Science X Newsletter Monday, Feb 27

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Here is your customized Science X Newsletter for February 27, 2017:

Spotlight Stories Headlines

Chiral superconductivity experimentally demonstrated for the first time

First ultra-compact dwarf galaxy in the group NGC 5044 found

Best of Last Week–Temperate planets found, gigantic ancient monster worm and creativity linked to well-connected brain

Do you look like your name? People can match names to faces of strangers with surprising accuracy

First evidence of rocky planet formation in Tatooine system

Earth probably began with a solid shell

New tool for combating mosquito-borne disease: Insect parasite genes

Canada conservationist warns of 'cyber poaching'

Dietary prebiotics improve sleep, buffer impacts of stress, says study

Archaeologists hunt for long-lost tomb of Scottish king

ZTE launches world's first 5G-ready smartphone

'Ring of fire' eclipse delights Africa, South America

Living with children may mean less sleep for women, but not for men

Samsung delays its new phone, and showcases tablets instead

Huawei takes aim at ailing Samsung with new smartphone

Astronomy & Space news

	First ultra-compact dwarf galaxy in the group NGC 5044 found (Phys.org)—A team of astronomers led by Favio Faifer of the National University of La Plata, Argentina, has discovered the first ultra-compact dwarf (UCD) galaxy in an X-ray bright galaxy group designated NGC 5044. The finding was presented Feb. 21 in a paper published online on the arXiv pre-print repository.
	First evidence of rocky planet formation in Tatooine system Evidence of planetary debris surrounding a double sun, 'Tatooine-like' system has been found for the first time by a UCL-led team of researchers.
	'Ring of fire' eclipse delights Africa, South America Stargazers applauded as they were plunged into darkness Sunday when the moon passed in front of the sun in a spectacular "ring of fire" eclipse.
	Constraining the chemistry of carbon-chain molecules in space The interstellar medium of the Milky Way contains 5-10% of the total mass of the galaxy (excluding its dark matter) and consists primarily of hydrogen gas. There are small but important contributions from other gases as well, including carbon-bearing molecules both simple, like carbon monoxide and carbon dioxide, and complex like ethene, benzene, propynal, methanol and other alcohols, and cyanides. There are even some very large molecules like polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons and buckyballs with fifty or more carbon atoms. Some species like the cyanides have relative abundances similar to what is seen in comets in our solar system, suggesting that local carbon chemistry is not unique.
	Hubble cooperates on galaxy cluster and cosmic background The events surrounding the Big Bang were so cataclysmic that they left an indelible imprint on the fabric of the cosmos. We can detect these scars today by observing the oldest light in the universe. As it was created nearly 14 billion years ago, this light—which exists now as weak microwave radiation and is thus named the cosmic microwave background (CMB)—permeates the entire cosmos, filling it with detectable photons.
	Study suggests we reclassify the moon as a planet—reopening a centuries-old debate Every now and then a scientific paper makes a real splash. We had one recently, to judge from recent headlines. "Moon rises to claim its place as a planet" said The Sunday Times on February 19, while the Mail Online asked "Is this lunarcy?". The articles were among many responding to the humble paper: "A Geophysical Planet Definition", which suggested that the criteria for determining what constitutes a planet need an overhaul. It argued that the moon, Pluto and several other bodies in the solar system should be upgraded to planets.
	Stars regularly ripped apart by black holes in colliding galaxies Astronomers based at the University of Sheffield have found evidence that stars are ripped apart by supermassive black holes 100 times more often than previously thought.
	Volcanic hydrogen spurs chances of finding exoplanet life Hunting for habitable exoplanets now may be easier: Cornell University astronomers report that hydrogen pouring from volcanic sources on planets throughout the universe could improve the chances of locating life in the cosmos.
	Scientists reach back in time to discover some of the most power-packed galaxies When the universe was young, a supermassive black hole—bloated to the bursting point with stupendous power—heaved out a jet of particle-infused energy that raced through the vastness of space at nearly the speed of light.
	SpaceX says it will fly two people to moon next year SpaceX says it will fly two people to the moon next year.
	Former NASA mathematician, 98, gets her moment at Oscars She said only "thank you," but it was one of the more moving moments of Sunday's Oscars ceremony.
	Image: Orion spacecraft progresses with installation of module to test propulsion systems On Feb. 22, engineers successfully installed ESA's European Service Module Propulsion Qualification Module (PQM) at NASA's White Sands Test Facility in New Mexico that was delivered by Airbus – ESA's prime contractor for the Service Module.
	Experiments may help assess risks posed by falling space rocks Four years ago, a brilliant fireball streaked across the dawn sky over Russia, then fractured with the force of about 500,000 tons of TNT. The shock wave blew out windows and damaged thousands of buildings across several cities in Russia's Chelyabinsk Oblast region, injuring about 1,500 people.
	From tools to trash: Marshall's payload stowage team tracks it For many of us spring cleaning is an annual ritual and it will be here before we know it. Imagine trying to keep everything organized year-round in a five-bedroom house where everything floats. And that house is moving 17,500 miles per hour orbiting the Earth 250 miles above us. That's exactly the job of a small team at the Marshall Space Flight Center in Huntsville, Alabama.
	Keeping our cool in space As spacecraft become larger, the heat they produce also increases. That means vehicles built for long-term space exploration need more efficient cooling systems.
	Image: The evolution of supernova 1987A Thirty years ago, on 23 February 1987, the light from a stellar explosion marking the death of a massive star arrived at Earth to shine in Southern Hemisphere skies.
	NASA wind tunnel tests X-plane design for a quieter supersonic jet Supersonic passenger airplanes are another step closer to reality as NASA and Lockheed Martin begin the first high-speed wind tunnel tests for the Quiet Supersonic Technology (QueSST) X-plane preliminary design at NASA's Glenn Research Center in Cleveland.

Technology news

	ZTE launches world's first 5G-ready smartphone Chinese telecoms giant ZTE unveiled Sunday what it said is the world's first smartphone compatible with the lightening-fast 5G mobile internet service that networks expect to have up and running by 2020.
	Samsung delays its new phone, and showcases tablets instead Samsung's product showcase Sunday is notable for what's missing: a new flagship phone.
	Huawei takes aim at ailing Samsung with new smartphone China's Huawei unveiled a new smartphone with a better camera on Sunday as it tries to fill the void left by Samsung's withdrawal of its flagship device due to problems with the battery.
	Actuated fluffy tail can relay robot states to humans (Tech Xplore)—A dog tail was studied for its ability to communicate robot states? You read that correctly. No words missing. It is all about two active minds from the University of Manitoba.
	Getting rid of the last bits of sulfur in fuel Scientists led by a team at Caltech have developed a new method for potentially removing nearly all sulfur compounds from gas and diesel fuel.
	Tracking the movement of cyborg cockroaches New research from North Carolina State University offers insights into how far and how fast cyborg cockroaches - or biobots - move when exploring new spaces. The work moves researchers closer to their goal of using biobots to explore collapsed buildings and other spaces in order to identify survivors.
	Offline AI revolution awaits smartphones The smartphone revolution is poised to go onto the next level—with "superphones" equipped with artificial intelligence now on the horizon.
	Coming soon: Oil spill-mapping swarms of flying drones Thousands of ants converge to follow the most direct path from their colony to their food and back. A swarm of inexpensive, unmanned drones quickly map an offshore oil spill.
	5 bn mobile phone users in 2017: study The number of mobile phone users globally will surpass five billion by the middle of this year, according to a study released Monday by GSMA, the association of mobile operators.
	Light beam replaces blood test during heart surgery A University of Central Florida professor has invented a way to use light to continuously monitor a surgical patient's blood, for the first time providing a real-time status during life-and-death operations.
	Appealing to millennials, Las Vegas gets e-sports arena The arena has all the features that a professional sports venue needs: stands, warm-up areas for teams, massive screens for spectators and a broadcast platform for commentators. But what distinguishes this new Las Vegas arena is its dozens of video game consoles.
	China's TCL brings back physical keyboard in new BlackBerry Chinese electronics company TCL unveiled Saturday its first BlackBerry-licensed smartphone which brings back the device's signature physical keyboard as it seeks to revive the once mighty brand.
	New LG phone influenced by Samsung's Note 7 troubles Samsung's fiasco with its fire-prone Note 7 phone has pushed its rival LG to take additional precautions with its next smartphone.
	Nokia relaunches iconic 3310 mobile model Finnish brand Nokia, a former mobile star, on Sunday launched three new Android smartphones and unveiled a revamped version of its iconic 3310 model more than a decade after it was phased out.
Counterfeiters, hackers cost US up to $600 billion a year Counterfeit goods, software piracy and the theft of trade secrets cost the American economy as much as $600 billion a year, a private watchdog says.
	3-D computer models of gigantic archaeological objects Archeological artefacts, such as the Jupiter Column of Ladenburg, a town with an impressive Roman history, hold many as yet undiscovered secrets. Discovered in 1973, the history of the monument that is more than 1800 years old is still unclear. The HEiKA MUSIEKE project is aimed at uncovering some of these secrets and making the cultural heritage of Ladenburg visible and perceptible. For this purpose, modern digitization techniques of Karlsruhe Institute of Technology (KIT) are used.
	Why we need an 'energy Landcare' to tackle rising power prices Rising electricity prices have become a fact of life in Australia – and are likely to be so for a few years to come.
	Merging our brains with machines won't stop the rise of the robots Tesla chief executive and OpenAI founder Elon Musk suggested last week that humanity might stave off irrelevance from the rise of the machines by merging with the machines and becoming cyborgs.
	Blind matchmaking for more efficient wireless networks Anonymously pairing network users could expand the capability of the next generation of wireless networks
	Buffett's bite of Apple even bigger than thought (Update) Billionaire Warren Buffett, famously leery of technology companies, has loaded up on Apple shares after noticing how inseparable iPhone users are from the gadget once they get one in their pocket.
	Hydro storage can secure 100 percent renewable electricity Pumped hydro storage can be used to help build a secure and cheap Australian electricity grid with 100 per cent renewable energy, a new study from The Australian National University (ANU) has found.
	Using magnetic gates to track slalom skiers' performance EPFL researchers can now measure a slalom skier's exact time at each gate all the way down the slope. Their system also calculates the skiers' speed and trajectory more accurately than GPS.
	Falling in love in virtual reality could be a deeper experience than real life The vast majority of us are constantly connected to the things we like and those we are close to through technology – to the point where we may even have problems managing without it. So when something as exciting as virtual reality (VR) comes along, it can quickly become part of our already tech-reliant lives, providing us with multiple new possibilities, including for falling in love.
	Engineers respond to UXO crisis with low-cost EOD robot Starting in 1965 and continuing for three decades, Cambodia was embroiled in armed conflict. US bombings during the Vietnam War made Cambodia perhaps the most bombed country in history. Many of these bombs did not explode, leaving UXO throughout the country. Following this period, the Khmer Rouge came to power resulting in the Cambodian genocide. The Khmer Rouge were eventually pushed to the Cambodia-Thailand border, where significant numbers of landmines were deployed by both Cambodia and Thailand to prevent the Khmer Rouge from entering their respective countries.
	Chatting robots and music: fun gadgets on show in Barcelona While smartphones get top billing at the Mobile World Congress in Barcelona, Spain, it's the quirky, under-the-radar products that are getting a lot of the visitors' attention.
	Online security apps focus on parental control, not teen self-regulation Mobile apps designed to keep teens safe online are overwhelmingly focused on parental control, which may be only a short-term solution that hinders a teen's ability to learn coping strategies in the long run, according to a team of researchers.
	AT&T-Time Warner deal may have easier path to approval AT&T's $85 billion purchase of Time Warner may be getting an easier path to approval after the chief telecommunications regulator says it isn't likely to review the deal.
Resort, tour company warn customers after data breach A resort and a tour company are warning customers that their credit card information and other data may have been stolen.
	High-performance computation is available by cloud computing A group of researchers led by Visiting Professor Takashi Yoshikawa developed the world's first system for flexibly providing high-performance computation by cloud computing.
	15 ton supercomputer provides access to water, energy and the internet A new machine called the Watly offers solutions to three of society's most important challenges – ensuring access to clean water, sustainable energy generation and reaping the benefits of the evolving digital revolution. Supported by funds from the Horizon 2020 project, the innovative SME behind the project is now nearly ready to unveil its first full-scale Watly machine.
	Cathode material with high energy density for all-solid lithium-ion batteries FDK Corporation and Fujitsu Laboratories today announced that they have jointly developed lithium cobalt pyrophosphate (Li2CoP2O7), which has high energy density, for the cathode material of all-solid lithium-ion batteries ("all-solid-state batteries"). This material enables the development of all-solid-state batteries with higher voltage and higher capacity. In recent years, the specifications required for batteries are becoming increasingly diverse, and, in particular, there is increasing interest in high energy density and safety performance. While there is active progress on improving lithium-ion and other existing batteries, development work is advancing on various types of next-generation batteries with the potential to exceed the performance of existing batteries, and all-solid-state batteries are attracting attention as next-generation batteries with superior safety performance.
IRS warns firms, beware of phishing email scam The IRS is warning employers about a spreading phishing email scam whose targets include companies and that seeks to get employees' Social Security numbers and other information.
	Supreme Court skeptical of sex offender social media ban (Update) With a nod to the importance of social media in American life, the Supreme Court signaled Monday it could strike down a North Carolina law that bars convicted sex offenders from Facebook, Twitter and other popular sites.

Medicine & Health news

	Do you look like your name? People can match names to faces of strangers with surprising accuracy If your name is Fred, do you look like a Fred? You might—and others might think so, too. New research published by the American Psychological Association has found that people appear to be better than chance at correctly matching people's names to their faces, and it may have something to do with cultural stereotypes we attach to names.
	Dietary prebiotics improve sleep, buffer impacts of stress, says study In recent years, reams of research papers have shed light on the health benefits of probiotics, the "good bacteria" found in fermented foods and dietary supplements. Now a first-of-its kind study by University of Colorado Boulder scientists suggests that lesser-known gut-health promoters called prebiotics - which serve as food for good bacteria inside the gut—can also have an impact, improving sleep and buffering the physiological impacts of stress.
	Living with children may mean less sleep for women, but not for men New research backs up what many women already know: They're sleep deprived. Unlike men, a good night's sleep for women is affected by having children in the house, according to a preliminary study released today that will be presented at the American Academy of Neurology's 69th Annual Meeting in Boston, April 22 to 28, 2017.
	Changes in RNA splicing: a new mechanism for genetic risk in schizophrenia New research has identified sections of DNA associated with altered regulation of gene expression underlying schizophrenia. The implicated loci contribute to schizophrenia risk by affecting alternative splicing, part of the process that translates the same DNA code into multiple different proteins. This insight into the molecular etiology of schizophrenia, published on February 27 in Nature Communications, will allow more precise classification of culprit genes for this and other brain disorders.
	Brain imaging headband measures how our minds align when we communicate Great ideas so often get lost in translation—from the math teacher who can't get through to his students, to a stand-up comedian who bombs during an open mic night.
	Researchers pinpoint the regions of the brain that spark during the telling of a funny story What happens in your brain when you tell a joke? Well, that appears to depend on whether you do that for a living.
	World-first genetic clues point to risk of blindness Australian scientists have discovered the first evidence of genes that cause Macular Telangiectasia type 2 (MacTel), a degenerative eye disease which leads to blindness and is currently incurable and untreatable.
	Research could lead to better vaccines and new antivirals Scientists at Sanford Burnham Prebys Medical Discovery Institute (SBP) have identified a new regulator of the innate immune response—the immediate, natural immune response to foreign invaders. The study, published recently in Nature Microbiology, suggests that therapeutics that modulate the regulator—an immune checkpoint—may represent the next generation of antiviral drugs, vaccine adjuvants, cancer immunotherapies, and treatments for autoimmune disease.
	Faulty genomic pathway linked to schizophrenia developing in utero, study finds The skin cells of four adults with schizophrenia have provided an unprecedented "window" into how the disease began while they were still in the womb, according to a recent paper in Schizophrenia Research.
	Effects of genes often influenced by network When many genes regulate a single trait, they commonly work together in large clusters or 'networks". Taking this into account allows better predictions of how an individual's genetic make-up affects the trait concerned. The risk of perceiving the importance of an individual gene incorrectly is also reduced. This has been shown by researchers at Uppsala University, through a detailed analysis of thousands of related yeast cells.
	How your brain makes articles go viral It is a question that has mystified countless people: Why does one article spread like wildfire through social media and another—seemingly similar—doesn't? How does your brain decide what is valuable enough to read and share?
	Drug combination defeats dengue, Ebola in mice, study finds A combination of two cancer drugs inhibited both dengue and Ebola virus infections in mice in a study led by Stanford University School of Medicine researchers, despite the fact that these two viruses are vastly different from each other.
	Molecule stops fatal pediatric brain tumor Northwestern Medicine scientists have found a molecule that stops the growth of an aggressive pediatric brain tumor. The tumor is always fatal and primarily strikes children under 10 years old.
	New studies illustrate how gamers get good We all know that practice makes us better at things, but scientists are still trying to understand what kinds of practice work best. A research team led by a Brown University computer scientist has found insights about how people improve their skills in a rather unlikely place: online video games.
	Autism risk genes linked to evolving brain Genetic variants linked to autism spectrum disorders (ASD) may have been positively selected during human evolution because they also contribute to enhanced cognition, a new Yale study suggests.
	Antibiotics used to treat cystic fibrosis increases risk of permanent hearing loss A powerful class of antibiotics provides life-saving relief for people with cystic fibrosis; however, a new study for the first time reveals the levels at which high cumulative dosages over time significantly increases the risk of permanent hearing loss in these patients.
	Never too late: Reaping the benefits of exercise in early postmenopause Women recently postmenopause have similar or improved benefits from physical activity, in terms of muscle and blood vessel function, as those premenopause. Therefore, early postmenopause might be a time when women can gain increased benefit from physical activity to oppose negative effects of oestrogen loss and aging.
	DPP-4i treatment doesn't up MI, stroke risk in seniors (HealthDay)—For older U.S. Medicare beneficiaries, dipeptidyl peptidase-4 inhibitors (DPP-4i) treatment is not associated with increased cardiovascular (CV) risk relative to sulfonylureas (SU) and thiazolidinediones (TZD), according to a study published online Feb. 14 in Diabetes, Obesity and Metabolism.
	Burnout is prevalent among pediatric residents (HealthDay)—Burnout is prevalent among pediatric residents and is associated with suboptimal patient care attitudes and behaviors, according to research published online Feb. 23 in Pediatrics.
	Internet-based CBT effective for depressive symptoms (HealthDay)—Self-guided internet-based cognitive behavioral therapy (iCBT) is effective for treating adults with depressive symptoms, according to a review published online Feb. 22 in JAMA Psychiatry.
	Large-scale skin cancer screening initiative feasible (HealthDay)—Large-scale skin cancer screening, including full-body skin examination (FBSE) is feasible and increases diagnosis of melanoma and thinner invasive melanoma, according to a study published online Feb. 23 in JAMA Oncology.
	$20 million awarded for quality payment program training (HealthDay)—About $20 million has been awarded to 11 organizations for the first of a five-year program to provide training and education about the Quality Payment Program for clinicians in individual or small group practices, with up to $80 million to be invested over the remaining four years, according to the U.S. Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services (CMS).
	New study on smoking bans finds decreasein smoke exposure in public and private places Exposure to secondhand smoke has long been associated with negative health effects. A study of secondhand smoke exposure after two smoking bans in Spain, publishing today in Nicotine & Tobacco Research, suggests that overall exposure can be decreased across all settings by comprehensive legislative efforts.
Universal public coverage of essential medicines would improve access, save billions Publicly funding essential medicines could cover the cost of nearly half of all prescriptions in Canada, removing financial barriers for Canadians while saving $3 billion per year.
	Study sheds light on B.C. youths' experiences with mental health services Smiley hates where she lives. It is 2012 and Smiley, a young woman in her early 20s, lives in a single room occupancy (SRO) building in Vancouver. She wants to hang out with her friends in her room, where she feels safe, but the SRO only allows one visitor at a time.
	Preventing and treating smoking in children and youth A first-ever guideline from the Canadian Task Force on Preventive Health Care on tobacco use by children and youth aged 5 to 18 years recommends that physicians should play a more active role in the prevention and treatment of cigarette smoking in this age group. The guidelines were published in CMAJ (Canadian Medical Association Journal).
	Pediatricians warn against pot use: Not your dad's marijuana An influential doctors group is beefing up warnings about marijuana's potential harms for teens amid increasingly lax laws and attitudes on pot use.
	Preparing elite athletes for transition to life after sport should begin in childhood Two recent high-profile Australian examples have laid bare the struggles of many retired athletes in their transition from elite sport to life beyond. Swimmer Grant Hackett admitted he has "mental health issues" following an arrest earlier this month. Former rugby union international Dan Vickerman's tragic death has also shone the spotlight on mental health.
	Steroid reduces risk of complication when treating HIV and TB patients An inexpensive and readily accessible anti-inflammatory drug reduces the risk of a potentially dangerous complication in patients starting treatment for both TB and HIV.
Latest ban on U.S. global health funding ignores science, researchers say In a commentary published Feb. 22 in The New England Journal of Medicine, two School of Medicine scientists make a case for lifting the ban on U.S. aid to international groups that support abortion-related activities, saying the policy harms women and ultimately could hurt the country's economic and security interests abroad. They argue that scientific evidence, not ideology, should guide policymaking in global health.
	Behind the scenes of the National Academy of Sciences' report on human genome editing When the National Academy of Sciences (NAS) released its Human Genome Editing Report last week, a wave of questions arose regarding the report's scientific and clinical implications. The report, which outlines criteria that should be met before allowing clinical trials involving germline editing to go forward, was issued in response to the promising research and clinical opportunities associated with powerful genome-editing tools such as CRISPR/Cas9.
	New mech­an­ism un­der­ly­ing epi­lepsy found Prolonged epileptic seizures may cause serious problems that will continue for the rest of a patient's life. As a result of a seizure, neural connections of the brain may be rewired in an incorrect way. This may result in seizures that are difficult to control with medication. Mechanisms underlying this phenomenon are not entirely known, which makes current therapies ineffective in some patients.
	Surgical technique marks the start of a new chapter in the removal of benign tumours from the auditory nerve A vestibular schwannoma is a benign tumour consisting of connective tissue and nerve tissue. It is still not known what causes it. 1 – 2 people in every 100,000 develop this type of tumour, which usually presses on the vestibular nerve and at the same time damages the auditory nerve. Up until now it has not been possible to remove the tumour and simultaneously restore the patient's hearing. This is exactly what Christoph Arnoldner of the Department of Ear, Nose and Throat Diseases at MedUni Vienna/Vienna General Hospital and Christian Matula (Department of Neurosurgery at MedUni Vienna/Vienna General Hospital) have now succeeded in doing for the very first time in Austria. This operation is also very rare worldwide.
	Potential cause of Lafora disease revealed Researchers at Okayama University report in the journal Matters, a potential third factor in the pathogenesis of Lafora disease. In addition to gene mutations, chemical modification of the enzyme Laforin induced by nitrosative stress is found to be a likely cause of the illness too.
Gauging ACA's effect on primary care access A new research letter published online by JAMA Internal Medicine assessed the Affordable Care Act's effect on primary care access because millions of uninsured adults have gotten health insurance since major coverage provisions were implemented.
	Artificial intelligence can help doctors The computer gathers relevant disease information from 200 documents in just a few seconds. Doctors have no chance at matching its tempo.
	Computer to give advice on mental health It will be open 24 hours a day, and will never close down for festivals or take a holiday. The machine will provide sensible and personal advice for young people who contact its chat service. This is the aim of Professor Ole-Christoffer Granmo at the University of Agder.
Involuntary urinary incontinence can discourage sufferers from exercise According to a study published in the distinguished journal PLOS ONE, urinary incontinence symptoms in middle-aged woman are linked to lower levels of exercise. Involuntary urinary incontinence symptoms can discourage sufferers from partaking in exercise. However, exercise can ease symptoms by, for example, reducing obesity – as obesity increases pressure on the urethra – and strengthening pelvic floor muscles.
	Scientists uncover molecule that can destroy cancer tumour cells whilst leaving normal cells unaffected Scientists at the University of Huddersfield are the first to arrive at a deep understanding of a molecule that destroys cancerous tumours without harming healthy cell tissue. The discovery opens up the potential for highly effective new cancer treatments that are free of serious side effects.
Ketogenic diet shown safe and effective option for some with rare and severest form of epilepsy In a small phase I and II clinical trial, Johns Hopkins researchers and colleagues elsewhere found that the high-fat, low-carbohydrate ketogenic diet was a safe and effective treatment option for the majority of adults experiencing a relatively rare, often fatal and always severe form of epilepsy marked by prolonged seizures that require medically induced comas to prevent them from further damaging the body and the brain.
What outcomes are associated with early preventive dental care among Medicaid-enrolled children in Alabama Preventive dental care provided by a dentist for children before the age of 2 enrolled in Medicaid in Alabama was associated with more frequent subsequent treatment for tooth decay, more visits and more spending on dental care compared with no early preventive dental care for children, according to an article published online by JAMA Pediatrics.
Doctors should discuss herbal medication use with heart disease patients Physicians should be well-versed in the herbal medications heart disease patients may take to be able to effectively discuss their clinical implications, potential benefits and side effects—despite a lack of scientific evidence to support their use, according to a review paper published today in the Journal of the American College of Cardiology.
Researchers aim to debunk myths on antioxidant pills, juicing, other dietary fads Researchers analyzed nutrition studies in a new review published today in the Journal of the American College of Cardiology, which intends to cut through the confusion about the best dietary patterns to reduce heart disease. The review concludes current evidence strongly supports eating plenty of fruits, vegetables, whole grains, legumes, and nuts in moderation. Although more controversial, some heart-healthy diets may also include very limited quantities of lean meat, fish, low-fat and nonfat dairy products, and liquid vegetable oils.
Following dietary recommendations leads to modest heart health improvements Following current dietary recommendations may lead to small improvements in overall heart health in overweight individuals, according to a study published today in the Journal of the American College of Cardiology.
Increased physical activity, lower BMI may lower heart failure risk Lifestyle patterns, including physical activity and body mass index (BMI), are associated with a risk of overall heart failure but are more strongly associated with the heart failure subtype HFpEF, according to a study published today in the Journal of the American College of Cardiology.
	Study finds biomarker for lung cancer detection in the nasal passages of smokers A new nasal test may allow patients suspected of having lung cancer to undergo a simple swab of their nose to determine if they have the disease.
	Given the choice, patients will reach for cannabis over prescribed opioids Chronic pain sufferers and those taking mental health meds would rather turn to cannabis instead of their prescribed opioid medication, according to new research by the University of British Columbia and University of Victoria. "This study is one of the first to track medical cannabis use under the new system of licensed producers, meaning that all participants had physician authorization to access cannabis in addition to their prescription medicines," says UBC Assoc. Prof. Zach Walsh, co-author of the study.
	Pediatricians revise guidelines for teen victims of sexual assault (HealthDay)—Pediatricians should be comfortable with treating and screening for sexual assault—and they should know where to send their teenage patients for any additional help they might need.
	Many Americans unaware of 'superbug' threat: poll (HealthDay)—Antibiotic-resistant "superbugs" are a major public health threat, but most Americans are clueless about the dangers, a new HealthDay/Harris Poll shows.
Genetic variant of p53 gene linked to breast cancer risk in premenopausal African American women Scientists at The Wistar Institute in collaboration with Roswell Park Cancer Institute found a significant association between a rare genetic variant of the p53 gene present in African American women and their risk of developing breast cancer in premenopausal age. The study was published online by the journal NPJ Breast Cancer.
Clinical trial supports use of novel preventive therapy for dangerous swelling disorder clinical trial for a new drug to prevent attacks of hereditary angioedema (HAE) - a rare disorder characterized by recurrent swelling of tissues in the face, hands, gastrointestinal tract and airway - has had promising results. In the February 23 New England Journal of Medicine, a multi-institutional team describes how subcutaneous injection of the monoclonal antibody lanadelumab every 14 days significantly reduced swelling episodes without serious side effects in HAE patients.
WHO report is 'major step forward' in fight against drug-resistant bacteria A new report by the World Health Organization lays out, for the first time, which antibiotic-resistant bacteria pose the greatest risk to global health and urgently need new effective treatments.
Research finds ski helmets lessens severity of injuries New research from Children's Hospital Colorado (Children's Colorado) focused on helmet safety and injury prevention among young skiers and snowboarders. The research found that children who wear a helmet while skiing or snowboarding sustain less severe head injuries and lower overall injury severity, compared to children who do not wear a helmet. The research was published in the Journal of Pediatric Surgery in February 2017.
	The dirty dozen: UN issues list of 12 most worrying bacteria The World Health Organization has issued a list of the top dozen bacteria most dangerous to humans, warning that doctors are fast running out of treatment options.
	Who gets sunburned? Survey finds risk is greater for young adults with melanin-rich skin Results from a study published in The Journal of the American Osteopathic Association point to an urgent need for sunburn prevention among young adults, particularly those who have skin with higher melanin content. Researchers found a surprising correlation between reporting a red or painful sunburn lasting a day or more with being 18 to 29 years of age and not self-identifying as white.
Kidney transplant success rates improve in children and infants The success of kidney transplants has vastly improved for children over the past half-century, with young children now experiencing better long-term transplant success than adults, according to study results from a large pediatric transplant center. These findings are published online as an "article in press" on the Journal of the American College of Surgeons website in advance of print publication.
Frequent, personalized CA125 testing may help detect ovarian cancer in high-risk women The combined results of two ovarian cancer screening trials suggest that a personalized strategy involving frequent screening of high-risk women could improve the chance that tumors are detected at early stages when they are easier to treat. As reported in a paper published in Clinical Cancer Research, these trials imply that a protocol involving quarterly blood test to identify significant increases above each patient's personal baseline in levels of the protein CA125, followed by ultrasound examination when such elevations are detected, could reduce the risk of diagnosis with advanced cancer in high-risk women who choose to delay recommended preventive surgery.
Good news for kids with epilepsy There's good news for kids with epilepsy. While several new drugs have come out in the last several years for adults with epilepsy, making those drugs available for children and teenagers has been delayed due to the challenges of testing new drugs on children. But an analysis of all the research published on adults and children shows that the positive results seen in adults appear to be similar in children. The preliminary meta-analysis was released today and will be presented at the American Academy of Neurology's 69th Annual Meeting in Boston, April 22 to 28, 2017.
Pacemaker function may be impacted by electric appliances; tools Electric and magnetic fields (EMF) generated from everyday household appliances, electrical tools and more, used in very close proximity to the body, can interfere with the ability of pacemakers to regulate patients' heartbeats, according to new research in the American Heart Association's journal Circulation.
	Statins do not benefit patients with lung cancer, new study shows Cholesterol-lowering drugs used alongside chemotherapy have no effect on treatment outcomes for lung cancer patients, according to a new study.
Medication improves obesity-associated gene expression in mice Obesity often leads to insulin resistance, a hallmark of type 2 diabetes. The anti-diabetic drug rosiglitazone counters insulin resistance in diabetic patients by targeting PPARγ, a nuclear receptor that senses hormones and other molecules to help regulate the expression of genes. Rosiglitazone's ability to reverse insulin resistance is not fully understood, but prior work has implicated its effects on fat cells as a key driver of therapeutic success.
Novel syndrome highlights the importance of rare disease research A group of researchers from Pakistan, Europe and Singapore have identified and characterised a previously undiscovered rare deafness-dystonia syndrome in a family living in a remote region of Pakistan. The research, published in Disease Models & Mechanisms, describes how five of the eight children in one family developed a range of symptoms as they grew: hearing impairment at six months of age developed into profound deafness by ten years old, accompanied by delayed motor development and subsequent regression.
Care by physicians and non-physician clinicians does not differ in community health centers A new study examining patient health outcomes in community health centers found that nurse practitioners and physician assistants delivered care that was equivalent to care delivered by physicians. The findings, the first comparison to focus on community health centers, could have implications for the structure of health centers in the future.
	Woodstoves are good for the soul, bad for the heart The risk of acute myocardial infarction for the elderly living in and around small cities is increased by air pollution caused by biomass burning from woodstoves.
	Study aims to see how children with cochlear implants learn words Research has proven the importance of early access to sound and spoken language among newborns and has led to significant advances in hearing screening and early intervention. Despite progress and improvements in educational and language outcomes of deaf children, children with hearing loss are still delayed, on average, when it comes to spoken language acquisition and still achieve lower reading levels and educational outcomes than children with normal hearing.
	Collaborative diabetes clinic lowers health care costs Diabetes cost the U.S. an estimated $245 billion in 2012, in direct medical costs and reduced productivity. Health care providers are facing increasing pressure to achieve better patient outcomes at a lower cost. To help address these issues, researchers at the Skaggs School of Pharmacy and Pharmaceutical Sciences at University of California San Diego are running a Diabetes Intensive Medical Management (DIMM) "tune up" clinic for complex type 2 diabetes patients at the Veterans Affairs San Diego Healthcare System. In a study published in the March 2017 issue of the Journal of Managed Care & Specialty Pharmacy, the researchers report the clinic's economic benefits, which include an estimated cost avoidance of $5,287 per DIMM clinic patient over three years.
Could community-based 'Change Clubs' improve heart health in black women? Heart disease is the leading cause of death for Black/African American women in the US and more Black/African American women die every year from heart disease compared to their white and Hispanic counterparts, according to the Centers for Disease Control. A pilot study, led by researchers at the Friedman School of Nutrition Science and Policy at Tufts University, aimed to address this disparity by investigating the impact of engaging Black/African American women in "Change Clubs" on measures of heart health. The results of the pilot study were published in BMC Public Health on Jan. 24.
	Drugmakers pledge restraint, but prices will still soar Several big drugmakers are trying to quell the furor over high drug prices by revealing more information about their pricing and even pledging to keep a lid on increases.
	Retinal OCT measures tied to intracranial pressure in children (HealthDay)—Peripapillary retinal optical coherence tomography (OCT) measures are associated with intracranial pressure in children, according to a study published online Feb. 23 in JAMA Ophthalmology.
	ACOG recommends use of carrier screening before pregnancy (HealthDay)—The American College of Obstetricians and Gynecologists (ACOG) recommends use of carrier screening for all women, according to two Committee Opinions published in the March issue of Obstetrics & Gynecology.
	Adherence to clinical decision support ups odds of acute PE ID (HealthDay)—For patients with suspected pulmonary embolism (PE) in the emergency department, adherence to evidence-based clinical decision support (CDS) for ordering computed tomographic (CT) pulmonary angiography is associated with increased odds of an acute PE finding, according to research published in the March issue of Radiology.
	Inhaled corticosteroids not linked to pneumonia in children (HealthDay)—Inhaled corticosteroids (ICS) do not appear to be associated with the risk of pneumonia in children with asthma, according to a review published online Feb. 24 in Pediatrics.
	USPSTF recommendation for overweight, obese cost-effective (HealthDay)—Implementing the 2014 U.S. Preventive Services Task Force (USPSTF) recommendations for behavioral counseling is likely to be cost-effective for overweight and obese adults, according to research published online Feb. 17 in Diabetes Care.
	3-D-printed bioabsorbable scaffold for ACL reconstruction with bone regeneration Researchers have designed a 3D-printed porous scaffold for use in reconstructing ruptured anterior cruciate ligaments (ACL) in the knee and engineered it to deliver a human bone-promoting protein over an extended period of time to improve bone regeneration. A study describing the composition of the scaffold and comparing different delivery methods for recombinant human bone morphogenetic protein 2 (rhBMP-2) is published in Tissue Engineering, Part A.
Expression of bax protein and morphological changes in the myocardium The expression of Bax protein, marker of intracellular pathway of apoptosis initiation, in viable left ventricular cardiomyocytes and morphological changes in the myocardium in acute pressure overload of the left ventricle were studied in experiment on male rabbits. The content of Bax protein in the cardiomyocyte cytoplasm decreased, this indicating that the mitochondrial pathway was not involved in the realization of the apoptotic program. This decrease was associated with manifest destructive changes in the left ventricular myocardium.
Time for physicians to prepare for impending appropriate use mandate Within a year, the Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services (CMS) will implement a provision in the Protecting Access to Medicare Act (PAMA) that requires physicians to consult appropriate use criteria (AUC) using CMS-approved computer-based clinical decision support mechanisms when ordering advanced imaging procedures.
Trials in humans near for antibody to block cocaine's impact on the brain A University of Cincinnati (UC) researcher who has developed an immunotherapy to help reverse cocaine addiction that's been successful in animal models says he hopes to have it in clinical trials in human volunteers within a year.

Biology news

	New tool for combating mosquito-borne disease: Insect parasite genes Wolbachia is the most successful parasite the world has ever known. You've never heard of it because it only infects bugs: millions upon millions of species of insects, spiders, centipedes and other arthropods all around the globe.
	Canada conservationist warns of 'cyber poaching' Photographers, poachers and eco-tour operators are in the crosshairs of a Canadian conservationist who warns that tracking tags are being hacked and misused to harass and hunt endangered animals.
	Study reveals ways powerful 'master gene' regulates physical differences between sexes Physical differences between males and females in species are common, but there remains much to learn about the genetic mechanisms behind these differences.
	Researchers detail genetic mechanisms that govern growth and drought response in plants New research from an Iowa State University scientist identifies a genetic mechanism that governs growth and drought tolerance in plants, a development that could lead to better performing traits in crops.
	New insights into how ungulates got bigger in the Neogene The observed increase of body size in ungulates during the 20 million years before the Pleistocene is driven by the process of species selection, according to researchers from the Senckenberg, Germany. Bigger ungulate species became more common because of a higher origination and lower extinction rate. The study, published recently in Proceedings of Royal Society B, is the first to compare the evolution of two mammalian clades during the Neogene on two continents. The researchers point out that this biogeographic perspective yields complex explanations for apparently shared patterns.
	Atacama Desert people found to have evolved greater tolerance of arsenic (Phys.org)—A team of researchers affiliated with several institutions in Chile has found that some people living in a part of the Atacama Desert have evolved over time for survival despite drinking water that contains 100 times the suggested maximum safe limit of arsenic as set by the World Health Organization. In their paper published in the American Journal of Physical Anthropology, the team describes a genetic study they conducted of the people in the area and what they found.
	Resurrecting extinct species might come at a terrible cost Bringing back extinct species could lead to biodiversity loss rather than gain, according to work featuring University of Queensland researchers.
	Greater prairie chickens cannot persist in Illinois without help, researchers report An iconic bird whose booming mating calls once reverberated across "the Prairie State" can survive in Illinois with the help of periodic human interventions, researchers report.
	Super resolution imaging helps determine a stem cell's future Scientists at Rutgers and other universities have created a new way to identify the state and fate of stem cells earlier than previously possible.
	Study shows stem cells fiercely abide by innate developmental timing The mystery of what controls the range of developmental clocks in mammals—from 22 months for an elephant to 12 days for a opossum—may lie in the strict time-keeping of pluripotent stem cells for each unique species.
	Recovering predators and prey If you build it, they will come. That's historically been a common approach to species recovery: Grow the prey population first and predators will quickly return. As it turns out, that's not quite the case. A new study has found that restoring predator and prey species simultaneously speeds the recovery efforts of both.
	Dogs, toddlers show similarities in social intelligence Most dog owners will tell you they consider their beloved pets to be members of their families. Now new research suggests that dogs may be even more like us than previously thought.
	Taking aim at a key malaria molecule The iron-containing molecule heme is necessary for life. Cells require heme to perform the chemical reactions that produce energy, among other critical tasks.
	Newfound primate teeth take a big bite out of the evolutionary tree of life Fossil hunters have found part of an ancient primate jawbone related to lemurs—the primitive primate group distantly connected to monkeys, apes and humans, a USC researcher said.
Watching birds near your home is good for your mental health People living in neighbourhoods with more birds, shrubs and trees are less likely to suffer from depression, anxiety and stress, according to research by academics at the University of Exeter, the British Trust for Ornithology and the University of Queensland.
	Thorny skate will not be added to endangered species list The thorny skate's population may have declined, but not by enough to justify listing it under the Endangered Species Act, the federal government has ruled.
Improved technology saves maple syrup producers time, energy Maple syrup doesn't get that rich flavor and color in an instant. It's a long process from tree to bottle.
Rings in stomach could be key to telling lobsters' ages Researchers are testing a technique they say could determine the age of lobsters.
Planned protection area would help basking sharks A proposed Marine Protected Area (MPA) off Scotland's west coast would help basking sharks, researchers say.
	Bashful Tokyo pandas mate after four-year hiatus Two giant pandas at Tokyo's Ueno Zoo mated for the first time in four years Monday—a 52-second effort that boosted hopes for a baby as well as shares in a nearby Chinese restaurant.
	Safe and ethical ways to edit the human genome The National Academies of Science and Medicine (NASEM) released a report on Feb. 14 exploring the implications of new technologies that can alter the genome of living organisms, including humans.
	Where do flowers come from? Shedding light on Darwin's 'abominable mystery' The mystery that is the origin of flowering plants has been partially solved thanks to a team from the Laboratoire de Physiologie Cellulaire et Végétale (CNRS/Inra/CEA/Université Grenoble Alpes), in collaboration with the Reproduction et Développement des Plantes laboratory (CNRS/ENS Lyon/Inra/Université Claude Bernard Lyon 1) and Kew Gardens (UK). Their discovery, published in the journal New Phytologist on February 24, 2017, sheds light on a question that much intrigued Darwin: the appearance of a structure as complex as the flower over the course of evolution.
	First CRISPR single-nucleotide edited transgenic mice Cystic fibrosis, sickle cell anemia, Huntington's disease and phenylketonuria are all examples of disorders caused by the mutation of a single nucleotide, a building block of DNA. The human DNA consists of approximately 3 billion nucleotides of four types: Adenine (A), cytosine (C), guanine (G), and thymine (T). In some cases, the difference of just one nucleotide can bring serious consequences. Scientists hope to cure these diseases by substituting the incorrect nucleotide with the correct one. However, it is technically challenging to replace a single nucleotide with the current gene editing tool, CRISPR-Cas9. Scientists at the Center for Genome Engineering, within the Institute for Basic Science (IBS) have used a variation of the popular gene editing technique CRISPR-Cas9 to produce mice with a single nucleotide difference. Their findings are published in Nature Biotechnology.
	It may not have been too late to save 'extinct' pigeon The Passenger Pigeon, a species of pigeon that died out in the early years of the 20th century, could have been saved even after it was considered doomed to extinction.
	S. Africa rhino poaching dipped in 2016, stays above 1,000 Poachers killed 1,054 South African rhinos for their horns in 2016, a 10 percent dip on a year earlier, the environment ministry said Monday, as officials struggle to quell the slaughter.
	Matching up fruit flies, mushroom toxins and human health Pulling data from 180 different lines of fruit flies, researchers from Michigan Technological University compared resistance to a toxin found in mushrooms like the Death Cap and Destroying Angel. Their results were published by PLOS ONE this week.
Aquarium of Niagara expanding to protect threatened penguins A Niagara Falls aquarium is expanding so it can breed and protect the threatened Humboldt penguin.
	New species of parasitic wasp discovered in the eggs of leaf-rolling weevils in Africa A new species of parasitic wasp has been obtained from the eggs of weevils, associated with bushwillows, collected and identified by Dr. Silvano Biondi. Given the tiny insect from northeastern Gabon is the first record of its genus for West-Central Africa, the researchers Dr. Stefania Laudonia and Dr. Gennaro Viggiani, both affiliated with Italy's University of Naples Federico II, decided to celebrate it by assigning the species a name that refers to the continent. Their team has published the findings in the open access journal ZooKeys.
	Gumtree bans donkey sales in S.Africa over skin trade Online sales website Gumtree said Monday that it had banned advertisements offering donkeys in South Africa to prevent inhumane killings of the animals to meet Chinese demand for their skins.

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