Science X Newsletter Tuesday, Nov 13

Dear Reader ,

Here is your customized Science X Newsletter for November 13, 2018:

Spotlight Stories Headlines

Motion planning for automated driving under uncertainty and with limited visibility

Giant flare detected on a pre-main sequence M star

Gaia spots a 'ghost' galaxy next door

Rare fossil bird deepens mystery of avian extinctions

Why your number of romantic partners mirrors your mother

Experimental therapy could repair mutations that cause genetic diseases

Washboard and fluted terrains on Pluto as evidence for ancient glaciation

Climate change damaging male fertility

Neural nets supplant marker genes in analyzing single cell RNA sequencing

Google-NYT project forecast: Cloud-y with bursts of visual impact

New records in perovskite-silicon tandem solar cells through improved light management

Pulling the genome apart: Chromosome segregation during mitosis explained

Dark matter 'hurricane' offers chance to detect axions

Simple tips can lead to better food choices

Color vision variation in guppies influences female mate preference

Astronomy & Space news

	Giant flare detected on a pre-main sequence M star Using the Next Generation Transit Survey (NGTS), astronomers have identified an energetic flare displaying quasi-periodic pulsations on the pre-main sequence M star NGTS J121939.5-355557. The newly detected flare is one of the most energetic flares seen on an M-type star to date. The finding is reported in a paper published November 5 on arXiv.org.
	Gaia spots a 'ghost' galaxy next door The Gaia satellite has spotted an enormous 'ghost' galaxy lurking on the outskirts of the Milky Way.
	Washboard and fluted terrains on Pluto as evidence for ancient glaciation A letter authored by SETI Institute scientist Oliver White was published by Nature Astronomy today. Co-authors included researchers Jeff Moore, Tanguy Bertrand and Kimberly Ennico at NASA's Ames Research Center in Silicon Valley.
	Galaxies like Russian dolls Jairo Méndez Abreu and Adriana de Lorenzo-Cáceres, researchers at the Instituto de Astrofísica de Canarias (IAC), have discovered a peanut-shaped structure in the inner bar of a double-barred galaxy close to the Milky Way. Structures of this type, previously detected only in outer bars, are useful tracers of the evolution of the galaxies.
	Merging galaxy cluster provides laboratory for accelerating electrons Merging galaxy clusters provide natural laboratories for astronomers to study cosmic phenomena. Igone Urdampilleta from SRON Netherlands Institute for Space Research uses the merger Abell 3376 to study how electrons rush through the intracluster medium at relativistic speeds. The findings point towards an acceleration mechanism called Diffusive Shock Acceleration. The study is published in Astronomy & Astrophysics.
	Cosmologists provide new measurement of cosmic controversy Researchers from the University of Portsmouth have come up with a new measurement of one of the most debated topics in cosmology.
	Why space debris cleanup might be a national security threat As an international relations scholar who studies space law and policy, I have come to realize what most people do not fully appreciate: Dealing with space debris is as much a national security issue as it is a technical one.

Technology news

	Motion planning for automated driving under uncertainty and with limited visibility Researchers at the FZI Research Center for Information Technology have developed a new method that could improve the motion planning of autonomous vehicles within uncertain environments or in conditions of limited visibility. Their paper, pre-published on arXiv, outlines a technique to avoid collisions in the worst-case evolution of a given scenario.
	Google-NYT project forecast: Cloud-y with bursts of visual impact A newspaper morgue cannot afford to be a place where valuable photos exuding barely told stories and teaching moments in history are dead and buried forever. A newspaper, after all, is a story-teller and The New York Times is out to make sure it leverages over 5 million items to keep the stories coming, with context, impact and teachable moments.
	New records in perovskite-silicon tandem solar cells through improved light management Using microstructured layers, an HZB team has been able to increase the efficiency of perovskite-silicon tandem solar cells, achieving 25.5 percent, which is the highest published value to date. The team used computational simulations to investigate light conversion in various device designs with different nanostructured surfaces. This enabled optimization of light management and detailed energy yield analyses. The study has now been published in Energy & Environmental Science.
	Purple bacteria 'batteries' turn sewage into clean energy You've flushed something valuable down the toilet today.
	Scientists improve smart phone battery life by up to 60 percent Computer scientists from Aston University have developed a way to drastically improve the battery-life of mobile devices, such as smart phones and tablets, by minimising the power consumption of mobile apps by as much as 60 percent.
	Internet traffic hijack disrupts Google services An internet traffic diversion rerouted data through Russia and China and disrupted Google services on Monday, including search, cloud-hosting services and its bundle of collaboration tools for businesses.
	Cathay says 'most intense' period of data breach lasted months The world's biggest airline data breach, affecting millions of Cathay Pacific customers, was the result of a sustained cyber attack that lasted for three months, the carrier admitted, while insisting it was on alert for further intrusions.
	French firm refurbishes earnings via old iPhones One company in northern France is doing its profitable best to give an environmental makeover to smartphones, whose circuitry, batteries and plastics have become a polluting blight over the past decade.
	Amazon opens new outposts in New York, northern Virginia Amazon, which is growing too big for its Seattle hometown, is spreading out to the East Coast.
	After conquering the world, smartphone faces uncertain future What is next for the smartphone, which has become the hottest-selling consumer device around the world in just over a decade?
	New breakthrough in hot embossing technology Korean researchers have developed a new hot embossing process technology that can freely imprint fine circuit patterns on flexible polymer substrate. The result is expected to be used in semiconductor processes, wearable devices and the display industry.
	Driverless cars will make you sick – but there's a fix Driverless cars will usher in a transport utopia, at least according to many of their proponents. Concept art for these futuristic vehicles often show passengers sat facing each other, reading, working or enjoying some other activity as their car does the driving for them. I would argue that one of the main attractions of an automated vehicle is being able to do something else while you're safely and comfortably transported to your destination.
	IAEA urges quick plan on Fukushima radioactive water cleanup Experts from the International Atomic Energy Agency urged the operator of Japan's tsunami-wrecked Fukushima nuclear plant on Tuesday to urgently decide on a plan to dispose of massive amounts of treated but still radioactive water stored in tanks on the compound.
	New scheduling system could help reduce flight delays Scheduling and coordinating air traffic can be difficult, but taking the airlines' and passengers' delay costs into account can actually save airlines money and result in fewer delays, according to a new study from Binghamton University, State University of New York.
	Germany hopes to kickstart EU battery-making in 2019 German economy minister Peter Altmaier said Tuesday Berlin would provide one billion euros ($1.3 billion) of funding for electric car battery production by 2021, as talks with companies reach an advanced stage.
	Nigerian ISP's configuration error disrupted Google services A Nigerian internet service provider said Tuesday that a configuration error it made during a network upgrade caused a disruption of key Google services, routing traffic to China and Russia.
	Waymo to expand fledgling self-driving car service A self-driving car service being tested by Alphabet-owned Waymo will be opened up to more people in the Phoenix, Arizona, area, chief John Krafcik said Tuesday.
	Amazon's growing pains in Seattle offer lessons to new hosts As Amazon turns its attention to setting up new homes in Long Island City, New York and Arlington, Virginia, experts and historians in Seattle say both places can expect a delicate relationship with the world's hottest online retailer.
	Bayer confirms forecasts as Monsanto integration grinds on German chemicals and pharmaceuticals giant Bayer confirmed its full-year forecasts Tuesday, after a solid performance in the firm's first full quarter of integrating US seeds and pesticides maker Monsanto.
	Fighting wars and disease, smartphones on the frontlines At the sharp end of conflict in Syria, in a schoolchild's bag in Kenya, whether fighting deadly diseases or studying forestry, the smartphone has become ubiquitous in just over a decade.
	Smartphones: a double-edged sword for terrorists Bombs and guns aside, a smartphone can be a powerful weapon in the hands of a terrorist—but it can also provide intelligence services with the tools to track them down.
	Vietnam's newest airline Bamboo gets aviation licence Vietnam's newest carrier Bamboo Airways has been granted a licence to fly, officials and the airline said, paving the way for its inaugural flight in a region crowded with competitors.
	Telecom Italia ousts CEO in long-running boardroom battle A long-running board room battle in Italy's legacy telecoms provider, Telecom Italia, has culminated with the ouster of CEO Amos Genish, effective immediately.
	Renewable energy cooperatives, an opportunity for energy transition Three researchers from the UPV/EHU's Faculty of Engineering—Bilbao and the University of Valladolid have explored how renewable energy cooperatives have evolved. They have found that these cooperatives have developed a significant capacity to survive and adapt in response to the hostile context brought about by the economic and political regime.
	Cobalt – a potential bottleneck in the transition to electric mobility The coming electric vehicle boom will significantly increase the demand for cobalt in the EU and globally. As a result, demand is expected to exceed supply already in 2020 and the EU must take steps to boost supply and curb demand without hindering the growth in electric vehicles, according to a new report by the European Commission's Joint Research Centre (JRC), presented at the EU Raw Material Week in Brussels.
	From Audible to Whole Foods: A look at Amazon's empire Amazon is hard to escape.
Czech highest court upholds Uber ban in city of Brno The Czech Republic's highest legal authority has upheld a ban for the operations of the ride-sharing service Uber in Brno, the second-largest city in the country.
	Bombardier clings to its last commercial aircraft line Canadian manufacturer Bombardier said Tuesday it planned to hold onto its last commercial aircraft line—the Canadair Regional Jet or CRJ—after recent divestitures of its others.

Medicine & Health news

	Simple tips can lead to better food choices A few easily learned tips on eating and food choice can increase amount of healthy food choices between 5 percent and 11 percent, a new Yale University study has found.
	New clues to the origin and progression of multiple sclerosis Mapping of a certain group of cells, known as oligodendrocytes, in the central nervous system of a mouse model of multiple sclerosis (MS), shows that they might have a significant role in the development of the disease. The discovery can lead to new therapies targeted at other areas than just the immune system. The results are published in Nature Medicine by researchers at Karolinska Institutet in Sweden.
	Study finds that in treating obesity, one size does not fit all Analyzing data from more than 2,400 obese patients who underwent bariatric weight-loss surgery, researchers identified at least four different patient subgroups that diverge significantly in eating behaviors and rate of diabetes, as well as weight loss in three years after surgery.
	An enzyme in immune cells plays essential role in host defense against tuberculosis Using freshly resected lung tissue from 21 patients and two distinct mouse models, tuberculosis researchers at the University of Alabama at Birmingham and the Africa Health Research Institute, or AHRI, have identified a protein that plays an essential role in host defense against this deadly disease.
	Pancreatic cancer's addiction could be its end Cancer cells are often described as cells "gone bad" or "renegade." New research reveals that in some of the deadliest cases of pancreatic cancer, these rebellious cells have an unexpected addiction. Now, scientists are investigating if that addiction can be used to bring about a tumor's end.
	Probiotics increase bone volume in healthy mice A widely-used probiotic stimulates bone formation in young female mice, according to a study published November 13th in the journal Immunity. In response to treatment with Lactobacillus rhamnosus GG (LGG), other intestinal microbes produced a metabolite called butyrate, which in turn activated bone-enhancing immune cells, including regulatory T cells.
	How fast you walk says a lot about your health During a doctor's appointment, there's a few measures that quickly get a physician up to speed on our current health, such as measuring blood pressure and checking our BMI. But researchers say it could be helpful to add one more indicator to that list: measuring how fast you walk.
	Immunity connects gut bacteria and aging Over the years, researchers have learned that the different populations of bacteria that inhabit the gut have significant effects on body functions, including the immune system. The populations of gut bacteria are sometimes called "commensal," and exist in virtually all animals living under a certain functional balance. When this balance is disrupted—for example, because of disease or medication—it gives rise to a condition known as "commensal dysbiosis," which is associated with a number of pathologies and even a decreased lifespan. Despite this knowledge, little is known about how, exactly, the gut bacteria affect general health and vice versa.
	Research reveals details of how HIV becomes infectious HIV, the virus that causes AIDS, has been studied extensively ever since the AIDS epidemic was officially recognized by health professionals in the early 1980s.
	Study shows changes in histone methylation patterns in nutritionally stunted children An international team of researchers has found changes in histone methylation patterns in nutritionally stunted children. In their paper published in Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences, the group describes their study of nutritionally deprived children living in a slum in Bangladesh and what they found.
	The illusion of multitasking boosts performance Our ability to do things well suffers when we try to complete several tasks at once, but a series of experiments suggests that merely believing that we're multitasking may boost our performance by making us more engaged in the tasks at hand. The findings are published in Psychological Science, a journal of the Association for Psychological Science.
	Scientists illuminate causes of hepatitis B virus-associated acute liver failure National Institutes of Health scientists and their collaborators found that hepatitis B virus (HBV)-associated acute liver failure (ALF)—a rare condition that can turn fatal within days without liver transplantation—results from an uncommon encounter between a highly mutated HBV variant and an unusual immune response in the patient's liver that is mainly sustained by antibody-producing B cells.
	Your heart hates air pollution. Portable filters could help Microscopic particles floating in the air we breathe come from sources such as fossil fuel combustion, fires, cigarettes and vehicles. Known as fine particulate matter, this form of air pollution increases the risk of cardiovascular and other serious health problems.
	Synthetic DNA-delivered antibodies protect against Ebola in preclinical studies Scientists at The Wistar Institute and collaborators have successfully engineered novel DNA-encoded monoclonal antibodies (DMAbs) targeting Zaire Ebolavirus that were effective in preclinical models. Study results, published online in Cell Reports, showed that DMAbs were expressed over a wide window of time and offered complete and long-term protection against lethal virus challenges. DMAbs may also provide a novel powerful platform for rapid screening of monoclonal antibodies enhancing preclinical development.
	Being overweight likely to cause depression, even without health complications A largescale genomic analysis has found the strongest evidence yet that being overweight causes depression, even in the absence of other health problems.
Drug matched to patients according to tumour gene testing shows signs of being effective Dublin, Ireland: Treatment with capivasertib, a drug designed to work against a particular gene mutation found in some tumours, shows signs of being effective in a trial of 35 patients presented today (Tuesday) at the 30th EORTC-NCI-AACR Symposium on Molecular Targets and Cancer Therapeutics in Dublin, Ireland.
	Suicide risk increases in teens who knew murder victims Nearly half of black teenagers surveyed in Allegheny County report losing a friend or family member to murder, a disproportionately stark statistic that is associated with suicide attempts and other negative childhood experiences, according to research led by UPMC and University of Pittsburgh scientists.
	Angiotensin receptor blockers normalize sodium excretion Drugs that inhibit a hormone that constricts blood vessels also help improve sodium excretion in blacks who hold onto too much sodium in the face of stress, investigators report.
Wishes help keep pediatric patients out of the hospital Cimone Stills, 15, has a medical condition that has caused her to have multiple seizures a day for most of her life. Specifically, she has treatment-resistant generalized epilepsy because of a genetic variation. Like many patients with such a serious illness, it affects her daily life and as a result, she was diagnosed with clinical depression. But Cimone's outlook on life completely changed for the better after her wish of going to Paris. Cimone says that the wish helped provide her perspective and hope. It also helped reduced her number of seizures over time.
	Insufficient sleep in children is associated with poor diet, obesity and more screen time A new study conducted among more than 177,000 students suggests that insufficient sleep duration is associated with an unhealthy lifestyle profile among children and adolescents.
	New transgenic rat model may enable better understanding of amyloid buildup in cerebral blood vessels In a report in The American Journal of Pathology investigators describe the generation of a successful novel transgenic rat model that accumulates amyloid specifically in brain blood vessels and strongly mimics many of the associated detrimental changes that are observed in humans—a condition known as cerebral amyloid angiopathy (CAA), which is also commonly observed in Alzheimer disease.
	Smartphones raising a mentally fragile generation San Diego State University psychology professor Jean Twenge sees smartphones and social media as raising an unhappy, compliant "iGen."
	Women favor daughters, men favor sons despite socioeconomic status A Rutgers-led experimental study found that women prefer and invest more in daughters, while men favor and invest more in their sons.
	Physical, cognitive performance linked in diabetes patients, research shows Tests of physical performance, especially walking speed and grip strength, have been found to correlate with cognitive function in patients with diabetes, a discovery that could help identify signs of dementia earlier.
	Adenomyosis causes pain, heavy periods and infertility but you've probably never heard of it Adenomyosis is a condition of the uterus (womb), where the tissue that grows on the lining of the uterus (also known as the endometrium) is also present on the inside muscular wall of the uterus. Adenomyosis can cause symptoms such as heavy bleeding during your period, bleeding when you are not due for your period, period pain (dysmenorrhea), pain during or after sex (dyspareunia) and infertility.
Prenatal food insecurity associated with severity of neonatal abstinence syndrome A new study shows that food insecurity in pregnant women being treated for opioid use disorder may be associated with increased risk for their infants receiving pharmacologic treatment for neonatal abstinence syndrome. Published in Addiction, the Boston Medical Center study indicates that screening for food insecurity in pregnant women who are being treated with opioid agonist therapy (methadone or buprenorphine) for an opioid use disorder could be one way to decrease the severity of neonatal abstinence syndrome in their infants.
	Health costs of ageism calculated at $63 billion annually, study finds Ageism—a widespread form of prejudice that is directed at older persons—led to excess costs of $63 billion for a broad range of health conditions during one year in the United States, a new study by the Yale School of Public Health has found.
	Large babies born to mothers with diabetes have a near-trebled risk of obesity New research published in Diabetologia (the journal of the European Association for the Study of Diabetes [EASD]) shows that children who are larger than average at birth (large for gestational age or LGA) and born to mothers with gestational diabetes are almost three times as likely to be obese as children born a normal size to diabetes-free mothers. The study is by Dr. Padma Kaul (Department of Medicine, University of Alberta, Edmonton, AB, Canada) and co-authors.
	Fear of public places after mass shootings? Tips to overcome anxiety It's a scene that's become all too familiar in American culture.
	Gene mutation found to cause macrocephaly and intellectual deficits The absence of one copy of a single gene in the brain causes a rare, as-yet-unnamed neurological disorder, according to new research that builds on decades of work by a University at Buffalo biochemist and his colleagues.
	Nobody wants to talk about catheters—our silence could prove fatal The ward nurse wanted to be reassuring. "Your mother's got a bit of an infection and we've popped her into intensive care," she told Sarah Wilkins. (Some names have been changed.)
	Study finds promising therapeutic target for aggressive type of breast cancer A new Nature Communications study led by University of Kentucky Markey Cancer Center researchers suggests that an enzyme known as Prolyl 4-hydroxylase subunit alpha-1 (P4HA1) is a potential therapeutic target for triple negative breast cancer.
	The link between terrorism and mental illness is complicated, and vilifying communities doesn't help Following another act of fatal violence in Melbourne's CBD last Friday, Prime Minister Scott Morrison dismissed claims the perpetrator, Hassan Khalif Shire Ali, had a mental illness. He said this was a "lame excuse", saying he wanted imams and the Muslim community to pay greater attention to people at risk of radicalisation.
	What is Japanese encephalitis virus and how can I avoid it when I travel? If you're travelling to Asia, you're probably mindful of the risks of malaria, dengue, or Zika. But authorities are warning Australians to take care to avoid another mosquito-borne disease, Japanese encephalitis, when holidaying in the region, after a spike in cases in Indonesia.
	Meditation and music may alter blood markers of cellular aging and Alzheimer's disease A research team led by Dr. Kim Innes, a professor in the West Virginia University School of Public Health, has found that a simple meditation or music listening program may alter certain biomarkers of cellular aging and Alzheimer's Disease in older adults who are experiencing memory loss. Study findings, reported in the Journal of Alzheimer's Disease, also suggest these changes may be directly related to improvements in memory and cognition, sleep, mood, and quality of life.
	Researcher calls for urgent action to tackle pneumonia—the world's No. 1 infectious disease killer Southampton researcher, Dr. Michael Head, is calling for immediate action to tackle pneumonia after a new report named the condition as the leading infections disease killer in the world, claiming an estimated 2.6 million lives in 2017.
	Feel younger than you are? Here's why you're on to something good Emile Ratelband made international headlines when he launched a controversial legal battle to change his official date of birth from March 1949 to March 1969, reflecting the fact that he feels 20 years younger. The story probably made some of us laugh, but who can blame him for wanting to share his year of birth with the likes of Jennifer Aniston, Jay-Z, Steffi Graf or even my good self?
	When it comes to falls, the best offense is a good defense In sports it's said that the best offense is a good defense, and that can be true for falls too – the best way to prevent an injury is to avoid the fall altogether. Two orthopedic surgeons in the Joseph Barnhart Department of Orthopedic Surgery at Baylor College of Medicine who specialize in trauma discuss common injuries that can occur when people fall and offer prevention tips.
	New report reveals improvement of local investigations into baby deaths and brain injuries The latest report from the RCOG's Each Baby Counts clinical initiative shows there was a 14% increase in the number completed local investigations into stillbirths, neonatal deaths and severe brain injuries that occurred from incidents during term labour in 2016 across the UK, when compared to 2015.
	Four ways children say their well-being can be improved Good emotional health as a child lays the foundation for good life satisfaction in adulthood. However, in the UK children and young people's happiness with their life is now at its lowest since 2010.
	Is it safe to eat canned food past its best-before date? Fall means food drives and festive dinners, but if those forgotten cans of beans or cranberry sauce in the cupboard are years past their best-before dates, is it still safe to use them?
	Multivitamins and supplements: To take or not to take? "People ask me this question quite often: 'Should I be taking certain vitamins and supplements?' And the answer is, quite honestly, 'It depends,'" says Anne Harguth, registered dietitian at Mayo Clinic Health System.
	Why you shouldn't take antibiotics for colds and flu Winter is well and truly on its way. For many, this conjures up images of log fires, mistletoe and festive feasts. But it can also mean cold, damp mornings, short hours of daylight and the dreaded cold and flu season.
	Prenatal exposure to maternal smoking linked to offspring's cardio-metabolic health According to new research, epigenetic changes found in the offspring exposed to maternal smoking during pregnancy or in current smokers are linked to smoking-related diseases in adulthood.
	Autism behaviors show unique brain network fingerprints in infants A new study has identified unique functional brain networks associated with characteristic behaviors of autism spectrum disorder (ASD) in 12- and 24-month old children at risk for developing ASD. The study is published in Biological Psychiatry: Cognitive Neuroscience and Neuroimaging.
	Neck scan could predict risk of developing cognitive decline A five-minute scan of blood vessels in the neck during mid-life could predict cognitive decline ten years before symptoms appear, claims new UCL research funded by the British Heart Foundation (BHF).
	Why clients stop going to therapy Associate professor Rachel Tambling and doctoral candidate Thomas Bischoff, both of UConn's Department of Human Development and Family Studies, recently completed a study that examines why clients terminate their work with therapists. The two will present their study at the National Council on Family Relations Conference in San Diego on Nov. 7-10.
	Weight lifting is good for your heart and it doesn't take much Lifting weights for less than an hour a week may reduce your risk for a heart attack or stroke by 40 to 70 percent, according to a new Iowa State University study. Spending more than an hour in the weight room did not yield any additional benefit, the researchers found.
	Neuroscientists identify a surprising low-tech fix to the problem of sleep-deprived teens Healthy sleep leads to healthy brains. Neuroscientists have gotten that message out. But parents, doctors and educators alike have struggled to identify what to do to improve sleep. Some have called for delaying school start times or limiting screentime before bed to achieve academic, health and even economic gains.
	Move more, sit less – great advice, but how can we make time for exercise? It's that time again. The U.S. Department of Health and Human Services just released a new edition of the Physical Activity Guidelines for Americans. That sound you hear is Americans collectively sighing.
	Bypass beats stents for diabetics with heart trouble: study (HealthDay)—People with both diabetes and multiple clogged heart arteries live longer if they undergo bypass surgery rather than have their blood vessels reopened with stents, according to follow-up results from a landmark clinical trial.
	Could your race determine your wait for a donor heart? The wait for a heart transplant varies widely based on factors such as availability of donor hearts and blood type, but little is known about differences in wait times based on race and ethnicity.
	Five diet foods that are high in fiber (HealthDay)—Dietary fiber is a unique component of many foods. It has no actual nutrients yet helps ward off a host of diseases and has even been associated with lower body weight.
Study shows regular behavioral counseling leads to clinically significant weight loss Intensive behavioral therapy (IBT), which provides diet and physical activity counseling, is proven to help adults with obesity achieve meaningful weight loss in six to 12 months. A new Penn Medicine study, published today in Obesity, the journal of the Obesity Society, is the first randomized controlled evaluation of the efficacy of IBT when implemented under the Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services (CMS) coverage guidelines. The trial, led by Tom Wadden, Ph.D., a professor of Psychology in Psychiatry, and Jena Tronieri, Ph.D., an assistant professor of Psychology in Psychiatry, both in the Perelman School of Medicine at the University of Pennsylvania, showed that patients who received IBT lost an average of 6.1 percent of their initial body weight at one year.
	Nationality likely a key factor in life-and-death decisions People making decisions about life-and-death situations consider individuals' nationalities when deciding who should be sacrificed to save others, according to a study out of the University of Waterloo.
Cognitive decline—radiation—brain tumor prevented by temporarily shutting down immune response Treating brain tumors comes at a steep cost, especially for children. More than half of patients who endure radiation therapy for these tumors experience irreversible cognitive decline, a side-effect that has particularly damaging consequences for younger patients. Up to now, scientists had been unable to test potential strategies to prevent this problem because there were no laboratory models that faithfully captured the clinical lifecycle of brain tumors.
Genomics provide hope for those with 'one in a million' cancer diagnosis New research has shown that many Australians with rare cancers can benefit from genomic profiling. The findings of the patient-driven trial are being presented today at the Clinical Oncology Society of Australia Annual Scientific Meeting and could result in dramatic changes to the way those with rare cancers are diagnosed and treated.
Immunotherapy combination and chemotherapy show encouraging results in Phase II acute myeloid leukemia study A triple therapy combining two immune checkpoint inhibitors (ICPIs) with the standard-of-care chemotherapy, a hypomethylating agent called azacitidine, has shown promising results for treatment of relapsed or refractory acute myeloid leukemia (AML), according to findings from a Phase II study at The University of Texas MD Anderson Cancer Center.
	Study examines opioid use among Massachusetts adolescents, trends in opioid prescriptions Opioid-related overdoses and deaths remain a major public health concern in Massachusetts, yet adolescents who experience opioid-related nonfatal overdose (NFOD) have been rarely studied. Using public data, Brigham investigators recently unearthed several important ways in which the opioid crisis is playing out differently among young people versus adults.
	No accounting for these tastes: Artificial flavors a mystery Six artificial flavors are being ordered out of the food supply in a dispute over their safety, but good luck to anyone who wants to know which cookies, candies or drinks they're in.
Meningitis progress lags substantially behind that of other preventable diseases The global disease burden of meningitis remains unacceptably high, and progress lags substantially behind that of other vaccine-preventable diseases, warns a new analysis published in The Lancet Neurology.
	Black people more likely to die of sudden cardiac arrest, but why? Physicians have known for years that black people in the United States are at higher risk than whites of dying from sudden cardiac arrest, but the reasons have been unclear.
	Novel mechanism of immune activation in HIV-exposed, seronegative people who inject drugs According to new research from The Wistar Institute, the S100A14 protein is expressed at higher levels in people who inject drugs and remain uninfected despite many years of high-risk, needle sharing behavior in areas with high HIV prevalence. The protein mediates activation of a type of immune cell called natural killer cells (NK), which play a key role in the host immune defense during the earliest phases of viral infection. These results were published in the journal JAIDS.
	Solving the mystery of NPM1 in acute myeloid leukemia Although it has long been recognized that mutations of gene NPM1 play an important role in acute myeloid leukemia, no one has determined how the normal and the mutated forms of the protein NPM1 function.
	Scientists identify potential new treatment strategy for kidney cancer Researchers have provided new insight on the mechanisms behind the development of clear cell Renal Cell Carcinoma (ccRCC), according to new findings published in eLife.
	Brain changes found in self-injuring teen girls The brains of teenage girls who engage in serious forms of self-harm, including cutting, show features similar to those seen in adults with borderline personality disorder, a severe and hard-to-treat mental illness, a new study has found.
	New methods to identify Alzheimer's drug candidates with anti-aging properties Old age is the greatest risk factor for many diseases, including Alzheimer's disease (AD) and cancer. Geroprotectors are a recently identified class of anti-aging compounds. New Salk research has now identified a unique subclass of these compounds, dubbed geroneuroprotectors (GNPs), which are AD drug candidates and slow the aging process in mice.
	More US kids get paralyzing illness, cause is still unknown More children have been diagnosed with a mysterious paralyzing illness in recent weeks, and U.S. health officials said Tuesday that they still aren't sure what's causing it.
Many drugstores won't dispense opioid antidote as required (HealthDay)—People who overdose on opioids have one lifeline, the drug naloxone, but two new studies find that many pharmacies won't offer this lifesaving antidote without a doctor's blessing.
	Heart failure patients shouldn't stop meds even if condition improves: study (HealthDay)—There's bad news for heart failure patients with dilated cardiomyopathy who'd like to stop taking their meds.
	Exercise makes even the 'still overweight' healthier: study (HealthDay)—Heavyset folks who exercise regularly shouldn't get discouraged if they can't seem to shed more weight, no matter how hard they try.
	PTSD common among those who suffer tear in the aorta's wall The sharp and sudden pain from an aortic dissection, along with the emergency treatment that follows, can lead to post-traumatic stress disorder years later, a new study finds.
	One-third of peds medication errors due to usability issues (HealthDay)—More than one-third of pediatric patient safety reports in 2012 to 2017 that were related to electronic health record (EHR) use were attributed to usability issues, according to a study published in the November issue of Health Affairs.
	Denosumab promising for TDT-induced osteoporosis treatment (HealthDay)—Denosumab (DNM), a fully human monoclonal antibody against the receptor activator of nuclear factor kappa-B ligand (RANKL), may be beneficial for managing transfusion-dependent thalassemia (TDT)-induced osteoporosis, according to a study published online Oct. 31 in Blood Advances.
ID specialist input improves outcomes for outpatient parenteral antimicrobial therapy Before patients receive intravenous (IV) antimicrobial infusion therapy outside of the hospital—whether at home, a doctor's office or a skilled nursing facility—an infectious diseases (ID) specialist should review the order to ensure the most appropriate treatment, suggest updated guidelines released by the Infectious Diseases Society of America (IDSA). Once they begin receiving outpatient parenteral antimicrobial therapy (OPAT), patients should be monitored regularly, note the guidelines, which are being published in the journal Clinical Infectious Diseases.
	The "worst toys" for the holidays, according to safety group A Black Panther "slash claw" and a plastic Power Rangers sword are among the items topping a consumer safety group's annual list of worst toys for the holiday season.
	Pregnant women favor urine testing for tobacco cessation; clinicians express concern Up to one-third of female smokers with Medicaid deny tobacco use during pregnancy. A new study finds that, despite reservations, low-income patients have a favorable view of using urine testing, with consent, to promote smoking cessation during pregnancy.
	Factors associated with loss of usual source of care among older adults Access to a usual source of medical care is particularly important for older adults as they manage chronic medical conditions. According to a new national study, odds of losing a usual source of care are higher among older adults who have unmet transportation needs, who move to a new residence, or who report symptoms of depression.
	Obesity and food restrictions proven to be associated with less food enjoyment Researchers from the University of Granada (UGR) belonging to the Mind, Brain and Behavior Research Center (CIMCYC, from its name in Spanish) and the Faculty of Business and Economics have proven that adolescents who suffer from obesity feel less food enjoyment than those who have a normal weight. In addition, their work reveals that even trivial restrictions on food intake (that is, temporary diets) are associated with a reduction in pleasure.
	Sensors help to prevent falls More than one third of all over-65s in Germany are at acute risk of falling. Electrical engineers at Karlsruhe Institute of Technology (KIT) want to remedy this with new sensor technology that looks at movement and the environment, making it possible to assess the risk of falling and recommending appropriate measures for preventing falls. Researchers are currently developing the prototype together with an industry partner.
	Genomic sequencing offers new hope for rare cancers A cancer's genetic sequence may be the key to matching people with rare cancers to the right anti-cancer treatments, according to a new clinical trial instigated by patients.
	Brain Performance Institute launches app to boost brain power The Brain Performance Institute at the Center for BrainHealth has launched a new game-based app to help people of all ages maintain and strengthen their cognitive abilities.
	More leeway for states to expand inpatient mental health The Trump administration Tuesday allowed states to provide more inpatient treatment for people with serious mental illness by tapping Medicaid, a potentially far-reaching move to address issues from homelessness to violence.
2 more kids sickened with adenovirus that has killed 10 children at New Jersey facility Two more children at a Wanaque medical facility were diagnosed over the weekend with adenovirus, which has killed 10 medically fragile children at the facility since the outbreak began in late September, health officials reported.
	Combination gene therapy more effective in cartilage preservation in osteoarthritis A combinatorial gene therapy approach- one designed to inhibit inflammation and one targeting protection against cartilage degeneration—was shown to preserve articular cartilage better than each approach alone in animal models of both moderate and severe post-traumatic osteoarthritis. The therapeutic strategy included combined delivery of helper-dependent adenoviruses expressing interleukin-1 receptor antagonist (IL-1Ra) to block inflammation and PRG4 (lubricin) to promote pro-anabolic cartilage genes and decrease expression of catabolic genes, as reported in an article published in Human Gene Therapy.
	Failure to discontinue medications can contribute to inappropriate prescribing The continuation of drugs that are not intended to be taken indefinitely is a substantial and common problem that could contribute to over-medication, particularly in the elderly.
	WHO official predicts 6 more months battling Ebola in Congo The emergencies chief for the World Health Organization predicted Tuesday that Congo's Ebola outbreak will last at least another six months, saying that informal health facilities have become "major drivers" of the current, deadly transmission.
Kentucky abortion fight aimed at second-trimester procedure Attorneys for Kentucky's socially conservative governor and the state's only abortion clinic opened their latest legal fight Tuesday, this time over a lawsuit challenging a state law aimed at a common second-trimester procedure to end pregnancies.
	Juul halts store sales of some flavored e-cigarettes The nation's leading e-cigarette maker says it has halted store sales of some flavors to deter use by kids.
How can hospitals keep doctors positively engaged with their work? Individual and work-related factors may be helpful in promoting positive engagement with work among hospital physicians, according to a study in the December issue of Medical Care.
Mayo Clinic receives record $200M gift from Michigan donor A corporate strategist from Michigan has given Mayo Clinic its largest gift ever—$200 million.

Biology news

	Experimental therapy could repair mutations that cause genetic diseases A new technology that relies on a moth-infecting virus and nanomagnets could be used to edit defective genes that give rise to diseases like sickle cell, muscular dystrophy and cystic fibrosis.
	Climate change damaging male fertility Climate change could pose a threat to male fertility—according to new research from the University of East Anglia.
	Neural nets supplant marker genes in analyzing single cell RNA sequencing Computer scientists at Carnegie Mellon University say neural networks and supervised machine learning techniques can efficiently characterize cells that have been studied using single cell RNA-sequencing (scRNA-seq). This finding could help researchers identify new cell subtypes and differentiate between healthy and diseased cells.
	Pulling the genome apart: Chromosome segregation during mitosis explained When a cell divides—a process known as mitosis—its chromosomes need to be separated and evenly distributed into the newly created daughter cells. Although this is known to be extremely complicated and to feature a range of cellular components, many of its details remain unclear, which has hampered efforts to develop treatments for when mitosis goes awry.
	Color vision variation in guppies influences female mate preference A variety of animals have male-specific ornament traits and these ornaments are favored by female choice. Which male traits are preferred by females often varies among females. Genetic mechanisms that create and maintain variations in female preference has been one of the central questions in evolutionary ecology.
	House sparrow status signalling theory no longer flies The size of a male house sparrow's bib has long been associated with the bird's fighting abilities and status within the flock. But an international team of researchers has shown there is little evidence to support it.
	Amazon turtle populations recovering well thanks to local action The historically over-exploited Giant South American Turtle is making a significant comeback on river beaches in the Brazilian Amazon thanks to local protection efforts, say researchers at the University of East Anglia.
	Scientists uncover crucial biological circuits that regulate lipids and their role in overall health Tiny microscopic worms, invisible to the naked eye, are helping scientists to better understand an extraordinarily complex biological pathway that connects fat to overall health and aging in humans.
	'Scaring' soybeans into defensive mode yields better plants a generation later By temporarily silencing the expression of a critical gene, researchers fooled soybean plants into sensing they were under siege, encountering a wide range of stresses. Then, after selectively cross breeding those plants with the original stock, the progeny "remember" the stress-induced responses to become more vigorous, resilient and productive plants, according to a team of researchers.
	DNA structure impacts rate and accuracy of DNA synthesis The speed and error rate of DNA synthesis is influenced by the three-dimensional structure of the DNA. Using "third-generation" genome-wide DNA sequencing data, a team of researchers from Penn State and the Czech Academy of Sciences showed that sequences with the potential to form unusual DNA conformations, which are frequently associated with cancer and neurological diseases, can in fact slow down or speed up the DNA synthesis process and cause more or fewer sequencing errors. An article describing the study appears online in the journal Genome Research.
	Visualizing 'unfurling' microtubule growth Living cells depend absolutely on tubulin, a protein that forms hollow tube-like polymers, called microtubules, that form scaffolding for moving materials inside the cell. Tubulin-based microtubule scaffolding allows cells to move, keeps things in place or moves them around. When cells divide, microtubule fibers pull the chromosomes apart into new cells. Cells with defects in tubulin polymerization die.
	The first cave-dwelling centipede from southern China Chinese scientists recorded the first cave-dwelling centipede known so far from southern China. To the amazement of the team, the specimens collected during a survey in the Gaofeng village, Guizhou Province, did not only represent a species that had been successfully hiding away from biologists in the subterranean darkness, but it also turned out to be the very first amongst the order of stone centipedes to be discovered underground in the country.
	Business as usual for Antarctic krill despite ocean acidification While previous studies indicate some life stages of Antarctic krill may be vulnerable to ocean acidification, the research published in the Nature journal Communications Biology found that adult krill were largely unaffected by ocean acidification levels predicted within the next 100-300 years.
	Imperiled, some freshwater mussels endure. How? Freshwater mussels are among the most imperiled animals in North America, yet some colonies have managed to persevere despite habitat loss, pollution and other threats.
	A chip with blood vessels Biochips have been developed at TU Wien (Vienna), on which tissue can be produced and examined. This allows supplying the tissue with different substances in a very controlled way.
	More flowers around apple orchards can yield higher harvest Apple growers should increase the amount of flowers around their apple orchards if they want to increase their harvest. A new study by researchers from Stockholm University, among others, shows that more pollinators, such as bees and flower flies, are attracted to orchards with flowers – which increase the chance for pollination.

---

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