Science X Newsletter Thursday, Feb 22

Dear Reader ,

Here is your customized Science X Newsletter for February 22, 2018:

Spotlight Stories Headlines

Surprising new study redraws family tree of domesticated and 'wild' horses

Neanderthals were artistic like modern humans, study indicates

How realistic are those robots in Star Wars?

A statistical look at the probability of future major wars

Hauling antiprotons around in a van

Urban heat island effects depend on a city's layout

Superagers' youthful brains offer clues to keeping sharp

The mystery behind the proboscis monkey's big nose

Digestive ability of ancient insects could boost biofuel development

Study: Salt marshes will vanish if seas keep rising and California keeps building

Get ready for the era of hypersonic flight—at five times the speed of sound

Novel technology could allow researchers to develop and test new antimalaria drugs

Study in mice suggests personalized stem cell treatment may offer relief for multiple sclerosis

Neuroscientists discover a brain signal that indicates whether speech has been understood

Artificial intelligence quickly and accurately diagnoses eye diseases and pneumonia

Astronomy & Space news

	Novel search strategy advances the hunt for primordial black holes Some theories of the early universe predict density fluctuations that would have created small "primordial black holes," some of which could be drifting through our galactic neighborhood today and might even be bright sources of gamma rays.
	Astronomers discover S0-2 star is single and ready for big Einstein test Astronomers have the "all-clear" for an exciting test of Einstein's Theory of General Relativity, thanks to a new discovery about S0-2's star status.
	Improved Hubble yardstick gives fresh evidence for new physics in the universe Astronomers have used NASA's Hubble Space Telescope to make the most precise measurements of the expansion rate of the universe since it was first calculated nearly a century ago. Intriguingly, the results are forcing astronomers to consider that they may be seeing evidence of something unexpected at work in the universe.
	Waterbeds simulate weightlessness to help skinsuits combat back pain in space Astronauts tend to become taller in weightlessness – causing back pain and making it difficult to fit into spacesuits. Astronauts may be more likely to suffer from 'slipped discs' after landing.
	Image: Hypervelocity impact testing What looks like a mushroom cloud turned sideways is actually the instant an 2.8 mm-diameter aluminium bullet moving at 7 km/s pierces a spacecraft shield, captured by a high-speed camera.
	Surfing complete Slowed by skimming through the very top of the upper atmosphere, ESA's ExoMars has lowered itself into a planet-hugging orbit and is about ready to begin sniffing the Red Planet for methane.
	SpaceX launches Spanish satellite, two others from California An Earth-observation satellite built for Spain and two experimental satellites for internet service were successfully launched into orbit from California at dawn Thursday, creating a brief light show as it arced over the Pacific Ocean west of Los Angeles.
	How spacecraft testing enabled bone marrow research In the 1970s, a NASA employee stepped up to a challenge posed by the National Institutes of Health or NIH: to freeze bone marrow.

Technology news

	How realistic are those robots in Star Wars? Computer Science and Engineering Professor Robin Murphy of Texas A&M University has taken a serious look at the robots of Star Wars fame and judges how realistic they are in a recent Science Robotics Focus piece—in it, she suggests some aspects of the robots are more realistic than others.
	Get ready for the era of hypersonic flight—at five times the speed of sound The sleek aircraft, really more rocket than plane, dropped from the wing of a B-52 before shooting through the sky above Point Mugu Sea Range off the California coast, leaving a long, white contrail in its wake.
	Samsung patent talk: Flying display right before your eyes A display that can fly and be controlled by your eyes: Can the idea fly its way into a product of the future? Think drone with display that can detect a person's face, pupils, hand gestures and position.
	Toyota's magnet lowers reliance on widely used rare earth element News from Toyota: On Tuesday the car marker announced it has a heat-resistant magnet that uses significantly less neodymium, a rare-earth element—reducing the amount of neodymium use by up to 50 percent.
	Judges to rule on diesel bans in choking German cities Judges are to rule Thursday on whether German cities can ban old diesel cars to reduce air pollution, with potentially dramatic consequences for a key industry and transport policy in Europe's largest economy.
	Walmart to launch new online home shopping experience Bohemian or traditional?
	Testing lithium battery limitations may improve safety and lifetimes Researchers are using neutrons to study a battery material that could offer a safer alternative to the flammable liquid component found in most types of lithium-ion batteries.
	Air France passengers grounded by strike Half of Air France's long-haul flights out of Paris were cancelled Thursday due to a strike over pay by pilots, cabin crew and ground staff.
	European flight safety agency issues drone guidelines Europe's flight safety authority has published its first proposal on the safe operation of small drones, to serve as a guideline for the European Commission to adopt concrete regulations later this year.
	Image processing algorithm shows promise for mapping the blood vessel networks in the eye More accurate and efficient mapping of retinal blood vessels using a path-following image processing scheme, developed by an A*STAR-led research team, could help improve retinal scanning and medical diagnosis.
	How you type with your smartphone can reveal your age – here's why it matters When computers hit the mainstream, the older guy in the office would always be sniggered at when bashing away on his QWERTY keyboard, only using his two index fingers to type. To the amusement of his younger, tech-savvy colleagues, he would almost look Neanderthal next to those who grew up with computers and used all their fingers on the keyboard quickly and fluently.
	How airplane crash investigations can improve cybersecurity While some countries struggle with safety, U.S. airplane travel has lately had a remarkable safety record. In fact, from 2014 through 2017, there were no fatal commercial airline crashes in the U.S.
Toyota, Genesis among Consumer Reports' top auto picks Toyota has four of the 10 vehicles on Consumer Reports' annual top picks, the most of any brand.
Engineers advance the capability of wearable tech Creating the perfect wearable device to monitor muscle movement, heart rate and other tiny bio-signals without breaking the bank has inspired scientists to look for a simpler and more affordable tool.
	Airbnb expands offerings with new upscale categories Home-share titan Airbnb on Thursday took aim at more upscale travelers with new categories including premium lodging and properties for "trips of a lifetime."
UPS adding to electric truck fleet UPS says it will soon start using electric delivery trucks that cost the same as conventional diesel- or gas-fueled ones.
	Cobalt prices soar, but Congo's small miners see little of the gain In global markets the price of cobalt, a mineral used in batteries for high-tech products from iPhones to Tesla electric cars, has nearly tripled to $81,500 a tonne in two years.
	Four arrests over Taiwan's 'first' bitcoin robbery Taiwan police have arrested four men over a bitcoin robbery worth Twd$5 million ($170,000) in what they said was the first case of its kind on the island.
	Uber introduces Express Pool service, which sounds kind of like a bus First, Uber framed itself as an alternative to taxis. Now the San Francisco ride-hailing company is rolling out a new service that sounds kind of like a bus.
	Deutsche Telekom rings up big profits thanks to US tax reform German telecoms giant Deutsche Telekom on Thursday announced a big jump for its 2017 net profit, as a tax bump from the United States helped offset record investments in fibre-optic infrastructure.
	Urban mining to reduce environmental footprint of consumer goods Mining isn't the only way to extract valuable metals. Soon, they could increasingly be recovered from waste, reducing the need for new raw materials and helping Europe's transition to a low-carbon economy.
Economists cash in on efficient, high-performance computing method Economists have previously made little use of high-performance computers (HPC) in their research. This is despite the fact that the complex interactions and heterogeneity of their models can quickly cause them to reach hundreds of dimensions, which cannot be calculated using conventional methods. In the past, simplified models were therefore often formulated for answering complex questions. These models solved some problems, but they could also provide false predictions, explains Simon Scheidegger, Senior Assistant at the University of Zurich's Department of Banking and Finance. For example, quantitatively studying optimal monetary policy in the wake of a financial crisis cannot be properly achieved using the conventional methods. However, calculating high-dimensional models on a supercomputer is not easy either. Until recently, researchers lacked appropriate numerical analysis and highly efficient software.
	Austria sues over EU approval of Hungary nuclear plant Staunchly anti-nuclear Austria lodged a legal complaint with the European Court of Justice on Thursday against the EU's approval of the expansion of a nuclear plant in neighbouring Hungary.
	New portable, high performance device analyses toxic gases and air pollutants Against a backdrop of increased concern about the safety of traded cargo across Europe, the EU-funded IRON project has developed a handheld device for sub-parts per billion (ppb) gas detection based on proprietary mid-infrared laser spectroscopy, combined with patented photoacoustic technology.
	CDN analysis sheds light on internet evolution CDNs have greatly improved our online experience. The CDN-H project has studied its implications for the internet's structure and the relationship between stakeholders.
	Another former employee sues Google over issues of diversity Another former Google employee is suing the tech company over issues of diversity.

Medicine & Health news

	Superagers' youthful brains offer clues to keeping sharp It's pretty extraordinary for people in their 80s and 90s to keep the same sharp memory as someone several decades younger, and now scientists are peeking into the brains of these "superagers" to uncover their secret.
	Study in mice suggests personalized stem cell treatment may offer relief for multiple sclerosis Scientists have shown in mice that skin cells re-programmed into brain stem cells, transplanted into the central nervous system, help reduce inflammation and may be able to help repair damage caused by multiple sclerosis (MS).
	Neuroscientists discover a brain signal that indicates whether speech has been understood Neuroscientists from Trinity College Dublin and the University of Rochester have identified a specific brain signal associated with the conversion of speech into understanding. The signal is present when the listener has understood what they have heard, but it is absent when they either did not understand, or weren't paying attention.
	Artificial intelligence quickly and accurately diagnoses eye diseases and pneumonia Using artificial intelligence and machine learning techniques, researchers at Shiley Eye Institute at UC San Diego Health and University of California San Diego School of Medicine, with colleagues in China, Germany and Texas, have developed a new computational tool to screen patients with common but blinding retinal diseases, potentially speeding diagnoses and treatment.
	Gut microbes protect against sepsis—mouse study Sepsis occurs when the body's response to the spread of bacteria or toxins to the bloodstream damages tissues and organs. The fight against sepsis could get a helping hand from a surprising source: gut bacteria. Researchers reporting February 22 in the journal Cell Host & Microbe found that giving mice particular microbes increased blood levels of immunoglobulin A (IgA) antibodies, which protected against the kind of widespread bacterial invasion that leads to sepsis.
	DNA gets away: Scientists catch the rogue molecule that can trigger autoimmunity A research team has discovered the process - and filmed the actual moment - that can change the body's response to a dying cell. Importantly, what they call the 'Great Escape' moment may one day prove to be the crucial trigger for autoimmune diseases like arthritis.
	Heart researchers develop a new, promising imaging technique for cardiac arrhythmias Every five minutes in Germany alone, a person dies of sudden cardiac arrest or fibrillation, the most common cause of death worldwide. This is partly due to the fact that doctors still do not fully understand exactly what goes on in the heart during the occurrence. Until now, it was impossible to visualize dynamic processes in the fibrillating heart muscle, or myocardium. In today's publication in Nature, an international team of researchers headed by Jan Christoph and Stefan Luther of the Max Planck Institute for Dynamics and Self-Organization and Gerd Hasenfuß of the Heart Center at the University Medical Center Göttingen show for the first time how vortex-like, rotating contractions that underlie life-threatening ventricular fibrillation can be observed inside the heart with the help of a new imaging technique, which can be used with existing ultrasound equipment. In the future, this newly developed imaging technique may help medical doctors to image and thus identify heart rhythm disorders, helping them to better understand cardiac disease and further develop new, more effective methods for treatment.
	Scientists use color-coded tags to discover how heart cells develop UCLA researchers used fluorescent colored proteins to trace how cardiomyocytes—cells in heart muscle that enable it to pump blood—are produced in mouse embryos. The findings could eventually lead to methods for regenerating heart tissue in human adults.
	A synthetic approach to helping the immune system thwart infections Yale researchers have developed a set of synthetic molecules that may help boost the strength of a key, virus-fighting protein.
	Breakthrough could lead to better drugs to tackle diabetes and obesity Breakthrough research at Monash University has shown how different areas of major diabetes and obesity drug targets can be 'activated', guiding future drug development and better treatment of diseases.
	Color of judo uniform has no effect on winning New research on competitive judo data finds a winning bias for the athlete who is first called, regardless of the colour of their uniform. This unique study, published in Frontiers in Psychology, puts to rest the debate on the influence a blue uniform has on beating the opponent.
	Fertility breakthrough: New research could extend egg health with age Women have been told for years that if they don't have children before their mid-30s, they may not be able to. But a new study from Princeton University's Coleen Murphy has identified a drug that extends egg viability in worms, even when taken midway through the fertile window, which could theoretically extend women's fertility by three to six years. Her work appears in the current issue of the journal Current Biology.
	Low-calorie diet enhances intestinal regeneration after injury Dramatic calorie restriction, diets reduced by 40 percent of a normal calorie total, have long been known to extend health span, the duration of disease-free aging, in animal studies, and even to extend life span in most animal species examined. Further research has shown that animals fed restricted-calorie diets are also better able to regenerate numerous tissues after injury.
	Do you see what I see? Researchers harness brain waves to reconstruct images of what we perceive A new technique developed by neuroscientists at the University of Toronto Scarborough can, for the first time, reconstruct images of what people perceive based on their brain activity gathered by EEG.
	Portable ultrasound; post-prison follow up could improve care of patients with kidney disease A portable ultrasound can help nephrologists better detect fluid in the lungs of patients with end-stage kidney disease, according to a study by physicians at the Medical College of Georgia at Augusta University.
	'Beetroot pill' could help save patients from kidney failure after heart X-ray Beetroot may reduce the risk of kidney failure in patients having a heart x-ray, according to research led by Queen Mary University of London.
	Antidepressants are more effective than placebo at treating acute depression in adults, concludes study Meta-analysis of 522 trials includes the largest amount of unpublished data to date, and finds that antidepressants are more effective than placebo for short-term treatment of acute depression in adults.
	Instead of nagging your spouse to lose weight, try going on a diet yourself Tired of nagging your spouse to lose a few pounds? You might get better results by going on a diet yourself.
	Debunking claims about medical marijuana In 1996, California became the first US state to legalise marijuana use for medical purposes. Medical marijuana is now legal in 29 states. Opponents of medical marijuana argue that such laws increase recreational marijuana use among adolescents, while advocates contend that medical marijuana helps to address the US opioid crisis by reducing overdose deaths.
	Women who suffer with SCAD may fare better with conservative care Patients who suffer from a type of heart attack that affects mainly younger women, called spontaneous coronary artery dissection or SCAD, may benefit most from conservative treatment, letting the body heal on its own. This is according to a new scientific statement by a Mayo Clinic led team, published by the American Heart Association in its journal, Circulation.
	Team identifies genetic defect that may cause rare movement disorder A Massachusetts General Hospital (MGH)-led research team has found that a defect in transcription of the TAF1 gene may be the cause of X-linked dystonia parkinsonism (XDP), a rare and severe neurodegenerative disease. The study, published in the February 22 issue of Cell, is a collaboration between the laboratories of Michael Talkowski, PhD, and Cristopher Bragg, PhD, both of the MGH Department of Neurology and the Collaborative Center for X-linked Dystonia Parkinsonism (CCXDP).
Defects on regulators of disease-causing proteins can cause neurological disease When the protein Ataxin1 accumulates in neurons it causes a neurological condition called spinocerebellar ataxia type 1 (SCA1), a disease characterized by progressive problems with balance. Ataxin1 accumulates because of a mutation that produces an abnormal, very long version of the protein that forms clumps inside neurons. However, studies on animal models have shown that accumulation of normal, regular-length Ataxin1 can lead to neurodegeneration similar to SCA1. In this case, the problem was a mutation in one of the genes that regulate Ataxin1 production, called Pumilio1, that resulted in overproduction of normal Ataxin1. Inspired by the findings in animal models, an international team of researchers explored the possibility that a similar phenomenon happened in people. They report in the journal Cell that mutations in human PUMILIO1 gene also cause conditions similar to SCA1. These findings provide a better understanding of the genetic basis of neurological diseases and suggest that identifying protein regulators would single out new candidates for disease-causing genes.
	A look at the space between mouse brain cells Between the brain's neurons and glial cells is a critical but understudied structure that's been called neuroscience's final frontier: the extracellular space. With a new imaging paradigm, scientists can now see into and study this complex fluid-filled matrix. The advance, demonstrated in mice, appears February 22 in the journal Cell.
Minimising risks of transplants A bone marrow transplant is often the only therapy available to save leukaemia patients, but the risk of complications is high. Despite the considerable time and effort of finding a suitable donor, nearly half of all patients experience an unwanted immune system reaction attacking the skin and liver, and in up to 50 percent of cases, the intestines. Researchers at FAU (Friedrich-Alexander-Universität Erlangen-Nürnberg) have succeeded in deciphering what causes some instances of this life-threatening inflammation of the intestines, possibly opening up new approaches for treatment. They have published the results of their research in the Journal of Clinical Investigation.
	Nolan film 'Memento' reveals how the brain remembers and interprets events from clues Key repeating moments in the film give viewers the information they need to understand the storyline. The scenes cause identical reactions in the viewer's brain. The results deepen our understanding of how the brain functions, how narratives work in film, and memory mechanisms are impaired by conditions such as Alzheimer's disease.
	Scientists find molecular link between Vitamin A derivative and mouse intestinal health New research shows that all-trans-retinoic acid (atRA), the active form of vitamin A, regulates immune system responses in the mouse intestine by controlling expression of the protein HIC1 in cells known as innate lymphoid cells. These findings, which could suggest new ways to fight disease, are presented in PLOS Pathogens by Dr Kyle Burrows of the University of British Columbia, Canada, and colleagues.
	Scientists gain new insight on how antibodies interact with widespread respiratory virus Scientists have found and characterized the activity of four antibodies produced by the human immune system that target an important protein found in respiratory syncytial virus (RSV), according to new research published in PLOS Pathogens.
	Alternative methods needed to detect all schistosomiasis cases To detect detect intestinal schistosome infections, the World Health Organization recommends using the Kato-Katz technique, which analyzes slides of fecal matter. But the approach often misses people who are infected with only a low burden of parasites and, as a consequence, shed only a few eggs in fecal samples. Researchers have now analyzed the efficacy of other testing approaches in a setting with low parasite burden; their results appear in PLOS Neglected Tropical Diseases.
	Animal diversity improves reproducibility of pre-clinical research Pre-clinical animal research is typically based on single laboratory studies conducted under highly standardized conditions, a practice that is universally encouraged in animal science courses and textbooks. But does this insistence on uniformity produce the most reliable results? In a new study publishing February 22 in the open access journal PLOS Biology, researchers from the Universities of Bern and Edinburgh ask whether the use of such highly standardized laboratory conditions runs the risk of getting results that only apply under very specific conditions, and show that this near-universal practice may actually help to explain the poor reproducibility of pre-clinical animal research. Instead, diversity may be better.
	Zika virus could help combat brain cancer Zika virus, known for causing microcephaly in babies by attacking the cells that give rise to the fetus's cerebral cortex, could be an alternative for treatment of glioblastoma, the most common and aggressive malignant brain tumor in adults. This discovery was made by researchers at the University of Campinas's School of Pharmaceutical Sciences (FCF-UNICAMP) in São Paulo State, Brazil.
	Modular molecules establish regulation of selective vesicle transport The split personality of a nerve cell illustrates a puzzle. Nerve cells are divided in two domains – the axon sends signals and the dendrites receive them. Axonal and dendritic proteins embedded in the membrane at either end – called transmembrane proteins – are built in the same cellular factory and travel on the same cellular highway. But for the cell to function property, they must be delivered to the correct domain. So how does the cell regulate that voyage?
Diabetes monitor is 'game changer' A new method of measuring blood glucose levels in people with diabetes is a significant advance in the management of the disease, according to an independent assessment by University of Manchester, Manchester University NHS Foundation Trust and Derby Teaching Hospitals experts.
Stroke survivors and caregivers feel abandoned by health services, study finds A systematic review of studies focused on stroke survivors' and carers' experiences of primary care and community healthcare services has found that they feel abandoned because they have become marginalised by services and do not have the knowledge or skills to re-engage.
	Physical and mental multitasking may boost memory, study suggests Performing memory training exercises at the same time as pedaling a stationary bike led to better gains in memory than doing the training exercises after working up a sweat, according to a 55-person study led by UCLA researchers. The findings suggest that exercise may temporarily make it easier for the brain to create new memories.
	Study links high community sanitation coverage to lower risk of trachoma A global study of water and sanitation coverage has found that community access to sanitation facilities exceeding 80 percent reduces rates of trachoma, a blinding eye disease caused by repeated infection with Chlamydia trachomatis. The risk was lower even for people in the community without household access to sanitation.
	College students may not be as heart-healthy as they think For many young adults, the college years are filled with excitement, as students gain independence and establish new adult identities and behaviors. However, not all behaviors are healthy. Typical changes in college student behavior include a decrease in exercise and activity levels and an increase in sitting or sedentary time. Other changes include changes in eating and sleeping patterns, increased stress, weight fluctuations as well tobacco, alcohol and drug use.
	The science of when to worry "I've always been interested in research with very young children. I'm fascinated by developmental periods of struggle—the terrible twos, for instance."
	Study proposes practical solution to challenges faced by bilingual children Researchers have made a major breakthrough in the assessment of language development among bilingual families and in the identification of those children who require extra support to improve their language skills.
	Researchers successfully develop a rotavirus vaccine which could benefit millions of children Researchers from the Murdoch Children's Research Institute (MCRI) have developed a rotavirus vaccine that provides earlier protection from dehydrating diarrhoea for infants and young children.
	Study reveals how kidney disease happens Monash researchers have solved a mystery, revealing how certain immune cells work together to instigate autoimmune kidney disease.
	Immune cells hold their memory of how to respond to allergens in a surprising way Understanding how the immune system remembers allergy-causing antigens could help prevent severe reactions.
	How we decide who and what we care about—and whether robots stand a chance When psychologists talk about a "moral circle" they are referring to how far we extend our moral consideration towards others. That is, whether we care about the well-being of others, and act accordingly.
	The protein that prevents loose teeth A frequent problem in orthodontic practice is that the teeth do not remain in their new positions. Can a protein prevent teeth from moving in the mouth?
Diabetic nerve damage may increase energy needed for walking A new study suggests that diabetes-related nerve damage (peripheral neuropathy) may reduce the amount of energy stored by the Achilles tendon during walking. The tendon connects the back of the heel to the calf muscles. This reduction increases the energy required for locomotion ("cost of walking"). The article is published ahead of print in the Journal of Applied Physiology.
Disease risk after pediatric heart surgery Infections and autoimmune diseases are more common among people who have undergone heart surgery as children and had their thymus removed at the same time, which is often done to get access to the heart. This is evident in a study published in the Journal of Allergy and Clinical Immunology.
Detecting the subtle signs of heart disease in women Many women may write off fatigue, body aches and even nausea as the result of stress, or as an indication that they need to slow down and rest.
	How Olympians train their brains to become mentally tough We have witnessed some exceptional performances during the Pyeongchang Winter Olympics. For any athlete to deliver a gold medal performance, mental toughness is an essential ingredient. But what exactly is mental toughness—and how does an athlete develop it?
	Why students are the answer to psychology's replication crisis "Statistics are like a bikini. What they reveal is suggestive, but what they conceal is vital," Aaron Levenstein, a business professor at Baruch College, once said.
	Parents, stop nagging kids not to forget – set visual cues instead Every day, we have to remember intentions to perform specific tasks in the future. We may need to remember to buy milk on the way home from work, to return a book to the library next week, or take a certain pill at 8am every day. Psychologists call this "prospective memory".
	Thinking of taking a walk every day? Six reasons why it's good for you South Africa's new president Cyril Ramaphosa has been the talk of social media with his early morning walking routine. In addition to personal walks along a Cape Town beachfront, Ramaphosa has also led a walk in the city from the townships of Gugulethu to Athlone to promote exercise as a key part of healthy living.
	The good and bad health news about your exercise posts on social media We all have that Facebook friend—or 10—who regularly posts photos of his or her fitness pursuits: on the elliptical at the gym, hiking through the wilderness, crossing a 10K finish line.
	Phase I clinical trial shows some promise for investigational drug for melanoma An investigational compound designed to block a hyperactive cell growth signal in advanced melanoma and other cancers has shown some promise in an early-stage clinical trial, researchers at the University of North Carolina Lineberger Comprehensive Cancer Center and other institutions have reported.
GWAS identifies genetic alteration associated with opioid dependence A genome-wide association study has identified a new genetic alteration in European-Americans with opioid dependence. The study, published in Biological Psychiatry, included over 3,000 opioid-exposed people. The new findings provide insight into the biological origins of opioid dependence, which has become an epidemic of historical proportions in the US, driven by dangerous use of prescription painkillers and heroin.
	Putting black skin cancer to sleep—for good An international research team has succeeded in stopping the growth of malignant melanoma by reactivating a protective mechanism that prevents tumor cells from dividing. The team used chemical agents to block the enzymes responsible for erasing epigenetic marks at the DNA. This discovery has potential for use in future combination therapies.
	Research team finds new explanatory approach for pedophilia Why some adults develop a sexual interest in children is scientifically not yet fully understood. A research team from the Institute of Sexual Medicine and Forensic Psychiatry and Psychotherapy at Kiel University and the University Medical Center Schleswig-Holstein (UKSH) Campus Kiel, together with scientists from other north German universities, has now found new clues as to possible causes of pedophilia in men. In a study funded by the Federal Ministry of Education and Research, the scientists were the first to identify a fault in the so-called nurturing system in the brain as a possible explanation. Their findings have been published in the scientific journal Frontiers in Human Neuroscience.
	Violent video games may serve as an outlet for aggression, not a precursor, says Virginia Tech expert According to a recent study published in Violence and Gender, video games decrease the likelihood of producing hate material online and researcher Jim Hawdon says "this finding suggests that violent video games may serve as an outlet for aggression, not a precursor."
	NEJM reports positive results for larotrectinib against TRK-fusion cancer In 2013, the labs of University of Colorado Cancer Center investigator Robert C. Doebele, MD, PhD, and Dana-Farber Cancer Institute investigator Pasi A. Jänne, MD, PhD reported in Nature Medicine the presence of TRK gene fusions as oncogenic drivers in patient samples of non-small cell lung cancer. Now five years later, the New England Journal of Medicine has published results of three early studies of the drug larotrectinib (formerly LOXO-101) to treat advanced-stage cancer patients whose tumors harbor these TRK fusion genes.
	Cancer risk associated with key epigenetic changes occurring through normal aging process Some scientists have hypothesized that tumor-promoting changes in cells during cancer development—particularly an epigenetic change involving DNA methylation—arise from rogue cells escaping a natural cell deterioration process called senescence. Now, researchers at the Johns Hopkins Kimmel Cancer Center demonstrated that instead, tumor-associated epigenetic states evolve erratically during early stages of tumor development, eventually selecting for a subset of genes that undergo the most changes during normal aging and in early tumor development.
Minimally invasive procedure increases options for mitral valve repair Some heart patients haven't yet been able to access the growing trend toward minimally invasive procedures. A new clinical trial, though, makes a form of mitral valve repair an option without an open-heart surgery.
Scottish hospitals see slower decline in deaths Researchers at the University of York have found that Scottish hospitals have experienced slower reductions in inpatient deaths than their English counterparts.
Study finds language, achievement benefits of universal early childhood education Universal child care that starts as early as age one improves language skills for young children, especially those from low-income families, according to a study of Norway's child care system by a team of researchers led by Boston College Lynch School of Education Professor Eric Dearing. Offering high-quality child care beginning at age one is reducing early achievement gaps in Norwegian communities, the team reported in a recent edition of the education research journal AERA Open.
Biomarker, clues to possible therapy found in novel childhood neurogenetic disease Researchers studying a rare genetic disorder that causes severe, progressive neurological problems in childhood have discovered insights into biological mechanisms that drive the disease, along with early clues that an amino acid supplement might offer a targeted therapy. The research, which found abnormalities in a biological waste-disposal process called autophagy, links the mechanism underlying rare pediatric neurogenetic disorders to more common neurodegenerative disorders, such as Huntington's or Parkinson's disease.
	Adherence to sleep apnea treatment affects risk of hospital readmission A study of patients with obstructive sleep apnea (OSA) suggests that non-adherence to continuous positive airway pressure (CPAP) therapy is significantly associated with increased 30-day hospital readmissions.
	Sandhoff disease study shows proof of principle for gene therapy Babies with the rare, deadly genetic disorder Sandhoff disease begin to miss developmental milestones just months after birth. Lacking muscle tone, they never learn to sit up, develop heads too large to lift and eventually suffer uncontrollable seizures. There is no cure.
Discovery could speed clinical translation of stem cell therapies A team of scientists from the University of Colorado School of Medicine and the Charles C. Gates Center for Regenerative Medicine at CU Anschutz has reported a more efficient approach to reprogramming a patient's diseased skin cells into stem cells, raising hopes for future clinical trials and potential cures for critical illnesses.
	Descriptive phrases for how often food should be eaten helps preschoolers better understand healthy eating Approximately one in four preschoolers in the US are overweight or obese, and poor nutrition in early childhood has enduring consequences to children's cognitive functioning. Preschool, therefore, is a critical period for children to begin to make their own dietary decisions to develop life-long healthy eating habits. A new study published in the Journal of Nutrition Education and Behavior found that preschoolers who learned how to classify food as healthy or unhealthy were more likely to say they would choose healthy food as a snack.
Therapy for muscular dystrophy-caused heart failure also improves muscle function in mice Injections of cardiac progenitor cells help reverse the fatal heart disease caused by Duchenne muscular dystrophy and also lead to improved limb strength and movement ability, a new study shows.
	Sweet, bitter, fat: New study reveals impact of genetics on how kids snack Whether your child asks for crackers, cookies or veggies to snack on could be linked to genetics, according to new findings from the Guelph Family Health Study at the University of Guelph.
Protein active in life-threatening allergic reactions is a promising target for therapy Prospects for inhibiting the most dangerous symptoms of allergic reactions may be brighter with the publication of a new study that identifies a possible target for drug therapies. Research conducted at Cincinnati Children's Hospital Medical Center and published in the Journal of Allergy and Clinical Immunology found that several proteins can interact in blood vessels to intensify the respiratory and circulatory symptoms of a severe allergic reaction known as anaphylaxis. Pharmaceuticals that target these proteins, including a drug approved to treat a chronic skin condition, may be able to moderate reactions and make anaphylaxis less deadly.
	C-sections and gut bacteria increase risk of childhood obesity New CHILD Study research has found that overweight and obese women are more like to have children who are overweight or obese by three years of age—and that bacteria in the gut may be partially to blame.
	Opioid abuse leads to heroin use and a hepatitis C epidemic, researcher says Heroin is worse than other drugs because people inject it much sooner, potentially resulting in increased risk of injection-related epidemics such as hepatitis C and HIV, a Keck School of Medicine of USC study shows.
	Infants are able to learn abstract rules visually Three-month-old babies cannot sit up or roll over, yet they are already capable of learning patterns from simply looking at the world around them, according to a recent Northwestern University study published in PLOS One.
	Beetroot juice supplements may help certain heart failure patients Beetroot juice supplements may help enhance exercise capacity in patients with heart failure, according to a new proof-of-concept study. Exercise capacity is a key factor linked to these patients' quality of life and even survival.
	Researchers adapt HIV test in developing rapid diagnostic test for Zika virus Researchers at New York University College of Dentistry (NYU Dentistry), in collaboration with Rheonix, Inc. (Ithaca, NY), are developing a novel test for Zika virus that uses saliva to identify diagnostic markers of the virus in a fraction of the time of current commercial tests.
	Shedding a tear may help diagnose Parkinson's disease Tears may hold clues to whether someone has Parkinson's disease, according to a preliminary study released today that will be presented at the American Academy of Neurology's 70th Annual Meeting in Los Angeles, April 21 to 27, 2018.
Survey: More than half of US gun owners do not safely store their guns More than half of gun owners do not safely store all their guns, according to a new survey of 1,444 U.S. gun owners conducted by researchers at the Johns Hopkins Bloomberg School of Public Health.
Kids with chronic kidney disease have lower IQs and poorer educational outcomes Chronic kidney disease causes irreversible deterioration in renal function, often requiring dialysis or transplant surgery.
Younger age at diabetes diagnosis is linked to higher risk of death from heart disease and stroke While type 2 diabetes (T2D) was once considered a disease largely confined to older people, the global epidemic of obesity and overweight has seen diagnoses rocket in young adults, adolescents and even appear in young children. New research published in Diabetologia (the journal of the European Association for the Study of Diabetes [EASD]) shows that the earlier a person is diagnosed with T2D, the higher their risk of death from heart disease and stroke, but, unusually, the lower their risk of death from cancer.
	Xanax, valium looking like America's next drug crisis (HealthDay)—America is well aware of its opioid epidemic, but there's a hidden crisis brewing with prescription sedatives such as Xanax and Valium, a new review warns.
	Too much TV could boost your odds for a blood clot (HealthDay)— Hours spent binge-watching that hot new series might feel great, but it's doing no favors for your blood vessels, new research shows.
	More Americans pushed into high-deductible health plans (HealthDay)—The number of uninsured American adults held steady at about 13 percent in 2017, but many more insured Americans are being presented with high deductibles, new research shows.
	Putting the brakes on 'emotional eating' (HealthDay)—Many of us make choices about whether to eat healthy or not-so-healthy foods based on whether we're in a good or not-so-good mood.
	Worse prognosis for prediabetes defined by HbA1c (HealthDay)—Prediabetes defined by hemoglobin A1c (HbA1c) is associated with worse prognosis than definition by fasting plasma glucose (FPG) or two-hour plasma glucose (2hPG), according to a study published online Feb. 16 in Diabetes Care.
	Cardiorespiratory fitness, white matter integrity tied to cognition (HealthDay)—Cardiorespiratory fitness (CRF) is associated with better white matter (WM) fiber integrity in patients with mild cognitive impairment (MCI), according to a study published recently in the Journal of Alzheimer's Disease.
	Chronicity of depression ups failure along continuum of HIV care (HealthDay)—Chronicity of depression is associated with increased likelihood of failure along the continuum of HIV care, according to a study published online Feb. 21 in JAMA Psychiatry.
	Regardless of CV risks, cancer history impacts mortality (HealthDay)—Cancer history has an important impact on mortality independent of cardiovascular risk factors (CVRFs), according to a study published online Feb. 12 in the Journal of Thrombosis and Haemostasis.
	CDC: No change in percentage of uninsured in U.S. from '16 to '17 (HealthDay)—The percentage of uninsured U.S. persons of all ages did not change significantly from 2016 to the first nine months of 2017, according to a report published online Feb. 22 by the National Center for Health Statistics.
	Mutation explains why some people are more vulnerable to viral brain infection For previously healthy children, brain infections are rare. But about one out of every 10,000 people who are exposed to common viruses like herpes simplex or influenza will develop a potentially deadly disease, encephalitis.
Tension-free vaginal tape found effective for treating urinary incontinence Long-term results from a BJU International study indicate that tension-free vaginal tape (TVT) may be a highly effective and safe option for certain patients with urinary incontinence.
	Pregnant women with hypertension can safely monitor their blood pressure at home A new Ultrasound in Obstetrics & Gynecology study provides evidence that pregnant women with hypertension can safely monitor their blood pressure at home instead of going into a hospital or clinic. This reduces the number of hospital visits without compromising their health of the health of their babies.
Can surgery and anaesthesia affect memory? Findings from a new Anaesthesia study suggest that patients may score slightly lower on certain memory tests after having surgery and anaesthesia.
	Are older adults with knee pain less active than the general population? A new Arthritis Care & Research study found that moderate-to-vigorous physical activity levels are similarly low in older adults with symptomatic knee osteoarthritis and those from the general population without osteoarthritis or knee pain.
	Study finds racial differences in cure rates for Hepatitis C In a large ethnically diverse group of patients seen at a community-based Veterans Affairs practice, cure rates for chronic hepatitis C were lower for African American individuals relative to White individuals, even when patients were receiving optimal therapies.
Study compares countries' mortality rates after aneurysm surgery There is substantial international variation in mortality rates after treatment for abdominal aortic aneurysm, or enlargement of the aorta. A BJS (British Journal of Surgery) study that compared 10-year data from England and Sweden found that mortality rates were initially better in Sweden but improved over time alongside greater use of a minimally invasive procedure called endovascular aneurysm repair in England. Now there is no difference between postoperative mortality rates after aneurysm repair in England and Sweden.
Gene expression study may help guide Arthritis care Researchers who analyzed gene expression in synovial tissue samples from rheumatoid arthritis patients' joints identified different patterns that may be clinically meaningful. The findings, which are published in Arthritis & Rheumatology, indicate that the mechanisms of pain differ in patients with different synovial subtypes of rheumatoid arthritis, and they may help guide clinicians as they develop optimal treatment strategies for patients.
	Do pain medications carry different heart risks? Prior studies have suggested that non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs (NSAIDs) may be linked with higher cardiovascular risks, but few have assessed potential different cardiovascular risk between NSAID classes or across individual NSAIDs.
	Dutch prosecutors reject calls for criminal tobacco case Dutch anti-smoking activists vowed to fight on Thursday after prosecutors rejected their call for a criminal investigation into four major tobacco companies on charges including attempted murder or manslaughter, on the grounds that such a case would be unlikely to lead to a conviction.
Genetic study paves way for new neuropathic pain treatments A pioneering, multi-institutional research group has conducted an in-depth analysis of the molecular differences between the most common symptoms associated with neuropathic pain. The project may pave the way for the development of more effective painkillers for the treatment of this debilitating chronic condition, which afflicts approximately 500 million people throughout the world.
	Death metal is often violent and misogynistic yet it brings joy and empowerment to fans Death metal is a baffling genre to many people. The music is aggressive, the lyrics are often violent and misogynistic, and it has been blamed for inciting violent crimes such as rape and murder.
Antidepressant response within hours? Experts weigh evidence on ketamine as fast-acting treatment for depression Recent studies suggest that ketamine, a widely used anesthetic agent, could offer a wholly new approach to treating severe depression—producing an antidepressant response in hours rather than weeks. Two reviews of recent evidence on ketamine and related drugs for treating depression appear in the Harvard Review of Psychiatry.
New insights on the neurobiology of dying A new Annals of Neurology study provides insight into the neurobiology of dying. For the study, investigators performed continuous patient monitoring following Do Not Resuscitate - Comfort Care orders in patients with devastating brain injury to investigate the mechanisms and timing of events in the brain and the circulation during the dying process.
	Team develops new technology platform for cancer immunotherapy Johns Hopkins researchers have invented a new class of immunotherapeutic agents that are more effective at harnessing the power of the immune system to fight cancer. Their approach results in significant inhibition of tumor growth, even against cancers which do not respond to existing immunotherapies used in the clinic. In collaboration with Insilico Medicine, a Baltimore-based leader in artificial intelligence for drug discovery, the team reports their results this week in Nature Communications.
As pediatric use of iNO increased, mortality rates dropped Use of inhaled nitric oxide (iNO) among pediatric patients has increased since 2005 and, during a 10-year time period, mortality rates dropped modestly as the therapeutic approach was applied to a broader range of health ailments, according to an observational analysis presented Feb. 26, 2018 during the 47th Critical Care Congress.

Biology news

	Surprising new study redraws family tree of domesticated and 'wild' horses There are no such things as "wild" horses anymore.
	The mystery behind the proboscis monkey's big nose Exaggerated male traits, such as a large nose, can be great for attracting females, finds a study of proboscis monkeys in Malaysia.
	Digestive ability of ancient insects could boost biofuel development A study of the unusual digestive system of an ancient group of insects has provided new insights into future biofuel production.
	Novel technology could allow researchers to develop and test new antimalaria drugs One of the biggest obstacles to eradicating malaria is a dormant form of the parasite that lurks in the livers of some patients. This dormant form is resistant to most antimalarial drugs and can reawaken months or years later, causing disease relapse.
	Asian elephants have different personality traits just like humans Researchers of the University of Turku, Finland, have studied a timber elephant population in Myanmar and discovered that Asian elephant personality manifests through three factors. The personality factors identified by the researchers are attentiveness, sociability and aggressiveness.
	New interaction mechanism of proteins discovered UZH researchers have discovered a previously unknown way in which proteins interact with one another and cells organize themselves. This new mechanism involves two fully unstructured proteins forming an ultra-high-affinity complex due to their opposite net charge. Proteins usually bind one another as a result of perfectly matching shapes in their three-dimensional structures.
Study suggests evolutionary change in protein function respects biophysical principles Some molecular biologists who study the proteins that regulate cell operations, including Elizabeth Vierling at the University of Massachusetts Amherst, do not confine their research to understanding the molecules' current roles. They also look deep into the proteins' evolutionary past to explore what structures have allowed proteins with new functions to develop in response to new needs.
	A global view of species diversity in high elevations, via mountain birds A new look at mountain birds is helping Yale University researchers test long-held assumptions about species richness in high elevations.
	Loops, loops, and more loops: This is how your DNA gets organised Remarkably, living cells are able to package a jumble of DNA over two meters in length into tidy, tiny chromosomes while preparing for cell division. However, scientists have been puzzled for decades about how the process works. Researchers from the Kavli Institute of Delft University and EMBL Heidelberghave now isolated and filmed the process, and witnessed in real time how a single protein complex called condensin reels in DNA to extrude a loop. By extruding many such loops in long strands of DNA, a cell effectively compacts its genome so it can be distributed evenly to its two daughter cells. The scientists published their findings in Science.
	Invasion of the body-snatching fungus UConn researchers recently documented in Nature Scientific Reports a gory and fascinating relationship between periodical cicadas and a fungus that infects them, hijacks their behavior, and causes a scene straight out of a zombie movie.
	Toenail fungus gives up sex to infect human hosts The fungus that causes athlete's foot and other skin and toenail infections may have lost its ability to sexually reproduce as it adapted to grow on its human hosts.
	Researchers track commercial fishing worldwide in near real-time The global fishing fleet is so big it can be seen from space. Really.
	New crystal structures reveal mysterious mechanism of gene regulation by the 'magic spot' Using an innovative crystallization technique for studying three-dimensional structures of gene transcription machinery, an international team of researchers, led by scientists at Penn State, has revealed new insights into the long debated action of the "magic spot"—a molecule that controls gene expression in Eschericahia coli and many other bacteria when the bacteria are stressed. The study contributes to our fundamental understanding of how bacteria adapt and survive under adverse conditions and provides clues about key processes that could be targeted in the search for new antibiotics. A paper describing the research appears on February 22, 2018 in the journal Molecular Cell.
	Mexican gray wolf population grows by 1 animal, survey says At least one more endangered Mexican gray wolf is roaming the American Southwest compared with a year earlier, and U.S. wildlife officials said Wednesday that lower survival rates among pups are primarily to blame for the lack of strong growth in the population.
How bacteria manipulate plants Attack at the protein front: Xanthomonas bacteria causes disease in tomato and pepper plants and injects harmful proteins into plant cells. Researchers from Martin Luther University Halle-Wittenberg (MLU), the University of Bonn, the University of Freiburg and the Leibniz Institute of Plant Biochemistry (IPB) in Halle have now discovered how one of these proteins manipulates the nutrient supply and hormonal balance of plants. Their study was recently published in the renowned journal Nature Communications.
	Bacteria produce more substances than hitherto assumed Streptomyces chartreusis is an antibiotic-producing bacterium that releases more metabolites into the surrounding medium than scientists previously assumed based on genomic analysis. Many of the substances are likely released to mediate interactions with its environment. They might also include molecules that are of interest as potential pharmaceutical agents. A team headed by Prof Dr. Julia Bandow and Christoph Senges from the research group Applied Microbiology at Ruhr-Universität Bochum analysed a broad spectrum of the bacterium's metabolic products under various culture conditions.
	How bats carry viruses without getting sick Bats are known to harbor highly pathogenic viruses like Ebola, Marburg, Hendra, Nipah, and SARS-CoV, and yet they do not show clinical signs of disease. In a paper published in the journal Cell Host & Microbe on February 22, scientists at the Wuhan Institute of Virology in China find that in bats, an antiviral immune pathway called the STING-interferon pathway is dampened, and bats can maintain just enough defense against illness without triggering a heightened immune reaction.
	Evolution constrains large-scale bioproduction The transition toward sustainable biobased chemical production is important for green growth, but productivity and yield of engineered cells frequently decrease in large industry-scale fermentation. This barrier to commercialization of more bioprocesses is largely ascribed to the physical inefficacies of large cubic-meter steel tanks.
	Synchronised waves control embryonic patterning During an embryo's journey from a single cell to a complex organism, countless patterning processes make sure that the right cells develop in exactly the right location and at the right time. Cells activate specific genes in a rhythmic manner during this early development, resulting in waves of activation sweeping through the embryo. Scientists at EMBL now show that the rhythm between two specific sets of waves—controlled by the Wnt and Notch pathways—enables the formation of new segments. They have reported the results of their study in Cell.
	Genetic tools complement the visual identification of endangered fish Genetic tools can be a powerful complement to visual identification of endangered fish, indicates a study from the University of California, Davis.
	Seychelles designates huge new marine reserve A vast new marine protected area has been created in the Indian Ocean around the Seychelle islands, the government announced Thursday.
	New studies help researchers evaluate, improve genome engineering in bacteria Researchers in the lab of geneticist George Church at Harvard Medical School have made two new advances in their ongoing efforts to safely and precisely expand the genetic code of life.
	Researchers optimise broad beans for bees Scientists from Royal Holloway, University of London and the University of Cambridge have been taking part in an experiment to optimise broad beans to increase bee visitation rates; and their findings could benefit both the beans and the bees.
	Shark bite-off rates revealed at Ningaloo In a world first, researchers at The University of Western Australia have quantified the number of shark bite-offs of recreationally caught fish in the Ningaloo region.
	Explaining coprophagy – why do dogs eat their own poo? Dogs are scavengers. As many dog owners know to their cost, dogs often have a penchant for things that we find less than palatable. If it's not counter or table surfing, it might be raiding the kitchen rubbish bin or snacking on rich pickings from the park, street or elsewhere.
	New weakness discovered in sleeping sickness pathogen Trypanosomes are single-celled parasites that cause diseases such as human African sleeping sickness and Nagana in animals. But they are also used in basic research as a model system to study fundamental biological questions. Researchers of the University of Bern have now investigated how trypanosomes equally distribute their "power plant" to the daughter cells during cell division. The discovered mechanism potentially opens new avenues for drug interventions.
	Changing enzymes for clean energy and disease prevention β-glycosidases are enzymes that play many roles in nature. They can play a role in metabolic disorders and can break down tough plant fibers. Fredj Ben Bdira changed these enzymes in order to enhance the production of clean energy and to improve the treatment of patients with metabolic diseases.
	Your drive to the shops makes life pretty noisy for whales As unlikely as it may seem, your drive to the supermarket is responsible for a lot of noise pollution in our oceans – and a lot of stress to marine life as a result.
	The battle for spinach: Tiny crop, huge value, no virgin soil, big trouble In the Pacific Northwest, spinach seed is a tiny crop with huge value. And it's in big trouble.
	How a zebrafish's squiggly cartilage transforms into a strong spine In the womb, our strong spines start as nothing more than a rope of rubbery tissue. As our bodies develop, this flexible cord, called the notochord, morphs into a column of bone and cartilage sturdy enough to hold up our heavy upper bodies.
	Damage encourages maple species to become female, study finds A few years ago, Rutgers researcher Jennifer Blake-Mahmud was working on a botany project in Virginia when colleagues pointed out a striped maple, a common tree in the understory of mountain forests from Nova Scotia to Georgia.
	Modification of CRISPR guide RNA structure prevents immune response in target cells CRISPR-mediated genome editing has become a powerful tool for modeling of disease in various organisms and is being developed for clinical applications. Preassembled Cas9 ribonucleoproteins (RNPs) composed of the recombinant Cas9 protein and in vitrotranscribed (IVT) guide RNA complexes can be delivered into cells without risk of foreign DNA integration into the host genome and with fewer off-target effects. However, in a study published today in Genome Research, scientists discovered in vitro-transcribed gRNAs, containing a 5' triphosphate (5'ppp) moiety, activate the immune response in human cells leading to cell death.
	Few Chicagoland wetlands left without non-native species, study finds The wetlands in and around Chicago are overwhelmingly invaded by non-native plants, according to a new study by University of Illinois researchers. The study, which pulls together species occurrence data from over 2,000 wetlands in the urban region, is the first to describe wetland invasion patterns on such a large scale in the Chicagoland area.
	Distinguishing males from females among king penguins It is difficult to distinguish males from females among King Penguins, but a new Ibis study reveals that King Penguins can be sexed with an accuracy of 100% based on the sex-specific syllable pattern of their vocalisations. Using the beak length, King Penguin individuals can be sexed with an accuracy of 79%.
	Researchers reveal how one bacterium inhibits predators with poison Infections caused by gram-negative bacteria such as salmonella, pneumococcus, and cholera are a major problem for patients with compromised immune systems, as well as for premature babies. Bdellovibrio and like organisms (BALOs) are bacterial predators that attack and feed on other gram-negative bacteria without harming humans. Therefore, the use of predatory bacteria has been suggested as an alternative approach to tackle a range of drug-resistant, gram-negative bacterial infections that can develop in hospitalized patients. However, recent studies have revealed that some gram-negative bacteria appear to be resistant to BALOs.
	How urban heat affects bee populations North Carolina is home to 500 species of wild bees, yet only a subset of these are common in cities and suburbs. People encourage wild bees by planting flowers and creating pollinator gardens to provide the pollen and nectar bees need. However, even gardens rich with flowers do not have the same bee abundance or diversity as natural areas. So, there must be things besides flowers that limit urban bee communities. But what are they?
	Researchers develop process producing cell-sized lipid vesicles for cell-cell synaptic therapies A team of researchers at the University of California in Irvine, California has demonstrated a novel process to produce cell-sized lipid vesicles (CLVs) from microfluidically generated double emulsion templates by investigating the interfacial parameters that control double emulsion stability for storage, and their subsequent dewetting to form multisomes or GUVs (subsets of CLVs). A report detailing this latest development was published in the December 2017 issue of the journal Technology.
	How changes in biotic interactions impact dryland ecosystems The negative impact of a lack of plant functional diversity on ecosystems is well-documented, and can be seen in action in most dryland ecosystems. However, the indirect effects of biotic interactions – activities of certain living organisms that can impact the survival of others – are still unknown. The DRYFUN project set out to lift the veil on this issue.

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