Science X Newsletter Monday, May 14

Dear Reader ,

Here is your customized Science X Newsletter for May 14, 2018:

Spotlight Stories Headlines

New quantum probability rule offers novel perspective of wave function collapse

Could a multiverse be hospitable to life?

Elastic microspheres expand understanding of embryonic development and cancer cells

Mini tractor beams help arrange artificial cells into tissue structures

Observations reveal complex environment of HD 50138

Embryonic patterning system reveals cell coordination to create astonishingly precise patterns

Molecule that acts on human cells might provide hope for 'irresistible' cold cure

Best of Last Week—Time travelers invited to Hawking memorial, hiding codes in text, benefits of low-energy diet

Lead pollution in Greenland ice shows rise and fall of ancient European civilizations

Biologists 'transfer' a memory

Old NASA spacecraft points to new evidence of watery plumes over Europa

Engineers on a roll toward smaller, more efficient radio frequency transformers

Simple equation directs creation of clean-energy catalysts

Tumor-like spheres help scientists discover smarter cancer drugs

Australian breaks world record with Everest summit

Astronomy & Space news

	Could a multiverse be hospitable to life? A Multiverse—where our Universe is only one of many—might not be as inhospitable to life as previously thought, according to new research.
	Observations reveal complex environment of HD 50138 Using European Southern Observatory's Very Large Telescope (VLT) European astronomers have uncovered a complex circumstellar environment of the star HD 50138. The finding, which could provide important clues about the evolutionary status of this star, was presented in a paper published May 3 on the arXiv pre-print repository.
	Old NASA spacecraft points to new evidence of watery plumes over Europa A fresh look at data from a 1997 flyby of Jupiter's moon, Europa, suggests that NASA's Galileo spacecraft flew directly through a watery plume, raising hopes of probing the jets for signs of life around the second planet from Earth.
	What happens after launch: Two NASA educational CubeSats A small group of students recently got to experience a rare, spaceflight thrill: seeing if the tiny satellite, called a CubeSat, they designed and built not only survived a rock
	Tracking the threat of asteroids and comets In 1994, astronomers watched in awe as the comet Shoemaker-Levy 9 crashed into the planet Jupiter, creating massive fireballs exploding with the force of six million megatons of TNT—equivalent to 600 times the world's nuclear arsenal.
	'Super-cool' observatory to explore hidden universe A space mission designed to solve fundamental questions about how galaxies and forming planetary systems grow and evolve will be considered by the European Space Agency (ESA).
	The next big discovery in astronomy? Scientists probably found it years ago – but they don't know it yet Earlier this year, astronomers stumbled upon a fascinating finding: Thousands of black holes likely exist near the center of our galaxy.
	Image: Our galaxy's heart At first glance, this image may resemble red ink filtering through water or a crackling stream of electricity, but it is actually a unique view of our cosmic home. It reveals the central plane of the Milky Way as seen by ESA's Planck satellite and the Atacama Pathfinder Experiment (APEX), which is located at an altitude of around 5100m in the Chilean Andes and operated by the European Southern Observatory.
	Brexit in space: EU, Britain fight over Galileo navigation Brexit talks have reached into space, with the European Union and Britain fighting over the rights that London will have to the multi-billion Galileo satellite navigation system and its security-sensitive information.
	20th anniversary of first light for SDSS telescope This week marks the twentieth anniversary of "first light" for the telescope behind the Sloan Digital Sky Survey (SDSS), which has gone on to create by far the largest three-dimensional map of the Universe ever made. Early in the morning of May 10th, 1998, the observers and engineers pointed the Sloan Foundation Telescope to the celestial equator and light went through to the survey's exquisitely sensitive camera. When dawn broke after a long night's work, SDSS observer Dan Long emailed his usual observer's log summarizing what happened. After describing the technical details of the observations, and before noting a series of newly identified problems to fix, he wrote: "Wow; What a night!"

Technology news

	Engineers on a roll toward smaller, more efficient radio frequency transformers The future of electronic devices lies partly within the "internet of things—the network of devices, vehicles and appliances embedded within electronics to enable connectivity and data exchange. University of Illinois engineers are helping realize this future by minimizing the size of one notoriously large element of integrated circuits used for wireless communication—the transformer.
	HSBC, ING banks announce blockchain first Banking giants HSBC and ING on Monday said they had carried out a landmark blockchain transaction aimed at speeding up payment processes and making them more secure.
	Race is on to set up Europe's electric car charging network Charging an electric car away from home can be an exercise in uncertainty—hunting for that one lonely station at the back of a rest-area parking lot and hoping it's working.
	Robot teaches itself how to dress people More than 1 million Americans require daily physical assistance to get dressed because of injury, disease and advanced age. Robots could potentially help, but cloth and the human body are complex.
	High-sensitivity microsensors on the horizon Wireless microsensors have enabled new ways to monitor our environment by allowing users to measure spaces previously off limits to research, such as toxic areas, vehicle components, or remote areas in the human body. Researchers, however, have been stymied by limited improvements in the quality of data and sensitivity of these devices stemming from challenges associated with the environments they operate in and the need for sensors with extremely small footprints.
	Wearable ring, wristband allow users to control smart tech with hand gestures New technology created by a team of Georgia Tech researchers could make controlling text or other mobile applications as simple as "1-2-3."
	Research examines wing shapes to reduce vortex and wake It's common to see line-shaped clouds in the sky, known as contrails, trailing behind the engines of a jet airplane.
	Well, that was easy: Two-factor authentication hack feeds on phony e-mail Two-factor authentication can be beat, as a hacker demo has shown. Lots of attention is being paid to a video posted where Kevin Mitnick, KnownBe4 chief hacking officer, revealed the two-factor exploit.
	Xerox ends merger with Fujifilm in victory for shareholders US photocopier and printer maker Xerox on Sunday announced it was terminating a merger with Fujifilm and appointing a new chief executive after entering into a settlement with activist shareholders who had contested the takeover.
	Rights for citizens, duties for firms under new EU data rules The EU's new data protection rules are set to bolster European citizens' rights while imposing new responsibilities on companies.
	EU data laws set to bite after Facebook scandal New European Union data protection laws take effect on May 25 to protect users' online information, in what Brussels touts as a global benchmark after the Facebook scandal.
In DR Congo, home-grown digital entrepreneurs defy odds Being a digital entrepreneur in the Democratic Republic of Congo comes with many challenges, not least that internet access is very limited in a vast country of more than 80 million people.
	Nissan reports record full-year profit but warns on outlook Japanese car giant Nissan on Monday reported a record full-year net profit thanks to US tax cuts but warned about the outlook for the next 12 months owing to a strong yen.
	We asked people if they would trust driverless cars We're promised a future with driverless cars on our roads, but do people really trust the technology to take us safely on journeys?
Researchers develop method to compare pricing models A team of biophysicists from Friedrich-Alexander-Universität Erlangen-Nürnberg (FAU) presents a mathematically concise method for comparing different pricing models in their latest publication in Nature Communications. This enables researchers to predict more accurately how parameters such as the volatility of stock prices change over time.
Why your smartphone may soon start scanning your veins Manufacturers may be favouring fingerprints over passcodes to allow access to smartphones, but Edith Cowan University (ECU) researchers already see the technology as nearing obsolescence.
	94% of Australians do not read all privacy policies that apply to them – and that's rational behaviour Australians are agreeing to privacy policies they are not comfortable with and would like companies only to collect data that is essential for the delivery of their service. That's according to new, nation-wide research on consumer attitudes to privacy policies released by the Consumer Policy Research Centre (CPRC) today.
	Counter-terrorism police are now training with virtual terrorists What if you could save an airport from terrorists, escape insurgents in South Sudan, and rescue civilians in an underground station all in one morning? With modern technology, the ability to recreate these scenarios within virtual and augmented reality is here, and we're using it to help train counter-terrorism officers and aid workers.
Regulating social platforms has dangers, like punishing content creators By harnessing social media, the teenage survivors of the Parkland, Florida massacre in the United States have started a movement that might finally shift the dial on gun control.
	Let's get moving with the affordable medium-speed alternatives to the old dream of high-speed rail More than half a century has passed since high-speed rail (HSR) effectively began operating, in Japan in 1964, and it has been mooted for Australia since 1984. I estimate that the cost of all HSR studies by the private and public sectors in Australia exceeds $125 million, in today's dollars. But the federal government is now less interested in high-speed rail (now defined as electric trains operating on steel rails at maximum speeds of above 250km per hour), and instead favours "faster rail" or medium-speed rail.
	If we can't recycle it, why not turn our waste plastic into fuel? Australia's recycling crisis needs us to look into waste management options beyond just recycling and landfilling. Some of our waste, like paper or organic matter, can be composted. Some, like glass, metal and rigid plastics, can be recycled. But we have no immediate solution for non-recyclable plastic waste except landfill.
	Ultrasound scans for damage to concrete bridges The concrete Pantheon in Rome is in excellent condition after 2,000 years. Steel reinforcement can dramatically reduce lifespan of concrete structures however and deterioration can begin after only 10 years.
	New series of proofs toward proving the Unique Games Conjecture A paper posted online in January takes theoretical computer scientists halfway toward proving one of the biggest conjectures in their field. The new study, when combined with three other recent papers, offers the first tangible progress toward proving the Unique Games Conjecture since it was proposed in 2002 by Subhash Khot, a computer scientist now at New York University.
	Email encryption standards hacked A research team from the University of Applied Sciences (FH) in Münster, Horst Görtz Institute for IT Security at Ruhr-Universität Bochum (RUB), and Katholieke Universiteit Leuven has demonstrated that the two most common email encryption standards are vulnerable to attacks. Their attack, referred to as Efail, proved successful in 25 out of 35 tested email programs using the S/MIME encryption standard and in 10 out of 28 tested programs using OpenPGP. The program developers have been informed and have fixed the security gaps. The experts urgently recommend updating the underlying cryptographic algorithms in order to withstand any potential attacks in future.
	Facebook suspends 200 apps over data misuse Facebook said Monday it has suspended "around 200" apps on its platform as part of an investigation into misuse of private user data.
	Security researchers outwit, bypass popular email encryption Germany's cybersecurity agency says German and Belgian researchers have found a way to outwit two widely used forms of email encryption.
	Tesla sets up Shanghai firm as it expands China presence Tesla has set up a company in Shanghai focusing on technology development in China, a crucial market for the US firm as the country plans to scrap ownership limits for foreign automakers.
	Zimbabwe warns against cryptocurrencies Zimbabwe's central bank on Monday warned against trading in cryptocurrencies, saying virtual currencies such as bitcoin were not regulated in the country.
	CBS sues to block effort to 'force' merger with Viacom US media giant CBS filed suit Monday, alleging that majority shareholder Shari Redstone is seeking to "force" a merger with rival Viacom on unfavorable terms.
	University of Alberta cyclotron could supply province's demand for medical isotopes University of Alberta scientists have taken a critical step towards supplying Alberta's demand for medical isotopes. Their newly published findings could have major implications for other health jurisdictions across North America as well.
	Tesla reorganizing to speed up production Tesla chief Elon Musk told employees Monday the electric carmaker is being reorganized to speed up production of Model 3 vehicles—a key to profitability at the fast-growing firm.
	No crisis for Panini stickers as World Cup fever builds Between eight and ten million packets a day, each with five cards, perhaps including the coveted ones of Lionel Messi, Neymar or Cristiano Ronaldo—as World Cup fever builds the Panini sticker factory in Italy is working flat out.
	JAL to launch low-cost carrier ahead of 2020 Tokyo Olympics Japan Airlines (JAL) on Monday announced plans to launch a budget airline, hoping to take advantage of an expected expansion in the nation's low-cost market ahead of the 2020 Tokyo Olympics.
China hails Trump's ZTE olive branch ahead of trade talks China on Monday hailed President Donald Trump's offer to prevent Chinese telecom giant ZTE from collapsing due to a US technology ban, as the two sides prepare for new negotiations this week to avert a trade war.
	Norway artists file complaint against Tidal over false streaming Norwegian songwriters, composers and music publishers on Monday said they had lodged a complaint against Jay Z's music platform Tidal after a media report said its streaming statistics had been manipulated.
	US Supreme Court strikes down federal ban on sports gambling The US Supreme Court on Monday overturned a ban on sports gambling in 46 of the union's 50 states, paving the way to legalize a business worth tens of billions of dollars annually.
	Hackers divert funds from Mexico banks, amount unclear: official Hackers have stolen an unknown amount of money from banks in Mexico in a series of cyber attacks on the country's interbank payments system, an official said Monday.
	US looking at alternative sanctions for China's ZTE: Ross US Commerce Secretary Wilbur Ross said Monday he was looking for "alternative remedies" to replace the sanctions that forced Chinese telecoms giant ZTE to essentially cease operations.

Medicine & Health news

	Biologists 'transfer' a memory UCLA biologists report they have transferred a memory from one marine snail to another, creating an artificial memory, by injecting RNA from one to another. This research could lead to new ways to lessen the trauma of painful memories with RNA and to restore lost memories.
	Tumor-like spheres help scientists discover smarter cancer drugs May 14, 2018—Cancer is a disease often driven by mutations in genes. As researchers learn more about these genes, and the proteins they code for, they are seeking smarter drugs to target them. The ultimate goal is to find ways to stop cancer cells from multiplying out of control, thereby blocking the growth and spread of tumors.
	Study identifies receptor that may be targeted to repair the heart after heart attack, cardiac arrest Studies have shown that a simple treatment called lipid emulsion therapy—fatty acids administered intravenously—can heal damage to the heart after a heart attack or cardiac arrest. But researchers haven't understood exactly how the treatment works or whether there are more effective ways to repair the heart.
	Learning a second language alters sensory perception, study finds Learning a second language can change the way our senses work together to interpret speech, according to a new Northwestern University study.
	Study shows yogurt may dampen chronic inflammation linked to multiple diseases Inflammation can be good. It's part of the body's innate immune system, our first line of defense against illness and injury.
	New tool predicts eye, hair and skin color from a DNA sample of an unidentified individual An international team, led by scientists from the School of Science at IUPUI and Erasmus MC University Medical Center Rotterdam in the Netherlands, has developed a novel tool to accurately predict eye, hair and skin color from human biological material—even a small DNA sample—left, for example, at a crime scene or obtained from archeological remains. This all-in-one pigmentation profile tool provides a physical description of the person in a way that has not previously been possible by generating all three pigment traits together using a freely available webtool.
	Deadly cancers show early, detectable differences from benign tumors Do metastatic cancer tumors "break bad" or are they "born bad"?
	Study suggests relationship between socioeconomic status and adult brain Research has shown that a developing child's brain structure and function can be adversely affected when the child is raised in an environment lacking adequate education, nutrition and access to health care.
	New pig virus found to be a potential threat to humans A recently identified pig virus can readily find its way into laboratory-cultured cells of people and other species, a discovery that raises concerns about the potential for outbreaks that threaten human and animal health.
	Organization of cells in the inner ear enables the sense and sensitivity of hearing The loss of tiny cells in the inner ear, known as "hair cells," is a leading cause of hearing loss, a public health problem affecting at least one out of three people over the age of 65. Of the two varieties of hair cells, the "outer hair cells" act as micromotors that amplify incoming sound, and the "inner hair cells" act to sense and transmit information about the sound to the brain. Hair cells do not regenerate on their own in human ears, and they can die away from a variety of factors including excessive noise exposure, certain medications, infection and as part of the natural aging process.
	Revealed: Why drug users prefer heroin at home, but cocaine while out Neuroscientists at the University of Sussex have shown by using brain scans of drug users that heroin stimulates a more pleasurable response when taken at home but cocaine is more pleasurable outside the home, such as in a club. The findings demonstrate for the first time that the setting of drug-taking is an important factor in how the brain processes the experience, and could have important implications for the treatment of drug addiction.
	New computational strategy designed for more personalized cancer treatment Mathematicians and cancer scientists have found a way to simplify complex biomolecular data about tumors, in principle making it easier to prescribe the appropriate treatment for a specific patient.
	Opioid makers' perks to docs tied to more prescriptions Doctors who accept perks from companies that make opioid painkillers are more likely to prescribe the drugs for their patients, new research suggests.
	Study reveals how the brain decides to make an effort From deciding to quit hitting the snooze button and get out of bed in the morning to opting to switch off the TV and prepare for sleep at night, the mind weighs the costs versus benefits of each choice we make. A new study reveals the mechanics of how the brain makes such effortful decisions, calculating whether it is worth expending effort in exchange for potential rewards.
	PET scan tracer predicts success of cancer 'vaccine,' study reports By engineering a special molecule to track certain immune cells in the body, scientists at the Stanford University School of Medicine have invented a litmus test for the effectiveness of a newly devised cancer therapy.
	Scientists develop novel technique to study brain disease A new tool developed by researchers at the National Institutes of Health has determined, for the first time, how two distinct sets of neurons in the mouse brain work together to control movement. The method, called spectrally resolved fiber photometry (SRFP), can be used to measure the activity of these neuron groups in both healthy mice and those with brain disease. The scientists plan to use the technique to better understand what goes wrong in neurological disorders, such as Parkinson's disease (PD). The study appeared online May 3 in the journal Neuron.
	Restoring epigenetic balance reinstates memory in flies with Alzheimer's disease symptoms Researchers from Drexel University reversed symptoms of Alzheimer's disease in fruit flies by restoring the balance between two epigenetic enzymes that regulate gene expression, a study shows.
	Early exposure to BPA alters cardiac rhythm and may influence adverse cardiovascular outcomes More than 8 million pounds of bisphenol A (BPA) is produced each year and reaches 90 percent of the population through consumer and medical products. Epidemiological studies find BPA exposure in adults correlate with adverse cardiovascular events, ranging from abnormal heart beats, or arrhythmias, and angina, chest pain, to coronary artery disease, the narrowing of the arteries, commonly referred to atherosclerosis—the leading cause of death in the United Sates. Now, based on a study using neonatal rat heart cells, researchers find that the immature heart may respond to BPA in a similar fashion—with slower heart rates, irregular heart rhythms and calcium instabilities. The study appears as an online advance in Scientific Reports.
	Vaccine-induced antibodies against one hemorrhagic fever virus found to disarm related virus Hemorrhagic fever viruses, so named for their ability to induce massive, and at times fatal, internal bleeding, captured the world's attention during the Ebola outbreak of 2014-2016 in West Africa.
	Long-term and short-term relationships initially indistinguishable: study Long-term and short-term relationships are obviously different from each other. Some people are the type you'd want to marry; others are good primarily for the sex.
	Altered body odor indicates malaria even if microscope doesn't Typhoid Mary may have infected a hundred or more people, but asymptomatic carriers of malaria infect far more people every year. An international team of researchers is working toward a way to identify malaria patients including infected individuals who show no malaria symptoms.
Screening for impaired vision in older adults: New Canadian guideline A new Canadian guideline for impaired vision in older adults recommends against primary care screening of older adults not reporting concerns about their vision. The guideline, published in English and French in CMAJ (Canadian Medical Association Journal) by the Canadian Task Force on Preventive Health Care (CTFPHC), is aimed at primary care practitioners.
Gout not associated with increased risk of fracture, study finds Gout, a painful inflammatory arthritis, is not associated with an increased risk of fracture, according to a large study led by Keele University, and published in CMAJ (Canadian Medical Association Journal).
	Cannabis use up among parents with children in the home Cannabis use increased among parents who smoke cigarettes, as well as among non-smoking parents, according to a latest study from researchers at Columbia University's Mailman School of Public Health and City University of New York. Cannabis use was nearly four times more common among cigarette smokers compared with non-smokers. Until now, little had been known about current trends in the use of cannabis among parents with children in the home, the prevalence of exposure to both tobacco and cannabis, and which populations might be at greatest risk. The findings will be published online in the June issue of Pediatrics.
WHO reports new Ebola case in DR Congo, vaccine this week The head of the World Health Organization said Sunday there has been another reported case of Ebola in the Democratic Republic of Congo and that an experimental vaccine to fight the disease is expected to become available in the country this week.
	In-womb air pollution exposure associated with higher blood pressure in childhood Children who were exposed to higher levels of air pollution during the third trimester of their mother's pregnancy had a higher risk of elevated blood pressure in childhood, according to new research in the American Heart Association's journal Hypertension.
Disadvantaged kids prescribed antipsychotic medication more often A new study has shown that Australian children and teens from disadvantaged families are more likely to be prescribed antipsychotic medication than others in the same age group.
	Food rules positively influence teen food choices It turns out that kids are paying more attention than you think when you say broccoli is good for them.
	Call for older people to be vaccinated against pneumonia Action is urgently needed to address declining vaccination rates against pneumococcal pneumonia, which causes more than 2,000 deaths each year in people aged over 65.
	Brain size mediates the association between height and cognitive ability Several studies have found that height and general cognitive ability, or intelligence, are positively associated. A recent study reveals a biological factor underlying this relationship: the size of the cerebral cortex.
	Living with dementia, feeling lonely and isolated? MARIO the robot can help Dementia is a major cause of disability and dependency among older people worldwide, with about 50 million people suffering from it and nearly 10 million new cases every year, according to a fact sheet by the World Health Organization (WHO). Alzheimer's disease is the most common form of dementia, representing about 60 percent to 80 percent of cases.
	Do people subconsciously judge face-likeness? The research team at the Visual Perception and Cognition Laboratory of the Toyohashi University of Technology has revealed that face-likeness is judged by early visual processing at around 100 milliseconds after viewing an object. The present study focuses on the relation between face-likeness recognition and brain activity to suggest for the first time that face-likeness recognition is influenced by early visual processing. The results of the present study were published in the open access journal Frontiers in Human Neuroscience.
Study picks out children with incurable brain cancer who could benefit from adult therapy Children with incurable brain tumours could benefit from potentially life-extending treatment if genetic testing was used to personalise therapy as it is in many adults, major new research reports.
	Less is more when it comes to prescription opioids for hospital patients, study finds In a pilot study published in JAMA Internal Medicine, Yale researchers significantly reduced doses of opioid painkillers given to hospital patients. By delivering the opioids with a shot under the skin or with a pill instead of an IV, the research team found they could decrease patient exposure to the medications while also maintaining or improving pain relief, they said.
	Freer sex and family planning—a short history of the contraceptive pill Since the oral contraceptive pill appeared on the market almost 60 years ago, it has been the preferred form of birth control for millions of women around the world. The pill is now so widely available, it's easy to forget that its development symbolised a revolutionary shift in family planning and women's reproductive rights.
	What should you eat to improve your skin? "Get radiant skin!" "Banish your pimples!" "Glow from the inside out!"
	UAlberta expert dispels 5 persistent myths about helmet use Helmets would be required by law for all Albertans using any equipment that moves at significant velocity—regardless of age—in an ideal world, contends Don Voaklander, director of the Injury Prevention Centre in the University of Alberta's School of Public Health.
	The cognitive-behavioural model of hoarding disorder Standard therapy for compulsive hoarding needs to unpack many factors that contribute to the problem.
Researchers treating benign infections with old antibiotics to fight resistance Doctors are beginning to prescribe antibiotic treatments from the 1950s for benign infections to fight antibiotic resistance and preserve the effectiveness of newer antibiotics. But these "old" antibiotics were not tested in the same way as their modern counterparts before being put on the market, particularly in terms of their treatment effectiveness and side effects. Doctors from the University of Geneva (UNIGE) and the University Hospitals of Geneva (HUG), Switzerland, recently analysed two antibiotics frequently used against uncomplicated urinary tract infections. They discovered that the most-widely prescribed antibiotic today does not meet the expected success rate, while the second most commonly prescribed antibiotic seems as effective as the newer drugs used for this kind of infection. The study published in the journal JAMA shows the importance of evaluating old antibiotics against today's standards so that patient well-being can be ensured at the same time as restricting the use of newer antibiotics to more serious diseases.
	Mesalazine attenuates tumour formation by 50% in hereditary bowel cancer cases Around 5,000 Austrians a year develop a colorectal carcinoma, that is to say cancer of the colon or rectum. Around 5% of these are genetically predisposed and develop Lynch syndrome, the commonest genetic form of bowel cancer, equating to approx. 250 cases a year. An international team of researchers, including scientists from MedUni Vienna's Department of Surgery and Department of Medicine III, have now discovered that Lynch syndrome patients who are given the anti-inflammatory drug mesalazine develop tumours less frequently and the number of tumours that develop (neoplasia) is significantly reduced.
	Recreational ancestry DNA testing may reveal more than consumers bargained for Aggressive marketing techniques and the popularization of "gifting" recreational ancestry tests has led more consumers than ever to the world of personal genetic testing. Yet, the recent arrest of the Golden State Killer suspect has heightened concerns about privacy and ethics because of the way law enforcement used a third-party DNA interpretation company to identify close relatives and hone in on a likely culprit.
	Review shows lack of evidence supporting use of antidepressants for insomnia A rigorous review of research, led by the University of Southampton, has found there is not enough evidence to support the current clinical practice of prescribing antidepressants for insomnia.
EULAR recommendations for pain management in inflammatory arthritis and osteoarthritis The European League Against Rheumatism, EULAR, has published a set of recommendations, designed to help health professionals implement approaches to pain management in inflammatory arthritis and osteoarthritis patients. The aim is to reduce pain and the burden on the individual and society.
	Serving smaller alcoholic drinks could reduce the U.K.'s alcohol consumption New research published in Addiction, conducted by researchers from the Universities of Liverpool and Sheffield, highlights the potential benefits of reducing the standard serving size of alcoholic beverages.
	Identifying PTSD could be affected under proposed changes to global diagnostic tool Fewer individuals across the globe would be diagnosed with post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD) under proposed changes to the most widely used diagnostic tool—potentially impacting clinical practice, national data reporting and epidemiological research, according to an international analytical study led by NYU School of Medicine and publishing May 14 in the journal Psychological Medicine.
	UN health agency aims to wipe out trans fats worldwide The World Health Organization has released a plan to help countries wipe out trans fats from the global food supply in the next five years.
	Study hints at new target to improve immune therapy in triple-negative breast cancer Therapies that recruit the immune system to attack tumors are revolutionizing cancer care. Among these successful immunotherapies is a class known as "checkpoint inhibitors" that unmask tumors' ability to hide from the immune system. However, checkpoint inhibitors aren't universally successful against all cancers. A University of Colorado Cancer Center study published in the Journal of Clinical Investigation unpacks the actions taken by an especially dangerous cancer type—triple-negative breast cancer—to initiate the process that eventually allows the cancer to become invisible to the immune system. By defining the roots of immune system evasion, researchers hope to develop therapies that could augment those currently in use, making the immune system an even more powerful partner in combatting cancer.
	Discovery of differences in the brains of rats classified as workers vs. slackers A team of researchers led by Dr. Catharine Winstanley at the University of British Columbia have uncovered a network of regions in the brain that are involved in determining the choice of working harder to get a bigger reward, or putting in a lesser effort and receiving a smaller reward. Understanding how the brain makes such decisions is one of the most fundamental questions in neuroscience and psychology, and sophisticated animal behavioural testing, coupled with advance brain imaging and stimulation techniques are shedding light on this important process. These results were presented at the 2018 Canadian Neuroscience Meeting, in Vancouver, May 14th, 2018.
	Parents say intense gun violence in PG-13 movies appropriate for teens 15 and older Parents are more willing to let their children see PG-13 movies with intense gun violence when the violence appears to be "justified," used in defense of a loved one or for self-protection, than when it has no socially redeeming purpose, a new study finds.
Study shows 'giant' problem looms for ageing population Urgent attention needs to be paid to frail older New Zealanders' oral health, a University of Otago study has highlighted.
	First cases of extensively drug-resistant gonorrhea threaten future treatment Within a matter of weeks, three cases of gonorrhea that are resistant to the recommended first-line antibiotic treatment have been detected in Europe and Australia. At a time with limited alternatives to the current dual therapy, lack of a vaccine and insufficient surveillance capacity in some regions, these cases highlight the growing threat of drug-resistance—which could lead to untreatable gonorrhea.
Virtual avatar-to-avatar interviews may improve eyewitness testimony Immersive virtual environments—where officials interview eyewitnesses using digital representations, or avatars, instead of interacting in person—may increase the accuracy and amount of recalled information, shows research in Frontiers in Psychology. In this first-of-its-kind study, eyewitnesses of a mock car theft provided as much as 60% more information when interviewed in an avatar-to-avatar context compared to face-to-face interviews. Study participants also found it easier to talk to the avatar and were more likely to admit when they didn't know the answer to a question.
	Very obese women should lose weight during pregnancy for a healthy baby Very obese women should actually lose weight during pregnancy in order to have a healthy baby, contrary to current recommendations, according to a new study in the journal Heliyon. The researchers behind the study, from Centre Hospitalier Universitaire Sud Réunion in France, say the current guidelines for weight gain in pregnancy should be adjusted for better outcomes in underweight and very obese women and their babies.
New approach to cancer research aims to accelerate studies and reduce cost A new model for improving how clinical trials are developed and conducted by bringing together academic cancer experts and pharmaceutical companies is being tested by research experts at The University of Texas MD Anderson Cancer Center.
	Researcher patents 'roach motel' for cancer The University of Texas at Arlington has successfully patented in Europe an implantable medical device that attracts and kills circulating cancer cells that was invented by a faculty member. This cancer trap can be used for early diagnosis and treatment of metastasized cancer.
	Are your children overdoing it? Too many extracurricular activities can do more harm than good The growing demand for children to get involved in organized activities outside of school is placing unprecedented strain upon families.
	Take time out now for school sports physicals (HealthDay)—Most states require school athletes to have a sports physical, and now is the time to book it, doctors say.
	Exercising in the great outdoors (HealthDay)—Outdoor exercise can be invigorating and a great morale booster. But always take a few simple steps to stay safe, no matter the season.
Use of MS drug expanded to include children (HealthDay)—The U.S. Food and Drug Administration has expanded its approval of the multiple sclerosis drug Gilenya (fingolimod) to include children aged 10 and older.
	Teledermatology could expedite care for suspected skin cancer (HealthDay)—Teledermatology for suspected skin cancer is slightly more expensive than usual care, but it expedites time to clinical resolution, according to a study published online May 9 in JAMA Dermatology.
	Overall, drinking wine does not impact prostate cancer risk (HealthDay)—Moderate wine consumption does not seem to impact the risk of prostate cancer, according to a review published online April 17 in Clinical Epidemiology.
	Increase in proportion of births at gestational age 39 to 40 weeks (HealthDay)—From 2007 to 2015 there was an increase in the proportion of births at gestational age 39 to 40 weeks, and perinatal mortality at this gestational age decreased, according to a study published online May 14 in JAMA Pediatrics.
	The digital doctor's visit: Enormous potential benefits with equally big risk While data privacy has been a much-talked about topic lately—with questions still lingering about how giants like Facebook and Google are sharing our personal information—much less has been said about how we are going to manage digital information about our health in the future, particularly digital recordings of doctors' visits.
	Motivation to move may start with being mindful A meditation and stress reduction program may be as effective at getting people to move more as structured exercise programs, according to a new study led by an Iowa State University researcher.
	Gene variant may increase psychiatric risk after traumatic brain injury A variant of the APOE gene may be linked to worse psychiatric symptoms in people who have had a traumatic brain injury, found a Veterans Affairs San Diego Healthcare System study. Study participants with both the gene variant and at least one TBI had more severe symptoms of PTSD, anxiety, and depression than comparison participants.
	How to cure more hepatitis C patients There is a cure or the nation's deadliest infectious disease, hepatitis C, but at tens of thousands of dollars per patient in upfront costs, most insurance companies can't afford to provide the treatment to all of the estimated 2.7 million to 3.9 million of Americans who are infected. This is especially true for patients on Medicaid or in the prison system, where funding has historically been restricted.
Large gender imbalance in funding given for cancer research Male researchers receive far greater funding for cancer research than their female equivalents, suggests a study published in the journal BMJ Open.
	Researchers examine impact of poor functional kidney status A study by researchers at the University of Cincinnati (UC) finds poor functional kidney status in elderly patients with end stage renal disease (ESRD) is associated with a higher incidence of initiating hemodialysis, increased the risk of central venous catheter use and is an independent predictor of one-year mortality. The study was published in the April 27, 2018 edition of BMC Nephrology.
	Infant growth patterns affected by type of protein consumed A new study by CU School of Medicine researchers has determined that choices of protein intake from solid foods has a significant impact on infant growth during the first year of life.
	Heart disease severity may depend on nitric oxide levels The most common heart medications may get an assist from nitric oxide circulating in the body, according to a new study out of Case Western Reserve University School of Medicine. Researchers showed that nitric oxide may help commonly used heart drugs maximize their benefits while improving heart function. In turn, the study found nitric oxide deficiencies could underlie heart failure while tilting drug effects toward more harmful pathways and side effects.
	Study shows details of brain networks in autism A CAMH study analyzing more than 1,000 brain scans reveals surprising new insights into brain networks in people with autism, after applying a new personalized approach to brain mapping.
	Minority children develop implicit racial bias in early childhood New research from York University suggests that minority children as young as six years old show an implicit pro-White racial bias when exposed to images of both White and Black children. But how ingrained these biases become and whether they persist into late childhood and adulthood might depend on their social environment.
Early depression diagnosis is deadly serious for patients with coronary artery disease For clinicians providing comprehensive care to patients with coronary artery disease (CAD), proactive depression screening may not always rank high on the list of first-priority concerns.
	Consumer sleep technology is no substitute for medical evaluation According to a position statement from the American Academy of Sleep Medicine (AASM), consumer sleep technology must be cleared by the Food and Drug Administration (FDA) and rigorously tested if it is intended to diagnose or treat sleep disorders.
	Job strain linked to onset of common mental illness Workplaces that reduce job strain could prevent up to 14 percent of new cases of common mental illness from occurring, according to new research led by the Black Dog Institute.
Meeting with OBGYN prior to first exam empowers young women in medical settings A teen girl's first visit to an OBGYN often comes with a lot of anxiety, and once they are in a gown on an exam table, they may be too uncomfortable to express their concerns and ask questions. In fact, a new national survey by Orlando Health found that nearly 40% of women were at least somewhat concerned about what would happen during their first OBGYN exam. That's why experts at Orlando Health are encouraging girls and their parents to speak with their OBGYN in a non-clinical setting before their first exam. Establishing an open dialogue with their physician helps them know what to expect, what is and is not appropriate during an exam, and anything else they may be worried about.
Genetic Non-Discrimination Act challenge from Quebec may open doors to genetic discrimination If Canada's Genetic Non-Discrimination Act (GNA) is overturned by a challenge from the Province of Quebec, it will open the doors to genetic discrimination, argue authors in a commentary in CMAJ (Canadian Medical Association Journal).
	Marijuana growers diversify with hemp amid CBD boom A glut of legal marijuana has driven Oregon pot prices to rock-bottom levels, prompting some nervous growers to start pivoting to another type of cannabis to make ends meet—one that doesn't come with a high.
	Ebola in the DRC—how a global and local response has been mobilised The number of confirmed cases of Ebola in the Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC) has increased but health authorities are confident that the outbreak can be contained. At least 17 people have died, according to the country's health ministry. Nevashan Govender from the National Institute for Communicable Diseases spoke to Health and Medicine Editor Candice Bailey about what's needed to contain the outbreak.
HSS anesthesia education program sees sustainable results in Vietnam Training local clinicians with regional anesthesia techniques has helped the Vietnamese medical community improve their approach to anesthesia care, results of a survey conducted by the Global Health Initiative at Hospital for Special Surgery (HSS) indicate.
New 'scoring' system for advanced colorectal cancer Georgios Margonis, M.D., Ph.D., a surgical oncology fellow at the Johns Hopkins University School of Medicine, and Matthew Weiss, M.D., surgical director of the Johns Hopkins Liver and Pancreas Cancer Multidisciplinary Clinics, report advances in efforts to improve the treatment and prognosis of colorectal cancers that have spread to the liver.
	Brain activity alternates while stepping Human steps are associated with neural activity that alternates between the left and right sides of the brain, finds a study of Parkinson's disease patients published in JNeurosci. The research recommends future investigations address whether alternating deep brain stimulation accordingly may improve gait in movement disorders.
	Stress regulates self-harm in rats A stress hormone modulates compulsive biting in a rat model of self-injurious behavior (SIB), according to new research published in JNeurosci. Manipulating the activity of the brain circuitry underlying SIB could create new possibilities for treating this symptom of stress and neuropsychiatric disorders.
	Feeding schedule maintains normal food intake in obese mice A mouse study published in JNeurosci finds that restricting food availability to one half of the day resets the normal timing of the signals that regulate food intake and reduces weight gain in mice fed a high-fat diet.These findings could inform future obesity research in humans.
	Why some people resist authority Control aversion—the urge to rebel against control over one's decisions—can be explained by connectivity between two regions of the brain as well as behavioral measures of distrust and lack of understanding, according to a study of university students published in JNeurosci.
	Keto diet protects optic nerve in glaucoma mouse model Switching mice destined to develop glaucoma to a low carbohydrate, high fat diet protects the cells of the retina and their connections to the brain from degeneration, according to research published in JNeurosci. The study adds to others that have found this type of diet to have neuroprotective effects in conditions such as Alzheimer's disease, Parkinson's disease, and amyotrophic lateral sclerosis (ALS).
E.coli in reblochon cheese sends six French children to hospital French authorities ordered a recall of reblochon cheeses on Monday after six young children were hospitalised with E.coli infections traced to a producer.
	Canada: Huge merger creates pot giant ahead of legalization With the legalization of recreational marijuana looming in Canada, therapeutic producer Aurora said Monday it was acquiring rival MedReleaf Corp. in a huge deal set to create a giant company.
Congo approves use of experimental Ebola vaccine, WHO says Congo has agreed to allow the World Health Organization to use an experimental Ebola vaccine to combat an outbreak announced last week, the WHO director-general said Monday.
	Burnout and scope of practice in new family physicians Among physicians, family physicians report some of the highest levels of burnout. According to a new study, however, early career family physicians who provide a broader scope of practice report significantly lower rates of burnout.
Centralized infrastructure facilitates medical education research The Council of Academic Family Medicine Educational Research Alliance has enabled a large number of research teams to conduct meaningful scholarship with a fraction of the usual time and energy.
	Case management reduces psychological distress in frequent users of health care Research has shown that frequent users of health care services tend to have higher levels of psychological distress. A new study finds that case management reduces psychological distress and creates a sense of security in patients who frequently use health services.
	Free children's visits increase care and workforce burden In July 2015, all children under six years of age gained free access to daytime and out-of-hours general practice services in the Republic of Ireland, resulting in a 25 percent increase in utilization.
	Patients and caregivers value caring, continuity, and accountability in care transitions In the transition from hospital to home, patients and caregivers seek clear accountability, continuity, and caring attitudes across the care continuum.
	An updated analysis of direct-to-consumer television advertisements for prescription drugs Although proponents suggest that direct-to-consumer prescription drug advertising is educational and motivating, a new analysis finds that the potential educational value of such advertising has declined.
	Screening tool improves prediction of developing dementia In people with a minor decline on the Mini-Mental-State-Examination—a widely used but limited test to screen for cognitive defects—follow-up with a simple visual screening tool can help identify those at increased risk for dementia.
	Social challenges are associated with poorer health outcomes Among more than 600,000 primary care patients, half live with some degree of social challenge, which has a negative effect on the quality of care they receive. Researchers in Manitoba, Canada identified 11 social complexities, such as low income, mental health diagnosis, and involvement with the justice system.
A theoretical model to alleviate primary care strain Co-management of patients by more than one primary care clinician is among new models of care designed to meet the demand for high quality patient care.
Homeless veterans at increased risk of hospital readmission after surgery For veterans undergoing surgery in the VA healthcare system, homelessness is an important risk factor for unplanned hospital readmission, reports a study in the June issue of Medical Care.

Biology news

	Embryonic patterning system reveals cell coordination to create astonishingly precise patterns As an embryo develops from a little glob of primitive cells, it patterns itself into precise, spatially organized regions and tissues. This requires that individual cells coordinate with one another over long distances by releasing and detecting specialized signaling molecules. How can cells, communicating only in this indirect manner, create such precise patterns?
	Hot temperatures could mean swan song for tropical birds Non-migratory songbirds could be under threat from a warming climate, according to the findings of a 15-year study.
	New research sheds light on why certain oaks are found together North America is home to 91 species of oak trees. Astoundingly, the various species rarely, if ever, occur alone. Where one kind of oak is found, invariably at least one more will be found. How can nature support a setup like that when it operates on the principle that only the fittest survive in any one setting?
	First description of mEAK-7 gene could suggest path toward therapies for cancer, other diseases For years, researchers have known that a gene called EAK-7 plays an important role in determining how long worms will live. But it remained unclear whether the gene had a counterpart in humans and – if it did – how that human version would work.
	Plant peptide spells relief from salty stress Researchers at the RIKEN Center for Sustainable Resource Science (CSRS) have discovered a hormone-like peptide in plants that helps increase their tolerance to excessive salt. Published in the Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences, the study found several genes that can increase salinity tolerance, the most effective being a small gene that codes for the peptide AT13.
	Biologists ID temporal logic of regulatory genes affecting nitrogen use efficiency in plants A team of biologists and computer scientists has adopted a time-based machine-learning approach to deduce the temporal logic of nitrogen signaling in plants from genome-wide expression data. The work potentially offers new ways to monitor and enhance crop growth using less nitrogen fertilizer, which would benefit human nutrition and the environment.
	Study shows how bacteria guide electron flow for efficient energy generation Biochemists at the University of Illinois have isolated a protein supercomplex from a bacterial membrane that, like a battery, generates a voltage across the bacterial membrane. The voltage is used to make ATP, a key energy currency of life.The new findings, reported in the journal Nature, will inform future efforts to obtain the atomic structures of large membrane protein supercomplexes.
	Scientists find missing factor in gene activation Until human genes are activated, they are blocked by structures known as nucleosomes, components that serve to package DNA inside cells.
	Global change may alter the way that hippos shape the environment around them: study The average hippo weighs more than 3,000 pounds and consumes about 100 pounds of vegetation daily. This naturally results in large quantities of dung being deposited into the rivers and lakes where hippos spend their days.
	WSU Tri-Cities team researching use of fungi to restore native plant populations Transplanting fungi to restore native plant populations in the Midwest and Northwest is the focus of efforts by a team of WSU Tri-Cities researchers.
	Researchers may be underestimating roadkill numbers A new study in the Journal of Urban Ecology, published by Oxford University Press, indicates that the number of wild animals killed by motor vehicles may be much higher than is generally reported or understood.
	California coastline stripped of plants prized in Asia The tip came from a woman standing in line at a post office in a small town in northern California.
	Taurine deficiency in sperm causes male infertility, study finds Sperm are highly specialized cells adapted to achieve a single goal: fertilize an egg. Along the road to fertilization, sperm must embark on a lengthy journey to the female oviduct, avoiding several fatal stresses that occur when they pass through different physiological environments. However, the events that allow sperm cells to achieve fertilization under these conditions are only partially understood.
	Stillborn fawns first known conjoined deer to be fully delivered A Minnesota mushroom hunter on the prowl for some fungi stumbled across an unbelievable find: two deer fawns sharing one body.
	Can anyone learn to sing? For most of us, the answer is yes Do you have a pair of vocal folds that can produce sound? Can you tell the difference between a higher note and a lower note? Good news! You and about 98.5% of the population absolutely can be taught how to sing.
	Is that selfie really worth it? Why face time with wild animals is a bad idea The phenomenon of kangaroo selfies hit the headlines earlier this month, when several tourists were injured while feeding wild kangaroos in Lake Macquarie, north of Sydney. They may have wanted a memorable holiday snap, but ended up with rather more than they bargained for.
	Smart drones and deep learning deliver low-cost precision agriculture for Aussie farmers New aerial drone technology could change the landscape of Australia's billion-dollar wheat industry by delivering cost-effective mechanisms for farmers to plan and deliver precise water and nutrients to their crops on a need-by-need basis.
Carbon dioxide and iron at the origin of life Researchers at the University of Strasbourg have discovered a striking similarity between the way carbon dioxide (CO2) reacts with metals and the way that ancient microbes use CO2 to build their biomass, providing potential insight into how chemistry on the early Earth foreshadowed biochemistry in the first organisms.
	How eating turtles could help species conservation Using genetic methods, Senckenberg scientists have discovered that there are more species and genetic lineages of the Chinese softshell turtles Pelodiscus than previously assumed. These turtles are an important food source in Asia – in China alone, more than 340,000 tons are grown and eaten every year. In their study, recently published in the scientific journal The Science of Nature, the international team shows that this cultivation, in particular, threatens the species diversity of Pelodiscus.
	Researcher pinpoints optimal age of puppy cuteness The popular meme proclaiming that all dogs are puppies assumes that humans' adoration of canines is not conditional on their age. But a new study led by Clive Wynne, professor of psychology and director of Arizona State University's Canine Science Collaboratory, suggests otherwise.
	New research says location of protected areas vital to wildlife survival Location, location, location is not just a buzzword for homebuyers. A new study, by 17 conservation scientists and environmental scholars, say the exact location of protective wild spaces is just as vital as committing to set these areas aside.
	Multiple resistance genes found in commercially farmed chickens and in hospital A team of investigators has isolated colistin-resistant Escherichia coli from a commercial poultry farm in China. Colistin is an antibiotic of last resort against certain bacteria. The research is published May 14 in Antimicrobial Agents and Chemotherapy.
	Using MRSA's strength against it Antibiotic-resistant infections cause more than 30,000 deaths annually in the U.S. alone. The majority of those are caused by methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus, more commonly known as MRSA, which can turn routine medical operations into near-death battles.
	Veterinary surgeon tests an experimental imaging technology on dogs being treated for cancer Up until October 2017, Dutchess's worst health issue was an accidental collision with a tree while chasing a squirrel. So the eight-year-old rescue dog's owner, Lisa Correa, was shocked when a wellness exam at Tufts at Tech Community Veterinary Clinic in Worcester turned up a sign of a serious problem. "They told me they found a lump on her left mammary gland," said Correa. "And my world pretty much came crashing down."
Sugar ants lead to sweet rediscovery The rediscovery of the arid bronze azure butterfly has scientists racing to save them from extinction.
Endangered chuditch takes biggest predator crown Conservation efforts have brought Western Australia's biggest native mammal predator, the chuditch, back from the brink of extinction.

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