Science X Newsletter Tuesday, Nov 27

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Here is your customized Science X Newsletter for November 27, 2018:

Spotlight Stories Headlines

A dynamic camouflaging approach to prevent intellectual property theft

Enhanced strength and ductility in a high-entropy alloy via ordered oxygen complexes

Enormous dwarf satellite galaxy of Milky Way discovered

Biologists discover an unusual hallmark of aging in neurons

Discovery opens new opportunities to slow or reverse MS

Study suggests multiple instances of inter-breeding between Neanderthal and early humans

Researchers find rare instances of male mtDNA being passed on to offspring

New ultra-luminous X-ray pulsar discovered

Climate change could lead to threefold increase in powerful storms across Europe and North America

Scientists decode mechanism of remembering—and forgetting

Complex systems help explain how democracy is destabilised

Touch can produce detailed, lasting memories

Mars touchdown: NASA spacecraft survives supersonic plunge

InSight is catching rays on Mars

Newly discovered deep-sea microbes gobble greenhouse gases and perhaps oil spills, too

Astronomy & Space news

	Enormous dwarf satellite galaxy of Milky Way discovered Using data from ESA's Gaia spacecraft, astronomers have discovered a new Milky Way satellite in the constellation Antlia. The newly found dwarf galaxy, named Antlia 2, is several times larger when compared to other systems of similar luminosity. The finding is detailed in a paper published November 9 on arXiv.org.
	New ultra-luminous X-ray pulsar discovered Using ESA's XMM-Newton and NASA's NuSTAR space telescopes, a team of astronomers from Germany has detected a new ultra-luminous pulsar in the galaxy NGC 300. The finding of this pulsar, which received designation NGC 300 ULX1, is detailed in a paper published November 9 on the arXiv pre-print repository.
	Mars touchdown: NASA spacecraft survives supersonic plunge Minutes after touching down on Mars, NASA's InSight spacecraft sent back a "nice and dirty" snapshot of its new digs. Yet the dust-speckled image looked like a work of art to scientists.
	InSight is catching rays on Mars NASA's InSight has sent signals to Earth indicating that its solar panels are open and collecting sunlight on the Martian surface. NASA's Mars Odyssey orbiter relayed the signals, which were received on Earth at about 5:30 p.m. PST (8:30 p.m. EST). Solar array deployment ensures the spacecraft can recharge its batteries each day. Odyssey also relayed a pair of images showing InSight's landing site.
	The Cygnus Loop The Cygnus Loop (also known as the Veil Nebula) is a supernova remnant, the detritus of the explosive death of a massive star about ten to twenty thousand years ago. Detailed modeling of its spectacular filamentary shape suggests that the explosion occurred inside an interstellar cavity created by the progenitor star. As is common in astronomy, many of the precise physical properties of the object are rendered uncertain by the uncertainty of its distance. For decades scientists used a value of about 2500 light-years based on analyses of its gas motions by Hubble in 1937 and Minkowski in 1958. Many recent distance estimates have varied over a wide range generally consistent with this one, but the most cited value is a 2005 measurement of between 1500 and 2100 light-years.
	New evidence reveals how heavy elements were created after the Big Bang The Big Bang theory and the question of how life on Earth began has fascinated scientists for decades, but now new research from The University of Western Australia suggests the conditions that resulted from the Big Bang are different to what we thought.
China, France launch satellite to study climate change China sent its first ever satellite built in partnership with another country into space on Monday, a device tasked with helping scientists better predict dangerous cyclones and climate change by monitoring ocean surface winds and waves.
	How scientists are working together to solve one of the universe's mysteries One of the most baffling puzzles of modern astrophysics is the nature of Fast Radio Bursts, which were discovered in 2007. These are seemingly rare, extremely bright flashes of light with radio wavelengths. They last only milliseconds; originate outside our galaxy, the Milky Way; come from regions with enormously strong magnetic fields; and pass through a significant amount of gas or dust before reaching Earth.
	NASA hears MarCO CubeSats loud and clear from Mars NASA's MarCO mission was built to see whether two experimental, briefcase-sized spacecraft could survive the trip to deep space, and the two CubeSats proved more than able. After cruising along behind NASA's InSight for seven months, they successfully relayed data back down to Earth from the lander during its descent to the Martian surface on Monday, Nov. 26.
Japan launches environment monitoring satellite Japan's space agency on Monday launched a rocket carrying a satellite that will monitor greenhouse gases, as well as the first satellite built entirely in the United Arab Emirates.

Technology news

	A dynamic camouflaging approach to prevent intellectual property theft In recent years, hardware-centric security threats have emerged at different stages of the integrated circuit (IC) supply chain. This has enabled the proliferation of various malicious attacks, such as intellectual property (IP) piracy, illegal overproduction of ICs, and insertion of hardware Trojans.
	Google accused of manipulation to track users Seven European consumer groups filed complaints against Google with national regulators Tuesday, accusing the internet giant of covertly tracking users' movements in violation of an EU regulation on data protection.
	Researchers achieve highest certified efficiency of organic solar cells to date Materials scientists at Friedrich-Alexander-Universität Erlangen-Nürnberg (FAU) have achieved a new record in the performance of organic, non-fullerene-based, single-junction solar cells. Using a series of complex optimisations, they achieved certified power conversion efficiency of 12.25 percent on a surface area measuring one square centimetre. This standardised surface area is the preliminary stage for prototype manufacture. The results, achieved in conjunction with partners from the South China University of Technology (SCUT), have now been published in Nature Energy.
	Patent talk: A 16-lens phone? LG is crazy (like a fox) A patent was filed to the United States Patent and Trademark Office (USPTO) titled "Mobile terminal and control method for the mobile terminal" which, if you look beyond the rather lackluster title, proposes an exciting set of powers to the smartphone.
	Putting hybrid-electric aircraft performance to the test Although hybrid-electric cars are becoming commonplace, similar technology applied to airplanes comes with significantly different challenges. University of Illinois aerospace engineers are addressing some of them toward the development of a more sustainable alternative to fossil fuels to power airplanes.
	United Technologies is breaking into 3 independent companies United Technologies is breaking itself into three independent companies now that it has sealed its $23 billion acquisition of aviation electronics maker Rockwell Collins.
	From superstar to suspect: Carlos Ghosn's crazy week When Carlos Ghosn's private Gulfstream jet touched down at Tokyo's Haneda Airport at around 4:35pm on Monday, November 19, the millionaire auto tycoon had an unexpected welcoming committee: an elite unit of prosecutors.
	Hailing the future taxi: Drone-car mashup model takes flight A scale model of a flying drone-car drove and hovered across an Amsterdam exhibition hall Tuesday, providing a glimpse of what could be the future of urban mobility.
	UK's 'illegal' backup power scheme subsidised fossil fuels – a greener alternative should now replace it The amount of renewable, low-carbon, energy the UK produces is increasing, but it is very different to traditional types of power. It can't just be turned on when wanted. As a result, the capacity market scheme – essentially a programme of subsidies – was set up to help provide backup power when the supply of renewable energy the UK produces is outpaced by demand.
	Why Twitter's cute, heart-shaped 'like' button is not so harmless Jack Dorsey, Twitter's founder and CEO, was recently reported to have questioned how the site "incentivizes people to want (the number of likes on their posts) to go up." He also said that "he was not a fan of the heart-shaped ('like') button and that Twitter would be getting rid of it 'soon.'" Twitter has since released a statement indicating that there are no immediate plans to remove the "like" button.
	Why aren't there electric airplanes yet? As electric cars and trucks appear increasingly on U.S. highways, it raises the question: When will commercially viable electric vehicles take to the skies? There are a number of ambitious efforts to build electric-powered airplanes, including regional jets and planes that can cover longer distances. Electrification is starting to enable a type of air travel that many have been hoping for, but haven't seen yet – a flying car.
	VitalTag to give vital information in mass casualty incidents When mass casualty incidents occur—shootings, earthquakes, multiple car pile ups—first responders can easily be overwhelmed by the sheer number of victims. When every second counts, monitoring all the victims in a chaotic situation can be difficult. Researchers at the U.S. Department of Energy's Pacific Northwest National Laboratory developed a stick-on sensor that measures and tracks a patient's vital signs to help first responders quickly triage, treat and transport the injured.
	Facebook was warned of alleged Russian meddling back in 2014 Facebook acknowledged on Tuesday that its engineers had flagged suspicious Russian activity as early as 2014—long before it became public—but did not confirm evidence of a coordinated campaign.
	Global lawmakers grill Facebook exec; Zuckerberg's a no-show A cohort of international lawmakers is trying to turn up the pressure on Facebook, grilling one of its executives and making a show of founder Mark Zuckerberg's refusal to explain to them why his company failed to protect users' data privacy.
	Google workers want plug pulled on plan for China search Google workers on Tuesday posted an open letter calling on the internet giant to abort plans for "a censored search" service in China or risk setting a dangerous precedent.
	Apple's stock sours, Microsoft's soars. Say what?! Wall Street investors are enamored with a newly emergent tech company.
	GM cuts jobs in response to present costs, future innovation Even though unemployment is low, the economy is growing and U.S. auto sales are near historic highs, General Motors is cutting thousands of jobs in a major restructuring aimed at generating cash to spend on innovation.
	Lawsuit against Disney, Fox hits Malaysian casino operator's shares Shares in Malaysian casino operator Genting fell nearly 19 percent Tuesday after it sued The Walt Disney Co. and 21st Century Fox for allegedly abandoning a project to build a theme park in the country.
	Jack Ma, China's richest man, is a Communist Party member Jack Ma, founder of Chinese tech giant Alibaba, is among the world's richest people but he has now emerged as a member of another club: China's 89-million-strong Communist Party.
	France to close 14 nuclear reactors by 2035: Macron President Emmanuel Macron said Tuesday that France would shut down 14 of the country's 58 nuclear reactors currently in operation by 2035, of which between four and six will be closed by 2030.
'Red Dead Redemption 2' online game set to launch beta on Tuesday Rockstar Games is bringing more fun to its Wild West game "Red Dead Redemption 2."
Facebook's Sheryl Sandberg is tainted by crisis after crisis Facebook Inc. crises this year have put immense pressure on Chief Operating Officer Sheryl Sandberg, undermining her authority and tainting an image that was burnished by the social-media company's meteoric rise.
	Wave power for clean drinking water Around 1.2 billion people, or almost one-fifth of the world's population, live in areas of water scarcity, mostly in developing countries. Traditional reverse osmosis (R/O) desalination systems offer a solution but require sufficient electrical grid capacity.
	Red Dead Redemption 2: Virtual ecology is making game worlds eerily like our own Deer, bison and pronghorn traverse the plains in large herds…scavengers quickly sniff out carrion, sockeye salmon leap upstream, wolves attack in packs surrounding their prey, geese fly in fixed formations, possums play dead, rodents scamper into tree hollows, grizzly bears bluff charge when threatened and birds of prey soar on thermals.

Medicine & Health news

	Biologists discover an unusual hallmark of aging in neurons As we age, neurons in our brains can become damaged by free radicals. MIT biologists have now discovered that this type of damage, known as oxidative stress, produces an unusual pileup of short snippets of RNA in some neurons.
	Discovery opens new opportunities to slow or reverse MS Nerve cells stripped of their insulation can no longer carry vital information, leading to the numbness, weakness and vision problems often associated with multiple sclerosis. A new study shows an overlooked source may be able to replace that lost insulation and provide a new way to treat diseases like MS.
	Researchers find rare instances of male mtDNA being passed on to offspring A team of researchers from the U.S., China and Taiwan has found some rare instances of fathers passing mitochondrial DNA (mtDNA) to their offspring. In their paper published in Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences, the group describes how they came across one case, and then found it in others.
	Scientists decode mechanism of remembering—and forgetting It's a common expression to say that your brain is full. Although the brain doesn't literally fill up, in recent years researchers have discovered that the brain does sometimes push out old memories in order to take up new ones.
	Touch can produce detailed, lasting memories Exploring objects through touch can generate detailed, durable memories for those objects, even when we don't intend to memorize the object's details, according to findings published in Psychological Science, a journal of the Association for Psychological Science.
	Newfound mechanism may yield ways to counter mistaken immune attack on body A newfound genetic regulatory mechanism may shape the immune system's ability to fight viral infections, and play a key role in autoimmune diseases that occur when immune cells attack bodily tissues.
	Home videos of children can be scored to diagnose autism, study says Short home videos can be used to diagnose autism in children, according to a new study from the Stanford University School of Medicine.
	Researchers report vision-based neurotransmitter events for the first time How does vision work, and what happens in the brain during the process? As simple as this question may sound, it has yet to be scientifically clarified. Dr. Valentin Riedl of the Technical University of Munich (TUM) and his team have now been able to show that the distribution of the two most important neurotransmitters in the brain changes as soon as we open our eyes, regardless of whether we actually see anything.
	No benefits from new U.S. blood pressure guidelines, according to study When is high blood pressure dangerous? Medical associations offer widely differing answers. In the U.S., for example, patients are seen as hypertensive at much lower pressure than patients in Germany. A team working with Prof. Karl-Heinz Ladwig of the Technical University of Munich and the Helmholtz Zentrum München has concluded that treating patients sooner does not reduce the risk of deadly heart disease, and could even negatively affect their mental health.
	Gene therapy for blood disorders Gene therapy holds a lot of promise in medicine. If we could safely alter our own DNA, we might eliminate diseases our ancestors passed down to us.
	Researchers restore breathing, partial forelimb function in rats with spinal cord injuries Millions of people worldwide are living with chronic spinal cord injuries, with 250,000 to 500,000 new cases each year—most from vehicle crashes or falls. The most severe spinal cord injuries completely paralyze their victims and more than half impair a person's ability to breathe. Now, a breakthrough study published in Nature Communications has demonstrated, in animal models of chronic injury, that long-term, devastating effects of spinal cord trauma on breathing and limb function may be reversible.
	Why small size matters: Tiny mitochondria stimulate brain cell connections Columbia neuroscientists have discovered why mitochondria, tiny power generators that keep our cells healthy, are often strangely shaped inside the brain. Mitochondria, which exist by the thousands in each of our body's 37 trillion cells, usually look like long interconnected tubes. But inside brain cells called neurons, they adopt two completely different shapes depending on their location within the cell: that same elongated, tubular shape and a substantially smaller, almost spherical shape, that more closely resembles golf balls. In today's study, researchers have identified the mechanism responsible for these differences in mitochondrial shape—uncovering key insight into the relationship between mitochondrial shape and their function.
	On the trail of rare genetic disease, scientists uncover key immune regulator Scientists at Scripps Research have found an important immune system-regulating protein that in principle could be targeted to treat cancers and chronic viral infections.
	Researchers discover clues to brain changes in depression In new pre-clinical research, scientists at the University of Maryland School of Medicine (UMSOM), led by Scott Thompson, Ph.D., Professor of Physiology, have identified changes in brain activity linked to the pleasure and reward system.
Wriggly, squiffy, lummox, and boobs: What makes some words funny? Upchuck, bubby, boff, wriggly, yaps, giggle, cooch, guffaw, puffball, and jiggly: the top 10 funniest words in the English language, according to a new study by University of Alberta psychology experts.
	Why screen time can disrupt sleep—scientists uncover how certain retinal cells respond to artificial illumination For most, the time spent staring at screens—on computers, phones, iPads—constitutes many hours and can often disrupt sleep. Now, Salk Institute researchers have pinpointed how certain cells in the eye process ambient light and reset our internal clocks, the daily cycles of physiological processes known as the circadian rhythm. When these cells are exposed to artificial light late into the night, our internal clocks can get confused, resulting in a host of health issues.
	Reliance on 'YouTube medicine' may be dangerous for those concerned about prostate cancer The most popular YouTube videos on prostate cancer often offer misleading or biased medical information that poses potential health risks to patients, an analysis of the social media platform shows.
New service in south London reduces hospital readmissions for people with bipolar disorder A new specialist programme at South London and Maudsley NHS Foundation Trust (SLaM) has been shown to significantly reduce the rate of hospital readmissions for people with bipolar disorder, in an early-stage audit funded by the NIHR Maudsley Biomedical Research Centre. The findings have been published in BJPsych Bulletin today.
	Pulsed radiofrequency relieves acute back pain and sciatica A minimally invasive procedure in which pulses of energy from a probe are applied directly to nerve roots near the spine is safe and effective in people with acute lower back pain that has not responded to conservative treatment, according to a study being presented today at the annual meeting of the Radiological Society of North America (RSNA).
Researchers aim to prevent medical imaging cyberattacks Two new studies being presented this week at the annual meeting of the Radiological Society of North America (RSNA) address the potential risk of cyberattacks in medical imaging.
Freeze-dried polio vaccine could spell end of disease USC researchers have developed a polio vaccine that doesn't require refrigeration, meaning it could someday be used all over the world to deliver the final blow to this longtime foe.
	Challenges for sex workers in holding the line in condom use in Western Australia Consistent condom use among Western Australian sex workers has declined over the past decade. However, compared to the Australian general population, there are still high testing rates, higher rates of condom use and comparable rates of sexually transmissible infections among sex workers. The drivers for this decline are varied, with criminalisation of sex work being a primary factor, finds new research published in Frontiers in Public Health.
Phase 3 trial shows lanadelumab to be effective in reducing hereditary angioedema attacks A phase 3 clinical trial led by a Massachusetts General Hospital (MGH) physician, finds that injections of the monoclonal antibody drug lanadelumab reduced attacks of hereditary angioedema (HAE)—a rare, potentially life-threatening disorder. The results of this trial, which are being published in the November 27 issue of JAMA, supported the FDA approval of lanadelumab for HAE earlier this year.
	Psychological intervention proves 'life-changing' for women experiencing domestic abuse Training domestic violence and abuse (DVA) advocates to deliver psychological support to women experiencing DVA could significantly improve the health of those affected. In a randomised controlled trial led by researchers from the University of Bristol, women who received the intervention showed reduced symptoms of psychological distress, depression and post-traumatic stress compared to those who received just advocacy.
	No clear evidence that diverting patients from emergency departments curbs overcrowding There's no clear evidence that diverting patients, who are not seriously ill, away from emergency departments, in a bid to curb overcrowding, is either safe or effective, reveals research published online in Emergency Medicine Journal.
	Microglia react distinctively during inflammation The NorLux Neuro-Oncology Laboratory at LIH's Department of Oncology conducts research on brain diseases, with a special emphasis on glioma biology, drug resistance and systems approaches. Within this research unit, Dr. Alessandro Michelucci focuses on the role of glial cells and inflammatory responses. Jointly with team member Dr. Carole Sousa and collaborating research groups from LIH and the University of Luxembourg, the team published their findings in the November 2018 issue of EMBO Reportsin an article titled "Single-cell transcriptomics reveals distinct inflammation-induced microglia signatures."
	Neuroscientist discovers hidden region in the human brain World-renowned cartographer of the brain, Scientia Professor George Paxinos, Conjoint Professor at UNSW, has discovered a hidden region of the human brain. The region is found near the brain-spinal cord junction and Professor Paxinos has named it the endorestiform nucleus.
	Can learning music deter dementia? Ryan Sutcliffe loves to play the guitar, and writes and performs his own songs. Now, the doctoral psychology researcher has a dream project combining his musical and academic interests in a study to test whether music lessons can help maintain brain health in ageing.
	Lab studies the science of picky eating As any parent will tell you, there is an art to getting kids to eat vegetables. For Catherine Forestell, it is also a science.
	Expert warns over 'little room for complacency' over fall in twin stillbirth rates A leading expert in fetal medicine at the University of Birmingham has warned that there is 'little room for complacency' over a fall in twin stillbirth rates as the reason for this phenomenon are complex.
	The unexpected effects of the HIV prevention pill On a brilliant blue California morning, an ambulance idles up San Francisco's Castro Street. A small rainbow flag flutters from its antenna while its speakers blare:
	Good prognosis for children with obesity treated in primary care Children treated for obesity in primary or outpatient care have a relatively good chance of fending off weight problems over the next few years as well, a study published in Acta Paediatrica shows.
	How long should I wait between pregnancies? Women often wonder what the "right" length of time is after giving birth before getting pregnant again. A recent Canadian study suggests 12-18 months between pregnancies is ideal for most women.
	Drug treatment could offer new hope for some patients with brain bleeding A drug treatment, already approved for use in patients, could offer new hope for some patients with brain bleeding and strokes.
	New biomedical gel could ease pain in cervical cancer treatment A unique partnership between a Virginia Tech scientist and a University of Virginia oncologist could result in a solution to reduce discomfort during cancer treatment for women.
	Mosquito-repellent clothing might stop some bites, but you'll still need a cream or spray A range of shirts, pants, socks and accessories sold in specialist camping and fishing retailers claim to protect against mosquito bites for various periods.
	Exposure of pregnant women to chemical pollutants leaves an imprint on their metabolism A study performed with the INMA birth cohort and the European HELIX project has revealed reproducible associations between exposure to multiple chemical pollutants and changes in metabolic processes during pregnancy. The results will help researchers to understand how environmental exposures can affect the health of pregnant women and their babies.
	Beware of evening stress Stressful events in the evening release less of the body's stress hormones than those that happen in the morning, suggesting possible vulnerability to stress in the evening.
	Regular lifelong exercise keeps the body young Exercising on a regular basis over a lifetime may help keep the body decades younger, says new research from Ball State University.
	Perceptions of childhood obesity prevention policies among parents in Turkey Childhood obesity is a major health issue in Turkey. The World Health Organization recently found that between 20 and 25 percent of Turkish children aged 10–19 years are overweight or obese. A recent study of fourth grade children in Ankara found over one-third to be overweight or obese, much higher than anticipated.
	Cells using sugar for metabolic process may fight inflammation New research by a team from the FAMU-FSU College of Engineering has discovered that a type of adult stem cell found in a variety of tissues can be manipulated to enhance tissue regeneration and potentially treat inflammatory diseases.
	New research findings show an increase in sleep texting New research findings from Villanova University's M. Louise Fitzpatrick College of Nursing show that a growing number of adolescents and college students are keeping connected to friends into the wee hours of night, and often don't remember doing so. It's because they're sleep texting.
	Keeping aging brains healthy—lessons from genes Do any genes protect against Alzheimer's disease? And do any predispose a person to its ravages? The answer is yes to both, according to work led by U of M researcher Lisa James.
	Early antibiotic use may be tied to higher childhood body weight (HealthDay)—Antibiotic use in children
	ACA coverage substantial, but did not impact labor markets (HealthDay)—Millions of workers gained insurance coverage under the Affordable Care Act (ACA) without adverse effects on labor markets, according to a report published by the Robert Wood Johnson Foundation and the Urban Institute.
	Estimated 2.5 percent of U.S. children diagnosed with autism (HealthDay)—The prevalence of parent-reported autism spectrum disorder (ASD) is estimated at 2.5 percent among U.S. children aged 3 to 17 years, according to a study published online Nov. 26 in Pediatrics.
Electrical stimulation in the nose induces sense of smell in human subjects Physicians at Massachusetts Eye and Ear have, for the first time, induced a sense of smell in humans by using electrodes in the nose to stimulate nerves in the olfactory bulb, a structure in the brain where smell information from the nose is processed and sent to deeper regions of brain. Reporting online today in International Forum of Allergy & Rhinology, the research team describes their results, which provide a proof of concept for efforts to develop implant technology to return the sense of smell to those who have lost it.
	FDA approves new treatment for acute myeloid leukemia (HealthDay)—The U.S. Food and Drug Administration recently announced the approval of Daurismo (glasdegib) tablets for use in combination with a low dose of the chemotherapy cytarabine to treat newly diagnosed acute myeloid leukemia (AML). The treatment is indicated for patients aged 75 years or older who have comorbidities that may prevent the use of intensive chemotherapy.
	Why geneticists say it's wrong to edit the DNA of embryos to protect them against HIV On Monday, geneticists were just converging on Hong Kong for a long-planned meeting to discuss the future of gene editing. But before many had even collected their name tags, it seemed the future had already arrived.
	The age of puberty for Danish children appears to continue to fall The age at which children enter puberty has fallen in a large number of Western countries, including Denmark. A new Danish study from the Department of Public Health at Aarhus University indicates that the age of puberty is continuing to fall.
	Gut microbiota-derived D-serine protects against acute kidney injury Gut microbiota-derived metabolites play important roles in health and disease. In this study, we show the pathophysiological role of D-serine in association with the gut microbiota in humans and mice with acute kidney injury. The results demonstrate the renoprotective effects of D-serine derived from the gut microbiota; shed light on the interactions between the gut microbiota and the kidney; and highlight D-serine as a potential new therapeutic target and biomarker for acute kidney injury.
	Intermittent fasting: No advantage over conventional weight loss diets Intermittent fasting leads to weight loss and promotes health. However, it is not superior to conventional calorie restriction diets, scientists from the German Cancer Research Center (DKFZ) and Heidelberg University Hospital report in a study called HELENA—the largest investigation on intermittent fasting to date. The scientists conclude that there are many paths leading to a healthier weight. They recommend that individuals find a diet plan that fits them best.
	Postal code area data can help in the planning of cost-effective health care services When assessing the effects of socioeconomic status (SES) on health inequalities or outcomes of care, it is worthwhile to use small-area-based open data instead of individual SES information, according to a new study from the University of Eastern Finland. Getting access to individual SES information is often a long and expensive process, requiring multiple permits. Published in BMC Public Health, the study found that when predicting the treatment outcomes in patients with type 2 diabetes, the effect of small-area-based SES variables is in line with patient-specific individual SES information.
	Certain dietary or nutritional supplements could improve sperm quality Infertility affects 15 percent of the world population and is recognised by the World Health Organisation as a global health problem. In recent years, studies of sperm quality in different populations from developing countries have shown a decrease that could have consequences for the survival of the human species. The decrease in sperm quality has been related to unhealthy lifestyles. Stress, the consumption of drugs, tobacco and alcohol and unhealthy diets seem to be the principal modifiable factors.
	New device could monitor anticoagulant treatments to deliver personalized therapies Researchers of the Consejo Superior de Investigaciones Científicas (CSIC), the Catalan Institute of Nanoscience and Nanotechnology (ICN2) and CIBER Bioengineering, Biomaterials and Nanomedicine (CIBER-BBN) have developed a biosensor device to monitor anticoagulants such as Sintrom (acenocoumarol) and deliver a personalized therapy in which the patient or doctor can adjust the drug dose to achieve the optimal effect.
	It's safe to eat romaine lettuce again, but check labels: FDA (HealthDay)— Caesar salad fans, rest easy: It's safe to eat romaine lettuce again.
	Healthy ways to deal with conflict (HealthDay)—Almost every relationship will be affected by conflict at some point.
	Study affirms challenges in managing severe pain of sickle cell disease In a study tracking the severe crisis pain of sickle cell disease and its management in 73 adults over a period of a year, Johns Hopkins researchers found that even among those on high doses of daily at-home opioids, a persistent subset was more likely to seek emergency hospital care for crisis pain and was less likely to have the pain controlled by intensive treatment.
	Commonly used concussion test useful in confirming—but not making—diagnosis for pro athletes One of the more prominent sideline concussion assessment tools being piloted in professional sports may be useful as a tool to confirm, not make, clinical diagnoses, according to University of Alberta researchers.
Children with ASD are not just picky eaters Convincing young children to try new foods can be a dinner time stressor for any family, but for parents of children with autism spectrum disorder (ASD) meal time challenges are often not just a phase.
	AI system may accelerate search for cancer discoveries Searching through the mountains of published cancer research could be made easier for scientists, thanks to a new AI system.
	Engineering bacteria to treat genetic diseases A pill containing millions of bacteria ready to colonize your gut might be a nightmare to many. But it may become an effective new tool for fighting disease.
	Lack of sleep intensifies anger, impairs adaptation to frustrating circumstances Losing just a couple hours of sleep at night makes you angrier, especially in frustrating situations, according to new Iowa State University research. While the results may seem intuitive, the study is one of the first to provide evidence that sleep loss causes anger.
10% of bowel cancer patients can wait more than a year to start treatment It can take up to a year for some bowel cancer patients in the UK to start treatment, according to international research co-ordinated by Cancer Research UK and published in the BMJ Open today.
	Medical referrals: Closing the communication loop to improve care and avoid delays Individuals are frequently referred by their primary care physician to medical specialists—oncologists, orthopedic surgeons, cardiologists, or dozens of others—but for a significant number of these patients, the referral fails, adversely affecting their health care. A new study addresses breakdowns in the referral process and presents a prototype template using evidence-based design to improve communication about referrals among clinicians.
	Insulin pumps have most reported problems in FDA database When Polly Varnado's 9-year-old daughter was diagnosed with Type 1 diabetes, it didn't take long for the family to hear about insulin pumps.
FDA's 'flawed' device pathway persists with industry backing Roughly 3,000 medical devices enter the U.S. market every year through a system that generally requires little or no patient testing to verify safety and effectiveness.
	Patients with rare natural ability to suppress HIV shed light on potential functional cure Researchers at Johns Hopkins have identified two patients with HIV whose immune cells behave differently than others with the virus and actually appear to help control viral load even years after infection. Moreover, both patients carry large amounts of virus in infected cells, but show no viral load in blood tests. While based on small numbers, the data suggest that long-term viral remission might be possible for more people.
Pre-pregnancy health coverage climbs after Medicaid expansion The number of low-income women enrolled in Medicaid before becoming pregnant rose substantially in states that expanded Medicaid eligibility through the Affordable Care Act, according to researchers at Columbia University Mailman School of Public Health. The results are published online in the journal of Obstetrics & Gynecology.
	Veterans with multiple brain injuries twice as likely to consider suicide, compared with those with one or none A new Veterans Affairs study finds that post-9-11 veterans with a history of repeated traumatic brain injuries—versus none—are at much greater risk for considering suicide.
	Botulinum toxin shows promise in trials to reduce post-operative atrial fibrillation (POAF) in cardiac surgery patients Postoperative atrial fibrillation (POAF) is a common complication, affecting one quarter to one half of all patients following cardiac surgery. It can result in heart failure, stroke, and longer hospital stays, resulting in an increased cost of care. HeartRhythm, the official journal of the Heart Rhythm Society and the Cardiac Electrophysiology Society, reports promising results from two clinical trials using botulinum toxin (BTX) injections to suppress POAF.
Stigma impairs cognition in men living with HIV A new study has drawn a direct link between the amount of stigma men with HIV report experiencing and their scores on cognitive tests, measuring abilities such as memory and attention.
	Enzyme discovery points researchers toward starving lung cancer as a potential treatment UT Southwestern researchers have found that an enzyme on the surface of some lung cancer cells helps feed the cancer, making it a tempting treatment target.
	Improve hand hygiene and patient decolonization to help stem high-risk S. aureus transmission in the operating room Adherence to proven protocols for disinfecting surgeons' hands, patients' skin, and operating room surfaces could help to halt the spread of dangerous Staphylococcus aureus (S. aureus) pathogens in the operating room and beyond, according to new research published in the American Journal of Infection Control (AJIC), the journal of the Association for Professionals in Infection Control and Epidemiology (APIC).
	Guys, avoid 'rhino' sexual enhancement products, FDA says (HealthDay)—The U.S. Food and Drug Administration is warning men that "Rhino" products promising better sex may pose serious health risks.
	Blood pressure guidelines, one year later: monitoring the change Tim Landis was a healthy 66-year-old who hiked, biked and jogged, wasn't overweight and watched what he ate. But after he died suddenly of a heart attack in January, tests revealed years of untreated high blood pressure that caused cardiovascular disease.
	Vitamin D levels linked to cardiorespiratory fitness (HealthDay)—Serum vitamin D levels are associated with cardiorespiratory fitness (CRF), according to a study recently published in the European Journal of Preventive Cardiology.
	Less pediatric screen time tied to better well-being (HealthDay)—A higher amount of screen time per day is associated with decreased psychological well-being in children and adolescents, according to a study published in the December issue of Preventive Medicine Reports.
	Recommended therapies for polycythemia vera underused (HealthDay)—Among older patients with polycythemia vera (PV), therapeutic phlebotomy and hydroxyurea (HU) are associated with improved overall survival and decreased risk for thrombosis but are underused, according to a study recently published in Blood Advances.
	One in five readmitted after head, neck cancer reconstruction (HealthDay)—Nearly one in five patients undergoing head and neck cancer surgery reconstruction is readmitted within 30 days of surgery, according to a study published online Nov. 8 in JAMA Facial Plastic Surgery.
	Food assistance may help older adults adhere to diabetes meds (HealthDay)—Participation in the Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP) may reduce the number of low-income older adults with diabetes forgoing medications because of cost, according to a study published online Nov. 19 in JAMA Internal Medicine.
	Prevalence of eating disorders 1.4 percent in preteens (HealthDay)—The prevalence of eating disorders among 9- to 10-year-olds in the United States is 1.4 percent, with no difference in prevalence between boys and girls, according to a research letter published online Nov. 26 in JAMA Pediatrics.
	Four principles underlie patient and family partnership in care (HealthDay)—Patient and family partnership in care should include treatment of patients and families with dignity and respect, their active engagement in all aspects of care, and their contribution to the improvement of health care systems and education of health care professionals, according to a position paper published online Nov. 27 in the Annals of Internal Medicine.
	Advanced imaging technology measures magnetite levels in the living brain Investigators at the Martinos Center for Biomedical Imaging at Massachusetts General Hospital (MGH) have used magnetoencephalography (MEG) - a technology that measures brain activity by detecting the weak magnetic fields produced by the brain's normal electrical currents—to measure levels of the iron-based mineral called magnetite in the human brain. While magnetite is known to be present in the normal brain and to accumulate with age, evidence has also suggested it may play a role in neurodegenerative disorders like Alzheimer's disease.
	Sugars and microbiome in mother's milk influence neonatal rotavirus infection Using a multidisciplinary approach, an international team of researchers from several institutions, including Baylor College of Medicine, reveals that complex interactions between sugars and the microbiome in human milk influence neonatal rotavirus infection. Reported in the journal Nature Communications, this study provides new understanding of rotavirus infections in newborns and identifies maternal components that could improve the performance of live, attenuated rotavirus vaccines.
	Lipid that aids normal skin turnover may help psoriasis A lipid that helps keep skin cell turnover on track may help restore healthy turnover in psoriasis, investigators say.
	Keep it complex: Study shows that previous research oversimplified Schizophrenia symptoms The onset of schizophrenia in young adults can put an immediate halt to life goals, with one set of symptoms being particularly debilitating.
Noncompliance thwarts comprehensive background check policy for private-party sales Of the three states that recently expanded comprehensive background check (CBC) policies to include all gun transfers, including those among private parties, only Delaware showed an overall increase in firearm background checks. Washington and Colorado had no changes, which the study authors say suggests that compliance and enforcement were incomplete.
	Early detection of epilepsy in children possible with deep learning computer science technique Early detection of the most common form of epilepsy in children is possible through "deep learning," a new machine learning tool that teaches computers to learn by example, according to a new study that includes researchers from Georgia State University.
	Gene-editing Chinese scientist kept much of his work secret The Chinese scientist who says he helped make the world's first gene-edited babies veered off a traditional career path, keeping much of his research secret in pursuit of a larger goal—making history.
	An understudied form of child abuse and intimate terrorism: parental alienation The scene: a bitter divorce, and a custody battle over the couple's 7-year-old son. Awarded full custody, the mother—perhaps seeking revenge? - sets out to destroy the son's relationship with his father. The mother tells the son lies about the father's behavior, plants seeds of doubt about his fitness as a parent, and sabotages the father's efforts to see his son. The son begins to believe the lies; as he grows up, his relationship with his father becomes strained.
Personalised heart models could improve cardiac care Groundbreaking computer models that simulate the workings of individual patients' hearts could boost treatment of a common cardiac condition that affects a million people in the UK and countless more worldwide.
ASH releases new clinical practice guidelines for venous thromboembolism Venous thromboembolism (VTE), a term referring to blood clots in the veins, is a highly prevalent and far-reaching public health problem that can cause disability and death. Despite effective new options for prevention and treatment, VTE remains a threat underappreciated by the general public, causing up to 100,000 deaths annually in the United States alone.
	Trial of investigational Ebola treatments begins in Democratic Republic of the Congo An international research team has begun patient enrollment in a clinical trial testing multiple investigational Ebola therapies in the Democratic Republic of the Congo (DRC). The randomized, controlled trial is enrolling patients of any age with confirmed Ebola virus disease (EVD) at a treatment unit in the city of Beni operated by The Alliance for International Medical Action (ALIMA), a medical humanitarian organization.
Denver trying again for possible 1st US drug injection site Despite federal opposition, Denver is trying again to become what could be the first U.S. city to open a supervised drug injection site, a strategy that some liberal cities have tried repeatedly to launch to reduce overdose deaths fueled by a nationwide opioid epidemic.

Biology news

	Climate change wiped out the 'Siberian unicorn' New research has shed light on the origin and extinction of a giant, shaggy Ice Age rhinoceros known as the Siberian unicorn because of its extraordinary single horn.
	Steroid synthesis discovery could rewrite the textbooks Steroids are essential molecules for life in all complex organisms such as animals and plants. Researchers from the VIB-UGent Center for Plant Systems Biology, the University of Technology Sydney Climate Change Cluster and the University of Queensland have now discovered a new central enzyme in the steroid biosynthesis pathway in some modern organisms. This might not only lead to an evolutionary re-think, but also opens new ways to control toxic algae in aquaculture. Their findings have been published in Nature Microbiology.
	A new aspect in Plasmodium falciparum life cycle revealed: Express sexual conversion A study led by the Barcelona Institute for Global Health (ISGlobal) reveals a new mechanism by which the malaria parasite Plasmodium falciparum converts from its asexual to its sexual form, which can be transmitted to the mosquito. The results, published in Nature Microbiology, provide important information on the parasite's lifecycle and will eventually contribute to design strategies aimed at stopping its transmission.
	How water fleas detect predators Water fleas of the genus daphnia detect via chemical substances if their predators, namely Chaoborus larvae, are hunting in their vicinity. If so, they generate defences that make them more difficult to consume. The signalling molecules that enable detection have been identified by biologists and chemists from Ruhr-Universität Bochum, the University of Duisburg-Essen and the University of Birmingham. It is a cocktail of substances that occurs during digestive processes of Chaoborus larvae. The researchers discuss their findings in the journal Nature Chemical Biology published on 14 November 2018.
	Scientists discover how mechanical strain shapes plants Scientists from Nanyang Technological University, Singapore (NTU Singapore) and Carnegie Mellon University in the U.S. have discovered how mechanical forces can influence the shapes of plant leaves and flower petals.
	Newly discovered wasp turns social spiders into zombies It sounds like the plot of the world's tiniest horror movie: deep in the Ecuadorian Amazon, a newly discovered species of wasp transforms a "social" spider into a zombie-like drone that abandons its colony to do the wasp's bidding.
	Mosquitoes, other blood-sucking flies have been spreading malaria for up to 100 million years The microorganisms that cause malaria, leishmaniasis and a variety of other illnesses today can be traced back at least to the time of dinosaurs, a study of amber-preserved blood-sucking insects and ticks show.
	Single-cell asymmetries control how groups of cells form 3-D shapes together Scientists have developed a mathematical model showing that two types of cellular asymmetry, or 'polarity', govern the shaping of cells into sheets and tubes, according to an article in eLife.
	Early-life stress hinders development of neurons in mice, causing attention disorders Women are roughly twice as likely as men to develop depression, anxiety and other stress-related problems, including difficulty with attention, and new research from Brown University neuroscientists sheds light on the biological reasons why.
	Largest study of CRISPR-Cas9 mutations creates prediction tool for gene editing The largest study of CRISPR action to date has developed a method to predict the exact mutations CRISPR-Cas9 gene editing can introduce to a cell. Researchers at the Wellcome Sanger Institute edited 40,000 different pieces of DNA and analysed a thousand million resulting DNA sequences to reveal the effects of the gene editing and develop a machine learning predictive tool of the outcomes. This will assist researchers who are using CRISPR-Cas9 to research disease mechanisms and drug targets.
	New Zealand rescuers save six stranded whales Six beached whales were successfully refloated off New Zealand Tuesday, rescuers said, after a spate of mass strandings in recent days that resulted in the deaths of dozens of marine mammals.
	S.African MPs seek end of captive lion trophy hunting South African lawmakers will seek to end the breeding of lions for trophy hunting and the trade in their bones, setting parliament on a collision course with a powerful industry.
	The warm and loving tegu lizard becomes a genetic resource Published today in the open-access journal GigaScience is an article that presents the genome of the tegu lizard, which has mastered a trick that is highly unusual in the reptile world: it can turn on its own heating system. Most reptiles are not able to control their body temperature like mammals do and instead must rely on its environment, such as available sun and shade, to attain an optimal body temperature. The tegu, Salvator merianae, however, has taken a step towards being full-blown warm-blooded: It can raise its own body temperature by up to 10°C above its surroundings. Another, but more negative, aspect of the tegu is that is an invasive species and poses a serious threat to endangered species. Although it is a native of South American rain forests and savannas, the charismatic nature of the tegu— and that it can even achieve some level of house training, makes it an extremely charming pet that is much beloved by reptile aficionados. Unfortunately, international trade in exotic pets are one of the primary reasons that species enter new environments where they can become a menace to the native species. Given the tegu's unique biological characteristics and its potential peril to the environment, the availability of an extremely high-quality genome sequence of this large lizard serves as a rich resource for identifying and analyzing the underlying molecular basis of these aspects.
	China orders probe into scientist claims of first gene-edited babies Beijing has ordered an investigation into claims by a Chinese scientist to have created the world's first genetically-edited babies, a move that would be a ground-breaking medical first but which has generated a barrage of criticism.
	Gene-edited babies and cloned monkeys: China tests bioethics A Chinese scientist's claim that he created the world's first genetically-edited babies has shone a spotlight on what critics say are lax regulatory controls and ethical standards behind a series of headline-grabbing biomedical breakthroughs in China.
	Intense fires threaten conservation-significant trapdoor spider A new Curtin University study has found trapdoor spiders do not survive intense bushfires but have high survival rates in low-intensity fires, in a finding that may have important implications for conservation management practices.
	Gene-edited babies: China wants to be the world leader, but at what cost? Recent claims of the world's first gene-edited babies have sparked a strong response, to say the least. In particular, the Southern University of Science and Technology, which employs the researcher involved, He Jiankui, stated in a press release that they were not aware of his work, that it took place off campus, and that it was a case of potential scientific misconduct that would not go unaddressed.
	The persistence of pesticides threatens European soils The use of phytosanitary projects to combat weeds and other pests that affect the crops has led to an increase in the productivity of European agricultural crops in the last 50 years. Their use has been one of the principal mainstays of the intensification of agriculture in recent decades and has enabled greater crop yields, but this advantage has been at the expense of the agricultural soils of the European Union.
	New way to analyze the microbiome A team of developers from Skolkovo, ITMO University and MIPT have presented an online service called Knomics-Biota, which allows for a comprehensive study of intestinal microbiome genetic data. Using this service, researchers can figure out what types of bacteria are present in hundreds of gut metagenomes, their relative proportion, and the amount of vitamins and other beneficial substances they produce. With the help of an interactive interface, users can look at the results from different perspectives to identify the relationship between microbiota and nutrition, lifestyle and health. The research was published in BioData Mining.
	Gene study boosts bid to keep British bees safe from disease Efforts to protect the UK's native honey bees could be helped by research that maps their entire genetic make-up.
	The road to enhancement, via human gene editing, is paved with good intentions It appears that researchers in China have facilitated the birth of the first "designer baby" – actually babies, twin girls who are supposedly genetically resistant to HIV. The scientist who created the embryos, as well as some American scientists like Harvard's George Church, have praised the beneficent intent to producing a child who is resistant to disease. Who could argue with such good intentions?
Study explains waterhemp's metabolic resistance to topramezone Corn naturally tolerates certain herbicides, detoxifying the chemicals before they can cause harm. It's what allows farmers to spray fields with the class of herbicides known as HPPD-inhibitors, which kill weeds such as waterhemp and Palmer amaranth and leave corn unscathed. But in more and more fields, the method is failing; waterhemp isn't dying.
First calf born following IVF embryo breakthrough The approach, called Karyomapping, was originally designed to detect and screen for single gene and chromosome disorders simultaneously in human IVF embryos.
	Researchers successfully train computers to identify animals in photos A computer model developed at the University of Wyoming by UW researchers and others has demonstrated remarkable accuracy and efficiency in identifying images of wild animals from camera-trap photographs in North America.
	Upper Mississippi River commercial fishery is sustainable Commercial fishing along the Upper Mississippi River has been sustainable over the past 60 years and hasn't negatively influenced fish populations or recreational fisheries, according to a University of Idaho-led study published in the journal Fisheries.
	A fresh look at winter footprints: Environmental DNA improves tracking of rare carnivores An innovative new project has discovered that animal footprints contain enough DNA to allow for species identification. Scientists have traditionally relied on snow-tracks and camera traps to monitor populations of rare carnivores, like Canada lynx, fishers and wolverines. These traditional techniques can tell part of, but not the entire story of an animal population, and are sometimes difficult to validate species identification.

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