Science X Newsletter Tuesday, Mar 20

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Here is your customized Science X Newsletter for March 20, 2018:

Spotlight Stories Headlines

Trappist-1 exoplanets may have too much water to support life

Study reveals new insights into how hybrid perovskite solar cells work

Beyond the WIMP: Unique crystals could expand the search for dark matter

Brewing hoppy beer without the hops

World's last male northern white rhino, Sudan, dies

Sea level fears as more of giant Antarctic glacier floating than thought

Tiny gels sop up intestinal toxins

'Candy cane' polymer weave could power future functional fabrics and devices

Smoked foods are tastier, less harmful with a tip from the auto industry

Making fragrances last longer

Vegetable compound could have a key role in 'beeting' Alzheimer's disease

Researchers name new ocean zone: The rariphotic

New study brings us one step closer to understanding how tidal clocks tick

Discovered mode of drinking in mosquitoes carries biomedical implications

Rain or snow? Humidity, location can make all the difference, new map shows

Astronomy & Space news

Trappist-1 exoplanets may have too much water to support life A team of researchers from Arizona State University and Vanderbilt University has found evidence that suggests the exoplanets surrounding the star Trappist-1 may be too wet to support life. In their paper published in the journal Nature Astronomy, the group describes using data from prior efforts that focused on determining the mass and diameter of the stars' planets to calculate densities, and from that, used a computer to model the likely building blocks of each.

Cosmologists create record-breaking simulation of galaxy formation By understanding the stars and their origins, we learn more about where we come from. However, the vastness of the galaxy—let alone the entire universe—means experiments to understand its origins are expensive, difficult and time consuming. In fact, experiments are impossible for studying certain aspects of astrophysics, meaning that in order to gain greater insight into how galaxies formed, researchers rely on supercomputing.

Technology news

	Facebook security chief changes role to focus on election fraud Facebook's chief of security said late Monday his role has shifted to focusing on emerging risks and election security at the global social network, which is under fire for letting its platform be used to spread bogus news and manipulate voters.
	Crash marks first death involving fully autonomous vehicle A fatal pedestrian crash involving a self-driving Uber SUV in a Phoenix suburb could have far-reaching consequences for the new technology as automakers and other companies race to be the first with cars that operate on their own.
US Air Force to begin fighter-mounted laser testing this summer The US Air Force will this summer begin testing a laser that will be mounted on an F-15 warplane, an official said Monday.
	Pipe-crawling robot will help decommission DOE nuclear facility A pair of autonomous robots developed by Carnegie Mellon University's Robotics Institute will soon be driving through miles of pipes at the U.S. Department of Energy's former uranium enrichment plant in Piketon, Ohio, to identify uranium deposits on pipe walls.
	Facebook is testing ways to compensate video creators so it can cut into YouTube's dominance If you're a die-hard fan of a Facebook video creator, the social network may soon give you a way to pay for exclusive content and award you with a digital badge to declare your fandom.
	Apple takes a very un-tech approach to solving fake news: human editors We all agree there's too much disinformation on the Web.
	Can Facebook be trusted with your personal info? Voter harvesting scheme shows perils for users Can Facebook be trusted with your personal information?
	Scientists fly across the country to see how germs spread on airplanes If you're the type of traveler who worries about catching the flu or another dreaded disease from a fellow airline passenger, a new study should put your mind at ease.
	Amazon sellers seek more clout with new 'merchants guild' The millions of merchants who sell products on Amazon.com Inc. have long craved more leverage over their powerful benefactor. Now some are creating a trade association in the hopes that a unified voice will force Amazon to take them more seriously.
Facebook's 'rat-catching team' spies on employees: report Silicon Valley's tech giants are famously secretive—after all their proprietary products and services are worth billions—but a new report alleges that Facebook goes to Orwellian lengths to keep its workers from talking out of turn, even about their working conditions.
Peter Thiel-founded floating-island plan sunk by the government of paradise? It seems the "Next New World" may not be coming to Tahiti after all—the government of French Polynesia has thrown a wrench into plans for a libertarian utopia on floating islands there—as proposed by a group founded by Peter Thiel and a former Google engineer.
	Team creates the world's first formic acid-based fuel cell Clean energy costs will be equal or less than fossil fuels by 2020, while renewable energy sources will meet 40 percent of global energy demand by 2040. But because renewable energy depends on the sun and wind, it is still largely unreliable. Therefore, the challenge is to develop new methods for storing renewable energy surplus in a way that allows it to be used when needed.
	Who is to blame when driverless cars have an accident? The news that an Uber self-driving vehicle has killed a pedestrian in the US has made headlines around the world.
UK seeking warrant to access Cambridge Analytica servers (Update) Britain's information commissioner says she is using all her legal powers to investigate Facebook and political campaign consultants Cambridge Analytica over the alleged misuse of millions of people's data.
China to build 'world's fastest' wind tunnel China has announced it is building the world's fastest wind tunnel to develop a new generation of super-fast airplanes, but it could also be used for hypersonic missile technology.
	Cybersecurity experts say device makers have 'duty to keep users safe' from hacking Well-connected smart devices at home and in healthcare are currently vulnerable to hacking, warn two new reports.
	Superprostheses and reality Assistive devices may soon allow people to perform virtually superhuman feats. According to Robert Riener, however, there are more pressing goals than developing superhumans.
	Fukushima seven years later—case closed? On March 11, 2011, a nuclear disaster struck Japan. The 9.0 magnitude Tohoku earthquake triggered a 15-meter tidal wave, which hit the Fukushima Daiichi Nuclear Power Plant approximately 45 minutes later. The plant's power was knocked out and the backup generators crippled. After the emergency batteries were exhausted, three of the plant's six reactors soon overheated, and at least two of the cores melted down, releasing immense amounts of radiation. While the reactors are now in theory stabilised, the work to understand and contain the damage continues.
	Artificial intelligence gets its day in court Last september, the ACLU filed an amicus brief in a California case that brings to a head a controversy over the use of algorithms and artificial intelligence in criminal law.
	How well do solar cells really work in the Nordic climate? In recent years the price of solar cells has fallen so dramatically that more and more people are now looking to invest in solar panels. These can be installed either as free-standing structures on roofs, or as integrated components of construction modules such as roof slates or facade panels.
UK MPs ask Facebook's Zuckerberg to testify on data row A British parliamentary committee on Tuesday asked Facebook chief Mark Zuckerberg to appear before it to explain in person claims that millions of users' data was harvested for political campaigns.
Egyptian court rules Uber, Careem illegal; appeal expected An Egyptian court on Tuesday ordered authorities to revoke the operating licenses of the Uber and Careem ride-hailing services and block their mobile apps and software.
	Orbitz says legacy travel site likely hacked, affecting 880K Orbitz says one of its older websites may have been hacked, potentially exposing the personal information of people who made purchases online between Jan. 1, 2016 and Dec. 22, 2017.
UK parliament asks Zuckerberg to testify in data misuse case A British parliamentary committee on Tuesday summoned Facebook CEO Mark Zuckerberg to answer questions on fake news as authorities step up efforts to determine whether data has been improperly used to influence elections.
	You're the product: Facebook's business model explained Do you prefer organic food? Did you study in Mexico? Do you like red shoes? Such bits of information about Facebook users may seem insignificant in isolation but, once harvested on a grand scale, make the internet giant billions. Here's how:
	EU to greenlight Bayer-Monsanto takeover: source The EU is set to greenlight the proposed blockbuster buyout of US agri-giant Monsanto by German chemical firm Bayer after securing concessions in order to win approval, sources close to the matter said on Tuesday.
	Data scandal threatens Zuckerberg vision for Facebook First it was "move fast and break things." Then it was "connecting the world" and "building a global community."
	Google buys NYC's Chelsea Market building for $2.4 bn Google on Tuesday bought up New York's Chelsea Market for $2.4 billion, finalizing its acquisition of the emblematic retail and food hall that stands opposite the internet giant's current headquarters in the city.
	Breaking up with Facebook? It's harder than it looks Facebook's latest privacy scandal, involving Trump campaign consultants who allegedly stole data on tens of millions of users in order to influence elections, has some people reconsidering their relationship status with the social network.
	Google boosts efforts to help news organizations, with $300 mn Google on Tuesday launched a new initiative, committing $300 million to help news publishers get more paid subscribers while stemming the flow of misinformation.
	UK firm in Facebook row suspends CEO amid fresh revelations Cambridge Analytica, the British firm at the centre of a major scandal rocking Facebook, suspended its chief executive Alexander Nix Tuesday, as he became embroiled in fresh controversy and lawmakers on both sides of the Atlantic demanded answers over the data breach.
	China's Tencent to take stake in Ubisoft games maker Chinese internet giant Tencent has entered into a strategic partnership with Ubisoft that includes it taking a five percent stake, the French videogame publisher said Tuesday.
EU lawmakers, UK regulator press Facebook on data breach European lawmakers demanded answers from Facebook on Tuesday over a major data breach, as Britain's information watchdog sought a warrant to search the London offices of the analysis firm involved.
	Arizona death brings calls for more autonomous vehicle rules The deadly collision between an Uber autonomous vehicle and a pedestrian near Phoenix is bringing calls for tougher self-driving regulations. But advocates for a hands-off approach say big changes aren't needed.
	Aramco eyes local IPO, may spike overseas listing: report Saudi Arabia plans to sell shares of Saudi Aramco on a local exchange and may scuttle entirely an earlier plan for an overseas listing, The Wall Street Journal reported Monday.
	US State Dept has deal with under-fire UK data-miner The US State Department has a $500,000 contract with the British analysis firm facing allegations it misused Facebook user data and offered to dig dirt on its international clients' election opponents.
Google Doodle honors philanthropist George Peabody Google is paying tribute Friday to "the father of modern philanthropy."
Facebook apologizes for offensive autocomplete search results Facebook search was not safe for work or home on Thursday night.
	Telegram must give FSB encryption keys: Russian court Russia's Supreme Court on Tuesday ruled the popular Telegram messenger app must provide the country's security services with encryption keys to read users' messaging data, agencies reported.
	German prosecutors raid VW over carbon dioxide emissions German authorities said Thursday they had again raided the headquarters of the world's largest carmaker Volkswagen in a probe over financial market manipulation related to excessive exhaust emissions from its vehicles.
	Pressing a button is more challenging than appears—new theory improves button designs Pressing a button appears effortless and one easily dismisses how challenging it is. Researchers at Aalto University, Finland, and KAIST, South Korea, have created detailed simulations of button pressing with the goal of producing human-like presses.
	Church of England ushers in contactless donations The Church of England rolled out contactless payment terminals in its churches and cathedrals on Tuesday, bringing the way it collects donations into the digital age.
Foxconn selects general contractor, engineering consultants Foxconn Technology Group has selected some key companies to begin building its massive flat screen manufacturing complex in Racine County, the Taiwanese company announced Tuesday.
	Airbus to name new CEO at end of year: company European aviation giant Airbus said Tuesday it will name a successor to departing CEO Tom Enders at the end of 2018.
	Cambridge Analytica: We designed Trump campaign strategy The chief executive of data mining firm Cambridge Analytica told a reporter posing as a potential client that his company played a big role in getting Donald Trump elected, a British news program revealed Tuesday.

Medicine & Health news

	We start caring about our reputations as early as kindergarten Kindergarteners don't use social media, but they do care about their public image. Research suggests that by the time kids go to elementary school, they're thinking critically about their reputation. In a Review published on March 20 in the journal Trends in Cognitive Sciences, psychologists Ike Silver and Alex Shaw consider how our fascination with social status begins around age five, when kids begin to consider how they are viewed by others and behave in ways that cultivate positive reputations.
	How obesity dulls the sense of taste Previous studies have indicated that weight gain can reduce one's sensitivity to the taste of food, and that this effect can be reversed when the weight is lost again, but it's been unclear as to how this phenomenon arises. Now a study publishing March 20 in the open-access journal PLOS Biology by Andrew Kaufman, Robin Dando, and colleagues at Cornell University shows that inflammation, driven by obesity, actually reduces the number of taste buds on the tongues of mice.
	Why do some people 'hear' silent flashes? Up to one in five people may show signs of a synaesthesia-like phenomenon in which they 'hear' silent flashes or movement, according to a new study from City, University of London.
	Study IDs important role for specific gene in 16p11.2 deletion autism In a new study of one of the most common genetic causes of autism, neuroscientists at MIT's Picower Institute for Learning and Memory have identified a specific molecular mechanism that appears to undermine the ability of neurons in affected mice to properly incorporate changes driven by experience. The findings published in the Journal of Neuroscience therefore suggest that a particular gene, MVP, is likely consequential in people with 16p11.2 deletion syndrome.
	Amygdala neurons increase as children become adults—except in autism In a striking new finding, researchers at the UC Davis MIND Institute found that typically-developing children gain more neurons in a region of the brain that governs social and emotional behavior, the amygdala, as they become adults. This phenomenon does not happen in people with autism spectrum disorder (ASD). Instead, children with ASD have too many neurons early on and then appear to lose those neurons as they become adults. The findings were published today in the journal Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences (PNAS).
Surgeries employing GPs with additional training in complementary medicine appear less likely to pre Use of complementary/alternative medicine may help reduce over prescribing of antibiotics
Custom-made foot orthoses appear to be no better than over-the-counter insoles or other treatments Foot orthoses specifically moulded to help people with plantar heel pain appear to be no more effective than cheaper over-the-counter insoles or other treatments, suggests a study published in the British Journal of Sports Medicine.
Young at wrong end of deprivation gap, finds study The under thirties have endured most the marked increase in relative deprivation of any age group in England, according to a 11-year study of data from the Office of National Statistics (ONS).
	Social media use at age 10 could reduce wellbeing of adolescent girls Social media use may have different effects on wellbeing in adolescent boys and girls, according to research published in the open access journal BMC Public Health.
	Music therapy aids healing of military personnel A new paper published in Music Therapy Perspectives examines the importance of music therapy in military healthcare. There has been an increase in music therapy to treat combat-related injuries in recent years. With this growth in the use of the therapy, the researchers involved believe it's important for practitioners to publish more program evaluations and patient outcomes data.
	Tamoxifen and raloxifene slow down the progression of muscular dystrophy Steroids are currently the only available treatment to reduce the repetitive cycles of inflammation and disease progression associated with functional deterioration in patients with muscular dystrophy (MD). A study reported in the American Journal of Pathology showed that a new treatment approach using the selective estrogen receptor modulators (SERMs) tamoxifen and raloxifene significantly improved cardiac, respiratory, and skeletal muscle functions and increased bone density in both male and female mice with the same gene defects as a subset of patients with MD.
3-D-printed models improve medical student training A relatively inexpensive 3-D-printed model of a patient's blood vessels is as effective as current commercially available models for training medical students in interventional radiology vascular access, according to a study presented at the Society of Interventional Radiology's 2018 Annual Scientific Meeting.
	Study identifies effective parenting strategies to reduce disruptive behavior in children Most parenting programs aim to teach parents how to reduce their children's disruptive behavior. New research looked at more than 150 studies of these programs, finding differences in what works best according to whether or not children already showed behavior problems.
Weight loss after stomach-narrowing surgery eases chronic knee pain A new report finds that extremely obese people who have a band surgically strapped around their stomachs to restrict food intake not only lose weight but also suffer less from arthritic knee pain.
	High consumption of red and processed meat linked to non-alcoholic fatty liver disease and insulin resistance World meat consumption has increased during the last decades, and evidence is mounting that high consumption of red and mainly processed meat is unhealthy to humans and is related to chronic diseases such as cancer, type 2 diabetes, and cardiovascular disease. A new study published in the Journal of Hepatology adds non-alcoholic fatty liver disease (NAFLD) to the list.
Trial shows safety of drugs for irregular heartbeat patients undergoing treatment A trial led by the University of Birmingham has found that two types of blood thinning drugs are safe to use in patients with an irregular heartbeat when they are undergoing surgery aimed at stopping the condition.
	Chronic fatigue syndrome possibly explained by lower levels of key thyroid hormones New research demonstrates a link between chronic fatigue syndrome (CFS) symptoms and lower thyroid hormone levels. Published in Frontiers in Endocrinology, the study indicates that CFS, a condition with unknown causes, can be explained by lower thyroid hormones—but may be distinct from thyroidal disease. This finding can be seen as a first step to finding treatment for a debilitating illness for which there is no recognized treatment.
Switch discovered to convert blood vessels to blood stem cells in embryonic development A switch has been discovered that instructs blood vessel cells to become blood stem cells during embryonic development in mice. Using single-cell technology, researchers from the Wellcome Sanger Institute in Cambridge and the European Molecular Biology Laboratory in Rome discovered that two sets of specific factors in the cells work against each other, and when the balance of these changes, the vascular tube cells convert to free blood cells.
	Nurse-supported post-stroke voiding program appears helpful (HealthDay)—Participants in a systematic voiding program for post-stroke incontinence found it to be helpful, according to a study published online March 8 in the Journal of Clinical Nursing.
	Risk of secondary ADHD higher after childhood TBI (HealthDay)—Children with early childhood traumatic brain injury (TBI) have increased risk of secondary attention-deficit/hyperactivity disorder (SADHD), according to a study published online March 19 in JAMA Pediatrics.
	ACO enrollment ups appropriateness of CA screening (HealthDay)—Enrollment in the Medicare Shared Savings Program (MSSP) Accountable Care Organization (ACO) is associated with a reduction in breast cancer screening and an increase in colorectal cancer screening, according to a study published online March 19 in JAMA Internal Medicine.
Research collaboration gives hope for future of babies with rare heart defect Collaboration among hospitals across the U.S. as part of a new research consortium is giving hope for the future of babies born with a rare congenital heart defect called hypoplastic left heart syndrome. A baby from Alabama named Ryals is one of the first to benefit from the consortium.
States strive to curb costs for a crucial—but exorbitant—hemophilia treatment The child is well-known in the halls where state bureaucrats oversee health care for millions of Californians—not by name, but by a number: $21 million.
Electrical brain stimulation could benefit children with cerebral palsy, study finds Every so often, Hadley Lucca will spend hours in front of her bedroom mirror, struggling to put on earrings or pull her long, golden locks back into ponytails.
	'Dead in bed' is a common term in hospitals. Here's why patients should know about it Sheree Thein's mother was supposed to go home the next day.
	Use of HIV-prevention drug grows, but lags among nonwhites Eric Russell, 24, recently joined a health support group for young Latino and black gay men, where he learned about the HIV-prevention pill known as PrEP. He resisted the medication at first, convinced he didn't need it and fearful that taking it would stigmatize him.
	The other opioid crisis: Hospital shortages lead to patient pain, medical errors Even as opioids flood American communities and fuel widespread addiction, hospitals are facing a dangerous shortage of the powerful painkillers needed by patients in acute pain, according to doctors, pharmacists and a coalition of health groups.
	Limiting shifts for medical trainees affects satisfaction, but not educational outcomes Limiting first-year medical residents to 16-hour work shifts, compared to "flexing" them to allow for some longer shifts, generally makes residents more satisfied with their training and work-life balance, but their training directors more dissatisfied with curtailed educational opportunities. That's one conclusion of a new study published online March 20 in the New England Journal of Medicine.
	Research study encourages hospitals to reduce number of paper documents created After collecting nearly 600 kilograms of papers from recycling bins at five Toronto hospitals, researchers at St. Michael's Hospital found 2,687 documents containing personal health or other information that should instead have been shredded.
	State-by-state causes of infant mortality in the US Sudden unexpected death of infants (SUDI) was the most common cause of infant mortality among children born full term in the U.S. according to estimates from a state-by-state study published this week in PLOS Medicine. The study, conducted by Neha Bairoliya of Harvard University and Gunther Fink of the Swiss Tropical and Public Health Institute, found that very low rates of SUDI—which includes sudden infant death syndrome (SIDS), accidental or abuse-related death, and sudden death from ill-defined causes—have been achieved in a few states while rates remain high in most others. The results suggest potential for a major reduction in infant mortality through interventions to reduce SUDI risk.
Ideal heart health less likely among lesbian, gay and bisexual adults Lesbian, gay and bisexual (LGB) adults were less likely than heterosexuals to have ideal cardiovascular health, according to preliminary research presented at the American Heart Association's Epidemiology and Prevention | Lifestyle and Cardiometabolic Health Scientific Sessions 2018, a premier global exchange of the latest advances in population-based cardiovascular science for researchers and clinicians.
Phone app has promising signs for mental health patients A new smartphone app designed by University of Manchester researchers to help people with early psychosis has shown promising results according to results from a proof-of-concept trial.
	Gum disease having devastating impact on general health and well-being warn dentists A new report has revealed that the number of people affected by tooth decay and gum disease is having a widespread and devastating impact not only on patients mouths but also on their general health and wellbeing, particularly in the older population.
	Plans for children often derailed by chronic illness More than four million Australian women of childbearing age are living with chronic conditions like diabetes, cystic fibrosis and asthma, and many are not aware of the implications their illness has for childbearing, according to new research.
	Metabolite therapy proves effective in treating C. difficile in mice A team of UCLA researchers found that a metabolite therapy was effective in mice for treating a serious infection of the colon known as Clostridium difficile infection, or C. difficile.
Risk factors for youth violence should guide policy in response to mass shootings, psychologists say An international committee of experts on aggression and youth violence issued a report urging policymakers to consider the research before arming schoolteachers or implementing other measures in response to the latest school shootings.
	Debunking common vitamin D myths You may have heard every vitamin D myth under the sun—so many, in fact, that you might be at the point of throwing your hands up in the air in frustration. Why can't there be a simple answer?
	Brain's 'insulation' continues to form throughout life Myelin acts as insulation for millions of brain cells, allowing for swift and efficient transmission of signals across brain regions. Despite its crucial role, little is known about how stable this structure is in the adult brain and what impact aging has on its maintenance.
	Archived drug prevents Duchenne Muscular Dystrophy muscle loss in mice A drug that showed promise in clinical trials for Duchenne Muscular Dystrophy (DMD) decades ago is back under the microscope and has now been shown to reduce muscle wasting in mice.
	Can exercise help tackle the opioid crisis? U.S. President Donald Trump is calling for high-intensity drug traffickers to face the death penalty in the United States as part of a new plan to tackle the opioid epidemic.
	Study finds teens in homeless families more likely to attempt suicide Homelessness strikes three times more families in Minnesota than it did ten years ago. For example, the Minnesota Department of Education reports that, in Minneapolis Public Schools alone, over 1,800 children in kindergarten through 12th grade were homeless in 2016. Similar trends have occurred nationwide—1 in 30 children are homeless annually, according to one recent estimate. These children often experience tremendous cumulative stress that places their emotional, physical and developmental health in jeopardy.
	Kangaroo mother care effective in prevention of hypothermia in term infants when practiced Hypothermia in newborns is common worldwide with prevalence ranging from 32 to 85 percent. The incidence of neonatal hypothermia is substantially higher in developing countries such as Zambia compared with developed countries. Even in the United States, many babies require hospitalization because of hypothermia.
	If your knee hurts, keep exercising, says expert If you take up exercise later in life, as a treatment for joint or hip pain, you should expect a small, temporary increase in pain. But if you proceed sensibly, you will be rewarded with pain relief similar to that of a non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drug, such as ibuprofen, and twice that of a non-prescription painkiller, such as paracetamol. In fact, the pain relief from taking up exercise is large enough that many people put their knee or hip surgery on hold.
	Specific gene region in hypertension revealed Genes encode proteins and proteins dictate cell function. Therefore, the thousands of genes expressed in a cell determine what that cell can do. Among the multiple elements that are involved in the precise regulation of gene expression are enhancers, which are short region of DNA that can be bound by proteins (activators) to increase the likelihood of transcription of a particular gene.
Two genes cooperate to trigger leukemia development An international group of researchers led by Prof. Jan Cools of the VIB-KU Leuven Center for Cancer Biology have made a breakthrough in understanding the development of acute lymphoblastic leukemia, an aggressive cancer of the blood. While scientists were already familiar with many cancer-causing genes and their separate functions, the VIB team has now illustrated how two of these cancer genes work together to trigger leukemia. Their insights are published in the scientific journal Cancer Discovery.
Transcription factor helps tumors grow in low oxygen, resist anticancer therapies An international team of researchers found how cancer cells respond to DNA damage signaling when in low oxygen, or hypoxia. Through comprehensive gene expression analyses, the team determined how one family of genes controls DNA damage response, as well as how it weakens the effectiveness of anticancer therapies.
Antibiotics could be key to relieving chronic bladder pain Antibiotics can successfully help rid a patient of chronic urinary tract infection symptoms. This is the finding of a new clinical study led by Sheela Swamy of University College London in the UK. The study in the International Urogynecology Journal, which is published by Springer, highlights the growing concern of many practitioners that the tests they rely on to diagnose urinary tract infections are inadequate.
Men more likely to be readmitted to hospital after sustaining a firearm injury Men have a substantially greater hospital readmission risk during the first three months following a firearm injury hospitalization compared to women. While this overall risk was no longer observed at six months after the initial hospitalization, the risk of renal failure and cardiovascular readmissions among males was more than three times greater than females at six months.
	Parenting and personality work together to affect baby's weight gain Offering a snack may be a sure way to soothe a fussy child, but researchers say making it a habit can result in unnecessary weight gain in babies with certain temperaments.
	Study finds care inadequacies in disabled pregnancy, childbirth and early parenting A study by the University of Liverpool and Bournemouth University (BU) has found that some disabled women are not receiving appropriate personalised care during pregnancy, childbirth and early parenting.
	Illusory motion reproduced by deep neural networks trained for prediction Deep neural networks (DNNs), which have been developed with reference to the network structures and the operational algorithms of the brain, have achieved notable success in a broad range of fields, including computer vision, in which they have produced results comparable to, and in some cases superior to, human experts. In recent years, DNNs have also been expected to be useful as a tool for studies of the brain.
Why we mustn't forget the effects of climate change on mental health When Hurricane Maria made landfall on Puerto Rico, it didn't just flatten houses and flood hospitals – it plunged the island into a darkness that many islanders have yet to emerge from, both literally and metaphorically.
	'Missing mutation' found in severe infant epilepsy Researchers have discovered a "missing mutation" in severe infant epilepsy—long-suspected genetic changes that might trigger overactive, brain-damaging electrical signaling leading to seizures They also found early indications that specific anti-seizure medications might prevent disabling brain injury by controlling epilepsy during a crucial period shortly after birth.
	FDA takes aim at flavored tobacco (HealthDay)—In an effort to discourage teens from lighting up, the U.S. Food and Drug Administration said Tuesday that it's considering regulating flavors in tobacco products more closely.
	Task force issues stronger skin cancer prevention guidelines (HealthDay)—Doctors should start early with skin cancer prevention advice when their patients are light-skinned, suggests new guidelines that bump that starting point back to the age of 6 months.
	A husband's housework may bring bedroom benefits (HealthDay)—Husbands who are less than satisfied with their sex lives might want to fire up the vacuum.
	The high costs of Alzheimer's (HealthDay)—Sharp increases in Alzheimer's disease cases, deaths and costs are stressing the U.S. health care system and caregivers, a new report reveals.
	Women may dismiss subtle warning signs of heart disease (HealthDay)—Warning signs of heart disease in women, such as fatigue, body aches and upset stomach, may be shrugged off as symptoms of stress or a hectic lifestyle.
	Cutting out late night calories (HealthDay)—Losing weight comes down to eating fewer calories than you burn.
	Decision characteristics impact decision making in NICU (HealthDay)—For parents with an infant in the neonatal intensive care unit (NICU), preferences for parent-centered decision making are positively associated with decisions that involve big-picture goals and have the potential to harm the infant, according to a study published online March 19 in JAMA Pediatrics.
Study identifies molecular response of muscle to different types of exercise Exercise in the future could be customized for individuals based on genomics, according to a study by Arizona State University (ASU) and the Translational Genomics Research Institute (TGen), an affiliate of City of Hope.
	Child sex abuse much greater than believed with more women committing offenses Research by a team of academics at the University of Huddersfield alerted the Independent Inquiry into Child Sexual Abuse (IICSA) to the probability that the number of offenders who both view online images of children and who engage in contact or the physical sexual abuse of children is much higher than usually believed.
Serbia probes vaccination opponents amid measles outbreak Serbian authorities said Tuesday they have launched an initial investigation of some public opponents of vaccination after 12 people, including two children, have died in an outbreak of measles.
	Praise may motivate young adults with autism to exercise more Simple statements of praise may have a big effect on the amount of exercise young adults with autism complete, according to preliminary research from the UNC Frank Porter Graham Child Development Institute (FPG). The study also found that praising people with autism by pre-recorded messages through iPhones and iPods shows promise for producing more exercise.
Medicare claims show long-term prostate cancer prevention benefits of finasteride Men who take the medication finasteride get a prostate cancer prevention benefit that can last 16 years - twice as long as previously recorded, according to SWOG clinical trial analysis published in the Journal of the National Cancer Institute.
Medicine that slows balding may turn stiff vessels supple, helping vital organs A medicine that slows balding and stimulates hair growth also may make stiff vessels more stretchy and improve blood flow to vital organs like the brain, according to an experimental model study published online March 2 in American Journal of Physiology—Heart and Circulatory Physiology.
Children of centenarians feel stronger purpose in life A sense of meaning and direction in life is associated with living longer and experiencing less disease, disability, and cognitive impairment.
	Scientists identify genes that could inform novel therapies for EBV-related cancers VCU Massey Cancer Center researchers have identified two genes that are responsible for governing the replication of the Epstein-Barr virus, an infection that drives the growth of several types of cancer. The discovery could lead to the development of novel therapies for virus-associated diseases including stomach cancer and lymphomas.
Report highlights deepening Venezuela health crisis Venezuela's opposition-dominated Congress said Monday the country's deepening economic crisis has left hospitals lacking even the most basic medicines and surgical materials.
	Harvard bioengineers' biomaterial-based cancer immunotherapies to be developed by Novartis The Wyss Institute for Biologically Inspired Engineering at Harvard University and the Harvard John A. Paulson School of Engineering and Applied Sciences (SEAS) announced today that Novartis will have access to commercially develop their therapeutic, biomaterial-based, cancer vaccine technology that promotes anti-cancer immunity. Under a licensing agreement spearheaded by Harvard's Office of Technology Development (OTD), Novartis will have worldwide rights, in target-limited applications, to develop and translate this approach to treat patients.
Potential cognitive effects of targeted drugs in children may be reversible with therapy Young mice that received molecularly targeted therapies used to treat brain cancer in human patients sustained cognitive and behavioral deficits, but the deficits were largely reversible through environmental stimulation and physical exercise. The study suggests that pediatric brain cancer patients may experience similar side effects of molecularly targeted therapies, and may benefit from efforts to remediate any cognitive deficits.
Apixaban is a safe alternative to warfarin during catheter ablation of atrial fibrillation Apixaban and warfarin are equally safe during catheter ablation of atrial fibrillation, according to results of the AXAFA-AFNET 5 trial presented today in a late-breaking trial session at EHRA 2018, a European Society of Cardiology (ESC) congress. There were similar rates of stroke and bleeding, and an improvement in cognitive function was shown for the first time.
Exercise stress test to diagnose heart issues Dear Mayo Clinic: I have a treadmill stress test scheduled to look for heart disease. I know this involves exercising, and I'm worried that I'm not physically up to it. Is there another way to gather this information?
	How to keep kids safe from medications and other household poisons Death by poisoning is a very serious problem in Alberta that tends to fall under the radar, according to the University of Alberta's Injury Prevention Centre.
Good motor skills may enhance reading skills in obese children Excess body weight has been linked to poor academic performance in children in several previous studies. A new Finnish study now shows that a high body fat percentage is associated with poor reading skills in 6–8-year-old boys. However, these associations are largely explained by poor motor skills.
	Brain SPECT imaging predicts outcomes in depressed patients New research from the Amen Clinics shows that brain SPECT (single photon emission computed tomography) imaging, a study that measures blood flow and activity patterns, identifies who is likely to get better from depression and who is not. The study is published in the Journal of Alzheimer's Disease, because depression is a highly treatable risk for cognitive decline and Alzheimer's disease.
Quick challenge for Mississippi's 15-week abortion ban The nation's most restrictive abortion law is headed for a showdown before a federal judge only hours after it was signed by Mississippi's governor.
Some patients on levothyroxine have continued symptoms People who take replacement thyroid hormone may have more comorbidities and lower quality of life than those who don't take the hormone, a large population-based study from the University of Groningen in the Netherlands reports. The study results will be presented Tuesday, March 20, at ENDO 2018, the 100th annual meeting of the Endocrine Society in Chicago, Ill.
Dermatology scale validates quality of life Can having a skin condition impact the quality of your life? Absolutely, claim Boston University School of Medicine researchers who have set out to find the best tool to measure the impact on patients.
In some elderly patients, levothyroxine may be linked with increased mortality Treating some elderly people with levothyroxine may put them at increased risk of death, new research from Israel reports. The results will be presented on Tuesday, March 20, at ENDO 2018, the 100th annual meeting of the Endocrine Society in Chicago, Ill.
Providing free supplies to low-income families improves type 1 diabetes Providing free supplies of insulin and blood glucose test trips to families with type 1 diabetes in low- and lower-middle income families can result in improved blood-sugar control and diabetes-related knowledge, a new study of families in India suggests. The research results will be presented Tuesday, March 20, at ENDO 2018, the 100th annual meeting of the Endocrine Society in Chicago, Ill.
Metformin lowers risk of late miscarriage, preterm birth in pregnant women with PCOS The oral diabetes medication metformin seems to reduce the chance of a late miscarriage and premature birth among women with polycystic ovary syndrome (PCOS) but does not affect their rate of developing gestational diabetes, a multicenter study finds. The results were presented Tuesday at ENDO 2018, the Endocrine Society's 100th annual meeting in Chicago, Ill.
	Can acupuncture help alleviate menopausal symptoms? An umbrella review from Duke Clinical Research Institute that was a comprehensive assessment of previous systematic reviews and randomized controlled trials has found that women who received acupuncture had less frequent and less severe vasomotor symptoms associated with menopause than women who did not have acupuncture. The women who had acupuncture also reported improved health-related quality of life, as shown in the evidence reported in The Journal of Alternative and Complementary Medicine (JACM).
Pain management in low-resource settings—anesthesiologists advocate for increased access Increasing the availability of effective pain management in low- to middle-income countries will be an essential part of ongoing efforts to expand global access to safe surgery and anesthesia, according to a special article in the April issue of Anesthesia & Analgesia.
	Massachusetts Eye and Ear performs first FDA-approved gene therapy procedure for inherited disease Massachusetts Eye and Ear made medical history on Tuesday by performing the first post-FDA approval gene therapy for patients with a form of inherited blindness. The occasion marks the beginning of a new era in medicine, as it is the first time any FDA-approved gene therapy has been given to a patient for any inherited disease.
Judge temporarily blocks Mississippi's 15-week abortion ban A federal judge on Tuesday temporarily blocked a new Mississippi law that bans abortion after 15 weeks' gestation—the most restrictive abortion law in the United States.
WHO says tainted food outbreak threatens 16 African nations A deadly outbreak linked to tainted food in South Africa is now threatening other African nations, with neighboring Namibia reporting a confirmed case that might be connected, the World Health Organization said Tuesday.

Biology news

	Brewing hoppy beer without the hops Hoppy beer is all the rage among craft brewers and beer lovers, and now UC Berkeley biologists have come up with a way to create these unique flavors and aromas without using hops.
	World's last male northern white rhino, Sudan, dies The death of the world's last male northern white rhino, Sudan, doesn't end efforts to save a subspecies of one of the world's most recognizable animals. The focus now turns to his stored semen and that of four other dead rhinos, as well as the perfection of in vitro fertilization techniques and the critical need to keep the remaining two females alive.
	New study brings us one step closer to understanding how tidal clocks tick Almost all organisms have an internal biological clock that synchronizes their behavior with the environment in which they live. Endogenous biological clocks follow the major cyclical rhythms: the solar-influenced 24-hour transition of day and night, the tidal 12.4 hour rising and falling of the tides that is governed by the lunar cycle, and the annual seasonal changes.
	Discovered mode of drinking in mosquitoes carries biomedical implications Mosquitoes may have a reputation for being one of the world's most intractable pests, but they're actually quite tiny and fragile. So when an international team of scientists, including several at Virginia Tech, wanted to observe the underlying mechanisms of how the insects feed, they had to get creative.
	Salk scientists adapt powerful gene-editing system to correct dementia in lab The revolutionary CRISPR/Cas9 gene editing system made it possible to rapidly and precisely alter DNA, the essential molecule of life. But DNA doesn't work by itself, it relies on the messenger molecule RNA to carry out its instructions.
	Deeper insight into viral infections An infection with cytomegalovirus is usually harmless for adults. However, during pregnancy, the virus can be transmitted to the unborn baby and cause malformations. Once the viruses have invaded a human cell, they start to produce large amounts of viral proteins. This includes more than 500 proteins and peptides, including 200 previously unknown to science.
	Ocean acidification: Herring could benefit from an altered food chain Juvenile fish must immediately learn to catch prey and to escape enemies. Additionally, at this stage of their lives, they are highly sensitive to environmental factors such as temperature, oxygen and the pH of the water. These factors are currently changing on a global scale—temperature is rising, the oxygen content of the ocean is decreasing and more carbon dioxide (CO2) from the atmosphere is dissolving in the seawater, where it forms carbonic acid and lowers the pH level. But indirectly elevated CO2 also affects the survival of fish larvae, because it can change their food supply.
	First population-scale sequencing project explores platypus history The platypus is the ultimate evolutionary mashup of birds, reptiles and mammals. The iconic, egg-laying, venom producing, duck-billed platypus first had its genome sequenced in 2008, revealing its unique genetic makeup and its divergence from the rest of the mammals around 160 million years ago.
	Three genes essential for cells to tell time One family of genes allows cells to adapt to daily changes in environmental conditions by adjusting the circadian clock responsible for regular sleep-wake cycles. The new discovery by University of Tokyo scientists reveals for the first time that circadian regulation may be directly connected to cellular stress.
	Why aren't humans 'knuckle-walkers?' Our closest biological relatives, the African apes, are the only animals that walk on their knuckles; CWRU researchers discovered why
	Malaria's most wanted: Identifying the deadliest strains to design a childhood vaccine Researchers have identified a 'genetic fingerprint' associated with the most deadly strains of malaria parasites, making these unique DNA regions potential targets for vaccine development.
	It's givin' me excitations: Study uncovers first steps of photosynthesis Photosynthesis has driven life on this planet for more than 3 billion years—first in bacteria, then in plants—but we don't know exactly how it works.
	New Gulf of Maine study investigates return of kelp Bigelow Laboratory for Ocean Sciences has been awarded funding from Maine Sea Grant for a new study of kelp forests in the Gulf of Maine. Senior Research Scientist Douglas Rasher will lead the project with support from University of Maine scientist Robert Steneck, continuing a long-standing partnership between Bigelow Laboratory and the University of Maine's Darling Marine Center. The researchers will collaborate with government and industry partners to assess the current state of kelp forests in the region and learn how Maine can maintain a sustainable kelp industry.
DNA in the water could help reveal where endangered manatees live As big as they are, Florida manatees aren't always so easy to find.
Isle Royale likely to get 20-30 wolves over a 3-year span The National Park Service on Friday formally moved forward with its proposal to put 20 to 30 wolves on Isle Royale in Lake Superior over three years to bolster the nearly extinct population on the island and cull the growing herd of moose.
	Studying the visual recognition abilities of rodents The visual process that allows humans to recognize the gender or emotional state of another person is very sophisticated. Until recently, only primates were believed able to perform such complex operations as object recognition. A new study published in the journal Current Biology shows that rodents also use advanced and diversified object recognition strategies. These results confirm the validity of this animal model for the study of object vision and offer new opportunities for the development of artificial vision systems and diagnostic approaches.
	Sound new technique tunes into the shifting shapes of biology It's one of the major challenges of biology: how to accurately quantify the mass of swarming, shifting shapes that make up the matter of life.
Turning plants into medicine factories The potential to produce cheaper medicines within edible plants including lettuce and canola has taken a significant step forward.
	Priorities for managing protected areas are crucial for Bornean elephants Degraded forests play a crucial role in the future survival of Bornean elephants. A new study, published in the journal Biological Conservation, finds that forests of surprisingly short stature are ideal for elephants.
	A study proves there is a link between depth and longevity of marine species like corals and gorgonians Deep marine ecosystems from 100 to 1,000 meters deep are dominated by long-lived species that live from 100 to 1000 years, while other waters are inhabited by those species that live up to about 10 years.
	Engineering yeast tolerance to a promising biomass deconstruction solvent To convert plant matter to fuel and other sustainable bioproducts, it must first be broken into digestible sugars for microbes. Gamma-valerolactone (GVL) is a promising chemical solvent for biomass degradation. However, it is toxic to fermentative microbes. Scientists discovered the mechanisms of GVL toxicity to fermentative microbes. They identified gene deletions that created sensitivity or tolerance to the solvent. They used this knowledge to engineer a fermenting yeast strain with improved tolerance to GVL and enhanced conversion of sugars to biofuel.
	Scaling plant traits stymied by uncertainty in measured global photosynthesis There are many ways to calculate how plants take up carbon. The challenge, in part, is scaling these approaches to global levels. Why? Because of the hypotheses behind each approach. Often, the hypothesis relies on data at such a small scale (molecules) that it is hard to scale up. To see how the different ways of determining carbon uptake affect global models, the team compared hypotheses for the maximum photosynthetic carboxylation rate. The rate is one of two plant traits that closely determine the photosynthetic rate. Scientists compared how various hypotheses calculated the carboxylation rate. Each method varied. The resultant variability in predictions has not yet been investigated in detail.
Natural sniper kills hospital bacterium Bacteria produce proteins to take out specific competitors. One of these proteins can kill the hospital bacterium pseudomonas aeruginosa. Microbial geneticists at KU Leuven, Belgium, have unraveled how this protein launches its attack and ensures that the bacteria die very quickly. In the long term, these proteins hold potential for new antibiotic cocktails.
	Even flies like a familiar song—how auditory learning shapes fly behavior The ability to learn and speak language depends heavily on the sounds and language we experience during early infancy. While this may sound self-evident, we still do not understand exactly what happens neurologically as a developing infant learns how to speak. In a study published in eLife, researchers at Nagoya University devised a new neurological model in fruit flies that may illuminate this process—and made some key discoveries about insect mating along the way.
	Five new species of frogs identified in museum collections Researchers from Yale-NUS College and the North Carolina Museum of Natural Sciences have discovered five new species of Southeast Asian frogs from a group of museum specimens that had long been considered to only contain two species. This research by lead author Yale-NUS College Assistant Professor of Science (Environmental Studies) Jennifer Sheridan and her co-author Dr Bryan Stuart, Research Curator of Herpetology at the North Carolina Museum of Natural Sciences, was recently published in the peer-reviewed open access journal PLOS ONE. To distinguish the five new species of frogs from the original two, they examined close to 400 frogs housed in 11 natural history museum collections around the world and sequenced five genes from close to 350 individuals.
	Bird populations in French countryside 'collapsing' Bird populations across an eerily quiet French countryside have collapsed, on average, by a third over the last decade-and-a-half, alarmed researchers reported on Tuesday.
Fins up! Georgia Aquarium to create shark habitat in Atlanta The Georgia Aquarium has announced it's adding a new shark exhibit featuring a viewing gallery to give visitors a close-up view of the animals. It's set to open in 2020, and the aquarium says it wants to showcase the important role sharks serve in oceans.
A method for predicting the impact of global warming on disease Scientists have devised a method for predicting how rising global temperatures are likely to affect the severity of diseases mediated by parasites. Their method can be applied widely to different host-pathogen combinations and warming scenarios, and should help to identify which infectious diseases will have worsened or diminished effects with rising temperatures.
	Marine researchers say recent sea star wasting disease epidemic defies prediction Beginning in 2013, a mysterious disease crippled sea star populations up and down the U.S. west coast. Over a matter of months, many sea star species died in record-breaking numbers, though Pisaster ochraceus—a keystone species known as the ochre sea star—was among the hardest hit. Now, researchers at UC Santa Cruz have analyzed just how much the populations of this species have declined, but they have not yet determined what factors might be contributing to the epidemic.
	Test reveals why female lion in Oklahoma zoo sprouted a mane Lab results have revealed the answer to a mystery at an Oklahoma zoo: Just what caused a female lion to sprout a mane.
	Dogs with noise sensitivity should be routinely assessed for pain by vets Dogs which show fear or anxiety when faced with loud or sudden noises should be routinely assessed for pain by veterinarians, a new study has found.

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