Science X Newsletter Monday, Apr 10

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Here is your customized Science X Newsletter for April 10, 2017:

Spotlight Stories Headlines

Astronomers take a closer look at a young circumbinary disk

Quantum dots that emit infrared light open new window for biological imaging

Forget sponges: The earliest animals were marine jellies

Long ago and far away, an average galaxy: 'Typical' galaxy helps astronomers study epoch of reionization

Researchers discover a surprising property of glass surfaces

Best of Last Week—Super-Earth atmosphere found, a Star Wars superlaser may be possible and Marmite as brain food

Proton-nuclei smashups yield clues about 'quark gluon plasma'

MAVEN reveals Mars has metal in its atmosphere

Laser weapons edge toward use in US military

Grey hair linked with increased heart disease risk in men

Uber fires back at Google spinoff in self-driving car case

Ancient Rome treasures discovered during subway dig on show

Google Brain posse takes neural network approach to translation

Inside the car-eat-car world of self-driving technology

Discovery could aid in development of treatments for fatal brain disease

Astronomy & Space news

	Astronomers take a closer look at a young circumbinary disk (Phys.org)—In a research paper published Apr. 3 on arXiv.org, astronomers presented a close-up view of the circumbinary disk HD 142527 obtained with the Atacama Large Millimeter and submillimeter Array (ALMA) in Chile. The new observations reveal the morphology and kinematics of the gas and dust emission in this disk.
	Long ago and far away, an average galaxy: 'Typical' galaxy helps astronomers study epoch of reionization Astronomers led by a graduate student at the University of California, Davis have discovered one of the most distant galaxies in the universe, and it's nothing out of the ordinary.
	MAVEN reveals Mars has metal in its atmosphere Mars has electrically charged metal atoms (ions) high in its atmosphere, according to new results from NASA's MAVEN spacecraft. The metal ions can reveal previously invisible activity in the mysterious electrically charged upper atmosphere (ionosphere) of Mars.
	Two Russians, one American land back on Earth from ISS Two Russian cosmonauts and a US astronaut touched down safely in central Kazakhstan Monday following a 173-day mission aboard the International Space Station (ISS).
	Hubble spots auroras on Uranus This is a composite image of Uranus by Voyager 2 and two different observations made by Hubble—one for the ring and one for the auroras.
	Proposed CubeSat mission to study atmospheric processes on Venus A small CubeSat designed to investigate atmospheric processes on Venus has been recently chosen by NASA for further development. The spacecraft, known as the CubeSat UV Experiment (CUVE), is one of 10 missions to study solar system planets and asteroids, selected by the agency under the Planetary Science Deep Space SmallSat Studies (PSDS3) program.
	Image: Colliding weather fronts on Jupiter This image, taken by the JunoCam imager on NASA's Juno spacecraft, highlights a feature on Jupiter where multiple atmospheric conditions appear to collide.
	When will Mars be close to Earth? As neighboring planets, Earth and Mars have a few things in common. Both are terrestrial in nature (i.e. rocky), both have tilted axes, and both orbit the sun within its circumstellar habitable zone. And during the course of their orbital periods (i.e. a year), both planets experience variations in temperature and changes in their seasonal weather patterns.
	NASA invests in 22 visionary exploration concepts A mechanical rover inspired by a Dutch artist. A weather balloon that recharges its batteries in the clouds of Venus.

Technology news

	Laser weapons edge toward use in US military A sci-fi staple for decades, laser weapons are finally becoming reality in the US military, albeit with capabilities a little less dramatic than at the movies.
	Uber fires back at Google spinoff in self-driving car case Uber is scoffing at claims that its expansion into self-driving cars hinges on trade secrets stolen from a Google spinoff, arguing that its ride-hailing service has been working on potentially superior technology.
	Google Brain posse takes neural network approach to translation (Tech Xplore)—The closer we can get a machine translation to be on par with expert human translation, the happier lots of people struggling with translations will be.
	Inside the car-eat-car world of self-driving technology First, it was just a dream. Then it became a quirky research project undertaken by a handful of the nerdiest engineers in the robotics industry.
	Honeypot reveals BrickerBot attacks: Internet of Things device wipeout (Tech Xplore)—A new type of malware rendering Internet of Things devices useless is making a lot of security watchers simply scratch their heads. They know how the attacks are taking place; they just cannot figure out why.
	Modern construction using long-forgotten techniques Researchers at ETH Zurich's Department of Architecture (D-ARCH) have developed a concrete floor system that does not require steel reinforcement and is 70 percent lighter than conventional concrete floors. Their design was inspired by historical construction principles.
	Medically monitoring premature babies with cameras Researchers at EPFL and CSEM have developed a contactless and wireless camera system to continuously monitor the vital signs of premature babies. This system could replace skin sensors, which cause false alarms nearly 90% of the time. Preliminary tests will soon be carried out on newborns at University Hospital Zurich, a partner in the project.
UK and US share a similar mindset when it comes to horizontal drilling for shale energy: study UK and US share a similar mindset when it comes to horizontal drilling for shale energy, say Cardiff University researchers and colleagues
	Americans use more clean energy in 2016 Americans used more renewable energy in 2016 compared to the previous year, according to the most recent energy flow charts released by Lawrence Livermore National Laboratory. Overall, energy consumption was nearly flat.
	Uber smartphone apps provisionally banned in Italy An Italian court on Friday banned the use of smartphone apps for the ride-hailing group Uber, saying they contribute to traditional taxis facing unfair competition, local media reported.
	US regulators accuse Google of underpaying female workers Government investigators looking into how Google pays its employees have accused the tech giant of shortchanging women doing similar work to men.
Not so silent night: Dallas emergency siren system hacked Hackers struck the sirens Dallas uses to alert residents to take shelter from inclement weather, triggering intermittent false alarms for about an hour and a half until officials deactivated the system early Saturday morning.
Hacker group releases password to alleged NSA files A secretive group that published a trove of hacking tools allegedly used by U.S. spies has released a password that it says can unlock related files.
More annual shareholder meetings go virtual in US Big US corporations have identified a new strategy for managing irate investors at annual shareholder meetings: Going virtual.
	France enshrines decision to close oldest nuclear plant The French government on Sunday published a decree for closing the country's oldest nuclear plant, fulfilling a campaign-trail pledge made by President Francois Hollande who is now in the final weeks of office.
Thousands pack Europe's first VidCon for online stars Thousands flocked to Amsterdam from around Europe this weekend to meet their online video heroes and mingle with young fans, eager to learn how they too can become a YouTube star.
	No perfect way to protect privacy Now that Congress has given internet service providers the green light to keep tabs on your online activities and do as they wish with that information, you might be wondering what you can do about it.
	Survey: Americans have shallow understanding of cybersecurity When it comes to cybersecurity, Americans recognize the need for strong passwords and know that public Wi-Fi hotspots aren't necessarily safe for online banking or e-commerce.
	The long road to autonomous vehicles Back in 1995, the NavLab 5 team at Carnegie Mellon University launched an autonomous vehicle on a trip from Pittsburgh to San Diego.
'Asia's Seattle' draws startups to buck trend in aging Japan From the fifth-floor office of his internet startup, Kazz Watabe can see the sea bass jump in the bay as he works on his fishing website to the sound of jazz and the waves washing on the beach below.
	Ford says hybrid police car catches bad guys, saves gas too The next time the cops chase you down for speeding, they could be driving a fuel-efficient gas-electric hybrid.
	Startups in Japan seeing ample cash but lack of innovators Japan Inc. where companies with roots going back decades, if not centuries, have long dominated, is finally warming up to startups.
Russian computer scientist arrested in Spain: police The wife of a Russian computer scientist arrested in Spain has reportedly been told by police he is being held over a computer virus linked to Donald Trump's US election victory.
	Even sex toys can be connected to the internet – and hacked Your photos aren't safe online. Repeated incidents of celebrities having their internet accounts hacked and intimate pictures distributed across the web have made this clear. Yet one company decided to put a camera into a sex toy and connect it to the internet. And, predictably, a security firm now claims it has found a way to hack and intercept the vibrator's video stream.
	Using randomness to protect election integrity Democratic societies depend on trust in elections and their results. Throughout the 2016 presidential election, and since President Trump's inauguration, allegations of Russian involvement in the U.S. presidential campaign have raised concerns about how vulnerable American elections are to hacking or other types of interference.
	New hybrid inks for printed, flexible electronics without sintering Research scientists at INM – Leibniz Institute for New Materials have developed a new type of hybrid inks which allows electronic circuits to be applied to paper directly from a pen.
India's Flipkart raises $1.4 bn from Microsoft, eBay, Tencent India's top e-commerce company Flipkart announced Monday it had raised $1.4 billion in a record funding round that shores up the online retail giant in its fight against Amazon.
	Many new doctors may be posting unprofessional content on Facebook When researchers searched Facebook for the public accounts of all urologists who graduated from US residency programs in 2015, they found that a substantial proportion of these accounts contained self-authored unprofessional content based on the professionalism guidelines of three physicians' organizations.
Microsoft, Adobe build on cloud partnership Microsoft and Adobe are integrating some aspects of their sales and marketing software, building on the cloud-computing partnership the two companies announced last fall.
Symantec says CIA tools found across 16 countries The CIA's cyberespionage toolkit made public by WikiLeaks has been linked to 40 spying operations in 16 countries, an early public assessment of the intelligence agency's global hacking operations, computer security company Symantec said Monday.
	US regulator reverses course on in-flight calling A top US regulator moved Monday to roll back efforts to allow cellphone use in aircraft, reversing course on relaxing a long-standing ban on in-flight calls.
	Chinese tech firm LeEco ends bid to buy TV maker Vizio Cash-strapped Chinese tech firm LeEco on Monday abandoned its effort to buy US television maker Vizio, citing "regulatory headwinds."
US tries to stop spam scheme after accused mastermind nabbed The Justice Department says it is working to dismantle a global computer network that sent hundreds of millions of spam emails worldwide each year.
	Italian satellite launcher Avio in place for next space race Italian satellite launcher company Avio's successful public offering on Monday will help fuel its ambitions to be a leader in the next space race, the company's CEO said in an interview.
	Machine learning models for drug discovery IBM today announced that its scientists have been granted a patent on machine learning models to predict therapeutic indications and side effects from various drug information sources. IBM Research has implemented a cognitive association engine to identify significant linkages between predicted therapeutic indications and side effects, and a visual analytics system to support the interactive exploration of these associations.
	Australia says it's ready to supply uranium to India Australia said Monday that it was ready to export uranium to India, nearly three years after the two countries signed an export deal for peaceful power generation.
	New radar scanner tests wind turbine blades for defects Thanks to the innovative radar scanner from the Fraunhofer Institute for Applied Solid State Physics IAF, defects in the material composition of the wind turbine blades can now be detected with far greater accuracy and visualized in a cross-sectional view, thereby saving costs in production and operation. A demonstrator will be presented at this year's Hannover Messe.
The survival of journalism is fraught with danger and being squeezed from all directions London, UK. Well researched journalism is more important than ever. Around the world there are squeezes on press freedom from all directions, and with the rise of what has been dubbed "fake-news", it is a time for thorough journalism, says Rachael Jolley, editor of the Index on Censorship Magazine, on the publication of a special report called "The Big Squeeze: Freedom of Speech Under Pressure".

Medicine & Health news

	Grey hair linked with increased heart disease risk in men Grey hair has been linked with an increased risk of heart disease in men, in research presented today at EuroPrevent 2017.
	Discovery could aid in development of treatments for fatal brain disease Huntington's disease is an inherited brain disorder that is uniformly fatal, but researchers at Johns Hopkins believe they have made a big discovery about how the disease progresses that could lead to a way to stop it.
	Study sheds light on tuberculosis Each year the World Health Organization (WHO) recognizes World Health Day with the goal of spreading awareness for global health issues. The WHO names tuberculosis (TB) as one of the top 10 causes of death worldwide and over 95 percent of those deaths occur in low- and middle-income countries. To improve the global health community's understanding of TB and provide information that could help treat it, Notre Dame researchers have developed a new strain of the bacteria along with a new method to better study this deadly disease.
	Matching tumor size to strength of immune response allows melanoma drug tailoring Despite the success of immunotherapies based on blocking the programmed cell death 1 (PD-1) receptor protein in metastatic melanoma patients, more than half do not experience a lasting benefit by seeing their tumors shrink. One possible reason the drug doesn't work well for all patients is that these PD-1 blocking drugs lack a biological effect in many patients. However, new studies now indicate that 80 percent of these patients do, in fact, have an increase in the number of responding T cells to these types of treatments. The PD-1-targeting antibody pembrolizumab is a checkpoint inhibitor drug that takes the brake off the PD-1 receptor to allow T cells to replicate and react more strongly to cancer cells.
	Time-lapse video reveals cells essential for 'birth' of blood stem cells Like private investigators on a stake out, St. Jude Children's Research Hospital scientists used patience and video surveillance-like tools to identify cells that trigger blood cell development. The findings offer clues for making blood-forming stem cells in the laboratory that may ultimately help improve access to bone marrow transplantation.
	Newfound signal helps pancreatic cancer cells hide from immune system Researchers at NYU Langone Medical Center and its Perlmutter Cancer Center have uncovered a critical pathway by which pancreatic cancer cells turn off the immune system charged with attacking them. The findings appear in a paper published online in Nature Medicine April 10.
	Research uncovers potential new treatment to treat and stop progression of cystic fibrosis Researchers from the George Washington University (GW), the University of Perugia, and the University of Rome have discovered a potential new drug to treat and stop the progression of cystic fibrosis. Thymosin α1 (Tα1) is a novel therapeutic single molecule-based therapy that not only corrects genetic and tissue defects, but also significantly reduces inflammation seen in cystic fibrosis patients.
	While adults focus their attention, children see everything: study Although adults can beat children at most cognitive tasks, new research shows that children's limitations can sometimes be their strength.
	Everyone has different 'bad spots' in their vision The ability to distinguish objects in peripheral vision varies significantly between individuals, finds new research from UCL, Paris Descartes University and Dartmouth College, USA. For example, some people are better at spotting things above their centre of vision while others are better at spotting things off to the right.
	Researchers identify link between birth defect and neurodegenerative diseases A new study has found a link between neurological birth defects in infants commonly found in pregnant women with diabetes and several neurodegenerative diseases, including Alzheimer's, Parkinson's and Huntington's diseases. This is the first time this link has been identified; it may indicate a new way to understand, and perhaps treat, both neural tube defects and these neurodegenerative diseases.
	Scientists add to theory about Huntington's mechanism Rice University researchers are starting to understand how protein fragments influence the fiber aggregation suspected as a cause of Huntington's disease.
	Vaccines save lives, but maintaining widespread coverage is essential "A vaccine that remains in the vial is 0% effective even if it is the best vaccine in the world," states a new editorial by Emory Vaccine Center leaders in Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences. Although vaccines against preventable infectious diseases have dramatically reduced global mortality rates, the editorial asserts, maintaining community confidence in vaccination and ensuring widespread coverage is essential to the continued success of vaccines.
	Life skills are important for wellbeing in later life Life skills, such as persistence, conscientiousness and control, are as important to wealth and wellbeing in later life as they are when people are much younger, according to new research led by UCL.
A little inhibition shapes the brain's GPS Researchers from King's College London have discovered a specific class of inhibitory neurons in the cerebral cortex which plays a key role in how the brain encodes spatial information. The findings are published in the journal Nature Neuroscience.
	Brain stimulation influences honest behavior Researchers at the University of Zurich have identified the brain mechanism that governs decisions between honesty and self-interest. Using non-invasive brain stimulation, they could even increase honest behavior.
	'Synthetic biomarkers' could be used to diagnose ovarian cancer months earlier than now possible Most ovarian cancer is diagnosed at such late stages that patients' survival rates are poor. However, if the cancer is detected earlier, five-year survival rates can be greater than 90 percent.
	Researchers use graphene, electricity to change stem cells for nerve regrowth Researchers looking for ways to regenerate nerves can have a hard time obtaining key tools of their trade.
	New approach makes cells resistant to HIV Scientists at The Scripps Research Institute (TSRI) have found a way to tether HIV-fighting antibodies to immune cells, creating a cell population resistant to the virus. Their experiments under lab conditions show that these resistant cells can quickly replace diseased cells, potentially curing the disease in a person with HIV.
	The first live-attenuated vaccine candidate completely protects against Zika infection The first live-attenuated Zika vaccine still in the development stage completely protected mice against the virus after a single vaccination dose, according to new research from The University of Texas Medical Branch at Galveston and Instituto Evandro Chagas at the Ministry of Health in Brazil. The findings are currently available in Nature Medicine.
Obese Spanish workers take more sick leave Obese Spanish workers take more sick leave than their healthy weight colleagues, according to research in more than 174 000 employees presented today at EuroPrevent 2017.
	Plotting the demise of Alzheimer's: New study is major test for power of early action Catch it early. Those are watchwords in the battle against a host of illnesses, from heart disease to cancer to Type 2 diabetes. Early detection gives physicians a chance to minimize damage, to insert a stent and keep blood flowing to the heart, to remove a tumor before one becomes many, to urge crucial lifestyle changes: lose weight, eat better, exercise.
Nutrition report calls for greater cooperation and coordination in promotion of pulse as consumer friendly food stuff A special issue of Annals published by the New York Academy of Sciences, stresses how increased pulse consumption could address nutrition issues related to the health of the overall human population, as well as the planet.
	How to protect your child from accidental poisoning (HealthDay)—Young children are at high risk for accidental poisoning, so parents and other caregivers need to take precautions, a pediatric toxicologist says.
	pH-balanced vaginal gel doesn't improve dyspareunia (HealthDay)—For breast cancer survivors who are premenopausal at diagnosis, a pH-balanced vaginal gel is no better than placebo for improving dyspareunia and overall sexual function, according to a study published in the May issue of Obstetrics & Gynecology.
	MACRA changes government approach to doctor payment (HealthDay)—Implementation of the Medicare Access and CHIP Reauthorization Act (MACRA) has made fundamental changes to the government's approach to physician payment, according to a March 27 policy brief published in Health Affairs.
$2,000 health care app promises to be the Uber in its field A new tech start-up wants to be the Uber of health care.
	Cold temperatures perceived in a photo increase cognitive control Ben-Gurion University of the Negev (BGU) researchers have demonstrated that the perception of cold temperatures elicits greater cognitive control, even from a photo.
	Some stroke survivors disregard doctors' advice on medications Some stroke survivors say they are disregarding general practitioners' (GP) advice on secondary prevention medications, such as statins, with some patients stopping their medication completely, according to a study of an online stroke forum led by Queen Mary University of London (QMUL).
	Obesity may influence rheumatoid arthritis blood tests New research reveals that in women, obesity may influence blood tests used to diagnose and monitor rheumatoid arthritis. The findings, which appear in Arthritis Care & Research, indicate that physicians need to take obesity into account when using these tests.
	Exploring association between reduced HPV infection and genetic variations in Western Asia New research provides an insight into why cervical cancer is less common in certain regions of the world even though they may have limited screening and fewer or no prevention programs. Though the preliminary findings, published early online in Cancer, a peer-reviewed journal of the American Cancer Society, don't rule out a cultural explanation or other reasons, they explore how genetic factors may also help explain this trend.
Common sedatives linked to increased risk of pneumonia in people with Alzheimer's disease Commonly used sedatives called benzodiazepines are associated with an increased risk of pneumonia when used in people with Alzheimer disease, according to a study published in CMAJ (Canadian Medical Association Journal).
	Brain cell transplants could help treat Parkinson's disease Replacing lost brain cells may help undo the damage caused by Parkinson's disease, researchers believe.
	Psychologist puts positive spin on fear of spiders New research by a University of Manchester psychologist could give new hope to people who are scared of spiders.
	Maximizers vs. minimizers—the personality trait that may guide your medical decisions – and costs Do certain people want more medical care than others do? And, does that matter?
	New anaesthesia technique a breath of fresh air for patients A University of Queensland alumnus has helped pioneer a world-first anaesthesia technique to make surgery safer for patients with obstructed airways.
	Personalized cell therapies show more promise in solid tumors Investigational "hunter" immune cells engineered to seek out and attack a deadly brain cancer known as glioblastoma (GBM) infiltrated patients' tumors and triggered thousands of more T cells once inside, researchers from Penn Medicine reported in a late breaking abstract at the AACR Annual Meeting 2017 (Abstract LB-053). The findings are among the results from three studies being presented on chimeric antigen receptor (CAR) therapy with T cells and a newer approach known as CARMA, which successfully pitted engineered macrophages against breast and ovarian tumors.
	Researchers uncover alarming trend in U.S. maternal death statistics New research from the Maryland Population Research Center (MPRC) at the University of Maryland uncovers some disturbing developments in maternal deaths in the United States, particularly concerning older mothers. When comparing data collected between 2008-2009 with data from 2013-2014 in 27 states and the District of Columbia, researchers found a 90 percent increase in the maternal death rate for women aged 40 and over. The researchers caution, however, that they suspect this spike is skewed by errors in data collected on standard U.S. death certificates.
	The gene that turns epilepsy treatment deadly Drug-induced hypersensitivity reactions (DIHRs) are serious and life threatening. A common example is the use of the antiepileptic drug carbamazepine, but the mechanisms that trigger it are unclear. Current scientific consensus holds that people who have a specific variation of the 'human leukocyte antigen B' (HLA-B) gene, which provides the code for making a protein that plays a critical role in the immune system, are more at risk of DIHR. However, the mechanism linking this gene to DIHR is currently unknown. As this specific variation, called HLA-B*15:02, is fairly common in people of South-East Asian descent, this is a serious problem for clinicians in the region.
High-intensity interval training rapidly improves diabetics' glucose metabolism New research reveals that high-intensity interval training (HIIT) increases glucose metabolism in muscles as well as insulin sensitivity in type 2 diabetes. After only a two-week training period, the glucose uptake in thigh muscles returned to a normal level.
	Road accident victims' recovery slower when seeking compensation, study finds For the 66,000 Australians injured in a motor vehicle crash each year the path to recovery can be slow. However new research from Monash University has found engagement with the road accident compensation system can make recovery even slower.
	Researchers develop mouse that could provide advance warning of next flu pandemic Researchers in Germany have developed a transgenic mouse that could help scientists identify new influenza virus strains with the potential to cause a global pandemic. The mouse is described in a study, "In vivo evasion of MxA by avian influenza viruses requires human signature in the viral nucleoprotein," that will be published April 10 in The Journal of Experimental Medicine.
Quest for balance in radiation leads to lower doses A new study led by UC San Francisco has found that radiation doses can be safely and effectively reduced - and more consistently administered - for common CT scans by assessing and comparing doses across hospitals, and then sharing best practices for how much radiation to use.
More younger americans are suffering strokes: study (HealthDay)—Strokes are typically associated with the elderly, but new research suggests that strokes are increasingly happening to Americans under 65.
	Mammogram guidelines have changed, but are doctors listening? (HealthDay)—Four of five doctors still recommend annual mammograms for women in their early 40s, despite guideline changes that have pushed back the age for yearly breast cancer screening, a new survey shows.
Patients at hospital-based primary practices more likely to get unnecessary tests Patients with common conditions such as back pain, headaches and upper respiratory infections are more likely to receive tests and services of uncertain or little diagnostic or therapeutic benefit—so-called low-value care—when they seek treatment in primary care clinics located at hospitals rather than at community-based primary care clinics, according to a nationwide study led by researchers at Harvard Medical School and the David Geffen School of Medicine at UCLA.
	Breast milk as a weapon against cancer In an FWF-funded project, scientists at the University of Graz modified and reinforced a host defence peptide from breast milk so as to enable it to specifically detect cancer cells. The active substance can then induce cell death. Research continues on this new therapeutic approach to types of cancer with limited treatability.
Green spaces good for grey matter Walking between busy urban environments and green spaces triggers changes in levels of excitement, engagement and frustration in the brain, a study has found.
	'Quick wee' technique to quickly acquire urine samples from infants Getting a urine sample from a very young child may be as simple as gently rubbing their stomach with cold, wet gauze, an Australian study has shown.
	Modern life is damaging our ears – probably more than we realise Noise exposure is the main cause of preventable hearing loss worldwide. It now accounts for more than a third of all cases of hearing loss in developed countries – and city dwellers are most at risk. A study published recently in The Lancet revealed that living in a noisy city increases your risk of hearing damage by 64%.
	Studies confirm long-term safety of life-saving treatment for premature babies More New Zealand families could benefit from a life-saving treatment for premature babies as new evidence from a major 10-year New Zealand and Australian trial confirms its long-term safety.
	Weather-forecast tool adapted to evaluate brain health of oxygen-deprived newborns UT Southwestern Medical Center pediatric researchers have harnessed an analytical tool used to predict the weather to evaluate the effectiveness of therapies to reduce brain injury in newborns who suffer oxygen deprivation during birth.
	New model can predict drug interactions and side effects even between a large number of components Drug cocktails such as those for treating cancer, like the alcoholic versions offered at the local bar, are best when the proper ingredients are mixed in the right proportions. And like the cocktails we normally drink, the combination of ingredients can be better than the sum of its parts—or it can leave us with unwanted side effects. A new model developed in the group of Prof. Uri Alon of the Weizmann Institute of Science's Molecular Cell Biology Department can simplify the process of identifying the optimal blends for drug cocktails - even when a large number of ingredients is called for.
	Gene analysis adds layers to understanding how our livers function If you get up in the morning feeling energetic and clearheaded, you can thank your liver for manufacturing glucose before breakfast time. Among a host of other vital functions, it also clears our body of toxins and produces most of the carrier proteins in our blood. In a study reported recently in Nature, Weizmann Institute of Science researchers showed that the liver's amazing multitasking capacity is due at least in part to a clever division of labor among its cells.
	New neural mechanism is found to regulate the chronic stress response In addition to the classic stress response in our bodies - an acute reaction that gradually abates when the threat passes - our bodies appear to have a separate mechanism that deals only with chronic stress. These Weizmann Institute of Science findings, which recently appeared in Nature Neuroscience, may lead to better diagnosis of and treatment for anxiety and depression.
	Weakening communication between two parts of the brain in mice reduced their fear levels Erasing unwanted memories is still the stuff of science fiction, but Weizmann Institute scientists have now managed to erase one type of memory in mice. In a study reported in Nature Neuroscience, they succeeded in shutting down a neuronal mechanism by which memories of fear are formed in the mouse brain. After the procedure, the mice resumed their earlier fearless behavior, "forgetting" they had previously been frightened.
	Race may play role in obese teens' blood pressure (HealthDay)—Obese teenagers are at increased risk of high blood pressure, but the effects of those extra pounds may vary by race and ethnicity, a new study suggests.
	It's the thought that counts: The neuro-anatomical basis of forgiveness revealed A sports person who has accidentally caused serious injury to a rival. A distracted driver who has caused an accident. Or a colleague who has involuntarily made a very serious error. Even outside the court room we have all been in situations in which we have had to express judgements on specific events on the basis of the seriousness of the incident but also on the intentions of those who caused them. New research by Trieste's SISSA, published in the Scientific Reports journal, has studied the areas of the brain involved in processes which prompt us to forgive those who have seriously, but unintentionally, messed up. Researchers specifically examined the role of a part of the brain, called anterior superior temporal sulcus (aSTS), and discovered that the larger the amount of grey matter in this patch of cortex, the more likely we are to forgive those who have made a serious mistake by accident.
Cause of an inherited neurological disorder discovered Researchers at the University of Liverpool have identified the basis for how a single gene mutation can cause a rare neurological movement disorder known as dystonia.
From heart failure to health: Pump shown to restore organ to fitness As we face a shortage of donated hearts for transplant, the study authors are calling for the devices to be considered as a tool which can allow patients to restore their health.
	Negative sounds emphasized in burned-out brains Approximately every fourth working aged Finn experiences symptoms of burnout that include exhaustion, cynicism and reduced professional efficacy and often also difficulties in concentration and memory.
	AHA survey finds patients uncertain about how to best manage their cholesterol People who have high cholesterol may understand they need to manage their condition, but many aren't sure how to do that, nor do they feel confident they can, according to a new survey from the American Heart Association.
Communication from doctors could reduce anxiety for macular degeneration patients Highly effective current treatments for vision loss need to be allied with careful counselling to ensure patients maintain good psychological health as well as good vision, new research recommends.wAMD is the commonest cause of vision loss in the western world, but modern treatments have dramatically improved the level of vision patients can expect to retain. These treatments involve regular injection of vascular endothelial growth factor inhibitors (anti-VEGF) into the eye.
	Avocados may help combat the metabolic syndrome A new review investigates the effects of avocados on different components of metabolic syndrome, which is a clustering of risk factors including high blood sugar, cholesterol, blood pressure, and body mass index. These risk factors lead to an increased risk of type 2 diabetes and cardiovascular disease.
	To help ward off Alzheimer's, think before you eat Diets designed to boost brain health, targeted largely at older adults, are a new, noteworthy development in the field of nutrition.
	When families lack insurance, kids' dental woes rise (HealthDay)—American children without dental insurance are far less likely to receive necessary care for their teeth than kids with coverage, a new survey finds.
	Mask with myoinositol / trehalose aids adult female acne (HealthDay)—A ready-to-use peel-off facial mask containing myoinositol and trehalose-loaded liposomes results in clinically detectable improvements in adult female acne (AFA), according to a study published online March 25 in the Journal of Cosmetic Dermatology.
	Exercise capacity prognostically beneficial for patients (HealthDay)—Cardiopulmonary exercise testing, unless contraindicated, should be performed to obtain an overall view of cardiac and pulmonary patients' clinical status, according to a review published online March 31 in the Annals of the American Thoracic Society.
	Lower risk of gastrointestinal bleeding for apixaban (HealthDay)—For patients receiving direct oral anticoagulant (DOAC) agents for non-valvular atrial fibrillation, apixaban is associated with a lower risk of gastrointestinal (GI) bleeding than rivaroxaban or dabigatran, according to a study published in the April issue of Gastroenterology.
	Fungal lesions can mimic neoplastic growths on tongue (HealthDay)—Fungal lesions can mimic neoplastic growths on the tongue, according to a case report published online April 5 in Pediatrics.
	Survival similar with debulking by laparotomy, laparoscopy (HealthDay)—For women with epithelial ovarian cancer, three-year survival rates are similar for women undergoing debulking by laparotomy or laparoscopy, according to a study published in the May issue of Obstetrics & Gynecology.
	Mindfulness practice reduces cortisol blunting during chemo (HealthDay)—Mindfulness practice during chemotherapy can reduce the blunting of neuroendocrine profiles typically observed in cancer patients, according to a study published online April 7 in Cancer.
	Insulin resistance predicts later cognitive decline (HealthDay)—Higher serum fasting insulin and insulin resistance predict poorer verbal fluency and a steeper decline in future verbal fluency, according to a study published online April 5 issue of Diabetes Care.
	Blood test shows promise in detecting abusive head trauma in infants Researchers at Children's Hospital of Pittsburgh of UPMC and University of Pittsburgh School of Medicine have developed and refined a blood test that could help clinicians identify infants who may have had bleeding of the brain as a result of abusive head trauma, sometimes referred to as shaken baby syndrome. The science behind the test is described today in JAMA Pediatrics.
	Protein hampers the positive power of brown and beige fat Too much of a protein already associated with prostate cancer appears to also diminish the energy burning power of brown fat, scientists report.
	Interpersonal abuse in early life may lead to concentration issues later in life Does a history of abuse before the age of 18 affect later capacity to concentrate and stay focused?
	Researchers find novel way to induce pancreatic cancer cell death Pancreatic cancer, most frequently pancreatic ductal adenocarcinoma (PDAC), is the most lethal and aggressive of all cancers. Unfortunately, there are not many effective therapies available other than surgery, and that is not an option for many patients.
	Different breast cancer treatment options vary widely in their cost-effectiveness A new study published today in the Journal of the National Cancer Institute indicates that different therapies for early-stage breast cancer have very different relative values. Some therapies may have fewer complications and be much less expensive than others. Women may be making treatment decisions based on factors other than medical value.
	Behind the scenes: Philly 'soda tax' passed on reveneue appeal After years of attempts, passing of Philadelphia's "soda tax" came down to appealing to people's purse strings, not their health, according to a new Drexel University study.
	Laser-based dermatological procedures could be revolutionized with new technique The first laser treatments used to treat skin conditions such as benign vascular birthmarks and port-wine stains were developed more than 40 years ago. Since then, clinicians and dermatologists have seen a rise in demand for minimally invasive laser-based treatments, including tattoo removal. However, it is difficult for the laser light, which is held at a distance from the skin, to be perfectly and selectively absorbed by only the targeted birthmark or tattoo. Now, researchers from the University of Missouri have developed instruments that transmit laser light into the tissue through direct contact. The techniques developed by the interdisciplinary team can be used by dermatologists and will reduce safety concerns in laser dermatology by improving laser transmission through surface layers of the skin.
	Are you listening? Your pupils indicate if you are A new Dartmouth study finds that listeners are most likely to tune in when a speaker delivers the most emotional peaks of his/her narrative, as revealed by synchronous pupil dilation patterns of speakers and listeners due to shared attention. The findings are published in the Journal of Experimental Psychology: General.
Study examines factors of inmate relationships during incarceration and STI/HIV prevention HIV incidence among African-American men is nearly eight times that of white men, and twice that of Latino men. Incarceration, which disproportionately affects African-American men, is thought to be a factor in this wide disparity. There have been strong, independent associations drawn between history of incarceration, sexual risk behaviors, and sexually transmitted infection (STI). However, research on the sex partnerships of incarcerated African-American men and the types of partnerships most likely to protect against STI/HIV-related sex risk is limited.
Wide variability in coroner decision-making around investigating deaths Coroners in England and Wales don't seem able to agree on what caused a person's death or whether the death merits an inquest or not—despite being faced with identical case information—reveals a small study published online in the Journal of Clinical Pathology.
New chemical composition of 'poppers' linked to retinal damage The new chemical composition of the legal high 'poppers' is linked to retinal damage at the back of the eye, finds a small study published online in the British Journal of Ophthalmology.
	CDC backs breast-feeding, despite false story A widely shared story that U.S. health officials are recommending a delay in breast-feeding to improve vaccine effectiveness is false.
	Don't bank on heart-rate accuracy from your activity tracker (HealthDay)—Wrist-worn activity trackers such as Fitbit don't reliably assess heart rate, a new study finds.
	Botox may help ease 'burning mouth' syndrome (HealthDay)—Botox, long used to smooth wrinkles, may come to the rescue for people with a painful condition called burning mouth syndrome.
	Housing options help autistic adults find independence Masha Gregory was nervous to move out of her parents' home and into her own place, where the 26-year-old Pennsylvania woman worried about making friends and being away from her parents. But after living in her own apartment at a complex that focuses on adults with autism, she's made new friends and found she loves her independence.
	Move over 'Obamacare,' Trump plan is now the focus Something new is happening in a health care debate dominated for seven years by the twists and turns of Barack Obama's signature law. The focus has shifted to ideas from President Donald Trump and GOP lawmakers in Congress, and most people don't like what they see.
Psychosocial programmes for children in war-torn Sri Lanka show good results Different psychosocial rehabilitation programs for children have somewhat different results due to differences in resources, methodologies and objectives. But a much more significant difference appears when comparing rehabilitated children with children who have not undergone any rehabilitation at all. This is shown by a study from the University of Gothenburg, Sweden.
How to make your next sexual health check less awkward Many people find the idea of a sexual health check awkward or embarrassing. After all, it's not every day someone you barely know asks you intimate details about your sex life or asks to examine your genitals.
	Vegan restaurant ban on cows' milk formula is another way to stigmatise mothers A vegan restaurant in Spain has been both praised and criticised for banning the use of infant formula derived from animals.
Study identifies a role for the metabolism regulator PPAR-gamma in liver cancer Liver cancers are a major cause of cancer-related deaths. Large-scale genetic analyses have associated liver cancer with dysregulation of numerous molecular pathways, but disruptions in insulin signaling pathways appear to have a particularly important contribution to liver tumor formation. Obesity is a major risk factor for developing liver cancer, and the nuclear receptor PPARγ critically controls fat uptake and storage in the liver by regulating the transcription of metabolism-associated genes. However, whether PPARγ also plays a role in promoting the growth of liver tumors is not clear.
	Muppet with autism makes her 'Sesame Street' debut (HealthDay)—A half-century into its run as an iconic staple of children's television, "Sesame Street" will introduce a character with autism to its world-famous neighborhood.
	Threat of firearm use affects PTSD symptoms among female victims of partner violence A new study shows that the threat of firearm use by a male partner in an intimate relationship is a significant predictor of post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD) symptom severity in women, independent of other forms of interpersonal partner violence. The study is published in Violence and Gender.
Dry needling offers alternative to cortisone injection for hip pain Dry needling may be a viable treatment alternative to cortisone injection for patients with chronic, intermittent pain and tenderness on the outside of the hip, thus avoiding the potentially harmful effects of steroids, according to a new study published in the April 2017 issue of the Journal of Orthopaedic & Sports Physical Therapy (JOSPT).
Benefits and harms of osteoporosis medications unclear for patients with CKD More research is needed to determine the benefits and harms of osteoporosis medications on bone mineral density (BMD), fracture risk, and safety among patients with chronic kidney disease (CKD). This is important because complications of CKD include weak bones and increased fracture risk. The results of a systematic review and meta-analysis are published in Annals of Internal Medicine.

Biology news

	Forget sponges: The earliest animals were marine jellies When cartoonist and marine-biology teacher Steve Hillenburg created SpongeBob SquarePants in 1999, he may have backed the wrong side of one of the longest-running controversies in the field of evolutionary biology.
	Food webs entangle humans in complex relationships with animals, crops and the environment Reconstructed food webs from the Ancestral Puebloan southwestern United States show the complexity and interconnectedness of humans, other animals, crops and the environment, in an area of uncertain climate and resources, according to researchers, who think climate change and human decisions then, may shed light on future human choices.
	Promiscuity slows down evolution of new species Promiscuity mixes up the gene pool and dilutes genetic differences between populations, slowing down the evolution of new species, says new research by an international team led by the University of Bath's Milner Centre for Evolution.
	Womb lining grown in lab could reveal secrets of menstrual cycle and early pregnancy Scientists at the University of Cambridge have succeeded in growing miniature functional models of the lining of the womb (uterus) in culture. These organoids, as they are known, could provide new insights into the early stages of pregnancy and conditions such as endometriosis, a painful condition that affects as many as two million women in the UK.
	What obese fruit flies may tell us about the evolution of cold tolerance Researchers have hypothesized that migrations into higher, colder latitudes may lead to the evolution of fast-burning metabolisms that keep cells warm in chilly conditions, boosting cold tolerance. In Developmental Cell, on April 10, researchers show that a gene called THADA, which has previously been identified as one of the key genes in humans that differs in people from arctic latitudes and people from tropical latitudes, helps flies burn energy from fat. When the gene is knocked out in flies, they become obese and burn less energy. This finding may be a clue to previously observed correlations between ancestral latitudes and metabolism in humans.
	New method for recording bird flight in 3-D The wind rushing between skyscrapers is a substantial hurdle for anyone interested in operating small drones in urban areas. Yet, pigeons seem to have little trouble maneuvering through turbulent city skies. With sights set on unlocking the secrets of birds' smooth sailing, researchers at Stanford University have developed a new method for recording the shape of birds' wings during flight.
	As fins evolve to help fish swim, so does the nervous system The sensory system in fish fins evolves in parallel to fin shape and mechanics, and is specifically tuned to work with the fish's swimming behavior, according to new research from the University of Chicago. The researchers found these parallels across a wide range of fish species, suggesting that it may occur in other animals as well.
	New study shows that three quarters of deep-sea animals make their own light Ever since explorer William Beebe descended into the depths in a metal sphere in the 1930s, marine biologists have been astounded by the number and diversity of glowing animals in the ocean. Yet few studies have actually documented the numbers of glowing animals at different depths. In a new study in Scientific Reports, MBARI researchers Séverine Martini and Steve Haddock show that three quarters of the animals in Monterey Bay waters between the surface and 4,000 meters deep can produce their own light.
Softball-sized spider species discovered in Baja California caves In the hills of Baja California, Michael Wall and Jim Berrian found a creature that's the stuff of nightmares for most people: a cave spider nearly the size of a tarantula.
	A deadly fungus that has killed millions of bats in Northeast has spread to Texas Bad news for bats: White-nose syndrome, a disease caused by a fungus that has been killing millions of bats across the Northeast, has reached Texas.
	Logging threatens breeding turtles Debris from logging in tropical forests is threatening the survival of hatchling leatherback turtles and the success of mothers at one of the world's most important nesting sites in Colombia.
	Nepal's rhinos on road to recovery with cross-country move All hell broke loose as the one-horned rhino stepped out of the crate, the powerful male charging elephant-mounted mahouts relocating him to a new home in Nepal's far west in the hope of shoring up the vulnerable species.
	A hardy rodent with 'extraordinary' anticancer defences Scientists are getting closer to understanding how naked mole rats, the world's longest living rodent species, avoid cancer, which could lead to safer stem cell therapies for human diseases.
How domestication can change animals' facial features Domesticated animals, compared to their wild counterparts, have undergone numerous changes in physiology, behavior and morphology. These changes are commonly referred to as the domestication syndrome and include behavioral changes, such as increased docility as well as genetic alterations in size, color and facial characteristics. In attempting to find whether these changes have a single cause, Russian zoologist Dmitry Belyaev conducted a series of selection experiments with silver foxes, hypothesizing that behavior, specifically tameness, was the key driving factor behind the changes brought about by domestication. After generations of selecting foxes for tameness, they were found to display phenotypes similar to those observed in domesticated species. Since then, it has been further hypothesized that selection for social tolerance and reduced aggression may also have played an important role in shaping the modern human anatomy, which is remarkable for the reduced face and gracile overall features.
	Scientists one step closer to cracking the mystery of bacterial adaptation to antibiotics An international team including researchers from MIPT's Laboratory for Advanced Studies of Membrane Proteins have proposed an explanation of how bacteria process external signals. By identifying the detailed structure of the protein complex used by bacteria, the scientists gained insights into the ability of these microorganisms to detect even small changes in the environment and adapt to them. The research findings were published in Scientific Reports.
	Secretary bird at German park gets new leg from 3-D printer Soeckchen the secretary bird is now strutting around her home in northern Germany with an artificial leg produced using a 3-D printer.
New tool can help estimate genetically modified pollen spread Food purists may have cause to celebrate thanks to a recent international study directed by the University of British Columbia. The study, which evaluated the spread of genetically modified (GM) organisms to non-modified crops, has implications from farm to family.
	Seeds from a site in Northern Israel are the ancestors of today's fava beans Like all food crops, the faba, or fava, bean - a nutritious part of many the diet of many cultures diets - had a wild ancestor. Wild faba is presumed to be extinct, but Weizmann Institute of Science researchers have now identified 14,000-year-old remains of seeds that offer important clues as to the time and place that this plant grew naturally. Understanding the ecology of the wild plants' environment and the evolution they underwent in the course of domestication is crucial to improving the biodiversity of the modern crop. The findings were reported in Scientific Reports.
	Programmed proteins might help prevent malaria Despite decades of malaria research, the disease still afflicts hundreds of millions and kills around half a million people each year - most of them children in tropical regions. Part of the problem is that the malaria parasite is a shape-shifter, making it hard to target. But another part of the problem is that even the parasite's proteins that could be used as vaccines are unstable at tropical temperatures and require complicated, expensive cellular systems to produce them in large quantities. Unfortunately, the vaccines are most needed in areas where refrigeration is lacking and funds to buy vaccines are scarce. A new approach developed at the Weizmann Institute of Science, recently reported in Proceedings of the National Academy of Science (PNAS), could, in the future, lead to an inexpensive malaria vaccine that can be stored at room temperature.
Some bed bugs show early signs of resistance to two common insecticides Pest management professionals battling the ongoing resurgence of bed bugs are wise to employ a well-rounded set of measures that reduces reliance on chemical control, as new research shows the early signs of resistance developing among bed bugs to two commonly used insecticides.
	Moose tracking: There's an app for that Ecologists in the University of Alberta's Department of Biological Sciences have developed an app to improve population modeling for moose, asking hunters record the number of moose they see while hunting in Alberta.
	Rare one-horned rhino killed by poachers in Nepal Poachers have shot dead a one-horned rhinoceros at a national wildlife park in Nepal, officials said Sunday, spotlighting the threat faced by the rare animals.
	Trump wall threatens Mexico's animals without borders They are not "bad hombres," as Donald Trump might say—or any kind of hombres at all.
Ethiopia park tries to relocate settlers to protect wolves Thousands of Ethiopian wolves once roamed much of this country's mountainous north but their number has fallen dramatically as farmers encroach on their habitat and introduce domestic dogs that carry rabies.
	Malaysia seizes big shipment of rhino horns at airport Enforcement officials in Malaysia have seized 18 rhinoceros horns imported from Mozambique, weighing 51.4 kg and worth 13.7 million ringgit ($3.1 million), a senior customs official said Monday.
	Two new species of orchids discovered in Okinawa Two new species of parasitic plants have been discovered on the main island of Okinawa, Japan. The discovery was made by Project Associate Professor SUETSUGU Kenji (Kobe University Graduate School of Science), who named them Gastrodia nipponicoides and Gastrodia okinawensis. Details of these findings were published online in Phytotaxa on April 7th.
	Soy protein concentrate can replace animal proteins in weanling pig diets Plant-derived proteins are less expensive than animal proteins if used in weanling pig diets, but may contain anti-nutritional factors that can negatively affect gut health and growth performance. However, results of a new study from the University of Illinois indicate that soy protein concentrate (SPC) may be partly or fully substituted for animal proteins without adverse effects.

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