Science X Newsletter Monday, Oct 29

Dear Reader ,

Here is your customized Science X Newsletter for October 29, 2018:

Spotlight Stories Headlines

Detecting fake face images created by both humans and machines

Our microbes are starving, and that's a good thing

Researchers create scalable platform for on-chip quantum emitters

Manganese may finally solve hydrogen fuel cells' catalyst problem

Bitcoin can push global warming above 2 C in a couple decades

Finally, a robust fuel cell that runs on methane at practical temperatures

Sweet discovery: New study pushes back the origins of chocolate

Genetic search reveals key to resistance in global cotton pest

Synthetic microorganisms allow scientists to study ancient evolutionary mysteries

Fibers containing systems for mixing, separating, and testing fluids may open up new possibilities for medical screening

Interior northwest Indians used tobacco long before European contact

3C 17 is a member of a newly identified galaxy cluster, observations reveal

Rich people don't live that much longer than the poor: study

A solar cell that does double duty for renewable energy

Researchers use the Large Millimeter Telescope to observe a powerful molecular wind in an active spiral galaxy

Astronomy & Space news

	3C 17 is a member of a newly identified galaxy cluster, observations reveal Using the Gemini Observatory and NASA's Chandra spacecraft, a team of astronomers has provided new information about the radio galaxy 3C 17 and its environment. The observations show that 3C 17 is the brightest member of a newly found galaxy cluster. The finding is reported in a paper published October 18 on arXiv.org.
	Researchers use the Large Millimeter Telescope to observe a powerful molecular wind in an active spiral galaxy An international team of astrophysicists using the Large Millimeter Telescope (LMT) in central Mexico has detected an unexpected and powerful outflow of molecular gas in a distant active galaxy similar to the Milky Way. The galaxy is 800 million light years from Earth. The findings are published in the current edition of Astrophysical Journal Letters.
	Light echos in the Eta Carinae Nebula The young star Eta Carinae shines prominently in the skies of the southern hemisphere. Although located relatively far away from Earth (about seven thousand light-years away, as compared with the average distance of naked-eye stars of about a thousand light-years), it can be seen easily by people in the southern hemisphere because it is fantastically bright—about five million times more luminous than our Sun. Astronomers have suggested one reason it is so bright is because it is very massive – perhaps as much as 200 times more massive than our Sun, making it one of the most massive stars known. (Massive stars consume their hydrogen much more quickly than Sun-like stars and are hotter and brighter.)
	Astronomers witness slow death of nearby galaxy Astronomers from The Australian National University (ANU) and CSIRO have witnessed, in the finest detail ever, the slow death of a neighbouring dwarf galaxy, which is gradually losing its power to form stars.
	Hubble Space Telescope working again after 3-week shutdown The Hubble Space Telescope is studying the cosmos once again after a three-week shutdown.
	Rocket carrying 1st UAE-made satellite launched from Japan A Japanese rocket on Monday lifted the United Arab Emirates' first locally made satellite into orbit successfully from a space center in southern Japan.
	China, France launch satellite to study climate change China sent its first ever satellite built in partnership with another country into space on Monday, a device tasked with helping scientists better predict dangerous cyclones and climate change by monitoring ocean surface winds and waves.
	Image: Ancient cold front in Perseus A gigantic cold front in the Perseus galaxy cluster has been observed by a trio of X-ray telescopes.
	Rocky? Habitable? Sizing up a galaxy of planets The planets so far discovered across the Milky Way are a motley, teeming multitude: hot Jupiters, gas giants, small, rocky worlds and mysterious planets larger than Earth and smaller than Neptune. As we prepare to add many thousands more to the thousands found already, the search goes on for evidence of life – and for a world something like our own.
	Image: Hubble sets sights on a galaxy with a bright heart This Hubble Space Telescope image shows the unbarred spiral galaxy NGC 5033, located about 40 million light-years away in the constellation of Canes Venatici (the Hunting Dogs). The galaxy is similar in size to our own galaxy, the Milky Way, at just over 100,000 light-years across. Like in the Milky Way, NGC 5033's spiral arms are dotted with blue regions, indicating ongoing star formation. The blue patches house hot, young stars in the process of forming, while the older, cooler stars populating the galaxy's center cause it to appear redder in color.
	Astrophysicists study asteroid 3200 Phaeton Polarimetric investigation of a near-Earth asteroid Phaethon was carried out in December 2017 on its closest approach to the Earth. The study was conducted in collaboration with scientists from the Ussuriysk Astrophysical Observatory and the Astronomical Institute of the Slovak Academy of Sciences. The article has been published in the scientific journal Astronomy and Astrophysics.
	Desert test drive for Mars rover controlled from 1,000 miles away The ExoFiT Mars rover testing team will use a new model called 'Charlie' to test hardware, software and to practise science operations for the future European Space Agency (ESA) ExoMars rover, which will look for life on Mars in 2021.
	Has a new dwarf galaxy been found hiding behind Andromeda? One of the greatest challenges of astronomy is locating objects in space that are obscured by the light of nearby, brighter objects. In addition to making extra-solar planets very difficult to directly image, this problem also intrudes on surveys of the local Universe, where astronomers are unable to detect dwarf and isolated galaxies because of all the brighter ones surrounding them.
	NASA spacecraft sets record for closest approach to sun NASA's Parker Solar Probe is now closer to the sun than any spacecraft has ever gotten.

Technology news

	Detecting fake face images created by both humans and machines Researchers at the State University of New York in Korea have recently explored new ways to detect both machine and human-created fake images of faces. In their paper, published in ACM Digital Library, the researchers used ensemble methods to detect images created by generative adversarial networks (GANs) and employed pre-processing techniques to improve the detection of images created by humans using Photoshop.
	Finally, a robust fuel cell that runs on methane at practical temperatures Fuel cells have not been particularly known for their practicality and affordability, but that may have just changed. There's a new cell that runs on cheap fuel at temperatures comparable to automobile engines and which slashes materials costs.
	Fibers containing systems for mixing, separating, and testing fluids may open up new possibilities for medical screening Microfluidics devices are tiny systems with microscopic channels that can be used for chemical or biomedical testing and research. In a potentially game-changing advance, MIT researchers have now incorporated microfluidics systems into individual fibers, making it possible to process much larger volumes of fluid, in more complex ways. In a sense, the advance opens up a new "macro" era of microfluidics.
	IBM buys software company Red Hat for $34bn in bid for cloud dominance IBM said Sunday it has reached a deal to buy open source software company Red Hat for $34 billion, among the biggest tech mergers in history which the computing giant said would enhance its cloud offerings.
	Machine learning to optimize traffic and reduce pollution Applying artificial intelligence to self-driving cars to smooth traffic, reduce fuel consumption, and improve air quality predictions may sound like the stuff of science fiction, but researchers at the Department of Energy's Lawrence Berkeley National Laboratory (Berkeley Lab) have launched two research projects to do just that.
	ABB robots will go to work at Shanghai factory of future 2020 ABB has announced its intent to build a $150 million factory in Shanghai; the Swiss-based engineering group is drawing lots of press not because of the factory's investment dollars but what this factory means as a manufacturing site of the future—across industries, it is likely to become a showcase on many levels.
	Can a holographic screen help a new phone break out? Most leading phones offer the same basics: Big screens, decent battery life and good cameras. So when a newcomer brings something innovative to the party, why is it difficult to break through a phone market dominated by Apple and Samsung?
	Lab studies technology that communicates by touch Imagine the panic. Fire alarms blare. Smoke fills the room, and you're left only with the sense of touch, feeling desperately along walls as you try to find the doorway.
	Eye-tracking glasses provide a new vision for the future of augmented reality Battery-free eye-tracking glasses developed at Dartmouth College could create an even more realistic experience for augmented reality enthusiasts. The new technology improves player controls for gaming and allows for more accurate image displays.
	The future of energy supply: Combined energy storage a key technology The idea is simple. A team headed by Franz Georg Pikl, a Ph.D. student at the Institute of Hydraulic Engineering and Water Resources Management at TU Graz, has combined the advantages of pumped storage technology and heat storage using water as a medium to create a "hot-water pumped storage hydropower plant." The new system stores and supplies electricity, heat and cooling energy as required.
	Solar power – largest study to date discovers 25% power loss across UK Researchers at the University of Huddersfield have undertaken the largest study to date into the effectiveness of solar panels across the UK and discovered that parts of the country are suffering an overall power loss of up to 25% because of the issue of regional 'hot spots'. Hot spots were also found to be more prevalent in the North of England than in the south.
	What if humans are no longer earth's most intelligent beings? In his final, posthumously published book, famed physicist Stephen Hawking raises an alarm about the dangers of artificial intelligence, or AI, and the existential threat it could pose to humanity.
	3-D-knitted shells save on construction materials and time With just the press of a button, ETH researchers knit a textile that serves as the primary shaping element for curved concrete shells. Now they have used the new technology to create a five-tonne concrete structure for an exhibition in Mexico City.
	Toward language inference in medicine Recent times have witnessed significant progress in natural language understanding by AI, such as machine translation and question answering. A vital reason behind these developments is the creation of datasets, which use machine learning models to learn and perform a specific task. Construction of such datasets in the open domain often consists of text originating from news articles. This is typically followed by collection of human annotations from crowd-sourcing platforms such as Crowdflower, or Amazon Mechanical Turk.
	Research investigates 'smart' highway signs to prevent wrong-way driving crashes Innovative traffic safety research from Florida State University, incorporating a fascinating mix of engineering and psychology, is being deployed on highways to save lives by targeting a deadly problem: wrong-way driving crashes.
	Treating the fear of spiders with augmented reality Arachnophobia is the technical term for the fear of spiders. Approximately 3.5 to 6.1 percent of the population suffer from this phobia. Exposure therapy is the most common form of treatment. However, 60 to 80 percent of arachnophobes do not receive any therapy because of a lack of services. Others simply cannot bear the terror of facing up to real spiders. Together with partners, Fraunhofer researchers are developing a digital therapy system that is designed to facilitate treatment in the home environment and give sufferers a better sense of security. A demonstrator of the system will be exhibited at the MEDICA trade fair in Düsseldorf from November 12 to 15 (Hall 10, Booth G05/H04).
	How to teach AI to speak Welsh (and other minority languages) Pioneering smart home technologies and voice assistants don't, as a rule, speak Welsh – although the Welsh government now aims to change that through their Welsh Language Technology Action Plan. But is their aim feasible, is it necessary, and how can it be done?
	Red Hat soar on IBM deal Shares of Red Hat skyrocketed at the opening bell Monday after IBM, in the biggest acquisition of its 100-year history, acquired the software company.
	PhasorSec tool protects power grids from cyberattack Researchers at Dartmouth College have developed a technique to protect power grids from attacks against utility control systems. The tool, PhasorSec, eliminates vulnerabilities that can shut down facility operations, trigger longer-term blackouts and even cause permanent physical damage.
	Team improves structural health monitoring with magnetostrictive transducer A new, more powerful generation of a patented Southwest Research Institute magnetostrictive sensor withstands extreme temperatures, automatically adjusts frequencies and incorporates a stronger magnet. The compact magnetostrictive transducer (MsT) more accurately detects potential problems in oil, gas and chemical industry metal and nonmetal structures such as pipelines, storage tanks and anchor rods.
	IBM's $34B Red Hat deal is risky bid to boost cloud business IBM's plan to buy Red Hat is both the biggest acquisition in IBM's century-long history and a risky effort to position itself as a major player in cloud computing.
	Google to give away $25 million to fund humane AI projects Google will give away $25 million to projects that propose ways to use the artificial intelligence of computers to help create a more humane society.
	US election integrity depends on security-challenged firms It was the kind of security lapse that gives election officials nightmares. In 2017, a private contractor left data on Chicago's 1.8 million registered voters—including addresses, birth dates and partial Social Security numbers—publicly exposed for months on an Amazon cloud server.
	No chance for bacteria on implants Hip and dental implant operations are routine. But not entirely risk-free. They may result in infection that is difficult to control with oral or intravenous antibiotics. In such cases, the implant will probably need to be replaced. Fraunhofer researchers can now apply a precisely matched drug directly to the replacement implant while significantly increasing the effectiveness of the antibiotic via a synergism with silver ions. Their research will be on display at the MEDICA and COMPAMED trade fairs in Düsseldorf from November 12 to 15, 2018 (Hall 8a, Booth P13).
Online tool designed to calculate property energy efficiency Achieving energy efficient housing while maximising economic profit is the objective of RentalCal, an online tool designed by the University of Alicante together with experts from eight European countries. This is the first tool, open to anyone, designed for calculating the incentives and costs involved in energy efficiency renovation works in housing.
	S&P cuts IBM debt rating following Red Hat acquisition S&P Global Ratings on Monday cut the grade for IBM by one notch following the massive acquisition of cloud computing firm Red Hat for a staggering $34 billion in cash.

Medicine & Health news

	Rich people don't live that much longer than the poor: study New research results, published in Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences (PNAS), challenge previous findings of huge differences in life expectancy between the rich and those at the bottom of the income scale. In real life, people don't necessarily stay poor or stay rich, as assumed in previous research. Three economists from the University of Copenhagen have now found a way to take this mobility between income-classes into account providing a more realistic way to calculate life expectancy for people from different levels of society. Their results show that in reality the difference between the lifespan of a rich and a poor person is really not that big.
	Drugs' side effects in lungs 'more widespread than thought' A systematic review of research has revealed that the toxic effects on the lung of drugs commonly taken to treat a range of common conditions is much more widespread than thought.
	Guns send over 8,000 US kids to ER each year, analysis says Gun injuries, including many from assaults, sent 75,000 U.S. children and teens to emergency rooms over nine years at a cost of almost $3 billion, a first-of-its-kind study found.
	Breast milk, formula nurture similarities, differences in gut microbes Infant formula is designed to mimic human breast milk not only in nutrients but also by nurturing a similar set of microbes in the digestive tract. Such microbes are indispensable in keeping us healthy: They crowd out disease-causing bacteria, influence our metabolism, and synthesize many vitamins and amino acids, the building blocks of proteins.
	Casino lights and sounds encourage risky decision-making The blinking lights and exciting jingles in casinos may encourage risky decision-making and potentially promote problem gambling behaviour, suggests new research from the University of British Columbia.
	Astrocytes regulate signal speeds of neurons The transmission speed of neurons fluctuates in the brain to achieve an optimal flow of information required for day-to-day activities, according to a National Institutes of Health study. The results, appearing in PNAS, suggest that brain cells called astrocytes alter the transmission speed of neurons by changing the thickness of myelin, an insulation material, and the width of gaps in myelin called nodes of Ranvier, which amplify signals.
	Naps help some preschoolers learn, but may hinder learning in children with Down syndrome A growing body of research has linked sleep with improved learning and memory consolidation in both children and adults. Yet, a new study done at the University of Arizona shows that napping may not be universally beneficial.
	Cancer's most deadly assassin exists in every cell A kill code is embedded in every cell in the body whose function may be to cause the self-destruction of cells that become cancerous, reports a new Northwestern Medicine study. As soon as the cell's inner bodyguards sense it is mutating into cancer, they punch in the kill code to extinguish the mutating cell.
	Obese mice lose a third of their fat using a natural protein To the great surprise of cancer researchers, a protein they investigated for its possible role in cancer turned out to be a powerful regulator of metabolism. The Georgetown University-led study found that forced expression of this protein in a laboratory strain of obese mice showed a remarkable reduction of their fat mass despite a genetic predisposition to eat all the time.
	Brainwave activity reveals potential biomarker for autism in children Autism spectrum disorder (ASD) is a neurodevelopmental disorder that can impair communication ability, socialization, and verbal and motor skills. It generally starts in early childhood and is diagnosed through behavior observation. This means of assessment can be imprecise, which is especially problematic when early identification is vital for developmental follow up. A strong need exists for objective and measurable clinical indicators, known as biomarkers.
	Anti-cancer virus fits tumor receptor like a 'key in a lock' Seneca Valley virus sounds like the last bug you'd want to catch, but it could be the next breakthrough cancer therapy. Now, scientists at the Okinawa Institute of Science and Technology (OIST) and the University of Otago have described exactly how the virus interacts with tumors—and why it leaves healthy tissues alone.
	Imaging collaboration sheds new light on cancer growth Institute researchers have uncovered new insights into how the normal controls on cell growth are lost in cancer cells, leading to rapid tumour expansion.
	Using the microbiome to help premature babies grow About half of babies born prematurely struggle to grow, putting them at risk of health problems that can last a lifetime. Despite years of research, physicians lack a method that consistently helps these infants thrive. A study suggests that the gut microbiome – the trillions of tiny bacteria that live in the digestive tract – could help doctors personalize nutrients and feeding patterns to help the most vulnerable babies get a stronger start to life.
	Sniffer dogs could detect malaria in people Dogs could be trained to sniff out malaria in people according to new research aimed at preventing the spread of the deadly disease.
	Psychologists devise free test for measuring intelligence Raven's Advanced Progressive Matrices, or APM, is a widely used standardized test to measure reasoning ability, often administered to undergraduate students. One drawback, however, is that the test, which has been in use for about 80 years, takes 40 to 60 minutes to complete. Another is that the test kit and answer sheets can cost hundreds of dollars, this amount increasing with more people taking the test.
	Scientists neutralize reactive nitrogen molecules to enhance cancer immunotherapy Immunotherapy—harnessing T-cells to attack cancer cells in the body—has given hope to patients who endure round after round of treatment, including chemotherapy, to little effect. For all of its promise, however, immunotherapy still benefits only a minority of patients—a reality driving research in the field for ways to improve the relatively new approach.
Oral curcumin shows no benefit in reducing inflammation following vascular surgery A study of oral curcumin, the active medicinal ingredient in turmeric, showed no benefit in preventing inflammation and complications in patients undergoing elective surgery for aortic aneurysm repair, according to a large randomized controlled trial in CMAJ (Canadian Medical Association Journal).
	Getting leptin levels 'just right' may provide cardiovascular protection Like that famous bowl of porridge, when leptin levels are "just right" they help protect our cardiovascular health, scientists say.
Consequences-focused cognitive training may promote healthier habits Interventions aimed at reducing unhealthy behaviors often focus on retraining people's mental associations, but a series of studies suggests that showing people the consequences of the behaviors may be more effective. The findings are published in Psychological Science, a journal of the Association for Psychological Science.
	Peer support can help curb acute care for persons with depression and diabetes A new study published by University of Alabama at Birmingham researchers shows that community health workers and peer support can help those suffering from depression and diabetes.
	Lifetime peer influences, and parenting, predict adult coercive relationships Crude, vulgar or offensive talk, even among friends in private, can signal the beginning of a pathway leading to antisocial behaviors, substance abuse and romantic relationships dominated by anger, control and fear.
	User-friendly tools help older adults guide future medical care A user-friendly website on advance care planning, as well as easy-to-read advance directives, can be highly effective in empowering both English- and Spanish-speaking older adults to plan for their future medical care, according to a study by researchers at UC San Francisco.
	At least one year between pregnancies reduces risks for mother and baby Twelve to 18 months seems to be the ideal length of time between giving birth and getting pregnant again, according to new research from the University of British Columbia and the Harvard T.H. Chan School of Public Health.
	Donor hearts at increased disease risk offer better survival rates for transplant recipients Accepting an organ that has an increased risk of potentially transmitting disease offers a higher one-year survival rate for candidates on the heart transplant list over waiting for an organ with less risk, according to a study published today in the Journal of the American College of Cardiology. Increased risk donors make up a growing number in the donor pool for organs, offering a potential strategy to reduce waitlist mortality for patients awaiting transplant. For many of these patients, the benefit of proceeding with transplantation sooner outweighs the low risk of disease transmission associated with these donors.
	Home monitoring confirms clinic diagnosis of high blood pressure Blood pressure readings of 130/80 millimeters of mercury (mm Hg) or higher taken at home can be used to diagnose hypertension in white, black and Hispanic U.S. adults, according to new research in the American Heart Association's journal Hypertension.
	Experimental vaccine may reduce post-stroke blood clot risk A vaccine may one day be able to replace oral blood thinners to reduce the risk of secondary strokes caused by blood clots, without increasing the risk of serious bleeding or triggering an autoimmune response, according to new research in the American Heart Association's journal Hypertension.
	Higher iron levels associated with increased risk of certain types of stroke People with higher iron levels may be at greater risk of certain types of stroke, a new study has found.
	Probing the pathology of impaired cognition Neurofilament light (NFL) is a support protein within large axons in the brain's white matter that supports nerve signal transmission. When axons are injured, increased NFL concentrations are found in the cerebrospinal fluid that surrounds the brain, representing an important biomarker for axonal breakdown.
	Men are less likely than women to survive some cancers, study shows Men with particular cancers generally fare worse than women with the same cancers, new Australian research has found.
	Study investigates link between loneliness and age in elderly New Zealanders Loneliness is associated with reduced quality of life and morbidity and mortality and typically worsens with aging. Loneliness may be considered a public health hazard because of its association with a wide range of conditions, including hypertension, cardiovascular disease, cerebrovascular disease, Alzheimer disease, depression and insomnia.
	Increasing alcohol tax could benefit health and save money for society: NZ study Increasing the excise tax on alcohol would likely result in fewer people dying or being injured in vehicle crashes – and generate savings for society, according to a just-published New Zealand study.
	Intimate-partner domestic violence in the U.S. Statistics on domestic violence show the wide scope of the problem.
	Ensuring children get enough physical activity while being safe is a delicate balancing act A Sydney playground was closed earlier this year after children and adults suffered a spate of injuries including broken bones, burns and bruises on a giant tube-slide. The Hilltop Playground had been open for less than one month. The injuries were described as "horrific" and the media questioned "how the 30m-long, 14m-tall slide passed safety rules".
	In search of an Alzheimer's cure For decades, the field of Alzheimer's research has been dominated by a major hypothesis: that a build-up of beta amyloid (amyloid-β) in the brain causes Alzheimer's disease. However, despite years of research and billions of dollars spent on clinical trials, there is still no cure.
	The spread of cancerous cells determined with new model developed at YSPH Researchers at the Yale School of Public Health have discovered a mathematical relationship that sheds new light on the rate at which cancer cells mutate and why some survive and rapidly multiply, yet others do not.
	Experimental vaccine may reduce post-stroke blood clot risk A vaccine may one day be able to replace oral blood thinners to reduce the risk of secondary strokes caused by blood clots, without increasing the risk of serious bleeding or triggering an autoimmune response, according to new research in the American Heart Association's journal Hypertension.
	Massive study confirms that loneliness increases risk of dementia A new Florida State University College of Medicine study involving data from 12,000 participants collected over 10 years confirms the heavy toll that loneliness can take on your health: It increases your risk of dementia by 40 percent.
	Harnessing the power of fear People love fear. Consider the enduring popularity, for instance, of thriller and horror movies since the invention of the motion picture. Think Nosferatu (1922), Dracula (1931), Frankenstein (1931), M (1931) and Werewolf of London (1935), among scores of others. This year a sequel to the classic slasher-flick Halloween was released 40 years after the original.
	Do you know someone who has dementia? Dementia is not a specific disease, but a syndrome, a group of symptoms, that according to the National Institute on Aging cause "the loss of cognitive functioning—thinking, remembering and reasoning—and behavioral abilities to such an extent that it interferes with a person's daily life and activities." Alzheimer's is the most common type of dementia. Others include vascular dementia and dementia with Lewy bodies.
	Ground-breaking discovery finds new link between autoimmune diseases and a gut bacterium Could microbes in our guts be sending out the wrong message? Queen's University Belfast researchers have, for the first time, found a specific microbe in the gut that pumps out protein molecules that mimic a human protein, causing the human defence system to turn on its own cells by mistake.
	The development of children's language skills while still in the womb Children with brain injuries are able to reorganize their language-relevant brain areas into other, healthy brain areas and thus maintain their ability to speak. However, this is only possible to a certain extent, as they still often have poorer language skills compared to healthy children. Brain areas responsible for language are apparently already determined during fetal development. These are the first central results of an interdisciplinary research cooperation at MedUni Vienna, which investigates the development of language in the brain from the unborn to the adolescent.
	How to tell the difference between hay fever and the common cold You wake up with a runny nose and, come to think of it, you've been sneezing more than usual. It feels like the start of a cold but it's October – the start of hay fever season – so what is the more likely affiliation?
	Promoting health through waka ama (outrigger canoe) Waka ama (outrigger canoe) is one of the fastest growing sports in Aotearoa New Zealand. Now Massey University researchers have joined advocates who increasingly see the activity as a vehicle for hauora (health) promotion. As well as the physical benefits for paddlers, it also has a strong tikanga (customs and traditional values) and encourages te reo Māori through karakia (prayer), waiata (song) and the general terms used associated with waka.
	The hunt for an Ebola drug In December 2013, a 2-year-old boy in a small village in Guinea fell ill and died. Days later his 3-year-old sister and their pregnant mother also died. That was the beginning of the largest Ebola outbreak in recorded history, during which the virus spread rapidly across West Africa, killing more than 11,000 people in two years.
Evidence mounts that an eye scan may detect early Alzheimer's disease Results from two studies show that a new, non-invasive imaging device can see signs of Alzheimer's disease in a matter of seconds. The researchers show that the small blood vessels in the retina at the back of the eye are altered in patients with Alzheimer's. Even patients who have a family history of Alzheimer's but have no symptoms show these telltale signs. And they showed that they can distinguish between people with Alzheimer's and those with only mild cognitive impairment. Results from these studies are being presented at AAO 2018, the 122nd Annual Meeting of the American Academy of Ophthalmology.
	Australia's changing relationship with alcohol New research from La Trobe University has revealed that 30 per cent of Australians recently reduced the quantity of their alcohol consumption and a further 29 per cent reduced the frequency of their drinking, while six per cent kicked the habit for good.
	Rising income inequalities are linked to unhealthy diets and loneliness One in every five people in the UK today are living in poverty – that is, living with a household income below 60% of the median national income when housing costs are considered. And according to recent research by the Joseph Rowntree Foundation, two thirds of children in poverty live in a working family. These rates are expected to increase sharply by 2021-22, assuming there is no change in government policy.
	The role neurotransmitters play in contextual preference reversals With advanced neuroimaging tools and clever experimentation CODIR went beyond the neoclassical behavioural economics contention that humans act irrationally; the team actually quantified precisely what information processing limitations lead to rationality violations.
	Suicide risk higher among older vets who were in jail Veterans released from prison are five times as likely to attempt suicide as their peers who have never been incarcerated, report UConn Health researchers in an article in press in the American Journal of Geriatric Psychiatry.
One in ten people may opt out of proposed organ donor system A new study has revealed that around one in 10 people are considering opting out of a proposed new system that aims to increase organ donation by presuming consent.
	Bigger brains mean bigger risk of cancer It may simply be that having a big brain is itself the cause.
Diabetes medication may protect against a common cause of blindness Researchers from Taiwan have shown that people with type 2 diabetes who took a common diabetes medication, metformin, had a significantly lower rate of age-related macular degeneration (AMD). The study suggests that the anti-inflammatory and anti-oxidative effects of metformin can protect against AMD while it controls diabetes. The research will be presented today at AAO 2018, the 122nd Annual Meeting of the American Academy of Ophthalmology.
	Can attending a top high school reduce teens' marijuana abuse? Students from lower-income neighborhoods who attended one of five high-performing Los Angeles County high schools were less likely to abuse marijuana than those who weren't offered admission, UCLA researchers found.
	Veterans with PTSD improve mental health after therapeutic horseback riding intervention Veterans with combat-related post-traumatic stress disorder were less anxious and depressed and had an improved quality of life after an eight-week therapeutic horseback riding program, according to a Baylor University study.
	New drug candidates reverse drug resistance in multiple myeloma in preclinical models In an article published online October 12, 2018 by Leukemia, Medical University of South Carolina investigators report that a new compound enhances the efficacy of proteasome inhibitors (PIs), the standard-of-care for the treatment of multiple myeloma (MM), in cell culture and in preclinical models. The efficacy and safety of the novel combination regimen will need to be validated in humans, but preclinical findings are promising and suggest that it could help overcome PI resistance in MM.
Mass shootings may trigger unnecessary blood donations Mass shootings often trigger a sharp increase in blood donations for affected communities but more than 15 percent of the product intended to save lives could be discarded, according to a study released today in The Journal of Trauma and Acute Care Surgery,
	In California, some doctors sell 'medical exemptions' for kids' vaccinations (HealthDay)—A handful of California doctors are making hay off anti-vaccine parents, charging hundreds of dollars to issue medical exemptions for required childhood vaccinations, a new study claims.
	Firsthand 9/11 exposure fueling alcohol- and drug-related deaths: study (HealthDay)—People directly exposed to the World Trade Center terrorist attacks appear at increased risk of drug- and alcohol-related death, a new study finds.
	An action plan when you regain that lost weight (HealthDay)—It's the most frustrating part of dieting: Regaining the weight you worked so hard to lose.
Gastric bypass surgery associated with greater weight loss in adults Adults with severe obesity had greater initial and sustained weight loss with gastric bypass surgery than either sleeve gastrectomy or adjustable gastric banding, according to a new study published today in the Annals of Internal Medicine.
Thrill-seeking, search for meaning fuel political violence What drives someone to support or participate in politically or religiously motivated acts of violence, and what can be done to prevent them? While one factor may be a search for meaning in life, research published by the American Psychological Association suggests people may be further driven by an increased need for excitement and feeding that need with thrilling but non-violent alternatives may curb the desire.
	Combination drug targeting opioid system may help relieve symptoms of major depression Two clinical trials of an investigational drug that targets the opioid system support its safety and effectiveness in reducing symptoms of major depression, when added to standard antidepressant treatment. The results of these Phase 3 trials of a drug combining buprenorphine with samidorphan are reported today in Molecular Psychiatry by a research team led by a Massachusetts General Hospital physician.
	Exercise may lessen fall risk for older adults with Alzheimer's Alzheimer's disease (AD) is a brain disease that causes changes that kill brain cells. AD is a type of dementia, which causes memory loss and problems with thinking and making decisions. People with AD and other forms of dementia have difficulties performing the daily activities others might consider routine.
Interventions to delay and prevent type 2 diabetes are underused, researchers say Lifestyle interventions, medication and surgery for patients diagnosed with pre-diabetes is proven to delay or prevent Type 2 diabetes in the majority of patients, but limited access to the often expensive treatments is fueling rising rates of the disease, according to research in The Journal of the American Osteopathic Association.
Robotic arm may help to rehabilitate chronic stroke victims, finds new study New research published in Frontiers in Neurology finds that robotic arm rehabilitation in chronic stroke patients with aphasia, the loss of ability to understand or express speech, may promote speech and language function recovery.
Opioid-affected births to rural residents increase in rural and urban hospitals The opioid epidemic has had devastating effects on families in rural communities, places where both maternity care and substance use treatment are limited.
	New study—reduced screen time for young highly recommended for well-being Too much time spent on gaming, smartphones and watching television is linked to heightened levels and diagnoses of anxiety or depression in children as young as age 2, according to a new study.
	Truck driver pain and discomfort can be alleviated Almost 60 per cent of truck drivers in a recent Canadian study reported experiencing musculoskeletal (MSD) pain and discomfort on the job, even though it may be preventable.
Unapproved therapies cause significantly more patient injuries than reported A team of ophthalmologists went looking for scientific evidence in support of commercially available "cell therapy" for eye diseases. Not only did they find virtually none; they instead discovered a growing number of patients are being irreparably harmed by unapproved cell therapies. Their findings were presented today at AAO 2018, the 122nd Annual Meeting of the American Academy of Ophthalmology.
	Relying on Dr. Google to diagnose eye problems may be dangerous to your health A study examining the diagnoses generated by WebMD Symptom Checker showed the online tool was correct only 26 percent of the time. And the recommendation for the top diagnosis was often inappropriate, at times recommending self-care at home instead of going to the emergency room. The research will be presented today at AAO 2018, the 122nd Annual Meeting of the American Academy of Ophthalmology. The researcher suggests ophthalmology-related symptom checkers have an inherent limitation because most eye diseases and conditions require an in-person examination.
Aggressive treatment for some stage IV lung cancer pts can dramatically improve OS Adding radiation therapy or surgery to systemic therapy for stage IV lung cancer patients whose cancer has spread to a limited number of sites can extend overall survival time significantly, according to new results from a multicenter, randomized, controlled phase II study. The findings were presented last week at the 60th Annual Meeting of the American Society for Radiation Oncology (ASTRO).
Radiation therapy cuts low risk of recurrence by nearly 3/4 for patients with 'good risk' A subset of patients with low-risk breast cancer is highly unlikely to see cancer return following breast conservation surgery but can lower that risk even further with radiation therapy, finds a new long-term clinical trial report. These 12-year follow-up data from the only prospective, randomized trial to compare recurrence outcomes after treatment for low-risk ductal carcinoma in situ (DCIS) were presented last week at the 60th Annual Meeting of the American Society for Radiation Oncology (ASTRO).
DR Congo Ebola death toll rises to 170 The Ebola outbreak in eastern Democratic Republic of Congo has claimed 170 lives, health authorities said on Sunday.
	UK Treasury chief to put cash into mental health Britain's Treasury chief is planning to pour 2 billion pounds ($2.5 billion) into mental health services as he delivers his final budget before the country leaves the European Union.
	Liquid-biopsy microRNA biomarkers to predict risk for diabetic kidney disease A recent study from the Madras Diabetes Research Foundation, Chennai, India and University of Lyon, France, brings new hope for using 'liquid-biopsy' exosomal microRNA biomarkers (miRNAs) from urine to predict risk for kidney disease in diabetes patients.
The long-term effects of alcohol demand on retail alcohol markets If you live in an urban area of the US, the number of alcohol outlets in your neighborhood is probably not related to your or your neighbors' alcohol use. Although greater numbers of outlets have been related to more alcohol use and related problems, in recent studies it has also been shown that more outlets open in neighborhoods surrounded by areas where the demand for alcohol is greatest. Outlets typically open in low-income neighborhoods located near areas with high-income populations. Until this study, we did not know whether two key correlates of alcohol demand—income and population size—had long-term causal effects on the growth of number of outlets over time. In this study we show that income and population size have long-term multi-year effects on the growth of alcohol markets in neighborhood areas.
	Green light therapy moves to next phase of study: HIV-related pain After proving surprisingly beneficial in human clinical trials at the University of Arizona for the treatment of pain resulting from fibromyalgia and migraines, green light therapy now will be tested in a preclinical study to determine if it successfully can control HIV-related neuropathic pain.
	Beating breast cancer only to die of opioid use – a sad Appalachian story The availability of life-prolonging treatments such as hormonal therapies and other targeted chemotherapy has led to a sharp decline in breast cancer deaths in the United States.
	New guidelines on best practices for videoconferencing-based telemental health New guidance is available from the American Psychiatric Association (APA) and the American Telemedicine Association (ATA) to assist in the development and delivery of effective and safe interactive videoconferencing-based mental health services. This kind of telemental health service can increase access to quality healthcare, and has shown in some settings to be more effective than in-person treatment. These new best practices are published in Telemedicine and e-Health.
	Hormone-blocking injections reduce early menopause from breast cancer treatment Final results of SWOG Cancer Research Network's groundbreaking international Prevention of Early Menopause Study (POEMS) clinical trial are in, and they show continued evidence that women who get injections of the hormone drug goserelin along with standard breast cancer chemotherapy are more likely to become pregnant—without developing negative side effects or shortening their lives.
Long-term side effects similarly low for weekly, conventional breast radiation, trial finds In a 10-year study of women who received radiation therapy to treat early-stage breast cancer, those receiving fewer, larger individual doses experienced similarly low rates of late-onset side effects as those undergoing conventional radiation therapy. Findings from the multi-institutional U.K. FAST clinical trial were presented last week at the 60th Annual Meeting of the American Society for Radiation Oncology (ASTRO).

Biology news

	Our microbes are starving, and that's a good thing Each of us is only half human. The other half is microbial. Trillions of viruses, fungi, bacteria and other microscopic organisms coat our skin and line our vital organs.
	Genetic search reveals key to resistance in global cotton pest In the most recent battle in the unending war between farmers and bugs, the bugs are biting back by adapting to crops genetically engineered to kill them.
	Synthetic microorganisms allow scientists to study ancient evolutionary mysteries Scientists at Scripps Research and their collaborators have created microorganisms that may recapitulate key features of organisms thought to have lived billions of years ago, allowing them to explore questions about how life evolved from inanimate molecules to single-celled organisms to the complex, multicellular lifeforms we see today.
	Smell and behavior: The scents of taking action In all animals, including humans, smell—the oldest of the five senses—plays a predominant role in many behaviors essential for survival and reproduction. It has been known since ancient times that animals react to odours.
	Biologists discover source for boosting tumor cell drug sensitivity DNA-damaging agents, or "DDAs," make up the most widely used group of cancer drugs. Yet their therapeutic success has been curtailed by drug resistance—either present in cancer cells from the disease onset or arising during treatment.
	Baby's tears and mom's libido A substance in young mouse tears makes female mice more likely to reject male sexual advances. This research is part of ongoing efforts at the University of Tokyo to understand how animals communicate using chemicals called pheromones.
	Why some yeasts are better at fermentation in alcohol manufacturing Alcohol has been celebrated throughout history. The ancient Greeks worshiped Dionysus, while the Chinese recognized Yidi as the creator of libertine drink. Unknowingly, both were actually servants of the true alcohol master, yeast. In Japan, some of the best sake is the result of a single mutation in yeast. Researchers at the Nara Institute of Science and Technology (NAIST) report in a new study published in Applied and Environmental Microbiology that the key molecule released from this mutation, PP2AB55δ, allows yeast to ferment alcohol.
	Earliest hominin migrations into the Arabian Peninsula required no novel adaptations A new study, led by scientists from the Max Planck Institute for the Science of Human History and published in Nature Ecology and Evolution, suggests that early hominin dispersals beyond Africa did not involve adaptations to environmental extremes, such as to arid and harsh deserts. The discovery of stone tools and cut-marks on fossil animal remains at the site of Ti's al Ghadah provides definitive evidence for hominins in Saudi Arabia at least 100,000 years earlier than previously known. Stable isotope analysis of the fossil fauna indicates a dominance of grassland vegetation, with aridity levels similar to those found in open savanna settings in eastern Africa today. The stable isotope data indicates that early dispersals of our archaic ancestors were part of a range expansion rather than a result of novel adaptations to new environmental contexts outside Africa.
	RNA-protein network may explain why melanoma grows more With five-year survival rates being around 30 percent for patients with distant metastatic disease, cutaneous melanoma is the leading cause of skin cancer-related deaths. The major causes of the low survival rate for melanoma patients are the limited number of options for patients lacking the BRAF mutation and the intrinsic and acquired resistance to existing therapies. It is therefore essential to develop new therapeutic strategies to eradicate resistant cells and/or target patients irrespective of their driver mutations.
	Chimpanzees react faster to cooperate than make selfish choices When it comes to cooperation, there's no monkey business in how some chimpanzees respond.
	Study provides whole-system view of plant cold stress When temperatures drop, plants can't bundle up. Stuck outside, exposed, plants instead undergo a series of biochemical changes that protect cells from damage. Scientists have described these changes and identified some of the genes controlling them, but it's not clear how all the processes work together. Lacking this global view, plant breeders have struggled to engineer cold-tolerant crops.
	Zebrafish make waves in our understanding of a common craniofacial birth defect Children are not as hard-headed as adults—in a very literal sense. Babies are born with soft spots and flexible joints called sutures at the junctions where various sections of their skull bones meet. If these sutures fuse prematurely, the skull cannot expand to accommodate the child's growing brain—a serious birth defect called craniosynostosis that can cause mental retardation and even death.
	Mountain birds on 'escalator to extinction' as planet warms A meticulous re-creation of a 3-decade-old study of birds on a mountainside in Peru has given scientists a rare chance to prove how the changing climate is pushing species out of the places they are best adapted to.
As Canadian oil exports increase, research explores effects of crude oil on native salmon Oil spills spell disaster for affected wildlife, leading to a number of detrimental outcomes, including suffocation, poisoning and longer-term problems related to exposure to crude oil and its components. New research out of the University of Guelph in Canada takes a closer look at the potential effects on regional salmon populations as Canada eyes expansion of its crude oil export capacity. The findings will be presented today at the American Physiological Society's (APS) Comparative Physiology: Complexity and Integration conference in New Orleans.
	Studying cellular deliveries Many cells, including cancer cells, are known to secrete short RNAs in tiny vesicles, which then move inside other cells—potentially a form of cell-to-cell communication.
	Plant polymers do not always act together to make beautiful shapes In plants, the cell wall acts like a skeleton, providing support and stability, and also like muscle, passing water from the ground all the way to the highest leaves and branches. The structure responsible for water transport is the secondary cell wall, composed of xylem, which NAIST Prof. Taku Demura has been studying.
	Bioactive novel compounds from endangered tropical plant species A Japan-based research team led by Kanazawa University has isolated 17 secondary metabolites, including three novel compounds from the valuable endangered tropical plant species Alangium longiflorum. A newly isolated compound, 8-hydroxytubulosine, showed growth inhibitory effects at submicromolar levels against several human tumor cell lines except for drug transporter-overexpressing cells. Compound 1 caused accumulation of sub-G1 cells with no effect on cell cycle progression, suggesting that this substance is an apoptosis inducer.
	Five vampire traits that exist in the natural world When asked to describe a vampire, most people think of a tall, pale creature, with fangs and a cloak. But were the creatures of folklore inspired by real traits seen in the animal kingdom? From avoiding sunlight to using a cloak, here are five classic vampire characteristics that exist in the natural world.
	Cappuccino made with jackfruit seed flour has chocolate aroma According to a new study, roasted jackfruit seeds can replace between 50 percent and 75 percent of the cocoa that is blended with milk and coffee to make cappuccino without impairing flavor or aroma.
	Why there may be thousands of stink bugs hiding under your sofa It's that time of the year when mornings are met with crisp autumn air, when scarlet and amber leaves crunch beneath your feet and when restaurant menus are filled with everything pumpkin spice.
	Honeybees at risk from Zika pesticides Zika – which can cause severe brain defects in unborn children – is spread by mosquitoes, so the insects are being targeted in the southern US where Zika-carrying mosquito species live.
	Halloween no treat for pets, says veterinarian Halloween can be fun for children and adults alike, but for pets it can be a potentially dangerous holiday, according to a Kansas State University veterinarian.
	Mycoplasma genitalium's cell adhesion mechanism revealed Researchers from the Molecular Biology Institute of Barcelona (IBMB-CSIC) and the Institute of Biotechnology and Biomedicine (IBB-UAB) have discovered the mechanism by which the bacterium Mycoplasma genitalium (Mgen) adheres to human cells. This adhesion is essential for the onset of bacterial infection and subsequent disease development.
	Can Seabiscuit's DNA explain his elite racing ability? Seabiscuit was not an impressive-looking horse. He was considered quite lazy, preferring to eat and sleep in his stall rather than exercise. He'd been written off by most of the racing industry after losing his first 17 races. But Seabiscuit eventually became one of the most beloved thoroughbred champions of all time – voted 1938 Horse of the Year after winning his legendary match race as an underdog against Triple Crown winner War Admiral in 1938.
	UK bumblebee population trends Data collected by Bumblebee Conservation Trust (BBCT) volunteers to assess the country's changing bumblebee populations have been analysed in a new way for the first time at the University of Kent—and show mixed results about their decline, with cause for concern for two species.
They shell rise again: Sea turtles make comeback in Mexico They appear as ghostly shadows riding beneath the surf, their beaks and shells illuminated in the moonlight as they drift in the swells.
	Hidden costs of disease to greater Yellowstone elk For decades researchers have known that a bacterial disease in elk, bison and cattle in the Greater Yellowstone Ecosystem causes periodic abortions in these animals and chronic illness in humans drinking infected cow's milk. The disease, called brucellosis, poses a financial concern for dairy producers and cattle ranchers, but its effects on the wild elk population have generally been considered minor.
	Scientists from the California Academy of Sciences describe 17 new species of sea slugs This National Sea Slug Day, celebrate the addition of 17 new species of nudibranch to the tree of life. Adorned in lavish patterns and colors that range from yellow polka dots to shades of mauve and neon blue, the new marine invertebrates hail from coral reefs across the Indo-Pacific region. Researchers from the California Academy of Sciences described the new-to-science sea slugs in the Zoological Journal of the Linnean Society last month. The team also identified a number of distant relatives that have independently evolved the same color pattern—a first-ever genetic confirmation that color mimicry is widespread in the sea slug world. Their findings reveal how much more there is to learn about what drives nature's styling of these flashy reef residents.
	China permits limited trade of rhino, tiger goods China on Monday announced it was authorising the trade of rhinoceros and tiger parts for scientific, medical and cultural purposes, a move wildlife conservationists fear could have "devastating consequences" globally.
Plant-based 'road salt' good for highways but not for insects Beet juice deicer, a natural alternative to road salt that is considered to be an eco-friendlier winter road management solution, may not be ecologically friendly to nearby aquatic species. The findings—the first to explore the physiological effects of beet juice deicer in freshwater animals—were presented at the American Physiological Society's (APS) Comparative Physiology: Complexity and Integration conference in New Orleans.

---

This email is a free service of Science X Network
You received this email because you subscribed to our list.
If you do not wish to receive such emails in the future, please unsubscribe here.
You are subscribed as jmabs1@gmail.com. You may manage your subscription options from your Science X profile