Science X Newsletter Wednesday, Mar 7

Dear Reader ,

COMSOL News -- The Multiphysics Simulation Magazine: https://goo.gl/n8F7TM

See the latest innovations in modeling, simulation, and application design. Get instant access here: https://goo.gl/n8F7TM

---

Here is your customized Science X Newsletter for March 7, 2018:

Spotlight Stories Headlines

Maxwell's demon in the quantum Zeno regime

Self-domesticating mice show changes similar to intentionally domesticated animals

New view on electron interactions in graphene

Gyroscopic spin with petunia seeds helps them fly farther

New insights could pave the way for self-powered low energy devices

Birth of new neurons in the human hippocampus ends in childhood

Super-deep diamond provides first evidence in nature of Earth's fourth most abundant mineral

Geometric clusters of cyclones churn over Jupiter's poles

All power to the proton: Researchers make battery breakthrough

Blood pressure check? There may soon be an app for that

Study suggests native UK Pine martens are helping to control invasive gray squirrels

Chimpanzees help researchers improve machine learning of animal simulations

Staying clean keeps seafish smart

Applied math reveals the key to stopping norovirus lies—literally—in our own hands

Termites sacrifice their elderly in ant wars: study

Astronomy & Space news

	Geometric clusters of cyclones churn over Jupiter's poles Jupiter's poles are blanketed by geometric clusters of cyclones and its atmosphere is deeper than scientists suspected.
	ALMA reveals inner web of stellar nursery This spectacular and unusual image shows part of the famous Orion Nebula, a star formation region lying about 1350 light-years from Earth. It combines a mosaic of millimetre-wavelength images from the Atacama Large Millimeter/submillimeter Array (ALMA) and the IRAM 30-metre telescope, shown in red, with a more familiar infrared view from the HAWK-I instrument on ESO's Very Large Telescope, shown in blue. The group of bright blue-white stars at the upper-left is the Trapezium Cluster—made up of hot young stars that are only a few million years old.
	Cosmologists find way to verify if the universe is hotter at one end than the other Scientists have long observed an apparent gradient in the cosmic microwave background but have been unable to determine how much is real and how much is perceived. USC Dornsife researchers appear to have found a way to an answer.
	Britain hopes to keep stars aligned with EU's space projects Dressed in a white protective suit, British astronaut Tim Peake listened attentively as technicians explained details of their new satellite—a European project in Brexit Britain.
	Image: The case of the Martian boulder piles This image was originally meant to track the movement of sand dunes near the North Pole of Mars, but what's on the ground in between the dunes is just as interesting!
	Image: ESA's first Automated Transfer Vehicle It's a bird. It's a plane. It's Jules Verne!
	Taking near-Earth space research to the next level with Arctic phased array radars With the unprecedented promise that the EU-supported EISCAT3D radar infrastructure holds for investigation into near-earth space phenomena, system accuracy and efficiency is paramount. The recently closed EISCAT3D_PfP project successfully demonstrated the viability of the initiative, launching it into the implementation phase.
	Cosmic bow shocks Imagine an object moving at super-sonic speed. This object, as it moves through a medium, causes the material in the medium to pile up, compress, and heat up. The result is a type of shock wave, known as a bow shock.
	NASA will fly you to the sun— or at least your name NASA will fly you to the sun—or at least your name.

Technology news

	New insights could pave the way for self-powered low energy devices Most people have felt that sting from grabbing a doorknob after walking across a carpet or seen how a balloon will stick to a fuzzy surface after a few moments of vigorous rubbing.
	All power to the proton: Researchers make battery breakthrough Researchers from RMIT University in Melbourne, Australia have demonstrated for the first time a working rechargeable "proton battery" that could re-wire how we power our homes, vehicles and devices.
	Two-wheel transporter will transform into smart sidekick So what is the I-didn't really-need-it-but-how-do-you-spell-cool gadget would you like to buy next? A two-wheeled transporter to get around town? A personal assistant to order around town? No need to choose, because, come May, you might get the two all in one.
	Flying cars eye takeoff at Geneva Motor Show After gracing our screens for decades, flying cars are about to shift gears from dream to reality, with the unveiling of a commercial model in Geneva this week.
	Engineers develop eco-friendly smart glass panels that switch from transparent to opaque Someday we won't need curtains or blinds on our windows, and we will be able to block out light—or let it in—with just the press of a button. At least that's what Keith Goossen, associate professor of electrical and computer engineering at the University of Delaware, hopes.
	Researchers develop optical tools to detect metabolic changes linked to disease Metabolic changes in cells can occur at the earliest stages of disease. In most cases, knowledge of those signals is limited, since we usually detect disease only after it has done significant damage. Now, a team led by engineers at Tufts University School of Engineering has opened a window into the cell by developing an optical tool that can read metabolism at subcellular resolution, without having to perturb cells with contrast agents, or destroy them to conduct assays. As reported today in Science Advances, the researchers were able to use the method to identify specific metabolic signatures that could arise in diabetes, cancer, cardiovascular and neurodegenerative diseases.
	'Dieselgate' sees Toyota gain in Europe An auto industry turning away from diesel and European drivers increasingly favouring hybrid cars: add it up and the result is clear—advantage Toyota.
	Amazon CEO's wealth soars to new heights while Trump's sinks Amazon CEO Jeff Bezos has become the first $100 billion mogul to top Forbes' annual rankings of the world's richest people. But President Donald Trump's fortune sank during his first year in office despite a surging stock market.
	Turning landfill into energy Landfill is both ugly and polluting. But a new breed of technology promises to make it a thing of the past, transforming a huge portion of landfill material into clean gas.
	Experts: Fukushima must do more to reduce radioactive water (Update) A government-commissioned group of experts concluded Wednesday that a costly underground ice wall is only partially effective in reducing the ever-growing amount of contaminated water at Japan's destroyed Fukushima nuclear plant, and said other measures are needed as well.
	EU firms lash out at new net privacy rules Dozens of European media, telecom and internet firms criticised Wednesday the EU's new online privacy rules, saying they will effectively hand US tech giants even greater power over user data.
	Scarce metals going unrecovered from end-of-life vehicles Vast quantities of scarce metals are being lost from Europe's urban mine of vehicles, including 20 tonnes of gold each year—and the proportion of critical metals in vehicles is continuing to increase. A database has been published that charts the metals and facilitates recycling. On 8 March Maria Ljunggren Söderman, researcher at Chalmers University of Technology, will present the results at IEA's expert meeting.
	Improved X-ray computed tomography for quality control of advanced manufactured parts A consequence of advanced manufacturing technologies is that some internal structures tend to be inaccessible and so quality control is necessarily destructive. This is clearly problematic for high-added value products, where customers nonetheless expect reliability and certified quality. Computed tomography (CT) has been heralded as an answer, making visible as it does internal structures and moreover combining dimensional metrology and material defect analysis. However, the technology has its limitations.
	Double disinfection treatment for safer drinking water In spite of good progress in water hygiene during the recent decades, contaminated water still causes millions of diseases every year. Most of these diseases are caused by enteric viruses, and better water disinfection methods could help prevent discomfort and even save lives. A new study from the University of Eastern Finland shows that a combined disinfection treatment with chlorine and UV radiation can be highly effective in water disinfection.
Zuckerberg, Chan give $30M to Harvard and MIT for literacy Facebook founder Mark Zuckerberg and his wife, Priscilla Chan, are giving Harvard University and the Massachusetts Institute of Technology $30 million to help improve the literacy skills of elementary school students across the nation.
	Nobel-winning ICAN condemns surge in nuclear arms investments Global nuclear tensions helped boost investments in atomic weapons production by around $81 billion last year, campaigners said Wednesday, urging investors to blacklist the companies that stock the world's nuclear arsenals.
	With a TENG, solar cells could work come rain or shine Despite the numerous advances in solar cells, one thing remains constant: cloudy, rainy conditions put a damper on the amount of electricity created. Now researchers reporting in the journal ACS Nano have developed hybrid solar cells that can generate power from raindrops.
	Airbus to axe 3,700 jobs in Europe Aircraft giant Airbus is to axe around 3,700 jobs in Europe as it cuts back production of its troubled A380 superjumbo and A400M military transporter, the company and union officials said Wednesday.
	European clocks slowed by lag in continent's power grid Millions of Europeans who arrived late to work or school Wednesday had a good excuse—an unprecedented lag in the continent's electricity grid that's slowing down some clocks.
	Software aims to reduce food waste by helping those in need Sugam Sharma remembers as a child listening to his parents talk about hunger. While his family always had enough to eat, hunger was prevalent and something he regularly witnessed growing up and as a young adult in India.
	Combination of old and new yields novel power grid cybersecurity tool An innovative R&D project led by Berkeley Lab researchers that combines cybersecurity, machine learning algorithms and commercially available power system sensor technology to better protect the electric power grid has sparked interest from U.S. utilities, power companies and government officials.
	On Medicaid? Amazon offers recipients a Prime discount Amazon has taken another step to woo low-income shoppers to its site and away from rival Walmart.
Winds of change: What will power the Northwest's future? Carl Borgquist wants to spend more than $1 billion to transform a remote butte fringed by pine trees into a giant water battery.
	DuckDuckGo's Gabe Weinberg on how big internet firms trample our privacy online DuckDuckGo founder Gabriel Weinberg is among the digital prophets warning us how Google, the Goliath he's been challenging for 10 years with his Paoli-based non-tracking search engine, and other giants of information are squeezing personal privacy and independent content: "If people are consuming all the Inquirer's stuff for free on Facebook or Google, it's a losing proposition for you."
Want to see Disneyland without going there? Try Street View Anyone who has even been to Disneyland will tell you at least two things about the place. One, the Pirates of the Caribbean ride is awesome. Two, the crowds are awesome, too, but not necessarily in the same awesome vein as Pirates of the Caribbean.
	Engine maker Rolls-Royce powers back into profit Rolls-Royce, the British maker of plane engines and other power systems, roared back into net profit last year, largely as the pound recovered, the company revealed on Wednesday.
	France pumped up over cargo airships France will pump up to 25 million euros ($31 million) into a fleet of rigid airships for transporting heavy cargo, the country's public investment bank said in a statement Wednesday.
	Philips Lighting joins Amsterdam's top-tier AEX index Philips Lighting which split from its electronics giant parent company to list as a standalone on the Amsterdam stock exchange in 2016, announced Wednesday it was joining the market's top-tier AEX index.
How Domino's used technology to woo millennials and beat rival Pizza Hut Domino's Pizza spent a good part of the last decade chasing what seemed like every digital doodad to deliver pizza—sometimes to the scorn of observers who pointed out that the business was, after all, popping topping-covered dough in an oven and delivering it.
MoviePass crafts wider offerings for movie night MoviePass is eyeing a broadening of its app capabilities to create a full-featured movie-going experience by tracking where people go before and after the film, the company said Monday night.

Medicine & Health news

	Birth of new neurons in the human hippocampus ends in childhood One of the liveliest debates in neuroscience over the past half century surrounds whether the human brain renews itself by producing new neurons throughout life, and whether it may be possible to rejuvenate the brain by boosting its innate regenerative capacity.
	Blood pressure check? There may soon be an app for that Someday soon, a simple touch of a finger to a smartphone case might be enough to provide instant, accurate blood pressure readings.
	Applied math reveals the key to stopping norovirus lies—literally—in our own hands From stately cruise ships to Olympic host cities, recent headline-grabbing outbreaks prove that norovirus—an incapacitating stomach bug which causes vomiting and diarrhea and has no vaccine—can strike anywhere, anytime.
	Imaging agent helps predict success of lung cancer therapy Doctors contemplating the best therapy for lung cancer patients may soon be able to predict the efficacy of a widely used lung cancer drug based on an imaging agent and a simple scan, according to the findings of a new clinical trial co-led by researchers at the Stanford University School of Medicine.
	Biological engineers discover why a promising drug failed in clinical trials Pharmaceutical companies once considered a protein called p38 a very attractive target for treating rheumatoid arthritis. Arthritis patients usually have elevated activity of this inflammation-producing protein, and in lab studies p38 inhibitors appeared to soothe inflammation. However, these drugs failed in several clinical trials.
	Brain activity at rest provides clue to intelligence The ability of an adult to learn and to perform cognitive tests is directly linked to how active the brain is at rest, UNSW researchers have found.
	New imaging technique could improve the diagnosis, treatment of glaucoma The National Eye Institute, part of the National Institutes of Health, projects the number of Americans affected by glaucoma will more than double between 2010 and 2050, from 2.7 million to 6.3 million.
	Researchers discover an important clue to help predict disease The more information you have, the better able you are to predict what will happen next. Clinicians and health researchers often look at gene mutation to predict whether a fetus is at risk for a birth defect, or a person is at risk of developing a disease, but these predictions are not always accurate. University of Calgary researchers have discovered an important factor that changes our understanding of the relationship between gene mutations (genotype) and how they present in people (phenotype) that may, one day, help to improve this accuracy.
	Dementia patients with distorted memories may actually retain key information – researchers say Some memories containing inaccurate information can be beneficial to dementia sufferers because it enables them to retain key information researchers say.
	Biologists discover link between protein in brain, seizure suppression Seizure suppression is the focus of an original research article by two members of the Department of Biology in the College of Arts and Sciences—and they have the pictures to prove it.
	Medical team engineers cartilage for nose reconstructions Facial reconstructive surgeons could soon have a safer, more accessible form of cartilage for nasal reconstructions, meaning fewer surgeries and less pain for patients, thanks to tissue engineering research at the University of Alberta.
	Discovery fills gap in search for better treatments for Ebola, other viruses University of Alberta researchers have found the Ebola polymerase (enzyme), which may lead to more effective research and better treatments for the often fatal infection, and other related viral diseases.
	The brain's immune system may be key to new Alzheimer's treatments Sanford Burnham Prebys Medical Research Institute (SBP) researchers have published two new studies in Neuron that describe how TREM2, a receptor found on immune cells in the brain, interacts with toxic amyloid beta proteins to restore neurological function. The research, performed on mouse models of Alzheimer's disease, suggests boosting TREM2 levels in the brain may prevent or reduce the severity of neurodegenerative disorders including Alzheimer's disease.
	High-resolution brain imaging provides clues about memory loss in older adults As we get older, it's not uncommon to experience "senior moments," in which we forget where we parked our car or call our children by the wrong names. But currently there are no good ways to determine which memory lapses are normal parts of aging and which may signal the early stages of a severe disorder like Alzheimer's disease. In a study appearing March 7 in the journal Neuron, researchers report that data from high-resolution functional brain imaging can be used to show some of the underlying causes for differences in memory proficiency between older and younger adults.
	Signaling pathway involving the Golgi apparatus identified in cells with Huntington's disease Working with cells grown in the lab, Johns Hopkins researchers have identified a biochemical pathway that allows a structure within cells, called the Golgi apparatus, to combat stress caused by free radicals and oxidants. The research team showed that this pathway can be activated by a drug called monensin, which is commonly used as an antibiotic in animal feed.
	Nervous system discovery could inform stroke, pain therapies New research published in the journal Nature for the first time reveals the atomic structure of a key molecular component of the nervous system.
	Insights into how brain cancer evades the immune system Glioblastoma—a universally fatal form of brain cancer—is known for its ability to hijack immune checkpoints and evade detection and destruction by the body's immune defenses. But many of the details underlying this feat remain unknown. A new study by investigators from Brigham and Women's Hospital finds that some types of glioblastoma tumors may be able to shed extracellular vesicles (EVs)—small packages of biomaterial—that can help to suppress the body's ability to mount an immune response against the tumor. In addition, the team detected DNA levels from these EVs in blood samples from patients with glioblastoma, suggesting that they could potentially serve as a biomarker of the disease. The team's results are published online this week in Science Advances.
	Experts call for action on diabetes medicines in India India has one of the highest rates of type 2 diabetes in the world, and there is now "growing national and international concern" about the drug regulatory system there, which allows use of a drug treatment that has not been shown effective or safe, say researchers at the University of Massachusetts Amherst and the U.K.'s Newcastle University in a paper published today in the British Medical Journal.
Treatment variations may be cutting short lives of lung cancer patients in England Differences in the active treatment of lung cancer across England may be cutting short the lives of hundreds of patients with the disease every year, concludes research published online in the journal Thorax.
	Supportive colleagues could be the key to health and fairness at work The attitudes and behaviours of colleagues towards people returning to work from sick leave can have a big impact on whether or not a worker feels they are fairly treated by their organisation.
	Study reveals that Italian adolescents are heavy consumers of caffeine More than three-quarters (76%) of Italian adolescents who completed anonymous questionnaires consumed caffeine on a daily basis and nearly half (46%) exceeded the upper limits recommended by the American Academy of Pediatrics. The findings are published in Acta Paediatrica.
	Scientists seek unfiltered truth about 'light' cigarettes Would banning ventilated filters on cigarettes protect public health?
	Feeling anxious? Blame the size of your waistline Anxiety is one of the most common mental health disorders, and it's more likely to affect women, especially middle-aged women. Although anxiety can be caused by many factors, a new study suggests that the amount of abdominal fat a woman has could increase her chances of developing anxiety. Study results are published online today in Menopause, the journal of The North American Menopause Society (NAMS).
	How thalidomide is effective against cerebral infarction The cause of a major pharmaceutical scandal approximately 60 years ago, thalidomide caused severe birth defects when administered to pregnant women as a remedy for their morning sickness. In recent years, however, thalidomide and its derivatives have been widely used to treat hematologic malignancies such as multiple myeloma.
	Technique allows live imaging of ubiquitin protein during cellular housekeeping Homeostasis refers to the idea that cells have evolved an intricate set of systems allowing them to respond to their environment while maintaining an internal, physiologically healthy balance. These systems are especially important when cells are stressed—for example, during exposure to extreme temperatures or UV radiation from the sun—as quite a lot can go wrong if cells are unable to respond to environmental stressors.
Caregivers face strain when patients receive heart pumps When heart failure patients receive a heart pumping device known as a left ventricular assist device (LVAD), their caregivers seem to suffer, too - at least initially, according to research in Journal of the American Heart Association (JAHA), the Open Access Journal of the American Heart Association/American Stroke Association.
	Zebrafish study reveals regenerative processes by neural stem cells in the brain Waseda University researchers recently elucidated the regenerative processes of neural stem cells using a stab injury model in the optic tectum of adult zebrafish. The study could contribute to the treatment of human central nervous system (CNS) injuries.
Human 'glucostat' identified Pancreatic islets have the overall responsibility for maintaining normal blood glucose levels in the body, according to a new study by researchers at Karolinska Institutet in Sweden and the University of Miami Miller School of Medicine. The findings, published in the scientific journal Cell Metabolism, have important implications for certain diabetes treatments.
Maximizing nutrition during cancer care The physical and emotional tolls chemotherapy can have on a patient undergoing cancer treatment are well known, but there are many myths when it comes to managing fitness and nutrition during treatment.
	Researcher sheds light on health effects of not getting enough rest This weekend's change to daylight saving time means an extra hour of light in the evening. The shift is a milestone on the way to barbecues and beach trips, but adjusting to the loss of an hour's sleep can be difficult, especially because so many of us don't get enough rest in the first place.
	Multiple-treatment approach improves survival rates in aggressive prostate cancer, study finds UCLA researchers have discovered that a combination of high doses of radiotherapy and hormonal therapy provides the best chance of decreasing the mortality rate of men with aggressive prostate cancer. The findings also suggest that such a multimodal treatment approach has the best chance of preventing metastatic disease and improving overall long-term survival.
	The dark side of daylight saving time A train hurtled around a corner at 82 mph, eventually coming off the rails and killing four passengers.
	Researchers work together to improve communication-aiding technologies Deciding which hand to use for communication-aiding technology is a cognitive task that can slow the user down, potentially inhibiting communication and performance, according to a Penn State study.
New study shows how multimorbidity restricts life in the elderly Multiple neuropsychiatric diseases are major predisposing factors for functional decline in older people and may play a greater role in this age-related phenomenon than cardiovascular diseases, according to a new study by researchers at Karolinska Institutet published in PLOS Medicine.
	Research finds people with intellectual disabilities not receiving support for big decisions Researchers from the University of Birmingham have found that people with intellectual disabilities receive much lower levels of support and guidance when making difficult decisions, especially those related to legal issues such as wills, advance decisions and power of attorney.
	Overdiagnosis—when finding cancer can do more harm than good Not all cancers are equal.
	College students with autism have high rate of suicidal thoughts Over the next decade, about 247,000 young adults with autism spectrum disorder (ASD) are expected to enroll in universities, colleges, or technical/vocational schools. Because post-secondary education is expected to present new challenges to individuals with ASD, new scholarship is being conducted to assess how ready post-secondary education is to serve a larger population with ASD.
Uncertainty leads to treatment delays for young people with mental illness Stigmas, attitudes of self-reliance and misattributing symptoms led a group of young adults experiencing their first episode of psychosis to delay seeking treatment, finds a new study from the Brown School at Washington University in St. Louis.
	Want to know if your partner's cheating on you? Just listen to their voice Picture Morgan Freeman, Donald Trump or Margaret Thatcher. Most likely you can hear their voices in your mind, and the characteristic inflections that they put on certain words, as well as their tone and pitch. Even without listening to the words, when you hear someone speak you can pick up important information about them from characteristics such as how loud or deep their voice is.
	New weapons against antibiotic-resistant pathogens Alexander Fleming discovered penicillin in 1928—and arguably changed the course of history as the drug not only saved thousands of lives during World War II, but also laid the foundation for the antibiotic era that gave us decades of relative protection from previously deadly diseases.
	Research shows that literacy learning methods may help beginners to read music Many music students find it difficult to learn to play an instrument, and struggle with music reading. Even after long practice, few children are able to sight read music off the page in the same way they read a book.
	Study backs up connection between atrial fibrillation and dementia One of the longest and most comprehensive studies to date has found more evidence that people diagnosed with a type of rapid or irregular heartbeat called atrial fibrillation may be at greater risk for cognitive decline and dementia.
	Homeless people avoid life-saving services if there's a risk of deportation As the UK was hit by snow and freezing temperatures last week, more beds in shelters were made available, and people in England and Wales were advised to use the StreetLink app and helpline to report rough sleepers. The project sets out to ensure that no one in a wealthy country dies of cold because they have nowhere appropriate to sleep.
	Living (and competing) after an organ transplant Organ donations continue to rise and a growing number of countries are adopting assumed consent donation policies. These recent shifts can partially be explained by increasing public awareness that organ donation saves lives.
	How it feels to be diagnosed with autism later in life "He is wired differently to you and me, this child of mine. He doesn't like loud noises, or dark spaces, or strangers touching his head". These are the first lines from a poem a mother penned about her son 11-year-old son who has Asperger's syndrome.
Parents' lives made more miserable by the 'boomerang generation' returning home, according to new LSE research Adult children who return to live with their parents, the so-called boomerang generation, cause a significant decline in parents' quality of life and well-being, according to new research from the London School of Economics and Political Science.
	Companion dogs provide a unique translational model for human health studies Dogs are commonly referred to as man's best friend. This is because of their undeniable physical and emotional connection to their owners. Now, new research suggests that this connection is actually closer than had previously been expected. It reveals that companion dogs can be a powerful translational model to study complex questions about human health and pave the way for a new undiscovered area of research, in which old dogs can now teach us new tricks about our health.
Sexual harassment, gender stereotypes prevalent among youth Young women enrolled in high schools and colleges told Washington State University researchers that people routinely make sexual comments, both in-person and online, about them and their bodies.
	Why the latest shingles vaccine is more than 90 percent effective A new study has shown how the body's immune system responds to the new shingles vaccine, Shingrix, making it more than 90% effective at protecting against the virus.
Technology-based process boosts cardiac rehab referral rates Simply changing cardiac referral processes to opt-out rather than opt-in significantly increased referral rates, according to a study presented at the American College of Cardiology's NCDR Annual Conference (NCDR.18) in Orlando. The technology-based program also provides resources to staff and patients about the significance and impact of cardiac rehab.
	New molecular target could help ease asthma Researchers at UC Davis Health and Albany Medical College have shown that the protein vascular endothelial growth factor A—or VEGFA—plays a major role in the inflammation and airway obstruction associated with asthma.
	Depression, anxiety high in graduate students, survey shows Graduate students are more than six times as likely to experience depression and anxiety as compared to the general population, according to a comprehensive survey of 2,279 individuals conducted via social media and direct email. The research team including Teresa Evans, Ph.D., and Lindsay Bira, Ph.D., of UT Health San Antonio describe their results in the March issue of the journal Nature Biotechnology.
	Researchers identify new drugs that could help prevent hearing loss Researchers from St. Jude Children's Research Hospital have discovered that inhibiting an enzyme called cyclin-dependent kinase 2 (CDK2) protects mice and rats from noise- or drug-induced hearing loss. The study, which will be published March 7 in the Journal of Experimental Medicine, suggests that CDK2 inhibitors prevent the death of inner ear cells, which has the potential to save the hearing of millions of people around the world.
	The brain's internal clock continually takes its temperature Circuits in the brain act as an internal clock to tell us it is time to sleep and to control how long we then stay asleep. A new study in flies suggests a part of that clock constantly monitors changes in external temperature and integrates that information into the neural network controlling sleep. The study was published in Nature and was supported by the National Institute of Neurological Disorders and Stroke (NINDS), a part of the National Institutes of Health.
Study draws links between physical characteristics, like age and body mass index, and brain health March 7, 2018)—Mount Sinai researchers have shown, for the first time, the complex web of links between physical and behavioral characteristics, like age, body mass index (BMI), and substance use, and specific patterns of brain structure and function in patients with psychosis. The study is important because many of these characteristics can be targeted clinically to improve brain health in these patients.
Breast cancer screening guidelines may lead to delayed diagnosis in nonwhite women The current guidelines for mammographic breast cancer screening, which are based on data from primarily white populations, may lead to delayed diagnosis in nonwhite women, according to a report published in JAMA Surgery. A team of Massachusetts General Hospital (MGH) investigators report that their analysis of racial differences in patients' age and tumor stage at the time of diagnosis support the development of guidelines calling for earlier initial screening of some nonwhite women.
	Urologists address unmet global burden of surgical disease in India Aseem R. Shukla, MD, a pediatric urologist at Children's Hospital of Philadelphia (CHOP), along with several of his colleagues from around the world, have created an innovative program to help address urological needs in India. The team is specifically addressing bladder exstrophy (BE), a complex, rare disorder that occurs during fetal development when the bladder does not form completely and drains onto the surface of the abdomen. If untreated, the disease raises the risk of serious infections and cancer, along with psychosocial complications.
	Renowned cardiologist says new blood pressure guidelines not good for all One of the nation's leading cardiologists is challenging the new hypertension guidelines, perhaps sparing up to 10 million people from unnecessarily aggressive blood pressure treatments.
Many clinical trial status discrepancies identified between ClinicalTrials.gov and EUCTR Approximately one sixth of clinical trials registered on both ClinicalTrials.gov and the EU Clinical Trials Register (EUCTR) have discrepancies in their completion status, according to a study published March 7, 2018 in the open-access journal PLOS ONE by Jessica Fleminger and Ben Goldacre from the University of Oxford, UK.
	We are not addicted to smartphones, we are addicted to social interaction A new study of dysfunctional use of smart technology finds that the most addictive smartphone functions all share a common theme: they tap into the human desire to connect with other people. The findings, published in Frontiers in Psychology, suggest that smartphone addiction could be hyper-social, not anti-social.
Treating hypothyroidism to stop a stubborn surgical complication Researchers at the University of Michigan have discovered a link between low thyroid hormone levels and wound healing complications.
	When sepsis patients face brain impairment, is gut bacteria to blame? Surviving a critical illness is no small feat, but it's only half the battle for many patients. Serious complications can still result after an illness appears to have cleared.
Bundled payments for hip/knee surgeries appears to work better for higher-volume hospitals Medicare's experimental mandatory bundled payment model for knee and hip replacements is more likely to yield cost savings when the surgeries are performed in larger hospitals that do more of these procedures, according to a study from the Perelman School of Medicine at the University of Pennsylvania. Non-profit and major teaching hospital status also appear to be associated with cost savings, the Penn Medicine analysis found.
	Non-smokers with oral precancerous lesions at increased risk of cancer Precancerous lesions in the mouths of non-smokers are more likely to progress to cancer than those in smokers, new research from the University of British Columbia has found.
	Half of Scots 'not confident' in giving CPR, study finds Half of the Scottish adult population do not feel confident administering CPR - and more than a fifth do not know when it is required, according to a new study led by the University of Stirling.
New prostate cancer risk model could better guide treatment One of the biggest challenges in treating prostate cancer is distinguishing men who have aggressive and potentially lethal disease from men whose cancer is slow-growing and unlikely to metastasize.
	What influences older adults' preferences for care? We all know that family and friends are important, and that the people close to us have a big impact on our health. Now, a team of researchers has found that family support is also important when older people with advanced illnesses think about how the type of care they would prefer as they age.
	New research discovers genetic defect linked to African Americans with heart failure Heart failure is more common, develops earlier and results in higher rates of illness and death in African Americans than in whites.
EU medicines agency suspends Zinbryta The London-based European Medicines Agency announced Wednesday that multiple sclerosis drug Zinbryta has been suspended immediately and recalled due to reports that it sparked brain inflammation.
	Keep a spring in your step with Sunday's time change (HealthDay)—Come Sunday morning, the clocks will jump ahead one hour, but experts say there are ways to take the sting out of that lost hour of sleep.
	Make losing weight a family affair (HealthDay)—Is your family struggling with overweight or obesity?
First screening tests approved for tickborne parasite (HealthDay)—The first set of blood screening tests for the tickborne parasite Babesia microti have been approved by the U.S. Food and Drug Administration.
	Repeated ranibizumab doesn't impair macular perfusion (HealthDay)—For patients with diabetic macular edema, repeated ranibizumab treatment does not appear to be associated with impaired macular perfusion, according to a study published online March 1 in JAMA Ophthalmology.
	Few U.S. adults meet most T2DM risk reduction goals (HealthDay)—A small proportion of U.S. adults engage in lifestyle behaviors known to reduce the risk of type 2 diabetes, according to a study published in the March issue of Diabetes Care.
	FDA approves mechanical heart valve for newborns (HealthDay)—The U.S. Food and Drug Administration has approved the world's smallest mechanical heart valve, designed to be used in newborns and other young infants with heart defects.
	Aspirin therapy appears safe before thyroid surgery (HealthDay)—Continuing aspirin therapy before thyroid surgery does not appear to increase the risk of intraoperative bleeding, according to a study published online March 1 in JAMA Otolaryngology-Head & Neck Surgery.
Study suggests why food assistance for homeless young adults is inadequate Though young homeless adults make use of available food programs, these support structures still often fail to provide reliable and consistent access to nutritious food, according to the results of a new study by a University at Buffalo social work researcher. The findings, which fill an important gap in the research literature, can help refine policies and programs to better serve people experiencing homelessness, particularly those between the ages of 18-24.
	Antiviral drug not beneficial for reducing mother-to-child transmission of hep B when added to existing preventatives Tenofovir disoproxil fumarate (TDF), an antiviral drug commonly prescribed to treat hepatitis B infection, does not significantly reduce mother-to-child transmission of hepatitis B virus when taken during pregnancy and after delivery, according to a phase III clinical trial in Thailand funded by the National Institutes of Health. The study tested TDF therapy in addition to the standard preventative regimen—administration of hepatitis B vaccine and protective antibodies at birth—to explore the drug's potential effects on mother-to-child transmission rates. The results appear in the New England Journal of Medicine.
	Higher Vitamin D levels may be linked to lower risk of cancer High levels of vitamin D may be linked to a lower risk of developing cancer, including liver cancer, concludes a large study of Japanese adults published by The BMJ today.
Living in a sunnier climate as a child and young adult may reduce risk of multiple sclerosis People who live in areas where they are exposed to more of the sun's rays, specifically UV-B rays, may be less likely to develop multiple sclerosis (MS) later in life, according to a study published in the March 7, 2018, online issue of Neurology, the medical journal of the American Academy of Neurology. Exposure in childhood and young adulthood may also reduce risk.
Team finds link between BRCA1 and Ewing sarcoma Scientists with the Greehey Children's Cancer Research Institute at UT Health San Antonio have discovered a surprising connection between a breast cancer protein, BRCA1, and a pediatric cancer called Ewing sarcoma.
	Alone at health clinic, Australian treats self for heart attack Alone at a health clinic in a small, remote seaside settlement in Australia, a 44-year-old nurse sensed he was having a heart attack and sprang into action, saving his own life, a report said Wednesday.
Warm showers and ball exercises may help women during childbirth A new International Journal of Nursing Practice study demonstrates that during childbirth, women may benefit from warm showers, perineal exercises with a ball, or the combination of both strategies. The study found positive effects of these strategies in terms of lessening pain, anxiety, and stress.
Causes of death in rheumatoid arthritis patients Mortality rates were increased for patients with rheumatoid arthritis relative to the general population across all causes of death in a recent Arthritis Care & Research analysis.
Examining preferences for centralizing cancer surgery services Centralization of cancer surgery services aims to reduce variations in quality of care and improve health outcomes for patients, but it can also increase travel demands on patients and families. In a recent BJS (British Journal of Surgery) study of patients, health professionals, and members of the public, individuals were willing to travel longer to have better care and outcomes: on average, 75 minutes longer to reduce their risk of complications by 1 per cent, and over 5 hours longer to reduce the risk of death by 1 per cent. Findings were similar across groups in the study.
Weight loss surgery linked to an increased risk of inflammatory bowel disease A new Alimentary Pharmacology & Therapeutics analysis has found a link between the development of inflammatory bowel disease (IBD) and a past history of weight loss surgery.
Why people experience seasonal skin changes A new British Journal of Dermatology study provides information that may help explain why many people experience eczema and dry skin in the winter.
	Icelandic program seeks to eliminate HCV A new Journal of Internal Medicine study describes an innovative program to eliminate hepatitis C virus (HCV) as a public health threat in Iceland.
	Older adult falls lead to substantial medical costs In 2015, the estimated medical costs attributable to both fatal and nonfatal falls in older US adults was approximately $50 billion. The findings come from a recent analysis published in the Journal of the American Geriatrics Society.
Study points to potential misuse/abuse of ADHD drugs A new British Journal of Clinical Pharmacology study indicates that methylphenidate, a central nervous system stimulant approved to treat attention deficit hyperactivity disorder (ADHD) and narcolepsy, may be subject to misuse and/or abuse.
Research reveals risk factors for urgency urinary incontinence In a large representative British population of individuals in their late 60s, the prevalence of urinary incontinence was 15% in men and 54% in women. In the BJU International analysis, urgency urinary incontinence (UUI) was the most common subtype in men, while there were similar proportions of UUI and stress urinary incontinence in women.
Dying vets cannot use life-ending drugs at many state homes Suffering from heart problems, Bob Sloan told his children he wants to use California's new law allowing life-ending drugs for the terminally ill when his disease becomes too advanced to bear.
	A safer way to handle surgical scalpel blades When tasked with redesigning a medical device, four biomedical engineering majors focused their attention on scalpels. Specifically, the blade packaging for the tool.
	Study reveals the lonely facts behind suicide in Australian nursing homes A world first study of suicide amongst Australian nursing home residents has found that 141 people killed themselves while in care over a 13 year period. The study found that the 12 month period surrounding entering the home is a high risk period for suicide.
Experts issue recommendations to manage unwanted hair growth in women All women who have unwanted dark, course hair growing on the face, chest or back should undergo testing for polycystic ovary syndrome (PCOS) and other underlying health problems, Endocrine Society experts concluded in an updated Clinical Practice Guideline released today.
Mental health treatment for victims of human trafficking Cognitive therapies should be considered when addressing the harmful psychological consequences of trauma in victims of human trafficking, according to a review and recommendations in the Journal of Psychiatric Practice.
Brazil yellow fever outbreak largest in decades; 846 cases Brazil's yellow fever outbreak has now infected more people than the previous one, which had been the largest in decades.

Biology news

	Self-domesticating mice show changes similar to intentionally domesticated animals A large team of researchers working over a period of 15 years in Switzerland has found that self-domesticating mice tend to evolve in ways similar to some animals that are intentionally domesticated by humans. In their paper published in the journal Royal Society Open Science, the group describes their project and their findings.
	Gyroscopic spin with petunia seeds helps them fly farther A team of researchers from Pomona College and the Rancho Santa Ana Botanic Garden has figured out how a wild petunia plant is able to fling its seeds so far. In their paper published in the Journal of the Royal Society Interface, the team outlines their study of the plant and its seeds and what they found.
	Study suggests native UK Pine martens are helping to control invasive gray squirrels For many years, populations of a little red squirrel with cute ear tufts, a native of Great Britain, Ireland and Europe, have been in serious decline because of competition for food from an invasive North American gray squirrel and a pox it carries for which the native animal has no defense. Now, new research suggests that native pine martens, also once on the decline, are suppressing the invading squirrels' numbers.
	Chimpanzees help researchers improve machine learning of animal simulations Researchers at The University of Manchester are using computer simulations of chimpanzees to improve not only our understanding of how the animals walk, but also the technology we use to do it.
	Staying clean keeps seafish smart A team of international researchers led by a Canadian biologist has found that infection with parasites makes it harder for seafish living in coral reefs to think.
	Termites sacrifice their elderly in ant wars: study When termites go to war, the oldest soldiers fight on the front lines, being closer to death anyway, a study revealed on Wednesday.
	Research provides framework for understanding how populations handle random disturbances Research at Oregon State University has provided a mathematical framework for understanding how population-reducing events of varying frequency and intensity, like fires, floods, storms and droughts, can affect a species' longtime survival ability.
	Animals shield their families from a harsh world Animals living in volatile habitats can gain major evolutionary benefits by shielding their families from the changing environment, new research suggests.
	Wildlife conservation in North America may not be science-based after all A study led by recent SFU PhD alumnus Kyle Artelle has unveiled new findings that challenge the widespread assumption that wildlife management in North America is science-based. He conducted the study with SFU researchers John Reynolds and Jessica Walsh, as well as researchers from other institutions.
	When it comes to fuel efficiency, size matters for hummingbirds A new U of T Scarborough study has found that when it comes to fuel efficiency, bigger is better for hummingbirds.
	Our circadian clock sets the rhythm for our cells' powerhouses Countless genetically controlled clocks keep time in different body parts, such as the liver, kidneys and heart. Among other things, they initiate metabolic processes, ensuring that these occur at the optimal time of day. Mitochondria, cellular organelles that produce energy, play an important role in these processes. Until now, it was unclear how exactly the 24-hour circadian rhythm regulated energy metabolism.
	Social status influences infection risk and disease-induced mortality Spotted hyena cubs of high-ranking mothers have a lower probability of infection with and are more likely to die from canine distemper virus (CDV) than cubs of low-ranking mothers. In subadults and adults, the picture is reversed—high-ranking females exhibit a higher infection probability than low-ranking females whereas mortality was similar for both groups. These are the surprising results of a long-term study conducted by scientists at the German Leibniz Institute for Zoo and Wildlife Research (IZW), who investigated how social status and age influence the risk of infection with CDV and its consequences for survival. They have just been published in the scientific journal Functional Ecology.
	Explaining rare plant species Rare plant species suffer more from disease than common species. The fact that rare species are more susceptible to attack by micro-organisms living in the soil, such as fungi and bacteria, may in fact be one of the reasons they are rare. Biologists have been trying to work out why some species are rare, while others are common, since Darwin's time and a new study from researchers at the University of Bern provides a possible answer.
	Keeping ocean currents from carrying disease to farmed salmon Currents in the ocean and fjords spread viruses that are killing large numbers of farmed salmon. Where should fish farms be built? And should they all be in use at the same time? Norwegian researchers are using computer modelling to figure out how best to site farms to protect fish and the coastline.
	Unique gene expression patterns underlying ant slavemaker raiding and host defensive phenotypes Certain ants attack and enslave other species, and integrate their offspring into their own colonies in order to survive. Researchers at the Senckenberg Nature Research Society and the Johannes-Gutenberg University Mainz have recently discovered that the raids required to achieve this are controlled by different genes in each of several closely related ant species of the genus Temnothorax. This indicates that the evolution of closely related species through changes in the genetic material is a random process in which several paths may lead to the same outcome. Moreover, the researchers were able to identify two specific attack genes in slavemaker ants. The study was recently published in Scientific Reports.
	On the immortality of stem cells Stem cells are considered to be immortal in culture and, therefore, of great interest for aging research. This immortality is regulated by increased proteostasis, which controls the quality of proteins. A team of researchers led by David Vilchez of the Cluster of Excellence CECAD at the University of Cologne found a link between increased proteostasis and immortality of human embryonic stem cells. Their results are published in the online research journal Scientific Reports.
	Estimates overstated for Mongolian rangelands damaged by livestock Livestock and wildlife graze on rangelands, grasslands, savannas and marshes that cover 45 percent of Earth's land surface. Damage or degradation on these lands is a major concern globally, and the subject of widespread scientific study in countries including Mongolia.
	Young Southern white rhinos may produce four distinct, context-dependent calls Young Southern white rhinos may produce four distinct calls in differing behavioral contexts, according to a study published March 7, 2018 in the open-access journal PLOS ONE by Sabrina Linn and Marina Scheumann from the University of Veterinary Medicine Hannover and Serengeti-Park Hodenhagen, Germany, and colleagues.
	Adult chimpanzees play more than adult lowland gorillas in captivity Play is more frequent in captive adult chimpanzees than in captive adult lowland gorillas, according to a study published March 7, 2018 in the open-access journal PLOS ONE by Giada Cordoni and Elisabetta Palagi from Univerity of Pisa in collaboration with Ivan Norscia from University of Turin.
	Two new species of stone centipedes found hiding in larch forests in China Scientists described two species of previously unknown stone centipedes from China. Now housed at the Hengshui University, China, where all members of the team work, the studied specimens were all collected in the leaf litter or under rocks in larch forests.
Tropical birds live longer than temperate counterparts An international research team has found strong evidence that passerine birds near the equator live longer than their higher latitude counterparts.
Instability of wildlife trade does not encourage trappers to conserve natural habitats Much of the global wildlife trade originates in nations with rich biodiversity and high levels of poverty as the act of trapping and trading local wildlife allows people to generate extra income.
Aurora, a beloved polar bear, dies at upstate New York zoo A beloved polar bear has died at the Seneca Park Zoo in Rochester, New York.

---

This email is a free service of Science X Network
You received this email because you subscribed to our list.
If you do not wish to receive such emails in the future, please unsubscribe here.
You are subscribed as jmabs1@gmail.com. You may manage your subscription options from your Science X profile