Science X Newsletter Tuesday, Apr 24

Dear Reader ,

Here is your customized Science X Newsletter for April 24, 2018:

Spotlight Stories Headlines

Electrogates offer stop-and-go control in microfluidics

Cheap 3-D printer can produce self-folding materials

Graphene origami as a mechanically tunable plasmonic structure for infrared detection

Drinking affects mouth bacteria linked to diseases

Glowing contact lens could prevent a leading cause of blindness

Imagining a positive outcome biases subsequent memories

Winter wave heights and extreme storms on the rise in Western Europe

Researchers discover how young children seem to run around all day without getting tired

New technique drawing on echo state networks fills in the gaps to simulate how arrhythmic electrical signals go chaotic

Gender inequality is 'drowning out' the voices of women scientists

Gallium oxide shows high electron mobility, making it promising for better and cheaper devices

The 'missing link' in conducting molecules, butadiene—solved

Targeting molecules called miR-200s and ADAR2 could prevent tumor metastasis in patients with colorectal cancer

Changes in breast tissue increase cancer risk for older women

Engineered Chinese shrub produces high levels of antimalarial compound

Astronomy & Space news

	Researchers describe one of the darkest planets ever found (Update) A team of researchers with Keele University in the U.K. has described one of the darkest planets ever observed. In their paper uploaded to the arXiv preprint server, the team describes the planet and where it appears to stand among other dark planets.
	Milky Way's supermassive black hole may have 'unseen' siblings Astronomers are beginning to understand what happens when black holes get the urge to roam the Milky Way.
	Uncovering the secret law of the evolution of galaxy clusters As science enthusiasts around the world bid farewell to legendary cosmologist Stephen Hawking, researchers continue to make important discoveries about the evolution of galaxy clusters that capture the imagination.
	Space smash—simulating when satellites collide Satellites orbiting Earth are moving at many kilometres per second – so what happens when their paths cross? Satellite collisions are rare, and their consequences poorly understood, so a new project seeks to simulate them, for better forecasting of future space debris.
	NASA teams study the agency's future in astrophysics; tackle formidable technology challenges What does NASA's future look like? Will the next-generation telescope investigate the first black holes in the distant universe or will it look for life on an Earth-like planet light-years away? As in past decades, the agency won't make that decision in a vacuum or without understanding the technical obstacles, which are formidable.
New mechanism of radio emission in neutron stars released Young scientists from ITMO University have explained how neutron stars generate intense directed radio emission. They developed a model based on the transitions of particles between gravitational states, i.e. quantum states in a gravitational field. The researchers were the first to describe such states for electrons on the surface of neutron stars. Physical parameters obtained with the developed model are consistent with real experimental observations. The results are published in The Astrophysical Journal.
Video: To Europe's spaceport Meet our new space explorers, the spacecraft of the BepiColombo mission, as they begin their adventure to planet Mercury. But first, they have to navigate through Amsterdam Schiphol airport to reach Europe's Spaceport in Kourou, French Guiana.
	ESA teams ready for space Tomorrow's launch of Sentinel-3B will complete the Sentinel-3 constellation and represents the culmination of months of training to fly Europe's latest Copernicus satellite.

Technology news

	Cheap 3-D printer can produce self-folding materials Researchers at Carnegie Mellon University have used an inexpensive 3-D printer to produce flat plastic items that, when heated, fold themselves into predetermined shapes, such as a rose, a boat or even a bunny.
	Glowing contact lens could prevent a leading cause of blindness Hundreds of millions of people suffer from diabetes worldwide, putting them at risk for a creeping blindness, or diabetic retinopathy, that comes with the disease in its more advanced stages. Existing treatments, though effective, are painful and invasive, involving lasers and injections into the eyeball. Caltech graduate student Colin Cook (MS '16) thinks there's a better way.
	Researchers explore working up cartoons using text descriptions What if you were told you can create cartoons by just working off text descriptions?
	Study suggests electric cars not a danger to people with pacemakers An international team of researchers has conducted tests to determine if electromagnetic waves from electric vehicles or charging stations might cause problems for people who have cardiac implantable electronic devices (CIEDs). In their paper published in Annals of Internal Medicine, the group describes their study and results.
	Get Into My Car ... Amazon begins delivery to vehicles Amazon's latest perk ... free delivery to your car.
	Future wearable device could tell how we power human movement For athletes and weekend warriors alike, returning from a tendon injury too soon often ensures a trip right back to physical therapy. However, a new technology developed by University of Wisconsin-Madison engineers could one day help tell whether your tendons are ready for action.
	Electrode shape improves neurostimulation for small targets A cross-like shape helps the electrodes of implantable neurostimulation devices to deliver more charge to specific areas of the nervous system, possibly prolonging device life span, says research published in March in Scientific Reports.
By 2040, artificial intelligence could upend nuclear stability A new RAND Corporation paper finds that artificial intelligence has the potential to upend the foundations of nuclear deterrence by the year 2040.
	Power-sucking Bitcoin 'mines' spark backlash Bitcoin "miners" who use rows of computers whirring at the same time to produce virtual currencies began taking root along New York's northern border a couple of years ago to tap into some of the nation's cheapest hydroelectric power, offering an air of Silicon Valley sophistication to this often-snowy region.
	China's 'makers' battle mistrust in hi-tech community Engineers, computer programmers and children tinker with self-made radio-controlled toy cars and robotic arms in China's southern city of Shenzhen, home to "makers" who belie the country's reputation as a hub for technology copycats.
	Software better at tackling IS propaganda, Facebook says Facebook on Monday said new detection tools wielded by its counterterrorism team are quickly detecting and removing extremist propaganda for the Islamic State group and al-Qaeda.
	SK Hynix posts big jump in Q1 net profit South Korea's SK Hynix, the world's second-largest memory chip maker, on Tuesday announced a big jump in first-quarter net profit thanks to strong global demand.
	Scientist at centre of Facebook data scandal faces MPs The Russian-American academic who developed an app that allowed political consulting firm Cambridge Analytica to farm the data of 87 million Facebook users faces questions Tuesday by British lawmakers.
	PSA Peugeot Citroen rides to higher sales, backed by Opel Vauxhall French carmarker PSA Peugeot Citroen said Tuesday its acquisition of the Opel and Vauxhall brands last year helped drive sales up more than 42 percent in the first quarter.
	Machine speak: Left to their own devices, computers can figure it out Using novel machine learning techniques, a research team from the Department of Energy's Oak Ridge National Laboratory is teaching electronic devices how to speak for themselves.
	Engineer invents one-of-a-kind surf rover machine For his first job during college, William Dally worked in what he calls the surf zone—the area from the shoreline up to an ocean depth of 25 feet—placing rods to gather scientific data. Battered by the waves, the then 20-year-old civil engineering major thought there must be a better way.
	Designing urban energy systems based on the urban climate As cities grow at an ever-faster pace, concerns about global warming rise and fossil fuels become increasingly scarce, cities will have to adopt more sustainable energy solutions. EPFL researchers have developed a model that can be used to design urban energy systems by analyzing the building not as a standalone structure but as one piece in an urban puzzle.
	Going with the hypersonic flow "Unless you're trying to get to space or blow something up, there's nothing moving at hypersonic speeds," said Alan Kastengren.
	AI used by humanitarian organisations could deepen neocolonial tendencies Artificial intelligence, or AI, is undergoing a period of massive expansion. This is not because computers have achieved human-like consciousness, but because of advances in machine learning, where computers learn from huge databases how to classify new data. At the cutting edge are the neural networks that have learned to recognise human faces or play Go.
	Will electric vehicles take over the world? As more people and goods move around the planet, our cars, planes, trains, and ships are having a growing impact on the climate. Transportation now generates almost a quarter of the world's greenhouse gas emissions, and in 2016, transportation (including ships, aircraft and railroads) in the U.S. produced more carbon dioxide emissions than any other sector. Shifting from vehicles that burn fossil fuels to those that run on electricity will play a key role in curtailing climate change—in order for countries to meet the carbon-cutting targets they set for the Paris Climate Agreement, 100 million electric vehicles (EVs) must be on the road by 2030. However, in 2015, there were only 1.26 million.
	New invention revolutionizes exoskeletons Aalborg researchers have developed a new type of mechanical joint that can support shoulders and hips smarter than ever before. The joint which is compact enough to be worn hidden under clothing, has already won international honors and will likely be the standard in future wearable exoskeletons
	Poll: Privacy debacle prompts social-media changes If you've made changes to how you use social media since Facebook's Cambridge Analytica privacy debacle, you're not alone.
	Facebook unveils appeal process for when it removes posts Facebook said Tuesday it will give users the right to appeal decisions if the social network decides to remove photos, videos or written posts deemed to violate community standards.
	2.7 billion tweets confirm echo chambers in Twitter are very real A recent study of more than 2.7 billion tweets between 2009 and 2016 confirms that Twitter users are exposed mainly to political opinions that agree with their own. It is the largest study to characterise echo chambers by both the content in them and the networks they comprise. The findings indicate a strong correlation between biases in the content people both produce and consume. In other words, echo chambers are very real on Twitter.
	Self-driving cars and humans face inevitable collisions In 1938, when there were just about one-tenth the number of cars on U.S. roadways as there are today, a brilliant psychologist and a pragmatic engineer joined forces to write one of the most influential works ever published on driving. A self-driving car's killing of a pedestrian in Arizona highlights how their work is still relevant today – especially regarding the safety of automated and autonomous vehicles.
	Driverless cars are forcing cities to become smart Autonomous vehicles are coming and they have the potential to radically better our lives. But to reap the rewards of this new technology, we first have to adapt the world to its requirements. This means preparing the way for massive engineering projects that will introduce the latest generation of mobile networks into our cities. As future autonomous vehicles become safer and more efficient, they will rely on high-bandwidth mobile networks to wirelessly share and receive data from each other.
	Ride-sharing platforms may be taking the place of managers in the gig economy Ratings, ride assignments and other aspects of Uber's ride-sharing computer platform in some ways subtly serve as the manager for the company's drivers, according to an international team of researchers.
	User control and transparency are key to trusting personalized mobile apps As concerns about privacy increase for people using mobile apps, users' trust and engagement may hinge on perceptions about how the app uses their data and whether it seeks user input before delivering personalized services, according to researchers. However, their reactions may also depend on how familiar a user is with technology, they added.
	Apple, Ireland strike deal on 13-billion-euro tax payment (Update) Ireland's government on Tuesday said it was signing a deal with Apple for the US tech giant to pay 13 billion euros ($16 billion) in back taxes as ordered by the European Commission.
	Poll: For many online Americans, Facebook is a habit Social media is a daily way of life for many Americans.
	Volkswagen makes 15-bn-euro bet on electric cars in China Car giant Volkswagen announced Tuesday investments of 15 billion euros ($18 billion) in electric and autonomous vehicles in China by 2022, in a massive bet on the vital market.
Audi recalls about 1.2M vehicles; coolant pumps can overheat Audi is recalling about 1.2 million cars and SUVs worldwide because the electric coolant pumps can overheat and possibly cause a fire.
	Takeda lifts Shire takeover bid again (Update) Irish-based pharmaceuticals firm and takeover target Shire said Tuesday that Japanese drugs firm Takeda has lifted its informal bid again.
	Facebook rules at a glance: What's banned, exactly? Facebook has revealed for the first time just what, exactly, is banned on its service in a new Community Standards document released on Tuesday. It's an updated version of the internal rules the company has used to determine what's allowed and what isn't, down to granular details such as what, exactly, counts as a "credible threat" of violence. The previous public-facing version gave a broad-strokes outline of the rules, but the specifics were shrouded in secrecy for most of Facebook's 2.2 billion users.
	Supreme Court upholds challenged patent review practice The Supreme Court has upheld a challenged practice that is used to invalidate patents without the involvement of federal courts.
	Cambridge Analytica fights back on data scandal Cambridge Analytica unleashed its counterattack against claims that it misused data from millions of Facebook accounts, saying Tuesday it is the victim of misunderstandings and inaccurate reporting that portrays the company as the evil villain in a James Bond movie.
	US senators introduce social media privacy bill Two US senators, one Democrat and one Republican, introduced legislation Tuesday aimed at better protecting online privacy in response to the Facebook data scandal.
Scientist in Facebook data scandal says being scapegoated The academic behind the app that allowed consulting firm Cambridge Analytica to farm the data of some 87 million Facebook users said Tuesday he was being scapegoated while the social network was being "mined left and right by thousands" of companies.
	Spotify ramps up free service in bid for expansion Spotify on Tuesday announced a major expansion of its free service, hoping that a more option-rich platform will boost its ambitions to make music streaming even bigger worldwide.
	3-D printed food could change how we eat Imagine a home appliance that, at the push of a button, turns powdered ingredients into food that meets the individual nutrition requirements of each household member. Although it may seem like something from science fiction, new research aimed at using 3-D printing to create customized food could one day make this a reality.
	Engineers create social media infrastructure for emergency management Purdue researchers have developed an online platform that enables first responders to monitor emergency situations using tweets and Instagram posts.
Doctors may soon be able to see a brain tumor burned away in real time Some 80,000 Americans will be diagnosed with a brain tumor this year according to the American Brain Tumor Association. Many of them will need major surgery and chemotherapy. Sixteen thousand of them will lose the battle. But a team of USC Viterbi School of Engineering researchers are now making it easier, faster and safer for doctors to use an emerging procedure - one that involves burning away tumors in more patients, including those with brain tumors.
	Cambridge Analytica says it is 'no Bond villain' Cambridge Analytica claimed Tuesday it was "no Bond villain" as it vehemently denied exploiting Facebook users' data for the election campaign of US President Donald Trump.
	SAP more ambitious after soaring Q1 profits German business software maker SAP lifted its full-year forecasts Tuesday, as it hailed a lift-off in profits in the first quarter and saw new opportunities after buying a US software firm.
	Britain's mass surveillance regime is directly opposing human rights In light of the Facebook data scandal more people are beginning to challenge the web's pervasive surveillance culture. But few British citizens seem to be aware of the government's own online surveillance regime – significant parts of which have been deemed unlawful.
	AkzoNobel splashes out as Q1 profits paint rosy picture Leading global paintmaker AkzoNobel Tuesday posted rising first quarter profits and after a turbulent year in 2017 hailed its transformation into a focused paints company.
	Caterpillar lifts outlook on strong demand; shares soar Industrial machinery manufacturer Caterpillar reported a large jump in first-quarter earnings and significantly upgraded its full-year forecast Tuesday, citing strong demand across the construction, mining and energy sectors.
	Music business grows at record pace as digital dominates The global music industry soared a record 8.1 percent last year as digital sales for the first time made up the majority of revenue thanks to the streaming boom, the industry said Tuesday.
	Diet Coke grows for first time in 8 years after makeover Diet Coke's makeover, which put the sugar-free drink in skinny colorful cans, helped the low-calorie brand sell more soda in North America for the first time in nearly eight years.
	US renewables firm takes Poland to court over U-turn on windmills A US renewable energy group Invenergy said on Tuesday it had begun international arbitration against Poland, claiming it stands to lose hundreds of millions of dollars (euros) after the EU country reneged on its commitments to build wind farms.
Committee hits pause on solar project over visual concerns A regional planning committee has refused to sign off on a proposed solar project in Rutland amid concerns over its visual impact on a neighboring home.
	Ex-Yahoo paying $35M to settle SEC charges over 2014 hack (Update) The company formerly known as Yahoo is paying a $35 million fine to resolve federal regulators' charges that the online pioneer deceived investors by failing to disclose one of the biggest data breaches in internet history.

Medicine & Health news

	Drinking affects mouth bacteria linked to diseases When compared with nondrinkers, men and women who had one or more alcoholic drinks per day had an overabundance of oral bacteria linked to gum disease, some cancers, and heart disease. By contrast, drinkers had fewer bacteria known to check the growth of other, harmful germs. These are the main findings of a study published in the journal Microbiome online April 23 and led by NYU School of Medicine researchers.
	Imagining a positive outcome biases subsequent memories Imagining that a future event will go well may lead you to remember it more positively after it's over, according to findings from research published in Psychological Science, a journal of the Association for Psychological Science.
	Researchers discover how young children seem to run around all day without getting tired Children not only have fatigue-resistant muscles, but recover very quickly from high-intensity exercise—even faster than well-trained adult endurance athletes. This is the finding of new research published in open-access journal Frontiers in Physiology, which compared the energy output and post-exercise recovery rates of young boys, untrained adults and endurance athletes. The research could help develop athletic potential in children as well as improve our understanding of how our bodies change from childhood to adulthood—including how these processes contribute to the risk of diseases such as diabetes.
	Targeting molecules called miR-200s and ADAR2 could prevent tumor metastasis in patients with colorectal cancer Colorectal cancer is the third most common cancer worldwide and the third-leading cause of cancer-related deaths. The main cause of death in patients with colorectal cancer is liver metastasis, with nearly 70% of patients eventually developing a liver tumor. Recent research has revealed low levels of a tumor suppressor called protein kinase C zeta (PKC zeta) in human colorectal cancer cells and distant metastasis, but it has not been clear how thiscontributes to the spread of tumors and poor prognosis in patients.
	Changes in breast tissue increase cancer risk for older women Researchers in Norway, Switzerland, and the United States have identified age-related differences in breast tissue that contribute to older women's increased risk of developing breast cancer. The findings, published April 24 in the journal Cell Reports, may help scientists better understand how breast cells change during the aging process, enabling doctors to catch the signs of cancer earlier.
	Research explains link between exercise and appetite loss Ever wonder why intense exercise temporarily curbs your appetite? In research described in today's issue of PLOS Biology, Albert Einstein College of Medicine researchers reveal that the answer is all in your head—more specifically, your arcuate nucleus.
	Research shows possible new target for immunotherapy for solid tumors Research from the University of Cincinnati (UC) reveals a potential new target to help T cells (white blood cells) infiltrate certain solid tumors.
	Scientists develop new method that uses light to manage neuropathic pain in mice For patients with neuropathic pain, a chronic condition affecting 7 to 8 percent of the European population, extreme pain and sensitivity are a daily reality. There is currently no effective treatment. Scientists from EMBL Rome have now identified a special population of nerve cells in the skin that are responsible for sensitivity to gentle touch. These are the cells that cause severe pain in patients with neuropathic pain. The research team, led by EMBL group leader Paul Heppenstall, developed a light-sensitive chemical that selectively binds to this type of nerve cell. By first injecting the affected skin area with the chemical and then illuminating it with near-infrared light, the targeted nerve cells retract from the skin's surface, leading to pain relief. Nature Communications publishes the results on 24 April 2018.
	Animal cyborg—behavioral control by activating 'toy craving' circuit Children love to get toys from parents as presents. This craving for objects also underlies object hoarding disorders and shopping addiction. However, the biological causes of object pursuit have remained unknown. Part of the answer may lie with a neural circuit in the hypothalamus associated with "object craving," according to neuroscientist Daesoo Kim from the Department of Biological Sciences at KAIST.
	Immune response might be stunting growth in millions of kids An overactive immune system during childhood among young people in Ecuador's indigenous Shuar population comes with a cost: stunted growth.
	Scientists unearth vital link between fat, immunity and heat regulation Scientists have just made a surprising discovery involving fat and special immune cells that live within it—it turns out that 'gd T cells' are the key cogs in the biological wheel that regulates our body heat and protects us against cold shock. The discovery thus reveals a peculiar and previously unknown aspect of the immune system - as well as driving our response to infection, it also plays a role in regulating our metabolism. In addition, this discovery has put the spotlight on a potential new target for therapies designed to help individuals either lose or gain weight.
	Brain activity linked to stress changes chemical codes Five years ago, a team of University of California San Diego neurobiologists published surprising findings describing how rats' brain cells adopted new chemical codes when subjected to significant changes in natural light exposure—much as humans suffer from "winter blues," the type of depression known as seasonal affective disorder. A new study implicates a role for light-induced electrical activity in controlling chemical codes.
	Mammary stem cells challenge costly bovine disease Mastitis is the most expensive disease in the dairy industry. Each clinical case can cost a dairy farmer more than $400 and damages both the cow's future output as well as her comfort.
	Vigorous physical activity may be linked to heightened risk of motor neurone disease Vigorous physical activity, either in leisure time or in work, may be linked to a heightened risk of developing motor neurone disease, also known as amyotrophic lateral sclerosis, or ALS for short, suggests research published online in the Journal of Neurology Neurosurgery & Psychiatry.
	Fetal exposure to moderate/high caffeine levels linked to excess childhood weight gain Exposure to moderate to high caffeine levels while in the womb is linked to excess weight gain in early childhood, suggests a large observational study published in the online journal BMJ Open.
	Radiotherapy offers new treatment option for liver cancer A novel technique that delivers high doses of radiation to tumors while sparing the surrounding normal tissue shows promise as a curative treatment option for patients with early-stage liver cancer, according to a study published online in the journal Radiology.
Six in seven women at high risk of breast cancer shun tamoxifen as a preventative measure Six in seven women with a family history of breast cancer opt out of taking tamoxifen as a preventative measure, according to a study funded by Cancer Research UK and published in Breast Cancer Research and Treatment today.
	Prolonged acetaminophen use during pregnancy linked to increased ASD and ADHD risk A study from the Hebrew University of Jerusalem sheds new light on the possible relationship between prolonged use of acetaminophen (paracetamol) during pregnancy and the risk of neurodevelopmental disorders in childhood.
	Sense of control and meaning helps protect women from anxiety People who feel in control of their lives and who find purpose and meaning in life are less likely to have anxiety disorders even when going through the toughest times, according to a study led by the University of Cambridge.
	Depressed, inactive and out of work—study reveals lives of lonely young adults New research from King's College London shows that lonely young adults are more likely to experience mental health problems and more likely to be out of work than their peers. The study, published today in Psychological Medicine, gives a detailed snapshot of the lives of lonely 18-year-olds and shows how loneliness goes hand-in-hand with a wide range of problems in health and wellbeing.
	Opioid treatment gap in Medicare: methadone clinics One in three older Americans with Medicare drug coverage is prescribed opioid painkillers, but for those who develop a dangerous addiction there is one treatment Medicare won't cover: methadone.
	Advanced sensor to unlock the secrets of the brain Researchers have announced the development of a state-of-the-art sensor that can for the first time detect signalling molecules, called cytokines, which operate in the living brain. Cytokines in the brain are secreted by glia cells that make up nearly 90% of all brain cells. Cytokines play a central role in controlling mood and cognition and may also contribute to a number of mental health disorders.
	Patients prefer doctors who engage in face-to-face visits (HealthDay)—Patients prefer physicians who engage in face-to-face (F2F) clinic visits, rather than those using an examination room computer (ERC), according to a research letter published online April 19 in JAMA Oncology.
	Extreme exercisers may have higher odds for ALS (HealthDay)—Fitness buffs who push themselves to the limit during workouts might slightly increase their risk of developing amyotrophic lateral sclerosis (ALS), a new study suggests.
	Factors ID'd to predict fatty liver in obese teens (HealthDay)—Ethnicity/race, markers of insulin resistance, and genetic factors might help identify obese youth at risk for developing fatty liver, according to a study published online April 17 in Hepatology.
Girls with type 2 diabetes have a high rate of irregular periods Girls diagnosed with type 2 diabetes have a high frequency of menstrual irregularities, according to a new study published in the Endocrine Society's Journal of Clinical Endocrinology & Metabolism.
	Early childhood interventions show mixed results on child development Early childhood interventions may have some efficacy in boosting measures of child health and development in low income countries, but more work is needed to sort out how to implement these interventions, according to a new set of studies published this week in PLOS Medicine.
Attacks on healthcare in Syria are likely undercounted: study Attacks on health facilities and health workers in Syria are likely more common than previously reported, and local data collectors can help researchers more accurately measure the extent and frequency of these attacks, according to a new study published this week in PLOS Medicine.
	Children of youngest and oldest mothers at increased risk of developmental vulnerabilities Children born to the youngest mothers have the highest risk of developmental vulnerabilities at age 5, largely due to social and economic disadvantage, according to research on almost 100,000 children published this week in PLOS Medicine by Kathleen Falster of the University of New South Wales, Sydney, Australia, and colleagues. While the risk of developmental vulnerabilities steadily declined with every additional year of a mother's age up to 30 years, there was a slight increase in risk for children born to mothers aged 35 years and older, similar to the risk in children born to mothers in their early twenties.
Promising cell study provides hope of effective treatment of Parkinson's disease For the first time, medical doctors and researchers could alleviate serious symptoms of Parkinson's disease, which causes shaking, muscle stiffness and slow movements in those affected. However, before these symptoms appear, and during the course of the disease, many patients experience sleep disorders, gastrointestinal problems, anxiety and depression. Unlike the symptoms in the motor system, there is no effective treatment for these more neglected symptoms.
	Researchers use spider venom compound to treat paralysis A team of Russian scientists together with foreign colleagues, reports that the venom of the crab spider Heriaeus melloteei may be used as a basis for a treatment against hypokalemic periodic paralysis. This disease is caused by genetic mutation that leads to the occurrence of the so-called ω-currents, or leakage currents, via voltage-gated ion channels Nav1.4 in skeletal muscles. As a result of such "leakages," the muscles are unable to respond to signals from the nervous system and a patient suffers symptoms ranging from muscle weakness to total paralysis. There is still no reliable medicinal drug to cure all cases of this disease. The results were published in Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences (PNAS) journal.
	Availability of orphan medicines varies between European countries There are differences in the availability of orphan medicines between different European countries, a new study from the University of Eastern Finland shows.
	New test could tell doctors whether patients will respond to chemotherapy Less than half the patients diagnosed with cancer respond favorably to chemotherapy, but a new method for testing how patients will respond to various drugs could pave the way for more personalized treatment.
Wiping out the gut microbiome could help with heart failure New research suggests wiping out the gut microbiota could improve heart functioning and potentially slow the cardiac damage that occurs with heart failure. The research is based on the idea that microbes living in the gastrointestinal tract affect heart failure by increasing the production of T cells, a type of immune cell. Researchers found mice with induced heart failure fared better if they were treated with antibiotics for five weeks, essentially sterilizing the gut.
	New method allows scientists to study how HIV persists After 35 years of rigorous research, there is still no cure for HIV. Current drugs can be used to halt the infection, but fall short of reaching hidden reserves of dormant virus that can lurk for life within infected white blood cells. If a person stops taking the medication, these viral landmines can be reactivated to make more HIV.
	Technology used to map Mars now measuring effect of treatment on tumours A machine learning approach for assessing images of the craters and dunes of Mars, which was developed at The University of Manchester, has now been adapted to help scientists measure the effects of treatments on tumours.
	Electric cars don't jolt implanted heart devices: study (HealthDay)—People who have implanted devices to keep their hearts running smoothly can safely drive an electric car if they wish to do so, new research confirms.
	Australian public hospitals cannot meet the rising demand for obesity care Despite our national waistline being touted as a major public health concern – new research, led by Western Sydney University, has found that public hospitals are not adequately resourced to treat the one million adults who currently live with clinically severe obesity in Australia.
Researchers conduct cost analysis of single-dose hepatitis B revaccination in infants A single dose revaccination strategy for infants of mothers infected with hepatitis B surface antigen (HBsAg) reduces costs compared to the typical three-dose strategy, according to a study from researchers at Emory University's Rollins School of Public Health. The single dose strategy is recommended for those not responding to the initial vaccine series.
	Scientists manipulate 'satellite cells' to speed healing Muscle aches and pains, whether from stretching, strenuous exercise or just normal wear and tear, can put a crimp in your day, a limp in your step and be an actual pain in the neck. But no matter the severity, stem cells in the skeletal muscles called satellite cells play a key role in repairing the damage.
No increased risk of recurrence in breast cancer after reconstruction with abdominal tissue After surgery for breast cancer women who have undergone breast reconstruction using abdominal tissue do not have a higher risk of recurrence than women who do not undergo breast reconstruction. This has been shown by researchers at Karolinska Institutet in a study published in the British Journal of Surgery.
	New book details the scientific evidence behind bringing mindfulness into the bedroom For women, the answer to the loss of sexual desire does not lie in prescription pills but in the practice of mindfulness, says Lori Brotto, a UBC psychologist and sex researcher.
	Toxin floats on lipid rafts Helicobacter pylori, the leading cause of peptic ulcer disease and stomach cancer. One factor important to H. pylori infection is the pore-forming toxin VacA. It is thought to gain entry into host cells by binding to specialized membrane domains called lipid rafts.
	Women at greater risk of stress-induced ischemia after heart attacks Women who've previously experienced a heart attack have twice the risk of later myocardial ischemia provoked by mental stress when compared to men with a similar history, according to a study published in Circulation.
	First potential biomarker for noise-induced hearing loss identified A new study presented at the 53rd American Neurotology Society Annual Spring Meeting reveals the first potential biomarker for noise-induced hearing loss. The findings of the collaborative research study were jointly presented by Sensorion and UConn Health.
	Targeting the mechanisms that allow leukaemia to thrive Two recent studies conducted at the Circular Dichroism beamline (B23) at Diamond Light Source have shed light on the way in which a subtype of leukaemia can proliferate in the body. The studies published in OncoImmunology and Nanoscale not only identified a number of key proteins that are involved in leukaemia progression, but showed that they could be used as docking points to deliver targeted therapy.
	Low iron, vitamin B12 reserves linked to behavior concerns in young boys Significant iron deficiency and low blood levels of vitamin B12 in boys around age 8 are associated with behavior problems when they get to middle school, according to new research from Bogotá, Colombia, led by the University of Michigan School of Public Health.
	Research reveals autism and schizophrenia share common traits New research at Swinburne has revealed a significant overlap in the traits associated with autism and schizophrenia.
	New monitoring method could help Maori cancer patients A simple blood test could provide a significant step to reducing health inequities for Māori cancer patients.
	'Genomic junk' of iron storage gene FTH1 critical for suppressing prostate cancer growth An abnormally high level of iron in the body is associated with prostate cancer, and researchers from the Cancer Science Institute of Singapore (CSI Singapore) at the National University of Singapore may have uncovered the mechanism to explain this link. They have found the role of the iron storage gene, FTH1, and its pseudogenes in regulating iron levels in cells and slowing down prostate cancer growth. The new findings could pave the way for future developments in prostate cancer diagnostics and therapeutics.
	New uses for existing antiviral drugs Existing and emerging viral diseases are an increasing problem, particularly in developing countries. The World Health Organization has called for better control of viral diseases, but developing drugs for this purpose can be challenging.
	We can change our brain and its ability to cope with disease with simple lifestyle choices Our life expectancy has increased dramatically over the past several decades, with advances in medical research, nutrition and health care seeing us live well into our 80s. But this longer life expectancy has also come at a cost, as the longer we live, the more likely we are to develop neurodegenerative diseases such as dementia.
	Cannabis and psychosis—what is the link and who is at risk? There has been a recent global rise in "green fever", with various jurisdictions either decriminalising or legalising cannabis.
	New approach discovered for early detection of pre-eclampsia In the last trimester of a pregnancy, a woman can develop high blood pressure and undesirable excretion of protein in the urine. If these symptoms of so-called pre-eclampsia are not treated, the condition could become life-threatening to both mother and baby. In collaboration with Harvard Medical School and St Anna Children's Cancer Research, a research team from MedUni Vienna led by molecular biologist Jürgen Pollheimer and clinical pharmacologist Bernd Jilma has now developed a new early detection technique. This involves measuring the blood concentration of the enzyme diamine oxidase, which is the enzyme jointly responsible for breaking down histamine in the body and which rises sharply in pregnant women.
Sports participation reduces fracture risk in older men, according to study Researchers from Deakin University's Epi-Centre for Healthy Ageing at Barwon Health have found that participation in sporting activity is associated with a reduced risk of fracture in older men.
	Removing the enablers: Reducing number of tumor-supporting cells to fight neuroblastoma Investigators at the Children's Center for Cancer and Blood Diseases at Children's Hospital Los Angeles provide preclinical evidence that the presence of tumor-associated macrophages—a type of immune cell—can negatively affect the response to chemotherapy against neuroblastoma. Macrophage survival is supported by colony-stimulating factor-1 (CSF-1). Using a small molecule inhibitor of CSF-1 named BLZ945, in combination with chemotherapy, investigators significantly reduced the number of macrophages within neuroblastoma tumors and improved the efficacy of chemotherapy in T cell deficient mice. These findings suggest the possibility that this combination therapy might be effective in patients with high-risk disease, even those who have limited anti-tumor T cell responses. The study was recently published in the International Journal of Cancer.
	Friends play bigger role than others in how active girls are in late childhood, study shows Who your daughter hangs out with at school plays a major role in her physical activity levels, according to a new University of Alberta study.
	Craving a cup of joe? What does the research say about coffee and your health? Coffee. Cup of joe. Java. No matter what you call it, millions of people worldwide wake up and fuel their day with it. And though consumers might be jittery about the recent court battle in California over cancer warnings, experts say most of the science actually indicates coffee could have health benefits.
New research shows link between agrochemicals and risk of parasitic disease Farmers worldwide face mounting pressure to increase agricultural yields to keep up with human population growth. Consequently, chemical use is on the rise – in many cases a cocktail of chemicals, from fertilizers to herbicides to insecticides. But in countries where human population growth is highest, including China, South East Asia and South America, these chemicals can set off a chain of events that ultimately puts people at far greater risk of contracting a devastating parasitic disease caused by blood flukes.
	Female doctors show more empathy, but at a cost to their mental well-being Female doctors show more empathy than male doctors. They ask their patients more questions, including questions about emotions and feelings, and they spend more time talking to patients than their male colleagues do. Some have suggested that this might make women better doctors. It may also take a terrible toll on their mental health.
	Doctors prescribe opioids at high rates to those at increased overdose risk The number of first-time prescriptions for opioid drugs has not risen since about 2010, according to UCLA researchers. However, patients taking a class of drug known to increase the risk for overdoses were likelier to receive a first-time opioid prescription—a combination that could be linked to the current surge in opioid-related deaths.
Age-related decline in mid-back and low back muscle mass and quality is not associated with kyphosis Researchers from Hebrew SeniorLife's Institute for Aging Research, Beth Israel Deaconess Medical Center, That National Heart Lung and Blood Institute's Framingham Heart Study and Boston University have found that poor back muscle quality is not associated with worsening kyphosis (forward curvature or "hunch" of the upper spine) in older adults. The study was published today in the Journal of Gerontology: Medical Sciences.
Early treatment for leg ulcers gets patients back on their feet Treating leg ulcers within two weeks by closing faulty veins improves healing by 12 per cent compared to standard treatment, according to new findings.
	Heading—not collisions—cognitively impairs players Worse cognitive function in soccer players stems mainly from frequent ball heading rather than unintentional head impacts due to collisions, researchers at Albert Einstein College of Medicine have found. The findings suggest that efforts to reduce long-term brain injuries may be focusing too narrowly on preventing accidental head collisions. The study published online today in the Frontiers in Neurology.
	Commonly prescribed heartburn drug linked to pneumonia in older adults Researchers at the University of Exeter have found a statistical link between pneumonia in older people and a group of medicines commonly used to neutralise stomach acid in people with heartburn or stomach ulcers. Although proton-pump inhibitors (PPIs)  are still a valuable group of medicines, research is indicating that PPIs are not as completely safe for older people as previously thought.
Step-change needed in support for carers of terminally ill, argue academics A new report by leading academics has today urged healthcare providers to radically improve the way they support carers of people approaching the end of their life.
	Music lessens pain and anxiety in patients undergoing surgery Music can reduce the anxiety and pain of invasive surgery, according to an analysis of all relevant randomized controlled trials published since 1980.
	Imagined and actual movements are controlled by the brain in the same way A new study from Karolinska Institutet in Sweden shows that imagined movements can change our perception in the same way as real, executed movements do. The research, which is presented in the scientific journal Nature Communications, contributes to an increased understanding of how mental training works and may be useful for patients with motor disabilities.
	Napping and teenage learning Teenagers and sleep. It's certainly a passionate subject for many American parents, and those in China. University of Delaware's Xiaopeng Ji is investigating the relationship between midday-napping behaviors and neurocognitive function in early adolescents. In a study funded by the National Institutes of Health, the School of Nursing assistant professor and principal investigator Jianghong Liu (University of Pennsylvania) turned to the Chinese classroom. With participants from schools in Jintan, she measured midday napping, nighttime sleep duration and sleep quality, and performance on multiple neurocognitive tasks.
Stem cells from adults function just as well as those from embryos Donor age does not appear to influence the functionality of stem cells derived from adult body tissues, concludes a new review. The analysis of research on induced pluripotent stem cells (iPSCs) finds that not only are typical signs of aging reversed in iPSCs, but cells derived from both older and younger donors show the same ability to differentiate into mature body cells. This validates iPSCs as a viable alternative to embryonic stem cells in regenerative medicine. Published in Frontiers in Cardiovascular Medicine, the study highlights the enormous potential of iPSCs derived from elderly patients to treat their age-related diseases—and indicates future areas of research for this relatively new field.
	Stricter gun control could stop violent men killing their partners and themselves Men who use guns to kill their partner are also likely to commit suicide. Those planning to commit suicide are not deterred by severe penalties, and therefore the most successful way of preventing such homicides is to restrict gun access to batterers. So says Sierra Smucker of Duke University Sanford School of Public Policy in the US. She is the lead author of a study in Springer's Journal of Urban Health. The research also shows that in cases where a man has killed his partner using a gun there are more likely to be multiple homicide victims than when no gun is involved.
	People expect their memory to fade as early as their 50s People across the UK expect their memory to worsen in their 50s, according to new research from Heriot-Watt University.
	Men may experience weight stigma as much as women A new study by the Rudd Center for Food Policy and Obesity at the University of Connecticut finds that a significant portion of adult American men report being mistreated about their weight. The findings suggest that men may be experiencing weight stigma at rates similar to women.
Why genetics makes some people more vulnerable to opioid addiction – and protects others Every day, 91 Americans die from an opioid overdose. Rates of abuse of these drugs have shot up over the past 15 years and continue to climb.
	Natural barcodes enable better cell tracking Each of us carries in our genomes about 10 million genetic variations called single nucleotide polymorphisms (SNPs), which represent a difference of just one letter in the genetic code. Every human's pattern of SNPs is unique and quite stable, as they are inherited from our parents and are rarely mutated, making them a kind of "natural barcode" that can identify the cells from any individual. A group of researchers from the Wyss Institute for Biologically Inspired Engineering at Harvard University and Harvard Medical School (HMS) has developed a new genetic analysis technique that harnesses these barcodes to create a faster, cheaper, and simpler way to track what happens to cells from different individuals when they are exposed to any kind of experimental condition, enabling large pools of cells from multiple people to be analyzed for personalized medicine. The research is reported in Genome Medicine.
	Heart disease may only be a matter of time for those with healthy obesity People who are 30 pounds or more overweight may want to slim down a bit even if they don't have high blood pressure or any other heart disease risk, according to scientists at Wake Forest Baptist Medical Center.
	Aging: The natural stress reliever for many women While some research suggests that midlife is a dissatisfying time for women, other studies show that women report feeling less stressed and enjoy a higher quality of life during this period.
	Five ways to help cancer patients avoid the emergency room Unnecessary emergency department visits and hospitalizations are debilitating for patients with cancer and far too common - and costly - for the United States health care system. To reverse the trend, researchers at the Abramson Cancer Center, the Leonard Davis Institute of Health Economics, and the Wharton School, all at the University of Pennsylvania, have identified the five best practices to reduce unnecessary emergency department (ED) visits and hospitalizations, which they call "unplanned acute care." Taken together, these strategies are the playbook for cancer centers and hospital seeking to improve health care quality in oncology.
	Agency warns retailers not to sell Juul e-cigarette to kids Federal health officials on Tuesday announced a nationwide crackdown on underage use of a popular e-cigarette brand following months of complaints from parents, politicians and school administrators.
What if you could know that your mild cognitive impairment wouldn't progress Researchers from the Lisbon School of Medicine, University of Lisbon found that, in some mild cognitive impairment patients, real neuropsychological stability over a decade is possible and that long-term stability could be predicted based on neuropsychological tests measuring memory and non-verbal abstract reasoning.
	Kids with rare rapid-aging disease get hope from study drug Children with a rare, incurable disease that causes rapid aging and early death may live longer if treated with an experimental drug first developed for cancer patients, a study suggests.
	Fruit fly study identifies new gene linked to aortic aneurysms An interdisciplinary team of researchers has identified a new gene linked to human aortic aneurysms. By combining comprehensive genetic studies in the fruit fly, dataset searches and analysis of diseased human aortic tissue, the researchers shed light on mechanisms not previously known to be associated with this devastating disease. The study appears in the journal Developmental Cell.
A wearable device intervention to increase exercise in peripheral artery disease A home-based exercise program, consisting of wearable devices and telephone coaching, did not improve walking ability for patients with peripheral artery disease, according to a new Northwestern Medicine study.
	In Huntington's disease, heart problems reflect broader effects of abnormal protein Researchers investigating a key signaling protein in Huntington's disease describe deleterious effects on heart function, going beyond the disease's devastating neurological impact. By adjusting protein levels affecting an important biological pathway, the researchers improved heart function in experimental animals, shedding light on the biology of this fatal disease.
Preconception zinc deficiency could spell bad news for fertility An estimated 10 percent of couples in the U.S. struggle with infertility. While a variety of factors can make it difficult for some people to get pregnant, ovulation disorders are a leading cause of female infertility. Now, researchers at Pennsylvania State University have found that zinc deficiency can negatively affect the early stages of egg development, reducing the ability of the egg cells to divide and be fertilized. This may affect fertility months in the future. The researchers will present their results at the American Physiological Society annual meeting at Experimental Biology 2018 in San Diego.
	Study shows cognitive behavioural therapy can improve emotion regulation in children with autism New research from York University's Faculty of Health shows cognitive behavioural therapy (CBT) can help children with autism manage not only anxiety but other emotional challenges, such as sadness and anger.
Leading genetics study method may need reconsideration, significant distortions discovered Many conclusions drawn from a common approach to the study of human genetics could be distorted because of a previously overlooked phenomenon, according to researchers at the Department of Genetics and Genomics Sciences at the Icahn School of Medicine at Mount Sinai and collaborators from Massachusetts General Hospital and the Broad Institute. Their conclusions and a unique method they developed to help correct for this distortion were recently published in Nature Genetics.
Patients in major prostate cancer study older, sicker than average patient population Researchers at Henry Ford Hospital compared the patient population of a major U.S. prostate cancer study with patients found in three U.S. cancer databases, ultimately finding the patients of the study to be inconsistent with the average prostate cancer patient. The researchers found the patients of the Prostate Cancer Intervention versus Observation Trial (PIVOT) to be between three and eight times more likely to die than real-world patients.
	Soaking in hot tub improves health markers in obese women According to new research, obese women with polycystic ovary syndrome (PCOS) may be able to improve their health outlook with a particularly enjoyable form of therapy: regular sessions in a hot tub.
Opioid prescribing at veterans hospitals varies widely in treating chronic pain A new study of treatment options for military veterans with chronic pain has determined that care practices at Veterans Health Administration (VHA) facilities vary widely and could contribute to a veteran's likelihood of using opioids.
What can a tasty milkshake teach us about the genetics of heart disease? From 2002 to 2005, about 800 people in Minnesota and Utah drank more than 1,500 milkshakes, and they got to say they were doing it for science.
Study identifies overdose risk factors in youth with substance use disorders A team of Massachusetts General Hospital (MGH) investigators has identified factors that may increase the risk of drug overdose in adolescents and young adults. In their report published online in the Journal of Clinical Psychiatry, the researchers describe finding that more than a quarter of those seeking treatment at Addiction Recovery Management Service, an MGH-based outpatient substance-use-disorder treatment program for youth ages 14 to 26, had a history of at least one overdose. Factors associated with increased overdose risk were disorders involving the use of alcohol, cocaine or amphetamines and histories of depression, anxiety or eating disorders.
	Millennials aren't getting the message about sun safety and the dangers of tanning Many millennials lack knowledge about the importance of sunscreen and continue to tan outdoors in part because of low self-esteem and high rates of narcissism that fuel addictive tanning behavior, a new study from Oregon State University-Cascades has found.
	Bariatric surgery successes lead to type 2 diabetes treatment Bariatric surgery has long yielded almost immediate health benefits for patients with type 2 diabetes, and new findings on the reasons for remission may be the key to developing drug alternatives to surgery.
Hospital patients are eager to play a role in tracking health data, researchers find New research shows that patients in the hospital are eager to collaborate with clinicians to track their health data. Traditionally, clinicians have been the only ones who collect, track and reflect on that data.
	New app could make cannabis use safer Although cannabis, also known as marijuana, has been shown to impair memory, reaction time and attention, it is difficult to assess this impairment in a natural setting. Researchers have developed a prototype app called 'Am I Stoned' that could help cannabis users understand how the drug is affecting them through a series of phone-based tasks.
	Scientists develop a new model for glioblastoma using gene-edited organoids Glioblastoma multiforme (GBM) is an incredibly deadly brain cancer and presents a serious black box challenge. It's virtually impossible to observe how these tumors operate in their natural environment and animal models don't always provide good answers.
	More than one in 20 US children and teens have anxiety or depression About 2.6 million American children and adolescents had diagnosed anxiety and/or depression in 2011-12, reports an analysis of nationwide data in the Journal of Developmental & Behavioral Pediatrics, the official journal of the Society for Developmental and Behavioral Pediatrics.
	Experimental arthritis drug prevents stem cell transplant complication An investigational drug in clinical trials for rheumatoid arthritis prevents a common, life-threatening side effect of stem cell transplants, new research from Washington University School of Medicine in St. Louis shows. Studying mice, the researchers found the drug prevented what's known as graft-versus-host disease, a debilitating, sometimes lethal condition that develops when transplanted stem cells attack the body's own organs or tissues.
First drug approved for most common inherited kidney disease The U.S. Food and Drug Administration has approved the first drug to slow kidney decline in patients with the most common inherited kidney disease.
	Meditation can soothe the anxious soul in just one session (HealthDay)—A single session of meditation can lower your anxiety levels, a small new study finds.
	Avoid 'text neck' from your cellphone (HealthDay)—Your cellphone puts the world at your fingertips, but it can wreak havoc with your neck. There's even a name for the pain you get when looking down at your screen—"text neck"—and it can cause problems along the entire length of your spine.
	One in four adults report having arthritis (HealthDay)—Between 1999 and 2014, nearly one-quarter of American adults reported having arthritis, according to a study published recently in the American Journal of Public Health.
	Serlopitant found to be safe, effective for chronic pruritus (HealthDay)—Serlopitant has potential as a therapy for the treatment of chronic pruritus, according to a study published in the May issue of the Journal of the American Academy of Dermatology.
	Linear link for physical activity, amyotrophic lateral sclerosis (HealthDay)—There is a linear correlation for physical activity (PA) with amyotrophic lateral sclerosis (ALS), according to a study published online April 23 in the Journal of Neurology, Neurosurgery & Psychiatry.
	Guidelines developed for use of drugs in multiple sclerosis (HealthDay)—Guidelines have been developed for use of disease-modifying therapies (DMTs) in multiple sclerosis (MS), integrating findings from a systematic review. The review and guidelines were published online April 23 in Neurology.
	Evaluation of induced membrane vesicles fusion specificity with target cells Extracellular vesicles (EV) represent a promising vector system for biomolecules and drug delivery due to their natural origin and participation in intercellular communication. As the quantity of EVs is limited, the researchers proposed to induce the release of membrane vesicles from the surfaces of human cells by treatment with cytochalasin B. Cytochalasin B-induced membrane vesicles (CIMVs) were successfully tested as a vector for delivery of dye, nanoparticles, and as a chemotherapeutic.
How coaches can deal with doping in sport It seems at every major sporting competition athletes are banned or stripped of their medals after they fail a drug test. They know it's wrong. So why do they keep doing it? A new study investigates how coaches can help.
Indian doctor mistakes patients, performs wrong surgery A surgeon has been stood down from his post at a New Delhi hospital for performing an unnecessary operation on a patient's leg after confusing him with another man, an official said Tuesday.
Mental, not physical, fatigue affects seniors' walking ability Low "mental energy" may affect walking patterns in older adults more than physical fatigue. New research about the relationship between walking ability and self-reported mood will be presented today at the American Physiological Society (APS) annual meeting at Experimental Biology 2018 in San Diego.
	Surgery recovery program slashes opioid use, benefits patients, cuts costs, study finds A special recovery program for thoracic surgery patients developed and implemented at the University of Virginia Health System is getting patients home sooner while decreasing both healthcare costs and opioid use, a review of the first year of the program shows.
Healthcare costs for adults with autism more than double those for general population Researchers compared total annual healthcare costs for adults on the autism spectrum to costs for adults with attention-deficit and hyperactivity disorder (ADHD) and adults in the general population and found them to be 20% and 70% higher, respectively. Adults on the spectrum also had increased use of specific services, such as primary care, mental health, and laboratory services, but lower use of gynecology visits and screening for cervical cancer. The study, "Healthcare Service Utilization and Cost Among Adults with Autism Spectrum Disorders in a U.S. Integrated Healthcare System," was coauthored by Ousseny Zerbo, PhD, and colleagues from Kaiser Permanente Northern California, Oakland and Santa Rosa, and is published in the preview issue of Autism in Adulthood.
	New studies show dark chocolate consumption reduces stress and inflammation New research shows there might be health benefits to eating certain types of dark chocolate. Findings from two studies being presented today at the Experimental Biology 2018 annual meeting in San Diego show that consuming dark chocolate that has a high concentration of cacao (minimally 70% cacao, 30% organic cane sugar) has positive effects on stress levels, inflammation, mood, memory and immunity. While it is well known that cacao is a major source of flavonoids, this is the first time the effect has been studied in human subjects to determine how it can support cognitive, endocrine and cardiovascular health.

Biology news

	Engineered Chinese shrub produces high levels of antimalarial compound Artemisinin is a potent antimalarial compound produced naturally by the Chinese shrub Artemisia annua, commonly known as sweet wormwood. Currently,however, the low amount of artemisinin produced in the leaves of this plant does not meet the global demand. In a study published by April 24 in the journal Molecular Plant, researchers in China report a high-quality draft genome sequence of A. annua and their use of this information along with gene expression data to metabolically engineer plant lines that produce high levels of artemisinin. World Malaria Day is observed on April 25.
	Fungus senses gravity using gene borrowed from bacteria The pin mold fungus Phycomyces blakesleeanus forms a dense forest of vertically growing fruiting bodies, but how does it know which way is "up"? New research publishing 24 April in the open access journal PLOS Biology, from Gregory Jedd's group at the Temasek Life Sciences Laboratory, National University of Singapore, reveals that the fungi have acquired and re-modelled a gene from bacteria to help them make large gravity-sensing crystals.
	Team discovers a new take on early evolution of photosynthesis A team of scientists from Arizona State University's School of Molecular Sciences has begun re-thinking the evolutionary history of photochemical reaction centers (RCs). Their analysis was recently published online in Photosynthesis Research and describes a new pathway that ancient organisms may have taken to evolve the great variety of photosynthetic RCs seen today across bacteria, algae, and plants. The study will go into print later this summer in a special issue dedicated to photochemical reaction centers.
	Land use and pollution shift female-to-male ratios in snapping turtles Most of us know that our biological sex is decided by the pairing of X and Y chromosomes during conception.
	Deaf 'bird whisperer' forms rare bond with feathered friends Deaf since childhood, Razali Bin Mohamad Habidin has developed a closer bond with the creatures under his care than any other keeper at Singapore's Jurong Bird Park, where other staff refer to him simply as the "bird whisperer".
	Australia's mammal extinction rate could worsen: scientists Australia's extinction rate for mammals, already the highest in the world, could worsen unless efforts are made to protect the most endangered species over the next two decades, scientists said Tuesday.
	Complete skin regeneration system of fish unraveled Fish and amphibians such as newts can perfectly regenerate tissue without scar tissue in the event that they lose organs such as their limbs. Studying the mechanisms of regeneration and homeostasis of tissues has potential for application in human regenerative medicine. Not much has been known about the mechanism and the source of cells involved in the regeneration of tissue.
	Photosynthesis in plants key to speedy evolution In a study of 11 different plant species, published in Molecular Biology and Evolution, researchers at the University of Oxford have shown that the speed at which plants evolve is linked to how good they are at photosynthesis.
	Why are some E. coli deadly while others live peacefully within our bodies? E. coli outbreaks hospitalize people and cause food recalls pretty much annually in the United States. This year is no different.
	New model could help build communities of climate change-defying trees Researchers in Australia have developed a model to help build plant communities that are more resilient to climate change.
	Killer whale genetics raise inbreeding questions A new genetic analysis of Southern Resident killer whales found that two male whales fathered more than half of the calves born since 1990 that scientists have samples from, a sign of inbreeding in the small killer whale population that frequents Washington's Salish Sea and Puget Sound.
	US court rules monkey does not own selfie copyright A US court has ruled that a monkey who snapped a selfie on a wildlife photographer's camera does not own the copyright to the image, which became an internet sensation.
Translating elephant seal data into a symphony provides surprising insights A recent paper published in Frontiers in Marine Science on the visualization and sonification of animal tracks showcases the collaboration between the Red Sea Research Center and the Visualization Core Lab. The authors of the paper, including Carlos Duarte, Paul Riker and Madhu Srinivasan from King Abdullah University of Science & T, conducted a sonification experiment in which they explored the collective movement of northern elephant seals by visualizing and coding their group dynamics into sound.
	Molecular machines and the place of physics in the biology curriculum The other day, through no fault of my own, I found myself looking at the courses required by our molecular biology undergraduate degree program. I discovered a requirement for a 5 credit hour physics course, and a recommendation that this course be taken in the students' senior year – a point in their studies when most have already completed their required biology courses. Befuddlement struck me, what was the point of requiring an introductory physics course in the context of a molecular biology major? Was this an example of time-travel (via wormholes or some other esoteric imagining) in which a physics course in the future impacts a students' understanding of molecular biology in the past? I was also struck by the possibility that requiring such a course in the students' senior year would measurably impact their time to degree.
Trapdoor spiders of Perth Perth's coolest spiders, the woman on a mission to protect them and her 89-year-old inspiration.
The science of cryopreserving the human body A small group of companies are offering an alternative to the traditional options that follow death: preserving corpses by freezing your body for future scientists to revive. But is this even possible?
	Asian elephants said at risk from Chinese demand for skin A report by a British-based conservation group says rising Chinese demand for products made from elephant skin is driving poaching and posing an even greater threat to Asia's wild herds than the ivory trade.
Planet's smallest microbes examined at nation's largest aquarium More than 2 million people flock to Georgia Aquarium annually to see Ocean Voyager Built by Home Depot, the largest salt water habitat in the United States and home to whale sharks, the world's largest fish. But for microbiologists at Georgia Tech, the most significant attraction within this 6.3-million-gallon environment of aquatic life is the community of species invisible to the naked eye living within the water.
Genetic transcription 'pause' is focus of NASA grant DNA is a blueprint for cells to make proteins that allow those cells to function properly. To create the proteins, enzymes copy genetic codes from DNA strands and then transfer the instructions onto RNA in a process called transcription.

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