Science X Newsletter Wednesday, Oct 17

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Here is your customized Science X Newsletter for October 17, 2018:

Spotlight Stories Headlines

A new method to instill curiosity in reinforcement learning agents

Study documents paternal transmission of epigenetic memory via sperm

Extinction is forever—and ecosystem recovery takes a really, really long time

Near-atomic resolution model of Ebola virus protein brings clearer understanding of the viral mechanics

Researchers investigate the peculiar radio source IC 1531

Study shows city rats eat better than country rats

Evidence of dogs accompanying humans to Europe during Neolithic

Evidence of earliest life on Earth disputed

NASA's Fermi mission energizes the sky with gamma-ray constellations

Researchers reveal the story of the oldest stars and galaxies, compiled from 20 years of simulating the early universe

Nutrition has a greater impact on bone strength than exercise

The impact of microplastics on the environment unclear, study suggests

Self-lubricating latex could boost condom use: study

Google researchers see progress in tool to detect breast cancer spread

Smell and stress sensors a smash at Tokyo tech fair

Astronomy & Space news

	Researchers investigate the peculiar radio source IC 1531 An international team of researchers has investigated a peculiar extragalactic radio source known as IC 1531. The new study analyzes the nature of IC 1531's high-energy emission, suggesting that the source is a radio galaxy. The findings are presented in a paper published October 5 on arXiv.org.
	NASA's Fermi mission energizes the sky with gamma-ray constellations Long ago, sky watchers linked the brightest stars into patterns reflecting animals, heroes, monsters and even scientific instruments into what is now an official collection of 88 constellations. Now scientists with NASA's Fermi Gamma-ray Space Telescope have devised a set of modern constellations constructed from sources in the gamma-ray sky to celebrate the mission's 10th year of operations.
	Researchers reveal the story of the oldest stars and galaxies, compiled from 20 years of simulating the early universe The Big Bang has captured our imagination like no other theory in science: the magnificent, explosive birth of our Universe. But do you know what came next?
	Astronomers find a cosmic Titan in the early universe An international team of astronomers has discovered a titanic structure in the early Universe, just two billion years after the Big Bang. This galaxy proto-supercluster, nicknamed Hyperion, is the largest and most massive structure yet found at such a remote time and distance.
	Magnetic fields may be the key to black hole activity Collimated jets provide astronomers with some of the most powerful evidence that a supermassive black hole lurks in the heart of most galaxies. Some of these black holes appear to be active, gobbling up material from their surroundings and launching jets at ultra-high speeds, while others are quiescent, even dormant. Why are some black holes feasting and others starving? Recent observations from the Stratospheric Observatory for Infrared Astronomy, or SOFIA, are shedding light on this question.
	The Moon helps reveal secrets of the universe The Moon may be the key to unlocking how the first stars and galaxies shaped the early universe.
	Double dust ring test could spot migrating planets New research by a team led by an astrophysicist at the University of Warwick has a way of finally telling whether newly forming planets are migrating within the disc of dust and gas that typically surrounds stars or whether they are simply staying put in the same orbit around the star.
	Plans for a modular Martian base that would provide its own radiation shielding The idea of exploring and colonizing Mars has never been more alive than it is today. Within the next two decades, there are multiple plans to send crewed missions to the Red Planet, and even some highly ambitious plans to begin building a permanent settlement there. Despite the enthusiasm, there are many significant challenges that need to be addressed before any such endeavors can be attempted.
	Award-winning algorithm takes search for habitable planets to the next level An international team of scientists, including KAUST high performance computing experts and astronomers from the Paris Observatory and the National Astronomical Observatory of Japan (NAOJ), in collaboration with NVIDIA, is taking the search for habitable planets and observation of first epoch galaxies to the next level.
	Installing life support the hands-free way Last week saw the installation of ESA's next-generation life-support system on the International Space Station. The new facility recycles carbon dioxide in the air into water that can then be converted into oxygen reducing supplies sent from Earth by half.
	School students identify sounds caused by solar storm School students have successfully identified sounds caused by a solar storm in the Earth's magnetic shield, as part of a Queen Mary University of London research project.
	New study supports survival of microbes and organic compounds in space Environmental data collected from an exposure panel exposed to the space environment for one year suggests that microbes and organic compounds present in the exposure panel would be able to survive, supporting the possibility of interplanetary migration of microbes and organic compounds. A description of the study and the resulting environmental data is published in Astrobiology, a peer-reviewed journal from Mary Ann Liebert, Inc., publishers.
	Startup plans to launch small satellites from Virginia coast A California-based startup said Wednesday that it will rocket small satellites into orbit from Virginia, an endeavor that reflects increasing demand from companies and governments alike to monitor ships, crops and the weather from space.

Technology news

	A new method to instill curiosity in reinforcement learning agents Several real-world tasks have sparse rewards and this poses challenges for the development of reinforcement learning (RL) algorithms. A solution to this problem is to allow an agent to autonomously create a reward for itself, making rewards denser and more suitable for learning.
	Google researchers see progress in tool to detect breast cancer spread Spotting breast cancer is something that Google AI is good at doing. How good? An Ubergizmo headline: "Google Claims Its AI Has 99% Accuracy In Detecting Metastatic Breast Cancer." What's behind the headline?
	Smell and stress sensors a smash at Tokyo tech fair State-of-the-art sensors that can measure stress levels, mood, posture, performance and even smell took centre stage at Asia's top high-tech fair in Tokyo.
	Making cement sustainable Cement production accounts for up to nine percent of global anthropogenic carbon dioxide emissions, according to the World Business Council for Sustainable Development. Sabbie Miller, assistant professor in the Department of Civil and Environmental Engineering, aims to change that by finding alternative ways to make cement or replace it altogether.
	Brain-inspired algorithm helps AI systems multitask and remember Behind most of today's artificial intelligence technologies, from self-driving cars to facial recognition and virtual assistants, lie artificial neural networks. Though based loosely on the way neurons communicate in the brain, these "deep learning" systems remain incapable of many basic functions that would be essential for primates and other organisms.
	Why R2-D2 could be your child's teacher sooner than you think C-3P0, R2-D2 and Wall-E: three distinctly memorable robots that captured our hearts as they rolled and beeped across the silver screen.
	Skin hardness to estimate better human thermal status Under the same temperature and humidity, human thermal status may vary due to individual body constitution and climatic environment. A KAIST research team previously developed a wearable sweat rate sensor for human thermal comfort monitoring. Furthering the development, this time they proposed skin hardness as an additional, independent physiological sign to estimate human thermal status more accurately. This novel approach can be applied to developing systems incorporating human-machine interaction, which requires accurate information about human thermal status.
	YouTube goes down for more than an hour YouTube's video streaming service went out for more than an hour on Tuesday, apparently affecting locations around the world.
	Japan company admits falsifying data for quake shock absorbers A company supplying equipment to protect major buildings in Japan from earthquakes has admitted falsifying data, authorities said Wednesday, stressing there was no immediate safety risk.
	New emission tests brake EU car sales in September Car sales slumped across Europe in September, industry data published Wednesday showed, with the hangover from a sales binge before new emissions tests came into force knocking Volkswagen out of its traditional top spot in monthly sales.
	Facebook makes reality TV its new weapon for web supremacy Facebook said Wednesday it was reviving the pioneering MTV reality show "The Real World" as its secret weapon to lure viewers away from YouTube.
	Tesla secures land in Shanghai for first factory outside US Electric auto brand Tesla Inc. said it signed an agreement Wednesday to secure land in Shanghai for its first factory outside the United States, pushing ahead with development despite mounting U.S.-Chinese trade tensions.
	New file type improves genomic data sharing while maintaining participant privacy Based on an analysis of data leakages and opportunities to prevent the potential misuse of genetic information, researchers have developed a new file format for functional genomics data that enables data sharing while protecting the personal information of research participants. The findings were presented at the American Society of Human Genetics (ASHG) 2018 Annual Meeting in San Diego, Calif.
	Threat intelligence computing for efficient cyber threat hunting Threat discovery in cybersecurity is like scientific discovery: both start from observations, such as an anomalous cyber activity or an interesting fact; both require hypothesis conception, such as what malicious intent is behind the activity or what causes the fact; both develop hypotheses regarding additional observations and finally validate them. Our team at the IBM Thomas J. Watson Research Center recently developed a cyber reasoning paradigm named threat intelligence computing (TIC) to formalize and facilitate the threat discovery process. The paradigm makes it easy and intuitive for security analysts to observe cyber facts and digest data, create and use threat intelligence, and perform human-machine co-development.
	Simulating nuclear safety Commercial operation of the CHASNUPP-1 996 megawatt intermediate type pressurised water reactor began in May 2000 in Pakistan. It is a conventional two-loop PWR and is run by the Pakistan Atomic Energy Commission. Now, scientists Khurram Mehboob and Mohammad Aljohani of the Department of Nuclear Engineering at King Abdul Aziz University in Saudi Arabia have carried out simulations of the activity of the unit using MATLAB to probe the risks associated with a putative coolant leak that might see radioactivity entering the environment. The team reports details of their study in the International Journal of Nuclear Energy Science and Technology.
	A step toward personalized, automated smart homes Developing automated systems that track occupants and self-adapt to their preferences is a major next step for the future of smart homes. When you walk into a room, for instance, a system could set a thermometer to your preferred temperature. Or when you sit on the couch, a system could instantly flick the television to your favorite channel.
	3-D printers have 'fingerprints,' a discovery that could help trace 3-D-printed guns, counterfeit goods Like fingerprints, no 3-D printer is exactly the same.
	Cataloguing media content by AI-based, automated, real-time analysis and processing The annotation of media content is a major labour-intensive and error-prone process, especially for SMEs. An EU initiative has developed state-of-the-art AI technology to meet the challenge of efficient and cost-effective extraction and cataloguing of media metadata.
	Publically available database highlights the multiple impacts of energy efficiency The COMBI project recently concluded three years of research on the multiple impacts of energy efficiency. The consortium's findings further add to the already long list of benefits of a transition towards a more energy-efficient European Union.
	New audio production technology enhances user experience of broadcast content Digital audio files for broadcast are typically created to suit particular combinations of loudspeaker type and position. Performance may suffer if playback conditions do not match the intended combination. Nevertheless, current audio products allow very little customisation to suit equipment or personal preference.
	Modifying a virtual environment in just a few clicks Creating and modifying a virtual reality environment just got a lot easier thanks to software being released today by Imverse, an EPFL spin-off. The secret behind Imverse's program, which works much like a photo editor, is a three-dimensional rendering engine based on 3-D pixels called voxels. The rendering engine can be used for other virtual reality applications as well, such as depicting real people. The startup's initial target market is the movie and video game industry.
	Open-source hardware could defend against the next generation of hacking Imagine you had a secret document you had to store away from prying eyes. And you have a choice: You could buy a safe made by a company that kept the workings of its locks secret. Or you could buy a safe whose manufacturer openly published the designs, letting everyone – including thieves – see how they're made. Which would you choose?
	Canada now world's largest legal marijuana marketplace Ian Power was among the first to buy legal recreational marijuana in Canada but he has no plans to smoke it. He plans to frame it.
	3D-printed lithium-ion batteries Electric vehicles and most electronic devices, such as cell phones and laptop computers, are powered by lithium-ion batteries. Until now, manufacturers have had to design their devices around the size and shape of commercially available batteries. But researchers have developed a new method to 3-D print lithium-ion batteries in virtually any shape. They report their results in ACS Applied Energy Materials.
	Even tech execs fret about their kids' smartphone addictions Like a lot of parents, Mike Herrick occasionally sees his 13-year-old daughter getting lost in her smartphone and wonders: Is technology messing with children's brains, even as it enlightens and empowers them in ways that weren't possible when his generation grew up?
	US tops WEF competitiveness ranking but obesity weighs on score The United States has the world's most competitive economy, a World Economic Forum ranking showed Wednesday, but inequality and health problems including obesity took a toll on its score.
	Wind farms and reducing hurricane precipitation With the United States being pummeled over the last couple of years with several high-category, high-damage hurricanes, the University of Delaware's Cristina Archer recently published a paper that discovered an unexpected benefit of large-scale offshore wind farms: they lessen the precipitation caused by these devastating storms.
	Once kings of TV, US broadcast networks face reckoning They once produced must-see television shows like "Seinfeld," "ER" and "Friends" but America's broadcast networks are facing a major crisis, as more and more viewers cut the cord in search of innovative content elsewhere.
	Netflix shares jump 6 percent on strong subscriber growth Netflix shares jumped 6 percent in early trading after the company reported a big increase in subscribers.
	Twitter releases 10 million tweets from foreign influence efforts Twitter on Wednesday released data on foreign influence campaigns on its platform showing some 10 million tweets, mostly from Russia, dating back as far as 2009.
	Public investment funds join call for independent Facebook chair Four public investment fund officials on Wednesday joined a call to install an independent chairman at Facebook, saying the move would improve governance and accountability at the world's biggest social network.
	Newly published files confirm plan to move Assange to Russia Julian Assange: Hacker. Journalist. Diplomat? Newly released Ecuadorean government documents have laid bare an unorthodox attempt to extricate the WikiLeaks founder from his embassy hideaway in London by naming him as a political counselor to the country's embassy in Moscow.
	Broadcaster urges football authorities not to leave market 'to criminals' Broadcaster Eleven Sports says it will no longer show matches during the Saturday afternoon football blackout in the UK but has urged authorities not to leave the market "in the hands of criminals".

Medicine & Health news

	Nutrition has a greater impact on bone strength than exercise One question that scientists and fitness experts alike would love to answer is whether exercise or nutrition has a bigger positive impact on bone strength.
	Self-lubricating latex could boost condom use: study A perpetually unctuous, self-lubricating latex developed by a team of scientists in Boston could boost the use of condoms, they reported Wednesday in the journal Royal Society Open Science.
	Study involving hundreds of patient samples may reveal new treatment options of leukemia After more than five years and 672 patient samples, an OHSU research team has published the largest cancer dataset of its kind for a form of leukemia. The study, "Functional Genomic Landscape of Acute Myeloid Leukemia", published today in Nature.
	How drug resistant TB evolved and spread globally The most common form of Mycobacterium tuberculosis (TB) originated in Europe and spread to Asia, Africa and the Americas with European explorers and colonialists, reveals a new study led by UCL and the Norwegian Institute of Public Health.
	Engineered enzyme eliminates nicotine addiction in preclinical tests Oct. 17, 2018—Scientists at Scripps Research have successfully tested a potential new smoking-cessation treatment in rodents.
	Researchers identify immune culprits linked to inflammation and bone loss in gum disease An unhealthy population of microbes in the mouth triggers specialized immune cells that inflame and destroy tissues, leading to the type of bone loss associated with a severe form of gum disease, according to a new study in mice and humans. The research, led by scientists from the National Institute of Dental and Craniofacial Research (NIDCR) at the National Institutes of Health and the University of Pennsylvania School of Dental Medicine, Philadelphia, could have implications for new treatment approaches for the condition. The findings appear online Oct. 17, 2018, in Science Translational Medicine.
	Study shows how bias can influence people estimating the ages of other people A trio of researchers from the University of New South Wales and Western Sydney University has discovered some of the factors involved when people make errors in estimating the ages of other people. In their paper published in the journal Royal Society Open Science, Colin Clifford, Tamara Watson and David White describe their study involving people estimating the ages of people shown in passport photos, and what they found.
	Scientists zero in on ways to boost colorectal cancer screening A comprehensive analysis by University of North Carolina Lineberger Comprehensive Cancer Center researchers evaluated more than 70 clinical studies to identify some of the most effective methods for boosting U.S. colorectal cancer screening rates.
	Gene screening technique helps identify genes involved in a fatty liver-associated liver cancer With an estimated twenty-thousand protein-coding genes in the human genome, pinpointing a specific gene or pathway responsible for a particular disease can be like finding a needle in the proverbial haystack. This has certainly been the case for hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC), with studies identifying more than ten thousand mutations in the cancer genomes of HCC patients, making it extremely difficult to develop targeted therapies.
	Sensory perception is not a one-way street When we interact with the world, such as when we reach out to touch an object, the brain actively changes incoming sensory signals based on anticipation. This so-called 'sensory gating' has now been investigated by neuroscientists at the University of Tübingen. In rats touching objects with their whiskers, they found that these touch signals from active sensory perception were reduced by gating signals from higher brain areas. This way, sensory perception may be shaped by expectations generated in the higher brain. Such anticipatory signals could have important implications in understanding sensory hallucinations such as those encountered in schizophrenia. The study, which has been realized with the help of funds from the German Research Foundation (DFG), has been published in Nature Communications.
	Regulating microglial activity may reduce inflammation in neurodegenerative diseases A group of Massachusetts General Hospital (MGH) investigators is proposing that targeting immune checkpoints—molecules that regulate the activity of the immune system—in immune cells called microglia could reduce the inflammatory aspects of important neurodegenerative diseases like Alzheimer's disease, Parkinson's disease and amyotrophic lateral sclerosis (ALS). In their review article published in the October issue of Nature Neuroscience, they discuss how uncontrolled activity of microglia contributes to neurodegeneration in these and other neurodegenerative conditions.
	Researchers cure drug-resistant infections without antibiotics Biochemists, microbiologists, drug discovery experts and infectious disease doctors have teamed up in a new study that shows antibiotics are not always necessary to cure sepsis in mice. Instead of killing causative bacteria with antibiotics, researchers treated infected mice with molecules that block toxin formation in bacteria. Every treated mouse survived. The breakthrough study, published in Scientific Reports, suggests infections in humans might be cured the same way.
	A 150-year-old drug might improve radiation therapy for cancer A drug first identified 150 years ago and used as a smooth-muscle relaxant might make tumors more sensitive to radiation therapy, according to a recent study led by researchers at The Ohio State University Comprehensive Cancer Center—Arthur G. James Cancer Hospital and Richard J. Solove Research Institute (OSUCCC—James).
	Cancer blood test trialed to prevent unnecessary chemo Cancer patients could be spared unnecessary chemotherapy—and its side effects—by a new blood test that is in clinical trials at more than 40 hospitals in Australia and New Zealand.
'Terrorism does not terrorize' claims new study A major review of over 400 research articles studying the association between acts of terrorism and mental health has reached the significant conclusion that 'terrorism isn't terrorising' - at least not in a way that causes increases in post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD) greater than would be expected from any other distressing event.
	How healthy will we be in 2040? A new scientific study of forecasts and alternative scenarios for life expectancy and major causes of death in 2040 shows all countries are likely to experience at least a slight increase in lifespans. In contrast, one scenario finds nearly half of all nations could face lower life expectancies.
	Largest autism sequencing study to date yields 102 genes associated with ASD In the largest genetic sequencing study of autism spectrum disorder (ASD) to date, researchers have identified 102 genes associated with ASD, and report significant progress toward teasing apart the genes associated with ASD from those associated with intellectual disability and developmental delay, conditions between which there is often overlap. The findings were presented at the American Society of Human Genetics 2018 Annual Meeting in San Diego, Calif.
	Canada braces for cannabis gold rush When Canada legalizes recreational pot Wednesday, market watchers predict the birth of a new industry—creating thousands of jobs, investor euphoria, a new tax source for governments and maybe even tourism.
India reports 80 Zika cases, 22 pregnant women India has reported an outbreak of the Zika virus with 80 confirmed cases since last month including 22 pregnant women in the western state of Rajasthan, officials said Wednesday.
	Combining genetic and sun exposure data improves skin cancer risk estimates By combining data on individuals' lifetime sun exposure and their genetics, researchers can generate improved predictions of their risk of skin cancer, according to findings presented at the American Society of Human Genetics (ASHG) 2018 Annual Meeting in San Diego, Calif.
	Virtual reality can help make people more compassionate compared to other media A Stanford-developed virtual reality experience, called "Becoming Homeless," is helping expand research on how this new immersive technology affects people's level of empathy.
	Virtual reality may encourage empathic behavior Virtual Reality could be a useful tool to encourage empathy, helpful behavior, and positive attitudes towards marginalized groups, according to a study published October 17, 2018 in the open-access journal PLOS ONE by Fernanda Herrera from Stanford University, USA, and colleagues.
	During a flu epidemic, dispensing vaccines at pharmacies could save lives and costs A new study led by researchers at the Johns Hopkins Bloomberg School of Public Health finds that in the event of a flu epidemic caused by a novel virus, using pharmacies to administer flu vaccines could save thousands of lives and billions of dollars.
	More women need to be screened for cervical cancer Up to 30 per cent of Canadian women are not being regularly screened for cervical cancer, and the lapse is resulting in unnecessary cases of cervical cancer every year, say University of Alberta obstetrics and gynecology residents.
	Now that cannabis is legal in Canada, let's use it to tackle the opioid crisis The legalization of cannabis for adult use in Canada is one of the biggest national public policy shifts that many of us will ever witness in our lifetimes.
	House plants can benefit indoor air quality Common houseplants such as peace lily and ivy can provide health benefits by improving air quality around the home, finds a new report from the University of Reading and Royal Horticultural Society.
	Even with health insurance, lesbian, gay and bisexual adults are more likely to delay medical care Lesbian, gay and bisexual adults in California have rates of health insurance coverage on par with or better than that of straight men and women in the state, but they are more likely to wait to see the doctor when they need medical care, according to a new policy brief by the UCLA Center for Health Policy Research.
	Infectious disease consultation significantly reduces mortality of patients with bloodstream yeast infections In a retrospective cohort study conducted at the University of Alabama at Birmingham Division of Infectious Diseases, patients with candidemia—a yeast infection in the bloodstream—had more positive outcomes as they relate to mortality when infectious disease consultation, or IDC, occurred during their hospital stay.
	Depressed classmates appear to be better helpers than young people who are not depressed Depressed classmates appear to be better helpers than young people who are not depressed. Furthermore, a depressed pupil who helps another pupil often starts to feel a bit more cheerful. These are findings from the doctoral research of Loes van Rijsewijk (University of Groningen). Van Rijsewijk did her research with a Research Talent grant from NWO and made use of the SNARE data collection funded by NWO.
	Do lovers always tease each other? Study shows how couples handle laughter and banter Laughter plays an important role in romantic relationships—whether or not it's shared together or directed at the significant other. If partners handle laughter or being laughed at in a similar way, they tend to be quite content with their relationship. People who are afraid of being laughed at, on the other hand, are often less happy in their relationship. This also affects their partner and their sexuality, psychologists from Martin Luther University Halle-Wittenberg (MLU) concluded in a study recently published in the Journal of Research in Personality.
	A novel insulin accelerant Insulin levels rise after eating a meal, signaling uptake of circulating glucose by skeletal muscle. In individuals with diabetes this process is often impaired—a condition known as insulin resistance.
	Asthma's androgen connection Women are more prone to developing asthma, particularly more severe types of asthma, compared to men. Studies have shown that the sex hormones, estrogen and testosterone, influence the mechanisms driving airway inflammation in animal models of asthma.
	Targeting diabetic kidney disease Diabetic nephropathy (DN) is a kidney disease characterized by loss of kidney function in patients with diabetes.
	Elderly home care goes digital For the elderly with cognitive impairment, living alone can prove detrimental to their health. Assistance services can provide appropriate discreet support for independent living and a high life quality.
	Time spent by children online linked to requests for junk food Young children who spent more than half an hour a day online were almost twice as likely to pester their parents for junk food, according to a new report published today (Wednesday, 17 October).
	New method uses just a drop of blood to monitor lung cancer treatment Dr. Tasuku Honjo won the 2018 Nobel Prize in physiology or medicine for discovering the immune T-cell protein PD-1. This discovery led to a set of anti-cancer medications called checkpoint inhibitors, one of the first of which was nivolumab (Opdivo).
	Do alternative therapies work to treat menopausal symptoms? Of the 80 per cent of women who develop symptoms during menopause, many will experiment with complementary and alternative medicines (CAMs) as well as lifestyle changes to treat their symptoms, said Tami Shandro, a University of Alberta family physician, Women and Children's Health Research Institute member and menopause clinic team member at the Lois Hole Hospital for Women.
	The Violence Against Women Act is unlikely to reduce intimate partner violence – here's why Leigh Goodmark, University of Maryland, Baltimore
	New robot helps the elderly exercise and detects underlying health problems According to the latest report on the evolution of worldwide population submitted by the United Nations, 13 percent of today's population is over 60 years of age; by 2050, this percentage will almost double, reaching 25 percent. The ageing of society is a reality, and technologies are adapting day-to-day to this demographic change.
	Research shows benefits of spore-based probiotic supplements—but most probiotics offer little to no benefit Over the counter probiotic products are found in most drug and grocery stores promising to restore and promote gut health. Brian McFarlin, a professor in the University of North Texas Departments of Kinesiology, Health Promotion and Recreation and Biological Sciences, says that consumers might want to do a little research before paying for a product that may do little or nothing to improve their health.
	Stressed about managing your child's behaviour? Here are four things every parent should know Around one-quarter of Australian parents feel stressed by their child's behaviour every day and more than one-third are overwhelmed by it. These are some of the findings released today from our latest Royal Children's Hospital National Child Health Poll – an online quarterly survey of a nationally representative sample of 2,000 Australian households with children.
	Older people are doing increasingly less physical exercise A study led by the University of Jaén reveals that people over 65 are not getting enough exercise. Experts emphasize the importance of preserving physical performance to prevent the negative consequences of aging.
	We tested women and men for breast cancer genes – only 18 percent knew they had it There are diseases and health conditions that are essentially invisible to us until it is too late.
	U.S. birth rates continue to drop as age of new moms rises (HealthDay)—American women are having fewer children, and they're having them later in life, a new government report shows.
	Take 10 for mindfulness (HealthDay)—Feel yourself being pulled in a million directions and losing track of what's really important? The meditative practice called mindfulness can help you get centered and re-focus on what's meaningful to you.
	Harvard: Heart researcher's papers contain fraudulent data (HealthDay)—Dozens of scientific papers from the laboratory of well-known heart researcher Piero Anversa contain fraudulent data, according to a Harvard Medical School internal investigation.
	Mayo Clinic Q&A: What are eye floaters? Dear Mayo Clinic: I've noticed several dark spots and cobweblike strings in my vision. Is this something to be concerned about?
	Influential Leapfrog Group jumps in to rate 5,600 surgery centers The influential Leapfrog Group, which grades nearly 2,000 U.S. hospitals, is launching a national survey to evaluate the safety and quality of up to 5,600 surgery centers that perform millions of outpatient procedures every year.
	Our relationship with dick pics: It's complicated Why do men send dick pics? Some research and popular commentary suggests it is for reasons of narcissism and over-confidence. Some men no doubt send them in the hopes of receiving a nude photo in kind, or because they genuinely believe that's what women desire.
High-dose radiation therapy improves survival in patients once thought incurable In the first randomized, phase II clinical trial of its kind, researchers have shown that an aggressive form of high-precision radiation therapy can greatly increase how long oligometastatic patients live and doubles how long they live without cancer. The findings will be presented in a news briefing and the plenary session at the 60th Annual Meeting of the American Society for Radiation Oncology (ASTRO) next week.
	New imaging tool captures how sound moves through the chinchilla ear Researchers have developed a new device that can be used to visualize how sound-induced vibrations travel through the ear. The technology is providing new insight into how the ear receives and processes sound waves and, with additional development, might one day be used by physicians to diagnose diseases that affect hearing.
	Researcher fighting breast cancer with light therapy When treatment is working for a patient who is fighting cancer, the light at the end of the tunnel is easier to see.
	Loss of protein p53 helps cancer cells multiply in 'unfavourable' conditions Researchers have discovered a novel consequence of loss of the tumour protein p53 that promotes cancer development, according to new findings in eLife.
	Bone cell response to mechanical force is balance of injury and repair Scientists have revealed the intricate process that bone cells use to repair themselves after mechanical injury, according to a study in the open-access journal eLife.
	Texas Biomed scientists researching Ebola-malaria connection Ebola virus is a continuing threat in Central and West Africa, with an outbreak currently taking place in the Democratic Republic of Congo. The disease kills up to 90% of the people who get infected, and more than 150 people have died from Ebola so far this year. The factors that determine who is susceptible to Ebola infection and who is not are still a mystery.
	Medical management of opioid-induced constipation differs from other forms of condition Traditional laxatives are recommended as first-line agents to treat patients with a confirmed diagnosis of opioid-induced constipation (OIC), according to a new guideline from the American Gastroenterological Association (AGA). If an adequate trial of laxatives results in suboptimal symptom control, the guidelines recommend peripherally-acting mu-opioid receptor antagonist (PAMORA) drugs, namely naldemedine, naloxegol and methylnatrexone. This class of drugs has shown to improve bowel symptoms without compromise to pain relief, although there can be associated side effects, including diarrhea and abdominal pain. The new guideline1 and accompanying technical review2 have been published in Gastroenterology, the official journal of the AGA Institute.
Just the right dose: antiepileptic drug clearance changes during pregnancy During pregnancy, the numerous physiological changes a woman's body undergoes can alter the way medications are metabolized, the rate at which they are cleared, and their overall effectiveness. Many women continue taking antiepileptic drugs (AEDs) during pregnancy, but while many studies address their safety, it has been unclear if the drug's effectiveness may be altered during pregnancy. A new study by investigators from Brigham and Women's Hospital examined whether pregnancy-related changes may influence how effectively five common AEDs prevent seizures and found that AED clearance significantly changes by the first trimester for the most commonly used medication and by the second trimester for two others. Their results are published in Neurology.
	Going to bed with your ex might not be as bad you think Conventional wisdom holds that people set themselves up for even greater heartache when they jump into bed with their ex-partner after a breakup. However, according to the findings of a study in Springer's journal Archives of Sexual Behavior, having sex with an ex doesn't seem to hinder moving on after the breakup. This is true even for those who continue to pine after their ex, says lead author Stephanie Spielmann of Wayne State University in the US.
Lifespan 2040 ranking: US down, China up, Spain on top Life expectancy in 2040 is set to rise at least a little in all nations but the rankings will change dramatically, with Spain taking the top spot while China and the United States trade places, researchers said Wednesday.
	UC researchers recommend universal screening to tackle rise in Hepatitis C Physicians are encountering a growing number of younger patients who are testing positive for hepatitis C virus (HCV) fueled largely by the opioid crisis impacting communities around the country. That increase and more effective and tolerable drug regimens for HCV infection, means one-time universal screening of all adults for HCV is now cost effective and recommended, say physician-researchers in the University of Cincinnati (UC) College of Medicine.
	Simple test may help predict long-term outcome after stroke A simple test taken within a week of a stroke may help predict how well people will have recovered up to three years later, according to a study published in the October 17, 2018, online issue of Neurology, the medical journal of the American Academy of Neurology.
BabySeq, MedSeq projects reveal how many people carry rare disease genetic risk variants Two projects in which healthy individuals have had their genomes sequenced have revealed that searching for unanticipated genetic results in newborns and adults can unearth far more variants associated with diseases than previously thought, and, importantly, reveal previously unrecognized but related clinical features of genetic conditions. Results from both the BabySeq Project, led by investigators at Brigham and Women's Hospital and Boston Children's Hospital, and the MedSeq Project, led by investigators at the Brigham, are being presented together at the 2018 American Society for Human Genetics meeting.
	Omega 3 fatty acids found in seafood linked to healthy aging Higher blood levels of omega 3 fatty acids found in seafood are associated with a higher likelihood of healthy ageing among older adults, finds a US study published by The BMJ today.
	Researchers propose conceptual framework to study role of exercise in multiple sclerosis East Hanover, NJ. October 17, 2018. Researchers have proposed a conceptual framework for examining the relationship between exercise and adaptive neuroplasticity in the population with multiple sclerosis (MS). The article, " Integrative CNS Plasticity with Exercise in MS: The PRIMERS (PRocessing, Integration of Multisensory Exercise-Related Stimuli) Conceptual Framework", was published in Neurorehabilitation and Neural Repair 2018 Sep 12. (doi: 10.1177/1545968318798938). The authors are Brian Sandroff, Robert W. Motl, William R. Reed, Aron Barbey, Ralph H.B. Benedict and John DeLuca.
	How does brain structure influence performance on language tasks? The architecture of each person's brain is unique, and differences may influence how quickly people can complete various cognitive tasks.
In governor's race, issues of age, health and forthrightness Gubernatorial challenger Walt Maddox's introductory television ad aimed to convey crucial details to voters. He described rebuilding tornado-ravaged Tuscaloosa as the city's mayor and called his politics "pro-life and pro Second Amendment." He also emphasized his age.
Rising drug prices widen gap between have, have-not patients For Bridgett Snelten, changing her health insurance meant enduring wild blood sugar swings, bouts of vomiting and weight gain.
	First GWAS analysis of 'type 1.5 diabetes' reveals links between immune and metabolic disease Scientists who performed the largest-ever genetic study of a puzzling type of adult-onset diabetes have uncovered new connections to the two major types of diabetes, offering intriguing insights into more accurate diagnosis and better treatment.
	AHA: why it's so hard to quit smoking The science behind why it's so difficult to quit smoking is crystal clear: Nicotine is addictive—reportedly as addictive as cocaine or heroin.
	AHA: no direct link between preeclampsia and cognitive impairment, study finds While preeclampsia puts women at greater risk for stroke and high blood pressure following childbirth, a new study found that the pregnancy-related condition may not predispose them to significant cognitive impairment later in life.
	Seven-day metronidazole better for trichomoniasis tx in women (HealthDay)—A seven-day dose of metronidazole is associated with a reduced likelihood of being Trichomonas vaginalis-positive at test-of-cure compared with single-dose treatment, according to a study published online Oct. 5 in The Lancet Infectious Diseases.
	Treatment tied to survival benefit in complex bladder cancer (HealthDay)—Cancer treatment is associated with a clinically meaningful survival benefit in older, medically complex patients with superficial bladder cancer (SBC), according to a study published online Oct. 5 in Cancer.
	Gabapentin beats pregabalin for chronic sciatica (HealthDay)—For patients with chronic sciatica (CS), gabapentin (GBP) is superior to pregabalin (PGB), with fewer and less severe adverse events (AEs), according to a study published online Oct. 15 in JAMA Neurology.
	PrEP implementation is associated with a rapid decline in new HIV infections Study from Australia is the first to evaluate a population-level roll-out of pre-exposure prophylaxis (PrEP) in men who have sex with men.
How divorced parents can keep Halloween sweet for their children Trick-or-treating, dressing up in costume and having fun are all most children want to do on Halloween, but for some divorced families it can be a challenge to figure out how to make the night a treat and not a fright. Baylor College of Medicine's Dr. Sandra Gonzalez gives her tips on how to do this.
	Researchers identify new approach for controlling dengue fever and Zika virus Mosquitoes are the world's deadliest animals, killing thousands of people and causing millions of illnesses each year. To be able to reproduce and become effective disease carriers, mosquitoes must first attain optimal body size and nutritional status.
A role for circadian enhancers to prevent myocardial injury in the perioperative setting Innovative cardioprotective strategies are of imminent demand. Nonfatal myocardial ischemia (MI) poses a significant risk to patients undergoing major non-cardiac surgery and these non-cardiac surgeries account for around 8 million myocardial injuries per year. Considering perioperative MI is the most common major cardiovascular complication, identifying factors that lead to cardiac disease onset and finding solutions to prevent potential cardiac damage are of critical importance. Previous work revealed that anesthetics used in the perioperative setting alter cellular circadian biology and furthermore, a critical role for the circadian rhythm protein Period 2 (PER2) was revealed in promoting cardioprotection through metabolic pathway mediation. The current studies intended to answer this question: does anesthetic administration lead to increased susceptibility to MI, and if so, does targeting circadian PER2 provide a cardioprotective effect?
African American men's health disparities: Research, practice, and policy implications The burden of risk factors for chronic disease is substantially higher in black men compared with their white counterparts, including a higher prevalence of obesity and hypertension. The Center for Healthy African American Men through Partnerships (CHAAMPS) presents results from several studies that pinpoint some of the issues and propose strategies to solve these in a special supplement to the American Journal of Preventive Medicine.
	Many seemingly healthy children show signs of metabolic problems More than a quarter of otherwise healthy six-year-old children may have metabolic risk factors that put them at increased risk for cardiovascular disease, according to results from an Acta Paediatrica study.
	Novel antidepressant may improve sleep in patients with depression In a study of 15 patients affected by major depressive disorder and complaining of insomnia, initiating treatment with vortioxetine for their depressive symptoms led to significant improvements in subjective sleep quality and daytime sleepiness. The British Journal of Clinical Pharmacology findings may have important clinical implications because sleep problems affect an estimated 70 to 90 percent of patients with depression.
	Prescription opioid and benzodiazepine misuse linked with suicidal thoughts Misuse of prescription opioids or benzodiazepines (such as Xanax) was associated with suicidal ideation in a study of US older adults.
Inducing labor at 39 weeks may benefit pregnant women and their babies As the prevalence of maternal and fetal complications increases with advancing pregnancy beyond 39 weeks, induction of labor at 39 weeks has been proposed as a means to ensure optimal maternal and newborn health.
Childhood abuse linked to increased arthritis risk in adulthood In a survey-based study of 21,889 adults in Canada, severe and/or frequent physical abuse during childhood and frequent childhood exposure to intimate partner violence were linked with higher risks or arthritis during adulthood arthritis, even after controlling for a range of factors.
Does weight loss before surgery provide benefits? For obese and overweight patients, it is common for various surgical procedures to be deferred until they have lost weight through diet and exercise.
	Study examines factors linked with opioid misuse among university students In a survey-based study of 9,449 university students at a large, public Midwestern university, misusers of prescription opioid medications were more likely to live off campus, have a lower grade point average, and exhibit increased impulsivity.
Many infertile men have undiagnosed prediabetes In a study of 744 infertile men, prediabetes was found in 114 (15.4 percent) of participants.
Participating in sports during childhood may have long-term benefits for bone health Participation in organized sport during childhood and adolescence is associated with bone mass at 20 years of age, according to a Journal of Bone and Mineral Research study.
	Psoriasis linked with need for cardiovascular interventions in patients with hypertension Psoriasis is linked with increased risks of hypertension and cardiovascular disease, but its effect on the course of cardiovascular disease remains unknown. In a new Journal of Dermatology study, patients with hypertension and psoriasis more often required cardiovascular procedures and surgeries than hypertensive patients without psoriasis.
	Mindfulness-based program may help reduce stress in infertile women An eight-week mindfulness-based program was effective for reducing stress and depressive symptoms while increasing general well-being in a study of infertile women.
	Study examines aspects of conscientious objection among nurses One-on-one interviews with eight nurses in Ontario revealed that nurses making conscientious objections to ethically-relevant policies lack concrete supports and need protection in healthcare practice settings.
	AP Explains: Why Congo's latest Ebola outbreak is worrying The World Health Organization has announced that Congo's latest outbreak of the deadly Ebola virus is not yet considered a global health emergency. Some aid groups expressed alarm when the rate of new cases more than doubled this month. With the area compared to a war zone, resistance to health workers sometimes turning violent and confirmed cases found near the heavily traveled Ugandan border, the risk of regional spread is "very high."
	Canada legalizes marijuana for recreational use Marijuana lovers celebrated the full legalization of the weed in Canada Wednesday as the nation embarked on a controversial experiment in drug policy attempted by only one other country.
Rare polio-like illness has US health authorities on alert A rare disease that peaked this autumn and paralyzes its victims - mainly children - in ways similar to polio has put health authorities on alert across the United States.

Biology news

	Study documents paternal transmission of epigenetic memory via sperm Studies of human populations and animal models suggest that a father's experiences such as diet or environmental stress can influence the health and development of his descendants. How these effects are transmitted across generations, however, remains mysterious.
	Near-atomic resolution model of Ebola virus protein brings clearer understanding of the viral mechanics Researchers at the Okinawa Institute of Science and Technology Graduate University (OIST) have for the first time imaged the structure of a central component of the Ebola virus at near-atomic resolution.
	Study shows city rats eat better than country rats A pair of researchers, one with Trent University in Canada, the other the University of Manchester in the U.K. has found evidence that rats living in cities have a much richer diet than rats living in the country. In their paper published in Proceedings of the Royal Society B, Eric Guiry and Michael Buckley describe their isotopic analysis of rats living in Toronto during the years 1790 to 1890, and what they found.
	Evidence of dogs accompanying humans to Europe during Neolithic A team of researchers from across Europe and Israel has found evidence of dogs traveling with people from the Near East to Europe during the Neolithic. In their paper published in the journal Biology Letters, the group describes their genetic study of dogs living in ancient Europe and the Near East and what they found.
	A curious branch of plankton evolution Planktonic foraminifera (forams) - tiny, shelled organisms that float in the sea—left behind one of the most complete fossil records of evolutionary history in deep sea deposits. Consequently, evolutionists have a relatively sturdy grasp on when and how new lineages arose and developed their own unique features. However, a study publishing October 17 in the journal iScience reveals that one foram lineage evolved much more rapidly than everyone predicted, and researchers are looking beyond Darwin's original theories of gradual evolution to understand why.
	Dandelion seeds reveal newly discovered form of natural flight The extraordinary flying ability of dandelion seeds is possible thanks to a form of flight that has not been seen before in nature, research has revealed.
	Pupil's brain recognizes the perfect teacher Youngsters learn many important behaviors by imitating adults. But young learners are selective in who they copy, and scientists don't understand how they choose the right teacher.
	Climate changes require better adaptation to drought Europe's future climate will be characterised by more frequent heat waves and more widespread drought. Heat and drought will both challenge crop production, but drought in particular will be a problem—especially for spring sown crops such as maize.
	Protein derived from cottonseed for human nutrition one step closer to reality Cottonseed ground into flour to deliver protein to millions of people, a project to which Dr. Keerti Rathore has devoted more than half his professional career, is one step closer to reality.
	Regulating gene transcription using light Researchers led by Mustafa Khammash have developed a new method that uses blue light to control the transcription of DNA into RNA in single cells. The technology could also be used in tissue engineering and stem cell research.
	Probiotics and antibiotics create a killer combination In the fight against drug-resistant bacteria, MIT researchers have enlisted the help of beneficial bacteria known as probiotics.
	Scientists find stem cell proliferation is controlled directly by nervous system Somatic stem cells are microscopic workhorses, constantly regenerating cells throughout the body: skin and the lining of the intestine, for example. And to University of Illinois neuroscientists, they represent untapped potential.
	Researchers say winter ticks killing moose at alarming rate As winter in New England seems to get warmer, fall lingers longer and spring comes into bloom earlier, areas like northern New Hampshire and western Maine are seeing an unusual continued increase in winter ticks which are endangering the moose population. Researchers at the University of New Hampshire have found that the swell of infestations of this parasite, which attaches itself to moose during the fall and feeds throughout the winter, is the primary cause of an unprecedented 70 percent death rate of calves over a three-year period.
	Potentially deadly infection hits California sea lions A rescue center says California sea lions are coming down with a potentially fatal bacterial infection in near-record numbers.
	Novel study shows promise for managing wild horse populations For more than eight years, Colorado State University researchers have studied a vaccine called GonaCon as a safe and humane solution for the overpopulation of wild horses.
	Larval fish database to show effects of climate change on fisheries A new larval fish database collated over the last 30 years will be used to measure marine ecosystem state and change as well as seasonal patterns of various fish species.
	Sex or food? Decision-making in single-cell organisms Unicellular diatoms are able to adapt their behavior to different external stimuli based on an evaluation of their own needs. This was discovered by scientists of the Friedrich Schiller University and the Max Planck Institute for Chemical Ecology in Jena, Germany, together with partners from Belgium. The algae depend on nutrients in order to reproduce. However, they also need reproductive partners, which they find by following pheromone traces. In experiments, Seminavis robusta diatoms directed their orientation either toward nutrient sources or reproductive partners, depending on the degree of starvation and the need to mate. This represents a primitive form of behavioral biology. The study is published in The ISME Journal.
	Eighty tons of illegal bluefin tuna pose a threat to sustainable fisheries and human health Spanish authorities announced the arrest of 76 people involved in a large illegal trade of bluefin tuna worth over €12 million per year between Malta and Spain, and with the engagement of other EU countries. 80,000 kg of illegally caught and marketed tuna were seized in the investigation, led under the coordination of EUROPOL. Irregularities found in the handling of the fish could also cause food poisoning.
	Fish undisturbed by flash photography Fish experience stress, as do mammals and humans. When under stress, fish release the hormones adrenaline and cortisol. A team of scientists spearheaded by IGB has investigated whether flash photography induces an increase in cortisol levels of fish in aquariums. The good news: you need not worry about taking snapshots of the ram cichlid.
	Novel switching valve to receive more semen in a sex-role reversed cave insect The female of a sex-role reversed cave insect species Neotrogla has evolved a switching valve to receive more semen during mating, when a penis-like structure in the female anchors in the male "vagina."
	Are two parents better than one? Yes, but only if you're a burying beetle Parenting behaviour varies greatly across the animal kingdom. In most mammals, only mothers look after the young, and in most fishes, only fathers look after the young. When it comes to birds, mothers and fathers usually work together to build a nest, feed their chicks, keep them warm, and protect them from predators. At the opposite end of the spectrum are insects, where in most cases, the young are left to fend for themselves.
	Getting to the root of long-term tree swallow declines Aerial insectivores—birds that hunt for insect prey on the wing—are declining across North America. Conserving vulnerable species such as these requires a good understanding of the factors impacting them at every stage of life. Juveniles and adults, for example, may face different threats and die at different rates. Two new studies from The Condor: Ornithological Applications take a deep dive into the demographic factors behind declining populations of Tree Swallows and show that although specifics may vary between locations, action is needed to address environmental changes affecting these birds across their geographic range.
	Blue crab baby sizes and shapes influence their survival Like people, blue crabs aren't all the same sizes and shapes. Now Rutgers scientists have discovered substantial differences in the body structures of larval crab siblings and among larvae from different mothers. And that can mean the difference between an early death and survival into adulthood for this important commercial and recreational species.
	Study uncovers new link between neonicotinoid pesticide exposure and bumblebee decline Adding to growing evidence that pesticide use may be contributing to the decline of many bumblebee species across North America, a new study reveals that daily consumption of even small doses of a widely used class of insecticides known as neonicotinoids reduces the survival of queen and male bees, which are critical to the survival of wild populations. The study also found that exposure to the chemicals alters the expression of genes regulating biological functions such as locomotion, reproduction, immunity, and learning and memory, suggesting that neonicotinoids may be having a greater negative impact on the viability of wild bumblebee populations than previously thought.
Mexico's vaquita porpoise gets new chance; 6 sighted Experts want to enclose a small area of the Gulf of California where the critically endangered vaquita porpoise remains after they sighted about a half dozen of the elusive creatures in September.
58 Australian fairy penguins slaughtered in suspected dog attack Wildlife officials in the southern Australia on Wednesday announced an investigation into the mass death of 58 penguins they believe were killed in a dog attack.

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