Science X Newsletter Tuesday, Apr 4

Dear Reader ,

Here is your customized Science X Newsletter for April 4, 2017:

Spotlight Stories Headlines

Vacuum channel transistor combines best of semiconductors and vacuum tubes

Touch-sensitive, elastic fibers offer new interface for electronics

Brexit 1.0: Scientists find evidence of Britain's original separation from Europe

Common antibiotic may help to prevent or treat PTSD

Paintings, sunspots and frost fairs: Rethinking the Little Ice Age

Chemists find that hookah tobacco heated electronically kills 70 percent more lung cells than traditional charcoal

Invention uses bacteria to purify water

Strike force: world's most venomous scorpion in action

Bio-sensing contact lens could someday measure blood glucose, other bodily functions

Hair strands could reveal lifestyle secrets of criminals

Materials may lead to self-healing smartphones

Researchers obtain Bose-Einstein condensate with nickel chloride

Some of the ways Tibetans have evolved to stand living at such high altitudes revealed

Artificial thymus can produce cancer-fighting T cells from blood stem cells

Parental smoking linked to genetic changes found in childhood cancer

Astronomy & Space news

	NASA robotic refueling mission departs station The International Space Station serves as an orbiting test and demonstration laboratory for scientific experiments to be performed inside and outside the space station. The experiments are inherently transient with typical life cycles of about one to five years. Once their test objectives are accomplished, they are removed to make way for new experiments.
	Neptune's journey during early planet formation was 'smooth and calm' Dr Wes Fraser from Queen's led an international research project 'Colours of the Outer Solar Systems Origins Survey' Col-OSSOS, which uses data collected from the Frederick C. Gillett Gemini North Telescope and Canada-France-Hawaii Telescope (CFHT) both on Maunakea in Hawaii. By simultaneously using two world class telescopes, Dr Fraser's team was able to produce unique research with a global impact.
	New Horizons halfway from Pluto to next flyby target How time and our spacecraft fly—especially when you're making history at 32,000 miles per hour. Continuing on its path through the outer regions of the solar system, NASA's New Horizons spacecraft has now traveled half the distance from Pluto – its storied first target – to 2014 MU69, the Kuiper Belt object (KBO) it will fly past on Jan. 1, 2019. The spacecraft reached that milestone at midnight (UTC) on April 3 – or 8 p.m. ET on April 2 – when it was 486.19 million miles (782.45 million kilometers) beyond Pluto and the same distance from MU69.
	Cassini mission prepares for 'grand finale' at Saturn NASA's Cassini spacecraft, in orbit around Saturn since 2004, is about to begin the final chapter of its remarkable story. On Wednesday, April 26, the spacecraft will make the first in a series of dives through the 1,500-mile-wide (2,400-kilometer) gap between Saturn and its rings as part of the mission's grand finale.
	Image: Sliver of Saturn Although only a sliver of Saturn's sunlit face is visible in this view, the mighty gas giant planet still dominates the view.
	Frequent flaring on TRAPPIST-1—unsuited for habitability? Data from the K2 mission reveals strong stellar magnetism in the TRAPPIST-1 system that hosts three potentially habitable planets, suggesting that those planets could be a less friendly place for life.
	Here comes the sun in first-time images The first images from the Solar Ultraviolet Imager (SUVI) instrument aboard the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration's GOES-16 satellite capture a large coronal hole on the sun.
	Solar eclipse mania spurs festivals, tours, sold-out hotels Get ready for solar eclipse mania. Destinations in the path of the Aug. 21 eclipse, which will be visible in the U.S. along a narrow path from Oregon to South Carolina, are going wild with plans for festivals, concerts and viewing parties .
	Reused rocket back in port after satellite launch by SpaceX SpaceX's first reused rocket is back in port, five days after launching a satellite.

Technology news

	Touch-sensitive, elastic fibers offer new interface for electronics Researchers from North Carolina State University have created elastic, touch-sensitive fibers that can interface with electronic devices.
	New efficiency record for low-cost solar cell Researchers at The Australian National University (ANU) have achieved a new record efficiency for low-cost semi-transparent perovskite solar cells in a breakthrough that could bring down the cost of generating solar electricity.
	Inventor of World Wide Web wins computing's 'Nobel Prize' Most people who search on Google, share on Facebook and shop on Amazon have never heard of Sir Tim Berners-Lee. But they might not be doing any of those things had he not invented the World Wide Web.
	Kniterate team wants to turn knitwear page with a digital machine (Tech Xplore)—Consider. scarves, beanies, ties, even assembling your own dresses and sweaters—designing and making knitwear may never be quite the same.
	AOL plus Yahoo to equal new Oath AOL and Yahoo will be combined into a unit called Oath after telecom titan Verizon buys the pioneering internet firm, according to a tweet Monday by the AOL chief.
Trump signs bill blocking online privacy regulation After his press secretary blasted it as an example of rampant government overreach, President Donald Trump signed a bill into law Monday that could eventually allow internet providers to sell information about their customers' browsing habits.
	Utah Supreme Court rules against Tesla in push to sell cars Tesla's push to sell its all-electric vehicles in Utah hit another roadblock Monday when the state Supreme Court upheld a decision by Utah licensing officials to deny the automaker a license to sell new cars.
	US newspapers cut more than half their jobs since 2001 More than half of the jobs at US newspapers have disappeared since 2001, with a large portion of the losses offset by employment gains at internet firms, government figures showed Monday.
	Personalization makes Pandora Premium a worthy Spotify rival When it comes to subscription music services, Spotify and Apple dominate the market. But a third big player in the music industry is about to offer consumers another choice.
Restaurants fatten up with food delivery apps A year ago Mendocino Farms didn't offer delivery at any of its 15 Southern California locations. Now Ellen Chen, co-founder of the artisanal sandwich chain, is knocking down restaurant walls to make room for delivery drivers.
	Daimler, parts firm Bosch team up to make driverless cars Automaker Daimler AG and industry supplier Bosch Group are teaming up to make driverless cars that they say could be on city streets at the start of the next decade.
Towards a mathematical theory of PID control The well-known and nearly hundred years old "proportional-integral- derivative" (PID) controller is a linear feedback control method that adjusts the input signal by using the regulation error of the systems only. Because of its simple structure, good robustness and high reliability, it is by far the most widely used control method in automatic control. For example, it has been reported that 95 percent control loops are of PID type in process control. However, one of the most challenging tasks for the implementation of the PID controller is how to design the three parameters of the controller.
	Device mounted on goggles is driving safety improvements A Buffalo startup company is bringing a piece of wearable technology to the industrial workplace to increase worker safety.
Vehicle safety recalls: Why drivers don't heed them A new national survey from the University of Michigan explores why many consumers don't heed vehicle safety recalls and what steps might boost compliance.
	Renewable energy needed to drive uptake of electric vehicles Plugging into renewable energy sources outweighs the cost and short driving ranges for consumers intending to buy electric vehicles, according to a new study.
	Car firms are still pushing hands-free phone tech – despite how dangerous it is Get caught using your smartphone while driving in the UK and you'll be in serious trouble. Authorities recently doubled the penalties for using a handset behind the wheel to six points on your licence and a £200 fine. Yet the law – and the car industry itself – hasn't caught up with the equal dangers of hands-free phone calls while driving.
	Can better advice keep you safer online? Many Americans are worried about their online privacy and security. And rightly so: Nearly half of Americans have encountered at least one serious problem with online safety.
	How World War I ushered in the century of oil On July 7, 1919, a group of U.S. military members dedicated Zero Milestone – the point from which all road distances in the country would be measured – just south of the White House lawn in Washington, D.C. The next morning, they helped to define the future of the nation.
	New research could help speed up the 3-D printing process A team of researchers from Binghamton University, State University of New York and MIT have identified some bottlenecks in 3D printers, that, if improved, could speed up the entire process.
	Continuous fitness check predicts potential machine faults It keeps a constant eye on the condition of the machine, it carries out diagnostic analyses and it notifies the operator when a part needs to be replaced. The research team led by Andreas Schütze at Saarland University has developed an early warning system for industrial assembly, handling and packaging processes. Intelligent sensors continuously collect a wide array of measurement data from inside plant machinery and compare the signal patterns against those for normal operating conditions. If the system detects a difference in the patterns that indicates a potential fault, it immediately notifies the equipment operator about what remedial measures should be taken. This helps engineers to plan maintenance more effectively and protects them from unpleasant surprises and unexpected production losses.
	EU parliament urges new checks to stop emissions cheating EU lawmakers on Tuesday urged European authorities to quickly establish new checks to prevent automakers from cheating on emissions testing following the Volkswagen "dieselgate" scandal.
Company intends to build amphibious planes in Brunswick An aircraft manufacturer that intends to build two-seat, amphibious planes designed in Finland for the North American market is poised to become the first company to build planes at the former Brunswick Naval Air Station, officials said Tuesday.
Facebook loses search warrant challenge in New York court Facebook has lost a legal fight against a New York City prosecutor who sought search warrants for hundreds of user accounts.
	Web pioneer slams UK, US calls to weaken encryption British web pioneer Tim Berners-Lee on Tuesday slammed as a "bad idea" recent calls in Britain and the United States to weaken cyber encryption.
	Amazon drops appeal, to pay $70 mn for kids app buys Amazon has dropped its appeal of a US regulator's order and will pay refunds up to $70 million for app purchases by children on its tablet computers, officials said Tuesday.
	US tells companies not to overlook qualified Americans The Trump administration has issued a stern warning to U.S. companies as they begin applying for coveted skilled-worker visas, cautioning that it would investigate and prosecute those who overlook qualified American workers for jobs.
	NASA Kennedy partners to help develop self-driving cars Since its inception, NASA has been known as an agency that opens doors to the future. While focusing on exploration beyond our home planet, agency experts also are working to improve life right here on Earth. NASA at the Kennedy Space Center in Florida recently joined a partnership created to help perfect self-driving cars.
	Industry experts discuss advantages and risks of shifting data analytics to the cloud Thought leaders in both cloud computing and big data examine the factors driving increasing numbers of companies to move their enterprises to the cloud, explore the synergy between the cloud and notebooks, and debate whether the cloud is able to provide the level of information security needed by enterprises in an insightful Expert Panel Discussion published in Big Data.

Medicine & Health news

	Common antibiotic may help to prevent or treat PTSD The common antibiotic doxycycline can disrupt the formation of negative associations in the brain, according to new research from UCL and the University of Zurich.
	Chemists find that hookah tobacco heated electronically kills 70 percent more lung cells than traditional charcoal Hookah-tobacco users might want to rethink how they heat up their water pipes, based on research by chemists at the University of Cincinnati.
	Artificial thymus can produce cancer-fighting T cells from blood stem cells UCLA researchers have created a new system to produce human T cells, the white blood cells that fight against disease-causing intruders in the body. The system could be utilized to engineer T cells to find and attack cancer cells, which means it could be an important step toward generating a readily available supply of T cells for treating many different types of cancer.
	Parental smoking linked to genetic changes found in childhood cancer Smoking by either parent helps promote genetic deletions in children that are associated with the development and progression of the most common type of childhood cancer, according to research headed by UC San Francisco. While the strongest associations were found in children whose parents smoked during their infancy, these deletions were also noted in the offspring of parents who may have quit smoking even before conception.
	Low-dose penicillin in early life induces long-term behavioral changes In a landmark study, researchers at St. Joseph's Healthcare Hamilton and McMaster University have found that providing clinical (low) doses of penicillin to pregnant mice and their offspring results in long-term behavioural changes.
	SuperAger brains shrink more slowly than peers' brains Donald Tenbrunsel is 89 years old, but he is just as likely to talk to you about Chance the Rapper as reminisce about Frank Sinatra.
	Microfluidic device isolates plasma cells from blood rather than bone marrow Multiple myeloma is a cancer of the plasma cells, which are white blood cells produced in bone marrow that churn out antibodies to help fight infection. When plasma cells become cancerous, they produce abnormal proteins, and the cells can build up in bone marrow, ultimately seeping into the bloodstream.
	How stress controls hemoglobin levels in blood Our ability to breathe oxygen is critical to our survival. This process is mediated by the hemoglobin in our blood, which carries oxygen. Since air contains less oxygen on high mountains, the body is under pressure to make hemoglobin rapidly—a stressful time. But what role does cellular stress play in the production of hemoglobin?
	New potential treatment target for inflammatory bowel disease patients A new study could change the lives of millions of people living with inflammatory bowel diseases (IBD) who don't respond to the current standard of care.
	Study reverses thinking on genetic links to stress, depression New research findings often garner great attention. But when other scientists follow up and fail to replicate the findings? Not so much.
	New type of insulin-producing cell discovered In people with type I diabetes, insulin-producing beta cells in the pancreas die and are not replaced. Without these cells, the body loses the ability to control blood glucose. Researchers at the University of California, Davis have now discovered a possible new route to regenerating beta cells, giving insight into the basic mechanisms behind healthy metabolism and diabetes. Eventually, such research could lead to better treatment or cures for diabetes.
	Studying the brain's suspension system in traumatic brain injuries Traumatic brain injury, or TBI, can be devastating and debilitating. Despite intense interest and years of study, the exact mechanisms linking force and neurological injury remain unclear. Researchers know that the membranes separating the skull from the brain play a key role in absorbing shock and preventing damage caused during a head impact, but the details remain largely mysterious.
	Discovery of 'mini-brains' could change understanding of pain medication The human body's peripheral nervous system could be capable of interpreting its environment and modulating pain, neuroscientists have established, after successfully studying how rodents reacted to stimulation.
1 dead, 14 sickened in New Zealand typhoid fever outbreak An outbreak of typhoid fever among a church community in New Zealand has caused one death and left at least 14 other people hospitalized, health authorities said Tuesday.
RugbyL: Aussie lawsuit could change concussion approach A landmark concussion lawsuit by a former National Rugby League player has rocked Australia's sporting community and could have far-reaching consequences for how the condition is diagnosed and treated.
'Human-on-a-chip' could end animal testing She was just another beagle that Lawrence Vernetti had scheduled to take part in another drug experiment.
	Stopping Zika from crossing the placenta Although the World Health Organization ended its global health emergency on Zika last November, the virus could still make a comeback as temperatures get warmer and mosquito season ramps up. Over 5,000 cases have been identified in the U.S. over the past two years, including about 1,500 pregnant women, and 70 countries have reported evidence of Zika transmission. It is a particularly insidious virus because it can cross the placenta and cause birth defects. Now, researchers may have figured out how this virus invades the placenta, and they are taking steps to develop strategies that block its access.
	Mayo Clinic researchers demonstrate value of second opinions Many patients come to Mayo Clinic for a second opinion or diagnosis confirmation before treatment for a complex condition. In a new study, Mayo Clinic reports that as many as 88 percent of those patients go home with a new or refined diagnosis—changing their care plan and potentially their lives. Conversely, only 12 percent receive confirmation that the original diagnosis was complete and correct.
	Science confirms—you really should eat your Brassica "Microgreens" is the name for vegetables and herbs harvested for food as tiny seedlings. Says Agricultural Research Service (ARS) food technologist Yaguang (Sunny) Luo, "Microgreens are an emerging class of specialty fresh produce that has gained popularity with chefs and consumers in recent years and could have a positive impact in the diet."
	Ultrasound and microbubbles flag malignant cancer in humans A team led by researchers from the Stanford University School of Medicine has demonstrated a way to diagnose cancer without resorting to surgery, raising the possibility of far fewer biopsies.
	Can the study of epigenomics lead to personalized cancer treatment? Molecular insight into our own DNA is now possible, a field called personal genomics. Such approaches can let us know when we might have cancer-causing alterations in our genes. Well-known examples are the melanoma oncogene BRAF kinase, the breast cancer gene BRCA1 and the prostate specific antigen PSA.
	Examining the rising costs of prescription drugs in the US, and possible alternatives Prescription drugs are already unaffordable for many: The price tag last year in the United States was $425 billion, one out of every 10 health care dollars spent, and rising.
New insights into sodium channel structure Northwestern Medicine scientists have mapped the complete structure of a voltage-gated sodium channel, proteins in the membrane of cells that play an important role in many diseases. The findings were published in Nature Communications.
Durability of CAR T-cell therapy response may depend on pretreatment disease burden in leukemia patients Although most patients with relapsed B-cell acute lymphoblastic leukemia (B-ALL) experienced complete response after treatment with a type of CAR T-cell immunotherapy, pretreatment disease burden impacted the durability of the responses and long-term survival, according to data from a clinical trial presented here at the AACR Annual Meeting 2017, April 1-5.
	Dads seek work-family balance after second child There's a tug-of-war in many households after the second child is born, but don't blame the siblings.
	Probiotics may reduce risk of gestational diabetes Research led by the University of Otago, Wellington has found that a 'home-grown' naturally occurring probiotic reduces the risk of developing diabetes during pregnancy (gestational diabetes) and lowers fasting blood sugar.
	What makes powerful people tick We've probably all wondered what really goes on in our boss's head at some point. After all, power is everywhere – from schools and businesses to courtrooms and governments. Some people simply have more influence and control over people and resources than others. Unsurprisingly, the concept of power has attracted the attention of scientists, philosophers and policy makers since the days of the ancient Greeks.
	Psychiatric disorders do not increase risk of Alzheimer's disease Psychiatric disorders do not increase the risk of Alzheimer's disease, according to a recent study from the University of Eastern Finland. However, the prevalence of psychiatric diagnoses increased before the Alzheimer's diagnosis, which might be due to prodromal symptoms of Alzheimer's disease. The results were published in European Psychiatry.
	From shell-shock to PTSD, a century of invisible war trauma In the wake of World War I, some veterans returned wounded, but not with obvious physical injuries. Instead, their symptoms were similar to those that had previously been associated with hysterical women – most commonly amnesia, or some kind of paralysis or inability to communicate with no clear physical cause.
	'Default' choices have big impact, but how to make sure they're used ethically? Lawmakers in Texas just introduced a bill that would make a small change but potentially a big difference to the thousands of people awaiting organ transplants in the state. It also illustrates the subtle power of choice "defaults."
	Weighing the risks and benefits of CT scans in childhood As a parent, should you be worried if your child needs to have a CT scan?
	Eight diet myths—busted With almost half the adult population trying to lose weight - it's time to bust some diet myths that just won't go away. Here's eight we've been asked about lately.
	Treatment guidelines for a mildly underactive thyroid gland Treatment guidelines for a mildly underactive thyroid gland – which affects up to one in then older men and women – are outdated, according to new research.
Administration of steroid to extremely preterm infants not associated with adverse effects on neurod The administration of low-dose hydrocortisone to extremely preterm infants was not associated with any adverse effects on neurodevelopmental outcomes at 2 years of age, according to a study published by JAMA.
	NKPD1 gene variant increases depression risk A study of people from an isolated village in the Netherlands reveals a link between rare variants in the gene NKPD1 and depressive symptoms. The findings are published in the current issue of Biological Psychiatry. The study, led by co-first authors Najaf Amin, PhD, of Erasmus University Medical Center in the Netherlands and Nadezhda Belonogova of the Russian Academy of Sciences in Novosibirsk, Russia, helps researchers understand the molecular pathology of the disease, which could eventually improve how depression is diagnosed and treated.
	New gene discovered driving drug resistance Scientists in Salford, U.K., have identified a gene which is 'revving the engine of cancer' against the world's most common breast cancer drug.
	Over 10,000 Canadian women per year can stop taking blood thinners for unexplained clots A Canadian-led research group has developed and validated a rule that could let half of women with unexplained vein blood clots stop taking blood thinners for life. These findings were published in The BMJ.
Health policy researcher finds drug monitoring reduces opioid prescriptions, medicaid costs UK College of Public Health researcher Hefei Wen has authored a study showing state drug-monitoring programs are effective in reducing the number of opioids prescribed to Medicaid recipients.
Increased risk of suicide during university studies Students in tertiary education run double the risk of suicide compared with those who have previously been enrolled in university studies, according to a new study from Karolinska Institutet published in the online journal BMJ Open.
Even 'healthy' weight gain raises pregnancy diabetes risk University of Queensland School of Public Health researcher Akilew Adane said women who gained more than 2.5 per cent of their body weight each year had almost triple the risk of gestational diabetes compared to women who maintained a stable weight.
New insight into leading viral cause of congenital birth defects A study led by Cardiff University has revealed why CMV - a virus responsible for 1000 birth defects a year in the UK - is so adept at evading the immune system. The new findings could help in the development of treatments for this and other currently untreatable viruses.
	Study shows that paternal nutrition affects offsprings' mental fitness The father's lifestyle affects the cognitive skills of his offspring—at least in mice. Scientists at the German Center for Neurodegenerative Diseases (DZNE) have now shown that if male rodents are fed a diet rich in folic acid, methionine and vitamin B12, their progeny do not perform well in memory tests. The diet influences so-called epigenetic patterns in the genome, and this reprogramming is transferred to some degree to the next generation through the sperm. This suggests that the intake of high concentrations of such methyl donors could also have side effects in humans, for example if they consume excessive amounts of energy drinks or folic acid pills. Dan Ehninger and colleagues report on these findings in the journal Molecular Psychiatry.
Using drugs to weaken traumatic memories A potential new approach to treat posttraumatic stress disorder: After taking the antibiotic doxycycline, study participants remembered an unpleasant event considerably less, as experiments conducted by a team of researchers from the University Psychiatric Hospital and the University of Zurich reveal.
	'Doctor' robot could help solve sports-concussion dilemma in rural America From bustling cities to tiny farming communities, the bright lights of the local stadium are common beacons to the Friday night ritual of high school football.
Finger prosthesis provides clues to brain health In a collaboration between Swedish and Italian researchers, the aim was to analyse how the brain interprets information from a virtual experience of touch, created by a finger prosthesis with artificial sensation. The result was - completely unexpectedly - a new method for measuring brain health.
Children at risk of diabetes should be screened by HbA1C, oral glucose tolerance tests Doctors should add an oral glucose tolerance test (OGTT) to their hemoglobin A1C (HbA1C) when they screen high-risk children for prediabetes and diabetes, new research from South Korea suggests. The study results will be presented Tuesday, April 4, at ENDO 2017, the annual scientific meeting of the Endocrine Society, in Orlando, Fla.
Urine metabolites may help predict which obese teens will develop diabetes Researchers have discovered a unique metabolic "signature" in the urine of diabetic, obese black teenagers that they say may become a way to predict the development of type 2 diabetes in people at risk. They will present their results Tuesday at the Endocrine Society's 99th annual meeting in Orlando, Fla.
Treating polycystic ovary syndrome early may help prevent later drop in fertility In adolescent girls with polycystic ovary syndrome (PCOS), bringing the amount of abdominal visceral fat and liver fat down to normal restores ovulation, normalizes the symptoms of androgen excess, and may help prevent future subfertility, new research from Spain suggests. The results of the study will be presented Tuesday, April 4, at ENDO 2017, the annual meeting of the Endocrine Society, in Orlando.
Are looks more important than personality when choosing a man? When mothers and their daughters have to choose potential partners, they do not look much further than skin deep. Mothers are not quite as picky though, and will choose a man who is only reasonably attractive for their daughters. Daughters on the other hand prefer an attractive man, no matter how respectful, friendly, ambitious or intelligent he may be. This is according to the authors of a study in Springer's journal Evolutionary Psychological Science, led by Madeleine Fugère of the Eastern Connecticut State University in the US.
	Majority of incontinence treatments deliver poor results "Unfortunately we are not actually curing the condition in that many cases. Surgery aside, the results delivered are poor. And the problems are only going to get worse in the future because the population, as we know, is aging," says Ian Milsom, Professor of Gynecology and Obstetrics at the Sahlgrenska Academy and Head of the Gothenburg Continence Research Center (GCRC).
Scientists discover biological evidence of 'atypical' chronic fatigue syndrome Scientists at the Center for Infection and Immunity (CII) at Columbia University's Mailman School of Public Health are the first to report immune signatures differentiating two subgroups of myalgic encephalomyelitis/chronic fatigue syndrome (ME/CFS): "classical" and "atypical." This complex, debilitating disease is characterized by symptoms ranging from extreme fatigue after exertion to difficulty concentrating, headaches, and muscle pain.
	Less fear: How LSD affects the brain Scientists at the University of Basel have shown that LSD reduces activity in the region of the brain related to the handling of negative emotions like fear. The results, published in the scientific journal Translational Psychiatry, could affect the treatment of mental illnesses such as depression or anxiety.
	Study shows that organoids open up new insights into the development of our brain A new method could push research into developmental brain disorders an important step forward. This is shown by a recent study at the University of Bonn in which the researchers investigated the development of a rare congenital brain defect. To do so, they converted skin cells from patients into so called induced pluripotent stem cells. From these 'jack-of-all-trades' cells, they generated brain organoids—small three-dimensional tissues which resemble the structure and organization of the developing human brain. The work has now been published in the journal Cell Reports.
Inhaled corticosteroids may raise women's risk of the metabolic syndrome Use of inhaled corticosteroids in women is associated with a higher body mass index (BMI) and an increased prevalence of the metabolic syndrome, which is a cluster of risk factors for type 2 diabetes and heart disease, researchers have found. Results from a large Dutch study will be presented Sunday at the Endocrine Society's 99th annual meeting in Orlando, Fla.
	Birth weight is risk factor for fatty liver disease in children Researchers at University of California San Diego School of Medicine, with a cohort of clinical collaborators from across the United States, have demonstrated the impact of low and high birth weights in developing Non Alcoholic Fatty Liver Disease (NAFLD), a chronic disease that often leads to a need for organ transplantation. Results of the study were published in the online April edition of The Journal of Pediatrics.
	ER docs can pick your nose The range of options for medicating emergency patients intranasally has greatly expanded in recent years and can even be preferable for certain patients, including children, according to the results of a paper published online last Thursday in Annals of Emergency Medicine ("When to Pick the Nose: Out-of-Hospital and Emergency Department Intranasal Administration of Medications").
	Vitamin D deficiency may indicate cardiovascular disease in overweight and obese children In overweight and obese children and adolescents, vitamin D deficiency is associated with early markers of cardiovascular disease, a new study reports. The research results will be presented Sunday, April 2, at ENDO 2017, the annual scientific meeting of the Endocrine Society, in Orlando.
	New drug delivery system shows promise for fighting solid tumors A new cancer-drug delivery system shows the ability to exploit the oxygen-poor areas of solid tumors that make the growths resistant to standard chemotherapy and radiation treatment.
	A staged approach to depression diagnosis could improve communication and treatment A staged model of depression, ranging from wellness to distress to disorder, could make it easier for diverse groups to talk about depression and has the potential to improve the study of potential depression treatments, argues Vikram Patel of the London School of Hygiene & Tropical Medicine in London, UK, in an Essay in PLOS Medicine in advance of World Health Day 2017.
	One in 10 US women with Zika had deformed fetus or baby About one in 10 women in the United States who were infected with Zika virus while pregnant had a fetus or baby with deformities last year, US government scientists said Tuesday.
	Be more patient? Imagine that. How often do you act impulsively without considering the consequences? What if you could learn how to be more patient?
	Researchers pinpoint new drug target for heart failure patients Researchers led by Julian E. Stelzer, PhD, associate professor in the department of physiology and biophysics at Case Western Reserve University School of Medicine, have found a new target for drug developers seeking straightforward ways to improve cardiac output in heart failure patients. In a recent study published in Science Advances, the researchers bypassed complex cell signaling pathways that are dysregulated in failing hearts by directly targeting proteins that help heart muscles contract. The team discovered modifying one protein in particular—myosin binding protein-C, or MyBP-C—can significantly enhance cardiac output in mouse models, providing the first evidence that this protein could be specifically targeted to modulate heart function in humans.
	EpiPen out-of-pocket costs more than doubled over decade (HealthDay)—Annual out-of-pocket costs for lifesaving EpiPens in the United States skyrocketed nearly 124 percent for many privately insured patients between 2007 and 2014, a new study finds.
	Study links celiac disease, anorexia (HealthDay)—Young women with celiac disease may face a heightened risk of being diagnosed with anorexia, a new study suggests.
	Infections more common in people with schizophrenia (HealthDay)—People with schizophrenia may face an increased risk for serious infections, a new study suggests.
	Physical activity independently predicts bone strength in teens (HealthDay)—Moderate-to-vigorous physical activity (MVPA) is an independent predictor of bone strength at the tibia and radius in adolescents, according to a study published online March 23 in the Journal of Bone and Mineral Research.
	Protein expression predicts rectal cancer outcomes (HealthDay)—Loss of E-cadherin protein expression in the pretherapeutic biopsy of rectal cancer is associated with fewer metastases and improved survival, according to a study published online March 25 in the Journal of Digestive Diseases.
	High prevalence of alcohol use disorders in eczema (HealthDay)—Patients with eczema have a high prevalence of alcohol use disorders, according to a study published online March 27 in the British Journal of Dermatology.
Study: Liver responds positively to leptin treatment in patients with lipodystrophy Researchers at Michigan Medicine have found the livers of patients with a rare disease that affects metabolism have responded positively to leptin therapy.
UK sexual health (GUM) clinic access has worsened over past few years Prompt access to UK sexual health clinics, particularly for those in urgent need, has worsened over the past few years, falling below recommended standards, reveals research published online in the journal Sexually Transmitted Infections.
The federal government will stop collecting data on LGBT seniors—bad news for their health You've likely read the front-page news about accessible gender-neutral bathrooms. This has gained attention, not only as a human rights issue, but also a political one.
Injured Maori face higher rates of long-term disability Māori experience considerable longer-term disability after injury, new University of Otago analysis of patient-reported and Accident Compensation Corporation (ACC) data shows.
How do you eat your chocolate bunny? Vast majority prefer to start with the ears New research carried out online has found that 59% of 28,113 respondents preferred to eat chocolate rabbits starting with the ears, 33% indicated that they had no starting point preference, and 4% indicated that they started with the tail or feet.
Mongolia has better palliative care than many much wealthier nations What comes to mind when you think of Mongolia? My answer, probably like many people's, was vast empty space, those signature round white tents (which Mongolians call gers, not 'yurts' – a word brought in during the country's period under Russian and Soviet influence) and Genghis Khan.
Disrupted stress hormone signals in bone cells protect from diet-induced obesity A high-calorie diet, even without a high amount of fat, causes bone loss, and both high-calorie and high-fat diets induce excessive fat gain and insulin resistance, a new study conducted in mice finds. Study results, to be presented Tuesday at ENDO 2017, the Endocrine Society's 99th annual meeting in Orlando, Fla., found that some of these negative effects happened because of an increase in the actions of glucocorticoids, or stress hormones, in the skeleton.
	Mechanism of aging recovery for progeria patients revealed DGIST's research team has identified a mechanism that can recover the aging of patients with Hutchinson-Gilford Progeria Syndrome (HGPS). DGIST announced that the Chair Professor Park SangChul of New Biology (Head of Well-Aging Research Center) and the research team led by Professor Lee YoungSam has discovered a drug that can improve the aging of HGPS patients and identified the mechanism of aging recovery by using the drug.
Participation in a weight management program reduces job absenteeism Individuals with obesity who enrolled in a structured weight loss program report fewer hours missed from work after six months in the program, according to a study being presented Sunday at the Endocrine Society's 99th annual meeting in Orlando, Fla.
Improving healthcare commissioning for probation: Mapping the landscape Healthcare services available to people on probation and how they access them will be examined as part of a new research project.
Meningitis epidemic kills 336 children in Nigeria Nigerian and international health officials say a meningitis epidemic has killed 336 children amid fears it could spread across the border to Niger.
Marker may help predict success with extended-wear contact lenses A simple marker on eye examination may help vision care professionals predict which patients will have a higher or lower rate of problems after starting extended-wear contact lenses, reports a study in the April issue of Optometry and Vision Science, the official journal of the American Academy of Optometry.
Nurse fellowship immerses Ph.D. students in nursing care while enhancing scientific inquiry Nurses with research doctorates have led important work that has proven vital in improving patient outcomes and enhancing quality of care. Yet today, fewer than five percent of nurses have PhDs, the education level typically needed to perform independent research, according to data from the National Institute of Nursing Research, part of the National Institutes of Health. Coupled with the aging and retirement of the current cadre of nurse researchers, these indicators point to a coming shortage of nurse scientists that could impact current and future contributions to science.
Omega-3 fatty acid supplementation may treat autoimmunity in type 1 diabetes Type I diabetes (T1D) is an autoimmune condition that develops after the immune system attacks and destroys pancreatic β cells, leading to impaired insulin production. Currently, no therapies can successfully reverse the damage or progression of autoimmune attacks in T1D, but recent findings have suggested that people with autoimmune conditions may benefit from supplementation with omega-3 fatty acid (FA), a type of polyunsaturated FA found in fish oil.
	Poll: Most young people say gov't should pay for health care Most young Americans want any health care overhaul under President Donald Trump to look a lot like the Affordable Care Act signed into law by his predecessor, President Barack Obama.

Biology news

	Strike force: world's most venomous scorpion in action The world's most lethal scorpion, the death stalker, has been caught on high-speed camera for the first time lashing out with its lethal stinger, scientists reported Tuesday.
	Some of the ways Tibetans have evolved to stand living at such high altitudes revealed (Phys.org)—A combined team of researchers from the University of Queensland in Australia and Wenzhou Medical University in China has identified some of the genes common to people living in Tibet that are different than people living in other areas. In their paper published in the Proceedings of National Academy of Sciences, the group describes the genetic differences they found and how some of are adapted for survival at such a high altitude.
	Infectious disease transmission in fish, mammals, other animals has implications for humans Scientists once thought that being part of a community would protect animal populations from infectious disease outbreaks, but now they've learned otherwise, according to a study published this week in the journal Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences (PNAS).
	New research exposes an evolutionary arms race – virus vs. host Monash University scientists have solved a 40-year old mystery and shed light on an evolutionary arms race played out between cytomegalovirus (CMV) and the immune system.
	MERS-like coronavirus identified in Ugandan bat—New virus not likely to spread to humans A team of researchers in the United States and Uganda has identified a novel coronavirus in a bat from Uganda that is similar to the one causing Middle East Respiratory Syndrome (MERS) in people, giving further credence to the theory that such viruses originate in bats.
	Study reveals the multitasking secrets of an RNA-binding protein Researchers from Princeton University and the National Institute of Environmental Health Sciences have discovered how a fruit fly protein binds and regulates two different types of RNA target sequence. The study, which will be published April 4 in the journal Cell Reports, may help explain how various RNA-binding proteins, many of which are implicated in cancer and neurodegenerative disease, perform so many different functions in the cell.
	Skeletons evolved as ocean chemistry changed Skeletons and shells first came into being 550 million years ago as the chemical make-up of seawater changed, a study suggests.
	Fish study shows important genome interactions in animal cells In a new study, researchers at the University of Miami (UM) Rosenstiel School of Marine and Atmospheric Science examined how the interaction of two genomes in animal cells—the mitochondrial and nuclear genomes—interact to affect adaptation of the Atlantic killifish to different temperatures. They showed that although these genomes are separate physical entities, the mitochondrial genome affects the evolution of the nuclear genome, the genetic material responsible for variations in most traits such as hair color and height.
	Researchers investigate how songbirds teach themselves songs Music can be a powerful form of expression. It's especially important for songbirds such as zebra finches, which learn the songs of their fathers in order to court mates.
	Breaking the protein-DNA bond The verdict is in: too many single, flirty proteins can break up a strong relationship.
	Scientists engineer sugarcane to produce biodiesel, more sugar for ethanol A multi-institutional team led by the University of Illinois have proven sugarcane can be genetically engineered to produce oil in its leaves and stems for biodiesel production. Surprisingly, the modified sugarcane plants also produced more sugar, which could be used for ethanol production.
	Supercomputers reveal how cell membranes keep cancer-causing proteins turned off Two biophysicists from Case Western Reserve University School of Medicine have used supercomputers to show how cell membranes control the shape, and consequently the function, of a major cancer-causing protein. The protein, a small enzyme called K-Ras, is attached to cell membranes where it senses signals that originate outside the cell. During cancer, dysfunctional K-Ras then activates proteins inside the cell that can cause tumor growth and metastasis. K-Ras functions as a troublesome molecular switch, which is perpetually "on" in many cancers, particularly pancreatic cancer. The study not only offers a novel method to study K-Ras, which is only 1/100,000th of an inch across, but also shows how the protein's geometry could explain its role in cancer progression.
	How to hack a cell: New platform makes it easier to program living cells The human body is made up of trillions of cells, microscopic computers that carry out complex behaviors according to the signals they receive from each other and their environment. Synthetic biologists engineer living cells to control how they behave by converting their genes into programmable circuits. A new study published by Assistant Professor Wilson Wong (BME) in Nature Biotechnology outlines a new simplified platform to target and program mammalian cells as genetic circuits, even complex ones, more quickly and efficiently.
	New rice fights off drought Scientists at the RIKEN Center for Sustainable Resource Science (CSRS) have developed strains of rice that are resistant to drought in real-world situations. Published in Plant Biotechnology Journal, the study reports that transgenic rice modified with a gene from the Arabidopsis plant yield more rice than unmodified rice when subjected to stress brought by natural drought. The study was carried out in collaboration with researchers from the International Center for Tropical Agriculture (CIAT) in Colombia and the Japanese International Research Center for Agricultural Sciences (JIRCAS) in Japan.
Outbreak: Orangutan's mysterious death points to threat of diseases that jump to humans On a frigid night a few days after Christmas 2012, Trish Khan drove back to the Milwaukee County Zoo to check on the star attraction, a playful, wildly popular 5-year-old orangutan named Mahal. It was almost 11 p.m.
Exploring the magic and mystery of mushrooms with the LA Mycological Society There was a dump truck driver from Baldwin Park, a humanities professor from Long Beach, a conceptual artist from Altadena and a stay-at-home dad from Mid-City.
Biology explains why men kill big game like Cecil the lion—and how that behavior might be stopped Why do some humans engage in expensive ventures to hunt lions, elephants and other big-game species that often are endangered or otherwise threatened?
What's smaller than a python but just as bad for South Florida? Invasive fish Out in the Big Cypress swamp, across the street from the country's smallest post office in a wilderness the size of Rhode Island, a canal is teeming with something unexpected: aquarium fish usually found in a pet shop.
Male choosiness emerges when females have multiple partners Academy researchers Mikael Puurtinen and Lutz Fromhage at the Department of Biological and Environmental Science of the University of Jyväskylä and the Centre of Excellence in Biological Interactions have found out that male choosiness is more likely than previously recognized. The results have been recently published in the Proceedings of the Royal Society B.
	An eye in the sky to tackle the fly Scientists at the University of Aberdeen are putting an eye in the sky as they investigate a potential new method to prevent catastrophic damage to soft fruit crops in the UK.
	Global growth of ecological and environmental citizen science is fueled by new technology Scientists at the UK-based Centre for Ecology & Hydrology (CEH) and the Natural History Museum, London have revealed the diversity of ecological and environmental citizen science for the first time and showed that the changing face of citizen science around the world is being fuelled by advances in new technology.
The genetic basis for timing of reproduction in the Atlantic herring revealed Animals need to breed at the time of year when their progeny have the best chance of survival. In a study published today in PNAS, scientists in Sweden and Canada have studied the genetic basis of reproduction in 25 populations of herring from both sides of the North Atlantic. They revealed a number of genes associated with the timing of reproduction, and the genetic variants associated with spring or autumn spawning were found to be largely shared between geographically distant populations.
	There's a cost to 'bee-ing' too smart, professor finds It doesn't pay to be smart, at least for bumblebees, according to a new U of G study.
	Two new mechanisms for herbicide resistance found in Palmer amaranth Palmer amaranth is a nightmare of a weed, causing yield losses up to 80 percent in severely infested soybean fields. It scoffs at farmers' attempts at control, having evolved resistance to six classes of herbicides since its discovery in the United States 100 years ago. And now, scientists have discovered it has two new tricks up its sleeve.
How to save animals by reducing roadkill Hundreds of millions of animals are killed every year by road traffic. It's a sad statistic that Jochen Jaeger, associate professor of geography in Concordia's Faculty of Arts and Science, and his international colleagues hope to reduce.
	So sheep may safely graze In 1713, Johann Sebastian Bach once wrote a delightful cantata, "Sheep May Safely Graze," whose opening lyric boasts of shepherds protecting sheep from the ravages of the hunt.
	Creepy crawly cargo caught in Australia Australian customs officers got more than they bargained for when two shoe boxes arrived from Europe with venomous snakes, exotic spiders and scorpions found slithering inside the "creep crawly cargo".
	A slice of luxury: Hong Kong's high-end fruit fad It might be a healthy food choice, but Hong Kong's latest fruit fad is doing serious damage to shoppers' wallets.
	Orphaned bear cubs win hearts in Montenegro Two orphaned bear cubs have captured hearts in Montenegro after a farmer rescued them from starving to death in the wild.
	Biologists increased the proportion of medicinal substances in plants Tomsk State University biologists have developed a technology for obtaining cell cultures with a high content of a number of biologically active substances (BAS). It is important for pharmaceuticals, and will also help to conserve endangered species of medicinal plants.
	Choosing the right substrate for the right function Scientists at Tokyo Institute of Technology have discovered a unique molecular mechanism responsible for the substrate preference of ubiquitin-specific proteases.
Groups sue to stop US use of cyanide predator killing traps Environmental and animal-welfare groups have filed a lawsuit claiming the U.S. government is violating the Endangered Species Act by allowing the use of two predator-killing poisons.

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