Science X Newsletter Thursday, Dec 12

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Here is your customized Science X Newsletter for December 12, 2019:

Spotlight Stories Headlines

Surface organometallic chemistry could open new paths for synthetic fuels and energy carriers

Study unveils new nonlinear dynamics of spinning bosonic stars

Best of Last Year: The top Phys.org articles of 2019

Is there dark matter at the center of the Milky Way?

Largest study of its kind reveals that many psychiatric disorders arise from common genes

Scientists map Mars' global wind patterns for the first time

The limits of ocean heavyweights: Prey curb whales' gigantic size

Tiny quantum sensors watch materials transform under pressure

A way to 'fingerprint' human cells

Alcohol, 'Asian glow' mutation may contribute to Alzheimer's disease, study finds

Flipping the script on novel cancer therapy leads to insights into lupus

World's oldest artwork uncovered in Indonesian cave: study

A more efficient way to turn saltwater into drinking water

Forensic chemist proposes sweat testing strip as breathalyzer replacement

New potential cancer players revealed by extensive tumor protein analysis

Astronomy & Space news

	Scientists map Mars' global wind patterns for the first time Today, a paper published in Science documents for the first time the global wind circulation patterns in the upper atmosphere of a planet, 120 to 300 kilometers above the surface. The findings are based on local observations, rather than indirect measurements, unlike many prior measurements taken on Earth's upper atmosphere. But it didn't happen on Earth: it happened on Mars. On top of that, all the data came from an instrument and a spacecraft that weren't originally designed to collect wind measurements.
	The return to Venus and what it means for Earth Sue Smrekar really wants to go back to Venus. In her office at NASA's Jet Propulsion Laboratory in Pasadena, California, the planetary scientist displays a 30-year-old image of Venus' surface taken by the Magellan spacecraft, a reminder of how much time has passed since an American mission orbited the planet. The image reveals a hellish landscape: a young surface with more volcanoes than any other body in the solar system, gigantic rifts, towering mountain belts and temperatures hot enough to melt lead.
	Research group confirm planet-mass objects in extragalactic systems A University of Oklahoma research group is reporting the detection of extragalactic planet-mass objects in a second and third galaxy beyond the Milky Way after the first detection in 2018. With the existing observational resources, it is impossible to directly detect planet-mass objects beyond the Milky Way and to measure its rogue planetary population.
	Martian aurora offers climate change clues, research reports A newly published study, presented on Dec. 12 at the American Geophysical Union (AGU) meeting, reveals that a type of Martian aurora originally detected by NASA's MAVEN spacecraft is in fact the most common aurora on the Red Planet, Embry-Riddle Aeronautical University researchers said.
	NASA's NICER delivers best-ever pulsar measurements, first surface map Astrophysicists are redrawing the textbook image of pulsars, the dense, whirling remains of exploded stars, thanks to NASA's Neutron star Interior Composition Explorer (NICER), an X-ray telescope aboard the International Space Station. Using NICER data, scientists have obtained the first precise and dependable measurements of both a pulsar's size and its mass, as well as the first-ever map of hot spots on its surface.
	Interstellar comet 2I/Borisov swings past sun When astronomers see something in the universe that at first glance seems like one-of-a-kind, it's bound to stir up a lot of excitement and attention. Enter comet 2I/Borisov. This mysterious visitor from the depths of space is the first identified comet to arrive here from another star. We don't know from where or when the comet started heading toward our Sun, but it won't hang around for long. The Sun's gravity is slightly deflecting its trajectory, but can't capture it because of the shape of its orbit and high velocity of about 100,000 miles per hour.
	NRL-camera aboard NASA spacecraft confirms asteroid phenomenon A U.S. Naval Research Laboratory-built camera mounted on the NASA Parker Solar Probe revealed an asteroid dust trail that has eluded astronomers for decades.
	Short-lived light sources discovered in the sky A project lead by an international team of researchers use publicly available data with images of the sky dating as far back as the 1950s to try to detect and analyse objects that have disappeared over time. In the project "Vanishing & Appearing Sources during a Century of Observations" (VASCO), they have particularly looked for objects that may have existed in old military sky catalogues from the 1950s, not to be found again in modern sky surveys. Among the physical indicators that they are looking for are stars that have vanished in the Milky Way.
Boeing's crew capsule declared ready for 1st space flight Boeing's Starliner crew capsule finally has a launch date for its first test flight to the International Space Station.

Technology news

	Surface organometallic chemistry could open new paths for synthetic fuels and energy carriers To convert hydrocarbons into fuel, the petrochemical industry currently relies primarily on heterogeneous catalysts, which in most cases contain active metal sites with poorly defined structures. In recent years, however, an area of study known as surface organometallic chemistry (SOMC) has enabled the design and development of far more defined, so-called single-site catalysts, in which metal sites can be tailored to meet specific requirements.
	Google engineers raise the flag on AR depth, seek builders So, a smartphone camera is just good for taking snapshots? Don't bring such talk to Google's augmented reality engineers. Blending the real and the virtual—-and winning special props for blending the real with the virtual—is what Google has in mind as a motivator for developers wanting to go deep into AR.
	Taking the carbon out of construction with engineered wood To meet the long-term goals of the Paris Agreement on climate change—keeping global warming well below 2 degrees Celsius and ideally capping it at 1.5 C—humanity will ultimately need to achieve net-zero emissions of greenhouse gases (GHGs) into the atmosphere. To date, emissions reduction efforts have largely focused on decarbonizing the two economic sectors responsible for the most emissions, electric power and transportation. Other approaches aim to remove carbon from the atmosphere and store it through carbon capture technology, biofuel cultivation, and massive tree planting.
	FAA analysis predicted many more Max crashes without a fix After the first crash of a Boeing 737 Max last year, federal safety officials estimated that there could be 15 more fatal crashes of the Max over the next few decades if Boeing didn't fix a critical automated flight-control system.
	YouTube bans 'implied' threats YouTube broadened its anti-harassment policies on Wednesday to include a ban on "implied" threats along with insults based on race, gender identity or sexual orientation.
	Twitter backs overhaul of social media to stem disinformation Twitter co-founder Jack Dorsey is funding research aimed at changing the way information circulates on social media—with the goal of combating online violence, hate and disinformation.
	Sensing technology could improve machine learning precision for manufacturing, electric vehicles, smart homes The same small piece of technology that one day may help train welding robots and monitor electric vehicles could enable energy companies to better power smart homes and factories.
	Australia stops short of major clampdown on Facebook, Google Australia's government on Thursday announced a new taskforce to monitor the actions of tech giants such as Facebook and Google but stopped short of a major clampdown recommended by the country's consumer watchdog.
	Researchers call for harnessing, regulation of AI Artificial intelligence appears to be "widening inequality," and its deployment should be subject to tough regulations and limits, especially for sensitive technologies such as facial recognition, a research report said Thursday.
	Drones deliver on internet connectivity Hovering airborne vehicles could connect smart sensors to the internet of things.
	Locking down your smart home with blockchain The concept of the smart home has been around for many decades, but it is only in recent years with the advent of the so-called "internet of things," IoT, that meters and monitoring, cameras, locking systems, heating systems, and entertainment and information devices, have led to many homes having some degree of genuine smartness. Of course, with connectivity and utility come security problems. For instance, a malicious third party might find access to the home's wireless network, reprogram the smart TV, turn up the heating, disable the air conditioning, or even open the front door and allow them to remove all your smart devices and redeploy them elsewhere.
	Diversify power sources to avoid a repeat of blackouts, study suggests If states want to avoid costly electricity failures such as the blackouts that roiled California recently, they can improve their odds by diversifying power sources, according to new research from the McCombs School of Business at The University of Texas at Austin.
	Google Maps for Apple devices now supports Incognito Mode. Here's how to turn it on Google Maps users seeking extra privacy on their iPhones and other iOS devices have a new option.
	What happens to your Facebook and Twitter accounts after you die? When someone you love dies, sure, their spirit endures—but so does their social media. And when their photos, memories or posts surface unexpectedly, it can be a jarring purgatory for those still healing from the loss.
	Supporting structures of wind turbines contribute to wind farm blockage effect Offshore wind power generation has become an increasingly promising source of renewable energy. Much about the aerodynamic effects of larger wind farms, however, remains poorly understood. New work in this week's Journal of Renewable and Sustainable Energy looks to provide more insight in how the structures necessary for wind farms affect air flow.
	Can artificial intelligence help prevent suicides? According to the CDC, the suicide rate for individuals 10-24 years old has increased 56% between 2007 and 2017. In comparison to the general population, more than half of people experiencing homelessness have had thoughts of suicide or have attempted suicide, the National Health Care for the Homeless Council reported.
	Ferrari plans electric car debut only 'after 2025' Italian sports car maker Ferrari is likely to launch its first fully electric model only after 2025, its boss said on Thursday, blaming insufficient battery technology for the wait.
	Facebook says ready for new California privacy law Facebook on Thursday said it was ready for a data privacy law that will go into effect in its home state of California at the start of next year.
	UAW workers ratify new contract with Fiat Chrysler Unionized workers at Fiat Chrysler have voted overwhelmingly to approve a new four-year contract with the company.
	Secure data backup of medical records using secret sharing and secure communications The National Institute of Information and Communications Technology (NICT, President: Hideyuki Tokuda, Ph.D.), Kochi Health Science Center (KHSC, Director: Yasuhiro Shimada) and collaborating teams have developed a secure data backup system in an 800 km network connecting the data servers in Kochi, Osaka, Nagoya, Otemachi and Koganei, Japan, using secret sharing and secure communications technologies, and demonstrated distributed storage of medical records and prompt restoration of important items, such as prescription records and allergy information, via a satellite link within a time as short as 9 sec.
	Southwest, Boeing agree on compensation over 737 MAX Southwest Airlines said Thursday it reached a settlement with Boeing to provide compensation for losses tied to the grounding of 737 MAX jets nine months ago.
	US FAA warns Boeing its 737 MAX timeline 'not realistic' The top US aviation regulator will meet Thursday with Boeing chief Dennis Muilenburg to express concerns the company is rushing to get its 737 MAX jets back in the air, officials said.
	Twitter brings back election labels for 2020 US candidates Twitter is bringing back special labels to help users identify accounts and tweets from U.S. political candidates.

Medicine & Health news

	Largest study of its kind reveals that many psychiatric disorders arise from common genes Many distinct psychiatric diseases share a common genetic structure, according to new research by scientists at Massachusetts General Hospital (MGH) and the Psychiatric Genomics Consortium, an international team of investigators. Psychiatric disorders affect more than 25 percent of the population in a given year. In the largest-ever study of its kind, published in the journal Cell, researchers identified more than 100 genetic variants that affect the risk for more than one mental health condition.
	Alcohol, 'Asian glow' mutation may contribute to Alzheimer's disease, study finds A common mutation in a key enzyme involved in alcohol metabolism increases damage in cells from patients with Alzheimer's disease and in mice, according to a study by researchers at the Stanford University School of Medicine.
	Flipping the script on novel cancer therapy leads to insights into lupus In the last decade, scientists discovered that blocking a key regulator of the immune system helped unleash the body's natural defenses against several forms of cancer, opening up a new era of cancer immunotherapy. Now Yale scientists have essentially flipped this script and found that when impaired a molecularly similar regulator can cause the damaging immune system attacks on skin and organs that are the hallmark of the autoimmune disease lupus, they report Dec. 11 in the journal Science Translational Medicine.
	New potential cancer players revealed by extensive tumor protein analysis Looking to gain a deeper understanding of cancer, a team led by researchers at Baylor College of Medicine conducted an extensive computational analysis of the similarities and differences in the entire set of proteins, called the proteome, of more than 500 cancers from five different tissue sites. Published in the journal Nature Communications, the work led to the classification of the cancers into 10 subtypes, each including cancers that shared common proteins that seemed to be involved in the disease.
	Scientists visualize competition between healthy, dysfunctional platelets Bleeding can happen during surgery, after trauma, or even spontaneously. And when it does, blood cells called platelets rush in to stick to the injured blood vessels and stop bleeding as quickly as possible. Or at least that's what should happen. When the cause of bleeding is not having enough platelets, that's called thrombocytopenia. Other causes of bleeding involve platelets that don't work well, and these conditions are called platelet function disorders.
	Targeting stem cells that drive aggressive blood cancer Peter Mac scientists have found a way to target acute myeloid leukemia (AML) at its source—a discovery that could yield a more effective treatment for this aggressive and often incurable blood cancer.
	For controlling tsetse flies, fabric color matters Tsetse flies infest an estimated 10 million square kilometers of sub-Saharan Africa and their bites transmit trypanosome parasites that cause disease in humans and in animals. This week in PLOS Neglected Tropical Diseases, researchers report that they have engineered an improved colored fabric for the insecticide-treated targets used to control tsetse, based on an understanding of how flies see color.
	Knee-jerk vaping bans will fail public health, experts argue Bans and other policies restricting e-cigarette sales could do more public harm than good, according to a group of public-health, tobacco-policy and ethics experts.
	Natural preferences behind early social interactions in newborns are timed Scientists from Queen Mary University of London and the University of Trento, measured the length of time new-born chicks were sensitive to living or animate objects that visibly change speed when they move.
	Scientists use gene editing to disrupt both latent and active herpes virus in human cells  The herpes simplex virus, commonly known as the cold sore virus, is a devious microbe.
	New mechanism driving cortical gyrification and hydrocephalus found in mice suggests scope for novel therapy Cortical gyrification, or the stereotypic folding pattern in the forebrain, is implicated in the development of human cognition. During evolution, the mammalian brain went through several transitions between smooth and folded brains. What mechanism underlies the extent and pattern of folds is yet to be deciphered. Moreover, defects with brain folding are very commonly found in neurodevelopmental disorders and are often associated with other severe comorbidities like intellectual disability, epilepsy and hydrocephalus. Thus, understanding the biology behind these disorders is of both evolutionary and clinical significance, more so since most of these neurodevelopmental disorders lack non-invasive small-molecule therapies. Our study provides molecular mechanistic insights toward novel therapeutic approaches for brain disorders such as cortical dysplasia and hydrocephalus.
	The danger behind certain biologics Autoimmune disorders such as rheumatoid arthritis, psoriasis, and Crohn's disease plague tens of millions of Americans and are the result of the body's immune system, whose role is to fight against disease-causing pathogens, turning against itself.
	Experts review evidence yoga is good for the brain Scientists have known for decades that aerobic exercise strengthens the brain and contributes to the growth of new neurons, but few studies have examined how yoga affects the brain. A review of the science finds evidence that yoga enhances many of the same brain structures and functions that benefit from aerobic exercise.
	Can you change your personality? Scientists say 'maybe' It has long been believed that people can't change their personalities, which are largely stable and inherited. But a review of recent research in personality science points to the possibility that personality traits can change through persistent intervention and major life events.
US Feed the Future program reduces stunting of children in Africa, study finds Feed the Future, the U.S. government's global hunger and food security initiative, has prevented 2.2 million children from experiencing malnutrition in sub-Saharan Africa, researchers at the Stanford University School of Medicine have found.
Study finds enhanced role of pharmacists contributes to increase in patient satisfaction Patients who received focused attention from pharmacists during hospital stays expressed higher satisfaction, according to research presented at the ASHP (American Society of Health-System Pharmacists) 54th Midyear Clinical Meeting and Exhibition.
Child care centers rarely require flu vaccination for children or their caregivers Influenza can be especially dangerous for children, who are at greater risk for serious complications from the illness, including hospitalization and even death. Yet child care centers in the U.S. rarely require children or the adults who care for them to be vaccinated against flu, according to a new study published in the Journal of the Pediatric Infectious Diseases Society.
	Refined carbs may trigger insomnia, finds study An estimated 30% of adults experience insomnia, and a new study by researchers at Columbia University Vagelos College of Physicians and Surgeons suggests that diet may be partly to blame.
	Veterans study suggest two sub-types of Gulf War illness Brain imaging of veterans with Gulf War illness show varying abnormalities after moderate exercise that can be categorized into two distinct groups—an outcome that suggests a more complex illness that previously thought.
	Antiarrhythmic drug identified as potential treatment for pulmonary arterial hypertension High blood pressure in the lungs, known as pulmonary arterial hypertension (PAH), is a potentially fatal disease caused by obstruction of blood flow in the lungs. A new study in The American Journal of Pathology sheds light on the pathology underlying PAH and shows that dofetilide, an FDA-approved KV11.1 channel blocker for the treatment of cardiac arrhythmias (brand name: Tikosyn), may be used for treatment of PAH.
	Nurses sleep less before a scheduled shift, hindering patient care and safety Nurses sleep nearly an hour and a half less before work days compared to days off, which hurts patient care and safety, finds a new study by researchers at NYU Rory Meyers College of Nursing. The findings are published in Sleep Health, the journal of the National Sleep Foundation.
	Baby's first breath: A new method for helping preemies to breathe Getting premature babies to breathe without assistance has always been a stressful mission for doctors. But by carefully ventilating babies with 100% oxygen researchers have found a way to jump-start these first independent moments.
	Training middle-school educators to identify suicide warning signs Aside from car crashes, suicide is now the second-leading cause of death among young people in the United States, according to the Centers for Disease Control. In Ohio alone, suicide is the leading cause of death for 10- to 14-year-olds, according to new data from the state's health department.
	Training the brain: resilience program helps student-athletes adjust to college life Imagine the impact on first-year college student-athletes in highly competitive programs if you could teach them resilience—if they learned skills to cope with high expectations, challenging academic courses, rigorous training and physical injuries, homesickness and even the stressors of life beyond college.
	New York tries to keep alive flavored e-cigarette ban New York's ban on flavored e-cigarettes is still held up in court, but a state council voted Thursday to keep it alive in case the judge rules in the state's favor.
	Elderly people should aim to keep up step count this winter As the temperature continues to drop this winter, it is harder to find the motivation to get off the couch and out for a walk. New research from the University of Liverpool, presented at The Physiological Society's early career conference Future Physiology 2019 shows that after just two weeks of reduced physical activity (around 1500 steps per day), older adults lose significant amounts of muscle which coincides with substantial gains in body fat percentage, especially around the waist.
	Importance of breastfeeding in preventing diabetes reaffirmed in rat study New research published today in the Journal of Physiology shows that breastfeeding is crucial in preventing diabetes.
	Depression, anxiety may hinder healing in young patients with hip pain New research suggests that physicians evaluating young patients with hip pain should consider more than such patients' physical health. They also should consider screening those patients for clinical depression and anxiety—impairments that researchers at Washington University School of Medicine in St. Louis have found can have a negative impact on outcomes following hip surgery, such as pain, slower recoveries and inadequate return to activity.
	Students do better in school when they can understand, manage emotions Students who are better able to understand and manage their emotions effectively, a skill known as emotional intelligence, do better at school than their less skilled peers, as measured by grades and standardized test scores, according to research published by the American Psychological Association.
	Team investigates why candidates for cochlear implants rarely get them Many hearing loss patients are cochlear implant candidates, but few use this technology that could improve their hearing and quality of life.
	Tracking the movements and minds of surgeons to improve performance Stanford scientist Carla Pugh has spent years developing wearable technologies for surgeons. Her goal: Use data to improve surgical decision-making.
	Targeted therapy drug helps women with aggressive breast cancer live longer A study led by UCLA researchers found that adding ribociclib, a targeted therapy drug, to standard hormone therapy significantly improves overall survival in postmenopausal women with advanced hormone-receptor positive/HER2- breast cancer, one of the most common types of the disease.
	Workout frequency the most important factor in strength gains for women It's not necessarily the type of exercise that has the biggest impact on women's strength gains, but how often they do it, a UNSW Sydney-led study has found.
	Targeted cancer treatment: Innovative approach could prevent serious side effects Targeted, highly effective cancer treatments often produce debilitating side effects. This is the case with one commonly used therapy which works by blocking the epidermal growth factor receptor (EGFR), a protein that stimulates cell proliferation. If the EGFR is inhibited, patients often experience severe skin inflammation leading them to discontinue the treatment. In a study conducted in collaboration with the Microbiome Facility (JMF) of the University of Vienna and MedUni Vienna, researchers from the Institute of Cancer Research and the Comprehensive Cancer Center (CCC) of MedUni Vienna and Vienna General Hospital have now identified the mechanisms that lead to this skin disorder. They have also developed a strategy that could be used to prevent these side effects. The results of the study have now been published in leading journal Science Translational Medicine.
	Combining science and design to measure our exposure to light Daylight plays an essential role in sleep, alertness and hormone regulation. EPFL has joined forces with Geneva School of Art and Design (HEAD—Genève) to develop a wearable sensor that measures how much light an individual is exposed to along with the spectral resolution of that light.
	After a heart attack, hearing and mobility can affect near-term mortality A new study by Yale researchers shows that considering hearing and mobility improves doctors' ability to accurately predict six-month mortality for older heart attack patients.
	Women and men face gender-related challenges in treatment for neglected tropical diseases Around the world, women and girls suffer a greater burden of neglected tropical diseases (NTDs) compared to men. Now, through a series of focus groups and interviews, researchers reporting in PLOS Neglected Tropical Diseases have probed exactly why women in Ethiopia might not seek care, or might delay care seeking for NTDs. They also looked into gender-related challenges men might face when accessing care for NTDs,
	Study pinpoints new drug targets to treat Nipah virus Nipah virus, which is transmitted to humans from bats and pigs, has a high mortality rate and there are no licensed drugs against it. Now, researchers have used information on the structure of the Nipah virus to identified 150 possible inhibitors of the virus. The results are published in PLOS Neglected Tropical Diseases.
	Insight into the neglected tropical disease sleeping sickness Lancaster University researchers have shed light on how the parasite which causes sleeping sickness multiples inside its host.
	How junk food shapes the developing teenage brain Obesity is increasing worldwide, especially among children and teenagers. More than 150 million children in the world are obese in 2019. These children have increased risk of heart disease, cancers and Type 2 diabetes.
	Potential new cancer treatment a step closer QIMR Berghofer researchers have discovered a potential new cancer immunotherapy target that involves switching off a regulatory cell to stop tumors growing and spreading.
	Toxoplasma parasite may be acquired from eating undercooked meat A new study by Flinders researchers highlights the possibility of catching Toxoplasma infection from eating undercooked meat.
	From face masks to air purifiers: What actually protects from bushfire smoke? Bushfire smoke has now been blanketing parts of Australia for months. This week the air quality in Sydney reached new lows, reported to be 12 times hazardous levels in some parts of the city on Tuesday.
	Is it Ebola, or just a drill? How to test a public health crisis response There wasn't an Ebola outbreak in Lesotho—but for a few hours in November 2019, you may have heard that there was.
	Researcher recommends exercise over painkillers for treating sciatica While sciatica is one of the most common forms of back pain, people often assume they have it when they don't, says U of A physical therapy researcher Greg Kawchuk.
	High burden of STIs in people starting treatment to prevent HIV infection Pre-exposure prophylaxis (PrEP) – taking antiretroviral drugs to protect people from acquiring HIV infection—is revolutionising the prevention of HIV around the world. However, a global study led by Monash University in Australia and supported by the World Health Organisation has shown that people who are seeking PrEP to prevent HIV are also at high risk of other sexually transmitted infections (STIs). PrEP services could be an ideal place to test for, prevent and treat both HIV and other STIs.
	Step forward in leukemia treatment An international clinical trial involving Adelaide researchers has demonstrated the safety and efficacy of a next-generation treatment for people with chronic myeloid leukemia (CML).
	Running research: Heel-toe or toe-heel? New research from La Trobe University suggests there is no evidence that changing a runner's strike pattern will help prevent injuries or give them a speed boost.
	Game changer: New tech for stroke rehab A new touch-screen therapy tool could accelerate the recovery of patients who have suffered a stroke and change the way rehabilitation is delivered in hospitals and homes.
	A rare genetic brain condition The Murdoch Children's Research Institute (MCRI) is launching an Australian-first research project into a genetic brain disorder that causes intellectual disability, seizures and degeneration. Affected children appear to have a static disorder but then lose developmental skills and have a reduced lifespan.
	Do summer holidays undo the good work of school? Helping kids stay lean and fit over summer As thousands of Aussie kids start summer holidays this week, there's no doubt parents will see an increase in kids' screen time, snack time and general relaxation. After a busy school year, it's well-deserved, but could this change in activity have an adverse impact on their health?
	Regrettable tattoo? Robots with tiny lasers could soon erase the pain They are the faded souvenirs of your questionable judgement, unbridled revelry, and/or dissolved relationships. But if you thought you'd be stuck with your bad tattoos forever—or face the pain and potential scarring of laser removal—take heart: A new robot-guided laser removal system being developed by the Brain Tool Laboratory at Duke aims to make the process quick and painless.
	Triple-combination therapy helps more people with cystic fibrosis Researchers at National Jewish Health and around the world report today that a three-drug combination of medications can improve lung function, reduce exacerbations and improve quality of life for people with cystic fibrosis who have at least one copy of the most common cystic fibrosis mutation, Phe508del. Based in part on these findings, the U.S. Food and Drug Administration recently approved the combination, elexacaftor/tezacaftor/ivacaftor, known as Trikafta, that will ultimately help 90 percent of people with cystic fibrosis.
	Insurance disparities ID'd in diagnosis of late-stage melanoma For nonelderly adults in the United States, having Medicaid or no health insurance is associated with increased odds of being diagnosed with late-stage melanoma compared with having private insurance, according to a study recently published online in Cancer.
	2003 to 2017 saw increase in deaths at home, hospice facility From 2003 to 2017, there was a decrease in deaths occurring in hospitals and nursing facilities and an increase in deaths at home and at hospice facilities, according to a research letter published in the Dec. 12 issue of the New England Journal of Medicine.
	The view from inside the 'medical scandal' of China's gene-edited babies Before the news broke internationally that Chinese scientist He Jiankui had allegedly genetically engineered twin girls, only a few people around the world had known about it. One of those was Penn cardiologist Kiran Musunuru.
	New algorithm detects even the smallest cancer metastases across the entire mouse body Cancer is one of the leading causes of death worldwide. More than 90 percent of cancer patients die of distal metastases rather than as a direct result of the primary tumor. Cancer metastases usually develop from single disseminated cancer cells, which evade the body's immune surveillance system. Up to now, comprehensive detection of these cells within the entire body has not been possible, owing to the limited resolution of imaging techniques such as bioluminescence and MRI. This has resulted in a relative lack of knowledge of the specific dissemination mechanisms of diverse cancer types, which is a prerequisite for effective therapy. It has also hampered efforts to assess the efficacy of new drug candidates for tumor therapy.
	Daylight saving time does not misalign human cycles Professor José María Martín-Olalla, from the University of Seville, has published a new report where the impact of seasonal clock-changing in daily life is analyzed from time use surveys in United States, Spain, Italy, France and Great Britain. These countries have faced seasonal regulation of clocks for more than 40 years. The results state that human cycles are not misaligned by Daylight Saving Time regulations. The report also shows the impact of latitude in the seasonal adaptation of human cycles, jeopardizing the current position of the European Commission which pushes for a unique regulation in the European Union
	Telehealth increases primary care physicians' accurate diagnosis of skin conditions Fewer than 10% of dermatologists practice in rural areas, according to the Journal of the American Academy of Dermatology. That means primary care physicians (PCPs) are often relied upon to diagnose skin cancers in areas where access to dermatologists is lacking, even though multiple studies have shown most PCPs do not feel adequately prepared to diagnose and treat many skin conditions. Researchers from the University of Missouri School of Medicine conducted a two-year study of the Extension for Community Healthcare Outcomes (ECHO) telehealth program in Missouri and found the program provided participating PCPs with expert recommendations that benefited nearly 84% of adult cases and 72% of pediatric cases.
	First-ever quality measures aim to reduce diabetes complications The Endocrine Society and Avalere Health introduced the first-ever quality measures to help healthcare providers assess how well they identify and care for older adults at greater risk of hypoglycemia—low blood sugar that can be a dangerous complication of diabetes treatment.
	Out-of-network costs soar for non-emergency hospitalizations The out-of-pocket financial burden for insured working Americans is substantial and growing—especially when it comes to out-of-network, non-emergency hospital care, a new study has found.
	With novel technique, new study is first to definitively map the early development of PTSD Most people who experience severe trauma recover their health. But 23 percent develop PTSD, a difficult-to-treat illness that combines intrusive thoughts about the trauma, avoidance of reminders of it, low mood and an exaggerated startle reaction. Which trauma victims will develop the disorder and which will be spared is not well understood.
	Computerised CBT could reduce waiting lists for treatment of depression in adolescents Using a computerised version of cognitive-behavioural therapy to treat depression in children and young adults has the potential to improve access to psychological therapies and reduce waiting lists, a new study suggests.
	Could some people with schizophrenia in poorer nations simply have a vitamin deficiency? Four unsolved mysteries around schizophrenia have long plagued the medical community, but a new hypothesis identifying a common link between them and an almost forgotten epidemic of a disease called pellagra could have profound implications for our understanding of psychosis in poorer nations. The new hypothesis has implications for how a subgroup of people with active psychosis could be potentially screened, treated, and cured.
	IBIS-II study finds anastrozole reduces breast cancer rates for high risk postmenopausal women The Queen Mary University of London professor leading an international breast cancer study says anastrozole—rather than tamoxifen—should be the preventive drug-of-choice for post-menopausal women at increased risk of developing the disease.
	Want to avoid the holiday blues? New report suggests skipping the sweet treats If you're prone to depression, this holiday season you might want to say "bah humbug" to offers of sugar plum pudding, caramel corn and chocolate babka.
	Older adults with hypothyroidism face elevated risk of death While older adults with hypothyroidism face an elevated risk of death, individuals with subclinical hypothyroidism, a milder form of underactive thyroid, did not face the same risk, according to new research published in the Endocrine Society's Journal of Clinical Endocrinology & Metabolism.
	Metabolic adaptation ensures survival of colon cancer cells Colon cancer cells deficient in p53, one of the most important control proteins in cell growth, activate a particular metabolic pathway to adapt to the lack of oxygen and nutrients inside the tumor. Statins, which are often prescribed to lower cholesterol, block this metabolic pathway and cause the cancer cells to die, as scientists from the German Cancer Research Center (DKFZ) have now discovered. The researchers now intend to investigate this potential treatment strategy in more detail in cancer cells and animal experiments.
	Black/white breast cancer subtype incidence in men differs from trends in women Incidence rates for hormone receptor positive (HR+) breast cancers are considerably higher in black men than white men, in stark contrast to lower incidence rates of those cancer subtypes in black versus white women. That's according to a new American Cancer Society study that used nationwide data to provide the first report on differences in subtype-specific breast cancer incidence rates between black men and white men. The study appears in JNCI Cancer Spectrum.
	Ultrasound blasts potent glioblastoma drug into brain tumor One of most potent drugs for treatment of glioblastoma, the most deadly type of brain tumor, can't be used in patients because of two problems. First, it can't reach its target because it's blocked by the blood-brain barrier, a microscopic structure that protects the brain from toxins in the blood. And the conventional formulation for this drug is toxic to the brain.
	Zika vaccine protects both mom and fetus, but mom needs a higher dose when pregnant Researchers from The University of Texas Medical Branch at Galveston showed, for the first time, that a single, higher dose of vaccination to a pregnant mouse safely protects both her and her fetus from the Zika virus.
	Study finds differences in energy use by immune cells in ME/CFS New findings published in the Journal of Clinical Investigation suggest that specific immune T cells from people with myalgic encephalomyelitis/chronic fatigue syndrome (ME/CFS) show disruptions in the way they produce energy. The research was supported by the National Institutes of Health.
	Hydration may affect cognitive function in some older adults Not getting enough water is enough to make you feel sluggish and give you a headache, but a new Penn State study suggests it may also relate to cognitive performance.
	Regulators to set up 3-digit suicide hotline number like 911 Federal regulators are setting up a new three-digit number to reach a suicide prevention hotline in order to make it easier to seek help and reduce the stigma associated with mental health.
	Is ivermectin safe during pregnancy? Is it safe to give ivermectin to pregnant women? In order to answer this question, researchers from the Barcelona Institute for Global Health (ISGlobal), an institution supported by "la Caixa," conducted a systematic review and meta-analysis of studies that reported cases of accidental exposure to the drug among pregnant women. The conclusion of the analysis, published in The Lancet Global Health, is that there is not sufficient evidence to support the safety of ivermectin administration during pregnancy.
	To the brain, straight from the vein: IV treatment for TBI A team of researchers from the University of Georgia's Regenerative Bioscience Center has found that neural exosomes—"cargo" molecules within the nervous system that carry messages to the brain—can minimize or even avert progression of traumatic brain injury when used as part of a new cell-to-cell messaging technology.
	Endovascular AVF for dialysis access shows high patency rate (HealthDay)—A proximal radial artery endovascular arteriovenous fistula to allow vascular access in patients who require hemodialysis remains highly functional at two years, according to a study recently published online in the Journal of Vascular Access.
	Survival worse for nonwhite children with Hodgkin lymphoma (HealthDay)—Among children with Hodgkin lymphoma (HL) enrolled in phase III trials, nonwhite patients have an increased risk for death, according to a study published in the Nov. 10 issue of the Journal of Clinical Oncology.
	Running away from exercise: The curious case of migraine A recent study published in the journal Cephalalgia, the official journal of the International Headache Society, highlights an overlooked relationship between migraine and exercise. The study, entitled "Anxiety sensitivity and intentional avoidance of physical activity in women with probable migraine", was led by Samantha G Farris, from Rutgers, Department of Psychology, the State University of New Jersey, NJ, USA.
	New drugs more likely to be approved if backed up by genetics A new drug candidate is more likely to be approved for use if it targets a gene known to be linked to the disease; a finding that can help pharmaceutical companies to focus their drug development efforts. Emily King and colleagues from AbbVie report these findings in a new study published 12th December in PLOS Genetics.
	Vaping illness death count surpasses 50 in US The death toll in the vaping illness outbreak has topped 50, U.S. health officials said Thursday.
	Exposure to PM 2.5 linked to decline in episodic memory (HealthDay)—Long-term exposure to particulate matter with aerodynamic diameter
	Access to high-cost targeted treatments varies for lung cancer (HealthDay)—Not all patients have access to new, high-cost lung cancer drugs, according to a study recently published in the Journal of the National Cancer Institute.
	One in three parents report skipping doctor, dentist appointment (HealthDay)—One in three parents have skipped a doctor or dentist appointment in the past year because they could not afford to pay for visits or find transportation, according to the results of a survey released Nov. 18 by Nemours Children's Health System.
	SABCS: Long-term outcomes good for PBI in early breast cancer (HealthDay)—For patients with early-stage breast cancer, 10-year outcomes are similar for treatment with partial breast irradiation (PBI) and whole breast irradiation (WBI), according to a study presented at the annual San Antonio Breast Cancer Symposium, held from Dec. 10 to 14 in Texas.
	One boy's battle back from mysterious polio-like illness (HealthDay)—Last October, 15-year-old Alec Woodruff developed a strange-sounding cough. Less than a week later, he was fighting for his life in the hospital, partially paralyzed and with a tube in his throat attached to a ventilator because just breathing was a task he could no longer do on his own.
	Chyler leigh of 'Supergirl' battles bipolar disorder (HealthDay)—Chyler Leigh has taken on some challenging roles in her career, including helping keep the world safe from alien threats on the TV show "Supergirl" and learning to be a surgeon as Lexie Grey on "Grey's Anatomy." But her most demanding task has been learning to manage bipolar disorder.
	Could fish oil fight inflammation? Plentiful in foods like fish and flaxseed, omega-3 fatty acids have long been linked with cardiovascular health, and new research is looking at the biology behind how it might work.
	Breast cancer cells swallow a 'free lunch' of dietary fat particles from the bloodstream High-fat diets and obesity have been shown to increase the risk of breast cancer and worsen outcomes and prognosis of breast cancer patients. A team of researchers from Dartmouth and Dartmouth-Hitchcock Norris Cotton Cancer Center led by William Kinlaw III, MD, sought to understand how fat from the diet might influence breast cancer cells. In their new study, they found that in addition to making new fat to fuel proliferation, breast cancer cells can take up large quantities of fat derived from the lipid-rich particles that circulate in the bloodstream. The particles bind to the breast cancer cell surface and are then taken into the cell by a novel mechanism not previously described in cancer cells. This uptake provides a large supply of fat that drives proliferation of the cancer cells. Their findings, "Endocytosis of very low-density lipoproteins: an unexpected mechanism for lipid acquisition by breast cancer cells" is newly in press at the Journal of Lipid Research.
	ER visits did not rise with Medicaid expansion under Affordable Care Act Patient visits by Medicaid recipients to primary care physicians rose 3.6% during the first three years of the Patient Protection and Affordable Care Act but did not lead to an increase in the use of emergency departments.
	Risk analysis powers air pollution solutions Air pollution exposure threatens human health both outdoors and when polluted air infiltrates homes, offices, schools and vehicles. Exposure to certain particulate matter can cause respiratory, cardiovascular and nervous system issues, especially in vulnerable populations. Several presentations at the 2019 Society for Risk Analysis (SRA) Annual Meeting will explore new ways to measure and track air pollutants to reduce public health risk.
	Many children with kidney disease may be prescribed drugs that are toxic to the kidneys An analysis of records from primary care practices in the United Kingdom found that many children with kidney disease are prescribed medications that may be toxic to their kidneys. The findings, which appear in an upcoming issue of CJASN, suggest that research is needed to determine whether these medications are necessary and appropriate, or if alternatives could be prescribed instead.
	Pregnant women and those with chronic diseases should get a flu shot now While the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention is reporting a continued increase in influenza activity for the week ending Nov. 30, there is still time to get a flu shot. The vaccine is especially important for at-risk populations, says a Purdue University public health expert.
Novel combination therapy has similar response rates to chemotherapy for high-risk luminal B breast cancer Neoadjuvant treatment with the CDK4/6 inhibitor ribociclib (Kisqali) and the aromatase inhibitor letrozole (Femara) produced response rates similar to multi-agent chemotherapy in patients with high-risk luminal B breast cancer, according to results from the SOLTI-1402/CORALLEEN trial presented at the San Antonio Breast Cancer Symposium, held Dec. 10-14.
	'Football as Medicine' Football as Medicine: Prescribing Football for Global Health Promotion collates 15 years of research when describing the effects of football training on cardiovascular, metabolic and musculoskeletal fitness, and providing up-to-date knowledge of the impact of recreational football for target populations like children, type 2 diabetes patients, cancer patients, people with mental health conditions, the socially deprived and older people.
	Ebola cases rise sharply in eastern DR Congo Twenty-three cases of Ebola have been recorded in four days in eastern Democratic Republic of Congo, where deadly violence is hampering efforts to end the 16-month-old epidemic, authorities said on Thursday.

Biology news

	The limits of ocean heavyweights: Prey curb whales' gigantic size At 100 feet long and weighing more than 100 tons, blue whales are the largest creatures to have evolved on the planet. Other whales, like killer whales, are larger than most terrestrial animals but pale in comparison to the size of blue whales. What sets these two weight classes of whales apart? And what is stopping the biggest whales from growing even bigger?
	A way to 'fingerprint' human cells Researchers say a new method to analyse data from individual human cells could be a step-change for diagnosing some of the most devastating diseases, including cancer and autoimmune disease.
	Scientists devise 'lifespan clock' An Australian research team say they have come up with a "lifespan clock" which provides accurate maximum age estimates for vertebrates, a key variable in the study of both living and extinct animals.
	Examining how primates make vowel sounds pushes timeline for speech evolution back by 27 million years Sound doesn't fossilize. Language doesn't either.
	Researchers reprogram T cells to improve cancer immunotherapy St. Jude Children's Research Hospital scientists have identified a new therapeutic strategy that enhanced cancer immunotherapy, slowed tumor growth and extended the lives of mice with cancer. The research appears today in the journal Nature.
	How interacting with females increases aggression in male fruit flies You probably behave differently when you are having a bad day than during a great one. For example, while you might politely smile at a neighbor you dislike on an otherwise pleasant Saturday afternoon, that same interaction will elicit a scowl when you are rushing off to work Monday morning. In other words, your brain takes recent experiences into account when coordinating your responses to external stimuli. Even simple animals, like the fruit fly Drosophila melanogaster, do this: Sometimes, a male fly will display high levels of aggression toward another male, while at other times, two male flies can coexist peacefully. All Drosophila brains are wired the same way, so why do the flies exhibit different behaviors when presented with the same sensory cue?
	Carolina parakeet extinction was driven by human causes, DNA sequencing reveals Researchers from the Institute of Evolutionary Biology (IBE, a joint institute of the Pompeu Fabra University (UPF) and the Spanish National Research Council (CSIC)) in Barcelona and the Globe Institute at the University of Copenhagen have unveiled the genome of the Carolina parakeet, declared extinct at the beginning of the 20th century. Researchers explored the genome for signs found in endangered species but did not find them, suggesting that Carolina parakeet extinction was an abrupt process and thus solely attributable to human causes.
	How humans learnt to dance; from the Chimpanzee Conga Psychologist observing two chimpanzees in a zoo have discovered that they performed a behaviour hitherto never seen, they coordinated together in a rhythmic social ritual.
	Novel study underscores microbial individuality A single drop of seawater can contain a wide representation of ocean microbes from around the world—revealing novel insights into the ecology, evolution and biotechnology potential of the global microbiome. A new publication in Cell reports a staggering degree of biological diversity that defies contemporary definitions of microbial species, illuminates reasons behind challenges in metagenomic studies, and may even further understanding of how marine microbes respond to climate change.
	Tiny insects become 'visible' to bats when they swarm Small insects that would normally be undetectable to bats using echolocation suddenly become detectable when they occur in large swarms. Arjan Boonman of Tel-Aviv University and colleagues present these findings in PLOS Computational Biology.
	New study identifies barriers to conservation success Inability to find or retain skilled staff and issues around local community buy-in are just some of the hurdles preventing conservation charities from achieving their goals, a ground-breaking new study has found.
	Experiment suggests the best ways to tackle invasive Oregon grape in Belgian coastal dunes The Belgian coastal dunes, a protected habitat of high conservation value, are getting severely impacted by one of its worst enemies amongst invasive species: the Oregon grape. To help mitigate the detrimental effect of this North American shrub invader, Belgian scientists carried out an experiment to assess the effectiveness of different management methods.
	Bumblebees exposed to Chernobyl-levels of radiation consume more nectar The study simulated Chernobyl-levels of radiation exposure in a laboratory to investigate the impacts it may be having on insects inhabiting the exclusion zone. Although it has been previously found that bumblebees are sensitive to radiation, few studies have investigated the effects on their fitness. The dose rates of radiation in which negative effects occur are also uncertain.
	As wild pig territory expands into city limits, public health and safety concerns increase Whether you call them wild pigs or feral hogs, they are no longer just a rural problem, according to a Texas A&M AgriLife Extension Service expert.
	The 'right' whale to save You may have heard that Earth's current sixth mass extinction stems from human causes, but what does this actually look like? I present to you Exhibit A: North Atlantic right whales (Eubalaena glacialis), a species disappearing at an alarming rate. More than 2 percent of the entire North Atlantic right whale population has died in 2019, with the population now hovering around 400. Of these remaining whales, there are an estimated fewer than 100 breeding females alive. Hope for North Atlantic right whales is dwindling.
	Scientists use night vision to save bats High-resolution radar and night vision cameras may help scientists protect bats from untimely deaths at wind farms, according to new research.
	Team finds bovine kobuvirus in US A virus that afflicts cattle that was first discovered in Japan in 2003 has made its way to the U.S., researchers report in the journal Emerging Infectious Diseases.
	Virus multiplication in 3-D For viruses to multiply, they usually need the support of the cells they infect. In many cases, only in their host's nucleus can they find the machines, enzymes and building blocks with which they can multiply their genetic material before infecting other cells. But not all viruses find their way into the cell nucleus. Some remain in the cytoplasm and thus must be able to multiply their genetic material independently. To do so, they have to bring their own "machine park." An essential role in this process is played by a special enzyme composed of various subunits: the RNA polymerase. This complex reads the genetic information from the genome of the virus and transcribes it into messenger RNA (mRNA), that serves as a blueprint for the proteins encoded in the genome.
	Beyond 'shovelomics': Growing cassava in the air helps study the plant's mysterious roots The normal way to study cassava roots is digging up the plant. Unfortunately, that tends to kill the plant, causing serious complications for researchers who are interested in learning more about how cassava grows. To solve this, scientists at the International Center for Tropical Agriculture grew cassava in the air—using a technique called aeroponics—and in doing so removed an obstacle for researchers interested in getting the most out of one of the world's hardiest staple crops.
	Caribou migration linked to climate cycles and insect pests Caribou, the North American cousin of reindeer, migrate farther than any terrestrial animal. They can cover thousands of miles as they move between winter feeding grounds and summer calving grounds. But many caribou herds are in decline as the warming climate changes much of the landscape they depend on. Inedible shrubs are rapidly encroaching on the tundra, and more frequent forest fires and disease are destroying the trees that provide caribou with lichen for food. The role of climate on their migration patterns has never been well understood, but knowing what drives caribou movements is crucial to predicting the future for the iconic species that plays a key roll the ecological and economic stability of the Arctic region.
	Local traditional knowledge can be as accurate as scientific transect monitoring New research from a cross-organisational consortium in the Amazon has found indigenous knowledge to be as accurate as scientific transect monitoring.
California commission lists yellow-legged frog as endangered There's new hope for an endangered California frog that has vanished from half of its habitat.
Researchers on the hunt for the 'pupping ground' The waters off the southern tip of Cat Island, Bahamas are one of the last remaining strongholds for oceanic whitetip sharks.

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