes to gather unobtrusive aerial image data.
	How pygmy moths started to diversify 100 million years ago into the more than 1050 species alive today The leaf-mining pygmy moths (family Nepticulidae) and the white eyecap moths (family Opostegidae) are among the smallest moths in the world with a wingspan of just a few millimetres. Their caterpillars make characteristic patterns in leaves: leaf mines. For the first time, the evolutionary relationships of the more than 1000 species have been analysed on the basis of DNA, resulting in a new classification.
	Underwater mushrooms: Curious lake fungi under every turned over stone While fungi are well known for being essential in cycling carbon and nutrients, there are only about 100,000 described species in contrast to the 1.5 to 3 millions, assumed to exist on Earth. Of these, barely 3000 fungi belong to aquatic habitats. In fact, freshwater fungi have been researched so little, it is only now that an international research team provide the first lake-wide fungal diversity estimate in the open access journal MycoKeys.
	Dental team tweaks DNA to improve plant-based medicines Henry Daniell, a professor in the departments of Biochemistry and Pathology in the University of Pennsylvania's School of Dental Medicine, has found great success in using genetic engineering to coax lettuce and tobacco plants to produce foreign proteins in their leaves, be they from a polio virus to make vaccines, a wormwood plant to synthesize malaria drugs, or the human clotting factor to make a hemophilia treatment.
	Aerial surveys of elephants and other mammals may underestimate numbers As lead researchers in Africa's recent Great Elephant Census, wildlife ecologists Curtice Griffin and Scott Schlossberg at the University of Massachusetts Amherst also evaluated elephant counting methods in the wild. In a paper this month in PLOS ONE, authors suggest that the two main census methods now in use may be undercounting elephants and that population estimates from both are biased low.
In communicating wildlife conservation, focus on the right message If you want people to care about endangered species, focus on how many animals are left, not on the chances of a species becoming extinct, according to a new study by Cornell University communication scholars.
	Spooky new fungal disease on southern golf courses unmasked A turfgrass disease that looked like an ink spill on many southern golf courses has been identified and all but blotted out, according to a plant pathologist with the Texas A&M AgriLife Extension Service.
	US approves two types of genetically engineered potatoes The U.S. Department of Agriculture has approved commercial planting of two types of potatoes that are genetically engineered to resist the pathogen that caused the Irish potato famine.
Millions of loci from a thousand plant transcriptomes Scientists face many constraints when embarking on new projects. Often the biggest constraint is a small budget. This is why a team of scientists led by researchers at the University of Florida recently worked to make one aspect of genetic research cheaper and easier. In two companion papers published in a recent issue of Applications in Plant Sciences, they have provided guidelines for research projects using microsatellites and a resource of over five million microsatellites for use in a wide variety of plant species.
	Biology education in the light of single cell/molecule studies Stochastic processes are often presented in terms of random, that is unpredictable, events. This framing obscures the reality that stochastic processes, while more or less unpredictable at the level of individual events, are well behaved at the population level. It also obscures the role of stochastic processes in a wide range of predictable phenomena; in atomic systems, for example, unknown factors determine the timing of the radioactive decay of a particular unstable atom, at the same time the rate of radioactive decay is highly predictable in a large enough population. Similarly, in the classical double-slit experiment the passage of a single photon, electron, or C60 molecule is unpredictable while the behavior of a larger population is perfectly predictable. The macroscopic predictability of the Brownian motion (a stochastic process) enabled Einstein to argue for the reality of atoms. Similarly, the dissociation of a molecular complex or the occurrence of a chemical reaction, driven as they are by thermal collisions, are stochastic processes, whereas dissociation constants and reaction rates are predictable. In fact this type of unpredictability at the individual level and predictability at the population level is the hallmark of stochastic, as compared to truly random, that is, unpredictable behaviors.
	The internet, elk teeth, and the gnawing hunger for information—ecological theory and browsing behavior You clicked on this link because your behavior conforms to an ecological theory, and I can prove it.
	Finland to continue wolf culls despite NGO uproar Finnish authorities said Monday they plan to maintain culling of the protected wolf population to prevent illegal poaching, despite opposition from environmentalists.

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