Science X Newsletter Tuesday, Apr 3

Dear Reader ,

Here is your customized Science X Newsletter for April 3, 2018:

Spotlight Stories Headlines

Human bony labyrinth used as an indicator of dispersal from Africa

Scientists combine CRISPR and DNA barcoding to track cancer growth

Research overcomes major technical obstacles in magnesium-metal batteries

Perseus cluster: Scientists surprised by relentless cosmic cold front

Rare Scottish dinosaur prints give key insight into era lost in time

Study suggests pasta can be part of a healthy diet without packing on the pounds

When we sign, we build phrases with similar neural mechanisms as when we speak

Easing uncertainty

Using water molecules to read electrical activity in lipid membranes

Robot designed to defend factories against cyberthreats

X-rays could sterilise alien planets in otherwise habitable zones

Gravitational waves created by black holes in the centre of most galaxies

Long-lived soundwaves in crystalline solids

Monitor detects dangerously low white blood cell levels in chemotherapy patients

Microbiome study suggests marine nematodes are not picky eaters

Astronomy & Space news

	Perseus cluster: Scientists surprised by relentless cosmic cold front A gigantic and resilient "cold front" hurtling through the Perseus galaxy cluster has been studied using data from NASA's Chandra X-ray Observatory. This cosmic weather system spans about two million light years and has been traveling for over 5 billion years, longer than the existence of our Solar System.
	X-rays could sterilise alien planets in otherwise habitable zones Intense radiation could strip away the ozone layer of Earth-like planets around other stars and render them uninhabitable, according to a new study led by Dr. Eike Guenther of the Thueringer Observatory in Germany.
	Gravitational waves created by black holes in the centre of most galaxies Gravitational waves may be produced in the heart of the galaxy, says a new study led by Ph.D. student Joseph Fernandez at Liverpool John Moores University. He sets out the work in a presentation on 3rd April at the European Week of Astronomy and Space Science in Liverpool.
	NASA funds project to study feasibility of using robot bees to study Mars from a new perspective NASA has announced that it has awarded funding to a combined team of researchers from the University of Alabama and an unnamed team in Japan for development of a new kind of Mars explorer. The project team has been awarded $125,000 to develop what NASA calls Marsbees—a swarm of robot bees that could fly in the thin Martian atmosphere and deliver information from their sensors.
	Telescope larger than the Earth produces image of black hole jet formation in the core of a radio galaxy An international team of researchers has imaged newly forming jets of plasma from a massive black hole with unprecedented accuracy. Radio images made with a combination of telescopes in space and on the ground resolved the jet structure a couple of hundred black hole radii, or 12 light days from its origin point.
SpaceX launches cargo to space station using recycled rocket, spaceship SpaceX blasted off a load of supplies Monday for the International Space Station aboard a rocket and a cargo ship that have both flown before, marking the second such flight for the California-based company.
	Half of Earth's satellites restrict use of climate data Scientists and policymakers need satellite data to understand and address climate change. Yet data from more than half of unclassified Earth-observing satellites is restricted in some way, rather than shared openly.
	Image: The cat in Orion What is the first creature that comes to mind when you look at the dark cloud in this image? Perhaps a dark kitten with a vivid white nose, front paws stretching towards the right of the frame and tail up towards the left? Or perhaps a fox, running with its mouth open and looking ahead, its vigilant eyes pointing to the right?
	Here, there and everywhere: Across the universe with the Beatles The Beatles are one of the greatest cultural phenomena to come from the 20th Century, yet many people are unaware of their impact on science.
	Researchers use supercomputers to estimate radiation risks for low Earth orbits Alongside the well-known hazards of space—freezing temperatures, crushing pressures, isolation—astronauts also face risks from radiation, which can cause illness or injure organs.
	NASA hires Lockheed Martin to build quiet, supersonic plane NASA has inked a deal with Lockheed Martin to develop a supersonic "X-plane" that could break the sound barrier without a sonic boom, officials said Tuesday.
	Image: Hangout in space NASA astronaut Drew Feustel seemingly hangs off the International Space Station while conducting a spacewalk with fellow NASA astronaut Ricky Arnold (out of frame) on March 29, 2018.
	Understanding fast radio bursts Astronomers are detecting a mysterious, powerful form of radiation blipping across space, and nobody's quite sure why.
	Groundbreaking X-ray optics will enable future observatories An X-ray telescope is characterized by four parameters: angular resolution, effective area, mass, and production cost. Researchers at NASA GSFC have developed a new X-ray mirror technology that is expected to improve one or more of these parameters by at least an order of magnitude, compared to the mirrors currently employed on missions such as the Chandra X-ray Observatory and the Nuclear Spectroscopic Telescope Array (NuSTAR).

Technology news

	Research overcomes major technical obstacles in magnesium-metal batteries Scientists at the Department of Energy's National Renewable Energy Laboratory (NREL) have discovered a new approach for developing a rechargeable non-aqueous magnesium-metal battery.
	Robot designed to defend factories against cyberthreats It's small enough to fit inside a shoebox, yet this robot on four wheels has a big mission: keeping factories and other large facilities safe from hackers.
	Researchers devise novel ultrafast laser beam steering for autonomous cars that is less complex, uses less power Researchers at Purdue University and Stanford University believe they have found a novel laser light sensing technology that is more robust and less expensive than currently available with a wide range of uses, including a way to guide fully autonomous vehicles.
	Path to a booming Australian solar thermal energy market A report out from the Australian Renewable Energy Agency (ARENA) this month published responses from industry stakeholders on the viability of a concentrated solar thermal (CST) energy market in Australia: Paving the way for concentrated solar thermal in Australia.
	Spotify to test how its music service plays on Wall Street Spotify is about to find out whether investors view its music streaming service as a budding superstar or a flash in the pan.
	Oil to solar: Saudis push to be renewable energy powerhouse Saudi engineers whip up a simulated sandstorm to test a solar panel's durability at a research lab, the heart of the oil-rich kingdom's multibillion dollar quest to be a renewable energy powerhouse.
	Dating app Grindr faces fury for sharing HIV data (Update) Experts had greeted with enthusiasm efforts from the self-proclaimed world's largest gay dating app to promote regular HIV testing and status disclosure—but the effort backfired badly with the revelation that Grindr was sharing the data, prompting calls for a boycott.
	Toshiba CEO promises turnaround in five years, beefed up ethics Nobuaki Kurumatani, the outsider tapped to lead scandal-tarnished Japanese electronics company Toshiba Corp., is promising a turnaround in five years by reshaping its operations and boosting profitability.
	Why we made iWitnessed, an app to collect evidence Eyewitness evidence can be critical to investigations and trials. However, research shows that eyewitness memory can be inaccurate and vulnerable to distortion depending on what happens next – for example, inaccurate information encountered through leading questions, discussion with other witnesses, or journalists.
	Cambridge Analytica's secret psychographic tool is a ghost from the past The novel ways in which marketers and also political institutions can now harvest our social-media data and divide us into homogenous groups suited for mass-customised and targeted messages has been one of the hot issues unfolding from the aftermath of recent Facebook and Cambridge Analytica big-data scandal. Many articles have already sought to summarise the events, actions, participants, and the points of view – not least the unethical ones. However, our attention was drawn to the fact that there is currently little empirical evidence of the actual effectiveness or impact of the psychographic analytical tools used by Cambridge Analytica (CA). This is surprising, considering that the method has so far been featured as something that could be termed "the ultimate marketing weapon".
	Why the business model of social media giants like Facebook is incompatible with human rights Facebook has had a bad few weeks. The social media giant had to apologise for failing to protect the personal data of millions of users from being accessed by data mining company Cambridge Analytica. Outrage is brewing over its admission to spying on people via their Android phones. Its stock price plummeted, while millions deleted their accounts in disgust.
	Dating website matches you based on your DNA Sick and tired of looking for love? There's now a website that does it for you, using your DNA.
	Transmitting measuring data wireless in real time Sensors continuously record measurements in plant and machinery to check that everything is running according to plan and to enable any errors in the industrial production environment to be recognized at an early stage. However, as a rule, evaluation of the data is decentralized and takes place after a time lag. In contrast to this, the 5G wireless standard permits direct, wireless measurement in real time. Fraunhofer in Aachen has teamed up with Ericsson to offer a unique test environment for 5G applications in industry. The partners will be using the example of aero-engine component manufacture to demonstrate live, for the first time, the opportunities provided by the technology at the Hanover Fair from 23– 27 April 2018.
	All-purpose talent in aircraft manufacturing In aircraft manufacturing, much of the milling, drilling and assembly is still done by hand. This is because the raw components vary not only in size and design, but also in shape accuracy. Small differences are unavoidable in extremely lightweight and elastic materials, which poses a challenge for automated processing. Working with an industrial consortium, Fraunhofer researchers have now developed a mobile robot that is able to handle these high requirements – the only robot in the world with this capability.
	From the quantum level to the car battery New developments require new materials. Until recently, these have been developed mostly by tedious experiments in the laboratory. Researchers at the Fraunhofer Institute for Algorithms and Scientific Computing SCAI in Sankt Augustin are now significantly shortening this time-consuming and cost-intensive process with their "Virtual Material Design" approach and the specially developed Tremolo-X software. By combining multi-scale models, data analysis and machine learning, it is possible to develop improved materials much more quickly. At the Hanover Trade Fair from April 23 to 27, 2018, Fraunhofer will be demonstrating how the virtual material design of the future looks.
	Cognitive system for the predictive maintenance of production facilities At the Hanover Trade Fair from April 23 – 27, 2018, Fraunhofer will demonstrate the prototype of a new cognitive system for the predictive maintenance of production facilities. Intelligent battery-powered acoustic sensors process audio signals from machines and systems on the spot. From the information that is forwarded wirelessly to an evaluation unit, it is possible to draw conclusions about the condition of the production facilities and to avoid possible damage. Industrial customers benefit from a cost-effective, scalable and data-secure Industrie 4.0 solution that minimizes downtime.
	Europe's clocks 'back on time' after electricity grid fixed (Update) Europe's digital clocks are "back on time" after its power operators compensated for a shortfall in the continent's electricity grid because of a row between Serbia and Kosovo, the operators said Tuesday.
	Tesla raises production but falls short of Model 3 goals (Update) Electric car maker Tesla Inc. increased production of its Model 3 mass-market car in the first quarter but still fell far short of the numbers it promised last summer.
	iOS 11.3 lets you monitor your iPhone battery and stop Apple from slowing it down Apple has released the highly anticipated software update for the iPhone that promises to give you greater visibility into your own health—as well as the health of what could be a failing handset battery.
Tech's design goal: get users to click 'yes' Three years ago when Facebook Messenger users opened the app on an Android device, they were greeted by an adorable cartoon yeti. It was shown texting a big pink heart. Below it, a prompt read: "Text anyone in your phone."
	Half of European flights face delays after computer failure European air travellers faced mass disruption on Tuesday with up to half of all flights delayed after the system that manages air traffic for the continent broke down.
	US auto sales spring to life in March (Update) The American consumer returned in force to automobile showrooms in March, lifting an industry that had been plodding along in a post-sales boom hangover.
	Eyes on Spotify as music innovator debuts on stock market Spotify on Tuesday makes its long-awaited debut on the stock market as the streaming platform that has shaken up the music industry hopes to strike a chord with investors.
	Fox says Disney may buy Sky News in fresh takeover twist Rupert Murdoch's 21st Century Fox on Tuesday proposed selling rolling TV channel Sky News to Disney in order to finally seal control of pan-European satellite broadcaster Sky.
	Facebook asks users if they think it's 'good for the world' Facebook is asking users whether they think it's "good for the world" in a poll sent to an unspecified number of people.
	Spotify wins more fans in stock market debut as shares surge Spotify picked up more fans on Wall Street on Tuesday as investors gave the unprofitable company a warm welcome in its stock market debut.
	APNewsBreak: US suspects cellphone spying devices in DC For the first time, the U.S. government has publicly acknowledged the existence in Washington of what appear to be rogue devices that foreign spies and criminals could be using to track individual cellphones and intercept calls and messages.
	Apps to keep children safe online may be counterproductive Mobile apps designed to help parents keep their children safe from online predators may actually be counterproductive, harming the trust between a parent and child and reducing the child's ability to respond to online threats, conclude two new studies from the University of Central Florida.
	Fraud rap for cryptocurrency promoted by DJ Khaled, Mayweather The US Securities and Exchange Commission on Monday laid charges over a fraudulent cryptocurrency fundraiser that boxer Floyd Mayweather and rapper DJ Khaled touted on social media.
	Singaporean Airbnb hosts fined over unauthorised rentals Two Singaporean Airbnb hosts were Tuesday fined Sg$60,000 ($45,800) each for letting out apartments without official permission, the first such case in the city-state under new rules against short-term rentals.
	Santos shares soar after Harbour Energy takeover bid Shares in Australian energy giant Santos soared Tuesday after US private investment company Harbour Energy Tuesday made a Aus$13.5 billion (US$10.3 billion) all-cash offer for the firm.
	Why bodycam footage might not clear things up Stephon Clark, an African-American man, was killed by Sacramento police in his grandmother's backyard last month, setting off protests and conflict over the police's actions.

Medicine & Health news

	Scientists combine CRISPR and DNA barcoding to track cancer growth Stanford scientists have found a way to modify pairs of cancer-related genes in the lungs of mice and then precisely track individual cells of the resulting tumor – a combined technique that could dramatically speed up cancer research and drug development.
	Study suggests pasta can be part of a healthy diet without packing on the pounds Carbohydrates get a lot of bad press and blame for the obesity epidemic, but a new study suggests that this negative attention may not be deserved for pasta.
	When we sign, we build phrases with similar neural mechanisms as when we speak Differences between signed and spoken languages are significant, yet the underlying neural processes we use to create complex expressions are quite similar for both, a team of researchers has found.
	Monitor detects dangerously low white blood cell levels in chemotherapy patients One of the major side effects of chemotherapy is a sharp drop in white blood cells, which leaves patients vulnerable to dangerous infections. MIT researchers have now developed a portable device that could be used to monitor patients' white blood cell levels at home, without taking blood samples.
	People have a 50 percent higher risk of death if they suffer a shocking financial loss A sudden loss of net worth in middle or older age is associated with a significantly higher risk of death, reports a new Northwestern Medicine and University of Michigan study.
	Genetic material once considered junk actually could hold key to cancer drug response Material left out of common processes for sequencing genetic material in cancer tumors may actually carry important information about why only some people respond to immunotherapy, possibly offering better insight than the type of material that is being sequenced, according to a study by Mount Sinai researchers published on April 3 in Cell Reports.
	Study reveals a way to make prostate cancer cells run out of energy and die Scientists at Cold Spring Harbor Laboratory (CSHL) have discovered that cells lacking the tumor-suppressor protein PTEN—a feature of many cancers— are particularly vulnerable to drugs that impair their energy-producing mitochondria. Such drugs induce them to literally eat themselves to death, the research shows.
	Timing of stress-hormone pulses controls weight gain, study finds New research provides the first molecular understanding of why people gain weight due to chronic stress, disrupted circadian rhythms and treatment with glucocorticoid drugs: It's all in the timing of the dips and rises of a class of hormones called glucocorticoids—predominantly the "stress hormone" cortisol, according to a new study by Stanford University School of Medicine researchers.
	Protein derived from parasite has potential to alleviate debilitating disease A Children's-led research team has turned the tables on Schistosoma haematobium, a parasitic worm that freeloads in humans, by using a protein derived from the parasite as a therapeutic molecule to reduce bleeding and pain associated with chemotherapy-induced hemorrhagic cystitis.
	Flare-responsive hydrogel developed to treat arthritis Arthritis flares - the unpredictable and often sudden worsening of arthritis symptoms—can be debilitating. These episodes can make the management of inflammatory arthritis, which includes rheumatoid arthritis and psoriatic arthritis, challenging for patients and physicians. But investigators at Brigham and Women's Hospital have found that flares may also represent an important opportunity for improving treatment options for patients. In experiments carried out in the lab, BWH bioengineers have developed a hydrogel—a soft, flexible material that can be loaded with arthritis drugs and injected locally into an inflamed joint. Instead of delivering the drug continuously at a steady rate, the hydrogel is designed to respond to increased disease activity during flares, releasing the drug when symptoms worsen. The team's laboratory-based findings are published this week in Nature Communications and investigators are working on next steps to bring their technology closer to the clinic.
	Answers to 100-year-old mystery point to potential breast cancer therapies New insights into how cancer cells fuel their growth are opening novel possibilities for cancer treatment. A team of researchers at Baylor College of Medicine and Roswell Park Comprehensive Cancer Center has identified a long sought after connection between how cancer cells use the sugar glucose to generate energy - the Warburg pathway - and cancer growth. They found that PFKFB4, an enzyme in the Warburg pathway, can activate SRC-3, a potent driver of breast cancer. The study appears in the journal Nature.
	Double-drug strategy blocks escape route for most lung cancers A one-two combo punch using two currently available drugs could be an effective treatment for the majority of lung cancers, a study by scientists with UT Southwestern's Simmons Cancer Center shows.
	Researchers find letter we've seen millions of times, yet can't write Despite seeing it millions of times in pretty much every picture book, every novel, every newspaper and every email message, people are essentially unaware of the more common version of the lowercase print letter "g," Johns Hopkins researchers have found.
	'Kidney age', not kidney disease There should be a rethink in how doctors talk to some patients with reduced kidney health, replacing the term 'chronic kidney disease' (CKD) with different bands of kidney age, according to a group of experts writing in the Canadian Medical Association Journal.
	Study explores safety of rear-facing car seats in rear impact car crashes Rear-facing car seats have been shown to significantly reduce infant and toddler fatalities and injuries in frontal and side-impact crashes, but they're rarely discussed in terms of rear-impact collisions. Because rear-impact crashes account for more than 25 percent of all accidents, researchers at The Ohio State University Wexner Medical Center conducted a new study to explore the effectiveness of rear-facing car seats in this scenario.
Gender roles highlight gender bias in judicial decisions Judges may be just as biased or even more biased than the general public in deciding court cases where traditional gender roles are challenged, according to a new study published in the journal Social Psychological and Personality Science.
Smartphone app performs better than traditional exam in cardiac assessment A smartphone application using the phone's camera function performed better than traditional physical examination to assess blood flow in a wrist artery for patients undergoing coronary angiography, according to a randomized trial published in CMAJ (Canadian Medical Association Journal).
Potential of manipulating gut microbiome to boost efficacy of cancer immunotherapies The composition of bacteria in the gastrointestinal tract may hold clues to help predict which cancer patients are most apt to benefit from the personalized cellular therapies that have shown unprecedented promise in the fight against hard-to-treat cancers, according to new research from the Perelman School of Medicine at the University of Pennsylvania.
	New receptor genes turn T-cells into powerful liver cancer foes Mouse genes that make human T cells powerful at fighting liver cancer could one day help patients do the same, scientists report.
Treating women subsistence farmers for intestinal worms improved fitness and could boost food production A new study in the Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC) found that treating women subsistence farmers with just a single dose of a cheap deworming medication significantly improved their physical stamina for the grueling agriculture work needed for their family's survival. The results of treatment could be twofold: improved health for farming women and increased food production by women who have the stamina to farm more efficiently.
Genetic test may improve post-stent treatment, outcome Using genetic testing to inform which blood thinner to use following a procedure to open narrowed blood vessels resulted in significantly fewer complications among patients, according to new research in Circulation: Genomic and Precision Medicine, an American Heart Association journal.
	The secret to being a secret-keeper If you want to be told a secret you're better off being assertive and compassionate rather than enthusiastic and polite, according to University of Queensland researchers.
	E-cig health claims up in smoke They've been hailed as the danger-free alternative to nicotine-based cigarettes. But are electronic cigarettes really safer? The short answer: no.
	Dignity of risk – living better to live longer in aged care Eight years ago, Monash Professor Joseph Ibrahim, of the Department of Forensic Medicine, started work on a project that he hopes will eventually help elderly people in nursing homes live better. But it's been a hard road.
	Gentle touch can decrease stress Long lasting gentle touch decreases stress hormones and decelerate heart beat frequency. It also activates brain areas commonly linked to reward. These research results are presented in a new thesis from the University of Gothenburg. Findings that can be useful in designing therapies to help people relax.
	Explainer: what is lupus and how is stress implicated? Thanks to Selena Gomez and Dr. House, most of us have heard of lupus. But most of us don't know what it is, and until recently, none of us were sure whether stress could be a risk factor.
	Gene-based tests may improve treatment for people with bipolar disorder Bipolar affective disorder (BPAD) affects around 2% of the world's population, leaving them with bouts of severe depression and episodes of what is commonly referred to as "mania".
Caffeine found to reduce incidence of acute kidney injury in neonates Preterm neonates who are exposed to caffeine within the first seven days after birth have reduced incidence and severity of acute kidney injuries than neonates who did not, according to findings from the Neonatal Kidney Collaborative's "Assessment of Worldwide Acute Kidney Injury Epidemiology in Neonates" study, published in JAMA Pediatrics. David Askenazi, M.D., professor in the University of Alabama at Birmingham's Department of Pediatrics and director of the UAB and Children's of Alabama's Pediatric and Infant Center for Acute Nephrology, was the study's co-author, and is the chair of the Neonatal Kidney Collaborative.
	Red or blue in the face? Study says conservatives show less emotion If playing in a high-stakes poker game, it may be better to face opponents on the liberal side of the political spectrum.
	Decider or ditherer? How we make decisions Professors Peter Brown and Rafal Bogacz in the Nuffield Department of Clinical Neurosciences describe their research team's discovery that a certain 'hold your horses' function in decision-making occurs in an extremely brief window of time, and involves bursts of a specific type of activity in a brain centre known as the subthalamic nucleus.
	"It's not my fault, my brain implant made me do it" Mr. B loves Johnny Cash, except when he doesn't. Mr. X has watched his doctors morph into Italian chefs right before his eyes.
Long-term caffeine worsens anxiety symptoms and fear of the new associated with Alzheimer's disease A study coordinated by the Institute of Neuroscience of the Universitat Autònoma de Barcelona (Inc-UAB) and in collaboration with the Karolinska Institutet (KI) in Sweden provides evidence that a long-term consumption of caffeine has negative effects for Alzheimer's disease, worsening the neuropsychiatric symptoms appearing in the majority of those affected by the disorder. The research was recently published in Frontiers in Pharmacology.
	Scientists develop novel cancer cell culture test kit for personalised, precise cancer therapy A team of scientists led by Professor Lim Chwee Teck, Principal Investigator at the Mechanobiology Institute, Singapore (MBI) and the Department of Biomedical Engineering at the National University of Singapore (NUS) and NUS Ph.D. graduate Dr. Khoo Bee Luan, has developed a novel and robust cancer cell-based assay that could help clinicians to diagnose cancer, monitor the disease state and customise drug therapies for each individual patient.
	Study shows how muscles regulate their oxygen consumption A new study by researchers from Karolinska Institutet in Sweden shows that an enzyme called FIH determines how muscles consume oxygen. Without the enzyme, the need for oxygen increases during physical exercise. The finding is of potential significance to elite athletes, who have been found to have higher levels of FIH in their muscles than others. The study is published in the esteemed scientific journal Cell Metabolism.
	Medical marijuana gets wary welcome from older adults, poll shows Few older adults use medical marijuana, a new national poll finds, but the majority support its use if a doctor recommends it, and might talk to their own doctor about it if they developed a serious health condition.
What makes us truly happy and healthy? What does it mean to be well? Not just "not ill," but really thriving?
	Key heart risks decline for older Americans (HealthDay)—Older Americans dramatically reduced their risks for heart attack and stroke over a recent 20-year period, a new analysis finds.
	All that overtime could be killing you (HealthDay)—A 40-hour work week may sound like a vacation to those burning the midnight oil. But a study in the American Journal of Industrial Medicine shows that consistently surpassing this standard can be detrimental to your health.
	Obstetrician-gynecologists can help protect working mothers (HealthDay)—Obstetrician-gynecologists and other obstetric providers can help to protect women working through their pregnancy, according to a Committee Opinion published in the April issue of Obstetrics & Gynecology.
	Study says meat protein is unhealthy, but protein from nuts and seeds is heart smart A study conducted by researchers in California and France has found that meat protein is associated with a sharp increased risk of heart disease while protein from nuts and seeds is beneficial for the human heart.
	Genes can help predict children's risk of type 1 diabetes A type 1 diabetes genetic score can identify infants at risk for pre-symptomatic type 1 diabetes and could be used to enroll children into type 1 diabetes prevention trials, according to a study published this week in PLOS Medicine by Anette Ziegler of the Helmholtz Zentrum Muenchen, Germany, and colleagues.
	Mathematical modeling offers new way to understand variable responses to targeted therapy Cancer therapies that target a specific protein have improved outcomes for patients. However, many patients eventually develop resistance to these targeted therapies and their cancer comes back. It is believed that differences among tumor cells, or heterogeneity, may contribute to this drug resistance. Moffitt Cancer Center researchers are using a unique approach by combining typical cell culture studies with mathematical modeling to determine how heterogeneity within a tumor and the surrounding tumor environment affect responses to targeted drug therapies. Their study was published online in PLOS Biology.
	Memory training needs to target specific difficulties to be effective, suggests study When people hear that their memory will worsen as they age, the question on their minds becomes: what can we do to remember better?
	Mifepristone may halt growth of intracranial tumor that causes hearing loss Massachusetts Eye and Ear researchers have shown that mifepristone, a drug currently FDA-approved for chemical abortion, prevents the growth of vestibular schwannoma (also known as acoustic neuroma) cells. This sometimes-lethal intracranial tumor typically causes hearing loss and tinnitus. The findings, published online today in Scientific Reports, suggest that mifepristone is a promising drug candidate to be repositioned for the treatment of these tumors.
	Paper: Surprise can be an agent of social change A jolt of the unexpected can have far-reaching effects, according to new research from a University of Illinois expert who studies leadership and creativity.
NAS review: More research needed to develop optimal assessment, treatment standards A recent JAMA review article stresses that more clinical studies on neonatal abstinence syndrome (NAS) are needed in order to develop and implement optimal assessment, diagnosis and treatment guidelines. Researchers from Boston Medical Center's (BMC) Grayken Center for Addiction led a review of published studies on NAS assessment tools, and pharmacologic and nonpharmacologic treatment approaches. There has been a particular interest in utilizing approaches that don't include medication as a first-line treatment, such as breastfeeding and rooming-in, and several small analyses of this work have yielded positive short-term results. However, the authors note, the data is insufficient given several factors, including small sample sizes and single-site studies. They conclude that future research must focus beyond the short-term outcomes by evaluating how different treatments for NAS impact the child's development and well-being in the long term.
	FDA orders recall of salmonella-tainted herbal supplement A Las Vegas company was ordered to pull its herbal supplements off the market because some of its products tested positive for salmonella, part of a nationwide outbreak linked to the ingredient kratom.
	Energy-based devices work well for feminine rejuvenation (HealthDay)—Energy-based devices are both safe and effective methods of nonsurgical treatment for feminine rejuvenation, according to a review published online March 10 in the Journal of Cosmetic Dermatology.
	Anomalous brain structure ID'd in preschoolers with ADHD (HealthDay)—Anomalous brain development is evident among medication-naive preschoolers with attention-deficit/hyperactivity disorder (ADHD), according to a study published in the April issue of the Journal of the International Neuropsychological Society.
	Diabetes, HbA1c linked to adverse outcomes after surgery (HealthDay)—For surgical inpatients aged ≥54 years, diabetes and increased hemoglobin A1c (HbA1c) are associated with increased risk of adverse outcomes, according to a study published online March 26 in Diabetes Care.
	Genotype-guided antiplatelet therapy feasible, effective (HealthDay)—Using CYP2C19 genotype-guided dual antiplatelet therapy (DAPT) selection is feasible in a real-world setting, although frequency of testing may be difficult to maintain, according to a study published online April 3 in Circulation: Genomic and Precision Medicine.
	Outcomes-based pricing doesn't cut costs of PCSK9 inhibitors (HealthDay)—Outcomes-based pricing does not reduce the costs of proprotein convertase subtilisin/kexin type 9 (PCSK9) inhibitors, according to a research letter published online April 3 in the Annals of Internal Medicine.
	CDC: Drug-resistant 'nightmare bacteria' pose growing threat "Nightmare bacteria" with unusual resistance to antibiotics of last resort were found more than 200 times in the United States last year in a first-of-a-kind hunt to see how much of a threat these rare cases are becoming, health officials said Tuesday.
Considering an employee for an overseas assignment? Study says personality has a big impact on how well they adjust More globalization means more multinational corporations are increasingly sending their employees overseas, swelling the ranks of expatriates in foreign locales where they are strangers to the language, the culture and ways of doing business.
	How to fight side effects of hormone therapy for prostate cancer Men on hormone therapy for prostate cancer may benefit significantly from hitting the gym with fellow patients and choosing more veggies and fewer cheeseburgers, a new study suggests.
Peer influence, better HIV counseling could encourage boys in Africa to be circumcised With research showing that male circumcision reduces the odds of getting HIV through heterosexual sex by 60 percent, more boys and young men—primarily those between the ages of 10 and 19—are having the procedure done, largely in eastern and southern African nations where circumcision is rarely performed at birth.
	Three-month-old infants can learn abstract relations before language comprehension Three-month-old babies cannot understand words and are just learning to roll over, yet they are already capable of learning abstract relations. In a new study, Northwestern University researchers show for the first time that 3-month-old infants can learn same and different relations.
Study shows high number of concussion-related symptoms in performing arts A recent study released by the Journal of Occupational and Environmental Medicine shows a stunning number of participants not only experienced concussion-related symptoms and head impacts but also continued performing either without reporting the incident or without receiving the recommended care. These participants were not taking part in any sporting contest at the time, however. They are theater personnel.
	For women with kidney cancer, belly fat matters Belly fat affects the odds of women surviving kidney cancer but not men, according to a new study by researchers at Washington University School of Medicine in St. Louis.
	AHA: smart ways to get a workout at work It's no secret that Americans need to move more. Yet our jobs often require us to sit for eight to 10 hours a day—at home, the office or behind the wheel—often getting up only for lunch and trips to the bathroom.
Fewer recalls associated with higher rates of interval breast cancers Lower screening mammography recall rates—the rates at which women are called back for additional testing based on suspicious findings—are associated with higher rates of breast cancers detected between screenings, or interval cancers, according to a major new study published online in the journal Radiology. Researchers said the study shows that establishing a minimum recall rate is a reasonable and potentially important goal for breast cancer screening programs.
WHO recommends use of first typhoid conjugate vaccine The World Health Organization (WHO) recommends the introduction of typhoid conjugate vaccine (TCV) for infants and children over six months of age in typhoid-endemic countries. This new policy will help ensure access to typhoid vaccination in communities most impacted by the disease, which is responsible for nearly 12 million infections and between 128,000 and 161,000 deaths a year.
Experts define global criteria for hospital programs to tackle antimicrobial resistance Infection specialists at hospitals are introducing so-called antimicrobial stewardship (AMS) programmes to use antimicrobial drug therapies more responsibly. Such programmes include a coherent set of actions which promote using antimicrobials in ways that ensure sustainable access to effective therapy for all who need them. A group of international experts, led by researchers from the Center for Disease Dynamics, Economics & Policy (CDDEP) in India and the Université de Lorraine in France, has now for the first time defined a standardized set of actions that are relevant for all hospitals around the world to preserve the effectiveness of antimicrobials and limit the emergence of antimicrobial resistance.
	A Zika vaccine could virtually eliminate prenatal infections A Zika vaccine could have a substantial effect on mitigating and preventing future Zika virus outbreaks. Through a combination of direct protection and indirect reduction of transmissions, virtual elimination is achievable, even with imperfect vaccine efficacy and coverage. The researcher is published in Annals of Internal Medicine.
	Rumination leads to problems in boys with autism Boys with autism are more prone to develop physical complaints, depression and aggressive behaviour. Psychologists at Leiden University have discovered that this is mainly related to rumination. Publication in the Journal of Autism and Developmental Disorders.
	Using ultrasound to help people walk again Spinal cord injuries impact more than 17,000 Americans each year, and although those with incomplete injuries may regain control of their limbs, overall muscle strength and mobility is weakened. Neurorehabilitation using robotic exoskeletons or electrical stimulation devices can help a person regain movement through repeated exercise. The amount of assistance through these devices during neurorehabilitation is based on the measurement of the user's remaining muscle function.

Biology news

	Microbiome study suggests marine nematodes are not picky eaters The ocean floors are literally crawling with nematode worms. A square meter of sediment can contain millions of worms from hundreds of species.
	Ionizing radiation found to soften tumor cell microenvironment Nearly half of all cancer patients receive radiation therapy to curb the growth of malignant cells. But little is known about how ionizing radiation affects the extracellular matrix (ECM), a patchwork of proteins and other biomolecules that surrounds cells and plays a vital role in their shape, movement and signaling functions. One team of researchers from Vanderbilt University aims to unlock how irradiation might alter the mechanical properties of the microenvironment.
	In zebrafish, the cholera bacterium sets off a surprising flush Researchers experimenting with live zebrafish witnessed a 200-percent increase in the strength of intestinal contractions soon after exposure to the cholera-causing bacterium Vibrio cholerae, leading to expulsion of native gut bacteria.
	Global warming can turn Monarch Butterflies' favorite food into poison LSU researchers have discovered a new relationship between climate change, monarch butterflies and milkweed plants. It turns out that warming temperatures don't just affect the monarch, Danaus plexippus, directly, but also affect this butterfly by potentially turning its favorite plant food into a poison.
	Australian vine can boost soybean yield, study says Growing in its native Australia, the unobtrusive perennial vine Glycine tomentella could easily be overlooked. But the distant relative of soybean contains genetic resources that can substantially increase soybean yield, according to a new study from the University of Illinois.
	Scientists merge statistics, biology to produce important new gene computational tool The cells in our bodies express themselves in different ways. One cell might put a chunk of genetic code to work, while another cell ignores the same information entirely. Understanding why could spur new stem cell therapies, or lead to a more fundamental understanding of how organisms develop. But zeroing in on these cell-to-cell differences can be challenging.
	As whales fade, movement they spawned tries to keep up hope Regina Asmutis-Silvia, a biologist who has dedicated her career to saving right whales, is cleaning out a file cabinet from the early 1990s, and the documents inside tell a familiar story—the whales are dying from collisions with ships and entanglements in commercial fishing gear, and the species might not survive.
Researchers analyze genome of deadly, drug-resistant pathogen Infections by microbes like bacteria and fungi that don't respond to available antimicrobial treatments pose an increasingly dangerous public health threat around the world. In the United States alone, such infections kill 23,000 people annually. To better understand the molecular drivers behind resistance, researchers at the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) in Atlanta, Georgia, recently conducted a whole-genome analysis of an unusual bacterial strain cultured from a patient in the United States. Their results are published this week in mBio, an open-access journal of the American Society for Microbiology.
	Market squid tell a tale of two krill In good years, noisy fishing boats filled with freshly-netted market squid spill their slippery catch into processing plants on the California coast. During those years, market squid (Doryteuthis opalescens) are California's most productive fishery, accounting for up to $70 million in revenue and 110,000 metric tons of squid. But in other years, calamari is hard to find. Cyclical changes in ocean conditions change the productivity of California waters, and as a result squid populations plummet and the fishing industry suffers.
	Cell discovery could help with research on genetic diseases Research carried out by the University has discovered the first data on an organelle that is really important in human cells in an ancient organism distantly related to humans.
	Astro-ecology: Saving endangered animals with software for the stars A collaboration between astrophysicists and ecologists at Liverpool John Moores University (LJMU) is helping to monitor rare and endangered species and stop poaching. Astrophysical software and techniques are applied to thermal infrared imagery captured by drones to automatically detect and identify animals - even at night, when most poaching activity occurs. The drones can survey large areas of difficult terrain from above, allowing ecologists to access hard to reach areas and monitor wildlife without disturbing the animals. The project will be presented by Claire Burke at the European Week of Astronomy and Space Science (EWASS) in Liverpool on Tuesday, 3rd April.
	Attacking flu viruses from two sides University of Zurich researchers have discovered a new way in which certain antibodies interact with the flu virus. This previously unknown form of interaction opens up new possibilities for developing better vaccines and more efficient medication to combat the flu.
	Researchers are using machine learning to understand microbial relationships The ecosystem in and around the Amazon River is the most bio-diverse in the world. But it has some competition when considering the roughly thirty feet of the human gastrointestinal (GI) tract. This microbiome—the sum total of microorganisms in a particular environment—has been the research focus of late for Carnegie Mellon Electrical and Computer Engineering (ECE)  Professor Radu Marculescu.
	Dispatch from the field II: Students describe an elusive spider while stationed in Borneo A mystery has long shrouded the orb-weaving spider genus Opadometa, where males and females belonging to one and the same species look nothing alike. Furthermore, the males appear to be so elusive that scientists still doubt whether both sexes are correctly linked to each other even in the best-known species.
	Spa therapy helps Japan's snow monkeys cope with the cold Japanese macaques, also known as snow monkeys, have been enjoying regular baths in the hot spring at Jigokudani in Japan for decades - and have even become a popular tourist attraction. A team of researchers led by Rafaela Takeshita of Kyoto University in Japan have now published the first study to scientifically validate the benefits of this behaviour. These findings indicate how behavioural flexibility can help counter cold-climate stress and have likely implications for reproduction and survival. The study is available in Primates, the official journal of the Japan Monkey Centre.
	New study reveals cost of 2017 salmon fisheries closure Last year's closure of the commercial ocean salmon troll fishery off the West Coast is estimated to have cost $5.8 million to $8.9 million in lost income for fishermen, with the loss of 200 to 330 jobs, according to a new model that determines the cost of fisheries closures based on the choices fishermen make.
	Britain to ban ivory sales Britain will ban sales of ivory in a bid to help preserve the world's dwindling elephant population, the government announced Tuesday.
	Just like bats, humans can use echolocation It sounds amazing, but we can all learn to use sound to detect our surroundings, just like bats or dolphins. No eyes required.

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