Science X Newsletter Monday, Oct 15

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Here is your customized Science X Newsletter for October 15, 2018:

Spotlight Stories Headlines

A new approach to prepare solution-processable 2-D semiconductors

Observations unveil an ionized halo of planetary nebula IC 5148

Biomaterials with 'Frankenstein proteins' help heal tissue

Study shows what happens when ultrafast laser pulses, not heat, cause a material to change phase

Tracking the movement of the tropics 800 years into the past

Oldest evidence for animals found

Study finds potential benefits of wildlife-livestock coexistence in East Africa

Beer supply threatened by future weather extremes

Study traces hospital-acquired bloodstream infections to patients' own bodies

Study exposes security vulnerabilities in terahertz data links

Using puffed rice to simulate collapsing ice shelves and rockfill dams

Linguistic red flags from Facebook posts can predict future depression diagnoses

Giant planets around young star raise questions about how planets form

Boston Dynamics hands Atlas a parkour repertoire

Medical marijuana might help MS patients, but uncertainty remains

Astronomy & Space news

	Observations unveil an ionized halo of planetary nebula IC 5148 Using ESO's Very Large Telescope (VLT), astronomers have performed observations of the planetary nebula IC 5148. The new study, described in a paper published October 2 on the arXiv pre-print server, unveils the presence of IC 5148 ionized halo and provides fundamental parameters of its central star.
	Giant planets around young star raise questions about how planets form Researchers have identified a young star with four Jupiter and Saturn-sized planets in orbit around it, the first time that so many massive planets have been detected in such a young system. The system has also set a new record for the most extreme range of orbits yet observed: the outermost planet is more than a thousand times further from the star than the innermost one, which raises interesting questions about how such a system might have formed.
	Active galactic nuclei and star formation Most galaxies host a supermassive black hole (SMBH) at their nucleus. (A supermassive black hole is one whose mass exceeds a million solar-masses.) A key unresolved issue in galaxy formation and evolution is the role these SMBHs play in shaping their galaxies. Most astronomers agree that there must be a strong connection because of the observed correlations between a SMBH's mass and its galaxy's luminosity, stellar mass, and the stellar motions in the galaxy. These correlations apply both in local galaxies and those at earlier cosmic epochs. But despite progress in studying SMBHs, how they effect their hosts is still not understood. In some suggested scenarios the SMBH suppresses star formation in the galaxy by expelling material. In others, like the merger scenario, the effect is the opposite: the SMBH boosts star formation by helping stir up the interstellar medium. Computer simulations have been undertaken to try to settle these differences, and they tend to show that cold gas flowing in from the intergalactic medium can feed both SMBH and galaxy growth.
	NASA X-ray Space Telescope back online after brief shutdown One of NASA's space telescopes is back in business after a two-day shutdown.
	What does a black hole look like? At the center of our galaxy lies a swirling, energy-spewing supermassive black hole called Sagittarius A* or Sgr A*, for short. For billions of years, surrounding gas and dust have been falling into it. Every 10,000 years or so, it swallows a nearby star.
	Environmental defense fund develops methane-hunting satellite Environmental Defense Fund (EDF), a U.S.-based nonprofit environmental advocacy group, intends to launch a new satellite designed to measure methane emissions worldwide. The spacecraft, named MethaneSAT, could offer a substantial help for countries and companies in combating global warming.
	The Milky Way could be spreading life from star to star For almost two centuries, scientists have theorized that life may be distributed throughout the universe by meteoroids, asteroids, planetoids, and other astronomical objects. This theory, known as Panspermia, is based on the idea that microorganisms and the chemical precursors of life are able to survive being transported from one star system to the next.
	Astronomy student searches for giant rings with pictures from 1890 Meticulous analysis of hundreds of photographic plates from the star J1407 between 1890 and 2007 show no stellar eclipses. Robin Mentel, a Master's student at Leiden University, could not detect eclipses of the star J1407 by a planet hypothesized to have giant rings, called J1407b. However, an eclipse may have been missed since the measurement series contains gaps. Mentel's research has been accepted for publication in the journal Astronomy and Astrophysics.
	BepiColombo monitoring camera test image An unusual view of part of the BepiColombo spacecraft stack, taken by one of the monitoring cameras (or 'selfie-cams') fixed to the Mercury Transfer Module, MTM. The camera is looking up towards the solar array drive (top left) and the back side of the solar array closest to the 'body' of the spacecraft module. The image was taken in late September as part of launch preparations at Europe's Spaceport in Kourou, French Guiana.

Technology news

	A new approach to prepare solution-processable 2-D semiconductors Researchers at the University of California, Los Angeles (UCLA), the University of Texas at Austin, and Hunan University (China) have recently devised a new method of preparing highly uniform, solution-processable, phase-pure semiconducting nanosheets. Their approach, outlined in a paper published in Nature, involves the electrochemical intercalation of quaternary ammonium molecules into 2-D crystals, followed by a mild sonication and exfoliation process.
	Boston Dynamics hands Atlas a parkour repertoire Oh, please. We are still coping with the view of Atlas taking a leisurely run through the neighborhood like a boss planner out for his cardio workout before taking off for his first meeting. What could possibly be next?
	Sound, vibration recognition boost context-aware computing Smart devices can seem dumb if they don't understand where they are or what people around them are doing. Carnegie Mellon University researchers say this environmental awareness can be enhanced by complementary methods for analyzing sound and vibrations.
	Patent talk: Alexa would leverage voice data tech to pick up signs you are ill Biometric monitoring on a new level? To what extent, in the coming years, will we be turning to the "digital health" sector of technology to manage our well-being and sickness?
	Lift-off for world-first ultrasound levitation that bends around barriers Researchers at the University of Sussex have become the first in the world to develop technology which can bend sound waves around an obstacle and levitate an object above it.
	New research looks beyond carbon efficiency to improve advanced biofuel strategy development Conventional wisdom in biofuels research holds that carbon efficiency is the most important factor for determining promising strategies for the production of biofuels. For researchers, this means that the more carbon in the crop that ends up as carbon in the fuel, the better.
	Machine-learning model provides risk assessment for complex nonlinear systems, including boats and offshore platforms Seafaring vessels and offshore platforms endure a constant battery of waves and currents. Over decades of operation, these structures can, without warning, meet head-on with a rogue wave, freak storm, or some other extreme event, with potentially damaging consequences.
	Ultra-light gloves let users 'touch' virtual objects Scientists from EPFL and ETH Zurich have developed an ultra-light glove – weighing less than 8 grams per finger– that enables users to feel and manipulate virtual objects. Their system provides extremely realistic haptic feedback and could run on a battery, allowing for unparalleled freedom of movement.
	New smart watch algorithms can help identify why you are sleeping poorly New algorithms take advantage of multiple smart watch sensors to accurately monitor wearers' sleep patterns.
	Google Pixel 3 phone aims to automate more daily tasks There's not much about the physical details of Google's new Pixel 3 phone that you can't find elsewhere. That bigger display and curved design? Apple and Samsung phones already have that.
	How to check what Facebook hackers accessed in your account Could hackers have been able to see the last person you cyberstalked, or that party photo you were tagged in? According to Facebook, the unfortunate answer is "yes."
	Pentagon reveals cyber breach of travel records The Pentagon on Friday said there has been a cyber breach of Defense Department travel records that compromised the personal information and credit card data of U.S. military and civilian personnel.
	Piracy threatens future of sports broadcasting Piracy poses an existential problem for broadcast rights holders but there are no signs that live sport is losing its glittering allure, according to Eleven Sports chief executive Marc Watson.
	Air Canada's near miss last year was almost 'worst accident in history' A near miss involving an Air Canada plane which almost landed on a crowded taxiway instead of a runway at San Francisco airport last year could have been the "worst aviation accident in history," according to an official report.
	Karaoke office: Japan inc. shifts to unusual workspaces From tiny one-person cubicles in underground stations to camping tents under towering skyscrapers and even karaoke clubs: in workaholic Japan, salarymen are never short of a place to work.
	Online natural and organic grocery Thrive aims to fill niche Thrive Market, a four-year-old online membership-based natural and organic food retailer, has successfully filled a niche modeled after Costco but just for healthy items.
	US's Harris, L3 merging to form a defense-technology giant Harris and L3 Technologies, two American companies specializing in military communications and technology, announced their merger on Sunday, giving birth to a giant in the sector.
	VR technology gives new meaning to 'holidaying at home.' But is it really a substitute for travel? Tourism is often about seeking deeper emotional and personal connections with the world around us. It's a quintessential part of the "experience economy", creating memories that can be recalled, re-lived and re-shared for a lifetime.
	The untapped power of fuel cells In recent years, renewable energy has been on the rise in the United States. Still, the overwhelming majority of our energy comes from fossil fuels. And, renewable energy needs to overcome significant limitations and obstacles to contribute a greater share of our overall energy solution. Hydrogen fuel cells may be the key to our sustainable energy future.
	Energy harvesting and innovative inputs highlight tech show gadgetry Wearable technology developed at Dartmouth College with the potential to change the way we live and work will be introduced at the 31st ACM User Interface Software and Technology Symposium (UIST 2018).
	MIT unveils new $1 bn college for artificial intelligence The Massachusetts Institute of Technology announced plans Monday to create a new college of artificial intelligence with an initial $1 billion commitment for the program focusing on "responsible and ethical" uses of the technology.
	EU states push for sanctions for cyber attackers A group of EU states including Britain and the Baltic countries is pushing the bloc to slap sanctions on cyber attackers, as Europe seeks to strengthen its electronic defences.
	Reusable software for high performance computing The world's fastest supercomputer can now perform 200,000 trillion calculations per second, and several companies and government agencies around the world are competing to build a machine that will have the computer power to simulate networks on the scale of the human brain. This extremely powerful hardware requires extremely powerful software, so existing software code must be continually updated to keep up.
	Researchers use deep learning to build automatic speech recognition system to help preserve the Seneca language A new research project at Rochester Institute of Technology will help ensure the endangered language of the Seneca Indian Nation will be preserved. Using deep learning, a form of artificial intelligence, RIT researchers are building an automatic speech recognition application to document and transcribe the traditional language of the Seneca people. The work is also intended to be a technological resource to preserve other rare or vanishing languages.
	As more newspapers fail, news 'deserts' expand in US: study More than 1,800 US newspapers have closed since 2004, leaving expanding "news deserts" with little or no local reporting on public affairs, researchers said in a report Monday.
	GE pushes back Q3 earnings release to October 30 General Electric, the once-mighty conglomerate which weeks ago announced a new chief executive in a move meant to stem a two-year decline, has said it will move the date of its third-quarter earnings release to October 30.
	New Angry Birds television series being hatched Producers are laying plans for a new "Angry Birds" television series based on the cult video game, its distributors said Saturday.
	German prosecutors raid Opel over diesel allegations French-owned carmaker Opel became the latest household name of the German auto industry in prosecutors' sights over diesel emissions, as authorities raided two factories belonging to the lightning-bolt brand and prepared a mass recall.
	Ford faces outrage in France over factory closure US carmaker Ford came under fire from the French government on Monday over its plans to close a factory producing gear boxes in southwest France that employs 850 people.

Medicine & Health news

	Study traces hospital-acquired bloodstream infections to patients' own bodies The most common source of a bloodstream infection acquired during a hospital stay is not a nurse's or doctor's dirty hands, or another patient's sneeze or visitor's cough, but the patient's own gut, Stanford University School of Medicine investigators have found.
	Linguistic red flags from Facebook posts can predict future depression diagnoses In any given year, depression affects more than 6 percent of the adult population in the United States—some 16 million people—but fewer than half receive the treatment they need. What if an algorithm could scan social media and point to linguistic red flags of the disease before a formal medical diagnosis had been made?
	Medical marijuana might help MS patients, but uncertainty remains Medical products derived from marijuana might have a mild benefit in treating symptoms of multiple sclerosis, based on reports from patients.
	Many cases of dementia may arise from non-inherited DNA 'spelling mistakes' Only a small proportion of cases of dementia are thought to be inherited—the cause of the vast majority is unknown. Now, in a study published today in the journal Nature Communications, a team of scientists led by researchers at the University of Cambridge believe they may have found an explanation: spontaneous errors in our DNA that arise as cells divide and reproduce.
	Early changes to synapse gene regulation may cause Alzheimer's disease Alzheimer's disease (AD) is the most common form of dementia, involving memory loss and a reduction in cognitive abilities. Patients with AD develop multiple abnormal protein structures in their brains that are thought to destroy or damage nerve cells (neurons). One of these structures, the senile plaque, is made up of clumps of beta-amyloid (Aβ) peptide which form in the spaces between neurons.
	Immune health maintained by meticulously ordered DNA Walter and Eliza Hall Institute researchers have revealed how immune health is maintained by the exquisite organisation skills of a protein called Pax5.
	Study suggests biological basis for depression, anxiety, sleep disturbances in older adults UC San Francisco researchers, in collaboration with the unique Brazilian Biobank for Aging Studies (BBAS) at the University of São Paulo, have shown that the earliest stages of the brain degeneration associated with Alzheimer's disease (AD) are linked to neuropsychiatric symptoms including anxiety, depression, loss of appetite, and sleep disturbances.
	Polio: Environmental monitoring will be key as world reaches global eradication Robust environmental monitoring should be used as the world approaches global eradication of polio, say University of Michigan researchers who recently studied the epidemiology of the 2013 silent polio outbreak in Rahat, Israel.
	Delving where few others have gone, leukemia researchers open new path A Wilmot Cancer Institute study uncovers how a single gene could be at fault in acute myeloid leukemia (AML), one of the deadliest cancers. The breakthrough gives researchers renewed hope that a gene-targeted therapy could improve AML survival rates, which have not budged in recent years.
	Function of neutrophils during tumor progression unraveled Researchers at The Wistar Institute have characterized the function of neutrophils, a type of white blood cells, during early stages of tumor progression, showing that they migrate from the bone marrow to distant sites and facilitate tumor cell seeding and establishment of metastasis. Importantly, these neutrophils don't possess the immunosuppressive characteristics of polymorphonuclear myeloid-derived suppressor cells (PMN-MDSC). This seminal study was published online in Nature Immunology.
	Scientists chase mystery of how dogs process words When some dogs hear their owners say "squirrel," they perk up, become agitated. They may even run to a window and look out of it. But what does the word mean to the dog? Does it mean, "Pay attention, something is happening?" Or does the dog actually picture a small, bushy-tailed rodent in its mind?
New immunotherapy targeting blood-clotting protein Normally, the blood protein fibrin does not enter the brain. But in several neurological disorders, the blood-brain barrier—which keeps large molecules in the blood from entering the brain—becomes abnormally permeable, allowing fibrin to leak into the brain and trigger inflammation. Emerging evidence points to a leaky blood-brain barrier as an early event in brain diseases that causes neurodegeneration. In fact, this process may lead to the death of nerve cells in multiple sclerosis, Alzheimer's disease, and other disorders.
	Cesarean-born mice show altered patterns of brain development, study finds Cesarean-born mice show altered patterns of cell death across the brain, exhibiting greater nerve cell death than vaginally delivered mice in at least one brain area, a finding by Georgia State University researchers that suggests birth mode may have acute effects on human neurodevelopment that may lead to long-lasting changes in the brain and behavior.
Diabetic patients are more at risk of death from alcohol, accidents and suicide Diabetic patients are more likely to die from alcohol-related factors, accidents or suicide, according to a study published in the European Journal of Endocrinology. The study findings suggest that the increased risk of death from these causes may be related to the mental health of patients, which may be adversely affected by the psychological burden of living with and self-treating this debilitating disease, with potentially serious complications.
	Abnormal vision in childhood can affect brain functions A research team has discovered that abnormal vision in childhood can affect the development of higher-level brain areas responsible for things such as attention.
	Monitoring progression of AD by monitoring major brain antioxidant levels using noninvasive techniques In a breakthrough human study, anti-oxidant, glutathione (GSH), which protects the brain from stress, has been found to be significantly depleted in Alzheimer's patients compared to normal subjects. As GSH is a very important anti-oxidant that protects the brain from free radicals, the findings give us another measure to use when diagnosing potential for the advancement of Alzheimer's disease or recognizing those that are in the throes of Alzheimer's advancement.
Too fat to fight: Pentagon grapples with obesity epidemic Forget about the high-tech military challenges from China and Russia, the Pentagon is facing a fast-growing national security threat that could be even trickier to tackle: America's obesity crisis.
	Many supplements contain unapproved, dangerous ingredients: study (HealthDay)—U.S. health officials have issued more than 700 warnings during the last decade about the sale of dietary supplements that contain unapproved and potentially dangerous drug ingredients, new research reveals.
	Vaccines are critical if you have diabetes (HealthDay)—If you have diabetes, you need all recommended vaccinations, the American Association of Diabetes Educators says.
	A child's eyes may be a window into later heart disease risk Having optimal cardiovascular health as a child could predict the health of tiny blood vessels in the eye in adulthood—a finding that could serve as an early marker of heart disease, according to new research.
	New DNA-based test approved to help verify blood compatibility (HealthDay)—The U.S. Food and Drug Administration has approved the ID CORE XT DNA-based test to help doctors verify blood compatibility before a transfusion.
As legalization looms, Canada cannabis crackdown worries tokers Canada is just days away from legalizing cannabis, but as apartment buildings, schools and other spaces move to ban pot smoking on their premises, some enthusiasts fear they won't have anywhere to exercise their newly acquired rights.
	Postpartum depression linked to mother's pain after childbirth While childbirth pain has been linked to postpartum depression, the culprit may be the pain experienced by the mother following childbirth, rather than during the labor and delivery process, suggests new research presented at the ANESTHESIOLOGY 2018 annual meeting.
	Teenaged girls did not engage in riskier sexual behavior after HPV vaccination introduced in school Despite fears to the contrary, sexual behaviours of adolescent girls stayed the same or became safer after publicly funded school-based HPV vaccinations were introduced in British Columbia (BC), according to new research published in CMAJ (Canadian Medical Association Journal) http://www.cmaj.ca/lookup/doi/10.1503/cmaj.180628.
	Survey shows widespread skepticism of flu shot When a child gets the flu, they're not only sick in bed for a week or more, but the illness can also have serious and even life-threatening consequences. In fact, 180 children died after contracting the flu during the 2017-2018 season, one of the most severe on record. Despite the consensus of the medical community, a new national survey by Orlando Health Arnold Palmer Hospital for Children finds that a shocking number of parents are still skeptical about the safety and effectiveness of the flu shot.
	Half of parents say their preschooler fears doctor's visits A trip to the pediatrician's office can be a nerve-wracking experience for both children and their parents, especially when efforts to calm young patients down dominate the visit.
	More clues revealed in link between normal breast changes and invasive breast cancer A research team, led by investigators from Georgetown Lombardi Comprehensive Cancer Center, details how a natural and dramatic process—changes in mammary glands to accommodate breastfeeding—uses a molecular process believed to contribute to survival of pre-malignant breast cells.
	Study: Without Medicaid expansion, poor forgo medical care Low-income people in states that haven't expanded Medicaid are much more likely to forgo needed medical care than the poor in other states, according to a government report released Monday amid election debates from Georgia to Utah over coverage for the needy.
	In Canada, pot legalization poses health and safety challenges Canada will end its pot prohibition Wednesday with the goals of curbing the black market and use by youth, amid concerns around the public health and safety merits of legalization.
	Feminine leadership traits: Nice but expendable frills? Despite expectations that stereotypically feminine leadership traits like communality will define 21st century leaders, the higher up we look across different types of organizations, the fewer women we find. A new study exploring this apparent contradiction reveals these communal leader traits—like being tolerant and cooperative—are viewed as desirable but ultimately superfluous add-ons. Instead, both men and women believe successful leaders need stereotypically masculine traits such as assertiveness and competence. Published in Frontiers in Psychology, the study is the first to examine potential tradeoffs in masculine versus feminine leadership traits and provides insights into the continued concentration of men in top leadership roles.
Cumulative sub-concussive impacts in a single season of youth football In an investigation of head impact burden and change in neurocognitive function during a season of youth football, researchers find that sub-concussive impacts are not correlated with worsening performance in neurocognitive function.
	When ignoring your spouse can help your relationship It is a classic relationship stalemate: One partner asks the other to change something and the partner who is asked shuts down. But that type of response may actually be beneficial for the relationship of lower-income couples, according to research published by the American Psychological Association. Conversely, withdrawing can negatively affect higher-income couples' relationship satisfaction, the study found.
Blood test biopsy for kids with brain tumors is simple, safe way to see if treatment is working A new blood test for children with brain tumors offers a safer approach than surgical biopsies and may allow doctors to measure the effectiveness of treatment even before changes are identified on scans, according to research led by UCSF Benioff Children's Hospitals and Children's National Health System.
	Scientists discover genes that contribute to ADHD development A team from I.M. Sechenov First Moscow State Medical University, together with foreign colleagues, analyzed the genomes of several families that have members with ADHD. The results have shown that all patients had specific features in certain genes. The identification of such patterns may help diagnose ADHD. The work was published in Molecular Psychiatry.
	Global study finds youngest in class more likely to be diagnosed with ADHD A new global study involving the University of Adelaide has found that children who are the youngest in their classroom are more likely to be diagnosed with Attention Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder (ADHD) than their older classmates.
	Scientists examine how neuropathic pain responds to Metformin Scientists seeking an effective treatment for one type of chronic pain believe a ubiquitous, generic diabetes medication might solve both the discomfort and the mental deficits that go with the pain.
	Researchers make essential imaging tests safer for people at risk of acute kidney injury Every year, millions of people undergo medical tests and procedures, such as coronary angiography, which use intravascular contrast dyes. "For the majority of patients, these are safe and necessary procedures. However, about eight per cent of those people experience the complication of acute kidney injury (AKI)," says Dr. Dan Muruve, MD, a kidney specialist and member of the Snyder Institute for Chronic Diseases at the Cumming School of Medicine (CSM) at the University of Calgary.
	Some heartburn treatments depress body iron levels, study finds New research has found an association between some popular heartburn treatments and iron deficiency.
	Comparing Japanese genome data with distant relatives A genome bank for the Japanese population can better identify rare genetic variants and disease susceptibilities by adding samples from distant areas of the country.
	Violent videos put journalists at increased risk of post-traumatic stress Newsrooms across the UK are finding themselves increasingly under-resourced. Less journalists and constrained budgets has meant many editors now rely on their staff to use more information from digital sources – such as social media. But as more journalism work relies on – or at least incorporates – potentially violent or harmful user-generated content, the risks of post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD) in journalists has increased. This can lead to short, unpleasant careers and, in severe cases, long lasting mental health risks.
	Importance of cell cycle and cellular senescence in the placenta discovered Working with researchers from Stanford University and St. Anna Children's Cancer Research, researchers from Jürgen Pollheimer's laboratory at the Medical University of Vienna's Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology have now, for the first time, identified basic relationships of the cell cycle and cellular senescence in the human placenta. The main finding of the study: During pregnancy, the cycle of cell division of placental trophoblasts stops after duplication of the whole genome to prevent uncontrolled growth. "Genome duplication acts like an automatic stop sign," explains study author Philipp Velicky, who conducted the study at MedUni Vienna and is currently working at IST Austria (Institute of Science and Technology – Austria).
	New therapeutic strategy for treating a very aggressive form of breast cancer Scientists have identified a new therapeutic strategy for treating a very aggressive form of breast cancer.
	Hormone therapy not beneficial in subclinical hypothyroidism (HealthDay)—Thyroid hormone therapy is not associated with improvements in general quality of life or thyroid-related symptoms in non-pregnant adults with subclinical hypothyroidism, according to a review published in the Oct. 2 issue of the Journal of the American Medical Association.
	Eye trauma secondary to falls in older adults increasing (HealthDay)—Eye trauma as a secondary admission diagnosis is increasing, largely because of an increased incidence of falls in older individuals, according to a study published online Oct. 4 in JAMA Ophthalmology.
	Global rates of cesarean section on the rise since 2000 (HealthDay)—Global cesarean section (CS) rates are increasing, according to one in a series of three papers published online Oct. 11 in The Lancet.
	15- and 18-month, 4-year well-child visits most often missed (HealthDay)—Well-child visits (WCVs) at 15 months, 18 months, and four years are the most commonly missed among children of low-income families, according to a study published online Oct. 10 in Pediatrics.
	Flu vaccine cuts hospitalization rates in pregnant women (HealthDay)—Among pregnant women, the flu vaccination is effective at reducing the risk for flu-related hospitalizations, according to a study published online Oct. 11 in Clinical Infectious Disease.
	Researchers solve puzzle of poor cancer prognosis in young Americans Young Americans with cancer have a far better prognosis than once thought due to a surprising new discovery about the role of HIV/AIDS, fundamentally altering a longstanding narrative about their cancer mortality, according to new findings by USC scientists.
	Researcher studies impact of eating crickets on gut health Tiffany Weir, associate professor in the Colorado State University Department of Food Science and Human Nutrition, has been working on a project that has crawled into the public sphere in recent years: cricket consumption.
	Sugar, a 'sweet' tool to understand brain injuries Australian researchers have developed ground-breaking new technology which could prove crucial in treating brain injuries and have multiple other applications, including testing the success of cancer therapies.
	Novel strategy to analyse biomarkers in exhaled breath Breath gas analysis is a promising approach for non-invasive medical diagnostics and physiological monitoring, but further development is needed to increase clinical impact. Ramin Ghorbani presents a novel methodology for the analysis of real-time breath data that opens up for rapid point-of-care assessment of respiratory diseases.
	Study: Pets help their retired owners fall asleep more easily and feel better about their neighbourhood Older people who own pets fall asleep more easily and feel consistently more positive about their local environment than those who don't have animals, according to new research from Kingston University and St George's, University of London.
	For the last time, sitting is not the new smoking Thanks to social media, one inaccurate but catchy headline about research can find new life in unlimited shares and retweets, but the actual science can become dangerously distorted.
	Five cancers women must be vigilant about We asked some of Roswell Park's doctors who specialize in cancers that affect women to share some tips for preventing or treating cancer. Here's what they offered.
	3-D mammography detected 34% more breast cancers in screening In traditional mammography screening, all breast tissue is captured in a single image. Breast tomosynthesis, on the other hand, is three-dimensional and works according to the same principle as what is known as tomography. This means that several low-dose X-ray images are taken of the breast from different angles, which are reconstructed by a computer to show thin layers of the breast. With more and improved image information and less overlapping tissue structures, the chance of detecting tumours increases. Further, the radiation dose may be lowered in certain circumstances.
	Curing diseases with good bacteria Researcher from the Institute of Biology, Leiden have discovered how good intestinal bacteria regulate our innate immune system. This surprising discovery could make it possible to treat diseases related to inflammation, such as diabetes and colitis, with a cocktail of good bacteria. Publication in Nature Communications.
Cancer survivors at risk for heart failure during, after pregnancy Young women previously treated for cancer with chemotherapy or radiation therapy with a prior history of cardiotoxicity are more likely to develop clinical congestive heart failure (CHF) during and after pregnancy, according to a study published today in the Journal of the American College of Cardiology.
	A molecular atlas of postnatal mouse heart development Myocardial infarction (MI) is one of the most common causes of death in the Western world. Typically, MI is caused by the blockage of a coronary artery by an atherosclerotic plaque: as the oxygen supply of the heart drops, cell death occurs.
	Adults who were breastfed as babies earn more and score higher in memory tests as adults A research study from Queen's University Belfast, in collaboration with University College Dublin, University College London and Cass Business School, has found that babies who were breastfed went on to have a higher household income and scored higher on memory tests in adulthood, in comparison to babies who were not.
	Young Canadians face heightened crash risk after consuming cannabis, new study finds Young Canadians are more at risk of a vehicle crash even five hours after inhaling cannabis, according to results of a clinical trial conducted at the Research Institute of the McGill University Health Centre (RI-MUHC) and McGill University, and funded by the Canadian Automobile Association (CAA).
	Toxicology tests don't tell the whole story of the opioid epidemic "Drug overdoses killed more Tennesseans than ever last year, fentanyl deaths up 70 percent," a recent headline from my hometown newspaper, The Tennessean, proclaimed.
	Kids' concussion symptoms may persist for a year (HealthDay)—A year after a concussion, up to one-third of kids still have symptoms such as headache and irritability that may affect school performance, a new study finds.
	Five salad killers to skip (HealthDay)—A huge bowl of greens can be filling and chock full of vitamins, minerals and fiber. But what you top it with can turn it from diet delight to diet disaster.
	Moving location of fruit and vegetables in shops can lead to 15% sales increase Simply moving where fresh fruit and vegetables are placed in a shop can increase their sales, new research by Warwick Medical School/the University of Warwick, published by BMC Public Health, has found.
Alcohol disorder screening tests fail in weight-loss surgery patients People who undergo Roux-en-Y gastric bypass surgery, a common type of bariatric surgery, are at increased risk for alcohol-related problems. However, common screening tools that help physicians identify patients at high risk for alcohol use disorder fail to work well in this population, according to a long-term, multicenter analysis led by University of Pittsburgh Graduate School of Public Health scientists.
	Discovery of inner ear function may improve diagnosis of hearing impairment Results from a research study published in Nature Communications show how the inner ear processes speech, something that has until now been unknown. The authors of the report include researchers from Linköping University, Sweden, and Oregon Health & Science University, United States.
'Universal' blood test for earlier diagnosis of cancer moves closer to market UK researchers behind a potential 'universal' liquid biopsy blood test for cancer detection have licensed the technology to an industrial partner to take it to market.
Poll: Many caregivers neglecting their own health Skipping your checkup but not grandma's? Caring for an older loved one is a balancing act, and a new poll shows that too often it's the caregivers' health that's neglected.
	Older people who self-harm at highest risk of suicide, finds study People over 65 who harm themselves are more likely to die by suicide than other age groups according to new research published in the Lancet Psychiatry by University of Manchester and Keele University academics.
	People donate more when they sense they are being watched The mere presence of a pair of eyes on a sign requesting donations makes people more likely to give more. This is according to a field study in Springer's journal Human Nature. Lead author Caroline Kelsey of the University of Virginia in the US says the findings support the idea that people tend to act according to pro-social norms when they sense that they are being watched. It also suggests that eyes play a special role in promoting cooperation in humans.
	Kids' sleep may suffer from moms' tight work schedules It may be tough for working moms to get a good night's sleep, but working tight hours may affect their children's sleep, too.
	Neck device shows promise in protecting the brain of female soccer players A new study of female high school soccer players suggests that a neck collar may help protect the brain from head impacts over the course of a competitive soccer season.
People ordered into mental health care less likely to perceive it as helpful While some may choose on their own to seek help for untreated mental illnesses, others can be substantially influenced by others or coerced into care by court order. Understanding variations through which people enter mental health care-by choice or coercion-according to Sirry Alang, an assistant professor of sociology and anthropology at Lehigh University, will enable health care providers to remove barriers to mental health care and ensure that people who need treatment receive it in a timely fashion.
Researchers find no progress in media representation of nurses over last 20 years A replication of the 1997 "Woodhull Study on Nursing and the Media" found nurses continue to be underrepresented as sources in heath news stories despite their increasing levels of education and expertise. A companion study found biases among newsrooms about women, nurses and positions of authority in health care can impede a journalist's use of nurses as sources in health news stories, despite unique perspectives that could enrich a story. The research, led by the George Washington University School of Nursing's Center for Health Policy and Media Engagement, was published in two parts in the Journal of Nursing Scholarship and the American Journal of Nursing.
	Canada doctors wary of cannabis legalization Canada's top medical journal warned Monday that the imminent legalization of cannabis for recreation use poses a major health concern despite broad support for ending the prohibition.
Most people don't know the difference between OCD and OCPD The general public has trouble understanding differences between obsessive compulsive disorder (OCD) and obsessive-compulsive personality disorder (OCPD), according to new research from Binghamton University, State University at New York.
	Early study results suggest fertility app as effective as modern family planning methods Early results from a first-of-its-kind study suggests that typical use of a family planning app called Dot is as effective as other modern methods for avoiding an unplanned pregnancy.
	Use of tobacco and marijuana products regularly featured in hip-hop music videos Over the past decade, hip-hop music has become a world-wide phenomenon and, in 2017, surpassed rock as the biggest music genre in the United States. Up until now little has been known about how often, or in what context, tobacco and marijuana products and imagery appear in hip-hop music culture. In order to get a better understanding of the presence of these products—and the potential public health threat they pose—a team of researchers from The Dartmouth Institute for Health Policy and Clinical Practice and the Johns Hopkins University Bloomberg School of Public Health analyzed leading hip-hop music videos over the five years from 2013-2017. They found that that a substantial (40%-50%) proportion of the leading hip-hop videos during this time contained use of combustible or electronic tobacco and marijuana products (or smoke or vapor), corresponding to over 39 billion views to date. They also found that the use of these products in videos was often by main and featured artists, and that the prevalence of combustible or electronic use of tobacco and marijuana rose with songs' popularity. In addition, brand placement was becoming more common in online hip-hop music content.
	Study points to possible new therapy for hearing loss Researchers have taken an important step toward what may become a new approach to restore hearing loss. In a new study, out today in the European Journal of Neuroscience, scientists have been able to regrow the sensory hair cells found in the cochlea—a part of the inner ear—that converts sound vibrations into electrical signals and can be permanently lost due to age or noise damage.
New research shows drinking No 1 Rosemary Water improves memory by up to 15 percent New research published in the Journal of Psychopharmacology, has shown that drinking a concentrated rosemary extract drink, No 1 Rosemary Water, can boost cognitive and memory performance by up to 15%.
Men in leadership gain from psychopathic behavior, women punished People with psychopathic tendencies are slightly more likely to be a company boss, but a new study finds men are allowed a pass for those inclinations while women are punished.
	Drugmakers to disclose prices for medicines advertised on TV Drugmakers will start disclosing the prices for U.S. prescription drugs that are advertised on TV, but the Trump administration said the move announced Monday doesn't go far enough.
	Michael's lingering threat: mold (HealthDay)—In the flooding and devastation left by Hurricane Michael, Americans faced with the clean-up are facing a new health threat: mold.
	Push-button pain meds curb need for opioids after C-section: study (HealthDay)—Letting women who've had a cesarean section dispense and control pain medication through a catheter reduces their use of addictive oral opioid painkillers, researchers report.
	High variability in metabolic measures may up mortality (HealthDay)—High variability in metabolic parameters is associated with increased risk for mortality and cardiovascular events, according to a study published online Oct. 1 in Circulation.
	More socioeconomic challenges for hispanic women with HIV (HealthDay)—Hispanic/Latino women with HIV infection face more socioeconomic and language challenges than men, but the clinical outcomes are similar, according to research published in the Oct. 12 issue of the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention Morbidity and Mortality Weekly Report.
Despite crisis patients perceive opioids as superior and expect them for postsurgical pain Even with concerns about addiction, side effects and the other risks of opioids dominating headlines, a study presented at the ANESTHESIOLOGY 2018 annual meeting found people expect to be prescribed opioids and perceive them to be the most effective form of pain relief after surgery. Interestingly, other research presented at the meeting found opioids led to complications such as increased pain, poorer quality of life and dependence following back surgery.
	DR Congo identifies 'second wave' of Ebola in east A second wave of the Ebola virus has been confirmed in eastern Democratic Republic of Congo, where an initial outbreak has already killed 125 people, a minister said Saturday.
Pain disruption therapy treats source of chronic back pain People with treatment-resistant back pain may get significant and lasting relief with dorsal root ganglion (DRG) stimulation therapy, an innovative treatment that short-circuits pain, suggests a study presented at the ANESTHESIOLOGY 2018 annual meeting.
The health innovation system is 'broken' and failing patients, warns UCL report NHS patients are being let down by a global health innovation system which fails to deliver the treatments they need at prices that government can afford, according to a new report led by Professor Mariana Mazzucato, Director of the UCL Institute for Innovation and Public Purpose (IIPP), in collaboration with STOPAIDS, Global Justice Now and Just Treatment.
If cannabis use increases after legalization, government must alter the act If cannabis use increases after legalization of recreational cannabis on October 17, the Government of Canada should commit to changing the act to prevent negative health effects, argues an editorial in CMAJ (Canadian Medical Association Journal).
	Analyzing half a million mouse decisions Mice can be used to study the neural circuits underlying complex decision-making, suggests an analysis of more than 500,000 mouse decisions reported in JNeurosci.
	Don't sweat the sweet stuff Sweet and bitter flavors are identified as soon as they are tasted, according to human neural and behavioral data published in eNeuro. The study provides new insight into how the brain rapidly detects and discriminates between potentially nutritious and toxic substances.
	Early sleep loss accelerates Alzheimer's pathology in mice Lack of sleep during adolescence and early adulthood accelerates Alzheimer's disease (AD)-related tau pathology, finds a study of male and female mice published in JNeurosci. These results support the importance of establishing healthy sleep habits in early adult life to help stave off progression of neurodegenerative diseases.
Financial impacts of cancer found to intensify disease burden among German patients A study conducted in Germany draws attention to the fact that the socio-economic burden of cancer is real in Europe too, and not only in the context of the US healthcare system where it has been associated with higher morbidity and mortality. The results to be presented at the ESMO 2018 Congress in Munich show that income loss is the main source of perceived financial hardship, and that this is associated with adverse psychological effects in patients.
Alcohol-related liver disease patients need more care, study finds Two in three ALD patients admitted to an intensive care unit (ICU) survived for less than a year afterwards, the study shows.
	Ketamine is a safe, effective alternative to opioids in treating acute pain in the ED Intravenous, low-dose ketamine (LDK) is as effective as intravenous morphine in the control of acute pain in adults in the emergency department (ED). That is the finding of a study to be published in the October 2018 issue of Academic Emergency Medicine (AEM), a journal of the Society for Academic Emergency Medicine (SAEM). The results indicate that ketamine can be considered as an alternative to opioids for ED short-term pain control.
	Does risk of embryonic malformations outweigh benefits of using SSRIs in pregnant women? A comprehensive new review article presents the most current understanding of the role selective serotonin reuptake inhibitors (SSRIs) play in increased risk of multiple diverse gestational malformations and takes aim at the ongoing debate over whether SSRIs as a drug class can cause these malformations. The article, which also highlights the importance of serotonin—a key mediator of bioelectric control mechanisms—in normal embryonic development, is published in the preview issue of Bioelectricity.
Walter Reed Army Institute of Research begins phase 1 clinical trial of Marburg vaccine The Walter Reed Army Institute of Research (WRAIR) this week administered the first vaccine in a Phase 1 clinical trial to evaluate the safety and immunogenicity of a Marburg vaccine candidate in healthy adult volunteers.
	WHO considering global health emergency over DRC Ebola outbreak The World Health Organization said Monday its experts will meet this week to determine whether an Ebola outbreak in eastern Democratic Republic of Congo constitutes a global health emergency.
Costs of Medicare diabetes prevention program may exceed reimbursements For some healthcare providers—especially those serving racial/ethnic minority and low-income patients - the costs of delivering a new Medicare Diabetes Prevention Program (MDPP) may be much higher than the expected reimbursement, reports a study in the November issue of Medical Care.

Biology news

	Males have greater reproductive success if they spend more time taking care of kids Males have greater reproductive success if they spend more time taking care of kids—and not necessarily only their own, according to new research published by anthropologists at Northwestern University.
	Artificial intelligence aids automatic monitoring of single molecules in cells To understand the mechanisms by which molecules act in cells, or the effects of drugs on them, it would be ideal to be able to track individual molecules, including where in the cell they are located and what modifications they undergo when conditions in the cell change. However, this has proven difficult with existing technologies, particularly given the amount of time required to perform such monitoring.
	Insight on molecular regulation of cilium structure and composition The surfaces of most cell types are covered by hair-like cilia that play critical roles in cell and fluid motility, environment sensing, and cell-cell communication (signalling).
	Cells' route in response to disease is not always straight, new study finds The steps cells take in response to challenges are more complex than previously thought, a new study finds. The work investigates a system relevant to cancer, viral infection, and diabetes as well as Parkinson's and Lou Gehrig's disease.
	Discovery of a simple mechanism for color detection Color vision, consisting of ocular color detection, is achieved with complicated neural mechanisms in the eyes. Researchers from Osaka City University in Japan have found color detection with a simple mechanism in the fish pineal organ, an extraocular photosensitive organ on the brain surface. They have published their results in Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences
	Mammals cannot evolve fast enough to escape current extinction crisis Humans are exterminating animal and plant species so quickly that nature's built-in defence mechanism, evolution, cannot keep up. An Aarhus-led research team calculated that if current conservation efforts are not improved, so many mammal species will become extinct during the next five decades that nature will need 3 to 5 million years to recover.
	How beetle larvae thrive on carrion The burying beetle Nicrophorus vespilloides buries the cadavers of small animals in soil to use them as a food source for its offspring. However, the carcass and thus the breeding site are highly susceptible to microbial decomposition and putrefaction, resulting in the production of toxic substances, the growth of microbial pathogens and nutrient loss. In a new study, researchers from the Max-Planck-Institute for Chemical Ecology, the University of Mainz and the University of Giessen, Germany, show that Nicrophorus vespilloides beetles are able to replace harmful microorganisms with their own beneficial gut symbionts, thus turning a carcass into a nursery with a microbial community that even promotes larval growth. The study is published in the Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences .
	Parasites from medieval latrines unlock secrets of human history A radical new approach combining archaeology, genetics and microscopy can reveal long-forgotten secrets of human diet, sanitation and movement from studying parasites in ancient poo, according to new Oxford University research.
	As sea ice melts, some say walruses need better protection Given a choice between giving birth on land or sea ice, Pacific walrus mothers most often choose ice.
	Tunisia fishermen turn tide to cash in on blue crab menace Tunisian fishermen saw the blue crab wreak such havoc on their catches when it first appeared that they nicknamed it after the terrifying jihadists of the Islamic State group.
	Human and cattle decoys trap malaria mosquitoes outdoors Host decoy traps which mimic humans or cattle by combining odour, heat and a conspicuous visual stimulus could be effective at measuring and controlling outdoor-biting mosquitoes in malaria endemic regions, according to a study published in the open access journal Parasites & Vectors.
	China purrs over white tiger triplets Three playful white Bengal tiger cubs are charming visitors as they clamber around their enclosure at a zoo in China.
	The Goldilocks principle in biology—fine-tuning the 'just right' signal load In the fairy tale "Goldilocks and the Three Bears," Goldilocks invades the bears' house, where she finds three bowls of porridge, but only one has just the right temperature. Similarly, in biological processes, there often exist "just right" conditions—this is called the Goldilocks principle. This is what an international research team has done by demonstrating that in order to get the right amount of signaling for symbiosis in the roots of legumes, a specific enzyme called chitinase (CHIT5) must be present.
	Tropical moths in the mountains are larger Researchers from three universities have measured more than 19,000 tropical moths from 1,100 species to find out whether their size varies with elevation. Scientists from Friedrich-Schiller-University Jena (Germany) worked on the study together with colleagues from Marburg in Germany and Connecticut in the USA. "Body size plays a central role in the ecology and evolution of organisms," explains Dr. Gunnar Brehm of the University of Jena. The zoologist is the lead author of the study, which has just been published online.
	Americans spend $70 billion on pets, and that money could do more good Sylar, the border collie, has his own mansion along with a trampoline and indoor pool. The dog's adorable features, along with his notable intelligence, earned his owner's devotion along with many social media fans.
	Unravelling the genetics of fungal fratricide Selfish genes are genes that are passed on to the next generation but confer no advantage on the individual as a whole, and may sometimes be harmful. Researchers at Uppsala University have, for the first time, sequenced (or charted) two selfish genes in the fungus Neurospora intermedia that cause fungal spores to kill their siblings. Unexpectedly, the genes were not related to each other, perhaps indicating that selfish genes are more common than previously thought.
	Eating royal poop improves parenting in naked mole-rats Have you ever seen a picture of a mother dog caring for an unusual baby, like a kitten? This sort of animal adoption story is an example of a phenomenon known as alloparenting: care provided to offspring that are not genetically related.
Swishing tails guard against voracious insects with curtain of breeze Bothersome insects are a predicable summer hazard. Swatting them can almost become a sport, but some irritable horses enjoy taking shots at something larger. 'I have been hit many times in the face, and even the eye, by a naughty horse's tail... Sometimes it seems like they're actually aiming for you', laughs Marguerite Matherne from the Georgia Institute of Technology, who recounted the anecdote to her PI, David Hu, when she joined his lab. With a track record of interest in the mechanics of animal grooming, Hu's imagination was gripped. How could the horse aim a tail flick with such deadly precision? '[It] seemed like a question "hidden in plain sight"', chuckles Matherne, recognising that the puzzle presented her with the ideal opportunity to combine her life-long passion for all things equestrian with a career in biomechanics. Matherne, Hu and colleagues publish their discovery that animals swish their tails to generate a curtain of breeze that wafts insects away in Journal of Experimental Biology.
	PPR virus poses threat to conservation A team of conservationists from the Royal Veterinary College, WCS, Food and Agricultural Organization of the United Nations, University of Veterinary Medicine, Vienna published a letter in this week's edition of the journal Science on the threat of the virus peste des petits ruminants (PPR) to conservation.
	EU agrees to sharply boost Baltic cod catch quotas European Union ministers agreed on Monday to sharply boost catch quotas for western Baltic Sea cod next year but put lower limits on fishing of western herring.
Researchers produce virus-resistant pigs, could vastly improve global animal health Researchers at the University of Missouri have successfully produced a litter of pigs that are genetically resistant to a deadly porcine virus.
	Aussie same-sex penguin 'couple' tickled pink by foster egg Two male penguins who have paired up as a "same-sex couple" have become so good at nesting that zookeepers in Sydney have given them a real egg to look after.

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