Science X Newsletter Tuesday, Dec 4

Dear Reader ,

Here is your customized Science X Newsletter for December 4, 2018:

Spotlight Stories Headlines

Analyzing spoken language and 3-D facial expressions to measure depression severity

To detect new odors, fruit fly brains improve on a well-known computer algorithm

A new approach to old questions surrounding the Second Plague

Study uses rings in teeth to understand the environment Neanderthals faced

Neurotechnology provides real-time readouts of where rats think they are

Microscopic 'sunflowers' for better solar panels

Team demonstrates electrochemical techniques for monitoring microbial growth

Development threatens tropical forests, researchers say

Chemicals in personal care and household products linked to earlier puberty in girls

A bit of a stretch... material that thickens as it's pulled

Mountain splendor? Scientists know where your eyes will look

Nature's 'laboratory' offers clues on how plants thrive through genetic diversity

Capturing the surprising flexibility of crystal surfaces

Combined economic and technological evaluation of battery energy storage for grid applications

Light-induced changes in photosensory proteins

Astronomy & Space news

	New discovery complicates efforts to measure universe's expansion A study led by Texas Tech University shows that supersoft X-ray emissions can come from accretion as well as nuclear fusion.
	New detections of gravitational waves brings the number to 11 – so far Four new detections of gravitational waves have been announced at the Gravitational Waves Physics and Astronomy Workshop, at the University of Maryland in the United States.
	Taking the measure of an asteroid CU Boulder scientists have a front row seat today to observe a NASA spacecraft as it arrives at the asteroid Bennu, coming to within 4.5 miles of the space rock.
	Combination of space-based and ground-based telescopes reveals more than 100 exoplanets An international team of astronomers using a combination of ground and space-based telescopes have reported more than 100 extrasolar planets in only three months. These planets are quite diverse and are expected to play a large role in developing the research field of exoplanets and life in the universe.
	Fast magnetoacoustic waves and magnetic field measurements in the solar corona with the Low Frequency Array Fast magnetoacoustic wave trains are a promising seismological probe of the sun's corona, revealing the magnetic connectivity and providing an estimation of the absolute value of the coronal magnetic field. Low-frequency radio observations allow for the detection of fast wave trains in middle and upper corona, above the field-of-view of EUV imagers and spectrographs, via the modulation of the radio emission by the variations of the electron concentration.
	Moldy mouse food postpones SpaceX launch SpaceX has postponed its cargo launch to the International Space Station until Wednesday after mold was found on food bars for a mouse experiment bound for the orbiting outpost, NASA said.
	Immune health in space With a new crew arriving at the International Space Station, astronauts will be relieved to know that they won't have to worry about a major aspect of their immune system being compromised. While researchers know a lot about astronauts' skeletal and muscular health during spaceflight and when they return to Earth, much less is known about how spaceflight affects immunity. It has been generally thought, until now, that spaceflight has a detrimental impact on all aspects of the immune system.
	Tissue chips rocket to International Space Station When traveling in space, astronauts experience physiological changes normally associated with aging, such as bone loss, muscle deterioration and altered immune systems. When the astronauts return to Earth, the changes often reverse. To better understand the relevance of the astronauts' experience to human health—both on the ground and beyond—NIH's National Center for Advancing Translational Sciences (NCATS) partnered with the International Space Station U.S. National Laboratory (ISS National Lab) to send tissue chips, a research technology that reflects the human body, into space. The ISS National Lab and NASA partner to use the U.S. portion of the space station for research initiatives leveraging the unique microgravity environment in space.

Technology news

	Analyzing spoken language and 3-D facial expressions to measure depression severity Researchers at Stanford have recently explored the use of machine learning to measure the severity of depressive symptoms by analyzing people's spoken language and 3-D facial expressions. Their multi-model method, outlined in a paper pre-published on arXiv, achieved very promising results, with an 83.3 percent sensitivity and 82.6 percent specificity.
	Combined economic and technological evaluation of battery energy storage for grid applications Connecting large battery systems to the energy grid offers the ability to capture and store renewable energy during the windy and sunny times, and then use the stored energy during less sunny and less windy times. No surprise there.
	Best hope yet for aluminium-ion batteries UNSW Sydney's Dr. Dong Jun Kim has led a team of researchers to show rechargeable aluminium-ion batteries are a possibility with a future in renewable energy storage.
	Team converts wet biological waste to diesel-compatible fuel In a step toward producing renewable engine fuels that are compatible with existing diesel fuel infrastructure, researchers report they can convert wet biowaste, such as swine manure and food scraps, into a fuel that can be blended with diesel and that shares diesel's combustion efficiency and emissions profile.
	Pixel 3: A turn to machine learning for depth estimations TechSpot says what it thinks about the Pixel 3 and it's not an ad: "Pixel 3 is quite possibly the best camera phone on the market." Tyler Lee in Ubergizmo is in full compliment mode. "There is no doubt that all of Google's hard work and research has paid off as the Pixel 3 does have one of the better cameras around."
	CHP may have used Tesla Autopilot to stop speeding car The California Highway Patrol says it may have used the Autopilot system of a Tesla to stop the car after its driver fell asleep.
	Australia set to pass sweeping cyber laws despite tech giant fears Australia's two main parties struck a deal Tuesday to pass sweeping cyber laws requiring tech giants to help government agencies get around encrypted communications used by suspected criminals and terrorists.
	Facial gestures can move this AI-motorized wheelchair A new wheelchair may give people with severe mobility challenges another reason to smile about artificial intelligence—that grin might literally help them control their wheelchair.
	Why autonomous vehicles won't reduce our dependence on cars in cities The technology of autonomous vehicles (AVs) is progressing rapidly, but have we really thought through how they'll work in reality?
	Astrocast successfully launches its first satellite Yesterday evening, Astrocast – a young start-up spun out of EPFL – launched its first demonstration satellite intended to test its Internet-of-Things system. It was put into orbit by a SpaceX rocket that took off from California.
	Aluminum nitride to extend life of solar power plants NUST MISIS scientists together with their colleagues from the Central Metallurgical R&D Institute (Cairo, Egypt) have developed a composite material to extend the life of solar towers up to five years. The research article has been published in Renewable Energy.
	Siri, what is AI good for? Expert explains why that is a difficult question Personal data collection, machine learning and artificial intelligence are encroaching in our lives at a pace that many of us find unsettling, if not downright scary. Not to mention that many of us can't tell the difference in what these terms mean.
	New passenger scanner uses space technology to speed up airport security A super-sensitive passenger scanner that reveals hidden security threats is being trialled at Cardiff Airport in the UK.
	Spending too much time on your phone? Behavioral science has an app for that We're squandering increasing amounts of time distracted by our phones. And that's taking a serious toll on our mental and physical well-being.
	Madrid orders removal of electric scooters Madrid's city hall said Tuesday it had refused to grant a licence to three electric scooter-share companies and gave them 72 hours to remove their scooters from the streets of the Spanish capital.
	Cameras, drones: Rio de Janeiro to put electronic eyes on crime Rio de Janeiro state is moving ahead with plans to deploy security cameras and drones to help fight crime, according to its next governor, a far-right politician loyal to president-elect Jair Bolsonaro.
Developing tools to combat 'fake news' With news coverage being a constant cycle and information being amplified across social media channels, it can be difficult to discern between sound news and 'fake news.' As a result people's trust in scientific information has begun to break down. This is especially harmful to society when the mass dissemination of misinformation, especially as it relates to issues such as climate change, is problematic as it may contribute to the delay of much needed policy action to protect the public. In order to combat this issue, tools and practices need to be developed to help consumers and journalists filter the information they are constantly being fed.
	Developing AI in a responsible way Université de Montréal, in collaboration with the Fonds de recherche du Québec, today unveiled the Montréal Declaration for Responsible Development of Artificial Intelligence. This set of ethical guidelines for the development of artificial intelligence is the culmination of more than a year of work, research and consultations with citizens, experts, public policymakers and industry stakeholders, civil society organizations, and professional orders.
	Thomson Reuters announces 3,200 job cuts over two years Financial data and news agency Thomson Reuters announced Tuesday cuts of 3,200 jobs and dozens of office closures worldwide over the next two years as part of a restructuring.
	Largest police force in the US steps into the drone age The New York Police Department has shown off its first fleet of drones.

Medicine & Health news

	To detect new odors, fruit fly brains improve on a well-known computer algorithm It might seem like fruit flies would have nothing in common with computers, but new research from the Salk Institute reveals that the two identify novel information in similar ways. The work, which appeared in Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences (PNAS) on December 3, 2018, not only sheds light on an important neurobiological problem—how organisms detect new odors—but could also improve algorithms for novelty detection in computer science.
	A new approach to old questions surrounding the Second Plague When many moderns think of the plague, the uproarious "Bring Out Your Dead" skit by Monty Python probably comes to mind. But in medieval Europe, the Second Plague Pandemic was no laughing matter: it was a particularly deadly series of disease outbreaks that began in the 14th century with the Black Death. The Black Death, which reached Europe in October of 1347, killed upwards of 30% of European populations and was responsible for far-reaching social, economic, and political consequences that likely changed the course of history. Now, in a truly fascinating multi-disciplinary study, a pan-European group of researchers has attempted to clarify several outstanding questions related to the spread of plague throughout Europe in the 14th century.
	Neurotechnology provides real-time readouts of where rats think they are The rat in a maze may be one of the most classic research motifs in brain science, but a new innovation described in Cell Reports by an international collaboration of scientists shows just how far such experiments are still pushing the cutting edge of technology and neuroscience alike.
	Chemicals in personal care and household products linked to earlier puberty in girls Chemicals that are widely used in personal care and household products are linked to girls entering puberty at earlier ages, according to findings from a long-running study of mothers and children published today.
	Mountain splendor? Scientists know where your eyes will look Using precise brain measurements, Yale researchers predicted how people's eyes move when viewing natural scenes, an advance in understanding the human visual system that can improve a host of artificial intelligence efforts, such as the development of driverless cars, said the researchers.
	Shortcut strategy for screening compounds with clinical potentials for drug development Developing a new drug often takes years and costs hundreds of millions of dollars. A shortcut has now been reported in a study led by City University of Hong Kong (CityU), which can potentially reduce the time and costs of developing new drugs by sorting out the high potential candidates from a long list of chemical compounds.
	Antarctic researchers enter a state of 'psychological hibernation,' study finds Antarctic researchers enter a state of 'psychological hibernation' to cope with the stresses of constant darkness, isolation and confinement, according to a new study.
	Gene that lets you eat as much as you want holds promise against obesity It sounds too good to be true, but a novel approach that might allow you to eat as much food as you want without gaining weight could be a reality in the near future.
	New Parkinson's disease drug target revealed through study of fatty acids The human brain is rich in lipids. Investigators studying Parkinson's disease (PD) have become increasingly interested in lipids since both molecular and genetic studies have pointed to the disruption of the balance of the brain's lipids as a potentially critical contributor to this disease. Beginning in yeast and moving through various model organisms and human cells, a new study led by investigators from Brigham and Women's Hospital and Harvard Medical School has provided insights into the role of fatty acids and suggests that inhibiting a specific enzyme can protect against neurotoxicity. Their findings, which point to a novel therapeutic approach that could be developed to treat PD and some forms of Alzheimer's disease, are published in Molecular Cell.
	No bleeding required: Anemia detection via smartphone Biomedical engineers have developed a smartphone app for the non-invasive detection of anemia. Instead of a blood test, the app uses photos of someone's fingernails taken on a smartphone to accurately measure how much hemoglobin is in their blood.
	Marmoset study gives insights into loss of pleasure in depression 'Anhedonia' (the loss of pleasure) is one of the key symptoms of depression. An important component of this symptom is an inability to feel excitement in anticipation of events; however the brain mechanisms underlying this phenomenon are poorly understood.
	Microbial-based treatment reverses autism spectrum social deficits in mouse models An unconventional approach has successfully reversed deficits in social behaviors associated with autism spectrum disorders (ASD) in genetic, environmental and idiopathic mouse models of the condition. Researchers at Baylor College of Medicine report in the journal Neuron that administration of the bacterium Lactobacillus reuteri could lead to specific changes in the brain that reverse social deficits through a mechanism that involves the vagus nerve and the oxytocin-dopamine reward system. These findings hold hope for the development of novel therapies for neurological disorders by modulating specific microbes in the gut.
	New cancer immunotherapy approach turns human cells into tiny anti-tumor drug factories Cancer immunotherapy—efforts to better arm a patient's own immune system to attack tumors—has shown great potential for treating some cancers. Yet immunotherapy doesn't work for everyone, and some types of treatment can cause serious side effects.
	Natural selection in the womb can explain health problems in adulthood Conditions encountered in the womb—when the embryo consists of only about 100 cells—can have life-long impact on health. Scientists previously assumed that this is because embryos respond to adverse conditions by programming their gene expression. Now an international team of researchers at the Leiden University Medical Center, Wageningen University and Research, Lund University, Columbia University Mailman School of Public Health in New York propose a radically different alternative. Rather than being programmed by the environment, random differences in gene expression may provide some embryos with a survival advantage, in particular when conditions are harsh. By studying DNA methylation, an important mechanism to control gene activity, the researchers found that a specific part of the DNA methylation pattern was missing among famine-exposed individuals. The findings are published in the journal Cell Reports.
	Novel approach improves understanding of the formation of new neurons in the mammalian adult brain A team of researchers at Baylor College of Medicine, the Texas Heart Institute and Texas Children's Hospital has developed a powerful new approach to understand the formation of new neurons in the mammalian adult brain. Published in the journal Cell Reports, this work opens exciting new pathways that can be further developed to repair malfunctioning brain circuits.
	Researchers discover that a bacterial protein promotes cancer The Institute of Human Virology (IHV) at the University of Maryland School of Medicine (UMSOM) announced today the discovery that DnaK, a protein of the bacterium mycoplasma, interferes with the mycoplasma-infected cell's ability to respond to and repair DNA damage, a known origin of cancer.
	Single workout can boost metabolism for days Lounging around all weekend may weigh heavy on the minds of the health conscious. But these sedentary stretches may not affect the waistline, provided they're preceded by a bit of exercise.
	'Error neurons' play role in how brain processes mistakes New research from Cedars-Sinai has identified neurons that play a role in how people recognize errors they make, a discovery that may have implications for the treatment of conditions including obsessive-compulsive disorder and schizophrenia.
	High risk alternative tobacco products disproportionately sold in low-income communities Retailers in minority and low-income communities are more likely to sell and advertise the most inexpensive and risky alternative tobacco products, according to a new study conducted at Columbia University Mailman School of Public Health. Potentially less risky, non-combusted products such as smokeless tobacco and e-cigarettes are more accessible in higher income and predominantly White neighborhoods. Until this study, little was known about the ways in which alternative tobacco products are promoted in the retail environment in the context of the tobacco risk continuum. The study results are published online in the journal Nicotine and Tobacco Research.
	Health and beauty info sources may influence risky indoor tanning behaviors Young women who receive health and beauty information from their friends and through social media may be more likely to ignore the risks of indoor tanning, according to a team of researchers.
	Early clinical trial data show gene therapy reversing sickle cell anemia After over a decade of preclinical research and development, a new gene therapy treatment for Sickle Cell Anemia (SCA) is reversing disease symptoms in two adults and showing early potential for transportability to resource-challenged parts of the world where SCA is most common.
Exercise may improve kidney function in obesity, reduce risk of renal disease Aerobic exercise may reduce the risk of diabetes-related kidney disease in some people, according to a new study. The findings are published ahead of print in the American Journal of Physiology—Renal Physiology and was chosen as an APS select article for December.
	Older women who suffer tooth loss more likely to develop high blood pressure A new study in the American Journal of Hypertension indicates that postmenopausal women who have experienced tooth loss are at higher risk of developing high blood pressure. Multiple studies have suggested an association between periodontal disease and tooth loss with hypertension, but the relationship remains unclear.
	Tele-ERs can help strengthen rural hospitals A new study from the University of Iowa finds rural hospitals that use tele-medicine to back up their emergency room health care providers not only save money, but find it easier to recruit new physicians.
	As married couples age, humor replaces bickering Honeymoon long over? Hang in there. A new University of California, Berkeley, study shows those prickly disagreements that can mark the early and middle years of marriage mellow with age as conflicts give way to humor and acceptance.
Science proves vaccines are helpful, not harmful, to society As more and more parents buy into the belief that vaccines cause autism and refuse to vaccinate their children, previously eradicated diseases are making their way back into society. These beliefs are part of "post-truth" politics in which authority figures are making public assertions without any proof or factual basis and are refusing to acknowledge factual rebuttals. The relationship between the measles, mumps and rubella (MMR) vaccination and autism has perpetrated society despite having been debunked in numerous scientific studies, and the Human Papillomavirus vaccine has been targeted as well.
Personalised ultrasound scan showing atherosclerosis helps reduce cardiovascular risk A new randomised trial of over 3000 people in The Lancet finds that sharing pictorial representations of personalised scans showing the extent of atherosclerosis (vascular age and plaque in the arteries) to patients and their doctors results in a decreased risk of cardiovascular disease one year later, compared to people receiving usual information about their risk.
Requests for emergency contraception could be an important sign of abuse Women who experience domestic violence and abuse (DVA) are more than twice as likely to seek emergency contraception as other women, according to a study by National Institute for Health Research (NIHR)-funded researchers at the University of Bristol and Queen Mary University of London, suggesting that requests for emergency contraception could be an important sign of abuse.
	Mothers whose responses to infants' facial cues increase report stronger bonds with babies The transition to motherhood triggers changes in mothers' brain structure that may facilitate bonding with their infants. While many studies have focused on the postpartum period, researchers have not examined whether changes in the maternal cortex during pregnancy are associated with postnatal bonding. A new study examined whether pregnancy changes mothers' neural sensitivity to infants' facial cues, and whether such changes affect mother-infant bonding. The study found that mothers who showed increased brain activity in response to infants' facial cues from pregnancy to motherhood reported stronger bonds with their infants after birth than mothers who didn't show such increases.
Researchers link sleep health to insulin resistance in obese teens Researchers at Children's Hospital Colorado (Children's Colorado) have identified a connection between overweight and obese teens' sleep health and their insulin sensitivity. In what is believed to be the first study to use an objective measurement of circadian rhythm—salivary melatonin—to examine associations of sleep health with insulin sensitivity in adolescents, researchers found that shorter sleep duration, later weekday bedtimes and later circadian timing of sleep were associated with reduced insulin sensitivity in a cohort of adolescents with overweight/obesity during the school year. The related article was recently published in The Journal of Pediatrics.
Researchers identify new strategies that may improve CAR-T cell therapy Mayo Clinic researchers have developed two new strategies that may improve the performance of chimeric antigen receptor therapy (CAR-T cell therapy) in treating cancer. They are presenting results of their preclinical research at the 2018 annual meeting of the American Society of Hematology in San Diego.
	Most patients wary, unaware of benefits of using health portals Two-thirds of patients who visited a doctor in 2017 did not use a health portal that could help improve their health in the long run, according to a new study by the University of Michigan.
	New tumor model helps researchers treat pancreatic cancer Patients diagnosed with pancreatic cancer face a poor prognosis because the tumor forms dense scar-like tissue that is difficult for chemotherapy drugs to penetrate, but a new model may help researchers develop new therapies.
	Study connects the genetic background of autistic spectrum disorders with stem cell dysfunction Disorders of the autistic spectrum have been associated with hundreds of genetic variations, which have helped in identifying disturbed intracellular signalling pathways and molecular mechanisms typical to autism.
	Mediterranean diet during pregnancy associated with lower risk of accelerated growth The Mediterranean diet is characterised by a high content of fruits, vegetables, olive oil, legumes and nuts. This healthy diet pattern has been associated with lower obesity and cardiometabolic risk in adults, but few studies have focused on children. A new study, published in the Journal of Pediatrics, evaluates the association between adherence to a Mediterranean diet during pregnancy with growth patterns and cardiometabolic risk in early infancy.
	Functional capacity of haemodialysis patients assessed for the first time Over 2 million people receive haemodialysis treatment worldwide. Their physical condition is affected by hours of forced physical inactivity while they receive the treatment several times a week, exacerbated by muscular atrophy derived from chronic kidney disease. This affects activities such as walking or standing up from a chair. Several studies have shown the efficacy of exercise during haemodialysis sessions. Now, a team headed by Professor Eva Segura has evaluated three physical condition tests that are typically used to study exercise during haemodialysis to determine their suitability for these patients.
	Drug wholesalers drove fentanyl's deadly rise, report concludes Fentanyl, a powerful synthetic opioid implicated in nearly 29,000 overdose deaths in the United States last year, most likely spread because of heroin and prescription pill shortages, and also because it was cheaper for drug wholesalers than heroin, according to a report on illicit US drug markets by researchers at UC San Francisco.
Rivaroxaban reduced blood clots and related death in cancer patients Cleveland Clinic medical oncologist and researcher, Alok Khorana, M.D., is the primary investigator on a study that concluded rivaroxaban for venous thromboembolism (VTE), a blood clot in the venous system, significantly reduced VTE and VTE-related death for outpatient, at-risk cancer patients while they were taking the oral blood thinner.
Protein may slow progression of emphysema, study finds A protein generated as part of our body's immune response to intestinal worms could slow the progression of emphysema, according to a Rutgers study.
	Researchers extend effectiveness of immunotherapy to more lung cancer patients Immunotherapy, the strategy for triggering the patient's own immune system to attack cancer, is proving effective for more tumour types, although to varying degrees. In lung cancer, immunotherapy had proven to extend survival rates for only some variants of the disease. Now, an international clinical trial led by the oncologist Luis Paz-Ares has substantially increased the group of lung cancer patients who may benefit from immunotherapy.
	Most Americans lie to their doctors (HealthDay)—As many as 4 out of 5 Americans withhold important information from their doctor that could prove crucial to their health, a new study shows.
	Mental health and college students (HealthDay)—There's an adjustment period for almost every new college student—many young people have struggles balancing independence and a heavy workload. But there are some signs that suggest your young person needs more serious help than a care package from home.
	Imaging protocol assesses molecular mechanism in the treatment of deadly childhood cancer ANSTO's unique capabilities and expertise in the production and application of radiotracers for imaging have been highlighted in a recent publication in the journal Theranostics.
	Make nice with rice to boost your diet (HealthDay)—If you love rice, you might be wondering how you can make it part of healthy meals. Whether you're trying to drop pounds or stay at a healthy weight, some adjustments will let you keep it on the menu.
	Major data release set for early 2019 as recruitment wraps up for nation's largest adolescent brain study Research teams all across the globe are eagerly awaiting a major release of data from the largest study ever attempted on the adolescent brain.
	Rare variants associated with interval breast cancers (HealthDay)—Though common breast cancer variants indicate increased breast cancer risk, certain rare variants are associated with an increased risk for interval breast cancers and death, according to a study published in the Nov. 1 issue of Cancer Research.
	Prevalence of ever-diagnosed ASD 2.79 percent in U.S. children (HealthDay)—The prevalence of ever-diagnosed autism spectrum disorder (ASD) is 2.79 percent in the United States, with state-level variations in prevalence, according to a study published online Dec. 3 in JAMA Pediatrics.
	CDC: Acute flaccid myelitis cases appear to have peaked for 2018 (HealthDay)—The number of cases of acute flaccid myelitis (AFM) in the United States this year appears to have peaked and is expected to decline for the remainder of 2018, according to the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.
	Here's how much kids need to move, play and sleep in their early years Most of us would agree that we want to encourage children to be physically active, get enough sleep, and keep their screen time at healthy levels. But did you know that this starts from birth? And, what is enough sleep for young children? Also, given the ubiquity of screens, what is a healthy level of screen time?
	Fatal brake failures: Tumorigenesis in the colon Two genes normally work together to suppress the development of colon cancer. Their combined loss favors tumorigenesis and stimulates the formation of metastases.
	Harnessing artificial intelligence to control drug-resistant epilepsy Epilepsy affects nearly one percent of the global population, making it one of the most common neurological disorders. While two-thirds of patients with epilepsy respond well to pharmacological treatment or are eligible for resective surgery, a significant proportion of epilepsy patients unfortunately continue to suffer from chronic, debilitating and unpredictable seizures.
	Soil bacteria provide a promising E. coli treatment E. coli, the notorious bug associated with severe food poisoning and usually caught from undercooked meat, is a common concern for anyone cooking over the festive period.
	Four emerging STIs that you can't afford to ignore New diseases emerge all the time, and sexually transmitted infections are no exception. Here are four bacteria that could become serious public health threats. (Warning: contains a description of animal auto-fellatio.)
	Black and Hispanic Americans have a harder time quitting cigarettes. Will this study find a way to help? Black and Hispanic Americans are less likely to smoke cigarettes than white Americans. Yet once they've started, they're more likely to stay hooked. National data show they successfully quit only about half as often as white smokers.
	Global review reports on administration of children's antibiotics Researchers analyzing the sales of oral antibiotics for children in 70 high- and middle-income countries found that consumption varies widely from country to country with little correlation between countries' wealth and the types of antibiotics. Of concern is the relatively low-level use of amoxicillin, an antibiotic to treat the most common childhood infections. In addition, the review found the sale of antibiotics which should only be used for specific indications, or 'Watch' antibiotics in a quarter of all countries accounted for 20 percent of total antibiotic consumption. This is of concern since there is a higher risk of bacteria developing resistance to 'Watch' antibiotics.
	New study sheds light on medication administration errors leading to death Medication administration errors leading to death are common with anticoagulants and antibiotics in particular, according to a new study that analysed incidents reported in England and Wales. The most common error category was omitted medicine, followed by a wrong dose or a wrong strength. In half of the reported incidents, the patient was aged over 75.
	Are near-death experiences hallucinations? Experts explain the science behind this puzzling phenomenon In our never-ending quest to understand what happens to us after we die, humans have long seen the rare phenomenon of near-death experiences as providing some hints. People who've had a brush with death often report seeing and experiencing life-altering events on "the other side," like a bright white light at the end of a long tunnel, or being reunited with lost relatives or beloved pets. But despite the seemingly supernatural nature of these experiences, experts say that science can explain why they happen – and what's really going on.
	The 'wrong' connective tissue cells signal worse prognosis for breast cancer patients In certain forms of cancer, connective tissue forms around and within the tumour. One previously unproven theory is that there are several different types of connective tissue cells with different functions, which affect the development of the tumour in different ways. Now, a research team at Lund University in Sweden has identified three different types of connective tissue cells. In studies of breast cancer patients, the team found that two of these are linked to a worse prognosis.
	High-salt diet may increase the risk of developing heart arrhythmia Scientists have uncovered the first evidence to associate dietary salt intake with the risk of developing a common heart condition that affects millions of people worldwide, in a new study published in the Annals of Medicine.
Cost-effective implants in hip replacement surgery New research led by the Hip Implant Prosthesis Study (HIPS) team at the University of Bristol Medical School has shown that small-head (less than 36 mm in diameter) cemented metal-on-plastic hip replacements are the most cost-effective in men and women older than 65 years. For adults younger than 65, small-head cemented ceramic-on-plastic hip replacements are more likely to be cost-effective. The study found no evidence that uncemented or hybrid hip replacements are cost-effective options, while large-head implant sizes (more than 36 mm) are also not cost-effective.
	Why ultrasound imaging may be the future of neurological treatments After decades of medical dramas filling our TV screens, the figure of a technician wielding an ultrasound wand is so prolific, it's easily called to mind. Even if you've never needed an internal abdominal exam, the steps are familiar: The clear, cool gel on the belly; the pressing of a sturdy, plastic device against the patient's torso; the grainy images that appear on a nearby screen…
	Marijuana in Mexico: how to legalise it effectively, fairly and safely Around the world, there is a steady shift towards the legalisation of marijuana. But how should governments considering such a move ensure it is done effectively, fairly and safely?
	Study reveals high levels of stress across Tallaght community A new report, co-authored by Trinity academics, highlights increased levels of public satisfaction with the services at Tallaght University Hospital but that a lack of mental health services is leading to increasing levels of stress and psychological ill health—particularly in deprived areas.
	Researchers discover a promising therapy for improving heart attack survivorship In pre-clinical trials, University of Otago researchers have discovered a promising new therapy that has the potential to be used clinically for improving survival rates for people who suffer a heart attack.
	Diversity efforts drive rise in female and minority medical school students Medical schools in the United States are accepting more women and minority students a decade after diversity standards were introduced by a national accrediting body. According to Yale researchers, the standards are associated with an increase in both the number and proportion of applicants from underrepresented groups, suggesting that the pool of minority talent is sufficient to boost diversity.
PPIs combined with oral anticoagulants reduce risk of gastrointestinal bleeding A Vanderbilt University Medical Center (VUMC) study published today in JAMA shows that patients already at higher risk for gastrointestinal bleeding gain a marked protection from this risk when they take a proton pump inhibitor (PPI) in combination with an oral anticoagulant.
	The powerful impact of real-world learning experiences for kids Real-world learning experiences, like summer camps, can significantly improve children's knowledge in a matter of just days, a new study suggests.
	Eliminating microglia prevents heightened immune sensitivity after stress Using an animal model of chronic stress, researchers at The Ohio State University have shown that the immune cells of the brain, called microglia, hold unique signatures of chronic stress that leave the animal more sensitive to future stressful experiences, evident by increased anxiety and immune responses. Eliminating microglia so that these "stress memories" could not be maintained did not prevent the increased anxiety in response to later stress but did prevent the hypersensitive immune response.
	A toxin that travels from stomach to brain may trigger Parkinsonism Combining low doses of a toxic herbicide with sugar-binding proteins called lectins may trigger Parkinsonism—symptoms typical of Parkinson's disease like body tremors and slowing of body motions—after the toxin travels from the stomach to the brain.
	Vaping cannabis produces stronger effects than smoking cannabis for infrequent users In a small study of infrequent cannabis users, Johns Hopkins Medicine researchers have shown that, compared with smoking cannabis, vaping it increased the rate of short-term anxiety, paranoia, memory loss and distraction when doses were the same.
	Promising research shows blood vessel growth key to healthy fat tissue New research led by York University's Faculty of Health shows that inhibiting a protein within blood vessels stimulates new blood vessel growth, resulting in healthier fat tissue (adipose) and lower blood sugar levels. The findings provide key insight into how improving blood vessel growth could help to mitigate serious health problems that arise with obesity, such as diabetes.
	Drug dramatically reduces risk of dangerous blood clots in cancer patients A Canadian clinical trial published in the New England Journal of Medicine provides the first approach for safely preventing blood clots (or venous thromboembolism) in people with cancer. About half of people newly diagnosed with a solid cancer could be candidates for the strategy, which involves a low dose of a direct oral anticoagulant called apixaban.
Sex-specific effects of DHEA on bone mineral density and body composition Women 55 and older have an increased risk of bone and muscle loss but therapy with the hormone Dehydroepiandrosterone (DHEA) may help prevent bone loss and increase muscle mass in older women, according to a new study led by Catherine M. Jankowski, Ph.D., FACSM, an exercise physiologist and associate professor at the University of Colorado College of Nursing at the Anschutz Medical Campus.
	New Zika vaccine effective in preclinical trials Researchers at the University of Hawaii medical school have successfully developed a vaccine candidate for the Zika virus, showing that it is effective in protecting both mice and monkeys from the infection.
	So cute you could crush it? Have you ever looked at a puppy and had the urge to squeeze or even bite it? Or felt compelled to pinch a baby's cheeks, albeit without a desire to harm it? If you answered yes to either question, you've experienced a phenomenon called cute aggression—and you're far from alone.
Fasting for lab tests isn't good for patients with diabetes Fasting before getting your blood drawn for cholesterol tests is common practice, but new research from Michigan State University shows it is a contributing factor of low blood sugar, or hypoglycemia, in patients who take diabetes medications.
Young black gay men have vastly higher HIV rates yet fewer partners Young black men who have sex with men (MSM) are 16 times more likely to have an HIV infection than their white peers despite more frequent testing for HIV and being less likely to have unsafe sex, reports a new Northwestern Medicine study.
	How young women view men affects how they imagine their future selves Whether young women picture themselves as the primary caregiver or primary breadwinner for their future families may depend on how they believe men's roles in society are changing—or not changing—according to a new study from the University of Arizona.
	Are you a victim of 'clean plate' syndrome? (HealthDay)—If your belly is full from a delicious holiday feast but there's one more sweet left on the dessert tray, will you hold back or yield to temptation?
	Hearts from unusual donors could help meet growing transplant demand Researchers say the ever-growing waiting list of hopeful heart transplant recipients could be trimmed down if only more patients were given the option to open their hearts to unlikely donors.
	At-home self-collected samples valid for detecting high-risk HPV (HealthDay)—Mail-based, at-home self-collection of cervicovaginal samples is valid for detecting high-risk human papillomavirus (HPV) among infrequently screened women, according to a study published online Nov. 5 in Obstetrics & Gynecology.
	Workload of NICU nurses linked to missed nursing care (HealthDay)—The workload of neonatal intensive care unit (NICU) nurses, and perceived workload in particular, is associated with missed nursing care for assigned infants, according to a study published online Nov. 12 in JAMA Pediatrics.
	Urate elevation in potential Tx for Parkinson's not tied to HTN (HealthDay)—There is no correlation between urate and blood pressure (BP) in mice or among patients with early Parkinson's disease (PD), according to a study published in the November issue of EBioMedicine.
	Use of telemedicine low for substance use disorder treatment (HealthDay)—The use of telemedicine for substance use disorder (tele-SUD) is relatively low in a commercially insured population, according to a study published in the December issue of Health Affairs.
	Mean cumulative lifetime prevalence of eczema 9.9 percent (HealthDay)—The mean cumulative lifetime prevalence of atopic eczema is 9.9 percent, according to a research letter published online Dec. 4 in the Annals of Internal Medicine.
	Progress made toward global measles milestones (HealthDay)—From 2000 to 2017, progress was made toward global measles control milestones, but the milestones set to be achieved by 2015 have not been met, according to research published in the Nov. 30 issue of the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention Morbidity and Mortality Weekly Report.
Expanded cord blood shows potential for use in adult bone marrow transplants Umbilical cord blood stem cells that are cultured and expanded outside the body before being used for bone marrow transplant in adult blood cancer patients appear safe and restore blood count recovery faster than standard cord blood.
	Lengthy time to conception and fertility treatment might affect child's asthma risk Children whose parents take more than a year to get pregnant and who use fertility treatment may be at heightened risk of developing asthma, suggests a large population-based study, published online in the journal Thorax.
Dana-Farber to present new research on stem cell transplantation for myeloid cancers Improving outcomes for patients with myeloid cancers who undergo stem cell transplantation is a focus of several studies to be presented by Dana-Farber Cancer Institute scientists at the American Society of Hematology (ASH) Annual Meeting Dec. 1-4. The research points to new opportunities for preventing relapse after transplantation and determining which patients should be considered for lower-intensity chemotherapy in preparation for transplant.
Dana-Farber to present research on myeloma progression from precursor conditions Dana-Farber Cancer Institute scientists will present research marking significant advances against the hematologic cancer multiple myeloma at the American Society of Hematology (ASH) Annual Meeting Dec. 1-4. Their findings provide new insights into the progression of the disease from precursor conditions and suggest approaches for novel treatments.
	Scientists can predict rare leukaemia eight years before symptoms begin A study of more than half a million blood samples has allowed scientists to pinpoint the risk factors for a rare type of leukaemia, enabling them to predict if someone will develop the disease eight years before symptoms appear and opening the door to preventative treatments.
	South Florida girl in need of rare blood to fight cancer A worldwide search is on to find blood donors with a rare genetic variation to help save a 2-year-old South Florida girl battling cancer.
	Melanoma detection Melanoma is a type of skin cancer, it is the most lethal of the various forms of this disease. It can be cured but only if detected early enough in its progress. Now, writing in the International Journal of Advanced Intelligence Paradigms, a research team from India has developed a new way to analyse skin lesions that may or may not be melanoma and so allow a more reliable diagnosis to be developed.
Fun shopping makes you happy People who attach great importance to buying or having things are often referred to as 'materialistic', which is generally regarded as being a 'bad' quality. Most people do not like to be labeled as 'materialistic' by others. In her research, Ph.D. researcher Esther Jaspers shows that judging materialism as being 'bad' lacks nuance. She shows that buying and possessing things because it gives you pleasure adds to your personal happiness, and that the possession of things as a measure of status and success adds to your financial means as well as your happiness. She will defend her thesis at Tilburg University on Wednesday, December 5.
More US beef being recalled over salmonella fears An Arizona company is expanding the scope of its recall of raw beef that could be contaminated with salmonella, federal officials said Tuesday.
How does the precision medicine initiative affect me? As the All of Us initiative (previously known as the Precision Medicine Initiative) and the collection of DNA sequences of one million Americans begins this year, with at least 65,000 people already enrolled in the program, health care is transitioning from population-based approaches to individualized health care that focuses on the genetic makeup of each patient. Precision medicine will extend beyond prediction, diagnosis and treatment of disease to also include broader health initiatives, including prevention, nutrition and wellness. These new procedures raise novel legal, policy and ethical issues.
Lack of preparedness and insecurity hampered response to cholera epidemic in Yemen Between April 27, 2017 and July 1, 2018, more than one million suspected cases of cholera in two waves were reported in Yemen, which had been declared a high-level emergency by the United Nations in 2015. Humanitarian organizations implemented a robust response to cholera despite numerous challenges including famine-like conditions, active civil conflict and destroyed health infrastructure within a shrinking humanitarian space in Yemen.
Immunotherapy pioneers reveal updated efficacy data of tisagenlecleucel CAR T-cell therapy Physician-scientists from Children's Hospital of Philadelphia (CHOP) presented updated efficacy and safety data on Kymriah(R) (tisagenlecleucel, formerly CTL019) —the first-ever U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) approved personalized CAR T-cell gene immunotherapy for aggressive blood cancers at the 60th American Society of Hematology (ASH) annual meeting, as well as first-of-its-kind research on overcoming CAR T-cell resistance.
	Toxic amounts of vitamin D spur dog food recall (HealthDay)—Eight brands of dry dog food have been recalled because of potentially deadly amounts of vitamin D, the U.S. Food and Drug Administration says.
'Unfinished agenda' in preventing lead poisoning Over the years, the Centers for Disease Control (CDC) and its partners have made major progress towards reducing lead exposure in the United States. But more work remains in preventing lead poisoning in US children and adults, according to a special supplement to the Journal of Public Health Management and Practice.
High lead levels found in some spices purchased abroad Investigations of lead poisoning cases in New York City (NYC) have found high levels of lead in certain spices purchased abroad, reports a study in the Journal of Public Health Management and Practice, part of a special supplement devoted to Lead Poisoning Prevention.
Study finds increased long-term mortality in pediatric firearm injury survivors Children and adolescents who survive assault, including by firearm, have increased long?term mortality compared to those who survive unintentional, nonviolent trauma. That is the primary finding of a study reported in the Proceedings of the 2018 AEM Consensus Conference: Aligning the Pediatric Emergency Medicine Research Agenda to Reduce Health Outcome Gaps, to be published in the December 2018 issue of Academic Emergency Medicine (AEM), a journal of the Society for Academic Emergency Medicine (SAEM).

Biology news

	Team demonstrates electrochemical techniques for monitoring microbial growth Savannah River National Laboratory, in collaboration with Clemson University, the University of South Carolina and Savannah River Consulting LLC, has demonstrated the use of electrochemical techniques to monitor the growth status and energy levels of microorganisms used in biotechnology industries. As published in a recent Applied Microbiology and Biotechnology Express article, the techniques monitor the microbes in real time, improving the cost-effectiveness of the results compared to conventional sampling and analysis.
	Nature's 'laboratory' offers clues on how plants thrive through genetic diversity Scientists have turned to nature's own 'laboratory' for clues about how plants adapt in the environment to ensure their own survival.
	Light-induced changes in photosensory proteins Researchers from Charité - Universitätsmedizin Berlin have demonstrated on a molecular level how a specific protein allows light signals to be converted into cellular information. Their findings have broadened the understanding of how plants and bacteria adapt to changes in light conditions that regulate essential processes such as photosynthesis. Their research has been published in Nature Communications.
	Simple yet powerful model predicts DNA organization Scientists often try to understand important processes in the cell by interfering and observing what happens. But often the cell just dies.
	Maintaining the unlimited potential of stem cells Embryonic stem cells (ESCs) are the very definition of being full of potential, given that they can become any type of cell in the body. Once they start down any particular path toward a type of tissue, they lose their unlimited potential. Scientists have been trying to understand why and how this happens in order to create regenerative therapies that can, for example, coax a person's own cells to replace damaged or diseased organs.
	Study suggests fipronil caused massive honeybee die-off in France A team of researchers from the University of Exeter and Fera Science Ltd, both in the U.K. has found evidence that implicates the insecticide fipronil as the culprit behind a massive die-off of honeybees in France in the 1990s. In their paper published in Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences, the group describes their study of two insecticides that were thought to be behind the die-offs and what they found.
	Plant cells inherit knowledge of where's up and where's down from mother cell Knowing which way is up or down is important for all living things. For plants, which grow roots into the soil and flowers above ground, getting this polarization wrong would cause a whole host of problems. In plants, polarization of the entire organism depends on every single cell being polarized. Cell division, however, disrupts polarization. How polarity is reestablished was previously unknown.
	Study counts the high cost of infidelity for swift parrots Scientists at ANU have found a chronic shortage of females in a critically endangered parrot species has led to love triangles, sneaky sex on the side, increased fighting between males and fewer babies.
	How microbial interactions shape our lives The interactions that take place between the species of microbes living in the gastrointestinal system often have large and unpredicted effects on health, according to new work from a team led by Carnegie's Will Ludington. Their findings are published this week in the Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences.
	Rotavirus outsources cellular protein CK1-alpha to assemble virus factories Rotaviruses, like all viruses, reproduce inside living cells. Making new viruses requires assembling replication factories via a complex, little known process that involves both viral and cellular components. A report in the Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences by a multidisciplinary team led by researchers at Baylor College of Medicine reveals that the formation of rotavirus factories depends on a cellular protein called CK1α, which chemically modifies viral component NSP2, thus triggering its localization and assembly into the virus factory, an essential step in the formation of new viruses.
	The distance of microbial competitions shapes their community structures Inside the microbial communities that populate our world, microbes are fighting for their lives.
	Biologists show inner workings of cellular 'undertaker' One of a cell's most important responsibilities is to break down and recycle proteins that are no longer needed or endanger the cell. This task is carried out by a cellular nanomachine called the proteasome.
	Navigation system in rodents akin to ancient, open ocean direction-finding The navigation system used by rodents is similar to that used by Pacific Islanders in finding their way through the open ocean without a compass, a team of neuroscientists has found.
	Human actions impact wild salmon's ability to evolve Once spring-run chinook salmon disappear, they are not likely to re-emerge, indicates genetic analysis of the revered wild fish in a study led by the University of California, Davis. Prompt conservation action could preserve spring-run chinook, as well as their evolutionary potential.
	Gut microbiome differs among ethnicities, researchers find Research increasingly links the gut microbiome to a range of human maladies, including inflammatory bowel disease, diabetes and even cancer. Attempts to manipulate the gut with food rich in healthy bacteria, such as yogurt or kombucha, are in vogue, along with buying commercial probiotics that promise to improve users' chances against illness.
	New technique to identify phloem cells aids in the fight against citrus greening Crops worldwide are increasingly vulnerable to pandemics, as diseases hitch rides on global flows of people and goods, hopping from continent to continent. Phloem diseases such as citrus greening are one particularly devastating group of plant diseases that have been wreaking economic havoc globally. However, these diseases can be difficult to study, as phloem cells are relatively inaccessible and difficult to isolate. In work presented in a recent issue of Applications in Plant Sciences, Dr. Ed Etxeberria and colleagues at the University of Florida Citrus Research and Education Center present a new technique for identifying phloem cells in plant tissue.
	Think about bees say researchers as Grand-Staircase Escalante National Monument Shrinks The state of Utah's nickname is "The Beehive State," and the moniker couldn't be more apt, say Utah State University scientists. One out of every four bee species in the United States is found In Utah and the arid, western state is home to more bee species than most states in the nation. About half of those species dwell within the original boundaries of the newly reduced Grand Staircase-Escalante National Monument.
	Scientists create roadmap for examining soil and using sensing technology Microbes are single-cell organisms that are too small to be seen with the naked eye. Yet while relatively inconspicuous, they are the dominant life form on our planet.
	New Zealand is home to species found nowhere else but biodiversity losses match global crisis The recently released 2018 Living Planet report is among the most comprehensive global analyses of biodiversity yet. It is based on published data on 4,000 out of the 70,000 known species of mammals, birds, fish, reptiles and amphibians.
	New parasite decimates giant clam species in Mediterranean With rapid efficiency, a mysterious parasite is seeking out and killing a giant species of clam found only in the Mediterranean Sea. Unless scientists can find a way of stopping it soon, they say the mollusk could go extinct.
	Here's the seafood Australians eat (and what we should be eating) Many Australians are concerned with the sustainability of their seafood. While definitions of sustainability vary, according to government assessments, over 85% of seafood caught in Australia is sustainable.
	Agro-ecology: A way for farming systems in the global South to adapt to climate and global change While almost 80% of countries say they count agriculture as a possible way of mitigating climate change, the whole of sub-Saharan Africa—2 billion people to be fed by 2050—recognizes the need to adapt agriculture to climate change.
	Social marketing campaigns can help threatened wildlife species recover Encouraging people to change their behaviour through social marketing campaigns can help the recovery of threatened wildlife populations.
	Bacteria under stress can live without cell wall Thread-like bacteria make cells that no longer have a cell wall under the influence of osmotic stress. A remarkable discovery, since the cell wall serves as a protection barrier for bacteria. It could also help to explain how pathogenic bacteria can hide in our body from our immune system. A team of Leiden researchers led by Dennis Claessen has published this on 4 December in Nature Communications.
	Set your teeth on EDGE: World's weirdest sharks and rays on the brink of extinction Sharks that use a whip-like tail to stun their prey, rays with saws on their faces, and river rays half the length of a bus are among the most unique species at risk of extinction according to the latest ranking from international conservation charity ZSL's (Zoological Society of London) pioneering EDGE of Existence programme.
Human environmental effects favor cosmopolitan species over local iconic species Human habitat modification is favouring the same species everywhere, while unique species are disappearing, finds a study publishing on December 4 in the open-access journal PLOS Biology, led by Tim Newbold at University College London and Andy Purvis at the Natural History Museum in London.
	Sanctuary for a frog on the slippery slope to extinction The survival prospects of one of the world's most threatened and evolutionarily distinct amphibians have just received an enormous boost in the shape of a new community-based protected area in Ghana.

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