Science X Newsletter Thursday, Nov 7

Dear Reader ,

Here is your customized Science X Newsletter for November 7, 2019:

Spotlight Stories Headlines

A third of California methane traced to a few super-emitters

Galactic fountains and carousels: order emerging from chaos

Researchers lay out first genetic history of Rome

Hubble captures a dozen Sunburst Arc doppelgangers

NICER catches record-setting X-ray burst

Faster heartbeat helps deer mice to survive at high altitudes

Tiny transporters could deliver treatment to stroke patients

E-cigs may damage the heart, study says

Self-cannibalizing mitochondria may set the stage for ALS development

Huge trove of mammoth skeletons found in Mexico

Mammals' complex spines are linked to high metabolisms; we're learning how they evolved

Neural network fills in data gaps for spatial analysis of chromosomes

Investigation of oceanic 'black carbon' uncovers mystery in global carbon cycle

New pathway for lung cancer treatment

OpenTitan for data centers: Google, partners push secure silicon design

Astronomy & Space news

	Galactic fountains and carousels: order emerging from chaos Scientists from Germany and the United States have unveiled the results of a newly-completed, state of the art simulation of the evolution of galaxies. TNG50 is the most detailed large-scale cosmological simulation yet. It allows researchers to study in detail how galaxies form, and how they have evolved since shortly after the Big Bang. For the first time, it reveals that the geometry of the cosmic gas flows around galaxies determines galaxies' structures, and vice versa. The researchers publish their results in two papers in the journal Monthly Notices of the Royal Astronomical Society.
	Hubble captures a dozen Sunburst Arc doppelgangers Astronomers using the NASA/ESA Hubble Space Telescope have observed a galaxy in the distant regions of the Universe which appears duplicated at least 12 times on the night sky. This unique sight, created by strong gravitational lensing, helps astronomers get a better understanding of the cosmic era known as the epoch of reionisation.
	NICER catches record-setting X-ray burst NASA's Neutron star Interior Composition Explorer (NICER) telescope on the International Space Station detected a sudden spike of X-rays at about 10:04 p.m. EDT on Aug. 20. The burst was caused by a massive thermonuclear flash on the surface of a pulsar, the crushed remains of a star that long ago exploded as a supernova.
	NASA opens sealed Apollo sample ahead of Artemis missions NASA scientists opened an untouched rock and soil sample from the Moon returned to Earth on Apollo 17, marking the first time in more than 40 years a pristine sample of rock and regolith from the Apollo era has been opened. It sets the stage for scientists to practice techniques to study future samples collected on Artemis missions.
	The alchemy of merging neutron stars For the first time, astronomers have identified a chemical element that was freshly formed by the merging of two neutron stars. The underlying mechanism, called the r-process—also known as rapid neutron capture—is considered to be the origin of large quantities of elements heavier than iron.
	A balloon-based solar observatory Southwest Research Institute successfully demonstrated a miniature solar observatory on a high-altitude balloon November 1. The SwRI Solar Instrument Pointing Platform (SSIPP)—a reusable, high-precision solar observatory about the size of a mini fridge and weighing 160 pounds—was carried by a stratospheric balloon, collecting 75 minutes of solar images in the proof-of-concept flight.
	Boeing: Pin problem caused parachute issue in capsule test Boeing says a problem with a pin caused its Starliner capsule to land with two instead of three parachutes earlier this week.

Technology news

	OpenTitan for data centers: Google, partners push secure silicon design The Google Security Blog on Tuesday announced OpenTitan as an open source chip design, where other organizations have joined Google in an effort to further rise the bar on security surrounding the original Titan chip.
	Go with the flow: Scientists design new grid batteries for renewable energy How do you store renewable energy so it's there when you need it, even when the sun isn't shining or the wind isn't blowing? Giant batteries designed for the electrical grid—called flow batteries, which store electricity in tanks of liquid electrolyte—could be the answer, but so far utilities have yet to find a cost-effective battery that can reliably power thousands of homes throughout a lifecycle of 10 to 20 years.
	Sounds of mosquito mating rituals could lead to quieter drones Mosquitoes flap their wings not just to stay aloft but for two other critical purposes: to generate sound and to point that buzz in the direction of a potential mate, researchers at Johns Hopkins University have discovered.
	Flexible yet sturdy robot is designed to 'grow' like a plant In today's factories and warehouses, it's not uncommon to see robots whizzing about, shuttling items or tools from one station to another. For the most part, robots navigate pretty easily across open layouts. But they have a much harder time winding through narrow spaces to carry out tasks such as reaching for a product at the back of a cluttered shelf, or snaking around a car's engine parts to unscrew an oil cap.
	Toyota reports record first-half net profit, sales Japanese car giant Toyota on Thursday reported record net profit and sales for the first half, with cost-cutting efforts helping to boost its balance sheet.
	Hideo Kojima: enigmatic games creator inspired by movies Hideo Kojima, creator of the hugely anticipated Death Stranding game released this week, turned a family obsession with film into a talent for making highly cinematic video games.
	Documents show Facebook controlling competitors with user data: report Leaked documents from a civil suit against Facebook show how the social network aimed to employ user data as a tool for bargaining and to manipulate competitors, NBC News reported on Wednesday.
Skip the queue: Singapore hotels use face recognition check-in Tourists visiting Singapore can now check in at some hotels using facial recognition technology under a pilot programme that could cut waiting times and help tackle a labour crunch.
	Abusing a robot won't hurt it, but it could make you a crueller person Set in a dystopian 2019, the sci-fi classic Blade Runner explores how artificial humans could impact our humanity. Harrison Ford's character experiences powerful emotional and moral effects as he goes about hunting "replicants".
	Novel solar cells arrive at International Space Station for testing Five different types of solar cells fabricated by research teams at the Georgia Institute of Technology have arrived at the International Space Station (ISS) to be tested for their power conversion rate and ability to operate in the harsh space environment as part of the MISSE-12 mission. One type of cell, made of low-cost organic materials, has not been extensively tested in space before.
	Data points way to more efficient, secure networks Let's say a bunch of people in a small town in British Columbia are trying to stream the latest Star Wars movie.
	How Russia's online censorship could jeopardize internet freedom worldwide Russia's ever-tightening grip on its citizens' internet access has troubling implications for online freedom in the United States and other countries that share its decentralized network structure, according to a University of Michigan study.
	Turning waste heat into hydrogen fuel Hydrogen as an energy carrier can help us move away from fossil fuels, but only if it is created efficiently. One way to improve efficiency is to use waste heat that's left over from other industrial processes.
	Soft robots of the future may depend on new materials that conduct electricity, sense damage and self-heal Robots used to be restricted to heavy lifting or fine detail work in factories. Now Boston Dynamics' nimble four-legged robot, Spot, is available for companies to lease to carry out various real-world jobs, a sign of just how common interactions between humans and machines have become in recent years.
	The ethical challenges of digital identity The GDPR recently came into effect, confirming Europe's role as an example in personal data protection. However, we must not let it dissuade us from examining issues of identity, which have been redefined in this digital era. This means thinking critically about major ethical and philosophical issues that go beyond the simple question of the protection of personal information and privacy.
	Google considers changing its political advertising policy Managers at Google are considering changing policies on political advertising in the midst of a raging public debate on the topic, according to a person familiar with the company's plans.
	Does Amazon Echo Studio speaker deliver on its promise of amazing sound? When Amazon demonstrated the new Echo Studio at a company event in September, I was blown away. This was some of the best audio I had ever heard from a little speaker, filling a room of hundreds of journalists and sounding like it was many speakers connected together.
	No more traffic blues for information transfer: Decongesting wireless channels The wireless Internet of Things (IoT) is a network of devices in which each device can directly send information to another over wireless channels of communication, without human intervention. With the number of IoT devices increasing every day, the amount of information on wireless channels is also increasing. This is causing congestion over the network, leading to loss of information due to interference and the failure of information delivery. Research to solve this problem of congestion is ongoing, and the most widely accepted and applied solution is "multi-channel" technology. With this technology, information transmission is distributed among various parallel channels based on the traffic in a particular channel at a given time.
	Research shows how climate change will affect hydropower production in Canada Changing climate and weather patterns are going to have dramatic impacts on Canada's production potential of hydroelectricity, according to new Concordia research.
	Robots 'not evil' says Boston Dynamics as humanoids go viral As videos of robot-like dogs made by Boston Dynamics go viral on the internet, the humanoids' uncanny abilities have also sparked worries that they could become a threat to humans.
	EU hails 'fast, ambitious' pace towards digital tax An international effort to better tax tech giants such as Google or Facebook has achieved surprising results, a top EU official said on Thursday.
	China imposes curfew on minors in gaming crackdown China has imposed a curfew to limit the time spent by children playing games online, in the latest part of a government crackdown on youth gaming addiction.
	Baidu Q3 revenue beats expectations but profit drops Chinese internet search leader Baidu beat revenue estimates in its latest quarter but still posted a net loss, which it blamed largely on equity investments that fared poorly.
	German cabin crew kick off 'massive' Lufthansa strike Tens of thousands of Lufthansa passengers faced disruptions Thursday as cabin crew in Germany staged a "massive" 48-hour walkout in the biggest escalation yet of a bitter row over pay and conditions.
	HP says it has received a 'proposal' from Xerox Computer and printer maker HP Inc. said Wednesday it had received a "proposal" from copier maker Xerox and has had conversations "from time to time" with the company about a potential business combination.
	Researchers take flight with unmanned aerial vehicles Unmanned aerial vehicles (UAVs) are getting smarter with the help of an international team of researchers. They developed a way for multiple UAVS to fall into formation while still automatically controlling their own flight needs, just like the drones used by the villain portrayed by Jake Gyllenhaal in the 2019 Spiderman movie.
	Scientists design 'smart' asphalts with magnetic materials for safer electric scooters Scientists from the University of Granada have used magnetic materials in "smart" asphalts that modify their properties in the presence of external magnetic fields. This work—part of the wider research field of "smart cities"—would enable roads to signal to scooters when to slow down, for example, or could automatically cut off the electric motor or engine in case of danger.
	Distributed solar prices fall annually by 5% to 7% The latest edition of Lawrence Berkeley National Laboratory's (Berkeley Lab's) annual Tracking the Sun report finds that prices for distributed solar power systems continued to fall in 2018, that industry practices continued to evolve, and that systems are getting bigger and more efficient.
	New standards developed to improve metal-detector testing Metal detectors now appear routinely in the entrances of many schools, airports and even houses of worship. They serve as portals to correctional facilities, prisons and courthouses, and guards often wave the hand-held models around the bags of incoming ticketholders at sports arenas, too. The increased usage is making it more important than ever to know that these machines will always work as expected and can be counted upon to help detect weapons and other threats. To help meet these demands, scientists at the National Institute of Standards and Technology (NIST) have researched and developed four metal detection testing standards. Three have been published by the ASTM International standards organization and a fourth one is still in development.
	Deep-learning AI system puts Singapore on global map of big data analytics A team of researchers from the National University of Singapore (NUS) has put Singapore on the global map of Artificial Intelligence (AI) and big data analytics. Their open-source project, called Apache SINGA, "graduated" from the Apache Incubator on 16 October 2019 and is now Southeast Asia's first Top-Level Project (TLP) under the Apache Software Foundation, the world's largest open-source software community.
	Idaho, Energy Department sign deal on spent nuclear fuel Idaho granted a conditional waiver Thursday to the U.S. Department of Energy that could allow research quantities of spent nuclear fuel into the state after years of blocking such shipments.
	T-Mobile promises consumer benefits if Sprint deal OK'd T-Mobile promises a new $15 wireless plan if its $26.5 billion Sprint deal goes through.

Medicine & Health news

	E-cigs may damage the heart, study says Vaping devices and the chemicals they deliver—increasingly popular among teens—may damage the cardiovascular system, a study said Thursday, adding to a growing chorus of concern over injury and deaths related to e-cigarettes.
	Self-cannibalizing mitochondria may set the stage for ALS development Northwestern Medicine scientists have discovered a new phenomenon in the brain that could explain the development of early stages of neurodegeneration that is seen in diseases such as ALS, which affects voluntary muscle movement such as walking and talking.
	New pathway for lung cancer treatment MIT cancer biologists have identified a new therapeutic target for small cell lung cancer, an especially aggressive form of lung cancer with limited options for treatment.
	What your friends' brains look like when they think of you If you ever wondered what's going on in your friends' brains when they think about you, new research may provide a clue.
	From the 'valley of death' to supply and demand sustainability—the unfinished agenda for immunisation The best of science, entrepreneurship and politics is required to avoid "turning the clock back on immunization," argue a group of global health experts in a new Nature Review.
	New genetic analysis improves diagnosis of intellectual disability Whole-genome sequencing can be used to diagnose intellectual disability more accurately than other methods of genetic analysis, researchers at Karolinska Institutet report in the scientific journal Genome Medicine. Whole-genome sequencing using analytical tools developed by the researchers will now be introduced for first-line clinical diagnosis at Karolinska University Laboratory in Sweden.
	A microneedle-based patch designed to provide birth control for up to a month A team of researchers affiliated with several institutions in the U.S. has developed a microneedle-based patch as a means of delivering birth control drugs. In their paper published in the journal Science Advances, the group describes their patch, how it works and how well it worked when tested on rats.
	Initial reports suggest new dengue vaccine safer than prior vaccines A team of researchers at Takeda Vaccines has announced the results of the first phase of trial testing a new vaccine to prevent dengue infections. In their paper published in The New England Journal of Medicine, they outline their trial and how well the drug is working in test cases.
	Machine learning shows no difference in angina symptoms between men and women The symptoms of angina—the pain that occurs in coronary artery disease—do not differ substantially between men and women, according to the results of an unusual new clinical trial led by MIT researchers.
	Flu shot can provide effective immunity for people living with HIV People who are being treated for HIV can gain effective protection against seasonal flu with the influenza (flu) vaccine, new findings confirm.
	Oxygen-starved tumor cells have survival advantage that promotes cancer spread Using cells from human breast cancers and mouse breast cancer models, researchers at the Johns Hopkins Kimmel Cancer Center say they have significant new evidence that tumor cells exposed to low-oxygen conditions have an advantage when it comes to invading and surviving in the bloodstream.
	Researchers find potential new target for treatment of inflammatory disease Researchers led by the University of Birmingham have found a potential new target to treat inflammatory disease.
	Enjoyment of pop music classics linked to combination of uncertainty and surprise Why is it that people find songs such as James Taylor's "Country Roads," UB40's "Red, Red Wine," or The Beatles' "Ob-La-Di, Ob-La-Da" so irresistibly enjoyable? In a study reported in the journal Current Biology on November 7, researchers analyze 80,000 chords in 745 classic U.S. Billboard pop songs—including those three—and find that musical pleasure comes from the right combination of uncertainty and surprise.
	Study helps explain why exercise guards against heart disease Regular exercise protects the cardiovascular system by reducing risk factors such as cholesterol and blood pressure. "But we believe there are certain risk factors for cardiovascular disease that are not fully understood," says Matthias Nahrendorf, MD, Ph.D., of the Center for Systems Biology at MGH. In particular, Nahrendorf and his team wanted to better understand the role of chronic inflammation, which contributes to the formation of artery-clogging blockages called plaques.
	Protein decoy stymies lung cancer growth in mice, study finds Scientists at Stanford and UC-San Francisco have developed an experimental drug that targets a currently untreatable type of lung cancer responsible for generating roughly 500,000 newly diagnosed cases worldwide each year.
	Human heart cells are altered by spaceflight, but return to (mostly) normal on Earth Heart muscle cells derived from stem cells show remarkable adaptability to their environment during and after spaceflight, according to a study publishing November 7 in the journal Stem Cell Reports. The researchers examined cell-level cardiac function and gene expression in human heart cells cultured aboard the International Space Station for 5.5 weeks. Exposure to microgravity altered the expression of thousands of genes, but largely normal patterns of gene expression reappeared within 10 days after returning to Earth.
	Imagined movements can alter our brains Brain-computer interfaces (BCI) work on the principle that measurable changes in electrical brain activity occur just by thinking about performing a task. Signals can be read, evaluated, and then converted into control signals via a machine learning system, which can then be used to operate a computer or a prosthesis. In a recently published study researchers from the Max Planck Institute for Human Cognitive and Brain Sciences Leipzig, the Public University of Navarre, and TU Berlin demonstrated that after just one hour's training with a BCI significant changes could be detected in test subjects' brains, meaning that training with the BCI also has direct repercussions on the neuronal structure and function of the brain.
	Sugar-coating proteins can help understand brain disease A University of Dundee discovery has the potential to help scientists better understand neurological diseases such as Alzheimer's and Parkinson's.
	Researchers discover coffee drinkers could halve their risk of liver cancer A research team from Queen's University has found that coffee drinkers have a lower risk of the most common type of liver cancer, hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC).
	Groundbreaking HIV vaccine design strategy shows promise in proof-of-principle tests A collaborative team of scientists has made a successful proof-of-principle demonstration of an advanced HIV vaccine strategy—an approach that may also work in protecting people from an array of other deadly infectious diseases.
	Increase in physical activity after breast cancer diagnosis may lower risk of death At least 150 minutes per week of moderate-intensity physical activity, such as brisk walking, post diagnosis is associated with lower all-cause mortality among postmenopausal breast cancer patients, regardless of their levels of physical activity before diagnosis, according to a study published in the open access journal Breast Cancer Research.
Adverse reactions increase in children with use of common reflux aids: study Proton Pump Inhibitors (PPIs)—such as Prilosec, Protonix and Nexium, have long been one of the most prescribed medications in the country to aid in the reduction of stomach acid.
Black, Hispanic women report more pain postpartum but receive less opioid medication Non-Hispanic black and Hispanic women were significantly more likely to report pain scores ranging from five to 10 when compared to non-Hispanic white women during the postpartum period.
	Virus characteristics predict HIV treatment efficacy with antibody treatment Current HIV-1 therapies have been proven to be highly effective in slowing the progression of the virus in the body with only minimal side effects. The daily antiretroviral therapy (ART) uses a combination of HIV-1 medicines. A proportion of patients diagnosed with HIV-1, however, cannot take the ART for many reasons. An alternative option includes antibody-based treatments that are currently being developed, however it is difficult to predict those that would be most appropriate for these more expensive treatments. Now published in the Journal of Virology, research at Boston Medical Center (BMC) has discovered specific virus characteristics that can help predict the efficacy of HIV-1 treatments using antibody-based treatments.
Autistic adults thought they were 'bad people' Many over-50s who were diagnosed with autism late in life had grown up believing they were bad people, according to a new study published in the journal Health Psychology and Behavioural Medicine.
	Cervical cancer screening numbers drop off in women 45-65 Cervical cancer is one of the most preventable types of cancer affecting women in the United States. That's because there are two good screening tests for cervical cancer. One is the Pap test performed during a pelvic exam that can identify pre-cancerous cells and early-stage cancers, which are highly treatable. The second is testing directly for the presence of the cancer-causing human papillomavirus, or HPV.
	Study: Rapamycin prevents age-related brain vascular deterioration A just-released study by UT Health San Antonio and collaborating institutions shows age-related decreases in blood flow to the brain and memory loss can be modified with the drug rapamycin.
	How sweet it isn't: Diminished taste function affects cancer patients' food intake The simple pleasure of tasting and savoring food is "an important part of anyone's daily life," says University of Massachusetts Amherst sensory scientist Alissa Nolden.
When a spinal cord stimulator fails, the device, the body, or the mind may be to blame For many people who suffer chronic, debilitating pain in the lower back or limbs, the implantation of a spinal cord stimulator can be a life-changer. By delivering electrical pulses that interrupt pain signals from the affected area to the brain, this device can improve patients' quality of life and reduce their need for medication.
	Bloodlines may matter more than love when it comes to health Strained relationships with parents, siblings or extended family members may be more harmful to people's health than a troubled relationship with a significant other, according to a study published by the American Psychological Association.
	GP clinics could help bridge mental health treatment gap, study finds Patients experiencing mild to moderate mental health issues could be managed effectively by GP practices, suggests new research from the University of Cambridge. This could also help reduce the stigma faced by these individuals. However, specialist treatment may still prove more cost-effective in the long term, say the researchers.
	Economist finds evidence that temperature impacts mental well-being and suicide rates Economists at the University of Massachusetts Amherst and California Polytechnic State University have found that higher temperatures increase emergency department visits for mental illness, suicide rates and self-reported days of poor mental health. Further, the researchers found no evidence of effective adaptation among American populations to these negative effects of heat. They also warn their findings suggest that both warming local climates and increases in extreme heat events will contribute negatively to population mental health.
	Researchers get the best out of the daily dose of fish oil Fish oil—it's one of the most commonly consumed dietary supplements globally and little wonder because it is associated with a wide range of health benefits—reducing cholesterol and hardening of the arteries, improving mental health, aiding weight loss, improving eye and skin health, and alleviating joint inflammation.
	Improved support after self-harm needed to reduce suicide risk Risk of suicide following hospital presentation for self-harm is very high immediately following hospital discharge, emphasising the need for provision of early follow-up care and attention to risk reduction strategies
	How healthy is your meal kit meal? With many people spending less time cooking and more time eating out and ordering takeaways, the food industry has adapted by introducing commercial meal kit subscription services that deliver recipes and fresh, pre-measured ingredients direct to people's doors.
	What and how much we eat might change our internal clocks and hormone responses For the first time, a study led by researchers at Helmholtz Zentrum München and the German Center for Diabetes Research (DZD) shows how glucocorticoid hormones, such as cortisol, control sugar and fat levels differently during day and night, feeding and fasting, rest and activity, over the course of 24 hours. The research conducted in mice found that the time-of-day dependent metabolic cycle is altered by high caloric diet. Since glucocorticoids are widely used drugs for the treatment of inflammatory diseases, these findings published in Molecular Cell suggest that lean and obese patients might respond differently to steroid therapy. Finally, it reveals the biological function of daily rhythms of hormone secretion (high before awakening and feeding, low when sleeping and fasting) as well as daily cycles of sugar and fat storage or release by the liver.
	Studying the human brain in mice The human brain is a tricky study subject. Brain scans are still limited in resolution and the knowledge they can provide, and in vitro approaches are not yet able to fully replicate the important micro-environment of brain cells. A new method developed by the lab of Bart De Strooper (VIB-KU Leuven Center for Brain & Disease Research) pioneers the transplantation of human microglia cells into mice brains. Their work appears in Nature Neuroscience.
	Opioid-dependent mothers with reduced oxytocin levels give fewer gentle touches to babies Mothers being treated for opioid-dependency showed impaired responsiveness and sensitivity to their babies, compared to mothers not dependent on opioids but similar in socioeconomic and lifestyle factors.
Medical Minute: Eustachian tube dilation offers safer relief from dysfunction When the Eustachian tube connecting the back of the nose and middle ear becomes inflamed, infected or blocked, people can experience pain, discomfort and possible hearing loss.
	New CT scores offer increasingly accurate prognosis for patients with penetrating brain injury Most traumatic brain injuries (TBI) treated in intensive care units (ICU) are the result of a blunt mechanism of injury, such as falls or road traffic accidents, but a small share of such injuries are penetrating injuries caused by, for example, firearms or sharp objects.
	Most comprehensive study of genetic, sudden-death heart condition posts first results Researchers have revealed the initial results from the world's largest comprehensive study of hypertrophic cardiomyopathy, an abnormal thickening of the heart that often goes undiagnosed and can prove deadly. The condition can present at any age, and it is the most common cause of sudden cardiac death in young athletes.
	Financially stressed families save more with Medicaid, study shows Financially burdened families' savings get a shot in the arm with access to Medicaid, according to a new study from CU Boulder, the Federal Reserve Bank of St. Louis, Washington University in St. Louis and Diego Portales University in Chile.
	Mated female mosquitoes are more likely to transmit malaria parasites Female mosquitoes that have mated are more likely to transmit malaria parasites than virgin females, according to a study published November 7 in the open-access journal PLOS Pathogens by Farah Dahalan of Imperial College London, Mara Lawniczak from the Wellcome Sanger Institute, and colleagues. The results of this study imply that efforts to target male mosquitoes might not only suppress mosquito populations, but also act to decrease vector competence among residual females.
	Study is first to explore veterans' grief, an overlooked toll of war Grief in veterans of the wars in Afghanistan and Iraq has been as largely overlooked as post-traumatic stress disorder in the aftermath of the Vietnam War. A University of California, Irvine study, published online in the journal Social Science & Medicine, is the first to focus on veterans' grief over the loss of a comrade to combat or suicide and examine whether the mode of death is associated with their responses.
	A blue pill a day can help prevent HIV, but the people most at risk are not taking it Transgender women—people born male who identify as women—are the population most at risk for HIV. They are also the most understudied population.
	Forceful and dominant: men with sexist ideas of masculinity are more likely to abuse women Men who adhere to rigid, sexist stereotypes of how to be a man are more likely to use and tolerate violence against women.
	How to deal with smartphone stress In the past decade, smartphones have gone from being a status item to an indispensable part of our everyday lives. And we spend a lot of time on them, around four hours a day on average.
	Why beta-blockers cause skin inflammation Beta-blockers are often used to treat high blood pressure and other cardiovascular diseases. However, in some patients they can trigger or exacerbate psoriasis, an inflammatory skin disease. Scientists at the University of Bonn and Freie Universität Berlin have now found a possible cause for this. Their results have been published in the journal Autophagy.
	ASN: most nephrology fellows would recommend specialty Perceptions of the nephrology job market continue to improve and most nephrology fellows would recommend the nephrology specialty, according to a report presented by the American Society of Nephrology.
	Why hand-washing beats hand sanitizers Proper hand-washing with soap and water is one of the best ways to protect yourself during the cold and flu season, an expert says.
	Sleep and sleepiness 'a huge problem' for people with spinal cord injury A new study led by a University of Calgary researcher at the Cumming School of Medicine (CSM) finds that fatigue and sleep may need more attention in order to prevent issues like stroke after spinal cord injury.
	Researchers explore neuromarkers for poor social outcomes after traumatic brain injury A recent study of individuals with moderate to severe brain injury yielded new information linking brain connectivity patterns and deficits of emotion recognition and social functioning. The article, "Default mode network connectivity predicts emotion recognition and social integration after traumatic brain injury", was epublished on August 9, 2019 by Frontiers in Neurology.
	Infectious diseases: Why moms-to-be need vaccines during pregnancy Vaccines are a part of many well-child visits. But they also should be part of the care moms-to-be receive to protect their unborn children. "When we take care of pregnant patients, we're really taking care of two patients: mom and baby. We know that pregnant women are more susceptible to, and can get more ill from, certain illnesses, so it's important for moms-to-be to understand why certain immunizations are so important," says Dr. Tina Ardon, a Mayo Clinic family medicine physician.
	For young people with psychosis, early intervention is crucial Andrew Echeguren, 26, had his first psychotic episode when he was 15. He was working as an assistant coach at a summer soccer camp for kids when the lyrics coming out of his iPod suddenly morphed into racist and homophobic slurs, telling him to harm others—and himself.
	Doctors report success in penis transplant for injured veteran Short of death, it is perhaps the combat injury most feared by servicemen who have deployed to Iraq and Afghanistan: a blast that robs him of his genitals.
	Scientists discover first new HIV strain since 2000 Scientist Mary Rodgers spends her days tracking killers—elusive, constantly mutating viruses that travel the globe and are responsible for illness or death in millions of people. Wednesday, in an article published in the Journal of Acquired Immune Deficiency Syndromes, Rodgers and her team at Abbott, along with co-authors at the University of Missouri, announced their discovery of the first new subtype of the HIV virus identified since 2000.
	Eight tips for promoting men's health With November comes Movember, putting the spotlight on men's health, and UBC nursing professor John Oliffe has a few tips that can help ensure the success of men's health programs. He recently led a study that reviewed community-based programs in Canada, Australia, New Zealand, U.K., the U.S. and other regions to see what worked and what didn't.
	Heart attack modeled with human stem cells Researchers at Okayama University Graduate School of Medicine, Dentistry and Pharmaceutical Sciences developed a model of myocardial infarction using cardiomyocytes differentiated from human induced pluripotent stem cells.
	Biodiverse soil dust linked to reduced anxiety Researchers from the University of Adelaide have found new evidence of a potentially broadly-acting microbial link between the health of ecosystems and the health of people.
	Ibuprofen does not increase postpartum blood pressure (HealthDay)—Nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drugs (NSAIDs), such as ibuprofen, do not increase blood pressure among postpartum women with hypertensive disorders of pregnancy, according to a study published online Nov. 4 in Obstetrics & Gynecology.
	PSA levels no different with exposure to antidiabetes meds (HealthDay)—Men exposed to antidiabetic medications do not have different prostate-specific antigen (PSA) levels, and prostate cancer detection rates at biopsy do not differ regardless of trigger PSA levels, according to a study published online Nov. 6 in JAMA Network Open.
	Early postop infection ups one-year infection, mortality risk (HealthDay)—Patients with 30-day postoperative infection have an increased risk for long-term infection and mortality, according to a study published online Nov. 6 in JAMA Surgery.
	Researchers challenge myth of the relationship between mental illness and incarceration It is often assumed that those diagnosed with mental illness are of greater danger to the public-at-large. The spate of mass shootings in the United States has brought about increased debate on the issue, much of which focuses on the relationship between crime and mental illness, and is often based on incorrect information.
	Predicting the response of HIV-infected individuals to checkpoint inhibitor immunotherapy A group of researchers at UPF and the Marchuk Institute of Numerical Mathematics in Moscow, Russia, have designed a mathematical model to predict the response of HIV-infected individuals to a type of cancer immunotherapy. The study, which is now published in PLOS Computational Biology, has been led by Andreas Meyerhans and Gennady Bocharov.
	Where does Parkinson's disease start: In the brain, gut, or both? Does Parkinson's disease (PD) start in the brain or the gut? In a new contribution published in the Journal of Parkinson's Disease, scientists hypothesize that PD can be divided into two subtypes: gut-first, originating in the peripheral nervous system (PNS) of the gut and spreading to the brain; and brain-first, originating in the brain, or entering the brain via the olfactory system, and spreading to the brainstem and peripheral nervous system.
	New molecule reduces the aggressiveness of pediatric cancer In Brazil, scientists affiliated with the Human Genome and Stem Cell Research Center (HUG-CELL) at the University of São Paulo (USP) have identified a molecule capable of reducing the aggressiveness of embryonal central nervous system tumors. These are malignant tumors that start in fetal cells in the brain and mainly affect children up to four years old.
	Study shows artificial intelligence can detect language problems tied to liver failure Natural language processing, the technology that lets computers read, decipher, understand and make sense of human language, is the driving force behind internet search engines, email filters, digital assistants such as Amazon's Alexa and Apple's Siri, and language-to-language translation apps. Now, Johns Hopkins Medicine researchers say they have given this technology a new job as a clinical detective, diagnosing the early and subtle signs of language-associated cognitive impairments in patients with failing livers.
Chinese traditional medicine must be regulated: Europe doctors Top European medical bodies demanded Thursday that Chinese traditional medicines be subject to the same regulatory oversight as conventional Western methods, despite recent WHO recognition of their use.
	Stem cell transplants used to grow fully functional lungs in mice Researchers at Columbia University were able to grow fully functional lungs in mouse embryos using transplanted stem cells. The findings suggest that it may be ultimately possible to use the technique to grow human lungs in animals for patients who need transplants and to study new lung treatments.
Personalized gene networks enhance study of disease Researchers at Penn State College of Medicine have developed a new method to model how genes interact with each other—and it may someday contribute to the development of personalized treatments for patients.
Program improves short term nutritional outcomes in a conflict zone A study led by a researcher at the Columbia University Mailman School of Public Health finds that a multidisciplinary program within a conflict zone in Armenia was successful in improving several measures of childhood nutrition. Results appear in the journal Public Health Nutrition.
	Vitamin D and Omega 3 supplements do not reduce risk of systemic inflammation Vitamin D and marine omega-3 fatty acids—also known as fish oil—are purported to have many health benefits, including reducing systemic inflammation. Signals of systemic inflammation are tied to diseases of aging and obesity, including cardiovascular disease, heart failure, osteoporosis, diabetes mellitus, some cancers, and neurodegenerative diseases such as Alzheimer's disease. While many consumers take supplements with the intention of lowering their inflammation and preventing disease, an analysis of the VITamin D and OmegA-3 TriaL (VITAL) by investigators at Brigham and Women's Hospital indicates that neither vitamin D nor omega-3s were effective at reducing systemic inflammation. The team's results are published in Clinical Chemistry.
	Learning to stop cancer at its roots Why do some cancers come back? Sometimes, a treatment can effectively eliminate cancer cells to undetectable levels, but, if the treatment stops, cancer may return. This is the case of chronic myeloid leukemia treated with drugs known as tyrosine kinase inhibitors. These drugs have dramatically improved clinical outcomes and generated unprecedented rates of complete responses and long term survival. To achieve these results, patients have to take the drug for the rest of their lives.
	More than 2,000 in US diagnosed in vaping illness outbreak New government figures show more than 2,000 people have been diagnosed with vaping illnesses in the still-unsolved U.S. outbreak.
	Why we need a better understanding of how PTSD affects families What's the first thing that comes to mind when you hear the term "post-traumatic stress disorder"? When I ask this question in public presentations, the answers are along the lines of "the military", "soldiers" and "war". Then, when my next slide displays military themed images, it seems as if I have ingeniously predicted the audience's response.
	One-third of reproductive age women have health conditions that may complicate pregnancy One in three women of reproductive age have at least one chronic condition that could compromise their health or lead to adverse outcomes during pregnancy, according to University of Utah Health scientists.
Study shows fewer American Indians getting heart disease A first-of-its-kind study led by researchers at Washington State University shows that new cases of heart disease among American Indians in three U.S. regions have gone down.
	For first time, potential treatment path becomes clear for subtype of Charcot-Marie-Tooth disease An unexpected finding from the Scripps Research laboratory of Xiang-Lei Yang, Ph.D., has illuminated a potential strategy for treating the inherited neurological disease Charcot-Marie-Tooth (CMT), for which there is no approved medicine today.
Tailor-made for older adults, new tools improve doctor-patient relations A Wilmot Cancer Institute-led study in JAMA Oncology shows that when physicians fully appreciate the concerns of older adults with cancer, such as function and forgetfulness, it elevates patient care and satisfaction.
	Juul halts sales of mint, its top-selling e-cigarette flavor Juul Labs said Thursday it will halt sales of its best-selling, mint-flavored electronic cigarettes as it struggles to survive a nationwide backlash against vaping.
	How hypothetical designs can help us think through our conversations about euthanasia Belgian Paralympic athlete Marieke Vervoort revealed two years ago that in 2008, she had been approved to receive euthanasia. The Paralympian was an accomplished wheelchair racer, having won gold and silver at the London 2012 Paralympics, and silver and bronze at the 2016 Rio Games. However, she suffered from an incurable degenerative muscle disease that caused constant pain, seizures, and in Vervoort's case, paralysis in her legs. In October 2019, Vervoort made the decision to end her life through euthanasia at the age of 40.
	Queensland Health's history of software mishaps is proof of how hard e-health can be A directive ordering Queensland Health staff to avoid upgrades to the state's hospital electronic medical record system during parliamentary sitting weeks was recently reversed. After the email containing the directive was leaked, the state's health minister Steven Miles revoked the directive. He said the timing of upgrades should be based on "what's best for clinical care".
	Do I have the flu or not? A person has all the signs of flu: fever, chills, cough, headache and fatigue. But just because the signs are there, it's not a foregone conclusion that flu is the cause as there are other viruses and illnesses with shared symptoms.
	UBC expert immobilizes tiny structures linked to metastatic breast cancer Although breast cancer treatment has made great strides, around 5,000 Canadian women are still expected to succumb to the disease in 2019 alone. And it's not the breast tumour that will kill them; it's the spread of the cancer cells to other sites—a process called metastasis.
	Debunking 13 common cancer myths Cancer myths irritate me. Not only because they fly in the face of scientific research, but also because they prey upon people who are just trying to do their best to live a healthy life.
	Successful project to help dizziness sufferers expands to Europe An online resource, developed by the University of Southampton and proven to help people who regularly suffer from dizziness, has expanded to the Netherlands.
Salad bars and water systems are easy targets for bioterrorists—and America's monitoring system is woefully inadequate In October 2019, a House Homeland Security Committee subcommittee held a hearing entitled "Defending the Homeland from Bioterrorism: Are We Prepared?" The answer was a resounding no.
	When your teen wants a tattoo "Mom, can I get a tattoo?" Tats, along with body piercings, have become mainstream.
	The healthiest condiment you've never heard of If you're looking for a way to liven up your dishes with a great tasting, low-calorie condiment, zesty gremolata is for you.
Placenta imaging method may aid diagnosis of pregnancy complications A new imaging technique to track maternal blood flow to the placenta has the potential to help diagnose several common complications in early pregnancy, according to a study funded by the National Institutes of Health. Researchers used the technique, referred to as pseudo-continuous arterial spin labeling magnetic resonance imaging (pCASL MRI), to identify women with reduced placental blood flow who later developed one or more complications. The study was conducted by Sherin U. Devasker, M.D., of the University of California, Los Angeles, and colleagues. It appears in the Journal of Magnetic Resonance Imaging.
	Debunking common misperceptions of Asian community health Asian Americans have higher or faster-growing rates of cancer of various kinds—including breast cancer and cervical cancer—than any other ethnic group, yet often don't receive the necessary medical treatment. Common misperceptions about Asian health issues contribute to a lack of health awareness and a reluctance to seek care, according to research published in Public Relations Review.
New York judge sets opioid crisis trial for January A New York judge on Wednesday scheduled what could be the second state-level trial in the U.S. on the toll of opioids.
Study provides insights on the effects of cannabidiol on severe form of epilepsy Results from a study published in the British Journal of Clinical Pharmacology may help explain why cannabidiol—a chemical component of marijuana with no psychoactive properties—reduces the frequency of seizures in patients with a severe form of epilepsy. The effect may be explained by a drug-drug interaction between cannabidiol and the anti-seizure medication clobazam.

Biology news

	Faster heartbeat helps deer mice to survive at high altitudes Mice living at high altitudes in the American West carry a genetic variant that increases their heart rate, helping them cope with the low oxygen levels that occur at high elevations. Rena Schweizer of the University of Montana and colleagues report these findings in a new study published 30th October in PLOS Genetics.
	Mammals' complex spines are linked to high metabolisms; we're learning how they evolved Mammals' backbones are weird. Compared to other four-legged animals like reptiles, mammal spines are a complex mix of sections of differently-shaped bones. Our Frankenstein's monster backbones are a key component of mammals evolving the ability to move in a bunch of different ways—compare a cheetah running, a person walking, a bat flying, and a whale swimming. A new study in Nature Communications delves into the nitty-gritty of how mammals' backbones became so complex. The scientists discovered that the process was marked by big, dramatic evolutionary changes, and that it's linked to mammals being active animals with high metabolisms.
	Neural network fills in data gaps for spatial analysis of chromosomes Computational methods used to fill in missing pixels in low-quality images or video also can help scientists provide missing information for how DNA is organized in the cell, computational biologists at Carnegie Mellon University have shown.
	Oxygen deficiency rewires mitochondria Mitochondria burn oxygen and provide energy for the body. Cells lacking oxygen or nutrients have to change their energy supply quickly in order to keep growing. Scientists from the Max Planck Institute for Biology of Ageing have now shown that mitochondria are reprogrammed under depleted oxygen and nutrients. Tumors of the pancreas may also use this reprogramming mechanism to keep growing despite reduced nutrient and oxygen levels. The researchers believe that proteins in this newly discovered signaling pathway could be a good target for therapies against pancreatic cancer, for which no drug is currently available.
	Scientists map mouse personality Scientists at the Max Planck Institute of Psychiatry in Munich, Germany, together with colleagues at the Weizmann Institute of Sciencein Israel have developed a computational method to objectively measure the personality of mice living in a semi-natural, group environment.
	Cereal killer's deadly touch could lead to new wheat threat Scientists have uncovered the origins of the world's deadliest strain of cereal rust disease which threatens global food security.
	Melting arctic sea ice linked to emergence of deadly virus in marine mammals Scientists have linked the decline in Arctic sea ice to the emergence of a deadly virus that could threaten marine mammals in the North Pacific, according to a study from the University of California, Davis.
	Researchers discover how cells know their future and forget their past Stem cells all share the potential of developing into any specific cell in the body. Many researchers are therefore trying to answer the fundamental questions of what determines the cells' developmental fate as well as when and why the cells lose the potential of developing into any cell.
	Modified CRISPR gene editing tool could improve therapies for HIV, sickle cell disease City of Hope researchers may have found a way to sharpen the fastest, cheapest and most accurate gene editing technique, CRISPR-Cas9, so that it can more successfully cut out undesirable genetic information.
	Study reveals non-image light sensing mechanism of circadian neurons University of California, Irvine researchers reveal how an ancient flavoprotein response to ultra violet (UV), blue and red light informs internal circadian processes about the time of day.
	Introducing GMpi: Affordable and adaptable remote monitoring for plant growth experiments Growth chambers are a cornerstone of laboratory-based plant science, allowing for the tightly controlled conditions necessary for many experimental designs. However, these conditions can sometimes be a little less than controlled, creating headaches ranging from reproducibility issues to the loss of entire experiments. Remote monitoring of conditions helps, but the equipment can be expensive, or lack features or sensors important for a particular experiment. In research presented in a recent issue of Applications in Plant Sciences, Makenzie Mabry, MS, and colleagues at the University of Missouri and University of Arizona developed a flexible and inexpensive monitoring system for plant growth facilities, called Growth Monitor pi, or GMpi. The system uses open source software and a single-board Raspberry Pi computer, and can be connected to a wide variety of different sensors to meet researchers' specific needs.
	Fishy tacks: poaching threatens Balkans' biggest lake Weary after a day's work on the water, Albanian fisherman Ilir Neziri peers down with disappointment at his small haul of carp from Shkodra, the largest lake in southern Europe.
	Dozens of endangered turtles disappear from Japan zoo More than 60 endangered turtles have disappeared from a zoo in Japan's southernmost province in a suspected theft, officials said Thursday.
	Choosing most cost-effective practices for sites could save in bay cleanup Using site-specific watershed data to determine the most cost-effective agricultural best management practices—rather than requiring all the recommended practices be implemented across the entire watershed—could make staying below the Chesapeake Bay's acceptable pollution load considerably less expensive.
New AI could help diagnose dogs suffering from chronic pain CKCS are predisposed to CM—a disease which causes deformity of the skull, the neck (cranial cervical vertebrae) and, in some extreme cases, lead to spinal cord damage called syringomyelia (SM). While SM is straightforward to diagnose, pain associated with CM is challenging to confirm and why this research is innovative.
Skull features among Asian and Asian-derived groups differ significantly Forensic anthropologists have now discovered that several skull features in Asian and Asian-derived groups differ significantly with regard to shape, such that they can be distinguished using statistical analyses. These findings highlight the future potential for developing more nuanced statistical methods that can potentially differentiate between groups that comprise the broad "Asian" ancestral category in forensic casework.
	Study finds sex bias in bird conservation plans After pairing up and raising chicks, males and females of some bird species spend their winter break apart. At the end of their journey to Central or South America, you might find mostly males in one habitat, and females in another. Yet conservation strategies have typically overlooked the habitats needed by females, putting already-declining species in even more peril, according to a new study in the journal Biological Conservation.
	How do we know when a species at risk has recovered? It's not just a matter of numbers Around the world, animals and plants are disappearing at alarming rates. In May 2019, a major U.N. report warned that around one million species were at risk of extinction—more than at any other time in human history.
	Unless warming is slowed, emperor penguins will be marching towards extinction Emperor penguins are some of the most striking and charismatic animals on Earth, but a new study from the Woods Hole Oceanographic Institution (WHOI) has found that a warming climate may render them extinct by the end of this century. The study, which was part of an international collaboration between scientists, published Nov. 7, 2019, in the journal Global Change Biology.
	Water mold research leads to greater understanding of corn diseases Corn is a staple feed and biofuel crop with a value close to $3.7 billion in the Michigan economy alone. However, knowledge about seedling pathogens in Michigan corn fields is limited. A group of scientists in the Department of Plant, Soil and Microbial Sciences at Michigan State University set out to gain a better understanding of the composition of seedling pathogens, with results that will aid disease management research not only in corn but in rotational crops such as soybean and wheat.
	In bear country Romania, cohabitation grows strenuous When Maria Lacatus' son opened the barn door, it was already too late. "The bear had one of the pigs in its claws," the sobbing 86-year-old says.
	Rhode Island conditions excellent for growing world's most expensive spice: researchers Saffron is the world's most expensive spice, selling for about $5,000 per pound at wholesale rates, and 90 percent of the global saffron harvest comes from Iran. But University of Rhode Island agriculture researchers have found that Ocean State farms have the potential to get a share of the market as demand for saffron in the United States grows.
	Minimizing post-harvest food losses The crops have been harvested. Now it is important to store the various crops well and to preserve them as long and as carefully as possible. Post-harvest losses due to spoilage, however, represent a significant problem along the supply chain and lead to profit losses in the millions. According to the FAO (Food and Agriculture Organization of the UN) statistics, almost half of the world's harvest (45 percent) of fruits and vegetables are lost on their way to the end consumer. The main causes of these losses are pest or disease infestation and incorrect storage conditions, which lead to rotting or loss of fresh mass due to respiration and evaporation. The only remedy is often the excessive use of chemicals. Researchers from the Institute of Environmental Biotechnology at TU Graz in cooperation with the Austrian Centre of Industrial Biotechnology (acib) and industrial partners have successfully tested ecological methods that improve the storage of apples and sugar beet—representative examples for other types of fruit and vegetables.
	Changing climate is narrowing options for migrating birds Across an entire desert or ocean, migratory birds make some of the most extreme journeys found in nature, but there are still huge gaps in our understanding of how they manage to travel these vast distances and what a changing climate means for their migration patterns.
	New VR game to help researchers understand predator and prey movements Researchers have developed a free virtual reality game which allows players to experience the thrill of the hunt as a hungry predator feasting on swarming flies.

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