Science X Newsletter Wednesday, Apr 18

Dear Reader ,

Here is your customized Science X Newsletter for April 18, 2018:

Spotlight Stories Headlines

Laryngeal muscles found to be underdeveloped compared to articulatory muscles, explaining poor human singing

Scalable manufacturing process spools out strips of graphene for use in ultrathin membranes

Martian moons model indicates formation following large impact

Competition between males improves resilience against climate change

Warmer active seasons and fewer freeze-thaw events lead to big changes for the tiniest Arctic ambassadors

What happens to our muscles during spaceflight and when living on Mars?

New findings to help in the fight against wombat mange

350,000 stars' DNA interrogated in search for sun's lost siblings

Overcoming bias about music takes work

Nuclear techniques unlock the structure of a rare type of superconducting intermetallic alloy

New Zealand's large moa did not disperse large seeds

Sharp claws helped ancient seals conquer the oceans

New species of ancient whale identified and named by Otago palaeontologists

Five-year study reveals how much carbon China's environmental resources capture

Tiny, light-sensitive chips could one day restore sight to the blind

Astronomy & Space news

	Martian moons model indicates formation following large impact Southwest Research Institute scientists posit a violent birth of the tiny Martian moons Phobos and Deimos, but on a much smaller scale than the giant impact thought to have resulted in the Earth-Moon system. Their work shows that an impact between proto-Mars and a dwarf-planet-sized object likely produced the two moons, as detailed in a paper published today in Science Advances.
	350,000 stars' DNA interrogated in search for sun's lost siblings An Australian-led group of astronomers working with European collaborators has revealed the "DNA" of more than 340,000 stars in the Milky Way, which should help them find the siblings of the Sun, now scattered across the sky.
	Black hole and stellar winds form giant butterfly, shut down star formation in galaxy Researchers at the University of Colorado Boulder have completed an unprecedented "dissection" of twin galaxies in the final stages of merging.
	New research seeks to optimize space travel efficiency Sending a human into space and doing it efficiently presents a galaxy of challenges. Koki Ho, University of Illinois assistant professor in the Department of Aerospace Engineering, and his graduate students, Hao Chen and Bindu Jagannatha, explored ways to integrate the logistics of space travel by looking at a campaign of lunar missions, spacecraft design, and creating a framework to optimize fuel and other resources.
	Thinking about hitching a ride on a mission to Mars? One hazard you haven't considered The hazards of space flight are well known: freezing temperatures, the vacuum of space, radiation, isolation. But there's a lesser-known risk getting the attention of researchers - a possible danger to vision. Retired NASA astronaut David Wolf, M.D., will provide insight into how space flight affects the eye on Thursday, April 19, when he gives the keynote address during a conference attended by many of the nation's leading eye physicians and surgeons, hosted by the American Academy of Ophthalmology in Washington, D.C.
	NASA's new space 'botanist' arrives at launch site A new instrument that will provide a unique, space-based measurement of how plants respond to changes in water availability has arrived at NASA's Kennedy Space Center in Florida to begin final preparations for launch to the International Space Station this summer aboard a cargo resupply mission.
	Image: Sounding rocket launches CHESS mission to study the matter between stars The Colorado High-resolution Echelle Stellar Spectrograph, or CHESS 4, was successfully launched on a NASA Black Brant IX sounding rocket at 12:47 p.m. EDT, April 16 (4:47 a.m. local, April 17) from the Kwajalein Atoll in The Republic of the Marshall Islands.
	Extreme environment of Danakil Depression sheds light on Mars, Titan and nuclear waste The Danakil Depression in Ethiopia is a spectacular, hostile environment that may resemble conditions encountered on Mars and Titan – as well as in sites containing nuclear waste. From 20-28 January 2018, five teams of researchers and more than 30 support staff visited two locations in the region to study the microbiology, geology and chemistry at the Dallol hydrothermal outcrop and the saline Lake Afrera.
	SpaceX poised to blast off NASA's new planet-hunter, TESS SpaceX was poised Wednesday to try again to blast off NASA's newest planet-hunting spacecraft after a two-day delay to check out the Falcon 9 rocket's navigation systems.
	Image: First light from HyperScout imager This first-light image from the miniature HyperScout instrument aboard ESA's newly launched GomX-4B CubeSat, shows the southern coast of Cuba.

Technology news

	Tiny, light-sensitive chips could one day restore sight to the blind Age-related macular degeneration, a disease that slowly degrades light-sensitive cells in the retina, is the leading cause of vision loss and blindness among people 65 and older, according to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. Doctors can't prevent such loss of sight – but a system that replaces light-sensitive cells designed by Daniel Palanker, a professor of ophthalmology, may ease the burden.
	PowerHammer is wake-up call to data-stealing through power lines Can security sleuths ever complain there's nothing left to do? The answer is obvious, and one more path to mischief has been recognized in the form of power supplies serving as a data exfiltration tool. It appears that malware using power lines could exfiltrate data from air-gapped computers.
	Screen reader plus keyboard helps blind, low-vision users browse modern webpages Browsing through offerings on Airbnb means clicking on rows of photos to compare options from prospective hosts. This kind of table-based navigation is increasingly central to our digital lives - but it can be tedious or impossible for people who are blind or have low vision to navigate these modern webpages using traditional screen readers.
	Researchers design 'soft' robots that can move on their own If Star Wars' R2-D2 is your idea of a robot, think again. Researchers led by a University of Houston engineer have reported a new class of soft robot, composed of ultrathin sensing, actuating electronics and temperature-sensitive artificial muscle that can adapt to the environment and crawl, similar to the movement of an inchworm or caterpillar.
	Study: How to calculate pricing and resources for cloud computing Researchers in the University at Buffalo School of Management have developed a new algorithm that cloud computing service providers can use to establish pricing and allocate resources.
	San Francisco to require permits for rental scooters San Francisco is ordering three companies that began renting motorized foot-pedal scooters in the city last month to stop operating until they can ensure riders are obeying state laws and that the devices are not a hazard to the public.
	Bitcoin's true believers vow to ride out currency rollercoaster The crowds have thinned somewhat at Bitcoin Center, leaving just the true believers in the volatile cryptocurrency.
	Arcades seek to take virtual reality gaming mainstream Gamers wearing headsets and wielding rifles adorned with flashing lights battle a horde of zombies, letting out the occasional terrified shriek.
	Facebook rolling out privacy choices under EU rules Facebook announced Wednesday it would begin rolling out changes to how it handles private data this week to comply with forthcoming EU rules, with European residents seeing the measures first.
	Quebec wary of bitcoin gold rush At the site of a former cocoa factory in Canada's Quebec province, tiny holes punctured in the walls of a warehouse allow fresh air to cool thousands of whirring processors connected by a tangle of wires.
	Team develops sodium ion batteries using copper sulfide A KAIST research team recently developed sodium ion batteries using copper sulfide anode. This finding will contribute to advancing the commercialization of sodium ion batteries (SIBs) and reducing the production cost of any electronic products with batteries.
Algorithm tool works to silence online chatroom sex predators An algorithm tool developed by Purdue Polytechnic Institute faculty will help law enforcement filter out and focus on sex offenders most likely to set up face-to-face meetings with child victims.
	Russia says to probe Facebook after Telegram crackdown Russia's telecoms watchdog plans to probe Facebook before the end of the year after blocking access in the country to the popular messaging app Telegram, its head said on Wednesday.
	German police raid Porsche execs in diesel probe German police raided the offices of Porsche and Audi Wednesday as part of a fraud probe against two top Porsche executives and a former employee of the luxury carmaker in connection with the diesel emissions cheating scandal.
	Wayfair follows Amazon with its own made-up holiday: Way Day Amazon started Prime Day. Alibaba capitalized on Singles Day. Now another e-commerce company is hoping for success with an invented shopping holiday.
	How much would you trust an autonomous vehicle? Would you trust a car that does the driving for you? Do you trust the adaptive cruise control available in newer cars? What about the traction control feature? Would you trust a car to brake for you in an emergency?
	How poker and other games help artificial intelligence evolve When he was growing up in Ohio, his parents were avid card players, dealing out hands of everything from euchre to gin rummy. Meanwhile, he and his friends would tear up board games lying around the family home and combine the pieces to make their own games, with new challenges and new markers for victory.
	Deep learning predicts drug-drug and drug-food interactions Drug interactions, including drug-drug interactions (DDIs) and drug-food constituent interactions (DFIs), can trigger unexpected pharmacological effects, including adverse drug events (ADEs), with causal mechanisms often unknown. However, current prediction methods do not provide sufficient details beyond the chance of DDI occurrence, or require detailed drug information often unavailable for DDI prediction.
	Intelligent components for the power grid of the future Fast charging of electric cars requires a lot of energy in a short period of time. These peak loads lead to bottlenecks in the power grid, and are one of the problems facing the expansion of electric mobility. The many challenges of the energy transition require a flexible and reliable power grid, which can accommodate fluctuations in the consumption and production of energy. A key element of this could be the smart transformer, which is being researched by the Power Electronics working group at Kiel University. On the basis of power semiconductors made of silicon carbide, they have developed a prototype which automatically regulates the current flow. It could be used not only for a better integration of charging stations into the power grid, but also for the connection of direct current networks and in data centres. The researchers will present a part of the prototype for the first time at the Hannover Messe.
	Five reasons why robots won't take over the world Scientists are known for making dramatic predictions about the future – and sinister robots are once again in the spotlight now that artificial intelligence has become a marketing tool for all sorts of different brands.
	A little fold-up joystick brings haptics to portable devices The tactile joystick developed by startup Foldaway Haptics brings the sense of touch to mobile devices, drones and, in a smaller version, to virtual reality controls. This pocket-sized device, which can be unfolded in an instant, is about to hit the market. Next week it will be showcased at the Hannover Messe, the world's largest trade fair for industrial technology.
	Amazon partners with Best Buy on smart TVs, a "win-win" Amazon has cut a deal to sell voice-controlled TVs at Best Buy, the latest attempt by the online retailer to get its burgeoning suite of tech products out where people can see and touch them.
Will the FTC come down hard on Facebook? It's only happened twice in 20 years If Facebook has to pay a Federal Trade Commission penalty for the Cambridge Analytica data scandal, it will join a very short list of companies to have done so.
	A news subscription for your iPhone? Apple may launch one by 2019: report Last month, Apple announced it acquired the digital magazine distributor Texture as an entry to the journalism world. Now, it plans to use its platform to launch a premium news subscription by 2019.
	Is Apple really better about privacy? Here's what we found out Is Apple the shining knight when it comes to privacy collection, as it wants us to believe?
More than 3,300 Android apps are improperly tracking kids, study finds Thousands of family-friendly apps from the Google Play Store are potentially violating federal law, according to a new large-scale study from North American and European universities and organizations.
Defense contract pits Amazon against the rest of Big Tech A wide range of technology giants find themselves unified by a single concern: that Amazon has the inside track to win a huge winner-take-all government cloud-computing contract that could help accelerate the Seattle company's lead in the fast-growing industry.
	Glitch means extra day for Americans to file taxes US tax authorities will give Americans an extra day to send in their tax returns after the government computer system for filing them electronically failed on the day of the deadline.
	Iceland: Bitcoin heist suspect has likely fled to Sweden A man suspected of masterminding the theft of about 600 computers used to mine bitcoins and other virtual currencies has likely fled to Sweden after breaking out of a prison in Iceland, officials said Wednesday.
	Russia takes heavy hand to internet to block messaging app (Update) Russian authorities are freezing up vast swathes of the country's online world in what critics call a heavy-handed—and so far unsuccessful—attempt to block a popular messaging app, Telegram.
Ford uses van service to enter medical transport business Ford is getting into the non-emergency medical transportation business as it moves toward making money off its experimental ventures in new mobility.
	Iran bans government bodies from using foreign message apps Iran's presidency has banned all government bodies from using foreign-based messaging apps to communicate with citizens, state media reported Wednesday, after economic protests organized through such apps shook the country earlier this year.
	EU parliament demands Zuckerberg answer questions in person The European Parliament on Wednesday demanded Facebook chief Mark Zuckerberg appear in person to answer questions about the Cambridge Analytica scandal, rejecting his offer to send a more junior executive in his place.
	Pacquiao to launch own cryptocurrency Philippine boxing icon Manny Pacquiao said Wednesday he would launch a cryptocurrency to connect with fans, but also backed the regulation of virtual currencies.
	Time Warner CEO says merger needed due to 'tectonic' industry shift Time Warner chief Jeff Bewkes testified Wednesday that the media-entertainment giant needs to merge with AT&T because of "tectonic changes" in the television industry which favor big internet firms.
	Electric ferries and joined-up shipping to turn sea travel green Electric ferries and digital communication between ships could help in the quest to decarbonise maritime transport, a sector which is often perceived as being the green option but could still do much to lower its environmental footprint.

Medicine & Health news

	What happens to our muscles during spaceflight and when living on Mars? The inactivity of astronauts during spaceflights presents a significant risk to their muscles, says a new study in The Journal of Physiology. Scientists have simulated the impact of 21 day spaceflights on the body, and the impact of low gravity environments such as the Moon or Mars.
	Overcoming bias about music takes work Expectations and biases play a large role in our experiences. This has been demonstrated in studies involving art, wine and even soda. In 2007, Joshua Bell, an internationally acclaimed musician, illustrated the role context plays in our enjoyment of music when he played his Stradivarius violin in a Washington, D.C., subway, and commuters passed by without a second glance.
	Natural selection still at work in humans Evolution has shaped the human race, with University of Queensland researchers finding signatures of natural selection in the genome that influence traits associated with fertility and heart function.
	Scientists disconfirm belief that humans' physiological reaction to emotions are uniform How do you feel when you're angry? Tense? Jittery? Exhausted? Is it the same every time? Is it identical to how your best friend, co-worker, or barista feel when they experience anger? In all likelihood the answer is no, that how you experience anger varies between situations, and that how you experience it varies from others.
	Brain scans may help diagnose neurological, psychiatric disorders There are no laboratory tests to diagnose migraines, depression, bipolar disorder and many other ailments of the brain. Doctors typically gauge such illnesses based on self-reported symptoms and behavior.
	Researchers find the brain processes sight and sound in same manner Although sight is a much different sense than sound, Georgetown University Medical Center neuroscientists have found that the human brain learns to make sense of these stimuli in the same way.
	Psoriasis treated with compound derived from immune cells A compound derived from immune cells treats psoriasis in mice and holds promise for other autoimmune diseases, according to a new study from Washington University School of Medicine in St. Louis.
	Characterizing 'keyhole' is first step to fighting obesity at cellular level An international team has uncovered the potential to beat obesity at the cellular level, characterizing for the first time a complex, little-understood receptor type that, when activated, shuts off hunger.
	Leptin's neural circuit identified—Genome-editing study reveals how hormone helps prevent both obesity and diabetes Revealing surprising answers to a long-standing enigma about the brain target of the anti-obesity hormone leptin, neuroscientists at Tufts University School of Medicine have used CRISPR genome editing to identify a neural circuit in the hypothalamus as the primary mechanism in mediating leptin's anti-obesity and anti-diabetes effects and have identified two distinct mechanisms underlying leptin's inhibition of appetite. The research, which appears online in the journal Nature on April 18, advances efforts to find more effective therapies for obesity, type 1 and type 2 diabetes, and their complications.
	Difference in gene switching discovered in different parts of brain It is understood that different parts of brain have drastically different functions. However, how these different functions are sustained and regulated at the molecular level has been elusive.
	Delivering cancer treatment on a nanodisc helps eliminate tumors In the wrestling match with cancer, chemoimmunotherapy is the new strong arm, and it is building muscle with a nanodisc disguised as "good cholesterol."
	Top HIV cure research team refutes major recent results on how to identify HIV persistence An international team focused on HIV cure research spearheaded by The Wistar Institute in collaboration with the University of Pennsylvania and Vall d'Hebron Research Institute (VHIR) in Barcelona, Spain, established that the CD32 molecule is not a preferential biomarker to identify HIV silent reservoirs within the immune system of patients undergoing antiretroviral therapy (ART), as proposed by a recent landmark study. Instead, they report that CD32 identifies cells that are actively infected in spite of ART. These results, which have impactful implications for research on HIV eradication, were published in Science Translational Medicine.
	Just one concussion could raise Parkinson's risk If you've ever had a mild concussion, your risk of developing Parkinson's disease goes up by 56 percent, a new study of more than 300,000 U.S. veterans suggests.
	Direct electrical current used to preferentially inhibit pain-transmitting neurons Using computer models and laboratory rats, Johns Hopkins researchers have demonstrated that "direct electrical current" can be delivered to nerves preferentially, blocking pain signals while leaving other sensations undisturbed.
	An artificial mole as an early warning system Alongside cardiovascular disease, cancer has become the top cause of death in industrialised countries. Many of those affected are diagnosed only after the tumour has developed extensively. This often reduces the chance of recovery significantly: the cure rate for prostate cancer is 32 percent and only 11 percent for colon cancer. The ability to detect such tumours reliably and early would not only save lives, but also reduce the need for expensive, stressful treatment.
	Researchers discover link between gene variation and language What shapes the basic features of a language?
	Keeping the excitement under control James Poulet's lab at the MDC uses advanced techniques to monitor the activity of networks of single sensory neurons in the brain. By listening in on hundreds of conversations, the scientists have discovered how a single signal from one cell manages to attract attention.
	ALS treatment delays disease and extends life in rats Investigators at Cedars-Sinai are exploring a new way to treat amyotrophic lateral sclerosis (ALS) by transplanting specially engineered neural cells into the brain. Their new study shows the transplanted cells delayed disease progression and extended survival in animal models.
	Study suggests we can recognize speakers only from how faces move when talking Results of a new study by cognitive psychologist and speech scientist Alexandra Jesse and her linguistics undergraduate student Michael Bartoli at the University of Massachusetts Amherst should help to settle a long-standing disagreement among cognitive psychologists about the information we use to recognize people speaking to us.
	'Life support' for transplant livers better than freezing: study Keeping transplant livers on "life support" at body temperature preserves them better than the prevailing method of near-freezing, and could reduce the number of donor organs thrown away, a study said Wednesday.
	Active young adults with Type 1 diabetes have muscle complications: study A new study from McMaster and York universities has found that poor muscle health may be a complication of Type 1 diabetes, even among active twenty-somethings.
	Low-income HIV patients suffer with healthcare access Quebecers are not created equal when it comes to accessing anti-retroviral treatment (ART) for HIV and AIDS, a long-term study undertaken by a team from the Research Institute of the McGill University Health Centre (RI-MUHC) in Montreal has revealed. Researchers observed that HIV-infected persons who count on social assistance and other income security programs in Quebec do not have early access to ART due to their presumed lower socio-economic status.
	Opioid-related hospitalizations rising in Medicare patients without opioid prescriptions A 2014 federal change that limited the dispensing of hydrocodone products may be indirectly contributing to the illegal use of some of those drugs, a study by University of Texas Medical Branch researchers has found.
	Study finds no evidence that anesthesia in young children lowers intelligence A Mayo Clinic study finds no evidence that children given anesthesia before their third birthdays have lower IQs than those who did not have it. A more complex picture emerges among people who had anesthesia several times as small children: Although their intelligence is comparable, they score modestly lower on tests measuring fine motor skills, and their parents are more likely to report behavioral and learning problems. The findings are published in Anesthesiology.
People who use medical marijuana more likely to use and misuse prescription drugs Can medical marijuana help to fight the opioid epidemic? Many believe that it can. But a new study finds that people who use medical marijuana actually have higher rates of medical and non-medical prescription drug use—including pain relievers. The study appears in the Journal of Addiction Medicine, the official journal of the American Society of Addiction Medicine (ASAM).
New study finds people covered by universal health coverage will fall far below SDGs An estimated 5.4 billion people globally are expected to be covered under some form of universal health care (UHC) by 2030, up from 4.3 billion in 2015, but far below the related target in United Nations Sustainable Development Goal 3, according to a new scientific study.
First long-term study finds half trillion dollars spent on HIV/AIDS Spending on HIV/AIDS globally between 2000 and 2015 totaled more than half a trillion dollars, according to a new scientific study, the first comprehensive analysis of funding for the disease.
	Parenting of the future: Many embryos, each with DNA profile (Update) So you want to have a baby.
	2000 to 2015 saw increase in institutional post-acute care (HealthDay)—From 2000 to 2015 there was an increase in the use of institutional post-acute care, according to a study published in the April 17 issue of the Journal of the American Medical Association.
	Striosome neurons in the basal ganglia play a key role in learning A pleasant surprise or a nasty shock is likely to be a memorable experience. For instance, if you touch a hot oven, you very quickly learn not to do it again. Learning by trial and error, which can yield positive or negative consequences, is known as reinforcement learning. Individuals can learn new behaviors in unfamiliar environments by exploring and memorizing sensory cues or actions that lead to good or bad outcomes.
Efficient control of leukaemia with treatment by dual immune-checkpoint blockade Chronic lymphocytic leukaemia (CLL) is a haematological malignancy that originates in the blood-forming cells of the bone marrow and spreads to other organs through the bloodstream. When infiltrating tissues, CLL cells come in contact with healthy cells, including immune cells. To ensure their survival and growth, CLL cells are able to establish a microenvironment in which the immune response is suppressed. Researchers from the Luxembourg Institute of Health (LIH) succeeded in characterising in depth the composition of immune cells and circulating cytokines of the CLL microenvironment in mouse models using mass cytometry. Based on this knowledge, they propose an immunotherapeutic strategy with two immune checkpoint inhibitors that efficiently blocks disease development in preclinical tests. The scientists published their findings in open access in the April 2018 issue of the acclaimed scientific journal Blood.
	Preserving fertility during chemotherapy Many chemotherapeutics act by damaging the DNA. Since cancer cells divide more often than most normal cells, they are more sensitive to DNA-damaging agents. One exception are oocytes. To prevent birth defects, they initiate a cellular death program if DNA damage is detected. This process, called apoptosis, is triggered in oocytes by the protein p63. Oocytes contain a high concentration of an oocyte-specific isoform of p63, which plays a key role as a quality control factor in causing infertility.
	Researchers demonstrate the presence of beta-amyloid dimers in the brains of patients with Alzheimer's A study headed by researchers at the Institute for Research in Biomedicine (IRB Barcelona) and the Institut Européen de Chimie et Biologie (IECB) in France proposes that the presence of two beta-amyloid molecules bound together (beta-amyloid dimers) could provide a new biomarker for Alzheimer's disease (AD).
	Observing inflammatory cells in the body The process of inflammation is complex. The main role is played by immune cells migrating from the blood into the tissue to fight the inflammation. If too many of these cells are active, however, they can just as easily cause damage. Finding out more about the cells' behaviour can provide a basis for researchers to develop individual treatments for inflammation—for example, by guiding cells specifically toward the centre of the inflammation or through a timely discontinuation of a certain treatment. Researchers at the Cells-in-Motion Cluster of Excellence at the University of Münster (Germany) have now developed a method enabling them to better evaluate and study the activity of inflammatory cells in mice. They genetically modified precursors of immune cells, then increased their numbers in a test tube and finally tracked them spatially and temporally in living organisms. The new method also means that the number of animal experiments can be greatly reduced. The study has been published in the Theranostics journal.
A new Listeria species from Costa Rica identified Listeria costaricensis is the official name given to the new bacterial species described by investigators from the Costa Rican Institute of Technology (TEC) and the WHO-collaborating center on Listeria at Institut Pasteur.
New method could transform aphasia treatment after stroke A new treatment has been shown to significantly improve the speech and word production of stroke patients.
Researchers uncover origin of virus-fighting plasma B cells Plasma B cells, which move through the body releasing antibodies, are an important component of the body's fight against viral infections and other invaders. They are relatively rare, however, and increasing their ranks is a major goal of vaccination. However, scientists do not yet fully understand how precursor cells are selected either to enter the body's fluids as plasma cells or remain in the places, known as germinal centers, where they undergo reprogramming to become more specific attackers of an infection.
Step forward to finding treatment for most common genetic cause of infant death A major step forward has been made by researchers at the University of St Andrews towards finding new treatments for Spinal Muscular Atrophy (SMA), the commonest genetic cause of infant death.
	Super-superbug clones invade Gulf States A new wave of highly antibiotic resistant superbugs has been found in the Middle East Gulf States, discovered by University of Queensland researchers.
	Going deep to study exercise's molecular nitty-gritty About 120 scientists from around the U.S. are in Louisiana as part of a six-year, $170 million National Institutes of Health program to study the molecular nitty-gritty of exercise.
	Comparing strategies to guide blood pressure treatment A strategy that examines a patient's overall heart disease and stroke risk to determine blood pressure treatment—rather than blood pressure levels alone—is more effective at preventing events like heart attacks, strokes and death, according to a new study published in PLOS Medicine.
	New medical devices help doctors with disabilities Instead of using a traditional stethoscope or otoscope to examine a patient, one physician-in-training at the University of Michigan uses a new device, with a long, flexible wire and camera at its tip. A live video feed plays important diagnostic information back on her cell phone.
	Gender pay gap—personality affects income Being high in 'neuroticism' and low in 'conscientiousness' can come at a cost in terms of income a new study has found. These effects were particularly strong for women, who benefited more than men for being conscientious but were penalised more than men for being neurotic.
	Scientists discover sweet spot of activity in immune system key to fighting cancer Scientists at the University of Southampton have shown how stimulating a specific location on the surface of immune cells can be targeted with antibodies to help in their fight against cancer.
	Study shows men and women tear ACL the same way in non-contact injury While women are two to four times more likely than men to tear the anterior cruciate ligament (ACL) in their knee, the cause of this injury is no different between the sexes, according to new research from Duke Health.
Early skin cancer more accurately diagnosed by dermatologist than other providers Physician assistants (PAs) are increasingly used in dermatology practices to cut costs and improve access to care, but are more likely than dermatologists to perform unnecessary skin biopsies to check for cancer, while being less likely to accurately diagnose early stage skin cancers, according to new research conducted by the University of Pittsburgh School of Medicine.
Three solutions to maximize the clinical benefit and affordability of targeted cancer drugs Spending on cancer drugs in the United States has nearly doubled in the past five years and continues to grow, imposing substantial financial burden on patients with cancer. One of the biggest drivers of this growth is targeted cancer drugs - small molecules, monoclonal antibodies, and other therapies for cancer that target specific genomic aberrations. Now, a group led by the Abramson Cancer Center of the University of Pennsylvania has proposed three solutions to maximize the clinical benefit and affordability of targeted cancer drugs. The recommendations were published online today in the Journal of the American Medical Association. Lead author, Justin E. Bekelman, MD, an associate professor of Radiation Oncology and member of Penn's Abramson Cancer Center, will also discuss the recommendations today in a major symposium at the American Association for Cancer Research Annual Meeting in Chicago (Session SY04).
Preliminary study suggests drug may help babies with spinal muscular atrophy A preliminary study suggests that an investigational drug may help increase protein levels in babies with spinal muscular atrophy. The open-label study is released today and will be presented at the American Academy of Neurology's 70th Annual Meeting in Los Angeles, April 21 to 27, 2018.
Engineering a better device to capture—and release—circulating tumor cells For years, bioengineer Yaling Liu has been in pursuit of the deadly tumor cell. Liu has been perfecting a microfluidic device the size of two quarters that has the ability to catch and release circulating tumor cells (CTCs)—cancer cells that circulate in a cancer patient's blood. Such a device could lead to earlier detection of primary tumors and metastasis, as well as determine the effectiveness of treatment—all through a simple, non-invasive blood test.
	Digital monitoring checks for possible malnutrition in hospital patients Despite being offered enough food, around 50% of patients throughout the world eat too little while in hospital and this can lead to nutritional deficiencies and hamper their recovery. Nutritionist Eva Winzer from the Center for Public Health at MedUni Vienna's Institute for Social and Preventive Medicine and Karin Schindler, Department of Medicine III, MedUni Vienna/Vienna General Hospital, have now shown that it is possible to closely monitor eating behaviour and assess meals with the aid of a digital, photographic monitoring tool. The results can be included in an individualised treatment plan for patients. The study has been published in the European Journal of Clinical Nutrition.
	We used CCTV and microbial swabs to figure out where adults are going wrong in the kitchen Given that up to half of foodborne illnesses may come from the home kitchen, understanding food safety practices, and how to prevent this kind of sickness, is absolutely vital.
	Emerging infectious diseases in India—the scourge that could boost urban development Human societies have seen a significant decrease in mortality from infectious diseases over the past century. However, we must still struggle with ongoing pathologies we once thought were under control (cholera, tuberculosis, plague, etc.) as well as the new ones that have emerged over the last 30 years (HIV/AIDS, Ebola, dengue, West Nile virus, H1N1, etc.). The vast scale of the global epidemics provoked by these viruses forces us to look more closely at the territories where they emerge.
Targeting enzyme may tip cancer 'over the edge' Researchers from the University of Dundee have identified an enzyme critical for cell division that could potentially be targeted to tip tumours 'over the edge' into remission.
	Does running a marathon suppress your immune system? It is commonly believed that some forms of exercise, such as endurance events, suppress your immune system and leave you at risk of infections, like the common cold. However, our latest review of the evidence suggests that this is probably not true. In fact, exercise seems to boost the immune system.
	Loneliness on its way to becoming Britain's most lethal condition People of all ages are at risk from diseases brought on by loneliness, new data has revealed. According to figures published by the Office for National Statistics, 2.4m adult British residents – of all ages – suffer from chronic loneliness.
Similarity between high-risk atherosclerotic plaque and cancer cells discovered New research from Lund University in Sweden shows that inflammatory, unstable atherosclerotic plaque has a metabolism that differs from that of stable plaque – and is similar to that of cancer cells. Future research will therefore investigate whether cancer drugs could potentially be used to treat cardiovascular disease.
	Pathways in the young brain are associated with susceptibility for mental disorders Adolescence is a period for individual growth and opportunities, but it also coincides with the emergence of many mental disorders. In a study that was recently published in JAMA Psychiatry, Norwegian researchers revealed that the pathways between brain regions are associated with early signs of mental illness in youth.
	Why don't kids use their asthma medicines? In a new analysis of interviews conducted with children who have asthma, their caregivers and their clinicians, Johns Hopkins researchers found that there was significant lack of agreement about why the kids miss their needed daily anti-inflammatory medication.
	How the lowly mushroom is becoming a nutritional star Mushrooms are often considered only for their culinary use because they are packed with flavor-enhancers and have gourmet appeal. That is probably why they are the second most popular pizza topping, next to pepperoni.
Gates warns new fight needed against resurgent malaria Bill Gates warned Wednesday that malaria was back on the rise again and would continue to claim more lives worldwide unless governments reinvigorated their push to eradicate the disease.
Safety measures could save 250,000 lives a year in low- and middle-income countries Interventions such as speeding enforcement and formal swimming lessons for young children could potentially save more than 250,000 lives a year if they were implemented across populations living in extreme poverty in low- and middle-income countries, according to a new study from researchers at the Johns Hopkins Bloomberg School of Public Health.
	Why is it harder for females to gain weight? For years, scientists have observed that when male and female mice eat the same high-fat diet, the males gain significantly more weight than the females. The reasons for this difference between sexes are not completely understood, but a new study published in the journal Nature Communications proposes that part of the answer may be in the brain.
World-first research into injury rates among people released from prison Centre for Mental Health Research Fellow Mr Jesse Young led a study that identified hospital records for 1307 people released from seven Queensland prisons from 1 August 2008 to 31 July 2010.
Personalized letter improves pregnancy weight for women with gestational diabetes Women with gestational diabetes who received a tailored letter with personalized weight-gain recommendations were significantly more likely to meet national weight-gain guidelines, according to a new Kaiser Permanente study published today in Diabetes Care, a journal of the American Diabetes Association.
Study: Wide distribution of naloxone can slash overdose deaths during epidemics A new study in The Lancet Public Health shows the rapid expansion of British Columbia's Take Home Naloxone program significantly reduced the number of fentanyl-related overdose deaths in 2016.
	Obesity linked with higher chance of developing rapid, irregular heart rate People with obesity are more likely to develop a rapid and irregular heart rate, called atrial fibrillation, which can lead to stroke, heart failure and other complications, according to Penn State researchers.
	Spouses can boost early detection for melanoma patients There's an extra bonus to marriage for melanoma patients: They tend to be diagnosed in earlier more treatable stages than patients who are unmarried, widowed or divorced, a new study says.
	Does pot really dull a teen's brain? Pot-smoking teens may not be dooming themselves to a destiny of dim-wittedness, a new review suggests.
	Hypertension plus prediabetes a dangerous duo for the heart High blood pressure and prediabetes together may do more harm to the body than either one alone.
	More than 40% of Americans breathe dirty air: report (HealthDay)—More than two of every five Americans reside in counties with unhealthy levels of smog and air pollution, thanks largely to the effect of global warming, health researchers report.
	Gene twist can make your blood pressure spike from salt (HealthDay)—New research sheds light on why some people's blood pressure is especially sensitive to salt.
	Turn chores into a fitness routine (HealthDay)—Is the "e" word—exercise—a downer for you?
	Social support of autonomy tied to better glycemic control in DM (HealthDay)—Family and friends' autonomy support may lead to better glycemic control by reducing distress among patients with diabetes, according to a study published online March 29 in Diabetes Care.
	Disordered eating among teens tied to future depression (HealthDay)—Disordered eating behavior among adolescents is associated with a significantly increased risk of future depressive symptoms and being bullied by peers, according to a study published online April 11 in JAMA Psychiatry.
	Opiate use linked to early mortality in IBD patients (HealthDay)—Heavy use of opiates among patients with inflammatory bowel diseases (IBD) is tied to increased risk of premature all-cause death, according to a study published in the April issue of Clinical Gastroenterology and Hepatology.
	C. difficile risk higher with stoma reversal versus colectomy (HealthDay)—Patients who undergo elective stoma reversal have a higher incidence of postoperative Clostridium difficile infection versus patients who undergo elective colectomy, according to a study published in the May issue of Diseases of the Colon & Rectum.
	Smartphone app may up medication adherence in HTN (HealthDay)—Randomization to use of a smartphone app is associated with a small improvement in medication adherence but no change in systolic blood pressure among individuals with poorly controlled hypertension, according to a study published online April 16 in JAMA Internal Medicine.
	Self-regulation interventions beneficial for children (HealthDay)—A range of interventions can successfully improve self-regulation in children and adolescents, according to research published online April 16 in JAMA Pediatrics.
	Polypharmacy more likely for cancer survivors (HealthDay)—Cancer survivors are more likely to be prescribed five or more unique medications, including drugs with abuse potential, according to a study published online April 12 in Cancer.
Gene therapy for beta-thalassemia safe, effective in people In a powerful example of bench-to-bedside science showing how observations made in the lab can spark life-altering therapies in clinic, an international team of clinician-investigators has announced that gene therapy for patients with a severe form of the blood disorder beta-thalassemia can be safe and effective.
Experts weigh risks of epilepsy drug in pregnancy, as EU considers safety recommendations As the European Commission considers whether to introduce a partial ban on use of the epilepsy drug valproate in pregnancy over risks to unborn babies, researchers in The BMJ discuss the arguments and the implications for patients and healthcare professionals.
	Researchers identified a protein associated with breast cancer Researchers at UT Southwestern Medical Center have identified a protein that is strongly associated with metastatic breast cancer and that could be a target for future therapies.
Citing opioid crisis, feds seek rule change for drugmakers Drugmakers would be required to identify the legitimate need for controlled substances to justify their production under a proposed rule intended to rein in the diversion of drugs for illicit purposes.
	Infertility mechanism in males identified Large doses of a sperm protein that is ineffective in infertile males can be injected directly into eggs to kick-start fertilization, giving couples hope of conceiving.
For young adults with blood cancer, pediatric centers may improve survival Adolescents and young adults with acute leukemia have a survival advantage if they receive treatment at a pediatric cancer center versus an adult center, according to a new study.
	How fake assistance animals and their users are gaming the system and increasing prejudices Reports recently emerged of accusations against Uber drivers in the United Kingdom regularly refusing to take a cerebral palsy sufferer as a passenger because of her service dog.
Detailed images of tumour vasculature Thanks to a new method of analysing ultrasound images, conventional scanners can be used for generating high-res images of blood vessels in tumours. This approach makes it easier to distinguish between different types of tumours, and it facilitates the tracking of the progress and success of chemotherapy.
UA registers a more customised multifocal lens to correct presbyopia University of Alicante researchers have developed a new multifocal contact lens which rests on the white part of the eye (sclera) to correct presbyopia (or tired eyesight) with a more personalised design according to the specific needs of each user.
	Fatty fish and camelina oil are beneficial for HDL and IDL cholesterol Eating fatty fish increases the size and lipid composition of HDL particles in people with impaired glucose metabolism, according to a new study from the University of Eastern Finland. These changes in the size and lipid composition of HDL particles make them beneficial for cardiovascular health. Published in Molecular Nutrition & Food Research, the study also found that camelina sativa oil decreases the number of harmful IDL particles.
Development of a quantitative pharmacodynamic assay for apoptosis in fixed tumor tissue Existing microscopy-based methods of detecting apoptosis, such as TUNEL (terminal deoxynucleotidyl transferase dUTP nick-end labeling), have limited quantitative capabilities due to insufficient signal-to-noise ratios. Researchers at the National Cancer Institute and National Cancer Institute-Frederick have addressed this issue via development of a highly specific apoptosis assay designed for immunofluorescence microscopy analysis of fixed core needle biopsy specimens.
	Researchers launch diabetes support program Researchers at The University of Texas at San Antonio (UTSA) are taking diabetes education to church. Through the Building a Healthy Temple (BHT) program, they're working with Hispanics who have type 2 diabetes to help them manage the disease and develop a healthier lifestyle.
Having fully stocked cart to treat malignant hyperthermia during labor not cost-beneficial Maintaining a stocked cart, with a full supply of the life-saving drug dantrolene, to treat malignant hyperthermia, a rare but potentially fatal adverse reaction to general anesthesia, may not be cost-beneficial in hospital maternity units where the incidence of the reaction is low, according to a new paper published in the Online First edition of Anesthesiology, the peer-reviewed medical journal of the American Society of Anesthesiologists (ASA).
	Key workflow interruptions in emergency departments identified, findings could lead to increased efficiencies Interruptions in workflow, such as a phone call while working on another task, or when a colleague stops by for a chat, can lead to inefficiencies in the workplace. For nurses working in emergency departments, those interruptions could affect patient care. Now, a study from the University of Missouri has determined that workflow interruptions are most likely to occur during two key events—electronic medical record documentation and direct patient care. Findings suggest that changes in workflow in emergency departments could increase the care team's efficiency and help improve patient care.
	Ebola media coverage impacted how the public perceived the disease and survivors In 2014, the United States saw fatal cases of Ebola for the first time. The disease had been mostly contained to West Africa, and U.S. media coverage of the disease in the past had been limited. Now, researchers at the University of Missouri have found that news coverage of Ebola during the time it was in the U.S. focused on telling individual stories to humanize those affected. Based on these findings, the researchers suggest that reporters covering health crises might have a greater positive impact on their audiences if they write human interest stories that share helpful information.
Many European countries are not ready to stop viral hepatitis Many European countries lack a comprehensive policy to eliminate viral hepatitis as a major public health threat, according to a patient group-based survey implemented in 25 countries. The Hep-CORE study was coordinated by ISGlobal - an institution supported by the "la Caixa" Foundation - and led by the European Liver Patient's Association.
	A molecular atlas of calcific aortic valve disease Calcific aortic valve disease (CAVD) - a disease that leaves the aortic valve stiff and calcified, preventing blood flow from the heart into the aorta - affects one quarter of the U.S. population aged 65 and over. There is no pharmacological treatment for CAVD. Without an invasive valve replacement surgery, most patients will die within two years of disease onset. CAVD progresses rapidly through multiple, distinct stages of disease, but is general diagnosed late, making it challenging to develop targeted treatments. A team of researchers from BWH has tackled this problem by comprehensively analyzing gene expression and protein distribution in human aortic valves obtained from valve replacement surgery. Their results are published in Circulation.
Transplanted livers help body defend against organ rejection, study finds For decades, transplant experts have observed that liver transplant recipients often need less anti-rejection medication, known as immunosuppressive drugs, than recipients of other solid organs. Similarly, when patients receive a multiple-organ transplant that includes the liver along with any other organ, they need less immunosuppressive medication and have less incidence of rejection even if they are highly sensitive to cellular bad actors, known as antigens, from the donor organs.
An asymptomatic patient with severe mitral regurgitation In the current issue of Cardiovascular Innovations and Applications, researcher Blase A. Carabello, from East Carolina University, Greenville, NC, USA presents a case study of an asymptomatic patient with severe mitral regurgitation.
Brain science institute at Brown receives $100M gift Brown University's brain science institute has been given $100 million to advance the understanding of the brain and what causes Lou Gehrig's Disease, Alzheimer's and other neurodegenerative diseases.
	CDC: Asian U.S. mothers more likely to be older, married (HealthDay)—Non-Hispanic Asian mothers have distinct characteristics, some of which vary by Asian subgroup and place of birth, according to a National Vital Statistics Report published online April 18 by the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.
Role of intravascular ultrasound imaging in detection of acute aortic syndrome In the current issue of Cardiovascular Innovations and Applications, Niya Mileva, Medical University of Sofia, Sofia, Bulgaria and other researchers from Poland and Italy present a case study of misdiagnosed aortic intramural hematoma and the role of intravascular ultrasound imaging in detection of acute aortic syndrome.
Management of mitral regurgitation in a patient contemplating pregnancy In the current issue of Cardiovascular Innovations and Applications, researchers Yee-Ping Sun and Patrick T. O'Gara, Brigham and Women's Hospital, Harvard Medical School, Boston, MA, USA present a case study of management of rheumatic mitral regurgitation in a woman contemplating pregnancy.
ACP calls for a 'time out' to assess and revise approach to performance measurement In "Time Out—Charting a Path for Improving Performance Measurement," published today in the New England Journal of Medicine, the American College of Physicians (ACP) reports that the majority of quality measures for ambulatory internal medicine in Medicare's Merit-based Incentive Payment System (MIPS) program are not valid based on criteria developed by ACP.

Biology news

	Laryngeal muscles found to be underdeveloped compared to articulatory muscles, explaining poor human singing A trio of researchers, one with Bloorview Research Institute in Canada, the other two with the University of Maastricht in The Netherlands, has found that human laryngeal muscles are less well developed than articulatory muscles. In their paper published in Royal Society Open Science, Michel Belyk, Joseph Johnson and Sonja Kotz suggest that differences in the two muscle groups explains why people are better at whistling than singing.
	Competition between males improves resilience against climate change Animal species with males who compete intensively for mates might be more resilient to the effects of climate change, according to research by Queen Mary University of London.
	Warmer active seasons and fewer freeze-thaw events lead to big changes for the tiniest Arctic ambassadors Step aside, charismatic polar bear stranded on a melting iceberg. The springtail may be the new flag bearer of an uncertain Arctic future.
	New findings to help in the fight against wombat mange New answers have been uncovered in the fight against bare-nosed wombat sarcoptic mange, thanks to the latest research by the University of Tasmania.
	New Zealand's large moa did not disperse large seeds A new study about New Zealand's extinct moa, involving acid baths and concrete mixers, by researchers from the University of Canterbury and Landcare Research, has revealed a surprising finding about their ability to disperse tree seeds.
	Sharp claws helped ancient seals conquer the oceans If you've ever seen seals frolicking in the water, you know they are agile swimmers, with perfectly adapted paddle-like limbs. But if you think those flippers are just for swimming, then think again.
	New species of ancient whale identified and named by Otago palaeontologists University of Otago palaeontologists are rewriting the history of New Zealand's ancient whales by describing a previously unknown genus of baleen whale, alive more than 27.5 million years ago and found in the Hakataramea Valley.
	Great Welsh science helps solve pollinator puzzle Welsh scientists piecing together the giant jigsaw puzzle of plant pollination are a step closer to knowing how it all fits thanks to a new paper by Swansea University PhD researcher Andrew Lucas.
	In an ant's world, the smaller you are, the harder it is to see obstacles Look around your home or garden, or while out for a walk in the bush, and you'll soon find plenty of ants of all shapes and sizes making their way around the place.
Study finds malaria parasites prevalent in North American fawns Parasites that cause malaria can lurk in plain sight, including in deer in North America.
	Computer models combat malaria As one of the world's deadliest pathogens, Plasmodium spreads relentlessly from host to host. But a computer model created by KAUST scientists may reveal and help exploit the parasite's unknown weaknesses to uncover new options for treating malaria.
	Protozoa detected in waste water even after treatment A study carried out by the Water Chemistry and Microbiology group of the Universitat Politècnica de València shows that pathogenic protozoa Cryptosporidium and Giardia are present in the sludge generated by wastewater treatment plants (WWTPs) even after being treated, with negative public health consequences as a result.
How to improve habitat conservation for migrating cranes Every year, North America's critically endangered Whooping Cranes travel back and forth along a 4,000-kilometer corridor linking their nesting grounds in Canada and their winter home in Texas. Habitat in their path through the northern Great Plains is being lost at an alarming rate to agriculture and other development, but the birds' widely dispersed movements make identifying key spots for protection a challenge. Now, researchers behind a new study from The Condor: Ornithological Applications have created a model of Whooping Crane habitat use with the potential to greatly improve the targeting of conservation efforts during their migration.
	Better species mapping can improve conservation efforts, study finds The scientific models that ecologists and conservation biologists rely on to determine which species and habitats to protect lack critical information to help them make effective decisions, according to a new study.
	Researchers study how well greater sage grouse habitat protects other species Researchers in the University of Wyoming's Department of Zoology and Physiology and Program in Ecology discovered that size does matter—as it pertains to the effectiveness of secondary species' wildlife protection relative to the size of a wildlife reserve set aside for an umbrella species.
How vampire bats survive on a diet of blood It may seem batty, but blood is the diet of choice for several species of bats. Now, scientists discover that jumping genes provide the evolutionary key to this vampiric life.
On building ribossomes Ribosomes are organelles responsible for protein synthesis in all living organisms. Ribosomes are made of proteins and RNA (Ribosomal RNA, rRNA) and putting the several elements in the right location requires a precise multi-step hierarchically ordered process. In this biogenesis, processing of rRNA precursor (pre-rRNA) is a critical step that guarantees the integrity of the functional ribosome. In humans dysfunctional ribosomes are responsible for severe diseases, known as ribosomopathies. Researchers from Cecília Arraiano Lab, in collaboration with colleagues from the University pf Hamburg, have now identified the key role of RNA-binding protein Hfq in this process. The results were published today in the EMBO Journal.
	Green digitization: Botanical collections data answer real-world questions Even as botany has moved firmly into the era of "big data," some of the most valuable botanical information remains inaccessible for computational analysis, locked in physical form in the orderly stacks of herbaria and museums. Herbarium specimens are plant samples collected from the field that are dried and stored with labels describing species, date and location of collection, along with various other information including habitat descriptions. The detailed historical record these specimens keep of species occurrence, morphology, and even DNA provides an unparalleled data source to address a variety of morphological, ecological, phenological, and taxonomic questions. Now efforts are underway to digitize these data, and make them easily accessible for analysis.

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