Science X Newsletter Tuesday, Oct 30

Dear Reader ,

Here is your customized Science X Newsletter for October 30, 2018:

Spotlight Stories Headlines

A new dynamic ensemble active learning method based on a non-stationary bandit

Electronic noise due to temperature difference in atomic-scale junctions

Two high-redshift quasars discovered using OGLE

Defense against joint degeneration

Computer theorists show path to verifying that quantum beats classical

Electronic activity previously invisible to electron microscopes revealed

Tiny light detectors work like gecko ears

Owls help scientists unlock secret of how the brain pays attention

Studies raise questions over how epigenetic information is inherited

NASA spacecraft breaks record for coming closest to Sun

Study uncovers high levels of previously unsuspected pollutant in homes, environment

From streaming TV to Gmail, it's all about the cloud

DRM: Right-to-repair troops score one, happy to see you fix your phone

Tests show integrated quantum chip operations possible

The 10-foot-tall microscopes helping combat world's worst diseases

Astronomy & Space news

	Two high-redshift quasars discovered using OGLE Astronomers report the finding of two new high-redshift quasars using imagery from the Optical Gravitational Lensing Experiment (OGLE). The newly found quasars, designated OGLE J015531−752807 and OGLE J005907−645016, have redshifts of 5.09 and 4.98 respectively. The discovery is detailed in a paper published October 19 on arXiv.org.
	NASA spacecraft breaks record for coming closest to Sun NASA's Parker Solar Probe, which launched earlier this year, has set a new record for becoming the closest human-made object to the Sun, the US space agency announced Monday.
	Synchronized telescope dance puts limits on mysterious flashes in the sky Two outback radio telescopes synchronised to observe the same point of sky have discovered more about one of the universe 's most mysterious events in new research published today.
	Sharing life with the planets next door How life could be shared between planets in close proximity to one another has received a greater insight thanks to new analytics based on previously known and new calculations. The findings are allowing researchers to understand how likely life might be on a given planet in such tight-knit systems if that world shows signs of habitability.
	The coincidence between two overachieving NASA missions Two vastly different NASA spacecraft are about to run out of fuel: The Kepler spacecraft, which spent nine years in deep space collecting data that detected thousands of planets orbiting stars outside our solar system; and the Dawn spacecraft, which spent 11 years orbiting and studying the main asteroid belt's two largest objects, Vesta and Ceres.
	NASA will keep trying to contact stalled Mars rover Opportunity NASA has changed its mind about how long it will continue to seek contact with an aging robotic vehicle that was blanketed in a dust storm on Mars back in June and has been stalled ever since.
	Kepler telescope dead after finding thousands of worlds NASA's elite planet-hunting spacecraft has been declared dead, just a few months shy of its 10th anniversary.
	Video: Preparing MetOp-C The third in the series of MetOp satellites is scheduled for launch on 7 November from Europe's spaceport in Kourou. In this special edition of Earth from Space, ESA's MetOp-C project manager, Stéfane Carlier, talks about this latest polar-orbiting weather satellite and how its range of instruments provide data on a host of atmospheric variables such as temperature and humidity. These data are used largely for numerical weather prediction – the basis for weather forecasting. They also contribute to climate research.
	Image: BepiColombo magnetometer boom deployed The 2.5 m long boom carrying the magnetometer sensors onboard ESA's BepiColombo Mercury Planetary Orbiter (MPO) has been successfully deployed. The sensors are now prepared to measure the magnetic field on the way to Mercury.
	First results from Lucky Spectroscopy, an equivalent technique to Lucky Imaging The Galactic O-Star Spectroscopic Survey (GOSSS) is acquiring blue-violet spectroscopy of all optically accessible O stars in the Galaxy at resolution ~2500 and signal-to-noise ratio S/N > 200. To date, data from a total of 590 O stars has been published.
	The search for the source of a mysterious fast radio burst comes relatively close to home Fast radio bursts (FRBs) are just that – enormous blasts of radio waves from space that only last for a fraction of a second. This makes pinpointing their source a huge challenge.
	Mars 2020 parachute is a 'go' In the early hours of Sept. 7, NASA broke a world record.
Hawaii Supreme Court upholds permit for giant telescope Hawaii's Supreme Court upheld a decision to grant a construction permit for an embattled, international giant telescope project planned for a mountain Native Hawaiians consider sacred.
	New instrument joins the hunt for Earth-like planets A ground-breaking $3.8 million instrument, used by astronomers to discover and study Earth-like planets, has been launched by a team from UNSW Sydney, The Australian National University (ANU) and Australian Astronomical Optics (AAO) at Macquarie University.
Atlanta: A launchpad for dreams A young Eric Boe, not even 5 years old, was awestruck while watching grainy images of two American astronauts in bulky spacesuits bounce around on another celestial body.

Technology news

	A new dynamic ensemble active learning method based on a non-stationary bandit Researchers at the University of Edinburgh, University College London (UCL) and Nara Institute of Science and Technology have developed a new ensemble active learning approach based on a non-stationary multi-armed bandit and an expert advice algorithm. Their method, presented in a paper pre-published on arXiv, could reduce the time and effort invested in the manual annotation of data.
	From streaming TV to Gmail, it's all about the cloud Whether you're watching your favorite show on Netflix or backing up all-important cat photos to Google Drive, the "cloud" has become an essential part of our digital lives.
	DRM: Right-to-repair troops score one, happy to see you fix your phone What's all this about a green light to jailbreak? The decision was made by The Librarian of Congress and US Copyright Office to lift restrictions on attempting to fix the devices you own—if the reason is to repair or maintain them. The exception took effect as of October 28.
	These new techniques expose your browsing history to attackers Security researchers at UC San Diego and Stanford have discovered four new ways to expose Internet users' browsing histories. These techniques could be used by hackers to learn which websites users have visited as they surf the web.
	iPads, Macs get new screens as Apple pushes creativity Apple's new iPads will more closely resemble its latest iPhones as they ditch a home button and fingerprint sensor to make more room for the screen.
	Researchers using brain-inspired methods to improve wireless communications Researchers are always seeking more reliable and more efficient communications, for everything from televisions and cellphones to satellites and medical devices.
	Apple expected to unveil new iPads, Mac in New York New iPads and Mac computers are expected Tuesday as part of an Apple event in New York.
	Sony nearly doubles first-half net profits, upgrades forecast Sony on Tuesday announced its six-month net profit had nearly doubled from last year to a new record, and upgraded its annual forecasts, with games and movies leading the way.
	Nintendo first-half profit up 25% on Switch console sales Nintendo said Tuesday its net profit jumped by more than a quarter for the six months to September as blockbuster game titles from the "Donkey Kong" and "Mario" series helped boost demand for its popular Switch console.
	The smallest steerable catheter Scientists have developed a very small magnetic steerable catheter for minimally invasive surgery. Thanks to its variable stiffness, surgeons can perform more complex movements inside the body with a lower risk of injury to the patient.
	Controlling the crystal size of organic semiconductors Recently, solution-processable organic semiconductors are being highlighted for their potential application in printed electronics, becoming a feasible technique to fabricate large-area flexible thin film at a low cost. The field-effect mobility of small-molecule organic semiconductors is dependent on the crystallinity, crystal orientation, and crystal size. A variety of solution-based coating techniques, such as ink-jet printing, dip-coating, and solution shearing have been developed to control the crystallinity and crystal orientation, but a method for developing techniques to increase the crystal size of organic semiconductors is still needed.
	Uber seeks U-turn on ruling UK drivers are employees Uber launched Tuesday an attempt at England's Court of Appeal to overturn a ruling that the ride-hailing app's drivers are its workers rather than self-employed, as protestors rallied outside.
	Illuminating the 'dark web' In the wake of recent violent events in the U.S., many people are expressing concern about the tone and content of online communications, including talk of the "dark web." Despite the sinister-sounding phrase, there is not just one "dark web." The term is actually fairly technical in origin, and is often used to describe some of the lesser-known corners of the internet. As I discuss in my new book, "Weaving the Dark Web: Legitimacy on Freenet, Tor, and I2P," the online services that make up what has become called the "dark web" have been evolving since the early days of the commercial internet – but because of their technological differences, are not well understood by the public, policymakers or the media.
	High-performance components made by electroplating What happens when something keeps getting smaller and smaller? This is the type of question Empa researcher Johann Michler and his team are investigating. As a by-product of their research completely novel watch springs could soon be used in Swiss timepieces.
	European tech leaders warn against EU digital services tax Technology company chiefs have warned that a digital services tax proposed by the European Union would hinder innovation and hurt economic growth.
	OnePlus 6T packs a fingerprint scanner in its screen to take on iPhone XS, Google Pixel 3 Chinese smartphone maker OnePlus has built its reputation on offering the latest specs for a cheaper price than comparable devices from Apple, Google and Samsung.
	People are keeping their smartphones longer, report says People are holding on to their aging smartphones longer, squeezing out a few more months of use before trading them in, a report indicates.
	Twitter looking to remove 'Like' button as a way to improve debate on social network Twitter may be saying goodbye to the "Like" button.
GoFundMe scams: 'I don't think anyone's got their arms around it' A Faribault, Minn., man has admitted faking cancer and spending the money raised for medical bills on marijuana, liquor, video games and dart tournaments.
	UK ratchets up pressure on US tech giants with new tax Britain could become the first major world economy to impose a specific tax on tech giants, as international negotiations to overhaul analog-era global tax regulations drag on.
	NASA researchers teach machines to 'see' Your credit card company contacts you asking if you've purchased something from a retailer you don't normally patronize or spent more than usual. A human didn't identify the atypical transaction. A computer—equipped with advanced algorithms—tagged the potentially fraudulent purchase and triggered the inquiry.
Florida man sues Tesla over autopilot feature, crash A Florida man says the autopilot feature of his Tesla vehicle failed to detect a disabled car on a highway, leading to a collision that left him with permanent injuries, according to a negligence lawsuit filed Tuesday.
	Facebook posts strong 3Q profit, lukewarm revenue Facebook didn't hit it out of the ballpark with its latest quarterly report, but the bar isn't so high these days for the image-battered social networking giant.
	Lyft and Uber out to be everyday rides with passes US ride-share rivals Lyft and Uber are out to lure everyday riders with monthly passes for discounted or free rides, dabbling with a subscription model aimed at commuters.
Google spinoff to test fully driverless cars in California Google's robotic car spin-off Waymo is poised to become the first to test fully driverless vehicles on California's public roads.
	Honda raises forecasts on solid motorbike sales Japan's Honda Motor said Tuesday it was raising annual forecasts after first-half profits rose over 19 percent on brisk sales of motorcycles in Asia.
	Spy chief wanted ban on China telecoms from Australian 5G Australia's critical infrastructure including electricity grids, water supplies and hospitals could not have been adequately safeguarded if Chinese-owned telecommunications giants Huawei and ZTE Corp. were allowed to help roll out the nation's 5G network, a spy chief said.
	Confident VW leaves rivals in the dust despite diesel woes German car giant Volkswagen defied global headwinds for the industry to report soaring third-quarter profits Tuesday, emerging at least partly from the shadow of its "dieselgate" emissions cheating scandal.
	Apple Watch supplier under fire over China student labour Apple is investigating a factory in southwest China after a labour rights group said the tech giant's supplier forced student workers to work "like robots" to assemble its popular Apple Watch.
	Higher fuel costs clip Lufthansa's wings in third quarter German airline giant Lufthansa reported falling profits in the third quarter, hit by higher fuel costs and the pricey integration of defunct competitor Air Berlin.
	Renovating buildings to save energy In the suburbs of Valladolid, a city in central Spain, one district is at the forefront of Europe's energy transition. With its 19 residential buildings and a single tower block, surrounded by a small park, it was built in the 1960s for employees of the car manufacturer FASA-Renault, which gave its name to the neighbourhood. The factory workers have long since moved on, and this middle-class district is now home to many retired people.
	The new electric vehicle highway is a welcome gear shift, but other countries are still streets ahead Perhaps buoyed by a 67% increase in the sale of electric cars in Australia last year – albeit coming off a low base – the federal government this month announced a A$6 million funding injection for a network of ultra-fast electric vehicle recharging stations.
	General Electric cuts dividend as it reports huge loss General Electric announced another steep dividend cut on Tuesday amid continued losses, and disclosed that US regulators broadened an investigation into the company's accounting.
	Former Audi boss released as diesel probe continues A German court released Tuesday former Audi chief executive Rupert Stadler after months in custody but he remains under suspicion in connection with parent group Volkswagen's role in the "dieselgate" emissions cheating scandal.
	Advanced solution for satellite missions Estonian start-up company Spaceit has unveiled next-generation service for control and monitoring of satellites. The company offers an alternative approach to satellite ground communications, enabling customers to use their resources more efficiently via a modern and secure software solution.
Fiat Chrysler profits hit by charges for diesel probe Fiat Chrysler Automobiles said Tuesday its third-quarter profits dropped nearly 40 percent due to a one-off charge to cover possible payments in a U.S. diesel probe involving SUVs and light-duty pickups.
	With mobile pay, you can go without a wallet at checkout When you're at the checkout line this holiday season, you could juggle your bags and dig into your purse or billfold for your credit or debit card. Or you could use that phone you're already clutching, or that new smartwatch strapped to your wrist. Many stores now accept mobile wallets, a technology that lets customers make payments via smartphone or watch.
	New technologies in the ocean energy sector While the ocean energy sector is still at an early stage of development, a new report analyses ten future emerging technologies to generate energy from the ocean tides and waves.

Medicine & Health news

	Defense against joint degeneration During cartilage development, chondrocytes secrete the extracellular matrix (ECM) and embed within the same environment. During progressive joint disease, such as osteoarthritis (OA), dysregulation of the process can lead to ECM degradation. In a recent study, Eun Kyung Song and co-workers examined samples of cartilage from patients with OA and found reduced expression of integrin-β-like 1 (ITGBL1) (an integrin inhibitory protein expressed during cartilage development) secreted in the samples. Depletion of the ITGBL1 protein reduced ECM deposition, leading to cartilage damage. Conversely, overexpression of the protein prevented knee joint degeneration in a mouse model of surgically induced OA. The study identified a target to modulate integrin signaling, with potential for therapeutic effects in OA. The results are now published in Science Translational Medicine.
	Studies raise questions over how epigenetic information is inherited Evidence has been building in recent years that our diet, our habits or traumatic experiences can have consequences for the health of our children—and even our grandchildren. The explanation that has gained most currency for how this occurs is so-called 'epigenetic inheritance' - patterns of chemical 'marks' on or around our DNA that are hypothesised to be passed down the generations. But new research from the University of Cambridge suggests that this mechanism of non-genetic inheritance is likely to be very rare.
	How some heart cells cope with high blood pressure Individual cells within the same heart cope differently with high blood pressure, according to a study in human cells and mice by a team of cardiologists and computational biologists at the University of Tokyo. This is the first time researchers have identified distinct differences between heart muscle cells that fail and those that adapt to high blood pressure.
	Discovery of Zika virus in monkeys suggests disease may also have wild cycle Zika virus has been detected in dead monkeys found in Brazil near São José do Rio Preto, São Paulo State, and Belo Horizonte, Minas Gerais. The animals had been shot or beaten to death by locals who thought they had yellow fever. In fact, the monkeys were bearers of Zika virus, which had made them sick and more vulnerable to attack by humans.
	How salt can trigger inflammation in multiple sclerosis Researchers at Yale have identified a high-salt environment as one of the contributing factors to the development of multiple sclerosis (MS).
	Cancer can use brute force to push its way around the body Breast cancer cells hit blood vessel walls with up to 200 times the mechanical force exerted by normal healthy cells, finds a new UCL study.
	Researchers design delivery system to guide drugs directly to cancer cells 'hiding' in bone marrow Researchers led by a UCLA bioengineer have developed a therapy—based on two types of cells joined into a single unit—that could help strengthen existing treatments for acute myeloid leukemia. One of the cells is a blood platelet that carries a drug that attacks cancer cells; the other is a stem cell that guides the platelet into bone marrow, the spongy tissue inside bone where new blood cells are made and where leukemia begins.
	Prenatal exposure to substances found in plastics associated with language development delays Pregnant mothers' exposure to phthalates – substances often used in personal care products, children's toys and more – may be linked to delays in language development during early childhood, according to a study published today in JAMA Pediatrics.
	Team identifies a key molecule in immune system regulation linked to new genetic disease Following the 2018 Nobel Prize for Medicine, global attention is now more than ever turned toward the promise of immunotherapy in oncology. An international team's work has shed new light on a molecule called TIM-3 that might play a key role in the regulation of the immune response.
	Solving a 100-year mystery in blood pressure research The baroreceptor reflex is a fascinating medical phenomenon. The reflex is controlled by specialized neurons that react in just a fraction of a second to keep blood pressure fairly consistent.
	Lifespan and sexual maturity depends on your brain more than your body New Vanderbilt research finds how long humans and other warm-blooded animals live—and when they reach sexual maturity— may have more to do with their brain than their body. More specifically, it is not animals with larger bodies or slower metabolic rates that live longer; it is animals with more neurons in the cerebral cortex, whatever the size of the body.
	Team identifies new brain region that suppresses fear A study conducted at Texas A&M University has identified a new area in the brain involved in inhibiting fear, a discovery that holds potential for clinical interventions in patients with psychiatric diseases such as post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD). The article was published in Nature Communications on Oct. 30.
	Advertising in kids' apps more prevalent than parents may realize From games inspired by popular TV shows to digital play labeled as educational, children's apps continue to explode on smartphones and tablets.
Not just for children: Study shows high prevalence of atopic dermatitis among US adults As many as 16.5 million adults in America suffer from a skin disease known as atopic dermatitis, an inflammatory disease that results in red, itchy skin. The estimate comes from a new study from the Perelman School of Medicine at the University of Pennsylvania, which also projected 6.6 million of these adults have disease that would be classified as moderate to severe, leading to a decrease in quality of life. Researchers published the findings in the Journal of Investigative Dermatology today.
	APA Stress in America: Generation Z stressed about issues in the news but least likely to vote Headline issues, from immigration to sexual assault, are causing significant stress among members of Generation Z—those between ages 15 and 21—with mass shootings topping the list of stressful current events, according to the American Psychological Association's report Stress in America: Generation Z released today.
	Researchers teach 'machines' to detect Medicare fraud Using a highly sophisticated form of pattern matching, researchers from Florida Atlantic University's College of Engineering and Computer Science are teaching "machines" to detect Medicare fraud. Medicare, the primary health care coverage for Americans 65 and older, accounts for 20 percent of health care spending in the United States. About $19 billion to $65 billion is lost every year because of Medicare fraud, waste or abuse.
	Suicide more prevalent than homicide in US, but most Americans don't know it In the United States, suicide is twice as common as homicide—and more often involves firearms—but public perception is just the opposite.
New evidence of durable immune response to 3 experimental Ebola vaccines helps drive new wave of vaccine development In the midst of an increasingly volatile Ebola outbreak in the Democratic Republic of Congo, a new study presented today finds that the immune response generated by three experimental Ebola vaccines—including one already deployed in the DRC—persists for at least two and a half years. The study, presented at the Annual Meeting of the American Society of Tropical Medicine and Hygiene, could have implications far beyond the Ebola fight, said Katie Ewer, Ph.D., who conducted the study with colleague Matthew Snape, MD, at the University of Oxford's Jenner Institute and Oxford Vaccine Group, and Emma Thomson, Ph.D., at the University of Glasgow.
	Vitamin D levels in the blood linked to cardiorespiratory fitness Sophia Antipolis, 30 October 2018: Vitamin D levels in the blood are linked to cardiorespiratory fitness, according to a study published today in the European Journal of Preventive Cardiology, a publication of the European Society of Cardiology (ESC).1
	Why people have lateral preferences when kissing and hugging Typically, a person will initiate a hug with the right hand. Similar preferences are also present in other forms of social touch. The question of handedness plays a role in the process. However, it is not the only relevant aspect.
New diagnostic technique accounts for patient resilience Medical diagnoses mostly focus on resolving isolated issues. But fixing one problem may create others, and even invoke an overall health collapse. Scientists now report a new approach to assess the risks of such collapse in humans and other animals using data from wearable sensors.
	Innovations in ultrasound imaging improve breast cancer detection A new ultrasound technique can help distinguish benign breast tumours from malignant ones. The technology was developed with support from the Swiss National Science Foundation.
	Study shows improved health, reduced overweight and obesity in Pacific-region children A community-randomized clinical trial of the Children's Healthy Living Program (CHL), based at the University of Hawaiʻi at Mānoa, seeking to sustainably prevent and decrease overweight and obese young children and to improve health in the U.S.-affiliated Pacific region, has decreased overweight and obesity prevalence among Pacific Island children.
	How flashing lights and catchy tunes make gamblers take more risks Lights and sounds coming from electronic gambling machines – also known as EGMs, pokies or slots – contribute to their addictive potential according to new research published today.
	Incarceration is likely to increase HIV and HCV transmission among people who inject drugs, new study finds Injecting drug use, through the sharing of needles, syringes and other injecting equipment, is a primary route of transmission for both HIV and hepatitis C virus (HCV), blood-borne infections that cause considerable morbidity and mortality worldwide. New research led by the University of Bristol has found among people who inject drugs, that recent incarceration was associated with an 81 per cent and 62 per cent increase in HIV and HCV acquisition risk, respectively.
	Behavioral risk factors for depression vary with age, study finds Behavioral risk factors including smoking, obesity, limited physical activity and a less healthy diet strongly predict the likelihood of depression—and that likelihood increases with each additional risk factor a person possesses. Additionally, the risk factors most strongly linked to depression change with age.
	Better strategies to ID people at risk for opioid-related overdose deaths needed, study suggests Every day, as the opioid epidemic continues to grip the country, more than 115 people in the United States die from overdoses, according to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. A new study by Gerardo Gonzalez, MD, associate professor of psychiatry, examines how one health care system may have missed opportunities to prevent overdose deaths, providing a valuable analysis that may give key insight for all providers to help stem the number of fatal overdoses. The findings were published online on Oct. 24 in Psychiatric Services.
	Age and health conditions prevent over-50s from returning to work Increasing age, perceptions and multiple health conditions are among the reasons why over-50s find it difficult to return to work, according to new research which compared this age-group with the experiences of the under-50s.‌
	Towards a more objective schizophrenia diagnosis The diagnosis of the mental disorder schizophrenia is a highly subjective and qualitative process. If a patient presents with particular characteristic symptoms such as false beliefs, unclear or confused thinking, hearing internal voices, poor social engagement and emotional expression, and a lack of motivation, then a diagnosis might be made. Usually, a psychiatrist will, after several sessions of assessment and interviews with the patient and those who know them, conclude that the patient has the condition. Despite the confused public perception of this mental disorder, schizophrenia is not "split personality" nor dissociative identity disorder.
	Expert: Vaccination myths must be debunked An analysis of anti-vaccine witness statements presented during the Texas Legislature's 2017 session revealed recurring misconceptions that need to be challenged, according to an expert at Rice University's Baker Institute for Public Policy.
	High stability of the hepatitis B virus At room temperature, hepatitis B virus (HBV) remains contagious for several weeks and can even withstand temperatures of four degrees centigrade over the span of nine months. When applied properly, disinfectants are effective – but only undiluted. These are the results gained by a German-Korean research team in a study using a novel HBV infection system in human liver cells.
	Treatment for moderately high blood pressure best saved for those at high risk An observational study of patients with mild hypertension has found no evidence to support recent US guideline recommendations that encourage doctors to offer treatment to patients with low-risk mild hypertension.
	Research uncovers key differences in brains of women and men with schizophrenia Researchers from the Icahn School of Medicine at Mount Sinai have found clear disparities in the way males and females—both those with schizophrenia and those who are healthy—discern the mental states of others.
	Your blood pressure and heart rate change to meet physical and social demands Blood pressure and heart rate are not fixed, but rather they adapt to meet physical and social demands placed on the body, according to new research from Binghamton University, State University at New York.
	Many teens are 'sextortion' targets (HealthDay)—Parents of teens can add "sextortion" to the list of things to worry about, because a new study shows that 5 percent of teenagers are targets of this cybercrime.
	Many mistakenly believe alternative therapies can cure cancer (HealthDay)—Despite evidence to the contrary, four in 10 Americans believe alternative therapies can cure cancer, a new survey finds.
	Building tolerance helps kids with wheat allergy (HealthDay)—Giving trace amounts of wheat to children with wheat allergy shows promise in treating the allergy, according to new research.
	Keeping your teen driver safe (HealthDay)—Rules for new drivers instituted in Massachusetts back in 2007 have led to fewer car crashes, including fewer deadly crashes, among drivers in their teens.
	Durvalumab extends survival in stage III non-small cell lung CA (HealthDay)—Durvalumab results in significantly longer overall survival than placebo among patients with stage III, unresectable non-small cell lung cancer who did not have disease progression after concurrent chemoradiotherapy, according to a study published Sept. 25 in the New England Journal of Medicine.
	Michael Phelps champions the fight against depression (HealthDay)—Swimmer extraordinaire Michael Phelps has won 28 Olympic medals—23 of them gold. Yet, despite all those medals and the accolades that came with them, Phelps has struggled with depression and anxiety.
	Many hospitals noncompliant with record request regulations (HealthDay)—Among top-ranked U.S. hospitals, data reveal discrepancies in information provided to patients regarding medical records release processes as well as noncompliance with state and federal regulations, according to a study published online Oct. 5 in JAMA Network Open.
	Low levels of flu reported in U.S. from May to October (HealthDay)—From May 20 to Oct. 13, 2018, low levels of influenza activity were reported in the United States, according to a study published online Oct. 25 in Morbidity and Mortality Weekly Report.
	Gum, bottled water, pizza bagels want to be called 'healthy' Pizza bagels, chewing gum and bottled water want to play a starring new role in our diets: Foods that can be called healthy.
	Pedestrian fatalities increase on Halloween, particularly among children Children are more likely to be fatally struck by a vehicle on Halloween than on other nights of the year, according to new research led by the University of British Columbia.
	One month of abstinence from cannabis improves memory in adolescents, young adults A Massachusetts General Hospital (MGH) study finds that one month of abstaining from cannabis use resulted in measurable improvement in memory functions important for learning among adolescents and young adults who were regular cannabis users. The study published in the Journal of Clinical Psychiatry is one of the first to prospectively track over time changes in cognitive function associated with halting cannabis use.
Rose geranium oil may ease common painful nasal symptoms linked to cancer treatment Rose geranium oil may help to ease the symptoms of a common and painful nasal condition that is linked to cancer drug treatment, indicate the results of a small observational study, published online in the journal BMJ Supportive & Palliative Care.
Report outlines priorities to improve the lives of cancer survivors and caregivers Growing numbers of cancer survivors, provider shortages, rising health care costs, and socio-economic disparities in health outcomes have created an urgent need to provide coordinated, comprehensive, personalized care for cancer survivors. Now a new report from the American Cancer Society creates a set of critical priorities for care delivery, research, education, and policy to equitably improve survivor outcomes and support caregivers. The report, appearing in CA: A Cancer Journal for Clinicians, marks the latest installment in the ACS's blueprint for cancer control.
	Dopamine drives early addiction to heroin Scientists have made a major advance in untangling the brain circuits that lead to the powerful addictive effects of heroin, a study in the open-access journal eLife reports.
	An end to arachnophobia 'just a heartbeat away' Researchers have discovered that exposing people with phobias to their fear—for examples, spiders for those who have arachnophobia—at the exact time their heart beats, led to the phobia reducing in severity.
FDA approves pill for hot flashes in menopausal women TherapeuticsMD announced Monday that its single-pill hormone therapy for menopausal hot flashes has been approved for marketing by the U.S. Food and Drug Administration.
	Young men more likely to die in summer, older people in winter despite local climate Young men living in the US are overall more likely to die in the summer months, according to a new study in eLife.
	Preventing sudden cardiac death with genome editing Each year, at least 3 million people worldwide die of sudden cardiac death. In the U.S., this number reaches up to 450,000 people. Although sudden cardiac death is more common in older adults, younger people also are significantly affected. In the 1 to 40 age group, up to 9 per 100,000 people are affected each year. In this group, inherited cardiac diseases, including inherited cardiac arrhythmia disorders, cause a substantial proportion of sudden cardiac death.
	Novel technique can potentially improve success of ovarian cancer treatment, study reveals Novel Technique Can Potentially Improve Success of Ovarian Cancer Treatment, Study Reveals
	Researchers developing test for early breast lesions Currently, with a pre-malignant breast cancer diagnosis from a biopsy, there are three options: observation, chemoprevention or surgery, all of which require a patient to make decisions while operating from a place of fear and unknown outcomes. Some patients, for example, with early breast cancer indications, might choose to have mastectomies, rather than live in uncertainty, when the disease state may not have progressed.
	Researchers discover a potential flaw in our assumptions about the unknown opinions of others In our decisions about whether to invest in a certain company, buy tickets to a movie or vote for a political candidate, we are often influenced by what others think. But how exactly do we figure out what others think?
	Study uncovers key parts of mechanism for activating T cells to fight cancer and other diseases In just a few years, CAR T-cell and other adoptive T-cell therapies have emerged as among the most promising forms of cancer immunotherapy. But even as these agents prove themselves against several forms of leukemia and lymphoma—and, potentially, certain solid tumors—basic questions remain about how they work.
Mutation associated with als causes sugar-starved cells to overproduce lipids, study shows A genetic defect tied to a variety of neurodegenerative diseases and mental illnesses changes how cells starved of sugar metabolize fatty compounds known as lipids, a new study led by researchers from the Johns Hopkins Bloomberg School of Public Health shows. The finding could lead to new targets to treat these diseases, which currently have no cure or fully effective treatments.
	Becoming more sensitive to pain increases the risk of knee pain not going away Becoming more sensitive to pain, or pain sensitization, is an important risk factor for developing persistent knee pain in osteoarthritis, according to a new study by researchers at Université de Montréal and its affiliated Maisonneuve Rosemont Hospital Research Centre (CRHMR), in collaboration with researchers at Boston University. Their findings were published Oct. 11 in the journal Arthritis & Rheumatology.
Experts offer more clarity on managing common ankle fractures Although fairly common, management of an isolated lateral malleolus ankle fracture remains challenging for orthopaedic surgeons. A central question remains on determining whether surgery or a non-surgical approach is indicated for a particular patient.
	Ultra-high-field brain scanner receives FDA approval for clinical use The ultra-high-field 7T Terra magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) scanner at the USC Mark and Mary Stevens Neuroimaging and Informatics Institute (INI) of the Keck School of Medicine of USC has received FDA approval for clinical use, opening up new avenues of care for patients with Alzheimer's disease, multiple sclerosis and other diseases that affect the brain.
	Lead in hair dyes must go: FDA (HealthDay)—The U.S. Food and Drug Administration on Tuesday said that hair dyes can no longer contain lead.
	Community health worker intervention beneficial (HealthDay)—A standardized community health worker (CHW)-delivered intervention, Individual Management for Patient-Centered Targets, improves patient-perceived quality of care and reduces hospitalizations for low-income patients with chronic diseases, according to a study published online Oct. 22 in JAMA Internal Medicine.
	New method estimates risk for recurrence in breast cancer (HealthDay)—The risk for breast cancer recurrence can be extracted using disease-specific survival data, according to a study published online Oct. 18 in Cancer Epidemiology, Biomarkers & Prevention.
	Mortality among young people declined from 1999 to 2015 (HealthDay)—Mortality rates for infants and youths generally declined in the United States from 1999 to 2015, though they remain higher than rates in Canada and England/Wales, with especially high rates among black and American Indian/Alaskan Native youth, according to a study published online Oct. 1 in JAMA Pediatrics.
	How to beat triggers that make you crave a cigarette When Rafe Poirrier smoked cigarettes, he smoked as soon as he woke, after eating, while driving, and whenever he took a break at work.
	Psoriasis linked to increased risk for inflammatory bowel disease (HealthDay)—Psoriasis appears to be significantly associated with inflammatory bowel disease (IBD), according to a review published online Oct. 24 in JAMA Dermatology.
	Pseudarthrosis following single-level ACDF is five times more likely when a PEEK interbody device is used In spine surgery, "arthrodesis" is the term used to describe fusion of adjacent vertebrae following removal of an intervertebral disc. Arthrodesis is achieved by placing a bone graft or bone graft substitute between the vertebrae to bridge the empty space so that new bone can grow between. "Pseudarthrosis" is the term used to describe failure of this expected new bone growth.
Researchers find correlation between showerhead bacteria and lung infections Researchers from the University of Colorado, Boulder have now shown that the regions in the United States where pathogenic mycobacteria are most prevalent in showerheads are the same regions where nontuberculous mycobacterial (NTM) lung infections are most common. The study, published in the journal, mBio, emphasizes the important role of showerheads in the transmission of NTM infections.
	Psychological training to improve social integration and reduce aggressiveness of ex combatants in armed conflicts The Demobilization, Disarmament and Reintegration (DDR) policies implemented by the international community aim to facilitate the process of returning to civilian life for participants in armed conflicts. With this same goal, a study led by the University of Granada (UGR, Spain) and the University of Antioquia (Colombia), proposes a new psychological intervention method, called social cognitive training (SCT), consisting of 12 to 14 sessions aimed at improving the integration of ex‑combatants.
	Could your unborn child help scientists to improve the health of the future population? Babies that aren't even born yet could help Aberdeen scientists to improve the health of future generations.
	Fake drugs: The global industry putting your life at risk In late 2012, 60 people died in two cities in Pakistan after drinking cough syrup to get high. Syrups from two separate manufacturers were involved. It was found that both were using an active ingredient – dextromethorphan, a synthetic morphine-like compound – imported from the same manufacturer in India. Indian drug authorities put a halt to production while they investigated.
Q&A: Risk factors for uterine fibroids Dear Mayo Clinic: My mother and my sister were treated for uterine fibroids in their late 30s. I just turned 35, and I'm starting to worry that I'll get them, too. Am I at risk for fibroids because I have a family history of them? Are there other things that raise my risk? What symptoms should I watch for?
When a woman wants an abortion but can't get it, the children she already has suffer the consequences When women are denied abortions, it doesn't just affect their lives, it also affects the lives of the kids they already have, according to a study published Tuesday in the Journal of Pediatrics.
	How will Texas law HB 810 impact stem cell-based intervention clinics? A new study takes a close look at the content and potential implications of the new Texas law HB 810, which aims to expand assess of experimental stem cell interventions outside the realm of clinical trials under FDA oversight. HB 810 represents a new level of deregulation after the Right To Try laws and presents concerns including ambiguity over what constitutes a chronic illness, reporting requirements, and safety concerns, as described in an article in Stem Cells and Development.
Do psychiatric symptoms remain stable over time? New reviews In patients with psychiatric disorders, stability of symptoms has important implications for diagnosis, prognosis, and treatment. Two reviews of symptom stability over the course of psychiatric disorders—bipolar disorder and psychotic disorders, respectively—were published online by the Harvard Review of Psychiatry.
Antibiotic resistance increases relapse in urinary tract infections Patients with a certain drug-resistant urinary tract infection were more likely to have a relapse of their infection within a week than those with non-resistant infections and were more likely to be prescribed an incorrect antibiotic according to a study published today in Infection Control & Hospital Epidemiology, the journal of the Society for Healthcare Epidemiology of America.
CRISPR gene editing will find applications in plastic and reconstructive surgery The CRISPR genome editing technique promises to be a "transformative leap" in genetic engineering and therapy, affecting almost every area of medicine. That includes plastic surgery, with potential advances ranging from prevention of craniofacial malformations, to therapeutic skin grafts, to new types of rejection-free transplants, according to a paper in the November issue of Plastic and Reconstructive Surgery, the official medical journal of the American Society of Plastic Surgeons (ASPS).
Facial asymmetry increases with age Asymmetry between the two sides of the face increases steadily with aging—a finding with important implications for facial rejuvenation and reconstructive procedures, reports a study in the November issue of Plastic and Reconstructive Surgery, the official medical journal of the American Society of Plastic Surgeons (ASPS).

Biology news

	Owls help scientists unlock secret of how the brain pays attention By studying barn owls, scientists at Johns Hopkins University believe they've taken an important step toward solving the longstanding mystery of how the brain chooses what most deserves attention.
	Virus production boosted in cells to generate more vectors for gene transfer The introduction of foreign genes into cells has a range of benefits, such as compensating for dysfunctional genes in cells and producing large amounts of specific gene products that can be harvested and used clinically. Viruses are useful tools for this purpose, as they have evolved to enter cells and express their genetic material there. However, it has been difficult and expensive to produce lentiviral vectors in sufficient quantities to apply this approach in practical contexts.
	Researchers find sand flies prefer marijuana plants An international team of researchers has found that sand flies have a strong preference for Cannabis sativa plants over all other plant choices. In their paper published in Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences, the group describes capturing sand flies from five sites around the globe, studying the contents of their guts using DNA analysis, and what they found.
	Two proteins slow down the train of DNA replication in Drosophila Two major factors matter when it comes to cells copying DNA: getting everything accurate in the sequence and how much of it is replicated. Mistakes can result in mutations, which can lead to diseases such as cancer.
	How the world's fastest muscle created four unique bird species When the male bearded manakin snaps its wings at lightning speed, it's more than part of an elaborate, acrobatic mating ritual. The tiny muscle doing the heavy lifting is also the reason this exotic bird has evolved into four distinct species, according to new research published in the journal eLIFE by Wake Forest University biologist Matthew Fuxjager.
	All genes of the Aspen tree mapped This week, a team of researchers from Sweden, Belgium, England, Italy, Norway and South Korea publish the genomes of two species of aspen trees, a project that has taken close to ten years to complete and that proved to be more complicated than thought as well as significantly expanding in scope.
	Study finds growth of genomic databases affects species accuracy There are many ways to slice and dice genomic data to identify a species of bacteria, or at least find its close relatives. But fast techniques to sequence genomes have flooded the public databases and in a biased fashion, containing lots of genomic data about some species and not enough about others, according to a Rice University computer scientist.
	Researchers advance understanding of key protein in photosynthesis Moss evolved after algae but before vascular land plants, such as ferns and trees, making them an interesting target for scientists studying photosynthesis, the process by which plants convert sunlight to fuel. Now researchers at the Department of Energy's Lawrence Berkeley National Laboratory (Berkeley Lab) have made a discovery that could shed light on how plants evolved to move from the ocean to land.
	Single protein controls thousands of genes essential for sperm development A single protein regulates a battery of key genes inside developing sperm, according to a new study out of Case Western Reserve University School of Medicine. Scientists discovered the protein—called Dazl—controls a network of genes essential for developing sperm to replicate and survive. The findings, published in Cell Reports, could lay the groundwork for future research into therapies for infertile men.
	Plants respond to environmental stress by 'tagging' RNA molecules they need to withstand the difficult conditions The future looks challenging for plants. Climate change is forecast to bring widespread drought to parts of the planet already struggling with dry conditions. To mitigate the potentially devastating effects to agriculture, researchers are seeking strategies to help plants withstand extreme environmental hazards including drought and salt stress, a problem exacerbated when irrigated water passes through the soil, depositing salts which can then absorbed by plant roots, lowering their overall productivity.
	Increasing frequency of ocean storms could alter kelp forest ecosystems A large-scale, long-term experiment on kelp forests off Southern California brings new insight to how the biodiversity of coastal ecosystems could be impacted over time as a changing climate potentially increases the frequency of ocean storms.
	Nature pushed to the brink by 'runaway consumption' Unbridled consumption has decimated global wildlife, triggered a mass extinction and exhausted Earth's capacity to accommodate humanity's expanding appetites, the conservation group WWF warned Tuesday.
	Crouching tigers, hidden cameras: Nepal counts its big cats Chayan Kumar Chaudhary flicked through photographs captured on a hidden camera in the jungle, hoping his favourite big cat—dubbed "selfie tiger" for its love of the limelight—had made another appearance.
	Sierra Leone's chimpanzees pay price of human expansion They have their hands full at the Tacugama Chimpanzee Sanctuary, where record numbers of orphaned chimps are being delivered to their care, victims of the relentless expansion of human activity.
	Nature under assault: key indicators The World Wildlife Fund and partners have tracked population changes in Earth's animal species for decades. News from the latest "Living Planet" report, released Tuesday, is more grim than ever.
	Cephalopods could become an important food source in the global community Among chefs and researchers in gastronomy, there is a growing interest in exploring local waters in order to use resources in a more diverse and sustainable manner, including using the cephalopod population as a counterweight to the dwindling fishing of bonefish, as well as an interest in finding new sources of protein that can replace meat from land animals.
	Researcher discovers vegetarian sharks She's never seen "Jaws" or heard "Mack the Knife," but don't underestimate Samantha Leigh's shark credentials. She knows how to hypnotize the creatures, analyze their blood and even take them on a two-hour car trip.
	New gene-therapy eases chronic pain in dogs—human trials underway When Shane the therapy dog was hit by a Jeep, life changed for him and his guardian Taryn Sargent.
	Tales from the crypt: Microbial life thrives in graveyards Three continents. Nine countries. Cemeteries from Antwerp to Barcelona to Hellerup.
	Where sexes come by the thousands By the end of every spring semester, students in my introductory biology course at Vanderbilt University have become quite familiar with natural variation in human sex chromosomes. They know, for example, that most females have two X chromosomes and most males have one X and one Y chromosome. But in every thousand humans, there are typically a few whose biological sex doesn't match their sex chromosomes, such as XX males and XY females, or whose sex chromosome combinations are not even XX or XY, such as XXX females and XYY males.
	New species of Swallowtail butterfly discovered in Fiji A spectacular new butterfly species has been discovered on the Pacific Island of Vanua Levu in Fiji. The species, named last week as Papilio natewa after the Natewa Peninsula where it was found, is a remarkable discovery in a location where butterfly wildlife was thought to be well known.
	New fin-recognition technology a boon for global dolphin conservation The National Marine Mammal Foundation (NMMF) and Western EcoSystems Technology, Inc. (WEST) today announced the release of an innovative, automated system, 'finFindR', that identifies wild dolphins using photographs of the nicks and notches on their dorsal fins.
Commercial shellfish landings decline likely linked to environmental factors Researchers studying the sharp decline between 1980 and 2010 in documented landings of the four most commercially-important bivalve mollusks—eastern oysters, northern quahogs, softshell clams and northern bay scallops—have identified the causes.
	China defends decision to ease rhino, tiger parts ban China on Tuesday defended its controversial decision to ease a 25-year ban on trading tiger bones and rhinoceros horns after conservationists warned that the government had effectively signed a "death warrant" for the endangered species.
	Searching for wild tulips in the mountains of Kyrgyzstan Tulips are one of the world's most iconic flowers, but their wild existence is still somewhat shrouded in mystery. Thoughts may turn to Holland, but no! Wild tulips actually carpet the stony slopes of the mountains of Central Asia. Kyrgyzstan alone is home to 27 wild tulips, a third of all global species. The spectacular Greig's tulip, Tulipa greigii, with its large red flowers, is one of six local endemics. Greig's tulip is found only in the North and West Tien Shan mountains and is of high importance for selection in the cultivated tulip trade. Tulips also have great cultural significance in Kyrgyzstan, where they feature in displays across cities and are embedded within the designs of handmade traditional felt carpets known as 'shyrdak'.
	AAFP releases new how to feed a cat consensus statement to the veterinary community The American Association of Feline Practitioners (AAFP) today released the AAFP Consensus Statement, "Feline Feeding Programs: Addressing Behavioral Needs to Improve Feline Health and Wellbeing" and accompanying client brochure to the veterinary community. The Consensus Statement, published in the Journal of Feline Medicine and Surgery, explores the medical, social, and emotional problems that can result from the manner in which most cats are currently fed. This statement focuses on "how to feed" because an often-overlooked aspect of feline health is how cats are fed.
'It has a story to tell': How a descendant of Napoleon's willow tree took root on a Seattle hillside It sits among the weeds and scrub vegetation just east of Interstate 5 in downtown Seattle, this long-forgotten link to one of history's greatest military leaders.

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