Science X Newsletter Thursday, May 4

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

Spotlight Stories Headlines

'Hot Jupiter' transiting a rapidly-rotating star discovered

Molybdenum-coated catalyst splits water for hydrogen production more efficiently

Using a nickel catalyst with hydrocarbons to make fatty acids

Using EEG readings to detect pain in infants

Research sheds new light on 'world's oldest animal fossils'

'Last African dinosaur' discovered in Moroccan mine

Scientists engineer baker's yeast to produce penicillin molecules

Researchers develop new capabilities for genome-wide engineering of yeast

Intel tackles firmware vulnerability issue

Antibiotic doxycycline may offer hope for treatment of Parkinson's disease

New movie shows Cassini's first dive over Saturn

Printing bricks from moondust using the sun's heat

Researchers discover how cancer-causing virus could stay silently hidden in your body

Researchers identify evidence of oldest orchid fossil on record

Novel technique measures warpage in next-gen integrated circuits

Astronomy & Space news

	'Hot Jupiter' transiting a rapidly-rotating star discovered (Phys.org)—A "hot Jupiter" exoplanet transiting a rapidly rotating star has been discovered jointly by WASP and KELT survey, a new study reveals. The newly found alien world, designated WASP-167b/KELT-13b, is several times more massive than Jupiter and orbits its parent star every two days. The finding was presented Apr. 25 in a paper published on the arXiv pre-print repository.
	New movie shows Cassini's first dive over Saturn A new movie sequence of images from NASA's Cassini spacecraft shows the view as the spacecraft swooped over Saturn during the first of its Grand Finale dives between the planet and its rings on April 26.
	Printing bricks from moondust using the sun's heat Bricks have been 3-D printed out of simulated moondust using concentrated sunlight – proving in principle that future lunar colonists could one day use the same approach to build settlements on the moon.
	A lot of galaxies need guarding in this NASA Hubble view Much like the eclectic group of space rebels in the upcoming film Guardians of the Galaxy Vol. 2, NASA's Hubble Space Telescope has some amazing superpowers, specifically when it comes to observing innumerable galaxies flung across time and space.
	Image: North pole of Enceladus In the north, Enceladus' surface appears to be about as old as any in the solar system. The south, however, is an entirely different story.
	'Jewelled' LAGEOS satellites to measure the Earth Could this be one of the most beautiful satellites ever made? In fact it is one of twins, as there are two of these jewelled spheres orbiting Earth.
	Sounding rocket will take 1,500 images of sun in five minutes On May 5, 2017, scientists will launch a sounding rocket 200 miles up into the atmosphere, where in just five minutes, it will take 1,500 images of the sun. The NASA-funded RAISE mission is designed to scrutinize split-second changes occurring near the sun's active regions—areas of intense, complex magnetic activity that can give rise to solar flares, which eject energy and solar material out into space.
	Building rovers that can detect life and sequence DNA on other worlds In 2015, then-NASA Chief Scientist Ellen Stofan stated that, "I believe we are going to have strong indications of life beyond Earth in the next decade and definite evidence in the next 10 to 20 years." With multiple missions scheduled to search foe evidence of life (past and present) on Mars and in the outer solar system, this hardly seems like an unrealistic appraisal.
	SwRI spectrograph to help answer some of the mysteries of the Sun A sounding rocket originally developed as a prototype for NASA's next generation of space-based solar spectrographs will make its third flight tomorrow, May 5, at 12:25 p.m. MDT from White Sands, N.M.

Technology news

	Intel tackles firmware vulnerability issue (Tech Xplore)—Intel has reported details on a firmware vulnerability, but it does not exist on Intel-based consumer PCs.
	Novel technique measures warpage in next-gen integrated circuits As integrated circuit components are coming up against size limits, manufacturers are turning to new approaches based on stacking extremely thin wafers. However, the thin wafers easily warp under the stresses involved in fabrication, and measuring the stress and warpage has so far proven challenging.
	Does my algorithm work? There's no shortcut for community detection Community detection is an important tool for scientists studying networks. It provides descriptions of the large-scale network by dividing its nodes into related communities. To test community detection algorithms, researchers run the algorithm on known data from a real-world network and check to see if their results match up with existing node labels—metadata—from that network.
	Google Docs phishing scam doused after catching fire A 'phishing' scam that tricked people with what appeared to be Google Docs links was doused by the internet giant after spreading wildly.
	Some cling to landlines, but cell-only homes now dominate Deborah Braswell, a university administrator in Alabama, is a member of a dwindling group—people with a landline phone at home.
	Apple steps up its effort to emphasize its economic impact Apple is getting more aggressive about emphasizing its role in the U.S. economy, apparently hoping to counter recurring criticism over its reliance on overseas factories.
	China compiles its own 'Wikipedia,' but public can't edit it It'll be free. It'll be uniquely Chinese. It'll be an online encyclopedia to rival Wikipedia—but without the participation of the public. And don't expect entries on "Tiananmen Square 1989" or "Falun Gong spiritual group" to come up in your searches, either.
EU accepts Amazon's e-book commitments The European Union's competition watchdog says it accepts commitments made by online giant Amazon to change part of its e-book contracts to avoid fines for anti-competitive behavior.
	Appraising the linguistic value of emojis Take heart, 45-year-olds who have no idea what that string of skulls or pandas means in a text.
	Alphabet's new plan to track 10,000 people could take wearables to the next level Verily – the life sciences research arm of Google parent company Alphabet – wants to track the health of 10,000 people.
	Video: Computer scientists put some skin in the game of visual effects UBC computer scientists are examining exactly how skin folds, stretches, wrinkles and bounces, with the goal of creating a realistic computer model of the human body.
	Online security won't improve until companies stop passing the buck to the customer It's normally in the final seconds of a TV or radio interview that security experts get asked for advice for the general public – something simple, unambiguous, and universally applicable. It's a fair question, and what the public want. But simple answers are usually wrong, and can do more harm than good.
	The long history, and short future, of the password In Western history, the concept of the password can be traced as far back as the so-called "shibboleth incident" in the 12th chapter of the biblical Book of Judges. In the chaos of battle between the tribes of Gilead and Ephraim, Gileadite soldiers used the word "shibboleth" to detect their enemies, knowing that the Ephraimites pronounced it slightly differently in their dialect. The stakes were life and death, we're told, in a confrontation between Gileadites and a possible Ephraimite fugitive:
	Could a doodle replace your password? Nearly 80 percent of Americans own a smartphone, and a growing proportion of them use smartphones for internet access, not just when they're on the go. This leads to people storing considerable amounts of personal and private data on their mobile devices.
	When a suburb's turn for gentrification comes Those who value "multiculturalism" and "access to the city" as key markers of a vibrant, progressive city will find these attributes in the Melbourne suburb of Footscray. Yet, at the same time, they will find them under threat through the forces of gentrification. These are the same forces that have, through time, transformed former "slums" such as Carlton, Fitzroy, Abbotsford and Richmond into "blue-ribbon" suburbs of Melbourne.
	Facebook turns to real people to fix its violent video problem Facebook has recently been under fire for not doing enough to keep disturbing content out of our newsfeeds. It hopes a hiring spree will fix the problem.
	How robots can help us embrace a more human view of disability When dealing with the otherness of disability, the Victorians in their shame built huge out-of-sight asylums, and their legacy of "them" and "us" continues to this day. Two hundred years later, technologies offer us an alternative view. The digital age is shattering barriers, and what used to the norm is now being challenged.
	'Smart contact lens sensor' for diabetic and glaucoma diagnosis A recent study, affiliated with UNIST has proposed the possibility of in situ human health monitoring simply by wearing a contact lens with built-in wireless smart sensors.
	New self-sustained multi-sensor platform for environmental monitoring A recent study, affiliated with UNIST has engineered a self-sustaining sensor platform to continuously monitor the surrounding environment without having an external power source.
	Google coughs up 306 million euros in Italy tax settlement Google said Thursday that it would pay 306 million euros ($334 million) to settle a tax dispute in Italy, where it was under criminal investigation for booking profits generated in the country in Ireland.
	Video Game Hall of Fame adds 'Halo: Combat Evolved,' 3 more Attention Halo Nation, "Halo: Combat Evolved" is in the World Video Game Hall of Fame.
	Tablet market extends slide as consumer habits shift The tablet craze from a few years ago showed more signs of fading this year, with most major producers reporting sales declines, market surveys showed Thursday.
Nuke waste debate: Turn it into glass or encase in cement? Congress should consider authorizing the U.S. Department of Energy to study encasing much of the nuclear waste at the nation's largest waste repository in a cement-like mixture instead of turning it into glass logs, according to a new report from the U.S. Government Accountability Office.
	Navy, Marine Corps spotlight the future of amphibious, autonomous warfare Autonomous vehicles, augmented reality systems and advanced wireless networks were among over 50 new technologies showcased during the Ship-to-Shore Maneuver Exploration and Experimentation Advanced Naval Technology Exercise (S2ME2 ANTX) 2017—a series of amphibious beach landings held recently at Marine Corps Base Camp Pendleton in California.
US to seek social media details from certain visa applicants The State Department wants to review social media, email addresses and phone numbers from some foreigners seeking U.S. visas, as part of the Trump administration's enhanced screening of potential immigrants and visitors.

Medicine & Health news

	Using EEG readings to detect pain in infants (Medical Xpress)—A team of researchers affiliated with several institutions in the U.K. has conducted several trials that involved trying to detect pain in infants using EEG readings to measure brain response to painful events. In their paper published in the journal Science Translational Medicine, the group describes the trials they undertook with babies at hospitals in the U.K., what they learned, and what they plan to do next.
	Antibiotic doxycycline may offer hope for treatment of Parkinson's disease A study published in February in the journal Scientific Reports suggests that doxycycline, an antibiotic used against bacterial infections for over a half-century, can be prescribed at lower doses for the treatment of Parkinson's disease.
	In Huntington's disease, traffic jams in the cell's control center kill brain cells Working with mouse, fly and human cells and tissue, Johns Hopkins researchers report new evidence that disruptions in the movement of cellular materials in and out of a cell's control center—the nucleus—appear to be a direct cause of brain cell death in Huntington's disease, an inherited adult neurodegenerative disorder.
	Researchers identify 6,500 genes that are expressed differently in men and women Men and women differ in obvious and less obvious ways—for example, in the prevalence of certain diseases or reactions to drugs. How are these connected to one's sex? Weizmann Institute of Science researchers recently uncovered thousands of human genes that are expressed—copied out to make proteins—differently in the two sexes. Their findings showed that harmful mutations in these particular genes tend to accumulate in the population in relatively high frequencies, and the study explains why. The detailed map of these genes, reported in BMC Biology, provides evidence that males and females undergo a sort of separate, but interconnected evolution.
	Atlases of immune cells surrounding tumors may guide immunotherapy Two independent studies have begun mapping the connections between and identities of the thousands of immune cells surrounding human tumors. One research group, looking at kidney cancer, found that tumors with different clinical outcomes have unique immune cell profiles. These profiles can also estimate a cancer patient's prognosis. The other group, looking at lung cancer, showed that even early tumors have disturbed immune cell activity. Both papers, appearing May 4 in the journal Cell, could inspire a new wave of precision immunotherapy clinical trials.
	Discovery of a Zika antibody offers hope for a vaccine A research team based at The Rockefeller University has identified a potent new weapon against the Zika virus in the blood of people who have been infected by it. This discovery could lead to new ways of fighting the disease, including a vaccine.
	Type 2 diabetes genetic mapping identifies new 'loci' Scientists are closer to understanding the genetic causes of type 2 diabetes by identifying 111 new chromosome locations ('loci') on the human genome that indicate susceptibility to the disease, according to a UCL-led study in collaboration with Imperial College London.
	Surprise communication found between brain regions involved in infant motor control A newborn's brain is abuzz with activity. Day and night, it's processing signals from all over the body, from recognizing the wriggles of the child's own fingers and toes to the sound of mommy's or daddy's voice.
	Discovery of new pathway in brain has implications for schizophrenia treatment Neuroscientists at Tufts University School of Medicine have discovered a new signaling pathway that directly connects two major receptors in the brain associated with learning and memory—the N-methyl-D-aspartate receptor (NMDAR) and the alpha 7 nicotinic acetylcholine receptor (a7nAChR) - which has significance for current efforts to develop drugs to treat schizophrenia. These findings demonstrate that astrocytes, a type of non-neuronal (or glial) cell once thought to have little part in brain information processing but now known to play important roles, are the key element that functionally links these two receptors.
	Novel tool confers targeted, stable editing of epigenome in human stem cells Salk Institute scientists have developed a novel technology to correct disease-causing aberrations in the chemical tags on DNA that affect how genes are expressed. These types of chemical modifications, collectively referred to as epigenetics or the epigenome, are increasingly being considered as important as the genomic sequence itself in development and disease.
	Oxford student creates first synthetic retina for the visually impaired A synthetic, soft tissue retina developed by an Oxford University student could offer fresh hope to visually impaired people.
	New microscopic technique could help detect, diagnose metastatic melanomas The fight against skin cancer just got a new weapon. For years, melanoma researchers have studied samples that were considered uniform in size and color, making them easier to examine by more conventional means. But melanomas don't always come in the same shape and hue; often, melanomas are irregular and dark, making them difficult to investigate. Now, researchers at the University of Missouri have devised a new tool to detect and analyze single melanoma cells that are more representative of the skin cancers developed by most patients. The study, recently reported in Analyst published by the Royal Society of Chemistry, outlines the new techniques that could lead to better and faster diagnoses for the life-threatening disease.
	Study reveals the surprising role of omega-3 fatty acids in keeping the blood-brain barrier closed Already extolled for their health benefits as a food compound, omega-3 fatty acids now appear to also play a critical role in preserving the integrity of the blood-brain barrier, which protects the central nervous system from blood-borne bacteria, toxins and other pathogens, according to new research from Harvard Medical School.
	New blood test predicts who will benefit from targeted prostate cancer treatments A new blood test could predict which men with advanced prostate cancer will respond to new targeted treatments for the disease.
	Computer model developed to assess risk of a Zika epidemic in real-time A new model for assessing real-time risk of a Zika virus epidemic in the United States is described in research published in the open access journal BMC Infectious Diseases. The computer simulation, based on data from Texas including population dynamics, historical infection rates, socioeconomics, and mosquito density, is designed to help policymakers gauge the underlying epidemic threat as cases first appear in US cities.
	Psychological benefits for kids when mums keep taking folic acid Children's emotional intelligence improved if mums take folic acid supplements throughout pregnancy.
	Rub each other up the right way Giving your partner a massage can improve both their wellbeing and yours.
	The latest opioid street mix causing concern: 'Gray death' It's being called "gray death"—a new and dangerous opioid combo that underscores the ever-changing nature of the U.S. addiction crisis.
Fighting the opioid scourge in American coal country Ryan Brown grew up playing sports and the cello, shooting games of pool in his basement, surrounded by friends.
US opioid crisis at epidemic proportions Many US communities are facing an epidemic of opioid and heroin abuse that is straining resources from police, to jails, to emergency medical personnel and treatment centers.
	Saliva test predicts prolonged concussion symptoms in children Although most of the 3 million concussions diagnosed in the U.S. each year occur in children, the bulk of clinical guidelines are based on adults. Because of this, pediatricians are limited in how accurately they can advise families about how long a child may suffer symptoms such as headaches, fatigue and trouble concentrating that can interfere with school and other activities.
Ordinary sounding expressions of teen angst may signal early depression While it's estimated at least one in 10 teens in the U.S. suffer from depression at some point, few will use the word "depressed" to describe negative emotions hanging over them. Instead, new research at the 2017 Pediatric Academic Societies Meeting in San Francisco suggests, they're likely to use terms such as "stressed," or "down," and other words that may sound like ordinary teen angst but could be a signal of more serious, pre-depressive symptoms.
	Grandparents who practice outdated health myths may pose safety threat on grandchildren Many grandparents raising their grandchildren practice outdated health and parenting myths that could potentially pose serious risks to young children, according to illuminating new research by a Northwell Health pediatrician.
Study finds social challenges amplify negative effects of childhood lead exposure Scientists already know early lead exposure can slow a child's cognitive and language development. Findings of an abstract being presented at the 2017 Pediatric Academic Societies Meeting show lead's impact is especially strong for children in families also facing socioeconomic challenges.
	715 pounds lighter, Egyptian woman leaves India An Egyptian woman who lost about 325 kilograms (715 pounds) after undergoing weight-loss surgery in an Indian hospital left Thursday for the United Arab Emirates for long-term treatment.
ER visits related to marijuana use at a Colorado hospital quadruple after legalization Visits by teens to a Colorado children's hospital emergency department and its satellite urgent care centers increased rapidly after legalization of marijuana for commercialized medical and recreational use, according to new research being presented at the 2017 Pediatric Academic Societies Meeting in San Francisco.
	Teens and adolescents who consume too much salt show unhealthy changes to blood vessels Findings of a new study being presented at the 2017 Pediatric Academic Societies Meeting in San Francisco suggest adolescents who consume too much salt have measurable changes in their blood vessels associated with early signs of cardiovascular disease in adults.
Alternative treatment approach for neonatal abstinence syndrome may shorten hospital stay New research suggests a revamped, "common sense" approach to treating newborns suffering opioid withdrawal—gauging whether the baby can eat, sleep and be consoled within 10 minutes before administering drugs to wean them off exposure—may safely reduce the length of hospitalization they need.
Children who survive sepsis often experience lingering effects Survival rates have risen dramatically in recent years among children who develop sepsis, a severe, life-threatening immune reaction to an infection somewhere in the body. But new research being presented at the 2017 Pediatric Academic Societies Meeting shows that recovery remains a long haul for patients, with many still feeling effects on their physical, social, emotional and school functioning for months after they are discharged from the hospital.
	Buprenorphine cuts neonatal abstinence syndrome treatment length by nearly half Findings of a phase 3 clinical trial being presented at the 2017 Pediatric Academic Societies Meeting show that buprenorphine is just as safe and more effective than morphine when used to treat newborns suffering withdrawal symptoms after prenatal drug exposure.
	Handheld screen time linked with speech delays in young children As the number of smart phones, tablets, electronic games and other handheld screens in U.S. homes continues to grow, some children begin using these devices before beginning to talk. New research being presented at the 2017 Pediatric Academic Societies Meeting suggests these children may be at higher risk for speech delays.
Alcohol marketing in popular movies doubles in past two decades Alcohol brand placements in popular movies of all ratings nearly doubled during the past two decades, new research shows, but particularly in child-rated movies. Researchers presenting these findings at the 2017 Pediatric Academic Societies Meeting in San Francisco found the alcohol brands on the movie set are often those young people report drinking the most.
Reading with children starting in infancy gives lasting literacy boost New research at the 2017 Pediatric Academic Societies Meeting shows that reading books with a child beginning in early infancy can boost vocabulary and reading skills four years later, before the start of elementary school.
Study finds infants prescribed antacids have increased risk of fractures during childhood New research being presented at the 2017 Pediatric Academic Societies Meeting found infants prescribed antacids to manage acid reflux, or spitting up, under age 1 had more bone fractures later in childhood.
Research team finds no adverse risk to use of common antimalarials in first trimester of pregnancy LSTM, University of Washington and international researchers publish the most comprehensive international analysis on artemisinin combination antimalarials safety in pregnancy
Physical activity rather than sedentary behaviour affects the risk of mortality It is not the amount of time spent sitting still that matters. Instead, the extent of physical activity is essential in reducing the risk of elderly women developing cardiovascular disease, as shown in a new Örebro study published in PLOS ONE.
	Weight-based teasing has long-term impact A new study from researchers at the Rudd Center for Food Policy and Obesity at the University of Connecticut and the School of Public Health at the University of Minnesota shows that weight-based teasing in adolescence predicts health consequences in adulthood, including obesity, unhealthy weight-control and eating behaviors, and poor body image.
	Neural stem cell therapies could eventually play a role in treating spinal cord injuries Researchers in Qatar and Egypt, working with colleagues in Italy and the US, have found that injured spinal cords in rats show signs of tissue regeneration several weeks following injection with neural stem cells.
	Study of blood vessel growth may open new pathway to therapies A new Yale-led study detailing how blood vessels develop could lead to novel treatments of cardiovascular diseases as well as cancer.
	Smartphones new weapon in war against anxiety New research has revealed that apps installed on smartphones can be used to significantly reduce anxiety.
	Breast-conserving surgery safer thanks to magnetic MaMaLoc technology The Antoni Van Leeuwenhoek Hospital in Amsterdam and the University Of Twente have developed a new localization technique for breast cancer that is based on magnetism.
Axon regeneration in response to nervous system injury Alexandra Byrne, PhD, assistant professor of neurobiology, is working to identify which genes control how the nervous system responds to injury. Specifically, the Byrne lab at UMMS is working to identify the genes that prevent injured axons from regenerating due to age or cell type.
	Team maps genome organization to link retinal development and retinoblastoma A team from the St. Jude Children's Research Hospital – Washington University Pediatric Cancer Genome Project (PCGP) has mapped the intricate changes in the "epigenetic" organization of the nucleus to determine how retinal cells transition from immature cells to mature retinal neurons. The researchers have also mapped the epigenome of retinoblastoma cells as they turn cancerous.
	Subconscious brain and the neocortex mediated by the artistic impulse, paper suggests New research suggests that art, music, and dance, which we perceive as unique to human beings are a natural adaptation wrought on the human brain by evolution that provides a subconscious way for the old brain, the paleoencephalon to coordinate the conflicting signals from the new brain, the neocortex. Art may well be as hard-wired an impulse as the drive to eat and drink and our sex drives, according to research published in the International Journal of Arts and Technology.
	Extending weight loss programme helps overweight people keep more weight off and is cost-effective Extending NHS weight loss programmes from one session per week for 12-weeks to one session per week for a year helped people who are overweight to lose more weight and keep it off for longer, according to a study published in The Lancet, and led by researchers from the University of Cambridge, University of Liverpool and University of Oxford.
	How children under pressure can lose confidence Consistency is a major challenge for parents. It can be difficult to always treat children the same way in different situations. A modern mother or father might be breezily relaxed about their child's time at home, but immediately uptight about their performance on the football pitch or in school tests.
	Post-traumatic stress affects cognitive function in cancer patients Subtle cognitive dysfunction and decline in breast cancer patients was largely independent of chemotherapy but associated with cancer-related post-traumatic stress in a German multisite study.
Pollen may impair pupils' performance Spring is exam time – and pollen season. It's also a bad combination for pupils suffering from pollen allergies, or hay fever.
	You can tell more about a person from their Facebook page than by actually meeting them We judge people all the time. Research shows that when we first meet someone, we instantly use features such as their attractiveness and facial expressions to form an opinion about how approachable and trustworthy they are.
	Study reveals link between chronic childhood illness and later life mental health problems A new study into the effects of chronic physical illness in children on their life-long mental health has found that such experiences appear to increase the chances of them having depression and anxiety in adulthood.
	Reasons for eczema susceptibility uncovered Scientists have uncovered evidence that a deficiency in the skin's barrier is key to triggering eczema.
New intervention brings hope to patients with primary progressive aphasia A Baycrest Health Sciences researcher and clinician has developed the first group language intervention that helps individuals losing the ability to speak due to a rare form of dementia, and could help patients maintain their communication abilities for longer.
	Study debunks myth that fast food is mostly eaten by the poor Whether rich or poor, one thing unites Americans of all economic classes: Our love for fast food.
	Potential predictor of glaucoma damage identified Glaucoma, a leading cause of blindness worldwide, most often is diagnosed during a routine eye exam. Over time, elevated pressure inside the eye damages the optic nerve, leading to vision loss. Unfortunately, there's no way to accurately predict which patients might lose vision most rapidly.
	Team identifies the novel molecular signal for triggering septic shock Professor Seyun Kim's team from KAIST reported the mechanism by which cellular signaling transduction network is exquisitely controlled in mediating innate immune response such as sepsis by the enzyme IPMK (Inositol polyphosphate multikinase) essential for inositol biosynthesis metabolism.
	Improving control of age-related obesity The function and distribution of adipose tissue in the body change during the course of life. Beige fat cells, a special type of adipocytes, have the capability to use energy reserves - fatty deposits - by generating heat in a process known as thermogenesis. With increasing age, beige adipocytes take on the morphology of white adipocytes. Thermogenic activity ceases and with it the cells' ability to burn fat. As a result, the risk of obesity increases. A team working with Freiburg researchers Prof. Dr. Roland Schüle and Dr. Delphine Duteil has now proven that the epigenetic enzyme lysine specific demethylase 1 (Lsd1) plays a key role in this transformation. They are presenting their results in the science journal Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences (PNAS).
Prevalence of visual impairment among preschool children projected to increase The number of preschool children in the U.S. with visual impairment is projected to increase by more than 25 percent in the coming decades, with the majority of visual impairment resulting from simple uncorrected refractive error, according to a study published by JAMA Ophthalmology.
	Large data set brings precision to breast cancer diagnosis and care Although the odds of developing breast cancer are nearly identical for black and white women, black women are 42 percent more likely to die from the disease. This mortality gap - driven by social and environmental, as well as biological factors - continues to persist.
	In home healthcare, not speaking patients' native language negatively affect care outcomes In the United States (U.S.), one in every five households speaks a language other than English at home. Research has shown, as English language proficiency decreases, positive healthcare outcomes also decrease. Limited English proficiency (LEP) patients are at higher risk of 30-day readmissions, longer length of stay in both the inpatient and emergency room settings, and adverse events.
	Unveiling the bottlenecks to discovering the root causes of rare genetic diseases A worldwide consensus co-authored by more than 40 scientists sets out ways to address research bottlenecks as the international community strives to diagnose most rare genetic diseases by 2020.
	Study unravels the genetics of childhood 'overgrowth' Researchers have undertaken the world's largest genetic study of childhood overgrowth syndromes - providing new insights into their causes, and new recommendations for genetic testing.
	The liver increases by half during the day In mammals, the liver plays a pivotal role in metabolism and the elimination of toxins, and reaches its maximum efficiency when they are active and feed. Biologists from the University of Geneva (UNIGE), Switzerland, have discovered how this organ adapts to the cycles of feeding and fasting, and the alternation of day and night within 24 hours. The researchers showed in mice that the size of the liver increases by almost half before returning to its initial dimensions, according to the phases of activity and rest.
	Researchers identify immunotherapy targets in early-stage lung cancer Immunotherapy, which has achieved remarkable results in late-stage lung cancer patients, can also hold great hope for newly diagnosed patients, cutting the deadly disease off before it has the chance to take hold and offering a potential cure, according to a new Mount Sinai study published today in Cell.
	Tuberculosis vaccine safe for teens with Schistosoma parasite Of the millions of people at risk for contracting tuberculosis each year, many are already infected with helminths, parasitic worms including Schistosoma flatworms. In some cases, parasite infections can impair the ability of an immunization to work. But adolescents infected with Schistosoma mansoni respond as well as uninfected teens do to a candidate booster tuberculosis vaccine, according to a new study in PLOS Neglected Tropical Diseases.
	Brain model explores the cause of different epileptic seizure onset patterns At the onset of an epileptic seizure, differing characteristics of brain tissue surrounding the seizure's origin site may determine which of two main patterns of brain activity will be seen, according to a study in PLOS Computational Biology.
	Interaction between HIV-1 and antibodies modeled with new mathematical precision An experimental and mathematical analysis has revealed new insights into the interactions between HIV-1 and antibodies that can inhibit transmission of the virus from one person to another. These findings, presented in PLOS Pathogens, could potentially aid development of new treatments and vaccines for HIV-1.
Can the antioxidant resveratrol reduce artery stiffness in diabetics? Resveratrol, a natural compound found in red wine, peanuts, berries and the skin of red grapes, may reduce artery stiffness in some people with Type 2 diabetes, according to an abstract presented at the American Heart Association's Arteriosclerosis, Thrombosis and Vascular Biology Peripheral Vascular Disease 2017 Scientific Sessions.
Study suggests omega-3 in mothers' diets may lower children's risk of type 1 diabetes New research published in Diabetologia (the journal of the European Association for the Study of Diabetes [EASD]) suggests that omega 3 polyunsaturated fatty acids (PUFAs), derived primarily from fish in maternal diet during pregnancy or lactation, may help protect infants at high risk of type 1 diabetes (T1D) from developing the disease.
	Teen suicide thoughts, self-harm cases double in a decade (HealthDay)—A controversial new Netflix series, "13 Reasons Why," has renewed public focus on the tragedy of teen suicide—and a new study suggests its release is timely.
	Sugary drinks more affordable across the globe (HealthDay)—Sugar-sweetened beverages have become more affordable worldwide, making the fight against obesity even more difficult, a new study suggests.
	Walking vs. running—which is better? (HealthDay)—Running and walking are both popular ways to get a great cardio workout. But is a brisk walk really as good an exercise as a sweaty, heart-pounding run?
	Lower incidence of chronic illness for centenarians (HealthDay)—Among elderly veterans, the incidence of chronic illness is lower for centenarians than octogenarians and nonagenarians, according to a study published online April 19 in the Journal of the American Geriatrics Society.
	Zinc effective in pediatric presymptomatic Wilson disease (HealthDay)—For young children with presymptomatic Wilson disease, zinc monotherapy is safe and effective, according to a study published online April 28 in the Journal of Gastroenterology and Hepatology.
	Ischemic outcomes don't vary with gender in ACS patients (HealthDay)—For acute coronary syndrome (ACS) patients undergoing percutaneous coronary intervention (PCI) and receiving clopidogrel, prasugrel, or ticagrelor, ischemic outcome does not differ by gender, according to a study published online April 29 in Cardiovascular Therapeutics.
	Cardiometabolic disease staging score quantifies diabetes risk (HealthDay)—For overweight and obese individuals, the Cardiometabolic Disease Staging (CMDS) score can quantify the risk of diabetes and predict the effectiveness of weight-loss therapy for preventing diabetes, according to research published online April 28 in Diabetes Care.
	Even low level of physical activity may cut fracture risk (HealthDay)—Short daily bouts of walking/bicycling and a few weekly exercise sessions are both associated with a lower rate of hip fracture and any fracture, according to a study published online April 29 in the Journal of Bone and Mineral Research.
	Scientists solve major cancer protein conundrum Despite intense research, there's been much confusion regarding the exact role of a protein in a critical cancer-linked pathway. On one hand, the protein is described as a cell proliferation inhibitor, on the other, a cell proliferation activator, a duality that has caused a great deal of scientific head scratching.
	Unique primary care residency program hangs in budget balance It's too soon for Shayla Durfey to know whether she'll apply for a Teaching Health Centers (THC) residency when she graduates from the Warren Alpert Medical School of Brown University in a few years—but as she and two professors write online in JAMA, the unique opportunity won't still exist for her or other medical students without action from Congress.
	Breast milk appears to aid white matter microstructural organization in preemies To the growing list of reasons why mothers should consider breast-feeding infants, add another: Critical white matter structures in the brains of babies who are born so prematurely that they weigh less than 1,500 grams develop more robustly when their mothers breast-feed them, compared with preemie peers who are fed formula.
	Three of 48 fetuses exposed to Zika in utero had abnormal fetal MRIs Fattened up on bites of potatoes, yucca and chicken starting at 4 months, some of the babies wearing sporty clothes and frilly dresses are rolly-polly chubby. As striking as their sizable girth are their heads, beautifully round and fully formed with none of the deep skin folds that corroborate the Zika virus' devastating ability to halt normal brain expansion as infants develop in utero.
	Exosomes derived from very obese patients' fat send wrong signals throughout body Exosomes isolated from very obese patients behave very differently than those derived from lean patients and may be key players in heightening youths' likelihood of developing atherosclerosis - which, in turn, places them at higher risk for suffering heart disease and stroke as adults.
	Next Ebola outbreak 'inevitable' but world better prepared: WHO A new outbreak of the Ebola virus is "inevitable" but a new vaccine and rapid-response measures mean it will be more effectively contained, the head of the World Health Organization said Thursday.
	Can trusting your doctor help reduce pain? Getting a shot at your doctor's office can be a stressful experience. But what if you knew your doctor was from your hometown, liked the same food as you, or shared your religious beliefs? Now that you feel more culturally connected to your doctor, will the shot hurt less?
Direct and not indirect childhood abuse linked to non-suicidal self-injury in adolescents Adolescents who were physically abused or sexually abused were more likely to engage in non-suicidal self-injury than their non-abused counterparts, according to a new study from researchers at the University of Toronto and Western University. The study appears online in the journal Child Abuse & Neglect.
For people with Down syndrome, varying test results can make it harder to get the right vision prescription Even objective, automated vision testing—using a device called an autorefractor—gives variable results in patients with Down syndrome, reports a study in the May issue of Optometry and Vision Science, the official journal of the American Academy of Optometry.
	Bystander CPR not only saves lives, it lessens disability: study (HealthDay)—When someone goes into cardiac arrest, quick action from bystanders can have a long-lasting impact, researchers say.
	Genetic findings in 'type 1.5' diabetes may shed light on better diagnosis, treatment Researchers investigating a form of adult-onset diabetes that shares features with the two better-known types of diabetes have discovered genetic influences that may offer clues to more accurate diagnosis and treatment.
	Advanced prostate cancer treatment failure due to cell reprogramming Columbia University Medical Center (CUMC) researchers have discovered a molecular mechanism that reprograms tumor cells in patients with advanced prostate cancer, reducing their response to anti-androgen therapy. The findings, based on a study in mice, could help to determine which patients should avoid anti-androgen therapy and identify new treatments for people with advanced prostate cancer.
Study examines 'watch-and-wait' approach for people with rectal cancer A study published today suggests that a select group of patients with rectal cancer who undergo chemotherapy and radiation may have low rates of recurrence and good survival rates regardless of whether they go on to have surgery.
White blood cell count predicts response to lung cancer immunotherapy White blood cell counts can predict whether or not lung cancer patients will benefit from immunotherapy, according to research presented at the European Lung Cancer Conference (ELCC).
Noisy knees may be an early sign of knee osteoarthritis A new study using data from the Osteoarthritis Initiative, a multi-center observational study of nearly 3500 participants, indicates that people who hear grating, cracking, or popping sounds in or around their knee joint may be at increased risk of developing knee osteoarthritis.
	Treatment seeks to address exacerbations of COPD A new study finds that delivery of oxygen via high-flow nasal tubes may help patients who experience exacerbations of chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD).
	Heart failure is as 'malignant' as some common cancers A new analysis finds that, despite advances in care, men and women with a diagnosis of heart failure continue to have worse survival rates than patients with certain common cancers.
Hand osteoarthritis is a common condition A new study estimates that the lifetime risk of symptomatic hand osteoarthritis is 40%, and nearly one in two women and one in four men will develop the condition, which affects hand strength and function and causes disability in activities of daily living.
Obamacare repeal faces test in US House Thursday Republicans under pressure to give President Donald Trump a legislative victory could take a dramatic step toward that end Thursday when the US House votes on dismantling Barack Obama's signature health reforms.
Kentucky study highlights harms from disruptions in children's Medicaid coverage New research being presented at the 2017 Pediatric Academic Societies Meeting suggest that when children lose state Medicaid coverage even for a short time, they are likely to go without needed health care, or to receive care in resource-intensive setting such as emergency departments rather than less expensive primary care offices.
Tracking devices may improve quality of life for parents of children with autism Many children with Autism Spectrum Disorder face increased risk of injury when they wander away from adults who care for them. Even when parents take safety precautions such as installing window bars at home, studies show parents' fear of their children wandering is a significant source of stress for families. New research being presented at the 2017 Pediatric Academic Societies Meeting suggests that electronic tracking devices worn by children may reduce how often children wander and help ease parents' anxiety.
Youth most at risk for violence or mental health issues have increased access to guns New research being presented at the 2017 Pediatric Academic Societies Meeting found adolescents who reported greatest access to guns—either in their own home or a friend's - also were among those with higher risk for violent behavior. Researchers discovered additional factors linked with increased firearms access that included past suicide attempts and self-reported mental health disorder diagnoses.
'Health halo' foods likely to pass parents' scrutiny by not examining nutrition labels Parents choosing foods for their children are significantly more likely to purchase "health halo" products - branded to cause misleading assumptions of good nutritional value - when they only view package images and don't examine nutritional labels, according to novel new research by a Northwell Health pediatrician.
Children's hospitals admissions for suicidal thoughts or actions double during past decade The number of children and adolescents admitted to children's hospitals for thoughts of suicide or self-harm more than doubled during the last decade, according to new research being presented at the 2017 Pediatric Academic Societies Meeting in San Francisco.
Study finds exposure to racism harms children's health New research to be presented at the 2017 Pediatric Academic Societies 2017 Meeting illustrates the unhealthy effects racism can have on children, with reported exposure to discrimination tied to higher rates of Attention Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder (ADHD), anxiety and depression, as well as decreased general health.
Internet health information can reduce parents' trust in doctors' diagnoses New research being presented at the 2017 Pediatric Academic Societies Meeting suggests online health information can influence whether parents trust a diagnosis made by their child's doctor, potentially leading to delayed treatment.
Study finds 16 US children hospitalized for firearms injuries each day New research being highlighted at the 2017 Pediatric Academic Societies Meeting in San Francisco reveals that firearms injuries caused more than 5,800 U.S. youth to be hospitalized in 2012, or roughly 16 children each day.
	Researchers identify potential Zika virus target New research provides insights into why infection with Zika virus after birth generally causes only mild symptoms, whereas devastating fetal malformations can develop when infection occurs during pregnancy.
	Cardiorespiratory fitness can reduce risk of fatty liver According to a new Finnish study, cardiorespiratory fitness is inversely related to risk of fatty liver. The research was conducted at the University of Turku, Finland, and shows that, despite the person's weight, achieving moderate cardio-respiratory fitness can protect from fatty liver.
	Imperial students collaborate on drug discovery for neglected diseases Chemistry students are making compounds that may help treat diseases thanks to an open collaboration with the Drugs for Neglected Diseases initiative.
Saving lives in poor countries is about adapting to what's already working there Each year, 5.9 million children under the age of five die, mostly from preventable causes. That's more than 16,000 children every day – and more than 8,000 of these are deaths that could have been prevented with simple, affordable interventions.
	Anxiety and depression are common in people with epilepsy An analysis of published studies found that in individuals with epilepsy, there is a 20.2 percent prevalence of anxiety disorders and a 22.9 percent prevalence of depression. Investigators also found no differences in the prevalence of either depression or anxiety based on the severity of illness.
Transgender patients not electing as much gender-affirming surgery as many believe, study finds Researchers from Boston Medical Center (BMC) have conducted the first study in the U.S. to determine the prevalence of gender affirming surgeries among a defined group of transgender patients, and found that most patients did not elect to have surgery. The study is published online in Endocrine Practice.
	Cage-constrained growth of engineered cartilage reduces swelling and improves function Researchers have shown that a novel cage constraint can prevent engineered cartilage from swelling during growth in culture, leading to better collagen stability and enhanced functional properties of the cartilage. The innovative cage system, designed to limit growth of engineered tissues within a fixed volume and shape while providing sufficient nutrients, is described in an article in Tissue Engineering, Part A.
Medical ethics under Nazism Did Nazi-era physicians study medical ethics? Does the concept of medical ethics exist independently of political systems? These were the questions driving Dr. Florian Bruns of Charité - Universitätsmedizin Berlin and Dr. Tessa Chelouche from the University of Haifa in Israel when they embarked on their recent collaboration. Their study, Lectures on Inhumanity: Teaching Medical Ethics in German Medical Schools Under Nazism, has been published in the Annals of Internal Medicine.
Study examines 'small for gestational age' across European countries A new study questions the use of common references for assessing 'small for gestational age' (SGA) in very preterm infants across Europe. SGA describes a baby who is smaller than the usual amount for the number of weeks of pregnancy.
Parkinson: Weight gain after deep brain stimulation It was already known that people affected by Parkinson's disease, when subjected to deep brain stimulation, gained weight, but it was less clear why that was so. Thanks to new research by the International School for Advanced Studies - SISSA in Trieste (Italy), it has been realized that the weight gain after implant has a multifactorial origin. The study, published on the scientific journal Cortex, monitored for the first time a group of patients before and after the intervention, assessing cognitive, psychological and behavioural aspects. The results show that weight gain is associated with an increased desire for food and level of impulsiveness, as well as with the duration of the disease and the reduction of pharmacological treatment, thereby providing important elements for preventative purposes.
	Role of bone marrow-derived stem cells in acute myeloid leukemia at time of diagnosis On diagnosis of acute myeloid leukemia, the mesenchymal stem cells (MSCs) in bone marrow often show alterations in gene and protein expression, proliferation capacity, and function, but whether these are a cause or result of malignancy is not well understood. A detailed examination of the possible contribution of bone marrow-derived MSCs to leukemic malignancies is presented in an article in Stem Cells and Development.
	Increased rates of suicidal thoughts and attempts among transgender adults reported Suicidal thoughts and attempts by adult transgender individuals were 14 and 22 times higher, respectively, than rates for the general public, according to a new study published in Transgender Health.
WHO chief praises Guineans for help with Ebola vaccine The head of the World Health Organization is praising Guineans for their role in helping to develop a vaccine against the deadly Ebola virus.
Fluid overload linked to premature death in patients on dialysis New research indicates that sustained fluid overload—when there is too much fluid in the blood—may increase the risk of early death in kidney failure patients on hemodialysis. The findings, which appear in an upcoming issue of the Journal of the American Society of Nephrology (JASN), point to the importance of monitoring and treating fluid overload in these patients.
	Americans uneasy with push to repeal Obamacare: poll (HealthDay)—Only one in five Americans are happy that Republicans are making another push to repeal the Affordable Care Act, a new HealthDay/Harris Poll reveals.
The expanding influence of genomics on society From prenatal genetic screening to the genetic testing of women with family histories of breast cancer, genomics is rapidly becoming a fixture in our lives. The National Human Genome Research Institute (NHGRI) has, since its founding, sponsored research into the ethical, legal and social implications (ELSI) of genomics to understand the profound societal and personal effects of technological advances in genomics.
The digitization of medical knowledge Researchers from Charité – Universitätsmedizin Berlin have challenged traditional teaching and learning concepts employed in medical training. A comparison with conventional learning methods led them to conclude that tablet-based, multimedia-enhanced training improves medical examination results. Their study, which has been published in the journal PLOS ONE, clearly shows that an integrated program of tablet-based theoretical training and clinical practice enhances medical training.
Republican plan to replace Obamacare: what's new in it? The House of Representatives votes Thursday on revived legislation endorsed by US President Donald Trump that replaces his predecessor's health care reforms.
	House OKs GOP health bill, a step toward Obamacare repeal Relieved Republicans muscled their health care bill through the House Thursday, taking their biggest step toward dismantling the Obama health care overhaul since Donald Trump took office. They won passage only after overcoming their own divisions that nearly sank the measure six weeks ago.

Biology news

	Scientists engineer baker's yeast to produce penicillin molecules The synthetic biologists from Imperial College London have re-engineered yeast cells to manufacture the nonribosomal peptide antibiotic penicillin. In laboratory experiments, they were able to demonstrate that this yeast had antibacterial properties against streptococcus bacteria.
	Researchers develop new capabilities for genome-wide engineering of yeast One of humankind's oldest industrial partners is yeast, a familiar microbe that enabled early societies to brew beer and leaven bread and empowers modern ones to synthesize biofuels and conduct key biomedical research. Yeast remains a vital biological agent, yet our ability to explore and influence its genomic activity has lagged.
	Researchers discover how cancer-causing virus could stay silently hidden in your body Researchers at the University of Pittsburgh have discovered a new mechanism that could explain how the Merkel Cell Polyomavirus, responsible for the most aggressive form of skin cancer, can stay dormant for decades after infection but then reemerge to cause cancer. The results are published online this week in the journal Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences.
	Pac-Man-like CRISPR enzymes have potential for disease diagnostics University of California, Berkeley, researchers have described 10 new CRISPR enzymes that, once activated, behave like Pac-Man to chew up RNA in a way that could be used as sensitive detectors of infectious viruses.
Scientists reveal how epigenetic changes in DNA are interpreted A new study in Science from Karolinska Institutet maps out how different DNA-binding proteins in human cells react to certain biochemical modifications of the DNA molecule. The scientists report that some 'master' regulatory proteins can activate regions of the genome that are normally inactive due to epigenetic changes. Their findings contribute to a better understanding of gene regulation, embryonic development and the processes leading to diseases such as cancer.
	Noise created by humans is pervasive in US protected areas Protected areas in the United States, representing 14 percent of the land mass, provide places for respite, recreation, and natural resource conservation. However, noise pollution poses novel threats to these protected areas, according to a first-of-its-kind study from scientists at Colorado State University and the U.S. National Park Service.
	Wind turbines affect behavior of desert tortoise predators How a wind energy facility is designed can influence the behavior of animal predators and their prey, according to a recent study published in the Journal of Wildlife Management by researchers at the University of California, Davis, and the U.S. Geological Survey.
	Biomarker test for Lou Gehrig's disease useful in diagnosing canine neurodegenerative disease In 2009, Joan Coates, a veterinary neurologist, along with other researchers at the University of Missouri and the Broad Institute at MIT/Harvard, found a genetic link between degenerative myelopathy (DM) in dogs and amyotrophic lateral sclerosis (ALS), or Lou Gehrig's disease in people. Now, researchers have found that a biomarker test that helps diagnose ALS also can assist with determining a diagnosis for degenerative myelopathy. Coates and her research team are seeking clinical trial participants to evaluate a treatment for canine DM.
	Pathogenic bacteria train their defence in lakes and oceans Peter Mathisen at Umeå University has found links between the aquatic environment and the spreading of diseases such as tularaemia. The results indicate that aquatic environments act as "gyms" for bacteria, where the presence of predators train their defence against being killed and eaten up. The results are important for assessments of aquatic environments at risk of spreading pathogenic bacteria. On April 28 Peter Mathisen successfully defended his thesis.
	When good animals make bad decisions Life is full of choices and animals have to make them every day, such as where to live, where to feed, and which other animals to interact with. These decisions are often based on an animal's perception of their surroundings – is it raining, am I too cold, is that a predator I smell? The consequences of getting this wrong could mean the difference between life and death.
	Bravery may cost fish their lives Fish that show bravery often become prey themselves, whereas shyer individuals survive to a greater extent. Researchers at Lund University in Sweden have now successfully established a connection between bold personalities and the risk of being killed by a predator in the wild.
	Cranky crabs in broken shells often have the upper claw in fights Sheer aggression rather than pure muscle strength often gives hermit crabs living in broken shells the edge during a fight. Broken shells constrain crabs' activities because they are heavy and a large portion of them unusable. Crabs living in broken shells value an intact shell and will fight more aggressively to get a better one. This is according to research conducted by Guillermina Alcaraz of the Universidad Nacional Autónoma de México in Mexico and Gastón Ignacio Jofre of Texas A&M University in the US. Their findings are published in Springer's journal Behavioral Ecology and Sociobiology.
	Why does so much of nature rely on sex for reproduction? Why is sex so popular among plants and animals, and why isn't asexual reproduction, or cloning, a more common reproductive strategy?
	How bears bulk up ahead of the summer: A study into the Asiatic black bear's spring diet Much like gym enthusiasts, every year Asiatic black bears seem to be on the lookout for protein-rich food ahead of the summer, so that they can bulk up on lean muscle mass in place of the fat tissue formed last year prior to hibernation. This was concluded in a study by Dr. Shino Furusaka, Tokyo University of Agriculture and Technology and his team, based on direct observations on bears living across an area of about 60 km2 in Japan. The study is published in the open access journal ZooKeys.
	Wolves return to Denmark for first time in 200 years At least five wolves, including one female, have returned to Denmark for the first time in two centuries, a zoologist who has obtained DNA evidence said on Thursday.
Affluent countries contribute less to wildlife conservation than the rest of the world Less affluent countries are more committed to conservation of their large animals than richer ones, a new Oxford University research collaboration has found.
Scientists use satellites to count endangered birds from space Albatrosses, one of the most iconic but also one of the most threatened groups of birds on the planet, are difficult to study in part because they breed on some of the world's remotest and most inaccessible islands. Scientists have now shown that the highest resolution satellite imagery is capable of "seeing" these birds from space, allowing researchers to count their numbers on remote islands directly from satellite images without ever having to go there.
	Komodo dragon attacks tourist in Indonesia A komodo dragon, one of the world's largest lizards, attacked a tourist in Indonesia who was trying to photograph the giant creatures feasting on a goat, police said Thursday.
	Forgotten crops making meals taste better Local farmers and researchers are foraging through forgotten crops to recover long-lost flavours.
	Stink bugs: Free guide for agricultural integrated pest management Farmers in the midwestern United States have been battling increasing infestations from a variety of stink bug species in recent years, and now they have a new free resource for understanding and managing the emerging pests.

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