Science X Newsletter Tuesday, Mar 27

Dear Reader ,

Here is your customized Science X Newsletter for March 27, 2018:

Spotlight Stories Headlines

Parts of the Amazon thought uninhabited were actually home to up to a million people

Prehistoric people resilient in the face of extreme climate events

Self-assembling, tunable interfaces found in quantum materials

Study suggests race car drivers who are similar in age and stature more likely to crash in good weather

Scientists print all-liquid 3-D structures

Reading of biological molecules improved up to 100x by doubling the sensors

CERN experiment sees hints of a rare kaon decay

New 'nanotweezers' open door to innovations in medicine, mobile tech

Future electric cars could recharge wirelessly while you drive

Up to 38 percent of all annual childhood asthma cases in Bradford may be caused by air pollution

Ultra-thin sun shield could protect Great Barrier Reef

Newfound 'organ' had been missed by standard method for visualizing anatomy

New technique speeds up production of protein nano-armor

Edges and corners increase efficiency of catalytic converters

Treating triple negative breast cancer by targeting pair of receptors

Astronomy & Space news

	New study shows what interstellar visitor 'Oumuamua can teach us The first interstellar object ever seen in our solar system, named 'Oumuamua, is giving scientists a fresh perspective on the development of planetary systems. A new study by a team including astrophysicists at NASA's Goddard Space Flight Center in Greenbelt, Maryland, calculated how this visitor from outside our solar system fits into what we know about how planets, asteroids and comets form.
	Newly-discovered planet is hot, metallic and dense as Mercury A hot, metallic, Earth-sized planet with a density similar to Mercury—situated 260 million light years away—has been detected and characterised by a global team of astronomers, including the University of Warwick.
	Earth-bound Chinese spacelab plunging to fiery end An uncontrolled Chinese space station weighing at least seven tonnes is set to break up as it hurtles to Earth on or around April 1, the European Space Agency has forecast.
	NASA delays next-generation space telescope until 2020 (Update) NASA is delaying the launch of its next-generation space telescope—its highest science priority—until at least 2020.
	What the first American astronauts taught us about living in space NASA's Project Mercury was the United States' first human-in-space program. Between 1961 and 1963, six astronauts carried out successful one-person spaceflights that offered physicians and scientists the first opportunity to observe the effects of living in space on the human body.
	Fifty years on, Yuri Gagarin's death still shrouded in mystery Yuri Gagarin, feted as a Soviet national hero for being the first man in space, was killed in a plane crash 50 years ago but the details of his death remain shrouded in mystery.
	Scientists describe the collision of a shockwave and a 'star cradle' A mathematician from MSU together with a Russian colleague modeled the formation of filaments (thread-like matter conglomerates) after the collision of a shockwave with molecular clouds in interstellar space. The work will help the scientists better understand the birth of stars and star systems. The results of the study were published in Computers and Fluids magazine.
	Kepler beyond planets—finding exploding stars Astronomer Ed Shaya was in his office looking at data from NASA's Kepler space telescope in 2012 when he noticed something unusual: The light from a galaxy had quickly brightened by 10 percent. The sudden bump in light got Shaya instantly excited, but also nervous. The effect could be explained by the massive explosion of a star—a supernova!—or, more troublingly, a computer error.
	A space window to electrifying science Lightning triggers powerful electrical bursts in Earth's atmosphere almost every second. The inner workings of these magnificent forces of nature are still unknown, but a rare observation by an ESA astronaut gave a boost to the science community. A European detector will take on the challenge of hunting for thunderstorms from space next week.
	NASA launches USU student-built experiment into space After long delays caused by storms and rough seas, NASA on Sunday launched a rocket into space carrying an experiment built by students at Utah State University.

Technology news

	Future electric cars could recharge wirelessly while you drive Electric vehicles may one day be able to recharge while driving down the highway, drawing wireless power directly from plates installed in the road that would make it possible to drive hundreds—if not thousands—of miles without having to plug in. While the idea may sound like science fiction, University of Colorado Boulder engineers are working to bring it closer to reality.
	Algorithms reveal patterns to help fight against fake news In February, the Justice Department charged 13 Russians with stealing U.S. citizens' identities and spreading "fake news" with intent to subvert the last U.S. presidential election. The case is still unfolding, and may do so for years. In the meantime, UCR researchers have built a tech-based solution to the dissemination of malicious misinformation.
	Self-powered wireless sensors embedded in roads could spot potholes and other hazards Spring is here and the roads are a mess. But the days of motorists calling to report potholes may someday be a thing of the past.
	U.S. energy market found to be more unstable over the past decade A trio of researchers with Carnegie Mellon University has found that the U.S. energy market has become more unstable over the past decade, and because of that, expert predictions have become more error prone. In their paper published in the journal Nature Energy, Evan Sherwin, Max Henrion and Inês Azevedo describe their study of the volatility of the U.S. energy sector, what they found, and suggest that some of the instability may be due to structural changes in the U.S. and world energy systems. Steven Davis with the University of California offers a News & Views piece on the work done by the team in the same journal issue.
	Research hints at double the driving range for electric vehicles When it comes to the special sauce of batteries, researchers at the Department of Energy's Pacific Northwest National Laboratory have discovered it's all about the salt concentration. By getting the right amount of salt, right where they want it, they've demonstrated a small lithium-metal battery can re-charge about seven times more than batteries with conventional electrolytes.
	Apple unveils pencil support for $329 iPad at school event Apple is adding the ability to use a digital pencil to draw and write on its cheapest iPad model in an attempt to make the tablet more compelling for creating, teaching and learning.
	3-DIY: Printing your own bioprinter Researchers at Carnegie Mellon University have developed a low-cost 3-D bioprinter by modifying a standard desktop 3-D printer, and they have released the breakthrough designs as open source so that anyone can build their own system. The researchers—Materials Science and Engineering (MSE) and Biomedical Engineering (BME) Associate Professor Adam Feinberg, BME postdoctoral fellow TJ Hinton, and Kira Pusch, a recent graduate of the MSE undergraduate program—recently published a paper in the journal HardwareX that contains complete instructions for printing and installing the syringe-based, large volume extruder (LVE) to modify any typical, commercial plastic printer.
	Improving information security by giving employees options Computer users ― at home and at work ― often engage in behaviors that create security risks and privacy threats, despite having a variety of security options available.
	New cars are quickly getting self-driving safety features Autonomous vehicles get all the headlines, but automakers are gradually adding advanced electronic safety features to human-driven cars as they step toward a world of self-driving vehicles.
	Apple looks to return to head of class in education market Apple is hoping to return to the head of the class in the competition to get high-tech products into U.S. classrooms.
	Deleting Facebook's billions: stock sinks as outrage swells Mark Zuckerberg might want to delete the last ten days from his timeline and everyone else's. In a little more than a week, Facebook has turned from one of the market's darlings to a stock investors are running from.
	Arizona puts brakes on Uber self-driving car tests The governor of Arizona on Monday put the brakes on Uber's self-driving car program in that state, citing "disturbing and alarming" dashcam footage from a fatal crash in that state.
	How Facebook was able to siphon off phone call and text logs The news that Facebook's Android app has been collecting call and text histories is yet another black eye for the social media giant. But just why was Facebook able to siphon off records of who its users were contacting—and when—in the first place?
	AkzoNobel to sell chemicals arm for 10.1 bn euros Leading global paintmaker AkzoNobel announced Tuesday it was selling its chemicals arm to US-based investors Carlyle Group and Singapore's GIC for 10.1 billion euros ($12.6 billion), seeking to restore investor confidence in the Dutch giant.
	Smart conveyor rollers to optimize parcel logistics operations Engineers from Saarbrücken have developed a system of self-monitoring conveyor rollers to solve crucial logistics problems for sorting offices and parcel services. Drive systems specialist Professor Matthias Nienhaus from Saarland University and his team of engineers have found a way of turning the motor inside every drive roller into a sensor. When the conveyor is running, the drive motors continuously generate data. Using only this data, Nienhaus' technology is able to control each of the conveyor rollers precisely so that it can respond to changing operating conditions. The new technology can be used to provide a cost-effective means of speeding up parcel sorting operations and can deliver greater flexibility wherever conveyor systems are in use. The research engineers from Saarland University are in Hannover to look for industrial partners interested in developing the new technology into marketable products.
	Cheetah III robot preps for a role as a first responder If you were to ask someone to name a new technology that emerged from MIT in the 21st century, there's a good chance they would name the robotic cheetah. Developed by the MIT Department of Mechanical Engineering's Biomimetic Robotics Lab under the direction of Associate Professor Sangbae Kim, the quadruped MIT Cheetah has made headlines for its dynamic legged gait, speed, jumping ability, and biomimetic design.
	Your online privacy depends as much on your friends' data habits as your own In the aftermath of revelations about the alleged misuse of Facebook user data by Cambridge Analytica, many social media users are educating themselves about their own digital footprint. And some are shocked at the extent of it.
	Evolutionary computation has been promising self-programming machines for 60 years – so where are they? What if computers could program themselves? Instead of the laborious job of working out how a computer could solve a problem and then writing precise coded instructions, all you would have to do is tell it what you want and the computer would generate an algorithm that solves your problem.
	AI improves touchscreen interfaces for users with impairments Researchers at Aalto University, Finland, and Kochi University of Technology, Japan, developed a new algorithmic approach to user interface optimization that takes individual differences into account.
	Next-generation photovoltaics for economical clean energy Energy sustainability represents one of the grand challenges facing modern society, and thin-film solar photovoltaics provide one of the best opportunities for rapidly expanding renewable energy use. Photovoltaics (PV) using the thin-film semi­conductor cadmium telluride (CdTe) have been commercialized at the gigawatts (GW)-per-year scale, with 17.5 GWs installed globally.
	The everyday ethical challenges of self-driving cars A lot of discussion and ethical thought about self-driving cars have focused on tragic dilemmas, like hypotheticals in which a car has to decide whether to run over a group of schoolchildren or plunge off a cliff, killing its own occupants. But those sorts of situations are extreme cases.
	Self-driving cars can't be perfectly safe – what's good enough? 3 questions answered On March 19, an Uber self-driving vehicle being tested in Arizona struck and killed Elaine Herzberg, who was walking her bike across the street. This is the first time a self-driving vehicle has killed a pedestrian,and it raises questions about the ethics of developing and testingemerging technologies. Some answers will need to wait until the full investigation is complete. Even so, Nicholas Evans, a philosophy professor at the University of Massachusetts-Lowell who studies the ethics of autonomous vehicles' decision-making processes, says some questions can be answered now.
	Tattoo electrodes from an ink-jet printer for long-term medical diagnostics Electrodes for longterm monitoring of electrical impulses of heart or muscles in the form of temporary tattoos produced using an ink-jet printer. An international research group involving TU Graz, Austria, presents this novel method in Advanced Science.
	Zuckerberg turns down British MPs for data privacy grilling Facebook chief Mark Zuckerberg on Tuesday turned down a request by British lawmakers to appear before them to respond to concerns about data privacy as the European Union set a deadline for the US social media giant to respond to its own questions.
	Volkswagen in UK court over 'dieselgate' Thousands of British Volkswagen car owners took their compensation battle to London's High Court on Tuesday over the emissions-cheating"dieselgate" scandal that has plagued the German carmaker.
Taxis paralyse Brussels to protest against Uber Hundreds of taxis brought traffic to a standstill in Brussels on Tuesday to protest proposed government reforms said to favour ride-hailing competitors like Uber.
	Waymo to buy 20,000 Jaguars for robotic ride-hailing service Self-driving car pioneer Waymo will buy up to 20,000 electric vehicles from Jaguar Land Rover to help realize its vision for a robotic ride-hailing service.
	Pink-haired whistleblower at heart of Facebook scandal Instantly recognisable with his pink hair and nose ring, Christopher Wylie claims to have helped create data analysis company Cambridge Analytica before turning whistleblower and becoming "the face" of the crisis engulfing Facebook.
New technique sheds light on body language in job interviews, sales calls, team projects A joint research team from the University of Cambridge and Dartmouth College has developed a system for using infrared light tags to monitor face-to-face interactions. The technique could lead to a more precise understanding of how individuals interact in social settings and can increase the effectiveness of communications coaching.
New scheduling model puts airlines on equal plane while easing congestion Air traffic congestion that causes frustrating delays and cancellations can be reduced through flight schedules that don't systematically favor certain airlines over others, according to a new study from Dartmouth College and Carnegie Mellon University.
	Oracle's big-money case against Google gets new life An appeals court on Tuesday gave Oracle another shot at wringing billions of dollars from Google in a keenly watched legal battle over the use of freely available Java software code.
	US investigating fatal Tesla crash in California Federal investigators said Tuesday they were examining a fatal crash last week involving a Tesla electric automobile in California.
	Watchdog: FBI could have tried harder to hack iPhone FBI officials could have tried harder to unlock an iPhone as part of a terrorism investigation before launching an extraordinary court fight with Apple Inc. in an effort to force it to break open the device, the Justice Department's watchdog said Tuesday.
	Uber gives up autonomous vehicle testing rights in Calif. Uber will not renew its permit to test autonomous vehicles on California public roads when it expires Saturday. And the company will have some explaining to do if it wants to get a new permit.
	Amazon delivers boost to French grocery giant Monoprix Shopping for high-end groceries in France may be about to get a little easier.
	UK MPs demand Zuckerberg testify on data row after he offers deputy British MPs renewed a demand on Tuesday to interview Facebook chief Mark Zuckerberg personally over a data privacy row, after he responded to an earlier request by offering to send one of his deputies.
	World Video Game Hall of Fame announces 2018 finalists Calling all gamers to help pick World Video Game Hall of Fame inductees. Twelve finalists were named Tuesday for the class of 2018, pitting "Ms. Pac-Man" against "John Madden Football."
	Expert says Brexit campaign used data mined from Facebook The computer expert who alleges a trove of Facebook data was improperly used to help Donald Trump's White House bid said Tuesday that he strongly believes the information was also used by the Brexit movement that persuaded Britain to quit the European Union.
Facebook sued by housing advocates alleging discrimination Fair housing advocates sued Facebook Tuesday, saying it lets landlords and real estate brokers target advertising to discriminate against families with children, women and those with disabilities.

Medicine & Health news

	Newfound 'organ' had been missed by standard method for visualizing anatomy Researchers have identified a previously unknown feature of human anatomy with implications for the function of all organs, most tissues and the mechanisms of most major diseases.
	Treating triple negative breast cancer by targeting pair of receptors Triple negative breast cancer (TNBC) is a particularly aggressive form of breast cancer that lacks known targets for therapies, making it difficult to treat. However, a new study by a group of researchers and physician-scientists, led by Baylor College of Medicine, has identified a novel treatment strategy that may be effective for TNBC patients. The study appears in Nature Medicine.
	New study on nicotinic receptors and LT memory paves way for targeted dementia therapy A new University of Bristol study, which identifies how acetylcholine impacts learning and memory by acting at different receptors, could prove significant in the drive to develop more targeted and effective therapies for dementia.
	Antibiotic use increases risk of severe viral disease in mice People infected with West Nile virus can show a wide range of disease. Some develop life-threatening brain infections. Others show no signs of infection at all. One reason for the different outcomes may lie in the community of microbes that populate their intestinal tracts.
	Detecting diminished dopamine-firing cells inside brain could reveal earliest signs of Alzheimer's A new link between diminished input from dopamine-firing cells deep inside the brain and the ability to form new memories could be crucial in detecting the earliest signs of Alzheimer's disease.
	Some e-cigarette ingredients are surprisingly more toxic than others A new study by UNC School of Medicine researchers shows that e-liquids are far from harmless and contain ingredients that can vary wildly from one type of e-cigarette to another.
	Drug-resistant gene goes from pig farms to patients worldwide A troublesome gene that is resistant to an antibiotic often used as a last resort has been tracked from its origins on Chinese pig farms to hospital patients worldwide in a new study led by UCL and Peking University People's Hospital.
	Honeybees may unlock the secrets of how the human brain works Researchers from the University of Sheffield have discovered that looking at honeybees in a colony in the same way as neurons in a brain could help us better understand the basic mechanisms of human behaviour.
	Ugly ducklings: should rubber ducks be banned from the bath? Scientific curiosity knows no bounds: a group of Swiss and US researchers have delved into "the dark side" of inviting rubber ducks and other flexible plastic toys into our tubs.
	Gene therapy may help brain heal from stroke, other injuries Scientists have found a genetic trigger that may improve the brain's ability to heal from a range of debilitating conditions, from strokes to concussions and spinal cord injuries.
Poor practice on conflict of interest in NHS may be damaging trust in clinicians Many NHS trusts in England are failing to log, track, or disclose information on conflicts of interest (COI) for their staff, so potentially undermining public trust in health professionals, suggests research published in the online journal BMJ Open.
Epilepsy drug exposure in womb linked to significantly poorer school test results Exposure to epilepsy drugs in the womb is linked to significantly poorer school test results among 7 year olds, finds research published online in the Journal of Neurology Neurosurgery & Psychiatry.
	Known risk factors largely explain links between loneliness and first time heart disease / stroke Conventional risk factors largely explain the links observed between loneliness/social isolation and first time heart disease/stroke, finds the largest study of its kind published online in the journal Heart.
Survey finds reducing stigma attributed to Alzheimer's is vital to prevention research Stigma associated with Alzheimer's disease may be an obstacle for individuals to seek information about their risk of developing Alzheimer's disease and to participate in clinical studies that discover potential therapies. That's according to the results of a national survey about what beliefs, attitudes and expectations are most often associated with Alzheimer's disease. The survey results are published in Alzheimer's & Dementia: The Journal of the Alzheimer's Association.
Abnormal brain connections seen in preschoolers with autism Preschoolers with autism spectrum disorder, or ASD, have abnormal connections between certain networks of their brains that can be seen using a special MRI technique, according to a study published online in the journal Radiology. Researchers said the findings may one day help guide treatments for ASD.
	Canada-US Free Trade Agreement (CUSFTA) increased caloric intake in Canada A new study published in the American Journal of Preventive Medicine shows that the 1989 Canada-US Free Trade Agreement (CUSFTA) was associated with an increase in caloric availability of approximately 170 kilocalories per person per day in Canada. These findings suggest that the rise in caloric intake and obesity in Canada since the early 1990s can be partially attributed to its close trade and investment arrangements with the US.
Accurately identifying aggressive head and neck cancers The Case Western Reserve-led research team will analyze computerized images of tissue samples for patterns which could become "biomarkers," or predictors, for determining relative risk for recurrence in one particularly common type of head and neck cancers.
	300 million hepatitis B sufferers but only one in 20 treated: study Some 300 million people worldwide are living with the deadly hepatitis B virus (HBV), but only one in 20 received adequate treatment, researchers reported Tuesday.
	S.Africa's DIY battle against HIV Self-testing kits and vending machines distributing prescription drugs are two ways that HIV treatment is being automated to reduce stigma in South Africa, home of the world's biggest HIV epidemic.
	Researchers identify genetic factors for acute viral bronchiolitis in the first year of life A scientific study conducted at the State University of Campinas (UNICAMP) in São Paulo State, Brazil, has identified genetic factors associated with the severity of acute viral bronchiolitis. The study was supported by the Sao Paulo Research Foundation - FAPESP. The results were published in the journal Gene.
	Neural fingerprints of altruism There are two war veterans, both with penetrating traumatic brain injury (TBI) caused by a gunshot. One of them tends to donate his own money to societal entities he believes in, and the other one punishes institutions that don't represent him. The answer for these behavioral differences rely on brain areas, which, after being damaged during the Vietnam War, are no longer working as they are supposed to. In order to elucidate these mechanisms, neuroscientists investigated altruistic behavior—actions that benefit others—in Vietnam veterans. The study was published in Brain.
	Looking deeper into brain function To uncover connections between brain regions and specific cognitive functions, neuroscientists have long made extensive use of techniques like functional resonance imaging (fMRI). First introduced in the 1990s, the method allows tracking the brain's activity while a test subject performs a task or responds to stimuli in the MRI scanner. To date, fMRI has been employed in thousands of studies to determine the sites of activity for a wide variety of behavioral functions in the brain. In spite of this, it has proved difficult to understand specific functions and the complex interactions of brain areas and networks. For regions like the hippocampus, long lists of associated tasks have been described, but so far, the many individual results have not produced a conclusive picture.
	Study highlights need for better treatment of heart failure patients A new study by researchers from the Universities of Leicester and Keele, has highlighted the need for better treatment of heart disease patients suffering from additional chronic conditions.
Treating menopause symptoms reduces abdominal fat tissue Women who undergo hormone therapy to relieve menopausal symptoms tend to have less fat tissue, particularly in the abdomen, than other menopausal women, according to a new study published in the Endocrine Society's Journal of Clinical Endocrinology & Metabolism.
	Multidisciplinary care likely cost-effective for chronic kidney disease patients Medicare-funded multidisciplinary care programs in the US are likely to be cost-effective in patients with mild to moderate chronic kidney disease (CKD), according to a new study published this week in PLOS Medicine by Eugene Lin from Stanford University, California, USA, and colleagues.
	High doses of antiviral drug may be effective against Ebola High doses of favipiravir extended survival in non-human primates infected with Ebola virus, according to a new study published this week in PLOS Medicine by Jeremie Guedj of INSERM, France, and colleagues.
Research reveals why obese mothers less likely to breastfeed Obese women are less likely to breastfeed according to a review of 20 research papers by health psychologists and midwives from The University of Manchester.
	Mobile apps could hold key to Parkinson's research, care A new study out today in the journal JAMA Neurology shows that smartphone software and technology can accurately track the severity of the symptoms of Parkinson's disease. The findings could provide researchers and clinicians with a new tool to both develop new drugs and better treat this challenging disease.
	Electromagnetic field therapy for dogs with spinal injuries Spinal surgery can involve a painful recovery process – whether you're a human or a dog. But what if a noninvasive treatment utilizing a pulsed electromagnetic field (PEMF) could improve pain, reduce inflammation and possibly aid motor recovery? A recent small clinical trial at NC State's College of Veterinary Medicine set out to see whether this was the case – and some of the results were promising.
	Scientists develop new tool to study nicotine receptors A team of scientists has developed a new technique to better understand the effects of nicotine on the brain. In a study published in Nature Methods, the investigators described the creation of a novel light-activated nicotine compound, which will allow scientists to better study receptors that play a key role in nicotine addiction.
	Diabetes intervention works best at home A public health research team at the Brown School at Washington University in St. Louis has taken one of the most effective diabetes intervention programs and made it more accessible by partnering with an existing home-visit organization dedicated to working with mothers of preschool-aged children.
Diuretic therapy for extremely preterm infants does not alleviate respiratory problems Diuretic therapy—commonly given to extremely preterm infants to help them overcome respiratory problems—appears to offer no benefit for this purpose, according to an analysis by researchers at the National Institutes of Health. Surprisingly, infants in the study who received diuretic therapy were more likely to require respiratory support, compared to extremely preterm infants with similar respiratory problems who did not receive the therapy. The study is published in the Journal of Pediatrics.
	Researchers developing drug delivery patches to manage pain without addiction risk Everybody occasionally experiences pain. Generally, pain is manageable with over-the-counter medications, or no medication at all. But when pain is acute and severe, such as after an injury or surgery, stronger pain medication may be required. And for chronic pain, such as from neck and back disorders, the long-term use of opioids to subdue pain can become addictive.
	Infants as young as 17 months expect fairness and equity Children as young as 17 months recognise whether resources are being shared fairly, the first time researchers have found evidence that infants so young are sensitive to principles of "distributive justice".
	North Island regions show higher rates of drug dependency Higher levels of methamphetamine and cannabis dependency, and need for help for substance abuse, were found in northern, central and eastern regions in the North Island.
	The obesity epidemic—understanding how the brain responds to food choices Food! What a minefield of choices: lifestyle choices, cost choices, taste choices. Some food is good for you and some is not. We know for example that a doughnut is not as beneficial as an apple. Yet most of us would prefer a doughnut. So how does it all work in the human brain?
	New microsensor enables kidney dialysis customization Researchers from TU Eindhoven have developed a microsensor that makes it possible to directly monitor and adjust the composition of kidney dialysis fluid. This is a crucial step towards patient specific dialysis, which will remove a significant proportion of the serious side effects of the use of standard dialysis fluid. On 29 March Manoj Kumar Sharma will be awarded a Ph.D. for his research on this sensor.
	Why computer simulations should replace animal testing for heart drugs Safety is imperative before new medicines are given to patients – which is why drugs are tested on millions of animals worldwide each year to detect possible risks and side effects. But research shows computer simulations of the heart have the potential to improve drug development for patients and reduce the need for animal testing.
	Men and young people more likely to be ageist, according to study Men and young people are more likely to be ageist, but few Australians are resolutely ageist in their views, our survey finds. By ageist, we mean having consistently negative attitudes about how older people are or should be.
Johns Hopkins investigators unravel biological roots of pulmonary hypertension Working with cells that line the innermost layer of the blood vessels, Johns Hopkins investigators say they have made a leap forward in understanding the underlying biology behind pulmonary hypertension, a dangerous type of high blood pressure in lungs that ultimately leads to right heart failure and death.
	Is my child depressed? Being moody isn't a mental health issue It is difficult to open up a magazine or newspaper today without seeing a headline trumpeting the presence of a "mental health crisis" —particularly on our college and university campuses.
	Start resetting your kids' body clocks before daylight saving ends – here's how Daylight saving time ends on Sunday morning, signalling an end to summer. It's also a period of disruption for children and their parents as they adjust to the new time.
	Trained navigators help patients with kidney transplant process (HealthDay)—A trained patient navigator helps to increase access to the transplant waitlist for disadvantaged patients with kidney failure who need a longer time to get through the transplant evaluation process, according to a study published online March 26 in the Clinical Journal of the American Society of Nephrology.
	Ethical duties ID'd for short-term global health experiences (HealthDay)—In a position paper published online March 27 in the Annals of Internal Medicine, ethical obligations have been detailed for physicians participating in short-term global health experiences (STEGHs).
	Vigil immunotherapy tolerated well for recurrent ovarian CA Tx (HealthDay)—Vigil immunotherapy shows good tolerability for recurrent ovarian cancer patients, and PARP 7, a poly(ADP-ribose) polymerase protein, may play a significant role in survival for ovarian cancer, according to two studies presented at the Society of Gynecologic Oncology's Annual Meeting on Women's Cancer, held from March 24 to 27 in New Orleans.
New research shows community care clients enjoy preventative exercises Trained community care workers are able to safely incorporate a falls prevention exercise program into their existing services for older clients, new research by Curtin University has found.
	Study reveals lack of self-awareness among doctors when prescribing opioids As health providers struggle to curb the epidemic of opioid abuse, researchers at the University of Colorado Anschutz Medical Campus and the University of Massachusetts Medical School have found that 65 percent of emergency department (ED) physicians surveyed underestimated how often they prescribed the highly addictive pain killers to patients.
	Tackling adherence to treatment on several fronts Learning to become self-sufficient and responsible is part of life's journey through the teen and young adult years. Mistakes are often made, and lessons are learned. However, for young kidney-graft patients, any mistake or failure in keeping to their strict immunosuppressive therapy can lead to tragic results. In fact, low-adherence to medication remains a major contributor to the high level of organ rejection in this age group.
	Cell surface protein plays an integral role in tumor growth and sustenance Researchers at Okayama University describe in the journal Scientific Reports the role of an extracellular protein, versican, in regulating tumor growth and providing a newly formed network of blood vessels to further nourish the tumor.
	Preclinical testing suggests some antioxidants may be effective in treating mitochondrial disease A systematic study of seven antioxidants commonly taken by or suggested to benefit children and adults affected with mitochondrial disease provides intriguing clues that at least two compounds should be further evaluated in clinical trials. Mitochondrial diseases are often severe and progressive multisystem energy deficiency disorders that can result from mutations in roughly 300 different genes. Despite their growing recognition, these complex genetic disorders currently have no proven effective treatments.
Veterans more likely to suffer from peripheral artery disease, study finds People who have served in the Armed Forces are more likely to suffer from peripheral arterial disease—clogged arteries in their legs—than people who have never been in the military, according to a study by the University of Glasgow.
	Humans risked limb ischemia in exchange for bipedal walking Peripheral obstructive arterial disease develops when blood vessels narrow due to arteriosclerosis and blood flow in the legs (or sometimes the arms) becomes clogged. Intermittent claudication is when blood flow disturbances in a limb causes pain, numbness, or coldness during physical activity. In severe cases, where the tissue has gone without blood for too long and dies, the limb may have to be amputated.
	Solving the dilemma of not enough hearts In the not-too-distant future, Dr. Jennifer Cowger envisions a cardiac transplant landscape where more donations are encouraged and utilized, genetically engineered organs can be created in a laboratory, and improved mechanical devices eliminate the need for an actual human heart.
New study suggests existence of meditation-induced near-death experiences New research by the University of Derby into near-death experiences (NDEs) has shown that they can be induced through meditation, with wider implications for our understanding of the phenomena and our ability to examine what happens to an individual during an NDE.
	Oral supplementation of deep ocean minerals improves exercise performance in middle-aged men A new study by an international team of academics, including a senior lecturer from the University of Derby, has shown that drinking a supplement containing deep ocean minerals could provide significant benefits to middle-aged men both during and after intensive exercise.
	Kids' fitness is improving, but they still aren't as fit as their parents were Physical fitness is important for success in sports and athletics, but it is also important for good health. If you are generally fit, you probably have a strong heart, brain, muscles and bones, all of which help you to exercise and improve your chances of living a long, fit and healthy life.
	A combination of cancer immunotherapies could save more lives The pre-clinical study, published in Clinical Cancer Research, by Dr Sarah Buchan and colleagues, combined antibodies targeting PD-1/PD-L1, a type of immunotherapy known as checkpoint blockade that overcomes the resistance of cancer cells to the immune system, with another antibody against CD27, which kick starts the immune system to find and kill the cancer cells.
	Research shows why we struggle to get good night's sleep as we get older New research has identified the way age impairs the ability of the circadian clock in mammals to re-set itself when exposed to light, resulting in disruption to sleeping patterns and consequent threats to wellbeing.
	Study shows that putting yourself in the position of an observer could be key to overcoming feelings of embarrassment Feelings of embarrassment can be overcome through mental training. This is the finding of a study published in Springer's journal Motivation and Emotion. By training your mind to be an observer rather than actively participating in the embarrassing situation it is possible overcome humiliating or distressing feelings, says Li Jiang of Carnegie Mellon University in the US who led the study.
	Childhood friendships may have some health benefits in adulthood Time spent with friends in childhood is associated with physical health in adulthood, according to data from a multi-decade study of men. The findings, published in Psychological Science, a journal of the Association for Psychological Science, show that boys who spent more time with friends as children tended to have lower blood pressure and lower BMI as men in their early 30s.
Screening high-risk individuals can reduce multiple myeloma mortality Multiple myeloma is a rare incurable disease that is diagnosed in more than 30,000 people each year in the United States. Only half of patients with multiple myeloma are expected to survive five years after their diagnosis. Moffitt Cancer Center researchers are trying to identify patients who are at a higher risk of developing multiple myeloma early in order to improve patient outcomes. A new study published online in the JCO Clinical Cancer Informatics found that screening individuals with a high lifetime risk of developing a precursor condition can reduce the prevalence and specific mortality of symptomatic multiple myeloma.
	From lullabies to live concerts: How music and rhythm shape our social brains A universal sign of motherhood is the lullaby. The world over, mothers sing to their babies, whether Twinkle Twinkle Little Star, their favorite song from the radio, or even random notes. This universality makes the simple lullaby a great window into the human mind. In a new study, cognitive neuroscientists found that lullabies soothe both moms and babies simultaneously, while playsongs increase babies' attention and displays of positive emotion toward their mothers.
	Reading with your toddler boosts more than just language skills (HealthDay)—All those hours spent reading bedtime stories may pay off for you and your little ones beyond language and brain development: New research suggests it's also good for social and behavioral skills.
	Finding the willpower to lose weight (HealthDay)—Dieters sometimes chalk up their lack of weight-loss success to a lack of willpower. The truth about willpower, though, is that everyone has some.
	Marijuana may lead non-smokers to cigarettes While cigarette smoking has long been on the decline, marijuana use is on the rise and, disproportionately, marijuana users also smoke cigarettes. A new study by researchers at Columbia University's Mailman School of Public Health and the City University of New York reports that cannabis use was associated with an increased initiation of cigarette smoking among non-cigarette smokers. They also found adults who smoke cigarettes and use cannabis are less likely to quit smoking cigarettes than those who do not use cannabis. Former smokers who use cannabis are also more likely to relapse to cigarette smoking. Results are published online in the Journal of Clinical Psychiatry.
Older adults often prescribed meds linked to higher side effect risks Drugs with high-risk anticholinergic properties can lead to risks of developing serious adverse events, such as cognitive impairment, falls, dementia, and even mortality in older adults. Yet, relatively little is known about prescribing trends of high-risk anticholinergic medications in the United States of America.
Despite reductions in infectious disease mortality in US, diarrheal disease deaths on the rise Deaths from infectious diseases have declined overall in the United States over the past three decades. However, the rates of decline varied significantly by counties, according to a new scientific study.
	New research reveals facial expressions as tools for social influence Maybe it was a sweet-as-pie, pretty-please smile meant to talk a friend into sharing her dessert, or a serious stink eye intended to shake a moody kid out of his tantrum. Whatever the circumstance, we've all used our faces to get our way.
	Repurposing existing FDA-approved inhibitors may provide new treatment approach for ovarian cancer Wistar researchers have found rationale for repurposing a class of antitumor compounds called HDAC inhibitors, already approved by the FDA for the treatment of diseases such as leukemia, as a new therapeutic option for ovarian cancer with mutations in the ARID1A gene. Study results were published online in Cell Reports.
Evaluation and treatment of depression may reverse memory and cognitive difficulties Individuals with worse depression and mood symptoms are more likely to develop Mild Cognitive Impairment (MCI) and to progress from MCI to dementia. Evaluation and treatment of symptoms of depression may improve or maintain cognitive functioning in some older patients diagnosed with MCI.
	Complete genome sequence can be ID'd from amniotic fluid (HealthDay)—The complete genome sequence of fetuses can be elucidated from amniotic fluid, according to a study published online March 15 in Clinical Chemistry.
	Detection of transcranial direct current stimulation deep in the living human brain A defining characteristic of stroke is the loss of motor control due to structural damage in specific brain areas. In fact, motor impairments (or deficits) are the number one complication after stroke. Losing the ability to carry out basic bodily functions, such as speaking, walking and swallowing, can be devastating for stroke survivors. Unfortunately, there are few effective recovery options beyond physical and occupational therapy to stimulate brain re-learning. While many researchers have tried to identify effective new therapies to mitigate motor function impairment and enhance quality-of-life, discoveries have been lacking.
	UCLA-designed program helps former HIV-positive inmates maintain health after release from jail After years of public health efforts, health care at the Los Angeles County Jail has significantly improved, and the facility now typically provides full access to treatment for inmates who have HIV—including medications that keep their disease in check.
	Narcissists don't hunt for partners who are already taken—but it doesn't stop them Narcissists aren't necessarily on the hunt for partners who are already in a relationship - but that doesn't appear to stand in their way, either, new research suggests.
	Lawsuit challenges FDA delay of e-cigarette review Several anti-smoking groups are suing the Food and Drug Administration over a decision by Trump administration officials to delay the review of e-cigarettes.
	Patients more likely to accept robotic dentistry for non-invasive procedures You're waiting to get your teeth cleaned, half-dozing in a chair with your mouth propped open when a robot appears to do the job. Would you be willing to undergo a dental cleaning performed by a robot? How about a root canal? Autonomous gum surgery, anyone?
ACP issues ethical guidance for individuals participating in volunteer medical trips Physicians who participate in short-term global health experiences such as volunteer medical trips have ethical obligations to the individuals and communities they serve, the American College of Physicians (ACP) advises in a new position paper published today in Annals of Internal Medicine.
	Hepatitis C virus screening rates remain low among baby boomers Despite the steady increase of liver cancer incidence in the United States in recent decades, data from 2015 indicates that less than 13 percent of individuals born between 1945 and 1965 are estimated to have undergone screening for hepatitis C virus (HCV).
	How opioid lawsuit money could help solve the epidemic More than 400 cases against opioid manufacturers, distributors, and pharmacies are pending before a single federal judge, with the potential to net billions to address the crisis. But winning those suits would only be the first step to victory, said Leo Beletsky, a drug policy expert and associate professor of law and health sciences at Northeastern. The solution, he said, lies in how we spend that money to address the many tentacles of the opioid epidemic.
Trump plan to execute 'big drug pushers' will do nothing to stop opioid overdoses On March 19, President Donald Trump unveiled his administration's plan to stem the opioid overdose crisis in the United States, which has claimed some 350,000 lives since 2000. Among other measures, it proposes severe punishment for people involved in the illegal drug trade, including longer minimum jail sentences and potentially the death penalty.
New study to measure impact of sleep tracker data on patient-provider communication According to a survey by Pew Research, nearly two-thirds of adults in the U.S. collect their own data on at least one health indicator through the use of tracking devices and apps, and it is estimated by industry analysts that over 30 million Americans have access to their sleep data. While many patients are treated for sleep disturbances in primary care practices, much of this tracked sleep data never reaches the health care providers, and the impact on care is largely unknown.
Physiotherapist contributes to guidelines for knee cartilage treatment Produced by the American Physical Therapy Association (APTA) and featuring a contribution from Dr Karen Hambly, a chartered physiotherapist and member of the University of Kent's School of Sports and Exercise Sciences (SSES), the guidelines are intended to be used by orthopaedic physical therapists, academic instructors, clinical instructors, students and patients regarding the best current practice of orthopaedic physical therapy for meniscal and articular cartilage lesions.
	University of Cincinnati researcher receives US patent for potential COPD treatment A researcher in the University of Cincinnati (UC) College of Medicine has been granted a U.S. patent for a potential treatment for a pulmonary infection in patients with cystic fibrosis (CF) and chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD).
Estrogen levels do not rise for transgender men treated with testosterone therapy Testosterone therapy is not associated with a rise in estrogen levels among transgender men, according to a new study led by Boston Medical Center (BMC). In fact, the researchers observed an initial decline in estrogen levels, which later stabilized and remained within the normal range during the study's six-year period. Published online in Endocrine Practice, the results support that there are no additional risks to female reproductive tissues during testosterone therapy in transgender men.
Mental health issues linked to risky driving in newly licensed teens Mental health symptoms related to attention deficit-hyperactivity disorder (ADHD) and conduct disorder are associated with increased errors in a driving simulator and self-reported risky driving behaviors in adolescents, according to study in Nursing Research.
	The connection between diet, obesity, and cancer: Nutrition experts explore the evidence About one third of cancer cases are estimated to be linked to dietary and other modifiable risk factors, especially for obesity-related cancers such as breast, colorectal, ovarian, endometrial, kidney, gallbladder, esophageal, and pancreatic cancers. In this special theme issue of the Journal of the Academy of Nutrition and Dietetics, food and nutrition practitioners and other health professionals take an in-depth look at the relationship between nutrition, obesity, and cancer prevention, treatment, and survival and identify research gaps for future prevention research efforts.

Biology news

	Prehistoric people resilient in the face of extreme climate events Pioneering early people who lived at the end of the last ice age actually carried on with life as usual despite plummeting temperatures, a study at a world-famous archaeological site in North Yorkshire suggests.
	Gene responsible for electric fish 'spark' found in South American ghost knifefish Unique genetic re-wiring of a sodium channel explains how a family of electric fish can generate the highest frequency of electrical discharge seen in any animal. In a study publishing 27 March in the open access journal PLOS Biology researchers Ammon Thompson, Daniel Infield and colleagues at the University of Texas, Austin, University of Iowa, and Indiana University Bloomington show that this evolutionarily modified sodium channel could contribute to the electric organ's high-frequency firing.
	Human threats to the amphibian tree of life A new study by researchers at Yale and George Washington University examines the human threats to the amphibian family tree and calls for a rethinking of conservation priorities to preserve species diversity and evolutionary heritage.
Malaria Cell Atlas launched: Parasite development mapped in unprecedented detail New single-cell technology has allowed scientists to study malaria parasites at the highest resolution to date. By investigating the genes in individual malaria parasites, scientists from the Wellcome Sanger Institute are beginning to understand the genetic processes each parasite undergoes as it moves through its complicated lifecycle.
	Human hunting influences adaptation in bear cub parenting The Anthropocene is characterized by human impacts extending to all corners of the globe. New research shows that it effects the relationship between mothers and cubs of the Scandinavian brown bear. Human hunting has changed the characteristics of mother bears' behavior to their cubs.
	Newly discovered bacteria can break down biomass Despite decades of research, how ruminants deconstruct plant biomass in their stomachs is still something of a mystery. Now, an international team of scientists has identified a previously unknown family of bacteria and complex enzymes that break down plant biomass and appear to be critical for ruminants to be herbivorous.
	Research reveals snakes' surprising hunting strategies Anyone who has sat down to a summer crab feast knows how hard, messy and delicious they are.
	Drones help researchers monitor High Plains wheat he Texas A&M AgriLife Research dryland wheat variety nursery near Bushland is being monitored weekly by drone flights, offering wheat breeders a chance to see changes on a more real-time basis.
	Do cells have a sweet tooth? Obesity is a global public health crisis that has doubled since 1980. That is why Damaris N. Lorenzo, a professor of Cell Biology and Physiology at UNC-Chapel Hill, has devoted her research to this topic.
	How to make greener biofuels The climate is under pressure. And despite a number of climate agreements, we still have not bent the curve on fossil fuel emissions, which continue to rise. One of the big sinners is the fuel we use for transport.
	Researchers find that beetle odor could help tackle tamarisk In the fight against an invasive plant colonizing portions of the state, a Montana State University doctoral student is luring shrub-munching beetles with an odor as tantalizing to them as the smell of bacon and pancakes, or perhaps a barbecue, is to humans.
	Identification of transgenic organisms Researchers at Goethe University Frankfurt have developed a concept called AGameOfClones, which allows them to distinguish whether transgenic organisms carry an inserted foreign gene on one or on both chromosomes. This facilitates breeding and also benefits animal welfare.
	Researcher studies risk of African swine fever in animal feed If African swine fever virus reaches the U.S., it could cause more than $16.8 billion in economic losses to swine and other industries. It would devastate trade and international markets, researchers say.
	Unpacking a secret of photosynthesis Researchers at University of Stavanger have brought us one step closer to solving the fundamental question how plants build the photosynthetic machinery.
	Bats give French winegrowers a helping hand in moth war Hungry moths are the bane of French wine growers' lives due to their ferocious ability to feast on vines, but producers have discovered an unexpected ally in their fight against the insects: bats.
	Take a walk on New York's wild side From coyotes in the Bronx to red foxes in Queens, raccoons in Manhattan, owls in Brooklyn and deer in Staten Island, wildlife roams the urban jungle of New York.
	Light pollution is altering plant and animal behaviour You could call it fatal attraction. Drawn by artificial lights in our brightening night-time world, animals find their lives in peril.
New way of producing useful compounds from birch for the cosmetics industry VTT Technical Research Centre of Finland has used plant cell culture technology to develop new types of ingredients for the cosmetics industry. Cell cultures, which originated from birch leaves and seeds, produce pigments, as well as compounds that help to preserve products and inhibit the growth of harmful microbes. Cell culture technology is a natural and environmentally friendly production method.

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